JP2992362B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a developer collecting structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor is developed by, for example, a two-component developing method in which a toner and a carrier are mixed. A visible image is processed with an agent, and the visible image is transferred onto copy paper and then fixed to obtain a copy. In one of the above-described image forming apparatuses, a color for obtaining a color image by superimposing images of different colors on the same copy paper.
There is a copier, and its schematic configuration will now be described with reference to FIG. That is, the color copier includes a scanner unit 21 for reading a document, an image processing unit 22 for electrically processing an image signal output from the scanner unit 21 as a digital signal, and an image processing unit 22. And a printer unit 23 for forming an image on copy paper based on the image recording information of each color.

The above-described scanner unit 21 includes a document table 24
A lamp 25 for illuminating the original placed on the original while moving in the scanning direction; mirrors 26, 27, and 28 for setting the optical path of the reflected light from the original illuminated by the lamp 25; An imaging lens 29 that is arranged and forms an image on the dichroic prism 30 is provided, and a light receiver 31 that separates reflected light from a document into color and receives light for each wavelength.

In the scanner section 21 described above, in the dichroic prism 30, for example, reflected light from a document separated into three kinds of colors of red R, green G, and blue B, that is, image light is converted. , A light receiving device for receiving each color of color, that is, a red CCD 31R, a green CCD 31
The light enters the CCD 31B for blue and blue, respectively, and is converted into a digital signal in the photodetector. The above digital signal is
The image data is output to the image processing unit 22 and subjected to processing necessary for image forming exposure, which will be described later, in the processing unit 22, and recording information of each color, for example, black (hereinafter abbreviated as Bk), yellow (Y ), Magenta (same, M), and cyan (same, C) are converted into recording formation signals.

[0005] In FIG. 1, four of Bk, Y, M, and C described above are shown.
Although the case where colors are formed is shown, the number of colors is not limited to this.

On the other hand, a signal from the image processing section 22 is inputted to a printer section 23, and is used for controlling the operation of laser light emitting devices 32Bk, 32C, 32M and 32Y for image exposure corresponding to each color. . The above-described printer unit 23 is a part for exposing image light from a document onto a photoreceptor, processing the electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure into a visible image with a developer, and transferring the processed image onto copy paper. It is.

That is, in the printer section 23, four sets of recording devices 33Bk, 33C, 33M and 33Y are arranged side by side in the case of the drawing. Since the above-described recording apparatuses have the same configuration, the recording apparatus for C (cyan) will be described below for simplicity of description, and the description of the other colors will be omitted. Note that components having the same function for each color have the same reference numerals, and a reference numeral indicating each color is added to the reference numeral to distinguish the configuration of each color.

That is, a recording device 33C for C (cyan)
Has a photosensitive member 34C on a drum arranged in an optical path from a laser light emitting device 32C, and a charging device around the photosensitive member 34C for executing an image forming process along a rotation direction.
35C, a developing device 36C, a transfer device 37C and the like are provided similarly to a known copying machine. The photosensitive member 34C uniformly charged by the charging device 35C forms a latent image of a cyan image by exposure by the laser light emitting device 32C, and the latent image is processed into a visible image by the developing device 36C. You.

On the other hand, the printer section 23 is provided with a paper feeding section for copying paper.
For example, a copy sheet of which one of two sizes is selected is fed, and this copy sheet has its leading end registered with a registration roll.
The photoconductor 34C is conveyed to the conveyance belt 41 passing through the transfer position of the photoconductor 34C after being aligned with the leading end of the image by the roller 40. Then, the copy paper carried on the transport belt 41 and transported to the transfer position of the photoconductor 34C is sequentially transported toward the photoconductors 34Bk, 34C, 34M, and 34Y that have been subjected to the visible image processing, respectively. After the visible images of the respective colors are electrostatically transferred by the action of the transfer device 37 provided to face the body, the images are conveyed from the conveyor belt 41 to the fixing roller 42 to be fixed, and the paper discharge roller is used. It is discharged outside the aircraft by 43. The above-described transfer belt 41 electrostatically attracts the copy paper carried thereon,
The belt is conveyed at a moving speed without displacement.

