JPS6122367A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To replace easily a developing device without removing a hopper by constituting a titled device so that a shutter member of the hopper is opened, when the developing device for a specified color is set, and an opening part of the hopper is closed, when the developing device for other color than the specified color is set. CONSTITUTION:When a developing device for a specified color is inserted into a developer hopper, a shutter member of a developer replenishing port is opened relatively, and a bellows in the replenishing port is extended and coupled with the hopper. When inserting a developing device 3a for a color toner except the specified color, a hopper flapper 413 is not opened since a member for abutting on the flapper 413 does not exist in the developer 3a side. When a cartridge for a color toner is inserted into an inserting port 53 and rotated, a toner drops down into the developing device from its replenishing port. Accordingly, an opening part of the hopper is opened only with respect to the developing device for a specified color, and it is not opened with respect to other developing device 3a, therefore, a copy of other color than the specified color can be obtained easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a developing device having a developing device containing a developer and a developer hopper supplying the developer to the developing device.

Conventionally, when replenishing powder developer to a developing device in an electrophotographic device, an electrostatic recording device, or a magnetic recording device, a developer cartridge containing the powder developer is inserted into the developing device and the developer is directly supplied to the developing device. was resupplying. However, the amount of developer (also called toner) that can be stored in the developing device is small.
I could only make about 7-8,000 copies of A4 size paper.

Today, as office automation increases and the amount of copies made increases, the need to store large amounts of toner has arisen.

For this reason, a developing device in which a hopper is attached to a developing device as shown in FIG. 1 has been considered. This is to replenish toner to the hopper 4 from the replenishment port A and store it in the hopper.0 When the toner in the developing device 3 becomes less than a certain amount, the replenishment roller 41 is gradually moved in the direction of the arrow by a motor (not shown). Rotate. roller 4 by orifice 42
The spikes of toner on the developing device 3 are regulated, and the blade 43 scrapes the toner off the roller.
toner is replenished. The toner supplied to the developing device 3 is stirred by a stirring rod 31, and at the same time, a single layer of toner is formed on the magnetic roller 33 by the blade 32, which is conveyed in the direction of the magnetic roller 33 having a sleeve and a magnet, and is exposed to light. The drum 1 is developed by a known contact or non-contact development method.

When the developing device and the hopper are formed into one unit in this way, the unit becomes thick and maintenance of this unit becomes very cumbersome. Furthermore, with the recent trends in electronic copying machines, there is a growing demand for users to easily obtain multicolor copies by replacing the developing device, but in the device shown in Figure 1, the unit is large. Therefore, there was a drawback that the user could not easily replace the unit.

Furthermore, in order to avoid increasing the size of the developing device unit, it is conceivable to use an apparatus in which the developing device 6 and the hopper 4 are separated as shown in FIG. Here, members having the same functions as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

A sealing material (urethane foam, etc.) 64 is provided at the connecting portion between the developing device 3 and the hopper 4 to prevent toner from scattering.
This is pasted on the entrance of the developing device 3. In this example, the developing device and hopper are separate, so it is possible to avoid increasing the size of the unit, but in order to make color copies or multicolor copies, the hopper must be removed at the same time as the developing device is replaced. There was a drawback.

An object of the present invention is to allow the developer to be easily replaced without removing the hopper, and when a developer for a specific color, for example, black toner, is set, a shutter member at the opening of the hopper opens, allowing the developer to be replaced with another color toner. An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device in which a shutter member at an opening of a hopper is closed when a hopper is set.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the main parts of a copying machine to which the developing device of the present invention can be applied. 1 is a photosensitive drum that rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure; 2 is a well-known latent image forming means that projects an original image onto the photosensitive drum 1 from above to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum 1; 3 is a latent image forming means on the photosensitive drum 1; A developing device for developing an image, 4 a developer hopper that supplies developer to the developing device, 5 a transfer paper cassette, 6 a transfer paper feeding means, and 7 a transfer paper fed by the paper feeding means. This is a transfer and separation section that transfers the developed image on the photosensitive drum 1 and then separates the transfer paper from the photosensitive drum 1.The transfer paper is then sent to the fixing means 9 by the conveyance means 8 and fixed thereon, and then transferred to the paper discharge tray 10. The paper is ejected. Reference numeral 11 indicates a cleaning means for cleaning the photosensitive drum 1. 24 is an opening for replenishing the developer into the developer hopper 4, and 25 is a lid that closes the opening. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view thereof. In the figure, the hopper main body 4 is supplied with toner from a toner cartridge (not shown) from the direction A, and the toner is stored in the hopper. When the toner inside reaches a certain level, a sensor (such as a weight type, piezo type, condenser type, etc.) that detects this is activated. In response to the detection operation of this sensor, the motor 415 shown in FIG.

