JP3427292B2 - 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 specifically, a photosensitive drum provided in a machine housing and a photosensitive drum formed on the photosensitive drum. A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image,
The present invention relates to an image forming machine having a toner replenishing device for supplying toner to the developing device and a developing device used in the image forming machine.

[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 as an image carrier disposed in a machine housing is used as toner. A developing device for developing is provided. As a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image on a toner, a type using a so-called two-component developer including a carrier and a toner has been widely put into practical use. On the other hand, as for the developing device, a system in which the developing device is replaced for each unit after being operated for a predetermined time has been put into practical use. As described above, in the developing device unit of the type that uses the two-component developer, the developer cartridge containing the developer in which the carrier and the toner are mixed is mounted on the upper part of the developing housing, and is mounted on the image forming machine. When using the developer cartridge, the seal member attached to the opening of the developer cartridge is peeled off to the front side of the developing device, the developer contained in the developer cartridge is dropped into the developing housing, and the stirring means is activated. Generally, a configuration of performing aging is performed. A toner cartridge for replenishing the consumed toner is mounted on the upper part of the developing housing, and the toner cartridge and the developer cartridge are arranged in parallel with each other.

As described above, in the structure in which the developer cartridge and the toner cartridge are mounted on the upper portion of the developing housing, the capacity of the developer cartridge cannot be increased and the amount of carrier is small, so that the developer replacement interval is small. (Maintenance interval) becomes shorter. Therefore, the developing device having the above structure is often used in a low-speed type image forming machine having a relatively low copying speed. On the other hand, in a high-speed image forming machine with a high copy speed, it is necessary to increase the amount of developer in order to lengthen the replacement interval of the developer, and the capacity of the toner cartridge in order to increase the replacement interval of the toner. Tends to increase. In consideration of such demands, a developing device in which a developer cartridge having a large capacity is mounted on the upper part of the developing housing and the toner cartridge is disposed on the front side of the developing device mounting position in the machine housing is put into practical use. Has been done.

[0004]

When the toner cartridge is disposed on the front side of the developing device mounting position in the machine housing, the developing device is mounted in the developing housing in order to supply the toner from the hopper equipped with the toner cartridge to the developing housing. A toner supply unit is provided on the front side of the position, and a cover member for preventing toner scattering is detachably arranged on the upper side of the toner supply unit.
By the way, maintenance of the developing device of the image forming machine is roughly classified into user maintenance in which the user replaces the developing device as a unit and maintenance by the serviceman in which only the developer cartridge is replaced. However, at the time of user maintenance for replacing the developing device as a unit, if the cover member provided on the upper side of the toner supply section comes off, the toner attached to the toner supply section may stain the user's hand or clothes, Therefore, it is necessary to configure the cover member so that it does not come off during user maintenance. On the other hand, it is desirable to remove the cover member by a simple operation at the time of maintenance by a service person.

The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and its main technical problem is to provide a cover member disposed on the upper side of the toner supply portion when the developer cartridge is mounted in the developing housing. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming machine and a developing device used in the image forming machine, which cannot be removed, but can remove the cover member by a simple operation when the developer cartridge is removed from the developing housing.

[0006]

In order to solve the above technical problems, according to the present invention, a machine body housing, a photosensitive drum disposed in the machine body housing, and attachment / detachment to / from the machine body housing from the front side. A developing device that is movably mounted and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum into a toner image;
In an image forming machine provided with a toner replenishing device for supplying toner to the developing device, which is disposed on the front side of the mounting position of the developing device in the machine housing, a cover for covering the upper side of the developing housing constituting the developing device. On the wall, a developer cartridge mounting portion having a developer drop opening in which a developer cartridge containing a developer composed of a carrier and toner is detachably mounted, and on the front side of the developer cartridge mounting portion, A toner supply unit having a toner dropping port to which the toner is supplied by the toner replenishing device is provided, and the toner supplying unit is provided with a partition wall surrounding the toner dropping port and is formed by the partition wall. A cover member that covers the upper part of the space is detachably arranged,
The cover member is composed of a flat cover portion and an engaging portion that extends substantially at right angles from one end of the cover portion and has an engaging protrusion at the tip, and the other end of the cover portion is on the front side of the developing housing. It engages with an engaging portion formed on the front end plate attached to the end, and an engaging protrusion of the engaging portion engages with an engaging opening formed in the partition wall on the developer cartridge attaching portion side. An image forming machine is provided which is characterized in that

