JPS61156164A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the title device from such misoperations as forming an image without mounting a developing agent container or misjudging the device as at fault, by detecting and displaying that the developing agent container is mounted to its proper position. CONSTITUTION:A developing agent container (toner cartridge) 22 is mounted on the toner carrying section 18 of a printer main body 21 under a freely remov able condition. A reed switch 53 is provided at the printer main body side so that the switch 53 can face a magnet 52 provided on the side of the housing 31 of the toner cartridge 22. Therefore, when the cartridge 22 is mounted on the main body, the reed switch 53 responds to the magnet 52 and a detecting signal is sent and displayed in the display section 17 of an operation panel 30.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a cartridge-type developer replenishment system that is equipped with a developer storage container that can be freely attached to and detached from a mounting portion to store the developer consumed during image formation. [Technical background of the invention and its problems] In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or an electronic printer using a dry electrophotographic method, the image forming apparatus can be replenished appropriately through the apparatus. A developer replenishment device that automatically replenishes developer (toner) is provided, but in the conventional developer replenishment device, the developer storage container (
When the developer runs out of the toner hopper, the developer is transferred from another developer replenishment container. However, when transferring the developer, the developer could spill and stain the aircraft, the operator's hands, and clothes, making handling it extremely troublesome and requiring careful handling. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image forming apparatuses equipped with a cartridge-type developer replenishment device that includes a developer storage container that is detachably attached to a mounting portion have been put into practical use.

Hereinafter, a conventional cartridge type developer replenishing device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 11 to 15.

In the figure, 1 is a developer storage container (hereinafter simply referred to as a container) that stores developer (toner) T. This container 1 has a horizontally long box shape, and its length is equivalent to the width of the developing area. .

A developer outlet (hereinafter simply referred to as an outlet) 2 is formed at the bottom of the container 1, and a replenishment roller 3 serving as a discharge means faces directly below the developer outlet. The outlet 2 is normally closed by an a-shielding plate 4, as shown in FIG. The shielding plate 4 is slid and opened by a shielding plate moving mechanism (not shown) or manually.

As a result, the internal developer T is supplied from the outlet 2 onto the replenishment roller 3, and the replenishment roller 2 is rotated by a drive means such as a drive motor (not shown), thereby developing the desired amount. The agent T is supplied to a developing device (not shown) located below the supply roller 2.

Furthermore, when the container 1 is removed from the printer body, the shielding plate 4 is slid again to close the outlet 2, thereby preventing the developer T from scattering to the outside.

Inside the container 1, a detection arm 6 having a magnet 5 at its lower end is rotatably supported around a rotation shaft 7, so that it can rotate downward under its own weight. As shown in Figure 12,
When the container 1 is sufficiently filled with the developer T and the filling level of the developer T is high, the detection arm 6 is held at the illustrated position by the drag force of the developer T against its own weight.

On the other hand, as the developer T gradually disappears and the filling level decreases, the detection arm 6 also follows and descends.
When the level shown in the figure is reached, the detection position, which is the lowest position, is reached, at which the detection reed switch 8 operates in cooperation with the magnet 5, and sends out a detection signal indicating the absence of developer. Then, this is transmitted to the driving means and the replenishment roller 3 is stopped.
It is now available. Furthermore, by sending out a detection signal, it is visually indicated that the container l should be replaced.

Further, a driving gear 9 is provided adjacent to the container 1 on the side of the glinter main body, and the driving force is transmitted to the driven gear 1 via an intermediate gear 10 and to the intermediate gear 1σ. A lever 12 is provided integrally with this, and the rotation of this lever 12 causes a leaf spring 13 whose base end is fixed to the container 1 to vibrate.

This vibration is transmitted to the container 1, so that the developer T inside the container is encouraged to fall.

On the other hand, a cam 14 is fixed to the driven gear 11, and as the cam 14 rotates, a lever 14 fixed to the rotation shaft 2 is rotated.
is pushed away, and the lever 15 is rotated to the position shown by the chain line in FIG. As the lever 15 rotates, the detection arm 6 also rotates and is returned to the position indicated by the chain line in FIG. 11 or the solid line position shown in FIG. 12, where detection is not performed.

Therefore, if the above operation is performed once after the container 1 is sufficiently filled with the developer T and installed, the detection arm 6 will remain at the detection position and will not send out an erroneous detection signal indicating no developer from the beginning. or can be avoided.

The conventional cartridge and zigzag developer replenishment devices have been described above, but the conventional image forming apparatuses employing these developer replenishment devices have the following problems.

