JPH08314252A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To achieve the replacement of a toner storage container by means of a easy operation without causing a toner leak, in a developing device which holds a toner storage container and a toner-storage-container mount part, having an opening for receiving toner from the container, so as to allow the integral movement of the container and mount part inside the device. CONSTITUTION: Shutter members 203, for opening/closing the toner receiving opening 200 by swinging by their weights as the toner-storage-container mount part or the like is moved, is attached to the toner-storage-container mount part 109, having the opening 200 for receiving toner from the toner storage container, in such a way as to close the toner receiving opening 200 at least in the third quadrant being the position where the toner storage container is moved for replacement with a toner discharge opening facing up.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile or a printer, and more specifically, a toner container containing toner to be replenished in at least one developing device, The present invention relates to a developing device that moves along a path, for example, a rotation path.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a developing device of this type, a rotary developing device unit which has a plurality of developing devices and is rotatably provided in the vicinity of a photosensitive drum, and a pair of developing devices respectively. Having a plurality of toner containers corresponding to one,
Further, there is known a rotary developing device including a rotary toner container unit coaxially provided at one end of the rotary developing device unit, and a toner conveying means for connecting the inside of each toner container and each developing device. (For example, JP-A-62-2
No. 51772, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-78170, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-41164).

In the rotary developing device as proposed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-15572, a developing device using a one-component developer consisting mainly of toner or a carrier consisting of toner and a toner is used. The toner in the toner container is appropriately replenished to the developing device using the component developer by the toner conveying means.

[0004]

The above-mentioned toner container has the following problems.
It is necessary to replace the toner container when the stored toner is exhausted. Since the time when the stored toner runs out does not normally match between the toner storage containers, it is desirable to be able to replace them individually.

Here, the toner receiving port formed in the mounting part of the toner container in the communicating part with the developing device itself or the inside of the developing device provided in the toner container holding part, and the toner discharge port of the toner container. The vertical relationship with the parts changes depending on the moving position of the toner container, for example, the rotating position of the rotary developing device. Therefore, when the toner is present in the toner receiving port on the developing device side, the toner receiving device is removed at a rotational position where the toner receiving port is above the toner discharging port of the toner storing device. Then, the toner in the vicinity of the toner receiving port may spill from the downward facing toner receiving port and stain the surrounding area.

[0006] Therefore, the present applicant has previously proposed a plurality of toner containers each containing a toner to be supplied to the developing device,
A toner container mounting portion formed in the developing device itself or in a communication part with the inside of the developing device, which has a toner receiving port from the toner container and can detachably mount the plurality of toner containers independently of each other; A holding body that holds the plurality of toner containers together with the toner container mounting portion so as to be movable in the apparatus, and the toner existing in the vicinity of the toner receiving opening of the toner container mounting portion is the toner container. An image forming apparatus comprising: a removal restricting unit that restricts removal of the toner container from the toner container mounting portion at a moving position of the toner container, which may be spilled from the toner receiving port by removal. (Japanese Patent Application No. 6-106024).

However, in the image forming apparatus disclosed as an embodiment in this proposal, the toner receiving port of the toner container mounting part is oriented vertically upward, and the toner outlet of the illuminated toner container mounted here is vertically vertical. The toner container can be removed at the moving position of the toner container facing downward. Therefore, when the toner container is removed, spilling of toner from the toner receiving port can be prevented, but conversely, spilling of the toner adhering to the vicinity of the toner discharge port of the toner container may occur. Therefore, in order to prevent the toner from spilling from the vicinity of the toner discharge port, it is necessary to attach a shutter member that closes the toner discharge port before removing the toner container, and the workability of toner replacement deteriorates. It had been.

Incidentally, the toner spillage due to the removal of the toner container from the toner container attachment opening portion may be a device which moves the developing device, the toner container and the hopper portion along a predetermined moving path. For example, it may occur not only in the developing device having the plurality of developing devices, but also in the developing device having only one developing device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide at least one toner container containing toner to be replenished in a developing device, and toner from the toner container. A toner container mounting portion formed in the developing device itself or in a communication portion with the inside of the developing device, the toner container mounting portion having a receiving port for detachably mounting the toner container, and the toner container mounting portion. (EN) A developing device having a holding body which is movably held in the device integrally with the developing device, and in which the toner container can be replaced by a simple operation without causing toner spill. .

