JP4148275B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer using an electrophotographic method, and more particularly to an apparatus that opens and closes an opening for supplying toner from a toner container such as a toner cartridge to a toner supply unit by a shutter member. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using a toner supply device capable of preventing toner from leaking to the outside in accordance with an opening / closing operation of the shutter member.

JP-A-5-181362

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer using this type of electrophotographic system, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image of an original is formed on a photosensitive drum, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device. The toner image is developed into a toner image, and the image is formed by transferring and fixing the toner image onto a transfer sheet. The developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum gradually consumes toner by repeating the developing process. Therefore, the developing device is configured separately from the developing device, and a toner cartridge is provided. The toner is supplied to the developing device from the provided toner supply device.

  The toner supply device is configured to open and close an opening for supplying toner from the toner cartridge to the toner supply unit by a shutter member, and the opening and closing operation of the shutter member is performed by attaching the toner cartridge to the toner supply unit. It is configured to be interlocked with the rotation operation and push-in operation.

  By the way, in such a toner supply device, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-181362 discloses that the toner adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the toner cartridge is prevented from scattering inside and outside the copying machine when the toner cartridge is taken out from the holder. The techniques disclosed in the above have already been proposed.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the developing device according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-181362 has a toner cartridge 201 outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface of the holder 202 around the toner discharge opening B on the outer peripheral surface of the toner cartridge 201. A seal member 203 that seals the gap is provided. The seal member 203 is formed of, for example, an elastic material such as sponge and is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the toner cartridge 201 with an adhesive or the like. When the toner cartridge 201 is rotated counterclockwise after being inserted into the holder 202 with the toner discharge opening B facing upward, the toner scattered from the toner discharge opening B is sealed by the seal member 203, whereby the toner cartridge Intrusion between the outer peripheral surface of 201 and the inner peripheral surface of the holder 202 is prevented from adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the toner cartridge 201.

  However, the conventional technique has the following problems. That is, in the above conventional toner supply device, as disclosed in JP-A-5-181362, the toner cartridge 201 outer peripheral surface and the holder 202 are arranged around the toner discharge opening B on the toner cartridge 201 outer peripheral surface. A seal member 203 that seals between the inner peripheral surface is provided. However, even in such a configuration, when the toner cartridge 201 is detached from the holder 202, the toner cartridge 201 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the toner cartridge 201 when rotated counterclockwise after being inserted into the holder 202. The seal member 202 crosses the toner supply path (opening) for supplying toner from the toner cartridge 201 to the holder 202. Therefore, the seal member 203 scoops out the toner in the toner replenishment path, and the scooped toner enters between the toner cartridge 201 and the holder 202, and when the toner cartridge 201 is pulled out of the holder 202, the inside of the copying machine In addition, there is a problem that toner scatters on the outside.

  This problem is caused when the seal member 203 that seals between the outer peripheral surface of the toner cartridge 201 and the inner peripheral surface of the holder 202 is provided around the toner discharge opening B on the outer peripheral surface of the toner cartridge 104 as described above. However, the same occurs in a toner supply device in which a shutter member that opens and closes the opening is provided in an opening that supplies toner from the toner cartridge 201 to the holder 202.

  Further, in order to prevent toner leakage more effectively, when the seal between the outer peripheral surface of the toner cartridge 201 and the inner peripheral surface of the holder 202 is strengthened by the seal member 203, as described above. When the seal member 203 crosses the toner supply path (opening), the toner scooped by the seal member 203 is compressed by the seal member 203 and aggregates into coarse particles, and the toner becomes coarse particles. Is supplied from the toner supply device to the developing device, resulting in image quality defects such as white spots, or when the toner cartridge 201 is attached or detached, the toner cartridge 201 is strongly rubbed against the seal member 203 and the seal member 203 is torn off. There was a problem that it mixed in the supply device and caused a defect in image quality.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to prevent the toner from scattering to the outside and to improve the image quality due to the agglomerated toner or the like. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which no defect occurs.

That is, the invention described in claim 1
In the image forming apparatus detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body by a sliding method based on a mounting operation of pushing the toner container into the back side of the image forming apparatus main body and a detaching operation of pulling out the front side.
The toner container is
A toner container side opening for supplying toner;
A toner container side partition member that opens and closes the toner container side opening,
The image forming apparatus main body includes:
An image forming apparatus main body side opening to which toner is supplied;
When the toner supply container is pulled out with the toner container side partition member closed by the toner container side partition member, a lower portion of the toner container side partition member passes the tip and the toner container. an image forming apparatus and having a toner-collecting recess provided on the downstream side in the direction pulling out the relative downstream side in the direction of pulling the toner accommodating container accommodating container side opening.

In addition, the invention described in claim 2
An image is obtained by a rotation method based on a mounting operation in which the cylindrical toner container is pushed into the back side of the image forming apparatus main body and then rotated along the circumferential direction, and a detaching operation in which the cylindrical toner container is pulled out on the near side after rotating in the circumferential direction. In the image forming apparatus detachably attached to the forming apparatus main body,
The toner container is
A toner container side opening for supplying toner;
A toner storage container side partition member that is rotatably attached to the toner storage container and that opens and closes the toner storage container side opening in conjunction with the rotation operation;
The image forming apparatus main body includes:
An image forming apparatus main body side opening to which toner is supplied;
When the toner storage container side partition member is closed in conjunction with the turning operation, the toner storage container is below the region where the tip of the toner storage container side partition member is located and at the tip of the toner storage container side partition member. An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner collecting recess provided on a downstream side of the pulling direction with respect to the pulling direction .

