JP2002014531A - Developing device for forming image - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To replenish powdery developer such as toner easily and at a low cost and to minimize residual toner quantity inside a developer cartridge. SOLUTION: In a developing device 1, the developer cartridge 2 and a developing unit 3 are made to be separable. A shutter is provided in an exit opening part 21 of the developer cartridge 2 and an entrance opening part 31 of the developing unit 3 and they are opened when loaded and closed when detached. In the developer cartridge 2, an agitator 13 is rotated and the toner is gathered to the exit opening part 21 from a passage 20 by rotating the agitator 13 so that the residual quantity of the toner is made small in the end.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming developing device for developing a latent electrostatic image by supplying a powdery developer such as a toner used for electrophotographic image formation to an image carrier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electrophotographic system has been widely used as an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a page printer, and a facsimile machine. In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of an image carrier, developed with a powdery developer such as toner, and the developer is transferred onto a transfer material such as recording paper, and then fixed. Thus, an image is formed. If the image formation is continued, the developer is consumed, so it is necessary to supply the developer. Since the developer is a fine powder, it is difficult for a general user of the apparatus to directly handle it.If the developer leaks to the surroundings during handling, the surroundings will be soiled. Often, they are replaced as a whole. Further, in order to know the replacement time, the toner cartridge includes a configuration for detecting the remaining amount of toner.

[0003]

A conventional replaceable toner cartridge includes a hopper portion for filling the toner, a charging roller for charging the toner from the hopper portion,
And a developing roller for supplying to the image carrier.
The hopper includes a configuration for detecting the remaining amount of toner and an agitator for stirring toner. Therefore, in order to consume the toner and replace the toner cartridge, additional parts such as a charging roller, a developing roller, and a remaining amount detecting portion are included. In general, a component added to a toner cartridge has a sufficient life even when the initially charged toner is consumed. For this reason, the used toner cartridges are collected, subjected to component check and maintenance, and then recycled to refill the toner. However, in the process of recycling, the toner cartridge must be moved together with additional parts not directly related to toner replenishment. For this reason, labor and cost are required.

If the used toner cartridge is discarded, the labor and cost required for handling the recycling are not generated. However, since the toner cartridge to be discarded includes additional components such as a developing roller, it is expensive, and resources used for the developing roller and the like are wasted. Moreover, an image carrier such as a photosensitive roller may be further added to the toner cartridge. This is because the relative arrangement of the developing roller and the photoreceptor roller is very important, and it is not preferable to change the state from the optimally adjusted state. When the photoreceptor roller is included in the toner cartridge, the toner cartridge becomes more expensive, and the labor and cost for recycling increase.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming developing apparatus capable of easily and inexpensively replenishing powdery developer such as toner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming developing apparatus capable of reducing the remaining amount of a powdery developer in a developer cartridge.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
In an image forming developing device that supplies and develops a powdery developer, a developing unit that charges the developer and supplies the developer onto the image carrier, and is provided at an entrance opening of the developing unit,
It has a shutter that can be opened and closed, and a developer storage unit that stores the developer, is detachable from the developing unit, and has an agitator that rotates around a rotation axis and agitates the developer in the developer storage unit. A developer cartridge in which an outlet opening of a passage for supplying a developer from the developer storage unit to the developing unit is connected to a developer inlet provided in the developing unit, and an outlet of the developer cartridge. An opening / closing shutter provided in the opening, provided in the developer cartridge, an opening / closing mechanism provided in the developing unit to open the shutter when mounted on the developing unit and closing the shutter when detached from the developing unit; provided in the developing unit; An opening / closing mechanism that opens when the cartridge is mounted and closes when the developer cartridge is detached. The opening / closing mechanism of the printer is such that when the developer cartridge is mounted on the developing unit, the shutter on the developing unit opens first, then the shutter on the developer cartridge opens, and when the developer cartridge is detached from the developing unit, the developer cartridge side opens. An image forming developing apparatus characterized in that each shutter is opened and closed in conjunction with the mounting and detaching operation such that the shutter on the developing unit side is closed after the shutter is closed first.

