JP2009069231A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that enhances the mounting positional accuracy of a toner supply device to a development unit, when mounting a toner supply device. <P>SOLUTION: The toner supply device 30 is provided with an engaging member 39 having an engaging projection 42 and a shutter 43, and a lid 22 for the development unit 8 is provided with a guide rail 28 that slidably supports the engaging projection 42. When the toner supply device 30 is to be attached and detached, the engaging projection 42 engages with the guide rail 28 to be guided, thereby the toner supply device can move along a predetermined path, so that the toner supply device 30 and the development unit 8 can be connected to each other with proper positional accuracy. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine and a laser printer, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus provided with a toner supply device that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body.

  A configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus is shown in FIG. In an image forming apparatus (for example, a printer) 100, when performing an image forming operation, a photosensitive drum 5 that rotates clockwise in the drawing is uniformly charged by a charging unit 4, and an exposure unit (laser scanning unit) based on document image data. Etc.) An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 5 by the laser beam from 7, and a developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) is attached to the electrostatic latent image by the developing unit 8 to form a toner image.

  The toner is supplied to the developing unit 8 from the toner container 9. The image data is transmitted from a personal computer (not shown) or the like. Further, a static elimination device (not shown) for removing residual charges on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is provided on the downstream side of the cleaning device 6.

  The sheet is conveyed from the sheet storage unit 10 via the sheet conveyance path 12 and the registration roller pair 13 toward the photosensitive drum 5 on which the toner image is formed as described above, and is transferred by the transfer roller 14 (image transfer unit). A toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is transferred to a sheet. The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 5 and conveyed to a fixing unit 15 having a fixing roller pair 15a to fix the toner image. The sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 15 is conveyed to the upper part of the apparatus by the sheet conveying path 16 and is discharged from the discharge roller pair 17 to the discharge tray 18.

  In such an image forming apparatus, when the toner container 9 is disposed immediately above the developing unit 8, the exposure unit 7 is disposed in the space above the toner container 9 due to the device space. . Further, when a laser scanning unit (LSU) is disposed as the exposure unit 7 above the toner container 9, it is significant to dispose the LSU obliquely so that the light irradiated from the LSU is directly incident on the photosensitive drum 5. Space is required, which may affect the arrangement of other components or increase the size of the apparatus.

  For this reason, in order to irradiate the photosensitive drum 5 with laser light from the LSU, it is necessary to irradiate from the polygon mirror 7a in the LSU via the reflection mirror 7b. However, through the reflection mirror 7b, the image formation may be affected due to the reflection state of the reflection mirror 7b and the like, which may affect the image formation.

  On the other hand, various methods for disposing the toner container 9 at a position away from the developing unit 8 have been proposed.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, after supplying toner from a toner cartridge (toner container) to a toner supply port provided on an upper surface cover of a toner supply case (developing unit) having a toner supply roller (developing roller), the upper surface cover The toner is transported by a transport belt along the longitudinal direction of the toner, and the toner on the transport belt is scraped off by a toner scraping member formed so as to be farther away from the toner supply port, and dropped onto the toner supply roller. A toner replenishing mechanism for replenishing toner is disclosed. This eliminates the need for a spiral that has been conventionally used to make the toner uniform, thereby reducing the drive sound of the spiral and reducing the size.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, a plurality of toner bottles that are individually driven to rotate around an axial center are set in a toner bank (toner container) in the vertical direction, and the toner that has fallen from each toner bottle to the toner bank is pumped. A method of supplying a developing unit by a flexible toner conveying means including a unit and a toner supply pipe is disclosed. As a result, it is possible to prevent toner from condensing due to the influence of frictional heat due to rotation and causing toner clogging.

  In Patent Document 3, a toner transport relay body (toner supply device) is fixed between a plurality of developing units (development units) and a toner hopper (toner container), and the toner is transported from the toner hopper to the toner transport relay body. A first toner conveying means for conveying toner and a second toner conveying means for conveying toner from the toner conveying relay to the developing device, and when the developing device is replaced, the toner conveying relay is connected and disconnected. This makes it possible to easily replace the developing device.

