JPH0776860B2 - Image generator - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to improvements in image generators.

<Prior Art> As is well known to those skilled in the art, an electrostatic copying machine or electrostatic printing system of the type in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on an electrostatic photoconductor and then the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image. Image generators such as machines are widely put to practical use. An electrostatic copying machine, which is an example of an image generator, generally includes a movable photosensitive member supporting unit such as a rotating drum having a photosensitive member on its surface, and a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member surface. A cleaning device for removing residual toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor is included. The developing device has a developing chamber and an application unit for applying toner disposed in the developing chamber, and the cleaning device includes a toner removing unit that acts on the surface of the photoconductor to remove residual toner, and a surface of the photoconductor. It has a toner recovery chamber for recovering the toner removed from.

On the other hand, with the recent diversification of copying, not only ordinary black copying but also single color copying such as red or blue is often desired. In such a case, red or blue toner is used instead of black toner. To be done.

However, in the conventional electrostatic copying machine, the color of the toner currently in use cannot be easily recognized, and it is judged from the image obtained by performing the copying process.

Further, although not limited to the electrostatic copying machine capable of performing a plurality of types of monochromatic color copying as described above, there is an electrostatic copying machine including a supporting structure and a process unit detachably attached to the supporting structure. In such an electrostatic copying machine, the process unit includes a movable photosensitive member supporting means, a developing device, a cleaning device and a unit frame in which these are mounted.

However, in the conventional electrostatic copying machine of this type, the unit frame is provided with a dedicated grip portion for mounting and dismounting the process unit on the support structure.
Due to this, there is a problem that the configuration of the process unit becomes complicated.

<Object of the Invention> The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and a first object thereof is to provide an image generator capable of easily recognizing a color of a toner currently in use. is there.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image generator capable of relatively simplifying the configuration of the process unit detachably mounted on the support structure.

<Summary of the Invention> According to a first aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the first object, a movable photosensitive member supporting unit having a photosensitive member on a surface thereof and an electrostatic member formed on the photosensitive member surface are provided. An image generator including a developing device that develops a latent image, a cleaning device that removes toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor, and a toner resupply unit that guides the toner collected by the cleaning device to the developing device. In the above, the toner re-supplying means includes a hollow cylinder member connecting the cleaning device and the developing device, and a toner transfer means arranged in the hollow cylinder member, and at least a part of the hollow cylinder member is transparent or transparent. An image generator is provided which is semi-transparent.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the second object, a lower support frame and an upper support mounted on the lower support frame so as to be rotatable between a closed position and an open position. A frame and a process unit removably attached to the upper support frame, the process unit includes a movable photoconductor supporting unit having a photoconductor on a surface thereof, and an electrostatic member formed on the photoconductor surface. The cleaning device includes a developing device for developing a latent image, a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor, a unit frame in which the movable photoconductor supporting means, the developing device and the cleaning device are mounted. In an image generator equipped with a toner re-supplying means for guiding the collected toner to the developing device; the toner re-supplying means includes a hollow cylinder member connecting the cleaning device and the developing device, and a hollow cylinder member inside the hollow cylinder member. Arranged The hollow cylindrical member is configured to close the upper support frame by a predetermined angle substantially corresponding to an angle from the closed position to the open position when the upper support frame is in the closed position. The upper support frame is arranged so as to be inclined in a direction opposite to the turning direction from the position to the open position, and is positioned substantially horizontally when the upper support frame is positioned in the open position, and the unit frame is supported by the upper support frame. An image generator, which functions as a grip portion when mounted on and removed from a frame.

<Preferred Specific Examples of the Invention> Hereinafter, more detailed description will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Outline of Electrostatic Copying Machine FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a specific example of an electrostatic copying machine as an example of an image generating apparatus constructed according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. It is a simplified sectional view of the electrostatic copying machine shown.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated copying machine includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing indicated by reference numeral 2. The housing 2 is, in the specific example, a lower support frame 4
And an upper support frame 6 to define the support structure. The right end of the upper support frame 6 has a shaft 8 (second
Between the closed position (position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) and the open position (position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). Can be swung. A front cover member 10 (FIG. 1) is attached to the upper support frame 6 so as to be openable and closable on the front surface side with the lower end portion as a fulcrum, and a rear cover member (not shown) is openably and closably provided on the rear surface side. ) Is installed. The front cover member 10 will be described later.

