JP6119471B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to images forming device.

Patent Document 1 discloses a first shutter that integrally covers an opening of a storage unit from outside and inside via a connection unit, and a cartridge provided on the cartridge side to cover the opening of the cartridge and to provide a first shutter at a toner supply position. A toner supply mechanism having a first shutter and a second shutter that can be opened and closed in conjunction with each other is described.
Patent Document 2 discloses a toner in which the height of the toner delivery opening is set higher than that of the toner receiving opening, and the opening opening shutter is opened after the receiving opening shutter is opened by the operation of attaching the toner cartridge to the apparatus main body. A cartridge mounting structure is described.
Patent Document 3 discloses a cartridge opening / closing member having an extruding portion that pushes the developer between the cartridge opening / closing member and the developing device side connecting port to at least one of the developing device and the cartridge main body when the cartridge side connecting port is closed. Is described.

JP-A-1-209464 JP 2010-230899 A JP 2005-221831 A

  An object of the present invention is to reduce the possibility that the surface of a developing device is soiled with the developer when the container for storing the developer is taken in and out of an image forming apparatus having the developing device.

An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a container that contains a developer inside a housing provided with an opening, and an opening / closing member that is provided outside the housing and opens and closes the opening. The housing from the position where the opening is closed as the position or posture of the container changes so that the opening faces the developer receiving port in the developing device of the image forming apparatus. The position where the opening is opened as the position or posture of the container changes so that the opening is moved away from the position facing the receiving port by moving along the outer wall of the container. And an opening / closing member that moves along the outer wall to close the opening, and the opening / closing member engages with a peripheral portion of the receiving port in a state of being overlapped with a part of the receiving port. Open and close the opening until the opening is closed. A developer supply device and maintains a state of overlapping parts, the said developing device in which the developer from the developer supply device is supplied, the recording medium by the developer supplied from the developing device And an image forming means for forming an image .

An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the opening / closing member is pushed by a protrusion provided in the developing unit in a state of being overlapped with a part of the receiving port. The opening is opened.
An image forming apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the opening / closing member receives a frictional force from the developing device until the opening is closed, and a part of the receiving port. It is characterized by maintaining a state where it overlaps with.

According to the invention of 請 Motomeko 1-3, into and out container for accommodating the developer, as compared to the case not having the constitution of the present invention, the possibility of contaminating the surface of the developing device with a developer Can be reduced.

1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a developer supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the opening part seen from the downward direction in embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus to which a developer supply device is attached. The figure which shows the operation | movement which an opening-and-closing member opens and closes an opening part in a prior art. The figure which shows the operation | movement which the opening-and-closing member which concerns on embodiment opens and closes an opening part. The figure which shows the external appearance of the developing agent supply apparatus which concerns on a modification. The figure which shows the opening part seen from the downward direction in a modification. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a developer supply device according to a modification. The figure which shows the operation | movement which the opening-and-closing member which concerns on a modification opens and closes an opening part.

1. Embodiment 1-1. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a developer supply device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, in order to describe the arrangement of each component of the developer supply device 1, the space in which each component is arranged is represented as an xyz right-handed coordinate space. Also, among the coordinate symbols shown in the figure, a symbol in which a black circle is drawn in a circle with a white inside represents an arrow heading from the back side to the near side. A symbol depicting two line segments intersecting in a white circle on the inside represents an arrow from the front side to the back side of the page. A direction along the x-axis in space is referred to as an x-axis direction. Of the x-axis directions, the direction in which the x component increases is referred to as + x direction, and the direction in which the x component decreases is referred to as -x direction. For the y and z components, the y-axis direction, + y direction, -y direction, z-axis direction, + z direction, and -z direction are defined according to the above definition.

  The developer supply device 1 is a device that is attached to the image forming apparatus and supplies the developer to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus is an apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium using supplied developer. The image forming apparatus includes, for example, a developing unit 4 to be described later and an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium using a developer supplied from the developing unit 4. The image forming unit includes, for example, an image holding body that holds an electrostatic latent image, a transfer device (not shown) that transfers an image held on the image holding body to a recording medium, and the like. The image developed on the surface of the image holding member by the developing agent is transferred to a recording medium such as paper by the transfer device, thereby forming an image on the recording medium.

  In FIG. 1, the −z direction is the direction of gravity. As shown in FIG. 1A, the developer supply apparatus 1 includes a container 2 that stores the developer. The container 2 is provided with a handle 21, and the user handles the developer supply device 1 by grasping the handle 21. For example, when the user pulls the handle 21 in the + y direction, the developer supply device 1 is removed from the image forming apparatus.

  The housing of the container 2 has a cylindrical shape, and its central axis extends in the direction along the y-axis direction in a state where the developer supply device 1 is mounted on the image forming apparatus. FIG. 1B shows a view of the developer supply device 1 as viewed from below (that is, a position in the −z direction). As shown in FIG. 1B, the housing of the container 2 has an opening 20 on the side surface on the −z direction side. An opening / closing member 3 that opens and closes the opening 20 is provided outside the housing of the container 2. In the state shown in FIG. 1B, the opening / closing member 3 covers the opening 20. A seal 5 (described later) is provided on the outer edge of the opening 20 that contacts the opening / closing member 3 when the opening / closing member 3 covers the opening 20. The seal 5 is a sealing member between the opening / closing member 3 and the outer edge of the opening 20 to seal the opening 20 and prevent the developer from leaking between the opening / closing member 3 and the housing of the container 2. .

1-2. Structure of Developer Supply Device FIG. 2 is a view showing the opening 20 as viewed from below. As shown in FIG. 2, the opening 20 is rectangular, and a groove 30 is provided from one side of the opening 20 toward the + y direction. The groove 30 is provided on the outside of the housing. For example, a protrusion (not shown) provided on the opening / closing member 3 is guided along the groove 30 so that the opening / closing member 3 is provided in the housing of the container 2. The body wall is moved along the y-axis direction.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus to which the developer supply device 1 is attached. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus as viewed from the direction of arrows III-III in FIG. Yes. A developing device 4 is disposed below (-z direction) the developer supply device 1 attached to the image forming apparatus. The developing device 4 includes a cylindrical member 42 provided with a deck 41 on the upper surface, and a conveying member 43 provided inside the cylindrical member 42 and rotated around an axis extending in the y-axis direction. The conveying member 43 is a member in which spiral blades are provided around the shaft, and the developer is conveyed along the direction in which the shaft extends by the blades rotating with the shaft.

  When the developer supply device 1 is attached to the image forming apparatus, the developer supply device 1 is pushed in the direction of arrow D1 in FIG. The deck 41 places the developer supply device 1 and slides it in the y-axis direction. When the developer supply device 1 is pushed in the direction of the arrow D1 shown in FIG. 2, the opening / closing member 3 provided outside the container 2 is hooked on a protrusion (not shown) provided on the deck 41, for example. The member 3 is moved relative to the container 2 in the direction of the arrow D2 (that is, the + y direction) shown in FIG. As a result, the opening / closing member 3 moves to a position indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2 and opens the opening 20. The deck 41 on which the developer supply device 1 is mounted is provided with a receiving port 40 for receiving the developer. When the opening 20 is opened by the opening / closing member 3, the opening 20 faces the receiving port 40. It is arranged at the position to do.

1-3. Structure of Conventional Developer Supply Device Here, an example of the prior art will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation in which the opening / closing member 3a of the developer supply device 1a used in the conventional image forming apparatus opens and closes the opening 20a. Hereinafter, each configuration of the conventional image forming apparatus will be described using the reference numerals with the suffix “a” added to the reference numerals of the corresponding configurations in the image forming apparatus of the above-described embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, in the conventional image forming apparatus, the developer accommodated in the container 2a of the developer supply apparatus 1a is supplied to the developer 4 through the opening 20a and the receiving port 40a. At this time, the front end portion P3a of the opening / closing member 3a does not protrude in the arrow D1 direction from the edge portion P4a on the + y direction side of the receiving port 40a. Rather, the tip end portion P3a is arranged in the direction opposite to the arrow D1 direction (that is, the + y direction) rather than the edge portion P4a.

  When the developer accommodated in the container 2a is supplied from the opening 20a to the developing device 4 through the receiving port 40a, the developer falls in the direction of the arrow D3 in the passage R1 shown in FIG. 4A. . Here, since the front end portion P3a and the edge portion P4a face the passage R1, they touch the falling developer. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 4B, the front end portion P3a is located above the edge portion P4a (ie, in the + z direction) and in the + y direction relative to the edge portion P4a. A region R2 is generated above. Since the falling developer easily accumulates in the region R2, the deck 41a may become dirty due to the region R2.

1-4. Operation of Opening / Closing Member (1) Operation of Opening Opening FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation of the opening / closing member 3 opening / closing the opening 20. In the developer supply device 1 before mounting, the opening / closing member 3 closes the opening 20. A seal 5 is provided between the outer edge of the closed opening 20 and the opening / closing member 3. The seal 5 prevents the developer from leaking out from the gap between the opening / closing member 3 and the outer edge of the opening 20.

  When the developer supply device 1 is attached to the image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 5A, the container 2 moves on the deck 41 along the arrow D1 direction (−y direction). That is, the position of the container 2 changes. During this movement, the opening / closing member 3 and the seal 5 are attached to the container 2 while the distal end portion P3 of the opening / closing member 3 in the arrow D1 direction is in the + y direction with respect to the edge portion P4 of the receiving port 40 on the + y direction side. To move in the direction of arrow D1.

  When the developer supply device 1 slides on the deck 41 in the direction of the arrow D1, the opening / closing member 3 reaches a position on a protrusion (not shown) provided on the deck 41. This position is a position where the front end portion P3 of the opening / closing member 3 described above protrudes in the arrow D1 direction from the edge portion P4 of the receiving port 40 on the + y direction side. Since the opening / closing member 3 is held on the protrusion provided on the deck 41 at the position shown in FIG. 5B, the movement in the direction of the arrow D1 is restricted. At this position, the opening / closing member 3 overlaps a part of the receiving port 40.

  When the user operates the handle 21 shown in FIG. 1 and pushes the developer supply device 1 further in the direction of the arrow D1, the seal 5 and the container 2 are moved in the direction of the arrow D1 while the opening / closing member 3 is kept pressed. move on. And the container 2 moves so that the opening part 20 may be arrange | positioned rather than the front-end | tip part P3 of the opening-and-closing member 3 mentioned above as shown in FIG.5 (c). Thereby, the opening / closing member 3 moves in the direction opposite to the arrow D1 direction (arrow D2 direction) relative to the container 2 to open the opening 20.

(2) Operation of closing the opening When the user grasps the handle 21 and pulls the developer supply device 1 in the direction of the arrow D2, which is the opposite direction of the arrow D1, the container 2 and the seal 5 move in the direction of the arrow D2. Here, when the container 2 moves from the position shown in FIG. 5C to the position shown in FIG. 5B, the opening / closing member 3 moves along with the container 2 because a frictional force acts between the opening / closing member 3 and the deck 41. Does not move in the direction of arrow D2. When the container 2 reaches the position shown in FIG. 5B, the opening 20 is closed by the opening / closing member 3.

  On the other hand, when the container 2 further moves in the direction of the arrow D2 and exceeds the position shown in FIG. 5 (b), the protrusion (not shown) provided on the opening / closing member 3 becomes the groove 30 (see FIG. 2). 5 (not shown in FIG. 5), the opening / closing member 3 can no longer stay in this position and moves in the direction of arrow D2 as the container 2 moves. As a result, the container 2, the seal 5 and the opening / closing member 3 all move in the direction of the arrow D2, and the developer supply device 1 is removed from the image forming apparatus.

  By the operation described above, the opening / closing member 3 opens the opening 20 in a state where it overlaps with a part of the receiving port 40, so that the developer supplied from the opening 20 is accumulated at the outer edge of the receiving port 40 and the developing device. The possibility of soiling the surface of 4 is reduced.

  In addition, when the developer supply device 1 is removed from the image forming apparatus, the opening / closing member 3 maintains a state where it overlaps with a part of the receiving port 40 until the opening 20 is closed. The possibility that the developer leaks from the one opening 20 and stains the outer edge of the receiving port 40 is reduced.

  In other words, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the opening portion 20 is opened even a little so that the developer can be supplied. Since it protrudes in the direction of the arrow D1 from the side edge portion P4, the opening and closing member 3 maintains a state where it overlaps with a part of the receiving port 40. Therefore, unlike the prior art, there is no region R2 that faces the passage where the developer is supplied and exposes the upper portion of the deck 41.

2. Modification The above is the description of the embodiment, but the contents of this embodiment can be modified as follows. Further, the following modifications may be combined.
2-1. Modification 1
In the embodiment described above, the developer supply device has a structure in which the opening is opened and closed by sliding in the y-axis direction along the upper surface of the developing device. However, the developer supply device is rotated to open and close the opening. It may be a structure.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a developer supply device 1b according to a modification. Hereinafter, each configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the modified example will be described using the reference numerals with the suffix “b” added to the corresponding configuration codes in the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the developer supply device 1b includes a container 2b that stores the developer. The housing of the container 2b has a cylindrical shape, and its central axis extends in the direction along the y-axis direction in a state where the developer supply device 1b is mounted on the image forming apparatus. The container 2b is provided with a handle 21b, and the user handles the developer supply device 1b by grasping the handle 21b. 6B, the housing of the container 2b is provided with an opening 20b on the side surface on the −z direction side. An opening / closing member 3b for opening and closing the opening 20b is provided outside the housing of the container 2b. In the state shown in FIG. 6B, the opening / closing member 3b covers the opening 20b.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the opening 20b as viewed from below. The opening / closing member 3b is a cylindrical member provided with a plurality of rectangular openings, and is attached to the container 2b so as to surround the side surface of the outer wall. The opening / closing member 3b closes the opening 20b by rotating along the side of the outer wall of the container 2 so that the opening 20b of the container 2b faces a portion that is not open. Moreover, the opening / closing member 3b opens the opening 20b by rotating along the side of the outer wall of the container 2 so that the opening 20b of the container 2b faces the opening of the opening / closing member 3b.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus to which the developer supply device 1b is attached. FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus when the developer supplying apparatus 1b in FIG. 7 is viewed from the arrow VIII-VIII direction in a state where the developer supplying apparatus 1b is mounted on the image forming apparatus. Yes. In FIG. 8, the arrow D4 direction is a direction that rotates clockwise around the axis O of the container 2b when viewed in the + y direction, and the arrow D5 direction is the center of the axis O when viewed in the + y direction. Is a direction that rotates counterclockwise.

  A developing device 4b is disposed below (-z direction) the developer supply device 1b attached to the image forming apparatus. The developing device 4b includes a cylindrical member 42b having a deck 41b provided on the upper surface, and a conveying member 43b that is provided inside the cylindrical member 42b and rotates about an axis extending in the y-axis direction.

  The developer supply device 1b is mounted on the deck 41b of the developing device 4b in the image forming apparatus. At the stage of attachment, the opening 20b of the container 2b is not opened. The user grasps the handle 21b shown in FIG. 6 and rotates the developer supply device 1b in the direction of arrow D4 in FIG. At this time, the container 2b rotates. That is, the attitude of the container 2b changes. Since the opening / closing member 3b provided outside the container 2b is held on the deck 41b, for example, by a protrusion (not shown), the opening / closing member 3b is relative to the container 2b. Is moved in the direction of arrow D5. Thereby, the opening / closing member 3b moves and opens the opening 20b. The deck 41b on which the developer supply device 1b is mounted is provided with a receiving port 40b for receiving the developer. When the opening 20b is opened by the opening / closing member 3b, the opening 20b faces the receiving port 40b. It is arranged at the position to do.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation in which the opening / closing member 3b opens and closes the opening 20b. When the developer supply device 1b is mounted on the image forming apparatus, the opening / closing member 3b is fixed on a protrusion provided on the deck 41b, which is the upper surface of the developing device 4b. And as shown to Fig.9 (a), the front-end | tip part P3b of the fixed opening-and-closing member 3b protrudes in the arrow D4 direction rather than the edge part P4b of the arrow D5 direction side of the receiving port 40b.

  When the user operates the handle 21b or the like shown in FIG. 1 to rotate the developer supply device 1b in the direction of arrow D4, the seal 5b and the container 2b are moved to the arrow while the opening / closing member 3b is held by the deck 41b. Rotating in the direction D4, the opening 20b is opened as shown in FIG. Thereby, the developer accommodated in the container 2b falls to the developer 4b through the opening 20b and the receiving port 40b.

  When the user operates the handle 21b shown in FIG. 1 to rotate the developer supply device 1b in the direction of the arrow D5, the seal 5b and the container 2b are held while the opening / closing member 3b is held by the deck 41b. Rotates in the direction of arrow D5, and as shown in FIG. 9A, the opening 20b is closed.

  As described above, also in the image forming apparatus of this modified example, when the opening 20b is opened as much as possible and the developer can be supplied, the leading end P3b of the opening / closing member 3b is always connected to the receiving port 40b. Projecting in the direction of arrow D4 from the edge portion P4 on the arrow D5 direction side, that is, on the side of the passage where the developer is supplied, the opening / closing member 3b maintains a state where it overlaps with a part of the receiving port 40b. Yes. Therefore, the possibility that the surface of the developing device 4b is soiled by the supplied developer is reduced.

2-2. Modification 2
In the embodiment and the modification described above, the opening is rectangular, but may have a shape other than a rectangle. For example, a polygon, a fan shape, an ellipse, etc. may be sufficient. In short, the opening is opened by the opening / closing member in a state where it overlaps a part of the developer receiving port in the developing device, and the opening / closing member maintains a state where it overlaps a part of the receiving port while being opened. Any shape can be used.

2-3. Modification 3
In the embodiment and the modification described above, the casing of the container is cylindrical, but may have a shape other than cylindrical.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Developer supply apparatus, 2 ... Container, 20 ... Opening part, 21 ... Handle, 3 ... Opening / closing member, 30 ... Groove, 4 ... Developer, 40 ... Receiving port, 41 ... Deck, 42 ... Cylindrical member, 43 ... conveying member, 5 ... seal.

Claims (3)

A container for storing the developer inside the housing provided with the opening;
An opening / closing member provided on the outside of the housing and opening / closing the opening, wherein the container is positioned or oriented so that the opening faces a developer receiving port in the developing device of the image forming apparatus. As it changes, the container moves from the position where the opening is closed along the outer wall of the housing to open the opening, and the opening is moved away from the position facing the receiving port. An opening / closing member that moves along the outer wall from the position where the opening is opened and closes the opening as the position or posture changes ,
Have
The opening / closing member opens the opening in a state of being overlapped with a part of the receiving port, and maintains the state of being overlapped with a part of the receiving port until the opening is closed. When,
The developing device to which the developer is supplied from the developer supply device;
Image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium with the developer supplied from the developing device;
An image forming apparatus . The opening / closing member opens the opening by being pushed by a protrusion provided in the developing unit in a state of being overlapped with a part of the receiving port.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The opening / closing member receives a frictional force from the developing device until the opening is closed, and maintains a state where the opening / closing member overlaps a part of the receiving port.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

Images