JPH04131861A - Color image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the occurrence of soiling of toner, etc., by closing one of a toner replenishing pipe connection end part, and releasing a moving passage between the image forming and attaching/detaching positions of a process cartridge when the upper part frame body is released. CONSTITUTION:The coupled state of a toner replenishing pile 35 is released and simultaneously, at least, one of respective connecting end parts is closed, when the upper part frame body 26 is released, and the moving passage between the image forming position and attaching/detaching position of the process cartridge is released. In other words, a shutter means 312 is provided on the upper side frame body 310, so that equipments can not be polluted caused by the dropping of toner from a toner sending tube 30 when the upper side frame body 310 is separated from the lower side frame body 321 by releasing the upper part frame body 26. The shutter means 312 is closed/opened by interlocking to the opening and closing covers of the upper part frame body 26 with respect to a device main body 19. Thus, the toner is easily and surely replenished, and outer peripheral equipments can not be polluted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus such as a color printer or a color copying machine having an image carrier belt suspended approximately horizontally, and particularly relates to a color image forming apparatus such as a color printer or a color copying machine having an image carrier belt suspended approximately horizontally, and particularly to The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus that can be divided into an upper casing that can be opened to a user.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, a color image forming apparatus having an image carrier belt suspended substantially horizontally and a plurality of developing units arranged in parallel on the lower surface of the belt is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 151560/1983, and is well known. It is. According to the color image forming apparatus described in the above publication, the image carrier belt is arranged substantially horizontally and laterally, and a plurality of developing devices are arranged in parallel on the lower surface of the belt with their developing openings facing upward. Therefore, the device is compact and there is no toner scattering from the developing device.
This provides advantages such as prevention of leakage and color mixing of toner between developing devices.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

By the way, in a practical color printer or a color copying machine, a toner replenishing device is provided in order to stably perform continuous image formation over a long period of time. However, since the color image forming apparatus described in the publication is not particularly provided with the toner replenishing device, it is necessary to take out the developing device and replenish the toner each time the toner in the developing device is consumed. It is also possible to install a toner replenishment device externally to the device and replenish toner to the developing device using a toner conveyance pipe, but in that case, the toner conveyance bus becomes longer and becomes clogged, making it impossible to achieve smooth toner replenishment. cause problems. There are also other problems, such as hindering the ability to make the device more compact.

Furthermore, in the color image forming apparatus described in the publication, when inspecting or replacing parts within the apparatus, the image forming members are separated from each other and then pulled out to the front.

In particular, when handling a jam, it is often necessary to insert a hand into the space to remove the jam, which is not desirable from a safety standpoint.As a result, it is necessary to make the space large, which has the disadvantage of increasing the size of the device. be.

In addition, when such members are separated from each other, especially when the developing device and the toner supply container are separated, the connecting portions are separated and the separated connecting ports are closed to prevent contamination due to toner spillage inside the image forming apparatus. It requires something that doesn't happen.

The present invention eliminates these drawbacks and automatically and smoothly replenishes each developing device with each toner, and when troubles such as jams occur, they can be easily and safely handled. To provide a clean and compact image forming apparatus that does not cause toner stains even in such cases.

[Means to solve the problem]

The purpose of this is to insert a process cartridge consisting of at least a replaceable image bearing member and a plurality of developing devices near the circumferential surface of the image carrier into the main body of the apparatus, and toner supply containers provided corresponding to the plurality of developing devices. an image forming apparatus provided in an upper housing that can be opened upward from the apparatus main body, wherein when the upper housing is closed, the process cartridge is in a first position where image recording is possible; The tips of the toner replenishment pipes of the plurality of toner replenishment containers are jointed to the corresponding developing devices by joint means provided in the apparatus main body so as to be electrically connected to each other, and when the upper housing is opened,
The connection between the toner supply pipe tip and the joint means is released, at least one of the connecting ends is closed, and the 70-section cartridge is in a first position where image formation is possible. This is achieved by a color image forming apparatus characterized in that a movement path between the process cartridge and the second position is opened so that the process cartridge can be inserted and removed.

