JPH0389271A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To drive respective device with a simple operation in the case of collecting developer in a cleaning device, a recycling device and a developing device by interlocking a developing part, a cleaning part and a recycling part with one another in a state where the developing part is separated from a photosensitive body. CONSTITUTION:In the case that the developer is deteriorated by secular change, etc., the old developer remaining in the developing device 2, the cleaning device 3 and the recycling device 4 is collected in the state where the device 2 is separated from the drum 5. At this time, the meshing of a gear 15 with a gear 14 is cancelled and the gear 15 meshes with a gear 20, so that a stirring roller and a sleeve, etc., in the device 2 are interlocked with the devices 3 and 4 as well as at the time of processing for copying. Thus, the respective devices are driven with the simple operation in the case of collecting the developer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer, and more particularly to a mechanism useful for recovering developer within the apparatus. It is.

[Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention] For example, in a copying machine, a developing device is provided so as to be able to move toward and away from a photosensitive drum. Copying processing is performed with the developing device brought close to the photosensitive drum, and the developer (toner in the case of Zfi developer) remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum is collected by a cleaning device. The toner is then recycled to the developing device by a recycling device such as a spiral conveyor.

On the other hand, when replacing developer that has deteriorated due to changes over time, the developing device is disconnected from the recycling device and separated from the photosensitive drum. This is to prevent the surface of the photoreceptor drum from being scratched and damaged by the developer when the developer is collected.

Then, a collection container is attached to the developer collection opening provided at the bottom of the developing device, and the shank attached to the opening is removed.Subsequently, the sleeve, stirring roller, etc. in the developing device are driven to rotate. The developer in the developing device is collected into the collection container.

However, even if the developer in the developing device is recovered as described above, deteriorated old developer still remains inside the cleaning device or recycling device. Even if new developer is supplied in this state, the new developer and the deteriorated developer will coexist, resulting in a problem.

In order to avoid the above-mentioned problems, it is necessary to also collect the old developer remaining inside the cleaning device and the recycling device. In this case, the cleaning device and the recycling device need to collect the developer while driving the rollers, conveyors, etc. inside the device, as in the case of the developing device.

However, when trying to collect all the old developer in the developing device, cleaning device, and recycling device as described above, in conventional copying machines, the connection between the developing device and the recycling device is disconnected, so cleaning is not necessary. The device, the recycling device, and the developing device must each be driven individually, which poses a problem in that the task of collecting the developer becomes complicated for the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a function of driving a cleaning device, a recycling device, and a developing device with an extremely simple operation when recovering the developer in each device. The goal is to provide the following.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the main means adopted by the present invention is that the developing section, which is disposed so as to be separable from the photoconductor, is brought into close proximity to the photoconductor, and the cleaning section is The developer collected is recycled to the developing section via a recycling section, and while the developing section is separated from the photoreceptor, the developer in the developing section is collected into a collection container attached to the developing section. The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is provided with an interlocking mechanism that interlocks the developing section, the cleaning section, and the recycling section while the developing section is spaced apart from the photoreceptor. .

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention. It should be noted that the following examples are examples embodying the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

Here, FIG. 1 shows the structure of a main part of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Device.

FIG. 2(a) is a plan view of a main part showing the structure of an interlocking mechanism that interlocks the cleaning device and the recycling device.

(bl is an explanatory diagram showing the operation status of the developing device, respectively.

The image forming apparatus according to this embodiment has almost the same basic structure as a conventional image forming apparatus, and the difference from this conventional image forming apparatus is that an interlocking mechanism l (see Fig. 1 (bl) That's true.

The interlocking mechanism 1 includes a developing device 2. The cleaning device 3 and the developer in the cleaning device 3 are transferred to the developer bag W2.
This is for interlocking the recycling device 4 (see Fig. 1 fa+) that performs heli-recycling, and the developing device 2
It is important that they can be interlocked even when they are separated from the photoreceptor drum 5.

Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, the developing device 2
The guide cylinder 6 (guide part, Fig. 1 (al) and
Figures (al, (see bl) are attached).

The guide cylinder 6 is for developer collection, which is attached to the opening 41 of the two developing devices of the recycling device 4 and the bottom of the developing device 2, with the developing device 2 separated from the photosensitive drum 5. by communicating with the collection container 7 of
This is for guiding the developer remaining inside each of the recycling device 4 and the cleaning device 3 to the recovery container 7.

In the interlocking device I11, the cleaning device 3 operates the belt 8. Pulley 9 and gear 10.11
Driven through. Since the recycling device 4 is mechanically linked to the cleaning device 3, when the cleaning device 3 is driven, a spiral conveyor (not shown) in the recycling device Wt4 is simultaneously driven to rotate.

