JP2012047785A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device that prevents peeling off of a seal member, or the like by suppressing riding up of a center part of the seal member provided to an receiving port of a development device.SOLUTION: The image forming device includes a development device 9 that is slidably attached to an image forming device body 1. A toner receiving port 30 for receiving replenishment toner is formed in the development device 9, and when the development device 9 is mounted to the image forming device body 1, the toner receiving port 30 is joined with a toner supply port 22 provided to the image forming device body 1. The joining surface of the developer receiving port 30 of the development device 9 and the developer supply port 22 of the image forming device body is formed at a plane inclined in a mutually receiving direction with respect to the sliding attachment direction of the development device. A foamed seal member 31 is attached to the whole circumference at the periphery of the developer receiving port at the joining surface where the developer receiving port 30 is formed. A projection 33 for supporting the seal member is provided at a side of the developer receiving port 30 crossing the sliding attachment direction.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine having at least two functions thereof.

  In the image forming apparatus of the above-described type, a two-component developing type developing device including a toner and a carrier is widely used. In most cases, the developing device is configured as a single unit or integrated with other components such as an image carrier. The unitized developing device is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body for maintenance, replacement, or the like.

  By the way, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a container for storing toner to be replenished to the developing device or toner mixed with a carrier is disposed away from the developing device, and when the developing device is attached to the apparatus main body, it is stored. An apparatus that joins a supply port from a container to be received and a receiving port of a developing device to each other is described in Patent Document 1 and the like and is already known.

  In the conventional image forming apparatus having such a configuration, the supply port and the receiving port are flat surfaces whose joint surfaces are inclined with each other, and a foaming sealing material is attached to one of the surfaces. is there.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the receiving port 100 of the developing device, and the receiving port 100 formed in a quadrangular cross section has a sponge 101 as a foam sealing material formed in a rectangular shape cut on its joint surface. ing. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state in the middle of mounting the developing device or the unit including the developing device to the image forming apparatus main body.

  In FIG. 11, the developing device is mounted on the apparatus main body by sliding from the direction of arrow B. At this time, the supply port 102 of the apparatus main body is tilted in the receiving direction so as to coincide with the receiving port 100 of the developing device by slide mounting, but the tilt angle is not so high. Therefore, the sponge 101 attached to the receiving port 100 receives a force in the direction opposite to the insertion direction while being crushed by the supply port 102. At this time, it is preferable that the sponge 101 having a shape hollowed in a square in accordance with the shape of the receiving port 100 is uniformly crushed in the entire region in order to obtain a good sealing property, but the sliding movement force of the sponge 101 is preferable. It is confirmed that the inner center portion 101A to be pushed has no hollowed-out portion, and is different from the sides of the side where the seal is crushed. It was done.

  As a result, the sealing performance is weakened due to the pressed state, toner scattering occurs, and the sponge 101 may be peeled off due to stress applied to the sealing adhesive surface with the supply port 100.

  As a countermeasure, a plastic sheet made of a PET member or the like having a thickness of about 0.2 to 0.5 mm, which is cut into the shape of the sponge 101, is attached to the entire surface of the sponge 101. However, even if such measures are taken to improve the slidability and thickness so that the crushing state of both sides can be interlocked even in the central part, the central part is hollowed out. The end of the sheet is easily caught and eventually the sheet is cut.

  Therefore, in order to prevent the plastic sheet from being caught, it has been devised to project the part bent at the center part to the supply port side. The worst problem is that the toner supply opening is blocked.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that solves the above-described conventional problems and prevents the seal member from peeling off by suppressing the center portion of the seal member provided at the receiving port of the developing device from being curled. It is said.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention has a developing device that can be slid and pulled out with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and the developing device is provided with an agent receiving port for receiving a replenishing developer. In the image forming apparatus in which the agent receiving port is joined to the agent supply port provided in the image forming apparatus main body when the apparatus is reattached to the image forming apparatus main body, the agent receiving port of the developing device and the image forming apparatus main body The joint surface of the agent supply port is formed as an inclined surface in a direction to be mutually received with respect to the sliding and mounting direction of the developing device, and the entire circumference around the agent accepting port in the joint surface where the agent receiving port is formed A foamable sealing member attached over the surface, and a protrusion for supporting the sealing member on a side intersecting with the slide mounting direction of the agent receiving port. Suggest that the image forming apparatus.

In the present invention, it is advantageous that the height of the protrusion is located below the upper surface of the seal member at the time of joining.
Furthermore, in the present invention, it is advantageous that the protrusion is formed integrally with the agent receiving port of the developing device.

Furthermore, in the present invention, it is advantageous that the protrusion is formed with a width in the sliding direction of the developing device, and the upper surface thereof is formed in a horizontal plane.
Still further, according to the present invention, it is advantageous that the protrusion is formed to have a width in the sliding direction of the developing device, and the width is tapered so as to increase toward the upper side.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that reliably prevents peeling of the sealing member caused by turning by suppressing the turning of the foamable sealing member that may occur when the developing device is mounted.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a process cartridge including a developing device and a sub hopper that stores toner to be supplied to the developing device. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a toner supply port and a toner receiving port in the middle of a process cartridge mounting. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a toner supply port and a toner receiving port when a process cartridge is completely installed. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view illustrating a middle part of joining of the toner supply port and the toner receiving port according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the toner receiving port. FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a seal member is attached to the toner receiving port of FIG. 6. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view illustrating a state where a toner supply port and a toner receiving port are joined according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram illustrating a state where a toner supply port and a toner receiving port of another embodiment of the present invention are joined. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a toner receiving port of a conventional developing device. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a toner supply port and a toner receiving port in the middle of mounting a conventional developing device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an example of an image forming apparatus for forming a full color image. The image forming apparatus shown here includes first to fourth image carriers 2Y, 2C, 2M, and 2K made of a drum-shaped photoconductor disposed in the main body 1, and the image forming apparatus main body 1 similarly. An endless intermediate transfer belt 3 is disposed. The intermediate transfer belt 3 is wound around the support rollers 4, 5, 6 and is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow A. Different color toner images are formed on the image carriers 2Y to 2K. The intermediate transfer belt 3 is positioned above the image carriers 2Y to 2K, and the lower running side of the intermediate transfer belt 3 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the image carriers 2Y to 2K.

  The configuration in which a toner image is formed on each of the first to fourth image carriers 2Y, 2C, 2M, and 2K and the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 3 is substantially different only in the color of the toner image. Since all of them are the same, only the configuration for forming a toner image on the first image carrier 2Y and transferring the toner image to the intermediate transfer belt 3 will be described.

  The image carrier 2Y is rotated in the clockwise direction in the figure, and at this time, the image carrier 2Y is charged to a predetermined polarity by the charging roller 7Y to which a charging voltage is applied. The charged image carrier 2Y is irradiated with light-modulated writing light (in this example, a laser beam) emitted from the optical writing device 8 shown in FIG. 1, whereby the electrostatic latent image is applied to the image carrier 2Y. Is formed. This electrostatic latent image is visualized as a yellow toner image by the developing device 9Y. The developing device 9Y can use either a one-component developer or a two-component developer as a developer, but here, a two-component developer having a toner and a carrier is used.

  A primary transfer roller 10Y is disposed on the opposite side to the image carrier 2Y with the intermediate transfer belt 3 interposed therebetween, and a transfer voltage is applied to the primary transfer roller 10Y, so that the toner image on the image carrier 2Y becomes an arrow. Primary transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer belt 3 rotating in the A direction. The transfer residual toner adhering to the image carrier 2Y after the transfer of the toner image is removed by the cleaning device 11Y, and is discharged by a discharging means (not shown) to prepare for the next image formation.

  In exactly the same manner as described above, a cyan toner image, a magenta toner image, and a black toner image are respectively formed on the second to fourth image carriers 2C, 2M, and 2K shown in FIG. Are sequentially superposed on the intermediate transfer belt 3 to which the yellow toner image has been transferred, and are primarily transferred to form a composite toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 3. The transfer residual toner on each of the image carriers 2C, 2M, 2K after the toner image transfer is removed by the cleaning device is the same as in the case of the first image carrier 2Y.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, a sheet feeding device 13 having a sheet feeding cassette 12 containing a sheet made of transfer paper, for example, is disposed in the lower part of the image forming apparatus main body 1. The top sheet is sent out in the direction of the arrow. The fed sheet is fed by the registration roller pair 14 between the portion of the intermediate transfer belt 3 wound around the support roller 6 at a predetermined timing and the secondary transfer roller 15 placed on the belt. . At this time, a predetermined transfer voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller 15, whereby the composite toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 3 is secondarily transferred to the sheet.

  The sheet on which the composite toner image has been secondarily transferred is conveyed to the conveying belt 16 and passes through the fixing device 17, and at this time, the toner image on the sheet is fixed by the action of heat and pressure. The sheet that has passed through the fixing device 17 is discharged to the paper discharge unit 18 or the double-sided conveyance unit 19. In this way, a paper on which a full color image is formed can be obtained. Further, the transfer residual toner adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 3 after the toner image is transferred is removed by a belt cleaning device.

  FIG. 2 shows a process cartridge 20 containing the image carrier 2, the charging roller 7, the developing device 9 and the cleaning device 11, and before the toner transferred from a toner storage container (not shown) is supplied to the developing device 9. It is a perspective view which shows the sub hopper 21 stored temporarily.

  In the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, four process cartridges 20 having the same configuration are used, and each cartridge 20 is slidably attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 1. On the other hand, the sub hopper 21 disposed in the apparatus main body 1 stores an appropriate amount of toner transferred from the toner storage container. When a replenishment command is issued, the requested amount of toner is replenished to the developing device 9 from the toner supply port 22. FIG. 2 shows the rear side in the mounting direction (arrow B) of the process cartridge 20 to the apparatus main body 1.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the toner receiving port 30 of the developing device 9 and the toner supply port 22 of the sub hopper 21 during the mounting of the apparatus main body 1 of the process cartridge 20, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a toner receiving port 30 of the developing device 9 and a toner supply port 22 of a sub hopper 21. FIG.

  3 and 4, the basic configurations of the toner receiving port 30 of the developing device 9 and the toner supply port 22 of the sub hopper 21 are the same as those in FIG. 10, and the toner receiving port 30 and the toner supply port 22 formed in a rectangular shape are the same. The joint surface is provided with an inclined surface in a direction received by each other with respect to the sliding direction. A sealing member 31 such as a sponge formed in a mouth shape as a foamable sealing material is attached to the upper surface of the toner receiving port 30 with an adhesive over the entire circumference. Although the inclination angle of the inclined surface is arbitrary, in the present embodiment, the inclination angle is about 5 ° to 10 °.

  In the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the ideal state is a state in which the seal member 31 attached to the toner receiving port 30 uniformly crushes the seal surface at the joint portion with the toner supply port 22 of the sub hopper 21. It is to become.

  However, in actuality, when the toner receiving port 30 is slid and joined to the toner supply port 22, the opening corner of the toner supply port 22 and the end of the seal member 31 come into contact with each other as shown in FIG. Directional force is applied. At this time, the force applied to the seal member acts in the turning direction of the seal member at the center, and the stress is applied to the affixed portion between the seal member 31 and the toner receiving port 30, and worstly, the affixed portion is peeled off. Explained.

Therefore, the present invention takes the following measures.
In FIG. 5, a protrusion 33 that supports the adhered seal member 31 is formed on the tip end side in the sliding direction B of the toner receiving port 30 of the developing device 9. As shown in FIG. 6, the protrusion 33 is formed to have a length that extends from the side of the front end side in the sliding direction B of the toner receiving port 30 to the vicinity of the center of both sides. As is apparent from FIG. 5, the protrusion 33 formed in this way hits the side of the seal member 31 adhered to the upper surface of the toner receiving port 30 by the height to support the seal member 31. Accordingly, the protrusion 33 is more advantageous as the protrusion height is higher. However, if the protrusion 33 is too high, the protrusion 33 hits the toner supply port 22 if it is higher than the height of the seal member 31 that is pressed during mounting. However, it is set to a height that does not become higher than that. Further, the upper surface of the protrusion 33 is formed in a horizontal plane parallel to the sliding direction, and the protrusion 33 is configured not to interfere with the sliding movement. The protrusion 33 may be made of a member separate from the toner receiving port 30 and may be provided by bonding. In this example, the protrusion 33 is formed integrally with the toner receiving port 30 which is advantageous in manufacturing. In FIG. 6, depressions 34 and 35 formed on the surface of the toner receiving port 30 are recesses for reducing the material.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the seal member 31 adhered to the upper surface of the toner receiving port 30 is formed in a shape corresponding to the projection 33 portion, that is, a portion overlapping the projection 33 is cut out from the square hole. .

  In the image forming apparatus configured as described above, when the process cartridge 20 taken out from the main body of the image forming apparatus is mounted for maintenance or replacement, as shown in FIG. The end of 31 hits, and the sealing member 31 receives a force in the direction opposite to the sliding direction. At this time, the projection 33 supports the sealing member 31 against the pressure. Therefore, since the sticking portion of the seal member 31 has the projection 33, as shown in FIG.

  By the way, since the protrusion 33 faces the toner replenishment passage, the toner swollen at the time of replenishment accumulates on the upper surface of the protrusion 33. Therefore, in another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 9, a taper 36 having a thickness that decreases toward the top is formed on the protrusion 33. Since the taper 36 is provided on the surface opposite to the surface that supports the seal member 31, toner accumulation can be reduced while supporting the seal member 31.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the protrusion 33 is provided so as to reach from the side of the front end side in the sliding direction B of the toner receiving port 30 to the vicinity of the center of the both sides. However, as shown in FIG. A second protrusion 33A that supports the seal member 31 in the sliding direction B of the receiving port 30 may be provided. In the above embodiment, the toner is replenished, but the replenisher is not limited to the toner, and may be a developer in which the toner and the carrier are mixed, or a carrier that replenishes the carrier. Furthermore, the sealing member 33 may be provided with a known plastic sheet made of a PET member having a thickness of about 0.2 to 0.5 mm, and the effects of the present invention can be obtained even if configured in this way.

9 Developing Device 20 Process Cartridge 21 Sub Hopper 22 Toner Supply Port 30 Toner Receiving Port 31 Seal Member 33, 33A Projection

JP 2009-086220 A

Claims (5)

A developing device that can be slid and pulled out with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. The developing device has an agent receiving port for receiving a replenishing developer, and the developed developing device is remounted on the image forming apparatus main body. In the image forming apparatus in which the agent receiving port is joined to the agent supply port provided in the image forming apparatus main body,
The joint surface between the agent receiving port of the developing device and the agent supply port of the image forming apparatus main body is formed on an inclined surface in a direction that is mutually received with respect to the sliding and mounting direction of the developing device,
A foamable sealing member attached over the entire periphery of the agent receiving port at the joint surface where the agent receiving port is formed;
An image forming apparatus, wherein a protrusion supporting the seal member is provided on a side intersecting with a slide mounting direction of the agent receiving port.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the height of the protrusion is located below the upper surface of the seal member at the time of joining.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed integrally with an agent receiving port of the developing device.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed with a width in a sliding direction of the developing device, and an upper surface thereof is formed in a horizontal plane. Forming equipment.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed to have a width in a sliding direction of the developing device, and the taper is tapered so that the width is increased upward. An image forming apparatus.

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