JPS5918963A - Developing device of image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent toner in wrong color from being supplemented to a developing device which contains toner in different color securely by providing each cartridge with at least one projection in addition to an existent projection. CONSTITUTION:Existent projections 8 and 10 which engage a recessed groove 13 formed in the cartridge insertion opening 12 of the developing device are provided to the end parts of cartridges 6 and 7 containing toner in different color. Then, one cartridge 6 is provided a projection 9 at a proper interval to the projection 8, and the other cartridge 7 is provided a projection 11 at a different interval from that between both projections 8 and 9 to the projection 10. Further, a recessed groove 16 which engages the projection 9 or 11 selectively is formed in the insertion opening 12 of the developing device. Consequently, toner in wrong color is prevented securely from being supplemeneted to the developing device which contains toner in different color.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (a) Purpose of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, particularly a plurality of developing devices each using toner of a different color, and replacing the entire developing device to obtain a full-color copy of each color. The present invention relates to a developing device used in such an image forming apparatus.

In the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, when replenishing toner using a cartridge in a certain developing device, a cartridge containing toner of a color slightly different from the color of the toner remaining in the developing device is installed. If replenishment occurs, the developing device becomes completely unusable until it is disassembled and cleaned, resulting in a significant drop in work efficiency.

To prevent all such mistakes, for example internal! - Possible methods include making the diameter of the cartridge different depending on the color of the toner, or matching the color of the toner contained in the cartridge itself. It is necessary to prepare a developing device with a different configuration to match the different L'
Cart ring win! The amount of toner supplied is different between the two, which is undesirable since it affects the operation of other parts such as the toner detection means. Also, in the latter method,
Development system fit, toner car) IJ edge? The fact that all or part of the cartridge is fully colored in order to withstand the color rendition of bright and dark lighting in the operating environment directly affects the cost of the cartridge, and the provision of cartridges of each color for each toner color is User 11! II'〃
Since it is impossible to imagine that the desired color is uniform for all toner colors, it is inconvenient to always try to satisfy the user's demands at a price, as this tends to lead to an increase in inventory.

The present invention f (made in view of the situation described above),
In the developing device of the image forming apparatus as described above, the protrusion formed on the cartridge and extending in the radial direction is engaged with the guide groove of the cartridge insertion E4B on the developing device side. , the cartridge center], and the relative positions of the respective protrusions as viewed in the peripheral direction of the cartridge are changed based on the color of the toner stored inside, and the cartridge is inserted into the developing device. Formed around the periphery of the
By configuring the number and position of the recessed grooves that engage with the protrusion to be selectively adapted to the range of the protrusion on the cartridge side, a major change is made to the configuration of the developing device itself. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a developing device in which a cartridge having a generally similar appearance regardless of the difference in toner color can be installed in a developing device for toner of the same color.

(B) Structure of the Invention Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings KJ.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which a known cylindrical toner cartridge 2 is inserted into the cartridge insertion portion B of the developing device 1, and shows the opening 2a of the cartridge 2 containing toner inside. Push it into the insertion section 6 while keeping it in the position. At this time, if the projections 5 provided on the cartridge are all engaged with the longitudinal grooves 4 formed around the insertion part and then pushed in, the direction of the opening 2a will not change and toner will leak out unnecessarily. Never. It is configured in advance so that the engagement between the concave groove 4 and the protrusion 5 is disengaged when the cartridge is pushed to a predetermined position, and at this position, the cartridge 2 is rotated approximately 1800 times to form a V on the lower side of the insertion portion 6. By aligning the opening 2a with a certain opening D (not shown), the toner in the cartridge is supplied to the developing device hopper.

What has been described above is a known toner replenishment means, but in the present invention, at least two developing devices of different colors are provided, and each developing device is paired with a cartridge that can be engaged only with the respective developing device. In order to fully fix the problem, the protrusion of the cartridge and the groove of the developing device in the known device are utilized, and at least one protrusion is further attached to the nose string 11III on the side of the developing device. It is made up of four parts that engage with the latter protrusion.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, two toner cartridges 6.7 each contain different colored toners.
Protrusions 8 and 10 corresponding to the protrusions 5 in the above-mentioned known device are respectively formed on the beveled portions of the above-mentioned known device. Engaging and placing the cartridges 6.7 in their respective positions 117j is similar to that shown in FIG.

