JP2006330351A - Developing device and recycling method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing device capable of preventing a user from damaging the device accidentally or preventing an operator or user from being injured. <P>SOLUTION: The developing device includes: a unit main body composed by joining a plurality of housings 58, 60 and 37; a toner supply section 56 disposed within the unit main body; and a developing section 54 to which toner is supplied from the toner supply section 56. Toner filling parts 64A and 64B for filling the toner supply section 56 with toner is freely breakably disposed in an area that cannot be not seen from one of unit main body surfaces facing the plurality of housings 58, 60 and 37. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device used in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, or a facsimile machine.

Conventionally, in a developing device (developing cartridge) used in an image forming apparatus, a toner supply port for supplying toner from a toner supply unit to a developing unit, and a toner filling port for charging toner into the toner supply unit By providing the function of (toner filling unit), the housing structure of the developing cartridge has been simplified. When recycling such a developing cartridge, the developing cartridge is used to improve the recycling work efficiency. A means for forming a new toner filling port by destroying a part of the housing is disclosed (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-122361 A

  However, as described above, in the means for providing the toner supply port function to the toner supply port and destroying a part of the housing of the developing cartridge at the time of recycling to newly form the toner fill port, the user (user) However, there is a possibility that the operator or the user may be injured due to a burr generated when the toner filling port is accidentally damaged or the developing cartridge housing is destroyed. In addition, when the housing of the developing cartridge is destroyed, there is a problem that the safety and work efficiency are poor, such as a broken piece entering the housing and taking it out.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device that can solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and prevent the user from being accidentally damaged or the operator or the user from being injured.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is characterized by a unit main body configured by combining a plurality of housings, a toner supply unit provided in the unit main body, and a toner from the toner supply unit. A toner filling portion for filling the toner supply portion with toner in a portion hidden from the surface of one of the unit main bodies facing the plurality of housings. In the developing device. As a result, the toner filling portion is provided at a location that cannot be touched by the user when using the developing device, so that the user may be injured by a burr generated by the destruction of the toner filling portion, or the user may use the developing device. It is possible to prevent the toner filling portion from being accidentally damaged.

  Preferably, the toner filling unit is a developing device in which thin processing is performed at least on the peripheral part. Thereby, the toner filling portion can be easily destroyed, and the regeneration time of the developing device can be shortened.

  Preferably, the toner filling unit is a developing device that is thinner than the other part of the wall of the toner supply unit. Thereby, the toner filling portion can be easily destroyed, and the regeneration time of the developing device can be shortened.

  Preferably, the toner filling unit is a developing device in which a groove is formed in the peripheral portion. Thereby, the toner filling portion can be easily destroyed, and the regeneration time of the developing device can be shortened.

  Preferably, the toner filling unit is a developing device having a spiral cavity at the peripheral edge. This makes it possible to open the toner filling portion with a small external force when opening the toner filling portion, and furthermore, it is possible to accurately open the toner filling portion into an arbitrary shape. The sealing property at the time of refilling the toner can also be improved.

  Preferably, the toner filling portion is a developing device having a groove on the peripheral edge portion that forms a step where the closing member is locked after being broken. As a result, when a closing member such as a cap or a stopper is used to close the toner filling portion after refilling the toner, the sealing performance is improved by locking the closing member at the step.

  Preferably, the toner filling unit is a developing device having a grip portion that can be gripped from the outside of the toner supply portion. Accordingly, it is possible to safely destroy the toner filling portion without causing injury to the operator when the toner filling portion is broken. In addition, since there is no possibility that the debris enters the inside of the housing of the cartridge, there is no need to take out the debris and work efficiency can be improved.

  Preferably, the toner filling unit is a developing device provided in a portion other than the laser exposure region of the toner supply unit. As a result, even when the end of a closing member such as a film used to close the toner filling portion during the regeneration of the developing device is peeled off, the laser beam is not shielded and quality deterioration is prevented. it can.

  Preferably, the toner supply unit includes a toner tank and a developing device to which toner is supplied from the toner tank, and the toner filling unit is provided in each of the toner tank and the developing device. And As a result, even when the toner supply unit is composed of a plurality of housings, the user may be injured by a burr generated by the destruction of the toner filling unit, or the user may accidentally remove the toner filling unit when using the developing device. It can be prevented from being damaged.

