JP3775602B2 - Supply roller recycling method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for recycling a process cartridge that is detachably provided in an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a method for recycling a supply roller accommodated in a process cartridge.

  Image forming apparatuses used in printers, copiers, fax machines, and the like form a latent image by selectively exposing a uniformly charged electrophotographic photosensitive member according to image information. The latent image is visualized with toner, and the toner image is transferred to a recording medium to perform image recording. In such an apparatus, the electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means such as a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit that act on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is formed in the apparatus main body. The system that is detachable is adopted. According to this method, when the toner contained in the cartridge is exhausted or the cartridge reaches the end of its life, the user can easily perform maintenance by replacing the cartridge.

  In recent years, recycling of this cartridge has been promoted from the viewpoint of environmental protection. That is, a used cartridge is collected and disassembled, and a new cartridge is assembled by selecting and reusing only parts that can maintain the same quality as a new cartridge. In this way, the image quality of the entire image forming apparatus is assured by using only parts having a quality equivalent to that of a new product.

  By the way, in the bearing which supports a rotating shaft, the eccentric bearing which can change the center position of a rotating shaft by using the hollow cylindrical body from which the center of an inner diameter differs from the center of an outer diameter is proposed conventionally (patent document 1). reference).

JP-A-10-252750

  However, when recycling cartridges, the reuse of parts whose performance deteriorates due to use has not progressed. For example, in a process cartridge that houses a developing roller that develops a latent image on a photosensitive drum using toner, a supply roller that contacts the developing roller and supplies toner, the supply roller is a soft sponge. Since it is made of a material or the like, its diameter becomes smaller as it is used due to sliding with a developing roller made of urethane rubber or the like. Therefore, when the supply roller having a reduced diameter is reused, if the supply roller is disposed at the same position as before recycling, the contact state between the supply roller and the developing roller is deteriorated, and an image defect such as a density defect may occur. There was a problem that there was.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems. Even when a supply roller having a reduced diameter due to use is reused, the contact state between the supply roller and the developing roller is maintained in a good state, and a density defect, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide means for preventing image defects from occurring.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is directed to a casing for containing toner, a developing roller for developing a latent image on a photosensitive drum using toner, and both end portions bearing on a side wall of the casing. A process cartridge that is rotatably mounted via a supply roller and that is provided with a supply roller that contacts the developing roller and supplies toner is recovered after use, and the supply roller having a reduced diameter as a result of use is recycled. A roller recycling method, wherein a bearing insertion hole formed in the side wall of the casing for mounting the bearing is fitted into the bearing insertion hole, and a central axis is eccentric from the central axis of the mounting part. An eccentric bearing comprising a roller shaft insertion hole formed as described above is attached, and the supply shaft is inserted into the roller shaft insertion hole of the eccentric bearing. By inserting the roller shaft of La, it is to place the developing roller side by comparing the supply roller and before recycling.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to collect the process cartridge after use and reuse the supply roller whose diameter has been reduced by use. In addition, since the eccentric bearing is mounted using the existing bearing insertion hole formed in the side wall of the casing, only the position of the supply roller is developed without moving the mounting position of the bearing to the casing from before recycling. It can be moved to the roller side. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a new bearing insertion hole in the casing in order to attach the eccentric bearing.

  In recycling the process cartridge, the purpose of enabling reuse of the supply roller, which is one of the parts whose performance is deteriorated by use, is realized with a minimum number of parts and at a low cost.

  Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the process cartridge 5 in FIG. An image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment includes an apparatus main body 2 and a process cartridge 5 that is detachably provided on the apparatus main body 2 and includes a developing roller 3 and a supply roller 4. Recycling history information of the roller 3 is recorded, recycling history information of the first film body 6 (first information presenting means) affixed to the end surface 3 a of the developing roller 3 and the supplying roller 4 is recorded, and the end surface of the supplying roller 4 A second film body 7 (second information presentation means) affixed to 4a, a first CCD sensor 8 (reading means) and a second CCD sensor 9 (reading means) for reading recycling history information from the film bodies 6 and 7, Based on the recycling history information sent from the CCD sensors 8 and 9, the first power supply device 10 connected to the developing roller 3 and the second power supply device 1 connected to the supply roller 4. The applied voltage appropriate mechanism 13 having a controller 12 for controlling, in which the voltage value to be applied to the developing roller 3 and the feed roller 4 is optimized.

  First, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be outlined with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus 1 exposes a light image based on image information from the LED head 16 on the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 uniformly charged by the charging brush 14 to form a latent image, and develops it. A visible image is formed by forming a toner image corresponding to the latent image with the roller 3. On the other hand, when image formation is started, the uppermost paper Pt of the recording paper P placed on the paper feed tray 17 is taken out by the pickup roller 18 and sent out to the transport path 19. The recording paper P is transported along the transport path 19 by transport rollers 20 appropriately disposed in the transport path 19, and the registration roller 21 is driven and rotated in synchronism with the formation of the toner image to sensitize the recording paper P. It is conveyed to the body drum 15. The recording paper P conveyed to the photosensitive drum 15 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 15 by the transfer roller 22, and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 15 is applied to the transfer roller 22. Then, the toner on the photosensitive drum 15 is transferred to the recording paper. Further, the recording paper P is transported downstream along the transport path 19, and pressure and heat are applied by a fixing roller 23 including a heater (not shown), whereby the toner on the recording paper P is applied to the recording paper P. To settle. Thereafter, the recording paper P is discharged to the paper discharge tray 25 by the paper discharge roller 24. Further, the diffusion brush 26 provided in contact with the photosensitive drum 15 causes toner, paper dust, and the like remaining on the photosensitive drum 15 to be transferred from the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 without being transferred onto the recording paper P. Playing a role.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the photosensitive drum 15, and the charging brush 14 and the diffusion brush 26 that act on the photosensitive drum 15 are integrated to form a drum cartridge 27. It is said. In addition, a so-called developing unit including the developing roller 3 is integrated into a process cartridge 5. The configurations of the drum cartridge 27 and the process cartridge 5 are not limited to the present embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate. For example, the process cartridge 5 may include the photosensitive drum 15 and the charging brush 14. It is.

  The process cartridge 5 is detachably provided on the apparatus main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1. That is, although not shown in detail in the figure, a cartridge mounting portion for accommodating the process cartridge 5 is provided inside the apparatus main body 2. The cartridge mounting portion is configured to have a space formed inside the apparatus main body 2 in order to fit the process cartridge 5, and the shape of the space substantially matches the outer shape of the process cartridge 5. ing. The process cartridge 5 is mounted on the apparatus main body 2 by being fitted into the cartridge mounting portion, and is removed from the apparatus main body 2 by being drawn upward. As a result, the user can easily replace the process cartridge 5.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge 5 includes a casing 29 in which a toner reservoir 28 for containing the toner T is formed, and a developing roller for developing the latent image on the photosensitive drum 15 using the toner T. 3, a supply roller 4 that supplies toner to the developing roller 3, an agitator 30 that agitates and feeds the toner T contained in the toner reservoir 28 to the supply roller 4 side, and a regulating blade that contacts the developing roller 3 31.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the developing roller 3 is formed by inserting a roller shaft 33 through a urethane rubber member 32 (roller body) having a hollow cylindrical shape, and photosensitively carries toner T carried on its surface. It serves as a so-called developing means that is supplied to the photosensitive drum 15 to visualize the latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 15. Further, the developing roller 3 plays a role as a developing means and also a so-called cleaning means. That is, the developing roller 3 serves as a developing unit when the first rotation is performed after the photosensitive drum 15 starts rotating during image formation, and when the photosensitive drum 15 performs the second rotation. The toner T remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 without being completely transferred to the recording paper P, and serves to remove the toner T that has been lifted off the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 by the action of the diffusion brush 26. Thus, by using the developing roller 3 as both the developing unit and the cleaning unit, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to separately provide a cleaning unit and cost can be reduced. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the developing roller 3 is connected to a voltage value variable type first power supply device 10, so that an arbitrary voltage can be applied to the developing roller 3. ing. As a result, the potential difference between the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 after exposure and the developing roller 3 is adjusted, and the amount of toner moving from the developing roller 3 to the photosensitive drum 15 is changed, whereby the density of the formed image is changed. It is possible to adjust.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the developing roller 3 has an end portion 33 a of a roller shaft 33 rotatably attached to the casing 29 via a concentric bearing 34 (bearing). That is, the concentric bearing 34 is attached to the bearing insertion hole 35 formed in the side wall 29 a of the casing 29 so as to be fitted from the inside of the casing 29, and the end 33 a of the roller shaft 33 is inserted into the concentric bearing 34. Thus, the developing roller 3 is rotatably attached to the casing 29. This will be described in more detail below.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the concentric bearing 34 includes a mounting portion 36 fitted into a bearing insertion hole 35 formed in the side wall 29 a of the casing 29, and a flange portion 37 provided at the lower end of the mounting portion 36. , And a roller shaft insertion hole 38 is formed through the attachment portion 36 and the flange portion 37.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the mounting portion 37 is a part of a cylinder cut away along the axial direction to form a detent 39, and is for mounting the concentric bearing 34 to the casing 29. . That is, as shown in FIG. 3, a bearing insertion hole 35 having a shape substantially matching the shape of the mounting portion 36 is formed in the side wall 29 a of the casing 29 so as to penetrate the casing 29. The concentric bearing 34 is attached to the casing 29 by fitting the attachment portion 36. Here, since the rotation stopper 39 is formed in the mounting portion 36, a large frictional force is generated between the concentric bearing 34 and the bearing insertion hole 35, and the concentric bearing 34 itself does not rotate.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the flange portion 37 is in close contact with the inner side surface 29 b of the casing 29, and prevents the concentric bearing 34 from falling out of the casing 29 through the bearing insertion hole 35. Therefore, the flange part 37 should just be formed larger than the bearing penetration hole 35, and the shape and magnitude | size are not restricted to a present Example, but a design change is possible suitably.

  The roller shaft insertion hole 38 is inserted through the one end portion 33a of the roller shaft 33 of the developing roller 3, and a hole having an outer diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the roller shaft 33 as shown in FIG. It is formed through the portion 36 and the flange portion 37. The roller shaft insertion hole 38 is formed so that the center axis C1 thereof substantially coincides with the center axis C1 'of the mounting portion 36.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the supply roller 4 is formed by inserting a roller shaft 41 through a sponge material 40 (roller body) having a hollow cylindrical shape, and the toner accommodated in the toner reservoir 28. T is captured by the sponge material 40 and supplied to the developing roller 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the supply roller 4 is connected to a voltage value variable type second power supply device 11, so that an arbitrary voltage can be applied to the supply roller 4. Yes. Accordingly, it is possible to adjust the density of the formed image by adjusting the potential difference between the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 and changing the amount of toner T moving from the supply roller 4 to the developing roller 3. It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the supply roller 4 has an end 41a of a roller shaft 41 rotatably attached to the casing 29 via an eccentric bearing 42 (bearing). That is, an eccentric bearing 42 is attached to the bearing insertion hole 43 formed in the side wall 29 a of the casing 29 so as to be fitted from the inside of the casing 29, and one end portion 41 a of the roller shaft 41 of the supply roller 4 is attached to the eccentric bearing 42. The supply roller 4 is rotatably attached to the casing 29. This will be described in more detail below.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the eccentric bearing 42 includes a mounting portion 44 fitted in a bearing insertion hole 43 formed in the side wall 29 a of the casing 29, and a flange portion 45 provided at the lower end of the mounting portion 44. And a roller shaft insertion hole 46 is formed through the mounting portion 44 and the flange portion 45. The mounting portion 44 and the flange portion 45 of the eccentric bearing 42 have the same configuration and function as the mounting portion 36 and the flange portion 37 of the concentric bearing 34, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  The roller shaft insertion hole 46 is for inserting the one end portion 41a of the roller shaft 41 of the supply roller 4, and a hole having an outer diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the roller shaft 41 as shown in FIG. It is formed through the portion 44 and the flange portion 45. Further, the roller shaft insertion hole 46 is formed such that the central axis C2 is eccentric from the central axis C2 'of the mounting portion 44 by an eccentric amount d. The two-dot chain line in the figure indicates the position of the roller shaft insertion hole 38 of the concentric bearing 34.

  By using this eccentric bearing 42, it is possible to collect the process cartridge 5 after use, and to reuse the supply roller 4 whose diameter is reduced by use. That is, the diameter of the supply roller 4 made of the sponge material 40 decreases with time due to wear due to contact with the developing roller 3, and the contact state with the developing roller 3 deteriorates. As a result, a sufficient amount of toner is not supplied from the supply roller 4 to the developing roller 3, and there is a problem that the image quality deteriorates. In this embodiment, this problem is solved by using the eccentric bearing 42.

  In more detail, in the state before the supply roller 4 is recycled, as shown in FIG. 13, as in the developing roller 3, both end portions 41 a of the roller shaft 41 are concentric bearings 34. It is attached to the casing 29 via. At this time, the distance L1 between the roller shaft 33 of the developing roller 3 and the roller shaft 41 of the supply roller 4 is approximately equal to the sum of the radius R of the developing roller 3 and the radius r of the supply roller 4. Thus, the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 are in contact with each other. On the other hand, when the supply roller 4 is recycled, as shown in FIG. 3, the supply roller 4 becomes smaller as a result of use, and its radius is (rd). In this case, the roller shaft 41 of the supply roller 4 is attached to the casing 29 via the eccentric bearing 42. At this time, by attaching the eccentric bearing 42 using the existing bearing insertion hole 43 formed in the side wall 29a of the casing 29, the supply roller can be moved without moving the mounting position of the bearing to the casing 29 from before recycling. 4 is moved to the developing roller 3 side by the amount of eccentricity d of the central axis C2 of the roller shaft insertion hole 46 of the eccentric bearing 42, that is, the radius of the supply roller 4 is reduced. it can. Thereby, in order to attach the eccentric bearing 42, it is not necessary to provide a new shaft hole insertion hole (not shown) in the casing 29. 3 indicates the position of the central axis C1 of the roller shaft insertion hole 38 of the concentric bearing 34 attached to the bearing insertion hole 43 before recycling. As described above, even when the supply roller 4 whose diameter is reduced by use is reused, it is possible to maintain a good contact state between the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4. The amount of eccentricity d can be set arbitrarily according to the number of times the supply roller 4 is recycled.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the regulating blade 31 is provided such that one end is attached to the casing 29 and the other end abuts against the developing roller 3 in the counter direction. Although not shown, the toner T adhering to the developing roller 3 is made uniform to form a thin toner layer.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the agitator 30 agitates the toner T stored in the toner reservoir 28 of the casing 29 to prevent the toner T from aggregating and from the toner reservoir 28 toward the supply roller 4. The toner T is sent out. The agitator 30 is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the casing 29, and both ends of the agitator 30 are rotatably supported by the casing 29. The thin agitator 30 projects from the rotary shaft 30a in the radial direction. And a plate-like stirring blade 30b. During the agitation operation, the rotary shaft 30a is rotationally driven by a drive mechanism (not shown), and the agitation blade 30b agitates the inside of the casing 29 accordingly.

  The casing 29 is a container for storing the toner T, and a toner reservoir 28 is formed in the casing 29 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, a first detection window 47 and a second detection window 48 are provided on the side wall 29 a of the casing 29. The first detection window 47 can read the first film body 6 stuck on the end surface 3a of the developing roller 3 by the first CCD sensor 8 disposed outside the process cartridge 5 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, a through hole 49 slightly larger than the size of the first film body 6 is formed at a position facing the first film body 6 on the side wall 29 a of the casing 29. 49, the translucent member 50 is fitted. Further, the second detection window 48 enables the second CCD body 9 to read the second film body 7 affixed to the end surface 4a of the supply roller 4 as shown in FIG. In the same manner as the first detection window 47, the side wall 29a of the 29 is opposed to the second film body 7.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a translucent window 51 is provided on the side wall 29 a of the casing 29. As shown in FIG. 3, the translucent window 51 is formed with a substantially parallelogram-shaped through hole 52 at a position between the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 on the side wall 29 a of the casing 29. Further, a translucent member 55 such as an acrylic plate, in which a contact position confirmation window 53 and a toner out detection window 54 are formed, is fitted.

  The contact position confirmation window 53 is a guideline for a normal contact position between the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4. It is determined whether the development roller 3 and the supply roller 4 are in contact with each other inside the contact position confirmation window 53. By seeing, it is possible to determine whether or not the contact position X is normal. As a result, as described above, when the supply roller 4 whose diameter has been reduced by use is moved to the developing roller 3 side and reused before recycling, the supply roller 4 normally contacts the developing roller 3. Can be easily confirmed from the outside of the process cartridge 5, for example, when the image forming apparatus 1 is shipped, inspection is performed by looking at the contact position confirmation window 53, and the inside of the contact position confirmation window 53. When the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 are in contact with each other, the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 are not in contact with each other, or the contact position X is not inside the contact position confirmation window 53. Things can be removed as defective products.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the toner-out detection window 54 is for detecting the toner out of the process cartridge 5 by a photo sensor S (toner-out detection sensor) provided in the apparatus main body 2. That is, when the photosensor S detects the presence of the toner T inside the toner-out detection window 54, the photosensor S determines that a sufficient amount of toner T is contained in the process cartridge 5. On the other hand, when the toner T is not detected inside the toner out detection window 54, the photo sensor S determines that the toner out of the process cartridge 5 has been detected, and issues a detection signal to the controller 12. Upon receiving this detection signal, the controller 12 informs the user that the toner has run out by blinking a lamp (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 2. Although not shown in detail in the drawing, the photosensor S is composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and detects the presence or absence of an object depending on whether or not the light emitted from the light emitting element is detected by the light receiving element. It is.

  Hereinafter, the optimization of the applied voltage to the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 by the applied voltage optimization mechanism 13 will be described. When the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 are recycled and reused, the surface roughness of the developing roller 3 is reduced by use and the toner carrying force is reduced, and the diameter of the supply roller 4 is reduced by use. Each characteristic has changed compared with the time of a new article. Accordingly, if the magnitude of the voltage applied to the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 is set to the same setting as the initial setting at the time of a new article, image defects such as density defects may occur. The optimization of the applied voltage to the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 is to optimize the magnitude of the voltage applied to each of the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 in order to prevent this problem. It means changing to a value.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the application voltage optimization mechanism 13 records the recycling history information of the developing roller 3, and the recycling history information of the first film body 6 attached to the end surface 3 a of the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4. Is recorded and the second film body 7 affixed to the end surface 4a of the supply roller 4, the first CCD sensor 8 and the second CCD sensor 9 for reading the recycling history information from the film bodies 6 and 7, and the CCD sensors 8 and 9 And a controller 12 that controls the first power supply device 10 and the second power supply device 11 based on each recycle history information sent from.