[0010]

To achieve the above object, a developing device according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided with at least one toner container containing toner to be replenished in a developing device, and toner from the toner container. A toner container mounting portion formed in the developing device itself or in a communication portion with the inside of the developing device, the toner container mounting portion having a receiving port for detachably mounting the toner container, and the toner container mounting portion. And a holding member for movably holding in the apparatus integrally with the apparatus, the shutter member opening and closing the toner receiving port by moving by its own weight according to the movement, at least the toner discharging port. It is characterized in that the toner container is attached near the toner receiving port of the toner container mounting portion so as to close the toner receiving port at a moving position for replacing the toner container facing upward.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the developing apparatus according to the first aspect, when the shutter member reaches the moving position for replacing the toner container, the toner receiving port can be closed. The present invention is characterized in that a regulating means is provided for regulating the movement range of the shutter member during movement in the apparatus until the movement position is reached.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the developing apparatus according to the first aspect, the toner container is detached from the toner container mounting portion at a moving position of the toner container other than the moving position for replacing the toner container. It is characterized in that a removal restricting means for restricting is provided.

[0013]

In the developing device of the present invention, the shutter member mounted in the vicinity of the toner receiving port of the toner container mounting portion is provided while the toner container mounting portion and the toner container move integrally in the device. Then, it moves by its own weight along with the movement. Then, at least at the moving position for toner container replacement for which the toner discharge port faces upward, the shutter member takes a position to close the toner receiving port.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a color electrophotographic printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) which is an image forming apparatus will be described below. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to this embodiment. First, an outline of the entire printer will be described. In FIG. 1, a photosensitive drum 1 serving as a latent image carrier is uniformly driven by a charging charger 2 serving as uniform charging means while being rotationally driven in the direction of arrow A, and then image information is generated by a laser optical device 3. Scanning exposure is performed on the basis of the above to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface. Here, the image information to be exposed is image information of a single color obtained by separating a desired full-color image into color information of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 1 is developed by the rotary developing device 4 described later with yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners as predetermined developers, respectively. An image of each color is formed on. Each color image formed on the photoconductor drum 1 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 5 which rotates in the direction of arrow B in the figure in synchronization with the photoconductor drum 1 for each primary color of yellow, magenta, cyan and black. The transfer charger 6 sequentially performs the superimposed transfer. The yellow, magenta, cyan, and black images that are superposed on the intermediate transfer belt 5 are transferred from the automatic paper feed cassette 7 for double-sided copying or the manual paper feed tray 7a through the paper feed rollers 8 and 8a and the registration rollers 9. The secondary transfer charger 11 collectively transfers the transferred sheet 10 onto the transfer sheet 10. After the transfer is completed, the toner image is fixed on the transfer paper 10 by the fixing device 12, and the transfer paper 10 is discharged outside the machine as a full-color print.

On the other hand, the toner on the photoconductor drum 1 which has not been transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 5 is removed by the photoconductor cleaner 13.
Is removed from the photosensitive drum 1 by the
The toner on the intermediate transfer belt 5 that has not been transferred onto the
It is removed from the intermediate transfer belt 5 by the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 14.

Next, a rotary developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the developing device,
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the developing device unit 40 of the developing device, and FIG. 4 is the above-mentioned vertical transport screw 8 of the black developing device.
6 and 91 are vertical sectional views taken along a plane including the central axis 52, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of the toner container unit 45. In FIG. 2, the rotary developing device has, for example, a developing device for each of four colors of black, cyan, yellow, and magenta formed therein, and has a substantially cylindrical outer periphery that is attached rotatably around the central axis in the printer body. And a four toner container 41, 42, 43, 44 corresponding to each developer in a one-to-one correspondence and containing black, yellow, magenta, and cyan toner, respectively. A toner container unit 45 that is attached so as to be substantially coaxial with the front side in the direction of the central axis with respect to 40, and rotates integrally with the developing unit 40 around the central axis, and the developing unit 40 and the toner container. Unit 45 (hereinafter referred to as revolver developing unit)
A storage base 46 slidable on the printer main body substantially parallel to the central axis in a state of carrying the toner, and a non-rotatably provided toner container replacement position regulating cover 47 that covers the rotation supply unit. There is.

The revolver developing unit is provided with a receiving table 46.
Of the developing device unit 40 is supported by, for example, two support rollers 49 rotatably attached to the front supporting plate 48 of the developing device unit 40, and the disk-shaped rear end wall 51 of the developing device unit 40 is supported. The central axis 52 of the tip taper protruding from the center
Is rotatably supported by a central shaft insertion hole 54 formed in the rear plate 53 of the main body, so that the rotation axis of the main body is substantially the same as the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 1 in the printer main body as shown in FIG. They are positioned so as to be parallel to each other in the same horizontal plane and are rotatable.

