JP2024039772A - developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a configuration that can be attached to different models of image forming apparatus main bodies. [Solution] A developing device 4 can be inserted into different models of image forming apparatus main bodies in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and after being inserted into the image forming apparatus main body, it is pressed toward a photosensitive drum provided in the image forming apparatus main body. A shutter 48 opens and closes an outlet for discharging developer from a developer container. The shutter 48 has a first engaging portion 48c and a second engaging portion 48d. When the inserting direction of the developing device 4 is the first direction, the first engaging portion 48c engages with a part of the image forming apparatus main body side, and the shutter 48 is opened by the inserting operation of the developing device 4. When the inserting direction of the developing device 4 is the first direction, the second engaging portion 48d engages with a part of the image forming apparatus main body side, and the shutter 48 is opened by the operation of pressing the developing device 4 toward the photosensitive drum. [Selected Figure] Fig. 7

Description

The present invention relates to a developing device that is detachable from an image forming apparatus main body.

In general, in image forming apparatuses, it is common practice to set up dedicated developing devices that correspond to the drive configuration and related unit arrangement of photosensitive drums and drum cleaners among models from the same manufacturer, based on the viewpoint of individual optimization. be. On the other hand, a developing device including a magnetic roller that can be used in common with different types of developing devices has been proposed (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-22195

Here, if a dedicated developing device is set for each type of image forming apparatus, a plurality of types of developing devices will exist from the same manufacturer. In this case, there is a risk that parts may be incorrectly used in the production process or incorrectly used in market services. Furthermore, since replacement developing devices are produced, stocked and provided exclusively for each model, production costs and management costs increase. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of recycling, when attempting to collect the developing device, there is a problem that there are many types to be collected and management becomes complicated.

In the case of the configuration described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, parts are made common to different types of developing devices, but common parts are not made common to each unit composed of a plurality of parts.

An object of the present invention is to provide a structure that can be attached to image forming apparatus main bodies of different models.

The developing device of the present invention is insertable into an image forming apparatus main body of a different model in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and after being inserted into the image forming apparatus main body. , a developing device that is pressurized toward an image carrier provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus, which includes a developing container that stores a developer; and a developing device that carries and conveys the developer in the developing container; a developer carrier for developing an electrostatic latent image carried by the carrier with a developer; a discharge port for discharging the developer in the developer container; a shutter for opening and closing the discharge port, the shutter being movable between a first position and a second position different from the first position; a shutter having a discharge path that communicates with the discharge port and discharges the developer from the discharge port when the developing device is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body. When the direction is the first direction, the shutter is moved from the first position to the second position by engaging with a part of the main body of the image forming apparatus and inserting the developing device in the first direction. When the direction in which the developing device is inserted into the image forming device main body is the second direction, the first engaging portion is moved to engage with a part of the image forming device main body side, and the developing device is moved in the second direction. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that it includes a second engaging part that moves the shutter from the first position to the second position by an action of being pressurized toward the image carrier.

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a configuration that can be attached to image forming apparatus main bodies of different models.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a developing device according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a schematic configuration of a developing device according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the main part of a developing device according to an embodiment installed in a first image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the main part of the developing device according to the embodiment installed in the second image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the shutter of the developing device according to the embodiment. (a) A schematic top view showing the position of the shutter before inserting the developing device, and (b) a schematic top view showing the position of the shutter after inserting the developing device. (a) A schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the discharge port at the position of the shutter before insertion of the developing device; (b) A schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the discharge port at the position of the shutter after insertion of the developing device. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of a photosensitive drum and a developing device in a second image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a pressurizing and separating mechanism of the developing device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the developing device according to the embodiment inserted into the second image forming apparatus, viewed from the front side. FIG. 3 is a top view showing the positional relationship between the cam member and the contact portion when the developing device according to the embodiment is separated from the photosensitive drum. FIG. 3 is a top view showing the positional relationship between a cam member and a contact portion in a state where the developing device according to the embodiment is pressed against the photosensitive drum side.

An embodiment will be described using FIGS. 1 to 14. First, the schematic configurations of a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be described using FIGS. 1 and 2.

[First image forming device]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first image forming apparatus 100. The first image forming apparatus 100 is, for example, a full-color image forming apparatus that employs an electrophotographic method and includes image forming sections Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd for each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

Each of the image forming units Pa to Pd includes a drum-shaped electrophotographic photoreceptor, ie, photoreceptor drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, which serve as image carriers and rotate in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise). Around each photosensitive drum 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, chargers 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, developing devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, transfer rollers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, cleaning device 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d, etc. are arranged. Additionally, laser beam scanners 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d as exposure means are arranged above the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d in the figure.

Each of the image forming sections Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd has the same configuration, and the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d disposed in each of the image forming sections Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd have the same configuration. Therefore, hereinafter, the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d will be collectively referred to as "photosensitive drums 1." Similarly, the charger, laser beam scanner, developing device, transfer roller, and cleaning device disposed in each image forming section Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd also have the same configuration in each image forming section. Therefore, they are collectively referred to as a charger 2, a laser beam scanner 3, a developing device 4, a transfer roller 6, and a cleaning device 19, respectively.

Next, the entire image forming sequence of the image forming apparatus 100 having the above configuration will be explained. First, the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged by the charger 2. The uniformly charged photosensitive drum 1 is then subjected to scanning exposure using a laser beam modulated by an image signal from a laser beam scanner 3. The laser beam scanner 3 has a built-in semiconductor laser, and this semiconductor laser is controlled in response to a document image information signal output from a document reading device having a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD, and emits a laser beam.

As a result, the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 1 charged by the charger 2 changes in the image area, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1. This electrostatic latent image is reversely developed with toner by the developing device 4 to form a visible image, that is, a toner image. In this embodiment, the developing device 4 uses a two-component non-contact developing method that uses a developer in which toner and carrier are mixed. Further, in the case of this embodiment, the developing device 4 is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body 101 of the first image forming apparatus 100.

Furthermore, by performing the above steps for each image forming section Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd, toner images in four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are formed on the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d. Ru. An intermediate transfer belt 5 serving as an intermediate transfer member is arranged below each image forming portion Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd. The intermediate transfer belt 5 is suspended by rollers 61, 62, and 63, and is movable in the direction of the arrow.

The toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is once transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 5 by a transfer roller 6 serving as a primary transfer means. As a result, the four-color toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 5 to form a full-color image. Further, toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 without being transferred is collected by a cleaning device 19.

The full-color image on the intermediate transfer belt 5 is taken out from the feeding cassette 12 and transferred via a feeding roller 13 and a feeding guide 11 onto a recording material S such as paper, as a secondary transfer means. The image is transferred by the action of the roller 10. The toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5 without being transferred is collected by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 18.

On the other hand, the recording material S onto which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the fixing device 16, where the image is fixed. The fixing device 16 includes, for example, a heating roller and a pressure roller, and heats and presses the image onto the recording material S when the recording material S passes through a fixing nip formed by these rollers. Make it stick. Then, the recording material S with the image fixed thereon is discharged onto the discharge tray 17.

[Second image forming device]
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a second image forming apparatus 200 different in model from the first image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. The second image forming apparatus 200 is a monochrome image forming apparatus that includes one image forming section Pe and employs an electrophotographic method. The image forming unit Pe forms a monochromatic image such as black.

The image forming section Pe includes a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member, ie, a photosensitive drum 1e, which rotates in the direction of the arrow (clockwise) as an image carrier. A charger 2e, a developing device 4e, a transfer roller 10e, a cleaning device 19e, and the like are arranged around the photosensitive drum 1e. Furthermore, a laser beam scanner 3e as an exposure means is arranged above the photosensitive drum 1e in the drawing.

Next, the entire image forming sequence of the image forming apparatus 200 having the above configuration will be explained. First, the photosensitive drum 1e is uniformly charged by the charger 2e. The uniformly charged photosensitive drum 1e is then subjected to scanning exposure using a laser beam modulated by an image signal from a laser beam scanner 3e. The laser beam scanner 3e has a built-in semiconductor laser, and this semiconductor laser is controlled in response to a document image information signal output from a document reading device having a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD, and emits a laser beam.

As a result, the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 1e charged by the charger 2e changes in the image area, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1e. This electrostatic latent image is reversely developed with toner by the developing device 4e to form a visible image, that is, a toner image. In this embodiment, the developing device 4e uses a two-component non-contact developing method that uses a developer in which toner and carrier are mixed. Further, in the case of the present embodiment, the developing device 4e is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body 201 of the second image forming apparatus 200.

The toner image on the photosensitive drum 1e is taken out from the feeding cassette 212 and transferred to a recording material S such as paper via the feeding roller 213 and the feeding guide 211 by the action of the transfer roller 10e as a transfer means. transcribed. Toner remaining without being transferred onto the photosensitive drum 1e is collected by a cleaning device 19e.

On the other hand, the recording material S onto which the toner image has been transferred is sent to a fixing device 216, where the image is fixed. The fixing device 216 includes, for example, a heating roller and a pressure roller, and heats and presses the image on the recording material S when the recording material S passes through a fixing nip formed by these rollers. Make it stick. Then, the recording material S with the image fixed thereon is discharged to the discharge tray 217.

In this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 1, which is a commonly used drum-shaped organic photoreceptor, is used as an image carrier in the first image forming apparatus 100 and the second image forming apparatus 200. Inorganic photoreceptors such as amorphous silicon photoreceptors can also be used. It is also possible to use a belt-shaped photoreceptor. Further, the charging method, transfer method, cleaning method, and fixing method are not limited to the above methods.

[Developing device]
Here, in the case of this embodiment, the developing device 4 used in the first image forming apparatus 100 and the developing device 4e used in the second image forming apparatus 200 are the same. Therefore, hereinafter, the developing device 4e used in the second image forming apparatus 200 will also be described as the "developing device 4." As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIGS. 5 and 6, which will be described later, the developing device 4 is arranged with respect to the image forming apparatus main bodies 101 and 201 so that its longitudinal direction is along the front and back direction of the image forming apparatuses 100 and 200. There is. Therefore, one longitudinal side of the developing device 4 corresponds to the front side of the image forming apparatus main bodies 101, 201, and the other longitudinal side of the developing device 4 corresponds to the rear side of the image forming apparatus main bodies 101, 201, respectively. Further, this longitudinal direction is a direction along the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drums 1 and 1e. When the developing device 4 is attached to and removed from the image forming apparatus main body 101, 201, it is inserted and pulled out along the longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the developing device 4 includes a developing container 40 that serves as a housing and stores a developer therein. The developer is, for example, a two-component developer containing a non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier. The developing container 40 has a developing chamber 40a as a first chamber vertically divided by a partition wall 44, and a stirring chamber 40b as a second chamber. The partition wall 44 is arranged along the longitudinal direction, and has communication ports (communication portions) 44a and 44b at both ends in the longitudinal direction that communicate the developing chamber 40a and the stirring chamber 40b.

