JP3448803B2 - Electrostatic latent image developing device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrostatic latent image developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image into a toner image in an image forming machine such as an electrostatic copying machine or a laser printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, in order to develop an electrostatic latent image in an image forming machine, an electrostatic latent image developing apparatus in which a developer composed of toner and carrier particles or a developer composed of magnetic toner is used. Is widely used in practice. This electrostatic latent image developing device includes a developing housing for containing a developer, a developer applying unit for applying the developer in the developing housing to the electrostatic latent image, and an outer peripheral surface of the developer applying unit. And a spiker plate which is disposed in parallel with the developer applying means with a predetermined gap and regulates the developer held on the outer peripheral surface of the developer applying means to a predetermined thickness. The developing housing has a bottom wall, both side walls formed upright from both sides of the bottom wall, and an upper wall formed between upper surfaces of the both side walls to form an electrostatic latent image. The front side facing the photosensitive drum is open. Mounting portions projectingly formed on both side walls of the developing housing configured in this manner, the ear cutting plates are mounted on the mounting portions. This ear cutting plate is generally arranged above the developer applying means.
For this reason, when mounting it, a method of inserting the ear cutting plate into the developing housing from above the developer applying means and a method of inserting the ear cutting plate into the developing housing from the front opening of the developing housing are adopted. There is.

[0003]

The method of inserting the spike cutting plate into the developing housing from above the developer applying means is easy in assembling work, but in order to adopt this method. It is necessary to provide an opening for inserting the spike cutting plate on the upper wall of the developing housing. However, providing a large opening in the upper wall has a problem in strength of the developing housing, and it is necessary to connect the opening. Therefore, it is necessary to separately manufacture a cover member for connecting the openings and mount the cover member after mounting the cover member, which increases the number of parts and requires mounting work. On the other hand, when the method of inserting the ear cutting plate into the developing housing from the front opening portion of the developing housing is adopted, it is not necessary to provide the opening for inserting the ear cutting plate on the upper wall of the developing housing as described above. ,
When the ear cutting plate is inserted into the developing housing from the front opening of the developing housing, if the ear cutting plate is tilted, there is a problem that it contacts the outer peripheral surface of the developer applying means and damages the developer applying means. Skillful and meticulous attention is required for mounting the cutting board.

