JP2000258979A - Electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a cost and also to prevent an electrophotographic device main body from being made large-sized by unnecessitating or shortening the installation time of an electrophotographic device by a serviceman by supplying developer by a user at the electrophotographic device using two-component developer. SOLUTION: A developing device is provided with a developer stirring part 21 stirring the developer. The two-component developer is previously stored at the developer stirring part. Then, an aperture 50 provided at the developer stirring part is closed by a sealing member 51, and also a new toner replenishing port 25 and a recycle toner replenishing port 26 which are the other apertures are closed and hermetically sealed by the other sealing member 52. The sealing members 51 and 52 are stuck by thermal melt-sticking, and are folded back, so that top ends 51a and 52a are extended to this side. They are peeled off by holding the top end, and are removed from a processing cartridge at a use time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for transferring an image formed on an image carrier by using an electrophotographic method, such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction machine using a laser, for example. The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus using a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic apparatus of this type, when installed at a user's site, a service person having special skills puts a developer into a developing apparatus.

However, in this case, there is a problem that the installation cost of the electrophotographic apparatus is increased since it takes time to install the electrophotographic apparatus.

For this reason, in recent years, when an electrophotographic apparatus is installed, it is a mainstream that a user himself attaches a developer cartridge to a developing device, puts the developer in the developer cartridge, and puts the developer into the developing device. It has become.

[0005]

However, in this case, a space for mounting the developer cartridge must be secured separately from the developing device, so that there is a problem that the size of the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus is correspondingly increased. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic apparatus using a two-component developer, in which the user can supply the developer, thereby eliminating or shortening the installation time of the electrophotographic apparatus by a service person, and reducing costs. And to prevent the electrophotographic apparatus main body from increasing in size.

[0007]

Therefore, according to the present invention, a developer stirring section for stirring a two-component developer and a developer fed from the developer stirring section are carried by a developing roller. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising: a developing device that includes a developer carrying unit that attaches toner to an image carrier; and the developing device is provided in a process cartridge together with the image carrier, and the process cartridge is detachable from an electrophotographic apparatus main body. It is characterized in that the two-component developer is stored in advance in the developer stirring section and sealed with a seal member, and the seal member is removed from the process cartridge when used.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electrophotographic apparatus according to the first aspect, a plurality of openings provided in the developer stirring section are closed with a plurality of seal members, and the seal members are connected. It can be removed at the same time.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electrophotographic apparatus according to the first aspect, a plurality of openings provided in the developer stirring section are closed by one seal member.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a main part of a laser copying machine according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 10 in the figure denotes a drum-shaped photosensitive member serving as an image carrier. As can be seen from FIG. 1, around the photoreceptor 10, a roller-shaped charging device 11 provided on the left side of the photoreceptor 10 is sequentially arranged in a rotating direction indicated by an arrow A of the photoreceptor 10, a developing device 12 below, and a transfer device on the right side. 13 and a paper separating device 14, and a cleaning device 15 is provided on the top.

When a copy is to be taken, as is well known, an original is set on a contact glass (not shown), and then a copy switch is depressed, and an image on the original is read by an optical reader (not shown). The paper P is fed between the body 10 and the transfer device 13 as indicated by an arrow from below.

On the other hand, the surface of the photoconductor 10 is uniformly charged by the charging device 11 with its rotation, and the surface is irradiated with a laser beam L from an optical writing device (not shown) to perform writing. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the read document image is formed thereon, and then, when passing through the position of the developing device 12, toner is adhered to sequentially visualize the electrostatic latent image. Then, the toner image formed by the visualization is transferred to the sheet P fed between the photoconductor 10 and the transfer device 13 as described above.
The image is transferred on the upper side by the transfer device 13.

After the transfer, the paper P is discharged by the paper separating device 14, separated from the photosensitive member 10 electrostatically attached thereto, and conveyed to a fixing device (not shown) where the transferred image is fixed. To the paper discharge section. A separating claw may be provided in place of the sheet separating device 14 so as to be mechanically separated from the photoconductor 10.

On the other hand, the photoreceptor 10 after image transfer is cleaned of the surface by scraping off the residual toner remaining on the surface with a cleaning blade 17 provided in a cleaning device 15 and then removing the charge by a discharge lamp (not shown). The surface potential is initialized.

In this laser copying machine, the photosensitive member 10, the charging device 11, the developing device 12, the cleaning device 15 and the like are integrated in a single cartridge case 19 as shown in FIGS. The cartridge 20 is configured. FIG. 2 shows the process cartridge 20 provided in the laser copying machine shown in FIG. 1 when viewed from the side opposite to the photoconductor 10, and FIG.