  The first film body 6 (first information presentation means) records the recycling history information of the developing roller 3 with ink on the front surface 6a of a sheet-like member made of polymer, magnetic tape, ball-type electronics, etc., and the back surface 6b. 8, an adhesive layer (not shown) is formed. As shown in FIG. 8, the end surface 3a of the developing roller 3, that is, the end surface of the urethane rubber member 32 constituting the developing roller 3 is interposed via the adhesive layer. It is affixed. Thus, by sticking the 1st film body 6 to the end surface 3a of the developing roller 3, the 1st film body 6 can be formed comparatively large, and many recycle log | history information can be recorded. There is. The recycling history information recorded on the first film body 6 can be rewritten. That is, when the process cartridge 5 is recycled, the process cartridge 5 can be disassembled and the developing roller 3 can be taken out and rewritten with new recycling history information.

  The recycling history information recorded on the first film body 6 includes, for example, the toner filling amount of the process cartridge 5, the travel distance of the developing roller 3, the number of recycling times of the developing roller 3, and the initial state of the process cartridge 5. Inspection data etc. are mentioned. More specifically, the toner filling amount of the process cartridge 5 indicates whether the process cartridge 5 is a process cartridge 5 built in at the time of shipment of the image forming apparatus 1 or a replacement process cartridge 5. This is information for identification. This is because the amount of toner accommodated in the process cartridge 5 incorporated at the time of shipment and the process cartridge 5 for replacement are different, so that the developing roller 3 when the life of the process cartridge 5 itself comes to an end. This is because the usage state is different between the two. Further, instead of the travel distance of the developing roller 3, the total number of rotations of the developing roller 3, the total driving time, or the total number of prints may be used. Further, the number of recycling times of the developing roller 3 is recorded as 1, 2, 3,. The inspection data in the initial state of the process cartridge 5 includes, for example, the diameter of the developing roller 3, the date of manufacture of the developing roller 3, the material characteristics of the developing roller 3, and the like.

  The first film body 6 in which the recycling history information of the developing roller 3 is recorded has been described above. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 2, the recycling history information of the supplying roller 4 is also provided on the end surface 4a of the supplying roller 4. The second film body 7 on which is recorded is affixed. The configuration of the second film body 7 and the contents of the recorded recycling history information are the same as those of the first film body 6, and detailed description thereof is omitted here. The recycling history information of the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 is recorded together on a single film body (not shown), and this film body is pasted on one end face 3a, 4a of either the developing roller 3 or the supply roller 4. However, as in this embodiment, the process cartridges are recycled at the time of recycling by separately attaching the film bodies 6 and 7 in which the recycling history information is recorded for each of the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4. Even if the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 are taken out by disassembling 5 and handled separately, there is an advantage that the respective recycle history information can be reliably identified.

  The first CCD sensor 8 (reading means) is for reading the recycling history information of the developing roller 3 recorded on the first film body 6 through the first detection window 47, and details are not shown in the figure. The light source which irradiates light to 1 film body 6, the lens which converges the reflected light, and the charge coupled device (Charge Coupled Device) which converts convergent light into an electric signal are comprised. As shown in FIG. 8, the first CCD sensor 8 is installed on a bracket 56 having a substantially L-shaped cross section attached to a position facing the first detection window 47 on the side wall 2 a of the apparatus body 2. As shown in FIG. 6, a bracket 56 is attached to the side wall 2a of the apparatus main body 2 at a position facing the second detection window 48 as shown in FIG. 6, and the second CCD sensor 9 is installed on the bracket 56. The recycling history information of the supply roller 4 recorded on the second film body 7 is read through the second detection window 48. When the CCD sensors 8 and 9 detect that the process cartridge 5 is mounted on the apparatus main body 2, the recycling history information is read from the film bodies 6 and 7, and the read recycling history information is sent to the controller 12. It is supposed to be

  As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 12 controls the first power supply device 10 and the second power supply device 11 on the basis of the respective recycling history information received from the first CCD sensor 8 and the second CCD sensor 9, and the developing roller 3 and The voltage applied to the supply roller 4 is changed. In more detail, inside the controller 12, each recycling history information and optimum voltage values to be applied to the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 according to the information are stored as a table (not shown). Based on the recycle history information received from the first CCD sensor 8 and the second CCD sensor 9, the voltage values to be applied to the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 are determined by referring to the table. As a result, a control signal is issued from the controller 12 to the first power supply 10 and the second power supply 11, and the voltages applied to the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 are changed to appropriate values. .

  When optimizing the applied voltage, the difference between the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 15 after exposure and the potential of the developing roller 3 is the initial setting when the developing roller 3 is new as the number of recycling of the developing roller 3 increases or the traveling distance becomes longer. The magnitude of the voltage applied to the developing roller 3 is changed so as to be larger. Further, as the number of recycles of the supply roller 4 is increased or the travel distance is increased, the difference between the potential of the developing roller 3 and the potential of the supply roller 4 is applied to the supply roller 4 so as to be larger than the initial setting when new. Change the voltage level. As a result, the amount of toner supplied from the supply roller 4 to the development roller 3 and the amount of toner supplied from the development roller 3 to the photosensitive drum 15 are increased, so that the characteristics of the development roller 3 and the supply roller 4 change. It is possible to prevent image defects such as density defects due to the above. Table 1 shows an example of optimization of the applied voltage.

  In this embodiment, ink is used as a means for recording each recycling history information on the surface of each film body 6 and 7, and CCD sensors 8 and 9 are used as means for reading the recycling history information. For example, although not shown in detail in the figure, magnetic ink is used instead of ink as a means for recording on the surface of each film body 6, 7, and a magnetic sensor is used instead of the CCD sensors 8, 9 as reading means. It is also possible to use it.

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the process cartridge 71 in the image forming apparatus 70 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the image forming apparatus 70 includes the first recording history information of the developing roller 3. A film body 72 (first information presentation means) is affixed to the end surface 33b of the roller shaft 33 of the developing roller 3, and a second film body 73 (second information presentation means) on which recycling history information of the supply roller 4 is recorded is supplied. Except for the point affixed to the end surface 41b of the roller shaft 41 of the roller 4, it is the same as the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. In the figure, the same members as those of the image forming apparatus 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. A detailed description is omitted here.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the first film body 72 is formed slightly smaller than the longitudinal section of the roller shaft 33 of the developing roller 3, and is attached to the end surface 33 b of the roller shaft 33. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, the end of the roller shaft 33 is provided so as to protrude through the side wall 29 a of the casing 29, and the first film body 72 is located outside the casing 29. ing. Therefore, the first CCD sensor 8 for reading the first film body 72 is installed on the bracket 56 attached to the side wall 2 a of the apparatus main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 at a position facing the roller shaft 33. As a result, unlike the first embodiment, it is not necessary to provide the first detection window 47 on the side wall 29a of the casing 29 in order to read the first film body 6 with the first CCD sensor 8, and the labor required for processing the casing 29 is eliminated. There is an advantage that the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced because the light transmissive member 50 is unnecessary.

  A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the image forming apparatus 80 according to the present embodiment is a first unit that presents each recycling history information of the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 constituting the applied voltage optimization mechanism 13. Instead of the film body 6 and the second film body 7, a plurality of pins 81 provided so as to protrude outward from the side wall 29 a of the casing 29 are used, and the CCD sensor 8 is used as a means for reading each recycling history information. , 9 is replaced by a pin detection means 82 for detecting the presence of a pin, and the other points are the same as those of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. The same members as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the pin 81 has a mounting margin 84 formed at the lower end portion of a conductive member 83 having a substantially cylindrical shape. In this embodiment, four pins 81 are used, and the number of recycling times of the developing roller 3 is presented as digital data using the two pins 81a and the number of times of recycling of the supply roller 4 is presented as the remaining two pins 81b. . That is, 1 is attached when the pin 81 is attached, 0 is not attached, and a 2-digit binary number is represented by the two pins 81a and 81b, so that the number of recycling is 0 to 3 times. . Of course, the number of pins 81 is not limited to the present embodiment, and can be arbitrarily set according to the number of times of recycling.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the pin detection means 82 is connected to the power supply device 85, a plate spring member 87 formed with a V-shaped protrusion 86, and a sheet metal member connected to the controller 12 via the transistor 88. 89, and the leaf spring member 87 and the sheet metal member 89 are attached to the side wall 2 a of the apparatus main body 2. Thus, when the process cartridge 90 having the pin 81 attached to the side wall 29a of the casing 29 is mounted on the apparatus main body 2, the protruding portion 86 of the leaf spring member 87 contacts the pin 81 and one end of the sheet metal member 89 is attached. When the portion 89 a contacts the pin 81, a current flows from the leaf spring member 87 side to the sheet metal member 89 side via the pin 81, and is amplified by the transistor 88 and sent to the controller 12. The controller 12 detects the presence of the pin 81 by detecting this current. On the other hand, when the pin 81 is not attached to the side wall 29a of the casing 29, no current is generated, and the controller 12 does not detect the presence of the pin 81. In this way, the controller 12 detects the number of recycling of the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 by detecting the presence or absence of each of the four pins 81, and the first power supply is accordingly detected. A control signal is issued to the device 10 and the second power supply device 11 to optimize the voltage applied to the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4. As described above, the first information presentation means and the second information presentation means are the pins 81, and the reading means is the pin detection means 82, thereby simplifying the structure and reducing the time required for processing the casing 29. There is an advantage that cost can be reduced.

  Other roller members used inside the image forming apparatus can also be applied to those whose diameters are reduced by use. Further, the present invention is not limited to the case where the diameter is reduced by use, and can be applied to a case where, for example, the diameter of the roller is changed for the purpose of cost reduction.

1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing an image forming apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a process cartridge 5 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view in which the vicinity of end portions of the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 according to the first embodiment is enlarged. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a concentric bearing 34 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an eccentric bearing 42 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the vicinity of a process cartridge 5 according to the first embodiment. The figure which expanded the side wall 29a of the casing 29 of the process cartridge 5 which concerns on Example 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view in which the vicinity of an end portion of the developing roller 3 according to the first embodiment is enlarged. FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a process cartridge 71 of an image forming apparatus 70 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing the vicinity of a process cartridge 71 according to a second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing the vicinity of a process cartridge 90 according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a pin 81 and a pin detection unit 82 according to a third embodiment. The schematic cross-sectional view which expanded the edge part vicinity of the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 before a recycle.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Developing roller 4 Supply roller 5,71,90 Process cartridge 15 Photosensitive drum 29 Casing 29a Side wall (casing)
34 Concentric bearing (bearing)
41 Roller shaft (supply roller)
42 Eccentric bearing (bearing)
44 Mounting portion 46 Roller shaft insertion hole C2 Center shaft (roller shaft insertion hole)
C2 'center axis (mounting part)
T Toner

Claims (1)

A casing for containing toner, a developing roller for developing the latent image on the photosensitive drum using toner, and both ends are rotatably attached to the side wall of the casing via bearings, and contact the developing roller A supply roller for supplying the toner, and collecting the process cartridge after use, and recycling the supply roller having a diameter reduced by use,
A bearing formed in the bearing insertion hole formed in the side wall of the casing for mounting the bearing, and a center axis decentered from the central axis of the mounting section. Attaching an eccentric bearing comprising a shaft insertion hole,
The supply roller recycling method, wherein the supply roller is disposed on the developing roller side compared to before recycling by inserting the roller shaft of the supply roller into the roller shaft insertion hole of the eccentric bearing. .

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