JP2000181211A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the trouble that the surface of a toner carrying member is flawed when developing devices are put into a developable state by controlling the drive of a developing apparatus in such a manner that the toners migrated to developing cases are carried on the surfaces of the toner carrying members and are transported after the toners are spread to the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the developing devices. SOLUTION: When the rotary type developing device 6, in which the toners of the developing cases 21C, 21M and 21Y of the respective developing devices 22C, 22M and 22Y are not housed, is set to the image forming apparatus body, the drive of the rotary type developing apparatus 6 is controlled in such a manner that the toners migrated to the developing cases of the developing devices from toner cartridges are carried on the surfaces of the developing rollers 23C, 23M and 23Y and are transported after the toners are spread to the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the rotary type developing apparatus 6 set at the image forming apparatus body. Then, the toners are supplied between the surfaces of the developing rollers and blades right after the rotation of these rollers, by which the friction resistance between both is lowered and the trouble of flawing the surfaces of the developing rollers by the blades ma; be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a latent image carrier driven so that its surface moves, and a plurality of developing devices each having a developing case for accommodating toners of different colors. A rotary developing device that is driven to rotate so that each developing device occupies a developing position facing the latent image carrier, wherein each developing device carries and transports toner, A toner layer thickness regulating member that abuts on the surface of the toner carrier and regulates the amount of toner carried and conveyed by the toner carrier; and a developing case of each developing device. A toner cartridge containing toner supplied to the developing unit is mounted, and is transported to a developing area between the toner carrier and the latent image carrier by a toner carrier of a developing device brought to the developing position. The toner What relates to an image forming apparatus which visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image bearing member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus of the above-mentioned type configured as an electronic copying machine, a printer, a facsimile or a multifunction machine having at least two of these functions has been conventionally known. When such an image forming apparatus is purchased by a user, or when the rotary developing device reaches the end of its life and is to be replaced, a new rotary developing device is set in the image forming apparatus main body. , When transporting the new rotary developing device under the user, toner may leak,
In order to prevent the toner from being scattered, the rotary developing device is transported without enclosing the toner in the developing case of each developing device, and when the rotary developing device is set in the image forming apparatus main body, the toner in each toner cartridge is removed. Put in the developing case of each developing unit,
The toner is carried on the surface of the toner carrier, and each developing device is in a developable state.

[0003] At this time, while the toner carrier is driven to rotate while supplying the toner into the developing case, and the toner is supplied to the surface of the toner carrier, the toner in the developing case is spread over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the developing device. At a time before the movement, a portion where the toner is not yet supplied to the surface of the toner carrier is formed, and the toner layer thickness regulating member directly contacts the surface of the toner carrier without the intervention of the toner. For this reason, a large external force is applied to the portion of the surface of the toner carrier from the toner layer thickness regulating member, and the surface may be damaged.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made on the basis of the above-described novel recognition, and an object of the present invention is to provide a developing case in which toner is put into a developing case and the developing device is ready for development. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus of the type described at the beginning, which can prevent a problem that the surface of the toner carrier is damaged.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus of the type described at the beginning, wherein a rotary type developing device in which a developing case of each developing device does not contain toner is used. When the toner is transferred from the toner cartridge to the developing case of the developing device when the toner is transferred to the developing device main body, the toner is transferred to the developing device of the rotary developing device set in the image forming device main body over the entire longitudinal direction of the developing device. An image forming apparatus comprising a developing device control drive unit for controlling the driving of the rotary developing device so that the toner is carried on the surface of the toner carrier of the developing device and conveyed. 1).

At this time, each of the developing devices has a toner conveying member that conveys the toner in the developing case in the longitudinal direction of the developing device by being driven to rotate. The entire rotary developing device set in the main body of the image forming apparatus is rotationally driven so that the toner in the developing case is transported in the longitudinal direction of the developing device without rotating the toner conveying member and the toner carrier. Then, after the toner in the developing case reaches the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the developing device, the toner carrier is rotationally driven such that the toner is carried on the toner carrier surface of the developing device and transported. It is advantageous if it is constituted as follows (claim 2).

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the toner conveying member is constituted by a screw conveyor for conveying the toner by its rotation, and the central axis of the toner conveying member is the same as that of the rotary developing device. Advantageously, it is separated from the central axis by a predetermined distance (claim 3).

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the second or third aspect, the developing device control and driving means may be configured so that the toner in the developing case is required before the toner in the developing device reaches the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the developing device. It is advantageous that the rotary developing device is configured to be rotationally driven a predetermined number of times (claim 4).

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a sensor for detecting that the toner in the developing case has spread over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the developing device, wherein the control unit controls the driving of the developing device. The means is provided by the sensor
It is advantageous if the rotary developing device is configured to be rotationally driven until it is detected that the toner in the developing case has spread over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the developing device.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the internal structure of an image forming apparatus configured as a color printer. The image forming apparatus main body 100 includes an immovable housing 9 installed on a mounting surface and an immovable housing 9. A movable housing 8 pivotally supported by the housing so as to be rotatable and openable. Inside the image forming apparatus main body 100, there is disposed a photosensitive member 1 composed of a flexible endless belt, which is an example of a latent image carrier, and the photosensitive member 1 is wound around a plurality of rollers 2 and 3. I have.

A rotary developing device 6 and a black developing device 7 which constitute a color developing device are arranged to face the photoreceptor 1, respectively. Rotary developing device 6
Are a cyan developing device 22C, a magenta developing device 22M,
It has a plurality of yellow developing units 22Y, and is supported by the image forming apparatus main body so as to be rotatable around its central axis. A black developing device is provided in this rotary developing device,
The illustrated black developing device 7 can be omitted.

Each of the developing devices 22C, 22M, 22Y and the black developing device 7 has a developing roller 23C, 2 which is an example of a toner carrier, as will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.
3M, 23Y, and 23K, and powdery cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toners are respectively carried and conveyed by the respective developing rollers, and the electrostatic latent images formed on the photoreceptor surface by the respective toners. The image is visualized.

A laser writing unit 5 which is an example of an image exposure device is disposed obliquely below the photosensitive member 1.
The laser writing unit 5 uses a polygon mirror 5B that rotates a laser beam generated by a semiconductor laser (not shown) at high speed by a polygon motor 5A based on image information obtained by decomposing a full-color image into color information of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. And emits the light toward the photoreceptor 1 via the fθ lens 5C and the reflection mirror 5D.

During the image forming operation, the roller 2 is rotationally driven by a driving device (not shown), whereby the photosensitive member 1 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow A, and the surface thereof moves in the direction of arrow A. At this time, the surface of the photosensitive member is subjected to a charge removing operation by the charge removing lamp 4, and then the surface of the photosensitive member is uniformly charged by the charging device including the charging charger 4 </ b> A. Exposure is performed by the laser light L, whereby a first electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information is formed on the surface of the photoconductor. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the first developing device of the rotary developing device 6, in this example, the cyan developing device 22C occupies the developing position facing the surface of the photoconductor 1, and its developing roller 23C is driven to rotate. Then, the first electrostatic latent image is visualized as a cyan toner image by the cyan toner carried and transported by the developing roller 23C. At this time, the black developing device 7 is separated from the surface of the photoconductor 1 and does not perform the developing operation.

On the other hand, the image forming apparatus main body 100 rotatably supports rollers 11 and 12 which are arranged apart from each other, and these rollers 11 and 12 are provided with an endless end which is an example of an intermediate transfer member. The intermediate transfer belt 10 is wound around, and one roller 11 is driven by a driving device (not shown) so that the intermediate transfer belt 10
It is driven to rotate in the direction. The intermediate transfer belt 10 and the photoreceptor 1 abut on each other at a transfer portion 13A at the position of the roller 3, and at the rear side of the intermediate transfer belt 10 at this portion, the tip of a conductive transfer brush 13 which is an example of a transfer unit. Is in contact.

When the cyan toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member 1 reaches the transfer portion 13A as described above, a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the transfer brush 13, whereby the photosensitive member 1 is charged. The toner image on the surface is the intermediate transfer belt 1
0 is transferred to the surface.

The transfer residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor after the transfer of the toner image is scraped off by the cleaning blade 15A of the cleaning device 15. The transfer residual toner removed from the photoreceptor surface in this way is
The toner drops into the cleaning case 15B and is collected in the toner collecting container 15C. When the toner collection container 15C is full of toner, it is replaced with an empty new cleaning collection container.

The photoreceptor surface whose surface has been cleaned as described above is again subjected to a static elimination action by the static elimination lamp 4.
The charged surface is uniformly charged by the charging charger 4A, and then the charged surface is irradiated with the laser light L emitted from the laser writing unit 5 to form a second electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor. When this electrostatic latent image passes through the rotary developing device 6,
The rotation of the developing device 6 causes the magenta developing device 22M to occupy the developing position facing the photoreceptor 1, whereby the second electrostatic latent image is transferred to the magenta developing device in exactly the same manner as described above. The image is visualized as a toner image. This toner image is also operated by the transfer brush 13
On the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 to which the cyan toner image has been previously transferred, the toner image is superimposed and transferred on the cyan toner image. The toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 1 after the transfer of the magenta toner image is also removed from the surface of the photoconductor by the cleaning blade 15A.

Similarly, a yellow toner image and a black toner image are sequentially formed on the surface of the photoreceptor by a yellow developing unit 22Y and a black developing device 7 facing the photoreceptor surface, respectively. Are superimposed on the previously transferred toner image and sequentially transferred. The surface of the photoreceptor is transferred each time a toner image is transferred.
The transfer residual toner is removed by the cleaning blade 15A, and the surface thereof is cleaned. Thus, a full-color toner image is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10. At the time of forming a black toner image, the black developing device 7 is brought close to the surface of the photoconductor 1, and performs a predetermined developing operation. The movement of the black developing device toward or away from the photoconductor 1 is performed by the rotation of the cam 75.

On the other hand, a recording medium 17A made of paper or a plastic sheet or the like is stacked on a sheet feeding cassette 17 set at a lower portion of the image forming apparatus main body 100, and the recording medium 17A is rotated by rotation of a sheet feeding roller 18. 1
The sheets are fed one by one in the direction of arrow C. The recording medium 17A fed in this way is supplied to a pair of transport rollers 19A, 19A.
B and the rotation of the pair of registration rollers 20A and 20B, the intermediate transfer belt 10 is aligned with the full-color toner image formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 at the timing.
And a transfer roller 14 which is an example of a transfer unit opposed thereto. At this time, the full-color toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 is collectively transferred to the surface of the recording medium 17A by the action of a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner applied to the transfer roller 14.

After the recording medium 17A to which the full-color toner image has been transferred leaves the intermediate transfer belt 10, the fixing device 8
The toner image passes between the fixing roller and the pressure roller of the recording medium 17A, and at this time, the toner image is formed by the action of heat and pressure.
Is fixed on the surface of Recording medium 17 exiting fixing device 80
A is discharged to the discharge stack 82 by the pair of discharge rollers 81A and 81B with the image surface facing downward.

On the other hand, a full-color toner image is recorded on the recording medium 17.
A transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 10 after the transfer to the intermediate transfer belt A is performed by a cleaning device 16 for the intermediate transfer belt.
, And the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 is cleaned. The cleaning blade 16 </ b> A is freely movable toward and away from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt, and is separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt when each toner image is transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10. After transferring the full-color toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium 17A, only when cleaning the toner remaining on the surface, the leading end of the cleaning blade 16A comes into pressure contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt to scrape off the transfer residual toner. Remove and remove. The transfer residual toner scraped from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt by the cleaning blade 16A is
The toner is discharged to the outside of the cleaning case by the toner conveying screw 16B, and is conveyed to the above-mentioned toner collecting container 15C by a conveying device (not shown), and is stored therein.

The photoreceptor 1, the charging charger 4A, the intermediate transfer belt 10, the cleaning device 16, one of the registration rollers 20B, and the like are integrally assembled into a unit case to form a process unit 31, and the toner collecting container 15C is It is exchangeably incorporated into the unit case of the process unit. The exterior part of the unit case on the side of one of the registration rollers 20B also serves as a conveyance guide for the recording medium.

As shown in FIG. 2, the black developing device 7 includes a developing container 71 containing powdered black toner (not shown), the developing roller 23K rotatably supported by the developing container 71, and the toner supply. Black toner in the developing container 71 is supplied to the surface of the developing roller 23K by the toner supply roller 25K, and the developing roller 23K is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The layer thickness of the toner is regulated by a toner layer thickness regulating member composed of a blade 26K, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 1 is visualized as described above by the regulated toner.

FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of the rotary developing device 6, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cyan developing device 22C as viewed from the side opposite to the photosensitive member 1 in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the developing units 22C, 22M and 22Y have the same structure except that they are arranged symmetrically. Therefore, only the structure and operation of the cyan developing unit 22C will be mainly described. Each element of the other developing units 22M and 22Y corresponding to each element of the cyan developing unit 22C includes a cyan developing unit 22C.
M and Y are added in place of the code C attached to each element.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the cyan developing device 22C has a developing case 21C which extends in the width direction of the photosensitive member 1 and stores the cyan toner CT.
The developing case 21C extends long in the longitudinal direction of the cyan developing device 22C, and each of the wall portions 40 of the developing case 21C.
The central axis of the developing roller 23C is rotatably supported by C and 41C. The developing roller 23C extends long in the longitudinal direction of the cyan developing device 22C, and the developing case 21C
Is arranged so that a part thereof is exposed to the outside from the opening.

Each wall 40C, 4 of the developing case 21C
1C, the central axis of a toner supply roller 25C, which is an example of a toner supply member, is rotatably supported. The toner supply roller 25C is made of an elastic material such as foamed polyurethane, and is in contact with the developing roller 23C. And extends parallel to the developing roller 23C. A base end of a blade 26C, which is an example of a toner layer thickness regulating member, is fixed to the developing case 21C, and a free end of the blade 26C contacts the surface of the developing roller 23C via toner. The blade 26C is made of, for example, a stainless steel thin plate having spring properties, or an elastic body such as urethane rubber.

Further, each wall 40 of the developing case 21C
C and 43C rotatably support the respective ends of a toner conveying member 27C constituted by a screw conveyor and the respective ends of a toner return member 28C also constituted by a screw conveyor.
C and the toner return member 28C extend in parallel with the developing roller 23C.

In the rotary developing device 6 of this embodiment, the developing cases 21C, 22M, and 22Y of the developing units 21C, 22M, and 22Y are used.
21M and 21Y are formed integrally with each other, and they are fixed immovably with respect to the central axis 44 of the developing device 6.
Each developing unit can be configured separately from each other. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the rotary developing device 6 is disposed in a holder 45 supported by the main body of the image forming apparatus, but the holder may be omitted.

Each of the developing cases 21C, 21M, and 21Y contains a powdery cyan toner, a magenta toner, and a yellow toner, respectively, but illustrations other than the cyan toner CT are omitted. An auxiliary agent is externally added to these toners as needed. In the illustrated example, a non-magnetic toner is used.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the cyan developing device 22C occupies the developing position facing the photoreceptor 1. In this state, the developing roller 23C and the toner supply roller 25C are respectively moved in the directions indicated by arrows in FIG. It is driven to rotate. At this time,
The toner supply roller 25C rubs against the development roller 23C, and the cyan toner CT is supplied to the surface of the development roller 23C by the toner supply roller 25C. The cyan toner supplied to the surface of the developing roller 23C in this manner is transported while being carried on the surface of the developing roller 23C, and is transported by the blade 26C abutting on the surface of the developing roller 23C via the toner. Is regulated and the thickness is reduced. The toner after the regulation is conveyed to a developing area between the developing roller 23C and the photosensitive member 1, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member 1 is visualized by the toner as described above. . At this time, the developing roller 23C is in contact with the photoconductor 1 or is positioned at a small interval, and the contact development or the non-contact development is performed.

As shown in FIG. 4, one end of the developing case 21C is formed as a toner container 29C, and as shown in FIG.
6C comes into contact with the peripheral surface of the toner supply roller 25C, and the developing roller 23C, the toner supply roller 25C and the developing case 2
1C defines a toner transport space 24C surrounding the toner transport member 27C.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the developing roller 23C, the toner supply roller 25C, the toner conveying member 27C, and the toner returning member 2 of the cyan developing device 22C occupy the developing position.
8C are drivingly connected to each other via a gear (not shown), and are rotationally driven synchronously by a common driving device. At this time, the toner conveying member 27C is driven to rotate so as to convey the cyan toner in the developing case 21C from the near side to the far side in FIG. 2, that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow E in FIG. As a result, the cyan toner in the toner container 29C is transported through the toner transport space 24C. At this time, the cyan toner is supplied onto the toner supply roller 25C, the toner is further supplied while being charged on the surface of the developing roller 23C, and the toner is carried and carried on the developing roller 23C, as described above. Used for visualizing the electrostatic latent image.

The cyan toner which has not been used to visualize the electrostatic latent image is moved by the toner conveying member 27C to the end space 32 of the developing case 21C opposite to the toner container 29C.
C (FIG. 4), where the cyan toner falls to the bottom of the developing case 21C due to gravity and is returned by the toner return member 28C to the toner container 29C as indicated by the arrow F in FIG. Thus, the toner circulates in the developing case 21C.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 5 to 8, a toner cartridge 30C is detachably mounted in the toner container 29C of the developing case 21C, and the cyan toner CT in the cartridge 30C is filled with the developing case 21C. Is supplied to the toner storage portion 29C of the toner container. The toner cartridge 30C attached to the developing case 21C is locked to the developing case 21C by a click (not shown), and the opening of the toner cartridge 30C and the opening of the toner container 29C are aligned as shown in FIGS. Then, the toner is supplied from the toner cartridge 30C to the toner container 29C.

The toner in the developing case 21C runs out,
Alternatively, when the remaining amount becomes small, the toner cartridge 30C is replaced with a new toner cartridge, and a necessary amount of toner is always stored in the toner storing unit 29C. As will be described later, when the rotary developing device 6 is newly mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, a new toner cartridge is mounted on the developing case 21C.

As described above, when the developing operation by the cyan developing device 22C is completed, the rotary developing device 6 is moved around the central axis which is the center of the central shaft 44 by a driving device not shown in FIG. , And the next magenta developing device 22M reaches the developing position facing the photoreceptor 1, whereby the developing operation is performed. Then, the yellow developing device 22Y is brought to the developing position to perform the developing operation. Execute

The rotary developing device 6 waits at the home position shown in FIG. 9 and stops at times other than the time of image formation, ie, before and after the image forming operation. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the home position is a position at which the developing rollers 23C and 23Y do not come into contact with the surface of the photoconductor at a substantially intermediate point between the developing roller 23C of the cyan developing device 22C and the developing roller 23Y of the yellow developing device 22Y. . This is because when the color developing operation is performed, the rotation of the developing device 6 in the direction of arrow D causes the cyan developing device 22C used first.
Can prevent the photosensitive member 1 and the developing roller from deteriorating or being damaged due to unnecessary contact between the photosensitive member and the developing roller when the photosensitive member is not in operation. This is to prevent the toner from adhering and fixing outside of the predetermined area.

When the rotary developing device 6 rotates in the direction of arrow D as described above, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the toner CT in the toner cartridge 30C moves in the toner cartridge 30C by its own weight. At this time, a partitioning portion 50C is formed in the toner cartridge 30C, and a toner storing portion 51C is formed in the vicinity of an attachment portion to the toner storage portion 29C. The developing device 6 is moved from the position of FIG.
Is rotated to the position, the toner CT in the toner cartridge 30C moves onto the innermost wall 52C on the most upstream side of the toner cartridge 30C. When the state shown in FIG. 8 is changed to the state shown in FIG. 5, which is a home position, and further to the state shown in FIG. 6, a part of the toner in the toner cartridge 30C is blocked by the partition 50C and stored in the toner storage 51C. Is done. The toner CT stored here is
The toner flows into the toner container 29C through the openings of the toner cartridge 30C and the toner container 29C. The same operation is performed in the toner cartridges 30M and 30Y attached to other developing units. As described above, the toner can be supplied from the toner cartridge to the toner container of the developing case by the rotation of the rotary developing device 6 without using a special toner conveying unit.

The movable housing 8 shown in FIG. 1 is supported on the immobile housing 9 so as to be rotatable about a rotation support shaft 9A, and is normally closed as shown in FIG. I have.
When the recording medium is jammed in the transport path of the recording medium 17A, the lock for the movable housing (not shown) is released, and the movable housing 8 is released as shown in FIGS. The movable casing 8 holds a transport roller 19A, a registration roller 20A, a transfer roller 14, and the like. When the movable casing 8 is opened, the transport path of the recording medium is exposed, so that the jam processing can be easily performed. It can be carried out.

Also, when a sensor described later detects that the toner in each of the developing units has run out or the amount of toner has run low, and that fact is displayed on an operation display unit (not shown), the operation shown in FIG. The movable housing 8 is opened as shown in FIG.
C can be replaced with a new toner cartridge.

When the life of the black developing device 7 or the rotary developing device 6 has expired, the process unit 31
Is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow G in FIG. 10, and the developing devices 6 and 7 can be replaced with new developing devices.

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes the photosensitive member 1 which is an example of a latent image carrier driven so that the surface moves, and the developing cases which respectively store toners of different colors. It has a plurality of developing units 22C, 22M, 22Y having 21C, 21M, 21Y, and each of the developing units 22C, 22M, 22Y is rotationally driven so as to occupy a developing position facing the latent image carrier. And a rotary developing device 6, and each of the developing devices 22C, 22M,
Reference numeral 22Y denotes developing rollers 23C, 23M, and 23Y, which are examples of a toner carrier that carries and conveys the toner, and a portion of the toner that is in contact with the surface of the toner carrier to be carried and conveyed by the toner carrier. The developing case 21 of each of the developing devices 22C, 22M, and 22Y includes blades 26C, 26M, and 26Y that are examples of a toner layer thickness regulating member that regulates the amount.
C, 21M, and 21Y have their respective developing cases 21C, 2C.
The toner cartridges 30C, 30M, and 30Y accommodating the toner supplied to 1M and 21Y are mounted, respectively.
By the toner carrier of the developing device brought to the developing position,
The electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier is visualized by the toner conveyed to the developing area between the toner carrier and the latent image carrier.

As described above, when the rotary developing device 6 reaches the end of its life or when the user purchases a new image forming device, the new rotary developing device 6 is mounted on the image forming device main body 100. In this case, as described above, when the new rotary developing device 6 is transported under the user, the toner is prevented from leaking or scattering. 22C, 22M, 22
When the rotary developing device 6 is transported without enclosing the toner in the Y developing cases 21C, 21M, and 21Y and is set in the image forming apparatus main body 100, the toner in the toner cartridges 30C, 30M, and 30Y is Into the developing cases of the respective developing devices, and the developing rollers 23C, 23M, 23
Each of the developing devices 22C and 22
M and 22Y are in a developable state. At this time, while putting the toner in the developing cases 21C, 21M and 21Y,
Assuming that the developing rollers 23C, 23M, and 23Y are rotationally driven to supply the toner to the surface of the developing roller,
At a time before the toner in the developing cases 21C, 21M, and 21Y has spread to the entire longitudinal direction of the developing devices 22C, 22M, and 22Y, the developing rollers 23C, 23M, and 2 have not yet been developed.
In the portion where the toner is not supplied to the surface of 3Y, the blades 26C, 26M, and 26Y directly contact the surfaces of the developing rollers without the toner. For this reason,
A large external force is applied to the surface of the developing roller from the blade, and the surface may be scratched.

Therefore, in the image forming apparatus of this embodiment,
The new rotary developing device 6 is transported under the user and is set in the image forming apparatus main body 100. Before or after the setting, each of the developing devices 22C, 22M, and 22Y is set.
And new toner cartridges 30C, 30M, 30Y
Attach. At that time, a seal (not shown) for closing the opening of each toner cartridge is peeled off, and then each toner cartridge is mounted, or after the mounting, the seal is peeled off, and the opening of the toner cartridge and the opening of each developing device are moved in FIGS. The alignment is performed as shown in FIG. As a result, the toner in each toner cartridge is transferred to each developing case 21C,
21M, 21Y toner storage units 29C, 29M, 29Y
Or fall into a state where it can fall.

After the rotary developing device 6 is set in the image forming apparatus main body 100 as described above, by pressing a key on an operation display unit (not shown), the developing device control driving means (not shown) The developing device 6 is rotationally driven in a direction indicated by an arrow D in FIGS. As a result, the toner in each toner cartridge falls into the toner container, and each toner is conveyed in the developing case as follows. At this time, the developing rollers 23C, 23M, 2
3Y, the toner supply rollers 25C, 25M, and 25Y, the toner transport members 27C, 27M, and 27Y, and the toner return members 28C, 28M, and 28Y do not rotate.

FIGS. 12 to 16 are diagrams for explaining the above-described toner conveyance, and also clarify the toner conveyance state in the cyan developing unit 22C.

12 to 15, the fixed point on the outer periphery of the screw of the toner conveying member 27C is denoted by T, and the movement of the toner is indicated by hatching. When the rotary developing device 6 rotates in the direction of arrow D in the drawing, the toner in the toner transport space 24C formed by the developing roller 23C, the toner supply roller 25C, and the developing case 21C moves relative to the fixed point T relative to the fixed point T. Will do. Toner conveying member 2
When the twist direction of 7C is set as shown in FIG. 16, the toner in the toner transport space 24C moves in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 16 due to the relative rotational movement with respect to the fixed point T, and the toner transport member 27C is driven. Even when the toner is not applied, the toner is conveyed only by the rotation of the developing device 6.

In the rotary type developing device 6 of this embodiment, the toner conveying member 27C is constituted by a screw conveyor which conveys toner by its rotation, and the central axis of the toner conveying member 27C is the center of the rotary type developing device 6. Since the rotary developing device 6 is separated from the axis by a predetermined distance, the toner in the developing device can be spread over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of each developing device only by rotating the rotary type developing device 6 around its central axis. It is.

As described above, after the toner in the developing case has been conveyed over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of each developing device, and a necessary amount of toner has been stored in each developing case, the developing device control drive means described above causes Each developing roller 23C, 23M, 23
Y is driven to rotate. At this time, each toner supply roller 26
C, 26M, 26Y, and the respective toner conveying members 27C, 27
M, 27Y and toner return members 28C, 28M, 28Y
Also rotate in synchronization. As a result, the respective toners are carried and conveyed on the surface of each developing roller, and each developing device is in a developable state.

As described above, a new developing device 6 in which toner is not stored in each developing case is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 1.
00, and then the developing device 6 is rotationally driven to spread toner over the entire length of each developing device in the longitudinal direction of each developing device, and then each developing roller is rotationally driven, Since the toner is supplied to the surface, each developing roller rotates in a state where the toner does not exist on the surface of each developing roller, and the blades 26C, 2 are applied to the surface for a long time.
6M and 26Y do not come into pressure contact. Immediately after the start of rotation of the developing roller, toner is supplied between the surface and the blade, and the frictional resistance between the two is reduced. Thus, it is possible to prevent the blade from being damaged by the blade on the surface of the developing roller.

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes the developing cases 21C, 2C of the developing units 22C, 22M, 22Y.
When the rotary developing device 6 in which no toner is contained in the image forming apparatus 1M and 21Y is set in the image forming apparatus main body 100, the toner transferred from the toner cartridges 30C, 30M and 30Y to the developing case of the developing device is used. So that the toner is carried on the surface of a developing roller, which is an example of a toner carrier of the developing device, and conveyed over the entire lengthwise direction of the developing device of the rotary developing device 6 set to And a developing device control drive unit for driving and controlling the rotary developing device. The developing device control driving means is constituted by, for example, a driving device (not shown) for driving the developing device 6 and its components such as the developing roller, and a control device (not shown) for controlling the driving device.

In the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, the developing units 22C, 22M, and 22Y are driven to rotate so that the toner in the developing cases 21C, 21M, and 21Y is conveyed in the longitudinal direction of the developing units. Toner transport member 2
7C, 27M, and 27Y, and the above-described developing device control and drive unit rotates the toner carrying member including the toner transporting member and the developing roller so that the toner in the developing case is removed from the developing device. The entire rotary developing device 6 set in the image forming apparatus main body 100 is rotationally driven so as to be transported in the longitudinal direction, and after the toner in the developing case has spread over the entire longitudinal direction of the developing device, The toner carrier is configured to be rotationally driven so that the toner is carried on the surface of the toner carrier of the developing device and transported.

According to the above configuration, even when the developing roller of each developing device and the toner conveying member are connected by driving and are rotated in synchronization with each other, the surface of each developing roller is provided with the blade. Each developing device can be brought into a developable state without hindrance without damaging it.

Further, the developing device control driving means rotates the rotary developing device 6 a predetermined number of times required for the toner in the developing case to reach the entire longitudinal direction of the developing device. When configured to be driven, the toner in each developing case can be spread over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the developing device by simple control.

At this time, each developing case 21C, 21M, 2
When the toner is filled in the new toner cartridge 1Y, the toner in the new toner cartridge has a non-uniform degree of cohesion during transportation and storage, and a sufficient amount of toner is supplied to the empty developing cases 21C, 21M, and 21Y. Since filling may not be possible,
At the time of startup when a new rotary developing device 6 is mounted, the developing device 6 is rotated at a lower rotational speed than during a normal image forming operation so that a sufficient amount of toner is filled from the toner cartridge into the developing case. It is desirable to rotate more.

As described above, each developing case 21
Instead of rotating the rotary developing device 6 a predetermined number of times so that the required amount of toner is filled in C, 21M, and 21Y, as shown in FIGS. Wall part 40C at the end opposite to the part (FIG. 4)
Of the detection window 3
5C. As shown in FIG.
M and 35Y are also formed in the developing case of another developing device, and the detection windows 35C, 35M and 35Y are provided rotationally symmetrically with respect to the rotation center of the developing device 6. When each developing unit reaches the developing position, a sensor 36 composed of a photo sensor is arranged in the image forming apparatus main body so as to face the detection window. When there is no toner in the portion X in the developing case between the two detection windows, light emitted from the light emitting element of the sensor 36 returns to the light receiving element, and when there is toner in this portion X,
The light does not return to the light receiving element, so that it is possible to detect whether or not each developing case is filled with toner.

As shown in FIG. 19, a new developing device 6 is set in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the new developing device 6 is rotated and driven as described above to transfer the toner into each developing case (FIG. 19).
S1), when each developing device has reached the developing position, the developing device 6 is temporarily stopped (S2), and the detection windows 35C and 35M are detected.
Or, through 35Y, it is detected whether or not the toner exists in the portion of the developing case opposite to the toner storage portion (S
3). When the absence of toner is detected, the developing device 6 is continuously rotated, and the same operation is continuously performed. When the presence of toner is detected, the developing roller that has been stopped until then is removed.
It is driven for a predetermined time in synchronization with the toner supply roller, the toner transport member and the toner return member (S4), and supplies toner to the developing roller.

As described above, the image forming apparatus of this embodiment is provided with the sensor 36 for detecting that the toner in the developing case has spread over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the developing device. The rotary developing device 6 is driven to rotate until the sensor 36 detects that the toner in the developing case has spread over the entire longitudinal direction of the developing device.

According to this configuration, the rotation of the developing device 6 can reliably detect that the toner in the developing case has spread over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the developing device. It can be more reliably prevented.

The above-described sensor 36 can also be used as a sensor for detecting that the toner in the developing case has run out or that the remaining amount has become small.

The present invention can be widely applied to various types of image forming apparatuses other than those shown in the figures.

[0064]

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the rotary developing device in which no toner is stored in the developing case is mounted on the main body of the image forming device, the toner is spread over the entire longitudinal direction of the developing device. Since the toner is supplied to the toner carrier after the entire process, it is possible to prevent the toner layer thickness regulating member from being damaged on the toner carrier surface.

According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect,
Even when the toner conveying member and the toner carrier are driven and connected so that they rotate in synchronization with each other, the toner is surely spread over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the developing device, and then the toner is conveyed to the surface of the toner carrier. Toner can be supplied.

According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect,
With a simple configuration, the effect of the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect can be further ensured.

According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect,
With a simple control, the toner can be spread over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the developing device.

According to the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect,
More reliably, the toner can be spread over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the developing device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an internal structure of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a black developing device and a rotary developing device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rotary developing device.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a cyan developing device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a state where toner is supplied from a toner cartridge into a developing case.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory sectional view illustrating a state where toner is supplied from a toner cartridge into a developing case.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory sectional view illustrating a state where toner is supplied from a toner cartridge into a developing case.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing how toner is supplied from a toner cartridge into a developing case.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view when the rotary developing device is at a home position.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view when the movable housing is opened.

FIG. 11 is a view when a movable housing is opened.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which toner is transported into a developing case.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where toner is conveyed into the developing case.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which toner is transported into a developing case.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating how toner is conveyed into the developing case.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a toner conveying member.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a relationship between a detection window and a sensor.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a detection window from the side of the toner cartridge.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of an operation related to toner conveyance in the developing case.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Rotary Developing Device 21C Developing Case 21M Developing Case 21Y Developing Case 22C Developing Device 22M Developing Device 22Y Developing Device 27C Toner Conveying Member 27M Toner Conveying Member 27Y Toner Conveying Member 30C Toner Cartridge 30M Toner Cartridge 30Y Toner Cartridge 36 Sensor 100 Image Forming Apparatus Body CT toner

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A developing device comprising: a latent image carrier whose surface is driven to move; and a plurality of developing devices each having a developing case for accommodating a toner of a different color. A rotary developing device that is driven to rotate so as to occupy a developing position facing the latent image carrier, wherein each of the developing units carries a toner and transports the toner;
A toner layer thickness regulating member that abuts on the surface of the toner carrier and regulates the amount of toner carried and conveyed by the toner carrier; and a developing case of each developing device. A toner cartridge containing toner supplied to the developing unit is mounted, and is transported to a developing area between the toner carrier and the latent image carrier by a toner carrier of a developing device brought to the developing position. In an image forming apparatus that visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier with toner, a rotary developing device in which a developing case of each developing device does not contain toner is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. At the time of setting, the toner transferred from the toner cartridge to the developing case of the developing device spreads over the entire longitudinal direction of the developing device of the rotary developing device set in the image forming apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus comprising: a developing device control drive unit that drives and controls the rotary developing device so that the toner is carried on the toner carrier of the developing device and transported. 2. Each of the developing devices has a toner conveying member that conveys toner in a developing case in a longitudinal direction of the developing device by being rotationally driven. The entire rotary developing device set in the image forming apparatus main body is rotationally driven so that the toner in the developing case is transported in the longitudinal direction of the developing device without rotating the transport member and the toner carrier. After the toner in the developing case has spread over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the developing device, the toner carrier is rotationally driven so that the toner is carried on the surface of the toner carrier of the developing device and transported. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The toner conveying member is constituted by a screw conveyor that conveys toner by its rotation, and the central axis of the toner conveying member is separated from the central axis of the rotary developing device by a predetermined distance. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The developing device controlling and driving means rotatably drives the rotary developing device a predetermined number of times required for the toner in the developing case to reach the entire region in the longitudinal direction of the developing device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to perform the operation. 5. A sensor for detecting that the toner in the developing case has spread over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the developing device, wherein the developing device control driving means includes:
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rotary developing device is driven to rotate until it is detected that the toner in the developing case has spread over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the developing device.