JPH05289504A - Electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the excessive discharge of toner caused by the opening of an upper part and to suppress the discharge of the developer soared up by an impact at the time of opening the upper part by providing a developer discarding port on a side opposite to the rotary supporting point side of a developing device. CONSTITUTION:When the upper part of a copying machine is opened, the developing device 8 is inclined accompanying the opening, but the developer discarding port 19b is formed on a surface opposite to the side of a supporting point for opening/ closing on the developing device 8, so that the developer D in the developing device 8 is moved and gathered to the side opposite to the developer discarding port 19b. Therefore, the excessive discharge of the developer D from the developer discarding port 19b caused by the movement of the developer D due to the inclination of the developing device 8 when the upper part of the copying machine is opened, is prevented. Moreover, the excessive discharge of the developer D from the developer discarding port 19b caused by the soaring up of the developer D in the developing device 8 due to the impact at the time of opening the upper part of the copying machine, is suppressed. Further, this mechanism is obtained without providing a shutter mechanism opening/closing the developer discarding port 19b, so that cost is reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is equipped with a trickle type developing device which does not require periodic replacement of the developer while keeping the developing characteristics of the two-component developer constant, The present invention relates to a clamshell type electrophotographic apparatus which can be rotated upward about a rotation fulcrum and opened upward so as to open a sheet conveying path.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic apparatus such as a copying machine, a developing apparatus for developing with a two-component developer composed of carrier and toner is often used. In such a developing device, the toner is consumed by the developing operation, while the carrier remains in the developing device without being consumed. Therefore, in the carrier, the resin coating tank on the surface is peeled off by being stirred with the toner in the developing device,
And the adhesion of toner to the surface occurs, and
As shown in the graph (b) of No. 5, the charging ability of the developer gradually deteriorates. Therefore, for example, the above carrier is regularly replaced.

By the way, when the carrier is regularly replaced as described above, the function of the carrier immediately before replacement is significantly lower than that of the carrier at the time of replacement. The image quality will change drastically. Further, the regular carrier replacement work is to remove old carriers from the developing device and fill unused carriers, which is troublesome and causes toner in the developing device to fly up at this time, which is unsanitary. Is. Therefore, in order to eliminate such inconvenience, a trickle-type developing device has been proposed in which carriers in the developing device are gradually discarded while unused carriers are gradually replenished.

As a typical example of the trickle type developing device, for example, Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 2-21591 is disclosed.
JP-B-60-2596 and JP-A-1-2676.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 83-83, while the unused developer is gradually replenished from the developer replenishing device to the developing device, the old developer in the developing device, which becomes excessive due to this replenishment, is replaced with the developer discarding port. It is known that the toner is discharged by overflow from the developer and collected in a developer collecting container. In such a developing device, as shown in the graph (a) of FIG.
The chargeability of the developer is from the time when the developing device is filled with the unused developer to the lapse of a certain use time.
Although it deteriorates, thereafter, the unused developer is gradually replenished, and the old developer is gradually discharged, so that it becomes stable and substantially constant. Further, the developer collection container may be replaced when the collected developer is full, and the periodical replacement work according to the deterioration of the carrier becomes unnecessary. In addition, there is an advantage that the toner hardly rises in the replacement work of only the developer recovery container.

[0005]

However, the copying machine is
In the so-called clamshell type in which the upper part is opened around the opening / closing fulcrum so as to open the sheet conveying path, the above-mentioned opening / closing fulcrum is conventionally used, for example, in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
Fig. 267683. 1 is provided at the end of the developing device of the copying machine on the developer disposal port side. In the conventional trickle-type developing device, the developer discarding port is always open, so when the upper part of the copying machine is opened for paper jam processing or the like, the developing device is accordingly opened. There is a problem that the developer in the developing device is inclined and gathers on the developer disposal port side, and unnecessary developer is unnecessarily discharged from the developer disposal port.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the electrophotographic apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention accommodates a developer consisting of toner and carrier in the developing device, and the carrier is in the developing device. Is gradually supplied to the developing device, the developer in the developing device is gradually discharged from the developer disposal port, and the upper portion of the electrophotographic device including the developing device is rotated around a rotation fulcrum to convey the sheet. In the electrophotographic apparatus that can be opened upward so as to open the path, the developer waste port is provided on a surface opposite to the surface on the rotation fulcrum side of the developing device. ..

