JPS62280781A - Developing device for image forming machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To exactly prevent a toner from leaking out of a toner containing chamber, by providing a cover member which has been provided so as to be freely movable between a closed position for covering a toner discharge opening and an open position for exposing the toner discharge opening, and a closed position lock means for locking the cover member so as to be freely releasable to the closed position. CONSTITUTION:Until the time when a developing device 34 is used actually, an opening which has been formed on a partition wall 144 of a developing chamber 146 and a start developer containing chamber 148 is sealed up tightly by a sealing means which can be unsealed freely. Also, a cover member 178 is positioned at a closed position, and locked to the closed position by a closed position lock means 190. When the cover member 178 has been positioned to the closed position, a main part 180 of the cover member 178 covers a part exposed to a toner containing chamber 150 side in the peripheral surface of a toner supply roller 174 and covers a toner discharge opening 170. Accordingly, by the cover member 178, it is prevented exactly that a toner leaks out to the developing chamber 146 through the toner discharge opening 170 from the toner containing chamber 150.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention 3. Technical Field for Detailed Description of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device for an image generator, and more specifically, to a developing device for an image generator, in which toner is applied to an electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. The present invention relates to a developing device for developing images.

PRIOR ART As is well known to those skilled in the art, electrostatic copying machines or electrostatic printing machines, which form an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatographic photoreceptor and then develop the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. Image generating machines such as the machine are in widespread use. In such an image generator, a developing device for applying toner to an electrostatic latent image and developing it into a toner image generally includes a developing chamber and a developing chamber for applying toner to the electrostatic latent image to be developed. A configuration is used that includes an application means disposed in the toner chamber, and a toner storage chamber communicated with the developing chamber through a toner discharge opening.

In the developing device of the above configuration, instead of installing the image generating device at the place of use and filling the toner storage chamber with toner when actually starting to use it, the toner storage chamber is filled with toner in advance during manufacturing, etc. There is a tendency to adopt a so-called pre-toner filling method in which the toner is filled with toner and supplied to the user in this state. In particular, a movable photoreceptor support means, such as a rotating drum having an electrostatographic photoreceptor on its surface, and a development device (and often also after transferring the toner image on the photoreceptor to a transfer material such as conventional paper). A cleaning device for removing residual toner from the photoreceptor) is mounted on a common unit frame and constitutes a replaceable process unit, and this process unit is removably mounted on the housing of the image generator. In this type of image generating apparatus, a developing device employing the above-mentioned toner pre-filled method is often used.

Therefore, it is important that the following requirements be satisfied in a developing device that employs the toner pre-filled method. In other words, until it is actually installed at the place of use and begins to be used,
It is important that the toner is reliably sealed within the toner storage chamber without being discharged from the toner discharge opening. If toner leaks from the toner discharge opening during transportation, etc.
Such leaked toner contaminates the photoreceptor or various elements disposed around it.On the other hand, after the start of use, if necessary, the toner is removed from the toner storage chamber through the toner discharge opening into the developing chamber as required. It is important that the toner is supplied to the

In order to satisfy the above requirements, in the conventional developing device that adopts the toner pre-filled method, the toner discharge opening of the toner storage chamber is sealed with an appropriate sealing member, and the sealing member is removed at the beginning of use. The toner discharge opening is opened by removing the toner discharge opening.

<Problems with conventional technology> However, the conventional developing device has the following problems.

Toner inevitably adheres to a portion of the sealing member that is exposed to the toner storage chamber through the toner discharge opening. Therefore, when the seal member is removed, the particles adhering to the seal member often adhere to the worker's hands or clothes, or are scattered around.

<Object of the Invention> The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned facts, and its main purpose is to securely seal the toner discharge opening until the toner is installed at the place of use and started to be used, and to prevent toner from the toner storage chamber. It is possible to reliably prevent leakage of toner, and at the beginning of use, there is no need to open the toner discharge opening and store the toner without worrying about getting toner on the hands or clothes of the worker or scattering the toner around. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved development device for an image generator, which is capable of supplying donor from the chamber to the development chamber.

<Summary of the Invention> As a result of extensive research, the inventors of the present invention have developed a method that replaces the conventional sealing member that is removed when the toner discharge opening is opened, with a closed position that covers the toner discharge opening and an opening that exposes the toner discharge opening. A cover member is disposed that is movable between positions, and the cover member is releasably locked in the closed position by a closed position locking means until the start of use, and the cover member is releasably locked in the closed position at the time of the start of use. It has been found that this object can be achieved by arranging the cover member to be moved into the open position rather than being removed by unlocking the cover member.

That is, according to the invention, a developer chamber, an application means disposed in the developer chamber for applying toner to an electrostatic latent image to be developed, and a developer chamber communicated with the developer chamber through a toner discharge opening. In a developing device for an image generating machine, the developing device is provided with a toner storage chamber in which the toner is disposed; There is provided a developing device comprising a cover member and a closed position locking means for releasably locking the cover member in the closed position.

<Preferred specific examples of the invention> A more detailed description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 base stealer and 2 A! FIG. 1 schematically depicts an electrostatic copying machine having a preferred embodiment of a development device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The illustrated copying machine includes a generally rectangular parallelepiped-shaped housing, which is indicated by the number 2 as a whole. This housing 2 is defined by a lower support frame 4 and an upper support frame 6.

The lower left end portion of the upper support frame 6 is rotatably connected to the lower support frame 4 via a shaft 8, and can pivot between a closed position shown by a solid line and an open position shown by a two-dot chain line. can be done.

On the upper surface of the housing 2, ie, the upper surface of the upper support frame 6, a document mounting means 10 is mounted so as to be able to reciprocate in the left-right direction. The document placement means 10 includes a transparent plate 12 on which a document to be copied is placed, and a document cover 14 that can be opened and closed to cover the transparent plate 12 and the document placed thereon. Contains.

A so-called process unit, which is located approximately in the middle of the housing 2 and is generally designated by numeral 16, is removably attached to the upper support frame 6. More specifically, a pair of support rails 18 and 20 are fixed to the upper support frame 6, spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction and extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. On the other hand, the process unit 16 is mounted on a unit frame 22.
Supported rail portions 24 and 26 are formed on both left and right sides of this unit frame 22, extending in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. Supported rail portions 24 and 2 of unit frame 22
6 are engaged with the support rails 18 and 20 of the upper support frame 6, respectively, and the unit frame 22 is slid in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper, thereby attaching and detaching the process unit 16 to the upper support frame 6. A rotating drum 28 is rotatably mounted approximately at the center of the unit frame 22.

A suitable electrostatic photoreceptor is disposed on the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 28. The unit frame 22 further includes an arrow 30
A charging corona discharger 32, a developing device generally designated by numeral 34, and a cleaning device generally designated by numeral 36 are also installed around the rotating drum 28, which is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by . ing. Cleaning device 3
Reference numeral 6 includes an elastic blade 38 that comes into contact with the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 28, a toner feed roller 42 that is rotationally driven in the direction shown by an arrow 40, and a toner recovery chamber 44. The developing device 34 will be described in more detail later.

The upper support frame 6 further includes the process unit 16.
Irradiation lamp 46 and reflection plate 48 located above
and an optical system 50 are also installed.

The optical system 50 is composed of a large number of elongated optical elements extending in the vertical direction (for example, a rond-shaped lens sold by Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. under the trade name "Selfo Tsuku Micro Lens"). The light from the irradiation lamp 46 is
As shown by the one-dot chain line, the light is irradiated through the transparent plate 12 onto the original placed on it, and the reflected light from the original is reflected by the optical system 50.
and an exposure opening 5 formed in the upper wall 52 of the unit frame 22
4 and is projected onto the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 28 in the exposure area 56 . Also, a part of the light from the irradiation lamp 46 is transmitted to an opening 58 formed on the lower surface of the reflection plate 48 and to the upper wall 52 of the unit frame 22, as similarly shown by the dashed line.
The light is projected onto the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 28 in the static elimination area 62 through the static elimination light aperture 60 formed in the static elimination area 62 .

At approximately the center of the lower support frame 4, there is a transfer corona discharger 66 facing the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 28 in the transfer area 64, and a transfer corona discharger 66 located adjacent to and downstream of the transfer corona discharger 66. A stripping static eliminator 68 is provided.

Further, at the right end of the lower support frame 4, a copy paper supply means, which is indicated by the number 72 as a whole, is provided.
A copy paper tray 74 is disposed at the left end of the tray. Between the copy paper supply means 72 and the copy paper tray 74,
A copy paper transport system, generally designated by numeral 76, is provided for transporting copy paper through the transfer area 64. The copy paper supply means 72 includes a copy paper table 78 and a copy paper delivery roller 80 disposed above the downstream end of the copy paper table 78. Copy paper delivery roller 80 is selectively moved up and down and rotated in the direction shown by arrow 82. The copy paper supply means 72 further includes the copy paper table 78.
The copy sheet feeding roller 86 includes a copy paper feeding roller 86 that is disposed downstream of the roller and is rotationally driven in the direction shown by an arrow 84, and a copy paper separating means 88 that is disposed below the copy paper feeding roller 86. Copy paper separation means 88
is a support member 9 rotatably mounted by a pin 90;
2, and a separation member 94 made of a high friction material such as synthetic rubber and disposed on the upper surface of the support member 92. Support member 92 is resiliently biased in a clockwise direction by suitable spring means (not shown), thus forcing separation member 94 resiliently against copy paper feed roller 86.

In the copy paper supply means 72 as described above, a layer of sheet-like copy paper of an appropriate size is manually inserted onto the copy paper base 78. Each time the copy paper feed roller 80 is lowered and rotated in the direction of an arrow 82, the upper copy paper in the copy paper layer is sequentially delivered, and the copy paper is further advanced by the copy paper feed roller 86. Separation member 94 prevents copies other than the topmost copy paper from being advanced by copy paper feed roller 86 when two or more copies are delivered at a time by copy paper feed roller 80. Thus, the copies are fed one by one to the copy paper transport system 76.

The copy paper conveyance system 76 includes a pair of guide plates 96, a pair of conveyance rollers 100 that are rotationally driven in the direction shown by an arrow 98, and a guide plate 102.
and 104, a conveyor belt mechanism 108 which is rotationally driven in the direction shown by arrow 106, a pair of heat fixing rollers 112 which are rotationally driven in the direction shown by arrow 110, a pair of guide plates 114, and a conveyor belt mechanism 108 which is rotationally driven in the direction shown by arrow 116. It includes a pair of ejection rollers 118. Appropriate heating means 122 is disposed within the upper heating roller 120 of the heating fixing roller pair 112. Further, the upper heating roller 120 is provided with a peeling member 124 for preventing the copy paper from being wrapped.

In the electrostatic copying machine as described above, the rotating drum 28
The charging corona discharger 32 substantially uniformly charges the photoreceptor to a specific polarity on the rotating drum 28 while the photoreceptor is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 30, and then, in the exposure area 56, the photoreceptor is charged on the transparent plate 12. The image of the original is scanned and exposed onto the photoreceptor, thus forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image of the original on the photoreceptor. During the above scanning exposure, the original! 3! The placing means 10 is moved for scanning exposure from a scanning exposure start position indicated by a two-dot chain line 10A rightward to a scanning exposure end position indicated by a two-dot chain line 10B. Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor is developed into a toner image by a developing device 34.

Next, the copy paper supplied from the copy paper supply means 72 and conveyed by the copy paper conveyance means 76 is brought into close contact with the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 28 in the transfer area 64, and is transferred onto the photoreceptor by the action of the transfer corona discharger 66. The toner image is transferred onto the copy paper. Thereafter, the copy paper is peeled off from the rotating drum 28 by the action of the static eliminator 68. The peeled copy paper is conveyed through a pair of heat-fixing rollers 112, during which the toner image on the copy paper is heat-fixed, and then discharged onto a copy paper tray 74.

Meanwhile, the rotating drum 28 continues to rotate, and the toner remaining on the photoreceptor after transfer is removed from the photoreceptor by the action of the elastic blade 38 of the cleaning device 36. The removed toner is sent into a toner collection chamber 44 by a toner feed roller 42 and collected there. Next, the photoreceptor is irradiated with neutralization light in the static elimination area 62, and the residual charge on the photoreceptor is eliminated.

