Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6738591
-
Patent Number
6,738,591
-
Date Filed
Thursday, March 28, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 18, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 399 119
- 399 120
- 399 257
- 399 103
- 399 106
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An image forming device includes a housing, a photosensitive drum, a developing unit, and a developing-agent moving configuration. The developing unit is freely detachably attached to the housing and includes an exchangeable toner box and a developing chamber, which are freely detachably attached to each other. The toner box has a through hole for supplying toner to the developing chamber. The developing portion includes a developing roller that rotates to transport toner from the toner box to a latent image on the photosensitive drum. The developing-agent moving configuration functions to move residual toner from the developing chamber into the present toner box before the toner box is exchanged for a new toner box.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a developing device having an exchangeable toner box.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional developing device used in a laser printer includes a toner hopper and a developing chamber. The toner hopper holds a non-magnetic, single-component toner or other type of toner. The developing chamber is provided with a developing roller, a supply roller, and a layer-thickness regulating blade.
The toner hopper holds only a finite amount of toner that needs to be replenished as toner is used up during developing operations. Toner boxes filled with new toner can be provided separately for replenishing the used up toner in the toner hopper. In one known configuration, the toner box is formed with a hole that is covered with a film. The toner box is mounted on top of the toner hopper so that the hole in the toner box is aligned with an opening formed in the upper portion of the toner hopper. After the toner box is mounted, the film is removed so that toner falls from the toner box into the toner hopper. However, this configuration has a problem in that the toner can leak out from the opening or the operator's hands can become stained with toner because the opening in the toner hopper is exposed.
To overcome this problem, some developing devices are provided as an independent drum cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an image forming device. When all the toner in one drum cartridge is used up, then the entire drum cartridge is replaced with a new one. With this configuration, new toner can be provided for developing operations without fear of toner leaks or staining the operator's hands. However, generally the developing device runs out of toner before the developing roller has reached the end of its useful life, that is, while the developing roller is still in a usable condition. When toner is replaced by replacing the entire drum cartridge, the developing roller is also replaced so the developing roller is wasted.
To overcome this problem, one type of developing device is made with just the toner hopper portion in the form of a cartridge, rather than the entire developing device. With this configuration, only the toner cartridge is replaced when the developing device runs out of toner. As a result, the developing roller in the developing chamber can be effectively used without fear of toner leaks or toner stains occurring during exchange of the toner cartridge.
However, this configuration also has room for improvement. Not all toner that is supplied from the toner hopper to the developing chamber is used during the image developing process. Some toner collects and accumulates in the developing chamber. This toner has degraded quality. For example, non-magnetic, single-component toner is easily degraded by stress applied during the developing process. The degraded toner can remain in the developing chamber even though the toner cartridge is replaced and can mix in with new toner from the new toner cartridge because of shocks that occur when the new toner cartridge is mounted onto the developing device or because of vibration applied to the developing device after the new toner cartridge is mounted. Problems can occur when the degraded toner mixes with new toner. For example, because toner is charged by a very sensitive mechanism, if a great deal of degraded toner remains in the developing chamber, then oppositely charged toner, that is, toner particles with a charge opposite of the normal particle charge, can be generated that results in fog, degradation of the image quality, and variation in image quality.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an objective of the present invention to overcome the above-described problems and provide a developing device, and an image forming device that uses the developing device, that prevent problems such as occurrence of fog, degradation of the image quality, and variation in image quality from occurring even after a toner cartridge is replaced.
To achieve the above-described objectives, a developing device according to the present invention includes an exchangeable developing-agent holding portion, a developing portion, and a developing-agent moving means. The developing-agent holding portion and the developing portion are freely detachably attached to each other. The developing-agent holding portion holds developing agent and has a through hole for supplying the developing agent. The developing portion is in fluid communication with the through hole of the developing-agent holding portion. The developing portion includes a developing-agent bearing body that has a surface bearing developing agent supplied from the developing-agent holding portion through the through hole. The developing-agent moving means functions to move residual developing agent from the developing portion into the developing-agent holding portion before the developing-agent holding portion is exchanged for a new developing-agent holding portion.
