JPH06186853A - Developing device for electrophotographic recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make toner supply amount to a developing chamber nearly fixed even when toner amount in a hopper chamber is varied or even when the device is used in a different machine type laser printer, etc. CONSTITUTION:Slide grooves 37a are provided at the upper and lower aperture edges of an aperture 37 communicating with the hopper chamber 36 and the developing chamber 31, and a toner supply amount regulating member 38 having plural small holes 38a is provided to freely slide in the slide groove 37a. Meanwhile, the members 38 which have the different size of the small hole 38a one another are plurally prepared. The member 38 is exchanged to the member 38 having the small hole 38a of the optimum size according to the toner amount in the hopper chamber 36, for example. Then, the toner is supplied to the developing chamber 31 through the small hole 38a.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention can be applied to an electrophotographic recording apparatus which records on a sheet by an electrophotographic system, such as a printer, a copying machine and a facsimile, using a laser.
Specifically, in such an electrophotographic recording apparatus, the toner in the hopper chamber is replenished into the developing chamber through a plurality of small holes, and the toner is attached by the developing roller in the developing chamber to form a latent image on the photoreceptor. The present invention relates to a developing device that makes a visible image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, an opening 2 is provided in the hopper 1, a toner replenishment amount regulating member 3 having a plurality of small holes 3a is attached to the opening 2, and an agitator 5 is rotatably provided in the hopper chamber 4. Some developing chambers 7 are provided with a developing roller 8 and a stirring roller. Then, the agitator 5 is rotated to carry the toner in the hopper chamber 4 to the opening 2, and the small hole 3
The toner replenishment amount is adjusted through a and sent to the inside of the developing chamber 7, and the toner is attached to the developing roller 8 to visualize the latent image on the photoreceptor 9. On the other hand, recently,
In some cases, the same developing device is used for different models such as a laser printer.

[0003]

However, as shown in FIG. 9, when the upper surface of the toner in the hopper chamber 4 is at the position A above the position of the small hole 3a in the opening 2, the toner replenishment amount is The toner supply amount decreases as the position increases from the position B to the position B, C, and D below, and the toner supply amount changes according to the amount of toner in the hopper chamber 4 as shown by the curve in the graph of FIG. . Further, when the agitator 5 is used in a laser printer of a different model and the rotation speed of the agitator 5 is different, as shown in FIG. 7, the rotation speed of the agitator 5 is 70 rpm as compared with 50 rpm. Has a large amount of toner supply. As a result, the amount of toner adhering to the developing roller 8 increased and the image density changed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to keep the toner supply amount constant in the developing chamber even when the toner amount in the hopper chamber changes or when the toner amount is used in a laser printer of a different model. It's about getting closer.

[0005]

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the toner in the hopper chamber 36 is developed through a plurality of small holes 38a as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, for example. In the developing device 13 of the electrophotographic recording apparatus for replenishing the inside of the chamber 31, the toner is attached by the developing roller 32 in the developing chamber 31, and the latent image on the photoreceptor 11 is visualized. A plurality of toner replenishment amount regulating members 38 having the small holes 38a are provided so that the opening areas of the holes 38a are different from each other, and the regulating members 46 can be exchanged with respect to the container body 30.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, for example, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 below, the toner in the hopper chamber 36 is replenished into the developing chamber 31 through a plurality of small holes 38a,
In the developing device 13 of the electrophotographic recording apparatus in which the toner is attached by the developing roller 32 in the developing chamber 31 to make the latent image on the photoconductor 11 visible, the size of the small hole 38a is mutually changed. Toner-replenishment amount regulating member 3 having the small hole 38a
8 are provided, and the restricting members 46 are attached to the container body 30 so that the positions of the small holes 38a are aligned with each other.
The toner replenishment amount regulating member 38 having a small small hole 38a.
It is characterized in that it can be sequentially removed from.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the toner in the hopper chamber 36 is replenished into the developing chamber 31 through a plurality of small holes 38a as in the embodiment shown in FIG.
In the developing device 13 of the electrophotographic recording apparatus in which the toner is attached by the developing roller 32 in the developing chamber 31 to visualize the latent image on the photoconductor 11, the opening areas of the small holes 38a are mutually changed. Differently, a plurality of toner replenishment amount regulating members 38 having the small holes 38a are provided, and the regulating members 46 are attached to the main body 30 by overlapping the small holes 38a at different positions.
It is characterized in that it can be removed with one remaining.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the amount of toner to be replenished is made to approach a constant amount as the amount of toner in the hopper chamber 36 decreases, the small hole 3 having the optimum opening area during use is used.
8a is replaced with the toner replenishment amount regulating member 38. Alternatively, when the toner replenishment amount is brought close to a certain amount depending on the model, first, the small hole 38a having the optimum opening area corresponding to the model is provided.
The toner replenishment amount regulating member 38 provided with is attached.

