JPS5897068A - Developer supplementing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To regulate the amount of a supplemented developer accurately by equipping a quantitative developer supplementing means having a measuring member which is rotated integrally together with a supplemented developer storage container and measure a supplemented developer in rotation. CONSTITUTION:A disk 2 has a stepped part 2a even at the circumferential edge of its reverse surface, and a sealing plate 5 engages the stepped part 2a loosely. This sealing plate 5 is fixed to one end of a shaft 6 piercing a shaft hole 2c made in the center of the disk 2, and a sealing plate 7 is fixed to the other end of the shaft 6. Then, those two sealing plates 5 and 7 are rotatable around the shaft 6 over the disk 2, and in frictional contact with the disk 2 while the disk is sandwiched, so they never rotate easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a developer replenishment device for replenishing a developer stored in a replenishment developer storage container into a developing device.

BACKGROUND ART As one of the above developer replenishment devices, there is a type in which a replenishment developer storage container is driven to rotate to replenish replenishment developer in the container into a developing device through a developer outflow opening. A developer replenishing device is known. In this type of developer replenishment device, as the developer storage container is rotated, the replenished developer in the container receives physical agitation force and improves fluidity, so the replenished developer in the container is efficiently It can be replenished into the developing device. However, the amount of replenishment developer that flows out from the developer outflow opening is difficult to control, and for this reason, it is virtually impossible to accurately regulate the amount of replenishment developer that is replenished into the developing device. It is.

For this reason, the inventor of the present invention has conducted various studies on attaching a fixed amount developer replenishment mechanism to the developer replenishment device for the purpose of accurately regulating the amount of developer replenishment. It wasn't pleasant. In other words, simply adding a quantitative developer replenishment mechanism to the developer replenishing device not only complicates the structure of the developer replenishing device itself, but also causes the developer to be temporarily removed from the container due to the existence of the quantitative developer replenishment mechanism. This is because, as the fluidity of the replenished developer that flows out is reduced, the most efficient developer replenishment itself, which can be said to be the greatest advantage of the developer replenishment device, is also impaired. Ta.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a developer replenishment device of the type described above,
The goal is to accurately regulate the amount of replenishment developer that is replenished into the developing device. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a developer replenishment device that does not cause problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The gist of the present invention is that a developer replenishment device according to the present invention is rotationally driven integrally with a replenishment developer storage container as a quantitative developer replenishment means, and measures the replenishment developer along with the rotational drive. The present invention is provided with a developer quantitative replenishment means having a measuring member.

Embodiment An embodiment of the developer replenishing device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining the structure of the main parts of the replenishment developer storage container 15 in the above-mentioned embodiment, and each member attached to this container is shown in a developed manner. Also, Figure 3 shows
FIG. 3 is a drawing for explaining the structure of a main part of a replenishment developer storage container mounting portion on the developing device side in the embodiment; FIG. Each of the attached members is shown in an exploded view as in FIG. 1 above. It should be noted that each member shown in an exploded view in FIG. 1.3 is attached to the container or to the developing device side as shown in FIG. 2.

A replenishing developer storage container (1) in a first embodiment of the developer replenishing device according to the present invention is a bottle having a circular developer outlet opening (1a), as partially illustrated in FIG. The inside of the container is filled with replenishment developer in advance. The circumference RK of the opening (1a) is the stepped portion [1b
) is provided for 91. A developer metering disk (2) is fitted and fixed to this stepped portion (1b). The developer measuring disc (2) is driven to rotate integrally with the container (1), and has the function of measuring the replenishment developer as the disc rotates. disk (
2) has measurement gaps (3) and (4). Each of these metering gaps (3), (4) has an angle of 1000
They have a fan shape and are arranged at an angle of 200 degrees apart.

In the state shown in FIG. 1, a step (2a) is also provided on the periphery of the surface corresponding to the lower surface of the disk (2),
The first seal plate (5) is kept loosely fitted into this stepped portion (2a). This first seal plate (
5) is a shaft hole (2) provided at the center of the disk (2).
c), and a second seal plate (7) is fixed to the other end of the shaft (6). For this reason, the 1.2 seal plate (5),
(7) is rotatable relative to the disk (2) about the shaft (6). The container (1) has a rotationally symmetrical shape, and the axis (@ is located on this rotationally symmetrical axis. Also, as described above, the first and second seal plates (5), (7) is rotatable relative to the disk (2), and the 1.2 seal plates (5) and (7) rotate the disk (2). Since it is in frictional contact with the disc (2) in the sandwiched state, the rotation does not occur easily.This means that the replenishment from the opening (1a) of the container (1) This is important in preventing developer leakage.

Further, each of the 1.2 7-rule plates (5) and (7) is provided with openings (5a) and (7a) through which the developer passes. These openings (5a), (7a) have a fan shape that can match the cross-sectional shape of the metering gaps (3), (4). Opening (5a) I'i, when the disk (2) and the first seal plate (5) are rotated relative to each other and overlap the measurement gaps (3) and (4), void (3
), (4) allow the replenishment developer filled in them to flow out to the outside, while the opening (7a) is connected to the front disk (2).
The container (
2) The replenishment developer stored in the metering gap (3)
, (4) allow filling into the interior. Note that the opening (
5aL (7a) actually has a fan shape with an angle of slightly less than 80°, and the rotation direction of the first and second sheet plates (5) and (7) relative to the disk (2) is 1800°. It is designed to maintain a shifted positional relationship. This positional relationship is taken into consideration for fixing the 1.2nd seal plates (5) and (7) to the shaft (0. Therefore, the 1.2nd seal plates (5) and (7) are No matter what positional relationship the seal plates (5) and (7) have, the opening (5a) and the opening (7a) will not be electrically connected through the metering gaps (3) and (4). , the opening (1a) of said container (1) may be substantially closed. This also applies to the opening (1a) of the container (1).
) This is important in preventing leakage of replenishment developer from. Note that after the container (1) K has been filled with replenishment developer in advance, the first seal plate (5) has its opening (5a) not overlapped with the metering gaps (3) and (4). be placed in position.

Furthermore, in the state shown in FIG. 1, the first seal plate (
A protrusion (5b) projecting downward is provided near the periphery of the surface corresponding to the lower surface of 5).

This protrusion (5b) allows the opening (5a) to correctly face the developer receiving opening (10a), which will be described later, when the replenishment developer storage container (1) is installed in the developing device O. It functions to lock the rotation of the seal plates (5) and (7) in 1.2 in the closed state. Incidentally, such a function is achieved by cooperation with a protrusion (20) to be described later. In addition, in order to be able to optically detect that the replenishment developer stored in the container (1) has been completely replenished by the detection mechanism described later, a first seal plate (
5) is formed of a transparent material, and the lower surface of the disk (2) in the state shown in FIG.
The lower surfaces of the seal plates (7) are each colored white.

However, the lower surface of the second seal plate (7) may be made into a reflective surface instead of being colored white.

As shown in Figure 2, the replenishment developer storage container (1) is inserted into the developing device by inserting it in the direction of arrow (b) with the developer outflow opening (1a) facing diagonally downward. It can be attached to the Then, by inserting the container (1) to the position indicated by the dashed-dotted line in FIG.
The container (1) is now completely attached to the developing device. In the part where the replenishment developer storage container of the developing device is attached, the developing device casing α0) is provided with a developer receiving opening (XOa), and a developer conveying passage α1) is provided in the lower interior thereof. ing. This developer transport path (11) extends all the way to the developing section of the developing device, and the developer that has passed through the opening (10a) and is replenished into the developer transport path value υ is shown by the arrow (11). It is conveyed to the developing section by the action of a spiral spring roller α2) which is driven one rotation in the a) direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, a developer leakage prevention pad α3) made of a malt plate 7 is attached to the upper surface of the developing device casing αO) and around the periphery of the opening αOa). This pad (13) is compressed by the lower surface of the first seal plate (5) when the container (1) is attached to the developing device.
The aperture (5&J and the aperture (10a) are airtightly communicated with each other to prevent leakage of the developer to the outside.The aperture αOa)
Compared to a), it is larger by -. Further, a ring-shaped cover (14) is further fixed to the upper surface of the developing device casing. This cover (1) rotatably supports the container support ring 09 on the developing device casing αQ, and is fixed at the position shown by the broken line in FIG. It supports the container support ring (15) in a sandwiched state.

The container support ring (15) Fi, the opening of the container (1) (
la) It is capable of supporting a part of a nearby cylindrical portion and a disk (2) having an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of this cylindrical portion, and when the container α) is attached to the developing device. In this case, the entire container (1) is supported so as to be rotatable about the rotational axis of the developing device.

