JP5317796B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shutter mechanism that does not have an elastic seal member between shutter members disposed in a discharge port and a supply port for delivering and receiving a developer and suppresses developer leakage from a gap between mutual shutters during opening, and to provide an image forming apparatus using the shutter mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: The shutter mechanism is slidable shutter members having openings for delivering and receiving the developer and disposed on surfaces of two relatively moving members. In a state that one member is not mounted to an apparatus body and the openings do not communicate with each other, the openings are blocked to suppress a leak of the developer by energizing forces of elastic members for energizing the shutter members to close the openings. When the one member moves to a mounting position, the shutters push each other and slide while withstanding the energizing forces of the elastic members, and the openings communicate with each other and can deliver and receive the developer. Different slopes are disposed on abutting surfaces of respective shielding members, and a flexible member is disposed at the back side of the abutting surface of the shield member having a larger slope. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a developer used in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile machine at a developer discharge port and a reception port for transferring between two members, and developer leakage from the developer discharge port and the reception port. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a shutter mechanism that suppresses the above.

  A developer replenishing device that removably couples a developer replenishing container to an image forming apparatus and supplies the developer into a developer hopper is used, for example, in an image generating apparatus such as an electrophotographic printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile. It has been. In an electrophotographic image generating apparatus, a latent image is drawn on a photosensitive drum with a laser beam, and the latent image is developed with toner. To the developing device, toner to be adsorbed on the surface of the photosensitive drum is supplied. A developer hopper is provided for storage and supply.

  In general, in an image forming apparatus, in addition to a developing device including a developing roller and a developer, a portion having a consumable member such as a cleaning blade and a photosensitive drum is integrally formed as a process cartridge and is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body. It is common. In addition, a configuration is known in which a toner container for storing a developer is divided from a process cartridge and can be individually attached to and detached from the apparatus main body as a toner cartridge. In this case, an image forming apparatus including a developer hopper fixed to the apparatus main body has a configuration in which a shutter mechanism is provided at a developer supply port for a toner cartridge, a process cartridge, or a developing device. Thus, the toner is prevented from scattering by closing each shutter when not mounted, and the shutter is opened to connect the toner supply path when mounted.

  In such a shutter mechanism that opens and closes with attachment / detachment, a shutter that slides in the insertion / removal direction is provided, and when the cartridge or the like moves to the mounting position, a part of the shutter mechanism pushes in contact with the shutter member. (Patent Document 1).

  With this configuration, there is a problem that toner is scattered from between the shutter members. Therefore, as a means for preventing toner scattering from between the shutter members when the shutter is in communication, a method is known in which an elastic member that is compressed and freely deformed between two members that are in pressure contact with each other is sandwiched to fill the gap ( Patent Document 2).

JP2007-127937 JP-A-11-212349

  However, when such an elastic member is provided between shutters that open and close by moving relative to each other, there are the following problems. That is, the elastic member is configured to be compressed in the height direction to improve the adhesion, but there is a problem that the shutter hits the elastic member every time the shutter is opened and closed, and the elastic member is turned from the end. For this reason, there exists a malfunction that sealing performance will fall.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to provide an elastic seal member on the surface where the shutter member provided at each of the discharge port for receiving and receiving the developer and the shutter member are in contact with each other. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing developer leakage from between shutters at the time of opening.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing the wear of the elastic seal member even if the elastic seal member as described above is provided between the shutter members provided at the discharge port and the supply port for transferring the developer. Is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a first container that includes a discharge port that can discharge toner, and that can discharge toner from the discharge port.
A second container having a receiving port capable of receiving the toner discharged from the first container;
A first shutter member capable of opening and closing the discharge port;
A second shutter member capable of opening and closing the receiving port;
The first shutter member and the second shutter member are provided in contact with a surface opposite to a surface on which the first shutter member and the second shutter member are in contact with each other, and are deformed when the first shutter member and the second shutter member are in contact with each other. An elastic member capable of biasing at least one of the first shutter member and the second shutter member toward the other;
Each of the first shutter member and the second shutter member includes an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the opening / closing direction of the shutter member, and at least one of the inclined surfaces of the first shutter member and the second shutter member is the other It is comprised so that opening and closing is possible by contact | abutting to the said inclined surface.

  An image forming apparatus capable of suppressing developer leakage from between shutters at the time of opening without providing an elastic seal member on a surface where shutter members provided at each of a discharge port and a receiving port for receiving and receiving developer contact each other. Is to provide.

Sectional drawing of the image forming apparatus which shows embodiment of this invention The perspective view which shows the attachment or detachment method of a developing device from an image forming apparatus. Perspective view of developer supply device and developer delivery section of developer unit Perspective cross-sectional view of developer supply device and developer delivery section of developer unit Perspective view of the inside of the developer unit Perspective view of developer supply device Side view showing the open / close state of the shielding member when the developing device is inserted / removed Side view showing the open / close state of the shielding member when the developing device is inserted / removed

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified. Absent.

"Main body configuration"
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of an image forming apparatus 100 showing an embodiment of the present invention.

  In this description, as an electrophotographic multi-color or full-color image forming apparatus, an image carrier 104 (a drum-type electrophotographic photosensitive member, hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive drum) is horizontally arranged in one row for each color. ing. The toner image of each color formed on each photosensitive drum 104 is sequentially superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 101 to form a color image, which is a so-called inline type image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes process cartridges 103Y, 103M, 103C, and 103K that are arranged on a substantially horizontal straight line with a predetermined interval, and respectively display yellow, magenta, cyan, and black images. Form.

  Each process cartridge 103 is provided with a photosensitive drum 104, and a charging device 109, a developing device 105 as a developing device, a drum cleaner device 112, and a primary transfer roller 114 as a transfer unit are arranged around the photosensitive drum 104. Yes. A laser exposure device 108 is installed below the charging device 109 and the developing device 105.

  The photoconductive drum 104 is a negatively charged OPC photoconductor having a photoconductive layer on an aluminum drum base, and is rotated at a predetermined process speed by a driving device (not shown).

  The charging device 109 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 104 to a predetermined negative potential with a charging bias applied from a bias power source (not shown).

  The developing device 105 stores a developer, and develops (visualizes) a toner image by attaching the developer of each color to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 104.

  A transfer roller 114 as a primary transfer unit is disposed in the intermediate transfer belt unit 115 and is disposed so as to be urged against the photosensitive drum 104.

  The drum cleaner 112 has a cleaning blade or the like for removing from the photosensitive drum 104 residual transfer toner remaining at the time of primary transfer on the photosensitive drum 104, and the collected waste toner is stored in a waste toner storage unit. It is collected in 113. In some cases, waste toner on the photosensitive drum 104 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 101 instead of the drum cleaner device, and the waste toner is not collected in the process cartridge 103.

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 115 includes a drive roller 116 that also serves as a secondary transfer counter roller and a gear on a drive roller shaft (not shown), and is rotationally driven by a drive gear on a main body (not shown). The drive roller 116 is disposed so as to face the secondary transfer roller 117.

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 115 is held by a transfer frame 102, and a transfer high-voltage power supply 127 that supplies a high voltage for transferring an image created on the photosensitive drum 104 to the intermediate transfer belt 101 in the transfer frame. Is built-in.

  Further, a fixing device having a fixing roller 118 and a pressure roller 119 is installed in a vertical path configuration on the downstream side of the secondary transfer roller 117 in the conveyance direction of the transfer material P.

  The exposure device 108 is composed of a laser light emitting device that emits light corresponding to a time-series electric digital pixel signal of given image information. By exposing each photoconductor drum 104, an electrostatic latent image of each color corresponding to image information is formed on the surface of each photoconductor drum 104 charged by each primary charger 109.

  Next, an image forming operation by the above-described image forming apparatus will be described.

  When a document is read by the document reading device 120 and an image formation start signal is issued, each photosensitive drum 104 of each process cartridge 103 that is rotationally driven at a predetermined process speed is uniformly charged to a negative polarity by the charging device 109. Is done.

  After that, the exposure device 108 irradiates an externally input color-separated image signal from the laser light emitting element, and forms an electrostatic latent image of each color on each photosensitive drum 104.

  Next, each color toner is adhered to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 104 by the developing unit 105 to which a developing bias having the same polarity as the charging polarity (negative polarity) of the photosensitive drum 104 is applied. To visualize it as a toner image.

  The toner image is primarily transferred to the driven intermediate transfer belt 101 by a primary transfer roller 114 to which a photosensitive drum 104 and a primary transfer bias (opposite polarity (positive polarity) to toner) are applied.

  Thereafter, in the same manner, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images are sequentially superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt unit 115 to form a full-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt unit 115.

  The transfer residual toner remaining on each photosensitive drum 104 is scraped off and collected by a cleaner blade or the like provided in the drum cleaner device 112.

  Thereafter, the front end of the full color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt unit 115 is moved to the secondary transfer portion between the transfer driving roller (secondary transfer counter roller) 116 and the secondary transfer roller 117. In accordance with this timing, the transfer material (paper) P fed from the paper feed cassette 121 or the manual feed tray 122 passes through the transport path formed substantially vertically and is transported to the secondary transfer section by the registration roller 123.

  Full-color toner images are secondarily transferred collectively by a secondary transfer roller 117 to which a secondary transfer bias (a polarity opposite to that of toner (positive polarity)) is applied to the transfer material P conveyed to the secondary transfer portion. .

  At that time, the residual toner of the secondary transfer is scraped off by the transfer cleaning device 107 and is conveyed and collected as waste toner.

  The transfer material P on which the full-color toner image is formed is conveyed to a fixing device located downstream and heated and pressed at a fixing nip portion between the fixing roller 118 and the pressure roller 119. After the toner image is thermally fixed on the surface of the transfer material P, it is discharged onto the discharge tray 125 on the upper surface of the main body by the first discharge roller 124, and a series of image forming operations is completed.

  As an option, the image forming apparatus is configured such that an additional additional paper discharge device 126 can be built above the first paper discharge roller 124.

"Process cartridge installation / removal configuration"
FIG. 2 is an explanatory perspective view showing how the process cartridge 103 is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus 100.

  Each of the process cartridges 103 is held by a cartridge frame 160 that supports them. After the front door 152 covering the front surface of the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is opened, the intermediate transfer belt unit 115 is moved upward so that the intermediate transfer bell 101 is separated from the photosensitive drum 104 and the cartridge frame. It is integrally held by 160 and pulled out to the near side.

  The process cartridge 103 is supported at both ends of a drive shaft that rotates the photosensitive drum 104 in positioning grooves provided in the cartridge frame 160, respectively, and positions each relative position. After the cartridge frame is pulled out, it can be attached and detached individually upward.

  When the cartridge frame is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body, the cartridge frame is positioned on the image forming apparatus main body, and the drive shaft of the photosensitive drum 104 is connected to the drive device.

"Developer replenishment configuration"
The developer 105 provided in the process cartridge 103 that develops the electrostatic latent image consumes the developer contained therein, so that the developer needs to be replenished. 3 is a perspective explanatory view of a developer supply device 400 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100 and a developer delivery portion of the developing unit 105, FIG. 4 is a sectional view thereof, and FIG. 5 is a perspective explanatory view of the inside of the developing unit 105. FIG. 6 is an explanatory perspective view of the developer supply device.

  A developing container 302 containing developer is opened in a developing area facing the photosensitive drum 104 (not shown), and a developing roller 303 in which a magnet is non-rotatably installed is rotatably installed. Has been. The developing roller 303 is formed of a non-magnetic material, and rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5 during the developing operation to hold the developer in the developing container 302 in a layered form and transport it to the developing area. A developer is supplied to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum. The developer after developing the latent image is collected in the developing container 302 as the developing roller 303 rotates.

  In the developing container 302, a first developer agitating / conveying screw 305 (side closer to the developing roller 303) and a second developer agitating / conveying screw 306 (side far from the developing roller 303) are installed. The developer is stirred by these screws and conveyed and circulated in the developing container 302. In FIG. 5, the developer conveying directions are the directions of arrow B and arrow C. Further, a partition 307 is provided between the developer agitating and conveying screws 305 and 306, and an opening for delivering the developer is provided on the back side and the front side of the partition 307 so that the developer can be smoothly circulated. It has been.

  On the other hand, the developer replenishing device 400 includes a replenishing screw 402 at the bottom of a buffer container 401 serving as a first container for containing the developer. (FIGS. 3 and 4) As shown in FIG. 3, the developer replenishing device 400 is configured to replenish toner to the developing container 302 as the second container at the mounting position.

  The developer supply device 400 is provided with a discharge port 403 through which the developer can be discharged from the buffer container 401. A discharge port shutter 450 as a shutter member capable of opening and closing the discharge port 403 is provided. The outlet shutter 450 has a hole 450a as an opening for sliding to open the outlet 403.

  On the other hand, the developing container 302 is provided with a receiving port (hereinafter also referred to as a replenishing port) 308 for receiving toner replenished from the developer replenishing device 400. The replenishing port 308 is provided immediately above the upstream portion of the second developer agitating and conveying screw 306 extending outward from the developer circulation path in the developer container 302. A supply port shutter 350 is provided as a shutter member that can open and close the receiving port 308. Here, the supply port shutter 350 has a hole 350a as an opening for sliding to open the supply port 308. In this embodiment, the developing container 302 functions as a replenished device that replenishes toner from the developer replenishing device 400.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the developing device 105 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 100, the shutters 350 and 450 are positioned to face each other.

  The discharge port 403 on the developer supply device 400 side and the supply port 308 on the developing device 105 side are communicated with each other through holes 350a and 450a provided in each shutter. Then, the developer is supplied from the buffer container 401 to the developing container 302 by the rotation of the replenishing screw 402.

"Shutter mechanism"
The characteristic shutter configuration in the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 7A is an explanatory view from the side where the developing device 105 is pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body 100.

  In this state, the supply port shutter 350 is pushed by the spring 351 to block the supply port 308 provided in the developing container 302. The discharge port shutter 450 is also pressed and shielded by the spring 451 in the discharge port 403 provided in the developer supply device 400 fixed on the apparatus main body side.

  Next, FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a process in which the developing device 105 moves in the direction of arrow D so as to be mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 100 from the state of FIG. In FIG. 7B, in a state where each shutter shields the replenishing port 308 and the discharge port 403, the X-plane in FIG. It is in a state to start. Also, an enlarged view of the shutter portion in this state is shown in FIG.

  As described above, the replenishment port shutter 350 and the discharge port shutter 451 are provided with holes 350a and 450a. The surfaces 350y and 450y having the respective holes are inclined with respect to the sliding direction (the shutter opening / closing direction (arrow D direction)) when the developing device is attached / detached. Further, an angle (gradient) b [deg] formed by the slide direction and the surface 350y on the supply port shutter side is configured to be larger than an angle (gradient) a [deg] formed by the surface 450y on the slide direction and the discharge port shutter side. . Therefore, in the state of FIG. 7B, there is a gap between the surface 350y on the supply port shutter side and the surface 450y on the discharge port shutter side.

  Next, FIG. 7C is a side view of the state where the developing device 105 is further moved in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 7B and attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100 from FIG. FIG. 8B shows an enlarged view of the shutter portion in this state.

In this state, the discharge port shutter 450 and the replenishment port shutter 350 are pressed against each other against the urging force of the urging springs, so that the holes 450 a provided in the discharge port shutter 450 are discharged in the buffer container 401. Move to a position that matches the exit 403. Similarly, the supply port shutter 350 moves to a position where the hole 350a and the supply port 308 of the developing container 302 coincide. (Fig. 4)
An elastic member 309 is provided so as to contact the supply port shutter 350 from the side opposite to the surface of the supply port shutter 350 facing the discharge port shutter 450. The supply port shutter 350 is slidably supported on the elastic member 309. At this time, the replenishing port shutter 350 rotates in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 8B and sinks to the developing container 302 side due to the pressing force of the discharge port shutter 450 and the urging force of the urging spring 351. As a result, the elastic member 309 provided between the developing container 302 and the replenishing port shutter is compressed and deformed, and the replenishing force presses the replenishing port shutter 350 against the discharge port shutter 450 on the Y surface. That is, the supply port shutter 350 is movably supported so that the opposing surfaces of the discharge port shutter 450 (first shutter member) and the supply port shutter 350 (second shutter member) follow each other. Here, the elastic member 309 is a support means that the supply port shutter 350 is movably supported so that the opposing surfaces of the discharge port shutter 450 (first shutter member) and the supply port shutter 350 (second shutter member) follow each other. is there.

  Therefore, even when the discharge port 403 of the buffer container 401 and the replenishment port 308 of the developing container 302 communicate with each other through holes provided in each shutter, the developer is prevented from leaking from between the shutters.

  Further, when the developing device 105 is taken out of the image forming apparatus main body 100, the replenishing port shutter 350 and the discharge port shutter 450 are kept in close contact with the Y surface in FIG. 308 and the outlet 403 are gradually closed. Since it leaves | separates without rubbing after that, it can prevent shaving.

  As described above, since the elastic member 309 for improving the adhesion between the shutter members is provided between the developing device and the shutter member, the discharge port shutter 350 on the replenishing device side is supplied with the replenishment port shutter 350 before hitting the elastic member. I hit it. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the elastic member 309 from being turned by the opening / closing operation of the discharge port shutter 350.

  In the above configuration, the case where the replenishment port shutter 350 positioned on the lower side compresses and deforms the elastic member 309 and is pressed against the discharge port shutter 450 has been described. Is obtained.

  That is, an elastic member is provided between the discharge port shutter 450 and the buffer container 401, and an angle a [deg] formed between the slide direction when the developing device 105 is attached and detached and the surface 450y on the discharge port shutter side is set to the slide direction and the supply port shutter. The angle is larger than the angle b [deg] formed by the side surface 350y. By doing so, the discharge port shutter 450 may be pressed against the supply port shutter 350 on the Y plane by the restoring force of the elastic member.

  In the above description, the developer replenishing device 400 fixed to the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the shutter mechanism provided in the portion for transferring the developer between the developing devices 105 are described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus that uses a toner cartridge that is detachably provided from the image forming apparatus as means for supplying the developer to the developer supply device 400. That is, the same effect can be obtained by providing a similar shutter mechanism at a portion where the developer is exchanged between the toner cartridge and the developer supply device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 104 Image carrier 105 Developing device 302 Developing container 303 Developing roller 305 First developer agitating and conveying screw 306 Second developer agitating and conveying screw 307 Partition 308 Replenishing port 309 Elastic member 350 Replenishing port shutter 400 Developer replenishing device 403 Developer discharging device Outlet 450 outlet shutter

Claims (3)

A first container having a discharge port capable of discharging toner, and capable of discharging toner from the discharge port;
A second container having a receiving port capable of receiving the toner discharged from the first container;
A first shutter member capable of opening and closing the discharge port;
A second shutter member capable of opening and closing the receiving port;
The first shutter member and the second shutter member are provided in contact with a surface opposite to a surface on which the first shutter member and the second shutter member are in contact with each other, and are deformed when the first shutter member and the second shutter member are in contact with each other. An elastic member capable of biasing at least one of the first shutter member and the second shutter member toward the other;
Each of the first shutter member and the second shutter member includes an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the opening / closing direction of the shutter member, and at least one of the inclined surfaces of the first shutter member and the second shutter member is the other An image forming apparatus configured to be able to be opened and closed by abutting against the inclined surface . The facing surface of the first shutter member and the second shutter member to face is characterized supported Tei Rukoto so that different slopes from each other, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member, said second container, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a developing container for containing the toner in the developing device Image forming apparatus.