CN100514217C

CN100514217C - Developer cartridge for image-forming device

Info

Publication number: CN100514217C
Application number: CNB2006100792754A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 岸勋朗; 高木猛行; 铃木务
Original assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Priority date: 2005-04-26
Filing date: 2006-04-26
Publication date: 2009-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 2026-04-26
Also published as: CN101561648B; CN101556453A; CN200965624Y; CN101556453B; CN1854935A; JP2006308688A; CN101561648A; JP4586620B2

Abstract

A developer cartridge provided in an image forming apparatus, having a developer-side casing including a toner accommodating chamber and a developing chamber; siding. While the thickness regulating blade scrapes excess charged toner off the developer roller, the plate wall prevents the charged toner from returning to the toner receiving cavity. A soft wiper for cleaning the toner detection window is attached to the agitator for agitating the toner in the toner containing chamber by the fixing member. The fixing member includes a support plate and a gripping plate placed opposite to each other with a gap formed therebetween. When the protrusion protruding from the restricting plate is inserted into the through opening formed in the wiper, the wiper is inserted into the slit and fixed to the fixing member.

Description

The developer box that is used for image processing system

Quoting alternately of related application

The application requires the Japanese patent application 2005-128502 of proposition on April 26th, 2005, the Japanese patent application 2005-138729 that on May 11st, 2005 proposed, the Japanese patent application 2005-164321 that the Japanese patent application 2005-140893 that on May 13rd, 2005 proposed and on June 3rd, 2005 propose is as right of priority, and its content here is incorporated among the application by reference.

Technical field

A kind of image processing system of relate generally to of the present invention, for example laser printer more particularly, relates to the developer box and the handle box that are installed on the image processing system.

Background technology

Conventional electrofax figure forms device, as adopt laser printer non magnetic, the unimodule developing method, and generally comprise photosensitive drum, form electrostatic latent image thereon, with be used for triboelectric charging and be photosensitive drum supply toner, make the developer box of on photosensitive drum formation electrostatic latent image.

A kind of like this developer box that Japanese patent application No. 2000-275948 discloses comprises the toner container cavity that is used to hold toner, is used to hold the development chamber of feed rolls, developer roll and thickness adjusted sheet.Partition wall forms uncoveredly therein, and developer box is divided into toner container cavity and development chamber.

Such developer box also comprises and is provided in the stirrer that is used to stir toner in it in the toner container cavity.The toner that stirrer stirs is by uncoveredly discharging to the development chamber of forming on partition wall.When toner between two rollers during by triboelectric charging, feed rolls with the color powder feeding of discharging to developer roll.The thickness adjusted sheet strikes off the extra charged toner of transmitting on developer roll, thereby carries the developer thin layer on the developing roller surface.

The developing apparatus that the Japanese patent application literary composition 2000-250296 of this shop discloses comprises that the relative both sides that are arranged on the toner container cavity are used to detect the transparency window of residue toner.Cleaning element further is set at and is used for clean window on the stirrer.

The developer box apparatus that Japanese patent application No. 2005-24811 discloses has the support section of hollow slot part and restricted part to support the axle of stirrer, and this groove partly has guide portion (guiding portion) and deep (deepest portion).When stirrer was installed, the axle of stirrer was booted down to deep along the guide portion of groove, passes restricted part, was limited part in deep and kept (maintain).

The developer box of above-mentioned routine has multiple shortcoming.A shortcoming is that the unnecessary charged toner that the thickness adjusted sheet strikes off from the developer roll surface is contained in the development chamber, and gets back to the toner container cavity sometimes.Because when the ratio of first charged toner and uncharged toner increased, when to the toner triboelectric charging between feed rolls and the developer roll, charging control became difficult, causes picture quality to reduce.Therefore, wish the toner that many and fast as far as possible supply has been used to develop by charging earlier.

Another shortcoming is that the member amount that requirement is used for cleaning element is fixed in stirrer increases, and makes installation process complicated more.Further,, be difficult to cleaning element is peeled off to recycle from stirrer fixedly the time by double-side band when cleaning element.

Have the above-mentioned structure that is used to support stirrer shaft, when slipping over restricted part, exist because when shaft flexing, big load is loaded, axle may ruined danger.

The another one shortcoming is uncovered by forming on the shell of above-mentioned developer box, is used for exposing (exposing) developer roll, uncovered neighboring inevitable a little less than.Therefore, when installing or removing developer box, when the user clamps near uncovered shell, casing deformation (deflection), this may cause coming out the destruction of developer roll or the space that forces toner to form between developer roll and shell.

Summary of the invention

Consider aforementioned content, the purpose of this invention is to provide the developer box that can prevent that picture quality from reducing.

Another object of the present invention provides has the developer box that is fixed to the cleaning element of agitating member by simple structure.

Of the present invention again when another purpose provides in stirrer is installed to developer box, reduce the developer box of the risk of damaging stirrer shaft.

Another object of the present invention has provided to open wide on it and mouthful has been reinforced, and keeps the shell in the accurate space on developer roll and uncovered limit reliably.

Another object of the present invention provides a kind of handle box and the image processing system of one developer box in achieving the above object at least is installed.

Above-mentioned and other reach by developer box, developer box comprises:

The developer-accommodating chamber of receiving photographic developer;

The developer that carries developer carries member;

To be contained in the developer charging in the developer-accommodating chamber and be fed to the delivery member that developer carries member;

Carry member pressure at contact portion and developer and contact, to be adjusted in the thickness adjusted member that developer carries the thickness of the toner that carries on the member;

Bottom and top are arranged, and be disposed in the wall between developer-accommodating chamber and the thickness adjusted member, the top of wall is located in the position than the more close delivery member in bottom of wall, wall separates the thickness adjusted member from the developer-accommodating chamber, so that the distance between delivery member and the wall top is shorter than delivery member and carries distance between the contact portion that member contacts at thickness adjusted member and developer.

Have such structure, the wall that is arranged between developer-accommodating chamber and the thickness adjusted member separates the thickness adjusted member from the developer-accommodating chamber.Wall is arranged to distance between delivery member and the wall top and is shorter than delivery member and carries distance between the contact portion that member contacts at thickness adjusted member and developer.Therefore, when carrying member with unnecessary developer from developer, strikes off the thickness adjusted member, when being carried at developer and carrying development thickness on the member with adjusting, remain in developer between thickness adjusted member and the wall and can be supplied to developer again and carry member, and be conditioned by the pressure contact (pressing contact) of thickness adjusted member.As a result, the developer owing to being struck off by the thickness adjusted member promptly, carries the developer of static, can be prevented from turning back to the developer-accommodating chamber, and in order to stop the reduction of picture quality, controlling the developer charging reliably becomes possibility.

The present invention can carry out triboelectric charging to developer reliably.Further, delivery member can be easy to that elder generation's charging developer is turned back to developer and carry member, and the uncharged developer feeding that also will be contained in easily in the developer-accommodating chamber carries member to developer.

Another aspect of the present invention provides developer box, and it comprises:

The developer-accommodating chamber of receiving photographic developer;

At least one detection remains in the window of the amount of developer in the developer-accommodating chamber;

The cleaning element of clean window;

Stirring is contained in the agitating member of the developer in the developer-accommodating chamber; With

Be arranged on the agitating member, and wherein be formed with the slit fixed component of (slit), when cleaning element was inserted into the slit, fixed component was fixed cleaning element.

Have such structure, insert cleaning element by the slit from fixed component, cleaning element is fixed to agitating member by fixed component.This structure has been eliminated the extra section that need be used for fixing cleaning element and agitating member, makes cleaning element to be fixed to agitating member by simple installation process.Therefore, this has reduced the number of components that needs clearly, and has improved the efficient of fitting operation.And then because cleaning element is fixed to fixed component by inserting from the slit, cleaning element also can be easy to remove, and has improved the suitability that cleaning element is recycled.

The developer-accommodating chamber of receiving photographic developer;

Have stirrer shaft, and be disposed in the stirrer of inside, developer-accommodating chamber; With

Support the axle support unit of at least one end of stirrer shaft, this support unit comprises:

In the inwall in developer-accommodating chamber, be formed groove, and the retaining part stirrer shaft of rotatable maintenance stirrer shaft;

Kai Fang guiding groove at one end, and with the stirrer shaft guiding to retaining part; With

Restriction remains on the restricted part of the stirrer shaft motion boundary between guiding groove and retaining part in the retaining part, guiding groove from respect on the recessed direction of retaining part the inside in developer-accommodating chamber than the narrower location guide stirrer shaft of retaining part towards restrictions.

Since guiding groove with stirrer shaft from the narrower location guide of the support section of the recessed direction of inwall internal ratio to restricted part, when in developer box, stirrer shaft being installed, the stirrer shaft requirement is less from the deflection that guiding groove slips over restricted part, thereby reduce the load that is applied on the stirrer shaft, and reduce the ruined risk of stirrer shaft.And then because the opposing stirrer shaft is little from the resistibility that guiding groove slips over restricted part, stirrer shaft can be easy to install.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of developer box, having comprised:

Have outer surface, and the developer that carries developer thereon carries member;

Have and be formed at wherein uncovered, and support the shell that developer carries member in uncovered exposure position, worn-out mouth has the edge; With

Be formed box-like basically, and, be used for the strenthening member of strengthened edge along uncovered edge placement.

This structure provides carries member along developer and is exposed to the shell that uncovered edge wherein has the box-like footing, thereby has reinforced uncovered edge effectively, and this intensity of shell is lower.Further, because footing is formed box-like, the thickness that is provided with the shell of footing can equal the thickness in the zone beyond the shell footing, has reduced in molded (molding) process and to have carried the possibility of depression (sinks) on the member facing surfaces with developer.Therefore, when keeping developer and carrying the accurate slit at member and uncovered edge, the uncovered of shell can be reinforced reliably.

When the user clamped shell near worn-out mouthful, said structure had stoped the distortion of shell, thereby has stoped the destruction of developer roll effectively, and has stoped the air gap leakage of developer from the formation between developer roll and the shell.

Description of drawings

In conjunction with the drawings with following description, feature of the present invention, advantage and other purpose will become obviously, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the side cross-sectional view as the laser printer of image processing system of the present invention;

Fig. 2 A is the side cross-sectional view of the handle box that uses of laser printer shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 2 B is the side cross-sectional view that can use in laser printer shown in Figure 1 as the handle box that substitutes of the handle box shown in Fig. 2 A;

Fig. 3 is the backside perspective view according to developer box of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is the rear view of developer box;

Fig. 5 is the side view of developer box;

Fig. 6 is the upward view of developer box;

Fig. 7 is the side cross-sectional view of the uncovered amplification than low edge that forms in the shell of developer;

Fig. 8 is the cross-sectional side view of the uncovered amplification than low edge that forms in the shell of the developer of routine;

Fig. 9 is the distortion according to embodiment, the side cross-sectional view of the uncovered amplification than low edge that forms in the shell of Fig. 7;

Figure 10 is another distortion according to embodiment, the side cross-sectional view of the uncovered amplification than low edge that forms in the shell of Fig. 7;

Figure 11 is the side cross-sectional view in the laser printer of Fig. 1 development chamber of using;

Figure 12 shows the side cross-sectional view of development chamber near the amplification of the part of feed rolls, developer roll, thickness adjusted sheet and wooden partition (plate wall);

Figure 13 is the cross-sectional view of developer box A-A along the line among Figure 11;

Figure 14 be among Figure 11 developer box when the top cover open mode from the skeleton view of developer box front;

Figure 15 is the side cross-sectional view of the developer box that uses of the laser printer of Fig. 1;

Figure 16 is the skeleton view of stirrer in the developer box;

Figure 17 is the vertical view of stirrer;

Figure 18 is the cross-sectional view of the part that stirrer is indicated by line B-B among Figure 17;

Figure 19 is the cross-sectional view of the part that stirrer is indicated by line C-C among Figure 17;

Figure 20 is the skeleton view that shows the axle head that the preceding stirrer of wiper is installed;

Figure 21 is the skeleton view of the axle head of stirrer behind the demonstration installation wiper;

Figure 22 is the vertical view that shows the stirrer axle head;

Figure 23 is the upward view that shows the stirrer axle head;

Figure 24 A is indicated in wiper to be inserted into the direct cross-sectional view that the process of wiper is installed in back in the slit;

Figure 24 B indicates the cross-sectional view that the process of wiper is installed when wiper further is inserted in the slit;

Figure 24 C is indicated in the cross-sectional view that wiper is inserted into the process of back installation wiper in the slit fully;

Figure 25 A is the vertical view according to the wiper of the distortion of embodiment;

Figure 25 B is the cross-sectional view that the wiper of displayed map 25A is installed to fixed component;

Figure 26 is the distortion according to embodiment, is provided with the skeleton view of the stirrer of guided plate;

Figure 27 shows to remain on the skeleton view of the interior stirrer shaft of a support unit in the inside, developer-accommodating chamber of developer box;

Figure 28 is the central cross section figure that does not have the developer box of stirrer;

Figure 29 shows when stirrer shaft is removed, the skeleton view of the axle support unit of seeing from inside, developer-accommodating chamber;

Figure 30 is the cross-sectional view of developer box D-D along the line among Figure 28.

