JP2564871B2 - Optional toner replenisher for image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer having a plurality of developing devices, and an option used for such an image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to a toner replenisher.

(Prior Art) In the image forming apparatus as described above, a plurality of developing devices have been recently provided and used by switching during one image formation, or by switching the developing device each time image formation is performed, and the color is partially changed. To obtain different images and images of various colors.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, since many types of machines for image formation, sheet conveyance, and image fixing are installed in the body of the image forming apparatus, there is not much extra space. For this reason, installing a plurality of developing devices around the photoconductor greatly limits the space. Particularly in a personal copying machine, which is required to be downsized, each developing device is downsized rather than upsized, and the toner replenishing device is reduced in capacity.

By the way, the frequency of use of each of the plurality of developing devices is overwhelmingly higher than that of the developing devices for black developing. For this reason, as described above, when the capacity of the toner replenishing device becomes small, the replenishment toner is consumed up quickly, and it is inconvenient to replenish the toner frequently or replace the toner replenishing device.

Therefore, the present invention is compatible with a developing device that is rarely used among a plurality of developing devices, and can be mounted instead of when it is not used, and can replenish the developing device toner that is frequently used.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of solving the above-mentioned problems and an optional toner replenishing device used for the image forming apparatus.

(Means for Solving Problems) An optional toner replenishing device of the present invention is a replenishing device used for an image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing devices, and is compatible with a specific developing device and is compatible with installation. It has a toner supply port to another developing unit.

Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing devices, and a means for detachably supporting the developing device with respect to the apparatus main body, and a developing device engaged with the mounted developing device. A driving means for driving, a judging means for judging whether or not the developing device is supported by the supporting means, and a control means for changing control of the driving means based on a judgment result by the judging means. It is what

(Function) The optional toner replenishing device is compatible with one of a plurality of developing devices provided in the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the optional toner replenishing device is attached to the image forming device instead of the developing device and is attached to another developing device. Toner can be replenished.

The image forming apparatus determines whether the mounted device is a developing device and changes the control of the driving unit according to the result.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described below.

This embodiment shows the case where the present invention is applied to a small personal electrophotographic copying machine. As shown in FIG. 2, the copying machine is of a document scanning type having a movable document table 2 on a machine body 1. A photosensitive drum 3 is provided in the machine body 1 at substantially the center thereof. Around the photosensitive drum 3, according to its rotation direction, a charger 4 and a self-occupant for projecting and exposing the image of the document on the document table 2 onto the photosensitive drum 3 are exposed.
A lens array 5, a color developing device 6, a black developing device 7, a transfer charger 8, a separating claw 9, a cleaning device 10, and an eraser lamp 11 are sequentially arranged. Reference numeral 12 is a lamp for illuminating the original.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 3 is uniformly charged by the charging charger 4. An image being moved by the document table 2 is continuously slit-exposed from the front end to the rear end of the charged surface through the range array 5 to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the document image. This electrostatic latent image is developed by one or both of the color developing device 6 and the black developing device 7 to be visualized, and the visualized toner image is fed in synchronization with its movement. The image is transferred onto the sheet 21 by the transfer charger 8, and an image is formed on the sheet 21.

The sheet 21 after transfer is separated from the photosensitive drum 3 by the separation claw 9 and then sent to the fixing device 22 to fix the formed image by transfer, and then discharged onto the discharge tray 23 of the discharged paper outside the machine. is there.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 3 after transfer is cleaned of residual toner by the cleaning device 10, and the eraser lamp 11
After the residual charge is removed by the method, it is subjected to the subsequent charging and image formation by exposure.

The sheet 21 is cut into a predetermined size, is accommodated in a sheet cassette 24, and is set in a sheet feeding unit 25 on the lower side of the photosensitive drum 3. In the sheet feeding unit 25, a cassette 24 is rotated by a sheet feeding roller 26. The inner sheets 21 are sent out one by one each time an image forming operation is performed, and the timing roller 27 is used for the transfer in synchronization with the visible image on the photosensitive drum 3.

In this embodiment, the color developing device 6 and the black developing device 7
Has a function of forming images of partially different colors, that is, forming two-color images at the same time by switching and using during one image formation. This will be described.

 First, the configuration of the developing devices 6 and 7 will be described.

The color developing device 6 and the black developing device 7 have substantially the same structure as shown in FIG. 3, and in the developing tank 41, the developing sleeve 42, the supply roller 44, and the screw are sequentially arranged from the photosensitive drum 3 side. 45 is provided, the color developing device 6 contains a developer composed of a magnetic carrier and an insulating color toner, and the black thread developing device 7 contains a magnetic carrier and an insulating black toner which is normally used. A developer composed of and is contained.

The developing sleeve 42 is made of a non-magnetic conductive material in a cylindrical shape (φ24.5 m
m), and minute irregularities are formed on the outer periphery by sandblasting. It faces the photoconductor drum 1 in the development area XX ′ with the development gap: Ds (= 0.6 mm), and the exposure point W The rotation angles from the developing area to the developing areas X and X'are set to α + β. Note that α is 56 ° and β is
It is 52 °.

Further, on the rear side of the developing area X of the developing sleeve 42, a spike height regulating member 49 provided on the upper inner surface of the developing tank 41 is opposed with a spike height regulating gap: Db (= 0.4 mm).

Inside the developing sleeve 42, a magnet roller 43 having a plurality of magnets extending in the axial direction is provided, and the magnetic force of magnetic poles (N _{1 to} N ₃ , S ₁ , S ₂ ) located on the outer peripheral surfaces of these magnets. Are N ₁ = 1000G, N ₂ , N ₃ = 500G, S ₁ , S ₂ = 800G, respectively (where G is an abbreviation for Gauss).

The center of the magnetic N ₁ is, as shown in the black developing device 7 part,
The magnetic pole S ₁ is arranged at a position shifted by θ ₁ (80 °) from the center of the magnetic pole S _{1 in} the clockwise direction, and the magnetic pole N ₃ of the head height regulating member 19 is in a state where the magnetic pole N ₁ faces the photosensitive drum 1. It is installed so that its center is located at a position shifted by θ ₂ (40 °) counterclockwise from the facing part.

As shown in FIG. 4, one end 43a of the support shaft of the magnet roller 43 is supported by a bearing recess 42c provided inside the developing sleeve 42, and the other end 43b of the support shaft is a side wall of the developing tank 41. It is supported by a moving means 60, which will be described in detail below, and is rotatable by a predetermined angle (θ ₁ = 40 °).

On the other hand, in the developing sleeve 42, the bearing portion 42b of the right shaft in FIG. 4 is supported by the support shaft 43b of the magnet roller 43, and the support shaft 42a on the opposite side is supported by the side wall of the developing tank 41.
It is driven to rotate by 0.

The supply roller 44 and the screw 45 are respectively arranged on the conveyance paths 46 and 47 partitioned by the partition wall 48, and the rollers 44 and 45 have their respective support shafts 44a and 45a connected to the developing tank.
A side wall of 41 is pivotally supported and is rotationally driven by a driving means 50 (FIG. 5).

The transport paths 46 and 47 are, as shown in FIG.
It communicates with both sides of 41.

Hereinafter, the developing devices 6, 7, the supply roller 44, and the driving means 50 for the screw 45 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the belt 51 is hung on the support shaft 42a of the developing sleeve 42 and the support shaft 44a of the supply roller 44, and the support shaft 44a of the supply roller 44 and the support shaft 45a of the screw 45 are also belted.
52 is hanging.

Further, a passive gear 53 is provided at the end of the support shaft 42a of the developing sleeve 42.
The gear 53 is engaged with the drive gear 55 of the motor 54 as shown in FIG.

Therefore, when the motor 54 is driven to rotate the drive gear 55 in the direction of the solid line shown in FIG. 4, the gear 53, the belts 51, 52 move in the direction of the solid line, and the developing sleeve 42, the supply roller 44, and the screw 45 are moved. It is adapted to rotate in the directions of arrows b, c and d, respectively. The developing sleeve 42 is 240r
It is designed to rotate at pm.

As shown in FIG. 4, the moving means 60 of the magnet roller 43 includes a lever 61, a spring 62, and a solenoid 63.
The lever 61 is a magnet roller 43.
It is fixed to the end of the support shaft 43b of the developing tank 41 at one end thereof.
One end of the spring 62 fixed to is attached and is always biased in the direction of arrow e. Further, a plunger 64 of a solenoid 63 is locked to the other end side of the lever 61, and when the solenoid 63 is driven, the lever 61 is rotated in the arrow e'direction against the biasing force of the spring 62. .

