JP3099821B2 - Toner supply device in image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of a toner supply device for supplying toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a copying machine, after an image of a document is read by a photoelectric conversion device, the read image is formed as an electrostatic image on a latent image carrier, and the electrostatic image is developed by a developing device. It is designed to be visualized. In that case, toner is generally used in order for the developing device to make a visible image.

Conventionally, as a toner supply device for supplying the toner to the developing device, a toner box is provided in a copying machine main body, and the toner box is conveyed and supplied to the developing device by an auger or the like. When the toner box runs out of toner, the toner box is pulled out to the toner supply position, and the toner filled in the spare toner bottle is supplied to the toner box.

In supplying toner, since the type of toner differs depending on the type of copying machine, it is difficult for a user to perform the toner supply. In order to prevent erroneous toner replenishment, a service person is usually used.

[0005]

However, if the serviceman supplies the toner in this manner, the user must contact the serviceman every time the toner runs out, which is very troublesome. In addition, toner is not always replenished immediately even when contacted by a service person or the like, not only takes time, but also hardly copies during that time, making it impossible to copy efficiently. Further, there is a problem that the toner is spilled on the floor when the toner is replenished and clothes and the like are stained.

In order to cope with this problem, a toner cartridge filled with toner is used in place of the toner bottle, the toner cartridge is mounted on the toner box at the time of toner supply, and the cap of the toner cartridge is removed. There has been proposed an apparatus in which replenishment is performed and the toner cartridge is removed when the replenishment is completed. According to the toner replenishing method using the toner cartridge, the toner does not spill, and the spilled toner does not stain clothes and the like.

However, in this toner supply method using a cartridge, three operations of a cartridge mounting operation, a toner replenishing operation, and a cartridge removing operation must be performed, which is troublesome. In addition, even with this replenishment method, the service person must perform the replenishment work, so that the above-mentioned problem still cannot be solved. As described above, none of the conventional toner replenishment methods has a good toner replenishment workability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and has as its object to improve the workability by enabling the user to easily supply toner. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner supply device in a forming apparatus.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a toner supply device in an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is capable of replacing a toner cartridge with a position where the toner cartridge can be supplied with toner. The toner cartridge mounting portion for holding the toner cartridge is rotatable around the other end of the toner cartridge between the positions. In this case, when the toner cartridge is set to the position where the toner can be supplied, the toner cartridge is housed in the image forming apparatus main body, but when the toner cartridge is set to the position where the toner cartridge can be replaced. In other words, at least a part of the toner cartridge protrudes from the image forming apparatus main body and becomes replaceable.

In such a position where the toner cartridge is replaceable, a part of the toner cartridge projects from the main body of the image forming apparatus, so that the user can easily replace the toner cartridge. The workability of toner supply is improved.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a color copying machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the color copying machine.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a color copying machine 1 includes a main body 2, a platen 3 provided on an upper surface side of the main body 2, and on which a document (not shown) is placed.
, An image information reading section 4 for reading image information of a document, an image forming apparatus 5 for receiving a signal from the image information reading section 4 and forming a predetermined image, and an image forming apparatus 5 The transfer unit 7 includes a transfer unit 7 that transfers the transferred image to a sheet 6 that is a transfer medium, a sheet supply unit 8 that supplies and conveys the sheet 6, and a sheet conveyance unit 9.

The paper supply unit 8 comprises three paper trays 81, 82, 8 for storing paper 6 according to size.
3, a large capacity tray 84, a double-sided tray 85, and a manual tray 86. Also, the paper transport unit 9
A sheet reversing chute 91, a first sheet conveying path 92 for conveying the sheet 6 sent from each of the trays 81 to 86 to the image forming apparatus 5, and a second sheet conveying path 93 for conveying the copied sheet 6 to the image forming apparatus 5 again It is composed of

The paper 6 on which the toner image of the toner has been transferred by the image forming apparatus 5 is sent to the fixing device 10 through the discharge side conveyance path 94, and is pressed by the pressure roll 101 and the heating roll 102 of the fixing device 10. After the toner image is fixed, the toner image is conveyed to the discharge tray 87.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 5 includes a photosensitive drum 51, a charger 52 sequentially arranged along the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 51, a first latent image forming means 53, and a first latent image forming means 53.
Developing means 54, second latent image forming means 55, second developing means 5
6 and a pre-transfer charger 57. The visible image formed on the photosensitive drum 51 is transferred to the sheet 6 in the transfer unit 7.

