JPH10207218A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To arrange a bias voltage applying harness without projecting it outward from a developing housing by forming a groove through which the harness is inserted in the side surface of an end wall for supporting a developer applying means connected to the harness. SOLUTION: A terminal plate 126 connected to one end of the harness 125 for applying a bias voltage to a sleeve member 111 is connected/fixed on the front end part of the fixing shaft 113 of the developer applying means 110. The bias voltage applying harness 125 is disposed to face a rear wall 102 along the side surface of the second front end wall 103b of the developing housing 10 and bent at a right angle at the rear end of the second front end wall 103b. Then, the harness 125 is disposed to face a rear end wall 104 along the rear wall 102. Further, on the side surface of the second front end wall 103b, the recessed groove 1032 through which the harness is inserted is formed from the front end to the rear end and the harness 125 is inserted through the recessed groove 1032. A connector 127 is connected to the other end of the harness 125 and a power source, to be connected to a socket.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device provided in an image forming machine such as an electrostatic copying machine and an electrostatic printing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming machine such as an electrostatic copying machine or an electrostatic printing machine, an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum serving as an image carrier disposed in a body housing is formed into toner. A developing device for developing is provided. For example, as a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image into a toner, a type using a so-called two-component developer composed of a carrier and a toner has been widely put into practical use. In a developing device of the type using such a two-component developer, the developing device includes a developer applying unit that conveys the developer toward the photosensitive drum, and a developing sleeve that forms the photosensitive drum and the developer applying unit. While maintaining the gap between them at a predetermined value, the developer is held on the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve and transported toward the photosensitive drum, and an electric field is formed between the photosensitive drum and the developing sleeve. In the opposing developing area, the developer on the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve acts on the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum by the electric field to develop the toner image.

[0003] A predetermined bias voltage is applied to the developer applying means in the developing device as described above. In order to apply a bias voltage to the developer applying unit, a harness for connecting the developer applying unit and a power supply is provided. As a processing method for mounting the harness along the developing housing, there are a method of fixing the harness to the developing housing with a binding band and a wire saddle, and a method of attaching a hooking member to the developing housing and supporting the harness with the hooking member. It is commonly used.

[0004]

However, in the processing method for mounting the harness as described above along the developing housing, the mounting member protrudes considerably from the side surface of the developing housing. Is an obstacle to achieving In particular, if the mounting member is provided on the end wall of the developing housing that supports the developer applying unit, the size of the developing device in the width direction becomes large, and there is a problem that the entire image forming machine becomes large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and a main technical problem thereof is that a harness for applying a bias voltage can be provided without protruding outward from an end wall of a developing housing. It is to provide a developing device.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned main technical problems, according to the present invention, a bottom wall, a rear wall formed upright from a rear end of the bottom wall, and the bottom wall are provided. A developing housing having a pair of end walls formed upright from front and rear ends, and a photosensitive drum supported by the pair of end walls forming the developing housing and housed in the developing housing; And a harness for applying a bias voltage connected to one end of the developer applying unit. The developing device includes a harness connected to the harness for applying one end of the developer applying unit. A concave groove for harness insertion is formed on a side surface of one of the end walls to support,
A developing device is provided wherein the harness for applying the bias voltage is inserted through the concave groove. Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a developing device constituted according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an electrostatic copying machine as an image forming machine equipped with a developing device constructed according to the present invention. The illustrated electrostatic copying machine includes a cuboid body housing 2. On the upper surface of the body housing 2, a stationary transparent plate 4 on which a document to be copied is placed
An openable and closable document pressing plate 5 for covering the stationary transparent plate 4 and a document placed thereon is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, a photosensitive drum 6 is rotatably arranged at a substantially central portion in the body housing 2. The photosensitive drum 6 is moved by an arrow 6 by driving means (not shown).
It is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by 0. Around the photosensitive drum 6, the charging corona discharger 8, the developing device 10, and the transfer corona discharger 1 are sequentially arranged in the rotation direction indicated by the arrow 60.
2, peeling corona discharger 14, cleaning unit 1
6 and a static elimination lamp 18 are provided. The illustrated electrostatic copying machine includes an irradiation lamp 20, a first mirror 22, a second mirror 24, a third mirror 26, a lens 28, and a fourth mirror 30 disposed above the photosensitive drum 6. Is provided. This optical system includes an irradiation lamp 2
0 irradiates the original placed on the stationary transparent plate 4 with its reflected light image via a first mirror 22, a second mirror 24, a third mirror 26, a lens 28 and a fourth mirror 30. It is configured to form an image on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 8. The illustrated electrostatic copying machine includes a transfer paper supply device 32 for supplying transfer paper to a transfer area between the transfer corona discharger 12 and the photosensitive drum 6. The transfer paper supply device 32 includes transfer paper cassettes 34a and 34b for storing transfer paper, transfer paper delivery rollers 36a and 36b,
A pair of separating rollers 38a and 38b, a guide path 40, pairs of conveying rollers 42 and 44, and a pair of registration rollers 46 are provided. The respective roller pairs of the transfer paper supply device 32 thus configured are driven to rotate by driving means (not shown). A transfer paper transport belt mechanism 48, a fixing roller pair 52 and a discharge roller pair 54 constituting the fixing device 50 are disposed on the transfer paper delivery side of the transfer area. Each of them is rotationally driven by a non-driving means. FIG. 2 shows a front view of the body housing 2 in which the above-described members are arranged.
As shown in the figure, the front cover 2a is mounted so as to be openable and closable with its lower edge as a fulcrum.

In the electrostatic copying machine constructed as described above, the charging corona discharger 8 causes the photoconductor on the photoconductor drum 6 to move while the photoconductor drum 6 is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 60. It is charged to a specific polarity substantially uniformly, and then irradiates the original placed on the stationary transparent plate 4 by the irradiating lamp 20, and its reflected light image is reflected by the first mirror 22, the second mirror 24, and the third mirror 24. Scanning exposure is performed on the photosensitive drum 6 via a mirror 26, a lens 28 and a fourth mirror 30,
An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 6. After a while
The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 6 is developed into a toner image by the developing device 10. On the other hand, the transfer paper accommodated in the transfer paper cassette 34a or 34b of the transfer paper supply device 32 is sent out from the transfer paper delivery roller 36a or 36b to the guide path 19, stopped at the registration roller pair 22, and stopped once. Is conveyed to the transfer area in synchronization with the toner image formed on the transfer belt. The transfer paper conveyed to the transfer area passes between the photosensitive drum 6 on which the toner image is formed and the corona discharger 12 for transfer, so that the toner image is transferred. Then, the transfer paper on which the toner image has been transferred is peeled off from the photosensitive drum 6 by the action of the corona discharger 14 for peeling, and is conveyed to the fixing device 50 by the transfer paper conveying belt mechanism 48, where it is heated and fixed. The sheet is discharged from a pair of discharge rollers 54 to a discharge tray 56. Further, the toner adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum 6 on which the transfer process has been completed as described above is removed by the cleaning unit 16, and further, the surface of the photoreceptor is irradiated with the discharging light by the discharging lamp 18. , Is neutralized.