In order to ensure that the container (1) is supported by the container support ring α5), a ring (16) made of an elastic material is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the container support ring (15). As shown in Figure 2, this ring (IQ container)
1) The inner diameter on the insertion side is somewhat larger than the outer diameter, as indicated by the arrow (
b) It gradually becomes smaller in the direction of the container (1).
When attached to the developing device, the support is performed using the elasticity of the ring α6).

On the other hand, a gear α5 is provided on the lower outer periphery of the support ring α9.
a) is provided, and a rotary drive gear αη is meshed with this gear α5a). This rotary drive gear (17) is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow (c) by a drive motor (not shown) provided on the developing device side, thereby moving the ring α5) in the direction of arrow (d).
It is designed to rotate in the direction. The drive motor is operated only when replenishing the developer, and its operation is controlled by a control mechanism for accurately controlling the amount of rotation of the support ring α5).

Further, a locking piece ω0) is fixed to the upper surface of the developing device casing (10) on the side opposite to the direction of arrow (d) of the peripheral edge of the developer receiving opening (10a). This locking piece (
20) is a projection (20) provided on the first seal plate (5).
5b), and the support ring (15)
This is to lock the rotation of the first seal plate (5) when the replenishment developer storage container (1) is rotated in one body. In addition, in this locked state, the $1 seal plate (5
The installation positions of the protrusion (5b) and the locking piece 00) are determined in advance so that the opening (5a) of the opening (5a) and the opening αOa) correctly face each other. Note that the protrusion (5b) is
When the container (1) is rotationally driven, the locking piece (20)
It is provided near the outer peripheral edge of the first seal plate (5) so that it can only engage with the pad α3) and cannot engage with the pad α3).

Similarly, on the upper surface of the developing device casing α0) and on the side opposite to the direction of arrow (d) of the opening αOa), a light emitting element (21) is provided.
A replenishment developer remaining amount detection mechanism having a pair of a light receiving element and a light receiving element is provided. In this detection mechanism, when the replenishment developer storage container (1) is attached to the developing device and rotated, each of the elements (21).

The above-mentioned elements (21
) and (22) are predetermined. In this case, the installation position is also determined so that each of the elements e21) and (22) can face the lower surface of the opening (7a) of the second seal plate (7) in the direction of arrow (d). There is. Therefore, as mentioned above, the first sealing plate (5) is made of a transparent material, and the lower surface of the disc (2!J) is black, while the lower surface of the second sealing plate (7) is made of a transparent material. In addition to being colored white, this detection mechanism makes it possible to detect the remaining amount of replenishment developer stored in the container (1).

That is, according to this detection mechanism, when there is replenishment developer in the container (1), there is a developer in the gaps (3) and (4) passing through the opposing portions of the respective elements (21) and (22). There is always replenishment developer, and the light emitted from the light emitting element C21) is absorbed by the replenishment developer or the black surface of the first seal plate (5) and cannot reach the light receiving element C22). ,
On the other hand, when the developer is completely replenished, the gaps (3) passing through the opposing parts of each element (21) and (220)
, (4), there is no replenishment developer, and the light emitting element C21
) is reflected by the white surface of the second seal plate (7), and intermittently reaches the light receiving surface of the light receiving element c22) as the container (1) is rotated. For this reason, by constantly monitoring the light receiving state of the light receiving element (223), the detection mechanism can reliably detect the remaining amount, and when a sudden increase in the amount of light received by the light receiving element (22) occurs, , by lighting up a display rung (not shown), etc.
) warns you that the replenishment developer stored in the replenishment area is exhausted. Incidentally, in order to prevent the detection mechanism from malfunctioning, the above-mentioned monitoring is desirably performed only when the container (1) is completely attached to the developing device. In addition, in the detection mechanism, the detection and warning are reliably performed when the replenishment developer in the container (1) is completely replenished, so there is no variation in the detection time, etc., and accurate detection is always possible. It can be done.

On the other hand, the developing device casing α0) is inclined at an angle (b) with respect to the horizontal plane, as shown in FIG.

This angle (b) is set to 45° in this example, but should be determined appropriately by taking into consideration the inclination angle of the shoulder portion of the container (1). It is desirable that the angle (b) is set to be smaller than the inclination angle (θ).In this example, the inclination angle (b) is 50°.
It is. However, according to the present inventor's confirmation, the angle (B) is desirably set to 200 or more in consideration of the fluidity of the replenishing developer when the container (1) is driven to rotate. . Note that the developing device casing 00)
Because the developer is tilted in this manner, it may be difficult to replenish the developer remaining in the portion indicated by B in FIG. 2 to the developing device. In order to improve this, the second
The opening aω of the seal plate (7) must be positioned at the position shown in Fig. 2 when the container (1) is attached (of course when the protrusion (5b) and the locking piece (20) are engaged). It is.

The above is a description of the configuration of one embodiment of the developer replenishing device according to the present invention, and the developer replenishing operation in this embodiment is generally performed as follows.

First, immediately after the replenishment developer storage container (1) has been attached to the developing device, it will be explained that in this state, the projection (5b) and the locking piece C20) are not necessarily engaged. This type of engagement is reliably achieved by rotationally driving the container (1) in the direction of arrow (d) by the rotational drive gear (17). The plates (5) and (7) are also rotated integrally with the container (1), and the engagement described above occurs only when the projection (5b) and the locking piece (20) come into contact with each other. When the 7th engagement occurs, the 1.2 seal plate (5),
(7) is locked and not rotationally driven, and the rotational drive gear α
7), only the container (1) and the measuring disk (2) are rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow (d). From this point on, development and replenishment of the agent into the developing device are possible.

When only the container (1) and the measuring disc (2) are driven to rotate by the rotation and driving gear 07) V in the above-mentioned state, the replenishment developer stored in the container (1) is opened ( 7a) of the metering gap (3) of the disk (2), (
4) It is weighed while being filled into the container. And the void (3
), (4) is dropped downward through the opening (5a), passes through the opening αOa), and is replenished into the developing device. At this time, since the amount of rotation of the support ring (15), that is, the amount of rotation of the disk (2) is controlled by the control mechanism, the amount of developer replenished into the developing device is determined by the amount of rotation. accurately regulated in proportion to.

Please note that 1. As the container (1) is rotated and the replenishment developer stored in the container (1) and the upper surface of the second seal plate (7) are moved relative to each other, the gaps (3) and (4) are moved. ) A physical agitation force is applied to the replenishing developer that is about to be filled into the container, improving its fluidity. At the same time, the disk (2) is also rotated, and the gap (3),
Since the replenishment developer filled in the gap (4) and the upper surface of the first seal plate (5) are moved relative to each other, the gap (
The fluidity of the replenishing developer flowing out from 3) and (4) is similarly improved. Therefore, the fluidity of the developer from the container (1) into the developing device is improved rather than reduced, and extremely efficient developer replenishment is achieved.

The above is an explanation of the embodiment of the developer replenishing device according to the present invention, but this embodiment can be modified in various ways. for example,
The measuring disk (2), the 1.2nd seal plate (5), (
7) may be attached to the developing device side. however,
In this case, it is necessary to take measures such as pasting a seal such as an elastic thin film on the opening (1a) in order to prevent leakage of the supplied developer from the opening αa) of the container (1). Further, the projection (5) and the locking piece (20) may be omitted, and the shaft (6) may be fixed to the upper surface of the developing device casing CLO).

In this case, the shaft (6) is removed from the disc (2) and the first and second seal plates (5) and (7) except when it is attached.

Effects of the Invention Since the developer replenishing device according to the present invention is provided with a fixed amount developer replenishing means, the amount of replenished developer replenished into the developing device can be accurately regulated.

Moreover, since the developer quantitative replenishment means is rotationally driven integrally with the replenishment developer storage container and has a measuring member that measures the replenishment developer as it rotates, it is possible to measure the replenishment developer even when measuring the replenishment developer. The fluidity of the supplied developer is not reduced, and the developer is replenished efficiently. Furthermore, since the replenishment developer storage container and the measuring member are rotated integrally, the structure of the drive mechanism is also simple.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 are drawings showing an embodiment of a developer replenishing device according to the present invention. Note that FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the main structure of the replenishment developer storage container, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the state when the container is attached to the developing device, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a drawing for explaining the main structure of the container mounting section on the developing device side. 1... Replenishment developer storage container 1a... Opening for developer outflow 2... Disc for measuring developer 3.4... Measuring gap 10... Developing device casing 10a... Opening 15 for receiving developer...Cylinder 16 for supporting the container...Rotary drive gear Applicant: Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. Figure 1 Figure 21 ¥21 qa Figure 3/θa

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a developer replenishing device of the type in which when the replenishment developer storage container is rotationally driven, the replenishment developer in the container is replenished into the developing device through the developer outflow opening. What is claimed is: 1. A developer replenishing device comprising: a developer quantitative replenishing means having a measuring member that is rotationally driven and that measures the replenished developer as the rotation is driven.