Further, Patent Document 4 includes a rotation support body that supports and rotates a plurality of development units and moves a desired development unit to a development position facing a latent image carrier, and includes a plurality of developer containers (toner containers). ) Are connected to one end of the developer transport path, and the other end is connected to a cylindrical developer distributor (toner supply device) having a plurality of developer discharge ports (toner supply ports) at different locations in the longitudinal direction. Then, a method is disclosed in which the developer distributing portion is inserted into an insertion hole provided in the central portion of the rotating shaft of the rotary support, and a predetermined developer is supplied to each developing unit. As a result, toner scattering is prevented.
JP-A-7-140775 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-333412 JP 7-319248 A JP-A-6-102765

  However, the method of Patent Document 1 does not supply toner by connecting the toner supply port of the toner supply device and the toner receiving port of the developing unit. In the method of Patent Document 2, a toner recovery device that separates air and toner and supplies the toner to the developing unit is detachable, but a specific mounting method is not disclosed. Further, in the method of Patent Document 3, a toner transport relay body is fitted and connected to the opening of the developing unit, and in the method of Patent Document 4, a cylindrical developer distributor is inserted into the insertion hole of the developing unit. Therefore, it is troublesome to attach and detach, and there is a risk of burdening the operator.

  Further, when the toner supply device is attached to the developing unit, it is necessary to attach the toner supply device to the developing unit with high accuracy in order to prevent occurrence of toner leakage after the attachment. However, the methods of Patent Documents 1 to 4 have not been proposed by paying attention to such mounting accuracy.

  Further, when toner supply from the toner supply device to the developing unit is restricted by opening / closing of the shutter, if the mounting position of the toner supply device is shifted, there is a possibility that the opening of the shutter may be hindered and the toner may not be supplied. . Further, when the toner supply device is detached, the shutter is not sufficiently closed, and the toner remaining in the toner supply device may leak.

  Normally, the toner container can be replaced by the user, but the toner supply device has been replaced by a service person or the like due to the difficulty of attachment / detachment. For example, when performing maintenance work such as replacing the development unit every 300,000 sheets, it is necessary to remove the toner supply device in advance in order to remove the development unit from the apparatus main body. If the closure is insufficient, a large amount of toner may leak.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to simply provide an image forming apparatus capable of increasing the mounting position accuracy of a toner supply device with respect to a developing unit when the toner supply device is mounted.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an exposure means for exposing an image carrier, and a developer means having a developer carrier for supplying a developer to the image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by the exposure means. A developer containing means for containing a developer to be supplied to the developing means; detachable from the apparatus main body; and connected to the developing means when attached to the apparatus main body; and connected to the developer receiving port of the developing means. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus, the developer supply means has a developer supply port for supplying the developer conveyed from the developer containing means from above. A developer which is mounted on the outside in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier, protrudes from the developer supply means so as to be substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier, and is provided with the developer supply port at the tip. Has agent transport path The developing means includes a guide member that slidably supports an engaging member provided in the developer conveyance path and guides the developing member to a predetermined position when the developer supplying means is mounted. It is characterized by being provided.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the exposure means is arranged so as to be able to irradiate the image carrier through the lower part of the developer containing means and the upper part of the developing means and the developer transport path. .

  According to the present invention, the developer supply means is provided with an opening / closing member that opens and closes the developer supply port in accordance with an attaching / detaching operation with respect to the apparatus main body.

  According to the present invention, the engaging member is a partition that restricts an air flow from the opposite side of the developer supply port to the developer supply port with respect to the developer supply port when the developer supply device is mounted. A member is provided.

  According to the first configuration of the present invention, the developing means is provided with a guide member that slidably supports the engaging member provided in the developer transport path protruding from the developer supplying means, and the developer supplying means When the developer is mounted, the developer supply means is guided to a predetermined position, so that the developer supply means is disposed on the outside in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier in the development means, and is provided at the tip of the developer conveyance path section. The developer supply port faces the developer receiving port of the developing unit with high accuracy, and the developer supplying unit and the developing unit can be connected. Thereby, it is possible to increase the accuracy of the mounting position with respect to the developing means when the developer supplying means is mounted by a simple method.

  According to the second configuration of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having the first configuration, the image carrier is irradiated with light through the lower part of the developer containing unit and the upper part of the developing unit and the developer transport path. By disposing the exposure unit, it is possible to irradiate light in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the exposure unit without using a reflection mirror or the like to expose the image carrier, so that the image quality can be improved.

