JPH10142912A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize a shutter member by allowing the shutter member to correspond to the specified condition of a layout space, etc., and to prevent toner sticking in the vicinity of a toner supplying port from falling inside/outside an image forming device main body in the case a toner replenishment device is attached/detached. SOLUTION: A toner introducing cover 52 is provided outside the aperture part 48 of the toner replenishment device, and a toner supplying port 54 and a circular guide part not shown in a figure are formed on the lower surface of the cover 52. The shutter member 88 moving up and down by attaching/ detaching operation is constituted of a bendable elastic member 90 as a shutter main body, an elastic member scraping off the inside surface of the cover 52, a supporting member 92 supporting these, and a cylindrical projecting part 94 integrally formed on the member 92, and the member 92 has a spring member 96 pressing the member 88 so as to always close the member 88.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and the like.
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a toner supply device is detachably provided.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus of this type, a toner supply port is formed in a toner replenishing device, and a toner receiving port is formed in a main body of the image forming device. It has a basic configuration in which both faces when mounted. In this type of toner replenishing method, the toner supply port and the toner receiving port communicate only when the toner replenishing device is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body from the viewpoint of avoiding contamination inside the apparatus due to toner scattering and contamination of the working environment. Is required, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-20
No. 1380 discloses that a shutter member is provided in a toner supply port, and the shutter member is fixed and released by an image forming unit fixing means operated after an image forming unit having a developing device is mounted on an image forming apparatus main body. A structure in which the toner supply port is opened and closed by driving is proposed. Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 56-120555 discloses that a toner member is provided with a shutter member, and the shutter member is driven by driving the shutter member in conjunction with an attaching / detaching operation of a developing device having a toner receiving port with respect to an image forming apparatus main body. A structure that opens and closes a mouth has been proposed. Also, JP-A-2-226268.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-264, a structure in which a shutter member of a toner supply port is driven by a clutch mechanism using a solenoid or the like as a driving source is proposed.

[0003]

However, in the image forming apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 2-201380, there is no shutter member for opening and closing the toner receiving port formed in the developing device of the image forming unit. The image forming unit is liable to be scattered when the image forming unit is taken out from the image forming apparatus main body, as well as to cause the inside of the image forming apparatus to be stained. Further, in the case of this conventional technique, since the image forming unit is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the shutter member is driven by the operation of the image forming unit fixing unit which is further performed.
The operation procedure is cumbersome. The image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 56-120555 has a structure in which the shutter member is driven by the attachment / detachment operation of the developing device, so that the operability is improved, but the shutter member for opening and closing the toner receiving port of the developing device. Therefore, the problem of toner scattering cannot be avoided as in the above-described related art. Further, in the image forming apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-226268, there is a problem that the cost of the apparatus is increased due to the presence of the clutch mechanism.

Incidentally, if the shutter members are provided at both the toner supply port and the toner receiving port and both shutter members are opened and closed by using the attachment / detachment operation with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus as a driving source, the problem such as toner scattering can be solved. It is expected to be. In this case, each shutter member generally moves in parallel along the toner supply port or the toner reception port. However, in recent years in which image forming apparatuses have been rapidly downsized, it is difficult to move the shutter member in parallel along the toner supply port or the toner receiving port from the viewpoint of the shape, arrangement, and layout space of the apparatus. Often becomes.

In order to cope with such a problem, the present applicant has disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-277756 a shutter member vertically intersected with a toner supply port opened on a horizontal plane. An image forming apparatus that opens and closes a supply port has been proposed. This is provided with a toner replenishing device 6 shown in FIG. 21. The toner replenishing device 6 has a toner bottle 38 as a toner container and a toner hopper unit 40 for receiving the toner bottle 38 integrally therewith. The table 42 and a handle 84 for opening and closing the stopper of the toner bottle 38 are provided. As shown in FIG. 22, an opening 48 is formed in the toner hopper section 40, and a replenishing amount regulating member 50 having elasticity for making the toner replenishing amount appropriate is provided on an outer surface of the opening 48. ing. The opening 48
A toner introduction cover 52 is attached to the outside of the toner introduction cover 52. At the lower end of the toner introduction cover 52, as shown in FIG. 23, a toner supply port 54 that opens horizontally is formed. The toner supply port 54 is connected to the toner introduction cover 5.
2 is opened and closed by a shutter member 88 attached to the shutter 2. The shutter member 88 is composed of a bendable elastic member 90 as a shutter body, a support member 92 for supporting the same, and a columnar protrusion 94 integrally formed with the support member 92. A spring member 96 biases the shutter member 88 to be always closed. On both sides of the lower end of the toner introduction cover 52, arc-shaped guide portions 98, 98 for guiding the elastic member 90 along the toner supply port 54 are integrally formed. Before being attached to the image forming apparatus main body or after being pulled out, the toner supply port 54 is closed by the shutter member 88 as shown in FIG.
As shown in (2), the toner supply port 54 faces the toner receiving port on the image forming apparatus main body side, and the projection 94 moves over the member 43 on the image forming apparatus main body side, and the shutter member 88 moves upward. The toner supply port 54 is opened. Although not shown, the toner receiving port is also always closed, and is opened only when the toner replenishing device 6 is mounted. In this way, by opening the toner supply port 54 and the toner receiving port only by the mounting force only when the toner supply device 6 is properly mounted, problems such as toner scattering and high cost can be solved. The configuration in which the shutter member 88 is arranged in an intersecting state with respect to the toner supply port 54 by utilizing the deformation characteristics can contribute to the miniaturization of the apparatus according to predetermined conditions such as a layout space. However, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the toner supplied from the toner hopper section 40 passes through the toner supply port 54 while hitting the inner surface of the toner introduction cover 52 as shown by an arrow. The toner wraps around the cover 52, and the sliding of the shutter member 88 deteriorates to cause an open / close failure. The toner adheres to the inner surface of the toner introduction cover 52 near the toner supply port 54 and becomes lower than the elastic member 90. Because of the position, these fall due to vibrations and shocks when attaching and detaching the toner replenishing device 6 and contaminate the inside and outside of the image forming apparatus main body. Since a large amount of toner is deposited on the guide portion 98, even if the elastic member 90 is closed, A new problem arises in that toner remains between the guide portion 98 and the inside and outside of the image forming apparatus main body as in the above case.

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus which can solve problems such as toner scattering and high cost, can contribute to downsizing of the apparatus according to predetermined conditions such as layout space, and can also solve the above-mentioned problems due to toner adhesion. Provision is its purpose.

[0007]

By focusing on the rigidity of the conventional shutter member, the inconvenience that may occur when the installation mode of the shutter member is adjusted to the miniaturization of the apparatus is absorbed by the material characteristics of the shutter member. The purpose of the present invention is to scrape off the attached toner using the opening and closing force of the shutter member. Specifically, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes a toner supply device that is directly or indirectly attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus main body having a toner receiving port. In an image forming apparatus having a toner supply port opposed to the toner receiving port when mounted on the apparatus main body and a shutter member for opening and closing the toner supply port, a toner covering the toner supply port is provided. In addition to the introduction cover, the shutter member is composed of two bendable elastic members and a supporting member that supports them, and one of the elastic members is guided by a guide portion provided in the toner supply device. Then, it moves in a curved state along the toner supply port, and the other elastic member moves while sliding on the inner surface of the toner introduction cover. It has taken.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, the edge of the elastic member located on the toner introduction cover side is bent toward the inner surface side of the toner introduction cover. Has been adopted. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first or second aspect, a wall or a spacer for preventing stagnation of toner is provided above the guide member.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the image forming apparatus 2 includes a process cartridge 4 that is detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus main body (not shown) and a toner supply that is detachably mounted on the process cartridge 4. A device 6 is provided, and a photosensitive member 8 as an image carrier and a developing device 10 are integrally accommodated in the process cartridge 4. The charging roller 1 is provided around the photoconductor 8.
2, a transfer roller 14, a cleaning blade 16 and the like.
8, 20, a developing sleeve 22, a doctor blade 24 and the like are provided. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 26 denotes a toner recycling belt, and reference numeral 28 denotes a toner density sensor. As shown in FIG. 5, the toner recycling belt 26 is connected to a toner transport coil 30.

Next, an image forming operation in the image forming apparatus 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The photoconductor 8 is neutralized by the neutralizing light 32, and its surface potential is averaged to a reference potential of 0 to -150V. Next, it is charged by the charging roller 12, and the surface potential becomes around -1100V. Next, the portion (image portion) exposed by the exposure light 34 and irradiated with the light has a surface potential of 0 to −−.
290V. Since a bias voltage of about -800 V is applied to the developing sleeve 22, the developing sleeve 2
The toner on 2 adheres to the image portion. The photoreceptor 8 on which the toner image is formed is rotated, and the transfer paper is fed from a paper supply unit (not shown) at a timing such that the leading end of the paper and the leading end of the image coincide with each other at the transfer roller 14.
The toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor 8 is transferred to the transfer paper at the section. Thereafter, the transfer paper is sent to a fixing unit (not shown), and the toner is fused to the transfer paper by heat and pressure and discharged as a copy. The residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor 8 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 16, and then the residual charge of the photoreceptor 8 is removed by the charge removing light 32, so that the photoreceptor 8 is in a flat state without toner, and the process proceeds to the next image forming step again. . The photoconductor 8, the charging roller 12, the developing device 10, the cleaning blade 16 and the like described above are housed in an integral photoconductor surrounding case 36 as shown in FIG. The residual toner collected by the cleaning device having the cleaning blade 16 is transported by the toner transport coil 30 and sent to the developer agitating section having the agitating screws 18 and 20 by the toner recycle belt 26 so that the toner is recycled. ing.

Next, the developing device 10 will be described. The developing sleeve 22 has a fixed shaft in which five-pole magnets are arranged, and the outer peripheral surface is covered with a non-magnetic pipe material.
As the pipe material rotates, the developer is transferred to the developing sleeve 2.
2 Move up. The developer is a two-component type composed of a small iron ball called a carrier and toner. The developer circulates while being stirred by the stirring screws 18 and 20, whereby the toner has a charge, adheres to the carrier and is carried to the surface of the photoconductor 8, and can be adhered to the photoconductor 8 by the action of electrostatic force. Of the developer, the carrier circulates, but the toner is consumed because it adheres to the image portion on the photoconductor 8. Therefore, it is necessary to replenish as appropriate. If the supply amount of the developer to the photoreceptor 8 is not constant, an image density defect or density unevenness occurs. Therefore, the doctor blade 24 that regulates the flow amount of the developer is provided.

As shown in FIG. 4, the toner replenishing device 6 generally includes a toner bottle 38 as a toner container.
And the toner bottle 3
8, and a bottle holding member 44 mounted on the toner hopper section 40 and rotating integrally with the toner bottle 38. The bottle holding member 44 has a plurality of pushing members 46. . An opening 48 is formed in the toner hopper section 40, and a replenishing amount regulating member 50 having elasticity for optimizing the toner replenishing amount is provided on an outer surface of the opening 48. Further, a toner introduction cover 52 is attached outside the opening 48,
A toner supply port 54 that opens horizontally is formed at the lower end of the toner introduction cover 52. On the other hand, the stirring screw 2 of the developing device 10
A toner receiving port 56 which is also open horizontally is formed at an upper position of 0, and the toner supply port 54 and the toner receiving port 56 are opposed to each other at the mounting position of the toner replenishing device 6. Toner discharge port 3 of toner bottle 38
The toner flowing out of the toner hopper section 8a (arrow A) is pushed up by the pushing member 46 of the bottle holding member 44 (arrow B), enters the toner introduction cover 52 through the opening 48 (arrow C), and is in a communicating state. Is supplied into the developing device 10 through the toner supply port 54 and the toner receiving port 56 (arrow D). The toner supply port 54 and the toner receiving port 56 are each opened and closed by a shutter member described later.

