JP2010049100A - Power feed device and power feed processing apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably feed power without depending on the pull-along attitude and stiffness of a feeder when the power is fed to a moving body to which the power is fed from a power supply through the feeder. <P>SOLUTION: A power feed device 2 which is provided in a predetermined fixed part and feeds the power to the terminal 1a of the movable body 1 to which the power is fed includes: an insulating support member 3 which is provided in the predetermined fixed part; a fixed conductor 4 which is fixed to the insulating support member 3 and to which one end of the feeder 7 from the power supply is connected; a separated conductor 5 which is separated from the fixed conductor 4, and arranged away from it and comes into contact with the terminal 1a of the body 1 to which the power is fed; and a conductive elastic member 6 which is conductively provided between the separated conductor 5 and the fixed conductor 4 and elastically supports the separated conductor 5, so that the separated conductor 5 comes in contact with the terminal 1a of the body 1 to which the power is supplied. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply apparatus and a power supply processing apparatus using the same.

  For example, in an image forming apparatus that employs an electrophotographic system, a rotary developing device equipped with a plurality of developing units is disposed opposite to an image holding body that holds an electrostatic latent image to form a monochrome image or a color image. An image forming apparatus (one aspect of a power supply processing apparatus) is known. In order to use such a rotary developing device, it is necessary to supply a developing bias from a high-voltage power source to a developing device that is a power supply member located at a developing position among the developing devices. Therefore, various methods have been proposed as such a power supply method.

A configuration is known in which an arc-shaped piece is provided as a contact on the apparatus body side, a connector of a power supply line from a high-voltage power supply is attached to the piece, and a terminal on the developing unit slides on the surface of the piece. . Further, in Patent Document 1, a power supply end is provided on each developing device side from a high-voltage power source via a rotating shaft of a rotary developing device, and each developing device is rotated in the direction of the rotation axis by the rotation of the developing device. A slide pin that expands and contracts, a movable contact on which a terminal of the power supply line from the high-voltage power supply (the power supply end) is mounted, and a fixed contact that is disposed opposite to the movable contact and energizes the developing bias in the developing device. A configuration is disclosed in which the movable contact is moved by the movement of the slide pin so as to make contact with and away from the fixed contact, and to supply the developing bias to the developing device at the developing position.
On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, a conductive brush made of a pair of metal pieces is installed on a base, a pair of annular conductors provided on the bottom surface of the rotary table are slidably contacted, and the power supply voltage from the base is made by the conductive brush. A power supply mechanism that supplies power to devices on a rotary table is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-55750 (first embodiment, FIG. 2) JP-A-5-182732 (Example, FIG. 1)

  A technical problem of the present invention is to supply power stably to a moving power-supplied body from a power source through a power supply line, regardless of the drawing posture of the power supply line and the strength of the waist. It is in.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a power feeding device that is provided in a predetermined fixed part and supplies power to a terminal of a movable power supply body, and an insulating support member provided in the predetermined fixed part; A fixed conductor fixed to the insulating support member and connected to one end of a power supply line from a power source, a separation conductor spaced apart from the fixed conductor and in contact with a terminal of the power-supplied body, and the separation conductor And a fixed conductor, and a power supply device including a current-carrying elastic member that elastically supports the separation conductor so that the separation conductor is in contact with a terminal of the power-supplied body.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the power feeding device according to the first aspect, the energizing elastic member is divided into a plurality along the moving direction of the terminal of the power-supplied body, and at least one of the separating conductor and the fixed conductor. This is a power feeding device that energizes the gap.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the power feeding device according to the first or second aspect, the separation conductor has an element extending along a moving direction of the terminal of the power-supplied body. The feeding device is provided with an inclined portion that is inclined in a direction approaching the fixed conductor toward the upstream side and in contact with the terminal tip of the power-supplied body at the upstream end portion in the moving direction.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the power supply device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the fixed conductor is fixed to the insulating support member using the fixing tool. The power supply device is set to be positioned between a position where the power supply line of the fixed conductor is connected and a position of the current-carrying elastic member.
The invention according to claim 5 is the power supply apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the insulating support member has a position restricting portion that restricts positions of the fixed conductor and the current-carrying elastic member.