Further, according to the present invention, a developer cartridge containing a developer consisting of a carrier and toner is detachably mounted on a cover wall covering the upper side of the developing housing.
A developing device of an image forming machine detachably mounted to a machine housing from the front side, wherein a developer cartridge mounting device having a developer drop opening in which the developer cartridge is detachably mounted is attached to the cover wall. And a toner supply unit provided with a toner dropping port to which the toner is supplied by the toner replenishing device on the front side of the developer cartridge mounting unit. An enclosing partition wall is provided, and a cover member that covers the upper portion of the space formed by the partition wall is detachably disposed. The cover member includes a planar cover portion and one end of the cover portion. An engaging portion extending at a right angle and provided with an engaging projection at the tip, and the other end of the cover portion is engaged with a locking portion formed on a front end plate attached to the front end of the developing housing. And the engaging portion An engaging protrusion engaging opening engages which is formed on the partition wall of the developer cartridge mounting portion,
A developing device for an image forming machine is provided.
Other features of the present invention will be clarified by the following description.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of an image forming machine and a developing device used in the image forming machine according to the present invention will be described in detail below 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 body housing 2 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape. On the upper surface of the machine housing 2, a stationary transparent plate 4 on which a document to be copied is placed, and the stationary transparent plate 4
Also, an openable document pressing plate 5 for covering the document placed thereon is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, a photosensitive drum 6 is rotatably disposed in a substantially central portion of the machine body housing 2. The photosensitive drum 6 is rotationally driven in a direction indicated by an arrow 60 by a driving unit (not shown). Around the photosensitive drum 6, as viewed in the direction of rotation indicated by the arrow 60, the charging corona discharger 8, the developing device 10, the transfer corona discharger 12, the peeling corona discharger 14, and the cleaning unit 16 are sequentially arranged. And static elimination lamp 18
Is provided. The electrostatic copying machine shown in the drawing has an irradiation lamp 20, a first mirror 22, a second mirror 24, a third mirror 26, a lens 28, and a fourth mirror 30 which are arranged above the photosensitive drum 6. It is equipped with an optical system. This optical system irradiates an original placed on the stationary transparent plate 4 by an irradiation lamp 20, and the reflected light image thereof is reflected by a first mirror 22, a second mirror 24, a third mirror 26, a lens 28 and a second mirror. An 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 a transfer paper to a transfer area between the transfer corona discharger 12 and the photosensitive drum 6. The transfer paper supply device 32
Is a transfer paper cassette 34a, 34b for storing transfer paper,
Transfer paper feeding rollers 36a, 36b, and separating roller pair 38
a, 38b, guide path 40, conveying roller pairs 42 and 4
4. A pair of registration rollers 46 are provided. The above-mentioned roller pairs of the transfer paper supply device 32 configured as described above are rotationally driven by driving means (not shown).
A transfer paper transport belt mechanism 48, a fixing roller pair 52 and a discharge roller pair 54 that form a fixing device 50 are disposed on the transfer paper delivery side of the transfer area. These transport belt mechanism and each roller are shown in the drawing. Each of them is driven to rotate by a driving means that does not. As shown in FIG. 2, a front cover 2a is mounted on the front surface of the machine housing 2 in which the above-mentioned members are arranged so as to be openable and closable with its lower edge as a fulcrum.

In the electrostatic copying machine configured as described above, the charging corona discharger 8 moves the photosensitive member on the photosensitive drum 6 while the photosensitive drum 6 is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 60. The original is placed on the stationary transparent plate 4 by the irradiation lamp 20 so as to be substantially uniformly charged to a specific polarity, and the reflected light image is reflected by the first mirror 22, the second mirror 24, and the third mirror 24. The photosensitive drum 6 is scanned and exposed through the mirror 26, the lens 28 and the fourth mirror 30,
An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor drum 6. After that,
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 to the guide path 40 from the transfer paper sending roller 36a or 36b, and is stopped once by the registration roller pair 46, and the photosensitive drum 6 The toner is conveyed to the transfer area in synchronization with the toner image formed on. The toner image is transferred on the transfer paper conveyed to the transfer area by passing between the photoconductor drum 6 on which the toner image is formed and the transfer corona discharger 12. Then, the transfer paper on which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 6 by the action of the separating corona discharger 14, 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 the pair of discharge rollers 54 to the discharge tray 56. Further, the cleaning unit 16 removes the toner adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 6 that has undergone the transfer process as described above, and further, the charge removal lamp 18 irradiates the photoconductor surface with charge removal light. , The electricity is removed.

Next, the developing device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
Will be described with reference to. The illustrated developing device 10 includes a developing housing 100. The developing housing 100, which can be molded from an appropriate 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 the upper side of the developing housing 100. On the bottom wall 101 that constitutes the developing housing 100,
A partition wall 107 is integrally formed in the front-rear direction (width direction) (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 4, and the left-right direction in FIG. 5). The path 100b is sectioned. The partition wall 107 is projected substantially vertically from the bottom wall 101 of the developing housing 100.
Both side surfaces of the lower end portion are formed in a concave arc shape. Developer transfer ports 107a and 107b are provided at both ends of the partition wall 107 in the front-rear direction (width direction), and the first transfer path 100a and the second transfer 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. It should be noted that the rear end portion of the guide groove 101a (right end portion in FIG. 5)
A guide portion 101b is formed on the side of the guide portion 101b so as to spread on both sides in the horizontal direction. A spike cutting plate 108 is attached to the free end side of the cover wall 105 of the developing housing 100 with screws 108a. The lower edge of the spike cutting plate 108 is positioned close to the peripheral surface of the sleeve member 111 of the developer applying unit 110 described later, and is held on the peripheral surface of the sleeve member 111 and conveyed to the developing area. It functions as a so-called brush cutting means for controlling the amount of the developing agent. Also, the cover wall 1
An ear cutting cover 106 is attached to the upper surface of 05.
As shown in FIG. 4, the ear cutting cover 106 has a cover portion 1
06a and mounting portion 106b, and is formed by bending a plate material such as an aluminum alloy. Ear cutting cover 1
As shown in FIG. 3, a tongue piece portion 106c is provided at the center of the end portion of the mounting portion 106b that constitutes 06.
The ear cutting cover 106 configured as described above is used for the mounting unit 1.
06b is covered by screws 106e and 106e.
It is attached to the upper surface of No. 5. The ear cutting cover 106
A sheet-shaped sealing member 109 is attached to the free end of the sheet. The sheet-shaped seal member 109 is made of a flexible sheet member such as polyethylene terephthalate (PETP) resin, and is attached to the free end portion of the ear cutting cover 106 with an adhesive, and the free end thereof is It is in light contact with 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 made of synthetic resin and has a handle 1 at the center of its lower end.
46 is integrally molded (see FIGS. 3 and 7).

A developer applying means 110 is disposed at the forefront portion (leftmost portion in FIG. 4) of the developing housing 10. The developer applying means 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 inside 11. 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. The rotary shaft 113 to which the sleeve member 111 is fixed penetrates the rear end wall 104 of the developing housing 100 and projects rearward, and an input gear 114 is attached to the projecting end portion. 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, and the arrow 1
It is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by 15.

A developer agitating and conveying means 120 is disposed behind the developer applying means 110 (on the right side in FIG. 4). In the illustrated embodiment, the developer agitating / conveying means 120 is a first means arranged on the first conveying path 100a.
Spiral roller 121 and the second transport path 100
The second spiral roller 122 disposed in b, the second spiral roller 122, and the developer applying unit 11
It includes a paddle roller 123 disposed between the paddle roller 123 and the zero. The rotary shafts of the first spiral roller 121, the second spiral roller 122, and the paddle roller 123 penetrate the rear end wall 104 of the developing housing 100 and project rearward, and the projecting end portion thereof is illustrated. Each input gear is mounted, and the input gear is transmission-coupled to the input gear 114 of the developer applying unit 110,
Each of them is driven to rotate in the directions shown by the arrows. The first spiral roller 121 which is rotationally driven in the direction shown by the arrow.
Conveys the developer from the front side to the back side (from the left side to the right side in FIG. 5) while stirring, and the second spiral roller 122
Conveys the developer from the back side to the front side (from the right side to the left side in FIG. 5) while stirring. The paddle roller 123 sends the developer to the developer applying unit 110 while stirring the developer.

As shown in FIG. 6, a developer dropping opening 105a is provided at a position of the cover wall 105 constituting the developing housing 10 which is opposed to above the first spiral roller 121 and the second spiral roller 122. A developer cartridge mounting portion is provided, and a toner supply portion 130 is provided at a position facing above the first spiral roller 121 on the front side of the developer drop opening 105a. As shown in FIG. 3, the toner supply unit 130 includes partition walls 131, 132 and 133 formed upright on the cover wall 105 and a front end plate 145 attached to the front end of the developing housing 10. A space 134 surrounded by and is provided. In this space 134, a toner supply chamber 138 is provided which is surrounded by the partition walls 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 105b is formed at the front end portion of the cover wall 105 forming 38. In the toner supply chamber 138, the toner drop opening 10 is provided.
A column-shaped on-off valve 139 for opening and closing 5b is provided. A coil spring 140 is disposed between the opening / closing valve 139 and the partition wall 135, and the opening / closing valve 139 is biased toward the front end plate 145 by the spring force of the coil spring 140. An opening 145a having a diameter smaller than that of the opening / closing valve 139 is formed in the front end plate 145 at a position facing the opening / closing valve 139.
In addition, a seal having an inclined surface that is inclined from the lower end of the partition wall 131 that forms the space 134 to the upper end of the partition wall 135 that forms the toner supply chamber 138 is formed in the space 134 that constitutes the toner supply unit 130. A peeling guide member 141 is provided. The toner supply unit 13 is
As shown in FIG. 7, the partition wall 131 on the developer cartridge mounting portion side that forms a space 134 of 0 has a seal insertion opening 131a at its lower end and a locking opening 131b at its middle portion. It is provided. Further, the partition wall 13 that forms the space 134 of the toner supply unit 130.
2 and 133 have a stepped portion 1 on the inside thereof, respectively.
32a and 133a are provided.

Space 1 constituting the toner supply unit 130
A cover member 142 is removably disposed on the upper side of 34. A cover member 142 integrally formed of synthetic resin
Is composed of a flat cover portion 143 and an engaging portion 144 extending substantially at right angles from one end of the cover portion 143, and an engaging protrusion 144a is provided at the tip of the engaging portion 144.
To mount the cover member 142 configured as described above on the toner supply portion 130, the other end portion of the cover portion 143 is inserted and engaged with the locking portion 145b provided on the front end plate 145, and then engaged. When the portion 144 is pushed downward along the wall surface on the front side of the partition wall 131, the engaging portion 144 is elastically deformed and descends, and the engaging protrusion 144a engages with the locking opening 131b provided in the partition wall 131. Put together. At this time, the lower surfaces on both sides of the cover member 142 are separated by the partition walls 132 and 133.
It abuts on the step portions 132a and 133a provided on the. When the cover member 142 attached to the toner supply unit 130 is removed in this manner, a driver, for example, is inserted into the locking opening 131b from the inner side of the partition wall 131 with the developer cartridge described later removed. When the engaging protrusion 144a is pushed, the engaging portion 144 is elastically deformed to disengage from the engagement opening 131b, and in this state, the engaging portion 144 is lifted upward and moved to the inner side, whereby the cover portion 143 Locking part 1 provided at the other end on the front end wall 103
It can be extracted from 03b.

The developer cartridge 1 is installed in the developer cartridge mounting portion provided with the developer dropping opening 105b in the cover wall 105 constituting the developing housing 10.
50 is detachably attached and fixed by an appropriate fixing means. The developer cartridge 150 includes a cartridge body 151 containing a developer 155 in which carrier and toner are mixed at a predetermined ratio, and the cartridge body 15
1 and a seal member 152 that covers the opening formed on the lower side and is detachably mounted by welding or adhesive. The seal member 152 is formed of an appropriate flexible synthetic resin film such as a nylon film, one end of which is attached to the front end of the cartridge body 151 and the other end of the cartridge body 151. It is folded back and the other end is disposed on the seal peeling guide member 141 through the seal insertion port 131a formed at the lower end of the partition wall 131. The other end of the seal member 141 passes above the space 134 that constitutes the toner supply unit 130 and passes through the front end plate 14.
5 is positioned on the front side of the machine body housing through a seal insertion port 145c provided in the No. 5 unit. When the developer cartridge 150 is attached to the developing housing 10, the cover member 142 is removed, the developer cartridge 150 is attached, and the seal member 152 passes above the seal peeling guide member 141 to pass through the front end. Board 145
The cover member 142 is mounted after being positioned on the front side of the machine body housing through the seal insertion port 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 the carrying of the developing device 10, in the illustrated embodiment, a handle structure is provided on the upper surface of the cover wall 105 that constitutes the developing housing 10 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8. The handle structure includes a handle 160 composed of a flexible synthetic resin belt. This handle 160 has elongated holes 160 at both ends.
a, an elongated hole 160a is provided, and the elongated hole 160a,
It is attached to the cover wall 105 by screws 161 and 161 as mounting members which are arranged through the elongated holes 160a. The screws 161 and 161 are provided with stepped portions 161a and 161a thicker than the thickness of the handle 160,
Therefore, the handle 160 can be moved within the range of the long hole 160a and the long hole 160a. At this time, the tongue piece portion 106c provided on the mounting portion 106b constituting the ear cutting cover 106 is inserted between the two screws under the handle 160 and is attached. Since the tongue piece portion 106c is interposed between the handle 160 and the cover wall 105, the tongue piece portion 106c is formed.
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. Due to this gap 162, the handle 160 and the tongue piece 1
It becomes easy to put the tip of a finger between the handle 160 and 06c, and the handle 160 becomes easy to hold. In the illustrated embodiment,
The member interposed between the handle 160 and the cover wall 105 is a panning cover 106 which is a component of the developing device 10.
Since it is composed of a part of the above, it is not necessary to separately provide a member for forming the above-mentioned gap, so that an inexpensive handle structure can be obtained.

Next, the developing device 10 mounted on the machine housing 2 is pushed to a position where it is close to the photosensitive drum 6, and
A pressing operation mechanism for operating the pressing release position retracting from the pressing position will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12. A front side plate 200 and a rear side plate 201 are arranged in parallel with each other in the machine body housing 2. A fixing plate 203 is attached between the front side plate 200 and the back side plate 201 by a fixing means such as a screw 204. Below the fixed plate 203, two actuating plates 205, 205 are rotatably supported by supporting 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 attached to the operation plates 205, 205 so as to project upward, respectively, and are arranged so as to penetrate through the openings 203a, 203a formed in the fixed plate 203. Further, spring locking portions 205a and 205a are respectively formed by bending on the two actuating plates 205 and 205, and tension coil springs 208 and 208 serving as pressing spring means are respectively formed on the spring locking portions 205a and 205a. One end is locked. The other ends of the tension coil springs 208, 208 are locked to the support brackets 209, 209 attached to the lower surface of the fixed plate 203, respectively, and the actuating plates 20 respectively.
5, 205 are urged to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 9 about the support shafts 206, 206.

An operating rod 210 is arranged below the two operating plates 205, 205. This operating rod 210 has elongated holes 210a, 21 elongated in the longitudinal direction (front-back direction).
0a is formed. The operating rod 210 is movably supported in the front-rear direction by the support pins 212, 212 fixed to the brackets 211, 211 attached to the fixed plate 203 through the long holes 210a, 210a. The operating plate 210 is attached to the operating rod 210.
Elongated elongated holes 210b and 210b are formed at positions respectively corresponding to 205 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (front-back direction), and the operation plates 205 and 2 are formed in the elongated holes 210b and 210b.
Support shafts 206, 206 and the spring locking portion 205 in 05.
a, 205a attached to the working pin 21 at an intermediate position
5, 215 are configured to be inserted therethrough. Therefore,
When the operating rod 210 is operated in the direction indicated by the arrow 213 in FIG. 9, the operating plate 20 is moved through the action pins 215 and 215.
5, 205 are rotated clockwise about the support shafts 206, 206, and the operating rod 210 is operated in the direction indicated by arrow 214 in FIG.
5, the working plates 205, 205 are connected to the support shaft 20
It is made to rotate counterclockwise in FIG.

Next, a pressing operation mechanism for operating the operation rod 210 to the arrows 213 and 214 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. A pair of L-shaped support brackets 230, 230 at the position corresponding to the operating rod 210 on the front side surface of the front side plate 200 arranged in the body housing 2 are screws 204, 204 to which the fixing plate 203 is attached. Are fastened together. On the support brackets 230, 230, a support pin 231 that rotatably supports a pressing lever described later is horizontally arranged. Further, the support brackets 230, 230 are formed with arc-shaped elongated holes 230a extending at an angle of about 90 degrees with the support pin 231 as the center. The pressing lever 240 is attached to the support brackets 230, 230 configured as described above. The pressing lever 240 includes a lever portion 241 and a mounting portion 242, and is integrally molded of synthetic resin. The mounting portion 242 of the pressing lever 240 is rotatably mounted by the support pin 231 mounted on the support rackets 230, 230. A guide pin 243 is provided in the mounting portion 242 of the pressing lever 240, and the guide pin 243 is configured to fit into the arc-shaped elongated hole 230a formed in the support portion rackets 230, 230. . Therefore, when the pressing lever 240 rotates about the support pin 231, the guide pin 243 moves along the arc-shaped elongated hole 230a. Since the arc-shaped elongated hole 230a is formed over an angle of approximately 90 degrees as described above, the guide pin 243 can move in an angular range of approximately 90 degrees, and thus the pressing lever 240 can move approximately 90 degrees. It can rotate in an angular range. That is, in the illustrated embodiment, the pressing lever 240 can rotate in the range between the first position in the vertical state shown in FIG. 10 and the second position in the horizontal state shown in FIG. The pressing lever 240 configured as described above is connected to the operating rod 210 via the connecting link 245. That is, the connection link 24
5 has one end of the pressing lever 24 by the guide pin 243.
No. 0 mounting portion 242, and the other end of the connecting link 245 is connected to one end of the operating rod 210 by a connecting pin 246.

The pressing lever 240, which constitutes the pressing operation mechanism in the illustrated embodiment, is constructed as described above, and the positional relationship between the support pin 231, the guide pin 243 and the connecting pin 246 will be described below. In the state where the pressing lever 240 is positioned at the second position in the horizontal state as shown in FIG. 11, the guide pin 243 is positioned above the line connecting the connecting pin 246 and the support pin 231. Therefore, the tension coil spring 20
The force of actuating the actuating rod 210 in the direction indicated by the arrow 214 via the actuating plates 205, 205 and the action pins 215, 215 by the spring force of 8, 208 is guided via the connecting pin 246 and the connecting link 245. Pin 243
11, the pressing lever 240 positioned at the second position as shown in FIG. 11 receives a force to rotate it counterclockwise in FIG. 11 about the support pin 231. The pressing lever 240 is maintained in the horizontal state shown in FIG. 11, that is, in the second position. On the other hand, in the state where the pressing lever 240 is positioned at the first position which is the vertical state as shown in FIG. 10, the guide pin 243 is
Are positioned below the line connecting the connecting pin 246 and the support pin 231. Accordingly, the force acting on the operating rod 210 in the direction indicated by the arrow 214 is applied to the pressing lever 240 positioned at the first position as shown in FIG. 10 via the connecting pin 246, the connecting link 245 and the guide pin 243.
Since it acts so as to rotate clockwise about the pin 231 in FIG.
The vertical state shown in 0, that is, the first position is maintained. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the push lever 240
In the state of being positioned at the first position and the second position, since the respective states are maintained by the spring forces of the tension coil springs 208, 208, the state is stable without being rattled by vibration or the like.

On the upper side of the fixed plate 203, the movable mounting plate 2 is provided.
20 are provided. As shown in FIG. 12, the movable mounting plate 220 is provided with a mounting portion 221 and a first portion that is provided so as to project from the front end of the mounting portion 221 and is bent downward.
Guide portions 222, 222, a second guide portion 223 bent upward from the rear end portion of the mounting portion 221, and a rear wall bent upward from the rear end portion of the mounting portion 221. The unit 224 is provided. The mounting portion 221 that constitutes the movable mounting plate 220 is formed with two elongated holes 221a and 221a into which the operation pins 207 and 207 are fitted. In addition, a guide rail 221b extending in the width direction is provided at 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 guide slots 222 are formed in the first guide portions 222 and 222 that form the movable mounting plate 220.
22a and 222a are formed. Moving mounting plate 220
In the second guide portion 223 that constitutes the
26 and 226 are mounted so as to project outward, and two positioning pins 227 and 227 are mounted so as to project inward. A guide rail 224b extending in the width direction is provided at the upper edge of the rear wall portion 224 that constitutes the movable mounting plate 220. In the movable mounting plate 220 configured as described above, the first guide portions 222 and 222 are mounted on the upper end of the front side plate 200, and the second guide portion 223 is provided.
The guide pins 226 and 226 attached to are fitted in the long holes 201a formed in the back side plate 201 and the long holes 201a, and are supported in a horizontal state. In this state, the first
Guide slots 222 formed in the guide portions 222, 222 of the
Guide pins 228 attached to the front side plate 200 are fitted to the a and 222a, respectively. In addition, the movable mounting plate 2
Slotted holes 221 formed in the mounting portion 221 constituting the 20.
The operation pins 207, 207 are fitted in the a and 221a. The developing device 10 is detachably 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 front side of the mounting portion 221, and pushed inward. At this time, the developing housing 100
The developing device 10 is slid inward while the guide groove 101a provided in the bottom wall 101 is fitted 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 of the movable mounting plate 220 are provided on the rear end wall of the developing device 10. The developing device 10 is mounted at a predetermined position on the movable mounting plate 220 by fitting a positioning hole (not shown).

Next, the movable mounting plate 220 movably arranged at a predetermined position of the machine housing 2 and the pressing lever 2
The positional relationship of 40 will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, in the state where the pressing lever 240 is positioned at the first position which is the vertical state, a part thereof (the lever portion 241 in the illustrated embodiment) is the upper surface of the moving mounting plate 220 ( It is located above the mounting surface). Therefore, in the state where the pressing lever 240 is positioned at the first position, the developing device 10 cannot be attached / detached to / from the moving mounting plate 220. And in the illustrated embodiment, the pressing lever 2
In the state in which 40 is positioned at the first position, the lever portion 241 of the pressing lever 240 is provided on the front end plate 145 that constitutes the front end of the developing device 10 mounted on the movable mounting plate 220. The handle 146 is positioned so as to face the handle 146. Therefore, when the pressing lever 240 is located at the first position, the grip 146 used when the developing device 10 is pulled out from the machine housing 2 cannot be gripped. In addition, as shown in FIG.
0 is positioned at substantially the same height as the upper surface (mounting surface) of the moving mounting plate 220 in the state of being positioned at the second position which is the horizontal state. Therefore, when the pressing lever 240 is positioned at the second position, the movable mounting plate 220 is
The developing device 10 can be attached to and detached from the pressing lever 24.
0 functions as a guide terrace when the developing device 10 is attached or detached. The pressing lever 240 positioned in the second position, which functions as a guide terrace, is urged to be held in the second position by the tension coil springs 208, 208 as described above, so that the pressing lever 240 rattles. It is stable without any trouble, and the attaching / detaching operation of the developing device 10 is simple and easy.

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. The toner replenishing device 300 is arranged on the front side (left side in FIGS. 5, 6, and 13) of the front side plate 200 provided in the machine housing 2. The toner replenishing device 300 in the illustrated embodiment includes a toner cartridge 310 and a hopper 33 to which the toner cartridge 310 is detachably mounted.
0, a hopper support housing 350 for accommodating and supporting the hopper 330, and an opening / closing support means 380 for rotatably supporting the hopper support housing 350 on the machine body housing 2 in a horizontal plane.

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

The hopper 330 is the hopper body 33.
1, a toner cartridge mounting portion 332 provided above the hopper body 331 and detachably mounting the toner cartridge 310, and a toner transporting unit disposed below the hopper body 331 and transporting toner to the developing device 10. 333 is provided. The toner conveying means 333 is
A spiral roller 334 disposed so as to horizontally project from a lower portion of the hopper body 331; and the spiral roller 33.
4 is provided with a guide tube 335 fitted to the protruding portion. A toner discharge port 335a is provided on the lower side of the tip of the guide cylinder 335.
Are formed. An input gear 336, which is drivingly connected to a driving unit described later, is mounted on a rotary shaft 334a of the spiral roller 334 which constitutes 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 in the central portion 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. Inside the hopper support housing 350, the spiral roller 33 is
Drive means 360 for rotating and driving 4 is provided. The drive means 360 includes an electric motor 361 and a drive gear 362 mounted on the rotating shaft of the electric motor 361.
And a first intermediate gear 363 that meshes with the drive gear 362.
And a second intermediate gear 3 that meshes with the first intermediate gear 363 and the input gear 336 of the spiral roller 334.
And 64.

The open / close support means 380 is provided on the front side plate 200 and the rear side plate 20 disposed in the body housing 2.
2, a support member 382 mounted by fixing means 381 such as bolts and nuts, and a fixing means 383 such as bolts and nuts disposed on the upper side of the supporting member 382 and attached to the rear plate 202.
The opening / closing guide member 384 is attached by.
The support member 382 is provided with a linear first guide hole 382a elongated in the front-rear direction of the machine housing (left-right direction in FIGS. 5 and 14). The opening / closing guide member 384 has a first member provided on the support member 382.
Straight portion 384b formed in parallel with the guide hole 382a of
And the front end of the linear portion 384b (see FIGS. 5 and 14).
Arc portion 384c formed continuously with the left end)
A second guide hole 384a having and is provided. Explaining the relationship between the second guide hole 384a and the first guide hole 382a, the length of the straight line portion 384b forming the second guide hole 384a is the same as the length of the first guide hole 382a. The arcuate portion 384c forming the second guide hole 384a has a straight portion 384b forming the first guide hole 382a and the second guide hole 384a with the front end of the first guide hole 382a as the center. It is configured as an arc extending over an angle of approximately 90 degrees with a distance dimension between and as a radius.

In the first guide hole 382a, the first guide pin 38 mounted on the support plate 385 mounted on the bottom wall 351 which constitutes the hopper support housing 350.
6 is movably fitted to the second guide hole 382a, and the second guide pin 387 is attached to the upper end of the hopper support housing 350 and is attached to the attachment plate 356.
Are movably fitted. Then, the first guide pin 38
6 and the second guide pin 387 are respectively the first guide hole 382a and the second guide hole 38 when the toner replenishing device 300 is positioned at the operating position shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 13.
It is arranged so as to be located at the rear end portion of the straight line portion 384b that constitutes 4a. Therefore, when the toner replenishing device 300 is pulled toward the front side (the left side in FIGS. 5, 6, and 14) from the operating position, the first guide pin 386 and the second guide pin 387 form the first guide hole 382a. Second guide hole 3
The toner replenishing device 300 is moved from this state along the straight line portions 384b forming the 84a to the front end portions thereof.
When is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 14 about the first guide pin 386, the second guide pin 387 moves along the arcuate portion 384c forming the second guide hole 384a, and as shown in FIG. At the open position, which is moved by an angle of about 90 degrees, it comes into contact with the end of the arc portion 384c and its movement is restricted. As described above, the hopper 330 that constitutes the toner replenishing device 300 can rotate in the horizontal plane at the rotation position after moving from the operating position to the front side of the machine housing 2 by a predetermined distance. In addition, in a state where the hopper 330 is positioned at the working position, the toner conveying means 33
As shown in FIG. 6, the leading end of the sheet 3 is positioned in the toner supply chamber 138 by pushing away the on-off valve 139 arranged in the toner supply chamber 138 of the toner supply unit 130 of the developing device 10.

The image forming machine constructed according to the present invention is constructed as described above, and its operation will be described below. In order to replace the developing device 10, the front cover 2a attached to the front surface of the machine housing 2 is opened as shown in FIG. 2, and then the hopper 330 constituting the toner replenishing device 300 is opened as shown in 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 operating position shown in FIG. 13 to the front side of the machine housing 2, the toner conveying unit 33 is moved.
The leading end of the sheet 3 comes out of the toner supply unit 130 of the developing device 10. Therefore, it is possible to rotate the leading end portion of the toner conveying unit 333 without interfering with the developing device 10. After the toner replenishing device 300 is pulled out to the front side of the machine housing 2 by a predetermined distance, when the toner replenishing device 300 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 13 about the first guide pin 386, the second guide pin 387 makes a second guide. The arcuate portion 384 is moved to the arcuate portion 384c forming the hole 384a and moved 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 pressing 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, with the support pin 231 as the center (FIG. 1).
At 0, the guide pin 243 moves along the arc-shaped elongated hole 230a when it rotates counterclockwise about the support pin 231 and when it rotates about 90 degrees, the guide pin 243 moves.
Comes into contact with the end portion of the arc-shaped elongated hole 230a to be in the horizontal position which is the second position shown in FIG. When the pressing 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 arranged in the machine housing 2 is opened. On the other hand, the pressing lever 24
0 to the second position, the operating rod 21 is moved through 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. The operating rod 210 is shown in FIGS.
1 in the direction indicated by the arrow 213, the actuating plates 205, 205 move through the action pins 215, 215 to the support shaft 2
It is rotated clockwise in FIG. 9 about 06 and 206. As a result, the operation pins 207, 207 mounted on the operation plates 205, 205 are attached to the support shafts 206, 206.
9, the developing device includes a movable mounting plate 220 in which the operation pins 207, 207, the elongated holes 221a, 221a, and the guide groove 101a are fitted, and the developing housing 100. 10 is shown in FIG.
Then, the developing device 10 is moved to the right in FIG. 9, and the developing device 10 is retracted from the photoconductor drum 2 and is positioned at the pressing release position (detachment position).

In this state, the developing device 10 is attached to the front end plate 14
When the handle 146 provided at 5 is grasped and pulled out to the front side, it can be pulled out to the front side of the machine body housing 2 by being guided by the pressing lever 240 positioned at the second position in the horizontal state. When the developing device 10 is pulled out from the developing housing 100, the cover wall 10 forming the machine housing 2 of the developing device 10 is pulled out to some extent.
5, the handle 160 mounted on the upper surface and the tongue portion 106c
The tip of a finger can be put in a space 162 formed between the developing device 10 and the developing device 10 with the grip 160. As described above, unless the pressing lever 240 is positioned at the second position in the horizontal state shown in FIG. 11, the front side of the developing device 10 in the front side plate 200 arranged in the machine housing 2 is not opened. Since the device 10 does not appear, the developing device 10 cannot be pulled out unless the pressing lever 240 is positioned at the second position to release the pressing of the developing device 10 toward the photosensitive drum 2.
Therefore, when the developing device 10 is pulled out, the sleeve member 1 constituting the developer applying means 110 of the developing device 10 is surely formed.
Since 11 and the photoconductor drum 2 are separated from each other, it is possible to prevent the photoconductor drum 2 and the sleeve member 111 from rubbing and damaging the photoconductor drum 2 and the sleeve member 111.

