JPS63213870A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely hold a developing part in an acting position by allowing a positioning means to act upon the developing part of a developing device main body. CONSTITUTION:A pressing block piece 216 provided on the pressing arm part 214 of a pressing member 206 acts upon the upper face of the right end part of a developing part 4, namely, the upper face of one projection 92 provided in an auxiliary housing 80 to turn the developing part 4 in the direction of an arrow 114 by the weight of the developing part 4 itself and the deflecting force of a deflecting coiled spring. The developing part 4 is surely positioned in said acting position in such a manner. Since each pressing member 206 is elastically deflected in the direction of an arrow 254 by the action of a deflecting coiled spring 220 with respect to the acting state of this positioning means 204, the developing part 4 is surely elastically held in the acting position by the actions of the deflecting coiled spring 220 and the pressing member 206.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a developing device that can be applied to image forming apparatuses such as electrostatic copying machines and electrostatic printing machines.

<Background Art> Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as electrostatic copying machines are equipped with a developing device to develop a formed electrostatic latent image into a toner image. Such a developing device is generally configured to be detachably attached to the main body of the forming device in order to facilitate maintenance of the developing device itself or to enable replacement of the developing device in the case of monochrome copying. (See, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-229072).

However, the conventional developing device as disclosed in JP-A No. 60-229072 is configured to be detachably attached to the main body of the forming device by moving it in the vertical direction. As a result, it is difficult to attach and detach the developing device, and a space for attaching and detaching the developing device must be provided within the main body of the forming apparatus, resulting in an increase in the size of the image forming apparatus.

In addition, in order to prevent damage to the electrostatographic photoreceptor, it is necessary to move the developing device to a working position close to the photoreceptor (in such a working position, the developer of the developing device acts on the photoreceptor) and away from the photoreceptor. It is mounted so as to be movable between a non-working position (in such a non-working position, the developer of the developing device does not substantially act on the photoreceptor), and is brought to the non-working position when the developing device is installed and removed. There are also devices that are configured to be installed and removed as required (for example, Utility Model No. 56-
(See Publication No. 52746).

However, the conventional developing device as disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-52746 is horizontally movable between the working position and the non-working position. This requires a relatively large space, making it difficult to downsize the image forming apparatus.

Therefore, in order to eliminate the various drawbacks of the conventional technology described above, the present applicant has developed an improved developing device as disclosed in the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 1983-235929 (name: Developing Device). Proposed. This improved developing device includes a developing device main body comprising a developing section provided with application means for applying a developer and a supporting section rotatably supporting the developing section over a predetermined range; A switching mechanism is provided in the forming apparatus main body in relation to the apparatus main body, and includes a switching mechanism that selectively places the developing section between an active position and a non-active position.

However, even this type of developing device has the following drawbacks. Firstly, the developing section of the developing device main body is affected by the above-mentioned effects due to the biasing spring attached to the developing section and the weight of the developing section itself. However, the biasing force of the biasing spring cannot be made relatively large due to the ease of attaching and detaching the developing device main body. difficult to hold.

Secondly, in relation to the biasing spring attached to the developing section, especially when the developing device main body is attached, unless the support section is rotated against the biasing action of the biasing spring, the developing device main body will not be attached to the forming device main body. could not be fitted as required and therefore,
The mounting operation of the developing device main body is somewhat complicated.

On the other hand, although not limited to the above-mentioned developing device, conventionally,
In the toner replenishment type, a type having a developing device main body equipped with an application means for applying developer and a toner cartridge detachably attached to the developing device main body is widely put into practical use. The toner cartridge in this type of developing device includes a cartridge body in which toner is stored, and a cover member for closing a toner supply opening formed in the cartridge body.

The cover member is attached to the toner supply opening when the cartridge main body is removed from the developing device main body, thereby preventing the toner remaining in the cartridge main body from scattering to the outside when the cartridge main body is removed.

However, in the conventional type, the cartridge body can be removed from the developing device main body even when the cover member is not attached to the toner supply opening of the cartridge main body, and therefore, the cartridge main body can be accidentally removed from the developing device main body. When this is done, there is a problem that the toner inside is scattered to the outside through the toner supply opening.

<Object of the Invention> The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and its first object is to ensure that the developing section, which is movable between a working position and a non-working position, is placed in the working position. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved developing device that can be maintained.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an improved developing device in which the developing device main body can be simply and easily detachably attached to the forming device main body of an image forming apparatus.

A third object of the present invention is to provide an improved developing device that can reliably prevent toner scattering that occurs when the cartridge main body is removed from the developing device main body.

<Summary of the Invention> According to the present invention, in accordance with the first object, a developing section is provided with an application means for applying a developer to an electrostatic latent image, and the developing section is spread over a predetermined range. A developing device main body including a rotatably supported support part; an action position attached to the developing device main body where the developer held in the applying means acts on the electrostatic latent image; and the applying means. a switching mechanism that selectively brings the developing section to a non-working position in which the developer held in the electrostatic latent image does not substantially act on the electrostatic latent image; an operating state that acts on the developing section and holds the developing section in the working position; A developing device is provided that includes positioning means for selectively placing the portion in a non-operative state in which the portion does not substantially act on the developing device.

In such a developing device, the positioning is performed by bringing the means into the operating state, so that the means acts on the developing section of the main body of the developing device, and thus the positioning ensures that the developing section is held in the operating position by the action of the means. can do.

Further, according to the present invention, in accordance with the second object, there is provided a developing section provided with an application means for applying a developer to an electrostatic latent image, and a developing section that is rotatable over a predetermined range. a developing device main body that is removably attached to a forming device main body of an image forming apparatus; A developing device is provided that includes a non-working position holding means for holding the developing device in the non-working position.

In such a developing device, when the developing device main body is attached to the forming device main body, the developing section can be held in the non-working position by the action of the non-working position holding means. It is sufficient to simply move the developing device main body in the mounting direction, and the mounting of the developing device main body can be performed extremely simply and easily.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, in response to the third object, there is provided a main body of a developing device including an application means for applying a developer to an electrostatic latent image, and a main body for replenishing the application means with toner. , a developing device including a toner cartridge that is removably attached to the developing device main body, the toner cartridge including a cartridge main body containing toner, and a cover member that closes a toner supply opening formed in the cartridge main body. The toner cartridge is further configured such that it is substantially impossible to remove the toner cartridge from the developing device main body unless the cover member is attached to the cartridge main body.
A developing device is provided.

In a developing device like this, there is a cartridge.

The cartridge main body cannot be removed from the developing device main body unless the toner supply opening of the developing device main body is blocked by the cover member, and therefore, toner scattering caused by inadvertent removal of the cartridge main body is reliably prevented. can do.

<Preferred Specific Example of the Invention> Hereinafter, a specific example of a developing device constructed according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Equipment ■Quantity! Referring to FIG. 1, an outline of a developing device constructed according to the present invention will be described.

The illustrated developing device includes a developing device main body 6 including a supporting portion 2 and a developing portion 4 extending from the supporting portion 2 (see also FIGS. 2 and 4). The developing device main body 6 is detachably attached to a forming device main body (described later) of an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine, and in this attached state, the developing section 4 of the developing device main body 6 is as shown in FIG. It is pivotable between a non-working position shown by a solid line in FIG. 1 and a working position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.

The developing section 4 includes a developing housing 8 , and the developing housing 8 defines a developing chamber 10 . This developing housing 8
In Figure 1, the left side (the side facing the photoconductor described later)
An opening 11 is formed in the opening 11 . A magnetic brush mechanism 12 constituting application means is disposed on the left side of the developing chamber 10.
Further, a stirring means 14 is disposed on the right side of the developing chamber IO. The magnetic brush mechanism 12 is composed of a combination of a hollow sleeve member 18 rotated in the direction shown by an arrow 16 and a stationary permanent magnet 20 disposed within the sleeve member 18, and applies developer to the circumferential surface of the hollow sleeve member 18. hold arrow 16
Transport in the direction shown. The stirring means 14 includes a support shaft 22 and a stirring member 24 attached to the support shaft 22.
A blade 26 that projects outward is provided on the circumferential surface of 4. The stirring means 14 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 2, and stirs and mixes the developer in the developing chamber 10, and also triboelectrically charges the toner in the developer. A guide member 30 is disposed above the hollow sleeve member 18 and the stirring member 24. Also,
A toner transfer chamber 32 is defined above the developing chamber 10 (in other words, above the guide member 30).
A toner transport means 34 is disposed therein. A toner supply opening 36 is formed at the bottom of the toner transfer chamber 32 .

In the developing device as described above, the toner supplied from the toner cartridge (described later) is transferred to the toner transport means 3.
4, the toner is transferred in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. I am forced to do it. The stirring member 24 moves the developer (including the new toner supplied as described above) flowing down from the guide member 30 and the developing chamber 10 .
The developer present therein is mixed and fed to the magnetic brush mechanism 12. The magnetic brush mechanism 12 magnetically holds the thus mixed developer on the circumferential surface of the hollow sleeve member 18 and conveys it in the direction shown by the arrow 16. On the other hand, a part of the developer housing 8 is integrally provided with a spike portion 38 that protrudes toward the circumferential surface of the hollow sleeve member I8, so that the excess developer held in the hollow sleeve member 1B is removed. It is removed from the sleeve member 18 by the action of the ear cutter 38 . The developer thus removed is guided upward and then flowed down over the upper surface of the guide member 30 toward the stirring member 24. Note that the toner concentration detector 4 is located close to the ear cutting section 38.
0, and this toner concentration detector 40 detects the toner concentration of the developer that is removed from the hollow sleeve member 18 and then guided upward. The developer whose ears have been adjusted in length by the action of the ear cutting section 38 is further conveyed in the direction shown by the arrow 16 by the rotation of the hollow sleeve member 18, and is transported, for example, to a rotating drum 42 having a photoreceptor disposed on its circumferential surface. acts on the surface of That is, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor of the rotating drum 42 by means known per se, and therefore, the developer held by the magnetic brush mechanism 12 in the developing area indicated by the number 44 is transferred to the surface of the photoreceptor of the rotating drum 42. Upon application to the photoreceptor surface, the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the developing device main body 6
The configuration of is explained below. In the illustrated developing device main body 6, the support section 2 exists at one end (lower right in FIG. 2, left end in FIG. 4), and the development section 4 is connected from the support section 2 to the other end (in FIG. upper left side, right side in Figure 4)
It extends to

The illustrated support section 2 includes a support body 46 , and the support body 46 includes a support body 46 .
A gripping member 48 is integrally provided on the front surface of. A pair of protrusions 50 are provided on the rear surface of the support body 46 at intervals in the left-right direction, and each protrusion 50 is defined with a cylindrical receiving recess 52 (FIG. 4). The support body 46 is further provided with a substantially vertically upwardly extending support wall 54 on which electrical connection terminals 56 are mounted. Furthermore, an engaging member 60 having a claw portion 58 is rotatably mounted on the support body 46 .

A biasing spring 62 is attached to the engagement member 60, and the biasing spring 6 is released by pressing the operating portion 64 of the engagement member 60.
The engaging member 60 can be rotated against the biasing force of 2.

The developing housing 8 of the developing section 4 is arranged in its width direction, in other words, in the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus (in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1, in the direction from the lower right to the upper left in FIG. 2).
A pair of end walls 66 and 68 (FIG. 2) spaced apart in the horizontal direction (in FIG. 4), a bottom wall 70, a side wall 72 and Upper wall 74
(Fig. 1), and these various walls 66, 68, 70,
The developing chamber 10 is defined by 72 and 74 . In the specific example, as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, shafts (not shown) provided at both ends of the hollow sleeve member 18 of the magnetic brush mechanism 12 are rotatably attached to the end walls 66 and 68. In the illustrated embodiment, one end of a wire 78 for applying a developing bias voltage to the hollow sleeve member 18 is supported on the end wall 66 side via a support member 76 attached to the end wall 66. is connected to this support member 76 by a screw member 79, and the other end of the wire 78 is connected to the connection terminal 56 of the support portion 2. In addition, the stirring means 1
The support shaft 22 of No. 4 is also rotatably supported by the end walls 66 and 68.

Mainly referring to FIG. 2, in the specific example, an auxiliary housing 80 is further attached to the upper wall 74 of the developer housing 8, and the auxiliary housing 80 includes a cartridge mounting section 82 and a toner transport section 84. ing. The cartridge mounting portion 82 defines a toner discharge chamber 86, and the top surface thereof is open.

On the other hand, a toner cartridge 88 (FIG. 10) is detachably mounted above the toner discharge chamber 86, and the toner in the toner cartridge 88 is discharged from the toner discharge chamber 86. Note that details of the toner cartridge 88 and the cartridge mounting section 82 to which it is mounted will be described later. Further, the toner transfer section 84 is composed of a hollow cylindrical wall 90, and extends from the cartridge mounting section 82 toward the upper left in FIG. 2. A pair of protrusions 92 extending in the width direction are provided at opposing portions of the circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 90. By attaching the protrusions 92 to the upper wall 74 of the developer housing 8 with mounting screws 94, the auxiliary housing 80 is attached to the developer housing 8 as required.

The toner transfer chamber 32 defined by the cylindrical wall 90 communicates with a toner discharge chamber 86, and the toner supply opening 36 formed at the bottom thereof gradually increases in width in the toner transfer direction indicated by an arrow 96. ing. Further, a spiral member 98 constituting the toner transfer means 34 is rotatably attached to the toner transfer chamber 32 . One end of the spiral member 98 extends from the toner transfer chamber 32 to the toner discharge 86, and the other end extends toward the upper left in FIG. 2 in the width direction of the developing chamber IO.

As shown above, toner cartridge 88 (first
The toner discharged from FIG.
It is moved in the direction shown by 6. At the upstream side of the toner transfer chamber 32 in the transfer direction indicated by the arrow 96, the width of the toner replenishment opening 36 is relatively small, so that even though the amount of toner transferred is relatively large, the amount of toner passing through the toner replenishment opening 36 is relatively small. The supply rate is relatively small, while on the downstream side of the toner transfer chamber 32 in the transfer direction indicated by the arrow 96, the width of the toner replenishment opening 36 is relatively large, so that even though the amount of toner transferred is relatively small. The proportion of toner supplied through the toner supply opening 36 is relatively large;
Therefore, the toner from the toner discharge chamber 86 is supplied substantially uniformly across the entire width of the development chamber 10 through the toner supply opening 36.

The supporting section 2 and the developing section 4 described above are connected as follows. Mainly referring to FIG. 2, in the support portion 2, a circular hole 100 and an arc-shaped guide hole 102 are formed in the support wall 54.

On the other hand, in the developing section 4, a support shaft section 104 and a guided shaft section 106 are provided on the outer surface of the end wall 66. The developing section 4 is attached to the support section 2 by inserting the support shaft section 104 into the hole 100 and the guided shaft section 106 into the guide hole 102. In the specific example, the support shaft portion 104 and the guided shaft portion 106 are connected to the support wall 54 of the support portion 4.
A connecting plate piece 110 is attached to the end faces of the supporting shaft portion 104 and the guided shaft portion 106 by means of mounting screws 108. Therefore, the action of the connecting plate piece 110 reliably prevents the developing section 4 from separating from the supporting section 2. In addition, the support shaft portion 1
04, and a biasing coil spring 112 (constituting a biasing means) is attached. One end of the biased coil spring 112 is locked to a part of the support wall 54, and the other end is locked to the guided shaft 106.
12 elastically biases the developing section 4 in the direction indicated by arrow 114 (FIG. 1) toward the operating position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the configuration of the forming device main body to which the developing device main body 6 is removably attached will be described. The main body of the forming device, such as the main body of an electrostatic copying machine, is
It includes a front substrate 116 and a rear substrate 118 (FIG. 4) which are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction (in FIG. 4).

An opening (not shown) approximately corresponding to the shape of the developing section 4 of the developing device main body 6 is formed in the front substrate 116.
is positioned as desired between the front substrate 116 and the rear substrate 118 as shown in FIG. 4 through such opening. In a specific example, as shown in FIG. 4, a plate-shaped support guide 284 having a shape corresponding to the shape of the lower part of the developing section 4 is provided at a portion defining the lower edge of the opening. This support guide body 284, as shown in FIG. 8-A and FIG. 8-B,
- The side portion protrudes somewhat outward from the front substrate 116, the other side portion protrudes somewhat inward from the front substrate 116, and has a predetermined width in the front-rear direction. The support guide body 284 guides and supports the developing section 4 when the developing device main body 6 is installed and removed. A pair of support pins 120 (only one is shown in FIG. 4) are implanted on the front surface (outer surface) of the front substrate 116 at intervals in the left-right direction. A pair of support pins 12
0 are arranged corresponding to the receiving recesses 52 defined in the support part 2, and also on the front surface of the front board 116 corresponding to the connection terminals 56 of the support part 2. (not shown) is provided. Therefore, when the developing device main body 6 is detachably attached to the forming device main body as shown in FIG.
The support pin 120 of the front board 116 is inserted into the receiving recess 5 of the support part 2.
2, thereby allowing the support portion 2 to connect to the front substrate 116.
The connection terminal 56 of the support part 2 and the front board 11
6 connection terminals (not shown) are electrically connected.

In the specific example, the protrusion 50 on one side (upper right in FIG. 2)
A sleeve 121 made of a metal material is installed inside. In addition, the front substrate 116 and the support pins 120
It is also made of metal material. And the spiral member 9
Ground wire 1 of electric motor 122 for rotating 8
24 is attached to one of the projections 50 by a fixing screw, and the ground wire 124 is connected to the sleeve member 121 via the fixing screw. Therefore, when the developing device main body 6 is installed as required, the ground wire 12 of the electric motor 122
4 is a fixing screw, a sleeve member 112 and a support pin 12
0 to the front board 116.

Mainly referring to FIG. 3, the front substrate 116 and the rear substrate 1
18, there is a support plate 1 extending in the front-rear direction.
26 are arranged. A channel-shaped guide portion 128 that is open upward is provided at the upper end of the support plate 126, and the guide portion 128 extends linearly from one end of the support plate 126 toward the rear end. In the specific example, most of the guide portion 128 extends substantially horizontally, and only the other end 128a extends downwardly toward the other end (toward the right in FIG. 4) (see FIG. 4 as well). On the other hand, at the upper right end of the developing housing 8 in FIG. 1, there is provided a supported protrusion 130 that protrudes to the right. In the illustrated example in which the actuated protrusion 132 is integrally provided, the end wall 68 of the developing section 4 is further provided as shown in FIG.
A protrusion 134 is provided on the outer surface of the rear substrate 118.
A shaft member 136 is attached to the shaft member 136. A receiving recess 140 extending to the left in FIG. 4 is defined on the end surface of the protrusion 134. On the other hand, a fixing portion 142 is provided at one end of the shaft member 136, and the other end extends inwardly through the rear substrate 118.

A gear 144 is attached to this protruding portion of the shaft member 136 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction indicated by an arrow 138, and the other end protrudes inward from the gear 144. In addition, gear 14
A biasing spring member 146 is interposed between the gear 144 and the rear substrate 118 to elastically bias the gear 144 inward. Although not shown, the gear 144 is drivingly connected to a driving source of the image forming apparatus. Since it is configured like this,
When the developing device main body 6 is mounted on the forming device main body, the actuated protrusion 132 provided on the developing housing 8 is guided by the guide portion 128 of the support plate 126 and moved in the mounting direction shown by the arrow 148. When the developing device main body 6 is mounted as required, the protruding end of the shaft member 136 is positioned within the receiving recess 140 of the protrusion 134 provided on the end wall 68 of the developing section 4. Therefore, when mounted in this manner, one end of the developing section 4 is rotatably supported by the support section 2 via the support shaft section 104, and the other end of the developing section 4 is rotatably supported by the rear substrate 118 via the shaft member 136. The developing section 4 is supported around the support shaft section 104 and the shaft member 136 (more specifically, around the center axis of the support shaft section 104 and the shaft member 136 that constitute the rotation center axis extending in the width direction of the developing device main body 6). (center) between the inactive position and the active position. Although not shown, when the developing device main body 6 is installed, the hollow sleeve member 18 of the magnetic brush mechanism 12
Gears and support shaft 2 of stirring means 14 for rotating
A gear for rotating the gear 144 is drivingly connected to the gear 144.

■In the specific example shown in the accompanying drawings, when the developing device main body 6 is attached to the forming device main body, the developing section 4 is placed in the non-operating position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 and the working position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. A selective switching mechanism 150 is provided. Mainly the third
To further explain with reference to FIG. 5, the illustrated switching mechanism 150 includes a cam means 152 and an elevating member 154 that is moved up and down by the action of the cam means 152. As shown in FIG.

The elevating member 154 includes a main body portion 156, an action portion 158 provided at an intermediate portion of the main body portion 156, a bending portion 160 provided at the upper end of the main body portion 156, and a cam follower that hangs downward from the bending portion 160. It has a section 162. This main body part 1
56 is formed with an elongated hole 164 extending in the vertical direction. The elevating member 154 is attached to the other end of the support frame 126 so as to be movable in the vertical direction as follows.

That is, a guide member 166 is disposed in the hole 164 of the main body 156 of the elevating member 154 (in detail, the guide member 1
66 guide protrusions 166a are positioned in the holes 164), while the mounting member 168 is provided with mounting pins 170 at intervals in the vertical direction, and each mounting pin 170 is positioned in the hole formed in the guide member 166. The elevating member 154 is attached to the guide member 166 attached to the support plate 126 by passing through the guide member 172 and inserting it into an opening 174 provided in the support plate 126 . In a specific example, further,
A fixing screw 176 passes through the mounting member 168 and the guide member 166 and is screwed onto the support plate 126. Therefore, the lower end of the elevating member 154 has the lower end of the hole 164 connected to the guide member 166.
The raised position (6th -
It is freely movable between the position shown in FIG.

The acting portion 158 of the elevating member 154 is configured to act on the actuated protrusion 132 provided on the developing housing 8, and the elevating member 154 is further provided with a biasing spring 1.
78 is attached. One end of the biasing spring 178 is connected to a locking protrusion 156 provided on the main body 156 of the elevating member 154.
a, and the other end is locked to a locking piece 179 provided at the lower end of the support plate 126. The biasing spring 178 elastically biases the elevating member 154 downward toward the lowered position.

The illustrated cam means 152 includes a fan-shaped first cam 180 and a disk-shaped second cam 182. In the specific example, a fixing screw 18 is provided at the upper rear end of the support plate 126.
An auxiliary plate 186 is attached by 4. An electric motor 188 is attached to the auxiliary plate 186 as required, and the first cam 180 and the second cam 182 are attached to an output shaft 190 that protrudes through the auxiliary plate 186 of the electric motor 18. . first cam 180
and the second cam 182 are integrally formed, and the first cam 180 has a circumferential surface that is similar to the cam driven portion 1 of the elevating member 154.
62 , and the second cam 182 is disposed so as to be located between the main body portion 156 of the elevating member 154 and the cam follower portion 162 . Further, the second cam 182 is provided with a switch means 192 such as a microswitch. The switch means 192 has a detection arm 192a, and the large diameter portion 194 of the second cam 192
When the small diameter portion 196 of the second cam 192 acts on the detection arm 192a (or does not substantially act on the detection arm 192a), the switch means 192 is closed (ON). becomes open (OFF).

With this structure, when a changeover switch (not shown) provided on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus is operated in order to put the developing section 4 into operation, the electric motor 1 is activated.
88 is rotated in the direction shown by arrow 198 (FIGS. 6-A and 6-B), and the first cam 180 and second cam 182 are also rotated accordingly. Then, when the large diameter portion 194 of the second cam 182 acts on the detection arm 192a of the switch means 192 by rotating in this manner, the switch means 192
The electric motor 188 is deenergized based on the detection signal from the
The elevating member 154 and associated elements are thus maintained in the condition shown in FIGS. 5 and 6-A. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 6-A, the first cam 180 is rotated substantially 180 degrees from the first angular position and positioned at the second angular position. When in the second angular position,
The small diameter portion 200 of the first cam 180 acts on the lower edge of the cam driven portion 162 of the elevating member 154 (thus, the elevating member 15
4 is brought to the lowered position by the action of the biasing spring 178. When the developing section 4 is brought to the lowered position, as can be easily understood by referring to FIG. 1 and comparing FIGS. 6-A and 6-B, the arrow 114 ( The developing section 4 is allowed to rotate in the direction shown in FIG. forced into position.

In this working position, a part of the developer housing 8 comes into contact with support means (not shown) that supports the rotating drum 42, and therefore, the rotation of the developing section 4 beyond the above-mentioned working position is prevented by the action of the support means. Definitely blocked. When the developing section 4 is positioned at the operating position, the magnetic brush mechanism 12 is positioned close to the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 42, and the developer held in the hollow sleeve member 18 is applied to the photosensitive material of the rotating drum 42 in the developing area 44. The electrostatic latent image thus formed on the surface of the photoreceptor is developed into a toner image. In addition, No. 6-
As shown in FIG.
32 , and therefore the acting portion 158 does not substantially act on the actuated protrusion 132 . On the other hand, when the changeover switch (not shown) provided on the operation panel is operated in order to put the developing section 4 into a non-operating state, the electric motor 188 similarly moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 19.
The first cam 18 is rotated in the direction indicated by 8.
0 and second cam 182 are also rotated. Then, when the small diameter portion 196 of the second cam 182 acts on the detection arm 192a of the switch means 192 after rotating in this manner, the electric motor 188 is deenergized based on the detection signal from the switch means 192. Thus, the elevating member 154
and related elements are maintained in the state shown in FIG. 6-B. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 6-B, the first cam 180 is rotated substantially 180 degrees from the second angular position to the first angular position. When in the first angular position, the large diameter portion 202 of the first cam 180 acts on the lower edge of the cam follower 162 of the elevating member 154, thus causing the elevating member 154 to move against the action of the biasing spring 178. forced into an elevated position. When the lifting member 1 is in the raised position, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6-B, the lifting member 1
The acting portion 158 of 54 is the actuated protrusion 1 of the developing housing 8.
32 to raise it (thus, the developing section 4 is rotated in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow 114 and placed in the non-working position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1. In this non-working position, In this case, the magnetic brush mechanism 12 is located apart from the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 42, and the developer held in the hollow sleeve member 18 does not substantially act on the surface of the photoreceptor of the rotating drum.

The above-mentioned developing device main body 6, forming device main body and switching mechanism 1
For example, the configuration of No. 50 is as follows:
It is almost the same as that disclosed in the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 1983-235929 (name: Developing device) filed on 1983, and therefore, the details thereof are disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 1983.
Please refer to the specification and drawings of No. 1-235929.

Conquest! The developing device shown in the figure is equipped with a positioning means for reliably holding the developing section 4 of the developing device main body 6 in the above operating position. 3 and 5, the illustrated positioning means 204 is arranged at intervals in the width direction of the developing device main body 6 (from the lower right to the upper left in FIG. 3, and in the horizontal direction in FIG. 5). A pair of pressing members 206 are provided. In the specific example, a protrusion 208a that protrudes upward is provided at one end of the support plate 126.
One of the pressing members 206 is rotatably attached to the bottle 210 installed in the bottle 8a. In addition, the support plate 126
A protrusion 208b that protrudes upward is also provided at the other end, and the other pressing member 206 is rotatably attached to the bottle 210 implanted in this protrusion 208b. Furthermore,
A locking member 211 is attached to the tip of each bottle 210 to prevent the pressing member 206 from detaching. Each pressing member 20
Reference numeral 6 indicates a substantially inverted arm portion 2 extending downward.
12 and a pressing arm portion 214 extending to the left in FIGS. 3 and 5, and a substantially triangular pressing block piece 216 is attached to the tip of the pressing arm portion 214 with a fixing screw 218. Each of the pressing members 206 is
It is pivotable between a first position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6-A and a second position shown in FIG. 6-B. Each pressing member 206 is attached with a biasing coil spring 220 that constitutes elastic biasing means. The biased coil spring 220 is fitted onto the pin 210, and one end thereof is connected to the support plate 126.
The other end is locked to the pressing arm part 214 of the pressing member 206,
The pressing member is elastically biased toward the first position, ie, counterclockwise in FIGS. 3 and 5.

The illustrated positioning means 204 further includes a moving member 224 for pivoting the pressing member 206. The movable member 224 has a relatively long first member 226 and a relatively short second member 228, and the first member 226 is attached to the support plate 126 so as to be movable in the width direction of the developing device main body 6. There is.

To explain further, in the specific example, a pair of support screws 230 are screwed onto the support plate 126 at intervals in the width direction of the developing device main body 6, and a sleeve member 232 is rotatably attached to each support screw 230. ing. On the other hand, a pair of elongated elongated holes 234 are formed at both ends of the first member 226 to correspond to the pair of support screws 230, and by positioning the sleeve member 232 within the elongated holes 234, One member 226 is attached to the support plate 126. Therefore, the first member 226 has the support screw 230 inserted into the elongated hole 230, as shown in FIGS. 6-A and 6-B.
The position located at one end and the support screw 230 are located in the elongated hole 234.
It is movable between the position at the other end. At both ends of the first member 226, which is thus movable, furthermore,
A working sleeve member 236 is mounted corresponding to the pressing member 206 . In the specific example, support screws 23B are screwed onto both ends of the first member 226, and the support screws 238
A working sleeve member 236 is rotatably attached to the. Therefore, the pressing member 206 is moved to the fifth
6-A and 6-B, counterclockwise rotation is reliably prevented. Note that the first member 226
To allow the above-described movement of the support plate 126
An elongated hole 240 for the working sleeve member 236 is formed in the support plate 126, and an elongated hole 240 for the working sleeve member 236 is formed in one end of the elongated hole 240 of the support plate 126 in order to allow attachment of the first nine members 226. 236 is formed. A second member 228 is interposed between the cam means 152 and the first member 226. That is, one end of the second member 228 is connected to the first member 22.
6, it is rotatably connected to the first member 226 via a connecting screw 242 screwed onto the left end and a sleeve member 244 attached to the connecting screw 242. Further, the second cam 182 is integrally provided with a disc-shaped portion 2.
46 is provided, and the other end of the second member 228 is
It is rotatably connected to the second cam 182 via a connecting screw 248 eccentrically screwed onto the disc-shaped portion 246 and a sleeve member 250 attached to the connecting screw 248.

The positioning of such a configuration is as follows when explaining the operation of the means 204:
It is as follows. When the first cam 180 is in the second angular position, the positioning means 204 is maintained in the operative state shown in FIG. 6-A.

That is, the connecting screw 248 attached to the second cam 182 is located in a region close to the first member 226, and therefore
The member 226 is connected to the arrow 252 via the second member 228.
(Fig. 6-A) and the position shown in Fig. 6-A (the support screw 230 is inserted into the long hole 23 of the first member 226
4). In this way, as the first member 226 moves, the support screw 238
are also moved in the same way, and the arrows 254 (
6-A), each pressing member 206 is allowed to pivot in the direction shown in FIG.
It is made to turn in the direction shown by 4.

When pivoted in this manner, as shown in FIG. 6-A, the pressing member 20
Pressing block piece 2 provided on pressing arm portion 214 of No. 6
Reference numeral 16 indicates the upper surface of the right end portion of the developing section 4 in FIG.
It acts on the upper surface of the protrusion on the right side in the figures and FIG. 3, and rotates the developing section 4 in the direction shown by the arrow 114 (FIG. 1) together with its own weight and the biasing force of the biased coil spring 112. The developing section 4 is reliably positioned at the above operating position. This positioning is achieved because, when the means 2040 is in operation, each of the pressing members 206 is elastically biased in the direction indicated by the arrow 254 (FIG. 6-A) by the action of the biased coil spring 220. is elastically and securely held in the operating position by the action of the biased coil spring 220 and the pressing member 206 (therefore, the pressing member 20
6 is also elastically held in the first position). On the other hand, when the first cam 180 is in the first angular position,
Positioning means 204 are held in the inoperative state shown in FIG. 6-B. That is, the connecting screw 248 attached to the second cam 182 is located at a part separated from the first member 226, and therefore the first member 226 is connected to the arrow 256 (6th-B) through the second member 228. 6-B) and the support screw 230 is moved in the direction shown in FIG.
6) at the other end of the elongated hole 234. In this way, as the first member 226 moves, the support screw 238 is also moved, and the support screw 230 acts on the actuated arm portion 212 of the pressing member 206 via the action sleeve member 236 and moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 258 (sixth - 6-B), and the pressing member 206 is thus held in the second position shown in FIG. 6-B. Therefore, the first cam 18
0 is in the first angular position, the developing section 4 of the developing device main body 6 is brought to the inactive position, and each pressing member 206 is brought to the second position. The pressing block piece 216 is in contact with the developing section 4 or is positioned at a distance slightly above the developing section 4, so that the pressing member 206 does not substantially act on the developing section 4, and thus the developing section 4 is moved up and down by the elevating member 154. It is reliably held in the non-operating position by the action of .

In such embodiments, the positioning is preferably arranged in relation to means 204 as follows. That is, first, the first member 226 is moved in the direction shown by the arrow 256 to release the pressure from the pressing member 206, and then the first cam 180 is moved.
It is preferable that the elevating member 154 is raised by
4 can be easily raised.

The developing device as described above has the following features in relation to the positioning means 204 and the like.

Figures 6-A and 6-B as well as Figures 7-A to 7-
Referring also to FIG. 6-B, when the elevating member 154 is in the raised position, the operating portion 158 of the elevating member 154 and the guide portion 128 provided on the support plate 126 are at substantially the same height (see FIG. 6-B). , see Figure 7-A). Therefore, when removing the developing device main body 6 from the forming device main body, the elevating member 1
54 to the above-mentioned raised position, the developing section 4 is brought to the above-mentioned non-working position, and thereby the pressing member 206 of the positioning means 204 is held at the above-mentioned second position, and the lifting member 1540 working section 15B is held at the above-mentioned second position. and support plate 1
The guide portions 128 of No. 26 are at the same level. Therefore,
By moving the developing device body 6 in the detachment direction shown by arrow 260 (FIG. 4), it can be detached from the forming device body as desired. When detached, the actuated protrusion 132 provided on the developing housing 8 is
Since the developer section 4 is moved while being guided by the operating section 15B of the elevating member 154 in the raised position and the guide section 128 of the support plate 126, the developing section 4 continues to be held at the non-operating position when detached, and is therefore held by the magnetic brush mechanism 12. This prevents the developer from acting on the surface of the photoreceptor of the rotating drum 42, thereby preventing damage to the photoreceptor when the developer is detached from the drum. can also be reliably prevented. In addition, the pressing member 206
is held at the second position and does not substantially act on the developing section 4, and since the acting section 15B and the guide section 128 are kept at the same level, the developing device main body 6 is moved in the detachment direction indicated by the arrow 260. can be easily moved. Regarding detachment of the developing device main body 6 in the above-mentioned state, please also refer to FIGS. 8-A and 8-B.

On the other hand, when the elevating member 154 is brought to the lowered position, the operating portion 158 of the elevating member 154 is connected to the support plate 122.
The height is substantially the same as the lower end of the other end 128a of the guide portion 128 provided in the
-0 figure), and the developing section 4 is positioned by means 204.
The actuating position is reliably held by the actuating state. In the specific example, the positioning is such that when the means 204 is in the active state, each pressing member 206 is biased toward the first position by a biasing coil spring 220; The developing device main body 6 can be moved away from the forming device main body even when the elevating member 154 is in the lowered position. That is, with reference to FIGS. 6-A, 7-B, and 7-C, when the elevating member 154 is in the lowered position, and therefore the developing section 4 is in the operating position, the developing device main body 6 When the projecting piece 132 provided on the developing housing 8 is moved in the detachment direction indicated by the arrow 252, the actuated protrusion 132 is first guided by the inclined surface of the other end 128a of the guide portion 128 of the support plate 126 and is inclined upward. (Fig. 7-B) and is guided to a substantially horizontal portion of the rear guide portion 12B (Fig. 7-C). In order to do this, it is preferable that the portion of the actuated protrusion 132 that contacts the other end 128a of the guide portion 128 be inclined in accordance with the other end 128a). When the developing device main body 6 is moved in this manner, the developing section 4 is moved from the working position to the non-working position as the projecting piece 132 is moved upward in the direction indicated by the arrow 252. Accordingly, each pressing member 206 is rotated from the first position to the second position in the direction shown by arrow 258.

As shown in FIG. 7-C, when the actuated protrusion 132 is moved along the substantially horizontal portion of the guide section 128, the developing section 4 of the developing device main body 6 is held at the non-operating position. , each pressing member 206 is held substantially in the second position (note that when the developing device main body 6 is detached as required, each pressing member 206 is held in the second position by the restoring force of the biased coil spring 220). (in the first position shown in solid line). As shown above, positioning is done by means 204.
By moving the developing device main body 6 in the disengagement direction indicated by the arrow 260, the pressing member 206 can pivot between the first position and the second position even when the It can be removed from the main body of the device as required. Furthermore, when the developing device main body 6 is moved in the detachment direction shown by the arrow 260 while the developing section 4 is held in the operating position, the inclined other end 128a of the guide section 128 and the The developing section 4 is brought to the non-working position by the action of the actuated protrusion 132 and is moved while being held at the non-working position, so that even in this case, the developer held in the magnetic brush mechanism 12 is does not substantially act on the surface of the photoreceptor of the rotating drum 42, and it is possible to reliably prevent the photoreceptor from being damaged when it is detached, and in addition to this, it is also possible to reliably prevent the developer from scattering. Regarding detachment of the developing device main body 6 when the elevating member 154 is in the lowered position,
See also Figures 9-A and 9-B.

In a specific example, as shown in FIG. 7-A, the developer housing 8
It is preferable that the actuated protrusion 132 is configured to substantially straddle the substantially horizontal portion of the guide portion 128 and the acting portion 158 of the elevating member 154. Easy loading and unloading is achieved.

Non-Part Terate The illustrated developing device further includes a non-working position holding means for holding the developing section 4 in a non-working position. Mainly referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the illustrated non-operating position holding means 262 includes a holding member 264 that is movable in the mounting and removal directions of the developing device main body 6. Holding member 26
4 includes a main body 266 extending in the mounting direction indicated by arrow 148 (FIG. 4), a hanging piece 268 provided at the right end (front end in the mounting direction indicated by arrow 148) of main body 266 in FIG. In FIG. 4, the main body portion 266 has a rotation preventing portion 270 provided at the left end portion (the rear end portion in the mounting direction indicated by the arrow 148). On the other hand, a protrusion 272 that protrudes outward from the end wall 66 of the developer housing 8 is provided with a guide groove 274 (FIG. 2) having a substantially T-shaped longitudinal section.

Then, the main body portion 2 of the holding member 264 is inserted into this guide groove 274.
66 is mounted so as to be movable in the directions shown by arrows 148 and 260. In a specific example, as shown in FIG. 4, the hanging piece 268 and the rotation prevention part 270 of the holding member 264 protrude downward through an opening that opens downward in the guide groove 274.

The rotation prevention portion 270 of the holding member 264 is configured to engage with a portion of the support portion when in the engagement position shown in FIGS. 8-A and 9-A.

In an embodiment, the lower surface of the rotation blocking part 270 defines a substantially horizontal blocking surface 270a, while the support body 46 of the support part 2
defines a substantially horizontal engagement surface 276 that cooperates with the blocking surface 270a, and when in the engagement position, the blocking surface 270a of the rotation blocking portion 270 and the support portion 2 engage with each other. Surface 276 engages as required. In a specific example, the holding member 264 is provided with a biasing means. The biasing means shown in the drawing is composed of a biasing spring 278, one end of which is engaged with a locking piece 280 provided on the developer housing 8, and the other end is engaged with a locking piece 280 provided on the developer housing 8. 8-A and 9-A).

The biasing spring 278 biases the retaining member 264 toward the engagement position. Further, in relation to the holding member 264, a blocking member 282 is provided on the developing housing 8. The blocking member 282 is connected to the hanging piece 26 of the holding member 264.
8 to reliably prevent movement beyond the engagement position.

The effects of the non-operating position holding means 262 described above will be explained as follows.

In such a developing device, when the developing device main body 6 is detached from the forming device main body, the holding member 264 is usually
is held at the engaged position.

That is, the hanging piece 268 of the holding member 264 contacts the blocking member 282 provided on the developer housing 8, and the blocking surface 270a of the rotation blocking portion 270 contacts the support body 4 of the support portion 2.
6 and is engaged with an engagement surface 276 defined in FIG.

Therefore, regardless of the biasing action of the biased coil spring 278, the action of the blocking surface 270a and the engaging surface 276 reliably prevents rotation of the developing section 4 with respect to the supporting section 2 in the direction indicated by the arrow 114 (FIG. 1). , 8-A and 9-A, the developing section 4 is held in the non-operating position with respect to the supporting section 2.

When the developing device main body 6 in such a state is detachably attached to the forming device main body, the engagement of the holding member 264 is released as follows. That is, FIGS. 8-A and 8-B (in these figures, the elevating member 154 is positioned at the above-mentioned raised position) and FIGS. 9-A and 9-B (in these figures, the elevating member 154 is positioned at the raised position). (The elevating member 154 is in the lowered position.) As shown in FIG.
The projecting piece 132 provided on the developing housing 8 is inserted through the opening formed in the supporting plate 126.
When most of the developing section 4 is inserted, the front substrate 1 is positioned on the guide section 128 of the front substrate 1 and moved in the mounting direction shown by the arrow 148, as shown in FIGS. 8-A and 9-A.
The tips of the pair of support pins 120 provided in the support portion 16 are received in the pair of receiving recesses 52 defined in the support portion 2 .

At this point, as shown in the figure, the developing housing 8
It is preferable that the actuated protrusion 132 is located at a substantially horizontally extending portion of the guide portion 12B, and that the holding member 264 is held in the above-mentioned engagement position. is easily inserted into the receiving recess 52 of the support part 2.

When the developing device main body 6 is further moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 148, the hanging piece 268 of the holding member 264 moves to the support guide 28 provided in the opening formed in the front substrate 116.
4), as the holding member 264 moves in the direction shown by the arrow 148, the biasing spring 27
Arrow 26 relative to the developing section 4 against the biasing force of B
The holding member 264 is moved in the direction indicated by 0.
The engagement state between the blocking surface 270a and the engaging surface 276 of the support section 2 is released, and thus the rotation of the developing section 4 toward the above-mentioned operating position is permitted. Such blocking surface 270a and engagement surface 2
76 is released, the actuated protrusion 132 of the developing housing 8 is located at a substantially horizontal portion of the guide portion 128, and from this state, the projecting piece 132 is located at a substantially horizontal portion of the guide portion 128, and from this state,
It is preferable that the lower end of the actuated protrusion 132 be moved away from the substantially horizontal portion of the guide portion 128 by moving in the direction indicated by 48. When the developing device main body 6 is further moved, the developing housing The tip of the shaft member 136 attached to the rear substrate 118 is received in the receiving recess 140 of the protrusion 134 provided on the end wall 68 (FIG. 2) of the developing device body 6 (FIG. 2). The developing device main body 6 is removably attached to the main body of the apparatus.
The other end of the developing device main body is supported by the front substrate 116 due to the position of the shaft member 136 in the receiving recess 140.
is supported by the rear substrate 118 by positioning the tip end thereof. Further, the actuated protrusion 132 of the developing housing 8 is
It is located substantially one distance away from the substantially horizontal portion of the guide portion 128 and above the action portion 158 of the elevating member 154 . Further, when attached in this manner, the claw portion 58 of the engaging member 6o attached to the support portion 2 engages with a part of the front substrate 116, thus preventing the developing device main body 6 from moving in the detachment direction shown by the arrow 260. Ru. In addition, as can be easily understood by comparing FIGS. 8-A and 8-B with FIGS. 9-A and 9-B, when the elevating member 154 is in the raised position and the lowered position The developing device main body 6 can also be detachably attached to the forming device main body, but if the developing device main body 6 is attached when the elevating member 154 is in the above-mentioned raised position, the developing section 4 is held in the above-mentioned non-operating position. , on the other hand, the elevating member 15
If the developing device main body 6 is attached when the developing unit 4 is in the lowered position, the developing unit 4 is held in the operating position. That is, when the elevating member 154 is in the raised position, as shown in FIGS. 8-A and 8-B, the action portion 158 of the elevating member 154
is on the same level as the substantially horizontal portion of the guide portion 128, therefore, when the developing device main body 6 is installed as required,
The developing section 4 continues to be held at the non-working position by the action of the working section 158. Therefore, in order to bring the developing section 4 to the operating position, it is necessary to bring the elevating member 154 to the lowered position as described above. On the other hand, when the elevating member 154 is in the lowered position, as shown in FIGS. 9-A and 9-B, the operating portion 158 of the elevating member 154 is
Therefore, immediately before the developing device main body 6 is installed as required, the actuated protrusion 132 of the developing housing 8 is located at the other end of the guide portion 128. 128a, and when installed as required, the developer section 4
is placed in the operating position. This developing device also has the following features. That is, even when the elevating member 154 is in the raised position or the lowered position, when the developing device main body 6 is mounted as required, specifically when the actuated protrusion 132 moves in a substantially horizontal portion of the guide portion 128. The developing section 4 is held at the non-operating position. Therefore, the developer held by the magnetic brush mechanism 12 does not substantially act on the photoreceptor of the rotating drum 42, and damage to the photoreceptor when the developing device main body 6 is attached can be reliably prevented.

In a specific example, when the developing device main body 6 is separated from the forming device main body, the holding member 264 is held in the engaged position as follows. That is, when the engagement by the engaging member 60 is released and the developing device main body 6 is moved in the disengagement direction shown by the arrow 260, the holding member 264 is moved against the developing housing 8 by the action of the biasing spring 278 as it moves. 148 in the direction indicated by the arrow 148. And arrow 2
When the developing section 4 is moved somewhat in the direction indicated by 60, the developing section 4 is in the non-operating position (as shown in FIGS. 8-A and 13-B, when the elevating member 154 is in the raised position, the developing section 4 is 9-A continues to be held in the inactive position.
9-B, when the elevating member 154 is in the lowered position, the developing section 4 is moved from the working position to the non-working position as it moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 260. , the blocking surface 270a of the holding member 264 and the engaging surface 276 of the support portion 2 engage as required. When the holding member 26 is moved a little further from this state, the holding member 26
4 comes into contact with a blocking member 282 provided on the developer housing 8, thereby holding the holding member 264 in the engagement position as shown in FIG. 8-A (or FIG. 9-A). Therefore, even when the developing device main body 6 is separated from the forming device main body, the holding member 264 is held in the above-mentioned engagement position, whereby the developing section 4 continues to be held in the non-operating position with respect to the support section 2. When the developing device main body 6 is further moved, the pair of support pins 120 are removed from the receiving recesses 52 of the support portion 2. In the specific example, after the electrical connection terminal 56 attached to the support part 2 is detached from the electrical connection terminal (not shown) attached to the front board 116, the support bin 12
0 comes off from the receiving recess 52, thereby ensuring that the electric motor 122 is grounded after the power to the developing device main body 6 is turned off. After that,
When further moved in the direction indicated by arrow 260, the developing device main body 6 is separated from the forming device main body as required.

For amateurs who use toner cartridges and
Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11 in conjunction with the drawings, the illustrated toner cartridge and related elements will now be described.

Mainly referring to FIG. 10, the illustrated toner cartridge 88 includes a cartridge body 288 in the shape of a square column. A toner supply port 292 (FIGS. 13-A to 13-0) is defined in the upper wall 290 of the cartridge body 28.8, and this toner supply port 292 is closed by a lid body 294 after being filled with toner. be done. The lower end of this cartridge body 288 is funnel-shaped, and a toner outlet 296 (Figs. 13-A to 13-0) is provided at the lower end.
Figure) is specified. In the specific example, a rectangular flange 298 is integrally provided at the lower end of the cartridge main body 288 (that is, the opening of the toner outlet 296), and a flexible sheet member 300 is attached to the lower surface of this flange 298. In the illustrated embodiment, in which the toner outlet 296 of the cartridge body 288 is substantially sealed, one end of the sheet member 300 is bent upwardly to facilitate removal of the sheet member 300. , is attached to the upper surface of the flange 298. Therefore, the sheet member 3
The sheet member 300 can be easily peeled off from the flange 298 by peeling off the one end stuck to the top surface of the flange 298 and pulling this one end in the direction shown by the arrow 302.

The illustrated toner cartridge 88 further includes a cover member 304 for closing the toner outlet 296 when the cartridge main body 288 is removed from the developing device main body 6.
8, it has a substantially rectangular shape, and recesses 306 for receiving both side ends of the flange 298 are defined at both ends thereof. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13-0, both ends of the flange 298 are positioned within the recess 306 of the cover member 304, and the cover member 304 is moved relative to the arrow 308 (
By moving it in the direction shown in FIG. 13-B), the toner discharge port 296 of the cartridge main body 288 can be closed. As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 13-0, a stop piece 310 is attached to the cover member 304 to reliably prevent movement in the direction indicated by the arrow 308 when the cover member 304 is attached to the flange 298 as required. It is preferable to provide one.

In the specific example, the cover member 304 is further configured such that once it is attached to the flange 298 of the cartridge body 288, it is substantially impossible to move the cover member 304 in the removal direction.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 13-0, the flange 298 and cover member 304 are
2 is provided, and the illustrated detachment movement prevention means 312 is a hole 31 formed in the flange 298 of the cartridge body 288.
4 (constituting a receiving recess) and an engaging protrusion 316 provided on the cover member 304. The engaging protrusion 316 is inclined downward in the mounting direction at the front portion in the mounting direction indicated by arrow 308, but protrudes substantially vertically at the rear end in the mounting direction. Therefore, when the cover member 304 is moved in the direction shown by the arrow 308, the engagement between the hole 314 and the engagement protrusion 316 is allowed due to the elastic deformation of the flange 298, the engagement protrusion 316, etc.; Once the engagement protrusion 316 is engaged, it becomes substantially impossible to move the engagement protrusion 316, and thus the cover member 304, in the opposite direction to that described above. Note that, contrary to the above, the flange 298 may be provided with an engaging protrusion, and the cover member 304 may be provided with a receiving recess.

In a specific example, the cover member 304 is removably attached to one side wall 318 of the cartridge body 288 (preferably the rear side wall when viewed from the mounting direction of the cartridge body 288 as indicated by the arrow 320 in FIG. 13-A) when not in use. configured to be installed.

That is, a pair of L-shaped support protrusions 322 are provided on the side wall 318 of the cartridge body 288 at intervals. Each support ridge 322 extends in the vertical direction, and the cover member 30
It has a protrusion located in the recess 306 of No. 4. Furthermore, a stop piece 324 is provided at the lower end of the side wall 318. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1θ and FIG. 13-A, by positioning the protrusion of the support strip 322 in the recess 306 of the cover member 304 and moving the cover member 304 downward, the side wall 318 of the cartridge body 288 is It is attached removably. 13-A of the cover member 304, the lower edge of the cover member 304 is attached to the stop piece 324.
The cover member 304 is held in the state shown in FIG. 13-A.

In this installed state, the upper end of the cover member 304 protrudes somewhat upward from the upper wall 290 of the cartridge main body 288. Therefore, by grasping this protruding upper end and moving it upward, the cover member 304 can be removed. can be easily removed from the side wall 318. Incidentally, as is easily understood, the cover member 304 is attached to the side wall 31.
In place of B, the flange 298 of the cartridge body 288
If configured in this way,
It is necessary to store the cover member 304 when the cartridge 88 is used (in addition, when configured in this way, the hole 314 of the flange 298 and the engaging protrusion 3 of the cover member 304
16, it is necessary to adhere a sheet member 300 to at least the lower surface of the flange 298 to substantially cover the hole 314).

Referring mainly to FIGS. 2 and 11, the cartridge mounting portion 82 of the developing device main body 6 into which the cartridge main body 288 is detachably mounted has a substantially cylindrical shape with four side walls, and has a substantially rectangular shape at its upper end. A shaped flange 326 is provided. An elastically deformable sealing member 328 such as a sponge is attached to the inner circumference of the flange 326, and a guide cover 332 is attached to the outer circumference of the flange 326 with mounting screws 330. The guide cover 332 defines a pair of guide grooves 334 extending in the mounting direction of the cartridge main body 288 in cooperation with the flanges 326 on both sides thereof, and has a guide groove 334 at one end (on the mounting side of the cartridge main body 288) approximately at the center thereof. An open, approximately semicircular opening 336 is formed. In addition, the cartridge body 28
8, one end on both sides of the guide cover 332 is tilted upward in the direction opposite to the direction in which the cartridge body 288 is attached, as indicated by the arrow 320, and the opening of the guide groove 334 is made somewhat larger. One side wall 338 (the lower right side wall in FIG. 2) of this cartridge mounting portion 82 is preferably enlarged by a rotation shaft 340.
One end of the zero-rotation shaft 340 to which the zero-rotation shaft 340 is rotatably mounted projects outwardly through the side wall 338, and this projecting end is drivingly connected to the output shaft 342 of the electric motor 122. In the specific example, a receiving recess 344 is provided at one end of the rotating shaft 340.
On the other hand, an engagement pin 346 is attached to the output shaft 342, and the rotation shaft 340 and the output shaft 342 are drivingly connected by inserting the engagement pin 346 into the receiving recess 344. The other end of this rotating shaft 340 is connected to the side wall 33
8 and protrudes inwardly, and a helical member 98 of the toner transport means 34 is connected to this inwardly protruding end (the first
2-A and 12-B), a discharge promoting means 348 is provided in association with the rotating shaft 340 to enhance the discharge performance of the toner inside the cartridge body 288.

Referring also to FIG. 12-A, the ejection promoting means 348 illustrated in FIG. (extending substantially vertically).

An operating piece 352 is attached to an intermediate portion of the support shaft 350 by a mounting screw 354, and a swinging member 356 is attached to one end thereof located within the toner discharge chamber 86. The swinging member 356 has an opening 357 formed in the side wall 338.
A protrusion 356 that protrudes outward through the rotating shaft 340, and a free end of this swinging member 356 has a protrusion 356 that protrudes upward through the rotation shaft 340.
A is provided. On the other hand, a working protrusion 358 is provided on the circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 340 and projects radially outward, and this working protrusion 358 acts on the protrusion 356a of the swinging member 356. In the specific example, a biasing spring 360 is further attached to the swinging member 356. One end of the biasing spring 360 is locked to the swinging member 356, and the other end is locked to a part of the cartridge mounting section 82.
The biasing spring 360 biases the rocker member 356 in the direction shown by the arrow 362 (FIG. 12-A) so that the rocker member 356 is normally in the angular position shown in FIG. The tip of 352 is the cartridge body 28
The helical member 98 is also rotated via the rotation shaft 340 when the electric motor 122 is rotated in a predetermined direction. Therefore, the toner discharged into the toner discharge chamber 86 as described later moves inside the toner transfer chamber 32 (FIG. 1) by the action of the spiral member 98 in the direction of the arrow 96 (
(Fig. 2). In addition, the rotating shaft 340
When it rotates in this manner, as shown in FIGS. 12-A and 12-B, the operating protrusion 358 provided on the rotating shaft 340 acts on the protrusion 356a of the swinging member 356, and the swinging member 35
6 is caused to swing in the directions shown by arrows 362 and 364. That is, when the rotating shaft 340 rotates in the direction shown by the arrow 366 (FIG. 2) and the operating protrusion 358 acts on the protrusion 356a to raise it, the swinging member 35
6 is pivoted in the direction shown by arrow 364 against the biasing force of biasing spring 360 (FIG. 12-B).

When the rotating shaft 340 further rotates and the working protrusion 358 comes off the protrusion 356a, the swinging member 356 is then pivoted in the direction shown by the arrow 362 by the biasing action of the biasing spring 360, and is attached to the support shaft 350. The distal end of the acting piece 352 collides with the flange 298 of the cartridge body 288 (FIG. 12-A). Therefore, the collision of the acting piece 352 applies a shock to the cartridge body 288, and thereby the cartridge body 288 The blocking of the toner inside the cartridge body 288 is extinguished and the toner is allowed to fall as required, and the toner remaining on the inner surface of the cartridge body 288 is allowed to fall, thus causing the toner inside the cartridge body 288 to fall.
Discharge of the toner in the container 8 is promoted and the toner is reliably discharged.

The developing device of the specific example is further configured such that it is virtually impossible to remove the cartridge from the cartridge mounting portion 82 of the developing device main body 6 unless the cover member 304 is attached to the cartridge main body 288. To further explain with reference to FIGS. 2 and 11 again, in the specific example, a pair of support protrusions 368 that protrude downward are provided on the lower surface of the flange 326 provided on the cartridge mounting portion 82. An engagement member 370 is mounted between the support protrusions 368 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The engaging member 370 has a main body portion 372 movably attached to the pair of support protrusions 368.
and a pair of engaging claw portions 3 provided at both ends of the main body portion 372.
74, and a biasing spring member 37 is disposed between the locking member 376 attached to the lower end of each support protrusion 368 and the main body portion 372.
8 is interposed. Biasing spring member 378 elastically biases engagement member 370 upwardly. On the other hand, on both side ends of the flange 298 on the 28th side of the cartridge body, corresponding to the pair of engagement claws 374 of the engagement member 370,
A pair of notches 380 are provided. A pair of notches 3
Reference numeral 80 extends inward from both ends of the flange 289 and defines receiving portions for receiving the engagement claw portions 374 of the engagement member 370.

As shown in FIG. 2, the flange 326 of the cartridge mounting portion 82 is provided with a notch 382 through which the engagement claw portion 374 of the engagement member 370 can pass.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 13-A to 13-0, the mounting and dismounting operations of the cartridge main body 288 will be described.

To attach the cartridge main body 288 to the cartridge mounting section 82, first, position both ends of the flange 298 of the cartridge main body 288 in the pair of guide grooves 334 defined in the cartridge mounting section 82, and align them with the arrows 320 (13th
-Move it in the mounting direction shown in Figure A). Thus,
Both ends of the flange 298 are guided by a pair of guide grooves 334, and the cartridge body 288 is positioned at the mounting position shown in FIG.
(In the figure, the left end of the guide cover 332 comes into contact with the end wall 332a of the guide cover 332, thereby preventing the movement beyond the mounting position.) Thus, as shown in FIG. The portion 374 is inserted into the cartridge body 288 through a notch 382 formed in the flange 326.
It protrudes into a notch 380 formed in the flange 298 of and securely engages a portion of the flange 298. Engagement claw part 3
As shown in FIG. 13-A, the front end of 74 is substantially vertical when viewed in the mounting direction indicated by arrow 320, and is inclined downward toward the rear end. When the flange 298 is engaged with a portion of the flange 298, the movement of the cartridge body 288 in the detachment direction shown by the arrow 384 (FIG. 13-B) is reliably prevented, and as will be described later, the cover member 304
If the cartridge body 288 is not attached, it becomes virtually impossible to remove the cartridge body 288.

Next, a part of the sheet member 300 attached to the flange 298 of the cartridge body 288 is peeled off and pulled to completely separate from the flange 298. Thus, as shown in Figure 13-A, the cartridge body 288
The toner outlet 296 of the cartridge body 2 is opened, and the toner outlet 296 of the cartridge body 2 is opened.
The toner in 88 is discharged into the toner discharge chamber 86 through the toner discharge port 296.

On the other hand, attach the cartridge main body 288 to the cartridge mounting portion 8.
2, first remove the side wall 318 (FIG. 10) of the cartridge body 288, as shown in FIG. 13-B.
The cover member 304 that has been removed from the cartridge is inserted between the flange 326 of the cartridge mounting portion 82 and the flange 298 of the cartridge main body 288, and is moved in the direction shown by the arrow 308, and positioned to the position shown in FIG. 13-B (
The stop piece 310 provided on the cover member 304 comes into contact with the right end of the flange 298 in FIG. The portion 374 is the arrow 308
Since the cover member 304 is tilted upward in the mounting direction shown by , insertion of the cover member 304 is allowed, and as the cover member 304 moves in the mounting direction, the engaging member 370 moves downward against the biasing force of the biasing spring 378. When the cover member 304 is moved and covers the lower surface of the flange 298, the pair of engaging claws 37
4 is removed from the hole 380, and thus the cartridge body 2
Movement in the withdrawal direction indicated by arrow 384 at 88 is permitted.

Furthermore, when the cover member 304 is attached in this way, the toner outlet 296 of the cartridge main body 288 is
04, and the engagement protrusion 316 of the cover member 304 is located within the hole 314 formed in the flange 298, thus reliably preventing movement of the cover member 304 in the detachment direction with respect to the cartridge body 288.

After that, the cartridge body 288 is attached to the cover member 304.
At the same time, it is moved in the detachment direction shown by arrow 384. Thus, as shown in Figure 13-C, the cartridge body 2
The toner discharge port 296 of the cartridge 88 can be removed as required while being covered by the cover member 304, and even if some toner is present in the cartridge body 288, the toner will not scatter to the outside.

Natsugai■ Although an example of a developing device constructed according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such a specific example, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is possible.

For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the mechanism related to the cover member 304 is such that the cartridge body 288 is connected to the developing device body 6.
Although the description has been made with reference to a case where the cartridge body is attached to one end of the developing unit 4, the present invention is not limited thereto. The same can be applied to other forms as well.

In addition, in the illustrated example, one developing device main body 6 is detachably mounted around the rotating drum 42, but for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 61
As disclosed in the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent No. 235929, the present invention can be similarly applied to a configuration in which two or more developing device bodies are detachably mounted around the rotating drum 42.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a specific example of a developing device constructed according to the present invention. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the developing device main body of the developing device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the forming device main body side to which the developing device main body of FIG. 2 is removably attached. FIG. 4 is a side view, partially in section, showing a state in which the developing device main body of FIG. 2 is detachably attached to the forming device main body. 5 is a front view showing the switching mechanism and positioning means in the developing device of FIG. 1; FIG. Figures 6-A and 6-B show a state in which the first cam of the switching mechanism is in the second angular position and a state in which the first cam of the switching mechanism is in the first angular position, respectively. FIG. Figures 7-A, 7-B, and 7-C show the positioning of the pressing member of the means when the lifting member of the switching mechanism is in the raised position, and the positioning of the pressing member of the means when the lifting member of the switching mechanism is in the lowered position. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the pressing member when the developing device main body is detached in FIG. 8-A and 8-B are partially cross-sectional views showing the state when the developing device main body is moved in the attachment and detachment directions when the elevating member is in the raised position, respectively. FIGS. 9-A and 9-B are partially cross-sectional views showing the state when the developing device main body is moved in the attachment and detachment directions when the elevating member is in the lowered position. FIG. 1O is a perspective view showing a toner cartridge detachably attached to the main body of the developing device. FIG. 11 is a partial front view showing a state in which the cartridge main body, cover, and members are mounted on the cartridge mounting portion of the developing device main body. FIG. 12-A and FIG. 12-B are schematic diagrams for explaining the movement of the discharge promoting means attached to the main body of the developing device, respectively. 13-A to 13-C are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining operations for mounting the cartridge main body on the developing device main body and removing the cartridge main body from the developing device main body, respectively. 2...Supporting part 4...Developing unit 6...Developing device main body 8...Developing housing 12...Magnetic brush mechanism 46... ... Support body 80 ... Auxiliary housing 82 ... Cartridge mounting section 88 ... Toner cartridge 126 ... Support plate 12B ... Guide portion 132... Actuated projection piece 150... Switching mechanism 154... Lifting member 180... First cam 182... First cam 182... No. 2 cam 204... Positioning means 206... Pressing member 224... Moving member 262... Inactive position holding means 264...
... Holding member 288 ... Cartridge body 296 ... Toner discharge port 298 ... Flange 312 ... Detachment movement prevention means 348 ... Ejection Promoting means 370...Engagement member 380...Hole

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A developing device comprising a developing section equipped with an application means for applying a developer to an electrostatic latent image, and a support section that rotatably supports the developing section over a predetermined range. a main body, an action position attached in relation to the developing device main body, where the developer held in the application means acts on the electrostatic latent image, and a position where the developer held in the application means acts on the electrostatic latent image; a switching mechanism that selectively causes the developing section to be in a non-active position in which the developing section is not acted upon; and a positioning means for causing the development device to move. 2. The positioning means is actuated in conjunction with the switching mechanism, such that when the switching mechanism places the application means in the operative position, the locating means is held in the operative state, while the switching mechanism 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein when the positioning means is placed in the non-operative position, the positioning means is placed in the non-operative state. 3. The switching mechanism includes a biasing means for biasing the developing section toward the working position, and an elevating member that moves the developing section toward the non-working position against the biasing action of the biasing means. When the member is lowered, the biasing action of the biasing means causes the developing section to be in the operative position, while when the elevating member is raised, the action of the elevating member causes the developing part to be in the inactive position. A developing device according to claim 2. 4. The switching mechanism further includes cam means for raising and lowering the elevating member, and when the cam means is moved from the first angular position to the second angular position, the elevating member is lowered, thus causing the elevating member to move up and down. When the developer station is held in the operative position while the cam means is moved from the second angular position to the first angular position, the elevating member is raised, thus moving the developer station into the inactive position. A developing device according to claim 3. 5. The positioning means includes a moving member that reciprocates by rotation of the cam means, a first position where the developing section is held in the operating position by movement of the moving member, and a first position that does not substantially act on the developing section. a pressing member movable between a second position, and when the cam means is in the second angular position, the pressing member is held in the first position via the moving member; 5. The developing device according to claim 4, wherein when the cam means is brought to the first angular position, the pressing member is brought to the second position via the moving member. 6. The pressing member is provided with an elastic biasing means, and when the cam means is in the second angular position, the developing section is elastically held in the operating position by the action of the elastic biasing means. A developing device according to claim 5. 7. A forming device of an image forming apparatus, comprising a developing section provided with an application means for applying a developer to an electrostatic latent image, and a support section rotatably supporting the developing section over a predetermined range. A developing device main body that is detachably attached to the main body; and a non-working position holding means for holding the developing section in the non-working position when the developing device main body is detachably attached to the forming device main body. A developing device provided. 8. A biasing means for biasing the developing section toward the working position is provided in association with the developing section, and the non-working position holding means biases the developing section against the action of the biasing means. The developing device according to claim 7, wherein the developing device is held in the non-operating position. 9. In relation to the developing device main body, an action position where the developer held in the application means acts on the electrostatic latent image and a position where the developer held in the application means does not substantially act on the electrostatic latent image. 9. The developing device according to claim 7, further comprising a switching mechanism for selectively placing the developing section in a non-operating position. 10. The non-working position holding means holds the developing section in the non-working position when the developing device main body is removed from the forming device main body, and on the other hand, when the developing device main body is attached to the forming device main body as required. 10. The developing device according to claim 9, wherein the developing device is configured to release the developing section from being held in the non-operating position. 11. The non-operating position holding means includes a holding member mounted movably in the mounting direction of the developing device main body, and the holding member acts on a part of the supporting portion to prevent rotation of the developing section. When the developing device main body is removed from the forming device main body, the rotation preventing portion of the holding member engages with the part of the supporting portion, and thus When the developing section is held in the non-operating position and the developing device main body is attached to the forming device main body as required, the rotation preventing portion of the holding member and the portion of the supporting portion are engaged with each other. 11. The developing device according to claim 10, wherein the developing device is released and thus the holding of the developing section in the non-operating position is released. 12. A biasing means is provided in relation to the holding member for biasing the holding member toward an engagement position in which the rotation preventing portion engages with the portion of the support portion; 12. The developing device according to claim 11, further comprising a blocking member that prevents the holding member from moving beyond the engagement position. 13. The forming device main body is provided with a guide means for guiding the developing section of the developing device main body, and the guide means is used when the developing device main body is attached to the forming device main body as required and The developing device according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the developing unit is held and guided in the non-operating position when the developing device main body is removed from the forming device main body. 14. A developing device body including an applying means for applying developer to the electrostatic latent image, and a toner cartridge detachably attached to the developing device body for replenishing the applying means with toner. In a developing device, the toner cartridge includes a cartridge body containing toner and a cover member that closes a toner discharge port formed in the cartridge body. It is configured such that it is virtually impossible to remove the developing device from the main body unless it is attached to the developing device.
A developing device characterized by: 15. The cartridge main body is provided with a receiving part, and the developing device main body is equipped with an engaging member that is removably received in the receiving part, and the cartridge main body is attached to the developing device main body as required. When the engaging member is removably attached to the cartridge body, the engaging member is received in the receiving portion of the cartridge body, thus making it substantially impossible to separate the cartridge body from the developing device body, while the cover is attached to the cartridge body. Claims in which when the member is attached, the engagement member is detached from the receiving portion of the cartridge body in connection with attachment of the cover member, and thus the cartridge body is allowed to detach from the developing device body. 15. The developing device according to item 14. 16. The engaging member is attached to the developing device main body so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and a biasing means for biasing the engaging member upward is provided in relation to the engaging member, and further the engaging member The upper end is inclined upward in the mounting direction of the cover member, and when the cartridge main body is detachably mounted on the developing device main body as required, the engaging member is moved by the action of the biasing means. When the cover member is received in the receiving portion of the cartridge main body, and the cover member is mounted on the cartridge main body, the engaging member is moved against the biasing action of the biasing means as the cover member moves in the mounting direction. 16. The developing device according to claim 15, which is detachable from the receiving portion of the cartridge main body. 17. The cartridge main body and the cover member are provided with detachment movement prevention means for preventing the cover member from moving in the detachment direction after the cover member is attached to the cartridge main body. 17. The developing device according to any one of items 1 to 16. 18. The detachment movement prevention means includes a receiving recess provided on either one of the cartridge main body and the cover member, and an engaging protrusion provided on the other of the cartridge main body and the cover member and received in the receiving recess. 18. The developing device according to claim 17, which is configured in combination with. 19. The developing device according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the cover member is configured to be detachably attached to the side wall of the cartridge main body when not in use. 20. The toner supply opening of the cartridge main body is sealed with a flexible sheet member, and the toner discharge port is opened by peeling off the flexible sheet member after installing the cartridge main body in the developing device main body. 20. The developing device according to claim 14, wherein the developing device is opened and thus the toner inside the cartridge body is supplied.