KR100594959B1 - Image developing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The developing apparatus of the present invention comprises: a consultation member for transferring a developer onto a surface to form an image; A developer conveying member transferring the developer to the counseling member while being rotated at a predetermined interval from the counseling member; A scattering suppression member rotatably installed adjacent to the consultation delay member and generating an air flow in a direction opposite to the air flow generated by the rotation of the consultation delay member and the developer transfer member; And a scattering developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer moved by the scattering inhibiting member.

Description

Image developing apparatus and image forming apparatus

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view showing a separated state of the developing apparatus shown in FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device shown in FIG.

4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a main part of the main part of FIG. 3.

5 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram for explaining a power transmission system of the developing apparatus shown in FIG.

<Description of Symbols for Major Parts of Drawings>

10. Body 20. Developing device

30. Feeder 40. Laser scanning unit

50. Fixing unit 70. Transfer roller

80. Media transport path 110, 120. First and second unit

111,121,136,, first, second and third housing

112. Developer developer 113. Feed roller

114 .. Regulatory member of developer layer 122..

130. The third unit 131. Shatterproof member

135..Diffuse developer accommodating part

138,139. First and second plate members

The present invention relates to a developing apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

In general, an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, an LED printer, a digital copier, a general paper facsimile machine, or the like has a function of transferring an image signal according to an input digital signal to a paper, which is a print medium, in the form of a visible image.

Such an image forming apparatus includes a developing apparatus, a laser scanning apparatus, a fixing apparatus and the like.

The developing apparatus includes a counseling member such as a photosensitive drum on which a visible image is developed, and a developer conveying member for transferring a developer such as toner to the counseling member.

The counseling member is formed with an electrostatic latent image corresponding to a visible image on its surface by the light scanned by the laser scanning apparatus.

As an example of the developer conveying member, the developing roller used in the non-contact developing method is rotated with a consultation delay and a predetermined developing gap therebetween. This developing roller serves to transfer a developer such as toner to the electrostatic latent image area by a non-contact developing method. That is, the developer attached to the developing roller is transferred to the electrostatic latent image area through the developing gap by the electrostatic force caused by the potential difference between the electrostatic latent image and the developing roller. The toner transferred to the latent electrostatic image is transferred to a print medium passing between the counseling member and the transfer roller. The printing medium passes through the fixing device, and the visible image transferred to the printing medium is fixed to the printing medium by high temperature / high pressure in the fixing device.

On the other hand, as the counseling member and the developing roller rotate in the forward direction (engaging direction), a constant air flow occurs in the developing gap. As a result of the movement of the print medium, air flow also occurs between the print medium and the developing apparatus.

The toner particles moved from the developing roller to the electrostatic latent image through the developing gap are disturbed by the air flow as described above. Particularly, the toner particles having insufficient charge amount are more affected by the air flow than the electrostatic force and moved to the electrostatic latent image. can not do. In addition, some toner particles are scattered into the image forming apparatus along with the air flow, thereby contaminating the interior of the apparatus.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an improved developing apparatus and an image forming apparatus so as to suppress scattering of a developer.

The developing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object comprises: a consultation member for transferring a developer to a surface to form an image; A developer conveying member transferring the developer to the counseling member while rotating and spaced apart from the counseling member at regular intervals; A scattering inhibiting member rotatably installed adjacent to the counseling member and generating air flow in a direction opposite to the airflow generated by the rotation of the counseling member and the developer conveying member; And a scattering developer accommodating part for accommodating the developer moved by the scattering inhibiting member.

In addition, the image forming apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above object comprises a counseling member for transferring the developer to the surface to form an image; A developer conveying member transferring the developer to the counseling member while rotating and spaced apart from the counseling member at regular intervals; A transfer roller which is installed to rotate in contact with the consultation body and transfers the image formed on the consultation body to the printing paper passing therebetween; A scattering inhibiting member rotatably installed adjacent to the counseling member and generating air flow in a direction opposite to the airflow generated by the rotation of the counseling member and the developer conveying member; And a scattering developer accommodating part for accommodating the developer moved by the scattering inhibiting member.

Here, the scattering suppression member is provided downstream of the rotation direction of the consultation delay, it is preferable that the rotation in the same direction as the consultation delay.

In addition, the scattering suppression member, the rotation shaft; It is preferable to include a; a plurality of wing members formed radially on the outer circumference of the rotating shaft.

In addition, the scattering inhibiting member is preferably installed so as to receive the power of any one of the counseling member and the developer transfer member.

In addition, the developer housing is supported, the first housing accommodates a new developer; The counseling member is rotatably supported, and includes a second housing in which a waste developer is accommodated, and the scattering inhibiting member is rotatably disposed on an outer side of the first housing.

In addition, the scattering developer accommodating portion may be disposed below the first housing and include a third housing having an inlet and an outlet.

In addition, a filter may be installed at the outlet of the third housing.

In addition, the scattering developer accommodating portion may further include a developer flow inhibiting portion for inhibiting and storing the developer entering the inlet of the third housing from escaping toward the outlet.

The flow inhibiting part may include an adhesive layer provided on an inner wall of the third housing.

In addition, the flow inhibiting portion, it is preferable to include an inclined surface inclined upward toward the outlet from the bottom of the third housing.

In addition, the scattering developer accommodating portion may be installed at the inlet of the third housing to be adjacent to the scattering inhibiting member and further include an elastically deformable plate member.

The scattering developer accommodating part may be further supported by the third housing, and further includes a plate member adjacent to the scattering suppressing member and elastically deformable.

The plate member is preferably a film formed of PET or urethane material.

The rotational speed of the scatter restraining member is preferably more than the rotational speed of the consultation delay.

In addition, the developing apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, the consultation member for transferring the developer to the surface to form an image; A developer conveying member transferring the developer to the counseling member while rotating and spaced apart from the counseling member at regular intervals; A scattering inhibiting member rotatably disposed adjacent to the counseling member and positioned below a line connecting the axis of the counseling member and the developer conveying member to suppress scattering of the developer; And a scattering developer accommodating part for accommodating the developer moved by the scattering inhibiting member.

Hereinafter, a developing apparatus and an image forming apparatus having the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the image forming apparatus includes a developing apparatus 20 installed in the main body 10, a paper feeding unit 30 for supplying a print medium to the developing apparatus 20, a laser scanning unit 40, A fixing unit 50 and the like.

Here, the laser scanning unit 40 scans light to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to a desired image with the consultation member 122 provided in the developing apparatus 20.

The fixing unit 50 fixes the print medium passed through the developing apparatus 20 at high temperature and high pressure to fix the transferred image on the print medium. Since the laser scanning unit 40 and the fixing unit 50 are generally well known technologies, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the developing apparatus 20 includes a first unit 110, a second unit 120, and a third unit 130.

The first unit 110 includes a first housing 111 and a developer carrier 112 installed in the first housing 111. A new developer, that is, a new toner is accommodated in the first housing 111. The developer conveying body 112 is driven to rotate in the first housing 111, and supplies the developer to the consultation body 122 to be described later. Here, the developer will be described by taking an example of a one-component nonmagnetic developer using a polyester resin as a binder resin, for example.

The developer conveying body 112 is preferably a conductive rubber roller or a metal roller made of a cylindrical aluminum material. The metal roller may be formed by nickel (Ni) plating after the surface is sand blasted.

Further, in the first housing 111, a supply roller 113 for supplying the developer to the developer conveying body 112, and a developer layer for regulating the developer layer on the surface of the developer conveying body 112 to a predetermined thickness. The regulating member 114 is further installed. The restricting member 114 is formed by bending a stainless steel sheet having an elastic force in a 'L' shape and is fixed in the housing 111 to be in contact with the developer conveying body 112. The supply roller 113 is rotated in the same direction as the developer conveying body 112, and supplies the developer between the developer conveying body 112 and the restricting member 114.

 An AC voltage and a DC voltage are superimposed from the power supply part not shown in the developer conveyance body 112, the supply roller 113, and the control member 114 of the said structure. Characteristics of the voltage applied from the power supply unit, for example, peak to peak voltage (Vpp), frequency, duty ratio, etc. may be appropriately controlled according to the use environment and various printing conditions.

In addition, agitators 115 and 116 are rotatably installed in the first housing 111 to stir the developer.

The second unit 120 includes a second housing 121, a counseling member 122, a cleaning member 123, and a charging member 124. The second housing 121 is coupled to the first housing 111 such that the counseling member 122 and the developer carrier 112 face each other with a predetermined developing gap G therebetween. The second housing 121 is provided with an accommodation space in which waste developer used for development is accommodated. The consultation member 122 is rotatable and is supported by the second housing 121 so that a part thereof is exposed to the outside. The counseling member 122 is rotated in the forward direction with the developer carrier 112 facing the developer carrier 112. Preferably, the rotational linear velocity of the counseling member 122 is driven to be smaller than the rotational linear velocity of the developer conveying member 112.

The cleaning member 123 is in contact with the consultation support 122 to remove the waste developer remaining in the consultation support 122. As an example of the cleaning member 123, a cleaning blade having elasticity may be employed. The charging member 124 is for charging the surface of the counseling member 122 to a predetermined potential. In this embodiment, a conductive rubber roller which is rotated in contact with the counseling member 122 in the forward direction is applied.

Here, the counseling member 122 is connected to a predetermined driving unit to receive power when the developing apparatus 20 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 10. The power transmitted to the counseling member 122 may be transmitted to the members 112, 113, 115, and 116 in the first housing 111. In addition, the members 112, 113, 115, and 116 may receive power from a separate driving unit. The driving unit of the developing device 20 will be described later.

In addition, a transfer roller 70 which is rotated in contact with the consultation body 122 is rotatably installed in the main body 10. A predetermined potential is applied to this transfer roller 70. Therefore, the image formed on the consultation body 122 is transferred to the print medium passing between the consultation body 122 and the transfer roller 70 by the potential difference between the consultation body 122 and the transfer roller 70. Under the developing device 20, a medium transport path 80 through which a print medium to which an image is to be transferred is formed.

The third unit 130 is for suppressing the scattering of the developer generated between the counseling member 122 and the developer carrier 112. That is, in the printing operation, the consultation member 122 and the developer conveying member 112 are rotated in the forward direction at a predetermined speed, so that air flow in the direction of the arrow A is generated in the developing gap G. Due to the air flow, the charging characteristic is weakened and the disturbed fine developers are scattered toward the downstream, and thus the third unit 130 can be suppressed.

2, 3, and 4, the third unit 130 is a phenomenon induced by the scattering suppressing member 131 and the scattering suppressing member 131 which cause air flow in the reverse direction B in the A direction. A scattering developer accommodating portion 135 for collecting the following (hereinafter referred to as scattering toner) is provided.

The scattering inhibiting member 131 is rotatably installed facing the developing gap G at the lower side of the second housing 111. The scattering suppressing member 131 is also provided to be spaced apart from the counseling member 122 by a predetermined distance and rotates in the opposite direction to the counseling member 122. More preferably, as shown in FIG. 3, a scattering inhibiting member (under the line X connecting the shaft 122a of the counseling member 122 and the shaft 112a of the developer conveying member 112) 131 is preferably installed. Air flow is generated in the B direction by the rotation of the scattering inhibiting member 131. Therefore, the toner scattered in the A direction is moved back toward the developing gap G or toward the scattering developer accommodating portion 135. It is collected. The scattering inhibiting member 131 includes a rotating shaft 132 rotatably installed in the scattering developer accommodating part 135 and a rotating blade 133. The rotary blade 133 is formed in a plurality of radially on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 132. Rotating blade 133 and the rotating shaft 132 may be formed integrally with a plastic material. The scattering suppressing member 131 is preferably rotated by receiving power from the counseling member 122 or the developer conveying member 112, and this power transmission method will be described later.

Referring to FIG. 4, the scattering developer accommodating part 135 includes a third housing 136 coupled to a lower side of the first housing 111, and a developer flow inhibiting part provided in the third housing 136. 137 and the first and second plate members 138 and 139.

The third housing 136 is preferably formed integrally with the first housing 111. The third housing 136 has an inlet 136a through which toner and air flow together, and an outlet 136b through which the introduced air exits. Inlet 136a and outlet 136b are located in opposite directions. Then, by providing the outlet 136b at a higher position than the inlet 136a, it is possible to suppress the introduced toner from being scattered again through the outlet 136b. In addition, the inlet 136a is provided at a position higher than the inner bottom surface s1 of the third housing 136, and a protruding jaw 136c is provided at the inlet 136a.

The developer flow inhibiting portion 137 is to suppress the toner introduced into the third housing 136 through the inlet 136a from being discharged back toward the outlet 136b. The flow suppressing part 137 includes adhesive layers 137a and 137b provided in the third housing 136 and an inclined surface s2 extending from the bottom s1 of the third housing 136.

The adhesive layer 137a is provided on the bottom surface of the third housing 136, and the other adhesive layer 137b is provided under the ceiling, that is, under the first housing 111. The adhesive layers 137a and 137b may be provided by attaching a slime member such as a double-sided tape to the third housing 136. In addition, a separate adhesive material may be applied to the inner surface of the third housing 136. The toner adheres to the adhesive layers 137a and 137b, thereby suppressing the flow of the toner.

In addition, the inclined surface s2 is formed to be inclined upward from the bottom surface s1 toward the outlet 136b. The toner introduced into the third housing 136 by this inclined surface s2 can be prevented from flowing to the outlet 136b or being pushed out.

In addition, the scattering developer accommodating part 135 includes a first plate member 138 and a second plate member 139 supported by the third housing 136. The first plate member 138 is installed at the inlet 136a of the third housing 136 and is disposed to be close to the wing member 133 of the scatter suppressing member 131. The first plate member 138 is provided to guide the toner guided by the wing member 133 to the inlet 136a as much as possible. The first plate member 138 is preferably a film formed of PET or urethane material to enable elastic deformation. Therefore, even when the wing member 133 is in contact with the first plate member 138, the two members 138 and 133 are not damaged by the elastic deformation of the first plate member 138, and the scattering suppressing member 131 The rotation operation can be made.

In addition, the second plate member 139 is supported below the third housing 136 and extends below the scatter suppressing member 131. The second plate member 139 is also formed of the same material as that of the first plate member 138, and preferably a film capable of elastic deformation. Therefore, the second plate member 139 is provided as close to the wing member 133 as possible, to prevent the toner from falling below the scatter suppressing member 131. Then, the toner dropped to the second plate member 139 may be moved back to the B direction by the air flow generated by the wing member 133 to be recovered to the third housing 136.

In addition, as shown in Figure 3, it is preferable that the filter (F) is further provided at the outlet (136b). In this case, when a relatively large amount of scattered toner is recovered in the third housing 136, a small amount of scattered toner is discharged again through the outlet 136b so that the filter F can filter the scattered toner. The filter F is made of a porous material such as a sponge, and can be simply installed at the outlet 136b with an adhesive such as a bond.

Referring to FIG. 5, a driving unit 140 for driving the scattering suppressing member 131 is provided. The driving unit 140 includes a driving motor 141 for driving the developing device 20, and a power transmission unit 145 for transmitting power of the developing device 20 to the scattering suppressing member 131.

The drive motor 141 is preferably installed in the main body 10, and is disposed to be connected to the drive gear 142 of the consultation body 122 when the developing apparatus 20 is mounted in the main body 10. That is, the shaft gear 141a of the drive motor 141 is geared to the drive gear 142 to transmit power. The drive gear 142 is connected to the gear 143 of the developer conveying body 112 to transmit power.

The power transmission unit 145 includes first and second idle gears 146 and 147 sequentially connected from the gear 143 of the developer transporter 112, and a driven gear 148. The driven gear 148 is coupled to one end of the rotation shaft 132 of the scatter restraining member 131. The first and second idle gears 146 and 147 are installed in the developing apparatus 20 to transmit the power of the gear 143 to the driven gear 148. The gear 149 of the feed roller 113 is also driven by being connected to the first idle gear 146.

On the other hand, unlike the embodiment described above, a power transmission unit for directly transmitting the power of the counseling member 122 to the scattering suppression member 131 may be applied. In addition, unlike the driving motor 141 of the developing apparatus 20, it is natural that the scatter suppressing member 131 can be driven by using a separate motor.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the power of the counseling member 122 may be directly transmitted to the driven gear 148 of the scattering suppressing member 131 using the idle gear 151.

Hereinafter, an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

First, referring to FIG. 1, a printing medium is picked up from the paper feeding unit 30 during a printing operation and transferred to the developing apparatus 20. According to the input print data, the laser scanning unit 40 scans the light to the consultation member 122 to form a predetermined electrostatic latent image.

3 and 5, the developer conveying member 112, which is rotated together with the counseling member 122, rotates in the forward direction with respect to the rotation direction of the counseling member 122, Move to the electrostatic latent image area. At this time, an AC voltage and a DC voltage are applied to the developer conveying body 112, the supply roller 113, and the regulating member 114 in an overlapping manner. Therefore, in the developing gap G between the consultation body 122 and the developer transporter 112, the developer is consulted by the potential difference between the potential of the electrostatic latent image region and the electrostatic force generated in the developer transporter 112. ) Is moved to the electrostatic latent image area.

On the other hand, in the developing gap G, an air flow occurs in the A direction, and some developer is disturbed by the generated air flow. Therefore, the disturbed developer and the developer whose charge characteristic is weakened are moved downstream of the developing gap G by the air flow in the A direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the developer, i.e., the toner particles, which is moved downstream, is moved back to the developing gap G by the air flow generated in the B direction by the scattering inhibiting member 131. Then, some scattered toner particles are guided by the scattering inhibiting member 131 and collected into the third housing 136. The collected toner sticks to the adhesive layers 136a and 136b to suppress the flow. And it is suppressed to move toward the exit 136b by the inclined surface s2. Meanwhile, air introduced together with the toner particles to the inlet 136a is discharged through the outlet 136b while leaving the toner in the third housing 136.

In addition, the trace amount of toner particles is prevented from being scattered to the outside of the developing apparatus 20 by the first and second plate members 138 and 139, and recovered again by the scattering inhibiting member 131. Since the scattering toner collected in the third housing 136 is actually a minute amount, the toner has sufficient space to be collected until the developing device 20 is replaced with a new one. Thus, the collected scattering toner is removed together when the developing apparatus 20 is replaced with a new one.

According to the developing apparatus and the image forming apparatus employing the same according to the present invention as described above, it is possible to suppress the scattering of the developer by generating the air flow in the reverse direction to the air flow generated in the developing gap.

In addition, by collecting and storing some developer that is scattered in a separate collection space, the inside of the image forming apparatus may be prevented from being contaminated by the developer scattering.

Further, by preventing the toner scattering to the non-image area of the consultation member from sticking, the quality of the printed image can be improved.

In addition, by driving the scattering suppression member by using the power of the developing apparatus without using a separate power, it is possible to provide a small size and low cost image forming apparatus by simplifying the structure and minimizing the additional cost.

In addition, since the collected developer is stored inside the developing apparatus, it is convenient for the user because the developing apparatus is at the end of its life and can be replaced and discarded with a new one.

Claims (21)

A counseling member for transferring the developer to the surface to form an image; A developer conveying member installed in the first housing to rotate at a predetermined interval from the counseling member and to rotate the developer to the counseling member; A scattering inhibiting member rotatably installed adjacent to the counseling member and generating air flow in a direction opposite to the airflow generated by the rotation of the counseling member and the developer conveying member; And And a scattering developer accommodating portion provided below the first housing to accommodate the developer moved by the scattering inhibiting member. And the scattering developer accommodating portion includes an inlet through which the developer moved by the scattering suppressing member flows in, and an outlet through which the introduced air flows out. A counseling member for transferring the developer to the surface to form an image; A developer transfer member installed in the first housing to rotate and spaced apart from the consultation member at a predetermined interval, and to transfer the developer to the consultation member; A transfer roller which is installed to rotate in contact with the consultation body and transfers the image formed on the consultation body to the printing paper passing therebetween; A scattering inhibiting member rotatably installed adjacent to the counseling member and generating air flow in a direction opposite to the airflow generated by the rotation of the counseling member and the developer conveying member; And And a scattering developer accommodating portion provided below the first housing to accommodate the developer moved by the scattering inhibiting member. And the scattering developer accommodating portion has an inlet through which the developer moved by the scattering suppressing member flows in, and an outlet through which the introduced air flows out. The scattering inhibiting member of claim 1, The developing apparatus is installed downstream of the rotation direction of the counseling member, and rotates in the same direction as the counseling member. The scattering inhibiting member of claim 1, A rotating shaft; And a plurality of wing members radially formed on an outer circumference of the rotating shaft. The developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scattering inhibiting member is installed to receive the power of any one of the counseling member and the developer conveying member. delete The method of claim 1, The counseling member is rotatably supported, and further includes a second housing in which waste developer is accommodated. And the scattering developer accommodating part is installed below the first housing so as to be isolated from the first housing, and includes a third housing having the inlet and the outlet. 8. The developing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a filter is installed at an outlet of the third housing. The method of claim 7, wherein the scattering developer receiving portion,  And a developer flow inhibiting unit for inhibiting and storing the developer entering the inlet of the third housing from escaping toward the outlet. 10. The developing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the flow inhibiting part comprises an adhesive layer provided on an inner wall of the third housing. 10. The developing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the flow inhibiting part includes an inclined surface inclined upwardly from the bottom of the third housing toward the outlet. The method of claim 9, wherein the scattering developer receiving portion, And a plate member installed adjacent to the scattering suppression member at an inlet of the third housing and elastically deformable. The method of claim 9, wherein the scattering developer receiving portion, And a plate member supported by the third housing and installed adjacent to the lower portion of the scatter suppressing member and capable of elastic deformation. 13. The developing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the plate members are films formed of PET or urethane material. The developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation speed of the scattering inhibiting member is equal to or greater than the rotation speed of the consultation delay. delete The method of claim 2, The counseling member is rotatably supported, and further includes a second housing in which waste developer is accommodated. And the scattering developer accommodating portion is disposed below the first housing so as to be isolated from the first housing, and includes a third housing having the inlet and the outlet. The scattering inhibiting member of claim 2, wherein An image forming apparatus installed downstream of the rotation direction of the consultation member and rotated in the same direction as the consultation member. The scattering inhibiting member of claim 2, wherein A rotating shaft; And a plurality of wing members radially formed on an outer circumference of the rotating shaft. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the scattering suppression member is installed to receive power of one of the counseling member and the developer conveying member. delete

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