JPS62294271A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent leak of a developer by constituting a developer carrying path from a replenished developer supply device to a developing device so that this carrying path is opened only when a developer feeding-out member is turned. CONSTITUTION:As long as a screw 28 is rotated driven, a shutter cylinder 23 continues to bear a clockwise rotation energizing force through frictional discs 29 and 30 against a coiled spring 27 and is held in a rotation angular position (b). The replenished developer carried from a body vessel of a hopper 20 to a cylinder part 21 by rotation of the screw 28 is taken into a body vessel of a developing device 10 through a developer feeding-out hole 22, a shutter hole 24, a hole 14 of a toner seal member 13 on the side of the developing device 10, and a developer receiving hole 12. When it is detected by a sensor that the quantity of the developer in the developing device 10 is restored to a prescribed standards value, an electromagnetic clutch 33 is turned off to stop rotation of the screw 28. Then, the shutter cylinder 23 is turned counterclockwise by the energizing force of the coiled spring 27 and is returned to a rotation angular position (a). Thus, leak of the developer is prevented in case of detachment or the like of the developing device 10 and the hopper 20.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention 3. Detailed Description of the Invention A. Object of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a developing device used in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic type or an electrostatic recording type.

More specifically, regarding a developing device as a latent image developing means,
The present invention relates to a developing device having a replenishment developer replenishing device that replenishes developer in an appropriate amount at a timely manner into the developing device in response to a decrease in consumption of the developer stored in the developing device.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, the above-mentioned developing devices include an integrated type in which a replenishment developer replenishing device is integrally attached to the developing device, and a separate type in which both are separated as separate devices.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

- The integrated developing device as a whole has become large in size, so maintenance and inspection of the developing unit or replenishment developer replenishment device, replenishment of developer to the replenishment developer replenishment device, etc., are required during development device maintenance. It is inconvenient to handle the developing device when installing and removing it from the main body of the image forming apparatus. In addition, in a color (or multicolor) image forming apparatus that incorporates multiple developing devices for each color, if maintenance is required for the developing device, be sure to remove all the developing devices from within the image forming apparatus main body. If the developing devices have to be taken out and the developing devices are of the above-mentioned type and are large in size as a whole, a relatively large floor space, etc. is used as a place to temporarily store all the developing devices, each of which is quite large. There are many cases where it is difficult to find a place to put it.

In the case of a separate type, maintenance can be performed by removing the developing device and replenishment developer replenishing device that make up the developing device from the main body of the image forming apparatus, or by moving them relative to each other. However, there is a predetermined priority order between the developing device and the replenishing developer replenishing device in the operation procedure for attaching and removing the developing device and the replenishing developer replenishing device as separate devices from the image forming apparatus main body. However, it is necessary to carry out the mounting/removal operations according to the priority order procedure, which is troublesome.Especially, when a plurality of color developing devices 981 are built-in as in the color image forming apparatus of the above example, and each of the developing devices is as described above. If the device is of a separate type that requires installation and removal in a predetermined priority order, the maintenance work becomes more complicated and inconvenient.

In particular, the present invention eliminates mutual priority when attaching and detaching the developing device and replenishment developer replenishing device as one individual device to and from the main body of the image forming apparatus with respect to the latter separate type developing device. Another object of the present invention is to facilitate the maintenance work of the developing device by providing a structure that does not cause any trouble even if it is later attached to or removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Summary: Structure of the Invention [Means for Solving Problems] The present invention provides a developing device as a latent image developing means, which can be individually attached to and taken out from a predetermined part of an image forming apparatus main body, and a developing device thereof. a replenishment developer replenishing device for the container; and a replenishment developer receiving port on the developing device side, which corresponds to each other when the above-mentioned developing device and replenishment developer replenishment device are respectively properly attached to predetermined portions of the main body of the image forming apparatus. , a replenishment developer delivery port on the replenishment developer replenishment device side, and a replenishment developer delivery port on the replenishment developer replenishment device side. It is held in a closed position that closes the developer delivery port, and is held in an open position that opens the developer delivery port by receiving the rotational force while the developer delivery rotating member is being driven. A developing device comprising: a shutter member;

[For production]

(In other words, when both the developing device and the replenishment developer replenishing device as separate devices of the developing device are properly attached to the predetermined parts of the image forming apparatus, the replenishment developer receiving device on the developing device side The opening corresponds to the replenishment developer delivery port of the replenishment developer replenishing device.