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the electrophotographic apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention contains a developer containing a toner and a carrier in the developing device, and the carrier is gradually supplied into the developing device. On the other hand, in response to this, the developer in the developing device is gradually discharged from the developer waste port, and the upper portion of the electrophotographic device including the developing device is rotated around the rotation fulcrum to open the sheet conveying path. An electrophotographic apparatus that can be opened upward includes a shutter device that closes the developer waste port with the opening movement of the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus while opening it with the closing movement of the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus. It is characterized by

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electrophotographic apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the electrophotographic apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the shutter device is provided at the developer disposal port of the developing device. The developer waste port can be freely moved to the open position and the closed position, and the waste port opening / closing member that moves to the closed position when the upper part of the electrophotographic device is opened, and the upper part of the electrophotographic device that is closed. It is characterized in that it is provided with an opening drive member that comes into contact with the above-mentioned waste opening / closing member in accordance with the forming operation and moves the waste opening / closing member to the open position.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electrophotographic apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention contains a developer containing a toner and a carrier, and the carrier is gradually supplied into the developing apparatus. On the other hand, in response to this, the developer in the developing device is gradually discharged from the developer waste port, and the upper portion of the electrophotographic device including the developing device is rotated around the rotation fulcrum to open the sheet conveying path. In an electrophotographic apparatus that can be opened upward, a waste opening / closing member that is movable to an open position and a closed position of a developer waste opening in a developing device, and provided on either the upper part of the electrophotographic device or the lower part of the electrophotographic device When the upper part of the electrophotographic apparatus is closed, the locking operation is performed to engage the upper side member of the electrophotographic apparatus or the lower side member of the electrophotographic apparatus to prohibit the opening of the upper side of the electrophotographic apparatus. When the upper part of the electrophotographic device is moved, the waste port opening / closing member is moved to the closed position when the upper part of the electrophotographic device is opened, and the upper part of the electrophotographic device is closed. It is characterized in that it is provided with a shutter device composed of a waste-port opening / closing member driving member which is moved to an open position when the shutter device is opened.

[0010]

According to the structure of the present invention, the developer waste port of the developing device is provided on the surface opposite to the surface on the rotation fulcrum side when the upper part of the electrophotographic device of the developing device is opened upward. Therefore, when opening the upper part of the electrophotographic device,
Along with this, the developing device tilts, and the developer in the developing device gathers on the side opposite to the developer waste port side. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the unnecessary developer from being discharged from the developer waste port by opening the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus.
Further, it is possible to suppress the situation where the developer that has jumped due to the impact when the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus is opened is discharged from the developer waste port.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the upper part of the electrophotographic device is opened by the shutter device, the developer disposal port of the developing device is closed, while when the upper part of the electrophotographic device is closed. The above-mentioned developer disposal port is opened. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the extra development is discharged from the developer disposal port due to the movement of the developer due to the inclination of the developing device when the upper part of the electrophotographic apparatus is opened and the jump of the developer due to the impact at this time. It

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus is opened, the waste opening / closing member is moved to the closing position by, for example, its own weight or spring force, so that the developer waste opening of the developing device is opened. Closed. On the other hand, when the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus is closed, the opening drive member abuts the waste opening / closing member and moves it to the open position to open the developer waste opening. Since the structure of this shutter device is very simple,
In addition to the function of the second aspect, the shutter device can be constructed at low cost.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus is opened, the waste opening / closing member driving member is moved to move the waste opening / closing member to the closing position, thereby discarding the developer in the developing device. The mouth is closed. On the other hand, when the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus is closed, the waste opening / closing member driving member is moved due to the closing operation, whereby the waste opening / closing member is moved to the open position. Further, when the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus is closed, a lock operation is performed by the drive member for the waste opening / closing member to prohibit opening of the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus. Therefore, in addition to the operation of the second aspect, an independent lock device for locking the upper and lower portions of the electrophotographic apparatus when the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus is closed is unnecessary.