Embodiment

The general structure of laser printer will be described.As shown in Figure 1, laser printer 1 comprises main casing 2 Hes as image processing system of the present invention, and the feed-in unit 4 of the supply paper 3 in main casing 2 is at the image formation unit 5 of 4 paper of supplying, the 3 formation images from the feed-in unit.

(1) main casing

Laser printer 1 comprises that also a sidewall that is formed on main casing 2 is used for inserting and removing the access hole 6 of handle box 20 described later and the protecgulum 7 that can open and close on access hole 6.Protecgulum 7 is rotatably supported by the lid axle 8 that the base by protecgulum 7 is inserted into.Therefore, when protecgulum 7 is rotated when closing around lid axle 8, protecgulum 7 covers access hole 6, as shown in fig. 1.When protecgulum 7 was rotated to be opened around lid axle 8, access hole 6 was exposed, and makes handle box 20 be installed into or to remove from main casing 2 by access hole 6.

In the following description, protecgulum 7 be mounted a side of laser printer 1 thereon and when handle box 20 is installed into main casing 2 respective side of handle box 20 will be referred to as " front side ", and opposition side will be referred to as " rear side ".

(2) feed-in unit

Feed-in unit 4 comprises the paper tray 9 that can insert or remove from the bottom of main casing 2 on fore-and-aft direction, be arranged in the separate roller 10 of front end top of paper tray 9 and separating pad 11 and be arranged in the feed-in roller 12 of rear side of separate roller 10 of the upstream of separating pad 11 with respect to the direction of transfer (being called " paper direction of transfer " later on) of paper 3.Feed-in unit 4 also comprise remove be arranged in last the place ahead of separate roller 10 and on the paper direction of transfer downstream of separate roller 10 paper cleaning roller 13 and be arranged in the pinch roll 14 of the relative position of paper cleaning roller 13.

The paper bang path reverses direction of paper 3 forms U type basically towards the rear side of laser printer 1 near paper cleaning roller 13 on the feed side.Feed-in roller 4 also comprises and being arranged in respect to a pair of registration rollers 15 of paper direction of transfer below the handle box 20 in the more downstream of the U of paper bang path type portion.

Pressboard 16 is set at paper tray 9 interior paper 3 with the support stack state.Pressboard 16 is in its back-end by pivotal support, so that front end can be pivotally lowered into stop position (resting position) by pivot, wherein pressboard 16 leans against on the base plate of paper tray 9, and can be pivoted upwardly to the feed-in position, wherein pressboard 16 upwards forms the gradient from the rear end to the front end.

The front portion that lever 17 is set at paper tray 9 is used for upwards promoting the front end of pressboard 16.The rear end of lever 17 pivotally is supported on the lever shaft 18 in the position below the front end of pressboard 16, so that the horizontal level that the front end of lever 17 can be placed along the base plate of paper tray 9 at lever 17, and lever 17 upwards promotes, and pivot rotates between the obliquity of pressboard 16.When driving force was imported into lever shaft 18, lever 17 was around lever shaft 18 rotations, and the front end of lever 17 is converted into the feed-in position with the front end lifting of pressboard 16 with pressboard 16.

When pressboard 16 during in the feed-in position, the top paper that is stacked on the paper 3 on the pressboard 16 is being pressed against feed-in roller 12.The paper of feed-in roller 12 beginnings feed-in paper 3 between separate roller 10 and separating pad 11 of rotation.

When paper tray 9 by when main casing 2 removes, pressboard 16 is to sinking to (settle into) stop position.When pressboard 16 during at stop position, paper 3 can be stacked on the pressboard 16.

When feed-in roller 12 when paper 3 is transmitted in the separation point position, and paper is when beginning to insert between separate roller 10 and the separating pad 11, the separate roller 10 of rotation separates and a ground feed-in paper 3.Every paper of the paper 3 of separate roller 10 feed-ins is by between paper cleaning roller 13 and the pinch roll 14.After paper cleaning roller 13 removed the paper dust from paper 3, the U type paper bang path of paper on the feed side transmitted, thus in main casing 2 reverses direction, and be passed to registration rollers 15.

Behind alignment paper 3, registration rollers 15 is passed to transfer position between photosensitive drums 28 and the aftermentioned transfer roll 31 with paper 3, and the toner image that forms on this position photosensitive drums 28 is transferred on the paper 3.

(3) image formation unit

Image formation unit 5 comprises scanning element 19, handle box 20 and fixation unit 21.

(a) scanning element

Scanning element 19 is disposed in the top of main casing 2 and comprises lasing light emitter (not diagram), the polygon mirror 22 that can be driven in rotation, f θ lens 23, catoptron 24, lens 25 and catoptron 26.Lasing light emitter is based on the view data emission of lasering beam.Shown in the dotted line among Fig. 1, laser beam is by polygon mirror 22 deflections, and by f θ lens 23, the mirror 24 that is reflected reflects, scioptics 25, and mirror 26 reflection downwards that is reflected then is with on the surface that shines the photosensitive drums 28 in the handle box 20.

(b) handle box

Shown in Fig. 2 A, handle box 20 is set in the main casing 2 of scanning element 19 belows, and can be installed into or remove from body shell 2 by access hole 6.Handle box 20 comprises bulging box 27 and the developer box 30 that is removably mounted on the bulging box 27.

Drum box 27 comprises bulging side shell 76 Hes, the photosensitive drums 28 in drum side shell 76, grid-control formula corona charging device 29, transfer roll 31 and cleaning element 32.

Be formed for transmitting paper 3 in the box 27 to uncovered 113 (the pre-drum opening) of preceding drum of the transfer position of drum box 27 inside be used for paper 3 is passed to backward from transfer position uncovered 114 (the post-drum opening 114) of back drum of bulging box 27 outsides at drum.Before drum uncovered 113 front side that is set at the transfer position of developer box 30 belows, to allow in drum box 27 connection (communication) of inside and outside axial (hereinafter to be referred as " axially ") along transfer roll 31.Back drum is formed on by transfer position for worn-out mouthful 114, in contrast to the rear side of the transfer position of preceding drum uncovered 113, to provide along the 27 inside and outside connections vertically of drum box.

Photosensitive drums 28 comprises main drum body 33, and it is cylindrical in shape and has the positive charge photographic layer that is formed by polycarbonate or this type of material and the metal drum axle 34 that axially extends by its center that rouses body 33 along the master on its outer surface.Metal drum axle 34 is supported in the bulging box 27, and main drum body 33 is rotatably supported with respect to metal drum axle 34.Have such structure, photosensitive drums 28 is disposed in the bulging box 27, and can be around 34 rotations of metal drum axle.Further, photosensitive drums 28 is driven in rotation by the driving force by motor (not having diagram) input.

Charger 29 is supported on the bulging box 27, diagonally in the upper back of photosensitive drums 28.Charger 29 is relative with photosensitive drums 28, is not contacted it thereby still separate with photosensitive drums 28 with distance to a declared goal.Charger 29 comprises the discharge lines 35 that is arranged in relative position but separates with photosensitive drums 28 with distance to a declared goal and between discharge lines 35 boxes and photosensitive drums 28, is used to control the grid 49 that arrives the corona discharge amount of photosensitive drums 28 from discharge lines 35.By high voltage being applied on the discharge lines 35, with when being applied to grid 49 at bias voltage, produce corona discharges from discharge lines 35, charger 29 can be with the positive electrode of the homogeneous surface charging with photosensitive drums 28.

Developer box 30 comprises shell 36 Hes, the feed rolls 37 in shell 36, developer roll 38 and thickness adjusted sheet 39.Developer box 30 is installed on the bulging box 27 by dismountable.Therefore, when handle box 20 was installed into main casing 2, developer box 30 can be installed into main casing 2 by at first opening protecgulum and then inserting developer box 30 by access hole 6 and developer box 30 is installed on handle box 20.

Shell 36 has the box-shaped of opening at rear side, as described later, and has two sidewalls 69.Partition wall 40 is set in the shell 36 and is separated into toner container cavity 41 and development chamber 42 with the inside with shell 36.Partition wall 40 is disposed in the position midway that is used for the fore-and-aft direction of the inside of separation shell 36 on fore-and-aft direction in the shell 36.Uncovered 43 are formed in the zone by partition wall 40 midway.

Toner container cavity 41 occupies in the front space of the shell of being separated by partition wall 40 36.Toner container cavity 41 is filled the toner of non magnetic, the one-component with positive charge.The toner that uses among the embodiment is the polymerized toner that the polymerization single polymerization monomer by known polymerization such as suspension polymerization polymerization obtains.For example, polymerization single polymerization monomer can be as cinnamic styrene monomer or as acrylic acid, the acrylic monomers of alkyl acrylate or alkyl methacrylate.In order to have good flowability, polymerized toner is formed and is spherical basically particle in shape, to obtain to form the high-quality of image.

This toner and coloring agent, as carbon black, or wax, the adjuvant that reaches silicon dioxide and so on mixes to improve liquidity.The mean diameter of toner particle is about 6-10 micron.

Toner detection window 44 is set on the two sides 69 of shell 36, to stipulate that toner container cavity 41 is to detect remaining toner amount in toner container cavity 41.Toner detection window 44 is formed near on the sidewall 69 of partition wall 40 and stride across toner container cavity 41 and go up relative at Width (this direction and fore-and-aft direction and vertical direction quadrature).Toner detection window 44 forms by embed transparent dished plate on each sidewall 69.

Stirrer 45 is disposed in the toner container cavity 41 with stirring and is contained in wherein toner.Stirrer 45 comprises turning axle 46 and agitating member 47.

Turning axle 46 is supported on basically in the sidewall 69 at toner container cavity 41 centers by rotatable.Agitating member 47 is set on the turning axle 46.Motor (not having diagram) produces and is imported into the driving force of turning axle 46 with 46 rotations of driven in rotation axle.Then, agitating member 47 moves on circular path around turning axle 46 by toner container cavity 41, and stirs the toner that is contained in the toner container cavity 41.When agitating member 47 stirred toner, some toners were discharged to feed rolls 37 on fore-and-aft direction by uncovered 43 of formation in demarcation strip 40.

Stirrer 45 also comprises the wiper 48 of two axial ends that are attached at turning axle 46.When turning axle 46 rotation, wiper 48 moves on the circumferential direction of rotatable shaft 46 by toner container cavity 41, is arranged on toner detection window 44 on the sidewall 69 with wiping (wipe).Therefore, wiper 48 is used to clean toner detection window 44.

Development chamber 42 occupies the back space of the shell that is separated wall 40 separations.Development chamber 42 holds feed rolls 37, developer roll 38 and thickness adjusted sheet 39.

