JPS63125971A - Image reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent toner from scattering out of a toner recovery tank by closing the toner receiving opening of the toner recovery tank automatically when a photosensitive body unit is detached from an image reproducing device. CONSTITUTION:A toner receiving opening opening/closing lid 21 which is rotated around a fulcrum 20 to performs opening and closing operation is provided to the toner receiving opening 17f of the photosensitive body unit 16. This lid 21 is so energized by a torsion spring to close the opening 17f normally and when the photosensitive body unit 16 is incorporated in the unit receiving member 22 of a developing device unit or a device main body, the opening/ closing lid 21 is opened by its side plate front end 22a. The photosensitive body unit is detached from the unit receiving member and the opening/closing lid 21 is closed automatically to prevent the toner collected in the tank from scattering out or falling.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image reproducing device, more specifically, a photoconductor unit that is removably attached to the main body of the image reproducing device and has a toner collection tank with an opening/closing lid. The present invention relates to an image reproducing device comprising:

(Prior Art) In an image reproducing apparatus using a photoreceptor, in order to facilitate the handling of the image reproducing apparatus such as maintenance, repair, and replacement of consumable parts, the photoreceptor drum, current fQ unit, and cleaner are integrated into a unit. This unit is configured to be detachable from the main body of the image reproducing apparatus.

For example, it is described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5G-54392. A toner bolt for collecting toner removed from the photoreceptor by a cleaner is connected to the developing device.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) A conventional image reproducing device in which a photoreceptor, a developing device, and a cleaning device are integrated into a unit is a photoreceptor.

Although it is convenient because the developing device and cleaning device can be handled as one unit, no special consideration is given to the handling of the bottle used to collect the toner removed from the photoreceptor by the cleaning device, so there is no need to worry about careless handling of the bottle. There is a problem that the toner may scatter depending on the handling.

(Means for solving the problem) A toner collection tank is provided in the photoreceptor unit that is removable from the image reproducing device main body, and the toner receiving port of the toner collection tank is used to attach and remove the photoreceptor unit to the image reproducing device main body. A toner receiving port opening/closing lid is provided that opens and closes in conjunction with the toner receiving port.

(Function) When the photoconductor unit is attached to the image reproducing device, the toner receiving port opening/closing lid is automatically closed, and when the photoconductor unit is being removed from the image reproducing device, the opening/closing lid is automatically closed.

(Example) The photoreceptor 1 is an endless belt-shaped :8 recorder.

This is an electrophotographic photoreceptor having an inorganic or organic photoconductive layer provided on a base film, and is stretched between two rollers 2.3. Roller 2 is a driving roller, and roller 3 is a driven roller, each of which is supported by a roller support member to be described later, and constitutes an independent photoreceptor unit as a whole.

This photoreceptor unit is attached to the developing unit 5 by fitting the shafts of the rollers 2 and 3 into the two grooves 6 and 7 of the developing unit 5, which is provided with the developing unit 4 at one end. This developing device unit 5 can also be worn on the body of the image reproducing device. When the developing device unit 5 with the recording unit attached thereto is guided by a suitable positioning means and attached to the main body of the apparatus, the photoreceptor l, the static eliminator 8 disposed above the upper belt, and the cleaning group @9.1 ! - The electric device 10, the exposure device 11, and the transfer device 112 disposed on the lower belt side are accurately positioned relative to each other.

The surface of the photoreceptor l rotating in a clockwise direction is first uniformly IF-charged to a predetermined polarity by a charging device @10, and then a light image or a light signal of an image to be reproduced is irradiated thereon from an exposure device 11. , an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image to be reproduced is formed thereon. This electrostatic latent image is formed by toner 14 that is accommodated in the developing device 4 and conveyed by the developing roller 13.
Developed by A transfer paper 15 is placed over the developed toner image under the transfer device 12, and the 1-toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper 15 by charging or electric field by the transfer device 12.