Next, the developing device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
0 will be described. The illustrated developing device 10 includes a developing housing 100. The developing housing 100, which can be molded from an appropriate synthetic resin, has a bottom wall 101.
And a rear wall 102 erected from the rear end (right end in FIG. 5) of the bottom wall 101, and a front end wall 103 erected from the front end and the rear end of the bottom wall 101. And a rear end wall 104, and a cover wall 105 that covers the space surrounded by the bottom wall 101, the rear wall 102, the front end wall 103, and the rear end wall 104. The front end wall 10
Reference numeral 3 includes a first front end wall 103a defining the photosensitive drum 6 side (upper side in FIG. 6) and a second front end wall 103b defining the rear wall 102 side (lower side in FIG. 6). . The first front end wall 103a is located farther (inside) than the second front end wall 103b, and the first front end wall 103a and the second front end wall 103b are connected by a connection wall 103c. I have. The partition wall 107 is provided on the bottom wall 101 constituting the developing housing 100 in the front-rear direction (width direction) (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 5 and the left-right direction in FIG. 6).
Are formed integrally, and the inside of the developing housing is separated by the partition 107 into the first transport path 100a and the second transport path 100a.
b is defined. The partition wall 107 projects substantially vertically upward from the bottom wall 101 of the developing housing 100, and both lower end portions are formed in a concave arc shape. Developer transfer ports 107a and 107b are provided at both ends in the front-rear direction (width direction) of the partition 107, respectively, and the first transport path 100a and the second transport path 100b are provided.
Has been contacted. Bottom wall 101 provided with partition 107
4 and 5, a guide groove 101a extending in the front-rear direction (width direction) is formed from the rear end to the front end. In addition, the rear end portion of the guide groove 101a (FIG. 6)
At the right end) is a guide portion 1 that spreads on both sides in the horizontal direction.
01b is formed. On the free end side of the cover wall 105 of the developing housing 100,
a. The bottom edge of the ear-cutting plate 108 is positioned close to the peripheral surface of a sleeve member 111 of the developer applying unit 110 described later, and is held on the peripheral surface of the sleeve member 111 and conveyed to the developing area. Function as a so-called ear-cutting means for regulating the amount of the developing agent.
On the upper surface of the cover wall 105, an ear cutting cover 106 is mounted. As shown in FIG. 5, the ear break cover 106 includes a cover portion 106a and a mounting portion 106b.
It is formed by bending a plate material such as an aluminum alloy. As shown in FIG. 3, a tongue piece 106c is provided at the center of the mounting portion 106b constituting the
Is provided. In the ear break cover 106 thus configured, the mounting portion 106b is mounted on the upper surface of the cover wall 105 by screws 106e and 106e. In addition,
A sheet-shaped seal member 109 is attached to a free end of the ear-cut cover 106. This sheet-shaped sealing member 10
9 is, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PETP)
It is made of a flexible sheet member such as a resin, and is attached to the free end of the above-described ear breaker cover 106 with an adhesive, and the free end is in light contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 6. In the illustrated embodiment,
A front end plate 1 is provided at the front end of the developing housing 100.
45 is attached by fixing means such as screws. The front end plate 145 is formed of synthetic resin, and a handle 146 is integrally formed at the center of the lower end (see FIGS. 3 and 9).

A developer applying means 110 is provided at the forefront (the leftmost part in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the uppermost part in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the developing housing 10. The developer applying means 110 includes a sleeve member 111 extending substantially horizontally in the width direction, a permanent magnet member 112 disposed in the sleeve member 111, and a permanent magnet member 11.
The permanent magnet member 112 is provided through the two shaft centers and is fixed to the fixed shaft 113. The sleeve member 111 is made of a non-magnetic material such as aluminum, and has end plates 111a and 111b press-fitted at both ends thereof.
Are rotatably supported by the fixed shaft 113. An end plate 111b attached to the far end (the right end in FIG. 7) of the sleeve member 111 is integrally provided with a sleeve shaft 111c on the same axis as the fixed shaft 113. The sleeve shaft 111 c is provided to penetrate the rear end wall 104 of the developing housing 10, and a bearing 114 mounted on the rear end wall 104.
It is rotatably supported by. Sleeve shaft 111
An input gear 111a is mounted on c so as to rotate integrally therewith, and a restricting roller 115 as a restricting member is rotatably mounted on a rear side thereof. The fixed shaft 11
Reference numeral 3 denotes a rear end (right end in FIG. 6) of the bearing 11.
6, a rear end plate 111b of the sleeve member 111 is rotatably supported, and a front end portion (left end portion in FIG. 7) of the sleeve member 111 is provided through the first front end wall 103a of the developing housing 10. ing. The first in the fixed shaft 113
The front end protruding from the front end wall 103a has a flat portion 1
13a are formed. Flat portion 113 of fixed shaft 113
The front end provided with a has a fitting hole 117a having the same cross-sectional shape as the front end, and has a rotation restriction mounted on the first front end wall 103a constituting the front end wall 103 of the developing housing 10. It is fitted to the member 117. In addition, fixed shaft 1
13, a fitting hole 118a having the same cross-sectional shape as the front end of the fixed shaft 113 is provided on the front side of the rotation regulating member 117.
A regulating roller 118 is fitted as a regulating member having. The diameter of the regulation roller 118 is
5 is formed to be larger than the diameter. In the illustrated embodiment, both of the regulating rollers 115 and 118 are formed to have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the sleeve member 111. The sleeve member 111 of the developer applying means 110 configured as described above is driven to rotate in the direction shown by the arrow 111a via the input gear 114 which is operatively connected to a rotation drive source which may be an electric motor (not shown).