Although not shown, the process cartridge 20 is detachably set by being attached between side plates provided to face each other in the main body of the copying machine. The process cartridge 20 is provided with a photoconductor shutter as indicated by reference numeral 18 in FIGS.

When set in the copying machine main body, as shown in FIG. 2, the photosensitive member shutter 18 is opened, and the transfer device 13 and the sheet separating device 14 of the photosensitive member 10 are opened.
In a state where the side is opened and the photoconductor 10 is not set, the photoconductor shutter 18 is closed and the photoconductor 10 is covered as shown in FIG.

Now, in such a laser copying machine,
As shown in FIG. 1, the developing device 12 described above is provided with a developer stirring section 21 on the lower side and a developer carrying section 22 on the upper side. The developer stirring section 21 is provided with a first stirring member 23 and a second stirring member 24 for transporting the two-component developer while stirring. Although not shown, a toner density sensor for detecting the mixing ratio of the toner and the carrier in the developer based on, for example, magnetic permeability is provided.

As shown in FIG. 4, the developer stirring section 21 is further provided with a new toner supply port 25 and a recycled toner supply port 26 on one side thereof, each of which is opened upward. Then, the toner entering from the supply ports 25 and 26 is conveyed by the first stirring member 23 and the second stirring member 24 so as to circulate in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.

The space for accommodating the first stirring member 23 has an upper surface covered by a top wall 21a which is partially cut away in the figure. The space for accommodating the second stirring member 24 is
An upper part is opened by providing an opening 50.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
2, a developing roller 28 is provided at a position facing the photoreceptor 10 through the developing window 27. Further, a developing doctor 29 for controlling the supply amount of the developer to the photoconductor 10 is provided. Then, the developer fed from the developer stirring section 24 through the opening 50 is carried on the developing roller 28, and then is made uniform by the developing doctor 29, and the uniform toner in the developer adheres to the photoreceptor 10. It becomes.

The cleaning device 15 provided on the photoreceptor 10 has a screw-shaped toner conveying member 3 for conveying the residual toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 17 into a cleaning case portion 15 a of a cartridge case 19.
0 is arranged in the axial direction of the photoconductor 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the toner conveying member 30 has one end 31 of a shaft 31 thereof.
a is provided so as to enter the fall path 35 from the fall path entrance 33 provided above the front plate portion 19 a of the cartridge case 19.

The falling path 35 is provided with a peripheral wall 36 provided on the outer surface of the front plate 19a so as to surround the falling path 35, and the front side thereof is formed in the front cover in a manner airtightly covered with a front cover which is removed and omitted in the drawing. The falling path 35 includes a bottom surface 36 a of the peripheral wall 36.
The recycled toner supply port 2 of the developing device 12 described above
A fall path exit 37 leading to 6 is provided. Further, the peripheral wall 36 is partially inclined between the falling path exit 37 and the falling path entrance 33, and a falling surface 36b of the residual toner is formed on the inner surface of the inclined portion.

In the developing device 12, at the time of copying, a drive motor (not shown) is driven, and the drive is transmitted to rotate the developing roller 28, and the stirring members 23 and 2 are used.
4, the developer is stirred, and the toner and the carrier are conveyed to the developing roller 28 while being frictionally charged. On the other hand, by applying a predetermined bias to the developing roller 28, the toner in the developer is electrostatically attached to the surface of the photoreceptor 10, and the latent image on the surface is visualized.

On the other hand, in the cleaning device 15, the screw gear 40 coaxial with the toner conveying member 30 is connected to the photoconductor gear 43 coaxial with the photoconductor 10 through two idler gears 41 and 42 as shown in FIG. Mesh with each other.

As shown by the arrow in FIG. 5, the screw gear 40 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction with the rotation of the photosensitive member gear 43, and the toner conveying member 30 is rotated in the reverse direction with respect to the photosensitive member 10.
The residual toner removed from the photoconductor 10 is transferred to the toner conveying member 3.
2 and is collected on the near side in the cleaning case portion 15a, dropped on the falling surface 36b from the falling path entrance 33 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 2, and further slid down on the falling surface 36b as shown by the arrow in FIG. The developer is collected from the falling path exit 37 into the developer stirring section 21 through the recycled toner supply port 26.

By the way, in the electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention, a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier is stored in advance in the developer stirring section 21 shown in FIG. Then, when carrying the process cartridge 20, as shown in FIG. 6, to prevent the developer from spilling out,
The opening 50 leading to the developer carrying portion 22 is
And the other openings, that is, the new toner supply port 25 and the recycled toner supply port 26, are closed and sealed by another seal member 52.

Here, the sealing members 51 and 52 are made of, for example, a resin film such as a polyester film having a thickness of 0.18 mm, and are bonded together by heat welding from the front side to the back side as shown in FIG. Fold it on the side and make the tip 51a / 5
2a is respectively extended to the near side.