After the transfer, the transfer paper 15 is separated from the photoconductor 1 and has the transferred toner image fixed thereon, and the photoconductor 1 is neutralized by the static eliminator 8, and the remaining toner remaining after transfer adhering to its surface is removed by the cleaning device 9. removed by

The image is reproduced through these steps, and the toner removed from the photoreceptor by the cleaning device 9 is returned to a toner collection tank to be described later and discarded.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the photoreceptor unit 16 including a toner collection tank. The rollers 2 and 3 that support the belt-shaped photoreceptor 1 are rotatably supported at both sides by both side plates 17a and 17b of a roller support member 17, and the upper parts of the both side plates 17a and 17b are connected to a top plate 17c. The bottom is the bottom! A side plate 17e (only one of which is shown) that is continuous with N17d and is bent upward from both sides of the bottom plate forms a toner collection tank 18 having a rectangular cross section as a whole. An upper opening 17f for receiving toner is provided so as to be continuous with this sixth opening.

On the other hand, the cleaning device 9 includes, as shown in FIG.
A conveying device 19 equipped with a rotating screw conveyor for conveying the toner removed from the photoconductor 1 in the width direction of the belt is provided, and its lower discharge port 19a is connected to the toner receiving opening 17f of the roller support member 17. to face. This opposition is brought about by appropriate positioning means of one image reproducing apparatus main body when the photoreceptor unit 16 is assembled into the apparatus main body. The collected toner sent by the toner transport device 19 naturally falls from the end thereof, enters the receiving opening 17f from the discharge opening 19a, and is accumulated in the toner collection tank 18. To prevent the 1-ner that has fallen into the receiving opening 17f from partially accumulating below it.

The lower tank portion 17g is slanted.

Furthermore, if the bottom plate 17d of the tank is also inclined diagonally, partial accumulation of toner can be prevented. The toner collected in the tank 18 is appropriately removed and discarded, or is returned to the developing device and reused. Or photoreceptor belt
Due to poor performance or other reasons, when the entire photoreceptor unit 16 is replaced, the entire photoreceptor unit is discarded.

As shown in FIG. 4, a toner receiving opening M21 that can be opened and closed by rotating about a fulcrum 20 is provided at the toner receiving entrance 17f of the photoreceptor unit 16. This lid 2
1 is normally biased by a torsion spring to close the opening 17f, and when the photoreceptor unit 16 is assembled into the TM, the image device unit or the unit receiver of the device body is assembled into the member 22, as shown in FIG. Thus, the opening/closing lid 21 is configured to be opened by the end 22a of the side plate. When the photoconductor unit is removed from the unit holder, the opening/closing lid 2
1 automatically closes to prevent the toner collected in the tank from scattering or spilling outside.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, when the photoreceptor unit is removed from the image reproducing device, the toner receiving port of the toner collection tank is automatically closed, so that it is possible to prevent toner from scattering from the toner collection tank. be effective.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an example of an image reproducing device to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a photoreceptor unit having a toner collection tank, and FIG. FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views showing an example of a toner conveying device that conveys toner to a toner collection tank, and FIGS.
The figure shows a state in which the toner receiving port opening/closing lid is closed, and FIG. 5 shows a state in which the opening/closing lid is opened. ■...Photoconductor, 4...Developing device, 9...Cleaning device, 16...Photoconductor unit, 18...
...Toner collection tank, 21...Toner receiving port opening/closing lid. '7f) 7 K Huh? figure

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A photoreceptor unit having a toner collection tank and detachable from the main body of an image reproducing apparatus; and an electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor of the photoreceptor unit. , a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image, a transfer device that transfers the visible image onto transfer paper after developing the electrostatic latent image with the developing device, and a transfer device that transfers the toner on the photoreceptor after the transfer. a cleaning device for removing the toner; a means for collecting toner removed by the cleaning device into the toner collection tank; a means for positioning the photoreceptor unit with respect to the electrostatic latent image forming means; a toner receiving port opening/closing lid that is provided in the toner receiving port so as to be openable and closable, opens when the photoconductor unit is attached to the image reproducing device main body, and closes when the photoconductor unit is removed from the image reproducing device; An image reproducing device comprising: