JP6828363B2 - Developing equipment and image forming equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a developing device and an image forming device.

Patent Document 1 discloses a developing apparatus including a discharge preventing member that blocks a path toward a discharge port for a developer scattered by rotation of a transport member.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-203816

By the way, in the developing apparatus, when the surface of the developer contained in the accommodating portion exceeds the height of the discharge port (opening) formed on the side wall of the accommodating portion, the developer is discharged to the outside through the discharge port. The structure is known. In a developing apparatus having a discharge structure, the developer in the housing may be splashed up and scattered by the rotation of the auger provided in the storage, and may be discharged through the discharge port. As described above, if the developer is discharged through the discharge port before the surface of the developer exceeds the height of the discharge port, the amount of the developer in the accommodating portion becomes insufficient.

An object of the present invention is that when the surface of the developer contained in the accommodating portion exceeds the height of the opening formed on the side wall of the accommodating portion, the developer is ejected to the outside through the opening. Provided are a developing device and an image forming device capable of suppressing the moving of the developer splashed up through the opening to the outside with a simple structure, as compared with a configuration in which a member for blocking the path toward the opening is attached to the inside of the housing. It is to be.

Developing apparatus of the first embodiment includes a storage portion for storing a developer, rotatably provided in the housing portion, wherein when stirring the developer and conveying member for conveying the co the rotation axis direction, of the housing part The developer is provided on the side wall in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction, connects the inside and the outside of the accommodating portion, and the opening located on the outside of the side wall faces the side opposite to the transport direction of the developer. When the height of the agent surface exceeds the height of the lower surface of the passage, a discharge passage portion for discharging the developer through the opening is provided.

In the developing apparatus of the second aspect, in the developing apparatus of the first aspect , the opening located outside the side wall portion of the discharge passage portion is located upstream of the opening located inside the side wall portion in the transport direction. To position.

In the developing apparatus of the third aspect, in the developing apparatus of the second aspect , the discharge passage portion has a portion extending parallel to the rotation axis direction on the outside of the side wall portion.

The developing apparatus according to the fourth aspect is the developing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects , wherein the lower surface of the passage is inside the side wall portion when viewed in a cross section in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction. It has an incline that slopes downward toward the located opening.

The developing device of the fifth aspect is the developing device of any one of the first to fourth aspects , in which the portion of the inner wall surface of the discharge passage portion that covers the opening located inside the side wall portion from the outside is It is inclined from the downstream to the upstream in the transport direction so as to approach the opening located inside the side wall portion.

The developing apparatus of the sixth aspect is the developing apparatus of any one of the first to fifth aspects , in which the developing agent splashed up by the conveying member collides with the inner wall surface of the discharging passage portion. An elastic member is provided.

The image forming apparatus of the seventh aspect is any one of the first to sixth aspects of developing the image holder on which the electrostatic latent image is formed and the electrostatic latent image formed on the image holder. It includes a developing device and a fixing unit for fixing an image developed by the developing device on a recording medium.

According to the developing apparatus of the first aspect, when the surface of the developer contained in the accommodating portion exceeds the height of the opening formed on the side wall of the accommodating portion, the developing agent is discharged to the outside through the opening. Compared with a configuration in which a member that blocks the path of the flipped developer toward the opening is attached to the inside of the housing, the splashed developer can be suppressed from moving to the outside through the opening with a simple structure.

According to the developing apparatus of the second aspect , the opening located outside the side wall portion of the discharge passage portion is located downstream of the opening located inside the side wall portion in the developing agent transport direction. It is possible to prevent the raised developer from moving to the outside through the opening.

According to the developing apparatus of the third aspect , the splashed developer moves to the outside through the opening as compared with the configuration in which the discharge passage portion has a portion extending obliquely with respect to the rotation axis direction on the outside of the side wall portion. Can be suppressed.

According to the developing apparatus of the fourth aspect , when viewed in a cross section in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction, the lower surface of the passage is bounced by the transport member as compared with a configuration in which the lower surface of the passage extends horizontally toward the opening located inside the side wall portion. It is easy to return the raised developer to the inside of the housing.

According to the developing apparatus of the fifth aspect , as compared with the configuration in which the distance from the portion covering the opening located inside the side wall portion to the opening located inside the side wall portion on the inner wall surface of the discharge passage portion is constant. , It is possible to prevent the splashed developer from moving to the outside through the opening.

According to the developing apparatus of the sixth aspect , the impact of the developing agent splashed up by the transport member can be alleviated as compared with the configuration in which the developing agent collides with the inner wall surface of the discharge passage portion.

According to the image forming apparatus of the seventh aspect , the consumption of the developer can be suppressed as compared with the configuration not provided with the developing apparatus of any one of the first to sixth aspects .

It is a block diagram which showed the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which showed the image forming part of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which showed the toner image forming part of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the developing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged sectional view (enlarged sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 4) which shows the main part of the developing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which looked at the discharge passage part of the developing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention from the outside of the accommodation part. It is a perspective view which looked at the discharge passage part of the developing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention from the inside of the accommodation part. It is sectional drawing which follows the 8-8 line of FIG. It is a perspective view which looked at the discharge passage part of the developing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention from the inside of the accommodation part. It is a perspective view which looked at the discharge passage part of the developing apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention from the inside of the accommodation part. It is a perspective view which looked at the discharge passage part of the developing apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention from the inside of the accommodation part.

An example of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. The arrow H shown in each figure indicates the device height direction (device vertical direction), and the arrow W indicates the device width direction.

<Overall configuration of image forming device>
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 connects an image forming unit 12 that forms an image by an electrophotographic method and a sheet member P (an example of a recording medium) on which an image is formed to a transport path 16 of the sheet member P. It is provided with a plurality of transport members (reference numerals omitted) for transporting along the line.

Further, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a cooling unit 20 for cooling the sheet member P on which the image is formed, a correcting unit 22 for correcting the curvature of the sheet member P, and an image inspection for inspecting the image formed on the sheet member P. A unit 24 and the like are provided.

Further, the image forming apparatus 10 inverts the sheet member P having an image formed on the surface in order to form an image on both sides of the sheet member P, and conveys the sheet member P to the image forming unit 12 again. It has.

In the image forming apparatus 10 having the above configuration, the image (toner image) formed by the image forming unit 12 is formed on the surface of the sheet member P which is conveyed along the conveying path 16. Further, the sheet member P on which the image is formed passes through the cooling unit 20, the straightening unit 22, and the image inspection unit 24 in this order, and is discharged to the outside of the apparatus.

On the other hand, when an image is formed on the back surface of the sheet member P, the sheet member P on which the image is formed on the front surface is conveyed along the inversion path 26, and the image is formed again on the back surface of the sheet member P by the image forming unit 12. Will be done.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 12 transfers a plurality of toner image forming units 30 for forming toner images of each color and a toner image formed by the toner image forming unit 30 to the sheet member P. It is provided with a unit 32. Further, the image forming unit 12 includes a fixing device 34 for fixing the toner image transferred to the sheet member P by the transfer unit 32 to the sheet member P.

A plurality of toner image forming units 30 are provided so as to form a toner image for each color. In the present embodiment, a toner image forming unit 30 having a total of six colors of white (W), silver (S), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) is provided. (W), (S), (Y), (M), (C), and (K) shown in FIG. 2 indicate the above-mentioned colors.

The four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are standard colors for outputting a color image, and white (W) and silver (S) are standard colors. It is a color different from the color and is a color for expanding the color range of the output image (hereinafter referred to as "special color").

In the following description, if it is not necessary to distinguish between white (W), silver (S), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), they are labeled with reference numerals. W, S, Y, M, C, and K are omitted.

The toner image forming unit 30 of each color has basically the same structure except for the toner used, and as shown in FIG. 3, the rotating cylindrical image holder 40 and the charge for charging the image holder 40. It is equipped with a vessel 42. Further, the toner image forming unit 30 is electrostatically latent with an exposure device 44 that irradiates a charged image holder 40 with exposure light to form an electrostatic latent image, and a developer G composed of a carrier and toner. It is provided with a developing device 46 that develops an image as a toner image. The details of the developing device 46 will be described later.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the toner image forming unit 30 is connected to the developing device 46 of each color via a supply pipe (not shown), and of each color for supplying the developing agent G to the developing device 46 of each color. A toner cartridge 28 is provided.

Further, the image holder 40 of each color is in contact with the transfer belt 50 (details will be described later) that moves around. Then, in the circumferential direction of the transfer belt 50 (see the arrow in the figure), from the upstream side, white (W), silver (S), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). The toner image forming portions 30 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction in this order. In the toner image forming unit of each color, an image of each color is formed by using the toner of each color.

As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer unit 32 is wound around a plurality of rolls (reference numerals omitted), orbits in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, and comes into contact with the image holder 40 of each color, and the transfer belt 50 and the transfer belt 50. It is provided with a primary transfer roll 52 which is arranged on the opposite side of the image holder 40 of each color. The primary transfer roll 52 transfers the toner image formed on the image holder 40 to the transfer belt 50.
Further, the transfer unit 32 is arranged on the opposite side of the roll 56 around which the transfer belt 50 is wound and the roll 56 with respect to the transfer belt 50, and transfers the toner image transferred to the transfer belt 50 to the sheet member P. It includes a secondary transfer roll 54. With this configuration, a transfer nip NT for transferring a toner image to the sheet member P is formed between the secondary transfer roll 54 and the transfer belt 50.
In the above configuration, the toner image formed by the toner image forming unit 30 of each color is first transferred to the orbiting transfer belt 50 by the primary transfer roll 52. Further, the toner image primarily transferred to the transfer belt 50 is secondarily transferred to the sheet member P by the secondary transfer roll 54.

The fixing device 34 includes a fixing belt 60 that is wound around a plurality of rolls (reference numerals omitted) and heated, and a pressure roll 62 that pressurizes the sheet member P toward the fixing belt 60.

In this configuration, the sheet member P to which the toner image is transferred is sandwiched between the orbiting fixing belt 60 and the pressure roll 62, so that the toner image is fixed to the sheet member P.

Next, the image forming step in the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the image forming apparatus 10 is activated, image data of each color of white (W), silver (S), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) is displayed. It is output to the exposure device 44. Then, the light emitted from the exposure device 44 according to the image data exposes the outer peripheral surface (surface) of the image holder 40 charged by the charger 42, so that the electrostatic latency corresponding to the image data of each color is obtained. An image is formed on the surface of each image holder 40.

Subsequently, the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of each image holder 40 is developed as a toner image by each developing device 46. Then, the toner image on the surface of each image holder 40 is sequentially multiple-transferred to the transfer belt 50 at the transfer unit 32.

On the other hand, the sheet member P transported through the transport path 16 is transported to the transfer unit 32 at the same timing as the multiple transfer of each toner image to the transfer belt 50. Then, the toner image multiple-transferred on the transfer belt 50 is transferred onto the sheet member P that has been conveyed to the transfer unit 32.

Subsequently, the sheet member P to which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 34. Then, in the fixing device 34, the toner image is fixed to the sheet member P by being heated and pressurized. The sheet member P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged from a discharge unit (not shown).

(Main part composition)
Next, the developing device 46 will be described in detail. Since the developing devices 46 for each color have the same structure, one developing device 46 will be described below as an example.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the developing device 46 is a device in which the device depth direction of the image forming device 10 (the direction from the front side to the back side of the paper surface in FIG. 1) is the longitudinal direction. The developing device 46 includes an accommodating portion 70 for accommodating the developer G, an auger 72 provided in the accommodating portion 70, and a discharge passage portion 74 provided on the side wall portion 71 of the accommodating portion 70. ..

