JPH04472A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an image forming device in which developer splashing caused by opening and closing a cover is prevented so that contamination by the developer splashing may be eliminated by providing a damper which supports the cover of a developer container and a depressing member which presses and closes the cover. CONSTITUTION:When the developer container 5 is turned, the cover 200 butts against the inclined lower surface 204a of the depressing member 204 and it is depressed downward along the inclination by resisting the elastic force of the damper 205. When the container 5 is turned further, the cover 200 reaches the spot of the lowermost end 204b and is pressed downward to the container 5, then it is closed perfectly. The container 5 is turned to a housing position in a main body in such a state, it is housed in a fixed state. In order to take out the container, a user opens the cover after performing reverse actions, that means, turning the container 5 in a reverse direction, making the cover 200 get out of the lowermost end 204b of the member 204 and get out of the spot of the inclined lower surface 204a in a state where the cover 200 opens a little. With such constitution, the cover is not opened with a sudden action from a sealed state, and the developer splashing is prevented from occurring.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] No. 1 The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, and particularly to an image forming apparatus that prevents scattering of developer when replenishing the developer to a developer container of a developing device used for developing an image. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

In image forming devices such as copying machines, once a service person has installed the device, there is no need for general users to remove the mechanical parts of the device; All you have to do is replenish the developer that is used as a consumable agent.

Recently, there has been a growing demand for copying machines that can copy images in colors other than black and that can edit images by specifying areas.

For this reason, the amount of developer consumed during image formation has increased, and the number of developer replenishment operations has also increased.

However, the particle size of consumable developers is being reduced to meet the demand for improved image quality, particularly sharpness. Therefore, when the developer is mixed with air, the developer is becoming extremely fluid.

Therefore, care must be taken when handling a developer container containing such developer, and rough handling may cause problems such as unevenness and scattering of the developer.

In order to solve the above problems, etc.,
No. 376 and the like have been proposed, but these proposals do not sufficiently solve the problem of developer scattering during developer replenishment, which is the biggest problem in the past.

In other words, it is no exaggeration to say that in the conventional proposal, when pulling out and storing the developer container from the main body of the image forming apparatus when replenishing developer, the user is equivalent to opening and closing the developer container and its lid. When opening and closing the lid of the developer container before and after replenishing developer, depending on the user's habits and how much force is applied, the developer may blow out from various gaps in the developer container and scatter. This often results in contamination of the inside and outside of the image forming apparatus, resulting in a situation that is very undesirable for the user.

This is because the air layer in the space above the developer in the developer container is subjected to sudden pressure fluctuations due to the opening and closing operations of the lid of the developer container, etc., which come off before and after developer replenishment. Flow occurs, and as a result, the developer blows out, causing the developer to scatter.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent the developer from scattering from the developer container due to opening and closing of the lid of the developer container when replenishing the developer into the developer container of a developing device used to develop an image. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which prevents contamination caused by scattering of developer when replenishing developer.

for The above object is achieved by an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

In summary, the present invention provides a developer container having a lid that can be opened and closed about a shaft at one end, which is rotatably connected to a developing device in an image forming apparatus main body by a developer replenishing section. In the image forming apparatus, the lid is housed in the image forming apparatus main body by rotating toward the inside of the image forming apparatus main body. A damper that elastically supports the lid is provided on the developer container, and the lid supported by the damper is pushed down as the developer container rotates toward the image forming apparatus main body, and the lid is removed. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that a push-down member that is closed by pressing the developer container against the developer container is provided on a rotation locus of the developer container within the image forming apparatus main body.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the push-down member is a fixed member having a lower surface inclined downward in the same direction as the rotation direction of the developer container toward the inside of the image forming apparatus main body. According to another aspect of the invention, the push-down member is
The movable member has a cam that rotates downward in conjunction with rotation of the developer container toward the image forming apparatus main body.

1 ri above Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present image forming apparatus has an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 2 as a latent image carrier approximately in the center of an apparatus main body 1. As shown in FIG. The photosensitive drum 2 is rotatably attached and rotated in the direction of the arrow. Along this photosensitive drum 2, a plurality of developing devices 3.4, two in this apparatus, are arranged.

The developing device 3.4 is movable by a known method between a developing position close to the photosensitive drum 2 and a non-developing position retreating from the photosensitive drum 2. The developing device 3.4 can have various configurations, but in this embodiment, developing rollers 3a and 4 each having a magnet installed therein serve as developer conveying means for conveying the developer to the surface of the photosensitive drum 2.
The developing device 3.4 is controlled to approach the photosensitive drum 2 only when development is required. Of these developing devices 3.4, the developing device 3 includes a developer container 5 for replenishing developer. The developer container 5 will be described later.

Further, above the photosensitive drum 2, a charger 6 is installed close to it, and the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is uniformly charged by the charger 6. The photosensitive drum 2, whose photosensitive surface is charged,
The document image is exposed to slit light from the direction indicated by an arrow 7 using an optical system or a laser scanner (not shown), thereby forming an electrostatic image on the photosensitive drum 2 .

This electrostatic image is developed and visualized by either a developing device 3 or 4 located close to the photosensitive drum 2. The visible image thus obtained is transferred onto the transfer paper P fed from the paper feed cassette 8 by the action of the transfer charger 11. Transfer paper P passes from paper feed cassette 8 to paper feed roller 9, transfer paper double feed prevention roller pair 15, and then to registration roller 1o.
The image is supplied in synchronization with the visible image on the photosensitive drum 2.

Thereafter, the transfer paper P is transferred to the photosensitive drum 2 by the separation charger 17.
The sheet is separated from the sheet, passes through a conveyance path 12 and a fixing device 13, and is discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 1 by a sheet discharge roller 14.

On the other hand, residual developer is removed from the photosensitive drum 2 by the cleaner 16, and the next image forming process is started.

The developer container 5 is positioned in front of the photosensitive drum 2 and the developing device 4, with one end positioned above the developing device 3, as shown in FIG. 2, which is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the developer container 5. , is housed in the image forming apparatus main body 1 (FIG. 1 shows the developer container 5 being rotated forward and pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body 1). The developer 101 contained in the developer container 5 is transported to the developer discharge port 100 at the one end of the container 5 by a transport screw 103 driven by a motor 102 .

A container rotating portion 113 having a hole 106 connected to the developer outlet 100 is integrally fixed to the lower surface of the developer container 5 by screwing or adhesive. The amount of developer in the developing device 3 is rotatably mounted on the inlet 112 via 113 . An annular cushion member 104 having a hole 107 is attached to the inner lower part of the container rotating portion 113, and a plastic member 105 having a hole 108 is attached between the cushion member 104 and the developing device 3. provided by

While the developer container 5 is attached to the developing device 3, the cushion member 104 is elastically deformed so that the developer 10
It has come to play the role of preventing the scattering of

In addition, the hole 106 of the container rotation part 113, the cushion member 10
The holes 107 of 4, the holes 108 of the plastic member 105, and the developer inlet 109 of the developing device 3 are centered on each other, and their diameters are gradually increased toward the bottom in the figure. . This is developer outlet 1
This is to ensure that the developer 101 in the container 5 discharged from the container 5 falls smoothly and is supplied into the developing device 3.

When replenishing the developer 101 to the developer container 5, the developer discharge port 100 of the developer container 5 and the amount of developer in the developing device 3 shown in FIG. 114, the apparatus constituted by the image forming apparatus body 1 rotates in the direction of arrow X or in the opposite direction as shown in FIG. 3, which is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the developer container 5. It is stored inside the main body l.

In this way, the developer container 5 has its developer outlet 100
The amount of developer in the developing device 3 is kept the same as the inlet 109, and the amount of developer is stored in the image forming device main body 1. Unlike the case of a developer container in which the outlet is aligned with the developer receiver and the inlet, the image forming apparatus main body 1
There is no need to open and close the developer discharge port 100 with a shutter member when pulling out or storing the developer from the inside (this can easily prevent the developer from scattering).

Now, the developer container 5 is provided with a lid 200, as shown in the perspective view of FIG.
00 can be freely opened and closed using a shaft portion 201 provided at the longitudinal end of the rotation shaft 114 of the developer container 5 as a fulcrum.

According to the present invention, the shaft portion 20 at the longitudinal end of this lid 200
At the position of the developer container 5 that receives the opening/closing end on the opposite side to the first side,
As shown in FIG. 5, which is a cross-sectional view of the developer container 5, a damper 205 is provided to elastically support the lid 200 when the lid 200 is closed. When the damper 205 is not in contact with the lid 200, the damper 205 is in an upwardly raised position as shown by the dashed line in FIG.

The lid 200 described above is in a closed position at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 5, and when the lid 200 is in this position, the developer container 5 is in a sealed state by the lid 200. Seal members 202 and 203 are attached to positions of the developer container 5 corresponding to the base end and the opposite end of the lid 200, respectively. Since the developer 101 is received in the container 5 in a crushed state, the developer 101 in the container 5 will not scatter and leak out of the container 5 when the lid 200 is in a sealed state.

The lid 200 is closed as follows. FIG. 6(a) shows how the lid 200 is closed to the developer container 5.
) to (c) are cross-sectional views, and FIG. 7 is a plan view. 7th
The two-dot chain line in the figure corresponds to FIG. 6(a), the one-dot chain line in FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 6(b), and the solid line in FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 6(c).

That is, when the user finishes replenishing the developer into the developer container 5 pulled out from inside the developing device main body 1 to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. , manually close the lid 200 in the direction of the developer container 5 as shown by arrow A. The lid 200 is a damper 2 provided on the developer container 5.
05 and does not close completely, but the sudden movement prevents the lid 200 from closing completely (as a result, the air in the space above the developer 101 in the developer container 5 does not flow violently, Therefore, there is almost no developer scattering.This damper 205 is preferably formed of an elastic member in order to absorb the impact and sound when the lid 200 hits it.

Next, the developer container 5 should be stored in the image forming apparatus main body 1 from the state in which it is in contact with the damper 205 (rotated in the direction of arrow B as shown in FIG. 7 toward the inside of the image forming apparatus main body 1). .

According to the present invention, a member 204 for pushing down the lid 200 is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 1 on the rotation trajectory of the developer container 5, as shown in FIG.

The push-down member 204 is a fixed member made of a plate, and the lower surface 204a of the push-down member 204 is inclined downward in the direction of arrow B, which is the rotation direction of the developer container 5 toward the inside of the image forming apparatus main body. The lowermost end 204b is the lid 2
It is chamfered horizontally so that 00 can be pressed down smoothly.

When the developer container 5 rotates, the lid 200 moves against the inclined lower surface 204 of the push-down member 204, as shown in FIG. 6(b).
a, and move the lid 2 along the slope of the lower surface 204a.
00 is pushed down against the elastic force of the damper 205.

When the developer container 5 further rotates, the lid 200 reaches the lowermost end 204b of the push-down member 204, and as shown in FIG. The lid 200 is completely closed.

With the lid 200 closed in this manner, the developer container 5 is rotated to the storage position in the image forming apparatus main body 1 shown by a solid line in FIG. 7, and is fixed at the storage position by a fixing means (not shown). It is stored in a closed state.

To take out the developer container 5 from inside the image forming apparatus main body 1, the above steps can be performed in reverse, and the developer container 5 is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow B so that the lid 200 is pushed down to the lowermost end 204b of the push-down member 204. After removing the lid 200 from the inclined lower surface 204a with the lid 200 slightly open, the user
00 manually (as before,
It is possible to eliminate the situation where the air in the space above the developer in the developer container 5 flows and the developer is scattered because the lid 200 is suddenly opened from the closed state.

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, the opening/closing operation performed by the user by directly touching the lid 200 of the developer container 5 of the developing device 3 is performed at the position where the lid 200 is completely opened. The opening/closing operation of the lid 200 from the intermediate position to the closing position and vice versa is limited to the opening and closing operations of the lid 200 from the intermediate position to the intermediate position in the closing direction. This is done automatically when the user rotates the developer container 5 during comparison and reverse storage, so the user can open and close the lid 200 when replenishing developer. The air layer in the space above the developer is not forced to flow violently, so the developer is not scattered.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a member for pushing down the lid of the developer container in another embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

In this embodiment, instead of providing the push-down member 204, which is a fixed member made of a plate whose lower surface 204a is an inclined surface, on the rotation locus of the developer container 5 in the image forming apparatus main body 1, the developer container 5 is rotated. There are 30 cams that operate in conjunction with the moving shaft 114.
4 on the rotation locus of the movable member
00 is provided, and the lid 200 is pressed down against the developer container 5 by the cam 304 to close it.

As shown in FIG. 8, a bevel gear 301 is provided at the upper end of the rotating shaft 114 of the developer container 5, and a shaft 302 having a bevel gear 302 at one end that meshes with the bevel gear 301 rotates inside the image forming apparatus main body 1. A cam 304 is fixed to this shaft 302 .

According to this embodiment, after the developer container 5 is pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body 1, the developer is replenished, and the lid 200 is manually closed at that position (as described above, the lid 200 is When the developer container 5 is rotated toward the inside of the image forming apparatus main body 1, the rotation shaft 114 is rotated.
rotates. The rotation of the rotating shaft 114 is transmitted from the bevel gear 301 to the shaft 302 via the bevel gear 303, and
2 rotates. As a result, as shown in FIG.
04 rotates and hits the lid 200. Then, as the developer container 5 further rotates, the cam 304 further rotates and pushes down the lid 200 against the elastic force of the damper, pressing the lid 200 downward against the developer container 5.
0 completely closed.

With the @ 200 closed, the developer container 5 is rotated to the storage position in the image forming apparatus main body 1, and is stored in the storage position while being fixed by the fixing means.

To take out the developer container 5 from inside the image forming apparatus main body l, the above procedure can be performed in reverse.

Also in this embodiment, when the user replenishes the developer into the developer container 5 of the developing device 3, the developer is not scattered due to the opening/closing operation of the lid 200.

11J and 1 As explained above, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the developing device and the developer replenishing section within the main body of the image forming apparatus are rotatably connected and rotated toward the inside of the main body of the apparatus. The developer container is housed in the apparatus main body, and is provided with a damper that elastically supports the lid at an intermediate position in the direction of closing the lid, which can be freely opened and closed using the shaft at one end as a fulcrum. The lid supported by the damper is pushed down in accordance with the rotation of the developer container, and a push-down member that closes by pressing the lid against the developer container is placed on the rotation trajectory of the developer container inside the device main body. By providing this feature, the user can only open and close the lid by touching it directly between the fully open position and the intermediate position in the closing direction, and the lid can be closed from the intermediate position to the closed position and vice versa. The opening/closing operation of the lid from the intermediate position to the intermediate position is performed automatically by the user rotating the developer container when pulling out the developer container from the device main body or vice versa, so that the lid can be opened and closed automatically by the user. When replenishing the developer, it is possible to prevent the developer from scattering from the developer container due to the opening/closing operation of the lid of the developer container, thereby eliminating contamination due to the scattering of the developer during the developer replenishment.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a developer container of a developing device provided in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view showing the developer container of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the developer container of FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the developer container of FIG. 2. 6(a) to 6(c) are cross-sectional views showing the opening/closing operation of the lid of the developer container shown in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the rotational movement of the developer container during the opening/closing operation of the lid shown in FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c). FIG. 8 is a side view showing a member for pressing down the lid of the developer container in another embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the opening/closing operation of the lid of FIG. 8. 1: Image forming apparatus main body 3.4: Developing device 5: Developer container 113: Container rotating section 114: Rotating shaft 200: Lid 204.300: Pushing down member 215: Damper 304: Cam Fig. 1, Fig. 8

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A developer container having a lid that can be opened and closed about a shaft at one end is rotatably connected to a developing device in the main body of the image forming apparatus and a developer replenishing section, and the developer In the image forming apparatus, the container is housed in the image forming apparatus main body by rotating the container toward the image forming apparatus main body,
The developer container is provided with a damper that elastically supports the lid at an intermediate position in the direction in which the lid is closed relative to the developer container, and the developer container is rotated toward the inside of the image forming apparatus main body. A push-down member is provided on a rotation locus of the developer container in the image forming apparatus main body, and is closed by pressing the lid supported by the damper downward according to the movement of the developer container. An image forming apparatus characterized by: 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the push-down member is a fixed member having a downward slope on its lower surface in the same direction as the rotating direction of the developer container toward the inside of the image forming apparatus main body. 3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the push-down member is a movable member having a cam that rotates downward in conjunction with rotation of the developer container toward the image forming apparatus main body.