JP2001042640A - Developing device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing device executing satisfactory development by preventing accumulation of exhausted toner in the device and to provide an image forming device forming the image free from quality defect by adopting the developing device. SOLUTION: A space, having a developing roller 10, a toner feed roller 12 and a developing blade 11 in the developing device 3, is separated by a partition plate 13, from a toner containing part 14 provided with a toner transport member 15 and for containing toner, and in a space having the developing roller 10, the toner feed roller 12 and the developing blade 11, a proximity member 16 arranged close to these members is provide, to reduce the volume of the space.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier with toner, and an image forming apparatus for forming an image using such a developing apparatus. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A developing method for attaching a toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor by an electrophotographic method is based on a two-component developing method using a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier, depending on the type of the developer used. The method is broadly divided into a method and a one-component developing method using a one-component developer consisting only of toner. In the two-component developing method, only the toner in the developer is consumed for development and decreases. Therefore, it is necessary to compensate for the reduced toner by controlling the toner concentration to keep the toner concentration constant. Need to be replaced. On the other hand, the one-component developing method does not require toner density control and carrier replacement, and is excellent in handling and maintenance. However, there is a problem in that image quality is deteriorated due to deterioration of the toner. In the case of the two-component developing method, the amount of toner mixed and stirred with the carrier in the developing device is relatively small,
In this mode, the amount of toner consumed by image formation is supplied from the supply device, and the time during which the toner is present in the developing device is shorter than that of the carrier, so that deterioration of the toner does not matter. On the other hand, in the one-component developing method, the developer in the developing device is composed of only toner, and a large amount of image formation of 5,000 to 20,000 sheets is usually required by one replenishment of toner. And a large amount of toner will be stored. Furthermore, in the one-component developing method, the charge is applied to the toner particles mainly by the rubbing between the developer supply roller and the developing roller and the developing roller when the toner thin layer is formed on the developing roller. This is performed by rubbing between the blades. As a result, the toner is charged and stress is applied at the same time, and the deterioration of the toner is promoted.
As the deterioration of the toner progresses, the fluidity of the toner decreases, the degree of aggregation increases, the development of small-diameter dots becomes unstable, and image deterioration such as unevenness of the image and a decrease in sharpness occurs. Similarly, since the toner in the developing device is deteriorated by being continuously agitated, the image quality when the amount of toner in the developing device is reduced is lower than the image quality after toner replenishment. Further, after the toner is replenished, the remaining toner in the developing device and the newly replenished toner have different physical properties, so that a problem such as background contamination of an image may occur after the toner replenishment.

The one-component developer used in the above-mentioned one-component developing method includes a developer composed of a magnetic one-component toner and a developer composed of a non-magnetic one-component toner. It is excellent in terms of high image quality and color compatibility, but has the disadvantage that deterioration due to stress is likely to occur. Therefore, in the one-component developing method, it is important to suppress toner deterioration in the developing device.

In order to solve the problem of image quality in the non-magnetic one-component developing method as described above, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-952
The technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-107, in order to visualize an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier, supports a toner supply roller and a development roller so as to be in pressure contact with each other while rotating,
Furthermore, a thin layer of toner is formed on the developing roller in contact with the developing roller, and a first space portion having a toner layer regulating member for applying electric charge to the toner by triboelectric charging is provided.
This is a method of providing a rotating member for controlling the amount of toner filling in the first space, thereby stabilizing the amount of toner filling in the first space and forming a stable toner layer on the developing roller. Thus, high-quality image quality is formed.

[0005]

However, the above method has the following problems. Tokuhei 7-95210
In order to prevent the formation of a thin layer on the developing roller from becoming unstable due to the amount of toner in the toner supplying roller and the developing roller, the method described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. However, in the developing device having such a configuration, the toner that has been stressed at the toner supply roller and the toner in the toner storage unit are switched, and the toner in the developing device is uniformly stressed. As a result, the deterioration of the toner is promoted. Rather, a short-time stress should be applied only to the toner used immediately for image formation, and it is desirable to reduce the chance of stirring for toner not used immediately. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a developing device and a developing device capable of preventing accumulation of deteriorated toner in the device and performing good development. To provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image without image quality defects.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: a housing for accommodating a one-component developer on a peripheral surface; A developing roller for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on the body surface, a developing blade for thinning the developer on the developing roller, and a developer supply roller for supplying a one-component developer to the developing roller And a developer accommodating section for accommodating a one-component developer,
In a developing device having a partition plate between a space accommodating the developing roller, the developing blade, and the developer supply roller, and a space of the developer accommodating portion, the developing roller and the developing device are separated by the partition plate. Provided is a developing device having, in a space for accommodating a blade and the developer supply roller, a peripheral member disposed in proximity to the peripheral surface of the developer roller, the peripheral surface of the developer supply roller, and the development blade.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing roller which is housed in a housing, carries a one-component developer on a peripheral surface, and visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photoreceptor. A developing blade for thinning the developer on the developing roller, a developer supply roller for supplying a one-component developer to the developing roller,
A developing device comprising: a developer accommodating portion accommodating a one-component developer; and a partition plate between a space accommodating the developing roller, the developing blade, and the developer supply roller, and a space of the developer accommodating portion. In the case, the housing is a space for accommodating the developing roller, the developing blade, and the developer supply roller separated by the partition plate, the peripheral surface of the developing roller, the peripheral surface of the developer supply roller, Provided is a developing device formed in a shape close to a developing blade.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the developing device according to the first aspect, wherein a seal member is provided in a gap between the developing blade and the adjacent member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a seal member is provided in a gap between the developing blade and the housing.
And a developing device according to (1).

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the developing roller is scraped by the developing blade into a space including the developing roller, the developing blade, and the developer supply roller separated by the partition plate. A developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a flow path for returning surplus developer to the developer supply roller is formed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the difference between the height of the developer supply roller to the center of rotation and the height to the upper end of the partition plate is L, and the diameter of the developer supply roller is D.
In this case, the height to the upper end of the partition plate is determined so as to satisfy the following expression: D / 4 ≦ L.
And a developing device according to (1).

The invention according to claim 7, wherein the developer accommodating portion has a developer conveying member for conveying a one-component developer to the developer supply roller side beyond the partition plate. The developing device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 is provided such that the conveying member is driven intermittently.

According to the present invention, there is provided a photoreceptor having an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface thereof, and a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor with a one-component developer. In the image forming apparatus, the developing device is housed in a housing, carries a one-component developer on a peripheral surface, and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor, A developing blade for thinning the developer on the developing roller, a developer supply roller for supplying a one-component developer to the developing roller, and a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the one-component developer,
A partition plate is provided between a space for accommodating the developing roller, the developing blade, and the developer supply roller, and a space for the developer accommodating portion. The developing roller and the developing blade are separated by the partition plate. There is provided an image forming apparatus including, in a space for accommodating the developer supply roller, a peripheral surface of the developer roller, a peripheral surface of the developer supply roller, and a proximity member arranged close to the development blade.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photosensitive member having an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface thereof, and a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member with a one-component developer. In the image forming apparatus, the developing device is housed in a housing, carries a one-component developer on a peripheral surface, and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor, A developing blade for thinning the developer on the developing roller, a developer supply roller for supplying a one-component developer to the developing roller, and a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the one-component developer,
A partition plate is provided between a space accommodating the developing roller, the developing blade, and the developer supply roller, and a space of the developer accommodating portion, wherein the housing is separated from the developing roller by the partition plate. And a space accommodating the developing blade and the developer supply roller, wherein the peripheral surface of the developing roller, the peripheral surface of the developer supply roller, and the developing blade are formed in a shape close to the developing blade. .

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the eighth aspect, wherein a seal member is provided in a gap between the developing blade and the adjacent member.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the ninth aspect, wherein a seal member is provided in a gap between the developing blade and the housing.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the developing roller is scraped by the developing blade into a space including the developing roller, the developing blade, and the developer supply roller separated by the partition plate. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein a flow path for returning excess developer onto the developer supply roller is formed.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the difference between the height of the developer supply roller to the center of rotation and the height to the upper end of the partition plate is L, and the diameter of the developer supply roller is D. The following formula: D / 4 ≦ L The height to the upper end of the partition plate is determined so that the image forming apparatus according to claim 8, claim 9, claim 10, claim 11, or claim 12 is satisfied. provide.