Mainly referring to FIG. 2, a document placing means 11 is reciprocally mounted in the left-right direction on the upper surface of the housing 2, that is, the upper surface of the upper support frame 6. This document placing means 11
Is a transparent plate 12 on which the original to be copied is placed.
And a transparent plate 12 and an openable / closable original document cover 14 for covering the original document placed thereon.

On the upper support frame 6, a so-called process unit generally designated by the numeral 16 which is positioned substantially at the center of the housing 2 is detachably mounted. More specifically, the upper support frame 6 is spaced apart in the left-right direction in the front-back direction, that is, the first support frame 6.
In FIG. 2 and FIG. 2, a pair of support rails 18 and 20 extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface are fixed. On the other hand, the process unit 16 has a unit frame 22.
Supported rail portions 24 and 26 extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface are formed on both left and right sides of 22. The supported rail portions 24 and 26 of the unit frame 22 are respectively the support rails of the upper support frame body 6.
The process unit 16 is attached to and detached from the upper support frame 6 by engaging with 18 and 20 and sliding the unit frame 22 in the front-back direction. At a substantially central portion of the unit frame 22, a rotary drum 28 that constitutes a movable photosensitive member support means.
Is rotatably attached. On the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 28, an appropriate electrostatic photoconductor is provided. The unit frame 22 further includes a corona discharger 32 for charging, a developing device indicated by reference numeral 34 as a whole, in sequence around the rotary drum 28 which is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by the arrow 30, when viewed in the rotational direction thereof. A cleaning device indicated by numeral 36 is also installed. The developing device 34 and the cleaning device 36 will be described later.

An irradiation lamp 46, a reflection plate 48, and an optical system 50 located above the process unit 16 are also mounted on the upper support frame 6. The optical system 50 is composed of a large number of elongated optical elements extending in the vertical direction (for example, a rod-shaped lens sold by Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. under the trade name “SELFOC Microlens”). Irradiation lamp
The light from 46 is irradiated onto the original placed on it through the transparent plate 12 as shown by the chain line, and the reflected light from the original is exposed on the upper wall 52 of the optical system 50 and the unit frame 22. The light is projected onto the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 28 in the exposure area 56 through the opening 54. Further, a part of the light from the irradiation lamp 46 also passes through the opening 58 formed in the lower surface of the reflection plate 48 and the static elimination light opening 60 formed in the upper wall 52 of the unit frame 22 as shown by the alternate long and short dash line. It is projected on the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 28 in the static elimination area 62.

At a substantially central portion of the lower support frame 4, a transfer corona discharger 6 facing the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 28 in the transfer area 64 is provided.
6, and a stripping static eliminator 68 located downstream of the transfer corona discharger 66 is provided.

Further, at the right end portion of the lower support frame body 4, a copy paper supply means generally designated by numeral 72 is arranged, and at the left end portion of the lower support frame body 4, a copy paper tray 74 is arranged. There is. And
Between the copy paper supply means 72 and the copy paper tray 74, there is provided a copy paper transport system generally designated by numeral 76 for transporting the copy paper through the transfer area 64. Copier supply means 72
Includes a copy paper table 78 and a copy paper delivery roller 80 disposed above the downstream end of the copy paper table 78. The copy paper feeding roller 80 is selectively moved up and down and the arrow 82
It is driven to rotate in the direction shown by. Copy paper supply means 72
Is further disposed downstream of the copying paper table 78 and indicated by an arrow 84.
It includes a copy paper feeding roller 86 which is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by and the copy paper separating means 88 disposed below the copy paper feeding roller 86.
The copy paper separating means 88 includes a support member 92 rotatably mounted by a pin 90 and a separation member 94 disposed on the upper surface of the support member 92 and formed of a high friction material such as synthetic rubber. Have. The support member 92 is elastically biased clockwise by an appropriate spring means (not shown), and thus the separating member 94 is elastically pressed against the copy sheet feeding roller 86. In the copy paper feeding means 72 as described above, a layer of sheet copy paper having an appropriate size is manually inserted on the copy paper table 78. Then, each time the copy paper feed roller 80 is lowered and rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 82, the upper copy paper in the copy paper layer is sequentially fed out,
Then, the copy sheet is further advanced by the copy sheet feeding roller 86. Separation member 94 prevents copy paper feed rollers 86 from advancing copy papers other than the topmost copy paper when two or more copy papers are fed by copy paper feed roller 80 at one time. Thus, the copy sheets are supplied to the copy sheet conveying system 76 one by one. The copy paper transport system 76 includes a pair of guide plates 96, a pair of transport rollers 100 that are driven to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 98, guide plates 102 and 104, and a conveyor belt mechanism 108 that is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 106, and an arrow 110. The heat fixing roller pair 112, the guide plate pair 114, which are rotationally driven in the direction indicated by, and the discharge roller pair 118, which is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by the arrow 116, are included. Heat fixing roller pair 112
Inside the upper heating roller 120, an appropriate heating means 122 is arranged. Further, the upper heating roller 120 is provided with a peeling member 124 for preventing the copy paper from being wrapped around.

