JPH02113270A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To scatter a developer by the rubbing between a shutter and a developing unit and to prevent an operation knob, a cover, a grip, etc., from being stained by providing an upward and downward moving means of hopper. CONSTITUTION:When a hopper 1 is rotated, bearing parts 1a and 1b of the hopper rotate around a support shaft 9, a hopper-side cam 10a fixed to the bearing part 1b rotates together to move up, and the hopper 1 is elevated. The reverse surface of the shutter 6, therefore, leaves the developing unit 2 upward and the hopper 1 is not elevated from the positions where peak parts 10g and 10d of both cams 10a and 10b slide, but rotates horizontally to separate from the developing unit 2. Consequently, the developer is scattered to prevent the grip 3 for developing device insertion and extraction, operation knob, front cover, etc., from being stained with the developer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a developing device, such as an image forming device or a printing device, that includes a developer storage means and a developing means.

``Prior Art'' Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printing apparatus, a hopper is used as a storage means for a developer used in liquid or powder state, and a developer is used to visualize the document on an image carrier. The developing device, which serves as a developing means, is separated from the developing device when replenishing developer, maintaining the developing device, or replacing it with another developing device.

FIG. 7 shows how to attach the hopper.

For example, a hinge plate 131 fixed to the front side plate 5 of a copying machine is fixed to a vertical support shaft 9, and a bearing part 1 is provided in the hopper 1.
a and 1b are fitted, and the hopper 1 is the developing device 2 in Fig. 6.
The developing device 2 can be placed in a set state and separated from the developing device 2 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, when the hopper 1 is rotated to a certain extent in the direction away from the developing device 2 around the support shaft 9, the developing device 2, which is fitted into the linear guide of the main body of the copying machine, moves in the direction indicated by the arrow A in the figure. It becomes possible to pull out in the direction,
It can be removed for maintenance and inspection, or replaced with a different color developer.

In the state shown in FIG. 6, the shutter 6 opens an opening 12 (see FIG. 5) provided in the hopper 1 that does not appear in the diagram, and feeds the developer in the hopper 1 to the developing device 2 through the opening 12. .

A plan view of the shutter 6 is shown in FIGS. 5(al) and 5(b).The shutter 6, which is pivotally attached to the lower surface of the hopper 1 by a round shaft 8, is provided with a lever portion 6C at one end. 6
One end of the tension spring 7 is locked to C, and the other end of the tension spring 7 is locked to the lower surface of the hopper 1.

The lid 4 of the developing device 2 is provided with a stepped portion 4a. The stepped portion 4a and the shutter 6 are at the same height, and as shown in FIG.
When the set position 1 is reached, one end 6b of the shutter 6 hits the step 4a of the developer lid 4, and as the hopper 1 rotates clockwise around the support shaft 9 indicated by the black arrow, the shutter 6
rotates counterclockwise as indicated by the white arrow around the round shaft 8 against the tension of the tension spring 7, releasing the tiles through the opening 12 of the hopper 1.

When the hopper 1 is rotated counterclockwise as shown by the black arrow around the support shaft 9 as shown in FIG.
Close the opening 12 of the hopper 1 by rotating clockwise as indicated by the white arrow around . When the hopper 1 is further rotated in the same direction, the hopper 1 is removed from the developing device 2 while the shutter 6 closes the opening 12 of the hopper 1.

``Problem to be Solved by the Invention'' As shown in FIG. 8, when the hopper 1 is removed from the developing device 2, the lower surface of the shutter 6 moves while coming into contact with the connecting portion 4b of the developing device lid 4. Opening 12 of hopper 1
A portion of the supplied developer is scattered, and the developer that has adhered to the joint portion 4b is further scattered. For this reason, the handle 3 for inserting and removing the developing device and the hopper 1 inside the device. developer 2,
The operating knob near the joint, the back surface of the front cover 15, etc. are stained with developer. These parts are the parts that the user comes into contact with when fishing on a boat, and if they get dirty, it will not only spoil the aesthetics, but also prevent dirty hands from touching the manuscript or paper, which will have a negative impact on the operation. result in giving.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device in which the above-mentioned conventional problems are solved by separating the hopper from the developing device without sliding.

"Means for Solving the Problems" The present invention is a developing device in which a hopper is rotated toward and away from a developing device, and is characterized in that a means for moving the hopper up and down is provided. .

"Embodiments" Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a side view showing the hopper connected to the developer and developer is being supplied, Figure 2 is a side view showing the hopper separated from the developer, and Figure 3 is the hopper installed. FIG.

The hopper 1 is supported by a vertical support shaft 9 supported by a hinge plate 16 attached to a fixed wall such as the front side plate 5 of the main body, and bearings 1a and 1b provided at the end of the hopper 1 are rotatable and movable in the vertical direction Things fit together. A connecting portion 18 with the developing device 2 is provided on the lower surface 17 of the hopper 1 .

The connecting portion 18 is provided with an opening 12 for feeding the developer in the hopper 1 to the developing device 2, as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) in plan view. The opening 12 is in the state shown in FIG. 5 (b) when the hopper 1 is not set in the developing device 2 as shown in FIG.
), it is closed by a shutter 6. The shutter 6 is provided with an opening 6a that guides the developer to the developing device 2 in a state that coincides with the opening 12 of the hopper. The shutter 6 is rotatably fitted into a round shaft 8 fixed to the lower surface of the hopper. The shutter 6 is provided with a lever part 6c at the end opposite to the side that closes the opening 12 of the hopper.
One end of the tension spring 7 is locked to c, and the other end of the tension spring 7 is locked to the hopper 1. As a result, the shutter 6 is always biased in the direction of closing the hopper opening 12, and the shutter opening 6a is at the limit position where the hopper opening 12 is closed.
The hopper opening 12 is rotated by an angle θ around the round shaft 8 until the hopper opening 12 and the hopper opening 12 coincide with each other.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hinge plate 16 has a hinge plate side cam i.
The bearing part 1b of the hopper 1 has a hopper side cam 10a that engages with the hinge plate side cam 1ab.
is fixed.

Both cams 10a and 10b are end cams centered on the support shaft 9.

FIGS. 4(a), 4(e) are a perspective view and a side view showing details of the hinge plate side cams 10b, 2.-side forces, .3. A cam portion protruding in the direction is provided, and both sides of the top portion 10d are sloped surfaces 10C.As shown in FIG. 4(b), the hinge side cam 1ab has a shape that almost complements the hopper side cam 10a. , a bottom 10f is provided with a slight gap from the top 10d of the hopper side cam 10a, and a slope 10e is provided on both sides of the bottom with a slight gap from the slope 10C of the hopper side cam 10a. The reference surface 10h and the top 10g of the hinge plate side cam 10b are in contact with each other in the above state. When the hopper side cam 10a rotates from the state shown in FIG. 4 (bl), the slopes 10C, 10 of each cam
e slides, and the hopper side cam 10a rises by the lift H (Fig. 4(C)). The angle at which the hopper side cam 10a rotates is greater than or equal to θ.

Next, the effect will be explained. In the state shown in FIG. 1, the developing device 2ζ and the hopper 1 are set, and as shown in FIG. is in tension, the opening 12 of the hopper 1 and the opening 6a of the shutter 6 are aligned, and as shown in FIG. 4(b), the reference surface 10h of the hopper side cam 10a is the top of the hinge plate side cam 10b. 10g, hopper 1 is at the lowering limit position, and shutter 6
The lower surface is a contact portion 18 at the edge of the opening (not shown) of the developer lid 4.
It is in contact with

From the state shown in Fig. 1, move the front side of hopper 1 to the right (5th
When the hopper rotates in the direction of the black arrow in FIG. Slope 10c and hinge plate side cam 10b
The slope 10e of is rubbed and the hopper side cam 10a rises, so the hopper 1 rises. Therefore, the lower surface of the shutter 6 moves upward away from the developing device 2. At the same time, as the hopper 1 rotates around the support shaft 9, the round shaft 8 on the bottom surface of the hopper moves away from the step 4a of the developer lid, but since the tension spring 7 is initially in an extended state, one end 6b of the shutter 6 Even though the position is changed, it is still in contact with the step 4a of the developer lid,
The shutter 6 rotates around the round shaft 8 in the direction of the white arrow in FIG. 5(b) and rises. When the hopper 1 rotates further, the tension spring 7 returns to its natural length and the shutter 6 and the stepped portion 4a of the developer lid 4 are separated. The shutter 6 then closes the hopper opening 12. The hopper 1 is located at the top 1 of both cams.
It does not rise from the position where 0g and 10d slide, but rotates horizontally and separates from the developing device 2.

When the hopper 1 is rotated about the spindle 9 in the opposite direction to the above, the top 1od of the hopper side cam 10a becomes the hinge plate side cam 10b.
When the shutter 6 slides on the top 10g of the shutter 6 and rotates without moving up and down, as shown in FIG.
It is located above an opening (not shown). As the hopper 1 continues to rotate, the shutter 6 rotates counterclockwise (indicated by the anti-protruding arrow) around the round shaft 8 in FIG. The top part 10d of the hopper side cam 10a toward the bottom part 10f has the respective slopes I O
C, slide in 10e. This results in Figure 5 (
As shown in a), the opening 12 of the hopper and the opening 6a of the shutter 6 are aligned, and the lower surface of the shutter 6 is lowered so that the contact portion 18 comes into contact with the edge of the opening (not shown) of the developer lid 4. The hopper 1 is locked to the main unit by a locking means (not shown).

Other embodiments of the present invention are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In FIG. 9, a cam 19 is integrally provided in the hopper 1, and the cam surface is brought into contact with a cam plate 20 having a step (which may be integrated with the hinge plate or may be constructed as a separate member). As the hopper 1 rotates, the cam 19 climbs over the step of the cam plate 20 and moves the hopper 1 itself upward.

Further, in FIG. 10, a spiral groove 22 is cut on the support shaft 21 of the hopper 1, and a protrusion 24 is provided on the hopper bearing 23 to fit into the spiral groove 22, so that as the hopper 1 rotates, the hopper 1 itself It moves up and down.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, 1) the present invention is a developing device in which a hopper is rotated toward and away from a developing device, and a developing device is provided with means for moving the hopper up and down. The developing agent attached to the shutter when the hopper is separated from the developing device is scattered by the rubbing between the shutter and the developing device, and no longer stains the operating knob, cover, handle, etc. For the user, the above-mentioned movements can be made by simply rotating the hopper, so it is easy to operate and does not feel strange compared to conventional devices.It solves the drawbacks of conventional devices and at the same time provides an easy-to-use developing device. Can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a side view showing the combined state of the hopper and developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side view showing the separated state of the hopper and developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 6 is the hopper rotation. Fig. 4fa) is a side view showing the cam;
Figures (b) and (C) are side views showing the cam shape, and Figure 5 (a).
), (b) are plan views showing the opening and closing operation of the shutter mechanism;
FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are side views showing a conventional example, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are side views of other embodiments, respectively. 10a, 10b, j? a m cam 20... cam plate 22
...Spiral groove. Patent applicant Canon Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A developing device in which a hopper is rotated toward and away from a developing device, characterized in that a means for moving the hopper up and down is provided.