JP2000314997A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the amount of toner scattering from a joint part of a toner supply unit for supplying the toner to a rotary multicolor developing apparatus and the developing device. SOLUTION: A toner distributor 303 is attached to one end of each of four toner supply pipes 302, each the other end of which is connected to four toner tanks 301, respectively. Four toner supply ports 331 are formed on the circumferential surface of the toner distributor 303 main body so as to be shifted in a longitudinal direction, and toner sealing members 332 are also arranged. An agent supply/holder 130 with a toner supply unit insertion hole 131 formed is attached to the developing front side plate 103 of the rotary multicolor developing apparatus 100. A toner acceptance port is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the insertion hole 131 part so that the axial position of the acceptance port may be nearly aligned with the toner supply port 331. The toner distributor 303 of the toner supply unit 300 is inserted into the insertion hole 131 and firmly held by a fixing member so that the failure of dropping-out may not occur when the rotary multiple color developing apparatus 100 is rotated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer.
The present invention relates to an improvement in a device for supplying a developer to a developing unit in a color copying machine, a color printer, or the like in which a plurality of developing units are supported by a rotating body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the following method is known as a method of replenishing a plurality of developing units supported by a rotating body of this kind. Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-8790, Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 64-8330, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 61-243467 and Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 4-10071 disclose full-color copying in which a plurality of developing units are supported on a rotating support. In the machine, the terminal end portion of the developer supply pipe extending from the developer container for storing the replenishment developer, in which the developer supply port is opened, is inserted and mounted inside the hollow support shaft of the developing unit rotating support, whereby And replenishing the developing unit with the developer. And, among them,
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-8330 discloses that a developer is replenished to a developing unit at a developer replenishing position different from a developing position facing a photoreceptor as a latent image carrier.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 3467/1991 discloses that a developer unit is supplied with developer and the developer is agitated at a position upstream of the developing position. Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 4-10071 discloses a shutter for opening and closing a plurality of developer conveying paths. The provision of means is disclosed respectively. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-78872 has a developer auger means for each color, and the auger means is selectively placed at a position facing a developer receiving pipe extending from an end of the developing unit. It is disclosed that the developer is supplied by moving the developer. Also, JP-A-4-78874 and JP-A-4-7887
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 6 (1994) -6, etc., one end is arranged near the other end of the auger means connected to each developing unit so as to rotate in the same circle by the rotation of the developing device near the side of the developing device. In the vicinity of the other end of each auger means, a developer receiving port which is different in the rotation axis direction of the developing device and is opened outward in the radial direction of rotation is provided, and the vicinity of the other end of the auger means is respectively located above. It is disclosed that sometimes a developer supply means having a developer discharge port is provided at a position corresponding to each developer receiving port. And
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-78874 discloses that a shutter is provided at a developer receiving port of each auger.

[0003]

However, Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-8790, Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 64-8330, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 61-243467, and Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 4-10071.
In the configuration in which the end portion of the developer supply pipe with the developer supply port opened is inserted and mounted inside the hollow support shaft of the developing unit rotary support, as in the developer supply device disclosed in In addition, there has been a problem that maintenance work near the developer supply port of the developer transport pipe and the developer receiving portion on the developing unit side becomes complicated. Further, as in the developer replenishing device disclosed in JP-A-4-78872,
The configuration in which the developer conveying auger means is selectively moved to a position facing the developer receiving pipe extending from the end of the developing unit requires a moving mechanism, which complicates the configuration. There has been a problem that the toner is easily scattered from an opposing portion between the transport auger means and the developer receiving pipe. Also, the above-mentioned JP-A-4-78874,
The developer replenishing device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-78876 has a disadvantage that toner is liable to be scattered from an opposing portion between a developer receiving port which opens outward in the rotation radial direction and a developer discharging port of the auger means. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a device for supplying a developer to a rotary developing unit which can prevent toner scattering with a relatively simple configuration. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a latent image carrier, a latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the latent image carrier, and a latent image carrier. A plurality of developing units for applying a developer on the latent image carrier on which the latent image carrier is formed, and a desired developing unit moved to a developing position facing the latent image carrier by rotating while supporting the plurality of developing units. A plurality of developer containers, the plurality of developer containers being provided outside a rotational movement path of the plurality of developing units and containing a developer to be supplied to the plurality of developing units. In the image forming apparatus configured to convey the developer to the plurality of developing units, a plurality of developer conveying paths respectively communicating with the plurality of developer containers are formed independently of each other, and At the end remote from the developer container, A developer conveying path member having a developer distributing portion formed with a developer discharge opening of a conveying path different from each other in a developer conveying direction, and a plurality of developers each communicating with the inside of the plurality of developing units; For the developer distributing section, the transport paths are formed independently of each other, and the developer receiving openings of the plurality of developer transport paths are opened at different positions in the rotation axis direction so as to correspond to the developer discharge ports. And a developer conveying path member mounting member provided on one end side common to the plurality of developing units in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotary support, and the developer distributing section is provided. And one of the mounting portions is formed in a hole shape, and the other is formed in a shape that can be inserted into the hole. Further, according to the invention of claim 2, a developer transport drive member is provided in at least one of the developer transport path of the developer transport path member and the developer transport path of the mounting section for the developer transport path member, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developer supply control is performed by controlling the driving of the developer transport driving member. The developer discharge port is positioned above the developer receiving port by rotation of the rotary support. A control means for driving the developer transport driving member corresponding to the developer discharge port and the developer receiving port in the relation as required when the relation is established. It is.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a plurality of developer carrying paths communicating with the inside of the plurality of developer containing vessels, respectively, are formed independently of each other. A plurality of developers each of which communicates with the inside of the plurality of developing units, a developer distributing portion which is an end portion, and a developer discharge port of each of the plurality of developer transport paths is opened at a different position in the developer transport direction. The developer discharge port of a developer transport path member mounting member provided on one end side common to the plurality of developing units in the rotation axis direction of the rotary support, wherein the transport paths are formed independently of each other. In order to cope with the above, the developing device is mounted on the mounting portion for the developer distributing portion, in which the developer receiving openings of the plurality of developer conveying paths are opened at different positions in the rotation axis direction. Here, one of the developer distributing portion and the mounting portion is formed in a hole shape, and the other is formed in a shape that can be inserted into the hole, so that the developer distributing portion is used for the developer distributing portion. In a state where the developer dispensing portion is mounted on the mounting portion, a portion where the developer discharging portion of the developer distributing portion and the developer receiving port of the mounting portion oppose each other has a hole-shaped developer distributing portion or a mounting portion. To be surrounded by.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a full-color electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine) as an image forming apparatus will be described below. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the copying machine according to the present embodiment. The copying machine includes a printer unit 10 and a reading unit 20, and a photosensitive drum 11 as a latent image carrier is rotatably disposed substantially at the center of the printer unit 10. This photosensitive drum 1
1, a charger 12, a rotary developing device 100,
An intermediate transfer / transport unit 200, a cleaning unit 13, a static eliminator 14, and the like are provided. A writing unit 30 is provided above the printer unit 10, a paper feed / transport unit 50 is provided below the printer unit 10, and a fixing unit 15 and a paper discharge roller 16 are provided below the left unit.

