JPH05273856A - Developing device for electrophotographic copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the exchange of a toner cartridge, the loading and unloading of a paper supply cassatte, the operation of a display panel or the like to be executed from the front side of a device main body and to improve operability in an electrophotographic copying device. CONSTITUTION:The upper structure body 10b of the device main body 10 is set so that it is freely opened and closed with respect to the lower structural body 10a. A fitting guide recessed part 30b guiding the toner cartridge 31 fitted from the front side A of the main body 10 is provided in the developing device main body 30 of a developing device 13 provided in the lower body 10a. The projection part 31a of a diameter direction is formed on the outside surface of the cartridge 31 in a shaft direction. Then, a discharging port 46 is bored on the projection part 31a. On the other hand, an upward replenishing port 34 is bored on the main body 30. Then, the cartridge 31 is set by opening the upper body 10b from the front side A, guiding the cartridge 31 by the recessed part 30b, fitting it to the main body 30, turning it with an agitator shaft 48 as a center by a fixed angle and aligning the port 46 with the port 34.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, etc. using a laser, charging, optical writing,
It can be applied to an electrophotographic apparatus that records on a sheet by an electrophotographic process such as development and transfer. Specifically, in such an electrophotographic apparatus, the toner in the toner cartridge attached to the developing device main body is replenished into the developing device main body by the agitator, and the toner is attached to the photosensitive member by the developing roller and The present invention relates to a developing device that develops a latent image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, among developing devices of this type, there is, for example, one in which a cylindrical toner cartridge is removably attached to a developing device main body and the toner cartridge can be replaced when the toner is used up. And, among the conventional laser printers equipped with such a developing device,
For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a display panel 2 is provided on the upper front side of the apparatus main body 1 shown by an arrow P, and an openable / closable front cover 3 is provided below the display panel 2, while a side surface side indicated by an arrow Q is fed. There is a configuration in which the cassette 4 is detachably attached and the paper discharge port 1a is provided on the upper surface. Further, in other laser printers, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, a display panel 2 is provided on the upper side of the front side P of the apparatus main body 1,
There is also a configuration in which the paper feed cassette 4 is detachably attached to the lower side of the display panel 2, the paper discharge tray 5 is attached to the back side of the upper surface, and the side cover 6 which can be opened and closed is provided on the side face Q. ..

However, in the case of FIG. 9, the display panel 2 is viewed from the front side P and the panel operation is appropriately performed to take out the sheet discharged from the sheet discharge port 1a. When the toner cartridge 7 is replaced, the front cover 3 is opened. Toner cartridge 7
While the sheet is taken out from the front side P to be replaced, the sheet feeding cassette 4 is taken out from the side surface side Q to replenish the sheet. Further, in the case of FIG. 10, the display panel 2 is viewed from the front side P and the panel operation is appropriately performed to take out the sheet discharged to the sheet discharge tray 5, and at the time of sheet replenishment,
While the paper feed cassette 4 is taken out from the front side P to replenish the sheets, when the toner cartridge 7 is replaced, the side cover 6 is opened from the side surface Q and the toner cartridge 7 is taken out from the side surface Q and replaced.

[0004]

Conventionally, however, in the case of FIG. 9, for example, the toner cartridge 6 is replaced, the display panel 2 is operated, and the discharged sheet is taken out.
On the other hand, the sheet feeding cassette 4 has to be attached and detached from the side surface side Q at the time of replenishing the sheet, while the operability is poor. On the contrary, in the case of FIG. 10, the toner cartridge 7 is attached and detached, the display panel 2 is operated and the discharged sheet is taken out from the front side P.
To replace the toner cartridge 7, the toner cartridge 7 must be taken in and out from the side surface Q, which is also inferior in operability.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable replacement of a toner cartridge, attachment / detachment of a paper feed cassette, operation of a display panel, etc., all on the front side of the main body of the apparatus, thereby improving operability in an electrophotographic apparatus. To do.

[0006]

Therefore, what is stated in claim 1 is, for example, as shown in the following illustrated embodiment,
A cylindrical toner cartridge 31 is attached to the developing device main body 30, and the toner cartridge 31 is rotated about the agitator shaft 48 at a constant angle, and its discharge port 46 and the supply port of the developing device main body 30. 34, the agitator shaft 48 is driven to rotate the agitator 49 in the toner cartridge 31, and the toner t in the toner cartridge 31 is passed from the discharge port 46 through the replenishment port 34 to the developing device main body 30. In the developing device 13 of the electrophotographic apparatus to be replenished inside, a radial protrusion 31a is axially formed on the outer surface of the toner cartridge 31, and the protrusion 31a is formed.
A cartridge joining surface 31b extending in the radial direction is provided on the front side A of the electrophotographic apparatus body 10 in the developing device body 30 while the discharge port 46 is opened in the joining surface 31b.
While a mounting guide such as a mounting guide recess 30b for guiding the toner cartridge 31 mounted from above is provided, an upward main body joint surface 30c is formed and the replenishment port 34 is opened therein.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, for example, as shown in the following illustrated embodiment, the developing device 13 according to the first aspect.
In addition, the driven gear 51 of the agitator shaft 48 is attached so as to be rotatable at least by the constant angle,
The driven gear 51 is given a turning tendency in the turning direction of the toner cartridge 31, while the developing device main body 3 is used.
0 is provided with a drive side gear 65 which meshes with the driven side gear 51 when the toner cartridge 31 is attached thereto.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, for example, as shown in the following illustrated embodiment, the developing device 13 according to the first aspect is described.
In the waste toner tank 5 on the agitator shaft 48.
It is characterized in that 3 is attached.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, for example, as shown in the following illustrated embodiment, the developing device 13 of the first aspect is described.
2 is characterized in that parts such as the waste toner tank 53 on the agitator shaft 48 are fixed by being sandwiched between both ends 55b of the handle 55.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, for example, as shown in the following illustrated embodiment, the developing device 13 of the fourth aspect is as follows.
In addition, both ends 55b of the grip 55 are fitted in the attachment guide such as the attachment guide recess 30b, and the toner cartridge 31 is attached by being guided by the attachment guide.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the toner cartridge 31 is set in the developing device main body 10, the toner cartridge 31 is mounted from the front side A of the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10 while being guided by the mounting guide. The cartridge joint surface 31b and the main body joint surface 30c are joined together by rotating the agitator shaft 48 at a certain angle, and the discharge port 46 and the supply port 34 are aligned.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the toner cartridge 31 is attached to the developing device main body 30, the driven gear 51 meshes with the driving gear 65, and the agitator shaft 48 is engaged regardless of the driven gear 51. The toner cartridge 31 is rotated about the center by a certain angle.

When the toner cartridge 31 is replaced, the waste toner tank 53 is also replaced together with the toner cartridge 31.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, parts such as the waste toner tank 53 on the agitator shaft 48 are
The handle 55 is sandwiched between both ends 55b and fixed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the toner cartridge 31 is attached, both ends 55b of the handle 55 are fitted in the attachment guide, and the toner cartridge 31 is attached to the developing device main body 30 while being guided by the attachment guide.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of an internal mechanism of a laser printer including a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 10 in the figure denotes the apparatus main body. The device body 10 includes a lower structure 10a and an upper structure 10b,
The upper structure 10b is attached to the lower structure 10a so as to be freely opened and closed with a shaft 10c as a fulcrum. A drum-shaped photosensitive member 11 is provided in the apparatus main body 10 at substantially the center thereof. Around the photoconductor 11, in order from the lower charging device 12 in the rotation direction (counterclockwise direction) of the photoconductor 11, the developing device 13 according to the present invention on the right side, the transfer device 14 on the upper side, and the cleaning device on the left side. Place 15 Then, the charger 12
An optical writer 16 is provided below the cleaning device 15. Below the optical writer 16, a paper feed cassette 17 is detachably attached. The sheet S is stored in the paper feed cassette 17. Then, on the right side of the developing device 13,
That is, the front side indicated by the arrow A is provided with a paper feed path 21 that guides the sheet S fed by rotating the paper feed roller 20 upward. At the tip of the paper feed path 21, a conveyance path 23 common to the sheet S inserted from the manual paper feed port 22 is provided. A registration roller pair 24 is arranged in the middle of the transport path 23.

On the other hand, a fixing device 26 is provided on the side opposite to the registration roller pair 24 with the transfer device 14 interposed therebetween. Further, a paper discharge path 27 is provided on the left side of the fixing device 26, and a paper discharge receiver 28 is installed in front of it. The device body 10 is provided with a display panel (not shown) on the upper inclined surface 10d on the front side A.

Therefore, in the illustrated laser printer, the display panel is appropriately operated while standing on the front side A. And
The sheet feeding roller 20 is rotated to feed the sheet S to the sheet feeding cassette 17
The sheets are fed one by one from the inside to the paper feed path 21, and the leading edge of the sheet S is abutted against the registration roller pair 24 through the conveyance path 23 and stopped.

On the other hand, the surface of the photoconductor 11 is uniformly charged by the charger 12 while rotating in the counterclockwise direction in the figure, and then the laser light is irradiated by the optical writer 16 to statically charge the surface. An electrostatic latent image is formed, and subsequently, when passing through the developing device 13, the electrostatic latent image is sequentially visualized by toner. Then, in synchronization with the visible image, the sheet S, which has abutted against the registration roller pair 24, is sent toward the photoconductor 11. Then, the visible image on the photoconductor 11 is transferred to the sheet S by the transfer device 14. After the transfer, the residual toner on the photoconductor 11 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 29 of the cleaning device 15.

On the other hand, the sheet S after transfer is sent to a fixing device 26, and the fixing device 26 fixes the transferred image. After the image is fixed, the sheets S are discharged and sequentially stacked on the discharge receiver 28 through the discharge path 27.

By the way, in the developing device 13 described above, as shown in FIG. 2, a toner cartridge 31 is provided in the developing device main body 30.
It is detachably attached. The developing device main body 30 is shown in FIG.
However, as shown, the mounting recess 30a is opened on one side. Then, mounting guide recesses 30b for guiding the toner cartridge 31 mounted from the front side A are provided on the inner surfaces of both ends of the mounting recess 30a. Also, the developing device main body 30
As shown in FIG. 2, in addition to the toner cartridge 31, the photoconductor 11 is mounted on the side opposite to the mounting recess 30a, the charger 12 is mounted on the lower side thereof, and the cleaning unit 15 is mounted on the left side. Then, the developing chamber 32 is formed on the right side of the photoconductor 11. Photoreceptor 11 in developing chamber 32
On the side, a roller window 33 is opened in the lengthwise direction, while a horizontal main body joint surface 30c is formed on the side opposite to the roller window 33, and the main body joint surface 30c is provided with a supply port 34 opening upward. Open Then, in the developing chamber 33,
The developing roller 35, which is in contact with the peripheral surface of the photoconductor 11 by exposing a part of the roller window 33, the replenishing roller 36, which contacts the developing roller 35, and the mini-agitator 37 are rotatably housed. The tip of the thin layer blade 38 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 35.

The cleaning device 15 forms a waste toner collecting chamber 40a in the lengthwise direction of the photoconductor 11 and
As shown in FIG. 4, a waste toner carrying path 40b communicating with the end of the waste toner collecting chamber 40a is formed obliquely upward to the right. The waste toner conveyance path 40b has a downward toner disposal port 40c at its tip. Then, the waste toner collecting chamber 4
In the lower part of 0a, a first auger 41 having a spiral screw blade portion 41a on the outer periphery is provided rotatably, and a second auger 42 having a similar screw blade portion 42a is rotatably provided in the waste toner conveying path 40b. Become.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the toner cartridge 31 has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and the toner chamber 4 is provided inside.
5 is formed, and a radial protrusion 31a is formed on the outer surface thereof.
Is formed in the axial direction. The protrusion 31a is provided with a cartridge joint surface 31b extending in the radial direction, and the toner discharge port 46 shown in FIG. 2 is opened in the joint surface 31b. And
As shown in FIG. 5, the toner cartridge 31 penetrates the agitator shaft 48 at the center thereof, and the agitator shaft 48 passes through the agitator shaft 48.
It is rotatable around. The agitator shaft 48 has at one end 48a thereof projections 48b and 48c which are opposite to each other. Further, in the toner chamber 45, a plate-shaped agitator 49
Installed. The agitator 49 has a polyester film 50 attached to its tip, and the polyester film 50 is pressed against the inner wall surface of the toner chamber 45.
Further, a driven side gear 51 and a gear cover 52 that covers the driven side gear 51 are provided on one end 48a side of the agitator shaft 48.
And the waste toner tank 53 is attached to the other end 48b side.

The driven gear 51 has a center hole 51a through which the agitator shaft 48 is inserted at the center thereof.
As shown in FIG. 5, a fan-shaped notch 51b is provided around the center hole 51a, and a pin 51c is set up near the outer peripheral tooth portion. Then, the pin 51c and the one protrusion 48b of the agitator shaft 48 are connected by a tension spring 54 to urge the driven side gear 51 to always give a turning tendency in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing to one side protrusion of the notch 51b. The contact surface 51d is brought closer to the other protrusion 48c of the agitator shaft 48.

As shown in FIG. 5, the gear cover 52 has a cylindrical projection 52a through which the one end 48a of the agitator shaft 48 is inserted.
And an opening 52b is provided in an arcuate side wall 52c.

As shown in FIG. 5, the waste toner tank 53 has a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole, and the agitator shaft 48 is provided at the center thereof.
Has a through hole 53a through which the other end 48b is inserted. Also,
A concave portion 53b is formed on the outer surface, and the waste toner receiving port 53 is formed therein.
Open c.

Further, the above-mentioned developing device 13 is provided with a handle 55 as shown in FIG. The grip 55 is formed by extending both ends 55b of the long grip 55a substantially parallel to each other. Then, both ends 55b are attached to both ends 48a and 48b of the agitator shaft 48, respectively. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the gear cover 52 and the waste toner tank 53 are fixed on the agitator shaft 48 by sandwiching the both ends 55b of the handle 55. Thus, the cartridge unit 60 including the toner cartridge 31 is replaceable as a whole.

When the cartridge unit 60 is attached to the developing device main body 30, the upper structure 10b is opened while standing on the front side A of the apparatus main body 10 shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, from the front side A as it is, the grip 55 is held and both ends 55b are fitted into the mounting guide recess 30b, and the cartridge unit 60 is inserted into the mounting recess 30a by being guided by the mounting guide recess 30b. And
As shown in FIG. 4, the waste toner receiving port 53c of the waste toner tank 53 is aligned with the toner discarding port 40c, and as shown in FIG. 8, the driven side gear 51 and the driving side gear 65 are connected through the opening 52b of the gear cover 52. Engage. After that, as shown by the chain line, the toner cartridge 31
Rotate counterclockwise. Then, the friction between the inner wall surface of the toner cartridge 31 and the polyester film 50 causes the agitator shaft 48 to rotate about 90 degrees regardless of the driven gear 51. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the discharge port 46 is aligned with the supply port 34. Then, the cartridge unit 60 is set in the developing device main body 30.

At the time of recording, however, the developing device 13 is set to the position shown in FIG.
As shown in, the rotation from the drive motor (not shown) is transmitted to the driven gear 51 via the drive gear 65 to rotate the driven gear 51. Then, the other side abutting surface 51 of the fan-shaped notch 51b is formed.
e presses the one protrusion 48b and rotates the agitator shaft 48 to rotate the agitator 49. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the toner t is fed from the toner chamber 45 into the developing chamber 32 through the discharge port 46 and the replenishing port 34 while stirring the toner t by the agitator 48. Then, the sent toner t is sent to the replenishing roller 36 by the mini agitator 37, and further attached to the developing roller 35 by the replenishing roller 36. The attached toner t is dammed by the tip of the thin layer blade 38 to form a thin layer. Then, the toner t is transferred to the developing roller 3
At 5, the toner is attached to the photoconductor 11 through the roller window 33, and the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 11 is visualized.

After the transfer, the residual toner t on the photoconductor 11 is removed by the cleaning blade 2 of the cleaning device 15.
At 9, the waste toner is collected in the waste toner collecting chamber 40a. Then, the waste toner t is conveyed to the end portion side of the waste toner collecting chamber 40a by rotating the first auger 41, and further, as shown in FIG. 40b, and a toner waste port 40c and a waste toner receiving port 53
It is collected in the waste toner tank 53 through c.

