JPH012079A - image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a frame body that can be opened and closed.
More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that has been improved so that developer can be supplied to a developing device used in the apparatus by utilizing the opening and closing operations of the frame.

(Prior Art) In recent years, a cartridge system has been widely adopted as a method for replenishing developer in image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and laser printers that employ an electrophotographic system. This cartridge method uses a developer cartridge in which replenishment developer is sealed in a container that has an opening on the lower side and is sealed with a sealing member that can be peeled off. After the cartridge is installed in the developing device, it is sealed. This replenishment method involves opening the package and replenishing the developer to the developing device.

This method can be said to be an effective replenishment method because there is no problem that the replenished developer scatters during developer replenishment and contaminates the room in which the image forming apparatus is installed with the developer.

Furthermore, a system called a process unit system has begun to be developed as an advanced type of developer cartridge. This process unit system does not only replace the replenishing developer, but instead forms a photosensitive drum, developer, cleaner, charger, etc. as an integrated unit (process unit), and after a predetermined number of image formation is completed. Then they try to replace the entire process unit. When such a process unit system is adopted, maintenance such as replacing and replenishing consumables of the image forming apparatus can be easily performed by the user.

Even in such a process unit system, the developer used in the developing device is sealed in a developer storage space in the process unit with a sealing member, and when the process unit is used, the sealing member is opened and the developer is transferred to the developing device. A configuration of supplying is adopted. This is adopted from the viewpoint of preventing the developer from spilling out of the process unit or being concentrated on one side within the developing device main body when the process unit is being transported.

Therefore, even when adopting the developer cartridge method,
Even when the process unit method is adopted, it is necessary to unseal the seal member of the developer storage section before use.

(Technical Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, the conventionally used cartridge system requires manual work to open the seal;
Generally annoying.

Furthermore, the seal member peeled off by the seal opening operation is pulled out of the main body of the image forming apparatus. in this case,
Since a large amount of developer adheres to this opening seal, there is a risk that the adhered developer may stain hands and clothes.

The present invention has been devised to solve the problems of the prior art as described above.

The purpose of is (i)! To provide an image forming apparatus having a car-like configuration, in which developer can be introduced into the developing apparatus without staining hands or clothes; (ii) to draw out a seal opened for supplying developer out of the image forming apparatus main body; (iii) Provide an image forming apparatus in which developer can be introduced into the developing device in conjunction with opening and closing operations of the frame of the image forming apparatus main body.

(Structure of the Invention) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention includes: a first frame that supports the entire device; a second frame that can be opened and closed with respect to the first frame; and a surface thereof. An image forming apparatus comprising: a latent image holding member that holds a latent image; and a developing means that develops the latent image formed on the surface of the latent image holding member; the developing means ('a) containing a developer; and a developer accommodating portion having a developer replenishment opening; (b) a sealing portion for sealing the replenishment opening, a peeling portion continuous with the sealing portion for peeling off the sealing portion, and provided at an end of the peeling portion; (C) a sealing member having a pressing force acting portion that receives a pressing force from a pressing force applying means provided on either one of the frames when closing both the first and second frames; (C) the developing device; a developing mechanism section located below the developer accommodating section; (d) a developing device that integrally supports the developer accommodating section, the sealing member, and the developing mechanism section so that the pressing force acting section of the sealing member is exposed outside the developer housing; and a housing;
and (e) the developing means is removably attached to one of the first and second frames.

This configuration is adopted.

(Function of the Invention) By employing the above-described configuration, the present invention allows the developer sealed in the developer container by the sealing member to be automatically unsealed in conjunction with the closing operation of the first and second frames. The image is then introduced into the developing mechanism.

Furthermore, since the sealing member remains on the developing means side, the operator's hands and clothes are not soiled, and the troublesome work of cutting is unnecessary.

(Example) Referring to the drawings, a typical electrophotographic copying machine will be described as an image forming device, and a developing device incorporated in a process unit integrally formed with a photosensitive drum will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the process unit 4 and the seal member 6.
2 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the pressing force applying unit 68 of 0 and the pressing force applying means 70 of the image forming apparatus main body 2. FIG.
3 is a sectional view showing a state in which the second support frame 42 is opened and the process unit 4 is attached to the second support frame 44, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the support frame 44 of FIG.

ノ So 1t of First, the entire image forming apparatus will be explained with reference to FIG.

The copying machine shown as 2 as a whole has a process unit 4 disposed in the center and an exposure optical section 8 including a document placement section 6 at the top.
A copy paper transport section 10 is disposed at the bottom.

The exposure optical section 8 irradiates a document (not shown) placed on the document placement section 6 using a lamp 12, and uses the irradiated portion as an image light source 14 to provide an image forming optical system 1 such as a Selfoc lens.
6 is used to form a document image on the photosensitive drum 18 in the process unit 4.

The process unit 4 has various image forming process means integrated in a housing 20, centering on a photosensitive drum 18 as a latent image holding member.

That is, the main charging corona discharger 2 is placed above the drum 18.
2. A developing device 24 and a cleaning device 26 are integrally provided in a housing 20, and an exposure opening 28 and a transfer opening 30 for image transfer are formed in the upper part of the housing 20, respectively.

A substantially planar copy paper conveyance section 10 including the exposure opening 28 of the process unit 4 is formed below the process unit 4 .

This conveyance section 10 is provided with a copy paper supply section 32, a transfer corona discharger 34, and a fixing device 36 at the position of the transfer opening 30 from the right side in the figure. A machine discharge tray 38 is provided.

A second support frame 44 mainly includes the exposure optical section 8.
The first support frame 42, which mainly includes the copy paper conveying section 10, is a mechanism that can be pivoted around a rotation shaft 45 to open and close the first support frame 42.

The process unit 4 described above is based on this second support frame 4
The photosensitive drum 18 has a structure that can be freely attached to the photosensitive drum 18 and can be easily replaced since the life of the photosensitive drum 18 and the time when the developer in the developing device 24 is consumed are approximately the same.

Developing device H Next, referring to FIG.
4 will be explained.

The developing device, generally designated by 24, includes a developer storage section 50 in the upper part and a developing sleeve 52 in the lower part for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the drum 18.
A developing mechanism section 56 including a stirring roller 54 is also provided.

An opening 58 for replenishing the developer is provided in the lower part of the developer storage section 50, and the opening 58 is sealed with a seal member 60 when the process unit 4 is not in use.

This sealing member 60 is composed of a sealing part 62 affixed to directly seal the replenishment opening 58 and a peeling part 64 provided continuously to the sealing part 62 and not affixed to the opening 58. There is. The peeling part 64 is attached to the sealing part 62 as shown in the figure.
is bent at the end of the housing 20 , and the end thereof is exposed to the outside of the housing 20 through a sealing member guide path 66 provided on the side wall of the developing device 24 of the housing 20 . A rod-shaped pressing force acting portion 68 is provided at this end.

Thus, the sealing member 60 is configured such that it can be peeled off in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the replenishment opening 58 by applying a pressing force from the outside to the pressing force applying portion 68.

A pressing force applying means 70 provided in the first support frame 42 (see FIG. 3) of the main body 2 directly applies a pressing force to the pressing force applying portion 68.

The seal opening operation will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The pressing force applying means 70 provided on the first support frame 42 is a substantially plate-shaped member, and is erected in front and behind the copy paper conveyance section 10 of the first support frame 42, sandwiching the copy paper conveyance section 10 therebetween. It is provided.

The upper part of this pressing force applying means 70 is connected to the process unit 4
A recessed portion is formed for locking or engaging the rod-shaped pressing force acting portion 68 exposed from the developing device 24 .

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the second support frame 44 is opened to the first support frame 42. In this state, the process unit 4 is inserted into the second support frame 44 from the front of the support frame 44. At this time, the rod-shaped pressing force applying section 68 is simultaneously positioned at the position of the recess 72 of the pressing force applying means 70 provided before and after the conveying section IO of the first support frame 42.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the second support frame 44 is rotated about the rotating shaft 45 so that the first support frame 42 is in the closed state. Along with this turning operation, the process unit 4 moves downward together with the second support frame 44. However, since the pressing force acting portion 68 exposed to the outside of the process unit 4 is prevented from pivoting by the pressing force applying means 70 installed on the first support frame 42, as a result, the pressing force acting portion 68 is prevented from rotating. The section 68 is the process unit 4
It will move upwards relative to.

Returning again to FIG. 1, as a result of the above-described action, the sealing member 60 is moved upward relative to the pressing force acting portion 68.
A force in the direction of arrow 74 acts on the peeled portion 64 .

As a result, the sealing part 62 of the sealing member 60 is peeled off sequentially from the left side in FIG. 1, and it is possible to complete unsealing of all the replenishment openings 58 while the pressing force acting part 68 moves to the uppermost position. Become.

In other words, if the amount of upward movement of the pressing force acting part 68 is twice or more the opening width of the replenishment opening 58, the acting part 6
By moving 8, opening can be improved. Of course, it is most preferable if the size is exactly twice that, since the opening will open just right and the seal will remain intact.

As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 80, which corresponds to the side wall of the developing device 24 of the process unit 4, is designed to correspond to the trajectory of the pressing force applying portion 68 in order to make the upward movement thereof smoother. It is preferable to make it into a circular arc shape.

Although the present invention has been described above based on the above-mentioned specific examples, the present invention is not limited to these specific examples.

For example, it is also possible to attach the process unit 4 to the first support frame 42 and attach the pressing force applying means 70 to the second support frame 44.

In this case, the seal member guide path 66 formed in the housing 20 of the process unit 4 may be provided above the replenishment opening 58, and the pressing force applying member 68 may be moved from the upper position to the lower position.

Furthermore, it is of course possible to open the seal in a similar manner by replacing the process unit 4 with only the developing device 24 which is replaceable.

Furthermore, it is also possible to apply the present invention to laser printers and the like that employ an electrophotographic method like copying machines.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, the sealing member can be opened in conjunction with the closing operation of the second support frame to the first support frame, so the operator does not have to perform complicated seal-opening work. Furthermore, there is no risk of soiling the operator's hands or clothes.

In addition, in the present invention, the seal is opened in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the opening, and a larger force is required to open the seal than usual. Since it uses movements that require force, there is no need to worry about it.

Therefore, according to the present invention, with a simple structure, the seal opening operation can be performed more easily than the conventional one.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the process unit 4 and the seal member 6.
2 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the pressing force applying unit 68 of 0 and the pressing force applying means 7o of the image forming apparatus main body 2, and FIG.
3 is a sectional view showing a state in which the second support frame 42 is opened and the process unit 4 is attached to the second support frame 44, and FIG. 2
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the support frame 44 is in a closed state with respect to the first support frame 42 and the seal member 60 is unsealed. The river fish numbers in the figure indicate the following contents. 18...Photosensitive drum 20...Housing 24...Developing device 42...First support frame 44...Second support frame 50...Developer Accommodating part 60... Seal member 62... Sealing part 64... Peeling part 68... Pressing force acting part 70... Pressing force applying means

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A first frame that supports the entire device, a second frame that can be opened and closed with respect to the first frame, a latent image holding member that holds a latent image on its surface, and a latent image holding member. A developing means for developing a latent image formed on a surface of a member; In an image forming apparatus, the developing means comprises: a developer accommodating portion containing developer and having a developer replenishment opening; and sealing the replenishment opening. a sealing part, a peeling part that is continuous with the sealing part and allows the sealing part to be peeled off; and a peeling part that is provided at the end of the peeling part and is provided on either one of the frames when closing both the first and second frames. a sealing member having a pressing force acting portion that receives a pressing force from the pressing force applying means; a developing mechanism portion located below the developer accommodating portion; a developing unit housing that integrally supports a developer storage unit, a seal member, and a developing mechanism unit so as to be exposed to the outside; and the developing unit is detachably attached to one of the first and second frames. An image forming apparatus characterized by being flexible. (2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing force applying means is provided on the first support frame, and the developing means is detachably attached to the second support frame. (3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing force applying means is provided on the second support frame, and the developing means is detachably attached to the first support frame. (4) The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the developing means is integrally formed within the housing together with the latent image holding member.