JPH02310572A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve jamming processing capability and to easily transmit a driving operation from a device main body to a toner replenishing device by constituting the toner replenishing device so that it is slidable. CONSTITUTION:A replenishing and supporting stand 203 which attachably/ detachably supports the toner replenishing device 200 A with respect to the device main body, plural toner vessels 201 which store replenishing toner responding to each developing unit and a conveying member which conveys the toner to each developing unit of a developing device are loaded. A movable supporting board 260 which is movably held on the replenishing and supporting stand 203, a guide member 262 which guides the movable supporting board 260 in a moving direction on the replenishing and supporting stand 203 and an engaging member 264 which fixes and holds the movable supporting board 260 at a prescribed position are provided. Since the movable supporting board 260 is slidable, its driving position on the main body is easily released by retreating and moving the movable supporting board 260 in the direction of an arrow C. Thus, jamming processing and maintenance are easily performed and handleability is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus or an electrostatic recording apparatus, and is particularly suitable for a multicolor image forming apparatus that obtains multicolor or full color images. It is something that can be transformed into

Currently, various multicolor image forming apparatuses have been proposed. For example, one representative example of an electrophotographic color copying machine is the
This is shown in Figure 6.

This copying machine holds the transfer paper P on its circumferential surface using a gripper 5a.
A photosensitive drum 1 is provided above the transfer drum 5, and a plurality of developing units, a plurality of developing units 101Y, and an IOIM are provided.
, l0Ic, l0IB and rotates therein.
1100. Furthermore, each developing unit 10 stores toner.
1Y, IOIM.

A toner replenishing device 200 is arranged to replenish toners 101C and 10IB.

The photosensitive drum l and the rotary developing device 100 arranged above the transfer drum 5 are both sources of toner scattering, and the carrier (a-based particles) in the two-component developer used is also scattered. . Therefore, these scattered toners and carriers tend to accumulate on the surface of the transfer drum 5 located below.

The toner deposited on the surface of the transfer drum 5 causes stains on the back side of the transfer paper P, and also weakens the electrostatic attraction between the transfer sheet 5b wound around the transfer drum 5 and the transfer paper P. In the end, this causes various problems such as deterioration in image quality, occurrence of paper jams, and shortened lifespan of the fixing roller.

Therefore, large-scale equipment is required to collect and collect the toner and carrier accumulated on the surface of the transfer drum 5 and keep the surface of the transfer drum clean, and these equipment can become a source of noise and increase the cost of the equipment. This was hindering low prices.

Furthermore, since the rotary developing device is constructed by housing a plurality of developing units in one rotating body, it is inevitable that the 1f1 photographing machine as a whole will become larger.

In order to solve the above problem, as shown in FIG.
Using a reciprocating developing device 100 in which a developing unit y) 101M'' 101B is mounted on a movable base 20 (see FIG. 10), the developing device R100 is moved tangentially to the photosensitive drum 1. An image forming apparatus has been proposed that is configured to move the latent image on the photosensitive drum and visualize the latent image on the photosensitive drum.

The image forming apparatus having such a configuration includes a developing unit (10) that moves back and forth together with the movable base 20, as will be described in detail later.
1 is provided with a toner replenishing device 2t200 for replenishing toner.

Referring to FIG. 12, the developing unit 101 is an elongated developing container whose cross section is approximately rectangular. 1106, and a developing sleeve 102 having a built-in magnet (not shown) is rotatably supported in the developing container 106. Abutting rollers 103 are provided at both end shaft portions of the developing sleeve 102 to ensure a predetermined gap between the developing sleeve 102 and the photosensitive drum l. Further, a driving gear 104 of the developing sleeve 102 is fixed to one shaft end of the developing sleeve 102, and a driving force from a driving means (not shown) is transferred to the developing sleeve 102.
to communicate.