The invention according to claim 14, wherein the developer accommodating portion has a developer conveying member for conveying a one-component developer to the developer supply roller side beyond the partition plate. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 8, 9, 10, 10, 11, 12, or 13, wherein the conveying member is driven intermittently.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to claim 8, 10, 10, 13, or 14 of the present invention. In this image forming apparatus, a charging device 2, an exposing unit (not shown), a developing device 3, a transfer device 4, and a cleaning device 5 are sequentially arranged around a photosensitive drum 1. The photoreceptor drum 1 has a structure in which an undercoat layer, a charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer are sequentially laminated on a surface of a drum base made of aluminum, and is rotatably supported. As the charging device 2, for example,
A system in which charge is generated by corona discharge to charge the photosensitive drum 1 can be used. The exposure means has a laser diode as a light source, and scans while irradiating a laser beam onto the photoconductor by a polygon mirror. On the surface of the photoconductor uniformly charged by the charging device 2, An electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating light corresponding to a target image. The developing device 3
Is accommodated in a developing case 17 having an opening facing the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, and the developing roller 10 is located at the position of the opening.
Are arranged so as to rotate in the direction of the arrow, and abut on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 to form a developing nip area. The interior of the developing case 17 is separated by a partition plate 13 into a space proximal to the photosensitive drum 1 and a space distal thereto. The toner supply roller 12 and the developing roller 10 are provided in a space proximate to the photosensitive drum 1.
Are provided in parallel with the developing roller 10 and are supported so as to rotate in the same direction as the developing roller 10. On the upstream side of the rotation of the developing roller 10 with respect to the developing nip region, a developing blade 11 is attached so as to be close to the surface of the developing roller 10. These two rollers 10, 12
A proximity member E16 having a curve that matches the curve of the surface of the rollers 10 and 12 is disposed on the upper part of the developing roller 10, and a gap between the developing blade contacting the surface of the development roller 10 and the proximity member A is provided. Is provided with a seal member 19. The seal member 11 is made of a material such as polyurethane foam. A space distal to the photosensitive drum 1 is a toner storage unit 14, and each of the toner conveyance members 1
5 has a toner transport path in two rotatably supported,
The toner is stored. The transfer device 4 includes two stretching rollers and a transfer belt 7 stretched by the stretching rollers. The toner developed by the developing device 3 by applying a voltage to the transfer belt 7 from a power source (not shown). The image is transferred onto the transfer paper P conveyed between the two paper feed rollers 6.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus will be described. The photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged by the charging device 2 and then exposed by an exposure device (not shown) to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface. On the other hand, in the developing device 3,
The toner stored in the toner storage unit 14 is transported by the toner transport member 15 to the toner supply roller 12 side. The toner conveyed to the toner supply roller 12 is further conveyed to the vicinity of the developing roller 10 by the rotation of the toner supply roller 12, and when the toner is pumped to the surface of the developing roller 10, the toner is conveyed as it is with the rotation of the developing roller. When passing through the contact position of the developing blade 11, a toner layer having a constant thickness is formed, and is conveyed to a developing nip area facing the photosensitive drum 1 to develop an electrostatic latent image. The area of the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 on which the toner image is formed is conveyed with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 1, and is conveyed between two paper feed rollers 6 at a position facing the transfer device 4. After being transferred onto the transfer paper P, the toner image is fixed onto the transfer paper P by a fixing device (not shown).

The developing device 3 will be described in more detail. FIG. 2 is a schematic partial enlarged view of the developing device 3 constituting the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. Toner container 14
The inside contains toner. Since it is desirable that more images are formed in one toner replenishing operation, it is designed to contain as much toner as possible. Usually, the amount of toner corresponding to 5,000 to 20,000 sheets is reduced. Will be accommodated. A partition plate 13 is provided between the toner container 14 and the toner supply roller 12. The toner conveying member 1 has one end fixed to the rotation shaft and a flexible member 18 attached to the other end thereof.
5 is rotatably supported, and the toner in the toner container 14 is rotated by the rotation of the toner conveying member 15 so that the partition plate 1 is rotated.
3 and is conveyed to the toner supply roller 12 side. The toner conveying member 15 is driven intermittently. That is, the toner conveying member 15 is driven before the toner is exhausted in the space on the toner supply roller 12 side, and conveys the toner to the toner supply roller 12 side beyond the partition plate 13. As a result, it is possible to efficiently drive the toner conveying member 15 without unnecessary operation, and to suppress deterioration of the toner.

When the difference between the height of the center of the toner supply roller 12 and the height of the upper end of the partition plate 13 is L, and the diameter of the toner supply roller 12 is D, the height of the partition plate 13 is D
/ 4 ≦ L, so that the toner that has moved from the toner container 14 to the toner supply roller 12 again passes through the partition plate 13 and
Returning inside is prevented. Therefore, the developing roller 1
The remaining toner affected by the deterioration on the zero side is
It is possible to avoid a problem that the ratio of the toner gradually mixed with the toner inside the toner and gradually deteriorated and the whole toner in the developing device is uniformly affected by the deterioration.

In the space on the toner supply roller 12 side separated by the partition plate 13, the toner supply roller 1 is provided.
2 and the peripheral surface of the developing roller 10 and the developing blade 11
Since the proximity member E occupying the space including the toner supply roller 12 and the developing roller 10 is provided in the vicinity of the toner supply roller 12, the space in which the toner can be stored on the toner supply roller 12 side is reduced. For this reason, the amount of toner conveyed from the toner storage unit 14 to the toner supply roller 12 is limited, and if the space on the toner supply roller 12 side is filled with the toner even when the toner conveying member 15 is operated, Is the partition plate 1
8, the toner is not supplied to the toner supply roller 12 side, and the amount of toner in the area subjected to the stress is reduced.
The amount of toner carried into the area can be limited. On the other hand, even if the toner in the toner storage unit 14 is transported by the toner transporting member 15, the stress applied to the toner by this transporting operation is very weak, and the driving of the toner transporting member 15 is intermittent. Therefore, the deterioration of the toner hardly progresses. Further, when the amount of toner stored in this area is large with respect to the toner that is stressed in the space on the toner supply roller 12 side, the toner is degraded as it is consumed later in this area. Image quality differences will result. Therefore, also from such a point, the toner supply roller 12
The space around the developing roller 10 is preferably narrow.

The developing blade 11 includes the developing roller 1.
0, it is necessary to provide an air gap between the developing blade 11 and the surface of the developing roller 10.
When the excess toner that has been pumped up from the second side onto the developing roller 10 and scraped off by the developing blade 11 enters this gap, toner agglomeration occurs, blocking occurs, or the agglomerated toner lump falls, and the developing roller The thin layer may be disturbed by being sandwiched between the developing blade 10 and the developing blade 11. In the present embodiment, the seal member 19 is provided in the gap between the developing blade 11 and the proximity member E, and the filling of the gap with the toner is prevented. The occurrence of an abnormal image due to the aggregated toner can be prevented. In the above-described image forming apparatus, the driving of the toner conveying member is performed intermittently. However, the driving speed of the toner conveying member is reduced as long as the toner does not run out in the space on the toner supply roller side. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the toner is continuously operated, and also in this case, there is an effect of suppressing deterioration of the toner. (Second Embodiment) Claims 9, 11, and 13
Alternatively, an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to claim 14 will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic partial sectional view showing a developing device used in the image forming apparatus. The developing device 23 used in the image forming apparatus is housed in a developing case 37 and has a partition plate 33 therein.
Accordingly, the toner conveying member 35 is provided, and is divided into a space in which the toner accommodating portion 34 for accommodating the toner, the developing roller 30, the toner supply roller 32, and the developing blade 31 are provided. The developing case 37 of the developing device 23 has a shape conforming to the shape of the surface of the developing roller 30 and the surface of the toner supplying roller 32 above the developing roller 30 and the toner supplying roller 32, and is formed on the surfaces of the two rollers 30, 32. The two rollers 3 are formed so as to be close to each other.
The space above 0, 32 is reduced. For this reason, the amount of toner that can be stored in the toner supply roller 32 is limited, and the amount of toner subjected to stress can be reduced. In addition, the developing roller 30 and the toner supply roller 3
Since the member close to the surface of the second case is replaced by deforming the inside of the developing case 37, an apparatus with a reduced number of parts can be provided at low cost. The other configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Third Embodiment) Claims 9 and 1
One embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 12, 13, or 14 will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic partial sectional view showing a developing device 43 used in this image forming apparatus. The developing device 43 includes a developing case 57
And a partition plate 53 therein. The partition plate 53 is provided with a toner conveying member 55. The toner storage section 54, in which toner is stored, the developing roller 50, the toner supply roller 52, and the developing blade 51. Is divided into spaces in which are disposed. As shown in FIG. 4, in the developing device 43, a proximity member F56 is provided in the upper space of the developing roller 50 and the toner supply roller 52 in proximity to the two rollers 50 and 52. An upper part of the rollers 50 and 52 is formed so as to approach the two rollers 50 and 52 via the proximity member F56.

Generally, by reducing the space around the developing roller and the toner supply roller, deterioration of the toner in the developing device can be prevented. However, the toner is conveyed from the toner supply roller side to the development roller side. Sometimes, when the space ahead is closed, the toner stagnates and agglomerates in such an area, and the phenomenon of toner blocking, in which the agglomerated toner solidifies, especially when low-fluidity toner is used, is used. May occur. In the present embodiment, the toner flow path C is formed above the proximity member F by the above-described configuration, so that the toner flow path C is conveyed from the toner supply roller 52 side to the developing roller 50 side and pumped onto the developing roller 50. Even if the toner scraped off by the developing blade 51 stays in the vicinity of the tip of the developing blade 51, the toner is pushed out to the toner flow path C if the staying amount increases, and the toner flows from the toner flow path C to the toner supply roller 52 again. To be returned
Even when a toner having low fluidity is used, toner clogging and toner blocking can be prevented. In addition,
The other configurations and operations of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0028]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a space having a developing roller, a toner supply roller and a developing blade, and a space provided with a toner conveying member and containing toner are partitioned to supply toner. By providing a proximity member around the two rollers in the roller-side space to reduce the volume of the space, the amount of toner subjected to agitation stress is reduced, and the deteriorated toner is mixed with the entire toner in the developing device. Problem can be prevented, and the image quality can be maintained even when the amount of toner in the developing device is reduced. Further, it is possible to suppress a change in image quality due to the number of developments caused by the accumulation of the deteriorated toner in the space between the two rollers. Further, according to the invention described in claim 8, by using such a developing device in an image forming apparatus, it is possible to prevent image quality defects due to accumulation of deteriorated toner.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the developing device having the partition plate, the housing accommodating the developing device is formed above the developing roller, the toner supply roller and the developing blade so as to be close to these members. By forming
It is possible to reduce the volume of space around the two rollers, reduce the amount of toner subjected to agitation stress, prevent the deteriorated toner from being mixed with the entire toner in the developing device, and maintain image quality. . In addition, since a member close to the two rollers is not provided and the configuration is adapted to the inner shape of the developing case, the number of components can be reduced, and assemblability can be improved. According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, by using such a developing device in an image forming apparatus, it is possible to provide a small-sized image forming apparatus capable of preventing image quality defects due to accumulation of deteriorated toner.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a proximity member is provided above the developing roller, the toner supply roller, and the developing blade, the proximity member being in close proximity to these members. By providing a seal member in the gap formed between the toner and the toner, it is possible to prevent the problem that the deteriorated toner is mixed with the entire toner in the developing device, maintain the image quality, and to remove the gap of the toner scraped off by the developing blade. And a stable thin layer can be formed on the developing roller. According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, by using such a developing device in an image forming apparatus, it is possible to prevent image quality defects due to accumulation of deteriorated toner and occurrence of abnormal images due to aggregated toner.