The developing chamber 40a and the stirring chamber 40b are each provided with conveying screws 42a and 42b, which are disposed along the longitudinal direction and serve as conveying members for stirring and conveying the developer in the developing container 40. The conveying screws 42a and 42b each have a rotating shaft and a blade spirally formed around the rotating shaft. Then, by rotating around the rotation axis of the rotating shaft, the developer in the developer container is conveyed while being stirred along the longitudinal direction of the developer container 40 . The conveying screws 42a and 42b convey the developer in opposite directions, and circulate the developer between the developing chamber 40a and the stirring chamber 40b through communication ports 44a and 44b at both ends of the partition wall 44.

A developing sleeve 41 serving as a developer carrier that carries and transports the developer in the developing container is rotatably supported on the surface of the developing container 40 facing the photosensitive drums 1 and 1e. Inside the developing sleeve 41, a magnet 41a serving as a magnetic field generating section is fixedly arranged in a non-rotating manner. The non-magnetic developing sleeve 41 is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the developing device 4, and carries developer on its surface by the magnetic force of the magnet 41a. The developing sleeve 41 carries and conveys the developer by rotating. Further, a developing blade 45 is fixed to the developing container 40 at a predetermined distance from the developing sleeve 41.

The developer stirred and conveyed by the conveyance screws 42a and 42b is carried and conveyed along the surface of the developing sleeve 41, and is limited to a predetermined thickness by the developing blade 45. The developing sleeve 41 supplies toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 (1e) in a development area facing the photosensitive drum 1 (1e) to develop the electrostatic latent image carried on the photosensitive drum 1 (1e). Develop with a chemical agent. The developer remaining on the surface of the developing sleeve 41 after development is collected into the stirring chamber 40b, and is again stirred and transported by the transport screws 42a and 42b.

Here, the process of developing toner onto the photosensitive drum 1 (1e) in the development area will be described in detail. The photosensitive drum 1 (1e) is uniformly charged to a charging potential Vd [V] by a charger 2 (2e), and then the image area is exposed to light by a laser beam scanner 3 (3e) to an exposure potential Vl [V]. Become. A DC voltage or a voltage obtained by superimposing an AC voltage on a DC voltage is applied to the developing sleeve 41 . When the voltage of the DC component of the developing sleeve 41 is Vdc, the absolute value of the difference from the exposure potential |Vdc-Vl| is called Vcont, and this creates an electric field that carries the toner to the image area. Further, the absolute value of the difference between the DC voltage Vdc and the charging potential Vd |Vdc-Vd| is called Vback, and creates an electric field that pulls the toner back toward the developing sleeve 41 from the photosensitive drum 1 (1e). This is provided to suppress the so-called fogging phenomenon in which toner adheres to non-image areas.

The developing sleeve 41 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 and conveys the developer toward the developing blade 45. The layer thickness of the developer is regulated by the developing blade 45, and when the developer passes through the gap between the developing sleeve 41 and the developing blade 45, a developer layer having a predetermined thickness is formed on the developing sleeve 41. Thereafter, the developer layer is carried and conveyed to a development area facing the photosensitive drum 1 (1e) as the development sleeve 41 rotates, and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 (1e). .

During development, the developer comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 1 (1e) and develops the latent image during this contact. Therefore, the space between the photosensitive drum 1 (1e) and the developing sleeve 41 is filled with developer. The developer subjected to development is then peeled off from the developing sleeve 41 in a peeling area within the developing container 40 as the developing sleeve 41 rotates.

Further, a developer replenishment port 46 is provided on the upstream side of the stirring chamber 40b with respect to the developer conveyance direction of the conveyance screw 42b. The developer replenishing port 46 is supplied with developer containing toner from a developer replenishing device (not shown). The conveyance screw 42b stirs and conveys the toner replenished from the developer supply port 46 and the developer in the stirring chamber 40b, thereby making the toner concentration uniform. Specifically, the amount of toner consumed by image formation is replenished from the developer replenishment device, passes through the developer replenishment port 46, passes through the stirring chamber 40b, and is then conveyed to the development chamber 40a.

In this embodiment, a discharge port 47 for discharging the developer is provided on the side wall of the developing sleeve 41 on the downstream side of the developing chamber 40a in the developer conveying direction of the conveying screw 42a and outside the installation area of the developing sleeve 41. The lower end of the discharge port 47 is configured such that when the amount of developer in the developer container 40 increases due to developer replenishment, the developer overflows beyond the lower end of the discharge port 47 to the outside in accordance with the increased amount. Then, as the developer overflows from the discharge port 47, the surplus developer in the developer container 40 is discharged.

