JPH07295458A - Electrophotograph developing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent erroneous installation of a toner cartridge, supply a proper toner, utilizing a die together, and lower the manufacturing cost. CONSTITUTION:The electrophotographic developer unit 48 to supply a toner to a photoreceptor drum of a printing apparatus of a facsimile apparatus is composed of a toner box 55 and a toner cartridge 56. An assigned toner is supplied to a toner storage part 61 of the toner box 55 from the toner cartridge 56. A selection pin 88 is melted and deposited in a specified position of either one of pin installation holes 87a, 87b, 87c of the toner box 55. An inertion hole 115 is formed at the position into which the selection pin 88 can be inserted in the toner cartridge 56 to supply the assigned toner. The inertion hole 115 can be formed at any position by replacing an insert die of dies.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic developing apparatus which employs an electrophotographic recording system provided in, for example, a facsimile apparatus, a page printer apparatus and a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electrophotographic recording type printing apparatus has been used in, for example, a facsimile apparatus, a page printer apparatus and a copying machine. The printing apparatus has a developing unit and a fixing unit, and the developing unit is provided with a drum unit, an electrophotographic developing unit, and the like. Then, in the developing section, the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum of the drum unit is electrified and charged, an electrostatic latent image of a recording pattern is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum, and the electrostatic latent image of the photosensitive drum is fixed by the electrophotographic developing unit. Toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image, the toner attached to the photosensitive drum is transferred to the recording paper, and then the toner transferred to the recording paper is heated and fixed in the fixing unit.

Further, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-115875, the electrophotographic developing unit has a toner box, and the toner box is provided with a toner storing section for storing toner. At the same time, the developing roller is axially supported facing the toner storage portion. Then, by rotating the developing roller, in the toner storage portion, to which the toner is attached, against the photosensitive drum, the toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum.

In addition, on the upper side of the toner box,
A toner cartridge is detachably attached, and the toner is supplied from the toner cartridge to the toner storage portion of the toner box. The toner cartridge has plate-like positioning bosses projecting from four locations, and the toner box has
Substantially L-shaped positioning notches that engage with the positioning bosses are formed.

In this toner cartridge, the positioning bosses are inserted into the positioning notches of the toner box, and the toner cartridge is slid along the longitudinal direction so that the toner cartridge is positioned and held in the toner box. It has become.

By the way, the electrophotographic developing device is designed to use a designated toner, and is designed to maintain a good printing state by using the designated toner.

However, in the conventional electrophotographic developing device, the toner cartridges of the same shape may be commonly used to store different types of toner, and in this case, a different type of toner from the designated toner is stored. Even a new toner cartridge can be installed in the toner box,
Toner of a type different from the designated toner suitable for the apparatus is supplied, and it may be difficult to maintain a good print state.

In order to prevent erroneous mounting of the toner cartridge, the shapes of the positioning boss of the toner cartridge and the positioning notch of the toner box are changed according to the designated toner, respectively. Since it is necessary to change the mold for manufacturing the toner for each toner, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost rises.

[0009]

As described above, when toner cartridges of the same shape are commonly used to store different types of toner, a toner cartridge containing a toner of a different type from the designated toner is used in the toner box. If the toner is wrongly attached to the printer and a toner of a different type from the designated toner suitable for the apparatus is supplied, it may be difficult to maintain a good print state. Further, in order to prevent erroneous mounting of the toner cartridge, the shape of the positioning boss of the toner cartridge and the positioning notch of the toner box are changed in accordance with each designated toner, thereby manufacturing the toner cartridge and the toner box, respectively. Since it is necessary to change the mold for each toner, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost rises.

The present invention has been made in view of the above point, and allows only a designated toner suitable for the apparatus to be supplied by the toner cartridge, so that a good printing state can be maintained and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrophotographic developing device capable of reducing the number.

[0011]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic developing apparatus including a toner box for storing toner and a toner cartridge detachably attached to the toner box to supply toner to the toner box. In the provided electrophotographic developing device, a plurality of predetermined identification positions are provided on either one of the toner box and the toner cartridge, and the protrusion is provided at any selected position among these identification positions. Is provided, and the other one of the toner box and the toner cartridge is provided with an insertion hole through which the protrusion provided at a specific position selected from the identification positions can be inserted.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the electrophotographic developing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the insertion hole is located at an identification position by replacing a mold die forming either the toner box or the toner cartridge. It is formed at a corresponding selected arbitrary position.

[0013]

In the electrophotographic developing apparatus according to claim 1, one of the toner box and the toner cartridge is provided with:
For a specific type of toner, a protrusion is provided at a selected specific position among a plurality of predetermined identification positions, and at a specific position on either the toner box or the toner cartridge. By providing the insertion hole through which the protrusion can be inserted, it is possible to prevent the toner cartridge for supplying the toner of the type different from the designated type from being erroneously attached to the toner box.

In the electrophotographic developing apparatus according to the second aspect, in addition to the operation according to the first aspect, the insertion hole corresponds to the identification position by replacing the nest of the mold forming either the toner box or the toner cartridge. Since it is formed at any selected position, it is not necessary to change the entire mold every time the position of the insertion hole is changed, and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The construction of an embodiment of the electrophotographic developing apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 2, 11 is a device body of the facsimile machine, and the device body 11 has a body 12 forming an outer shell. An operation panel 14 is provided on the upper surface of the body 12, and an inclined document table 15 for setting a transmission document is located at the rear side of the operation panel 14.
Is provided. A receiver (not shown) is placed on one side of the body 12.

Further, in this container 12, a document insertion portion 16 having an opening on the upper surface is provided continuously with the document table 15, and a document discharge port 18 is formed on the front surface to form these. A document passage 19 for transporting a transmission document is formed from the document insertion portion 16 to the document discharge port 18. Then, along the document path 19, a transmission unit for reading the transmission document.
20, a pull-in roller 21 that separates and pulls in the originals one by one, a plurality of sets of conveying rollers 22 that conveys the originals in the original passage 19, a reading unit 24 that reads the transmitted originals, and the reading unit 24. A white roller 25 and the like for pressing the document is arranged.

Further, a cassette insertion portion 31 is formed at the bottom of the body 12, and a rectangular frame-shaped sheet feeding cassette 33 is inserted and removed from an insertion opening 32 provided in the front surface of the cassette insertion portion 31. It has become so. And this paper cassette
A push-up plate 35 whose rear side is biased upward by a spring body 34 is swingably provided on the 33, and a plurality of recording papers P are stacked and stored on the push-up plate 35. There is. A paper holder 36 is provided at the rear end of the paper feed cassette 33, and a claw portion 36a formed by bending the paper holder 36 locks both sides of the rear end of the recording paper P. There is.

A recording paper feed-out port 37 is provided at the rear of the cassette insertion portion 31 of the body 12, and a recording paper discharge port 38 is formed at the front of the body 12. A recording paper passage 39 is formed from the recording paper feed-out port 37 to the recording paper discharge port 38 so as to make a U-turn.

Further, the cassette insertion portion 31 of the body 12 is provided with a feeding roller 41 located in front of the recording paper feeding port 37, and the recording paper on the push-up plate 35 biased upward. P is pressed against the feeding roller 41. Then, by rotating the feeding roller 41, the claw portion of the paper feeding cassette 33
The recording papers P locked by 36a are separated one by one and fed out to the recording paper feed-out port 37.

Along the recording paper path 39, a drawing roller 43 for drawing the fed recording paper P into the recording paper path 39, a developing section 44, and a fixing section 45 are arranged. The developing unit 44 includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit 47 and an electrophotographic developing unit as an electrophotographic developing device.
It is composed of 48 and an optical system unit 49.

