JP3707080B2 - Image forming apparatus provided with toner replenishing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus incorporating a toner replenishing device capable of automatically replenishing toner supplied from a toner replenishing container (hereinafter referred to as a toner cartridge) to a developing device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the image forming apparatus, the color image forming apparatus uses a plurality of developing devices each containing toner of four colors, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Therefore, each of the four color developing devices is provided with a dedicated toner replenishing device. When the remaining amount of toner in the toner replenishing device decreases or the image density becomes low, the toner amount detecting means A toner of a predetermined color is supplied from the corresponding toner cartridge to the toner supply device that has detected and reduced the toner.
[0003]
On the other hand, toner replenishment to the toner replenishing device is performed by detecting the remaining amount of toner in the toner replenishing device, attaching a toner cartridge containing toner of the corresponding color to the toner replenishing device based on the detection signal, The toner is dropped into the toner replenishing device and replenished. At this time, the toner cartridge can be attached only to the corresponding toner replenishing device so that the toner cartridge is not erroneously attached to the other toner replenishing device.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention is configured such that only the corresponding toner cartridge is attached to the toner replenishing device that needs toner replenishment, in contrast to the toner replenishing device that accommodates toners of four colors as described above. Safety means include, for example, a cyan toner replenishing device by creating a toner cartridge in which a part of the same color cyan is arranged so as not to replenish toner of different colors, and as described above, for example, cyan toner The replenishing device is provided with a mechanism capable of mounting only a cyan toner cartridge. In spite of the safety measures as described above, for example, even if the toner is not insufficient in the cyan toner replenishing device, the cyan toner cartridge can be mounted. Therefore, when a new toner cartridge is installed in the toner replenishing device and the toner is replenished, the toner is oversupplied, and when the toner cartridge is removed from the toner replenishing device, the toner overflows from the toner replenishing port, and the image forming apparatus Fall into the aircraft. Further, the toner is clogged between the developing device and the toner replenishing device due to oversupply, and the toner cannot be replenished to the developing device.
[0005]
The present invention has been specifically conceived to remedy the above drawbacks. That is, even when a toner cartridge is installed in the toner supply ports provided in the plurality of toner supply devices, the lid member of the toner cartridge is blocked from being opened by the opening blocking member, and normally toner supply by the toner cartridge is prohibited. Only the toner replenishing device that needs toner replenishment is provided with a means for enabling the lid member to be opened, and is intended to prevent the toner from being excessively replenished.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The object of the present invention can be achieved by the following constitution.
(1) In an image forming apparatus that includes a plurality of toner replenishing devices that are connected to a plurality of developing devices and replenish each of the plurality of developing devices with a specified single color toner.
A plurality of toner amount detecting means provided in each of the plurality of toner replenishing devices, detecting a remaining amount of toner in the toner replenishing device, and outputting a signal when the toner is insufficient;
A plurality of toner supply ports formed in the plurality of toner supply devices;
A plurality of lid members provided to be openable and closable at the plurality of toner supply ports;
A plurality of locking members for preventing opening of the plurality of lid members;
A plurality of cams coupled to the plurality of locking members;
In response to a toner shortage signal from the toner amount detection means, the angle of the plurality of cams is controlled, and the lid for only one toner replenishing device out of the toner replenishing devices in the plurality of toner replenishing devices is provided. An image forming apparatus including a toner replenishing device having a control unit that enables opening of the member,
The control means controls the opening of the lid member for only one toner replenishing device out of the plurality of toner replenishing devices, and controls all of the plurality of toner replenishing devices. Control that enables simultaneous opening of the lid member,
The toner replenishing device is characterized in that the control for enabling the lid member to be opened with respect to the toner replenishing device with insufficient toner is performed when a toner shortage signal is received from the toner amount detecting means. Image forming apparatus.
(2) In an image forming apparatus that includes a plurality of toner replenishing devices that are connected to a plurality of developing devices and replenish each of the plurality of developing devices with a specified single color toner.
