JPS63127264A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize a device and to simplify the mechanism by constituting a means, which carriers a developing device to an image forming position, including a gear engaged with a rack notched on the upper or lower face of the developing device and a motor which rotates and drives the gear. CONSTITUTION:A developing device 2A is stopped in the developing device carrying-in entrance position of a device body A. A gear 14 of second carrying means M2 is engaged with a rack 11 notched on the upper face of the developing device 2A. When a DC motor 15 is rotated to rotate the gear 14, the developing device 2A advances toward a photosensitive drum 1 along guides 8. The developing device 2A which gets out of a developing device storage device is led onto guides 7 in the devices body A. A gear 12 engaged with a rack 11 of a first carrying means M1 is rotated by a motor 13 to carry the developing device 2A to the image forming position along guides 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine in which a developing device is transported to an image forming position within the main body of the apparatus.

(Technical background) There is a demand for colorization of image forming devices such as copying machines that use electrostatic transfer processes, that is, chromatic colors such as red and blue in addition to the commonly used black. There is a growing demand for image formation.

Therefore, an apparatus has been proposed in which a developing device having a developer of a desired color is selected and the selected developing device is transported to an image forming position within the main body of the apparatus for development. In addition, the longitudinal section IA in FIG. 6 and the cross-sectional view in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
A.

A developing device storage device B for storing the developing device 102B and 102c is provided outside the apparatus main body A, and the developing device 10 is stored in the developing device storage device 2jB.
2A, 102B, and 102C up and down (in the direction of arrow Y-Y' in the figure) to select the desired developing device 102A, and move the developing device 102A to the image near the photosensitive tram 101 in the apparatus main body A. A device has also been proposed that automatically transports the material to the forming position in the direction of the arrow X shown in the figure.

By the way, in the latter apparatus, since the transport path for transporting the selected desired developing device to the image forming position is long, the transport means M+, M+.

M t , M * on the entrance side of the apparatus main body and the developing device housing
It is necessary to provide each on the IB side. Each of the conveying means M t , M * has racks 119 and 11 carved on both sides of each developing device (for example, developing device 102A).
9, a gear 112 meshing with the racks 119, 119,
112, 114, 114 and these gears 112, 112
, 114, 114 rotationally driven motors 113, 113
, 115°115.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the above image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. Due to the necessity of arranging the device, the width dimension it of the device main body A increases, resulting in a problem that the device becomes larger.

Further, for example, when pulling out the developing device 102A from the apparatus main body A side, it is necessary to retract the gear 112 to a non-interfering position to avoid interference between the developing device 102A and one of the gears 112. There is also the problem that the work becomes more complicated.

Furthermore, a developing device 103 in which acid is also frequently used (for example, a black developing device having a black developer) is usually fixed on the side of the main body A of the apparatus, or because the amount of developer consumed in the developing device 103 is large. , it is necessary to provide a hopper 150 for replenishing the developer at the illustrated position on the side of the main body A, which causes a problem of interference between the hopper 150 and the conveyance means Ml.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its objectives are to miniaturize the device, facilitate attachment and detachment of the developing unit,
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus whose mechanism can be simplified.

On the other hand, for the developer storage device mA side, it would be better to adopt the conventional both-side drive type conveying means M2.
This is preferable for the ox that achieves miniaturization and simplification of the mechanism.

Therefore, an object of the second invention is to reduce the size of an image forming apparatus equipped with a developing device storage device and to simplify the structure of the image forming apparatus.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a means for conveying a developing device to an image forming position within the main body of the apparatus. , a gear that meshes with a rack carved on the upper or lower surface of the developing device, and a motor that rotationally drives the gear.

Further, the second invention is provided with a developing device storage device outside the device main body that stores a plurality of developing devices, and selecting a desired developing device from the developing device storage device and moving it to an image forming position in the device main body. The first thing to be transported. An image forming bag comprising a second conveying means provided in the apparatus main body and a developing device storage device, respectively; a gear for meshing the first conveying means with a rack carved on the upper or lower surface of each developing device; The second conveying means includes a gear that meshes with racks carved on both sides of each developing device, and a motor that rotationally drives the gear.

(Function) According to the first invention, since the conveying means is provided above or below the developing device so as to be overlapped with the developing device in a planar manner, it is possible to achieve miniaturization of the main body of the device and also to reduce the size of the developing device. Interference between the developing device and the conveyance means can be avoided during removal, and the mechanism within the apparatus main body can be simplified.

Further, according to the second invention, it is sufficient to provide a pair of left and right conveying means in the developing device storage device, so in addition to the effects obtained in the first invention, the developing device storage device can be made smaller and the mechanism can be simplified. It is also possible to improve the

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the invention will be described below based on FIGS. 1U:A to 3.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the main parts of the copying machine, and Figure 2 is the
-II line sectional view and FIG. 3 are bottom views of the developing device, and the copying apparatus is constructed 41i by attaching the developing device storage device B to the main body A.

The main body A of the apparatus is provided with a photosensitive tram 1, which is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow in the figure to sequentially form electrostatic latent images corresponding to the original image on its surface. Color toner (for example, green toner) is applied around the photosensitive drum 1.
A color developing device 2A containing black toner and a black developing device 3 containing black toner are disposed, and these developing devices 2A and 3 are movable in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and these develop the desired color. The static ftWj image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 in proximity to the photosensitive drum 1 according to the image is visualized. In FIG. 1, the color developer 2A is far away and the black developer 3 is close, so a black image is formed on the photosensitive tram l.

On the other hand, a plurality of developing device storage boxes 4a, 4b, and 4c are provided in the developing device storage device B, which are driven vertically by a drive means (not shown). A pre-recording developing device 2A containing green toner, a red developing device 2B containing red toner, and a blue developing device 2C containing blue toner are housed in the container storage boxes 4a, 4b, and 4c, respectively.

In FIG. 1, the green developing device 2A is not in the developing device storage box 4a of the developing device storage device B, and is used to prepare for visualization of the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive tram l as described above. The green developing device 2A is moved by the transport means to the image forming position near the photosensitive drum l in the apparatus main body A, that is, the developing device storage device i!, as shown by the arrow a in FIG. It is transferred between the developing device storage box 4a in 1B.

Here, to explain the above-mentioned transfer means, the device main body A
As shown in FIG. 1, a developing device loading port 5 is opened on the side where the developing device storage device B is provided, and the photosensitive material is located inside the device main body A at the back from the developing device loading port 5. A feed path 6 leading to the drum 1 is formed horizontally. As shown in FIG.
．． 7 are formed parallel to each other at a predetermined interval, and the developing device storage box 4a of the developing device storage device 2iB.

Guides 8 and 8, which are continuous with the guides 7 and 7, are formed on each of the lower walls of 4b and 4c, respectively.

Furthermore, the guide 7.7 is provided in the feed path 6 of the apparatus main body A.
Developing unit attachment/detachment guides 9a and 9b are formed parallel to W and are perpendicular to W.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 3, a guide member 10a is provided on the bottom surface of each of the developing units 2A, 2B, and 2C to be engaged with the guide 7.8 and the developing unit attachment/detachment guide 9a.

10a, and a guide member 10b and a fob which are to be engaged with the guide 7.8 and the developer guide 9b are protruded.

Further, in each of the developer storage boxes 4a, 4b, and 4c on the case body A side and the developer storage device B side, a pair of left and right first conveyance means Mr, Mt and a pair of second conveyance means M1M2 are provided, respectively. ing. Each of the first conveyance stage Ml has a gear 12 that meshes with one of racks 11, 11 carved on both sides of the upper surface of each of the developing units 2A, 2B, and 2G along the conveyance direction thereof; DC motor 13 that rotationally drives gear 12
Each second conveying means M2 also has the rack 11°1 formed in each developing device 2A, 2B, 2C.
1, and a DC motor 15 that rotationally drives the gear 14. In addition, these 1st. Second conveyance means Ml.

Gears 12°1 each constitute Ml, Mt, and Mtr.
2 and DC motor 13, 13, gear 14° 14 and D
The C motors 15, 15 are installed compactly within the convergence dimensions of the respective developing devices 2A, 2B, 2C.

