JP2004151209A - Developer cartridge and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve workability by reducing man hours of mounting of a developer cartridge. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises a lock means for locking the developer cartridge impossible to pull it, a flange engaged with the lock means provided on the developer cartridge, a position detecting means for detecting the position of the cartridge, a changeover means for changing over the lock means to a lock position and an opening position, a detecting means for detecting the residue of a developer in the cartridge, a cover for covering the storing part of the cartridge, a detecting means for detecting the opening and closing of the cover, and a display means for displaying information of a developer residual amount. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a developer cartridge that contains a developer and has a discharge opening that can be opened and closed, and a developer supply device that mounts the developer cartridge and supplies the developer to a developer receiving unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a means for replenishing a developer from a developer cartridge containing a developer to a developer storage portion of an image forming apparatus, a developer cartridge having a spiral projection inside a container is set substantially horizontally with respect to the apparatus main body. Then, the developer cartridge is rotated around the central axis of the developer cartridge to discharge the developer from the developer outlet of the developer cartridge to supply the developer to the developer receiving portion, or a screw or an inclined surface is provided inside the container. A rotary spring is provided, the developer cartridge is set substantially horizontally with respect to the apparatus main body, and a screw or a rotary spring is rotated about the center axis of the developer cartridge as a rotation center, or the screw or the rotary spring and the developer cartridge are provided. There is a type in which the developer is discharged from the developer outlet of the developer cartridge by rotating the developer cartridge and the developer is supplied to the developer receiving section. It was. However, the replenishment method of the above type requires a lot of man-hours for the mounting operation to prevent the developer from scattering and measures against third parties. Time was increased and productivity was lost.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional developer cartridge requires a lot of man-hours for mounting operation to prevent the developer from scattering and measures against a third party. Time was increased and productivity was lost.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems in a developer cartridge, and to reduce the number of steps when mounting or removing a developer cartridge.
[0005]
(Action)
With the above configuration, the developer cartridge can be attached and detached in one action, so that the operability of replacing the cartridge is improved, and the operability of the image forming apparatus main body is improved.
[0006]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(Example 1)
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0007]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a developer cartridge to which the present invention is applied.
[0008]
First, a schematic configuration of the copying machine will be described with reference to FIG. A copying machine 10 shown in FIG. 9 is provided with an automatic document feeder 13 that can automatically open and close a document on a document table 12 at a reading position above a copying machine main body 11 so as to be openable and closable. Therefore, the setting of the document on the document table 12 at the reading position may be automatically performed using the automatic document feeder 13 or the user may open and close the automatic document feeder 13 The document may be set directly on the document table 12.
[0009]
An optical reading system 14 for reading a document image is provided below the document table 12. The optical reading system 14 moves along the platen 12 and irradiates the image surface of the document set on the platen 12 with light, and transmits the reflected light (image light) to the image reading device 14a. It has a mirror and a lens for guiding. The image read by the image reading device 14a is converted into an electric signal and transmitted to the image writing device 14b. The image reading device 14b forms an electrostatic image on the photosensitive drum 15 based on the received signal.
[0010]
Around the photoreceptor drum 15 of the image forming section, a charging unit 16, a developing unit 17, a cleaning unit 18, a transfer unit 19, and the like are disposed as process units. In the image forming section, first, the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 is uniformly charged by the charging means 16, and the image read by the image writing device 14b is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 15 to form a latent image. You. Then, the latent image is developed by the developing unit 17 to form a toner image on the photosensitive drum 15. The sheet material S is fed in synchronization with the image forming operation, and the transfer unit 19 transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 15. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 15 after the transfer is removed by the cleaning unit 18.
