JP2533165B2 - Image forming device process unit - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a process unit used in an image forming apparatus such as a small and lightweight electrophotographic copying machine.

(Prior Art) Recently, in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a photoconductor, a developing device, etc., which are deteriorated or consumed by use, are integrated as a process unit so that they can be attached to and detached from the copying machine body. A composition is being developed. When the toner in the developing device is completely consumed, such a process unit is usually ejected from the copying machine main body, and a new process unit is mounted on the copying machine main body for use. The process unit, which has been depleted of toner and removed from the copying machine main body, is disposed of. However, when the process unit is removed from the copying machine main body or when the process unit is transported for disposal, the internal There is a possibility that the residual toner will be scattered to the outside and stain the surroundings. If the housing is damaged when the process unit is disposed of, scattering of toner inside is inevitable.

Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-71658 discloses a waste toner processing device in which a molten substance of toner is disposed in a waste toner box.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) If the configuration disclosed in this publication is used for a process unit, scattering of waste toner from a waste toner box can be prevented. However, in the recycling method in which the toner once collected by the cleaning device is fed again into the developing device for use, as disclosed in the publication, a structure in which a molten substance of the toner in the waste toner is provided Cannot be adopted. Further, in the configuration disclosed in this publication,
It is impossible to prevent the toner remaining in the developing device from scattering.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to remove the toner once it is removed from the main body of the apparatus, even if it is a recycling method in which the toner is fed to a developing apparatus and used. An object of the present invention is to provide a process unit of an image forming apparatus that can reliably prevent toner from scattering around.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process unit of an image forming apparatus in which toner scattering is automatically prevented at the time of disposal.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention is a process unit of an image forming apparatus that is attachable to and detachable from a main body of the image forming apparatus and has a developing device and a cleaning device therein. To seal at least one of the toner solidifying agent chamber, which is provided so as to communicate with the inside thereof and contains the toner solidifying agent therein, and the communicating portion between the toner solidifying agent chamber and the developing device or the cleaning device. And a means for opening the portion sealed by the sealing material in order to feed the toner solidifying agent in the toner solidifying agent chamber in the developing device or the cleaning device. Thereby, the above object is achieved.

Further, the present invention is a process unit of an image forming apparatus, which is detachably mountable to the main body of the image forming apparatus and has a developing device and a cleaning device therein, wherein at least one of the developing device and the cleaning device has an internal structure. And a toner solidifying agent chamber in which the toner solidifying agent is housed, and a communicating portion between the toner solidifying agent chamber and the developing device or the cleaning device. And a sealing material whose sealed portion is opened in order to feed the toner solidifying agent therein into the developing device or the cleaning device, thereby achieving the above object.

(Example) The present invention will be described below with reference to an example in an electrophotographic copying machine.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the inside of the electrophotographic copying machine. In the electrophotographic copying machine, a process unit 20 of the present invention is mounted on a copying machine main body 10.

The copying machine main body 10 includes a transfer paper transport path 11 that runs vertically through the main body.
And a transfer device 12 is provided below the center of the transfer paper transport path 11.
And a separating device 13 is provided.

The process unit 20 has a housing 21 in which a photosensitive drum 22 is disposed. By moving the entire process unit 20 with respect to the copying machine main body 10 in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 22, Unit 20 is the copying machine body
Detachable to 10. When the process unit 20 is attached to the copying machine main body 10, the photosensitive drum 22 is attached to the copying machine main body 10.
The transfer device 12 is opposed to the transfer device 12 with the transfer paper transport path 11 interposed therebetween.

In the housing 21 of the process unit 20, a charging device 23 located above the photoconductor drum 22, a developing device 24 located upstream of the photoconductor drum 22 in the transfer paper conveyance direction, and a photoconductor drum 22. A cleaning device 25 is provided on the downstream side in the transfer paper transport direction.

Then, the image of the original document on the original document table 15 is exposed by the light source 14 disposed on the upper portion of the transfer machine body 10 onto the photosensitive drum 22 charged by the charging device 23 in the process unit 20. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 22, and the electrostatic latent image is toner-developed by the developing device 24.

The toner image on the photoconductor drum 22 is transferred to the transfer paper conveyed in the copying machine main body 10 by the transfer device 12, and after the transfer paper is separated from the photoconductor drum 22 by the separation device 13,
The toner image formed on the transfer paper is fixed by the fixing device 16 provided in the copying machine main body 10. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 22 is cleaned by the cleaning device 25. Then, the toner collected by the cleaning device 25 is sent to the developing device 24 by a toner carrying device described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the developing device 24 disposed in the process unit 20 has a toner chamber in which toner is stored in the upper portion.
24a and a developer chamber 24b located on the side of the toner chamber 24a on the side where the photosensitive drum 22 is disposed. A predetermined amount of toner is stored in the toner chamber 24a, and a developer including a predetermined amount of carrier and toner is stored in the developer chamber 24b. The lower parts of the toner chamber 24a and the developer chamber 24b are opened downward and communicate with the toner hopper 24g and the developing device 24h, respectively, below them. Each opening is initially covered with the sealing material 24c. The sealing material 24c is loosely adhered to the periphery of each opening to seal each opening. However, by pulling the sealing material 24c in the direction shown by the arrow A in FIG. Open each opening,
The toner in the toner chamber 24a is dropped into the toner hopper 24g, and the developer in the developer chamber 24b is dropped into the developing device 24h.

A transport roller 24d (spiral conveyor 24d) is arranged in the toner hopper 24g, and the toner hopper 2
A supply roller 24e is arranged between 4g and the developing device 24h. Further, a mixing roller 24f is arranged in the developing device 24h below the developer chamber 24b. The toner dropped from the toner chamber 24a into the toner hopper 24g is agitated by the transport roller 24d (spiral conveyor 24d) and supplied into the mixing chamber 24h by the supply roller 24e. Then, the toner supplied into the developing device 24h is mixed with the developer dropped from the developer chamber 24b in the developing device 24h and frictionally charged.

A developing sleeve 24i is arranged in the developing device 24h so as to face the photoconductor drum 22, and the toner frictionally charged in the developing device 24h is transferred to the photoconductor drum 22 by the developing sleeve 24i. It is transported to the peripheral surface.

A toner concentration sensor 24x is attached to the developing device 24h. The toner concentration sensor 24x detects the toner concentration in the developing device 24h, and when the toner concentration in the developing device 24h becomes a predetermined value or less, it drives the toner supply roller 24e and the developing device 24h Supply toner inside.

Above the toner chamber 24a in the developing device 24 and the developer chamber 2
Toner solidifying agent chambers 24j and 24k are formed above 4b, respectively. The toner solidifying agent chambers 24j and 24k communicate with the toner chamber 24a and the developer chamber 24b, respectively, through the openings, but initially, each opening is covered with one sheet of sealing material 24n. There is. In the toner solidifying material chambers 24j and 24k covered with the sealing material 24n, a toner solidifying agent for softening and solidifying the toner by contacting the toner is stored. As the toner solidifying agent, powdery vinyl chloride powder, liquid toluene, silicone oil, vinyl acetate, etc. are used.

A sealing material 24n covering each opening of the toner solidifying agent chambers 24j and 24k is loosely adhered to the periphery of each opening to cover each opening, and one side edge of the sealing material 24n is a side of the developer chamber 24b. It is wound around a take-up shaft 24m arranged in. Then, by rotating the take-up shaft 24m, the sealing material 24n is taken up by the take-up shaft 24m and the toner solidifying agent chambers 24j and 24n are wound.
Each opening of k is opened.

As a result, the toner solidifying agent housed in each of the toner solidifying agent chambers 24j and 24k is transferred to the toner chamber 24a and the developer chamber 24b.
It passes through the inside and falls into the toner hopper 24g and the developing device 24h.

The cleaning device 25, which is disposed opposite to the developing device 24 with the photoconductor drum 22 interposed therebetween, has a cleaning blade 25a that slides on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 22 and scrapes off the toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface. . The toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 25a is dropped into the toner collecting chamber 25b below the cleaning blade 25a. Inside the toner recovery chamber 25b, a spiral conveyor 25c that rotates along the bottom surface thereof is arranged.

A toner solidifying agent chamber 25d is provided on the opposite side of the toner recovery chamber 25b from the side where the photosensitive drum 22 is provided. The toner solidifying agent chamber 25d contains a toner solidifying agent similar to the above-described toner solidifying agent. The toner solidifying agent chamber 25d is
The lower part of the toner collecting chamber 25b is communicated with the spiral conveyor 25c through an opening 25e which is provided in parallel at a predetermined interval in the axial direction, and each opening 25e is a sealing material 2 respectively.
It is covered by 5f (see Fig. 3). The sealing material 25f
Is loosely adhered to the periphery of each opening communicating the toner solidifying agent chamber 25d and the toner collecting chamber 25b with the toner solidifying agent chamber 25d containing the toner solidifying agent.
Covers. Each sealing material 25f extends along one side along the upper surface of the toner solidifying agent chamber 25d in a state of covering each opening 25e, and one side edge of the sealing material 25f has the photosensitive drum 22 of the toner solidifying agent chamber 25d. Winding shaft arranged on the side opposite to the installation side
It is wrapped around 25g. Then, by rotating the winding shaft 25g, the sealing material 25f is wound around the winding shaft 25g, and the openings 25e that connect the toner solidifying agent chamber 25d and the toner collecting chamber 25b are opened. It As a result, the toner solidifying agent in the toner solidifying agent chamber 25d is fed into the toner collecting chamber 25b.

Spiral conveyor 2 installed in the toner collection chamber 25b
In 5c, as shown in FIG. 3, the end of the process unit 20 on the side of pulling out from the copying machine body 10 is the photosensitive drum 22.
Of the toner transport device that extends beyond the end of the
One end of 27 is attached. The other end of the toner transport device 27 is connected to the end of the transport roller 24d (spiral conveyor 24d) provided in the toner hopper 24g of the developing device 24 and extending from the toner hopper 24g. Then, the toner carried by the toner carrying device 27 is transferred to the end portion of the carrying roller 24d (spiral conveyor 24d).
It is transported into the toner hopper 24g.

Photoreceptor drum 22 disposed in the process unit 20,
The developing device 24 and the cleaning device 25 are installed in the copying machine main body 10 when the process unit 20 is attached to the copying machine main body 10.
It is driven by the power of. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, in the copying machine main body 10, the drive shaft 16b for rotating the photosensitive drum 22 to which the rotation of the drive shaft 16a of the main motor is transmitted via the gear and the developing device 24. A drive shaft 16c for driving the motor is provided. A half of a meshing clutch 16d is attached to the tip of a drive shaft 16b for driving the photosensitive drum 22 provided in the copying machine main body 10, and the tip of the drive shaft 16c for driving the developing device 24 is also attached. The half of the mesh clutch 16f is attached. On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 22 of the process unit 20 is attached with the other clutch half 22a that meshes with the meshing clutch 16d.
Further, the developing device 24 is provided with a clutch half 24p that meshes with the meshing clutch half 16f. The clutch half 22a attached to the photosensitive drum 22 meshes with a gear attached to the spiral conveyor 25c of the cleaning device 25. The rotation of the meshing clutch half body 24p attached to the developing device 24 is performed by a gear through the developing sleeve 2
4i and the mixing roller 24f, respectively. Also,
The rotations of the supply roller 24e and the transport roller 24d are transmitted by a meshing clutch from another drive source such as a motor (not shown). The meshing clutch half 22a attached to the photosensitive drum 22 and the meshing clutch half 24p attached to the developing device connect the process unit 20 to the copying machine main body 1
When mounted on 0, the meshing clutch halves 16d and 16f of the copying machine main body 10 are engaged with each other and power is transmitted.

In addition, the drive shaft 16 of the main motor in the copying machine body 10
a is the half of the meshing clutch 16 through the solenoid 16h.
The drive shaft 16a is connected to the solenoid
By turning on 16h, it is transmitted to the meshing clutch half 16i. The other clutch half 24r that meshes with the meshing clutch half 16i is attached to one end of a winding shaft 24m provided in the developing device 24 of the process unit 20, and the process unit 20 is connected to the copying machine main body 10. When fitted to both, the half meshing clutch halves 16i and 24r mesh with each other.

