JP3341107B2 - Image forming machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming machine such as an electrostatic copying machine and an electrostatic printing machine, and more particularly, to an image forming machine in which a developing device is detachably mounted on a housing of a machine body. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming machine such as an electrostatic copying machine or an electrostatic printing machine, an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum serving as an image carrier disposed in a body housing is formed into toner. A developing device for developing is provided. As the developing device, a system in which the developing device is replaced for each unit when operated for a predetermined time has been put to practical use. In order to facilitate replacement of the developing device, the developing device is detachably mounted on the body housing. However, in general, a method is adopted in which the developing device is mounted and pulled out from the front side of the body housing. I have.
Further, the developing device mounted on the machine housing is positioned at a pressing position close to the photosensitive drum at the time of image formation, and needs to be operated at a pressing release position retracted from the pressing position when removing the developing device. For this reason, the image forming machine includes a pressing operation mechanism for positioning the developing device at the pressing position and the pressing release position.

The above-mentioned pressing operation mechanism has an operation lever disposed on the near side corresponding to the mounting position of the movable mounting plate in the body housing. Then, when the operation lever is positioned in the pressure release state in which the operation lever is tilted forward, the operation lever functions as a guide terrace when the developing device is moved in and out.

[0004]

In order for the operating lever constituting the pressing operation mechanism to reliably function as a guide terrace when the developing device is moved in and out, the operating lever must be tilted forward. It is important that they are held in. In order to hold the operation lever in a state where the operation lever is tilted forward, a spring or the like that biases the operation lever in a direction in which the operation lever is tilted forward is provided. For this reason, the number of parts increases,
There is a problem that the number of assembling steps increases and the manufacturing cost increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its main technical problem is to provide a biasing means such as a spring for holding an operation lever constituting a pressing operation mechanism in a state of being tilted forward. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of holding an operation lever in a state where the operation lever is tilted forward, without being particularly arranged.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned main technical problems, according to the present invention, an airframe housing,
A photoreceptor drum disposed on the body housing, a movable mounting plate disposed on the body housing so as to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the photoreceptor drum, and a movable mounting plate disposed on the movable mounting plate from the near side of the body housing. And a pressing mechanism for operating the developing device and the movable mounting plate to a pressing position close to the photosensitive drum and a pressing release position retracted from the pressing position. In the image forming apparatus provided with the image forming apparatus, the pressing operation mechanism is disposed on a front side of the body housing corresponding to the mounting position of the movable mounting plate, and a first position for positioning the developing device at the pressing position and the developing device. An operation lever configured to be operable at a second position that functions as a guide terrace when the apparatus is positioned at the pressing release position and that attaches and detaches the developing apparatus; and the developing apparatus and the movable mounting plate are always connected to the photosensitive member. drum And a spring for biasing,
When the operating lever is located at the second position, the spring force of the spring acts in a direction to hold the operating lever at the second position, and the operating lever is positioned at the first position. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the spring force of the spring acts in a direction in which the operating lever is held in the first position in the retracted state.

[0007]

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an image forming machine constituted according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an electrostatic copying machine as an image forming machine constructed according to the present invention. The illustrated electrostatic copying machine includes a cuboid body housing 2. On the upper surface of the body housing 2, a stationary transparent plate 4 on which a document to be copied is placed, and the stationary transparent plate 4
An openable and closable document pressing plate 5 for covering a document placed thereon is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, a photosensitive drum 6 is rotatably arranged at a substantially central portion in the body housing 2. The photosensitive drum 6 is driven to rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow 60 by driving means (not shown). Around the photoreceptor drum 6, a charging corona discharger 8, a developing device 10, a transfer corona discharger 12, a peeling corona discharger 14, and a cleaning unit 16 are sequentially arranged in a rotation direction indicated by an arrow 60. And static elimination lamp 18
Are arranged. The illustrated electrostatic copying machine includes an irradiation lamp 20, a first mirror 22, a second mirror 24, a third mirror 26, a lens 28, and a fourth mirror 30 disposed above the photosensitive drum 6. Is provided. The optical system irradiates the original placed on the stationary transparent plate 4 with the illumination lamp 20 and reflects the reflected light image on the first mirror 22, the second mirror 24, the third mirror 26, the lens 28 and the The image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 8 via the fourth mirror 30. The illustrated electrostatic copying machine includes a transfer paper supply device 32 for supplying transfer paper to a transfer area between the transfer corona discharger 12 and the photosensitive drum 6. The transfer paper supply device 32
Are transfer paper cassettes 34a, 34b for storing transfer paper,
Transfer paper delivery rollers 36a, 36b, separation roller pair 38
a, 38b, guide path 40, conveying roller pairs 42 and 4
4. A registration roller pair 46 is provided. The respective roller pairs of the transfer paper supply device 32 thus configured are driven to rotate by driving means (not shown).
A transfer paper transport belt mechanism 48, a fixing roller pair 52 and a discharge roller pair 54 constituting the fixing device 50 are disposed on the transfer paper delivery side of the transfer area. Each of them is rotationally driven by a non-driving means. As shown in FIG. 2, a front cover 2a is mounted on the front surface of the body housing 2 on which the above-described members are arranged so as to be openable and closable with its lower edge as a fulcrum.

In the electrostatic copying machine constructed as described above, the charging corona discharger 8 rotates the photosensitive drum on the photosensitive drum 6 while the photosensitive drum 6 is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 60. It is charged to a specific polarity substantially uniformly, and then irradiates the original placed on the stationary transparent plate 4 by the irradiating lamp 20, and its reflected light image is reflected by the first mirror 22, the second mirror 24, and the third mirror 24. Scanning exposure is performed on the photosensitive drum 6 via a mirror 26, a lens 28 and a fourth mirror 30,
An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 6. After a while
The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 6 is developed into a toner image by the developing device 10. On the other hand, the transfer paper stored in the transfer paper cassette 34a or 34b of the transfer paper supply device 32 is sent out from the transfer paper delivery roller 36a or 36b to the guide path 40, and is stopped once by the registration roller pair 46. Is conveyed to the transfer area in synchronization with the toner image formed on the transfer belt. The transfer paper conveyed to the transfer area passes between the photosensitive drum 6 on which the toner image is formed and the corona discharger 12 for transfer, so that the toner image is transferred. Then, the transfer paper on which the toner image has been transferred is peeled off from the photosensitive drum 6 by the action of the corona discharger 14 for peeling, and is conveyed to the fixing device 50 by the transfer paper conveying belt mechanism 48, where it is heated and fixed. The sheet is discharged from a pair of discharge rollers 54 to a discharge tray 56. Further, the toner adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum 6 on which the transfer process has been completed as described above is removed by the cleaning unit 16, and further, the surface of the photoreceptor is irradiated with the discharging light by the discharging lamp 18. , Is neutralized.

Next, the developing device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The illustrated developing device 10 includes a developing housing 100. The developing housing 100, which can be molded from a suitable synthetic resin, includes a bottom wall 101, a rear wall 102, a front end wall 103, a rear end wall 104, and a cover wall 105 that covers above the developing housing 100. On the bottom wall 101 constituting the developing housing 100,
A partition 107 is integrally formed in a front-rear direction (width direction) (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 4 and a horizontal direction in FIG. 5), and the inside of the developing housing is separated by the partition 107 into a first transport path 100a and a second transport. The road 100b is sectioned. The partition wall 107 projects substantially vertically upward from the bottom wall 101 of the developing housing 100.
The lower end both sides are formed in a concave arc shape. Developer transfer ports 107a and 107b are provided at both ends in the front-rear direction (width direction) of the partition 107, respectively, and the first transport path 100a and the second transport path 100b are connected to each other.
The bottom wall 101 provided with the partition 107 is shown in FIGS.
A guide groove 101 extending in the front-rear direction (width direction) as shown in FIG.
a is formed from the rear end to the front end. In addition, the back end of the guide groove 101a (the right end in FIG. 5).
Is formed with a guide portion 101b that extends on both sides in the horizontal direction. On the free end side of the cover wall 105 of the developing housing 100, a spike 108 is mounted by a screw 108a. The bottom edge of this ear-cutting plate 108 is positioned close to the peripheral surface of a sleeve member 111 of the developer applying means 110 described later, and is held on the peripheral surface of the sleeve member 111 and conveyed to the developing area. Function as a so-called ear-cutting means for regulating the amount of the developer. Also, cover wall 1
On the upper surface of the head 05, an ear-cut cover 106 is mounted.
As shown in FIG.
06a and the mounting portion 106b, and are formed by bending a plate material such as an aluminum alloy. Ear cut cover 1
As shown in FIG. 3, a tongue piece 106c is provided at the center of the end of the mounting portion 106b that constitutes 06.
The ear breaker cover 106 thus configured is attached to the mounting unit 1.
06b is covered by screws 106e and 106e.
5 is mounted on the upper surface. In addition, the ear break cover 106
A sheet-shaped sealing member 109 is mounted on a free end of the sheet. The sheet-shaped sealing member 109 is made of a flexible sheet member such as polyethylene terephthalate (PETP) resin, and is attached to the free end of the ear-cut cover 106 with an adhesive. Lightly contacts the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 6.
In the illustrated embodiment, a front end plate 145 is attached to the front end of the developing housing 100 by a fixing means such as a screw. This front end plate 145
Is formed of a synthetic resin and has a handle 1 at the center of its lower end.
46 are integrally formed (see FIGS. 3 and 7).

A developer applying means 110 is provided at the forefront (the leftmost part in FIG. 4) of the developing housing 10. The developer applying unit 110 includes a sleeve member 111 extending substantially horizontally in the width direction and the sleeve member 1.
11 and a permanent magnet member 112 disposed in the inside. The sleeve member 111 is made of a non-magnetic material such as aluminum and is rotatably mounted, and the permanent magnet member 112 is fixed at a predetermined position. A rotating shaft 113 to which the sleeve member 111 is fixed projects through the rear end wall 104 of the developing housing 100 and projects rearward. An input gear 114 is mounted on the projecting end. The input gear 114 is drivingly connected to a rotary drive source (not shown) which may be an electric motor via an input gear (not shown) of the photosensitive drum 2.
It is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by reference numeral 15.

A developer agitating / conveying means 120 is disposed behind the developer applying means 110 (to the right in FIG. 4). In the illustrated embodiment, the developer agitating / conveying means 120 is provided with a first conveying path 100a provided in the first conveying path 100a.
Spiral roller 121 and the second transport path 100
b, the second spiral roller 122, the second spiral roller 122 and the developer applying means 11
0 is included. The rotating shaft of each of the first spiral roller 121, the second spiral roller 122, and the paddle roller 123 protrudes rearward through the rear end wall 104 of the developing housing 100. Input gears are mounted, and the input gears are operatively connected to the input gear 114 of the developer applying unit 110,
Each is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow. First spiral roller 121 driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow
Transports the developer from the front side to the back side (from left to right in FIG. 5) while stirring the developer,
Transports the developer from the back to the front (from right to left in FIG. 5) while stirring the developer. The paddle roller 123 sends the developer to the developer applying unit 110 while stirring the developer.