That is, the developing device 4 rotates the conveyance screws 42a and 42b to convey the developer while stirring it, thereby triboelectrically charging the toner and carrier. In the developer containing toner and carrier, the carrier that is not consumed during image formation continues to circulate within the developer container 40 while being subjected to friction, and thus the charging performance of the carrier gradually deteriorates. Therefore, while replenishing the developer container 40 with new carrier, a portion of the developer being transported is overflowed and discharged through the discharge port 47 provided in the developer container 40, thereby reducing the average amount of carrier in the developer. This ensures excellent charging performance.

The discharge port 47 is opened and closed by a shutter 48. That is, when the developing device 4 is not inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 101, 201, the discharge port 47 is closed by the shutter 48, and the developer is not discharged from the discharge port 47. On the other hand, when the developing device 4 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 101, 201, the shutter 48 moves with the insertion operation or the pressurizing operation of the developing device, which will be described later, and the discharge port 47 is exposed. The developer is now ready to be discharged from the outlet 47. The detailed structure of the discharge port 47 and the shutter 48 will be described later.

[Relationship between image forming device and developing device]
Next, the relationship between the first image forming apparatus 100, the second image forming apparatus 200, and the developing device 4 will be explained using FIGS. 5 and 6. First, FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional perspective view of the developing device 4 installed in the first image forming apparatus 100. In the first image forming apparatus 100, when viewed from the front side (F side) of the image forming apparatus 100, the developing device 4 is arranged on the left side of the photosensitive drum 1 provided in the image forming apparatus main body. Then, the photosensitive drum 1 rotates counterclockwise in the direction of arrow α1, and the developing sleeve 41 of the developing device 4 rotates clockwise in the direction of arrow β1 in a corresponding direction. Further, the toner image transferred from the photosensitive drum 1 to the intermediate transfer belt 5 is conveyed from left to right when viewed from the front side (F side). When the developing device 4 is replaced during service, it is inserted in the direction of the arrow from the front side (F side) to the back side (R side).

Next, FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional perspective view of the developing device 4 installed in the second image forming apparatus 200. In the second image forming apparatus 200, when viewed from the front side (F side) of the image forming apparatus 200, the developing device 4 is arranged on the right side of the photosensitive drum 1e provided in the image forming apparatus main body. The photosensitive drum 1e rotates clockwise in the direction of arrow α2, and the developing sleeve 41 of the developing device 4 rotates counterclockwise in the direction of arrow β2 in the same direction. Further, the recording material S onto which the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 1e is conveyed from right to left when viewed from the front side (F side). When the developing device 4 is replaced during service, it is inserted in the direction of the arrow from the front side (F side) to the back side (R side).

In this way, when the same developing device 4 is installed in both the full-color first image forming device 100 and the monochrome second image forming device 200, the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 41 of the developing device 4 is It can be seen that the direction is opposite when viewed from the front side (F side). The developing device 4 cannot functionally reverse the rotation direction of the developing sleeve or screw in the developing device due to the positions of the developer replenishment port and the developer discharge port, and the toner supply to the developing sleeve 41. Therefore, in order for the same developing device 4 to be arranged on opposite sides of the photosensitive drum and rotate in opposite directions between image forming apparatuses of different models, the front side and the back side of the developing device 4 must be reversed. It is necessary to attach it to the main body of the image forming apparatus. That is, in this embodiment, the developing device 4 is installed in the full-color first image forming apparatus 100 and the developing device 4 is installed in the monochrome second image forming apparatus 200. The front side and the back side of 4 are reversed.

[Shutter and outlet]
The configuration of the shutter 48 and the discharge port 47 in the developing device 4 of this embodiment will be explained using FIGS. 7 to 9(b). FIG. 7 shows the detailed configuration around the shutter 48 in the developing device 4 of this embodiment. 8(a) to FIG. 9(b) show the case where the developing device 4 is inserted into the first image forming apparatus 100.

The developing device 4 includes a discharge port 47 for discharging the developer in the developer container, a shutter 48 for opening and closing the discharge port 47, and a spring 51 as a biasing member. The shutter 48 is provided so as to be movable along the insertion direction of the developing device 4 between a first position and a second position different from the first position. The shutter 48 includes a closing portion 48a, a discharge path 48b, a first engaging portion 48c, and a second engaging portion 48d.

The closing portion 48a closes the discharge port 47 when the shutter 48 is located at the first position. The discharge path 48b communicates with the discharge port 47 and discharges the developer from the discharge port 47 when the shutter 48 is located at the second position.

The first engaging portion 48c engages with a portion of the image forming apparatus main body side when the developing device 4 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 101 in the first direction, and the first engaging portion 48c engages with a part of the image forming apparatus main body side, so that the developing device 4 is inserted in the first direction. The insertion operation moves the shutter 48 from the first position to the second position. That is, when the developing device 4 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 101 of the first image forming apparatus 100, the first engaging portion 48c comes into contact with a part of the image forming apparatus main body 101 with this insertion operation. to move the shutter 48 from the first position to the second position.

The first engaging portion 48c is provided on the distal end side in the first direction when the developing device 4 is inserted in the first direction. Further, the first engaging portion 48c is provided so as to protrude in the width direction of the developing device 4 (the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (insertion direction) of the developing device 4) with respect to a discharge container portion 402, which will be described later. .

The second engaging portion 48d engages with a part of the image forming apparatus main body side when the developing device 4 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 201 in the second direction, and the developing device 4 is engaged with a part of the image forming apparatus main body side, and the developing device 4 is attached to the photosensitive drum 1e. The action of being pressurized moves the shutter 48 from the first position to the second position. That is, when the developing device 4 is inserted into the image forming device main body 201 of the second image forming device 200, the first engaging portion is pressed against the photosensitive drum 1e after the developing device 4 is inserted. 48c comes into contact with a part of the image forming apparatus main body 201 to move the shutter 48 from the first position to the second position.

The second engaging portion 48d is also provided on the distal end side in the first direction when the insertion direction of the developing device 4 is the first direction. However, the second engaging portion 48d is provided so as to protrude in the width direction of the developing device 4 with respect to a discharge container portion 402, which will be described later, in the opposite direction to the first engaging portion 48c. In this embodiment, when the developing device 4 is viewed from above, the first engaging portion 48c and the second engaging portion 48d are provided so as to protrude in the left-right direction with respect to the discharge container portion 402. Further, the second engaging portion 48d is provided so as to protrude above the discharge container portion 402 and the first engaging portion 48c.

Spring 51 biases shutter 48 from the second position toward the first position. That is, the spring 51 urges the shutter 48 from the position where the discharge port 47 is opened to the position where the discharge port 47 is closed.

Further, the developer container 40 includes a container main body portion 401 and a discharge container portion 402 as a part of the developer container. In the case of this embodiment, the container main body 401 includes a part of the developing chamber 40a, and is a portion where the developing sleeve 41 is installed in the longitudinal direction of the developing device 4. The discharge container part 402 is a part that extends from the container main body part 401 along the insertion direction, and has a discharge port 47 formed therein. In this embodiment, the discharge container section 402 has a narrower length (width) in the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction than the container main body section 401, and there is a step 403 between the container main body section 401 and the discharge container section 402. There is. In this embodiment, a spring 51 is provided between the step 403 and the shutter 48, and the spring 51 biases the shutter 48 in a direction away from the step 403.

Further, the developing device 4 further includes a stopper 49 as an abutting member disposed at a position spaced apart from the container body 401 in the insertion direction (longitudinal direction). In this embodiment, the stopper 49 is arranged near the end of the discharge container section 402 on the opposite side from the container main body section 401. The stopper 49 comes into contact with the shutter 48 to position the shutter 48 at the first position when the shutter 48 is biased by the spring 51 and located at the first position.

9(a) and 9(b) are cross-sectional views of the vicinity of the discharge port 47 of the developing device 4. As shown in FIG. 9(a), when the developing device 4 is not inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 101, , the discharge port 47 is blocked by a blocking portion 48a. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the developing device 4 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 101, the discharge port 47 and the discharge path 48b communicate with each other, and It is also connected to the discharge path 52, allowing the developer to be discharged. Note that when the developing device 4 is inserted into the image forming device main body 201 of the second image forming device 200, when the developing device 4 is not inserted into the image forming device main body 201, as shown in FIG. , the discharge port 47 is blocked by a blocking portion 48a. On the other hand, when the developing device 4 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 201, the shutter 48 does not open when the developing device 4 is inserted, as will be described later. After the developing device 4 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 201, an operation of pressurizing the developing device 4 toward the photosensitive drum 1e causes the discharge port 47 and the discharge path 48b to communicate with each other, as shown in FIG. 9(b). It is also connected to a main body side discharge path 52 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 101, thereby enabling the developer to be discharged.

[Shutter operation when inserting the developing device into the first image forming device]
Next, the case where the developing device 4 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 101 of the first image forming apparatus 100 will be described using FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b). In this case, the direction in which the developing device 4 is inserted is the first direction.

As shown in FIG. 8A, when the developing device 4 is not inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 101, the main body engaging portion 50 provided on the image forming apparatus main body side and the first engagement of the shutter 48 The portion 48c is not in contact. Therefore, the shutter 48 is biased by the spring 51 from the center side (C side) to the end side (A side) of the developing device 4, and the discharge port 47 is closed with the closing portion 48a. .

Next, when the developing device 4 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 101 in the first direction, the main body engaging portion 50 and the first engaging portion 48c of the shutter 48 come into contact with each other, as shown in FIG. 8(b). . Then, in conjunction with the insertion operation of the developing device 4 from the front side (F side) to the back side (R side) of the image forming apparatus main body 101 in the direction of the arrow, the shutter 48 resists the biasing force of the spring 51 and moves in the R direction. The developer moves from the side toward the F side, and the discharge port 47 and the discharge path 48b communicate with each other, so that the developer can be discharged.

When the developing device 4 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 101, the first engaging portion 48c separates from the main body engaging portion 50, the shutter 48 is moved from the F side to the R side again by the spring 51, and the discharge port 47 The state returns to the state in which the developer is blocked by the blocking portion 48a to prevent the developer from being discharged.

In this way, when the developing device 4 is inserted into the first image forming apparatus 100 along the first direction, the shutter 48 moves with the insertion operation of the developing device 4, so the shutter 48 is moved by the spring in the same direction as the insertion direction. 51 and is energized. On the other hand, as described above, the developing device 4 of this embodiment can be used in two different devices, for example, the first image forming device 100 and the second image forming device 200, and can be installed in the main body of the image forming device. On the other hand, the front and back are reversed. In this case, the biasing direction of the shutter 48 may be opposite to the insertion direction, and the shutter 48 may not be able to be opened in conjunction with the insertion of the developing device 4. Furthermore, if the front and rear sides of the developing device 4 are reversed with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the positional relationship between the closing portion of the shutter 48 and the ejection path is also reversed, so it may become impossible to communicate the ejection port and the ejection path. be. Therefore, in order to use the developing device 4 by inverting it from the front to the back, it is necessary to configure the shutter in the biasing direction and the closing portion and the ejection path to be usable in either insertion direction.

Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to make it possible to attach and detach a common developing device to different types of image forming apparatuses, the shutter for opening and closing the discharge port can be operated even if the insertion direction of the developing device is changed. Specifically, when the direction in which the developing device is inserted is in the second direction opposite to the first direction, the shutter is operated using the action of pressing the developing device toward the photosensitive drum. There is. Hereinafter, a case where the insertion direction of the developing device is the second direction will be described in detail.

[Pressure separation configuration of developing device]
First, a configuration for pressurizing and separating the developing device 4 from the photosensitive drum 1e will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 shows the arrangement of the developing device 4 and the photosensitive drum 1e in the second image forming apparatus 200. Note that the first image forming apparatus 100 also has a configuration in which the developing device is pressed against and separated from the photosensitive drum.

The image forming apparatus main body 201 of the second image forming apparatus 200 is provided with a holding section 70 that holds the developing device 4 . When the developing device 4 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 201, it is held by the holding section 70. The holding section 70 has a rotational fulcrum 71 and is rotatable about the rotational fulcrum 71 together with the developing device 4 held by the holding section 70 in the directions of arrows B and D.

Due to the rotational movement of the holding portion 70, an abutment member (not shown) provided near and coaxially with the developing sleeve 41 of the developing device 4 is moved into an abutment member (not shown) provided near and coaxially with the photosensitive drum 1e. It is configured to come into contact with a member. This allows the developing sleeve 41 to face the photosensitive drum 1e with a predetermined gap that is optimal for the developing operation.

The image forming apparatus main body 201 is also provided with a pressurizing and separating mechanism 53 that presses the holding section 70 toward the photosensitive drum 1e and separates it from the photosensitive drum 1e. The configuration of the pressurizing and separating mechanism 53 will be explained using FIGS. 10 and 11.

The pressure separation mechanism 53 includes a frame 53a, cam members 54a and 54b, a cam shaft 55, pressure springs 58a and 58b as pressure members, and the like. Pressure springs 58a and 58b are arranged between the frame 53a and the holding part 70.

Pressure is applied to the photosensitive drum 1e by the developing device 4 as follows. That is, when the cam members 54a and 54b shown in FIG. 11 are not in contact with the separation shafts 57a and 57b provided on the holding section 70, the holding section 70 is moved toward the photosensitive drum 1e by the biasing force of the pressure springs 58a and 58b. Pressure is applied to the side (in the direction of arrow B, which is clockwise in the figure). As a result, the abutting member (not shown) provided coaxially and near the developing sleeve 41 of the developing device 4 comes into contact with the abutting member (not shown) coaxially provided near the photosensitive drum 1e while being pressurized. This ensures a stable gap between the surface layer of the developing sleeve 41 and the surface layer of the photosensitive drum 1e.

Next, the operation of separating the developing device 4 from the photosensitive drum 1e will be explained. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the configuration of the separation section of the pressure separation mechanism 53 when the second image forming apparatus 200 is viewed from the side. As described above, the pressurizing and separating mechanism 53 includes cam members 54a and 54b and a camshaft 55. The cam members 54a and 54b are engaged with a camshaft 55, and a handle member 56 for a user to operate the camshaft 55 is provided at one end of the camshaft 55. The cam shaft 55 is configured to be slidable in the left and right directions in the figure through the user's access to the handle member 56. On the other hand, the holding portion 70 includes separation shafts 57a and 57b. Here, in the above-described pressurized state, the cam members 54a, 54b are configured in a positional relationship in which they are not in contact with the separation shafts 57a, 57b.

In the above configuration, the user operates the handle member 56 to slide the camshaft 55 to the left in FIG. 11 while the developing device 4 held by the holding portion 70 is pressurized toward the photosensitive drum 1e. By doing so, the developing device 4 is separated from the photosensitive drum 1e. By sliding the camshaft 55, the projections 54at and 54bt of the cam members 54a and 54b provided on the camshaft 55 come into contact with the separation shafts 57a and 57b. By further sliding the camshaft 55 in the same direction, the protrusions 54at and 54bt push up the separation shafts 57a and 57b, and the developing device 4 held by the holding part 70 moves in the direction indicated by the counterclockwise arrow in FIG. By rotating in the D direction, the developing sleeve 41 is separated from the photosensitive drum 1e.

