JPH1073987A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the breakage of a device even in a wrong operation by providing a passage opening and closing means for controlling the opening and closing the passage of toner, and also providing a pressing part to a lever for operating the passage opening and closing means according to the closing operation of a lid. SOLUTION: An opening and closing means is formed of a collet chuck 7, a cylindrical case, a shaft member, a spring, and a slide shaft to control the opening and closing the passage of toner. A lever 84 is a member for operating the passage opening and closing means, and a control surface 122a presses the lever 84 according to the closing operation of a lid 122, to rotate the lever 84, which then operates the passage opening and closing means to pull out the plug of a toner bottle 38 into opened state. Thus, the control surface 122a corresponds to a pressing part. Since the passage opening and closing means can be operated in interlocking with the operation of the lid 122, the sureness of the passage opening and closing operation and the easiness of the operation can be improved. Further, the load for maintaining the operating procedure is reduced, and the breakage of the device can be prevented even in a wrong operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a so-called electrostatic image forming apparatus,
The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor is visualized by toner supplied from a developing device, is transferred to a recording sheet, becomes a recorded material through a fixing process, and is discharged outside the apparatus.
Since the toner is consumed together with such development, the consumed amount is replenished by the toner replenishing device. The toner supply device is configured as a part of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus including a toner supply device,
The following are the unknown prior arts.

That is, this image forming apparatus has a main body, and a lid whose one end side opens and closes like a crocodile. A toner supply device for detachably holding a toner bottle is mounted on the main body side. The toner replenishing device includes an opening / closing unit for switching a plug of a toner bottle held at a predetermined position suitable for toner supply between an open state and a closed state, and an opening / closing dynamic position. The position is displaced between them and acts on the opening / closing means in accordance with the position displacement, and holds the plug in the open state at the open dynamic position and the closed state at the closed dynamic position. A lever is provided, and the lever is operated in a state where the lid is opened to perform an operation of attaching and detaching the toner bottle. The toner replenishing device is integrally formed with the developing device and is removably attached to the main body. And a toner replenishing member to be provided.

[0004]

In the conventional image forming apparatus, the user raises the lever with the lid open, performs the operation of attaching and detaching the toner bottle, and then lowers the lever to release the lid. Despite the original operation of closing the lid, if the lever is left in a position that is not suitable for overturning the lid and the lid is closed as it is, the lever and its interlock From destroying the mechanism,
Operators were always required to adhere to the correct operating procedures.

On the other hand, when the image forming apparatus is in operation, the toner in the toner bottle is supplied to the toner replenishing member provided in the toner replenishing device when the stopper of the toner bottle is opened. Is discharged toward the developing device via a toner supply port formed as an opening opened to the outside. The toner replenishing device is configured to be detachable from the main body together with the developing device integrally formed with the toner replenishing device. When a member is deteriorated by use, the toner replenishing device is detached from the main body and replaced with a new one. Alternatively, at the time of maintenance, it is removed from the main body and mounted again.

[0006] Such an attaching / detaching operation is performed in a state in which a lid that opens and closes with one end of the main body as a fulcrum is opened.
If the toner replenishing device is inclined with respect to the horizontal in the process of attachment and detachment, if the toner replenishment port is always open, toner remaining near the toner replenishment port may spill out of the toner replenishment port into the developing device. Conversely, the toner in the developing device may spill into the toner supply device via the toner supply port.

If the toner in the toner replenishing device spills into the developing device, the ratio of the toner to the carrier in the developing device in the image forming device using the two-component developer becomes larger than the standard. When the developer in the developing device spills into the toner replenishing device, the ratio of the toner to the carrier in the developing device changes with respect to the reference value.

In either case, the result is that the toner ratio in the developing device fluctuates. If the amount of toner is larger than the reference, the toner becomes excessive and causes background contamination on the image. If the number is smaller than the above, the image density becomes uneven. Such a tendency can be similarly applied to a one-component developer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the burden of observing an operating procedure for an operator and avoiding damage to the apparatus even in the case of an erroneous operation. Another object is to prevent unexpected transfer of developer between the developing device and the toner replenishing device, which may affect the image quality, when the image forming apparatus is not operating. is there.

[0010]

The present invention has the following configuration to achieve the above object. (1) A main body, and a lid provided at one end of the main body to open and close like a crocodile, and a toner supply device having a function of storing and supplying toner supplied to the developing device is provided on the main body side. In the image forming apparatus, the toner replenishing device is provided with a passage opening / closing means for controlling opening / closing of a toner passage, and the lid has a pressing portion for a lever for operating the passage opening / closing means in response to the closing operation of the lid. (Claim 1).