The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and its main technical problem is to provide an electrostatic latent image developing device in which the ear cutting plate can be easily mounted from the front opening of the developing housing. To do.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above main technical problems, according to the present invention, a bottom wall, both side walls formed upright from both sides of the bottom wall, and the both sides are formed. A developing housing having an upper wall formed between the upper surfaces of the walls, the front side of which is open; and a developing housing, which is disposed at the front end portion of the developing housing and is supported on both side walls via bearing members, respectively. Developer applying means for holding the developer on the outer peripheral surface and applying it to the electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member which is moved through the developing area, and the outer peripheral surface of the developer applying means and the predetermined surface. An electrostatic latent image developing device, which has a gap and is arranged in parallel with the developer applying unit, and which controls a developer held on an outer peripheral surface of the developer applying unit to have a predetermined thickness. In the apparatus, the developing housings are mounted on the both side walls, respectively. A predetermined gap is provided between a mounting wall, which is provided between the both side walls above the bearing member, for mounting the spike cutting plate, and extends substantially horizontally from the front end portion to the inner surface of each of the both side walls. Equipped with a guide rail,
The bearing member is provided with a support portion projecting inward of each of both side walls and having a mounting surface at an upper position facing the gap, and the spike cutting plate is fitted to the guide rails at both ends thereof. A guided groove is formed, and the guided groove is fitted to the guide rail to move to the mounting wall side, and when it reaches a gap between the guide rail and the mounting wall, it falls through the gap. An electrostatic latent image developing device is provided, in which the lower end is configured to be mounted on the mounting surface of the support portion.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a bottom wall, both side walls formed upright from both sides of the bottom wall, and an upper wall formed between upper surfaces of the both side walls. A developing housing having an open side, and an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier, which is disposed at the front end of the developing housing and holds the developer in the developing housing on the outer peripheral surface and moves through the developing area. And a developer applying means for applying to the developer applying means, and the developer applying means is disposed in parallel with the outer peripheral surface of the developer applying means with a predetermined gap and held on the outer peripheral surface of the developer applying means. In the electrostatic latent image developing device, the developer housing is provided between the both side walls above the developer applying unit, and the ear cutting plate is provided to regulate the developing material to a predetermined thickness. The mounting wall to be mounted and the inner surface of each of the both side walls are covered with water from the front end. A guide rail having a predetermined gap between the mounting wall and the mounting wall, and a support portion having a mounting surface provided on each of the inner surfaces of both side walls projecting downward in the gap. The cut plate has guide grooves formed at both ends thereof to be fitted with the guide rails. The guide grooves are fitted to the guide rails and moved to the mounting wall side, and the guide rails and the mounting pieces are attached. The electrostatic latent image developing device is configured such that when it reaches a gap with the wall side, it falls through the gap and the lower end is placed on the placement surface of the support portion. Will be provided. For other features of the invention,
It will be clarified by the following description.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A detailed description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of an electrostatic latent image developing device constructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part showing an embodiment of an electrostatic latent image developing device constructed according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a developer in a developing housing constituting the electrostatic latent image developing device shown in FIG. It is a principal part perspective view which shows the state which inserted the application means. The electrostatic latent image developing device in the illustrated embodiment includes a developing housing 2. The developing housing 2 which can be formed of an appropriate synthetic resin includes a bottom wall 21 and the bottom wall 21.
1 includes a right side wall 22 and a left side wall 23 that extend substantially vertically upward from both sides, and an upper wall 24 that connects the upper surfaces of the right side wall 22 and the left side wall 23, and opposes a photosensitive drum to be described later. Front side (lower left side in Fig. 1)
Is open. In the developing housing 2 thus configured, a developer made of toner and carrier particles or a developer made of magnetic toner is contained.

At the forefront part of the developing housing 2 (lower left side in FIG. 1), the developer in the developing housing is held on the outer peripheral surface, and as shown in FIG.
A developer applying means 3 for applying to the electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10 as an image bearing member which is moved in the direction indicated by 2 is provided. The developer applying means 3 includes a sleeve member 31, magnet means (not shown) arranged in the sleeve member 31 and configured to be rotatable relative to the sleeve member 31, and a support shaft connected to the magnet means. 32 and a rotary shaft 33 connected to the sleeve member 31. The rotary shaft 33 is rotated by a drive mechanism (not shown). Note that the developer applying unit 3 may have a conventionally known configuration, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In order to mount the above developer applying means 3,
The right side wall 22 and the left side wall 2 constituting the developing housing 2
In the foremost part of 3, the bearing fitting holes 221 and 23 are respectively provided.
1 is formed (see FIG. 2). The bearing fitting hole 231 formed in the left side wall 23 of the developing housing 2 is continuous with the notch 232 opened at the front end. Bearing fitting hole 221 formed in the right side wall 22 of the developing housing 2.
Is the circular portion 221a and the circular portion 2 as shown in FIG.
21a, which is continuous with the upper part of 21a and is formed upward
It consists of 1b. The right side wall 22 of the developing housing 2 is provided with an annular support flange 223 projecting from the outer surface thereof in association with the bearing fitting hole 221.
The annular support flange 223 is formed concentrically with the bearing fitting hole 221, the inner diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the circular portion 221 a of the bearing fitting hole 221, and the outer diameter of which is the recess 221 b of the bearing fitting hole 221. The size is smaller than the upper end. Further, on the upper part of the annular support flange 223,
A notch 223a corresponding to the recess 221b of the bearing fitting hole 221 is provided. On the other hand, the bearing fitting hole 231 formed in the left side wall 23 of the developing housing 2 also has a circular portion 231a and a concave portion 231b which is connected to the upper portion of the circular portion 231a and is formed upward as shown in FIG. It consists of Incidentally, on the outer surface of the left side wall 23 of the developing housing 2, as shown in FIG. 1, the bearing fitting hole 231 is formed similarly to the annular support flange 223 provided on the right side wall 22.
An annular support flange 233 formed concentrically with the circular portion 231a is provided.

