JPH046037Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Technical Field) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that prevents developer from scattering to a drive system of a developing device.

(Prior art) In a copying machine, which is an example of an image forming apparatus, a fan or the like is driven to generate air flow for the purpose of cooling various process equipment and preventing floating dust, developer, etc. from adhering to the process equipment. are forced to form. Figure 3 shows an example of a copying machine that has the function of driving a fan to forcibly form such an airflow. , will be explained in some detail below.

In FIG. 3, a drum-shaped photoreceptor 1 has a pair of main body side plates 2, 3 facing each other as shown in FIG.
It is horizontally suspended so that it can rotate freely. A developing device 4 is arranged adjacent to the photoconductor 1, and this developing device 4 includes a developing sleeve 6 having a magnet 5 therein and a developer stirring member 7.
As shown in FIG. 4, these developing rotation systems are rotatably mounted horizontally on both developing side plates 8 and 9 of the developing device, which are disposed inside the main body side plates 2 and 3. . A gear drive system 11 is provided between the main body side plate 2 and the developing side plate 8 for driving the developing sleeve 6, a developer stirring member 7 for pumping up and stirring the developer, and the like.

In FIG. 3, the casing 12 of the copying machine main body
supports the charger 13 and the like, and one side end of the casing part 14 forming a part of the casing 12 is used to insert the unitized developing device 4 in the axial direction of the photoreceptor 1 together with the guide rail 15. I support it freely.

A protection member 16 made of an elastic body is inserted into the other end of the casing portion 14 in the axial direction of the photoreceptor, and the tip of this protection member 16 faces the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor 1 . The protection member 16 protects the photoreceptor 1 from coming into direct contact with the casing portion 14 when the photoreceptor 1 is inserted or removed in this axial direction.

One end and the other end of a sealing member 17 are respectively fixed to the developing device, and this sealing member 17 is
As shown in FIG.
At the same time, the function of preventing the developer floating around the developing sleeve 6 from scattering outside the developing device is achieved. In FIG. 3, the reference numeral 19 is a brush-shaped sealing member, which is inserted from the upper opening between the photoreceptor 1 and the developing sleeve 6.
It achieves the function of preventing the developer from scattering to some extent.

Here, in FIG. 3, the copying machine is equipped with a fan 21, and when this fan 21 operates, an air flow is forcibly formed, and by passing this air flow through, for example, the charger 13, Charger 1
This prevents deterioration of the charge wire and the adhesion of developer to the charge wire.

The air flow that has passed through the charger 13 is directed toward the developing device along the upper circumferential surface of the photoreceptor 1 as shown by arrow a, but in this case, the following problems occur.

When this airflow, ie, wind, heads toward the developing device, it is blocked by the seal members 17, 18, the brush-like seal member 19, etc., and the intrusion of the wind into the developing device is suppressed as much as possible.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
It goes around to the bottom and reaches the parts on both sides of the developing device.
Note that FIG. 5 is a view of FIG. 3 viewed from the direction of arrow A.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 14 of the casing portion 14
A gear drive system 11 shown in FIG. 4 is placed below the part indicated by a, and the above-mentioned wind reaches this part. By the way, the brush-shaped seal member 1
9, unlike the other seal members 17 and 18, it is difficult to completely achieve the sealing function,
The developer (mainly toner) in the developing device may blow out through the seal member 19. The developer blown out in this manner flies along with the above-mentioned wind flow, reaches the lower part of the casing portion indicated by reference numeral 14a, and reaches the gear drive system 11 shown in FIG. 4.

As a result, the developer adheres to the gear drive system 11, staining the gear drive system with the developer or shortening its lifespan.

(Purpose) The purpose of the present invention is to avoid the developer from scattering to the drive system of a developing device, thereby preventing the drive system from being contaminated by the developer and from shortening its lifespan.

(Structure) The structure of the present invention will be described below based on examples. In the description of the present invention, for convenience, the same reference numerals are used in the present invention for members that achieve the same functions as in the conventional example.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram of FIG. 1 viewed from the direction of arrow B.
In both figures, the area on the side of the gear drive system 11 (see FIG. 4), which is surrounded by the side edges of the photoreceptor 1, main body side plate 2, developing side plate 8, and casing portion 14, is covered with foamed urethane foam, etc. A sealing member 22 made of the following is interposed.

That is, the sealing member 22 is wrapped around the ends of the casing part 14 and the protection member 16 in the longitudinal direction (in the axial direction of the photoreceptor) and is affixed thereto by suitable adhesive means. . The seal member 22 contacts the upper end of the seal member 17 as well as the photoreceptor 1, and in this state closes the opening between the protection member 16 and the photoreceptor 1 shown in FIG. 3 on the side side. ing. A seal member 23 is also provided on the opposite side of the seal member 22. Note that the contact areas of these seal members 22 and 23 with respect to the photoreceptor are non-image forming areas of the photoreceptor.

With this configuration, the wind flowing along the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor 1 to both ends of the photoreceptor as shown in FIG. 2 is blocked by the seal members 22 and 23. Due to the shutoff function 22, even if the developer blows upward from inside the developing device through the brush-like seal member 19, there is no risk of it scattering toward the gear drive system 11 (see FIG. 4). Then, the wind traveling in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 1 flows, for example, to an opening (not shown) for inserting and removing the charger 13, and flows out of the machine.

Although the seal member 23 shown in FIG. 2 can be omitted, if it is provided, for example, the adhesion of developer to the shaft support of the developing sleeve 6 will be prevented.

(Effects) As described above, the present invention makes it possible to avoid the developer from scattering to the developing device drive system, thereby preventing the drive system from being contaminated by the developer and reducing its lifespan. Note that this invention can be applied not only to copying machines but also to image forming apparatuses such as facsimile machines and printers.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a view of the periphery of the casing of the device shown in Fig. 1 viewed diagonally from above, Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional copying machine, and Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional copying machine. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the developing device and its drive system, and is a view of the periphery of the casing portion of the conventional copying machine as viewed obliquely from above. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Photoreceptor, 2, 3...Main body side plate, 4...Developing device, 6...Developing sleeve, 7...Developer stirring member, 8, 9...Developing side plate, 11...Drive system, 1
4... Casing part, 22... Seal member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A pair of main body side plates facing each other, a photoreceptor rotatably supported by the main body side plates, and a pair of developing side plates arranged adjacent to the photoreceptor and rotatably supporting a developing rotation system including at least a developing sleeve. A developing device equipped with a developing device, a drive system disposed between a developing side plate and a main body side plate to drive the developing rotating system, and a drive system having one end serving as a support for the developing device and the other end extending in the direction of rotation of the photoreceptor. On the other hand, the main body casing section is provided on the upstream side of the developing sleeve so as to face the circumferential surface of the photoconductor, and in order to block the developer from scattering to the drive system, the photoconductor, main body side plate, development side plate, and casing section are provided. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a sealing member is interposed in a drive system side region surrounded by the other end.