[0014]

【Example】

[Embodiment 1] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the copying machine as the electrophotographic apparatus of the present embodiment has a document placing table 1 on the upper surface thereof,
An exposure optical system section 2 is provided below the original placing table 1.
The exposure optical system unit 2 includes a light source lamp 3 for scanning an original document (not shown) placed on the original document table 2 while irradiating light, and a plurality of reflections for guiding reflected light from the original document to the photoconductor 6. Mirror 4
, And the lens unit 5 arranged in the optical path of the reflected light.

On the outer periphery of the photoconductor 6, a charger 7 for charging the surface of the photoconductor 6 to a predetermined potential, an inter-image eraser (not shown), and an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 6 are developed. There is provided a developing device 8, a transfer charger 9 for transferring the toner image on the surface of the photoconductor 6 to a sheet, a cleaning device 10 for collecting the residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor 6, and a destaticizing device (not shown). Further, on the paper input side with respect to the photoconductor 6, a timing roller 11 for feeding a paper at a predetermined timing, a conveyance roller 12, a paper feed cassette 1
3 and a paper feed roller 14 are provided, and a fixing device 15 that fixes the toner image transferred onto the paper to the paper is provided on the paper output side with respect to the photoconductor 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 8 has a developer supplying device 1 for supplying the developing device 8 with the developer D.
6 and a developer collecting container 17 for collecting the developer D discharged from the developing device 8 are mounted. The developer supply device 16 and the developer recovery container 17 are integrated to constitute a developer supply / recovery unit 18, and the development device 8
It is removable with respect to.

The developing device 8 has a container-shaped tank body 19, which is provided with a magnet roller 20 and an agitating roller 21 in the tank body 19 and contains a developer D composed of carrier and toner. is doing. The carrier is made of a magnetic material and has a resin coating layer on its surface that suppresses adhesion of the toner. The carrier is agitated together with the toner so that the toner is frictionally charged so that the toner is attracted to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 6. The magnet roller 20 attracts the carrier by a magnetic force, forms a magnetic brush, and conveys the carrier to supply the toner adhered to the carrier by the Coulomb force to the photoconductor 6. The height of the spikes of the magnetic brush is regulated by the doctor 22. The stirring roller 21 is the tank body 1.
The developer D in 9 is agitated.

The tank 19 is provided with a developer intake port 19
a and the developer disposal port 19b are formed, and when the developer supply / recovery unit 18 is attached to the developing device 8, the developer intake port 19a is the developer supply port 2 of the developer supply device 16.
3a, the developer disposal port 19b is connected to the developer recovery container 1
7 and the developer recovery port 17a.
The developer disposal port 19b is formed on the surface of the upper part of the copying machine in the developing device 8 opposite to the opening / closing fulcrum 28 described later. When the developer supply / recovery unit 18 is attached to the developing device 8, as shown in FIG. 3, the tank body of the developer supplying device 16 is inserted into the groove portion 19c formed on the upper surface of the tank body 19 of the developing device 8. A portion where the developer supply port 23a is formed in 23 is fitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the developer supply device 16 has a container-shaped tank body 23. Inside the tank body 23, a replenishment arm 24 and a developer supply port 23a are gradually rotated by rotation. A replenishment roller 25 for supplying the developer D is provided, and a high-concentration developer D composed of toner and carrier is stored therein. The developer recovery container 17 has the above-mentioned developer recovery port 17a at the upper part of the side wall facing the developing device 8.
Is to have. Then, the developer D is discharged by overflow from the developer disposal port 19b to the developer recovery port 17a in accordance with the amount of the developer D supplied from the developer supply device 16 to the developing device 8. Is becoming

As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning device 10 includes a cleaning blade 26 for scraping off the residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive member 6, and a conveying screw 27 for conveying the waste toner collected by the cleaning blade 26 in one direction. I have it.

Further, in the present copying machine, as shown in FIG. 4, the paper conveying path is opened around an opening / closing fulcrum 28 provided at an end portion on the paper discharge side for paper jam processing and the like. It is a so-called clamshell type with the upper part open.

In the above structure, first, the copy operation of the copying machine will be briefly described. When the copy start switch (not shown) is turned on in the standby state in which the warm-up is completed, the light source lamp 3 of the exposure optical system unit 2 scans the original document placed on the original document table 2 to remove the original from the original document. The reflected light is applied to the photoconductor 6 via the reflecting mirrors 4 ... And the lens unit 5. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 6 charged to a predetermined potential by the charging charger 7, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by the toner supplied from the developing device 8. The toner image on the surface of the photoconductor 6 is transferred to the paper supplied from the paper feed cassette 13 by the transfer charger 9, and is thermally fixed on the paper by the fixing device 15. As a result, a copy image corresponding to the original image is obtained on the sheet.

The toner remaining on the photoconductor 6 during the above transfer operation is scraped off into the cleaning device 10 by the cleaning blade 26.

If, for example, a paper jam occurs during the copying operation, the upper part of the copying machine is opened upward around the opening / closing fulcrum 28 as shown in FIG. Close after.

Here, when the upper part of the copying machine is opened, the developing device 8 tilts accordingly, but the developer disposal port 1
Since 9b is formed on the surface of the developing device 8 on the side opposite to the opening / closing fulcrum 28 side, as shown in FIG. 5, the developer D in the developing device 8 is opposite to the developer waste port 19b. Move to the side and gather. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the excess developer D is discharged from the developer disposal port 19b due to the movement of the developer D due to the inclination of the developing device 8 when the upper part of the copying machine is opened. Further, it is possible to prevent the developer D in the developing device 8 from jumping due to the impact when the upper part of the copying machine is opened, and the excessive development is discharged from the developer disposal port 19b. Further, this function can be obtained without providing a shutter mechanism for opening and closing the developer disposal port 19b, so that the structure is low in cost. Further, the developer supply / recovery unit 18 can be replaced regardless of whether the upper part of the copying machine is opened or closed.

[Embodiment 2] Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those of the members shown in the drawings of the above-described embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The copying machine according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
A shutter device 31 for opening and closing the developer disposal port 19b of the developing device 8 is provided. The shutter device 31 includes a shutter member 33 as a waste port opening / closing member, a support shaft 32 for rotatably supporting the shutter member 33, a closed position holding portion 19d, and a lower part of a copying machine, which will be described later, as an opening driving member. It is composed of a side member 34. Shutter member 33
Is attached to the tank body 19 of the developing device 8 by the support 32, and is rotatable upward, that is, in the opening direction of the developer disposal port 19b, and downward, that is, in the closing direction of the developer disposal port 19b. The closed position holding portion 19d is formed so as to project toward the developer recovery container 17 in the vicinity of the lower end of the developer disposal port 19b in the tank body 19 of the developing device 8 and develops the shutter member 33 that rotates downward due to its own weight. Agent waste port 1
It is adapted to be held in the closed position of 9b.

The shutter member 33 has a waste opening / closing portion 33a for opening / closing the developer waste opening 19b, and a hanging portion 33b extending downward from the tip of the waste opening / closing portion 33a. As shown in FIG. 8, the hanging part 33b abuts on the lower part 34 of the copying machine provided below the developing device 8 in accordance with the closing operation of the upper part of the copying machine.
3a is pushed upward. The member 34 on the lower side of the copying machine is an appropriate member provided on the lower side of the copying machine with respect to the upper side of the copying machine which can be opened. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a concave portion 19e for arranging the hanging portion 33b is formed in a protruding portion of the tank body 19 for forming the closed position holding portion 19d.

In the above structure, as shown in FIG.
8 and 9 when the upper part of the copying machine is closed.
As shown in FIG. 6, the hanging portion 33b of the shutter member 33 contacts the lower member 34 of the copying machine, and thereby the discarding opening / closing portion 33a is pushed up and the developer discarding opening 19b is opened. Therefore, the developing device 8 through the developer disposal port 19b
The developer D can be discharged from the developer collecting container 17 into the developer collecting container 17.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the upper part of the copying machine is opened upward, the hanging part 33b of the shutter member 33 separates from the lower part 34 of the copying machine, and the shutter member 33 is closed by the waste opening / closing part 3.
3a rotates downward by its own weight until it comes into contact with the closed position holding portion 19d. As a result, as shown in FIG.
The closed position holding portion 19d is closed by the waste opening / closing portion 33a.

