JPH04282672A - Container case for start developer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a container case for the start developer which can simplify and miniaturize the construction inside a developing device of an image forming device. CONSTITUTION:A partition part 23 between a developing tank 41 and a hopper part 42 is extended on a mounting surface 22 on one edge side in the longitudinal direction of the container case CS of the start developer mounted on top of the developing tank part 41. A residue toner detection sensor 25 is attached in a position inside a hopper 42 where a sensor window is faced when the container case CS of the partition part 23 is mounted on the developing tank 41.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a starter developer storage case that is attached to a developing device of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and supplies the starter developer.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a developing device of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine that uses a two-component developer, a removable storage case for the start developer is attached to the top of the developing device. What is supplied is known.

[0003] Furthermore, a device is known that detects the remaining amount of replenishment toner accumulated in a hopper and displays a warning on a display device as to the empty state of the replenishment toner.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the conventional developing device.

The developing device 50 includes a developing container 51 consisting of a developing tank section 52 and a hopper section 53 for replenishing toner adjacent to the developing tank section 52, and a start developer supplying section attached to the upper part of the developing tank section 52. storage case 5
It is composed of 4.

The developing tank portion 52 is provided with a developing roller 55 that conveys the developer G while facing the photosensitive drum 15, and an agitating roller 56 that conveys the developer G to the developing roller 55 while stirring the developer G. It is being

The hopper section 53 has the replenishment port 53.
A toner replenishment roller 57 is provided with its peripheral surface in contact with a, and by rotating the toner replenishment roller 57, replenishment toner is supplied to the developer tank portion 52. Further, a toner sensor 58 is provided on the side wall of the hopper portion 53 to detect the remaining amount of toner.

The storage case 54 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped case, and a mounting flange 54b is formed around an opening 54a, and the opening 54a is sealed with a film (not shown). This storage case 54 is connected to the developing tank section 52.
The flange 54b is fitted into the mounting portion 52a provided on the upper surface of the developer, and the initial developer is supplied to the developing tank portion 52 by peeling off the film.

The detection result of the toner sensor 58 is input to the control section 59, and the control section 59 determines the empty state of toner in the hopper section 53 from the detection result, and displays a warning on the display section 60 when the hopper section 53 is empty. do.

0010

In recent years, image forming apparatuses have become more multi-functional and high-performance as office equipment, and at the same time, there is also a demand for simpler, smaller, and lower-priced image forming apparatuses. Such a simple and compact image forming apparatus reduces or eliminates various functions as much as possible, and by downsizing each device such as the photoreceptor drum and its peripheral equipment, the overall apparatus is made more compact and lower in cost. is planned.

In particular, when reducing the diameter of the photosensitive drum 15 to make the image forming apparatus thinner, in the conventional developing device described above, the toner sensor 58 is installed inside the hopper section 53, so the hopper section can be reduced accordingly. It becomes difficult to reduce the size of 53.

Although it is possible to reduce the number of toner sensors 58 in order to reduce costs, if the timing for supplying replenishment toner is not known, an image will be formed with a reduced toner ratio in the developer G, and the image will be It is desirable to manage the amount of toner remaining in the hopper section 53 using the toner sensor 58, since this may lead to a deterioration in quality.

The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a storage case for a starter developer that can simplify and downsize the structure inside the developing device of an image forming apparatus. shall be.

[0014]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a storage case for a start developer that is attached to the upper part of the developer tank of a developer container, which is composed of a developer tank and a toner replenishment hopper adjacent to the developer tank. In this case, the mounting portion of the storage case extends to one end in the longitudinal direction, forms a partition between the developer tank portion and the hopper portion, and stores toner residue at a position of the extended portion facing the inside of the hopper portion. A toner remaining amount detection means for detecting the amount is attached.

[0015]

According to the present invention, a storage case for the start developer is attached to the upper part of the developer tank portion of the developer container. Further, a partition wall portion extends from one end in the longitudinal direction of the mounting portion of the storage case for the start developer. When this storage case is attached to the upper part of the developer tank part of the developer container, the partition wall part is inserted into the developer container, and a partition wall between the developer tank part and the hopper part in the developer container is formed. Further, the remaining toner amount detection means provided in the partition wall portion is disposed so as to face the hopper portion of the developing device, and the remaining amount of toner in the hopper portion can be detected.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus equipped with a developing device to which a storage case for a starter developer according to the present invention is attached. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
The device is comprised of a movable table 2 and a device body 1, and the device body 1 is further comprised of a separable upper and lower body. Further, the area of the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1 is set to an appropriate size so as to be able to form an image on at least an A4 document.