When the used developing device 10 mounted on 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 arranged in the machine housing 2. The developing device 10 is placed on the mounting portion 22.
1 is placed on the front side of the mounting portion 221 while the pressing lever 240 is maintained at the second horizontal position 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 connected to the operation pins 207, 20.
The developing device 10 is slid inward while being fitted in 7. 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 of the movable mounting plate 220 are provided on the rear end wall of the developing device 10. The positioning hole (not shown) is fitted,
The developing device 10 is mounted at a predetermined position on the movable mounting plate 220.

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

Next, when the toner replenishing device 300 is rotated clockwise from the open position around the first guide pin 386 in FIG. 14, the second guide pin 387 forms an arc of the second guide hole 384a. The second guide hole 384 is moved at a position moved along the portion 384c by an angle of about 90 degrees.
The rotation is restricted by coming into contact with the straight line portion 382b forming a. From this state, when the toner replenishing device 300 is pushed inward, the first guide pin 386 and the second guide pin 38 are
7 is a first guide hole 382a and a second guide hole 384a.
Is moved to the back side along the straight line portion 384b constituting the above, and is positioned at the operating 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 working position, the opening / closing valve 139 arranged in the toner supply chamber 138 of the toner supply unit 130 of the developing device 10 is applied to the force of the coil spring 140 by the tip portion of the toner conveying means 333. It is positioned in the toner supply chamber 138, which is pushed back against the toner. When the toner replenishing device 300 is positioned at the operating position, the toner replenishing device 300 interferes with the pressing lever 240 and is positioned at the operating position unless the pressing lever 240 is positioned at the first position which is the vertical state shown in FIG. Therefore, it is possible to prevent forgetting to position the developing device 10 at the pressing position for pressing the developing device 10 toward the photosensitive drum 2. In this way, the toner replenishing device 3
00 is in the working position, the fuselage housing 2
As shown in FIG. 2, the front cover 2a attached to the front surface of the front panel is rotated from the opened state to the upper side to be closed, so that the copying state is again established.

Next, an operation of replacing only the developer cartridge 150 will be described. After the developing device 10 is pulled out from the machine housing 2 as described above, the developer cartridge 150 mounted on the cover wall 105 that constitutes the developing housing 10 is removed. Then, for example, when a driver is inserted into the locking opening 131b from the inner side of the partition wall 131 that constitutes the toner supply unit 130 and the engaging protrusion 144a of the cover member 142 is pushed, the engaging portion 144 is elastically deformed and the locking opening 131b. Is disengaged, and in this state, the cover part 144 of the cover member 142 is lifted upward and moved to the back side, whereby the other end of the cover part 143 is released from the locking part 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 which constitutes the developing housing 100.
50 is attached by an appropriate fixing means. Then, the other end of the seal member 152 attached to the bottom surface of the bottom wall of the cartridge body 151 is attached to the seal insertion port 131a formed at the lower end of the partition wall 131, the seal peeling guide member 141, and the toner supply unit 130. Space 13
4 through the upper side of the No. 4 and through the seal insertion port 145c provided in the front end plate 145, and is positioned on the front side of the machine housing. Then, 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 replaced by the same developer as the replacement of the developing device 10. 1
0 is attached to the developing housing 2, and the seal member 152
The other end of is pulled to peel off the seal member 152. Then, after the toner replenishing device 300 is positioned at the working position, the front cover 2a attached to the front surface of the machine body housing 2
As shown in FIG. 2, the copy is ready again by rotating the cover from the open state to the upper side and closing it. The replacement work of the developer cartridge 150 has been described above.
The replacement work of the developer cartridge 150 is performed by a service person, not the user. The cover member 142, which covers the upper side of the toner supply portion through which the seal member 152 passes when the seal member 152 is peeled off, is a developer cartridge mounted at a predetermined position on the cover wall 105 constituting the developing housing 100 as described above. I have to remove 150
Since a screwdriver or the like cannot be inserted into the locking opening 131b, the cover member 142 does not come off during replacement of the developing device 2 which is replaced with the developer cartridge 150. Therefore, since a general user cannot remove the cover member 142 which may become dirty, the cover member 1 can be replaced when the developing device 2 is replaced.
Contamination caused by the detachment of 42 is prevented in advance.

[0039]

Since the image forming machine and the developing device used in the image forming machine according to the present invention are configured as described above, the following operational effects are exhibited.

That is, according to the present invention, a developer cartridge mounting portion having a developer dropping opening to which a developer cartridge is removably mounted is provided on a cover wall covering the upper side of the developing housing, and the developer cartridge mounting portion. A toner supply unit having a toner dropping port to which the toner is supplied by the toner replenishing device is provided on the front side of the section, and a partition wall surrounding the toner dropping port is provided in the toner supply unit. A cover member that covers the upper portion of the space formed by is detachably disposed, and the cover member includes a flat cover portion and an engaging protrusion that extends substantially at right angles from one end of the cover portion and is provided at the tip. The other end of the cover portion is engaged with a locking portion formed on a front end plate attached to the front end of the developing housing, and the engaging protrusion of the engaging portion is used as a developer cartridge. Wearing Since it is configured to engage with the locking opening formed in the partition wall on the side, the developer cartridge interferes with the engagement when the developer cartridge mounted on the cover wall of the developing housing is not removed. It is impossible to release the engagement between the engagement protrusion of the portion and the locking opening formed in the partition wall. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from being contaminated by mistakenly removing the cover member when replacing the developing device. Also, when replacing the developer cartridge, by removing the developer cartridge mounted on the cover wall of the developing housing, for example, a screwdriver is inserted from the inner side of the partition wall into the locking opening and the engaging protrusion is pushed. Elastically deforms to disengage from the locking opening, so that the cover member can be easily removed. As described above, in the present invention, since a fastening member such as a screw is not used for mounting the cover member, the work of attaching and detaching the cover member is easy and the number of parts is reduced,
Management becomes easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming machine configured according to the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a developing device mounted on the image forming apparatus of FIG.

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, and a diagram showing a relationship with a photosensitive drum.

5 is a plan view of a developing device and a toner replenishing device which are mounted on the image forming machine of FIG.

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

7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway front view showing a mounting state of a handle mounted on the developing device of FIG.

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

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a pressed state of the developing device pressing means of FIG. 9 with a part thereof broken away.

11 is a side view showing a released state of the developing device pressing means of FIG.

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

FIG. 13 is a front view showing the toner supply device shown in FIG.

14 is a plan view showing a state in which a hopper that constitutes the toner replenishing device of FIG. 5 is operated in an open position.

[Explanation of symbols]

2: Airframe housing 2a: Front cover 4: stationary transparent plate 5: Document holding plate 6: Photoconductor drum 8: Corona discharger for charging 10: Developing device 12: Transfer corona discharger 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 feeding roller 38a, 38b: Pair of separating rollers 40: Guideway 42, 44: Pair of transport rollers 46: Pair of registration rollers 48: Transfer paper transport belt mechanism 50: Fixing device 52: fixing roller pair 54: discharge roller pair 100: Development housing 101: bottom wall 101a: guide groove 105: cover wall 105a: developer drop opening 105b: Toner drop opening 110: developer applying means 120: developer agitating and conveying means 121: First spiral roller 122: Second spiral roller 123: Paddle roller 130: Toner supply unit 138: Toner supply chamber 139: Open / close valve 140: coil spring 141: Seal peeling guide member 142: Cover member 145: Front end plate 150: developer cartridge 151: Cartridge body 152: Seal member 160: Handle 200: Front side plate 201: Back side plate 203: Fixed plate 205: Actuation plate 206: Spindle 207: Actuating pin 208: tension coil spring 210: Operating rod 220: Moving plate 240: Push lever 245: Connection link 300: Toner supply device 310: Toner Cartridge 330: Hopper 331: hopper body 332: Toner cartridge mounting part 333: toner conveying means 334: Spiral roller 335: Guide tube 350: Hopper support housing 360: drive 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

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-61-93469 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/08 112 G03G 15/08 506 G03G 15/00 550

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. An airframe housing, and the airframe housing
Disposed photosensitive drum and front side of the machine housing
Mounted on the photoconductor drum detachably from the
A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image into a toner image, and the device housing
Disposed on the front side of the mounting position of the developing device
A toner replenishing device for supplying toner to the developing device
Image forming machineA cover for covering the upper side of the developing housing constituting the developing device.
-The wall contains a developer containing carrier and toner.
The developer cartridge is detachably attached.
A developer cartridge mounting portion having a lower opening, and the developer
The toner replenishing device is placed on the front side of the cartridge mounting portion.
Toner supply with a toner drop port
There is a feeding section, The tonerSupplyIn the part, a partition wall surrounding the toner drop opening is provided.
The upper part of the space provided by the partition wall
A cover member for covering is detachably arranged, The cover member includes a flat cover portion and one of the cover portion.
An engaging part that extends from the end at a substantially right angle and has an engaging protrusion at the tip
And the other end of the cover portion on the front side of the developing housing.
Engages with the locking part formed on the front end plate attached to the end
The engaging protrusion of the engaging portion is connected to the developer cartridge mounting portion.
Engages with a locking opening formed in the partition wall on the side, An image forming machine characterized by the above. 2. A seal insertion port is provided at a lower end portion of the partition wall on the developer cartridge mounting portion side, and a seal member attached to an opening of the developer cartridge is a lower end portion of the partition wall. The image forming machine according to claim 1, wherein the image forming machine is disposed through the seal insertion opening formed in the front end plate after passing through the space formed by the partition wall through the seal insertion opening provided in. 3. A seal peeling guide member is disposed in a space formed by the partition wall, and the seal member passes through the seal insertion port provided at the lower end of the partition wall to peel the seal. The image forming machine according to claim 2, wherein the image forming machine passes through an upper side of the guide member and is disposed through a seal insertion opening formed in the front end plate. 4.On the cover wall that covers the upper side of the development housing
Carrier and toner A developer cartridge containing a developer consisting of
Attach the removable ridge to the front of the machine housing.
A developing device of an image forming machine that is detachably mounted from the side
I mean The developer cartridge is detachably mounted on the cover wall.
A developer cartridge device with a developer drop opening
And the toner cartridge on the front side of the developer cartridge mounting portion.
Toner supply port to which toner is supplied by the toner replenishing device
Is provided with a toner supply unit, The toner supply section has a partition wall surrounding the toner drop opening.
The upper part of the space provided by the partition wall
A cover member for covering is detachably arranged, The cover member includes a flat cover portion and one of the cover portion.
An engaging part that extends from the end at a substantially right angle and has an engaging protrusion at the tip
And the other end of the cover portion on the front side of the developing housing.
Engages with the locking part formed on the front end plate attached to the end
The engaging protrusion of the engaging portion is connected to the developer cartridge mounting portion.
Engages with a locking opening formed in the partition wall on the side, A developing device for an image forming machine, characterized in that 5. A seal insertion port is provided at a lower end portion of the partition wall on the developer cartridge mounting portion side, and a seal member attached to an opening of the developer cartridge is a lower end portion of the partition wall. 5. The developing device for an image forming machine according to claim 4, wherein the developing device is provided in the image forming machine according to claim 4, passing through a space formed by the partition wall through the seal insertion port provided in the front end plate. apparatus. 6. A seal peeling guide member is disposed in a space formed by the partition wall, and the seal member passes through the seal insertion port provided at the lower end of the partition wall to peel the seal. 6. The developing device for an image forming machine according to claim 5, wherein the developing device is arranged so as to pass through the upper side of the guide member and through a seal insertion port formed in the front end plate.