A stirring shaft 451 in the hopper is fixed to the stirring gear 410 by a parallel bottle 452, and a spiral-shaped stirring rod 45 is fixed to this stirring shaft 451. Therefore, the driving force from the stirring gear 410 is transmitted to the stirring shaft 451, and the stirring rod 45 rotates within the hopper 1.

On the other hand, the stirring gear 410 is constructed integrally with a timing pulley 411, and the timing pulley 411 and screw pulley 412 are connected via a timing belt 416. Since the screw pulley 412 and the screw 47 are fixed by a parallel pin 471, the toner in the hopper is sent in the direction of arrow X1 by the screw 47, falls in the direction B from the hopper discharge port 401, and is sent to the developing device. In order to prevent cross-linking or stagnation of the toner, the stirring rod 45 is rotated in the direction C in FIG. 4, but this stirring also achieves the purpose of preventing cross-linking and at the same time conveying the toner to the screw 47. There is. The hopper 4 is fixed to the main body stay 12.13.

The toner sent to the developing device 3 is conveyed to the center of the developing device in the X2 direction by a screw 39 provided at the diagonal opening.

This screw 69 is connected to the gear 61 by a motor (not shown).
5.

310 is a screw bearing. The toner conveyed to the center of the developing device is conveyed in the direction of arrow X3 and the direction of arrow X4 by a two-way feed screw 311 in order to convey the toner uniformly to the magnet roller 33. This two-way feed screw 611 has screws formed in both directions at a certain distance from the center. This is E
This is to ensure that even if the position of the toner falling from the toner varies slightly, it is uniformly conveyed in two directions. Further, it is desirable to leave a portion of the screw 311 at both ends so that the toner does not get stuck at both ends.

The developer conveyed in the X'5 and X4 directions is sent to the magnet roller 63 by the stirring rod 312 and the stirring rod 313.

The toner on the magnetic roller 66 having a sleeve and a magnet is formed into a uniform toner layer by the blade 32, and developed with the drum 1 by contact or non-contact development. At this time, the developer may be a one-component type or a two-component type. FIG.
The figure is a cross-sectional view at that time.

In FIG. 6, the developing device 3 is guided by the main body guide 14-15 and the pressure lever 16, and is inserted toward the back of the paper (Y direction in FIG. 7). In FIG. 7, a tension spring 620 is provided between a boss 618 of a slide lid 617, which is a shutter member of the developer, and a boss 619 provided on a part of the developer. Therefore, when the developing device 6 and the hopper 4 are connected, the replenishing port 301 of the developing device
is closed by a slide lid 617.

When the developing device 6 is further inserted in the direction of arrow Y, the notch 321 of the slide lid 617 comes into contact with the convex portion 414 of the hopper 4. As a result, the slide lid 617 remains stationary at that position, but since the developing device 3 is inserted further back, the replenishment port 601 begins to open relatively. Figure 5 shows the fully opened state.

The developer supply port 301 is connected to the toner receiver 65. compression spring 36
．． Bellows 37. It consists of a bellows fixing part 38. Due to the action of the compression spring 36, the bellows 37 is always subjected to a force that tends to move in the direction of the arrow. Slide pig 317
When the toner is above the supply port, the slide lid 617 engages with the toner receiver 35 to suppress this force. Due to this force, the toner receiver 35 comes into close contact with the slide lid, and the supply port is sealed.

FIG. 8 shows a front view of the bellows 37, which has a bellows shape so that it can be expanded and contracted. Further, the bellows is made of a flexible material such as neoprene rubber or urethane rubber.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the developing device 3 is inserted to a predetermined position, the slide cover 317 opens completely and the compression spring 36
The toner receiver 65 comes into contact with the hopper connecting terrace 48 due to the force. When the toner receiver and connecting terrace are combined, the sixth
The boss 302 shown in the figure hits the cam 461, and the flapper 413, which is a shutter member that closes the opening of the hopper, is rotated 90 degrees to open the hopper as shown in Figure 5. 044 is a ring attached around the opening. It is a sealing material such as urethane foam.

FIG. 9c is a plan view of the 72 collar 416.

The flapper 416 and the cam 431 are fixed to the shaft 462. FIG. 9(B) is a side view of the flapper, and FIG. 9 (q is a side view of the cam).