The rotating drum 6 is rotatable in relation to a regulating roller 115 as a regulating member mounted on the back side of the developer applying unit 110 and a regulating roller 118 as a regulating member mounted on the front side. Outer race 61 of bearings 61 and 62 constituting a pair of photosensitive member supporting members to be supported
As shown in FIG. 7, a pair of contact members 63 and 64 are attached to 1 and 621, respectively. The contact member 64 mounted on the near-side bearing 62 has a fixed flange 641 whose upper end is bent toward the near side as shown in FIG. 4, and is disposed through the fixed flange 641. A screw 65 and a screw 66 inserted through the side are fixed to a photoconductor support (not shown) mounted on the body housing. The contact member 63 attached to the rear bearing 61 has a similar configuration and is fixed to a photoconductor support (not shown). The pair of contact members 63 and 64 mounted on the pair of photoreceptor support members in this way include contact portions 631 and 641 that contact the pair of regulating rollers 115 and 118, respectively. Contact portions 631 and 641 of the pair of contact members 63 and 64
The front contact portion 641 is shorter than the rear contact portion 631 corresponding to the diameter of the pair of regulating rollers 115 and 118. Therefore, when the developing device 10 is positioned at the pressing position shown in FIG. 7 by the pressing operation mechanism described later, the pair of regulating rollers 115 and 118 abut against the contact portions 631 and 641 of the pair of contact members 63 and 64, respectively. . In the illustrated embodiment, the diameter of the regulating roller 118 on the front side is formed to be larger than the diameter of the regulating roller 115 on the rear side, so that the abutting portions 631 of the pair of abutting members 63 and 64 and 641, the contact positions are such that the near side is closer to the photosensitive drum 6 than the far side. In this state, the photosensitive drum 6 and the sleeve member 11 forming the developer applying unit 110 are formed.
7, a predetermined gap (s) is formed uniformly in the axial direction as shown in FIG.

The developing housing 10 is provided behind the developer applying means 110 (rightward in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7).
The developer agitating / conveying means 120 is disposed on the lower side in FIG. In the illustrated embodiment, the developer agitating / conveying means 120 includes a first spiral roller 121 disposed on the first conveying path 100a and the second conveying path 1
00b, a second spiral roller 122 disposed at
A paddle roller 123 is provided between the second spiral roller 122 and the developer applying unit 110. These first spiral roller 121 and second spiral roller 121
Each of the rotary shafts of the spiral rollers 122 has a front end portion disposed through the second front end wall 103b of the developing housing 10, and a rear end portion thereof has a rear end wall 104 of the developing housing 10. , Respectively, and project rearward, and the input gear 121a and the input gear 122a are respectively mounted on the protruding ends. Also, paddle roller 1
The rotation shaft of the developing housing 10 has
Of the developing housing 10, the rear end of which projects rearward through the rear end wall 104, and the input gear 123 a
Is installed. The input gear 121a and the input gear 1
Reference numerals 22a and 123a mesh with each other, and are operatively connected to a rotary drive source (not shown) via the input gear 114 of the sleeve member 111, and are driven to rotate in the directions indicated by arrows. The first spiral roller 121, which is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow, transports the developer from the near side to the far side (from left to right in FIG. 5) while stirring the developer.
The second spiral roller 122 transports the developer from the back side to the front side (from right to left in FIG. 6) while stirring the developer. The paddle roller 123 sends the developer to the developer applying unit 110 while stirring the developer.

Fixed shaft 113 of developer applying means 110
A terminal plate 126 connected to one end of a harness 125 for applying a bias voltage to the sleeve member 111 is fixedly connected to the front end of the harness 125. The terminal plate 126 is fixed to a boss 1031 formed on the first front end wall 103a of the developing housing 10 by a screw 128.
The bias voltage application harness 125 extends along the side surface of the second front end wall 103b of the developing housing 10 along the rear wall 10b.
2 and is bent at a right angle at the rear end of the second front end wall 103b, and is disposed along the rear wall 102 toward the rear end wall 104. The side face of the second front end wall 103b has a groove 103 for harness insertion from the front end to the rear end.
The harness 125 is formed in the concave groove 1032.
Is inserted. The other end of the harness 125 has a connector 12
The connector 127 is connected to a socket (not shown) connected to a power supply. The first front end wall 103a and the second front end wall 103
A front end plate 145 described later is mounted on the side surface of the front end wall 103 having the position b. As described above, the harness 125 for applying the bias voltage to the sleeve member 111 of the developer applying unit 110 is configured to be inserted into the concave groove 1032 provided on the side surface of the second front end wall 103b of the developing housing 10. Therefore, there is no need to provide a mounting component for mounting the harness 125 on the side surface of the front end wall 103b. Accordingly, since there is no component protruding from the side surface of the front end wall 103b, the widthwise dimension of the developing device can be reduced, and the size of the developing device itself can be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 6, a developer drop opening 105a is provided at a position above the first spiral roller 121 and the second spiral roller 122 on the cover wall 105 constituting the developing housing 10, as shown in FIG. A developer cartridge mounting portion is provided, and a toner supply portion 130 is provided at a position on the front side of the developer drop opening 105a and above the first spiral roller 121. As shown in FIG. 3, the toner supply unit 130 includes partition walls 131, 132, 133 formed upright on the cover wall 105 and a front end plate 145 attached to the front end of the developing housing 10. And a space 134 surrounded by In this space 134, there are provided toner supply chambers 138 surrounded by partitions 135, 136, and 137 formed upright on the cover wall 105, the front end plate 145 and the cover wall 105. This toner supply chamber 1
As shown in FIG. 9, a toner drop opening 105 b is formed at the front end of the cover wall 105 that forms the cover 38. The toner supply opening 138 is provided in the toner supply chamber 138.
A cylindrical on-off valve 139 for opening and closing 5b is provided. A coil spring 140 is provided between the on-off valve 139 and the partition 135, and the on-off valve 139 is urged toward the front end plate 145 by the spring force of the coil spring 140. An opening 145 a having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the on-off valve 139 is formed in the front end plate 145 at a position facing the on-off valve 139.
Further, a seal having a slope inclined from the lower end of the partition wall 131 forming the space 134 to the upper end of the partition 135 forming the toner supply chamber 138 is provided in the space 134 forming the toner supply unit 130. A peel guide member 141 is provided. The toner supply unit 13
As shown in FIG. 9, a seal insertion opening 131a is provided at the lower end of the partition wall 131 on the side of the developer cartridge mounting portion which forms the space 134 of zero, and a locking opening 131b is provided at an intermediate portion thereof. Is provided. The partition wall 13 that forms the space 134 of the toner supply unit 130
Steps 1 and 2 are respectively provided on the upper ends of 2 and 133.
32a and 133a are provided.

The space 1 constituting the toner supply unit 130
A cover member 142 is removably disposed above the top 34. Cover member 142 integrally formed of synthetic resin
Is composed of a planar cover portion 143 and an engaging portion 144 extending substantially at a right angle from one end of the cover portion 143, and an engaging protrusion 144a is provided at a tip end of the engaging portion 144.
In order to attach the cover member 142 configured as described above to the toner supply unit 130, the other end of the cover unit 143 is inserted into and engaged with the locking unit 145b provided on the front side end plate 145. When the portion 144 is pushed downward along the wall surface on the near side of the partition wall 131, the engaging portion 144 descends while being elastically deformed, and the engaging projection 144a engages with the locking opening 131b provided in the partition wall 131. Combine. At this time, the lower surfaces on both sides of the cover member 142 are partitioned by the partition walls 132 and 133.
Abuts on the step portions 132a and 133a provided at When the cover member 142 attached to the toner supply unit 130 is removed in this manner, for example, a driver is inserted into the locking opening 131b from the back side of the partition wall 131 in a state where a developer cartridge described later is removed, and When the mating projection 144a is pressed, the engaging portion 144 is elastically deformed and disengaged from the locking opening 131b. In this state, the engaging portion 144 is lifted upward and moved to the rear side, so that the cover portion 143 Locking portion 1 with the other end provided on front end wall 103
What is necessary is just to extract from 03b.

