JPH0311378A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent trouble due to the use of a developing device after running- out of toner by providing a developing roll having a clutch and a lock means which receives a toner end detection signal to cut off the clutch. CONSTITUTION:The device consists of a development chamber 2a and a toner chamber 2b. The development chamber 2a in-corporates a magnet and is provided with a developing roll 3 having clutches 3a and 3b which transmit the rotation driving force from the main body side. A lock means 9 is provided which receives the toner end detection signal to cut off clutches 3a and 3b. The lock means 9 consists of a claw. That is, the lock means 9 receives the toner end detection signal to cut off clutches 3a and 3b which transmit the driving force of the main body side to the developing roll 3 or the magnet. Hereafter, the developing device cannot be used and a user is clearly informed of the replacement time of the developing device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a developing device that is used in copying machines, facsimile machines, printers, etc. and is detachable from the main body of the device.

[Conventional technology]

Users are increasingly demanding lower running costs for copiers, facsimile machines, printers, etc.

In contrast, machines are being manufactured to meet this demand by allowing users to perform some of the machine maintenance themselves, which has traditionally been done by service personnel.

As one of the techniques for achieving maintenance by these users, a method has been proposed in which a developing device is constructed that integrates a developing section and a toner storage section, and the entire developing device is replaced after copying is done in accordance with the amount of built-in toner. has been done.

In this case, replacement of the developing device is prompted by detecting the amount of toner in the developing device and displaying toner end on the main body. Further, the user is prompted to use the limit by displaying the usage limit using a counter set with a predetermined number of sheets.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The disadvantage of the above method is that even if toner end is displayed, copying continues, or after toner end is displayed, if you reset the machine or turn off the main switch of the copier, a certain number of copies will be made until the next toner end display. Copying is to be done.

In other words, if this is repeated, the toner concentration in the developer will decrease, carrier will adhere to the surface of the photoconductor, contaminating the inside of the machine, causing leaks in the transfer charger, and carriers will get between the photoconductor and cleaning blade, causing blade chipping. This caused damage to the photoreceptor, necessitating new maintenance, and the goal of lowering the running post could not be achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device that can prevent problems caused by use of the developing device after toner has run out, and can achieve the goal of reducing running costs through user maintenance.

[Means to solve the problem]

The above purpose is to provide a developing device that is removably attached to the main body, in which a developing chamber and a toner chamber are integrated, and a developing roller that has a clutch that transmits rotational driving force from the main body, and a clutch that receives a toner end detection signal. This is achieved by providing a locking means for blocking the

[Effect]

The locking means receives the toner end detection signal and operates to disconnect the clutch that transmits the driving force on the main body side to the developing roller or the magnet. As a result, the developing device cannot be used thereafter.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the copying machine and the developing device, and is constructed so that the developing device 2 can be attached and removed by opening the front cover of the main body 1.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram mainly showing a developing chamber of a developing device according to the present invention, and the developing device 2 includes a developing chamber 2a and a toner chamber 2b.
It is composed of.

In the developing chamber 2a, there are provided a developing roller 3 having a built-in magnet, a doctor 4 regulating the developer layer on the developing roller 3, and a paddle wheel 5 supplying developer to the developing roller 3. Further, a sensor 6 is attached to the outside of the developing chamber 2a. Further, a toner stirring member 7 is provided within the toner chamber 2b. The cover 8 of the developing device is welded to the side plate after each component is assembled to the side plate. Further, 8a is a cover hole portion.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram mainly showing the engaged state of the arms of the developing device according to the present invention, where 9 is a pawl, and 10° and 11 are arms. Further, 3a and 3b are gears to be described later.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the disassembled parts and structure of section A in FIG.
Or the arm 11 has the bottle 11a in the hole 10a in the arm 10.
, and its rotation is prevented.

In addition, 14 is a bearing part, 15 is a spring, and llb is an arm 11.
This is the stepped part.

FIG. 4° is an exploded perspective view of part B in FIG.
tries to rotate in the direction of the arrow by the torsion coil spring 17, but the pin 14a of the bearing portion 14 and the arm 18, which rotates integrally with the gear 16, come into contact and the rotation is prevented.

At this time, the semicircular portion 16a of the gear 16 is in the positional relationship shown in the cross section.

The operation will be explained below.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the developing device is located outside the main body. In this case, the arm 10 and the semicircular portion 16a of the gear 16 are in the relationship as shown, and the arm 1.0 is rotated counterclockwise. Cannot be rotated. In this state, the arm 10 is prevented from accidentally pushing the arm 10 through the cover hole 8a or from rotating due to vibrations during transportation. Note that 2C is a developing side plate.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the developing device set in the main body, and when the developing device 2 is set in the direction of the arrow, the rack 20 provided in the main body 1 and the gear 16 engage and rotate half a rotation, and the semicircular portion 16a is in the state shown in the figure, and thereby the arm 10 can be rotated counterclockwise. Further, when the developing device 2 is taken out from the main body 1 for a color change or the like, it returns to the state shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the solenoid is activated,
The operation of the solenoid 19 causes the arm 11 to rotate counterclockwise by 10 degrees, and the arm 9, which has been prevented from rotating by the stepped portion 11b of the arm 11, rotates counterclockwise by the spring 12.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the developing device is pulled out from the main body.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the developing device when the solenoid is activated.
Clutch sleeve 3C, which will be described later, gives rotation from the outside.
The transmission of the rotation of the input gear 3b to the drive gear 3a is interrupted.

FIG. 1O is an exploded view of the clutch, in which 3a is a drive gear, 3b is an input gear, 3C is a sleeve, and 3d is a coil portion, which constitute a spring clutch.

Note that the claw 9 shown in FIG. 9 cannot be reset unless the welded portion of the cover 8 is broken. Therefore, once the developing device 2 becomes unusable due to the toner end, it cannot be used again.

In this embodiment, turning on and off the rotation of the developing roller of a developing device including a rotating developing roller and a magnet fixed therein has been described. A similar effect can be obtained by turning on and off the rotation of the magnet in the developing roller.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a developing roller having another configuration, in which the magnet 3e is rotated by receiving the driving force of a magnet drive gear 3f via a clutch 3g. Therefore, in this case, if the clutch 3g is disconnected, the magnet 3e
will stop rotating and development will no longer be possible. 3h is a developing roller drive gear.

Note that the locking means described in the claims is constituted by the claw 9.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, by locking the developing roller or the magnet inside thereof when the toner runs out and making it impossible to form an image, it is possible to clearly notify the user when it is time to replace the developing device. By disabling a developing device that has run out of toner, it is possible to prevent carrier adhesion caused by insufficient toner and the resulting problems, and to provide a developing device that does not burden users with unnecessary maintenance costs. can do.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram mainly showing the developing chamber of the developing device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram mainly showing the state in which the arm of the developing device according to the present invention is held, and Fig. 3 is a section A in Fig. 2. 4 is an exploded perspective view of part B in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the developing device outside the main body, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the developing device in the main body. An explanatory diagram of the set state, Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram of when the solenoid is activated, Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the state where the developing device is pulled out from the main body, and Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the state in which the developing device is pulled out from the main body.
The figure is a side configuration diagram of the developing device when the solenoid is activated.
FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the clutch, FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the developing roller, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the copying machine and the developing device. 3...Developing roller, 3a to 3d and 3g...Clutch, 9...Claw. Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 7 Fig. 8 Diagram 1O of the throat

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a developing device that has a developing chamber and a toner chamber integrated and is removable from the main body, the developing roller has a clutch that transmits rotational driving force from the main body, and a lock that disconnects the clutch in response to a toner end detection signal. A developing device comprising means.