Further, the magnet within the developing sleeve 102 is positioned at an appropriate position within the developing sleeve 102 by a positioning plate 190 disposed on the other end shaft portion of the developing sleeve.

At both ends of the developer container 106, a developer unit lO1 is installed.
Support shafts 105F and 105R for mounting and positioning on a moving base 20 (FIG. 10), which will be described later, are attached to the developing sleeve 1.
It is provided on the same axis parallel to the axis of 02.

Also, inside the developer container 108 is a screw 107 (only the shaft portion is shown) that stirs and transports the developer contained therein. t
The screws 107 and 108 are driven by the drive gear 104 of the developing sleeve 102 via a gear train (not shown). The end of one of the screws, the screw 107 in this example, protrudes toward the front from the developer container 10B and passes through a conveying pipe 106a connected to a toner replenishing device H2O0C (FIG. 14). Conveying pipe 1
There is a toner supply device on the top of 08a! A replenishment port 108a'' for connecting to the main body 200 is opened in the shape of an elongated hole.

That is, as understood from FIG. 13, the replenishment port 106a'' of the conveying pipe 106a is connected to
Supply port 2 of shutter 241 of 0G supply pipe 202
41a. , therefore, development unit) 101
When the unit moves, it follows the lateral movement of the unit and opens the supply port 2.
41a is guided to the replenishment port 106a' of the developing unit, and the replenishment pipe 202 swings to enable constant replenishment of toner.

To further explain the toner replenishing device @200, as understood from FIG.
development units IOIM, 10IC,
l0IY.

A conveyance member having a built-in screw for supplying toner to toner 101B, that is, supply pipes 202M-B, is swingably connected to toner container 201M-B. As described above, the replenishment port 241a of the shutter 241 of the replenishment pipe 202 is a developing unit.

The developer container 108 is configured to engage with a portion of the developer container 108, that is, the supply port 106a', and supply toner to the developer container 108.

The toner container, replenishment pipe, and other components of the toner replenishing device 200 are attached to a replenishment support base, in this example, a replenishment support plate 203 formed by sheet metal processing.

Further, the supply support plate 203 is attached to a support shaft 205a with respect to a support stand 204 fixedly provided on the front side plate (not shown) of the copying machine.
, 205b. During the copying operation, the supply support plate 203 is rotated toward the front plate, and the end opposite to the rotational fulcrum is fixed to the front plate with screws or the like and set. and supply pipe 2
The leading end of 02 is operated so that the replenishing port 202' engages with each developing unit, and becomes ready for copying.

Further, the drive train to the supply device @200 will be explained with reference to FIG. 15. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the drive train.
For easy understanding, only a portion of the developer storage container 201 is shown, and other containers are omitted. Further, the above-mentioned supply support plate 203 is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

Driving force from a driving source such as a motor supported on the main body of the copying machine is transmitted to a driving gear 209 via a rotating shaft 208.

A support stand 211 is fixed to the supply support plate 203, and a swing plate 21 is attached to the support stand 211 so as to be rotatable around a rotation shaft 212.
A gear 21 is attached to one end of the 0-rotation shaft 212 on which 4 is supported.
3 is fixed integrally with the shaft 212, and the gear 21
A gear 210 that meshes with
It is attached to 4. The swing plate 214 is positioned at such a position that the gear 210 meshes with the drive gear 209 when the toner replenishing device 20O is in the operating position.

When the driving force from the driving means, that is, from the driving gear 209 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 212 supported by the supply support plate 203 via the gears 210 and 213, a sprocket integrally provided at the other end of the rotating shaft 212 is transmitted. 216 rotates, chain 2
17 to the lower sprocket 218.

This sprocket) 218 is attached to a rotating shaft 220 on a support base 219.
The sprocket 218 is rotatably supported by the sprocket 218.
The driving force is generated by the gear 2 integrally supported on the rotating shaft 220.
22.

The driving force of the gear 222 is transmitted to a gear train (indicated by a chain line) that drives the screw of each developing unit 101.