The developer cartridge 1 is provided at the developer cartridge mounting portion of the cover wall 105 constituting the developing housing 10 provided with the developer drop opening 105b.
50 is detachably mounted and fixed by an appropriate fixing means. The developer cartridge 150 includes a cartridge body 151 containing a developer 155 in which a carrier and a toner are mixed at a predetermined ratio, and a cartridge body 15.
1 and a sealing member 152 which covers an opening formed on the lower side and is detachably mounted by welding or an adhesive. The seal member 152 is formed of a suitable synthetic resin film having flexibility such as a nylon film, and has one end attached to the front end of the cartridge body 151 and attached to the far end of the cartridge body 151. After being folded, the other end is disposed on the seal peeling guide member 141 through a seal insertion opening 131a formed at the lower end of the partition wall 131. The other end of the seal member 141 passes above the space 134 forming the toner supply unit 130 and passes through the front end plate 14.
5 is located on the front side of the fuselage housing through a seal insertion opening 145c provided in the housing 5. When the developer cartridge 150 is mounted on the developing housing 10, the cover member 142 is removed, the developer cartridge 150 is mounted, and the seal member 152 passes over the seal peeling guide member 141 and the front side end. Board 145
The cover member 142 is attached after being positioned on the near side of the body housing through the seal insertion opening 145c provided in the.

The developing device 10 configured as described above is
As will be described later, it is detachably attached to the body housing 2. In the illustrated embodiment, a handle structure is provided on the upper surface of the cover wall 105 constituting the developing housing 10, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 10, in order to facilitate carrying the developing device 10. The handle structure includes a handle 160 formed of a synthetic resin belt having flexibility. The handle 160 has a long hole 16 at each end.
0a and a long hole 160a are provided.
a, It is attached to the cover wall 105 by a screw 161 161 as a mounting member disposed through the elongated hole 160a. The screw 161 161 is provided with stepped portions 161a, 161a thicker than the thickness of the handle 160. Therefore, the handle 160 has a long hole 160a and a long hole 160a.
You can move within the range. At this time, the tongue piece 106c provided on the mounting portion 106b of the ear-cutting plate 106 is inserted below the handle 160 between the two screws. Since the tongue piece 106c is interposed between the handle 160 and the cover wall 105, the tongue piece 106c
The center of the handle 160 is lifted by the upper edges of both ends of the
A gap 162 is formed between the handle 160 and the tongue piece 106c. This gap 162 allows the handle 160 and the tongue piece 1
06c, the tip of the finger can be easily inserted, and the handle 160 can be easily held. In the illustrated embodiment,
Since the member to be interposed between the handle 160 and the cover wall 105 is a part of the cutting board 106 which is a component of the developing device 10, there is no need to separately provide a member for forming the gap. Thus, an inexpensive handle structure can be obtained.

Next, the developing device 10 mounted on the machine housing 2 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 6,
With reference to FIGS. 11 to 14, a description will be given of a pressing operation mechanism that operates to a pressing release position that retreats from the pressing position. Inside the body housing 2, a front side plate 200 and a rear side plate 201 are arranged in parallel with each other. A fixing plate 203 is attached between the front side plate 200 and the rear side plate 201 by fixing means such as a screw 204. Below the fixed plate 203, two operation plates 205, 205 are rotatably supported by support shafts 206, 206, respectively. Operation pins 207, 207 are fixed to the two operation plates 205, 205, respectively. This operating pin 20
Reference numerals 7 and 207 are attached to the operation plates 205 and 205 so as to protrude upward, respectively, and are provided through openings 203 a and 203 a formed in the fixed plate 203.
Further, spring engaging portions 205a, 205a are formed on the two operating plates 205, 205 by bending, respectively, and the tension coil springs 208, 208 as pressing spring means are respectively formed on the spring engaging portions 205a, 205a. One end is locked. The other ends of the tension coil springs 208, 208 are locked by support brackets 209, 209 mounted on the lower surface of the fixed plate 203, respectively.
5 and 205 are urged to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 10 about the support shafts 206 and 206.

An operating rod 210 is provided below the two operating plates 205, 205. The operating rod 210 has elongated holes 210 a and 21 elongated in the longitudinal direction (front-back direction).
0a is formed. The operating rod 210 is supported movably in the front-rear direction by support pins 212 fixed to brackets 211 mounted on the fixed plate 203 through the elongated holes 210a. The operating plate 205 includes the operating plate 205,
205, elongated holes 210b, 210b are formed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (front-back direction), and the operating plates 205, 2b are provided in the elongated holes 210b, 210b.
05 and the support portions 205
a, working pin 21 mounted at an intermediate position between 205a and 205a
5, 215 are inserted. Therefore,
When the operating rod 210 is operated in the direction indicated by the arrow 213 in FIG.
5 are rotated clockwise in FIG. 11 about the support shafts 206, 206, and the operating rod 210 is moved in FIG.
1, when actuated in the direction indicated by the arrow 214, the operation plates 205, 205 are actuated via the action pins 215, 215.
11 are rotated counterclockwise in FIG.

Next, a pressing mechanism for operating the operating rod 210 in the directions of arrows 213 and 214 will be described with reference to FIGS. Screws 204 having a pair of L-shaped support brackets 230 attached to the fixed plate 203 at positions corresponding to the operating rod 210 on the front side surface of the front side plate 200 provided in the body housing 2. Has been tightened together. On the support brackets 230, support pins 231 for rotatably supporting a pressing lever described later are horizontally disposed. Further, the support brackets 230, 230 have arc-shaped long holes 230a formed at an angle of about 90 degrees around the support pin 231. The pressing lever 240 is attached to the support brackets 230, 230 thus configured.
Is attached. The pressing lever 240 includes a lever portion 241 and a mounting portion 242, and is integrally formed of a synthetic resin. A mounting part 242 of the pressing lever 240 is rotatably mounted by a support pin 231 mounted on the support part rackets 230, 230. A guide pin 243 is provided on the mounting portion 242 of the pressing lever 240, and the guide pin 243 is connected to the support rackets 230, 230.
Is formed so as to fit into the arc-shaped long hole 230a formed in the hole. Therefore, the pressing lever 240 is
, The guide pin 243 moves along the arc-shaped long hole 230a. Since the arc-shaped long hole 230a is formed at an angle of about 90 degrees as described above, the guide pin 243 can move in an angle range of about 90 degrees, and the pressing lever 240 is moved at an angle of about 90 degrees. It can rotate within an angle range. That is, in the illustrated embodiment, the pressing lever 240 can rotate in a range between a first position in a vertical state shown in FIG. 11 and a second position in a horizontal state shown in FIG. The pressing lever 240 configured as described above is connected to the operating lever 210 via the connecting link 245. That is, the link 24
5 is pressed by the guide pin 243 into the pressing lever 24.
The other end of the connection link 245 is connected to one end of the operating rod 210 by a connection pin 246.

The pressing lever 240 constituting the pressing operation mechanism in the illustrated embodiment is configured as described above. Hereinafter, the positional relationship among the support pin 231, the guide pin 243, and the connecting pin 246 will be described. In a state where the pressing lever 240 is positioned at the second position which is a horizontal state as shown in FIG. 13, the guide pin 243 is positioned above a line connecting the connecting pin 246 and the support pin 231. Therefore, the tension coil spring 20
The force for operating the operating rod 210 in the direction shown by the arrow 214 via the operating plates 205, 205 and the operating pins 215, 215 by the spring forces of the 8, 208 is guided via the connecting pin 246 and the connecting link 245. Pin 243
13, a force is applied to the pressing lever 240 positioned at the second position as shown in FIG. 13 to rotate the support lever 231 counterclockwise in FIG. The pressing lever 240 is maintained in the horizontal state shown in FIG. 13, that is, in the second position. On the other hand, when the pressing lever 240 is positioned at the first position, which is a vertical state as shown in FIG.
Are positioned below the line connecting the connecting pin 246 and the support pin 231. Accordingly, the force acting on the operating rod 210 in the direction indicated by the arrow 214 is applied via the connecting pin 246, the connecting link 245, and the guide pin 243 to the pressing lever 240 positioned at the first position as shown in FIG.
In FIG. 12, the pressing lever 240 acts to rotate the pin 231 clockwise in FIG.
The vertical position shown in FIG. 2, that is, the first position is maintained. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the pressing lever 240
Is held in the first position and the second position by the spring force of the tension coil springs 208 and 208, respectively, so that the state is stabilized without rattling due to vibration or the like.

On the upper side of the fixed plate 203, the movable mounting plate 2
20 are provided. As shown in FIG. 14, the movable mounting plate 220 is provided with a mounting portion 221 and a first bending portion formed by projecting from a front end of the mounting portion 221 and bent downward.
Guide portions 222, 222, a second guide portion 223 bent upward from the rear end of the mounting portion 221, and a rear wall bent upward from the rear end of the mounting portion 221. A part 224 is provided. The mounting portion 221 constituting the movable mounting plate 220 is formed with two long holes 221a and 221a into which the operation pins 207 and 207 are fitted. Further, a guide rail 221b extending in the width direction is provided on an edge of the mounting portion 221 that constitutes the movable mounting plate 220, on the side opposite to the rear wall portion 224. The first guide portions 222, 222 constituting the movable mounting plate 220 are provided with guide elongated holes 2.
22a and 222a are formed. Moving mounting plate 220
The two guide pins 2
26 and 226 are mounted to protrude outward, and two positioning pins 227 and 227 are mounted to protrude inward. A guide rail 224b extending in the width direction is provided at an upper end edge of the rear wall portion 224 constituting the movable mounting plate 220. In the movable mounting plate 220 thus configured, the first guide portions 222 are mounted on the upper end of the near side plate 200, and the second guide portion 223 is provided.
The guide pins 226, 226 mounted on the rear side plate 201 are fitted in the long holes 201a, 201a formed in the rear side plate 201, and are supported horizontally. In this state, the first
Guide holes 222 formed in the guide portions 222
A guide pin 228 attached to the front side plate 200 is fitted into each of a and 222a. In addition, the moving mounting plate 2
20, a long hole 221 formed in the mounting portion 221
The operating pins 207, 207 are fitted into the a and 221a. The developing device 10 is removably mounted on the mounting portion 221 of the movable mounting plate 220 configured as described above. In order to mount the developing device 10 on the mounting portion 221, the rear end of the developing device 10 is placed on the near side of the mounting portion 221 and is pushed inward. At this time, the developing housing 100
The developing device 10 is slid backward while fitting the guide grooves 101a provided on the bottom wall 101 of the developing device 10 into the operation pins 207, 207. When the developing device 10 is pushed to a predetermined position, the two positioning pins 227 and 227 attached to the second guide portion 223 constituting the movable mounting plate 220 are provided on the rear end wall of the developing device 10. The positioning holes (not shown) are fitted, and the developing device 10 is mounted at a predetermined position on the movable mounting plate 220.

Next, the movable mounting plate 220 movably disposed at a predetermined position of the body housing 2 and the pressing lever 2
The positional relationship of 40 will be described. As shown in FIG. 12, when the pressing lever 240 is positioned at the first position, which is a vertical state, a part of the pressing lever 240 (the lever portion 241 in the illustrated embodiment) is formed on the upper surface of the movable mounting plate 220 ( (Mounting surface). Therefore, when the pressing lever 240 is located at the first position, the developing device 10 cannot be attached to or detached from the movable mounting plate 220. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressing lever 2
When the position 40 is located at the first position, the lever portion 241 of the pressing lever 240 is provided on the front end plate 145 constituting the front end of the developing device 10 mounted on the movable mounting plate 220. Is located at a position facing the handle 146 that has been provided. Therefore, when the pressing lever 240 is located at the first position, the grip 146 used when the developing device 10 is pulled out from the body housing 2 cannot be gripped. Further, as shown in FIG.
The reference numeral 0 denotes a position substantially at the same height as the upper surface (mounting surface) of the movable mounting plate 220 in a state where the horizontal position is the second position. Therefore, in the state where the pressing lever 240 is located at the second position, the movable mounting plate 220
The developing device 10 can be attached to and detached from the
Numeral 0 functions as a guide terrace when the developing device 10 is attached and detached. Since the pressing lever 240 located at the second position functioning as the guide terrace is urged to be held at the second position by the tension coil springs 208, 208 as described above, the pressing lever 240 is rattled. The developing device 10 can be easily and easily attached and detached.

Next, a toner replenishing device for replenishing the developing device 10 with toner will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 8, 15 and 16. FIG. The toner replenishing device 300 is disposed on the front side (the left side in FIGS. 6, 8 and 15) of the front side plate 200 provided in the body housing 2. The illustrated toner replenishing apparatus 300 includes a toner cartridge 310 and a hopper 33 for detachably mounting the toner cartridge 310.
0, a hopper support housing 350 for housing and supporting the hopper 330, and opening and closing support means 380 for rotatably supporting the hopper support housing 350 on the body housing 2 in a horizontal plane.