Therefore, the electrostatic copying machine as described above is merely an example of an image generating machine to which an example of a developing device configured according to the present invention is applied, and therefore, the electrostatic copying machine as described above is In the present invention, detailed explanations of the structure and operation of the electronic copying machine other than the developing device will be omitted.

Satogasa! Continuing the explanation with reference to FIG. 1 of the vertical flexible bottom, the unit frame 22
has a front wall 126 (FIG. 2) and a rear wall 128 arranged at a predetermined distance in the front-rear direction (that is, the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper), and the illustrated developing device 34 is located between the front walls 126 and 128. It is located in Between the front walls 126 and 128,
Various walls 130.1'32, 134, extending in the front-back direction;
136°138, 140, 142 and 144 are provided, and the developing device 34 is connected to the walls 130, 132°13.
4. It has three chambers divided by 136, 138, 140, 142, and 144, namely, a developing chamber 146, a start developer chamber 148, and a toner chamber 150.

The above wall 130, 132° 134. 136, 138, 14
0, 142 and 144 can be integrally formed with each other.

The developing chamber 146 has an open left side surface facing the rotating drum 28. In the developing chamber 146, an applying means 152, a stirring means 154, and a partition plate 156 are arranged. The application means 152 includes a cylindrical sleeve 160 rotatably driven in the direction indicated by an arrow 158, and a stationary permanent magnet 162 disposed within the sleeve 160 and having a plurality of magnetic poles spaced apart in the circumferential direction. It can be composed of. The stirring means 154 can be constructed of a spiral blade or the like that is rotationally driven in the direction shown by the arrow 164. The sleeve 16 of the application means 152 is attached to the wall 144 that defines the upper left wall of the developing chamber 146.
A so-called ear cutting means 166 is formed that projects toward zero. Further, a toner concentration detector 168 located above the ear cutting means 166 is disposed on the wall 144 . The detector 168, which may be of a known type, is located in the developing chamber 1.
46 with an exposed detection surface.

The start developer storage chamber 148 contains a start developer (not shown) consisting of carrier particles and toner.
is pre-filled. Such a start developer storage chamber 1
It is important that the developer chamber 48 be reliably sealed until the time the developer device 34 is actually used to prevent leakage of toner and/or carrier particles from the starting developer chamber 148. On the other hand, as will be described later, when starting to use the developing device 34, it is necessary to supply the start developer stored in the start developer storage chamber 148 to the development chamber 146. A wall 140 forming a partition between the chamber 146 and the start developer storage chamber 148 is formed with one or more openings (not shown) that are releasably sealed. A sealing means (not shown) for releasably sealing such opening.
is in the form as disclosed in the specification and drawings of the utility model registration order (name of invention: developing bag W for image generating machine) dated the same date as this application filed by the applicant. is convenient, and the explanation thereof will be left to the specification and drawings in the order of registration of the utility model, and will be omitted in this specification.

The toner storage chamber 150 is filled with toner in advance. An elongated toner discharge opening 170 extending in the front-rear direction is formed at the lower end of the wall 138 that forms a partition wall between the toner storage chamber 150 and the inspection vehicle 146. It is communicated with a developing chamber 146. Except for the toner discharge opening 170, the toner storage chamber 150 can be completely sealed. Advantageously, a toner supply roller 174 is disposed in the toner discharge opening 170 and is selectively driven to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 172. Referring to FIG. 2 together with FIG. 1, the front wall 12
A rotary shaft 176 extending along the toner discharge opening 170 is rotatably mounted between the toner discharge opening 170 and the rear wall 128, and a toner supply roller 174 is fixed to the rotary shaft 176. The toner supply roller 174 , which is conveniently formed from sponge rubber, has dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the toner outlet opening 170 .
0 is substantially occluded. The upper half of the circumferential surface of the toner supply roller 174 is located on the toner storage chamber 150 side, and the substantially lower half of the circumferential surface of the toner supply roller 174 is located on the developing chamber 146 side. As can be easily understood, when the toner feed roller 174 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 172,
Accordingly, toner can be supplied from the toner storage chamber 150 to the developing chamber 146.

Therefore, in the developing device 34 as described above, as will become clear from the description later, after the developing device 34 actually starts to be used, the arrow 172 of the toner supply roller 174
It is important that the toner is reliably supplied from the toner storage chamber 150 to the developing chamber 146 in accordance with the rotation in the direction indicated by . On the other hand, before the developing device 34 is actually used, for example, when transporting the process unit 16 or transporting the entire electrostatic copying machine equipped with the process unit 16, toner is removed from the toner storage chamber 150 to the developing chamber 146. It is important to reliably prevent leakage. As will be readily understood, when toner leaks from the toner storage chamber 150 into the developer chamber 146, the toner adheres to and contaminates the rotating drum 28 or elements such as the charging corona discharger 32 disposed around the rotating drum 28. Resulting in.

In the illustrated example, the toner supply roller 174 is disposed in the toner discharge opening 170 that communicates the toner storage chamber 150 with the development chamber 146, and the toner supply roller 174 in a stationary state discharges the toner. opening 1
70 is temporarily closed. However, it is necessary that the toner supply roller 174 be selectively driven in rotation, so that the toner supply roller 174 can be rotated through the toner discharge opening 17.
Due to the fact that the toner supply roller 174 is made of sponge rubber with a large number of holes, etc., the toner supply roller 174 cannot discharge the toner, as is easily understood. It is not possible to seal the opening 170 sufficiently reliably, especially if vibrations are generated during transportation, and the toner storage chamber 150 is removed from the developer chamber 1.
46 Hetoner may leak.

In the developing device 34 configured according to the present invention, until the developing device 34 is actually used, the toner storage chamber 15
It is important that a cover member 178 is provided in association with the toner discharge opening 170 to ensure that toner does not leak from the developer chamber 146 through the toner discharge opening 170. As clearly shown in FIG. 2, the illustrated cover member 178 has a main portion 180 having an arcuate cross-sectional shape, and an extension portion 182 that projects from one side edge of the main portion 180 in a substantially radial direction. A connecting piece 184 is formed at each end of the other side edge of the main portion 180, and the free end of the connecting piece 184 is formed into an annular shape. Such a cover member 178 is connected to the connecting piece 1.
Each of 84 annular free ends is adjacent to both ends of the toner supply roller 174, and is rotatably mounted on the rotary ring 176. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 together with FIG. 2, the wall 132 defining the toner storage chamber 150 is formed with an elongated opening 186 extending in the front-rear direction. The portion 180 is passed through the opening 186. Sealing members 188 made of a flexible material such as synthetic rubber are fixed to four side edges of the opening 186. The cover member 178 is
It is pivotable about an axis of rotation 176 between a closed position shown in FIG. 3 and an open position shown in FIG. In the closed position shown in FIG.
The main portion 180 of 8 extends from the toner storage chamber 150 along the circumferential surface of the toner supply roller 174 to the inner surface of the wall 138, and extends from a portion of the circumferential surface of the toner supply roller 174 that is exposed to the toner storage chamber 150 side. cover, thus covering the toner discharge opening 170. The extension portion 182 located outside the toner storage chamber 150 extends along the wall 132 with one side thereof in contact with or close to the outer surface of the wall 132 . When the cover member 178 is pivoted to the open position shown in FIG. 4, most of the main portion 180 is also exposed outside the toner storage chamber 150, exposing the circumferential surface of the toner supply roller 174, thus opening the toner discharge opening. 170 is exposed. As shown in FIG. 2, cover member 178 has extension portion 182.
has a rond-like protruding piece 187 that protrudes forward from the front end of the unit frame 22, and this protruding piece 187
6 and protrudes forward through an arcuate opening 189 formed therein. This arcuate opening 189 is connected to the cover member 178.
extends along the locus of the projecting piece 187 when it is pivoted from the closed position shown in FIG. 3 to the open position shown in FIG.

Because of this, by grasping the protruding end of the protruding piece 187 from the front of the unit frame 22, the cover member 178 can be pivoted from the closed position to the open position.

Importantly, the developer unit 34 is also provided with a closed position locking means 190 for releasably locking the cover member 178 in the open position shown in FIG. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer surface of the wall 132 includes a protrusion 192 that extends along the extension 182 of the cover member 178 when the cover member 178 is in the closed position. is formed. The amount of protrusion of the protrusion 192 is approximately the same as the thickness of the extension 182, and therefore the surface of the protrusion 192 and the surface of the extension 182 are substantially on the same plane. Closed position locking means 1, as clearly illustrated in FIG.
Reference numeral 90 is composed of an adhesive tape having an adhesive part 194 on the upper surface of which an adhesive is applied and a non-adhering part 196 to which no adhesive is applied. The sticking part 194 extends from the front end to the rear end of the extension part 182 of the cover member 178,
The surface of the extension portion 182 of the cover member 178 and the queen protrusion 1
920 surface and is removably attached. A non-stick part 196 following the rear end of the stick part 194 is a
The extension part 1 of the cover member 178 is folded back against the cover member 178.
It extends forward from the rear end of 82. The front end of the non-adhesive portion 196 passes through an opening 198 formed in the front wall 126 of the unit frame 22 and projects forward. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in a state in which the adhesive portion 194 is adhered across the extension portion 182 of the cover member 178 and the protruding portion 192, the cover member 17
8 is locked in the closed position, unable to move from the closed position shown in FIG. On the other hand, the unit frame 22
When the protruding end of the non-stick part 196 is grasped from the front of the cover member 178 and pulled forward, the stuck part 194 gradually extends from the rear end to the front end of the extension part 18 of the cover member 178, as is easily understood.
2 and the protrusion 192, and the entire adhesive tape is removed. This releases the four locks of the cover member 178, allowing the cover member 178 to pivot from the closed position to the open position.

The illustrated developing device 34 further includes the cover member 178.
Open position locking means 198 are also provided for locking the holder in the open position shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a rectangular opening 200 is formed in the extension 182 of the cover member 178. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the opening means 198 is comprised of a locking member 202 projecting from the wall 134. This engaging member 2
A substantially triangular locking portion 204 is formed at the free end of the locking portion 202, and a step portion 206 is formed at the rear end of the locking portion 204. As will be readily understood with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, when cover member 178 is pivoted from the closed position to the open position, locking member 202
The locking portion 204 enters the opening 200 formed in the extension portion 182 of the cover member 178, and the locking portion 204 of the cover member 1
78 is pivoted to the open position, the locking portion 204
is elastically deformed and passes through the opening 200. In this way, due to the locking action of the stepped portion 206, the cover member 178
extension 182 is prevented from pivoting from the open position to the closed position, thus locking the cover member 178 in the closed position.

Image 2': Operation and Effect of the Position The operation and effect of the above-mentioned developing device 34 will be explained as follows.
It is as follows.

As already mentioned, until the developing device 34 is actually used, the opening (not shown) formed in the wall 144 forming the partition wall between the developing chamber 146 and the start developer storage chamber 148 is closed. It is sealed by a removable seal (not shown). In addition, cover member 1
78 is positioned in the closed position shown in FIG. 3 and is locked in the closed position by closed position locking means 190. When the cover member 178 is positioned in the closed position, as described above, the main portion 18 of the cover member 178
0 covers the portion of the circumferential surface of the toner supply roller 174 that is exposed to the toner storage chamber 150 side, thus covering the toner discharge opening 170.

Therefore, as can be easily understood by referring to FIG.
Toner is reliably prevented from leaking from the developer chamber 146 through the toner discharge opening 170. Thus, when transporting the process unit 16 or when the process unit 7
When transporting the entire electrostatic copying machine in which toner storage chamber 150 is installed, the leakage of the start developer from the start developer storage chamber 146 to the development chamber 146 is reliably prevented, and the leakage of the start developer from the toner storage chamber 150 to the development chamber 146 hetoner is reliably prevented from leaking.

When starting to use the developing device 34, first unseal the opening (not shown) formed in the wall 140 that forms the partition between the developing chamber 146 and the start developer storage chamber 148. (The start developer contained in the start developer storage chamber 148 (this start developer consists of carrier particles and toner) is caused to fall into the development chamber 146. Then, the closed position locking means 190 is configured. Pull the protruding end of the non-adhesive part 196 of the adhesive tape forward and attach the adhesive part 194 of the adhesive tape to the cover member 1.
The entire adhesive tape is removed by peeling it off from the extension 182 of 78 and the protrusion 192 of the wall 132, thus removing the cover member 1.
78 to release the closed position lock. Thereafter, the protruding end of the protruding piece 187 of the cover member 178 is grasped and the cover member 178 is pivoted to the open position shown in FIG. In this way, the circumferential surface of the toner supply roller 174 is exposed, and therefore, when the toner supply roller 174 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 172, the toner storage chamber 150 is exposed to the developing chamber 146.
The state is made ready for supplying toner.

On the other hand, the cover member 17 is pivoted to the open position.
8 is engaged with the engagement member 202 and locked in the open position.

Regarding the operation of the cover member 178 as described above, the following fact should be noted. Firstly,
No part of the adhesive tape constituting the closed position locking means 190 is exposed within the toner storage chamber 150;
Therefore, toner does not adhere to the adhesive tape. Therefore, in the operation of removing the adhesive tape and releasing the closed position lock of the cover member 178, there is no fear that the toner will adhere to the operator's hands or clothes or that the toner will be scattered around. Second, when the cover member 178 is in the closed position, the main portion 180 thereof extends within the toner storage chamber 150, so that toner is attached to the main portion 180 of the cover member 178. However, the operator simply needs to
It is only necessary to grasp the protruding end of the protruding piece 187 of 78 and pivot it from the closed position to the open position. There is no need to remove cover member 178 from developer device 34 and discard it. Therefore,
There is no risk that the toner adhering to the main portion 180 of the cover member 178 may adhere to the operator's hands or clothes or be scattered around. When pivoted into position,
The main portion 180 of the cover member 178 is moved from inside the toner storage chamber 150 to the outside of the toner storage chamber 150, but at this time, the main portion 180 of the cover member 178 is moved by the sealing member 188 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The main portion 180 that has been rubbed and exposed to the outside of the toner storage chamber 150 has relatively little toner attached to it, if any, and the toner falls downward from the main portion 180 and is transferred to the electrostatic copying machine. There is little risk of adhesion to other components. If desired, a suitable protective cover (not shown) can be provided below the main portion 180 exposed to the outside of the toner storage chamber 150.

Having performed the initial preparatory operations described above, the electrostatic latent image can be developed by developer device 34. When performing development, the stirring means 154 is rotated in the direction shown by arrow 164 within the developing chamber 146, thereby stirring the developer and charging the toner to a predetermined polarity. The sleeve 160 in the applying means 152 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 158, and the developer held on the surface of the sleeve 160 by the magnetic attraction of the magnet 162 disposed within the sleeve 160 is rotated as the sleeve 160 rotates. and is conveyed in the direction shown by arrow 158.

Then, due to the action of the main stage 166 for cutting the ears, the sleeve 16
The excess amount of developer retained on the surface of sleeve 160 is removed to adjust the amount of developer on the surface of sleeve 160. Thereafter, the developer on the surface of the sleeve 160 is brought into contact with a photoconductor disposed on the surface of the rotating drum 28, and the toner in the developer is transferred to the photoconductor in accordance with the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor. The electrostatic latent image is thus developed into a toner image. The developer removed from the surface of the sleeve 160 by the action of the cutting means 166 is made to flow upward, then to the right on the partition plate 1.56, and is made to flow down onto the stirring means 154. Toner concentration detector 16
8 detects the toner concentration in the developer. As the toner is consumed and the toner concentration decreases due to the development process, the detector 168 generates a signal which causes the toner supply roller 174 to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 172, thus removing the toner from the toner storage chamber 150 and the developer chamber. Toner is supplied to 146.

Modifications and Modifications> Although preferred specific examples of the developing device configured according to the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such specific examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to such specific examples. It goes without saying that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the invention.

For example, the illustrated example is a developing device that uses a so-called two-component developer consisting of carrier particles and toner, but the present invention is a developing device that uses a so-called two-component developer consisting only of toner. As is well known to those skilled in the art, in a developing device using a -component type developer, the start developer storage chamber 148, stirring means 154, toner concentration detector 168, etc. are completely unnecessary. It's unnecessary.

If desired, an openable toner replenishment opening may be provided in the toner storage chamber 150, so that when substantially all of the toner in the toner storage chamber 150 is consumed, an appropriate toner cartridge or the like can be used to fill the toner storage chamber 150. It is also possible to replenish toner. In addition to or in place of this, the collected toner collected in the toner collection chamber 44 of the cleaning device 36 may be circulated to the toner storage chamber 150 by an appropriate circulation means for reuse.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a simplified sectional view showing an electrostatic copying machine equipped with a preferred embodiment of a developing device constructed in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of the developing device in the electrostatic copying machine of FIG. 1. 3 and 4 are partial sectional views showing a part of the developing device in the electrostatic copying machine of FIG. 1 in a state before the start of use and a state after the start of use, respectively. 34...Developing device 146...Developing chamber 148...Start developer storage chamber 150...Toner storage chamber 152...Applying means 170...Toner discharge opening 174--Toner supply roller 178- ... Cover member 180... Main part 182 of the cover member... Extension part 186 of the cover member... Projecting piece 190 of the cover member... Closed position locking means (adhesive tape) 194.
...Attached part 196 of the adhesive tape...Non-adhered part 198 of the adhesive tape...Open position locking means 202...Locking member Patent applicant Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. - Patent attorney Kishimoto Tadashiaki 11-1. -1・

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A developing chamber, an application means disposed in the developing chamber for applying toner to an electrostatic latent image to be developed, and communicating with the developing chamber through a toner discharge opening; In a developing device for an image generating machine, the developing device is provided with a toner storage chamber for an image generating machine; further, a toner storage chamber is disposed to be movable between a closed position that covers the toner discharge opening and an open position that exposes the toner discharge opening. A developing device comprising: a cover member; and a closed position locking means for releasably locking the cover member in the closed position. 2. The toner discharge opening is provided with a rotationally driven toner supply roller, and the cover member has an arcuate cross-sectional shape extending along the circumferential surface of the toner supply roller. Developing device according to item 1. 3. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the cover member, when positioned in the closed position, covers the peripheral surface of the toner supply roller located on the toner storage chamber side. 4. The cover member according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the cover member is rotatably mounted between the closed position and the open position about the central axis of the toner supply roller. Developing device. 5. The developing device according to claim 4, wherein when the cover member is positioned in the open position, at least a majority of the cover member is located outside the toner storage chamber. 6. It has a front wall and a rear wall, the developing chamber and the toner storage chamber are defined between the front wall and the rear wall, and the cover member has a wall extending forward through the front wall. The developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the developing device is provided with a protruding piece. 7. In the closed position, the cover member has a main portion that extends into the toner storage chamber and covers the toner discharge opening, and a main portion that passes through a wall that defines the toner storage chamber to the outside of the toner storage chamber. a projecting extension, and the closed position locking means includes an adhesive tape removably affixed across the extension of the cover member and the wall defining the toner storage chamber. A developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is comprised of: 8. The developing chamber and the toner storage chamber are defined between the front wall and the rear wall, and the extension portion of the cover member is defined between the front wall and the rear wall. The adhesive tape protrudes out of the toner storage chamber by penetrating the wall extending from the toner storage chamber, and the adhesive tape extends rearward and is removably adhered across the extension of the cover member and the wall. 8. The developing device according to claim 7, comprising a bonded portion and a non-stick portion extending forward from the rear end of the bonding portion and protruding forward through the front wall. 9. The developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising an open position locking means for locking the cover member in the open position. 10. In the closed position, the cover member has a main portion that extends into the toner storage chamber and covers the toner discharge opening, and a main portion that passes through a wall that defines the toner storage chamber to the outside of the toner storage chamber. and a protruding extension, and the open position locking means comprises a locking member that engages with the extension when the cover member is in the open position. Developing device described in Section 1.