According to the second aspect, the hopper chamber 36
When the toner replenishment amount is brought close to a certain amount in accordance with the decrease in the toner amount in the hopper chamber 36, the toner replenishment amount regulating member 38 having a small hole 38a is sequentially operated in accordance with the change in the toner amount in the hopper chamber 36 during use. Remove. Alternatively, when the toner replenishment amount is brought close to a certain amount depending on the model, first, the toner replenishment amount regulating member 38 provided with the small hole 38a having the optimum size according to the model is attached.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the toner replenishment amount is brought close to a certain amount depending on the model, the toner replenishment amount regulating member 3 provided with the small hole 38a having the optimum opening area.
Remove the other ones, leaving one.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the entire internal structure 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. A drum-shaped photoconductor 11 is provided in the main body 10 of the apparatus at substantially the center thereof.

Around the photoconductor 11, a charging device 12, a developing device 13 according to the present invention, a transfer device 14, and a cleaning device 15 are arranged in this order in the driving direction shown by the arrow in the figure.
An optical writing device 16 is arranged above the charging device 12, the cleaning device 15, and the developing device 13, and a paper feed cassette 17 containing a sheet S is detachably attached to the right side of the apparatus main body 10 in the drawing.

Then, the paper feed roller 18 is rotated to feed the sheet S from the paper feed cassette 17 in the direction of arrow A in the figure,
The pair of registration rollers 19 and the photoconductor 11 are timed.
To the lower side.

The photoconductor 11 is driven in the clockwise direction shown by the arrow, and at that time, the surface is uniformly charged by the charger 12.
Then, laser light from the optical writing device 16 is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 11. This latent image is developed by the developing device 1.
The toner visualizes the image as it passes through three positions. Then, this visible image is transferred by the transfer device 14 onto the upper surface of the sheet S conveyed to the lower side of the photoconductor 11.

The sheet S after the image transfer is fixed to the fixing device 2.
The transfer image is conveyed to 0, and the transfer image is fixed by the fixing device 20. Then, the sheet S that has exited the fixing device 20 is conveyed in the conveyance path 21 and is ejected onto the paper ejection tray 23 by the paper ejection roller pair 22. On the other hand, the photoconductor 11 after the image transfer is cleaned by the cleaning device 15 to remove the residual toner.

By the way, the developing device 13 according to the present invention is
As shown in FIG. 2, a developing chamber 31 is formed inside the developing device main body 30. In the developing chamber 31, a developing roller 32 and an agitating roller 33 are rotatably provided, and a thinning blade 34 whose tip is pressed against the developing roller 32 is provided.

Further, a hopper 35 is provided in the developing device main body 30, and a hopper chamber 36 is formed inside the hopper 35.
An opening 37 communicating with the developing chamber 31 is formed on the wall surface of the hopper chamber 36. The opening 37 has a plurality of small holes 38.
A toner replenishment amount regulating member 38 having the opened a is provided. Also,
A toner is housed in the hopper chamber 36, and a base end is supported by a rotary shaft 39, and an agitator 40 is rotatably provided.

When the agitator 40 is rotated in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow, the toner in the hopper chamber 36 is agitated and replenished from the small hole 38a of the film 38 to the developing chamber 31.

On the other hand, in the developing chamber 30a, the stirring roller 33 is used.
Is rotated to transfer the toner in the developing chamber 31 to the developing roller 32 side. Then, the developing roller 32 is rotated counterclockwise as indicated by an arrow, and a toner is attached to the developing roller 32 by an agitating roller 33, and the attached toner is made into a thin layer blade 34.
To thin the layer to a uniform thickness. Then, the thinned toner is attached to the photoconductor 11 to visualize the latent image on the photoconductor 11.

The developing device 13 according to the present invention is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
a is provided. On the other hand, the toner replenishment amount restricting member 38 includes a rectangular frame member 45 and a plurality of small holes 38a stretched over the rectangular frame member 45.
And a film 46 such as PETP opened. A plurality of toner replenishment amount regulating members 38 are provided with the small holes 38a having different sizes.

Then, when it is desired to make the toner replenishment amount constant in accordance with the toner amount in the hopper chamber 36, the following procedure is performed. That is, the amount of toner in the hopper chamber 36 is large and the amount of toner in the hopper chamber 3 is large.
When the toner replenishment amount from 6 is large, the toner replenishment amount regulating member 38 having a small opening area of the small hole 38a is attached to the slide groove 37.
Install it by fitting it in. Then, the amount of toner that passes through the small hole 38a from the hopper chamber 36 decreases, and the amount of toner passing through is regulated. Further, when the amount of toner in the hopper chamber 36 decreases and the amount of toner replenishment decreases, the toner replenishment amount regulating member 38 having a large opening area of the small hole 38a.
By exchanging with the toner, the toner passing amount increases, and the toner replenishing amount can be made constant.

When it is desired to make the toner supply amount constant depending on the model, first, the small hole 3 having an opening area corresponding to the model is used.
The toner replenishment amount regulating member 38 having 8a is attached.

In the embodiment described above, a plurality of toner replenishment amount regulating members 38 having small holes 38a of different sizes are provided, and one of them is slidably fitted into the developing device main body 30. I installed it. However, as shown in FIG.
A plurality of toner replenishment amount regulating members 38 having different sizes of the small holes 38a may be attached. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of toner replenishment amount regulating members 38 having small holes 38a of different sizes are fitted into the slide grooves 37 and attached, respectively, and the small holes 38a are arranged in order of increasing size. The holes 38a are aligned with each other and overlap each other.

When it is desired to make the toner supply amount constant according to the toner amount in the hopper chamber 36, the hopper chamber 36
As the amount of toner inside is gradually reduced, the toner replenishing amount regulating member 38 having a small hole 38a is sequentially removed from the small toner replenishing amount regulating member 38, and the toner replenishing amount regulating member 38 having a small hole 38a larger than the small hole 38a is left. Then, the toner is replenished through the small hole 38a larger than before, the toner replenishment amount increases, and the toner replenishment amount can be made close to a constant amount.

When it is desired to make the toner supply amount constant depending on the model, first, the small hole 3 having an opening area corresponding to the model is used.
The toner replenishment amount regulating member 38 having 8a is attached.
Then, a fixed amount of toner corresponding to the model is supplied.

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the toner replenishing amount regulating member 38 is mounted so as to overlap the small holes 38a at the same position, but as shown in FIG. You may make it mutually different and may be made to pile up and to attach.

Then, when the developing device 13 is transported, the toner leakage is prevented by keeping the regulating member 38 in the state of being attached in a superposed manner. When the developing device 13 is used in a laser printer having a different number of rotations, the toner replenishment amount regulating member 38 having a small hole 38a having an opening area corresponding to the model thereof.
The other restricting member 38 is removed, leaving only this. Then, a fixed amount of toner corresponding to the model is supplied.

[0028]

Therefore, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, when the toner amount in the hopper chamber changes, or when the toner amount is used for a laser printer of a different model, etc.
Since the toner replenishment amount regulating member is exchanged according to the toner delivery amount, the toner replenishment amount to the developing chamber can be brought close to a constant value in any case.

Further, according to the third aspect, when used for different models, one toner replenishment amount regulating member having a small hole having an opening area corresponding to the model is left and other components are removed. Even when used in a laser printer of a different model, the toner supply amount to the developing chamber can be made close to a constant amount.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing attachment of a toner replenishment amount regulating member in a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the developing device.

FIG. 3 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a laser printer including the developing device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a developing device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view thereof.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged perspective view around an opening in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship among the number of rotations of the agitator, the toner replenishment amount, and the hopper chamber toner amount in a general developing device.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relationship between the toner amount in the hopper chamber and the toner replenishment amount in a general developing device.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing changes in the upper surface position of the toner amount in the hopper chamber corresponding to the graph.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional developing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Photoreceptor 13 Developing Device 30 Developing Device Main Body 31 Developing Chamber 32 Developing Roller 38a Small Hole 46 Toner Replenishment Amount Controlling Member

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electron for replenishing a toner in a hopper chamber into a developing chamber through a plurality of small holes and attaching the toner by a developing roller in the developing chamber to visualize a latent image on a photoreceptor. In a developing device of a photographic recording device, a plurality of toner replenishment amount regulating members having the small holes are provided so that the opening areas of the small holes are different from each other, and the regulating members can be exchanged with the main body of the device. Developing device for photographic recording equipment. 2. An electron for replenishing a toner in a hopper chamber into a developing chamber through a plurality of small holes and attaching the toner by a developing roller in the developing chamber to visualize a latent image on a photoconductor. In a developing device of a photographic recording apparatus, a plurality of toner replenishment amount regulating members having the small holes are provided so that the small holes are different in size from each other, and the regulating members are arranged such that the positions of the small holes coincide with each other. A developing device for an electrophotographic recording apparatus, which is mounted on the main body of the electrophotographic recording apparatus in a stacked manner and can be sequentially removed from the toner replenishment amount regulating member having a small hole. 3. An electron for replenishing a toner in a hopper chamber into a developing chamber through a plurality of small holes and adhering the toner by a developing roller in the developing chamber to visualize a latent image on a photoreceptor. In a developing device of a photographic recording apparatus, a plurality of toner replenishment amount regulating members having the small holes are provided so that the opening areas of the small holes are different from each other, and the regulating members are overlapped with each other with the positions of the small holes being different from each other. A developing device for an electrophotographic recording device that can be attached to the main body of the developing device and removed while leaving one as the only device.