[Shutter operation when inserting the developing device into the second image forming device]
Next, the operation of the shutter 48 when the developing device 4 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 201 of the second image forming apparatus 200 will be explained using FIGS. 12 to 14. In this case, the direction in which the developing device 4 is inserted is the second direction. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the area around the developing device 4 seen from the front side of the second image forming apparatus 200 when the developing device 4 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 201.

When inserting the developing device 4 into the second image forming device 200, the insertion direction is reversed compared to when inserting the developing device 4 into the first image forming device 100. In this state, the shutter 48 is located on the front side of the image forming apparatus main body 201. A cam member 62 is provided on the back side of the side plate 60 on the front side of the image forming apparatus main body 201. The side plate 60 is located in front of the shutter 48 when the developing device 4 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 201, and the cam member 62 provided on the side plate 60 is located near the second engaging portion 48d. . Specifically, the cam member 62 is located on the downstream side in the direction in which the developing device 4 is pressurized with respect to the second engaging portion 48d. Then, during the pressurizing operation of the developing device 4 described above, the cam member 62 and the second engaging portion 48d can engage with each other.

Further, the cam member 62 has an inclined surface 62a that faces the second engaging portion 48d. When the developing device 4 is pressurized, the second engaging portion 48d moves in a direction approaching the cam member 62, so that the inclined surface 62a engages with the tip of the second engaging portion 48d and is engaged with the second engaging portion 48d. It is inclined so as to guide the joint portion 48d downstream in the second direction. Specifically, with respect to the direction in which the developing device 4 is pressurized, the inclined surface 62a is inclined toward the downstream side in the second direction as the distance from the second engaging portion 48d increases.

FIG. 13 is a top view showing the positional relationship between the cam member 62 and the second engaging portion 48d when the developing device 4 is separated from the photosensitive drum 1e. In the separated state, the second engaging portion 48d and the cam member 62 are not in contact with each other, and in the insertion direction (second direction) into the image forming apparatus main body 201, the tip portion 62b of the cam member 62 and This is a relationship in which the outermost shapes of the developing devices 4 do not overlap. This allows the developing device 4 to be inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 201. Note that the image forming apparatus main body 201 has a main body insertion port (not shown), and the introduction path of the developing device 4 and the main body insertion port do not align with each other at positions other than those shown in FIG. The configuration is such that it is not possible.

FIG. 14 is a top view showing the positional relationship between the cam member 62 and the second engaging portion 48d when the developing device 4 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 1e. After the developing device 4 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 201, the user pushes the handle member 56 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 from the front side of the main body toward the back of the main body, so that the developing device 4 is moved toward the photosensitive drum 1e side. Pressurized. In the process of being pressurized, the second engaging portion 48d begins to abut against the inclined surface 62a of the cam member 62. In the pressurizing process, the second engaging portion 48d is moved along the inclined surface 62a of the cam member 62 in the upper left direction in FIG. At this time, the shutter 48 moves from the F side to the R side against the urging force of the spring 51, and the discharge port 47 and the discharge path 48b communicate with each other, so that the developer can be discharged. After the shutter 48 is moved to a position where the discharge port 47 and the discharge path 48b communicate with each other, the pressurizing operation is completed.

The parts of the developing device 4 of this embodiment are all common regardless of the image forming apparatus used. Therefore, the movable amount of the shutter 48 is configured to be approximately the same regardless of the image forming apparatus. Further, the first engaging portion 48c and the main body engaging portion 50, which is a part of the image forming apparatus main body 101, are engaged, and the shutter 48 is moved into the developing container 40 by the insertion operation of the developing device 4 in the first direction. The direction of movement is determined by the movement of the second engaging portion 48d and the cam member 62, which is a part of the image forming apparatus main body 201, and the development device 4 being pressurized toward the photosensitive drum 1e. This is the same direction in which the shutter 48 moves relative to the developer container 40. That is, in this embodiment, the direction in which the shutter 48 moves relative to the developer container 40 is the same regardless of whether the developing device 4 is used in the first image forming apparatus 100 or the second image forming apparatus 200. be. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the direction of the shutter 48 depending on the direction in which the developing device 4 is inserted.

As described above, in this embodiment, the operation of inserting the developing device 4 into the first image forming apparatus 100 and the operation of pressurizing the developing device 4 with respect to the second image forming apparatus 200 are performed. Each allows the shutter 48 to be opened. This allows the developing device 4 to be used commonly by the first image forming apparatus 100 and the second image forming apparatus 200.

As a result, the configuration of the developing device 4 can be made common to image forming apparatuses of different models, and it is possible to prevent incorrect parts in the production process and misuse in market services. Further, there is no need to produce, inventory manage, and provide replacement developing devices exclusively for each model, and production costs and management costs can be suppressed. Furthermore, when collecting developing devices for reuse, the number of types of developing devices to be collected can be reduced, and management of collection and reuse of developing devices can be facilitated.