A plurality of toner amount detecting means provided in each of the plurality of toner replenishing devices, detecting a remaining amount of toner in the toner replenishing device, and outputting a signal when the toner is insufficient;
A plurality of toner supply ports formed in the plurality of toner supply devices;
A plurality of lid members provided to be openable and closable at the plurality of toner supply ports;
A plurality of locking members for preventing opening of the plurality of lid members;
A plurality of cams coupled to the plurality of locking members;
In response to a toner shortage signal from the toner amount detection means, the angle of the plurality of cams is controlled, and the lid for only one toner replenishing device out of the toner replenishing devices in the plurality of toner replenishing devices is provided. Image forming apparatus comprising: a toner replenishing device comprising: control means for enabling opening of the member; and control means for performing control for enabling all of the plurality of toner replenishing devices to simultaneously open the lid member. A device,
When the control unit receives a toner shortage signal from the toner amount detection unit, the control unit can open the lid member for only one toner supply device out of the plurality of toner supply devices. As well as control
An image forming apparatus provided with a toner replenishing device, wherein at the time of installation, control is performed so that all the toner replenishing devices of the plurality of toner replenishing devices can be simultaneously opened.
[0007]
【Example】
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a color image forming apparatus that is an image forming apparatus using the toner replenishing device of the present invention. The configuration of the image forming apparatus and the outline of a series of operations will be described with reference to FIG.
[0008]
After the photosensitive drum 10 as an image carrier having an OPC photosensitive layer coated on the surface is driven and rotated in one direction (clockwise in the figure), the charge is removed by the charge remover 11 and the charge at the previous printing is removed. The charger 12 uniformly charges the peripheral surface to prepare for a new print. After the uniform charging, the image exposure unit 13 performs image exposure based on the image signal. The image exposure means 13 rotates and scans laser light emitted from a laser light source, which will be described later, by a rotary polygon mirror 131, passes through an fθ lens 132 and the like, bends an optical path by a reflection mirror 133, and is charged in advance. And a latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10.
[0009]
Development in which the periphery of the photosensitive drum 10 is filled with a developer composed of a mixture of toner such as yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) and a magnetic carrier. Apparatuses 14A, 14B, 14C, and 14D are provided. First, development of the first color is performed by a developing sleeve 141 that contains a magnet and rotates while holding the developer. The developer is regulated to a predetermined thickness on the developing sleeve 141 by the layer forming rod and conveyed to the developing area. An AC bias voltage VAC and a DC bias voltage VDC are superimposed between the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing sleeve 141. Here, the potential of the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 10 is VL, the surface potential of the charged photosensitive layer other than the exposed portion is VH, and the DC bias voltage VDC is | VH |> | VDC |> | VL | By setting so as to be established, the toner that is triggered to leave the carrier by the AC bias voltage VAC does not adhere to the portion of VH having a potential higher than VDC, but to the exposed portion of the potential VL having a potential lower than VDC. It adheres, is visualized and developed.
[0010]
After the development of the first color is completed in this way, the second color (for example, magenta) image forming process starts, the photosensitive drum 10 is uniformly charged again, and the latent image based on the second color image data becomes the image exposure means 13. Formed by. For the third color (cyan) and the fourth color (black), an image forming process similar to that for the second color is performed, and a total of four colors are developed on the photosensitive drum 10.