As the above-mentioned developing device, for example, there is a case where a two-component developer in which a resin toner and a magnetic carrier such as iron powder are mixed is used.
A rotatable developer tree with a built-in magnet for forming a magnetic brush
A magnetic brush is carried on the brush, and the toner in the brush is transferred by an electrostatic attraction force from an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor. 8 is a structure. That is, the developing device A shown in FIG.
Comprises a developing tank C in which a developing sleeve B is arranged and a replenishing tank D in which a replenishing toner is stored.
The supply roller E located at the outlet of the replenishing tank D rubs against the surface of the replenishment roller F located in the vicinity of the developing sleeve B, and is carried on the surface of the replenishing roller F and developed. And is transported toward the node B. And the above-mentioned supply roller E,
A supply bias circuit H for the supply toner is connected to the supply roller F and a blade G which comes into contact with the surface of the supply roller F to make the supply toner thinner. Is designed to correct the charge amount of the replenishing toner in accordance with the density change of the reference density pattern i formed on the photosensitive member I.
A plurality of magnets including a magnet constituting the main developing pole are attached to the support plate K inside the developing sleeve B, and the main developing pole is set at a position facing the photosensitive member I. Then, the magnetic brush is brought into contact with the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member I. In FIG. 8, reference numeral J denotes a protrusion that protrudes laterally to form a plane for fixing a lid that closes the supply port.

By the way, the developer carried and transported by the developing sleeve is removed from the developing device for replacement when its own charging characteristics are reduced or its life is short due to its magnetic characteristics. It has been removed.

[0012]

However, the developer can be collected, for example, by using a collection box or the like prepared outside the copying machine beforehand through the opening of the developing device drawn out of the copying machine.
Since a procedure of opening the part and manually starting the discharge of the developer is adopted, the maintenance work is often performed by a serviceman instead of the operator. No. Therefore, the copying machine cannot be used until the operator starts the operation, and the efficiency of the copying operation may be reduced.

In order to avoid such a problem, a collecting container connectable to the developing device is provided in the vicinity of the developing device, and at the time of collecting the developer, a part of the copying machine is opened and the developing device is opened. (See, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-200588)
No. , JP-A-56-168670 , Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 49
JP-A-88739) or a structure in which a developer collecting container is opposed to a developing device in place of a photoreceptor to collect the developer (for example, JP-A-63-14-551).
Publication). However, in the above-described proposed structure, since the outer cover of the copying machine is opened, toner is scattered when the developer is collected, so that the toner is scattered inside the copying machine as well as outside the copying machine. Also floating toner
Contamination, and furthermore, the operator may feel uncomfortable in the atmosphere. Further, since the dust collecting mechanism is constantly operated, noise and power consumption are disadvantageous, and there is a possibility that the dust collecting capability may be reduced earlier. In addition, if the dust collecting mechanism is operated only when the developer is collected in order to suppress such a decrease in the dust collecting ability, the labor of the operator increases, and furthermore, the collecting by the dust collecting mechanism becomes difficult. If the operation of the mechanism is not stopped when the process is completed, there is a concern that the above-mentioned contamination will occur due to the existence of floating toner around the copying machine even after the agent is collected.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to minimize the scattering of toner and to be advantageous in terms of noise and power consumption in view of the above-mentioned problem of recovery of the developer in the conventional image forming apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a developer collecting structure.

[0015]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having a developer collecting structure used for visible image processing of an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive member. The recovery structure includes a developing device housing portion having an opening formed in the image forming device main body, and a slide tray provided at a position corresponding to a slide member of the developing device in the developing device housing portion. A rotary drive unit provided at a position corresponding to one longitudinal end of the developing device in the developing device housing unit and connectable to a rotation transmitting unit of a developing sleeve in the developing device; A slidable collection box located at a lower portion of the developing device accommodating portion on the device main body side and facing the opening for exposing the developing sleeve; The exhaust formed on the wall A fan attached to the edge of the hole and configured to start rotating in conjunction with the rotation drive of the developing sleeve; and a fan disposed at a position adjacent to the fan and closer to the developing device housing portion than the fan. And a dust collecting device including a dust collecting filter.

[0016]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus provided with a collecting structure for a developer used for visible image processing of an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor, wherein the collecting structure is a main body of the image forming apparatus. A developing device accommodating portion having an opening formed on the side thereof, a slide rail provided at a position corresponding to a slide member of the developing device in the developing device accommodating portion, and a developing device in the developing device accommodating portion. A rotation drive portion provided at a position corresponding to one longitudinal end and connectable to a rotation transmission portion of a development sleeve in the development device; and a rotation drive portion located at a lower portion of the development device accommodating portion on the image forming apparatus main body side. A slidable collection box facing the exposure opening of the developing sleeve, and an exhaust hole formed on a wall of the apparatus main body located near the developing apparatus housing section. And
A fan configured to maintain rotation and then stop for a predetermined time after the rotation of the developing sleeve is stopped, and at a position adjacent to the fan and closer to the developing device housing unit than the fan. And a dust collecting device comprising: a dust collecting filter disposed in the dust collecting device.

[0018]

According to the present invention, scattering of floating toner outside the machine is prevented by the fan and the dust collecting filter connected to the fan. Further, according to the present invention, since the operation state of the fan is set in accordance with the start and end of the collection in the developing and collecting section, it is possible to suppress the generation of noise and the increase in power consumption.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that in FIGS. 1 to 6, the reference numerals used for the components of the developing device in FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining a developer collecting structure used in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. That is, the developer collection structure is
It is provided in a part of the image processing section 22 of the copying machine shown in FIG. 7, and an opening 22A is formed in a side plate thereof as shown in FIG. 1, and a developing device is inserted through the opening 22A. It has become so.

A developing device accommodating section 1 is provided inside the opening 22A and is formed of a space partitioned by a wall plate (not shown) toward the back side of the copying machine. Is a developing tree formed in the developing device to be accommodated.
A slide rail 2 composed of a pair of channel members is fixed at a position where the developing device can be inclined and loaded so that the opening for exposing the block is positioned downward. The slide rail 2 is adapted to be able to insert a projection on the side of the developing device indicated by reference numeral J in FIG. 6, so that the inserted developing device can be suspended. Also,
In the lower part of the developing device accommodating section 1, a developing thread of the developing device A is provided.
A slidable collection tank 3 is provided at a position facing the opening for exposing the cover. The recovery tank 3 is opposed to an opening in which a part of the upper surface of the casing is cut out to expose a part of the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve B described above.
For example, an inverted V-shaped concave portion is formed on the lower surface of the shing,
This recess can be slid by fitting it into an inverted V-shaped projection formed on the bottom surface of the image processing unit 22,
Depending on the shape of the sliding guide portion, an avalanche phenomenon is caused in the developer falling inside to prevent hardening due to a bridging phenomenon, thereby increasing the recovery amount. The recovery tank 3 is provided with, for example, a level sensor or a weight sensor, which detects the amount of the recovered developer and warns the user when the developer becomes full. Therefore, when the toner in the collection tank 3 is full, the tank 3 is pulled out of the machine to be ready for another collection.

On the other hand, on the side opposite to the opening 22A in the longitudinal direction of the developing device accommodating section 1, there is provided a rotary drive section 4 for rotating the rotary shaft B1 of the developing sleeve B in the developing device A. That is, as shown in FIG.
A transmission pulley fixed to the rotating shaft B1 on the developing sleeve B side.
B2, a driving member 4A detachable from the transmission pulley B2, a pulley 4B fixed coaxially with the driving member 4A, and a belt 4C wrapped around the pulley 4B. .
As shown in FIG. 2, the above-described transmission pulley B2 has a conical recess B20 formed therein, and the recess B20 is formed of an elastic body such as rubber located at the tip of the driving member 4A. Weight head 4A1 fits. Therefore, when the developing device A is loaded into the storage section 1, the developing sleeve B is
The rotation axis B1 moves toward the weight head 4A1 of the driving member 4A, and the depression B
When the members 20 are fitted in a close contact state, they are in a state of receiving rotation transmission from the driving member 4A. In FIG. 1, a gear denoted by reference numeral B3 indicates a gear that receives rotational driving when the developing device A is at the image recording position.

An opening 22 formed in the image processing section 22
A has a face plate 5 composed of a lid for covering the opening 22A.
Is provided. That is, the face plate 5 is detachable through the fixing bolt 6 with respect to the screw hole 22B formed around the opening, and the flat plate portion rotatably supports the displacement member 7 of the developing main pole. I have. The above-described displacement member 7 includes the face plate 5
Is a rotating member that is supported by a shaft.
A hole through which the support shaft 8 on the side of the developing sleeve can be inserted, a pair of claws 7A on the developing sleeve B side with the face plate 5 interposed therebetween, and a handle 7B extending radially outward from the opening 22A. A fixed disk 7C is provided, and the phase angle of the claw 7A is changed by rotating the disk 7C with the handle 7B.

A support member K (FIG. 6) rotatably supporting a group of magnets including a developing main pole L (see FIG. 5) disposed in the developing sleeve A is provided on the claw 7A. ) Are opposed to each other. That is, in this embodiment, a structure for positioning the developing main pole L is provided on the developing sleeve A side, and this structure is fixed to the support member K of the magnet group described above in FIG. It has a support shaft 8 planted, the tip of which is formed in a frustum shape so that it can be easily inserted into the face plate 5 side, and a positioning member 9 described later is integrally provided by being press-fitted in the axial direction. is there. Positioning member 9 described above
Is formed with a hollow boss 9A at a position where the boss 9A is press-fitted, and a notch circle formed inside the boss 9A is fitted to a notch shaft of the support shaft 8. It is integrated with the support shaft 8, and has a face plate 9B formed of a flange in the middle in the axial direction.

