JP2000122423A - Image forming method, image forming device and developer container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily exchange a new carrier for an old carrier and to easily supply toner in an image forming device using two-component developer. SOLUTION: A single developer container 70 provided with a vacant waste toner chamber 71 to which the waste toner collected by a cleaning device 6Y is recovered, a vacant old developer chamber 73 to which an old developer consisting of the toner and the old carrier circulating in a developing device 4Y and a new developer chamber 72 in which a new developer consisting of the toner and the new carrier is stared is attached to this image forming device. Thus, the new developer is supplied to the developing device 4Y, the old developer is recovered into the chamber 73 and the waste toner is recovered into the chamber 71 in an image forming process. After the prescribed number of images is formed, the new container is exchanged for the container 70.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a black-and-white or color image forming method, an image forming apparatus, a developer container, and the like applicable to a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic apparatus, when a two-component developing method using a mixture of a toner and a carrier is adopted as a developing method, toner is consumed according to a printing operation.
It is necessary to supply new toner for every several thousand prints. In addition, the charge characteristics of the carrier deteriorate due to the wear of the coating layer on the surface and the adhesion of toner particles to the surface, etc., depending on the printing operation. It is.

In a conventional electrophotographic apparatus, for example, a copying machine,
Replenishment of toner is performed by replacing a toner bottle filled with new toner with a new one. In addition, since the replacement of the carrier requires skill, the serviceman has performed the replacement.

However, in laser printers, it is common for users to replace consumables and degraded parts of machines without relying on service personnel.
Under such circumstances, the challenge is how to allow the user to easily change carriers.

[0005] In this connection, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-48937 is disclosed.
In this publication, a developer in which a carrier and a toner are mixed is supplied. In this case, the toner is consumed, but the carrier is not consumed. A technique has been disclosed as a known technique for sequentially collecting collected carriers to prevent image deterioration due to carrier deterioration.

Here, the replenished developer contains 20 to 30% by weight of the carrier with respect to the toner, and the surplus carrier contains several% of the toner. This is because the amount of toner replenishment is controlled so that the toner concentration in the developing device is a few% with respect to the carrier in order to perform development.

According to this known technique, it is possible for the user to replenish the toner and the carrier, but it is necessary to collect the used toner and the excess carrier including the deteriorated carrier. No means is disclosed for simply and efficiently recovering.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide means for allowing a user to easily supply and recover such toner and carrier. Further, good supply and collection are required, and ease of disposal after the manufacturer collects the container containing the collected used toner and carrier is also required.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides an image forming method, an image forming apparatus, and a developer container in which toner and carrier can be supplied and recovered satisfactorily and easily, and disposal after recovery can be facilitated. The purpose is to provide such.

[0010]

The present invention has the following configuration to achieve the above object. (1). The electrostatic latent image formed on the moving latent image carrier is
A visible image is formed by a developing device using a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier, the visualized toner image is transferred to a transfer material, and the residual image remaining on the latent image carrier after the transfer is transferred. While collecting the toner as waste toner in the cleaning device, replenish the toner consumed by transfer and cleaning with new toner, and replace old carriers that have deteriorated by use with new carriers to achieve a certain level of quality. In the image forming method in which the image formation is performed permanently, a new developer obtained by mixing a new carrier and a toner is supplied to the developer in the developing device, and the excess developer is supplied. And the old and new carriers are exchanged, and a chamber as a collection destination of the excess developer and a waste toner from the cleaning unit are removed. A room as a storage destination and a room as a supply source of the new developer are provided as a single container divided into each of these rooms, and the containers are exchanged appropriately as needed to continue image formation. (Claim 1).

(2). In the image forming method described in (1), the new developer has a carrier in a weight ratio of 20 to 30% with respect to the toner (Claim 2).

(3). In the image forming method described in (1) or (2), the timing of replenishment of the new developer is performed based on a detection result of the toner concentration of the old developer, and the excess developer is collected. The process is performed by utilizing the overflow of the old developer accompanying the supply of the new developer.

(4). The electrostatic latent image formed on the moving latent image carrier is visualized by a developing device using a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier, and the visualized toner image is transferred to a transfer material. After the transfer, the residual toner remaining on the latent image carrier is collected as waste toner in a cleaning device, and the toner consumed by the transfer and cleaning is replenished with new toner. In the image forming apparatus in which the old carrier deteriorated by the above is replaced with a new carrier to form an image of a constant quality permanently, the cleaning device discharges the waste toner collected by cleaning from the cleaning device. An old developer as a mixture of a carrier and a toner containing the old carrier deteriorated by use in the developing device. New developer inlet opening for supplying the mixture serving new developer with the old developer discharge opening and the new carrier and toner for discharging respectively provided (claim 4).

(5). (4) In the image forming apparatus described in (4), the cleaning device is provided so as to slide on the peripheral surface of the latent image carrier in a counter direction over a width direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the latent image carrier. The cleaning device includes a blade and a box-shaped cleaning case that is long and narrow in the width direction and stores the toner scraped by the cleaning blade.

(6). (5) In the image forming apparatus described in (5), the toner discharging unit includes a pipe provided in communication with one end of the cleaning case, and a waste toner that conveys waste toner in the cleaning case to the pipe. And a conveying means (claim 6).

(7). (6) In the image forming apparatus described in (6), the waste toner conveying means is formed of a helical rotator provided from the cleaning case side to the pipe side.

(8). (6) In the image forming apparatus described in (7), the conduit is inclined in a vertical direction to such an extent that the waste toner fed by the waste toner conveying means falls down in the conduit by its own weight. (Claim 8).

(9). (4), (5), (6), (7)
Alternatively, in the image forming apparatus described in (8), the developing device includes a developing roller provided in proximity to the latent image carrier over a width direction that is a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the latent image carrier. There is provided an agent circulating stirring means provided below the developing roller, and an elongated box-shaped developing case for accommodating the developing roller and the agent circulating stirring means.

(10). In the image forming apparatus described in (9), the old developer discharge opening and the new developer inflow opening are respectively provided on the same side surface of the developing case.

(11). In the image forming apparatus described in (10), the position of the old developer discharge opening in the height direction is such that the developer level in the developing case is changed according to the replenishment of the new developer from the new developer inflow opening. The raised portion is set as a position where it can be discharged by overflow (claim 11).

(12). (9) In the image forming apparatus described in (9), the developing roller is disposed below the latent image carrier, and the agent circulation stirring means is provided on a bottom inside the developing case in a longitudinal direction of the developing case. Along the partition plate provided along, and two spiral rotators arranged side by side facing each other along the longitudinal direction of the developing case with the partition plate therebetween, A gap is formed between both ends and the developing case, and a developer agitating and conveying path is formed by a substantially rectangular space connecting these gaps and a space formed along the two rotating bodies. The flow of the developer along the developer stirring and transporting path is formed by reversing the directions of transport of the developer by the two rotators (claim 12).

(13). (12) In the image forming apparatus described in (12), the old developer discharge opening is located near the position where the direction of the flow of the developer changes on the developer stirring and conveying path, and the new developer inflow opening is used for the developing device. It is located on the downstream side of the old developer discharge opening on the developer stirring and conveying path (claim 13).

(14). In the image forming apparatus described in (13), the position where the direction of the flow of the developer changes is in the vicinity of one end side in the longitudinal direction of the rotating body.
4).

(15). The electrostatic latent image formed on the moving latent image carrier is visualized by a developing device using a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier, and the visualized toner image is transferred to a transfer material. After the transfer, the residual toner remaining on the latent image carrier is collected as waste toner in a cleaning device, and the toner consumed by the transfer and cleaning is replenished with new toner. In the image forming apparatus in which an old carrier deteriorated by the above is replaced with a new carrier to form an image of a constant quality permanently, the cleaning device includes the waste toner collected by cleaning. A toner discharging means for discharging the toner from the developing device; An old developer discharge opening for discharging the image agent and a new developer inflow opening for flowing a new developer, which is a mixture of a new carrier and a toner, are provided, and the waste toner collected from the cleaning unit is removed. A waste toner accommodating portion for accommodating, an old developer accommodating portion for accommodating the old developer collected from the developing device, a developer to be supplied to the developing device, the new carrier and the toner And a developer container integrally provided with a new developer accommodating portion for accommodating a new developer mixed with the toner, the toner discharging means is provided in the waste toner accommodating portion, and the developer discharging device is provided in the old developer accommodating portion. The developer container is replaceable by connecting and disconnecting the old developer discharge opening and the new developer inflow opening to and from the new developer accommodating portion, respectively (claim 15).

(16). (15) In the image forming apparatus described in (15), the new developer accommodating section is provided with a conveyance unit that discharges the new developer in the new developer accommodating section to the developing apparatus. Detecting means for detecting a ratio of toner to carrier (toner density) is provided, and based on a detection output of the detecting means, the conveying means is driven so as to maintain a predetermined toner density. (Claim 16).

(17). In the image forming apparatus described in (15) or (16), the new developer in the new developer accommodating portion has a carrier in a weight ratio of 20 to toner to toner.
30%.
7).

(18). (15), (16) or (1)
In the image forming apparatus described in Item 7), the image forming apparatus is a tandem type color image forming apparatus in which a plurality of the latent image carriers are arranged.

(19). The electrostatic latent image formed on the moving latent image carrier is visualized by a developing device using a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier, and the visualized toner image is transferred to a transfer material. After the transfer, the residual toner remaining on the latent image carrier is collected as waste toner in the cleaning device, while the toner thus consumed is replenished with new toner and deteriorated by use. A developer container for use in an image forming apparatus configured to permanently form an image of constant quality by replacing an old carrier with a new carrier. The developer container stores waste toner collected from the cleaning device. Waste toner accommodating section, an old developer accommodating section for accommodating an old developer which is a mixture of the old carrier and toner collected from the developing device, and a developer to be supplied to the developing device In addition, a developer container that integrally includes a new developer accommodating portion for accommodating a new developer in which the new carrier and the toner are mixed is provided as a developer container that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus. Claim 19).

(20). (19) In the developer container described in (19), the waste toner accommodating portion is a waste toner inflow opening to be communicated with the cleaning device, and the old developer accommodating portion is an old developer inflow opening to be communicated with the developing device. ,
The new developer container has a new developer discharge opening to be communicated with the developing device.

(21). In the developer container described in (20), the waste toner inflow opening, the old developer inflow opening, and the new developer discharge opening are provided on the same side surface of the developer container. 21).

(22). In the developer container described in (21), in the image forming apparatus using the developer container, the transfer agent transfers a toner image from the latent image carrier in a process of being transported in a vertical direction. The waste toner inflow opening is located above the old developer inflow opening (Claim 22).

(23). (19), (20), (21)
Alternatively, in the developer container described in (22), each of the waste toner storage unit, the old developer storage unit, and the new developer storage unit is separated from each other.
3).

(24). (20), (21), (22)
Alternatively, in the developer container described in (23), the new developer accommodating portion includes an inner space of a cylindrical body, and a conveyance unit that conveys and discharges the new developer toward the new developer discharge opening is provided. (Claim 24).

(25). (24) In the developer container described in (24), the transporting means includes a spiral rotating body provided inside the cylindrical body (Claim 25).

[0035]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [1] Example of Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus to Which the Present Invention is Applied An electrostatic latent image formed on a moving latent image carrier is converted into a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier. Is visualized by a developing device using an image forming apparatus, the visualized toner image is transferred to a transfer material, and the residual toner remaining on the latent image carrier after transfer is collected as waste toner by a cleaning unit. On the other hand, by replenishing the toner consumed by the transfer and cleaning with new toner, and replacing the old carrier deteriorated by use with a new carrier, it is possible to permanently form an image of constant quality. An example of such an image forming apparatus is a tandem type full-color image forming apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, the transfer belt 5 is an example of a transfer material carrier and is an endless belt, and is supported by two support rollers 5a and 5b as support members which are vertically opposed to each other. Have been. Upper support roller 5
a is connected to a drive system and functions as a drive roller;
The lower support roller 5b functions as a driven roller. Therefore, when the support roller 5a is driven to rotate clockwise as shown by the arrow, the transfer belt 5 is also rotated clockwise as shown by the arrow.

Along the belt on the left side of the transfer belt 5, the order of rotation is indicated by an arrow, that is, from the upstream side to the downstream side, and from the bottom to the top, the yellow (Y)
Image carrier 1Y composed of a drum-shaped photoreceptor carrying the image of magenta, latent image carrier 1 carrying the image of magenta (M)
A latent image carrier 1C carrying an image of M and cyan (C) and a latent image carrier 1BK carrying an image of black (BK) are arranged at intervals.

These latent image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1
BK is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow,
The toner images of the respective colors are carried and sequentially transferred to the transfer belt 5. Therefore, these latent image carriers 1Y, 1
M, 1C, and 1BK are arranged in contact with the transfer belt 5.

Each of these latent image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C,
A charging device 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2BK for electrically initializing the photoreceptor, which is formed of a conductive charging roller in the order of each rotation in each rotation direction, and a developing device for visualizing the latent image with toner. 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4BK, transfer means 8Y comprising conductive rollers which are arranged to face each latent image carrier via the transfer belt 5 and apply a transfer bias for transferring a toner image. 8M, 8C, 8B
K, cleaning devices 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6BK and the like for removing remaining toner after transfer from the photoconductor are arranged. Each of the developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4BK includes a developing roller 4-1 and rotators 4-2 and 4-3 as a circulation stirring means in a developing case.

The developer containers 70Y, 70M, 70C, 7 are respectively adjacent to the developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4BK.
0BK is provided. These developer containers 70Y,
70M, 70C, 70BK are cleaning devices 6Y, 6
The waste toner is recovered from M, 6C, and 6BK, and new and old developers are exchanged between the developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4BK.

On the side (horizontal direction) of each of the latent image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1BK, which is opposite to the side where the transfer belt 5 is provided, exposure light Lb is applied to each of the latent image carriers.
Writing means 50Y, 50M, 50C, 5
0BK is arranged. These optical writing means 50
In Y, 50M, 50, 50C, and 50BK, means for emitting laser light modulated according to a color image signal,
Scanning means such as a rotary polygon mirror is provided.

A pair of registration rollers 9 are provided further below the upstream end (lower end) of the transfer belt 5.
A tray 10 is disposed below and to the left of the registration roller 9, that is, substantially below the center of the image forming apparatus. From the tray 10, the transfer material S is guided by a conveyance guide (not shown) toward the registration roller 9, cut into a predetermined size, and is separated from the transfer material S such as paper stored in the tray 10 by rotation of the paper feed roller 11. To be sent out. A fixing device 12 is disposed at a position further downstream (upper) of the downstream end (upper end) of the left belt of the transfer belt 5, and further downstream of the fixing device 12.
5 are provided.

In this image forming apparatus, image formation is performed as follows. Each latent image carrier 1Y, 1M, 1
C, 1BK starts moving by rotation. During this rotation, in the dark, each latent image carrier is charged by the charging devices 2Y, 2M, 2C,
The exposure light Lb is shifted from the optical writing means 50 on the latent image carrier by shifting the writing timing so that the exposure light Lb is uniformly charged by 2BK, and then is overlapped and transferred onto the same transfer paper S sent from the registration roller 9. Is irradiated and scanned to form a latent image corresponding to the image to be created.

The latent images on the latent image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1BK are respectively developed by the developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4
In BK, the image is visualized by the toner.

On the other hand, the transfer material S sent out from the tray 10 by the paper feed roller 11 temporarily stops at the position of the pair of registration rollers 9 via the transport path shown by the broken line, and the toner image on each latent image carrier is removed. Each transfer means 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8BK
Is sent out from the registration roller 9 after waiting for a timing such that it matches. The transferred transfer sheet S is electrostatically attracted to the transfer belt 5 by a charging unit (not shown), is transferred together with the transfer belt 5, and is provided for each of the latent image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1BK. Means 8
The toner images of the respective colors are sequentially transferred while passing through the transfer sections opposed to Y, 8M, 8C, and 8BK, and the full-color toner images are carried on the transfer paper S by overlapping the colors in this manner.

The transfer paper S carrying the full-color toner image is separated from the transfer belt 5 by separating means (not shown) or by curvature separation, and the full-color toner image is fused and fixed on the transfer material S while passing through the fixing device 13. Is done.

Thus, a full-color image is completed. Thereafter, the transfer material S is discharged onto a discharge tray 15 provided immediately above the tray 10 and provided above the image forming apparatus. After the transfer material S is separated from the transfer belt 5, the charge is removed by a charge removing unit (not shown).
As a result, paper dust and toner adhering to the surface of the transfer belt 5 are removed, and the apparatus is ready for the next image formation.

Since the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 10 is a tandem-type full-color image forming apparatus as described above, four latent image carriers are provided for each color. Each is provided with a developing device, a cleaning device, and the like.

Since the present invention is mainly concerned with the replenishment of the developer, the present invention holds for the flow of the developer around each latent image carrier. That is, the above-described four latent image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1BK can be implemented in the same manner in relation to the flow of the developer. Therefore, in the following, in order to avoid overlap, only the latent image carrier 1Y is selected as an arbitrary latent image carrier from among the four latent image carriers, and the flow of the developer around the latent image carrier 1Y is selected. The configuration and operation according to the above will be described as a representative.

[2] Outline of Replenishment, Recovery and Patrol of Developer The description here mainly corresponds to the contents of claims 1, 4, 15, and 19. The circulation system of the developer will be described with reference to FIG. 1, which schematically shows the configuration of various members around the latent image carrier. A cleaning device 6Y is arranged above the rotating and moving latent image carrier 1Y, and a developing device 4Y is arranged below the rotating image carrier 1Y. The developing device 4Y is configured in a developing case 4-4, and is supported by the developing case 4-4 so that the developing roller 4-1 approaches the lower peripheral surface of the latent image carrier.

The electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier 1 is
The image is visualized by a developing device 4Y using a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier. The visualized toner image moves together with the latent image carrier, and is transferred to the transfer material S conveyed from the bottom to the top by the conveyance transfer belt 5 at the transfer section provided with the transfer means 8Y.

After the transfer, the toner and paper dust remaining on the latent image carrier 1Y are collected as waste toner in the cleaning case 61 of the cleaning device 6Y provided above the latent image carrier 1. The waste toner collected in the cleaning case 61 is further stored in the waste toner storage unit 71 of the developer container 70Y via the pipe 62.

In this way, every time the transfer is performed, the toner is transferred to the transfer material S, and is consumed as waste toner. The carrier is not consumed but gradually deteriorates. For this reason, the ratio of the toner to the carrier decreases, that is, the toner density decreases. Therefore, the toner is replenished in order to maintain a predetermined appropriate level of toner density suitable for development.

According to the present invention, in order to supply toner and replace a deteriorated carrier with a new carrier, a new developer in which a toner and a new carrier are mixed at a predetermined ratio is previously configured as a chamber. When the toner is stored in the storage section 72 and the consumed toner is replenished, the carrier is replenished together. Therefore, when the toner is replenished so as to have a predetermined appropriate toner concentration, the developer composed of the carrier and the toner becomes excessive than the predetermined level.

In the excess developer, the deteriorated old carrier and the newly replenished new carrier are mixed, but the excess carrier is discharged as needed to replace the old carrier with time. Carrier can be replaced. Therefore, a new developer is stored in the new developer storage section 72, and when the toner concentration decreases, the new developer is stored in the developing device 4Y.
To be able to supply.

The control of the supply timing and supply amount of the new developer will be described. The toner concentration detection sensor 100 is arranged in the developer path of the developing device 4Y. The detection output of the toner density by the toner density detection sensor 100 is output to the control unit 101. When the control means 101 including a CPU receives the detection output from the toner concentration detection sensor 100 and determines that the toner concentration is lower than a predetermined appropriate toner concentration, the driving source 72b of the conveying means 75 provided in the new developer accommodating section 72 is provided. Drive.

Thus, the new developer is sent to the developing device. This conveyance is continued until the toner density reaches a predetermined appropriate density, and when the toner density reaches the predetermined appropriate density, the conveyance is stopped. As described above, the driving of the transport means 72 is performed intermittently. Developing device 4Y for such a new developer
As described above, in the developing device 4Y, the amount of the developer increases in the developing device 4Y and rises above a predetermined level.

Therefore, an old developer discharge opening 4-5a is formed in the developing device 4Y, and an excess amount of the developer which has risen above a predetermined level overflows from the old developer discharge opening 4-5a to form a chamber. And is collected in the old developer accommodating section 73 provided. In FIG. 1, a broken line arrow indicates a toner path, and a solid line arrow indicates a carrier path.

In this embodiment, a waste toner storage 71 for storing waste toner, which is a destination for collecting waste toner, a new developer storage 72 as a supply source of new developer, and collection of excess developer The old developer accommodating section 73 is provided as a single container divided into respective chambers, that is, a developer container 70Y, and the waste toner accommodating section 71 and the new developer accommodating section 72 are provided.
Is full, and the developer container 70Y is replaced every time a predetermined amount of image is formed, for example, when the old developer container 73 becomes empty.

As described above, in order to make the developer container 70Y integral and replaceable, the waste toner accommodating portion 71 is formed with the waste toner inflow opening 71H so as to be able to communicate with the opening 62a at the lower end of the conduit 62. The new developer accommodating section 72 is provided with a new developer discharge opening 72H so that the new developer accommodating section 72 can be connected to and disconnected from the new developer inflow opening 4-5b provided in the developing device. The portion 73 is provided with an old developer inflow opening 73H so that it can be connected to and disconnected from the old developer discharge opening 4-5a provided in the developing device 4Y.

The configuration for enabling connection and disconnection so that communication is possible is as follows.
Known means can be used. For example, each opening is adapted to be fitted by a pair of fitting portions formed of a combination of irregularities, and includes a shutter,
The shutter is closed in conjunction with the connection operation, and the shutter is opened in conjunction with the detachment operation, but is not shown.

As a result, the developer container 70Y can be integrally attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus. At the time of detachment from the image forming apparatus, the locking means that holds the entire developer container 70Y in a fixed position is released, and then the developer container 70Y is released.
By moving 0Y in the detaching direction, the shutter closes in conjunction with this, so that the developer container 70Y can be detached from the image forming apparatus.

The waste toner container 71 of the developer container 70Y thus detached contains waste toner in the old developer container 73.
Contains the old developer, and the new developer container 72 is empty. After that, the new developer container 72
The new developer container 70Y is filled with the new developer and the waste toner storage unit 71 and the old developer storage unit 73 are empty. The new developer container 70Y is mounted on the image forming apparatus in the reverse order to the above, and such operations are repeated. Thereby, image formation can be continued permanently.

[3] Configuration around Latent Image Carrier FIG. 2 to FIG. 9 illustrate the configuration around the latent image carrier 1Y such as a developing device, a cleaning device, and a developer device. The configuration of each member around the latent image carrier 1Y and the configuration relating to the combination between the members will be described with reference to FIGS.

As described with reference to FIG. 1, in this image forming apparatus, since the toner image is transferred while the transfer material S is fed upward from the bottom, the toner image is transferred from the latent image carrier to the toner image. Is transferred to the transfer material S at a position next to the latent image carrier, and the developing device is inevitably located below the latent image carrier,
The cleaning means for the latent image carrier is arranged above the latent image carrier.

[3-1] Cleaning Means The description here mainly corresponds to the contents of claims 5 to 8. Cleaning means, specifically cleaning device 6
Y is located above the latent image carrier 1Y as shown in FIGS. The latent image carrier 1Y is a drum-shaped photoreceptor that rotates in the direction of the arrow, and the direction of movement due to this rotation, that is, the direction orthogonal to the tangential direction at an arbitrary position on the outer peripheral surface of the drum (hereinafter, width direction W). ), The cleaning blade 60 made of urethane rubber is brought into sliding contact with the peripheral surface of the latent image carrier 1Y in the movement direction by the rotation and the counter direction.
3a. The width direction W
Is a direction parallel to the rotation axis direction of the latent image carrier.

The cleaning blade 60 has one end fixed in a box-shaped cleaning case 61 elongated in the width direction W, and wastes toner and paper dust remaining on the latent image carrier 1Y after transfer. The toner is scraped off by the cleaning blade 60 and collected and collected in the cleaning case.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cleaning case 6
0 is a conduit 62 serving as a toner discharging means for discharging waste toner from the cleaning device 6Y along the width direction W.
And a helical rotating body 63 as a waste toner conveying means for conveying the waste toner in the cleaning case 60 to the pipeline 62.
Is provided. The pipe 62 is a tubular body having a rectangular cross section, and as shown in FIG. 6, one end in the longitudinal direction is closed, and an opening 65 is formed in a side surface of the closed portion.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, a circular opening 6 is also provided at one longitudinal end of the cleaning case 61.
4 are formed. A pipe 62 is integrally attached to one end of the cleaning case 61 such that the openings 64 and the openings 65 match. In this mounting state, the other end of the conduit 62 is inclined in the vertical direction. The other end has an opening 62a.

The waste toner is scraped and collected inside the cleaning case 61 by the cleaning blade 60. The opening 64 and the opening 65 from the cleaning case 61 are formed in a portion penetrating the collected waste toner. A helical rotating body 63 as waste toner conveying means is provided over the pipeline 62 via the. The rotator 63 can be formed by a screw, but in this example is formed of a coil spring, and one end of the rotator 63 is fixed to a shaft of a gear G <b> 1 supported by the cleaning case 61. The other end of the rotating body 63 reaches the middle of the inside of the conduit 62. In order to support the rotating body 63 on the pipe 62 side, a shaft 66 of an appropriate length is implanted in the pipe 62.

When the gear G1 meshes with a drive system (not shown) and rotates in a predetermined direction, the rotating body 63 rotates, and the waste toner in the cleaning case 61 is transported toward the pipeline 62. When the waste toner is sent to the conduit 62 by the rotator 63, the waste toner falls by gravity and is discharged to the waste toner storage portion 71 of the developer container 70Y because the conduit 62 is inclined in the vertical direction.

[3-2] Developer Container This description mainly corresponds to claims 20 to 25. In FIG. 2, a developer container 70Y includes a waste toner accommodating portion 71 formed of a chamber for accommodating the waste toner collected from the cleaning device 6Y, and an old toner that is a mixture of the old carrier and the toner collected from the developing device 4Y. An old developer accommodating section 73 comprising a chamber for accommodating the developer, and a chamber for accommodating a new developer which is a developer to be supplied to the developing device 4Y and in which a new carrier and a toner are mixed. New developer accommodating sections 72 are provided separately.

The waste toner container 71 and the old developer container 73
Is formed by partitioning a rectangular box-shaped structure into two upper and lower chambers by a partition wall 74.
1 is located above and the old developer container 73 is located below. Such a vertical relationship corresponds to the vertical relationship between the cleaning device 6Y and the developing device 4Y. Since the upper member and the lower member are connected to each other, the configuration for connection is simplified.

Further, since the amount of the collected waste toner is larger than the collected old developer, the amount of the waste toner storage unit 71 is larger than that of the old developer storage unit 73 so that each storage unit is filled at the same time. It is partitioned so that it is larger.

The housing portion as a structure in which the old developer accommodating portion 73 and the waste toner accommodating portion 71 are formed is one end of the long cleaning device 6Y and one end of the latent image carrier 1Y. It is located in. A member having a cylindrical outer shape protrudes from the side of the housing portion along the longitudinal direction of the latent image carrier 1 integrally with the housing.
The inside of this cylindrical member is a cylindrical chamber,
This chamber constitutes a new developer accommodating section 72.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, when the developer container 70Y is properly attached to members on the image forming apparatus main body side such as the developing device 4Y and the cleaning device 6Y, A waste toner inflow opening 71H that can be connected to and connected to the cleaning device 6Y is provided on one side surface of the developer container 70Y opposite to the developing device 4Y.
Is open. The waste toner inflow opening 71H is an opening located above the waste toner accommodating portion 71, and includes a mounting seat, a shutter (not shown), and the like.

One side surface of the developer container 70Y, on the same side as the side on which the waste toner inflow opening 71H is provided, is connected to a portion below the waste toner inflow opening 71H in communication with the developing device 4Y. A possible old developer inflow opening 73H is formed. The old developer inflow opening 73H is an opening located at the upper part of the old developer accommodating portion, and includes a mounting seat, a shutter (not shown), and the like.

As shown in FIG. 9, one side of the developer container 70Y, on the same side as the waste toner inflow opening 71H, the old developer inflow opening 73H, etc., is provided, and communicates with the developing device 4Y. A new developer discharge opening 72H is formed which can be connected. The new developer discharge opening 72H is located in the inner space of the cylindrical body, that is, at one end in the longitudinal direction of the new developer storage portion 72 formed of a cylindrical hollow portion, and the old developer storage portion 73 and the waste toner storage portion. It is provided at a portion near a housing portion as a structure on which 71 is formed.

A spiral rotating body 75 is rotatably provided in the new developer accommodating section 72 over the longitudinal direction thereof. The rotating body 75 can be formed of a coil as in this example, or can be formed of a screw. At one end of the rotator 75, a shaft 76 to which one end of the coil is fixed and a gear G2 that rotates integrally with the shaft 76 are provided to rotate the rotator 75.

The gear G2 is exposed to the outside of the developer container 70Y. When the developer container 70Y is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body side, the gear G2 is connected to a gear connected to a power system (not shown) on the image forming apparatus side. It is designed to engage.

The rotator 75 is a conveying means for conveying the new developer in the new developer accommodating section 72 toward the new developer discharge opening 72H. Is sent toward the new developer discharge opening 72H, and is discharged to the developing device 4Y via the new developer discharge opening 72H.

The waste toner inflow opening 71H, the new developer discharge opening 72H, the old developer inflow opening 73H, etc.
Since it is provided on the same side surface portion of 0Y, it is possible to perform a simple operation of attaching and detaching the developer container 70Y from one direction to the cleaning device 6Y and the developing device 4Y to be connected to these openings. I do.

When the developer container 70Y is used repeatedly, the new developer container 72 may be provided with an opening / closing lid for replenishing the new developer. In this case, the waste toner inflow opening 71H provided in the waste toner accommodating portion 71, the old developer inflow opening 73H provided in the old developer accommodating portion 73, and the like are used when the collected waste toner and the old developer are discarded. Used as a discharge opening. At the time of the discharging operation, since these openings are formed on the same side surface of the developer container 70Y, the discharging can be performed simultaneously from both openings only by turning the openings downward, and the operation is easy.

[3-3] Developing device The description here mainly corresponds to the contents of claims 9 to 14, 16, and 17. As shown in FIGS. 2, 7, 8, and 9, the developing device 4Y is configured by assembling various members in a box-shaped developing case 4-4 elongated in the width direction W. FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line JJ in FIG. An elongated rectangular opening is formed in the upper part of the developing case 4-4 along the width direction W, and a part of the peripheral surface is exposed from the opening, so that the developing roller 4-1 is attached to the developing case 4-4. It is pivoted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the developing roller 4-1 is disposed close to the lower peripheral surface of the latent image carrier 1Y, and a gear (not shown) is provided at one end of the shaft. It is designed to mesh with the gears of the application system and rotate.

Below the developing roller 4-1 and on the inner bottom of the developing case 4-4, a helical rotator 4-2 extends in the longitudinal direction of the developing case 4-4, that is, in the width direction W. It is supported by the developing case 4-4. Also, the rotating body 4-2
A helical rotator 4-3 is provided on the developing case 4-4 so as to face the partition plate 4-6 in the horizontal direction.

As shown in FIG. 8, the partition plate 4-6 is not provided over the entire length of the developing case 4-4 in the width direction W, and both ends in the longitudinal direction of the partition plate 4-6 and the developing case 4-4 are not provided. The gaps .DELTA.1 and .DELTA.2 are formed between the inner wall 4 and the inner wall in the longitudinal direction so that the flow of the developer can be formed.

The gaps Δ1 and Δ2 are connected to the space formed between the partition plate 4-6 and the side wall of the developing case 4-4 along the two rotating bodies 4-2 and 4-3. And a substantially rectangular continuous space. A developer stirring and conveying path is formed in this substantially rectangular space.

In the rotating body 4-2, the twisting direction of the spiral A at the portion facing the partition plate 4-6 and the portion corresponding to the gap Δ2 following this is the direction of the right-handed screw, and the portion corresponding to the gap Δ1. However, the twist direction of the spiral B is formed in the direction of the left-hand thread. Further, with respect to the rotating body 4-3, the twist direction of the spiral A in the portion facing the partition plate 4-6 and the portion corresponding to the gap Δ1 following the partition plate 4-6 is the direction of the right-handed screw, and only the portion corresponding to the gap Δ2. Spiral B
Is formed in the direction of the left-handed screw.

The spiral B has a spiral direction opposite to that of the spiral A in order to facilitate the flow of the developer when changing the flow direction of the developer at both ends of the developing case 4-4.

Regarding the rotating bodies 4-2 and 4-3,
One end of the shaft is rotatably supported by the developing case 4-4 and protrudes outside through the developing case 4-4. The protruding portions have the same module and gear G3 having the same number of teeth. , G4 are fixed and engaged with each other.

Either of the gear G1 or the gear G2 is meshed with a gear of a drive system (not shown), and the gear G3 is indicated by an arrow by transmitting power from the drive system for a predetermined time at a predetermined timing. As shown, the gear G4 is driven to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow.

By this rotational drive, the portion corresponding to the gap Δ1 and the partition plate 4-6 is shifted rightward along the rotating body 4-3, and is shifted leftward by the spiral B at the portion corresponding to the gap Δ2. The direction of feed of the rotating body 4
The developer changes to proceed to the -2 side, and the developer is conveyed to the rotating body 4-2 side.

Then, along the rotating body 4-2, the clearance Δ
2 and the partition corresponding to the partition plate 4-6 are turned to the left, and the portion corresponding to the gap Δ1 is shifted to the right by the spiral B. Eventually, the direction of the feed of the developer changes so as to advance to the rotating body 4-3, The developer is transported to the rotating body 4-3.

That is, the developer is sent in the opposite direction between the spirals A and B of the rotating body 4-2 and the spirals A and B of the rotating body 4-3. As a result, the developer is circulated in one direction along the rectangular developer stirring and conveying path as indicated by arrows a, b, c, and d.

As shown in FIG. 3, a doctor blade 4-7 is provided so as to slide on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 4-1. At the time of development, the developer is attracted to the peripheral surface of the developing roller 4-1 by the magnetic force of a magnet provided inside the developing roller 4-1. This developer is used as a doctor blade 4-
It is made uniform by being scraped off in step 7 and then subjected to development.