According to the present invention, the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier by the electrophotographic method is developed by supplying a powdery developer from a developing unit. A developer cartridge is detachable from the developing unit. The developer cartridge has a developer storage section for storing the developer, and an agitator that rotates around a rotation axis and stirs the developer is provided in the developer storage section. An outlet opening of a passage for supplying the developer from the reservoir to the developing unit is connected to an inlet opening of the developer provided in the developing unit. At the outlet opening of the developer cartridge,
An opening and closing shutter is provided, and the opening and closing mechanism opens the shutter when the shutter is mounted on the developing unit, and closes when the shutter is detached from the developing unit. When the developing unit is separated from the developer cartridge, the outlet opening is closed by the shutter, so that the developer can be prevented from leaking from the outlet opening. When the developer cartridge is mounted on the developing unit, the shutter is opened by the opening / closing mechanism, and the developer can be supplied to the developing unit. When the developer cartridge is attached to and detached from the developing unit, the shutter can be opened and closed simultaneously, and the developer cartridge for replenishing the developer can be easily replaced. Since the developer cartridge can be separated from the developing unit, parts such as the developing roller are arranged on the developing unit side, the number of parts added to the developer cartridge is reduced, and the labor and cost required for replacing the developer cartridge are reduced. Can be reduced.

The developing unit also includes a shutter and an opening / closing mechanism so that the opening of the inlet can be opened and closed when the developer cartridge is attached to and detached from the developing unit. Thus, the opening of the inlet of the developing unit can be closed by the shutter with the developer cartridge removed, and the developer can be prevented from leaking.

Further, when the developer cartridge and the developing unit are mounted, the shutter on the developer cartridge side opens after the shutter on the developing unit side opens first. When the shutter at the outlet opening of the developer unit is opened and the developer can be supplied, the shutter at the inlet opening of the developing unit is already open, so the developer must be reliably supplied to the inside of the developing unit. Can be. When the developer cartridge is detached from the developing unit, the shutter on the side of the developer cartridge is closed first, so that leakage of the developer can be reliably prevented.

In the present invention, the developer cartridge and the developing unit each have a surface on which the outlet opening and the inlet opening are provided, and the mounting and dismounting are performed by sliding displacement along the surface. The opening and closing mechanism is engaged between a projection provided on the mating side of attachment and detachment and the sliding displacement, elastically deforms after opening the shutter at the time of mounting and climbs over the projection, and at the time of detachment. It is characterized in that the shutter includes an engagement piece which is elastically deformed after closing the shutter and gets over the projection.

According to the present invention, the developer cartridge and the developing unit each have a surface provided with an outlet opening and an inlet opening, and are mounted and dismounted by sliding displacement along the surface. The shutter opening / closing mechanism engages between the projection and the sliding displacement provided on the other side of attachment / detachment, elastically deforms over the projection after opening the shutter at the time of mounting, and elastically closes the shutter at the time of detachment after closing the shutter. Includes an engaging piece that deforms and gets over the protrusion. With a simple structure of the opening and closing mechanism, the shutter can be opened and closed when the developer cartridge and the developing unit are attached and detached.

In the present invention, the developer cartridge and the developing unit each have a surface on which the outlet opening and the inlet opening are provided, and the mounting and dismounting are performed by sliding displacement along the surface. The opening and closing mechanism is engaged between a projection provided on the other side of attachment and detachment and the sliding displacement, and an engagement piece for opening the shutter at the time of mounting, and a spring for urging the shutter in a closing direction. And characterized in that:

According to the present invention, the developer cartridge and the developing unit each have a surface provided with an outlet opening and an inlet opening, and are mounted and dismounted by sliding displacement along the surface. The shutter opening / closing mechanism includes an engagement piece that engages between a projection provided on the other side of attachment / detachment and sliding displacement to open the shutter when mounted, and a spring that biases the shutter in the closing direction. If the developer cartridge is separated from the developing unit, the shutter is urged by a spring and closed, so that leakage of the developer can be more reliably prevented.

In the present invention, at least a lower part of an inner wall surface of the developer storage portion of the developer cartridge is substantially cylindrical, and the agitator has the rotation shaft disposed on an axis of the cylinder. The stirring blade attached to extend radially outward from the rotation shaft rotates to stir the stored developer, and the outlet opening is connected to one of the inner wall surfaces of the developer storing portion. The agitator impeller of the agitator is characterized in that the length extending radially outward from the rotation axis is shorter than the other positions near the position where the outlet opening is provided. .

According to the present invention, at least the lower part of the inner wall surface of the developer storage portion of the developer cartridge is substantially cylindrical, the rotation axis of the agitator is disposed on the axis of the cylinder, and the agitator is stirred. The wings are mounted so as to extend radially outward from the rotation shaft, and rotate to agitate the stored developer. The outlet opening is provided on a part of the inner wall surface of the developer storage unit, and the stirring blade of the agitator has a length extending radially outward from the rotation axis near the position where the outlet opening is provided. Is shorter than other positions. The amount of agitation caused by the rotation of the agitator is larger in the other positions than in the vicinity of the position where the outlet opening is provided. Can be gathered nearby. Since the powdery developer in the developer cartridge is collected near the outlet opening, the remaining amount can be reduced.

Further, in the present invention, the inner wall surface of the developer storage portion has an inclined surface which opens upward in a portion above the rotation shaft, and transfers the developer stored in the developer cartridge to a developing unit. The supply passage is provided on the inclined surface on the inner wall surface of the developer storage section, and the agitator is mounted so as to extend rearward in the rotational direction from the tip of the stirring blade along a tangent at the time of rotation, It is characterized by further comprising a flip-up piece which is flexible and which contacts the cylindrical inner peripheral surface and jumps up the developer toward the passage when leaving the inclined surface.

According to the present invention, the passage for supplying the developer stored in the developer cartridge to the developing unit is
On the inner wall surface of the developer storage section, an inclined surface that opens upward at a portion above the rotation axis is provided. The agitator is mounted so that it extends rearward in the rotational direction along the tangent line at the time of rotation from the tip of the stirring blade, has flexibility, comes into contact with the cylindrical inner peripheral surface, and moves away from the inclined surface. And a flip-up piece for jumping up the developer toward the passage. Since the developer that is jumped up by the jumping pieces of the agitator is supplied to the passage, the developer can be reliably supplied even when the remaining amount of the developer is small. The remaining amount of the remaining powdery developer can be reduced.
Since the passage is provided above the developer storing section, when the developer cartridge is mounted on the developing unit, the developer is supplied from above the developing unit so that the developer can be easily moved in the developing unit. Can be.

In the present invention, the flip-up piece is formed of a synthetic resin film.

According to the present invention, since the flip-up piece is formed of a synthetic resin film, the weight of the developer cartridge including the flip-up piece can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced. Since the powdery developer remaining in the developer cartridge can be efficiently jumped up, the remaining amount can be reduced.

[0021]

FIG. 1 shows a partial configuration of an image forming apparatus including a developing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The developing device 1 includes a developer cartridge 2 and a developing unit 3, and applies toner, which is a powdery developer, to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum 4, which is an electrophotographic image carrier. Supply. The surface of the photoreceptor drum 4 is covered with a photoconductive dielectric layer and rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure. The electrostatic latent image is supplied to a charging device 5 and an exposure device 6 that are arranged on the upstream side of the developing device 1 along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 4.
Formed by charging and exposure. Developing device 1
The toner supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor drum 4 by the development of the toner includes transfer to the transfer medium 7. The transfer to the transfer medium 7 is performed at the position of the transfer roller 8 disposed downstream of the developing device 1 along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 4. A cleaning device 9 is provided in the middle of a path along which the photosensitive drum 4 circulates from the position of the transfer roller 8 to the charging device 5.
The toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 is removed. In a conventional developing device, portions corresponding to the developer cartridge 2 and the developing unit 3 of the present embodiment are integrated, whereas in the present embodiment, they can be separated.

Referring also to the detailed configuration of FIG. 2, the developer cartridge 2 has a developer storage section 11 for storing toner in a casing 10. The lower portion of the developer storage section 11 has an inner peripheral surface having a substantially circular cross section. The upper portion of the developer storage section 11 has a shape as a hopper that expands upward, and is closed by a lid 12. An agitator 13 for stirring the stored toner is disposed in the developer storage unit 11. The agitator 13 includes a rotating shaft 14 and a stirring blade 15 which are coaxial with a central axis of a cylindrical inner surface of a lower portion of the developer storing section 11. The agitator 13 rotates with a gap between the tip of the stirring blade 15 and the inner surface of the lower part of the developer storage section 11. Agitator 13
Is transmitted from the developing unit 3 via a gear mechanism (not shown). A flip-up piece 16 made of a synthetic resin film is attached to the tip of the stirring blade 15 in a tangential direction on the rear side in the rotation direction. Bounce piece 16
Is curved and rotated along the inner surface of the developer storage unit 11 as shown by a solid line, and is a portion where the developer storage unit 11 expands as a hopper, and separates from the inner surface of the developer storage unit 11 as shown by a virtual line. When returning to a linear shape due to elasticity,
Jump up the toner.

The developer cartridge 2 of the present embodiment includes
A passage 20 for guiding the toner to the developing unit 3 is provided at a position in the middle of the developer storage section 11 where the inner surface is an inclined surface that opens upward. Exit opening 2 at the end of passage 20
1, a shutter 22 is provided, and an opening / closing mechanism 23 is also provided.

Referring to the detailed configuration of FIG. 3, the developing unit 3 has an inlet opening 31 in the casing 30 for receiving the toner from the developer cartridge 2. With the developer cartridge 2 attached to the developing unit 3, the outlet opening 21 at the end of the passage 20 is connected to the inlet opening 31 of the developing unit 3. A shutter 32 is provided in the entrance opening 31 and is opened and closed by an opening and closing mechanism 33. The toner supplied to the inlet opening 31 is stirred by the stirring members 34 and 35 while the
The inside of the developing roller 37 moves toward the charging roller 36 and is charged and adheres to the surface of the developing roller 37. The thickness of the toner adhering to the surface of the developing roller 37 is regulated by the blade 38. The developing unit 3 is swingably displaceable about a fulcrum shaft 39. The casing 30 is pushed up from below by a spring (not shown), and the developing roller 37 is pressed against the surface of the photosensitive drum 4. The fulcrum shaft 39 is coaxial with a drive shaft that rotationally drives the developing roller 37, the charging roller 36, and the stirring members 34 and 35 in the developing unit 3, and stably supplies a driving force regardless of the swing displacement state. Can be transmitted.

The developing roller 37 is formed by mounting a roller of conductive NBR around, for example, stainless steel SUS303. The surface of the roller is subjected to a UV (ultraviolet) treatment. The electric resistance of the roller is about 2 MΩ to 8 MΩ. The surface roughness is about 10 μm to 15 μm. Rubber hardness is about 40 ° to 45 °.

The blade 38 has a thickness t = 0.1, for example.
It is formed by attaching silicon rubber to the surface of a thin plate of stainless steel SUS304 mm. The silicon rubber portion is brought into contact with the surface of the developing roller 37, and excess toner is scraped off at the edge of the silicon rubber.

FIG. 4 shows an image forming apparatus including the developing device 1 shown in FIG. 1 for forming four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) for forming a color image. 40 shows a schematic configuration of the embodiment. Developing device 1 for 4 colors
Are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, and a color image can be formed by superimposing four color toners on the transfer medium 7 in the form of an endless belt. The transfer medium 7, as an intermediate medium, contacts an image forming medium such as recording paper at the lower end portion of the circulation path and transfers the toner image. The toner image is fixed to the surface of the image forming medium to which the toner image has been transferred by the fixing device. When the toner is supplied, the developer cartridge 2 of the developing device 1 can be separated from the developing unit 3 and extracted. The developing unit 3 is also pulled out of the developer cartridge 2 as required for maintenance or the like,
Can be extracted. In the following description, the direction of insertion into the image forming apparatus 40 in the state of FIG. 4 will be described as the insertion direction, and the direction of extraction will be described as the extraction direction.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show a state in which the developer cartridge 2 is viewed from the front, a state in which the lid 12 is removed in a plan view, and a state in which the developer cartridge 2 is obliquely viewed from the lower front.
The passage 20 is provided near the center of the casing 10 in the width direction parallel to the axial direction of the agitator 13. The shutter 22 can move in the width direction to open and close the outlet opening 21. The opening / closing mechanism 23 of the shutter 22 includes a guide 41 that guides the movement of the shutter 22 and a projection 42 provided on the side of the shutter 22 in which the shutter 22 is pulled out. The movable range of the shutter 22 is the outlet opening 2
It is set from 1 to the extraction direction side. Also, the casing 10
An engaging piece 43 for opening and closing the shutter 32 on the side of the developing unit 3 is provided near the front end in the insertion direction. Further, a stopper 44 is formed near the base end of the guide 41 in the insertion direction to prevent the shutter 22 from dropping out of the guide 41.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a state in which the developing unit 3 is viewed from the back and a state in which the developing unit 3 is perspectively viewed from above the back. When combined with the developer cartridge 2, an entrance opening 31 is provided at a position facing the exit opening 21, and the shutter 32 can be opened and closed by moving in the width direction.
The moving range of the shutter 32 is set in the insertion direction from the entrance opening 31. As the opening / closing mechanism 33 of the shutter 32, a projection 45 is provided on the insertion side of the shutter 32. Further, an engagement piece 46 for engaging with the projection 42 of the shutter 22 on the side of the developer cartridge to open and close the shutter 22 is provided at a position of the casing 30 near the extraction direction. The shutter 32 on the side of the developing unit 3 is moved for opening and closing when the projection 45 is engaged with the engaging piece 43 on the side of the developer cartridge 2.

On both sides of the entrance opening 31, the toner tray 4
7, 48 are provided. The shutter 32 is provided at the entrance opening 3.
1 and the toner tray 48, and moves to the toner tray 47 side when opening the entrance opening 31. Shutter 32
A sealing material 49 such as a sponge is attached to the moving range of.

FIG. 10 shows that the developer cartridge 2 is moved in the insertion direction with respect to the
And shutter 2 closing entrance opening 31 respectively
2 and 32 are open. FIG. 10A shows a state in which the engaging piece 43 of the developer cartridge 2 is engaged with the projection 45 of the shutter 32 on the developing unit 3 side, and the shutter 32 is opened. FIG. 10B shows that the shutter 32 has the entrance opening 31.
Is completely opened and stopped at the end of the moving range in the insertion direction, the projection 42 of the shutter 22 on the developer cartridge 2 engages with the engagement piece 46 on the developing unit 3 side, and the shutter 22 is Indicates a state in which it starts to open. The engaging piece 43 on the side of the developer cartridge 2 moves over the projection 45 of the shutter 32 by elastic deformation and moves in the insertion direction with respect to the projection 45. FIG. 10C shows a state in which the outlet opening 21 on the side of the developer cartridge 2 is also opened by the movement of the shutter 21 in the pulling-out direction. Shutter 2 on developer cartridge 2 side
1 moves to the limit of the movement range and stops, the tip of the engagement piece 46 on the developing unit 3 side also
2 and moves in the withdrawal direction with respect to the projection 42.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which the developer cartridge 2 is moved in the withdrawing direction with respect to the developing unit 3 to release the coupling, and the shutters 22 and 32 which open the outlet opening 21 and the inlet opening 31 are closed. Is shown. FIG.
1A shows a state in which the engaging piece 46 of the developing unit 3 is engaged with the projection 42 of the shutter 22 on the developer cartridge 2 side, and the shutter 22 is closed. FIG. 11B shows that the shutter 22 completely closes the outlet opening 21 and the outlet opening 21 is closed.
, The projection 45 of the shutter 32 on the developing unit 3 side engages with the engaging piece 43 on the developer cartridge 2 side, and the shutter 32 starts closing the entrance opening 31. The engaging piece 46 on the side of the developing unit 3 gets over the protrusion 42 of the shutter 22 by elastic deformation and moves in the pulling-out direction with respect to the protrusion 42. FIG. 11C shows the developing unit 3
The opening 31 on the side is also closed by the movement of the shutter 31 in the insertion direction. When the shutter 31 on the developing unit 3 side completely closes the entrance opening 31 and stops at the position of the entrance opening 31, the engaging piece 4 on the developer cartridge 2 side
3 also comes off the projection 45 of the shutter 31, and the projection 4
5 in the insertion direction.

FIG. 12 shows the shape of the agitator 13 for stirring the toner in the developer cartridge 2. The agitator 13 has a stirring blade 15 protruding radially from the rotating shaft 14. The stirring blade 15 has a skeleton shape having a large opening formed by combining a rod portion in the radial direction and a rod portion in the rotation axis direction. The rod-shaped portion in the radial direction supports the rod-shaped portion in the rotation axis direction within a range that does not contact the inner surface of the developer storage section 11 of the developer cartridge 2. The length of the rod portion in the radial direction is shorter at the portion where the passage 20 is provided. For this reason, the rod-shaped portion in the direction of the rotation axis is inclined at a position closer to the outside in the direction of the rotation axis, so that the more outward in the direction of the rotation axis, the more outward in the radial direction. The length of the agitator 13 of the agitator 13 protruding radially outward in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 14 is different, and both sides in the axial direction are longer than the central portion. It is easier to approach the center. Therefore, with the rotation of the agitator 13, the toner in the developer storage 11 can be collected in the passage 20, and the amount of the toner finally remaining in the developer cartridge 2 can be reduced.

FIG. 13 shows a simplified configuration of opening and closing mechanisms 52 and 53 for shutters 22 and 32 provided in the developer cartridge 2 and the developing unit 3 as another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the shutters 22 and 32 are urged by the springs 54 and 55 so as to close the outlet opening 21 and the inlet opening 31, respectively. Shutter 22,
The positions of the engagement pieces 43 and 46 that engage with the 32 projections 42 and 45 are shifted inward in the axial direction so that the tips of the engagement pieces 43 and 46 do not climb over the projections 42 and 45. When the developer cartridge 2 is separated from the developing unit 3,
The tips of the engagement pieces 43 and 46 are retracted in the directions of the outlet opening 21 and the inlet opening 31, respectively.
At 4 and 55, the shutters 22 and 32 return so as to close the outlet opening 21 and the inlet opening 31, and can be reliably closed.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, a shutter that can be opened and closed is provided at the outlet opening of the developer cartridge, and can be opened when mounted on the developing unit and closed when detached from the developing unit. The developer can be prevented from leaking from the outlet opening. When the developer cartridge is mounted on the developing unit, the shutter is opened, and the developer can be supplied to the developing unit. Since the developer cartridge can be separated from the developing unit,
By arranging parts such as the developing roller on the developing unit side, the number of parts added to the developer cartridge can be reduced, and the labor and cost required for replacing the developer cartridge can be reduced.

The developing unit also includes a shutter and an opening / closing mechanism, so that the opening of the inlet of the developing unit can be closed by the shutter with the developer cartridge removed, so that the developer does not leak. Can be

When the developer cartridge and the developing unit are mounted, the shutter on the developer cartridge side opens first and then the shutter on the developer cartridge side opens. When the shutter is released, the shutter on the developer cartridge side closes first. The shutter on the developer unit side closes. When there is a time lag between opening and closing the shutter, and the shutter at the outlet opening of the developer unit is opened to be able to supply the developer, the shutter at the inlet opening of the developing unit is already open. It can be reliably supplied to the inside of the developing unit. When the developer cartridge is detached from the developing unit, the shutter on the side of the developer cartridge is closed first, so that leakage of the developer can be reliably prevented.

According to the present invention, the opening and closing of the shutter
Engage between the projection provided on the mating side of attachment and detachment and the sliding displacement. When mounted, the shutter is opened and elastically deformed to get over the projection. When detached, the shutter is closed and elastically deformed to get over the projection. This can be performed with a simple configuration using the engagement pieces.

According to the invention, the shutter opening / closing mechanism includes the engagement piece and the spring. The engagement piece engages between the projection provided on the other side of attachment and detachment and the sliding displacement, and opens the shutter at the time of attachment. The spring biases the shutter in the closing direction. If the developer cartridge is separated from the developing unit, the shutter is urged by a spring and closed, so that leakage of the developer can be more reliably prevented.

According to the present invention, the inner wall surface of the developer storage portion of the developer cartridge has at least a lower portion substantially in a cylindrical shape, and the rotation axis of the agitator is disposed on the axis of the cylinder. The stirring blade is mounted so as to extend radially outward from the rotation shaft. By rotating the agitator, the stored developer is agitated. Since the length of the stirring blade of the agitator extending radially outward from the rotation axis is shorter than the other positions in the vicinity of the position where the outlet opening is provided, the amount of stirring by rotation is smaller than that of the outlet opening. Is more at other positions than near the position where is provided. As a result, the developer can be moved from the larger stirring amount to the smaller stirring amount and collected near the outlet opening, and the remaining amount of the developer in the developer cartridge can be reduced.

