JPS638682A - Image forming machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily recognize the color of toner being used at present by providing a toner refeeding means with a hollow cylindrical member connecting a cleaning device with a developing device and a toner carrying means and forming apart of the hollow cylindrical member as a transparent or semi-transparent part. CONSTITUTION:The toner refeeding means 203 includes the hollow cylindrical member 204 connecting a toner recovery room with a toner storing room and the toner carrying means for carrying toner through the member 204, and the toner carrying means is constituted of a long spiral member 208. In addition, a member 210 formed by transparent or semi-transparent synthetic resin is connected to a part of an intermediate part 206b of the member 204. Thereby, a part of toner carried from the toner recovery room 200 to the toner storing room 160 through the member 204 can be observed through the member 210 of the member 204.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Technical fields> The present invention relates to improvements in image generators.

<Prior Art> As is well known to those skilled in the art, an electrostatic copier or an electrostatic copier of the type that forms an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatographic photoreceptor and then develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. Image generating machines such as printing machines are widely used in practice. An electrostatic copying machine, which is an example of an image generating machine, generally includes movable photoconductor support means such as a rotating drum having a photoconductor on its surface, and The developing device includes a developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor, and a cleaning device that removes residual toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor.The developing device includes a developing chamber and a developing device disposed in the developing chamber. The cleaning device has a toner removing means for removing residual toner by acting on the surface of the photoreceptor, and a toner collection chamber for collecting the toner removed from the surface of the photoreceptor. are doing.

On the other hand, with the diversification of copying in recent years, there are many cases where people desire not only normal black copies but also single-color copies such as red or blue, and in such cases, red or blue toner is used instead of black toner. be done.

However, in conventional electrostatic copying machines, it is not possible to easily recognize the color of the toner currently in use, and the color is determined based on the image obtained by performing the copying process.

Further, although the electrostatic copying machine is not limited to the above-mentioned electrostatic copying machine capable of making a plurality of types of monochromatic color copying, there is an electrostatic copying machine that includes a support structure and a process unit that is detachably attached to the support structure. In such an electrostatic copying apparatus, the process unit includes a movable photoreceptor supporting means, a developing device, a cleaning device, and a unit frame on which these devices are mounted.

However, in this type of conventional electrostatic copying machine, a dedicated gripping section is provided on the unit frame for attaching and detaching the process unit to and from the support structure.
This has caused a problem in that the configuration of the process unit becomes complicated.

<Object of the Invention> The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and its first object is to provide an image generating machine that can easily identify the color of toner currently in use. be.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image generator in which the structure of a process unit that is detachably attached to a support structure can be relatively simple.

<Summary of the Invention> According to the first aspect of the present invention, in response to the first object, movable photoreceptor supporting means having a photoreceptor on the surface, and an electrostatic latent formed on the surface of the photoreceptor are provided. a developing device that develops the image;
In an image generating apparatus comprising a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor, the toner collected by the cleaning device is resupplied to the developing device; Relatedly, a toner resupply means is provided which guides the toner collected by the cleaning device to the developing device, and the toner resupply device includes a hollow cylindrical member connecting the cleaning device and the developing device; An image generating machine is provided, which includes a toner transporting means disposed within the hollow cylindrical member, and at least a portion of the hollow cylindrical member is transparent or translucent.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in response to the second object, the process unit 7) includes a support structure and a process unit detachably attached to the support structure.
A movable photoconductor support means having a photoconductor on its surface, a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor, a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor, and the movable photoconductor. In an image generating machine that includes a unit frame on which a body support means, a developing device, and a cleaning device are attached, toner cartridges collected by the cleaning device are resupplied to the developing device;
The toner resupply means further includes a toner resupply means for guiding the toner collected by the cleaning device to the developing device, and the toner resupply means includes a hollow cylindrical member connecting the cleaning device and the developing device, and the hollow cylindrical member. An image generating machine is provided, characterized in that the hollow cylinder member includes a toner transport means disposed within the unit frame, and the hollow cylindrical member acts as a gripping portion when the unit frame is attached to and detached from the support structure. Ru.

<Preferred specific examples of the invention> A more detailed explanation will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Shizuka Musu I (company) belly! FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing an example of an electrostatic copying machine as an example of an image generating machine constructed according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a simplified front view of the electrostatic copying machine shown in FIG. FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated copying machine includes a generally rectangular parallelepiped-shaped housing designated as a whole by numeral 2. As shown in FIG. This housing 2 is defined by a support structure consisting of a lower support frame 4 and an upper support frame 6 in the specific example. The right end of the upper support frame 6 is rotatably connected to the lower support frame 4 via a shaft 8 (Fig. 2), and can be moved between a closed position (the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2) and a closed position (the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2). It can be pivoted between the open position (the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). The upper support frame 6 is further equipped with a front cover member 10 (FIG. 1) on its front side that can be opened and closed using its lower end as a fulcrum, and a rear cover member (not shown) that can be opened and closed on its rear side. ) is installed. The front cover member 10 will be described later.

Mainly referring to FIG. 2, a document mounting means 11 is mounted on the upper surface of the housing 2, and therefore on the upper surface of the upper support frame 6, so as to be able to reciprocate in the left-right direction. This original placing means 11 has a transparent v on which an original to be copied is placed.
i12, and a document cover 14 that can be opened and closed to cover the transparent plate 12 and the document placed thereon.

A so-called process unit, which is located approximately in the middle of the housing 2 and is generally designated by numeral 16, is removably attached to the upper support frame 6. More specifically, a pair of support rails 18 and 20 are fixed to the upper support frame 6 at intervals in the left-right direction and extend in the front-rear direction, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the paper plane in FIGS. 1 and 2. There is. On the other hand, the process unit 16 has a unit frame 22, and supported rail parts 24 and 26 are formed on both left and right sides of the unit frame 22, extending in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. By engaging the supported rail portions 24 and 26 of the unit frame 22 with the support rails 18 and 20 of the upper support frame 6, respectively, and sliding the unit frame 22 in the fore-aft direction, the process unit is attached to the upper support frame 6. 16 is attached and detached. A rotary drum 28 constituting movable photoreceptor supporting means is rotatably mounted approximately at the center of the unit frame 22. A suitable electrostatic photoreceptor is disposed on the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 28. The unit frame 22 further includes a rotating drum 2 that is rotationally driven in the direction shown by an arrow 30.
A charging corona discharger 32, a developing device generally designated by numeral 34, and a cleaning device generally designated by numeral 36 are also installed around 8 in sequence when viewed in the direction of rotation. The developing device 34 and the cleaning device 36 will be described later.

The upper support frame 6 further includes the process unit 16.
Irradiation lamp 465 reflective plate 48 located above
and an optical system 50 are also installed.

The optical system 50 is composed of a large number of elongated optical elements extending in the vertical direction (for example, a Rondo-shaped lens sold under the trade name "Selfoc Micro Lens" by Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.). The light from the irradiation lamp 46 passes through the transparent plate 12 and irradiates the document placed on it as shown by the dashed line, and the reflected light from the document is reflected by the optical system 50 and the upper wall 52 of the unit frame 22. The light is projected onto the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 28 in the exposure area 56 through the formed exposure aperture 54 . In addition, part of the light from the irradiation lamp 46 is
Similarly, as shown by the dashed line, the static elimination light is projected onto the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 28 in the static elimination area 62 through the opening 58 formed on the lower surface of the reflection plate 48 and the static elimination light opening 60 formed on the upper wall 52 of the unit frame 22. Ru.

Approximately at the center of the lower support frame 4, there is a transfer corona discharger 66 facing the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 28 in the transfer a64, and a transfer corona discharger 66 located adjacent to and downstream of the transfer corona discharger 66. A stripping static eliminator 68 is provided.

Further, at the right end of the lower support frame 4, a copy paper supply means, which is indicated by the number 72 as a whole, is provided.
A copy paper tray 74 is disposed at the left end of the tray. Between the copy paper supply means 72 and the copy paper tray 74,
A copy paper transport system, generally designated by numeral 76, is provided for transporting copy paper through the transfer area 64. The copy paper supply means 72 includes a copy paper table 78 and a copy paper delivery roller 80 disposed above the downstream end of the copy paper table 78. Copy paper delivery roller 80 is selectively moved up and down and rotated in the direction shown by arrow 82. The copy paper supply means 72 further includes the copy paper table 78.
The copy sheet feeding roller 86 includes a copy paper feeding roller 86 that is disposed downstream of the roller and is rotationally driven in the direction shown by an arrow 84, and a copy paper separating means 88 that is disposed below the copy paper feeding roller 86. Copy paper separation means 88
is a support member 9 rotatably mounted by a pin 90;
2, and a separation member 94 made of a high friction material such as synthetic rubber and disposed on the upper surface of the support member 92. Support member 92 is resiliently biased in a clockwise direction by suitable spring means (not shown), thus forcing separation member 94 resiliently against copy paper feed roller 86.

In the copy paper supply means 72 as described above, a layer of sheet-like copy paper of an appropriate size is manually inserted onto the copy paper base 78. Then, each time the copy paper feed roller 80 is lowered and rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 82, the upper copy paper in the copy paper layer is sequentially delivered, and the copy paper is further advanced by the copy paper feed roller 86. be done. Separation member 94 prevents copies other than the topmost copy sheet from being advanced by copy paper feed roller 86 when two or more copies are delivered at a time by copy paper feed roller 80. , thus causing the copy sheets to be fed one by one to the copy paper transport system 76. The copy paper conveyance system 76 includes a pair of guide plates 96, a pair of conveyance rollers 100 that are rotationally driven in the direction shown by an arrow 98, and guides Fi 102 and 10.
4. A conveyor belt mechanism 108 that is rotationally driven in the direction shown by arrow 106, a pair of heating and fixing rollers 112 that are rotationally driven in the direction shown by arrow 110, a pair of guide plates 114, and arrow 1
It includes a II-outlet-ra pair 11B which is rotatably driven in the direction indicated by 16. Appropriate heating means 122 is disposed within the upper heating roller 120 of the heating fixing roller pair 112. Further, a peeling member 124 is attached to the upper heating roller 120 to prevent the copy paper from being wrapped.

In the electrostatic copying machine as described above, the rotating drum 28
is rotated in the direction shown by arrow 30, the charging corona discharger 32 substantially uniformly charges the photoreceptor on the rotating drum 28 to a specific polarity, and then, in the exposure area 56, the photoreceptor on the transparent plate 12 is charged. The image of the original is scanned and exposed onto the photoreceptor, thus forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image of the original on the photoreceptor. During the above-mentioned scanning exposure, the document mounting means 11
, for example, is moved for scanning exposure from a scanning exposure start position indicated by a two-dot chain line 11A rightward to a scanning exposure end position indicated by a two-dot chain line 11B. Thereafter, the electrostatic layer image on the photoreceptor is developed into a toner image by a developing device 34. Next, the copy paper is supplied from the copy paper supply means 72 and transferred to the copy paper conveyance system 76.
The copy paper conveyed by is brought into close contact with the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 28 in the transfer area 64,
6, the toner image on the photoreceptor is transferred onto the copy paper. Thereafter, the copy paper is peeled off from the rotating drum 28 by the action of the static eliminator 68. The peeled copy paper is conveyed through a pair of heat-fixing rollers 112, during which the toner image is heat-fixed on the copy paper, and then transferred to the copy paper tray 7.
4 is discharged on top.

Meanwhile, the rotating drum 28 continues to rotate, and the toner remaining on the photoreceptor after the transfer is removed from the photoreceptor by the action of the cleaning device 36. Next, the photoreceptor is irradiated with neutralization light in the static elimination area 62, and the residual charge on the photoreceptor is eliminated.

To further explain the structure of the process unit with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 together with FIG. The front wall 126 (FIG. 5) and the rear wall 12 are spaced apart from each other in the direction from the lower right to the upper left in FIG.
8 (FIG. 2), with a rotating drum 28.8 between the front wall 126 and the rear wall 128. A developing device 34 and a cleaning device 36 are installed. Between the front wall 126 and the rear wall 128 are the above-mentioned top wall 52 and a bottom wall 130. Left side wall 132
and a right side wall 134. A transfer opening is formed in the bottom wall 130 to allow the copy paper conveyed by the action of the copy paper conveyance system 76 to be brought into close contact with the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 28 in the transfer area 64. 1
The lower end portion of 34 acts as the supported rail portion 26.

The rotating drum 28 is rotatably attached between the front wall 126 and the rear wall 128. When the process unit 16 is removably attached to the upper support frame 6 and the upper support frame 6 is placed in the closed position, the rotating drum 28 is connected to the drive source (see FIG. (not shown) (
(which constitutes the drive source of the electrostatic copying machine), and is rotationally driven in the direction shown by the arrow 30 by the action of the drive source.

Next, the developing device 34 will be described. The illustrated developing device 34 includes a front wall 126 and a rear wall 128 of the unit frame 22.
Various walls fixed between 138° 140, 142, 14
4,146,148,150°152 and 154, and these walls 138°140.142,144,146
, 148, 150° 152 and 154, namely, a developing chamber 156. A developer storage chamber 158 and a toner storage chamber 160 are provided. A toner cartridge 162 is removably attached to the upper part of the toner storage chamber 160. New, unused toner (not shown) is stored in the toner cartridge 162, and therefore, new toner can be replenished by replacing the toner cartridge 162. The discharge port 164 of the toner cartridge 162 is sealed, for example, with a suitable sealing member (not shown), and by inserting the toner cartridge 162 into the toner storage chamber 160 while peeling off this sealing member, and installed as shown in FIG. (When installed, the outlet 164
The toner cartridge 162 is opened and new toner stored in the toner cartridge 162 is supplied through the outlet 164.

In the specific example, new toner can be refilled,
If the toner does not need to be replenished (for example, if the entire process unit 16 is replaced when all the toner stored in the toner storage chamber 160 is consumed),
Fresh toner may be stored directly within the toner storage chamber 160 defined by walls 140, 142, and 144. A toner discharge opening 166 is formed at the bottom of the toner storage chamber 160, and an elongated cylindrical toner supply roller 168 is disposed in the toner discharge opening 166. The toner supply roller 168 is rotated in the direction shown by an arrow 170, and by being rotated in this manner, the toner storage chamber 16 is
The toner within 0 is supplied to the developing chamber 156 through the toner discharge opening 166.

The left side of the developing chamber 156 facing the rotating drum 28 is open. In the developing chamber 156, there is a common means 17.
2, a developer stirring means 174, and a guide plate 176 are provided. The communication means 172 includes a cylindrical sleeve 180 rotatably driven in the direction shown by an arrow 178, and a stationary permanent magnet 182 disposed within the sleeve 180 and having a plurality of magnetic poles spaced apart in the circumferential direction.
It can be composed of. The stirring means 174 is
It has a plurality of spiral blades 186 that are rotationally driven in the direction shown by an arrow 184 to agitate the developer in the developing chamber 156 and supply it to the common means 172. An ear cutting means 188 is formed on the wall 154 defining the upper left wall of the developing chamber 156 and protrudes toward the sleeve 180 of the communication means 172. The cutting means 188 is magnetically held on the surface of the sleeve 180 and acts on the moving developer to remove excess developer. Further, the above-mentioned ear cutting means 188 is attached to the above-mentioned wall 154.
A toner concentration detector 190 is provided above the toner concentration detector 190 . Detector 190, which may be of well-known form, is located in development chamber 156.
It has a detection surface exposed inside, and detects the toner concentration of the developer removed from the passing means 172 by the action of the ear cutting means 188.

Further, the developer storage chamber 15B is arranged above the development chamber 156. This developer storage chamber 158 contains a start developer (a new developer in which carrier and toner are mixed at a predetermined mixing ratio). The starting developer is stored in the developer storage chamber 15 until the developing device 34 is actually used.
8 to the developing chamber 150, and therefore, the developer storage chamber 158, etc., must be protected from leakage from the developer storage chamber 158, etc., for example, in the utility model registration application filed by the applicant on May 30, 1985 (name: Preferably, the construction is as disclosed in the specification and drawings of Developing Device for a Generator.

In the developing device 34 as described above, at the beginning of use, the start developer contained in the developer storage chamber 158 is first supplied to the developing chamber 156 as required. Next, a toner cartridge 162 is placed inside the toner storage chamber 160.
Attach as required. That is, a sealing member (not shown)
Insert the toner cartridge 162 while peeling it off.

(When installed, the outlet 1 of the toner cartridge 162
64 is opened, and the toner in the toner cartridge 162 is supplied to the toner storage chamber 160 through this discharge port 164, thereby making it possible to supply the toner.

In the specific example, the discharge port 164 extends above the toner supply roller 168 from substantially one end to the other end in the width direction of the toner storage chamber 160, and therefore
The new toner in the toner storage chamber 160 is supplied substantially uniformly from one end to the other end in the width direction of the toner storage chamber 160. By operating in this manner, the electrostatic latent image can be developed by the developing device 34. When performing development, the agitating means 174 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 184 within the developing chamber 156, thereby agitating the developer and charging the toner to a predetermined polarity. will be sent towards. Sleeve 180 in communication means 172
is rotated in the direction shown by an arrow 178, and the developer fed by the action of the stirring means 174 is attracted to the sleeve 18 by the magnetic attraction force of a magnet 182 disposed within the sleeve 180.
0 and is conveyed in the direction shown by arrow 178 as sleeve 180 rotates. And the ear cutting means 1
The action of 88 removes excess developer retained on the surface of sleeve 180.

The removed developer is moved upward along the inner surface of the wall 154, flows down on the guide plate 176 toward the stirring means 174, and is stirred by the stirring means 174 again. On the other hand, the developer held on the surface of the sleeve 180 and further conveyed in the direction shown by the arrow 178 is transferred to the rotating drum 2.
8, the toner in the developer is applied onto the photoreceptor in correspondence with the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor, thus converting the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. Developed. As the toner concentration of the developer decreases due to this development action, the detector 190 generates a signal which causes the toner supply roller 168 to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 170, thus causing the toner in the toner storage chamber 156 to be rotated. Toner is supplied to the developing chamber 156.

Next, the cleaning device 36 will be described. The illustrated cleaning device 36 has a pair of end walls (not shown) disposed inside the unit frame 22 at intervals in the front-rear direction. Various walls 192 and 194 extending in the fore-aft direction are provided between the walls. A mounting member 196 is attached to the upper surface of the wall 192 of the cleaning device 36.
An elastic blade 198 is attached by. The free end of the elastic blade 198 constituting the toner removing means is pressed against the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 28 with a required pressure. The cleaning device 36 also includes a toner collection chamber 200 defined by the walls 192 and 194. The toner recovery chamber 200 is open at a portion facing the rotating drum 28, and a sealing member 202 is disposed at the open opening. Seal member 202
is attached to the outer surface of the wall 194, and its free end is brought into contact with or in close proximity to the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 28. mosquito(
Therefore, the rotating drum 2 is moved in the direction shown by the arrow 30.
8 is rotated, residual toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor is removed by the action of the elastic blade 198. Then, the toner thus removed is transferred to the seal member 202 and the wall 19.
4 and is collected into the toner collection chamber 200 as required.

In the case of a copying machine according to
00 is configured to re-supply the toner collected to the toner storage chamber 160. To further explain with reference to FIGS. 3, 5, 6, and 8, the process unit 16 further includes a toner recycler that guides the toner collected in the toner collection chamber 200 to the toner storage chamber 15.6. Supply means 203
Contains. The illustrated toner resupply means 203 includes a hollow cylindrical member 204 that communicates the toner collection chamber 202 and the toner storage chamber 156, and a toner transporting means for transporting toner through the hollow cylindrical member 204. The means comprises an elongated helical member 208. To explain further, an opening is formed at a required portion of one end wall of the cleaning device 36 (the end wall located at the front in the front-rear direction), and a pair of openings are formed at a required portion of the front wall 126 of the unit frame 22. (One opening corresponds to the opening formed in the end wall, and the other opening is provided in a portion of the front wall 126 that defines the toner storage chamber 160). One end 206a of the cylindrical hollow cylinder member 204 is connected to the opening formed in the one end wall of the cleaning device 36 through the one opening formed in the front wall 126 of the unit frame 22, and the one end 206a is connected to the opening formed in the one end wall of the cleaning device 36, and Part 2
06b extends laterally from left to right in front of the front wall 126, and the other end 206c extends from the front wall 12 of the unit frame 22.
In the specific example, the other end 206c further extends inside the toner storage chamber 156 in the front-back direction to the rear wall 128 of the unit frame 22.

It is important that at least a part of the hollow cylinder member 204 is transparent or semi-transparent. Member 2 made of transparent synthetic resin
10 are connected. Further, the intermediate portion 212a of the spiral member 208 is similar to the intermediate portion 212a of the hollow cylindrical member 204.
6b, one end 212b of which is located within the hollow cylindrical member 20
4 is located in the toner collection chamber 200 of the cleaning device 36 through one end 206a of the hollow cylinder member 204, and the other end 212c is located within the other end 206c of the hollow cylindrical member 204 (FIG. 8). , one end 212b of the spiral member 208 extends in the width direction at its bottom, that is, in the front-rear direction, and a shaft 214 provided at one end extends toward the other end wall of the cleaning device 36 (backward in the front-rear direction). It is rotatably attached to the end wall where it is located.

The shaft portion 214 penetrates the other end wall and protrudes rearward,
A gear 216 is attached to this protruding end. gear 21
6 is a large gear 21 provided at the rear end of the rotating drum 28
When the rotary drum 28 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 30, the gear 216 is engaged with the gear 216 via the large gear 218.
is rotated in the direction shown by arrow 220. Moreover, within the other end portion 206C of the hollow cylindrical member 204, the spiral member 2
The other end 212c of 08 extends in the axial direction of the other end 206C, that is, in the front-rear direction, and a shaft 222 provided at the other end is rotatably attached to the rear wall 128 of the unit frame 22. . As can be seen from FIG. 8, the spiral member 208 has shafts 214 and 222 at both ends, but the rest of the spiral member 208 has no shafts and is hollow, and the gear 216 is shaped like an arrow. It is spirally wound so that when it is rotated in the direction shown by 220, the toner is transferred in the direction shown by arrow 224 (FIG. 8). In relation to the other end 212c of the spiral member 208, the hollow cylindrical member 204
The other end portion 206C (specifically, the portion located within the toner storage chamber 160) further has a plurality of openings 226 (FIGS. 6 and 7) formed at intervals in the axial direction at its lower portion. , the plurality of apertures 226 are preferably configured as shown in FIG. That is, the plurality of openings 226 are smaller as they are closer to one end in the width direction of the toner storage chamber 156, that is, the front in the front and back direction, and larger as they are closer to the other end in the width direction, that is, closer to the back in the front and back direction. is preferred.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the common means 172, the shaft portions 228a and 228b provided at both ends thereof are connected to the front wall 126 (FIG. 5) and the rear wall 128 (FIG. 5) of the unit frame 22.
(Fig. 2), and the stirring means 174 also has shaft portions 230a and 2 provided at both ends thereof.
30b is rotatably attached to the front wall 126 and rear wall 128. The shaft portion 228b of the sleeve 180 penetrates the rear wall 128 and projects rearward, and the gear 2 is attached to this projecting end.
32 is attached, and the shaft portion 230b of the stirring means 174 also penetrates the rear wall 128 and projects rearward, and a gear 234 is also attached to the projecting end. Gears 232 and 23
4 are drivingly connected via a small gear 236, and therefore the drive source (not shown) of the copying machine rotates the gear 232 in the direction shown by arrow 238 (thereby, sleeve 180 is rotated in the direction shown by arrow 178). direction) and
Gear 234 is rotated via gear 236 in the direction shown by arrow 240 (thereby, stirring means 174 is rotated in the direction shown by arrow 18
4). In the copying machine equipped with the toner resupply means 203 described above, when the rotary drum 28 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 30, the spiral member 208 is rotated as required via the large gear 218 and the gear 216. . That is, the one end portion 212b located inside the toner collection chamber 200 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 242 (FIGS. 6 and 8), and the toner collected as described above is transferred into the toner collection chamber 200. is transferred in the direction shown by an arrow 224 from the rear end to the front end of the toner collection chamber 200 by the action of the spiral member 208. The thus transferred toner passes through the hollow cylinder member 204 and further enters the toner storage chamber 1.
60.

At the other end 212C of the spiral member 208, the arrow 24
4 (FIGS. 6 and 8), and the toner supplied into the toner storage chamber 160 as described above is transferred to the hollow cylindrical member 204 by the other end 212C, which rotates in the direction shown by the arrow 244. It is transferred in the direction shown by arrow 224 from the front end to the rear end of the other end 206c. When the toner is transferred within the other end 206c of the hollow cylinder member 204, the toner from the toner collection chamber 200 is supplied to the vicinity of the toner discharge hole 166 of the toner storage chamber 160 through the plurality of openings 226. (The supplied toner is supplied to the other end 206.
Due to the small opening 226 at the front end of C, the proportion of toner supplied to the kettle (despite being present) is relatively small, while the opening 226 at the rear end is large. As a result, although the toner is relatively small, the proportion of toner supplied increases, and as a result, the toner is supplied substantially uniformly in the width direction of the toner storage chamber 160 near and above the toner supply roller 168.

(The supplied toner is mixed with new toner in the toner storage chamber 160 near the toner discharge chamber 166,
The thus mixed toner is supplied to the developing chamber 156 through the toner discharge port 166 by the action of the toner supply roller 168. Therefore, as is easily understood, the reused toner is resupplied to the developing chamber 150 at a constant rate, and rapid deterioration of image quality can be suppressed and stable images can be obtained over a long period of time. .

In the illustrated copying machine, in connection with the fact that a portion of the hollow cylinder member 204 is transparent or semi-transparent, a window portion 248 is further provided at a required portion of the front cover member 10, as shown in FIG. ing. In a specific example, the window portion 248 is configured by forming an opening in the front cover member 10 and covering the opening with a member 250 made of a transparent or translucent material. Note that instead of this, it is also possible to simply form an opening in the front cover member 10, and in such a case, the front surface of the front cover member 10 and the intermediate portion 212a that acts as a gripping portion of the hollow cylindrical member 204 are approximately the same. It is preferable to configure the structure so as to define a - plane. (Because of this structure, some of the toner transferred from the toner collection chamber 200 to the toner storage chamber 160 through the hollow cylinder member 204 is
The member 210 of the hollow cylinder member 204 can be visually observed through the member 210 of the hollow cylinder member 204, and the member 210 of the hollow cylinder member 204 can be visually observed through the member 250 attached to the front cover member IO.
By opening the hollow cylindrical member, it is possible to easily know the color of the toner stored in the developing chamber 156, in other words, the color of the toner currently in use, without performing the copying process. When the front cover member 10 is provided with a window 248 corresponding to the transparent or semi-transparent portion of the front cover member IO, as shown in FIG. You can easily know the color of the toner in use.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 as operating vehicles for mounting and dismounting the process unit, when mounting the process unit 16 in the housing 2, and therefore in the specific example the upper support frame 6, first the As shown in Figure 3 and Part 4,
The upper support frame 6 is pivoted as required and positioned in the open position.

Next, the front cover member l attached to the upper support frame 6
The front surface of the upper support frame body 6 is opened by pivoting the O member forward using its lower end as a fulcrum. Incidentally, after the front cover member 10 is opened, the upper support frame 6 may be rotated to be positioned at the open position.

After that, the supported rails 24 and 26 provided on the unit frame 22 are engaged with the support rails 18 and 20 provided on the upper support frame 6, and the unit frame 22 is moved in the front-rear direction (see FIGS. (in figure 4, direction perpendicular to the paper)
Move it to the rear and install it as required. When the supported rail members 24 and 26 are engaged with the support rails 18 and 20 while the upper support frame 6 is in the open position, the unit frame 22 of the hollow cylindrical member 204 is moved as clearly shown in FIG. The intermediate portion 206b located in front of the front wall 126 is positioned substantially horizontally, so that the unit frame 22
When moving the unit frame 2 rearward, the intermediate part 206b of the hollow cylindrical member 204 can be easily grasped, and by grasping and moving the unit frame 2 rearward.
2 can be easily installed.

Next, the front cover member 10 is brought into the closed state, and the upper support frame 6 is then turned to the closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (after the upper support frame 6 is brought to the closed position, the front cover (The member 10 may be in a closed state). Thus, various components (such as the irradiation lamp 46) are attached to the upper support frame 6.

Various components mounted on the unit frame 22 (rotating drum 28, developing device 34, cleaning device 36, etc.) and various components mounted on the lower support frame 4 (copy paper transport system 76, etc.) are shown in FIG. The positional relationship shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when removing a jam that has occurred in the copy paper transport system 68 or when removing the process unit 16 from the housing 2, that is, from the upper support frame 6 in the specific example, the upper support frame 6 is moved as described above. Rotate it and position it in the open position. In this manner, as can be easily understood from FIG. This paper can be easily removed.

When the process unit 16 is to be removed from the upper support frame 6, the upper support frame 6 is positioned at the open position, and then the front cover member 10 is further rotated to the open position shown in FIG. After that, the unit frame 22 is moved forward in the front-rear direction and separated from the upper support frame 6. Also when moving the unit frame 22 forward, the intermediate portion 206b of the hollow cylindrical member 204 is positioned substantially horizontally,
Therefore, the intermediate portion 206b can be easily gripped, and by gripping it and moving it forward, the unit frame 22 can be easily removed.

The foregoing has described a specific example of an electrostatic copying machine as an example of an image generator configured according to the present invention; however, the present invention is not limited to such a specific example, and there is no scope for departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the following modifications or modifications can be made without doing so.

For example, in the above-mentioned specific example, the electrostatic charge generator is an example of an image generating machine in which a starter developer is stored in the developer storage chamber 158 of the developing device 34 and the starter developer is supplied to the developer chamber 156 during use. Although the description has been made with application to a copying machine, the present invention is not limited thereto. Start developer is stored in the toner collection chamber 200, and when used, the start developer is passed through the toner storage chamber 160 by the action of the toner resupply means 203. The same can be applied to a device that is supplied to the developing chamber 156.

Further, in a specific example, an electrostatic copying machine as an example of an image generating machine includes a support structure consisting of a lower support frame 4 and an upper support frame 6 rotatably attached to the lower support frame 4. Although the present invention has been described with reference to FIG.

Further, in the specific example, the present invention is applied to an electrostatic copying machine as an example of an image generating machine equipped with a developing device that uses a so-called two-component developer consisting of a carrier and a toner. Similarly, the present invention can also be applied to a developing device that uses a so-called component-based developer consisting only of toner. In such a case, the storage chamber 158 for accommodating the start developer is unnecessary, and the stirring means 174, toner concentration detection means 190, etc. are also unnecessary.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a specific example of an electrostatic copying machine as an example of an image generating machine constructed according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a simplified sectional view showing the electrostatic copying machine of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the electrostatic copying machine of FIG. 1 in a state where the upper support frame is in the open position and the front cover member is in the open position. FIG. 4 is a simplified sectional view showing the state shown in FIG. 3 in a simplified manner. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a process unit in the electrostatic copying machine of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a rotating drum, a developing device, and a cleaning device mounted on a unit frame in the process unit of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the other end of the hollow cylindrical member in the process unit of FIG. 5. 8 is a perspective view showing toner resupply means and related elements in the process unit of FIG. 5; FIG. 2...Housing 4...Lower support frame 6...Upper support frame l6...Process unit 22...Unit frame 34...Developing device 36...Cleaning device 156...Developing Chamber 158...Developer storage chamber 160...Toner storage chamber 166...Toner discharge opening 174...Common means 198...Elastic blade 200...Toner collection chamber 203...Toner resupply means 204...Hollow cylindrical member 20B...Spiral member

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A movable photoreceptor support means having a photoreceptor on its surface; a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor;
In an image generating apparatus comprising a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor, the toner collected by the cleaning device is resupplied to the developing device; Relatedly, a toner resupply means is provided which guides the toner collected by the cleaning device to the developing device, and the toner resupply device includes a hollow cylindrical member connecting the cleaning device and the developing device; An image generating machine comprising a toner transport means disposed within the hollow cylindrical member, and at least a portion of the hollow cylindrical member is transparent or semi-transparent. 2. The movable photoreceptor supporting means, the developing device, and the cleaning device are mounted on a unit frame that is detachably mounted on the support structure, the hollow cylinder member is provided on the unit frame, and the hollow cylinder member is provided with the hollow cylinder member. 2. The image generator according to claim 1, wherein the member acts as a grip when the unit frame is attached to and detached from the support structure. 3. The support structure is composed of a lower support frame and an upper support frame attached to the lower support frame so as to be pivotable between an open position and a closed position, and the unit frame is attached to the upper support frame. 3. The image generator of claim 2, wherein the hollow cylinder member is removably mounted and is positioned substantially horizontally when the upper support frame is positioned in the open position. 4. A front cover member that can be opened and closed is attached to the front side of the upper support frame, and the transparent or translucent portion of the hollow cylinder member is visible from the outside when the front cover member is in the closed state. 4. The image generator according to claim 3, wherein the image generator is provided with a window portion that allows the image to be generated. 5. The developing device includes a developing chamber, and an application means disposed in the developing chamber for applying toner to the electrostatic latent image to be developed;
a toner storage chamber communicated with the developing chamber through a toner discharge opening; the cleaning device includes a toner removing means for removing residual toner by acting on the surface of the photoreceptor; The hollow cylindrical member communicates the toner collecting chamber with the toner storage chamber, and the toner collected in the toner collecting chamber is transported by the toner transporting means. The image generating machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the toner is fed to the toner storage chamber through the inside of the hollow cylindrical member. 6. A support structure and a process unit detachably attached to the support structure, the process unit comprising:
A movable photoconductor support means having a photoconductor on its surface, a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor, a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor, and the movable photoconductor. In an image generating apparatus, the process unit further comprises: a unit frame to which a body support means, a developing device, and a cleaning device are attached; the toner collected by the cleaning device is resupplied to the developing device; The toner resupply means includes a toner resupply means for guiding the toner collected by the cleaning device to the developing device, and the toner resupply means includes a hollow cylindrical member connecting the cleaning device and the developing device, and a hollow cylindrical member disposed within the hollow cylindrical member. An image generating machine comprising a toner transporting means provided therein, wherein the hollow cylindrical member acts as a grip when the unit frame is attached to and detached from the support structure. 7. The support structure is composed of a lower support frame and an upper support frame attached to the lower support frame so as to be pivotable between an open position and a closed position, and the unit frame is attached to the upper support frame. 7. The image generator of claim 6, wherein the hollow cylinder member is removably mounted and is positioned substantially horizontally when the upper support frame is positioned in the open position. 8. The developing device includes a developing chamber, and a common means disposed in the developing chamber for applying toner to an electrostatic latent image to be developed;
a toner storage chamber communicated with the developing chamber through a toner discharge opening; the cleaning device includes a toner removing means for removing residual toner by acting on the surface of the photoreceptor; The hollow cylindrical member communicates the toner collecting chamber with the toner storage chamber, and the toner collected in the toner collecting chamber is transported by the toner transporting means. The image generating machine according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the toner is fed to the toner storage chamber through the inside of the hollow cylindrical member.