Therefore, for example, green developer 2 is selected from the 2 tB developer storage unit.
When selecting A and developing with this green developer 2A,
Gear 14 constituting the second conveyance means as shown by the chain line in the figure
After retracting the DC motor 15 in the direction indicated by the arrow or in the direction C, the developing unit storage device B is moved by a driving means (not shown).
The developer storage boxes 4a, 4b, and 4c in the developer storage box 4. .

When the vertical driving of 4b and 4c is stopped, the green developing device 2A stops at the developing device entrance 5, as shown in FIG.

Thereafter, when the DC motor t5.15 constituting the second conveying means M, , M2 is driven to rotate the gear 14.14 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The green developing device 2A equipped with .11 has guides 8 and 8.
along the direction toward the photosensitive drum 1, and eventually the green developing device 2
A guide member 10a protrudes from the lower surface of A.

10a, lOb, 10b are guides 7 on the A side of the device main body
．． 7 and also the rack 14.11 of the edge developing device 2A.
are the first conveyance means Ml, Ml provided on the device main body A side.
starts to mesh with gear 12.12. And green developer 2
When A is ejected from the developing device storage box 4a of the developing device storage device B and the rack 11.11 provided thereon is disengaged from the gear 14.14, the DC motor 13 provided on the device main body A side .13 is driven, the gear 12.12 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. When this is detected by the illustrated sensor, the DC motor 1 rotates the gear 12.
3 and 13 are stopped. After that, the green developing device 2A
is pressed against the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by a suppressor stage (not shown), and an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 rotating in the direction of the arrow shown in the drawing is visualized.

The green developing device 2A subjected to development is transferred to the developing device storage 71B side by the reverse procedure to the above, and is placed in the developing device storage box 4a.
stored inside. Then, by repeating the same operation thereafter, a multicolor image with desired colors is formed.

In the above, especially the first conveying means M1 provided on the apparatus main body A side. Since the gear 12° 12 and the DC motors 13, 13 that make up M+ are compactly installed above the selected developing device 2A and without protruding from both sides of the developing device 2A, the width dimension of the device main body A is Sentence 2 is the conventional one (
The width dimension is smaller than the width dimension () in FIG. It becomes possible to rationally install the hopper while avoiding interference with the transport means M I, M I.

2. For example, if there is a shortage of toner in the green developing device 2A, the green developing device 2A can be used as it is without retracting the gear 12 etc. and the developing device attachment/detachment guide 9a.

If you pull it out toward you (downward in Figure 2) along 9b,
This can be taken out from the main body A of the apparatus, and a mechanism for retracting the gear 12, which was conventionally required, becomes unnecessary, and the mechanism of the main body A of the apparatus can be simplified.

Next, an embodiment of the second invention will be described based on FIGS. 4 and 5. In addition, FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view of the copying mold and essential parts according to the second invention, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 4.
In these figures, the same elements as those of the apparatus according to the first invention (see FIGS. 1 to 3) are given the same reference numerals, and explanations thereof will be omitted.

Inside the developing device housing 21B, there is a pair of left and right second conveying means M2. M2 is provided, or each second conveying means M2 is connected to a DC motor 1 fixed to the developing device housing 21B.
6, a lever 17 that rotates around an output shaft 16a of the DC motor 16, a gear 18 connected to an end of the output shaft 16a, and a lever 17 supported horizontally rotatably at one end of the lever 17, In addition to always meshing with the gear 18, the developing device 2
A gear 20 that selectively meshes with a rack 19 carved on the side surface of A, a solenoid 21 connected to the other end of the lever 17, and a spring 22 that always biases the lever 17 toward the retracting side of the gear 20. It consists of:

When the solenoid 21.21 is inactive, the lever 17.17 is held at the solid line position in FIG. 4 by the spring 22.22, and the gear 20. 20 is a developing device storage box 4a which is also retracted to the solid line position.

4b and 4c can be moved up and down. Therefore, in this state, the developing device storage box 4a,
4b and 4c are moved up and down to select a desired developer, for example, the green developer 2A, from the developer storage device B. When the desired green developing device 2A is located at the developing device entrance of the apparatus main body A, the developing device storage boxes 4a, 4b are opened.
, 4c stops vertical movement, and then solenoid 21.2
1 and rotates the lever 17 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. It is engaged with the racks 19 and 19 carved on both sides of the developer J2A. Next, if the DC motors 16 and 16 are driven to rotate the gears 18 and 18 in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
Gears 20.20 meshing with the gears 18.20 rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and the green developing device 2A, which includes a rack 19.19 meshing with these gears 20.20, moves toward the photosensitive drum 1 along guides 8, 8. Then, similarly to the case of the first invention, the green developing device 2A is conveyed to the image forming position by the first conveying means M, , M, where the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive tram L is transferred. is used for visualization.

The green developing device 2A that has been subjected to development is transferred to the developing device storage unit 21IB side in the reverse procedure to the above, and is placed in the developing device storage box 4.
a, or when developing with another developing device, release the drive of the solenoids 21 and 21, and lever 1
7.17 is returned to the solid line position t in FIG. 4 by the springs 22.22, and the gears 20.20 are retracted, and the developing device storage box 4a is moved.

4b and 4c can be driven up and down, making it possible to select a desired developing device.

As described above, according to the second invention, the second conveying means M t
, Mt in each developer storage box 4a, 4b, 4
It is not necessary to provide the second conveying means M2 for each position, the retraction of the second conveying means M2゜M2 is simple, and it can be used with a slight displacement of the gear 20゜20, so the effect obtained in the first invention is achieved. In addition, it is possible to reduce the size of the developer storage device Bg and to simplify the mechanism, which in turn leads to the miniaturization and simplification of the mechanism of the copying machine equipped with the developer storage device B. can be achieved.

In addition, in the above case, the rack 1 is placed on the top surface of each developing device 2A, 2B, and 2C.
1.11 was shown, but if a rack is installed on the bottom surface,
It is also possible to provide a configuration in which a gear meshing with the rack is interposed between the developing devices so that both developing devices are conveyed by a single gear. In addition, the above has described an example in which the second invention of Youngest Brother-1 is particularly applied to a copying device, or the second invention of Youngest Brother-1 has other image forming devices such as laser printers and printing devices, or has an autoloading mechanism. It is applicable to image forming apparatuses.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the second invention, the conveying means of the image forming apparatus, which includes the conveying means for conveying the developing device to the image forming position within the apparatus main body, Since the structure includes a gear that meshes with a rack carved on the top or bottom surface of the device and a motor that rotates the gear, the device can be made smaller, the developing device can be easily installed, and the mechanism can be simplified. This has the effect of making it possible to achieve the desired results.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a developing device storage device for storing a plurality of developing devices is provided outside the main body of the apparatus, and a desired developing device is selected from the developing device storage device and transferred to the image forming device within the main body of the device. The first conveyance means of an image forming apparatus is provided with first and second conveyance stages within the apparatus main body and within the developer storage device, respectively, for conveying the first and second conveyance stages to a rack carved on the top or bottom surface of each developer. and a motor that rotationally drives the gear, and the second conveying means includes a gear that meshes with racks carved on both sides of each developing device, and a motor that rotationally drives the gear. Since the developing device storage device is configured to include a motor, in addition to the effects obtained in the first invention, the developing device storage device can be made smaller and the mechanism can be simplified.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the main parts of a copying device according to the second invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along ■-■M in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the developing unit, and Fig. 4U:A. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line v-V of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the main part of a conventional copying device, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. 6. FIG. A: Apparatus main body, B: Developing device housing 21. M,・
...First transport means, M2...Second transport means, 2A, 2
B. 2C, 2D...Developer, 11.19...Rat
. 12.14, 18.20...gear, 13.15...
DC motor.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An image forming apparatus comprising a conveying means for conveying a developing device to an image forming position within the apparatus main body, the conveying means being fitted with a gear that meshes with a rack carved on the top or bottom surface of the developing device. and a motor that rotationally drives the gear. (2) A first device that includes a developing device storage device outside the main body of the apparatus that stores a plurality of developing devices, and selects a desired developing device from the developing device storage device and transports it to an image forming position within the main body of the device.
, an image forming apparatus in which a second conveying means is provided within the apparatus main body and a developing device storage device, the first conveying means being engaged with a rack carved on the upper surface or the lower surface of each developing device; and a motor for rotationally driving the gear, and a gear for meshing the second conveying means with racks carved on both sides of each developing unit, and a motor for rotationally driving the gear. An image forming apparatus comprising: