JPS62283365A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a sealing member keep perfect sealing capacity at all times and make a receiving port and a supply port of developer communicated state without a hitch by communicating the developer receiving port of a developing device side and the developer supply port of a reserve developer storage side by a flexible cylindrical sealing member. CONSTITUTION:A cylindrical sealing member 40 communicates the developer receiving port 8 of a developing device A side and the developer supply port 33 of a developer hopper B side. The lower side opening of the sealing member 40 is conformed to the developer receiving port 8 of the developing device A side and attached in a body to the developing device A side by a machine screw. A flange seat 45 is provided in the periphery of upper side opening of the sealing member 40, and a sleeve 46 longitudinal side edges of which are made to U-shape in sectional form is bonded in a body to the flamge seat 45. The sleeve 46 corresponds to projecting edges 36, 36 projected outward from longitudinal side edges of lower opening of the developer supply port 33 of the developer hopper B, and slide fitted to the projected edges 36, 36 and freely attachable and detachable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 3. Detailed Description of the Invention A1 Object of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a developing device for an image forming apparatus such as a 1RTD photographic type or an electrostatic recording type.

More specifically, the member to be developed, that is, a PPi image carrier such as an electrophotographic page photoreceptor or an electrostatic recording dielectric, is switched between a developing position in which it approaches a predetermined distance and a non-developing position in which it retreats to a predetermined position. The present invention relates to a developing device that includes a developing device that can be disposed in a flexible manner, and a preliminary developer storage that is provided separately from the developing device and supplies developer to the developing device via a connecting portion.

[Conventional technology]

For ease of maintenance, inspection, repair, etc., the developing device of an image forming apparatus consists of a developing device and a preliminary developer storage (hereinafter referred to as a developer hopper) that replenishes the developing device with developer in a timely manner. (described below) are separate from each other, and at least the developing device is often constructed so that it can be freely removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

In this case, the developing unit is placed at a developing action position (hereinafter referred to as the first developing unit) located within the main body of the image forming apparatus at a predetermined distance from the wave developing member number.
position) and a predetermined non-phenomenal action position (hereinafter referred to as the second position), the developing unit is arranged so as to be switchable and movable in a stage, and the developing unit can be inserted into and removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus. In this case, the developing device is placed in the second position and the product name is placed first, thereby avoiding problems such as interference between the developing device and the image member.

Part 1 - The communication between the developing device and the developer hole is established by providing a symmetrical facing aM5 on both sides and making both communication ports face each other.
In addition, a relatively wide and thick sealing material such as a flexible groove or jinto is used between the edges of the Ryotsu connection mouth to ensure sealing of the car and the connection part. i! on the developer hopper side as the developer moves between the first and second positions. The connecting port (developer receiving port) on the developing unit side with respect to the fi linking port (developer supply port) pinches the seal material and moves out of position, but the developing device installed in the image forming apparatus When there is only one developing device, the switching distance between the first and second developing devices and phase 1i of the developing device does not need to be set large, and is actually set to about several square meters. Therefore, as the developing device moves to switch between the first and second positions, the contact between the developer hopper side and the developer hopper side communication port is small. By simply interposing a sealing material such as a sponge sheet as shown in L, it is possible to connect the developing device and the developer hopper, and to ensure the sealing performance of the communication area between the two, which is sufficient. It was in time.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Incidentally, recently, image forming apparatuses have been equipped with a plurality of developing devices containing developers of different colors arranged in a BIB along the surface movement direction of the member to be developed, and the developing device for each rod can be selected. Devices that can be selectively operated to form a single color image, a multicolor image, or a full color image of a desired color have come into practical use.

When a selected developing device is switched to the first position, which is the developing position for the member to be developed, the other developing device is at the IF developing position. It is held at the second position.

In the case of such an image forming apparatus, in order to prevent color mixture, the first place for each phenomenon apparatus is ! :21q tongue phase-4 gap] The movement distance is set to be quite large.