In the color image forming apparatus of the present invention, for example, the image carrier belt stretched between the driving roller and the driven roller is arranged approximately horizontally, and a yellow (Y)
), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK) developing units are arranged in parallel, either individually or in an integrated configuration by sharing a wall surface. Further, along the upper surface of the image carrier belt, a plurality of toner replenishment containers for replenishing toner to each of the developing devices via toner conveying pipes are arranged in parallel in a positional relationship corresponding to each of the developing devices.

Therefore, each image forming member in the apparatus is compactly integrated and arranged stably, and in particular, the toner replenishing mechanism of the toner replenishing container and the developing device is clearly integrated.

In other words, since each toner replenishment container is located in the device and is arranged in parallel with each developing device, it is possible to replenish toner efficiently in a relatively short bus with less twisting, which prevents clogging and other problems. First, smooth toner replenishment is possible.

In addition, the color image forming apparatus of the present invention preferably has a clam/L structure, in which case at least the process cartridge including the photoconductor and the developing device, the paper feeding system, and the apparatus main body including the optical system are provided with at least the toner. The upper case containing the supply container can be opened, and after opening,
By moving the process cartridge toward the open opening, that is, to the second position, parts replacement and jam removal are extremely easy.

〔Example〕

EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically explained below with reference to Examples, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

(Example 1) Figures 1 to 3 are diagrams for explaining this example.
The figures are a cross-sectional view of the color image forming apparatus of this embodiment when the upper case is closed, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view when the upper case is open, and FIG.
The figure is a cross section taken along line AA in FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a driving roller 2 on the transfer device side, a driven roller 3 on the cleaning device side, a tension detection guide plate 4, and a belt-shaped photoreceptor 6 stretched approximately horizontally by a roller 5. Although 7 and 7 may be omitted, a static eliminator using a pre-cleaning static eliminator lamp and a scorotron corona discharger faces the surface of the photoreceptor 1 at the position of the driven roller 3, and 8 also represents the position of the driven roller 3. When the detachment means 9, which faces the surface of the photoreceptor 1 and uses an eccentric cam, acts, the spring 8a biases the collected toner conveying screw 8b counterclockwise around the shaft to the position shown in the figure. The brush roller 8c rotates to an operating position where it slides against the surface of the photoreceptor 1, and as the contact/separation means 9 acts, the brush roller 8c rotates clockwise around the axis of the recovered toner conveying screw 8b against the bias of the spring 8a. The brush roller 8c is rotated in the direction of the photoconductor l and the brush roller 8c is in an inactive position away from the surface of the photoreceptor l. 10 is a cleaning device in which the toner conveyed by the recovered toner conveying screw 8b of the cleaning device 8 is collected in a toner storage box 11 by the same means. 12 is a charger using a scorotron corona discharger that faces the surface of the photoreceptor l at the tension inspection guide plate 4; 13 is a charger whose output section is photosensitive at the tension inspection guide plate 4; Laser writing devices consisting of laser beam scanners facing the surface of the body 1, 14Y, 14M, 14C and 1
The 4BKs are arranged in parallel along the surface of the tension inspection guide plate 4 with the developing opening facing upward, and are integrated so as to share a part of the wall surface with each other.

Further, each of these developing devices is arranged with a gap from the surface of the photoreceptor, and develops by a non-contact reversal developing method under an alternating electric field.

15 is a transfer device using a corona discharger that faces the surface of the photoreceptor l at the position of the drive roller 2; 16 is a cassette l'6a containing transfer paper P; and transfer paper P on the top of the cassette 16a.
a paper feeding device comprising a delivery roll 16b for delivering the paper;
Reference numeral 17 indicates a transfer paper path that guides the transfer paper P sent out from the paper feeder 16 to the heat roller fixing device 22, and 18 indicates a registration roller that sends the transfer paper P to the transfer section in accordance with the image forming timing.

As shown in FIG. 2, the color image forming apparatus of this embodiment has toner supply containers 25Y, 25 with respect to the apparatus main body 19.
)j, 25c, 25BK, the fixing device 22, and the paper discharge path 23. The upper housing 26 is configured to be openable upward via a hinge 36. On the side of the apparatus main body 19, there are image forming devices such as a belt-shaped photoreceptor 1, a pre-charging static elimination lamp 6, a static elimination electrode 7, a cleaning device 8, a charger 12, etc.
Multiple developing devices 14Y, 14)J, 14C, 14BK, laser beam writing device 13, paper feeding device 16, transfer paper path 1
7, a transfer device 15, etc. are included. Naori leaning device 8
The scraped waste toner is collected into a collected toner collection box 11 via a collected toner transport path 10.

Further, the belt-shaped photoreceptor 1, the image forming member on the periphery of the photoreceptor, and the developing devices 14Y-14BK are assembled to the photoreceptor unit frame 2OA to constitute a process cartridge 20, and the process cartridge 20 is attached to the apparatus main body 19. On the other hand, the laser writing device 13 is movable from the first position to the second position, and can be manually attached to and detached from the device main body 19 from the second position. It is designed to be attached to and detached from the main body 19. In addition, the developing device 14Y-1
48 is integrally configured and is attachable to and detachable from the process cartridge 20.

Toner supply container 25Y incorporated in the upper housing 26~
25BK is connected to the developing device 14Y of the process cartridge 20 on the device main body 19 side by the connection mechanism shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.
- Combined with 14BK.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. A conveyance screw 28 is connected to the container 27 and feeds the BK toner accumulated at the bottom of the container 27 into the developing device, passing through the container 27 and the developing device 14BK. A toner replenishment pipe 35 that replenishes toner in the vertical direction is connected to the toner replenishment pipe 35 so that it can be removed as needed by loosening the screw 33. In addition, the toner replenishing container 25BK on the upper housing 26 side is provided with a delivery pipe 30 that includes a built-in spring coil 29 for delivering BK toner and extends outward from the side edge of the belt-shaped photoreceptor l. A joint means 32 is provided at the tip of the tube 30, and the front end is connected to a vertical toner supply tube 35.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the joint means 32,
Reference numeral 321 denotes a lower casing that encloses each component of the means, and a bearing 323 extending upward from the bottom inside the lower casing 321 has a gear for rotationally driving the spring coil 36 in the vertical toner supply pipe 35. 322 is attached so that it can rotate,
The gear 322 is rotationally driven by a motor 325 via an engagement gear 324. The upper casing 310 is connected to the apparatus main body 19 and to the lower casing 321 via the retaining portion 311 when the upper casing 26 is closed, and is connected to the lower casing 321 to transfer toner from the toner delivery pipe 30 to the vertical toner supply pipe 35. It is said that it can be supplied. The vertical toner supply pipe 35 is integrally joined to the inner wall of a bearing 323 that protrudes upward within the lower housing 321.

Further, the lower end of the toner delivery tube 30 is integrally joined to the upper inner wall of the upper housing 310. Further, the upper housing 310 is designed to prevent toner from flowing down from the toner delivery pipe 30 and contaminating the equipment when the upper housing 310 is separated from the lower housing 321 by opening the upper housing 26. An adjustment means 312 is provided. This shank means 312 is closed and opened in conjunction with opening and closing of the upper housing 26 with respect to the apparatus main body 19.

The operation of the shutter means will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG.

In the figure, when the upper housing 26 is opened upward through the hinge 36 with respect to the device main body 19, the upper housing 310 (Y
), 310 (M) and lower housing 321 (Y), 32
1(M) are vertically separated, the toner delivery tubes 30(Y), 30(M) and the vertical toner conveying tubes 35(Y), 35(M) are separated. At this time, the toner delivery tubes 30 (Y), 30 (
In order to prevent toner from leaking from M) and contaminating the equipment, shutter means 312(Y), 312(M)
is provided, and the shutter means moves in the closing direction in conjunction with the opening operation of the upper housing by the following mechanism to cover the openings of the delivery tubes 30 (Y 2 ) and 30 (M 2 ).