In other words, in the conventional image forming apparatus of this type, there is no means for the operator to check from outside the main body of the apparatus whether or not the developer storage container is attached to the attachment target section. Ta.

For this reason, images may be formed without the developer storage container attached, and even if a developer replenishment signal is sent from the developer concentration detection means of the developer, the developer is not replenished and the image forming apparatus wakes up. This is not only uneconomical, such as wasting transfer paper, but also poses a problem in that there is a risk that the apparatus will be determined to be malfunctioning.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a developer that can be freely attached to and detached from a mounting portion to remove the developer that is consumed during image formation. In an image forming apparatus that can be replenished as needed via a cartridge equipped with a storage container or a developer replenishment device such as a jitter, it is possible to check whether or not the developer storage container is attached to the attachment part. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which allows an operator to easily check whether a developer storage container is installed, and which can prevent image formation without a developer storage container installed or erroneous determination that a failure has occurred.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention includes a detection means for detecting that a developer storage container is attached to a mounting portion, and a detection means provided outside the main body of the apparatus such as an operation panel section. The system is equipped with a display means for displaying information on a display section, so that the operator can easily check the information.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 of the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the external configuration of an electronic printer, which is equipped with a developer replenishing device 20 such as a cartridge and a digital developer, and is an image forming apparatus using a nine-dry type electrophotographic method.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a printer main body, and a developer storage container (hereinafter commonly referred to as a toner cartridge) 22, which is a main part of the replenishing device 20, is located on the rear side of the printer main body 21. It is removably attached to a toner conveying section 18 as a developer conveying section of a developing device located in the attached section 23 .

The toner cartridge 22 is filled with developer T (hereinafter commonly referred to as toner). A grip 24 is provided on the top of the toner cartridge 22 for convenient gripping during attachment/detachment operations, and a drive portion 25 is provided on the side.

A lid 26 is hinged to the mounting portion of the toner cartridge 22 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the printer main body 21. If this lid 26 is made of a transparent or semi-transparent glass plate, for example, it will constitute a toner cartridge confirmation section 19 as a developer storage container confirmation section that can immediately confirm whether or not an internal cartridge (IJ) is installed. can.

Further, when the lid 26 is formed of a metal plate, by providing a window hole in a part of the lid 26, the toner cartridge and page confirmation section 19 can be constructed in the same manner as described above.

A paper feed cassette 27 is removably attached to the front lower part of the printer main body 21, and the paper P after printing is placed in the paper output tray 29 through the paper delivery port 28 on the upper front surface, as shown by the two-dot chain line.
sent upwards.

The printing configuration of the printer employs an electrophotographic method and is not the main point of the present invention, so a description thereof will be omitted. The toner transport section 18 houses a toner transport means (not shown) as a developer transport means consisting of a pair of screw shafts. The toner T is distributed almost uniformly over the development width into the developer containing portion of the developing device (not shown).

Further, 30 is an operation knob for operating the blink, an operation key (not shown) necessary for the glint, a toner cartridge,
A display section 16 that displays when the toner T in the saw 2 runs out, and a display section 17 that displays whether or not the toner cartridge 22 is installed are provided.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, the toner cartridge,
The internal configuration of the engine 22 will be explained.

3 is a housing of a toner cartridge, 32 is a toner outlet formed in a spherical protrusion at the bottom of the housing 31, 33 is a toner outlet at the lower end of the outlet 32;
4 is accommodated in the outflow part 31, and a sno-irral groove 3 is formed on the outer periphery.
This is a toner transfer member as a developer transfer member consisting of a rotating body with a length of 4 m. 35 is a conical coil spring that constantly elastically presses the toner transfer member 34 toward the outlet 33. The upper end of the coil susol ring 35 is held by the inner flange 32a of the outflow portion 32.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a drive gear attached to the side of the housing 31 by a support shaft 37, which forms a part of the drive section 25. The support shaft 37 is rotatably supported by a bearing 38 and connected to the outflow member 34 by a coil spring 39 that constitutes a flexible coupling. A V-ring 40 prevents the toner T in the toner cartridge 22 from leaking out through the gap between the support shaft 37 and the bearing 38.

4 is a detection arm whose upper end is rotatably held by a holding member 42 fixed to the housing 31 with a support shaft 43; The lower end of the arm 41 enters into the toner T and is provided with a magnet 44, and a reed switch 45 is provided on the outside of the housing 31 facing the magnet 44. This detection arm 41. Magne,)44. Lead Sui, Chi 4
5 constitutes a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the seat car T.

