JP6659156B2 - Developing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device used for an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system.

  2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system is provided with a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the surface of an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum with toner. A developing device that uses a two-component developer containing a toner and a carrier as a developer causes the toner and the carrier to be frictionally charged by circulating and transporting the developer inside the developing container while stirring. Then, the developer is carried on the developer carrying member disposed at the opening of the developing container, so that the charged toner is supplied to the developing region between the developer carrying member and the image carrying member.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a developing device provided with an upper transport path for supplying a developer to a developing roll and a lower transport path for collecting the developer from the developing roll. In this apparatus, the developer in the upper transport path and the lower transport path is circulated and transported inside the developing container by being transported by the transport member. Further, the developer conveyed on the upper conveying path is carried by the developing roll, moves to the developing area, and is collected on the lower conveying path as the developing roll rotates.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a developing device in which a developer is sealed in a stirring chamber of a developing container in an initial state, a sealing sheet for sealing the stirring chamber is provided, and the sealing sheet is automatically removed at startup. Is disclosed. The developing container of the developing device is separated from the developing chamber and the stirring chamber by a partition wall. In use, the developing chamber and the stirring chamber are communicated by an opening provided in the partition wall. Then, in the initial state, the sealing sheet sealing the opening is removed by being taken up by a take-up shaft which rotates in conjunction with the developing sleeve.

JP 2009-2111087 A JP 2014-81665 A

  As described in Patent Document 1, with respect to a function-separated developing device in which the inside of a developing container is divided into a plurality of chambers having different functions, a developer is sealed in a part of such a developing container. A configuration is conceivable in which the seal is automatically opened at the time of startup. That is, a part of the developing container in which the first chamber for supplying the developer to the developer carrier and the second chamber for collecting the developer carried on the developer carrier is formed is sealed with a sealing member. It is configured to provide a removal device that stops and automatically removes the sealing member at startup.

  Here, in the function-separated type configuration, not only the first chamber but also the second chamber is in direct communication with the developer carrying member during use in order to secure a developer collection path. For this reason, when the developer is sealed in a part of the developing container, for example, in addition to a sealing member (sealing sheet) for sealing the opening of the partition wall (partition wall) as disclosed in Patent Document 2, the developer is sealed. A sealing member for sealing the collection path will be provided. However, in such a configuration, when the developing device is started, the developer carried on the developer carrying member is blocked by the sealing member in the middle of the recovery path, and overflows to the outside of the developing container. There was a possibility.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a developing device in which a developer is sealed in a function-separated type developing container and which automatically removes a sealing member without overflowing the developer.

  A developing device according to the present invention includes a developer carrier that rotates while carrying a developer, a first chamber that supplies the developer to the developer carrier during use, and a developer housed in an initial state. A second chamber is sometimes formed in which the developer carried on the developer carrier is collected, and a partition is provided to separate the first chamber from the second chamber. And a second transfer unit that transfers the developer stored in the second chamber to the first chamber and a second transfer unit that transfers the developer stored in the second chamber to the first chamber. A container, a first transport member that is disposed in the first chamber and transports the developer, and a second transport chamber that is disposed in the second chamber such that at least a part of the first transport member overlaps with the first transport member when viewed in a horizontal direction. (2) a conveying member, a first sealing member adhered to the partition wall to seal the first delivery portion, and A second sealing member that is attached and seals the second delivery unit; and a first sealing member and the second sealing member that are adhered to the developing container and separate the developer carrier and the second transport member. (2) a third sealing member that seals the second chamber together with the sealing member; a driving device that drives the developer carrier, the first transport member, and the second transport member; As a result, at least a portion of the third sealing member is peeled off, and the first delivery unit and the second delivery unit are opened in a state where the developer carrier and the second transport member are in communication with each other. As described above, the apparatus includes the removing device for removing the first sealing member, the second sealing member, and the third sealing member.

  Further, the developing device according to the present invention includes a developer carrier that rotates while supporting the developer, a first chamber that supplies the developer to the developer carrier, and a developing device that is supported by the developer carrier. A second chamber for collecting an agent is formed, the partition having a partition separating the first chamber and the second chamber, and the partition having a developer between the first chamber and the second chamber; A transfer container formed with a transfer unit for transferring the developer, a first transfer member disposed in the first chamber and transferring the developer, and the first transfer member in the second chamber when viewed from a horizontal direction. A second transport member disposed so as to at least partially overlap, a first chamber sealing member bonded to the developing container to seal the first chamber, and a second chamber bonded to the developing container. A second chamber sealing member for sealing the developer, the developer carrier, the first transport member, and the second transport member And the first chamber is opened in a state where at least a part of the second chamber sealing member is peeled off and the second chamber is opened by being driven by the driving device and the driving device. A removing device for removing the first chamber sealing member and the second chamber sealing member.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the developing device which removes a sealing member automatically without overflowing a developer can be provided by the structure which seals a developer in a function separation type developing container.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device according to the first embodiment when viewed from a longitudinal direction. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device according to the first embodiment as viewed from above. FIG. 2 is a diagram combining a plan view of the developing device according to the first embodiment and a block diagram illustrating a driving configuration of the developing device. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an initial state of the developing device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2A is a side view illustrating a part of a gear train of the developing device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a side view illustrating another part of the gear train. 2A is a schematic view illustrating a sealing configuration of a developing container according to the first embodiment, and FIGS. 2B, 2C, and 2D are cross-sectional views illustrating configurations of respective sealing sheets. 5 is a flowchart illustrating steps of an initial startup operation according to the first embodiment. 5 is a graph showing a change in load torque acting on a drive motor in an initial startup operation according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sealing configuration of a developing container according to a modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an initial state of the developing device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram combining a plan view of a developing device according to a second embodiment and a block diagram illustrating a driving configuration of the developing device. FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating a gear train of the developing device according to the second embodiment. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows the sealing structure of the developing container which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, (b), (c) is sectional drawing which shows the structure of each sealing sheet. 9 is a flowchart showing steps of an initial startup operation according to the second embodiment. 9 is a graph showing a change in load torque acting on a drive motor in an initial startup operation according to a second embodiment.

<First embodiment>
Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[Image forming apparatus]
First, a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus 200 is an example of a full-color image forming apparatus, and includes four image forming units (image forming stations) Sa, Sb, along a rotation direction (direction of an arrow R7) of an intermediate transfer belt 7 as an intermediate transfer body. Sc and Sd are provided. The image forming units Sa, Sb, Sc, and Sd are, in this order, image forming units that form toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively, and are photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, and 1c that are image carriers. , 1d. However, since the configurations of the image forming units Sa, Sb, Sc, and Sd are the same except for the toner color used for development, the following description will be made using the yellow image forming unit Sa as a representative example.

  The photosensitive drum 1a is a cylindrical (drum-type) electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer made of an organic optical semiconductor having a negative charge characteristic. The photosensitive drum 1a has a diameter of 30 mm, a longitudinal length of 360 mm, and is driven to rotate at a process speed (peripheral speed) of 250 mm / sec in the direction of arrow Ra. Around the photosensitive drums, a primary charger 2a serving as a charging unit and an exposure device 3a serving as a latent image forming unit are arranged in this order along the rotation direction. Further, a developing device 4a as a developing unit, a primary transfer roller 5a as a primary transfer unit, and a secondary charger 6a as an auxiliary charging unit are arranged around each photosensitive drum.

  The primary charger 2a is a charging roller having a diameter of 14 mm and a longitudinal length of 320 mm, and is driven to rotate by the photosensitive drum 1a. The charging roller is urged toward the photosensitive drum 1a by a pressure spring (not shown). In addition, a charging bias in which a DC voltage of -900 V and an AC voltage of 1500 V between peaks are superimposed is applied to the charging roller from a high-voltage power supply as an application unit. The secondary charger 6a realizes a cleaner-less configuration in which, for example, a negative charge is injected into the toner attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum 1a, so that the transfer residual toner is collected in the developing device 4a.

  An endless intermediate transfer belt 7 as an intermediate transfer member is stretched over the primary transfer rollers 5a to 5d, the secondary transfer opposing rollers 8, and the tension rollers 17 and 18 of the image forming units Sa to Sd. The intermediate transfer belt 7 is in contact with the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d by being pressed from the back side by the primary transfer rollers 5a to 5d. Thus, primary transfer nips T1a, T1b, T1c, and T1d, which are primary transfer portions, are formed between each of the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d and the intermediate transfer belt 7. The intermediate transfer belt 7 rotates in the direction of arrow R7 with the rotation of the secondary transfer opposing roller 8, which also serves as a driving roller. The rotation speed of the intermediate transfer belt 7 is set to be substantially the same as the rotation speed (process speed) of each of the photosensitive drums 1 described above.

  On the outer peripheral side (front side) of the intermediate transfer belt 7, a secondary transfer roller 9 as a secondary transfer unit is disposed at a position corresponding to the secondary transfer opposing roller 8. The secondary transfer roller 9 sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 7 between the secondary transfer opposing roller 8 and the secondary transfer roller 9 and the intermediate transfer belt 7. A next transfer nip T2 is formed. A belt cleaner 11 as an intermediate transfer member cleaner is in contact with a position corresponding to the tension roller 17 on the outer peripheral side of the intermediate transfer belt 7.

  A recording material P (for example, a sheet material such as a sheet or an OHP sheet) to be used for image formation is stored in a state of being stacked on the cassette 10. The recording material P is supplied to the above-described secondary transfer nip portion T2 by a feeding device having a feeding roller, a feeding roller, a registration roller, and the like (all not shown). On the downstream side of the secondary transfer nip T2 in the transport direction of the recording material P, a fixing device 13 having a fixing roller 14 and a pressure roller 15 pressed against the fixing roller 14 is provided. On the side, a discharge tray (not shown) is provided.

  In the image forming apparatus 200 having the above configuration, a full-color toner image is formed on the recording material P as described below. First, when an original is read by a scanner (not shown), an image signal based on yellow, magenta, cyan, and black components is determined. Note that an image signal may be sent from an external terminal such as a personal computer. In the yellow image forming section Sa, the photosensitive drum 1a is driven to rotate at a predetermined process speed by a drive motor (not shown), and is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by a primary charger 2a. Exposure based on image information is performed on the charged photosensitive drum 1a by the exposure device 3a, and the charge of the exposed portion is removed to form an electrostatic latent image of each color. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1a is developed by the developing device 4 as a yellow toner image.

  Such a toner image forming process proceeds in parallel in each of the image forming units Sa, Sb, Sd, and Sc, and yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images are respectively formed on the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d. It is formed. These four color toner images are transferred (primary transfer) in the primary transfer nips T1a, T1b, T1c, and T1d while being sequentially superimposed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 7.

  The four color toner images superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 7 as described above are secondarily transferred to the recording material P. The recording material P conveyed from the cassette 10 by the feeding / conveying device is supplied to the secondary transfer nip portion T2 by a registration roller so as to match the timing with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 7. At the secondary transfer nip portion T2, the secondary transfer roller 9 collectively secondary-transfers the four color toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 7 onto the supplied recording material P.

  The recording material P on which the toner images of the four colors have been secondarily transferred is conveyed to a fixing device 13, where it is heated and pressed to fix the toner image on the surface. The recording material P after the fixing of the toner image is discharged onto a discharge tray (not shown). Thus, the formation of a full-color image on one side (front side) of one recording material P is completed.

[Developing device]
Next, the developing devices 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The developing devices 4a to 4d of the respective colors have the same configuration except for the contained developer, and therefore, will be described below as the developing device 4. First, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the configuration of the developing device 4 as viewed from above in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 4 includes a developing sleeve 44, a magnet roll 44a, a developing container 41, a first screw 71, and a second screw 72.

  A partition 70 is provided inside the developing container 41 containing the developer, and a developing chamber 41a and a stirring chamber 41b separated by the partition 70 are formed. The developing sleeve 44 as a developer carrying member for carrying the developer is disposed above the developing chamber 41a. The developing sleeve 44 is a cylindrical member having a diameter of 20 mm and a length of 334 mm in the axial direction, and is rotatably supported in a direction shown in FIG. 2 by a magnet roll 44a as a magnetic field generating means. The developing container 41 has an opening facing the photosensitive drum 1 and provided with a regulating blade 42. The developing sleeve 44 disposed in the opening is close to the photosensitive drum 1 and forms a developing area between the developing sleeve 44 and the photosensitive drum 1.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the developing chamber 41a as the first chamber and the stirring chamber 41b as the second chamber are formed in parallel with each other in the axial direction of the developing sleeve 44. Therefore, the developing container 41 is formed to be long in the axial direction of the developing sleeve 44 (hereinafter, this axial direction is referred to as the longitudinal direction of the developing container 41). In the developing chamber 41a and the stirring chamber 41b, a screw as a stirring and conveying member for conveying the developer while stirring is arranged. That is, a first screw 71 as a first transport member is disposed in the developing chamber 41a, and a second screw 72 as a second transport member is disposed in the stirring chamber 41b. In this embodiment, the first screw 71 and the second screw 72 will be described as being arranged substantially horizontally. However, the first screw 71 and the second screw 72 are provided at different vertical positions within a range where at least a part thereof overlaps when viewed from the horizontal direction. Is also good.

  The first screw 71 has a cylindrical shaft portion 71a and a spiral blade portion 71b, and rotates the developer contained in the developing chamber 41a to one side in the longitudinal direction (left side in the drawing). Transport. The second screw 72 has a cylindrical shaft portion 72a and a spiral blade portion 72b, and rotates to transfer the developer contained in the stirring chamber 41b to the other longitudinal direction (rightward in the drawing). Transport. The second screw 72 is provided with a stirring rib 72c that protrudes radially outward from the shaft portion 72a at a position between the pitches of the blade portions 72b to promote stirring of the developer. In addition, a reverse blade portion 72d formed in a spiral shape in a direction opposite to the blade portion 72b is formed downstream of the second screw 72.

  Of the partition wall 70, a transfer wall 74 separating the first screw 71 and the second screw 72 has a first communication port 41 c and a second communication port at the upstream and downstream ends of the second screw 72 in the transfer direction, respectively. An opening 41d is formed. The first communication port 41c is a first transfer section through which the developer stored in the developing chamber 41a is transferred to the stirring chamber 41b, and the second communication port 41d is configured to transfer the developer stored in the stirring chamber 41b to the developing chamber 41a. Is a second delivery unit that is delivered. The developing chamber 41a and the stirring chamber 41b are connected by a first communication port 41c and a second communication port 41d, thereby forming a circulation path through which the developer is circulated and conveyed during use.

  Note that a developer replenishing unit 49 is provided at the upstream end of the second screw 72 in the transport direction in the stirring chamber 41b. In the present embodiment, a two-component developer containing a non-magnetic toner containing a coloring component and a carrier containing a magnetic material is used, and the toner concentration (the weight of the toner in the developer) A density sensor 45 capable of measuring the ratio is provided. When the toner concentration in the developing container 41 is reduced, the replenishing developer contained in the containing container (not shown) is replenished to the stirring chamber 41 b via a replenishing port provided at an upper part of the developer replenishing part 49. .

  Further, a developer discharge section 43 is provided at a downstream end of the stirring chamber 41b in the transport direction. In the present embodiment, the carrier is contained in the replenishing developer, and when the amount of the developer inside the developing container 41 is increased by the replenishment, the surplus developer is discharged from the developer discharging portion 43 through the reverse blade portion 72d. It is supposed to be.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the partition 70 has a transfer wall 74, a collection unit 75, and an upper wall 76. The collection unit 75 is a plate-shaped member bent from the upper end of the transport wall 74 extending upward from the bottom of the developing container 41 toward the developing chamber 41a. The upper end of the collecting section 75 is close to the developing sleeve 44, and forms an inclined surface on which the developer peeled off from the developing sleeve 44 by the repulsive magnetic field formed by the magnet roll 44a slides down to the stirring chamber 41b. The upper wall 76 extends downward from the ceiling of the developing container 41 and is disposed on an extension of the transport wall 74, and forms a collection port 41 e with the upper end of the transport wall 74 (the lower end of the collection unit 75). . The collection port 41e is a third delivery unit where the developer collected by the collection unit 75 is delivered to the stirring chamber 41b.

  As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4, the developing device 4 is supplied with a driving force from a driving motor M1. The drive of the drive motor M1 is controlled by a control unit 50 that receives an input signal from a user interface such as the operation panel 56 and controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 200. The developing sleeve 44, the first screw 71, and the second screw 72 are connected to each other by a gear train described later, and are simultaneously driven to rotate by the drive motor M1.

  The developing device 4 operates by being driven by the drive motor M1. That is, by the rotation of the first screw 71 and the second screw 72, the developer is circulated and transported between the developing chamber 41a and the stirring chamber 41b, and the carrier and the toner contained in the developer are frictionally charged. The developer conveyed in the developing chamber 41a is attracted to the developing sleeve 44 by the magnetic field generated by the magnet roll 44a, and is conveyed to the developing area with the layer thickness regulated by the regulating blade 42.

  The developer in the carrier-rich state used for development in the development area moves into the development container 41 again by the rotation of the development sleeve 44 and peels off from the surface of the development sleeve 44 by the repulsive magnetic field. The peeled developer slides down the inclined surface of the collection section 75 and is collected in the stirring chamber 41b through the collection port 41e. The developer collected in the stirring chamber 41b is stirred by the second screw 72 together with the developer flowing into the stirring chamber 41b through the first communication port 41c and the developer supplied to the developer supply section 49, and is made uniform. In this state, the developer is fed into the developing chamber 41a through the second communication port 41d.

[initial state]
Next, an initial state of the developing device 4 will be described with reference to FIG. The developing devices 4 of the respective colors are exchangeable by being attached to and detached from an apparatus main body 201 (FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus 200 in order to improve convenience. However, the process cartridge is not limited to the one that can be replaced by the developing device alone, and may be configured as a process cartridge that is detachable from the apparatus main body 201 together with the photosensitive drum 1 and the primary charger 2. The CPU 50 of the image forming apparatus 200 recognizes whether or not the developing device 4 is in the initial state, for example, by recognizing the identification tag provided on the developing device 4. In any case, the developer is sealed in the stirring chamber 41b in advance in the developing device 4 in a new state (initial state) such as immediately after replacement, as shown by a hatched portion in FIG.

  In the developing device 4 in the initial state, the three openings of the stirring chamber 41b are sealed by the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, and 51c. That is, the first communication port 41c (the first delivery unit) is sealed by the sealing sheet 51a that is a first sealing member, and the second communication port 41d (the second delivery unit) is sealed by the sealing sheet that is the second sealing member. It is sealed by the stop sheet 51b. In addition, the collection port 41e (third delivery unit) is sealed by a sealing sheet 51c that is a third sealing member. These sealing sheets 51a, 51b, 51c are sheet materials made of, for example, a resin material, and are adhered to the partition wall 70 of the developing container 41 by heat welding or an adhesive. The developer is filled in the stirring chamber 41b sealed by the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, and 51c, so that the developer does not leak into the developing chamber 41a.

  The developing device 4 is provided with a winding shaft 60 for winding the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, 51c as a removing device for removing the sealing member. The CPU 50 performs an initial start-up operation when the developing device 4 is in the initial state, and removes the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, and 51c using the winding shaft 60. However, the initial startup operation is a preparation operation for bringing the developing device 4 into a developable state, including a step of removing the sealing member and opening the stirring chamber 41b, and will be described in detail later.

  The winding shaft 60 is a columnar member made of a resin material, and is disposed above the developing container 41 along the longitudinal direction. One end of each of the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, and 51c is fixed to the winding shaft 60, and extends into the stirring chamber 41b through a slit (not shown) provided in the top plate of the developing container 41. I have. These sheet materials extend downward from the winding shaft 60 and are adhered to the partition wall 70 in a state of being folded upward. Accordingly, the sealing sheets 51 a, 51 b, and 51 c are peeled upward from the lower side of the adhesive area to the partition wall 70 by the rotation of the winding shaft 60, and are wound on the winding shaft 60, so that the developing container 41 is wound. Removed from

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the winding shaft 60 is connected to the developing sleeve 44, the first screw 71, and the second screw 71 via a gear train provided at a longitudinal end of the developing container 41. 72. 6A is a side view of the developing device 4 as viewed from one side (left side in FIG. 4) in the longitudinal direction, and FIG. 6B is a side view as viewed from the other side in the longitudinal direction (right side in FIG. 4). FIG. The developing device 4 is connected to the drive motor M1 via a coupling that can be disengaged by moving in the axial direction, and the driving force of the drive motor M1 is input to a gear 156 provided on the developing sleeve 44 ( (See FIG. 4).

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the gear 156 of the developing sleeve 44 rotates the gear 151 provided on the first screw 71 via the idler gear 153. As shown in FIG. 6B, a gear 152 is provided on the opposite side of the first screw 71 in the longitudinal direction, and the gear 152 rotates a gear 150 provided on the second screw 72. The gear 152 of the first screw 72 rotates a gear 155 provided on the winding shaft 60 via gears 157 and 154.

  The gear 154 and the gear 155 constitute a worm gear mechanism in which the gear 154 is a worm, and reduce the rotation received from the first screw 71 and transmit the rotation to the winding shaft 60. The gear ratio between the gears 150 and 152 is set such that the rotational speed of the second screw 72 is higher than that of the first screw 71 in order to promote the stirring of the developer in the stirring chamber 41b and stabilize the charge amount of the developer. It is set to increase.

  With the above configuration, the drive motor M1 integrally rotates and drives the developing sleeve 44, the first screw 71, the second screw 72, and the winding shaft 60 at least during an initial startup operation described later. For example, when the developing sleeve is driven at a rotation speed of 250 rpm, the rotation speeds of the first screw 71, the second screw 72, and the winding shaft 60 are 300 rpm, 400 rpm, and 24.5 rpm, respectively. The winding shaft 60 having the above configuration is continuously driven to rotate even after the initial start-up operation. However, the winding shaft 60 is connected between the drive motor M1 and the winding shaft 60 after the end of the initial start-up operation. May be provided.

[Detailed configuration of sealing sheet]
Next, a detailed configuration of the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, and 51c for defining the opening order of the sealing members in the initial startup operation will be described. As shown in FIG. 7A, the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, and 51c are resin sheets containing polyester having a thickness of 0.1 mm, and partition walls are provided around the corresponding transfer sections (41c, 41d, and 41e). 70 is heat-welded. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, “sealing” refers to substantially closing the entire opening area of the transfer unit to the extent that leakage of the developer is prevented, and “opening” refers to at least the opening area. It means that the delivery part is communicated by opening a part.

  The first communication port 41c, the second communication port 41d, and the collection port 41e, which are the transfer units of the present embodiment, are rectangular openings that extend in the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction of the developing container 41. The bonding areas of the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, and 51c indicated by the hexagonal broken lines project in a mountain shape below and above the transfer portion. Therefore, the vertices of the lower ridges of the bonding area are the peeling ends Pa1, Pb1, and Pc1 at which the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, and 51c start to peel off from the partition 70 first when the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, and 51c are wound up. The vertices of the ridges on the upper side of the bonding area are the peeling ends Pa2, Pb2, and Pc2 that are finally peeled off from the partition wall 70. In addition, although the peeling start end and the peeling end are drawn as obtuse vertices, when the bonding area is different from that shown in the drawing, the part where peeling starts simultaneously by the rotation of the winding shaft 60 corresponds to the peeling start end. The part where the peeling is completed corresponds to the peeling end.

  Here, in a configuration in which the three transfer portions (41a, 41b, 41c) are simultaneously opened as in Comparative Example 1 described later, not only a large load torque acts on the drive motor M1, but also the developer May overflow outside the Therefore, the developing device 4 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the collection port 41e is opened first, and then the first communication port 41c and the second communication port 41d are opened.

  The load torque applied to the drive motor M1 when the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, 51c are peeled off from the partition wall 70 peaks at the timing when the peeling start ends Pa1, Pb1, Pc1 and the peeling ends Pa2, Pb2, Pc2 are peeled off. I know that Therefore, in order to reduce the load on the drive motor M1, it is preferable that the separation timing of the separation start ends Pa1, Pb1, Pc1 and the separation end points Pa2, Pb2, Pc2 is temporally dispersed.

  In consideration of these points, in the example (Example 1) of the present embodiment, the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, and 51c in the initial state are configured as follows. First, the sealing sheets 51a and 51b are provided with slack along the winding direction such that the peeling start ends Pa1 and Pb1 are separated from the partition wall 70 behind the peeling start end Pc1 of the sealing sheet 51c. However, the length in the winding direction is a length along the radial direction of the sheet when measured in a state where the sealing sheet is extended from the winding shaft 60 in the radial direction. In addition, the slack is a length from the peeling start end of the sheet material to a fixed end fixed to the winding shaft 60 in a winding direction, and is a length from the peeling start end to the winding shaft in a state immediately before the peeling start end is peeled. It is the difference. In the following description, the length of the sheet material in the winding direction is simply referred to as “length”.

  The length of the sealing sheet 51a (FIG. 7B) for sealing the first communication port 41c was 120 mm, and a slack of 30 mm was provided. The length of the sealing sheet 51b (FIG. 7C) for sealing the second communication port 41d was 110 mm, and a slack of 20 mm was provided. The length of the sealing sheet 51c (FIG. 7D) for sealing the recovery port 41e was 90 mm, and a 10 mm slack was provided. The upper and lower widths of the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, 51c from the peeling ends Pa1, Pb1, Pc1 to the corresponding peeling ends Pa2, Pb2, Pc2 are set substantially equal to each other. The vertical position of the peeling start end Pc1 of the sealing sheet 51c is 5 mm above the peeling start ends Pa1 and Pb1 of the sealing sheets 51a and 51b.

[Initial startup operation]
Next, the initial startup operation of the developing device 4 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The CPU 50 of the image forming apparatus 200 performs, for example, an initial start-up operation when a user inputs a command for instructing an initial start-up operation via the operation panel 56 in a state where the developing device 4 is mounted on the apparatus main body 201. Is started (S101). Then, the drive of the drive motor M1 is started by the control signal from the CPU 50, so that the first screw 71, the second screw 72, and the winding shaft 60 simultaneously start rotating in conjunction with the development sleeve 44 ( S102).

  When the winding shaft 60 rotates by the amount of the slack (10 mm) of the sealing sheet 51c, the peeling start end Pc1 of the sealing sheet 51c is peeled off from the partition wall 70, and the collection port 41e is soon opened (S103). When the winding shaft 60 is rotated by the difference (10 mm) in the slack length between the sealing sheets 51b and 51c from the time when the collection port 41e is opened, the peeling start end Pb1 of the sealing sheet 51b is peeled from the partition wall 70 and the second The communication port 41d is opened (S104). When the second communication port 41d is opened, the developer sealed in the stirring chamber 41b flows into the developing chamber 41a, and the developing sleeve 44 is in a state capable of carrying the developer. The developer carried on the developing sleeve 44 reaches the collecting unit 75 via the developing area, and is collected in the stirring chamber 41b through the already opened collection port 41e.

  When the winding shaft 60 rotates by the difference (10 mm) in the slack length between the sealing sheets 51a and 51b from the time of opening the second communication port 41d, the peeling start end Pa1 of the sealing sheet 51a is peeled off from the partition wall 70, The first communication port 41c is opened (S105). When the first communication port 41c is opened, the developer that has reached the downstream part of the developing chamber 41a is transferred to the stirring chamber 41b through the first communication port 41c, and the first screw 71 and the second screw The circulating conveyance of the developer by the screw 72 is started (S106).

  When the winding shaft 60 further rotates, the peeling end Pc2 of the sealing sheet 51c is peeled off, and the entire recovery port 41e is opened (S107). The separation ends Pa2 and Pb2 of the sealing sheets 51a and 51b are sequentially peeled off at intervals corresponding to the difference in the slack length, so that the second communication port 41d and the first communication port 41c follow the recovery port 41e. Are opened (S108, S109). The sealing sheets 51 a, 51 b, 51 c peeled off from the partition 70 are removed from the inside of the developing container 41 by being taken up by the take-up shaft 60.

  Thereafter, the CPU 50 continues driving the developing device 4 by the drive motor M1 for a predetermined time (for example, 200 seconds), and then stops driving the drive motor M1. While the driving by the driving motor M1 is continued, the developer is agitated by the first screw 71 and the second screw 72, and the carrier and the toner are in a sufficiently frictionally charged state. Further, the developer sealed in the stirring chamber 41b is appropriately dispersed in the developing chamber 41a and the stirring chamber 41b, so that the developer can be stably supplied to the developing sleeve 44.

[Transition of load torque]
The transition of the load torque acting on the drive motor M1 during the initial start-up operation will be described with reference to FIG. However, the graph shown in FIG. 9 plots the measurement results of the load torque (vertical axis) acting on the drive motor M1 with respect to the elapsed time (horizontal axis) from the start of driving the drive motor M1. The solid line in FIG. 9 corresponds to the developing device (Example 1) to which the present embodiment is applied, and the broken line corresponds to the developing device for comparison (Comparative Example 1).

  The developing device of Comparative Example 1 is different from the developing device of Example 1 in that the sag of the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, and 51c is set to 10 mm uniformly without any difference. The other configuration is the same as that of the developing device 4. In a state where the same amount of the developer as that in the initial state is contained in the developing container 41, a load torque of about 0.13 N · m acts on the drive motor M1 in common with the first embodiment and the comparative example 1. I do. Since this is a steady load such as the rotational load of the first screw 71 and the second screw 72, a load torque for peeling off the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, 51c is added in the initial start-up operation. In particular, the load on the drive motor M1 increases at the timing when the peeling ends Pa1, Pb1, Pc1 and the peeling ends Pa2, Pb2, Pc2 of the bonding region of each sheet material are peeled off.

  Here, in the configuration of the developing device for comparison, the slack of the three sealing sheets 51a, 51b, 51c is removed at the same timing about 1.5 seconds after the rotation of the winding shaft 60 by the driving motor M1 starts. You. For this reason, the peeling start ends Pa1, Pb1, and Pc1 are simultaneously peeled off, and the first communication port 41c, the second communication port 41d, and the recovery port 41e are simultaneously opened. As shown in FIG. 9, at the timing when the peeling start ends Pa1, Pb1 and Pc1 are peeled, a load torque exceeding 0.6 N · m acts on the drive motor M1. In addition, about 5 seconds after the start of the peeling of the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, 51c, the peeling ends Pa2, Pb2, Pc2 are peeled off at the same time, and a load torque exceeding 0.6 N · m is still acting at this time. .

  On the other hand, in the developing device 4 of the first embodiment, the peeling start end Pc1 of the sealing sheet 51c is peeled off after about 1.5 seconds from the start of the rotation of the winding shaft 60 by the drive motor M1 (corresponding to S103 in FIG. 8). At this time, the load torque increased to about 0.3 Nm, and then decreased to about 0.2 Nm. About 1.5 seconds after the start of the peeling of the sealing sheet 51c, the peeling start end Pb1 of the sealing sheet 51b is peeled (corresponding to S104). At this time, the load torque rose to about 0.36 N · m, and then dropped to about 0.22 N · m. Further, about 1.5 seconds after the start of the peeling of the sealing sheet 51b, the peeling start end Pa1 of the sealing sheet 51a is peeled (corresponding to S105). At this time, the load torque rose to about 0.38 N · m, and then dropped to about 0.28 N · m.

  Further, after about 1.5 seconds from the start of the peeling of the sealing sheet 51a, the peeling end Pc2 of the sealing sheet 51c is peeled (corresponding to S107). At this time, the load torque increased to about 0.4 Nm, which is the maximum value during the initial start-up operation, and then decreased to about 0.22 Nm. About 1.5 seconds after the completion of the peeling of the sealing sheet 51c, the peeling end Pb2 of the sealing sheet 51b was peeled (corresponding to S108). At this time, the load torque rose to about 0.38 N · m, and then dropped to about 0.2 N · m. Further, about 1.5 seconds after the completion of the peeling of the sealing sheet 51b, the peeling end Pa2 of the sealing sheet 51a was peeled (corresponding to S109). At this time, the load torque increased to about 0.36 Nm, and then gradually decreased to a value of about 0.13 Nm.

[Effects of the present embodiment]
As in Comparative Example 1, when the opening timing of the recovery port 41e and the second communication port 41d is simultaneous (or the recovery port 41e is later), the developer that has reached the recovery unit 75 flows backward. There is a possibility that the developer will overflow outside the developing container 41. When the developer that has flowed into the developing chamber 41a through the second communication port 41d reaches the collection unit 75 via the development sleeve 44, the collection port 41e is in a state before or immediately after opening, and the sealing sheet This is because the developer is blocked by 51c.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the sealing sheets 51a and 51b are provided with a larger slack than the sealing sheet 51c. Thus, when the winding shaft 60 winds the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, 51c, the collection port 41e is first opened, and the first communication port 41c and the second communication port are opened with the collection port 41e opened. 41d is opened. Therefore, before the developer reaches the collection unit 75, a movement path of the developer from the collection unit 75 to the stirring chamber 41b is secured, and the overflow of the developer is avoided.

  The sealing sheets 51a and 51b are configured such that the first communication port 41c is opened with the second communication port 41d opened. For this reason, it is possible to avoid such a disadvantage that the developer is compressed at the downstream portion of the stirring chamber 41b and the second screw 72 is locked by delaying the opening of the second communication port 41d.

  Here, in the configuration of Comparative Example 1, the load torque for peeling off the peeling ends Pa1, Pb1 and Pc1 of the sealing sheets 51a, 51b and 51c and the load torque for peeling off the peeling ends Pa2, Pb2 and Pc2 are temporally different. concentrate. Since a certain amount of adhesive force is required to reliably seal the opening of the transfer section with the sealing sheet, a large load acts on the drive motor M1 when the peak of the peeling load is concentrated. In this case, for example, changing the drive motor M1 to one having a large maximum output causes a cost increase, and providing a drive source (motor) for driving the winding shaft 60 separately from the drive motor M1 increases the cost and increases the size of the apparatus. It becomes a factor of the conversion. Further, since the peeling load acts not only on the drive motor M1 but also on the winding shaft 60, it is necessary to increase the shaft diameter or change to a metal material in order to increase the strength of the winding shaft 60. It is not preferable from the viewpoint of cost and size reduction.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, 51c are set to have different lengths of slack, the peeling start ends Pa1, Pb1, Pc1 are peeled at different timings. Further, the bonding regions of the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, 51c are set such that the peeling ends Pa2, Pb2, Pc2 are peeled at different timings. As a result, the load torque applied to the drive motor M1 is dispersed into six peaks (see FIG. 9) corresponding to the peeling start points Pa1, Pb1, Pc1 and the peeling end points Pa2, Pb2, Pc2. Accordingly, the maximum output required for the drive motor M1 and the strength required for the winding shaft 60 are reduced, which contributes to cost reduction and miniaturization of the apparatus.

[Modification]
In the above example (Example 1), the collection port 41e (third delivery section) is sealed with one sealing sheet 51c, but as shown in FIG. 41e may be configured to be sealed. In this modification, a first sheet 51d and a second sheet 51e are provided as a sealing member for sealing the recovery port 41e. The first sheet 51d seals an area on the downstream side in the transport direction of the second screw 72, which is a first area of the collection port 41e. The second sheet 52 seals a region on the upstream side in the transport direction of the second screw 72, which is a second region of the collection port 41e.

  The first sheet 51d and the second sheet 51e have their upper ends fixed to the take-up shaft 60, respectively, and extend downward from the take-up shaft 60 and adhere to the partition wall 70 in a state of being folded upward. The first sheet 51d and the second sheet 51e are peeled off in order from the lower side to the upper side of the bonding area, and are removed by being taken up by the take-up shaft 60. That is, these sheet materials have peeling start ends Pd1 and Pe1 which are lower ends of the bonding area to the partition wall 70, and peeling ends Pd2 and Pe2 which are upper ends of the bonding area.

  Here, when the developer sealed in the stirring chamber 41b flows into the developing chamber 41a in the initial state, the developing sleeve 44 is in a state of carrying the developer sequentially from the upstream side in the transport direction of the first screw 71. Therefore, in order to more reliably prevent the overflow of the developer, it is preferable that the first sheet 51d be peeled off before the second sheet 51e. Further, in order to prevent the locking of the second screw 72, it is necessary to open the second communication port 41d immediately after the collection port 41e is opened, so that the sealing sheet 51b is closed before the second sheet 51e. It is preferable to peel off.

  Therefore, in this modification, the slack of each sheet material is set so that the first sheet 51d, the sealing sheet 51b, the second sheet 51e, and the sealing sheet 51a are peeled off in this order. As a result, the peeling ends Pa1, Pb1, Pd1, Pe1 and the peeling ends Pa2, Pb2, Pd2, Pe2 of these sheet materials are peeled in the order of {Pd1, Pb1, Pe1, Pa1, Pd2, Pb2, Pe2, Pa2}.

  In this modification, the second communication port 41d is opened with the first area of the collection port 41e opened, so that overflow of the developer can be prevented as in the first embodiment. In addition, the recovery port 41e, whose length in the longitudinal direction is substantially the same as that of the developing sleeve 44, is sealed with a plurality of sealing sheets (51d, 51e), and the timing of peeling off each other is dispersed. Can be reduced more effectively.

  The collection port 41e may be divided into three or more regions, and a sealing member for sealing each region may be provided. In this case, if the sealing member that seals the area downstream of the second screw 72 in the transport direction near the second communication port 41d is first peeled off, the same effect as in the present embodiment can be obtained. it can.

[Other embodiments]
In the present embodiment, the difference in the sagging of the sealing sheet regulates the opening order of the delivery section and distributes the peeling load of the sheet material. However, if the collection port 41e (the third delivery section) is opened before the first communication port 41c and the second communication port 41d (the first and second delivery sections), the removal device and the sealing member may be used. Different configurations may be used. For example, the collection port 41e may be opened earlier than the first communication port 41c and the second communication port 41d by providing a difference in the shaft diameter of the winding shaft.

  In the first embodiment, the order in which the peeling start end is peeled off, the order in which the delivery unit is opened, and the order in which the peeling end is peeled off are described as being the same among the sealing sheets 51a, 51b, and 51c. The peeling order of the peeling start end and the peeling end may be different from the opening order. If the first communication port 41c and the second communication port 41d are opened with the collection port 41e opened, for example, the sealing sheet 51b may start to peel off first.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the first communication port 41c, the second communication port 41d, and the recovery port 41e are described as being sealed in the initial state. However, any configuration that allows the developer to be sealed in the stirring chamber 41b is described. It is not limited to this sealing configuration. For example, instead of the sealing sheet 51c that seals the collection port 41e, a sealing member that seals the stirring chamber 41b at a position (for example, above the second screw 72) that separates the second screw 72 and the developing sleeve 44. (Third sealing member) may be provided. By opening such a sealing member before opening the sealing sheets 51a and 51b, the same effect as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

<Second embodiment>
Next, a developing device 4A according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the developer is sealed in both the developing chamber 41a and the stirring chamber 41b in the initial state, and the first embodiment is different from the first embodiment except for the configuration of the developing container and the configuration of the removing device. The configuration is the same as that of the embodiment. Therefore, components having the same configuration and operation as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 11, a sealing sheet 52a separating the first screw 71 and the developing sleeve 44 and a sealing sheet separating the second screw 72 and the developing sleeve 44 are provided in the initial state of the developing device 4A. 52b. A sealing sheet 52a as a first chamber sealing member for sealing the developing chamber 41a (first chamber) is adhered to the outer peripheral portion of the developing chamber 41a above the first screw 71. A sealing sheet 52b as a second chamber sealing member that seals the stirring chamber 41b (second chamber) is adhered to the outer periphery of the stirring chamber 41b above the second screw 72. The developer is sealed in a closed space (hatched portion) formed by the sealing sheets 52a and 52b.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the developing device 4A is provided with a winding shaft 60A as a removing device for removing the sealing member. The winding shaft 60 </ b> A, the developing sleeve 44, the first screw 71, and the second screw 72 are connected to each other via a gear train disposed on one side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the developing container 41. It is simultaneously rotated by being driven by the motor M1.

  The rotation input to the gear 156A provided on the developing sleeve 44 is transmitted to the gear 151A provided on the first screw 71 via the idler gear 153A, as shown in FIG. The gear 151A rotates while meshing with a gear 150A provided on the second screw 72, and rotates the winding shaft 60A via a gear 154A (worm) and a gear 155A (worm wheel). The take-up shaft 60A is disposed in a horizontal posture when viewed from the longitudinal direction, that is, in a posture crossing the developing chamber 41a and the stirring chamber 41b.

  With the above configuration, the drive motor M1 integrally rotates and drives the developing sleeve 44, the first screw 71, the second screw 72, and the winding shaft 60A at least during an initial startup operation described later. For example, when the developing sleeve is driven at a rotation speed of 250 rpm, the rotation speeds of the first screw 71, the second screw 72, and the winding shaft 60A are 300 rpm, 400 rpm, and 100 rpm, respectively. Although the gear train shown in FIG. 12 has been described as being arranged on one side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the developing container 41, the driving force from the drive motor M1 is applied to one side in the longitudinal direction as in the first embodiment. And the other side.

[Detailed configuration of sealing sheet]
As shown in FIG. 14A, the sealing sheets 52a and 52b extend from the ends fixed to the winding shaft 60A to the inside of the developing container 41 through slits (not shown) provided in the developing container 41. Extending. As shown in FIGS. 14B and 14C, each of the sealing sheets 52a and 52b extends from the winding shaft 60A to one side in the longitudinal direction (to the right in the figure), and the other in the longitudinal direction (FIG. 14B). In a state folded back (middle left), it is bonded (heat-welded) to a part of the developing container 41 from above.

  When driven by the drive motor M1, the winding shaft 60A peels off the adhesive area of the sealing sheets 52a and 52b in order in one of the longitudinal directions (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 14A). Similar to the first embodiment, the adhesive area (hexagonal broken line area) of the sealing sheets 52a and 52b has a mountain shape on one side and the other side in the peeling direction in order to reduce the load torque required for peeling. Overhangs. Accordingly, the right end in the drawing is the peeling start ends Qa1 and Qb1 that start peeling from the developing container 41, and the left end in the drawing is the peeling ends Qa2 and Qb2 that last peels from the developing container 41.

  Here, in a configuration in which the developing chamber 41a and the stirring chamber 41b are simultaneously opened as in Comparative Example 2 described later, not only a large load torque acts on the drive motor M1, but also the developer overflows outside the developing container 41. there is a possibility. Therefore, the developing device 4A according to the present embodiment is configured such that the stirring chamber 41b is opened first, and then the developing chamber 41a is opened.

  Specifically, the sealing sheet 52a has a larger slack than the sealing sheet 52b such that the peeling start end Qa1 of the sealing sheet 52a is separated from the developing container 41 with a delay relative to the peeling start end Qb1 of the sealing sheet 52b. Is provided. The length of the sealing sheet 52a was 820 mm, and the length of the sealing sheet 52b was 790 mm. The sealing sheet 52b was provided with a 10 mm slack, while the sealing sheet 52a was provided with a 40 mm slack. The longitudinal widths of the sealing sheets 52a and 52b from the peeling start ends Qa1 and Qb1 to the corresponding peeling ends Qa2 and Qb2 are set to be substantially equal to each other.

[Initial startup operation]
The initial startup operation of the developing device 4A configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the user inputs a command for instructing an initial start-up operation via the operation panel 56 while the developing device 4A is mounted on the apparatus main body 201, the CPU 50 of the image forming apparatus 200 starts the initial start-up operation (S201). ). The CPU 50 causes the drive motor M1 to start rotating the developing sleeve 44, the first screw 71, the second screw 72, and the winding shaft 60A (S202).

  Simultaneously with the start of the driving of the drive motor M1, the developer is circulated between the developing chamber 41a and the stirring chamber 41b inside the developing container 41 through the first communication port 41c and the second communication port 41d, both of which are transfer portions. The conveyance is started (S203). Then, when the winding shaft 60A rotates by the slack length (10 mm) of the sealing sheet 52b, the peeling start end Qb1 of the sealing sheet 52b is peeled off from the developing container 41, and the stirring chamber 41b is opened (S204). When the winding shaft 60A rotates by the difference (30 mm) in the slack length between the sealing sheets 52a and 52b from the time of opening the stirring chamber 41b, the peeling start end Qa1 of the sealing sheet 52a is peeled off from the developing container 41, and the developing The chamber 41a is opened (S205). When the developing chamber 41a is opened, the developing sleeve 44 can carry the developer, and the supply of the developer to the developing area is started. The developer that has passed through the developing area is peeled off from the developing sleeve 44 inside the developing container 41, slides down the inclined surface of the collecting section 75, and is collected in the already opened stirring chamber 41b.

  When the winding shaft 60A further rotates, the peeling end Qb2 of the sealing sheet 52b is peeled off, and the whole of the stirring chamber 41b is opened (S206). Then, the separation end Qa2 of the sealing sheet 52a is peeled at intervals corresponding to the difference in the slack length, so that the entire surface of the developing chamber 41a is opened (S207). The sealing sheets 52a and 52b peeled off from the developing container 41 are removed from the inside of the developing container 41 by being wound around the winding shaft 60A.

  Thereafter, the CPU 50 continues driving the developing device 4A by the driving motor M1 for a predetermined time (for example, 200 seconds), and then stops driving the driving motor M1. While the driving by the driving motor M1 is continued, the developer is agitated by the first screw 71 and the second screw 72, and the carrier and the toner are in a sufficiently frictionally charged state. Further, since the developer has a distribution according to the conveying force of the first screw 71 and the second screw 72, the developer surface in the developing chamber 41a rises compared to the initial state, and the developer is applied to the developing sleeve 44. A stable supply is possible.

[Transition of load torque]
The transition of the load torque acting on the drive motor M1 during the initial start-up operation will be described with reference to FIG. However, the graph shown in FIG. 16 plots the measurement results of the load torque (vertical axis) acting on the drive motor M1 with respect to the elapsed time (horizontal axis) from the start of driving the drive motor M1. The solid line in FIG. 16 corresponds to the developing device (Example 2) to which the present embodiment is applied, and the broken line corresponds to the developing device for comparison (Comparative Example 2).

  The developing device of Comparative Example 2 is different from the developing device 4A of the present embodiment in that the sag of the sealing sheets 52a and 52b is set to 10 mm uniformly without any difference. The configuration is the same. In a state where the same amount of the developer as that in the initial state is contained in the developing container 41, a load torque of about 0.13 N · m acts on the drive motor M1 in common with the second embodiment and the comparative example 2. I do.

  In the configuration of Comparative Example 2, the slack of the two sealing sheets 52a and 52b is removed at the same timing about one second after the rotation of the winding shaft 60A by the driving motor M1 starts. Therefore, the peeling start ends Qa1 and Qb1 are peeled off at the same time, and the developing chamber 41a and the stirring chamber 41b are simultaneously opened. As shown in FIG. 16, at the timing when the peeling start ends Qa1 and Qb1 peeled off, a load torque exceeding 0.6 N · m acted on the drive motor M1. In addition, about 30 seconds after the start of the peeling of the sealing sheets 52a and 52b, the peeling ends Qa2 and Qb2 are peeled off at the same time, and a load torque exceeding 0.6 N · m was acting also at this time.

  On the other hand, in the configuration of the second embodiment, the peeling start end Qb1 of the sealing sheet 52b peels about one second after the rotation of the winding shaft 60A by the drive motor M1 starts (corresponding to S204 in FIG. 15). At this time, the load torque increased to about 0.3 Nm, and then decreased to about 0.2 Nm. About 1.5 seconds after the start of the peeling of the sealing sheet 52b, the peeling start end Qa1 of the sealing sheet 52a is peeled (corresponding to S205). At this time, the load torque rose to about 0.36 N · m, and then dropped to about 0.22 N · m.

  Further, about 30 seconds after the start of the peeling of the sealing sheet 52b, the peeling end Qb2 of the sealing sheet 52b is peeled (corresponding to S207). At this time, the load torque increased to about 0.4 Nm, which is the maximum value during the initial start-up operation, and then decreased to about 0.22 Nm. About 1.5 seconds after the completion of the peeling of the sealing sheet 52b, the peeling end Qa2 of the sealing sheet 52a was peeled (corresponding to S208). At this time, the load torque increased to about 0.37 Nm, and then gradually decreased to about 0.13 Nm.

[Effects of the present embodiment]
As in Comparative Example 2, when the opening timings of the developing chamber 41a and the stirring chamber 41b are simultaneous (or the stirring chamber 41b is later), the developer that has reached the collecting unit 75 flows backward and the developing container There is a possibility of overflowing outside of 41. That is, in the configuration of Comparative Example 2, the developing sleeve 44 starts to carry the developer from one side in the longitudinal direction, but when the developer collected from the developing sleeve 44 reaches the collecting port 41e, the stirring chamber 41b Is in a state before opening or immediately after opening. Therefore, there is a possibility that the developer is blocked by the sealing sheet 52b.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the sealing sheet 52a is provided with a larger slack than the sealing sheet 52b. Thus, when the winding shaft 60A winds up the sealing sheets 52a and 52b, the stirring chamber 41b is first opened, and the developing chamber 41a is opened with the stirring chamber 41b opened. Further, in the state of being removed, the longitudinal width of the portion where the sealing sheet 52b has been peeled off is always larger than the longitudinal width of the portion where the sealing sheet 52a has been peeled off. For this reason, the developer that slides down the collection section 75 is prevented from being blocked by the sealing sheet 52b, and the overflow of the developer can be avoided as in the first embodiment.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, since the sealing sheets 52a and 52b are set to have different lengths of slack, the peeling start ends Qa1 and Qb1 are peeled at different timings. Further, the bonding regions of the sealing sheets 52a and 52b are set such that the peeling ends Qa2 and Qb2 are peeled at different timings. As a result, the load torque applied to the drive motor M1 is distributed to four peaks (see FIG. 16) corresponding to the separation start ends Qa1 and Qb1 and the separation ends Qa2 and Qb2. This reduces the maximum output required for the drive motor M1 and the strength required for the winding shaft 60A as compared with the configuration of Comparative Example 2, and can contribute to cost reduction and miniaturization of the device.

  Here, in the present embodiment, in the initial state where the developing chamber 41a and the stirring chamber 41b are sealed by the sealing sheets 52a and 52b, the developing chamber 41a and the stirring chamber 41a are stirred via the first communication port 41c and the second communication port 41d. The chamber 41b is connected. Then, simultaneously with the start of driving of the drive motor M1, the circulating conveyance of the developer is started via the first communication port 41c and the second communication port 41d. Therefore, there is no need to consider the possibility that the first screw 71 or the second screw 72 is locked by the developer. For example, it is possible to seal the developer to fill the space formed by the sealing sheets 52a and 52b. it can.

  In this embodiment, the order of opening the developing chamber 41a and the stirring chamber 41b is defined and the peeling load of the sheet material is dispersed by providing a difference in the slack of the sealing sheet. However, if the stirring chamber 41b (the second chamber) is opened before the developing chamber 41a (the first chamber), for example, the shaft diameter at the position corresponding to the sealing sheets 52a and 52b among the winding shafts will be described. It is good also as a structure which gives a difference.

  In the second embodiment, the order in which the peeling start end is peeled off, the order in which the developing chamber and the stirring chamber are opened, and the order in which the peeling end is peeled off are described as being the same between the sealing sheets 52a and 52b. The peeling order of the peeling start end and the peeling end may be different. If the developing chamber 41a is opened while the stirring chamber 41b is opened, for example, the peeling start end Qa1 of the sealing sheet 52a may be peeled off first.

  In the present embodiment, the developing chamber 41a and the stirring chamber 41b are described as being sealed above the first screw 71 and the second screw 72, respectively. However, the developer is sealed in the developing chamber 41a and the stirring chamber 41b. The configuration is not limited to this as long as it is possible. For example, the sealing member that seals the stirring chamber 41b may be a sheet material that seals the collection port 41e like the sealing sheet 51c of the first embodiment. In short, a first chamber sealing member (52a) separating the first transport member and the developer carrier and a second chamber sealing member (52b) separating the second transport member and the developer carrier are provided. By setting the opening order of the components appropriately, the same effect as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

4, 4A, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d Developing device / 41 Developing container / 41a First chamber (developing chamber) / 41b Second chamber (stirring chamber) / 41c First transfer section, transfer section ( 1st communication port) / 41d 2nd delivery part, delivery part (2nd communication port) / 41e 3rd delivery part (collection port) / 44 developer carrier (developing sleeve) / 51a 1st sealing Member (sealing sheet) / 51b: second sealing member (sealing sheet) / 51c: third sealing member (sealing sheet) / 51d: third sealing member, first sheet / 51e: third sealing Stop member, second sheet / 52a: first chamber sealing member (sealing sheet) / 52b: second chamber sealing member (sealing sheet) / 60, 60A: removing device (winding shaft) / 70: partition wall / 71: first transport member (first screw) / 72: second transport member (second screw) / 74: transport wall / 75 ... times Parts / 76 ... top wall / M1 ... drive (drive motor) / Pa1, Pb1, Pc1, Qa1, Qb1 ... peeling start / Pa2, Pb2, Pc2, Qa2, Qb2 ... peeling termination

Claims (16)

A developer carrier that carries and rotates the developer,
A first chamber for supplying the developer to the developer carrier at the time of use and a second chamber for storing the developer in an initial state and collecting the developer carried at the time of use are formed. A partition that separates the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the partition has a first delivery unit through which the developer contained in the first chamber is delivered to the second chamber; A developing container formed with a second delivery unit through which the developer contained in the second chamber is delivered to the first chamber;
A first transport member that is disposed in the first chamber and transports the developer;
A second transport member disposed in the second chamber so as to at least partially overlap the first transport member when viewed from a horizontal direction;
A first sealing member that is adhered to the partition wall to seal the first delivery unit;
A second sealing member that is bonded to the partition wall and seals the second delivery unit;
A third sealing member that is bonded to the developing container and separates the developer carrier and the second transport member, and seals the second chamber together with the first sealing member and the second sealing member; ,
A driving device that drives the developer carrier, the first transport member, and the second transport member;
When driven by the driving device, at least a part of the third sealing member is peeled off, and the first delivery unit and the second delivery are performed in a state where the developer carrier and the second transport member are in communication with each other. A removing device that removes the first sealing member, the second sealing member, and the third sealing member so that the portion is opened.
A developing device, characterized in that: The first sealing member and the second sealing member are removed by the removing device so that the first delivery unit is opened after the second delivery unit is opened,
The developing device according to claim 1. Each of the first sealing member, the second sealing member, and the third sealing member has a peeling start end in a bonding region bonded to the developing container, the peeling start end of the bonding region being started to be peeled from the developing container by the removing device. And
The timing at which the peeling start end is peeled off differs between the first sealing member, the second sealing member, and the third sealing member.
The developing device according to claim 1. Each of the first sealing member, the second sealing member, and the third sealing member has a peeling end that is finally peeled off from the developing container by the removing device in an adhesive area bonded to the developing container. Have
The timing at which the peeling end is peeled is different between the first sealing member, the second sealing member, and the third sealing member.
The developing device according to claim 1. The developer carrier is disposed above the first chamber,
A partition wall supported by a bottom of the developer container to separate the first transport member and the second transport member; a partition wall bent from an upper portion of the transport wall toward the first chamber; A collection unit that collects the developer carried by the carrier, and a third delivery unit that is disposed above the transport wall and that transfers the developer collected by the collection unit to the second chamber. And an upper wall formed between the first and second walls,
The third sealing member is adhered to the transfer wall and the upper wall in an initial state to seal the third delivery unit,
The developing device according to claim 1. The first sealing member, the second sealing member, and the third sealing member are each made of a sheet material,
The removing device has a winding shaft for winding the sheet material,
The developing device according to claim 5. The first sealing member and the second sealing member are provided with a slack in a winding direction of the winding shaft so that the third sealing member starts peeling after the peeling starts.
The developing device according to claim 6. The winding shaft is disposed above the developing container in a posture parallel to an axial direction of the developer carrier,
Each of the first sealing member, the second sealing member, and the third sealing member extends downward from the winding shaft in an initial state, and is attached to the partition wall in a state of being folded upward. Glued,
The developing device according to claim 6. The third sealing member includes a first sheet that seals a first region of the third delivery unit, and a third sheet of the third delivery unit that is upstream of the first region in a transport direction of the second transport member. A second sheet sealing the second region,
The first sheet and the second sheet are removed by the removing device so that the second area is opened after the first area is opened,
The developing device according to claim 6. The second delivery unit is opened after the first area is opened and before the second area is opened.
The developing device according to claim 9. A developer carrier that carries and rotates the developer,
A first chamber for supplying a developer to the developer carrier and a second chamber for collecting the developer carried on the developer carrier are formed, and the first chamber and the second chamber are formed. A developing container having a partitioning wall, in which the partitioning wall is formed with a transfer section through which a developer is transferred between the first chamber and the second chamber;
A first transport member that is disposed in the first chamber and transports the developer;
A second transport member disposed in the second chamber so as to at least partially overlap the first transport member when viewed from a horizontal direction;
A first chamber sealing member that is disposed between the first transport member and the developer carrier and that is adhered to the developing container and seals the first chamber;
A second chamber sealing member that is disposed between the second transport member and the developer carrier and that is adhered to the developing container and seals the second chamber;
A driving device that drives the developer carrier, the first transport member, and the second transport member;
By being driven by the driving device, the first chamber sealing is performed such that at least a part of the second chamber sealing member is peeled off and the first chamber is opened in a state where the second chamber is opened. A removing member for removing the stopper member and the second chamber sealing member,
A developing device, characterized in that: Each of the first chamber sealing member and the second chamber sealing member has a peeling start end that starts to be peeled from the developing container by the removing device in an adhesion region to the developing container,
The timing at which the peeling start end is peeled from the developing container is different between the first chamber sealing member and the second chamber sealing member.
The developing device according to claim 11. Each of the first chamber sealing member and the second chamber sealing member has a peeling end that is finally peeled off from the developing container by the removing device in an adhesion area to the developing container,
The timing at which the peeling end is peeled from the developing container is different between the first chamber sealing member and the second chamber sealing member.
The developing device according to claim 11. The first chamber sealing member and the second chamber sealing member are each made of a sheet material,
The removing device has a winding shaft for winding the sheet material,
The developing device according to claim 11. The first chamber sealing member is provided with a slack in the winding direction of the winding shaft so that the second chamber sealing member starts to be peeled after the peeling starts.
The developing device according to claim 14. The winding shaft is disposed in one of the axial directions with respect to the developing container in a posture crossing the first chamber and the second chamber when viewed from the axial direction of the developer carrier,
The first chamber sealing member extends from the winding shaft to the other axial direction in the initial state, and is bonded to the developing container in a state where the first chamber sealing member is folded back to one axial direction.
The second chamber sealing member extends from the winding shaft to the other side in the axial direction in an initial state, and is bonded to the developing container in a state of being folded back in one side in the axial direction.
The developing device according to claim 14.

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