An image forming device according to the present invention includes a housing, a latent image bearing unit, a developing unit, and a developing-agent moving means. The developing unit is freely detachably attached to the housing and includes an exchangeable developing-agent holding portion and a developing portion. The developing-agent holding portion holds developing agent and has a through hole for supplying the developing agent. The developing portion is in fluid communication with the through hole of the developing-agent holding portion. The developing portion includes a developing-agent bearing body that has a surface that bears developing-agent supplied through the through hole of the developing-agent holding portion. The developing-agent bearing body transports developing agent borne on the surface to a latent image borne by a latent image bearing unit. The developing-agent holding portion is freely detachably attached to the developing portion. The developing-agent moving means functions to move residual developing agent from the developing portion into the developing-agent holding portion before the developing-agent holding portion is exchanged for a new developing-agent holding portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from reading the following description of the embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1
is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a schematic cross-sectional view showing integral developing units of the color printer of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a developing unit according to a second modification of the embodiment;
FIG. 4
is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the developing unit of
FIG. 3
after being rotated into an upright condition;
FIG. 5
is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the developing unit of
FIG. 3
after a developing chamber thereof is shifted so it can be removed;
FIG. 6
is a partial perspective view showing a developing chamber according to third modification of the embodiment;
FIG. 7
is a partial perspective view showing a toner box according to the third modification;
FIG. 8
is a schematic cross-sectional view showing operation of a shutter mechanism of the third modification when the toner box of
FIG. 7
is inserted into the developing chamber of
FIG. 6
;
FIG. 9
is a perspective view showing integral developing units according to a fifth modification of the embodiment;
FIG. 10
is a partial perspective view showing a toner box according to a sixth modification of the embodiment;
FIG. 11
is a schematic cross-sectional view showing integral developing units including the toner box of
FIG. 10
;
FIG. 12
is a partial perspective view showing a locking mechanism of the toner box of
FIG. 10
; and
FIG. 13
is a schematic cross-sectional view showing reverse direction gears according to a seventh modification of the embodiment for rotating the developing rollers in a direction opposite from the direction they rotate during a normal developing operations.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Next, a color printer
30
according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described while referring to the
FIGS. 1
to
5
. As shown in
FIG. 1
, the color printer
30
includes developing units
31
to
34
, a sheet-supply unit
36
, a transfer roller
40
, an intermediate transfer belt
46
, a photosensitive body belt
47
, and a fixing unit
43
.
The sheet-supply unit
36
includes a holding tray
37
that holds paper sheets and a pick-up roller
35
that feeds out the sheets one at a time. The sheet-supply unit
36
supplies sheets at a predetermined timing in accordance with image forming operations performed by the photosensitive body belt
47
, a scanner unit (not shown), the developing units
31
to
34
, and the intermediate transfer belt
46
.
The photosensitive body belt
47
is suspended on rollers and driven to follow the direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG.
1
. The photosensitive body belt
47
includes a base sheet and a photosensitive layer. The base sheet is a PET film, for example, formed on its surface with an aluminum deposition layer. The photosensitive layer is formed on the base film in a single layer configuration and has a positively charging nature. Although not shown in the drawings, a charge unit and a scanner unit are provided for forming a latent static-electric image on the surface of the photosensitive layer. The charge unit charges the photosensitive layer to a uniform charge and the scanner unit emits laser light to expose the photosensitive layer in order to form the latent static-electric image.
The developing units
31
to
34
are disposed in confrontation with the photosensitive body belt
47
at positions following the direction that the photosensitive body belt
47
moves indicated by the arrow A in FIG.
1
. The developing units
31
to
34
hold magenta, cyan, yellow, and black toner, respectively for developing magenta, cyan, yellow, and black portions, respectively of the latent static-electric image formed on the photosensitive body belt
47
. The toner held in the developing units
31
to
34
is a non-magnetic single-component toner made using a polymerization process. The developing units
31
to
33
for holding the magenta, cyan, and yellow color toners are provided in an integral group separate from the developing unit
34
for black toner. Hereinafter, the developing units
31
to
33
will be referred to as the MCY developing units
31
to
33
to clarify that they hold magenta, cyan, and yellow toner, respectively, and to distinguish them from the developing unit
34
for black toner. The developing units
31
to
34
will be described in more detail later.
The intermediate transfer belt
46
is formed from a belt-shaped sheet of polycarbonate, polyimide, or other material imparted with conductive properties. The intermediate transfer belt
46
is suspended on three rollers
46
a,
46
b,
and
46
c.
