JP2000267420A - Two-component developing device, handling method thereof, image forming device and developer exchanging method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and surely exchange developer by a user in a two-component developing device having the discharge means of the deteriorated developer. SOLUTION: A spiral feeding rib is formed at the inside circumferential surface of a toner bottle 50 or a developer bottle 70. Besides, a toner discharge port or a developer discharge port is formed near the end part of the bottle in the longitudinal direction. When the developer of a black developing device 42BK is exchanged, the deteriorated developer in the device 42BK is recovered to a developer recovery container 260 held by a bottle holding part 46C of a cyan developing device 42C first and a developer bottle of corresponding color is set to the bottle holding part 46BK of the device 42BK by a user. The bottle 70 is rotated in a circumferential direction by the driving of a motor and the inside developer is successively fed to the discharge port along the feeding rib and supplied to the inside of the developing device from the discharge port. Then, a toner is also supplied to the inside of the developing device in the same way.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and the like, a two-component developing apparatus used in the image forming apparatus, a method of handling the two-component developing apparatus, and a method of replacing a developer in the two-component developing apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to recovery of a deteriorated developer from a developing device and replenishment or replacement of a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier to the developing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, various image forming apparatuses using a two-component developer formed by mixing a toner and a carrier have been proposed. As the two-component developer is used repeatedly, the carrier component in the developer gradually deteriorates, and the developing ability gradually decreases. Therefore, the developer inside the developing device including the deteriorated carrier is exchanged. Specifically, as a method of replacing the developer, a method has been adopted in which a service person visits a user at regular intervals to collect an old developer and supply a new developer. In addition, there is a printer that employs a method in which the developer is replaced by the user himself. For example, when a cylindrical container is used as a developer accommodating portion of the developing device, and when the developer inside the container deteriorates, a certain amount of old developer is collected from this container and a certain amount is stored in the same cylindrical container. There is one that replenishes new developer.

[0003]

However, when a serviceman collects and replenishes the developer, it is necessary to remove the developing unit provided with at least one developing unit or a part of the developing unit from the apparatus main body. , The developer may spill out and contaminate the surroundings (for example,
See Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-22627). In addition, it may take time for the replacement of the developer by the service person, or it may be troublesome to call the service person frequently. on the other hand,
According to the method of performing the replacement by the user himself, a certain amount of the old developer can be collected. However, since the new developer is replenished without completely collecting the old developer, the old developer remains.

Here, in the process of transporting the produced image forming apparatus from a factory or the like to a user, it is sufficiently conceivable that the image forming apparatus may be vibrated or may be inclined when the apparatus is installed. However, if the developer is charged into the developing device in the image forming apparatus before the conveyance, there is no possibility that the developer leaks due to the vibration and the inclination during the conveyance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to allow a user to reliably exchange a developer without troublesome service personnel. It is an object of the present invention to provide a two-component developing apparatus, an image forming apparatus and a method for replacing a developer which can be performed.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a two-component developing apparatus or a method of handling the same, or an image forming apparatus or a method of replacing the developer, which can prevent the developer from leaking out to the user. To provide.

[0007] The applicant of the present invention has previously described a developing unit for containing a two-component developer obtained by mixing a toner and a carrier, and an agent stirring unit for stirring the developer contained in the developing unit. A toner replenishing section for replenishing toner in a toner bottle containing toner toward the agent stirring section in accordance with an amount of toner consumed in the developing section; and a toner replenishing section communicating with the toner replenishing section. And a bottle holding portion for detachably holding the toner bottle with the toner outlet of the toner bottle corresponding to the mouth, wherein the outer shape of the developer bottle in which the developer is stored is as described above. The outer shape of the toner bottle is the same as or substantially the same as that of the toner bottle, and the developer supply port is the same as the toner supply port or communicates with the toner supply section. Present Agent by holding the bottle, has proposed a developing apparatus which is characterized in that the replenishment of the developer into the developing section (see JP-A-8-123170). According to this developing device, the developer can be automatically replenished by using the same driving unit as the toner replenishing unit, but the deteriorated developer in the developing device can be collected outside the device. It is not considered and does not reliably replace the developer.

[0008]

In order to achieve the first and second objects, the present invention is directed to a developing device for containing a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier, and the developing device. A developer discharging means for discharging the deteriorated developer inside the developing device, and a toner container housing the toner therein so as to be detachable, wherein the toner container is mounted with the toner container mounted. And a toner replenishing means for replenishing the toner in the developing device along a predetermined toner replenishment path, and a two-component developing device for developing a latent image formed on the latent image carrier. The stored developer container is configured to be detachable, and a developer supply unit capable of supplying the developer in the developer container along the toner supply path into the developer unit is provided. Things. Here, the developer refers to a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier, or a carrier alone.

In this two-component developing apparatus, when the developer in the developing device is deteriorated by repeating the development, the deteriorated developer is discharged to the outside of the developing device by the developer discharging means.
After the developing device is emptied, a developer container accommodating new developer is mounted, and new developer can be supplied from the developer container to the developing device. The toner supply path when supplying the developer also serves as the toner supply path when supplying the toner to the developing device. Therefore, the toner can be easily supplied to the developing device by mounting the toner container by the user himself, and the developer can be easily supplied by also using the toner supply path. The developer can be easily replenished without providing a new replenishment path only for replenishment.

In particular, the invention according to claim 2 is the two-component developing device according to claim 1, wherein the toner supply means communicates a toner discharge port provided in the toner container with a space serving as the toner supply path. The toner container is driven by toner container driving means to replenish the toner in the toner container into the developing device, and the developer replenishing means is provided in the developer container. The developer discharge port provided at the position is communicated with the space as the toner supply path, and the developer in the developer container is driven by a predetermined driving unit to drive the developer in the developer container. The image forming apparatus is configured to supply the toner into the developing unit, and the toner container driving unit is used as the predetermined driving unit.

In this two-component developing device, the developer container is driven by a toner container driving member for driving the toner container when toner is supplied to the developing device. The developer is discharged from the developer discharge port, and the developer is supplied into the developer through a toner supply path. Thus, the developer can be supplied without providing a new driving member only for supplying the developer.

Further, the invention of claim 3 provides the invention according to claim 1 or 2
In the above two-component developing apparatus, a discriminating means for discriminating the type of the substance to be supplied into the developing device is provided.

In this two-component developing device, the type of the substance supplied into the developing device is determined by the determining means. If the discrimination result is different from the substance originally intended for replenishment in the developing unit, notify the fact and stop the replenishment work so that the developing unit is not replenished with a substance different from the scheduled one. Becomes possible.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the two-component developing device of the third aspect, the discriminating means includes a detected part provided in the toner container or the developer container, and a detecting part provided in the toner container or the developer container. And a detecting means for detecting.

In this two-component developing device, the type of substance to be supplied into the developing device is determined by detecting a detected portion provided in the toner container or the developer container by the detecting means.

Further, the invention of claim 5 is the invention according to claims 1, 2,
In the three- or two-component developing device, the two-component developing device holds a plurality of developing devices around a rotation axis, and the latent image formed on the latent image carrier by the rotation of the rotation shaft. Which is a rotary type developing device for developing.

In this two-component developing device, a rotary developing device holds a plurality of developing devices around a rotation axis and develops a latent image formed on a latent image carrier by rotation of the rotation shaft. When the developer is exchanged in the plurality of developing devices, the developer discharging means and the developer replenishing means of the two-component developing device of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4 are applied.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the second object,
The invention relates to a method for handling a two-component developing device for developing a latent image formed on a latent image carrier using a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier. 6. The developer replenishment of the two-component developing device of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 4 or 5, after keeping the inside of the developing device empty before installation and after installing the two-component developing device at the place of use. And supplying the developer and the toner into the developing device by using the means and the toner replenishing means.