That is, a shaft 190 of the hinge 36 is extended and supported by a support member 191 on the side of the device main body 19, and a sector gear 192 is fixed to the extended portion of the shaft 190. Further, a gear 263 that engages with the fan-shaped gear 192 is fixed to a shaft 262 that is rotatably supported by support members 260 and 261 on the upper housing 26 side. Further, one bevel gear 264 is fixed to an extension of the shaft 262, and the other bevel gear 264 is fixed to one end of a shaft 266 orthogonal thereto.
It is in a binding relationship with 65. The orthogonal shaft 266 is rotatably supported by support members 267 and 268 extending from the side walls of the upper casings 310(Y) and 310(M), and pinion gears 313(Y) and 3 are attached to the orthogonal shaft 266, respectively.
13 (M') is fixed and the shutter means 312 (
Rack gear 31 provided on the bottom surface of Y), 312(M)
4(Y) and 314(M) from the bottom side.

Thus, when the upper housing 26 is opened upward relative to the apparatus main body 19, the gear 263 moves along the tooth surface of the fan-shaped gear 192 while meshing with it, thereby rotating together with the shaft 262. The rotation of the shaft 262 causes the bevel gear 26 to rotate.
4,265, orthogonal axis 266 is rotated.

Rotation of the orthogonal shaft 266 causes pinion gears 313 (Y), 313 (M) fixed to the shaft 266 to rotate rack gears 314 (Y), 314 (M) provided on the lower surface of the Nyatta means 312 (Y), 312 (M). As a result, the shutter means 312(Y), 31
2(M) is inserted into the upper housing 310(Y) and 310(M) to cover the openings of the toner feed pipes 30(Y) and 30(M). When the upper housing 26 is closed to the device main body 19, the unyatta means 312 is closed by the reverse operation.
(Y), 312(M) are pulled out, and the openings of the toner delivery tubes 30(Y), 30(M) are opened.

Note that the explanation of FIG. 5 is based on the toner supply container 25 (
Y), 25(M), but 25(C)
, 25 (BK).

The lower casing 32 that constitutes the joint means 32 in this way
1Y to 321BK are respectively fixed to the developing units 14Y to 14BK fixed to the process cartridge 20,
The upper housing 310 is fixed to each of the toner supply containers 25Y to 258K provided in the upper housing 26. Therefore, the process cartridge 20 is placed in the first position of the apparatus main body 19.
When the upper housing 26 closes the lid on the main body 19 of the apparatus in a state in which the toner replenishing containers 25Y to 25BK of the upper housing 26 are stored, the toner delivery tubes 30 of the toner supply containers 25Y to 25BK of the upper housing 26 are inserted into the lower housings 321Y to 321BK of each developing unit. The upper casings 310Y to 310BK joined to the lower end portions of the upper casings 310Y to 310BK are automatically fitted together, and the shutters 312 in the upper casings 310Y to 310BK are also automatically opened to enable toner replenishment. Image formation can be performed in such a state. Also, due to some trouble during the process, I opened the upper housing 26 and removed the process cartridge 2.
0 from the device main body 19, remove it from the upper housing 26.
When the lid is opened, the joint means 32 is disengaged and the shutters 312 of the upper casings 310Y to 3108 are also closed, thereby preventing toner from spilling and contaminating the inside. This greatly facilitates troubleshooting such as jams and other inspections and maintenance.

That is, when the upper housing 26 is opened, the toner delivery tube 30 is disconnected from the joint means 32, so the right door 19A shown in the figure is opened 90' horizontally, and the process cartridge 20 is moved from the first position to the first position. This is because it becomes possible to largely slide the transfer paper to the second position on the right side in FIGS. This movement from the first position to the second position is necessary to open the transfer area;
At this position, about one-third of the process cartridge 20 is in a state where the apparatus main body 19 is also protruding. Note that the movement from the first position to the second position is preferably performed in conjunction with opening of the upper housing 26. This process cartridge 20
The process cartridge 20 is moved from the first position to the second position and vice versa automatically, and the process cartridge 20 in the second position is removed from the apparatus main body 19 and loaded into the second position manually.

Note that in this embodiment, the shutter 312 is attached to the upper housing 310Y.
~I only found it on 310BK, but the lower case 321Y~321
It is also possible to provide it in 8K. However, the lower housing 32
The openings of the toner receivers of 1Y to 321BK face upwards, so there is little worry of toner spilling from there.

Alternatively, in this embodiment, the upper housing 26 may be configured only as a toner supply container, and the fixing device 26 and the paper discharge path 23 may be provided in the lower housing.

Although not shown, a protective cover is provided over the lower housing 321 to prevent the toner from spilling from the process cartridge 2o when the joint means 32 is removed. This is to prevent toner from spilling from the top when the apparatus is moved with the joint means 32 released. Of course, if a shutter is provided on the lower housing 321, such a protective cover is seemingly unnecessary, but on the contrary, it serves to prevent dust other than toner from entering.

Furthermore, if the surface of the photoreceptor belt is left exposed to external light when not in use, optical fatigue will occur and the performance will quickly deteriorate, so it is desirable to take measures to prevent this. That is, when the process cartridge is in the first position, the upper housing 26 is also closed, so there is no risk of optical fatigue, but after the upper housing 26 is opened and the process cartridge is moved to the second position, Since jam removal and internal inspection are performed in this state, a portion of the photoreceptor belt is exposed to outside light for a relatively long period of time.

In order to prevent this, for example, a protective cover can be configured to cover the area around the transfer position of the photoreceptor belt when the process cartridge moves from the first position to the second position. Regarding this means, the applicant has recently
] Since they are proposed in the order of appearance, further explanation will be omitted.

To form a color image in the color image forming apparatus of the present invention as described above, the belt-shaped photoreceptor 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. , the static eliminating surface is cleaned by the brush roller 8c with the cleaning device 8 in the illustrated operating position. A charger 12 charges the cleaned photoreceptor surface, and laser writing is performed on the charged surface based on information from an image information output means (not shown) consisting of a document reading device using a color image sensor, an image information processing device, etc. Image light from a laser beam for the Y image is incident on the device 13 to form an electrostatic image in the form of dots. The developing device 14Y develops the obtained electrostatic image by reversal development in which Y toner charged to the same polarity as the photoconductor 1 is attached to a low potential spot where the laser beam is incident, thereby forming a Y toner image. Another developing device 14M in which the surface of the photoreceptor 1 having
~14BK, passes through the transfer device 15 and the static eliminator 6, static eliminator 7, and cleaning device 8 that have been placed in an inoperable state up to that time, and is charged again by the charger 12.
As before, the laser writing device 13 injects image light for the M image onto the charged surface to form an electrostatic image. The developing device 14M then develops the electrostatic image into an M toner image, thereby forming a two-color toner image consisting of a superposition of a Y toner image and a M toner image on one surface of the photoreceptor. Similarly, a C toner image or even a BK toner image is formed on the forming surface.
By forming the toner image, a color toner image is formed. The color toner image thus obtained is transferred to the transfer paper P fed from the paper feeder 16 via the register roller direction to the position of the transfer device 15, and then transferred to the transfer paper P.
passes through the fixing device 22 to fix the color image, and is discharged from the paper discharge path 23 by the paper discharge roller 24 to form a color image. Of course, it is possible to form not only color images but also monochrome images, two-color images, and the like.

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 1 described above, multiple toner images are formed on the photoreceptor belt, and the toner images are transferred to the transferred transfer paper P using transfer poles.

Embodiment 2, which will be described next, uses a transfer drum device t150 instead of the transfer pole 15.

That is, in Example 2, a cross-sectional view when the lid is closed is shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view when the lid is opened.