As shown in FIG. 6, a developer drop opening 105a is provided at a position on the cover wall 105 constituting the developing housing 10 above the first spiral roller 121 and the second spiral roller 122, as shown in FIG. A developer cartridge mounting portion is provided, and a toner supply portion 130 is provided at a position on the front side of the developer drop opening 105a and above the first spiral roller 121. As shown in FIG. 3, the toner supply unit 130 includes partition walls 131, 132, 133 formed upright on the cover wall 105 and a front end plate 145 attached to the front end of the developing housing 10. And a space 134 surrounded by In this space 134, there are provided toner supply chambers 138 surrounded by partitions 135, 136, and 137 formed upright on the cover wall 105, the front end plate 145 and the cover wall 105. This toner supply chamber 1
As shown in FIG. 7, a toner drop opening 105 b is formed at the front end of the cover wall 105 forming the cover 38. The toner supply opening 138 is provided in the toner supply chamber 138.
A cylindrical on-off valve 139 for opening and closing 5b is provided. A coil spring 140 is provided between the on-off valve 139 and the partition 135, and the on-off valve 139 is urged toward the front end plate 145 by the spring force of the coil spring 140. An opening 145 a having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the on-off valve 139 is formed in the front end plate 145 at a position facing the on-off valve 139.
Further, a seal having a slope inclined from the lower end of the partition wall 131 forming the space 134 to the upper end of the partition 135 forming the toner supply chamber 138 is provided in the space 134 forming the toner supply unit 130. A peel guide member 141 is provided. The toner supply unit 13
As shown in FIG. 7, a seal insertion opening 131a is provided at the lower end of the partition wall 131 on the side of the developer cartridge mounting portion which forms the space 134 of zero, and a locking opening 131b is provided at an intermediate portion thereof. Is provided. The partition wall 13 that forms the space 134 of the toner supply unit 130
Steps 1 and 2 are respectively provided on the upper ends of 2 and 133.
32a and 133a are provided.

The space 1 constituting the toner supply section 130
A cover member 142 is removably disposed above the top 34. Cover member 142 integrally formed of synthetic resin
Is composed of a planar cover portion 143 and an engaging portion 144 extending substantially at a right angle from one end of the cover portion 143, and an engaging protrusion 144a is provided at a tip end of the engaging portion 144.
In order to attach the cover member 142 configured as described above to the toner supply unit 130, the other end of the cover unit 143 is inserted into and engaged with the locking unit 145b provided on the front side end plate 145. When the portion 144 is pushed downward along the wall surface on the near side of the partition wall 131, the engaging portion 144 descends while being elastically deformed, and the engaging projection 144a engages with the locking opening 131b provided in the partition wall 131. Combine. At this time, the lower surfaces on both sides of the cover member 142 are partitioned by the partition walls 132 and 133.
Abuts on the step portions 132a and 133a provided at When the cover member 142 attached to the toner supply unit 130 is removed in this manner, for example, a driver is inserted into the locking opening 131b from the back side of the partition wall 131 in a state where a developer cartridge described later is removed, and When the mating projection 144a is pressed, the engaging portion 144 is elastically deformed and disengaged from the locking opening 131b. In this state, the engaging portion 144 is lifted upward and moved to the rear side, so that the cover portion 143 Locking portion 1 with the other end provided on front end wall 103
What is necessary is just to extract from 03b.

The developer cartridge 1 is provided at the developer cartridge mounting portion of the cover wall 105 constituting the developing housing 10 provided with the developer drop opening 105b.
50 is detachably mounted and fixed by an appropriate fixing means. The developer cartridge 150 includes a cartridge body 151 containing a developer 155 in which a carrier and a toner are mixed at a predetermined ratio, and a cartridge body 15.
1 and a sealing member 152 which covers an opening formed on the lower side and is detachably mounted by welding or an adhesive. The seal member 152 is formed of a suitable synthetic resin film having flexibility such as a nylon film, and has one end attached to the front end of the cartridge body 151 and attached to the far end of the cartridge body 151. After being folded, the other end is disposed on the seal peeling guide member 141 through a seal insertion opening 131a formed at the lower end of the partition wall 131. The other end of the seal member 141 passes above the space 134 forming the toner supply unit 130 and passes through the front end plate 14.
5 is located on the front side of the fuselage housing through a seal insertion opening 145c provided in the housing 5. When the developer cartridge 150 is mounted on the developing housing 10, the cover member 142 is removed, the developer cartridge 150 is mounted, and the seal member 152 passes over the seal peeling guide member 141 and the front side end. Board 145
The cover member 142 is attached after being positioned on the near side of the body housing through the seal insertion opening 145c provided in the.

The developing device 10 configured as described above is
As will be described later, it is detachably attached to the body housing 2. In order to facilitate carrying the developing device 10, in the illustrated embodiment, a handle structure is provided on the upper surface of the cover wall 105 constituting the developing housing 10, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 8. The handle structure includes a handle 160 formed of a synthetic resin belt having flexibility. The handle 160 has a slot 160 at each end.
a, a long hole 160a is provided.
It is attached to the cover wall 105 by screws 161 as attachment members disposed through the elongated hole 160a. Note that the screws 161 are provided with stepped portions 161a, 161a thicker than the thickness of the handle 160,
Therefore, the handle 160 can move within the range of the long hole 160a and the long hole 160a. At this time, the tongue piece 106c provided on the mounting portion 106b of the ear breaker cover 106 is attached to the lower side of the handle 160 between the two screws. Since the tongue piece 106c is interposed between the handle 160 and the cover wall 105, the tongue piece 106c
The center of the handle 160 is lifted by the upper edges of both ends of the
A gap 162 is formed between the handle 160 and the tongue piece 106c. This gap 162 allows the handle 160 and the tongue piece 1
06c, the tip of the finger can be easily inserted, and the handle 160 can be easily held. In the illustrated embodiment,
A member to be interposed between the handle 160 and the cover wall 105 is a spike cover 106 which is a component of the developing device 10.
Since there is no need to separately provide a member for forming the gap, an inexpensive handle structure can be obtained.