The boss on the positioning member 9
At the tip of 9A, there is provided a concave portion 9C formed by an opposed slit, and the positional relationship of the concave portion 9C is set so that the developing main pole L can be opposed to the photosensitive member during development. . The recess 9A is adapted to engage with the pawl 7A of the displacement member 7 located on the face plate 5 side.
By rotation of 7A, the position of the main developing pole can be displaced to a position not facing the developing sleeve exposure opening of the developing device, in other words, a position not facing the photoconductor I (see FIG. 8). The above-mentioned positioning plate 9 is provided with an arc-shaped long hole 9D obtained at a radius centered on the support shaft 8 around the support shaft 8 penetrating the central portion. This arc-shaped long hole 9D has a hole 9E having a larger diameter than one of the other long holes at one end in the longitudinal direction, and a screw hole formed in the side plate of the developing device with the large diameter hole 9E.
When not facing (not shown), the position of the developing main pole can be set to a position to face the photoconductor, and the large-diameter fixing screw 10 is screwed in this position to make the above described. The main developing pole can be positioned. Therefore, a hole 5A for inserting a screwdriver for loosening the fixing screw 10 described above is formed in the face plate 5 near the disk 7C.

On the other hand, a dust collecting device 11 is provided near the developer accommodating section 1 described above. That is, the dust collector 11
3, an exhaust hole 22A1 formed in a wall 22A of the image processing unit 22 located near the developer accommodating unit 1.
11A mounted on the edge of the fan and this fan 11A
And a dust collecting filter 11B disposed at a position adjacent to the fan 11A and closer to the developer accommodating section 1 than the fan 11A. The above-described fan 11A is capable of rotating in a direction of discharging air inside the image processing unit 22 to the outside, and a drive circuit (not shown) includes an operation switch provided on an operation panel (not shown) and the rotation drive unit described above. 4 is provided with an electric path connected to the relay provided in the apparatus. Further, the above-described drive circuit is provided with a timer for maintaining the rotation of the fan for a predetermined time after the operation control of the above-described rotation drive unit 4 is stopped. The rotation is continued for a certain period of time after the recovery of the developer from the blade is completed.

Accordingly, the fan 11A starts rotating when an operation switch is turned on by an operator or when the rotary drive unit 4 drives the developing sleeve to rotate. The rotation of the developing sleeve is stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed since the rotation of the developing sleeve was stopped. The dust collecting filter 11B is made of a mesh material having a mesh size smaller than the particle diameter of the collected toner.

As shown in FIG. 4, instead of the mesh material, the dust collecting filter 11B is provided with a plurality of metal plates 11C arranged in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the air sucked by the fan 11A. May be connected to form an electrode plate. That is, in the case of this structure, the toner contained in the flowing air is electrostatically attracted to the electrode plate 11C to form an electric dust collecting structure. In the case of adopting the latter structure, for example, a reflection type photosensor is arranged near the electrode plate, and the amount of toner attached to the electrode plate by this photosensor is detected, and Determine when to clean or replace.

Since the present embodiment has the above structure,
The developing device for recovering the developer is loaded in the developing device accommodating section 1, and the rotating shaft B1 of the developing sleeve B is connected to the rotation drive section 4 on the developing device accommodating section 1 side. That is, when the developing device A slides the projection J on the slide rail 2 and is pushed into the home position, the inclination of the slide rail 2 causes the developing thread in the developing device in the present embodiment. And the weight head 4A1 at the tip of the driving member 4A of the rotary drive unit 4 is integrated with the transmission pulley B2 of the rotary shaft B1 of the developing sleeve B. Then, it is put in a position to receive the drive of rotation.

On the other hand, the developing sleeve B in the developing device A
Indicates the position of the developing main pole located inside the positioning plate 9.
Thus, after the developing device A is loaded in the housing section 1, the face plate 5 is put on the opening to prepare for displacement. That is, by fixing the face plate 5 to the main body while the support shaft 8 on the developing sleeve side is inserted into the hole formed at the center of the displacement member 7, the developing device is installed at a predetermined position. Become. At the same time, the concave portion 9C of the positioning member 9 is
By rotating the grip 7B of the disk 7C by holding the handle 7B of the disk 7C by loosening the fixing screw 10, the rotation is transmitted to the support shaft 8 and the position of the developing main pole L is changed to the state shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the photosensitive member I is displaced from the state in which the photosensitive body I is not opposed to the toner collecting tank 3 installed in place of the photosensitive body I. After the displacement of the developing main pole L, the rotation of the developing sleeve B is performed by bringing the pulley 4B and the belt 4C of the rotary drive unit 4 together. The rotation speed at this time is a speed at which a centrifugal force capable of releasing the developer adhering to the surface of the developing sleeve B is obtained.

Therefore, the developer adhering on the developing sleeve B falls toward the collection box 3 by centrifugal force without being subjected to the magnetic action of the magnet group, especially the developing main pole. In this way, the developing device that has finished collecting the developer is in a state where it can be pulled out by removing the face plate 5 from the opening 22A of the image processing unit 22, and is inserted into a predetermined installation location.

On the other hand, at the same time as the rotation of the developing sleeve is started, the fan 11A of the dust collecting device 11 also starts to rotate, and the toner floating around the developing accommodating section 1 is positively removed by the dust collecting filter 11B. To recover. The fan 11A stops rotating after a predetermined time has elapsed since the rotation of the developing sleeve is stopped, and floats around the developer accommodating portion 1 after the rotation of the developing sleeve is stopped. Collect the used toner.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the toner floating when the developer is collected can be positively collected by the dust collecting device, so that the toner scattered inside and outside the device can be collected. Contamination can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the operator from feeling uncomfortable. According to the present invention,
By continuing the operation of the dust collecting device for a predetermined period of time after the recovery of the developer from the developing sleeve is completed, the toner that is likely to float inside the device after the recovery is recovered to prevent contamination outside the machine. can do. Further, the above-mentioned dust collecting device collects the scattering toner in conjunction with the start of the collection of the developer from the developing sleeve, and after a predetermined period of time in accordance with the completion of the collection of the developer. Since the collection of the scattering toner is finished, it is possible to suppress generation of noise and increase in power consumption.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a developer collecting structure applied to an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a structure of a driving unit in the developer collecting structure shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modification of the main part shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the operation of the developer recovery structure shown in FIG. 1, and is a view in the direction indicated by the reference numeral-in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the operation of the developer collecting structure shown in FIG. 1, and is a view taken in the direction indicated by a sign-line in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a layout diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus.

8 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an example of a developing device applied to the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Developer 2 Slide rail 3 Collection tank 4 Rotary drive part 11 Dust collector 11A Fan 11B Dust filter 11C Electrode plate A Developing device B Developing sleeve B1 Rotation axis L Developing main electrode

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03G 21/00 370-540 G03G 21/14 G03G 15/00 303 G03G 13/08 G03G 15/08-15 / 08 507 G03G 15/00 550 G03G 21/16-21/18 G03G 21/10-21/12

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An image forming apparatus having a developer collecting structure used for visible image processing of an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor, wherein the collecting structure is provided on an image forming apparatus main body side. A developing device accommodating portion having an opening formed therein, a slide rail provided at a position corresponding to a slide member of the developing device in the developing device accommodating portion, and a longitudinal direction of the developing device in the developing device accommodating portion. A rotation drive unit provided at a position corresponding to one end and connectable to a rotation transmission unit of a development sleeve in the development device; A slidable collection box facing the exposure opening of the developing sleeve, and an exhaust hole edge formed on a wall of the apparatus main body located near the developing apparatus housing section, Rotating drive of the developing sleeve A dust collector configured to include a fan configured to start rotating in conjunction with movement, and a dust filter disposed adjacent to the fan and closer to the developing device housing than the fan. An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. An image forming apparatus comprising a developer collecting structure used for visible image processing of an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor, wherein the collecting structure is provided on an image forming apparatus main body side. A developing device accommodating portion having an opening formed therein, a slide rail provided at a position corresponding to a slide member of the developing device in the developing device accommodating portion, and a longitudinal direction of the developing device in the developing device accommodating portion. A rotation drive unit provided at a position corresponding to one end and connectable to a rotation transmission unit of a development sleeve in the development device; A slidable collection box facing the exposure opening of the developing sleeve, and an exhaust hole edge formed on a wall of the apparatus main body located near the developing apparatus housing section, The rotation of the developing sleeve is A fan configured to maintain rotation and then stop for a predetermined time after being stopped, and a dust collecting filter disposed at a position adjacent to the fan and closer to the developing device housing unit than the fan. An image forming apparatus comprising: a dust collecting device comprising: