JP2001092224A - Developing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing machine, where agitating load of an agitating member inside a developing container is decreased by making the developing machine compact, even when quantity of developer is very large. SOLUTION: In this developing machine, where agitating members 6A and 6B carrying developer to a developing part in front while agitating the developer is provided inside the developer storing container 5, where the developer is stored and fins 6c and 6d of the agitating members 6A and 6B are abutted to an inner wall of the developer storing container 5, when the agitating members 6A and 6B are abutted to the inner wall of the developer storing container, the fin parts 6c and 6d can have their positions displaced toward the center of the diameter.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device used for an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine, and more particularly to a structure of a developer stirring section of a toner cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus using electrophotography, when the image forming apparatus has been used for a long period of time, it has been necessary to replace a photosensitive member, replenish, exchange and adjust a developer. Such maintenance work was performed by service personnel with specialized knowledge. As a means for solving these inconveniences and problems, a cartridge type in which an image forming means such as a photosensitive drum as a latent image carrier, a developing device, and a cleaning device is integrated has been commercialized, and a general user can exchange and maintain the product. You can now do.

However, as the usable period of the process cartridge has been extended, it has become necessary to increase the amount of developer. In this case, solidification due to tapping (vibration and impact) during distribution of the stored toner causes problems such as an increase in stirring torque and an increase in the amount of remaining toner due to the enlargement of the container.

As a method for solving these problems, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 191768 discloses a developing device having an elastically deformable stirring member.

As shown in FIG. 6, the developing container 5 is divided into two chambers, and has a stirring member 6 for stirring and transporting the developer t stored therein. 1 is a photoconductor (photosensitive drum) as a latent image carrier, 2 is a developing sleeve, 5 is a developing container, 6 is a stirring member, and 9 is a developing unit.

The developing container 5 stores the developer t, and an opening 4 for feeding the developer t to the developing unit 9 is opened in the front. The stirring member 6 has a film-like fin portion 6a that can be elastically deformed, and is attached to the rotation center shaft 6b.

[0007]

In this configuration,
If it is necessary to increase the amount of developer due to longer life,
It is necessary to enlarge the developing container 5 vertically or to connect it horizontally. In the case of a horizontal cascade, a large number of stirring members for transporting the developer are required, and the shape of the developing container becomes concentric in accordance with the rotation of the stirring member 6, and the developing container has an uneven shape as an apparatus. Was getting bigger.

Further, when the agitating member 6 comes into contact with the inner wall of the developing container 5 and slides, the fin portion 6a of the agitating member 6 bends and slides, so that a rotational load is increased or deformation during the molding of the developing container is performed. Is large, the amount of intrusion changes, and sometimes the stirring member separates from the developing container.

The present invention is an improvement of the above-mentioned conventional example, and provides a developing device which can achieve a compact developing device even if the capacity of the developer is increased, and which can reduce the stirring load of the stirring member in the developing container. What you want to do.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device which includes a developer container for storing a developer, and a rotatable container inside the developer container. And a developer agitating / transporting means for transporting the developer to a front developing unit while agitating the developer in the developer accommodating container. The developer agitating / transporting means includes an inner wall of the developer accommodating container. The developer stirring and conveying means can be displaced radially inward by contact with an inner wall of the developer accommodating container.

A second configuration of the developing device for realizing the object of the present invention according to the present application is the first configuration, wherein the developer stirring and conveying means includes a rotating shaft, and a stirring member main body attached to the rotating shaft. Wherein the stirring member main body can be displaced radially inward with respect to the rotation shaft.

A third configuration of the developing device for realizing the object of the present invention according to the present application is the above-described first configuration, wherein the developer agitating means includes a rotating shaft, and a plurality of agitating members attached to the rotating shaft. A plurality of agitating members are individually displaceable radially inward with respect to the rotation shaft.

According to a fourth aspect of the developing device for realizing the object of the invention according to the present application, in any one of the above-mentioned configurations, the developer stirring means is arranged in the developer accommodating container in a front-rear direction. It is characterized by the following.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device according to the above-described second, thirty-third or fourth aspect, wherein at least a part of the rotating shaft is bilaterally formed. This portion is fitted to the stirring member main body so as to be non-rotatable around the axis and movably in the radial direction, and is constantly pressed radially outward by an elastic member.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a developing apparatus for achieving the object of the present invention, wherein the bottom surface of the developer accommodating container is a flat surface.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device comprising any one of the above-described structures, wherein a connecting portion between a front-rear direction wall surface and a bottom surface of the developer accommodating container includes the developer. It is characterized in that the developer agitating means is formed into a curved surface which is gradually displaced radially inward by contact with the agitating means.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device according to any one of the above aspects, wherein the developer container has a front-rear direction wall surface formed in a line-symmetric shape. It is characterized by.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description of the present embodiment, an example in which a printer is used as an image forming apparatus will be described. However, the same effect can be obtained with a similar configuration in a copying machine, a printing machine, and the like. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a developing container portion of a toner cartridge. Other configurations are the same as those of the conventional example shown in FIG. Here, the developing container 5 'drawn by a broken line is a conventional developing container.

The shape of the developing container 5 and the movement of the stirring member 6 according to the present embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment, the developing container 5 has two agitating members 6A and 6B disposed in the front and rear in one container, and the developing container 5 and the conventional two-stage developing container 5 'shown by a broken line in the figure. Are formed in the same size.

In the developing container 5 of the present embodiment, the rear (right side in the figure) wall 5a constituting the container main body is substantially vertical, and the developer t is inclined by an angle equal to or greater than the angle of repose at which the developer t falls by its own weight. It is continuously connected to the wall surface 5b. The fin portion 6c of the rear stirring member 6A starts to abut on the wall 5b.

The bottom surface 5d of the developing container 5 and the wall surface 5b are connected by, for example, an elliptical surface 5c, so that the fin portion 6c of the stirring member 6A is gradually bent. Assuming that the point at which the fin portion 6c of the stirring member 6A is separated from the bottom surface 5d is 5e, the point 5e is the intersection of the circular orbit 6e drawn by the tip of the fin portion 6c of the stirring member 6A during free length and the bottom surface 5d.

The front of the developing container 5 may be considered to have a shape symmetrical with the rear.

That is, the fin portion 6d of the front stirring member 6B starts abutting near the point 5e of the bottom surface 5d and gradually bends, and the bending is gradually released by the elliptical wall surface 5f. . The wall surface 5f is connected to the front opening 4, and the developer t transported by the fin 6d of the stirring member 6B moves from the opening 4 to the developing sleeve 2 in the developing unit 9 as shown in FIG. I do.

As described above, the developing container 5 and the stirring members 6A,
If the shape of 6B is determined, the bottom surface of the developing container can be flattened even if the external dimensions are almost the same as the conventional one, so that the volume can be increased and the amount of developer t can be increased.

Further, since the stirring member 6 can be gradually deformed, the impact is reduced and the stirring members 6A, 6A
The sound of the fins 6c and 6d of B jumping can be reduced.

Further, since the impact can be reduced, the vibration can be reduced and the influence on the image can be reduced.

Here, this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. FIG. FIG. 2 shows the stirring member 6A.
Boss portion 10 of fin portion 6c (6d) constituting (6B)
And an exploded perspective view of the stirring shaft 11, showing a shaft hole 10 a of the boss 10.
Is formed in an I-shape, and the width of the short shaft side of the insertion portion 11a of the stirring shaft 11 is formed to a thickness matching the width of the short shaft side of the shaft hole 10a, but the length of the long shaft side is 10a is formed shorter than the length of the long axis side.

FIG. 3 shows the shaft hole 10 of the boss 10 of the fin.
FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of the a and the insertion portion 11a of the stirring shaft 11; FIG. 4 shows a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG.
A (6B) is a fin 6c (6d) having a boss 10
And a two-piece structure of the stirring shaft 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the insertion portion 11a of the stirring shaft 11 has a shape in which at least its end is cut in two directions. The inner surface of the boss portion 10 is shaped to engage with the two-way cutting, and is movable in the radial direction as shown in FIG. An elastic member 12 such as a spring is disposed in a shaft hole 10 a of the boss portion 10.
And urges the stirring shaft 11 radially outward.