When the process cartridge 20 is used, the tips 51a of the sealing members 51 and 52 are used.
7 and pulled out to the front side as shown in FIG.
52 is peeled off and removed.

As a result, the developer agitated in the developer agitating section 21 is sent out to the developer carrying section 22 through the opening 50, and the recycled toner falling through the falling path 35 is supplied from the falling path outlet 37 to the recycled toner supply port 26. Through the developer agitating section 21.

In the example described above, the developer agitating section 21
The three openings 50, 25, and 26 provided in the opening are closed by two sealing members 51 and 52, and the sealing members 51 and 52 are closed.
Were individually peeled off to be removable. However, as shown in FIG. 8, by attaching one connecting piece 53 to the sealing members 51 and 52, the tips 51a and 52a of the sealing members 51 and 52 are connected, and the connecting piece 53 is pulled. The two seal members 51
-52 may be peeled off simultaneously and removed.

When the above-described process cartridge 20 is mounted in the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus, the process cartridge 20 is provided with a new toner storage device 60 provided in the main body of the apparatus, as shown in FIG. Connect via 61.

When it is detected by the above-mentioned toner density sensor that the toner in the developer agitating section 21 has been reduced due to the use, new toner is sent out from the new toner storage device 60 and the new toner is supplied through the new toner supply path 61. The toner is supplied from the toner supply port 25 into the developer stirring section 21. The new toner storage device 60 provided in the apparatus main body is provided with a toner bottle for storing the new toner, which is replaceable.

[0035]

Therefore, according to the present invention, the two-component developer is stored in advance in the developer agitating section of the developing device, sealed with a seal member, and when used, it is only necessary to remove the seal member from the process cartridge. Therefore, when installing at the user's site, there is no need for a service technician having a special technique to supply the developer to the developing device, and the installation time is unnecessary or shortened, and the cost can be reduced.

In addition, there is no need to provide, for example, a developer cartridge only for accommodating the developer separately from the developing device, and it is possible to reduce the size of the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus by eliminating the mounting space. it can.

Before use, the developer is sealed with a sealing member, so that there is no danger of the developer spilling out when carrying the process cartridge.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the plurality of openings provided in the developer stirring section are closed with the plurality of seal members,
Since these seal members can be removed at the same time, the trouble of peeling a plurality of seal members can be reduced, and forgetting to peel the seal members can be prevented.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the plurality of openings provided in the developer agitating section are closed by one seal member, it is not necessary to individually perform the operations, and the labor for attaching or peeling the seal member is reduced. be able to. In addition, it is possible to prevent forgetting to remove the seal member.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of a laser copying machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a process cartridge provided in the laser copying machine as viewed from a side opposite to a photoreceptor.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the process cartridge viewed from a photoconductor side.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a developer stirring section of a developing device provided in the process cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a gear train that transmits rotation from a photosensitive member gear of a photosensitive member to a screw gear of a toner conveying member in the process cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a developer stirring unit in a state where an opening is closed with a seal member before using the process cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the process cartridge showing a state where the seal member is peeled off and removed when the process cartridge is used.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory perspective view in a case where a plurality of seal members are connected and peeled off at the same time.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory perspective view in a case where a plurality of openings are closed by one sealing member.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a process cartridge is connected to a new toner storage device in the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 photoconductor (image carrier) 12 developing device 15 cleaning device 20 process cartridge 21 developer stirring unit 22 developer holding unit 23 first stirring member 24 second stirring member 25 new toner supply port (opening) 26 recycled toner supply port (Opening) 27 Developing window 28 Developing roller 35 Drop path 37 Drop path exit 50 Opening 51 Seal member 51a Tip 52 Seal member 52a Tip 53 Connecting piece 54 Seal member 54a Tip 60 New toner storage device 61 New toner supply path

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hideki Yoshinami 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Noriyuki Usui 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Joji Mizuishi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Mayumi Ohori 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Mizusawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Satoshi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Invention Person Toshitaka Yamaguchi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Ricoh Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2H071 BA05 BA13 DA08 DA13 DA15 2H077 AA02 AA06 AA12 AA37 AC02 AD06 BA09 DA15 EA01

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A developer agitating section for agitating a two-component developer, and a developer carrying section for carrying a developer fed from the developer agitating section by a developing roller and attaching toner to an image carrier. In an electrophotographic apparatus, the developing device is provided in a process cartridge together with the image carrier, and the process cartridge is detachably attached to an electrophotographic apparatus main body. Sealing with a seal member, and removing the seal member from the process cartridge at the time of use,
Electrophotographic equipment. 2. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of openings provided in said developer stirring section are closed with a plurality of said seal members so that said seal members can be removed simultaneously. 3. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of openings provided in the developer stirring section are closed with one seal member.