The invention according to claim 6 is provided with a power-supplied body that has a power feeding terminal and is movable, and is provided in a predetermined fixed portion and feeds power to the terminal of the power-supplied body. A power supply processing apparatus including the power supply apparatus according to claim 1.
The invention according to claim 7 is the power supply processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the power-supplied body moves along a predetermined arcuate locus.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus as the power supply processing apparatus according to the seventh aspect, wherein the image holding body is rotatably supported on the apparatus main body side and holds an electrostatic latent image, and is rotated inside. A plurality of developing units having a developer holding body as a power-supplied body that freely holds the developer is provided, and the plurality of developing units are held by a rotating holding body that is rotatably supported on the apparatus main body side to hold an image. A rotary developing device arranged to face the body, and a power feeding device that feeds power from a high-voltage power source to a terminal corresponding to the developer holding body at a developing position where the image holding body and each developer holding body face each other. A power supply processing apparatus provided.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the power supply processing apparatus according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the terminal is a power supply processing apparatus provided integrally with a rotating shaft body of the developer holding body.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a power supply line is connected to a moving power-supplied body and power is supplied, stable power supply is performed regardless of the position of the power supply line and the strength of the waist. It becomes like this.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, compared with what does not have this structure, the elastic force with respect to a isolation | separation conductor can be distributed to several divided | segmented electricity supply elastic members, and it can be made to act uniformly over the whole region of an isolation | separation conductor. As a result, it is possible to further stabilize the contact with the terminal of the power supply body.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 3, compared with what does not have this structure, the contact / separation operation | movement of the terminal of a to-be-powered body to move and a isolation | separation conductor comes to be stabilized.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, compared with what does not have this structure, an electricity supply elastic member will be provided in the opposite side to the connection site | part of a feed wire with respect to a fixing tool, and from the fixed conductor with respect to a isolation | separation conductor. The effect of is reduced.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, compared with what does not have this structure, arrangement | positioning of a fixed conductor and an electricity supply elastic member is stabilized, and stabilization of a connection can be achieved further.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when a power supply line is connected to a moving power-supplied body and power is supplied, stable power supply is performed regardless of the drawing posture of the power supply line and the strength of the waist. A power supply processing apparatus can be provided.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 7, even if it increases the quantity of to-be-powered bodies, intermittent electric power feeding comes to be made easily and stably.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus having a rotary developing device mounted with a plurality of developing devices and rotating, a high voltage is applied to the developer holder of one developing device that has reached the developing position. When power is supplied, stable high-voltage power supply is performed regardless of the waist and the posture of the power supply line routed from the high-voltage power source.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, as compared with the apparatus not having this configuration, power is easily supplied to the developer holding body through the terminals, and power is supplied to the rotating developer holding body better.

Outline of Embodiment First, an outline of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIGS. 1A and 1B show an outline of a power feeding apparatus according to an embodiment embodying the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a power feeding apparatus, and FIG. An example is shown. As shown in FIG. 1A, the power supply device of the present embodiment model is a power supply device 2 that is provided at a predetermined fixed portion and supplies power to a terminal 1a of a movable power-supplied body 1. An insulating support member 3 provided at a predetermined fixed portion, a fixed conductor 4 fixed to the insulating support member 3 and connected to one end of a power supply line 7 from a power source, and separated from the fixed conductor 4 The separation conductor 5 that is spaced apart and contacts the terminal 1 a of the power supply 1, and the separation conductor 5 is provided between the separation conductor 5 and the fixed conductor 4. The separation conductor 5 is connected to the terminal 1 a of the power supply 1. A current-carrying elastic member 6 that elastically supports the separation conductor 5 so as to come into contact is provided.

  Here, whether or not the terminal 1a of the power-supplied body 1 has a configuration that can be expanded and contracted toward the separating conductor 5 is not particularly limited. If the conductor 5 is elastically urged by the energizing elastic member 6, it is preferable not to expand and contract. Further, the shape of the fixed conductor 4 is not limited to a plate shape, a rod shape, or the like, and the method of fixing the fixed conductor 4 to the insulating support member 3 may be fixed using a member such as a screw. However, it may be fixed by heat caulking or the like. Alternatively, the fixed conductor 4 and the insulating support member 3 may be fixed in advance by integral molding. The connection method between the fixed conductor 4 and the power supply line 7 is not particularly limited, but a connector such as a Faston terminal is provided at the tip of the power supply line 7 so that it can be inserted into the fixed conductor 4 or screwed. What is necessary is just to fix the wire rod of the feeder line 7 to the fixed conductor 4 or to use brazing or the like.

Furthermore, from the viewpoint of achieving stable contact between the separation conductor 5 and the terminal 1 a of the power-supplied body 1 by the current-carrying elastic member 6, there are a plurality of current-carrying elastic members 6 along the moving direction of the terminal 1 a of the power-supplied body 1. Preferably, at least one of them is energized between the separation conductor 5 and the fixed conductor 4. In this way, by arranging the energizing elastic member 6 in a divided manner, the pressing force from the terminal 1a against the separation conductor 5 acts more uniformly over the entire area of the separation conductor 5, and the separation conductor 5 and the terminal 1a. Stable contact with can be obtained.
If the separation conductor 5 is separated from the fixed conductor 4 and spaced apart, the current-carrying elastic member 6 is configured separately from the separation conductor 5 and the fixed conductor 4, or the separation conductor 5 or the fixed conductor 4. It may be configured integrally with any of the above. As a typical aspect of such a current-carrying elastic member 6, an aspect using a metal coil spring, a leaf spring, or conductive rubber can be cited, and even if such an entire member has conductivity. Alternatively, some of them may be conductive.

  Further, from the viewpoint of stabilizing the contact operation between the separation conductor 5 and the terminal 1a, the separation conductor 5 has an element extending along the moving direction of the terminal 1a of the power-supplied body 1, and the power-supplied body 1 among these elements. It is preferable to provide an inclined portion 5a that is inclined in the direction approaching the fixed conductor 4 toward the upstream side and that contacts the tip of the terminal 1a of the power-supplied body 1 at the upstream end portion in the moving direction of the terminal 1a. By having such an inclined portion 5a, when the moving terminal 1a starts to contact the separating conductor 5, the terminal 1a smoothly comes into contact with the contact surface of the separating conductor 5, and the subsequent sliding movement is performed. Will also be done well. The inclined portion 5a may have any shape that does not hinder the movement of the terminal 1a, and may be linear or curved.