Furthermore, the invention described in claim 3
An image is obtained by a rotation method based on a mounting operation in which the cylindrical toner container is pushed into the back side of the image forming apparatus main body and then rotated along the circumferential direction, and a detaching operation in which the cylindrical toner container is pulled out on the near side after rotating in the circumferential direction. In the image forming apparatus detachably attached to the forming apparatus main body,
A toner container that is rotatably mounted on a cylindrically formed apparatus main body;
An image forming apparatus main body side opening to which toner is supplied from the toner container;
A partition member that slides across the image forming apparatus main body side opening in conjunction with the rotational movement of the toner container when the toner container is removed;
The part on the image forming apparatus main body side where the tip of the partition member stops when the partition member that moves in conjunction with the rotation of the toner container slides in the direction to close the opening on the image forming apparatus main body side For toner collection provided near the lower side of the region where the tip of the partition member is located and on the downstream side of the pulling-out direction of the toner container at the tip of the toner-container-side partition member An image forming apparatus having a recess.
In addition, the invention described in claim 4
An image is obtained by a rotation method based on a mounting operation in which the cylindrical toner container is pushed into the back side of the image forming apparatus main body and then rotated along the circumferential direction, and a detaching operation in which the cylindrical toner container is pulled out on the near side after rotating in the circumferential direction. In the image forming apparatus detachably attached to the forming apparatus main body,
A toner container having an opening on the toner container side and detachable with a rotation operation with respect to the image forming apparatus main body;
An apparatus main body side opening provided on the image forming apparatus main body side and connected to the toner containing container side opening;
The toner container disposed at a rear end of the toner container side opening in the rotation direction of the toner container side crossing the image forming apparatus main body side opening during the pivoting operation when removing the toner container. An outer wall,
A pulling-out direction that is provided on the image forming apparatus main body side and is below the position where the tip of the outer peripheral wall stops when the rotation operation is stopped and the direction of pulling out the toner container at the tip of the toner container-side partition member An image forming apparatus having a toner collecting recess located over the downstream side of the image forming apparatus.
Furthermore, the invention described in claim 5 is
5. The sealing member according to claim 1, further comprising: a sealing member that prevents the toner collected in the toner collecting recess from scattering outside. This is an image forming apparatus.
In addition, the invention described in claim 6
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for discharging toner accumulated in the recess for collecting toner.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can prevent the toner from scattering to the outside and that does not cause image quality defects due to aggregated toner or the like.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1
FIG. 2 shows a color electrophotographic copying machine as an image forming apparatus to which a toner supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a color electrophotographic copying machine, and an automatic document transport for automatically transporting documents 2 one by one on the upper part of the color electrophotographic copying machine body 1. An apparatus 3 and a document reading device 4 that reads an image of the document 2 conveyed by the automatic document conveying device 3 are provided. The document reader 4 illuminates a document 2 placed on a platen glass 5 with a light source 6, and reflects a reflected light image from the document 2 from a full-rate mirror 7, half-rate mirrors 8 and 9, and an imaging lens 10. The image reading element 11 composed of a CCD or the like is scanned and exposed through a reduction optical system, and the color material reflected light image of the document 2 is formed at a predetermined dot density (for example, 16 dots / mm) by the image reading element 11. It is supposed to read.

  The color material reflected light image of the document 2 read by the document reading device 4 is subjected to image processing, for example, as document reflectance data of three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) (8 bits each). The image processing apparatus 12 sends a predetermined correction such as shading correction, position shift correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame erasing, color / moving editing, etc., to the reflectance data of the document 2. Image processing is performed.

  The image data that has been subjected to the predetermined image processing by the image processing device 12 as described above is a four-color document of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK) (8 bits each). The color material gradation data is sent to a ROS 13 (Raster Output Scanner), and the ROS 13 performs image exposure with laser light in accordance with the original color material gradation data. The color electrophotographic copying machine is also configured to function as a printer. When the color electrophotographic copying machine functions as a printer, the image processing apparatus 12 can receive images from a host computer such as a personal computer. After data is input and predetermined image processing is performed by the image processing apparatus 12, the original color material gradation data of four colors is output to the ROS 13.

  An image forming unit A capable of forming a plurality of toner images having different colors is disposed inside the color electrophotographic copying machine main body 1. The image forming means A mainly includes a photosensitive drum 17 as an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a plurality of different colors by developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 17. And a rotary developing device 18 as developing means capable of forming a toner image.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ROS 13 modulates a semiconductor laser (not shown) according to the original color material gradation data, and emits a laser beam LB from the semiconductor laser according to the gradation data. The laser beam LB emitted from the semiconductor laser is deflected and scanned by the rotary polygon mirror 14 and scanned and exposed on the photosensitive drum 17 as an image carrier through the f · θ lens 15 and the reflection mirror 16.

  The photosensitive drum 17 on which the laser beam LB is scanned and exposed by the ROS 13 is driven to rotate at a predetermined speed in the direction of the arrow by a driving unit (not shown). The surface of the photosensitive drum 17 is charged in advance with a predetermined polarity (for example, negative polarity) and potential by a scorotron 19 for primary charging, and then laser light LB is scanned and exposed in accordance with the original color material gradation data. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 17 rotates four color developing devices 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). The rotary developing device 18 that can be provided is reversely developed with, for example, toner charged to a negative polarity that is the same as the charged polarity of the photosensitive drum 17 to form a toner image of a predetermined color. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 17 is charged with negative polarity or the like by the pre-transfer charger 20 as necessary, and the charge amount is adjusted.

