JPH065403B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus capable of stably and easily supplying toner to a rotary multicolor developing machine in a small space.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, in recording devices such as copiers and printers that enable multi-color development, multiple developing machines for each color can be integrated and rotated in order to reduce the space occupied by the developing machine and to reduce the size of the apparatus. A recording device configured as described above has been proposed.

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional multicolor developing recording apparatus, there is one shown in FIG. 1, for example. This recording device causes toner to fly according to the latent image content (latent image for each color formed according to the type of filter) formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 once or several times in succession. A plurality of developing machines 2, 2, 4, for developing
And a supporting member 6 that integrally mounts these developing machines on the outer peripheral portion and that rotates to move the desired developing machine to a position facing the photosensitive drum 1.

The developing machines 2 to 5 are one-component developing machines having the same shape,
Toner is uniformly attached to the surface, and the toner on the surface flies to the drum 1 when a bias voltage is applied.
And a toner layer stabilizing member 9 that comes into contact with the cylinder 8 and rotates to facilitate toner adhesion. The developing machine is arranged in a housing 7 having an opening on the surface facing the photosensitive drum 1, and when facing the drum 1, the distance between the opening of the developing housing 7 and the surface of the drum 1 is 0.
It is arranged to be 1 to 0.5 mm. Toners of a desired color are supplied to each developing machine from a supply unit. For example, developing machine 2
Black toner, yellow, cyan, and magenta are supplied to each of .about.5. The toner is supplied to each developing machine by an auger or the like.

In the above configuration, the toner of the desired color is supplied to each of the developing machines 2 to 5, and the desired color for copying is designated by the console provided in the recording device. Then, the photosensitive drum 1 is exposed through the filter corresponding to the designated color, and the developing machine (one of the developing machines 2 to 5) to which the toner of the designated color is supplied is transferred to the photosensitive drum 1. The support member 6 rotates so as to be in the facing position. When a bias voltage is applied to the developing cylinder 8 of the developing device (developing device 2 in FIG. 1) set at the developing position, the photosensitive drum 1
The toner on the cylinder surface flies toward the surface of the drum 1 due to the electrostatic attraction generated between the toner and the electrostatic potential of the toner, and development is performed. The visible image generated by the development is transferred and fixed on the recording paper through the processes of transfer and fixing. In the case of three-color mixed color development, the latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1 three times through the three types of filters, and the supporting member 6 is rotated every time the latent image is formed to rotate the filter. Set the developing machine corresponding to the type in sequence and develop.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional multi-color developing apparatus, since the toner supply is configured for each developing machine by diverting the conventional parallel type developing machine, the space occupied by the toner supplying mechanism is reduced. It was necessary to increase the size (JP-A-58-10).
760). Further, since the toner container has a structure in which it is directly fixed to each developing machine, there is a disadvantage that toner cannot be supplied as needed.

[Means for solving problems]

In the recording apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of developing machines for developing with different toner colors are mounted on a supporting member configured to be integrally reciprocally rotatable, and the selected developing machine is moved to a developing position facing the photoconductor surface. A multicolor developing device that rotates and develops, a toner replenishing portion that stores toner of a color corresponding to each developing device, and a toner replenishing portion that extends in each developing device in parallel with the rotation axis direction of the support member and has toner on the peripheral wall. A tube-shaped toner supply member having a plurality of openings for discharging the toner, a flexible cylindrical body connecting one end of the toner supply member and the toner replenishing portion,
The toner supply member and the cylindrical body are rotatably mounted, and at least the cylindrical body is connected to a spiral member made of a flexible material and a spiral member of the selected developing machine.
And a driving unit that rotationally drives the spiral member.

[Action]

The developing device integrally mounted on the support member reciprocally rotates in response to the development request and stops at a position corresponding to the surface of the photoconductor to visualize the latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor. The tube-shaped toner supply member of the developing machine performing the developing operation and the spiral member installed in the cylindrical body are connected to the driving means such as a motor and rotate to convey the toner of the same color as the toner in the developing machine from the toner replenishing section. Then, it is discharged from the opening into the developing machine.
The cylindrical portion and the spiral member that connect the developing device and the toner replenishing portion are bent and correspond to the rotation of the developing device.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, the multicolor developing device according to the present invention will be described in detail.

2 and 3 show an embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description will be omitted.

Each of the developing machines 2 to 5 is provided with a developing cylinder 8 and a toner layer stabilizing member 9, and a tubular toner supplying member 12 extending in the axial direction in parallel with the supporting member 6.

The tubular toner supply member 12 is provided with an opening 11 on the peripheral wall of which a required number of peripheral walls are perforated, one end of which is fixed to the housing 7 through a fixture, and the other end of which is exposed to the outside of the housing. A flexible cylindrical body 13 is connected to the exposed portion of the tubular toner supply member 12.

The flexible cylinder 13 is a cylinder made of a flexible material (rubber, plastic, etc.), and the other end is made of toner of the same color as the toner contained in the developing machine (developing machine 2 in this embodiment). It is connected to the lower end of the toner replenishing section 15 that is stored. A spiral member 14 made of a flexible material is rotatably inserted inside the flexible cylindrical body 13 and the toner supply member 12.

The toner replenishing unit 15 is a funnel-shaped hopper 15a, 15 configured to externally supply a number of toners corresponding to the toner colors stored in the developing machines 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively.
b, 15c, and 15d, each of which is connected to the cylindrical body 13 connected to the tubular toner supply member 12 of the developing machine that stores the toner of the same color as the toner that stores the lower end of each hopper. As in this embodiment, the hopper 1 of the toner supply unit 15
5a, 15b, 15c, and 15d are arranged in the number of toner colors corresponding to the developing machine, four, and are integrally fixed to predetermined places in the apparatus.

The spiral member 14 is formed in a spiral shape by using a flexible material, and the cylindrical member 1 is formed from the tip portion of the toner supply member 12.
3 extends to the vicinity of the toner supply unit 15. And
A spiral member 14 installed inside the tubular toner supply member 12 in the developing machine (for example, developing machine 2) in the developing position.
Is connected to a motor 18, which is a driving means, and rotates. The spiral member 14 rotates to convey the toner in the cylindrical body 13 near the lower end of the hopper 15a, which is required to supply the toner from the toner replenishing unit 15, and develops the toner from the opening of the tubular toner supply member 12. Discharge into the plane 2.

Then, according to the next request, the supporting member 6 rotates, and the other developing machine moves to the developing position. At the time of this rotational movement, the flexible cylindrical body 13 that connects the fixed tubular toner supply member 12 and the toner replenishment portion 15 and the spiral member 14 that is internally installed bend and follow the rotational movement. Here, the support member 6 is configured to reciprocally rotate within 180 degrees to prevent the cylindrical body 13 and the spiral member 14 from being broken due to excessive bending.

The shaft 16 of the support member 6 is rotatably supported by a fixed member 17, and a motor 18 is arranged at a predetermined position of the fixed member 17. The clutch mechanism 19 is configured to transmit the driving force of the driving source (motor) 18 to the spiral member 14 at the time of development by the solenoid 20. Further, in this embodiment, the motor 18 is arranged at one end of the spiral member 14 and is driven to rotate from one end. However, the spiral member is a spiral member inside the tubular toner supply member 12 and a spiral member inside the cylindrical body 13. By configuring the member as a separate member and providing a driving unit that separately drives each spiral member, the toner can be smoothly transported with a small driving force. Further, the spiral member provided inside the cylindrical body may be formed of a flexible material, and the spiral member in the toner supply member may be formed of steel material.

In the above configuration, the toner of the color corresponding to the designated color of the developing machine, which is in communication with each hopper of the toner supply unit 15, is injected into the hopper. When the color is designated by the console, the developing machine to which the toner of the color corresponding to the designated color is supplied is set to the developing position by the rotation of the support member 6. Then, the solenoid 20 is excited to operate the clutch mechanism 19, and the spiral member 14 of the developing machine at the developing position is connected to the driving source (motor) 18 to transmit the driving force. The spiral member 14 rotates in the toner supply member 12 and the flexible cylindrical body 13, and the toner present in the periphery is conveyed toward the developing machine and is supplied into the housing 7 through the opening 11. The above process is repeated every time the developing device is set to the developing position, and toner is supplied.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the recording apparatus of the present invention, the integrated multi-color developing machine and the toner replenishing section having the toner container for each color toner are separately arranged. The place is not limited, and the device can be downsized. Also,
By activating only the spiral member at the developing position, the toner can be replenished as needed, and the drive unit can be provided in only one place, and the space occupied by the toner supply mechanism can be reduced. Further, the rotation of the support member is reciprocating, so that the developing body and the toner supplying operation can be smoothly performed without the cylindrical body that connects the developing device and the toner replenishing section being twisted and damaged. Furthermore, since the spiral member in which each developing device and the cylindrical body that connects the hopper to each other are installed is formed of a flexible material, the followability to movement and twist is good, and the spiral member is rotatable while flexing. Make sure to carry the toner.

Further, since the toner replenishing section can be provided at an arbitrary position, the toner supplying work becomes easy and the operability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of a conventional multicolor developing device, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of the embodiment shown in FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photosensitive drum, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... Developing machine, 6 ... Support member, 7 ... Housing, 8 ... Developing cylinder, 9 ... Toner layer stabilizing member, 11 ... Opening, 12 ... Toner supply Member, 13 ... Flexible cylinder, 1
4 ... Helical member, 15 ... Toner replenishing section, 16 ... Shaft, 17 ... Fixing member, 18 ... Driving section, 19 ... Clutch mechanism, 20 ... Sonorade.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshio Shoko 2274 Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Zero Tux Co., Ltd.Ebina Factory (72) Inventor Nobuo Hyakutake 2274 Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Zero Tux Co., Ltd.Ebina Factory (72) Inventor Hideki Tachibana 2274 Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Zero Tux Co., Ltd.Ebina Factory (72) Inventor Takayuki Sunaga 2274, Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Fuji Zero Tux Co., Ltd.Ebina Factory (72) Invention Takashi Yamamuro 2274 Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture Zero Zero Tux Co., Ltd.Ebina Plant (72) Inventor Toru Teshigawara 2274, Hongo, Ebina City Kanagawa Prefecture (72) Inventor Shigeru Inaba Kanagawa Prefecture 2274 Hongo, Ebina City Fujize Try Ltd. Ebina in the factory (72) inventor Takashi Imai Ebina, Kanagawa Prefecture Hongo 2274 address Fuji zero try Ltd. Ebina in the factory (72) inventor Ryuzo Okada Ebina, Kanagawa Prefecture Hongo 2274 address Fuji zero try Ltd. Ebina in the factory

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A multi-developing machine, wherein a plurality of developing machines for developing with different toner colors are integrally rotatably mounted on a supporting member, and the selected developing machines are rotated to a developing position facing a photoconductor surface. A color developing device and a toner replenishing portion, which accommodates toner of a color corresponding to each developing device, respectively, are provided in the recording device, and extend in each developing device in parallel with the rotation axis direction of the supporting member. A tube-shaped toner supply member having a plurality of openings for discharging toner on the peripheral wall, a flexible cylindrical body connecting one end of the toner supply member and a toner replenishing section, and a toner supply member and a cylindrical body A multi-color developing device capable of reciprocating rotation, which is a recording device including a spirally-shaped spiral member that is freely installed and a driving unit that connects the spiral member of a selected developing machine and drives the spiral member to rotate. Is composed of Without even cylindrical body of the helical member is a recording device in which are formed by a flexible material.