The bearing members 4 for supporting the support shaft 32 and the rotary shaft 33 of the developer applying means 3 are fitted into the bearing fitting holes 221 and 231 described above, respectively. The bearing member 4 will be described with reference to FIG. The bearing member 4 is
It includes a large diameter portion 41, a small diameter portion 42 that is a fitting portion that fits in the bearing fitting hole 231, and a support portion 43 that is formed so as to radially project from the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 42. A shaft support hole 44 is formed through the shaft core. The large diameter portion 41 of the bearing member 4 has an outer diameter of the support flange 223.
It has a size corresponding to the inner diameter of the. The small diameter portion 42 of the bearing member 4 is formed such that the outer diameter thereof corresponds to the diameter of the circular portion 221a of the bearing fitting hole 221. Further, the support portion 43 of the bearing member 4 is formed such that its width and height correspond to those of the recess 221b of the bearing fitting hole 221, and the upper surface thereof is used for mounting the ear cutting plate described later. It functions as the surface 431.

Next, the bearing members 4 and 4 constructed as described above are attached to the right side wall 22 and the left side wall 2 of the developing housing 2.
A procedure of mounting the developer application unit 3 in the bearing fitting holes 221 and 231 formed in No. 3 and supporting the developer applying unit 3 will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 2, the support shaft 32 of the developer applying means 3 is provided.
Is inserted from the inside into a bearing fitting hole 221 formed in the right side wall 22 of the developing housing 2, and then the rotary shaft 33 is inserted through a notch 232 formed in the left side wall 23 into the bearing fitting hole 231.
To insert. Next, the shaft support hole 44 of the bearing member 4 is fitted from the end of the support shaft 32, and the small diameter portion 42 and the support portion 43 of the bearing member 4 are inserted into the circular portion 22 of the bearing fitting hole 221.
1a and the recess 221b are fitted from the outside of the right side wall 22. At this time, the support portion 43 is the annular support flange 22.
3 is inserted through the cutout portion 223a provided in No. 3. In addition, by fitting the support portion 43 into the recess 221b,
The rotation of the bearing member 4 is restricted. Therefore, the support portion 43 functions as a rotation stopper for the bearing member 4. In this way, the small diameter portion 42 and the support portion 43 of the bearing member 4 are fitted into the bearing fitting hole 221, and the large diameter portion 41 abuts the outer surface of the right side wall 22. At this time, the large diameter portion 41 fits into the annular support flange 223. In this state, a snap ring 35 is attached to the support shaft 32 on the outer side of the large diameter portion 41 of the bearing member 4, so that the support shaft 32 of the developer applying unit 3 is moved to the bearing member 4 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. Can be supported by the right side wall 22 of the developing housing 2. In this way, if the support shaft 32 of the developer applying unit 3 is supported by the right side wall 22 of the developing housing 2 via the bearing member 4, the rotary shaft 33 of the developer applying unit 3 is inserted via the bearing member 4. By supporting the left side wall 23 of the developing housing 2 in the same manner as the supporting shaft 32, the developer applying means 3 can be mounted on the developing housing 2 as shown in FIG.