The roller
46
a,
which is positioned where the intermediate transfer belt
46
contacts the photosensitive body belt
47
, is applied with a predetermined voltage that draws the full-color toner image from the photosensitive body belt
47
onto the intermediate transfer belt
46
.
The transfer roller
40
is disposed in confrontation with the roller
46
c
with the intermediate transfer belt
46
sandwiched therebetween. Further, sheets supplied by the sheet-supply unit
36
are transported in between the transfer roller
40
and the intermediate transfer belt
46
. The four-color toner image that was transferred onto and borne by the intermediate transfer belt
46
is transferred onto sheets that are transported in between the transfer roller
40
and the intermediate transfer belt
46
.
The fixing unit
43
includes a thermal roller
43
a
and a pressing roller
43
b.
Sheets that bear a four-color toner image are pressed and heated by the thermal roller
43
a
and the pressing roller
43
b
while being transported between the thermal roller
43
a
and the pressing roller
43
b
so that the toner image is fixed to the sheet.
The color printer
30
forms images in the following manner. First, the charge unit (not shown) charges the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive body belt
47
to a uniform charge. Next, the scanner unit (not shown) emits laser light to expose the photosensitive layer at areas that correspond to the magenta-color portion of the full color image, thus forming a latent static-electric image on the photosensitive layer. Then, magenta-color toner from the developing unit
31
impinges on the latent static-electric image formed on the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive body belt
47
, thereby developing the latent static-electric image into a magenta-colored image. The magenta-colored image is then transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt
46
.
The toner that remains on the photosensitive body belt
47
after transfer is removed by a cleaning unit (not shown) and the charge unit again charges the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive body belt
47
to a uniform charge. Next, the scanner unit emits laser light to expose the photosensitive layer at areas that correspond to the cyan color image. The same processes that were performed for developing magenta color are performed to form a cyan color toner image on the photosensitive body belt
47
.
The cyan color toner image is transferred and superimposed onto the magenta color toner image borne on the intermediate transfer belt
46
, and is then itself borne on the intermediate transfer belt
46
.
The same processes are performed for yellow and black colors to form a four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt
46
. Then, at the position where the transfer roller
40
and the intermediate transfer belt
46
press against each other, the four-color toner image is transferred to the sheet supplied from the sheet-supply unit
36
. Then the fixing unit
43
fixes the toner image onto the sheet and discharges the sheet onto a sheet-discharge tray. In this way, a four-color image is formed.
Next, the configuration of the developing units
31
to
34
used in the color printer
30
will be described in more detail. Each of the developing units
31
to
34
includes a toner hopper
21
and a developing chamber
23
that are freely detachably attached to each other. As shown in
FIG. 2
, the toner hoppers
21
of the three MCY developing units
31
to
33
are formed integrally together to configure a toner box
25
. Also, the developing chambers
23
of the three MCY developing units
31
to
33
are formed integrally together to configure a developing portion
24
. The developing portion
24
is freely detachable from the toner box
25
. The developing unit
34
is provided independently from the MCY developing units
31
to
33
at a position separated from the MCY developing units
31
to
33
.
Each toner hopper
21
is formed with a through hole
4
for supplying the developing agent to the corresponding developing chamber
23
and includes agitators
5
for maintaining the toner in a fluffed up condition and for pushing the toner through the through hole
4
to the corresponding developing chamber
23
.
The developing chamber
23
of each of the developing units
31
to
34
includes a developing roller
2
and a supply roller
3
. The supply roller
3
is, for example, a conductive sponge roller and is disposed so as to press against the developing roller
2
by resilient force of the sponge. It should be noted that other suitable materials, such as conductive silicon rubber of urethane rubber, can be used to make the supply roller
3
instead. The supply roller
3
bears on its surface toner supplied from the corresponding toner hopper
21
through the through hole
4
and rotates to supply the toner to the developing roller
2
.
Each developing roller
2
has a cylinder-shaped base and a coat layer. The base is formed from a conductive silicon rubber or conductive urethane rubber. The coat layer is formed on the surface of the base and can be formed from a resin or rubber material that contains fluoride. It is desirable to make the coat layer from urethane rubber to increase the durability of the developing roller
2
. When the coat layer is made from urethane rubber, image development operations can be properly performed over a long period of time even if the same developing portion
24
is used while repeatedly exchanging the toner box
25
.
During normal developing processes, the developing rollers
2
rotate in the direction indicated by arrows in
FIG. 1
so that the coat layer of the developing roller
2
bears toner that was supplied from the corresponding toner hopper
21
through the through hole
4
. The developing roller
2
is applied with a predetermined voltage so that a predetermined bias develops between the developing roller
2
and the photosensitive body belt
47
. As a result, the toner borne on the coat layer is transferred to portions of the photosensitive body belt
47
formed with a latent static-electric image as described above.
Although not shown in drawings, the integral MCY developing units
31
to
33
each include U-shaped bearings that are mounted on a support shaft
50
. With this configuration, the integral MCY developing units
31
to
33
are pivotable in the direction indicated by arrow B into the upright posture indicated by broken line in FIG.
1
and as shown in FIG.
2
.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, the integral MCY developing units
31
to
33
are provided with a lever
62
and a spring
63
. The spring
63
urges the lever
62
to protrude in the direction D of
FIG. 2
, that is, downward with respect to the orientation of the MCY developing units
31
to
33
when disposed in the color printer
30
. Each of the MCY developing units
31
to
33
are provided with a separate protective member
60
that is movable in the directions indicated by arrows C in
FIG. 2 and a
link mechanism
61
that connects the corresponding protective member
60
to the lever
62
. When the MCY developing units
31
to
33
are positioned in confrontation with the photosensitive body belt
47
as shown in
FIG. 1
, the lever
62
abuts against an internal portion
30
a
of the color printer
30
so the lever
62
is pushed in the opposite direction of arrow D of
FIG. 2
against the urging force of the spring
63
. As a result, the link mechanisms
61
retract the protective members
60
into the MCY developing units
31
to
33
.
Here, operations for exchanging the toner box
25
for a new one will be described. First, the user pivots the MCY developing units
31
to
33
around the support shaft
50
in the direction indicated by arrow B into the upright posture. When in this upright posture, the developing portion
24
is located above the toner box
25
so that any degraded toner that remains in the developing portion
24
falls through the through holes
4
into the toner box
25
by the pull of gravity.
At this time, a control unit (not shown) of the color printer
30
controls to rotate the developing rollers
2
of the MCY developing units
31
to
33
in the direction opposite from the direction indicated by arrows in
FIG. 1
, that is, in the direction opposite from the direction they rotate during normal developing operations. As a result, any degraded toner that remains in the developing portion
24
can be more reliably moved into the toner box
25
. It is preferable that the developing rollers
2
be rotated in the direction opposite from the direction they rotate during normal developing operations by less than a single full rotation. This prevents damaging the seal (not shown) provided for preventing toner leaks.
Although it is desirable that all of the degraded toner drop from the developing portion
24
into the toner box
25
, good image quality can be maintained if 15 g or less of degraded toner per every 22 cm length of the developing roller
2
remains in the developing portion
24
. This 22 cm length corresponds to the width of an A4 sized sheet. When the amount of degraded toner remaining in the developing portion
24
is suppressed to 15 g or less, then only a low ratio of degraded toner will be mixed in with new toner when the new toner box
25
is attached to the developing portion
24
. Good image quality can be maintained when only such a small ratio of degraded toner remains in the developing portion
24
. Polymerized toner has extremely high fluidity because the toner particles have a nearly perfect spherical shape. Because polymerized toner is used in the developing portion
24
, almost all of the toner smoothly flows back into the old toner box
25
and very little remains in the developing portion
24
.
When the MCY developing units
31
to
33
are pivoted in the direction of arrow B into the upright posture shown in broken line of
FIG. 1
, the urging force of the spring
63
pops the lever
62
out from the MCY developing units
31
to
33
in the direction of arrow D as shown in FIG.
2
. As a result, the link mechanisms
61
push the protective members
60
to protrude outward from the MCY developing units
31
to
33
.
Next, the user detaches the developing portion
24
from the toner box
25
. Because the protective members
60
protrude outward at this time, even if the user carelessly places the developing portion
24
, for example, on a table top with the developing rollers
2
facing down, the protective members
60
will reliably protect the developing rollers
2
from being damaged.
Next, the user removes the toner box
25
by lifting the toner box
25
from the support shaft
50
. Then, the user attaches a new toner box
25
filled with new toner onto the support shaft
50
. The user then attaches the developing portion
24
onto the new toner box
25
and pivots the MCY developing units
31
to
33
back into the position in confrontation with the photosensitive body belt
47
. As a result, the link mechanism
61
presses the protective members
60
back into the MCY developing units
31
to
33
so that the color printer
30
is returned to a condition wherein developing is possible.
In this way, when the toner box
25
is to be exchanged, the developing portion
24
is moved to a position vertically above the toner box
25
and further the developing rollers
2
are driven to rotate in a direction opposite from the direction they rotate during normal developing operations. As a result, the degraded toner can be reliably collected into the old toner box
25
and so reliably prevented from mixing with new toner in the new toner box
25
after the toner box
25
is exchanged. Therefore, high image quality that was achieved before the toner box
25
was exchanged can be maintained after the toner box
25
is exchanged.
Because the toner hoppers
21
of the three MCY developing units
31
to
33
are formed integrally together as the toner box
25
, three different colors of toner can be replenished simultaneously. Therefore, there will be no variation in image quality between the different color portions of color images.
Because the protective members
60
, which are for protecting the developing rollers
2
, protrude outward while toner box
25
is being exchanged, contact between the toner-bearing surface of the developing roller
2
and surrounding components can be reliably prevented so the toner-bearing surface can be reliably prevented from being damaged.
Next, modifications of the embodiment will be described. It should be noted that like components between the embodiment and the modifications will be referred to using the same numbering to avoid redundancy of explanation.
The embodiment describes the MCY developing units
31
to
33
as being pivotable with respect to the casing of the color printer
30
to move the developing portion
24
to a position above the toner box
25
. However, according to a first modification of the embodiment, one or more protrusions are provided on the casing of the MCY developing units
31
to
33
. That is, the color printer
30
can be designed so that the MCY developing units
31
to
33
can be detached from the casing of the color printer
30
by moving the MCY developing units
31
to
33
upward or by moving the MCY developing units
31
to
33
towards the viewer of the sheet on which
FIG. 1
is printed. In these cases, the protrusions on the casing insure that when the user places the separated MCY developing units
31
to
33
on the floor, a table top, or other surface, the developing portion
24
will be in a position vertically above the toner box
25
. As a result, any degraded toner remaining in the developing portion
24
will flow down into the old toner box
25
and be reliably collected there before the new toner box
25
is attached to the developing portion
24
.
According to a second modification of the embodiment, a shutter mechanism is provided for covering the through hole
4
in association with detachment of the developing portion
24
from the toner box
25
during exchange of the toner box so that toner can be reliably prevented from leaking out of the toner box
25
.
FIGS. 3
to
5
show a toner hopper
21
A and a developing chamber
23
A according to the second modification. The toner hopper
21
A and the developing chamber
23
A includes shutters
72
,
74
, respectively formed with holes
72
a,
74
a
that are aligned with the through hole
4
of the toner hopper
21
A when the toner hopper
21
A is properly attached to the developing chamber
23
A. When the toner hopper
21
A is to be exchanged, first the toner hopper
21
A and the developing chamber
23
A are pivoted in the direction B about the support shaft
50
into the upright posture shown in FIG.
4
. Because the inner surface of the developing chamber
23
A has a curved shape centered on the through hole
4
of the developing chamber
23
A, toner more easily flows to the through hole
4
and into the through hole
4
of old toner hopper
21
A. Then the developing chamber
23
A is shifted in the direction E with respect to the toner hopper
21
A into the position shown in
FIG. 5
in order to disconnect the developing chamber
23
A from the toner hopper
21
A. At this time, a linking mechanism (not shown) transmits force of the shifting movement to move the shutters
72
,
74
in the directions indicated by arrows shown in FIG.
4
. As a result, the openings
72
a,
74
a
of the shutters
72
,
74
move out of alignment with the through hole
4
. Then the developing chamber
23
A is lifted in the direction F and removed from the toner hopper
21
A. Toner will not leak from the developing chamber
23
A or the toner hopper
21
A because the shutter
72
blocks the through hole
4
of the toner hopper
21
A and the shutter
74
blocks the through hole
4
of the developing chamber
23
A.
According to a third modification, the color printer
30
is designed with a cover (not shown) that opens to the right, that is, as viewed in
FIG. 1
, so that the MCY developing units
31
to
33
can be moved laterally and removed from the right of the color printer
30
in this way. In the third modification also, it is desirable to provide one or more protrusions to the developing-portion-side of the casing of the MCY developing units
31
to
33
in order to insure that when the user places the separated MCY developing units
31
to
33
on the floor, a table top, or other surface, the developing portion
24
will be in a position vertically above the toner box
25
. As a result, any degraded toner remaining in the developing portion
24
will flow down into the old toner box
25
and be reliably collected there before the new toner box
25
is attached to the developing portion
24
.
It is also desirable that the third modification be provided with a shutter mechanism.
FIGS. 6
to
8
show a toner hopper
21
B and a developing chamber
23
B according to the third modification provided with a shutter mechanism. As shown in
FIG. 6
, the developing chamber
23
B is provided with a shutter
74
B and a slit
75
.
FIG. 6
is a view of the side of the developing portion
24
that connects with the toner box
25
. As shown in
FIG. 7
, the toner hopper
21
B is provided with a shutter
72
B and a protrusion
71
. The protrusion
71
is inserted into the slit
75
when the toner hopper
21
B is connected to the developing chamber
23
B. As shown in
FIG. 8
, the developing portion
23
B is also provided with a linking mechanism
73
.
When the toner hopper
21
B is mounted onto the developing chamber
23
B by being pushed laterally in the direction G, then the protrusion
71
pushes the shutter
74
B to pivot around axis P. As a result, the lower end of the shutter
74
B rises upward in the direction H and presses a shutter
72
B open in the direction I. At this time the linking mechanism
73
is driven to retract in the protective member
60
.
On the other hand, when the toner hopper
21
B is removed from the developing chamber
23
B by being pulled laterally in the direction opposite of direction G, then the protrusion
71
pulls away from the shutter
74
B so that the shutter
74
B moves in the direction opposite from direction H away from the shutter
72
B. The shutter
72
B closes as a result. At this time the linking mechanism
73
is driven to protrude the protective member
60
out.
With this configuration, the shutter member
72
B of the toner hopper
21
B blocks the through-hole opening in the toner hopper
21
B when the toner hopper
21
B is taken off the developing chamber
23
B and opens up the through-hole opening when the toner hopper
21
B is attached to the developing chamber
23
B. The shutter member
72
B reliably prevents toner from leaking out of the toner hopper
21
B before and after the toner hopper
21
B is exchanged. Because the shutter
74
B opens the through-hole opening in the developing chamber
23
B in association with mounting the toner hopper
21
B onto the developing chamber
23
B, the developing chamber
23
B can be brought into a usable condition without fear of toner stains. Also, the protective members
60
move when a toner box
25
is exchanged, so that the developing rollers
2
will not be damaged.
According to a fourth modification, a sliding configuration can be provided to facilitate removal of the MCY developing units
31
to
33
when the color printer
30
is designed so that the MCY developing units
31
to
33
can be detached by moving the MCY developing units
31
to
33
towards the viewer of the sheet on which
FIG. 1
is printed or to the right side of FIG.
1
through an open cover (not shown).
According to a fifth modification shown in
FIG. 9
, the case of the MCY developing units
31
to
33
is provided with integral protrusions
70
that protrude further out from the case than the outermost protruding portion of the developing rollers
2
. The protrusions
70
are formed on the case at positions that are on either side of the photosensitive body belt
47
in the widthwise direction of the photosensitive body belt
47
when the MCY developing units
31
to
33
are brought into confrontation with the photosensitive body belt
47
. With this configuration, the developing rollers
2
can be reliably protected without the need to provide the link mechanism
61
shown in FIG.
2
.
Next, a sixth modification will be described with reference to
FIGS. 10
to
12
. As shown in
FIG. 10
, the toner box
25
is provided with a lid member
90
and a lock arm
80
. The lid member
90
seals the toner box
25
. The lid member
90
is provided with a handle
91
. A resilient member
92
for increasing the seal of the toner box
25
is provided to one or more of the toner box
25
, the lid member
90
, and the developing portion
24
where the toner box
25
connects to the lid member
90
or the toner box
25
.
When an old toner box
25
is exchanged for a new one, first the old toner box
25
is pivoted around the support shaft
50
as shown in FIG.
11
. Then, the lock arm
80
of the old toner box
25
is released and the old toner box
25
is removed from the developing portion
24
. Next, the lock arm
80
of the new toner box
25
is released and the lid member
90
of the new toner box
25
is removed. Then, the new toner box
25
is mounted on the developing portion
24
and locked in place using the lock arm
80
. Then, the lid member
90
of the new toner box
25
is mounted on the old toner box
25
and attached in place using the lock arm
80
of the old toner box
25
.
With this configuration, toner leaks and toner stains can be prevented from occurring while the toner box
25
is stored, transported, or exchanged. The handle
91
facilitates handling of the toner box
25
during storage, transport, and exchange of the toner box
25
, so that toner leaks can be reliably prevented after the toner box
25
is exchanged and stains can be reliably prevented during transport of the toner box
25
. It should be noted that the lock arm
80
could be provided to the lid member
90
instead of to the toner box
25
.
Next, a seventh modification will be described with reference to FIG.
13
. As shown in
FIG. 13
, gears
2
a
of the developing rollers
2
follow a path P when the toner box
25
is pivoted in the direction B around the support shaft
50
. Reverse direction gears
100
are provided along the path P at positions so as to meshingly engage with corresponding ones of the gears
2
a
when the toner box
25
is pivoted 90 degrees around the support shaft
50
. As a result, when the toner box
25
is pivoted into its upright posture, the gears
2
a
engage with the reverse direction gears
100
so that the developing rollers
2
rotate in the opposite direction indicated in
FIG. 13
by broken-line arrows, which is opposite from the direction the developing rollers
2
rotate during normal developing operations indicated by solid-line arrows in FIG.
13
. With this configuration, any degraded toner that remains in the developing portion
24
can be reliably moved into the toner box
25
without the control unit (not shown) of the color printer
30
having to control to rotate the developing rollers
2
as in the embodiment. In this case also, it is preferable that the developing rollers
2
be rotated in the direction opposite from the direction they rotate during normal developing operations by less than a single full rotation. This prevents damaging the seal (not shown) provided for preventing toner leaks.
While the invention has been described in detail with reference to a specific embodiment and modifications thereof, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the attached claims.
For example, the embodiments describe the present invention applied to a color printer. However, the present invention is not limited to use in color printers, but could be used with monochrome image forming devices as well.
Further, the embodiments describe the present invention applied to a developing device of a printer that uses a photosensitive belt. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a developing device of a printer that uses a photosensitive drum. The present invention could also be applied to printers that do not use photosensitive drums, such as printers that use a multistylus electrode or that directly control flow of toner.
Further, the embodiment describe the present invention applied to a printer that uses non-magnetic single-component toner made using polymerization. However, the present invention can be applied to an image forming device that uses pulverized toner as the developing agent.
The embodiments describe that degraded toner is moved back into the old toner box
25
by gravity or by the reverse rotation of the developing roller
2
. However, degraded toner can be moved back into the old toner box
25
by reverse rotation of the supply roller
3
or by a vibrator such as a piezoelectric element.
The present invention reliably prevents generation of fogging, reduction in image quality, changes in image quality, and other problems related to use of degraded toner from occurring even when an exchangeable toner box
25
is used. The present invention also reliably prevents the developing roller
2
from being damaged when the exchangeable toner box
25
is exchanged.
Claims
- 1. A developing device comprising:an exchangeable developing-agent holding portion and a developing portion freely detachably attached to each other, the developing-agent holding portion holding developing agent and having a through hole for supplying the developing agent, the developing portion being in fluid communication with the through hole of the developing-agent holding portion; seal means for sealingly covering the through hole of the developing-agent holding portion; and a developing-agent moving means that functions to move residual developing agent from the developing portion into the developing-agent holding portion before the developing-agent holding portion is at least one of exchanged for a new developing-agent holding portion and removed from the developing portion.
- 2. A developing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the developing-agent moving means includes a position controller that guides the developing portion into a position vertically above the developing-agent holding portion before the developing-agent holding portion is exchanged for a new developing-agent holding portion.
- 3. A developing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the developing-agent holding portion includes three integrally connected developing-agent holding vessels for separately holding three colors of developing agent, the developing portion includes three integrally connected developing units for developing images using the three integrally connected developing-agent holding vessels and the three integrally connected developing units being freely detachably attached to each other.
- 4. A developing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seal means is a lid member that covers the through hole, the lid member including a handle for facilitating transport of the developing-agent holding portion after exchanging the developing-agent holding portion.
- 5. A developing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seal means is a shutter means for covering the through hole in association with detachment of the developing-agent holding portion from the developing portion during exchange of the developing-agent holding portion.
- 6. A developing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the new developing-agent holding portion includes a shutter means that opens the through hole in the new developing-agent holding portion in association with mounting of the new developing-agent holding portion on the developing portion during exchange of the developing-agent holding portion.
- 7. A developing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the developing portion includes a developing-agent bearing body having a surface that bears developing agent supplied from the developing-agent holding portion through the through hole.
- 8. A developing device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a protection means for preventing contact between the surface of the developing-agent bearing body and surrounding items during exchange of the developing-agent holding portion.
- 9. A developing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the developing-agent bearing body includes a urethane coat layer at its outer peripheral surface.
- 10. A developing device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the developing-agent moving means is adapted to move all but 15 gms or less of residual developing agent per every 22 cm length of the surface of the developing-agent bearing body from the developing portion into the developing-agent holding portion.
- 11. An image forming device, comprising:a housing a latent image bearing unit bearing a latent image; a developing unit freely detachably attached to the housing and including: an exchangeable developing-agent holding portion holding developing agent and having a through hole for supplying the developing agent; and a developing portion in fluid communication with the through hole of the developing-agent holding portion, the developing portion including a developing-agent bearing body having a surface that bears developing agent supplied through the through hole of the developing-agent portion, the developing-agent bearing body transporting developing agent borne on the surface to the latent image borne by the latent image bearing unit, the developing-agent holding portion being freely detachably attached to the developing portion; and a developing-agent moving means that function to move residual developing agent from the developing portion into the developing-agent holding portion before the developing-agent holding portion is exchanged for a new developing-agent holding portion, wherein the developing-agent holding portion includes three integrally connected developing-agent holding vessels for separately holding three colors of developing agent, the developing portion includes three integrally connected developing units for developing images using the three colors of developing agent held in the three developing-agent holding vessels, the three integrally connected developing-agent holding vessels and the three integrally connected developing units being freely detachably attached to each other.
- 12. An image forming device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the developing-agent holding portion is freely detachably attached to the housing.
- 13. An image forming device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the developing-agent moving means includes a position controller that controls the developing portion into a position vertically above the developing-agent holding portion before the developing-agent holding portion is exchanged for a new developing-agent holding portion.
- 14. An image forming device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the developing-agent bearing body of the developing portion is a roller that rotates in a predetermined direction to transport the developing agent during image developing operations, the developing-agent moving means controlling the developing-agent bearing body to rotate in a direction opposite from the predetermined direction while the developing portion is in the position vertically above the developing-agent holding portion.
- 15. An image forming device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the position controller supports the developing unit pivotable with respect to the housing.
- 16. An image forming device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the developing-agent bearing body of the developing portion is a roller that rotates in a predetermined direction to transport the developing agent during image developing operation, the developing-agent moving means controlling the developing-agent bearing body to rotate in a direction opposite from the predetermined direction during exchange of the developing-agent holding portion.
- 17. An image forming device, comprising:a housing: a latent image bearing unit bearing a latent image; a developing unit freely detachably attached to the housing and including: an exchangeable developing-agent holding portion holding developing agent and having a through hole for supplying the developing agent; and a developing portion in fluid communication with the through hole of the developing-agent holding portion, the developing portion including a developing-agent bearing body having a surface that bears developing agent supplied through the through hole of the developing-agent holding portion, the developing-agent bearing body transporting developing agent borne on the surface to the latent image borne by the latent image bearing unit, the developing-agent holding portion being freely detachably attached to the developing portion; and a developing-agent moving means that functions to move residual developing agent from the developing portion into the developing-agent holding portion before the developing-agent holding portion is exchanged for a new developing-agent holding portion, wherein the developing-agent moving means is adapted to move all but 15 gms or less of residual developing agent per every 22 cm length of the surface of the developing-agent bearing body from the developing portion into the developing-agent holding portion.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2001-101778 |
Mar 2001 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4913087 |
Saita et al. |
Apr 1990 |
A |
4974023 |
Aimoto et al. |
Nov 1990 |
A |