[0011]
Four toner replenishing devices 40 are provided to supply toner to yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. The toner supply pipe 45 is supplied to the device 14B, the toner supply pipe 46 is supplied to the developing device 14C, and the toner supply pipe 47 is supplied to the developing device 14D. A toner cartridge 50 replenishes toner to the four toner replenishing devices 40 of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). On the other hand, the recording paper P, which is a transfer material fed by the paper feed mechanism 22 by the paper feed cassette 21, is formed between the photosensitive drum 10 and the transfer belt 31 by the transfer belt device 30 in which the transfer belt 31 is stretched. Is fed to the nip portion (transfer area) 35 where the multicolor images on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 10 are transferred to the recording paper P all at once. Here, a high voltage is applied to the shaft 32a of the upstream holding roller 32 of the transfer belt 31, and the conductive brush 34 placed at a position facing the shaft 32a across the transfer belt 31 is grounded. . The fed recording paper P enters between the brush 34 and the transfer belt 31 and enters the transfer area while being attracted to the transfer belt 31 by the electric charge injected into the recording paper P from the brush 34. The recording paper P separated from the photosensitive drum 10 is separated from the transfer belt 31 while being neutralized by using the shaft 33b of the holding roller 33 on the downstream side of the transfer belt 31 as a counter electrode. The toner adhering to the transfer belt 31 is removed by the cleaning blade 37. Note that the transfer belt 31 is separated from the photosensitive drum 10 around the shaft 33b of the holding roller 33 on the downstream side during multicolor image formation.
[0012]
The recording paper P separated from the transfer belt device 30 has a heater 232 inside at least one pressure roller 231 so that heat is transmitted from the pressure roller 231 to a heat fixing roller 233 configured as a pair. The toner adhering to the recording paper P is melted and fixed on the recording paper P by being heated and pressed between the pressure roller 231 and the heat fixing roller 233. After that, it is carried out of the apparatus.
[0013]
The toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10 after the transfer is discharged by the static eliminator 15, reaches the cleaning device 16, and is scraped off into the cleaning device 16 by the cleaning blade 16 a contacting the photosensitive drum 10. Then, it is carried out by a screw or the like and stored in a collection box. The photosensitive drum 10 from which the residual toner has been removed by the cleaning device 16 is neutralized by the static eliminator 11, and then uniformly charged by the charger 12, and enters the next image forming cycle. Further, if the recording paper P is not separated from the transfer belt 31 but is wound around the photosensitive drum 10 and enters above the static eliminator 15, the cleaning blade 16a and the electrode wire may be damaged. A jam sensor 36 that detects winding is mounted in the vicinity of the static eliminator 15.
[0014]
Next, as shown in FIG. 2, a toner replenishing device 40 that supplies toner to the plurality of developing devices according to the present invention will be described in detail.
[0015]
The toner replenishing device 40 in FIG. 2 accommodates the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toners as shown in the developing devices 14A, 14B, 14C, and 14D. accommodating portion 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D and comprises a plurality of mounting seats 120. for mounting the door toner cartridge 50.
[0016]
The protrusion 111 on the side surface of the toner hopper 110 formed on the toner replenishing device 40 is engaged with the operation plate 61 of the mounting plate 600 supported on the apparatus main body, and then fixed with the screw 62 to be integrated.
[0017]
Each of the toner replenishing devices 40 has a flange 112 formed on the top, and a sealing material 113 is attached to the upper surface of the flange 112 by adhesion. The flange 112 is integrally attached to the wall surface 70 inside the apparatus by the attachment plate 600.
[0018]
The seal material 113 is made of a soft elastic material such as urethane foam, and the toner supply port of the storage portion 40D formed in the storage portion 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D that stores the toner in each toner replenishing device 40. Attach mounting seat 120 to 400. As a mounting method, the locking means 121 provided on the mounting seat 120 is inserted into the flange 112 through the slit hole 113A and the sealing material 113 and the flange 112, and the locking means 121 is engaged with the engaging portion 114 of the toner hopper 110. To be integrated with each other. When the mounting seats 120 are mounted on the toner replenishing device 40, the sealing material 113 is sealed by being crimped and sandwiched to prevent toner leakage. A lid member (hereinafter referred to as a partition member) 1263 is slidably provided in the mounting seat 120 so that the toner supply port 400 is normally closed. A handle 1273 is provided at one end of the partition member 1263. Also, an elevating lever 207 for preventing the partition member 1263 from moving and a locking member 203 are provided on the mounting seat 120.