<Other embodiments>
In each of the embodiments described above, a full-color image forming apparatus and a monochrome image forming apparatus are taken as examples of image forming apparatuses of different models. If so, the present invention can be applied, for example, to full-color image forming apparatuses of different models or to monochrome image forming apparatuses of different models. Further, the image forming apparatus may be any of a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, a multifunctional device having multiple functions thereof, and the like.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, a case has been described in which a screw recoil spring is used as a biasing member that biases the shutter, but it is sufficient that the shutter can be biased in the same direction as the direction in which the developing device is inserted. may be of other configurations other than a torsion coil spring, such as a coil spring of another shape or an elastic member such as rubber. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the shutter discharge path is formed to guide the developer from the shutter opening to the main body side discharge path, but the main body side discharge path is connected to the shutter opening. In such a configuration, the discharge path may be only the opening of the shutter.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the first engaging portion 48c operates the shutter 48 in conjunction with the insertion operation of the developing device 4, and the second engaging portion 48c operates the shutter 48 in conjunction with the pressurizing operation of the developing device 4. A configuration in which the engaging portion 48d is provided at a different position has been described. However, the first engaging portion 48c and the second engaging portion 48d may be a common engaging portion. For example, one member may have a function of operating the shutter 48 in conjunction with the insertion operation of the developing device 4 and a function of operating the shutter 48 in conjunction with the pressurizing operation of the developing device 4. . In this case, for example, the main body engaging portion 50 is provided on the side where the developing device 4 moves due to the pressurizing operation, so that the front end surface in the first direction of the second engaging portion 48d is It may be configured to engage with the main body engaging portion 50.

Further, the disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configuration.
(Configuration 1)
It can be inserted into an image forming apparatus main body of a different model in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and after being inserted into the image forming apparatus main body, it can be inserted into the image forming apparatus main body. A developing device that is pressurized toward an image bearing member provided in
a developer container containing developer;
a developer carrier that carries and conveys the developer in the developer container and develops the electrostatic latent image carried by the image carrier with the developer;
a discharge port for discharging the developer in the developer container;
a shutter for opening and closing the discharge port, the shutter being movable between a first position and a second position different from the first position along the insertion direction of the developing device, and located at the first position; a shutter having a closing portion that blocks the discharge port when the shutter is in the second position; and a discharge path that communicates with the discharge port and discharges the developer from the discharge port when the shutter is located at the second position;
The shutter is
When the direction of insertion of the developing device into the main body of the image forming apparatus is the first direction, the developing device engages with a part of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the insertion operation of the developing device in the first direction causes the a first engagement part that moves the shutter from the first position to the second position;
When the direction of insertion of the developing device into the main body of the image forming apparatus is the second direction, the developing device engages with a part of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the developing device is pressurized toward the image carrier. a second engaging portion that moves the shutter from the first position to the second position by an operation of moving the shutter from the first position to the second position.
(Configuration 2)
The developing device according to configuration 1, further comprising a biasing member that biases the shutter from the second position toward the first position.
(Configuration 3)
The first engaging portion engages with a portion of the image forming apparatus main body side, and the direction in which the shutter moves relative to the developing container due to the insertion operation of the developing device in the first direction is the direction in which the shutter moves relative to the developing container. A direction in which the shutter moves relative to the developer container due to an operation in which the second engaging portion and a portion of the image forming apparatus main body side are engaged and the developing device is pressurized toward the image carrier. The developing device according to configuration 1 or 2, which is the same as .

1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e)...Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
4, 4A (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e)...Developing device 40...Developing container 41...Developing sleeve (developer carrier)
47...Discharge port 48, 48A...Shutter 48a...Closing part 48b...Discharge route 48c...First engaging part 48d, 48Ad...Second engaging part 51... Spring (biasing member)
100... First image forming apparatus 101... Image forming apparatus main body 200... Second image forming apparatus 201... Image forming apparatus main body

Claims (3)

It can be inserted into an image forming apparatus main body of a different model in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and after being inserted into the image forming apparatus main body, it can be inserted into the image forming apparatus main body. A developing device that is pressurized toward an image bearing member provided in
a developer container containing developer;
a developer carrier that carries and conveys the developer in the developer container and develops the electrostatic latent image carried by the image carrier with the developer;
a discharge port for discharging the developer in the developer container;
a shutter for opening and closing the discharge port, the shutter being movable between a first position and a second position different from the first position along the insertion direction of the developing device, and located at the first position; a shutter having a closing portion that blocks the discharge port when the shutter is in the second position; and a discharge path that communicates with the discharge port and discharges the developer from the discharge port when the shutter is located at the second position;
The shutter is
When the direction of insertion of the developing device into the main body of the image forming apparatus is the first direction, the developing device engages with a part of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the insertion operation of the developing device in the first direction causes the a first engagement part that moves the shutter from the first position to the second position;
When the direction of insertion of the developing device into the main body of the image forming apparatus is the second direction, the developing device engages with a part of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the developing device is pressurized toward the image carrier. a second engaging portion that moves the shutter from the first position to the second position by an operation of moving the shutter from the first position to the second position. The developing device according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing member that biases the shutter from the second position to the first position. The first engaging portion engages with a portion of the image forming apparatus main body side, and the direction in which the shutter moves relative to the developing container due to the insertion operation of the developing device in the first direction is the direction in which the shutter moves relative to the developing container. A direction in which the shutter moves relative to the developer container due to an operation in which the second engaging portion and a portion of the image forming apparatus main body side are engaged and the developing device is pressurized toward the image carrier. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developing device is the same as .

Images