Therefore, if each developing device is of a separate type for the developing device and the developer hopper as described above, the developer hopper side as the developing device changes positions between the first and second positions. I! on the current t' device side for the communication port of ! I! Connection
] The rubbing displacement meter is quite large. For this reason, if a seal packing material such as a sponge sheet as described above is used as a sealing means for the communication part, it is difficult to adequately cope with the large positional displacement as described above. This causes reliability problems.

In view of the above, the present invention is an imaging device in which a developing device and a developer hopper are separated from each other, and the developing device is a member to be developed.
In this case, the switch is switched between the first position and the second position.
The purpose of the present invention is to always maintain a perfect sealing property and bring the two into communication without any trouble even when a large displacement occurs between the two.

1 Structure of the invention [Problem? ! [Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a developing device which is disposed so as to be switchable between a developing action position in which it approaches a member to be developed in a predetermined manner and a non-development action position in which it is retracted in a predetermined manner; A developing device comprising a preliminary developer storage window disposed separately from a developing device and supplying developer to the developing device through a communication portion, which is flexible and has a generally cylindrical shape. One end of the sealed seal member is fixed to the developer supply port on the first developing device side or the developer supply opening on the preliminary developer storage side, and the other end is attached to the developer receiving port on the preliminary developer storage side. The protrusion and the guide groove are removably engaged with the developer supply port or the developer receiving port on the developer side, and the developer is connected to the developer storage via the cylindrical seal member. The gist of the present invention is a developing device characterized by the fact that the developing device is interconnected with the container.

[For production]

That is, since the developer receiving port on the developing device side and the developer supply port on the preliminary developer storage side are interconnected by a flexible, cylindrical sealing member, the position of the developing device with respect to the member to be developed can be controlled. Even if the developer receiving port on the developing device side is significantly misaligned with respect to the developer supply port on the preliminary developer storage device due to the switching movement, the cylindrical sealing member is able to fully follow this displacement and bend. , the communication and sealing between the two parts are always maintained perfectly.

Moreover, since the cylindrical sealing member mentioned above can be attached and detached at one end to the preliminary developer storage side or the developing unit side, it can be attached to the developing unit, the preliminary developer storage unit, or the image forming apparatus body individually. Insertion and removal are also allowed without any problem.

〔Example〕

The figure shows an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, D indicates a part of a drum-type photoreceptor (hereinafter referred to as a drum) for example, an electrophotographic device, which is a member to be developed and is disposed in an image forming apparatus. A is a developing device, and tram D
It is arranged so that it can be switched between a first position (Fig. 1), which is a developing action position that is close to a predetermined position, and a second position (Fig. 2), which is a non-development action position that is retracted to a predetermined position. has been done. A developer hopper B is provided in the image forming apparatus separately from the developer A, and serves as a preliminary developer storage for replenishing developer to the developer A. According to the present invention, the developing device A and the developer hopper B are communicated with each other via a flexible cylindrical (horizontally long duct-shaped) sealing member 40.

The drum D is rotated clockwise at a predetermined circumferential speed, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on its circumferential surface by a known suitable latent image forming process device (not shown).
Figure 1).

In the developing device A, 1 is a developer container, and 2 is a non-magnetic developing member that is placed horizontally on the front wall side of the developer container with the right half side inserted into the container and the left half side exposed outside the container. The developing sleeve is rotated counterclockwise at a predetermined circumferential speed. Reference numeral 3 denotes a fixed (non-rotating) magnet roller as a magnetic field generating means which is inserted and built into the developing sleeve, and 4 is a fixed (non-rotating) magnet roller provided coaxially and freely rotatable at both ends of the developing sleeve 2, at a predetermined position than the developing sleeve 2. A large-diameter spacer roller; 5 is a doctor blade that applies a developer layer to a predetermined thickness on the two surfaces of the developing sleeve; T is a developer in the developer container; in this example, the l-component developer is composed of magnetic toner; It is. The developer may be a two-component developer consisting of toner and magnetic particle carrier. 6 is a rotating member for stirring and transporting the developer in the container, and 7 is a pair of wire antennas for detecting the amount of developer. Reference numeral 8 denotes a receiving opening for the developer supplied from the developer hopper B side, and there is a horizontally elongated opening along the rear side of the top plate (Figs. 1 and 2) on the surface near the rear of the developer container top plate (lid plate). It is a slit-shaped opening formed in a direction perpendicular to the above drawing. 9 is the developing sleeve 2
This is an opening/closing shutter member having an arcuate cross section with respect to the surface exposed outside the container.

In FIG. 1, the developing device A is switched to the developing position where it approaches (advances) a predetermined distance to the drum D, and the shutter member 9 is in the open position, so that the externally exposed surface of the developing sleeve 2 is opened. Figure 2 shows the state in which the developing device A faces the surface of the drum D with a predetermined small diameter gap α.
is switched to a non-developing position where the developing sleeve 2 is retracted (retracted) to a predetermined position with respect to the drum D, and the shutter member 9 is in the closed position so that the externally exposed surface of the developing sleeve 2 is hidden by the shutter member. It shows.

10 is an immovable developing device support base plate in the main body of the image forming apparatus;
1 is a slippery resin layer provided as a lining on the upper surface of the support base plate, 12 is placed 4IL on the resin layer, and slides on the resin layer only in the forward direction toward the drum D and the opposite backward direction. This is a free developing unit mounting base plate.

The developer mounting base plate 12 is made of plywood long in the direction perpendicular to the drawing, and its front and rear sides are respectively bent upward to form rail strips 13-14 parallel to each other. On the other hand, the lower surface of the developing device A is provided with mutually parallel rail strips 15 and 16 corresponding to the rail strips 13 and 14 on the base plate 12 side.

Developing unit A moves the rear end of the rail strip 151116 on the bottom surface of the base plate 12 to the rear end by engaging the front end of the rail strips 13 and 11 on the F base plate 12 side and pushing them. It slides to the side while being guided by the rail strips 13◆14. 11-
By pushing the developing device 2iA sufficiently until it is seated, the developing device 2iA is placed in its proper position on the plywood 12 and becomes in the device state. That is, the image forming apparatus has a mounting state 1 inside the main body. It's false. Conversely, by pulling it out from above the base plate 12 towards the hand i'ffi side, it is taken out of the image forming apparatus. Note that the insertion and removal of the developing device A from the base plate 12, that is, the insertion and removal of the image forming device, is performed when the base plate 12 is switched to the retracted position with respect to the drum D as shown in FIG. be exposed.

In the developing device A mounted on the base plate 12, the base plate 12 is the drum D.
By moving forward or retiring from work, one becomes one with it.
77 a- Leave work.

17 and 18 are a pair of downward parallel cutouts 7 (respectively) in the front of the developing unit mounting base plate 12 at two locations, one near the front end and the other near the back end. 19 is a leaf spring piece attached to the inside of lug 17 on the +iii side by inserting a screw, and 20 is a leaf spring piece located between lugs 17 and 18, with both ends supported by bearings on the immovable member on the near side made by Imaging Formation. camshaft,
21 is a cam (eccentric disk) fixed to the camshaft.

Although not shown in the figure, the camshaft 20 is connected to a rotational drive source via a clutch A6. The clutch is a well-known type consisting of a solenoid, a spring clutch, a control pawl, etc., and has a rotation speed of η1.Each time a signal is manually applied to the solenoid from the control circuit, the clutch is actuated and the camshaft 20 rotates half a rotation clockwise. The direction of rotation is controlled intermittently to counterclockwise force.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the cam 21 is driven half a rotation in a state in which the developing device A is in the non-developing position where it is illuminated by the drum D and retreated to a predetermined position, the developer MA approaches the drum D to a predetermined value. It is bent and moved to the developing position shown in FIG. 1 and held at that position.

That is, when the cam 21 starts to be driven half a rotation, the front lug 17 receives a pressing force from the protrusion of the rotating cam via the leaf spring piece 19, and the developing device mounting base plate 12 is struck, and the developing device mA is moved to the drum D. It will be lit before agjj. In conjunction with this front translation, at the beginning of the forward movement, a shutter member opening/closing mechanism (not shown) is operated, and the shutter member 9, which is in the closed position and covering the developing sleeve 2, opens without interfering with the tram D surface. Rotated to open the developing sleeve surface (held at position 31).

A little before the cam 21 completes half a rotation, the developing three
, the spacer rollers 4 on the end side are on both ends of the drum D! It is received by coming into contact with the ram surface. The reception 11-. The ii7TM movement of the base plate 12, that is, the developing device A is prevented by this mechanism, and the position near Q becomes the developing action position of the developing device A with respect to the drum D. They are in a facing state with a predetermined small diameter gap α between them.

Next, as the cam 21 continues to rotate to the upper rotation end position, the leaf spring 19 is pressed between the highest protrusion of the cam 21 and the +iii side lug 1, and the position N error is absorbed.
The developing position for the tram D is held elastically.

l! As shown in FIG.
When the half-rotation drive of the cam 21 is started, the inner surface of the rear lug 18 receives a pressing force from the protrusion of the cam, and the base plate 12, that is, the developing unit A moves backward relative to the drum D. At the point where half a rotation is completed, the amount of retraction becomes maximum, and as shown in Fig. 2, the developing device A is retracted to a predetermined distance from the drum D (developing sleeve 2 is separated from the 0th surface of the drum by a predetermined distance). It is switched to the developing position. On the other hand, the shutter member 9 held at the open position is opened.In conjunction with the reversing of the developing unit A, a shutter member opening/closing mechanism (not shown), which will be described later, is activated near the end of the retracting process, and the drum 0 is moved to the open position. Closed position 8 where the developing sleeve surface is hidden by rotating closed without interfering with the surface.
is maintained.

The developer hopper B is removably or fixedly disposed at a predetermined position within the main body of the image forming apparatus.

In the developer hopper, reference numeral 30 denotes a horizontally long pre-developer container 30, and a pre-developer container (30) accommodated in the container.
In the case of this example, (1) component developer (magnetic toner), 31
is a rotating member for stirring the pre-developer, which prevents the pre-developer in the container 30 from being cross-linked and becoming agglomerated into blocks. 32 is a rotating magnetic roller installed horizontally at the bottom of the container 30;
is a downward developer supply port provided below the rotating magnet roller, and this port is a horizontally long cylindrical opening with a length approximately corresponding to the horizontally long slit-shaped developer receiving port 8 on the developing device A side. It is.

34 is a horizontally elongated shutter member disposed within the developer supply port 33; 35 is a rotation center axis of the shutter member;
The front end of this shaft is located at the developer supply port 3 as shown in the third figure.
It is made to protrude outward from the end surface of this side of 3, and 8-36 is fixed integrally to the protruding end. Reference numeral 37 denotes a torsion spring that constantly urges the 8-36 to rotate clockwise. The lever 36 rotates clockwise in the free state, and the shaft 35 and the shutter member 34 rotate clockwise accordingly, so that the lever 36 rotates clockwise, and the shaft 35 and the shutter member 34 rotate clockwise. The inside of the developer supply port 33 is held in contact with the lower surface of the undercut step 33a on the inner wall surface of the developer supply port 33 (shutter closed state) as shown in FIG. The entire area is held in a closed state 7g by the shutter member 34.

Conversely, when the lever 36 is rotated counterclockwise against the spring 37, the shutter member 34 is rotated counterclockwise as shown by the solid line in FIGS. As a result, the inside of the developer supply port 33 is opened over its entire length.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a cylindrical sealing member that connects the developer receiving port 8 on the developing device A side and the developer supply port 33 on the developer hopper B side. The sealing member is a flexible material made of urethane rubber or the like, and has an oblong duct shape ( Figure 5).

The sealing member 40 has its lower opening aligned with the developer receiving port 8 on the side of the developing device A, and the lower surface of the flange seat 41 on the periphery of the lower opening is aligned with the upper plate surface of the developing device. I: Let me wear it,
The presser plate metal fitting 42, which is integrally bonded to the flange seat 41, is fixed to the developing device and the top plate with screws 43, thereby integrally attaching it to the developing device iA side.

A flange seat 45 is provided at the periphery of the upper opening of the seal member 40, and sheath metals 46 each having a substantially U-shaped cross section on both longitudinal edges are integrally bonded to the flange seat 45. This sheath 46 corresponds to the projecting edges 36 that are provided on both longitudinal edges of the lower opening of the developer supply port 33 of the developer hopper B, respectively, so as to project outward.
・It is slidably fitted to 36 and can be freely engaged and detached. The front end of one of the longitudinal sides of the sheath metal 46 is provided with an inclined cam portion 44 that is related to the lever 36 on the developer hopper B side.

When the developing device A is removed from the image forming apparatus main body, the developer hopper B in the image forming apparatus main body
lever 36 is in the free state, so developer hopper B
The developer supply port 33 is kept closed by a shutter member 34, and the developer in the hopper is prevented from flowing out from the port 33. I get hit.

To install the developing device A into the main body of the image forming apparatus, the developing device A is placed on the developing device mounting base plate 12, which has been moved to a retracted position (FIG. 2) with respect to the drum D, which is the member to be developed. The rear ends of the rail strips 15 and 16 on the bottom side of the developing device are connected to the base plate 1, respectively.
The sheath metal 46 of the upper opening of the sealing member 40 on the developing device A side
Place the rear end of the developer hopper B111W in front of the projecting edges 36, 36 (ill end) of the developer supply port 33 of the developer hopper B111W, and push the developer A into the main body of the image forming apparatus. (in the direction a of FIGS. 4 and 5), the developing device A slides toward the back on the base plate 12 while being guided by the rail strip 13@14.

Along with this, the sheath 46 of the sealing member 40 also slides toward the back with respect to the projecting edges 36 of the developer supply port 33 on the developer hopper B side.

Then, by pushing the developing device A sufficiently until it hits a stopper (not shown) and is received, the developing device A is installed in the proper position on the base plate 12, and the sealing member 4
The sheath metal 46 of No. 0 is also connected to the developer supply port 33 on the developer hopper B side.
The sealing member is slid over the entire length of the developer receiving port 8 on the developing device A side and the developer supply port 33 on the developer hopper B side by sliding the projecting edges 36 and 36 to the F- portion. ilJ through 40! This results in a closed state (Fig. 5).

In addition, the shear and cover member 34 in the closed state in the developer supply port 33 on the side of the developing device H and B side are in a state slightly before the developer rAA pushed into the main body of the image forming apparatus reaches the proper mounting position. At the lever 36 position, move the inclined cam part 4 on the sheath metal 46 side.
4 is at the corresponding position ff1L, and the cam member 44 is rotated by the continuous pushing movement of the developer A./<-36 is rotated counterclockwise against the spring 37, and in conjunction with this, the shutter member 34 is rotated counterclockwise against the spring 37. The lever 36 is held by riding on the high surface 44a of the inclined cam part 44, and the lever 36 is held in the open state (first position) of the shutter member 34. 1 and 2 (shown by solid lines) is maintained.

Then, the developer on the developing device A side is received [1 part 8 and developer j;
The developer supply port 33 of the collar B (Ill) is connected to the phase !L by a cylindrical seal member 40, and the seal member 40 is formed relatively vertically and has LiT 16 properties, so that the developing device A is switched from the second position, which is the non-developing position A in FIG. 2, to the first position, which is the developing working position, in FIG. Accordingly, even if the developer receiving port 8 on the developer mA side is largely misaligned with respect to the developer supply port 33 on the developer hopper B side, the F The communication state and sealing performance of both parts 8 and 33 are always maintained perfectly.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the developing device A is switched to the first position, which is the developing action position, and the development of the 0th side of the drum is executed, the developer T in the developing device A is sequentially used for development. will be consumed and decrease. When the developer amount detection circuit including the antenna pair 7 detects that the amount of developer in the developer $A has decreased to a predetermined allowable lower limit, the signal causes the magnetic roller 32 on the developer hopper B side to move clockwise. Rotationally driven. Then, the developer in the hopper held as a magnetic absorption layer on the outer surface of the magnet roller 32 flows around to the developer supply port 33 side, and the n-side protrusion 33b of the core port 33
In the process of passing through the narrow path formed by the magnetic roller 32 and the magnetic roller 32, the magnetic adsorption layer of the developer is sequentially scraped off the surface of the magnetic roller and falls, and the lower left developer reaches the opening 33-seal with the shutter open. The developer is replenished into the developing device A from inside the member 40 through the developer receiving port 8 on the developing device A side. The developer that has entered the developing device A is sequentially enriched and moved to the developing sleeve 2 side by the stirring φ conveyance rotating member 6.

By replenishing the developer as described in L, the amount of developer in the development tray A will be the same.
When the developer amount detection circuit including the antenna pair 7 detects that the amount has increased to the acceptable level i2, the rotation of the magnet roller 32 is stopped in response to the signal, and the developer replenishment is stopped.

By controlling the rotation of the Magne-7 troller 32 as described above, the amount of developer in the developing device A is always controlled within a predetermined substantially constant value range.

To take out the developing device A from the image forming apparatus main body, while the developing device A is switched to the second position, which is the non-developing position, with respect to the tram D, the developing device A is pulled out and moved toward the front side. (in the direction shown in Figures 4 and 5).

That pull! ! In the initial process of removal movement, the cam member 44 escapes from the position of the lever 36 on the developer hopper B side, and the lever 36 becomes free, and the shutter closes the developer supply port 33 on the developer hopper B side. It is occluded with member 34.

This prevents the developer in the hopper from flowing out from the opening 33.

The sealing member 40 is attached between the upper side and the sheath 46 moves along the protruding edge 36Φ36 of the developer supply port 33 on the developer hopper side as the developing device A is pulled out and is finally removed. The edge with the 1'' portion 33 on the side of the developer hopper B is cut off.

The back side wall of the sealing member 40 is diagonally L as shown in FIG.
As described above, when the shutter member 34 on the developer hopper B side starts to open as the developing unit A is inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus, the inclined L-oriented wall 40'a is located sufficiently on the back end side of the developer supply port 33 of the developer hopper B.

As a result, when the developer A is inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus as well as when it is removed, all the developer that has fallen from the back end of the developer supply port 33 of the developer holes and holes B (7) is removed from the sealing member. The receptacle is placed within 40 to prevent external leakage.

In the above embodiment, the developing device At is linearly switched between the first position and the second position, but the switching direction between the first position 11 and the second position of the developing device A may be changed, for example Even in the case of rocking movement about one point, if the sealing member 40 is formed, for example, like a bellows, it can be contracted and expanded freely and a perfect sealing effect can be obtained.

Further, in the above embodiment, the seal member 40 was provided on the developer A side, and the engaging portions 46-36 were provided on the upper end of the seal member 40 and the developer hopper B side. Even if the sealing member 40 is fixedly installed and the engaging portions 46 and 36 are provided between the lower end of the sealing member and the developing device, the same sealing effect can be expected.

C. Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, the developing device and the developer hopper are separate type developing devices, and the developing device is located at the first position and the second position with respect to the member to be developed. Even if the contact ports on the developing device side and the developer hopper side are switched and moved every time, resulting in a large misalignment between the corresponding positions, it is possible to always maintain a perfect seal and keep the two in communication without any trouble. It is possible and the intended purpose is well achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device and the developer flange when the developing device is switched to the developing position, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the developing device and developer hopper when the device is switched to a non-developing position, FIG. 3 is a front view of the shutter member lever and the cam member portion, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the same. , FIG. 5 is a partially omitted vertical cross-sectional view of the sealing member portion. A is a developing device, B is a developer hopper, D is a drum as a member to be developed, and 40 is a sealing member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A developing device that is disposed so as to be able to switch between a developing position close to the member to be developed and a non-developing position that is retracted to a predetermined position, and a developing device that is separate from the developing device. is,
In a developing device comprising a preliminary developer storage device that supplies developer to the developing device through a communication portion, one end of a flexible, generally cylindrical sealing member is attached to the side of the developing device. It is fixed to the developer receiving port or the developer supply port on the preliminary developer storage side, and the other end is fixed to the developer supply port on the preliminary developer storage side or the developer receiving port on the developer side. A developing device characterized in that the developing device and the preliminary developer storage device are connected to each other through the cylindrical sealing member by being removably engaged with the developing device by a projection and a guide groove.