JP5376349B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing device that is supplied with developer from a developer supply device, and can prevent the developer from scattering from a part where the developing device is connected to the developer supply device, and to provide a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus having the developing device. <P>SOLUTION: A developing device 5 is connected to a toner supply device which serves as the developer supply device by being installed in the image forming apparatus, and is supplied with toner by the toner supply device. The developing device 5 includes a developer receiving member 60 which is formed separately from an upper casing and a lower casing 50 which are developing casings forming a main body of the developing device 5. The developer receiving member 60 is connected to the toner supply device. The developer receiving member 60 is attached to the lower casing 50 via a cushion member 63 which is an elastic member. The developer receiving member 60 is displaced relative to the lower casing 50 of the developer receiving member 60 by deformation of the cushion member 63. Thus, a toner receiving port 61 which is a developer receiving port connected to the toner supply device can be displaced relative to the lower casing 50. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device used for a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and the like, and more particularly to a developing device to which a developer is supplied from a developer supply device, and a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus provided with the developing device. is there.

In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a developing device supplies toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier to form a toner image on the latent image carrier. An image is formed by transferring the recording material directly or via an intermediate transfer member. The toner in the developing device is consumed by supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image. However, as long as the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a toner supply device that supplies toner to the developing device. The amount of toner in the developing device can be maintained within a certain range.
Further, the developing device is normally removable from the image forming apparatus main body for improving maintainability, and development is performed so that the toner discharge port of the toner supply device and the toner receiving port of the developing device are connected. The apparatus is attached to the image forming apparatus main body.
Further, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a seal member is provided around the toner receiving port to improve the sealing property of the connecting portion between the toner discharge port and the toner receiving port, and the developer from the connecting portion. Is prevented from scattering.

However, the positioning of the developing device relative to the apparatus main body when the developing device is installed in the image forming apparatus main body is given priority to the accuracy of the position in the image forming unit. Specifically, when the developing device is installed alone, priority is given to the accuracy of the position of the developer with respect to the photoconductor on the apparatus main body side, and when the process cartridge including the photoconductor and the developing device is installed, the transfer on the apparatus main body side is performed. Priority is given to the accuracy of the position of the photoreceptor relative to the apparatus.
For this reason, the alignment of the toner discharge port and the toner receiving port is unavoidable, and the position of the toner receiving port with respect to the toner discharge port is shifted due to the accumulation of manufacturing error and assembly error of parts, so that the connecting portion In some cases, the toner may scatter from the joint.
Such a problem may occur even in a two-component developing type developing device using a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier, or in a one-component developing type developing device not containing a carrier. Also, not only in supplying toner to the developing device, but also in a connecting portion between a developing device that supplies a two-component developer composed of toner and a carrier, a supply device that supplies only a carrier, and the developing device. It is a problem to get. That is, there is a problem that may occur when the position of the developer receiving port of the developing device with respect to the developer supplying device that supplies the developer to the developing device is shifted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is a developing device to which a developer is supplied from a developer supply device, and the developer supplied from a connecting portion with the developer supply device. it is to provide images forming device that can have to prevent scattering.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that at least a latent image carrier, a charging means for charging the surface of the latent image carrier, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier. And a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image, the developing device being removable from the image forming apparatus main body, and the image forming apparatus main body connected to the developer supply apparatus mounted by Rukoto, in an image forming apparatus is supplied with developer from the developer supply device, the developing casing to form the developing device main body are formed separately, the developer A developer receiving member having a developer receiving port opposed to the developer discharge port of the supply device, the developer receiving member is attached to the developing casing via an elastic member, and the elastic member is deformed; The developer receiving member; In displacement relative to the image casing, position relative to the developing casing of the developer receiving opening in the opposite direction with the developer discharge port and the developer receiving opening is displaceable, said developer receiving member, said developer receiving surrounding the inlet comprises a compression deformable receiving port sealed with the opposing direction, wherein Ri is high hardness der towards receiving inlet seal member than the elastic member, when mounting the developing device to the image forming apparatus main body, wherein the receiving inlet seal is what the developer supply device carrying said receiving inlet seal and said elastic member is characterized that you have been configured to deform as contracted in the opposite direction.

In the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, development is performed by displacing the position of the developer receiving port with respect to the developing casing positioned with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, giving priority to the accuracy of the position in the image forming unit. The developer receiving port can be positioned with high accuracy with respect to the developer supply device.

According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the developer receiving device is positioned with high accuracy with respect to the developer supply device, so that the developer is scattered from the connecting portion between the developing device and the developer supply device. There is an excellent effect that it can be prevented.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an entire printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged configuration diagram illustrating an image forming unit for yellow. FIG. 3 is an external front view of the developing device. FIG. 2 is an external view of a developing device in which an upper casing is attached to a lower casing, (a) is a top view, and (b) is a side view. Explanatory drawing of a developer receiving member, (a) is a perspective view of the developer receiving member shown in FIG. 3 seen from the upper right side, and (b) is a perspective view of the developer receiving member shown in FIG. Perspective view. Explanatory drawing explaining installation of the developer receiving member with respect to a lower casing. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a state where a developer receiving member is installed in the lower casing.

Hereinafter, as an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, an embodiment of a tandem type color printer (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer 100”) in which a plurality of photoconductors are arranged in parallel will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an entire printer 100 according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the toner container housing 31 above the printer 100 main body, there are four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to the respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, black). The printer 100 is detachably (replaceable).
An intermediate transfer unit 15 is disposed below the toner container housing 31. Image forming portions 6 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to the respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) are arranged in parallel so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 8 of the intermediate transfer unit 15.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged configuration diagram illustrating the yellow image forming unit 6Y which is one of the four image forming units 6 (Y, M, C, and K) included in the printer 100.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 6Y for yellow includes a photoreceptor 1Y that is a latent image carrier, a charging roller 4Y that is a charging unit disposed around the photoreceptor 1Y, and a developer that is a developing unit. A device 5Y, a cleaning device 2Y as a cleaning means, and the like are provided. Furthermore, a static elimination means (not shown) is provided. Then, an image forming process (charging process, exposure process, developing process, transfer process, cleaning process) is performed on the photoreceptor 1Y, and a yellow image is formed on the photoreceptor 1Y.

  The other three image forming units 6 (M, C, K) have substantially the same configuration as the image forming unit 6Y corresponding to yellow except that the color of the toner used is different. An image corresponding to the toner color is formed. Hereinafter, description of the other three image forming units 6 (M, C, K) will be omitted as appropriate, and only the image forming unit 6Y corresponding to yellow will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the photoreceptor 1Y is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2 by a drive motor (not shown). Then, the surface of the photoreceptor 1Y is uniformly charged at the position facing the charging roller 4Y (charging process).
The surface of the photoreceptor 1Y uniformly charged at the position facing the charging roller 4 reaches the irradiation position of the laser beam L emitted from the exposure device 7 in FIG. 1, and turns yellow by exposure scanning at this position. A corresponding electrostatic latent image is formed (exposure process).
The surface of the photoreceptor 1Y on which the electrostatic latent image is formed reaches a position facing the developing device 5Y, and the electrostatic latent image is developed at this position to form a yellow toner image (developing process). .

The surface of the photoreceptor 1Y on which the toner image is formed reaches a position facing the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the primary transfer bias roller 9Y, and the toner image on the photoreceptor 1Y is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 at this position. (Primary transfer process). At this time, a small amount of untransferred toner remains on the photoreceptor 1Y.
The surface of the photoreceptor 1Y that has passed the position facing the primary transfer bias roller 9Y reaches the position facing the cleaning device 2Y, and untransferred toner remaining on the photoreceptor 1Y at this position is mechanically removed by the cleaning blade 2a. (Cleaning process).
The surface of the photoreceptor 1Y that has passed through the position facing the cleaning device 2Y finally reaches the position facing the neutralization device (not shown), and the residual potential on the photoreceptor 1Y is removed at this position.

In this way, a series of image forming processes performed on the photoreceptor 1Y is completed.
The image forming process described above is performed in the other image forming units 6 (M, C, K) similarly to the yellow image forming unit 6Y. That is, the laser beam L based on the image information from the exposure device 7 disposed below the image forming unit 6 (M, C, K) is a latent image of each image forming unit 6 (M, C, K). Irradiation onto the carrier. Specifically, the exposure device 7 emits a laser beam L from a light source, and scans the laser beam L with a polygon mirror that is rotationally driven, while each photoconductor 1 (M, C, K) via a plurality of optical elements. ) Irradiate the top.
Thereafter, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the respective photoreceptors 1 (M, C, K) through the development process are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 on which the yellow toner image is transferred. In this way, a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate transfer unit 15 includes an intermediate transfer belt 8, four primary transfer bias rollers 9 (Y, M, C, K), a secondary transfer backup roller 12, a cleaning backup roller 13, and a tension roller 14. , Intermediate transfer cleaning device 10 and the like. The intermediate transfer belt 8 is stretched and supported by the three rollers 12 to 14 and is moved endlessly in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 by the rotational drive of one of the three rollers to be stretched. In the printer 100, the secondary transfer backup roller 12 is rotationally driven as a drive roller.

Each of the four primary transfer bias rollers 9 (Y, M, C, K) forms a primary transfer nip by sandwiching the intermediate transfer belt 8 with the photoreceptor 1 (Y, M, C, K). Yes. Then, a transfer bias reverse to the polarity of the toner is applied to the primary transfer bias roller 9 (Y, M, C, K).
The intermediate transfer belt 8 travels in the direction of the arrow and sequentially passes through the primary transfer nip of each primary transfer bias roller 9 (Y, M, C, K). In this manner, the toner images of the respective colors on the photosensitive member 1 (Y, M, C, K) are primarily transferred while being superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 8, and a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8.

The intermediate transfer belt 8 on which the color image is formed by superimposing and transferring the toner images of the respective colors reaches a position facing the secondary transfer roller 19. At this position, the secondary transfer backup roller 12 sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 8 with the secondary transfer roller 19 to form a secondary transfer nip. The four-color toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 are transferred onto a transfer material P such as transfer paper conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer nip. At this time, the untransferred toner that has not been transferred to the transfer material P remains on the intermediate transfer belt 8.
The intermediate transfer belt 8 that has passed through the secondary transfer nip reaches a position facing the intermediate transfer cleaning device 10. At this position, the untransferred toner on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is collected.
In this way, a series of transfer processes performed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is completed.

Here, the transfer material P transported to the position of the secondary transfer nip is transported from the paper feed unit 26 disposed below the main body of the printer 100 via the paper feed roller 27, the registration roller pair 28, and the like. It has been done.
Specifically, a plurality of transfer materials P such as transfer paper are stored in the paper supply unit 26 in a stacked manner. When the paper feed roller 27 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 1, the uppermost transfer material P in the paper feed unit 26 is fed toward the rollers of the registration roller pair 28. . The transfer material P conveyed to the registration roller pair 28 is temporarily stopped at the position of the roller nip of the registration roller pair 28 that has stopped rotating. Then, the registration roller pair 28 is rotationally driven in synchronization with the color image on the intermediate transfer belt 8, and the transfer material P is conveyed toward the secondary transfer nip. In this way, a desired color image is transferred onto the transfer material P.

The transfer material P on which the color image is transferred at the position of the secondary transfer nip is conveyed to the fixing device 20 and is transferred to the surface by heat and pressure generated by the fixing roller and the pressure roller provided in the fixing device 20. Is fixed on the transfer material P.
The transfer material P on which the color image has been fixed by the fixing device 20 is discharged to the outside of the device through the pair of paper discharge roller pairs 29. The transferred P discharged from the apparatus by the discharge roller pair 29 is sequentially stacked on the stack unit 30 as an output image.
In this way, a series of image forming processes in the image forming apparatus is completed.

Next, the developing device 5Y provided in the image forming unit 6Y will be described.
The developing device 5Y includes a developing roller 51Y as a developer carrying member facing the photoreceptor 1Y, and a first developer containing portion 53Y and a second developing member are provided as developer containing portions for containing the developer supplied to the developing roller 51Y. And an agent container 54. Further, the developing device 5Y includes a doctor 52Y that is a layer thickness regulating member facing the developing roller 51Y, and includes two conveying screws disposed in the first developer accommodating portion 53Y and the second developer accommodating portion 54Y. A first transport screw 55Y and a second transport screw 57Y are provided.
Further, a density detection sensor 56Y for detecting the toner density in the developer in the second developer storage section 54 of the developer storage section is provided. The developer roller 51Y includes a magnet fixed inside, a sleeve rotating around the magnet, and the like. The first developer accommodating portion 53Y and the second developer accommodating portion 54Y contain a two-component developer G composed of a carrier and toner.
The first developer accommodating portion 53Y and the second developer accommodating portion 54Y are partitioned by a partition wall 58Y, and the partition wall 58Y includes openings at both ends in the axial direction of the conveying screw of the first developer accommodating portion 53Y. ing. The first developer accommodating portion 53Y and the second developer accommodating portion 54Y communicate with each other through this opening, and the first conveying screw 55Y and the second conveying screw 57Y rotate, whereby the two-component developer G is The one developer container 53Y and the second developer container 54Y are circulated.
Further, a developer receiving member 60Y that receives supply of toner as a developer is provided above the second developer accommodating portion 54Y. The developer receiving member 60Y forms a toner receiving path 62Y therein, and includes a toner receiving port 61Y that is a developer receiving port as an upper opening of the toner receiving path 62Y. The second developer accommodating portion 54Y communicates with the toner receiving path 62Y through an opening formed thereabove.

  Further, the printer 100 includes a toner replenishing device 35Y schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 as a developer supplying device that replenishes the toner accommodated in the toner container 32Y into the developer accommodating portion 54Y of the developing device 5Y. . The toner replenishing device 35Y includes a toner container 32Y and a toner conveying member 34Y. The toner conveying member 34Y may be any member as long as it passes toner in a toner conveying path (not shown) inside the toner conveying member 34Y and conveys the toner to the replenishment destination. Examples include a member provided with a member and a member using a toner pump that generates an air flow in the toner conveyance path. Further, the opening at the downstream end of the toner transport path in the transport direction is a toner discharge port 33Y. By installing the developing device 5Y in the main body of the printer 100, the toner receiving port 61Y and the toner discharge port 33Y are opposed to each other. The toner conveyance path of the replenishing device 35Y and the second developer storage portion 54Y of the developing device 5 communicate with each other via the toner receiving path 62Y.

The developer G in the developing device 5Y is adjusted so that the ratio of toner in the developer (toner concentration) is within a predetermined range. According to the consumption of toner in the developing device 5Y, the toner stored in the toner container 32Y is supplied into the second developer storage portion 54Y by the toner supply device 35Y.
The toner replenished in the second developer accommodating portion 54Y is mixed and stirred together with the developer G by the second conveying screw 57Y and the first conveying screw 55Y, and the first developer accommodating portion 53Y and the second developer are mixed. It circulates through the accommodating portion 54Y (movement in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2). The toner in the developer G is attracted to the carrier by frictional charging with the carrier, and is carried on the developing roller 51Y together with the carrier by the magnetic force formed on the developing roller 51Y.

The developing device 5Y configured as described above operates as follows.
The sleeve of the developing roller 51Y rotates in the arrow direction (counterclockwise direction) in FIG. The developer G carried on the developing roller 51Y by the magnetic field formed by the magnet inside the sleeve moves on the developing roller 51Y as the sleeve rotates.
The developer G carried on the developing roller 51Y is conveyed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 and reaches the position where the developing roller 51 and the doctor 52Y face each other. The developer G on the developing roller 51Y is transported to a developing area at a position where the developing roller 51Y and the photoreceptor 1Y are opposed to each other after the amount of developer is adjusted to an appropriate amount at this position. The toner is attracted to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 1Y by the developing electric field formed between the developing roller 51Y and the photoconductor 1Y in the developing area. The developer G remaining on the developing roller 51Y after passing through the developing area reaches the upper portion of the first developer containing portion 53Y as the sleeve rotates, and is separated from the developing roller 51Y at this position. It is conveyed while being stirred in the accommodating portion 53Y.
In the above description, the toner replenishing device 35Y for replenishing the yellow toner has been described. However, as with the image forming unit 6, the toner replenishing device 35 for each color has substantially the same configuration except that the color of the toner to be handled is different. It has become.

Next, installation of the developing device with respect to the image forming apparatus main body will be described.
As described above, the four image forming units 6 (Y, M, C, K) have substantially the same configuration except that the colors of the toners to be handled are different from each other. In the following description, image forming is performed. The subscripts Y, M, C, and K are omitted for each member included in the portion 6.
When the developing device is set on the image forming apparatus main body, the positioning unit provided on the image forming apparatus main body and the positioning unit provided on the developing device are fitted to each other so that drive transmission from the image forming apparatus main body is appropriately performed. To be realized. At this time, the toner discharge port of the toner replenishing device and the toner receiving port of the developing device are also aligned at the same time.
Since the toner replenishing device can add gravity to the toner discharge force, a layout located above the developing device is generally used. The toner replenishing device supplies toner toward the developing device from a toner discharge port provided downward in the vertical direction.

  Also in the printer 100 of the present embodiment, as described above, the toner replenishing device 35 is disposed above the developing device 5, and the toner discharge port 33 is provided on the lower side in the vertical direction. The toner discharge port 33 and the toner receiving port 61 of the developing device 5 face each other, and the toner conveyance path and the toner receiving path 62 communicate with each other so that the toner can be supplied to the developing device 5.

  Conventionally, a seal member is provided around the toner discharge port of the toner replenishing device, and a seal member is also provided around the toner receiving port of the developing device, so that the margin of the alignment distance between the openings has been increased. Yes. However, since the positioning of the developing device main body to the image forming apparatus main body is prioritized, the alignment of the toner discharge port of the toner replenishing device and the toner receiving port of the developing device must be about. When the alignment error exceeds the error that can be absorbed by the deformation of the seal member, a gap is formed at the joint between the openings, and the toner scatters from the joint between the openings when the image forming apparatus body is driven. There was a problem that occurred.

Next, the characteristic part of the developing device 5 provided in the printer 100 of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 3 is an external front view of the developing device 5 as viewed from the front side of the sheet of FIG. The developing casing forming the developing device 5 includes an upper casing 40 and a lower casing 50, and the developing device 5 shown in FIG. 3 is a front view of the state where the upper casing 40 is removed. 4 is a state where the upper casing 40 is attached to the lower casing 50, FIG. 4 (a) is a top view, and FIG. 4 (b) is a side view.
As shown in FIG. 3, the developer receiving member 60 connected to the toner replenishing device 35, which is a developer supply device, is formed separately from the lower casing 50, which is a developing casing, and includes a cushion member 63, which is an elastic member. It is installed in the lower casing 50. Then, when the cushion member 63 contracts in the vertical direction, the position of the developer receiving member 60 relative to the lower casing 50 can be displaced within a range in which the cushion member 63 can contract. That is, the toner receiving port 61 can be aligned with the toner discharge port 33 independently of the position of the main body of the printer 100 of the lower casing 50. Thereby, the position of the developer receiving member 60 with respect to the pair of the toner receiving port 61 and the lower casing 50 is displaced in a certain range in the vertical direction, that is, the direction of the toner discharge port 33 of the toner replenishing device 35 with respect to the lower casing 50. Will be able to.

  In the developing device 5 of the present embodiment, when the cushion member 63 is not contracted, the position of the upper surface of the inlet seal 64 that is the upper end portion of the developer receiving member 60 is the position of the toner replenishing device 35 provided with the toner discharge port 33. The position is higher than the position of the lower end. When the developing device 5 is installed in the main body of the printer 100, the developing device 5 is mounted while the upper surface of the receiving seal 64 is applied to the lower end of the toner replenishing device 35 waiting above the mounting position of the developing device 5. Insert in position. When the upper surface of the receiving port seal 64 hits the lower end portion of the toner replenishing device 35, the cushion member 63 contracts, and the toner receiving port 61 can be positioned with respect to the toner discharge port 33. As a result, it is possible to absorb a positional shift of the toner receiving port 61 with respect to the toner discharge port 33 caused by a manufacturing error or an assembly error.

  In the developing device 5 of this embodiment, the position of the toner receiving port 61 with respect to the lower casing 50 of the developing casing positioned with respect to the main body of the printer 100 is displaced giving priority to the accuracy of the position in the image forming unit. be able to. As a result, the toner receiving port 61 can be positioned with high accuracy with respect to the toner replenishing device 35. That is, the toner discharge port 33 of the toner replenishing device 35 and the toner receiving port 61 of the developing device 5 can be aligned with high accuracy, and the openings that are the connecting portions of the toner replenishing device 35 and the developing device 5 It is possible to prevent a gap from occurring at the joint. For this reason, it is possible to prevent problems such as toner scattering when the printer main body is driven.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the developer receiving member 60 includes an inlet seal 64 around a toner inlet 61 that is a developer inlet connected to the toner supply device 35 that is a developer supply device. The developer receiving member 60 is made of hard resin or metal, and the vicinity of the toner discharge port 33 of the toner supply device 35 is made of hard resin or metal. If the connecting portion is formed of hard materials, a gap may be generated at the joint between the openings due to slight displacement. With respect to such a problem, by providing the receiving port seal 64, the sealability of the joint between the openings can be improved due to the difference in the compression form of the receiving port seal 64, and the developer from this joint Scattering can be prevented.
In the present embodiment, an inlet seal 64 is fixed to the developer receiving member 60 on the developing device 5 side as a seal member that improves the hermeticity of the joint between the openings. The position where the seal member is provided is not limited to the developer receiving member 60 but may be provided near the toner discharge port 33 of the toner supply device 35.

  The upper casing 40 of the developing device 5 includes a claw portion 40a as shown in FIG. Then, the upper casing 40 is fixed to the lower casing 50 so that the claw portion 40 a is sandwiched between the lower casing 50 and the cushion member 63 below the developer receiving member 60 fixed to the upper portion of the lower casing 50. As a result, the developer receiving member 60 overlaps with the claw portion 40a which is a part of the upper casing 40, and a part of the upper casing 40 and a part of the developer receiving member 60 are overlapped and fixedly installed. It becomes a state. By sandwiching the claw portion 40a below the cushion member 63 in this manner, the sealing performance between the lower casing 50 and the upper casing 40 in the vicinity of the position where the developer receiving member 60 is installed can be improved. Developer scattering can be prevented.

Next, the developer receiving member 60 will be described.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the developer receiving member 60, FIG. 5 (a) is a perspective view of the developer receiving member 60 shown in FIG. 3 as viewed obliquely from the upper right, and FIG. 5 (b) is FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the developer receiving member 60 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the developer receiving member 60 includes a protrusion 65 and a hook 66.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view for explaining the installation of the developer receiving member 60 with respect to the lower casing 50, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the state in which the developer receiving member 60 is installed in the lower casing 50.
When installing the developer receiving member 60 in the developing casing, the cylindrical protrusion 65 of the developer receiving member 60 is inserted into a hole (not shown) provided in the lower casing 50 at the position α in FIG. Thereafter, the developer receiving member 60 is rotated in the direction of arrow β in FIG. 6 with the protrusion 65 inserted into the hole as a fulcrum, so that the protrusion 59 provided on the lower casing 50 and the hook portion 66 of the developer receiving member 60. Is set, the installation of the developer receiving member 60 to the lower casing 50 is completed.

In the developing device 5 of the present embodiment, a seal member such as maltoprene is used as the cushion member 63 that is an elastic member inserted between the developer receiving member 60 and the lower casing 50. Needless to say, as the cushion member, a leaf spring formed of a resin or a metal material having a spring property plays a similar role. The developing device 5 employs a configuration in which maltoprene is fixed to a lower casing 50 constituting the housing of the developing device 5 with a double-sided tape or the like, and a developer receiving member 60 is installed thereon.
As for the configuration in which the developer receiving member is installed in the housing of the developing device, not only the fitting of the cylindrical protruding portion 65 and the hole as in the developing device 5 but also the fitting of the cylindrical protruding portion 65 and the long hole. It may be a combination. By using the fitting configuration of the protrusion 65 and the elongated hole, the displacement amount of the developer receiving member 60 can be increased according to the deformation amount of the cushion member 63 that is an elastic member.

  Further, in the developing device 5 of the present embodiment, the receiving port seal 64 that is the receiving port seal member has higher hardness than the cushion member 63 that is an elastic member. When the receiving port seal 64 is softer than the cushion member 63, when the position of the toner receiving port 61 with respect to the toner discharge port 33 is displaced, only the receiving port seal 64 is deformed, and the developer. The position of the receiving member 60 cannot be displaced. If the surface of the developer receiving member 60 to which the receiving port seal 64 is attached and the lower surface of the toner supply device 35 provided with the toner discharge port 33 are diagonally opposed in a state where only the receiving port seal 64 is deformed, The inlet seal 64 is sandwiched at an angle. Then, the deformation amount of the inlet seal 64 sandwiched obliquely is small, but on the side, no pressure is applied between the inlet seal 64 and the lower surface of the toner replenishing device 35, or a gap is desired to be generated. There is a possibility that the developer leaks from the portion in such a state. On the other hand, if the cushion member 63, which is an elastic member, is softer, the entire developer receiving member 60 is displaced with respect to the lower casing 50 of the developing device 5, so that the toner receiving port 61 is aligned with the toner replenishing device 35. It can be performed.

Further, the developer receiving member 60 of the developing device 5 of the present embodiment has a positioning shape with the toner replenishing device 35 that is a developer supplying device. Specifically, the developer receiving member 60 includes a positioning protrusion (not shown), and the positioning protrusion engages with a positioning recess (not shown) provided on the toner supply device 35 side, whereby the developer receiving member 60 with respect to the toner supply device 35 is engaged. Positioning is done.
If there is a manufacturing error or an assembly error in the developing device 5 installed in the main body of the printer 100 so that the positional accuracy in the image forming unit is prioritized, the position of the toner receiving port 61 with respect to the toner discharge port 33 is shifted. Positioning by the positioning shape was difficult. On the other hand, in the developing device 5 of the present embodiment, the displacement of the toner receiving port 61 with respect to the toner discharge port 33 caused by these errors can be absorbed, so that the cushion member 63 is deformed so that the positioning shapes are engaged with each other. Thus, the position of the developer receiving member 60 is displaced, so that positioning by the positioning shape can be performed. For this reason, the toner receiving port 61 can be aligned with the toner discharge port 33 with higher accuracy.

Further, in the printer 100 of this embodiment, members constituting the image forming unit 6 including the developing device 5 and the photosensitive member 1 are integrally supported, and the differential image forming unit 6 is attached to and detached from the printer 100 main body as a process cartridge. It is configured to be possible. Thus, the developing device 5 and the photoconductor 1 can be easily exchanged not only with high positional accuracy in the image forming unit but also with high positional accuracy of the toner receiving port 61 with respect to the toner discharge port 33.
Further, in the printer 100 which is an image forming apparatus having the photosensitive member 1, the charging roller 4, the exposure device 7, and the developing unit, the developing device 5 is provided as the developing unit, whereby the toner receiving port for the toner discharge port 33 is provided. 61 can be aligned with high accuracy, so that the toner can be prevented from leaking from the joint between the openings, and the inside of the printer 100 can be prevented from being stained with the toner.

  In this embodiment, the configuration in which the developer supply device is the toner supply device 35 that supplies toner as a developer has been described. However, the developer supplied from the developer receiving port of the developer receiving member 60 is not limited to the toner, and the same effect can be obtained when only the developer or carrier in which the carrier and the toner are mixed is used.

[Modification ]
In the developing device 5 of the above-described embodiment, after the cushion member 63 that is an elastic member is fixed to the lower casing 50 of the developing device 5, the developer receiving member 60 is installed in the lower casing 50, and development is performed via the cushion member 63. The agent receiving member 60 is attached to the lower casing 50. That is, the cushion member 63 and the developer receiving member 60 are separate members.
Hereinafter, a description is given to a modification of the elastic member and the developer receiving member 60 and the one member.
In the modification , the elastic member made of an elastic material such as an elastomer and the developer receiving member 60 are integrally formed by two-color molding. The elastic member is integrally formed by two-color molding, so that the number of members can be reduced. The material of the elastic member integrally molded with the developer receiving member 60 by two-color molding is not limited to an elastomer, and any material that can perform two-color molding with the material constituting the developer receiving member 60 is acceptable.

[ Reference configuration example ]
In the developing device 5 of the above-described embodiment, the developer receiving member 60 is made of a hard resin material, and the elastic member between the hard developer receiving member 60 and the developing casing is deformed, whereby the developer for the developing casing is developed. It was the structure which displaced the position of a receiving port.
A reference configuration example in which the developer receiving member 60 itself is made of an elastic body will be described below.
In the reference configuration example , since the developer receiving member 60 itself is made of an elastic body, the developer receiving member 60 is deformed, so that the position of the toner receiving port 61 of the developer receiving member 60 with respect to the developing casing can be displaced. it can. As a result, as in the above-described embodiment, the toner receiving port 61 can be aligned with the toner discharge port 33 with higher accuracy.
Further, since the developer receiving member 60 is made of an elastic body, there is no need to combine a member made of a hard material and an elastic member, and the number of members can be reduced.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the developing device 5 is connected to the toner replenishing device 35 as the developer supplying device by being installed in the printer 100 as the image forming device, and the toner as the developer is supplied from the toner replenishing device 35. A developing device to be supplied. Further, the upper casing 40 and the lower casing 50, which are developing casings forming the main body of the developing device 5, are formed separately from each other and have a developer receiving member 60 connected to the toner replenishing device 35. Further, the position of the developer receiving member 60 relative to the lower casing 50 of the toner receiving port 61 that is a developer receiving port connected to at least the toner supply device 35 can be displaced. That is, the toner receiving port 61 can be aligned with the toner discharge port 33 independently of the position of the main body of the printer 100 of the lower casing 50. Thus, the toner replenishing device 35 is displaced by displacing the position of the toner receiving port 61 with respect to the lower casing 50 of the developing device 5 positioned with respect to the main body of the printer 100 giving priority to the accuracy of the position in the image forming unit. On the other hand, the toner receiving port 61 can be positioned with high accuracy. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from scattering from the joint between the opening portions of the toner discharge port 33 and the toner receiving port 61, which are a connecting portion between the developing device 5 and the toner supply device 35.
Further, the developer receiving member 60 is provided with a receiving port seal 64 around the toner receiving port 61 connected to the toner replenishing device 35, so that the sealability of the joint between the openings can be improved. Toner scattering from the eyes can be prevented more reliably.
Further, by making it possible to displace the position of the developer receiving member 60 relative to the lower casing 50 that is the developing casing, it is possible to realize a configuration that allows the position of the toner receiving inlet 61 to be displaced relative to the lower casing 50.
The developer receiving member 60 is attached to the lower casing 50 via a cushion member 63 that is an elastic member, and the position of the developer receiving member 60 relative to the developing casing is displaced when the cushion member 63 is deformed. Thereby, the structure which can displace the position with respect to the lower casing 50 of the toner receiving port 61 is realizable.
Further, since the receiving port seal 64 provided in the developer receiving member 60 is harder than the cushion member 63, the cushion member 63 is more easily deformed than the receiving port seal 64. Thus, the entire developer receiving member 60 is displaced. As a result, the toner receiving port 61 can be aligned with the toner supply device 35.
Further, the developing casing of the developing device 5 includes a lower casing 50 and an upper casing 40, and a developer receiving member 60 is attached to the lower casing 50, and a claw portion 40a that is a part of the upper casing 40 and the developing. A part with the agent receiving member 60 is overlapped and fixedly installed. Thereby, the sealing property of the lower casing 50 and the upper casing 40 in the vicinity of the position where the developer receiving member 60 is installed can be enhanced, and the developer scattering from this position can be prevented.
Further, since the developer receiving member 60 has a positioning shape with the toner replenishing device 35, the toner receiving port 61 can be aligned with the toner discharge port 33 with higher accuracy.
Further, an image forming unit 6 that is a process cartridge that is configured integrally with at least the developing unit and the photosensitive member 1 that is a latent image carrier and can be attached to and detached from the main body of the printer 100 that is an image forming apparatus is developed as the developing unit. By providing the device 5, it is possible to easily replace the developing device 5 and the photosensitive member 1 with high positional accuracy of the toner receiving port 61 with respect to the toner discharge port 33.
In addition, at least the photosensitive member 1 as a latent image carrier, a charging roller 4 as a charging unit for charging the surface of the photosensitive member 1, and a latent image forming unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 1. In the printer 100 which is an image forming apparatus having an exposure device 7 and a developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, a toner discharge port is obtained by using the developing device 5 as the developing unit. The toner can be prevented from leaking from the joint between the openings of the toner receiving port 33 and the toner receiving port 61, and the inside of the printer 100 can be prevented from being stained with the toner.
Further, the printer 100 includes at least the photosensitive member 1 that is a latent image carrier and the developing device 5 and includes a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the printer 100. It is possible to easily replace the developing device 5 and the photosensitive member 1 that have high positional accuracy of the inlet 61 and can prevent the toner from leaking from the toner supply unit.
Further, since the printer 100 includes a plurality of process cartridges, the developing device 5 and the photosensitive member 1 that can prevent toner from leaking from the toner supply unit for each color can be easily replaced for each color. .
Also, as in the modified example, by forming the developer receiving member 60 and the elastic member in a two-color molding, it is possible to reduce the number of parts.
Further, as in the reference configuration example , by using the developer receiving member 60 itself as an elastic body, a configuration in which the position of the toner receiving port 61 relative to the lower casing 50 is displaced by the deformation of the developer receiving member 60 can be realized. In addition, the number of members can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor 2 Cleaning apparatus 4 Charging roller 5 Developing apparatus 6 Image formation part 7 Exposure apparatus 8 Intermediate transfer belt 15 Intermediate transfer unit 19 Secondary transfer roller 20 Fixing apparatus 31 Toner container accommodating part 32 Toner container 33 Toner discharge port 34 Toner conveyance Member 35 Toner supply device 40 Upper casing 40a Claw portion 50 Lower casing 51 Developing roller 59 Protrusion 60 Developer receiving member 61 Toner receiving port 62 Toner receiving path 63 Cushion member 64 receiving port seal 65 Protruding portion 66 Hooking portion 100 Printer

JP 2002-341648 A

Claims (5)

At least a latent image carrier;
Charging means for charging the surface of the latent image carrier;
Latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier;
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image;
Developing device is removable from the image forming apparatus main body, by Rukoto attached to the image forming apparatus main body connected to the developer supply apparatus, the image forming apparatus is supplied with developer from the developer supply device,
Wherein the developing casing to form a developing unit main body are formed separately, a developing agent receiving member having a developer receiving port to face the developer discharge port of the developer supply device,
The developer receiving member is attached to the developing casing through an elastic member, and the developer receiving member and the developer receiving port are displaced by displacement of the developer receiving member with respect to the developing casing due to deformation of the elastic member. The position of the developer receiving port with respect to the developing casing in the opposite direction of
The developer receiving member, said comprising the compressed deformable receiving port seal in the opposing direction around the developer receiving port, Ri is high hardness der towards receiving inlet seal member than said elastic member,
When mounting the developing device to the image forming apparatus main body, wherein the receiving port seal receiving inlet seal and said resilient member when said developer supply apparatus is characterized that you have been configured to deform as contracted in the opposite direction Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 請 Motomeko 1,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the developer receiving member and the elastic member are formed by two-color molding. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the developer receiving member has a positioning shape with respect to the developer supply device . The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a process cartridge which is configured integrally with at least the latent image carrier and the developing device and is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4.
An image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of the process cartridges.

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