JPS639237B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a developing device for an image forming apparatus.

In conventional electrophotographic devices, especially in developing devices that use powder developer, various methods are used to prevent the powder developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) from scattering when replenishing the developer, such as placing the toner in a cartridge. It has been proposed and put into practical use. However, it is difficult to completely prevent toner scattering. Furthermore, since the user cannot be identified in a copying machine intended for personal use, it is required to completely prevent toner from scattering from the developing unit.

Therefore, in a copying machine for personal use, the photosensitive drum, developing unit, cleaning unit, and charger units are integrated, and when the number of copies made reaches a specified number, a kit containing the above units is installed. It is possible to replace the kit and throw it away once its useful life has ended. Of course, it is also possible for the manufacturer to collect and reuse it.

This eliminates the need to attach and detach the toner cartridge from the developing device body, which prevents scattering, and allows the user to simply replace the kit. Since it is not necessary to separately perform complicated operations such as disposing of removed toner and cleaning the charging wire, it is possible to provide an apparatus with extremely excellent operability.

However, it is extremely difficult to completely prevent toner from scattering from the gap between the magnetic sleeve and the housing in the developer unit before the copying machine is delivered to the user. It is difficult to completely seal the entire kit from the outside air.

An object of the present invention is to prevent the toner in the developing device in the main body from spilling out of the developing device and scattering before the main body of the image forming apparatus including the above-mentioned developing device is delivered to the user. An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a developing device which can solve the problem of scattering and at the same time can prevent the toner inside the developing device from becoming damp.

A developing device of the present invention that achieves the above object integrally includes a developer storage section that stores developer inside the developing device and a developer supply section that supplies developer to the latent image, and has the above-described structure. A seal member is disposed between the storage section and the supply section, and the developer is sealed in the storage section, and a part of the seal member protrudes from the developing device.By pulling the protrusion, the sealing member is removed from the developing device. is pulled out to open the space between the storage section and the supply section, and developer is supplied from the storage section to the supply section to enable development.

According to this, the toner storage section sealed with the sealing material can be made into one independent component, and this toner storage section can be assembled as one component when assembling the developing device, so that it is also possible to improve the ease of assembly.
In addition, safety measures are provided to prevent the sealing material from being easily removed, and by providing a release member for the sealing material on the main body side, the sealing material can be removed carelessly other than when the developing device is set in the main body of the apparatus. It can be prevented from being put away.

Next, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a document mounting table made of a transparent member, which reciprocates in the left-right direction in the figure. Reference numeral 2 denotes a convergent light transmitting member which slit-exposes the original image on the original placing table 1 onto the photosensitive drum 3. The photosensitive drum 3 rotates in the direction of the arrow. Reference numeral 4 represents a charger, which uniformly charges the photosensitive drum, and 5 represents a developer. The uniformly charged photosensitive drum 3 is connected to the focusing light transmitting body 2
An electrostatic latent image is formed by exposing the original image to light through the developer 5, and this latent image is visualized by the developing device 5.

On the other hand, the transfer paper P is fed onto the drum by a paper feed roller 6 and a register roller 7 that rotates at a timing to register the image on the photosensitive drum, and the image on the drum is transferred by a transfer charger 8. Thereafter, the transfer paper is separated from the drum by a separating means, and the toner image on the transfer paper is fixed to the transfer paper by a fixing device 10 through a guide 9, and is ejected onto a tray 12 by an ejection roller 11.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the developing unit. 12 is a magnetic sleeve for supplying toner to the latent image on the photosensitive drum; 13 is a rolling bearing that supports the magnetic sleeve; and 14 is a bump for ensuring the gap between the magnetic sleeve and the photosensitive drum. A contact roller 15 is a gear for driving the magnetic sleeve, 16 is a felt member that prevents toner from leaking from the end of the sleeve, 17 is a housing of the developing unit body, and 18 on the upper part of the toner supply section is a toner storage section. The dovetail opening portion is sealed by a sealing member 19. As shown in the figure, the sealing member 16 is bent at one end and extended to the opposite side, with a tensioning portion 19a extending out of the developing device main body through a notch 17a provided in the developing device housing 17. Reference numeral 20 indicates maltprene for sealing the housing notch 17a, and reference numeral 21 indicates toner.

Therefore, after setting the developing device in the copying machine main body, the user pulls the end 19a of the toner sealing material 19 to transfer the toner 21 to the toner storage section 1.
8 to the main body of the developing device. Although the sealing material 19 is pulled out from the notch 17a, the packing 20 of the maltplane can prevent the toner from scattering not only while it is being pulled out but also after it has been pulled out.

In addition, when assembling the developer, only the toner storage section that seals the toner can be made as a separate part, which improves productivity and ease of assembly, and it is easy to recycle when collecting and reusing the kit after use. Can be done.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a plate-shaped sealing member, one end of which protrudes outside the developing device as a handle 22a. Reference numeral 23 denotes a claw for fixing the sealing member 22, which is rotatably fixed to the developing device main body about a shaft 24. Further, 23a is a torsion coil spring that constantly applies a force to rotate the pawl 23 counterclockwise (in the direction of the arrow in the figure). Further, 22b is a fitting portion provided on the seal member 22 and engages with the claw 23.

Therefore, when the developing device is used alone, that is, when the developing device is not set in the main body, the sealing member 22 cannot be pulled out by the claw 23.

FIG. 4 shows the case where it is set in the main body of the developing device, where 26 is a side plate of the main body and 27 is a claw release plate fixed on the side plate of the main body.

Now, when you set the developing device in the main body, the claw release plate will move to claw 2.
By pushing the end of 3, the pawl 23 rotates clockwise in the figure and comes off from the fitting part 22b provided on the sealing member 22, allowing the sealing member to be freely pulled out. A protective cover 28 prevents the claw 23 from being touched by a user's hand or the like and coming off at times other than when the main body is set.

In this embodiment, a magnetic sleeve is used as the toner conveying means, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that other conveying means may be used.

As described above, the present invention has the following functions and effects.

(i) By integrating the developing unit main body and the toner supply section, toner scattering is eliminated.

(ii) Also, since the toner is sealed inside the developing device with a sealant until the developing device is used,
In addition to preventing toner from becoming damp during storage, it is also possible to prevent toner from spilling from the developer body (for example, the gap between the magnetic sleeve and the housing) before use.

(iii) Assume that the same developer is used and the same amount of toner is stored without using a sealant as when using a sealant. If the developing device is tilted in this state, the toner will move to one side of the developing device, but the existence of the sealing member makes it possible to suppress the toner from shifting as much as possible within the limited space.

That is, even if the developing device is tilted before it starts to be used, it is possible to minimize the deviation of toner.

(iv) Furthermore, if the sealing member is released only when the developing device is set in the main body, it is possible to prevent the seal from being removed by mistake before the main body is set.

(v) Furthermore, since the toner storage section can be made a separate part from the main body of the developing device with toner contained therein using a sealing material, productivity and assembly efficiency can be improved. Furthermore, if the toner storage section is made replaceable by the manufacturer with a new one as appropriate, the manufacturer can easily collect and reuse the kit after use.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the developing device applied to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the developing device applied to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the developing device is set in the main body. Reference numeral 1 denotes a document mounting table, 2 a focusing light transmission member, 3 a photosensitive drum, 4 a charger, 5 a developing device, 12 a magnetic sleeve, 17 a developing device housing, 18
1 is a toner storage unit, 19 is a sealing material, 23 is a claw, 2
7 is a claw release member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A developing device for developing a latent image using a powder developer, comprising: a developer storage section for storing a developer inside the developing device; and a developer storage section for supplying the developer to the latent image. A sealing member is disposed between the storage unit and the supply unit to seal the developer in the storage unit and a part of the sealing member protrudes from the developing device. A developing device characterized in that by pulling the protruding portion, the sealing member is pulled out from the developing device, thereby opening a space between the storage portion and the supply portion, and supplying developer from the storage portion to the supply portion to enable development. . 2. In a developing device for developing a latent image using a powder developer, the developing device includes a developer storage section that stores the developer and a developer supply section that supplies the developer to the latent image. A member is integrally provided between the storage section and the supply section, seals the developer in the storage section, and has a part protruding from the developing device, and the developing device is a member of the main unit. and a sealing member that releases the sealing member when the developing device is loaded in the predetermined position, and the sealing member is pulled out from the developing device by pulling the protrusion while the developing device is loaded in the predetermined position. 1. A developing device characterized in that a space between a storage section and a supply section is opened, and developer is supplied from the storage section to the supply section to enable development.