The toner cartridge 310 may have a known structure, and includes a toner cartridge body 3 containing toner.
11 is provided. An opening (not shown) is formed on the bottom wall of the toner cartridge main body 311, and a film-like sealing member (not shown) closing the opening on the bottom surface of the bottom wall.
Are detachably mounted. This seal member is configured to be peeled off by a seal winding means (not shown) after being mounted on the hopper 330.

The hopper 330 includes a hopper body 33.
1, a toner cartridge mounting portion 332 provided on the upper portion of the hopper main body 331 for detachably mounting the toner cartridge 310, and a toner conveying means disposed on the lower portion of the hopper main body 331 and conveying the toner to the developing device 10. 333 are provided. The toner conveying means 333 is
A spiral roller 334 that projects horizontally from the lower part of the hopper body 331;
4 is provided with a guide cylinder 335 fitted to the protrusion. A toner outlet 335a is provided at the lower end of the guide tube 335.
Are formed. It should be noted that an input gear 336 that is operatively connected to a driving unit described later is mounted on a rotating shaft 334 a of the spiral roller 334 that forms the toner conveying unit 333.

The hopper support housing 350 is formed in a box shape by a bottom wall 351, a front wall 352, a rear wall 353, and a side wall 354. The front wall 352 is provided with an opening through which the protrusion of the spiral roller 334 can pass. A mounting plate 356 having an opening at the center is mounted on the upper end of the hopper support housing 350 thus configured, and the hopper 330 is mounted on the mounting plate 356. In the hopper support housing 350, the spiral roller 33 is provided.
4 is provided with a driving means 360 for driving the rotation. The driving means 360 includes an electric motor 361 and a driving gear 362 mounted on a rotating shaft of the electric motor 361.
And a first intermediate gear 363 meshing with the driving gear 362
And the second intermediate gear 3 meshing with the first intermediate gear 363 and the input gear 336 of the spiral roller 334.
64.

The opening / closing support means 380 includes a front side plate 200 and a rear side plate 20 which are disposed in the body housing 2.
2 and a fixing member 383 such as a bolt and a nut mounted on the rear side plate 202 disposed above the supporting member 382.
The opening / closing guide member 384 is provided.
The support member 382 is provided with a first linear guide hole 382a that is elongated in the front-rear direction (the left-right direction in FIGS. 6 and 16) of the body housing. The opening / closing guide member 384 has a first member provided on the support member 382.
Linear portion 384b formed parallel to the guide hole 382a
And the front end of the linear portion 384b (see FIGS. 6 and 16).
Arc portion 384c formed continuously with the left end portion in FIG.
And a second guide hole 384a having the following. The relationship between the second guide hole 384a and the first guide hole 382a will be described. The length of the linear portion 384b forming the second guide hole 384a is the same as the length of the first guide hole 382a. The circular arc portion 384c that forms the second guide hole 384a has a linear portion 384b that forms the first guide hole 382a and the second guide hole 384a around the front end of the first guide hole 382a. Are formed in a circular arc extending over an angle of about 90 degrees with the radius of the space between the two.

The first guide pin 38 attached to the support plate 385 attached to the bottom wall 351 of the hopper support housing 350 is provided in the first guide hole 382a.
6 is movably fitted, and a second guide pin 387 attached to an attachment plate 356 attached to the upper end of the hopper support housing 350 is fitted in the second guide hole 382a.
Are movably fitted. Then, the first guide pin 38
6 and the second guide pin 387 are respectively connected to the first guide hole 382a and the second guide hole 38 when the toner replenishing device 300 is positioned at the operation position shown in FIGS.
It is disposed so as to be located at the far end of the linear portion 384b that constitutes 4a. Accordingly, when the toner replenishing device 300 is pulled from the operation position toward the near side (to the left in FIGS. 6, 8 and 16), the first guide pin 386 and the second guide pin 387 move to the first guide hole 382a. Second guide hole 3
84a along the straight portion 384b constituting the toner replenishing device 300 from this state.
16 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 16 around the first guide pin 386, the second guide pin 387 moves along the arc 384c forming the second guide hole 384a, as shown in FIG. At the open position moved by an angle of about 90 degrees to the end of the circular arc portion 384c, the movement is restricted. As described above, the hopper 330 constituting the toner replenishing device 300 can rotate in the horizontal plane at the rotation position after moving the predetermined distance from the operation position to the front side of the machine housing 2. In a state where the hopper 330 is positioned at the operation position, the toner conveying unit 33
As shown in FIG. 8, the leading end of the opening 3 pushes the open / close valve 139 disposed in the toner supply chamber 138 of the toner supply section 130 of the developing device 10 and is positioned in the toner supply chamber 138.

The image forming machine constructed according to the present invention is constructed as described above, and its operation will be described below. To replace the developing device 10, after opening the front cover 2a attached to the front of the body housing 2 as shown in FIG. 2, the hopper 330 constituting the toner replenishing device 300 is moved to FIGS. When the predetermined distance (the length of the linear portion 384b forming the first guide hole 382a and the second guide hole 384a) is moved from the operation position shown in FIG.
The tip end of the developing unit 3 comes out of the toner supply unit 130 of the developing device 10. Therefore, the leading end of the toner conveying unit 333 can rotate without interfering with the developing device 10. After the toner replenishing device 300 has been pulled out to the front side of the body housing 2 by a predetermined distance and then turned around the first guide pin 386 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 15, the second guide pin 387 is moved to the second guide. The arc portion 384 moves along the arc portion 384c forming the hole 384a and moves at an angle of about 90 degrees as shown in FIG.
The movement is restricted by abutting on the end of c. In this state, the front side of the developing device 10 in the machine housing 2 is opened.

Next, the pressing lever 240 constituting the pressing operation mechanism is moved downward from the vertical position, which is the first position shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, around the support pin 231 (in FIG. As anticlockwise)
The guide pin 243 moves along the arc-shaped long hole 230a when the guide pin 243 is turned to the right.
3 comes into contact with the end of the circular arc-shaped long hole 230a to be in the horizontal state, which is the second position shown in FIG. Press lever 240
When is positioned at the second position shown in FIG. 13, the front side of the developing device 10 in the front side plate 200 disposed in the body housing 2 is opened. On the other hand, the pressing lever 2
With the operation of the second lever 40 to the second position, the operating rod 2 is moved through the guide pin 243, the connecting link 245 and the connecting pin 246.
10 is actuated in the direction indicated by arrow 213 in FIGS. When the operating lever 210 operates in the direction indicated by the arrow 213 in FIGS. 12 and 13, the operating plates 205, 205 are rotated clockwise in FIG. 10 around the support shafts 206, 206 via the operating pins 215, 215. . Thereby, the operation plates 205, 205
The operating pins 207, 207 mounted on the
11, the operation pins 207, 207 and the elongated holes 221a, 221 are rotated clockwise in FIG.
a and the movable mounting plate 22 in which the guide groove 101a is fitted.
Developing Apparatus 10 with Zero and Developing Housing 100
5 and 11 is moved rightward in FIG. 5 and the developing device 10 is retracted from the photosensitive drum 2 and is positioned at the pressing release position (removal position).

In this state, the developing device 10 is connected to the front end plate 14.
When the user grips the handle 146 provided on the front side 5 and pulls the handle 146 toward the front side, the handle 146 is guided by the pressing lever 240 positioned at the second position in the horizontal state, and can be pulled out toward the front side of the body housing 2. When the developing device 10 is pulled out from the developing housing 100 to some extent, the cover wall 10 constituting the body housing 2 of the developing device 10 is
5 and the tongue piece 106c
The developing device 10 can be easily pulled out by inserting the tip of a finger into the space 162 formed between the developing device 10 and the handle 160. As described above, unless the pressing lever 240 is positioned at the second position, which is the horizontal state shown in FIG. 13, the front side of the developing device 10 in the front side plate 200 disposed in the body housing 2 is not opened. Since the device 10 does not appear, the developing device 10 cannot be pulled out unless the pressing lever 240 is positioned at the second position and the pressing of the developing device 10 toward the photosensitive drum 2 is released.
Therefore, when the developing device 10 is pulled out, the sleeve member 1 constituting the developer applying unit 110 of the developing device 10 must be used.
Since the photoconductor 11 and the photoconductor drum 6 are separated from each other, it is possible to prevent the photoconductor drum 6 and the sleeve member 111 from rubbing each other to damage the photoconductor drum 2 and the sleeve member 111 beforehand. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, when the developing device 10 is positioned at the pressing position, the developer applying unit 110 that contacts a pair of contact members 63 and 64 mounted on a pair of photosensitive member support members is used. The pair of mounted regulation rollers 115 and 118 are the regulation rollers 1 on the front side.
Since the diameter of the roller 18 is formed to be larger than the diameter of the regulating roller 115 on the rear side, the contact position is such that the front side is closer to the photosensitive drum 6 than the rear side. Therefore, when pulling out the developing device 10 toward the front side of the body housing 2, the sleeve member 111 of the developer applying unit 110 can be used without increasing the distance from the pressing position of the developing device 10 to the pressing release position (removal position). The upper developer is the contact member 64 on the near side.
The problem of being scraped off is eliminated. Further, since the diameter of the regulating roller 115 on the rear side attached to the developer applying unit 110 is formed smaller than the diameter of the regulating roller 118 on the near side, when the developing device 10 is pulled out to the near side of the machine housing 2. In addition, the regulating roller 115 on the back side
Does not contact the photosensitive drum 6 to damage the photosensitive layer.

When the used developing device 10 attached to the machine housing 2 is pulled out, a new developing device 1
0 is mounted on the mounting portion 221 of the movable mounting plate 220 provided in the body housing 2. The developing device 10 is mounted on the receiver 22
13, the rear end of the developing device 10 is placed on the front side of the mounting portion 221 while the pressing lever 240 is maintained at the second position, which is the horizontal state shown in FIG. It is pushed inward along the guide rails 221b and 224b. At this time, the guide grooves 101a provided in the bottom wall 101 of the developing housing 100 are
7, the developing device 10 is slid to the rear side. When the developing device 10 is pushed to a predetermined position, the two positioning pins 227 and 227 attached to the second guide portion 223 constituting the movable mounting plate 220 are provided on the rear end wall of the developing device 10. (Not shown)
The developing device 10 is mounted at a predetermined position on the movable mounting plate 220.

In this manner, the new developing device 1 is placed at a predetermined position on the movable mounting plate 220 disposed in the body housing 2.
0, the pressing lever 240 forming the pressing operation mechanism is moved upward from the horizontal position shown in FIG. 13 around the support pin 231 (in the clockwise direction about the support pin 231 in FIG. 13). ), The guide pin 243 moves along the arc-shaped long hole 230a, and
When rotated by an angle of 0 degree, the guide pin 243 becomes the arc-shaped elongated hole 2
It comes into contact with the end of 30a and is in the first position, which is the vertical position shown in FIG. With the operation of the pressing lever 240 to the first position, the operating rod 210 is moved through the guide pin 243, the connecting link 245, and the connecting pin 246 as shown in FIGS.
3 is actuated in the direction indicated by arrow 214.
The operating rod 210 is indicated by an arrow 214 in FIGS.
When actuated in the directions indicated by, the operation plates 205, 205 are rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 11 around the support shafts 206, 206 via the action pins 215, 215. As a result, the operation pins 207, 207 mounted on the operation plates 205, 205 are moved around the support shafts 206, 206 in FIG.
0, the operation pin 20 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction.
7, 207, slots 221a, 221a and guide groove 10
The developing device 10 provided with the movable mounting plate 220 and the developing housing 100 into which the first mounting portion 1a is fitted has the configuration shown in FIGS.
Is moved to the right, and the developing device 10 is positioned at the pressing position where the developing device 10 presses toward the photosensitive drum 2 side. As described above, in a state where the developing device 10 is located at the pressing position, the pressing lever 240 is at the first position, which is the vertical state, so that the developing device 10 cannot be pulled out at the pressing position.

Next, when the toner replenishing device 300 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 16 around the first guide pin 386 from the above-described open position, the second guide pin 387 makes an arc forming the second guide hole 384a. The second guide hole 384 moves along the portion 384c and moves at an angle of about 90 degrees.
The rotation is restricted by abutting on the linear portion 382b that constitutes a. In this state, when the toner supply device 300 is pushed backward, the first guide pin 386 and the second guide pin 38
7 is a first guide hole 382a and a second guide hole 384a.
Are moved to the back side along the straight portion 384b, and are positioned at the operation position shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 15 in a state of contacting the back side end. When the toner replenishing device 300 is positioned at the operation position, the tip of the toner conveying means 333 is turned by an open / close valve 139 provided in the toner supply chamber 138 of the toner supply unit 130 of the developing device 10 by the force of the coil spring 140. It is positioned in the toner supply chamber 138 to be pushed away. When the toner replenishing device 300 is positioned at the operation position, unless the pressing lever 240 is positioned at the first position, which is the vertical state shown in FIG. 12, the toner replenishing device 300 interferes with the pressing lever 240 and positions at the operating position. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to position the developing device 10 at the pressing position where the developing device 10 is pressed toward the photosensitive drum 2. Thus, the toner supply device 3
00 in the operating position, the airframe housing 2
When the front cover 2a attached to the front of the printer is turned upward and closed from the open state as shown in FIG.

