JPS6163866A - Replacing device of polychromic developing tank - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To replace a developing tank automatically with a simple operation by providing the titled device with a means for attachably/detachably holding developing tanks storing different color toners respectively and moving them circularly and a means for carrying in/out a developing tank corresponding to a specified color to/from a prescribed position of copying machine body. CONSTITUTION:A cabinet 5 for storing developing tanks 6a-6d storing different color toners respectively are arranged on the outside of the copying machine body 1 and a pair of opposed developing tank holding plates 10, 11 are fixed on a rotary shaft 7 in the cabinet 5. Notched parts 14a-14d with which the shaft parts 13a-13d of respective developing tanks 6a-6d are engaged so as to be suspended are formed on the holding plates 10, 11. A developing tank selecting reflection plate 22 different in each tank is fitted to the upper part of the shaft part 13 in respective tanks 6a-6d and a developing tank selecting sensor 23 consisting of four pairs of corresponding light emitting/photodetecting elements 24a-24d detects the arrival of the specified color tank at the carrying- out position to stop the shaft 7. For instance, the moving board 36 carries the tank 6d from the cabinet 5 into the copying position, and after completing the development, returns the tank 6d to the original position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a multicolor developer tank changing device applied to a copying machine using color toner developers.

<Prior Art and Its Disadvantages> In order to achieve multicolor copying in popular copying machines using color toner developers, the following two methods are generally relied upon. In other words, there are two methods: replacing multiple developer tanks with different color toner developers in one copying machine body according to the color of the original, and preparing multiple copying machines with developer tanks with different color toner developers. In this method, copies are made repeatedly using a copying machine containing the required color toner developer.

With the former method, it is time-consuming to change the developer tank to the copying machine to match the color of the original, and with the latter method, it is troublesome to repeat copying, and it is necessary to prepare multiple copying machines. However, it is uneconomical and lacks practicality.

On the other hand, although it is conceivable to accommodate a plurality of developer tanks within the main body of the copying machine, it is difficult to secure space and is impractical.

<Objective of the Invention> The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a convenient multicolor developer tank changing device that can automatically change the color toner developer tank with a simple operation. It is said that

<Configuration and Effects of the Invention> In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a system in which a plurality of developer tanks containing color toner developers of different colors are removably held and circulated, which are located outside the main body of a copying machine. A developer tank holding means for moving, a means for selecting a developer corresponding to a designated color, a means for carrying the selected developer into the copying machine main body, and a used developer tank in the apparatus main body to the above-mentioned holding means. The gist of this is that it is equipped with a means for transporting the equipment.

As is clear from the above configuration, in this invention, a plurality of developer tanks prepared outside the copying machine body can be automatically selected and taken out and put into the copying machine body, so that multicolor copying can be performed with one copying machine. It is possible to provide an economical and easy-to-handle multi-color developer tank changing device that can realize the above-mentioned functions, can be handled with simple operations, and is economical and easy to handle.

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

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of a multicolor developer tank changing device according to the present invention.

In the figure, ``■'' is a copying machine, which includes a copying machine main body 3 having a built-in optical body 2, a movable table 4, and the like.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a multicolor developer tank cabinet disposed adjacent to the copying machine main body 1, and inside this cabinet 5, toner developers of different colors, such as black, red, blue, and brown toner developers are stored. Four developer tanks 6 (6a to 6d) are stored, respectively. Reference numeral 7 denotes a rotating shaft supported by bearings 8 and 9 in the cabinet 5, and a pair of developer holding plates 10.1 facing each other at a predetermined distance.
) is fixed. A gear 12 is fixed to the rotating shaft 7 and rotationally driven by a drive device (not shown). The developer tank holding plate 10.1) is formed with a notch 14 (14a-14d) around the shaft 7 into which the shaft portion 13 (13a-13d) of each developer tank 6 is inserted and suspended. . The shaft portion 13 is colored to match the color of the color toner developer. 15.16 is the developer tank holding plate 10.1) corresponding to both ends of the shaft portion 13 of each developer tank 6.
The shaft part pullout provided in is a locking device, and the latch bar 17,
Spring 1 that applies spring force to the latch rod 17 in the latch direction
8. Each developing tank 6 comprises a latch bar holding member 19, 20, etc., which together with the rotating shaft 7, the above-mentioned holding plate 10.1), etc. constitutes a developing tank holding means 21, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. It is a selection sensor, and there are 4 sensors corresponding to the 4 developing tanks 6.
It has a set of light emitting and light receiving elements 24 (24a to 24d). This developing tank selection sensor 23 and the reflecting plate 22 are as follows:
It constitutes an external developer tank selection means 25, and is set to stop the rotation of the shaft 7 when the developer tank 6 is selected.

26 is a motor that starts in response to the stop of the rotating shaft 7; 27 is a rotating shaft provided on the bracket 5; 28 and 29 are a pair of gears that transmit the rotation of the motor 26 to the rotating shaft 27; 30°; 31 is a pinion fixed to both ends of the rotating shaft 27, and 32.33 is a developer tank latch release lever having a rack portion corresponding to each pinion 30.31. 34.35 is the above lever 3 in the release position
2.33 is a limit switch that stops the rotation of the motor 26.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a developer tank 1 which is arranged so as to be able to reciprocate between the main body 3 of the copying machine and the side of the cabinet throat 5! At the $ transportation platform,
As shown in FIG. 4, notches 37 and 38 are formed that do not prevent the selected developer tank 6 from entering the lower side. 39 is a motor for driving the moving table 36, and 40 is the motor 39.
For example, the drive gear 42, the driven gear 43, the chain 44, the reduction pulleys 46, 47 fixed to both ends of the shaft 45, and the driven pulley 4.
8.49, Held 50, etc. 51 is a protrusion provided on the movable table 36, and 52 is driven by the protrusion 51 to move the movable table 3.
By detecting the position of 6, the dirt is at the bottom of the developer tank conveying means 53 together with the above-mentioned moving table 3 () and drive 40. Reference numeral 54 designates a switch for detecting the developing tank 6 which is moved to the original position of the moving table 36, and 55 is a support member for the moving table 36.

Next, the operation of the above +14 formation will be explained.

If either black, red, blue, or brown is specified on the operation panel (not shown below), the multicolor curse tank can be used.
Rotation 1 Toi: Soyaft 7 rotates counterclockwise (direction of arrow a in Figure 1). Therefore, a pair of developer tank holding plates 1 (1,
1) also suspends each developer tank 6a to 6d and rotates in the same direction. Now, if the mourning color is specified, when the developing tank 6d containing the black toner developer travels to the general use position on the side of the copying machine main body 3, the light emitting and light receiving elements corresponding to the black color are detected. The self-irradiated light from the light emitting device 24C1 is reflected by the reflecting plate 22 on the side surface of the developing tank 6d and is received by the light receiving element. That is, at this position, the developer tank 6d corresponding to black is selected. At this point, the rotation of the holding plate 10.1) is stopped, and the motor 28
or start. This rotation of the motor 28 causes the pinion 30 to
．． 31, the developer tank latch release levers 32 and 33 move downward (in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
17 is pushed down against the force of the springs 18 and 18.

The above latch bar 17. When the upper end protrusions 32a and 33a of +7 are turned on, the switch 34 and 35 are turned on.
The rotation of the motor 26 is stopped.

The bearing 13d of the developer tank 6d is now attached to the developer tank holding plate 10.
．． 1) comes out of the parallel notch 14d.

On the other hand, since the motor 39 rotates when the developer tank 6d is selected, the moving table 36 moves toward the cabinet 15, lifts the developer tank 6d, and slightly slips under the developer tank 6d. . The protruding piece 51 of the moving table 36 is the limit switch 5
2, the rotation of the motor 39 is stopped.

After that, the motor 39 rotates in the opposite direction, so the moving table 3
6 places the developer tank 6d and retreats into the copying machine main body 3. When the moving table 36 retreats to the original position shown in FIG. 1, the developer tank 6d turns on the limit switch 54, so the rotation of the motor 39 for driving the moving table is stopped, thereby causing the black copy. becomes possible.

After copying is completed, if you want to replace the developer tank 6 with another one, perform the operation on the operation panel side in the opposite order: - The used developer tank 6d is carried out to the camera storage 5 side by the movable stage 36 and developed. It is held on the tank holding plate 1091). At this time, when the protruding piece 51 of the transfer unit 36 presses the limit switch 52, the motor 26 rotates in the opposite direction to that described above, and the developer tank latch release levers 32 and 33 move to the -1 side. Therefore, the latch rods 17, 17 are 1s18.
It is pushed up by a force of 18. As a result, the developer tank 6
d is prevented from escaping from the retaining plate 10.1).

In this way, multiple developer tanks prepared outside the copying machine main body 3 can be selected and automatically replaced on the copying machine main body 3 side, making it easy to perform multi-color copying work. It is economical because the increase in space is suppressed and multicolor copying can be performed with one copying machine.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a multicolor developer tank changing device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view of a multicolor developing cabinet of the same device as seen from the copying machine side, and Fig. 3 is a developer tank selection diagram. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a specific example of the developer tank conveying means. 3-copying machine main body, 6a to 6d-developing tank, 21-one stage of developer tank holding, 25-developing tank selection means, 53-developing tank conveying means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A developer tank holding means located outside the copying machine main body that removably holds and circulates a plurality of developer tanks containing color toner developers of different colors; A developer tank selection means for selecting a developer tank corresponding to a color specified at the developer tank attachment/detachment position, a function for carrying the selected developer tank to a predetermined position in the copying machine main body, and a function for transporting the used developer tank in the copying machine main body. A multicolor developer tank changing device comprising a developer tank transporting means having a function of transporting the developer tank to the developer tank holding means.