JPH10326044A - Attaching/detaching mechanism for developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent noise from being made by reaction when a developing device is separated from a latent image carrier and to prevent the unnecessary supply of toner by making the free end of a pressure spring abut on an attaching/detaching cam when the attaching/detaching cam is turned by the turning of an operation lever and the pressuring of a fixed base is released. SOLUTION: The developing device 1 is attached to the fixed base 3 and the pressure leaf spring 4 is disposed on the base 3. The developing device 1 is made proximate to the latent image carrier 6 by pressuring the spring 4 by means of the leading end 18 of the arm of the attaching/detaching cam 11. When the operation lever 13 is turned counterclockwise, the cam 11 is interlocked with it and turned similarly, so that the pressuring of the spring 4 is released, and the base 3 and the device 1 are separated from the image carrier 6 by a releasing spring 16 so as to be released. At such a time, the free end of the spring 4 is horizontally moved to a state where the free end of the spring 4 abuts on the shoulder part 17 of the cam 11 and stopped. At the time of abutting, a shock is softened by a spring effect.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mechanism for attaching and detaching a developing device of an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Most of developing devices in conventional image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and facsimile machines are the same as those in the embodiment of the present invention, and therefore, description will be made with reference to them. 1 and 2, a developing device 1 of an image forming apparatus slides a fixed base 3 on which the developing device 1 is installed in a substantially horizontal direction, thereby attaching and detaching the same to and from a latent image carrier 6 of the image forming apparatus. It has become. Also, the driving gears 7 and 8 on the main body side of the image forming apparatus are moved by the horizontal sliding.
The driven gears 9 and 10 on the developing device 1 side are disengaged from each other to drive or stop the developing device 1.
As means for sliding the developing device 1 toward the latent image carrier 6 in a direction to approach the developing device 1, a directional spring 16 that uses the elastic force of the pressing leaf spring 4 and releases it is used. FIG. 4
As shown in the figure, the detachable cam 11 is pivoted to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line.
When the pressure is applied to the latent image carrier 6 and the developing device 1 is released from the rotation about the center 12, the pressing plate spring 4 does not contact the detachable cam 11 as shown by a two-dot chain line. , Is configured to be in an open state. Reference numeral 2 denotes a toner supply tank.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional attaching / detaching mechanism of the developing device, when the driving gear on the main body side of the image forming apparatus and the driven gear on the developing device are engaged or disengaged from each other, the fixing base is used. It requires more force than is required to slide it, especially when disengaged, which causes a reaction due to the force after the gear disengages, causing noise and replenishment of unnecessary toner. .

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional developing device, and it is possible to generate a sound due to a recoil when the developing device is detached from the latent image carrier and to supply unnecessary toner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developing device attaching / detaching mechanism that can prevent such a problem.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an invention according to claim 1 is to slide a fixing unit fixing table on which a developing device is installed in a substantially horizontal direction. According to this, in the attaching / detaching mechanism of the developing device configured to attach / detach the developing device to / from the latent image carrier of the image forming apparatus, a pressure plate spring is provided on the fixed base,
A detachable cam that is rotatably supported by the main body of the image forming apparatus and presses the free end of the pressure plate spring is provided, and the detachable cam is rotated by turning an operation lever facing the latent image carrier. The free end of the pressurizing leaf spring abuts on the detachable cam when the pressurization of the fixed base is released by being moved.

In the above invention, the detachable cam is rotated counterclockwise by the operation lever rotating toward the latent image carrier from the state in which the pressing leaf spring is pressed by the detachable cam. Then, when the pressurization of the pressurizing leaf spring is released, the fixed base and the developing device are separated from the latent image carrier. Then, the free end of the pressure leaf spring comes into contact with the detached cam that has been rotated, and the fixed base and the developing device stop.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1 showing the first embodiment of the present invention, a developing device 1 is mounted on a fixed base 3, and a pressure plate spring 4 is provided on the fixed base 3. The developing device 1 moves the latent image carrier 6
The pressing leaf spring 4 is pressed by the distal end portion 18 of the arm of the detachable cam 11, and is brought into a close state. Also, detachable cam 11
Is connected to the operation lever 13 and is rotatably supported on the support shaft 12. That is, in this embodiment, when the operation lever 13 faces the latent image carrier 6 as shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the developing device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has been separated from the latent image carrier 6. When the operation lever 13 is rotated approximately 90 ° counterclockwise, the detachable cam 11 connected thereto is also rotated in the same manner, and the pressing leaf spring 4 is rotated.
When the pressure is released, the fixing table 3 and the developing device 1 are separated from the latent image carrier 6 by the release spring 16 to be in a released state. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the free end of the pressing leaf spring 4 moves horizontally to a position where it comes into contact with the shoulder 17 of the detachable cam 11, and stops. And when it abuts, the impact is buffered by the spring effect.

[0009]

The present invention is as described above. According to the first aspect of the present invention, a latent image of an image forming apparatus is slid by sliding a developing device fixing table on which a developing device is installed in a substantially horizontal direction. In the attaching / detaching mechanism of the developing device configured to attach / detach the developing device to / from the carrier, a pressing plate spring is disposed on a fixed base, and is rotatably supported by a main body of the image forming apparatus. A detachable cam for pressing the free end of the pressure plate spring is provided, and when the operation lever is turned toward the latent image carrier, the detachable cam is rotated to release the pressurization of the fixed base. Since the free end of the spring comes into contact with the detachable cam, the detachable cam is rotated to release the pressurization of the fixed base, and when the developing device is also separated from the latent image carrier, the pressure plate spring is free. The end comes into contact with the detachable cam and stops. Impact is buffered, supplemented and the toner non-generation and the need for sound an effect that can be prevented. When the operation lever is directed toward the latent image carrier, the developing device is mounted, and when the operation lever is rotated, the developing device is released. Since the user can easily understand the mounting state of the device, there is an excellent effect that the ease of handling is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a developing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is close to a latent image carrier.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the developing device of the first embodiment is released from a latent image carrier.

FIG. 3 is a partial view showing a state in which the pressing leaf spring and the detachable cam of the first embodiment are in contact with each other.

FIG. 4 is a partial view showing a conventional detachable cam portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Developing device 3 Fixed base 4 Pressure leaf spring 11 Detachable cam 12 Support shaft 13 Operation lever 17 Shoulder 18 Tip

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A developing device configured to attach / detach the developing device to / from a latent image carrier of an image forming apparatus by sliding a developing device fixing base on which the developing device is installed in a substantially horizontal direction. A pressurizing plate spring is disposed on a fixed base, and a detachable cam that is rotatably supported by the main body of the image forming apparatus and pressurizes a free end of the pressurizing plate spring is provided. When the detachable cam is rotated by the rotation of the operation lever facing in the direction of, the free end of the pressure leaf spring comes into contact with the detachable cam when the pressing of the fixed base is released. A mechanism for attaching and detaching the developing device.