In this state, when the rotation of the developer delivery rotation member on the replenishment developer replenishment device side is stopped, the shutter member is held in the closed position, and the replenishment developer delivery port on the replenishment developer replenishment device side is closed. Closed.

When the developer delivery rotating member is rotated to replenish the developer to the developing device, the shutter member is held in the open position by the rotational driving force of the member while the developer is being driven, and the developer is replenished. The replenishment developer delivery port on the replenishment device side is opened, and as a result, the developer on the replenishment developer supply device side is transferred from the replenishment developer delivery port in the open state to the developer corresponding to the delivery port. The replenishing developer is introduced into the developing device through the replenishing developer receiving port on the device side.

When the required amount of developer is replenished and the rotation of the developer delivery rotating member is stopped, the shutter member is held in the closed position again, and the replenishment developer delivery port on the replenishment developer replenishment device side is closed. Ru.

(2) The developing device and replenishment developer replenishment device in the device state can be removed from the device main body without priority, any one can be removed first, the other later, or both can be removed at the same time. In any case, the developer delivery port on the replenishment developer replenishing device side is in a closed state by holding the shutter member in the open position before the rotation of the developer delivery rotating member is stopped. To easily take out a developing device and a replenishing developer replenishing device without causing problems such as leakage and scattering of developer from the developer.

(3) Also, when reinstalling the developing device or replenishment developer replenishing device to the main body of the apparatus once removed, one can be installed first, the other later, or simultaneously, without prioritizing.
In any of these cases, the developer delivery port of the supplementary developer replenishment device is kept in a closed state by the shutter member being held in the closed position, so problems such as leakage and scattering of developer from the delivery port may occur. To easily reinstall a developing device and a replenishment developer replenishing device without causing trouble.

〔Example〕

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 1 and 2 show both a developing device and a replenishment developer receiving device M (hereinafter referred to as a hopper) installed in a predetermined part in the main body of an image forming apparatus. 3(a) and 3(b) show a partially cutaway slope view and a vertical cross-sectional side view of the developer delivery port and developer receiving port, which correspond to each other. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the replenishment developer delivery port in the state shown in FIG.

100 (FIG. 4) is a chassis wall plate of the main body of the image forming apparatus;
Reference numeral 01 denotes a window hole formed on the wall plate surface of the chassis, and through this window hole, the image forming drum 102, the developing device 10 as a latent image developing means, and the hopper 20 for the developing device are individually connected to the main body of the image forming apparatus. The insertion/extraction operation is performed in the direction perpendicular to the drawing in FIG. 4 and in the direction of arrows a-b in FIG. 2.

The drum 102 is a cantilever support shaft 10 within the main body of the image forming apparatus.
It is supported by being inserted into and removed from 2a. The developing device 10 and the hopper 20 are inserted into and removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus t, with the developing device 10 on the lower side and the hopper 20 on the upper side, and are guided and supported, respectively, along a guide rail member (not shown) disposed inside the main body of the image forming apparatus. be done.

Drum 102. The developing device 10 and the hopper 20 are fully inserted and pushed into the image forming apparatus main body until they are received by an insertion amount regulating stopper member (not shown), so that the developing device 10 and the hopper 20 are properly installed in a predetermined position within the image forming apparatus main body. Become.

The outer surface of the chassis wall plate 100 is always hidden by a retractable exterior door plate (not shown), and the above-mentioned drum 102, developer lO, and hopper 20 can be installed and removed by opening the door plate. It will be done. Further, when the door plate is opened, a control circuit switch (door switch) is opened, and the operation of the image forming apparatus is maintained in a prohibited state.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a hollow protrusion as a replenishment developer receiving port, which protrudes outward from the front end face of the developing device 10. The upper surface thereof is a concave arc surface. A developer receiving hole 12 is provided. Further, a cushioning toner seal member 13 having a through hole 14 in a portion corresponding to the developer receiving hole 12 is adhered to the rotating upper surface.

The interior of the hollow protrusion 11 serving as the replenishment developer receiving opening communicates with the main body container portion of the developing device 10 .