  Each color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 17 is transferred onto a primary transfer roll 22 as a first transfer unit on an intermediate transfer belt 21 as an intermediate transfer member disposed below the photosensitive drum 17. Are transcribed in multiples. The intermediate transfer belt 21 is composed of a driving roll 23, a driven roll 24a, a driven roll 24b, a tension roll 24c, a driven roll 24d, and a backup roll 25 serving as a counter roll constituting a part of the secondary transfer unit. Is supported so as to be rotatable along the direction of the arrow at the same movement speed as the peripheral speed.

  On the intermediate transfer belt 21, four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK) are formed on the photosensitive drum 17 according to the color of the image to be formed. All or part of the toner image is transferred in a state of being sequentially superimposed by the primary transfer roll 22. The toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 21 is transferred onto a transfer sheet 26 as a transfer member that is conveyed to a secondary transfer position at a predetermined timing, and a backup roll 25 that supports the intermediate transfer belt 21; Transfer is performed by the pressure contact force and electrostatic force of the secondary transfer roll 27 that constitutes a part of the secondary transfer unit that is in pressure contact with the backup roll 25. As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer paper 26 is supplied from any one of a plurality of paper feed cassettes 28, 29, 30, 31 as a plurality of transfer paper storage members disposed in the lower part of the color electrophotographic copying machine body 1. Paper of a predetermined size is fed by feed rolls 28a, 29a, 30a, 31a. The fed transfer paper 26 is transported to the secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer belt 21 at a predetermined timing by a plurality of transport rolls 32 and registration rolls 33. Then, as described above, a toner image of a predetermined color is collectively transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 21 to the transfer sheet 26 by the backup roll 25 and the secondary transfer roll 27 as secondary transfer means. It has become so.

  The transfer paper 26 onto which the toner image of a predetermined color has been transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 21 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 21 and then conveyed to the fixing device 35 by the conveying belt 34. The fixing device 35 Thus, the toner image is fixed on the recording paper 26 by heat and pressure, and in the case of single-sided copying, the toner image is directly discharged onto the paper discharge tray 36 and the color image copying process is completed.

  On the other hand, in the case of duplex copying, the transfer sheet 26 on which the color image is formed on the first surface (front surface) is not discharged onto the discharge tray 36 as it is, but the conveyance direction is changed downward by a reversing gate (not shown). The three rolls are temporarily conveyed to the reverse passage 39 by the tri-roll 37 and the reverse roll 38 in pressure contact. Then, the transfer paper 26 is conveyed to the double-sided passage 40 by the reversing roll 38 which is reversed this time, and is once conveyed to the registration roll 33 by the conveying roll 41 provided in the double-sided passage 40 and stopped. The transfer paper 26 is transported again by the registration roll 33 in synchronization with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21, and the transfer / fixing process of the toner image to the second surface (back surface) of the transfer paper 26 is performed. After being performed, it is discharged onto the discharge tray 36.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 42 denotes a cleaning device for removing residual toner, paper dust and the like from the surface of the photosensitive drum 17 after the transfer process is completed, and 43 denotes a manual feed tray.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the image forming means A of the color electrophotographic copying machine.

  In this color electrophotographic copying machine, as described above, after the surface of the photosensitive drum 17 is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential by the scorotron 19 for primary charging, the surface of the photosensitive drum 17 has ROS 13. Thus, an image corresponding to a predetermined color is exposed to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent images formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 17 corresponding to the respective colors are developed by the corresponding color developing devices 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K. The toner image T of the color is formed.

  For example, if the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 17 corresponds to a yellow color, the electrostatic latent image is developed by the yellow developing device 18Y and is applied to the photosensitive drum 17. In this case, a yellow toner image T is formed. For other magenta, cyan, and black colors, corresponding color toner images T are sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum 17 by the same process.

  The toner images T of the respective colors sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum 17 are transferred from the photosensitive drum 17 to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 at the primary transfer position where the photosensitive drum 17 and the intermediate transfer belt 21 are in contact with each other. Is done. At the primary transfer position, a semiconductive primary transfer bias roll 22 is disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 21, and the intermediate transfer belt 21 is photoreceptord by the primary transfer bias roll 22. It contacts the surface of the drum 17. A voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the bias roller 22 for primary transfer, and the toner image T formed on the photosensitive drum 17 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 21 by a pressure contact force and an electrostatic force. Is done.

  In the case of forming a single color image, the toner image T of the predetermined color that is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 21 is immediately secondary transferred onto the recording paper 26, but the toner images T of a plurality of colors are superimposed. When forming a color image, the steps of forming a toner image T of a predetermined color on the photosensitive drum 17 and performing primary transfer of the toner image T onto the intermediate transfer belt 21 are performed for a predetermined number of colors. Only repeated.

  For example, when a full color image is formed by superposing four color toner images T of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK), one of them is formed on the photosensitive drum 17. At each rotation, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK) toner images T are sequentially formed, and these four color toner images are sequentially superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 21. Primary transfer is performed in the combined state.

  At that time, the intermediate transfer belt 21 is rotated at a period synchronized with the photosensitive drum 17 while holding the yellow unfixed toner image T which is primarily transferred first, and on the intermediate transfer belt 21. The magenta, cyan, and black unfixed toner images T are transferred in a state of being sequentially superimposed on the yellow unfixed toner image T for each rotation.

