JPH06250518A - Developer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Regarding a developing device, the workability of filling a new developer can be improved, and it can be done in a short time without scattering fine dust to the surroundings, and at the same time, the utilization efficiency of resources can be improved.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a developing device that is advantageous in achieving a space saving. [Structure] Having a main body of a developer cartridge 2 detachably attached to a developer supply port 21 of a developing device main body 1,
Even after the developer is discharged into the developing device main body 1, the developer cartridge 2 is left attached to the developer supply port 21 to form a lid for closing the developer supply port 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a developer case used in the developing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the surface of a photoconductor is uniformly charged by a precharger while being rotated, and a light beam such as a laser beam is emitted from an optical section to electrostatically charge the surface. A latent image is formed, a toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image from the developing device in the developing unit to form a toner image on the surface of the photoconductor, and this toner image is transferred to the paper in the transfer unit.
The toner image is fixed on the paper at the fixing unit.

Although there are various types of developing devices, today, a developing pad body is provided with an agitating paddle and a mag roller, and the developer contained in the developing device body is agitated by the agitating paddle so as to be frictionally charged. The mainstream structure is such that the magnetic roller is attached to the surface of the mag roller in a spike shape and is carried to the photoconductor side.

The developer is a mixture of toner and particles called a carrier, and the toner is replenished into the main body of the developing device by a toner supply device in accordance with the consumption. On the other hand, the carrier is repeatedly used, but if it is used for a long period of time, the charging ability is deteriorated and it is pulverized due to abrasion, so it needs to be replaced as appropriate.

For the replacement of the developer, a discharge port closed by a lid is formed in the lower part of the developing device main body, and a supply port closed by a cap or a plug is formed on the upper surface of the main body.

When replacing the developer, first, the cover of the discharge port is opened, the recovery container is communicated with the main body of the developing device through the duct, and the agitating paddle is operated to forcibly remove the old developer. It is then discharged from the container to a recovery container, and then the discharge port is closed with a lid, the supply port is opened, and a new developer is dropped from the container using a funnel, a duct, or the like.

[0007]

By the way, since the above-mentioned supply port is provided at one end of the developing device main body and its diameter is not so large, the workability of the work of filling the developing device main body with a new developer is improved. It is bad and has a drawback that the working time becomes long.

Further, in order to prevent clogging at one end in the main body of the developing device, it is necessary to perform the filling work while rotating the stirring paddle, which is disadvantageous in terms of energy saving.
Furthermore, when a new developer is filled in the developing device main body, fine dust such as toner is easily scattered around, and the operator's hand and surrounding objects are often contaminated. For this reason, there is a drawback that the filling operation of the developer must be carefully performed so that the developer does not scatter around.

In addition, the container containing the new developer is discarded after being filled, which is disadvantageous in improving the resource utilization efficiency. Therefore, in order to improve the resource utilization efficiency, it is conceivable to reuse the container containing the new developer as a recovery container for the old developer.In this case, the empty container is used for the developer. A special space is required to store the data until collection, which is a disadvantage in saving space.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and improves the workability of filling a new developer, and can be performed in a short time without scattering fine dust to the surroundings.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a developing device in order to improve the utilization efficiency of resources and save space.

[0011]

A developing device according to the present invention comprises:
To achieve the above object, for example, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, a developing device main body 1 having a supply port 21 opened on the upper surface,
The supply port 21 is detachably attached to the upper surface of the developing device main body 1 to cover the supply port 21 in a hermetically sealed manner, and
A main body 3 of the developer cartridge 2 having a developer discharge port 15 communicating with the main body 3 and a seal 12 for sealing the developer discharge port 15 so as to be opened, and the seal 12 of the developer cartridge 2 assembled in the developing device main body 1 Is removed and the developer in the main body 3 is discharged into the developer main body 1 from the developer discharge port 15 and the supply port 21, and then the supply port 21 is continuously closed by the main body 3 of the developer cartridge 2. It is configured.

In the main body 3 of the developer cartridge 2,
A characteristic display means 32 for showing the characteristic of the new developer enclosed in the developer cartridge 2 is provided, and further, the display content of the characteristic display means 32 is read, and the display content controls the operation of the developing device 35. Reading means 3 for transferring to
3 is provided.

The reading means 33 comprises a plurality of sensors 33.
a, 33b, and the characteristic display means 32 is provided with at least one detector 32a, 32b provided corresponding to these sensors 33a, 33b.

[0014]

[Operation] In the developing device of the present invention, the developer cartridge 2 containing a new developer is assembled to the developing device main body 1, the seal 12 is removed, and the developer discharge port 15 is opened to perform development. New developer can be discharged from the developer cartridge 2 into the developing device main body 1 through the developer discharge port 15 and the supply port 21.

Here, the developer discharge port 15 and the supply port 21
By forming a large size, a new developer can be instantaneously discharged from the developer cartridge 2 into the developing device main body 1 through the developer discharge port 15 and the supply port 21 without operating the stirring paddle. .

Since the seal 12 for closing the developer discharge port 15 of the developer cartridge 2 is removed after the developer cartridge 2 is attached to the developing device main body 1, the developer cartridge 2 is attached to the developing device main body 1. There is no possibility that fine dust will be scattered from the developer cartridge 2 to the surroundings.

Further, the supply port 21 of the developing device main body 1 is closed by the developer cartridge 2 except for a short time after the old developer cartridge 2 is removed and before a new developer cartridge 2 is assembled. The space defined by the main body 1 and the developer cartridge 2 does not communicate with the outside. Therefore, the developer discharged from the developer cartridge 2 to the developing device main body 1 or the developer in the developing device main body 1 is generated. There is almost no danger that fine dust will scatter around.

Further, since the developer is discharged from the developer discharge port 15 and the supply port 21 into the developing device main body 1, the supply port 21 is continuously closed by the developer cartridge 2.
The empty developer cartridge 2 can be effectively used to improve resource utilization efficiency, and a special space for storing the empty developer cartridge 2 becomes unnecessary.

When the characteristic display means 32 is made to represent the charging characteristic when the developer is manufactured, and the charging characteristic reading means 33 represented by the characteristic display means 32 reads it.
The control circuit 35 operates to operate the toner density control unit 36 or the bias voltage control unit 37 to keep the print density uniform.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. 2 is a vertical side view of FIG.
As shown in the plan view of FIG. Toner supply device 4 which can be detachably assembled
With.

Inside the developing device main body 1, four stirring paddles 5 to 8 are arranged in parallel in order from the lower side of the toner supply device 4 to the left side, and partially project to the right side of the developing device main body 1. The developer supplied from the main body 3 of the developer cartridge 2 is provided with a mag roller 9 and the stirring paddles 5-8.
The toner is charged while being stirred by, and adsorbed on the surface of the mag roller 9 in a spike shape.

In the developing device main body 1, a blade 10 is arranged below the mag roller 9 at an appropriate interval, and the mag roller 9 is rotated to scrape a part of the developer adhering to the surface with the blade 10. By taking it, the spike height of the developer adsorbed on the surface of the mag roller 9 is made equal to or lower than a certain level.

A flow restricting plate 11 is provided on the obliquely upper right side of the mag roller 9 in the developing device main body 1 and restricts the flow of the developer, which remains attached to the surface of the mag roller 9 and is returned to the inside of the developing device main body 1. Scrape from the mag roller 9 with the plate 11,
From this scraping position, the stirring paddle 7 is slanted in the axial direction and discharged onto the stirring paddle 7.

As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 3, the developer cartridge 2 is provided with a main body 3, a seal 12 made of a synthetic resin film, a thick paper 13 and a lid 14, and the lower surface of the main body 3 is provided. Is formed with a developer discharge port 15 which is opened over the entire surface.

The developer discharge port 15 is closed by a seal 12, a cardboard 13 is superposed on the lower side thereof, and a lid 14 is fitted from the lower side thereof, so that the cardboard 13 is interposed between the seal 12 and the lid 14.
To hold.

Further, the main body 3 is provided with a developer recovery port 17 opened at one end face 16 thereof and a cap 18 for closing the same, and the cap 18 is removed from the developer recovery port 17 to recover the developer. After filling the main body 3 with a predetermined amount of new developer through the port 17, the developer recovery port 17 is closed by the cap 18. The cap 18 is connected to the main body 3 via a strip 19 in order to prevent the cap 18 from being lost.

As shown in FIG. 1, a concave portion 20 is formed on the upper surface of the developing device main body 1 so that the lower portion of the main body 3 of the developer cartridge 2 can be inserted and removed from one end of the developing device main body 1 in the longitudinal direction.
4 and the cardboard 13 are removed, and the main body 3 whose lower surface is closed by the seal 12 is inserted into the recess 20 and then the seal 12 is inserted.
By pulling it away and pulling it out from the recess 20,
The developer discharge port 15 of the main body 3 is opened.

A supply port 21 that is slightly larger than the developer discharge port 15 is formed in the recess 20. By removing the seal 12, the developer discharge port 15 of the main body 3 is removed.
The new developer discharged from the developer is instantaneously discharged from the supply port 21 into the developing device main body 1.

Press rails 2 are provided on both sides of the recess 20.
2 are provided and both side edges of the main body 3 inserted into the recess 20 are pressed by the pressing rails 22,
The edge of the developer discharge port 15 is slidably and airtightly contacted with the peripheral portion of the supply port 21.
It is possible to prevent the developer released from the developing device main body 1 from scattering to the outside.

After the developer is supplied into the developing device main body 1, the main body 3 is continuously held at that position, whereby the supply port 21 is closed and fine powder such as toner is scattered from the supply port 21 to the surroundings. And the dead space formed on the upper side of the developing device main body 1 is used to collect the deteriorated developer into the empty main body 3 as described later.
Can be effectively used as a storage space.

At the bottom of the developing device body 1, the developing device body 1 is provided.
A density sensor 23 for detecting the toner density inside is provided,
When the toner density detected by the density sensor 23 is below a predetermined lower limit value, the toner is replenished from the toner supply device 4 into the developing device main body 1, and when the toner density is above a predetermined upper limit value, the toner replenishment is stopped. To be done.

The toner supply device 4 includes a toner hopper 24, a rotary vane 25 and a fixed vane 26 provided in the toner hopper 24, a sponge roller 27 for closing a lower end opening of the toner hopper 24, and a toner hopper 24. And an empty sensor 28 for detecting that the amount of the toner is below a certain amount.

Toner is dropped from a toner container (not shown) to the toner hopper 24, and when the toner concentration in the developing device main body 1 falls below a predetermined lower limit value due to the consumption of toner, the sponge roller 27 is rotated to cause the toner to remain in the developing device. Is supplied to. When the toner concentration in the developing device main body 1 is recovered to be equal to or higher than the predetermined upper limit value, the rotation of the sponge roller 27 is stopped and the toner supply is stopped.

When the toner is supplied, the rotary vane 2
By rotating 5 the toner bridge is prevented from occurring in the toner hopper 24, and when the empty sensor 28 detects that the amount of toner in the toner hopper 12 falls below a predetermined value, for example, an operation panel (not shown) is provided. The toner empty warning light blinks or lights up to give a warning to the user.

The toner hopper 24 may be formed integrally with the developing device main body 1 by, for example, injection molding, but in this embodiment, it is formed separately from the developing device main body 1 and separated into the developing device main body 1. Fixed as possible.

As a result, although not shown in the drawings, the toner hopper 2 can be used, for example, when it is necessary to arrange the developing units vertically close to each other in a model for multicolor printing.
4 is separated from the upper side of the developing device main body 1, and the toner hopper 2
Instead of 4, a feeder containing a supply screw and a sponge roller is fixed on the developing device main body 1, and
The toner can be supplied to the developing device main body 1 through the feeder from a hopper arranged on the lateral side.

The top opening of the toner hopper 24 is
When toner is supplied, it is closed by a toner container (not shown), and at other times, it is closed by a lid 29 shown in FIG. 1 to prevent the toner from scattering from the upper end opening of the toner hopper 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the one end surface 3 of the main body 3 is
A knob 31 that is pushed and pulled when the main body 3 is attached to and detached from the developing device is provided at 0, and a characteristic display unit 32 that displays the characteristic of the filled developer is provided at the other end of the main body 3.

The charging property of the developer is an important factor that affects the print quality. When this charging characteristic changes, the print quality cannot be kept uniform unless the toner density or the bias voltage of the mag roller is changed. Further, the charging characteristics are different for each lot when the developer is manufactured. Therefore, the charging characteristic of the developer is displayed on the characteristic display means 32 and is used for the control as described below.

That is, in this embodiment, the detectors 32a, 32b are formed by a plurality of (here, two) protrusions protruding outside the other end of the main body 3 and capable of cutting or breaking the tip.
The characteristic display means 32 is constituted by, and the tip portion is removed or not removed so as to display the characteristic in three stages. Since the characteristics of the developer can be specified for each manufacturing lot as described above, the detector 32
It suffices that a and 32b be in the same state for each lot so as to represent the charging characteristics of the lot.

The number n of the protrusions should be 3 or more.
Is free, and as in this embodiment, the detectors 32a, 3
2b also serves as a means for detecting the loading of the developer cartridge 2.
When using, 2 for the number of protrusions nⁿ-1 street lock
No. can be displayed and the developer cartridge 2 must be loaded separately.
When the means for detecting is provided, it is 2 for the number n of protrusions. ⁿ
Can display street characteristics.

In contrast to the characteristic display means 32, the reading means 33 is provided in the developing device main body 1. This reading means 33
Reads the display contents of the characteristic display means 32, and
It suffices if it is configured so that it can be transferred to the control circuit 34 shown in the circuit block diagram of FIG.
The reading means 33 is composed of sensors 33a and 33b, each of which is composed of a plurality of (two in this case) switches that are turned on and off depending on the presence or absence of the tip of each of the two detectors 32a and 32b.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control circuit 34 is
Main processing unit (MPU) 35 and toner density control unit 3
6 and a bias voltage controller 37. Above MPU
Reference numeral 35 selects an optimum toner density control reference value and an optimum bias voltage value according to the charging characteristics of the developer read by the reading means 33. The optimum toner density control reference value is
The toner concentration control unit 36 inputs the toner concentration control unit 36.
Reference numeral 6 controls the rotation and stop of the motor 38 for driving the sponge roller 27 of the toner supply device 4 based on the optimum toner density control reference value and the output of the density sensor 23 provided in the developing device main body 1. The optimum bias voltage value output from the MPU 35 is input to the bias voltage control unit 37,
The bias voltage controller 37 applies this optimum bias voltage value to the mag roller 9.

The main body 3 is used as the characteristic display means 32.
The charging characteristics of the developer housed in the printer are formed by patterns such as letters, symbols, and bar codes formed on the surface. These letters, symbols, patterns, etc. are printed directly on the main body 3 and are well-known. A label made of a metal foil, a synthetic resin film, paper or the like on which characters, symbols, patterns, etc. are formed by a known method such as a printing method, a printing method or an engraving method.
It is possible to fix it at a predetermined position on the surface of the by sticking or the like. In this case, it goes without saying that the above-mentioned object can be achieved by configuring the reading means 33 to have a structure corresponding thereto.

As shown in FIG. 1, a discharge port 40 for discharging deteriorated toner is provided at the bottom of one end of the developing device main body 1, and a slide type discharge port lid 41 for opening and closing the discharge port 38, for example. And a lever 42 for opening and closing the discharge port lid 39 is provided at one end of the developing device main body 1.

For example, when the deteriorated developer in the developing device main body 1 is to be discharged after a predetermined use time, the main body 3 of the developer cartridge 2 assembled above the developing device main body 1 is removed. The lid 14 is fitted to close the developer discharge port 15, and the developer cartridge 2 is used as a recovery container.

That is, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 5, the thick paper 1 is placed under the empty main body 3 mounted on the developing device main body 1.
3 is inserted to close the developer discharge port 15, the main body 3 and the cardboard 15 are pulled out, and then the lid 14 is fitted to form a recovery container.

After this, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 6, the main body 3 of the developer cartridge 2 containing new developer is assembled to the main body 1 of the developing device with the seal 12 attached, and the main body 1 of the developing device is supplied. Close the mouth 21.

After that, the recovery duct 4 is added to the discharge port.
3 is hermetically connected, the tip of this duct 43 is hermetically connected to the recovery container, that is, the developer recovery port 17 of the main body 3 whose developer discharge port 15 is closed by the lid 14, and the lever 4
2 to open the discharge port 40 and then the stirring paddles 5 to 8
To rotate.

As a result, the deteriorated developer in the developing device main body 1 is forcibly discharged to the duct 43 and collected in the collection container without being scattered around. Further, after this, by removing the seal 12 of the developer cartridge 2 containing the new developer, the new developer is instantly supplied with the developer main body 1
Supplied within.

[0051]

As described above, in the developing device of the present invention, the developer cartridge containing the new developer is assembled to the main body of the developing device, and the seal is removed to open the developer discharge port. Since the new developer can be discharged from the developer cartridge into the main body of the developing device through the developer discharge port and the supply port, the new developer can be filled into the main body of the developing device without being scattered around, Since it is not necessary to pay particular attention to prevent the developer from scattering around, it is possible to enhance the workability of the work of filling the developer with new one.

Here, by forming the developer discharge port and the supply port to be large, without operating the stirring paddle,
New developer can be instantaneously discharged from the developer cartridge into the main body of the developing device through the developer discharge port and the supply port, and the workability of the filling operation of the new developer can be further enhanced.

Since the seal for closing the developer discharge port of the developer cartridge is removed after the developer cartridge is attached to the main body of the developing device, the seal is removed from the developer cartridge before attaching the developer cartridge to the main body of the developing device. There is no risk of fine dust being scattered around.

Further, the supply port of the developing device main body is closed by the developer cartridge except for a short time after the old developer cartridge is removed and before a new developer cartridge is assembled. The space defined by and does not communicate with the outside,
Therefore, there is almost no possibility that the developer discharged from the developer cartridge to the developing device main body or the fine dust generated from the developer in the developing device main body is scattered around.

Furthermore, after the developer is discharged from the developer discharge port and the supply port into the main body of the developing device, the supply port is continuously closed by the developer cartridge, so that the dead space on the main body of the developing device is emptied. The developer cartridge can be effectively used as a storage space, which is advantageous in saving space.

In addition, since the developer cartridge other than the seal can be used as a container for collecting the deteriorated developer, the utilization efficiency of resources can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a developer cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram of a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a procedure for taking out the developer cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a developer recovery procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Developer Main Body 2 Developer Cartridge 3 Main Body 12 Seal 15 Developer Release Port 21 Supply Port 32 Characteristic Display Means 32a, 32b Detector 33 Reading Means 33a, 33b Sensor 34 Control Circuit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A main body of a developer cartridge (2) detachably attached to a developer supply port (21) of the main body (1) of the developing device, after the developer is released into the main body (1) of the developing device. Also, the developing device characterized in that the developer cartridge (2) is still attached to the developer supply port (21) and is configured as a lid for closing the developer supply port (21). 2. A developing device main body having a developer supply port (21)
(1) and the main body (3) of the developer cartridge (2) that covers the developer supply port (21) in a hermetically sealed manner and has the developer discharge port (15) communicating with the supply port (21). , Developer outlet
A seal for the developer cartridge (2) installed in the developing device main body (1) with a seal (12) for opening (15).
(12) is removed and the developer in the main body (3) is replaced with the main body of the developing device.
(1) A developing device, wherein the developer supply port (21) is continuously closed by the main body (3) of the developer cartridge (2) after being discharged into the inside. 3. A characteristic display means (32) for showing the characteristics of the new developer enclosed in the developer cartridge (2) is provided on the main body (3) of the developer cartridge (2), and the display means (32) is provided.
3. The developing device according to claim 1, further comprising a reading means (33) for reading the displayed content of the above and transferring the displayed content to a control circuit (35) for controlling the operation of the developing device. 4. The reading means (33) comprises a plurality of sensors (33a,
33b), and the display means (32) includes these sensors (33a, 33a).
at least one detector (32a, 32a,
The developing device according to claim 3, further comprising 32b). 5. The main body (3) of the developer cartridge (2)
At the time of discharging the developer in the developing device main body (1), a developer recovery port (17) with a cap (18) for recovering the discharged developer is provided. The developing device according to claim 1 or claim 2.