JPH07107615B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a developing device accommodating device that accommodates a plurality of developing devices, and particularly facilitates loading of the developing device into the developing device accommodating device. Image forming apparatus.

(Prior Art) There is a demand for so-called colorization in an image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus using an electrostatic transfer process, that is, an image with a chromatic color such as red or blue other than black that is usually most commonly used. There is an increasing demand for formation.

Therefore, an image is provided in which a developing device accommodating device for accommodating a plurality of developing devices for a desired number of colors is provided, a desired developing device is selected from the developing device accommodating device, and the developing device is transferred to an image forming position. Forming devices have been proposed.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, in the image forming apparatus according to the above-mentioned proposal, when the developing device is loaded in the developing device housing device, this is the front side, that is, the transferring direction of the developing device to the image forming position. If the developing device is loaded in the direction orthogonal to the above, no extra loading space is required, but on the other hand, a rail switching mechanism for guiding the developing device in the image forming position direction in the developing device storage device, etc. This is necessary, which leads to complication of the structure of the developing device storage device, increase in weight, and increase in cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to facilitate the loading of the developing device into the developing device housing device, simplify the structure of the developing device housing device, reduce the weight, and reduce the cost. An object is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of achieving the above.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a developing device accommodating device in which a plurality of developing devices are loaded, and a desired developing device is selected from the developing device accommodating device. In the image forming apparatus, the developing device housing device guides the movement of the developing device to the image forming device main body, and the developing device guided by the guide part displays an image. Drive means for driving toward the main body of the forming apparatus, and the method of loading the developing device in the developing device housing device and the driving direction by the driving means are substantially the same direction, and the guide portion to the developing device housing device. It is also used as a guide for loading the developing device, and the developing device is set in a position driven by the driving means by mounting the developing device in the developing device storage device along the guide.

(Operation) According to the present invention, since the developing device is loaded in the developing device storage device in the same direction as the transfer direction, the direction of the rail for guiding the developing device to the image forming position direction in the developing device storage device. Since a switching mechanism or the like is not required, the structure of the developing device housing device can be simplified, the weight can be reduced, the cost can be reduced, and the loading operation of the developing device itself can be facilitated.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 5 shows a vertical cross section of an image forming apparatus (copying apparatus) according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus is constructed by attaching a developing device accommodating device B to a main body A so as to be vertically movable.

First, the apparatus main body A will be described. An original 2 placed on an original placing glass 1 is illuminated by a lamp 3, and its optical image is reflected by mirrors 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and a zoom lens. It is guided onto the photosensitive drum 11 by an optical system composed of 10.
The lamp 3 and the mirrors 4, 5 and 6 respectively move in the direction of the arrow at a predetermined speed to scan the document 2.

On the other hand, since the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is also uniformly charged by the temporary charger 12 and then rotated in the direction of the arrow in the figure, the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 has electrostatic latent images sequentially corresponding to the original image. Is formed. A color developing device 13C containing color toner (for example, green toner) around the photosensitive drum 11 is provided.
And a black developing device 14 containing black toner is provided. These developing devices 13C and 14 are respectively movable in the directions of the arrows in the figure, and these are photosensitive drums according to the desired color image. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 in the vicinity of 11 is visualized. In FIG. 5, since the color developing device 13C is separated and the black developing device 14 is close, a black image is formed on the photosensitive drum 11.

Then, this image is transferred by a transfer charger 15 onto a transfer paper 17 as a transfer material. After that, the photosensitive drum 11 is cleaned.
At step 16, the residual toner adhering to the surface is removed, and the process proceeds to the next copying process again.

Next, the developing device storage device B will be described.

Partitions 151a, 151b, 151c, 151d are provided inside the developing device storage device B.
These partitions 151a, 151b, 151c, 151
On d, for example, a red developing device 13A containing red toner, a blue developing device 13B containing blue toner, a green developing device 13C containing green toner, and a brown developing device 13D containing brown toner are installed. There is. Incidentally, in FIG. 5, the green developing device 13C is not in the developing device accommodating device B but is located in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 11 to visualize the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 11. In the ready state, the green developing device 13C is moved by the transfer means shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to the image forming position in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 11 as shown by an arrow a in FIG. It can be transferred to and from the partition 151c.

Here, the transfer means will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Incidentally, FIG. 1 shows the developing device housing device B and the photosensitive drum 11.
2 and 3 and 4 are sectional views taken along line II-II of FIG. 1, a view in the X direction of the arrow, and a view in the Y direction of the arrow (of the developing device). It is a bottom view).

As shown in FIG. 1, a developing device carry-in port 20 is opened on the side surface of the device body A where the developing device housing device B is provided, and from the developing device carry-in port 20 to the inside of the device body A. The feed path 21 leading to the photosensitive drum 11 is horizontally formed. Then, in the feeding path 21, as shown in FIG.
The guides 22 and 22 continuing to are formed in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval, and the partitions 151a and 151 of the developing device accommodating apparatus B are also formed.
Guides 23, 23 similar to the above are formed on b, 151c, 151d in the same direction and at the same intervals.

By the way, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, guide members 24, 24 project from the bottom surface of each of the developing devices 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, and these developing devices 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D are provided. Is stored in the developing device storage device B, its guide members 24, 24
The left and right positions (in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1) of the guides 23 and 23 are restricted by the engagement with the guides 23, 23, and the forward movement (toward the photosensitive drum 11) is restricted by the locking means 25. There is. The locking means 25 is an L-shaped lever 27 pivotally attached to a fixed shaft 26 and a developing device storage device B while keeping the lever 27 in the posture shown by the solid line in FIG. For example, an elastic means (not shown) for locking the developing device 13C housed in the developing device 13C at a chain line position in the figure, and a lever 27 for receiving a predetermined signal.
Is rotated about the fixed shaft 26 in the direction of the arrow b in the drawing to
It is composed of a solenoid 28 for releasing the lock of 13C.
The locking means 25 may be provided in the same number as the number of developing devices, or only one may be provided to control the movement thereof.

Further, rectangular notches 21a, 21a are formed inside the guides 22, 22 of the feeding path 21 in the main assembly A of the apparatus, and each notch 21a is centered around the shaft 29 by a driving means (not shown). A rotating arm 30 is provided, and the arm 30 is a developing device storage device B.
The rear portion of the developing device 13C transferred from the sheet to the feeding path 21 should be pressed to press it against the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 with a predetermined force.

By the way, racks 31, 31 are formed on both sides of each of the developing devices 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D (developing device 13C in the illustrated example), as shown in FIGS. When in the developing device storage device B, both racks 31, 31 have gears 33, 33 connected to the output shaft ends of the DC motors 32, 32 installed in the developing device storage device B and capable of forward and reverse rotation. When the developing device 13C is in mesh with the conveying path 21 in the apparatus main body A, the racks 31 and 31 are connected to the output shaft ends of the DC motors (not shown) installed in the apparatus main body A. The gears 34, 34 mesh with each other.

A cover 35 is provided in a part of the developing device accommodating device B so as to be rotatable around the support pins 36.
To load 13C into the developing device storage device B, the cover 35 is rotated around the support pin 36 in the direction of arrow c in FIG. 1 and opened as shown by the chain line, and the developing device 13C is exposed to light. It may be loaded in the transfer direction to the body drum 11 (direction of arrow d in the figure). Then, the guide member 24 protruding from the lower surface of the developing device 13C,
24 is engaged with the guides 23, 23 formed on the partition 151C,
The developing device 13C is loaded and housed in the developing device housing device B along the guides 23. And other developing devices 13A, 13B, 13D
Is also loaded in the developing device storage device B in the same manner as described above.

The cover 35 may be provided for each storage space in the developing device storage device B. Further, the cover 35 may be transparent so that the inside of the developing device accommodating device B can be seen, or the color thereof is made the same as the color of the developer possessed by each developing device 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D. The storage place of the containers 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D may be made clear.

Thus, when, for example, the developing device 13C is selected from the developing device housing devices B in which the developing devices 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D are loaded and housed and the developing device 13C is used for development, the developing device is driven by a driving means (not shown) When the storage device B is driven up and down, and when the desired developing device 13C is located at the developing device carry-in port 20 opening to the main assembly A of the device, the vertical driving of the developing device storage device B is stopped.
As shown in the figure, the developing device 13C stops at the position of the developing device carry-in port 20. After that, the solenoid 28 is used to develop the lever 27
After unlocking 13C, drive DC motors 32, 32
By rotating 33 and 33 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, respectively,
Developing device including racks 31, 31 meshing with these gears 33, 33
13C advances toward the photosensitive drum 11 along the guides 23, 23, and eventually the guide members 24, 24 projecting from the lower surface of the developing device 13C engage with the guides 22, 22 on the main assembly A side of the apparatus, and The racks 31, 31 of the container 13C start to mesh with the gears 34, 34 provided on the apparatus main body A side.

When the developing device 13C is discharged from the inside of the developing device storage device B and the engagement with the gears 33, 33 of the racks 31, 31 provided therein is released, a DC motor (not shown) provided on the side of the main assembly A of the device. Is driven to rotate the gears 34, 34 in the directions of the arrows shown in the drawing, and the developing device 13C is moved along the guides 22,
When the image is transferred to an image forming position near 11 and this is detected by a sensor (not shown), driving of the DC motors that drive the gears 34, 34 is stopped. At this time, the arm
30 is retracted to the position shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, and when the developing device 13C is transferred to the position shown by the solid line in the drawing, the arm 30 is rotated as shown by the chain line to develop the developing device 13C. The rear portion is pushed to press the developing sleeve of the developing device 13C against the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 with a predetermined force. Then, the developing device 13C visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 rotating in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

Thus, the developing device 13C used for development is transferred to the developing device housing device B side in the reverse order of the above procedure and is housed in the developing device housing device B. Then, by repeating the same operation thereafter, a multicolor image with a desired color is formed.

In the above, each of the developing devices 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D is moved in the same direction as the transfer direction to the image forming position in the developing device storage device B (first
The developing device storage device B is loaded in the direction of the arrow d in the drawing).
Does not require a rail direction switching mechanism for guiding each of the developing devices 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D toward the image forming position,
The structure of the developing device storage device B can be simplified, the weight can be reduced, the cost can be reduced, and the like, and the developing devices 13A, 13B, 13C, 13
The D loading operation itself can be facilitated.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show modified embodiments of the present invention, which are schematic plan views of the developing device accommodating device B portion of the image forming apparatus.

Thus, in the modified embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the developing device accommodating device B is configured to be openable and closable in a door manner around the hinge 37, and the developing device 13 is loaded in the developing device accommodating device B. To open the developing device storage device B, the hinge 37 is rotated in the direction of the arrow f in the drawing to open the developing device storage device B in the direction of the arrow g (this direction is the image forming position of the developing device relative to the developing device storage device B). The developing device 13 may be loaded in the same direction (corresponding to the transfer direction).

In the modified embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the developing device accommodating device B is moved in parallel in the direction of the arrow h and retracted, and the developing device accommodating device B is moved in the same direction (direction of the arrow h) from the developing device. It is designed to be loaded with 13.

Thus, in the modified embodiment described above, the same effect as that obtained in the first embodiment can be obtained.

In the above, an example in which the present invention is applied to a copying apparatus has been described, but the present invention can be applied to any other image forming apparatus.

(Effects of the Invention) As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a developing device accommodating device in which a plurality of developing devices are loaded is provided, and a desired developing device is selected from the developing device accommodating device to form an image. In the image forming apparatus configured to be transferred to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the developing device accommodating device includes a guide part for guiding the movement of the developing device to the main body of the image forming device, and the developing device guided by the guide part. A drive means for driving toward the main body,
The loading direction of the developing device into the developing device housing device and the driving direction by the driving means are substantially the same direction, and the guide portion is shared as a guide for loading the developing device into the developing device housing device.
Since the developing device is set at the position driven by the driving means by mounting the developing device in the developing device storage device along the guide, the structure of the developing device storage device is simplified, the weight is reduced, and the cost is reduced. It is possible to obtain the effect of facilitating the loading operation of the developing device itself.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an essential part of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4 are cross-sectional views taken along line II-II of FIG. FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the entire image forming apparatus, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic plan views showing a modified embodiment of the present invention. A: image forming apparatus main body, B: developing device storage device, 13,1
3A to 13D …… Developer, 22,23 …… Guide, 24 …… Guide member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising a developing device accommodating device in which a plurality of developing devices are loaded, wherein a desired developing device is selected from the developing device accommodating device and is transferred to an image forming apparatus main body. The developing device accommodating device has a guide part for guiding the movement of the developing device to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a driving means for driving the developing device guided by the guide part toward the main body of the image forming device, The direction in which the developing device is loaded into the developing device housing is substantially the same as the direction in which the driving means drives, and the guide portion is shared as a guide for loading the developing device into the developing device housing, and along the guide. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the developing device is set in a position driven by the driving means by loading the developing device into the developing device housing device.