JPH0561761U - Image forming device developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] In a developing device of an image forming apparatus in which a toner cartridge is detachably mounted on a toner case, replacement work of the toner cartridge is facilitated and toner scattering is prevented. [Structure] An upward cutting blade 4 is provided in an upper opening of a toner case 9.
Set 0. The toner cartridge 10 is the toner case 9
When the toner cartridge 10 is attached to the toner cartridge 10, the film cover 42 of the opening 41 of the toner cartridge 10 is cut, the opening 41 is opened, and the toner T in the toner cartridge 10 is transferred to the toner case 9. Therefore, it is not necessary to peel off the film cover.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a developing device of an image forming apparatus for developing a latent image by attaching toner to an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 In a developing device of this type of image forming apparatus, a toner cartridge filled with replenishing toner is detachably mounted in an open upper surface of a toner case that contains toner. An opening is formed in the toner cartridge, and the opening is sealed by a film cover during manufacturing.

When a new toner cartridge is attached to the toner case for replenishing the toner, the toner cartridge is set on the upper surface of the toner case so that the opening portion faces downward, and the toner cartridge and the toner case are separated from each other. By peeling off the film cover from the gap, the toner in the toner cartridge drops into the case and can be transferred. Therefore, the peeling work is troublesome, and not only is the film cover soiled with toner pulled out, but the toner itself also goes out with the film cover and scatters. It was contaminated around the forming equipment or workers.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide a developing device in which the toner cartridge mounting operation is easy and the toner is prevented from scattering.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, the upper surface is opened, a toner case for containing toner and a toner for replenishment are filled, and the opening is sealed with a film cover. The toner cartridge is detachably attached to the upper opening of the toner case, and a cutting blade for cutting the film cover of the toner cartridge is provided in the upper opening of the toner case.

[0006]

[Work]

 Therefore, in this invention, only by mounting the toner cartridge in the toner case, the cutting blade cuts the film cover of the toner cartridge. Therefore, the toner in the toner cartridge falls into the toner case and is transferred.

[0007]

【Example】

 An embodiment of an image forming apparatus embodying the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the device case 1 is formed in a substantially box shape with an upper surface opened, and a lid body 2 is attached to the upper surface opening portion by a support shaft 3 so as to be openable and closable. A photosensitive drum 4 for performing an image forming process is rotatably supported in the center of the apparatus case 1, and a photoconductive film 5 is formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The charger 6 uniformly charges the photoconductive film 5 to a predetermined potential (-700 V in the embodiment). The exposure device 7 forms an electrostatic latent image of a predetermined potential (-100 V in the embodiment) on the photosensitive drum 4 by irradiation of light.

The developing device 8 is arranged so as to face the outer periphery of the rear portion of the photosensitive drum 4, a toner case 9 for containing the toner T, and a toner cartridge 10 detachably mounted on the toner case 9. The developing roller 11 is provided in the lower end opening of the toner case 9 so as to closely face the photosensitive drum 4. Then, a predetermined potential (-450 V in the embodiment) is applied to the toner T by the developing roller 11, and the toner T is attached to the electrostatic latent image based on the difference between the potential and the potential of the electrostatic latent image. Then, the electrostatic latent image is visualized.

The paper feed cassette 12 contains a large number of paper sheets P in a stacked state. Then, the paper P 1 is pressed against the paper feed roller 13 via the push-up plate 15 by the urging force of the spring 14. When the paper feed roller 13 is rotated, the paper P is fed out one by one from the paper feed cassette 12 and transferred to the lower part of the photosensitive drum 4 via the paper guide 16 and the pair of feed rollers 17. . The transfer roller 19 brings the paper P into close contact with the photosensitive drum 4, and the transfer device 18 gives a predetermined potential (+100 V in the embodiment) to the close contact portion. Based on the difference between the potential and the potential of the toner image, The toner image on the photosensitive drum 4 is transferred onto the paper P.

The charge eliminating lamp 20 exposes the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 4 after the transfer to eliminate the charge. The brush 21 removes paper dust and the like adhering to the photosensitive drum 4 after transfer. The memory removing brush 22 made of a conductive brush disturbs the toner T remaining on the photosensitive drum 4 after transfer, and uniformly disperses the toner T on the photosensitive drum 4. The developing device 8 also performs a cleaning operation for collecting the residual toner T dispersed by the memory removing brush 22 by electrostatic attraction, in parallel with the developing operation. The heating roller 24 and the pressure roller 25 heat and fix the toner image on the paper P. The stacker 27 holds the paper P for which image fixing has been completed.

