JPH0635246Y2 - Development device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a developing device, and more particularly to a developing device having a replenishing hopper for supplying a developer.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in a developing device such as an image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, the developing function deteriorates when the developer in the developing device becomes old. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the developer (every 45,000 sheets). However, since it is complicated and the developer easily adheres to hands and clothes, it is impossible for the user to replace the developer. Therefore, the developing device itself is replaced as a unit.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

However, even if the developer deteriorates, the developing device does not deteriorate, and since the developing device itself is expensive, it is costly to replace the developing device as a unit to replace the developer. However, there is a problem in that the burden on the user increases.

The present invention aims to solve such problems.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention proposes the following developing device. That is, the present invention is a developing device including a replenishing hopper having a movable side wall formed therein, wherein the movable side wall closes the replenishing hopper and the developing device body when replenishing the developing device body with the developer. When the developer whose developing function has deteriorated is collected at the position from the developing device main body, the developing device is characterized in that it is switchably formed at a position where the replenishment hopper and the developing device main body communicate with each other.

[Action]

In the above configuration, when the movable side wall is switched to a position where the space between the replenishing hopper and the developing device is closed, the replenishing hopper is in a normal use state, so that the developer in the replenishing hopper is transferred to the developing device only by the rotation of the replenishing roller. Will be replenished.

Further, when the movable side wall is switched to a position where the replenishing hopper and the developing device are communicated with each other, the developer can freely move between the replenishing hopper and the developing device, and therefore the developing device is turned upside down to deteriorate the inside of the developing device. Residual developer can be moved upside down into the replenishment hopper for recovery.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, showing how the structure of the present invention is practically embodied.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is
The developing device main body 2 is a replenishment hopper which is disposed above the developing device main body 1 and supplies the developer into the developing device main body 1. A cartridge guide 3 for mounting a toner cartridge and a cartridge guide cover 4 are mounted on the supply hopper 2.

In the developing device main body 1, a replenishing roller 5 for replenishing the developer from the replenishing hopper 2 into the developing device main body 1, an agitator 6 for agitating the replenished developer, and a developer agitated by the agitator 6. A drawing-up rotor 7 for drawing up, a guide 8 for guiding the developer drawn up by the rotor 7, a developing roller 9 having a plurality of magnets inside and attracting and adhering the developer to its circumferential surface to form a magnetic brush. A spike-cutting plate 10 for cutting the magnetic brush formed on the circumferential surface of the developing roller to a constant height is attached.

Further, a movable side wall 11 is provided between the replenishment hopper 2 and the developing device main body 1, and the movable side wall 11 serves as a block and a communication between the replenishing hopper 2 and the developing device main body 1 about a support shaft 11a. It can be set by switching between two states.

When the movable side wall 11 is set to the closed position, the developer cannot be moved from the replenishment hopper 2 into the developing device main body 1 as it is, and the developer is not removed by driving the replenishment roller 5. Moving.

The movable side wall 11 is normally used in the closed state as shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the movable side wall of the embodiment is switched to the communicating position. The replenishing hopper 2 rotates the movable side wall 11 about the pivot 11a clockwise about 90 degrees from the closed position in the previous figure. Then, since the closed state is released, a large communication port is formed between the replenishing hopper 2 and the developing device main body 1, and the developer can freely move between the replenishing hopper 2 and the developing device main body 1. As a result, a large amount of deteriorated developer is quickly collected in the cartridge.

The movable side wall 11 is used in a communicating state as shown in FIG. 2 for maintenance and the like.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the developing device of the same embodiment. On the outer side surface of the developing device main body 1, there is a lever 12 (not shown) connected to the movable side wall, which is rotated by about 90 degrees as indicated by an arrow. By doing so, the movable side wall 11 is also oriented as shown in FIG.

That is, closing of the movable side wall 11 and switching of the communication position are
It is performed by operating the external lever 12.

With respect to the developing device of the present invention having such a structure, the operation for replacing the developer at the user level will be described.

First, an empty toner cartridge (not shown) is mounted in the cartridge guide 3 and the cartridge guide cover 4, and the lever 12 is rotated as shown in FIG. The position of 11 changes as shown in FIG.

Next, when the developing device is turned upside down and the gear (not shown) of the developing roller is manually rotated by an attached crank (not shown), the related equipment inside is rotated, so that the developing function in the developing device main body 1 is deteriorated. The old residual developer is communicated with the periphery of the movable side wall in the communicating state, and drops and accumulates in the mounted empty cartridge.

After removing the cartridge, in which the old residual developer is accumulated, from the developing device in the inverted state, the developing device is returned from the inverted state to the original normal state.

In the case of a toner cartridge with a removable lid,
After the old residual developer has accumulated in the toner cartridge, the lid is attached, the developing device is returned from the upside down state to the normal state, and then removed from the developing device.

Next, after the movable side wall 11 is returned to the closed state as shown in FIG. 1 by the lever 12 (FIG. 3), a toner cartridge (not shown) containing a new starter agent (mixture of toner and carrier) is shown. To the replenishment hopper 2 of the developing device.
The starter enters the replenishment hopper 2 when it is mounted in the cartridge cover 4 along the upper cartridge guide 3 and the film (not shown) on the bottom surface of the toner cartridge is peeled off.

The start agent contained in the replenishing hopper 2 is supplied into the developing device main body 1 by the rotation of the replenishing roller 5.

After the movable side wall 11 is returned to the closed position as shown in FIG. 1 by the lever 12 (FIG. 3), the toner is replenished in the same manner as the start agent.

In order to maintain the normally movable side wall 11 in the closed state as shown in FIG. 1, a locking means 12a is provided between the lever 12 and both portions of the developing device main body 1 side so as to be fitted by a protrusion and a recess. It's okay.

Then, by releasing the fitting state of the protrusion, the lever
It becomes possible to turn 12, and the position of the movable side wall 11 changes.

As described above, in the developing device of the present invention, the replenishing hopper 2 is provided with the movable side wall 11 so that the user can easily replace only the developer by operating the lever. It is no longer necessary to replace the entire developing device.

[Effect of device]

According to the present invention, when the developer is exchanged, the movable side wall is placed at a position where the replenishment hopper communicates with the developing device body, and when the developer is replenished, the movable side wall is placed between the replenishment hopper and the developing device body. By forming movable side walls that can be switched at the closing position, it becomes easy to replace the developer,
Only the developer can be replaced on the user side.

Therefore, unlike the conventional case, it is not necessary to replace the entire developing device, so that the cost can be reduced.

Further, when collecting the developer whose developing function has deteriorated from the developing device main body, if the movable side wall is switched to a position where the replenishing hopper and the developing device main body communicate with each other, a large communication port is formed between the replenishing hopper and the developing device main body. Since it is formed, the developer can be collected from the developing device main body in a large amount and quickly, and when replenishing the developer to the replenishing hopper, the movable side wall can be switched to a position that closes the replenishing hopper and the developing device main body. Since it is good, the developer can be replenished to the replenishing hopper quickly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the movable side wall of the embodiment is switched to a communicating position,
FIG. 3 is a side view of the developing device of the embodiment. 1 ... Developer main body, 2 ... replenishing hopper, 11 ... movable side wall.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) References JP 62-15571 (JP, A) JP 61-201278 (JP, A) JP 60-149064 (JP, A) JP 55- 67768 (JP, A) Actually developed 60-107962 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A developing device having a replenishing hopper having a movable side wall formed therein, wherein the movable side wall closes the replenishing hopper and the developing device main body when replenishing the developing device main body with the developer. A developing device, wherein when the developer whose developing function is deteriorated is collected from the developing device main body at the position, it can be switched to a position where the replenishment hopper and the developing device main body communicate with each other.