[0011]
The sheet material S is accommodated in cassettes 1, 2, 3, and 4 as sheet material accommodating devices which are attached to the lower part of the copying machine main body 11 so as to be able to be pulled out and housed, or a side portion of the copying machine main body 11 (in FIG. It is housed in a large-capacity deck 5 detachably mounted on the right side). The sheet materials S of various sizes are selectively fed by a pickup roller 6 and a feeding roller pair 7 as individually provided feeding means, and are fed one by one sequentially from the top. It is to be sent. The sheet material S is sent to the image forming section by a pair of conveying rollers 20 and a pair of registration rollers 21 as conveying means, and the toner image is transferred as described above. After the transfer, the sheet material S is sent to the fixing unit 23 by the transport belt 22, and the toner image is fixed. After the fixing, the sheet material S is discharged out of the apparatus by a discharge roller pair 24.
[0012]
Here, when an image is recorded and formed on both sides of the sheet material, the image is fixed by the reversing conveyance means 26 including a pair of reversing rollers and a flapper disposed in front of the pair of discharging rollers 24. The sheet S is turned upside down and sent to the re-conveying path 27, and is again fed to the image forming unit by the conveying roller pairs 28 to 31 as conveying means. The sheet material S sent to the image forming unit is discharged out of the apparatus after the transfer and fixing are performed as described above.
[0013]
Further, a developer cartridge 8 in which a developer is sealed is provided in the copying machine main body 11 for supplying a developer for image formation to the developing unit 17, substantially above the developing unit 17. Supply the required amount of developer.
[0014]
Next, a configuration relating to the connection between the developer cartridge 8 and the developer cartridge 8 of the copying machine main body 11 will be described with reference to FIG. The copying machine main body 11 is provided with a position detection sensor 101 for detecting that the developer cartridge 8 is pushed to a position where the developer cartridge 8 is to be set when the developer cartridge 8 is mounted on the copying machine main body 11. Further, a lock plate 102 is provided for fixing the position of the developer cartridge 8 so that the developer cartridge 8 cannot be freely pulled out of the copier main body 11 when the developer cartridge 8 is mounted on the copier main body 11. The lock plate 102 is connected to the latch solenoid 103 directly or via a link (not shown), and is configured to be able to switch the lock plate 102 to a locked state or an open state by electrically driving the latch solenoid 103. The copier body 11 or the developer cartridge 8 is provided with a remaining amount detecting means 104 for detecting and monitoring the remaining amount of the developer in the developer cartridge 8. As shown in FIG. 2, an operation panel on the copying machine main body 11 is provided with a display unit 201 for displaying remaining amount information by the remaining amount detecting means 104. The copier body 11 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a cover 105 for covering the developer cartridge storage section, and an open / close detection sensor 106 for detecting the open / close of the cover 105 is provided near the cover 105.
[0015]
Next, the operation of each part of the copying machine main body 11 and the developer cartridge 8 having the above configuration will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 3, when the developer cartridge 8 is mounted on the copying machine main body 11, the developer cartridge 8 is pushed into the developer cartridge storage section. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the developer cartridge 8 is pushed into the storage section, the developer cartridge position detecting sensor 101 detects that the developer cartridge 8 is pushed, and sends the information to the copying machine main body 11. The copier body 11 receives the information and sends a signal to the latch solenoid 103. Upon receiving the signal, the latch solenoid 103 operates to move the lock plate 102 connected directly or via a link to a position for fixing the developer cartridge 8. Since the latch solenoid 103 has a position holding function even when the power is not turned on, it is possible to hold the position so that the developer cartridge 8 cannot be pulled out even when the power of the copying machine main body 11 is not turned on.
[0016]
When the remaining amount of the developer in the developer cartridge 8 mounted on the copying machine main body 11 decreases, the developer remaining amount detection sensor 104 sends information to the copying machine main body 11. The copier main body 11 displays on the display unit 201 shown in FIG. 2 that the remaining amount of the developer has decreased, informs the operator that the remaining amount of the developer has decreased, and replaces the developer cartridge 8. Prompt. When the operator opens the cover 105 of the developer cartridge accommodating section shown in FIG. 6 according to the information on the display section 201, the fact that the cover 105 has been opened is notified to the copying machine main body 11 by the cover opening / closing detection sensor 106, and shown in FIG. As described above, the copying machine main body 11 operates the latch solenoid 103 and slides the lock plate 102 connected to the latch solenoid 103 directly or via a link to a position where the developer cartridge 8 can be pulled out, so that the developer cartridge 8 can be pulled out. become. Thus, the developer cartridge 8 can be removed in one action in conjunction with the opening operation of the cover.