Next, an operation of replacing only the developer cartridge 150 will be described. When the developing device 10 is pulled out from the body housing 2 as described above, the developer cartridge 150 mounted on the cover wall 105 constituting the developing housing 10 is removed. Then, when, for example, a screwdriver is inserted into the locking opening 131b from the back side of the partition wall 131 constituting the toner supply unit 130 and the engaging projection 144a of the cover member 142 is pressed, the engaging portion 144 is elastically deformed and the locking opening 131b Is disengaged, and in this state, the cover portion 144 of the cover member 142 is moved upward while being moved upward, so that the other end of the cover portion 143 is disengaged from the locking portion 103b provided on the front end wall 103. The extraction cover member 142 is removed.

Next, a new developer cartridge 1 is placed at a predetermined position on a cover wall 105 constituting the developing housing 100.
50 is mounted by an appropriate fixing means. The other end of the seal member 152 mounted on the bottom wall bottom surface of the cartridge body 151 is connected to a seal insertion opening 131a formed at the lower end of the partition wall 131, the seal peeling guide member 141, and the toner supply unit 130. The space 13 that constitutes
4 and is positioned on the near side of the fuselage housing through a seal insertion opening 145c provided in the near side end plate 145. After that, the cover member 142 is attached.

When a new developer cartridge 150 is mounted in the developing housing 100 of the developing device 10 as described above, the developing device in which the new developer cartridge 150 is mounted is the same as the replacement of the developing device 10 described above. 1
0 in the developing housing 2, and
Is pulled off, and the sealing member 152 is peeled off. After the toner replenishing device 300 is positioned at the operation position, the front cover 2 a
2 is rotated upward from the opened state and closed as shown in FIG. The replacement work of the developer cartridge 150 has been described above.
The replacement operation of the developer cartridge 150 is performed by a serviceman instead of the user. The cover member 142 which covers the upper side of the toner supply unit through which the seal member 152 passes when the seal member 152 is peeled off is a developer cartridge mounted at a predetermined position of the cover wall 105 constituting the developing housing 100 as described above. If you do not remove 150
Since a driver or the like cannot be inserted into the locking opening 131b, the cover member 142 does not come off when the developing device 2 that performs the replacement operation with the developer cartridge 150 mounted is replaced. Therefore, since the general user cannot remove the cover member 142 which may be soiled, the cover member 1 is replaced when the developing device 2 is replaced.
The contamination caused by the detachment of 42 is prevented beforehand.

[0040]

Since the developing device according to the present invention is constructed as described above, the following operational effects are obtained.

That is, according to the present invention, a concave groove for harness insertion is formed on a side surface of one end wall supporting one end of the developer applying means to which a harness for bias voltage application is connected. Since the harness for applying the bias voltage is inserted through the concave groove, there is no need to provide a mounting component for mounting the harness on the side surface of the end wall. Therefore, since there is no part protruding from the side surface of the end wall, the widthwise dimension of the developing device can be reduced, and the size of the developing device itself can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of an image forming apparatus equipped with a developing device configured according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a developing device configured according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a relationship between the developing device of FIG. 3 and a photosensitive drum.

5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the developing device of FIG. 3 is mounted on a movable mounting plate, and shows a relationship with a photosensitive drum.

FIG. 6 is a cutaway plan view of the developing device and the developing device of the toner supply device mounted on the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing a relationship between a developing device and a photosensitive drum in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a cutaway side view of the developing device and the toner replenishing device shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway front view showing a mounted state of a handle mounted on the developing device of FIG. 3;

11 is a plan view showing a part of a developing device pressing unit mounted on the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

12 is a side view showing a pressing state of the developing device pressing means of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing a state where the pressing of the developing device pressing unit of FIG. 11 is released.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a movable mounting plate provided in the developing device pressing means of FIG. 11;

15 is a cutaway front view of the toner supply device shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a plan view illustrating a state in which a hopper constituting the toner supply device of FIG. 6 is operated to an open position.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2: body housing 2a: front cover 4: stationary transparent plate 5: document holding plate 6: photosensitive drum 8: charging corona discharger 10: developing device 12: transfer corona discharger 14: peeling corona discharger 16: Cleaning unit 18: Static elimination lamp 20: Irradiation lamp 22: First mirror 24: Second mirror 26: Third mirror 28: Lens 30: Fourth mirror 32: Transfer paper supply device 34a, 34b: Transfer paper cassette 36a, 36b: Transfer paper sending roller 38a, 38b: Separating roller pair 40: Guide path 42, 44: Transport roller pair 46: Registration roller pair 48: Transfer paper transport belt mechanism 50: Fixing device 52: Fixing roller pair 54: Discharge Roller pair 63: contact member 64: contact member 100: developing housing 101: bottom wall 101a: guide groove 105: cover wall 105a: Developer drop opening 105b: Toner drop opening 110: Developer applying means 111: Sleeve member 115: (Regulating member) Regulator roller (Regulator) 118: (Regulator) Regulator roller (Regulator) 120: Developer stirring Conveying means 121: first spiral roller 122: second spiral roller 123: paddle roller 125: harness for bias voltage application 127: connector 130: toner supply section 138: toner supply chamber 139: open / close valve 140: coil spring 141: Seal peeling guide member 142: cover member 145: front end plate 146: handle 150: developer cartridge 151: cartridge body 152: seal member 160: handle 200: front side plate 201: rear side plate 203: fixing plate 205: operation Plate 206: spindle 207: operating pin 2 8: tension coil spring 210: operating rod 220: movable mounting plate 240: pressing lever 245: connecting link 300: toner supply device 310: toner cartridge 330: hopper 331: hopper main body 332: toner cartridge mounting portion 333: toner conveying means 334: spiral roller 335: guide cylinder 350: hopper support housing 360: drive means 361: electric motor 380: open / close support means 382: support member 382a: first guide hole 384: open / close guide member 384a: second guide hole 1032 : Recessed groove for harness insertion

Claims (4)

[Claims] A developing housing having a bottom wall, a rear wall formed upright from a rear end of the bottom wall, and a pair of end walls formed upright from front and rear ends of the bottom wall; A developer application unit that is supported by the pair of end walls forming the development housing and conveys the developer contained in the development housing toward the photosensitive drum; and a developer application unit that is connected to one end of the developer application unit. A harness for applying a bias voltage, wherein a concave groove for harness insertion is formed on a side surface of one of the end walls supporting one end of the developer applying means to which the harness is connected. And a harness for applying the bias voltage is inserted through the concave groove. 2. An end wall on a side supporting one end of the developer application unit is connected to a first end wall supporting the developer application unit by a connection wall with the first end wall. A second end wall, wherein the first end wall is located inside the second end wall, and the concave groove is formed in the second end wall. Item 2. The developing device according to Item 1. 3. The developer applying means includes a fixed shaft, a permanent magnet member attached to the fixed shaft, a sleeve member fitted to the permanent magnet member and rotatably supported by the fixed shaft. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the harness is connected to an end of the fixed shaft. 4. The harness is connected to a connector arranged along the rear wall from an end of the concave groove on the rear wall side constituting the developing housing and arranged close to the other end wall. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein: