JPH11272065A - Developing device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the developer stored in a developing device from sliding down and being unevenly distributed when the device is tilted. SOLUTION: The sectional plane drawing of the developing device vertically segmented in the lengthwise direction is shown in Figure. The developing device is consisting of a vessel composed of a housing 71 and a cap 72, and an agitating augur 42, the feeding augur 43, a magnetic roll 41 or the like being arranged therein. The developer in the vessel is agitated by the agitating augur 42, and fed to the magnetic roll 41 by the feeding augur 43. In the developing device, a separating blade 81a extended from the cap 72 side toward a bottom part of the housing 71, in the direction vertical to the lengthwise direction of the developing device is formed. One or plural numbers of the separating blade 81a is respectively disposed with a specific space in the lengthwise direction of the developing device. When the developing device is inclined, the developer is prevented from sliding down toward the lower side of the developing device, by means of the separating blade 81a, therefore the developer is made possible to be prevented from being unevenly distributed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device for an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a developing device which is tilted or vibrated when the developing device is attached to or detached from the image forming device or during transportation.
The present invention relates to a developing device of an image forming apparatus which can prevent a developer from being biased to one end of the developing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic full-color image forming apparatus, three developing devices filled with three primary color developers or four developing devices further filled with a black developer are provided on a photosensitive member. The electrostatic latent images are arranged opposite to each other, and the images are formed by visualizing the electrostatic latent images with a plurality of color developers.

Further, in order to reduce the size and cost of the apparatus, a rotator holding four developing devices is arranged near one photosensitive member, and each developing device is rotated by rotating the rotator. There has been proposed a full-color image forming apparatus in which the developer is sequentially moved to a position facing the photoreceptor, and is sequentially visualized with each developer.

In these image forming apparatuses, if the developing device is inclined when the developing device is attached or detached, the developer is biased toward the ends of the stirring chamber and the supply chamber in the developing device. Also,
If the developer is shipped and then tilted during transport until it reaches the customer, the developer will also be biased to the ends of the stirring and supply chambers in the developer.

[0005]

As described above, when the developing device is mounted on the image forming apparatus and operated with the developer being biased toward the ends of the stirring chamber and the supply chamber in the developing device, the developing device is operated. There has been a problem that torque for driving the developing device is increased more than necessary, and a heavy load is applied to a member for circulating the developer, such as an auger. Further, until the developer is uniformly distributed in the stirring chamber and the supply chamber in the developing device,
There is a problem that the print density becomes non-uniform.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to minimize the uneven distribution of the developer in the developing device even when the developing device is tilted. It is to provide a device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a developing device for an image forming apparatus, comprising a partition plate for preventing uneven distribution of a developer extending in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the developing device. The first feature is that the developing device is provided in the developing device while leaving a space that does not hinder the movement of the developer during operation of the developing device between the developing device and the container. Further, the image forming apparatus has a stirring chamber for stirring the developer and a supply chamber for supplying the stirred developer to the developing roll, and circulates the developer and supplies the developer to the developing roll. In the developing device, in at least one of the stirring chamber and the supply chamber, a partition plate for preventing uneven distribution of developer extending in a direction perpendicular to the developer conveying direction of the stirring chamber and the supply chamber is provided when the developing device is operated. A second feature is that at least one space is provided between the developer device and the container so as not to hinder the movement of the developer. Further, the developer has a third feature in that the developer has a housing for accommodating the developing device and a lid of the housing, and the partition plate is provided from the lid side toward the bottom of the housing. .

According to a first feature of the present invention, when the developing device is tilted for any reason, the partition plate prevents the developer from being biased to one end of the developing device, so that the subsequent printing can be performed. The density can be prevented from becoming non-uniform. According to the second feature, when the developing device is tilted, it is possible to prevent the developer from being unevenly distributed to one end of at least one of the stirring chamber and the supply chamber. It is possible to prevent the toner from becoming uneven and to prevent the torque applied to the developer conveying member provided in the stirring chamber and the supply chamber from increasing. further,
According to the third feature, the design of providing the partition plate in the developing device is facilitated.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First, a schematic configuration of a full-color printer as an example of an apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in the figure, a charging roll 3, an exposing device 4, a developing assembly 5, a density sensor 6, a transfer roll 7, and a cleaner device 8 are arranged around the photoreceptor 1. The developing assembly 5 includes four developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C and 5K for full-color development. Each developing device converts a latent image on the photoconductor 1 into yellow (Y) and magenta (M), respectively. , Cyan (C) and black (K) toners. When developing the toner of each color, the developing assembly 5 is rotated in the direction of arrow R by a motor (not shown), and the developing device of the color is aligned so as to contact the photoconductor 1. The toner images of each color developed on the photoreceptor 1 are sequentially transferred to a belt 9 as an intermediate transfer member by a transfer roll 7, and four color toner images are superimposed. The belt 9 is stretched around rolls 10, 11, 12, and 13. Of these, roll 10
Is connected to a driving source (not shown) to function as a driving roll for driving the belt 9, and the roll 12 is a second transfer roll 1
4 functions as a back roll. A belt cleaner 15 is provided at a position facing the roll 13 with the belt 9 interposed therebetween, and residual toner on the belt 9 is scraped off by a blade.

The recording paper pulled out from the recording paper cassettes 16 and 17 into the transport path by the pull-out rolls 18 and 19 is brought into contact with the nip portion, that is, the second transfer roll 14 and the belt 9 by the roll pairs 20, 21 and 22. Fed to the department. The toner image formed on the belt 9 is transferred onto the recording paper at the nip portion, and is heat-fixed by
Or, it is discharged to the tray 25.

The waste toner scraped off from the photoreceptor 1 or the belt 9 by the cleaners 8 and 15 is a waste toner collection box 2
Collected in 6. In particular, the waste toner recovered from the belt cleaner 15 is transported to the waste toner recovery box 26 by a transport means such as an auger and a transport screw in the pipe 27.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a specific example of the developing assembly 5, that is, a rotary developing device. The developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C and 5K are mounted on the arm 31 of the rotating body 30 by a mounting tool (not shown). Since the developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K have the same configuration, the developing device 5Y will be described as a representative. The developing device 5Y includes a developing device 40 and a developer cartridge 50.

In the developing device 40, a magnet roll 41 elongated in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper is provided.
The two spiral augers 42 and 43 extending in parallel with are arranged. Here, when the magnet roll 41 rotates, the spiral auger 42 transports the developer 44 contained in the developing device 40 while stirring the developer 44 in one direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The developer 44 is conveyed while being agitated in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the developer, and the developer 44 is uniformly supplied to the magnet roll 41.

The magnet roll 41 attracts the carrier contained in the developer 44 by magnetic force to form a magnetic brush, and supplies the toner adsorbed to the carrier to the photoreceptor 1.
Thereby, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 1 is visualized.

The developer cartridge 50 comprises a cylindrical container elongated in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, and is divided into a chamber for storing new developer and a chamber for collecting deteriorated developer. A supply port (not shown) is provided in the new developer storage chamber, and communicates with a substantially cylindrical casing 51 for guiding the new developer to the developing device 40 through the supply port. A spiral auger 52 is provided in the casing 51, and the supplied developer is guided to a supply port 53 by the spiral auger 52 and is introduced into the developing device 40. A flap 54 is provided at the outlet of the supply port 53, and is open when the developing device is at the position D.

In the deteriorated developer collecting chamber 55 of the developer cartridge 50, there is provided a collecting passage 56 which circulates. The collecting passage 56 is connected to a discharge pipe 57 which is bent in a rectangular shape. . Recovery port 5 at the tip of the discharge pipe 57
8 is located in the developing device 40. The recovery port 58 faces upstream from the supply port 53, and the developer agitated and conveyed by the spiral augers 42 and 43 to make a round in the developing device 40 is recovered by the supply port 53. I have.

In the rotary developing device having the developing devices 5K, 5C, and 5M having the same configuration as the developing device 5Y, the flap 54 opens the supply port 53 when the developing device is at the D position. Thus, the new developer is supplied into the developing device 40. The development of the latent image on the photoconductor 1 by the developing device is completed,
When the rotating body rotates and the developing device comes from the D position to the E position, the flap 54 is opened halfway as shown in the figure, and the developer conveyed through the discharge pipe 57 with the recovery port 58 facing upward is removed. It flows toward the recovery passage 56 without flowing backward. The deteriorated developer is dropped into the deteriorated developer collection chamber through the collection passage 56 from the position of the developing device from the position F to the position G. By providing the collecting passage 56 that circulates in this manner, the collected developer does not flow back to the developing device 40. On the other hand, while the developing device moves from the G position to the D position, the new developer is sent to the casing 51 by the action of an agitator (not shown) provided in the developer cartridge 50, and the spiral auger in the casing 51 is moved. It is guided to the supply port 53 by 52. At this time,
Since the flap 54 is released again, the new developer is
It is replenished within 0.

Next, a schematic configuration of the developing device 40 will be described with reference to a perspective view of FIG. In FIG.
2 denote the same or equivalent components. As shown in FIG. 3, inside the developing device 40, two spiral augers 42 and 43 are arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction, separated by a partition plate 61. The partition plate 61
The left and right ends are cut out, and a developer circulation path 6 is formed.
2, 63 are formed. The spiral auger 42 (hereinafter, referred to as a stirring auger) stirs the developer supplied from the supply port 53 of FIG. While transporting. The stirred developer enters the supply chamber 65 through the circulation path 62. Subsequently, the spiral auger 43 (hereinafter, referred to as a supply auger) transports the developer in the supply chamber 65 from the right end to the left end. In this process, the supply auger 43 supplies the developer to the developing roll 41. The developer transported to the left end of the supply chamber 65 is returned to the stirring chamber 64 through a circulation path 63 formed at the left end. The plurality of partition plates 81a, 81b, 81c,...
The augers 42, 43 are formed at predetermined intervals in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the augers 42, 43, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the developer is conveyed, and leaving an interval that does not hinder the movement of the developer during normal operation. ing.

One embodiment of the shape of the partition plates 81a, 81b, 81c,... Will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. Since the shape of the partition plates 81a, 81b, 81c,... Is the same, the partition plate 81a will be described below as a representative. 4 and 5, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 2 and 3 denote the same or equivalent components.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a partition plate 61 for separating the stirring chamber 64 and the supply chamber 65 is formed integrally with the housing 71 at the center of the developing unit 40. 61 is formed so as to enter into the lid 72. A partition plate 81a is formed integrally with the lid 72 and extends in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the augers 42 and 43. The free end of the partition plate 81a extends to a position close to the upper portions of the augers 42 and 43. ing.

The gap between the tip of the partition plate 81a and the augers 42 and 43 is the minimum size that allows the developer to move smoothly in the stirring chamber 64 and the supply chamber 65 by the rotation of the augers 42 and 43. It is preferred that In particular,
When the distance between the free end of the partition plate 81a and the line connecting the upper ends of the augers 42 and 43 is within about 3 mm, when the developing device is tilted, the developer avalanche falls downward from above. During normal use after the developing device is mounted on the image forming apparatus, the developer is removed from the partition plate 8.
It was confirmed that the fluid circulated smoothly without being disturbed by 1a. The number of the partition plates 81a, 81b, 81c,... Is not limited to a plurality but may be one, and may not be integral with the lid 72.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, as shown in the figure, the shape of the curve at the free end of the partition plate 81a is formed into an arc shape having the same center as the stirring auger 42 in the stirring chamber and the supply auger 43 in the supply chamber, and The distance between the free end of the partition plate 81a and the outermost periphery of the augers 42 and 43 is set to be within about 3 mm.