Next, the developing device 10 mounted on the machine housing 2 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 6 at the pressing position.
With reference to FIGS. 9 to 12, a description will be given of a pressing operation mechanism that operates to a pressing release position that retreats from the pressing position. Inside the body housing 2, a front side plate 200 and a rear side plate 201 are arranged in parallel with each other. A fixing plate 203 is attached between the front side plate 200 and the rear side plate 201 by fixing means such as a screw 204. Below the fixed plate 203, two operation plates 205, 205 are rotatably supported by support shafts 206, 206, respectively. Each of the two operating plates 205, 205 has an operating pin 2
07 and 207 are fixed. This operating pin 207,
207 are mounted on the operation plates 205, 205 so as to protrude upward, respectively, and are disposed through the openings 203a, 203a formed in the fixed plate 203. Further, spring engaging portions 205a, 205a are formed on the two operation plates 205, 205 by bending, respectively, and the tension coil springs 20 are attached to the spring engaging portions 205a, 205a.
One end of each of 8, 8 is locked. The other ends of the tension coil springs 208, 208 have the above-mentioned fixed plate 2
03 support brackets 209, 2
09, and the operating plates 205 and 205 are respectively
9, it is urged to rotate in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.

An operating rod 210 is provided below the two operating plates 205, 205. The operating rod 210 has elongated holes 210 a and 21 elongated in the longitudinal direction (front-back direction).
0a is formed. The operating rod 210 is supported movably in the front-rear direction by support pins 212 fixed to brackets 211 mounted on the fixed plate 203 through the elongated holes 210a. The operating plate 205 includes the operating plate 205,
205, elongated holes 210b, 210b are formed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (front-back direction), and the operating plates 205, 2b are provided in the elongated holes 210b, 210b.
05 and the support portions 205
a, working pin 21 mounted at an intermediate position between 205a and 205a
5, 215 are inserted. Therefore,
When the operating rod 210 is operated in the direction indicated by the arrow 213 in FIG.
9 are rotated clockwise in FIG. 9 about the support shafts 206, 206, and when the operating rod 210 is operated in the direction indicated by the arrow 214 in FIG.
5 and 215, the operation plates 205 and 205 are
In FIG. 9, it is rotated counterclockwise in FIGS.

Next, a pressing mechanism for operating the operating lever 210 in the directions of arrows 213 and 214 will be described with reference to FIGS.

A pair of L-shaped support brackets 230 is provided at a position corresponding to the operating rod 210 on the front side surface of the front side plate 200 provided in the body housing 2.
230 is a screw 204 with the fixing plate 203 attached, 2
04 together. This support bracket 2
A support pin 231 for rotatably supporting an operation lever, which will be described later, is horizontally provided on the reference numerals 30 and 230. In addition, the support brackets 230 and 230 have arc-shaped elongate holes 230a at an angle of about 90 degrees around the support pin 231.
Is formed. The operation lever 240 is mounted on the support brackets 230 configured as described above. The operation lever 240 includes a lever portion 241 and a mounting portion 242, and is integrally formed of a synthetic resin. The mounting part 242 of the operation lever 240 is the support part racket 230,
It is rotatably mounted by a support pin 231 mounted on 230. A guide pin 243 is provided on the mounting portion 242 of the operation lever 240.
Are fitted in the arc-shaped long holes 230a formed in the support rackets 230, 230. Therefore, when the operation lever 240 rotates around the support pin 231, the guide pin 243 moves along the arc-shaped long hole 230a. Since the arc-shaped long hole 230a is formed at an angle of about 90 degrees as described above, the guide pin 2
Since 43 can move in an angle range of approximately 90 degrees,
The operation lever 240 can rotate in an angle range of about 90 degrees. That is, in the illustrated embodiment, the operation lever 240 is in the first position in the vertical state shown in FIG.
It can rotate in the range of the second position which is the horizontal state shown in FIG. The operating lever 240 thus configured is connected to the operating rod 21 via the connecting link 245.
Connected to 0. That is, one end of the connection link 245 is connected to the mounting portion 24 of the operation lever 240 by the guide pin 243.
2 and the other end of the connection link 245 is
10 is connected to one end by a connection pin 246.

The operating lever 240 constituting the pressing operation mechanism in the illustrated embodiment is configured as described above. Hereinafter, the positional relationship among the support pin 231, the guide pin 243, and the connecting pin 246 will be described. In a state where the operation lever 240 is positioned at the second position which is a horizontal state as shown in FIG. 11, the guide pin 243 is positioned above a line connecting the connection pin 246 and the support pin 231. Therefore, the tension coil spring 20
The force for operating the operating rod 210 in the direction shown by the arrow 214 via the operating plates 205, 205 and the operating pins 215, 215 by the spring forces of the 8, 208 is guided via the connecting pin 246 and the connecting link 245. Pin 243
11, a force is applied to the operation lever 240 positioned at the second position as shown in FIG. 11 to rotate the support lever 231 counterclockwise in FIG. The operation lever 240 is maintained in the horizontal state shown in FIG. 11, that is, the second position. On the other hand, when the operation lever 240 is positioned at the first position, which is the vertical state as shown in FIG.
Are positioned below the line connecting the connecting pin 246 and the support pin 231. Therefore, the force acting on the operating rod 210 in the direction indicated by the arrow 214 is transmitted via the connection pin 246, the connection link 245, and the guide pin 243 to the operation lever 240 positioned at the first position as shown in FIG.
The operation lever 240 operates to rotate clockwise in FIG. 10 around the pin 231 in FIG.
The vertical position shown in FIG. 0, that is, the first position is maintained. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the operating lever 240
Is held in the first position and the second position by the spring force of the tension coil springs 208 and 208, respectively, so that the state is stabilized without rattling due to vibration or the like.

