JPS6217825Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention comprises: a developing tank that stores a developer; a developing section that visualizes an electrostatic latent image on the surface of a photoreceptor using the developer supplied from a supply position of the developer tank;
It has a collection tray for collecting the developer discharged from the developing section, and the collection tray is provided with at least one collection port for returning the developer to the collection position of the developer tank. The present invention relates to a developing device in a wet type electronic copying machine.

The developer is supplied from the developer tank to the developer section, and the developer discharged from the developer section is returned to the developer tank through the collection port of the collection tray, thereby circulating the developer and using it. The above-mentioned type of developing device is well known. However, in this type of conventional developing device, there was a risk that the developer immediately after being returned from the developing section to the developing tank would be supplied to the developing section again. The developer that has just been used in the developing section is tired, so if the developer that has just been returned to the developing tank is immediately returned to the developing section and used again, as described above, The image developed using such a method has a low density and a decrease in sharpness, which may lead to a decrease in the quality of the copied image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device for a wet-type electronic copying machine that can eliminate the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks with a simple configuration.

The present invention attempts to recover the fatigue of the developer by not immediately supplying the developer returned to the developer tank to the developing section, but by keeping it in the developing tank for a certain period of time and then returning it to the developing section. The invention is constructed based on the idea, and embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, a developer tank 2 storing a developer 1 has an open top, and a collection tray 3 for collecting the used developer is placed above the opening. In this example, the peripheral edge of the tank 2 is bent, and the bent peripheral edge of the collection tray 3 rests on this bent edge. A pump 4 known per se is arranged in the tank 2 in its supply position;
This pump is driven by a motor 5 disposed on the collection tray 3 via a drive shaft 5a. The developing section configured as a developing tray 6 is supported on the collection tray 3 by a support member (not shown) which is known per se. As is well known, the developing tray 6 functions as an electrode, and a photoreceptor (not shown) is rotatably supported above the developing tray 6 with a small gap therebetween.

A developer supply conduit 7 connected to the discharge port of the pump 4 is connected to a developer supply section of the developing tray 6, and the developer sent out from the pump 4 by the drive of the motor 5 is delivered onto the developing tray 6 via the conduit 7. It is pumped to.

A collection port 3a for collecting the developer is provided in the collection tray 3 at a position away from the pump 4, and a plurality of collection ports may be provided. It is desirable that the recovery port be placed as far away from the pump 4 as possible. The collection tray 3 is slightly inclined toward the collection port 3a, so that the developer on the collection tray 3 can flow to the collection port 3a and further to a collection position within the developer tank 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, inside the developer tank 2, there is a space between the collection position and the supply position, that is, the position where the developer 1 flows down from the collection port 3a in the tank and the installation position of the pump 4. A baffle member is provided to form a flow path. In this example, the baffle member is constituted by a plurality of screens 8 that are erected substantially vertically, and a flow path that meanderes a plurality of times is formed in the developer tank 1 by the screens 8. In addition, screen 8
The number may be increased as necessary.

The developer 1 in the tank 2 is continuously pumped onto the developer tray 6 by the pump 4, as described above. When the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photoreceptor (not shown) reaches the position of the developing plate as the photoreceptor rotates, the latent image is removed by the developer drawn onto the plate 6. Be visualized. The used developer used in the developing operation is discharged from the developing tray 6 as shown by arrow A in FIG. 1, and flows down into the collecting tray 3.
The liquid that has fallen into the recovery pan 3 is further gathered up to the recovery port 3a, and is returned into the tank 2 through this recovery port 3a. The return position of this developer within the tank 2 is remote from the pump 4. The developer that has returned into the tank flows toward the pump 4 in a meandering manner as shown by arrow B in FIG. 2, with its flow being regulated by the screen 8. Therefore, after the used developer flows down from the collection port 3a, it takes a relatively long time to reach the pump, during which time the exhausted developer recovers. Therefore, the developer pumped up again into the developing tray 6 by the pump can perform its developing function without any hindrance.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is also the same in principle as the embodiment shown in FIG.
02 is not entirely open at the top, but instead has a drive shaft 105a for the pump 104 and a conduit 10.
7 and the collection port 1 of the collection tray 103.
03a fits into the opening 9a, and the collection tray 103 is connected to the tank 10 via the support plate 10.
It is placed on 2. The motor 105 is connected to the support plate 10
supported above. Also in this embodiment, a screen (not shown in FIG. 3) is provided. The operation of this example is also similar to that of FIG.

According to the above configuration, the developer returned to the developer tank can be retained in the tank for a relatively long time by the baffle member configured as a screen, and fatigue of the developer can be well recovered. be able to.

Incidentally, if a means known per se is provided for stirring the developer in the tank, the stirring effect can be further improved, and the collecting tray and the developing tank can be
It would be particularly convenient to use if it was detachably attached with an attachment band so that it could be easily attached and detached, but such a configuration is not essential to the present invention, and it is sufficient to adopt these configurations as necessary.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the developing device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the relationship between the screen provided in the tank and the flow state of the developer, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another embodiment. 1... Developer, 2... Developer tank, 3... Collection tray, 3a... Collection port, 8... Screen.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A developing tank that stores a developer, a developing section that visualizes an electrostatic latent image on the surface of a photoreceptor using the developer supplied from a supply position of the developing tank, and a developer that collects the developer discharged from the developing section. a collection tray, the collection tray is provided with at least one collection port for returning the developer to the collection position of the developer tank;
In a developing device of a wet-type electronic copying machine, a baffle member is provided that stands approximately vertically to form a flow path for a developer between a collection position and a supply position of the developer tank, and the baffle member connects the flow path. The developing device is characterized in that it is formed in a flow path that meanderes a plurality of times.