FIG. 10(5)(B) is a drawing showing the opening and closing of the flapper 416. The flapper cam 431 is pressed by a leaf spring 4661 fixed to the hopper 4. When the boss 602 attached to the developer is in the 10th (5) position, the flapper 461 closes the hopper opening.0 When the developer is inserted further in the P direction, the cam 461 closes the hopper opening.
As shown in FIG. 10(B), when the cam 431 rotates 90 times clockwise, the flapper 413 fixed coaxially with this flapper also rotates 90 times, opening the hopper opening.

After reaching the above state, the pressure lever 16 is rotated in the M direction in FIG. As a result, when pressure is applied to the developing device 6 via the leaf spring 622, the developing device 3 rotates in the N direction about the first fulcrum 614 as shown in FIG.
Development is made possible by the bumps provided at both ends of the plate.

Here, since the developing device is pressurized after the developing device opening member and the hopper terrace are connected, even if the connecting portion rotates a little, the toner receiving receptacle 5 is always pressed against the hopper connecting terrace 48 by the compression spring 66. , and since the connecting member is a bellows, toner will not leak from the connecting portion. When removing the developing device, perform the operation in reverse to the above.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the developing device during insertion of the color toner developing device 6a. Similar to the black toner developer, this developer 3a is guided by main body guides 14, 15 and pressure lever 16 and inserted toward the back of the paper. However, since there is no abutment boss 602 that engages with the flapper of the hopper to open and close the flapper, such as in a black toner developer, the hopper flapper does not open. , pressure lever 16
6 is a diagram in which the developing device 6 is pressurized by rotating it counterclockwise. In the pressurized state, the color toner developer does not interfere with the hopper flapper 416 and the cam 431.

Note that it is desirable that the hopper motor not be driven while the color toner developing device is set. This can be easily distinguished between the black toner developing device and the color toner developing device by simply changing the connector pin positions.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a toner cartridge 50 for color toner. The lower end of the claw 51 of this cartridge 50 is brought into contact with the toner cartridge guide 52 in FIG.
Insert the cartridge 50 into the cartridge insertion port 53 in the direction of arrow P. After inserting the cartridge 50 all the way, grasp the handle 54 of the cartridge and turn it in the direction of arrow Q. When the upper end 55 of the claw 51 abuts against the toner cartridge protrusion 56 in FIG. 11, the toner replenishing port 57 faces downward in FIG. 13, so that the toner falls into the developing device B by gravity.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to what has been described in detail.

For example, in this embodiment, the flapper 41 of the hopper opening
! Although the opening/closing operation of step 1 is performed by the developer boss 302 and the cam 431, the hopper flapper may be closed in conjunction with the opening and closing of the front door through a plunger when the front door is opened. A solenoid may be provided in the hopper flapper to open and close the hopper flapper in response to a signal indicating that the developing device is set. Further, although the developing unit connecting portion is a bellows, a hose may be used as long as it is a flexible member. Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the flapper closes the opening of the hopper and the slide lid closes the opening of the developing device, but the configuration may be reversed.

As explained above, the present invention provides a developing device in which a developing device that accommodates developer and a developer hopper that supplies developer to the developing device are separated, so that development can be performed without removing the developer hopper from the main body of the machine. The container can be removed, and the hopper opening opens only when a developer for a specific color is set, and does not open when a developer for a color other than this specific color is set. This has the effect that copies other than specific colors (for example, color copies) can be easily made.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a developing device in which a developing device and a hopper are integrated into a unit, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a developing device in which a developing device and a hopper are separable, and Fig. 6 is a side view of the main wing of a copying machine. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the connecting portion between the developing device and the hopper according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view thereof, FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the developing device and the hopper before they are connected, The figure is a cross-sectional view in that state, Figure 8 is a front view of the bellows, Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the bellows, (B
), (C) are front and side views of the 7 wrapper and cam, Figures 10 (A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams explaining the opening and closing of the flapper, and Figure 11 is a diagram showing the process of inserting the color toner developer. 12 is a sectional view of the developing device shown in FIG. 11 pressed against a photosensitive drum, and FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a color toner cartridge. In the figure, 1 is a photosensitive drum, 3 is a developer, 3a is a color toner developer, 4 is a hopper, 63 is a magnet roller, 50 is a color toner cartridge, 617 is a slide lid, and 416 is a flapper.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a developing device in which a developing device that accommodates developer and a developer hopper that supplies developer to the developing device can be separated,
A developing device characterized in that a developing device is configured to be removable without removing a developer hopper from an image forming machine main body. (2) The shutter member at the opening of the developer hopper opens when a developer for a specific color is set, and the opening of the developer hopper is closed when a developer for a color other than the specific color is set. Claim 1:
Developing device described in Section 1.