Feed rolls 37 is disposed in uncovered 43 back and comprises and led the metal roller shaft 50 that foam roller 51 that foamed material forms covers by electricity.Roll shaft 50 rotatably is supported in the two side 69 of the shell 36 in the development chamber 42.Feed rolls 37 is driven in rotation by the driving force that is input to roll shaft 50 by motor (not having diagram).

Developer roll 38 is disposed in the back of feed rolls 37, and contacts with feed rolls 37 by pressure and to make the both be compressed.Developer roll 38 comprises metal roller shaft 52 and the rubber rollers 53 of the covering roll shaft 52 that formed by conductive rubber material.Roll shaft 52 rotatably is supported in the two side 69 in the development chamber 42.The silicon rubber that rubber rollers 53 is led polyurethane foam plastics rubber by electricity more specifically or comprised thin carbon granule forms, and its surface coverage has polyurethane foam plastics rubber or fluorine silicon rubber.Developer roll 38 is driven in rotation by the driving force that is input to roll shaft 52 by motor (not having diagram).Further, the development bias voltage is applied to developer roll 38 in development operation.

When developer box 30 was installed into bulging box 27, developer roll 38 front end from it was relative with photosensitive drums 28 diagonal angles.In other words, the rear portion of outstanding backward developer roll 38 farthest contacts with photosensitive drums 28 below vertical centre.

Thickness adjusted sheet 39 comprises the main blade member 54 that is made of metal leaf springs, is arranged on the pressure portion 55 on the far-end of main blade member 54.Pressure portion 55 has semi-circular cross-section and is formed by electrically insulating silicone rubber.Thickness adjusted sheet 39 is attached to shell 36.More specifically, installation component 109 is provided for the bottom of main blade member 54 is fixed to the rearward end of shell 36.

Containment member 110 is inserted between shell 36 and the installation component 109 to stop toner from leaking therebetween.

Installation component 109 is set at the rear portion of shell 36, and comprises the preceding supporting member 115 of plate shape, has the back supporting member 111 and the screw 112 in L type cross section basically.Preceding supporting member 115 is disposed in the rear side of containment member 110.The rear side of supporting member 115 before the bottom of main blade member 54 is disposed in, back supporting member 111 is disposed in the rear side of the bottom of main blade member 54.Screw 112 passes bottom and the preceding supporting member 115 that back supporting member 111 is inserted into main blade member 54, and these members are fixed together.Have the containment member 110 that is inserted between thickness adjusted sheet 39 and the shell 36, thickness adjusted sheet 39 is fixed to shell 36 by screw 130 (seeing Fig. 3 and 4) with installation component 109.Therefore, main blade member 54 is attached to shell 36 by the bottom of the main blade member 54 between supporting member 115 before inserting and the back supporting member 111.Have such structure, pressure portion 55 elastic force by main blade member 54 that is arranged in the far-end of main blade member 54 contacts with developer roll 38.

Be fed on the developer roll 38 by rotation feed rolls 37 by uncovered 43 toners of discharging.Simultaneously, toner between feed rolls 37 and developer roll 38 by the forward triboelectric charging.When developer roll 38 rotations, be supplied to developer roll 38 between the rubber rollers 53 of toner process developer roll 38 and the pressure portion 55 of thickness adjusted sheet 39, thereby keep developer roll 38 lip-deep toners to have unified thickness.

Cleaning element 32 comprises the cleaning brush 58 and the similar component that is placed on the photosensitive drums 28 that is used to strike off paper dirt.

When photosensitive drums 28 rotations, charger 29 utilizes the surface charging of uniform positive electrode with photosensitive drums 28.Next, the laser beam of launching from scanning element 19 by high-velocity scanning, forms the electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image that will form on paper 3 on the surface of photosensitive drums 28.

Next, when developer roll 38 rotations, the positive charged toner of carrying on developer roll 38 surfaces begins to contact with photosensitive drums 28, and is supplied to by the surf zone of the photosensitive drums 28 of the positive charge of laser beam lithography, and, therefore electronegative potential is arranged.By such method, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drums 28 is converted into visual image according to reverse developing process (reverse developingprocess), so that toner image is carried on the surface of photosensitive drums 28.

Next, when registration rollers 15 process preceding drums uncovered 113, and pass transfer position between photosensitive drums 28 and the transfer roll 31 when paper 3 transmission is advanced bulging box 27, the lip-deep toner image that is carried at the surface of photosensitive drums 28 is transferred on the paper 3 by the transfer bias that is applied to transfer roll 31.After toner image was transferred, paper 3 was by back drum uncovered 114 and passed out bulging box 27, and is passed to fixation unit 21.

The toner that remains in behind the transfer operation on the photosensitive drums 28 is developed roller 38 recovery.Further, the be cleaned cleaning brush 58 of member 32 of paper dirt on the photosensitive drums 28 that is deposited in from paper 3 reclaims.

(c) fixation unit

Fixation unit 21 is disposed in the rear side of handle box 20 and comprises fixed frame 59; Warm-up mill 60 and the pressure roll 61 that is arranged in the fixed frame 59.

Warm-up mill 60 comprises that the surface is scribbled the metal tube of fluororesin and is placed on and is used to the Halogen lamp LED that heats in the metal tube.Warm-up mill 60 is by the drive force rotation from motor (not having to show) input.

Pressure roll 61 is placed on below and the pressure Contact Heating roller 60 relative with warm-up mill 60.The metal roller shaft that the roller that pressure roll 61 is formed by elastomeric material covers constitutes.The rotation that pressure roll 61 is followed warm-up mill 60 drives.

In fixation unit 21, in the time of between paper 3 is by warm-up mill 60 and pressure roll 61, transfer position be transferred on the paper 3 toner image by heat by photographic fixing to paper 3.After toner image was arrived paper 3 by photographic fixing, warm-up mill 60 and pressure roll 61 continued to transmit paper 3 along outlet end paper bang path to the discharge pallet 62 of the top surface that is formed on main casing 2.

The paper bang path of outlet end is directed to from fixation unit 21 and discharges pallet 62 and be that U-shaped and being used to reverses the direction of transfer of paper 3 to the direction towards the front portion of laser printer 1 basically.A pair of delivery roll 63 is disposed in mid point along outlet end paper bang path, and a pair of distributing roller 64 is disposed in the downstream end of same paths.

Therefore, behind process fixation unit 21, paper 3 is transmitted along outlet end paper bang path, and here delivery roll 63 receives and also transmits paper 3 to distributing roller 64, and distributing roller 64 is followed reception and discharged paper 3 to discharging on the pallet 62.

Next, relevant with the shell of developer box structure will be described.

As shown in Fig. 2 A and 3, the shell 36 of developer box 30 has box-shape, rear side be open wide and integrally be provided with roof 70, antetheca 72, above-mentioned two sidewalls 69 and diapire 71.Open region at rear side is uncovered 94.

As shown in Figure 3, the back edge of the uncovered 94 back supporting members 111 by installation component 109, sidewall 69 and the back edge of diapire 71 limit.When rear side is observed, uncovered 94 is rectangles and extending on Width basically.Developer roll 38 is disposed in uncovered 94 and is exposed therefrom.As shown in Figure 5, developer roll 38 is supported on the shell 36 so that gives prominence to housings 36 by uncovered 94 when observing from the side.The patchhole 121 of position is formed in each sidewall 69 rear end of shell 36 toward each other on Width.The roll shaft 52 of developer roll 38 is passed patchhole 121 and is inserted so that developer roll 38 rotatably is supported on the shell 36, and the vertical centre portion of rubber rollers 53 is by the farthest of uncovered 94 outstanding shells 36 simultaneously.

Shown in Fig. 2 A, roof 70 is plate shape and the top that plays a part to isolate toner container cavity 41 and development chamber 42 in vertical view.

Antetheca 72 is plate shape in front view and plays a part to isolate the front side of toner container cavity 41.Antetheca 72 extends downwards from the front of roof 70.

As shown in Fig. 3 and 5, sidewall 69 is plate shape and the sidepiece that plays a part isolation toner container cavity 41 and development chamber 42.Sidewall 69 is rotatably supporting rotating shaft 46, roll shaft 50 and roll shaft 52 also.

As shown in Fig. 2 A, diapire 71 plays a part to isolate the bottom in toner container cavity 41 and development chamber 42.Diapire 71 integrally is provided with preceding diapire 74, central wall 75 and back diapire 76.

Preceding diapire 74 has the semi-circular cross-section basically with the rotate path of stirrer 45 in the pigment container cavity 41.The rear side of diapire 74 and have semi-circular cross-sections basically before central wall 75 is set at along with the peripheral surface of the feed rolls in the development chamber 42 37.

Back diapire 76 is set at the rear side of central wall 75 and has the flanged plate shape that slopes downwardly into the rear portion.The back of back diapire 76 is formed in the bottom 68 of uncovered 94 the lower limb that extends on the Width of shell 36.

Handle 77 is set at the front side of shell 36, is used for the user and catches when installing or removing developer box 30 and handle box 20.Handle 77 is outstanding forward from the top of the antetheca 72 of formation shell 36.

As shown in Figure 3, be used for the gear cap 79 that the gear mechanism (not have to show) of driven in rotation axle 46, roll shaft 50 and roll shaft 52 rotations and being used to covers gear mechanism and be set at one of sidewall 69 of formation shell 36.Two part rear walls 73 be set at shell 36 uncovered 94 in bottom 68 on.

Part rear wall 73 is disposed in following 68 transverse end and is spaced apart on Width.Part rear wall 73 extends upward from two transverse end of following 68.Be cut off in the bottom of each laterally inboard part rear wall 73 to form L shaped basically in the rear view.

Reinforcing portion 80 is set in uncovered 94 the bottom 68.

Reinforcing portion 80 extends and is installed in the cutting out section of part rear wall 73 between two part rear walls 73 along bottom 68.Reinforcing portion 80 is formed and is integrally provided roof 82, antetheca 85, diapire 83 and two sidewalls 84 continuously from uncovered 94 bottom 68.Reinforcing portion 80 is box-shaped and unlimited at rear side.Especially, form three sides of rectangle basically, do not have rear side with the meet at right angles xsect of the reinforcing portion 80 that obtains of Width.

As shown in Fig. 3 and 7, roof 82 is set up and forms continuously with it along following 68.Roof 82 is outstanding backward.Antetheca 85 is extended downwards along the elongated rectangular of bottom 68 and from the front of roof 82 by basic terrain imaging.Diapire 83 also has the sill ground elongated rectangular shape of extending along bottom and is placed facing to roof 82 in vertical direction.Diapire 83 is from the downwards following of antetheca 85 and the tiltedly extension that retreats.

As shown in FIG. 3, thus two transverse end that sidewall 84 has rectangular-plate-shaped basically and is disposed in roof 82, antetheca 85 and diapire 83 face with each other at Width.

As shown in Figure 7, antetheca 85 connects the front end of antethecas 82 and diapire 83, forms three sides of the rectangle that opens wide backwards with the meet at right angles xsect of the reinforcing portion 80 that obtains of Width.Further, as shown in Figure 3, two sidewalls 84 connect two widthwise edges of roof 82 each widthwise edge to antetheca 85 and diapire 83, form the box-like that opens wide backward.

Integrally be provided with backward step portion 97 and be placed on the front step portion 98 in the place ahead in the backward step portion 97 diagonally in the part of the bottom above the reinforcing portion 80 68 as shown in FIG. 7.Have such structure, have stepped form with the meet at right angles xsect of the bottom 68 that obtains of Width.

Backward step portion 97 comprises rear surface 99 and top surface 100.Rear surface 99 is formed on the end face of the rear side of roof 82.The xsect that rear surface 99 obtains meeting at right angles with Width is flat vertical surface.99 top is provided with top surface 100 continuously from the rear surface.On the xsect that meets at right angles with Width and obtain, top surface 100 has diagonally from the rear surface 99 upwards and the flat plate shapes of extending forward.

Front step portion 98 comprises rear surface 101 and top surface 102.Rear surface 101 is formed continuously from the front of top surface 100.On the xsect that obtains meeting at right angles with Width, rear surface 101 is plate shapes and diagonally from the front of top surface 100 upwards and extend back.

