JP3144933B2 - Developing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and the like, and more particularly, to a developer supply container which is detachable from a developer receiving opening of a developer accommodating portion. And a developing device for replenishing the developer into the developer accommodating portion by mounting the developer supply container in the opening using a mounting space above the opening.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses of this type have been miniaturized to save space. When the size of the machine is reduced, the size of the developing device is naturally required. In order to promote miniaturization, some development cartridges and toner cartridges, such as process cartridges and development magazines, have been downsized by integrating the development mechanism and toner cartridges. Not desirable from a viewpoint. Therefore, the developing device, which is the main body of the developing device, is replaced without replacing the developer supply container (hereinafter, referred to as a toner cartridge).

[0003]

However, most of the conventional developing devices of the type that replaces the toner cartridge are divided into a toner cartridge and a developing section and are relatively large (for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-129661). reference). In some cases, the size of the developing device is reduced by supplying toner from the toner bottle using a transporting unit. However, this method increases costs and requires space for the transporting unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a developer supply container having a detachable developer supply container at a developer receiving opening of a developer accommodating section. The developer supply container is mounted in the opening using the mounting space above the opening, and the size of the developing device for replenishing the developer into the developer accommodating portion is reduced, thereby reducing the size and cost. An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device that can contribute to environmental protection.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device for transporting a developer to a latent image carrier having a latent image formed thereon, A developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be supplied to the developer carrier, a developer supply container detachable from a developer receiving opening of the developer accommodating portion, and a developer in the developer accommodating portion being rotated. A stirring means provided with a developer stirring member for stirring, wherein the developer supply container is attached to the opening and the developer is supplied to the developer accommodating portion. A part is configured to stir the developer in the developer supply container, and a rotation driving unit of the developer stirring member,
At least the developer supply container is attached to the opening.
So that the developer stirring member becomes rotatable when
And the developer supply container is open for discharging the developer.
Attached to the opening with the mouth sealed with a sealing member
Later, the seal member is removed from the opening, and the developer is removed.
A developer supply container for replenishing developer contained in the storage section.
When the developer supply container is mounted in the opening,
A part of the image agent stirring member is in the space for mounting the developer supply container.
When the developing member is located at
Abuts a part of the agent stirring member and retracts from the mounting space.
A contact member attached to the developer supply container.
And it is characterized in the use. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the first aspect, the rotation driving means
Is constituted by a gear train, and is included in the gear train.
Attach the idle gear to the developer supply container
Thereby, the developer supply container is attached to the opening.
Sometimes, the developer stirring member is made rotatable.
It is characterized by the following. The developing device of claim 3 is
Developer for transporting developer to latent image carrier on which latent image is formed
Accommodates a carrier and a developer to be supplied to the developer carrier
A developer container, and a developer receiving opening of the developer container;
A developer supply container that can be attached to and detached from the
Stirring with developer stirring member that stirs image agent by rotation
Means for attaching the developer supply container to the opening,
In the developing device for replenishing the developer into the developer container ,
At least a part of the developer stirring member is provided in the developer supply container.
The developer in the container is configured to be stirred, and the developer is stirred.
At least the developer supply container
When the developer supply container is removed from the mounting space of the container,
So that the developer stirring member can rotate freely.
Then, the developer supply container is taken out from the mounting space.
At this time, a part of the developer stirring member is located in the mounting space.
Is in contact with a part of the developer stirring member,
The abutment part to be retreated from the wearing space is
It is characterized by being formed in a container . According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device of the third aspect, the rotary drive is provided.
The drive transmission member of the moving means is constituted by a gear train, and is included in the gear train.
Attach the idle gear to the developer supply container
As a result, the space for mounting the developer supply container is removed from the space.
When the developer supply container is taken out, the developer stirring section
The material is made rotatable .

[0006]

[0007]

[0008]

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

[Action] In the developing apparatus of claims 1 to 4, a part of the developer stirring member by the rotation, since the structure to also stir the developer in the developer supply container, as in the prior art In addition, as compared with a case where a space for mounting the developer supply container is provided outside the moving radius of the developer stirring member, the entire size of the developing device itself and the whole of the developer supply container and the developer supply container can be reduced. In the developing device according to the first or second aspect , the developer stirring member is rotatable at least when the developer supply container is mounted in the developer receiving opening of the developer storage unit. When mounting the developer supply container in the opening, even if a part of the developer stirring member is located in the mounting space of the developer supply container,
With a part of the developer supply container, a part of the developer agitating member can be pushed and retracted from the mounting space. Further , when the developer supply container is mounted in the opening, when a part of the developer stirring member is located in the mounting space of the developer supply container, the developer supply The contact member attached to the container comes into contact with a part of the developer stirring member before the seal member, and retreats the developer stirring member from the mounting space. In the developing device of the third or fourth aspect , the developer stirring member is rotatable at least when the developer supply container is taken out of the mounting space of the developer supply container. When a part of the developer agitating member is located in the mounting space when the developer replenishing container is taken out of the mounting space, the developer replenishing container is formed in the developer replenishing container. The contact portion abuts a part of the developer stirring member and retreats from the mounting space.

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a developing device of an electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine) as an image forming apparatus will be described.

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 1A is an explanatory view of a schematic configuration of a developing device according to an embodiment, FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram of a toner cartridge of the developing device, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an agitator rotation control unit of FIG. A developing device 11 is provided near the photoconductor 10 as a latent image carrier. In the developing device 11, a developing roller 12 serving as a developer carrier for supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 10 and a developer replenishing member for attaching toner to the developing roller 12 are provided. A replenishing plate 13 that is driven to rotate, a doctor blade 14 as a toner thinning regulating member, and a developer stirring member that replenishes the developer to the developing unit while stirring the toner stored in the developer replenishing unit 11a. Agitator 15 is installed. In this embodiment, the case where a magnetic one-component toner is used has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a non-magnetic one-component toner and a two-component developer.

Here, the configuration of the developing device 11 used in this embodiment will be described in detail. The developing roller 12 is composed of a roller member in which a metal core is coated with a resin layer in which a magnetic material is dispersed, and has 60 poles. The developing roller 12 is driven to rotate in a direction opposite to that of the photoconductor 10.
A bias of -600 V is applied to the core metal.
A doctor blade 14 for forming a thin toner layer in contact with the developing roller 12 is provided. A bias of −600 V is applied to the doctor blade 14. As a result, the toner is sandwiched between the developing roller 12 and charged. The doctor blade 14 is made of a hard metal member, for example, stainless steel. The toner is supplied to the developing roller 12 by the rotation of the supply plate 27, and a metal plate is used as the material of the supply plate 27.

The developing device 11 of this embodiment is of a main body stationary type, and has a configuration in which a toner cartridge 16 is mounted above the developer supply section 11a of the developing device main body. The opening surface of the toner cartridge 16 is covered with a seal 17 so that toner does not scatter when new. FIG.
Reference numeral 18 in (a) denotes a static elimination brush, and 19 denotes a toner end sensor as a toner remaining amount detecting unit. When such a developing device is used, for example, FIG.
As shown in (1), if the agitator 15 stops at a position where a part of the agitator 15 enters the toner cartridge 16, a problem occurs that a new toner cartridge 16 cannot be mounted. This problem is caused by the fact that the mounting of the toner cartridge 16 is substantially horizontally slid along the dividing surface 20 until the upper opening of the developer supply section 11a of the developing device 11 in the copying machine is completely closed. When the toner cartridge 16 is pushed into the copying machine to a position above the developer replenishing portion 11a of the developing device 11 in the copying machine and capable of completely closing the opening, When the operation is performed by lowering the opening and closing the opening, the developing device 11
In the state in which the developer supply portion 11a is closed by sliding it substantially horizontally along the division surface 20 or by simply covering the developer supply portion 11a from above. Therefore, when the agitator 15 is stopped, the agitator 15 is stopped substantially in parallel with the dividing surface 20 of the developing device main body and the toner cartridge 16, so that a new toner cartridge 16 can be mounted without being obstructed. For example, as shown in FIG. 1C, a control unit 24 that controls a rotation drive transmission system or a drive source 25 of the agitator 15 is installed on a main body that detects a protrusion 22 attached to a gear 21 of the agitator 15. Photo sensor 2
The drive stop timing is controlled using the signal from 3 so as to stop horizontally from the timing when the projection 22 passes through the photo sensor 23.

[Embodiment 2] FIG. 2 (a) is an explanatory view of a schematic configuration of a developing device 11 according to an improvement of the above-described Embodiment 1, and FIG. 2 (b) is a flowchart of an agitator 15 rotation control unit of the developing device 11. . When the entire machine is driven by one motor in order to stop the agitator 15 substantially parallel to the dividing surface 20 at the time of stop, as in the above-described embodiment, all the devices rotate more than usual. I will. In this case, the life of other devices is shortened, and for example, side effects such as an increase in the amount of waste toner and a shortened cleaning life are generated. Therefore, in this embodiment, the control of the stop position of the agitator 15 is not performed until the time to replace the toner cartridge 16 comes, and the control is performed only when the replacement time comes. For example,
When a toner end signal is output from the toner end sensor 19, the stop position of the agitator 15 starts to be controlled. This prevents unnecessary rotation of other devices. FIG. 1C is a flowchart of such control.

[Embodiment 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a schematic configuration of a developing device 11 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Basically Figure 1
The configuration is the same as that of the developing device of (a), and the only difference is the configuration related to the drive system of each rotating member. In the developing device of this embodiment, the driving from the copying machine main body is performed by the developing roller 12.
Gear 26. From here the gear 2 of the supply plate 13
7, the drive is transmitted to the gear 21 of the agitator 15 through two idler gears 28 and 29. In this embodiment, one of the two idler gears 28, 29 is attached to the toner cartridge 16, the drive is transferred from the idler gear 28 of the developing device main body to the idler gear 29 of the toner cartridge 16, and the drive is transmitted to the gear 21 of the agitator 15. According to this configuration, since the idler gear 29 of the toner cartridge 16 is integrated with the toner cartridge 16, when the toner cartridge 16 is removed, the idler gear 29 is removed.
Is removed from the developing device body and the gear 21 of the agitator 15 is
Can rotate freely. As a result, even if the agitator 15 is stopped at a position where a part of the agitator 15 enters the toner cartridge 16 as shown in FIG. Without this, the agitator 15 can be made parallel to the dividing surface 20, and a new cartridge can be easily mounted.

In order to make the rotation of the agitator 15 free when the toner cartridge 16 is pushed in and mounted on the developer replenishing portion 11a, various methods other than mounting the idler gear 29 to the toner cartridge 16 are used. Method can be adopted. For example, when the gear 21 of the agitator 15 is provided with a connection / disconnection switching unit such as an electromagnetic clutch, the rotation of the agitator 15 can be made free by cutting off the drive transmission.

[Embodiment 4] FIG. 4 (a) is an explanatory view of a schematic configuration of a developing device 11 according to an improvement of the embodiment 3 and FIG. 4 (b).
Denotes a seal 1 of the toner cartridge 16 of the developing device
7 is an explanatory view of a state after the drawing-out, and FIG.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the state of FIG. This embodiment is different from the apparatus of the third embodiment in that a push assist for pushing the agitator 15 stopped at a position where a part of the agitator 15 enters the toner cartridge 16 into the developer replenishing section 11a. A point that a member (hereinafter, referred to as an agitator pushing member) 30 is provided on an opening surface of the toner cartridge 16 for discharging toner. As a result, in the operation of mounting the toner cartridge 16, as shown in FIG. 5, the agitator pushing member 30 pushes the agitator 15 down so as to be lower than the dividing surface 20 of the developing device main body and the toner cartridge 16. At this time, the drive of the agitator 15 is released and the agitator 15 is freely rotated.
After the agitator 15 is pushed in by this member, the seal 17 member at the opening of the toner cartridge 16 is removed in order to put the toner into the developer supply section 11a. At this time, the agitator pushing member 30 is moved together with the seal 17 into the seal 17.
Is pulled toward the pulling-out side of the seal 17 (see FIG. 4B). Thus, at the time of image output, the agitator 15 can rotate without being hindered by this member. According to the present embodiment, the provision of the agitator push-in member 30 eliminates the need to strengthen the seal 17 on the opening surface of the toner cartridge 16, and the seal 17 is pulled out because the seal 17 does not directly contact the agitator 15. At times, it is possible to prevent toner from adhering to both surfaces of the seal 17. When a new toner cartridge 16 is mounted, the toner cartridge 16 can be easily mounted without being obstructed by the agitator 15.

The agitator push-in member 30 can be attached, for example, by forming a guide portion at the opening of the toner cartridge 16 so that the agitator push-in member 30 is slidable substantially in parallel with the opening surface. A seal 17 having a length of about twice the length of the toner cartridge 19 is applied from the front edge to the rear edge of the opening of the toner cartridge 17 so as to cover the entire opening using both side edges. After sticking, the agitator pushing member 30 is attached to the guide portion on the surface side of the seal 17 portion. Thereafter, the remaining portion extending from the portion attached to the inner edge of the toner cartridge opening on the seal 17 is folded back toward the user,
The front edge of the agitator pushing member 30 is covered and adhered to the front edge of the toner cartridge 17 near the opening. According to this, when the leading edge of the seal free end of the seal 17 is pulled to remove the seal in order from the inner edge of the toner cartridge opening to open the opening, the seal 17 wraps the agitator pushing member 30 in. It can be moved to the front of the toner cartridge opening.

