JPH0820801B2 - Image generator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention forms an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic photoconductor, develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image, and then transfers the toner image to an appropriate transfer. The present invention relates to an image generator such as a printer or a copier, which is a so-called electrostatic system for transferring to a material.

<Prior Art> As an image generator such as a printer or a copying machine, the electrostatic type as described above is widely put into practical use. Such an image generator usually includes an electrostatic photoconductor provided on the surface of a rotating drum or an endless belt, and an electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic photoconductor. An electrostatic latent image developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image; transfer means for transferring the toner image on the electrostatic photoconductor to a transfer material that may be ordinary paper; And a cleaning device for removing the residual toner from the electrostatic photosensitive member after the transfer. The electrostatic latent image forming means includes a charging corona discharger for uniformly charging the electrostatic photoconductor and an optical system for selectively exposing the electrostatic photoconductor according to an image to be generated. Includes and. A typical example of the developing device is a developing housing for accommodating the developer, a developer applying unit for applying the developer in the developing housing onto the electrostatic photoreceptor, and agitating the developer in the developing housing. And a developer agitating means for achieving the above. The developer applying means usually has a sleeve member that holds the developer on its surface and conveys the developer, and in this case, the layer thickness of the developer that is held and conveyed on the surface of the sleeve member. A developer regulating blade for regulating the toner is disposed. The developer may be a so-called one-component developer composed of only toner, or a so-called two-component developer composed of toner and carrier particles. A typical example of the cleaning device is a toner removing unit that removes residual toner from the electrostatic photoconductor, and a widthwise direction along the electrostatic photoconductor, and the toner removing unit removes the residual toner from the electrostatic photoconductor. A toner collection housing for receiving the toner. Conveniently, the toner removing means is composed of a cleaning blade that is elastically biased and brought into contact with the electrostatic photosensitive member. In many cases, the cleaning device further includes a toner collecting chamber which can be formed in a rotary drum having an electrostatic photosensitive member on the surface thereof or in a developing device. A toner transfer path that extends from one end of the housing to the toner collection chamber, a toner transfer unit that transfers the toner received in the toner recovery housing to one end of the toner recovery housing, and the toner transfer from one end of the toner recovery housing. Toner conveying means for conveying toner to the toner collecting chamber through the passage is also provided.

Particularly in a relatively small-sized image generator, a so-called process unit that is replaceable by combining the developing device and / or the cleaning device with the electrostatic photoreceptor is configured,
It is convenient to removably mount such a process unit at a required position. In this case, a cover member that is selectively positioned at a coating position that covers a part of the electrostatic photosensitive member is also provided. Such a cover member is detachably attached to the process unit and positioned at the covering position, or movably between the covering position and a non-covering position exposing a part of the electrostatic photoreceptor to the process unit. It may be mounted. In many cases, the charging unit of the electrostatic latent image forming means also includes a corona discharger for charging.

<Problems of Prior Art> The above-described conventional image generator has the following problems to be solved.

First, the developer stirring means in the electrostatic latent image developing device has a rotating shaft that is driven to rotate in a required direction and a stirring member that is fixed to this rotating shaft. The rotation resistance force applied from the developer to the stirring member becomes excessive at the start of operation in each morning, and as a result, the stirring member itself or the drive connecting mechanism for rotationally driving the rotating shaft is damaged. There is a fear. Such a problem is particularly significant when the developer is a one-component developer having a relatively high specific gravity and a relatively large amount of developer is present in the developer housing. In order to solve the above problem, it is conceivable to sufficiently increase the strength of the stirring member, the drive connection mechanism, and the like, but this inevitably increases the manufacturing cost and increases the size.

Secondly, especially when the developer is a one-component developer, the layer thickness of the developer held and conveyed on the surface of the sleeve member is controlled by the developer regulating blade to be, for example, 50 to 100 μm.
It is important that the required value of the degree is regulated sufficiently uniformly over the entire width direction. However, in the prior art, it is difficult to make the pressing force of the inner surface of the free end portion of the developer regulating blade against the surface of the sleeve member sufficiently uniform over the entire width direction, and therefore the surface of the sleeve member is held and conveyed. It has been difficult to regulate the layer thickness of the developer to a required value to be sufficiently uniform over the entire width direction.

Thirdly, when at least a cleaning device is combined with the electrostatic photosensitive member to form a detachable process unit, when the process unit is mounted at a required position and actually used, the cleaning blade in the cleaning device is installed. It is necessary to elastically bias and contact the electrostatic photoreceptor, but when the process unit is not mounted at the required position, the cleaning blade is separated from the electrostatic photoreceptor and / or the electrostatic photoreceptor and / or It is desirable to avoid deterioration or damage of the cleaning blade as much as possible. However, in the past, the conventional demand could not be satisfied without causing individual problems such as a large increase in manufacturing cost.

Fourth, in the case where the cleaning device is provided with the toner collecting chamber, the toner transport path, the toner transport means, and the toner transport means, the toner transport path is usually composed of a tubular member having a circular cross section. Comprises a coil extending within such tube member. It is necessary that the coil be drivingly connected to the rotation shaft of the toner transfer unit and rotated in a required direction according to the rotation of the rotation shaft.
Conventionally, a hole is formed in the rotary shaft and one end of the coil is locked in this hole, or one end of the coil is fixed to the rotary shaft by an appropriate set screw or the like, thus drivingly connecting the coil to the rotary shaft. Was. However, the conventional drive coupling method is not always easy enough and often requires complicated work.

<Objects of the Invention> The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and a first object thereof is an electrostatic latent image developing device without causing separate problems such as an increase in manufacturing cost and an increase in size. In the case of (1), even if an excessive rotational resistance force is applied from the developer to the stirring member of the developer stirring means, it is possible to reliably prevent the stirring member and the drive connection mechanism and the like related thereto from being damaged.

A second object of the present invention is to apply the pressing force of the inner surface of the free end portion of the developer regulating blade to the surface of the sleeve member in the width direction in the electrostatic latent image developing device without causing a significant increase in manufacturing cost. To make it possible to easily realize that the layer thickness of the developer, which is held and conveyed on the surface of the sleeve member, is regulated to a required value sufficiently uniformly over the entire width direction so that the layer thickness is made sufficiently uniform over the whole. It is to do it.

A third object of the present invention is to prevent the cleaning blade in the cleaning device from being electrostatically exposed when the process unit is mounted at a required position and actually used without causing a separate problem such as a significant increase in manufacturing cost. The cleaning blade is brought into contact with the body as required, but the cleaning blade is separated from the electrostatic photoreceptor when the process unit is not mounted at the required position.

<Solution to the Invention> In order to achieve the first object, according to the present application, an electrostatic latent image developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic photoreceptor is provided. The developing device includes a developing housing for accommodating a developer, a developer applying unit for applying the developer in the developing housing onto the electrostatic photoreceptor, and agitating the developer in the developing housing. An image generator including a developer stirring means, the developer stirring means having a rotating shaft and a stirring member mounted on the rotating shaft; the rotating shaft having an eccentric portion, Provided is an image generator, wherein the agitating member is in a tubular state and is loosely fitted to the rotating shaft, and when the rotating shaft is rotated, the agitating member is vibrated in a radial direction by the action of the eccentric portion. To be done.

In order to achieve the second object, according to the present application, an electrostatic latent image developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic photoreceptor is provided, and the developing device is a developer. And a developer applying means for applying the developer in the developing housing onto the electrostatic photoreceptor, the developer applying means holding the developer on its surface. And a developer regulating blade for regulating the layer thickness of the developer that is held and conveyed on the surface of the sleeve member by pressing the inner surface of the sleeve member against the sleeve member that conveys the developer. In the image generator having: the developer regulating blade is formed of a thin plate, and extends in the width direction with a flexible member extending in the width direction interposed on the outer surface of the free end portion of the developer regulating blade. A pressing member is provided, and the pressing member is There is provided an image generator characterized in that an inner surface of a free end portion of the developer regulating blade is pressed against a surface of the sleeve member by an acting force.

To achieve the third object, according to the present application, a process unit detachably mounted at a predetermined position is provided, and the process unit has at least an electrostatic photosensitive member and a cleaning blade. And a cover member selectively positioned at a coating position that covers a part of the electrostatic photoconductor, the cleaning blade in the cleaning device includes a working position for contacting the electrostatic photoconductor and the electrostatic photoconductor. In an image generator movably mounted between a non-acting position spaced apart from the body and elastically biased to the actuating position by spring means; the cover member being removably attached to the covering position. A forcing means for forcing the cleaning blade into the non-acting position against the elastic biasing action of the spring means when the cover member is mounted in the covering position And the spring means elastically biases the cleaning blade to the working position when the cover member is removed from the covering position.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned third object, according to the present application, a process unit detachably mounted at a predetermined position is provided, and the process unit has at least an electrostatic photoconductor and a cleaning blade. The cleaning device includes a cleaning device and a cover member selectively positioned at a coating position that covers a part of the electrostatic photosensitive member, and the cleaning blade in the cleaning device includes an operating position in contact with the electrostatic photosensitive member and a static position. In an image generator movably mounted between a non-acting position separated from the electrophotoconductor and elastically biased to the acting position by a spring means; a locking means attached to the cover member; The cleaning blade is provided with a locking means provided with the locking means, and when the cover member is positioned at the covering position, the locking means is locked. An image generator is provided which acts on the locked means to force the cleaning blade into the non-acting position against the elastic biasing action of the spring means.

<Preferred Embodiments of the Invention> Preferred embodiments of an image generator to which various improvements are added according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a laser beam printer generally designated by the numeral 2. This printer is composed of a printer main body 4 which is simply shown by a two-dot chain line, and a process unit 6 which is detachably attached to the main body 4. In the printer shown in FIG. 1, the configuration other than the process unit 6 and the mounting and dismounting method of the process unit 6 with respect to the main body 4 are related to the applicant's application in Japanese Patent Application No. 290740 (filing date: 1987). November 19,
Name of invention: Image forming apparatus) and patent application No. 3017 in 1987
It may be substantially the same as the laser beam printer described in the specification and drawings of No. 75 (filing date: November 30, 1987, title of the invention: image forming apparatus), and therefore, the description about them will be omitted. The above 1987 patent application No. 290740 and 62
It is left to the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 301775 and omitted in this specification.

Referring to FIG. 2, the process unit in the illustrated embodiment has four components (components) formed or assembled separately, that is, the component 8 and the second component in FIG. It is constructed by assembling the element 10, the third component 12 and the fourth component 14 with each other. Continuing the description with reference to FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 2, the first component 8 contains a rotating drum 16 and a cleaning device 18. The second component 10 is a developing device. The third constituent element 12 constitutes an upper fixed cover member that covers most of the upper surface and both side surfaces of the first constituent element 8 and the second constituent element 10, and contains the charging corona discharger 22. are doing. The fourth component 14 is detachably mounted in the covering position shown in FIG.
Is a cover member that covers the lower part of the.

Continuing the description with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the first component 8 has a pair of supporting side walls 24 and 26 arranged at a predetermined interval. The rotating drum 16 is rotatably mounted between the supporting side walls 24 and 26.
On the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 16, an electrostatic photoconductor that can be formed of an appropriate material such as an organic optical semiconductor is provided. The rotary drum 16 has an input shaft (not shown) projecting through the supporting side wall 26, and when the process unit 6 is mounted at a predetermined position of the printer main body 4 (FIG. 1), the above-mentioned input is performed. The shaft is drivingly connected to a driving source (not shown), which may be an electric motor, through an appropriate driving connecting means (not shown), and thus the rotating drum 16 is indicated by an arrow 28 when performing an image producing process. It can be rotated in the direction shown. The cleaning device 18 includes a cleaning blade 30 which is elastically biased and brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 16. This cleaning blade 30
Constitutes a toner removing means for removing the residual toner from the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 16 after the toner image transfer. The mounting method of the cleaning blade 30 and its related configuration will be described in more detail later. The cleaning device 18 also includes a toner recovery housing 32 disposed below the cleaning blade 30. The toner collection housing 32 extends along the rotary drum 16 between the support side walls 24 and 26 and receives the toner scraped downward from the rotary drum 16 by the cleaning blade 30. In the illustrated example, a toner collecting chamber 34 is further formed in the rotary drum 16, and a toner conveying path 36 that connects the toner collecting housing 32 to the toner collecting chamber 34 is provided. The toner transport path 36, which is formed of a tube member having a circular cross-sectional shape, extends from one end of the toner recovery housing 32 through the supporting side wall 24 to extend in a substantially U-shape, and penetrates the supporting side wall 24 again to extend the toner. It has entered the collection chamber 34 (see also Figure 16). In the toner recovery housing 32, a toner transfer means 38 for transferring the toner received at the bottom to one end thereof, that is, one end on the side where the upstream end of the toner transfer path 36 is located is disposed. The toner transfer means 38 can be composed of a spiral blade mechanism having a rotating shaft 40. The rotating shaft 40 of the toner transferring means 38 is drivingly connected to the rotating drum 16 by an appropriate driving connecting means (not shown) such as a gear train, and the rotating drum 16 is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow 28. Then, it is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 42. Inside the toner carrying path 36, a toner carrying means 44 (FIG. 16) for carrying the toner from one end of the toner collecting housing 32 to the toner collecting chamber 34 through the toner carrying path 36 is arranged. The toner conveying means 44 can be composed of a coil (FIG. 16) extending in the toner conveying path 36. The upstream end of the coil is drivingly connected to the rotary shaft 40 of the toner transfer means 38, and the coil is also rotated in association with the rotation of the rotary shaft 40. The drive connection between the coil forming the toner conveying means 44 and the rotary shaft 40 of the toner transferring means 38 will be described in more detail later.

Continuing the description with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the second component, i.e., the developing device 10, is the main developing housing member.
A developing housing 50 composed of 46 and a developer cartridge member 48 is provided. An opening is formed on the left side surface of the main developing housing member 48 in FIG. 3, and an opening is also formed on the inclined upper surface located on the upper right side of FIG. Channel-shaped guide grooves 52 and 54 extending in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 3) are formed at both edge portions of the inclined upper surface of the main developing housing member 48. The state developer cartridge member 48 has an inclined lower surface located at the lower left in FIG. 3, and guided ridges 56 and 58 extending in the width direction are formed at both end edges of the inclined lower surface. Such a developer cartridge member 48
Slides the guided ridges 56 and 58 in the width direction to guide the channel-shaped guide grooves 52 and 52 of the main developing housing member 48.
By being inserted into 54, it is assembled to the main developing housing member 48. The developer cartridge member 48 is filled with a developer 60, which may be a one-component developer composed only of magnetic toner, through a filling port (not shown) formed on one side wall of the developer cartridge member 48. The filling port is closed by fixing the closing member 62 (FIG. 2) after filling the developer 60. The inclined lower surface of the developer cartridge member 48 is sealed by an unsealable seal member 64 which may be of a known form per se. When the constituent elements 8, 10, 12 and 14 constituting the process unit 6 are combined as required, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The slit-shaped opening 6 formed in one side wall 106 of the component 12 of
It is projected to the outside through 8 and is attached to the surface of the one side wall 106 by the attaching piece 70. The seal member 64 is kept unopened until the process unit 6 is actually used, and therefore the developer 60 is not used.
Is contained only in the developer cartridge member 48,
No developer 60 is present in the main developer housing member 46. The process unit 6 is attached to the printer body 4 (Fig. 1).
When the seal member 64 is mounted at the required position, the unsealing protruding end portion 66 (FIG. 2) of the seal member 64 is pulled,
64 is removed from the inclined lower surface of the developer cartridge member 48 to open the inclined lower surface, and thus the developer cartridge member 48.
The developer 60 is caused to flow from the inside into the main developing housing member 46.

Inside the main developing housing member 46, a developer applying means 72 and a developer stirring means 74 are arranged. Developer application means
72 includes a sleeve member 76 rotatably mounted and a stationary permanent magnet 78 disposed in the sleeve member 76.
As will be described later, the developing device 10 includes the first constituent element 8 described above.
When assembled in, the sleeve member 76 of the developer applying means 72 is drivingly connected to the rotary drum 16 via a drive connecting means such as an appropriate gear train, and the rotary drum 16 rotates in the direction shown by the arrow 28. When squeezed, the sleeve member 76 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 80. The sleeve member 76 holds the developer 60 in the main developing housing member 46 on its surface by the magnetic attraction force of the permanent magnet 78, and develops it in the developing area.
Then, the developer 60 is applied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 16 in the developing area 82, and the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image. Developer application means
72 is a layer thickness of the developer 60 which is held on the surface of the sleeve member 76 and is conveyed to the developing area 82, which is 50 to 100 μm.
A developer control blade for controlling to a required value that is moderate
Contains 84. The developer regulating blade 84 has the inner surface of the free end pressed against the surface of the sleeve member 76, and thus the developer held on the surface of the sleeve member 76.
Regulate 60 layers to the required thickness. The developer regulating blade 84 in the developer applying means 72 will be described in more detail later. The developer stirring means 74 is rotatably mounted and extends in the main developing housing member 46 in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in the third direction), and is mounted on the rotation shaft 86. And a stirring member 88. The rotating shaft 86 is drivingly connected to the sleeve member 76 of the developer applying means 72 via an appropriate driving connecting means (not shown) such as a gear train.
When the rotary drum 16 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 28 and the sleeve member 76 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 80, the arrow 90
It can be rotated in the direction shown by. Thus, the developer agitating means 74 agitates the developer 60 within the main developer housing member 46 and causes it to flow toward the sleeve member 76 of the developer applying means 72. The developer stirring means 74 will be described in detail later.

Referring to FIG. 2, the first component 8 and the second component
The following is a description of the components, ie, the manner of mutual assembly with the developing device 10. On one of the pair of support side walls 24 and 26 of the first component 8, one of the pair of supporting side walls 24 and 26 is formed with a locking groove 90 opened upward at the right upper end, and a coil spring locking opening 92 is formed at the lower right end thereof. Are formed. On the other side 26 of the pair of support side walls 24 and 26, a locking hole 94 is formed at the upper right end thereof, and a coil spring locking hole (not shown) is formed at the lower right end thereof. On the other hand, the developing device
In the tenth aspect, on the outer surfaces of both side walls of the main developing housing 46, a locking projection 96 located above and a coil spring locking projection 98 located below are formed. Further, spacer rings 100 are rotatably mounted concentrically with the sleeve member 76 on both sides of the sleeve member 76 of the developer applying means 72. The outer diameter of the spacer ring 100 is set to be larger than the outer diameter of the sleeve member 76 by a predetermined value. When the developing device 10 is assembled to the first component 8, one of the locking projections 96 of the developing device 10 is inserted into the locking hole 94 of the first component 8, and then the other of the developing device 10 is locked. The locking projection 96 is recessed into the locking groove 90 in the first component 8. After that, the coil spring 102 is stretched between the coil spring locking projection 98 of the developing device 10 and the coil spring locking hole 92 of the first component 8. As a result, the developing device 10 is elastically biased relative to the first component 8 in the clockwise direction when viewed from the front in FIG. The pair of spacer rings 100 are brought into contact with the both side surfaces of the rotary drum 16 in the first component 8. Thus, the distance between the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 16 and the peripheral surface of the sleeve member 76 of the developer applying means 72 is set to a required value with sufficient precision, and the first component 8 and the developing device 10 are assembled. .

Continuing the description with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the third component, the upper fixed cover member 12, includes the first component 8 and the developing device 10 which are assembled together as described above.
And an upper surface wall 104 having a shape substantially corresponding to the upper surface shape of and the both side walls hanging from both side edges of the upper surface wall 104.
With 106. An exposure opening 108 that is elongated in the width direction is formed in the upper surface wall 104. As shown in FIG. 3, on the inner surface of the upper wall 104, a charging corona discharger 22 is disposed adjacent to the post-exposure opening 108 and extending in the width direction. The upper fixed cover member 12 is positioned at a required position to cover the upper surface and both side surfaces of the first component 8 and the developing device 10, and then through the through hole 110 formed in the left side portion of the both side walls 106. Setscrews 114 in the threaded holes 112 formed in the support sidewalls 24 and 26 of the first component 8.
Is fixed to the first component 8 by screwing.

The fourth component, or removable cover member 14, is the third
The rotary drum 16 is detachably mounted at the covering position shown in the figure and covers the lower portion of the rotary drum 16. As will be described in more detail later, when the process unit 6 is mounted on the printer body 4 (FIG. 1), the cover member 14 is detached from the process unit 6. Process unit 6 on printer body 4
When performing the image generation process with the
16 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 28. The charging corona discharger 22 uniformly charges the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 16, and then a laser beam from a laser beam projection means (not shown) is selectively projected onto the rotary drum 16 through the exposure opening 108, Thus, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 16. Next, the developing device 10 develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. After that,
A transfer material (not shown), which may be a normal paper, is brought into close contact with the lower exposed portion of the rotary drum 16, and the toner image is transferred to the rotary drum 16 by the action of a transfer means (not shown) such as a corona discharger for transfer. Is transferred to the transfer material. Then, the transfer material is peeled off from the rotary drum 16, and the toner image is fixed to the transfer material by an appropriate fixing unit (not shown).
Then, the transfer material having the fixed toner image is ejected from the printer 2. On the other hand, the residual toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 16 after the transfer is removed from the rotary drum 16 by the cleaning device.

Thus, the process unit 6 as described above has the following improvements according to the present invention.

Developer Stirring Means As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the developer stirring means 74 is disposed in the main developing housing member 46 of the developing device 10. The developing housing member 46 includes a rotating shaft 86 extending in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 3) and an agitating member 88 mounted on the rotating shaft 86. According to the present invention, when the rotation resistance force of a predetermined value or more acts on the stirring member 88 while the rotation shaft 86 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 90, the rotation shaft
Rotating shaft so that the stirring member 88 can slip with respect to 86
It is important that the stirring member 88 is attached to 86.

Referring to FIG. 4 together with FIG. 3, the stirring member 88 in the illustrated specific example may be a stainless steel wire rod for coil springs having a diameter of about 1.2 mm, for example, a continuous metal wire rod is appropriately deformed. It is formed by merging. The agitating member 88 has both end mounting portions 116 which are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 86, and extends from each of the both end mounting portions 116 in a radial direction substantially perpendicular to the rotating shaft 86. It has an arm part 118 and a main stirring action part 120 extending between the arm parts 118 substantially in parallel to the rotation shaft 86. The both-end mounting portions 116 are located in the main developing housing member 46 in the vicinity of both ends in the width direction, and accordingly, the main agitating portion 120.
Expediently extends within the main developer housing member 46 over substantially its entire width. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the radial length of the arm portion 118 is such that the main stirring action is performed while the stirring member 88 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 90 in association with the rotation of the rotary shaft 86. Conveniently, section 120 is configured to move proximate inner surface 122 of the arcuate bottom wall of main developer housing member 46. Continuing the description with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the both end mounting portions 116 of the stirring member 88 are made to have a coil spring shape, and the predetermined receiving portion 124 (FIG. 5) of the rotary shaft 86 is covered. It is fitted. The inner diameter of the mounting portion 116 in the free state is set to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the receiving portion 124 of the rotating shaft 86, and the mounting portion 1
The elastic member 16 is elastically fitted to the receiving portion 124 of the rotary shaft 86 by elastically increasing the inner diameter. As clearly shown in FIG. 5, the receiving portion 124 of the rotary shaft 86 has a diameter slightly smaller than that of the other portions, and annular shoulder surfaces 126 are formed on both sides of the receiving portion 124. preferable. The annular shoulder surface 126 prevents the mounting portion 116 of the stirring member 88 from moving in the axial direction with respect to the rotating shaft 86. The winding direction in the mounting portion 116 of the stirring member 88 is relatively rotated with respect to the rotation shaft 86 in the direction indicated by the arrow 126 (that is, the direction opposite to the rotation direction 90 of the rotation shaft 86). It is preferable that the winding is loosened.

In particular, the developer 60 is a one-component developer having a relatively high specific gravity and a relatively large amount of the developer 60 is present in the developer housing 50, as already mentioned in the section of the problems of the prior art. In this case, when the process unit 6 starts its initial operation, or starts its operation after being stopped for a relatively long time (for example, the operation starts each morning), the developer 60 is pressure-aggregated around the developer stirring means 74. Due to this, the expanded rotation resistance force often acts on the stirring member 88 of the stirring means 74. However, in the developer agitating means 74 improved according to the present invention, the mounting portion 116 of the agitating member 88 is elastically fitted to the rotating shaft 86, and is rotated when an excessive rotational resistance force acts on the agitating member 88. The stirring member 88 is configured to slip with respect to the shaft 86. Therefore, when the rotating shaft 86 of the developer stirring means 74 starts to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 90 in response to the start of use of the process unit 6, if the rotational resistance force acting on the stirring member 88 is excessive, The agitating member 88 slips with respect to the rotating shaft 86, and thus the excessive rotational resistance force is buffered, so that the agitating member 88 itself or a drive connecting mechanism (not shown) related to the rotating shaft 86 is damaged. Certainly prevented. The degree of drive connection between the rotating shaft 86 and the stirring member 88, in other words, the stirring member 88 with respect to the rotating shaft 86.
The rotational resistance force to start slipping can be set appropriately based on experiments and the like. The developer 60 is consumed by the developer applying means 72 of the developing device 10 applying the developer 60 to the electrostatic latent image, and when some space is generated in the vicinity of the developer applying means 72, the developer 60 Occurs, and the rotational resistance acting on the stirring member 88 is sharply reduced. Thereafter, the stirring member 88 is also rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 90 in association with the rotation of the rotary shaft 86.

FIG. 6 shows a modified example of the developer stirring means. In the developer stirring means 128, the stirring shaft shown in FIG.
An additional stirrer member with substantially the same stirrer member 88 as 88.
130 is also installed. Such additional stirring member 130
Both end mounting parts 132 are arranged inside both end mounting parts 116 of the stirring member 88, and therefore the axial length of the main stirring action part 134 is relatively short, and the radial length of the arm part 136 is the stirring member. Shorter than the arm portion 118 of 88, and therefore the axis of rotation 86
The difference between the stirring member 88 and the main stirring portion 134 is relatively small, but it is substantially the same as the stirring member 88 in the mounting method and the like on the rotating shaft 86. In the developer stirring means 128 shown in FIG. 6, since the main stirring action portion 134 of the stirring member 130 is smaller than the main stirring action portion 120 of the stirring member 88, the rotational resistance force normally acting on the stirring member 130 is It is smaller than the rotational resistance acting on the stirring member 88. Therefore, when the drive connection degree of the stirring member 88 to the rotating shaft 86 and the drive connection degree of the stirring member 130 to the rotating shaft 86 are substantially the same, when the rotational resistance force acting on the stirring members 88 and 130 is excessive, After some time has passed from the start of the operation of the developing device 10, the stirring member 130 starts rotating along with the rotating shaft 86, and then the stirring member 88 rotates along with the rotating shaft 86 with a slight time delay. Begin to be. If desired, a plurality of stirring members each having a relatively short axial length can be attached to the rotary shaft 86 at appropriate intervals in the axial direction.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the developer stirring means improved according to the present invention. The developer stirring means generally designated by the numeral 138 is composed of a rotating shaft 140 which is driven to rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow 90, and a stirring member 142 mounted on the rotating shaft 140. A so-called crank-shaped deforming portion 144 is formed on the rotating shaft 140.
An eccentric portion is formed with a required amount of eccentricity with respect to the center axis line 146 of 0. The stirring member 142 is made of a tubular body composed of a coil having a relatively large inner diameter, and is attached to the rotating shaft 140 by simply loosely fitting it. 8th
As can be seen by referring to Figures -A, 8-B, 8-C and 8-D, the axis of rotation 140 is indicated by the arrow 90.
When rotated in the direction indicated by
By the action of, the stirring member 142 is appropriately pressed in the radial direction. Further, the crank-shaped deforming portion 144 of the rotating shaft 140 and the stirring member
Due to the friction between the stirring member 142 and the like, the stirring member 142 may also be slightly rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 90 according to the rotation of the rotating shaft 140. If desired, a protrusion that allows the crank-shaped deforming portion 144 of the rotating shaft 140 to be intermittently engaged is attached to the inner surface of the stirring member 142, and the stirring member 142 is set at a predetermined angle according to the rotation of the rotating shaft 140. It can also be made to rotate reliably and intermittently. As described above, the stirring member 14
Since 2 is mounted on the rotating shaft 140 by merely loosely fitting, as will be easily understood, when an excessive rotation resistance force acts on the stirring member 142, the stirring member 142 is attached to the rotating shaft 140.
Slip, and thus the excessive rotational resistance force is buffered.

If desired, instead of forming the crank-shaped deforming portion 144 on the rotating shaft 140, as shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of eccentric cylindrical portions 146 are formed on the rotating shaft 140 at intervals in the axial direction. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, one eccentric cylinder-shaped portion 148 extending continuously in the axial direction for a relatively long time is attached to the rotary shaft 1.
It may be formed into 40. If desired, instead of the coil-shaped stirring member 142, a stirring member 150 as shown in FIG. 11 can be used. The stirring member 150 is made of a cylindrical body having a hollow cylindrical shape, and the cylindrical wall has a plurality of holes 152 formed therein. The stirring member 150 is also mounted on the rotary shaft 140 by simply loosely fitting it. Instead of mounting one stirring member 150 having a relatively long axial length, it is possible to mount a plurality of stirring members having a relatively short axial length on the rotary shaft 140.

Developer Limiting Blade As already mentioned with reference to FIG. 3, the developer applying means 72 in the developing device 10 is disposed in the sleeve member 76 which is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by the arrow 80, and the sleeve member 76. And a stationary permanent magnet 78, a developer regulating blade 84 for regulating the layer thickness of the developer 60 held on the surface of the sleeve member 76 and conveyed to the developing area 82 to a required value which may be about 50 to 100 μm. I'm out. Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the illustrated developer regulating blade 84 improved according to the present invention is composed of a thin plate extending in the width direction along the sleeve member 76. It is important that such lamellas are elastically flexible with relative ease and have a thickness of 0.
It is preferably a metal thin plate such as a phosphor bronze thin plate of about 1 mm. Upright mounting pieces 154 are formed at the bases of both ends of the blade 84. A short shaft 156 extending substantially parallel to the sleeve member 76 is provided on the inner surfaces of both side walls of the main developing housing member 46, and the upright mounting piece 154 is rotatably mounted on the short shaft 156. Thus, the blade 84 is mounted pivotably about the central axis of the short shaft 156, which extends substantially parallel to the central axis of the sleeve member 76. On the outer surface (ie, the upper surface) of the free end of the blade 84, an elongated flexible member extending in the width direction over the entire width of the blade 84.
158 is glued or otherwise secured, and to the outer surface of such flexible member 158 is an elongate pressure member 160 also glued or otherwise secured, which also extends across the width of blade 84 in the width direction. There is. Blade 84
The flexible member 158, which is important to be sufficiently flexible as compared with the pressing member 160, is preferably formed of a foamed synthetic resin such as foamed polyurethane having a thickness of about 1 mm. On the other hand, the pressing member 160 is preferably made of a high-weight magnetic material, and a suitable example thereof is a metal thick plate such as an iron plate having a thickness of about 3 mm.

In the developer regulating blade 84 as described above, the weight of the pressing member 160 itself having a relatively high weight, that is, the relatively large gravity acting on the pressing member 160 causes the free end portion of the blade 84 via the flexible member 158. Acting on the blade thus
The inner surface of the free end of 84 is pressed against the surface of the sleeve member 76. In addition, when the pressing member 160 is formed of a magnetic material, the pressing member 160 is directed toward the surface of the sleeve member 76 due to the stationary permanent magnet 78 arranged in the sleeve member 76. An absorbing magnetic attraction force acts, and this magnetic attraction force also acts on the free end portion of the blade 84 via the flexible member 158, which also presses the inner surface of the free end portion of the blade 84 against the surface of the sleeve member 76. Thus, according to the experiments by the present inventors, when the pressing member 160 is directly fixed to the outer surface of the free end portion of the blade 84 without interposing the flexible member 158, the blade 84 with respect to the surface of the sleeve member 76 is fixed. The pressing force on the inner surface of the free end portion is not always sufficiently uniform over the entire width direction, and thus the developer 60 held on the surface of the sleeve member 76 and conveyed to the developing area 82.
It has been found that it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to regulate the layer thickness of the above to the required value uniformly over the entire width direction. On the other hand, when the pressing member 160 is fixed to the outer surface of the free end portion of the blade 84 with the flexible member 158 interposed, the pressing force of the inner surface of the free end portion of the blade 84 with respect to the surface of the sleeve member 76 is spread over the entire width direction. It should be sufficiently uniform and therefore held on the surface of the sleeve member 76 and
It is possible to regulate the layer thickness of the developer 60 conveyed to the desired value to a required value in a sufficiently uniform manner in the width direction. With respect to such a fact, the present inventors presume as follows. That is, when the flexible member 158 is not interposed, the pressing member 1
The widthwise uniformity in the surface accuracy and / or the thickness accuracy of 60 directly affects the free end portion of the blade 84,
Therefore, the pressing force of the inner surface of the free end of the blade 84 against the surface of the sleeve member 76 cannot be made sufficiently uniform over the entire width direction, but when the flexible member 158 is interposed, the pressing member is pressed. The unevenness in the width direction in the surface accuracy and / or the thickness accuracy of the flexible member 158
Therefore, the pressing force of the inner surface of the free end portion of the blade 84 against the surface of the sleeve member 76 can be made sufficiently uniform over the entire width direction.

If desired, the flexible member 158 and / or the pressing member 160 may be
Instead of being fixed to the outer surface of the free end of the blade 84, it is movably mounted toward the outer surface of the free end of the blade 84 by an appropriate guide member, and is gravitationally and / or magnetically attracted to the pressing member 160. The pressing member 160 may be pressed against the outer surface of the free end of the blade 84 via the flexible member 158. Further, instead of rotatably mounting the base portion of the blade 84, the blade 84 may be fixed to an appropriate portion if desired.

Cleaning Blade Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15 in conjunction with FIG. 3, in the illustrated process unit 6 improved in accordance with the present invention, the cleaning blade 30 in the cleaning device 18 includes the cleaning blade 30 shown in FIG. It is movably bonded between the working position and the working position shown in FIG. Continuing mainly with reference to FIG. 14, the cleaning blade 30, which may be an elongated plate made of a suitable elastomeric material such as synthetic rubber, has its base (ie, the left end in FIGS. 3 and 15). ) Is the blade support 16
It is adhered to the lower surface of 2 by adhesion or other suitable form. The blade support body 162, which can be formed from an appropriate metal plate, has a flat plate-shaped main portion extending in the width direction and has a front edge (the right end edge in FIGS. 3 and 15) of the flat plate-shaped main portion. Has an upright wall 164 that extends upward from both sides in the width direction except both sides. In addition, a rectangular protruding piece 166 is formed at the rear edge of the flat plate-shaped main portion so as to protrude rearward from the substantially central portion in the width direction. The projecting piece 166 is formed with an opening 168 which may be rectangular. As will be apparent from the description below, the opening 168 constitutes a locked means in a forcing means for forcing the cleaning blade 30 to the non-acting position. On the other hand, an upright sub-support side wall 169 is disposed inside each of the support side walls 24 and 26 in the first component 8, and the inner surfaces of the sub-support side wall 169 are parallel to each other with a predetermined space. Guide ridges extending to 17
0 and 172 are formed, and the guide ridges 170 and 172 are formed.
A guide groove 174 is defined between them. The guide groove 174 is, as can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 15, roughly the rotary drum 16 described above.
Extends in the normal direction. The blade support 162 is
It is mounted by slidably inserting both widthwise side portions thereof into the guide groove 174. Thus, the cleaning blade 30 is mounted so as to be movable between the operating position and the non-operating position substantially in the normal direction of the rotary drum 16. A rear wall 176 extending between the rear edges of the support side walls 24 and 26.
An opening 178 is formed substantially at the center in the width direction of the blade support 162, and the protruding piece 166 formed at the rear edge of the blade support 162 is projected outward through the opening 178 of the rear wall 176. There is. The rear wall 176 and the upright wall 16 of the blade support 162.
Two compression coil springs 180 are provided between the compression coil springs 180 and 4 in the width direction. Such a spring 180 elastically biases the blade support 162 towards the rotary drum 16 and thus the working position of the cleaning blade 30 with its free edge in contact with the surface of the rotary drum 16, i.e. the action illustrated in FIG. Elastically biased into position. On the inner surface of the rear wall 176 and the rear surface of the upright wall 164, a short shaft (not shown) for fitting the end portion of the spring 180 can be attached.

Referring to FIG. 2 together with FIG. 3, a rear end edge (a left end edge in FIG. 3) of the cover member 14 detachably attached to the process unit 6 is formed from a substantially central portion in the width direction. A protrusion 182 protruding upward is formed. As will be apparent from the description below, the protrusion 182 constitutes a locking means in the forcing means for forcing the cleaning blade 30 to the non-acting position. As is clearly shown in FIG. 3, the projection 182 is preferably wedge-shaped with the thickness gradually decreasing upward. A front locking protrusion 184 is attached to the upper end of the protrusion 182. Further, a push-down piece 186 extending rearward is attached to the base end portion of the protrusion 182.

When the cover member 14 is attached to the process unit 6, first, the front end edge portion 188 of the cover member 14 is formed into the receiving groove 19 formed in the lower end of the second component, that is, the developing device 10.
Insert it at 0 (Fig. 3). Next, the rear edge of the cover member 14 is raised to a required position, that is, the position shown in FIG. 3, and the lock protrusion 184 formed on the upper end of the protrusion 182 is formed on the outer surface of the rear wall 176. Locking ridges
It is elastically locked to 187 (Figs. 3 and 15).
Thus, the cover member 14 is detachably attached to the covering position shown in FIG. Thus, as can be understood by comparing and comparing FIGS. 15 and 3, while the rear edge of the cover member 14 is being raised to the position shown in FIG. The protrusion 182 penetrates into the opening 168 formed in the protruding piece 166 of the blade support 162, and the blade support 162 and the cleaning blade 30 fixed to this are opposed to the elastic biasing action of the spring 180. It is moved to the left in FIGS. 3 and 15. Thus, when the cover member 14 is mounted on the process unit 6, the cleaning blade 30 is forcibly held in the non-acting position shown in FIG. In this inoperative position, the cleaning blade 30 is separated from the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 16. Therefore, the process unit 6
When the cover member 14 is attached to the cleaning unit 30, that is, when the process unit 6 is not used, the cleaning blade 30
Are separated from the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 16, and the electrostatic photoreceptor and / or the cleaning blade 30 itself disposed on the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 16 are effectively prevented from deterioration or damage. When mounting the process unit 6 on the printer body 4 (FIG. 1), the cover member 14 is detached from the process unit 6 prior to mounting the process unit 6.
At this time, the push-down piece 186 is pushed downward, and the lock ridge 1
84 is elastically displaced so that the locking projection 187 (see FIGS. 3 and 1
(See Fig. 5). Then, the rear edge of the cover member 14 is lowered to form the protrusion 182 on the protruding piece of the blade support 162.
It may be removed from the opening 168 formed in 166, and then the front edge 188 of the cover member 14 may be removed from the receiving groove 190 (FIG. 3) formed in the lower end of the developing device 10. When the projection 182 of the cover member 14 is disengaged from the opening 168 formed in the projecting piece 166 of the blade support 162, the elastic biasing action of the spring 180 causes the cleaning blade 30 to move to the operating position shown in FIG. The free edge of the cleaning blade 30 is brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 16.

If desired, instead of removably attaching the cover member 14 to the predetermined coating position of the process unit 6, the predetermined covering position and the required portion of the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 16 are moved in the required direction from the covering position. The cover member 14 is attached to the process unit 6 so as to be movable between the cover unit 14 and the non-covering position, and when the cover member 14 is positioned at the cover position, the cleaning blade 30 is forced to the non-acting position, and the cover member 14 The cleaning blade 30 may be elastically biased to the working position when positioned in the uncovered position.

Toner Transfer Means and Toner Conveyance Means As already mentioned with reference to FIG. 3, the cleaning device 18 in the illustrated embodiment comprises a cleaning blade 30.
The toner collecting housing 32 that receives the toner removed from the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 16 by the action of
It includes a toner collecting chamber 34 formed in 16 and a toner conveying path 36 extending from one end of the toner collecting housing 32 to the toner collecting chamber 34. Further, a toner transfer means 38 for transferring the toner received in the toner recovery housing 32 to one end thereof, and a toner recovery housing.
A toner conveying means 44 for conveying toner from one end of 32 to the toner collecting chamber 34 through the toner conveying path 36 is also provided. The toner transfer means 38 is composed of a spiral blade mechanism, and the toner transfer means 44 is composed of a coil.

Referring to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 together with FIG. 3, the toner transfer means 38 is the toner recovery housing.
Inside 32, the width direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG.
The rotary shaft 40 extends in the left-right direction in the drawing, and the spiral blade 192 is formed on the peripheral surface of the rotary shaft 40. The spiral blade 192 has a form that advances from left to right while rotating clockwise in FIG. 16 when viewed from the left. First
As clearly shown in FIG. 17, a coil receiving flange 194, which may have an annular shape, is also formed at one end portion (the right end portion in FIGS. 16 and 17) of the rotary shaft 40. Advantageously, the outer diameter of the coil receiving flange 194 is somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the spiral blade 192. As will be apparent from the description below, the portion of the rotating shaft 40 located to the right of the coil receiving flange 194 constitutes a coil receiving portion to which the upstream end of the coil constituting the toner transporting means 44 is fitted. However, in the illustrated example, the spiral blade 192 also extends to the coil receiving portion. On the other hand, the toner conveying means 4
A small-diameter circular ring 196 is formed at the upstream end of the coil forming the coil 4. The coil extending in the toner conveying path 36 extends spirally from the small-diameter circular ring 196, and the pitch, the outer diameter, and the winding direction of at least the upstream end of the spiral are the pitch of the spiral blade 192, The outer diameter and the winding direction are set to be substantially the same. Such a coil that constitutes the toner transporting means 44 has a structure in which the upstream end is simply
By being fitted to the coil receiving portion of 40, it is drivingly connected to the rotating shaft 40. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 16, the small-diameter circular ring existing at the upstream end of the coil.
196 is arranged adjacent to the coil receiving flange 194 formed on the rotary shaft 40, and the upstream end of the coil is extended along the spiral blade 192 existing in the coil receiving portion, so that the coil is upstream. The end portion is fitted into the coil receiving portion of the rotating shaft 40. When the rotary shaft 40 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 42 (that is, clockwise when viewed from the left in FIGS. 16 and 17), the spiral blade 19 is caused by friction between the two.
The force transmitted from 2 to the upstream end portion of the coil acts in the direction of tensioning the coil, so that the coil is securely connected to the rotating shaft 40, and the coil forming the toner conveying means 44 is also attached to the rotating shaft 40. It is rotationally driven as required in the direction indicated by arrow 42. The small diameter circular ring 196 formed at the upstream end of the coil is the coil receiving flange 1 formed on the rotary shaft 40.
It abuts 94 and thus reliably prevents the coil from moving along the axis of rotation 40 upstream, ie to the left in FIG.

18 and 19 show a modification of the drive connection mode of the rotary shaft 40 of the toner transfer means 38 and the coil constituting the toner transfer means 44. In such a modified example, the spiral blade 1 is provided only up to the coil receiving flange 194 of the rotary shaft 40.
92 is not formed, and there is no spiral blade in the coil receiving portion on the right side of the coil receiving flange 194. Axis of rotation
The coil receiving portion of 40 is not necessarily required, but the 18th
In FIGS. 19 and 19, it is preferable to form a male screw 198 that is a form that advances from left to right while rotating clockwise when viewed from the left. On the other hand, the upstream end of the coil that constitutes the toner transporting means 44 has a smaller diameter than the other parts. There is a small diameter connection 200. The inner diameter of the small diameter connecting portion 200 may be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the rotating shaft 40. The pitch and winding direction of the small diameter connecting portion 200 are substantially the same as the pitch and winding direction of the male screw 198. 18th
Also in the modification shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 19, the coil constituting the toner conveying means 44 is simply by fitting the small diameter connecting portion 200 existing at the upstream end thereof into the coil receiving portion of the rotary shaft 40. It is drivingly connected to the rotary shaft 40. When the rotating shaft 40 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 42 (clockwise when viewed from the left in FIGS. 16 and 17), friction between the rotating shaft 40 causes the rotating shaft 40 to rotate toward the small diameter connecting portion 200 of the coil. The force transmitted to the small-diameter connecting portion 200 acts in such a direction that the small-diameter connecting portion 200 is strained. Therefore, the small-diameter connecting portion 200 is reliably connected to the rotating shaft 40, and the coil forming the toner conveying means 44 is also attached to the rotating shaft 40. It is rotated in the direction indicated by 42 as required.
The coil receiving flange 194 formed on the rotating shaft 40 reliably prevents the small diameter connecting portion 200 of the coil from moving along the rotating shaft 40 in the upstream direction, that is, to the left in FIG.

Although specific examples of the image generator configured according to the present invention have been described above in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to the specific examples and deviates from the scope of the present invention. It goes without saying that various variations and modifications are possible without them.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a laser beam printing machine which is a specific example of an image generation area constructed according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a process unit used in the laser beam printing machine of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a process unit used in the laser beam printing machine of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a developer stirring means used in the developing device in the process unit shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing a part of the developer stirring means of FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the developer stirring means of FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another specific example of the developer stirring means. FIGS. 8-A, 8-B, 8-C and 8-D are partial cross-sectional views for explaining the operation of the developer stirring means of FIG. FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are perspective views showing modifications of the developer stirring means of FIG. FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a developer regulating blade used in the developing device in the process unit shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view showing the developer regulating blade of FIG. FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view showing a cleaning blade used in the cleaning device in the process unit shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and its related configuration. FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the cleaning blade of FIG. 14 and its related configuration. FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a toner transfer means and a toner transfer means used in the cleaning device in the process unit shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 17 is a partially exploded plan view showing the toner transfer means and the toner transfer means of FIG. FIG. 18 is a partial plan view showing a modification of the toner transfer means and the toner transfer means of FIGS. 16 and 17. FIG. 19 is a partially exploded plan view of the toner transfer means and the toner transfer means of FIG. 2 ... Laser beam printer 4 ... Printer main body 6 ... Process unit 10 ... Developing device (second component) 14 ... Cover member (fourth component) 16 ... Rotating drum 18 ... Cleaning device 30 ... Cleaning blade ( Toner removing means 32 ... Toner collecting housing 34 ... Toner collecting chamber 36 ... Toner conveying path 38 ... Toner conveying means 44 ... Toner conveying means 50 ... Developing housing 72 ... Developer applying means 74 ... Developer stirring means 76 ... Sleeve member 78 … Static permanent magnet 84… Developer regulation blade

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Internal reference number FI Technical indication location G03G 21/10 21/18 (72) Inventor Masao Otsuka 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Higashi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka No. Sanda Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroaki Tsuchiya 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Higashi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-59-95555 (JP, A) JP 61-189582 (JP, A) JP 62-17772 (JP, A) JP 55-96974 (JP, A) Actually opened 62-149055 (JP, U) Actually opened 48-11854 (JP , U) Actually open 62-53459 (JP, U) Actually open 61-79364 (JP, U) Actually open 35-12816 (JP, Y1)

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An electrostatic latent image developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic photoreceptor, the developing device including a developing housing containing a developer, and the inside of the developing housing. And a developer agitating means for agitating the developer in the developing housing, the developer agitating means including a developer applying means for applying the developer on the electrostatic photoreceptor. In an image generator having a shaft and a stirring member mounted on the rotating shaft; the rotating shaft has an eccentric portion, and the stirring member is made of a tubular body and is loosely fitted to the rotating shaft. An image generator, wherein when the rotating shaft is rotated, the stirring member is vibrated in the radial direction by the action of the eccentric portion. 2. An electrostatic latent image developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic photosensitive member, the developing device including a developing housing containing a developer, and the inside of the developing housing. Developer applying means for applying the developer on the electrostatic photosensitive member, the developer applying means including a sleeve member for holding the developer on the surface thereof and transporting the developer, and In an image generator having a developer regulating blade whose inner surface is pressed against the surface of the sleeve member to regulate the layer thickness of the developer held and conveyed on the surface of the sleeve member; Is formed from a thin plate, and a pressing member extending in the width direction is disposed on the outer surface of the free end portion of the developer regulating blade with a flexible member extending in the width direction interposed. Due to the force acting on the member, the developer regulation blur is caused. An image generator characterized in that the inner surface of the free end of the card is pressed against the surface of the sleeve member. 3. The image generator according to claim 2, wherein the pressing member is formed of a thick metal plate. 4. The image generator according to claim 2, wherein the developer regulating blade is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis extending substantially parallel to a central axis of the sleeve member. 5. The image generator according to claim 2, wherein the flexible member is fixed to an outer surface of a free end portion of the developer regulating blade, and the pressing member is fixed to an outer surface of the flexible member. 6. The image generator according to claim 2, wherein the inner surface of the free end portion of the developer regulating blade is pressed against the surface of the sleeve member by the gravity acting on the pressing member. 7. A permanent magnet is disposed in the sleeve member, the pressing member is made of a magnetic material, and the magnetic attraction force acting on the pressing member is caused by the permanent magnet. The image generator according to claim 2, wherein the inner surface of the free end portion of the developer regulating blade is pressed against the surface of the sleeve member. 8. A process unit detachably mounted at a predetermined position, the process unit including at least an electrostatic photosensitive member, a cleaning device having a cleaning blade, and a part of the electrostatic photosensitive member. And a cover member selectively positioned at a covering position for covering, wherein the cleaning blade in the cleaning device is provided between a working position in contact with the electrostatic photosensitive member and a non-working position separated from the electrostatic photosensitive member. In an image generator movably mounted and elastically biased to the working position by spring means; the cover member is removably mounted in the covering position, and the cover member is mounted in the covering position. The cover member is provided with a forcing means for forcing the cleaning blade into the non-acting position against the elastic biasing action of the spring means. An image generator, wherein the spring means elastically biases the cleaning blade to the working position when the spring blade is separated from the covering position. 9. A process unit detachably mounted at a predetermined position, said process unit comprising at least:
The cleaning blade in the cleaning device includes an electrostatic photosensitive member, a cleaning device having a cleaning blade, and a cover member selectively positioned at a coating position that covers a part of the electrostatic photosensitive member. An image generator movably mounted between a working position in contact with the photosensitive member and a non-working position separated from the electrostatic photosensitive member, and elastically biased to the working position by spring means; The forcing means including the locking means attached to the cover member and the locked means attached to the cleaning blade is provided, and when the cover member is positioned at the covering position, the locking means is locked. An image generator characterized in that it acts on a locking means to force the cleaning blade to the non-acting position against the elastic biasing action of the spring means. 10. The image generator according to claim 8, wherein the locking means is composed of a wedge-shaped projection, and the locked means is composed of an opening through which the wedge-shaped projection penetrates.