JPS63220266A - Storage device for plural developing devices - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need of respective color detecting means of storage parts to simplify an operating circuit by exclusively using respective storage parts for individual peculiar colors of developing devices. CONSTITUTION:Projections 27-30 of a storage parts 13-16 are provided correspondingly to bent claw parts of color developing devices 17... and permit only color developing devices to be exclusively stored to be stored in storage parts 13-16 but inhibit storage of the other color developing devices. Consequently, storage parts 13-16 are exclusively used for peculiar colors respectively. If the next color is selected in the operation part of an image forming device 1, it is sufficient if a control art searches the storage part in which the color developing device of the selected color is stored. Thus, it is unnecessary to provide a color detecting means which detects colors of developing devices stored in storage parts 13-16.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, a copying machine, etc., especially a plurality of developing devices that are optionally installed in an image forming apparatus that is capable of forming color images. It relates to a storage device.

(Technical Background) In order to address the wide range of color needs for image forming apparatuses, the applicant of the present application has previously installed a desired color developing device outside the main body of the image forming apparatus at a developing operation position inside the main body. has proposed a storage device for multiple developing devices that can automatically supply the developing devices (in Japanese Patent Application No. 61-256214, etc.).

This multiple developer storage device is removably attached to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body, and includes a plurality of storage sections for holding developing devices having a predetermined color developing function, and a storage section selected from one of these storage sections. The present invention is characterized by comprising a predetermined supply position for supplying the selected developer to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a moving mechanism for moving the selected developer to the predetermined supply position.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention eliminates the need for providing a color detection means for knowing which color developer is stored in each storage section in the multiple developer storage device proposed above, and eliminates the need for an operating circuit. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-developing unit storage device that is devised to simplify the process and thereby improve reliability.

(Summary of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the multiple developing device storage device of the present invention is characterized in that each storage section is dedicated to a unique color of each developing device.

(Example of the invention) Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a multiple developer storage device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view showing an image forming apparatus (copying machine) equipped with the multiple developer storage device outside the main body of the device. The figure shows.

In the figure, 1 is an image forming apparatus, and 2 is a multiple developer storage device (hereinafter simply referred to as "storage device").

The storage device 2 includes a flat base member 5 which has a developer supply port 3 and is detachably fixed to the device main body 4 with bolts or the like, and a case moving means (not shown) relative to the base member 5. The storage case 6 is made of resin and can be moved up and down by a moving mechanism.

The base member 5 is attached to the apparatus main body 4 so that the developing device supply port 3 is aligned with a developing device inlet 8 which can be opened and closed by a shutter 7 .

Inside the storage case 6, a plurality of storage sections 13-16 are formed by partition plates 9-12 (integrated with the case) having slide guides (not shown) on the upper surface. Storage part 1
For example, a red developing device 17 is installed in the storage section 3, a blue developing device 18 is installed in the storage section 14, a green developing device 19 is installed in the storage section 15, and a yellow developing device 20 is installed in the storage section 16 from the respective storage ports 21 to 24. It is designed to be stored.

FIG. 1 shows the coupon developing device 17 being stored in the uppermost storage section 13 in the direction of the arrow, and FIG. The photoreceptor tram 25 is fed to a developing operation retreat position in the vicinity of the photoreceptor tram 25. In this case, the case moving means or the storage case 6 is moved up and down so that the storage section 15 housing the green developer 19 is aligned with the developer supply port 3 of the base member 5, and then,
A developing device transporting means (not shown) moves the green developing device 19 in the storage section 15 on the transport path 26 and transports it to the above-mentioned position.

Now, in the storage device 2 of the present invention, each of the storage sections 1
3 to 16 are storage sections dedicated to the unique colors of the color developing units 17 to 20 respectively stored therein.

That is, the storage section 13 that stores the red developing device 17 stores only the red developing device 17, and the storage section 1 that stores the blue developing device 18 stores only the red developing device 17.
4 stores only the blue developing device 18, the storage section 15 that stores the green developing device 19 only stores the green developing device 19, and the storage section 16 that stores the yellow developing device 20 stores only the yellow developing device 20. It is designed to be stored.

In the illustrated case, a foolproof is provided between the storage section and the color developer housed in the storage section to ensure the exclusive use of unique colors. On one side of the storage openings 21 to 24 of each of the storage sections 13 to 16, there are protrusions (storage prevention means) 27 to 27 for preventing the storage of color developing devices other than the color developing device exclusively stored therein.
30 is integrally formed.

On the other hand, in the rear part 31 of each color developer 17 to 20, there are storage sections (13 to 16) provided in the storage case 6 as shown in FIG.
) A plurality of L-shaped claws 32 to 35 are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction (formed integrally with the developing device case). The nail 32
35 can be bent using claws similar to those provided on cassette tapes. In the case of the illustrated red developing device 17, the uppermost claw 32
or bent, and in the case of the blue developer 18, the second claw 3
In the case of the green developing device 19, the third claw 34 is bent, and in the case of the yellow developing device 20, the lowest claw 35 is bent. Such color developing devices 17-2
Each storage section 13 corresponds to the bent claw portion of 0.
-16 protrusions 27 to 30 are provided so that only the color developing device to be exclusively stored can be stored, and the storage of other color developing devices is prevented. Therefore, each storage section 13~
Reference numeral 16 is a dedicated storage section for unique colors.

In such a configuration, when the next color is selected at the operation section of the image forming apparatus l, the control section only has to search for a storage section that stores the selected color developer. Color detection means (including means for detecting the presence or absence of a developer) to determine which color developer is stored in the unit.
There is no need to set it up.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, in the multiple developer storage device according to the present invention, each storage section is dedicated to a unique color for each developing device color, so each storage section has a color detection function. There is no need to provide any means, and the operating circuit can be simplified accordingly, reliability can be improved, and costs can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a multiple developer storage device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view showing an image forming apparatus equipped with the multiple developer storage device. 1...-image forming apparatus, 2... multiple developing device storage device. 3...Developer supply port (predetermined supply position M), 4--device main body, 13-16--storage section, 17...red developer,
18... Blue developer, 19-... Green developer, 20...
Yellow developer. 27-30--Protrusion (accommodation prevention means).

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of storage sections for holding developing devices having a predetermined color developing function, and a predetermined supply for supplying the developing device selected from any of these storage sections to the main body of the image forming apparatus. and a moving mechanism for moving the selected developer to the predetermined supply position, wherein each of the storage sections is dedicated to a unique color of each developing device. A multiple developer storage device characterized by having a storage section. (2) Multiple developer storage according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the storage units is provided with storage prevention means for preventing storage of a developer with a color different from its own unique color. Device.