JPH09152757A - Multicolor image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: In a multicolor image forming apparatus, even if the toner in one developing unit is exhausted, it is not necessary to replace the entire cartridge including the developing unit. Try not to take time. An image forming case is provided in a main body of a copying machine so as to be freely drawn out. The image forming case 38 is formed in a box shape, and an opening 38a is formed on the upper surface so that the entire surface is open.
A horizontally long window hole 38c is provided in the lower portion of the right side plate 38b. In the image forming case 38, the photoconductor cartridge 43 and the first
The developing unit 13 is detachably accommodated through the opening 38a, and the second developing unit 16 is accommodated below the first developing unit 13 through the window hole 38c in two stages. Then, when the toner runs out, the first developing unit 13 or the second developing unit 16 is individually taken out from the image forming case 38 regardless of the other developing units and is independently replaced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, a two-color or full-color copying machine, printer, facsimile, etc.
The present invention relates to a multicolor image forming apparatus that performs charging, writing, and development, forms a multicolor image on a photoconductor by using toners of a plurality of colors, and transfers the multicolor image to record on a sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a monochromatic copying machine for copying black and white originals, a charging unit and a developing unit are provided together with or separately from the photoconductor unit in order to simplify the work at the time of maintenance or jam processing. There is a unit in which a plurality of transfer units, a transfer unit, or the like are collectively formed to form a cartridge, or the various units are housed in an image forming case.

For the same purpose, conventionally, some multicolor copying machines for copying color originals have a cartridge formed therein, and it is conceivable to store various units in an image forming case.

[0004]

However, in a conventional multicolor copying machine having a cartridge, when the toner in one of the plurality of developing units runs out of toner, another developing unit whose life is not yet reached, Despite the various units, cartridges must be replaced, which causes problems such as increased running costs and wasted resources. Further, in the multicolor image forming apparatus, when storing various units in the image forming case, it is not necessary to replace all the toner even if the toner in one developing unit runs out. Since it will be stored, when the toner in the developing unit of the second and subsequent stages is exhausted and replaced, it is necessary to take out something other than the developing unit to be replaced outside the image forming case, which is troublesome to replace. It is possible.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the need to replace the entire developing unit including the developing unit even if the toner in one developing unit runs out in the multicolor image forming apparatus, and to replace the developing unit. It is to save time and effort.

[0006]

Therefore, in a multicolor image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention, a first developing unit 13 and a second developing unit are provided in an image forming case 38, as shown in the following embodiments. A plurality of developing units such as 16 are stored in multiple stages, and each developing unit can be individually taken out of the image forming case 38 regardless of other developing units and can be independently replaced.

In the multicolor image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, when the toner in one developing unit runs out, the toner is individually taken out from the image forming case 38 regardless of the other developing units and is independently replaced. To do.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the multicolor image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the developing unit using black toner, such as the first developing unit 13, is shown in the following illustrated embodiments. Is the top level.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the black toner is used up, the uppermost developing unit is taken out from above the image forming case 38.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, as shown in the following illustrated embodiment, in the multicolor image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, a black toner cartridge 47 and a red toner for replenishing toner to the developing unit are provided. A toner cartridge such as the cartridge 55 can be attached to the image forming case 38.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the developing unit runs out of toner, the image forming case 38
Replace the toner cartridge of.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, as shown in the following embodiments of the invention, in the multicolor image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the photoconductor cartridge 43 is composed of the photoconductor unit 10 and other units. Form the image forming case 3
It is characterized in that the writing unit such as the second writing unit 15 is configured by using an LED array while being detachably accommodated in the unit 8.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the contamination of the irradiation window of the writing unit is observed, the photoconductor cartridge 43 is taken out of the image forming case 38.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the multicolor image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, as shown in the following embodiments, the photoconductor cartridge 43 is composed of the photoconductor unit 10 and other units. Form the image forming case 3
It is characterized in that the charging unit is detachably accommodated in the charging unit 8 and that the charging unit such as the second charging unit 14 is configured by using the charge wire 26.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, when the charge wire 26 of the charging unit is seen to be dirty, the photoconductor cartridge 43 is taken out of the image forming case 38.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 1 and shows a schematic structure of a two-color copying machine using a black toner and a red toner.

Inside the main body of the copying machine, a photoconductor unit 10 is provided substantially at the center. Around the photoconductor drum 20 of the photoconductor unit 10, a first charging unit 11, a first writing unit 12, a first developing unit 13, a second charging unit 14, and a second writing unit 1 are arranged in the direction of arrow A.
5, the second developing unit 16, the transfer unit 17, and the cleaning unit 18 are arranged.

The first charging unit 11 is provided with a charging roller 21 that contacts the photosensitive drum 20 and charges it.

The first developing unit 13 includes a developing sleeve 23 and a replenishing roller 24 inside a unit case 22.
The stirring member 25 is rotatably provided, and the two-component developer in which the carrier and the black toner are mixed is stored.

The second charging unit 14 has a charge wire 26 for charging without contacting the photosensitive drum 20.
Is provided.

The second writing unit 15 includes an LED
Equipped with an array.

In the second developing unit 16, the unit case 28 is made smaller than the developing case 22 of the first developing unit 13, and the toner carrying roller 29, the friction charging roller 30, and the agitators 31 and 32 are rotatably provided therein. At the same time, it contains red toner.

The transfer unit 17 is of a contact transfer type in which a belt 33 having a medium resistance is hung between rollers so as to be rotatable, and contacts the photosensitive drum 20 for transfer.

The cleaning unit 18 has a cleaning blade 34.

During recording, the surface of the photosensitive drum 20 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 21 of the first charging unit 11 as the photosensitive drum 20 rotates in the direction of arrow A in the figure. Then, the first writing unit 12 irradiates with laser light to perform writing to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 20, and then the developing sleeve 23 of the first developing unit 13 attaches black toner to electrostatically charge the latent image. Visualize the latent image.

Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum 20 is uniformly charged again by the charge wire 26 of the second charging unit 14. Next, the second writing unit 15 irradiates light to perform writing to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 20, and then the toner carrying roller 29 of the second developing unit 16 attaches red toner to electrostatically. Visualize the latent image.

Then, the two-color visible image formed on the photosensitive drum 20 is transferred by the transfer unit 17 onto the upper surface of the paper P conveyed to the lower side of the photosensitive drum 20.

After the transfer, the paper P is separated to separate the belt 33.
The sheet is conveyed to a fixing unit by means of which the transferred image is fixed and then discharged to the outside of the copying machine body.

On the other hand, after the image transfer, the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 20 is removed and collected by the cleaning blade 34 of the cleaning unit 18.

After that, the photosensitive drum 20 is neutralized by a static eliminator (not shown) in preparation for rewriting.

By the way, the illustrated two-color copying machine has an image forming case 38 in the copying machine main body 37 as shown in FIG.

The image forming case 38 has a box shape, a large opening 38a is provided on the upper surface to open the entire surface, a horizontally long window hole 38c is provided in the lower portion of the right side plate 38b in the front of the drawing, and A handle 40 is provided on the front side plate 38d on the left front side. The upper portions of the left side plate 38e and the right side plate 38b are supported by a pair of left and right guide members 42 so as to be drawn out from the copying machine main body 37.

Now, in such an image forming case 38,
As shown by an arrow B in FIG. 2, the photoconductor cartridge 43 is inserted through the opening 38a. The photoconductor cartridge 4
As shown in FIG. 1, 3 is formed by integrally assembling the photoconductor unit 10, the first charging unit 11, and the cleaning unit 18 in the cartridge case 44.

Further, in the image forming case 38, the image forming case 38 is supported between the front side plate 38d and the rear side plate 38f shown in FIG.
The second charging unit 14 and the second writing unit 15 shown in are provided.

Further, in the image forming case 38, as shown in FIG.
The first developing unit 13 is inserted through the opening 38a as indicated by the middle arrow C, the second developing unit 16 is inserted through the window hole 38c as indicated by the arrow D, and as shown in FIG.
It is stored in two steps.

However, when the diameter is small, for example, when the red toner in the second developing unit 16 is exhausted, the copying machine main body 3 is used.
Stand on the front side of 7 and open the front cover 39. Then, the transfer unit 17 in FIG. 1 is rotated from the contact position to the retracted position with one roller side 17a as a fulcrum, and the copying machine main body 37 is rotated.
The image forming case 38 is guided from inside by a guide member 42 and pulled out.

Then, the second developing unit 16 in the image forming case 38 is taken out in the direction of arrow E through the window hole 38c,
Replace with a new one.

After the replacement, the image forming case 38 is pushed again into the main body 37 of the copying machine, and the front cover 39 is closed.

On the other hand, when the black toner in the first developing unit 13 is exhausted, the copying machine main body 37 is used as described above.
After pulling out the image forming case 38 from the inside, the first developing unit 13 in the image forming case 38 is taken out in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 1 through the opening 38a and is replaced with a new one.

By the way, for example, at the time of maintenance, the second
When the charge wire 26 of the charging unit 14 and the irradiation window of the second writing unit 15 are to be checked for contamination, the image forming case 38 is pulled out, and then the photoconductor cartridge 43 is passed through the opening 38a and the arrow G in FIG. Take out in the direction. Then, the charge wire 2 of the second charging unit 14
The irradiation windows of 6 and the second writing unit 15 appear.
As a result, it is possible to check how dirty the charge wire 26 and the irradiation window are, and to easily clean them.

In the illustrated two-color copying machine, the first developing unit 13 and the second developing unit 16 are housed in two stages in the image forming case 38, and each developing unit is provided with another developing unit in the image forming case 38. They were taken out individually and replaced independently regardless of the unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and although not shown, for example, by adding a third developing unit of blue toner,
The image forming case 38 is housed in three stages, or the first developing unit to the fourth developing unit are housed in four stages in the image forming case 38, as in a full-color copying machine. Each developing unit may be individually taken out from the inside regardless of other developing units and may be independently replaced.

In the other-color copying machine shown in the drawing, when the black toner or the red toner is used up, the first developing unit 13 or the second developing unit 16 is replaced with a new one. However, the configuration shown in FIG. 3 may be used.

In the figure, reference numeral 47 is a black toner cartridge, 4
Reference numeral 8 is the holder.

As shown in FIG. 4, the black toner cartridge 47 has a bottle shape that is slightly elongated in its entirety, has spiral blades on its inner circumference, and a gear is provided on the outer circumference of the mouth 47a, though not shown. It will be provided.

The cartridge holder 48 of the black toner cartridge 47 comprises a fitting portion 49 and a mounting portion 50 as shown in the figure.

The fitting portion 49 is provided with a fitting opening on the inner surface on the left side in the figure. One end 51a of the transfer pipe 51 shown in FIG. 5 is extended and provided inside the fitting opening. The other end 51b of the carrier pipe 51 penetrates the front side plate 38d and
The toner is extended in the toner hopper 52 of the developing unit 13. A transport screw 53 is rotatably housed in the transport pipe 51.

On the other hand, the mounting portion 50, as shown in FIG.
It has a gutter shape and extends laterally from the inner surface of the fitting portion 49 along the front side plate 38d.

When mounting the black toner cartridge 47, the black toner cartridge 47 is mounted on the mounting portion 50 from the direction of the arrow H in FIG. 4 and the opening portion 47a is inserted into the fitting opening portion.
The outer peripheral gear is provided so as to mesh with the drive gear in the fitting portion 49.

However, when the black toner in the first developing unit 13 is exhausted, the drive gear is rotated to drive it as shown in FIG.
The middle black toner cartridge 47 is rotated, and the transport screw 53 is rotated. Then, the black toner in the black toner cartridge 47 is sent out from the inside of the mouth portion 47a, is put into the conveying pipe 51, and is conveyed to the toner hopper 52 by the rotation of the conveying screw 53.
Replenish inside.

After that, when the toner in the black toner cartridge 47 is used up, the sensor detects it. And
After pulling out the image forming case 38, the black toner cartridge 47 is removed from the cartridge holder 48 and replaced with a new one. When the first developing unit 13 reaches the end of its life, it is taken out of the image forming case 38 and replaced.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 55 is a red toner cartridge, and 56 is its cartridge holder. The red toner cartridge 55 is formed in the same manner as the black toner cartridge 47 and stores the red toner inside. The cartridge holder 56 has the same structure as the cartridge holder 48. Then, when the red toner in the second developing unit 16 is exhausted, the red toner in the red toner cartridge 55 can be replenished in the second developing unit 16,
When the toner in the red toner cartridge 55 becomes empty, it can be replaced with a new one. When the second developing unit 16 reaches the end of its life, it is taken out of the image forming case 38 and replaced.

[0052]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the toner in one developing unit is used up, the toner is independently taken out of the image forming case regardless of the other developing units. Since it is replaced with a new cartridge, it is possible to prevent an increase in running cost and waste of resources without replacing the cartridge as in the conventional case. It is not necessary to take it out, and the development unit can be replaced easily.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the black toner is used up, the uppermost developing unit is taken out from the large opening above the image forming case, so that it is easy to take out and the developing unit is made large. Therefore, if a large amount of black toner is added, the replacement cycle of the developing unit can be lengthened.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the toner in the developing unit is exhausted, the toner in the toner cartridge is replenished, and when the toner in the toner cartridge is exhausted, the toner cartridge is replaced. Since the developing unit does not need to be replaced until the life of the developing unit is reached, the toner supply operation can be simplified.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the photoconductor cartridge is taken out from the image forming case, the irradiation window of the writing unit appears so that the dirt condition can be checked and the cleaning operation can be easily performed. be able to.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, when the photoconductor cartridge is taken out from the image forming case, the charge wire of the charging unit appears and the dirt condition can be checked, and the cleaning operation is easily performed. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of the color copying machine.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a photoconductor cartridge, a first developing unit, and a second developing unit are incorporated in an image forming case pulled out from the copying machine main body.

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the invention according to claim 3;
FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the image forming case pulled out from the main body of the color copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing how the black toner cartridge is attached to the image forming case.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line aa in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Photoconductor Unit 13 First Developing Unit 14 Second Charging Unit 15 Second Writing Unit 16 Second Developing Unit 26 Charge Wire 38 Image Forming Case 43 Photoreceptor Cartridge 47 Black Toner Cartridge 55 Red Toner Cartridge

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G03G 15/02 101 B41J 3/21 L 15/08 112 G03G 15/00 554 506 507

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A multicolor image forming apparatus, wherein a plurality of developing units are housed in multiple stages in an image forming case, and each developing unit can be individually taken out of the image forming case independently of other developing units and independently replaced. Image forming apparatus. 2. The multicolor image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developing unit using black toner is provided at the uppermost stage. 3. The multicolor image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a toner cartridge for supplying toner to the developing unit can be attached to the image forming case. 4. A photoconductor cartridge is formed by the photoconductor unit and other units and is detachably accommodated in the image forming case, and a writing unit is an LED.
The multicolor image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the multicolor image forming apparatus is configured by using an array. 5. A photosensitive member cartridge is formed by the photosensitive member unit and other units and is detachably accommodated in the image forming case, and the charging unit is configured by using a charge wire. 1. The multicolor image forming apparatus described in 1.