The accommodating portion 70 has a device depth direction in the long direction. One end of the accommodating portion 70 in the longitudinal direction (the end on the front side in the depth direction of the device) is a tubular portion 70A. Further, the tubular portion 70A is provided with a tubular supply port 78 projecting upward toward the device. The inside of the supply port 78 is connected to the inside of the tubular portion 70A, and the developer G supplied from the toner cartridge 28 is supplied to the accommodating portion 70 and the accommodating portion 80 described later.

The auger 72 is provided in the accommodating portion 70 with the longitudinal direction of the accommodating portion 70 (the same direction as the device depth direction) as the rotation axis direction (indicated by the arrow X in the drawing). The auger 72 is rotated by a driving force from a driving source (not shown), and conveys the developer G in the accommodating portion 70 in the rotation axis direction X while stirring. In the present embodiment, the developer G is conveyed from the back side to the front side in the depth direction of the apparatus by the rotation of the auger 72. The auger 72 is an example of a transport member in the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the discharge passage portion 74 corresponds to the side wall portion 71 in the device width direction (direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction X) of the accommodating portion 70, specifically, the tubular portion 70A. It is provided on the side wall portion 71, and connects the inside and the outside of the tubular portion 70A (accommodation portion 70).

In the discharge passage portion 74, the opening 74A which is the entrance of the passage is formed on the inner surface 71A of the side wall portion 71, and the opening 74B which is the exit of the passage is formed on the outside of the side wall portion 71. The opening 74B faces the side opposite to the transport direction of the developer G (direction of arrow A in FIGS. 7 and 8), and is located on the upstream side of the transport direction A with respect to the opening 74A.

Further, the discharge passage portion 74 extends from the opening 74A toward the outside of the side wall portion 71 and the end portion of the first passage portion 75 toward the side opposite to the transport direction A, and opens at the end. Has a second passage portion 76 having an opening 74B. That is, the discharge passage portion 74 is a portion that extends toward the outside of the side wall portion 71 and bends in the middle to form a passage that extends toward the side opposite to the transport direction A.
Further, in the present embodiment, the second passage portion 76 extends parallel to the rotation axis direction X. The present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and the second passage portion 76 may have a configuration that extends obliquely with respect to the rotation axis direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the discharge passage portion 74 extends from the opening 74A to the opening 74B in the horizontal direction when viewed in a cross section in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction X, and the auger 72 It is located lower than the axis C of. The lower surface 74C of the passage may be located higher than the axis C of the auger 72, the opening 74A side is located lower than the axis C of the auger 72, and the opening 74B side is higher than the axis C of the auger 72. May also be in a high position. Further, the lower surface 74C of the passage may have an upward slope from the opening 74A toward the opening 74B. The discharge passage portion 74 of the present embodiment includes a passage lower surface 74C, an inner wall surface 74D, an inner wall surface 74E, and a passage upper surface 74F. The inner wall surface 74D and the inner wall surface 74E are connected to each other.

Further, when the height of the agent surface F of the developer G in the accommodating portion 70 (cylindrical portion 70A) exceeds the height of the passage lower surface 74C, the developer G in the excess portion passes through the discharge passage portion 74 and opens. It is configured to be discharged to the outside from 74B.

As shown in FIG. 5, an accommodating portion 80 having a longitudinal direction in the depth direction of the apparatus is provided below the apparatus of the accommodating portion 70. The accommodating portion 70 and the accommodating portion 80 are connected in the depth direction of the device through a passage portion (not shown) provided between the supply port 78 and the opening 74A.

One end of the accommodating portion 80 in the longitudinal direction (the end on the front side in the depth direction of the device) is a tubular portion 80A. Further, the accommodating portion 80 is provided with an auger 82 rotatably with the longitudinal direction of the accommodating portion 80 (the same direction as the device depth direction) as the rotation axis direction. The auger 82 is rotated by a driving force from a driving source (not shown), and conveys the developer G in the accommodating portion 80 in the rotation axis direction while stirring. In the present embodiment, the developer G that has flowed from the accommodating portion 70 through the passage portion is conveyed from the front side to the back side in the depth direction of the apparatus by the rotation of the auger 82.

Further, the accommodating portion 70 and the accommodating portion 80 are connected to each other through another passage portion (not shown) even at the rear end portion in the depth direction of the device. The developer G conveyed by the auger 82 in the accommodating portion 80 moves to the accommodating portion 70 through another passage portion. The developer G that has moved to the accommodating portion 70 is conveyed by the auger 72 toward the front side in the depth direction of the apparatus. That is, the inside of the accommodating portion 70 and the inside of the accommodating portion 80 form a circulation path for the developer G through the passage portion and other passage portions. The developer G in the accommodating portion 70 is sent to the developing roll 47 (see FIG. 3) to develop the electrostatic latent image of the image holder 40.

At the front end of the auger 72 in the depth direction of the device, the direction of the spiral of the blades (not shown) is opposite, and the new developer G supplied from the supply port 78 moves the accommodating portion 70 to the back in the transport direction. It is agitated with the old developer G (developer that has consumed toner) that has been conveyed from the side to the front side, and moves to the accommodating portion 80 (cylindrical portion 80A) through the passage portion.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the developing device 46 includes a cover 90 attached to the side wall portion 71 of the tubular portion 70A so as to cover the discharge passage portion 74. The inside of the cover 90 is connected to the inside of the tubular portion 70A through the discharge passage portion 74, and the developer G discharged from the opening 74B of the discharge passage portion 74 can be temporarily stored.

A recovery pipe 92 (see FIG. 4) for sending the developer G stored in the cover 90 to a recovery unit (not shown) is connected to the lower portion of the cover 90. An auger 94 is provided in the recovery pipe 92 with the axial direction of the recovery pipe 92 as the rotation axis direction. By rotating the auger 94, the developer G stored in the cover 90 is conveyed from the front side to the back side in the depth direction of the device, and is collected by a collection unit (not shown).

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
In the developing apparatus 46, in order to control the amount of the developing agent G in the accommodating portion 70 and the accommodating portion 80 (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as “developer amount”) to a predetermined amount, a new developing agent G is introduced through the supply port 78. While supplying to the accommodating portion 70 (cylindrical portion 70A), the surplus developer G is discharged from the accommodating portion 70 into the cover 90 through the discharge passage portion 74. Specifically, when the agent surface F of the developer G in the accommodating portion 70 exceeds the height of the passage lower surface 74C, the excess developer G (surplus developer G) is discharged from the discharge passage portion 74. It is discharged (extruded) into the cover 90 through. The developer G discharged into the cover 90 is temporarily stored in the cover 90, and then is conveyed to a recovery unit (not shown) through the recovery pipe 92 by the rotation of the auger 94.

On the other hand, in the developing device 46, the developer G that is spattered (spread up) by the rotation of the auger 72 collides with the inner wall surface 74D of the discharge passage portion 74 and is deposited on the lower surface 74C of the passage. Specifically, the developer G in the accommodating portion 70 is flipped up and scattered by the conveying blade 72A of the rotating auger 72. The direction in which the developer G is scattered is the same as the transport direction A of the developer G and is inclined with respect to the transport direction A. In the present embodiment, the direction indicated by the arrow S in FIG. 8 (lower right). Direction). The developer G scattered in this way collides with the inner wall surface 74D of the discharge passage portion 74 (in other words, the scattered developer G is not directly discharged). Specifically, since the opening 74B of the discharge passage portion 74 faces the side opposite to the transport direction A, the inner wall surface 74D of the discharge passage portion 74 is located on the scattering direction S and scatters on the inner wall surface 74D. The developed developer G collides with the developed agent G. As a result, the scattered developer G is suppressed from moving into the cover 90 (outside the accommodating portion 70) through the opening 74B. That is, according to the developing apparatus 46, the scattered developer G was scattered with a simple structure in which the discharge passage portion 74 was provided on the side wall portion 71, as compared with the configuration in which the member for blocking the path toward the opening was attached to the accommodating portion 70. The developer G is prevented from moving into the cover 90 through the opening 74B. The simple structure referred to here is a structure in which it is not necessary to adjust the positional relationship between the auger 72 and the member to be closed in the tubular portion 70A (accommodating portion 70), and the tubular portion 70A (accommodating portion 70). Includes a structure that can be easily miniaturized because no member is provided to close the door.

In particular, when the rotation speed of the auger 72 is changed, particularly when the auger 72 is rotated at a high speed (for example, in a high-speed printing mode), the amount (height) of the developer G flipped up by the auger 72 changes. However, by using the developing device 46 of the present embodiment, even if the auger 72 is configured to rotate at high speed, the developing agent G that is flipped up and scattered is passed through the discharging passage portion 74 into the cover 90 located downstream of the discharging passage. Movement is suppressed.
Similarly, when a white (W) or silver (S) developer G having a particle size different from that of the standard color developer G is used, the amount (height) of the developer G flipped up by the auger 72 changes. .. However, by using the developing device 46 of the present embodiment, even if the developing agent is easily scattered and the particle size is different, the developing agent G that is flipped up and scattered is downstream of the discharge path through the discharge passage portion 74. Movement into the cover 90 is suppressed.

Further, in the developing apparatus 46, since the opening 74B of the discharge passage portion 74 is located upstream of the opening 74A in the transport direction A, the opening 74B is located downstream of the opening 74A in the transport direction A. As compared with the above, the developer G that collides with the inner wall surface 74D of the discharge passage portion 74 and repels is suppressed from moving into the cover 90 through the opening 74B.

Further, in the developing device 46, since the discharge passage portion 74 extends the passage portion 76 parallel to the rotation axis direction, for example, as compared with a configuration in which the passage portion 76 extends diagonally with respect to the rotation axis direction. The developer G that collides with the inner wall surface 74D of the discharge passage portion 74 and repels is suppressed from moving into the cover 90 through the opening 74B.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 10, the consumption (excessive discharge) of the developing agent G is suppressed as compared with the configuration without the developing apparatus 46. In other words, it becomes easy to control the amount of the developer in the accommodating portion 70.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, the developing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 9, the developing device 100 of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the developing device 46 except that the elastic member 102 (cushion material) is provided in the discharge passage portion 74.

The elastic member 102 is provided on the inner wall surface 74D of the discharge passage portion 74 at a portion where the developer G, which is flipped up and scattered by the auger 72, collides with the elastic member 102. Specifically, it is arranged at a corner portion formed by the inner wall surface 74D, the inner wall surface 74D, and the inner wall surface 74E connecting the inner wall surface 74D and the opening 74A. The elastic member 102 is formed by forming an elastic material into a rectangular parallelepiped shape. As the elastic material constituting the elastic member 102, it is preferable to use urethane foam or a resin material having elasticity similar to that of urethane foam.

Next, the operation according to this embodiment will be described. The description of the operation obtained by the same configuration as that of the developing apparatus 46 according to the first embodiment will be omitted.

According to the developing apparatus 100, since the elastic member 102 is arranged on the inner wall surface 74D of the discharge passage portion 74 where the scattered developer G collides, the developer G scattered on the inner wall surface 74D is made to collide with the elastic member 102. As compared with the above, since the impact of the scattered developer G is alleviated by the elastic member 102, the rebounded developer G is suppressed from moving into the cover 90 through the opening 74B.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, the developing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 10, the developing device 110 of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the developing device 46 except that the inclined portion 112 is provided on the inner wall surface 74D of the discharge passage portion 74.

The inclined portion 112 is a portion of the inner wall surface 74D of the discharge passage portion 74 in which a portion covering the opening 74A from the outside is inclined so as to approach the opening 74A from the downstream to the upstream in the transport direction A. The inclination direction of the inclined portion 112 is set to follow the scattering direction S of the developing agent G.

Next, the operation according to this embodiment will be described. The description of the operation obtained by the same configuration as that of the developing apparatus 46 according to the first embodiment will be omitted.

According to the developing device 110, the inclined portion 112 is provided on the inner wall surface 74D of the discharge passage portion 74 at the portion where the scattered developer G collides. Since the inclined direction of the inclined portion 112 is set to follow the scattering direction S, when the scattered developer G collides with the inclined portion 112, the inclined portion 112 is repelled toward the transport direction A side and the inside of the side wall portion 71. (That is, it is repelled away from the opening 74B). Therefore, in the developing device 110, the scattered developer G is suppressed from moving into the cover 90 through the opening 74B as compared with the configuration in which the distance from the inner wall surface 74D of the discharge passage portion 74 to the opening 74A is constant. ..

In the first to third embodiments, the passage lower surface 74C of the discharge passage portion 74 is configured to extend in the horizontal direction, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, as in the developing apparatus 120 shown in FIG. 11, the passage lower surface 74C may have an inclined portion 122 that inclines downward toward the lower end of the opening 74A. Specifically, in the passage lower surface 74C, a portion having a length corresponding to the thickness of the side wall portion 71 from the opening 74A is a inclined portion 122, and the remaining portion is a flat portion 124 extending in the horizontal direction. As described above, by inclining the opening 74A side of the discharge passage portion 74 downward, that is, by providing the inclined portion 122, the developer G that collides with the inner wall surface 74D and falls on the lower surface 74C of the passage is inside the accommodating portion 70. It becomes easier to return to. The configuration in which the inclined portion 122 is provided in the discharge passage portion 74 can also be applied to the second embodiment and the third embodiment.

In the above-described embodiment, the side wall portion 71 of the tubular portion 70A and the portion constituting the discharge passage portion 74 are integrally molded. The present invention is not limited to the above configuration. For example, a member for forming the discharge passage portion 74 may be retrofitted to the opening formed in the side wall portion 71 of the tubular portion 70A.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the embodiments, but these embodiments are examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist, and the order of the manufacturing processes can be appropriately changed. Is possible. Needless to say, the scope of rights of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

10 Image forming device 46 Developing device 70 Accommodating part 71 Side wall part 72 Auger (Example of transport member)
74 Discharge passage 74A opening (an example of an opening located inside the side wall)
74B opening (an example of an opening located outside the side wall)
74C Underside of passage 100 Developing device 102 Elastic member 110 Developing device 112 Inclined part 120 Developing device 122 Inclined part 124 Flat part G Developer F Agent surface (agent surface of developer)
P sheet member (an example of recording medium)
X rotation axis direction (an example of the rotation axis direction of the transport member)
A Transport direction

Claims (6)

A housing unit that houses the developer and
Rotatably provided in the housing portion, and a conveying member for conveying the co With stirring the developer in the rotation axis direction,
An opening located on the side wall portion of the accommodating portion in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the conveying member, connecting the inside and the outside of the accommodating portion, and located outside the side wall portion is opposite to the conveying direction of the developer. When the height of the agent surface of the developer exceeds the height of the lower surface of the passage, the discharge passage portion for discharging the developer through the opening and the discharge passage portion
Equipped with a,
On the inner wall surface of the discharge passage portion, the portion that covers the opening located inside the side wall portion from the outside is inclined so as to approach the opening located inside the side wall portion from the downstream to the upstream in the transport direction. The developing device. The developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening located outside the side wall portion of the discharge passage portion is located upstream of the opening located inside the side wall portion in the transport direction. The developing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the discharge passage portion has a portion extending parallel to the rotation axis direction of the transport member on the outside of the side wall portion. Any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lower surface of the passage has an inclined portion that inclines downward toward an opening located inside the side wall portion when viewed in a cross section in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the conveying member. The developing apparatus according to item 1. The developing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein an elastic member is provided on the inner wall surface of the discharge passage portion at a portion where the developer splashed by the transport member collides. An image holder on which an electrostatic latent image is formed,
The developing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , which develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the image holder.
A fixing unit that fixes the image developed by the developing device on the recording medium,
An image forming apparatus comprising.