JPS6167877A - Copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To recover a developer simply and to improve the working efficiency of maintenance by forming a slide groove for engaging the edge part of an opening of a funnel connected to a developer vessel so as to be loaded/unloaded on the edge part of a developer discharging aperture of a developing tank in a unit. CONSTITUTION:At the recovery of the developer stored in the developing tank, the unit including a photosensitive body 8, the developing tank 11, etc. is drawn out from a copying machine body. When a square aperture of the funnel connected to the developer vessel is engaged with the slide groove 36 of the square opening part 33 on the bottom of the developing tank 11 and then a cover body 37 is drawn out from the slide groove 35 under said state, the developer is recovered into the developer vessel through the funnel. Thus, the developer can be easily recovered and the working efficiency of maintenance can be improved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Technical Field> The present invention relates to a developing section of a copying machine. <Prior Art and Its Disadvantages> In modern copying machines, maintenance work has become complicated due to the increased functionality. That's all. In order to simplify such maintenance work, devices related to the process including the photoreceptor are made into a unit, and this unit can be taken in and out of the copying machine body by a sliding operation.

On the other hand, during maintenance work, collecting developer is one of the most troublesome tasks for workers as it tends to stain the surrounding area. Currently, there has been no substantial improvement in maintenance work.

<Object of the Invention> The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a copying machine in which developer recovery, etc. can be simplified and maintenance workability can be improved.

<Structure and Effects of the Invention> In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a developer discharge opening that can be opened and closed by a lid at the bottom of the developer tank in the unit, and Among the openings formed, at least the edge of the discharge opening,
It is characterized in that a slide groove is formed into which the opening edge of the funnel connected to the developer container is removably inserted.

In this invention, since the opening of the funnel can be connected to the developer discharge opening in the battery container at the unit drawer position, the developer in the developer tank can be easily collected into the container without the risk of contaminating the surrounding area. This speeds up the work, and if the funnel is connected to the toner injection opening of the developer tank, new developer can be easily supplied, and -M workability can be improved.

<Example> An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a copying machine according to the present invention. In the figure, on the top surface of the copying machine main body 1 is a document mounting table 2.
A paper feed power center 3.4 is attached to the right end, a tray 5 is attached to the left end, and a conveyance section 6 is provided from the paper feed cassettes 3 and 4 to the tray 5 side. . The above-mentioned copy book (*1 includes the well-known exposure mechanism 7,
A developing device 4s''Ht, a cleaner 12, a mold device 13, a static eliminator 14, etc., which constitute a developing device 10 together with the photoconductor 8 and toner box 9, are accommodated. It is integrated into a unit frame 15 to constitute a unit 1-16.

Further, the unit 1G can be taken in and out of the main body 1 by a slide member 17.17 interposed between the frame 15 and the copying main body 1.

The structure of the developer tank 11 in the unit 16 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In the figure, inside the developer tank 1, there is a magnet roller 18.
, an agitation roller 19 , a doctor 20 , and a scraper 21 are built in, and an opening 23 is formed in the upper part thereof in correspondence with the toner scraping shaft 22 of the toner box 9 . Further, a knob 25 for rotating the respective colas 18 and 19 is attached to one of the tilting plates 24 of the developer tank 11.

The developer tank 11 is moved in the direction in which the unit 16 is pulled out (indicated by arrow a) by a guide member 26 and an Accuride 27.

b) is arranged so as to be slidable in the direction (arrows c, d) orthogonal to the frame connecting plate 28 and the press shaft 29.
, a pressing mechanism 32 consisting of a pressing roller 30, pressing springs 31, 31, etc., is normally elastically pressed in the direction of arrow d.

A rectangular opening 33 for discharging the developer is formed in the bottom wall of the developing device [11], and each of the inner surfaces of vertical walls 34 and 34 protruding from the edge of this opening 33 has a 1 slide 435.35 and 2nd slide i! 36, 36 are formed, and the opening 33 is closed by a flat plate-shaped lid 37 that is removably fitted into the first slide groove 35, 35. A handle 38 for operating the drawer is integrally formed on the lid body 37.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
One end of the pipe 41 is connected via a joint 42, and the other end of the pipe 41 is connected to a funnel 43. The opening 44 on the large diameter side of the funnel 43 is formed in a rectangular shape, and the slide grooves 36 and 36 on the side of the developer discharge opening 33 are provided at both edges along the longitudinal direction of the opening 44. A protrusion 45.45 is formed into which the protrusion is fitted. The convex portion 4 of the funnel 43 is also located at the edge of the opening 23 on the top wall side of the developer tank 1.
5.45 is formed with a slide groove 46.46 that fits therein.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained.

When recovering the developer in the developing tank 11, first, the photoreceptor 8
The unit 16 such as the developer and the developing device 10 is pulled out from the copying machine main body 1 side by pulling it in the direction of the arrow a in FIG.
Release the pressing force from 2 and move the developer tank 11 in the direction of arrow C in Fig. 3.
direction to separate it from the photoreceptor 8 and toner box 9 (the position shown in FIG. 3). In this state, the convex portion 45.45 of the funnel 43 connected to the container 39 via the pipe 41 is inserted into the slide groove 3 of the opening 33 of the developer tank 11 as shown in FIG.
6.36, then slide the lid body 37 into the slide groove 35.
35, the developer will flow into the funnel 43.
It is collected into a container 39 through the process. The developer adhering to the magnet roller 18 and the like is scraped off by the scraper 21 and the like by rotating the knob 25, so that all the developer is collected into the container 39. Next, the opening 33 on the developer tank 11 side is closed with a lid 37, and then the funnel 43 is removed from the developer tank 11 side.
The developer collection work is completed. In this case, since the opening 44 of the funnel 43 is simply connected to the opening 33 of the developer tank 11, the operator can quickly recover the developer without worrying about staining the surrounding area.

Further, as in this example, the opening 23 on the top wall side of the developer tank 11
If slide grooves 46 and 46 are formed on the sides as well, replenishment of developer can be easily performed. In other words, prepare a container 39 containing new developer, and insert the convex portion 45 of the funnel 43 in the same manner as above.
．． 45 to the slide 146.4 of the opening 23 of the developer tank 11.
6 and turn the container 39 upside down, you can pour the developer in the container 39 into the developer tank 1 without getting your hands dirty.
1 can be transferred smoothly.

After collecting the developer, etc., move the developer tank 11 in the direction of arrow d, and the developer tank 11 will move to the unit frame 1.
5, and inadvertent rotation of the knob 25 is also prevented.

Next, when the unit 16 is pushed together with the frame 15 in the direction indicated by the arrow, it is set at a predetermined position in the copying machine main body 1.

By the way, in the above-mentioned embodiment, there is a level difference between the inner surface of the lid 37 that closes the developer discharge opening 33 of the developer tank 11 and the inner bottom surface of the developer tank 11 . This slight step does not impede the flow of the developer, but if a convex surface 50 is formed on the top surface of the lid 37 as shown in FIG. 5, the flow of the developer can be made smoother. .

Also, an opening 331 for discharging developer! [Slide 1 of 1
35.36, by making the depths of the i35 and i36 different, or by making the groove intervals X and Y different from each other as shown in FIG. It is possible to reliably prevent this from occurring.

Note that the mounting structure of the lid body 37 is not limited to the sliding type as described above, but a hinge type or the like may also be adopted.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a copying machine according to the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are a sectional view and a perspective view, respectively, showing the configuration of main parts of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a modified example of the lid that closes the developer discharge opening; FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a modified structure of the slide groove. . 1-copying machine main body, 8-photoreceptor, 10-developing device, 11-
Developing tank, 16-unit, 33-developing tank discharge opening, 35.36-slide groove, 37-M body, 39-container, 4
3 - funnel, 44 - opening.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a copying machine in which the photoreceptor and its peripheral devices are integrated into a unit and the unit is configured to be removable from the main body of the copying machine, a developing device that is openable and closable at the bottom of the developer tank in the unit A developer discharge opening is formed, and the opening edge of a funnel connected to the developer container can be inserted into and removed from at least the edge of the developer discharge opening among the openings formed in the developer tank. A copying machine characterized by forming a slide groove into which the copying machine is inserted.