However, the image forming apparatus using such a reciprocating developing device and toner replenishing device 200 has the following problems.

When the toner replenishing device 200 configured as described above is set at a predetermined operating position, it covers the front surface of the main body of the copying machine. Therefore, when the user performs jam removal or the like, it is necessary to evacuate this toner replenishing device M2O0 from the main body of the apparatus.

However, at this time, since the replenishment port 241a of the shutter 241 of the replenishment pipe 202 is engaged with the opening 106a of the developer container (see FIG. 13), the toner replenishment device 200 releases this engagement for each color. It is necessary to perform the following actions. Furthermore, since the toner replenishing device is quite heavy due to toner and the like, the replenishing support plate 203 is attached to the main body of the device at the set position.

Rotating fulcrums 205a, 205b are attached to the front plate of the
Securely secured at the other end.

Therefore, in order to evacuate the toner supply device 200,
It was necessary to remove the fixing screws, etc. Such work is complicated, and there is a problem in that the jam-disposal performance is poor.

Furthermore, since the toner replenishing device 1200 is configured to be set to the operating position by rotating the replenishing support plate 2.3 about its fulcrums 205a and 205b, the gears 209 and 210 are preferably set. In order to mesh with each other, it was necessary to rotate the rocking plate 214 around the rotating shaft 212 to separate the gear 21O and the gear 209 before the gears 209 and 210 between one end engage with each other. Conventionally, such rP East has been manually performed separately from the rotation operation of the toner replenishing device 200, which has caused the problem that it is difficult to set the replenishment support plate 203 in a predetermined position.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional device, and to improve jam clearance by configuring the toner replenishing device to be slidable, and to remove toner from the main body of the device. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that facilitates transmission of drive to a replenishment device.

The above object is accomplished by an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In summary, the present invention comprises an image carrier on which a latent image is formed, and at least two or more developing units for visualizing the latent image on the image carrier, each developing unit a developing device that moves the yt toward the surface of the image carrier in a direction substantially tangential to the surface of the image carrier in a development operation area;
In the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus includes a toner replenishing device for replenishing toner to each of the developing units, the toner replenishing device comprising: a replenishing support base that supports the toner replenishing device removably with respect to the apparatus main body; A transporter loaded with a plurality of toner containers containing replenishment toner corresponding to each developing unit and a conveying member for conveying the toner to each developing unit of the developing device, and movably held on the replenishing support base. The movable support plate includes a support plate, a guide member that guides the movable support plate in a moving direction on the replenishment support base, and a retaining member that fixes and holds the movable support plate at a predetermined position on the replenishment support base. This is an image forming apparatus characterized by:

EXAMPLE 1 Next, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 9 shows a full-color electrophotographic copying machine which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, an image carrier, that is, a photosensitive drum l having an electrophotographic photosensitive layer on its surface, is rotated in the direction of arrow X. On the left side of the photosensitive drum l is a primary charger 2. Photosensitive drum 1
Diagonally below and to the left of is a surface electrometer 3 that measures the potential on the surface of the photosensitive drum. Immediately below the photosensitive drum l, there are a plurality of developing units, that is, in this embodiment, developing units IOIM, l0IC,
Developing device 100.100. A transfer device 5 is installed diagonally above and to the right of the photosensitive drum 1.
．． Approximately directly above the photosensitive drum 1, there is a pre-static discharge @6 for reducing the adhesion of toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after transfer to the drum to facilitate cleaning. photosensitive drum l
A cleaning device 7 is disposed diagonally above and to the left of each.