After that, when the toner t is used up and the toner cartridge 31 is replaced and displayed on the display panel, the upper structure 10b is opened from the front side A, and the toner cartridge 31 is moved clockwise as shown in FIG. Almost 90
Rotate once. Then, the handle 55 is held and the cartridge unit 60 is pulled out from the mounting recess 30 a of the developing device main body 30. Then, the cartridge unit 60 is replaced with a new cartridge unit 60.

Further, in the above laser printer, the sheet S
When the sheet S is replenished and the sheet S is replenished in the paper feed cassette 17, the paper feed cassette 17 is taken in and out from the same front side A of the apparatus main body 10 shown in FIG.

[0033]

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the sheet feeding cassette is detached and the display panel is operated from the front side of the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus, and the toner cartridge is attached from the same front side. The guide is attached by the mounting guide, and the toner cartridge is set in the developing device main body by rotating the agitator shaft by a certain angle to align the discharge port and the replenishment port. Similarly to the above operation, the toner cartridge can be replaced on the front side of the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus, and the operability of the electrophotographic apparatus can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the toner cartridge is attached to the main body of the developing device, the driven gear and the driving gear are meshed with each other, and the toner cartridge is fixed regardless of the driven gear. The rotation of the angle also makes it easier to replace the toner cartridge.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the toner cartridge is replaced, the waste toner tank is also replaced together with the toner cartridge. Therefore, the toner cartridge and the waste toner tank are replaced at the same time, and the burden on the user is increased. Can be reduced.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, parts such as a waste toner tank on the agitator shaft are fixed by sandwiching them at both ends of the handle. In addition, the parts on the agitator shaft are fixed. It can be made simple.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, both ends of the handle are fitted in the mounting guides, and the toner cartridges are guided by the mounting guides to mount the toner cartridge on the developing device main body. It can also be attached securely and smoothly at a predetermined position on the main body.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of The Printer.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an internal mechanism of the developing device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the developing device in a disassembled state into a developing device main body and a cartridge unit.

FIG. 4 is a state explanation showing a state of collecting waste toner in the developing device.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a cartridge unit of the developing device.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a relationship between an agitator shaft and a driven gear before mounting the cartridge unit.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the driven gear and its periphery as viewed from the upper side in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a state of gear engagement and an agitator shaft after the cartridge unit is attached.

FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of a laser printer including a conventional developing device.

FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of another conventional laser printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Device Main Body 13 Developing Device 30 Developing Device Main Body 30b Mounting Guide Recess (Mounting Guide) 30c Main Body Joint 31 Toner Cartridge 31a Projection 31b Cartridge Joint 34 Replenishing Port 46 Discharge Port 48 Agitator Shaft 49 Agitator 51 Driven Gear 53 Waste Toner Tank 55 Handle 55b Both Ends of Handle 65 Drive Side Gear A Front Side t Toner

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A developing apparatus main body is provided with a cylindrical toner cartridge, and the toner cartridge is rotated about an agitator shaft by a predetermined angle to form its discharge port and the supply port of the developing device main body. And driving the agitator shaft to rotate the agitator in the toner cartridge and replenish the toner in the toner cartridge from the discharge port to the developing device main body through the replenishment port. In the above, in the outer surface of the toner cartridge, a radial projection is formed in the axial direction, and a cartridge joining surface extending in the radial direction is provided on the projection, and the discharging port is opened on the joining surface and the developing device main body is provided. While the mounting guide for guiding the toner cartridge mounted from the front side of the electrophotographic apparatus main body is provided, the upward main assembly surface is formed and A developing device for an electrophotographic device with a replenishment port opened. 2. The developing device main body while the driven gear of the agitator shaft is attached so as to be rotatable at least the fixed angle, and the driven gear is given a turning habit in the turning direction of the toner cartridge. The developing device of the electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a drive-side gear that meshes with the driven-side gear when the toner cartridge is attached thereto. 3. The developing device of the electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a waste toner tank is mounted on the agitator shaft. 4. The developing device of the electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the parts on the agitator shaft are fixed by being sandwiched by both ends of the handle. 5. The developing device for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein both ends of the handle are fitted in the attachment guide, and the toner cartridge is attached while being guided by the attachment guide.