On the upper side of the fixed plate 203, the movable mounting plate 2
20 are provided. As shown in FIG. 12, the movable mounting plate 220 is provided with a mounting portion 221 and a first bending portion formed to protrude from a front end of the mounting portion 221 and to be bent downward.
Guide portions 222, 222, a second guide portion 223 bent upward from the rear end of the mounting portion 221, and a rear wall bent upward from the rear end of the mounting portion 221. A part 224 is provided. The mounting portion 221 constituting the movable mounting plate 220 is formed with two long holes 221a and 221a into which the operation pins 207 and 207 are fitted. Further, a guide rail 221b extending in the width direction is provided on an edge of the mounting portion 221 that constitutes the movable mounting plate 220, on the side opposite to the rear wall portion 224. The first guide portions 222, 222 constituting the movable mounting plate 220 are provided with guide elongated holes 2.
22a and 222a are formed. Moving mounting plate 220
The two guide pins 2
26 and 226 are mounted to protrude outward, and two positioning pins 227 and 227 are mounted to protrude inward. A guide rail 224b extending in the width direction is provided at an upper end edge of the rear wall portion 224 constituting the movable mounting plate 220. In the movable mounting plate 220 thus configured, the first guide portions 222 are mounted on the upper end of the near side plate 200, and the second guide portion 223 is provided.
The guide pins 226, 226 mounted on the rear side plate 201 are fitted in the long holes 201a, 201a formed in the rear side plate 201, and are supported horizontally. In this state, the first
Guide holes 222 formed in the guide portions 222
A guide pin 228 attached to the front side plate 200 is fitted into each of a and 222a. In addition, the moving mounting plate 2
20, a long hole 221 formed in the mounting portion 221
The operating pins 207, 207 are fitted into the a and 221a. The developing device 10 is removably mounted on the mounting portion 221 of the movable mounting plate 220 configured as described above. In order to mount the developing device 10 on the mounting portion 221, the rear end of the developing device 10 is placed on the near side of the mounting portion 221 and is pushed inward. At this time, the developing housing 100
The developing device 10 is slid backward while fitting the guide grooves 101a provided on the bottom wall 101 of the developing device 10 into the operation pins 207, 207. When the developing device 10 is pushed to a predetermined position, the two positioning pins 227 and 227 attached to the second guide portion 223 constituting the movable mounting plate 220 are provided on the rear end wall of the developing device 10. The positioning holes (not shown) are fitted, and the developing device 10 is mounted at a predetermined position on the movable mounting plate 220.

Next, the movable mounting plate 220 movably disposed at a predetermined position of the body housing 2 and the operation lever 2
The positional relationship of 40 will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, when the operation lever 240 is positioned at the first position, which is the vertical state, a part of the operation lever 240 (the lever portion 241 in the illustrated embodiment) is located on the upper surface of the movable mounting plate 220 ( (Mounting surface). Therefore, when the operation lever 240 is located at the first position, the developing device 10 cannot be attached to or detached from the movable mounting plate 220. In the illustrated embodiment, the operation lever 2
When the position 40 is located at the first position, the lever portion 241 of the operation lever 240 is provided on the front end plate 145 constituting the front end of the developing device 10 mounted on the movable mounting plate 220. Is located at a position facing the handle 146 that has been provided. Therefore, when the operation lever 240 is located at the first position, the handle 146 used when pulling out the developing device 10 from the machine housing 2 cannot be gripped. Further, as shown in FIG.
The reference numeral 0 denotes a position substantially at the same height as the upper surface (mounting surface) of the movable mounting plate 220 in a state where the horizontal position is the second position. Therefore, when the operation lever 240 is positioned at the second position, the movable mounting plate 220
The developing device 10 can be attached to and detached from the
Numeral 0 functions as a guide terrace when the developing device 10 is attached and detached. Since the operating lever 240 located at the second position functioning as the guide terrace is urged to be held at the second position by the tension coil springs 208, 208 as described above, the operation lever 240 is rattled. The developing device 10 can be easily and easily attached and detached.

Next, a toner replenishing device for replenishing the developing device 10 with toner will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 13 and 14. FIG.

The toner replenishing device 300 is disposed on the near side (left side in FIGS. 5, 6, and 13) of the near side plate 200 provided in the body housing 2. The toner supply device 300 in the illustrated embodiment includes a toner cartridge 310, a hopper 330 for detachably mounting the toner cartridge 310, a hopper support housing 350 for housing and supporting the hopper 330, and a hopper support housing 350. An opening and closing support means 380 is provided for supporting the housing 2 rotatably in a horizontal plane.

The toner cartridge 310 may have a known structure, and includes a toner cartridge body 3 containing toner.
11 is provided. An opening (not shown) is formed on the bottom wall of the toner cartridge main body 311, and a film-like sealing member (not shown) closing the opening on the bottom surface of the bottom wall.
Are detachably mounted. This seal member is configured to be peeled off by a seal winding means (not shown) after being mounted on the hopper 330.

The hopper 330 includes a hopper body 33.
1, a toner cartridge mounting portion 332 provided on the upper portion of the hopper main body 331 for detachably mounting the toner cartridge 310, and a toner conveying means disposed on the lower portion of the hopper main body 331 and conveying the toner to the developing device 10. 333 are provided. The toner conveying means 333 is
A spiral roller 334 that projects horizontally from the lower part of the hopper body 331;
4 is provided with a guide cylinder 335 fitted to the protrusion. A toner outlet 335a is provided at the lower end of the guide tube 335.
Is formed. It should be noted that an input gear 336 that is operatively connected to a driving unit described later is mounted on a rotating shaft 334 a of the spiral roller 334 that forms the toner conveying unit 333.

The hopper support housing 350 is formed in a box shape by a bottom wall 351, a front wall 352, a rear wall 353, and a side wall 354. The front wall 352 is provided with an opening through which the protrusion of the spiral roller 334 can pass. A mounting plate 356 having an opening at the center is mounted on the upper end of the hopper support housing 350 thus configured, and the hopper 330 is mounted on the mounting plate 356. In the hopper support housing 350, the spiral roller 33 is provided.
4 is provided with a driving means 360 for driving the rotation. The driving means 360 includes an electric motor 361 and a driving gear 362 mounted on a rotating shaft of the electric motor 361.
And a first intermediate gear 363 meshing with the driving gear 362
And the second intermediate gear 3 meshing with the first intermediate gear 363 and the input gear 336 of the spiral roller 334.
64.