[Embodiment 5] FIG. 6A shows a toner cartridge 16 of a developing device 11 according to another improvement of Embodiment 3 described above.
FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram of a schematic configuration of the toner cartridge 1.
6 is a transparent perspective view of FIG. The developing device side of the developing device 11 of this embodiment is the same as that of the third embodiment. The only difference is the structure of the toner cartridge 16 to be used. As shown in the drawing, the toner cartridge 16 of the present embodiment has an inclined wall surface 31 inside the toner cartridge 16 on the side opposite to the side from which the toner cartridge 16 is pulled out. By the operation of pulling out the toner cartridge 16 in the direction of the arrow, on the wall surface 31 thereof,
The structure is such that the agitator 15 is pushed down so as to be lower than the dividing surface 20 with the developing device main body. At this time, the drive of the agitator 15 is released and the agitator 15 is freely rotated.
After being pulled out by this, the agitator 15 is moved
Since it is at a lower position, a new toner cartridge 1
When the toner cartridge 16 is mounted, the toner cartridge 16 can be easily mounted without being hindered by the agitator 15.

In the present embodiment, when the toner cartridge 16 is pulled out from the developer supply section 11a, the rotation of the agitator 15 only needs to be free. When the drive is transmitted to the gear 21 of the agitator 15 via the switching means, the connection / disconnection switching means may be in a transmission cutoff state at least when the toner cartridge 16 is pulled out.

FIG. 8A is an explanatory view of a schematic configuration of a developing device 11 according to still another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the developing device 11. In this embodiment, a magnetic toner is used. When the toner cartridge 16 is pulled out, the toner on the boundary surface between the toner cartridge 16 and the upper opening of the developer supply unit 11a may be scattered. Therefore, as shown in the drawing, a toner scattering preventing magnet sheet 32 is provided on the side where the toner cartridge 16 is drawn out of the dividing surface 20 of the developing device main body and the toner cartridge 16. As a result, when the toner cartridge 16 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow, the toner attached to the lower surface of the toner cartridge 16 can be prevented from gathering on the magnet sheet 32 and scattering to other portions, and the surroundings can be soiled when the toner cartridge 16 is replaced. Can be prevented.

[0030]

Effects of the Invention] According to the developing apparatus of claims 1 to 4, at least a part of the developer stirring member by the rotation, since the structure to also stir the developer in the developer supply container Compared with the conventional case where a space for mounting the developer supply container is provided outside the moving radius of the developer stirring member, the entire size of the developing device itself and the total size of the developer supply container and the developing device itself are compared. Can be reduced. Therefore, the size of the developing device and the like can be reduced, so that the size of the machine can be reduced. Further, since the developing device can be used repeatedly, it can contribute to environmental conservation at low cost. In particular, it has there 請 Motomeko 1
According to the second developing device, at least when the developer supply container is mounted in the developer receiving opening of the developer accommodating portion, the developer stirring member is rotatable. When mounting the developer supply container, even if a part of the developer stirring member is located in the mounting space of the developer supply container, the developer stirring member Can be pushed away from the mounting space. Therefore, the developer replenishing container can be mounted in the opening without being disturbed by the developer agitating member without providing a control means such as a stop position control for the rotational drive of the developer agitating member. Furthermore, when mounting the developer supply container to the upper Symbol opening, when a part of the developer stirring member is positioned in the mounting space of the developer supply container, attached to the developer supply container The contact member abuts on a part of the developer stirring member before the seal member, and retreats the developer stirring member from the mounting space, so that the seal member contacts the developer stirring member. Direct contact can be prevented. Therefore, the degree of freedom in setting the strength of the seal member can be increased as compared with the case where the seal member directly abuts on the developer stirring member, and the seal member can be configured such that the seal member directly contacts the developer stirring member. To the developer. Further, according to the developing device of the third or fourth aspect , the developer stirring member is rotatable at least when the developer supply container is taken out from the mounting space of the developer supply container. When a part of the developer agitating member is located in the mounting space when the developer replenishing container is taken out of the mounting space, the developer replenishing container is formed in the developer replenishing container. The contact portion abuts a part of the developer stirring member and retreats from the mounting space. Therefore, when the developer supply container is subsequently mounted on the opening, the developer supply container can be mounted on the opening without being disturbed by the developer stirring member .

[0031]

[0032]

[0033]

[0034]

[0035]

[0036]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram of a schematic configuration of a developing device 11 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram of a toner cartridge 16 of the developing device 11. FIG. 3C is a block diagram of an agitator 15 rotation control unit of the developing device 11.

FIG. 2A is an explanatory diagram of a schematic configuration of a developing device 11 according to another embodiment. (B) shows the agitator 1 of the developing device 11
5 is a flowchart of a 5-turn control unit.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a schematic configuration of a developing device 11 according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram of a schematic configuration of a developing device 11 according to still another embodiment. FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram of a state after the seal 17 of the toner cartridge 16 of the developing device 11 is pulled out. FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the developing device 11 in the state of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the developing device 11;

FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram of a toner cartridge 16 of a developing device 11 according to still another embodiment. FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the toner cartridge 16.

FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram of a schematic configuration of the developing device 11;
FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where the toner cartridge 16 of the developing device 11 is removed.

FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram of a schematic configuration of a developing device 11 according to still another embodiment. FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the developing device 11.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Photoconductor 11 Developing device 11a Developer supply part 12 Developing roller 13 Supply plate 14 Doctor blade 15 Agitator 16 Toner cartridge 17 Seal 18 Static elimination brush 19 Toner end sensor 20 Dividing surface 21 Agitator gear 22 Projection part 23 Photosensor 24 Control part Reference Signs List 25 drive source 26 gear of developing roller 27 supply plate 28 idler gear 29 idler gear 30 agitator pushing member 31 inclined wall surface 32 magnet sheet

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A developer carrying member for carrying the developer to the latent image carrier having the latent image formed thereon; a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer to be supplied to the developer carrying member; A developer supply container that is detachably attached to a developer receiving opening of the developing unit, and a stirring unit that includes a developer stirring member that stirs the developer in the developer storage unit by rotation. Wherein the developer agitating member is configured to agitate the developer in the developer replenishing container, wherein the developer agitating member is attached to the opening and supplies the developer into the developer accommodating portion . The rotation driving means of the developer stirring member is at least
When the developer supply container is attached to the opening,
The developer stirring member is configured to be rotatable, and an opening for discharging the developer is sealed as the developer supply container.
After being attached to the above-mentioned opening while being sealed with a
Remove the seal member from the opening, and
A developer replenishing container for replenishing the developer contained therein,
When attaching the developer supply container to the mouth, the developer stirring
A part of the member is located in the mounting space of the developer supply container.
The developer agitating section prior to the sealing member.
Abutment for abutting part of the material and retracting from the mounting space
A developing device comprising a member attached to the developer supply container . 2. A developing device according to claim 1, wherein said drive transmitting member of said rotary drive means is constituted by a gear train.
The idle gear included in the gear train is transferred to the developer supply container
To supply the developer to the opening
When the container is installed, the developer stirring member can rotate freely.
A developing device characterized in that: 3. A developer is transported to a latent image carrier on which a latent image has been formed.
Developer carrier to be fed and development to be supplied to the developer carrier
Developer accommodating portion accommodating developer, and developer in the developer accommodating portion
A developer supply container detachable from the receiving opening, and the developer
Developer stirring member and the developer is stirred Ri by the rotation of the housing portion
Stirring means provided with the developer supply container.
Developing device which is mounted on the developing unit and replenishes the developer into the developer accommodating portion.
At least a part of the developer stirring member is provided in the developer supply container.
The developer in the container is agitated, and the rotation driving means of the developer agitating member is at least
The developer supply container is removed from the space for mounting the developer supply container.
When taken out, the developer stirring member becomes rotatable.
When the developer supply container is taken out from the mounting space,
A part of the developer stirring member is located in the mounting space.
The developer agitating member when it is in contact with
The contact part to be retracted from the space is attached to the developer supply container.
A developing device characterized by being formed. 4. The developing device according to claim 3 , wherein the drive transmission member of the rotation drive means is constituted by a gear train.
The idle gear included in the gear train is transferred to the developer supply container
For mounting the developer supply container
When the developer supply container is removed from the space, the current
The image stirrer is made rotatable.
Developing device.