Further, an optical system io is arranged in the upper part of the copying machine, and the original image on the platen B is transferred to the secondary charger 2 and the surface electrometer 3.
It is configured to project onto the photosensitive drum l at exposure i19 located between. The optical system 10 may be any optical system, but in this embodiment, the first scanning mirror 11. Second and third scanning mirrors 12 and 13 . that move in the same direction at half the speed with respect to the first scanning mirror 11 . Imaging lens 14
, and a CCD 15 integrated with B, G, and R filters, a laser scanner (22) 16, and a fixed mirror 17,
Consists of 1g. Here, the scanner unit 16
is a well-known device for deflecting laser light using a rotating polygon mirror, and a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

Further, in the optical system 10, the document illumination light source 2° is configured to move together with the first scanning mirror 11. Therefore, the reflected light image of the original scanned by the first to third scanning mirrors 11, 12, 13 passes through the lens 14, and then the BG
The CCD 15 equipped with an R3 color separation filter separates the colors and converts them into electrical signals, and this document information signal is sent to the A/
D-hen 11! ! After undergoing information processing such as, a video signal is sent to a microprocessor that controls the entire copying machine. )(
The data is sent to the MPU (hereinafter referred to as MPU). Based on this signal, the MPU oscillates a laser beam from the laser unit via the laser driver, and this laser beam hits the photosensitive drum l.
Start the copy sequence while pressing FL.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a fixing device 20 is provided on the right side of the copying machine.
and a paper feeding device 30 are arranged, and transfer paper conveying systems 25 and 35 are arranged between the transfer drum 5, the fixing device 20, and the paper feeding device 30, respectively.

In the above configuration, the photosensitive drum 1 has a primary charger 2, an optical system LO, a developing device W!, which performs charging, exposure, development, transfer, and cleaning processes for each color separated by the CCD 15. 14. Transfer! t5 and the cleaning device 7.

The developing device 100 will be described in more detail later, but the developing unit 101C (cyan developing unit), IOIM (magenta developing unit), 101C (cyan developing unit), and 101Y (developing unit) detachably held on a movable table 20 (FIG. 1θ) The latent image of each color separated into one color is visualized by each corresponding developing unit.

The transfer device 5 typically includes a transfer drum 5b equipped with a gripper 5a for gripping a transfer material, that is, a transfer paper P, on its circumferential surface. The transfer device t5 is a transfer paper cassette 31 of the paper feeder M30.
Alternatively, the leading edge of the transfer paper P fed from 32 via the transfer paper conveyance system 35 is gripped by the gripper 5a, and rotated to transfer the developed image of each color on the photosensitive drum l. A transfer charger 5C is arranged inside the transfer drum 5 in the transfer area.

The transfer paper P onto which the visible images of each color, that is, the two toner images have been sequentially transferred, is released from the gripper 5a and peeled off from the transfer drum 5b by the separation charger 8 and separation claw 8'.
The transfer paper P is fixed by the transfer paper transport system 25! ! Sent to 20. The toner image on the transfer paper P is fixed onto the transfer paper by the fixing device N20, and then the transfer paper is transferred to the tray 23.
released upwards.

Next, the developing device 100 according to the present invention will be explained.

As mentioned above, the developing device atoo is configured to be movable in the left and right direction.
The developing unit must be placed close to the photosensitive drum 1 with a predetermined gap directly below the photosensitive drum 1, while the developing unit is retracted from the photosensitive drum 1 except when it is located directly below the photosensitive drum, that is, in the developing operation position. It is desired to hold it in position.

This is because when each developing unit is moved close to the photosensitive drum l, even when it is returned to its original position (home position) after all four colors have been developed, each developing unit remains close to the photosensitive drum l. 1, and the toner standing on the developing sleeve in each developing unit comes into contact with the photosensitive drum, causing unnecessary toner to adhere to the photosensitive drum. be.

If unnecessary toner adheres to the photosensitive drum, all or all of the toner adhered to the photosensitive drum may be removed because there is no transfer paper between the photosensitive drum l and the transfer drum 5b during non-development. A part of it flies to the transfer drum 5b, resulting in contamination of the transfer drum 5b.

