JPH07113805B2 - Image generator - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image generator such as an electrostatic copying machine.

<Prior Art> As is well known to those skilled in the art, an electrostatic copying machine or electrostatic printing of a type in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member and then the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image. Image generators such as machines are widely put to practical use. An electrostatic copying machine, which is an example of an image generator, includes a photosensitive member supporting unit having a photosensitive member on its surface, a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member surface,
A cleaning device for removing the residual toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor after the transfer is provided. The developing device generally includes a developing chamber and an applying unit arranged in the developing chamber, and the developer is applied to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor by the action of the applying unit. Further, the cleaning device includes a toner removing unit and a toner collecting chamber that contains the toner, and the toner removed by the action of the toner removing unit is collected in the toner collecting chamber.

On the other hand, in an electrostatic copying machine equipped with a developing device in which a so-called two-component developer composed of a carrier and toner is used, when the electrostatic copying machine is installed at the place of use and actually started to be used, Instead of filling the starting developer (new developer in which carrier and toner are mixed at a predetermined mixing ratio), a developer accommodating chamber for accommodating the start developer is provided, and the developer accommodating chamber is previously prepared at the time of manufacturing. A so-called start developer pre-filling method in which the start developer is filled and supplied to the user in such a state tends to be adopted. In particular, a so-called process unit in which a photosensitive member supporting means such as a rotating drum having a photosensitive member on its surface and a developing device (and often a cleaning device) are mounted on a common unit frame and are replaceable However, in the electrostatic copying machine of the type in which the process unit is detachably mounted in the housing of the electrostatic copying machine, the developing device adopting the start developer pre-filling method is often used.

The electrostatic copying machine equipped with the developing device adopting the start developer pre-filled system has the following disadvantages. That is, in the developing device, the developer accommodating chamber needs a space for accommodating a required amount of the start developer, but this space is wasted after the star developer is supplied to the developing chamber. On the other hand, in the cleaning device, the toner recovery chamber needs a sufficient space for recovering the toner removed from the photoconductor. Therefore, in the conventional electrostatic copying machine, a so-called process unit becomes large in size due to the above, and it is difficult to further reduce the size of the electrostatic copying machine.

<Purpose of the Invention> The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and its main purpose is to further reduce the size of an image generator itself such as an electrostatic copying machine by effectively utilizing a developer storage chamber. It is to provide an improved image generator that can be achieved.

<Summary of the Invention> As a result of earnest research, the present inventors have provided a toner transfer means for guiding the toner removed by the cleaning device to the developing device, and the toner removed by the action of the toner transfer means becomes a developer. If the developer is stored in the developer storage chamber after being supplied, it is possible to effectively use the developer storage chamber that was wasted after the supply of the developer, thereby achieving the above object. Found.

That is, according to the present invention, a photosensitive member supporting means having a photosensitive member on its surface, a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member, and a toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive member are provided. A process unit in which a cleaning device for removing is attached to a unit frame detachably attached to the support structure is provided.
The developing device includes a developing chamber, an application unit disposed in the developing chamber for applying a developer to the electrostatic latent image, a developer accommodating chamber for accommodating a start developer, and a developing chamber. In an image generator having a toner storage chamber for supplying a toner and having a toner cartridge in which a toner cartridge is detachably mounted; in relation to the developing device and the cleaning device, the photosensitive device is operated by the action of the cleaning device. A toner transfer means for guiding the toner removed from the body surface to the developing device is provided, and the toner removed from the photoreceptor surface is supplied with a start developer to the developing chamber by the action of the toner transfer means. There is provided an image generator characterized by being collected in the developer storage chamber later.

<Preferred Embodiments of the Invention> Hereinafter, further details will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Overview of Electrostatic Copier FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrostatic copier as an example of an image generator constructed according to the present invention.

The copying machine shown in the figure has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing generally designated by the numeral 2. The housing 2 is defined by a support structure consisting of a lower support frame 4 and an upper support frame 6. The lower portion of the right end of the upper support frame 6 is pivotally connected to the lower support frame 4 via a shaft 8, and the upper support frame 6 pivots between a closed position shown by a solid line and an open position shown by a chain double-dashed line. Can be done.

On the upper surface of the housing 2, that is, the upper surface of the upper support frame body 6, a document placing means 10 is reciprocally mounted in the left-right direction. The original document placing means 10 has a transparent plate 12 on the upper surface of which an original document to be copied is placed, and an openable and closable original document cover 14 for covering the transparent plate 12 and the original document placed thereon.
Includes and.

On the upper support frame 6, a so-called process unit generally designated by the numeral 16 which is positioned substantially at the center of the housing 2 is detachably mounted. More specifically, a pair of support rails 18 and 20 are fixed to the upper support frame body 6 at intervals in the left-right direction and extend in the front-back direction, that is, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. On the other hand, the process unit 16 has a unit frame 22, and on the left and right sides of the unit frame 22, supported rail portions 24 and 26 extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface are formed. The supported rail portions 24 and 26 of the unit frame 22 are engaged with the support rails 18 and 20 of the upper support frame body 6 respectively, and the unit frame 22 is slid in the front-back direction, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The process unit 16 is attached to and detached from the frame body 6. A rotary drum 28 is rotatably attached to a substantially central portion of the unit frame 22. On the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 28, an appropriate electrostatic photoconductor is provided. The unit frame 22 further includes a corona discharger 32 for charging, a developing device indicated by the whole 34, and a whole number, which are sequentially arranged around the rotary drum 28 which is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by the arrow 30 when viewed in the rotation direction. A cleaning device shown at 36 is also installed. Regarding the developing device 34 and the cleaning device 36,
Further details will be given later.

An irradiation lamp 38, a reflection plate 40, and an optical system 42 located above the process unit 16 are also mounted on the upper support frame 6. The optical system 42 is composed of a large number of elongated optical elements extending in the vertical direction (for example, a rod-shaped lens sold by Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. under the product name “SELFOC Microlens”). The light from the irradiation lamp 38 is irradiated through the transparent plate 12 onto the document placed on it, as shown by the chain line, and the reflected light from the document is formed on the upper wall 44 of the optical system 42 and the unit frame 22. It is projected onto the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 28 in the exposure area 48 through the exposure opening 46. In addition, a part of the light from the irradiation lamp 38 passes through the opening 50 formed on the lower surface of the reflection plate 40 and the static elimination light opening 52 formed on the upper wall 44 of the unit frame 22 as shown by the chain line. It is projected on the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 28 in the static elimination area 54.

At a substantially central portion of the lower support frame 4, a transfer corona discharger 5 which faces the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 28 in the transfer area 56.
8, and a stripping static eliminator 60 located downstream of and adjacent to the transfer corona discharger 58.

