JPS62127850A - Developing unit replacing device for rotary developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the whole developing device from becoming larger in size, even if the number of available developing color increases, by supporting plural developing units by a rotary type developing device, so that a specified developing unit can be replaced easily, when an opening/closing plate provided on a housing of an image forming device is opened. CONSTITUTION:When an opening/closing plate 90 is opened, aligning arms 62, 83 move in the direction opposite to a photosensitive drum 1, and a connecting plate 61 moves in the direction for releasing a connected state. When the connecting plate 61 moves in the connection release direction, and also the aligning arms 62, 83 move in the direction opposite to the photosensitive drum,engagement use projections 52, 54 of a developing unit A positioned at the photosensitive drum side, an engagement receiving parts 63, 82 provided on the lower end part of guide groves 65, 81 positioned at the photosensitive drum side are released from their engagement, nd the developing unit A goes to a state that is can move upward along the guide grooves 65, 81. That is to say, the developing unit A can be removed from a developing device through an opening part 89 which is formed by opening the opening/closing plate 90.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a device for exchanging developing units in a rotary developing device equipped with a plurality of developing units.

<Prior art and its drawbacks>? ! When attempting to make several monochrome copies, it is necessary to replace the developer tank for each color.

In a typical image forming apparatus, multiple developer tanks containing developers of different colors are prepared, and the developer tank of the color to be used can be replaced by opening the front panel of the image forming apparatus. There is. However, in this device, only one developing tank can be attached to the main body, so if you want to change the color of the copy, you must always replace the developing tank, which is very inconvenient.

Therefore, Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-3707 proposes a developing device in which a plurality of developing tanks are arranged around a photoreceptor drum and any developing tank can be used.

However, in this device, the developing tank occupies a large area around the photosensitive drum, which affects other image forming process means. Furthermore, since the distance from the exposure position to the development position differs for each developer tank, there is a possibility that the color tone, image contrast, etc. will differ from developer tank to developer tank.

Furthermore, since the developing angles of the developing tanks with respect to the surface of the photosensitive drum are different, it is necessary to change the shape of each developing tank, which inconveniently increases the manufacturing cost of the developing tanks as a whole.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 46-13478 proposes an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of developer tanks are rotatably supported on the same axis. However, in this image forming apparatus, since each developer tank always faces the same direction, the drive mechanism is complicated and the space is large.

In Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-20579, a plurality of developer tanks are rotatably supported, and one developer tank is selectively opposed to a photosensitive drum. In a rotary developing device having such a structure,
6-13478 can be overcome, but if you try to increase the number of usable developing colors, you have to set up developer tanks corresponding to that number in advance, so the number of usable developing colors is limited. There is a drawback that the larger the number, the larger the entire developing device becomes.

<Object of the Invention> An object of the invention is to support a plurality of developing units with a rotary developing device, and to easily replace a specific developing unit when an opening/closing plate provided in the housing of the image forming apparatus is opened. To provide a developing unit replacement device for a rotary developing device in which the size of the entire developing device does not increase even when the number of usable developing colors increases.

<Structure and effects of the invention> This invention is constructed as follows.

First, the developing unit includes a roller driving section and an engaging section that can be connected to the side thereof.

Furthermore, the housing of the image forming apparatus is provided with an opening/closing plate. Further, among the plurality of rotatably supported developing units, the roller drive unit of the developing unit located on the photosensitive drum side can be connected to the roller driving section, and the developing unit can be moved in the axial direction.
a developing unit positioning means that is movable in the direction of the photoreceptor drum and that positions the developing unit when moving in the direction of the photoreceptor drum; An engaging portion that engages with the engaging portion of the developing unit is provided.

Further, the Bt1 closing plate is connected to the connecting plate and the developing unit positioning means, and when the opening/closing plate is closed, the connecting plate is moved in the direction of connecting to the roller driving section to connect them, and the developing unit is connected to the connecting plate. A link that positions the developing unit by moving the unit positioning means toward the photoreceptor drum, and releases the connected state and the positioned state when the opening/closing plate opens to set the developing unit in a removable state. A mechanism is provided.

With the above configuration, when the opening/closing plate is opened, the roller driving section is released from the connected state, and the positioning state is released to set the developing unit in a removable state. When the opening/closing plate is closed, the above-mentioned connected state and positioning state are established, and the developing unit is set in the mounted and positioned state.

With this invention configured as described above, it is possible to set the developing unit in a removable state with respect to the developing device or to set the developing unit in a positioned and installed state simply by opening and closing the opening/closing plate. . Therefore, if you select multiple developing units of relatively widely used colors and install them in the developing device, you can normally use any developed color from among those colors simply by rotating the developing unit. At the same time, when development of another color is required, by opening the opening/closing plate and replacing the developing unit, development of the replaced color can be performed. In this case as well, the developing unit can be replaced by simply opening and closing the opening/closing plate, and the operation is extremely simple.

<Example> (Structure of main parts of an AL copying machine) Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the main parts of a copying machine using a developing unit exchange device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a photosensitive drum. A first charger 2, a focusing light transmitter 39, a rotary developing device 4 are arranged around the photosensitive drum 1.
．． A transfer charger 5, a peeling roller 6, and a cleaner unit 7 are arranged in this order. The first charger 2 uniformly charges the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1. The focusing light transmitter 3 forms an image of the original 8 on the surface of the photosensitive drum.

The paper 10 is conveyed to the transfer section via a conveyance path 9 from a paper feed force center (not shown). The cleaner unit 1-7 includes a blade 70 whose tip is in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor drum, and a waste toner box that stores waste toner scraped off by the blade 70.

The rotary developing device 4 is composed of two developing units A and B. These developing unisols I-A and B can be rotated about the rotation axis 0 in either a clockwise direction (F direction) or a counterclockwise direction (E direction). Since a rotating lever 25 is attached to the tip of the rotating shaft 0, the developing unit can be rotated by operating this rotating lever 25.

The developing unit A is composed of a developing tank 20 and a hopper 21. The developer tank 20 has an opening 20c, and has a developing roller 20a and a stirring roller 20b inside. Further, a toner supply roller 22 is provided between the developer tank 20 and the hopper 21. The hopper 21 is used to replenish developer 23 via a replenishment roller 22 when the developer 23 in the developer tank 20 becomes low. The developing unit I-B is provided in the developing unit A in point symmetry with respect to the rotation axis 0. This developing unit B also has the same configuration as the developing unit A described above.

(bl Structure of developing unit exchange device i1 Structure near the rotating support plate FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of the developing unit exchange device of the rotary type developing device.

The developing unit A is provided with an engaging protrusion 52, which constitutes an engaging portion, with a connectable roller drive portion 50, 51 on the right side of the drawing. Furthermore, an engagement protrusion 54 is provided at a position symmetrical to the engagement protrusion 52 on the lower side of the left side of the developing unit.
It is equipped with Further, in this embodiment, in addition to the roller drive portions 50, 51 and the engaging protrusions 52, a connector 53 for electrical connection is provided. Furthermore, above both ends of the back surface of the developing unit A, arm engaging protrusions 55 and 56 are provided which engage with alignment arms to be described later. Also provided at the bottom is an arm engagement a59 that engages with the positioning arm. Roller drive unit 5
1 is connected to a rotating shaft of a developing roller 20a (not shown);
The roller drive unit 50 is connected to the rotating shaft of the stirring roller 20b. These roller drive units 50, 51 are connected to a connecting device to be described later, and driving force is transmitted from the main body of the copying machine. Note that although only the developing unit A is shown in the figure,
Developing unit B also has roller drive unit 50°51 connector 53
and engagement protrusions 52 and 54.

A support portion for a rotary developing device is provided in the housing of the main body of the copying machine. This support section supports the developing units +A and B on both left and right sides. The support part on the right side as viewed in the drawing includes a right-handed rotating support plate 60 having notches on both left and right sides, and a connecting plate 61 located in the notch on the rotating drum side of this rotating support plate 60.

The connecting plate 61 is movable in the axial direction of the developing unit, and has connecting parts 61 a and 61 b that can be engaged with the roller drive parts 50 and 51 of the developing unit A, respectively, and is further engageable with the connector 53 . A connector receiver 61C is provided. Inside the right rotation support plate 60, there is a guide groove 65 that is open at the top and extends vertically downward, and a guide groove 65 that is open at the bottom and extends vertically upward like the guide groove 65 described above. A guide groove 66 is provided. A slightly wider groove is formed at the lower end of the guide groove 65, and this becomes a retaining portion 63 with which the engaging protrusion 52 of the developing unit A engages. Further, a wide portion is formed at the upper end of the guide groove 66, and this portion becomes a retaining rib portion 64 that engages with an engaging protrusion of a developing unit B (not shown). The right rotation support plate 6o further has elongated holes 67.68 cut out in the upper part and elongated holes 69.70 cut out in the lower part. These long holes 67.68
Positioning arms 62a and 62b, which will be described later, are inserted from the outside of the right rotation support plate 6o in the axial direction of the developing unit. Similarly, positioning arms 62c and 62d are inserted into the elongated holes 69 and 70 in the axial direction of the developing unit. As will be described later, these positioning arms 62
a to 62d are movable along the long holes 67 to 70 toward the photosensitive drum. When the alignment arms 62a to 62d are moved toward the photosensitive drum with the developing units A and B attached, the engaging protrusions provided on the developing units are formed at the upper and lower ends of the guide grooves. The retaining bone that is present engages with the part, and the positioning of the developing unit is performed. Note that a left-handed rotating support plate 80 that supports the left side surface of the developing unit I is provided at a position opposite to the right-handed rotating supporting plate 60 and separated by the length of the developing unit. Also inside this left rotation support plate 8°, there is a guide 18 of the same size at the same position as the guide groove 65 formed in the vertical direction on the right rotation support plate 60.
1 is provided, and another guide groove (not shown) is also formed at the same position as the other guide groove 66. A retaining bone portion 82 is provided at the lower end of this guide groove 81 . The engaging protrusion 54 of the developing unit I-A engages with this retaining portion 82.

Further, positioning arms 83a and 83b are provided at positions opposite to the positioning arms 62a and 62b so as to be movable toward the photosensitive drum, and similarly positioning arms 83c and 83d (not shown) are provided on the lower side. It is provided so as to face the alignment arms 62c and 62d. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the developing units 7A and 7B are attached and the alignment arms 62a to 62d are engaged with the arm engaging protrusions and arm engaging grooves (see FIG. 1) of the developing unit. ing. In the figure, reference numerals 55 and 59 indicate the arm engaging protrusion and arm retaining groove of the developing unit A, and 57 and 58 indicate the arm engaging protrusion and arm engaging groove of the developing unit B.

ii. Structure of the opening/closing plate An opening/closing plate 90 is rotatably provided above the rotary support plate 60.80, that is, in the housing above the developing device including the developing unit. The size of the opening 89 formed when the opening/closing plate 90 is opened is set to a size that allows just one developing unit to pass through. Further, as will be described later, a link mechanism connected to this opening/closing plate 90 allows positioning arms 62 (62a to 62d), 83 to be moved in accordance with the opening/closing operation of the opening/closing plate 90.
(83a to 83d) move in the direction of the photoreceptor drum, and the connecting plate 61 moves in the axial direction of the developing unit. When the opening/closing plate 90 is opened, the positioning arm 62° 83 moves in the direction opposite to the photosensitive drum 1.

Further, the connecting plate 61 moves in the direction of releasing the connected state.

By moving the connecting plate 61 in the direction of disconnection and moving the positioning arm 62.83 in the direction opposite to the photoreceptor drum, the engaging protrusion 52.83 of the developing unit A located on the photoreceptor drum side is moved. 54 and the retaining rib provided at the lower end of the guide groove 65.81 located on the photosensitive drum side is released from the retaining portion 63.82, and the developing unit A is connected to the guide groove 65.81. It becomes possible to move upward along the . That is, the developing unit A can be removed from the developing device through the opening 89 formed by opening the opening/closing plate 90. In this case, the developing unit B will also come off downward, so to prevent this, a support plate (not shown) is provided to prevent the developing unit B from falling downward.

iii. Link mechanism and other structures FIG. 3(A) shows a rear view of the link mechanism and the right rotation support plate 60, and FIG. 3(B) shows a side view thereof.

The opening/closing plate 90 can be rotated about a fulcrum 91 within a range of 90 degrees between a position shown by a solid line and a position shown by a two-dot chain line in the figure. An opening/closing plate angle 92 attached to the side of the opening/closing plate 90 has a long hole 93 cut out diagonally. One end of a connecting rod 94 is locked in this elongated hole 93. The connecting rod 94 is arranged horizontally, and the other end is locked to a short piece 95a of an inverted lever 95 that is rotatable about a rotating shaft 96 as a fulcrum. This short piece 95a is located in a substantially horizontal state, and the long piece 95b is arranged so as to face downward. One end of a wire 96 is locked to the tip of this long piece 95b. The wire 96 is arranged horizontally, and the other end passes through a hole 98 formed in the housing 97 and is locked to the connecting plate 61, as shown in FIG. 3(B). The wire 96 is bent at a right angle at the position of the hole 98.

The connecting plate 61 has connecting parts 61a and 61b as shown in FIG.
and a connector receiver 61c. As described above, this connecting plate 61 is movable in the axial direction of the developing unit, and the shaft 99 can slide within the bearing section 100 during movement.

The tip of the vertical piece 95b of the lever 95 is further engaged with the left end of the L-shaped slide plate 101. This L-shaped slide plate 101 has a long hole 1 on the slightly right side of the horizontal piece.
01a, and a clockwise rotation support plate 60 is installed in this elongated hole 101a.
A rotating shaft 102, one end of which is fixed, passes through it. Also, a key portion 101b is provided at the right end of this L-shaped slide plate 101.
is formed. This key portion 101b is fitted into a fitting portion 105 of an arm connecting member, which will be described later.

The positioning arms 62a and 62c (see FIG. 1) are connected by an arm connecting member 103 on the outside of the right rotation support plate 60. Further, the positioning arms 62b and 62d are connected by another arm connecting member 104 disposed substantially parallel to the arm connecting member 103. A fitting portion 105 is provided approximately at the center of the arm connecting member 103, and as described above, this fitting portion 1
05 is fitted with the key portion 101b of the L-shaped slide plate 101. Springs 106 and 107 are suspended between the arm connecting members 103 and 104 in the upper and lower directions.

FIG. 4 shows the vicinity of both ends of a rotating shaft 96 that rotatably supports the lever 95. As shown in FIG. As shown, the rotation axis 96
A lever 110 is also attached to the left end. This lever 110 has the same shape as the vertical piece 95b of the lever 95 provided at the right end of the rotating shaft 96, and its tip is engaged with the L-shaped slide plate 105. The L-shaped slide plate 105 operates when the positioning arm 83 (83a to 83d) on the left rotation support plate 80 is moved toward the photoreceptor drum. Although the arm connecting members 103 and 104 as shown in FIG. 3(A) are not shown on the left rotation support plate 80 in FIG. 1, the left rotation support plate 80 also has the right rotation support plate 60 and Similarly, an arm connecting member that connects the upper and lower positioning arms is provided. FIG. 5 shows a view (rear view) of the left rotation support plate 80 from the outside. In the figure, reference numerals 110 and 111 indicate arm connection members corresponding to the arm connection members 103 and 104 of the right rotation support plate 60, respectively. The left rotation support member 80 has elongated holes 112, 113 above and elongated holes 114, 11 below.
It is equipped with 5. Further, a rotation shaft 116 whose one end is fixed to the left rotation support plate 80 is provided at the center thereof. Further, a key portion 105b is provided at the left end of the L-shaped slide plate 105, and a fitting portion 117 into which the key portion 105b fits is provided approximately at the center of the arm connecting member 110.

Further, springs 118 and 119 are installed vertically between the arm connecting members 110 and 111. The arm connecting member 110 connects the positioning arm 83a and the positioning arm 83c (not shown) through the elongated holes 112 and 114.
(It is provided at a position opposite to the positioning arm 62c.

). Further, the arm connecting member 111 includes a positioning arm 83b and a positioning arm 83d (not shown).
It is provided at a position opposite to the alignment arm 62d. ).

The counterclockwise rotation support plate 80 is approximately disk-shaped, but notches 80a and 80b are provided at two opposing points on its periphery. Furthermore, a rotation regulating elastic body 120 that engages with the notch 80a or 80b of the left rotation support plate 80 is provided. This rotation regulating elastic body 120 is fixed to the main body of the copying machine.

In the state shown in FIG. 5, the rotation regulating elastic body 120 is engaged with the notch 80a.

In FIG. 4, a positioning release lever 12 is provided at the front end of a rotating shaft 96 for rotating levers 95 and 110.
0 or attached. This positioning release lever 12
0 is provided with a positioning hole 121 in the center, and can be rotated in the direction of arrow E until this hole 121 fits into a convex portion (not shown). This positioning release lever 120
has the same function as the connecting rod 94 of the opening/closing plate. That is, by rotating this positioning release lever 120 in the direction of arrow E without opening the opening/closing plate 90, the wire 9 can be removed.
6 and slide plates 101 and 105 can be pulled forward in the direction D, releasing the connection state of the connection plate 61 and moving the positioning arm in the direction opposite to the photoreceptor drum, thereby releasing the engagement of the developing unit. The joint process is the part of the bone that engages (
63, 67, 82, etc.) can be released. Therefore, this positioning release lever 12
By rotating the rotation lever 25 (see FIG. 2), the developing unit can be rotated while the opening/closing plate 90 is closed.

(C) Function of developing unit replacement device Next, the effect will be explained.

i. Replacement operation 1 Open the opening/closing plate 90. At this time, if the original table of the copying machine main body is located above the opening/closing plate 90, the opening/closing plate 90 is opened (the original table is moved beforehand).

When the opening/closing plate 90 is opened, the connecting rod 94 moves in the C direction,
(See Figures 3 and 4) The lever 95 rotates in the E direction (rotates approximately 30 degrees). At this time, the long piece 9 of the lever 95
A wire 96 with one end stopped at 5b is pulled. The other end of the wire 96 passes through the hole 98 of the housing 97, is bent at right angles, and is locked to the connecting plate 61, so that when the wire 96 is pulled, the connecting plate 61 moves in the direction of arrow C (see the arrow C direction). (See Figure 3 (B)). Connecting plate 61 is arrow C
By moving in the direction, the connecting portions 61a, 61b and the driving roller 50 of the developing unit A on the photosensitive drum side,
The connection state between the connector 51 and the connector 51 is released, and the connection state between the connector 53 and the connector receiver 60c is also released.

Furthermore, as the lever 95 rotates in the direction of arrow E, the slide plate 101 moves in the direction of arrow E. Then, the key part 10 provided at the end of this slide plate 101
1b pulls the arm connecting member 103 in the direction of the arrow. Furthermore, the arm connecting member 1 is connected via springs 106 and 107.
Pull 04 in the direction of the arrow. As a result, the positioning arm 62 is pulled in the direction opposite to the photoreceptor drum, that is, in the D direction. As a result, the entire developing unit is also pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow, and in the image unit A, the engagement bones of the engagement projections 52 and 54 are released from their engagement with the portions 63 and 82. In addition,
As shown in FIG. 4, when the opening/closing plate 90 is opened, the slide plate 101 and the slide plate 105 also move in the direction of the arrow, so that the positioning arm 83 is opposite to the photoconductor drum even on the left rotation support plate 80 side. is pulled in the direction of Therefore, in this state, the developer 22 sol I-A can be drawn out through the opening 89.

ii. Replacement operation 2: Take out the male unit I-A through the opening 91 and insert a new developing unit A'. At this time, the retaining protrusion of the new developing unit A' is attached to the clockwise rotating support plate 60. Insert along the respective guide grooves 65, 81 of the left rotation support plate 80.

iii', Replacement operation 3 After inserting the new developing unit A', close the opening/closing plate 90. Then, due to an action opposite to the above action, the connecting plate 6
1 is in the connected state, and the positioning arm 62.8
3 moves toward the photoreceptor drum and enters the attached state. At this time, the alignment of the new developing unit A' is completed.

iv. Switching the developing unit To switch the developing unit, keep the opening/closing plate 90 closed and move the positioning release lever 120 (see Fig. 4) in the direction of arrow E until the positioning hole 121 is locked to a convex portion (not shown). Rotate. Then, since the rotating shaft 96 also rotates in the same direction E, the wire 96 and the slide plates 101 and 105 are pulled in the direction of the arrow. Due to these actions, the opening/closing plate 9
Similarly to opening 0, the connection state by the connection plate 61 is released. At this time, the connecting plate 61 moves to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line as shown in FIG. Therefore, the clockwise rotation support plate 60 becomes rotatable. The positioning arms 62.83 are also directed in the direction opposite to the photoreceptor drum, that is, in the direction D.
The alignment state is canceled due to the movement in the direction. At this time, the rotary lever 25 (see Fig. 2) rotates the rotary axis 0.
When rotated, the right rotation support plate 60 and the left rotation support plate 80 rotate, and the two developing units also rotate accordingly. If the rotation is stopped at the position where the rotation regulating elastic body 120 engages with the notch 80b, the developing unit 1-B instead of the developing unit 1-A reaches the position facing the photoreceptor drum. In this state, the positioning release lever 120 is rotated in the direction of arrow F to return to its original position. Then connecting plate 6
1 is connected to the developing unit y I/B, and the positioning arm 62.83 moves toward the photosensitive drum, that is, in the direction of arrow C, and is brought into position.

Due to the above-described operation, the developing unit can be easily replaced by simply opening the opening/closing plate 90, and any one of the two developing units in the developing device can be positioned on the photosensitive drum side.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a developing unit replacement device of a rotary developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the main parts of a copying machine using the same rotary developing device, and FIG. 3 (A
), (B) shows a rear view and a left side view of the right rotation support plate. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the link mechanism, FIG. 5 is a rear view of the left rotation support plate, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the alignment arm and the developing unit. 1-Photosensitive drum, 50.51-Roller drive section, 53-Connector, 52.54-Retaining protrusion, 55.56-Arm engagement protrusion, 60-Right rotation support plate, 61 Series connection plate, 63. 64-Maintenance receiving parts 62a to 62d-Arm for positioning, 90-Opening/closing plate,
94-Series Rondo, 95-Lever, 96-Rotating Shaft, 101-L-shaped slide plate. 1 head Sharp Corporation

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a rotary developing device disposed on the side of the photoreceptor drum and rotatably supporting a plurality of developing units so that one of the developing units selectively faces the photoreceptor drum, the developing unit is provided with a roller driving section and an engaging section connectable to its side, an opening/closing plate provided on a housing of an image forming apparatus in which the rotary developing device is housed, and a photosensitive member of the plurality of developing units. a connecting plate that can be freely connected to the roller driving section of the developing unit on the body drum side and that is movable in the axial direction of the developing unit; and a connecting plate that is movable in the direction of the photosensitive drum and that the developing unit a developing unit positioning means for positioning; an engagement receiving portion that engages with the engaging portions of the plurality of developing units when positioned by the developing unit positioning means; the opening/closing plate, the connecting plate, and the developing unit; unit positioning means, and when the opening/closing plate is closed, the connecting plate is moved in a direction to connect with the roller driving section to connect them, and the developing unit positioning means is moved toward the photoreceptor drum. a link mechanism that positions the developing unit and releases the connected state and the positioned state when the opening/closing plate is opened to set the developing unit in a removable state; Developing unit replacement device.