Next, FIG. 6 to FIG.
It will be described in detail based on. FIG. 6 is an external view of the state in which the toner replenishing device 6 is mounted on the process cartridge 4, and FIG. The toner bottle 38 is rotationally driven by a driving unit 60 fixed to the rear plate 58 of the apparatus main body. The drive unit 60 includes a joint part 62, a spring 64, a case part 66 containing a motor and a shaft, and a concave part 62a and convex parts 62b, 62b are formed at the tip of the joint 62. Correspondingly, the bottom (rear end) of the toner bottle 38
The columnar convex portion 38b which enters the concave portion 62a of the joint 62 and the prismatic convex portion 3 which engages with the side surface of the convex portion 62b.
8c is formed. The concave portion 62a of the cylindrical convex portion 38b
, The bottom of the toner bottle 38 is held,
The rotation of the toner bottle 38 is obtained by the engagement of the prismatic projection 38c with the projection 62b. Drive unit 6
When the 0 joint 62 rotates in the direction of arrow E, the toner bottle 38 also rotates in the same direction (FIG. 6).

A spiral projection 38d is formed on the inner wall surface of the toner bottle 38, and the toner is discharged from the toner discharge port 38a by being rotated. A cap 68 for preventing toner from being ejected when not in use is fitted in the toner ejection port 38a. A plurality of ribs 44a are integrally formed on the distal end side of the bottle holding member 44, and the pushing member 46 is attached to these ribs 44a with a double-sided tape or the like. The pushing member 46 is made of an elastic material such as mylar or rubber. Bottle holding member 4
A rib 44 b is formed on the inner wall surface of the toner bottle 38.
8e, the two are integrally rotated. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 70 denotes a collet chuck for picking and releasing a cap 68, and a cylindrical case 72.
And is integrated with the shaft member 76 by a screw 74. Reference numeral 78 denotes a sealing material, 80 denotes a sealing member, 82
Is a collet chuck 70, a cylindrical case 72, and a shaft member 76.
2 shows a coil spring that constantly presses a series of components, such as, on the toner bottle 38 side. These assembled parts are the toner hopper section 4
It is kept within 0. Reference numeral 84 denotes a handle for opening and closing the cap 68, and the shaft portion 8 is integrally formed.
4a is supported by a shaft hole 42a formed at the tip of the receiving table 42 and is rotatable. Reference numeral 86 denotes a slide shaft that enters a hole 76a formed in the shaft member 76, and is in contact with a cam portion 84b formed in the handle 84,
When the handle 84 is rotated in the F direction shown in FIG. 6 and a series of components such as the collet chuck 70 is slid in a direction away from the toner bottle 38, the cap 68 comes out of the toner discharge port 38a and the toner in the toner bottle 38 is removed. Is discharged into the toner hopper 40 (FIGS. 19 and 20).
Details of this will be described later.

Next, a shutter member for opening and closing the toner supply port 54 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the supply amount regulating member 50 provided at the opening 48 of the toner hopper section 40 is formed of an elastic material such as mylar or rubber.
It has a slit hole 50a (an elongated rectangular hole). By setting the width of the slit hole 50a, the toner supply amount is made appropriate. The supply amount regulating member 50 is attached to the opening 48 with a double-sided tape or the like. A shutter member 88 for opening and closing the toner supply port 54 is movable in the vertical direction inside the toner introduction cover 52 attached to the outside of the opening 48, that is, with respect to the toner supply port 54 opened horizontally. In a vertical state (intersecting state).
The shutter member 88 includes a bendable elastic member 90 serving as a shutter body, a bendable elastic member 91 mainly functioning as a scraper, and a support member 9 for supporting these members.
2 and a columnar projection 94 integrally formed with the support member 92. The support member 92 has a spring member 96 for urging the shutter member 88 to be always closed. In this embodiment, the elastic members 90 and 91 are formed of a polyester film such as Mylar, and are attached to the support member 92 with a double-sided tape or the like. The toner introduction cover 52 is formed with a movement hole 52a through which the protrusion 94 moves. The moving hole 52a is formed in the shape of a long hole composed of a circular hole 52b formed in the center and a narrow hole 52c extending vertically from the hole 52b. Is formed.
As a result, the shake in the vertical movement of the shutter member 88 is regulated.

As shown in FIG. 8, a toner supply port 54 is formed on the bottom of the toner introduction cover 52, and arc-shaped guide portions 98, 98 for guiding an elastic member 90 of a shutter member 88 are integrally formed. Is formed. Further, a sponge seal member 100 as an elastic seal member for preventing the toner from being scattered by penetrating the distal end of the elastic member 90 is provided at the end side of the guide portion 98. In FIG. 7, reference numerals 102 and 104 displayed near the opening 48 indicate second guide ribs projecting in a trapezoidal shape in the horizontal direction for driving a second shutter member described later. Reference numeral 106 denotes a deformation regulating guide that supports the back side of the elastic member 90 (the side opposite to the surface that contacts the guide portion 98).

An elastic member 9 mainly functioning as a scraper
As shown in FIG.
Is bent or bent toward the inner surface 52e of the slab, and has a scraper portion 91a located at a lower portion, and an edge portion 91b located at left, right, and upper portions. Elastic member 9
1, when assembled, as shown in FIG. 10, the scraper portion 91a and each edge portion 91b are pressed against the inner surface 52e of the toner introduction cover 52 by elastic force, and the inner surface 52e
Move while rubbing the top. Therefore, intrusion of toner from the direction of the arrow at the time of toner replenishment is prevented by each edge portion 91b, and the toner T deposited near the toner supply port 54 is scraped off by the scraper portion 91a. Although the elastic member 91 is in pressure contact with the inner surface 52e, the pressure contact force is small and the contact area is small, so that the sliding of the shutter member 88 does not hinder. As shown in FIG. 11, a spacer 107 for preventing toner accumulation or accumulation is attached to the inside of the deformation regulating guide 106 with a double-sided tape. The spacer 107 is located above an arc-shaped guide portion 98 formed integrally with the toner introduction cover 52, and is provided in the slit hole 5 of the toner supply amount regulating member 50.
This prevents stagnation of toner replenished from 0a (occurrence of dead toner). As a material, an elastic member such as a sponge or rubber is preferably not easily peeled off, but a solid member such as a synthetic resin may be used.

As shown in FIG. 12, the receiving table 42 is detachable on the guide plate 108 in the direction of arrow G, and the guide plate 108 is attached to the rear plate 58 and the front plate 59 by screws (not shown). Fixed. Device body front side plate 59
Is formed with a positioning pin 109, and the positioning pin 109 enters the positioning hole 42b of the receiving table 42, thereby positioning the guide plate 108 and the toner supply device 6. In addition, a positioning pin is formed on the front plate 59 of the apparatus main body, and the positioning pin enters the positioning hole 42c of the receiving table 42. A stopper 112 is provided at the end of the guide plate 108 and supported by a leaf spring 110 fixed to the guide plate 108. When the stopper 112 is pressed down, toner is supplied. When the device 6 is mounted and the stopper 112 for retaining is returned after the attachment, the stopper 112 for retaining is engaged with the distal end of the receiving table 42 as shown in FIG. Will be retained.
FIG. 14 shows a state in which the toner replenishing device 6 has been pulled out. In this case, as shown in FIG.
This is done by hooking on the notches 108a and 108b formed at 08. The process cartridge 4 is positioned and held by a positioning pin (not shown) provided on the apparatus main body rear side plate 58 and the apparatus main body front side plate 59, and is prevented from coming off by a stopper 113 formed integrally with the upper case 41 (FIG. 1). (FIG. 14).