In the electrostatic copying machine as described above, while the rotary drum 28 is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 30, the charging corona discharger 32 makes the photoconductor on the rotary drum 28 substantially uniform in specific polarity. After charging, in the exposure area 56, the image of the original document on the transparent plate 12 is scanned and exposed on the photoconductor, thus forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image of the original document on the photoconductor.
At the time of the scanning exposure, the document placing means 11 causes the two-dot chain line 11B to the right from the scanning exposure start position indicated by the two-dot chain line 11A, for example.
The scanning exposure is moved to the scanning exposure end position indicated by. Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor is developed into a toner image by the developing device 34. Next, copy paper supply means 72
The copy paper fed from the copy paper transport system 76 is brought into close contact with the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 28 in the transfer area 64, and the toner image on the photoconductor is transferred onto the copy paper by the action of the transfer corona discharger 66. To be done. After that, the static eliminator 68
The copy paper is peeled off from the rotary drum 28 by the action of.
The peeled copy paper is conveyed through the heat fixing roller pair 112, during which the toner image on the copy paper is heated and fixed, and is discharged onto the copy paper tray 74. Meanwhile, the rotating drum 28
The toner continues to rotate, and the toner remaining on the photoconductor after the transfer is removed from the photoconductor by the action of the cleaning device 36. Then, in the static elimination area 62, the photoconductor is irradiated with static elimination light, and the residual charges on the photoconductor are eliminated.

Structure of Process Unit Further description will be given mainly with reference to FIGS. 5 to 6 together with FIG. 2, and the unit frame 22 of the illustrated process unit 16 will be described.
Is a front wall 126 (FIG. 5) and a rear wall that are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIGS. 2 and 6, direction from lower right to upper left in FIG. 5). 128 (second
Fig.) And has a rotating drum 2 between the front wall 126 and the rear wall 128.
8, a developing device 34 and a cleaning device 36 are mounted. A bottom wall 130, a left side wall 132, and a right side wall 134 are provided between the front wall 126 and the rear wall 128 together with the above-mentioned upper wall 52. Bottom wall
A transfer opening is formed in 130 to allow the copy paper conveyed by the operation of the copy paper conveyance system 76 to be brought into close contact with the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 28 in the transfer area 64, and the right side wall 134 has a transfer opening. The lower end portion functions as the supported rail portion 26.

The rotary drum 28 is rotatably mounted between the front wall 126 and the rear wall 128. The rotary drum 28 has a drive source disposed in the lower support frame 4 when the process unit 16 is detachably attached to the upper support frame 6 and the upper support frame 6 is in the closed position (see FIG. (Not shown) (which constitutes the drive source of the electrostatic copying machine), and is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 30 by the action of the drive source.

Next, the developing device 34 will be described.
The unit 34 has various walls 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152 and 154 fixed between the front wall 126 and the rear wall 128 of the unit frame 22. An agent storage chamber 158 and a toner storage chamber 160 are provided. Then, the toner cartridge 162 is detachably mounted on the upper part of the toner storage chamber 160. The toner cartridge 162 contains new unused toner (not shown),
Therefore, new toner can be replenished by replacing the toner cartridge 162. The discharge port 164 of the toner cartridge 162 is sealed by, for example, an appropriate seal member (not shown), and the toner cartridge 162 is inserted into the toner storage chamber 160 while peeling off the seal member, so that the toner of FIG. It is mounted as shown in FIG. After the mounting, the discharge port 164 is opened, and the new toner contained in the toner cartridge 162 is supplied through the discharge port 164. In the specific example,
Although new toner can be replenished, if it is not necessary to replenish the toner (for example, the process unit 16 is entirely replaced when the toner stored in the toner storage chamber 160 is consumed), , Walls 140, 142 and 144
The new toner may be directly stored in the toner storage chamber 160 defined by the above. A toner discharge opening 166 is formed at the bottom of the toner storage chamber 160, and an elongated cylindrical toner supply roller 168 is disposed in the toner discharge opening 166. The toner supply roller 168 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 170, and the toner in the toner storage chamber 160 is supplied to the developing chamber 156 through the toner discharge opening 166 by rotating in this way.