In the image forming apparatus 5 configured as described above, when a mode of the console panel 21 of the main body 2 is switched to a color mode in recording a color image, the charging device as shown in FIG. The photosensitive drum 51 is uniformly charged by 52 so that the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 51 is charged to one polarity. In this state, after the first latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 51 by the first latent image forming means 53 as shown in FIG. 6B, the first developing means 54 is formed as shown in FIG. Is applied with a predetermined developing bias voltage, the first toner image is formed by the reversal phenomenon. Next, as shown in FIG. 5D, a second latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 51 by the second latent image forming means 55, and a predetermined developing bias voltage is applied to the second developing means 56. A toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 51 by regular development as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG.
After the polarities of the two toner images are aligned, both the toner images are collectively transferred onto the paper 6 by the transfer unit 7,
A color image is recorded.

In this case, the first and second latent image forming means 53 and 55 are formed by laser diodes, and receive a signal from the image information reading section 4 to form a predetermined latent image on the photosensitive drum 51. It is designed to be written. In addition,
The first latent image forming means 53 has a method of writing an image portion, and the second latent image forming means 55 has a method of writing a background portion. However, the first and second latent image forming units 53 and 55 do not necessarily need to be of these types. Conversely, the first latent image forming unit 53 writes the background area, and the second latent image forming unit 53 and 55 do not. 55 may be a method of writing an image portion, and both latent image forming means 53 and 55 may be a method of writing a common image portion or a background portion.

The first developing means 54 has a two-component color (red) toner. The first developing means 54 includes a developing roller 541 provided on the photosensitive drum 51 side and a partition 542 on the back side of the developing roller 541. A first auger 543a and a second auger 543b provided side by side, and a third auger 543c provided via a receiving plate 544 above the augers 543a and 543b.
A sealing member 545 on the film that is mounted on the upstream side of the opening of the housing 54a and contacts the photosensitive drum 51;
It is composed of a blade 546 for scraping off the toner carried by the developing roll 541, a toner carrying coil auger 547a and a toner carrying auger 547b disposed in a toner box 547 attached to the back side of the housing 54a. . In this case, the developing roll 541 is formed of a non-magnetic conductive member such as an aluminum alloy or stainless steel.

The second developing means 56 is a developing device having a black two-component toner, and develops the second latent image by a magnetic brush developing method of the FX microtoning method. Both of these developing means 54 and 56 are moved in a direction of coming and going with respect to the photosensitive drum 51 by a retract mechanism 58 provided corresponding to each of them. These retract mechanisms 58 are operated by a drive source (not shown).

Next, the second developing means 56 provided with the toner supply device of this embodiment will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 5, the second developing means 56 develops the second latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 51 by the magnetic brush developing method of the FX microtoning method. Roll 1002 (toner carrier) having a part of the outer peripheral surface exposed outside the housing 1001 from the opening provided in the housing 1001, and the housing 10 on the rear side of the developing roll 1002
01, a toner stirring means 1003, and a developing roll 10
And a trimmer plate 1004 (trimmer) which is attached to the top plate of the housing 1001 above the 02 and regulates the height of the magnetic brush of the toner formed on the developing roll 1002. In addition, various accessories required for implementing the FX microtoning method are attached.

First, the developing roll 1002 is provided with a rotatable cylindrical sleeve 1006 disposed on the outer periphery of a substantially cylindrical magnet member 1005 fixed and supported, and the sleeve 1006 is placed on the sleeve 1006 by the magnetic force of the magnet member 1005. This is similar to the normal magnetic brush developing method in that a magnetic brush of toner is formed, and the magnetic brush is transported to the developing area facing the photosensitive drum 51 as the sleeve 1006 rotates. The magnet member 1005 is provided with a plurality of magnetic poles such as a peeling pole N1, an attracting pole N2, a transport pole S3, N3, and a developing main poles S1 and S2 in a counterclockwise direction in this order. Are magnetized by the magnetizing method. Then, in the developing roll 1002 of this example having such a magnetic pole arrangement, the magnetic poles having different magnetic poles are successively arranged alternately and successively. While the toner is held on the surface of the sleeve 1006 in between, the toner separates from the sleeve 1006 between the separation pole N1 and the adsorption pole N2 where the magnetic poles of the same magnet are arranged adjacently. Further, between the developing main poles S1 → S2, a repulsive magnetic field is formed, so that the magnetic forces of S1 and S2 expand at a predetermined angle and act on the magnetic poles. Is temporarily weakened, so that the toner can be rubbed against the photosensitive drum 51 with high efficiency, that is, a configuration unique to the FX microtoning method.

A tracking roll (not shown) is rotatably provided on both outer sides of the developing roll 1002. When the tracking roll contacts the photosensitive drum 51, a gap between the developing roll 1002 and the photosensitive drum 51 is formed. Is to be maintained.

On the other hand, the stirring means 1003 is provided with a first auger 1007 and a second
It comprises an auger 1008 and a partition plate 1009 erected on the housing 1001 so as to separate these two augers. The rotation directions of the first auger 1007 and the second auger 1008 are determined so that the toner conveying directions are opposite to each other. At both ends of the partition plate 1009, a region where the first auger 1007 is provided (hereinafter referred to as a first stirring channel 1010) and a region where the second auger 1008 is provided (hereinafter referred to as a second stirring channel 1011). An opening communicating with the toner is provided, whereby the toner is circulated in the order of the first stirring path 1010 → the second stirring path 1011 → the first stirring path 1010.

Further, a paddle wheel 1012 provided with a plurality of blades 1012a parallel to the axial direction is provided between the developing roll 1002 and the stirring means 1003. With the rotation of the paddle wheel 1012, the toner separated from the developing roll 1002 is forcibly conveyed to the stirring unit 1003 and the toner mixed and stirred by the stirring unit 1003 is continuously supplied to the developing roll 1002. It has become.

Further, a back plate 1013 from the top plate of the housing 1001 is provided above the paddle wheel 1012 on the back side of the developing roll 1002. The rear plate 1013 is formed integrally with the trimmer 1004 and fixed to the housing 1001. With the back plate 1013, an auxiliary suction area is formed above the suction area (the area where the toner conveyed to the paddle wheel 1012 is suctioned to the developing roll 1002).
The toner that has been scraped off from the developing roll 1002 by 1004 fills this auxiliary suction area and flows clockwise. As a result, the toner is uniformly adsorbed to the developing roll 1002.

Further, a catch-up roll 1014 is provided below the developing roller 1002 on the photosensitive drum 51 side, that is, on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 51. The catch-up roll 1014 includes a magnet member 1015 having magnetic poles N 'and S', and a cylindrical sleeve 1016 rotatable around the magnet member 1015.
The catch-up roll 1014 allows the photosensitive drum 51
The carrier transferred to the upper side is adsorbed on the sleeve 1016.

The shape of the bottom of the housing 1001 is such that the toner having poor fluidity is not conveyed and does not stay. That is, the bottom portion from the developing roll 1002 to the paddle wheel 1012 has a guide surface 1017 for guiding the toner adsorbed by the developing roll 1002 to the peeling area.
And a guide surface that guides the peeled toner to the paddle wheel 1012
1018 are formed. The guide surface 1017 and the guide surface 1018
Is determined from the relationship between the peeling pole N1 and the attracting pole N2, so that the flow of the toner after peeling from the developing roll 1002 is promoted.

Above the first auger 1007 in the housing 1001, a toner supply device 1020 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the toner supply device 1020 includes a toner cartridge 1021 filled with toner, and a reserve tank 1022 (the toner of the present invention) for storing toner disposed below the toner cartridge 1021. (Corresponds to the container)
And That is, a reserve tank 1022 is arranged below the toner cartridge 1021, and a first auger 1007 is arranged below the reserve tank 1022.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the toner cartridge 1021 has a case body 102 including a cylindrical portion 1023a formed of paper and both side walls 1023b formed of resin.
3. Consists of an agitator 1024 and a coupling 1025 formed by a metal wire. Thus the cylindrical part
If the paper 1023a is formed of paper, the paper can be freely cut to a predetermined length, so that it is possible to easily cope with various models simply by changing the length of the cylindrical portion 1023a. In addition, since paper is inexpensive, the toner cartridge 1021 can be formed at extremely low cost.

The coupling 1025 is rotatably attached to the center of the right side wall 1023b.
To 1025, one end 1024a of the agitator 1024 is connected, and the other end 1024b of the agitator 1024 is formed in a circular shape and is supported in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the case main body 1023,
The agitator 1024 is supported cantilevered. The reason for supporting the agitator 1024 in a cantilever manner is that the side surface of the left side wall portion 1023b of the toner cartridge 1021 is opened and the toner is
This is because the left side wall portion 1023b is not fixed to the cylindrical portion 1023a before the toner is filled, because the toner is filled in the portion 1021. By filling the toner from the side opening, the filling efficiency of the toner in the toner cartridge 1021 can be increased.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, a supply hole 1028 for supplying the toner to the reserve tank 1022 and a bypass for supplying the toner by bypass are provided at the bottom of the case main body 1023. A hole 1029 is provided. The supply hole 1028 is open to one of the toner storage portions 1030a of the tank portion 1030 of the reserve tank 1022 described later, while the bypass hole 1029 is provided for the toner supply portion 1031 to the developing means 56 of the reserve tank 1022. It is designed to open to. Further, the toner cartridge 1021 has a laminated shutter 1 that normally closes both holes 1028 and 1029.
Reference numeral 032 is provided so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge 1021 along a guide member 1033 fixed to the main body 1023. The shutter 1032 has a through hole 1032 of a predetermined shape.
a is drilled. Further, both holes 1028, 1029 are provided in the main body 1023.
Sealing members 1032b and 1032c are hermetically sealed, and one ends of these sealing members 1032b and 1032c are fixed to a shutter 1032 (in FIG. 8, the shutter 1032
And one end of the seal members 1032a and 1032b are shown separately, but one end of the seal members 1032b and 1032c is
Is sandwiched between the laminates of the above).

As shown in FIG. 7, the toner cartridge 1021 is detachably mounted at a predetermined position of a toner cartridge installation section 1035 provided in the copying machine body 2. When the toner cartridge 1021 is set in the toner cartridge installation section 1035, the toner cartridge 1021
Is engaged with a coupling 1025 attached to a gear 1026a of a power transmission mechanism 1026 provided on the main body 2 side. In this case, the protrusion 10 formed on the bottom of the toner cartridge 1021
21a is a concave portion 1035a provided in the toner cartridge installation portion 1035.
The toner cartridge 1021 is fixed at a predetermined position by fitting into the toner cartridge 102. A driving unit 1027 such as a motor transmitted through a power transmission mechanism 1026
Agitator 1024 causes toner to move as shown in FIG.
Is rotated so as to flow from left to right as indicated by the arrow.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the toner cartridge 1021 is set, the shutter 1032 is slid in the longitudinal direction by an appropriate operation member provided in the toner cartridge installation portion 1035. The seal members 1032a and 1032b are peeled from the case body 1023, the shutter 1032 is disengaged from the supply hole 1028 to open the supply hole 1028, and the hole 1034 is located in the bypass hole 1029 so that the bypass hole 1029 is automatically opened. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the reserve tank 1022 has two toner storage sections 1030a and 1030a, 1030 as described above.
A tank section 1030 composed of 30b and a toner storage section 103
0a, 1030b and a toner supply unit 1031 for supplying toner to the developing unit 56. Partition walls 1036 and 1037 are provided between the toner storage units 1030a and 1030b and the toner supply unit 1031 respectively. These partition walls 1036 and 1037 do not extend on the left end side in FIG. 10 to the left side wall 1022b of the main body 1022a of the reserve tank 1022. Therefore, the left side wall 1022b and the partition walls 1036 and 1037
Openings 1038 and 1039 are formed between the left end and the left end. Also, the partition walls 1036, 1037 are similarly provided with openings 1040, 1041 leftward by a predetermined amount from their right ends. These openings 1038, 1039, 1040, 1041 allow the toner storage units 1030a, 1030b and the toner supply unit 1031 to communicate with each other.

An agitator 10 made of a metal wire such as a wire wound spirally is provided in each of the toner storage portions 1030a and 1030b.
42,1043 are arranged in parallel with each other. The right end 1042a of one agitator 1042 is connected to the gear shaft 1044, and the left end 1042b is rotatably supported by the left side wall 1022b. The winding direction of the agitator 1042 is one direction, and the blade 1045 is located at a position facing the opening 1038 near the left end.
Is attached. Both ends of the other agitator 1043 are similarly supported. The winding direction of the agitator 1043 is opposite to that of the opening 1041. That is, the agitator 1043 is wound in the same winding direction as the agitator 1042 to the left of the opening 1041,
On the right side, the agitator 1042 is wound in the opposite winding direction. A blade 1046 is attached at a position where the winding direction of the agitator 1043 changes, that is, at a position facing the opening 1041.

Further, on the right end side of the opening 1040 of the toner storage section 1030a is a toner introduction section 1030c, and an empty detection sensor 1047 is provided at the bottom of the toner introduction section 1030c. Then, the supply hole 1028 of the toner cartridge 1021 is located just above the empty detection sensor 1047.
That is, the supply hole 1028 faces the empty detection sensor 1047. Thus, the supply hole 1028 and the empty detection sensor 10
When the toner cartridge 47 faces, the empty state of the toner cartridge can be accurately detected. This empty detection sensor 1047 is formed as, for example, a frequency detection type sensor, and detects the presence or absence of the toner in the toner cartridge 1021 by detecting that the frequency changes due to the presence or absence of the toner on the sensor 1047. Has become.

On the other hand, a supply hole 1048 for supplying toner to the developing means 56 is formed at a predetermined position on the bottom of the toner supply section 1031. The toner supply unit 1031 has an auger
1049 is arranged in parallel with the two agitators 1042, 1043. The auger 1049 is also rotatably supported by the main body 1022a similarly to the agitators 1042 and 1043. The spiral direction of the blade of the auger 1049 is reversed at the supply hole 1048.

The reserve tank 1022 configured as described above
In, when the toner cartridge 1021 is set in the toner cartridge installation portion 1035, the shutter 1032 slides, so that both the supply hole 1028 and the bypass hole 1029 are automatically opened. Therefore, the toner in the toner cartridge 1021 is supplied to the reserve tank 1022 through the supply hole 1028 and the bypass hole 1029.

The toner passing through the bypass hole 1029 is supplied directly to the auger 1049, and is immediately supplied to the developing means 56 through the supply hole 1048 by the auger 1049. As a result, copying can be performed in a relatively short time after the toner cartridge 1021 is set.

The toner passing through the supply hole 1028 is introduced into the toner introduction unit 1047. The introduced toner is detected by the empty detection sensor 1047 and sent to the left by the rotation of the agitator 1042. When the toner is sent to the left, new toner is further introduced into the toner introduction unit 1047 from the toner cartridge 1021. Toner is in toner storage unit 1030
When it comes to the left end of a, the toner is
It is sent to the toner supply unit 1031 through 038. A part of the toner sent to the toner supply unit 1031 is sent to the supply hole 1048 by the auger 1049, and is supplied to the developing unit 56 through the supply hole 1048. In this case, even if the toner passes through the supply hole 1048, the blades of the auger 1049 are reversed, so that the passed toner is returned to the supply hole 1048, and is reliably passed through the supply hole 1048 toward the developing means 56. Sent to

On the other hand, the rest of the toner sent to the toner supply unit 1031 is pushed by the new toner sent by the blade 1045, so that the toner is stored in the toner storage unit 1030 through the opening 1039.
flows into b. The toner flowing into the toner container 1030b is
It is sent to the right opening 1041 by the agitator 1043. The toner that has come to the opening 1041 is
The toner is sent to the toner storage unit 1030a through 1041 and 1040. Also in this case, even when the toner passes through the opening 1041, the toner is returned to the opening 1041 by the agitator 1043 in the opposite direction.

The toner flowing into the toner container 1030a is
It is sent to the left again by the agitator 1042. In this case, since the toner is surely sent to the left by the agitator 1042, the toner flowing from the opening 1040 does not flow toward the right toner introduction unit 1030c. Therefore, only the toner from the toner cartridge 1021 is introduced into the toner introduction unit 1030. With this, the toner cartridge
When the toner is not introduced into the toner introduction unit 1030 due to the empty 1021 and the toner is not introduced into the toner storage units 1030a and 1030b, the empty toner sensor 1047 detects the toner in the toner introduction unit 1030. The empty of the cartridge 1021 can be reliably detected.

In this way, a predetermined amount of the toner in the reserve tank 1022 is sent from the supply hole 1048 to the developing means 56, and the remainder circulates between the toner storage units 1030a and 1030b. By this circulation, the toner storage units 1030a, 1030a, 1030
This prevents the toner in 30b from hardening.

Further, the capacity of the toner storage units 1030a and 1030b is such that even if the toner in the toner cartridge 1021 becomes empty,
2 seconds before a new toner cartridge is set
The size is set so that 2,000 to 3,000 copies can be made. In this case, after the empty detection sensor 1047 detects empty of the toner cartridge 1021, if a considerable number of copies are made in a state where a new toner cartridge is not set, the toner in the toner storage units 1030a and 1030b is reduced. Even if a new toner cartridge 1021 is set in this state, the toner conveyance distance from the toner introduction unit 1030c to the supply hole 1048 to the developing unit 56 is relatively long, so that copying may not be performed reliably. However, in this case, the toner in the toner cartridge 1021 is directly supplied to the auger 1049 through the bypass hole 1029 as described above, so that copying can be performed reliably even when the toner in the toner storage units 1030a and 1030b is small. Has become.

As shown in FIG. 11, the toner cartridge
1021, toner cartridge installation part 1035, reserve tank
1022, a dispenser unit 1050 including a power transmission mechanism 1026 and a motor driving unit 1027 is provided in the main body 2 below the console panel 21. The toner cartridge is indicated by a solid line in the left-right direction of the main body 2, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the main body 2. 1021 is the use position A, and the toner cartridge 10 indicated by a two-dot chain line in which one end of the toner cartridge
The toner cartridge 1021 is supported by the main body 2 so as to be rotatable around the other end of the toner cartridge 1021 between the replacement position B and the 21st replacement position B. Therefore, to replace the toner cartridge 1021, the dispenser unit 1050 is rotated to the replacement position B, the used toner cartridge 1021 is removed, and a new toner cartridge 1021 is set in the toner cartridge installation unit 1035. Thereafter, the dispenser unit 1050 is rotated to the use position A and fixed at the use position A. In this case, since the toner supply hole 1048 is formed at the bottom of the reserve tank 1022, when the reserve tank 1022 is rotated to the replacement position B, the toner may spill out from the toner supply hole 1048. For this reason, a shutter for sealing the toner supply hole 1048 is rotatably provided at the bottom of the reserve tank 1022, though not shown. This shutter is
When the reserve tank 1022 is at the use position A, the toner supply hole 1048 is opened, and when the reserve tank 1022 is at the replacement position B, the toner supply hole 1048 is closed so that the toner supply hole 1048 is closed. Has become.