  The second feature of the present invention is that a unit main body configured by combining a plurality of housings, a toner supply unit provided in the unit main body, and toner is supplied from the toner supply unit. A toner filling portion for filling the toner supply portion with toner at a portion hidden from the surface of the unit main body that faces the housing. The part is in the developing device closed by the closing member. As a result, since the toner filling portion is provided at a location that cannot be touched by the user when the developing device is used, the user accidentally removes the closing member of the toner filling portion when using the developing device, and toner leakage occurs. It is possible to prevent the occurrence.

  The third feature of the present invention is that a unit main body configured by combining a plurality of housings, a toner supply unit provided in the unit main body, and toner is supplied from the toner supply unit. A toner filling portion for filling the toner supply portion with toner at a portion hidden from the surface of one of the unit bodies facing the plurality of housings. A developing device regeneration method in which at least a part of the plurality of housings coupled to each other is separated to expose the toner filling portion on the surface of the unit main body, and the toner filling portion is broken and opened. In the reproducing method of the developing device, after the toner is filled from the toner filling portion, the toner filling portion is closed with a closing member. As a result, the toner filling portion is provided at a location that cannot be touched by the user when the developing device is used. Therefore, the user may be injured by a burr generated by the destruction of the toner filling portion, or the user may use the developing device. It is possible to prevent the toner filling portion from being accidentally damaged.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an outline of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming apparatus main body 12, an image forming unit 14 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 12, a discharge unit 16 is provided on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 12, and A paper feeding device 18 is provided below the image forming apparatus main body 12.

  The discharge unit 16 includes an inclined portion 22 that is rotatable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12. The inclined portion 22 has a low discharge port portion, and is inclined so as to gradually increase toward the front surface direction (the right direction in FIG. 1). The discharge port portion is a lower end, and the higher tip is an upper end. The inclined portion 22 is supported by the image forming apparatus main body 12 so as to be rotatable about the lower end. As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, when the inclined portion 22 is rotated upward to be opened, an opening portion 24 is formed, and a process cartridge (developing device) 40 described later can be attached / detached through the opening portion 24. It is like that.

  The image forming means 14 is of, for example, an electrophotographic system, and includes an image carrier 26 made of a photoconductor, a charging device 28 made of, for example, a charging roll that uniformly charges the image carrier 26, and the charging device 28. An optical writing device 30 that writes a latent image on the charged image carrier 26 with light, a developing unit 32 that visualizes the latent image of the image carrier 26 formed by the optical writing device 30 with toner, A transfer device 34 composed of, for example, a transfer roll for transferring a toner image by the developing unit 32 to a sheet, a cleaning device 36 composed of, for example, a blade for cleaning toner remaining on the image carrier 26, and a sheet transferred by the transfer device 34 For example, the image forming apparatus includes a fixing device 38 including a pressure roll and a heating roll for fixing the toner image on the sheet. The optical writing device 30 is composed of, for example, a scanning type laser exposure device, and is arranged in the vicinity of the front surface (right side surface in FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus main body 12 in parallel with the paper feeding cassette 20 of the paper feeding device 18. The image carrier 26 is exposed across. The developing unit 32 includes a developing roll (developer carrier) 42 that faces the image carrier 26 and a toner supply unit 56 described later.

  The process cartridge 40 is obtained by integrating an image carrier 26, a charging device (charging roll) 28, a developing unit 32, a cleaning device (cleaning blade) 36, and a toner recovery unit 37 (see FIG. 2). The process cartridge 40 is disposed immediately below the inclined portion 22 of the discharge portion 16 and is attached / detached via the opening portion 24 formed when the inclined portion 22 is opened as described above.

  In the image forming apparatus main body 12, for example, a resist roll 44 is disposed on the upstream side of the transfer device 34. The paper picked up by the pick-up roll 47 from the paper feed cassette 20 of the paper feeding device 18 and transported to the transport path 45 via the feed roll 49 and the retard roll 51 is temporarily stopped by the resist roll 44 and image formation is performed at a predetermined timing. An image is formed by being sent to the means 14 and is discharged to the discharge portion 16 by the discharge roll 46.

  However, in the case of duplex printing, it is returned to the reverse path. That is, the front of the discharge roll 46 is divided into two forks, and a switching claw 48 is provided at the divided portion, and an inversion path 50 is formed to return from the divided portion to the registration roll 44. The reversing path 50 is provided with transport rolls 52a to 52c. In the case of double-sided printing, the switching claw 48 is switched to the side that opens the reversing path 50, and the discharge roll 46 starts from the front end of the sheet. Thus, the discharge roll 46 is reversed, the paper is guided to the reverse path 50, and is discharged to the discharge portion 16 through the registration roll 44, the transfer device 34 and the image carrier 26 and the fixing device 38. .

Next, a process cartridge (developing device) 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 shows an outline of the process cartridge 40 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The process cartridge 40 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is an image carrier 26, a charging device 28, a developing unit 32, a cleaning device 36, and a toner recovery unit 37, which can be replaced as a unit. It is like that. The developing unit 32 of the process cartridge 40 includes a developing chamber (developing portion) 54 having a developing roll 42 and a developer remaining amount detecting member hole 52, and a toner supplying portion adjacent to the developing chamber 54 via a toner supply port 55. 56. The toner supply unit 56 has a toner tank 58 at the upper part and a developing device 60 to which toner is supplied from the toner tank 58 at the lower part. Incidentally, the toner tank 58 and the developing device 60 are originally formed in a separated state, and they are welded together by a coupling portion 65 to constitute a toner supply portion 56.

  In the toner tank 58 and the developing device 60, toner agitating members 61A and 61B for agitating and conveying the toner are provided. In addition, the photoconductor unit including the image carrier 26, the charging device 28, the cleaning device 36, and the toner collecting unit 37 so that the toner collecting unit 37 is adjacent to the toner tank 58 of the developing unit 32 and close to the developing device 60. (Image carrier unit) 62 is arranged. That is, in the process cartridge 40, the toner recovery unit 37, the toner tank 58 of the developing unit 32, and the three housings of the developing device 60 are combined and configured.

  The developing unit 32 of the process cartridge 40 fills each of the toner tank 58 and the developing device 60 with toner from an opening serving as a coupling portion 65 of the toner tank 58 and the developing device 60 when manufacturing a factory shipment product. Thereafter, the toner tank 58 and the developing device 60 are welded. However, after the toner tank 58 and the developing device 60 are welded and joined, it becomes impossible to fill the toner from the joining portion 65. Therefore, breakable toner filling portions 64A and 64B are provided on the toner tank 58 and a part of the wall of the developing device 60 so that the toner supply portion 56 can be filled with toner when the process cartridge 40 is recycled (regenerated). Is provided. The toner filling portions 64A and 64B are in contact with or close to the toner recovery portion 37 on the walls of the toner tank 58 and the developing device 60 and hidden from the surface of the unit when the developing unit 32 and the photosensitive unit 62 are coupled. This area is provided in an area that the user cannot touch when using the process cartridge 40.

  As described above, since the toner filling portions 64A and 64B are provided at locations where the user cannot touch when the process cartridge 40 is used, the user is free from burrs caused by the destruction of the toner filling portions 64A and 64B. Can be prevented from being injured or the user accidentally damaging the toner filling portions 64A and 64B when the process cartridge 40 is used.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the toner filling portion 64B formed in the developing device 60 is a portion other than the laser exposure region by the laser beam from the optical writing device 30, and is a region A or region indicated by a dotted line. It is formed in the region A ′. As described above, since the toner filling portion 64B is formed in a region other than the laser exposure region, for example, the end of a closing member such as a film used for closing the toner filling portion 64B when the process cartridge 40 is regenerated. The part does not peel off and the laser beam is not blocked, and the quality of the process cartridge 40 can be prevented from deteriorating.

  In the toner filling portion 64 (64A, 64B) in this embodiment, as shown in, for example, a top view and a cross-sectional view in FIG. 4A, both inner and outer side surfaces of the wall of the peripheral portion 63 of the toner filling portion 64 are provided. Grooves (opening fractures) 66A and 66B having substantially the same depth and a substantially three-section cross section are formed. A gripping portion 68 that can be gripped with a jig or the like is formed on the outer surface of the toner filling portion 64. In this way, the toner filling portion 64 can be easily broken along the peripheral edge portion 63 by pushing it inwardly, and the worker can work safely without being injured. In addition, it is possible to prevent debris from entering the toner tank 58 and the developing device 60 by grasping the grasping portion 68 with a jig or the like. Efficiency can be improved.

  In addition to the shape shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the toner filling portion 64 is provided on the peripheral portion 63 as shown in, for example, the top view and the cross-sectional view of FIG. The grooves 66A and 66B having a substantially triangular cross-section depth may be used, and the gripping portion 68 may be protruded outward from the outer surface of the wall so as to be easily gripped. In this way, when the toner filling portion 64 is broken along the peripheral edge portion 63 by pushing the toner filling portion 64 inward in order to open the toner filling portion 64, the gripping portion can be easily broken. By gripping 68 with a jig or the like, it is possible to more reliably prevent debris from entering the toner tank 58 or the developing device 60, and work efficiency can be improved.

Next, the toner filling unit 64 in the process cartridge 40 of the second embodiment will be described.
In the process cartridge 40 of this embodiment, the toner filling portion 64 has grooves 66A and 66B in FIGS. 4A to 4D, as shown in, for example, the top view and FIG. Instead of being formed, a spiral cavity 70 is formed in the wall of the peripheral portion 63. In this way, when the toner filling portion 64 is broken, it can be broken with a small external force, and the toner filling portion can be broken into an arbitrary shape accurately, thus improving workability. In addition, the sealing property at the time of refilling the toner can be improved. In this embodiment as well, a gripping portion 68 that can be gripped with a jig or the like is formed on the outer surface of the toner filling portion 64, and debris enters inside the toner tank 58 or the developing device 60. Therefore, there is no need to take out the debris and work efficiency can be improved.

Next, the toner filling unit 64 in the process cartridge 40 of the third embodiment will be described.
In the process cartridge 40 of this embodiment, the toner filling portion 64 has a groove 66 on the outer wall side and the most broken surface on the inner wall side, as shown in the top view and FIG. A cross section having an outer diameter D larger than the outer diameter d of the small diameter portion has a rectangular groove 72 having a rectangular shape. By doing so, a step is formed between the minimum diameter portion of the peripheral portion 63 and the rectangular groove 72 after the toner filling portion 64 is destroyed. Therefore, for example, after the toner filling portion 64 is broken and opened as shown in FIG. 6C, the toner filling portion 64 is provided to close the toner filling portion 64 as shown in FIG. 6D. An elastic cap (blocking member) 76 such as a rubber having a convex portion 78 closely attached to the rectangular groove 72 can be press-fitted into the toner filling portion 64 and attached. By doing so, the toner filling portion 64 can be more reliably sealed, the cap seal performance is improved, and toner leakage from the toner filling portion 64 can be suppressed.
In addition to the shape shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, for example, the entire toner filling unit 64 may be thinner than the other part of the wall of the toner supply unit 56.

Next, the procedure of the method for regenerating the process cartridge 40 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
First, the photosensitive unit 62 is removed from the process cartridge 40 shown in FIG. 2, and the developing unit 32 is taken out. By doing so, the toner filling portions 64A and 64B are exposed on the surface of the developing unit 32. Note that the photosensitive unit 62 and the developing unit 32 of the process cartridge 40 are coupled by pins or the like, and can be easily separated using a jig or the like. Then, as shown in FIG. 7A, the toner filling portions 64A and 64B are broken along the peripheral portion 63. At that time, as described above, the toner filling portion 64 is broken and opened along the peripheral edge portion 63 while holding the grip portion 68 provided in the toner filling portions 64A and 64B with a jig or the like, thereby filling the toner. It is possible to prevent the broken pieces of the portions 64A and 64B from entering the toner tank 58 and the developing device 60.

Then, the process cartridge 40 is cleaned and the toner is refilled from the toner filling portions 64A and 64B, and then a cap (plug) 76 as shown in FIG. 7B or a film 80 as shown in FIG. 7C. The toner filling portions 64A and 64B are closed by a closing member such as.
As described above, the toner filling portions 64A and 64B are provided at locations where the user cannot touch when using the process cartridge 40, and the toner filling portions 64A and 64B are opened when the toner is refilled. The user may be injured by a burr generated by the destruction of the filling parts 64A and 64B, or the user may accidentally damage the toner filling parts 64A and 64B when using the process cartridge 40, or remove the blocking member. Can be prevented.

In the process cartridge 40 of the above-described embodiment, the toner supply unit 56 has the toner tank 58 on the upper side and the developing device 60 on the lower side. 4 shows a process cartridge 40 according to a fourth embodiment.
In the process cartridge 40 shown in FIG. 8, a photosensitive unit 62 including an image carrier 26, a charging device 28, a cleaning device 36, and a toner recovery unit 37 is formed above the developing device 60. That is, in the process cartridge 40 of this embodiment, the two housings of the toner recovery unit 37 and the developing device 60 of the developing unit 32 are combined and configured.

The upper wall of the developing device 60 adjacent to the photosensitive unit 62 is a portion that is in contact with or close to the toner recovery unit 37 and hidden from the surface of the unit and cannot be touched by the user when the process cartridge 40 is used. In part, for example, a toner filling portion 64 having a shape shown in any of FIGS.
In this way, since the toner filling portion 64 is provided at a location that the user cannot touch when using the process cartridge 40, the user may be injured by the burr generated by the destruction of the toner filling portion 64. It is possible to prevent the user from accidentally damaging the toner filling unit 64 when the process cartridge 40 is used.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the toner filling unit 64 is provided in a region A or a region A ′ that is a portion other than a laser exposure region by laser light. As described above, since the toner filling portion 64 is disposed in a portion other than the laser exposure region, the end portion of the film or the like used to close the toner filling portion 64 is peeled off after the process cartridge 40 is regenerated. The laser beam is not shielded, and the quality of the process cartridge 40 can be prevented from deteriorating.

  Also in the process cartridge 40 of this embodiment, at the time of reproduction, the photosensitive unit 62 is removed from the process cartridge 40, the developing unit 32 is taken out, the toner filling portion 64 is exposed on the surface of the unit, and the toner filling portion 64 is removed. Destroy along the peripheral edge 63.

Then, cleaning of the process cartridge 40 and refilling of the toner from the toner filling unit 64 are performed, and then a cap (plug) 76 as shown in FIG. 9A or a film 80 as shown in FIG. The toner filling portion 64 is closed by the closing member.
As described above, the toner filling portion 64 is provided at a location that cannot be touched by the user when the process cartridge 40 is used, and the toner filling portion 64 is opened when the toner is refilled. It is possible to prevent the user from being injured by the burr generated by the destruction, the user accidentally damaging the toner filling portion 64 when the process cartridge 40 is used, or removing the closing member.

  As described above, the present invention can be used in a developing device that can prevent a user from being damaged accidentally or an operator or user from being injured.

1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the outline | summary of the process cartridge which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the principal part of the process cartridge which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 2A and 2B are a top view and a cross-sectional view showing a main part of the process cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is the upper side figure and sectional drawing which show the principal part of the process cartridge which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a top view and a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a process cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the reproduction | regeneration procedure of the process cartridge which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the outline | summary of the process cartridge which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state after the reproduction | regeneration of the process cartridge which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 26 Image carrier 28 Charging apparatus 32 Developing unit 36 Cleaning apparatus 37 Toner recovery part 40 Process cartridge 54 Developing chamber (developing part)
56 Toner supply part 58 Toner tank 60 Developer 62 Photoconductor unit 63 Peripheral parts 64, 64A, 64B Toner filling part 65 Coupling part 66 Groove 68 Grasping part 70 Cavity 72 Rectangular groove 76 Cap 78 Protruding part 80 Film

Claims (11)

  A plurality of housings each including a unit body configured by combining a plurality of housings, a toner supply unit provided in the unit body, and a developing unit to which toner is supplied from the toner supply units; A developing device characterized in that a toner filling portion for filling toner into the toner supply portion is provided in a breakable manner at a portion hidden from the surface of one of the unit main bodies facing each other.   The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the toner filling unit is subjected to thin wall processing at least at a peripheral part.   The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the toner filling unit is thinner than other portions of the wall of the toner supply unit.   The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the toner filling portion has a groove formed in the peripheral portion.   The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the toner filling unit has a spiral cavity at the peripheral edge.   The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the toner filling portion has a groove that forms a step in which the closing member can be locked after being broken at the peripheral portion.   The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the toner filling unit includes a gripping unit that can be gripped from the outside of the toner supply unit.   The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the toner filling unit is provided in a portion other than a laser exposure region of the toner supply unit.   The toner supply unit includes a toner tank and a developing device to which toner is supplied from the toner tank, and the toner filling unit is provided in each of the toner tank and the developing device. The developing device according to claim 1.   A plurality of housings each including a unit body configured by combining a plurality of housings, a toner supply unit provided in the unit body, and a developing unit to which toner is supplied from the toner supply units; Is provided with a toner filling portion for filling the toner supply portion with toner in a portion hidden from the surface of the unit main body, which is opposed to the toner supply portion, and the toner filling portion is closed by a closing member. A developing device.   A plurality of housings each including a unit body configured by combining a plurality of housings, a toner supply unit provided in the unit body, and a developing unit to which toner is supplied from the toner supply units; Is a regenerating method of a developing device in which a toner filling portion for filling toner in the toner supply portion is provided in a breakable manner in a portion hidden from the surface of one of the unit main bodies facing each other. Further, separating at least a part of the plurality of housings to expose the toner filling portion on the surface of the unit main body, breaking and opening the toner filling portion, and filling the toner from the toner filling portion, A regenerating method of a developing device, wherein a toner filling portion is closed with a closing member.

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