The developing chamber 156 has an open left side surface facing the rotary drum 28. In the developing chamber 156, application means 172, developer stirring means 174, and guide plate 176 are arranged. The applying means 172 is a stationary permanent magnet 182 having a cylindrical sleeve 180 that is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by the arrow 178, and a plurality of magnetic poles that are disposed in the sleeve 180 and are spaced apart in the circumferential direction. It can consist of and. The stirring means 174 has a plurality of spiral blades 186 that are driven to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 184, and stirs the developer in the developing chamber 156 to supply it to the applying means 172. On the wall 154 defining the left upper surface wall of the developing chamber 156, the sleeve 180 of the applying means 172 is provided.
The ear cutting means 188 is formed so as to project toward. The bristle cutting means 188 acts on the developing agent magnetically held on the surface of the sleeve 180 to remove the excessive developing agent. Also,
On the wall 154, a toner concentration detector 190 located above the bristle cutting means 188 is arranged. The detector 190, which may be of a well-known form, has a detection surface exposed in the developing chamber 156, and detects the toner concentration of the developer removed from the applying unit 172 by the action of the spike cutting unit 188.

Further, the developer accommodating chamber 158 is arranged above the developing chamber 156. In the developer storage chamber 158, a start developer (new developer in which carrier and toner are mixed at a predetermined mixing ratio) is stored. It is necessary to prevent such a start developer from leaking from the developer accommodating chamber 158 to the developing chamber 150 until the developing device 34 is actually used.
The developer accommodating chamber 158 and the like are disclosed in, for example, the specification and drawings of the utility model registration application (name: developing device for image generator) filed by the applicant on May 30, 1986. It is preferable that it is configured as described above.

In the developing device 34 as described above, at the start of use, first, the start developer contained in the developer containing chamber 158 is supplied to the developing chamber 156 as required. next,
A toner cartridge 162 is mounted in the toner storage chamber 160 as required. That is, the toner cartridge 162 is inserted while peeling off the seal member (not shown). When mounted in this way, the discharge port 164 of the toner cartridge 162 is opened, and the toner in the toner cartridge 162 is supplied to the toner storage chamber 160 through this discharge port 164, and the toner can be supplied. In the specific example, the discharge port 164 extends above the toner supply roller 168 from substantially one end to the other end in the width direction of the toner storage chamber 160, and therefore, new toner in the toner cartridge 162 is not stored in the toner storage chamber 160. Is substantially uniformly supplied from one end to the other end in the width direction. With this operation, the electrostatic latent image can be developed by the developing device 34. When carrying out the development, the stirring means 174 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 184 in the developing chamber 156, whereby the developer is stirred and the toner is charged to a predetermined polarity, and the developer is applied to the applying means 172. It will be sent to. The sleeve 180 in the applying means 172 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 178, and the developer fed by the action of the stirring means 174 is held on the surface of the sleeve 180 by the magnetic attraction force of the magnet 182 arranged in the sleeve 180. Then, according to the rotation of the sleeve 180, the sleeve 180 is conveyed in a direction indicated by an arrow 178. And
Excessive developer retained on the surface of the sleeve 180 is removed by the action of the bristle cutting means 188. The removed developer is allowed to flow down along the inner surface of the wall 154 and onto the guide plate 176 toward the stirring means 174, and is stirred again by the stirring means 174. On the other hand, the developer held on the surface of the sleeve 180 and further conveyed in the direction shown by the arrow 178 is brought into contact with the photoconductor provided on the surface of the rotary drum 28, and an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor is formed. Correspondingly, the toner in the developer is applied onto the photoreceptor, thus developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. When the toner concentration of the developer decreases due to the developing action as described above, the detector 190 generates a signal, and in response thereto, the toner supply roller 168 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 170, and thus, the toner storage chamber 156 is stored. Toner is supplied to the developing chamber 156.