Further, the drive shaft 16b for driving the photosensitive drum 22 in the copying machine main body 10 is connected to the meshing clutch half body 16m via the gear and the solenoid 16k. The rotation of the drive shaft 16b is transmitted to the meshing clutch half body 16m by turning on the solenoid 16k. The other clutch unit 25h that meshes with the meshing clutch half 16m is a winding shaft 25 in the cleaning device 25 in the process unit 20.
It is attached to one end of g, and when the process unit 20 is attached to the main body of the copying machine, both meshing clutch halves 16m
And 25h mesh with each other.

In the electrophotographic copying machine having such a configuration, the process unit 20 is mounted on the copying machine main body 10, and the rotation of the drive shaft 16a of the main motor in the copying machine main body 10 causes the process unit 20 to rotate.
It is used as a state in which it can be transmitted to the photosensitive drum 22 and the developing device 24. At this time, each solenoid 16h and 1
6k is in the OFF state, and the winding shafts 24m and 25g of the process unit 20 are not rotated. Then, the seal member 24c of the developing device 24 is pulled in the direction shown by the arrow A in FIG. 1 to drop the toner in the toner chamber 24a into the stirring chamber 24g and to develop the developer in the developer chamber 24b. Let it fall into the container 24h. Then, when the electrophotographic copying machine is driven, a copied image is formed thereafter by a normal electrophotographic process.

When the copy image is formed, the toner supply roller 24e is driven to supply the toner into the developing device 24h, and the developing device 24h
The inner toner density is maintained at a predetermined value. Further, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 22 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 25a of the cleaning device 25. The scraped toner is collected by the spiral conveyor 2 in the toner collecting chamber 25b.
At 5c, the toner is conveyed to the toner conveying device 27, and the toner conveying device 27
At 27, the toner is returned to the toner hopper 24g of the developing device 24.

Such an operation is repeated each time copying is performed, and the developing device 25
When the toner inside is consumed, the toner concentration sensor 24x
The toner in the developing device 24h is detected to be below a predetermined value, the toner supply roller 24e is driven, and the toner stirring chamber 24g
The toner inside is fed to the developing device 24h. However, if the toner in the toner hopper 24g is completely consumed and the toner density in the developing device 24h does not reach the predetermined value even by driving the toner supply roller 24e, the process unit 20
The predetermined lamp is turned on to notify that the battery has reached the end of its life.

When this happens, the solenoid of the copier body 10
16h and 16k are respectively turned on, the rotation of the drive shaft 16a of the main motor of the copying machine main body 10 is transmitted to the winding shaft 24m in the developing device 24 through the meshing clutches 16i and 24r, and the meshing clutch 16m and It is transmitted to the winding shaft 25g in the cleaning device 25 via 25h. As a result, the take-up shaft 24m in the developing device 24 is moved in the direction of arrow B
The toner solidifying agent chambers 24j and 24k are rotated in the direction shown by
The sealing material 24n that closes the toner is wound around the winding shaft 24m, and the toner solidifying agent chambers 24j and 24k are opened. as a result,
The toner solidifying agent chambers 24j and 24k communicate with the toner chamber 24a and the developer chamber 24h, respectively.
The toner solidifying agent in k is the toner hopper 24g and the developer 24
Delivered within h. At the same time, the winding shaft 25g in the cleaning device 25 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG.
A sealant 25f that closes the toner solidifying agent chamber 25d in the cleaning device 25 is wound around the winding shaft 25g to open the toner solidifying agent chamber 25d. Then, the toner solidifying agent chamber 25d
The toner solidifying agent chamber therein is fed into the toner collecting chamber 25b.

In such a state, the photoconductor drum 22, the developing device 24, and the cleaning device 25 are driven for a predetermined time of about 30 seconds to remove the toner solidifying agent from the developing device 24, the cleaning device 25, and the cleaning device 25. Development device
The toner is conveyed to all the inside of the toner conveying device 27 that conveys the toner to 24, and the toner remaining inside thereof is brought into contact with the toner solidifying agent to be softened and fixed inside each.

Thereafter, the solenoids 16h and 16k are turned off, and the lamp notifying that the process unit 20 should be replaced is turned on. As a result, the process unit 20 is removed from the copying machine main body 10, but in this case, since the toner in the process unit 20 is fixed inside the process unit 20, there is no risk of the toner scattering around. And
The process unit 20 separated from the copier body 10 is discarded and a new process unit 20 is replaced with the copier body 10
Be attached to.

In the above embodiment, after turning on the lamp notifying that the process unit 20 has reached the end of its life, the solenoids 16h and 16k of the copying machine main body 10 are automatically turned on to turn on the winding shafts 24m and 25g. Although it is configured to rotate, each solenoid 16h is not limited to such an embodiment, for example, only when a predetermined switch is turned on after a lamp that notifies that the process unit 20 has reached the end of its life is turned on. And 16k may be turned on to rotate the winding shafts 24m and 25g. In the case of such a configuration, a switch for turning on each solenoid 16h and 16k and rotating each winding shaft 24m and 25g may be newly provided, and, for example, it may be provided in the main body of the copying machine. Use the clear switch, and each solenoid 16h and 16k when the clear switch is turned on when the lamp is lit to inform that the process unit has reached the end of its life.
May be turned on. Alternatively, for example, when the copy switch and the clear switch provided in the main body of the copying machine are turned on at the same time, the solenoids 16h and 16k may be turned on to rotate the winding shafts 24m and 25g.

Further, the sealing members 24n and 25f for closing the toner solidifying agent chambers 24j, 24k and 25d may be manually peeled off. In this way, each sealing material 24n
And 25f are manually peeled off, the winding shafts 24m and 25g in the above embodiment are provided with handles that can be manually rotated, respectively, or as shown in FIG. One end of each of the materials 24n and 25f is positioned so that the process unit 20 can be pulled from the outside in a state where the process unit 20 is mounted on the copying machine body 10, and when the toner solidifying agent chambers 24j, 25k, and 25d are opened. Alternatively, each of the ends may be pulled.

(Effect of the Invention) Since the process unit of the present invention can prevent the toner inside from scattering to the surroundings when the process unit is replaced in this way, the toner collected by the cleaning device is used in the developing device. Even if it is sent to and reused,
Toner scattering can be reliably prevented without any trouble.

The toner solidifying agent that solidifies the toner is sent to the inside of the developing device or the cleaning device when the sealing material is peeled off by the means for opening the sealed portion, so that it is special for toner scattering prevention. Unnecessary operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a process unit of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the inside of an electrophotographic copying machine equipped with the process unit, FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view of the main part thereof, and FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the process unit of this invention. 10 ... Copier body, 20 ... Process unit, 22 ... Photosensitive drum, 24 ... Developing device, 24a ... Toner chamber, 24b ...
… Developer chamber, 24j, 24k …… Toner solidifying agent chamber, 24m …… Take-up shaft, 24n …… Seal material, 25 …… Cleaning device, 2
5b …… Toner collection room, 25d …… Toner solidifying room, 25f ……
Sealing material, 25g …… Rolling shaft.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A process unit of an image forming apparatus, which is detachably mountable to a main body of the image forming apparatus and has a developing device and a cleaning device therein, wherein at least one of the developing device and the cleaning device has an internal portion. A toner solidifying agent chamber which is arranged so as to communicate with each other and accommodates a toner solidifying agent therein; and a sealing material which is arranged so as to seal a communicating portion between the toner solidifying agent chamber and the developing device or the cleaning device, A process unit of the image forming apparatus, comprising means for opening a portion sealed by the sealing material so as to feed the toner solidifying agent in the toner solidifying agent chamber into a developing device or a cleaning device. 2. A process unit of an image forming apparatus, which is attachable to and detachable from a main body of the image forming apparatus and has a developing device and a cleaning device therein, wherein at least one of the developing device and the cleaning device has an internal portion. It is arranged to communicate with each other, and is arranged to seal the toner solidifying agent chamber containing the toner solidifying agent therein, and the communicating portion between the toner solidifying agent chamber and the developing device or the cleaning device. A process unit of an image forming apparatus having a sealing material whose sealed portion is opened to feed the toner solidifying agent therein into the developing device or the cleaning device.