As a result, when the solenoid 63 is not in operation, the magnetic pole N ₁ of the magnet roller 43 ′ faces the photosensitive drum 1 and is in a state where development is possible, as shown by the black developing device 7 in FIG.
N ₃ is retracted at a position moved by θ ₂ (40 °) in the counterclockwise direction from the portion facing the spike height regulating member 49 ′.

Conversely, when the solenoid 63 is driven and the lever 61 is in the state shown in FIG. 4, as shown by the color developing device 6 in FIG. ₃ , the middle portion between the magnetic pole N ₃ and the magnetic pole N ₂ has a spike height regulating member. The intermediate portion between the magnetic pole N ₁ and the magnetic pole S ₁ is located at the portion facing the photosensitive drum 1 and facing 49, so that development is impossible. A color selection key 71 is provided on the operation panel 61 shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 so that black development, color development, and simultaneous two-color development can be selectively performed by selectively using these two developing devices 6 and 7. And a color selection key 72 for two colors at the same time. When the color selection key 71 is operated in the black development setting state (OFF state), it switches to color development (ON state), and when it is operated again, it returns to black development (OFF state). The black development display portion 71a and the color development display portion 71b corresponding to the set development state are turned on. 2 at the same time
When the color selection key 72 is operated, it switches to simultaneous 2-color development,
When it is operated again, the setting development state by the selection key 71 is restored. Then, only in the simultaneous two-color development setting state, both display portions 71a and 71b are turned on. 73 is a copy start key.

The color developing device 6 is provided with a box-shaped toner hopper 81 as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 2 and by the solid line in FIG. 8, and the color toner in the hopper 81 is drawn into the conveyance path 47 by the screw 45 and developed. Be used for.

The black developing device 7 has a toner hopper 84 as shown by phantom lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a solid line in FIG. 9, and black toner is supplied from a black toner bottle 85 to this hopper 84. The black toner supplied to the hopper 84 is screw 4
It is drawn into the conveying path 47 'by 5'and provided for development.

By the way, the black developing device 7 is used more frequently than the color developing device 6. Therefore, the color developing device 6 has a space similar to that of the black developing device 7 in the machine body 1, and the capacities of the hopper 81 and the black toner bottle 85, which are exclusive toner replenishing parts for each other, are greatly limited, but are rarely used. .

Therefore, the present invention pays attention to the fact that the color developing device 6 is rarely used, and when the color developing device 6 is not used, it is replaced by an optional toner of a volume substantially equal to the bulk of the color developing device 6 as shown in FIG. Even if the black developing device 7 is used frequently, the black developing device 7 is used in addition to the black toner bottle 85, and the toner replenishing device 101 supplies toner to the black developing device 7 which is frequently used. Try to extend it significantly.

For this reason, the color developing device 6 is detachably supported by a guide rail 86 as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the optional toner replenishing device 101 is supported by the guide rail 86 and is detachably attached. Therefore, the developing device 6 and the toner replenishing device 101 have the mounting portions 87 which are similarly supported by the guide rails 86, and the mounting compatibility is obtained. Further, the compatibility of mounting is required to be such a size and shape that the toner replenishing device 101 is not bulky with respect to the color developing device 6. This is because there is no extra space around the color developing device 6. In this embodiment, the toner replenishing device 101 has substantially the same size and shape as the color developing device 6.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 6, and 10, the toner replenishing device 101 has a toner carrying path 103 at the bottom of a housing 102, and a screw 104 provided along the toner carrying path 103. It is designed to be transported to the front side. A toner storage unit 105 is provided beside the toner supply path 103, and the toner agitating device 106 scoops and sprinkles the toner on the screw 104 to supply the toner to the toner conveyance path 103. As shown in FIG. 10, a toner supply port 108 for supplying toner to the hopper 84 of the black developing device 7 is provided on the front side of the toner transport path 103.

The screw 104 is a support shaft 104a and a support shaft of the toner stirring device 106.
106a and the belt 109 are hung, and the support shaft of the toner stirring device 106
A belt 119 is hung around 106a and the support shaft 110a of the passive gear 110.

The passive gear 110 of the toner replenisher 101 is a toner replenisher.
The position when 101 is attached to the copying machine is the same as the position of the passive gear 53 of the color developing device 6 itself when the color developing device 6 is attached. As a result, when the toner replenishing device 101 is attached instead of the color developing device 6, the passive gear 110 is meshed with the drive gear 55 of the motor 54.

As a result, the toner replenishing device 101 and the color developing device 6 attached are driven by one motor 54.

The driving timings of the color developing device 6 and the toner replenishing device 101 are completely different, and because the same motor 54 is used for driving, the motor 54 is mounted when the color developing device 6 is attached and when the toner replenishing device 101 is installed. The drive control can be switched depending on the time of installation.

In the case of the present embodiment, switches 111 and 112 for detecting that the color developing device 6 and the toner replenishing device 101 are attached are provided, and the motors are generated according to the detection signals of these switches 111 and 112.
The drive control of 54 is switched. Therefore, the switches 111 and 112 are connected to a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer) 113 that controls the operation of the copying machine together with the motor 54 and the operation panel 61.

The color developing device 6 has a signal protrusion 6a corresponding to the switch 111 for detecting it. When the color developing device 6 is attached, the protrusion 6a pushes the switch 111, so that the switch 111 sends a color developing device detection signal to the microcomputer. Then, the motor 54 is controlled to drive the color developing device 6 thereafter.

The toner replenishing device 101 has a signal protrusion 101a facing the switch 112 for detecting it. When the toner replenishing device 101 is attached, the protrusion 101a pushes the switch 112, so that the switch 112 sends a toner replenishing device detection signal to the microcomputer. After that, the motor 54 is controlled to drive the toner replenishing device 101.

As shown in FIG. 7, the microcomputer 113 further includes a toner empty sensor 115b of the color toner hopper 81, a toner concentration detection sensor 115a of the color developing device 6a, an empty sensor 116b of the black toner bottle 85, and a toner of the black developing device 7. The density detection sensor 116a, the toner empty 117 of the optional toner replenishing device 101, and other inputs are connected to the respective input ports, and the drive motor 118 of the black developing device 7 and other outputs are connected to the respective output ports. Furthermore, other control buses are also connected.

The operation control except for the case of simultaneous two-color development of the developing device will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step # 1, the detection switch 11 of the color developing device 6
It is determined whether 1 is on, and if it is on, the process proceeds to step # 10 to determine whether the color selection key 71 is on. If it is on, the control for color copying in step # 11 and thereafter is entered. After performing other initial setting control for color development in step # 11, it is determined in step # 12 whether or not the copy start key 73 is turned on. If it is not turned on, the process returns, and if turned on, step # 13
Then, the motor 54 to which the color developing device 6 is connected is turned on. As a result, in the color developing device 6, the color toner is conveyed and supplied to the developing sleeve 42 side, and the color developing is enabled. Then, in the next step # 14, other color copy control is performed to obtain a color copy.

Next, at step # 15, it is determined whether the toner concentration detection sensor 115a in the color developing device 6 is on, that is, whether or not the toner is insufficient.
If it is on, the process proceeds to step # 16 to determine whether the toner empty sensor 115b of the color toner hopper 81 is on. If it is not on, at step # 17 the color toner hopper 81 to the color developing device 6 Toner is replenished to step # 18. Toner empty sensor
If 115b is also on, the color toner empty lamp 121 (FIG. 7) is turned on in step # 19 and the process proceeds to step # 18.

In step # 18, the motor 54 is turned off, and then the conveyance and supply of the color toner are stopped and the process stands by.

Further, if the detection switch 111 of the color toner developing device 6 is not turned on in step # 1, it is specified that black development is performed, and step # 20 and thereafter are entered. Step #
At 20, it is determined whether the detection switch 112 of the option toner replenishing device 101 is on. If it is not turned on, the control for the black copy without the optional toner replenisher 101 in step # 21 and thereafter is started. The same is true when the color selection key 71 is off and black is selected in step # 10, and the process proceeds to step # 21.

