JPH05119609A - Developing device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically release sealing only by making a developing device airtight at the time of carrying, and fitting it to an image forming device main body. CONSTITUTION:The rotary shaft 16 of the developing roller 15 is fixed by a bearing body 38 at the time of carrying. At this time, the rotary shaft 16 is held to a airtight posture A for blocking up the opening 14 of a developing device main body 10. When the developing device main body 10 is fitted to the image forming device main body 25, a pushing body 45 descends to push the rotary shaft 16 into a holder 42. The developing roller 15 is moved, and a developing posture B is held by the holder 42.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developer seal mechanism and a release mechanism for a developer in a detachable developing device such as a copying machine or a laser printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional developing device which is detachable from an image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG.
Put a heat seal 3 on the opening 2 facing the photoconductor of
It is packed.

When the developing device is unpacked, the user removes the heat seal 3 from the developing device body 1 and mounts the developing device body 1 on the image forming apparatus.

[0004]

In the conventional developing device,
The heat seal must be peeled off when unpacking, which is cumbersome, and there is a possibility that the developer may spill when the heat seal is peeled off. Further, there is a drawback that the cost is increased by the amount of heat sealing.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a developing device capable of preventing the developer from leaking without using a heat seal and being able to release the seal just by mounting the developer in an image forming apparatus.

[0006]

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the means for solving the problems according to the present invention, a developing roller 15 is rotatably provided facing the opening 14 of the developing device main body 10, and the developing device main body 10 is provided. In the developing device of the image forming apparatus detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 25, the developing roller 15 seals the opening 14 when the developing apparatus main body 10 is separated from the image forming apparatus main body 25 and conveyed. A
And a developing means B which is movable when the developing device main body 10 is mounted on the image forming device main body 25, and a sealing means 35 for holding the developing roller 15 in the closed posture A and the developing roller 15 in the developing posture. A developing means 36 which is held at B to be rotatable and a moving means 37 which moves the developing roller 15 from the closed posture A to the developing posture B are provided.

A lid 26 for loading and unloading the developing device body 10 is provided on the image forming apparatus body 25 so that the developing device body 10 can be opened and closed by mounting the developing device body 10 on the image forming apparatus body 25. When the lid 26 is closed, an operating body 46 that operates the moving means 37 is provided.

[0008]

In the means for solving the above problems, the developing device is transported separately from the image forming apparatus main body. At this time, the developing roller 15 is held in the closed posture A in which the opening 14 of the developing device main body 10 is closed by the closing means 35.

Therefore, when the developing device is conveyed, the developing device main body 10 is sealed by the developing roller 15, and the developer does not spill out even if vibration is applied.

When the developing device is attached to the image forming apparatus body 25, the image forming apparatus body 25 with the lid 26 opened.
The developing device is inserted into and fixed at a predetermined position in the image forming apparatus main body 25.

When the lid 26 is closed, the actuating member 46 actuates the moving means 37 so that the developing roller 15 opens in the opening 1.
It is fixed at a position slightly deeper than 4 and is in the developing position B, and is held in a developable state by the developing means 36.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a view showing a developing device in a closed position according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view showing the developing device in a developing position, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the developing device, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the developing device is mounted on the image forming apparatus, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which an opening is closed by a developing roller, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a drive system in a closed posture of the developing device, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a drive system in a developing attitude.

In the developing device of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a developing tank 11 and a toner replenishing tank 12 are integrally formed in the developing device main body 10, and an opening 14 is formed in the surface of the developing tank 11 facing the photoconductor 13. Are formed. A developing roller 15 is rotatably disposed near the opening 14 via a rotary shaft 16.

In the figure, 17 and 18 are stirring rollers and 1
Reference numeral 9 is a toner replenishing roller, 20 is a toner stirring plate, 21 is a toner conveying roller, 22 is a toner sensor, and 23 is a toner replenishing lid.

As shown in FIG. 4, the developing device is put in and taken out by opening and closing a lid 26 provided on the upper surface of the image forming device body 25, and the developing device body 10 becomes the image forming device body 2.
Detachable to 5.

As a drive system for each roller of the developing device, a two-stage gear 27 is attached to the shaft 17a of the stirring roller 17 as shown in FIG. 7, and a large gear 27a of the two-stage gear 27 is provided with an intermediate gear 28. The developing roller gear 29 attached to the rotary shaft 16 of the developing roller 15 is connected.
A gear 30 attached to the shaft 18a of one stirring roller 18 is connected to the large gear 27a via an intermediate gear 31.

When the developing device main body 10 is attached to the image forming apparatus, the drive gear 32 of the image forming apparatus main body 25 meshes with the small gear 27b of the two-step gear 27, and these are driven by a motor (not shown). Rotational force is transmitted to the rollers.

The developing roller 15 is the main body of the developing device 10.
Is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body 25, and it can be switched between a closed position A for closing the opening 14 at the time of conveyance and a developing position B when the developing device main body 10 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 25. A sealing unit 35 for holding the roller 15 in the closed position A, a developing unit 36 for holding the developing roller 15 in the developing position B so as to be rotatable, and moving the developing roller 15 from the closed position A to the developing position B. A moving means 37 is provided.

The sealing means 35 supports the rotary shaft 16 of the developing roller 15 as shown in FIGS.
And a spring 39 for holding the bearing body 38 in a position where the developing roller 15 is in the closed posture A.

The bearing body 38 is formed in a substantially U shape,
The rotary shaft 16 is sandwiched in the recess. The bearing body 38 is guided by a guide (not shown) in an oblique direction shown by an arrow in the figure, and the bearing body 38 is provided with a guide hole 40 parallel to the moving direction thereof. The first pin 41 protruding from the developing device main body 10 is inserted. Although the bearing body 38 is urged by the spring 39 in the direction of being lifted, the first pin 41
Due to this, it is prevented from moving diagonally upward.

When the developing roller 15 is in the closed position A, the developing roller gear 29 has the intermediate gear 2 as shown in FIG.
It is in a state of being separated from 8.

The developing means 36 is the gear 2 for the developing roller.
At the position where 9 is meshed with the intermediate gear 28, the developing roller 15
The holder 42 rotatably supports the rotating shaft 16 of FIG.

The holding body 42 is formed in a frame shape in which one side of a quadrangle is open, and is fixed to the developing device main body 10. A pair of pawls 43 is formed on one open side of the holding body 42 so that the rotary shaft 16 does not slip out, and the upper surface of the pawl 43 is inclined so that the rotary shaft 16 can easily enter the holding body 42.

The moving means 37 is arranged so as to be movable up and down with respect to the developing device main body 10, and pushes down the bearing body 38 to push the rotary shaft 16 into the holding body 42, and the pushing body 45 is moved down. And an actuating body 46 that causes the actuation.

The pushing body 45 is composed of a pushing portion 47 which is formed in the lower portion and is in contact with the rotary shaft 16 and the bearing body 38, and a guide portion 48 which is vertically guided in the upper portion thereof.

The abutting surface of the pushing portion 47 is gradually widened from the tip thereof, and the tip of the pushing portion 47 pushes down the bearing body 38 obliquely downward as the pushing body 45 descends. The rotary shaft 16 is pushed obliquely upward along the portion 47 and pushed into the holding body 42.

A vertical hole 49 is bored in the guide portion 48, and a guide pin 50 bored in the developing device main body 10 is inserted in the vertical hole 49.

Further, in the vertical hole 49, a lower protrusion 51 for holding the pusher 45 at a position separated from the rotary shaft 16 when the developing roller 15 is in the closed posture A, and the developing roller 1
In the developing posture B of No. 5, an upper protrusion 52 for keeping the pushing body 45 in contact with the rotating shaft 16 and maintaining the developing posture B is formed. Movement is blocked.

The developing device body 10 is provided with three sliders 53 for guiding the pushing body 45 in the vertical direction. The pushing body 45 does not project from the developing device body 10 and the lower protrusions are provided. 51 and top slider 5
The position is regulated by 3.

The actuating body 46 is provided on the lower surface of the lid 26 so as to project, and is arranged so as to abut on the upper surface of the guide portion 48 of the pushing body 45. An opening (not shown) for allowing the operating body 46 to move in and out is formed above the pushing body 45 of the developing device body 10.

Further, in the developing attitude B of the developing roller 15, as a fixing means for maintaining the bearing body 38 in a state of being separated from the rotating shaft 16, the projection 55 formed in the guide hole 40 of the bearing body 38 and the developing device. There is an engaging claw 57 of the bearing body 38 that engages with the second pin 56 of the main body 10.

When the bearing body 38 is pushed down by the pushing body 45, the first pin 41 is caught by the protrusion 55,
Further, the engaging claw 57 is caught by the second pin 56, so that the bearing body 38 is maintained in a state of being separated from the rotating shaft 16 against the biasing force of the spring 39.

It should be noted that the developing device main body 10 is designed so that the above-mentioned mechanism does not operate due to an external impact when the developing device is conveyed.
A cover 58 is attached to the.

In the above structure, the developing device is transported separately from the image forming apparatus main body. At this time, the rotary shaft 16 of the developing device is sandwiched by the bearing body 38 by the biasing force of the spring 39 of the sealing means 35, and the developing roller 15 blocks the opening 14 of the developing device main body 10 as shown in FIG. It is held in the closed posture A.

Therefore, when the developing device is conveyed, the developing device main body 10 is sealed by the developing roller 15, and the developer does not spill out even if vibration is applied.

When the developing device is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 25, the image forming apparatus main body 25 with the lid 26 opened.
The developing device is inserted into and fixed at a predetermined position in the image forming apparatus main body 25. At this time, the drive gear 32 of the image forming apparatus main body 25 is meshed with the small gear 27b of the two-step gear 27 of the developing apparatus main body 10.

Then, when the lid 26 is closed, the actuating member 46 is inserted into the developing device main body 10 and comes into contact with the upper surface of the pushing member 45 to push down the pushing member 45. Then guide pin 5
The engagement between 0 and the upper protrusion 52 is released, and the pushing body 45 descends.

The pushing portion 47 of the pushing body 45 contacts the bearing body 38 and the rotary shaft 16 of the developing roller 15, and the bearing body 38 is pushed down diagonally against the spring 39. Further, the rotating shaft 16 is pushed obliquely upward along the contact surface of the pressing portion 47 and fitted into the holding body 42.

The developing roller 15 is fixed at a position slightly behind the opening 14 and is in the developing position B. At this time, the developing roller gear 29 of the rotating shaft 16 is meshed with the intermediate gear 28 to be rotatable.

Further, the bearing body 38 is engaged with the projection 55 of the guide hole 40 by the first pin 41 so that the bearing body 38 does not come up against the rotating shaft 16 due to the urging force of the spring 39, and the bearing body 38 has The engaging claw 57 is engaged with the second pin 56 and is fixed in a state of being separated from the rotating shaft 16.

The pushing body 45 pushes the rotary shaft 16 and the bearing body 38 because the guide pin 50 is engaged with the upper protrusion 52 of the vertical hole 49 and is pushed by the actuating body 46. It is maintained as it is, and the rotary shaft 16 does not move.

Therefore, when carrying the developing device,
The developer can be prevented from leaking by closing the opening 14 of the developing device body 10 with the developing roller 15.

Further, the sealed position A of the developing roller 15 can be automatically released and the developing position B in which the developing can be performed can be performed by a simple operation of simply mounting the developing roller 15 on the main body 25 of the image forming apparatus.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that many modifications and changes can be made to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

[0045]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the developing roller has a closed posture in which the opening is closed when the developing device main body is separated from the image forming apparatus main body and the developing device main body is closed. When the developing device is conveyed by the sealing means that can be switched between the developing position when the developing device is mounted on the main body and the developing roller is closed, the opening of the developing device main body is closed by the developing roller. It is possible to prevent the developer from leaking. Therefore, it is not necessary to heat-seal the opening as in the conventional case, the attaching / detaching work thereof is unnecessary, and the handling is easy.

Further, since the developing means for holding the developing roller in the developing attitude to be rotatable and the moving means for moving the developing roller from the closed attitude to the developing attitude are provided,
When the developing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the sealed position of the developing roller can be automatically released, and the developing position can be changed to a developable position.

Further, a lid for opening and closing the developing device main body is provided on the image forming device main body so as to be openable and closable, and when the developing device main body is mounted on the image forming device main body and the lid is closed, Since the actuating member for actuating the moving means is provided, the sealed posture can be switched to the developing posture by a simple operation of mounting the developing device on the image forming apparatus main body and closing the lid.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a closed posture.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state of a developing attitude of a developing device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a developing device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the developing device is attached to the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a closed state of an opening by a developing roller.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a drive system in a sealed posture of the developing device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a drive system in a developing attitude of the developing device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional sealed developing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Developing Device Main Body 14 Opening 15 Developing Roller 25 Image Forming Device Main Body 35 Sealing Means 36 Developing Means 37 Moving Means 46 Actuator A Sealing Posture B Developing Posture

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A developing device of an image forming apparatus, wherein a developing roller is rotatably provided facing an opening of the developing device body, and the developing device body is detachably provided in the image forming apparatus body. Is configured to be switchably movable between a closed posture in which the opening is closed when the developing device main body is separated from the image forming device main body and conveyed, and a developing posture when the developing device main body is mounted in the image forming device main body. A sealing means for holding the developing roller in a closed attitude, a developing means for holding the developing roller in the developing attitude to allow rotation, and a moving means for moving the developing roller from the closed attitude to the developing attitude. Image forming apparatus developing device. 2. The developing device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a lid for opening and closing the developing device main body is provided on the image forming apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable, and the developing device main body is used for image forming. A developing device for an image forming apparatus, comprising an actuating member for actuating the moving means according to claim 1, when the actuating member is mounted on the apparatus main body and the lid is closed.