JPH0519612A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically assemble a developing device with high efficiency by easily and surely connecting a rotating member or a rocking member attached to the developing device with a driving transmitting mechanism part. CONSTITUTION:Common couplings 10 are fitted in a 1st stirring member transmitting shaft 7a, a 2nd stirring member transmitting shaft 8a and a supply roller transmitting shaft 9a provided in the driving transmitting mechanism part 20 so as to unitize them. Plural tooth profiles 10f formed to be star are provided on the connection part 10a of the coupling 10. On the other hand, a connecting hole having the tooth profile whose shape is the same as the connection part 10a is provided on the shaft center of respective stirring members 7 and 8, and a supply roller 9 attached to a developing device main body 2. By attaching the mechanism part 20 to the right side surface part 2b of the developing device main body 2, the driving transmitting shafts 7a, 8a and 9a are simultaneously connected to the three shafts of the stirring members 7 and 8 and the roller 9 through the couplings 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connecting means for connecting a drive transmitting portion to a rotating member or a swinging member mounted on a developing device of an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a developing device of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus has a developing device main body that forms a housing, a first stirring member that stirs toner supplied to the developing device, and a first stirring member that overlaps each other in opposite directions. Supply roller for supplying a two-component developer in which the toner and the carrier are sufficiently agitated and mixed by the second agitating member rotating to the left and the first and second agitating members to the developing sleeve, and the developing sleeve and the developer thin layer formation It is composed of means and drive transmission mechanism. Then, the toner conveyed by the developing sleeve is applied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive body surface of the adjacent photosensitive body having a predetermined gap with the developing sleeve surface to develop the toner image. .. The rotational drive of each of the stirring members, the supply roller, and the developing sleeve is transmitted by the drive transmission mechanism portion mounted on the side surface of the developing device main body.

Conventionally, when assembling the developing device, for example, the agitating members and the supply rollers mounted inside the developing device and the drive transmitting member of the drive transmitting mechanism are connected in phase with each other. I have to.

[0004]

However, for example, it is necessary to connect the agitating member or the supply roller and the drive transmission member in phase with each other in connection with each other in a narrow space. Besides, it is a laborious work because it is a blind work, and it is a big obstacle in automatically assembling the developing device.

The present invention solves such a problem, and can easily connect the rotating member or the swinging member mounted on the developing device and the drive transmission member of the drive transmission mechanism portion without the need for phasing. It is an object of the invention to provide a developing device that can be used.

[0006]

The object of the present invention is to provide a developing unit of an image forming apparatus for applying toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photoconductor to develop the electrostatic latent image. When connecting the moving member and the drive transmitting means for transmitting drive to each member, one is fitted to the drive transmitting member of the drive transmitting means, and the other is provided with a rod-shaped connecting member protruding from the drive transmitting member, A plurality of protrusions capable of transmitting rotation are provided on the peripheral surface of the projecting connecting member, and a connecting portion to be fitted with the connecting member is provided on the axial center of the rotating member or the swinging member facing the axial center of the connecting member. It is achieved by a developing device characterized in that it is detachably fitted to each other and connected so as to be capable of driving transmission.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention is a side view showing the shape of a connecting member of FIG. 1, a front view of FIG. 2, a side sectional view showing the structure of a drive transmission mechanism portion of FIG. 3, and a connecting means of FIG. Will be described with reference to a sectional view showing a connection state according to FIG.

However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the developing device 1. 16 is a photosensitive drum, 2 is a developing device main body, 3 is a developing sleeve, 5 is an upper lid, 7 is a first stirring member, and 8 is a first stirring member. 2 is a stirring member, and 9 is a supply roller.

The toner replenished in the developing device 1 is sufficiently carrier by the first stirring member 7 rotating in the arrow direction and the second stirring member 8 rotating so as to overlap each other in the opposite direction. The upper developer D mixed by stirring is sent to the developing sleeve 3 via the supply roller 9.

The first stirring member 7 and the second stirring member 8
Is a screw-shaped member having a left-handed helix angle that rotates in mutually opposite arrow directions, and is the second stirring member 8
The toner and carrier transported to the back by the thrust of
The stirring partition plate whose upper edge is slanted downward in the direction toward the back of the drawing is sequentially passed over to the side of the first stirring member 7 and is conveyed to the front side of the drawing by its thrust, and by the mixing action of the toner and the carrier during that The uniform developer D is triboelectrically charged, and is applied in layers on the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 3 by the supply roller 9 that is sponge-like and rotates in the direction of the arrow.

The toner conveyed by the developing sleeve 3 is added to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 16 adjacent to the surface of the developing sleeve 3 with a predetermined gap. The image is developed. The rotations of the stirring members 7 and 8, the supply roller 9 and the developing sleeve 3 are transmitted by a drive transmission mechanism portion mounted on the side surface of the developing device main body 2.

In the present invention, the connection means for connecting the respective rotary members or swing members mounted on the developing device 1 and the drive transmission member of the drive transmission mechanism section is constituted as follows, eliminating the above-mentioned problems.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking as an example the connecting means for connecting the agitating members 7, 8 and the supply roller 9 and the drive transmitting member connected thereto.

As shown in FIG. 3, the drive transmission mechanism portion 20 comprises a drive portion base plate 21 and a drive portion side plate 22 which form a drive portion main body 20a, a second stirring member transmission shaft 8a, and a fitting portion which are fitted to the drive portion substrate 21 in order from the top of the drawing. The first gear 23 that is fixedly coupled to the first stirring member transmission shaft 7a
A second gear 24 fitted and coupled thereto, a roller 28 rotatably fitted to the first stirring member transmission shaft 7a, a supply roller transmission shaft 9a and a belt second gear fitted and coupled thereto. twenty five
A third belt gear 27 that is fitted and coupled to the developing sleeve shaft 3a and integrally rotates, a first belt gear 23a that is integrally provided on the first gear, and a second belt gear.
25 and an endless timing belt 26 wound around the belt third gear 27. As shown in FIG. 5, the driving portion substrate 21 is a molding member made of a synthetic resin material having an outer shape of substantially the same size as the outer circumference of the side surface portion of the developing device main body 2 to which the upper lid 5 is attached. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the driving part substrate 21 and a pillar (not shown) that is raised from the upper right end of the surface of the base 21h can withstand the driving of the drive transmission mechanism part 20 without trouble. It has a wide width and a wide thickness.

The right end face shown in FIG. 1 in which the column 21d and the other column are raised is the mounting surface of the drive unit side plate 22. The bearing boss 21a for the second agitating member transmission shaft 8a is provided from above to a position corresponding to the agitating members 8 and 7 and the supply roller 9 and the developing sleeve 3 at a substantially central portion in the width direction of the base 21h. Bearing hole 8b and the first
Bearing boss 21b and bearing hole 7b for stirring member transmission shaft 7a and bearing boss 21c and bearing hole 9b for supply roller transmission shaft 9a.
And the escape hole of the developing sleeve shaft 3a, the belt third
Gear receiving seats 21f are provided respectively. The bearing bosses 21a, 21b, 21c are provided so as to project at a predetermined height in the rising direction of the column 21d and other columns, and penetrate the bearing bosses 21a, 21b, 21c. Bearing holes 8b, 7b, 9b are provided. The right end surfaces of the bearing bosses 21a, 21b, 21c shown in the figure are the respective gears.
It serves as a positioning surface and a sliding contact surface for the rollers 23, 25 and the roller 28. Then, when the drive unit substrate 21 is molded, the columns 21 are formed.
d, other columns, the bearing bosses 21a, 21b, 21c, the bearing holes 8b, 7b, 9b, the escape holes of the developing sleeve shaft 3a, the belt third gear 27, and the receiving seat 21f, not shown. Appropriately provided reinforcing ribs and reliefs are formed integrally and simultaneously.

On the other hand, the drive unit side plate 22 is the drive unit substrate 21.
Is a molded member made of a synthetic resin material having the same outer shape as that of

Then, as shown in FIG.
The bearing boss 21 provided on the drive unit substrate 21 is shown at 22.
a, the second stirring member transmission shaft 8a projecting at a predetermined height on both side surfaces of the drive unit side plate 22 at a position facing the bearing hole 8b.
A bearing boss 22a and a bearing hole 8c penetrating the boss 22a are provided. Then, the drive unit substrate is sequentially lowered.
A bearing boss 22b for the first stirring member transmission shaft 7a, which projects at a predetermined height on both side surfaces of the drive unit side plate 22 at a position facing the bearing bosses 21b, 21c of 21 and the bearing holes 7c, 9c; A bearing hole 7c penetrating the boss 22b, a bearing boss 22c for the supply roller transmission shaft 9a, and a bearing hole 9c penetrating the boss 22c are provided. Further, below that, there are provided an escape hole 27a of the third gear for the belt fitted to the developing sleeve shaft 3a and an escape hole 27b provided concentrically therewith. When the drive unit side plate 22 is molded, the bearing bosses 22a, 22b, 22c, the bearing holes 8c, 7c, 9c, the escape holes 27a, 27b, and reinforcing ribs and escape portions (not shown) that are appropriately provided are formed. It is designed to be integrally and simultaneously formed. Further, the drive unit main body 20a is configured by integrally mounting the columns 21d provided on the drive unit substrate 21 and the right end faces of the other columns with the screws as a mounting surface. When the drive unit side plate 22 is attached to the drive unit substrate 21, the bearing holes 8b, 7b, 9b and the bearing holes 8c, 7c, 9 that face each other are provided.
The alignment of each central axis with c is designed to be accurate. The distance between the bearing boss 21a surface of the drive unit substrate 21 and the bearing boss 22a surface of the drive unit side plate 22 facing each other is set to be slightly longer than the lengthwise dimension of the first gear 23. One gear 23 is the bearing hole 8
b and 8c, the second stirring member transmission shaft 8a is integrally fitted to the second stirring member transmission shaft 8a so as to be rotatable between the second stirring member transmission shaft 8a and the bosses 21a and 22a, and the axial direction of the second stirring member transmission shaft 8a. Is positioned. And
Similarly, the second gear 24 is integrally fitted to the first agitating member transmission shaft 7a which is borne by the bearing holes 7b and 7c between the opposing bearing bosses 21b and 22b. The roller 28 is rotatably mounted.

Further, the second belt gear 25 is also fitted integrally with the supply roller transmission shaft 9a which is borne by the bearing holes 9b and 9c between the bearing bosses 21c and 22c. Is becoming Then, the second stirring member transmission shaft 8
The rotation of a is transmitted by the first gear 23 that meshes with a drive source (not shown).

Then, the third belt gear 27 is inserted into an escape hole 27a provided at a predetermined position therebelow,
The developing sleeve shaft 3a is fitted in a bearing hole provided in the shaft center of the belt third gear 27, and a D-shaped hole (not shown) provided in the bearing hole of the belt third gear 27 and the developing sleeve shaft 3a. A D-shaped shaft (not shown) provided is fitted to transmit the drive.

The endless timing belt 26, which is previously inserted when the drive unit substrate 21 and the drive unit side plate 22 are assembled, is provided with the belt first gear 23a, the belt second gear 25, and the belt second gear. It is adapted to be transmitted to the supply roller transmission shaft 9a and the developing sleeve 3 via the first gear 23 which is wound around three gears 27 and meshes with a drive source (not shown) to rotate. The first stirring member transmission shaft 7a directly meshes with the first gear 23
The rotation is transmitted by the gear 24. The roller
Numeral 28 acts on the upper side (FIG. 3) of the endless timing belt 26 wound around each of the belt gears 23a, 25, 27 so that tension is applied downward so that rotation is transmitted without loss. ing.

Then, a coupling 10 to be described later is inserted into the shaft center of each of the stirring member transmission shafts 7a, 8a protruding from the left side surface of the drive unit substrate 21 and the supply roller transmission shaft 9a for rotation transmission. A notch is provided so that the coupling 10 can be fitted therein.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the coupling 10 is a round bar-shaped molding member made of synthetic resin such as Delrin or Duracon, and the stirring members are transmitted to the right side of the flange 10e. A slit of one character from the center to the right end of the fitting portion 10b for fitting into the holes provided in the shafts 7a, 8a and the shaft center of the supply roller transmission shaft 9a.
10c is provided and an inclined surface is provided on the peripheral surface at the right end, so that it is easy to insert when fitting into the holes of the transmission shafts 7a, 8a, 9a, and the fitting portion 10b having the slit 10c. It is designed to be fitted tightly by elastic force.

Further, the shaft diameter of the tip portion of the fitting portion 10b provided with the slit 10c is the transmission shafts 7a and 8a.
As shown in the figure, the hole diameters provided in the holes a and 9a are made slightly larger so that the holes do not easily come out.

On the right side of the flange 10e, a protrusion 10d as shown in the figure is raised from a part of the peripheral surface of the fitting portion 10b at a height continuous with the peripheral surface of the flange 10e. There is. The projection 10d and the transmission shafts 7a, 8
a and 9a are fitted with the notches (not shown), and the right end face of the flange 10e is abutted against the left end faces of the transmission shafts 7a, 8a, 9a to be fitted together. Each coupling 10 and each transmission shaft 7a,
It is adapted to rotate integrally with 8a and 9a.

On the other hand, on the left side of each of the flanges 10e, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a connecting portion 10a for connecting with each of the stirring members 7, 8 and the supply roller 9 is provided. The connecting portion 10a has, for example, a circumferential surface of the connecting portion 10a.
A tooth profile 10f formed in a star shape that is equally divided is provided, and an appropriate inclined surface is provided on the peripheral surface of the left tip portion thereof.

The angle of the tooth profile 10f formed in a star shape is 90 °, and the height of the tooth profile is set to 0.2 mm.
The coupling 10 is detachably fitted into each of the transmission shafts 7a, 8a, 9a at the final stage of assembly of the drive transmission mechanism portion 20 to form a unit. On the other hand, although not shown, each of the stirring members 7 and 8 and the supply roller 9
A connecting hole formed in a star shape having the same shape as the connecting portion 10a in which the connecting portion 10a of the coupling 10 is fitted and meshed with the shaft center of the tip end portion of each of the right support shafts 7d, 8d, 9d. Are provided at a predetermined depth from the end faces of the right support shafts 7d, 8d, 9d. As shown in FIG. 4, the drive transmission mechanism portion 20 configured as described above is attached to a predetermined position of the right side surface portion 2b of the developing device main body 2 so that the transmission shafts 7a, 8 are formed.
The connecting portion 10a of the coupling 10 fitted in the a and 9a is located inside the developing device main body 2 near the right side surface 2b through a bearing hole provided in the right side surface 2b. The agitating members 7 and 8 are inserted into the connection holes of the supply roller 9, and tooth shapes formed in a star shape are meshed with each other and integrally fitted.

At the same time, the transmission shafts 7a, 8a,
9a is pivotally supported in each bearing hole provided in the right side surface portion 2b.

Alignment of the shafts of the agitating members 7 and 8 and the supply roller 9 with the bearing holes for the transmission shafts 7a, 8a and 9a provided on the right side surface portion 2b is accurately made in advance. There is.

Therefore, the drive transmission mechanism 20 is set from the right side of the developing device main body 2 to a predetermined position of the developing device main body 2 so that the three transmission shafts 7a, 8a and 9a are simultaneously moved to the cup. The agitating members 7, 8 and the supply roller 9 can be fitted with one-touch through the ring 10 by simply engaging their mutual tooth shapes and can be connected very easily and reliably, so that the developing device 1 can be automatically connected. Assembly became very easy.

As described above, the developing sleeve 3 is connected to the belt third gear 27 at the same time when the drive transmission shafts 7a, 8a and 9a are connected to the stirring members 7 and 8 and the supply roller 9. Is pivotally supported.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the stirring members 7 and 8 and the supply roller 9 and the transmission shafts 7a and 8 are provided.
Although the connection means with the a and 9a has been described, it goes without saying that the connection means using the same member as the coupling 10 can be applied to other rotating members or swinging members mounted on the developing device 1. is there.

[0033]

With the connection means (coupling 10) of the present invention, a plurality of drive transmission shafts of the drive transmission mechanism can be attached to a developing device even in a connection space such as a narrow space or blind work. Since it is possible to connect to the rotating member or the swinging member from one direction at the same time with one touch, extremely efficient automatic assembly of the developing device becomes possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the shape of a connecting member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the above.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a drive transmission mechanism portion according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a connected state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a developing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 developing device 2 developing device main body 2b right side surface 7 first stirring member 7a first stirring member transmission shaft 8 second stirring member 8a second stirring member transmission shaft 9 supply roller 9a supply roller transmission shaft 10 coupling 10a connection portion 10b fitting Joint part 10f Tooth profile 16 Photoconductor drum 20 Drive transmission mechanism part

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. A developing device of an image forming apparatus, which applies toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photoconductor to develop the electrostatic latent image.
At the time of connecting the rotating member or the swinging member mounted on the developing device and the drive transmitting means for transmitting drive to each member, one is fitted to the drive transmitting member of the drive transmitting means and the other is connected to the drive transmitting means. A rod-shaped connecting member projecting from the member, a plurality of projections capable of transmitting rotation are provided on the peripheral surface of the projecting connecting member, and the shaft center of the rotating member or the swinging member facing the shaft center of the connecting member. A developing device, characterized in that a connecting portion to be fitted to the connecting member is provided and detachably fitted to each other so as to be connected so as to be capable of driving transmission.