JP2000293028A - Developing device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately detect a toner with a mechanism which does not require driving from an outside of a toner hopper. SOLUTION: This developing device is equipped with the turnable toner hopper 5Y, a toner detecting optical member having a light emitting side exposure surface 120Y and a light receiving side exposure surface 110Y facing to a toner detecting area inside the toner hopper 5Y and capable of transmitting light, and forming a light guiding path guiding light between both exposure surfaces and the outside of the toner hopper 5Y, and a photosensor 22 detecting the toner in a toner container by emitting the light toward the toner detecting optical member and receiving the light returned therefrom. In such a case, a cleaning member having a scraper 18Y for cleaning both exposure surfaces 120Y and 110Y and a scraper supporting part 17Y supporting the scraper 18Y so as to move along both exposure surfaces 120Y and 110Y in a state where the scraper 18Y comes in contact with or comes close to both exposure surfaces 120Y and 110Y in accordance with the turning of the toner hopper 5Y is provided inside the toner hopper 5Y.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile or the like and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a developing device having a toner detecting mechanism for detecting the amount of toner in a rotatable toner container. The present invention relates to an apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a developing device used in an image forming apparatus, a plurality of developing devices are fixed to a rotating support, the rotating support is rotated, and only the developing device to be used is opposed to the photosensitive member. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a developing device for performing development. This developing device has advantages such that the diameter of the photoreceptor can be reduced and the size of the entire device can be reduced. The developing device includes a toner container that stores toner to be supplied to each developing device, and the toner container is fixed to the rotating support so as to rotate integrally with each developing device. .

In order to perform high-quality development in the above-described developing device, it is necessary to maintain a predetermined toner concentration in each developing device. In order to maintain the toner concentration, a toner container containing a predetermined amount of toner is provided corresponding to each developing device, and at a predetermined timing, for example, when the toner concentration in the developing device falls below a specified concentration. Then, it is conceivable to supply the toner in the toner container to the corresponding developing device. However, if the developing device continues to be used in a state where the toner is exhausted in the toner container, a necessary amount of toner is not supplied to the developing device, and as a result, high-quality development cannot be performed. Therefore, a toner detection mechanism that accurately detects the presence or absence of toner in the toner container becomes important.
High-quality development can be maintained by notifying the user of the timing of replenishing the toner in the toner container based on the detection result of the toner detection mechanism or by automatically making a determination in the control unit.

As the above-described toner detecting mechanism, there is known an optical sensor that optically detects toner in the toner container by using transmission or reflection of light. In the toner detection mechanism including the optical sensor, for example, light that is incident on the toner container from the light emitting unit of the optical sensor is incident on the toner detection area in the toner container and is exposed to light and is light-transmittable. After being guided to the side exposed surface, the light passes through the exposed surface and reaches the toner detection area. The light transmitted through the toner detection area is incident on the light-transmitting light-exposing side exposed surface that is exposed facing the toner detection area and is guided out of the toner container. Received by the unit. At this time, the toner in the toner container is detected based on the amount of light received by the optical sensor. For example, when toner is present in the toner container, light is blocked by the toner in the toner detection area, so that a predetermined amount of received light cannot be obtained in the light receiving unit, and a signal indicating that toner is present is output from the optical sensor. . On the other hand, when there is no toner in the toner container,
A predetermined amount of light is received by the light receiving unit of the optical sensor without being blocked by the toner in the toner detection area, and a signal indicating that there is no toner is output from the optical sensor. As described above, the toner detection mechanism including the optical sensor
The toner in the toner container can be detected by the amount of light transmitted or reflected in the toner detection area in the toner container.

[0005] The toner detection area in the toner container is, for example, a boundary between a light incident side exposed surface that enters the toner detection area or a light exit side exposed surface that exits from the toner detection area. It is constituted by an optical path formed between them. In accordance with the presence or absence of toner in the toner detection area, the presence or absence of toner in the toner container is determined as described above. However, if toner adheres to the light-exiting-side exposed surface or the light-incident-side exposed surface even though toner is almost completely removed from the toner container, an optical path is blocked by the toner. In addition, the amount of light transmitted through the toner detection area is significantly reduced. Therefore, since the amount of light received by the optical sensor also decreases, the optical sensor may output a signal indicating that there is no toner even though there is no toner in the toner container. As described above, the toner detection mechanism using the optical sensor is a mechanism that correctly detects the presence or absence of toner in the toner container by blocking the optical path of the toner in the toner detection area. The light path may be interrupted due to the toner adhering to the light incident side exposed surface, and the light amount may not be correctly received by the optical sensor and may be erroneously detected. For this reason, it is necessary to provide a cleaning member for cleaning the toner adhering to the light emitting side exposed surface and the light incident side exposed surface.

[0006]

However, when the cleaning member is driven from outside the toner container, the driving mechanism of the cleaning member becomes complicated. In particular,
In the case of a developing device having a plurality of developing devices, it is necessary to drive the cleaning member for the toner container of each developing device, which is a very complicated mechanism. Therefore, the cost is increased, the size of the developing device is increased, and the design of the cleaning member is limited, so that the effective design is limited. Therefore, the function of cleaning the toner adhering to the light emitting side exposed surface and the light incident side exposed surface exposed to the toner detection area in the toner container is reduced,
As a result, the accuracy of toner detection may be degraded.

The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and is a developing device and an image forming apparatus capable of performing toner detection with high accuracy by a mechanism that does not require external driving of the toner container. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a rotatable toner container for storing toner to be supplied to a developing device, and toner detection in the toner container. A toner detecting optical member having a light transmitting exposed surface facing the region and forming a light guide path for guiding light between the exposed surface and the outside of the toner container; and the toner detecting optical member. A light sensor that emits light toward the optical sensor and detects the toner in the toner container by receiving the light returned from the optical member for toner detection. A cleaning unit for cleaning the surface, and supporting the cleaning unit such that the cleaning unit moves along the exposed surface in a state of being in contact with or close to the exposed surface in accordance with the rotation of the toner container. A cleaning member having a support portion; It is characterized in that provided in the over container.

In this developing device, with the rotation of the toner container, the cleaning section of the cleaning member moves along the exposed surface of the toner detecting optical member in a state of contacting or approaching the exposed surface. Then, the cleaning unit removes the toner attached to the exposed portion. Therefore, the light from the optical sensor is not blocked by the toner attached to the exposed portion.

[0010] In the developing device of the first aspect, a cleaning member having a center of gravity in a supporting portion for supporting the cleaning portion may be rotatably provided in the toner container. Good. In this case, with the rotation of the toner container, the cleaning unit supported by the support unit rotates by gravity applied to the center of gravity of the cleaning member, and the cleaning member moves the cleaning unit to the exposed surface. It can move along the exposed surface in contact or close proximity. Therefore, the cleaning unit can remove the toner attached to the exposed surface.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the first aspect, the light incident side exposed surface and the light emission surface facing the toner detecting region as the toner detecting optical member with the toner detecting region interposed therebetween. A pair of optical members each having a side exposure surface, wherein the cleaning member is configured such that the cleaning unit moves along the light incident side exposure surface and the light emission side exposure surface. Things.

In this developing device, the cleaning portion of the cleaning member removes the toner adhered to the light incident side exposed surface and the light emitting side exposed surface of the pair of optical members. The light from the optical sensor is not blocked by the toner attached to the light emitting side exposed surface.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the developing device of the first or second aspect, the cleaning is performed when the toner container is at a toner detection position where the toner in the toner container can be detected by the optical sensor. It is characterized in that the member takes a posture which does not obstruct the optical path of the light passing through the toner detection area.

In this developing device, when the optical sensor detects toner in the toner container at the toner detecting position, the cleaning member is moved between the light incident side exposed surface and the light emitting side exposed surface. Takes a posture that does not obstruct the optical path of the optical sensor, so that the light from the optical sensor is not blocked by the cleaning member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the second aspect, the width of the cleaning portion between the light incident side exposed surface and the light emitting side exposed surface is smaller than a distance between the two exposed surfaces. It is characterized by the following.

In this developing device, the width of the cleaning section between the light incident side exposed surface and the light emitting side exposed surface is
Since the distance between the opposed light-exposed-side exposed surface and the light-exited-side exposed surface is smaller, the load resistance when the cleaning unit cleans the light-incident-side exposed surface and the light-exited-side exposed surface is small. .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the fourth aspect, the cleaning member has such a degree that the cleaning portion can contact one of the light incident side exposed surface and the light emitting side exposed surface. It is characterized by having play.

In this developing device, even when the width of the cleaning unit is small, the cleaning unit can move by a predetermined play in the direction of the rotation axis of the cleaning unit. Therefore, the cleaning portion can slide on the light incident side exposed surface, the light emitting side exposed surface, or both exposed surfaces alternately.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device of the first or second aspect, a regulating means for regulating the movement of the cleaning unit is provided so that the moving range of the cleaning unit does not deviate from the exposed surface. It is characterized by the following.

In this developing device, the cleaning portion of the cleaning member moves along the exposed surface of the optical member for toner detection without being separated from the exposed surface to clean the exposed surface. Here, if the cleaning unit moves away from the exposed surface, when the cleaning unit re-enters the exposed surface, the cleaning is performed due to play in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the cleaning unit. There is a risk that the exposed portion may not be able to be cleaned because the portion is caught by the toner detecting optical member.
On the other hand, in the present developing device, since the cleaning portion does not come off from the exposed surface, defective cleaning due to the cleaning portion coming off from the exposed surface can be prevented.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a latent image carrier, a latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the latent image carrier, and a developing means for developing the latent image on the latent image carrier. In the image forming apparatus provided with, as the developing means,
It is characterized in that 4, 5, or 6 developing devices are used.

In this image forming apparatus, the developing device can form an image while reliably detecting toner.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a rotary developing device to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating a developing device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a rotating support of the developing device. FIG. 1C is a perspective view showing a set of a developing device and a toner hopper as a toner container of the developing device. In the image forming section of the image forming apparatus having the rotary developing device 1, in addition to the developing device 1, a photoconductor as a latent image carrier (not shown), a charging device and an optical device as a latent image forming unit, and a charge elimination device It is equipped with devices. The image forming apparatus further includes a control unit (not shown) other than the image forming unit,
A driving device for the developing device, a fixing device, and the like are provided.
The developing device 1 includes a rotating support 2 and four
Yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M),
And developing devices 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3B which are detachably mounted for developing the respective toners of black (B). Further, these developing units are integrally mounted with toner hoppers 5Y, 5C, 5M and 5B, respectively. The rotary support 2 has a developing device support plate 2b and a toner hopper support plate 2c fixed to a rotation shaft 2a so as to be orthogonal to each other, and a disc-shaped side plate is attached to an end of the developer support plate 2b. A disc-shaped side plate portion 2e is fixed between the portion 2d and the developing device support plate 2b and the toner hopper support plate 2c.

Next, the developing units 3Y, 3C, 3M, 3B
The configurations of the toner hoppers 5Y, 5C, 5M, and 5B will be described. Note that the toner hoppers 5Y, 5C, 5M,
Since 5B has the same configuration, a description will be given below of a developing device 3Y using yellow (Y) toner and a toner hopper 5Y by adding a suffix Y to each member. In the developing device 3Y, a developing roller 30Y, a toner supply roller (not shown), and a blade are disposed in the longitudinal direction. The toner hopper 5Y has a peripheral wall 51Y having a predetermined width in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 2a and a front and rear side wall 52Y having a circular outer periphery of the rotary support when viewed from the front. And the V-shaped bottom wall 53Y
(See FIG. 2A). Toner hopper 5
Y communicates with the developing device 3Y so that toner is supplied from the toner hopper 5Y to the developing device 3Y. The toner hopper 5Y, the toner hopper 5C, the toner hopper 5M, and the toner hopper 5B have a circular outer periphery as a whole when viewed from the front.

FIG. 2A is an explanatory diagram of the inside of the toner hopper 5Y and the toner end sensor 22 composed of an optical sensor as viewed from the front. FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing an optical member for toner detection and a cleaning member for cleaning an exposed surface of the optical member through which light can pass. As the toner end sensor 22, a sensor having a light emitting unit 20 and a light receiving unit 21 is used. In the center of the rotating support of the peripheral wall 51Y of the toner hopper 5Y, a reflective polarizing plate 11Y on the light emitting side of the toner end sensor 22 and a reflective polarizing plate 12Y on the light receiving side of the toner end sensor 22 are provided as a pair of toner detecting optical members. Are provided to face each other. The reflective polarizing plate 11Y and the reflective polarizing plate 12Y have a rectangular shape of a rotating support, and have a light transmitting side exposed surface (hereinafter, “light receiving side exposed surface”) facing the toner detection area on the light receiving side of the toner end sensor 22. 1)
10Y, a light incident side exposed surface (hereinafter referred to as a “light emitting side exposed surface”) 120Y facing the toner detection area on the light emitting side of the toner end sensor 22 and a light receiving side exposed surface 1
The reflecting surface 111Y and the reflecting surface 12 each have a 45-degree inclination angle with respect to 10Y and the light-emitting side exposed surface 120Y and reflect light.
1Y. These light receiving side exposed surfaces 1
The light propagation path in the toner hopper between 10Y and the light-emitting side exposure surface 120Y forms a toner detection area.

Further, the cleaning member comprises a reflective polarizing plate 11.
A plate-shaped scraper 18Y as a cleaning unit for cleaning the exposed surfaces 110Y and 120Y of the Y and 12Y;
A scraper support 17Y as a support that swings while supporting 8Y. The scraper support 17Y supports and swings the scraper 18Y so that the scraper 18Y moves along the exposed surface in a state of contacting or approaching the exposed surface in accordance with the rotation of the toner hopper 5Y. In the vicinity of one side of the reflective polarizing plates 11Y and 12Y, a support portion 13 for supporting the scraper support portion 17Y is provided.
Y and 14Y protrude. These support portions 13Y
And 14Y are provided with support holes 130Y and 140Y, and a groove 131Y and a groove 141Y are formed above the support holes.
Is provided. These support holes 130Y and 140
A support shaft 15Y is supported on Y. The support shaft 15Y has a cylindrical member 1 having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the support shaft 15Y.
6Y is loosely inserted. The length of the cylindrical member 16Y is smaller than the interval between the support portions 13Y and 14Y, and has a predetermined play in the axial direction. A scraper support 17Y is fixed to the center of the rotary support of the tubular member 16Y, and the scraper support 17Y is a semicircular free end 17 of the rotary support.
0Y and a rotating support fan-shaped base 171Y.
A groove 172 is provided in the base 171Y of the scraper support 17Y.
Y is provided, and a scraper 18Y, which is a plate-like member having a rectangular shape of a rotation support member, is fitted into the groove 172Y. The width W1 of the scraper 18Y is smaller than the distance W2 between the light receiving side exposed surface 110Y of the reflective polarizing plate 11Y and the light emitting side exposed surface 120Y of the reflective polarizing plate 12Y. Therefore, even if the cylindrical member 16Y is pivoted on the support shaft 15Y in the axial direction by one play only in the axial direction, the scraper 18
Y is a light-exposing-side exposed surface 110Y of the reflective polarizing plate 11Y or a light-emitting-side exposed surface 120Y of the reflective polarizer 12Y.
And is slid in contact with one of the surfaces.

When the developing device 3Y and the toner hopper 5Y attached to the developing device 3Y are at the toner detecting position, a sensor mounting portion is provided on the main body side of the peripheral wall 51Y of the toner hopper 5Y facing the toner detected portion. Have been. A light emitting unit (infrared LED) 20 for emitting light is provided on the sensor mounting unit.
And a light receiving unit (light receiving element for remote control) 2 for receiving this light
1 is attached. The light emitting section 20 and the light receiving section 21 constitute a toner end sensor 22. In the above configuration, when the toner is not contained in the toner hopper 5Y, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the toner end sensor 22 emits light from the light emitting unit 20, the emitted light enters the reflective polarizing plate 12Y. I do. Reflective polarizing plate 12
The light that has entered Y is reflected by the reflecting surface 121Y and exits from the light emitting side exposed surface 120Y. The emitted light is not blocked by the toner, and enters the light receiving side exposed surface 110Y. Reflective polarizing plate 1
The light that has entered 1Y is reflected by the reflecting surface 111Y and exits from the reflective polarizing plate 11Y. When the emitted light reaches the light receiving unit 21, the toner end sensor 22 transmits a light receiving signal to a control unit (not shown). The control section determines that there is no toner in the toner hopper 5Y based on the light receiving signal from the toner end sensor 22. Further, when toner is contained in the toner hopper 5Y, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the toner end sensor 22 emits light from the light emitting unit 20,
The emitted light enters the reflective polarizer 12. The light that has entered the reflective polarizing plate 12Y is reflected by the reflective surface 121Y and exits from the light-emitting side exposed surface 120Y. The emitted light is blocked by the toner. Therefore, the light receiving unit 21 cannot receive a predetermined amount of light, and the toner end sensor 22 does not transmit a predetermined light receiving signal to the control unit. Therefore, the control unit determines that toner is present in the toner hopper 5Y.

Hereinafter, the operation of the cleaning unit for cleaning the light-emitting side exposed surface and the light-receiving side exposed surface of the toner hopper when the developing device is rotated will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, a case will be described in which the toner hopper 5Y is rotated to take a developing position, a toner detecting position, a pre-developing standby position, and a developing standby position. When the toner hopper 5Y is at the pre-development standby position (the left position in FIG. 4),
The free end 180Y of the scraper support 17Y is pressed against the peripheral wall 51Y by gravity. When the toner hopper 5Y is rotated from the pre-development standby position to the development standby position (the upper position in FIG. 4), the toner in the toner hopper 5Y becomes a V-shaped bottom wall 53.
Y to the free end 170Y of the scraper support 17Y.
Is positioned vertically below the support shaft 15Y by gravity, and the scraper support portion 17Y is supported by the support shaft 15Y. At this time, the scraper 18Y slides on the light emitting side exposed surface 120Y and the light receiving side exposed surface 110Y. As a result, the toner attached to the light emitting side exposed surface 120Y and the light receiving side exposed surface 110Y can be removed. And the scraper 18Y is located on the base side of the reflective polarizing plates 11Y and 12Y.

Next, the toner hopper 5Y rotates from the development standby position to the development position. When the toner hopper 5Y comes to the developing position, the scraper support 17Y is in the horizontal state of the rotating support, and the scraper 18Y is moved to the reflective polarizing plates 11Y and 12Y.
It is located on the base side of Y. Further, the toner hopper 5Y
Is rotated from the developing position to the toner detecting position, the scraper supporting portion 17Y rotates toward the peripheral wall 51Y, and the scraper 18Y moves the light emitting side exposed surface 120Y and the light receiving side exposed surface 110Y.
The toner adhered to Y is removed and cleaned. And
With the scraper 18Y standing up, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 20 of the toner end sensor 22 is reflected by the reflective polarizing plate 1.
It is incident on 2Y. The light that has entered the reflective polarizing plate 12Y is reflected by the reflective surface 1211Y and exits from the light-emitting side exposed surface 120Y. The toner attached to the light-emitting side exposed surface 120Y is removed by the scraper 18Y, and the light is not hindered by the toner. Also, when this light is not blocked by the toner and reaches the light receiving side exposed surface 110Y, the toner attached to the light receiving side exposed surface 110Y is also removed by the scraper 18Y, and the light receiving side exposed surface The incidence on 110Y is not hindered. As described above, when the toner hopper 5Y rotates from the developing position to the toner end detecting position, the scraper 18 removes and cleans the toner attached to the light-emitting side exposed surface 110Y and the light-receiving side exposed surface 120Y. As a result, the presence / absence of toner in the toner hopper 5Y is correctly detected by the toner end sensor 22, and the remaining amount of toner in the toner hopper 5Y can be accurately detected.

When the toner end sensor 22 detects toner in the toner hopper 5Y, the scraper 18Y
Is in an upright state, so that the optical path is not blocked between the light-emitting side exposed surface 120Y of the reflective polarizing plate 12Y and the light-receiving side exposed surface 110Y of the reflective polarizing plate 11Y. Therefore, the scraper 18Y itself does not obstruct the light from the toner end sensor 22.

In the developing device of the above embodiment,
The scraper 18Y is fixed so that the scraper 18Y does not come off the light emitting side exposed surface 120Y and the light receiving side exposed surface 110Y.
A regulating means for regulating the movement (movement angle) of Y may be provided. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the restricting means. This restricting means is provided on the support shaft 1 of the scraper supporting portion 17Y so as to contact the inner surface of the peripheral wall 51Y of the toner hopper 5Y.
The projection 17aY is provided on the 5Y side. Here, when the scraper support portion 17Y tries to rotate clockwise in the drawing, the protrusion 17aY is moved to the peripheral wall 5 of the toner hopper 5Y.
By contacting the inner surface of 1Y, cleaning is performed so that the moving range of the scraper 18Y does not deviate from both exposed surfaces between the light emitting side exposed surface 120Y of the reflective polarizing plate 12Y and the light receiving side exposed surface 110Y of the reflective polarizing plate 11Y. The rotation angle of the scraper supporting portion 17Y of the member is restricted to θ1. This θ1 is set to a value smaller than the boundary θ2 (see FIG. 6) where the scraper 18Y deviates from the area for cleaning the light-emitting side exposed surface 110Y and the light-receiving side exposed surface 120Y. As shown in FIG. 6, when there is no restriction on the rotation angle of the scraper 18Y, and when the scraper 18Y moves to one side due to backlash in the axial direction of the support shaft 15Y, the scraper 18Y moves beyond the above θ2 to θ3 in the drawing. I do. Therefore, when the scraper 18Y enters the light-emitting side exposed surface 110Y or the light-receiving side exposed surface 120Y again to start cleaning, the scraper 18Y is caught by the end of the reflective polarizing plate 11Y or the reflective polarizing plate 12Y, and the scraper 18Y is under its own weight. You will not be able to enter the exposed surface,
The exposed surface may not be cleaned. On the other hand, in the configuration example shown in FIG. 5, the rotation of the scraper support portion 17Y is restricted to within θ1, and the scraper 18Y is prevented from coming off the exposed surface.
Y is the light emitting side exposed surface 110Y and the light receiving side exposed surface 120
It is possible to prevent poor cleaning of the exposed surface due to deviation from Y. When the weight 17bY is attached to the end of the scraper support 17Y as shown in FIG. 5, by controlling the rotation of the scraper support 17Y, the weight 17bY is
Since the weight 17bY does not directly hit the inner surface of the Y peripheral wall 51Y, it is possible to suppress the generation of the operation sound of “concon” due to the weight 17bY hitting the peripheral wall 51Y. The restricting means includes a light emitting side exposed surface 110Y of the reflective polarizing plate 11Y and a light receiving side exposed surface 120Y of the reflective polarizing plate 12Y.
At least one end may be provided with a protrusion protruding inward. In this case, the protrusion at the end of the exposed surface can prevent the scraper 18Y from moving away from the light emitting side exposed surface 110Y and the light receiving side exposed surface 120Y.

[0032]

According to the present invention, the toner adhered to the exposed surface of the optical member for toner detection is cleaned and removed by the cleaning member, so that the light of the optical sensor adheres to the exposed surface. Since the toner is not interrupted by the toner, the erroneous detection of the toner by the optical sensor can be prevented, and the toner can be detected with high accuracy. In addition, since the cleaning portion of the cleaning member moves along the exposed surface according to the rotation of the toner container itself and can clean the toner adhered to the exposed surface, there is no need for a mechanism for driving the cleaning member from the outside. There is an excellent effect.

In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the case where the toner detecting optical member is configured such that the light incident side exposed surface and the light receiving side exposed surface face each other with the toner detecting region in the toner container interposed therebetween. Since the toner adhering to both exposed surfaces can be removed by cleaning with a cleaning member, erroneous detection of toner by the optical sensor can be prevented, and there is an excellent effect that toner detection can be performed with high accuracy.

In particular, according to the third aspect of the present invention, since the light of the optical sensor is not blocked by the cleaning member, there is an excellent effect that detection failure of the optical sensor does not occur by the cleaning member.

In particular, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the load resistance when the cleaning member cleans the exposed surface can be reduced, the cleaning portion of the cleaning member can be reliably made in accordance with the rotation of the toner container. And the cleaning operation of the exposed surface is surely performed.

In particular, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the cleaning member can slide on both surfaces of the light-exiting-side exposed surface and the light-incident-side exposed surface, both of the exposed surfaces are surely cleaned. There is an excellent effect that you can.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 6, since the cleaning portion of the cleaning member moves within the exposed surface of the toner detecting optical member, the cleaning portion protrudes from the exposed surface and the toner detecting portion moves. There is an excellent effect that poor cleaning of the exposed surface due to being caught on the optical member can be prevented.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 7, since the image formation can be performed while the toner in the toner container is reliably detected, there is an excellent effect that a high quality image can be formed. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. (B) is a perspective view showing a rotation support of the developing device. (C) is a perspective view showing a developing unit of the developing device.

FIG. 2A is a schematic sectional view of a toner end sensor including a toner hopper and an optical sensor of the developing device as viewed from the front. (B) is a perspective view of a toner detecting optical member and a cleaning member in the toner hopper.

FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram of toner detection by a toner end sensor when no toner is contained in the toner hopper. FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram of toner detection by a toner end sensor when toner is contained in the toner hopper.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of the cleaning member cleaning the light-emitting side exposed surface and the light-receiving side exposed surface as the toner hopper rotates.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a cleaning member according to a modification.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a cleaning member according to a comparative example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 developing device 2 rotating support 3 developing device 5 toner hopper 11 reflective polarizer 12 reflective polarizer 15 support shaft 17 scraper support 17a protrusion 17b weight 18 scraper 20 light emitting unit 21 light receiving unit 22 toner end sensor 110 light receiving side exposed surface 111 Reflecting surface 120 Light emitting side exposed surface 120 Reflecting surface

Claims (7)

[Claims] A rotatable toner container for accommodating toner to be supplied to a developing device; and a light-transmitting exposed surface facing a toner detection area in the toner container. A toner detecting optical member that forms a light guide path for guiding light to and from the outside of the container, and emits light toward the toner detecting optical member and transmits light returned from the toner detecting optical member. A developing unit for cleaning an exposed surface of the optical member for toner detection, the cleaning unit configured to clean an exposed surface of the optical member for toner detection, A cleaning member having a support portion for supporting the cleaning portion so that the cleaning portion moves along the exposed surface in a state of contacting or approaching the exposed surface. Characteristic developing device. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the toner detecting optical member of the toner container is
Using a pair of optical members each having a light incident side exposed surface and a light emitting side exposed surface opposed to each other with the toner detection region interposed therebetween, the cleaning member is moved to the light incident side exposed surface and the light emitting side exposed surface. The cleaning unit is configured to move along the direction described above. 3. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the toner container is at a toner detection position where the toner in the toner container can be detected by the optical sensor.
The developing device is characterized in that the cleaning member takes a posture that does not obstruct an optical path of light passing through the toner detection area. 4. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein a width of the cleaning portion between the light incident side exposed surface and the light emitting side exposed surface is smaller than a distance between the both exposed surfaces. Developing device. 5. The developing device according to claim 4, wherein the cleaning member has a play such that the cleaning portion can contact one of the light incident side exposed surface and the light emission side exposed surface. Characteristic developing device. 6. The developing device according to claim 1, further comprising a restricting means for restricting a movement of the cleaning unit so that a moving range of the cleaning unit does not deviate from the exposed surface. . 7. An image forming apparatus comprising: a latent image carrier; a latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the latent image carrier; and a developing means for developing the latent image on the latent image carrier. In Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 as said developing means.
An image forming apparatus using the developing device.