JPH08171280A - Image forming device, process cartridge, developing device and developer replenishing container - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a toner replenishing system process cartridge capable of replenishing a developer, without scattering it. CONSTITUTION: Guiding parts 35 for inserting a developer replenishing container 38 in a longitudinal direction are provided inside a toner container 4a, grooves 39 are provided in positions corresponding to the guiding parts 35, outside the developer replenishing container 38 and further, guiding parts 40 for inserting another developer replenishing container are provided in the container 38 as well. Thus, plural developer replenishing containers can be inserted in a roughly nest shape. At the time of replenishing toner, it is replenishing to the toner container 4a in such a manner that the seal 41 of the container 38 is peeled.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, such as an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer, and a word processor, and a process cartridge detachable from the image forming apparatus. And a developing device, and further, a developer supply container attachable to the process cartridge and the developing device.

In the specification of the present application, a process cartridge means a charging unit as a process unit for image formation,
A developing means or a cleaning means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus main body such as an electrophotographic copying machine or an electrophotographic printer. Alternatively, at least one of the charging means, the developing means and the cleaning means as the process means, and the detachable means with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, or further, the developing means as the process means and the electronic means. A photographic photosensitive member is integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or an electrophotographic printer forms an electrostatic latent image by uniformly charging an electrophotographic photosensitive member and then exposing it according to image information. Then, a developer is attached to the latent image by a developing unit to form a visible image (toner image), and then the toner image is transferred to a recording medium to obtain an image.

In such an apparatus, maintenance of the apparatus is carried out by a professional service person, which may be inconvenient for the user.

Therefore, by making the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the charging means, the developing means, the cleaning means and the like into a cartridge as a unit, the user himself / herself can attach and detach the process cartridge to / from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Have been put into practical use for easy maintenance.

[0006] Normally, such a process cartridge is replaced with a new process cartridge when the stored toner is used up.

However, in recent years, a process cartridge of the type that replenishes toner has been proposed.

[0008]

In the toner replenishment type process cartridge, there is a demand for the development of a process cartridge which can replenish the developer without scattering it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a toner replenishing process cartridge, a developing device, and a developer which can be replenished without scattering when replenishing the process cartridge or the developing device from a developer replenishing container. A supply container, and an image forming apparatus including the process cartridge, the developing device, and the developer supply container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge, a developing device and a developer replenishing container capable of preventing excessive toner replenishment, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the process cartridge, the developing device and the developer replenishing container. It is to be.

[0011]

The above object is to provide a process cartridge, a developing device and a developer supply container according to the present invention,
In addition, the image forming apparatus includes the process cartridge, the developing device, and the developer supply container. In summary, the present invention provides a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process unit that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developer accommodating portion that accommodates a developer. A developing means and a developer accommodating portion or a developer replenishing container has a guide portion for inserting the developer replenishing container into the developer accommodating portion from the longitudinal direction,
The developer replenishing container has a shape in which a plurality of developer replenishing containers can be sequentially inserted in a substantially nested manner inside the longitudinal direction, and has a guide portion for guiding the other developer replenishing containers to respective predetermined positions. Is a process cartridge.

It is preferable that the developer supply container has a locking portion for locking the developer supply container when the developer supply container is inserted into the developer storage part or the developer supply container already inserted into the developer storage part. .

According to another aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge can be attached and detached and which forms an image on a recording medium, (a) the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are operated. For inserting the developer replenishing container into the developer accommodating portion from the longitudinal direction. Has a guide part, and the developer replenishing container has a shape in which a plurality of developer replenishing containers can be sequentially inserted in a substantially nested manner inside the longitudinal direction, and the other developer replenishing containers are respectively placed at predetermined positions. There is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a mounting unit for mounting a process cartridge having a guide portion that guides to a main body of the apparatus; and (b) a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device having a developer accommodating portion and detachable from an image forming apparatus, wherein a developer replenishing container is attached to the developing device. In the developing device that receives the replenishment of the developer, the developer accommodating portion or the developer replenishing container has a guide portion for inserting the developer replenishing container into the developer accommodating portion from the longitudinal direction, and the developer replenishing container is the inner side in the longitudinal direction. A developing device having a shape in which a plurality of developer replenishing containers can be sequentially inserted in a substantially nested manner, and having guide portions for guiding the other developer replenishing containers to predetermined positions, respectively. Will be provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a developer replenishing container attached to a cartridge or a developer accommodating portion of a developing device, wherein the developer accommodating portion or the developer replenishing container is a developer accommodating portion. It has a guide portion for inserting the developer supply container from the longitudinal direction, and the developer supply container has a shape in which a plurality of developer supply containers can be sequentially inserted in a substantially nested manner inside the longitudinal direction, and Provided is a developer replenishing container characterized by having a guide portion for guiding another developer replenishing container to a predetermined position.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The image forming apparatus, the process cartridge, the developing device, and the developer supply container according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 First, with reference to FIG. 4, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge constructed according to the present invention can be mounted will be described.

In this embodiment, the process cartridge C
Has a drum-shaped image carrier, which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member, that is, a photosensitive drum 1, and image forming process means such as a charging means 2, a developing means 4 and a cleaning means 5 arranged around the photosensitive drum 1. However, these respective means are integrated by the plastic frame bodies 6 and 7. The process cartridge C can be mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus through mounting guide means (not shown).

The transfer charging means 15 is provided in the apparatus main body below the photosensitive drum 1 in the process cartridge C.
Is arranged. Further, a paper feed tray 16, a paper feed roller 17, and a registration roller 18 are arranged on the paper feed side of the transfer charging means 15, while a paper guide 19, a fixing means 20, and a paper discharge roller 21 are provided on the paper discharge side. A paper discharge tray 22 is arranged.

Further, above the process cartridge C,
An illumination lamp 23 for illuminating the original document and a short-focus optical element array 24 for exposing the photosensitive drum 1 with the reflected image light of the light emitted from the illumination lamp 23 to the original O are provided. Further, on the upper part of the main body of the apparatus, a document table 2 movable in the direction of arrow A in the figure is used.
5, the original table 25 is provided with an original pressure plate 26.

With the above arrangement, in the image forming apparatus, the reflected image light of the light emitted from the illumination lamp 23 to the original O is short-focused optical element array 24 on the photosensitive drum 1 uniformly charged by the charging means 2. When the light is emitted through the photosensitive drum 1, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the document information is formed on the photosensitive drum 1. This electrostatic latent image is sent to a position facing the developing means 4 as the photosensitive drum 1 rotates. The developing means 4 includes a developer carrier 4b such as a developing sleeve that carries and conveys a developer (toner) T. The latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 is supplied with toner from the developing sleeve 4b,
It is a visible image, that is, a toner image.

On the other hand, a recording medium P such as a transfer sheet is sent to a registration roller 18 via a paper feed tray 16 and a paper feed roller 17 which constitute a conveyance means, and the registration roller 18 adjusts the timing to expose the photosensitive material. It is conveyed between the drum 1 and the transfer charging means 15. Then, by the action of the transfer charging means 15, the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred onto the transfer paper P.
The upper toner image is transferred.

Transfer paper P carrying the transferred toner image
After being sent to the fixing unit 20 to make the toner image a permanent image, the toner image is stacked on the discharge tray 22 by the discharge roller 21.

After the transfer, the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 1 is removed by the cleaning means 5, and the photosensitive drum 1 is subjected to the next image forming step. The removed residual toner is stored in the cleaner container 5a and is appropriately discarded. Alternatively, the toner may be transported to and stored in the toner storage unit of the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Next, the features of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, the toner container 4d, which is the developer accommodating portion of the process cartridge C, is provided with an opening / closing lid 36 on one side surface thereof, that is, on the front side in FIG. On the inside of the opening / closing lid 36, a toner leak seal 37 made of maltoprene is attached. Also, the toner container 4a
Rib-shaped container guides 35, 35 at opposite positions on the inner surface of the container.
Are provided along the longitudinal direction.

On the other hand, the developer replenishing container 38 is a rectangular parallelepiped having a trapezoidal cross section and is formed so that it can be fitted into the toner container 4a.
On its outer surface, groove portions 39, 39 serving as first guides that fit into the container guides 35, 35 are provided. Also,
Rib-shaped guides 40, which are second guides, are formed on the inner surface of the developer supply container 38 in parallel with the grooves 39. By this second guide 40, another developer replenishing container (not shown) can be inserted into the developer replenishing container 38.

Further, the developer supply container 38 has a seal 41 for sealing the side opening 42a and the bottom opening 42b.
Is affixed. This prevents toner from flowing out when not in use, and at the time of toner supply, after inserting the developer supply container 38 into the toner container 4a, the seal 41 is peeled off from the developer supply container 38 to remove the toner. Replenish inside.

Next, the procedure of toner replenishment in the above configuration will be described in detail.

First, the opening / closing lid 36 of the toner container 4a is opened to confirm that the toner inside the toner container 4a is empty. Next, the developer supply container 38 is attached to the first guide 39 thereof.
Is inserted into the toner container 4a in a form of being guided by the container guide 35. After inserting the developer supply container 38 until it hits the inner wall of the toner container 4a facing the opening / closing lid 36, a seal 41 is inserted.
Is pulled in the direction of the arrow in FIG. By this operation, the toner can be dropped from the bottom opening 42b of the developer supply container 38 and can be used for image formation on the photosensitive drum.

The toner replenishment for the second time and thereafter can be performed by the same operation as the above operation. That is, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the first guide 39 of the new developer supply container 38a is added to the second guide 40 of the inserted developer supply container 38.
A new developer supply container 3 by sliding a together
8b is inserted, and then the seal not shown in FIG. 3 is peeled off.

With the above arrangement, the space for the opening for inserting the developer supply container decreases as the toner supply is repeated. Therefore, depending on the correlation between the cross-sectional shape of the toner container and the cross-sectional shape of the developer supply container, it becomes impossible to insert a certain number or more of developer supply containers into the toner container. As an example, the example shown in FIG. 3 shows a state in which three developer supply containers 38, 38a, 38b have been inserted and can no longer be inserted.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when a certain number of developer supply containers are put in the toner container,
Since it is impossible to insert more than that, it is possible to detect the number of times of toner replenishment. At this time, there is an advantage that the user can recognize whether or not the number of times of replenishment has reached a predetermined number or more without mistakenly inserting the toner replenishing container halfway. Further, according to this configuration, since the developer replenishing container once inserted does not need to be taken out after use, it is possible to avoid the problem that the user stains the body and the surrounding environment at the time of replenishing the toner.

In this embodiment, the toner container and the developer replenishing container have trapezoidal cross-sectional shapes, but if the toner replenishing container can be overlaid with another toner replenishing container. Of course, the shape is not limited.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 5 shows a developing device 4A in the form of a cartridge which is another embodiment of the present invention.

The developing device 4A of this embodiment has a developer carrying member 4d such as a developing sleeve, and a toner containing a toner T for supplying the developer (toner) to the developer carrying member 4d. The developing means having the container 4a is integrally made into a cartridge by the frame 7 made of plastic.
That is, the developing device 4A of the present embodiment can be considered as a cartridge obtained by integrating the process cartridge C described in the first embodiment with the photosensitive drum 1, the charging unit 2, and the cleaning unit 5 removed. Therefore, the configurations and operations of the toner container 4a and the developer supply container 38 are the same as those of the first embodiment, and those having the same configurations and operations are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the process cartridge and the developer supply container according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, the toner container and the developer replenishing container are formed in an elliptical cross section unlike the first embodiment, and the developer replenishing container is a toner container or a developer replenishing container already inserted. It is characterized in that both are engaged and fastened when they are inserted, and cannot be removed once the developer supply container is once inserted.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the toner container 4
a and the developer supply container 48 have an elliptical cross section, and an engaging portion 43 is provided on the facing surface of the opening / closing lid 36a of the toner container 4a, and the developer supply container 48 corresponds to the engaging portion 43. A snap 44 as a locking means is attached to the outer surface of the. Since the engagement portion 43 and the snap 44 are provided, when the developer supply container 48 is inserted into the toner container 4a, the engagement portion 43 is fastened to the snap 44 and the developer supply container 48 cannot be pulled out. .

As shown in FIG. 8, the snaps 44a and 44b of the second developer supply container 48a and the third developer supply container 48b are the same as the developer supply container 4 previously inserted.
The developer replenishing containers 48a, 48, which are provided so as to be engaged with the outer surface end portions of the 8, 8a, respectively, are inserted once.
b cannot be pulled out again.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally taking out the used developer supply container and contaminating the body or the surrounding environment. Further, it is possible to more reliably realize that the toner replenishment is not performed the predetermined number of times or more, so that the reliability of the toner replenishment number detection can be made higher.

[0042]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a toner replenishing system capable of replenishing a process cartridge or a developing device from a developer replenishing container without causing the developer to scatter. It is possible to obtain the process cartridge, the developing device, and the developer supply container, and the image forming apparatus including the process cartridge, the developing device, and the developer supply container.

Further, it is possible to obtain a process cartridge, a developing device and a developer replenishing container capable of preventing the toner from being replenished excessively, and an image forming apparatus equipped with these process cartridge, developing device and developer replenishing container.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing Example 1 of a process cartridge and a developer supply container according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram perspectively showing a state in which a seal portion of the developer supply container of FIG. 1 is peeled off.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a developer supply container and another developer supply container are inserted into the toner container of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an image forming apparatus in which the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a developing device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a perspective view of a process cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a perspective view of a developer supply container according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing in perspective a locking member that locks the developer supply containers according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photosensitive drum (image carrier) 2 Charging means 4 Developing means 4A Developing device 4a Toner container (developer container) 4b Developing sleeve (developer carrier) 35 Guide part 37, 41 Seal 38, 38a, 38b Replenishing developer Container 39 Guide portion 43 Engagement portion 44 Snaps 48, 48a, 48b Developer supply container C Process cartridge

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location G03G 21/16 21/18 G03G 21/00 354

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A process cartridge attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and a developing means having a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer. And a developer accommodating portion or a developer replenishing container has a guide portion for inserting the developer replenishing container into the developer accommodating portion from the longitudinal direction, and the developer replenishing container has a plurality of developing portions inside in the longitudinal direction. It has a shape that allows the agent supply containers to be inserted one after another in a substantially nested manner.
A process cartridge having guide parts for guiding other developer supply containers to predetermined positions. 2. A locking part for locking the developer supply container when the developer supply container is inserted into the developer storage part or the developer supply container already inserted into the developer storage part. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein 3. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which a charging unit, a developing unit or a cleaning unit as the process unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrated into a cartridge, and the cartridge is attached to or detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, which enables the process cartridge. 4. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which at least one of a charging unit, a developing unit and a cleaning unit as the process unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is installed in an image forming apparatus main body. The process cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the process cartridge is removable. 5. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which a developing unit as the process unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge according to claim 1 or 2. 6. An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge is detachable and which forms an image on a recording medium,
(A) An electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process unit that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developing unit having a developer accommodating portion that accommodates a developer, and a developer accommodating portion or a developer supply container is provided. The developer accommodating portion has a guide portion for inserting the developer replenishing container from the longitudinal direction, and the developer replenishing container can sequentially insert the plurality of developer replenishing containers substantially inward in the longitudinal direction. Mounting means for mounting the process cartridge having a shape and having guide portions for guiding the other developer supply containers to predetermined positions, respectively, and
(B) A conveyance unit that conveys the recording medium, and an image forming apparatus. 7. A locking portion for locking the developer replenishing container when the developer replenishing container is inserted into the developer accommodating portion or the developer replenishing container already inserted into the developer accommodating portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein. 8. The process cartridge is a charging unit, a developing unit or a cleaning unit as the process unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member which are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is attached to or detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, which enables the image forming apparatus. 9. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which at least one of a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit as the process unit and the electrophotographic photoconductor are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is used as a main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the image forming apparatus is removable. 10. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which a developing unit as the process unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 or 7. 11. A developing device which has a developing means having a developer accommodating portion and which can be detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, wherein the developing device is equipped with a developer replenishing container to receive replenishment of the developer. The developer container or the developer replenishing container has a guide part for inserting the developer replenishing container into the developer container from the longitudinal direction, and the developer replenishing container has a plurality of developer replenishing containers substantially inside in the longitudinal direction. A developing device, which has a shape such that it can be inserted one after another in a nested manner, and has a guide portion that guides each of the other developer supply containers to a predetermined position. 12. A locking part for locking the developer supply container when the developer supply container is inserted into the developer storage part or the developer supply container already inserted into the developer storage part. The developing device according to claim 11, wherein: 13. A developer supply container attached to a cartridge or a developer storage part of a developing device, wherein the developer storage part or the developer supply container is inserted into the developer storage part from a longitudinal direction. Has a guide part for
The developer replenishing container has a shape in which a plurality of developer replenishing containers can be sequentially inserted in a substantially nested manner inside the longitudinal direction, and has a guide portion for guiding the other developer replenishing containers to respective predetermined positions. A developer supply container characterized in that 14. A locking part for locking the developer supply container when the developer supply container is inserted into the developer storage part or the developer supply container already inserted into the developer storage part. 14. The developer supply container according to claim 13.