The housing base 46 has a front support plate 48, a rear support plate 55, and a side cover 59 having front and rear end portions fixed to both support plates and reinforced by connecting rods 56, 57 and 58.
Have and. An insertion hole 60 into which the revolver developing unit can be inserted is formed in the front support plate 48, and in addition to the support roller 49, a motor 61 for driving a toner replenishing roller provided in the toner container unit 45 and the motor 61. A gear train 62 driven by a motor 61 is attached.
An intermediate plate 63 is attached to the connecting rods 56 and 57 in the vicinity of the rear support plate 55, and a positioning pin 63b that fits into a positioning hole 63a formed in the rear plate of the main body is protruded from the intermediate plate 63. Has been done. A base end portion of a bracket 64 holding a rotary positioning roller 66 is swingably attached to a positioning pin portion between the middle plate 63 and the rear support plate 55. The bracket 64 is biased by a spring 67 in the direction of the arrow.

The main body front side plate 68 is formed with an insertion hole 69 or the like into which the storage stand 46 carrying the revolver developing unit can be inserted, and between the main body front side plate 68 and the main body rear side plate 53. Upper and lower guides 70, 71 for slidably supporting the storage base 46 are hung. Guided portions 72 and 73 are provided at the upper end and side portions of the storage table side cover 59 as the receiving table portion guided by these guides 70 and 71, and the lower surface portion of the guided portion 73 on the side of these is provided. A guide pin groove 75 into which the guide pin 74 that is planted upward in the guide 71 is inserted is formed in the.

A revolver output gear 78 driven by a revolver rotation motor (not shown) such as a stepping motor is attached to the rear plate 53 of the main body, and this is a rear surface of the rear end plate of the developing unit 40. The revolver developing unit is rotationally driven by meshing with a revolver input gear 79 having a diameter substantially the same as that of the rear end plate 51 fixed by screwing or the like. A development output gear 81 driven by a development driving motor (not shown) for driving a development roller and the like in the developing device unit 40 described later is also attached to the main body rear side plate 53.

In FIG. 3, the developing device unit 40 includes the above-mentioned substantially disk-shaped front and rear end plates and a partition wall provided between the front and rear end plates. This partition wall has a hollow cylindrical portion 82 into which a cylindrical black toner bottle containing black toner can be inserted, and a partition wall extending radially from the hollow cylindrical portion 82 so that the space around the hollow cylindrical portion 82 is substantially in the circumferential direction. Developing device casing parts 83, 8 which are divided into four developing chambers of the same type
3C, 83M, 83Y. Each of these developing chambers contains a carrier as a developer and a two-component developer including toner of each color. In the illustrated example, the developing position facing the photoconductor drum is the developing chamber of the black developing device containing the black toner and the carrier, and in the counterclockwise order in the figure, the yellow developing device containing the yellow toner and the carrier is arranged. A developing chamber, a developing chamber of a magenta developing unit containing magenta toner and a carrier, and a developing chamber of a cyan developing unit containing cyan toner and a carrier.

Since the internal structure of each of the four developing chambers is exactly the same, the internal structure of the black developing chamber in the developing position will be described as an example in FIG. 3 and the internal structure of the other developing chambers will be described below. Are the same reference numerals as the reference numerals in the black developing chambers, but with the suffixes Y, M, and C added to distinguish the yellow, magenta, and cyan developing chambers from each other. To do.

In the black developing device in the developing position in the figure, an opening portion facing the photosensitive drum 1 is formed in the developing device casing portion 83, and a part of the developing device is exposed through the opening portion in the developing chamber. A developing roller 84 is provided. Further, in the developing chamber, a doctor blade 85 which is carried by the developing roller 84 and regulates the amount of the developer conveyed to the portion facing the photoconductor drum 1, and the development which is regulated by the doctor blade 85 and pressed into the developing chamber An upper conveying screw 86 for conveying a part of the developer along the central axis direction from the front to the front and a guide 87 therefor, and a stirring paddle 88 for stirring the developer in the developing chamber are provided. The stirring paddle 88 has a plurality of developer discharge holes 89a across the width of the developing roller 84.
And a plurality of stirring plate portions 90 radially extending from the peripheral surface of the hollow cylindrical portion 89. The hollow cylindrical portion 89 is provided with the above-mentioned upper transfer along the central axis direction. A lower carrying screw 91 for carrying the developer in the opposite direction to the screw 86 is housed. The developer casing below the lower transport screw 91 is provided with a developer discharge port used as a discharge port for a deteriorated developer or an input port for unused developer (toner mixed) when a developer is replaced due to deterioration of development in the developing chamber. An outlet 92 is formed. The discharge port 92 is covered from the outside by a cap 93 attached with a screw 94.

In FIG. 4, the upper and lower transfer screws 86,
The front end of 91 extends to the outside of the effective width region of the developing roller 84 (outside the front end wall 50 of the developing device unit in the illustrated example), and the upper conveying screw 86 is located at this extension.
There is provided a drop section 96 for dropping the developer conveyed by the above method onto the lower conveyance screw 91 by its own weight. The front end of the lower carrying screw 91 is attached to the falling portion 96.
Further, it extends further to the front side, and extends to a communication chamber below the toner replenishing roller 97 provided corresponding to each developing chamber of the toner container unit 45 described later in detail. As a result, of the developer drawn up by the developing roller 84, the developer regulated by the doctor blade 85 and conveyed to the front side by the guide 87 and the upper conveying screw 86 is dropped onto the lower conveying screw 91 by the dropping portion 96. Then, it is conveyed by the lower conveying screw 91 within the effective width of the developing roller 84, and is discharged into the developing chamber from the developer discharge port of the stirring paddle hollow cylindrical portion within the width so that it can be carried by the developing roller 84 again. Become. That is, so-called lateral stirring of the developer is performed in the developing chamber. Then, the developer discharged from the developer discharge port of the hollow cylindrical portion 82 of the stirring paddle 88 to the developer pool at the lower portion of the developing chamber is so-called vertical stirring performed by the stirring plate portion by the rotation of the stirring paddle 88. In addition, the replenishing roller 9
The toner dropped on the lower transport screw 91 by the rotation of the communication chamber 7 is transported to the drop portion 96 by the lower transport screw 91, and is taken into the developer dropped from the upper transport screw 86 and mixed with each other. Then, the mixed developer enters the developing chamber through the developer discharge port to increase the toner concentration of the developer in the developing chamber. (Hereinafter, margin)

Incidentally, the rear end wall 51 of the developing device unit 40.
Part, specifically, the development output gear 8 on the main body side, behind the revolver input gear 79 fixedly mounted on the rear end wall 51.
A developing input gear on the revolver developing unit side (not shown) that meshes with 1 is rotatably provided, and the developing roller 84 and the shafts of the upper and lower conveying screws 86 and 91 protruding through the rear end wall 51 and the like. Gears are fixed at the ends. With these, each rotating body (developing roller, etc.) is driven via the developing input gear and the like.

In FIG. 5, the toner container unit 45 has a disk-shaped unit face plate 108 (see also FIG. 2).
And a total of four toner receiving cases 109 mounted on the front surface of the face plate in a one-to-one correspondence with the developing devices.
Y, M, C, 110, and toner replenishing rollers 97Y, M, C, 9 provided in the respective toner receiving cases.
7 and so on. The toner replenishing roller is located substantially directly above the portion of the lower transport screw 91 extending into the case when the corresponding developing chamber is located at the developing position.
It is pivotally supported on 08.

The unit face plate 108 is shown in FIG.
A circular through hole 111 through which a cylindrical black toner container as shown in (b) can pass is formed in the central portion thereof,
The toner receiving cases 109Y, M, C, 110
Is mounted so as to escape the through hole 111. Further, the unit face plate 108 is also formed with a through hole for the lower carrying screw 91 extending from the developing chamber of each developing unit, and each lower carrying screw is provided with a through hole of each front carrying screw of the unit face plate 108. Case 10 for receiving each of the above toners
9Y, M, C, 110.

The unit face plate 108 bears the shafts of the toner replenishing rollers 97Y, M, C, and 97, and at the end of the shaft that penetrates the face plate 108 and projects toward the developing unit 40. A gear (not shown) is fixed. Then, as shown in FIG.
A replenishment input gear 136 for driving input, which meshes with the gear, is rotatably provided on the surface of the developing unit side. Of the replenishment input gear 136 provided for each toner replenishment roller, the replenishment input gear 136 of the toner replenishment roller 97 in the case corresponding to the developing device in the developing position as shown in FIG. A gear 62 driven by a replenishment motor 61 attached to the plate 48 meshes with the gear 62 so that it can be rotationally driven by the motor 61. The toner replenishment control is performed by the drive control of the replenishment motor 61.

The above four toner receiving cases 109
Of the Y, M, C, and 109, the three color toner receiving cases 109Y, M, and C corresponding to each color developing device are
All have the same shape. That is, taking a case for receiving cyan toner as an example, as shown in FIG. 5, a portion inside the case of the lower conveying screw 91 and the toner replenishing roller 97C are surrounded, and a corresponding developing chamber is located at the developing position. It sometimes has a peripheral wall portion having a toner receiving port formed at a position above the toner supply roller 97C. Around the toner receiving port, there is formed a color toner container mounting portion 113 to which the color toner container 44 containing the color toner and having the same shape for each color is mounted by sliding in the rotation axis direction of the revolver developing unit. Then, a seal member 114C that seals between the toner supply roller 97C and the peripheral surface of the case is attached to the inner wall surface of the case facing the toner supply roller 97C. The seal and the toner replenishing roller 97C form the toner container mounting portion 11
3 is divided into a toner container side and a developing chamber side, and
The seal and the peripheral wall of the case surrounding the toner replenishing roller 97C and the lower conveying screw 91C define a communication chamber communicating with the developing chamber of the corresponding developing device through the through hole of the unit face plate and the dropping portion. ing. As the toner replenishing rollers 97Y, M, C, and 97, those having a roller portion in which a plurality of grooves extending in the axial direction are formed on the peripheral surface portion are used (see FIG. 6).

The color toner containers 42, 43, 44
Has a shape capable of being fitted to the peripheral wall portion around the lower carrying screw 91 of the toner receiving case on the upstream side of the corresponding toner receiving case in the rotation direction of the revolver developing unit. The color toner container mounting portion 113 is
Taking the cyan toner container 44 as an example, as shown in FIG. 6, the toner container is made detachable by sliding in the rotation axis direction of the revolver developing unit. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, each color toner container is formed with a protrusion 119c that is detected by a detector on the unit face plate side (not shown) that detects whether or not the container is set. . The prevention of toner spillage during the replacement of the color toner container using the detachable structure will be described in detail later.

The above four toner receiving cases 109
Of the Y, M, C, and 109, the black toner receiving case 110 corresponding to the black developing device has the color toner receiving cases 109Y, M, and C, as shown in FIG. It has a peripheral wall shape that is substantially the same as the overall peripheral wall shape of both with the attached 44. A peripheral wall portion having a shape similar to that of the color toner receiving case is also provided with a seal member 114 for sealing between the toner replenishing roller 97 and the inner wall surface of the case. Screw 91
A communication chamber with the developing chamber accommodating the extended portion of the. Further, in a portion facing the center line of the revolver developing unit in the peripheral wall portion having the same shape as the color toner container, the toner discharge port 121 of the black toner container 41 as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B is provided. Toner receiving port 12 of corresponding shape
2 is formed. A shutter 124 for closing the toner receiving port 122 from the inside is rotatably attached by a support shaft 123 parallel to the rotation shaft of the revolver developing unit. A seal member 125 is attached to the edge of the shutter 124 to enhance the shielding property of the toner receiving port 122.

The black toner container 41 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), a toner discharge port 121 is formed on the peripheral wall at one end in the longitudinal direction, and a ridge 126 for toner feeding is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the spiral from the other end to the toner discharge port 121 side. It is formed into a shape. This spiral ridge 1
Reference numeral 26 denotes a spiral shape that feeds the stored toner from the rear end portion to the front end portion where the toner discharge port 121 is formed by the rotation integrally with the revolver developing unit attached thereto. In addition, the toner discharge port 121
A protrusion 128 for detection is formed on the outer surface of the peripheral wall on the rear end side in the longitudinal direction, and the knob 1 is provided on the end surface at the tip in the longitudinal direction.
29 are provided.

In this black toner container 41, the seal member that seals the toner discharge port 121 is removed in a posture in which the toner discharge port 121 faces upward, and the projection 47 for detection is covered by the cover 47 shown in FIG. The rear end portion of the cover 47 enters the hollow cylindrical portion 82 of the developing device unit 40 through the notch 47a for inserting the toner container in the cover 47 so as to pass through the notch 130 for passage. Further, the tip end portion is completely inserted, for example, until the front surface of the front end wall portion of each case of the toner container unit 45 becomes substantially flush. Then, holding the knob 129, the toner discharge port 121
Is the toner receiving port 12 of the above black toner receiving case
Rotate clockwise to match 2 in the figure.

During the rotation with the knob 129,
The detection projection 128 is attached to, for example, the revolver developing unit side as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 5, specifically, the link 134 attached to the rear surface of the front support plate 48 of the accommodating base.
(Swingable around support shaft 123) and set detection device 12
7 is detected.

FIGS. 8A to 8D show the toner container 41, which is obtained when the revolver developing unit is rotated in the arrow direction.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state of 42, 43, 44 and a toner containing position in the black toner receiving case 110. Since the toners in the color toner containers 42, 43, and 44 exhibit similar movements, only the toner in the yellow toner container 42 is shown. Here, paying attention to the black toner, when the black developing device is at the developing position as shown in FIG. 8A, the black toner in the black toner receiving case 110 is guided by the inner surface of the case 110. It moves downward due to its own weight, accumulates in the lower part of the area corresponding to the hopper on the toner replenishment roller, and it becomes possible to replenish toner to the communication chamber in which the lower transport screw 91 extends. At this time, since the toner outlet of the black toner container 41 is directed to the upper right in the figure, the toner is not supplied to the black toner receiving case 110, and the shutter 1 which is a backflow prevention member is not provided.
The back flow of black toner in the black toner receiving case 110 to the black toner container 41 is blocked by 24. Next, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the revolver developing unit rotates 90 degrees in the direction of the arrow and the cyan developing device reaches the developing position, the black toner gradually moves from the vicinity of the toner replenishing roller to the vicinity of the lower left toner receiving opening. Move on. Furthermore, FIG.
As shown in (c), when the revolver developing unit rotates 90 degrees in the direction of the arrow and the magenta developing device is in the developing position, the shutter 124 rotates by its own weight around the support shaft to open, and the black toner container 41 Toner outlet 121
(See FIG. 7) The black toner near the toner receiving case 11
It starts to move within 0 due to its own weight. Further, as shown in FIG. 8D, when the revolver developing unit rotates 90 degrees in the direction of the arrow and the yellow developing device reaches the developing position, the black toner is further replenished into the toner receiving case 110, and the toner is discharged. Most of the black toner near the outlet 121 moves into the toner receiving case 110 and is replenished. At this time, while being guided by the inner surface of the toner container 42, the toner in the yellow toner container 42 moves and accumulates on the toner replenishing roller 97Y by its own weight, and enters the communication chamber in which the lower conveying screw 91Y extends. The toner can be replenished.

Next, the prevention of toner spillage when replacing the color toner container will be described. When replacing the color toner container, the cover 4 of the toner container unit described above is used.
7 functions as a restricting member for the replacement position. That is,
As shown in FIG. 2, this cover is located on the downstream side in the take-out direction of the toner container, and cannot be taken out from a portion other than the notch 47a. The portion of the notch 47a formed on the end surface of the cover has a central portion through which the main body of the black toner container, which is set along the rotation center of the revolver developing unit, and the above-mentioned black toner container. It is composed of a notch 130 through which the detected protrusion 128 of the container can pass and a peripheral edge through which one color toner container can pass. In the illustrated example, the peripheral notch through which the color toner container can pass corresponds to the color toner container located in the third quadrant (position taken by the cyan toner container 43 in FIG. 5). Has been formed. In the third quadrant, as can be seen from FIG. 5 or FIG. 8, the toner receiving port of the toner container mounting portion 113 of the color toner container which can be taken out in correspondence with the peripheral notch faces vertically downward, The toner discharge port of the color toner container attached to is facing vertically upward. Therefore, even if toner is present in the vicinity of the toner discharge port of the color toner container when the color toner container is removed, the toner does not spill from the toner receiving port. However, if toner is present in the vicinity of the toner receiving port of the color toner container mounting portion 113, this may spill through the toner receiving port.

Therefore, in this embodiment, a shutter for opening and closing the toner receiving port of the color toner container mounting portion 113 is provided. Hereinafter, this shutter will be described. FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the shutter unit.
(B) is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the color toner container mounting portion 113 in which the shutter unit is attached and the toner receiving port 200 faces vertically downward, taken along a plane perpendicular to the toner supply roller axis. Reference numeral 300 in FIG. 9A indicates the direction of the rotation center line of the developing device unit (which coincides with the axial direction of the toner replenishing roller in this embodiment), and the arrow A indicates the rotation direction of the developing unit. Indicates. This shutter unit is a frame 201 mounted inside a toner receiving case inside the toner receiving port 200.
And the rotation center direction A fixed to both ends in the direction orthogonal to the rotation center direction A in the frame.
And a pair of shutter members 203, 203 having their base ends rotatably supported by the respective support shafts and overlapping each other at their tip ends. The pair of shutter members 203, 203 has an area capable of completely covering the toner receiving port 200 in a state where their tip portions are overlapped with each other, and when they are in contact with the peripheral portion of the toner receiving port 200, they overlap. In this state, the toner does not rotate toward the color toner container mounting portion side beyond the rotational position where the toner receiving port is closed. Then, the shutters 203, 203 of this shutter unit are located at 9 positions from the position where the toner receiving port 200 is closed, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 9B.
Toner receiving case 10 facing the 0-degree rotated state
A stopper portion 204 for contacting the shutters 203 and 203 and restricting further rotation is formed on the inner surface of 9.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of the movement of the shutters 203, 203 during rotation of the developing device unit. In the first quadrant in which the corresponding developing device is in the developing position, the color toner container mounting portion 113 is located above the color toner receiving case 109. At this time, each of the shutters supported by the support shaft 202 is hung with its tip vertically downward due to its own weight, and the toner receiving port 200 is opened. As a result, the toner from the color toner container (not shown) above the toner receiving port 200 is
The toner can be received in the color toner receiving case 109 through the toner receiving port 200. In the second quadrant in which the developing unit is rotated 90 degrees, both support shafts 2
02 and 202 are arranged vertically, and the shutter supported by the support shaft located above is suspended by the weight of the support shaft with its tip facing downward, and the shutter supported by the support shaft located below is Toner receiving case 1
It abuts on the stopper portion 204 on the inner surface of 09. Then, in the third quadrant, which is the color toner replacement position where the developing device unit is further rotated by 90 degrees, both shutters 203, 203 are rotated by their own weight to take the position for covering the toner receiving port 200. Accordingly, even if the color toner container attached to the color toner container attachment portion 113 is removed, the toner in the color toner receiving case can be prevented from spilling through the toner receiving port. Then, in the fourth quadrant in which the developing unit is further rotated by 90 degrees, as in the second quadrant, due to the vertical relationship of both support shafts, the shutter supported by the upper support shaft hangs down with its tip downward, The shutter supported by the lower support shaft contacts the stopper portion 204. And
When the developing device unit further rotates 90 degrees and returns to the first quadrant, both shutters hang on the support shaft and return to the state of opening the toner receiving port.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the shutters 203, 203 swinging by their own weight are provided at the positions where the toner receiving port can be opened and closed, the toner receiving port 200 of the color toner receiving case 109 is vertically downward. Set the facing position to the color toner container replacement position so that the toner outlet of the removed color toner container faces upward, preventing toner spillage from the color toner container and facing vertically downward. It is also possible to prevent toner from spilling from the toner receiving opening 200.

The stopper portion 204 is formed to regulate the rotation range of the shutter by the stop portion 20.
4 does not exist, for example, in the second quadrant shown in FIG. 10, the tip end of the lower shutter 203 becomes lower than the base end, and even if the developing device unit is rotated by 90 degrees, the tip end is colored toner. Since the inner surface of the receiving case 109 keeps the posture as it is, and there is a risk that it will not fall over the toner receiving port 200 as shown in the fourth quadrant in the figure, the shutters 203 and 203 are rotated. This is because the inner surface of the color toner receiving case 109 is limited within the rotation range in which there is no fear of maintaining the posture as it is. Further, in the example of FIG. 9, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the developing unit is further rotated from the state where the shutter is in contact with the stopper portion 204, the shutter is more reliably positioned above the toner receiving port due to its own weight. Attach the shutter by winding it around the support shaft so that
The center of gravity of the shutter is located on the side opposite to the inner surface of the toner receiving case.

When it is desired to reduce the protrusion amount of the stopper portion 204 or to eliminate such a protrusion portion itself, as shown in FIG.
The tip ends 203a, 203a of the parts 03, 203 may be bent, and the bent portions 203a, 203a may be brought into contact with the lowered stopper part 204 or the inner surface of the color toner receiving case 109 itself.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the toner receiving port 200 may be opened and closed with only one shutter 203. In the illustrated example, a step portion 301 is provided on the peripheral portion of the toner receiving port 200, and the shutter 20 is provided.
3 has a shape along the step portion 301. In addition, a seal member 30 that seals the gap with the shutter 203 is fixedly provided on the step portion 301.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the inner wall surface of the color toner receiving case 109 has a shutter 203.
The shape may follow the movement trajectory of the leading edge of the. According to this, for example, while the developer unit rotates from the color toner container replacement position to the development position, the shutter 2
When 03 rotates by its own weight from the toner receiving port blocking position to the receiving port opening position, the toner existing in the space between the toner receiving port and the toner replenishing roller 91 may be drawn to the toner replenishing roller 91 side. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from accumulating near the toner receiving port. Also, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, unlike the example shown in FIG.
Alternatively, the shutter 203 may be directly attached to the toner receiving case 109 via the support shaft.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the rotary shaft 300 of the developing unit is attached to the rotary support shaft 202 of the shutter 203.
The shutters 203 may be provided so that they are orthogonal to each other. In the case of such a shutter arrangement, as shown in FIG.
For example, a plurality of shutter pairs 203, 203 may be provided. According to this, the toner receiving opening 200 elongated in the rotation axis direction of the developing unit can be opened and closed by using the shutter 203 having a relatively small turning radius. Note that 201 in FIG.
a is a fence part of the frame 201.

In this embodiment, the revolver developing unit is rotationally controlled so that the toner container, which needs to be replaced at the time of toner near end, automatically moves to the position where toner can be replaced.

[0046]

According to the developing device of the first aspect, the shutter member mounted near the toner receiving port of the toner container mounting portion has the toner container mounting portion and the toner container integrated in the apparatus. While moving, the shutter member takes a position to close the toner receiving port, at least at the moving position for toner container replacement in which the toner discharging port faces upward, in accordance with the movement. Therefore, the toner discharge port of the removed toner container faces upward to prevent toner spillage from this, and also to prevent toner spillage from this port by closing the toner receiving port facing vertically downward with a shutter member. You can .

Particularly, according to the developing device of the second aspect, in the developing device of the first aspect, the movement range of the shutter member during the movement in the device is restricted by the restricting means so that the shutter member has the toner container. Since the toner receiving port is regulated so that it can be closed at the time of reaching the replacement moving position, the toner receiving port can be surely closed at the time of reaching the toner container replacement moving position. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the developing apparatus according to the first aspect, the removal restricting means causes the toner container to move at a moving position of the toner container other than the moving position for replacing the toner container. Since the removal from the toner container mounting portion is restricted, the toner container is not taken out with the toner discharge port of the toner container facing downward, or the toner receiving port of the toner container mounting portion is not closed by the shutter member. It is possible to reliably prevent toner spillage when the toner container is taken out in this state.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a rotary developing device of the printer.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a developing unit of the rotary developing device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a connection structure between a developing device and a toner container in the rotary developing device.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a toner accommodating portion of the rotary developing device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a color toner container and a container attaching / detaching portion in the rotary developing device.

FIG. 7A is a front view of a black toner container of the rotary developing device. (B) is a top view of the container.

FIGS. 8A to 8D are explanatory views showing states of toner storage positions in the toner storage container and the black toner receiving case when the revolver developing unit is rotated.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a shutter unit. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the toner receiving port with the shutter unit attached.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the movement of the shutter while the developing device unit is rotating.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a shutter according to a modified example.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a shutter according to another modification.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a shutter according to still another modification.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a shutter according to still another modification.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a shutter according to still another modification.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor drum 4 Rotational developing device 40 Developing device unit 41 Black toner container 42 Yellow toner container 43 Magenta toner container 44 Cianatoner container 45 Toner container unit 61 Toner supply roller drive Motor 97 Toner replenishing roller 109 Color toner receiving case 110 Black toner receiving case 113 Color toner receiving / attaching section 117 Slide shutter 121 Toner discharge port 122 Toner receiving Port 200 Toner receiving port 201 Frame 202 Support shaft 203 Shutter 204 Stopper part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A developing device itself having at least one toner container containing the toner to be replenished to the developing device and a toner receiving port for receiving the toner from the toner container, and the toner container can be detachably attached. Alternatively, in a developing device having a toner container mounting portion formed in a communication portion with the inside of the developing device, and a holder for holding the toner container integrally with the toner container mounting portion so as to be movable in the apparatus. In order to close the toner receiving port, at least at a moving position for toner container replacement in which the toner discharging port faces upward, the shutter member is moved by its own weight along with the movement to open and close the toner receiving port. A developing device mounted on the toner container mounting portion in the vicinity of the toner receiving port. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein when the shutter member reaches the moving position for replacing the toner container, the shutter member reaches the moving position so that the shutter can close the toner receiving port. The developing device is provided with a restricting unit that restricts a movement range of the shutter member during the movement of the shutter member up to. 3. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a removal restricting means for restricting removal of the toner container from the toner container mounting portion at a moving position of the toner container other than the toner container replacing moving position. And a developing device.