  The unfixed toner image T primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 21 in this way is conveyed to a secondary transfer position facing the conveyance path of the transfer paper 26 as the intermediate transfer belt 21 rotates.

  Then, as described above, the transfer paper 26 is fed from the predetermined paper feed cassettes 28, 29, 30, 31 by the feed rolls 28 a, 29 a, 30 a, 31 a and conveyed to the registration roll 33 by the conveyance roll 32. Then, the sheet is fed by a registration roll 33 between the secondary transfer roll 27 and the intermediate transfer belt 21 at a predetermined timing.

  In addition, a backup roll 25 serving as a counter electrode of the secondary transfer roll 27 is disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 21 at the secondary transfer position. At the secondary transfer position, the semiconductive secondary transfer roll 27 is brought into pressure contact with the intermediate transfer belt 21 at a predetermined timing, and a voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the backup roll 25, whereby the intermediate transfer is performed. The unfixed toner image T transferred onto the belt 21 is electrostatically secondary transferred onto the transfer paper 26 at the secondary transfer position.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a voltage having the same polarity as the toner charging polarity is not directly applied to the secondary transfer roll 27, but the secondary transfer roll 27 is interposed via the intermediate transfer belt 21. A voltage having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the backup roll 25 in pressure contact from a high voltage power source for transfer bias (not shown) as a transfer bias voltage applying means by a bias roll 44. However, it is a matter of course that the secondary transfer roll 27 may be configured to directly apply a voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner.

  Then, the transfer sheet 26 onto which the unfixed toner image T has been transferred is peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 21, and is transferred to the fixing device 35 by the electrode member 45, the guide plate 46, and the transport belt 34 disposed downstream of the secondary transfer unit. Then, the unfixed toner image T is fixed.

The intermediate transfer belt 21 is prepared by dispersing an appropriate amount of a conductive agent such as carbon black in a synthetic resin such as polyimide, polycarbonate, polyester, or polypropylene, or various types of rubber, and having a volume resistivity of 10 ⁶ to 10 ¹⁴ Ω · It is formed by a film-like belt adjusted to be cm. The thickness of the intermediate transfer belt 21 is set to 0.1 mm, for example. The circumferential length of the intermediate transfer belt 21 is set to an integral multiple (for example, 3 times) of the circumferential length of the photosensitive drum 17.

  Further, the secondary transfer roll 27 is disposed so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the intermediate transfer belt 21 as necessary. When a color image is formed, the unfixed toner image T of the final color is intermediate. It is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 21 until it is primarily transferred onto the transfer belt 21.

Further, the secondary transfer roll 27 includes a surface layer made of a urethane rubber tube in which carbon is dispersed and an inner layer made of foamed urethane rubber in which carbon is dispersed, and on the surface of the secondary transfer roll 27. Is provided with a fluorine coat. The secondary transfer roll 27 has a volume resistivity of 10 ³ to 10 ¹⁰ Ω · cm, a roll diameter of φ28 mm, and a hardness of, for example, 30 ° (Asuka C).

On the other hand, the backup roll 25 includes a surface layer made of a tube of EPDM and NBR blend rubber in which carbon is dispersed, and an inner layer made of EPDM rubber, and has a surface resistivity of 10 ⁷ to 10 ¹⁰ Ω. / □, the roll diameter is formed to be φ28 mm, and the hardness is set to 70 ° (Asuka C), for example.

  The electrode member 45 disposed downstream of the nip portion at the secondary transfer position is preferably a sheet metal as a conductive plate-like member. In this embodiment, a stainless steel plate having a thickness of 0.5 mm is used. A sheet having a needle shape on the side of the sheet 26 is used. Further, the tip of the electrode member 45 on the secondary transfer region side is 1 mm from the line formed by the nip portion between the backup roll 25 and the secondary transfer roll 27 on the side of the secondary transfer roll 27 and 7 mm from the exit of the nip portion. Are located apart.

  FIG. 4 shows a developing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. This developing device is used, for example, as a rotary developing device 18 of a digital color copying machine configured as described above.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the rotary type developing device 18 includes four developing devices 18K, 18Y, 18M, and 18C having the same configuration and different only in the color of the toner to be used. The two developing units 18K, 18Y, 18M, and 18C are attached to a developing unit holding body 51 that is a frame formed in a substantially cylindrical shape at symmetrical positions that are different from each other by 90 degrees about the rotation shaft 50. . As described above, the four developing devices 18K, 18Y, 18M, and 18C contain black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) developers, respectively. Of course, the order of the colors of the four developing units 18K, 18Y, 18M, and 18C and the color of the developer to be stored may be different from the order and colors described above.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the rotary developing device 18 is rotated by a rotary drive motor 99 via a large-diameter rotary gear 98 provided at one end in the axial direction as shown in FIG. A developing device holder 51 that holds four developing devices 18K, 18Y, 18M, and 18C is rotatable along the direction of the arrow, and a developing device that contains toner of a predetermined color that is developed by this driving mechanism. By sequentially rotating and moving the 18K, 18Y, 18M, and 18C to the developing position facing the photosensitive drum 16, development of a predetermined color is possible. The four developing devices 18K, 18Y, 18M, and 18C can be moved to a predetermined position such as a home position in addition to the developing position by the driving mechanism and can be stopped.