A belt 12 is wound around the pulley 9 that transmits driving force to the cleaning device 3 and recycling device 4, and the belt 12 is further wound around a boo U13. A gear 14 is attached coaxially with the pulley 13, and the gear 14 can mesh with the gear 15 when the developing device 2 is brought close to the photosensitive drum 5. The gear 15 is for rotationally driving an agitation roller, a sleeve (not shown), etc. in the developing device 2, and when the developing device 2 approaches the photoreceptor drum 5, it is driven by a motor (not shown). The rotational force is the belt 8, pulley 9. Belt 12. By being transmitted via the pulley 13 and gears 14 and 15, the image forming apparatus performs copying processing.

Further, a gear 16 is attached coaxially with the pulley 13, and the rotational force of the pulley 13 is applied to the gears 16, 17, .
It is transmitted to gear 20 via 18 and 19.

The gear 20 connects the developing device 2 to the photosensitive drum 5.
The gear 15 can mesh with the gear 15 while being spaced apart from the gear 15.

That is, in the image forming apparatus, whether the developing device 2 is brought close to or separated from the photoreceptor drum 5, the same driving source is used together with the cleaning device 3 and the recycling device 4. Driven.

Note that the photosensitive drum 5 includes a pulley 21 and a belt 22.
The developing device 2 and the like are rotated by a motor separate from the developing device 2 and the like.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus configured as described above will be explained.

First, the gears 14 and 15 are engaged with the developing device 2 while it is brought close to the photosensitive drum 5, and the developing device 2 is connected to the cleaning device 3 and the recycling device #! Copying processing by the image forming apparatus is performed in conjunction with 4.

In this case, the developer remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 5 is collected by the cleaning device 3 and recycled by the recycling device 4.
It is recycled to the developing device 2 via.

On the other hand, if the developer deteriorates due to changes over time, the developing device 2 is first separated from the photosensitive drum 5. In this case, the gear 15 that has been disengaged from the gear 14 is engaged with the gear 20, and as in the case of copying processing, the stirring roller, sleeve (not shown), etc. in the developing device 2 are connected to the cleaning device 3 and the recycling device. It is linked together with the device 4 etc.

At this time, the collection container 7 is attached to the bottom of the developing device 2 and the shutter 23 is opened.

In this state, the opening 4□ of the recycling device 4 is communicated with the collection container 7 via the guide cylinder 6.

The developing device 2. is operated by a motor (not shown). By interlocking the cleaning device 3 and the recycling device 4 via the interlocking mechanism 1, all of the developer in the developing device 2, cleaning device 3, and recycling device 4 is extremely efficiently transferred into the collection container 7. It will be collected.

As described above, in the image forming apparatus, when collecting the developer, the cleaning device 3. The recycling device 4 and the developing device 2 can be linked with each other with an extremely simple operation.

Furthermore, when replacing the developer, the developer remaining in the cleaning device 3 and recycling device 4 can be collected together with the developer in the developing device 2, so that the old and deteriorated developer can be replaced with the newly supplied developer. The problem of developer being mixed in is avoided.

Further, since the developer in the device can be collected almost all together, when replacing the cleaning blade, fur brush, etc., the amount of developer scattering is significantly reduced, making maintenance work easier.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, in the present invention, the developer collected in the cleaning section is transferred to the developing section through the recycling section, with the developing section disposed so as to be separable from the photoconductor in close proximity to the photoconductor. In the image forming apparatus, the developer in the developing section is recycled to a collection container attached to the developing section while the developing section is separated from the photoreceptor. Since the image forming apparatus is characterized in that it is provided with an interlocking mechanism that interlocks the developing section, the cleaning section, and the recycling section while being separated from the photoreceptor, the cleaning device, the recycling device, and the developing device can be connected to each other. When collecting the developer in each device, these devices can be driven with an extremely simple operation.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows the structure of the main parts of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 + M1. (bl is an explanatory diagram showing the operation status of the above-mentioned developing device. [Explanation of symbols] 1... Interlocking mechanism 2...Developing device 3...Cleaning device 4...Recycling device 4...Opening 5...Photosensitive drum 6...Guide cylinder (guide portion) 7...Recovery container

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. With a developing section disposed so as to be able to come into contact with and be separated from the photoreceptor, the developer collected in the cleaning section is transferred to the developing section through the recycling section, with the developing section being placed in close proximity to the photoreceptor. with the developing section separated from the photoreceptor,
In an image forming apparatus in which the developer in the developing section is collected in a collection container attached to the developing section, the developing section, the cleaning section, and the recycling are separated from the photosensitive member. An image forming apparatus characterized by being provided with an interlocking mechanism for interlocking parts.