JP2013064875A - Developer storage container, developing device, process cartridge unit, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developer storage container that controls an amount of developer discharged from the developer storage container to be kept constant by varying the storage capacity of the developer storage container.SOLUTION: A developer storage container 4B according to the present invention includes a container body 200 having a developer charging port 201 and a developer discharge port 202 formed thereon and storing developer T therein, and supplies the developer to a developing unit 4A from the developer discharge port 202. The developer storage container 4B further includes partition members 27 and 28 for varying the volume of the container for storing the developer depending on a change in the amount of the developer in the container body 200.

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer storage container and a developing device, a process cartridge unit, and an image forming apparatus that are used in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions.

  Conventionally, as an agitation and toner transport technique for preventing toner aggregation and packing, which is a developer in a developer storage container such as a hopper and a container, and uniform toner physical properties, an agitator and a transport screw are provided in the developer storage container. The structure which provides stirring members and conveyance members, such as these, is known. The rotational speed and rotational range of these agitators and conveying screws are the same both when the developer container is 100% filled with toner and when only a few percent remains. For this reason, there is a lot of waste of driving force, and in a state where the toner is 100% filled, the toner becomes a rotational load on the blades of the agitator and the blades of the conveying screw, and the torque increases. However, the torque tends to decrease as the toner amount decreases. Yes, the drive motor that is the drive source had to be selected as a high-power motor that matched the high torque.

  When the amount of toner is as low as several percent, the blades of the agitator come into contact with the inner wall of the developer storage container and scrape off the toner adhering to the inner wall, so that the contact sound and sliding sound between the container inner wall and the blades of the agitator increase. . In order to reduce these abnormal sounds, it is desired to rotate at a low speed, but it is desirable to positively rotate the conveying screw in order to convey the toner scraped off by the agitator to the toner discharge port.

Patent Document 1 discloses that a developer transport body is provided for the purpose of providing an image forming apparatus capable of uniformly transporting and supplying a developer and effectively suppressing density unevenness and forming a good image. A developer supply device configured to move up and down in accordance with the amount of developer contained in the developer case is disclosed.
Patent Document 2 discloses a developing device in which the first rotator and the second rotator are driven independently and the rotation speed of the second rotator is changed in accordance with the developer capacity of the first rotator.

When the agitator and the conveying screw are driven at a constant rotational speed as in the prior art, this leads to an increase in cost for selecting a high-output motor that matches the torque with 100% toner. In addition, abnormal sounds such as contact sounds and sliding sounds when the toner amount is as low as several percent are problematic.
In Patent Document 1, the developer (toner) is uniformly supplied and transported, but since a stirring member and a toner transport member in the developer storage container are necessary, the problem of contact noise and sliding noise is It will remain.
In Patent Document 2, the rotating body is deformed in accordance with the developer (toner) capacity, and the rotation speed is changed to keep the developer capacity at an appropriate level. Since the structure to make becomes complicated, it leads to a cost increase.
The present invention relates to a developer container that can control the amount of developer discharged from the developer discharge port to a constant level by moving the partition member to vary the storage capacity in which the developer is stored, and the development including the developer container An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

  The developer storage container according to the present invention includes a container main body in which a developer filling port and a developer discharge port are formed, and a developer is stored therein, and the developer is supplied from the developer discharge port to the developing unit. And having a partition member that moves in accordance with a change in the volume of the developer in the container body and changes the volume of the container in which the developer is stored.

  According to the present invention, even when the developer in the container body is reduced and the developer upper surface is lowered, the container volume is reduced by the movement of the partition member, thereby increasing the volume of the developer in the container body. Since the position of the upper surface of the developer can be maintained within a certain range, the rotational load on the agitating member and the conveying member is constant, stable driving can be maintained, and the developer discharge amount from the developer discharge port is controlled to be constant. be able to.

FIG. 2 is a main part configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of an image forming apparatus including a developing device including a developer container and a process cartridge unit according to the present invention. 1 shows a configuration of a developing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a side view and (b) is a front view. The figure explaining the effect | action of the partition member with which the developer storage container concerning this invention is provided. The structure of the image development apparatus concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a side view, (b) is a front view. The structure of the image development apparatus concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a side view, (b) is a front view. The structure of the developing device concerning the 4th Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a side view, (b) is a front view. The structure of the developing apparatus concerning the 5th Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a side view, (b) is a front view. The side view which shows the structure of the developing device concerning the 6th Embodiment of this invention. The side view which shows the structure of the developing device concerning the 7th Embodiment of this invention. The structure of the drive switching mechanism different from the drive system of the partition member concerning 1st to 7th Embodiment is shown, (a) is a partial enlarged view, (b) is a front view. The structure of the drive switching mechanism different from the drive system of the partition member concerning 1st to 7th Embodiment is shown, (a) is a partial enlarged view, (b) is a front view. The structure of the drive switching mechanism different from the drive system of the partition member concerning 1st to 7th Embodiment is shown, (a) is a partial enlarged view, (b) is a front view. The structure of the image development apparatus concerning the 8th Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a side view, (b) is a front view. The structure of the developing apparatus concerning the 9th Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a side view, (b) is a front view. The structure of the drive system of the developing device concerning 8th, 9th embodiment is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view. 8 shows another drive system configuration of the developing apparatus according to the eighth and ninth embodiments, where (a) is a front view and (b) is a side view. FIG. The reverse rotation prevention mechanism provided in the rotating shaft is shown, (a) is a side view, (b) is a front view. FIG. 17 is a view in which a reverse rotation prevention mechanism is applied to the drive system shown in FIG. The structure of the remaining amount display means is shown. (A) is a side view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a plan view, and (d) is a side view when the remaining amount display means is moved. FIG. 5E is a front view when the remaining amount display means moves. The front view which shows the structure of the image development apparatus concerning 10th Embodiment. The front view which shows the structure of the image development apparatus concerning 11th Embodiment. The structure of the drive system of the developing device concerning 8th to 11th Embodiment is shown, (a) is a partial enlarged view, (b) is a front view. The structure of the drive system of the partition member concerning 8th to 11th Embodiment and a drive switching mechanism is shown, (a) is a partial enlarged view, (b) is a front view. The structure of the developing apparatus concerning the 12th Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view. It is a figure explaining the structure of the developing device concerning the 12th Embodiment of this invention, and an effect | action of a partition member, (a) is a front view which shows the initial stage upper part of a partition member, (b) is a partition member moving. The front view which shows the state which the developer storage container collapsed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus will be described, and then the developer container and the developing device will be described. In each embodiment, constituent elements such as members and components having the same function or shape are given the same reference numerals as much as possible, and redundant description with the previous description is omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This image forming apparatus is a tandem printer capable of full color printing using toners as yellow, cyan, magenta, and black (Y, C, M, and BK) developers, and a process cartridge unit 1Y corresponding to each color. 1C, 1M, and 1BK are provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100. Since each process cartridge unit basically has the same configuration except that the color of the toner is different, a single unit will be described as a representative. In the description of the process cartridge unit, (Y, C, M, BK) symbols for identifying colors are omitted.

  The process cartridge unit 1 includes a photosensitive drum 2 serving as an image carrier, a charging roller 3 as an example of a charging unit that charges the surface of the photosensitive drum, and development for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 2 with toner. The apparatus 4 includes a plate-shaped photoreceptor cleaning member 5 that removes residual toner on the surface of the photoreceptor 2, and is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body 100. Further, the process cartridge unit 1 is configured such that the developing device 4 can be detached from the process cartridge unit 1 individually.

  Light for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 2 by irradiating the surface of the photosensitive member 2 with exposure light L such as a racer light modulated by image information above the process cartridge units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1BK. A writing device 7 is arranged, and under the process cartridge units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1BK, an intermediate transfer unit 6 including a transfer belt 10 that serves as an intermediate transfer member is opposed to the photosensitive member of each unit. Has been placed. Below the intermediate transfer unit 6, a paper tray 13 in which the paper R as a recording material is stored is disposed.

  The transfer belt 10 is wound around rollers 8 and 9 that rotate in the direction of arrow A, and rotates and moves counterclockwise in FIG. In the loop of the transfer belt 10, primary transfer rollers 11 </ b> Y, 11 </ b> C, 11 </ b> M, and 11 </ b> BK are disposed as primary transfer units so as to face the respective photoreceptors 2. Each primary transfer roller is supplied with a primary transfer bias to transfer a toner image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 2 to the transfer belt 10.

  A secondary transfer roller 12 serving as a secondary transfer unit that sandwiches the paper R conveyed from the paper feed tray 13 with the transfer belt 10 is disposed at a portion facing the roller 8. The toner image transferred to the transfer belt 10 is transferred to the paper R by supplying a secondary transfer bias to the secondary transfer roller 12.

  A known fixing device 16 having a fixing roller 17 and a heating roller 18 is arranged next to the process cartridge unit 1Y and above the secondary transfer roller 12. Near the transfer belt 10 between the process cartridge unit 1Y and the secondary transfer roller 12, a belt cleaning member 21 for cleaning the surface of the transfer belt 10 is provided. Between the paper feed tray 13 and the intermediate transfer unit 6, a waste toner storage unit 22 for transporting and storing the residual toner scraped off by the photosensitive member cleaning members 5 and the belt cleaning member 21 is disposed.

  In the image forming apparatus having such a configuration, an original image signal read from an original by an image reading unit (not shown) or an original image signal created by an external computer (not shown) or the like is received by an image processing unit ( (Not shown) and appropriate image processing is performed. The input image signal thus obtained is input to the optical writing device 7 to modulate the exposure L. The exposure L modulated by the input image signal is raster-irradiated on the surface of the photoreceptor 2 that is uniformly charged by the charging roller 3. When the exposure L is raster-irradiated on the surface of the photoreceptor 2, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the input image signal is formed on the photoreceptor 2. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 2 is developed with toner by the developing device 4 to form a toner image on the photoreceptor 2. The toner image formed on each photoconductor 2 is transferred to the transfer belt 10 that is conveyed by the rotation of the roller 8 by the primary transfer rollers 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11BK, and is conveyed toward the secondary transfer roller 12. Is done.

  On the other hand, the paper S stored in the paper tray 13 is supplied toward the nip portion between the transfer belt 10 and the secondary transfer roller 12 by the paper feed roller 14 and the registration roller pair 15, and the secondary transfer roller 12. As a result, the toner image on the transfer belt 10 is transferred. The toner image transferred onto the paper R is conveyed to the fixing device 16 and the unfixed toner is fixed onto the paper R. The fixed paper R is stacked on the paper discharge tray 100A by the paper discharge roller pair 19. Deposits such as residual toner adhered to the surface of the transfer belt 10 after the transfer of the toner image onto the paper R is cleaned by the belt cleaning member 21, and one image forming operation is completed.

Next, embodiments of the developer container and the developing device according to the present invention will be described. The same functions or the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be simplified or omitted.
(First embodiment)
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a developing unit 4A and a hopper 4B serving as a developer storage container are integrated to form a developing device 4. The developing device 4 contains toner in its casing 41. Inside the casing 41, both ends and the central part are opened, and the partition plate 123 extending in the width direction indicated by the arrow A, and the partition plate 123 are arranged in the vertical direction in the figure and extending in the width direction A. An upper screw 124 and a lower screw 125 serving as conveying members, a developing roller 121 serving as a developer carrying member, and a supply roller 122 serving as a supply member that supplies toner to the developing roller 121 are provided. The developing device 4 is configured such that the internal toner circulates in a figure 8 as indicated by an arrow Tr depending on the relationship between the upper screw 124, the lower screw 125, and the opening position of the partition plate 123. The circulating toner is supplied to the developing roller 121 by the supply roller 122, is formed as a thin layer on the developing roller 121 by a regulating member (not shown), and is supplied to the photoreceptor 2 shown in FIG.

  The hopper 4B has a semicircular upper portion and a horizontally long box shape. A developer filling port 201 and a developer discharge port 202 are formed, and a toner (replenishment toner) T serving as a developer is accommodated therein. A hopper body 200 is provided, and the toner T is supplied from the developer discharge port 202 into the casing 41 of the developing unit 4A0.

  An agitator 26 serving as a developer stirring member is disposed inside the hopper body 200. The agitator 26 includes a shaft portion 26a and a blade portion 26b. Both ends of the shaft portion 26 a are rotatably supported by the side surface of the main body container 200 and a support plate 203 disposed inside the main body container 200 near the partition plate 27. The blade portion 26 b is disposed in a predetermined range in the vicinity of the developer discharge port 202. The predetermined range is an opening range of the developer discharge port 202 and means that it is partially provided.

  A driving gear 30 is fixed to an end portion of the shaft portion 26 </ b> A that protrudes outside the hopper body 200. The shaft portion 26 </ b> A rotates when a rotational driving force is transmitted from the driving motor M <b> 1 disposed on the image forming apparatus main body 100 side to the driving gear 30. The agitator 26 agitates and loosens the toner T in the vicinity of the developer discharge port 202 by rotating the blade portion 26b by the rotation of the shaft portion 26A.

  Inside the hopper body 200, partition plates 27 and 28 are provided as partition members that change the volume of the container inner spaces 200A and 200B in which the toner T is accommodated by moving according to the change in the toner capacity inside the body. It has been. The shape of the partition plates 27 and 28 is a plate-like member having a shape similar to the cross-sectional shape inside the main body orthogonal to the width direction A of the hopper main body 200, and a slight gap is formed between the inside of the main body. It is formed so that. In the hopper body 200, one screw shaft 31 serving as a moving means for the partition plates 27 and 28 is arranged in the width direction A. The screw shaft 31 is formed with screw portions 31A and 31B that are hung from the both end sides to the center portion and the directions of the spiral grooves are opposite to each other. The partition plate 27 and the partition plate 28 have their lower ends 27a and 28a screwed with the screw portions 31A and 31B, respectively, and the screw shaft 31 rotates, so that the partition plate 27 and the partition plate 28 can move toward and away from each other. . For example, the partition plate 27 and the partition plate 28 move toward each other when the screw shaft 31 rotates in the forward direction, that is, move toward the developer discharge port 202 and gather the toner inside to increase the position of the upper surface of the toner. When the screw shaft 31 is reversely rotated, the screw shafts 31 move away from each other.

  The partition plate 27 and the partition plate 28 are placed in the vicinity of the side surface shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 as an initial position, and when the toner capacity is reduced, the screw shaft 31 rotates in the forward direction and moves toward each other. The upper surface of the toner in the main body moves so that the height is within a certain range. The partition plate 27 is disposed so as to divide the inside of the main body between the developer filling port 201 and the developer discharge port 202.

  A drive gear 32 is fixed to the end of the screw shaft 31 protruding outside the hopper body 200. The screw shaft 31 rotates when a rotational driving force is transmitted to the drive gear 32, and the partition plate 27 and the partition plate 28 are moved by this rotation. Each partition plate moves to the end position indicated by a two-dot chain line that is in front of the end portion of the developer discharge port 202 when the toner amount is exhausted.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the toner capacity in the hopper main body 200 is reduced and the screw shaft 31 is rotated forward so that the partition plate 27 and the partition plate 28 are developed as indicated by the solid line from the position indicated by the chain line. By moving toward the agent discharge port 202, the volume of the container inner spaces 200A and 200B in which the toner T is stored can be varied in the direction of narrowing. For this reason, even if the toner capacity is reduced and the toner upper surface Ta is lowered as indicated by a one-dot broken line, here, the toner T is moved to the center by the partition plate 27 and the partition plate 28 while narrowing the container inner spaces 200A and 200B. Since the toner is moved toward the support plate 203, the lowered toner upper surface Ta rises as shown by a solid line. That is, by moving the partition plate 27 and the partition plate 28 so that the position of the toner upper surface Ta is maintained within a certain range, the rotational load of the agitator 26 is also constant, and stable driving can be maintained. The amount of toner discharged to the developing unit 4A can be controlled to be constant.

  When the partition plates 27 and 28 are moved, the toner in the hopper body 200 is pushed and moved toward the developer discharge port 202, so that it can be used as a substitute for the transport screw that transports the toner to the developer discharge port 202. In addition, the number of conveying screws can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts and downsizing.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the partition plates 27 and 28 have moved to the end position before the developer discharge port 202 when the amount of toner is exhausted, so that the toner T in the hopper main body 200 is moved. Even if the toner T is refilled from the developer filling port 201 in the depleted state, the path to the developer discharge port 202 is cut off by the partition plates 27 and 28, so that it can be supplied to the developing unit 4A. Disappear. Therefore, the waste toner HT can also be accommodated by transporting the waste toner HT as the collected developer to the container inner spaces 200A1 and 200B1 of the hopper body that has become empty after the partition plates 27 and 28 are moved.

When the waste toner HT can be stored in the container spaces 200A1 and 200B1 formed by the movement of the partition plates 27 and 28, it is not necessary to secure the space of the waste toner storage portion 22 shown in FIG. 1 from the initial design stage. Alternatively, the volume of the waste toner storage unit 22 can be reduced, leading to space-saving design and freedom of layout, and the initial amount of filled toner due to the increase in size of the hopper body 200 can be increased.
(Second Embodiment)
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the developing unit 4A and the container 300 serving as the developer container are the developing device 40, and the developing unit 4A and the container 300 are divided. The image forming apparatus main body 100 shown in FIG. 1 is detachably mounted in place of the developing device 4 described above. The container 300 has a semicircular upper portion and a horizontally long box shape. A developer filling port 301 and a developer discharge port 302 are formed, and a toner (supplementary toner) T serving as a developer is accommodated therein. A container main body 303 is provided, and the toner T from the developer discharge port 302 is supplied into the developing unit 4A through a connection port 42 formed in the casing 41 of the developing unit 4A.

  In the container main body 303, the screw shaft 31 is rotatably supported on both side surfaces of the container main body 303 as a moving means of the partition plates 37 and 38, and the screw shaft 31 is rotated at the lower ends of the partition plates 37 and 38. Thus, the agitator 26 is also disposed along with being supported so as to be movable in the directions approaching and separating from each other. The agitator 26 has a shaft portion 26 </ b> A supported rotatably on the side surfaces of the support plate 203 and the container main body 303.

  The shape of the partition plates 37 and 38 is a plate-like member having a shape similar to the cross-sectional shape inside the main body orthogonal to the width direction A of the container main body 303, and as shown in FIG. The container inner wall 35 and the outer peripheral surface of the container are in contact with each other and slide. Similarly to the partition plates 27 and 28 described above, the partition plates 37 and 38 move toward each other when the screw shaft 31 rotates in the forward direction, that is, toward the developer discharge port 302, and collect the toner inside. When the screw shaft 31 is reversed, the screw shafts 31 move away from each other. The partition plate 37 and the partition plate 38 are placed near the side surface shown by the solid line in FIG. 3 as an initial position, and when the toner capacity decreases, the screw shaft 31 rotates in the forward direction to move toward each other. The toner moves so that the upper surface of the toner has a certain range of height. The partition plate 38 is disposed so as to divide the interior of the container between the developer filling port 301 and the developer discharge port 302. The partition plates 37 and 38 move when the rotational driving force is transmitted to the drive gear 32 and the screw shaft 31 rotates. Each partition plate moves to a terminal position indicated by a two-dot chain line that is in front of the end portion of the developer discharge port 302 when the toner amount is exhausted.

  That is, in this embodiment, the toner capacity in the container main body 303 decreases, the screw shaft 31 rotates in the forward direction, and the partition plate 37 and the partition plate 38 move toward the developer discharge port 302 to store the toner T. Further, the volume of the inner space 300A, 300B can be varied in the direction of narrowing. For this reason, even if the toner capacity is reduced and the toner upper surface Ta is lowered, here the toner T is moved toward the central support plate 203 by the partition plate 37 and the partition plate 38 while narrowing the container inner spaces 300A and 300B. Since the toner is moved, the lowered toner upper surface Ta rises (along with the action of the partition plates 27 and 28 in FIG. 3). That is, by moving the partition plate 37 and the partition plate 38 so that the position of the toner upper surface Ta is maintained within a certain range, the rotational load of the agitator 26 is also constant, and stable driving can be maintained. The amount of toner discharged to the developing unit 4A can be controlled to be constant.

  The partition plates 37 and 38 are moved to the end position before the developer discharge port 302 when the amount of toner is small, so that the development is performed in a state where the toner T in the container main body 303 is depleted. Even if the toner is refilled from the developer filling port 301, the path to the developer discharge port 302 is cut off by the partition plates 37 and 38, and cannot be supplied to the casing 41 of the developing unit 4A. Therefore, the waste toner HT can be accommodated by transporting the waste toner HT to the container inner spaces 300A1 and 300B1 of the container main body 303 after the partition plates 37 and 38 are moved. When the waste toner HT can be stored in the in-container spaces 300A1 and 300B1 formed by the movement of the partition plates 37 and 38, it is not necessary to secure the space of the waste toner storage portion 22 shown in FIG. The volume of the waste toner storage unit 22 can be reduced, leading to space-saving design and layout freedom, and the amount of filled toner can be increased by increasing the size of the container body 303.

  When the partition plates 37 and 38 move, the toner in the container body 303 is pushed and moved toward the developer discharge port 302, so that it can be used as a substitute for the transport screw that transports the toner to the developer discharge port 302. In addition, the number of conveying screws can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts and reducing the size.

  In this embodiment, an elastic body 36 such as a film is disposed between the partition plates 37 and 38 and the container inner wall 35. Here, the elastic body 36 is affixed and arranged on the entire circumference of the container inner wall 35.

  When the elastic body 36 is arranged in this manner, the toner adhering to the container inner wall 35 is scraped off, and the function of conveying the toner to the developing unit 4A by the movement of the partition plates 37 and 38 can be added. In addition to reducing the number of conveying screws located in the interior 303, an agitator having a large blade portion that rubs the inner wall of the entire container as in the prior art becomes unnecessary, and the toner is agitated near the developer discharge port 302. It is possible to replace the small agitator 26 with only the function to be performed.

The elastic body 36 may be disposed by being attached to the outer peripheral surface side of the partition plates 37 and 38. The elastic body 36 may be made of a sponge material or the like that enhances the sealing property with the toner T instead of a film.
(Third embodiment)
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a transport screw 39 serving as a developer transport member is arranged inside the container 300 shown in FIG. The conveying screw 39 extends in the width direction A and is rotatably supported on both side surfaces of the container main body 303. A driving gear 34 that meshes with the driving gear 30 that rotates the agitator 26 is fixed to one end portion of the conveying screw 39 that protrudes outside the container main body 303. The conveying screw 39 is formed with screw parts 39A and 39B so as to convey toner from both ends toward the center. The conveying screw 39 is configured to rotate in the opposite direction to the agitator 26 when a rotational driving force is transmitted from the image forming apparatus main body 100 side of FIG. 1 to the driving gear 34 via the driving gear 30. As a result of this rotation, the toner T in the container main body 303 is conveyed toward the center of the container (the portion of the blade 26b of the agitator 26). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5B, the partition plates 37 and 38 are notched at a portion that overlaps with the transport screw 39.

According to such a configuration, in addition to the effects of the second embodiment, the toner at both ends of the container main body 303 can be more efficiently conveyed to the blade portion 26b of the agitator 26.
(Fourth embodiment)
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the developer filling port 301 and the developer discharge port 302 are formed so as to be diagonally located at both ends of the container main body 303. In addition, one partition plate 45 is provided as a partition member. The partition plate 45 is a plate-like member, and the screw shaft 31 rotates from an initial position indicated by a solid line near the developer filling port 301 to a terminal position positioned before the developer discharge port 302 indicated by a two-dot chain line. It is configured to move.

  In this embodiment, the agitator 26 has a shaft portion 26 </ b> A rotatably supported by a container main body 303 and a support plate 203 disposed near the developer discharge port 302, and the blade portion 26 b is located above the developer discharge port 302. It is arranged to be located. Of course, the connection port 42 with the developer discharge port 302 formed in the casing 41 of the developing device 40 is also positioned diagonally with the developer filling port 301 and is formed so as to overlap with the developer discharge port 302.

In this way, the developer filling port 301 and the developer discharge port 302 are diagonally arranged, and the partition plate 45 isolates the developer filling port 301 and the developer discharge port 302 so that the first after the life end. Even if the three parties refill the non-genuine toner BT from the developer filling port 301, the non-genuine toner BT cannot be transported to the developer discharge port 302. In addition to the effects described in the second embodiment, Unauthorized use of the container 300 can be prevented.
(Fifth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a transport screw 43 serving as a developer transport member is arranged in the configuration of the fourth embodiment. The conveying screw 43 extends in the width direction A and is rotatably supported on both side surfaces of the container main body 303. A driving gear 34 that meshes with the driving gear 30 that rotates the agitator 26 is fixed to one end portion of the conveying screw 43 that protrudes outside the container main body 303. The transport screw 43 is formed with a screw portion 43A so as to transport toner from the developer filling port 301 side toward the developer discharge port 302. The conveying screw 43 is configured to rotate in the opposite direction to the agitator 26 when a rotational driving force is transmitted from the image forming apparatus main body 100 side illustrated in FIG. 1 to the driving gear 34 via the driving gear 30. .

  By this rotation, the toner T in the container main body 303 is conveyed toward the developer discharge port 302 formed on one side of the container main body 303 (the portion of the blade portion 26b of the agitator 26). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7B, the partition plate 45 is cut out at a portion that overlaps with the transport screw 43.

According to such a configuration, in addition to the effects of the fourth embodiment, the toner on one side of the container can be more efficiently conveyed to the blade portion 26b of the agitator 26.
(Sixth embodiment)
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, when the partition member moves within a predetermined range, a container inner space in which waste toner as a collected developer is conveyed and stored and a developer discharge port are containers in which the developer is stored. The developer storage container is configured to communicate with each other through the inner space.

  A container 310 serving as a developer storage container according to this embodiment is the same as the container 300 shown in FIG. 7 except for the shapes of the container body and the conveyance member. A partition plate 45 and an agitator 26 are disposed inside a container main body 311 serving as a container main body of the container 310, and a developer filling port 301 and a developer discharge port 302 are mutually connected in the width direction A of the container main body 311. It is formed so as to be located diagonally.

  The container main body 311 has a stepped portion 312 at the bottom 311a. The step portion 312 is formed lower than the bottom portion 311a from the end position of the partition plate 45 indicated by a two-dot chain line to the developer discharge port 302.

  In this embodiment, the partition plate 45 is configured to be movable from the terminal position to above the step portion 312. The predetermined range in which the partition plate 45 moves refers to the moving range from the terminal position to the step 312. The length L of the partition plate 45 is a length up to the bottom 311a, and is configured such that a space 313 is formed between the bottom 312a of the step 312 when positioned on the step 312. Yes. In this embodiment, the developer discharge port 302 is formed at the end of the bottom 312a.

  A transport screw 44 serving as a developer transport member according to this embodiment is disposed in the step portion 312. A driving gear 34 that meshes with the driving gear 30 of the agitator 26 is fixed to the end of the conveying screw 44 that protrudes outside the container body 311. The conveying screw 44 is configured to rotate in the opposite direction to the agitator 26 when a rotational driving force is transmitted from the image forming apparatus main body 100 side shown in FIG. 1 to the driving gear 34 via the driving gear 30. . The conveying screw 44 is formed with a screw part 44 a so as to convey the toner of the stepped portion 312 toward the developer discharge port 302.

  With such a configuration, when the toner capacity in the container main body 311 is reduced, the partition plate 45 moves to the right in the drawing by the rotation of the screw shaft 31, and the container inner space 311A in which the toner T is stored. Even if the toner capacity of the toner is reduced, the toner upper surface Ta is held so as to be in a certain range. Then, the waste toner indicated by the symbol HT is accommodated in the container inner space 311A1 (the container inner space in which the waste toner is stored) in the container main body 311 after the partition plate 45 is moved. When the partition plate 45 reaches the end position indicated by the two-dot chain line, it becomes a life end, and the above-described form ends here.

  In this embodiment, the stepped portion 312 is provided, and the partition plate 45 is also movable up to the stepped portion 312 from the end position. Therefore, when it is desired to print a little more, the waste toner HT is used to extend the life end. It becomes possible to continue printing by reuse. In other words, when the partition plate 45 in the container main body 311 moves to the end position and reaches the end of life, it is selected by the user to reuse the waste toner HT and execute forced printing. The container inner space 311A1 and the developer discharge port 302 communicate with each other through the space 313 of the step portion 312 in which the toner T is stored so that the partition plate 45 moves from the terminal position to the reuse position indicated by the solid line. Waste toner HT in the inner space 311A1 falls into the stepped portion 312. The dropped waste toner HT is transported to the developer discharge port 302 by rotating the transport screw 44 and supplied into the casing 41 of the developing unit 4a. For this reason, even when the toner T contained in the container main body 311 from the beginning runs out, printing can be continued by supplying the waste toner HT collected in the container to the developing unit 4A.

  Forcible printing using the waste toner HT is stopped by moving the partition plate 45 from the end position to the reuse position when a switch is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100 as, for example, forcible print selection means. Thus, the rotational driving force may be transmitted to the driving gear 32.

  Further, the life end, that is, the time when the toner amount is exhausted can be detected by installing detection means such as a known toner amount detection sensor in the hopper main body 200 and the container main bodies 303 and 311.

The rotation of the screw shaft 31 that moves each partition plate starts when the detection means such as the toner amount detection sensor no longer detects the toner T, and the rotation causes each partition plate to move low. Control may be made so that the rotation is stopped when the toner upper surface Ta rises and the detecting means detects the raised position. Alternatively, when estimating the amount of toner rise due to the movement of the partition plate per unit time from the relationship between the hopper body 200 and the container bodies 303 and 311 and each partition plate, the movement time and the movement distance of the partition plate are detected. Then, the rotation of the screw shaft 31 may be controlled.
(Seventh embodiment)
In this embodiment, the partition plate 37 and the partition plate 38 are moved by switching the drive system. In the first to sixth embodiments, a rotational driving force is transmitted from a driving source (not shown) on the image forming apparatus main body side to the movement of each partition plate. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. The partition plates 37 and 38 are moved using the drive train in the developing section 4A (process cartridge unit 1). In this embodiment, the description will proceed based on the second embodiment. That is, the drive gear 32 provided at the end of the screw shaft 31 on which the partition plate 37 and the partition plate 38 are supported meshes with, for example, the drive gear 30 that transmits the rotational drive force to the agitator 26.

  If comprised in this way, it will become unnecessary to provide the drive source for moving the partition plates 37 and 38 separately, and it will lead to reduction of a number of parts and space saving.

In the present embodiment, since the second embodiment has been described as a base, the partition plates 37 and 38 are moved. However, in the configuration of the other embodiments, the drive gear 32 that moves each partition plate is used as an agitator. Needless to say, the drive gear 30 that rotationally drives the drive gear 26 and the drive gear 34 that rotationally drives each conveyance screw may be engaged.
(Drive system)
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the drive input gear 50 is not directly meshed with the drive gear 30 of the agitator 26 and the drive gear 32 of the partition plates 26 and 27. It is set as the structure which meshes | combines via. In the case of this configuration, when the drive input gear 50 rotates clockwise (CW) in FIG. 10B, the drive gear 30 and the drive gear 32 rotate counterclockwise (CCW), respectively. The drive gear 30 that rotates counterclockwise (CCW) causes the agitator 26 to rotate counterclockwise. A one-way clutch 60 is inserted in the drive gear 32, and is configured to idle when the drive gear 32 rotates counterclockwise (CCW). Here, when the drive input gear 50 rotates in the reverse direction at a constant interval and rotates counterclockwise (CCW), the one-way clutch 60 connects the drive gear 32 and the screw shaft 31, so the drive gear 32 rotates clockwise (CW). The screw shaft 31 rotates and the partition plates 26 and 27 move.

  11 (a) and 11 (b) is the same as the configuration of FIG. 10 in that the drive gear 30 and the drive gear 32 are engaged with the drive input gear 50. When the gear 50 rotates clockwise (CW), the drive gear 30 rotates counterclockwise (CCW), and the drive gear 32 rotates counterclockwise (CCW). The agitator 26 also rotates counterclockwise (CCW) by the drive gear 30 that rotates counterclockwise (CCW). In this embodiment, the drive gear 32 is provided with a spring clutch 61 in place of the one-way clutch 60, and is configured to idle when rotating counterclockwise (CCW).

  In this embodiment, an electromagnetic solenoid 51 is provided on the image forming apparatus main body 100 side as the drive switching means. The movable rod 51a of the electromagnetic solenoid 51 is connected to one end of a link lever 52 supported so as to be swingable.

  On the developing devices 4 and 40 side, a claw member 53 that is swingably supported so as to occupy a position where the spring clutch 61 is hooked and a position where it is detached is mounted. When the electromagnetic solenoid 51 is in a non-operating state, the claw member 53 is in a disengaged position as shown in FIG. 11 (a), and the electromagnetic solenoid 51 is operated and the movable rod 51a is drawn downward in the figure. When one end is pushed up by the link lever 52, the spring clutch 61 is engaged. When the claw member 53 is positioned at this hooked position, the spring clutch 61 connects the screw shaft 31 and the drive gear 32.

  According to such a configuration, when a rotational driving force is input to the drive input gear 50 and rotates clockwise (CW), the drive gear 30 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, so that the agitator 26 also rotates in the same direction. However, at this time, since the drive gear 32 is disconnected from the screw shaft 31 by the function of the spring clutch 61, the drive gear 32 rotates counterclockwise (CCW), but the screw shaft 31 is driven. Power is not transmitted. On the other hand, when the electromagnetic solenoid 51 is energized and actuated, the claw member 53 moves to a position where it is hooked by the spring clutch 61, so that the spring clutch 61 is connected and the screw shaft 31 and the drive gear 32 can be rotated together to drive. The gear 32 rotates counterclockwise (CCW) and the partition plate moves.

  12 (a) and 12 (b), the drive input gear 50 and the drive gear 30 are directly meshed, but the drive input gear 50 and the drive gear 32 are connected via a known planetary gear mechanism 70. It is connected. The drive gear 32 is meshed with a tooth portion formed on the outer ring of the inner gear 56 of the planetary gear mechanism 70. The drive gear 30 meshes with the central sun gear 54 provided in the planetary gear mechanism 70, and when the drive input gear 50 rotates clockwise (CW), the drive gear 30 rotates counterclockwise (CCW). The sun gear 54 rotates clockwise (CW). As the sun gear 54 rotates clockwise (CW), the planetary gear 53 included in the planetary gear mechanism 70 starts rotating counterclockwise (CCW) and the planet carrier 55 revolves. At this time, since the internal gear 56 does not rotate, the drive gear 32 that meshes with the tooth surface formed on the outer ring of the internal gear 56 also does not rotate.

  In this embodiment, the planetary carrier 55 is configured such that when the electromagnetic solenoid 51 described above is energized and actuated, a claw member 53 that takes the hooked position is caught and the planetary carrier 55 is fixed.

  According to such a configuration, when the electromagnetic solenoid 51 is operated and the claw member 53 is caught and fixed on the planet carrier 55, the planetary gear 53 rotates counterclockwise (CCW), and the internal gear 56 also rotates counterclockwise. Start rotating at (CCW). When the internal gear 56 rotates counterclockwise (CCW), the drive gear 32 rotates clockwise (CW), and the partition plate moves.

  Until the electromagnetic solenoid 51 is operated in this way, the driving force is not transmitted from the drive input gear 50 to the screw shaft 31 with which the partition plate is screwed, and the toner capacity is reduced and the electromagnetic solenoid 51 is operated. Since the rotational driving force from the driving input gear 50 can be transmitted to the screw shaft 31, the driving force from the same driving source can be switched according to the change in toner capacity.

Further, since the electromagnetic solenoid 51 is on the image forming apparatus main body 100 side, and only the claw member 53 and the spring clutch 61 are arranged on the process cartridge unit side, the partition plate can be used without increasing the cost of the process cartridge unit 1. Drive switching for driving can be performed.
(Eighth embodiment)
As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the present embodiment is a developing device 40A including a developing unit 4C and a hopper 80 serving as a developer storage container, and the developing unit 4C, the hopper 80, Is configured to be detachable, and is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100 of FIG. 1 in place of the developing device 4 described above. The hopper 80 includes a partition plate 90 serving as a partition member, an agitator 26, and a conveying screw 43 in a hopper body 81 serving as a container body.

  The hopper body 81 has a horizontally long box shape in which a part of the hopper body 81 is formed in an arc shape, and the toner T is accommodated therein. A rotating shaft 77 extending in the width direction A is disposed at the upper end of the hopper body 81. The rotation shaft 77 is rotatably supported by one side surface 81 a of the hopper body 81 and the support plate 203. In the hopper body 81, a developer filling port 401 and a developer discharge port 402 are formed. The developer filling port 401 is formed on the other side surface 81 b of the hopper body 81, and the developer discharge port 402 is formed on the bottom 81 c of the hopper body 81 located on the opposite side of the developer filling port 401.

  The partition plate 90 changes the container volume of the hopper body 81 in which toner is accommodated by moving in accordance with a change in the toner capacity inside the hopper body 81. The partition plate 90 is a plate-like member extending in the width direction A between the side surface 81 b and the support plate 203, and one end 90 a is integrally attached to the rotation shaft 77 and the rotation shaft 77 rotates. It is supported rotatably. 13B is the initial position, and when the rotary shaft 77 rotates, the partition plate 90 moves while rotating downward in the figure, and stops before the conveying screw 43. It is configured. The position indicated by the broken line stopped before this is the end position.

  The transport screw 43 has a length that extends from the side surface 81 b to above the developer discharge port 402, and is rotatably supported by the hopper body 81. The drive gear 34 is fixed to the end of the conveying screw 43 that protrudes outside the hopper body 81, and the rotation driving force is transmitted to rotate the toner in the hopper body 81 to the developer discharge port 402. Transport.

  When the toner capacity is reduced, the partition plate 90 moves downward from the initial position by the rotation of the rotation shaft 77, so that the lowered toner upper surface Ta is raised and held so as to have a certain range of height. To do. The partition plate 90 is arranged to divide the inside of the hopper body 81 between the developer filling port 401 and the developer discharge port 402.

  The toner T in the hopper body 81 is transported to the developer discharge port 402 by the rotation of the transport screw 43, stirred and loosened by the agitator 26 disposed above the developer discharge port 402, and the developer discharge port 402. To the developing unit 4C.

The developing unit 4C includes an upper conveying screw 124A, a lower conveying screw 125, a developing roller 121, and a supply roller 122. The difference from the developing unit 4A is that there is no partition and the configuration of the upper conveying screw 124A is different. For this reason, the toner supplied from the developer discharge port 402 is circulated in the casing 41A of the developing section 4C by the upper conveying screw 124A and the lower conveying screw 125 as indicated by reference numeral Tr1. The circulating toner T is supplied to the developing roller 121 by the supply roller 122, becomes a thin toner layer on the developing roller 121 by a regulating member (not shown), and is supplied to the photoreceptor 2 shown in FIG. .
(Ninth embodiment)
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, a hopper 180 is integrally configured as a developer storage container with respect to the developing section 4A to form a developing device 40B. The developing device 40B is also detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100 shown in FIG. The difference from the developing device 40A is that a developer discharge port 402 is formed at the center in the width direction A of the hopper main body 181 with respect to the hopper 80 of FIG. 13, and a transport screw 39 is arranged instead of the transport screw 43. However, it has a blade portion 26b that functions as an agitator in the center of the conveying screw 39. A rotating shaft 77 that rotatably supports the partition plate 90 is rotatably supported by support plates 203A and 203B disposed in the center of the hopper body 181. The support plates 203A and 203B are set to be shorter than the height of the hopper body 181 so that a space is formed between the support plates 203A and 203B and the bottom 181c of the hopper body 181.

  14 (a) and 14 (b), the partition plate 90 is disposed in the container between the support plate 203A and the side surface 181a of the hopper body 181 and between the support plate 203B and the side surface 181b of the hopper body 181. It arrange | positions in space 182A, 182B. As shown in FIG. 14B, the support plates 203A and 203B are formed with cutout portions 203A1 and 203B1 at portions facing the conveying screw 39 and the blade portion 26b. For this reason, in this configuration, the end position of the partition plate 90 is a position where the partition plate 90 does not pass through the notches 203A1 and 203B1 of the support plates 203A and 203B.

  Next, the drive system of the rotating shaft 77 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIGS. 15A, 14 </ b> B, 16 </ b> A, and 16 </ b> B show a drive system in the case where the partition plate 90 rotates around the rotation shaft 77. In FIGS. 15A and 15B, a fan-shaped worm wheel 83 is fixed to the end of the rotating shaft 77. The worm wheel 83 meshes with a worm gear 84a provided coaxially with the gear 84b. In this drive system configuration, when a rotational driving force is input to the gear 84b, the worm gear 84a rotates and the worm wheel 83 rotates at the same time, and the partition plate 90 rotates around the rotation shaft 70 to move. It is configured as follows.

  In the drive systems shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, a sector gear 85 fixed to the end of the rotating shaft 77, a two-stage gear 86 in which a large-diameter gear 86a and a small-diameter gear 86b are coaxially arranged. It has. The sector gear 85 is meshed with a small-diameter gear 86 b, and rotational driving force is input to the large-diameter gear 86 a, so that the sector gear 85 is rotated via the small-diameter gear 86 b and the partition plate 90 is attached to the rotary shaft 77. It is configured to move by rotating to the center.

  15A, 15B, 16A, and 16B, toner consumption calculated by a control unit (not shown) on the image forming apparatus main body 100 side in FIG. Based on the amount, the rotational driving force is input to the gear 84b and the large-diameter gear 86a and driven to rotate the partition plate 90 to change its position.

  Here, the partition plate 90 is configured to rotate by applying a rotational driving force. However, when the partition plate 90 is configured of a metal plate or the like, for example, the partition plate 90 is rotated by its own weight to change its position. In this case, the configuration of the drive system such as the worm wheel 83, the worm shaft 84a, the sector gear 85, and the two-stage gear 86 is not required, and the number of components and the installation space for the drive system are not required. Therefore, it is easy to reduce the size and cost.

  Further, when the partition plate 90 is varied only by its own weight, when a remaining amount is displayed in accordance with the position of the partition plate described later, a process cartridge unit having a developing device including the partition plate 90 that can be varied only by its own weight is formed as an image. When installed in the apparatus main body 100, a normal remaining amount is shown. However, if the cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 100 and stored in the horizontal direction, the partition plate 90 tilts in the direction of gravity, and the remaining amount of toner remains. Even if is reduced, the normal remaining amount cannot be shown.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, there is no problem when the process cartridge unit is used in the orientation in which the partition plate 90 is positioned upward in the initial position, but the process cartridge unit is tilted at an angle during use. When used, the partition plate 90 that is variable by its own weight does not rotate by its own weight.

  For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 17 (a) and 17 (b), a ratchet mechanism 87 serving as a reverse rotation preventing mechanism that permits rotation in one direction is attached to the end of the rotating shaft 77, and the partition plate 90 is developed. What is necessary is just to make it move only to one direction toward the agent discharge port 402. FIG. Further, when the ratchet mechanism 87 is applied to the configuration in which the partition plate 90 is varied using the worm shaft 84a shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the worm wheel 83 can be reduced by reducing the advance angle. Reversal can be prevented.

  Also, in the drive system shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, when the process cartridge unit 1 is detached from the image forming apparatus main body 100, there is no mechanism for preventing the reverse rotation of the sector gear 85, and it can be changed by its own weight. Since the same problem as that of the partition plate 90 is assumed to occur, a sector gear is obtained by adding a ratchet mechanism 87 to the end of the rotating shaft 77 as shown in FIGS. 18 (a) and 18 (b). Inversion of 85 can be prevented.

  FIGS. 19A to 19E show the configuration of the remaining amount display means 95 that displays the remaining amount of toner in the hopper body 81 and the hopper body 181 as the partition member 90 moves. The remaining amount display means 95 includes a ginkgo-shaped protrusion 96 serving as a base fixed to the end of the rotating shaft 77, and a remaining amount display label 97 provided on the arcuate side surface 96a of the protrusion 96. It has. As shown in FIG. 19C, the remaining amount display label 97 displays the toner capacity, and when the partition plate 90 is placed at the initial position, as shown in FIG. When the remaining amount display label 97 is viewed from the direction of the arrow B, it can be visually confirmed that “FULL” is displayed. When the remaining amount of toner decreases and the partition plate 90 moves from the initial position to the end position, FIG. As shown in FIG. 19E, the remaining amount display is printed so that the display of “Empty” can be visually confirmed by looking at the arrow B direction remaining amount display label 97.

If the remaining amount display means 95 is interlocked with the change in the capacity of the hopper main body 81 and the hopper main body 181 due to the movement of the partition plate 90 as described above, the hopper main body 81 and the hopper main body 81 Since the remaining amount of toner in the hopper main body 181 can be displayed in an analog manner, the amount of remaining toner can be reduced at low cost without newly adding a toner remaining amount detecting means such as a sensor or using an LED or LCD. Display can be realized. Further, since no electrical detection means such as a sensor is used, the remaining amount of toner can be confirmed even when the power of the image forming apparatus is off, which is convenient.
(Tenth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, a waste toner recovery unit is provided that serves as a recovered developer recovery unit to which a transport unit that transports waste toner is connected to a container inner space formed by the movement of the partition member. Here, it demonstrates using FIG.
A hopper 280 serving as a developer container according to this embodiment is mounted on the developing unit 4c to constitute the developing device 40C. The developing device 4C is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100 shown in FIG. The hopper 280 includes a partition plate 90 serving as a partition member attached to the rotary shaft 77, an agitator (not shown), and a transport screw 43 in a hopper body 281 serving as a container body. These functions are the same as those described above.

  The hopper body 281 has a developer filling port 401 and a developer discharge port 402 formed therein. A waste toner collection unit 98 is provided above the partition plate 90 placed at the initial position indicated by the solid line. The waste toner collecting unit 98 is formed by expanding a part of a lid 282 covering the upper surface of the hopper body 281 upward. The developer filling port 401 is formed on the side surface 281 a of the hopper body 281, and the developer discharge port 402 is formed on the bottom surface 281 b of the hopper body 281. The hopper 280 conveys the toner in the hopper main body 281 to the developer discharge port 402 when the conveyance screw 43 rotates, and supplies the toner into the developing unit 4C. In this embodiment, the partition plate 90 is moved from the initial position to the end position indicated by a two-dot chain line, and is movable to the developer discharge port 402 side through the end position.

  The waste toner collecting unit 98 is connected to a transport unit 99 that transports the waste toner HT. In the present embodiment, the transport unit 99 is composed of a transport tube, and both ends of the transport unit 99 are connected to the waste toner collecting unit 98 and the waste toner storage unit 22 shown in FIG. One end of the conveyance unit 99 may be connected to each cleaning unit instead of the waste toner storage unit 22. The waste toner collection unit 98 and the developer discharge port 402 are separated by a partition plate 90.