Further, at the right end portion of the lower support frame body 4, a copy paper supply means generally designated by 64 is provided, and at the left end portion of the lower support frame body 4, a copy paper tray 66 is provided. There is. And
Between the copy paper supply means 64 and the copy paper tray 66, there is provided a copy paper transport system indicated by reference numeral 68 for transporting the copy paper through the transfer area 56. Copy paper supply means 64
Includes a copy paper table 70, and a copy paper feed roller 72 disposed above the downstream end of the copy paper table 70. The copy sheet feeding roller 72 is selectively moved up and down, and an arrow 74
It is driven to rotate in the direction shown by. Copy paper supply means 64
Is further disposed downstream of the copying paper table 70 and indicated by an arrow 76.
It includes a copy paper feeding roller 78 that is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by and the copy paper separating means 80 disposed below it.
The copy paper separating means 80 includes a supporting member 84 rotatably mounted by a pin 82, and a separating member 86 disposed on the upper surface of the supporting member 84 and formed of a high friction material such as synthetic rubber. Have. The support member 84 is elastically biased clockwise by suitable spring means (not shown) so that the separating member 86 is elastically pressed against the copy sheet feeding roller 78. In the copy paper feeding means 64 as described above, a layer of sheet copy paper having an appropriate size is manually inserted on the copy paper table 70. Then, every time the copy paper delivery roller 72 is lowered and rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 74, the upper copy papers in the copy paper layer are sequentially delivered,
Then, the copy paper is further advanced by the copy paper feeding roller 78. Separation member 80 is provided when two or more copy sheets are fed at one time by copy sheet feeding roller 72.
Copy sheets other than the uppermost copy sheet are prevented from being advanced by the copy sheet feeding roller 78, and thus the copy sheets are supplied to the copy sheet conveying system 68 one by one. The copy paper transport system 68 includes a pair of guide plates 88, a pair of transport rollers 92 that are driven to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 90, guide plates 94 and 96, a transport belt mechanism 100 that is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 98, and an arrow 102. Heat-fixing roller pair 104 and guide plate pair 1 driven to rotate in the direction indicated by
06, and a discharge roller pair 110 that is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 108. In the upper heating roller 112 of the heating and fixing roller pair 104, an appropriate heating means 114 is arranged. Further, the upper heating roller 112 is provided with a peeling member 116 for preventing the copy paper from being wrapped around.

In the electrostatic copying machine as described above, while the rotary drum 28 is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 30, the charging corona discharger 32 makes the photoconductor on the rotary drum 28 substantially uniform in specific polarity. After charging, in the exposure area 48, the image of the original document on the transparent plate 12 is scanned and exposed on the photoconductor, thus forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image of the original document on the photoconductor.
At the time of the scanning exposure, the document placing means 10 moves the two-dot chain line 10B to the right from the scanning exposure start position indicated by the two-dot chain line 10A, for example.
The scanning exposure is moved to the scanning exposure end position indicated by. Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor is developed into a toner image by the developing device 34. Next, the copy paper supplied from the copy paper supply means 64 and conveyed by the copy paper conveying means 68 is brought into close contact with the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 28 in the transfer area 56, and the transfer corona discharger 58 acts on the photoconductor. The toner image is transferred onto the copy paper. After that, the static eliminator 60
The copy paper is peeled off from the rotary drum 28 by the action of.
The peeled copy paper is conveyed through the heating and fixing roller pair 104, during which the toner image on the copy paper is heat-fixed and discharged onto the copy paper tray 66. Meanwhile, the rotating drum 28
The toner continues to rotate, and the toner remaining on the photoconductor after the transfer is removed from the photoconductor by the action of the cleaning device 36. Next, in the static elimination area 54, the photoconductor is irradiated with static elimination light, and the residual charges on the photoconductor are eliminated.

Thus, the electrostatographic copying machine as described above is merely one example of an image producing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, and therefore, the construction and operation of the electrostatographic copying machine as described above will be described. Details are omitted in this specification.

Structure of Process Unit Next, the process unit 16 will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 together with FIG. 1. The unit frame 22 of the illustrated process unit 16 includes a front and rear direction (see FIGS. 1 and 3). The front wall 118 is arranged at intervals in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in the drawing, and from the lower right to the upper left in FIG.
(FIG. 2) and a rear wall 120 (FIGS. 1 and 3), the rotary drum 28, the developing device 34, and the cleaning device 36 are mounted between the front wall 118 and the rear wall 120. A bottom wall 122, a left side wall 124, and a right side wall 126 are provided between the front wall 118 and the rear wall 120 together with the above-mentioned upper wall 44. The bottom wall 122 cooperates with a wall 128 which will be described later, and a transfer opening which allows the copy sheet conveyed by the action of the copy sheet conveying system 68 to be brought into close contact with the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 28 in the transfer area 56. Stipulates
Further, the lower end portion of the right side wall 126 has the above-mentioned supported rail portion 26.
Acts as.

The rotary drum 28 is rotatably mounted between the front wall 118 and the rear wall 120. The rotating drum 28 is a drive source (not shown) disposed in the lower support frame pair 4 when the process unit 16 is removably attached to the upper support frame body 6 (it constitutes a drive source of an electrostatic copying machine). ), And is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 30 by the action of the drive source.

Next, the developing device 34 will be described. Mainly referring to FIG. 3, the developing device 34 shown in the figure has a pair of end walls 130 and 132 arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction. (One end wall 130 is arranged inside the front wall 118, and the other end wall 131 is arranged inside the rear wall 120) (see FIGS. 8-A to 8-C). The end walls 130 and 132 are provided with auxiliary end walls 134 and 136 (FIGS. 8A to 8C), and between the end walls 130 and 132 and the auxiliary end walls 134 and 136, further, Along with the wall 128 described above, various walls 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, and 152 extending in the front-rear direction are provided, and the developing device 34 includes the walls 128, 138, 140, 142, 14 and 14.
3 chambers divided by 4,146,148,150, and 152,
That is, the developing chamber 154, the developer accommodating chamber 156, and the toner accommodating chamber 158.
It is equipped with. In the developing device shown in the figure, a so-called two-component developer composed of carrier and toner is used, and the developer storage chamber 156 (specifically, auxiliary end walls 134 and 136 and the wall 14)
4, 146, 148 and 150) contains a so-called start developer which is supplied to the developing chamber 154 at the time of use, and the toner containing chamber 158 is replenished as the toner particles in the developing chamber 154 decrease. Toner particles to be stored. In the specific example, the toner cartridge 160 is detachably attached to the upper part of the toner storage chamber 158, and the toner in the toner cartridge 160 is supplied to the toner storage chamber 158 through the opening 162. Above wall 12
The 8,138,140,142,144,146,148,150 and 152 may be integrally formed with each other.

The left side surface of the developing chamber 154 facing the rotary drum 28 is open. In the developing chamber 154, application means 164, developer stirring means 166, and guide plate 168 are arranged. The applying means 164 has a cylindrical sleeve 172 that is driven to rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow 170, and a stationary permanent magnet 174 that has a plurality of magnetic poles that are arranged in the sleeve 172 and are circumferentially spaced from each other. It can consist of and. The stirring means 166 has a plurality of spiral blades 178 that are driven to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 176, and stirs the developer in the developing chamber 154 as described later and supplies it to the applying means 164. The wall 152 that defines the left upper surface wall of the developing chamber 154 is provided with the spike cutting means 180 protruding toward the sleeve 172 of the applying means 164. The bristle cutting means 180 acts on the developer that is magnetically held and moves on the surface of the sleeve 172 to remove the excess developer. Further, the wall 152 has the spike cutting means 180.
A toner concentration detector 182 located above is disposed. The detector 182, which may be of a well-known form, has a detection surface exposed in the developing chamber 154, and detects the toner concentration of the developer removed from the applying unit 164 by the action of the spike cutting unit 180.

The toner storage chamber 158 has a toner discharge opening 184 at the bottom, and a toner supply roller 186 as a toner supply means is rotatably attached to the toner discharge opening 184. The toner supply roller 186 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 188, and by this rotation, the toner in the toner storage chamber 158 is supplied to the developing chamber 154 through the toner discharge opening 184.

The developer storage chamber 156 has a developer discharge opening 190 at the bottom. Referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 8-A together with FIG. 3, the wall 150 defining the lower surface of the developer accommodating chamber 156 has a wall 150 that defines the front-back direction of the copying machine (see FIG. 3). A plurality of elongated developer discharge openings 190 are formed at intervals in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 5, the lower left direction to the lower right direction in FIG. 6, and the horizontal direction in FIG. 8A. . In the specific example, the developer stirring means 168 is provided in the developing chamber 154.
The developer in the developing chamber 154 is configured to be biased from one end (the front end in the front-rear direction) of the developing chamber 154 to the other end (the rear end in the front-rear direction). Each of the developer discharge openings 190 has a third
In FIG. 5 and FIG. 5, it is preferable that the developing chamber 150 is inclined from the other end to the one end by a predetermined angle from left to right. In the illustrated example, a guide piece 192 projecting downward is integrally provided at a portion of the wall 144 between the adjacent developer discharge openings 190. Each guide piece 192 is
As shown in FIG. 8-A, it is provided at one end (front end) of the opening of the corresponding developer discharge opening 190. The guide plate 168 described above is disposed below the plurality of developer discharge openings 190, and the left end portion of the guide plate 168 is inclined upward from left to right, and the right main portion thereof is from left to right. The stirring means 166 is inclined downward toward the upper side. Multiple guide pieces 192
Are located above the right main portion of the guide plate 168 and extend downward, and their lower ends are in contact with or close to the upper surface of the right main portion. Similar to the developer discharge opening 190, these guide pieces 192 are inclined from the other end of the developing chamber 154 to the above one end by the predetermined angle from left to right in FIGS. 3 and 5.

In the illustrated embodiment, a cover member 194 is disposed on the upper surface of the wall 150, and thus above the plurality of developer discharge openings 190. The illustrated cover member 194 includes a developer storage chamber 156.
It has an extension part 198 extending forward from a main part 196 extending inward. The main portion 196 has a rectangular shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the wall 150, and a plurality of auxiliary discharge openings 200 are provided in the main portion 196 at intervals in the front-rear direction corresponding to the developer discharge openings 190. It is provided. The plurality of auxiliary discharge openings 200 are similar to the developer discharge opening 190 and are shown in FIGS.
In the drawing, it is preferable that the developing chamber 156 is inclined from the other end to the one end by the predetermined angle from left to right. Grooves 202 and 204 extending in the front-rear direction are formed at the lower ends of the walls 144 and 148 that define the developer accommodating chamber 156, and one side of the main portion 196 of the cover member 194 in the longitudinal direction is located in one groove 202. One end is movably received, and the other longitudinal end of the main portion 196 is movably received in the other groove 204 (FIG. 5). Therefore, as will be described later, the cover member 194 is movably mounted in the front-rear direction from the supply position shown in FIG. 8-B through the storage position shown in FIG. 8-A to the storage position shown in FIG. 8-C. Has been done. The extension 198
From the one end (front end) of the main portion 196 to the front, the auxiliary end wall 134 and the end wall
Through holes 206 and 208 formed in 130 (the width of the through hole 206 is relatively large corresponding to the main portion 196, and the width of the through hole 208 is the extension portion).
(Relatively small corresponding to 198), the front end of which projects further forward through an opening 210 formed in the front wall 118, and the projection end protruding from the front wall 118 extends downward. The operation unit 212 is integrally provided. Further, a storage recess 214 is defined on the front surface of the front wall 118 so as to correspond to the operation portion 212. In the specific example, a plurality of protrusions 216 that protrude into the developer accommodating chamber 156 are further provided on the upper surface of the main portion 196 of the cover member 194. Each of the plurality of protrusions 216 exists between the adjacent auxiliary discharge openings 200. Each of the protrusions 216 has an inclined surface that inclines upward from one opening end of the adjacent auxiliary discharge opening 200 to one side and inclines upward from the opening end of the other adjacent auxiliary discharge opening 200 to the other side. It has a defined substantially triangular cross-sectional shape and serves to guide the start developer in the developer storage chamber 156 to the auxiliary discharge opening 200. Incidentally, the auxiliary end walls 134 and 13 are associated with the auxiliary discharge openings 200 existing at both ends of the main portion 196.
The inner surfaces of 6 are provided with protrusions 134a and 136a that define inclined surfaces that extend downwardly toward the opening ends of the auxiliary discharge openings 200, respectively. These plurality of protrusions 216 are also
Similarly to the auxiliary discharge opening 200, it is preferable that the developing chamber 156 be inclined from the other end to the one end by the predetermined angle from left to right in FIGS. 3 and 5.

The developing device 34 is further provided with a closed position locking means for releasably locking the cover member 184 in the closed position in order to reliably seal the start developer until the time when the developing device 34 is actually used. ing. In a specific example, a closed position locking means is provided in association with the extension 198 of the cover member 194, the closed position locking means being the extension 198.
And an adhesive tape 218 that is detachably attached across the front wall 118. As in the specific example, in order to reliably prevent the cover member 194 from moving in the front-rear direction, for example, a projection 220 (described later) provided at the projecting end of the extension 198 and a front wall 118 are provided. It is preferable to arrange the movement prevention block 222 between the front surfaces.
This movement prevention block 222 is replaced with the above-mentioned place,
You may make it arrange | position between the operation part 212 provided in the extension part 198, and the front surface of the front wall 118.

In a specific example, in relation to the cover member 194, a storage position locking unit that locks the cover member 194 in the storage position is additionally provided. The illustrated locking means is a cover member.
It is composed of a combination of the projection 220 provided on the extension portion 198 of the 194 and the locking projection 224 provided on the opening 210 of the front wall 118, and when the cover member 194 is brought to the storage position as described later, The stop projection 194 engages with the projection 220 of the cover member 194. In order to allow the cover member 194 to be positioned at the storage position, a through hole 226 is formed in the auxiliary end wall 136 and a recess 228 is formed in the end wall 132 as shown in FIG. 8A. The recess 22 is formed through the through hole 226.
The other end portion (rear end portion) of the main portion 196 of the cover member 194 is configured to be received in the inside 8. The cover member 194
In order to prevent the start developer adhering to the upper surface of the main part 196 from leaking to the outside with the movement of the cover member 194 described later, the main part 19 is provided in the through hole 206 of the auxiliary end wall 134.
It is preferable to dispose a seal member 230 that acts on the upper surface of 6, and in a specific example, a seal member 232 that acts on the upper surface of the main portion 196 is also disposed in the through hole 226 of the auxiliary end wall 136. (Fig. 8-A). In the developing device 34, when the cover member 194 is in the storage position (the position shown in FIG. 8-A) and the storage position (the position shown in FIG. 8-C), each toner discharge formed on the wall 150 is discharged. The opening 190 is a cover member
The main part 196 of 194 closes the toner discharge opening 190 to close the supply of the developer from the developer storage chamber 156 to the developing chamber 154, while the cover member 194 is closed at the supply position (8th- (The position shown in FIG. B), the toner discharge openings 190 and the corresponding auxiliary discharge openings 200 formed in the main portion 196 of the cover member 194 are substantially aligned with each other, and the toner discharge openings 190 are opened. Then, the supply of the developer is allowed.

Next, referring mainly to FIG. 3, the cleaning device 36
The cleaning device 36 shown in the figure has a pair of end walls (not shown) arranged inside the unit frame 22 with a space in the front-rear direction, and the above-mentioned space between the pair of end walls. Various walls 234, 236 and 238 extending in the front-rear direction are provided. An elastic blade 242 is attached to the upper surface of the wall 238 of the cleaning device 36 by a mounting member 240. The free end of the elastic blade 242 forming the toner removing means is pressed against the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 28 at a required pressure. Further, the cleaning device 36 has the above-mentioned walls 234 and 23.
A toner recovery chamber 244 defined by 6 and 238 is provided. In the toner recovery chamber 244, a portion facing the rotary drum 28 is opened, and a seal member 246 is arranged in the opened opening. The seal member 246 is attached to the outer surface of the wall 234, and its free end is in contact with or close to the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 28. Since this is the case, when the rotary drum 28 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 30,
By the action of the elastic blade 242, the residual toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor is removed. Then, the toner thus removed is guided to the inner surfaces of the seal member 246 and the wall 234 and collected in the toner collection chamber 244 as required.

In the copying machine as described above, it is important that the toner removed by the action of the cleaning device 36 is collected in the developer storage chamber 156 of the developing device 34.
Further explaining with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, the process unit 16 further includes a toner transfer means 248 for guiding the toner collected in the toner collection chamber 244 to the developer storage chamber 156. The toner transfer means 248 shown in the figure is a hollow cylindrical member 250 that connects the cleaning device 36 and the developing device 34, and a spiral member 2 for transferring toner through the hollow cylindrical member 250.
Has 52. In the specific example, a cleaning device
An opening is formed in a required portion of one end wall of 36 (the end wall located forward in the front-rear direction), and the auxiliary end wall 13 of the developing device 34 is also formed.
An opening is also formed in the required portion 4 (Fig. 8-A). Further, a pair of openings is formed in a required portion of the front wall 118 of the unit frame 22 (one opening corresponds to the opening formed in the end wall of the cleaning device 36, and the other opening is formed in the developing device 34). It corresponds to the opening formed in the auxiliary end wall 134). Then, one end 254a of the cylindrical hollow tubular member 250 passes through the one opening formed in the front wall 118 of the unit frame 22 to the opening formed in the one end wall (not shown) of the cleaning device 36. And the middle portion 254b thereof extends from left to right in front of the front wall 118 and the other end portion 254c.
Is connected to the opening formed in the auxiliary end wall 134 of the developing device 34 through the other opening formed in the front wall 118 of the unit frame 22. In the illustrated embodiment, a semi-circular wall 256 is further provided at the corner defined by the walls 144 and 146, as shown in FIGS.
By the upper end of the developer storage chamber 156, the toner transfer space 2
58 is defined, and this toner transfer space 258 extends from the other end of the hollow cylindrical member 250 connected to the auxiliary end wall 134 of the developing device 34 to the auxiliary end wall 136 rearward and rearward. Also,
The middle portion 260a of the spiral member 252 is located inside the middle portion 254b of the hollow member 250, and one end portion 260b thereof is the hollow member 250.
Located in the toner collecting chamber 244 of the cleaning device 36 through one end 254a of the cleaning device 36, and the other end 260c of the toner transfer space 258 defined in the developer storage chamber 156 of the developing device 34 through the other end 254c of the hollow cylindrical member 250. It is located inside. In the toner recovery chamber 244, one end 260b of the spiral member 252 extends in the width direction at the bottom thereof, that is, the front-rear direction, and the shaft portion 262 provided at one end thereof has the cleaning device 3
It is rotatably mounted on the other end wall of 6 (the end wall located rearward in the front-rear direction). The shaft portion 262 penetrates through the other end wall and projects rearward, and a gear 264 is attached to this projecting end. The gear 264 is meshed with a large gear 266 provided at the rear end of the rotary drum 28, and the rotary drum 28 is indicated by an arrow 3
When rotated in the direction indicated by 0, the gear 26
4 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 268. Further, in the toner transfer space 258, the other end portion 260c of the spiral member 252 extends in the width direction of the developer accommodating chamber 156, that is, the front-rear direction, and the shaft portion 270 provided in the other portion of the developing device. It is rotatably mounted on the auxiliary end wall 136 of 34. Spiral member 252
4 has shaft portions 262 and 270 at both ends thereof, as understood from FIG. 4, but is hollow because there is no shaft portion at the other portions, and the gear 264 is in the direction indicated by arrow 268. It is spirally wound so as to transfer the toner in the direction shown by arrow 272 (FIG. 4) when it is rotated. In relation to the other end 260c of the spiral member 252, an opening 2 as shown in FIG. 7 is formed in a lower portion of a wall 256 defining a toner transfer space 258.
It is preferable to provide 74. That is, it is preferable that the opening 274 has a triangular shape that expands in the front-rear direction, in other words, the width thereof gradually increases toward the rear in the front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the applying means 164, the shaft portions 276a and 276b provided at both ends thereof are rotatably attached to the end walls 130 and 132 (FIG. 8-A) of the developing device 34. Also in the stirring means 166, the shaft portions 278a and 278b provided at both ends thereof are rotatably mounted on the end wall 130 and the rear wall 132, respectively. The shaft portion 276b of the sleeve 172 is the end wall 132 described above.
Through which the gear 280 is mounted, and the shaft portion 278b of the stirring means 166 also penetrates through the end wall 132 and projects rearward, and the gear 282 is also mounted on the protruding end. There is. Gears 280 and 282 are drivingly connected via a pinion 284, and thus the drive source (not shown) of the copier.
When the gear 280 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 286 (which causes the sleeve 172 to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 170), the gear 282 is rotated via the gear 284 in the direction indicated by the arrow 288 ( This causes the stirring means 166 to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 176).

Functions and Effects Next, the functions and effects of the copying machine described above will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8C together with FIGS.

By the time the developing device 34 is actually used, the cover member 194 has been positioned at the storage position shown in FIG. 8-A. That is, the cover member 194 is locked at the above-mentioned storage position by the adhesive tape 218 (Fig. 8-A) which constitutes the storage position locking means. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8-A, the auxiliary discharge opening 200 formed in the main portion 196 of the cover member 194 is located between the adjacent developer discharge openings 190 of the wall 150, and each developer discharge is performed. The opening 190 is the main portion 196 of the cover member 194 (specifically, the portion between the adjacent auxiliary discharge openings 200).
The auxiliary discharge opening 200 and the corresponding developer discharge opening 190 are not communicated with each other. Therefore, in the developer storage chamber 156, the cover member 194 closes the plurality of developer discharge openings 190, and the start developer leaks from the developer storage chamber 156 through the developer discharge opening 190 to the developing chamber 154. Is reliably prevented. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the start developer from leaking during transportation of the process unit 16 or the entire electrostatic copying machine equipped with the process unit 16.

When the use of the developing device 34 is started, first, the developer discharge opening 190 is opened to supply the start developer contained in the developer accommodating chamber 156 to the developing chamber 154. That is, the adhesive tape 218 forming the accommodation position locking means is peeled off from the operating portion 212 and the front wall 118 of the cover member 194 to remove the entire adhesive tape 218, thus unlocking the accommodation position lock of the cover member 194. To do. Then, the operating portion 212 of the cover member 194.
Is gripped to move the cover member 194 forward in the opening direction indicated by arrow 290 (FIG. 8-B), that is, in the front-rear direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, one end (front end) of the main portion 196 of the cover member 194 abuts the inner surface of the end wall 130, and the cover member 194 is in the supply position shown in FIG. 8B. (It should be noted that the movement blocking block 222 can be removed by moving the cover member 194, as will be readily understood). When the cover member 194 is moved,
The seal member 230 arranged in the through hole 206 of the auxiliary end wall 134 acts on the main portion 196 of the cover member 194 to remove the start developer adhering to the upper surface of the main member 196, and therefore the start development is accompanied by such movement. It is also reliably prevented that the agent leaks through the through hole 206. When the cover member 194 is moved to the above open position, each auxiliary discharge opening 200 formed in the cover member 194.
And the corresponding developer discharge opening 190 are vertically overlapped and communicate with each other, and the developer discharge opening 190 is opened as required. Thus, the start developer in the developer accommodating chamber 156 passes through the auxiliary discharge opening 200 formed in the cover member 194 and the developer discharge opening 190 formed in the wall 150, and the developing chamber 15
Supplied within 4. When supplying the start developer, the protrusions 134a and 13 provided on the auxiliary end walls 134 and 136 are provided.
6a and the protrusion 216 provided on the main portion 196 of the cover member 194.
Acts to guide the start developer to the auxiliary discharge opening 200. Therefore, the start developer in the developer accommodating chamber 156 is reliably flowed down to the developing chamber 154 by the action of the protrusions 134a and 136a and the protrusion 216. Further, in the specific example, each of the developer discharge opening 190, the auxiliary discharge opening 200, and the protrusion 216 is inclined from the other end of the developing chamber 154 toward the one end by a predetermined angle, so that the developer storage chamber 156 is provided. Start developer from the developing chamber 154 through the developer discharge opening 190.
Is supplied substantially uniformly in the front-back direction. Then, the operating portion 212 of the cover member 194 is pressed to move the cover member 194 backward in the storage direction indicated by arrow 292 (FIG. 8C), that is, in the front-rear direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8-C, the operating portion 212 of the cover member 194 abuts on the bottom surface of the storage recess 214 defined in the front wall 118, and the cover member 194 is opened at 8-C.
It is located in the storage position shown. In this storage position, as shown in FIG. 8C, as in the storage position, the auxiliary discharge opening 200 formed in the main portion 196 of the cover member 194 has the auxiliary developer opening 200 adjacent to the wall 150. Discharge opening
Each developer discharge opening 190 is a cover member.
It is closed by the main part 196 of 194 and thus the developer storage chamber
156 is sealed by the cover member 194. When positioned in this manner, the other end (rear end) of the main portion 196 of the cover member 194 penetrates the through hole 226 of the auxiliary end wall 136 and is located in the recess 228 of the end wall 132, and at the same time, the cover member 194 is covered. Operating part 212
Are substantially stored in the storage recess 214 of the front wall 118. Furthermore, the locking projection 224 provided on the front wall 118 locks the projection 224 provided on the extension portion 198. Thus, the cover member 1
94 is substantially housed between the front wall 118 and the rear wall 120. In such a state, the operating portion 212 is housed in the housing recess 214, and the locking projection 224 allows the cover member 194 to move in the opening direction indicated by the arrow 290. It is blocked, thus making it virtually impossible to move the cover member 194 out of the stowed position.

Next, the toner cartridge 160 is detachably attached to the upper part of the toner storage chamber 158 of the developing device 34. The mounting of the toner cartridge 160 is achieved by peeling off the tape (not shown) attached to the opening of the toner cartridge 160 and inserting it into the upper part of the toner storage chamber 158. Through, the toner in the toner cartridge 160 is supplied into the toner storage chamber 158 (that is, the toner can be supplied).

When the initial preparation as described above is performed, the electrostatic latent image can be developed by the developing device 34, as will be easily understood. Mainly referring to FIG. 3, when developing is carried out, the stirring means 166 is moved by the arrow 176 in the developing chamber 154.
The toner is charged in a predetermined polarity by rotating the developer in a direction indicated by. In the specific example, the stirring means 166 is a spiral blade that is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 176.
By the action of 178, the developer is diverted in the direction of the applying unit 164 from one end (front end) of the developing chamber 154 to the other end (rear end). The sleeve 172 in the applying means 164 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 170, and the developer fed by the action of the stirring means 166 is held on the surface of the sleeve 172 by the magnetic attraction force of the magnet 174 arranged in the sleeve 172. Then, according to the rotation of the sleeve 172, the sleeve 172 is conveyed in a direction indicated by an arrow 170. Then, the action of the bristle cutting means 180 removes the excess developer retained on the surface of the sleeve 172. The removed developer is made to flow down on the guide plate 168 moved upward along the inner surface of the wall 152 toward the stirring means 166, and is stirred again by the stirring means 166. Information board 168
When flowing down, the guide piece 192 provided on the wall 150
Acts on the developer flowing down, so that the developer is agitating means.
Contrary to the case of 166, the developing chamber 154 is biased from the other end (rear end) to one end (front end) (note that the developing chamber 156 develops as easily understood from FIG. 3). Chamber 154
The start developer supplied to the guide plate 168 is also made to flow down on the guide plate 168. Therefore, when the start developer thus supplied also flows down along the guide plate 168, it is stored in the developing chamber 154. It is made to flow unevenly from the other end toward the one end). On the other hand, the developer held on the surface of the sleeve 172 and further conveyed in the direction shown by the arrow 170 is brought into contact with the photoconductor provided on the surface of the rotary drum 28 (FIG. 1), and the developer on the photoconductor is Toner in the developer is applied onto the photoconductor corresponding to the electrostatic latent image, and thus the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image. When the toner concentration of the developer decreases due to the developing action as described above, the detector 182 generates a signal, and the toner supply roller 186 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 188 in response to this, and thus the toner is stored in the toner storage chamber 158. Room 1
Toner is supplied to 54.

Further, mainly with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, when the rotary drum 28 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 30, the spiral member 252 is rotated as required via the large gear 266 and the gear 264. That is, the one end portion 260b located in the toner collecting chamber 244 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 294 (FIGS. 3 and 4), and the toner collected in the toner collecting chamber 244 as described above. Is transferred in the direction indicated by the arrow 272 from the rear end to the front end of the toner recovery chamber 244 by the action of the spiral member 252. The transferred toner is a hollow cylinder member 250.
And is further supplied into the toner transfer space 258 of the developer storage chamber 156. The other end portion 260c of the spiral member 252 is rotated in the direction indicated by an arrow 296 (FIGS. 3 and 4), and the toner supplied into the toner transfer space 250 as described above is
The other end portion 260c that rotates in the direction indicated by arrow 296 transfers the developer accommodating chamber 156 from the front end to the rear end in the direction indicated by arrow 272. When the toner is transferred in the toner transfer space 258, the toner from the toner recovery chamber 244 is supplied into the developer storage chamber 156 through the opening 274. The amount of the toner thus supplied is small even though the toner is relatively large due to the width of the opening 274 becoming smaller toward the front end side of the toner transfer space 258, while the toner is supplied at the rear end. Due to the opening 274 becoming larger toward the side, the proportion of toner supplied becomes relatively large despite the relatively small amount of toner, which makes it substantially uniform in the width direction of the developer storage chamber 156, that is, the front-back direction. Is supplied to. Thus, the toner removed from the photoconductor surface of the rotary drum 28 and collected in the toner collecting chamber 244 is further transferred to the toner transfer means 2
By the action of 48, the toner is transferred to the developer accommodating chamber 156 of the developing device 34 and collected in the developer accommodating chamber 156. The developer storage chamber 156 stores the start developer until the developing device 34 is actually used, but at the time of use, the start developer is supplied to the development chamber 154 and is emptied. The space wasted when the machine is used can be effectively used as a toner recovery chamber, and the toner recovery chamber 244 in the cleaning device 36 can be made small, thereby achieving downsizing of the copying machine, especially the process unit 16. be able to.

Modifications and Modifications Next, modifications of the electrostatic copying machine will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. In this modification, the developing device of the electrostatic copying machine, in particular, the wall defining the developer accommodating chamber, the cover member, and the storage position locking means are modified, and the modification can be similarly applied. . The same members as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 will be described with the same reference numerals.

Referring mainly to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11-A, the developing device of the copying machine according to the modified example will be described. The cover member 194 'of the developing device 34 of the modified example shown in FIG. Is disposed below the wall 150 defining the, and in this connection, the wall 150 is provided with a projection 300, while the cover member 194 'is provided with a guide piece 302. More specifically, the wall 150 has a front-back direction of the copying machine (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 9, a direction from the lower left to the upper right in FIG. 10, and a horizontal direction in FIGS. 11-A to 11-C). A plurality of elongated developer discharge openings 190 are formed at intervals. A protrusion 300 protruding from the upper surface thereof into the developer accommodating chamber 156 is provided at a portion between the adjacent developer discharge openings 190 of the wall 150. Each of the protrusions 300 inclines upward from the opening end of the adjacent one developer discharge opening 190 to one side, and extends upward from the open end of the other adjacent developer discharge opening 190 to the other side. It has a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape that defines an inclined surface, and acts to guide the start developer in the developer accommodating chamber 156 to the developer discharge opening 190. In connection with the developer discharge openings 190 located at both ends of the wall 150, the auxiliary end wall 1
The inner surfaces of 34 and 136 are provided with projections 134a 'and 136a', respectively, which define inclined surfaces extending downward toward the opening end of the developer discharge opening 190. In this modified example as well, as in the specific example shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the developer discharge opening 190 and the projection 300 are respectively arranged in the rear of the developing chamber 150 from left to right in FIG. It is preferable to incline from the end to the front end by a predetermined angle.

Further, the cover member 194 'has a main portion 196 corresponding to the developer storage chamber 156 and an extension portion 198 extending forward from the main portion 196. The main part 196 has a rectangular shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the wall 150, and a plurality of auxiliary discharges are provided in the main part 196 in a longitudinal direction corresponding to the developer discharge openings 190, that is, in the front-rear direction. An opening 200 is provided. A guide piece 302 projecting downward is integrally provided at a portion between adjacent auxiliary discharge openings 200 of the main portion 196 of the cover member 194 '. A guide plate 168 is arranged below the auxiliary discharge opening 200, and a right main portion of the guide plate 168 is inclined downward from left to right. The plurality of guide pieces 302 are located above the right main portion of the guide plate 168 and extend downward, and their lower ends are in contact with or close to the upper surface of the right main portion. Like the developer discharge opening 190 and the protrusion 300, each of the auxiliary discharge opening 200 and the guide piece 302 is also inclined from the rear end to the front end of the developing chamber 156 by a predetermined angle from left to right in FIG. Is preferred.

In relation to the cover member 194 ', grooves 304 and 306 (Fig. 9) extending in the front-rear direction are defined on the lower side of the developer accommodating chamber 156, that is, the lower ends of the walls 144 and 148. groove
One end of the main part 196 in the longitudinal direction of the cover member 194 'is movably received in 304, and the other end of the main part 196 in the longitudinal direction is movably received in the other groove 306. Therefore, as will be described later, the cover member 194 'is movable in the front-rear direction from the supply position shown in FIG. 11-B through the storage position shown in FIG. 11-A to the storage position shown in FIG. 11-C. is there. The extension portion 198 of the cover member 194 'passes from the one end (front end) of the main portion 196 to the front side below the auxiliary end wall 134, and the end wall 1
It projects through a through-hole 208 (whose width is smaller than the main part 196 corresponding to the extension 198) formed in 30, and its front end part further projects forward through an opening 210 formed in the front wall 118. In addition, an operation portion 212 extending downward is integrally provided at the protruding end protruding from the front wall 118. A storage recess 214 is provided on the front surface of the front wall 118 in relation to the operation portion 212.

Further, in the modified example, the storage position locking means is the front wall.
Instead of 118, a locking protrusion 308 provided on the end wall 132 is provided. Mainly referring to FIG. 11-A, the cover member 19
4'includes a locked extension 310 extending further rearward from the other end of the main portion 196. The locked extension portion 310 passes through the lower side of the auxiliary end wall 136 and projects rearward through an opening 312 formed in the end wall 132, and an elastically deformable tongue piece is formed on the upper surface of the projecting end portion. 314 is integrally provided. On the other hand, end wall 1
A projecting portion 316 that projects rearward is provided on the upper portion of the opening 312 of the 32, and a locking projection 308 is provided on the projecting portion 316. In the specific example, the locking projection 308 has a locking surface 320a with which the free end of the tongue 314 can abut and an inclined surface 320b with which the upper surface of the tongue 314 can abut. The rest of the configuration of the modification is substantially the same as the specific example shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, and the corners defined by the walls 144 and 146 have no walls.
The toner transfer space 258 is defined by 256, and the end portion 260c of the spiral member 252 of the toner transfer means is disposed in the toner transfer space 258 and transferred from the toner recovery chamber 244 (FIG. 3) to the toner transfer space 258. The toner thus collected is further collected in the developer storage chamber 156 through the opening 274.

Also in the developing device 34 in such a modified example, the developing device
By the time 34 is actually used, cover member 194 'is
-Locked to the accommodation position by an adhesive tape 218 (adhered across the operating portion 212 of the cover member 194 'and the front wall 118) that is positioned at the accommodation position shown in FIG. Has been done. In such a locked state, the upper surface of the tongue piece 314 provided on the cover member 194 'is in contact with the inclined surface 320b of the locking projection 308, and therefore the action of the locking projection 308 and the adhesive tape 218 causes It does not move from the storage position. When the cover member 194 'is in the storage position, the auxiliary discharge opening 200 formed in the main portion 196 of the cover member 194', as shown in FIG.
Each of the developer discharge openings 190 is located at a portion between the adjacent developer discharge openings 190 of the wall 150, and each developer discharge opening 190 is a main portion 196 of the cover member 194 '.
(Specifically, the area between the adjacent auxiliary discharge openings 200) is surely closed, and the developer discharge openings 190 corresponding to the auxiliary discharge openings 200 are not communicated. Therefore, the developer discharge opening 190 and the auxiliary discharge opening from the developer storage chamber 156.
The start developer is surely prevented from leaking to the developing chamber 154 through 200, and the start developer is surely leaked when the process unit or the entire electrostatic copying machine equipped with the process unit is transported. To be prevented.

When the use of the developing device 34 is started, the adhesive tape 218 is removed from the operating portion 212 of the cover member 194 ′ and the front wall 118 and the entire adhesive tape 218 is removed. It is moved in the opening direction shown in Fig. 11-B), that is, in the front-rear direction. Thus, one end (front end) of the main portion 196 of the cover member 194 'comes into contact with the inner surface of the end wall 130, and the cover member 194' is positioned at the supply position shown in FIG. 11-B. When the cover member 194 'is moved, the auxiliary end wall 134
Of the seal member 230 (No. 11-B
The figure) acts on the main part 196 of the cover member 194 'to remove the start developer adhering to the upper surface thereof, and therefore reliably prevents the start developer from leaking through the through hole 208 with such movement. To be done. When the cover member 194 'is moved to the supply position, each auxiliary discharge opening 200 formed in the cover member 194' and the corresponding developer discharge opening 190 are vertically communicated with each other to communicate with each other, thereby developing the developer discharge opening. 190 is opened as required. Thus, the starting developer in the developer accommodating chamber 156 is the developer discharge opening 1 formed in the wall 150.
It is supplied into the developing chamber 154 through the auxiliary discharge opening 200 formed in 90 and the cover member 194 '. When the start developer is supplied, the protrusions 134a 'and 136a' provided on the auxiliary end walls 134 and 136 and the projection 300 provided on the wall 150 guide the start developer to the developer discharge opening 190. Therefore, the start developer in the developer accommodating chamber 156 is reliably flowed into the developing chamber 154 by the action of the protrusions 134a 'and 136a' and the protrusion 300. At this time, the developer discharge opening 190, the auxiliary discharge opening 200, and the protrusion
Since each of the 300 is inclined at a predetermined angle from the rear end to the front end of the developing chamber 154, the start developer from the developer accommodating chamber 156 passes through the developer discharging opening 190 and the auxiliary discharging opening 200. It is supplied to 154 substantially uniformly in the front-back direction. The start developer supplied as described above falls on the guide plate 168 in the developing chamber 154, and this guide plate 168
You can let it flow down. At this time, the guide piece 302 provided on the cover member 194 'acts on the start developer flowing down on the guide plate 168, and therefore, the start developer is made to flow unevenly from the rear end to the front end of the developing chamber 154. To be

After that, the operating portion 212 of the cover member 194 'is pressed to move the cover member 194' in the storage direction indicated by the arrow 292 (Fig. 11-C), that is, in the front-back direction. That way, the first
As shown in FIG. 11-C, the operating portion 212 of the cover member 194 'abuts the bottom surface of the storage recess 214 defined in the front wall 118, and the cover member 194' is positioned at the storage position shown in FIG. 11-C. . When moving in the storage direction indicated by arrow 292, the auxiliary end wall 136
Of the seal member 232 (11th-C
(Fig.) Acts on the main part 196 of the cover member 194 'to remove the start developer adhering to the upper surface thereof, thus reliably preventing the start developer from leaking through the opening 312 with such movement. To be done. When the cover member 194 'is positioned in the storage position, the auxiliary discharge opening 200 formed in the main portion 196 of the cover member 194', as shown in FIG. Located at a position between the adjacent developer discharge openings 190 of the wall 150, each developer discharge opening 190 is closed by the main part of the cover member 194 ', and thus the developer storage chamber 156 is sealed by the cover member 194'. To be done. Further, when so positioned, the tongue piece 314 provided on the locked extension portion 310 of the cover member 194 ′ passes through the locking projection 308 and is locked to the locking surface 320a of the locking projection 308, and The operating portion 212 of the cover member 194 ′ is the front wall 118.
The storage recess 214 is substantially stored. Thus, the cover member 194 ′ is substantially housed between the front wall 118 and the rear wall 120, and in such a state, the operating portion 212 is housed in the housing recess 214 and the cover projection 308 and the tongue piece 314 act to cover the cover member 194 ′. The movement in the open direction indicated by the arrow'290 is blocked, thus making it virtually impossible to move the cover member 194 'out of the stowed position. Then, when the rotating drum 28, the developing device 34, the cleaning device 36, etc. are operated as required by the execution of the copying process, the toner collected in the toner collecting chamber 244 of the cleaning device 36 becomes the toner by the action of the toner transfer means 248. Transfer space 258
And the start developer is supplied to the developing chamber 154 and then collected in the empty developer accommodating chamber 156.

Although one example of the modified example has been described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11, the present invention is not limited to the above-described specific examples and modified examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It can be modified or modified.

For example, in the specific example and the modified example, the cover member 194 that opens and closes the developer discharge opening 190 provided in the developer storage chamber 156.
(Or 194 ′) is selectively positioned at the storage position, the supply position, and the storage position, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the cover member 194 (or 194 ′) can be positioned at the storage position and the supply position. It can be similarly applied to selectively positioned ones. For example, in such a case, the cover member 194 (or 194 ') can be positioned again at the supply position, and the toner collected in the developer storage chamber 156 is supplied to the development chamber 154 through the developer discharge opening 190. You can also choose to do so.

Further, for example, in the specific examples and the modified examples, the description is applied to a copying machine equipped with a developing device of a type that uses a so-called two-component developer composed of a carrier and a toner, but the present invention is a so-called only toner. It can also be applied to a copying machine using a developing device of the type that uses a one-component developer. In such a case, the one-component developer is stored in the developer storage chamber 156, and the toner storage chamber 158, the stirring unit 166, the toner concentration detector 182 and the like are completely unnecessary.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified cross-sectional view schematically showing a specific example of an electrostatic copying machine as an example of an image generating apparatus configured according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a process unit in the electrostatic copying machine of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the process unit of FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a toner transfer unit provided in the process unit of FIG. 2 and elements related thereto. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the developer accommodating chamber of the developing device and its vicinity in the process unit of FIG. 3 in an enlarged manner. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of the developing device in the process unit of FIG. 3 in an exploded manner. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. FIGS. 8-A to 8-C respectively show a state when the cover member is in the accommodation position, a state when the cover member is in the supply position, and a state when the cover member is in the developing device in the process unit of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the state when a cover member is in a storage position. FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the developer accommodating chamber of the developing device and its vicinity in a modified example of the electrostatic copying machine as an example of the image forming apparatus configured according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of the developing device in the modification of FIG. 9 in an exploded manner. 11-A to 11-C respectively show a state when the cover member is in the containing position, a state when the cover member is in the supply position, and a state when the cover member is in the developing device in the modified example of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the state when a cover member is in a storage position. 2 ... Housing 4 ... Lower support frame 6 ... Upper support frame 16 ... Process unit 22 ... Unit frame 28 ... Rotating drum 34 ... Developing device 36 ... Cleaning device 154 ... Developing chamber 156 ... ... developer storage chamber 158 ... toner storage chamber 164 ... application means 190 ... developer discharge openings 194 and 194 '... cover member 244 ... toner recovery chamber 248 ... toner transfer means 250 ... hollow cylinder member 252 ... Spiral member

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive member supporting means having a photosensitive member on its surface,
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor and a cleaning device for removing the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor are mounted on a unit frame detachably mounted on the support structure. The developing device includes a process unit, a developing chamber, an application unit disposed in the developing chamber for applying a developer to the electrostatic latent image, and a developer accommodating chamber for accommodating a start developer. And a toner accommodating chamber having a toner supply unit for supplying toner to the developing chamber and having a toner cartridge removably mounted therein; and the cleaning device in association with the developing device and the cleaning device. Toner transfer means for guiding the toner removed from the surface of the photoconductor to the developing device by the action of the apparatus is provided, and the toner removed from the surface of the photoconductor is removed by the action of the toner transfer means. And the start developer is supplied to the developing chamber and then collected in the developer accommodating chamber. 2. The developer accommodating chamber is communicated with the developing chamber through the developer discharging opening, and the developer discharging opening is
The developer discharge opening is opened to open the developer storage chamber to communicate with the developing chamber, and the developer discharge opening is closed to close the communication between the developer storage chamber and the developer. The image generator according to claim 1, further comprising a cover member that is selectively pressed. 3. The cover member is selectively biased to a storage position, a supply position, and a storage position, is held in the open state when in the supply position, and is in the closed state when in the storage position and the storage position. 3. The image generator according to claim 2, wherein the cover member is set to the storage position when the toner held by the toner and removed from the surface of the photoconductor is collected in the developer storage chamber. 4. The image generator according to claim 3, further comprising storage position locking means for releasably locking the cover member in the storage position. 5. The image generator according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising storage position locking means for locking the cover member at the storage position. 6. The storage position locking means includes an engagement portion that engages with a part of the cover member when the cover member is brought into the storage position, and the engagement portion and a part of the cover member are provided. The image generator according to claim 5, wherein the disengagement is substantially impossible after the engagement. 7. The toner transfer means comprises a hollow cylindrical member connecting the cleaning device and the developing device, and a spiral member for transferring toner, the spiral member being a toner recovery chamber of the cleaning device. The image generator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which extends from the inside of the hollow cylindrical member to the developer accommodating chamber of the developing device.