JPH05241447A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a developing device obtained by preventing the seal of a cartridge from hanging in a hopper by laying a wire material at the aperture part of the hopper. CONSTITUTION:After the new toner cartridge 21 is exchanged and loaded at the upper part of the hopper 18 in order to replenish toner, the seal 23 is taken up by a prescribed procedure and the toner 22 is replenished in the hopper 18 from the aperture part of the cartridge 21. At this time, even when the seal 23 is imperfectly taken up, it is supported by the wire material 31 and it does not hang inside the hopper 18. On the other hand, the toner 22 in the cartridge 21 is replenished in the hopper 18 through the aperture part partitioned by the wire material 31.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device used in, for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, etc.
In particular, the present invention relates to a developing device for visualizing and developing an electrostatic latent image with a powdery developer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine, a one-component developer is attached to an electrostatic latent image formed by an electrophotographic method to develop a visible image. The developing device that does this is often used. 2A and 2B are views showing an example of a conventional developing device of this type. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the same, FIG. 2B is an external view of the cartridge, and FIG. It is a figure which shows a state.

In FIG. 1A, the developing device 11 is arranged at a position facing a master (photoreceptor belt) 13 provided on the side of the main body 12 of a copying machine or the like, and can be detached if necessary. Is becoming The master 13 rotates in the arrow direction while forming an electrostatic latent image. At this time, the developing roller 14 provided in the developing device 11 rotates in synchronization with the master 13, and the developer (toner) on the roller surface adheres to the master 13 according to the electrostatic latent image to perform development. The developing blade 15 regulates the toner on the developing roller 14 into a thin film having a constant thickness. The static elimination brush 16 eliminates static electricity so that the roller potential after completion of the above-mentioned development becomes a constant potential. The toner supply bar 17 agitates the toner and supplies the toner to the developing roller 14.

The toner is accommodated in the hopper 18, and the agitator 1 which rotates in the direction of the arrow in the hopper 18.
9. Stir so as not to solidify. Further, an opening 20 is formed in the upper part of the hopper 18, and the toner cartridge 21 is attached in accordance with the opening 20. The toner cartridge 21 contains the toner 22 (replenishment developer) inside, and the toner 22 is replenished into the hopper 18 by peeling off the seal 23 that closes the replenishment opening.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the seal 23 is
The toner cartridge 21 with the two sheets folded back
Affixed to the opening. As shown in FIG. 2A, the toner cartridge 21 is mounted on the upper part of the hopper 18, and then the seal winding roll 24 shown in FIG. As shown, it is wound around the roll 24 and its opening is fully opened.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional developing device, if the developing device 11 is driven in an incomplete state without completely winding the seal 23, the inside of the hopper 18 will be stored. The seal 23 hangs down and winds around the agitator 19 provided under the hopper 18,
There is a drawback that the gear of the developing device 11 is damaged.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a developing device which prevents the seal of the cartridge from hanging in the hopper by bridging the wire material in the opening of the hopper. It is another object of the present invention to provide a developing device which prevents the seal of the cartridge from hanging in the hopper by covering the opening of the hopper with a plate having a hole.

[0008]

The invention according to claim 1 is
In order to achieve the above object, an opening is provided in the upper part of a hopper for containing a developer, a cartridge containing a developer for replenishment is mounted in accordance with this opening, and the replenishing opening of the cartridge is closed. In the developing device for peeling off the seal and replenishing the developer in the cartridge to the hopper, the wire is bridged while leaving an opening area in the opening in the upper part of the hopper.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cartridge in which an opening is provided in the upper part of a hopper for containing the developer, and the replenishment developer is housed in accordance with the opening. In a developing device which is mounted and peels off a seal covering the replenishing opening of the cartridge to replenish the developer in the cartridge to the hopper, a plate material having a hole is covered on the opening above the hopper. And

[0010]

In the invention of the first aspect having the above-mentioned structure, the sticking of the seal is prevented by the wire rod suspended in the opening in the upper part of the hopper, and the toner is replenished into the hopper through the opening portion divided by the wire rod. .. According to the second aspect of the present invention having the above-described structure, the seal member is prevented from hanging down by the plate member covering the opening in the upper portion of the hopper, and the toner is supplied into the hopper through the hole formed in the plate member.

[0011]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below based on examples.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a developing device according to an embodiment of the invention described in claim 1 or 2, and FIG. 1A is a sectional configuration diagram thereof,
2B is an external perspective view showing the main configuration according to claim 1, and FIG. 1B is an external perspective view showing the main configuration according to claim 2. In this embodiment, the same components as those of the conventional example described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

First, referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the structure described in claim 1 will be described. The wire 31 is bridged over the opening 20 in the upper part of the hopper 18 while leaving an opening area, and various materials such as a rigid metal material such as a wire or an elastic resin material are used. it can. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the wire rod 31 may be any shape such as ◯, □, and Δ.

Next, the operation will be described. In order to replenish toner, a new toner cartridge 21 is provided above the hopper 18.
After the replacement is mounted, the seal 23 is wound by the above-described seal winding roll, and the toner 22 is replenished into the hopper 18 through the opening of the cartridge 21. At this time,
Even if the seal 23 is not completely wound up, the seal 23
Is supported by the wire rod 31 and does not hang down inside the hopper 18.

On the other hand, the toner 22 in the cartridge 21
Is replenished into the hopper 18 through the opening section divided by the wire rod 31. In addition, the toner 22 remaining on the seal 23 supported by the wire rod 31 is removed by the seal 23.
By completely winding again when the winding is completely noticed, the whole is replenished in the hopper 18.
As described above, in the present embodiment, even if the winding of the seal 23 is stopped midway, the seal 23 is supported by the wire rod 31 and does not hang down, so that the seal 23 is prevented from being damaged by the winding around the agitator 19 or the like. It is possible to prevent troubles. Further, since the damage of the developing device 11 due to the hanging down of the seal 23 can be prevented, the service cost for repairing these can be eliminated.

The configuration according to claim 2 will be described below with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the wire rod 31
Instead of this, the opening 20 in the upper part of the hopper is covered with a plate member 32, and the plate member 32 is provided with a hole 33 by etching, punching, or the like. The plate 32 may be made of any material, like the wire 31.

Next, the operation will be described. In order to replenish toner, a new toner cartridge 21 is provided above the hopper 18.
After the replacement is mounted, the seal 23 is wound by the above-described seal winding roll, and the toner 22 is replenished into the hopper 18 through the opening of the cartridge 21. At this time,
Even if the seal 23 is not completely wound up, the seal 23
Is supported by the plate member 32 and does not hang down inside the hopper 18.

On the other hand, the toner 22 in the cartridge 21
Is supplied into the hopper 18 through a hole 33 formed in the plate member 32. Further, most of the toner 22 remaining on the seal 23 supported by the plate material 32 is replenished into the hopper 18 by completely rewinding the toner when the winding up of the seal 23 is noticed. In order to improve the toner replenishment efficiency, it is desirable to make the opening area of the hole 33 of the plate member 32 as large as possible.

As described above, in this embodiment, even if the winding of the seal 23 is stopped midway, the seal 23 will not be covered by the plate material 32.
Since it is supported by and does not hang down, it is possible to prevent the gear 23 from being damaged when the seal 23 is wound around the agitator 19 or the like, and it is possible to prevent a trouble from occurring. Also, the seal 23
Since it is possible to prevent the developing device 11 from being damaged due to the drooping of the toner, it is possible to eliminate the service cost required for these repairs.

Although the wire rod 31 and the plate rod 32 are illustrated in the above embodiments, other members having a coarse mesh structure may be used.

[0020]

As described above, according to the developing device of the first aspect of the present invention, the wire suspended over the opening in the upper part of the hopper prevents the seal from hanging down, and the opening divided by the wire is provided. Since the toner is replenished into the hopper through the portion, it is possible to prevent a trouble caused by the hanging of the seal, and it is possible to reduce the service cost required for removing the trouble.

According to the developing device of the second aspect of the invention, the seal member is prevented from hanging down by the plate member covering the opening in the upper portion of the hopper, and the toner is supplied into the hopper through the hole formed in the plate member. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the trouble caused by the hanging of the seal and reduce the service cost required for removing the trouble.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are views showing a developing device according to an embodiment of the invention described in claim 1 or 2, wherein FIG. 1A is a sectional configuration view thereof, and FIG. 1B is a main configuration according to claim 1; FIG. 3C is an external perspective view showing the main configuration of FIG.

2A and 2B are views showing an example of a conventional developing device. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional configuration diagram thereof, FIG. 2B is a bottom external view of a cartridge, and FIG. 2C is a seal winding state. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Developing Device 18 Hopper 20 Opening 21 Toner Cartridge 22 Toner (Developer) 23 Seal 31 Wire Rod 32 Plate Material 33 Hole

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An opening is provided in an upper part of a hopper for containing a developer, a cartridge containing a developer for replenishment is mounted in conformity with the opening, and a seal covering the replenishing opening of the cartridge is peeled off. A developing device for replenishing the developer in a cartridge to a hopper, wherein a wire is bridged while leaving an opening area in an opening at an upper part of the hopper. 2. An opening is provided in an upper portion of a hopper for containing a developer, a cartridge containing a replenishing developer is mounted in conformity with the opening, and a seal covering the replenishing opening of the cartridge is peeled off. A developing device for replenishing the developer in a cartridge to a hopper, wherein a plate material having a hole is covered on an opening at an upper part of the hopper.