In this embodiment, during operation of the developing device, the developer circulates smoothly without any obstruction to the partition plate 81a as in the first embodiment, but the developing device is tilted. At times, it is possible to more effectively prevent the developer from avalanche falling from above.

As described above, the present invention has been described in the first and second embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The gist of the present invention is that a partition plate is provided in the developing device to prevent the developer from drooling downward from above and being unevenly distributed at the lower end when the developing device is tilted. The shape of the free end of the partition plate, the tip position thereof, and the like are not limited to the above description, and it goes without saying that modifications within the scope of the present invention are included in the present invention. .

[0026]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the partition plate perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the developing device is separated by leaving a space which does not hinder the movement of the developer during the operation of the developing device. Since the developing device is provided in the developing device, even if the developing device is temporarily inclined at the time of attachment to the image forming apparatus, the developer is not unevenly distributed to one of the developing devices, and a member for driving the developing device is provided. No unnecessary torque is imposed on the motor.
In addition, it is possible to prevent the print density from becoming non-uniform immediately after the developing device is tilted. Further, even if the developing device is tilted or vibrated during transportation, it is possible to prevent or reduce the uneven distribution of the developer at one end of the developing device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a detailed sectional view of the developing device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an internal configuration of the developing device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3 of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 3 of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photoreceptor, 3 ... Charging roll, 4 ... Exposure apparatus, 5 ... Development assembly, 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K ... Development apparatus, 6 ...
Density sensor, 7: transfer roll, 8: cleaner, 7 ...
Transfer roll, 9 belt, 10, 11, 12, 13 roll, 14 second transfer roll, 30 rotating body, 31 arm, 40 developing device, 41 magnet roll, 42
Stirring auger, 43 ... Supply auger, 44 ... Developer, 50 ...
Developer cartridge 51, casing 52, spiral auger 53, supply port 54, flap 55, deteriorated developer collection chamber 56, collection passage 57, discharge pipe 58
... Recovery port, 61 ... Partition plate, 62, 63 ... Circulation path, 64
Stirring chamber, 65 supply chamber, 71 housing, 72 lid, 81a-81c partition plate.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A developing device of an image forming apparatus, comprising: a partition plate for preventing uneven distribution of a developer extending in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the developing device; A developing device for an image forming apparatus, wherein the developing device is provided inside the developing device while being left between the container and the container of the developing device. 2. An image having an agitating chamber for agitating the developer and a supply chamber for supplying the agitated developer to the developing roll, wherein the developer is circulated and supplied to the developing roll. In the developing device of the forming apparatus, a partition plate for preventing uneven distribution of developer extending in a direction perpendicular to a developer conveying direction of the stirring chamber and the supply chamber is provided on at least one of the stirring chamber and the supply chamber. A developing device for an image forming apparatus, wherein at least one space is provided between the container and the container of the developing device so as not to hinder the movement of the developer when the device is operated. 3. The developing device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developing device is a detachable two-sided developing device.
A developing device for an image forming apparatus, which is a developing device based on a component developing system. 4. The developing device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developer has a housing for housing the developing device, and a lid of the housing, wherein the partition plate is provided. A developing device for the image forming apparatus, wherein the developing device is provided from the lid side to the bottom of the housing. 5. The developing device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said partition plate is formed integrally with said lid. 6. A developing device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a stirring auger and a supply auger provided in a free end of said partition plate, and in each of said stirring chamber and said supply chamber. A distance between the line on the side of the lid and a line connecting the outline of the cover is set to 3 mm or less. 7. The developing device of an image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a free end of the partition plate is formed in an arc shape, and the center of the arc is each of the stirring chamber and the supply chamber. 3. The developing device of an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stirring auger and the supply auger are formed in the same center.