JP2001042624A - Developing device, developing cartridge, processing cartridge, and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing device whose maintainability is improved, cost is reduced with a simplified structure by automatically replacing the developer gradually, in the monochromatic image forming device, the full color image forming device of the tandem system, or the like. SOLUTION: In this developing device 1 for developing an electrostatic latent image by using two-component developer consisting of toner and carriers, a developer cartridge 5 is arranged adjacent to the developing device 1, the cartridge of which is provided with a space 5a (replenishing developer containing part) containing the toner and the carriers to be replenished to the developing device 1, and a space 5b (recovered developer containing part) containing the two-component developer discharged from the developing device 1, the replenishment of two-component developer from the replenishment developer containing part 5a of the developing cartridge 5 in the developing device 1 and the discharge of the two-component developer in the recovery developer containing part 5b is performed from the side surface or the lower surface of the developing device.

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 and a printer, and a developing device, a developing cartridge and a process cartridge provided in the image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic method, particularly an image forming apparatus for forming a chromatic image, a two-component developing method in which a non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier are mixed and used as a developer. Is widely used. The two-component developing system has advantages in terms of image quality stability, device durability, and the like as compared with other currently proposed developing systems, but also deteriorates developer due to long-term durability, particularly Since the deterioration of the carrier is inevitable, the developer needs to be replaced with the long-term use of the image forming apparatus.

Several solutions to the above problem have been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-21591 discloses "Development for an electrophotographic copying machine having a stirring means for stirring a carrier and a toner, and a developing roll for supplying a developer stirred by the stirring means to a photosensitive member. In the apparatus, a carrier replenishing device and a toner replenishing device are separately or integrally provided above the stirring means, and a developer overflow portion is provided on a side wall of the developing device housing. The developer can be replenished and discharged from the overflowing portion of the developer, and the characteristics of the developer in the developing device housing can be kept constant. As a result, the image quality of the copy can be kept constant.
Further, in the present invention, the old developer in the developing device housing is automatically discharged sequentially from the developer overflowing portion. Therefore, the developing device is detached from the copier as in the prior art, and Removing the old developer in the housing, refilling it with new developer, and then re-attaching the developing device eliminates the need for troublesome developer replacement work.
In addition, the developer is prevented from being scattered, which is hygienic. There is a description.

That is, by gradually replacing the deteriorated developer (carrier) with a new one, the apparent progress of deterioration of the carrier is stopped, and the characteristics of the entire developer are stabilized. This eliminates the need for an operation of replacing the developer, thereby improving maintainability.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-218575 proposes a configuration in which the above-described method is combined with the configuration of a rotary developing device. "The rotary developing device is provided with a developer supply means, The necessary developer is supplied to the developing device, and the excess developer in the developing device is discharged by utilizing the change in the direction of action of gravity due to the rotation of the rotator. By using the movement, the excess developer can be discharged with a simple structure. "

In addition, various systems which do not use a rotary developing device have been proposed (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-63074).

On the other hand, in recent years, markets for full-color copying machines and printers have expanded and various functions have been demanded. For example, in order to provide high productivity, multiple transfer is performed by arranging a plurality of photosensitive drums. Many tandem-type image forming apparatuses have been commercialized and are expected to become one of the mainstream markets in the future.

[0008]

However, in the tandem system, the developing devices of the respective colors are fixedly arranged with respect to the respective photosensitive drums, and the simple structure proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-218575 may be employed. could not. For this reason, in order to adopt a system in which the developer is gradually replaced in the tandem system, a complicated configuration as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-63074 had to be employed. The same applies to an image forming apparatus that forms a monochromatic image.

That is, in the prior art, in a single-color image forming apparatus, a tandem method for producing high productivity, and a full-color image forming apparatus of various configurations which do not employ a rotary developing apparatus in order to utilize various other features, In order to improve the maintainability by gradually changing the agent gradually, there is a problem that the configuration becomes conversely complicated and the cost of the main body increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object the purpose of gradually changing the developer in various full-color image forming apparatuses such as a single-color image forming apparatus and a tandem system, thereby improving maintenance. Another object of the present invention is to provide a developing device, a developing cartridge, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus that can realize a low price with a simple configuration while improving the image quality.

[0011]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image using a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier. In a developing device comprising a developer cartridge having a space for accommodating a toner and a carrier for replenishing the developing device and a space for accommodating the two-component developer discharged from the developing device, the developer cartridge is arranged adjacently. Replenishing the two-component developer to the developing device from the space of the developing cartridge containing the toner and carrier and discharging the two-component developer to the space containing the two-component developer discharged from the developing device. It is characterized in that the development is performed from the side surface or the lower surface of the developing device. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a developing cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system is integrally formed with the developing device of the first aspect.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system, a photosensitive member for holding an electrostatic latent image, and a photosensitive member for charging the photosensitive member. A charging unit, at least one of a cleaning unit for removing toner remaining on the photoconductor, and the developing device according to claim 1.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system, wherein a photosensitive member for carrying an electrostatic latent image and a photosensitive member for charging the photosensitive member are provided. And at least one of a cleaning unit for removing toner remaining on the photosensitive member and the developing cartridge according to claim 2.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including the developing device according to the first aspect, the developing cartridge according to the second aspect, and the process cartridge according to the third or fourth aspect. Features.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, a plurality of the developing devices according to the first aspect or the developing cartridge according to the second aspect extend along a peripheral surface of a single photosensitive member. Are fixedly arranged.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fifth or sixth aspect of the invention, the plurality of developing devices or the developing cartridges of the second aspect move in a substantially linear direction without rotating. In such a manner as to sequentially face a single photoconductor.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, the developing device includes a plurality of photoconductors each fixedly disposed, and the toner images formed on the plurality of photoconductors are transferred to a transfer material. It is characterized in that a plurality of color images are formed by superimposing and transferring an image on a transfer material or an intermediate transfer member on a conveyor belt.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the eighth aspect, wherein a plurality of developing devices or the process cartridge according to the third aspect are used, and the endless and rotatable intermediate transfer body is provided inside the intermediate transfer body. A developer cartridge is provided.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a developing device and a developing cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a sectional view of a main part of an image forming apparatus including the developing device and a developing cartridge.

First, the operation of the entire image forming apparatus will be described.

In FIG. 2, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 28 by exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum 28 charged by the charger 21 with the laser 22, and the latent image is developed by the developing device 1. Thus, a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 28. And
This toner image is transferred to a transfer material 27 conveyed by a transfer belt 24 by a transfer bias by a transfer charger 23, and the transfer material 27 that has received the transfer of the toner image is separated from the transfer belt 24 and added by a fixing device 25. Under pressure and heat, the toner image is fixed. The residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 28 after the transfer is removed by the cleaner 26 to prepare for the next image formation.

Next, the developing device 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The developing device 1 contains a two-component developer composed of a non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier, and the mixing ratio is about 1: 9 by weight. This ratio should be appropriately adjusted depending on the charge amount of the toner, the carrier particle size, the configuration of the image forming apparatus, and the like, and is not necessarily limited to this value.

The developing device 1 has an opening in a developing region facing the photosensitive drum 28, and the developing sleeve 3 is rotatably disposed so as to be partially exposed at the opening. The developing sleeve 3 is made of a non-magnetic material and includes a fixed magnet 4 as a magnetic field generating means. And
The developing sleeve 3 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 during the developing operation, holds the two-component developer in the developing container 2 in a layered form, carries it to the developing area, and transfers the two-component developer to the developing area facing the photosensitive drum 28. The developer is supplied to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 28. Note that the developer after developing the electrostatic latent image is transported along with the rotation of the developing sleeve 3 and is collected in the developing container 2.

The developing container 2 is provided with a first developer circulating screw 2a (closer to the developing sleeve 3) and a second developer circulating screw 2b (farther from the developing sleeve 3). The developer circulates through the developing container 2 and is mixed and stirred by the first and second developer circulation screws 2a and 2b. In this embodiment, the direction of circulation of the developer is from the near side of FIG. 1 to the depth side on the first developer circulation screw 2a side, and from the side of FIG. 1 on the second developer circulation screw 2b side. This is the direction toward the back.

Next, the supply and recovery of the developer will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the developing cartridge 5 comprises a substantially cylindrical replenishment developer accommodating portion 5a and a collected developer accommodating portion 5b, which can be easily detached from the image forming apparatus main body. Have been.

When the developing cartridge 5 is inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus from the near side, the shutter mechanism 6b 'slides to open the developer collecting port 6b, and the handle 5 on the near side is further opened.
When c is rotated to the right, the supply developer storage section 5a rotates while the collection developer storage section 5b is fixed to the image forming apparatus main body, and the developer supply port 6a is opened. The developing cartridge 5
When the handle 5c is removed from the image forming apparatus main body, by turning the handle 5c to the left, the openings 6a and 6b are closed, and the developer contained therein does not leak to the outside.

Further, a stirring member 7 for stirring the replenished developer is built in the replenishment developer accommodating portion 5a. The stirring member 7 is a member formed by spirally shaping a resin film or the like so as to be rotationally driven by a rigid shaft. The rotation of the stirring member 7 causes the developer in the replenishment developer accommodating portion 5a to be stirred. Also, replenishment of the developer is assisted.

The amount of toner consumed by image formation passes from the replenishment developer container 5a to the replenishment screw 8 provided in the development container 2 through the replenishment port 6a by the rotational force and gravity of the stirring member 7. (See FIG. 1),
The rotation of the supply screw 8 supplies the developer into the developing container 2 of the developing device 1.

As described above, the replenishing developer is supplied from the developing cartridge 5 to the developing device 1. The mixing ratio of the toner and the carrier of the replenishment developer is about 9: 1 by weight, but is not particularly limited to this value. That is,
The amount of toner is overwhelmingly larger than the ratio of the two-component developer in the developing container 2, and considering the volume ratio, it can be considered that a small amount of carrier is mixed in the toner. That is,
When supplementing toner consumed by image formation, a small amount of carrier is gradually supplied. If the ratio of the carrier of the developer to be replenished is increased, the replacement amount of the carrier is increased by the same amount of toner replenishment.
Although the component developer approaches a fresh state, the consumption of the carrier increases accordingly. For this reason, it is preferable to determine an appropriate mixing ratio separately for each device.

The replenishing amount of toner (and carrier) is roughly determined by the number of revolutions of the replenishing screw 8, and the number of revolutions is determined by a toner replenishing amount control unit (not shown). As a method of controlling the toner replenishment amount, a method of optically or magnetically detecting the toner density of the two-component developer, a method of developing a reference latent image on the photosensitive drum 28 and detecting the density of the toner image, and the like. Because various methods are known,
Either method can be appropriately selected.

When toner consumption by image formation and toner replenishment by the toner replenishment amount control means are repeated, the number of carriers replenished together with toner replenishment in the developing container 2 increases. Since the toner concentration of the two-component developer is kept substantially constant by the toner supply amount control means, the amount of the developer in the developing container 2 increases. The excess two-component developer is collected by the portion that exceeds the opening of the developer collecting port 6b falls into the collected developer accommodating portion 5b.

The developer supply port 6a is formed on the inner side of the developing container 2 in the axial direction, and the developer recovery port 6b is located slightly forward of the developer supply port 6a. That is, the developer collection port 6b is located upstream of the developer supply port 6a with respect to the developer circulation direction in the developer container 2, and the fresh carrier supplied from the developer supply port 6a is
The two-component developer contained in the developer container is mixed and stirred for at least one rotation of the developer container 2, and most of the developer discharged from the collected developer storage unit 5 b is formed in the developing device 1. Is an old developer in which is repeated.

In this manner, the replacement of the two-component developer is performed gradually.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even in an image forming apparatus in which a developing device such as a monochromatic image forming device is fixedly arranged on a photosensitive drum, the developer is gradually supplied with a simple configuration. It is possible to obtain an image forming apparatus that can be automatically replaced and that is inexpensive and highly maintainable.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a developing device and a developing cartridge according to the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the developing cartridge 9 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the developing device 1 and the developing cartridge 5 according to the first embodiment can be easily attached to and detached from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus. It was done.

The replenishment developer container 5 of the developing cartridge 9
a is fixed without rotating as in the first embodiment.
Before the developing cartridge 9 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the developer supply port 6a and the developer collecting port 6b are sealed by a seal member 6c. The end of the seal member 6c partially protrudes from the front of the developing cartridge 9, and after the developing cartridge 9 is inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus, the developer is supplied by pulling out the protruding portion of the seal member 6c to the front. The opening 6a and the developer collecting opening 6b are opened. The other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

<Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In this embodiment, the developing cartridge 9 of the second embodiment, the charger 21, the photosensitive drum 28, and the cleaner 26 are integrated as a process cartridge, and this process cartridge is easily attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. It is made possible. The other configurations are the same as those of the first and second embodiments.

Alternatively, a configuration in which the developing cartridge 5 can be further attached to and detached from such a process cartridge may be employed.

<Fourth Embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the full-color image forming apparatus. The movable developing device 10 of the full-color image forming apparatus includes developing units 1Y, 1M, and 1M containing yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, respectively. 1C and 1K are accommodated, and one of the four developing devices 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K is moved by the horizontal movement of the movable developing device 10.
One is made to face the photosensitive drum 28.

A photosensitive drum 28 serving as an image carrier is provided rotatably.
The photosensitive drum 28 is uniformly charged with light, and is exposed to light whose exposure amount is determined by the laser 22 to first form a yellow electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 28. The yellow electrostatic latent image is developed using the developing device 1Y containing yellow toner, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 28.

Next, the yellow toner image is transferred by the transfer charger 23 onto the transfer paper 27 conveyed by the transfer paper conveyance sheet 24. The transfer residual toner on the photosensitive drum 28 is removed by the cleaner 26.

Then, the cleaned photosensitive drum 2
8 is again charged by the primary charger 21 and exposed by the laser 22 to form a magenta electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 28. When the magenta electrostatic latent image passes through the developing area, the movable developing device 10 slides and the developing device 1M containing the magenta toner is opposed to the photosensitive drum 28. The magenta electrostatic latent image is developed to obtain a magenta toner image. Then, the magenta toner image is transferred onto the transfer material 27 on which the yellow toner image has been transferred first.

After the yellow, magenta and cyan toner images are sequentially formed on the transfer material 27 in this manner, the transfer material 27 is separated from the transfer paper transport belt 24 and
5, and the toner image is fixed on the transfer material 27 by heat and pressure to obtain a full-color image.

The configuration of the developing units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K for each color is basically the same as that of the developing device 1 described in the first and second embodiments except that the opening to the developing area is directed upward.
It is similar to that of Also, the direction of circulation of the developer is the same as that of the first embodiment, that is, a direction from the near side of FIG. 1 toward the back side on the first developer circulation screw 2a side, and a direction of FIG. 1 on the side of the second developer circulation screw 2b. This is the direction from the back side to the front side.

Next, replenishment and recovery of the developer in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

The developing cartridge 5 according to the present embodiment
As shown in FIG. 6, is composed of a replenishment developer accommodating section 5a and a collected developer accommodating section 5b, and can be easily attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. Replenishment developer container 5a
And the collected developer container 5b are formed in a coaxial cylindrical shape,
The collected developer storage section 5b is located behind the replenishment developer storage section 5a. A replenishment developer conveying path 8a is provided so as to pass through the collected developer accommodating portion 5b, and a replenishment screw 8 is rotatably installed therein. That is, in the present embodiment, the supply screw 8 is
Built in. A stirring member 7 for stirring the replenished developer is built in the replenishment developer accommodating portion 5a, and the replenishment of the developer is assisted by rotating the stirring member 7 appropriately. The developer in the developer accommodating portion 5a is gradually conveyed to the back side.

After the developing cartridge 5 is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, when the handle 5c on the near side is turned to the right, the replenishment developer accommodating section 5a and the collected developer accommodating section 5b rotate, and the developer replenishing port 6a and the developing The agent collection port 6b opens. When the developing cartridge 5 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body, if the handle 5c is turned to the left, the openings 6a and 6b are closed, so that the contained developer does not leak to the outside.

FIG. 7 shows a state near the developer supply port 6a. 7A is a view of the developing cartridge 5 as viewed from above, and FIG. 7B is a view of the developing cartridge 5 as viewed from this side.

The amount of toner consumed by image formation is
The replenishment developer is conveyed obliquely upward from the replenishment developer conveyance path 8a by the rotation of the replenishment screw 8 from the replenishment developer accommodating portion 5a side, and conveyed into the developer container 2 from the developer replenishment port 6a. Then, the replenished developer enters the developing container 2 from the developer replenishing port 6a on the bottom surface of the developing container 2, and the raised portion is turned to the front side of the image forming apparatus main body by the rotation of the second developer circulation screw 2b. (The lower side of FIG. 7A). Thereafter, the flow of the replenished developer (arrow A) merges with the flow of the developer circulating in the developer container 2 (arrow B) near the developer circulation guide port 2c, and the two-component development in the developer container 2 is performed. It is mixed and stirred with the agent.

The developer circulating in the developing container 2 is shown in FIG.
Although it circulates as shown in FIG. 7A, as soon as it is conveyed from the left area to the right area of FIG. 7A, it is conveyed to the lower side of FIG. 7A by the second developer circulation screw 2b. Is done. That is, in most cases, the developer circulating in the developing container 2 does not fall out from the developer supply port 6a. If such a problem is likely to occur due to the configuration, the height of the upper end of the developer supply port 6a may be higher than the inner bottom surface of the developer container 2, or the inside of the developer container 2 may surround the developer supply port 6a. It is only necessary to devise a method such as forming a circumferential projection on the surface.

In addition, the excess two-component developer is shown in FIG.
The portion exceeding the height of the developer discharge port 6d shown in FIG. 6B falls and passes through the developer recovery port 6b, and the recovered developer accommodating portion 5b
Collected to

In the present embodiment, the developer collecting port 6b
Is located upstream of the developer supply port 6a with respect to the direction of circulation of the developer in the developing container 2 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, whereby the two-component developer is gradually replaced.

As described above, a plurality of developing units 1Y, 1M, 1 as in the full-color image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
Even in an image forming apparatus employing a configuration in which C and 1K slide integrally and these sequentially face the photosensitive drum 28, the developer can be gradually and automatically replaced with a simple configuration, and the maintenance cost is low. Image forming apparatus can be obtained.

<Fifth Embodiment> Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a full-color image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the full-color image forming apparatus, a developing device in which yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners are stored in a photosensitive drum 28, respectively. 1
Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are opposed to each other, and each developing unit 1Y,
By bringing 1M, 1C and 1K closer to the surface of the photosensitive drum 28 in order, a toner image of each color is formed. Then, the formed toner image is sequentially transferred onto the transfer material 27, and the transfer material 27 to which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the transfer material transport belt 24 and transported to the fixing device 25, and the toner image is transferred by the fixing device 25. To form a full-color image.

Next, replenishment and recovery of the developer in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8, the developing device 1K and the developing cartridge 5K have substantially the same configuration as the developing device 1K and the developing cartridge 5K of the fourth embodiment. Therefore, in the following, the developing devices 1Y, 1M, 1C and the developing cartridges 5Y, 5Y,
The replenishment and recovery of the developer at 5M and 5C will be described.

The developing cartridges 5Y, 5M, and 5C are composed of a substantially cylindrical replenishment developer container 5a and a collected developer container 5b, similar to the developing cartridge 5 according to the first embodiment. Can be easily attached to and detached from. Further, similarly to the developing cartridge 5 of the third embodiment, a replenishing screw 8 and a replenishing developer conveying path 8a are incorporated.

FIG. 9 shows a state near the developer supply port 6a. FIG. 9A shows the developer supply port 6a of the developing cartridge.
FIG. 9B is a view of the vicinity viewed from the near side, and FIG. 9B is a view of the developing cartridge viewed from the left side of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the developer conveyed from the replenishment developer accommodating section 5a of the replenishment developer conveyance path 8a to the replenishment developer conveyance path 8a obliquely moves upward as the replenishment screw 8 rotates. Is supplied to the developing container 2 through the developer supply port 6a.

The excess two-component developer is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the portion exceeding the height of the developer discharge port 6d falls, passes through the developer collection port 6b, and is collected in the collection developer storage section 5b.

As described above, a plurality of developing units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are arranged around the photosensitive drum 28 as in the full-color image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, and these developing units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are sequentially brought close to the photosensitive drum 28. Also in an image forming apparatus adopting the configuration described above, the developer can be gradually and automatically replaced with a simple configuration, and an image forming apparatus which is inexpensive and has high maintenance can be obtained.

<Sixth Embodiment> Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a main part of the full-color image forming apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the full-color image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, photosensitive drums 28Y and 28Y are provided at a Y station, an M station, a C station and a K station for forming toner images of respective colors.
M, 28C, 28K, primary chargers 21Y, 28M, 28
C, 28K, lasers 22Y, 22M, 22C, 22
K, developing units 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K, transfer charger 23
Y, 23M, 23C, 23K and cleaners 26Y, 26
M, 26C and 26K.

The yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images formed at each station are transferred onto the transfer paper 27 conveyed by the transfer paper conveyer belt 24 at the transfer chargers 23Y and 23M of each station. , 23
C, 23K sequentially transfer. The developing units 1Y,
1M, 1C, 1K and developer cartridges 5Y, 5M, 5
The configurations of C and 5K are the same as the configurations of the developing device and the developing cartridge 5 according to the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the stations are arranged vertically, and the developing cartridges 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K are arranged horizontally with respect to the developing units 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K. In such a tandem-type image forming apparatus, the station arrangement direction tends to increase the size of the entire apparatus, but if the station is arranged as in this embodiment, the developing cartridge 5
Y, 5M, 5C, 5K does not increase the size of the device. Here, for example, when each station is disposed in the horizontal direction and the transfer material transport belt 24 is disposed above the stations, the developer cartridges 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K are connected to the developing devices so that the apparatus does not become large in the horizontal direction. 1Y, 1M, 1
It is preferable to arrange it below C and 1K.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain an inexpensive and highly maintainable image forming apparatus while utilizing the high productivity characteristic of the tandem type full color image forming apparatus.

<Seventh Embodiment> Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a main part of the full-color image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 11, in the full-color image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, a Y station, an M station, a C station, and a K station for forming a toner image of each color are arranged in a horizontal direction. I have. And yellow, magenta, formed at each station,
The cyan and black toner images are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 24a by the transfer chargers 23Y, 23M, 23C, and 23K at the respective stations, and the toner images transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 24a are subjected to secondary transfer charging. Vessel 2
3a collectively transfers onto the transfer material 27.

In the intermediate transfer system according to the present embodiment, troubles such as paper jam (jam) hardly occur because the transfer mechanism of the transfer material 27 is simplified.
It has features such as easy compatibility with various materials such as P film.

The feature of the full-color image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is that the developing cartridges 5Y, 5M, 5 corresponding to the respective stations are provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 24a.
C and 5K are arranged.

The configurations of the developing units 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K and the developing cartridges 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K are the same as those of the developing units 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K and the developing cartridges 5Y, 5M, 5C according to the fourth embodiment. , 5K. Since both the developer supply port 6a and the developer recovery port 6b transfer the supply developer and the recovered developer on the inner side of the intermediate transfer belt 24a, the traveling of the intermediate transfer belt 24a is not hindered.

In the structure according to the present embodiment, the developing cartridges 5Y, 5M, 5C,
The 5K arrangement does not increase the size of the image forming apparatus main body. Furthermore, the size of the apparatus can be further reduced by efficiently utilizing the space in the intermediate transfer belt 24a.

The method of disposing the developing cartridges 5Y, 5M, 5C and 5K in the transfer mechanism as in the present embodiment is also possible in the method using the transfer paper transport belt 24 as in the fifth embodiment. It is. However, the transfer material transport belt 24 may be pulled out of the main body of the image forming apparatus when a trouble such as a paper jam (jam) occurs. On this occasion,
The transfer material transport belt 2 with the built-in developing cartridges 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K attached to the image forming apparatus main body side.
And developing cartridges 5Y, 5M, 5
A method of removing C and 5K from the image forming apparatus main body together with the transfer material conveying belt 24 is conceivable, but the configuration becomes complicated in any case. That is, when a system in which the developing cartridge is disposed in the transfer mechanism is employed, it is preferable to employ an intermediate transfer system as in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, not only can an image forming apparatus of low cost and high maintainability be obtained, but also high productivity and high productivity which are the features of the tandem type full color image forming apparatus can be obtained. The space in the image forming apparatus main body can be efficiently used by taking advantage of the transfer paper transport stability and the transfer material compatibility, which are features of the intermediate transfer method, so that the entire apparatus can be reduced in size.

[0082]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the two-component developer is supplied from the space for accommodating the toner and the carrier of the developing cartridge to the developing device and discharged from the developing device. Since the two-component developer is discharged from the side surface or the lower surface of the developing device to the space containing the two-component developer, the developer is used in various full-color image forming devices such as a single-color image forming device and a tandem type. Automatic replacement gradually enhances maintainability,
The effect that a low price can be realized with a simple configuration is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a developing device and a developing cartridge according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of an image forming apparatus including a developing device and a developing cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view of the developing cartridge according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a developing device and a developing cartridge according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of a full-color image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a developing cartridge according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating supply and recovery of a developer according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a main part of a full-color image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a developing cartridge according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a main part of a full-color image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a main part of a full-color image forming apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Developing device 2 Developing container 2a 1st developer circulation screw 2b 2nd developer circulation screw 5 Developing cartridge 5a Replenishment developer container 5b Recovered developer container 6a Developer supply port 6b Developer recovery port 6c Seal member 6d Development Agent discharge port 8 Supply screw 8a Supply developer transport path 9 Developing cartridge 10 Mobile developing device 21 Primary charger (charging means) 24 Transfer material transport belt 26 Cleaner (cleaning means) 27 Transfer material 28 Photosensitive drum (Photoconductor)

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image using a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier, comprising: a space for accommodating a toner and a carrier to be supplied to the developing device; A developer cartridge having a space for accommodating the two-component developer discharged from the developing device, the developer cartridge being adjacent to the developer cartridge. A developing device wherein replenishment of the component developer and discharge of the two-component developer into a space for accommodating the two-component developer discharged from the developing device are performed from a side surface or a lower surface of the developing device. . 2. A developing cartridge, which is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system, and is configured integrally with the developing device according to claim 1. 3. A photoreceptor, which is detachable from an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method and carries an electrostatic latent image, a charging unit for charging the photoreceptor, A process cartridge, comprising at least one of a cleaning unit for removing toner remaining on a body and the developing device according to claim 1. 4. A photosensitive member for carrying an electrostatic latent image which is detachable from an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method, a charging unit for charging the photosensitive member, and the photosensitive member 3. A process cartridge, comprising at least one of cleaning means for removing toner remaining on the body and the developing cartridge according to claim 2. 5. An image forming apparatus comprising the developing device according to claim 1, the developing cartridge according to claim 2, and the process cartridge according to claim 3. 6. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the developing devices according to claim 1 or the developing cartridge according to claim 2 are fixedly arranged along a peripheral surface of a single photosensitive member. Image forming device. 7. A plurality of developing devices according to claim 1 or a plurality of developing cartridges according to claim 2 are moved in a substantially linear direction without rotating, and sequentially face a single photosensitive member. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: 8. The developing device includes a plurality of photoconductors each fixedly arranged, and transfers toner images formed on the plurality of photoconductors onto a transfer material or an intermediate transfer member on a transfer material transport belt in a superimposed manner. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of color images are formed by performing the image forming. 9. The developer cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the developer cartridge is disposed inside the endless and rotatable intermediate transfer member using a plurality of developing devices or the process cartridge according to claim 3. The image forming apparatus as described in the above.