In step # 21, other initial setting control for black copy without the optional toner replenishing device 101 is performed, and in step # 22, it is determined whether or not the copy start key 73 is on. If it is not on, the process returns. If it is on, the process proceeds to step # 23, and the motor to which the black developing device 7 is connected.
Turn on 118. As a result, in the black developing device 7, the black toner is conveyed and supplied to the developing sleeve 42a side, and the black developing is enabled. Then, in the next step # 24, other black copy control is performed to obtain a black copy.

Next, at step # 25, it is determined whether or not the toner concentration detection sensor 116a in the black developing device 7 is turned on. If not, the process directly proceeds to step # 28. If it is on, in step # 26, it is further determined whether or not the empty sensor 116b of the black toner bottle 85 is on. If it is not ON, black toner is supplied from the black toner bottle 85 to the black developing device 7 and the process proceeds to step # 28. Sensor 11 in step # 26
If 6b is on, the process proceeds to step # 29, the black toner empty lamp 122 (FIG. 7) is turned on, and the process proceeds to step # 28.

In step # 28, the motor 118 is turned off to stop the black toner conveyance and supply, and stand by.

Further, if the detection switch 112 of the optional toner replenishing device 101 is turned on in step # 20, the process proceeds to step # 30 and below, and the control for black copy with the optional toner replenishing device 101 is started. At step # 30, other initialization control for that control is performed, and at step # 31, it is determined whether or not the copy start key 73 is turned on. If it is not turned on, the routine returns. If it is turned on, the routine proceeds to step # 32, where the motor 118 is turned on. As a result, similarly to the above, the black developing device 7 is ready for black development. Then, in the next step # 33, other black copy control is performed to obtain a black copy.

Next, at step # 34, it is judged if the toner concentration detection sensor 116a in the black developing device 7 is on or not. If it is not on, the process directly proceeds to step # 37. If it is on, in step # 35, the empty sensor 1 of the optional toner replenisher 101
Determine if 17 is on, if not, step # 36
Then, the motor 54 is driven for a certain period of time to replenish the black toner developing device 7 with a certain amount of black toner from the toner replenishing device 101, and then the process proceeds to step # 37.

If the sensor 117 is turned on in step # 35, step # 3
Move to 8 and empty sensor 116 of black toner bottle 85
It is determined whether or not b is on. If it is not on, black toner is supplied from the black toner bottle 85 to the black developing device 7 and the process proceeds to step # 37. In step # 38, the sensor 116b
Is on, the process proceeds to step # 40, the black toner empty lamp 122 is turned on, and the process proceeds to step # 37.

In step # 37, the motor 118 is turned off to convey the black toner, stop the supply, and wait.

(Effects of the Invention) Since the present invention has the above-described configuration and operation, in an image forming apparatus including a plurality of developing devices, an optional toner replenishing device is used instead of the developing device that is not frequently used, and the frequency of use is changed. It is possible to replenish toner to a developing device with a high usage rate, and even if the capacity of each toner replenishing part is greatly limited because a plurality of developing devices are provided, a developing device with a low usage frequency with a developing device with a high usage frequency is used. By replenishing the toner with the toner reinforcer having the same capacity as the space occupied by, the required interval for replenishing the toner to the toner replenishing portion can be greatly extended.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the use state of an optional toner replenisher as an embodiment when the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic copying machine, and FIG. 2 uses the color developing device of the copying machine of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a normal state, FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the periphery of the photosensitive drum provided with the developing unit shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the developing unit, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the connecting state of the developing device and the drive motor, FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view showing the connecting state of the drive motor when the optional toner replenishing device is used, FIG. 7 is a control circuit diagram, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the color developing device, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the black developing device.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the optional toner replenisher, and Figure 11 is black.
It is a control flowchart of both color copying. 6 ... Color developing device 7 ... Black developing device 101 ... Optional toner replenishing device 103 ... Mounting part

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Hidekazu Nakagami, 2-30 Azuchi-cho, Higashi-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Osaka International Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A replenishing device used for an image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing devices, the replenishing device having compatibility with a specific developing device, and having a toner replenishing port to another developing device. vessel. 2. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing devices, comprising means for detachably supporting the developing device with respect to the apparatus main body, and driving means for engaging the mounted developing device and driving the developing device. An image forming apparatus comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not a device supported by the support unit is a developing device; and a control unit that changes the control of the drive unit based on the determination result of the determination unit. .