Reference numeral 21 denotes a cylindrical portion serving as a replenishment developer delivery port that projects outward from the front end surface of the hopper 20 and communicates with the main body container portion of the hopper 20 . The lower surface of the cylindrical portion 21 is provided with a developer delivery hole 22 that corresponds to the hole 14-12 of the hollow protrusion 11 on the developing device 10 side.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a shutter tube which is rotatably fitted onto the cylindrical portion 21, 24 is a shutter hole provided in the peripheral wall of the shear and shutter, and a developer delivery hole provided in the lower surface of the cylindrical portion 21. 22 has a corresponding relationship.

25 is approximately 90° along the circumference on the peripheral wall surface of the shutter cylinder 23.
This is an arc elongated hole formed to have a length within a range, and a protrusion 26 integrally implanted on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 21 is engaged in the elongated hole. As a result, the shutter cylinder 23 is connected to the cylindrical portion 21
The right end 25 of the arc elongated hole 25 is attached to the stopper protrusion 26.
The first rotational angle position shown in FIG. 3(a) where a is brought into contact and received, and the second rotation angle position shown in FIG. 3(b) where the left end portion 25b is brought into contact and received. Approximately 9 between rotation angle position repositioning
Forward and reverse rotation is restricted in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions in the 0'range; and the shutter cylinder 23 force; when in the first rotation angle position as shown in Fig. 3(a), the shutter hole 24 is cylindrical. It is located on the right side wall of the portion 21 and does not correspond to the developer delivery hole 22 on the lower surface of the cylinder, and the developer delivery hole 22 is closed by the cylinder wall of the shutter cylinder 23 (shutter 3(b), the shutter hole 24 is positioned exactly corresponding to the developer delivery hole 22 on the lower surface of the cylindrical portion 21. The developer delivery hole 22 is in an open state (shutter member - closed position)
.

A coil spring 27 is fitted around the outer periphery of the base of the cylindrical portion 21, one end 27a of which is engaged with the end plate of the hopper 20, and the other end 27b is engaged with the shutter cylinder 23.

The shutter cylinder 23 is always urged to rotate counterclockwise around the cylindrical portion 21 by the above-mentioned coil spring 27.
It is held at the first rotation angle position shown in FIG. 3(a). That is, the replenishment developer delivery port 21 of the hopper 20 is normally kept closed.

Reference numeral 28 designates a developer conveying screw as a rotating member for delivering replenishing developer disposed at the bottom of the main body container portion of the hopper 20, and its tip extends into the inside of the cylindrical portion 21. Reference numeral 29 denotes a friction disk that is integrally fixed to the tip of the screw, and the front surface of this friction disk is connected to the shutter cylinder 23.
It is constantly in pressure contact with an opposing friction disk 30 that is integrally provided on the inner surface of the tip plate 23a and protrudes into the cylindrical portion 21.

The developer conveying screw 28 is rotated clockwise by the rotational force of the drive gear 31 on the image forming apparatus main body side through the relay gear 32 → the electromagnetic clutch 33 in the on state → the output shaft 34 of the electromagnetic clutch, and the electromagnetic clutch 33 is rotated clockwise. In the off state, the rotational force of the gear 31 is not transmitted to the screw 28, and the screw stops in a free rotation state.

(1) Therefore, the developing device 10 as an individual device of the developing device
When both the hopper 20 and the hopper 20 are properly inserted into the predetermined parts of the main body of the image forming apparatus,
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the hollow protrusion 11 serving as the replenishment developer receiving port on the developing device 10 side and the cylindrical portion 21 of the shutter member serving as the replenishment developer delivery portion on the hopper 20 side are connected to the hollow protrusion 11. The cushioning toner seal member 13 on the upper surface and the lower surface of the external shutter cylinder 23 on the cylindrical portion 21 side correspond to each other in a close state.

In this state, when the 'RL magnetic clutch 33 is engaged, the shutter cylinder 23 is held at the first rotation angle position shown in FIG. 3(a) by the counterclockwise urging force of the coil spring 27, and the cylinder The developer delivery hole 22 of the portion 21 is in a closed state.

The degree of decrease in consumption of the developer on the developing device 10 side over time (reduction in consumption of toner in a two-component developer, or decrease in consumption of the developer in an L-component developer) is different from that on the developing device 10 side (not shown). It is constantly measured by a sensor and a control circuit, and when the degree of decrease reaches a predetermined lower limit value, the electromagnetic clutch 33 on the hopper 20 side is held on by the signal.

Then, the rotational force of the drive gear 31 is transmitted to the developer conveying screw 28 via the relay gear 32 → the electromagnetic clutch 33 in the ON state → the output shaft 34 of the electromagnetic clutch, and the screw rotates clockwise. As the screw rotates, replenishing developer in the main container portion of the hopper 20 is sequentially conveyed into the cylindrical portion 21 serving as the developer delivery port.

On the other hand, as the screw 28 rotates, the shutter cylinder 23 receives a clockwise rotational force that is the same as the rotation of the screw through the friction disks 29 and 30 that are in pressure contact with each other, and resists the biasing force of the coil spring 27. It is rotated clockwise around the cylindrical portion 21 until the left end portion 25b of the circular arc elongated hole 25 comes into contact with the stopper protrusion 26. That is, the shutter tube 23
is rotated from the first rotation angle position shown in FIG. 3(a) to the second rotation angle position shown in FIG. The holes 24 correspond to each other, and the developer delivery hole 22 is in an open state.

When the shutter cylinder 23 is rotated to the second rotation angle position, further rotation is prevented, but the screw 28 has an integral friction disk 29 at its tip and an opposing friction disk 30 surface on the shutter cylinder 23 side. It continues to rotate clockwise by slip rotation against the rotation. The shutter cylinder 23 has a friction circle m29.3 as long as the screw 28 is rotationally driven.
The coil spring 27 is activated by the rotational force of the screw through
3 (Fig. 3).
b) is held in the second rotational angular position.

In this way, the replenishment developer conveyed from the main body container of the hopper 20 into the cylindrical part 21 serving as the developer delivery port by the rotation of the screw 28 corresponds to the developer delivery hole 22 on the lower surface of the cylindrical part 21 → this hole. Matched shutter hole 24 → developer 1
The toner is introduced into the hollow protrusion 11 on the developing device 10 side through the path from the hole 14 of the toner seal member 13 on the hollow protrusion 11 side, which is the developer receiving opening on the 0 side, to the developer receiving hole 12 .

The falling developer is taken into the main body container portion of the developing device 10 by the taking-up station knee 15.

When the sensor detects that the toner concentration or amount of developer in the developer in the developer unit has returned to a predetermined standard value by replenishing the developer to the developer 10 side, the electromagnetic clutch 33 is turned off.

Then, the edge between the screw 28 and the drive gear 31 is severed, and the screw 28 stops rotating freely. As a result, the clockwise rotation biasing force caused by the rotation of the screw 28 opposite to the shutter barrel 23 disappears, so the shutter barrel 23 is rotated counterclockwise by the biasing force of the coil spring 27, as shown in FIG. 3(a). It rotates back to the first rotation angle position. At this time, since the screw 28 is also in pressure contact with the friction circles m29 and 30, the shutter cylinder 23 rotates counterclockwise due to the biasing force of the coil spring 27, approximately 90'
Rotates counterclockwise.

That is, the developer delivery port 21 on the hopper 20 side is normally held in a closed state (FIG. 3(a)) by the shutter member 23, and the developer delivery port 21 on the hopper 20 side is normally kept closed (FIG. 3(a)). Only when the developer delivery rotating member 28 is driven to rotate, the shutter member 23 receives the rotational force and holds the developer delivery port 21 in the open position (FIG. 3(b)). Then, developer from 20 hoppers is replenished to the developing device IO side. Such a developer replenishment operation is performed intermittently at appropriate times so that the toner concentration or the amount of developer contained in the developer stored in the developing device 10 is always maintained at a predetermined substantially constant value.

(2) Developing device 10 and hopper 2 installed in the main body of the device
When removing the developing device 10 and the removed hopper 20, or reinstalling the removed developing device 10 and the hopper 20, there is no priority between the developing device 10 and the hopper 20. The developer delivery port 21 on the hopper 20 side is held closed by the shutter member 23 in any case. Therefore, leakage of developer from the delivery port 21 is prevented.
The developing device 10 and the hopper 20 can be removed or reattached without any trouble without causing any scattering troubles or the like.

The friction disk 29 and the opposing friction disk 30 may be magnets that attract each other, or one may be a magnet and the other may be a magnetic material.

FIG. 5 shows the developing device 10 of the above embodiment as a developing device of each color component image forming section for the image forming drum juxtaposition type color image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 53-155871.
This shows an example in which No. 20 is applied.

Engineering~■ are the 1st to 4th rows arranged sequentially from the oldest to the left on the drawing.
There are four color component image forming units, and each color component image forming unit has four color component image forming units.
(2) is a laser beam scanning exposure device 1 that includes a photosensitive drum 102 as an image forming drum, a charger 103 that charges the peripheral surface of the drum, a semiconductor laser, a polygon mirror, etc.
04, developing devices 10 and 20, a transfer charger 105, a drum cleaner 106, and the like. The developing devices of the first to fourth color component image forming units ~■ contain cyan, magenta yellow, and black developers, respectively, and the developing devices of the first to fourth color component image forming units ~■ A cyan image, a magenta image, and a yellow image are respectively formed on the surface of the photosensitive tram 102 as constituent color component images of the color image.

A black image is formed. Then, the transfer material P is carried in from the first color component image forming section 1 side by a conveyance means 107 such as an endless belt, and transferred to each of the transfer chargers 105 of the first to fourth color component image forming sections 1 to 1. By sequentially conveying and passing, the four color component images described above are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the surface of the transfer material P, and a color image is compositely formed. The transfer material P that has passed through the fourth color component image forming section (2) passes through a fixing device (not shown) and is discharged to the outside of the machine as a color image formed product.

Each of the developing devices of each color component image forming section I to (2) in FIGS. 1 to 4 is a developing device 10 and a hopper (replenishment developer replenishing device) 20 as individual devices, and as described above, images are formed without mutual priority. ? can be attached and removed from the main body without any trouble, making maintenance work much easier than if there were priorities.

Similar effects can be obtained even if the present invention is applied to, for example, a waste developer conveying device. That is, this is a case where the waste developer is transported from the cleaner to the waste developer storage container. In this case, the same effect can be obtained by applying the present invention to the joint portion with the waste developer storage container.

C1 Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the developer conveyance path from the replenishment developer supply device to the developing device is open only when the developer delivery member rotates, and at all other times. Since it is closed, it is possible to prevent developer from leaking or spilling when the replenishment developer supply device or the developer is removed from the mounting body, or when it is reinstalled.

Since there is no priority in taking out and reinstalling the developing device and replenishment developer supply device, either one can be taken out first.

Further, by using the developer delivery rotating member as the driving source for the operation of the shutter member, the structure is simplified and the timing of opening and closing of the developer conveyance path is reliable.

In addition, in particular, in the case of a drum-side-by-side type color image forming apparatus, in the conventional type, the replenishment developer container is small and intrusive.According to the present invention, the replenishment developer storage container can be made larger. Also, maintenance becomes extremely easy.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 shows mutually corresponding developer delivery ports of both a developing device and a replenishment developer replenishing device installed at a predetermined location in the main body of an image forming apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the same, and Figs. 3 (a) and (b) show replenishment developer in the closed state and the open state with the shutter member, respectively. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the delivery port, FIG. 4 is a front view of the developing device and replenishment developer replenishment device installed in a predetermined part of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 5 is image formation using the developing device of the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a drum juxtaposition type color image forming product. 10 is a developer, 11 is a developer receiving port, 20 is a supplementary developer supply device (hopper), and 21 is a developer delivery port 523.
28 is a shutter barrel, and 28 is a screw shaft serving as a rotating member for feeding out developer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A developing device as a latent image developing means that can be individually attached to and removed from a predetermined part of the image forming apparatus main body;
A replenishment developer replenishment device for the developing device, and a replenishment developer receiving device on the developer side that corresponds to each other when the above-mentioned developer and replenishment developer replenishment device are respectively properly attached to predetermined portions of the main body of the image forming apparatus. The replenishment developer supply port on the replenishment developer replenishment device side and the replenishment developer supply port on the replenishment developer replenishment device side are provided with It is held in the closed position where the replenishment developer delivery port is closed, and held in the open position where the developer delivery port is opened by receiving the rotational force while the developer delivery rotating member is being driven. A developing device comprising: a shutter member;