JP2530609Y2 - Developer exchange device in image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a developer exchanging device in an image forming apparatus that uses a developer cartridge for replacing old and new developers.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Dry-type developing devices are widely used in image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, facsimiles, and printers that visualize an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier as a toner image. Among such developing devices, in a developing device using, for example, a two-component developer having a toner and a carrier as a developer, the developer deteriorates with time, and this leads to a decrease in image quality. We are trying to exchange old and new. When a developer exchanging device having a developer cartridge is used for such an exchanging of the developer, the exchanging operation is simplified, and hands and the like do not need to be stained with the developer.

Conventionally, an empty developer cartridge is prepared in advance, used developer is collected in the empty developer cartridge, and then, a new developer unused from another developer cartridge is put into the developing container of the developing device main body. Was like that. However, with such a configuration, two to replace the developer is required.
Since two developer cartridges are required, the handling becomes complicated.

In view of this, a single developer cartridge is provided with a first developer storage chamber for storing unused new developer and a second developer storage chamber for storing used old developer, respectively. After the old developer is collected in the developer storage chamber of (1), the new developer is put into the developer container of the main body of the developing device from the former developer storage chamber. Is simplified.

However, after the old developer is collected and the developer cartridge filled with the new developer is taken out of the main body of the developing device, the next time the developer is replaced, the removed developer cartridge is used by mistake. If the developer is replaced, the developer overflows from the second developer storage chamber, and the developer cannot be collected. Further, since the first developer accommodating chamber is empty, a situation occurs in which the developer is not supplied forever.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily perform a developer exchange with one developer cartridge, and to make it easy to use the used developer cartridge when the used developer cartridge is used again by mistake. An object of the present invention is to provide a developer exchange device in an image forming apparatus in which developer exchange cannot be performed.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a first developer accommodating chamber for accommodating unused new developer and a second developer accommodating chamber for accommodating used old developer, and An outlet for discharging new developer in the first developer storage chamber and an inlet for feeding old developer into the second developer storage chamber are formed, and are detachable from the developing device main body. A developer cartridge that is rotatably mounted to the developer cartridge and that can close the inlet and the outlet, and has an agent flow port that selectively matches the inlet or the outlet. A cartridge-side shutter member, an upper opening and a lower opening formed in the developing device main body and communicating with a developing container for containing a developer, and the upper opening being rotatably assembled to the developing device main body; And lower opening closed And a developing-device-side shutter member having a material inlet / outlet selectively matching the upper opening or the lower opening, and a first developer accommodating chamber accommodating a new developer, wherein the second developer is empty. After the developer cartridge has been loaded into the main assembly of the developing device in a state where the storage chamber is on the lower side, the agent flow port and the agent port are changed to the second developing mode in a state where the agent flow port and the agent port match. The cartridge-side shutter member and the developing-device-side shutter member are rotationally driven to a position corresponding to the entrance of the developer container and the lower opening of the developing device main body. After the developer is fed into the second developer storage chamber, the cartridge-side shutter member and the developing device-side shutter member are driven to rotate until the outlet, the agent flow port, the agent inlet / outlet, and the upper opening coincide with each other. Agent circulation port, agents after through doorways and the top opening was fed to the first developer storage room of a new developer to the developing container, the cartridge-side shutter member closes the outlet and inlet of the developer cartridge,
A motor for rotating the cartridge-side shutter member and the developing-device-side shutter member is provided on the side of the developer cartridge so that the developing-device-side shutter member closes the upper opening and the lower opening of the developing device main body. Then, after loading the new developer cartridge in which the new developer is stored in the first developer storage chamber and the second developer storage chamber is empty, the power supply to the motor is started. A developer exchange device in an image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrical conduction member that is cut off such that power supply to the motor is prohibited after a predetermined period of time.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a developing device main body, and 2 denotes a developing container containing a developer (not shown) therein. An exchange unit 3 is provided. The developer old exchange unit 3 is formed to project developer container 2, an upper opening 2A ₁
And and lower opening 2A ₂ and a cylindrical portion 2A which is provided respectively, which rotatably be fitted inserted into, and is constituted by a developing device side shutter member 4 which is integrally formed a gear 4A.

As described above, the upper opening 2A ₁ and the lower opening 2A ₂ is formed in a developing apparatus body 1, which opens into the developing device for accommodating a developer, also the developing device side shutter member 4, a developing device main body 1 is rotatably mounted on the upper opening 2A ₁
And with can close the lower opening 2A _2, it has a selective matching agent doorway 4b to the upper opening 2A ₁ or lower opening 2A ₂ (FIGS. 6-10). Such upper opening 2A ₁ , lower opening 2
A ₂ and the developing device side shutter member 4 are components of the developer exchanging device.

Reference numeral 8 in FIG. 1 indicates a developer transport rotation member provided inside the developing container 2, and one end side of the rotation member extends to the inside of the cylindrical portion 2A. Developer transport rotation member 8
As shown in FIG. 2, a hollow shaft 9 integrally formed with a plurality of developer pumping blades 9a, an external screw 11 fixed therearound, and an internal shaft integrally provided on a shaft 12 in the hollow shaft 9 are shown. It is composed of a screw 13 and the like.

When the hollow shaft 9 and the shaft 12 are driven to rotate in the directions of the arrows, the developer in the developing container 2 is carried by the external screw 11 in the direction of the arrow a. During this time, the developer enters the hollow shaft 9 through the developer injection port 14, and is then conveyed by the internal screw 13 in the direction of arrow b different from the above direction.

Then, the developer flows out of the hollow shaft through the developer outlet 15 and is transported again in the direction of arrow a. In this way,
The developer circulates inside and outside the hollow shaft 9, and during this circulation, toner is supplied to the developer from a toner hopper (not shown) as necessary. While the developer is conveyed in the direction of arrow a, the developer is pumped up by the developer pumping blade 9a, and is supplied to a developing sleeve (not shown) to form an electrostatic latent image also formed on a photoreceptor (not shown). The image is visualized as a toner image.

Here, in FIG. 1, when the developer in the developing container 2 is deteriorated, a new and old developer is exchanged by the developer exchange device as follows. This developer exchange device
The developing device has a developer cartridge 6 which is removably mounted on the developing device main body 1. The cartridge 6 is prepared in advance for replacement of a new or old developer. As shown in FIG. 7, the developer cartridge 6 includes an unused new developer
A first developer accommodating chamber 16 for accommodating 101 and a second developer accommodating chamber 17 for accommodating used old developer are provided at the lower portion. An outlet 18 for discharging the new developer 101 from the developer storage chamber 16 to the outside and an inlet for feeding the old developer into the second developer storage chamber 17.
19 are formed respectively. In the illustrated example, the first developer storage chamber of the cylindrical portion 6A of the developer cartridge 6 is provided.
An outlet 18 is provided at a position corresponding to 16, and an inlet 19 is provided at a position corresponding to the second developer accommodating chamber 17.

Further, the developer exchange device has a cartridge-side shutter member 5, which is rotatably attached to the developer cartridge 6, and closes an inlet 19 and an outlet 18 of the cartridge 6. At the same time, it has an agent flow port 5b that selectively matches the inlet 19 or the outlet 18. The cartridge-side shutter member 5 is rotatably fitted to an inner peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion 6A of the developer cartridge 5, and a gear 5A is integrally formed at an outer end thereof.

When replacing the developer, first, the front cover of the image forming apparatus (not shown) is opened, and the developer cartridge 6 is grasped with one hand as shown in FIG. 1 and 6
The developer cartridge 6 is inserted and loaded by being fitted into the outer peripheral portion of the developing device side shutter member 4 shown in the figure. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the insertion and loading have been completed. A new developer 101 is previously stored in the first developer storage chamber 16 of the inserted and loaded developer cartridge 6, whereas the second developer storage chamber 17 is empty. It is in a state. At this time, the agent flow port 5b of the cartridge-side shutter member 5 does not match any of the outlet 18 and the inlet 19 of the developer cartridge 6, and both the outlet 18 and the inlet 19 are closed by the cartridge-side shutter member 5, and The new developer 101 in the one developer storage chamber 16 does not flow out. Similarly the developing device side shutter member 4, the dosage entrance 4b does not match both one of the upper opening 2A ₁ and the lower opening 2A ₂ of the developing device main body 1 is closed these openings 2A _1, 2A _2. Therefore, the developer in the developing container 2 does not flow out.

When the developer cartridge 6 is inserted, the groove 6B (FIGS. 5 and 7) provided on the upper portion of the developer cartridge 6 is guided by a guide bar 21 projecting from the developing container 2. As a result, the first developer storage chamber 16
The developer cartridge 6 is inserted and loaded so that is always above. Note that, as shown in FIG. 7, a guide bar 22 protrudes from the developer cartridge 6 and is inserted into a hole (not shown) provided on the developer container 2 in the same manner. Function can be achieved. By employing such a configuration, it is possible to prevent a mistake in setting of the developer cartridge by the operator.

With the insertion and loading of the developer cartridge 6 completed,
As shown in FIG. 7, the agent flow port 5b of the cartridge side shutter member 5 matches the agent port 4b provided in the developing device side shutter member 4. Note that this match is achieved with a recess provided on the end face of the cartridge side shutter member 5.
This is ensured by fitting the projection 5c into the projection 4c provided on the developing device side shutter member 4 side. Further, when the insertion and loading of the developer cartridge 6 is completed, the gear portion 5A meshes with a motor gear 23A meshing with the gear portion 4A of the developing device side shutter member 4.

When the developer cartridge 6 is set as described above and the front cover is closed or a manual operation after the closing is performed and a developer replacement switch (not shown) is pressed, the motor 23 which is one component of the developer replacement device is activated. The shutter 23 rotates and the shutter members 4 and 5 rotate, and when they come to the rotation position shown in FIG. 8, the motor 23 stops. In addition, without using the developer exchange switch as described above,
When the front cover is closed, the motor 23 provided on the developing device main body 1 may be automatically rotated.

With the above arrangement, as shown in FIG.
₂ , the agent inlet / outlet 4b, the agent flow port 5b, and the inlet 19 all have the same opening. Thus, the motor 23
Is a state in which the first developer storage chamber 16 containing the new developer 101 is on the upper side, and the empty second developer storage chamber 17 is on the lower side.
After the developer cartridge 6 is loaded into the developing device main body 1, in a state where the agent flow port 5 b and the agent port 4 b match, the agent flow port 5 b and the agent port 4 b are connected to the entrance of the second developer accommodating chamber 17. 19
A rotating drive and the cartridge-side shutter member 5 to a position that matches the lower opening 2A ₂ of the developing device main body 1 of the developing device side shutter member 4.

In such a state, when the developing device is operated and the developer conveying rotation member 8 shown in FIG. 2 is rotated, the developer conveyed in the direction of the arrow a (FIG. 1) passes through a series of openings that match the above. Then, it falls and enters the second developer accommodating chamber 17. That is, the used old developer in the developing container is collected in the second developer accommodating chamber 17.

After the old developer is collected as described above, the above-described motor 23 rotates again, and when both shutter members 4 and 5 come to the rotation position in FIG. 9, the motor 23 stops. In order to accurately perform such a stop, it is effective to use a motor such as a servo motor or a step motor as the motor 23. Thus, motor 23, After feeding the inlet 19, adhesive flow port 5b, agents doorway 4b and the second developer storage chamber 17 to the developer in the developing container through the lower opening 2A _2, the developer cartridge 6 outlet 18, agent flow port 5b, agents doorway 4b and the upper opening 2A ₁ is driven to rotate the cartridge-side shutter member 5 to a position that matches the developing device side shutter member 4.

In this manner, as shown in FIG. 9, the agent inlet / outlet 4b and the agent flow port 5b are located at the upper part, and all four openings coincide with each other, so that the new developer 101 in the first developer accommodating chamber 16 is formed. Pass through those openings and into the cylindrical portion 2A. When the developing device is operated in this state, the developer that has entered the cylindrical portion 2A is carried by the developer conveying rotation member 8 (FIG. 1) and is stored in the developing container 2.

The replacement of the developer is performed in this way,
After this, the motor 23 rotates again, and both openings 2A ₁ and 2A ₂
When the shutter members 4 and 5 rotate to a rotation position for closing the outlet 18 and the entrance 19, for example, a rotation position shown in FIG. 10, the motor 23 stops. Thus, the motor 23, the outlet 18, agent flow port 5b, agents doorway 4b and developing new developer 101 through the upper opening 2A ₁ in the first developer storage compartment 16 container 2
After that, the cartridge-side shutter member 5 closes the outlet 18 and the inlet 19 of the developer cartridge 6, and the developing device-side shutter member 4 closes the upper opening 2A of the developing device main body 1.
To close the ₁ and the lower opening 2A _2, is to rotationally drive the cartridge-side shutter member 5 and the developing device side shutter member 4.

In this state, the developer cartridge 6 is pulled out from the outer peripheral portion of the developing device side shutter member 4 together with the cartridge side shutter member 5.
Since the openings 2A ₁ and 2A ₂ and the outlet 18 and the inlet 19 are closed by this, there is no possibility that the developer inside leaks out.

When the cartridge side shutter member 5 rotates together with the developing device side shutter member 4, the developer cartridge 6 itself tends to rotate. However, the groove 6B (FIG. 7) of the developer cartridge is
(FIG. 1), such a twist is prevented.

In addition, after the replacement of the developer is completed, a message to that effect is displayed on an operation panel or the like of the image forming apparatus. After seeing this display, the developer cartridge is taken out and discarded. I do.

Here, the developer cartridge removed after the replacement of the developer (hereinafter referred to as an old developer cartridge)
If the old developer cartridge is mixed with the new developer cartridge without discarding the old developer cartridge, the old developer cartridge may be inserted and loaded by mistake at the time of the next developer replacement. If such a situation occurs, the collected developer has already entered the second developer accommodating chamber 17, so that the collected developer overflows and cannot be collected. Further, since the first developer accommodating chamber 16 is empty, new developer cannot be supplied.

Further, if the guide bar 21 and the groove 6B are not provided, the developer cartridge may be loaded upside down, and the collected developer in the second developer accommodating chamber 17 is loaded into the developing device. It may be done. In this case, since the deteriorated developer is directly used for development, the image quality remains deteriorated.

Therefore, the developer exchange device of the present embodiment is provided on the side of the developer cartridge 6, the new developer 101 is stored in the first developer storage chamber 16, and the second developer storage chamber 17 is After the empty new developer cartridge 6 is loaded into the developing device main body 1, the power supply to the motor 23 is started, and after a predetermined time, the power supply to the motor 23 is cut off so that the power supply to the motor 23 is prohibited. A conductive member. In this example, a fuse 24 is used as such a member, as shown in FIG. 1, and this is held immovably on the side of the developer cartridge 6 by a holder 25.

The developer cartridge is provided with a protrusion 26. When the developer cartridge 6 is inserted and loaded, the protrusion 26
As shown in the figure, the contact enters the hole 27 provided on the side of the developing container 2 and pushes the conduction spring 28 to close the contact 29.
Further, both ends of the fuse 24 are connected to both electric terminals 32 on the developing container side shown in FIG.

With the contacts 29 closed, the fact that the developer cartridge has been set is displayed on the operation panel unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus via the electric control unit 31. A current flows through the fuse 24 for a certain period of time necessary for collecting the developer and supplying a new developer, and the fuse is automatically blown. That is, for the developer cartridge removed after the developer replacement, the fuse 24 is always blown. When the fuse 24 is blown, the motor 23 is not supplied with power even when the developer cartridge 6 is loaded into the developing device main body as described above, and the motor 23 does not operate.

As described above, by providing the developer cartridge 6 with an electrically conductive member such as a fuse that cuts off in response to the insertion and loading, the above-described problem in the case where the old developer cartridge is accidentally reloaded is prevented. Can be prevented.

For example, when a new developer cartridge is inserted and loaded, a current flows through the fuse 24, and when an old developer cartridge is inserted and loaded, no current flows through the fuse 24. A message such as "The developer cartridge has been set" can be displayed, and at the same time, the developing device can be deactivated.

This prevents the developer from being replaced by the old developer cartridge. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the developer from being collected, prevent the new developer from being supplied to the developing device forever, and prevent the old developer from being supplied into the developing device. In this way, even a general user can easily perform the replacement operation of the developer.

As the electrically conductive member, besides one that is cut by heat generated by the flow of electric current, one that is cut by the magnitude of a voltage applied between the electric terminals 32 and 32 (FIG. 4), or the like, can be used.

[Effect of the invention]

According to the present invention, the developer can be easily replaced with one developer cartridge, and even if the used developer cartridge is mistakenly loaded in the replacement of the developer, the replacement of the developer by the replacement can be performed beforehand. It is possible to prevent the developer from being collected, to prevent the developer from being collected, to stop supplying the new developer, or to supply the old developer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a developer conveying rotating member provided on the side of the developing device main body of the above-described embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a conducting portion and the like provided on the apparatus side, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fuse and electric terminals, etc. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a developer cartridge is held in one hand, and FIG. Sectional view of a developing device side shutter member and the like,
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a developer cartridge is inserted and loaded in a developing device side shutter member, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which both shutter members are rotated to a developer collecting position, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the shutter member has turned to the new developer supply position, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which both shutter members have turned to the open / closed position. 1 ...... the developing device main body, 2 ...... developer container 2A ₁ ...... upper opening, 2A ₂ ...... lower opening 4 ...... developing device side shutter member, 4b ...... agent doorway 5 ...... cartridge side shutter member, 5b ...... Agent distribution port 6: developer cartridge 16: first developer accommodating chamber 17: second developer accommodating chamber 18, outlet 19: inlet 23, motor 101: new developer

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] A first developer accommodating chamber accommodating an unused new developer and a second developer accommodating chamber accommodating a used old developer; and a first developer accommodating chamber. An outlet for discharging the new developer in the room to the outside and an inlet for feeding the old developer into the second developer accommodating chamber are formed respectively, and the developer is detachably loaded into the developing device main body. A cartridge-side shutter member rotatably mounted to the developer cartridge, capable of closing the inlet and outlet, and having an agent flow port selectively matching the inlet or outlet; An upper opening and a lower opening that are formed in the developing device main body and communicate with a developing container that stores the developer; and are rotatably assembled to the developing device main body, and close the upper opening and the lower opening. And at the same time A developing-device-side shutter member having a developer inlet / outlet selectively matching the opening or lower opening, a first developer storage chamber containing new developer being upper, and an empty second developer storage chamber being lower. In the state, after the developer cartridge is loaded into the developing device main body, in a state where the agent flow port and the agent port match, the agent flow port and the agent port are
The cartridge-side shutter member and the developing-device-side shutter member are rotationally driven to a position corresponding to the entrance of the second developer accommodating chamber and the lower opening of the developing-apparatus main body. After feeding the developer in the container into the second developer accommodating chamber, the cartridge-side shutter member and the developing device-side shutter member are rotationally driven until the outlet, the agent flow port, the agent inlet / outlet and the upper opening coincide with each other, After the new developer in the first developer accommodating chamber is fed into the developer container through the outlet, the agent flow port, the agent port, and the upper opening, the cartridge-side shutter member closes the outlet and the inlet of the developer cartridge, and The cartridge side shutter member and the developing device side shutter member are rotated so that the developing device side shutter member closes the upper opening and the lower opening of the developing device main body. A driving motor, a new developer cartridge provided on the side of the developer cartridge, the first developer storage chamber containing the new developer, and the second developer storage chamber being empty. An electric conduction member that is cut off such that power supply to the motor is prohibited after a predetermined time from the start of power supply to the motor after being loaded into the developing device main body. Agent changing device.