[0017]
(Example 2)
In the image forming apparatus to which the developer cartridge according to the first embodiment is attached, the cover 105 of the developer cartridge storage unit shown in FIG. In order to prevent access, a lock mechanism 107 is provided inside the cover 105 so that the cover 105 cannot be opened until the developer remaining amount detection sensor 104 determines that it is time to replace.
[0018]
(Example 3)
In the image forming apparatus to which the developer cartridge according to the first or second embodiment is attached, a slide shutter 82 which normally seals a developer discharge port 81 is provided on the developer cartridge 8 as shown in FIGS. A spring 83 is provided for biasing the spring in the sealing direction. When the developer cartridge 8 needs to be replaced, a display urging the replacement is displayed on the display unit 201 on the operation panel, and the operator opens the cover 105 of the developer cartridge accommodating unit in accordance with the instruction, thereby opening the developer discharge port. The lock plate 102 engaged with the flange 84 is retracted by switching the latch solenoid 103, and the developer cartridge 8 is moved in the removal direction by the repulsive force of the spring 83 that urges the slide shutter 82 in the direction of closing the developer discharge port 81. Jump out slightly.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the number of steps involved in attaching / detaching the developer cartridge can be reduced, and the attachment / detachment can be easily performed, so that the operability of replacing the cartridge is improved, and the operability of the image forming apparatus main body is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a developer cartridge according to Embodiments 1 and 3 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a developer cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a developer cartridge according to Embodiments 1 and 3 of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a developer cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a developer cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a developer cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a developer cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a developer cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus main body showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sheet material accommodation device 2 Sheet material accommodation device 3 Sheet material accommodation device 4 Sheet material accommodation device 5 Large capacity sheet material accommodation device 6 Pickup roller 7 Feed roller pair 8 Developing material cartridge 10 Image forming device 11 Image forming device main body 12 Original Table 13 Automatic document feeder 14 Optical reading system 14a Document reader 14b Image writing device 15 Photosensitive drum 16 Charging means 17 Developing means 18 Cleaning device 19 Transfer device 20 Conveying roller pair 21 Registration roller pair 22 Conveying belt 23 Fixing unit 24 Discharge roller Pair 26 reverse transport means 27 re-transport path 28 re-transport roller pair 29 re-transport roller pair 30 re-transport roller pair 31 re-transport roller pair 81 developer outlet 82 outlet cap 83 spring 84 flange 101 position detection sensor 102 lock plate 103 Latch solenoid 104 remaining Knowledge sensor 105 cover 106 opening and closing detection sensor 107 locking mechanism

Claims (3)

A developer cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus main body and supplying a developer to the image forming apparatus in the mounted state;
(1) Locking means provided on the image forming apparatus main body side, and (2) Development for fixing the developer cartridge so that it cannot be pulled out by the locking means when the developer cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. A flange portion provided on the developer cartridge side, and (3) a developer cartridge position detecting means provided on the image forming apparatus main body, for detecting that the developer cartridge is pushed into the mounting position;
(4) switching means for switching the locking means to a locked state or an open state;
(5) a remaining amount detecting means for monitoring the remaining amount of the developer in the developer cartridge; (6) a cover for the developer cartridge accommodating portion; and (7) a proximity to the cover for detecting opening and closing of the cover. (8) display means provided in the image forming apparatus main body and for displaying information such as the remaining amount of the developer;
A developer cartridge and an image forming apparatus, comprising: 2. The developer cartridge and the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lock unit that locks the cover of the developer cartridge storage unit so that the cover cannot be opened freely until a cartridge replacement time comes. . The developer outlet of the developer cartridge is normally sealed by a shutter or a cap that slides in a direction opposite to the pushing direction, and the shutter or the cap is urged in a sealing direction by urging means. The developer cartridge according to claim 1.

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