On the side surface of the developing case 4-4 along the width direction W, the side surface facing the developer container 70Y, the old developer discharging opening 4-5a and the new developing agent inflow opening 4-5b are formed. Two openings are formed. Old developer discharge opening 4-5
“a” is located at one end side of the rotating body 4-3, in the vicinity of the gap Δ1, which is the position where the direction of the flow of the developer changes.

The developer flowing along the longitudinal direction of the rotating body 4-2 changes its flow direction by 90 ° from the rotating body 4-2 to the rotating body 4-3 at the position of the gap Δ1. . The old developer discharge opening 4-5a is located on the extension in this direction. As a result, the old developer is smoothly discharged from the old developer discharge opening 4-5a.

The new developer inflow opening 4-5b is located on the developer agitating and conveying path and downstream of the old developer discharge opening 4-5a. As a result, it is possible to prevent the new developer flowing from the new developer inflow opening 4-5b from being immediately discharged from the old developer discharge port 4-5a.

As shown in FIG. 3, the old developer discharge opening 4-
The position in the height direction of 5a is set to a height at which the developer level in the developing case 4-4 that has been increased due to the replenishment of the new developer from the new developer inflow opening 5b can be discharged by overflow. I have.

That is, the height is such that the level of the developer in the developer case 4-4 is maintained when the developer amount is an appropriate amount so that the development by the developing roller 4-1 is performed properly. Formed at the location.

As described above, the developing device 4Y has the old developer discharging opening 4-5a, the new developing agent inflow opening 4-5b, and the cleaning device 6Y has the opening 62a in accordance with the above-described arrangement conditions and the developing case. 4-4
Located on the same vertical side.

On the other hand, with respect to the developer container 70Y, when the developer container 70Y is properly mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the old developer inflow opening 73H and the new development The developer container 70Y is configured such that the new developer discharge opening 72H is connected to the developer inflow opening 4-5b, and the waste toner inflow opening 71H is connected to the opening 62a so as to be detachably connected thereto. The developing case 4-4 is located on a vertical side surface.

By aligning the vertical side surfaces of the developing device side and the developer container side, the openings provided on each side surface can be easily joined.

[3-4] Replenishing and Recovering System of Developer The description here is mainly of claims 2, 3, 16, 17, 1
8 and the overall configuration, operation, and the like. 3 and 8, the bottom of the developing case 4-4,
The toner density detecting means 100 described with reference to FIG. 1 is provided below the rotator 4-3 and at a position corresponding to the gap Δ2.

A developer container 70Y is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus. The old developer inflow opening 73H is provided for the old developer discharge opening 4-5a, and the new developer is provided for the new developer inflow opening 4-5b. It is assumed that the waste toner inflow opening 71H is connected to the discharge opening 72H and the opening 62a in a communicating state. The new developer accommodating section 72 accommodates a new developer in which a carrier is distributed in an arbitrary ratio within a range of 20 to 30% by weight with respect to the toner.

In the image forming process, the latent image carrier 1
When Y rotates, the developing roller 4-1, the rotating body 4-2,
4-3 and 63 are also rotated. The rotating body 75 is a rotating body 4-
It is rotated as needed in accordance with the rotation of 2, 4-3, 63 and the like.

Since the rotator 75 has a function of supplying a new developer to the developing device 4Y, the toner density detecting means 100 detects the toner density based on the detection result of the toner density of the developer in the developing device 4Y. Is determined to be lower than a predetermined appropriate range, and is driven by a necessary amount.

The decrease in toner density is caused by the continuous development. Development is performed on the rotating body 4-
The developer circulating around the developing case 4-4 in the developer stirring and conveying path by the driving of the developing roller 2-4 and the like is moved to the developing roller 4 on the right side of the developing case 4-4 in FIG. −1, the amount of the developer is limited by the doctor blade 4-7, and a certain amount of the developer is conveyed to the latent image carrier 1 in a state of being adsorbed on the developing roller 4-1 so that the toner becomes static. This is done by arriving at the latent image.

When the toner concentration is reduced below a predetermined appropriate range after the development, the toner has been consumed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. It is below 5a. That is, in a state immediately before replenishment is performed, the position of the old developer discharge opening 4-5a is above the level of the developer.

When it is determined by the control means 101 based on the detection of the toner density detecting means 100 that the toner has been consumed and reduced in the toner density by the processes such as development and transfer, the rotating body 75 is driven to perform the new development. The new developer is supplied from the developer container 72 to the developing device 4Y through the new developer discharge opening 72H.
Will be replenished.

When the level of the developer in the developing case 4-4 is increased by a new carrier supplied together with the toner from the new developer accommodating section 72, the old developer overflows from the old developer discharge opening 4-5a. And is discharged to the waste toner storage unit 71.

That is, the rotating body 75 is driven, and the new developer in which the carrier is distributed in an arbitrary ratio within the range of 20 to 30% by weight with respect to the toner is transferred to the waste toner accommodating section 71.
Is supplied to the developing device 4Y through the new developer inflow port 4-5b, the new developer is mixed with the old developer, and the toner concentration approaches the proper range, and in the process of reaching the proper range. Then, the old developer overflows from the old developer discharge opening 4-5a and is sent to the old source image agent storage 73H. Here, a new developer is mixed with the overflowed developer, but most of the overflowed developer is occupied by the old developer, and contains a few percent by weight of toner due to toner concentration control. As a result, the old and new carriers are temporarily replaced, and the toner concentration is controlled to an appropriate range.

On the other hand, the waste toner such as the transfer residual toner on the latent image carrier 1 scraped off by the cleaning blade 60 is temporarily housed in the cleaning case 6Y and sent to the pipe 62 by the rotating body 63. Then, the waste toner is stored in the waste toner storage portion 71 through the waste toner inflow opening 71H by its own weight along the pipe line inclined in the vertical direction.

As described above, in the developer container 70Y, the old developer containing the toner and the deteriorated carrier and the waste toner can be separated and collected. The sizes of the waste toner storage unit 71 and the old developer storage unit 73 are set in accordance with the old developer collected in the developer container 70Y and the collected amount of the collected waste toner per unit time. If you leave
At the same time, the waste toner container 71 and the old developer container 73 can be filled up, and the replacement cycle of the developer container 70Y can be made as long as possible. The developer container is replaced by the user every time a fixed amount of image is formed.

In this embodiment, the supply and recovery of the developer in the yellow image forming section in the full-color image forming apparatus have been described. However, the image forming section related to the above-mentioned yellow in the magenta, cyan, black, etc. image forming sections. The configuration relating to the replenishment and collection of the developer can be similarly adopted.

In a full-color image forming apparatus, it is necessary to replenish and collect the developer for each color. Therefore, these containers are frequently replaced. However, as in the present invention, the toner can be simply replaced by replacing the developer container. Replenishment, replacement of the carrier, collection of the waste toner, and the like can be performed at the same time, so that these operations are facilitated, and can be performed by the user side. Further, the present invention can be applied not to a full-color image forming apparatus but to a so-called black-and-white image forming apparatus for obtaining a single-color image composed of only one latent image carrier.

[0118]

According to the first and fifteenth aspects of the present invention, only by replacing a single container (developer container), the carrier is also replaced through replenishment of new developer, recovery of old developer, and recovery of waste toner. Therefore, it is easy to maintain an image of a constant quality. 18. The container according to claim 2, wherein the container containing the used toner, the carrier, and the like collected is sorted and collected in a single container, and the container is easily disposed of when the maker collects and disposes the container. According to the invention, the weight ratio between the toner and the carrier in the new developer is determined as described above. Therefore, when replenishing the developing device, it is possible to replace the old and new carriers while suppressing a sudden change in the toner concentration and maintaining stable image quality. Can also be performed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the deteriorated carrier contained in the old source image agent is recovered by overflow from an opening provided at an appropriate position, special means for recovery, power means, etc. And a simple configuration is not required.

According to the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes a toner discharging means for discharging waste toner, an old developer discharging opening for discharging old developer, a new developer inflow opening for flowing in new developer, and the like. Since these components are provided, toner replenishment, toner replenishment through replacement of old developer, carrier exchange, waste toner recovery, and the like can be performed via these members.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the residual toner (waste toner) on the latent image carrier scraped by the cleaning blade over the width direction of the latent image carrier is efficiently collected in an elongated box-shaped cleaning case. be able to.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the latent image carrier can be conveyed to the discharge duct by the waste toner conveying means collected in the cleaning case across the width of the latent image carrier.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the waste toner conveying means in the cleaning case is a spiral rotating body, it is easy to convey the waste toner in the elongated cleaning case.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the waste toner is conveyed after falling down the pipeline by its own weight, no power is required in terms of utilizing its own weight, and the configuration is simplified.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the developing case is provided along the length direction of the developing roller in the width direction and the developer circulation stirring means is provided, the developer is sufficiently stirred through the circulation of the developer. can do.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the old developer discharge opening and the new developer inflow opening are respectively provided on the same side of the developing case where the developer is circulated and agitated. It becomes possible to easily connect the containers. Further, the new developer that has flowed in from the new developer inflow opening is first agitated, stirred and then used for development, and the agitated old developer is discharged from the old developer discharge opening.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, excess carrier due to replenishment can be discharged from the old developer discharge opening together with toner by overflow.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the developer can be circulated while being stirred in one direction along the rectangular developer stirring and conveying circuit in the visualizing case.

According to the present invention, the old developer discharge opening is located in the vicinity of the position where the direction of the flow of the developer changes on the developer stirring and conveying path. The old developer discharge opening is provided in accordance with the above, so that the old developer can be easily discharged. Also, the new developer inflow opening is located downstream of the old developer discharge opening on the developer agitating / conveying path, so that the new developer supplied from the new developer inflow opening can be directly used as the old developer discharge opening. Is not discharged from

In the sixteenth aspect of the invention, the supply of new developer from the developer container is performed by driving the conveying means to adjust the toner concentration, and the old developer is overflowed by replenishing the new developer with overflow. A flow of replenishment and collection of the developer to be collected in the developer container is formed, and exchange of the carrier and replenishment of the toner are performed.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in a tandem type image forming apparatus in which a plurality of latent image carriers are arranged, a developer container is provided for each latent image carrier so that toner supply and carrier exchange can be simplified. Can be performed.

According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the user keeps the developer container ready, so that the user can easily replace the developer container as needed, and the replaced developer container is disposed of by the manufacturer. be able to.

According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, the developer container has a waste toner storage section, an old developer storage section, and a new developer storage section, and the waste toner is stored in the waste toner storage section through the waste toner inflow opening. By collecting and collecting the old developer in the old developer accommodating section through the old developer inflow opening, and discharging the new developer from the new developer accommodating section to the developing device through the new developer discharging opening,
Carrier replacement and toner supply.

According to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention, since the waste toner inflow opening, the new developer discharge opening, and the old developer inflow opening are respectively provided on the same side surface of the developer container, the developing device to be connected thereto is provided. The structure for attachment and detachment with the cleaning device and the like can be simplified, and the attachment and detachment work becomes easy.

According to the twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus in which transfer is performed by a latent image carrier while a transfer agent is conveyed upward from below, a cleaning device is provided on an upper mold of the latent image carrier. Since the developing device is arranged below the latent image carrier, the positional relationship is such that the waste toner inflow opening to be connected to the cleaning device is positioned higher than the old developer inflow opening to be connected to the developing device. Thus, the connecting portions can be configured without crossing each other, and the conveyance of the waste toner and the old developer at the connecting portions can be performed using gravity.

According to the twenty-third aspect of the present invention, since each part in the developer container is separated, the new developer in which the toner is mixed with the carrier can be maintained at a predetermined ratio, and each part can be held. Appropriate disposal, disposal, etc. can be performed according to the characteristics of the agent to be recovered.

According to the twenty-fourth aspect of the invention, the new developer accommodating portion is formed in a cylindrical body, and the cylindrical body is arranged in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the developing device or the like. Thus, the space efficiency in the image forming apparatus can be improved.

According to the twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, the new developer contained in the cylindrical body can be satisfactorily conveyed by the spiral rotating body.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a flow of a developer in an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a developer container, a developing device, and a cleaning device around a main part of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a part around a developer container, a developing device, and a cleaning device for explaining a main part of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the periphery of a cleaning device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cleaning device.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a joint between a cleaning case and a pipe.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the developing device.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the developing device.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an attachment relationship between a developing device and a developer container.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the entire image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1Y latent image carrier 4Y developing device 6Y cleaning device 70 developer container 71 waste toner container 72 new developer container 73 old developer container

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03G 15/01 111 G03G 15/01 111A 21/10 21/00 512 21/00 512 15/08 507X 507D 21 / 00 318 326 (72) Inventor Hiromitsu Takagaki 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Uitsu Fujishiro 1-3-6, Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Equity Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Masayuki Ueda 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 2R027 DA04 EA06 ED10 ED28 HB12 HB13 2H030 AD03 BB23 2H034 AA06 BF03 CA02 CA04 CB01 2H077 AA15 AA25 AA37 AA39 AB02 AB07 AB15 AB18 AC02 AC11 AC16 AD02 AE03 BA08 DA10 DA20 DA45 DB01 EA03 GA04 GA13

Claims (25)

[Claims] An electrostatic latent image formed on a moving latent image carrier is visualized by a developing device using a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier, and the visualized toner image is formed. Is transferred to a transfer material, and the residual toner remaining on the latent image carrier after the transfer is collected as waste toner by a cleaning device, and the toner consumed by these transfer and cleaning is replenished with new toner. In addition, by replacing the old carrier deteriorated by use with a new carrier,
In an image forming method in which a fixed quality image is formed permanently, a new developer in which a new carrier and a toner are mixed is supplied to the developer in the developing device, and the supply becomes excessive. A new and old carrier is replaced by collecting the developer, a chamber as a collection destination of the excess developer, a chamber as a collection destination of the waste toner from the cleaning unit, and the new development An image forming method comprising: providing a chamber as a supply source of the agent as a single container divided into each of these chambers; 2. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of the carrier to the toner is 20%.
To 30%. 3. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the timing of replenishment of the new developer is performed based on a detection result of a toner concentration of the old developer, and the excess developer is used. Recovering the old developer by using the overflow of the old developer accompanying the supply of the new developer. 4. An electrostatic latent image formed on a moving latent image carrier is visualized by a developing device using a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier, and the visualized toner image is formed. Is transferred to a transfer material, and the residual toner remaining on the latent image carrier after the transfer is collected as waste toner by a cleaning device, and the toner consumed by these transfer and cleaning is replenished with new toner. In addition, by replacing the old carrier deteriorated by use with a new carrier,
In an image forming apparatus configured to perform image formation of a constant quality permanently, the cleaning device includes a toner discharge unit configured to discharge the waste toner collected by cleaning from the cleaning device, and the developing device includes: An old developer discharge opening for discharging the old developer which is a mixture of the carrier and the toner including the deteriorated old carrier, and a new developer inflow for replenishing the new developer which is a mixture of the new carrier and the toner. An image forming apparatus having openings. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the cleaning device slides on a peripheral surface of the latent image carrier in a counter direction over a width direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the latent image carrier. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a cleaning blade provided in the cleaning device; and a box-shaped cleaning case which is elongated in the width direction and stores the toner scraped by the cleaning blade. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the toner discharge unit is configured to communicate with one end of the cleaning case through a conduit, and to discharge waste toner in the cleaning case into the conduit. And a waste toner conveying means for conveying the toner to the image forming apparatus. 7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said waste toner conveying means comprises a spiral rotator provided from said cleaning case side to said pipe side. . 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the conduit is arranged in a vertical direction to such an extent that the waste toner sent by the waste toner conveying means falls in the conduit by its own weight. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the image forming apparatus is inclined. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said developing device carries said latent image in a width direction which is a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of said latent image carrier. A developing roller provided in close proximity to the body; an agent circulating stirring means provided below the developing roller; and an elongated box-shaped developing case for accommodating the developing roller and the agent circulating stirring means. Image forming apparatus. 10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said old developer discharge opening and said new developer inflow opening are respectively provided on the same side surface of said developing case. apparatus. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the position of the old developer discharge opening in the height direction is set in the developing case as the new developer is supplied from the new developer inflow opening. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the increased developer level is set as a position where the developer can be discharged by overflow. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said developing roller is disposed below said latent image carrier, and said agent circulation stirring means is provided on a bottom inside said developing case. A partition plate provided along the longitudinal direction of the case, and two helical rotating bodies arranged side by side facing each other along the longitudinal direction of the developing case with the partition plate interposed therebetween; A gap is formed between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the plate and the developing case, and a developer agitating / conveying path is provided by a substantially rectangular space connecting the gap and a space formed along the two rotating bodies. And forming a flow of the developer along the developer stirring / conveying path by reversing the directions of transport of the developer by the two rotators. apparatus. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the old developer discharge opening is located on the developer stirring and conveying path near a position where the flow direction of the developer changes.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the new developer inflow opening is located downstream of the old developer discharge opening on the developer stirring and conveying path. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the position at which the direction of the flow of the developer changes is near one end in the longitudinal direction of the rotating body. . 15. An electrostatic latent image formed on a moving latent image carrier is visualized by a developing device using a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier, and the visualized toner image is formed. Is transferred to a transfer material, and the residual toner remaining on the latent image carrier after the transfer is collected as waste toner by a cleaning device, and the toner consumed by these transfer and cleaning is replenished with new toner. In addition, in an image forming apparatus in which an old carrier deteriorated by use is replaced with a new carrier, image formation of a constant quality is permanently performed, the cleaning device includes the waste collected by cleaning. Toner discharging means for discharging toner from the cleaning device, the developing device includes a carrier including the old carrier deteriorated by use and toner. An old developer discharge opening for discharging the old developer, which is a mixture of the above, and a new developer inflow opening for flowing the new developer, which is a mixture of the new carrier and the toner, respectively, are collected from the cleaning means. A waste toner accommodating portion for accommodating the used waste toner, an old developer accommodating portion for accommodating the old developer collected from the developing device, and a developer to be supplied to the developing device. A developer container integrally provided with a new developer accommodating portion for accommodating a new developer in which the new carrier and the toner are mixed, wherein the waste toner accommodating portion is provided with the toner discharging means; The old developer discharge opening in the developer container and the new developer inflow opening in the new developer storage are connected and disconnected so that they can communicate with each other, so that the developer container is replaceable. Do Image forming apparatus. 16. An image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said new developer accommodating portion is provided with a conveying means for discharging said new developer in said new developer accommodating portion to said developing device. The developing device is provided with detecting means for detecting a ratio of toner to carrier (toner density),
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying unit is driven such that a predetermined toner density is maintained based on a detection output of the detecting unit. 17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the new developer in the new developer accommodating portion contains a carrier in a weight ratio of 20 to 30% with respect to toner. An image forming apparatus. 18. An image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said image forming apparatus is a tandem type color image forming apparatus in which a plurality of said latent image carriers are arranged. Image forming apparatus. 19. A visible toner image formed on a moving latent image carrier by a developing device using a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier. Is transferred to a transfer material, and the residual toner remaining on the latent image carrier after the transfer is collected as a waste toner in a cleaning device, while the toner thus consumed is replenished with new toner, Further, a developer container used in an image forming apparatus configured to perform image formation of a constant quality permanently by replacing an old carrier deteriorated by use with a new carrier, wherein the developer container is collected from the cleaning device. A waste toner accommodating portion for accommodating the waste toner, an old developer accommodating portion for accommodating an old developer which is a mixture of the old carrier and the toner collected from the developing device, and Offering A new developer accommodating portion for accommodating a new developer to be supplied and in which the new carrier and the toner are mixed is integrally provided, and can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus. Developer container. 20. A developer container according to claim 19, wherein said waste toner container is to be in communication with said cleaning device and said old developer container is to be communicated with said developing device. A developer container, wherein the old developer inflow opening and the new developer accommodating portion each have a new developer discharge opening to be communicated with the developing device. 21. The developer container according to claim 20, wherein the waste toner inflow opening, the old developer inflow opening, and the new developer discharge opening are provided on the same side surface of the developer container. A developer container characterized by the above-mentioned. 22. The developer container according to claim 21, wherein in the image forming apparatus using the developer container, the transfer agent transfers a toner image from the latent image carrier in a vertical conveying process. A developer container, wherein the waste toner inflow opening is located above the old developer inflow opening. 23. A developer container according to claim 19, 20, 21 or 22, wherein said waste toner storage section, said old developer storage section and said new developer storage section are separated from each other. A developer container. 24. The developer container according to claim 20, wherein the new developer accommodating portion is formed of an inner space of a cylindrical body, and the new developer accommodating portion is directed toward the new developer discharge opening. A developer transporting means for transporting and discharging the developer. 25. A developer container according to claim 24, wherein said conveying means comprises a spiral rotating body provided inside said cylindrical body.