[0019]
On the other hand, the end portion 51A of the seat plate 51 provided at one end of the toner cartridge 50 and the cylindrical portion 52 are configured to be locked to the insertion portion 122 and the frame portion 123 of the mounting seat 120, respectively. The other end 51B of the seat plate 51 is engaged with a locking member 124 provided on the side of the mounting seat 120, and is clamped and clamped via a seal member 125 to be supported.
[0020]
FIG. 3 shows a mechanism for making the partition member 126 slidable or non-slidable. A container 40A for accommodating the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toners. , 40B, 40C, 40D is a mechanism that enables the opening operation together with the partition member 126 and the slide lid 521 of the toner cartridge 50 only at the places where toner replenishment is required, and disables all the places where toner replenishment is unnecessary. is there.
[0021]
The partition members 126 are respectively provided as partition members 126, 1261, 1262, and 1263 on the mounting seats 120 provided in the storage portions 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40D that store the toner, and the partition members 126, 1261, An unlocking mechanism for releasing 1262 and 1263 is provided. The locking release mechanism will be described below. First, with respect to the partition members 126, 1261, 1262, and 1263, locking members 200, 201, 202, and 203 each having a taper 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D are formed, and inclined cams 60, 601, 602, and 603 are formed. was the operating plate 61,611,612,613 slidable, biased in one by the spring _{S 4, S 5, S 6} , S 7 is further provided between said operation plate 61,611,612,613 ing. The inclined cams 60, 601, 602, and 603 are fitted with pins 208, 209, 210, and 211 provided on the lifting levers 204, 205, 206, and 207, respectively. On the other hand, the partition members 126, 1261, 1262, and 1263 are fixed with engagement members 128, 1281, 1282, and 1283, which are engaged with the locking members 200, 201, 202, and 203, respectively. 128, 1281, 1282, and 1283, and handles 127, 1271, 1272, and 1273 that operate together with the partition members 126, 1261, 1262, and 1263 are provided. The operating plates 61, 611, 612, and 613 are provided with springs S, S ₁ , S ₂ , and S ₃ resiliently held in the locking direction of the locking members 200, 201, 202, and 203.
[0022]
Cams 212, 213, 214, and 215 that are in contact with the lower ends of the lifting levers 204, 205, 206, and 207 slidably provided on the image forming apparatus 100 are fixed to a shaft 216, and Behind the lifting levers 204, 205, 206, and 207 is a moving lever 217 formed with groove cams 2171, 2172, 2173, and 2174. When the image forming apparatus 100 is in an activated state, the pins 241, 2051, 2061, and 2071 provided on the elevating levers 204, 205, 206, and 207 are moved by moving the left side in FIG. It is comprised so that a fall may be prevented.
[0023]
Next, referring to FIG. 4, the blocking mechanism for the toner replenishing device 40 and the partition member 126 will be described. For description, the partition member 126 in FIG. 3 will be described as a representative configuration. As shown in FIG. 4, the partition member 126 is mounted in the frame portion 123 of the mounting seat 120 to which the toner cartridge 50 is mounted as shown in FIG. elevated and by the inclined cam 60 interact with the pin 208, since the locking member 200 are engaging the engaging member 128, the partition member 126 that is formed integrally with the engaging member by the handle 127 I can't move outside. Accordingly, since the movement of the partition member 126 is prevented, the protrusions 12 6 A provided on the partition member 126 are fixed in the toner replenishment opening portion of the toner cartridge 50 and provided in the sealed film 53. Therefore, movement with the slide lid 521 is prevented. Further, the lift levers 205 and 207 are also lifted by the other cams 213 and 215, and the locking members 201 and 203 are locked to the engaging members 1281 and 2183, respectively, so that the movement is prevented. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, even when the toner cartridge 50 is mounted in the frame portion 123 of the mounting seat 120, the partition members 1261 and 1263 cannot be moved outside. The slide lid 521 of the toner cartridge 50 does not operate together with 126, 1261, and 1263, and the toner cannot be replenished.
[0024]
Next, the partition member which is released from the blocking state and can be opened will be described. In FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the moving lever 217 is moved by the solenoid 218 so that the pin 2061 can be lowered by the cam 2173, and the cam 214 can also be lowered. The elevating lever 206 is lowered. Thus the pin 210 is lowered to lift the lever 206, the action of lowering action and the inclined cam 602 of the pin 210, the locking member 202 against the elastic force of the spring S ₂ moves to the right as indicated by an arrow perpendicular. That is, since the blocked state of the engaging member 1282 is released, the partition member 1262 is made slidable outward, and movable by the handle 1272 in the direction of the arrow. As shown in FIG. 5, both ends of the partition member 1262 are fixed to the toner replenishing opening 50A of the toner cartridge 50, and a projection 1262A provided on the partition member 1262 is provided at one end of a slide lid 521 provided in the sealed film 53. As described above, the partition member 1262 moves together with the slide lid 521 of the toner cartridge 50 in the direction of the arrow by the handle 1272, and the sealed film 53 moves from the toner replenishing opening 50A as the slide lid 521 moves. The toner is sequentially peeled off, and for example, toner is supplied to the toner storage portion 40B in which magenta (M) toner is stored.
[0025]
After the toner replenishment by the toner cartridge 50 is completed as described above, the handle 1272 is pushed to return the partition member 1262 to the original position. At that time, the engaging outer face of the engagement member 1282 comes into contact with the other of the locking member 202, but since it is eliminated against the spring S ₆ by the action of the tapered 20C, the partition member 1262 is smoothly original You can return to the position. Then, the locking member 202 is restored by the spring S ₆ and stopped at the locking position of the engaging member 1282.
[0026]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the rotation angles of the cams 212, 213, 214, and 215. The operation of opening and blocking the partition members 126, 1261, 1262, and 1263 will be described below.
[0027]
Before asked arm 212,213,214,215 is be fixed while maintaining the longitudinal direction of the phase relationship shown in FIG respect to the axis 216, the range of如rather 0 to 315 ° in Fig. 6 by the rotation angle of the shaft 216 The phase can be changed all at once. That is, when the shaft 216 is at an angle of 0 °, each of the lift levers 204, 205, 206, and 207 is in a free state, and thus can be lowered by its own weight. That is, the moving lever 217 is moved to the right by the solenoid 218, and the groove cams 2171, 2172, 2173, 2174 are opposed to the pins 2041, 2051, 2061, 2071 of the lifting levers 204, 205, 206, 207, and the lowering is performed. Is possible. That is, the locking members 200, 201, 202, and 203 are opened from the engaging members 128, 1281, 1282, and 1283, and the partition members 126, 1261, 1262, and 1263 are all openable.
[0028]
The 0 ° position is used when the image forming apparatus 100 is newly installed and toner is supplied to all of the toner replenishing devices 40. At the position where the cams 212, 213, 214, and 215 of the shaft 216 are rotated by 45 ° counterclockwise, the cams 212, 213, and 214 push up the lift levers 204, 205, and 206, and the locking member The engagement members 128, 1281, and 1282 are blocked by 200, 201, and 202, and the partition members 126, 1261, and 1262 are immovable. Accordingly, only the yellow (Y) partition member 1263 can be opened, and the toner cartridge 50 can supply toner. Below, the toners in the magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner cartridges 50 are rotated at positions where the cams 212, 213, 214, and 215 of the shaft 216 are sequentially rotated by 135 °, 225 °, and 315 °. Replenishment is possible sequentially. The rotation angles of the cams 212, 213, 214, and 215 are the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) in the storage portions 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40D that store the toner. 4 is detected by the toner amount detecting member 500 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the detecting member 500 detects the toner shortage, and sends the signal to, for example, a CPU, which is connected to a stepping motor (see FIG. by selecting perform angular control by rotating a gear 216A which is provided to the shaft 216 by Shimese not) and the like housed portions 40A, 40B, 40C, the housing part inner toner amount is insufficient 40D first only the partitioning member is a second lid member is slidable and released from the locking member.