JPS62163073A - Rotary developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent troubles such that the whole developing device is unbalanced when a developing unit is unloaded from the developing device body to replace it, a worker is injured because of the rotation of another developing unit, or the loading work of a new developing unit is made difficult by interrupting the rotation of the developing device body when any one of plural developing units is to be replaced. CONSTITUTION:A counterclockwise rotation supporting plate 80 is almost like a disk and notched parts 80a, 80b are formed on two opposed points on the periphery of the supporting plate 80. A rotation regulating elastic body 122 is formed so as to be engaged with the notched part 80a or 80b of the plate 80. The elastic body 122 is fixed on the copying machine body side, and at the replacement of a developing unit, the elastic body 122 can prevent the whole developing unit from being rotated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a rotary developing device equipped with a plurality of developing unit throats.

<Prior Art and Its Disadvantages> When attempting to make a plurality of monochrome copies, it is generally necessary to replace the developer tank for each color.

In a typical image forming apparatus, multiple developer tanks containing developers of different colors are prepared, and the developer tank of the color to be used can be replaced by opening the front panel of the image forming apparatus. There is. However, in this device, only one developing tank can be attached to the main body, so if you want to change the color of the copy, you must always replace the developing tank, which is very inconvenient.

Therefore, Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-3707 proposes a developing device in which a plurality of developing tanks are arranged around a photoreceptor drum and any developing tank can be used.

However, in this device, the developing tank occupies a large area around the photosensitive drum, which affects other image forming process means. Furthermore, since the distance from the exposure position to the development position differs for each developer tank, there is a possibility that the color tone, image contrast, etc. will differ from developer tank to developer tank.

Furthermore, since the developing angles of the developing tanks with respect to the surface of the photosensitive drum are different, it is necessary to change the shape of each developing tank, which inconveniently increases the cost of installing the developing tanks as a whole.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 46-134.78 proposes an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of developer tanks are rotatably supported on the same axis.

However, in this image forming apparatus, since each developer tank always faces the same direction, the drive mechanism is complicated and the space is large.

The present invention has proposed a developing unit replacement device for a rotary developing device in which one developing unit is selectively opposed to a photoreceptor drum, and each of a plurality of developing units is replaceable.

But this kind of W! If you try to replace one developing unit 1- and take it out of the developing device main body, the balance of the entire developing device will be disrupted, causing other developing units to rotate and injuring the operator, or making it difficult to install a new developing unit. There was a problem that made work difficult.

<Object of the Invention> The object of the present invention is to provide a rotary developing device in which a stop and a bar are activated when replacing a developing unit, so that there is no danger when replacing the unit, and a new developing unit 1- can be installed smoothly. The goal is to provide equipment.

<Structure and Effects of the Invention> The present invention is arranged on the side of a photoreceptor drum, rotatably supports a plurality of development units, and selectively faces one of the development units to the photoreceptor drum. In a rotary developing device of an image forming apparatus in which each of the plurality of developing units is replaceably mounted, a stopper is provided to prevent rotation of the developing device main body when any one of the plurality of developing units is replaced. Features.

According to the present invention, by configuring as described above,
When replacing one of the developing units, the other developing units are prevented from rotating due to the action of the stopper, which eliminates inconveniences such as injury to the operator and difficulty in installing a new developing unit. Ru.

<Embodiment> +a) Main part structure of a copying machine FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the main part structure of a copying machine using a developing unit exchange device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a photosensitive drum. A 1st charger 2. Focusing light transmission body 32 Rotary developing device 4
．． A transfer charger 5, a peeling roller 6, and a cleaner unit 7 are arranged in this order. The first charger 2 uniformly charges the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1. The focusing light transmitter 3 forms an image of the original 8 on the surface of the photosensitive drum.

The paper 10 is conveyed from a paper feed cassette (not shown) to the transfer section via the first general feed path 9. The cleaner unit 7 includes a blade 70 whose tip is in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor drum, and a waste toner box that stores waste toner scraped off by the blade 70.

The rotary developing device 4 is composed of two developing units I-A and B. These developing units A and B can be rotated about the rotation axis O in either a clockwise direction (F direction) or a counterclockwise direction (snake direction). Since a rotation lever 25 is attached to the tip of the rotation shaft O, the developing unit can be rotated by operating this rotation lever 25.

The developing unit 1-A is composed of a developing tank 20 and a hopper 21. The developer tank 20 has an opening 20C, and includes a developing roller 20a and a stirring roller 20b inside.

Further, a toner supply roller 22 is provided between the developer tank 20 and the hopper 21. The hopper 21 is used to replenish developer 23 via a replenishment roller 22 when the developer 23 in the developer tank 20 becomes low. The developing unit B is provided in the developing unit 8 in point symmetry with respect to the rotation axis O. This developing unit I-B also has the same configuration as the developing unit A described above.

(b) Structure of the developing unit exchange device i0 Structure of the vicinity of the rotating support temporary structure FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of the developing unit exchange device of the rotary type developing device.

The developing unit 1-A is provided with an engaging protrusion 52 on the right side of the drawing, which constitutes an engaging portion with a connectable roller drive portion 50,51. Furthermore, an engaging protrusion 511 is provided at a position symmetrical to the engaging protrusion 52 at the lower side of the left side of the developing unisol I-A. Further, in this embodiment, in addition to the roller drive portions 50, 51 and the engaging protrusions 52, a connector 53 for electrical connection is provided. Furthermore, arm engaging protrusions 55 and 56 that engage with positioning arms (to be described later) are provided above both ends of the back surface of the developing unit A.
is provided. Further, an arm engagement groove 59 that engages with the positioning arm is also provided at the bottom. The roller drive section 51 is connected to the rotation shaft of the developing roller 20a (not shown), and the roller drive section 50 is connected to the rotation shaft of the stirring roller 20b. These roller drive units 50, 51 are connected to a connecting device to be described later, and driving force is transmitted from the main body of the copying machine. Although only the developing unit A is shown in the same figure, the developing unit I-B also includes a roller drive unit 50.degree. 51 connector 53 and engagement protrusions 52 and 54.

A support portion for a rotary developing device is provided in the housing of the main body of the copying machine. This support section supports the developing units A and B on both left and right sides. The support part on the right side as viewed in the drawing includes a right-handed rotating support plate 60 having notches on both left and right sides, and a connecting plate 61 located in the notch on the rotating drum side of this rotating support plate 60.

The connecting plate 61 is movable in the axial direction of the developing unit, and has connecting parts 61 a and 61 b that can be engaged with the roller drive parts 50 and 51 of the developing unit A, respectively, on the inside thereof, and can be connected to the connector 53 . A connector receiver 61c is provided. Inside the right rotation support plate 60, there is a guide groove 65 that is open at the top and extends vertically downward, and a guide groove 65 that is open at the bottom and extends vertically upward similar to the guide 465 described above. A groove 66 is provided. A slightly wider groove is formed at the lower end of the guide groove 65, and this becomes an engaging portion 63 with which the engaging protrusion 52 of the developing unit A engages. Further, a wide portion is formed at the upper end of the guide groove 66, and this is an engaging portion 64 that engages with an engaging protrusion of a developing unit B (not shown). The right rotation support plate 60 further has elongated holes 67, 68 cut out in the upper part, and elongated holes 69, 70 cut out in the lower part. These long holes 67.68
Positioning arms 62a and 62b, which will be described later, are inserted from the outside of the right rotation support plate 60 in the axial direction of the developing unit. Similarly, positioning arms 62C and 62d are inserted into the elongated holes 69 and 70 in the axial direction of the developing unit. As will be described later, these positioning arms 62a
-62d are movable along the long holes 67-70 in the direction of the photoreceptor drum. When the positioning arms 62a to 62d are moved toward the photoconductor drum with the developing units A and B installed, engagement protrusions provided on the developing unit 1- are formed at the upper and lower ends of the guide groove. The engaging portion that is positioned engages with the portion, and the positioning of the developing unit is performed. Note that a left-hand rotation support plate 80 that supports the left side of the development unit is provided at a position opposite to the right-hand rotation support plate 60 and separated by the length of the development unit. A guide groove 81 having the same size and position as the guide groove 65 formed in the right rotation support plate 60 in the vertical direction is also inside the left rotation support plate 80.
Further, another guide /# (not shown) is formed at the same position as the other guide groove 66. An engaging portion 82 is provided at the lower end of the guide groove 81 . The engaging protrusion 54 of the developing unit) A is located at the engaging portion 8.
2.

Further, positioning arms 83a and 83b are provided at positions opposite to the positioning arms 62a and 62b so as to be movable toward the photosensitive drum, and similarly positioning arms 83c and 83d (not shown) are provided on the lower side. It is provided so as to face the alignment arms 62c and 62d. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the developing units A and B are installed and the positioning arms 62a to 62d are engaged with the arm engaging protrusions and arm engaging 'a' (see FIG. 1) of the developing units. There is. In the figure, 55.59 is developing unit A
57 and 58 are arm engaging protrusions and arm engaging grooves of the developing unit B.

ii. Structure of the opening/closing plate An opening/closing plate 90 is rotatably provided above the rotary support plate 60.80, that is, in the housing above the developing device including the developing unit. The size of the opening 89 formed when the opening/closing plate 90 is opened is set to a size that allows just one developing unit to pass through. Further, as will be described later, a link mechanism connected to this opening/closing plate 90 allows positioning arms 62 (62a to 62d), 83 to be moved in accordance with the opening/closing operation of the opening/closing plate 90.
(832 to 83d) move in the direction of the photoreceptor drum, and the connecting plate 61 moves in the axial direction of the developing unit. Opening/closing plate 9
0, the positioning arm 62°83 moves in the opposite direction to the photosensitive drum 1.

Further, the connecting plate 61 moves in the direction of releasing the connected state.

By moving the connecting plate 61 in the direction of disconnection and moving the positioning arm 62.83 in the direction opposite to the photoreceptor drum, the retaining protrusion 52.83 of the developing unit A located on the photoreceptor drum side is moved. 54 and the C-shaped engagement receiver provided at the lower end of the guide groove 65.81 located on the photosensitive drum side is released from engagement with the portion 63.82, and the developing unit A is moved to the guide groove 65.81. It becomes possible to move upward along line 81. That is, the developing unit A can be removed from the developing device through the opening 89 formed by opening the opening/closing plate 90. In this case, the developing unit B also falls off downward, so to prevent this, a support plate (not shown) is provided to prevent the developing unit B from falling downward. Furthermore, two notches 80a and 80b are formed symmetrically around the left rotation support plate 80. Further, the housing of the copying machine main body is provided with a rotation regulating elastic body 122 that engages with the notches 80a and 80b. When the left rotation support plate 80 is rotating, the rotation regulating elastic body 122 slides around the support plate other than the notches 80a and 80b. Rotation regulating elastic body 12
2 engages with the notch 80a, the opening of the guide groove 65 faces upward, and the developing unit I-A is placed in a replaceable position via the opening/closing plate 90. At the same time, this position is a developing position where the developing roller 20a of the developing Uniso I-A faces the photosensitive drum 1. Rotation regulating elastic body 1
22 engages with the notch 80b, the guide groove 66
The opening of the developing unit B is in a state where it faces upward, and the developing unit B is in a replaceable position via the opening/closing plate 90. At the same time, this position is a developing position where the developing roller 30a of the developing unit B faces the photosensitive drum 1.

iii. Link mechanism and other structures FIG. 3(A) shows a rear view of the link mechanism and the right rotation support plate 60, and FIG. 3(B) shows a side view thereof.

The opening/closing plate 90 can be rotated about a fulcrum 91 within a range of 90 degrees between a position shown by a solid line and a position shown by a two-dot chain line in the figure. An obliquely cut long hole 93 is formed in the opening/closing plate angle 92 attached to the side of the opening/closing plate 900. One end of a connecting rod 94 is locked in this elongated hole 93. The connecting rod 94 is arranged horizontally, and the other end is locked to a short piece 95a of an inverted lever 95 that is rotatable about a rotating shaft 96 as a fulcrum. This short piece 95a is located in a substantially horizontal state, and the long piece 95b is arranged so as to face downward. One end of a wire 96 is locked to the tip of this long piece 95b. The wire 96 is arranged horizontally, and the other end thereof passes through a hole 98 formed in the housing 97 and is locked to the connecting plate 61, as shown in FIG. 3(B).

The wire 96 is bent at a right angle at the position of the hole 98.

The connecting plate 61 has connecting parts 61a and 61b as shown in FIG.
and a connector receiver 61c. As described above, this connecting plate 61 is movable in the axial direction of the developing unit, and the shaft 99 can slide within the bearing section 100 during movement.

The tip of the vertical piece 95b of the lever 95 is further engaged with the left end of the L-shaped slide plate 101. This L-shaped slide plate 101 has a long hole 1 on the slightly right side of the horizontal piece.
01a, and a clockwise rotation support plate 60 is installed in this elongated hole l01a.
A rotating shaft 102, one end of which is fixed, passes through it. Also, a key portion 101b is provided at the right end of this L-shaped slide plate 101.
is formed. This key portion 101b is fitted into a fitting portion 105 of an arm connecting member, which will be described later.

The positioning arms 62a and 62C (see FIG. 1) are connected by an arm connecting member 103 on the outside of the right rotation support plate 60. Further, the positioning arms 62b and 62d are connected by another arm connecting member 104 disposed substantially parallel to the arm connecting member 103. A fitting portion 105 is provided approximately at the center of the arm connecting member 103, and as described above, this fitting portion 1
05 is fitted with the key portion 101b of the L-shaped slide plate 101. Springs 106 and 107 are suspended between the arm connecting members 103 and 104 in the upper and lower directions.

FIG. 4 shows the vicinity of both ends of a rotating shaft 96 that rotatably supports the lever 95. As shown in FIG. As shown, the rotation axis 96
A lever 110 is also attached to the left end. This lever 110 has the same shape as the vertical piece 95b of the lever 95 provided at the right end of the rotating shaft 96, and its tip is engaged with the L-shaped slide plate 105. The L-shaped temporary slide 105 operates when the positioning arm 83 (83a to 83d) on the left rotation support plate 80 is moved toward the photoreceptor drum. Although the arm connecting members 103 and 104 as shown in FIG. 3(A) are not shown on the left rotation support plate 80 in FIG. 1, the left rotation support plate 80 also has the right rotation support plate 60 and Similarly, an arm connecting member that connects the upper and lower positioning arms is provided. FIG. 5 shows a view (rear view) of the left rotation support plate 80 from the outside. In the figure, reference numerals 110 and 111 indicate arm connection members corresponding to the arm connection members 103 and 104 of the right rotation support plate 60, respectively. The left rotation support member 80 has elongated holes 112 and 113 above and elongated holes 114 and 11 below.
It is equipped with 5. Further, a rotation shaft 116 whose one end is fixed to the left rotation support plate 80 is provided at the center thereof. Further, a key portion 105b is provided at the left end of the L-shaped slide plate 105, and a fitting portion 117 into which the key portion 105b fits is provided approximately at the center of the arm connecting member 110.

Further, springs 118 and 119 are installed vertically between the arm connecting members 110 and 111. The arm connecting member 110 connects the alignment arm 83a and the alignment arm 83C (not shown) via the elongated holes 112 and 114.
It is provided at a position opposite to the alignment arm 62c.

). Further, the arm connecting member 111 includes a positioning arm 83b and a positioning arm 83d (not shown).
It is provided at a position opposite to the alignment arm 62d. ).

The counterclockwise rotation support plate 80 is approximately disk-shaped, but notches 80a and 80b are provided at two opposing points on its periphery. Furthermore, a rotation regulating elastic body 122 that engages with the notch 80a or 80b of the left rotation support plate 80 is provided. This rotation regulating elastic body 122 is fixed to the main body of the copying machine.

In the state shown in FIG. 5, the rotation regulating elastic body 122 is engaged with the notch 80a.

In FIG. 4, a positioning release lever 12 is provided at the front end of a rotating shaft 96 for rotating levers 95 and 110.
0 is attached. This positioning release lever 12
0 is provided with a positioning hole 121 in the center, and can be rotated in the direction of arrow E until this hole 121 fits into a convex portion (not shown). This positioning release lever 120
has the same function as the connecting rod 94 of the opening/closing plate. That is, by rotating this positioning release lever 120 in the direction of arrow E without opening the opening/closing plate 90, the wire 9 can be removed.
6 and slide plates 101 and 105 can be pulled forward in the direction D, releasing the connection state of the connection plate 61 and moving the positioning arm in the direction opposite to the photoreceptor drum, thereby releasing the engagement of the developing unit. The mating protrusion is the engaging part (
63, 67, 82, etc.) can be released. Therefore, this positioning release lever 12
By rotating the rotation lever 25 (see FIG. 2), the developing unit can be rotated while the opening/closing plate 90 is closed.

(Function of C1 developing unit replacement device Explain the effect on clothing.

1. Replacement operation 1 Open the opening/closing plate 90. At this time, if the document placement table of the copying machine main body is located above the opening/closing plate 90, the document placement table is moved before opening/closing plate 90.

When the opening/closing plate 90 is opened, the connecting rod 94 moves in the C direction,
(See Figures 3 and 4) The lever 95 rotates in the E direction (rotates approximately 30 degrees). At this time, the long piece 9 of the lever 95
A wire 96 with one end stopped at 5b is pulled. The other end of the wire 96 passes through the hole 98 of the housing 97, is bent at right angles, and is locked to the connecting plate 61, so that when the wire 96 is pulled, the connecting plate 61 moves in the direction of arrow C (see the arrow C direction). (See Figure 3 (B)). Connecting plate 61 is arrow C
By moving in the direction, the connecting portions 61a, 61b and the driving roller 50 of the developing unit A on the photosensitive drum side are connected to each other.
, 51 is released, and furthermore, the connection state between the connector 53 and the connector receiver 60c is also released.

Furthermore, as the lever 95 rotates in the direction of arrow E, the slide plate 101 moves in the direction of arrow E. Then, the key part 10 provided at the end of this slide plate 101
1b pulls the arm connecting member 103 in the direction of the arrow. Furthermore, the arm connecting member 1 is connected via the splinter 106 and 107.
Pull 04 in the direction of the arrow. As a result, the positioning arm 62 is pulled in the direction opposite to the photoreceptor drum, that is, in the D direction. As a result, the entire developing unit is also pulled in the direction of the arrow, and in the developing unit A, the engagement bones of the engagement protrusions 52.54 are released from their engagement with the portions 63.82. As shown in FIG. 4, when the opening/closing plate 90 is opened, the slide plate 101 and the slide plate 105 also move in the direction of the arrow, so that the positioning arm 83 is also aligned with the photosensitive drum on the left rotation support plate 80 side. is pulled in the opposite direction. Therefore, in this state, the developing unit hA can be pulled out through the opening 89.

ii. Replacement operation 2: Take out the developing unit A through the opening 91 and insert a new developing unit A'. At this time, the engagement protrusion of the new developing unit A' is connected to the clockwise rotating support plate 60. Insert along the respective guide grooves 65, 81 of the left rotation support plate 80.

1i (at, stopper action during replacement operation 2) When the developing Uniso I-A is taken out, the center of gravity of the entire developing device shifts and the balance is lost.However, at this time, the rotation regulating elastic body 12
2 is engaged with the notch 80a, the developing unisol l-
B will not rotate. In other words, the rotation of the developing unit B is prevented by the tension action of the rotation regulating elastic body 122. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the operator from being injured due to rotation of the developing unit B due to imbalance, and since the opening of the guide groove 65 is kept facing upward, the developing unit A' It is also easy to install.

iii. Replacement operation 3 After inserting the new developing unit A', close the opening/closing plate 90. Then, due to an action opposite to the above action, the connecting plate 6
1 is in the connected state, and the positioning arm 62.8
3 moves toward the photoreceptor drum and enters the attached state. At this time, the alignment of the new developing unit A' is completed.

iv. Switching the developing unit To switch the developing unit, keep the opening/closing plate 90 closed and move the positioning release lever 120 (see Fig. 4) in the direction of arrow E until the positioning hole 121 is locked to a convex portion (not shown). Rotate. Then, since the rotating shaft 96 also rotates in the same direction E, the wire 96 and the slide plates 101, 105 are pulled in the direction of the arrow. Due to these actions, the opening/closing plate 9
Similarly to opening 0, the connection state by the connection plate 61 is released. At this time, the connecting plate 61 moves to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line as shown in FIG. Therefore, the clockwise rotation support plate 60 becomes rotatable. The positioning arm 62.83 is also directed in the direction opposite to the photoreceptor tram, that is, in the direction D.
The alignment state is canceled due to the movement in the direction. At this time, the rotary lever 25 (see Fig. 2) rotates the rotary axis 0.
When rotated, the right rotation support plate 60 and the left rotation support plate 80 rotate, and the two developing units also rotate accordingly. When the rotation is stopped at the position where the rotation regulating elastic body 122 engages with the notch 80b, the developing unit B, instead of the developing unit A, reaches a position facing the photosensitive drum. In this state, the positioning release lever 120 is rotated in the direction of arrow F to return to its original position. Then, the connecting plate 61
is connected to the developing unit 1-B, and the positioning arm 62.83 moves toward the photosensitive drum, that is, in the direction of arrow C, and is brought into position.

Due to the above-described operation, the developing unit can be easily replaced by simply opening the opening/closing plate 90, and any one of the two developing units in the developing device can be positioned on the photosensitive drum side. When the developing unit is replaced, the rotation regulating elastic body 122 can prevent the entire developing device from rotating.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a developing unit replacement device of a rotary developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the main parts of a copying machine using the same rotary developing device, and FIG. 3 (A
), (B) shows a rear view and a left side view of the right rotation support plate. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the link mechanism, FIG. 5 is a rear view of the left rotation support plate, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the alignment arm and the developing unit. 1-Photosensitive drum, 50.51-Roller drive section, 53-Connector, 52.54-Engaging protrusion, 55.56-Arm engaging protrusion, 60-Right rotation support plate, 61 Series connection plate, 63. 64-Engagement receiving parts 62a to 62d-Arm for positioning, 90-Opening/closing plate,
94-Series connection rod, 95-Lever, 96-Rotating shaft, 101-L-shaped slide plate. 122 Elastic body for regulating one rotation (stripe collar).

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Arranged on the side of the photoreceptor drum, rotatably supports a plurality of development units, selectively allows one development unit to face the photoreceptor drum, and each of the plurality of development units is replaceable. In the rotary developing device of the image forming apparatus installed in the image forming apparatus, when replacing any one of the plurality of developing units,
A rotary developing device characterized by being provided with a stopper that prevents rotation of a developing device main body.