The upper body of the apparatus body 1 includes an image reading section 3.
It is composed of the following blocks: a housing section in which an upper space of the toner storage section 18a is formed, a developing section in which the developing device 4 is formed, and a charging/cleaning section in which the charging device 16 and the cleaning device 18 are integrated. has been done. And the upper body is
The developing section and the charging/cleaning section are combined with the photosensitive drum 15 interposed therebetween, and the combined developing section and charging/cleaning section are then attached to the housing section to be assembled.

A slit 1a for exposure is provided in the casing at approximately the center of the upper surface, and the image reading section 3 is provided below the slit 1a. The image reading section 3 includes a lamp 13 made of a fluorescent lamp, a condensing lens 14, and the like. Further, the photosensitive drum 15 is located at a lower position of the image reading unit 3 when the upper main body is assembled.
is now set up.

The developing section includes a developing device 4 having a developing container consisting of a developing tank section 41 and a hopper section 42 adjacent to the developing tank section 41 that stores replenishment toner. A paper feed roller 5 is attached to the position. Further, a storage case CS containing a starter developer and a toner cartridge CT for toner replenishment are attached to the upper portions of the developer tank section 41 and the hopper section 42, respectively. Note that the detailed structure of the developing device 4 will be described later.

In the charging/cleaning section, a charging device 16 is provided at the upper right end facing the photosensitive drum 15, and a cleaning device 18 is provided below the charging device 16. Further, a storage section 18a for storing collected toner is formed on the left side of the charging device 16 and the cleaning device 18.

On the other hand, the lower body of the apparatus main body 1 is provided with a transfer paper supply tray 20 on one side and a paper discharge tray 21 for discharging the transfer paper on which an image has been formed on the other side. Further, a transfer/separation device 17 and a fixing device 19 are provided from the transfer paper supply tray 20 side to the paper discharge tray 21 side.

The image forming apparatus main body 1 is completed by combining the upper main body and the lower main body.

The diameter of the photosensitive drum 15 is set to an appropriate size that allows the original image of an A4 document to be formed on a transfer sheet by rotating the photosensitive drum 15 a plurality of times. That is, the image forming apparatus of this embodiment is configured to divide an original image obtained by exposure scanning of an A4 original and form an image on transfer paper. Therefore, as the photoreceptor drum 15 becomes smaller,
Devices around the drum, such as the developing device 4, the charging device 16, the transfer/separation device 17, and the cleaning device 18, are also downsized to make the entire device more compact.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the detailed structure of the developing section. As described above, the developing tank section 4 of the developing device 4
A storage case CS for a start developer is attached to the upper part of the storage case 1. The storage case CS is a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped case having substantially the same length as the lengthwise dimension of the developing tank 41, and the mounting surface 22 is provided with an opening 22a for supplying the start developer. This opening 22
A is sealed with a film 28, and when the storage case CS is attached to the upper part of the developing tank 41, the film is peeled off and the start developer is supplied into the developing tank 41.

Furthermore, a partition wall 23 having a predetermined width is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the mounting surface 22 of the storage case CS and is inclined at a predetermined angle.
A side wall portion 24 having a predetermined width extends perpendicularly to the side wall portion 2 . A remaining toner amount detecting sensor (remaining toner amount detecting means) 25 made of a magnetic sensor or the like is attached to a suitable position inside the partition wall portion 23.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how the remaining toner amount detection sensor 25 is attached. A hole is provided at a suitable location in the partition wall 23, and the remaining toner amount detection sensor 25 is installed inside the partition wall 23 so that a sensor window 25a faces the hole. The output of the toner concentration sensor 25 is taken out from a signal line 27 formed on the film sheet 26, and the signal line 27 is connected to the stepped portion 22b of the opening 22a.
It is installed along the Although not shown, there is a signal line at a suitable location on the support plate 41a that supports the storage case CS above the developer tank section 41 to guide the detection signal of the remaining toner amount detection sensor 25 to the control section 29 (see FIG. 1), which will be described later. terminals are provided.

When the storage case CS is attached to the developing tank section 41, the signal line 27 is electrically connected to the signal line terminal of the control section 29, and the toner remaining amount detection sensor 25 is connected to the signal line terminal of the control section 29.
The detection signal is input to the control section 29.

Note that the connection portion of the signal line 27 may be constructed as a plug-in type. In other words, storage case CS
An output plug for a toner concentration detection signal is protruded from a suitable location, and a receptacle coupled to the output plug is provided at the mounting portion of the developing tank section 41, and the storage case CS is mounted on the upper part of the developing tank section 41. In addition, the output plug may be fitted into a receptacle to electrically connect the remaining toner amount detection sensor 25 and the control section 29.

The storage case CS is attached to the upper part of the developer tank part 41 by inserting the partition wall part 23 into the developer container. When the storage case CS is attached to the developing tank section 41, the partition wall section 23 forms a partition wall between the developing tank section 41 and the hopper section 42, and also forms one side wall of the hopper section 42. Further, a gap is created between the tip of the partition wall portion 23 and the hopper side wall 42b, and this gap constitutes the replenishment port 42a for replenishing the toner (see the imaginary line in FIG. 1). By attaching the partition wall portion 23, the toner remaining amount detection sensor 25 is connected to the sensor window 25.
A is arranged so that the inside of the hopper part 42 is faced. As described above, the partition wall portion 23 is provided with a hole, and the sensor window 25
Since a faces into the hopper section 42 through this hole, the toner in the hopper section 42 comes into contact with the remaining toner amount detection sensor 25, and the remaining amount of toner can be detected.

Note that the remaining toner amount detection sensor 25 is connected to the outer surface of the partition wall 23 (when attached to the hopper section 42).
However, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. Therefore, by effectively utilizing the space created in this area and providing the remaining toner amount detection sensor 25 on the inner surface of the partition wall 23, the developing device is made smaller.

The storage case CS is for supplying the initial developer to the developing device 4, and is first attached to the upper part of the developing tank section 41. Therefore, by providing the partition wall 23 and the toner remaining amount detection sensor 25 provided in the developing device 4 on the side of the storage case CS, the developing tank 41 in which the developing roller 43 and the stirring roller 44 are provided can be made smaller and the developing The structure of the device 4 can be simplified, making it possible to make the entire device more compact and lower in cost.

The cartridge CT is also a rectangular parallelepiped case having approximately the same longitudinal dimension as the developing tank 41, and when it is installed in the upper part of the hopper section 41, a film (not shown) at the opening is peeled off. Then, replenishment toner is supplied into the hopper section 42.

A developing roller 43 for conveying the developer G is provided in the developing tank section 41 of the developing device 4, facing the photosensitive drum 15, and a developing roller 43 for conveying the developer G is provided below the replenishing port 42a of the hopper 42 from which toner and carrier are removed. A stirring roller 44 for stirring the developer G is provided. Further, a cutting plate 46 is provided below the developer roller 43, so that the thickness of the developer G conveyed on the circumferential surface of the developer roller 43 is regulated to a predetermined thickness.

[0034] Also, the replenishment port 42 is provided in the hopper 42.
A toner replenishment roller 45 is provided at the upper part of the toner replenishment roller 45 with its circumferential surface in contact with the replenishment port 42a.

A control unit 29 is provided at a suitable location in the image forming apparatus main body 1 to warn of the empty state of toner in the hopper unit 42;
A display section 30 is provided which displays a warning about the empty state based on a control signal from the control section 29.

When the developing device 4 is driven, the developer roller 43 and stirring roller 44 are rotated in the directions of the arrows, and the developer G is conveyed to the developing roller 43 side while being stirred by the stirring roller 44. Ru. Further, the toner replenishing roller 45 is rotationally driven in accordance with the developing operation, and the toner in the hopper section 42 is replenished in a fixed amount into the developing tank section 41. The remaining amount of toner in the hopper section 42 is detected by the remaining toner amount detection sensor 25, and the detection result is input to the control section 29.

The control unit 29 controls the remaining toner amount detection sensor 2.
It is determined whether the toner is empty based on the detection result in step 5, and if the toner is empty, a warning is displayed on the display unit 30 to replenish the toner.

[0038]

As explained above, the present invention has a partition extending from the mounting surface of the starter storage case mounted on the upper part of the developing device, and a toner remaining amount detection means is integrally provided in the partition. When the storage case is attached to the developing device, the toner remaining amount detection means faces the inside of the hopper, so that the space created within the developing device can be effectively used, and the developing device can be made smaller. Simplification can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a developing section to which a storage case for a start developer according to the present invention is attached.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the remaining toner amount detection sensor is attached to the storage case main body of the start developer.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus including a developing device to which a storage case for a start developer according to the present invention is attached.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the configuration of a conventional developing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image forming apparatus main body 4 Developing device 22 Mounting surface 22a Opening 23 Partition wall 24 Side wall 25 Remaining toner amount detection sensor (remaining toner amount detection means) 25a Sensor window 26 Mounting plate 27 Signal line 29 Control section 30 Display section 41 Development Tank section 42 Hopper section 42a Supply port 45 Toner supply roller CS Start developer storage case

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a storage case for a start developer that is attached to an upper part of a developer tank of a developer container, which includes a developer tank and a hopper for replenishing toner adjacent to the developer tank, the attachment part of the storage case comprises: is extended to one end in the longitudinal direction and forms a partition wall between the developer tank section and the hopper section, and a remaining toner amount detector for detecting the remaining amount of toner is provided at a position of the extended section facing the inside of the hopper section. A storage case for a start developer, characterized in that a means is attached.