Furthermore, in the aspect in which the fixed conductor 4 is fixed to the insulating support member 3 by using a fixing tool 4a such as a screw, the position of the fixing tool 4a from the viewpoint of further reducing the influence from the feeder line 7 on the separation conductor 5. Is preferably set so as to be positioned between the position where the feeder 7 of the fixed conductor 4 is connected and the position of the current-carrying elastic member 6. According to this, since the influence from the feeder line 7 reaches the energizing elastic member 6 side via the position fixed by the fixture 4a, the influence of the feeder line 7 on the energizing elastic member 6 side is further increased. It becomes more relaxed. A plurality of fixtures 4a may be provided.
Furthermore, from the viewpoint of stabilizing the connection in the power feeding device 2, the insulating support member 3 preferably has a position restricting portion 3 a that restricts the positions of the fixed conductor 4 and the current-carrying elastic member 6.

  Further, such a power supply device 2 can also be applied to a power supply processing device. In this case, the power-supplied body 1 having a power-feeding terminal 1a and movable and a predetermined fixed portion and a power-supplied body The power feeding device 2 that feeds power to one terminal 1a may be provided, and the power feeding device 2 described above may be used as the power feeding device 2. Here, as the power supply processing device, any device including the power supply device 2 may be used as long as the power supply body 1 moves, and the movement locus of the terminal 1a of the power supply body 1 is not particularly limited. However, from the viewpoint of intermittent power supply when a plurality of power supplied bodies 1 are arranged, it is preferable that the power supplied body 1 moves along a predetermined arcuate locus.

  Furthermore, such a power supply processing apparatus can also be applied to an image forming apparatus. In that case, the following process may be performed. That is, as shown in FIG. 1B, an image holding body 8 that is rotatably supported on the apparatus main body side and holds an electrostatic latent image, and a power supplied body 1 that is rotatable inside and holds a developer. A plurality of developing units having the developer holding body 1 (1A to 1D) are held, and the plurality of developing units are held on a rotary holding body 9a that is rotatably supported on the apparatus main body side to face the image holding body 8. A rotary developing device 9 arranged to be arranged, and a power feeding device that feeds power from a high-voltage power source to a terminal 1a corresponding to the developer holding body 1 at a developing position where the image holding body 8 and each developer holding body 1 face each other. 2 and the above-described power feeding device 2 may be used as the power feeding device 2.

Here, the number of developing devices mounted in the rotary developing device 9 may be plural, and for example, four developing devices corresponding to four colors may be provided in order to form a full-color image. Furthermore, it may be five or more or three or less. The high-voltage power source includes a developing bias supplied to the developer holding body 1 so that a developing electric field acts between the developer holding body 1 and the image holding body 8 at the development position.
Further, from the viewpoint of easily supplying power to the rotating developer holder 1, the terminal 1 a is preferably provided integrally with the rotating shaft body of the developer holder 1.

  Next, the effect | action in the electric power feeder 2 of this embodiment model is demonstrated using a comparison form model using FIG. FIG. 2A shows the power supply device 2 in the present embodiment model, and FIG. 2B shows the power supply device 2 ′ in the comparative form model. In the comparative form model, the separation conductor 5 is not separated from the fixed conductor 4 as in (a), and has a structure of one separation conductor 5 ′. Any elastic member 6 'can be used.

  In such a configuration, in the present embodiment model, even if the terminal 1a comes into contact with the separation conductor 5 and the separation conductor 5 works to push down the current-carrying elastic member 6, the effect is transmitted to the fixed conductor 4 side. There is almost nothing. On the contrary, even in a situation in which the feeding posture of the power supply line 7 and the strength of the waist fluctuate, the influence is always caused by the fixed conductor 4, and the influence exerted on the separation conductor 5 is hardly caused. Therefore, the contact stability between the separation conductor 5 and the moving terminal 1a is ensured.

On the other hand, in the comparative form model, when the terminal 1a comes into contact with the separation conductor 5 ′ and the separation conductor 5 ′ works so as to push down the elastic member 6 ′, the action is transmitted as it is to the connection portion with the feeder line 7. It becomes like this. This means that, on the contrary, when the drawing posture of the feeder line 7 and the strength of the waist fluctuate, it directly affects the separation conductor 5 ', and the separation conductor 5' and the moving terminal 1a The stability of the contact is also impaired. In addition, depending on the influence of the routing posture of the feeder line 7 and the strength of the waist, the contact surface of the separation conductor 5 ′ (surface that contacts the terminal 1a) may be twisted, and a part of the separation conductor 5 ′ is insulative. There is a possibility that it cannot be recovered by the elastic force of the elastic member 6 ′ at the support member 3. Furthermore, when the separation conductor 5 ′ is formed in an arc shape along the moving direction of the terminal 1a, such a twist is not uniform over the entire area of the separation conductor 5 ′, and the moving terminal 1a is There is also a possibility that the contact becomes unstable.
Further, even if it is assumed that a part of the separation conductor 5 ′ on the side of the power supply line 7 is fixed to the insulating support member 3 in this comparative form model, when the terminal 1 a contacts, Since the previous separation conductor 5 ′ fluctuates integrally, instability of contact is not eliminated.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
◎ Embodiment-Overall configuration of image forming apparatus-
FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of an image forming apparatus as a power supply processing apparatus to which the power supply apparatus of the above-described embodiment model is applied. In the figure, an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an apparatus main body 10 having an image forming section 11 for forming an image on a recording material using an electrophotographic method, and an upper portion of the apparatus main body 10. And an image reading unit 12 provided to read a document image. A recording material supply unit 13 that supplies the recording material S to the image forming unit 11 is provided below the image forming unit 11 in the apparatus main body unit 10.

  The image forming unit 11 according to the present embodiment includes a photoconductor 20 as an image carrier that is rotatably supported by, for example, a frame of the apparatus main body 10 and holds an electrostatic latent image, and a charger 21 that charges the photoconductor 20. An exposure device 22 that writes a latent image on the charged photoconductor 20, and a rotary developing device that visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 with, for example, a single-color or full-color developer. 40, an intermediate transfer member 23 that holds the toner image on the photosensitive member 20 visualized by the rotary developing device 40 intermediately before transferring it to the recording material S, and the intermediate transfer member 23 is exposed to light. A primary transfer device 24 that primarily transfers a toner image on the body 20, a cleaning device 25 that cleans residual toner on the photoreceptor 20, and a toner image on the intermediate transfer body 23 are secondarily transferred to the recording material S. Transferred onto the secondary transfer device 26 and the recording material S And a fixing unit 27 for fixing the toner image.

  Further, the intermediate transfer member 23 is stretched around a plurality of stretching rolls 31 to 33, and circulates as, for example, the stretching roll 31 as a driving roll. An intermediate cleaning device 34 for cleaning residual toner on the body 23 is provided. A secondary transfer device 26 is provided at a position facing the stretching roll 33, and the toner image on the intermediate transfer body 23 is transferred to the recording material S during the secondary transfer between them. The secondary transfer bias is applied. In particular, the secondary transfer device 26 of the present embodiment is configured to be able to contact and separate from the intermediate transfer member 23 by a contact and separation mechanism not shown.

  On the other hand, the recording material supply unit 13 has a plurality of recording material containers 14 in which the recording material S is accommodated, and sequentially feeds the recording material S by a feeding member 15 attached to the recording material container 14. The recording material S is supplied to the image forming unit 11 by an appropriate number of conveying members 16.

  Further, the recording material conveyance system in the image forming unit 11 of the present embodiment is as follows. The recording material S conveyed from the recording material supply unit 13 proceeds on the main conveyance path 17 which is conveyed upward as it is. In the main conveyance path 17, a positioning roll 28 that once positions the recording material S and then conveys the recording material S to the downstream secondary transfer site, or a recording material S on which the fixing recording material S is formed on the upper surface of the casing of the apparatus main body 10. The discharge roll 29 etc. which discharge to the material discharge part 10a are provided. Further, on the upstream side of the discharge roll 29, a reverse conveyance path 18 is provided to reverse the recording material S after fixing in a direction different from that of the recording material discharge portion 10a. In other words, the recording material S is transported back to a position near the upstream side of the positioning roll 28 by a plurality of transport members 35. Further, in the present embodiment, the manual conveyance path 19 is provided so that the manual feeding as the recording material S can be performed, and the recording material S mounted on the manual feeding unit 36 is conveyed to the manual conveyance path 19 by the feeding member 37. It has come to be.

  In order to form a color image with such an image forming apparatus, the operation of primary transfer of the toner image formed on the photoconductor 20 onto the intermediate transfer member 23 is repeated and multiplexed on the intermediate transfer member 23. A toner image is formed. On the other hand, the recording material S is conveyed from the recording material supply unit 13 so as to match the formation of the multiplexed toner image on the intermediate transfer body 23, and the multiplexed toner image on the intermediate transfer body 23 is recorded at the secondary transfer site. Batch transfer (secondary transfer) is performed on the material S. Then, the recording material S to which the multiplexed toner image has been transferred is fixed by, for example, heating and pressing in the fixing device 27, and is discharged from the discharge roll 29 to the recording material discharge portion 10a.

―Rotary development device―
Next, the rotary developing device 40 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 4, the rotary developing device 40 includes a rotatable rotation holding body 41, and a plurality of developing devices 50 (50 a to 50 d) are mounted on the rotation holding body 41. Each of the developing units 50 uses a two-component developer including toner of four colors, for example, black (K color), yellow (Y color), magenta (M color), and cyan (C color) and a carrier. ing. The rotary type developing device 40 of the present embodiment, while the position of the developing devices 50 are opposed to the photosensitive member 20 and the developing position P _1, either at the time of non-use to the developing device 50 both developing position P ₁ A non-opposing standby position P ₀ is set, and in this example, the K-color developing device 50 a is set to a position in the vicinity of the upstream side in the rotation direction of the rotation holder 41 from the development position P ₁ .

  Further, in the present embodiment, the developing devices 50 (50a to 50d) are unevenly arranged with respect to the rotation holder 41. However, development for supplying a corresponding developer to each developing device 50 is performed. This is because the size of the developer supply container 80 is different. In this example, the developer supply container 80 attached to the K-color developing device 50a is attached to the other developing devices 50b to 50d. This is because it is set larger than that. The size of the developer supply container 80 is not limited to this, and the arrangement of the developing devices 50 with respect to the rotation holder 41 may be arranged symmetrically, for example.