In the method for handling a two-component developing device, the developing device is kept empty until the two-component developing device is installed at a place of use, and after the two-component developing device is installed, the above-described two-component developing device is installed. By supplying the developer to the developing device using the developer replenishing means of the two-component developing device of 4 or 5,
It is possible to prevent the developer from being moved while being stored in the developing device.

[0020] In order to achieve the first object, a seventh aspect is provided.
A plurality of developing devices that are held around a rotation axis and contain a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier,
Toner supply means provided in each of the plurality of developing devices and having a toner container holding portion for detachably attaching a toner container containing toner to be supplied into the developing devices; In a two-component developing device including a rotary developing device that rotates a developing device driving unit to position an arbitrary developing device at a developing position and develops a latent image formed on a latent image carrier, A developer collection container detachably attached to a developer holding unit, and a developer collection container provided in each of the above-described developing units and attached to the toner container holding unit of another developing device adjacent to one developing device. A developer discharging means for discharging the deteriorated developer in the one developing device, and positioning the one developing device at a developer collecting position;
The deteriorated developer in the one developing device is collected in the developer collecting container mounted on the toner container holding portion of the other developing device by using the developer discharging means. Things.

In this two-component developing device, when the developer in the developing device is deteriorated due to repeated development, the deteriorated developer can be discharged out of the developing device by the developer discharging means. That is, the collection of the deteriorated developer can be easily performed by attaching the developer collection container to the toner container holder by the user himself. In addition, since the two-component developing device collects the deteriorated developer by attaching the developer collecting container to the existing toner container holding portion provided in the rotary developing device, it requires a new device or member. Requires no space. Therefore, the implementation of the present invention does not involve an increase in the size of the apparatus.

In particular, the invention according to claim 8 is the two-component developing device according to claim 7, wherein the developer collection container can be connected to the developer discharging means and can be used or emptied used toner container. It is characterized by using a developer container.

In the two-component developing device, the used toner container or developer container can be effectively used without wasting. Further, since a dedicated developer collecting container is not required, cost can be reduced.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the toner supply means is driven by a toner container driving member for driving a toner container mounted on the toner container holding portion.
9. The two-component developing device according to claim 7, wherein the toner in the toner container is supplied to the developing device by driving the developer collecting container with a predetermined driving member. The image forming apparatus is configured such that the developer can be moved, and the toner container driving member is used as the predetermined driving member.

In this two-component developing apparatus, the toner collecting container is driven by a toner container driving member for driving the toner container when toner is supplied to the developing device. Of the developer can be moved. As a result, even if the deteriorated developer discharged from the developer discharge port of the developing device accumulates in a part of the developer collection container, it is possible to prevent this from hindering the collection of the developer. Can be.

In order to achieve the first object, a first aspect is provided.
The invention according to claim 0 is an image forming apparatus provided with a developing means for developing a latent image formed on a latent image carrier using a two-component developer, wherein the developing means comprises , 5,
6, 7, 8 or 9 two-component developing apparatus.

This image forming apparatus has the functions of the above-described two-component developing device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, so that the effects of these two-component developing device can be obtained. Thus, an image can be formed.

In order to achieve the first and second objects,
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on a latent image carrier using a two-component developer, wherein the developing unit is a second, third, or fourth aspect. Or the two-component developing device according to 5, wherein the developer container is driven by controlling the toner container driving means in a state where the developer container is mounted, and the developer in the developer container is Control means for controlling the developer replenishing means so as to replenish the developer in the developing device.

In this image forming apparatus, when a new developer is supplied from the developer container into the developer in the developer replacement step, the development of the two-component developing apparatus according to claim 2, 3, 4, or 5 is performed. A new developer can be supplied by the control means for controlling the developer supply means. Therefore, when replenishing a new developer, the user attaches the developer container to the developer replenishing means, and after that, the control means automatically replenishes the developer. It is possible to easily supply the developer.

[0030] In order to achieve the first object, a first aspect is provided.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on a latent image carrier using a two-component developer, wherein the developing unit is configured to be a second or third embodiment. A component developing device, controlling the developing device driving means so as to position the one developing device at the developer collecting position,
And developing the deteriorated developer in the one developing device positioned at the developer collecting position into the developer collecting container mounted on the toner container holding portion of the other developing device. A control means for controlling the agent discharge means is provided.

In the image forming apparatus, when the developer deteriorated in the developer replacement step is discharged from the developing device into the developer collecting container, the developing device of the two-component developing device according to claim 7, 8 or 9 is used. The deteriorated developer can be collected by the control unit that controls the driving unit and the developer discharging unit. Therefore, when collecting the deteriorated developer, the user attaches the developer collection container to the toner container holding section, and then the control unit automatically collects the developer. The developer can easily collect the developer.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the twelfth aspect, the control means controls the recovery of the developer in the toner container holding portions of all the developing devices provided in the two-component developing device. When the container is mounted, the developing device driving means is controlled so that each of the developing devices is sequentially positioned at the developer collecting position.

In the case where the developer is individually exchanged for a plurality of developing devices provided in the rotary developing device, the user may forget to exchange the developer in these developing devices. There is. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the deteriorated developer in all the developing devices provided in the two-component developing device can be collectively collected under the control of the control means. As a result, the exchange of the developer is not forgotten.

[0034] In order to achieve the first object, a first aspect is provided.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device for containing a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier, a toner replenishing means for replenishing the developing device with new toner, and a toner end detecting device for detecting a toner end in the developing device An image having developer means for discharging the deteriorated developer in the developing device to the outside of the developing device, and developer replenishing device for replenishing the developing device with new developer; In the forming apparatus, a developer replacement timing detecting means for detecting a replacement timing of the developer, and after the developer replacement timing detected by the developer replacement timing detecting means arrives, the toner end is detected by the toner end detection means. Notification means for notifying the user of the timing of replacing the developer when the developer is replaced.

In this image forming apparatus, when it is necessary to replace the deteriorated developer as a result of using the developing means over time, the user is notified of the replacement timing of the developer in accordance with the toner end of the developing means. can do. Therefore, the user can perform the replacement work of the developer simultaneously with the replacement work of the toner container. Further, when the toner runs out, almost no toner remains in the developing device, so that the work of collecting the deteriorated developer becomes easier.

In order to achieve the first and second objects,
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the developer replacement method for replacing a developer in a developing device constituting a developing unit of the image forming apparatus according to the tenth aspect, the developer replacement timing in the developing device is detected, and After the developer replacement time has arrived and when the toner end of the developing device is detected, the user is notified of the developer replacement time, the developer container is mounted, and the developer is discharged by the developer discharging means. The deteriorated developer discharged from the developing device is collected in the developer collecting container, and the developer in the developer container is replenished into the developing device by the developer replenishing means. Things.

In this developer replacement method, there is provided the following:
When it is necessary to replace the deteriorated developer as a result of using the developing means of the image forming apparatus over time, the user is notified of the timing of replacing the developer with the toner end of the developing means. The developer exchange operation can be performed simultaneously with the container exchange operation. At this time, almost no toner remains in the developing device at the time of toner end, so that the collection operation when collecting the deteriorated developer becomes easier. Further, after the developer container accommodating the new developer is mounted, the deteriorated developer can be collected by the developer discharging means.

[0038]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [Embodiment 1] An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a color electrophotographic printer (hereinafter, referred to as a "printer") as an image forming apparatus (hereinafter, this embodiment is referred to as an "embodiment"). Form 1 ”).
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer 1 according to the present embodiment. The photosensitive drum 10 as a latent image carrier is rotated in the direction of arrow A while its surface is uniformly charged by a charging charger 2 as charging means. By being guided in a predetermined direction by the mirror 3a, it is scanned and exposed based on image information, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface. In the above process, the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is negatively charged (−V _D ) by the charging charger 2. And the laser optical device 3
The surface potential of the photosensitive member and the laser beam is emitted from the -V _L
Becomes

The image information to be exposed is monochromatic image information obtained by decomposing a desired full-color image into yellow, magenta, cyan, and black color information. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 10 is rotated by a rotary developing device (hereinafter, referred to as a “revolver developing device”) 40 as a developing unit, and yellow, magenta, cyan, and cyan as predetermined developers, respectively. The image is developed with black toner, thereby forming each color image on the photosensitive drum 10.

Each color image formed on the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred to a transfer bias roller 5a and a plurality of belt rollers 5b.
And rotates in the direction of arrow B in the figure in synchronization with the photosensitive drum, so that yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are provided on the intermediate transfer belt 5. The images are sequentially superimposed and primary transferred. The transfer of each color image onto the intermediate transfer belt 5 is performed by applying a predetermined bias voltage to the transfer bias roller 5a at a contact portion between the photosensitive drum 10 and the intermediate transfer belt. The yellow, magenta, cyan, and black images superimposed and primary-transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 5 are fed from an automatic paper feed cassette 6 for double-sided copying or a manual paper feed tray 7 to paper feed rollers (6a, 7a). )
Then, the toner image is collectively transferred by the secondary transfer charger 9 onto the transfer paper 100 conveyed to the secondary transfer portion via the registration roller 8. The transfer paper 100 after the completion of the secondary transfer is transferred to the fixing device 1
The toner image is fixed by 1 and discharged out of the apparatus as a full-color print.

The primary transfer residual toner slightly remaining on the photosensitive drum 10 after the primary transfer onto the intermediate transfer belt 5 is used to prepare the photosensitive drum cleaning device 12 for reuse. It is cleaned in. The primary transfer residual toner collected by the photoconductor cleaning device 12 is stored in a waste toner tank 14 via a collection pipe 13. The secondary transfer residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 5 that has not been secondary-transferred onto the transfer paper 100 is removed by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 20 provided adjacent to the intermediate transfer belt. Removed from belt.

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of the revolver developing device 40. The revolver developing device 40 is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow C around a revolver rotating shaft 41 which is a rotating shaft of the revolver developing device in a casing (not shown) having an opening facing the photosensitive drum 10. Four developing units (42BK, 42C, 42M, 42
Y) and four toner replenishing devices (43BK, 43C, 43M, 43Y) as toner replenishing means for replenishing the four developing devices with replenishing toner, respectively. In the illustrated revolver developing device 40, a black developing device 42BK containing black toner and a carrier faces a developing position facing the photosensitive drum 10, and the black developing device 42BK is arranged in a counterclockwise direction in the drawing from this black developing device. A cyan developing device 42C containing cyan toner and carrier, a magenta developing device 42M containing magenta toner and carrier, and a yellow developing device 42Y containing yellow toner and carrier are arranged.

Here, the four developing devices (42BK, 42C, 42M, 42) constituting the revolver developing device 40 are described.
Since the internal structure of Y) is the same, the internal structure of the black developing device 42BK at the developing position will be described below as an example. Note that the description of the respective symbols (BK, C, M, Y) given for distinguishing the respective developing devices is omitted as appropriate.

The developing device 42 agitates a developing sleeve 44 as a developer carrier and a two-component developer (hereinafter referred to as a developer) composed of a black toner and a carrier housed in a casing. 2 stirring screw (45
a, 45b). Then, the developing device 42
In the inside, the toner and the carrier are stirred, so that the toner is negatively charged and the carrier is positively charged. Then, at the time of development, a negative bias to the developing sleeve _{44 (-V B, V B <} V D) is applied, whereas, since the photoreceptor potential -V _L is in the relation of _{V L <V B,} The toner carried on the surface of the developing sleeve 44 moves to the image area on the surface of the photoconductor, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor.

The toner in the developer in the developing device 42 is consumed at each development. When a decrease in the toner concentration of the developer is detected by a toner concentration sensor (not shown), the toner is supplied by the toner supply device 43. The toner replenishing device 43 includes a bottle holding portion 46 as a toner container holding portion for holding a toner bottle 50 as a toner container, and a toner bottle around which the toner bottle is held by the bottle holding portion. A bottle driving motor 47 and a coupling 47a (see FIG. 9) are provided as toner container driving means for rotationally driving in the direction. As a result, toner is supplied from the toner bottle 50 into the developing device, and the toner density of the developer is maintained at a predetermined density. As a result, the image density on the transfer paper 100 is maintained at a constant level. . The toner replenishing device will be described later in detail because it relates to a characteristic portion of the present invention.

The four developing units (42BK, 42C, 42M, 42Y) of the revolver developing device 40 are 9
The revolver developing device 40 is arranged at a position displaced by 0 degrees by a stepping motor (not shown) as a developing device driving means. The developing sleeve (4) of each developing device is rotated by 90 degrees around it.
4BK, 44C, 44M, and 44Y) are the black developing units 42B.
K, the cyan developing unit 42C, the magenta developing unit 42M, and the yellow developing unit 42Y are sequentially moved to the developing position opposing the photosensitive drum 10 to visualize the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum. .

The intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 2
0 is the cleaning blade 21 as shown in FIG.
A contact / separation arm 22 for supporting the cleaning blade so as to be able to contact / separate from the intermediate transfer belt 5; and an arm 22 provided to cover the cleaning blade. And a collecting container 23 as a secondary transfer residual toner storage unit. In the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 20 having the above configuration, the tip of the cleaning blade 21 can freely contact and separate from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5 via the contact and separation arm 22. Then, the first color image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 10 onto the intermediate transfer belt 5,
Further, the cleaning blade 21 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt until a superimposed image is formed by transferring the images of a plurality of colors to form a superimposed image on the transfer paper 100. After the batch transfer of the superimposed image onto the transfer paper 100 is completed, the cleaning blade 21 contacts the intermediate transfer belt 5 and is not secondarily transferred to the transfer paper but remains on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 2 Next transfer residual toner is scraped off.

The secondary transfer residual toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 21 falls down along the inner wall of the collecting container 23 to the bottom by gravity. A waste toner tank 14 is provided at the bottom of the collection container 23.
Is connected to the collection container, and the secondary transfer residual toner in the collection container is stored in the waste toner tank through the collection pipe by the collection auger 24. The waste toner tank 14 is also connected to the photoconductor cleaning device 12 as described above, and the primary transfer residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor drum 10 is also stored in the waste toner tank 14. It has become.

Here, the developer in each of the developing units (42BK, 42C, 42M, 42Y) of the revolver developing device 40 needs to be replaced periodically because the carrier is deteriorated particularly when used for a long time. There is. Therefore, in order to supply new developer into the developing device, the printer 1 of the present embodiment discharges the deteriorated developer in the developing device, which has gradually deteriorated as the development is repeated, out of the developing device and collects the deteriorated developer. And a developer collecting device that functions as a developer discharging unit. Hereinafter, the recovery of a deteriorated developer and the replenishment of a new developer, which are characteristic portions of the present invention, will be described.

[Structural Example 1] First, a structural example of a developer collecting device for collecting the deteriorated developer in the developing device (hereinafter, this structural example is referred to as "Structure Example 1") will be described. here,
Since all of the deteriorated developers in the four developing units provided in the revolver developing device can be replaced in the same manner, the replacement of the deteriorated developer in the black developing unit 42BK will be described here as an example. Note that the description of the respective symbols (BK, C, M, Y) given for distinguishing the respective developing devices is omitted as appropriate.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the developing device 42 of the revolver developing device 40 in the present embodiment at a developing position, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a developer collecting device according to the present embodiment, and FIG.
Is a plan view of the developing device, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the developing device and the developer collecting device. The developer collecting device according to this configuration example is the same as the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 20 described above.
And is configured integrally. An opening is provided at an upper portion of the collection container 23 of the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 20 used as the developer collection device.

In this embodiment, the developing sleeve 44
As shown in FIG. 5, is mounted on the developing device housing by bearing a shaft of a flange 48 press-fitted into a hole provided at one longitudinal end of the developing device 42 with a bearing 48a. A gear train (49) for transmitting a driving force to the developing sleeve 44 is provided at the outer end of the shaft of the flange 48.
a, 49b, 49c) are attached. Further, inside the developing sleeve 44, a magnet 60 fixed to the sleeve shaft is provided. The magnet 60 and the flange 48 are rotatable relative to each other via a bearing 48b. Thus, when the gear train (49a, 49b, 49c) is rotated, only the developing sleeve 44 can be rotated without rotating the magnet 60.

The driving of the developing sleeve 44 is performed by a sleeve driving motor 44c provided in the printer main body. When the sleeve driving motor 44c is turned on, a driving force is sequentially applied to the gear train (49a, 49b, 49c). The rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear 49c to the developing sleeve via the flange 48. Further, the magnet 60 inside the developing sleeve 44 in the present embodiment includes:
Five magnetic poles N, S, N, S, and S are arranged on the circumference of the sleeve shaft. Accordingly, at a certain position in the circumferential direction of the developing sleeve 44, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a region E in which two S poles are arranged is formed. When collecting the developer inside the developing device, the magnet is moved to the developing sleeve 44 by magnetic pole moving means so that the magnetic pole arrangement of the magnet 60 becomes the collecting magnetic pole arrangement for collecting the developer. Relative movement.

As shown in FIG. 4, the magnetic pole moving mechanism as the magnetic pole moving means includes a solenoid 61 and an operating lever attached via a bearing to an end of the sleeve shaft where the flange 48 is not attached. 62. The operation lever 62 is pivotally supported by the developing device housing near the center O in the longitudinal direction, and the shaft portion 61a of the solenoid 61 is connected to the end of the operation lever opposite to the developing sleeve mounting side. . Further, an arm for engaging with the operation lever 62 is formed on the sleeve shaft, and the operation lever is retracted except when the developer is collected.

Normally, during development, as shown in FIG. 3, the magnetic pole arrangement of the magnet 60 in the developing sleeve 44 opposed to the photosensitive drum 10 is different from the area E on the side opposite to the photosensitive drum. The part is located. As a result, the developer carried on the developing sleeve 44 and remaining on the surface of the developing sleeve without being used for development in the developing area opposite to the photosensitive drum 10 is magnetized by the rotation of the developing sleeve. When the 60 south poles come to the region E where two poles are arranged, they fall into the developing device by the repulsive force of the magnetic force and the own weight. Then, after passing through the area E, new developer in the developing device is adsorbed on the surface of the developing sleeve 44.

When it is time to replace the deteriorated developer in the developing device, as shown in FIG. 4, the developing sleeve 44 of the developing device 42 in which the developer is to be replaced is rotated by the rotation of the revolver developing device 40 so that the revolver developing device 40 rotates. It stops at the developer recovery position where the opening is located at the lowest part in the vertical direction. In synchronization with this, the solenoid 61 of the magnetic pole moving mechanism is turned on, and when the shaft portion 61a of the solenoid is pulled to the left in FIG. 4 (in the rear side in FIG. 6), the end of the operation lever 62 is pivoted. Rotate right around. As a result, the operating lever 62 pushes the arm formed on the sleeve shaft to the right (in FIG. 6, the front side), and the magnet 60 is moved together with the sleeve shaft.
Rotates in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 4 and stops at the collecting magnetic pole arrangement. This collection magnetic pole arrangement is such that the S pole of the magnet 60 is 2 poles.
The extremely aligned region E is located at the opening of the developing device.

The developing sleeve 44 is rotated by the sleeve driving motor 44c and the gear train (49a, 49b, 49c), and the developer in the developing device is carried on the developing sleeve and exposed from the opening of the developing device. At the position, the magnetic poles of the internal magnet 60 are arranged in two at that position, and are separated from the surface of the developing sleeve by the repulsive force of the magnetic force. And it falls down by gravity. Below the collecting container 23 of the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 20 functioning as the above-mentioned developer collecting device, the dropped developer is collected from the collecting container to the waste toner tank 14 through the collecting pipe 15. Thus, the deteriorated developer in the developing device 42 is automatically discharged out of the developing device and collected.

Next, replenishment of a new developer will be described. In this configuration example, a toner replenishing device for replenishing the developer with toner in the developing device is used as a developer replenishing device as a developer replenishing unit. FIG.
Is a toner bottle 50 used in the toner supply device.
Or a perspective view of a developer bottle 70 as a developer container,
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the toner bottle or the developer bottle is held by the bottle holding unit 46, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the toner replenishing device or the developer replenishing device when replenishing the toner or the developer. is there.

As shown in FIG. 7, spiral transfer ribs (51, 71) are formed on the inner peripheral surface of each of the toner bottle 50 and the developer bottle 70. Further, a toner discharge port 52 or a developer discharge port 72 is provided near the longitudinal end of the toner bottle or the developer bottle. Accordingly, when the toner bottle 50 or the developer bottle 70 rotates in the circumferential direction, the toner or the developer inside the bottle is transferred along the transfer ribs (51, 71) to the toner discharge port 52 or the developer discharge port 72. Side, and fall to the outside by its own weight from the discharge ports (52, 72).

Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the toner bottle 50 or the developer bottle 70, the toner or the developer contained therein is any one of black BK, cyan C, magenta M and yellow Y. The display indicates whether or not there is an object in the bottle, so that the user can see it. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, different color detection bosses (53, 73) are formed on the outer periphery of the bottle for each color. ing. The bosses for color detection (53, 73) are
This is a detected portion which is detected by a color discriminating sensor 46a as a detecting device constituting a discriminating device installed on the inner wall, and can detect which color of the toner bottle 50 or the developer bottle 70 is set in the bottle holding portion. It has become.

Further, the toner bottle 50 and the developer bottle 70 indicate which of the toner and the developer is contained, so that the user can see and recognize the toner bottle 50 and the developer bottle 70. And developer bottle 7
A boss 54 different from 0 is formed on the outer periphery of the bottle.
The boss 54 is, as shown in FIG.
It is detected by a bottle discriminating sensor 46b as a detecting means constituting a discriminating means installed on the inner wall, and it is possible to detect which of the toner bottle 50 and the developer bottle 70 is set. Here, as the developer bottle 70 of the present embodiment, one containing only a carrier is used. However, the developer bottle 70 may contain a mixture of toner and carrier at a predetermined ratio.

In the above-described configuration, when the toner is consumed due to the repeated development and the toner concentration in the developing device 42 is reduced, the user sets the toner bottle 50 of the corresponding color in the bottle holding unit 46. When the bottle driving motor 47 is driven, the toner bottle 50 rotates in the circumferential direction via the coupling 47a, and the toner in the toner bottle is sequentially sent to the vicinity of the toner discharge port 52 to discharge the toner. The developer drops from the outlet into the developing device 42 located below and is supplied. Then, the first and second stirring screws (4
5a, 45b) are mixed with the developer containing the carrier by stirring, and are fed to the developing sleeve 44 as two-component developers which are frictionally charged to be mutually reverse magnetic.

After the predetermined developer replacement time has elapsed and the developer is recovered from the developing device 42 by the above-described developer recovery device, the user sets the developer bottle 70 of the color corresponding to the bottle holder 46. I do. Then, the developer bottle 70 rotates in the circumferential direction via the coupling 47 a by the driving of the bottle drive motor 47, and the developer inside the developer bottle 70 moves toward the developer discharge port 72 along the transfer rib 71 formed on the inner wall of the bottle. The developer is sequentially conveyed, dropped from the developer discharge port by its own weight into a developing device located below, and supplied. here,
The path through which the developer passes until the developer that has passed through the developer discharge port 72 of the developer bottle 70 is replenished into the developing device passes from the toner discharge port 52 of the toner bottle 50 to the developing device 42 during toner replenishment. The vehicle passes through the same supply route as the route through which the vehicle is supplied. When the toner is replenished after the developer is replenished in this way, the developer is stirred and mixed with the toner by the first and second stirring screws (45a, 45b), and the two are mutually frictionally charged to have opposite magnetism. It is sent to the developing sleeve 44 as a component developer.

In this way, by using the toner replenishing device also as the developer replenishing device, the user can surely perform the replacement of the developer by himself without any trouble of the service person. Further, in this configuration example, the developer can be replenished without newly providing a developer replenishment path, so that it is possible to prevent the printer from becoming larger in size than providing a new replenishment path for developer replenishment. it can.

The developer exchanging process for collecting and replenishing the developer described above is controlled by a control unit (not shown) provided as a control means provided in the printer of the present embodiment. Thus, next, the operation of the control unit for controlling the developer replacement step will be described. FIG. 10 and FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the said control part. The printer according to the present embodiment includes a counter (not shown) as a developer replacement timing detecting unit for counting the number of developed sheets for each color, and a memory (not shown) for storing the number of developed sheets counted by the counter. .

First, the counter counts the number of developed sheets for each color up to a predetermined number of developed sheets (S1). When the number of developed images reaches a predetermined number due to the use of the user over time, the toner in the developing device for developing the color is consumed until the toner concentration sensor of the developing device detects the toner end (S2). An agent replacement display for notifying that the replacement time has been reached is displayed on the display unit as a notification unit together with the toner end display (S3).

When the toner end display and the agent replacement display are displayed on the display section, the toner bottle 50 is pulled out from the bottle holding section 46 of the developing device 42, and the developer bottle 70 containing new developer is held in the bottle holding section. It is determined whether or not the sheet has been set in the copy unit (S4). If it is determined that the developer bottle 70 has been set, the above-described developer collection device and developer supply device are controlled to perform a developer replacement process. As described above, by collecting the deteriorated developer in the developing device after the developer bottle 70 in which the new developer is sealed is set, image formation can be performed without the developer in the developing device. Can be prevented.

In this developer replacement step, as shown in FIG. 11, first, the developing device 42 to be replaced is rotationally moved by the stepping motor for rotatingly driving the revolver developing devices (40, 140), as shown in FIG. The developer is moved to the developer collecting position (S5-1), and the developer in the developing device is collected from the collecting container 23 to the waste toner tank 14 as described above (S5-2). Then, it waits until a preset collection time at which the developer collection process ends is completed (S5--).
3). After the collection time has elapsed, the developer collection step is terminated assuming that all the developer in the developing device 42 has been collected.

When the developer collecting step is completed, the developing device 42 is rotated by the stepping motor (S5-4), and returns to the developing position shown in FIG. Is supplied into the developing device (S5-5). Then, it waits until a preset replenishment time for ending the developer replenishment step elapses (S5-6). After the replenishment time has elapsed, the developer in the developer bottle 70 is assumed to have been completely replenished, and the developer replenishment step is ended.

When the developer replenishment step is completed, a display for instructing the user to set a new toner bottle is displayed on the display unit, together with a display for informing the user that the developer replacement step has been completed (S6). . And
It is determined whether the empty developer bottle 70 is extracted from the bottle holding unit 46 and the toner bottle 50 containing new toner is set in the bottle holding unit (S
7). If it is determined that a new toner bottle 50 has been set, toner is supplied by the above-described toner supply device (S8). Then, the replenished toner is
The first and second stirring screws (45a, 45b) agitate the exchanged developer as described above, and determine whether or not the detection result of the toner density sensor is a predetermined toner density (S9). If the toner density has reached the predetermined value, the toner supply step ends. Thus, the developer replacement step and the toner replenishment step are completed, and the user removes the empty toner bottle 50 from the bottle holding section 46 and sets a new toner bottle in the bottle holding section 46 again. Image formation can be resumed.

By the way, when the agent replacement display and the toner end display are displayed on the display unit in S3 described above,
If the user does not use the developer bottle 70 but the toner bottle 50
Is set, the control unit of the present embodiment controls so that only the toner replenishing step is performed without performing the developer replacing step (S10 to S12). In this case, a display urging the user to set the developer bottle 70 when the power is turned on is displayed on the display unit until the developer replacement step is performed. Further, when the image formation of the preset number of developed images is performed after reaching the predetermined number of developed images, the operation of the printer is stopped, and it is displayed that the printer cannot be used unless the developer is replaced. (S13 to S15). Then, when the user sets the developer bottle 70 in the bottle holding section 46 (S16), the developer replacement step (S5) is started, and when the developer replacement step is completed, the image formation can be resumed.

On the other hand, when the developer replacement display and the toner end display are displayed on the display unit in S3 described above, and if the user does not set the developer bottle 70 or the toner bottle 50, the predetermined number of sheets are kept as they are. Image formation is continued (S17). If the number exceeds the predetermined number (S18), the operation of the printer is stopped (S19).
A message that the printer cannot be used unless the developer is replaced and the toner is not supplied is displayed on the display unit (S20). Then, the user places the developer bottle 70 in the bottle holding section 46.
(S21), the developer exchange step (S5) and the toner replenishment step (S6-9) are started, and when the toner replenishment step is completed, image formation can be resumed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, under the control of the control section, the display section provided in the printer displays the developer replacement time and the work instruction by the user. You will not forget to exchange,
The developer can be reliably replaced. Further, in the present embodiment, when the toner bottle is replaced while the printer is stopped, the replacement of the developer is also performed at the same time. Therefore, the operation of the printer is not stopped only for the replacement of the developer. Rate can be improved. Furthermore, in this case, since the toner hardly remains in the developing device, the deteriorated developer can be easily collected.

[Structural Example 2] Next, another structural example (hereinafter, this structural example will be referred to as "structural example 2") of a developer collecting apparatus for collecting the deteriorated developer in the developing device will be described. Here, all of the deteriorated developers in the four developing devices provided in the revolver developing device can be replaced in the same manner, and therefore, the replacement of the deteriorated developer of the black developing device 42BK will be described as an example. Note that the description of the respective symbols (BK, C, M, Y) given for distinguishing the respective developing devices is omitted as appropriate.

FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged view showing the developer collecting device according to this configuration example and the revolver developing device located at the developer collecting position. The developer collecting device of this configuration example is also configured integrally with the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 120 having an opening formed in the upper part, as in the configuration example 1. The revolver developing device 140 of this configuration example is almost the same as that of the configuration example 1 described above, but in this configuration example, the developer is discharged and collected by using an electrostatic force. This is different from the above-described configuration example 1 in which discharge and collection are performed. In this configuration example, the magnet 60 of the developing sleeve 44 is fixed without rotating, and the four magnetic poles N, S, N, and S are arranged on the circumference of the sleeve shaft. Use the one placed in

The cleaning device 120 for the intermediate transfer belt constituting the developer collection device of this configuration example includes a collection bias roller 162, a power supply 161 for applying a collection bias to the collection bias roller, and a collection device. And a blade 163 for scraping off the deteriorated developer adsorbed on the bias roller.

When it is time to replace the deteriorated developer in the developing device, as shown in FIG. 12, in the developing device 42 in which the deteriorated developer is to be replaced, the developing sleeve 44 is rotated by the revolver developing device 140 to perform the revolver developing. It stops at the developer collecting position where the opening is located at the lowermost part of the device 140 in the vertical direction. At this time, the potential of the developing sleeve 44 is dropped to the ground. On the other hand, in the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 120 which is a developer collecting device, the collecting bias roller 162 rotates in the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 44,
When the power supply 161 is turned on, the collection bias roller 1 is turned on.
A negative bias is applied to 62.

As in the first embodiment, the developing sleeve 44 is rotated by the sleeve driving motor 44c and the gear train (49a, 49b, 49c), so that the developer in the developing device 42 is carried on the developing sleeve 44 and When the developer reaches a position exposed from the opening, the developer is transferred from the surface of the developing sleeve 44 to the collecting bias roller 162.
Adsorb to. Then, the collection bias roller 162
The developer adsorbed on the collecting roller is conveyed with the rotation of the collecting bias roller, is scraped off by the blade 163, and falls downward due to gravity. A collecting container 123 of the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 120 is provided below, and the dropped developer is collected from the collecting container 123 by the collecting auger 12.
4 and finally collected in the waste toner tank 14. In this manner, the deteriorated developer in the developing device 42 can be automatically discharged out of the developing device 42 and collected.

[Structure Example 3] Next, still another structure example (hereinafter, this structure example is referred to as "structure example 3") of a developer collecting apparatus for collecting the deteriorated developer in the developing device will be described. Here, all of the deteriorated developers in the four developing units provided in the revolver developing device can be replaced in the same manner, and therefore, the replacement of the deteriorated developer in the black developing unit will be described as an example.
Note that the description of the respective symbols (BK, C, M, Y) given for distinguishing the respective developing devices is omitted as appropriate.

FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged view of the developing device of the revolver developing device 240 according to this configuration example at the developing position.
FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of a black developing device at a developer collecting position. In addition, the developer collecting device of this configuration example is configured such that the deteriorated developer is discharged and collected in a dedicated developer collecting container, and thus the collecting container (23, 123) integrated with the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device. This is different from the above-described configuration examples 1 and 2 in which the deteriorated developer is discharged and collected.

Hereinafter, the revolver developing device 2 according to this configuration example
A description will be given of the developer collection process of No. 40 and the configuration and operation of the revolver developing device. In the normal developing operation, when the toner is consumed and the toner concentration in the developing device 242 of the revolver developing device 240 decreases, the coupling 47a is driven by the bottle driving motor 47 as in the above configuration examples 1 and 2. The toner in the toner bottle 50 is sequentially rotated to the vicinity of the toner discharge port 52 and is supplied to the developing device 242 from the toner discharge port. The replenished toner is stirred by the first and second stirring screws (45a, 45b) together with the developer contained in the developing device. Then, the two-component developer is frictionally charged to have opposite magnetism and is sent to the developing sleeve 44.

When a predetermined developer replacement time comes, the developing device 2
The developer in 42 will be replaced. Here, the replacement of the developer of the black developing device 242BK will be described as an example.
When the developer of the black developing device 242BK is to be replaced, the toner bottle 50C is extracted from the bottle holding portion 246C of the cyan developing device 242C located adjacent to the black developing device in the revolver revolving direction downstream. 246C
The developer collection container 260BK for the black developing device is set in the box.

In the developing device 242 of this configuration example, the developer contained in the developing device is discharged to the bottom of the developing device located at the developing position on the front side in FIG. 14 at the longitudinal end. Developer outlet 261 is provided. That is, the developer outlet 261 is connected to the developing device 242.
First and second stirring screws in (45a, 45b)
Are located at the most downstream in the developer transport direction for transporting the toner and the developer. The developer outlet 261 is closed by an outlet shutter 262 during development. The discharge port shutter 262 has a discharge port projection 263 for opening and closing the discharge port shutter.

On the other hand, when the developer collection container 260 is attached to the developing device located at a position immediately before the developing position, that is, the developing device located at the position where the next development is performed, its longitudinal end 14 is provided with a developer recovery port 264 that opens upward. The developer collecting port 264 is closed by a collecting port shutter 265 except during the developer collecting step. The recovery port shutter 265 is formed with a recovery port protrusion 266 for opening and closing the shutter.

When the developer collecting container 260BK is inserted into the bottle holding portion 246C of the cyan developing device 242C from the near side in FIG. 14, the collecting port protrusion 266BK provided on the developer collecting container is provided on the black developing device 242BK. The discharge port projection 263BK is located on the right side in the drawing. When the developer recovery container 260BK is turned counterclockwise, the recovery port protrusion 266BK engages with the discharge port protrusion 263BK, and the discharge port shutter 262BK is engaged.
And the recovery port shutter 265BK are opened. As a result, the developer discharge port 261BK of the black developing device 242BK and the developer collecting container 260BK are in communication with each other, and the deteriorated developer in the black developing device is discharged into the developer collecting container by gravity and collected.

When the developer is collected in this manner, the first and second stirring screws (4) of the black developing device 242BK are used.
By driving 5a, 45b) in the opposite direction to that during development, the developer in the developing device can be collected near the developer discharge port 261BK, so that the developer can be efficiently collected. Further, at this time, when the bottle driving motor 47C of the cyan developing device 242C is driven in a direction opposite to that during the development, the spiral developer transfer rib formed on the inner peripheral surface of the developer collection container 260BK causes Developer recovery port 264B
The deteriorated developer deposited near K can be removed from the area, and it is possible to prevent the developer from being hindered from being collected. In this way, the deteriorated developer in the developing device 242 can be discharged out of the developing device 242 and collected.

As described above, in this configuration example, the deteriorated developer is collected in the developer collection container set in the bottle holder, and the developer is replaced using the existing drive member in the developing device. This eliminates the need for a special container, drive member, or the like for replacement, thereby reducing the number of parts and preventing the apparatus from being enlarged.

In this embodiment, a container dedicated to collecting the developer is used as the developer collecting container 260 for collecting the deteriorated developer, but an empty used toner bottle or a developer bottle is used. It is also possible. in this case,
When a toner bottle or a developer bottle is set in the bottle holding portion 246, a toner discharge port or a developer discharge port provided in the toner bottle or the developer bottle faces the developer discharge port 261. This constitutes the toner bottle or the developer bottle. With such a configuration, a used empty toner bottle or developer bottle can be effectively used without wasting.

Further, in this configuration example, the black developing device 242BK
When collecting the deteriorated developer inside, the developer collecting container is placed in the bottle holding section 2 of the cyan developing device 242C adjacent to the black developing device.
Although the configuration in which the deteriorated developer is collected by attaching to the 46C has been described, the configuration may be such that the developer collection container is attached to the bottle holding portion 246BK of the black developing device to collect the deteriorated developer. In this case, a position where the black developing device 242BK is turned upside down from the developing position is defined as a developer collecting position, and the deteriorated developer can be collected using the toner supply path of the black developing device.

In the present configuration example, when the developer is changed simultaneously for the four colors, the operations described above require a lot of complicated operations by the user, so the following procedure may be used.
First, the toner bottles 250 are removed from the bottle holding portions 246 of the respective developing devices 242, and the developer collecting containers 260 are set in the respective bottle holding portions. And FIG.
At the position shown in (2), the developer in the black developing device 242BK is collected in the developer collecting container 260BK set in the bottle holding portion 246C of the cyan developing device 242C. When a predetermined collection time has elapsed, the black developing device 242B
Assuming that all of the developer in K has been collected, the revolver developing device is rotated counterclockwise by 90 ° by a stepping motor as a developing device driving means for rotating the revolver developing device 240. Thus, the cyan developing device 242C comes to the position of the black developing device 242BK in FIG. Then, similarly to the case of the black developing device 242BK, the developer in the cyan developing device 242C is collected in the developer collecting container 260C set in the bottle holding portion 246M of the magenta developing device 242M. Hereinafter, similarly, the magenta developing device 242M and the yellow developing device 242
The developer in Y is collected, and the developer collecting process of all the developing devices is completed.

Next, the user places the developer bottle 270 containing the new developer in the bottle holding section 24 of each developing device 242.
Set to 6. Then, the revolver developing devices 240 are sequentially revolved, and the bottle driving motors 47 provided in the respective developing devices 242 are driven to supply the developer in the developer bottles 270 into the respective developing devices 242. When the developer replenishment step is completed in this way, a display indicating completion of the developer replacement is displayed on the display unit to notify the user that the developer replacement has been completed.

Looking at this display, the user can select each developing device 24
From the second bottle holding portion 246 to all the developer bottles 270
, And the toner bottles 250 corresponding to the respective developing devices are set in the respective bottle holders. Then, in the same manner as in the developer supply step described above, the toner bottle 2
50 is replenished into each developing device 242,
The developer supplied first is agitated by the second transport screw (45a, 45b). When the toner concentration in each of the developing devices 242 reaches a predetermined value, the toner replenishment process ends,
Image formation can be resumed. The control unit provided in the printer controls the developer replacement process except for the bottle replacement operation performed by the user.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the bottle driving motor 47 and the coupling 47a for rotating and driving the toner bottle during normal development are also used for driving the developer bottle 70 when replacing the developer. Therefore, space saving can be realized at low cost as compared with providing a new driving member for replacing the developer.

Further, since it is not necessary to remove the developing unit or a part of the developing unit from the apparatus main body in order to replace the developer, it is possible to prevent the leakage of the developer due to the removal operation, and to remove the surroundings when the developer is replaced. Pollution can be prevented. In addition, since the time required for the removal operation can be saved, the time required for replacing the developer can be reduced, and the operating rate of the printer body can be increased accordingly.

In this embodiment, when the user sets the toner bottle 50 or the developer bottle 70 of a color different from a predetermined color in the bottle holding portion (46, 246), the bottle holding portion Color sensor 4 provided on the inner wall of the vehicle
6a detects the color detection bosses (53, 73) and displays them on the display unit of the printer main body to notify the user. This allows the user to use each developing device (42, 24).
The correct color toner bottle or developer bottle corresponding to 2) can be set without fail.

Further, the developer bottle 70 and the toner bottle 5
The boss 54 for discriminating 0 is placed in the bottle holding section (46, 24).
6) It can be detected by the bottle discrimination sensor 46b provided on the inner wall, and if necessary, it can be displayed on the display section of the printer main body to notify the user. By doing so, the user may accidentally replenish the toner when the developer must be replenished to each of the developing devices (42, 242), or replenish the developer accidentally when replenishing the toner. Can be prevented.

By the way, in the process of transporting the printer 1 from the manufacturing factory or the store to the user, it is sufficiently considered that vibration is applied to the printer main body and that the printer is tilted at the time of installation at the installation location. Is to be done. However, if the developer is charged into the developing device of the printer before transport or installation, the developer may leak due to vibration or inclination during transport. Printer 1 of the present embodiment
The user can easily supply not only the toner but also the developer by himself, so that the developer and the toner can be supplied to the developing devices (42, 242) after the printer is installed.

In this case, when the printer 1 is shipped from the factory, the developing units (42, 242) are left empty. And
When the developer bottle 70 is set in the bottle holding section (46, 246) after the printer 1 is set in a predetermined use place, the developer bottle 70 is driven through the coupling 47a by the driving of the bottle drive motor 47. , The developer inside is sequentially conveyed to the developer discharge port 72 side along the transfer rib 71 formed on the inner wall of the bottle, and the developing device (42, 242)
It falls inside and is replenished.

Next, in the same manner, the bottle holding portions (46, 2)
When the toner bottle 50 is set in 46), the bottle driving motor 47 drives the toner bottle to rotate in the circumferential direction via the coupling 47a, and the toner in the toner bottle is sequentially sent to the vicinity of the toner discharge port 52. Developing units (42, 242) located below the toner discharge port 52
It falls inside and is replenished. Thereafter, the first and second agitating screws (45a, 45b) agitate and mix with the previously replenished developer to form a two-component developer triboelectrically charged with opposite magnetism to the developing sleeve 44 to be developed. Used for

As described above, if the developer and the toner are supplied to the developing devices (42, 242) after the printer is installed, the developing devices (42, 242) can be supplied even if vibration is applied or the device is inclined during the transportation of the printer. There is no fear of the developer leaking out of the container, and the surrounding contamination can be prevented.

[0101]

According to the two-component developing apparatus of the present invention, the toner supply path for toner supply, which can be easily supplied by the user, is also used as the developer supply path. In addition to being able to easily supply the developer by itself, the developer in the developing unit that has been deteriorated by the developer discharging means can be discharged, so that the replacement of the developer can be performed without any trouble of a service person. There is an excellent effect that the user can reliably perform the operation.

Further, the replacement of the developer can be performed by discharging the deteriorated developer in the developing device by the developer discharging means and mounting the developer container containing the new developer to perform replenishment.
It is not necessary to remove the developing device unit or a part of the developing device unit from the apparatus main body for the replacement of the developer, so that the leakage of the developer due to the removal operation can be avoided, and the contamination of the surroundings when the developer is replaced can be prevented. There is also an excellent effect that it can be done. In addition, since the time required for the removal operation can be saved, the time required for the replacement of the developer can be reduced, and the operating rate of the two-component developing device main body can be increased accordingly.

Further, since the toner supply path and the developer supply path are shared, it is not necessary to newly provide a developer supply path, which contributes to downsizing of the two-component developing apparatus. There is also an effect.

In particular, according to the two-component developing device of the present invention, since the driving means for the toner container and the driving means for the developer container can be shared, it is necessary to newly provide a driving means only for supplying the developer. There is an excellent effect that it is possible to contribute to downsizing of the two-component developing device.

Further, according to the two-component developing device of the third and fourth aspects, since it is possible to check that the different material is not supplied to the developing device by the discriminating means, the user can exchange the developer by himself. However, there is an excellent effect that the replenishment can be accurately performed without making an error such as replenishing the developer and the toner by mistake.

The two-component developing device according to claim 5 or
According to the method of using the two-component developing device, there is an excellent effect that the user can easily and reliably exchange the developer in a plurality of developing units. In addition, by setting the discrimination item by the discriminating means to the color of the toner, when a plurality of developing units contain toners of different colors, each developing unit can be surely supplied with each color. Has an excellent effect.

According to the method of handling a two-component developing device according to the sixth aspect, since the developer is prevented from being moved in a state in which the developer is contained in the developing device, vibration is applied during transportation of the two-component developing device. There is an excellent effect that there is no fear that the developer leaks even if the surface is inclined.

According to the two-component developing device of the seventh to ninth aspects, the developer can be easily collected by the user himself.
Replace the developer without bothering service personnel
There is an excellent effect that the user can reliably perform the operation. In addition, since the developer can be collected by attaching the developer collecting container to the toner container holding portion of the developing device, the developing device unit or a part of the developing device unit is exchanged for the developer replacement. It is not necessary to remove the developer from the device, and the leakage of the developer due to the removal operation can be avoided. In addition, since the time required for the removal operation can be saved, the time required for the replacement of the developer can be reduced, and the operating rate of the two-component developing device main body can be increased accordingly.

In particular, according to the two-component developing device of the present invention, a used empty toner bottle or developer bottle can be effectively used without waste. Further, since a dedicated developer collecting container is not required, cost can be reduced.

Further, according to the two-component developing device of the ninth aspect, by moving the developer in the developer collecting container, the developer is discharged from the developer discharge port of the developing device and is discharged from the developer collecting container. It is possible to prevent the deteriorated developer accumulated in the portion from hindering the collection. Further, since the toner container driving unit and the developer container driving unit are used in common, there is no need to provide a new driving unit, and there is an excellent effect that the size of the two-component developing device can be prevented.

According to the tenth aspect, there is an excellent effect that an image forming apparatus can be provided in which the user can surely perform the replacement of the developer without any trouble of a service person.

According to the image forming apparatus of the eleventh aspect, when the user mounts the developer container on the developer supply means, the control means automatically supplies the developer after that. There is an excellent effect that the developer can be easily replenished, and the user can surely perform the replenishment without troublesome service personnel.

According to the image forming apparatus of the twelfth and thirteenth aspects, when the user mounts the developer collecting container on the toner container holder, the control means automatically collects the developer thereafter. There is an excellent effect that the developer can be easily collected by the user himself, and the developer can be surely collected by himself without any trouble of the service person.

In particular, according to the image forming apparatus of the thirteenth aspect, since the deteriorated developer in all the developing devices is collectively collected, it is not necessary to forget to replace the developer. There is an excellent effect that the developer can be reliably replaced.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the user is notified of the developer replacement timing at the time of toner end, so that the user can perform the developer replacement work simultaneously with the toner container replacement work. Thus, there is no need to stop the operation of the image forming apparatus just for the replacement of the developer, and there is an excellent effect that the operation rate of the image forming apparatus main body can be increased.

According to the fifteenth aspect, the deteriorated developer is recovered by the developer discharging means after the developer container accommodating the new developer is mounted. There is an excellent effect that the image forming apparatus can be prevented from being performed. Further, if the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus having a control unit capable of executing the developer replacement method, the user performing the developer replacement only needs to perform the work of attaching and detaching the bottle to and from the toner container holding unit. Since the above control means automatically collects the developer,
There is an excellent effect that the developer can be easily collected by the user himself, and the developer can be surely collected by himself without any trouble of the service person.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a revolver developing device in the printer.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of a developing device in the revolver developing device at a developing position.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the developing device and a developer collecting device according to Configuration Example 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the developing device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the developing device and a developer collecting device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a toner bottle or a developer bottle used in the toner supply device of the developing device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a state where the toner bottle or the developer bottle is held in a bottle holding unit.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the toner replenishing device or the developer replenishing device at the time of replenishing the toner or the developer.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a control unit of the printer in a developer replacement process.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit when the developer is replaced.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of the developing device and a developer collecting device according to Configuration Example 2.

FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged view of a developing device of a revolver developing device in a configuration example 3 at a developing position.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the developing device and a developer collecting device according to Configuration Example 3.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 5 Intermediate transfer belt 10 Photoreceptor drum 20, 120 Intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 23 Collection container 40, 140, 240 Revolver developing device 41 Revolver rotating shaft 42, 242 Developing device 43 Toner replenishing device 46, 246 Bottle holding unit 46a Color discrimination sensor 46b Bottle discrimination sensor 47 Bottle drive motor 49,149 Color detection boss 50 Toner bottle 52 Toner discharge port 53 Color detection boss 54 Boss 61 Solenoid 62 Operating lever 162 Collection bias roller 163 Blade 260 Developer collection container 261 Developer outlet 263 Projection outlet 264 Developer recovery port 266 Projection recovery port

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H030 BB24 BB38 2H077 AA03 AA12 AA18 AA35 AB02 AB18 AC11 AD35 AE06 BA02 BA09 CA19 DA10 DA16 DA20 DA51 DA80 DB10 EA03 GA13

Claims (15)

[Claims] A developing device for storing a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier; a developer discharging means for discharging the deteriorated developer in the developing device to the outside of the developing device; And a toner replenishing means for replenishing the toner in the toner container along the predetermined toner replenishment path in a state where the toner container is mounted. In a two-component developing device for developing a latent image formed on a latent image carrier, a developer container containing a developer therein is configured to be detachable, and the developer in the developer container is supplied with the toner. A two-component developing apparatus, further comprising a developer replenishing means capable of replenishing the inside of the developing device along a replenishing path. 2. The two-component developing device according to claim 1, wherein said toner replenishing means is positioned such that a toner discharge port provided in said toner container communicates with a space serving as said toner replenishment path. The container is configured to be replenished with the toner in the toner container by being driven by the toner container driving unit, and the developer replenishing unit is provided in the developer container. Is supplied so as to communicate with the space as the toner replenishment path, and the developer in the developer container is supplied to the developing device by driving the developer container by a predetermined driving unit. The two-component developing device having the above-mentioned configuration and using the toner container driving unit as the predetermined driving unit. 3. The two-component developing device according to claim 1, further comprising a discriminating means for discriminating a type of a substance to be supplied into said developing device. 4. The two-component developing device according to claim 3, wherein said discriminating means comprises a detected part provided in said toner container or said developer container, and detecting means for detecting said detected part. A two-component developing device. 5. The two-component developing device according to claim 1, wherein said two-component developing device holds a plurality of developing devices around a rotating shaft, and said rotating device rotates said rotating device. A two-component developing device, which is a rotary developing device that develops a latent image formed on a latent image carrier. 6. A method for handling a two-component developing device for developing a latent image formed on a latent image carrier using a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier, comprising the steps of: 6. The developer of the two-component developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer is kept empty before installation of the two-component developing device, and after the two-component developing device is installed at a place of use. A method for handling a two-component developing device, comprising replenishing a developer and a toner into the developing device using a replenishing means and the toner replenishing means. 7. A plurality of developing devices that are held around a rotation axis and contain a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier, and are provided in each of the plurality of developing devices. Toner supply means having a toner container holder for detachably mounting a toner container containing toner for replenishment, and the rotating shaft is rotated by a developing device driving means to move an arbitrary developing device to a developing position. A two-component developing device comprising a rotary developing device for developing the latent image formed on the latent image carrier by positioning the developer collecting container detachably mounted on the toner container holding portion; And a developer for discharging the deteriorated developer in the one developing device toward the developer collecting container mounted on the toner container holding portion of another developing device adjacent to the one developing device. Discharging means, and The image forming device is positioned at a developer collecting position, and the deteriorated developer in the one developing device is attached to the toner container holding portion of the other developing device by using the developer discharging means. A two-component developing device, wherein the two-component developing device collects the developer in a developer collecting container. 8. The two-component developing device according to claim 7, wherein an empty used toner container or developer container that can be connected to said developer discharging means and is empty is used as said developer collection container. A two-component developing device, characterized in that: 9. The toner replenishing means replenishes the toner in the toner container into the developing device by driving the toner container driving member for driving the toner container mounted on the toner container holding portion. 9. The two-component developing device according to claim 7, wherein the developer collection container is configured to be able to move the developer in the developer collection container by being driven by a predetermined driving member. 10. A two-component developing device using the toner container driving member as the predetermined driving member. 10. An image forming apparatus provided with a developing means for developing a latent image formed on a latent image carrier using a two-component developer, wherein said developing means is provided. , 5, 6, 7,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is an eight- or two-component developing apparatus. 11. An image forming apparatus provided with a developing means for developing a latent image formed on a latent image carrier using a two-component developer, wherein said developing means is provided. In the two-component developing device, the toner container driving unit is controlled to drive the developer container in a state where the developer container is mounted, and the developer in the developer container is charged with the developer. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls the developer replenishing unit so as to replenish the developer. 12. An image forming apparatus provided with a developing means for developing a latent image formed on a latent image carrier using a two-component developer, wherein said developing means comprises A developing device for controlling the developing device driving means so as to position the one developing device at the developer collecting position, and a deterioration in the one developing device positioned at the developer collecting position. An image forming apparatus provided with control means for controlling the developer discharging means so as to collect the developed developer in a developer collecting container mounted on a toner container holding portion of the other developing device. . 13. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control means mounts said developer collecting container on the toner container holding portions of all the developing devices provided in said two-component developing device. An image forming apparatus, wherein the developing device driving means is controlled so that each of the developing devices is sequentially positioned at the developer collecting position. 14. A developing device for containing a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier, a toner replenishing means for replenishing the developing device with new toner, and a toner end detecting device for detecting a toner end in the developing device. An image having developer means for discharging the deteriorated developer in the developing device to the outside of the developing device, and developer replenishing device for replenishing the developing device with new developer; In the forming apparatus, a developer replacement timing detecting means for detecting a replacement timing of the developer, and after the developer replacement timing detected by the developer replacement timing detecting means arrives, a toner end is detected by the toner end detection means. And a notifying unit for notifying a user of a time for replacing the developer when the developer is replaced. 15. A method for replacing a developer in a developing device constituting a developing means of an image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the timing of replacing the developer in the developing device is detected, and the developer replacement is performed. Notifying the user of the developer replacement time after the time has come and when the toner end of the developing device is detected,
The deteriorated developer discharged from the inside of the developing device by the developer discharging device after mounting the developer container is collected in the developer collecting container, and the developer container is collected by the developer replenishing device. Refilling the developing agent into the developing device.