Photocopying – Contact printing – Light boxes
Patent
1989-07-06
1992-10-06
Grimley, A. T.
Photocopying
Contact printing
Light boxes
355260, G03G 2100, G03G 1506
Patent
active
051536439
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a developing unit providing a toner supply section to mount a toner cartridge for supplying toner and an image forming apparatus utilizing the developing unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus such as a duplicator or a printer utilizing toner of the electrophotographic system and electrostatic recording system provides a developing apparatus comprising a developing means which supplies toner on a medium and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the medium and a developing chamber accommodating such developing means and toner to be supplied to the medium from the developing means.
Since the toner in the developing chamber is gradually reduced after use, this developing apparatus is also provided with a cartridge mounting section on which the cartridge accommodating toner therein is mounted the toner is supplied to the developing chamber via this cartridge.
Recently, in view of facilitating maintenance and replacing work of the developing apparatus (particularly, the carrier which has passed its life is considered as the object, in case 2-element developer consisting of toner and carrier is used), the developing apparatus as a whole is formed as a unit, as is described in the official gazette of the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-17763, for example. Thereby it can be mounted/dismounted to from the image forming apparatus.
However, such developing unit has been accompanied by a problem that the toner spills from the when the cartridge mounting section is opened due to vibration during transportation since transportation is carried out while the toner is accommodated within the developing chamber.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the problem described above, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a developing unit which does not permit spill of toner from the opening of the cartridge mounting section even if vibration is applied to the developing unit during transportation.
Moreover, it is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which allows transportation of toner while it is enclosed within the developing unit and thereby facilitates mounting of the developing unit thereto.
In order to attain the object described above, the present invention constitutes a developing unit for developing a latent image on a medium, comprising a developing means which supplies toner on a medium to develop latent image, a developing chamber accommodating the developing means and toner, a toner case for encasing toner to be supplied to the developing chamber, a developing toner supply means for supplying the toner to the developing chamber from the toner case, a cartridge mounting section for allowing mounting of cartridge accommodating the toner therein to supply the toner to the toner case and a preventing means which is mounted to the cartridge mounting section during transportation of the developing unit to prevent leakage of toner in the developing chamber to the outside of developing unit via the cartridge mounting section.
In the constitution described above, the toner is previously encased, before transportation, to the developing chamber of developing unit and a preventing means prepared is mounted to the cartridge mounting section. Under this condition, the preventing means perfectly seals the cartridge mounting section and thereby prevents entrance of humidity into the interior. Therefore, solidification of toner in the developing unit can be prevented. The developing unit is transported under this condition, but the toner overflowing the developing chamber to the area near the cartridge mounting port (mounting port of preventing means; during the transportation is stopped to from spilling by the preventing means mounted to the cartridge mounting section. Thus it can no longer leak to the outside of unit.
Moreover, as this preventing means, a cylindrical member having an opening is preferred. The circumferential position of cylindri
REFERENCES:
patent: 4060105 (1977-11-01), Feldeisen et al.
patent: 4768055 (1988-08-01), Takamatsu et al.
patent: 4849791 (1989-07-01), Hagihara et al.
patent: 4862210 (1989-08-01), Woolley
Fujitsu Limited
Grimley A. T.
Ramirez Nestor R.
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