Since each developing device 50 of the present embodiment is configured in substantially the same manner except that the size of the developer supply container 80 is different, only one developing device 50 will be described here. As shown in FIG. 5, the developing device 50 has a developing container 51 that opens at the developing position P ₁ so as to face the photoreceptor 20 and accommodates a developer containing each color component toner and carrier. A developing roll 52 as a developer holding body for holding and transporting the developer is rotatably provided at a portion facing the opening of the container 51, and a rotating shaft of the developing roll 52 is provided on the back side of the developing roll 52 of the developing container 51. A pair of agitating and conveying members 53 and 54 are rotatably provided along the direction. Further, a partition wall 55 is provided in the developing container 51 positioned between the pair of agitating and conveying members 53 and 54, and a developer passage is opened near both ends of the partition wall 55. The developer to be circulated is circulated through the developer circulation path 58 through the passage opening. In this embodiment, the agitating and conveying member 53 on the developing roll 52 side is a supply agitating and conveying member that mainly supplies the developer to the developing roll 52, and the agitating and conveying member 54 on the back mainly mixes and agitates the developer. It is a stirring and conveying member for mixing.

The developing roll 52 is provided with a nonmagnetic developing sleeve 52a that is freely rotatable around it, and a magnet body 52b in which an appropriate number of magnetic poles are arranged inside is fixedly provided. is the layer thickness regulating member 59 for regulating the layer thickness of the developer conveyed toward the developing position P ₁ are oppositely arranged with a predetermined gap and developing roller 52 by the developing roller 52 in. The pair of agitating and conveying members 53 and 54 are, for example, provided with spiral blades around the rotating shaft, and when the spiral blades of the agitating and conveying members 53 and 54 rotate in the same direction. The developer transport directions are opposite to each other.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a developer supply mechanism 70 that supplies the developer from the developer supply container 80 corresponding to the developing device 50 is provided. The developer supply mechanism 70 is provided with a developer supply path 71 in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the developer circulation path 58 behind the mixing agitating and conveying member 54, and the developer supply path 71 is conveyed with the developer. A member 72 is rotatably provided, and a delivery port to the developer circulation path 58 side is opened near the end of the developer conveying member 72. Further, a developer supply container 80 containing a supply developer containing color toner corresponding to the developing device 50 is provided above the developer supply path 71 so that the developer supply path 71 can be supplied. A posture in which the developer supply container 80 is positioned above the developer supply path 71 in accordance with the rotation of the developing device 50 through an opening that is attached and partially opened with the developer supply path 71. The supplied developer is supplied from the developer supply container 80 toward the developer supply path 71. When the replenishment developer is filled in the developer replenishment path 71, the replenishment developer replenishment is stopped.

  In the present embodiment, the developer conveying member 72 has a rotating shaft body as in the above-described agitating and conveying members 53 and 54 so that the developer conveying member 72 is replenished with good developer. A spiral blade is provided around the periphery, and the shape of the spiral blade is such that, by rotation, the replenishment developer supplied from the developer supply container 80 to the developer supply path 71 can be sequentially conveyed to the delivery port side. ing.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a developer discharge mechanism 90 that discharges excess developer in the developer circulation path 58 to the outside of the developing container 51 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the developer discharge mechanism 90 is, for example, a portion in which the mixing agitating and conveying member 54 is accommodated and between the developer supply path 71 and the developer circulation path 58. A developer discharge port 91 is opened at an appropriate position on the side wall of the developer container 51 on the side away from the transfer port, and an open / close lid 92 is provided at the developer discharge port 91 so as to be freely opened and closed. Therefore, the open / close lid 92 assists the developer discharging operation when the amount of developer in the developer circulation path 58 increases and the amount of increase of the developer exceeds a predetermined amount. Sometimes, when the posture of the developing device 50 is changed, the developer 50 is closed to prevent excessive discharge of the developer. The excess developer discharged from the developer discharge port 91 is collected in a developer collection space formed in a part of the developer supply container 80. There is no problem even if it is collected outside through the center.

By the rotation of the rotary holder 41 equipped with such a developing device 50, an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 20 by the developing unit 50 in a state in which a desired toner color of the developing unit 50 is regulated in position to the developing position P ₁ Development is performed. Therefore, in particular, in this embodiment, before and after one of the developing device 50 reaches the developing position P ₁ and the developing position P _1, the feeding mechanism for feeding the developing bias to the developing roller 52 of the developing unit 50 100 It has.

―Power supply mechanism―
Feeding mechanism 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, located in the vicinity including a terminal 110 provided in each developing device 50 side, a and development position P ₁ provided in the apparatus main body 10 side developer A power supply device 120 that supplies power while being in contact with the terminal 110 on the container 50 side, and a power supply line assembly 170 that is connected to the power supply device 120 by being drawn from a high-voltage power supply (not shown) for developing bias. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the terminal 110 according to the present embodiment has, for example, a conductive material having a space fitted in the end portion of the rotary shaft 52c of the developing roll 52 and having a tip processed into a substantially hemispherical shape. The terminal 110 is made of resin, and is electrically connected to the developing roll 52, specifically the developing sleeve 52a, through the rotating shaft 52c.

Further, the power feeding device 120 is attached to the position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 9, for example, in order to make an electrical connection with the terminal 110 on the developing device 50 side at the development position P ₁ . It has assumed a substantially arcuate shape across the developing position P ₁ so as to match. Incidentally, FIG. 9 is for ease of layout of the power supply device 120, the developing device 50a of the K color in the present example shows an example of the state positioned at the developing position P _1.

  FIG. 10 shows an outline of the power supply device 120 and the power supply line assembly 170 connected to the power supply device 120. The power feeding device 120 according to the present embodiment includes an insulating support member 130 that is attached to, for example, a frame of the apparatus main body 10 and opens along the moving direction of the terminal 110 (see FIG. 7), and the insulating support member 130. A fixed conductor 140 having a connection portion 141 that is fixed and to which one end of the feeder assembly 170 is connected, and a separation conductor 150 having a contact surface 151 that is spaced apart from the fixed conductor 140 and that contacts the terminal 110. And an energization elastic member 160 (described later) that is provided between the separation conductor 150 and the fixed conductor 140 so as to be energized and elastically supports the separation conductor 150 so that the separation conductor 150 contacts the terminal 110. . Reference numeral 145 denotes a fixture for fixing the fixed conductor 140 to the insulating support member 130.

  On the other hand, the power supply line assembly 170 includes a power supply line 171 having insulation performance suitable for handling a high voltage, and, for example, a faston terminal 172 provided on one end side of the power supply line 171 and attached to the connection portion 141 of the fixed conductor 140. And a connector 173 provided on one end side of the power supply line 171 on the side different from the Faston terminal 172, and a fastener 174 for supporting an appropriate position of the power supply line 171 on, for example, the frame of the apparatus main body 10. ing.

―Power supply device―
Next, the power feeding device 120 will be described in further detail using the assembly configuration of FIG.
The insulating support member 130 is manufactured by, for example, injection molding, and has two flat portions 133 and 134 between the arc-shaped outer wall portion 131 and the inner wall portion 132, and a fixed conductor 140 and a separation member 140 are provided at each portion. A conductor 150 is positioned. The flat portion 133 is provided with a hole portion 133a for fastening and fixing the fixed conductor 140 with a fixing tool 145 such as a screw. For example, the flat portion 133 is fixed using a tapping screw. Further, a boss 135 that protrudes in the insulating support member 130 is provided between the two flat portions 133 and 134, and a substantially cylindrical groove 136 is provided on the side of the flat portion 134 that is away from the boss 135. Is formed. Furthermore, the end portion of the flat portion 134 on the side away from the boss 135 is provided with an inclined surface 134a that falls downward. Further, the insulating support member 130 is provided with a protrusion 137 on the outer side of the inclined surface 134a.

The site on the outer wall portion 131 of the insulating support member 130, two positions of the projections 131a is provided projecting toward the inner wall portion 132 side, also, that it corresponds to the developing position P ₁ of the outer wall 131, inner wall A concave portion 131b that is slightly recessed is formed on the 132 side. On the other hand, the inner wall 132 is also provided with a protrusion 132a that protrudes toward the outer wall 131 at a position substantially corresponding to the protrusion 131a of the outer wall 131.

  The fixed conductor 140 is formed, for example, by bending a metal plate into a shape matching the shape of the insulating support member 130, and has an oval hole at a position corresponding to the hole 133 a of the insulating support member 130. 142 is provided, and the connecting portion 141 is accommodated in the insulating support member 130 so as to protrude downward from the insulating support member 130 in the lateral direction. A circular hole 143 is provided at a position corresponding to the boss 135 of the fixed conductor 140, and the position of the hole 143 is regulated by the boss 135 when the fixed conductor 140 is accommodated in the insulating support member 130. It becomes like this.

  Further, the separation conductor 150 is accommodated in a position corresponding to the flat portion 134 of the insulating support member 130, and the arc-shaped flat portion serves as a contact surface 151 with the terminal 110 on the developing device 50 side. Both end portions are inclined surfaces 152, 153 provided so as to extend downward. Further, in accordance with the protrusion 137 of the insulating support member 130, the end of one inclined surface 153 of the separation conductor 150 is a bent portion 154 subjected to bending R processing, and this bent portion 154 is insulative. By abutting against the protrusion 137 of the support member 130, the movement of the separation conductor 150 is restricted even when the terminal 110 slides on the separation conductor 150, and stable contact is maintained.

  Furthermore, the current-carrying elastic member 160 (160a, 160b) for elastically supporting the separation conductor 150 toward the terminal 110 on the developing device 50 side is provided in two portions. The current-carrying elastic member 160 of the present embodiment is applied with a coil spring, and the coil spring 160a that secures electrical connection between the fixed conductor 140 and the separation conductor 150 is mounted on the boss 135, while another coil spring 160b. Is inserted into the groove 136.

In order to assemble such a power feeding device 120, the fixed conductor 140 is attached to the insulating support member 130, and then two current-carrying elastic members (corresponding to coil springs) 160 (160 a and 160 b) are attached to the insulating support member 130. The boss 135 and the groove 136 may be attached, and the separation conductor 150 itself may be temporarily pushed below the protrusions 131a and 132a of the insulating support member 130 while holding the current-carrying elastic member 160 with the separation conductor 150. At this time, the separation conductor 150 receives a force that is pushed up by the restoring force of the current-carrying elastic member 160, but the movement of the separation conductor 150 is regulated by the protrusions 131a and 132a of the insulating support member 130. The separation conductor 150 does not come out of the insulating support member 130. In the present embodiment, in the standby position P _0, it is needless to say that the terminal 110 to the separation conductor 150 does not come into contact.

Next, in order to facilitate understanding of the operation of the power supply apparatus 120 of the present embodiment, first, the power supply apparatus of the comparative embodiment will be described, and then the operation of the power supply apparatus 120 of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 12 shows a power supply apparatus 200 of a comparative form, and includes an insulating support member 210 and a separation conductor 220 accommodated in the insulation support member 210 (the separation conductor 150 and the fixed conductor 140 of the present embodiment). And an elastic member 230 that elastically supports the separation conductor 220.
The outer wall portion 211 and the inner wall portion 212 of the insulating support member 210 are configured in substantially the same manner as in the present embodiment and have projections 211a and 212a, respectively, but are provided between the outer wall portion 211 and the inner wall portion 212. The flat portion 213 is one place. Inclined surfaces 213 a and 213 b are provided at both ends of the flat portion 213. Further, the flat portion 213 is provided with holes 214 at three locations.

  Further, the separation conductor 220 has inclined portions 222 and 224 at both ends of the contact surface 221, and a connecting portion 223 to which the feeder assembly 170 is connected is provided outside the one inclined portion 222. . Furthermore, in this comparative embodiment, the elastic member 230 does not require electrical conductivity, and the separation conductor 220 is elastically supported by the elastic member 230 provided by being divided into three places. Note that the recesses 225 of the separation conductor 220 (six in this example) restrict the movement of the separation conductor 220 so that the separation conductor 220 does not shift when the terminal 110 slides on the separation conductor 220. .

The effect | action in the electric power feeder 200 of such a comparison form is demonstrated. As the power supply line 171 of the power supply line assembly 170 (see FIG. 10) used to supply the developing bias in the power supply apparatus 200, for example, a cross-linked polyethylene resin or the like having a high insulating property is used for its coating layer. A soft resin (soft PVC or the like) such as a power supply line is used only for the outer skin. For this reason, the power supply line 171 itself is thick (for example, φ3.2 mm) and has a strong waist. When the faston terminal 172 of the power supply line assembly 170 is attached to the connection portion 223 of the separation conductor 220, the separation conductor 220 is affected by the orientation and waist of the power supply line 171, and the contact surface 221 of the separation conductor 220 is insulated. The support member 210 is inclined.
In particular, when a large number of such power supply devices 200 are assembled, the lead wires 171 are routed differently due to variations in the length of the power supply wire assembly 170 and the contact surface 221 of the separation conductor 220 becomes the developing device 50. There is a possibility that the deviation from the direction orthogonal to the terminal 110 on the side becomes different.

  As described above, when the separation conductor 220 is inclined, the separation conductor 220 in a state where the power supply line 171 is attached may also bite the insulating support member 210, and the separation conductor 220 is sufficiently restored by the pushing force by the elastic member 230. The force cannot be received, and it cannot be located at a desired position, so that stable contact between the separation conductor 220 and the terminal 110 cannot be obtained. In particular, since the separation conductor 220 is formed in an arc shape, the contact surface 221 of the separation conductor 220 is not inclined at the same angle over the entire area. May become unstable.

  In contrast to such a comparative form, in the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the fixed conductor 140 having the connection portion 141 to which the faston terminal 172 of the feeder assembly 170 is connected, and the developing device 50 side. Since the separation conductor 150 having the contact surface 151 with the terminal 110 is separated and the fixed conductor 140 is fixed to the insulating support member 130, the influence of the feeder 171 is almost absorbed by the fixed conductor 140. Thus, the mechanical load from the power supply line 171 hardly acts on the separation conductor 150. Therefore, when the separation conductor 150 is accommodated in the insulating support member 130, the contact surface 151 is arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the terminal 110, and stable contact with the moving terminal 110 is maintained. Will come to be. Further, even if the terminal 110 moves, the bent portion 154 of the separation conductor 150 restricts the displacement of the separation conductor 150, so that stable contact is maintained as it is.

Further, in the present embodiment, the position of the fixed conductor 140 and the current-carrying elastic member (coil spring) 160a is regulated by the boss 135, so that the connection between the fixed conductor 140 and the current-carrying elastic member 160a becomes stable. .
Furthermore, the fixed conductor 140 and the separation conductor 150 are maintained in good contact because the applied voltage is a high voltage even if a metal plate such as SUS is used as it is. It may be possible to appropriately select those applied. Furthermore, the electroconductive elastic member 160 that has been plated may be applied.

  In this embodiment, by using a metal as the separation conductor 150 and a conductive resin as the terminal 110, even if a high electric field acts between the two, the occurrence of discharge or the like can be suppressed. become.

In the present embodiment, the method of fixing the fixed conductor 140 to the insulating support member 130 with the fixture 145 is shown. However, for example, when the insulating support member 130 is formed by injection molding, the fixed conductor 140 is integrally formed. However, the insulating support member 130 may be fixed. In this case, fixing such as screw tightening is unnecessary, and the influence of the power supply line 171 is further reduced than when screw tightening is performed.
Moreover, in this Embodiment, although the aspect which uses two coil springs as the electricity supply elastic member 160 was shown, for example, you may make it use a leaf | plate spring etc., and the application quantity is limited to two. It is not a thing. Furthermore, the energizing elastic member 160 may be fixed to the separation conductor 150 by welding or the like, for example. Alternatively, a plate spring may be used as the energizing elastic member 160, and the energizing elastic member 160 portion (plate spring portion) may be formed simultaneously with the formation of the separation conductor 150, or the plate spring may be brazed to the separation conductor 150 or the like. It may be fixed. Furthermore, conductive rubber may be used as the current-carrying elastic member 160 and may be fixed to the separation conductor 150 with an adhesive or the like.
Furthermore, such a current-carrying elastic member 160 may be fixed to the fixed conductor 140 side. However, when the current-carrying elastic member 160 is fixed to the fixed conductor 140 side, the deformation of the fixed conductor 140 by the feeder 171 is likely to affect the current-carrying elastic member 160, and the current-carrying elastic member 160 is fixed to the separation conductor 150 side. Compared to the above, the elastic support direction of the separation conductor 150 by the current-carrying elastic member 160 is likely to change. Therefore, when the current-carrying elastic member 160 is fixed, it is preferably performed on the separation conductor 150 side.
In the present embodiment, the shape of the power feeding device 120 is an arc shape. However, as long as there is a degree of space, the shape is not limited to an arc shape, and may be provided in a straight line shape.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a mode in which the terminal 110 is provided on the rotating shaft 52c of the developing roll 52 is shown. However, if the developing sleeve 52a is supplied with power from a high voltage power source, the terminal 110 is developed. The roll 52 may be provided at a part different from the rotating shaft body. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a method in which the terminal 110 protrudes in the axial direction of the developing roll 52 has been described. However, the terminal 110 may be inclined with respect to the power feeding device 120. The front end side (the side in contact with the separation conductor 150) may be inclined to the downstream side with respect to the moving direction.

Further, in the present embodiment, an embodiment in which the rotation holding body 41 includes four developing devices 50 has been described. However, for example, one developing device 50 may be mounted on the rotation holding body 41 and rotated. The direction of rotation is not limited to one direction, and it may be rotated in both directions. Further, a plurality of such power supply devices 120 may be used to supply power to, for example, a plurality of locations of the developing device 50.
Such a power supply apparatus 120 may be applied to a power supply processing apparatus other than the image forming apparatus. For example, a device to be measured as a plurality of power supply bodies is mounted on a rotating plate, and one of the devices to be measured is mounted. The above-described power supply device 120 may be used as a power supply device that supplies power to a power supply via a power supply line routed from a power source. In addition, in a mode in which the power-supplied body is not held by the rotating plate or the like, it can be applied as a power-feeding device in the case where the power-supplied body moves along a locus such as a predetermined arcuate locus. Nor.

(A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the electric power feeder which concerns on embodiment model which embodies this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of an electric power feeder, (a) is an embodiment model and (b) shows a comparison form model. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overview of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of a rotary developing device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of one developing device. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the discharge mechanism of a developer. It is explanatory drawing which shows the electric power feeding mechanism of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the terminal by the side of a developing device. It is explanatory drawing which shows arrangement | positioning of the electric power feeder with respect to a rotary developing device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of a feeder and a feeder assembly. It is explanatory drawing which shows the assembly of an electric power feeder. It is explanatory drawing which shows the electric power feeder of the form of a comparison.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 (1A-1D) ... Power receiving body / developer holding body, 1a ... Terminal, 2 ... Power feeding device, 3 ... Insulating support member, 3a ... Position control part, 4 ... Fixed conductor, 4a ... Fixing tool, 5 ... Separation conductor, 5a ... inclined portion, 6 ... energizing elastic member, 7 ... feeding line, 8 ... image carrier, 9 ... rotary developing device, 9a ... rotation carrier

Claims (9)

A power feeding device that is provided in a predetermined fixed part and feeds power to a movable power-supplied terminal,
An insulating support member provided at a predetermined fixing site;
A fixed conductor fixed to the insulating support member and connected to one end of a power supply line from a power source;
A separation conductor that is separated from the fixed conductor and is in contact with the terminal of the power-supplied body; and
A power feeding apparatus comprising: a current-carrying elastic member that is provided between the separation conductor and the fixed conductor so as to be energized and elastically supports the separation conductor so that the separation conductor contacts a terminal of the power-supplied body. In the electric power feeder of Claim 1,
The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the current-carrying elastic member is divided into a plurality of parts along a moving direction of the terminal of the power-supplied body, and at least one of the current-carrying elastic members conducts current between the separation conductor and the fixed conductor. In the electric power feeder of Claim 1 or 2,
The separation conductor has an element extending along the movement direction of the terminal of the power-supplied body. Among these elements, the upstream end of the terminal of the power-supplied body in the movement direction approaches the fixed conductor toward the upstream side. A power feeding device, characterized in that a sloping portion that is slanted in a direction and is in contact with a terminal tip of a power supply body is provided. In the power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in a mode in which the fixed conductor is fixed to the insulating support member using a fixture.
The position of the said fixing tool is set so that it may be located between the position where the said electric power feeding line of a fixed conductor is connected, and the position of the said electricity supply elastic member. In the electric power feeder of Claim 4,
The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the insulating support member includes a position restricting portion that restricts a position of the fixed conductor and the energization elastic member. A power-supplied body having a power feeding terminal and movable;
A power supply processing apparatus comprising: the power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply apparatus is provided at a predetermined fixed portion and supplies power to the terminal of the power supply body. The power supply processing device according to claim 6,
The power supply processing apparatus, wherein the power supply body moves along a predetermined arcuate locus. An image forming apparatus as the power supply processing apparatus according to claim 7,
An image carrier that is rotatably supported on the apparatus main body side and holds an electrostatic latent image;
A plurality of developing units having a developer holding body as a power-supplied body that holds the developer in a rotatable manner inside is provided, and the plurality of developing units are held by a rotary holding body that is rotatably supported on the apparatus main body side. A rotary developing device arranged to face the image carrier,
A power supply processing apparatus comprising: a power supply device that supplies power from a high-voltage power supply to a terminal corresponding to the developer support in a developing position where the image support and each developer support are opposed to each other. The power supply processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
The power supply processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is provided integrally with a rotating shaft of the developer holder.

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