The intermediate transfer / transport unit 20
Reference numeral 0 indicates that the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 11 are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer / conveyance belt 201 (first transfer).
After the transfer, the toner images are superimposed on the belt 201, and then the superimposed toner images on the belt 201 are collectively transferred (secondarily transferred) to transfer paper. For details, refer to Japanese Patent Application Nos. 1-37081 and 2-742.
75, and 2-107131. That is, the intermediate transfer / conveyance belt 201 is composed of a pair of support rollers / bias applying rollers 202A and B,
Supported by 5A, B pair, etc., the former roller pair 2
The area where the portion of the belt 201 stretched by 02A and B is in contact with the photosensitive drum 11 is the primary transfer section 202, and the latter belt portion stretched by the roller pair 205A and B is the second transfer section. The area in contact with the bias roller 204 is the secondary transfer section 205. A primary transfer is performed by applying a bias to the pair of support roller and bias applying roller 202A, B at a predetermined timing, and the transfer paper sent at a predetermined timing onto the belt on which the toner image is superimposed is transferred. At the timing when the carried belt portions face each other, a bias is applied to the secondary transfer bias roller 204 to perform the secondary transfer. In addition, intermediate transfer
A belt cleaner 206 is also provided so as to face the surface of the conveyor belt 201.

In the above configuration, the original 10 is
The image data is converted into an electric signal by an image processing unit (not shown). Then, the writing unit 30 is driven based on the electric signal, and the image exposure 31 is performed on the photoconductor 1 uniformly charged by the charger 12 to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the document. The electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing unit in the rotary multicolor developing device 100, and a toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer / transport belt 201 by the intermediate transfer / transport belt unit 200. The toner image is re-transferred to the transfer paper 40, and the transfer paper is passed through the fixing unit 15 to fix the toner image, and then is discharged as a copy outside the apparatus by the discharge roller 16. During the full-color copying, a conventionally well-known Y, M, C, and BK color image forming cycle is sequentially repeated. At the time of monochrome copying, this is also performed by a known image forming cycle.

The rotary multicolor developing device 100 of the present embodiment is
As shown schematically in FIG. 3, four developing units 101 of a non-magnetic one-component developing system are provided. Each developing unit has the same configuration except that the color of the toner used is different. As the toner color, for example, yellow,
Magenta, cyan, and black can be used. Hereinafter, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are represented by symbols Y, M, C, and Bk.
The code of the developing unit using Y and yellow toner is 10
Each member is given a reference numeral related to the toner color, such as 1Y. Four developing units 101Y, M, C, Bk
The partitioning member 104 divides a pair of a developing front side plate 103 and a developing rear side plate 102 (see FIGS. 5 and 4) rotatably provided in a copying machine into four sections. Supply of toner to developing rollers 110Y, M, C, and Bk, developing blades 111Y, M, C, and Bk for frictionally charging non-magnetic toner to form a thin layer of toner on the developing roller; Rollers 112Y, M,
C, Bk, a stirring member 11 for stirring the toner in the unit
3Y, M, C, Bk, toner transfer screw 115Y,
M, C, Bk built-in toner replenishing members 114Y, M,
C, Bk, etc. are provided. The four developing rollers 110Y, M, C, and Bk are rotatably supported in a state where a part thereof is exposed from an opening formed in the developing lid 112Y, M, C, and Bk that covers an outer peripheral portion of each section. .

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view showing a mounted state of a driving gear train mounted on the back surface of the developing rear side plate 102 of the rotary multicolor developing apparatus 100. On the developing rear side plate 102, the developing rollers 110Y, M, C,
Shafts on the back side of the rotating member such as Bk are bearingd, and a drive gear is fixed to an end of each shaft. Gears 120Y, M, C,
Bk is a developing roller driving gear, gears 121Y, M, C,
Bk is a supply roller drive gear, gears 122Y, M, C, Bk
Denotes a stirring member drive gear and gears 123Y, M, C, and Bk supply member drive gears, respectively. Further, a gear portion is laid on the peripheral portion of the developing rear side plate 102, and the rotation of the entire rotary multicolor developing device 100 is controlled by driving control of a drive gear (not shown) that meshes with the gear portion to face the photoconductor 11. The switching of the developing unit located at the developing position is performed. Then, the developing roller driving gears 120Y, M, C, and B of the developing unit located at the developing position
A driving gear 106 is provided at a fixed position in the copying machine where the developing roller 101 can engage with the developing roller 101.
Y, M, C, and Bk are driven to rotate. The supply roller 1 is driven by the supply roller drive gears 121Y, M, C, and Bk that mesh with the development roller drive gears 120Y, M, C, and Bk.
12Y, M, C and Bk are rotationally driven. Further, the stirring roller driving gear 122Y, the driving of which is transmitted through the intermediate gear by the supply roller driving gear 121Y, M, C, Bk.
The stirring members 113Y, M, C, and Bk are rotationally driven by M, C, and Bk. By the rotation of these rotating members, the toner of each color circulates in each developing unit and is used for development.

Next, the supply of toner to the rotary multicolor developing device 100 in this embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a toner supply unit 300 to the rotary multicolor developing device 100 is connected to the front side plate 103 of the rotary multicolor developing device 100. FIG. 5 is a rear view of the rotary multicolor developing device 100. In FIG. 1, the toner supply unit 300 of the present embodiment has
Toner tanks 301Y, M, C, and Bk, and four toner supply pipes 3 each having one end connected to each tank.
02Y, M, C, and Bk, and a toner distributor 303 attached to the other ends of the four pipes. Each of the four toner supply pipes 302Y, M, C, and Bk has a built-in toner transport coil 310Y, M, C, and Bk.
C and Bk extend into the toner tanks 301Y, M, C, and Bk, and are driven to rotate by toner supply motors 311Y, M, C, and Bk attached to the respective toner tanks 301Y, M, C, and B. ing. The toner distributor 303 has a cylindrical main body, and the four toner supply pipes 302Y, M, C, and Bk are provided in four holes opened at one end thereof.
Are inserted at the other end. These four holes have different depths from each other, and are bent from the bottom in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical main body to open on the circumferential surface, and four toner supply ports 33 opened at different positions in the toner conveying direction.
1Y, M, C and Bk are formed. Each toner supply port 331Y is provided on the peripheral surface of the main body of the toner distributor 303.
Three annular toner seal members 332 made of, for example, an elastic or flexible material are provided so as to partition between M, C, and Bk. Also, the toner tanks 301Y, M,
A similar toner seal member 332 is provided between the toner supply port 331Y on the C, Bk side and the end of the toner tank 301Y, M, C, Bk side of the main body.

The rotary multicolor developing device 10 of the present embodiment
The developer supply holder 130 to which the toner distributor 303 is attached is attached to the development-side front plate 103 by screwing or the like. The toner supply holder 130 has a cylindrical toner supply unit insertion hole 131 formed coaxially with the rotation axis of the rotary multicolor developing device 100. The inner diameter of the insertion hole 131 is set to a size that does not hinder the rotation of the main body of the rotary multicolor developing device 100 in a state where the toner distributor 303 is inserted and fixed in the apparatus so as not to rotate. deep. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, each developing unit 101 is provided in the agent supply holder 130.
Independently for Y, M, C and Bk, one end communicates with the toner replenishing members 104Y, M, C and Bk in each developing unit, and the other end opens to the peripheral surface of the insertion hole 131 to form the toner. Holes constituting the receiving ports 132Y, M, C, and Bk are provided. This toner receiving port 132Y, M, C, Bk
Is the position of the toner distributor 30 attached to the insertion hole 131.
3, toner supply ports 331Y, M,
C and Bk are set so that the positions in the rotation axis direction of the rotary multicolor developing device 100 substantially coincide with each other. And
The toner replenishing members 104Y, M, C, and Bk in the developing unit are extended to the vicinity of the toner receiving ports 132Y, M, C, and Bk.
The toner transfer screws 115Y, M,
The ends of C and Bk extend.