  Each developer 18K, 18Y, 18M, 18C of the rotary developing device 18 is provided with a developer disposed at the opening of the developer housing 52 so as to face the photosensitive drum 16, as shown in FIG. A developing roll 53 as a carrier, a first screw auger 55 and a second screw auger 56 as agitating and conveying members provided together with a partition wall 54 below the back side of the developing roll 53, and the first and first A two-component developer 57 composed of toner T and carrier C stirred while being sequentially conveyed by the two screw augers 55 and 56, and a toner supply which will be described later, are disposed in the rear side intermediate portion of the developer housing 52. The toner auger 59 as a connecting and conveying member that conveys the toner T supplied from the apparatus constitutes a main part thereof. Inside the developing device housing 52 of each of the developing devices 18K, 18Y, 18M, and 18C, a developer tank 61 in which a two-component developer 57 composed of toner T of a predetermined color and carrier C that is magnetic particles is accommodated. It has become.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the developing roll 53 includes a cylindrical developing sleeve 62 that rotates in the direction of the arrow, and a magnet roll 63 that is fixedly disposed inside the developing sleeve 62. The excess developer 57 is scraped off by the earing restricting member 64 disposed on the outer surface of the head, and a predetermined amount of magnetic brush is formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. Then, the developing roller 53 having a predetermined amount of magnetic brush formed on the surface conveys the developer 57 to the developing area facing the photosensitive drum 16 as the developing sleeve 62 rotates, and is placed on the photosensitive drum 16. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed with toner of a predetermined color. The magnet roll 63 disposed in the developing sleeve 62 has a plurality of magnetic poles having a predetermined polarity at predetermined positions on the outer periphery thereof in order to obtain predetermined developing characteristics and developer transport characteristics. .

  On the other hand, the first and second screw augers 55 and 56 are, as shown in FIG. 7, rotating shafts 65 and 66 that are driven to rotate at a low speed by a driving motor via a driving gear (not shown), and these rotating shafts 65. , 66 and conveying blades 67, 68 formed in a spiral shape over the longitudinal direction. The conveying blades 67, 68 of the first and second screw augers 55, 56 are shortly provided with receiving conveying blades 67a, 68a for receiving the developer 57 at one end thereof. The first screw auger 55 has a conveying blade 67 made of a nonmagnetic stainless steel material (nonmagnetic SUS304) or a synthetic resin member (a material to which toner is difficult to adhere, such as polycarbonate), and the magnetic force of the magnet roller 63 is reduced. It has become unaffected. Then, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first and second screw augers 55 and 56 convey the developer 57 in the developer tank 61 while stirring the developer 57 in the direction of the arrow. In the state where the developer 57 is conveyed to the ends of the second screw augers 55 and 56, the developer 57 is delivered through the openings 69 and 70 provided in the partition wall 54, and the developer 57 is stirred. However, it is configured to circulate and convey.

  Further, the toner supply screw auger 59 is arranged at the intermediate portion on the back side of the developing device housing 52 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the toner supply screw auger 59 has the other end portion of the second screw auger 56 along the longitudinal direction of the second screw auger 56 from the outside of the one end portion of the developing device housing 52. It is arranged over the vicinity. A return screw auger 59 a formed at a fine pitch in the reverse direction is formed short at the end of the toner supply screw auger 59 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction, and is conveyed by the toner supply screw auger 59. The toner T to be supplied is reliably supplied into the developing device housing 52. As shown in FIG. 7, the toner supply screw auger 59 is rotationally driven by the gear 72 provided at the end of the rotary shaft 71 meshing with the drive gear 74 attached to the drive motor 73. It has become so. The drive motor 73 is mounted in a fixed state on the support frame 75 of the digital color copying machine, corresponding to the developing position where the developing unit faces the photosensitive drum 16. A gear 72 attached to the end of the rotary shaft 71 of the toner supply screw auger 59 is provided in each of the developing devices 18K, 18Y, 18M, and 18C, and each of the developing devices 18K, 18Y, 18M, The gear 72 is configured to mesh with a drive gear 74 attached to a drive motor 73 when the 18C moves to the developing position.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the toner supply screw auger 59 is covered with a cylindrical member 76, and toner can be supplied to one end of the cylindrical member 76 from a toner supply device 80 described later. In addition, an opening 77 is provided, and at the other end, a large opening 78 for supplying toner to the upper portion of the second screw auger 56 in the developing device housing 52 is provided.

  FIG. 5 shows a toner supply apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the toner supply device 80 is disposed on the upper part of the rotary type developing device 18, and each of the developing units 19 K, 19 Y, 19 M, and 19 C of the rotary type developing device 19 has yellow ( Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK) toners are replenished. The toner supply device 80 includes toner supply units 80K, 80Y, 80M, and 80C for black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) in parallel along the horizontal direction. It is arranged. These toner supply units 80K, 80Y, 80M, and 80C are all configured similarly.

  FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the toner supply unit of the toner supply apparatus.