Next, a shutter member for opening and closing the toner receiving port 56 will be described. In FIG. 15, reference numeral 43 denotes a developing unit upper case.
A guide rib 114 that engages with the projection 94 and drives the shutter member 88 to open and close is formed integrally with the projection 94. The guide rib 114 is formed in a trapezoidal shape protruding in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 16, which is a view seen from the arrow H in FIG. 15, and has inclined surfaces 114a and 114b and a flat top 114c. ing. As shown in FIG. 17, below the guide rib 114, a second shutter member 115 for opening and closing the toner receiving port 56 is provided substantially parallel to the toner receiving port 56. The second shutter member 115 is composed of a flat shutter body 116 and a spring member 117 for urging the shutter body 116 to be always closed.
A second projection 118 having a columnar shape, which is engaged with the second guide ribs 102 and 104 formed in the second direction and drives the second shutter member 115 to open and close in the horizontal direction, is integrally formed. Also,
Slide pieces 116a are formed on both sides of the shutter main body 116, and correspondingly, guide portions 41a with which the slide pieces 116a are engaged are formed in the upper case 41. Slide horizontally on top. Further, a boss 116b for supporting one end of the spring member 117 is integrally formed on the lower surface of the shutter body 116, and the other end of the spring member 117 is connected to the upper case 41.
And is supported by a U-shaped rib 41b formed on the bottom surface. As shown in FIG. 18A, in a state where no external force acts on the second protrusion 118, that is, in a state where the toner replenishing device 6 is not mounted at a predetermined position, the shutter body 116 protrudes by the urging force of the spring member 117, The toner receiving port 56 is closed. The projecting position of the shutter body 116 is
6b is regulated by contacting the step portion 41c. When an external force acts on the second protrusion 118, FIG.
As shown in (b), the shutter body 116 retreats against the urging force of the spring member 117, and the toner receiving port 56 is opened.

Next, the opening and closing operations of the shutter member 88 and the second shutter member 115 will be described with reference to FIGS. From the state shown in FIG.
The toner supply device 8 is placed on the receiving stand 42, and the toner supply device 6 is pushed into the apparatus main body and set. In this case, before the toner supply device 6 is pushed in, the shutter member 88 has the toner supply port 54 closed by the urging force of the spring member 96 as shown in FIG. Arc-shaped guide part 9
8, the tip of which is sponge sealing member 10
It is biting into 0. For this reason, the space between the opening 48 of the toner hopper 40 and the toner supply port 54 is sealed so that toner does not leak. In FIG. 1A,
Reference numeral 52 d denotes a spring receiving recess formed on the upper surface of the toner introduction cover 52, and reference numeral 92 a denotes a spring seat formed integrally with the support member 92.

When the toner replenishing device 6 is pushed in from this state, the cylindrical portion of the projection 94 formed integrally with the support member 92 rises up the guide rib 114 formed integrally with the upper case 43 of the developing unit. As shown in FIG. 1B, the guide rib 114 comes into contact with the inclined surface 114a and is pushed up against the urging force of the spring member 96, and finally stops at the flat top 114c of the guide rib 114. With this operation, the elastic member 9
0 also rises (retreats) along the guide portion 98, and the toner supply port 54 is opened. In this state, toner supply is performed. (Note that, in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the display of one of the elastic members 91 is omitted for easy viewing.) Next, when the toner replenishing device 6 is pulled out, the protrusions 94 become inclined surfaces 114a. Therefore, the shutter member 88 automatically moves in the closing direction by the urging force of the spring member 96, and the elastic member 90 curves from the vertical state along the toner supply port 54 to be bent as shown in FIG. The closed state shown in FIG. At this time, since the spacer 107 is provided above the guide portion 98, no toner accumulation occurs on the guide portion 98. Therefore, the elastic member 90 is curved and the toner supply port 54 is
When the toner supply device 6 is closed, the toner does not fall between the guide portion 98 and the elastic member 90 so that the toner does not fall. At the same time as this operation, FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), the scraper portion 91a of the elastic member 91 moves downward while abutting against the inner surface 52e of the toner introduction cover 52, and transfers the toner T attached near the toner supply port 54 to the toner receiving port 56. Scrape off. (Note that, in FIGS. 2A and 2B, for ease of viewing, one elastic member 90 is indicated by a dashed line, and the guide portion 98, the spacer 107, and the like are omitted.)

In this embodiment, since the deformation regulating guide 106 is provided on the back side of the elastic member 90, unnecessary deformation (such as waving) during the movement of the elastic member 90 can be prevented. Only the curved deformation for opening and closing can be accurately generated. However, the deformation regulation guide 106 is not indispensable. Further, in this embodiment, the opening / closing operation of the shutter member 88 when the toner replenishing device 6 is attached to / detached from the process cartridge 4 mounted on the apparatus main body has been described.
Is formed in a trapezoidal shape, so that the opening and closing operation of the shutter member 88 is performed in the same manner regardless of whether the toner supply device 6 or the process cartridge 4 is attached or detached before and after the shutter member 88 is separated.
Is closed to prevent toner scattering. Further, the toner adhered to the vicinity of the toner supply port 54 on the inner surface 52e of the toner introduction cover 52 has not been scattered because it has already been scraped off.

When the toner replenishing device 6 is pushed in as shown in FIG. 3 (a), as shown in FIG. 3 (b), a horizontal projecting portion formed on the receiving table 42 of the toner replenishing device 6 is formed. The cylindrical second protrusion 118 abuts on the inclined surface 102a of the second guide rib 102, and the second shutter member 115 retreats from the closed state in the horizontal direction against the urging force of the spring member 117. When the second protrusion 118 passes through the inclined surface 102a, the toner receiving port 56 is completely opened. When the toner receiving port 56 reaches the center of the side surface of the toner introduction cover 52, the toner receiving port 56 and the toner supply port 54 face each other ( FIG. 3 (c)).
Since the opening operation of the second shutter member 115 and the opening operation of the shutter member 88 occur simultaneously, the developing device 10 and the toner replenishing device 6 are in communication. Second guide rib 10
2 and 104 have a separated form in which the toner introduction cover 52 is located at the intermediate portion. However, since the second guide rib 104 also has an inclined surface 104a symmetrical to the inclined surface 102a, the second guide rib 104 is substantially separated from the guide rib 114. It has a similar function. Therefore, in the opening / closing operation of the second shutter member 115, the order of the attachment / detachment operation between the process cartridge 4 and the toner replenishing device 6 does not matter similarly to the shutter member 88.

In the second guide ribs 102 and 104 provided in the toner replenishing device 6, the distance from the center of the toner supply port 54 to the end of the inclined surface is L (FIG. 3A).
In the guide rib 114 provided on the developing unit upper case 43 of the process cartridge 4, when the length of the inclined surface 114a in the attaching / detaching direction is l, by setting L> l, the second shutter member on the toner receiving port 56 side is set. The shutter member 88 on the side of the toner supply port 54 can be opened and closed while the 115 is always in the open position.

Next, toner supply from the toner supply device 6 to the process cartridge 4 will be described. FIG. 19 shows a state in which the toner supply port 54 and the toner receiving port 56 are open, that is, the toner supply device 6 and the process cartridge 4.
Is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. The head of the toner bottle 38 is engaged with the spherical projection 38f and the bottle holding member 44 and the rib 44c of the bottle holding member 44.
Is positioned by contact with From this state,
When the handle 84 is turned downward as shown by the arrow F in FIG. 6, the cam portion 84b pulls the slide shaft 86 in the direction of the arrow J as shown in FIG. As a result, the shaft member 76 also starts to move in the J direction, and the collet chuck 70 comes into contact with the projection 72a of the cylindrical case 72. With this, the collet chuck 70 starts closing and the cap 68 is gripped. When the movement in the J direction further proceeds in this state, as shown in FIG. 20, the cap 68 of the toner bottle 38 is removed by the collet chuck 70, and the toner in the toner bottle 38 flows into the toner hopper 40 of the receiving table 42. (If the toner in the toner bottle 38 is small, the toner does not flow out at this time). This state is a state where the setting of the toner supply device 6 is completed.

The toner is supplied by detecting the toner density in the developing device 10 by the toner density sensor 28. When the detected value falls below the reference density, the driving unit 6
0 operates to rotate the joint 62 in the direction of arrow E. As a result, the joint 62 is engaged with the bottom of the toner bottle 38, and when the toner bottle 38 rotates in the same direction, the toner is discharged from the toner discharge port 38a and accumulates in the toner hopper 40.
On the other hand, the rotation of the toner bottle 38 is transmitted through a rib 44 b integral with the bottle holding member 44,
Slides and rotates on the inner wall surface of the toner hopper section 40, and scrapes up the toner accumulated in the toner hopper section 40. When the pushing member 46 passes through the slit hole 50a of the supply amount regulating member 50, the toner is pushed out of the slit hole 50a. The extruded toner falls in the toner introduction cover 52 and is supplied into the developing device 10 through the toner supply port 54 and the toner receiving port 56 which are located below and are open.

[0027]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the shutter member is provided so as to intersect with the toner supply port, and a bendable elastic member as a shutter body is guided by the guide portion to the toner supply port. Due to the configuration, the shutter function can be reliably obtained even when a shutter member that moves in parallel along the toner supply port cannot be installed due to its dimensions, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in the configuration of the image forming apparatus. It can contribute to miniaturization. In addition to the above-mentioned elastic member, an elastic member having a function of scraping off toner adhering to the vicinity of the toner supply port is provided so as to be simultaneously driven. Further, it is possible to prevent the toner from dropping to the outside. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the edge of the elastic member is bent to be constantly pressed against the inner surface of the toner introduction cover. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the toner between the toner introduction cover and the elastic member is provided. Since the intrusion can be prevented, a smooth opening and closing operation of the shutter member can always be obtained. According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the wall or the spacer is provided above the guide section for bending the elastic member, in addition to the effect of the first or second aspect, the toner is provided between the guide section and the elastic member. Can be prevented from staying, so that toner can be prevented from dropping into and out of the image forming apparatus main body due to vibration and impact when the toner supply device is attached and detached.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 illustrates an opening and closing operation of a shutter member on a toner replenishing device side in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views mainly showing an elastic member serving as a shutter body. FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a shutter member is closed. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the state which opened.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view centering on an elastic member having a scraper function. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a shutter member is closed, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a toner supply port is opened.

3A and 3B are plan views showing the opening and closing operations of a shutter member on the process cartridge side. FIG. 3A is a plan view showing a state in which the shutter member is closed, and FIG. FIG. 3C is a plan view showing a state in which the toner receiving port is opening, and FIG. 3C is a plan view showing a state in which the toner receiving port is completely opened and faces the toner supply port.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a partially omitted perspective view of the process cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the toner supply device.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the toner supply device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a toner introduction cover having a toner supply port.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a shutter member.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a position state of an elastic member having a scraper function with respect to a toner introduction cover.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a spacer portion.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a relationship between a receiving tray of the toner supply device and a guide plate on the apparatus main body side.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a locking state of the receiving table by a stopper for retaining the guide plate;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the toner supply device is pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a process cartridge.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a guide rib as viewed from an arrow H side in FIG. 11;

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view around a second shutter member.

FIG. 18 is a view showing an opening / closing operation of a second shutter member.
FIG. 18A is a sectional view showing a closed state, and FIG. 18B is a sectional view showing an open state.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing a toner replenishing operation in the toner replenishing device, with a toner bottle mounted on a toner hopper.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a toner replenishing operation in the toner replenishing device, in a state where a cap of a toner bottle is pulled out by a collet chuck and toner flows into a toner hopper.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a toner supply device according to the prior art.

FIG. 22 is a sectional view of a toner supply unit of the toner supply device.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view illustrating a state where toner adheres to the toner introduction cover.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state of toner adhesion in the toner replenishing unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Toner supply device 52 Toner introduction cover 54 Toner supply port 56 Toner receiving port 88 Shutter member 90 One elastic member 91 The other elastic member 92 Support member 107 Spacer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Watanabe 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshitaka Yamaguchi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo・ Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Yoshinaga 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo ・ Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Takeo Suda, 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo ・ Stock Inside the Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Ken Amamiya 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Inc. Inside the Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Mayumi Ohori 1-3-6, Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Company Inside

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus includes a toner supply unit which is directly or indirectly attached to and detached from a main body of the image forming apparatus having a toner receiving port. An image forming apparatus in which a toner supply port facing the toner receiving port is formed and a shutter member that opens and closes the toner supply port is provided, the image forming apparatus includes a toner introduction cover that covers a periphery of the toner supply port, The shutter member is composed of two bendable elastic members and a supporting member for supporting the two bendable members. One of the elastic members is guided by a guide portion provided in the toner replenishing device and extends along the toner supply port. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the image forming apparatus moves in a curved state as described above, and the other elastic member moves while sliding on the inner surface of the toner introduction cover. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an edge of the elastic member located on the toner introduction cover side is bent toward an inner surface side of the toner introduction cover. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wall or a spacer for preventing toner from staying is provided above the guide member.