  For this reason, when the toner T in the hopper main body 281 decreases and the partition plate 90 moves downward toward the developer discharge port 402, the volume of the container inner space 281A in which the toner T is stored is reduced, and the waste toner An in-container space 281B is formed between the collection unit 98 and the partition plate 90. Therefore, the waste toner HT can be collected in the container inner space 281B, and the collected waste toner HT is held in the container inner space 281B until the partition plate 90 passes the end position.

  In this embodiment, when the partition plate 90 moves within a predetermined range, the container inner space 281B in which the waste toner HT is conveyed and stored and the developer discharge port 402 communicate with each other via the container inner space 281A in which the toner is stored. A hopper body 281 is configured. In the hopper 280 according to this embodiment, a step 283 is formed on the bottom 281 b of the hopper body 281. The step portion 283 is formed to be lower than the bottom portion 281 b from the end position of the partition plate 90 indicated by a two-dot chain line to the developer discharge port 402. In this embodiment, the partition plate 90 is configured to be movable from the terminal position to the stepped portion 283. The predetermined range in which the partition plate 90 moves refers to a moving range from the terminal position to the stepped portion 283. The length L1 of the partition plate 90 is a length up to the bottom portion 281b, and is configured such that a space 284 is formed between the bottom portion 283a of the step portion 283 when positioned on the step portion 283. Yes. In this embodiment, the developer discharge port 402 is formed at the end of the bottom portion 283a.

  With such a configuration, when the toner capacity in the hopper body 281 is reduced, the partition plate 90 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the drawing by the rotation of the rotation shaft 77, and the toner capacity in the container inner space 281A is reduced. Even if it decreases, the toner upper surface Ta in the same space is held so as to have a certain range of height. Then, the waste toner HT is stored in the container space 281B in the hopper body 281 after the partition plate 90 has moved. When the partition plate 90 reaches the end position indicated by the two-dot chain line, it becomes a life end and stops its movement.

  In this embodiment, since the step portion 283 is provided and the partition plate 90 is configured to be movable from the end position to the step portion 283, if it is desired to print a little more, it is discarded to extend the life end. It becomes possible to continue printing by reusing the toner HT. That is, when the partition plate 90 in the hopper main body 281 moves to the end position and reaches the end of life, by selecting to recycle the waste toner HT at the user's discretion and execute the forced printing, The partition plate 90 moves from the terminal position to the reuse position indicated by the chain line. Then, the container inner space 281 </ b> B and the developer discharge port 402 communicate with each other through the space 284 of the step portion 283 in which the toner T is stored. When vibration is applied to the developing device 4D or the hopper 280 in this state, the waste toner HT in the container inner space 281B falls from the space 284 to the vicinity of the conveying screw 43 through the stepped portion 283.

  The vibration with respect to the developing device 4C or the hopper 280 may be applied by an operation of putting the process cartridge unit 1 in and out of the image forming apparatus main body 100. In order to more positively apply the process cartridge unit 1 to the image forming unit. It can be given by detaching from the apparatus main body 100 and shaking.

The dropped waste toner HT is transported to the developer discharge port 402 by supplying the process cartridge unit 1 to the image forming apparatus main body 100 and rotating the transport screw 43, and is supplied into the developing unit 4C. For this reason, even when the toner T stored in the hopper body 281 from the beginning is exhausted, the waste toner HT collected in the hopper body 281 is supplied to the developing unit 4C, so that printing can be continued and life end can be achieved. Until the hopper 280 containing new toner ordered later is delivered, the image forming apparatus can be used urgently, downtime can be reduced, and deterioration of print productivity can be suppressed.
(Eleventh embodiment)
FIG. 21 shows a configuration in which a waste toner collecting unit 98 is provided in the hopper 180 shown in FIG. 14 and attached to the developing unit 4C to form a developing device 40D. The waste toner collecting unit 98 is connected to a transport unit 99 that transports the waste toner HT. Therefore, when the toner T in the hopper 181 decreases and the partition plate 90 moves downward toward the developer discharge port 402, the volume of the container inner spaces 182A and 182B in which the toner is stored is reduced, and the waste toner Container internal spaces 182A1 and 182B1 are formed between the collection unit 98 and the partition plate 90. Therefore, the waste toner HT can be collected in the container inner spaces 182A1 and 182B1, but the collected waste toner HT is held in the container inner spaces 182A1 and 182B1.

  Also in this embodiment, the partition plate 90 is movable to the developer discharge port 402 side through the terminal position. That is, in a normal toner supply operation, the support plate 203A, 203B stops at the end position that does not enter the scraping portions 203A1, 203B1, but when printing using the waste toner HT, the partition plate 90 is a chain line. It is comprised so that it can move to the reuse position which approachs into the scraping parts 203A1 and 203B1 shown. Therefore, when it is desired to print a little now, it is possible to continue printing by reusing the waste toner HT in order to extend the life end. That is, when the partition plate 90 in the hopper main body 181 moves to the end position and reaches the end of life, by selecting to recycle the waste toner HT at the user's discretion and execute the forced printing, The partition plate 90 moves from the terminal position to the reuse position indicated by the one-dot chain line. Then, the container inner spaces 182A1, 182B1 and the developer discharge port 402 communicate with each other via the scraping portions 203A, 203B1. When vibration is applied to the hopper 180 in this state, the waste toner HT in the container inner spaces 182A1 and 182B1 can move to the developer discharge port 402 side via the scraping portions 203A1 and 203B1.

  As described above, the hopper 180 may be vibrated by putting the process cartridge unit 1 of FIG. 1 in and out of the image forming apparatus main body 100 or by shaking the process cartridge unit 1 away from the image forming apparatus main body 100. Can give more positive.

  The dropped waste toner HT is transported to the developer discharge port 402 by supplying the process cartridge unit 1 to the image forming apparatus main body 100 and rotating the transport screw 39, and is supplied into the developing unit 4C. For this reason, even when the toner T stored in the hopper body 181 from the beginning runs out, the waste toner HT collected in the hopper body 181 is supplied to the developing unit 4C, so that printing can be continued. For this reason, the image forming apparatus can be used urgently until the hopper 180 containing new toner ordered after the life end is delivered, and downtime can be reduced to suppress a decrease in print productivity. it can.

  Forcible printing using the waste toner HT, for example, is provided with a switch as a forced printing selection means, and when this switch is operated, the drive gear 32 is moved to stop the partition plate 90 from the end position to the reuse position. What is necessary is just to transmit rotational driving force. Further, the detection of the life end, that is, the time point when the toner amount is exhausted can be performed by installing detection means such as a well-known toner amount detection sensor in the hopper main bodies 181 and 281.

  The partition member drive system and drive switching will be described with reference to FIGS. 22 (a), 22 (b), 23 (a), and 23 (b).

  22 (a) and 22 (b) show a two-stage gear in which the sector gear 85 described in FIGS. 16 (a) and 16 (b), and a large-diameter gear 86a and a small-diameter gear 86b are arranged coaxially. A drive input gear 150 is added to the drive system having 86. The drive input gear 150 is disposed so as to mesh with the large-diameter gear 86b. Like the drive input gear 50, the drive input gear 150 is branched from a drive system provided in the process cartridge unit, and is configured to receive a rotational driving force from a drive motor (not shown).

  For this reason, in order to obtain the driving force for changing the position of the partition plate 90, it is not necessary to configure a dedicated driving source, and it becomes easy to reduce the number of parts and the installation space while reducing the cost.

  In this configuration, during normal driving, the drive input gear 150 rotates counterclockwise (CCW), and the large-diameter gear 86a rotates counterclockwise (CW). However, in this embodiment, since the one-way clutch 60 is mounted between the large-diameter gear 86a and the small-diameter gear 86b, the rotational driving force transmitted to the large-diameter gear 86a acts on the small-diameter gear 86b. Therefore, only the large diameter gear 86a is idled.

  In this embodiment, the drive input gear 150 is configured to rotate clockwise (CW), which is the reverse direction to that during normal driving, at the time of initialization after normal printing is completed or between papers. For this reason, when the drive input gear 150 rotates clockwise (CW), the large-diameter gear 86a rotates counterclockwise (CCW), the one-way clutch 60 is connected, and the rotational driving force is transmitted to the small-diameter gear 86b. 85 rotates clockwise (CW), and the partition plate 90 rotates.

  23 (a) and 23 (b) show a two-stage gear in which the sector gear 85 described in FIGS. 16 (a) and 16 (b), and a large-diameter gear 86a and a small-diameter gear 86b are arranged coaxially. A spring clutch 61 described with reference to FIGS. 11A and 11B and an electromagnetic solenoid 51 as drive switching means are added to a drive system having 86.

  In this embodiment, the large-diameter gear 86a is provided with a spring clutch 61 instead of the one-way clutch 60, so that the large-diameter gear 86a and the small-diameter gear 86b idle when rotating counterclockwise (CCW). It is configured.

  A movable rod 51a of an electromagnetic solenoid 51 disposed on the image forming apparatus main body 100 side is coupled to one end of a link lever 52 that is supported in a swingable manner, and is hooked against a spring clutch 61 on the developing device 40C side. A claw member 53 that is swingably supported so as to occupy the position and the separation position is mounted. When the electromagnetic solenoid 51 is in the non-operating state, the claw member 53 is in the disengaged position as shown in FIG. 23 (a), and the electromagnetic solenoid 51 is operated and the movable rod 51a is drawn downward in the figure, and one end thereof Is pushed up by the link lever 52, and the spring clutch 61 shown in FIG. When the claw member 53 is positioned at this hooked position, the spring clutch 61 connects the large diameter gear 86a and the small diameter gear 86b.

  According to such a configuration, when the rotational driving force is input to the drive input gear 150 and rotates counterclockwise (CCW), the large-diameter gear 86a rotates counterclockwise (CW). However, since the electromagnetic solenoid 51 is in an inoperative state, the claw member 53 is also in the disengaged position, so that the rotational driving force input to the drive input gear 150 is not transmitted to the small diameter gear 86b.

  On the other hand, when a rotational driving force is input to the drive input gear 150 and rotates clockwise (CW), the electromagnetic solenoid 51 is energized to operate, and the pawl member 53 is moved to a position where it is caught by the spring clutch 61. And move. For this reason, since the spring clutch 61 is connected and the rotational driving force is transmitted to the small-diameter gear 86b, the partition plate 90 rotates. That is, the small-diameter gear 86b rotates only during the time when the electromagnetic solenoid 51 is operated, and the partition plate 90 can be rotated.

Further, since the electromagnetic solenoid 51 is on the image forming apparatus main body 100 side and only the claw member 53 and the spring clutch 61 are disposed on the process cartridge unit side, the partition plate 90 can be used without increasing the cost of the process cartridge unit 1. The drive can be switched for driving.
(Twelfth embodiment)
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, a part of a container 500 serving as a developer storage container is constituted by a thin plastic sheet member 505, arranged outside the container 500, and attached to the rotary shaft 77. Thus, a partition plate 510 serving as a partition member that changes the volume of the container main body 503 in which the toner T is stored in the container inner space 500A by moving in accordance with the change in the toner capacity is provided. The container 500 is mounted on the developing unit 4c to constitute the developing device 40E. The developing device 40E is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100 of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, the container body 503 includes a resin bottom 503a, a tower 502 formed at one end in the width direction A, and a side surface of the tower 502. A sheet member 505 is thermally welded to 502a and a side surface 503b rising from the bottom portion 503a to form a horizontally long box shape, in which toner serving as a developer is stored. Inside the container main body 503, the agitator 26 is disposed so as to be rotatably supported by the tower portion 502, and the conveying screw 43 is disposed extending in the width direction A near the bottom portion 503a.

  The container body 503 has a developer filling port 501 and a developer discharge port 502 formed therein. The developer discharge port 502 is formed in the bottom portion 503a located below the tower portion 502, and communicates with the casing 41 of the developing portion 4A. In this embodiment, the developer filling port 501 is formed in the sheet member 505 and is closed when the toner filling into the container main body 503 is completed. Polyvinylidene chloride is used for the sheet member 505, but another material may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 25A, the partition plate 510 is disposed so as to be positioned horizontally above the sheet member 505 outside the heat-welded sheet member 505. This state is the initial position of the partition plate 510. The rotating shaft 77 that supports the partition plate 510 is rotatably supported by the tower portion 502 in this embodiment. When the toner capacity decreases and the rotation shaft 77 rotates, the partition plate 510 moves while rotating downward in the drawing as shown in FIG. 25B, and stops before the conveying screw 43. It is configured. The position stopped before this is the end position.

  When the toner capacity in the container main body 503 decreases, the partition plate 510 rotates downward from the initial position by rotating the rotation shaft 77, and collects the toner T in the container main body 503, thereby collecting the toner upper surface. Ta is held so as to have a certain range of heights.

  That is, in this embodiment, when the toner capacity in the container main body 503 decreases and the rotation shaft 77 rotates, the partition plate 510 moves toward the developer discharge port 502 and the container inner space 500A in which the toner T is stored. The volume can be varied in the direction of narrowing. Here, even if the toner capacity is reduced, the partition plate 510 is moved so that the toner upper surface Ta has a certain range of height, so that the rotational load of the agitator 26 shown in FIG. The amount of toner discharged from the container 500 to the developing unit 4A can be controlled to be constant.

  Further, in this embodiment, since a transparent soft plastic such as polyvinylidene chloride is used for the sheet member 505, the position of the partition plate 510 can be directly visually confirmed by the user, and the toner remaining amount in the container 500 can be intuitively determined. It becomes possible to grasp it. For this reason, it is not necessary to add the remaining amount display means 97 described with reference to FIG.

1 Process cartridge unit 4A to 4C Developing unit 4, 40 (A to E) Developing device 4B, 80, 180, 280, 300, 310, 500 Developer storage container 26 Developer stirring member 27, 28, 37, 38, 45 , 90, 510 Partition member 31 Moving means 43 Developer conveying member 77 Rotating shaft 81, 181, 200, 281, 303, 311, 503 Container body 96 Remaining amount displaying means 98 Recovered developer collecting section 99 Conveying section 201, 301, 401, 501 Developer filling port 202, 302, 402, 502 Developer discharge port 80A, 182 (A, B), 200 (A, B), 281A, 300 (A, B), 311A, 500A 182 (A1, B1), 200 (A1, B1), 300 (A1, B1), 311A1 The collected developer is stored. Container space A width T developer HT collected developer

JP 2009-3212 A JP 2008-32937 A

Claims (11)

In the developer storage container, the developer filling port and the developer discharge port are formed, the container main body is provided with a developer inside, and the developer is supplied from the developer discharge port to the developing unit.
A developer container having a partition member that moves in accordance with a change in the capacity of the developer in the container body and changes a container volume in which the developer is stored.   2. The partition member according to claim 1, wherein the partition member is supported movably in the width direction by a moving means disposed in the width direction of the container body, and moves toward the developer discharge port. Developer container.   2. The partition member according to claim 1, wherein one end of the partition member is attached to a rotation shaft extending in the width direction of the container body and is rotatably supported, and moves toward the developer discharge port. The developer container as described.   4. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein the container body has a developer stirring member in a predetermined range near the developer discharge port. 5.   5. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein the container main body includes a developer transport member that transports the developer toward the developer discharge port. 6.   The said container main body has a collection | recovery developer collection | recovery part with which the conveyance part which conveys a collection | recovery developer is connected to the space in a container formed by the movement of the said partition member. The developer container according to Item 1.   When the partition member moves within a predetermined range, the container main body communicates with the container inner space in which the collected developer is conveyed and stored and the developer discharge port via the container inner space in which the developer is stored. The developer storage container according to claim 6, wherein the developer storage container is configured as described above.   The developer storage container according to claim 1, further comprising a remaining amount display unit configured to display a remaining amount of developer in the container main body as the partition member moves.   A developing device comprising the developer container according to any one of claims 1 to 8.   A process cartridge unit comprising the developing device according to claim 9.   An image forming apparatus comprising the developing device according to claim 9 or the process cartridge unit according to claim 10.

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