JPH05173375A - Color image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically perform the joint of a toner hopper fixed in a device with a developing device incorporated with a cartridge and also to automatically release the joint of them by performing the operation of loading/unloading a process cartridge to/from the device. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with a sliding board 50 for sliding cooperatively with the loading/unloading operation of the process cartridge 30 and a connecting board P for controlling the upper and lower positions of each sliding pipe under the lower end of each toner replenishing pipe 80A, 90A, 100A and 110A, and by sliding the sliding board 50 and vertically moving the connecting board P along an inclined face 52, each sliding pipe is joined to each developing device incorporated with the process cartridge 30, or each sliding pipe is released from being joined to each developing device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a transfer material such as a copying machine or a printer. More specifically, each process material for image formation including an image carrier is unitized. The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus that can be attached and detached in this state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Many methods and apparatuses have been proposed for obtaining a color image using electrophotography. For example, JP-A-61
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. -100770, a latent image is formed and developed on a photosensitive drum, which is an image forming body, according to the number of color separations of an original image, and the latent image is transferred to a transfer drum each time the image is developed. There is a method in which a multicolor image is formed on the upper surface and then transferred onto a transfer material to obtain a color copy. The device by this method is
In addition to the photoconductor drum, it is necessary to provide a transfer drum having a size capable of transferring an image of one sheet on its peripheral surface, and it is inevitable that the device has a large size and a complicated structure.

Further, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-149972, latent images are formed and developed on the photosensitive drum in accordance with the number of separated colors of the original image, and the latent image is formed on the transfer material at each development. There is a method of transferring to to obtain a multicolored color copy. With this method, it is difficult to accurately superimpose multicolor images, and it is impossible to obtain a good color copy.

Further, a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum in accordance with the number of separated colors of the original image and development with color toner is repeated, and the color toner images are superposed on the photosensitive drum and then transferred to obtain a color image. There is a way. The basic process of this multicolor image formation is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-75850
60-76766, 60-95456, 60-95458, 60-15847
It is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5 and the like.

In a multicolor image forming apparatus which obtains a color image by such superposition, a plurality of developing devices accommodating color toners of different colors are arranged around the periphery of the photosensitive drum. Generally, the photosensitive drum is rotated a plurality of times to develop a latent image on the photosensitive drum to obtain a color image.

Particularly in the case of a color image forming apparatus, such an image forming apparatus is provided with a plurality of developing devices and a plurality of toner replenishing devices corresponding thereto, which complicates the structure of the image forming unit and causes a difference in each process. It is extremely difficult to individually inspect, replace or replenish materials.

Therefore, the photosensitive member, the developing device, the cleaning member, etc. are housed in an integrated cartridge and mounted in the apparatus main body in the state of a unit so that the cartridge can be detached from the apparatus main body by a simple operation as required for maintenance. The structure is taken.

[0008]

However, in the image forming apparatus incorporating the toner replenishing device as described above, the developing device and the toner replenishing device must be disconnected each time the cartridge is removed. If it is installed again without it, it is necessary to connect it,
Although attachment / detachment of the image forming unit itself is simplified, there is a problem in that workability is poor and a troublesome operation is required.

The present invention solves this problem and improves the result.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a color image forming apparatus capable of automatically connecting or disconnecting a developing device incorporated in a cartridge and a toner replenishing device of a main body of the apparatus in association with an attachment / detachment operation of the cartridge.

[0010]

The above object is to provide a process cartridge in which a belt-shaped image forming body, and a plurality of developing devices and a cleaning device arranged in parallel below the belt-shaped image forming body can be attached to and detached from an apparatus main body. In a built-in color image forming apparatus, by attaching and detaching the process cartridge in a direction orthogonal to the parallel direction of the developing device, a toner supply member connected to the developing device is joined and separated and retracted. This is achieved by a color image forming apparatus.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is shown in FIGS.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a flexible photosensitive belt which is a belt-shaped image carrier, and the photosensitive belt 1 is laid between rotating rollers 2 and 3 and is driven by the rotating roller 2. It is conveyed clockwise as indicated by the arrow.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a support member, that is, a guide member fixed so as to be inscribed in the photosensitive belt 1. The photosensitive belt 1 is tensioned by the urging action of the rotating roller 3 toward the outside. The inner peripheral surface is rubbed against the guide member 4.

Therefore, the photoconductor on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor belt 1 is always kept in a constant relation position with respect to the surface of the guide member 4 even during conveyance, so that a stable image forming surface can be formed. ..

6 is a scorotron charger which is a charging means, and 7
Is a laser writing system unit as an image exposing means, 8 to 11
Is a plurality of developing devices each containing a developer of a specific color, and these image forming means are arranged so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive belt 1 with the guide member 4 on the back side.

In addition to the optical system shown in the figure, the laser writing system unit 7 also includes an optical system in which a light emitting portion and a converging optical transmission body are integrated.

Each of the developing units 8, 9, 10, and 11 contains, for example, each of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black developers, and is provided with each developing sleeve that keeps a predetermined gap from the photosensitive belt 1, It has a function of developing a latent image on the photosensitive belt 1 by a non-contact developing method. Unlike the contact development, this non-contact development has an advantage that it does not hinder the movement of the photosensitive belt.

Reference numeral 12 is a transfer device, 12A is a charge eliminating bar, 13 is a cleaning section, that is, a cleaning device, and the blade 13A of the cleaning device 13 and the toner carrying roller 13B are located at a position separated from the surface of the photosensitive belt 1 during image formation. As shown in the drawing, the surface of the photosensitive belt 1 is pressed against the surface of the photosensitive belt 1 only during cleaning after the image is transferred.

The color image forming process by the color image forming apparatus is performed as follows.

First, the formation of a multicolor image according to this embodiment is performed according to the following image forming system. That is, the data obtained by the color image data input section in which the image sensor scans the original image is processed by the image data processing section to create image data, which is once stored in the image memory. Next, the image memory is taken out at the time of recording and is inputted to a color image forming apparatus which is a recording unit, for example, shown in the embodiment of FIG.

That is, when a color signal output from an image reading device separate from the printer is input to the laser writing system unit 7, the laser writing system unit 7 generates a semiconductor laser (not shown). The laser beam is rotated by the drive motor 7A, and the polygon mirror 7 is rotated.
It is rotated and scanned by B, and passes through the fθ lens 7C and the mirror 7
The optical path is bent by D, 7E, and 7F, and a bright line is formed by being projected onto the peripheral surface of the photoconductor belt 1 to which a charge is previously applied by the charger 6 as a charging means.

On the other hand, when the scanning is started, the beam is detected by an index sensor (not shown), the modulation of the beam by the first color signal is started, and the modulated beam is the peripheral surface of the photosensitive belt 1. Scan on. Therefore, a latent image corresponding to the first color is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive belt 1 by the main scanning by the laser beam and the sub-scanning by the conveyance of the photosensitive belt 1. This latent image is developed by the developing device 8 in which yellow (Y) toner (visual medium) is loaded in the developing means to form a toner image on the belt surface. The obtained toner image passes through the cleaning device 13, which is a cleaning means separated from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive belt 1 while being held on the belt surface, and enters the next copy cycle.

That is, the photoconductor belt 1 is recharged by the charger 6, and then the second color signal output from the signal processing unit is input to the laser writing system unit 7 so that the first color described above is obtained. Writing to the surface of the belt is performed in the same manner as in the case of the signal to form a latent image. The latent image is developed by the developing device 9 loaded with magenta (M) toner as the second color.

The magenta (M) toner image is formed in the presence of the previously formed yellow (Y) toner image.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a developing device having cyan (C) toner, which forms a cyan (C) toner image on the belt surface based on a control signal generated by a signal processing section.

Further, reference numeral 11 denotes a developing device having a black toner, which is formed by superposing a black toner image on the belt surface by the same process. A DC or further AC bias is applied to each sleeve of each of these developing devices 8, 9, 10 and 11 to perform jumping development with a two-component developer which is a developing means, and a photoreceptor whose base is grounded. The belt 1 is designed to be developed in a non-contact manner. As the development, non-contact development using a one-component developer can be used.

The color toner image thus formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive belt 1 is transferred to the transfer material sent from the paper feeding cassette 14 through the paper feeding guide 15 in the transfer portion.

That is, one of the uppermost layers of the transfer material contained in the paper feeding cassette 14 is carried out by the rotation of the paper feeding roller 16, and the timing is adjusted with the image formation on the photosensitive belt 1 via the timing roller 17. It is supplied to the transfer device 12.

The transfer material that has received the image transfer and charge removal is separated from the photosensitive belt 1 which suddenly changes its direction along the rotating roller 2 and is upwardly moved through the suction type conveyor belt 17A. On the other hand, after the image is fused by the fixing roller 18, it is discharged onto the tray formed on the upper lid 20 through the paper discharging roller 19.

On the other hand, the photosensitive belt 1 which has finished the transfer to the transfer material is further conveyed, and the residual toner is removed by the cleaning device 13 in which the blade 13A and the toner conveying roller 13B are brought into pressure contact with each other, and the end is completed. After that, the blade 13A is separated again, and a little later than that, the toner carrying roller 13B smoothes the toner accumulated on the tip portion of the blade 13A, and then the toner carrying roller 13B is separated to start a new image forming process.

The above-mentioned photosensitive belt 1 together with the charger 6, the developing devices and the cleaning device 13 disposed at the lateral end of the photoreceptor belt 1 are arranged as opposed to each other at the lower peripheral edge thereof, and are independent color process cartridges 30 as process materials for image formation. It is incorporated into and integrated with and is attached to and detached from the apparatus body.

The color process cartridge 30 is supported by guide rail devices on both sides (not shown). The front cover 40 is opened and the handle 31 is slid in an oblique direction as shown in FIG. Taken out.

On the other hand, a toner hopper 80, which is a toner supply member for supplying toner to each of the developing devices 8, 9, 10 and 11, is provided on the main body of the apparatus at the upper rear surface of the cartridge 30.
90, 100 and 110 are mounted and supported.

Each of the above-mentioned toner hoppers 80, 90, 100 and 1
10 is each supply pipe 80A, 90 with a built-in conveying screw
A, 100A and 110A are provided, and they are joined to the developing devices 8, 9, 10, and 11 via a connecting plate P, respectively.

The joining of the replenishing pipes 80A, 90A, 100A and 110A to the developing units 8, 9, 10 and 11 and the separation and withdrawal, that is, the releasing of the joining is automatically performed in accordance with the attaching and detaching operation of the process cartridge 30. ..

The mechanism will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show how the attachment / detachment of the cartridge 30 and the cartridge of the replenishment connecting portion by the connecting plate P and the sliding plate 50 provided on the device main body substrate on the rear rear surface of the cartridge 30 which is interlocked therewith are provided. 3 illustrates an opening / closing interlocking mechanism between each developing device and each hopper provided in the apparatus main body.

In the figure, reference numeral 50 denotes a sliding plate slidably mounted through a pair of elongated holes 50A. The sliding plate 50 has a rising portion 51 at an end and a pair of slopes 52 by bending an upper edge. Is formed and is biased to the right by the tension spring 53.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the process cartridge 30 is mounted in a predetermined position in the main body of the apparatus, that is, a position where image formation is possible, the operation pin 32 provided on the side surface of the cartridge 30 serves as the tension spring 53. The rising portion 51 is pressed against the bias and the sliding plate 50 is placed at the position moved to the left.

Therefore, since the inclined surface 52 is kept at a position separated from the pair of contact pins Q provided on the lower surface of the connection plate P, the replenishment pipes 80A, 90A,
100A and 110A are joined to the toner receiving pipes 8A, 9A, 10A and 11A of the target developing devices, respectively.

The joining mechanism described above is shown in FIG. 5 by taking the case of the supply pipe 90A and the receiving pipe 9A as an example.

When the sliding pipe 90B engaged with the connecting plate P is fitted to the lower end of the replenishing pipe 90A so as to be vertically movable within a predetermined range, and the connecting plate P is at the position shown in FIG. The lower end of the sliding pipe 90B is inserted into the receiving pipe 9A, and the toner dropped from the gap between the tapered hole S at the lower end of the replenishing pipe 90A and the tapered portion T of the sliding pipe 90B is around the tapered portion T. The toner receiving pipe 9A is replenished through a plurality of openings H.

Next, when the process cartridge 30 is slightly pulled out from the mounting position as shown in FIG. 4, the sliding plate 50 is moved to the right by a predetermined amount due to the withdrawal of the operating pin 32, so that the pair of slopes 52 come into contact with each other. The connection pin Q is pushed up and the connection plate P is moved upward in parallel to separate and retreat each of the supply pipes to release the joining state with each receiving pipe.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, when the connecting plate P rises in the direction of the arrow in parallel with the rightward movement of the cartridge 30, the sliding pipe 90B moves upward through the compression spring 90C to receive it. The connection with the pipe 9A is released, and at the same time, the tapered portion T is pressed against the tapered hole S to prevent the toner from falling.

Therefore, the cartridge 30 can be safely removed from the main body of the apparatus without automatically dropping the connection with each toner hopper and further dropping or scattering the toner.

When reattaching to the apparatus main body,
The operation pin 32 of the process cartridge 30 again pushes the rising portion 51 to the left to move the sliding plate 50 to the position shown in FIG. 3, whereby the connecting plate P is lowered by its own weight and each supply pipe is connected. The respective toner receiving pipes are joined.

The vertical movement associated with the joining or unjoining of the supply pipes is performed within the range of the opening K at the top of each toner receiving pipe, whereby the toner may drop from each supply pipe to the outside of each receiving pipe. The process cartridge 30 can be attached and detached without scattering.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically join or unjoin the developing device incorporated in the cartridge to the toner hopper provided on the apparatus main body side in accordance with the attachment / detachment operation of the process cartridge to / from the apparatus main body. As a result, it is possible to provide a color image forming apparatus which is easy to handle without erroneous operation or toner outflow.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a color image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a color image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a mechanism diagram showing a relationship between a process cartridge and a toner hopper.

FIG. 4 is a mechanism diagram showing a relationship between a process cartridge and a toner hopper.

FIG. 5 is a main part diagram of the mechanism diagram.

FIG. 6 is a main part view of the mechanism diagram.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Photoconductor belt 6 Charging device 7 Laser writing system unit 8, 9, 10, 11 Developing device 8A, 9A, 10A, 11A (toner) receiving pipe 12 Transfer device 30 Color process cartridge 30A Waste toner cartridge 32 Operating pin 40 Front cover 50 Sliding plate 52 Slope 80, 90, 100, 110 Toner hopper 80A, 90A, 100A, 110A (toner) supply pipe P Connection plate

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A color image forming apparatus comprising a belt-shaped image forming body, a plurality of developing devices arranged in parallel below the belt-shaped image forming body, and a cleaning device in a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main body of the apparatus. A color image forming apparatus, characterized in that a toner supply member connected to the developing device is joined and separated and withdrawn by mounting and dismounting the process cartridge in a direction orthogonal to the parallel direction of the developing device.