In the developing section 44, an electric charge is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 51 of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit 47, and a laser beam emitted from the optical system unit 49 causes the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 51 to have a recording pattern. An electrostatic latent image is formed and toner is supplied from the electrophotographic developing unit 48,
It is attached onto the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 51. Further, the transfer device 52 transfers the toner image attached to the photosensitive drum 51 onto the recording paper P being conveyed. In the fixing unit 45, the recording paper P coated with toner is heated by the heated rollers 54, 54a.
The toner is fixed on the recording paper P through the gap.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrophotographic developing unit 48 includes a toner box 55 and a toner cartridge 56 detachably attached to the toner box 55 to supply toner to the toner box 55. It has and.

The toner box 55 has a case 60 formed of synthetic resin by using a mold. Further, the case 60 has a box shape having the width direction of the device main body 11 as a longitudinal direction, and a toner storage portion 61 for storing toner is formed. A toner cartridge connection port 62 for connecting the toner cartridge 56 is formed on the upper side of the toner storage section 61, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit is formed on the lower front side of the toner storage section 61.
A toner supply port 64 facing the photosensitive drum 51 of 47 is formed.

A developing roller 71 that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum 51 is disposed at the toner supply port 64, and the developing roller 71 is provided near the bottom inside the toner storage portion 61. A supply roller (not shown) that closely contacts and supplies the toner is arranged. Further, inside the toner storage portion 61, an agitator 73 that stirs the toner to prevent the toner from sticking is arranged.

The developing roller 71, the supply roller, and the agitator 73 are rotatably supported by the case 60, and are rotationally driven in a predetermined direction by a gear train 75.

A developing blade device 76 is provided above the developing roller 71, and the developing blade device 76 is provided.
Thus, a thin layer of toner having a uniform thickness is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 71, and this toner layer is attached to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 51.

The toner cartridge connection port 62 formed on the upper side of the toner storage portion 61 has a substantially rectangular shape in a plane.
The front rail portion along the longitudinal direction of the toner box 55 along the front and rear edges of the toner cartridge connection port 62.
81 and a rear rail portion 82 are formed. The front and rear rails 81 and 82 have horizontal rails 81a and 82a adjacent to the toner cartridge connection port 62, respectively.
And vertical rail portions 81b and 82b which are provided upright along the outer sides of these horizontal rail portions 81a and 82a.

The vertical rail portions 81b and 82b are located near one end portion and the other end portion in the longitudinal direction, respectively, and these vertical rail portions 81b and 82b are cut out in a substantially L shape. An engagement recess 84 is formed. Further, one end side of each engagement recess 84 is formed into a slanted inclined surface 84a, and the other end side of each engagement recess 84 is formed with an engagement receiving portion 84b having a substantially L-shaped cross section. ing.

Further, a cartridge selecting portion 86 is provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge connecting port 62, and pin attaching holes 87a, 87b as identification positions are provided at three positions of the cartridge selecting portion 86. 87c are formed at predetermined intervals along the width direction of the toner cartridge connection port 62. And one of these pin mounting holes 87a,
In this embodiment, a selection pin 88 as a protrusion, that is, a boss, is fixed to the pin mounting hole 87a on the front side by heat welding or the like.

Further, a cartridge guide portion 91 is formed on one end side of the cartridge selecting portion 86. A locking projection 92 is formed at the center of the cartridge guide 91, and the guide insertion portion is located at one end of the locking projection 92 and opens toward the one end. 93
Are formed.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the toner cartridge 56 is made of synthetic resin by using a mold, and has a mounting plate portion 101 and a container provided on the upper side of the mounting plate portion 101. And the unit 102. The container 102 has a substantially box-like shape with an open lower surface, and is filled with a specific toner suitable for the toner box 55. A rear side portion along the upper longitudinal direction of the container portion 102 is recessed inward to form a recessed portion 103. Further, a pair of front and rear rib portions 104 1, 104 each having a triangular plate shape are projected from the other end of the container portion 102. Before being attached to the toner box 55, the opening (not shown) of the container 102 of the toner cartridge 56 is covered with a peelable seal member.

Then, the mounting plate portion of the toner cartridge 56
101 is a horizontal rail portion 81a on the front and rear sides of the toner box 55.
, 82a is in the shape of a substantially rectangular plate that is in intimate contact with and slides on. Further, from the front and rear edges along the longitudinal direction of the mounting plate portion 101, the vertical rail portions on the front and rear sides of the toner box 55 are formed.
Vertical plate portion 106, which is in close contact with the inner surface of 81b, 82b and is in sliding contact
106 are formed. Then, these vertical plate portions 106,
Engaging projections 107, 107 having a substantially L-shaped cross section are formed on the respective 106 in the vicinity of one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction to engage with the respective engaging recesses 84. .

From one end of the mounting plate 101,
A protruding piece portion 111 having a smaller width dimension is provided so as to protrude toward the tip end side. Then, a positioning piece portion 114 surrounded by a groove portion 112 having a substantially U-shaped plane is formed on the container portion 102 side of the projecting piece portion 111, and the positioning piece portion 114 is located at a specific position selected. An insertion hole 115 is formed. In this embodiment, the insertion hole 115 is formed at the front side position in accordance with the position of the selection pin 88 of the toner box 55. Further, the insertion hole 115 is formed by mounting a nest in a cavity of a mold forming the toner cartridge 56. Therefore, by changing the mounting position of this nest, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 (a), it is formed at the front part of the positioning piece 114, and
As shown in (b), it is formed at the center of the positioning piece 114, or as shown in FIG. 4 (c), it is formed at the rear of the positioning piece 114.

Further, the protrusion 111 is located on the front side of the positioning piece 114, and the locking protrusion of the toner box 55 is provided.
The lock receiving portion 116 that engages with 92 is formed, and
A guide plate portion 11 having a substantially rectangular plate shape is slidably fitted into the guide insertion portion 93 of the toner box 55 at the tip end portion of the projecting piece portion 111.
7 are formed.

The toner cartridge 56 is covered with an opening (not shown) provided on the lower surface of the container 102 from above so as to face the toner cartridge connection port 62 of the toner box 55. The toner cartridge 56 is inserted into the engaging recesses 84 of the toner box 55 from the upper side, and after the selection pin 88 is inserted into the insertion hole 115, the toner cartridge 56 is slid toward the other end so that the engaging protrusions 107 are formed. The respective engaging recesses 84 are engaged with each other, the engaging projections 92 and the engaging receiving portions 116 are engaged with each other, and the toner box 55 is attached to the toner cartridge 56. In this state, by removing the seal member covering the opening of the toner cartridge 56 by peeling it off or the like, the opening of the toner cartridge 56 and the toner cartridge connection port 62 of the toner box 55 communicate with each other, and the toner cartridge
56 container section 102 to toner box 55 toner storage section 61
The toner is supplied to the.

In the present embodiment, the toner cartridge 56 is provided with a specific pin mounting hole 87a selected from a plurality of predetermined pin mounting holes 87a, 87b, 87c in accordance with a specific type of toner. The selection pin 88 is welded and fixed to the toner cartridge 56, and the toner cartridge 56 is provided with an insertion hole 115 corresponding to the position of the selection pin 88, through which the selection pin 88 can be inserted. Therefore, only the toner cartridge 56 filled with the toner of the type specified according to the developing unit 44 such as the electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit 47 or the toner box 55 is attached to the toner box 55. on the other hand,
For the toner cartridge 56 that supplies a different type of toner from the designated type, since the insertion hole 115 is formed at another position, the selection pin 88 contacts the positioning piece 114 and is connected to the toner cartridge 56. Therefore, the toner cartridge 56 can be surely prevented from being erroneously mounted, and only the designated toner suitable for the apparatus can be supplied by the toner cartridge 56 to maintain a good printing state.

For example, in the toner box 55 shown in FIG. 1, assuming that the toner A is designated, the selection pin 88 is provided in the pin mounting hole 87a on the front side of the toner box 55, and the toner filled with the toner A is used. cartridge
As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the 56 has an insertion hole at a position on the front side.
By forming 115, the toner cartridge 56 and the toner box 55 are formed only in these combinations.
The toner cartridge 56 shown in FIG. 4B or FIG. 4C cannot be mounted. Also, FIG.
As for the toner box 55b shown in FIG. 4, assuming that the toner B is designated, the selection pin 88 is provided in the pin mounting hole 87b at the center of the toner box 55b, and the toner cartridge 56 filled with the toner B is shown in FIG. As shown in (b), by forming the insertion hole 115 at the central position, the toner cartridge 56 can be mounted in the toner box 55b only with these combinations. Similarly, in the toner box 55c shown in FIG. 6, if the toner C is designated, the selection pin 88 is provided in the pin mounting hole 87c on the rear side of the toner box 55c, and the toner cartridge filled with the toner C is provided. 56
As shown in FIG. 4C, the insertion hole 11 is located at the rear position.
5 is formed, the toner cartridge 56 can be attached to the toner box 55c only in these combinations.
Can be attached to.

Further, the insertion hole 115 of the toner cartridge 56
Can be formed at any position selected by replacing the mold nest, so it is not necessary to change the whole mold each time the position of the insertion hole 115 is changed, and it is possible to use different molds with different positions. The insertion hole 115 can be formed in the hole, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, the protrusion of the toner box 55c also has pin mounting holes 87a, 87b, 87c formed in advance.
Since the selection pin 88 which is a separate member is fixed by heat welding and caulking, a common mold can be used and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the toner box
Although the selection pin 88 as a protrusion is provided on the 55 and the insertion hole 115 is formed on the toner cartridge 56, an insertion hole may be formed on the toner box 55 and a protrusion that is inserted into the insertion hole may be provided on the toner cartridge 56. it can.

The selection pin 88 as a protrusion can be fixed to the pin mounting holes 87a, 87b, 87c formed in advance by heat welding and caulking, or can be formed by replacing the mold insert.

[0042]

According to the electrophotographic developing apparatus of the first aspect, one of the toner box and the toner cartridge is selected from a plurality of predetermined identification positions for a specific type of toner. By providing the protrusion at the specified position and the insertion hole through which the protrusion provided at the specific position can be inserted, on the other side of either the toner box or the toner cartridge, the type different from the specified type can be obtained. To prevent the toner cartridge that supplies toner from being mistakenly installed in the toner box, and to supply only the specified toner that is compatible with the device using the toner cartridge,
A good print state can be maintained.

According to the electrophotographic developing device of the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the insertion hole is located at the identification position by replacing the insert of the mold forming either the toner box or the toner cartridge. Since it can be formed at any corresponding selected position, the mold is changed every time the position of the insertion hole is changed according to the position of the protrusion provided at the selected specific position of the toner box identification positions. It is not necessary to change the entire structure, the insertion holes can be formed at different positions using a common mold, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view in an exploded state showing an embodiment of an electrophotographic developing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a facsimile apparatus including the electrophotographic developing device of the above.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the above toner cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view showing each embodiment of the above toner cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a partially exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a part of an exploded state showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 48 Electrophotographic developing unit as electrophotographic developing device 55 Toner box 56 Toner cartridges 87a, 87b, 87c Pin mounting hole as identification position 88 Selection pin 115 as protruding portion 115 Insertion hole

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An electrophotographic developing apparatus comprising: a toner box for storing toner; and a toner cartridge detachably attached to the toner box to supply toner to the toner box. A plurality of predetermined identification positions are provided on either one of the identification positions, and a protrusion is provided on any selected position of the identification positions, and the other one of the toner box and the toner cartridge is provided. The electrophotographic developing device is characterized in that an insertion hole through which a projection provided at a specific selected position among the identification positions can be inserted is provided. 2. The insertion hole is formed at an arbitrary selected position corresponding to an identification position by replacing a nest of a mold forming either a toner box or a toner cartridge. The described electrophotographic developing device.