The transfer section 7 includes a transfer corotron 73 in which a wire electrode 72 is stretched inside a shell 71 having a U-shaped cross section that opens toward the photosensitive drum 51 side.
A peeling corotron 7 in which two wire electrodes 75 and 76 are stretched in parallel with each other in a shell 74 having a U-shaped cross section, which is provided on the downstream side of the photosensitive drum 51 and opens toward the photosensitive drum 51
6 is comprised.

On the downstream side of the transfer section 7, a peeling claw 200 for peeling the paper 6 adhered to the photosensitive drum 51 after transfer from the photosensitive drum 51 is provided. Further peeling nail 200
A cleaning device 300 for removing residual toner adhered to the photosensitive drum 51 is disposed downstream of the cleaning device 300. In this case, the cleaning device 300 is provided with a cleaning blade 301 that scrapes off toner adhering to the photosensitive drum 51, a rotary brush roll 302 provided upstream of the cleaning blade 301, and provided upstream of the rotary brush roll 302. Toner tray 303
And a film sticker 304 for preventing toner scattering which is attached to the photosensitive drum 51 side of the toner receiver 303 and comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 51.

[0048]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when the toner cartridge is set at the position where the toner can be supplied, the toner cartridge is housed in the main body of the image forming apparatus. When the toner cartridge is set at a replaceable position, at least a part of the toner cartridge is made to protrude from the image forming apparatus main body, so that the user can easily replace the toner cartridge and supply toner. Workability is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a color copying machine to which an example of an embodiment of a toner supply device in an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the color copying machine of the example shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the image forming apparatus of the color copying machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an image forming process in the image forming apparatus of the example shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a developing unit in the image forming apparatus of the example shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the toner supply device in the image forming apparatus of the example shown in FIG.

7 is a vertical sectional view of a toner supply device in the image forming apparatus of the example shown in FIG.

8A and 8B show an example of a toner cartridge in the image forming apparatus of the example shown in FIG. 1, wherein FIG.
(B) is a bottom view thereof.

9A and 9B show an example of a toner cartridge in the image forming apparatus of the example shown in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 9A is a right side view, and FIG.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIIId-VIIId in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a horizontal sectional view of a reserve tank in the image forming apparatus of the example shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of mounting a toner cartridge in the image forming apparatus of the example shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Color copier, 5 ... Image forming apparatus, 51 ... Photosensitive drum, 54 ... First developing means, 56 ... Second developing means, 102
0: toner supply device, 1021: toner cartridge,
1022 reserved tank, 1023 toner cartridge body, 1028 supply hole, 1030 tank part, 1
030a, 1030b: toner storage unit, 1031: toner supply unit, 1032: shutter, 1035: toner cartridge installation unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-217879 (JP, A) JP-A-63-271378 (JP, A) JP-A-59-188678 (JP, A) 24755 (JP, U) Patent 3058280 (JP, B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/08-15/095

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A developing device, a detachable toner cartridge in which toner is stored for supplying toner to the developing device, and a toner in which the toner cartridge is detachably mounted.
In the image forming apparatus having a cartridge set portion, the toner cartridge installation unit, the toner cartridge is retained in the image forming apparatus main body, and a <br/> position as a toner suppliable state with respect to the developing device , one end side protruded from the image forming apparatus main body,
The toner cartridge installing the toner cartridge
A toner supply device in the image forming apparatus, wherein the toner supply device is rotatable around a second end of the image forming apparatus at a position that can be replaced with respect to the other part. 2. A state in which toner can be supplied to the developing device.
2. The toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein the position is set below a console panel of the image forming apparatus main body. 3. The toner cartridge according to claim 1,
The interchangeable position relative cartridges installed part, before
The toner cartridge for supplying toner to the developing device
3. The toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein the toner supply hole from the installation unit is set to be closed by a shutter . 4. A toner is provided under the toner cartridge.
Toner accommodating portion for accommodating are disposed, the toner supply device in an image forming apparatus of the claims 1, characterized in that the stirring means of the developing device under the toner container is arranged 3 claimed in any one of .