101 top margin is formed end face 102 continuously from the rear surface.On the xsect that obtains meeting at right angles with Width, top surface 102 has the plate shape that 101 top margin makes progress and extends forward from the rear surface diagonally.

Following thin slice 87 (film) is set on the top surface 102 of bottom 68.Following thin slice 87 is formed by the polyethylene terephthalate thin slice of the shape of rectangular sheet basically.As shown in Fig. 2 A and 7, the latter half of following thin slice 87 is fixed to the surface of top surface 102.

Especially, as shown in Figure 7, the back that following thin slice 87 is arranged to down thin slice 87 flushes with the rear surface 101 of bottom 68.More particularly, as the reference of fore-and-aft direction, the latter half of following thin slice 87 is fixed to top surface 102 with double-side band or this type of thing (not illustrating) to use the back (limit that is formed by rear surface 101 and top surface 102) of top surface 102.As a result, the rear end face of following thin slice 87 is positioned and flushes with reference on the fore-and-aft direction.

As shown in Fig. 2 A, following thin slice 87 be positioned and make latter half be fixed to top surface 102 and first half obliquely upwards and extend forward to contact the lower surface of developer roll 38.Like this, following thin slice 87 stop following 68 and developer roll 38 between the space and prevent that toner from passing through this air gap leakage.

As shown in Fig. 3 and 6, guiding elements 81 is set on the shell 36 of developer box 30.Guiding elements 81 is outstanding downwards and be plate shape from diapire 71, extends upward in front and back.Guiding elements 81 is layout spaced in parallel to each other on Width.As shown in Fig. 2 A, each guiding elements 81 is outstanding downwards and have the rear end 105 that is connected to antetheca 85 and diapire 83 from back diapire 76 and central wall 75, and front end 104 be connected to before diapire 74.Each guiding elements 81 is integrally formed with diapire 83, antetheca 85, back diapire 76, central wall 75 and preceding diapire 74.It is following 106 that each guiding elements 81 also has, its rear end from diapire 83 is straight extend forward then below the central wall 75 a little upwards with to the rear end of front curve with diapire before contacting 74.

As shown in Figure 3, guiding elements reinforcing portion 86 is provided for reinforcing guiding elements 81.As shown in Fig. 2 A and 6, guiding elements reinforcing portion 86 has plate shape and extends on Width.Thereby guiding elements reinforcing portion 86 is intersecting with the front and back mid point of each guiding elements 81 basically with on the rectangular direction of fore-and-aft direction from central wall 75 is outstanding downwards.Guiding elements reinforcing portion 86 connects guiding elements 81 and reinforces guiding elements 81 on Width.

In the developer box 30 of the foregoing description, the box-like reinforcing portion 80 of rear portion opened is set up along uncovered 94 bottom 68.Reinforcing portion 80 is reinforced uncovered 94 bottom 68 effectively, and it is the weak section in the shell 36.By forming the box-like reinforcing portion 80 of opening wide to rear side, might form with homogeneous thickness in the zone of reinforcing portion 80 with in except other zone of reinforcing portion 80 shell 36 with reduce with by development (sinks developing) possibility of the depression in the molding process on developer roll 38 facing surfaces that form continuously with reinforcing portion 80, just, following 68 top surface 102.Therefore, reinforcing portion 80 is stiffened shell 36 uncovered 94 reliably, and, can keep the accurate space between the bottom 68 of developer roll 38 and uncovered 94.

In the developer box 30 in the embodiment of above-mentioned explanation, the xsect of the reinforcing portion 80 that meets at right angles with Width and obtain is the rectangular shapes with three sides, is convenient to removing and making reinforcing portion 80 easily to be formed box-like of in molding process reinforcing portion 80.Therefore, stiffened shell 36 is uncovered 94 reliably, simplifies molding process simultaneously.

In the developer box 30 in the embodiment of explanation, reinforcing portion 80 is extended on the Width of developer roll 38, just, and the Width of the shell 36 in the bottom 68 along uncovered 94.Reinforcing portion 80 prevents shell 30 distortion when the user catches shell 36 near uncovered 94, thereby prevents effectively the damage of developer roll 38 and the generation of the toner leakage between developer roll 38 and the shell 36.

Following thin slice 87 in the developer box 30 in the embodiment of explanation stops and is formed on uncovered 94 bottom 68 and the space between the developer roll 38, prevents that toner from passing through this air gap leakage.Further, the reinforcing portion 80 that is arranged on following 68 is formed box-like, makes during the moulding that the possibility that depression takes place on the top surface 102 of the bottom 68 relative with developer roll 38 is littler.As a result, top surface 102 can be formed smooth surface, makes that thin slice 87 can be fixed to smooth top surface 102 accurately down.

When following 68 are formed simple rectangular cross section, in the traditional structure as shown in Figure 8, if following thin slice 87 is fixed on following 68 by the back of thin slice 87 under aliging and following 68 back, among Fig. 8 shown in the solid line, if following 68 another parts of contact, following thin slice 87 easy (susceptible) peels off (peel off) from following 68.On the other hand, if following thin slice 87 is fixed to than the position in the farther forward bottom 68 in back, as shown in phantom in Figure 8, might reduce the risk that the following thin slice top surface from following 68 peels off, thin slice 87 down is fixed to clear and definite reference point on following 68 but be not used in.As a result, can not will descend thin slice 87 to be fixed on following 68 reliably, reduce the installation accuracy of thin slice 87 down along Width.

Yet in the developer box 30 in the embodiment of explanation, following 68 have the step shape of cross section that is made of backward step portion 97 and front step portion 98.The back of the back by the following thin slice 87 of aliging and the front step portion 98 more farther forward than backward step portion 97 of setting, just, by the upstream side on uncovered 94 directions of leaking, following thin slice 87 is fixed in the bottom 68 at toner.Therefore, if backward step portion 97 another parts of contact, because thin slice 87 is fixed in the front step portion 98 of the front that is arranged in backward step portion 97 down, following thin slice 87 more impossible top surfaces 102 are from peeling off.And, be fixed in the front step portion 98 and make that thin slice 87 can be fixed reliably along top surface 102 down with the back of front step portion 98 thin slice 87 of naming a person for a particular job down as a reference.

In the developer box 30 in the embodiment of explanation, developer roll 38 is by uncovered 94 outstanding shells 36.Therefore, when developer box 30 is installed on the bulging box 27, developer roll 38 can be from the position of front side, top facing to photosensitive drums 28 so that the part of developer roll 38 contacts photosensitive drums 28 by uncovered 94 below the outstanding vertical centre in farthest.This structure can increase the degree of freedom of setting device layout, can produce compacter device.This structure also can be divided the space that is used in formation reinforcing portion 80 on following 68.

In the developer box 30 in the embodiment of explanation, when paper 3 transmitted bulging box 27 by preceding drum uncovered 113, guiding elements 81 was formed with guiding paper 3 to the transfer position between photosensitive drums 28 and the transfer roll 31 continuously with reinforcing portion 80.Therefore, guiding elements 81 can guide paper 3 to transfer position smoothly, and further stiffened shell 36 uncovered 94.

Further, guiding elements 81 forms along the rectangular fore-and-aft direction of direction with reinforcing portion 80 extensions.Guiding elements 81 has separating of getting at interval on Width.Therefore, guiding elements 81 can guide paper 3 to the frictional resistance that produces between transfer position and minimizing paper 3 and the guiding elements 81 reliably.

The handle box 20 of the embodiment of above-mentioned explanation and laser printer 1 comprise and are provided with the developer box 30 that is used for reinforcing uncovered 94 the reinforcing portion 80 that is formed on shell 36.Therefore, developer box 30 increases the rigidity of handle box 20 and laser printer 1.

In the example of above-mentioned explanation, developer box 30 is detachably mounted on the bulging box 27 forming handle box 20, and handle box 20 is detachably mounted in the main casing 2.Yet, also photosensitive drums 28, charger 29, transfer roll 31, cleaning element 32 and this class A of geometric unitA might be set in main casing 2, and remove drum box 27, and developer box 30 removably is installed in main casing 2.

In the embodiment of above-mentioned explanation, meet at right angles with Width and the xsect of the reinforcing portion 80 that obtains forms three sides of the rectangle that opens wide backwards, as shown in Figure 7.Yet reinforcing portion of the present invention does not need to have this shape of cross section, if reinforcing portion has box-like.For example, the back of roof 82, diapire 83 and sidewall 84 (not having to show in Fig. 9) can be connected by rear wall 95, as shown in Figure 9.Have this structure, meet at right angles with Width and the xsect of the reinforcing portion that obtains is rectangle sealing, hollow.

Selectively, as shown in Figure 10, reinforcing portion 80 can form by the front that connects roof 82 and diapire 83, and the xsect of the reinforcing portion that obtains so that meet at right angles with Width forms the V-arrangement that opens wide backward.

As shown in fig. 1, developer box 30 is detachably mounted in the bulging side shell 76.Therefore, when handle box 20 was installed in the main casing 2, by at first opening protecgulum 7 and then inserting developer box 30 and developer box 30 is installed on handle box 20 by access hole 6, developer box 30 can be installed in the main casing 2.

As shown in Figure 11, developer box 30 comprise developer side shell 36 and, the developer roll 38 in developer side shell 36, feed rolls 37, thickness adjusted sheet 39 and wooden partition 49.

Shown in Figure 11 and 14, developer side shell 36 is formed the box-like that rear side opens wide.Developer side shell 36 comprises top cover 70 and main casing 87.The peristome that is formed on rear side is back uncovered 94.

Back uncovered 94 is limited by the back supporting member 111 of installation component 109 described later and the back of sidewall 69 and diapire 71.Back uncovered 94 is rectangle and extension (hereinafter, Width is with expression and fore-and-aft direction and the rectangular direction of vertical direction) on Width basically in rear view.

Top cover is plate shape in vertical view, and opens and closes above toner container cavity 41 described later and development chamber 42.Top cover 70 is integrally formed with top, wooden partition 49 and a plurality of front and back described later rib 88 and the cross rib 89 of partition wall 40 described later.

Front and back rib 88 is plate shapes and parallel to each other, and (seeing Figure 11) extends upward in front and back, top cover 70 upper edge when top cover 70 is assembled on the main casing 87.As shown in Figure 14, it is spaced parallel to each other that front and back rib 88 is arranged on the lower surface of the top cover 70 relative with the inside of developer side shell 36 broad ways.Two front end before and after teat 90 is placed on forward in the rib 88, two front and back ribs 88 are arranged as the transverse center of the most close top cover 70 with the front near top cover 70.

Also be set up stage portion 91 near two centres in the front and back rib 88 of the transverse end of top cover 70 at fore-and-aft direction.The back step 93 of the back of close top cover 70 is set on the rear end of these stage portion 91, forms narrow ledge structure along fore-and-aft direction.Further, side direction teat 100 is formed on from the narrow ledge structure Width outwards on the immediate front and back of the widthwise edge rib 88 of outstanding top cover 70.

Cross rib 89 is plate shapes and parallel to each other, and (seeing Figure 11) extends on the Width on the top cover 70 when top cover 70 is assembled on the main casing 87.As shown in Figure 14, parallel cross rib 89 in the face of the lower surface of the top cover 70 of the inside of developer side shell 36 on fore-and-aft direction by spaced arrangement so that front and back rib 88 intersects.

Main casing 87 integrally is provided with antetheca 72, two sidewalls 69, diapire 71 and blade installation portions 73.The top uncovered 95 that top cover 70 covers is formed on the top of main casing 87.

Antetheca 72 is plate shape in front view and plays a part to isolate the front side of toner container cavity 41.As shown in Figure 11, antetheca 72 extends downwards from the front of top cover 70.

Sidewall 69 is plate shape and the sidepiece that plays a part isolation toner container cavity 41 and development chamber 42.Sidewall 69 also rotatably supports stirrer turning axle 46, supply roll shaft 50 and development roll shaft 52 described later.

Diapire 71 plays a part to isolate the bottom in toner container cavity 41 and development chamber 42.Diapire 71 integrally is provided with preceding diapire 77, central wall 78 and back diapire 79.

Preceding diapire 77 has the semi-circular cross-sections basically with the rotate path of the stirrer described later 45 in the pigment container cavity 41.

The rear side of diapire 77 and have semi-circular cross-sections basically before central wall 78 is set at along with the peripheral surface of the feed rolls in the development chamber 42 37.

Back diapire 79 is set at the rear side of preceding diapire 77 and has backward towards the flanged plate shape that has a down dip.

Blade installation portion 73 extends on Width, across between the back, top of sidewall 69.Blade installation portion 73 has the triangular cross section that narrows down towards the bottom.The rear surface of blade installation portion 73 downwards and turn forward.

When from top view, open top 95 is similar to be installed on these external edge to the shape of the external edge of the grid that is formed by front and back rib 88 that intersects on the top cover 70 and cross rib 89.Stage portion 96 is formed on two sidewalls 69 of the sidepiece that constitutes open top 95, is used for installing loosely when top cover 70 is mounted on the main casing 87 stage portion 91 from two nearest front and back ribs 88 of the outside widthwise edge of top cover 70.

Shown in Figure 11 and 14, can be closed with the edge joint of blade installation portion 73 in transverse end by the hook portion that the back of top cover 70 and each back step 93 form, transverse end is formed by the top surface of blade installation portion 73 and front surface and has L shaped xsect to locate the back of top cover 70 with respect to the back of main casing 87 when assembling.Top cover 70 rotates around the abutment between the limit of hook portion and blade installation portion 73 with the direction of arrow among Figure 14 then, be implemented in the top that forms in the main casing 87 uncovered 95 up to the grid that forms by front and back rib 88 that intersects and cross rib 89, thereby finish the assembling process of top cover 70 on main casing 87.

Contact with blade installation portion 73 by placing back step 93 in this assembling process, top cover 70 can be positioned with respect to the main casing on the back 87.Further, during the inside surface of the sidewall 69 of the side direction teat 100 contact formation main casings 87 when be arranged on outermost front and back rib 88 on Width on, top cover 70 can be positioned with respect to main casing 87 on Width.Be arranged on the inside surface that teat forward 90 on the front and back rib 88 at place, two bosoms contact the antetheca 72 that constitutes main casing 87 subsequently, to locate top covers 70 with respect to main casing 87 in the front side.As a result, top cover 70 can not have being assemblied on the main casing 87 of motion by between.

Handle 80 is set at the front side of developer side shell 36, is used for user's grasping when installing or removing developer box 30 and handle box 20.Handle 80 is outstanding forward from the top of the antetheca 72 of formation developer side shell 36.

The gear cap 82 that is used to drive the gear mechanism 81 of stirrer turning axle 46,

supply roll shaft

50 and 52 rotations of development roll shaft and is used to cover gear mechanism 81 is set at one of sidewall 69 that constitutes developer side shell 36.

Partition wall 40 is set at the inside that is used in the developer side shell 36 developer side shell 36 and is separated into toner container cavity 41 and development chamber 42.

Partition wall 40 is arranged in position intermediate on the fore-and-aft direction in the developer side shell 36, the inside that is used for separating developer side shell 36 on fore-and-aft direction.Uncovered 43 penetrate the zone line of partition wall 40 to allow the connection between toner container cavity 41 and the development chamber 42.The bottom the past diapire 77 of partition wall 40 and the coupling part of central wall 78 form.The top of partition wall 40 is being formed on the Width on the top cover 70 with vertically facing to the bottom of partition wall 40, and is formed with uncovered 43 between the two.Partition wall 40 vertically extends downwards from top cover 70, and the bottom of partition wall 40 is connected to top cover 70 along the fore-and-aft direction of top cover 70 in identical with stage portion 91 basically position.

As shown in Figure 11, the toner container cavity takes up space in the front side of the shell of being separated by partition wall 40 36.Toner container cavity 41 is filled the toner with positive charge non-magnetic, one-component.

Be used for filling uncovered two sidewalls 69 that are formed on the developer side shell 36 that limits toner container cavity 41 of color powder feeding of toner to toner container cavity 41.Color powder feeding is uncovered to be sealed with cover 35.

Toner detection window 44 is set in two sidewalls 69 of the shell 36 that limits toner container cavity 41, is used for detecting the toner amount that remains in the toner container cavity 41.Toner detection window 44 be formed near in the sidewall 69 of partition wall 40 and pass toner container cavity 41 and on Width, face one another.Toner detection window 44 forms by embed transparent dished plate in each sidewall 69.

Stirrer 45 is disposed in and is used to stir the toner that is contained in wherein in the toner container cavity 41.Stirrer 45 comprises turning axle 46 and agitating member 47.Turning axle 46 rotatably is supported in the sidewall 69 at the center of toner container cavity 41 basically.Agitating member 47 is set on the turning axle 46.Motor (not show) produces driving force, and input turning axle 46 is used for 46 rotations of driven in rotation axle.

Stirrer 45 also comprises the wiper 48 of two axle heads that are attached at turning axle 46.When turning axle 46 rotation, wiper 48 moves by toner container cavity 41 around turning axle 46 on circular direction, is arranged on toner detection window 44 in the sidewall 69 with wiping.Therefore, wiper 48 plays a part cleaning toner detection window 44.

Development chamber 42 occupies the rear side inner space of the shell of being separated by partition wall 40 36.Development chamber 42 holds feed rolls 37, developer roll 38 and thickness adjusted sheet 39 and is provided with wooden partition 49.

Feed rolls 37 is disposed in worn-out mouthful 43 the back of top of the central wall 78 in development chamber 42.Feed rolls 37 faces toward developer roll 38 so that the top of feed rolls 37 is lower than the top margin of the bottom of partition wall 40 diagonally from lower front side.

Feed rolls 37 comprises the metal roller shaft 50 of sponge roller 51 coverings that formed by conductive foams.Feed rolls 37 is supported in the sidewall 69 of developer side shell 36 and with developer roll 38 and contacts, so that the both is compressed to a certain degree.Especially, through hole 122 position respect to one another on Width is set in each sidewall 69.Supply roll shaft 50 is inserted into through hole 122 so that feed rolls 37 rotatably is supported in the developer side shell 36.

Driving force from motor (not having diagram) is transfused to supply roll shaft 50 to drive feed rolls 37 rotations.Feed rolls 37 is along counterclockwise rotating so that the reverse direction of the contact point upper edge developer roll 38 of the outer surface of feed rolls 37 between two rollers moves among Figure 11.

Developer roll 38 is disposed in back diapire 79 tops in development chamber 42 of opposite side of the feed rolls 37 of the toner container cavity 41 on the fore-and-aft direction, just, and the rear of feed rolls 37.Developer roll 38 contacts feed rolls 37 facing to feed rolls 37 and pressure diagonally from the top rear side.

It is over top in feed rolls 37 that developer roll 38 is arranged to the first half of developer roll 38 basically.Developer roll 38 has than the big diameter of feed rolls 37 and comprises metal development roll shaft 52 above-mentioned and cover the rubber rollers 53 that is formed by conductive rubber material of development roll shaft 52.Rubber rollers 53 is more particularly formed by conduction urethanes (urethane) rubber or the silicon rubber or this type of material that contain meticulous carbon granule, and its surface scribbles urethane rubber or fluorine silicon rubber.Development roll shaft 52 is supported in the sidewall 69 of the developer side shell 36 in the development chamber 42.

Thereby developer roll 38 is supported in the sidewall 69 by back uncovered 94 outstanding developer side shells 36.More particularly, through hole 121 is being formed in two sidewalls 69 of developer side shell 36 near the position of developer side shell 36 rear ends, and on Width toward each other.The slotting hole 121 all of development roll shaft 52 quilts is so that developer roll 38 rotatably is supported in the developer side shell 36, and the vertical centre portion of rubber rollers 53 is by back uncovered 94 farthest that are projected into outside the developer side shell 36.

Developer roll 38 is rotated along the counter clockwise direction Figure 11 from the drive force of motor (not having diagram) input development roll shaft 52.Further, be applied on the developer roll 38 at development bias voltage during the development operation.

Thickness adjusted sheet 39 is arranged the top at the rear portion of developer roll 38 and wooden partition described later 49 in the development chamber 42.The blade installation portion 73 that is supported on the rear side of sidewall 69 keeps thickness adjusted sheet 39 in two transverse end.

It is pressure portion 55 on the main blade member 54 that constitutes of the metal leaf spring of rectangle and the top that is arranged on main blade member 54 that thickness adjusted sheet 39 is included in the front view (seeing Figure 13).Main blade member 54 comprises upper end 83, and it is mounted in bottom and lower end 84 in the blade installation portion 73, and it is the top that pressure portion 55 is set.Pressure portion 55 has semi-circular cross-section and is formed as glue by Silicon-On-Insulator.

As shown in Figure 13, thickness adjusted sheet 39 extends on Width along the rear surface of blade installation portion 73.As shown in Figure 11, installation component 109 is fixed to the rear surface that two transverse end are supported on the blade installation portion 73 in the rear end of sidewall 69 with the upper end 83 of main blade member 54.

Containment member 110 is inserted between the rear surface of blade installation portion 73 and the installation component 109 to prevent that toner is from leaking therebetween.

Installation component 109 comprises the preceding supporting member 115 of plate shape, has the back supporting member 111 and the screw 112 of L shaped xsect basically.Preceding supporting member 115 is disposed in the rear side of containment member 110.The rear side of supporting member 115 before the upper end 83 of main blade member 54 is disposed in, and back supporting member 111 is disposed in the rear side of upper end 83.Screw 112 is inserted in upper end 83 and the preceding supporting member 115 that front and back are upward through back supporting member 111, main blade member 54, so that these parts are fixed together.Screw 130 is fixed to blade installation portion 73 and insertion containment member 110 therebetween with the upper end 83 and the installation component 109 of main blade member 54.

Therefore, main blade member 54 is arranged to upper end 83 and is supported on downwards towards the rear surface of the blade installation portion 73 of top rake, and lower end 84 83 extends towards the place ahead downwards to feed rolls 37 diagonally from the upper end conversely, near developer roll 38 and wooden partition therebetween 49.Therefore, thickness adjusted sheet 39 is the 83 84 downward and extensions forward to the lower end from the upper end, and close wooden partition 49 gradually.

Pressure portion 55 extends on Width along the rear surface of the lower end 84 of main blade member 54.Pressure portion 55 is promoted backward by the elastic force of main blade member 54, to contact the rubber rollers 53 of developer roll 38 with position pressure a little backward above the contact point between developer roll 38 and the feed rolls 37.

Wooden partition 49 is integrally formed and is disposed in the development chamber 42 between feed rolls 37 tops and the partition wall on thickness adjusted sheet 39 and fore-and-aft direction 40 with top cover 70.As shown in Figure 13, wooden partition 49 has rectangular-plate-shaped in front view, thereby by 42 extensions of development chamber thickness adjusted sheet 39 is separated from toner container cavity 41 on Width.Wooden partition 49 is included as the bottom 85 of upper end and is the free end 86 of lower end.

The bottom 85 of wooden partition 49 is connected to the top of partition wall 40 and the basal surface of the top cover 70 between the blade installation portion 73.The free end 86 of wooden partition 49 85 vertically extends downwards towards feed rolls 37 from the bottom.On fore-and-aft direction, the free end 86 of wooden partition 49 is positioned between the front of the contact site X of pressure portion 55 contact developer rolls 38 (seeing Figure 12) of thickness adjusted sheet 39 and feed rolls 37.Especially, the sponge roller 51 of feed rolls 37 vertically aligns in the bottom 85 of wooden partition 49.

Therefore, wooden partition 49 vertically extends downwards from top to bottom so that the pressure portion 55 and the feed rolls 37 of free end 86 close thickness adjusted sheets 39.With respect to vertical direction, the free end 86 of wooden partition 49 extends below pressure portion 55 and is separated from feed rolls 37.Further, the upper end 83 and the bottom 85 of thickness adjusted sheet 39 and wooden partition 49 are supported on the top cover 70 respectively, and lower end separately 84 and free end 86 extend towards feed rolls 37.Therefore, top cover 70, thickness adjusted sheet 39 and wooden partition 49 form (that is, towards feed rolls 37) xsect of narrowing down to the bottom and are rectangular shape basically.Here, the free end 86 of the lower end 84 of thickness adjusted sheet 39 and wooden partition 49 is separated on fore-and-aft direction a little.

As shown in Figure 12, the free end 86 of wooden partition 49 is positioned so that the bee-line A between the surface of the sponge roller 51 on the free end 86 of wooden partition 49 and the feed rolls 37 is shorter than the bee-line B between the surface of the contact site X of the pressure portion 55 contact developer rolls 38 of thickness adjusted sheet 39 and sponge roller 51.

Therefore, as shown in Figure 13, the free end 86 of wooden partition 49 is located in the contact site X below of the pressure portion 55 contact developer rolls 38 of thickness adjusted sheet 39.

When driving force from motor (not diagram) when being transfused to stirrer turning axle 46, stirrer turning axle 46 is driven along the rotation of the clockwise direction among Figure 11 so that agitating member 47 moves with the circular direction around stirrer turning axle 46 by toner container cavity 41.Like this, agitating member 47 stir the toner that is contained in the toner container cavity 41 and by uncovered 43 to development chamber 42 some toners of discharge.

Be supplied on the developer roll 38 by the feed rolls 37 of rotating by worn-out mouthful 43 toner of discharging to development chamber 42.At this moment because the surface of two rollers moves with opposite direction at contact point, toner between feed rolls 37 and developer roll 38 by the forward triboelectric charging.Along with the rotation of developer roll 38, be supplied to toner on the developer roll 38 is moved upwards up to the pressure portion 55 contact developer rolls 38 of thickness adjusted sheet 39 above the sidepiece of feed rolls 37 contact site X from feed rolls 37.At this contact site X, between the pressure portion 55 of toner process thickness adjusted sheet 39 and the rubber rollers 53 of developer roll 38.At this moment, in order to keep the thin layer of uniform thickness on the surface of rubber rollers 53, the excess enthalpy part of toner is peeled off in pressure portion 55.

In above-mentioned developer box 30, wooden partition 49 is disposed between thickness adjusted sheet 39 and the partition wall 40 and above feed rolls 37 and is used for thickness adjusted sheet 39 is separated from toner container cavity 41.It is shorter than the bee-line B between the sponge roller 51 of the contact site X of the pressure portion 55 contact developer rolls 38 of thickness adjusted sheet 39 and feed rolls 37 that the free end 86 of wooden partition 49 is positioned as the free end 86 of wooden partition 49 and the bee-line A between the sponge roller 51 on the feed rolls 37.

Toner rotates so that the forward triboelectric charging between the developer roll 38 that contact area moves with opposite direction of the surface of roller in feed rolls 37 with equidirectional.Along with the rotation of developer roll 38, the toner of some chargings arrives contact site X.At this moment, thickness adjusted sheet 39 peels off unnecessary charged toner to form the thin layer of uniform thickness on developer roll 38.The unnecessary toner that is peeled off by thickness adjusted sheet 39 can be maintained between thickness adjusted sheet 39 and the wooden partition 49 and can be carried at the surface of developer roll 38 again and regulated by thickness adjusted sheet 39.

As a result, because the unnecessary toner that is peeled off by thickness adjusted sheet 39 can be prevented from getting back to toner container cavity 41, so the charging that might control toner reliably is to prevent decrease in image quality.

Further, in the developer box 30 of the embodiment of explanation, partition wall 40 is disposed in the developer side shell 36 centre on the fore-and-aft direction so that developer side shell 36 is separated into toner container cavity 41 and development chamber 42, and wooden partition 49 is disposed in the development chamber 42.Therefore, when the zone flows of toner between thickness adjusted sheet 39 and wooden partition 49, partition wall 40 can prevent to be got back to toner container cavity 41 by the unnecessary charged toner that thickness adjusted sheet 39 peels off.

Therefore, charged toner can be maintained in the development chamber 42, thereby prevents that further charged toner from turning back to toner container cavity 41.As a result, might control the charging of toner and further prevent decrease in image quality more reliably.

Further, wooden partition 40 is arranged so that to such an extent that bottom 85 is connected to the top cover 70 of developer side shell 36, and free end 86 is disposed in the contact site X of pressure portion 55 contact developer rolls 38 of thickness adjusted sheet 39 and feed rolls 37 between the front side on the fore-and-aft direction.

Have such structure, even flow and when the free end 86 of wooden partition 49 flows forward along wooden partition 49 when the unnecessary charged toner of being peeled off by thickness adjusted sheet 39, charged toner begins to contact supplies the feed rolls 37 of toner to the developer roll 38 again.Therefore, by simple structure, charged toner is securely held between thickness adjusted sheet 39 and the wooden partition 49, thereby prevents that reliably charged toner from turning back to toner container cavity 41.

In the developer box 30 of embodiment of explanation, thickness adjusted sheet 39 from the upper end 83 to the lower end 84 little by little near wooden partitions 49, and be arranged in the rubber rollers 53 of pressure portion 55 by the Elastic Strength Pressure contact developer roll 38 of main blade member 54 on the lower end 84.Therefore, such simple structure can prevent to flow through the free end 86 of wooden partition 49 in the unnecessary charged toner that contact site X is peeled off by the pressure portion 55 of thickness adjusted sheet 39 towards toner container cavity 41 reliably, thereby prevents that further charged toner from turning back to toner container cavity 41.

Further, in above-mentioned developer side shell 36, front and back rib 88 that intersects and cross rib 89 are set on the top cover 70 to form trellis.In addition, the teat forward 90 in front of close top cover 70 is disposed in the front end from two nearest front and back ribs 88 of the transverse center of top cover 70, and stage portion 91 and side direction teat 100 are set on two nearest front and back ribs 88 of the outside widthwise edge of top cover 70, and back step 93 is disposed in the rear end of two front and back ribs 88.

Have such structure, the outmost limit of the grid that forms by front and back rib 88 that intersects and cross rib 89 be implemented in the top uncovered 95 so that forward teat 90, side direction teat 100 and back step 93 contact the corresponding inside on top uncovered 95 surperficial.Therefore, top cover 70 can be installed in accurately on the main casing 87 so that be arranged on wooden partition 49 on the top cover 70 and can be arranged in desirable position in the developer side shell 36 accurately.

Be disposed in back step 93 from the rear end of two nearest front and back ribs 88 of the widthwise edge of top cover 70, be supported on position on the sidewall 69 at blade installation portion 73, just, with respect to the position that transverse center has high rigidity, the transverse end of contactor blade installation portion 73.Therefore, this structure reaches stable location, has improved the assembly precision of top cover 70 on main casing 87.

Further, the teat forward 90 that is disposed in the front end of ribs 88 before and after nearest two of the transverse center of top cover 70 is at the lateral centre contact antetheca 72 near antetheca 72, and antetheca 72 has less rigidity and more likely more crooked than the end of the antetheca 72 that is supported by sidewall 69 herein.Therefore, this structure can prevent the bending of gear cap 82 on transverse center.

When the size Control of the contact area between top cover 70 and main casing 87 must be carried out by strictness, as mentioned above, the effort that reaches this control can not be local being reduced owing to control.

In the developer box 30 of embodiment of explanation, because is moving with the direction with the surface opposite of developer roll 38 with the zone of developer roll 38 contacts on the surface of feed rolls 37, toner can be by triboelectric charging reliably.Further, developer roll 38 rotation is so that move backward in the first half of developer roll 38 from the toner of feed rolls 37 supplies, thereby toner moves up above the sidepiece of feed rolls 37 with the contact site X of the pressure portion 55 contact developer rolls 38 that arrive thickness adjusted sheet 39.Therefore, because the contact area of the surperficial between of feed rolls 37 and the surperficial counter motion of developer roll 38, the surface of feed rolls 37 is also motion backward of half part thereon also.Therefore, feed rolls 37 can easily be returned the unnecessary charged toner of having been peeled off by thickness adjusted sheet 39 to developer roll 38, and feed rolls 37 can also easily be supplied the uncharged toner that is contained in the toner container cavity 41 to developer roll 38.

Handle box 20 and the laser printer 1 of the embodiment that illustrates comprise developer box 30, in order to control the charging of toner reliably, by preventing to be got back to toner container cavity 41 by the too much charged toner that thickness adjusted sheet 39 peels off, developer box 30 can prevent decrease in image quality.Therefore, in order accurately to form toner image, handle box 20 and laser printer 1 can develop accurately and be formed on electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drums 28, therefore, can reach the high quality graphic form.

In the embodiment of above-mentioned explanation, developer box 30 is detachably mounted on the bulging box 27 forming handle box 20, and handle box 20 is detachably mounted in the main shell 2.Yet, also photosensitive drums 28, charger 29, transfer roll 31, cleaning element 32 and this base part might be set in main casing 2, and remove drum box 27 and developer box 30 removably is installed in main shell 2.Also might remove bulging box 27 and developer box 30 and photosensitive drums 28, charger 29 transfer rolls 31, cleaning element 32 and this base part are set in main shell 2, also have toner container cavity 41, developer roll 38, feed rolls 37, thickness adjusted sheet 39 and wooden partition 49 simultaneously.

Toner detection window 44 is formed in two sidewalls 88 of shell 36 and is used for detecting the toner amount that remains in the toner container cavity 41.Toner detection window 44 be formed near the position in the sidewall 88 of partition wall 40 and on Width toward each other.Toner detection window 44 is the transparent dishes that embed in the sidewall 88 of shell 36.

Comprise that the toner sensor (not having diagram) of light-emitting component and light receiving element is disposed in the outside of shell 36, relative with toner detection window 44.The detection light that light-emitting component sends enters toner container cavity 41 by one of toner detection window 44.By after the toner container cavity 41, survey light and discharge and receive by light receiving element by another toner detection window 44.Detect the detection time that light stirs the toner in the toner container cavity 41 by two toner detection windows 44 and following stirrer 45 by measuring, the toner sensor is configured to detect the amount that remains in the toner in the toner container cavity 41.

Next,, stirrer 45 and wiper 48 are described in detail to 24C with reference to Figure 16 according to the embodiment of an explanation.

Except above-mentioned turning axle 46, agitating member 47 and grid 49, as shown in Figure 16, stirrer 45 also comprises every tabula rasa 89 and guided plate 90.

Agitating member 47 comprises the sheet support members 65 that outwards extend radially from turning axle 46 and is installed in thin slice 66 on the sheet support member 65.Sheet support member 65 comprise a plurality of on the Width of turning axle 46 the spaced each other transverse slat that separates (cross plate) 68 and be connected to the sheet support plate 69 of turning axle 46 by transverse slat 68.Each transverse slat 68 has the bottom that is connected to turning axle 46 and radially stretches out from it.

Sheet support plate 69 is parallel to that turning axle 46 extends and from turning axle 46 separated preset distances and be connected to the top of each transverse slat 68.Therefore, turning axle 46, transverse slat 68 and sheet support plate 69 are connected to form step structure.

Thin slice 66 has the base that is fixed to sheet support plate 69 along the Width of turning axle 46.As shown in Figure 17, thin slice 66 is divided into the oblique plate 70 that its free end of being arranged in the two ends that (equal the Width of turning axle 46) on the Width tilts with respect to Width, and being formed with the rectangular sheet 71 that inserts the central part between two oblique plates 70, its free end aligns than oblique plate 70 weak points and with Width.

As shown in Figure 16, thin slice 66 is fixed to sheet support plate 69 with respect to the bearing of trend of transverse slat 68 with predetermined obtuse angle.As shown in Figure 17, broad ways just forms in transverse slat 68 integral body of outermost transverse slat 68 inboards on tabula rasa 89 same transverse end that are positioned at turning axle 46.As shown in Figure 16, every tabula rasa 89 have plate shape and with the rectangular plane of the axial direction of turning axle 46 in extend.Play a part to intercept at regular intervals the detection light that sends by the toner sensor every tabula rasa 89, to increase the accuracy of detection of residue toner.

Guided plate 90 on the direction relative with the direction of thin slice 66 from turning axle 46 outside radial extensions.Guided plate 90 has the rectangular-plate-shaped of uniform thickness basically and is formed on the axial centre zone of turning axle 46, extends on the direction relative with the bearing of trend of transverse slat 68.When stirrer 45 rotation, guided plate 90 plays a part on its Width uniform distribution toner toner container cavity 41 in, and saves bit by bit toner so that toner is mobile towards two transverse end of toner container cavity 41.

Fixed component 49 is placed in each transverse end of turning axle 46.As shown in figure 17, each fixed component 49 is integrally disposed back up pad 72, clamping plate 73, connecting wall 74 and confinement plate 75.Each back up pad 72 has rectangular-plate-shaped basically in vertical view.Back up pad 72 (see figure 4) on the Width of turning axle 46 and is extended on the direction opposite with the bearing of trend of transverse slat 68 from guided plate 90 separated preset distances.

As shown in figure 23, the first excision portion 76 is formed in the back up pad 72.The first excision portion 76 is U-shaped basically in upward view.The first excision portion 76 is formed on along back up pad 72 from turning axle 46 parts that are extended the relative back up pad 72 of direction and clamping plate 73 of extending.The first excision portion 76 from respect to the downstream end on the direction of insertion of wiper 48 (turning axle 46 axially on inside end) towards the upstream extremity of direction of insertion (towards turning axle 46 axially on the outside).Here, be extended direction and comprise that bottom from the back up pad 72 that is connected to turning axle 46 is to the free-ended direction of back up pad 72 and the direction from the top to the bottom.

As shown in Figure 20 and 22, the first excision portion 76 is round the central part 77 of back up pad 72.The projection 78 that is arranged on the central part 77 faces toward on the direction of clamping plate 73 inwardly outstanding in back up pad 72.

Projection 78 is at the upstream extremity that is disposed in central part 77 on the direction of insertion and have an inclined surface 86 that is formed on its end.Inclined surface 86 tilts in the side direction from upstream side on direction of insertion downstream along the direction of back up pad 72 facing to clamping plate 73.

As shown in Figure 18 and 19, clamping plate 73 from the mid point of back up pad 72 on bearing of trend to its top across and pass space corresponding to the thickness of wiper 48 facing to back up pad 72.

As shown in Figure 20 and 22, clamping plate 73 are formed in the part relative with the first excision portion 76 and are U-shaped basically in vertical view, identical with the first excision portion 76 approx in shape.The second excision portion 79 be formed on be formed on back up pad 72 in the zone of the relative clamping plate 73 of central part 77 in and surrounded by clamping plate 73.

The part of the clamping plate 73 that extend at the bearing of trend of back up pad 72 along the upstream side of the second excision portion 79 on direction of insertion is as pressure plare 80.Pressure plare 80 plays a part to prevent that wiper 48 from floating back up pad 72.

Connecting wall 74 is parallel to each other on the direction of insertion and separated from one another with the pre-fixed gap corresponding to the width of wiper 48 on the bearing of trend of back up pad 72.Connecting wall 74 is connected to back up pad 72 two ends of clamping plate 73 on bearing of trend.

Have such structure, the slit 81 that is used for receiving wiper 48 is formed on fixed component 49 and supported plate 72, clamping plate 73 and connecting wall 74 limit.

Confinement plate 75 is arranged with respect to direction of insertion and extends at the bearing of trend of back up pad 72 along the downstream end of back up pad 72.Confinement plate 75 from back up pad 72 towards outstanding by clamping plate 73 area surrounded and in back up pad 72 facing to connecting back up pad 72 and clamping plate 73 in the zone of clamping plate 73.

Fishhook insertion section 82 is set up as the excision portion in the confinement plate 75, forms the space so that back up pad 72 is communicated with central part 77 on the bearing of trend of back up pad 72.The recess 83 that in the vertical view is U-shaped is formed on the part that back up pad 72 is communicated with fishhook insertion section 82.

The sheet support member 65 of turning axle 46, agitating member 47, fixed component 49, integrally formed, and thin slice 66 is thin slices of the softness that formed by the resin as polyethylene terephthalate (polyethylene terephthalate) by hard synthetic resin as ABS resin every the guided plate 90 of tabula rasa 89 and stirrer 45.

As shown in Figure 20, wiper 48 is plate shapes and is rectangle basically in vertical view.Wiper 48 is formed by the elastic component as the softness of amino ester rubber (urethane rubber).

As shown in Figure 19, wiper 48 be formed be formed on the essentially identical width of width on the bearing of trend in the slit 81 in the fixed component 49 (with direction of insertion and the rectangular direction of thickness direction on the size of wiper 48).Coexist back up pad 72 of the thickness of wiper 48 is identical basically in the face of the uncovered width that is formed by slit 81 on the direction of clamping plate 73, as shown in Figure 18 and 19.The length of wiper on the direction of insertion than direction of insertion on the degree of depth in slit 81 about twice of growing up, shown in Figure 18 and 21.

Wiper 48 has circular cross section and is formed on wherein through hole 84.When wiper 48 was inserted in the slit 81 that is formed in the fixed component 49, the through hole 84 that is formed in the wiper 48 was positioned in projection 78 to receive the projection 78 there.

Next, the process of installation wiper 48 will be described with reference to figure 7,8 and 11 in fixed component 49.

As illustrated in fig. 20, wiper 48 is positioned facing to slit 81 and is inserted into slit 81 along the direction of arrow.Figure 24 A inserts the process in slit 81 to the 24C explanation with wiper 48.The downstream end of wiper 48 along direction of insertion by the pressure plare 80 of back up pad 72 and clamping plate 73 between after, as shown in Figure 24 A, downstream end contact projection 78.When wiper 48 was further inserted, wiper 48 bendings were so that the downstream end of wiper 48 slips over projection 78, as shown in Figure 24 B.As shown in Figure 24 C, wiper 48 has been inserted into up to downstream end contact confinement plate 75, and it prevents from further to move downstream on direction of insertion.At this moment, projection 78 is received in logical uncovered 84 so that penetrate wiper 48 on identical thickness direction.When projection 78 was received in logical uncovered 84, wiper 48 was inserted between back up pad 72 and the clamping plate 73, therefore, is installed in the fixed component 49.

When wiper 48 was installed in the fixed component 49, as shown in Figure 21, projection 78 is inserted into passed through hole 84, prevents that wiper 48 is removed from fixed component 49.Further, pressure plare 80 restriction wipers 48 rise from back up pad 72, thereby wiper 48 is fixed in the fixed component 49.

Yet, using the sharp-pointed needle-like fishhook 85 shown in the virtual image among Figure 24 C, wiper 48 can be removed from fixed component 49.Fishhook 85 is inserted into and passes fishhook insertion section 82 and between the recess 83 of the downstream end of wiper on the direction of insertion 48 and back up pad 72, so that the downstream end of wiper 48 is lifted from back up pad 72.In this state, through hole 84 can be lifted from projection 78 so that wiper 48 can be pulled out slit 81 subsequently and be removed from fixed component 49.

In above-mentioned stirrer 45, in the slit 81 that is inserted into fixed component 49, wiper 48 is fixed on the fixed component 49, therefore, is fixed to by fixed component 49 on the agitating member 47 of stirrer 45.Further, fixed component 49 is integrally formed with agitating member 47.Therefore, by not needing special parts such as double-sided belt or thrust nut with the simple assembling to the agitating member 47 of fixing wiper 48, wiper 48 can be fixed on the agitating member 47.Therefore, such structure decrease the parts that need quantity and improved the efficient of assembly manipulation.Further, owing to be fixed on the fixed component 49 by inserting slit 81 wipers 48, wiper 48 can easily be removed, and makes that wiper 48 is more suitable for reclaiming.

Wiper 48 is inserted into and remains between back up pad 72 and the clamping plate 73, thus by simple reliable in structure fixing wiper 48.

Further, with respect to wiper 48 be inserted into therebetween back up pad 72 and the relative portion of clamping plate 73, be formed in the back up pad 72 facing to the first excision portion 76 of clamping plate 73, and be formed in the clamping plate 73 facing to the second excision portion 79 of back up pad 72.In other words, have only back up pad 72 and one of clamping plate 73 be formed on wiper 48 be inserted into therebetween back up pad 72 and the relative portion of clamping plate 73, thereby when moulded support plate 72 and clamping plate 73, be convenient to removing of member.Further, the toner that enters slit 81 can easily be eliminated between payback period.

When wiper 48 was inserted into the slit 81 that is formed in the fixed component 49, projection 78 was inserted into the through hole 84 that is formed in the wiper 48, thereby more safely wiper 48 is fixed on the fixed component 49, and by extending, to agitating member 47.

The inclined surface 86 of projection 78 is being from upstream to the downstream in back up pad 72 and is sloping inwardly facing to being formed on the direction of clamping plate 73 on the direction of insertion.

When wiper 48 is inserted into fixed component 49 downstream, the direction guiding wiper 48 that the inclined surface 86 of projection 78 is tilting.Downstream end at wiper 48 slips at protruding 78 o'clock, and projection 78 begins to insert the through hole 84 of wiper 48.This structure can be installed wiper 48 smoothly.

After projection 78 was inserted into the through hole 84 of wiper 48, because the downstream of inclined surface 86 on the direction that removes wiper 48 of projection 78, projection 78 prevented removing of wiper 48.

Further, when wiper 48 was installed in the fixed component 49, pressure plare 80 restriction wipers 48 floated back up pad 72, thereby prevent the through hole 84 slippage projectioies 78 of wiper 48 reliably.Like this, wiper 48 can firmly be fixed.

Further, when being installed in wiper 48 in the fixed component 49, confinement plate 75 restriction wipers 48 are inserted too much downstream, thus reliably fixedly wiper 48 in the precalculated position.

In order to remove wiper 48 from fixed component 49, fishhook 85 is inserted into and passes fishhook insertion section 82, makes development chamber 42 to be easy to divest from back up pad 72.Like this, be convenient to reclaim.

Further because wiper 48 forms by soft resilient material such as urethane rubber, when be installed into or when fixed component 49 removes wiper 48 easily crooked, make logical uncovered 84 can be embedded into or remove from projection 78.As a result, this structure is convenient to the efficient that wiper 48 inserts slit 81 and can improve assembly manipulation.This structure also is convenient to

wiper

48 and 81 is removed from the slit, makes wiper 48 be more suitable for reclaiming.

Because the developer box 30 of the embodiment of explanation can be constituted and assembling process more efficiently can be provided by parts still less, as mentioned above, the handle box 20 of developer box 30 and be equipped with the laser printer 1 of handle box 20 can be with lower cost manufactured and be more suitable for reclaiming is equipped with.

By being used for that in toner container cavity 41 wiper 48 is inserted the slit 81 of fixed components 49 and fixedly wiper 48 is to the structure of fixed component 49, above-mentioned developer box 30 has following effect.By eliminating the needs of this particular component, this structure prevents that the mishmash from double-sided belt or other particular component from entering and is contained in the toner that being supplied in the toner container cavity 41 is used for developing.Further, this mechanism prevents the chemical reaction between the tack coat of toner and double-sided belt.

In the embodiment of above-mentioned explanation, on projection 78 pressure plares 80 that are disposed on back up pad 72 and the clamping plate 73.Yet projection 78 can change into and being disposed on the clamping plate 73, and pressure plare 80 is disposed on the back up pad 72.