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toners are sufficient in the toner storage portions 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40D that store the toner. When the toner is replenished, the partition member is prevented from moving, and toner cannot be replenished. However, only the toner storage portion of the toner storage portions 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40D in which toner shortage is detected by the detection member 500 enables the partition member and the slide lid 521 of the toner cartridge 50 to move. As a result, the toner does not overflow, the inside of the apparatus is not polluted by the toner, and the failure of the toner replenishing device due to the toner overflow can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus embodying the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a developed perspective view showing a configuration of a toner supply device of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an opening prevention mechanism for a partition member in the toner supply device of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram illustrating a state in which a partition member is closed in the toner supply device of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating a state in which a partition member is opened in the toner supply device of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a cam rotation phase position according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Photosensitive drum
12 charger
13 image exposure means
14 A, 14 B, 14 C, 14 D Developer
31 transfer belt
40 toner supply device
40 A, 40 B, 40 C, 40 D Toner container
100 image forming device
120 mounting seat
126 , 1261 , 1262 , 1263 partition members
124 Locking member
128 , 1281 , 1282 , 1283 engagement member
50 toner cartridge
521 slide lid
61 , 611 , 612 , 613 working plate
204 , 205 , 206 , 207 Lifting lever
212 , 213 , 214 , 215 cams

Claims (2)

In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of toner replenishing devices connected to a plurality of developing devices and replenishing each of the plurality of developing devices with a specified single color toner,
A plurality of toner amount detecting means provided in each of the plurality of toner replenishing devices, detecting a remaining amount of toner in the toner replenishing device, and outputting a signal when the toner is insufficient;
A plurality of toner supply ports formed in the plurality of toner supply devices;
A plurality of lid members provided to be openable and closable at the plurality of toner supply ports;
A plurality of locking members for preventing opening of the plurality of lid members;
A plurality of cams coupled to the plurality of locking members;
In response to a toner shortage signal from the toner amount detection means, the angle of the plurality of cams is controlled, and the lid for only one toner replenishing device out of toner replenishing devices in which the toner in the plurality of toner replenishing devices is short An image forming apparatus including a toner replenishing device having a control unit that enables opening of the member,
The control means controls the opening of the lid member for only one toner replenishing device out of the plurality of toner replenishing devices, and controls all of the plurality of toner replenishing devices. Control that enables simultaneous opening of the lid member,
The toner replenishing device is characterized in that the control for enabling the lid member to be opened with respect to the toner replenishing device with insufficient toner is performed when a toner shortage signal is received from the toner amount detecting means. Image forming apparatus. In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of toner replenishing devices connected to a plurality of developing devices and replenishing each of the plurality of developing devices with a specified single color toner,
A plurality of toner amount detecting means provided in each of the plurality of toner replenishing devices, detecting a remaining amount of toner in the toner replenishing device, and outputting a signal when the toner is insufficient;
A plurality of toner supply ports formed in the plurality of toner supply devices;
A plurality of lid members provided to be openable and closable at the plurality of toner supply ports;
A plurality of locking members for preventing opening of the plurality of lid members;
A plurality of cams coupled to the plurality of locking members;
In response to a toner shortage signal from the toner amount detection means, the angle of the plurality of cams is controlled, and the lid for only one toner replenishing device out of toner replenishing devices in which the toner in the plurality of toner replenishing devices is short Image forming apparatus comprising: a toner replenishing device comprising: control means for enabling opening of the member; and control means for performing control for enabling all of the plurality of toner replenishing devices to simultaneously open the lid member. A device,
When the control unit receives a toner shortage signal from the toner amount detection unit, the control unit can open the lid member for only one toner supply device out of the plurality of toner supply devices. As well as control
An image forming apparatus provided with a toner replenishing device, wherein at the time of installation, control is performed so that all the toner replenishing devices of the plurality of toner replenishing devices can be simultaneously opened.

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