The opening / closing support means 380 includes a front side plate 200 and a rear side plate 20 disposed in the body housing 2.
2 and a fixing member 383 such as a bolt and a nut mounted on the rear side plate 202 disposed above the supporting member 382.
The opening / closing guide member 384 is provided.
The support member 382 is provided with a linear first guide hole 382a that is elongated in the front-rear direction (the left-right direction in FIGS. 5 and 14) of the body housing. The opening / closing guide member 384 has a first member provided on the support member 382.
Linear portion 384b formed parallel to the guide hole 382a
And the front end of the linear portion 384b (see FIGS. 5 and 14).
Arc portion 384c formed continuously with the left end portion in FIG.
And a second guide hole 384a having the following. The relationship between the second guide hole 384a and the first guide hole 382a will be described. The length of the linear portion 384b forming the second guide hole 384a is the same as the length of the first guide hole 382a. The circular arc portion 384c that forms the second guide hole 384a has a linear portion 384b that forms the first guide hole 382a and the second guide hole 384a around the front end of the first guide hole 382a. Are formed in a circular arc extending over an angle of about 90 degrees with the radius of the space between the two.

The first guide pin 38 attached to the support plate 385 attached to the bottom wall 351 constituting the hopper support housing 350 is provided in the first guide hole 382a.
6 is movably fitted, and a second guide pin 387 attached to an attachment plate 356 attached to the upper end of the hopper support housing 350 is fitted in the second guide hole 382a.
Are movably fitted. Then, the first guide pin 38
6 and the second guide pin 387 are respectively connected to the first guide hole 382a and the second guide hole 38 when the toner replenishing device 300 is positioned at the operation position shown in FIGS.
It is disposed so as to be located at the far end of the linear portion 384b that constitutes 4a. Therefore, when the toner replenishing device 300 is pulled from the operation position to the near side (the left side in FIGS. 5, 6, and 14), the first guide pin 386 and the second guide pin 387 move to the first guide hole 382a. Second guide hole 3
84a along the straight portion 384b constituting the toner replenishing device 300 from this state.
14 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 14 around the first guide pin 386, the second guide pin 387 moves along the arc portion 384c forming the second guide hole 384a, as shown in FIG. At the open position moved by an angle of about 90 degrees to the end of the circular arc portion 384c, the movement is restricted. As described above, the hopper 330 constituting the toner replenishing device 300 can rotate in the horizontal plane at the rotation position after moving the predetermined distance from the operation position to the front side of the machine housing 2. In a state where the hopper 330 is positioned at the operation position, the toner conveying unit 33
As shown in FIG. 6, the front end of the opening 3 pushes the open / close valve 139 disposed in the toner supply chamber 138 of the toner supply section 130 of the developing device 10 and is positioned in the toner supply chamber 138.

The image forming machine constructed according to the present invention is constructed as described above, and its operation will be described below. To replace the developing device 10, after opening the front cover 2a mounted on the front surface of the machine housing 2 as shown in FIG. 2, the hopper 330 constituting the toner replenishing device 300 is moved to FIGS. When a predetermined distance (the length of the linear portion 384b forming the first guide hole 382a and the second guide hole 384a) is moved from the operation position shown in FIG.
The tip end of the developing unit 3 comes out of the toner supply unit 130 of the developing device 10. Therefore, the leading end of the toner conveying unit 333 can rotate without interfering with the developing device 10. After the toner replenishing device 300 has been pulled out to the front side of the body housing 2 by a predetermined distance and then turned around the first guide pin 386 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 13, the second guide pin 387 moves to the second guide. The arc portion 384 moves along the arc portion 384c forming the hole 384a, and moves at an angle of about 90 degrees as shown in FIG.
The movement is restricted by abutting on the end of c. In this state, the front side of the developing device 10 in the machine housing 2 is opened.

Next, the operation lever 240 constituting the pressing operation mechanism is moved downward from the vertical position, which is the first position shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, around the support pin 231 (FIG. 1).
0, the guide pin 243 moves along the arc-shaped elongated hole 230a when rotated in the counterclockwise direction about the support pin 231. When the guide pin 243 is rotated by approximately 90 degrees, the guide pin 243 is rotated.
Comes into contact with the end of the arc-shaped long hole 230a to be in the horizontal state at the second position shown in FIG. When the operation lever 240 is positioned at the second position shown in FIG. 11, the front side of the developing device 10 in the front side plate 200 disposed in the body housing 2 is opened. On the other hand, the operation lever 24
0 to the second position, the operating rod 21 via the guide pin 243, the connecting link 245 and the connecting pin 246.
0 is actuated in the direction indicated by arrow 213 in FIGS. FIG. 10 and FIG.
When the operation plate 205 is operated in the direction indicated by the arrow 213 in FIG.
It is rotated clockwise in FIG. As a result, the operating pins 207, 207 mounted on the operating plates 205, 205
9, a developing device provided with the movable mounting plate 220 and the developing housing 100 in which the operating pins 207, 207 are fitted with the elongated holes 221a, 221a and the guide groove 101a. 10 is FIG.
9 is moved rightward in FIG. 9, and the developing device 10 is retracted from the photosensitive drum 2 and is positioned at the pressing release position (removal position).

In this state, the developing device 10 is connected to the front end plate 14.
When the user grips the handle 146 provided on the front side 5 and pulls it out toward the user, the user can be guided by the operation lever 240 positioned at the second position in the horizontal state and can be pulled out toward the front side of the body housing 2. When the developing device 10 is pulled out from the developing housing 100 to some extent, the cover wall 10 constituting the body housing 2 of the developing device 10 is
5 and the tongue piece 106c
The developing device 10 can be easily pulled out by inserting the tip of a finger into the space 162 formed between the developing device 10 and the handle 160. As described above, unless the operation lever 240 is positioned at the second position, which is the horizontal state shown in FIG. 11, the front side of the developing device 10 in the front side plate 200 disposed in the body housing 2 is not opened. Since the device 10 does not appear, the developing device 10 cannot be pulled out unless the operation lever 240 is positioned at the second position and the pressing of the developing device 10 toward the photosensitive drum 2 is released.
Therefore, when the developing device 10 is pulled out, the sleeve member 1 constituting the developer applying unit 110 of the developing device 10 must be used.
Since the photoconductor 11 and the photoconductor drum 2 are separated from each other, the photoconductor drum 2 and the sleeve member 111 are rubbed against each other, thereby preventing the photoconductor drum 2 and the sleeve member 111 from being damaged.

When the used developing device 10 attached to the machine housing 2 is pulled out, a new developing device 1
0 is mounted on the mounting portion 221 of the movable mounting plate 220 provided in the body housing 2. The developing device 10 is mounted on the receiver 22
1, the rear end of the developing device 10 is placed on the front side of the mounting portion 221 while the operation lever 240 is maintained at the second position, which is the horizontal state shown in FIG. It is pushed inward along the guide rails 221b and 224b. At this time, the guide grooves 101a provided in the bottom wall 101 of the developing housing 100 are
7, the developing device 10 is slid to the rear side. When the developing device 10 is pushed to a predetermined position, the two positioning pins 227 and 227 attached to the second guide portion 223 constituting the movable mounting plate 220 are provided on the rear end wall of the developing device 10. (Not shown)
The developing device 10 is mounted at a predetermined position on the movable mounting plate 220.

In this manner, a new developing device 1 is placed at a predetermined position on the movable mounting plate 220 disposed in the body housing 2.
0, the operating lever 240 constituting the pressing operation mechanism is moved upward from the horizontal position shown in FIG. 11 around the support pin 231 (in the clockwise direction about the support pin 231 in FIG. 11). ), The guide pin 243 moves along the arc-shaped long hole 230a, and
When rotated by an angle of 0 degree, the guide pin 243 becomes the arc-shaped elongated hole 2
It comes into contact with the end of 30a and is in the first position, which is the vertical position shown in FIG. With the operation of the operation lever 240 to the first position, the operation rod 210 is moved through the guide pin 243, the connection link 245, and the connection pin 246 as shown in FIGS.
1 is actuated in the direction indicated by arrow 214.
The operating rod 210 is indicated by an arrow 214 in FIGS.
When actuated in the directions indicated by, the operation plates 205, 205 are rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 9 around the support shafts 206, 206 via the action pins 215, 215. Thereby, the operating pins 2 attached to the operating plates 205, 205
9, the operation pins 207, 207 rotate counterclockwise in FIG.
207, slots 221a, 221a and guide groove 101a
The developing device 10 provided with the movable mounting plate 220 and the developing housing 100 in which the developing device 10 is fitted is moved rightward in FIGS. 4 and 9, and the developing device 10 is moved to the pressing position for pressing the photosensitive drum 2 side. Be positioned. Thus, in a state where the developing device 10 is located at the pressing position,
Since the operation lever 240 is at the first position, which is the vertical state, the developing device 10 cannot be pulled out at the pressed position.

Next, when the toner replenishing device 300 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 14 about the first guide pin 386 from the above-described open position, the second guide pin 387 causes the arc forming the second guide hole 384a. The second guide hole 384 moves along the portion 384c and moves at an angle of about 90 degrees.
The rotation is restricted by abutting on the linear portion 382b that constitutes a. In this state, when the toner supply device 300 is pushed backward, the first guide pin 386 and the second guide pin 38
7 is a first guide hole 382a and a second guide hole 384a.
Are moved to the back side along the straight portion 384b that constitutes the position, and are positioned at the operation position shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 13 in a state of contacting the back side end. When the toner replenishing device 300 is positioned at the operation position, the tip of the toner conveying means 333 is turned by an open / close valve 139 provided in the toner supply chamber 138 of the toner supply unit 130 of the developing device 10 by the force of the coil spring 140. It is positioned in the toner supply chamber 138 to be pushed away. When the toner supply device 300 is positioned at the operation position, the operation lever 240 must be positioned at the first position, which is the vertical state shown in FIG. 10, unless the toner supply device 300 interferes with the operation lever 240 and is positioned at the operation position. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to position the developing device 10 at the pressing position where the developing device 10 is pressed toward the photosensitive drum 2. Thus, the toner supply device 3
00 in the operating position, the airframe housing 2
When the front cover 2a attached to the front of the printer is turned upward and closed from the open state as shown in FIG.

Next, an operation of replacing only the developer cartridge 150 will be described. When the developing device 10 is pulled out from the body housing 2 as described above, the developer cartridge 150 mounted on the cover wall 105 constituting the developing housing 10 is removed. Then, when, for example, a driver is inserted into the locking opening 131b from the back side of the partition wall 131 constituting the toner supply unit 130 and the engaging projection 144a of the cover member 142 is pressed, the engaging portion 144 is elastically deformed and the locking opening 131b is formed. Is disengaged, and in this state, the cover portion 144 of the cover member 142 is moved upward while being moved upward, so that the other end of the cover portion 143 is disengaged from the locking portion 103b provided on the front end wall 103. The extraction cover member 142 is removed.

Next, a new developer cartridge 1 is placed at a predetermined position on the cover wall 105 constituting the developing housing 100.
50 is mounted by an appropriate fixing means. The other end of the seal member 152 mounted on the bottom wall bottom surface of the cartridge body 151 is connected to a seal insertion opening 131a formed at the lower end of the partition wall 131, the seal peeling guide member 141, and the toner supply unit 130. The space 13 that constitutes
4 and is positioned on the near side of the fuselage housing through a seal insertion opening 145c provided in the near side end plate 145. After that, the cover member 142 is attached.

When a new developer cartridge 150 is mounted in the developing housing 100 of the developing device 10 as described above, the developing device in which the new developer cartridge 150 is mounted is the same as the replacement of the developing device 10 described above. 1
0 in the developing housing 2, and
Is pulled off, and the sealing member 152 is peeled off. After the toner replenishing device 300 is positioned at the operation position, the front cover 2 a
2 is rotated upward from the opened state and closed as shown in FIG. The replacement work of the developer cartridge 150 has been described above.
The replacement operation of the developer cartridge 150 is performed by a serviceman instead of the user. The cover member 142 which covers the upper side of the toner supply unit through which the seal member 152 passes when the seal member 152 is peeled off is a developer cartridge mounted at a predetermined position of the cover wall 105 constituting the developing housing 100 as described above. If you do not remove 150
Since a driver or the like cannot be inserted into the locking opening 131b, the cover member 142 does not come off when the developing device 2 that performs the replacement operation with the developer cartridge 150 mounted is replaced. Therefore, since the general user cannot remove the cover member 142 which may be soiled, the cover member 1 is replaced when the developing device 2 is replaced.
The contamination caused by the detachment of 42 is prevented beforehand.

[0041]

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention has the following functions and effects.

That is, according to the present invention, the pressing operation mechanism for operating the developing device and the movable mounting plate to the pressing position close to the photosensitive drum and the pressing release position retreating from the pressing position includes the moving mounting plate in the body housing. A first position, which is disposed on the near side corresponding to the mounting position of the plate and positions the developing device at the pressing position, and a second position which functions as a guide terrace when the developing device is positioned at the pressing release position and the developing device is attached and detached. An operation lever configured to be operable; and a spring for constantly biasing the developing device and the movable mounting plate toward the photosensitive drum. When the operation lever is located at the second position, the spring of the spring is provided. The force acts in a direction to hold the operating lever in the second position, and when the operating lever is in the first position, the spring force of the spring holds the operating lever in the first position. Is configured so as to act, the operating lever is stable without rattling, detachment operation of the developing device becomes simple and easy. In addition, the urging force for holding the operation lever at the second position is configured to use the spring force of the pressing spring means for constantly urging the developing device and the movable mounting plate toward the photosensitive drum. Because
Since it is not necessary to separately provide a spring means in order to hold the operation lever in a state of functioning as a guide terrace, an inexpensive image forming apparatus having a simple structure can be obtained. Also,
The operation lever does not generate rattling noise due to vibration or the like during image formation held in the first position.

[0043]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of an image forming apparatus configured according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a developing device mounted on the image forming machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the developing device of FIG. 3 is mounted on a movable mounting plate, showing a relationship with a photosensitive drum.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a developing device and a toner replenishing device mounted on the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a part of the developing device and the toner replenishing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway front view showing an attached state of a handle attached to the developing device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a part of a developing device pressing unit mounted on the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a pressing state of the developing device pressing unit of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a state where the pressing of the developing device pressing unit of FIG. 9 is released.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a movable mounting plate provided in the developing device pressing unit of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a cutaway front view of the toner supply device shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a state in which a hopper constituting the toner supply device of FIG. 5 has been operated to an open position.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2: body housing 2a: front cover 4: stationary transparent plate 5: original plate 6: photosensitive drum 8: corona discharger for charging 10: developing device 12: corona discharger for transfer 14: corona discharger for peeling 16: Cleaning unit 18: Static elimination lamp 20: Irradiation lamp 22: First mirror 24: Second mirror 26: Third mirror 28: Lens 30: Fourth mirror 32: Transfer paper supply device 34a, 34b: Transfer paper cassette 36a, 36b: Transfer paper sending roller 38a, 38b: Separating roller pair 40: Guide path 42, 44: Transport roller pair 46: Registration roller pair 48: Transfer paper transport belt mechanism 50: Fixing device 52: Fixing roller pair 54: Discharge Roller pair 100: developing housing 101: bottom wall 101a: guide groove 105: cover wall 105a: developer drop opening 105 : Toner drop opening 110: developer applying means 120: developer stirring and conveying means 121: first spiral roller 122: second spiral roller 123: paddle roller 130: toner supply section 138: toner supply chamber 139: open / close valve 140 : Coil spring 141: Seal peeling guide member 142: Cover member 145: Front end plate 146: Handle 150: Developer cartridge 151: Cartridge main body 152: Seal member 160: Handle 200: Front side plate 201: Back side plate 203: Fixed plate 205: Operation plate 206: Support shaft 207: Operation pin 208: Tension coil spring 210: Operation rod 220: Moving mounting plate 240: Operation lever 245: Connection link 300: Toner supply device 310: Toner cartridge 330: Hopper 331 : Hopper body 3 2: Toner cartridge mounting section 333: Toner conveying means 334: Spiral roller 335: Guide cylinder 350: Hopper support housing 360: Driving means 361: Electric motor 380: Opening / closing support means 382: Support member 382a: First guide hole 384: Opening / closing guide member 384a: second guide hole

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/08

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An airframe housing and an airframe housing
A photoreceptor drum provided therein and an advance relative to the photoreceptor drum;
A movable mounting plate removably disposed on the body housing,
Detachable on the movable mounting plate from the near side of the fuselage housing
Developing device mounted on the device, the developing device and the movable mounting device
A pressing position for bringing the mounting plate close to the photosensitive drum and the pressing position
Pressure operating mechanism that operates to the pressure release position that retracts from
Wherein the pressing operation mechanism comprises:The mobile loading in the fuselage housing
The developing device disposed on the front side corresponding to the mounting position of the mounting plate;
The developing device to the first position where the developing device is positioned at the pressing position.
Guide for attaching and detaching the developing device positioned at the pressure release position
Operably configured in a second position to function as a terrace
Operating lever, the developing device and the movable mounting plate
A spring biasing the photosensitive drum.
When the working lever is positioned at the second position,
The spring force of the spring holds the operating lever in the second position.
And the operating lever is positioned at the first position.
In the retracted state, the spring force of the spring causes the operation lever to move to the first position.
Is configured to act in a direction to hold in position,  An image forming machine comprising: