JPH02308188A - Color image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce costs and to integrate plural cartridges in a simple configu ration by integrating all toner cartridges removable from each developing unit with plural connecting means and plural knob members and independently producing all the cartridge with a common die. CONSTITUTION:The toner cartridges 209a to 209d are integrally joined by engag ing the connecting means 91a with the corresponding connecting means 92a and the connecting means 91b with the corresponding connecting means 92b; the connecting means 91a and 91b are provided on an upper side wall 91, and the connecting means 92a and 92b on a lower side wall 92. In another method, the cartridges are integrally joined by inserting them into the U-shaped groove of a lateral, U-shaped projection 94 provided on a front wall 92. When an opera tor grasps a first knob member 101 and aligns a flange provided on a toner feed inlet of the toner cartridge with a receiving groove provided on the toner feed inlet of the developing unit by pushing it into the groove, all the toner cartridges 209a to 209d engage with the developing unit. Consequently, the toner cartridges can be produced independently with a common die, thereby reducing costs. Moreover, all the cartridges of simple configuration can be integrated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, this type of color image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor drum at its center and a plurality of developing devices containing chargers and toners of different colors around the photoreceptor drum. These plurality of developing devices are usually arranged on one side of the photosensitive drum in the rotational direction. This is because the paper feed section and fixing section are generally located below the apparatus, and the recording paper is fed as linearly as possible.

On the other hand, as a configuration convenient for removing jammed paper from the paper path, the applicant has developed a transfer section that transfers the color toner image formed on the photoreceptor drum onto recording paper, and a paper path that is located on the upper surface of the drum. By arranging the developing devices on the side, a plurality of developing devices can be placed in the area below the photoreceptor.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above case, the multiple developing units are rounded along the photoreceptor drum, and the toner cartridges engaged with them are arranged side by side, so if each toner cartridge is independent, the overall There is a risk that it becomes troublesome to replace the cartridge or that the wrong developing device is engaged.

For this reason, it is conceivable to integrally mold all the toner cartridges in advance, but this is inconvenient if the mold etc. become complicated and the cost increases, or if the toner consumption levels are not the same.

This invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to reduce the cost by making the toner cartridges individually using a common mold, and also to make it possible to integrate the individual cartridges with a simple structure. The purpose is to provide a forming device.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a color image forming apparatus equipped with a process cartridge in which a plurality of developing devices are arranged below a photoreceptor, in which all toner cartridges that are connected to and detached from each of the developing devices are connected. The toner cartridge is configured to be integrated with the means and the handle member, and to improve workability when all toner cartridges are replaced at the same time, and convenience when replacing toner cartridges individually without misalignment. .

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a color image forming apparatus (printer) according to the present invention. The printer has a thalamusiel type structure divided into an upper casing 1 and a device main body 2. The upper casing 1 can be opened in the direction of arrow A around the hinge joint 1a with the main body 2 of the apparatus.

The image forming section of the printer includes a charger 31 around a photosensitive drum 30, and developing devices 32, 33, and 3 containing yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, respectively.
4.35 and a cleaning device 36 are disposed and are housed integrally within the process cartridge 3. This process cartridge 3 is inserted into the apparatus main body 2 via a guide member 20.
It is stored in a removable state.

Each of the developing units 32 to 35 is provided below the photosensitive drum 30 with the opening on the developing sleeve side facing upward. This is to prevent the developer from flowing out and falling from the opening of each developing device and mixing into other developing devices.

The printer includes a laser writing unit 4 in a side space inside the process cartridge 3, performs laser scanning on the photosensitive drum 30 diagonally downward, and directs the recording paper conveyance path 5 above the process cartridge 3, that is, above the process cartridge 3. Housing l
The photosensitive drum 30 is disposed in a portion spanning both the photosensitive drum 30 and the main body 2, and a color toner image formed on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 30 is transferred to the lower surface of the recording paper. Providing the recording paper conveyance path 5 on the upper housing l side facilitates jam removal and maintenance work, and prevents the large and heavy process unit 3 from being mounted on the upper housing 1.
There is an advantage that opening and closing operations of the upper housing 1 can be performed easily.

The process of copying a color toner image by the printer is performed as follows.

That is, when a color signal output from an image reading device (not shown) is input to the laser writing unit 4, a laser beam generated from a semiconductor laser (not shown) is scanned by a polygon mirror 42 rotated by a drive motor 41. is,
The optical path is bent by the mirror 44 after passing through the rθ lens 43, and is projected onto the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor drum 30 to which a charge has been previously applied by the charger 31.

On the other hand, when scanning is started, the laser beam is detected by the index sensor, modulation of the beam by the first color signal is started, and the modulated beam is transferred to the photoreceptor drum 30.
scan the circumferential surface of the

Therefore, the main scanning by the laser beam and the photosensitive drum 30
The first image is formed on the peripheral surface of the drum 30 by the sub-scanning caused by the rotation of the drum.
A latent image corresponding to the color is formed. This latent image is developed by a developing device 32 containing, for example, yellow (Y) toner. The toner image thus obtained passes under the blade 35a of the cleaning device 36, which is separated from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 30 while being held on the drum surface, and enters the next copy cycle.

In the next cycle, the photoreceptor drum 30 is charged again by the charger 31, and the second color signal output from the signal processing section is input to the writing unit 4, and the drum 30 is charged again in the same way as in the case of the first color signal. Writing on the surface forms a latent image. The latent image is developed by a developing device 33 containing, for example, magenta (M) toner. This magenta (
The toner image M) is formed in the presence of an already formed toner image.

The developing device 34 containing cyan (C) toner after the above repetition
However, the developing devices 35 containing black (BK) toner operate one after another, superimposing cyan and black toner images on the drum surface.

A direct current or alternating current bias is applied to the developing sleeves of each of the developing devices 32 to 35 to perform shirting development of toner, and development is performed without contacting the photosensitive drum 30.

The color toner image developed in this way is transferred to the transfer section 60.
At this time, sheets are fed one by one from a paper feed cassette 61 by a paper feed means 62 consisting of a paper feed roller 62a and a separating member 62b, and are transferred all at once onto the bottom side of the recording paper fed through a conveyance guide 63. . The recording paper after transfer is separated by the separation claw 64.
The suction type conveyor belt 6 is separated from the drum circumferential surface by
After being carried into a fixing device 66 via a paper transfer roller 5 and fixed thereon, the paper is discharged onto a tray 68 via a paper discharge roller 67.

The side wall 2# of the apparatus main body 2 can be opened in the direction of arrow B, and the outer guide plate 63a of the conveyance guide 63 can also be opened outward centering on its base end 63a' to prevent recording paper from jamming. We make it easy to process.

As described above, the blade 36a of the cleaning device 36 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 30 from which the recording paper has been separated from the drum circumferential surface to remove residual toner.

After removing the toner, the blade 36a separates from the drum surface again. This starts a new color image forming process.

The toner removed from the drum surface is collected in the lower chamber 36b, carried out by a screw 69 from the first chamber 36b, and collected in the waste toner box 70 via a toner conveyance path (indicated by a dotted line) 69'. In the illustrated example, the waste toner box 70 is connected to the cleaning device 3 with the drum 30 in between.
Although it is provided on the opposite side of 6, it may be provided on the same side if the space is to be punched.

The developing units 32 to 35 are arranged symmetrically, two each on the upstream side and the downstream side with respect to a perpendicular line P passing through the center of the drum 30.
The upstream developing sleeves 32 and 33 rotate clockwise similarly to the photoreceptor drum 30, and the downstream developing sleeves 34 and 35 rotate clockwise.
The developer unit 33 rotates counterclockwise, but since the functions are common, one developing unit 33 will be described as a representative with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

In FIG. 2, 201 is a housing, 202 is a developing sleeve, and 203 is a thin layer forming member that regulates the amount of developer. The thin layer forming member 203 is pressed against the developing sleeve 202 with a constant load without the presence of developer. Reference numerals 204 and 205 indicate first and second stirring members having a screw structure that transport the toner in opposite directions, and 206 indicates a scraper. Thus, the developer in the housing 201 is conveyed to the back side of the drawing by the thrust of the second stirring member 205, moves to the first stirring member 204 side, and is conveyed to the front side by the thrust. During this time, the toner and carrier are well mixed,
The triboelectrically charged homogeneous developer adheres to the circumferential surface of the developing sleeve 202 in a layered manner. The developing sleeve 20
The developer attached to the photosensitive drum 30 is made into a thin layer by the thin layer forming member 203, and the latent image on the photosensitive drum 30 is developed in a non-contact manner. In this non-contact development, a developing bias including an AC component is applied to the developing sleeve 202 from a power supply (not shown), so that only the toner in the developer is selectively transferred to the latent image surface on the drum 30. Due to this development, the toner components are consumed and the developer with a high carrier ratio is peeled off from the developing sleeve 202 by the scraper 206 and returned to the housing 202.
The developer is mixed with a developer containing a high toner ratio.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the toner supply chamber 20 extending from the housing 201, as seen from the direction of the arrow X in FIG.
7 is shown. A toner supply port 20 is provided on the top surface of the toner supply chamber 207. This toner supply port 2
08 is provided with a groove 212 in which a flange 211 provided on the outer periphery of the toner inlet 210 of the toner cartridge 209 can be slidably engaged in the horizontal direction.

213 is a shutter that closes the toner supply port 208;
The shutter 213 opens in conjunction with the engagement of the toner cartridge 209. That is, the shutter 213 is normally closed by the action of a spring (not shown), and when the flange 211 of the toner cartridge 209 is slidably engaged with the groove 212 in the horizontal direction, the shutter 213 is closed by the action of a pin 214 provided on the lower surface of the cartridge 209. can press a protruding piece 215 protruding from the upper surface of the shutter 213 in the opening direction. 208' is a bottle passage groove.

216 is a toner replenishment roller provided in the toner cartridge 209, and the replenishment roller 216 has a gear 21 at its shaft end.
7, it is connected to a drive motor (not shown) which is driven and stopped by a signal from a toner density sensor (not shown) provided at a suitable location within the developing device. However, supply roller 2
16 rotates, the toner stored in the toner cartridge 209 falls from the aperture 218 and is replenished into the toner replenishing chamber 207. The thus replenished toner is fed into the housing 201 by the second stirring member 205 and mixed with the existing developer. Although the toner cartridge 209 is shown as being equipped with a replenisher such as a toner replenishing roller as described above, the toner cartridge 209 also includes a toner cartridge without such a replenisher.

Figure 5 shows a developing device 32°33.34.3 containing yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner, respectively.
5, a toner cartridge 209a containing toner of a corresponding color engaged with the toner supply lower 08 of each developing device;
209b, 209c.

209d is shown in an engaged state. These toner cartridges 209a to 209d can be integrally engaged with and detached from the developing devices 32 to 35. That is, the individual toner cartridges 209a to 209d are connected to the upper and lower portions of the adjacent side walls 91.92 by means of connection means 91.
a and 92a, and 91b and 92b. This upper connecting means 91a is formed by providing a dovetail groove M in a horizontally continuous flat raised part H, as shown in FIG. They can be connected to each other by being formed on the protrusion T and sliding in the horizontal direction. Lower connecting means 91b and 9
As shown in FIG. 6(B), 2b is formed by opposing protrusions T and T', each having a cross-section of a truncated shape and engaging with each other in the vertical direction.

The toner cartridges 209a to 209d may be provided with a second connecting means 100 instead of or in place of the connecting means 91a and 92a, 91b and 92b. The second connecting means 100 is provided with a side U-shaped protrusion 94 on the front wall (and/or rear wall) 93, and can be integrally connected by fitting the first handle member 101 into the U groove of the protrusion 94. It has become. This first handle member 101 has a finger hook portion 101d on the main portion 101a, and hook-shaped hanging pieces 10 on both ends of the main portion.
1b, 101b' are provided, and jaws 101c, - are provided on the inner edge side thereof.
101c'. Therefore, the first handle member 101
The main part 101a of the toner cartridges 209a to 209
While fitting into the U groove of the protrusion 94 of d, the pieces 101b hang down at both ends.
, 101b' are the outermost toner cartridges 209a and 209d.
If the toner cartridges 209a to 209d are engaged with the edges 94a and 94b of the protrusions 94 and 94 using the elasticity of the material as shown by two-dot chain lines, the toner cartridges 209a to 209d are simply and integrally connected.

Toner cartridge 20 connected by the connecting means
9a to 209d, the second handle member 102 can be locked as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. This second handle member 102 has hanging pieces 10 at both ends of its main portion 102a.
Jaws 102c, 102c on the lower inner edge side of 2b, 102b'
' will be prepared. These both end hanging pieces 102b, 102b'
The toner cartridges 209a and 209d are narrowed on the 7th side, and can be easily carried into the toner cartridge assembly by pushing them open and engaging the protrusions 95 and 95' provided on the shoulders of the outermost toner cartridges 209a and 209d. It is possible to attach a handle for use.

In the above embodiment, the toner cartridges 209a to 209d each containing yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners have coupling means 91a and 92a, and 91b and 92b provided at the upper and lower portions of the side walls 91.92 that engage with each other. are integrally connected. Also,
Integral connection can also be achieved by fitting the first handle member 101 into a U-groove of a side U-shaped protrusion 94 provided on the front wall (and/or rear wall) 93. In addition, although the drawing shows both quick connection means at the same time, there may be cases where only one of the connection means is used.

A second handle member 10 is attached to the combined body connected in this way.
By locking 2, it becomes easy to carry.

Toner cartridge 20 integrally combined as described above
All toner cartridges 209a to 209d are removed at the same time by grasping the first handle member 101 and pushing the flange provided at the toner inlet of the toner cartridge into the groove while aligning the receiver provided at the toner replenishment port of the developing device. engages the developing device.

On the contrary, the toner cartridges 209a to 209d engaged with the developing device are moved to the main part 10 of the first handle section 01.
You can easily remove it by holding 1a and pulling it toward you.

In the above embodiment, the toner replenishment chambers 20 of the developing devices 32 to 35 are arranged in a round shape below the photoreceptor drum 30.
The toner replenishment ports 208 of the developing units 32 to 35 are formed at the same level, and all the toner cartridges 209a to 209d are integrated in a horizontal manner at the same level. All the toner cartridges 209a to 209d may also be integrated with round steps.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention provides a color image forming apparatus equipped with a process cartridge in which a plurality of developing devices are disposed below a photoreceptor, in which all the toner cartridges that are connected to and disengaged from each of the developing devices are connected to a connecting means and a handle member. Since the toner cartridge is integrated into one body, replacing and transporting the toner cartridge becomes easy.

Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of toner cartridges can be connected to and removed from a plurality of developing devices as one unit, and can also be easily separated individually, making it easy to replace them individually depending on the degree of toner consumption.

Furthermore, the present invention has various excellent effects, such as the fact that individual toner cartridges can be manufactured using a common mold, making it possible to significantly reduce manufacturing costs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figures show an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a printer, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a developing device, and FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view seen from the X direction in FIG. 2. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the developing device in a state where the toner cartridge is engaged for toner replenishment, FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway front view showing the relationship between the developing device and the toner cartridge, and FIG. 6(A). (B) is an enlarged sectional view of the coupling means between the toner cartridges, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the toner cartridge assembly and the handle member. 1.~Upper housing 2-Device main body 3--Procel cartridge 30--Photosensitive drums 32, 33, 34, 35--Developer 201--Developer housing 202-Developing sleeve 203--Thin layer Forming members 204, 205--first and second stirring members 207---
) Toner supply chamber 208 - Toner supply port 209 a to 209 d -) Toner cartridge 91 .
92--Both side walls 91a, 92a of the toner cartridge,
91b, 92b... Connecting means 93 - Front wall 94 - U-shaped protrusion 95.95' - Protrusion 100 provided on shoulder - Connecting means 101 - First grip member 102 - Second handle member Figure 2 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] A color image forming apparatus equipped with a process cartridge in which a plurality of developing devices are arranged below a photoreceptor, characterized in that all the toner cartridges that are connected to and detached from each of the developing devices are integrated by a connecting means and a handle member. Color image forming apparatus.