JP2005301077A - Developing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing unit designed so as to make it impossible to change with ease identifying parts ensuring compatibility relative to a various kinds of developing units. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of mounting parts 44a to 44e are disposed in the upper face of the lid body 41 of the developing unit 16 so as to be almost perpendicular to the direction in which the developing unit 16 is inserted. Identifying projections 45 are fixed to the mounting parts and in positions corresponding to the type of the developing unit 16. Each mounting part is recessed into the replenishment chamber of the developing unit 16. The root section of each identifying projection 45 is fitted and welded to the internal surface of the respective mounting part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device that is detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile machine.

Various types of image forming apparatuses have been developed from a technical point of view, such as high-resolution image formation, or from an application point of view, such as business use or home use. As for the developing devices that can be attached to and detached from many types of image forming apparatuses, naturally, various types of developing devices have been developed. Accordingly, it is necessary to attach a developing device corresponding to a predetermined model of the image forming apparatus, and attaching an incompatible developing device may cause a failure of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, it is necessary for the operator to be able to recognize the compatibility between the image forming apparatus and the developing device mounted. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 provides a convex / concave portion having a shape imitating a logo mark on the surface of the toner cartridge that abuts against the hopper portion, and a concavo-convex shape portion corresponding to the logo mark on the hopper portion. The point that the cartridge can be mounted is described.
JP 2001-75455 A

  In the developing device described in the above-mentioned prior document, since the same logo mark cannot be formed on the non-genuine product because the logo mark is used, the use of the non-genuine product can be prevented. Since the logo mark protrudes and can be easily cut off, it is not possible to sufficiently cope with such a usage method in which such compatibility is ignored.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a developing device in which an identification portion that ensures compatibility among various types of developing devices cannot be easily modified.

  A developing device according to the present invention includes a storage chamber for storing a developer and is inserted into the inside of an image forming apparatus and attached to a surface member that defines at least a part of the storage chamber. And a plurality of mounting portions formed in a concave shape so as to protrude into the mounting portion, and at least one identification protruding portion formed so that a root portion is fixed in the mounting portion and protrudes outward. To do. Furthermore, the periphery of the base portion of the identification protrusion is welded to the inner surface of the mounting portion. Furthermore, the identification protrusion is fixed to the position of the attachment portion in a combination determined according to the type of the developing device.

  By having the configuration as described above, the mounting portion formed on the surface member that defines at least a part of the storage chamber is formed in a concave shape so as to protrude into the storage chamber, and the identification projection is fixed in the mounting portion. As a result, the fixing portion between the attachment portion and the identification protrusion enters the storage chamber, making it difficult to modify the identification protrusion. That is, if the identification projection is forcibly modified by excision or the like, the fixing portion of the identification projection enters the storage chamber, so the possibility of opening a hole in the surface member increases, and the hole is once opened in the surface member. As a result, the developer leaks from the storage chamber and the developer cannot be used. Therefore, the deterrent effect with respect to the modification of the identification protrusion is exhibited. And if the circumference | surroundings of the base part of an identification protrusion are welded to the inner surface of an attachment part, it will become much more difficult to perform modification | changes, such as excision, to an identification protrusion.

  Furthermore, if the identification protrusion is fixed to the position of the mounting portion in a combination determined according to the type of the developing device, a large number of combinations can be set by increasing the number of mounting portions. It is possible to easily cope with the number of types.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail. The embodiments described below are preferable specific examples for carrying out the present invention, and thus various technical limitations are made. However, the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. Unless otherwise specified, the present invention is not limited to these forms.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the entire image forming apparatus according to the present invention. A paper discharge tray 10 is provided in the upper part of the image forming apparatus 1, and a recording unit 2 and a paper feeding unit 3 are arranged in the lower part thereof.

  In the paper feed unit 3, a paper feed cassette 11 is arranged, and a plurality of sheets of a predetermined size are stacked on the flapper 12. A pickup roller 13 is disposed at the right end of the paper feed cassette 11. The flapper 12 is urged upward by a spring member (not shown) so that the upper surface of the stacked paper comes into pressure contact with the pickup roller 13. When the pickup roller 13 is rotationally driven in this state, the sheets are fed one by one to the sheet conveyance path by the frictional force.

  The fed paper is first conveyed to the recording unit 2 by the feed roller 14 and the press roller 15. The recording unit 2 includes a developing device 16, a cleaning unit 17, a corona charger 18, a photosensitive drum 19, a transfer roller 20, an exposure head 21, and a fixing roller 22 for recording on the conveyed paper. The cleaning unit 17 cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum 19 by capturing foreign matters such as residual toner and paper dust attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum 19 after transfer. The corona charger 18 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 19 by the discharge from the corotron. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the uniformly charged photosensitive drum 19 by exposing the photosensitive drum 19 with an exposure head (LED head) 21 in accordance with an image recording signal. Then, the toner in the developing device 16 is transferred to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 19 to visualize the electrostatic latent image. The transfer roller 20 is installed at a position facing the photosensitive drum 19 with the paper interposed therebetween, and a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 19 is transferred to the paper when a predetermined voltage is applied. The transferred toner image is sandwiched between the fixing roller 22 and the press roller 23 and heated and pressed to be fixed on the paper. The fixed sheet is sandwiched between the sheet discharge roller 24 and the press roller 25 and is carried out to the sheet discharge tray 10.

  Further, a manual paper feed mechanism and a reverse conveyance mechanism are provided on the side surface of the apparatus main body, and when performing manual paper feed, the side cover 26 is opened and the paper is inserted into the paper feed roller 27. . The inserted paper is conveyed to the feed roller 14 and the press roller 15 by the paper feed roller 27 and recording operation is performed. Also, when performing reverse conveyance, the paper recorded on one side is once sandwiched between the paper discharge roller 24 and the press roller 25 and then conveyed, and then the paper discharge roller 24 is reversely rotated and conveyed to the reverse conveyance path. Then, the feed roller 28 and the press roller 29, and the feed roller 30 and the press roller 31 are transported downward by two pairs of transport rollers. Then, the sheet is conveyed again to the feed roller 14 and the press roller 15 and a recording operation is performed on the other side, and recording is performed on both sides of the sheet.

  FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the developing device 16 in FIG. The developing device 16 is configured by sealing a lid body 41 by welding or screws to the upper portion of the container body 40, and has a replenishing chamber 42 in which a paddle as a stirring means is disposed. The replenishing chamber 42 is a storage chamber for storing toner, and a lid 41 is mounted as a surface member that defines the upper portion thereof. The developing device 16 is inserted and mounted in the image forming apparatus 1 from the front side to the back side in FIG. 1 (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2). A grip portion 43 for gripping 16 is fixed to the side surface of the container body 40.

  On the upper surface of the lid 41, rectangular frame-shaped attachment portions 44 a to 44 e are provided at positions close to the grip portion 43 and arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction of the developing device 16. An identification protrusion 45 for identifying compatibility between the developing device 16 and the apparatus main body is fitted and fixed to 44e.

  3 shows a cross-sectional view in the XX direction of FIG. The attachment portions 44 a to 44 e are formed in a concave shape so as to protrude into the supply chamber 42. The mounting portions are partitioned by ribs 46. As shown in FIG. 4, the identification protrusion 45 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the inside is formed hollow. The thickness of the identification protrusion 45 is thicker than the thickness of the lid 41. The shape of the attachment portions 44a to 44e is such that the lower portion of the identification protrusion 45 is closely attached. Then, the identification protrusion 45 is fitted into the attachment portion 44 with the opening portion facing upward, and the periphery of the identification protrusion 45 is welded to the inner surface of the attachment portion 44. Since the height of the identification protrusion 45 is set to be higher than the depth of the attachment portion 44, the identification protrusion 45 protrudes upward while being fitted to the attachment portion 44.

  FIG. 5 shows a state of identifying compatibility when the developing device 16 is inserted into the apparatus main body. The apparatus main body is formed with a recess 47 corresponding to the portion where the attachment portions 44a to 44e are formed, and the identification engagement portion 48 is fixed in the recess 47 at a position corresponding to each attachment portion. Yes. The identification engaging portion 48 is attached corresponding to a combination of identification protrusions 45 fixed to a developing device that can be attached to the apparatus main body. When an incompatible developing device is inserted, the identification protrusion 45 is Since it cannot collide with the identification engaging part 48 and can not be inserted, compatibility between the apparatus main body and the developing device is ensured.

When an incompatible developer is forcibly inserted, the colliding identification protrusion 45 is cut off. However, since the identification protrusion 45 is thick, it is difficult to cut the identification protrusion 45 itself. . Although it is conceivable that the identification protrusion 45 is peeled off from the mounting portion 44, since the two are welded together, there is a high possibility that the thin cover body 41 is accidentally cut. Once the opening of the lid 41 is opened due to the cutting, the toner in the replenishing chamber 42 is scattered to the outside, so that the alteration by excision of the identification protrusion 45 is suppressed.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a modification of the above-described embodiment. In this example, a cylindrical insert 49 is erected at the center of the bottom surface of the mounting portion 44, and an insertion hole 50 having a circular cross section is formed at the center of the identification protrusion 45 correspondingly. A cylindrical insertion part 51 is fixed. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7, the insertion hole 50 is formed through the bottom surface of the identification protrusion 45, and the insertion protrusion 49 is inserted into the attachment portion 44 by inserting the insertion body 49 from below. It is designed to be fitted. And while welding the circumference | surroundings of the identification protrusion 45 and also welding between the insertion body 49 and the insertion hole 50, the identification protrusion 45 can be fixed more firmly, and the identification protrusion 45 is modified. Is even more difficult.

  In the example described above, the attachment portion 44 and the identification protrusion 45 are fixed by welding. However, for example, both may be fixed using an adhesive, making it difficult to separate the two. Any method can be adopted as long as it is a method.

1 is a schematic sectional view of an entire image forming apparatus equipped with an embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the entire developing device. It is XX sectional drawing of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view regarding attachment of an identification protrusion. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram regarding a state in which a developing device is inserted into the apparatus main body. It is a disassembled perspective view regarding a modification. It is sectional drawing regarding a modification.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Paper feed part 3 Recording part
16 Developer
40 Container body
41 lid
42 Supply room
43 Grip part
44 Mounting part
45 Identification protrusion
48 Identification engagement part

Claims (3)

  In a developing device that includes a storage chamber for storing a developer and that is inserted and mounted inside the image forming apparatus, a concave member is formed on a surface member that defines at least a part of the storage chamber so as to protrude into the storage chamber. A developing device comprising: a plurality of attachment portions; and at least one identification protrusion formed so that a root portion is fixed in the attachment portion and protrudes outward.   The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a periphery of a base portion of the identification protrusion is welded to an inner surface of the attachment portion.   The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the identification protrusion is fixed to the position of the mounting portion in a combination determined according to a type of the developing device.

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