The position of the detection arm 41 shown by a solid line in FIG. 3 is the detection position, and the detection arm 41 is in a vertical state due to its own weight and closely corresponds to the reed switch 45. As a result, a toner-free detection signal is sent to the outside via the reed switch 45.

On the other hand, the position of the arm 41 indicated by the chain line in FIG. has been done. Then, as the filling level of the toner T decreases, the detection arm 41 also rotates, and when the toner T decreases to a state where it does not touch the detection arm 41, the detection arm 41 automatically reaches the detection position.

Toner replenishment from the toner cartridge 22 is carried out by the drive unit 2.
5 gear 36 rotates. That is, the toner transfer member 34 rotates via the coil spring 39, and the toner T inside is gradually sent downward by the screw feeding action of the spiral groove 34h on the outer periphery, and is discharged downward through the toner outlet 33. be done.

However, when the toner cartridge and cartridge 22 are removed as shown in FIG. Since the toner T is prevented from flowing out, even if the toner transfer member 34 rotates, the toner T does not scatter to the outside.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the toner cartridge 22 is placed on the toner transport section 18 of the mounting section 23 of the printer main body 21, a push-up member is provided that protrudes from the center of the mounting opening 46 of the toner transport section 18. 41 comes into contact with the lower surface of the toner transfer member 34 and pushes up the toner transfer member 34 slightly against the coil slider ring 35. Therefore, the outlet 33 is sufficiently opened and the toner T is sent to the toner transport section 18.

A lever 48 is provided on the top of the toner transfer member 34 and is rotatable integrally therewith, and is fixed to the toner transfer member 34 by a rotating shaft 49 . When the toner transfer member 34 rotates, that is, when the drive unit 25 is activated, this lever 48 engages with the detection arm 41 in the detection position as shown in FIG. 4, and moves the detection arm 41 from the detection position to the non-detection position. The arm 41 is forcibly moved or returned to the position by the cam action of the lever 48. Therefore, for example, when the toner cartridge 22 filled with toner T is newly installed, the arm 41 is moved to the non-detection position. When the detection arm 41 is not returned, the detection arm 41 is reliably returned to the non-detection position by rotating the lever 48 only once via the drive unit 25 as a pre-operation for the replenishment operation. Than this,
Malfunction of the detection means can be prevented.

Note that 50 in FIG. 2 is a toner T inlet;
After supplying, the lid member 51 is sealed to prevent toner from scattering to the outside.

Further, 52 in FIG. 3 indicates a toner cartridge,
The reed switch 53 is a magnet provided on the side surface of the housing 31, and a reed switch 53 is arranged on the printer main body side opposite to this magnet. Due to this.

When the cartridge 22 is attached to the main body, the magnet 52 and reed switch 53 correspond, and a detection signal indicating that the cartridge 22 is attached is sent out via the reed switch, and the display means is operated. - Visibly displayed on the display section 17 of the channel 30 (FIG. 1). That is, the magnet 52 and the reed switch 53 constitute a detection means for detecting whether or not the toner cartridge and cartridge 22 are attached.

Note that, as in the modification shown in FIG. 6, the toner cartridge,
Magnets 52 a p 52 b t52c are on the side of
,5. ? A magnet is placed at a specific position among four different positions as shown in d. On the other hand, the printer body 2
On the first side, there are four reed switches 53m, 53b, 53e, 53d corresponding to the four different positions of the magnet.
Place them in advance. Then, the installed toner cartridge (reed switch 53) 22 is connected to the detected reed switch 53.
It can be divided into four types from a to 53d.

Therefore, for example, there are toner cartridges for each color of toner T, such as plastic, yellow, magenta, etc.

If the positions of the magnets and the toners of the cartridges 22 are different, the color type of the toner T in the installed toner cartridge 22 can be determined from the detection result and visually displayed on the operation and armpit 30 (Fig. 1). can.

This makes it possible to standardize the shapes of the toner cartridge and the cartridge 22, and to distinguish the types by simply changing the positions of the magnets 521 to 5jd, thereby preventing errors in the apparatus.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the drive section 25 and its control structure, as well as the method of attaching and detaching the toner cartridge and cartridge 22 will be explained.

In the drive unit 25, a gear 6 is provided on the printer main body 21 side.
0. A gear 6 fixed to the gear 60 via a support shaft 61
2. The gear 63 meshing with the gear 62 and the gear 6
3 is provided with a cam member 65 fixed via a shaft 64.

A motor 66, which constitutes the main part of the driving means, is connected to the gear 63.

When the toner cartridge 22 is attached to the glitter main body 2, the drive gear 36 meshes with the gear 60. Therefore, when the motor 66 operates, the drive gear 36 is driven to rotate, and the above-described toner replenishment operation is performed.