(2) A main body, and a lid that opens and closes one end of the main body like a crocodile. A toner supply device that detachably holds a toner bottle is mounted on the main body side. Opening / closing means for switching the stopper of the toner bottle held at a predetermined position suitable for toner supply between an open state and a closed state; Acting on the opening / closing means in response to the displacement, a lever is provided to hold the plug in the open state at the open dynamic position and to close the plug at the closed dynamic position, and the lid is opened. An image forming apparatus in which the lever is operated in a state where the toner bottle is attached and detached in a state where the lever is raised at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane. Holding the lever, the lever A cam means for holding the open dynamic position in the tilted state is provided between the lever and the opening / closing means, and the lid has a control surface which abuts on the tip of the lever in accordance with the closing operation of the lid. (Claim 2).

(3) In the image forming apparatus described in (2), a stopper for restricting rotation of the lever beyond an arbitrary position forming an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane under the closed swinging dynamic position. (Claim 3).

(4) In the image forming apparatus described in (2), even when the lever moves at an obtuse angle with respect to a horizontal plane under the closing motion position, the lever automatically moves to an acute angle. An elastic means for restoring is provided (claim 4).

(5) In the image forming apparatus described in (2), a portion of the tip of the lever, which is in contact with the abutting surface of the lid, has a curved shape.

(6) A main body, and a lid that opens and closes like a crocodile at one end of the main body around a fulcrum.
A toner supply device for detachably holding the toner bottle is integrally formed with the developing device, and is detachably attached to the main body. Further, the toner supply device has a toner supply port at one longitudinal end of the toner bottle. And an opening / closing means for opening and closing the toner supply port, wherein the toner supply port is provided with a toner supply member for discharging toner from the toner supply port.

(7) In the image forming apparatus described in (6), the opening / closing means has a shutter member that rotates about a fulcrum in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the lid to open and close the toner supply port. (Claim 7).

(8) In the image forming apparatus described in (7), the shutter member is supported rotatably around the fulcrum, and is integrally formed with a lever operated by the lid, and the shutter member is provided with a shutter. The member is urged by urging means for urging in a direction to close the toner supply port,
When the lid is closed, the lid pivots the lever against the urging force of the urging means to open the toner supply port by the shutter member. When the fulcrum of the shutter member is b and the position where the lid first comes into contact with the lever when the lid is closed is c, when Δabc connecting these positions a, b, and c is assumed, ∠acb < Each positional relationship is determined to be 90 degrees (claim 8).

(9) In the image forming apparatus described in (7) or (8), the fulcrum position of the shutter member is provided in the vicinity of the formation surface of the toner supply port.

(10) In the image forming apparatus described in (7), (8) or (9), an elastic member is provided on a surface of the shutter member on a side covering the toner supply port.
0).

(11) In the image forming apparatus described in (10), the shutter member is housed in the cover together with the fulcrum of the shutter member, and the elastic member is also provided on the back surface of the surface on the side covering the toner supply port. An elastic member is provided, and when the shutter member opens the toner supply port, an elastic member provided on the back surface contacts a part of the cover (claim 11).

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(1) Description of Entire Image Forming Apparatus In FIG. 1, reference numeral 121 indicates a main body, and reference numeral 122 indicates a lid. The main body 121 incorporates a process unit including a toner supply device, and the lid 122 incorporates an optical scanning device for reading an original, an exposure optical system, and the like.
The image forming apparatus 2 includes the cover 21 and the lid 122.
The process unit constitutes an independent unit as shown by reference numeral 4 in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6, and is mounted in the frame of the main body 121. In FIG.
A support member is provided on one end side of one and one end side of the lid 122, respectively. The shaft penetrates these support members, and one end side of the lid 122 can be opened and closed in a crocodile shape with respect to the main body 121 around the axis MM (fulcrum).
Reference numerals 125a and 125b denote telescopic columns, and FIG.
The lid 122 can be held in a state where the lid 122 is open as shown in FIG.
Can be closed.

Here, the process unit 4 mounted in the main body 121 will be described. 2, 3, and 6 show the process unit 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the process unit 4 includes a toner supply device 6 and a developing device 1.
0, a photoconductor 8 and its peripheral members. Photoconductor 8
Are provided around the charging device 12, a transfer device 14, a cleaning blade 16, a developing sleeve 22 forming a part of a developing device, and the like. The transfer unit 14 is provided separately from the process unit 4 on the main body 121 side.

The toner replenishing device 6 is provided with a toner hopper 40 for receiving an opening at one longitudinal end of a toner bottle 38 as a toner storage container, a bottle receiving table 42 for storing the toner bottle 38, and a toner hopper mounted on the toner hopper 40. A bottle holding member 44 that rotates integrally with the bottle 38,
An opening / closing means for switching the stopper 68 of the toner bottle between an open state and a closed state, and a lever 84 acting on the opening / closing means to hold the stopper 68 in an open state and a closed state are provided. The opening / closing means includes a collet chuck 70, a cylindrical case 72, a shaft member 76, a spring 82, a slide shaft 86, and the like, as described later.

2 and 3, the developing device 10 has a developing sleeve 22, stirring screws 18, 20 and a conveying screw 21. Stirring screw 18, 20
Is provided with a large number of 1/2 elliptical plates obliquely, and has a function of transporting the developer in the axial direction by the rotation thereof. The transport screw 21 is a screw conveyor, which is not shown in FIG. 3 but is disposed on the extension of the shaft 21 a and along the side of the photoconductor 8, and the toner is scraped off by the cleaning blade 16. In the direction of the shaft 21a. The shaft portion 21a shown in FIG.
Pulleys are respectively provided on the 0 shaft portions 20a, and a toner recycling belt indicated by reference numeral 26 in FIG. 2 is hung between these pulleys. Around the toner recycling belt 26, as shown by reference numeral 25 in FIG. Cover is covering. Therefore, the toner sent in the axial direction by the conveying screw 21 in the space covered by the cover is sent to the stirring screw 20 side via the cylindrical portion 20 b by the toner recycling belt 26. On the other hand, in FIG. 2, new toner is supplied from the toner bottle 38 to the oblique upper right portion of the stirring screw 20 via the toner hopper 40.
That is, the toner that has flowed out of the opening 38g of the toner bottle 38 into the toner hopper 40 (arrow A) is pushed up by the pushing member 46 of the bottle holding member 44 (arrow B),
Opening 48, slit hole 50a of toner amount regulating member 50
(Arrow C) and is supplied diagonally above the stirring screw 20. Next, the flow of the new toner supplied to the stirring screw 20 will be described. In FIG. And the partition plate 12
4 from the end opening 124a to the stirring screw 18 side. The rotation of the stirring screw 18 causes the arrow N
Is supplied to the developing sleeve 22 while being sent in the direction of. The remaining toner is further sent in the direction of arrow N, and the stirring screw 20 is passed through the end opening 124b of the partition plate 124.
To the new toner and toner recycling belt 26
Merges with the toner from. While repeating the above cycle,
Development is performed.

The image forming operation is performed as follows. In FIG. 2, the photosensitive member 8 is neutralized by neutralizing light, and the surface potential is averaged to a reference potential of 0 to -150V. Next, it is charged by the charger 12, and the surface potential becomes about -900V. Next, exposure is performed with light from an exposure optical system provided on the lid 122 to form an electrostatic latent image. This electrostatic latent image is visualized by toner supplied from the developing sleeve 22. The photoreceptor 8 on which the toner image has been formed is rotated, and the toner image is transferred to a transfer sheet (not shown) by a transfer unit 14.
Is transcribed. The transfer paper after the transfer is fixed in a fixing unit and discharged. On the other hand, the photoreceptor 8 after the transfer is further rotated, and the remaining toner is removed by the cleaning blade 16 to be used for the next image formation. As described above, the toner removed by the cleaning blade 16 is sent to the stirring screw 20 by the toner recycling belt 26, and the toner is recycled.

Here, the developing sleeve 22 has a fixed shaft in which five pole magnets are arranged, and its outer peripheral surface is covered with a non-magnetic pipe material. Moves on the developing sleeve 22. The developer is composed of a small iron ball called a carrier and toner.
Ingredient type. The developer is supplied with stirring screws 18 and 20.
The toner circulates while being stirred, whereby the toner has a charge, adheres to the carrier, is carried to the surface of the photoconductor 8, and can be attached 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, toner is supplied from the toner bottle 38 according to the output of the toner density sensor 28. 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 is arranged to regulate the flow amount of the developer.

The toner supply device 6 will be described. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the toner replenishing device 6 includes a toner hopper 4
0, and a bottle receiving table 42 (see FIG. 3) for accommodating the toner bottle 38 and the toner hopper section 4.
0, and a bottle holding member 44 that rotates integrally with the toner bottle 38 is provided.
4 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 making the toner replenishing amount appropriate is provided on the outer surface of the opening 48, and the slit hole 50a is provided. The toner is discharged.

FIG. 6 shows the toner bottle 3
8 shows a state of being mounted. A gear 38i is integrally provided at a rear portion of the toner bottle 38. When the gear 38i is attached to the toner replenishing device 6, the gear 38i is a driving gear 42a provided at a rear portion of the bottle receiving table 42 (see FIG. (See FIGS. 5 and 17). The drive gear 42a receives power from a power system (not shown),
The toner bottle 38 is driven to rotate. A spiral projection is formed on the inner wall surface of the toner bottle 38, and the toner is discharged from the mouth 38 g with the stopper 68 opened by rotating the toner bottle 38.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a plurality of ribs 44a are integrally formed on the tip end 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. ing. The pushing member 46 is made of an elastic material such as mylar or rubber. Bottle holding member 4
A rib 44c is formed on the inner wall surface of 4, and the rib 44c is hooked on a convex piece 38e provided on the mouth side of the toner bottle 38, so that the two rotate integrally.

In FIGS. 5, 7 to 10, reference numeral 70 denotes a collet chuck for picking and releasing the stopper 68. The collet chuck 70 is built in the cylindrical case 72.
It is integrated with. Reference numeral 78 indicates a sealing material, reference numeral 80 indicates a sealing member, and reference numeral 82 indicates an extensible spring that presses the cylindrical case 72 against the bottle holding member 44.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lever 84 has two shaft portions 84a at its base end, and these shaft portions 84a
And a cam member 84b integrally therewith. 7 and 8, the shaft portion 84a is fitted and supported by a concave shaft support portion 42a formed on the side wall portion of the toner hopper portion 40, and is swingable. In this manner, with the lever 84 attached to the toner hopper section 40, the collet chuck 70 is manually pushed in the direction of arrow F against the elasticity of the spring 82, and the hole 76a of the shaft member 76 is inserted into the cam section 84b. Arrow F than
The slide shaft 86 is inserted into the hole 76a in a state where the slide shaft 86 is extended to the side, and the state where the slide shaft 86 is pushed by hand is released. Then
The movement of the cylindrical case 72 due to the elasticity of the spring 82 is prevented by the cylindrical case 72 abutting on the bottle holding member 44, and only a moment by its own weight acts on the lever 84, as shown in FIG. Then, the slide shaft 86 is kept in a state of being engaged with the concave first click portion 84b-2.

In FIG. 8, the cam member 84b includes a stopper portion 84b-1, a first click portion 84b-2, and a slope portion 84b.
b-3, a slope portion 84b-4, a convex portion 84b-5, a second click portion 84b-6, and the like. Here, the opening / closing means for opening / closing the plug 68 includes a collet chuck 70, a cylindrical case 72, a shaft member 76, a spring 82,
The main member is the slide shaft 86 and the like.

As shown in FIG. 6, the toner bottle 38 has its mouth side inserted into the hopper 40 and its shoulder
c and the bottom of the toner bottle 38 is pressed by a spring 42g (see FIG. 3), and the gear 38i and the gear 4
When the lever 84 is rotated counterclockwise in the state shown in FIG. 8 which is properly mounted on the bottle receiving tray 42 in a state where the lever 84 is engaged with the bottle receiving base 42 and is still in the closed state, The slide shaft 86 moves in the direction of F along the slopes 84b-3 and 84b-4, and the collet chuck 70 is narrowed and closed by the projection 72a. In this process, the collet chuck 70 grasps the stopper 68 and pulls it out.

Further, the slide shaft 86 is provided with the convex portion 84b-5.
When the vehicle is over the second click portion 84b-6, the stopper 68 is opened as shown in FIG. 10, and even if the rotation of the lever 84 is stopped, the elasticity of the spring 82 causes the second click portion 84b-6 to stop. The position of the slide shaft 86 is maintained. This state corresponds to an open dynamic position in which the lever 84 is tilted as shown in FIG. In this open state, the toner in the toner bottle 38 can be discharged into the toner hopper section 40. When the toner bottle 38 rotates, the toner is passed through the slit hole 52a by the action of the pushing member 46 in accordance with the rotation. It is supplied to the developing device 10. Such toner replenishment is performed by detecting the toner density in the developing device 10 by the toner density sensor 28. That is, when the detected value of the toner density sensor 28 becomes equal to or less than the reference density, the drive system (not shown) is activated and the gear 42
By rotating a, the toner bottle 38 is rotated to supply toner.

When the lever 84 is returned so as to follow the reverse operation, the slide shaft 86 moves in the direction opposite to F,
In response to this movement, the cam portion 86b returns to the position shown in FIG. 9 where the slide shaft 86 is located at the first click portion 84b-2 as shown in FIG. 8, and holds the stopper 68 at the position where it has been returned to the closed state. . As described above, the lever 84 acts on the opening / closing means in the open pivot position and the closed pivot position.
As shown in FIG. 9, the stopper 68 is kept in the open state, and in the closed swinging motion position, the stopper 68 is kept in the closed state as shown in FIG.

The procedure for replacing the toner bottle will be described. 1. As shown in FIG. 11, the plug 38h on the outside of the new toner bottle 38 filled with toner is removed to prepare for mounting. Even when the stopper 36h is removed, the stopper 68 is still provided on the toner bottle 38. 2. As shown in FIG. 12, the locking lever 2a that locks the lid 2 in the closed state is released, and the lid 2 is opened. This open state is held by the columns 125a and 125b as shown in FIG. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the lever 84 is in the tilted open position, and the second click portion 84b-6
And the slide shaft 86 is kept engaged.

3. The lever 84 is raised as shown in FIG. In the course of this raising operation, the opening / closing means is switched to the closed state, and the slide shaft 86 is held in a state in which the slide shaft 86 is engaged with the first click portion 84b-2. At this time,
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the lever 84 is raised and is in a closed dynamic position for closing the opening / closing means. 4. As shown in FIG. 14, the toner bottle 38 to be replaced, such as being empty, is removed from the toner supply device 6. 5. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 15, the new toner bottle 38 prepared in FIG. 11 is mounted on the toner supply device. In the mounted state, the toner bottle 38
2, the front part is in abutment engagement with the rib 44c as shown in FIG. 9, and the bottom part is the spring 42g shown in FIG.
The relationship is pressed by 6. As shown in FIG. 16, the lever 84 is moved down to the open dynamic position. Thereafter, the stoppers of the columns 125a and 125b are released, and the lid 2 is closed. As a result, toner supply from a new toner bottle 38 becomes possible.

(2) Examples of the Invention According to Claims 1, 2 and 5 In FIGS. 1, 5 and 8, the lid 2 is in an open state.
When the replacement of the toner bottle has been completed, the lever 84 is in the closed dynamic state of the raised state. This lever 8
The position 4 is held by the slide shaft 86 being stably held at the position shown in the figure, and the slide shaft 86 engaging with the concave first click portion 84b-2. In other words, when the lever 84 is in the closed dynamic position, the movement of the cylindrical case 72 due to the elasticity of the spring 82 is prevented by the contact of the cylindrical case 72 with the bottle holding member 44, so that the position of the slide shaft 86 is stable. doing. The lever 84 attempts to rotate by its own weight moment about the shaft portion 84a as a fulcrum, but the first click portion 84b-2 is
And holds the lever 84 in the predetermined closed rocking dynamic position. In this example, the inclination angle θ of the lever 84 when the closed rocking dynamic position is held is set to be an acute angle with respect to the horizontal plane. More specifically, the angle is set so as to form an acute inclination angle θ with respect to the horizontal plane (horizontal line OO) in the swing plane of the lever 84 (the paper plane of FIG. 5).

By setting as described above, FIG.
In the state shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, even if the lid 122 is closed as it is without forgetting to tilt the lever 84 to the open dynamic position in advance, the surface of the lid 122 is made to act on the lever 84 in accordance with the closing operation of the lid 122. The lever 84 can be automatically displaced to the open dynamic position about the shaft portion 84a (the axis P).
In order to smoothly perform such a deflection operation of the lever 84, the lid 1
22 and the lever 8 according to the operation of the lid 122.
4 is a flat smooth control surface 12 at the portion where it abuts against the tip of
2a is preferably formed. In this manner, the lever 84 slides on the control surface 122a and smoothly moves to the open dynamic position. Immediately before the opening motion position, the slide shaft 86 is
4b-5, the lid 122 is engaged with the second click portion 84b-6 when the lid 122 is completely closed, and the open dynamic position is maintained.

As described above, the collet chuck 70,
Cylindrical case 72, shaft member 76, spring 82, slide shaft 8
6 and the like constitute opening / closing means for controlling the opening / closing state of the stopper 68 of the toner bottle attached to the toner replenishing device 6 so that the mouth of the toner bottle is connected to the toner passage. Considering this, it is a means for controlling the opening and closing of the toner passage, and thus corresponds to the passage opening and closing means in the first aspect. Here, the lever 84 is a member for operating the passage opening / closing means, and in response to the closing operation of the lid 122, the control surface 122a pushes the lever 84 to rotate the lever 84 to operate the passage opening / closing means. The plug 68 of the toner bottle 38 is pulled out to open. Therefore, the control surface 122a
Corresponds to the pressing portion according to claim 1. Further, the lid 122
As a means for smoothly performing the displacement operation of the lever 84 interlocked with the collision with the lever 84, the tip of the lever 84 is shaped as shown in FIGS.
A curved surface shape is preferable as indicated by reference numeral 84c in FIG. 5 (claim 5).

(3) Example of Claim 3 As described above, the lever 84 needs to maintain an acute angle of inclination θ with respect to the horizontal plane. If the obtuse angle occurs, the closing operation of the lid 122 causes the lever 84 to rotate in the opposite direction and damage the machine, but cannot be displaced to the open dynamic position. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
In order to form a steep slope on the side opposite to the slope portion 84b-3 of b-1, a convex portion 84a-5 is formed and used as a stopper to prevent an acute angle. In addition, a stopper member is formed as a part of the lever 84 separately at a portion opposed to the convex portion, and the movement of the slide shaft 86 which moves in the direction of F by riding on the convex portion 84b-1 is limited. It may be.

(4) When the lever 84 is rotated to the extent that the slide shaft 86 rides on the convex portion 84b-1, the slide shaft 86 is moved in the F direction more than the position shown in FIG. The spring 82
The restoring force acts. Therefore, the spring 82 constitutes the elastic means of the present invention. In addition, in order to restore the slide shaft 86 to a position where the slide shaft 86 is engaged with the first click portion 84b-1, an elastic member, for example, a leaf spring 84c is provided so that the distal end thereof faces the first click portion 84b-1. Lever 84
To the elastic means of the present invention.
In this case, the leaf spring 84c functions to push back the slide shaft 86 pushed and moved by the convex portion 84b-5 when the lever 86 is turned so as to be excessively raised. Thus, the lever 84 is restored so that the inclination angle θ becomes a predetermined acute angle. As the elastic means, any of the above-described spring 82 and leaf spring 84c may be used, or information may be notified. Leaf spring 8
Instead of 4c, an appropriate elastic means such as an elastic material such as rubber can be used.

(5) Example of the Invention According to Claims 1, 6, 7 and 9 This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 shows a passage opening / closing means not shown in FIG. In this example, FIG.
The slit hole 50a of the toner amount regulating member 50 corresponds to the toner passage described in claim 1 and the toner supply port described in claim 2. The shutter member 152c is provided so as to cover the slit hole 50a. The surface of the shutter member 152c facing the slit hole 50a is covered with an elastic member 156 made of rubber (or sponge) for improving the adhesion to the slit hole 50a (claim 10).

When the elastic member 156 closes the slit hole 50a, the slit hole 50a is closed, and when the elastic member 156 is separated from the slit hole 50a, the slit hole 50a is open. Since the shutter member 152c and the elastic member 156 control opening and closing of the slit hole 50a, they constitute an example of the passage opening / closing means. The shutter member 152c has its shaft 152b supported by an immovable member. As shown in FIG. 17, the position of this pivot is the surface on which the slit hole 50a is formed, that is, the toner hopper portion 4 on the surface on which the toner amount regulating member 50 is provided.
0 is located near the curved surface level.

The shutter member 152c is urged by urging means 158 (see FIG. 20) to be described later so that the shutter member 152 rotates around the shaft 152b in a direction toward the slit hole 50a. The rotation of the shutter member 152 due to the urging force is performed by the shutter member 152c,
Strictly, the elastic member 156 is prevented from coming into contact with the toner amount regulating member 50. In this state, the slit hole 50a is in a closed state. At this time, since the lever 152a is located above the groove 50p beside the toner hopper portion 40 in FIG. 3, there is sufficient space for turning the lever 152a clockwise in FIG.

As described above, the lever 152a when the shutter member 152c closes the slit hole 50a
Is pressed by a pressing portion 150 (see FIG. 1) provided inside the lid 122 when the lid 122 is closed, and
The shutter member 152c (elastic member 156) is separated from the slit hole 50a by rotating about the center 52b to open the slit hole 50a. 1 and 17, the process unit 4 is configured to be detachable from the main body 121. To remove the process unit 4 from the main body 121, the lid 122 must be opened. When the lid 122 is opened to such an extent that the process unit 4 can be removed from the main body 121, the pressing portion 150
It is sufficiently separated from 2a. Therefore, the shutter member 1
52c is the slit hole 50 by the action of the urging means 158.
a is closed.

When the lid 122 is in the open state as described above, since there is no member that interferes with the lever 152a,
Since the slit hole 50a is kept closed,
When removing and attaching the process unit 4 from the main body 121, toner is not transferred to the developing device via the slit hole 50a. When the lid 122 is closed, the pressing portion 150 is pressed by the lever 1 during the closing process.
52a, the shutter member 152c opens the slit hole 50a, and while the lid 122 is kept closed, the slit hole 50a is in the open state, so that the toner in the toner supply device is supplied to the developing device. can do.

The shaft portion 152b is located near the curved surface level of the toner hopper portion 40, whereby the pressing force of the shutter member 152c against the slit hole 50a is effectively used, and the shape of the shutter member is substantially linear. Can be simplified. Since the elastic member 156 is provided on the shutter member 152c, the shock at the time of contact is softened, and the sealing property is improved.

(6) Example of the invention according to claim 8 In the above example, the fulcrum position of the lid 122 (the axis MM in FIG. 1) is denoted by the symbol a, and the fulcrum position of the shutter member 152c (the shaft portion 152b) is denoted by the symbol b. When the lid 122 is closed, the contact position between the lever 152a and the pressing portion 150 at the time of closing the cover 122 takes various positions depending on the respective configurations of the shutter member 152c and the lever 152a with respect to the shaft portion 152b. Here, as shown in FIG. 18, three positions c, c ′, and c ″ are assumed as representative positions and schematically shown. By connecting these points, Δabc, Δabc
abc ', Δabc ". Here, b to c, b to
Each of the distances c ′ and b to c ″ is the lever 152 from the fulcrum.
a, and these distances are equal. a and b are fixed points.

First, in the case of c "such that ∠ac" b = θ "> 90 degrees, the direction of rotation when closing the lid 122 and the direction in which the lever 152a is rotated by the pressing portion 150 are as follows. In other words, the tip of the lever 152a is rotated while biting into sliding contact with the pressing portion 150, and there is a problem in that the opening operation of the shutter member 152 (the closing operation of the lid) is performed smoothly. There is.

Next, in the case of c 'such that ∠ac'b = θ' = 90 degrees, all the forces acting on the lever 152a when closing the lid 122 go to the fulcrum position b. Can not be closed. Finally, ∠a
In the case of c such that cb = θ <90 degrees, the lid 12
The direction of rotation when closing 2 is the same as the direction in which lever 152a is rotated by pressing portion 150. That is, the tip of the lever 152a is rotated while slidingly contacting the pressing portion 150 in the forward direction, so that the opening operation of the shutter member 152 (closing operation of the lid) can be performed smoothly. This example corresponds to the eighth aspect.

(7) Example of the Invention According to Claim 10 This example relates to the position of the shutter member 152c in the closed state with the lid 122. As shown in FIG. 17, the shutter member 152c and the lever 152a
Covered by The cover 154 is attached to the toner hopper 40 as described later. In this example, an elastic member 156 is provided not only on the contact surface of the shutter member 152c with the toner amount regulating member 50 but also on the back surface thereof as shown in FIG. When the shutter member 152c is completely closed with the lid 122, the shutter member 152c rotates so as to retract from the slit hole 50a and stops. At this stop position, the elastic member 156 provided on the rear surface side
The shape and arrangement of the corner members are set so as to come into contact with. By doing so, the cover 154 is double-sealed under the state where the slit hole 50a is opened and the toner is supplied, so that the toner does not easily leak to the outside.

(8) Specific configuration example of the shutter member This will be described with reference to FIG. The cover 154 has a substantially rectangular box shape. Shaft holes 152B that support the shaft portions 152b of the shutter members 152c are formed in the opposing walls of the cover 154, respectively. The cover 154 is a molded product made of a synthetic resin material, and the shaft hole 152B communicates with the outside world by a C-shaped groove e smaller than the diameter of the shaft hole 152B. The shaft 152 is pushed into the shaft hole 152B through the groove e,
Mounting. The groove e is elastically deformed to allow the shaft 152 to pass therethrough and rotatably supports the shaft 152. Prior to the mounting of the shaft 152, an elastic member 156 is fixed to the leading end of the shutter member 152c in a U-shape with an adhesive. Thereby, the elastic members 156 are provided on both surfaces of the shutter member 152c as shown in FIG.
The sealing performance at the slit hole 50a and the corner K is ensured. Further, a biasing means 158 is provided on the shaft 152b.
Wind the coil spring.

When the shaft 152b is mounted in the shaft hole 152B, one end of the coil spring as the urging means 158 is brought into contact with the cover, and the other end is hooked on the shutter member 152c. The elastic member brings the shutter member 152c into a state where the shutter member 152c can be urged in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. Thus, the shutter member 152
The cover incorporating the components c and the like is attached to the toner hopper unit 40 so as to cover the toner amount regulating member 50 and the slit hole 50a shown in FIG. Since the mounting portion of the cover 154 to the toner hopper portion 40 has a partially curved surface shape as shown in FIG. 19, the corresponding surface portion of the cover 154 is also formed in a curved surface shape in accordance with this.

[0055]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the passage opening / closing means can be operated in conjunction with the operation of the lid, the reliability of the passage opening / closing operation and the ease of operation can be improved. . According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the burden of observing the operation procedure for the operator and avoiding damage to the apparatus even when an erroneous operation is performed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the operation of erroneously setting the lever beyond an arbitrary position forming an acute angle with respect to the horizontal plane is prevented. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, even if the lever is erroneously rotated so as to form an obtuse angle with respect to the horizontal plane, it can be restored to the predetermined acute-angled rotation position. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the displacement operation of the lever can be smoothly performed according to the closing operation of the lid. According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to avoid the transfer of the developer in the developing device portion when replacing the toner replenishing device or the like, thereby preventing the image quality from deteriorating. According to the invention described in claim 7, the shutter member can be reliably operated in conjunction with the operation of the lid.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the sliding movement of the lever interlocking with the operation of the lid can be smoothly performed. According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the shutter member can be effectively pressed, and the shutter member can be linearly simplified. According to the tenth aspect, the sealing property can be improved by the elastic member provided on the shutter member.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a lid of an image forming apparatus is opened.

FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a process unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a process unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lever.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of the toner supply device of the image forming apparatus together with a toner bottle.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a process unit of the image forming apparatus.

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

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a main part of the opening / closing means.

FIG. 9 is an end view of an essential part for explaining a state in which the opening / closing means opens the stopper of the toner bottle.

FIG. 10 is an end view of a main part when the opening / closing means is in a state where the stopper of the toner bottle is closed.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for replacing a toner bottle.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for replacing a toner bottle.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for replacing a toner bottle.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for replacing a toner bottle.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for replacing a toner bottle.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for replacing a toner bottle.

FIG. 17 is a front view illustrating a process unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 18 is a diagram schematically showing a mutual relationship such as a fulcrum position.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the toner supply device before the cover is attached.

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of a shutter member and an accessory member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 84 lever 84b cam part (as cam means) 121 body 122 lid 122a control surface 112 locking member 150 pressing part 152a lever 152c shutter member 158 urging means 156 elastic member

Claims (11)

[Claims] A toner supply device having a function of storing and replenishing toner supplied to a developing device, the lid having a lid that opens and closes like a crocodile at one end of the main body; In the image forming apparatus, the toner replenishing device is provided with passage opening / closing means for controlling opening / closing of a toner passage, and the lid is pressed against a lever for operating the passage opening / closing means in response to a closing operation of the lid. An image forming apparatus, comprising a unit. 2. A toner supply device for detachably holding a toner bottle is mounted on the main body side, the lid having a crocodile opening / closing one end side of the main body. Is an opening / closing means for switching the stopper of the toner bottle held at a predetermined position suitable for supplying the toner between an open state and a closed state, and displaced between an open dynamic position and a closed dynamic position. Acting on the opening / closing means in response to the lever, the lever is provided to hold the plug in the open motion position and the plug is closed in the closed motion position, and the lid is opened. An image forming apparatus in which the lever is operated in a state to perform attachment / detachment of a toner bottle, wherein the closing dynamic position is set in a state where the lever is raised at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane. Hold down the lever A cam means for holding the open dynamic position between the lever and the opening / closing means in the retracted state, and the lid provided with a control surface which abuts against the tip of the lever in accordance with the closing operation of the lid. An image forming apparatus characterized in that: 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a stopper for restricting the lever from rotating beyond an arbitrary position forming an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane under the closed swing position. An image forming apparatus, comprising: 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the lever automatically returns to an acute angle position even when the lever moves at an obtuse angle with respect to a horizontal plane under the closed swinging motion position. An image forming apparatus provided with an elastic means for causing the image forming apparatus to have an elasticity. 5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a portion of said lever that is in contact with said abutting surface of said lid has a curved surface. 6. A toner supply device for removably holding a toner bottle is provided integrally with a developing device on the main body side. The toner replenishing device includes a toner replenishing port provided at one longitudinal end of the toner bottle and a toner replenishing member for discharging toner from the toner replenishing port. An image forming apparatus provided with an opening / closing means for opening and closing the toner supply port. 7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said opening / closing means has a shutter member which rotates about a fulcrum in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of said lid to open and close said toner supply port. Image forming apparatus. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the shutter member is rotatably supported around the fulcrum, and is integrally formed with a lever operated by the lid, and wherein the shutter member is provided. Is biased by biasing means for biasing the toner supply port in a direction to close the toner supply port, and when the lid is closed, the lid turns the lever against the biasing force of the biasing means to rotate the lever. The toner supply port is opened by a shutter member, wherein the fulcrum of the lid is a, the fulcrum of the shutter member is b, and the position where the lid first contacts the lever when the lid is closed is c. Then, Δ connecting these positions of a, b, and c
An image forming apparatus characterized in that when abc is assumed, respective positional relationships are determined so that よ う acb <90 degrees. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a fulcrum position of the shutter member is provided near a formation surface of the toner supply port. 10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an elastic member is provided on a surface of said shutter member on a side covering said toner supply port. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said shutter member is accommodated in a cover together with a fulcrum of said shutter member, and an elastic member is provided on a back surface of a surface of said elastic member covering said toner supply port. And an elastic member provided on the rear surface of the cover when the shutter member opens the toner supply port.