JPH0721677B2 - Electronic printer device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [Overview] While the developing device is installed in a printer device, when the bottom lid of the developing device is opened and old developer is dropped and replaced, scattered toner is removed by a blower of a toner recovery system. As described above, an air flow path is provided in the apparatus casing near the bottom cover to prevent the toner from scattering.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an electronic printer device using an electrophotographic recording system.

With the development of the information processing apparatus, the performance of the printer, which is the output means thereof, is improved, and more information is output at high speed, so that the electronic printer apparatus of the electrophotographic recording system is used.

In an electronic printer, a latent image formed on a photoconductor is developed with a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier, and if used for a long time, the carrier deteriorates and reaches the end of its life. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the developer. .

When the developer is replaced, the toner easily scatters. Therefore, a toner that can be replaced without being scattered is desired.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, an electronic printer device is, for example, as shown in FIG.
After the photosensitive drum (photoreceptor) 1 is charged by the charging device 2, exposure 3 is performed according to the information data to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum 1, and the latent image is developed by the developing device 4 to obtain the toner. The image is transferred onto the sheet 6 by the transfer device 5, and then fixed by the fixing device 7. On the other hand, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 is neutralized by the static eliminator 8 and the static eliminator lamp 9, and then cleaned by the cleaner 10 to start the next printing cycle.

Details of the developing device 4 are shown in FIG. The developer A composed of toner and carrier in the developing device 4 is agitated by the agitating roller 11 and rotates in synchronization with the agitating roller 11.
By the magnetic force of, the ears are formed on the developing roller 12. At this time, the height of the ears is regulated by the blade 13 to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1.

The developer that has finished development is scraped off by the scraping plate 14,
It is again agitated by the agitating roller 11 to prepare for the next cycle.

The toner stored in the toner reservoir 16 by the toner container 15 is supplied to the toner replenishment shaft 17 according to an instruction from the print density control circuit.
It is replenished as appropriate via.

By repeating such a cycle, the developer A becomes fatigued and is replaced.

During normal printing, the developing device supporting shaft 18 of the developing device 4 is a supporting rail.
At 19, a bearing 20 is engaged with and supported by a cam 21. When discharging the developer A, operate the set lever 22 to move the cam.
By rotating 21 the developing device 4 as a whole is supported by the developing device support shaft 18
A slight rotation is performed as indicated by an arrow a around the to make a release state.

After that, the bottom cover (hereinafter, developer discharge lid) 23 for discharging the developer A is opened by rotating the connected discharge lever 24,
The developer A is dropped onto the developer discharge guide K, and the device housing 25
It is stored in the lower container 26.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

The carrier constituting the developer A in the developing device 4 is circulated and repeatedly used, so that the carrier fatigues. The carrier that has reached the end of its life has a reduced charge amount and weakened the force for holding the toner, and the toner is likely to be scattered.

In the conventional method of exchanging the developer, the developer A is discharged by dropping and stored in the box-shaped container 26. However, since the toner is easily scattered as described above, the periphery of the developing device is significantly contaminated, and the optical system, It was also a cause of polluting high pressure systems. For that reason,
There was a problem that the print quality was poor.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem.

[Means for solving problems]

FIG. 1 is a principle view of the present invention. At the bottom of the developing device 4, there is a developer discharge lid 23 for discharging the developer A.

In the present invention, the toner generated in the cleaner 9 for cleaning the photosensitive drum 1 and the gas generated in the fixing device are sucked in,
An air flow path D utilizing the air flow by the blower 29 is arranged in the apparatus casing 25 near the developer discharge port C.

Incidentally, K is a developer discharge guide for feeding the discharged developer A into the container 26.

[Action]

That is, first, the developer discharge lid 23 is opened, and the developer A in the developing device 4 is dropped and accommodated in the container 26. At this time, the developer discharge path E
The floating toner is sucked by the blower 29 and sucked into the air flow path D.

〔Example〕

2 (a) and (b) show one embodiment of the present invention.
The same reference numerals indicate the same parts throughout the drawings.

In the figure, at the time of normal printing, the developing device 4 is a developing device supporting shaft 18
Is supported by a supporting rail 19 on the device side, and a bearing 20 on the developing device side is supported by a cam 21 on the device side. The cam 21 is connected to the set lever 22, and the cam 21 is rotated by the operation of the set lever 22. As a result, as shown by an arrow a in FIG. Rotate and tilt the developing device 4.

This is because the developer A adhering to the developing roller 12 is removed by the scraper 40 when the developer A is discharged, so that the magnetic brush slides on the same position on the photosensitive drum 1 which is not rotating. This is because the drum is scratched.

At the bottom of the developing device 4, there is a developer discharge lid 23 that closes the discharge port C of the developer A. The developer discharge lid 23 and the discharge lever.
24 is connected, and by rotating the discharge lever 24 downward as shown in FIG.
The developer A falls on the developer discharge guide K and is stored in the container 26. At this time, the toner is scattered and floating in the developer discharge path E. In order to suck in the scattered toner air, the air flow of the cleaning system and the fixing system by the existing blower is used in the apparatus casing near the developer discharge port C, and the passage D for guiding the air flow is used. To the developer discharge path E
Is provided so as to include. Further, a shutter 30 for blocking the passage D and the developer discharge passage E is provided. That is, since the entire printer is stopped when the developer is replaced, the cleaning system is not in operation, and there is no problem even if the suction force is reduced.Therefore, the shutter 30 is opened and the blower 29 is operated. Good. Reference numeral 31 denotes a rotating shaft of the shutter 30, and 32 denotes a packing. Since the internal structure of the developing device 4 is the same as the conventional one, its description is omitted.

FIG. 3 shows the flow of air, and FIG. 4 shows the sequence of opening and closing the shutter. During normal printing by the printer, the air in the cleaner 9 and the fixing device 7 is discharged by the blower 29 via the filters 31 and 32 as shown in FIG. At this time, the shutter 30 is closed, but the developing device 4 is lowered by the cam, the developer discharging lid 23 is opened by the discharging lever 24, and the detection switch T detects that the discharging lid 23 is opened.
The shutter 30 is opened. Further, at this time, in order to facilitate discharge, the stirring roller 11 and the developing roller 12 are turned on and the blower 29 is turned on.
Configure to synchronize ON.

By synchronizing the rotation of the developing roller 12 and the rotation of the blower 29 that causes the air flow in this manner, the shutter 30 is opened and the scattered air can be sucked by the air flow of the blower 29.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, by arranging the air flow of the blower near the developer discharge port of the developing device,
It is possible to collect the scattered toner when the developer is discharged and prevent stains in the vicinity.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 (a) and (b) are diagrams for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an air flow of the present invention, and FIG. Is a diagram showing a sequence of opening and closing the shutter of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an electronic printer device, and FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a conventional developing device portion. In the figure, 1 is a photosensitive drum, 4 is a developing device, 9 is a cleaner, 12 is a developing roller, 18 is a developing device supporting shaft, 19 is a supporting rail, 20 is a bearing, 21 is a cam, and 23 is a developer discharging lid. , 25 is a device casing, 26 is a container, 28 is a shutter, and 29 is a blower.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A discharge port (C) for discharging a developer to the bottom of the developing device (4), a bottom lid (23) having means for opening and closing the discharge port (C), and the discharge port (C). ), A container (26) for containing the developer discharged therefrom, a developer discharge path (E) extending from the discharge port (C) to the container (26) for storing the developer, and the developer discharge path (E). ), And an air flow path (D) communicating with the blower (29).