JPH1165296A - Structure for developer discharging port for printing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily detach a developer supplying unit from a printing machine. SOLUTION: A holding plate 16 is provided toward the side of a cup 6 for developer recovery on the upper end part of a bracket 11 fixed on the side surface of a device frame 10 of en electrophotographic printing machine. A projecting part 13 is partially provided on the flange 12 of the upper end outer peripheral part of the cup 6 for the developer recovery. The part 13 has length enough to make the part 13 overlap the plate 16 when the cup 6 is rotated to face the part 13 toward the plate 16 side. Therefore, the cup 6 is held by the plate 16 and a compression spring 14 by interposing the part 13 below the plate 16. Thus, a gap S can be provided between the upper end part of the cup 6 and a developer discharge tube 5, so that the developer supplying unit 1 can be horizontally moved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the development of a printing machine at an engaging portion between a discharge pipe of a developing solution receiving portion and a developing solution collecting cup in a developing solution (liquid toner) circulation system provided in an electronic printing press. The present invention relates to a liquid outlet structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 9, a developer supply unit 1 in an electronic printing machine comprises a developer supply roller 22, a pan 24, a squeeze roller 25 as a main element, a case 26 to which these elements are attached, and the like. ing. Also,
At the lower end of the case 26, a developer recovery tank 27 and a receiving tray 4 connected to the tank 27 are attached. In the developer supply unit 1, the developer supply roller 22 and the squeeze roller 25 are in contact with the photosensitive drum 3. The series of units of the developer supply unit 1 includes a photosensitive drum 3
When the developer supply unit 1 is attached to and detached from the printing press main body, the developer supply unit 1 is moved horizontally in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 3.

In the developer circulation system, after the developer 2 is supplied from the nozzle of the developer supply pipe 18 to the pan 24, the developer 2 is transferred to the photosensitive drum 3 by the rotation of the developer supply roller 22. At this time, the surplus developer flows out of the collection tank 27 to the tray 4. On the other hand, a part of the developer transported by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 3 is squeezed by the squeeze roller 25 to an appropriate amount, and the excess developer flows out of the collection tank 27 to the tray 4 in the same manner as described above. Will do. As shown in FIG. 10, the collected developer 2 flows down from the developer discharge pipe 5 provided in the bottom plate of the receiving tray 4 into the lower part of the developer recovery cup 6 and then into the tank 7 via the hose 17a. Then, the developer is supplied again to the developer supply pipe 18 through the liquid supply pump 8 and the hose 17b.

In the developer circulation system, the supply hose 17b can be attached and detached with a single touch via a joint 9 attached to the developer supply pipe 18. Are connected so as to be fitted into the developing solution collecting cup 6 in order to prevent the falling of the developing solution 2 which falls naturally. The conventional developer recovery cup 6 has a structure in which it is firmly fixed to the frame 10 of the printer body via bolts 28. Therefore, when the developer supply unit 1 is pulled out of the printer body for maintenance (maintenance inspection, repair), cleaning, color change, and the like, the developer recovery cup 6 is temporarily moved to the apparatus frame 10.
From the developer discharge pipe 5.

[0005]

As described in the section of the prior art, in a developer circulating system provided in an electronic printing machine, a pipe on a developer discharge (recovery) side is used to prevent the developer from scattering. The structure is such that the lower end of the developing solution discharge pipe provided in the receiving tray of the liquid supply unit is fitted into the developing solution collecting cup. However, the developer collecting cup is fixed to the frame of the printing press main body via a bolt. When the developer supply unit is taken out of the printing press main body, the developer supply unit is moved in the horizontal direction, so that the developer recovery cup is obstructed. Therefore, in each case, it is necessary to once remove the developer collection cup from the frame, and after the developer supply unit is mounted, reattach the developer collection cup and set it again. For this reason, the work efficiency is poor, it takes time to attach and detach the developer supply unit, and labor saving cannot be achieved, which is a major factor in lowering productivity.
The present invention has been made to address these issues,
By improving the structure of the developer outlet in the developer circulation system, which has been a problem so far, it is intended to simplify the mounting and dismounting of the developer supply unit of the electronic printing machine. It is intended to provide an outlet structure.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is to receive a developer overflowing from a developer supply unit of a developer circulation system provided in an electronic printing machine, and to supply the developer to the developer supply unit. In the developer discharge port structure of the printing press for discharging the developer to the developer recovery cup from the developer discharge pipe attached to the placed tray, the developer recovery cup is mounted so as to be able to move up and down, and the developer At the rising position of the collecting cup, the developing solution collecting cup is fitted with the developer discharging pipe, and at the descending position of the developing solution collecting cup, the developing solution collecting cup is disengaged from the developing solution discharging pipe. It is characterized in that it is installed in a state where it is placed.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a description will be given of a first embodiment of a developer outlet structure of a printing press according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. The present invention proposes to simplify the case where the developer supply unit is attached to and detached from the main body of the printing press during maintenance, inspection, repair, cleaning, color change, and the like of the electronic printing press. Therefore, in mounting and taking out the developer supply unit, it is an improvement of the developer discharge port which has been a problem, and the joint portion of the developer supply port is the same as the conventional one, and the mounting of the developer collection cup is performed. The structure of the part is different from the conventional example. Hereinafter, the configuration and function of the mounting portion will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, an L-shaped bracket 11 is fixed to a side surface of an apparatus frame 10 of an electronic printing machine by bolts. A circular through hole is formed in the guide plate 21 on one end side of the bracket 11, and the developer collecting cup 6 is inserted into the through hole. The developer collection cup 6 is disposed below the developer discharge pipe 5 attached to the tray 4 of the developer supply unit 1. An annular flange 12 is provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the developer collection cup 6.
Is formed, and a stopper 15 is provided at the lower part. Also, between the flange 12 and the guide plate 21,
A coiled compression spring 14 is mounted on the outer periphery of the developer collection cup 6 in a compressed state, and a stopper 15 regulates the highest position of the developer collection cup 6 and prevents the developer collection cup 6 from dropping upward.

Next, the procedure for attaching and detaching the developer supply unit 1 will be described. In the present embodiment, when the developer supply unit 1 is mounted on the main body of the printing press, the developer recovery cup 6 is pressed down and mounted. After the mounting, the stopper 15 of the developer collecting cup 6 is raised by the upward biasing force of the compression spring 14 until the stopper 15 contacts the lower end of the guide plate 21,
The upper portion of the developer collecting cup 6 is stopped with a predetermined amount of the lower end of the developer discharging pipe 5 fitted therein. Subsequently, the developing solution supply hose 17 b is connected to the joint 9 of the developing solution supply pipe 18. Next, when the developer supply unit 1 is to be removed from the main body of the printing press, the liquid feed pump 8 is stopped, the developer is allowed to flow into the developer recovery cup 6, and then the liquid recovery cup 6 is pushed down. By this operation, the connection between the lower end of the developer discharge pipe 5 and the upper end of the developer recovery cup 6 is released, and a predetermined gap can be formed, so that the developer supply unit can be moved in the horizontal direction and removed. .

As described above, a series of functions as a developer circulation system, that is, after the developer (liquid toner) supplied to the developer supply unit provided in the electronic printing machine is transferred to the photosensitive drum. , Collecting the excess developer in a saucer,
A series of functions of feeding back to the tank via the discharge pipe and the developing solution collecting cup and feeding it back to the developing solution supply unit via the liquid feeding pump are the same as those described in the section of the prior art ( The same applies to each embodiment described later).

Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment of the developer outlet structure of the printing press according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, a holding plate 16 is provided at the upper end of a bracket 11 fixed to a side surface of an apparatus frame 10 of an electronic printing machine toward the developer collecting cup 6 side. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, one protrusion (claw) 13 is provided on the flange 12 at the outer periphery of the upper end of the developer collection cup 6 toward the outside in the diameter direction of the flange 12. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3B, when the developer collection cup 6 is rotated and the projection 13 is turned to the holding plate 16 side, the projection 13 has a length that overlaps with the projection 13. is there. Therefore, the developer collecting cup 6 is held at the lowered position shown in FIG. 2 by the holding plate 16 and the compression spring 14 by sandwiching the protrusion 13 below the holding plate 16. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. Note that the protrusions 13 may be provided at a plurality of locations.

In this embodiment, the developer supply unit 1
Is mounted on the main body of the printing press, as shown in FIG. 3A, the protrusion 13 and the holding plate 16 are located at positions separated by about 90 degrees in circumferential angle, and the developer collecting cup 6 is It is not held by the holding plate 16. Therefore, the developer collecting cup 6 is stopped at the ascending position where the lower end of the developer discharging pipe 5 is fitted by a predetermined amount by the upward urging force of the compression spring 14. When removing the developer supply unit 1 from the printing press body,
As shown in FIG. 3B, the developer recovery cup 6 is pushed down, and the developer recovery cup is rotated 90 degrees,
The projection 13 of the flange is hooked and held on the holding plate 16 of the bracket. Therefore, since the developer collection cup 6 is held at the lowered position, the engagement between the developer discharge pipe 5 and the developer collection cup 6 is released, and a predetermined gap S can be formed. The supply unit 1 is moved in the horizontal direction and can be removed.

Next, a description will be given of a third embodiment of the developer outlet structure of the printing press according to the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5A, in the present embodiment, a tapered valve body 19a is provided in the passage of the developer discharge pipe 5 of the developer supply unit 1, and a valve seat is provided on the inner wall thereof. 19b. As shown in FIG. 5B, a shaft (pusher) 20 that is located at the center of the inside of the developer collecting cup 6 and that opens the valve body 19a is attached. Axis 20
At the raised position of the developer collecting cup 6, as shown in FIG. 4, the shaft of the valve body 19a is pushed up to open the valve. At the lowered position of the developer collection cup 6, as shown in FIG. 6, the shaft 20 is separated from the shaft of the valve body 19a, and the valve is closed. Axis 20
Is provided with a flow path for the developer in the bottom portion 20a so as to allow the flow of the developer. The holding mechanism of the developer collection cup 6 at the elevating position is the same as that of the second embodiment.

With the above configuration, if the developer collecting cup 6 is set up, as shown in FIG. 4, the developer collecting cup 6 can be loosely connected to the upper end thereof and to the lower end of the developer discharging pipe 5, Simultaneously, the shaft 19 pushes up the valve 19a disposed in the developer discharge pipe 5, and a donut-shaped gap is formed between the valve 19a and the valve seat 19b, so that the developer can be circulated. When the developer supply unit 1 is attached to and detached from the printer body, the connection with the developer discharge pipe 5 is released by holding the developer collection cup 6 at the lowered position as shown in FIG. Therefore, a predetermined gap S can be formed between the developer discharge pipe 5 and the developer recovery cup 6, and the valve 19 a descends with the lowering of the developer recovery cup 6 to be seated on the valve seat 19 b. Even if the developer remains in the receiving pan 4 and the developer discharge pipe 5, there is no possibility that the developer leaks. For this reason, conventionally, or as in the above embodiment,
There is no need for the developer to flow out spontaneously, and the developer supply unit can be attached and detached in a short time.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the developer outlet structure for a printing machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is an example of a simple holding mechanism for attaching and detaching the developer collecting cup, and the compression spring 14 used in each of the above embodiments is omitted. As shown in FIG. 7, the developer recovery cup 6 is raised and the developer recovery pipe 6 is inserted into the position where the developer recovery pipe 6 is inserted. The projection 13 similar to that shown in FIG. 1 is provided and is held by being placed on the upper holding plate 16a of the bracket 11. The lowermost position of the developer collection cup 6 is
The lower surface of the flange 12 is set at a position where the lower surface of the flange 12 comes into contact with the guide plate / holding plate 16b of the bracket that guides the elevation of the developer collection cup 6, and the lower end of the developer discharge pipe 5 and the developer collection cup are located at the same position. 6 is formed so that a predetermined gap S can be formed between it and the upper end. In the present embodiment, the developer collecting cup 6 and the hose 17a are held by the bracket 11 by their own weights, so that the structure is simple and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Next, a description will be given of a fifth embodiment of the developer outlet structure of the printing press according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, the leaf spring 2 having the holding plate 16 provided on the bracket 11
3 is installed. The hook 2 is provided at the upper end of the leaf spring 23.
9 is formed, and the hook portion 29 protrudes inward from the outer periphery of the flange 12 of the developer collection cup 6. To hold the developer recovery cup 6 at the raised position, the flange 12 is lifted, and the flange 12 is held on the hook 29 formed at the upper end of the leaf spring 23. When the developer collecting cup 6 is set at the lowered position, the leaf spring 23 is pushed toward the apparatus frame 10 and the hook portion 29 and the flange 12 are pressed.
Is released, the developer recovery cup 6 is lowered, and the flange 12 is held on the upper surface of the holding plate 16. In the present embodiment, similarly to the above-described fourth embodiment, the effect of utilizing and holding the developing solution collecting cup 6 by its own weight is also the same.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above-described first to third embodiments, the compression spring 14 is wound around the developer collection cup 6, but is not wound around the compression spring 14 and is simply disposed between the flange 12 and the guide plate 21. You may.

[0018]

According to the present invention, the developer collecting cup is configured to be able to move up and down, and at the rising position of the developer collecting cup, the developer collecting cup is fitted with the developer discharging pipe, and At the lower position of the collecting cup, the developing solution collecting cup is set so as to be disengaged from the developing solution discharge pipe. In this way, the developer collection cup that engages with the developer discharge pipe of the developer supply unit can be pushed down with one touch without removing the developer recovery cup from the device frame, and the engagement with the developer discharge pipe can be eliminated. It became. Therefore, the developer supply unit can be easily removed or attached to the printing press body for maintenance (maintenance inspection, repair), cleaning, color change, and the like. In addition, since the work time can be shortened in attaching and detaching the developer supply unit, labor saving and productivity can be greatly improved. In addition, since a holding mechanism for holding the developer collecting cup at each position at the ascending position and the descending position together with the elastic member that pushes up the developer collecting cup is provided, the developing solution is held at the descending position of the developer collecting cup. Can hold a collection cup. Therefore, removal becomes easier. A valve is provided in the developer discharge pipe, and the valve is opened and closed in conjunction with the attachment / detachment of the developer collection cup.
The developer supply unit can be pulled out even when the developer remains in the tray. In other words, the developer supply unit can be removed even when the developer remains in the tray, and the waiting time associated with spontaneous outflow of the developer is not required, and the working time can be greatly reduced. Further, by utilizing the weight of the member connected to the developer collection cup, the developer collection cup is held at each position at the raised position and the lowered position of the developer collection cup,
The developer supply unit can be attached and detached with a simpler structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a developer outlet structure of a printing press according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a developer outlet structure of a printing press according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a plan view of a holding mechanism for a developer recovery cup that moves up and down a developer discharge port structure of a printing press according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a plan view in which the developer collection cup of A is rotated by 90 degrees.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view when a developer supply unit having a developer outlet structure of a printing machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 5A is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 4; FIG. 5B is a sectional view taken along line YY in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a developer supply unit of a developer outlet structure of a printing machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention is removed.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a developer outlet structure of a printing press according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a developer outlet structure of a printing press according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of a developer supply unit of a conventional printing press.

FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view of a developer outlet structure of a conventional printing press.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 developer supply unit (developer unit) 2 developer (liquid toner) 5 developer discharge pipe 6 developer recovery cup 10 device frame 11 bracket 12 flange 13 protrusion (claw) 14 compression spring 15 stopper 16 holding plate 19a valve 19b Valve seat 20 Shaft (pusher) 21 Guide plate 23 Leaf spring 29 Hook

Claims (4)

[Claims] An electronic printing machine receives a developing solution overflowing from a developing solution supply unit of a developing solution circulating system, and receives a developing solution from a developing solution discharge pipe attached to a tray provided in the developing solution supply unit. In the developer outlet structure of the printing press that discharges the developer to the developer collecting cup, the developer collecting cup is mounted so as to be able to move up and down, and the developer collecting cup is connected to the developing solution at the rising position of the developer collecting cup. A liquid collecting pipe, wherein the developing liquid collecting cup is set so as to be disengaged from the developing liquid collecting pipe at a lowered position of the developing liquid collecting cup. Developer outlet structure. 2. A holding mechanism for providing an elastic member which pushes up the developing solution collecting cup to the raised position, and holding the developing solution collecting cup at each of the raised position and the lowered position of the developing solution collecting cup. The developer outlet structure for a printing press according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. A developing solution discharge pipe provided on a tray of the developing solution supply unit is provided with a valve, and the valve is linked with the elevation of a developing solution collecting cup engaged with the developing solution discharging pipe. 2. The developer discharging port structure for a printing machine according to claim 1, wherein a pusher for opening and closing the valve is provided in the developer collecting cup so as to be opened and closed. 4. A holding mechanism for holding a developer collecting cup at each of a raised position and a lowered position of the developer collecting cup by utilizing the weight of a member connected to the developer collecting cup. The developer discharge port structure for a printing machine according to claim 1, wherein the developer outlet port is provided.