The operation will be described with reference to FIG. 4. When the fin tip 10a of the stirring member 6A (6B) comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the developing container, the boss 10 of the stirring portion 6A (6B) opposes the spring 12. To move in the direction of arrow B. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, even if the amount of entry of the fin tip of the stirring member 6A (6B) into the developing container 5 changes, the amount of entry can be reduced in the range of the two-way groove 10b to be engaged. Therefore, the resistance during stirring can be reduced.

Further, when the size of the developing container is increased, deformation such as swelling of the bottom may be accompanied by molding conditions. However, as in the present embodiment, the fins of the stirring member follow the shape of the inner wall surface of the container so as to move in the radial direction. The productivity of the container is improved and the container can be manufactured at low cost. (Second Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment.

In the first embodiment, the stirring member 6
A (6B) is composed of a single fin, but in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, it is composed of a fin and a boss 10 provided at an end of the fin. A plurality of stirrers are provided so that each stirrer can move independently. In this case, the stirring shaft 11 is taken in two directions in the whole area, and the boss 10 is mounted from the shaft end.

The elastic member 12 may be obtained by molding a resin in the shaft hole 10a of the boss 10 in addition to the spring. By dividing the developing container into a plurality of agitating portions in this way, even if the deformation of the developing container at the time of molding partially occurs in the axial direction, only the portion is displaced and follows, so that the developing container can be rubbed more accurately, and (Transfer residual) can be eliminated. Also,
The deformation resistance when the agitating section abuts on the inner wall of the developing container and bends can be reduced.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By making the bottom surface of the developer storage container 5 flat, it is possible to reduce the unevenness of the bottom surface which has been conventionally used, and to make the developing device compact even if the capacity of the developer is increased.

Also, since the amount of the developer stirring means entering the developer container can be adjusted, the resistance required for deformation during stirring can be reduced and the stirring load can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an entire developing device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stirring member according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a stirring member according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the stirring member according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a stirring member according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the entire conventional developing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photoconductor 2 ... Developing sleeve 4 ... Opening 5 ... Developing container 6 ... Stirring member 9 ... Developing part 10 ... Stirring part 11 ... Stirring shaft 12 ... Elastic member

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tsuyoshi Waratani 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Masayoshi Fukatsu 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon (72) Inventor Atsushi Ogata 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tomoyuki Araki 3-30-2, Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. F-term (reference) 2H077 AB03 AB04 AB18 BA08 FA21

Claims (8)

[Claims] A developer container for storing a developer; a developer container rotatably supported inside the developer container, and stirring the developer in the developer container in a front developing section while stirring the developer; And a developer stirring and conveying means for conveying the developer, wherein the developer stirring and conveying means abuts on an inner wall of the developer accommodating container, wherein the developer stirring and conveying means comprises an inner wall of the developer accommodating container. A developing device that can be displaced radially inward by contact with the developing device. 2. The developer stirring / transporting means includes: a rotating shaft;
The developing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a stirring member main body attached to the rotation shaft, wherein the stirring member main body can be displaced radially inward with respect to the rotation shaft. 3. The developer stirring means includes a rotating shaft and a plurality of stirring member main bodies attached to the rotating shaft, and the plurality of stirring members individually correspond to the rotating shaft.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the movable member can be displaced radially inward.
3. The developing device according to claim 1. 4. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the developer stirring means are arranged in the front and rear direction in the developer storage container. 5. The rotary shaft has a shape in which at least a part of the rotary shaft is bilaterally formed, and is fitted to the stirring member main body at this portion so as to be non-rotatable about the axis and movably in the radial direction. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the developing device is constantly pressed radially outward by a member. 6. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the developer container is a flat surface. 7. A connecting portion between a wall surface and a bottom surface in the front-rear direction of the developer accommodating container is brought into contact with the developer stirring means,
7. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein said developer stirring means is formed on a curved surface which gradually displaces radially inward. 8. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer container has a front-rear wall surface formed in a line-symmetrical shape.