As described above, in this copying machine, the developer disposal port 19b of the developing device 8 is closed with the opening of the upper part of the copying machine. Therefore, when the upper part of the copying machine is opened. Due to the movement of the developer D due to the inclination of the developing device 8 and the jump of the developer D due to the impact at this time, a situation in which excessive development is discharged from the developer waste port 19b is prevented. The developer supply / recovery unit 18 can be replaced regardless of whether the upper part of the copying machine is opened or closed.
Further, it is possible to prevent the developer D from spilling from the developer disposal port 19b when the developing device 8 is detached and conveyed.

Further, the shutter device 31 moves the shutter member 33 to be closed by its own weight when the upper part of the copying machine is opened, and when the upper part of the copying machine is closed, the shutter member 33 is a member on the lower side of the copying machine. Since it is configured to be moved by being brought into contact with 34, the structure is very simple and the cost is low.

The movement of the shutter member 33 in the closing direction of the developer disposal port 19b may be forced by a spring, not by its own weight.

Further, in the shutter member 33, the hanging part 33b may be provided as a member separate from the waste opening / closing part 33a and rotatably connected to the waste opening / closing part 33a. In this case, the concave portion 19e is the hanging portion 3
It functions as a sliding guide portion of 3b. Furthermore, the hanging part 33
b may be provided in the copying machine lower side member 34 as a part of the copying machine lower side member 34.

[Embodiment 3] Still another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those of the members shown in the drawings of the above-described embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 11, the copying machine of this embodiment is provided with a shutter device 41 for opening and closing the developer disposal port 19b of the developing device 8. As shown in FIG. 12, the shutter device 41 includes a waste opening / closing member 42 provided in the developer supply / recovery unit 18, and a waste opening / closing member 42.
43 for rotatably supporting the drive unit, a drive member 44 as a waste port opening / closing drive member provided on the upper exterior member 1a of the copying machine, and a support shaft 45 for rotatably supporting the drive member 44, The member 44 includes a tension spring 46 for pulling the member 44 to rotate clockwise in the figure, and a lock receiving portion 1c formed in the lower exterior member 1b of the copying machine and having a lock hole 1d.

The waste port opening / closing member 42 has a rotation support member 42a supported by the support shaft 43, and a tip end portion of the rotation support member 42a, that is, an end portion on the developing device 8 side, via a connecting shaft 42b. Attached shutter member 42
c and. The shutter member 42c is configured to open and close the developer disposal port 19b by the vertical movement associated with the rotation of the rotation support member 42a. This opening / closing operation is reliably performed by the vertical movement of the shutter member 42c being guided by a guide member (not shown). The waste port opening / closing member 42 rotates counterclockwise by its own weight to close the developer waste port 19b.

The drive member 44 has a lock claw portion 44a which engages with the lock receiving portion 1c when the upper portion of the copying machine is closed, and an engagement state between the lock claw portion 44a and the lock receiving portion 1c. An opening drive unit 44b that pushes the rear end of the rotation support member 42a of the waste opening / closing member 42 downward to rotate the waste opening / closing member 42 to the open position, and an unlocking operation exposed from the opening 1e of the upper exterior member 1a. And a portion 44c. A guide for slidingly contacting the lock claw portion 44a with the upper end of the lock receiving portion 1c and guiding the lock claw portion 44a in the engagement direction with the lock hole 1d when the upper part of the copying machine is closed from the open state. The surface 44d is formed.

In the above construction, as shown in FIG. 11, when the upper part of the copying machine is closed, as shown in FIG. 12, the lock claw portion 44a of the driving member 44 is the lock receiving portion of the lower exterior member 1b. Engage with 1c. This allows
The rotation support member 42a of the waste port opening / closing member 42 is rotated in the clockwise direction by pushing the rear end portion downward by the opening drive portion 44b of the drive member 44. Along with this, the shutter member 42c of the disposal port opening / closing member 42 moves upward, and the developer disposal port 19b is opened. Also, the lock receiving portion 1
The locking operation of the locking claw portion 44a of the drive member 44 with respect to c prohibits the opening of the upper portion of the copying machine.

Here, when the upper part of the copying machine is to be opened upward, for example, for clearing a paper jam, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. When the engagement between 44a and the lock receiving portion 1c is released and the upper part of the copying machine is lifted in this state,
As shown in FIG. 13, the upper part of the copying machine can be opened. Further, in the process of opening the upper part of the copying machine, when the lock claw portion 44a is displaced upward with respect to the lock receiving portion 1c, if the pushing operation on the lock release operating portion 44c is released, as shown in FIG. The member 44 rotates in the clockwise direction by the tensile force of the tension spring 46. As a result, the opening drive unit 44b causes the waste port opening / closing member 4 to
Since it separates from the second rotation support member 42a, the waste port opening / closing member 42 rotates clockwise due to its own weight. Along with this, the shutter member 42c moves downward, that is, to the closed position, and the developer disposal port 19b is closed.

As described above, in the present copying machine, when the upper part of the copying machine is closed, the driving member 44 locks the upper part of the copying machine to the lower part of the copying machine, so that another independent locking mechanism is not necessary. Has become.

Excessive developer D is prevented from being discharged from the developer disposal port 19b when the upper part of the copying machine is opened. The developer supply / recovery unit 18 is replaced when the upper part of the copying machine is opened. Regarding the point that it is possible regardless of the closing time and the point that the developer D is prevented from spilling from the developer waste port 19b when the developing device 8 is detached and transported, the copying of the above-described Embodiment 1 is performed. It is the same as the machine.

Further, in the present embodiment, the waste port opening / closing member 42 is rotated by its own weight to the closed position of the developer waste port 19b, but it may be rotated by its own weight to the open position. .. In this case, the driving member 44 rotates the waste opening / closing member 42 to the closed position when the upper part of the copying machine is opened. Further, the rotation of the waste port opening / closing member 42 when the driving member 44 does not act may be performed by the spring force instead of the self weight. Further, the driving member 44 may be provided on the lower exterior member 1b side. In this case, the waste opening / closing member 42 moves to the closing position by its own weight or spring force when the upper part of the copying machine is opened, and the driving member 4 is opened.
4 is for moving the waste port opening / closing member 42 to the open position when the upper part of the copying machine is closed.

[0045]

As described above, in the electrophotographic apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the developer disposal port of the developing device has a surface on the rotation fulcrum side when the upper part of the electrophotographic device of the developing device is opened upward. Is a structure provided on the opposite surface.

As a result, when the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus is opened upward, the developer in the developing device gathers on the side opposite to the developer disposal port side, and unnecessary developer is unnecessarily discharged from the developer disposal port. It is possible to prevent the situation. Further, there is an effect that it is possible to suppress the situation in which the developer jumped by the impact when the upper part of the electrophotographic apparatus is opened is discharged from the developer waste port.

In the electrophotographic apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, as described above, the developer waste port of the developing apparatus is closed with the opening movement of the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus, while the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus is closed. This is a configuration including a shutter device that opens with movement.

As a result, the excess development is discharged from the developer disposal port due to the movement of the developer due to the inclination of the development device when the upper part of the electrophotographic apparatus is opened and the jump of the developer due to the impact at this time. This has the effect of preventing the situation.

As described above, the electrophotographic apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention is the electrophotographic apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the shutter device is provided at the developer waste port of the developing device. The opening / closing position of the electrophotographic device, and the waste opening / closing member that moves to the closing position when the upper part of the electrophotographic device is opened, and the closing operation of the upper part of the electrophotographic device, which is provided at the lower part of the electrophotographic device. And an opening drive member that abuts against the waste port opening / closing member and moves the waste port opening / closing member to the open position.

As a result, in addition to the effect of the second aspect of the invention, the structure of the shutter device is simple and the cost is low.

As described above, in the electrophotographic apparatus of the invention of claim 4, the waste opening / closing member movable to the open position and the closed position of the developer waste opening in the developing device, the electrophotographic apparatus upper part and the electrophotographic apparatus. The lock operation is provided on either one of the lower part of the device and when the upper part of the electrophotographic device is closed, it engages with the upper member of the electrophotographic device or the lower member of the electrophotographic device to prohibit the opening of the upper part of the electrophotographic device. At the same time, the lock operation and the opening operation of the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus associated with the unlocking operation cause movement, and the waste opening / closing member is moved to the closed position when the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus is opened. The shutter device is composed of a waste port opening / closing member drive member that moves the photographic device to the open position when the upper part of the photographic device is closed.

As a result, in addition to the effect of the second aspect of the invention, there is an effect that an independent locking device for locking the upper and lower parts of the electrophotographic apparatus is not required when the upper part of the electrophotographic apparatus is closed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of a copying machine showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the developing device and the developer supply / recovery unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a developer waste port formed in the developing device and a fitting structure between the developing device and the developer supply / recovery unit by breaking the developer supply / recovery unit.

4 is an overall configuration diagram showing a state in which an upper portion of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1 is opened.

5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the developing device and the developer supply / recovery unit in the state shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view showing a shutter device provided in the developing device by breaking the developer supply / recovery unit.

FIG. 7 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of a copying machine including the shutter device.

8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the operation of the shutter device when the upper part of the copying machine shown in FIG. 7 is closed.

9 is a perspective view of a main part showing the operation of the shutter device shown in FIG.

10 is an overall configuration diagram showing a state in which an upper portion of the copying machine shown in FIG. 7 is opened.

FIG. 11 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of a copying machine showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a vertical sectional view showing the operation of the shutter device when the upper part of the copying machine shown in FIG. 11 is closed.

13 is an overall configuration diagram showing a state in which an upper portion of the copying machine shown in FIG. 11 is opened.

14 is a vertical sectional view showing the operation of the shutter device when the upper part of the copying machine shown in FIG. 13 is opened.

FIG. 15 is a graph showing the relationship between the chargeability of the developer and the time in the case of the trickle system in which the developer is gradually replaced in the developing device (a) and in the case of not using the trickle system (b).

[Explanation of symbols]

 8 Developing Device 19b Developer Waste Port 28 Opening / Closing Point 31 Shutter Device 33 Shutter Member (Waste Port Opening / Closing Member) 33a Waste Port Opening / Closing Part 33b Hanging Part 34 Copying Machine Lower Side Member (Opening Drive Member) 41 Shutter Device 42 Waste Port Opening / Closing Member 42a Rotation support member 42c Shutter member 44 Drive member (disposal opening / closing member drive member)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A developer comprising a toner and a carrier is accommodated in a developing device, and the carrier is gradually supplied into the developing device. In response to this, the developer in the developing device is discharged from a developer disposal port. In the electrophotographic apparatus that is gradually discharged, the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus including the developing apparatus is rotated around a rotation fulcrum and can be opened upward so as to open the sheet conveying path. An electrophotographic apparatus, wherein the electrophotographic apparatus is provided on a surface opposite to the surface on the rotation fulcrum side in the developing device. 2. A developer comprising a toner and a carrier is accommodated in the developing device, and the carrier is gradually supplied into the developing device. In response to this, the developer in the developing device is discharged from the developer disposal port. In the electrophotographic apparatus that is gradually discharged, the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus including the developing apparatus can be rotated about a rotation fulcrum to open upward so as to open the sheet conveying path. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising a shutter device that is closed when the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus is opened and is opened when the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus is closed. 3. The shutter device is provided at a developer discarding port of a developing device, is movable to an open position and a closing position of the developer discarding port, and is closed when the upper part of the electrophotographic apparatus is opened. Opening drive for moving the waste opening / closing member and the waste opening / closing member that is provided in the lower part of the electrophotographic apparatus and contacts the above-described waste opening / closing member with the closing operation of the upper part of the electrophotographic apparatus to move the waste opening / closing member to the open position. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a member. 4. A developer comprising a toner and a carrier is accommodated in the developing device, and the carrier is gradually supplied into the developing device. In response to this, the developer in the developing device is discharged from the developer disposal port. In an electrophotographic device that is gradually discharged and can be opened upward by rotating the upper part of the electrophotographic device including the developing device around a rotation fulcrum so as to open the sheet conveyance path, A waste port opening / closing member movable to an open position and a closing position, and one of an upper portion of the electrophotographic device and a lower portion of the electrophotographic device are provided. The locking operation is performed by engaging the lower member of the electrophotographic apparatus to prohibit the opening of the upper section of the electrophotographic apparatus, and the locking operation and the opening operation of the upper section of the electrophotographic apparatus accompanying the releasing operation are performed. The waste port opening / closing member driving member that moves the waste port opening / closing member to the closed position when the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus is opened, and moves it to the open position when the upper portion of the electrophotographic apparatus is closed. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising a shutter device including