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the shape of the housing is formed above the developing roller, the toner supply roller and the developing blade so as to be close to these members, and the developing roller is brought into contact with the developing blade. By providing a seal member in a gap formed between the surface and the adjacent member, it is possible to prevent a problem that the deteriorated toner is mixed with the entire toner in the developing device, maintain the image quality, and scrape off the image by the developing blade. Thus, it is possible to provide a developing device having a simple configuration capable of preventing the toner from aggregating in the gap and forming a stable thin layer on the developing roller. According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, by using such a developing device in an image forming apparatus, a small-sized image forming apparatus capable of preventing image quality defects due to accumulation of deteriorated toner and occurrence of abnormal images due to aggregated toner. Can be provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device provided with a proximity member for reducing the space around these members in proximity to the developing roller, the toner supply roller and the developing blade, or without the proximity member, In a developing device in which the shape of the housing is formed above these members so as to be close to these members, the excess of the developing rollers on the developing rollers scraped by the developing blades into the space having the developing roller, the toner supply roller and the developing blades By forming a flow path for returning the toner onto the toner supply roller, it is possible to prevent the problem that the deteriorated toner is mixed with the entire toner in the developing device, maintain the image quality, and develop the developing roller scraped by the developing blade. The upper toner is easily returned to the toner supply roller, thereby preventing toner clogging and toner blocking due to low fluidity toner. It can be. According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, by using such a developing device in an image forming apparatus, image quality defects due to accumulation of deteriorated toner and occurrence of abnormal images due to agglomerated toner are prevented, and the invention is also applied to toner with low fluidity. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that is capable of performing good image formation.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a partition having a space between a developing roller, a toner supply roller and a developing blade, a toner conveying member, and a space for containing toner is provided. In a developing device having a proximity member close to these members in a space having a supply roller and a developing blade, or a developing device in which a part of a housing is formed in a shape close to these members, rotation of the toner supply roller When the difference between the height to the center and the height of the upper end of the partition plate is L, and the diameter of the toner supply roller is D,
By setting the height of the partition plate so as to satisfy / 4 ≦ L, the height of the partition plate is increased, thereby preventing the toner agitated by the toner supply roller from returning to the toner storage portion beyond the partition plate. In addition, it is possible to prevent the toner from being exchanged between the toner storage portion and the toner supply roller side, thereby preventing a problem that the toner in the developing device is uniformly deteriorated. According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, by using such a developing device in an image forming apparatus, it is possible to prevent an image quality defect due to accumulation of degraded toner and to prevent an image quality fluctuation due to a difference in the number of times of image formation. It can be provided with a simple configuration.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing roller, a toner supply roller, and a developing blade, a space provided with a toner conveying member, and a partition plate provided between the space for accommodating the toner. In a developing device having a proximity member close to these members in a space having a supply roller and a developing blade, or a developing device in which a part of a housing is formed in a shape close to these members, the toner conveying member is intermittently provided. By driving, the problem that the deteriorated toner is mixed with the whole toner in the developing device is prevented, the image quality is maintained, and the toner conveying member 15 is driven before the toner is exhausted in the space on the toner supply roller 12 side. This makes it possible to eliminate unnecessary operation of the toner conveying member 15 and to efficiently drive the toner conveying member 15 and to suppress deterioration of the toner. Kill. The invention according to claim 14 is
By using such a developing device in an image forming apparatus, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that suppresses deterioration of toner, prevents accumulation of deteriorated toner, and maintains good image quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to claim 8, 10, 13, or 14.

FIG. 2 is a schematic partial enlarged view showing a developing device constituting the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing a developing device used in an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to claim 9, 11, 11, or 14;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a ninth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view illustrating a developing device used in an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to claim 3 or 14.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 21, 41 Photoconductor drum 2 Charging device 3, 23, 43 Developing device 4 Transfer device 5 Cleaning device 6 Paper feed roller 7 Transfer belt 8 Cleaning belt 9 Photoconductor recovery toner conveying member 10, 30, 50 Developing roller 11, 31, 51 Developing blade 12, 32, 52 Toner supply roller 13, 33, 53 Partition plate 14, 34, 54 Toner container 15, 35, 55 Toner transport member 16 Proximity member E 17, 37, 57 Developing case (developing device) Case) 18, 38, 58 Flexible member 19, 39, 59 Seal member 56 Proximity member F A Development nip area B Transfer area C Toner flow path D Toner supply roller diameter L Toner supply roller center to upper end of partition plate P Transfer Paper T toner

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A developing roller which is housed in a housing, carries a one-component developer on a peripheral surface, and visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photoconductor, and a developing roller on the developing roller. A developing blade for thinning the developer, a developer supply roller for supplying a one-component developer to the developing roller, and a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the one-component developer, wherein the developing roller and the developing blade In a developing device having a partition plate between a space accommodating the developer supply roller and a space of the developer storage unit, the developing roller, the developing blade, and the developer supply roller separated by the partition plate are provided. A developing device, wherein a space is provided in the housing space, the peripheral surface of the developing roller, the peripheral surface of the developer supply roller, and a proximity member disposed close to the developing blade. 2. A developing roller which is housed in a housing, carries a one-component developer on a peripheral surface, and visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photoconductor, and a developing roller on the developing roller. A developing blade for thinning the developer, a developer supply roller for supplying a one-component developer to the developing roller, and a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the one-component developer, wherein the developing roller and the developing blade In a developing device having a partition plate between a space accommodating the developer supply roller and a space of the developer accommodating portion, the housing includes the developing roller, the developing blade and the developing blade separated by the partition plate. A developing device, wherein a space for accommodating a developer supply roller is formed in a shape close to the peripheral surface of the developer roller, the peripheral surface of the developer supply roller, and the developing blade. 3. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a seal member is provided in a gap between the developing blade and the adjacent member. 4. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein a seal member is provided in a gap between the developing blade and the housing. 5. A developer containing the developing roller, the developing blade, and the developer supply roller, separated by the partition plate, into a space including the developing roller. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a flow path returning to a supply roller is formed. 6. When the difference between the height of the developer supply roller to the center of rotation and the height to the upper end of the partition plate is L, and the diameter of the developer supply roller is D, the following formula: D / 4 The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a height to an upper end of the partition plate is determined so as to satisfy ≦ L. 7. The developer accommodating section has a developer transport member that transports a one-component developer to the developer supply roller side beyond the partition plate, wherein the developer transport member is intermittently provided. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developing device is driven. 8. A photoreceptor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed on a surface,
In an image forming apparatus including a developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor with a one-component developer, the developing device is housed in a housing, and includes a one-component developer on a peripheral surface. A developing roller for carrying and developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor, a developing blade for thinning the developer on the developing roller, and supplying a one-component developer to the developing roller And a developer accommodating section for accommodating a one-component developer, wherein a space between the developing roller, the developing blade, the space accommodating the developer supplying roller, and the space of the developer accommodating section is provided. A partition plate, in a space accommodating the developing roller, the developing blade, and the developer supply roller separated by the partition plate, a peripheral surface of the developing roller, a peripheral surface of the developer supply roller, and Close to developing blade An image forming apparatus characterized by having a proximity member disposed Te. 9. A photoreceptor having an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface thereof,
In an image forming apparatus including a developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor with a one-component developer, the developing device is housed in a housing, and includes a one-component developer on a peripheral surface. A developing roller for carrying and developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor, a developing blade for thinning the developer on the developing roller, and supplying a one-component developer to the developing roller And a developer accommodating section for accommodating a one-component developer, wherein a space between the developing roller, the developing blade, the space accommodating the developer supplying roller, and the space of the developer accommodating section is provided. The housing is a space that houses the developing roller, the developing blade, and the developer supply roller separated by the partition plate, and a peripheral surface of the development roller and the developer supply roller. Peripheral surface and the developing An image forming apparatus characterized by being formed in a shape close to the over-de. 10. A seal member is provided in a gap between the developing blade and the adjacent member.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a seal member is provided in a gap between the developing blade and the housing. 12. A developer including the developing roller, the developing blade, and the developer supply roller, which is separated by the partition plate, is provided with the excess developer on the developing roller scraped off by the developing blade. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a flow path returning to a supply roller is formed. 13. A difference between a height of the developer supply roller to a rotation center and a height of the partition plate to an upper end is L,
10. When the diameter of the developer supply roller is D, a difference from the height up to the upper end of the partition plate is determined so as to satisfy the following expression: D / 4 ≦ L. , Claim 1
The image forming apparatus according to claim 11. 14. The developer accommodating section has a developer transport member that transports a one-component developer to the developer supply roller side beyond the partition plate, wherein the developer transport member is intermittently provided. Claim 8, Claim 9, Claim 10, Claim 11, characterized by being driven
An image forming apparatus according to claim 12.