  According to the third configuration of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having the first or second configuration, the opening / closing member that opens and closes the developer supply port in the developer supply means according to the attachment / detachment operation with respect to the apparatus main body. By providing this, it is possible to suppress the leakage of toner from the developer supply port when the developer supply means is attached or detached. At this time, since the mounting position accuracy of the developer supply unit with respect to the developing unit is improved, it is possible to prevent the opening / closing operation failure of the open / close member due to the displacement of the developer supply unit.

  According to the fourth configuration of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having any one of the first to third configurations, the engaging member is connected to the developer supply port when the developer supply means is mounted. By restricting the air flow from the opposite side to the developer supply port to the developer supply port, the intrusion of the air flow into the connecting portion between the developer supply port and the developer receiving port is limited. Can do. Thereby, even when a very small amount of developer inevitably leaks at the connecting portion, it is possible to prevent the developer from scattering.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a developing unit used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view as viewed from obliquely below. FIG. 3 is a side view of the lid of the developing unit used in this embodiment. Portions common to FIG. 11 of the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 1, the developing unit 8 is roughly composed of a casing 21, a lid portion 22 and a developing roller 23.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the developing unit (developing unit) 8 includes a casing 21 that accommodates toner. An upper portion of the casing 21 has a lid portion 22 and a developing roller (in the longitudinal direction of the casing 21). And a developer carrying member 23). One end portion (front side in the figure) of the shaft of the developing roller 23 protrudes from the side surface portion 21 a of the casing 21, and a driving input gear 24 that inputs driving to the developing roller 23 is provided at the tip.

  A drive transmission gear 25 is linked to the drive input gear 24 from the center side along the side surface portion 21a, and drive from a drive motor (not shown) provided in the apparatus body is input via the drive transmission gear 25. It is transmitted to the gear 24. A portion of the upper surface of the developing unit 8 where the developing roller 23 is not projected is provided with a lid portion 22, which is perpendicular to the upper surface portion 22 a of the developing unit 8 and the end portion of the upper surface portion 22 a on the developing roller 23 side. And a projecting wall 22b projecting from the head.

  A toner receiving portion 26 for receiving toner supplied from a toner supply device 30 to be described later protrudes from the center of the lid portion 22 on the opposite side to the drive input gear 24 with respect to the central portion in the longitudinal direction. The toner receiving port 26a is formed in a rectangular shape. In order to prevent toner leakage when a toner supply port 38 and a toner supply port 38 (see FIG. 5) of a toner supply device 30 to be described later are connected to the opening surface of the toner receiving port 26a, for example, felt or packing is provided. You can also

  Further, the end portion 22c opposite to the projecting wall 22b of the lid portion 22 has a groove shape that opens upward in a U-shaped cross section along the end surface 22c at the end portion opposite to the drive input gear 24. Projecting portion 27 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a narrow portion 27 a having a narrow groove width is formed at a portion near the toner receiving portion 26 with respect to the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the projecting portion 27, and the narrow portion 27 a of the projecting portion 27 is formed. A stopper 27b is provided on the toner receiving portion 26 side so as to stand vertically from the lower surface and close the groove.

  A guide rail (guide member) 28 having a U-shaped cross section is formed by being partitioned by the stopper 27b and opening from the stopper 27b of the projecting portion 27 toward the end portion 27c opposite to the toner receiving portion 26. ing. Further, the narrow portion 27a is formed at a position where the engagement projection 42 contacts the stopper 27b when an engagement projection 42 (see FIG. 5) described later is inserted into the narrow portion 27a.

  On the protruding wall 22b of the lid portion 22, a locking portion 29 that protrudes toward the end face 22c is formed at substantially the same position as the stopper 27b in the longitudinal direction. The locking portion 29 is formed to have a substantially V-shaped cross section having a tip on the end surface 22 c side, and the side surface portion 29 a on the toner receiving portion 26 side is more than the side surface portion 29 b on the opposite side to the toner receiving portion 26. The length in the protruding direction is shortened. As a result, as will be described later, when the toner supply device 30 is mounted, a flange portion 44b of a shutter 43 (see FIG. 6), which will be described later, comes into contact with the locking portion 29, and the shutter 43 can be opened and closed.