  These toner supply units 80K, 80Y, 80M, and 80C are arranged along the horizontal direction on the upper part of the rotary developing device 18 so as to correspond to the developing units 18K, 18Y, 18M, and 18C. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the toner supply devices 80K, 80Y, 80M, and 80C store the corresponding black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) toners. The toner cartridges 81K, 81Y, 81M, and 81C are provided as toner storage containers. These toner cartridges 81K, 81Y, 81M, and 81C are provided in the digital copying machine main body 1 as shown in FIGS. The rotary multicolor developing device 18 is accommodated in the upper part.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the toner cartridge 81 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a relatively short length, and a predetermined amount of toner T of a predetermined color is accommodated therein. In addition, a toner transport agitator 82 for stirring and transporting the toner T is disposed inside the toner cartridge 81. The toner transport agitator 82 is, as shown in FIGS. A cartridge motor 84 which is a drive motor composed of a synchronous motor or the like attached to a frame 83 on the back side of 80 is rotationally driven. As shown in FIG. 10, the toner cartridge 81 is mounted by being inserted into a predetermined position from the front side of the digital color copying machine main body 1. The toner cartridge 81 is rotated by a predetermined angle by a handle 85 provided on the front surface of the toner cartridge 81 with the toner cartridge 81 inserted to a predetermined position of the digital color copying machine main body 1. As will be described in detail later, the shutter of the toner cartridge 81 is opened, and the toner T can be supplied from the toner supply opening 86 provided in the lower part on the back side. The toner transport agitator 82 provided in the toner cartridge 81 has a large toner transport capability. If toner is present in the toner cartridge 81, the toner transport agitator 82 is driven for a predetermined time. As a result, a sufficient amount of toner can be supplied from the toner supply opening 86 without fail.

  A reserve tank 87 for conveying the toner supplied from the toner cartridge 81 to the developing unit 18 is disposed below the rear end of the toner cartridge 81 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 8, 11, and 12, the reserve tank 87 is positioned between the two toner storage portions 88 a and 88 b having a U-shaped cross section and the two toner storage portions 88 a and 88 b. One toner supply part 88c having a U-shaped cross section is provided. Spatial agitators 89a and 89b for agitating and conveying the toner are rotatably provided in the two toner storage portions 88a and 88b, respectively, and in one toner supply portion 88c, A screw-type auger 89c that conveys the toner while stirring is provided. In these spatral agitators 89a and 89b and the screw-shaped auger 89c, the spatular agitators 89a and 89b are set to have a larger toner conveying capacity than the screw-shaped auger 89c. The toner T supplied from the toner cartridge 81 into the reserve tank 87 is conveyed so as to circulate while being stirred by spiral agitators 89a and 89b provided in the two toner storage portions 88a and 88b. As shown in FIG. 8, a part of the toner is conveyed by a screw-like auger 89c provided in the toner supply unit 88c, and from a toner discharge port 90 provided on the bottom surface of the toner supply unit 88c, as shown in FIG. Toner is supplied to the developing device 18 through a cylindrical member 91 for supplying toner.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, a toner sensor 93 is attached to the side wall of the region 92 where the toner T is supplied from the toner cartridge 81 of the reserve tank 87 as a detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of toner. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the cylindrical member 91 for supplying the toner has an opened one end located below the toner discharge port 90 of the reserve tank 87 and an opening 94 provided downward. The other end is arranged to supply toner T to a developing device (not shown). A screw-type auger 95 for transporting the toner T is provided inside the cylindrical member 91 for supplying toner.

  By the way, the two spiral agitators 89a and 89b and one screw auger 89c provided in the reserve tank 87 of the toner supply device 80 and the cylindrical member 91 for supplying toner are provided. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, the screw-shaped auger 95 is rotationally driven through a plurality of gears 97a to 97d and a gear (not shown) by a toner supply motor 96 which is a drive motor composed of a synchronous motor or the like. It has become so.

By the way, the toner supply device according to the first embodiment has a reserve tank having an opening through which toner is supplied from the toner container, and crosses the opening of the reserve tank when the toner container is detached. In a toner supply device including a partition member that slides on
When the partition member slides in the direction of closing the opening of the reserve tank, a recess for collecting toner is provided in the vicinity of the portion of the reserve tank where the tip of the partition member stops or passes.

  As described above, each of the toner supply units 80K, 80Y, 80M, and 80C of the toner supply device 80, as shown in FIG. 5, is supplied with black (K), yellow ( Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) toners are individually conveyed to the upper part of the rotary developing device 19. The cylindrical member 91 for supplying toner is set to have a different length depending on the toner supply units 80K, 80Y, 80M, and 80C.

  The toner supply cylindrical member 91 is provided with a toner supply opening 100 for each color toner at a position corresponding to the upper portion of one end in the longitudinal direction of the rotary developing device 19. . Further, below the opening 100 of the cylindrical member 91 for supplying toner, four cylindrical portions 101 for supplying toner are provided short in the vertical direction for each color toner. The four cylindrical portions 101 for supplying toner are connected to a distributor 102 (distributor) disposed on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the rotary developing device 18, and through the distributor 102, Black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are formed at the ends of cylindrical members 76 having different lengths of the developing devices 18K, 18Y, 18M, and 18C of the rotary developing device 18. It is configured to supply corresponding color toner.

  FIG. 1 shows a toner supply apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the toner cartridge 81 of the toner supply device 80 is mounted by being inserted into a predetermined position from the front side of the color electrophotographic copying machine main body 1. Then, the toner cartridge 81 is rotated as shown in FIG. 12 by rotating a handle 85 provided on the front surface of the toner cartridge 81 by a predetermined angle while the toner cartridge 81 is inserted to a predetermined position of the toner supply unit 80. As shown, the shutter member 106 provided in the cartridge receiving portion 105 of the toner supply portion 80 is opened so that the toner T can be supplied from the toner supply opening 107 provided in the lower portion of the shutter member 106. It is configured.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, each toner supply unit 80 includes a substantially semi-cylindrical cartridge receiving unit 105 to which the toner cartridge 81 is mounted. A toner supply opening 107 for supplying toner from the toner cartridge 81 is provided in the lower part on the back side of the cartridge receiving portion 105, and the toner supply opening 107 is opened and closed by a shutter member 106. It has come to be. The toner supply opening 107 is divided into two parts by an elongated partitioning member 108 in order to prevent large foreign matters and the like from being supplied through the opening 107.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 13, the shutter member 106 is attached so as to be movable in the circumferential direction along the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge receiving portion 162, and opens and closes the toner supply opening 107. Is configured to do. As shown in FIG. 1, the shutter member 106 includes a flange portion 109 projecting inward in the radial direction at the end on the back side in the width direction, and a circle provided on the flange portion 109. With the projection 110 (not shown) provided on the end surface on the back side of the toner cartridge 81 fitted in the hole 110 having the shape, the toner cartridge 81 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise as shown in FIGS. The toner supply opening 107 is opened and closed by the shutter member 106 by rotating in the direction.

  Then, in the toner supply unit 80, as shown in FIG. 13, the toner cartridge 81 mounted on the cartridge receiving unit 105 is rotated in the clockwise direction, so that the toner supply unit provided in the cartridge receiving unit 105 is provided. The shutter member 106 that has closed the opening 107 of the toner cartridge 81 is also opened by moving it clockwise, and the toner T is supplied from the opening 86 of the toner cartridge 81 to the reserve tank 87 of the toner supply unit 80. ing.

  In the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 14, the toner supply opening 107 of the toner supply unit 80 is closed by the shutter member 106, and the position corresponding to the tip of the shutter member 106 is set. Below, a toner collecting recess 111 is provided for collecting the toner T scooped at the tip of the shutter member 163 when the toner supply opening 107 is closed by the shutter member 106. The toner collecting recess 111 is formed integrally with or separately from the cartridge receiving portion 105 of the toner supply portion 80 so as to have a predetermined opening width and depth.

  Further, in order to reliably prevent the toner T collected in the toner collecting recess 111 from scattering outside the apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, urethane or other rubber is provided at the end of the toner collecting recess 111. The seal member 112 made of a material or the like may be configured to be detachable.

  Furthermore, if necessary, the bottom of the toner collecting recess 111 may be configured to be openable and closable so that the toner accumulated in the toner collecting recess 111 can be removed.

  In the above configuration, in the case of the toner supply device according to the first embodiment, the developing device using the toner supply device, and the image forming device, it is possible to prevent the toner from scattering to the outside as follows. At the same time, image quality defects due to aggregated toner and the like do not occur.

  That is, in the toner supply device 80 according to the first embodiment, when the toner cartridge 81 is not set in the cartridge receivers 105 of the toner supply units 80K, 80Y, 80M, and 80C, the shutter member 106 is used for supplying toner. The opening 107 is closed to prevent foreign matter from entering the reserve tank 87.

  When the toner cartridge 81 is newly installed or replaced, as shown in FIG. 1, the user sets the toner cartridge 81 in the cartridge receiving portion 105 of each toner supply unit 80, and the toner cartridge 81 By rotating 81 in the clockwise direction, the opening 86 of the toner cartridge 81 is opened by a shutter (not shown), and the toner supply opening 107 is closed in conjunction with the rotation of the toner cartridge 81. As shown in FIG. 13, the shutter member 106 is also slid in the clockwise direction to open the toner supply opening 107. By doing so, the path from the opening 86 of the toner cartridge 81 to the reserve tank 87 is opened, and the toner T is supplied from the toner cartridge 81 to the reserve tank 87.

  Further, when the toner cartridge 81 is removed for replacement, as shown in FIG. 14, the toner cartridge 81 is rotated counterclockwise to close the opening 86 of the toner cartridge 81 with a shutter (not shown). In conjunction with the rotation of the toner cartridge 81, the shutter member 106 that opens the toner supply opening 107 is also slid in the counterclockwise direction to close the toner supply opening 107. At this time, the toner T positioned between the opening 86 of the toner cartridge 81 and the toner supply opening 107 of the cartridge receiver 105 is scraped off by the tip of the shutter member 106. As shown in FIG. 14, the toner T scraped off by the front end is accumulated in the concave portion 111 for collecting the toner located at the front end of the stopped shutter member 106.

  Thus, the toner collecting recess 111 is located at a position below the toner cartridge 81, and the toner T accumulates in the toner collecting recess 111, so that the toner T adheres to the outer periphery of the toner cartridge 82. Thus, when the toner cartridge 82 is pulled out, the toner can be prevented from being scattered and contaminated. Further, even when the toner cartridge 82 is detached from the cartridge receiving portion 105 of the toner supply portion 80, the toner T is not compressed between the toner cartridge 81 and the cartridge receiving portion 105, and the toner aggregates and becomes coarse particles. Therefore, it is possible to prevent image quality defects from occurring.

  The toner T collected in the recess 111 for collecting the toner is cleaned at a predetermined timing by a service engineer during maintenance or the like.

Embodiment 2
FIG. 15 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals. In the second embodiment, a rotary cartridge is used as a toner cartridge. This is applied to a sliding toner cartridge instead of the toner cartridge.

  That is, in the conventional example corresponding to the second embodiment, when the toner cartridge 81 is slid so as to be pushed in when the toner cartridge 81 is mounted on the reserve tank 87 of the toner supply device 80, as shown in FIG. The shutter member 120 is pushed by the tip of the toner cartridge 81 and the opening 107 of the reserve tank 87 is opened. The toner is supplied from the opening 86 of the toner cartridge 81 into the opening 107 of the reserve tank 87.

  By the way, when the toner cartridge 81 is replaced or the like, as shown in FIG. 16C, when the toner cartridge 81 is pulled out to the front side (left side in FIG. 16), the shutter member 120 is closed accordingly. At this time, the shutter member 120 scrapes off the toner located in the vicinity of the opening 86 of the toner cartridge 81, so that toner accumulates in the vicinity of the opening 86 of the toner cartridge 81. Then, there is a problem that this toner leaks to the outside due to the operation of pulling out the toner cartridge 81 and contaminates the surroundings.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, a recess 111 for collecting the toner is provided in the vicinity of the front end that stops when the shutter member 120 is closed, and the toner removed by the toner cartridge 81 The toner is collected in the toner collecting recess 111.

  Since other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective configuration diagram showing a toner supply device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a digital copying machine as an image forming apparatus to which the toner supply apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the image forming unit of the digital copying machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the developing device. FIG. 5 is a perspective configuration diagram showing the toner supply device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a developing device of a rotary type developing device. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a drive system of the developing device. FIG. 8 is a perspective configuration diagram showing the toner supply device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the toner cartridge. FIG. 10 is an external perspective view showing a mounted state of the toner cartridge. FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a toner supply device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing the toner supply apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of attaching and detaching the toner cartridge of the toner supply device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of attaching and detaching the toner cartridge of the toner supply device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a toner supply apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional example of the toner supply apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 17 is a sectional view showing a conventional toner supply device.

Explanation of symbols

  1: digital copying machine main body, 17: photosensitive drum, 19: developing device, 80: toner supply device, 80K, 80Y, 80M, 80C: toner supply unit, 81: toner cartridge, 87: reserve tank, 105: cartridge receiver 106, a shutter member (partition member), 107: an opening for supplying toner, and 111: a recess for collecting toner.

Claims (6)

In the image forming apparatus detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body by a sliding method based on a mounting operation of pushing the toner container into the back side of the image forming apparatus main body and a detaching operation of pulling out the front side.
The toner container is
A toner container side opening for supplying toner;
A toner container side partition member that opens and closes the toner container side opening,
The image forming apparatus main body includes:
An image forming apparatus main body side opening to which toner is supplied;
When the toner supply container is pulled out with the toner container side partition member closed by the toner container side partition member, a lower portion of the toner container side partition member passes the tip and the toner container. an image forming apparatus, comprising a toner-collecting recess provided on the downstream side of the pulling direction with respect to the downstream side in the direction of pulling the toner accommodating container accommodating container side opening. An image is obtained by a rotation method based on a mounting operation in which the cylindrical toner container is pushed into the back side of the image forming apparatus main body and then rotated along the circumferential direction, and a detaching operation in which the cylindrical toner container is pulled out on the near side after rotating in the circumferential direction. In the image forming apparatus detachably attached to the forming apparatus main body,
The toner container is
A toner container side opening for supplying toner;
A toner storage container side partition member that is rotatably attached to the toner storage container and that opens and closes the toner storage container side opening in conjunction with the rotation operation;
The image forming apparatus main body includes:
An image forming apparatus main body side opening to which toner is supplied;
When the toner storage container side partition member is closed in conjunction with the turning operation, the toner storage container is below the region where the tip of the toner storage container side partition member is located and at the tip of the toner storage container side partition member. An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner collecting recess provided on a downstream side of the pulling direction with respect to the pulling direction . An image is obtained by a rotation method based on a mounting operation in which the cylindrical toner container is pushed into the back side of the image forming apparatus main body and then rotated along the circumferential direction, and a detaching operation in which the cylindrical toner container is pulled out on the near side after rotating in the circumferential direction. In the image forming apparatus detachably attached to the forming apparatus main body,
A toner container that is rotatably mounted on a cylindrically formed apparatus main body;
An image forming apparatus main body side opening to which toner is supplied from the toner container;
A partition member that slides across the image forming apparatus main body side opening in conjunction with the rotational movement of the toner container when the toner container is removed;
The part on the image forming apparatus main body side where the tip of the partition member stops when the partition member that moves in conjunction with the rotation of the toner container slides in the direction to close the opening on the image forming apparatus main body side For toner collection provided near the lower side of the region where the tip of the partition member is located and on the downstream side of the pulling-out direction of the toner container at the tip of the toner-container-side partition member An image forming apparatus comprising a recess. An image is obtained by a rotation method based on a mounting operation in which the cylindrical toner container is pushed into the back side of the image forming apparatus main body and then rotated along the circumferential direction, and a detaching operation in which the cylindrical toner container is pulled out on the near side after rotating in the circumferential direction. In the image forming apparatus detachably attached to the forming apparatus main body,
A toner container having an opening on the toner container side and detachable with a rotation operation with respect to the image forming apparatus main body;
An apparatus main body side opening provided on the image forming apparatus main body side and connected to the toner containing container side opening;
The toner container disposed at a rear end of the toner container side opening in the rotation direction of the toner container side crossing the image forming apparatus main body side opening during the pivoting operation when removing the toner container. An outer wall,
A pulling-out direction that is provided on the image forming apparatus main body side and is below the position where the tip of the outer peripheral wall stops when the rotation operation is stopped and the direction of pulling out the toner container at the tip of the toner container-side partition member An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner collecting recessed portion positioned over a downstream side of the image forming apparatus.   5. The sealing member according to claim 1, further comprising: a sealing member that prevents the toner collected in the toner collecting recess from scattering outside. Image forming apparatus.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for discharging toner accumulated in the concave portion for collecting toner.

Images