Next, the cleaning device 36 will be described. The cleaning device 36 shown in the figure has a pair of end walls (not shown) arranged inside the unit frame 22 with a space in the front-rear direction.
And various walls 192 and 194 extending in the front-rear direction are provided between the pair of end walls. Cleaning device
An elastic blade is attached to the upper surface of the wall 192 of 36 by a mounting member 196.
198 is installed. The free end of the elastic blade 198 forming the toner removing means is pressed against the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 28 at a required pressure. Also a cleaning device
36 includes a toner recovery chamber 200 defined by the walls 192 and 194. The toner collection chamber 200 has a rotary drum 28.
The portion facing the is opened, and the seal member 202 is arranged in the opened opening. Seal member 2
02 is attached to the outer surface of the wall 194, and its free end is in contact with or in close proximity to the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 28. As described above, when the rotary drum 28 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 30, the residual toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor is removed by the action of the elastic blade 198. Then, the removed toner is guided to the inner surfaces of the seal member 202 and the wall 194 and collected in the toner collecting chamber 200 as required.

In such a copier, the toner recovery chamber 20
The toner collected to 0 is re-supplied to the toner storage chamber 160. 3, FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG.
Further explaining with reference to the figure, the process unit 16 is
Further, it includes a toner re-supply unit 203 for guiding the toner collected in the toner collection chamber 200 to the toner storage chamber 156. The toner re-supplying means 203 shown in the drawing is a hollow cylinder member 204 that connects the toner recovery chamber 202 and the toner storage chamber 156, and the hollow cylinder member 204.
A toner transport means for transporting toner therethrough, in the exemplary embodiment the toner transport means is an elongated spiral member 208.
It consists of To further explain, an opening is formed in a required portion of one end wall (the end wall located in the front-rear direction front side) of the cleaning device 36, and the front wall 12 of the unit frame 22.
A pair of openings is also formed in the required portion of 6 (one opening corresponds to the opening formed in the end wall, and the other opening is a portion defining the toner storage chamber 160 of the front wall 126). Is provided). Then, one end 206a of the cylindrical hollow cylindrical member 204 is connected to the opening formed in the one end wall of the cleaning device 36 through the one opening formed in the front wall 126 of the unit frame 22, and the middle thereof. The portion 206b extends laterally from left to right in front of the front wall 126, and the other end portion 206c is connected to the other opening formed in the front wall 126 of the unit frame 22, and in the specific example, the other end portion is formed. 206c is a rear wall 128 of the unit frame 22 in the front and rear direction in the toner storage chamber 156.
Has been extended to. The hollow cylindrical member 204 is arranged so as to be inclined from the left side to the upper right side in the figure, as clearly shown in FIG. This inclination is defined in the direction opposite to the turning direction of the upper support frame body 6 from the closed position to the open position when the upper support frame body 6 shown in FIG. 1 is in the closed position, and the inclination angle is In the closed position shown in FIG. 1, the upper support frame 6 is set to a predetermined angle substantially corresponding to the angle from the closed position to the open position. Therefore,
When the upper support frame 6 is positioned at the open position as shown in FIG. 3, the hollow cylindrical member 204 is positioned substantially horizontally. It is important that at least a part of the hollow cylinder member 204 is transparent or semi-transparent.
A part of the intermediate portion 206b of (the part to be gripped as described later)
In addition, the member 210 formed of transparent or translucent synthetic resin
Are connected. Further, the spiral member 208 has an intermediate portion 212a located in the intermediate portion 206b of the hollow cylindrical member 204,
One end 212b thereof is located in the toner collecting chamber 200 of the cleaning device 36 through one end 206a of the hollow cylindrical member 204, and the other end 212c is located in the other end 206c of the hollow cylindrical member 204 (eighth). Figure). In the toner collecting chamber 200, the one end portion 212b of the spiral member 208 has the bottom portion in the width direction,
That is, the shaft portion 214 extending in the front-rear direction and provided at one end thereof is rotatably attached to the other end wall of the cleaning device 36 (the end wall located rearward in the front-rear direction). The shaft portion 214 penetrates through the other end wall and projects rearward, and a gear 216 is attached to the projecting end. The gear 216 is meshed with a large gear 218 provided at the rear end of the rotary drum 28, and when the rotary drum 28 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 30, the gear 216 is rotated through the large gear 218 by the arrow 220. Is rotated in the direction indicated by. In the other end 206c of the hollow cylindrical member 204, the other end 212c of the spiral member 208 is the other end 206c.