Then, the toner distributor 303 of the toner supply unit 300 is inserted into the toner supply unit insertion hole 131 of the agent supply holder 130, and the toner distributor 303 is dropped by a fixing member (not shown) when the rotary multicolor developing device 100 rotates. It is fixed and held so that there is no defect.

In the above configuration, the toner tank 301
It is stored in. Each toner is supplied with a toner supply motor 31
1 is driven for a required time so that the toner conveying coil 31 is driven.
0 rotates, is conveyed in the toner supply pipe 302, and is transferred to the toner distributor 303. And the toner distributor 3
The toner is discharged from the toner supply port 331 on the peripheral surface of the cartridge 03 and supplied to the developing unit via the toner receiving port 132 and the like.

Here, a color in which the toner supply port 331 on the peripheral surface of the toner distributor 303 and the toner receiving port 132 of the toner supply unit insertion hole 131 face each other, for example, yellow in the state shown in FIG. Figure 6 is a sectional view
In the case of (b)), when the toner supply motor 331 is driven to supply the toner, the toner discharged from the toner supply port 331 smoothly enters the toner receiving port 132, so that the toner is supplied to the developing unit 101 side. Smooth toner supply is possible. Therefore, the toner supply port 331 on the peripheral surface of the toner distributor 303 and the toner supply unit insertion hole 13
With one set of toner receiving ports 132 facing each other,
It is desirable to supply toner. Further, as shown in the illustrated example, the circumferential position of the toner supply port 331 on the peripheral surface of the toner distributor 303 is set to be lower than the center, so that the weight of the toner in discharging the toner from the toner supply port 331 is reduced. It is desirable to make it available. Also, when the toner transfer screw 115 is driven during toner supply to actively transport toner to the developing unit side, toner supply to the developing unit side becomes smoother, and toner supply to the developing unit is performed immediately. Done. Therefore, it is desirable to rotate the toner transfer screw 115 of the corresponding developing unit when supplying the toner. In the illustrated example, for example, as can be seen from FIGS.
For the developing unit in which the toner supply port 331 and the toner receiving port 132 face each other, the toner transfer screw 11 is driven by the driving gear 106 shown in FIG.
5 cannot be rotated. Therefore, the driving gear 10
In addition to the above, a drive transmission mechanism for rotating the toner transfer screw 115 of the developing unit in such a state when supplying toner is provided separately.

In this embodiment, the space between the inner peripheral surface of the toner supply unit insertion hole 131 where the toner receiving port 132 of each developing unit 101 is opened and the peripheral surface of the toner distributor 303 main body is set for each color. Since the toner seal member 332 is used for each set of the toner supply port 331 and the toner receiving port 132, it is possible to prevent color mixing of toner of each color. Further, since the toner is sealed from the outside by the toner seal member 332 from the toner tank 301, scattering of the toner to the outside can be prevented. Also,
Since the toner distributor 303 of the toner supply unit 300 is detachable from the toner supply unit insertion hole 131, the rotary multicolor developing device 100 and the toner supply unit 3
The maintenance work of 00 is also easy.

Next, referring to FIGS. 7 to 12, the above-described toner supply unit 300 was used in a rotary multicolor developing apparatus 100 having four developing units 101Y, M, C, and Bk of a two-component developing system. An example will be described. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of the rotary multicolor developing device 100 in this embodiment. Each developing unit 101Y, M, C, Bk
Has the same configuration except that the color of the toner used is different. That is, in this example, each developing unit 101 includes a dedicated developing case 150Y, M, C, and Bk. In this case, the developing roller 110 including a developing sleeve having a built-in magnet roller and the like, and the agent stirring unit 160 are provided. The developing doctor 15 is arranged to face the surface of the developing roller 110.
1 is attached. Then, developers 152Y, M, C, and Bk each including a toner and a carrier are accommodated in the case.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view from the front showing the mounting state of the driving gear train mounted on the back surface of the developing rear side plate 102 of the rotary multicolor developing apparatus 100. On the developing rear side plate 102, the developing rollers 110Y, M, C,
Shafts on the back side of the rotating member such as Bk are bearingd, and a drive gear is fixed to an end of each shaft. Gears 120Y, M, C,
Bk is a developing roller drive gear, gears 160Y, M, C,
Bk is an agent stirring drive gear, and a drive gear 106 provided at a fixed position in the copying machine meshes with the agent stirring drive gear. Thus, the agent stirring unit 1
60 is driven, and the agent stirring drive gear 160Y,
The developing sleeve of the developing roller 110 and / or the built-in magnet roller are rotationally driven by the developing roller driving gears 110Y, M, C, and Bk to which the drive is transmitted via the intermediate gears by M, C, and Bk. By the rotation of each of the rotating members, the developer in the developing unit circulates in each developing unit and is used for development. That is, the developer is agitated by the agent agitating unit 160 such that the carrier and the toner have an uniform agent concentration and a uniform charge amount, and are transferred to the developing roller 110. After the layer thickness of the developer is made constant by the developing doctor 151, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 11 is developed. The developer after the development flows down on the inner wall surface of the developing case 150 and is returned to the agent stirring unit 160. As shown in FIG.
An image density sensor 17 is disposed in opposition to the image sensor, thereby detecting the reflection density of the toner image on the developed photoconductor,
Conventionally known process control such as the developer concentration and the developing bias is performed so that the developing conditions are always constant. The sensor 17 can be used for process control such as a developing bias even when the above-described one-component developing method is used. The switching of the developing unit for each color is performed by the rotation and movement of the developing unit by a drive / control device (not shown), as in the above embodiment.

Here, the agent stirring units 160Y, M, C, and Bk will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The agent stirring unit has a plurality of blade portions whose main body is formed on a hollow cylinder and whose peripheral surface is parallel to the axial direction. And a toner transfer screw roller 163 built in the hollow of the agent stirring roller. The above agent stirring roller 1
A drug transfer fin 162 is helically attached to the blade portion 61. A toner carrying hole 164 is formed in the peripheral surface of the main body at the end of the copying machine which is closer to the front side. A toner discharge hole 165 is formed in the surface portion. The toner transfer screw roller 163
The rear end is supported by a flange on the rear side of the agent stirring roller 161, and the front end is supported by a cover member 161 a fixed to the front opening end of the agent stirring roller 161. A gear 163 is fixed to a shaft portion protruding forward from the lid member 161a, and rotation of the idle gear 162 from the drive gear 161 attached to the lid member is fixed to this gear.
Through which the agent stirring roller 161 is transferred.
, The driven rotation is performed at a higher rotation speed.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 12, the agent stirring roller 161 is attached to the front side plate 103 of the rotary multicolor developing device 100 by a screw or the like. In the supply holder 130, one end of the toner supply member 10 provided independently for each of the developing units 101Y, M, C, and Bk is provided.
4Y, M, C, and Bk, and the other end is opened at the peripheral surface of the insertion hole 131, and the toner receiving ports 132Y, M, and
C and Bk extend to the ends of the holes. The toner inlet 164 of the agent stirring roller 161 is formed so that the position in the axial direction and the circumferential direction substantially coincides with the corresponding toner receiving port 132.