Next, the structure of the developing device 8 will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rectangular cartridge mounting opening 30 is provided by opening the upper surface of the toner case 9. A locking body 31 is fixed to the front edge of the opening of the mounting opening 30. Further, a cutting blade 40 having a straight blade shape is fixed to the mounting opening 30 with the tip of the blade facing upward. The cutting blade 40 is arranged on three sides of the mounting opening 30 excluding the long side of the front portion. The locking lever 32 is attached to the central portion of the outer surface of the rear side of the toner case 9 with a screw 33, and has a thin portion 32a, a locking portion 32b, and an operating portion 32c. On the other hand, the toner cartridge 10 is formed in a substantially box shape, and a flange portion 34 is provided on the periphery of the opening 41 formed in the lower portion. When the toner T is accommodated in the toner cartridge 10 at the time of manufacturing, a film cover 42 made of a vinyl sheet is attached to the outer surface of the flange portion 34 so as to seal the opening 41. Is filled and sealed in the toner cartridge 10.

The toner sensor 36 is arranged to face the lower rear portion of the toner case 9, and when the toner T in the toner case 9 falls below a predetermined amount, a detection signal is output from the toner sensor 36.

A notch 35 for making the locking lever 32 easy to see is formed at the center of the bottom of the toner cartridge 10 (center of the top in the mounted state) so as to correspond to the operating portion 32c of the locking lever 32. .

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus configured as described above will be described. In the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, when a detection signal is output from the toner sensor 36 and the toner T needs to be replenished in the toner case 9 of the developing device 8, the lid 2 is opened and rotated. Then, the upper surface of the device case 1 is opened. Then, when the operating portion 32c of the locking lever 32 is pressed backward, the locking lever 32 bends backward in the thin portion 32a, the locking portion 32b is separated from the flange portion 34 of the toner cartridge 10, and the toner cartridge The lock of 10 is released. When the toner cartridge 10 is moved rearward in this state, the front edge of the flange portion 34 is separated from between the locking body 31 and the toner case 9, and the toner cartridge 10 can be removed from the toner case 9. it can.

After that, when mounting a new toner cartridge 10 on the toner case 9, the front edge of the flange portion 34 is inserted and locked between the locking body 31 and the toner case 9, and the locking lever 32 is locked. When the pressing operation is released and moved to the front, the locking portion 32b engages with the rear edge of the flange portion 34 from above, and the toner cartridge 10 is locked and held in the mounted state on the toner case 9.

Then, when the toner cartridge 10 is mounted, the film cover 42 of the opening 41 is cut by the cutting blade 40 of the toner case 9. By this cutting, the sealed opening 41 of the toner cartridge 10 is opened, and the toner T in the cartridge 10 drops into the toner case 9 and is transferred into the toner case 9. As described above, the toner can be replenished only by mounting the toner cartridge 10 without peeling off the film cover 42. Therefore, not only the work of peeling off the film cover is not necessary, but also the film cover soiled with the toner T is not drawn out or the toner T is not taken out together with the film cover. Therefore, the mounting operation of the toner cartridge 10 is facilitated, and the toner T 1 does not scatter to the outside, so that the inside of the image forming apparatus, the periphery of the apparatus, or the worker can be prevented from getting dirty.

Since the cutting blade 40 is not provided in the front portion of the mounting opening 30 of the toner case 9, the front side of the film cover 42 is not cut, and the film cover 42 hangs with the front side left. . Further, when the toner cartridge 10 is detached and replaced, since the notch 35 is provided in a portion corresponding to the locking lever 32 of the toner cartridge 10, the locking lever 32 is provided on the outer surface of the rear side of the toner case 9. Even when the toner cartridge 10 is attached, the locking lever 32 can be easily seen and the toner cartridge 10 can be easily replaced.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment. For example, the cutting blade 40 may be formed into a saw blade shape, or the cutting blade 40 may be provided only on one side edge of the mounting opening 30. Alternatively, it may be embodied by arbitrarily changing the configuration of each part within a range not departing from the gist of the invention, such as being provided on two adjacent side edges.

[0020]

[Effect of the device]

 Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to replenish the toner without scattering the toner simply by mounting the toner cartridge in the toner case, which facilitates the mounting work. , It has an excellent effect that it can prevent stains around the toner.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a developing device of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a cutting blade.

[Explanation of symbols]

8 developing device, 9 toner case, 10 toner cartridge, 30 mounting opening, 40 cutting blade, 41 opening, 4
2 Film cover.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A toner case in which toner is accommodated and a replenishment toner are filled with the top surface opened, and an opening is sealed with a film cover, and the opening is attached to and detached from the opening of the top surface of the toner case. A developing device for an image forming apparatus, which is composed of a toner cartridge that can be mounted so that a cutting blade that cuts a film cover of the toner cartridge is provided at an upper opening portion of the toner case.