In the embodiment of above-mentioned explanation, through hole 84 is formed in the wiper 48 to insert projection 78.Yet the acceptance division of the present invention that is used to receive projection 78 needs not to be through hole 84, if acceptance division can be received in the projection 78 that is inserted on the thickness direction of wiper 48.For example, the wiper 48 that is that the slit 87 of U-shaped basically can be run through (cut through) in vertical view on thickness direction is as shown in Figure 25 A.Have this structure, groove 87 can be received in inserts the projection 78 of wearing wiper 48 on the Width, as illustrated among Figure 25 B.

Further, in the embodiment of above-mentioned explanation, the guided plate 90 of stirrer 45 has been formed homogeneous thickness.Yet, might change in the central area (with respect to the Width of turning axle 46) into and form thicker and become thinner guided plate 90 towards transverse end (outer end of turning axle 46 on Width).When toner was stirred in stirrer 45 rotations, the surface of striking off the guided plate 90 of toner was formed the surface of inclination, and the central part of guided plate 90 is at upstream side on the sense of rotation of stirrer 45 from the teeth outwards, and 90 two transverse end of guided plate are in the downstream.

The guided plate 90 that is formed in this way can guide cross side more smooth flow of toner towards toner container cavity 41.Therefore, guided plate 90 can distribute toner more equably on the Width of toner container cavity 41 in toner container cavity 41.

Notice that thin slice 66 and wiper 48 are from omitting the stirrer shown in Figure 26 45.

Next, will be described in detail with reference to Figure 27 to 30 support unit 250.As will be described in detail below, axle support unit 250 is disposed in the inwall in developer-accommodating chamber 222.Axle support unit 250 comprises and is used to the maintaining part 250b (seeing Figure 28) that the guiding groove 250 of stirrer shaft 223a is installed and is used for rotatably keeping stirrer shaft 223a.

The end of stirrer shaft 223a is rotatably remained on the through hole (not diagram) in the inwall that is formed on the developer-accommodating chamber 222 relative with the inwall that is provided with a support unit 250.The same side of stirrer shaft 223a is implemented into gear (not diagram).The motor (not diagram) that is arranged in the laser printer 1 arrives stirrer shaft 223a by gear transmission driving force.

As shown in Figure 27, the other end of stirrer shaft 223a is rotatably remained in the support unit 250.As shown in Figure 28 and 30, axle support unit 250 comprises the maintaining part 250b that is used for rotatably keeping stirrer shaft 223a, be used for towards maintaining part 250b guide downwards stirrer shaft 223a the end guiding groove 250a and between maintaining part 250b and guiding groove 250a, form the restrictions 250c that moves upward that the border is used to limit the stirrer shaft 223a that remains on maintaining part 250b.

As shown in Figure 30, maintaining part 250b and guiding groove 250a form recessed portion in the inwall in developer-accommodating chamber 222.Recessed guiding groove 250a is more shallow than recessed maintaining part 250b on recessed direction as shown in figure 30.

When in the developer-accommodating chamber 222 that stirrer 223 is packed into, guiding groove 250a has the axial plane of facing mutually with the axle head of stirrer shaft 223a to surperficial 501a.Axial plane is tilting downwards and with recessed side in the opposite direction to surperficial 501a.

Restrictions 250c has the inclined surface 501c that surperficial 501a is formed continuously with axial plane.Inclined surface 501c is downward-sloping, just, and towards maintaining part 250b and going up in the opposite direction away from axial plane surperficial 501a with recessed side.

Introducing surface 254 also is formed on the inwall in developer-accommodating chamber 222.Introduce surface 254 and tilt along recessed direction, and the uncovered limit 502a in the top of surperficial 501a is formed continuously with axial plane towards guiding groove 250a from the position darker than guiding groove 250a.

As shown in Figure 28, guiding groove 250a have be used to be limited in stirrer shaft 223a by the side surface 503a of the motion of stirrer shaft 223a on the rectangular direction of channeling direction of maintaining part 250b guiding.Space 250e is formed between the side surface 503a and restrictions 250c of guiding groove 250a.Space 250e is littler than the diameter of stirrer shaft 223a.

The axial direction with stirrer shaft 223a meet at right angles and on the xsect that obtains maintaining part 250b have polygon-shaped.In this embodiment, maintaining part 250b is square basically on this xsect.

With the rectangular direction of the channeling direction of stirrer shaft 223a on the width of guiding groove 250a and maintaining part 250b be identical.

As shown in Figure 27, transparent window 251 (only shows one in Figure 27; Another is set in the inwall in the developer-accommodating chamber 222 relative with the wall that is provided with a support unit 250) be set in the sidewall in developer-accommodating chamber 222.The light source (do not have show) that is arranged in developer box 216 outsides is used for detecting residue toner amount in the developer-accommodating chamber 222 by transparent window 251 transmitting beam.For clean transparent window 251, soft wiper 253 is disposed in and is used for contacting slidably transparent window 251 on the stirrer 223 when stirrer 223 rotation.Chamfered portion 260 is formed on the limit by the axle support unit 250 of wiper 253 contact of softness.

Next, with reference to Figure 30, the operation that stirrer 223 is installed in developer-accommodating chamber 222 will be described.At first, the end of stirrer shaft 223a is implemented into the through hole (not diagram) that is formed in the developer-accommodating chamber 222.Next, the other end of stirrer 223 is lowered with limit 502a and contacts.The other end of guiding groove 250a guiding stirrer shaft 223a is towards restrictions 250c when stirrer shaft 223a is crooked.Next, the other end of stirrer shaft 223a is guided downward along inclined surface 501c, forces the other end of stirrer shaft 223a to be moved upwards up to restrictions 50c like this on the direction facing to recessed direction.When the other end of stirrer shaft 223a is pushed down, the end slips over restrictions 250c and is installed into maintaining part 250b.At this moment, stirrer shaft 223a recovers straight extension.

Owing to the guiding groove 250a on the inwall that is formed on developer-accommodating chamber 222 is narrower than maintaining part 250b on recessed direction, stirrer shaft 223a can be directed towards restrictions 250c from narrow position.Reducing stirrer shaft 223a like this must bending slip over the amount of restrictions 250c, thereby compares with the load that is applied when guiding groove 250a is formed same depth with maintaining part 250b on recessed direction, has reduced the load that is applied to stirrer shaft 223a.

Be used for downward-sloping and at the inclined surface 501c of the axial plane of going up in the opposite direction with recessed side to surperficial 501a, stirrer shaft 223a slight curvature when the end of stirrer shaft 223a slips over restrictions 250c because restrictions 250c has to be connected to.As a result, this structure can reduce the load that is applied on the stirrer shaft 223a.

The inwall in developer-accommodating chamber 222 comprises the introducing surface 254 that tilts to guiding groove 250a and is connected to the open end of axial plane to the top of surperficial 501a.Therefore, stirrer shaft 223a can be directed to the open end of axial plane to the top of surperficial 501a smoothly.

Space 250e with diameter littler than stirrer shaft 223a is formed between side surface 503a and the restrictions 250c.Therefore, the toner that is deposited in maintaining part 250b can be missed by space 250e.Therefore, this structure can prevent that toner is deposited between stirrer shaft 223a and the maintaining part 250b and stop the rotation of stirrer 223.

Meet at right angles and on the xsect that obtains at the axial direction with stirrer shaft 223a, maintaining part 250b is a square basically.Therefore, the outer surface point of stirrer shaft 223a contact maintaining part 250b reduces being created in the outer surface of stirrer shaft 223a and the friction force between the maintaining part 250b.

By with the rectangular direction of the channeling direction of stirrer shaft 223a on form guiding groove 250a and maintaining part 250b with identical width, the space minimum that guiding groove 250a is required.

Inclined plane part 260 is formed on the limit by the axle support unit 250 of wiper 253 contact of softness, so that because sliding contact axle support unit 250 improves softening (degradation) of soft wiper 253.

The axial plane of guiding groove 250a is being gone up downward-sloping to surperficial 501a with recessed side in the opposite direction.Have such structure, in the time of in being installed in developer-accommodating chamber 222, stirrer shaft 223a is by more crooked, and therefore littler load is applied on the stirrer shaft 223a.

Though described the present invention with reference to specific embodiments, under the condition that does not deviate from scope of the present invention, can do various distortion for those skilled in the art.

Handle box 20 and the developer box 30 described by embodiment comprise 85 wooden partitions 49 that extend towards donor rollers 37 downward vertically from the bottom, so that the free end 86 of wooden partition 49 is positioned in the outer surface that approaches donor rollers 37.Yet handle box 20 or developer box 30 may be modified as Fig. 2 B, and keep the technical characterictic and the advantage of aforesaid a plurality of novelties.In the amended handle box 20 ' shown in Fig. 2 B, the vertical length of wooden partition 49 ' is with respect to Fig. 2 A, Figure 11, and the wooden partition 49 shown in Figure 12 and Figure 15 is shortened, the bigger distance so that the free end of wooden partition 49 ' 86 is spaced is away from the outer surface of donor rollers 37.

Claims

1, a kind of developer box comprises:

The developer-accommodating chamber of receiving photographic developer;

The developer that carries developer carries member;

To being contained in the developer charging in the developer-accommodating chamber and will being contained in the developer feeding in the developer-accommodating chamber carries member to developer delivery member;

Carry member at contact portion pressure contact developer and be carried at the thickness adjusted member that developer carries the thickness of the developer on the member with adjusting; With

Have bottom and far-end and be disposed in the developer-accommodating chamber and the thickness adjusted member between wooden partition, the far-end of this wooden partition is positioned in than the bottom of wooden partition more near the position of delivery member, and this wooden partition is separated the thickness adjusted member so that shorter than contact portion and the distance between the delivery member that thickness adjusted member contact developer carries member in the distance between the far-end of delivery member and this wooden partition from the developer-accommodating chamber;

Wherein said developer box further comprises the shell that is formed by developer-accommodating chamber, development chamber and partition wall, the chamber receiving photographic developer that wherein develops carries member, delivery member and thickness adjusted member, and partition wall is separated the developer-accommodating chamber and have from the development chamber makes the through hole that is communicated with between developer-accommodating chamber and the development chamber, and described wooden partition is formed in the development chamber.

2, developer box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom of wooden partition is connected to shell, and the far-end of wooden partition be disposed in thickness adjusted member contact developer carry in the contact portion of member and the delivery member on the direction in contiguous development chamber, developer-accommodating chamber between this part near the developer-accommodating chamber.

3, developer box as claimed in claim 2, wherein with respect to the direction of developer-accommodating chamber in abutting connection with the development chamber, on a side relative of delivery member with the developer-accommodating chamber, developer carries member and arranges in the face of delivery member, and wherein the thickness adjusted member has on the shell of being supported on, be positioned at the installation end of same side with the bottom of wooden partition, with the free end of arranging near wooden partition, the contact portion of thickness adjusted member is disposed in its free end and contacts to carry member pressure with developer, and the thickness adjusted member moves closer to described wooden partition from installation end towards free end.

4, developer box as claimed in claim 3, wherein developer carries that member rotates a direction so that the contact portion from the developer of delivery member supply towards the thickness adjusted member moves, and wherein delivery member moves carrying on the opposite direction of member sense of rotation with developer.

5, a kind of handle box comprises:

Developer box as claimed in claim 1; With

The developer of reception from developer box carries the developer of member supply and carries the image that the developer that carries the member supply by developer develops to the electrostatic latent image of developer image and carry member.

6, a kind of imaging device comprises:

Handle box as claimed in claim 5; With

After image in being carried at handle box carries developer image on the member and is transferred on the recording medium with the fixing member of developer image fixing on recording medium.

7, a kind of handle box comprises:

Developer box as claimed in claim 1; With

The image that carries the member positioned opposite with developer carries member, receives to carry the developer of member supply and carry the electrostatic latent image that is developed to visual image by developer from developer.

8, handle box as claimed in claim 7, wherein developer carry that member carries to image that member is arranged on to the angular direction so that developer carry member except carrying member by its uncovered part contact image this part that the shell evagination goes out farthest.

9, a kind of imaging device comprises:

A kind of handle box acceptance division; With

Handle box as claimed in claim 7, wherein handle box is detachably mounted in the handle box acceptance division.