In the above configuration, the toner supply port 331 is supplied from the toner supply unit 130 in the same manner as in the above embodiment.
The toner that has entered the toner inlet 132 through the toner inlet 164 enters the toner carrying hole 164 and is moved leftward in FIG. 12 (the direction of arrow b in FIG. 9) by the toner transfer roller 161 together with the developer that has already been filled. The developer is transported while being stirred together with the developer, is discharged from a toner discharge port 165 (see FIG. 9) opened in the developing unit 101, and is further transported in the direction of arrow a in FIG. The agent is supplied to the roller 110.

FIG. 11 shows a rotary multicolor developing apparatus 100.
Is a front view of the developing roller 1 in this figure.
10 shows a member for adjusting a main pole when 10 is constituted by a rotary developing sleeve with a built-in fixed magnet. Also, reference numeral 16 in FIG.
Reference numeral 3 denotes a lid for collecting the developer, and the developer can be automatically recovered by opening the lid and driving the developing unit.

Here, as can be seen from FIGS. 7, 8 and 10, in the illustrated example, the toner supply port 331 on the peripheral surface of the toner distributor 303 and the toner receiving port 132 of the toner supply unit insertion hole 131 are formed. Since the developing units of the colors facing each other are in the developing position and the rotating member can be driven by the driving gear 106 (see FIG. 8), the toner stirring unit 160 is driven at the time of supplying the toner to smoothly and quickly Can be supplied to the toner. Further, since the developing unit is located below the rotation center axis of the rotary multicolor image forming apparatus 100 and the toner receiving port 132, the toner carrying port 164, and the like are located lower than the toner supply port 331, the developing unit is smooth. The toner can be supplied into the developing unit.

In the copying machines of the above embodiments,
The rotary multi-color developing device 100 includes four developing units including the black developing unit 101Bk. Instead, for example, as shown in FIG.
Provided in the rotating multicolor developing device 100, for example, yellow,
Three developing units of magenta and cyan may be provided. In this case, the toner tanks of the toner supply unit 300 to the rotary multicolor developing device 100 are three tanks of yellow, magenta, and cyan as shown. Here, in the example of FIG. 13, instead of the intermediate transfer / transport belt unit 200 of the copying machine of FIG.
11 and an intermediate transfer belt unit 210 and a transport belt 212.

Further, in the toner supply unit 300 of each of the above-described embodiments, toner is prevented from being scattered by the configuration in which the toner distributor 303 is inserted into the insertion hole 131 of the agent supply holder 130. Holder 1
30, a cylindrical protrusion is formed, a toner receiving port 132 is formed on the peripheral surface of the protrusion, and a toner distributor 303 is formed.
A hole into which the protruding portion can be inserted is formed, and a toner supply port 331 is formed in a peripheral surface of the hole, so that the toner distributor 3
The configuration in which the protruding portion of the agent supply holder 130 is inserted into the insertion hole 03 may prevent toner scattering.

According to the above embodiments, the rotary multicolor developing device 100 can be reduced in size, simplified, and reduced in cost. Further, the toner supply unit 300 can be provided at one end of the rotary multicolor developing device, and the size of the toner supplying device can be reduced, so that the entire rotary multicolor developing device can be reduced in size without difficulty. Therefore, the size of the main body can be reduced. Further, neither a developing unit for each color nor a complicated configuration / unit is required. Further, the configuration of the toner supply unit 300 is simple and economical. Further, the reliability of the rotary multicolor developing device 100 can be improved. This is because the supply portions of the developers (toners) of the respective colors are completely independent, so that no color mixing occurs and the reliability is excellent. Further, maintenance of the rotary multicolor developing device 100 is easy. Further, the developing unit and the agent supply holder 130 are configured as independent units,
In addition, since the number of components is small, productivity and maintenance can be improved. Further, since the mounting position of the toner tank 301 is not restricted by the developing unit and the toner supply unit 300, the toner tank 301 can be installed at a position where the user can easily perform the replenishing operation, and the toner can be easily replenished. Further, since there is no restriction on the installation location of the toner tank, it is easy to secure the storage amount of the tank, and by increasing the size, the burden of maintenance on the user can be reduced.

[0028]

According to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the developer distributing section at the other end of the developer conveying path member having one end connected to the plurality of developer containers is connected to the rotating shaft of the rotary support. When mounted on a developer carrying path member mounting member provided at one end in the direction, the developer distributing portion and the mounting portion may be configured in a hole shape, and the other may be inserted into the hole. When the developer dispensing portion is mounted on the mounting portion for the developer distributing portion, the developer discharge portion of the developer distributing portion is opposed to the developer receiving port of the mounting portion. Since the portion is surrounded by a developer distributing portion formed in a hole shape or a member formed with a mounting portion, the toner scattering from the vicinity of the facing portion can be reduced by a relatively simple configuration as compared with the related art. Has an excellent effect that it can be easily prevented.
In particular, according to the invention of claim 2, a developer transport drive member is provided on at least one of the inside of the developer transport path of the developer transport path member and the developer transport path of the mounting section for the developer transport path member. And when the developer outlet is located above the developer inlet by rotation of the rotary support, the developer outlet corresponds to the developer outlet and the developer inlet in the relationship. The developer conveying drive member is driven by the control means as needed to supply the developer, so that the developer's own weight is used to move the developer from the developer discharge port to the developer receiving port. It has an excellent effect that it can be used and can supply the developer smoothly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a rotating multicolor developing device rear side plate portion and a toner supply unit of a copying machine according to an embodiment. (B) is a sectional view of a toner supply pipe in the toner supply unit.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the rotating multicolor developing device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the front of a back plate portion of the rotary multicolor developing device.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a front side plate portion of the rotary multicolor developing device.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of a rear plate portion of the rotating multicolor developing device. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of another portion of the rear side plate portion of the rotating multicolor developing device.

FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of a rotary multicolor developing device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view from the front of a back plate portion of the rotary multicolor developing device.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a developer stirring unit in the developing unit of the multi-color developing device.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a rotating multicolor developing device rear side plate portion and a toner supply unit of the copying machine according to the embodiment. (B)
3 is a sectional view of a toner supply pipe in the toner supply unit.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a front side plate portion of the rotary multicolor developing device.

FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view of a rear plate portion of the rotating multicolor developing device. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of another portion of the rear side plate portion of the rotating multicolor developing device.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Photoreceptor drum 12 Charger 13 Photoreceptor cleaner 14 Static eliminator 15 Fixer 16 Discharge roller 100 Rotary multicolor developing device 101Y, M, C, Bk developing device 102 Developing rear side plate 103 Front developing side plate 110Y, M, C, Bk developing roller 106 Development driving member 111Y, M, C, Bk developing blade 112Y, M, C, Bk supply roller 113Y, M, C, Bk stirring member 114Y, M, C, Bk toner supply member 115Y, M, C, Bk toner transfer screw 120Y, M, C, Bk developing roller drive gear 121Y, M, C, Bk supply roller drive gear 122Y, M, C, Bk stirring member drive gear 123Y, M, C, Bk supply member drive gear 130 Agent supply holder 131 Toner supply unit insertion hole 132Y, M, C, Bk Toner receiving port 151Y, M C, Bk developing doctor 160Y, M, C, Bk agent stirring unit 161 agent stirring roller 162 agent transfer fin 163 toner transfer screw roller 164Y, M, C, Bk toner inlet hole 165 toner discharge hole 160Y, M, C, Bk agent Stirring drive gear 161 Toner transfer roller drive gear 162 Idle gear 163 Toner transfer roller driven gear 300 Toner supply unit 301Y, M, C, Bk Toner tank 302Y, M, C, Bk Toner supply pipe 303 Toner distributor 310Y, M, C , Bk toner transport coil 311Y, M, C, Bk toner supply motor 331Y, M, C, Bk toner supply port 332 Toner seal member 400 Black developing device

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission Date] May 12, 2000 (2000.5.1)
2)

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Full text

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Document Name] Statement

[Title of the Invention] Image forming apparatus

[Claims]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus such as a color copying machine or a color printer in which a plurality of developing units are supported by a rotating body. The present invention relates to improvement of a developer supply device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the following method is known as a method of replenishing a plurality of developing units supported by a rotating body of this kind. Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-8790, Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 64-8330, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 61-243467 and Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 4-10071 disclose full-color copying in which a plurality of developing units are supported on a rotating support. In the machine, the terminal end portion of the developer supply pipe extending from the developer container for storing the replenishment developer, in which the developer supply port is opened, is inserted and mounted inside the hollow support shaft of the developing unit rotating support, whereby And replenishing the developing unit with the developer. And, among them,
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-8330 discloses that a developer is replenished to a developing unit at a developer replenishing position different from a developing position facing a photoreceptor as a latent image carrier.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 3467/1991 discloses that a developer unit is supplied with developer and the developer is agitated at a position upstream of the developing position. Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 4-10071 discloses a shutter for opening and closing a plurality of developer conveying paths. The provision of means is disclosed respectively. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-78872 has a developer auger means for each color, and the auger means is selectively placed at a position facing a developer receiving pipe extending from an end of the developing unit. It is disclosed that the developer is supplied by moving the developer .

[0003]

However, Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-8790, Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 64-8330, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 61-243467, and Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 4-10071.
In the configuration in which the end portion of the developer supply pipe with the developer supply port opened is inserted and mounted inside the hollow support shaft of the developing unit rotary support, as in the developer supply device disclosed in In addition, there has been a problem that maintenance work near the developer supply port of the developer transport pipe and the developer receiving portion on the developing unit side becomes complicated. Further, as in the developer replenishing device disclosed in JP-A-4-78872,
In the configuration of moving a position facing the pipe for the developer receiving extending from the end of selectively developing unit developer conveying auger means, is it a complicated construction for a moving mechanism is required
That and say trouble had been left.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a relatively simple configuration .
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus provided with a developer replenishing device for a rotary developing unit that facilitates maintenance work .

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems To achieve the above object,
For example, the present invention relates to a rotating body accommodating a plurality of developing units.
To rotate the image carrier and the developing roller of the developing unit.
Apply developer to the image carrier at a developing position where
Outside of the rotational movement path of the developing unit
In an image forming apparatus having a developer container for supplying a developer,
The developer in the plurality of developer containers is transported by the transport member.
A plurality of developer conveying paths for conveying are formed independently of each other,
The developer outlets of each of the plurality of developer conveying paths are
Single open at different places along the axial direction of the rolling element
Developer distributing member is fixed on the rotation axis of the rotating body.
A plurality of developing units having the formed developer transport path member;
The transport of the developer by the transport member to the developing roller in the knit
Number of developer conveying paths are formed independently of each other,
In the developing unit so as to correspond to the developer discharge port.
The developer inlet of the developer conveying path is
Outside of the developing unit at the developing position.
Corresponds to the developing unit in conjunction with the driving of the image roller
By driving the transport member, the developer outlet and
The developer corresponding to the developing unit through the developer receiving port
The developer of the developing unit from the developer conveying path of the image agent container;
Characterized in that the developer is supplied to the transport path.
You.

[ 0006]

According to the present invention, among the plurality of developing units,
One is that the image carrier and the developing roller of the developing unit face each other.
When the developing unit is at the developing position,
Developer outlet of the developer transport path of the developer container corresponding to
Corresponds to the developer receiving port of the developer conveying path of the developing unit.
Respond. The current position in the developing unit at the developing position is
Corresponds to the developing unit in conjunction with the driving of the image roller
By driving the transport member, the developer outlet and
The developer corresponding to the developing unit through the developer receiving port
The developer of the developing unit from the developer conveying path of the image agent container;
The developer is dropped on the transport path and supplied.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a full-color electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine) as an image forming apparatus will be described. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the copying machine according to the present embodiment. The copying machine includes a printer unit 10 and a reading unit 20, and a photoconductor drum 11 as an image carrier is rotatably disposed substantially at the center of the printer unit 10. Around the photosensitive drum 11, a charger 12, a rotary multicolor developing device 100, an intermediate transfer / transport unit 200, a cleaning unit 13, a static eliminator 14, and the like are arranged. Also, the printer unit 1
A writing unit 30 is provided at an upper part of the unit 0, a paper feed / conveyance unit 50 is provided at a lower part thereof, and a fixing unit 15 and a paper discharge roller 16 are provided at the left part.

The intermediate transfer / transport unit 20
Reference numeral 0 indicates that the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 11 are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer / conveyance belt 201 (first transfer).
After the transfer, the toner images are superimposed on the belt 201, and then the superimposed toner images on the belt 201 are collectively transferred (secondarily transferred) to transfer paper. For details, refer to Japanese Patent Application Nos. 1-37081 and 2-742.
75, and 2-107131. That is, the intermediate transfer / conveyance belt 201 is composed of a pair of support rollers / bias applying rollers 202A and B,
Supported by 5A, B pair, etc., the former roller pair 2
The area where the portion of the belt 201 stretched by 02A and B is in contact with the photosensitive drum 11 is the primary transfer section 202, and the latter belt portion stretched by the roller pair 205A and B is the second transfer section. The area in contact with the bias roller 204 is the secondary transfer section 205. A primary transfer is performed by applying a bias to the pair of support roller and bias applying roller 202A, B at a predetermined timing, and the transfer paper sent at a predetermined timing onto the belt on which the toner image is superimposed is transferred. At the timing when the carried belt portions face each other, a bias is applied to the secondary transfer bias roller 204 to perform the secondary transfer. In addition, intermediate transfer
A belt cleaner 206 is also provided so as to face the surface of the conveyor belt 201.

In the above configuration, the original 21 is
The image data is converted into an electric signal by an image processing unit (not shown). Then, the writing unit 30 is driven based on the electric signal, and the image exposure 31 is performed on the photosensitive drum 11 uniformly charged by the charger 12 to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the document. The electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing unit in the rotary multicolor developing device 100, and a toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer / transport belt 201 by the intermediate transfer / transport belt unit 200. The toner image is re-transferred to the transfer paper 51 , and the transfer paper is passed through the fixing unit 15 to fix the toner image, and then discharged as a copy outside the apparatus by the discharge roller 16. During the full-color copying, the conventionally known Y, M,
The color image forming cycle of C and BK is sequentially repeated. At the time of monochrome copying, this is also performed by a known image forming cycle.

As shown in FIG. 3, a rotary multicolor developing apparatus 100 as a rotating body according to this embodiment has a non-magnetic
It has four developing units 101 of the component developing system. Each developing unit has the same configuration except that the color of the toner used is different. As this toner color,
For example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black can be used. Hereinafter, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are represented by Y,
The members are represented by symbols M, C, and Bk. For example, each member is provided with a symbol related to the toner color, such as 116Y for the yellow toner and 101Y for the developing unit using the yellow toner. Four developing units 101
Y, M, C and Bk are divided into four by a partition member 104 between a pair of a front development plate 103 and a rear development plate 102 (see FIGS. 5 and 4) rotatably provided in the copying machine. In each section, developing rollers 110Y, M, C, and B for development are provided.
k, developing blades 111Y, M, and M for frictionally charging the non-magnetic toner to form a thin layer of toner on the developing roller.
C, Bk, supply rollers 112Y, M, C, and Bk for supplying toner to the developing roller, stirring members 113Y, M, C, and Bk for stirring the toner in the unit, and toner transfer screws 115Y, M, C, and Bk are built in. The toner supply members 114Y, M, C, and Bk are provided.
The four developing rollers 110Y, M, C, and Bk are rotatably supported in a state where a part thereof is exposed from an opening formed in the developing lid 112Y, M, C, and Bk that covers an outer peripheral portion of each section. .

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view showing a mounted state of a driving gear train mounted on the back surface of the developing rear side plate 102 of the rotary multicolor developing apparatus 100. On the developing rear side plate 102, the developing rollers 110Y, M, C,
Shafts on the back side of the rotating member such as Bk are bearingd, and a drive gear is fixed to an end of each shaft. Gears 120Y, M, C,
Bk is a developing roller driving gear, gears 121Y, M, C,
Bk is a supply roller drive gear, gears 122Y, M, C, Bk
Denotes a stirring member drive gear and gears 123Y, M, C, and Bk supply member drive gears, respectively. Further, a gear portion is laid on the peripheral portion of the developing rear side plate 102, and the rotation of the entire rotary multicolor developing device 100 is controlled by driving control of a drive gear (not shown) that meshes with the gear portion to face the photoconductor 11. The switching of the developing unit located at the developing position is performed. Then, the developing roller driving gears 120Y, M, C, and B of the developing unit located at the developing position
A driving gear 106 is provided at a fixed position in the copying machine where the developing roller 101 can engage with the developing roller 101.
Y, M, C, and Bk are driven to rotate. The supply roller 1 is driven by the supply roller drive gears 121Y, M, C, and Bk that mesh with the development roller drive gears 120Y, M, C, and Bk.
12Y, M, C and Bk are rotationally driven. Further, the stirring roller driving gear 122Y, the driving of which is transmitted through the intermediate gear by the supply roller driving gear 121Y, M, C, Bk.
The stirring members 113Y, M, C, and Bk are rotationally driven by M, C, and Bk. By the rotation of these rotating members, the toner of each color circulates in each developing unit and is used for development.

Next, the supply of toner to the rotary multicolor developing device 100 in this embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a toner supply unit 300 to the rotary multicolor developing device 100 is connected to the front side plate 103 of the rotary multicolor developing device 100. FIG. 5 is a rear view of the rotary multicolor developing device 100. In FIG. 1, the toner supply unit 300 of the present embodiment has
Toner containers 301Y, M as one developer container
C, Bk, and four toner supply pipes 302Y each having one end connected to each tank as a developer conveyance path .
M, C, and Bk, and a toner distributor 303 attached to the other ends of the four pipes. Each of the four toner supply pipes 302Y, M, C, and Bk has a toner conveying coil 310Y, M as a conveying member .
C and Bk are built in, and each toner conveying coil 310
Y, M, C, and Bk are toner tanks 301Y, M, C, and Bk.
And is rotatably driven by toner supply motors 311Y, 3M, 3C, and 3k attached to the respective toner tanks 301Y, 301M, 301C, and 301B. The toner distributor 30
Reference numeral 3 denotes a main body having a cylindrical shape, and the four toner supply pipes 302Y, M, and
The other ends of C and Bk are inserted respectively. The four holes have different depths, and each of the four holes bends from the bottom in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical main body and opens on the circumferential surface, and the four developer discharge openings opened at different positions in the toner transport direction.
Toner outlet 331Y as an outlet, M, C, to form a Bk. The toner dispenser 303 each toner discharge port in the circumferential surface of the main body 331y, M, C, an annular three toner seal member 332 made of, for example, elastic or flexible material to partition between Bk provided ing. And most toner tank 301Y, M, C, Bk side of the toner discharge port 331Y and the main body of the toner tank 301Y, M, C, Bk
A similar toner seal member 332 is provided between the end portion on the side.

The rotary multicolor developing device 10 of the present embodiment
The developer supply holder 130 to which the toner distributor 303 is attached is attached to the development-side front plate 103 by screwing or the like. The toner supply holder 130 has a cylindrical toner supply unit insertion hole 131 formed coaxially with the rotation axis of the rotary multicolor developing device 100. The inner diameter of the insertion hole 131 is set to a size that does not hinder the rotation of the main body of the rotary multicolor developing device 100 in a state where the toner distributor 303 is inserted and fixed in the apparatus so as not to rotate. deep. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, each developing unit 101 is provided in the agent supply holder 130.
Y, M, C, independently for Bk, one end communicates toner supply member 1 1 4Y, M, C, in the Bk in each developing unit, and the other end opened to the peripheral surface of the insertion hole 131 parts Present
Toner receiving ports 132Y, M, C, B as image material receiving ports
A hole constituting k is provided. This toner receiving port 1
The positions of 32Y, M, C, and Bk correspond to the toner for the corresponding toner of the toner distributor 303 mounted in the insertion hole 131.
Outlet 331Y, M, C, Bk and rotating multicolor developing device 1
00 is set so that the positions in the rotation axis direction substantially coincide with each other. Then, the toner receiving ports 132Y, M,
To the vicinity of C and Bk, as a developer conveyance path in the developing unit
Toner supply member 1 1 4Y of Te, M, C, toner feed screw 115 as a carrying member which is built in Bk
The ends of Y, M, C, and Bk extend.

Then, the toner distributor 303 of the toner supply unit 300 is inserted into the toner supply unit insertion hole 131 of the agent supply holder 130, and the toner distributor 303 is dropped by a fixing member (not shown) when the rotary multicolor developing device 100 rotates. It is fixed and held so that there is no defect.

In the above configuration, the toner tank 301
Each toner that is housed in the toner supply motor 31
1 is driven for a required time so that the toner conveying coil 31 is driven.
0 rotates, is conveyed in the toner supply pipe 302, and is transferred to the toner distributor 303. And the toner distributor 3
The toner is discharged from the toner discharge port 331 on the peripheral surface of the cartridge 03 and supplied to the developing unit via the toner receiving port 132 and the like.

Here, the toner on the peripheral surface of the toner distributor 303
The color in which the discharge port 331 and the toner supply port 132 of the toner supply unit insertion hole 131 face each other, for example, yellow in the state shown in FIG. 1 (a sectional view in this state is shown in FIG. 6).
In the case of (b)), when the toner supply motor 331 is driven to supply the toner, the toner discharged from the toner discharge port 331 smoothly enters the toner receiving port 132, so that the toner is supplied to the developing unit 101 side. Smooth toner supply is possible. Thus, the toner discharge opening 331 of the toner dispenser 303 peripheral surface and the toner supply unit insertion hole 13
With one set of toner receiving ports 132 facing each other,
It is desirable to supply toner. Further, the position in the circumferential direction of the toner discharge opening 331 of the toner dispenser 303 peripheral surface as in the illustrated example, is set lower than the center, by which, the weight of the toner to the toner discharge from the toner discharge port 331 It is desirable to make it available. Also, when the toner transfer screw 115 is driven during toner supply to actively transport toner to the developing unit side, toner supply to the developing unit side becomes smoother, and toner supply to the developing unit is performed immediately. Done. Therefore, it is desirable to rotate the toner transfer screw 115 of the corresponding developing unit when supplying the toner. In the illustrated example, for example, as can be seen from FIGS.
For the developing unit in which the toner discharge port 331 and the toner receiving port 132 face each other, the toner transfer screw 11 is driven by the driving gear 106 shown in FIG.
5 cannot be rotated. Therefore, the driving gear 10
In addition to the above, a drive transmission mechanism for rotating the toner transfer screw 115 of the developing unit in such a state when supplying toner is provided separately.

In this embodiment, the space between the inner peripheral surface of the toner supply unit insertion hole 131 where the toner receiving port 132 of each developing unit 101 is opened and the peripheral surface of the toner distributor 303 main body is set for each color. Toner
Since each set of the discharge port 331 and the toner receiving port 132 is partitioned by the toner seal member 332, it is possible to prevent color mixing of the toner of each color. Further, since the toner is sealed from the outside by the toner seal member 332 from the toner tank 301, scattering of the toner to the outside can be prevented. Also,
Since the toner distributor 303 of the toner supply unit 300 is detachable from the toner supply unit insertion hole 131, the rotary multicolor developing device 100 and the toner supply unit 3
The maintenance work of 00 is also easy.

Next, referring to FIGS. 7 to 12, the above-described toner supply unit 300 was used in a rotary multicolor developing apparatus 100 having four developing units 101Y, M, C, and Bk of a two-component developing system. An example will be described. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of the rotary multicolor developing device 100 in this embodiment. Each developing unit 101Y, M, C, Bk
The other color toners are different to use the same configuration. That is, in this example, each developing unit 101 includes a dedicated developing case 150Y, M, C, and Bk. In this case, the developing roller 110 including a developing sleeve having a built-in magnet roller and the like, and the agent stirring unit 160 are provided. The developing doctor 15 is arranged to face the surface of the developing roller 110.
1 is attached. Then, developers 152Y, M, C, and Bk each including a toner and a carrier are accommodated in the case.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view from the front showing the mounting state of the driving gear train mounted on the back surface of the developing rear side plate 102 of the rotary multicolor developing apparatus 100. On the developing rear side plate 102, the developing rollers 110Y, M, C,
Shafts on the back side of the rotating member such as Bk are bearingd, and a drive gear is fixed to an end of each shaft. Gears 120Y, M, C,
Bk developing roller drive gear, the gear 1 9 0Y, M, C,
Bk is an agent stirring drive gear, and a drive gear 106 provided at a fixed position in the copying machine meshes with the agent stirring drive gear. Thus, the agent stirring unit 1
60 is driven, further the agitating drive gear 1 9 0Y,
M, C, the developing roller driving gear 1 2 0Y to drive through the intermediate gear is transmitted, M, C, a developing sleeve and or internal magnet roller of the developing roller 110 by Bk is driven to rotate by the Bk. By the rotation of each of the rotating members, the developer in the developing unit circulates in each developing unit and is used for development. That is, the developer is agitated by the agent agitating unit 160 such that the carrier and the toner have an uniform agent concentration and a uniform charge amount, and are transferred to the developing roller 110. After the layer thickness of the developer is made constant by the developing doctor 151, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 11 is developed. The developer after the development flows down on the inner wall surface of the developing case 150 and is returned to the agent stirring unit 160. As shown in FIG.
An image density sensor 17 is disposed in opposition to the image sensor, thereby detecting the reflection density of the toner image on the developed photoconductor,
Conventionally known process control such as the developer concentration and the developing bias is performed so that the developing conditions are always constant. The sensor 17 can be used for process control such as a developing bias even when the above-described one-component developing method is used. The switching of the developing unit for each color is performed by the rotation and movement of the developing unit by a drive / control device (not shown), as in the above embodiment.

Here, the agent stirring units 160Y, M, C, and Bk will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The agent stirring unit has a plurality of blade portions whose main body is formed on a hollow cylinder and whose peripheral surface is parallel to the axial direction. And a toner transfer screw roller 163 built in the hollow of the agent stirring roller. The above agent stirring roller 1
A drug transfer fin 162 is helically attached to the blade portion 61. A toner carrying hole 164 is formed in the peripheral surface of the main body at the end of the copying machine which is closer to the front side. A toner discharge hole 165 is formed in the surface portion. The toner transfer screw roller 163
The rear end is supported by a flange on the rear side of the agent stirring roller 161, and the front end is supported by a cover member 161 a fixed to the front opening end of the agent stirring roller 161. Then, the gear 163 a in the axial portion projecting frontward from the lid member 161a is fixed, and the rotation of the drive gear 161 b that is attached to the lid member to the gear, the idle gear 1
6 6 via the Ru is transmitted. As a result, the agitating toner transfer screw in the remote fast rotational speed by the rotating roller 161
The roller 163 is driven to rotate.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 12, the agent stirring roller 161 is attached to the front side plate 103 of the rotary multicolor developing device 100 by a screw or the like. In the supply holder 130, the developing units 101Y, M, C, and Bk are independently provided . Toner supply member 1 1 4Y in this end the developing units, M, C, communicates with the Bk, and the other end opened to the peripheral surface of the insertion hole 131 parts of the toner receiving port 132
The holes extend to the ends of the holes constituting Y, M, C, and Bk. The toner inlet 164 of the agent stirring roller 161 is formed so that the position in the axial direction and the circumferential direction substantially coincides with the corresponding toner receiving port 132.

In the above-described configuration, the toner supply port 130 is connected to the toner discharge port 331 in the same manner as in the above embodiment.
The toner entering the toner receiving opening 132 through enters the toner carrying hole 164, the direction of arrow b already left (in FIG. 9 in FIG. 12 by the toner feed screw roller 16 3 with developer that is filled ) to be transported while being stirred with developer, the toner discharge port 165 (more agitating roller 1 6 1 discharged from the see FIG. 9) which opens is transferred in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 9 by the developer unit within 101 At the same time, the developer is supplied to the developing roller 110.

FIG. 11 shows a rotary multicolor developing apparatus 100.
Is a front view of the developing roller 1 in this figure.
10 shows a member for adjusting a main pole when 10 is constituted by a rotary developing sleeve with a built-in fixed magnet. Also, reference numeral 18 in FIG.
Reference numeral 0 indicates a lid for collecting the developer. If the lid is opened and the developing unit is driven, the developer can be automatically recovered.

Here, as can be seen from FIGS. 7, 8 and 10, in the illustrated example, the toner
Since the developing unit of the color in which the discharge port 331 and the toner receiving port 132 of the toner supply unit insertion hole 131 face each other is in the developing position, the rotating member can be driven by the driving gear 106 (see FIG. 8). By driving the agent stirring unit 160 at the time of supplying the toner, the toner can be smoothly and quickly supplied into the developing unit. Further, since the developing unit is located below the rotation center axis of the rotary multicolor image forming apparatus 100 and the toner receiving port 132, the toner carrying port 164, and the like are located at positions lower than the toner discharge port 331, the developing unit is smooth. The toner can be supplied into the developing unit.

In the copying machines of the above embodiments,
Although provided with four developing units including black developing unit 101Bk to the rotary multicolor developing device 100, instead of this, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, a large black developing unit 4 00
Provided in the rotating multicolor developing device 100, for example, yellow,
Three developing units of magenta and cyan may be provided. In this case, the toner tanks of the toner supply unit 300 to the rotary multicolor developing device 100 are three tanks of yellow, magenta, and cyan as shown. Here, in the example of FIG. 13, instead of the intermediate transfer / transport belt unit 200 of the copying machine of FIG.
11 and an intermediate transfer belt unit 210 and a transport belt 212.

Further, in the toner supply unit 300 of each of the above-described embodiments, toner is prevented from being scattered by the configuration in which the toner distributor 303 is inserted into the insertion hole 131 of the agent supply holder 130. Holder 1
30, a cylindrical protrusion is formed, a toner receiving port 132 is formed on the peripheral surface of the protrusion, and a toner distributor 303 is formed.
A hole into which the protruding portion can be inserted is formed in the toner distributor 3, and a toner discharge port 331 is formed on the peripheral surface of the hole.
The configuration in which the protruding portion of the agent supply holder 130 is inserted into the insertion hole 03 may prevent toner scattering.

According to the above embodiments, the rotary multicolor developing device 100 can be reduced in size, simplified, and reduced in cost. Further, the toner supply unit 300 can be provided at one end of the rotary multicolor developing device, and the size of the toner supply device can be reduced, so that the entire rotary multicolor developing device can be reduced in size without difficulty. Therefore, the size of the main body can be reduced. Further, neither a developing unit for each color nor a complicated configuration / unit is required. Further, the configuration of the toner supply unit 300 is simple and economical. Further, the reliability of the rotary multicolor developing device 100 can be improved. This is because the supply portions of the developers (toners) of the respective colors are completely independent, so that no color mixing occurs and the reliability is excellent. Further, maintenance of the rotary multicolor developing device 100 is easy. Further, since the developing unit and the agent supply holder 130 are configured as independent units, and the number of components is small, productivity and maintenance can be improved. Further, since the mounting position of the toner tank 301 is not restricted by the developing unit and the toner supply unit 300, the toner tank 301 can be installed at a position where the user can easily perform the replenishing operation, and the toner can be easily replenished. Further, since there is no restriction on the installation location of the toner tank, it is easy to secure the storage amount of the tank, and by increasing the size, the burden of maintenance on the user can be reduced. Also, rotating multicolor
The rotation of the developing device 100 causes the toner outlet 331 to be
In the relationship above the toner receiving port 132,
When the toner discharge port 331 and the toner
Toner transfer coil 310 corresponding to the toner inlet 132
And toner transfer screw 115 required by control means
The toner is supplied by being driven in accordance with
Movement of toner from outlet 331 to toner receiving port 132
The toner's own weight can be used for smooth toner
-Supply becomes possible.

[0028]

According to the present invention, a developing unit and a developing unit are provided.
The agent container is configured as an independent unit and the component
Since there are few products and the configuration is relatively simple, maintenance work is
This has the effect of being easier.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a rotating multicolor developing device rear side plate portion and a toner supply unit of a copying machine according to an embodiment. (B) is a sectional view of a toner supply pipe in the toner supply unit.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the rotating multicolor developing device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the front of a back plate portion of the rotary multicolor developing device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a front side plate portion of the rotary multicolor developing device.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of a rear plate portion of the rotating multicolor developing device. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of another portion of the rear side plate portion of the rotating multicolor developing device.

FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of a rotary multicolor developing device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view from the front of a back plate portion of the rotary multicolor developing device.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a developer stirring unit in the developing unit of the multi-color developing device.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a rotating multicolor developing device rear side plate portion and a toner supply unit of the copying machine according to the embodiment. (B)
3 is a sectional view of a toner supply pipe in the toner supply unit.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a front plate portion of the rotary multicolor developing device.

FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view of a rear plate portion of the rotating multicolor developing device. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of another portion of the rear side plate portion of the rotating multicolor developing device.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine according to another embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Photoconductor drum 12 Charging device 13 Photoconductor cleaner 14 Static eliminator 15 Fixing device 16 Discharge roller 100 Rotary multicolor developing device 101Y, M, C, Bk developing device 102 Developing rear side plate 103 Front developing Side plate 110Y, M, C, Bk developing roller 106 Drive gear 111Y, M, C, Bk developing blade 112Y, M, C, Bk Supply roller 113Y, M, C, Bk Stirrer 114Y, M, C, Bk Toner supply member 115Y, M, C, Bk Toner transfer screw 120Y, M, C, Bk Developing roller drive gear 121Y, M, C, Bk Supply roller drive gear 122Y, M, C, Bk Stirring member drive gear 123Y, M, C, Bk Supply member drive gear 130 Agent supply holder 131 Toner supply unit insertion hole 132Y, M, C, Bk Toner receiving port 1 1Y, M, C, Bk developing doctor 160Y, M, C, Bk agitating unit 161 agitating roller 161a lid member 161b toner transfer screw roller driving gear 162 agent transfer fins 163 toner transfer screw roller 163a toner transfer screw roller follower gear 164Y , M, C, Bk Toner carry-in hole 165 Toner discharge hole 166 Idle gear 190Y, M, C, Bk agent stirring drive gear 300 Toner supply unit 301Y, M, C, Bk Toner tank 302Y, M, C, Bk Toner supply pipe 303 toner dispenser 310Y, M, C, Bk toner transporting coil 311Y, M, C, Bk toner supply motor 331Y, M, C, Bk toner outlet 332 toner seal member 400 black developing unit

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FIG.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A latent image carrier, a latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the latent image carrier, and a plurality of developing units for applying a developer to the latent image carrier on which the latent image is formed A rotating support that rotates and supports the plurality of developing units and moves a desired developing unit to a developing position facing the latent image carrier; and a developer accommodating the developer supplied to the plurality of developing units. An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of developer containers provided outside the rotational movement path of the plurality of developing units; and the developer is conveyed from the plurality of developer containers to the plurality of developing units. A plurality of developer conveyance paths respectively communicating with the inside of the plurality of developer containers are formed independently of each other, and at the end remote from the developer containers, the plurality of developer conveyance paths are respectively provided. Are different from each other in the developer transport direction. A developer conveying path member having a developer distributing section opened at a certain position, and a plurality of developer conveying paths communicating with the inside of the plurality of developing units, respectively, are formed independently of each other, and the developer discharging port Correspondingly, mounting portions for the developer distributing portions each having an opening of a developer receiving opening of each of the plurality of developer conveying paths are formed at different positions in the rotation axis direction, and the rotation of the rotary support is A developer carrying path member mounting member provided on one end side common to the plurality of developing units in the axial direction; one of the developer distributing section and the mounting section is formed in a hole shape; An image forming apparatus comprising a shape that can be inserted into the hole. 2. A developer conveying drive member is provided in at least one of the developer conveying path of the developer conveying path member and the developer conveying path of the mounting section for the developer conveying path member. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developer supply control is performed by controlling the driving of the driving member when the developer discharge port is positioned above the developer receiving port by rotation of the rotary support. 2. An image according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit for driving said developer transport driving member corresponding to said developer discharge port and said developer receiving port in said relationship as required. Forming equipment.