In addition, near the developing operation position of the photosensitive drum 1, it is necessary to arrange a surface electrometer 3 and a partition plate to prevent foreign matter such as paper dust from falling from above onto the developing sleeve of each developing unit. . In order to maintain a predetermined distance between each of these members and the developing sleeve and to prevent them from coming close to each other, it is necessary that each developing unit is located at a position retracted from the photosensitive drum 1 outside the developing operating position.

In other words, the laterally moving developing device 100 configured according to the present invention brings each developing unit close to the photosensitive drum 1 only during development (when it is directly below the drum), and retreats from the photosensitive drum 1 during other non-development periods. It is configured so that it is located at the position shown in the figure.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 1O to 12, the developing device ioo
Explain.

In this embodiment, the developing unit) 101 (t.

IM, 1otc, toty, 101B) have the same configuration, and the only difference is the color of the developer supplied inside. Further, regarding the configuration and operation of the developing unit 101,
Since this is the same as described above in connection with FIG. 12, detailed explanation will be omitted here.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the entire developing device 100 seen from diagonally above and to the left in front of the copying machine. In this figure, each developing unit 101 is omitted.

The developing device 100 has a movable base 20 on which each developing unit 101 is loaded and moved, and the base 20 has a movable base 20 that engages with guide legs 10ab and 106c of each developing unit 101 and holds them. Slide guide 121 (121M, 1
21C, 121Y, 121B) are attached so as to be slidable in the direction of arrow A using step screws (not shown).

Further, on the base 20, a back support plate 122 and a front support plate 123 are provided corresponding to each slide guide 121.

The back support plate 122 is the rotation support shaft 105 of the developing unit lO1.
The front support plate 123 has a hole 122' that fits with the rotation support shaft 105F of the developing unit 101.
'have. The front support plate 123 is a developing unit) 10
1 along the slide guide 121, and rotate the pivot shaft 1.
After fitting 05R into the hole 122' of the back support plate 122,
The rotation support shaft l05F is fitted into the hole 123' of the front support plate 123, and then screwed onto the base 20.

Here, the back support plate 1 provided for each developing unit of each color.
22 and the holes 122' and 123' of the front support plate 123 are adjusted using a jig or the like during assembly so that they share the same axis parallel to the axis of the photosensitive drum 1.

In this embodiment, the back support plate 122 is screwed to a drive board 124 that supports a drive gear, a clutch, etc., which will be described later, and the drive board 124 is screwed to the base 20. or,
On the base 20 is a support plate 126 that supports the DC motor 125.
is secured with screws.

As can be understood by referring also to FIG. 11, the movable base 20 is provided with a rail 127 at the rear end of the base 20, and the rail 127 is fixed to the bottom plate 60 of the copying machine. The tank is movably engaged with the rail abutment top 28 attached to the rear side plate 50. On the other hand, a roller 129 having a built-in bearing is rotatably supported at the front end of the base 20 via a support plate 13G. Coro 12911
It is possible to transfer jobs on the m board 60.

With this configuration, the movable base top 20 is movable with respect to the bottom plate 60 and the rear side plate 50.

The movable base 20 is driven by the driving force of a stepping motor 132 attached to the bottom plate 60 by suitable support means (not shown), and by a gear 133. which is also provided on the same support means. 134 and 135 h to the rack 131 fixed on the base 20.

According to the present invention, the developing device 10G is moved on the base 20 toward the photosensitive drum l in a direction substantially tangential to the photosensitive drum, and the developing unit is lifted at the developing operating position, that is, at a position approximately directly below the photosensitive drum. It is positioned with a predetermined gap with respect to the photosensitive drum by a mechanism (not shown).

As explained above, when the power of the copying machine is turned on, whether or not the base 20 is at the home position is determined by the light emitting element fixed to the bottom plate 60, as shown in FIG. A sensor 181 consisting of a light receiving element and 2G on the base
When the base 20 is not at the home position, the stepping motor 132 rotates until the light from the sensor 181 is blocked by the light shielding plate 180, that is.

Move the base 20 until it reaches the home position.

Next, when the copy button is operated to start the copying operation, the magenta developing unit lotM A signal is sent to move the base 20 at a predetermined speed until the developing sleeve 102 is directly below the photosensitive drum 1.

As the base 20 moves, the magenta developing unit 10
1M is lifted upward by a lifting mechanism and approaches the photosensitive drum l.

Next, the toner replenishing device 200A constructed according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. 13th
Components that are the same as those of the conventional apparatus described in connection with FIGS.

Figure 1 is toner supply! l! It is a perspective view showing the whole 20oA. The supply support stand 203, which is manufactured by sheet metal processing in this embodiment, is a support stand 203 that is rotatably supported by a support stand 204 (FIG. 14) with respect to the main body of the apparatus, as in the conventional apparatus. According to the invention, the replenishment support 203 is provided with a movable support plate 280 that is slidable in the left and right directions with respect to the replenishment support 203, and the movable support plate 260 is provided with the toner replenishment container 201, the replenishment pipe 202, and a drive. Gears etc. are stuck.

In FIG. 1, the movable support plate 260 is set in a predetermined position. The operating state of the toner replenishing device 1200A is shown.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, the upper part 260a of the movable support plate 260 is bent into a U-shape, and this portion 260a is
A plurality of rollers 2 rotatably provided on the supply support stand 203
61. In addition, the movable support plate 260 has an L-shaped plate 2.
64 is fixed with screws, and by abutting against the lower surface of the roller 261, vertical play of the movable support plate 260 is removed.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the supply support stand 2
One or more guide members 262 and 263 made of a material with good sliding properties such as resin are fixed to the guide member 03. Grooves 262a and 263a are formed in the guide members 262 and 263, and the movable support plate 26 is formed in the grooves f4262a and 263a.
The sheet metal edges 260b and 260c of 0 are fitted respectively,
It serves to guide the movable support plate 260 in its sliding direction.

With the above configuration, the movable support plate 260 loaded with the toner container 2 replenishment pipe and the like is smoothly slid by a predetermined distance with respect to the replenishment support stand 203 in the direction of arrows (B, C) in FIG.

Further, according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the movable support plate 260 has an engaging member, that is, a retaining arm 264 supported rotatably around a shaft 265 fixed to the movable support plate 260. , and a biasing member such as a spring (not shown) is applied in the direction of the arrow.
is biased to rotate.

Further, a positioning shaft 266 for the movable support plate 280 is attached to the supply support stand 203. Now, when the movable support plate 260 is moved in the direction of arrow B (rightward) from arrow C to set it at its predetermined position, the engagement arm 264 moves to the right from the state shown by the dashed line, and first, it is engaged. The shaft 266 hits the slope 264a of the coupling arm 264, and the retaining arm 264 is lifted up.Finally, the engagement arm 264 14264b engages with the shaft 266, and the movable support plate 260 moves to the supply support 203.
Its position is fixed. At this time, the engagement arm 264
The protrusion 264C contacts the link 271 connected to the handle 267, and slides the handle 267 to the right (in the direction of arrow B).

Further, when moving the movable support plate 260 to the left (in the direction of arrow B to C) for jam removal or the like, the following procedure is used.

That is, the handle 267 is swingably attached to the movable support plate 260 by a car 268. Further, the elongated hole 267a formed in the handle 267 is engaged with the shaft 269 crimped to the movable support plate 260 using a retaining ring or the like without shaking in the axial direction.

The handle 267 is configured to be able to rotate smoothly around a shaft 268. The handle 267 is biased to rotate in the direction of the arrow by a biasing member (not shown) such as a spring. This biasing force is set so as not to be strong enough to release the aforementioned engagement arm 264.

Furthermore, a shaft 270 is crimped to the first handle 267,
One end of a link 271 is connected to this shaft with an appropriate play. The other end of the link 271 is engaged with a shaft 272 crimped to the movable support plate 260 through an elongated hole 271a.
A retaining ring is attached to this shaft 272 so that the link 271 can move smoothly without wobbling.

In this configuration, when the handle 267 is pushed in the direction of the arrow in order to move the movable support plate 260 by a predetermined amount in the direction of the arrow C, the tip of the link 271 engaged with the handle hits the protrusion 264C of the engagement arm 264. , since this is pressed, engagement arm 2
64 rotates around its rotating wheel 265 in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow. Therefore, the groove 264 of the engagement arm 264
b and the positioning shaft 266 are disengaged, and the movable support plate 26
0 can be retracted by a predetermined amount in the direction of arrow C.

Here, the amount of retraction of the movable support plate 203 will be explained based on FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a view of the copying apparatus viewed from above, and is simplified to clarify the positional relationship between the toner replenishing device and the main body of the apparatus.

If the interval between the developer containers of each color is , then the total moving stroke of the developer containers during full-color copying is 31. and,
Since it is most natural to set the center of swing of the supply pipe 202B at the midpoint of this movement stroke, it is also set at the midpoint in this embodiment. In this way, the center of swing M of the magenta toner replenishment pipe 202 is as shown in the figure.

Since it is located in front of the transfer drum 5, the toner replenishing device blocks the front surface of the transfer drum 5.

Jams often occur around the transfer drum 5, which attracts and holds the transfer paper, so in order to facilitate jam removal, the toner replenishing device must be moved at least as far away from the front of the transfer drum 5. I need to move it. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the moving support plate 203 needs to be moved by at least the distance between the developing containers, that is, the distance between the hopper containers.

In addition, if the amount of retraction is this level, the replenishment pipe 2 will be removed as the movable support plate 203 is slid and retracted.
As shown in FIG. 13 described in #i, the retaining portion of the tip of 02 with the developer container is a long hole 106a of the pipe 106a of the developer container.
' in the direction of the arrow, and the elongated hole has enough room for the amount of movement of the tip of the pipe at this time.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to close the shutter 241 for each color and release the connection between the supply pipe and the developer container when handling a jam, unlike the conventional apparatus. Press 267 to move the support plate 2
60 in the direction of arrow C. At this time,
It goes without saying that when the movable support plate 260 is slid and retracted, the supply support stand 203 located behind it is not in a position that covers the front of the transfer drum 5.

Next, the transfer of drive from the main body of the apparatus to the toner replenishing apparatus 1200A will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

The drive is transferred in the same way as explained in the conventional system, in which a gear 210 rotatably supported by a rocking plate 214 is connected to the 11
1 Drive gear 2 driven by a drive source attached to the main body
According to the present invention, as described above, the movable support plate 260 is slidable, so that it can be easily attached to the main body by retracting the movable support plate 26G in the direction of arrow C. The drive position can be released.

Therefore, when a service person evacuates the entire toner replenishing device from the main body of the toner replenishing device for maintenance or the like, the movable support plate 260 is slid to the retracted position as described above, and the replenishment support 203 is rotated. If the fulcrum opening is retracted from the front of the main body, it is not necessary to manually release the swing plate 214 each time as in the conventional device, and the same applies when setting the entire toner replenishing device on the IIt11 main body. It is.

Here, the user moves the movable support plate 260 by arrow C to clear the jam.
When setting the movable support plate in the predetermined position again after retracting it in the direction described in 1wM! ! The gear 21G supported by the plate plate 214 needs to be engaged after once retreating from the meshing position with the gear 209 on the main body side. A configuration for performing such an operation will be described next.

7 and 8 show the swing support plate 214 in FIG.
2 is a view of the vicinity viewed from the direction of arrow E.

When the user moves the movable support plate 260 in the direction of arrow B to set it at the predetermined position after clearing the jam, the following procedure is followed.

That is, in addition to the link 271, one end of a link 274 is engaged with the shaft 270 crimped onto the handle 267 with an appropriate play. The link 274 is
L-shaped sheet metal 27 whose other end upper surface is fixed to supply support stand 203
5, and upward movement is restricted. A groove 274a is formed at the other end of the link 274, and the groove 274a is always engaged with a bolt 273 provided by crimping a sheet metal 214a fixed to the swing plate 214.

In this configuration, when the handle 267 is pushed in the direction of the arrow to move the movable support plate 260 in the direction of the arrow B and set it at a predetermined position, the groove 274a of the link 274 engaged with the second handle 267
Since the shaft 273 crimped to the sheet metal 214a integral with the rocking plate 214 is pushed down along the slope of the rocking plate 214 (FIG. 8), the rocking plate 214 rotates in the direction of arrow F.

In this state, the movable support plate 260 is moved until it is positioned at a predetermined position, as explained with reference to FIG. Then, when the handle 267 is released after being positioned, the handle 267
is biased in the direction of the arrow as described above, the link 274 returns to the right in FIG. It rotates around the support shaft 212 in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow F and lifts up, and the gear 210 meshes with the gear 209 of the main body.

i1 Momme A] The image forming apparatus according to the present invention configured as described above,
It has the features of easy jam removal, easy maintenance, and ease of use. Further, according to the present invention, when clearing a jam, the user does not have to perform the troublesome work of closing and releasing the shutter at the engagement portion between the developing unit and the toner replenishing device. This also solves the problem of toner sometimes scattering and contaminating the user himself/herself with the toner around the machine.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows the image type l0It according to the present invention, and the toner replenishment system used in the device. FIG. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the toner replenishing device of FIG. 1. Figure 3 shows the guide member that guides the movement of the movable support plate. FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the toner replenishing device showing an engaging member for locking the movable support plate to the replenishment support base. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view illustrating the positional relationship between the toner replenishing device and the main body of the device. FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the toner replenishing device for explaining the drive train of the toner replenishing device. 7 and 8 are views seen from the side of FIG. 6E for explaining the manner in which the drive source is connected to the toner replenishing device. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a color electrophotographic copying machine showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. fJIJlo is a perspective view of a developing device configured according to the present invention, and each developing unit is omitted. FIG. 11 is a front view seen from the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1O. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the developing unit. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the developing unit. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the connection structure between the developing unit and the toner replenishing device. FIG. 15 is a perspective view for explaining the driving mode of the toner replenishing device. FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a conventional color electrophotographic copying machine. 1: Image carrier 100: Developing device 101: Developing unit 120: Moving base 125: Developing sleeve drive motor 200A:) Toner replenishing device 201: Toner replenishing container 203: Replenishing support base 260: Moving support plate 262, 263 = guide Member 264: Engagement member zbb 6th factor Fig. 7 Fig. 8 Fig. 11 Fig. 13 Fig. 06a Fig. 15

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) An image carrier on which a latent image is formed, and at least two or more developing units for visualizing the latent image on the image carrier, and each developing unit is connected to the image carrier. An image forming apparatus comprising: a developing device that moves toward the surface of the image carrier in a direction substantially tangential to the surface of the image carrier in a development operation area; and a toner replenishing device that replenishes toner to each of the developing units. The replenishment device includes a replenishment support base that removably supports the toner replenishment device with respect to the main body of the device, a plurality of toner containers containing replenishment toner corresponding to each of the developing units, and a toner replenishment support base that supports the toner replenishment device in a removable manner with respect to the main body of the device; a movable support plate loaded with a transport member to be transported to the unit and movably held on the replenishment support base; a guide member that guides the movable support plate in the direction of movement on the replenishment support base; An image forming apparatus comprising: an engaging member that fixes and holds the movable support plate at a predetermined position on the replenishment support base.