The transfer drum device 150 is composed of a transfer drum 151, a cleaning blade 152, a transfer paper winding member 153, a transfer paper peeling member 154, etc., and transfers the Y, M, C, and BK toner layers formed on the photoreceptor belt 1 to each color. After each transfer is performed on the transfer paper P on the transfer drum, the transfer paper P is peeled off from the transfer drum 151 by a peeling member 154 and sent to the fixing device 24 for collection.

In the second embodiment, a front transfer drum device 150 is provided in place of the transfer pole 15 of the first embodiment, and the other functions are exactly the same as those in the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

In Embodiments 1 and 2, the process cartridge 20 is moved from the first position to the second position by opening the right door 19A as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, and 7. However, in Example 1. As a third embodiment and a fourth embodiment that are modified from the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the transfer pole 15 or the transfer drum device 150 is rotated to the left, and the process cartridge 20 is moved to the left. In other words, the second position can be provided to the left of the first position.

The main purpose of this embodiment is also to facilitate jam removal and inspection and replacement of parts.

In addition, regarding all the above rights, the writing scanner 21
Although the scanner 21 is provided in the main body of the apparatus, the scanner 21 may be incorporated in the upper housing 26 instead of the main body 19 of the apparatus.

Further, when the copying machine is configured as a copying machine having an image reading device, it is preferable that the image reading device is configured integrally on the upper housing 26.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the color image forming apparatus of the present invention, the developing unit group and the toner supply container group are parallel to each other in a corresponding relationship along the surface of the belt-like image forming body stretched approximately horizontally. Because of this arrangement, the device configuration is organized and compact. In addition, because the weight of the upper case is light, it can easily be made into a Cram-n-El structure.
In addition, since the belt-shaped photoreceptor and its peripheral devices constitute a process cartridge and other units, and are configured as a unit that can be inserted into and removed from the apparatus, parts replacement and jam removal are facilitated. In particular, in conjunction with the clamshell structure, the toner replenishment mechanism is connected or disconnected, and a mechanism to prevent toner from falling from the toner replenishment pipe when disconnected operates, so that toner replenishment can be easily and reliably performed on external peripheral equipment. Effects such as no contamination are achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are cross-sectional views of the color image forming apparatus of Example 1 when the lid is closed and when the lid is opened, respectively. Figure 6. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the second embodiment when the lid is closed and when the lid is opened. Figures 8 and 9 show the seal rights 3. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of Example 4 when the lid is opened. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views illustrating the mechanism for conveying replenishment toner from the toner replenishment container to the developing device in Embodiments 1 to 4, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the shutter mechanism of the toner replenishment path. It is a diagram. l... Belt-shaped photoreceptor 8... Cleaning device 1
2...Charging device 14(Y) to 14(BK)...Developing device 13...Writing device 15...Transfer device 16...Paper feeding device
17.Transfer paper conveyance path 19...Device main body 20...Process cartridge 21...Writing system unit 22...Fuser 23...Paper discharge path 25 (
Y)~25(BK)...Toner supply container 26...Upper casing

Claims (1)

[Claims] A process cartridge consisting of at least a replaceable image bearing member and a plurality of developing devices provided near its circumferential surface is inserted into the apparatus main body, and each toner supply container provided corresponding to the plurality of developing devices is inserted into the apparatus. The image forming apparatus is provided in an upper casing that can be opened upward from the main body, and when the upper casing is closed, the process cartridge is in a first position where image recording is possible, and a plurality of toners are supplied. The tip of the toner replenishment pipe of the container is connected to the corresponding developing device by a joint means provided on the main body of the apparatus so as to be electrically conductive, and when the upper housing is opened, the tip of the toner replenishment pipe and the toner replenishment pipe are connected. When the coupling state with the joint means is released, at least one of each connecting end becomes a closed state, and the process cartridge can be inserted into and removed from a first position where image formation is possible. A color image forming apparatus characterized in that a movement path between the color image forming apparatus and the second position is opened.