JPH055567Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a developing device used in a copying machine or the like capable of making multicolor monochrome copies.

<Prior Art> When replacing a developer tank with a developer tank containing a different color developer in a copying machine capable of making multi-color monochrome copies, the developer tank is replaced from the front of the copying machine. At this time, a method has been used in which the developer tank fixing device is released, the developer tank positioning device is then released, and the developer tank is slid to the front and taken out.

Here, the developer tank fixing device allows the developer tank to move freely in the sliding direction (direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction).
A claw-like locking mechanism or a lid is required to prevent the developing tank from moving due to vibrations during use of the copying machine. The fixing device is a mechanism that prevents the developer tank from moving in the sliding direction.

Further, in the positioning device, the distance between the magnet roller of the developer tank and the photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as DSD) is an important dimension in order to obtain good image quality.
In order to obtain this DSD accurately, a positioning device is required. The positioning device holds collars at both ends of the roller shaft of the magnet roller, and secures DSD by bringing the collars into contact with the photosensitive drum so that there is a gap for DSD in the radial direction of the collar.

That is, the developer tank positioning device is for bringing the collar into pressure contact with the photoreceptor.

In this way, conventionally, when replacing the developer tank,
The following steps have been performed: unfixing the fixing device → releasing the positioning of the positioning device → removing the developer tank → inserting another developer tank → positioning → fixing.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> However, in the conventional developing device, as mentioned above, in order to replace the developer tank, it is necessary to release the fixation → release the position →
Because six operations were performed: taking out a developer tank, inserting another developer tank, positioning, and fixing, replacing the developer tank was complicated and took a long time.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a developing device that can perform fixing/releasing and positioning/releasing at the same time, can shorten developer tank replacement operations to four operations, and can shorten working time.

<Means for solving the problems> In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following features:
As shown in the figure, a photoreceptor 2 rotatable around a main shaft 1, a developer tank 3 disposed close to the photoreceptor 2, and a developer tank 3 that can be freely drawn out in the axial direction In the developing device, the guide rail 4 is provided with a guide rail 4 that guides the photoconductor 2 in a direction orthogonal to the photoreceptor 2 so as to be able to approach and move away from the photoreceptor 2. a fixed lid 11 that prevents movement in the axial direction; a rotary plate 13 that is rotatable around a support shaft 12; and a guide groove 14 formed on the bottom surface of the developer tank 3.
and a guide groove 1 protruding from one end of the rotary plate 13.
4, a connecting plate 22 that connects the fixed lid 11 and the other end of the rotary plate 13 and rotates the rotary plate 13 when the fixed lid 11 is opened and closed; A collar 17 is provided to maintain a constant distance from the body 2, and the guide groove 14 is a straight groove portion 14B parallel to the main shaft 1 that guides the pin 15 when the developer tank 3 is attached or detached.
and an arcuate groove portion 14A for positioning the developing tank 3, and the arcuate groove portion 14A
The pin 15 is formed at a length such that the distance between the developer tank 3 and the photoconductor 2 becomes constant when the pin 15 is engaged with the developer tank 3.
A spring 16 is provided that biases the photoreceptor in the direction of pressure contact.

<Function> In the present invention, the developer tank 3 is replaced by the fixed lid 1.
When 1 is opened, the rotating plate 13 is rotated by the connecting plate 22 against the biasing force of the spring, and the pin 15 comes out of the arcuate groove 14A.

At this time, the positioning of the developer tank 3, which had been pressed against the photoreceptor in the photoreceptor proximity direction (photoreceptor positioning direction) by the spring 16, is released. In this state, when the developer tank 3 is pulled out of the main body 9 along the guide rail 4 and another developer tank 3 is inserted along the guide rail 4, the pin 15 directly engages with the groove 14A, and the developer tank 3 You will be guided.

When the fixed lid 11 is closed, the rotating plate 13 rotates in conjunction with the rotating plate 13, and the pin 15 slides from the end of the linear groove 14B toward the arcuate groove 14A, bringing the developer tank 3 closer to the photoreceptor 2. The developing tank 3 is positioned at a certain distance from the photoreceptor 2 by a collar 17. In this state, the developer tank 3 is urged toward the photoreceptor 2 by the spring 16.

<Example> Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a fixing device, positioning device, and interlocking device showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of a developing device, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the interlocking device and positioning device. .

As shown in the figure, the developing device of the present invention includes a drum-shaped photoreceptor 2 that is rotatable around a main shaft 1, a developer tank 3 disposed close to the photoreceptor 2, and a developer tank 3 that is rotated in the axial direction of the main shaft 1. The photoreceptor 2 is provided with a guide rail 4 which can be freely pulled out in the X direction and which guides the photoreceptor 2 in a direction perpendicular to the main shaft 1 so as to be able to approach and move away from the photoreceptor 2.

The axial direction X of the main shaft 1 of the developer tank 3
a developer tank fixing device 5 for preventing movement to;
A positioning device 6 for positioning the developer tank 3 at a predetermined position in a direction perpendicular to the main shaft 1; and a positioning device 6 for releasing the positioning device 6 in conjunction with the release operation of the fixing device 5, An interlocking device 7 is provided for interlocking the fixing device 5 and the positioning device 6 so that the positioning device 6 performs a positioning operation in conjunction with the tank fixing operation.

The developer tank 3 is formed in a box shape with an open front.
A magnet roller 8 is supported inside.

The guide rail 4 is plate-shaped and is used to place and guide the developing tank 3.

The fixing device 5 consists of a fixed lid 11 which is pivoted at the lower part of the front part of the copying machine main body 9 via a left and right shaft 10 so as to be rotatable in opening and closing, and the upper end of the fixed lid 11 is in contact with the main body 9. Ru.

The positioning device 6 includes an L-shaped rotary plate 13 whose central bent portion is rotatably supported on the main body 9 via a support shaft 12, and a pin guide groove 14 formed on the bottom surface of the developer tank 3. , a developer tank pressure contact pin 15 protruding from one end of the rotary plate 13 and removably engaged with the guide groove 14 , and a spring 16 for biasing the pressure contact pin 15 in the direction of pressure contact with the developer tank 3 . , a disc-shaped collar 1 formed at the end of the magnet roller 8 and abutting against the peripheral surface of the end of the photoreceptor 2 in a positioned state;
It consists of 7.

The collar 17 is formed to have a diameter that optimizes the gap between the magnet roller 8 and the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor 2.

As shown by the chain line in FIG. 3, the guide groove 14 includes a semicircular groove portion 14A centered on the support shaft 12, and a straight groove portion that allows the developer tank 3 to be pulled out in a straight line toward the front when the fixed lid 11 is open. It consists of 14B. Also,
An arcuate through hole 18 is formed in the guide rail 4 at a position corresponding to the arcuate groove 14A to allow the pressure pin 15 to swing in the arcuate groove 14A.

The interlocking device 7 includes a connecting plate 22 that connects the lower end of the fixed lid 11 and the other end of the rotary plate 13 with connecting pins 20 and 21. Connecting plate 2
A lower piece 22A is formed at the front end of the connecting pin 20, and the connecting pin 20 has an axial direction that is the same as the left-right axis 10, and connects the lower piece 22A and the lower end of the fixed lid 11. Further, the axial direction of the connecting pin 21 is the vertical direction.

In the above configuration, when replacing the developer tank 3 to change the developed color, it is necessary to remove it from the main body. If the collar 17 for DSD is pulled out while in contact with the photoreceptor 1, the photoreceptor 1 will be damaged, so the developing tank 3 must be removed after the positioning is released.

Furthermore, a fixed lid 11 is provided to fix the developer tank so that the developer tank 3 does not move during the copying operation, but this needs to be released. When the fixed cover 11 is opened and fixed, the fixed cover 11 rotates open around the left-right axis 10 and moves the connecting plate 22 of the interlocking device 7 rearward. Therefore, the rotary plate 13 connected to the connecting plate 22 rotates around the support shaft 12 (counterclockwise) in FIG. 3 and reaches the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 3. That is, as shown by the chain line in FIG.
The positioning device 6 of the developer tank 3, which was pressed in the photoconductor proximity direction (photoconductor positioning direction) by the photoconductor 6, is released. In this state, the developer tank 3 is pulled out of the main body 9 along the guide rail 4, and another developer tank 3 is inserted along the guide rail 4.

Then, when the fixing lid 11 of the fixing device 5 is closed,
The rotary plate 13 is rotated around the support shaft 12 by the spring 16, and the pressure contact pin 15 slides from the end of the linear groove 14B toward the circular groove 14A, bringing the developer tank 3 close to the photoreceptor 2 (Fig. 3). (state shown by the dashed line). The developer tank 3 is stopped and positioned at a position where the collar 17 of the magnet roller 8 and the photoreceptor 2 come into contact with each other.
In this state, the developer tank 3 is urged toward the photoreceptor 2 by the spring 16.

In this manner, when replacing the developer tank 3, the positioning is released in conjunction with the release of the fixation, and then when the developer tank 3 is removed, another developer tank 3 is inserted, and the fixing operation is performed, the positioning is also performed at the same time.

Therefore, the time required to replace the developer tank 3 is shortened.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that many modifications and changes can be made to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

For example, the collar 17 as one component of the positioning device 6 is not only attached to the magnet roller 8 as in the above embodiment, but may also be attached to the photoreceptor 2 side.

Moreover, the fixed lid 11 as the fixing device 5 is replaced with one that rotates around the left and right axis as in the above embodiment.
It may be a sliding door type. In this case, the positioning device 6 may be configured to simply press the rear surface 3B side of the developer tank 3 in conjunction with the opening/closing operation of the fixed lid 11.

<Effects of the invention> As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, when replacing the developer tank, fixing/releasing the developer tank and positioning/releasing the developer tank can be performed at the same time. The operation can be shortened and the working time can be shortened.

In positioning the developer tank, the developer tank can be accurately guided to a predetermined position by engaging the guide groove and the pin.

Moreover, since the spring presses the developer tank in the direction of pressure contact with the photoreceptor through the pin, the developer tank and the photoreceptor can be reliably positioned.

Further, since the fixed lid is biased in the closing direction by the spring via the connecting plate, it is possible to prevent the developer tank from moving in the axial direction.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a fixing device, positioning device, and interlocking device showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of a developing device, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the interlocking device and positioning device. . 1...Spindle, 2...Photoreceptor, 3...Developer tank, 4
...Guide rail, 5...Fixing device, 6...Positioning device, 7...Interlocking device, X...Axis direction.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A photoreceptor rotatable around a main shaft, a developer tank disposed close to the photoreceptor, and a developer tank that can be freely drawn out in the axial direction of the main shaft and in a direction orthogonal to the main shaft. and a guide rail that guides the photoreceptor in a manner that allows it to approach and move away from the photoreceptor, the fixed lid being disposed on the front side of the developer tank so as to be openable and closable around the shaft and preventing the main shaft of the developer tank from moving in the axial direction. a rotating plate that is rotatable around a support shaft; a guide groove formed on the bottom surface of the developer tank; a pin that projects from one end of the rotating plate and engages with the guide groove; and a rotating plate that is rotatable with the fixed lid. a connecting plate connected to the other end of the plate to rotate the rotary plate by the opening/closing operation of the fixed lid; and a collar that maintains a constant distance between the developer tank and the photoreceptor; It consists of a linear groove parallel to the main shaft that guides the pin when attaching and detaching the tank, and a circular arc groove for positioning the developer tank, and the arc groove allows the connection between the developer tank and the photoreceptor when engaged with the pin of the rotary plate. What is claimed is: 1. A developing device, characterized in that a spring is formed to have a constant distance, and a spring is provided at the other end of the rotary plate for biasing a pin in a direction in which a photoconductor of a developing tank is pressed against it.