The motor 66 is connected to a toner concentration detector 67 of a developing device in the printer main body 21 via an automatic control section 68, and when the toner T in the developing device becomes insufficient, the control section 68
A toner replenishment request signal is sent. Accordingly, the control unit 68 sends an activation signal to the motor 66 to continue operating the Tanabata 66 during that time, and when the toner supply to the developing device is sufficiently filled, it sends a stop signal and causes the motor 66 to operate. to stop. This control section 68 may be constructed from a conventional electric circuit. In this manner, motor 66 is selectively activated depending on the toner concentration within the developer.

Further, the motor 66 is connected to the detection means 71 via the control means 70.
It is connected to the. The detection means 71 is the detection arm 41. This includes the configuration of a magnet 44 and a reed switch 45. That is, the detection means 71 is connected to the detection arm 41
When it reaches the detection position, it sends a detection signal indicating that there is no active agent to the control means 20. After receiving this detection signal, the control means 70 sends an operation signal to the motor 66 so as to continue operating the motor 66 serving as the drive means for a predetermined period of time, and then stops the motor 66.

That is, since the motor 66 continues to operate for a predetermined period of time even after the detection signal is sent out, the toner T still remaining at the bottom of the toner cartridge 22 is actively moved by the toner transfer member 34 after the detection arm 41 reaches the detection position. It will be sent out on a regular basis.

Therefore, the problem of residual toner after the detection operation is solved.

The predetermined period of time during which the control means 70 continues to operate the motor 66 is determined from the relationship between the amount of remaining toner and the amount of toner delivered by the toner transfer member 34 - in any case, the remaining toner T is completely exhausted within this period of time. Set it as follows.

With the above configuration, the toner cartridge and cartridge 22 are completely emptied, which is economical because no unused toner T remains when replacing the cartridge and cartridge, and there is no risk of residual toner T leaking out from the toner cartridge 22. Since there are no screws, the replacement work can be done easily without getting your hands dirty.

It should be noted that the control means 70 may be configured as a conventional electric circuit.

Further, the continuous operation of the motor 66 for a predetermined period of time is possible even when the printing operation of the printer is stopped or activated, since there is a margin in the amount of toner consumed in development. In the latter case, the printing operation can be stopped after the toner transport member 34 stops operating.

Also, the said operation of the motor 66 and thus the toner transport member 3
If you set the operation in step 4 to start immediately after the detection operation, even if the printer's power is turned off at this timing,
Since the developer heat is detected again when the power is turned on again, the motor 66 and the toner transfer member 34 operate reliably. Alternatively, a memory means for operating the toner transfer member 34 in a predetermined manner may be provided separately, and the memory means may be automatically operated when the power is turned on.

Next, the structure of the vibration generating means 59 of the toner cartridge 22 will be described. Reference numeral 72 is a coil spring, one end of which is suspended by a fixed suspension part 73 within the printer main body 21, and the other end of which is suspended by a plate spring 74. The leaf spring 74 is attached to the printer main body 21 so as to be in pressure contact with the side surface of the toner cartridge and cartridge 22 in the attached position. coil spring 7
2 is stretched within the rotation locus of the cam member 650. Therefore, when the drive unit 25 is activated, the cam member 65 pushes the coil spring 72 out of the trajectory, so that the spring 72 is activated.

As a result, the leaf spring 74 also vibrates, but during photographing, the leaf spring 74 remains in pressure contact with the side surface of the cartridge and the cartridge 22 and causes the entire toner cartridge and the cartridge 22 to vibrate together in the lateral direction. Therefore, the leaf spring 74 does not hit the toner cartridge 22 during vibration, so the toner T attached to the inner wall surface of the housing 31 of the toner cartridge 5722 falls due to the vibration action without generating high noise. be able to. Next, a method for attaching and detaching the toner cartridge 22 will be explained.

Toner cartridge 2 shown in solid lines in FIGS. 7 and 8
2, when removing the toner cartridge 22 from the installed state, first place the entire toner cartridge 22 with the spherical toner outlet portion 32 on the toner conveying portion 18, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The outflow portion 32 is tilted around the center of rotation 75 in the same position. As a result, the drive gear 3
6 is disengaged from the gear 6o on the printer main body 21 side. At the same time, Toner Car.

The tricorn 22 is also released from frictional engagement with the latching grate 77 attached to the frame 76 of the printer body 21.

Then, by lifting the toner cartridge 22 upward from this inclined state, it can be removed. In this case, toner cartridge 22 is released from resilient engagement with holder 78. The holder 78 is attached to the printer main body 21 side along an axis X-X (seventh
(Fig.) can be rotated and has a locking protrusion 78 m at the upper end.
, and is elastically engaged with a locking recess 29 provided corresponding to the toner cartridge 22 . The position of one side and the front side of the toner cartridge 22 is regulated.

The retaining plate 71 and the holder 78 detachably hold the cartridge cartridge 22 in the mounting position from these holding means.

The toner cartridge 22 can be released and removed from the main body in the above-described order. Furthermore, when installing, the toner cartridge 22 can be easily installed in the reverse order of removal.

Next, modifications shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 1θ will be explained. This modification particularly shows another configuration of the toner-free detection means, and the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as in the previous embodiment.

In this modification, an impeller 8Q is attached to a support shaft 49 on the toner transfer member 34 in place of the detection arm 41 in the previous embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, the impeller 80 is fitted onto the support shaft 49 having a rectangular cross section via a square bearing 81, so that it rotates integrally with the toner transfer member 34 in the rotational direction. It is relatively slidable in the direction.

When the toner cartridge 22 contains a sufficient amount of toner T, the impeller 80 is constantly pushed upward by the drag of the toner T against the blades when the impeller 80 rotates. Further, movement in the axial direction is stopped at a stop 82 at the upper end of the support shaft 49. As the amount of toner decreases, the impeller 80 also descends along the support shaft 49, and finally reaches the detection position shown by the chain line in FIG. In this position the impeller 80 rests on the inner flange 32 & of the outlet 32. At exactly this position, the impeller 80 is attached to the printer main body 21.
It corresponds to the reed switch 45 arranged on the side. A magnet 83 is provided at the outer end of one of the blades of the impeller 80, and the series lead switch 45 sends out a detection signal, that is, a detection signal indicating the absence of developer.

In this modification, when the toner detection means is activated after filling the toner cartridge 22 with the toner T, a pair of impellers 80 are rotated within the toner T to raise the impeller 80 before detection. can be reliably returned to the non-detection position.

Therefore, detection errors can be prevented.

Although the embodiments and modifications have been described above, the present invention can be applied not only to the cartridges having the above-mentioned configurations, but also to those having the configurations shown in FIGS. 11 to 14.

Further, the replenishing device of the present invention can be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as copying machines other than electronic printers.

In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention appropriately replenishes developer consumed during image formation through a cartridge-type developer replenishing device equipped with a removable developer storage container to a mounting portion. In an image forming apparatus configured to obtain
A detection means for detecting that the developer storage container is attached to a mounting portion, and a display means for displaying the detection result of the detection means on a display portion provided outside the main body of the apparatus such as an operation/channel portion. The configuration is as follows. Therefore, the operator can easily check from outside the apparatus main body whether or not the developer storage container is attached to the attachment target, preventing images from being formed without the developer storage container being attached or erroneously determined to be malfunctioning. This has the advantage that it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can prevent this.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of an electronic printer as an image forming apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the developer storage container shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial top view taken along line IV-■ in FIG. 2 showing the engagement relationship between the lever and the detection arm, and FIG. An explanatory diagram of the main part configuration showing the attachment relationship between the storage container and the connecting part on the main body side, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the discrimination configuration according to the type of storage container, and FIG. 7 is the drive unit and its related control configuration. , and a schematic diagram showing the holding structure of the storage container, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the method for removing the storage container, and FIG. 9
10 is a plan view of the impeller shown in FIG. 9, and FIGS. 11 to 14 are schematic longitudinal sectional views of storage containers equipped with detection means of different configurations. FIGS. 11 and 12 are longitudinal cross-sectional views of the storage container shown in different operating states, FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of the drive system, FIG. 14 is a partially cutaway top view, and FIG. 15 is a conventional example. 1st
FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 3; T...developer (toner), 20...developer replenishment device, 21...apparatus main body (f') printer main body), 22...
Developer storage container (toner cartridge), 23... Mounted part, 11... Display part, 3o... Operation/mother panel,
52...Magnet, 53...Reed switch. Figure 2 "m Figure 4 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 23' Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10!i1 Figure 11rl!J 12WA Figure 14 Figure 13 Figure 15I0

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An image forming apparatus capable of appropriately replenishing the developer consumed during image formation via a cartridge-type developer replenishing device equipped with a removable developer storage container to a mounting portion. The apparatus includes a detection means for detecting that the developer storage container is attached to the mounting portion, and a display means for displaying the detection result of the detection means on a display section provided outside the apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus characterized by: (2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display section is provided in the operation panel section.