KR101129000B1 - Image developing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The developing apparatus of the present invention includes: a counseling member rotated in one direction; A developing member which rotates to face the counseling member and moves the developer to the counseling member; A rotating member rotatably installed adjacent to the counseling member and generating air flow in a direction opposite to the airflow generated between the developing member and the counseling member to suppress scattering of the developer; And a scattering developer accommodating member for accommodating the scattering developer guided by an air flow generated by the rotating member.

Description

A developing apparatus and an image forming apparatus having the same

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing an extract of the developing apparatus shown in FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining airflow generated during a printing operation in the state of FIG. 2. FIG.

Description of the Related Art

10. Body 20. Developing device

30. Feeder 40. Laser scanning unit

50. Fixing unit 60. Transfer roller

100. Housing 101. Consultation delay

102. Developing member 103. Feed roller

104. Developing layer control member 110. Rotating member

120. Scattering developer accommodating member 130. Plate member

141,143. Upper / lower guide member 150. Transfer lamp

160. Sealing member

The present invention relates to a developing apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

In general, an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, an LED printer, a digital copier, a general paper facsimile machine, or the like has a function of transferring an image signal according to an input digital signal to a paper, which is a print medium, in the form of a visible image.

Such an image forming apparatus includes a developing apparatus, a laser scanning apparatus, a fixing apparatus and the like.

The developing apparatus includes a counseling member such as a photosensitive drum on which a visible image is developed, and a developing member for transferring a developer such as toner to the counseling member.

The counseling member is formed with an electrostatic latent image corresponding to a visible image on its surface by the light scanned by the laser scanning apparatus.

As an example of the developing member, there is a developing roller which is rotated with a consultation delay and a predetermined developing gap therebetween. This developing roller serves to transfer a developer such as toner to the electrostatic latent image area. That is, the developer attached to the developing roller is transferred to the electrostatic latent image area through the developing gap by the electrostatic force caused by the potential difference between the electrostatic latent image and the developing roller. This developing method is called a jumping developing method. The toner transferred to the latent electrostatic image is transferred to a print medium passing between the counseling member and the transfer roller. The printing medium passes through the fixing device, and the visible image transferred to the printing medium is fixed to the printing medium by high temperature / high pressure in the fixing device.                         

On the other hand, as the counseling member and the developing roller rotate in the forward direction, a constant air flow occurs in the developing gap. As a result of the movement of the print medium, air flow also occurs between the print medium and the developing apparatus.

The toner particles moved from the developing roller to the electrostatic latent image through the developing gap are disturbed by the air flow as described above. Particularly, the toner particles having insufficient charge amount are more affected by the air flow than the electrostatic force and moved to the electrostatic latent image. can not do. That is, some of the toner particles stick to the non-image area of the counseling member to contaminate the counseling member.

In addition, some toner particles are scattered into the image forming apparatus along with the air flow. The scattered toner contaminates the print medium and the transfer path of the print medium, thereby degrading the image.

In addition, the scattering toner may contaminate the laser scanning device and cause the image to be combined.

In addition, the scattering toner sticks to a driving device such as a gear for driving the consultation delay, thereby preventing uniform power transmission and increasing the load during driving.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an improved developing apparatus and an image forming apparatus having the same so as to suppress scattering of the developer.

The developing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object, and the counseling member rotated in one direction; A developing member which rotates to face the counseling member and moves a developer to the counseling member; A rotating member rotatably installed adjacent to the counseling member and generating air flow in a direction opposite to the airflow generated between the developing member and the counseling member to suppress the scattering of the developer; And a scattering developer accommodating member for accommodating the scattering developer guided by the air flow generated by the rotating member.

Here, the linear velocity outside the rotating member is preferably 50% to 150% relative to the linear velocity of the surface of the counseling member.

In addition, the interval between the rotating member and the consultation delay is preferably within 3mm.

The apparatus may further include a plate member which is supported by the scattering developer accommodating member to be positioned below the rotating member and prevents the developer from falling below the rotating member.

In addition, the interval between the plate member and the rotating member is preferably 0 to 3mm or less.

In addition, the length of the plate member extending from the scattering developer accommodating member is preferably more than the radius of the rotating member.

In addition, the developing member and the housing containing the developer is further included, wherein the scattering developer receiving member is preferably formed to have an inlet and an outlet on the lower side of the housing.

In addition, the image forming apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above object comprises: a developing device having a developing member for moving the developer to the counseling member, and a housing in which the developing member and the developer are accommodated; A media guide member provided below the developing apparatus to guide movement of a print medium to which an image formed on the consultation member is transferred; A rotating member rotatably installed adjacent to the counseling member and generating air flow in a direction opposite to the airflow generated between the developing member and the counseling member to suppress the scattering of the developer; And a scattering developer accommodating member disposed between the medium guide member and the housing to accommodate the scattering developer guided by the air flow generated by the rotating member.

Here, the linear velocity outside the rotating member is preferably 50% to 150% relative to the linear velocity of the surface of the counseling member.

In addition, the distance between the rotating member and the consultation delay is preferably within 3mm.

The apparatus may further include a plate member which is supported by the scattering developer accommodating member to be positioned below the rotating member and prevents the developer from falling below the rotating member.

In addition, the interval between the plate member and the rotating member is preferably 0 to 3mm or less.

In addition, the length of the plate member extending from the scattering developer accommodating member is preferably more than the radius of the rotating member.

In addition, it is preferable that the transfer guide lamp is provided between the medium guide member and the scattering developer accommodating member to lower the charge potential of the counseling member.                     

In addition, the space between the medium guide member and the scattering developer accommodating member is divided into a front side close to the counseling member and a far rear side based on the transfer lamp, and the rear side of the medium guide member and the scattering member. It is preferable that a sealing member for sealing between the developer accommodating members is provided.

Hereinafter, a developing apparatus and an image forming apparatus having the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus includes a developing apparatus 20 installed in a main body 10, a paper feeding unit 30 for supplying a print medium to the developing apparatus 20, a laser scanning unit 40, And a fixing unit 50 or the like.

Here, the laser scanning unit 40 scans light to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to a desired image with the consultation member 101 provided in the developing apparatus 20.

The fixing unit 50 fixes the print medium passed through the developing apparatus 20 at high temperature and high pressure to fix the transferred image on the print medium. Since the laser scanning unit 40 and the fixing unit 50 are generally well known technologies, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

Reference numeral 60 denotes a transfer roller which is rotated in contact with the consultation member 60. The image formed on the consultation body 101 is transferred to a print medium passing between the consultation body 101 and the transfer roller 70.

As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 20 includes a housing 100, a counseling body 101 installed to rotate in one direction in the housing 100, a developing member 102, and a rotating member 110. ) And a scattering developer accommodating member 120.

A new developer, that is, a new toner is accommodated in the housing 100. The developing member 102 is driven to rotate in the housing 100 to supply the developer to the consultation support 101. Here, the developer will be described by taking an example of a one-component nonmagnetic developer using a polyester resin as a binder resin, for example.

The developing member 102 is preferably a conductive rubber roller or a metal roller made of a cylindrical aluminum material. The metal roller may be formed by nickel (Ni) plating after the surface is sand blasted.

In the housing 100, a supply roller 103 for supplying a developer to the developing member 102 and a developer layer regulating member 104 for regulating the developer layer on the surface of the developing member 102 to a predetermined thickness are provided. Is installed more. The regulating member 104 is formed of a stainless steel sheet having an elastic force and is fixed in the housing 100 to be in contact with the developing member 102. The feed roller 103 is rotated in the same direction as the developing member 102, and supplies the developer between the developing member 102 and the restricting member 104.

 The developing member 102, the supply roller 103, and the regulating member 104 of the above-described configuration are superimposed with an AC voltage and a DC voltage from a power supply not shown. Characteristics of the voltage applied from the power supply unit, for example, peak to peak voltage (Vpp), frequency, duty ratio, etc. may be appropriately controlled according to the use environment and various printing conditions.

In addition, in the housing 100, a stirrer 105 for stirring the developer is rotatably installed.

Here, the consultation member 101 is rotated in the forward direction with the developing member 102 facing the developing member 102. Preferably, the rotational linear velocity of the consultation member 101 is driven to be smaller than the rotational linear velocity of the developing member 102. Then, a predetermined developing gap is formed between the developing member 102 and the consultation support 101. Therefore, the developer on the surface of the developing member 102 is moved to the electrostatic latent image area of the consultation member 101 by a so-called jumping developing method. The developing gap G1 is maintained at about 0.3 to 0.4 mm.

The rotating member 110 is for suppressing the scattering of the developer generated by the air flow generated in the developing gap G by the rotation of the consultation member 101 and the developing member 102. That is, in the printing operation, the consultation member 101 and the developing member 102 are rotated in the forward direction at a predetermined speed, whereby the consultation member air stream 201 is generated in the developing gap G. The rotating member 110 generates the rotating member airflow 208 in the opposite direction so that the charging characteristic is weakened by the airflow 201 and the scattered fine developers are suppressed from scattering downstream.

The rotating member 110 includes a shaft 111 and wings 112 provided in plural radially from the outer circumference of the shaft 111. The shaft 111 and the wing 122 may be integrally formed of a plastic material. In addition, the rotating member 110 has a rotating plate 113 for receiving power at least one end. The rotating plate 113 is rotated by receiving power directly or indirectly from the counseling member 101 or the developing member 102 using a connection gear or the like.

The rotating member 110 is installed to face the consultation body 101 in the lower side of the housing 100 to rotate. The rotating member 110 is preferably installed to have a gap (G2) within a predetermined distance, preferably 3mm and the consultation body 101. Therefore, it is possible to minimize the escape of the scattering developer between the consultation member 101 and the rotating member 110.

In addition, the linear velocity V1 at the outermost side of the rotating member 110 is preferably rotated to have a value between 50% and 150% with respect to the linear velocity V2 at the outer circumference of the consultation member 101. good. That is, when the printing speed is about 20 PPM (printing per minute), the linear velocity V2 of the consultation delay 101 is small. Therefore, in this case, since much air flow does not occur, even if the linear velocity V1 of the rotating member 110 is maintained at a relatively low level of 50% to 100%, scattering of the developer can be suppressed. On the other hand, when the printing speed is high up to 30 to 40PPM, the air velocity 208 in the reverse direction can be generated by increasing the linear velocity V1 of the rotating member 110 to 100% to 150%.

In addition, a scattering developer accommodating member 120 for accommodating the scattering developer recovered by the rotating member 110 is installed below the housing 100. The receiving member 120 has an inlet 121 and an outlet 122. The rotating member 110 is installed adjacent to the inlet 121. The scattering developer introduced into the inlet 121 is loaded into the receiving member 120. The air then flows out of the outlet 122. The filter 123 may be further installed at the outlet 122 so that the fine developer does not escape to the outlet 122.

In addition, the plate member 130 is further provided on the lower side of the rotating member 110. The plate member 130 is an elastically deformable film member, is installed below the receiving member 120. The gap between the plate member 130 and the rotating member 110 is preferably within 0 to 3mm. Therefore, the developer contained in the airflow, which is not drawn into the inlet 121 but is drawn by the rotating member 110 and rotated together, can be effectively piggybacked back to the airflow 208. In addition, the length (L) of the plate member 130 is preferably provided larger than the radius based on the outermost side of the rotating member (110). By sufficiently securing the length of the plate member 130, it is possible to effectively control the strength and direction of the air flow 208 by the rotation of the rotary member 110. The plate member 130 may be formed integrally with the receiving member 120. Preferably, the plate member 130 may be attached to the film member having elasticity to the receiving member 120 with an adhesive or the like.

In addition, an upper guide member 141 and a lower guide member 143 for guiding the transfer of the print medium are provided below the receiving member 120. The upper and lower guide members 141 and 143 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

In addition, the upper transfer member 150 is supported by a transfer lamp 150 (PTL: pre transfer lamp). The transfer lamp 150 is to lower the potential difference between the image area and the non-image area of the counseling member 101 on which the image is formed. When the potential difference is lowered by the transfer lamp 150, the image of the counseling member 101 can be controlled to be more easily transferred to the print medium.

A predetermined space is provided between the upper guide member 141 and the receiving member 120 for the installation of the transfer lamp 150. Therefore, the sealing member 160 is installed to prevent the scattering developer from passing between the upper guide member 141 and the receiving member 120. The sealing member 160 may be formed of a film or rubber material and installed on the upper guide member 141 or the receiving member 120. The sealing member 160 is located at the rear (rear) side of the transfer lamp 150.

Hereinafter, an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

First, referring to FIG. 1, a printing medium is picked up from the paper feeding unit 30 during a printing operation and transferred to the developing apparatus 20. According to the input print data, the laser scanning unit 40 scans the light to the consultation member 101 to form a predetermined electrostatic latent image.

As shown in FIG. 2, the developing member 102 which is rotated together with the counseling member 101 is moved in the forward direction with respect to the rotational direction of the counseling member 101 to move the developer to the electrostatic latent image area of the counseling member. give. At this time, an AC voltage and a DC voltage are applied to the developing member 102, the supply roller 103, and the regulating member 104 in a superimposed manner. Therefore, in the developing gap G1 between the counseling member 101 and the developing member 102, the developer causes the electrostatic latent image of the counseling member 101 due to the potential difference between the potential of the electrostatic latent image region and the electrostatic force generated in the developing member 102. It is moved to the area.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3, by the rotation of the consultation member 101 and the developing member 102, the consultation delay air flow 201 is generated in the development gap (G1). Some of the developer is disturbed by the air flow 201. Therefore, the disturbed developer and the developer whose charging characteristics are weakened are moved downstream of the developing gap G1 by the airflow 201.

In addition, the airflow 202 is generated due to the rotation of the transfer roller 70. The airflow 202 of the transfer roller 70 and the airflow 201 of the consultation member 101 collide with each other to generate a vortex 207. In this vortex 207, a part develops into the flying air stream 206 containing a flying developer. The scattering air flow 206 is moved between the upper guide member 141 and the receiving member 120 is blocked by the sealing member 160 to stop further progress.

In addition, another portion of the vortex 207 is recovered by the rotating member 110 to generate a rotary member airflow 208, the remaining vortex 207 remains in the vortex form as it is.

Some of the rotating member air flow 208 is continuously rotated along the rotation of the rotating member 110, a part of the actual air flow prevention air flow 205 and the air flow 203 derived from the air flow 201 of the consultation delay 101 Combined and entered into the receiving member 120 is mostly extinguished. And part of it disappears into the air stream 204 exiting the outlet 122. This exiting air stream 204 substantially owns little scattering developer, and some included scattering developer is collected by filtering by the filter 123.

On the other hand, in the case of the present invention by controlling the size of the rotation linear speed (V1) of the rotary member 110 sufficiently large compared to the rotation linear speed (V2) of the consultation member 101, the generation of the scattering air flow 206 It is possible to minimize and increase the amount of the rotary member airflow 208 generated.

In addition, by controlling the gap G2 between the rotating member 110 and the counseling member 101 as small as possible, it is basically possible to minimize the occurrence of the counseling member air flow 201, preventing scattering by the rotating member 110 The suction effect of the airflow 205 can be maximized, and thus the scattering airflow 206 can be fundamentally reduced.

Further, by installing the plate member 130 and forming the gap between the plate member 130 and the rotating member 110 as small as possible, the rotating member airflow 208 and the scattering prevention airflow 205 are made as large as possible. It can be controlled to occur.

According to the developing apparatus and the image forming apparatus employing the same according to the present invention as described above, it is possible to suppress the scattering of the developer by installing a rotary member for generating the air flow in a reverse direction to the air flow generated in the developing gap. have.

In addition, by collecting and storing some developer that is scattered in a separate collection space, the inside of the image forming apparatus may be prevented from being contaminated by the developer scattering.

In addition, it is possible to prevent the developer from being scattered to contaminate the print medium, the laser scanning device, the drive gear, etc., thereby improving the quality of the printed image.

In addition, since the collected developer is stored inside the developing apparatus, when the developing apparatus reaches the end of its life, it can be replaced and disposed of with a new one, which is convenient for the user to manage.

Claims (7)

Counseling body rotated in one direction; A developing member which rotates to face the counseling member and moves the developer to the counseling member; A rotating member rotatably installed adjacent to the counseling member and generating air flow in a direction opposite to the airflow generated between the developing member and the counseling member to suppress the scattering of the developer; And And a scattering developer accommodating member for accommodating the scattering developer guided by the air flow generated by the rotating member. The linear velocity of the outer side of the rotating member is 50% to 150% of the linear velocity of the surface of the consultation member. Counseling body rotated in one direction; A developing member which rotates to face the counseling member and moves the developer to the counseling member; A rotating member rotatably installed adjacent to the counseling member and generating air flow in a direction opposite to the airflow generated between the developing member and the counseling member to suppress the scattering of the developer; And And a scattering developer accommodating member for accommodating the scattering developer guided by the air flow generated by the rotating member. And a gap between the rotating member and the consultation delay is within 3 mm. Counseling body rotated in one direction; A developing member which rotates to face the counseling member and moves the developer to the counseling member; A rotating member rotatably installed adjacent to the counseling member and generating air flow in a direction opposite to the airflow generated between the developing member and the counseling member to suppress the scattering of the developer; A scattering developer accommodating member for accommodating a scattering developer guided by an air flow generated by the rotating member; And It is supported by the scattering developer receiving member to be located below the rotating member, and includes a plate member for preventing the developer from falling below the rotating member, And the rotating member is installed outside the scattering developer accommodating member. The developing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an interval between the plate member and the rotating member is 0 to 3 mm or less. 4. The developing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the length of the plate member extending from the scattering developer accommodating member is equal to or greater than a radius of the rotating member. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The developing apparatus further includes a housing accommodating the developer and the developing member. And the scattering developer accommodating member is formed to have an inlet and an outlet at a lower side of the housing. Counseling body rotated in one direction; A developing member which rotates to face the counseling member and moves the developer to the counseling member; A rotating member rotatably installed adjacent to the counseling member and generating air flow in a direction opposite to the airflow generated between the developing member and the counseling member to suppress the scattering of the developer; And And a scattering developer accommodating member for accommodating the scattering developer guided by the air flow generated by the rotating member. And the rotating member rotates in the same direction as the consultation member and rotates in the opposite direction to the developing member.

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