JP3005301B2 - Developing unit and its toner cartridge - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing unit and a toner cartridge for an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, etc. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a developing unit in an image forming apparatus replenishes toner by replacing a toner cartridge. FIG. 6 shows a conventional developing unit of this type. The developing unit 100 has a toner cartridge 11 mounted on an upper part of the unit main body 10. The developing unit 10 is set in the image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 7 with the toner cartridge 11 mounted, and the developing is performed by bringing the developing roller 13 into contact with the photosensitive member 12. The structure in which the toner cartridge 11 is mounted on the unit main body 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, hook-shaped claws 14 are formed on the unit main body 10 side at two portions A shown in FIGS. Have been. As shown in FIG. 9, the L portion 15 of the toner cartridge 11 is engaged with the claw. 6 and 7
As shown in FIG. 10, a projection 16 is formed on the toner cartridge 11 at the portion B shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the projection 16 engages with a latch lever 17 provided on the unit body 10 side. This latch lever
17 is formed by a mold, and is fixed to the unit body 10 by screws 18.

When the toner cartridge 11 is mounted on the unit body 10, first, the L portion 15 is inserted into the claw 14, and the latch lever 17 is tilted in the direction of the arrow to set the toner cartridge 11. Next, by returning the latch lever 17, the protrusion 16
And the toner cartridge 11 is fixed to the unit body 10.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional developing unit 100, when the toner cartridge 11 is mounted on the unit body 10, the L portion 15
When the image is formed, that is, when the image is developed in such a state, the toner is scattered, so that the image is stained or the parts are damaged. Was.

Also, a method of removing the toner cartridge 11
The direction is, as shown in FIG.
The opposite direction requires both hands for replacement,
The business was poor and somewhat complicated.

[0006] Accordingly, an invention according to claim 1, which aims to provide a developing unit capable of reliably mounting the easy toner cartridge replacement.

[0007]

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In order to achieve the above object, in a developing unit in which a toner cartridge is detachably attached to a unit main body, the toner cartridge has an outer peripheral portion which is provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction thereof and at corners near the unit main body. Two cylindrical pins are formed so that their axes coincide with each other, and a latch lever is provided at the end of the toner cartridge which draws a circular orbit when the toner cartridge is rotated around these two pins. And a claw-shaped holding portion for holding the pin at both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the unit body and holding the toner cartridge rotatably around the pin. to hold section
An inclined guide that guides the pin to the holding position of the holding section along the opposing inclined section, and engages with the latch lever with the pin held by the holding section to fix the toner cartridge to the unit body. And an operating direction for releasing the latch lever from the engaging claw rotates the toner cartridge around the two pins.
And guiding the pin along the inclined guide
Removal when removing the toner cartridge
It is characterized by matching the direction .

[0009]

[0010]

In the developing unit according to the first aspect of the present invention, two pins formed on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge are moved along the inclined guide formed on the unit main body. It is guided to the holding position by the claw-shaped holding unit. The latch lever and the engaging claw are engaged with the pin held in the holding portion, and the toner cartridge is fixed to the unit main body. On the other hand, when the latch lever is operated so as to be released from the engaging claw, the toner cartridge rotates in the detaching direction around the two pins , and the pins are moved along the inclined guide into the holding section.
Drawn out in the opening direction.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on embodiments.
1 to 5 are views showing a developing unit and its toner cartridge according to one embodiment of the present invention . In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the above-described example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a specific description thereof will be omitted.

First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present embodiment. A detachable toner cartridge 11 is mounted on a unit main body 10 to constitute a developing unit 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the toner cartridge 11 has both ends in the longitudinal direction thereof and the unit main body.
Two cylindrical pins 20 are formed at the corners close to 10 so that their axes coincide with each other in the outward direction (only one side is shown in the figure). A latch lever 21 is formed at the end of the toner cartridge that draws a circular orbit when the toner cartridge 11 is rotated around these two pins 20.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the unit main body 10 holds the pins 20 at both ends in the longitudinal direction thereof, and holds the toner cartridge 11 rotatably around the pins 20. A claw-shaped hold portion 22 is formed. As shown in FIG. 4, the pin 20 is guided to the holding position by the holding section 22 in the direction of the arrow along the inclined section 24 forming the inclined guide 23. Further, the unit body 10 includes
As shown in FIG. 5, an engagement claw 25 is formed. The engaging claw 25 engages with the latch lever 21 in a state in which the pin 20 is held by the hold portion 22, and fixes the toner cartridge 11 to the unit main body 10.

Next, the operation will be described. When attaching the toner cartridge 11 to the unit main body 10, align the pin 20 with the opening of the inclination guide 23, and
Move to the holding position of 22. Next, focusing on pin 20,
When the toner cartridge 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow G in FIG. 1, the latch lever 21 and the engaging claw 25 are engaged and locked,
Installation is completed.

On the other hand, when the toner cartridge 11 is to be detached by supplying toner, the latch lever 21 is tilted in the direction indicated by the arrow R in FIG. As a result, the engagement between the latch lever 21 and the engagement claw 25 is released, and the toner cartridge 11
Can be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow H in FIG. Here, the pin 20 is moved obliquely upward along the inclined guide 23.
(Toward the opening direction) , the toner cartridge 11
Can be easily removed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the toner cartridge 11 is replaced, since the releasing operation direction of the latch lever 21 and the removing direction of the cartridge are the same, the toner cartridge 11 is Since the cartridge 11 can be removed, the operation is much easier than in the past. When the toner cartridge 11 is mounted, if the pin 20 is aligned with the opening of the inclined guide 23, it is held by the hold portion 22 along the inclined portion 24. It is possible to prevent toner scattering and component damage due to poor mounting.

[0017]

[0018]

As described in the foregoing, according to the developing unit according to the first aspect of the invention, two pins which are formed on both side ends in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge, formed in the unit main body Guided to the holding position by the claw-shaped holding part along the inclined guide, the latch lever and the engaging claw can be engaged with the pin held in the holding part, and the toner cartridge is securely fixed to the unit body. When the latch lever is operated to be released from the engagement claw, the toner cartridge rotates in the removing direction about the two pins, so that the replacement operation of the toner cartridge can be facilitated. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a perspective view showing a developing unit and a toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] a perspective view showing a toner cartridge of this embodiment
There is .

3 is a perspective view showing the holding unit and tilting guide of the unit body.

4 is a side view showing a holding state of the pin in the hold section.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an engagement state between a latch lever and an engagement claw.
It is .

6 is a perspective view showing a conventional developing unit.

7 is a side sectional view showing a conventional developing unit.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view of a developing unit in a portion A of FIGS. 6 and 7;

9 is an enlarged sectional view showing an engagement state of the A portion of FIGS.

Perspective view showing the FIG. 10 conventional toner cartridge
You .

11 is an enlarged sectional view showing an engagement state in the B section of FIGS.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 unit body, 11 toner cartridge, 20 pins, 21 latch lever, 22 hold section, 23 inclined guide, 24 inclined section, 25 engaging claw.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A developing unit in which a toner cartridge is detachably mounted on a unit main body, wherein the toner cartridge is provided on both ends in a longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge and outwardly toward corners near the unit main body. Two cylindrical pins are formed so that their axes coincide with each other, and a latch lever is formed at an end of the toner cartridge that draws a circular orbit when the toner cartridge is rotated around the two pins. The unit body holds the pins at both ends in the longitudinal direction thereof, and holds the toner cartridge rotatably around the pins.
Each one claw-shaped holding portion, and the holding portion along the inclined portion facing the holding portion.
An inclined guide that guides the pin to the holding position, and an engagement claw that engages with the latch lever while the pin is held in the holding portion to fix the toner cartridge to the unit main body. The operation direction to release the latch lever from the engagement claw is
Rotate the toner cartridge around the two pins
And guide the pin along an inclined guide.
The developing direction of the developing unit coincides with the direction in which the toner cartridge is removed .