  4 is a perspective view of the toner supply device 30 used in the present embodiment as viewed obliquely from above, FIG. 5 is a perspective view as viewed from obliquely below, FIG. 6 is a side view, and FIG. FIG. For convenience of explanation, FIGS. 4 and 5 show a state where the shutter 43 is opened, and FIGS. 6 and 7 show a state where the support member 41 is removed. The toner supply device (developer supply means) 30 is roughly composed of a support 31, a toner introduction port 32, a toner dropping part 33, a toner conveyance path part 34, a drive part 36 and an engaging member 39. .

  The support 31 has a flat and substantially box shape with one surface opened in the horizontal direction, and the upper surface of the support 31 is opened in a rectangular shape to which the toner conveyed from the toner container (developer storage means) 9 is supplied. The toner inlet 32 is formed. Further, a toner dropping portion 33 in which the toner supplied from the toner introducing port 32 falls is formed from the toner introducing port 32 downward to a substantially central portion of the support 31. A substantially cylindrical shape is formed from the lower end of the toner dropping portion 33. The toner transport path 34 is vertically projected from the support 31 toward the opening direction of the support 31.

  The toner transport path 34 is formed so as to be substantially parallel to the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 23 in the developing unit 8 when the toner supply device 30 is mounted. As shown in FIG. 5, a toner supply port 38 having a rectangular shape and having a size substantially the same as that of the toner receiving port 26a is provided on the lower surface of the front end portion of the toner conveyance path 34. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a conveyance spiral 35 for conveying the toner dropped on the lower end of the toner dropping portion 33 to the toner supply port 38 is provided inside the toner conveyance path portion 34.

  A connecting gear 35 a is provided at the rear end of the conveying spiral 35, and the connecting gear 35 a is connected to a driving motor 37 built in a driving unit 36 provided on the side surface opposite to the toner dropping unit 33 of the support 31. It rotates upon receiving a drive from the drive motor 37. The lower surface of the front end of the toner conveyance path 34 is notched obliquely so as not to prevent the toner supply device 30 from being attached when the front end of the toner supply device 30 is in contact with the toner receiving portion 26.

  Further, an engaging member 39 is provided from the front end to the vicinity of the center of the lower part of the outer peripheral surface of the toner conveyance path portion 34. The engaging member 39 includes a base 39 a, a partition (screen member) 40, a support portion 41, and an engaging protrusion 42. The base 39a has a cross-section with a rectangular upper portion penetrating in an arc shape and is fixed to the toner conveyance path 34, and a lower end of the left side surface portion of FIG. 4 in the fixing portion 39aa. And a rectangular plate-like support piece 39ab projecting so that its lower surface is flush with the lower surface of the fixing portion 39aa from the outside to the outside, and the fixing portion 39aa contacts and is fixed to the toner conveyance path portion 34. Has been.

  Further, at a position facing the toner supply port 38 of the fixing portion 39aa, the toner supply port 38 can supply the toner discharged from the toner reception port 26a and the toner supply port 38 to the toner reception port 26a. A rectangular toner passage port 38 'is formed. On the upper surface of the support piece portion 39ab, a partition 40 made of a substantially rectangular plate-like member provided substantially in parallel with the toner conveyance path portion 34 straddles the support piece portion 39ab and the fixed portion 39aa. It is installed.

  Further, a support member 41 having a substantially L-shaped cross section is provided on the lower surface of the support piece portion 39ab at the end portion on the toner dropping portion 33 side. The end of the L-shaped short side portion 41a of the support member 41 is fixed to the support piece portion 39ab by two locking claws 41aa (see FIG. 4), and the L-shaped long side portion 41b is fixed to the base 39a. It is provided below and substantially parallel to the base 39a. Further, a shutter 43 (see FIG. 6) described later can be disposed in the space between the base 39a and the long side portion 41b.

  On the lower surface of the long side portion 41b, between the short side portion 41a and the partition 40, an engaging projection 42 projects downward. The engaging protrusion 42 opens to the opposite side of the toner conveyance path 34, and has a U-shaped concave portion 42a formed in a tapered shape downward from the long side portion 41b, and the tip of the concave portion 42a. The concave portion 42a has a rectangular plate-shaped tip portion 42b that protrudes downward so that the bottom surface thereof is flush with the surface.

  Further, when the toner supply device 30 is mounted, the engaging protrusion 42 is engaged so that the concave portion 42a can slide on the upper end of the guide rail 28 (see FIG. 1) and the front end portion 42b can slide on the bottom surface of the guide rail 28. It is formed to match. When the engaging protrusion 42 reaches the narrow portion 27a, it comes into contact with the stopper 27b, and only the tip portion 42b engages with the guide rail 28 and is fixed at this position. At this time, the engaging member 39 is formed at a predetermined position of the toner supply device 30 so that the toner supply port 38 and the toner passage port 38 'face each other substantially in the same position as the toner receiving port 26a.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a rectangular plate-shaped shutter (opening / closing member) 43 is disposed between the base 39 a and the long side portion 41 b, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. At the end of the shutter 43 on the toner transport path 34 side, an elongated plate-shaped projecting piece 44 that projects upward from the end and along the toner transport path 34 toward the tip of the toner transport path 34. Is provided. The protruding portion 44 is provided with a shaft portion 44a and a flange portion 44b formed obliquely from the front end on the side surface opposite to the toner conveyance path portion 34 at the front end of the shaft portion 44a.

  The flange portion 44b is formed so that the flange portion 44b slides on the protruding wall 22b of the developing unit 8 when the toner supply device 30 is mounted. At this time, when the side surface on the front end side of the flange portion 44b contacts and interferes with the side surface portion 29b of the locking portion 29, it contacts the rear end portion of the shutter 43 so that the shutter 43 is opened to a predetermined position. A locking piece 45 that restricts movement is provided on the lower surface of the base 39a.

  Next, the operation of connecting the toner supply device 30 to the developing unit 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9. FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view seen from above showing a state where the toner supply device is connected to the developing device, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view seen from below.

  First, the engaging protrusion 42 of the toner supply device 30 shown in FIG. 4 is inserted and engaged with the opening groove of the guide rail 28 of the developing unit 8 shown in FIG. 1 from the end portion 27c, and the flange portion 44b shown in FIG. When the toner supply device 30 is pushed in contact with the protruding wall 22b, the engaging protrusion 42 slides while being supported by the guide rail 28. As a result, the toner supply device 30 moves along a predetermined path. When the flange portion 44b of the shutter 43 is engaged with the side surface portion 29b of the locking portion 29 shown in FIG. 3, the shutter 43 is opened, and the toner supply port 38 and the toner passage port 38 ′ that appear are the toner receiving port 26a. Face to face.

  When the engaging protrusion 42 is inserted into the narrow portion 27a and the toner supply device 30 is pushed to a position where it comes into contact with the stopper 27b, the toner supply port 38 faces the toner receiving port 26a so as to substantially coincide with each other. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the toner supply device 30 can be connected to the developing unit 8.

  In addition, when the toner supply device is further pushed after the shutter 43 is opened to a predetermined position during the mounting, the shaft portion 44a of the protruding piece 44 receives a reaction force from the locking portion 29 and bends inward while bending. It moves together with the supply device 30, and the flange portion 44 b gets over the locking portion 29 and is inserted to a position where the flange portion 44 b comes into contact with the side surface portion 29 a of the locking portion 29. As a result, the flange portion 44 b engages with the locking portion 29.

  When the toner is supplied from the toner container 9 to the toner supply device 30 via the toner introduction port 32, the toner falls on the toner dropping unit 33 and is conveyed to the toner supply port 38 by the conveyance spiral 35 driven by the driving unit 36. Then, the toner can be supplied from the toner supply port 38 to the developing unit 8 through the toner receiving port 26a. At this time, the toner supply device 30 is disposed on the side opposite to the side surface portion 21 a with respect to the developing unit 8 (outside in the rotation axis direction (longitudinal direction) of the developing roller 23), and supplies toner via the toner conveyance path portion 34. The mouth 38 faces the toner receiving port 26a.

  On the other hand, when the toner supply device 30 is detached from the apparatus main body, by pulling out the toner supply device 30, the engaging protrusion 42 moves while being guided by the guide rail 28 while sliding. The toner supply port 38 is detached from the toner receiving port 26a while moving along a predetermined path until the toner is separated from the developing unit 8.

  At this time, the shutter 43 can be closed by interference with the locking portion 29a of the flange portion 44b. Further, when the toner supply device 30 is pulled out even after the shutter is closed to a predetermined position, the shaft portion 44a bends inward, the flange portion 44b can get over the locking portion 29, and can be detached together with the toner supply device 30. .

  With this configuration, it is possible to increase the positional accuracy of the toner supply device 30 with respect to the development unit 8 when the toner supply device 30 is attached to and detached from the development unit 8. Thereby, the positional accuracy between the toner supply port 38 and the toner receiving port 26a can be increased, and toner leakage can be prevented.

  Further, when the shutter 43 is used, it is possible to prevent the opening / closing failure of the shutter 43 caused by the positional deviation between the toner supply port 38 and the toner receiving port 26a and the positional deviation between the toner supply device 30 and the developing unit 8. Can do. Thereby, it is possible to prevent insufficient toner supply to the developing unit 8 due to insufficient opening of the shutter 43, toner leakage when the toner supply device 30 is detached due to insufficient closing of the shutter 43, and the like.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement example of a developing unit, a toner supply device, a toner container, and an exposure unit in an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, in FIG. 10, except for the arrangement of the developing unit 8, the toner supply device 30, the toner container 9 and the exposure unit 7, it is completely the same as the conventional example. Only the developing unit 8, the toner supply device 30, the toner container 9, and the exposure unit 7 are shown.

  In FIG. 10, LSU is used as the exposure unit 7, and the LSU 7 is disposed between the developing unit 8 and the toner supply device 30 and on the side opposite to the photosensitive drum (image carrier) 5 with respect to the developing unit 8. The photosensitive drum 5 is horizontally disposed so that the laser beam can be irradiated horizontally. With this arrangement, the laser light emitted from the LSU 7 can pass below the toner container 9 and above the developing unit 8. In addition, it is possible to irradiate light on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 by irradiating light from the LSU 7 in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the LSU 7 without using a reflection mirror or the like. Thereby, the image quality can be improved.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the partition 40 (see FIG. 4) is provided on the engaging member 39. Therefore, in order to cool the LSU 7, for example, air is blown by the blower 46 from the right side surface of the apparatus main body toward the LSU 7 in FIG. Even in this case, it is possible to prevent the airflow generated by the air blowing from entering the connecting portion between the toner supply port 38 and the toner receiving port 26a. As a result, when the toner supply port 38 and the toner receiving port 26a are connected, even if a small amount of toner leaks inevitably occurs, toner scattering can be prevented and contamination of the apparatus main body can be prevented. .

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the guide rail 28 is provided on the lid portion 22, but it may be provided at another position of the developing unit 8. Further, the opening / closing mechanism of the shutter 43 is not limited to the above embodiment, and other opening / closing mechanisms may be used.

  In this embodiment, the printer is described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, as long as the toner supply device 30 and the toner container 9 are disposed above the developing unit 8, other images such as a copying machine and a facsimile are provided. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to a forming apparatus.

  The present invention provides an exposure means for exposing an image carrier, a developing means having a developer carrier for supplying a developer to the image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by the exposure means, and a supply to the development means A developer accommodating means for accommodating the developer to be attached; detachable from the apparatus main body; and when connected to the apparatus main body, is connected to the developing means, and from the developer accommodating means to the developer receiving port of the developing means And a developer supply unit having a developer supply port for supplying the conveyed developer from above. The developer supply unit has a longitudinal direction of the developer carrier relative to the development unit. Mounted on the outside and having a developer transport path protruding from the developer supply means so as to be substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier and having the developer supply port provided at the tip And the developing hand , The time of attachment of the developing agent supply means, for guiding the engaging member provided in the developer transport path portion to a predetermined position while slidably supported, in which the guide member is provided.

  As a result, the developer supply means is disposed on the outside of the developer carrier in the longitudinal direction of the developing means, and the developer supply port provided at the tip of the developer transport path is accurately placed at the developer receiving port of the developer means. The developer supplying means and the developing means can be connected to each other, and the mounting position accuracy with respect to the developing means can be increased by a simple method when the developer supplying means is attached.

  Further, by arranging the exposure means so as to irradiate the image carrier with light below the developer storage means and above the development means and the developer conveyance path, the longitudinal direction of the exposure means can be reduced without using a reflection mirror or the like. Since the image carrier can be exposed by irradiating light in parallel, the image quality can be improved.

  In addition, the developer supply means is provided with an opening / closing member that opens and closes the developer supply port in accordance with an attaching / detaching operation with respect to the apparatus main body, thereby suppressing toner leakage from the developer supply port when the developer supply means is attached / detached. In addition, it is possible to prevent the opening / closing operation failure of the opening / closing member due to the displacement of the developer supply means.

  Further, the engaging member is provided with a partition member that restricts the air flow from the side opposite to the developing means to the developer supplying port when the developer supplying means is mounted, thereby restricting the development. It is possible to limit the intrusion of the air flow into the connecting portion between the developer supply port and the developer receiving port, and to prevent the developer from scattering even if a small amount of developer inevitably leaks through the connecting portion. Can do.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a developing unit used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a developing unit used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention viewed obliquely from below. These are side views of the lid of the developing unit used in the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a toner supply device used in the present embodiment as viewed obliquely from above. These are the perspective views which looked at the toner supply apparatus used for this embodiment from diagonally downward. These are side views of the toner supply device used in the present embodiment. These are front views of the toner supply device used in the present embodiment. These are perspective views seen from above showing a state in which a toner supply device is connected to the developing device used in the present embodiment. These are the perspective views seen from the lower part which show the state with which the toner supply apparatus was connected with the image development apparatus used for this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement example of a developing unit, a toner supply device, a toner container, and an exposure unit in an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

5 Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
7 Exposure unit (exposure means)
7a Polygon mirror 7b Reflection mirror 8 Development unit (development means)
9 Toner container (developer storage means)
21 Casing 22 Lid 23 Developing roller (Developer carrier)
26 Toner receiving portion 26a Toner receiving port 27 Protruding portion 27a Narrow portion 27b Stopper 28 Guide rail (guide member)
29 Locking portion 29a, b Side surface portion 30 Toner supply device (developer supply means)
Reference Signs List 31 Support 32 Toner Inlet 33 Toner Drop Portion 34 Toner Transport Path 35 Transport Spiral 36 Drive Unit 37 Drive Motor 38 Toner Supply Port (Developer Supply Port)
38 'Toner passage port 39 Engagement member 39a Base 39aa Fixing part 39ab Supporting piece part 40 Partition (partition member)
41 Support Member 41a Short Side Part 41aa Engaging Claw 41b Long Side Part 42 Engaging Protrusion 42a Concave 42b Tip Part 43 Shutter (Regulating Member)
44 Projection Piece 44a Shaft 44b Flange 45 Locking Piece 46 Blower 100 Image Forming Apparatus

Claims (4)

An exposure means for exposing the image carrier, a developing means having a developer carrier for supplying the developer to the image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by the exposure means, and a developer supplied to the development means. A developer accommodating means to be accommodated, detachable from the apparatus main body, connected to the developing means when mounted on the apparatus main body, and developed from the developer accommodating means to the developer receiving port of the developing means In an image forming apparatus comprising: a developer supply unit having a developer supply port for supplying a developer from above;
The developer supply means is mounted on the developing means on the outer side in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier, and protrudes from the developer supply means so as to be substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier. And having a developer transport path provided with the developer supply port at the tip,
The developing means is provided with a guide member that slidably supports an engaging member provided in the developer transport path and guides it to a predetermined position when the developer supplying means is mounted. An image forming apparatus.   2. The exposure device according to claim 1, wherein the exposure unit is disposed so as to be able to irradiate light to the image carrier through the lower part of the developer containing unit and the upper part of the developing unit and the developer transport path. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developer supply unit is provided with an opening / closing member that opens and closes the developer supply port in accordance with an attaching / detaching operation with respect to the apparatus main body.   The engaging member is provided with a partition member that restricts the air flow from the opposite side of the developer supply port to the developer supply port with respect to the developer supply port when the developer supply device is mounted. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

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