The present invention (already 1, such a cartridge has 1.
・Is it a certain color of toner? In one of the cartridges 6 that accommodates the toner, a protrusion 9 is formed at an appropriate distance from the protrusion 8, and in the other cartridge 7 that accommodates toner of another color, the protrusion 9 is formed at an appropriate distance from the protrusion 10. The protrusions 11 are provided at different intervals from the spacing between the protrusions 8 and 9 in the IJ joint 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, on the side of the developing device that receives each of these cartridges, the projections 8,
A concave groove 13 that engages with the insertion portion 1 is provided.
2, a groove 15 extending over a wider area is formed. Further, on the outer surface of the insertion part, a fan-shaped member 14 is arranged, which is usually arranged concentrically and has a plurality of screw holes 18, 18 all formed therein, and a round hole 17° 17 that matches these screw holes 18.
By appropriately changing the screw hole 18 and the blank hole 17 of this fan-shaped section using screws (not shown), the entire position in the circumferential direction 4'i1mJc can be selectively fixed.
: Place the sea urchin.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the inner edge of the fan-shaped groove 14 is arranged so as to almost match the peripheral edge of the developing device insertion portion 12, and the 1-1-J wide groove 15 is shaped like the fan-shaped groove 14. One of the members! ! ! The fan shape 7 is completely fed by the l edge.
<1 Yutaka'' The size of A is determined.

[111 rii form Fr1f A' + 4) l/
Ji+[ir, j, each; 'i meet) There are six four parts 16 into which the protrusions 9, 11 of the socket 6.7 can be inserted.

-Cartridge 6 containing all toner of a certain color
In comparison with 31 cartridge 6 in the developing device
Matches the distance between the protrusions 8 and 9 -rj: Sea urchin, fan-shaped part A
14 (i: Concave part 16 that moves and becomes 7.1 in the concave groove 1)
The fan-shaped portion A'14 is fixed by determining the attachment and location of the fan-shaped portion A'14.

The developing device corresponding to the cartridge which stores all the toner of different colors has a fan-shaped r
Move the lI 4A metal to define a fan-shaped space between the groove 13 and the recess 16 so as to match the protrusions 10 and 11 of the cartridge 7. Xll 4A is completely fixed.

Ni no J: Uni, on the protrusion of the cartridge for each color toner - J: and color using each cartridge!・Na is replenished
Complete configuration of each developing device that should be L - Depending on the length - C1h
-1- Attach the IJ nozzle 6 to the corresponding developing device. At the same time as installing the developing device Vζ,
Then, the cartridge 7 containing toner of another color is engaged with the above-mentioned developing device V31. However, protrusion 10.1
It is obvious that the cartridge 7 cannot be installed in the developing device 1t corresponding to the cartridge 6 VC because the distance between the groove 13 and the recess 791i of the developing device is different. be.

(／→As explained in detail about the invention, when an unexploded IJ16 crashes &:j,
It is possible to use all the developing devices with basically the same structure, and the curl link also requires the addition of at least one protrusion in addition to the conventional protrusion on the Qi. Part 114 or extremely simple? ) 1 is inexpensive, but the developing device V which stores toner of each color replenishes the toners of the same color. It is something that can be stopped.

In addition, in the embodiment described in J, the position and number of the protrusions described above are explained for the case of two toners that store all the toners of two colors. Of course, it can be done.

It is obvious that the present invention is applicable not only to a cylindrical cartridge as in the illustrated embodiment, but also to cartridges having a square, trapezoidal or other suitable cross-section.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing how a known toner cartridge is installed in a developing device, Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B
FIG. 3 is a perspective view and an end view of essential parts showing the structure of a toner cartridge according to the present invention and a developing device corresponding thereto. 1... Developing device, 2, 6.7... Toner cartridge, filter, 12... Cartridge insertion section, 4.13...
・Concave groove, 5, 8, 9, 10.11... protrusion, 14...
- Fan-shaped member, 15... wide groove, ^6... recess ( ( ( Fig. 1)

Claims (1)

[Claims] Using multiple developing devices, each containing a different color of toner,
In an image forming apparatus configured to obtain a toner image of a predetermined color by attaching and detaching each developing device, corresponding to each developing device,
Install multiple toner cartridges to replenish toner.
A developing device configured to be removably installed only in a developing device containing all toner of the same color as the LVc stored toner.