JPS63243976A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avert the toner contamination in and out of a copying device body by enclosing a freely attachable/detachable device housing contg. a developing roller and paddle with a cover member and interposing an sealing member between the cover member and photosensitive drum at the time of bringing the aperture thereof into opposite contact with the drum. CONSTITUTION:The paddle 5 in the device housing 3 is rotated to feed a toner 11 to the outside peripheral face of the developing roller 4, where a magnetic brush function is generated. The height of the bristle of the brush is then controlled by using a trimmer bar 12 and the toner is conveyed to a developing region side of the photosensitive drum 1, where an electrostatic latent image formed on the drum 1 surface is developed. The outside circumference of the housing 3 in this constitution is enclosed by the cover member 2 via an elastic member 15 provided on the aperture 14 side. The magnetic sealing member 6 connected with a magnet 15 at the rear end is interposed between the front end of said aperture and the drum 1. Then, the contamination of the inside and outside surfaces of the copying machine body by the toner is obviated and the operator's hand is kept clean without being contaminated at the time of exchanging the housing 3.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a developing device such as a copying machine, and in particular, the present invention relates to a developing device such as a copying machine, and in particular, if the rules of the developing device deviate from the darkness between the latent image carrier and the developing device, or if the rules of the developing device This invention relates to an improvement in a developing Vt station that prevents an operator from being contaminated by toner during replacement work.

[Prior Art] As a conventional developing device such as a copying machine, a magnetic brush developing device as shown in FIG. 5 is explained as an example. a developing roller (e) provided inside the device housing (b) and consisting of a cylindrical sleeve (C) and a magnetic roller (d); A paddle (g) is provided on the back side of the roller (e) and supplies developer (f) consisting of toner and carrier to the developing roller (e).
), the main part of which is comprised of the device housing (b
) is a device that supplies a developer (f) toward a photosensitive drum (a) holding an electrostatic latent image through an opening (h) provided in the photosensitive drum (a) to turn the electrostatic latent image into a visible image. .

The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum (a, ) is transferred to the copy paper (p) side by a transfer device (j) and fixed by a fixing device (k) to become a permanent image.

By the way, in the conventional developing device, the developer floating inside the device housing (b) and the developer on the developing roller (e) that did not participate in the development are deposited at the end of the opening (h) of the device housing (b). The problem is that the toner tends to leak out from the gap between the toner and the photosensitive drum (a), contaminating the inside of the copying machine main body.

For this reason, various measures have been taken in conventional developing devices. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a magnetic seal is installed along the length of the opening (h) of the device housing (b). A suction duct (n) is installed on both the upper and lower outer walls of the device housing (b) as shown in FIG. )(n) is disposed, and the developer leaking out from the gap is removed by suction from the long end thereof using a blower motor (not shown).

Note that (Q) in FIG. 6 shows a side seal member that prevents leakage of developer from the side surface of the developing device.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in a developing device in which the magnetic seal members (m) (m) are provided in the device housing (b), the magnetic seal members (m) (m) are provided in the device housing (b). (b) is integrally attached to the magnetic seal member (m), and when the developing device is removed during periodic inspection or cleaning work, a spike of iron powder, etc., formed on the tip side of the magnetic sealing member (m) (m). Because the spikes are easily disturbed, it is necessary to attach iron powder, etc. to the tip side of the magnetic sealing member (m) and re-form the spikes before setting the developing device in the specified position after completing the above-mentioned inspection and other work. There is a problem that the work is troublesome, and since the developer adheres to the outer wall surface of the device housing (b) during the work, this toner adheres to the hands and clothes of the worker and causes toner contamination. There was a problem.

In particular, in a flat color copying machine in which two or more developing devices containing developers of different colors are arranged interchangeably, the operator needs to change the developing device as appropriate to create a multicolor image. The above magnetic seal member (m>(m)
Since it is necessary to re-form the head of the printer, there is a problem that color copying operations become troublesome and the operability of the copying machine is significantly deteriorated, and the operator is exposed to toner contamination. .

On the other hand, even in a developing device in which a suction duct (n>(n) is disposed in the device housing (b)), it is necessary to install a blower motor, filter, etc. in addition to the suction duct (n) (n), so the whole device There is a problem that the magnetic seal member (m) becomes large in size and the manufacturing cost becomes relatively high, and like the device equipped with the magnetic seal member (m) described above, the magnetic seal member (m) is removed by suction from the outer wall surface of the device housing (b) using a blower motor or the like. There is a problem in that the developer tends to adhere to the toner and the operator is exposed to toner contamination when replacing or cleaning the developing device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to prevent developer from escaping from the gap between the latent image carrier and the developing device. To provide a developing device in which an operator is not contaminated with toner when replacing the developing device.

That is, the present invention provides a developing device that is detachably disposed facing the latent image carrier and supplies developer to the latent image carrier through an opening provided on the latent image carrier side of the device housing. A cover member that covers the outer wall surface of the device housing is fixedly disposed on the outside of the device housing, and the device housing is detachably attached to the cover member. This device is characterized in that a sealing member is provided to prevent developer from escaping.

In such technical means, the cover member includes:
It can be constructed of a metal plate, a plastic plate, etc. as appropriate, and its location is to cover the outer wall surface of the device housing except for the part on the side where the developing device is attached and removed, and The cover member is installed by fixing both ends thereof to the main body of a device such as a copying machine.

Note that since developer is difficult to adhere to the outer wall surface on the back side of the device housing, a configuration may be adopted in which the back side is not covered with the cover member.

In addition, any appropriate means can be used to removably attach the device housing to the cover member. For example, a guide portion such as a rail may be formed on the inner wall surface of the cover member, while a guide portion such as a rail may be formed on the outer wall surface of the device housing. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which an engaging part that slidably fits into the guide part is provided, and the device housing can be moved along the guide part to be attached or detached.

In addition, if a gap exists between the device housing and the cover member, it is desirable to interpose an elastic body made of a rubber material or the like on the end side of the gap to prevent the developer from entering the gap.

Further, various types of seal members can be used as the seal member provided at the end of the cover member on the side of the latent image carrier, and for example, this can be constituted by a magnetic seal, a film seal, or the like.

Further, this technical means can be applied to a two-component developing device WX such as a magnetic brush developing device, and can also be applied to a -component developing device.

[Operation] According to the above-mentioned technical means, since the seal member is provided at the end of the cover member on the side of the latent image carrier, the developer is prevented from escaping from the gap between the latent image carrier and the developing device. Without,
Furthermore, the presence of the cover member and the seal member makes it possible to prevent the developer from adhering to the outer wall surface of the device housing.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to a magnetic brush developing device will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 0 As shown in FIG. 1, this developing device includes a cover member (2) fixedly arranged near a photosensitive drum (1) rotating in the direction of the arrow, and a cover member (2) inside the cover member (2). The device housing (3) is removably arranged, and the device housing (3) is removably arranged.
3) The developing roller (4) and paddle (
5) and magnetic seal members (6) (6) provided at the open end of the cover member (2) on the side of the photosensitive drum (1).

First, the cover member (2) is made of a metal material such as aluminum, and is a molded body having a substantially U-shaped vertical section with open sides on the photosensitive drum (1) side and the side in the direction of attaching and detaching the developing device. Both ends of the rail are fixedly attached to the frame (not shown) of the machine body, and a rail guide (7) having a T-shaped cross section is formed on the inner wall surface of the upper surface.

Further, the device housing (3) is constituted by a box-shaped body with the photosensitive drum (1) side open, and has a cross section of approximately C which is slidably fitted into the rail guide (7) on the outer wall surface of the upper surface thereof. A letter-shaped engaging portion (8) is provided and detachably attached to the inside of the cover member (2).

Also, inside the device housing (3), a cylindrical sleeve (9) and a magnetic roller (10) are rotatably provided.
A developing roller (4) is provided, and a paddle (5) for supplying developer (11) to the developing roller (4) is rotatably provided on the back side of the developing roller (4). Along with the photosensitive drum (1) on the top of the device housing (3)
A trimmer bar (12) is provided on the side inner wall surface for regulating the height of the magnetic brush ears formed on the developing roller (4).
is installed.

Further, elastic members (13) made of foamed urethane are interposed in the space between the cover member (2) and the device housing (3) on the photosensitive drum (1) side. ) is configured to prevent developer leaking from the opening (14) from entering the space.

Further, on the upper and lower outer wall surfaces of the cover member (2), there are magnetic plates (15) (15) disposed along the length thereof, and an iron plate attached to the light end of the photosensitive drum (1). This developing device consists of magnetic seal members (6) (6) made of powder. Note that, like the conventional developing device, this developing device is also provided with a side seal member (not shown) on the side of the device housing (3) to prevent developer from leaking from the side of the developing device. There is.

In the developing device according to this embodiment configured in this way, the developing roller (5) is rotated by the rotation of the paddle (5).
The developer supplied to the side 4) forms a magnetic brush on the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller (4), and the height of this magnetic brush is adjusted by the trimmer bar (12) to form a magnetic brush on the photosensitive drum (1). The electrostatic latent image is conveyed to the development area side and supplied to the photosensitive drum (1) at this location to visualize the electrostatic latent image.

At this time, in this developing device, the cover member (2)
Because the magnetic seal members (6) (6) are arranged in the
Floating toner inside the device housing (3) and developing roller (4)
) The developer that did not participate in the development on the opening (14)
) Even if the toner is likely to escape to the outside, it is captured by the magnetic sealing members (6) (6), so the inside of the copying machine body will not be contaminated with toner, and moreover, the toner will not be contaminated with the device housing (3) and the cover. An elastic member (13
) (13) is interposed, so the device housing (3)
The outer wall surface of the toner is also not contaminated by toner.

Therefore, when this device housing (3) is removed from the copier main body during periodic inspection or cleaning, or when replacing the color in a flat color copier, developer may adhere to the outer wall surface of the device housing (3). This has the advantage that the operator is not contaminated by toner.

Moreover, the magnetic seal portions U(6)(6) are provided on the cover member (2) which is fixedly arranged, and when the device housing (3) is removed, the magnetic seal members (6)(6)
) does not disturb the spikes of iron powder, etc., and therefore has the advantage that there is no need to regenerate the spikes when setting the device housing (3) in the main body of the copying machine.

O Second Embodiment In the developing device according to this embodiment, the sealing member is a polyurethane film seal (16) as shown in FIG.
This developing device is the same as the developing device of the first embodiment except that it is constructed of (16) and uses a cover member (2) with the back side of the device housing (3) open.

Also in this developing device, like the developing device according to the first embodiment, since the developer does not adhere to the outer wall surface of the device housing (3), it has the advantage that the operator is not contaminated with toner.

◎Third Embodiment In the developing device according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. The developing device is the same as the first embodiment except that the elastic member (13) (13) is omitted because it overlaps the outer wall surface.

Also in this developing device, like the developing device according to the first embodiment, since the developer does not adhere to the outer wall surface of the device housing (3), it has the advantage that the operator is not contaminated with toner.

In this embodiment, by using a magnetic plate (15) with a strong magnetic force to be attached to the cover member (2), it is possible to enhance the sealing effect. Even if there is a slight gap between the overlapping portion of the device housing (2) and the device housing (3), toner can be prevented from entering.

O Fourth Embodiment As shown in FIG. 4, in the developing device according to this embodiment, the end of the cover member (2) on the side of the photosensitive drum (1) is bent to have a substantially U-shaped cross section to form a guide portion (17). (17), and on the other hand, the photosensitive drum (1) of the device housing (3) is formed with a guide portion (
17) An engaging portion (18) that slidably fits into (17).
) (18), and the rail guide (7), the engaging portion (8), and the elastic member (
13) This is the same as the developing device of the first embodiment except that (13) is omitted.

Also in this developing device, like the developing device according to the first embodiment, since the developer does not adhere to the outer wall surface of the device housing (3), it has the advantage that the operator is not contaminated with toner.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention prevents the developer from escaping from the gap between the latent image carrier and the developing device, and prevents the developer from adhering to the outer wall surface of the device housing. None.

Therefore, there is an effect that the area around the apparatus is not contaminated with toner, and the operator is not contaminated with toner when replacing the developer.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 4 show embodiments of the present invention, FIGS. 1 to 4 show cross-sectional views of developing devices according to the first to fourth embodiments, and FIG. 5 shows embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 6 and 7, which are explanatory diagrams of a copying machine incorporating a conventional developing device, respectively show enlarged sectional views of the conventional developing device. [Description of symbols] (1)...Photosensitive drum (2)...Cover member (3)...Device housing (4)...Developing roller (6)...Seal member (11)... Developer (13)...Elastic member (14)...Opening (15)...Magnetic plate (16)...Film seal patent Applicant Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Agent Patent attorney Nakamura Satoshi @ (2 others) 16: Film Nord Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 J Figure 6 Figure 7

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a developing device that is removably disposed facing the latent image carrier and supplies developer toward the latent image carrier through an opening provided on the latent image carrier side of the device housing, A cover member that covers the outer wall surface of the device housing is fixedly disposed on the outside of the device housing, and the device housing is removably attached to the cover member. A developing device characterized by being provided with a sealing member for preventing. (2) The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the seal member is constituted by a magnetic seal. (3) The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is constituted by a film seal.