A shaft portion 222 extending in the axial direction of the unit frame 22, that is, the front-rear direction and provided at the other end is rotatably attached to the rear wall 128 of the unit frame 22. The spiral member 208 has shafts 214 and 222 at both ends, as can be seen from FIG.
The other parts have no shaft and are hollow.
When the gear 216 is further rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 220, the arrow 22
It is spirally wound so as to transfer the toner in the direction shown by 4 (FIG. 8). The other end 212 of the spiral member 208
In relation to c, the other end portion 206c of the hollow cylindrical member 204 (specifically, a portion located in the toner storage chamber 160) is further provided with a plurality of openings 226 (first portions) axially spaced below the lower portion. 6
FIG. 7, FIG. 7) is formed, and the plurality of openings 226 are preferably constructed as shown in FIG. That is, a plurality of openings
It is preferable that 226 is smaller on the one side in the width direction of the toner storage chamber 156, that is, on the front side in the front-rear direction, and smaller on the other side in the width direction, that is, on the rear side in the front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the applying means 172, the shaft portions 228a and 228b provided at both ends thereof are provided on the front wall 126 (FIG. 5) and the rear wall 128 (FIG. 2) of the unit frame 22. Also in the stirring means 174, the shaft portions 230a and 230b provided at both ends thereof are rotatably mounted and the front wall 126 and the rear wall 128 are provided.
It is rotatably attached to. Axis 228b of sleeve 180
Is protruded rearward through the rear wall 128, and a gear 232 is attached to the protruding end, and the shaft portion 230b of the stirring means 174 also protrudes rearward through the rear wall 128, and the protruding end also has a gear. 234 is installed. The gears 232 and 234 are drivingly connected via a small gear 236, so that the drive source (not shown) of the copying machine causes the gear 232 to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 238 (which causes the sleeve 180 to move in the arrow direction). 178) and the gear 234 moves through the gear 236 and the arrow 24
It is rotated in the direction indicated by 0 (which causes the stirring means 174 to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 184). In the copying machine equipped with the toner resupply unit 203 described above, the rotary drum 28
When is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 30, spiral member 208 is rotated as desired via large gear 218 and gear 216.
That is, the one end portion 212b located in the toner collecting chamber 200 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 242 (FIGS. 6 and 8) and collected in the toner collecting chamber 200 as described above. Is transferred in the direction indicated by the arrow 224 from the rear end to the front end of the toner recovery chamber 200 by the action of the spiral member 208. The toner thus transferred passes through the hollow cylinder member 204 and is further supplied into the toner storage chamber 160. The other end 212c of the spiral member 208 has an arrow 244 (see FIGS. 6 and 8).
The toner supplied in the toner storage chamber 160 as described above is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow), and the other end portion 206c of the hollow cylindrical member 204 is rotated by the other end portion 212c which rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 244.
Is transferred from the front end to the rear end in the direction indicated by arrow 224. Then, when the toner is transferred from the other end portion 206c of the hollow cylindrical member 204, the toner from the toner recovery chamber 200 has a plurality of openings 2.
It is supplied to the vicinity of the toner discharge port 166 of the toner storage chamber 160 through 26. The amount of toner thus supplied is small despite the relatively large amount of toner due to the opening 226 becoming smaller toward the front end side of the other end 206c, while the toner is supplied at a smaller ratio. Due to the larger opening 226, the toner is supplied in a relatively large amount even though the amount of toner is relatively small. As a result, the toner supply roller 1 is substantially evenly distributed in the width direction of the toner storage chamber 160.
It is supplied near 68. The toner thus supplied is
In the vicinity of the toner discharge port 166, it is mixed with new toner in the toner storage chamber 160, and the mixed toner is supplied to the developing chamber 156 through the toner discharge port 166 by the action of the toner supply roller 168. Therefore, as can be easily understood, the reused toner is re-supplied to the developing chamber 150 at a constant rate, and it is possible to suppress abrupt deterioration of the chamber and obtain a stable image for a long period of time.

In the copying machine shown in the figure, a window 248 is provided at a required portion of the front cover member 10 as shown in FIG. 1 in relation to a part of the hollow cylindrical member 204 being transparent or translucent. ing. In the specific example, the window portion 248 is formed by forming an opening in the front cover member 10 and covering the opening with a member 250 formed of a transparent or translucent material.
Instead of this, an opening may be simply formed in the front cover member 10, and in such a case, an intermediate portion 212a that acts as a grip portion between the front surface of the front cover member 10 and the hollow cylindrical member 204.
It is preferable to construct so that and define substantially the same plane.
With this configuration, a part of the toner transferred from the toner recovery chamber 200 to the toner containing chamber 160 through the hollow cylinder member 204 can be visually observed through the member 210 of the hollow cylinder member 204, and the hollow cylinder member 204 can be further seen. Member 210 is a front cover member
It is visible through the member 250 attached to the 10. Therefore, when a part of the hollow cylindrical member 204 is made transparent or semi-transparent, the front cover member 10 is opened as shown in FIG. 3 to perform the copying process without performing the copying process.
The color of the toner contained in 6, that is, the color of the toner currently in use, can be easily known. When the cover member 10 is provided with the window 248,
Without opening the front cover member 10 as shown in FIG.
In the closed state, the color of the toner currently in use can be easily known from the outside.

Mounting and Detaching Operations of Process Unit Mainly referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, when mounting the process unit 16 in the housing 2, and thus in the specific example, the upper support frame body 6, first, As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper support frame 6 is swung as required to be positioned at the open position.

Next, the front cover member 10 attached to the upper support frame 6
Is rotated forward with the lower end as a fulcrum to support the upper support frame 6
Open the front of the. It should be noted that it is also possible to turn the front cover member 10 into the open state and then turn the upper support frame 6 to position it in the open position.

After that, the supported rail portion provided on the unit frame 22
24 and 26 are engaged with the support rails 18 and 20 provided on the upper support frame 6, and the unit frame 22 is moved in the front-back direction (first
(FIG. 4 to FIG. 4) Move to the rear and mount as required. When the supported rail members 24 and 26 are engaged with the support rails 18 and 20 in a state where the upper support frame body 6 is in the open position, as shown clearly in FIG. The intermediate portion 206b located in front of the front wall 126 is positioned substantially horizontally, and therefore, when the unit frame 22 is moved rearward, the intermediate portion 206b of the hollow tubular member 204 can be easily grasped. The unit frame 22 can be easily attached by gripping and moving it backward.

Next, the front cover member 10 is closed, and then the upper support frame body 6 is swiveled to the closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (after the upper support frame body 6 is set to the closed position,
The front cover member 10 may be closed). That way,
Various components mounted on the upper support frame 6 (irradiation lamp
46), various components mounted on the unit frame 22 (rotating drum 28, developing device 34, cleaning device 36, etc.) and various components mounted on the lower support frame 4 (copy paper transport system 76).
Etc.) are held in the positional relationship shown in FIG. 2, and thus the above-described copying operation is possible.

On the other hand, in order to remove the paper jam generated in the copy paper transport system 68 or to separate the process unit 16 from the inside of the housing 2, that is, the upper support frame 6 in the specific example, the upper support frame 6 is set as described above. Turn it to the open position. As a result, as can be easily understood from FIG. 4, most of the copy paper transport path defined by the copy paper transport system 76 is opened, and thus the copy paper transport system 76 is opened.
If a paper jam occurs at 76, the jammed paper can be easily removed.

When the process unit 16 is to be detached from the upper support frame 6, after positioning the upper support frame 6 in the open position, the front cover member 10 is further swung to bring it to the open state shown in FIG. The rear unit frame 22 is moved forward and backward to be separated from the upper support frame body 6. Even when the unit frame 22 is moved forward, the intermediate portion 206b of the hollow cylindrical member 204 is positioned substantially horizontally, and therefore, the intermediate portion 206b can be easily gripped and can be gripped and moved forward. The unit frame 22 can be easily detached by moving the unit frame 22.

Modifications As described above, one specific example of the electrostatic copying machine as one example of the image generator configured according to the present invention has been described. The present invention is not limited to the specific example and deviates from the scope of the present invention. Without modification, for example, the following variations and modifications are possible.

For example, in the above-described specific example, the start developer is stored in the developer storage chamber 158 of the developing device 34, and when used, the start developer is supplied to the development chamber 156. Although the description is applied to the copying machine, the present invention is not limited to this, and the start developer is stored in the toner recovery chamber 200, and when used, the start developer is operated by the toner re-supplying means 203.
The same can be applied to a device which is supplied to the developing chamber 156 through 60.

Further, in a specific example, an electrostatic copying machine as an example of an image generator including a support structure including a lower support frame 4 and an upper support frame 6 rotatably mounted on the lower support frame 4 is provided. Although it is applied and described, the present invention is not limited to this and can be similarly applied to the one provided with a usual support structure.

Further, the specific example has been described by applying it to an electrostatic copying machine as an example of an image forming machine equipped with a developing device of a type using a so-called two-component developer composed of a carrier and toner. Similarly, the present invention can be applied to those equipped with a developing device of the type that uses a so-called one-component developer composed of only toner. In such a case, the accommodating chamber 158 for accommodating the start developer is unnecessary, and the stirring means 1
The 74 and the toner density detecting means 190 are also unnecessary.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a specific example of an electrostatic copying machine as an example of an image generator constructed according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a simplified sectional view showing the electrostatic copying machine of FIG. 1 in a simplified manner. FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state in which the upper support frame in the electrostatic copying machine of FIG. 1 is in the open position and the front cover member is in the open state. FIG. 4 is a simplified sectional view showing the state shown in FIG. 3 in a simplified manner. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a process unit in the electrostatic copying machine of FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a rotary drum, a developing device and a cleaning device mounted on a unit frame in the process unit shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing the other end of the hollow cylinder member in the process unit of FIG. 5 in an enlarged manner. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the toner resupply means and the elements related thereto in the process unit of FIG. 2 …… Housing 4 …… Lower support frame 6 …… Upper support frame 16 …… Process unit 22 …… Unit frame 34 …… Developing device 36 …… Cleaning device 156 …… Developing chamber 158 …… Developer accommodating chamber 160 ... toner storage chamber 166 ... toner discharge opening 174 ... application means 198 ... elastic blade 200 ... toner recovery chamber 203 ... toner resupply means 204 ... hollow cylinder member 208 ... spiral member

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G03G 21/16

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A movable photoconductor supporting means having a photoconductor on its surface, a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor surface, and a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on the photoconductor surface. And a toner re-supplying means for guiding the toner collected by the cleaning device to the developing device; the toner re-supplying device is a hollow cylinder member connecting the cleaning device and the developing device. An image generator including a toner transfer unit disposed in the hollow cylinder member, wherein at least a part of the hollow cylinder member is transparent or translucent. 2. The movable photoconductor supporting means, the developing device and the cleaning device are mounted on a unit frame, and the unit frame is mounted on a lower supporting frame so as to be rotatable by a predetermined angle between a closed position and an open position. It is detachably attached to the upper support frame,
An openable and closable front cover member is mounted on the front side of the upper support frame, and the transparent or translucent portion of the hollow cylindrical member can be seen from the outside in the closed state. The image generator according to claim 1, further comprising a window portion that can be formed. 3. A lower support frame body, and an upper support frame body mounted on the lower support frame body so as to be rotatable between a closed position and an open position.
A process unit detachably attached to the upper support frame is provided, and the process unit develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the movable photosensitive member supporting means having a photosensitive member on the surface thereof. Developing device, a cleaning device for removing the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor, a unit frame in which the movable photoconductor supporting means, the developing device and the cleaning device are mounted, and the toner collected by the cleaning device In the image generating apparatus, which is provided with a toner re-supplying means for guiding the developing device to the developing device; the toner re-supplying means is disposed inside the hollow cylindrical member, which connects the cleaning device and the developing device. The hollow cylinder member includes a toner transfer means, and the hollow cylindrical member of the upper support frame is at a predetermined angle substantially corresponding to an angle from the closed position to the open position when the upper support frame is in the closed position. The upper support frame is disposed so as to be inclined in a direction opposite to the turning direction from the closed position to the open position, and is positioned substantially horizontally when the upper support frame is positioned in the open position, and the unit frame is An image generator, which functions as a gripping part when being attached to and detached from an upper support frame.