The electrostatic latent image developing device in the illustrated embodiment is arranged in parallel with the developer applying means 3 and is adsorbed and held on the outer peripheral surface of a sleeve member 31 constituting the developer applying means 3. Is provided with a spike cutting plate 5 that regulates the thickness of the blade. As shown in FIG. 7, the cutting board 5 has a horizontal portion 51.
And a vertical portion 52 formed by hanging downward from the rear end of the horizontal portion 51. At both ends of the vertical portion 52,
The guided groove 52 is provided at a position lower than the lower surface of the horizontal portion 51 by a predetermined amount.
1, 521 are formed. Also, in the vertical portion 52,
Mounting holes 522 and 522 are provided, and positioning grooves 523 and 523 are formed at the lower ends thereof.
The bristle cutting plate 5 configured in this manner is inserted from the front opening of the developing housing 2, and is attached to the developing housing 2 above the developer applying means 3 with a predetermined gap from the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve member 31. It is like this.

In order to mount the above-mentioned edge cutting plate 5, the developing housing 2 is provided with a mounting wall 25 as clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6. The mounting wall 25 is provided between the right side wall 22 and the left side wall 23 above the bearing member 4, and is integrally formed by connecting to the right side wall 22, the left side wall 23, and the upper wall 24.
The mounting wall 25 is provided with screw holes 251 and 251 for screwing the screws for fixing the ear cutting plate 5. In addition, positioning pins 252 and 252 that fit with the positioning grooves 523 and 523 provided in the vertical portion 52 of the spike cutting plate 5 are integrally formed on the lower end of the mounting wall 25 so as to project to the front side. . On the other hand, the right side wall 22 and the left side wall 23 are provided with guide rails 224 and 234, respectively, which engage with the guided grooves 521 and 521 of the spike cutting plate 5 and guide the movement of the spike cutting plate 5. . The guide rails 224 and 234 extend substantially horizontally from the front open end toward the attachment wall 25, and between the guide rails 224 and 234, a vertical portion 52 of the spike cutting plate 5 is provided between the guide rails 224 and 234 as shown in FIG. Has a predetermined gap S larger than the thickness of.

Next, a mounting work method for mounting the ear cutting plate 5 on the mounting wall 25 will be described. After mounting the developer applying means 3 on the developing housing 2 as described above,
The ear cutting plate 5 is attached to the mounting wall 25. That is, the panning plate 5 is held horizontally with the horizontal portion 51 facing upward,
Guided grooves 521 and 521 provided at both ends of the vertical portion 52 from the front open end are fitted to guide rails 224 and 234 provided on the right side wall 22 and the left side wall 23, respectively. Then, the ear cutting plate 5 is moved toward the attachment wall 25 along the guide rails 224 and 234, and when the vertical portion 52 reaches the gap between the guide rails 224 and 234 and the attachment wall 25, the guided grooves 521, 521. The guide rails 224 and 234 are disengaged from each other, and the ear cutting plate 5 falls through the gap S. When the ear cutting plate 5 is dropped in this manner, the lower ends of both ends of the vertical portion 52 are placed on the upper surface 431 of the support portion 43 of the bearing member 4 (the right side wall 2 in FIGS. 5 and 6).
Only two sides are shown). When the ear cutting plate 5 falls, the positioning grooves 523 and 523 provided in the vertical portion 52 are provided.
Locating pins 252, 25 provided on the mounting wall 25
2, the ear cutting plate 5 is provided in the width direction, that is, the developer applying means 3
The axial direction of is regulated. The lower ends of both ends of the vertical portion 52 of the ear cutting plate 5 are placed on the upper surface 431 of the support portion 43 of the bearing member 4, and the positioning grooves 523 and 523 are fitted into the positioning pins 252 and 252 to regulate the position. And the mounting holes 522, 522 provided in the vertical portion 52 and the screw holes 251, 251 provided in the mounting wall 25 face each other.
In this state, the screws 6, 6 are inserted into the mounting holes 522, 522 and screwed into the screw holes 251, 251, so that the lower edge of the ear cutting plate 5 has the sleeve member 3 of the developer applying means 3.
It can be fixed to the mounting wall 25 with a predetermined gap from the outer peripheral surface of 1.

As described above, in the illustrated embodiment,
When the ear cutting plate 5 is mounted on the mounting wall 25, the ear cutting plate 5 moves to the mounting position along the guide rails 224 and 234 provided on the right side wall 22 and the left side wall 23 of the developing housing 2. Never lean. Therefore, when the ear cutting plate 5 is attached, the lower edge of the ear cutting plate 5 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve member 31 of the developer applying unit 3 to damage the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve member 31. Can be prevented. Also, in the illustrated embodiment,
The lower end portions of both ends of the vertical portion 52 that constitutes the bristle cutting plate 5 are provided on the bearing member 4 that supports the developer applying unit 3.
Since the gap between the lower edge of the vertical portion 52 and the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve member 31 of the developer applying unit 3 is regulated by placing the upper portion 431 on the upper surface 431 of the vertical portion 52, the dimensional accuracy of the supporting portion 43 is controlled to control the above. The gap can be maintained with high accuracy.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the electrostatic latent image developing device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the developing housing 2 includes support portions 225 and 235 having mounting surfaces 225a and 235a for mounting the lower ends of both ends of the vertical portion 52 that constitutes the spike cutting plate 5. The respective components are provided on the right side wall 22 and the left side wall 23, respectively, and other configurations are substantially the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8. Therefore, also in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the same effect as that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 can be obtained. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the bearing member 4
The support portion 43 does not have to have a function of mounting and supporting the ear cutting plate 5, and functions only as a rotation stopper of the bearing member 4.

[0018]

Since the electrostatic latent image developing device according to the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects.

That is, in the electrostatic latent image developing device according to the present invention, when the spike-cutting plate is mounted on the mounting wall provided on the developing housing, it is guided along the guide rails provided on both side walls of the developing housing. As it moves to the mounting position, the panicle does not tilt. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the problem that the lower edge contacts the outer peripheral surface of the developer applying means and the outer peripheral surface of the developer applying means is damaged when the ear cutting plate is inclined when the ear cutting plate is attached. . Further, in the electrostatic latent image developing device according to the present invention, the lower ends of both end portions of the vertical portion forming the spike cutting plate are provided on the mounting surface or both side walls of the supporting portion provided on the bearing member supporting the developer applying means. By mounting on the mounting surface of the provided supporting portion, the gap between the lower edge of the vertical portion and the outer peripheral surface of the developer applying means is regulated. Can be maintained with high precision.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part showing an embodiment of an electrostatic latent image developing device configured according to the present invention.

2 is a perspective view of essential parts showing a state in which a developer applying unit is inserted into a developing housing which constitutes the electrostatic latent image developing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of essential parts showing a supporting portion of a developer applying unit in a developing housing which constitutes the electrostatic latent image developing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view of essential parts showing a supporting portion of a developer applying unit in the electrostatic latent image developing device shown in FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion showing a support portion of a developer applying unit in the electrostatic latent image developing device shown in FIG.

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

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an ear cutting plate in the electrostatic latent image developing device shown in FIG.

8 is a perspective view of a bearing member that supports a developer applying unit in the electrostatic latent image developing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing another embodiment of the electrostatic latent image developing device configured according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2: Development housing 21: Bottom wall of developing housing 22: Right side wall of developing housing 221: Bearing fitting hole 223: Annular support flange 225: Support part 225a: mounting surface 23: Left side wall of developer housing 231: Bearing fitting hole 233: annular support flange 235: Support part 235a: mounting surface 24: Upper wall of developing housing 25: Mounting wall 251: screw hole 252: Positioning pin 3: Developer application means 31: Sleeve member of developer applying means 32: Support shaft for developer applying means 33: Rotating shaft of developer applying means 35: Snap ring 4: Bearing member 41: Large diameter part of bearing member 42: Small diameter part of bearing member (fitting part) 43: Supporting part of bearing member 431: Mounting surface 5: Hot cutting board 51: Horizontal part of the panicle 52: Vertical part of the panicle 521: Guided groove 522: Mounting hole 523: Positioning groove 10: Photosensitive drum

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Susumu Taniguchi 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Ryoji Kanematsu 1-2-2 Takumazo, Chuo-ku, Osaka Mita Kogyo Within the corporation (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/08

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A developing housing having a bottom wall, both side walls formed upright from both sides of the bottom wall, and an upper wall formed between upper surfaces of the both side walls, the front side being open. And an image carrier which is disposed at the front end of the developing housing and is supported by bearings on both side walls of the developing housing, and which holds the developer in the developing housing on the outer peripheral surface and moves through the developing area. Developer applying means for applying to the electrostatic latent image being formed, and the developer applying means disposed in parallel with the outer peripheral surface of the developer applying means with a predetermined gap. An electrostatic latent image developing device that regulates the developer held on the outer peripheral surface of the bearing to a predetermined thickness, the developing housing being above the bearing members mounted on the both side walls, respectively. At the mounting between the both side walls for mounting the panicle A bearing wall and guide rails that extend substantially horizontally from the front end portion to the inner surfaces of both side walls and have a predetermined gap between the mounting walls, and the bearing member is inside each of the both side walls. Is provided with a supporting portion having a mounting surface at an upper position facing the gap and facing the gap, and the ear cutting plate has guide grooves formed at both ends thereof to be fitted with the guide rails. The guide groove is fitted to the guide rail and moved to the mounting wall side, and when it reaches the gap between the guide rail and the mounting wall, it falls through the gap, and the lower end is the mounting surface of the support portion. An electrostatic latent image developing device, which is configured to be placed on the electrostatic latent image developing device. 2. The support portion of the bearing member is formed so as to radially project from an outer peripheral surface of a fitting portion that fits with a circular portion of a bearing fitting hole provided in the side wall. The electrostatic latent image developing device according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic latent image developing device is fitted in a concave portion that is continuously formed upward and regulates rotation of the bearing member. 3. A positioning pin protruding forward is provided at a lower end portion of the mounting wall, and a positioning groove for fitting with the positioning pin is provided at a lower end portion of the vertical portion of the spike cutting plate. Item 1. The electrostatic latent image developing device according to item 1. 4. A developing housing having a bottom wall, both side walls formed upright from both sides of the bottom wall, and an upper wall formed between upper surfaces of the both side walls, the front side being open. And a developer for applying to an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier, which is disposed at the front end of the developing housing and holds the developer in the developing housing on the outer peripheral surface and is moved through the developing area. The developer applying means and the developer applied to the outer peripheral surface of the developer applying means are arranged in parallel with the outer peripheral surface of the developer applying means with a predetermined gap, and the developer held on the outer peripheral surface of the developer applying means has a predetermined thickness. In the electrostatic latent image developing device, the developing housing is provided between the both side walls above the developer applying means, and a mounting wall for mounting the ear cutting plate is provided.
Guide rails that extend substantially horizontally from the front end portion to the inner surfaces of the both side walls and have a predetermined gap between the mounting walls, and mounting surfaces provided so as to project downward from the gap to the inner surfaces of the both side walls, respectively. And a guide groove to be fitted to the guide rail is formed at both ends of the ear cutting plate, and the guide groove is fitted to the guide rail to attach the guide rail. It is configured so that it moves to the wall side, and when it reaches the gap between the guide rail and the mounting wall side, it falls through the gap and the lower end is placed on the placement surface of the support portion. An electrostatic latent image developing device characterized by the above. 5. A positioning pin protruding forward is provided at a lower end portion of the mounting wall, and a positioning groove for fitting with the positioning pin is provided at a lower end portion of the vertical portion of the spike cutting plate. Item 4. The electrostatic latent image developing device according to item 4.