According to the present invention, the passage for supplying the developer stored in the developer cartridge to the developing unit is provided on an inclined surface which opens upward at a portion above the rotation axis of the agitator. The agitator includes a flip-up piece mounted to extend rearward in the rotational direction from the tip of the stirring blade along a tangent line at the time of rotation. The flip-up piece has flexibility, contacts the cylindrical inner peripheral surface of the developer storage section, and jumps up the developer toward the passage when leaving the inclined surface.
Since the developer jumped up by the jumping pieces is supplied to the passage, even when the remaining amount of the developer is small, the developer can be reliably supplied, and the remaining amount of the developer in the developer cartridge is reduced. It can be used effectively until it runs low. Since the passage is provided above the developer storing section, when the developer cartridge is mounted on the developing unit, the developer is supplied from above the developing unit so that the developer can be easily moved in the developing unit. Can be.

Further, according to the present invention, the jumping pieces are formed of a synthetic resin film, so that the weight of the developer cartridge including the jumping pieces can be reduced, the cost can be reduced, and the developer in the developer cartridge can be reduced. Can be used effectively to reduce the remaining amount.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a partial configuration of an image forming apparatus including a developing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the developer cartridge 2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the developing unit 3 of FIG.

4 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a color image forming apparatus 40 including the developing device 1 and the like shown in FIG. 1 for four colors.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the developer cartridge 2 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which a lid 12 has been removed from the developer cartridge 2 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the developer cartridge 2 of FIG. 1 as viewed from a lower front side.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the developing unit 3 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the developing unit 3 of FIG. 1 as viewed from the upper rear side.

10 is a simplified front view showing a state where shutters 22 and 32 are opened when the developer cartridge 2 and the developing unit 3 shown in FIG. 1 are combined.

11 is a simplified front view showing a state in which shutters 22 and 32 are closed when the developer cartridge 2 and the developing unit 3 shown in FIG. 1 are separated from each other.

FIG. 12 is a front view of an agitator 13 in the developer cartridge 2 of FIG.

FIG. 13 shows a shutter 2 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
It is a front view which shows the structure of the opening-and-closing mechanisms 52 and 53 of 2, 32 in simplified form.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 developing device 2 developer cartridge 3 developing unit 10, 30 casing 11 developer storing portion 12 lid 13 agitator 14 rotating shaft 15 stirring blade 16 flip-up piece 20 passage 21 outlet opening 22, 32 shutter 23, 33, 52, 53 Opening / closing mechanism 37 Developing roller 40 Image forming device 42, 45 Projection 43, 46 Engagement piece

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Katsuhiko Gotoda 567-1 Fusehata, Igawaya-cho, Nishi-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo Inside T & M Corporation (72) Inventor Hisanobu Inada Fusehata, Igawaya-cho, Nishi-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo 567-1 Within T & M Corporation (72) Susumu Shoji Inventor 567-1 Fusehata, Igawaya-cho, Nishi-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo F-term within T & M Corporation 2H077 AA02 AA05 AA09 AA20 AA35 AB03 AB06 AB07 AB12 AD06 AE02 BA02 BA09

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image forming developing apparatus for supplying a powdery developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier by an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and developing the electrostatic latent image. A developing unit for supplying the developer onto the image carrier; a shutter provided at an opening of the developing unit, the shutter being openable and closable; and a developer storing unit for storing the developer, the developing unit being detachable from the developing unit, The storage unit is provided with an agitator that rotates around the rotation axis and stirs the developer, and the outlet opening of the passage for supplying the developer from the developer storage unit to the development unit is attached to the development unit when the developer unit is attached to the development unit. A developer cartridge connected to an inlet opening of the provided developer; a shutter provided at an outlet opening of the developer cartridge, which can be opened and closed; and a shutter provided to the developer cartridge, the shutter being provided to the developing unit. An opening / closing mechanism that opens when the cartridge is attached to the developing unit and closes when detached from the developing unit; and an opening / closing mechanism that is provided in the developing unit and opens the shutter when the developer cartridge is attached and closes when the developer cartridge is detached. The opening and closing mechanism of the developing unit and the opening and closing mechanism of the developing unit are arranged such that when the developer cartridge is mounted on the developing unit, the shutter on the developing unit opens first, then the shutter on the developer cartridge opens, and the developer cartridge is detached from the developing unit. An image forming developing apparatus, wherein each shutter is opened and closed in conjunction with the mounting and detaching operation such that the shutter on the developer cartridge side is first closed before the shutter on the developing unit side is closed. 2. The developer cartridge and the developing unit each have a surface on which the outlet opening and the inlet opening are provided, and the mounting and dismounting are performed by sliding displacement along the surface. The opening / closing mechanism engages between a projection provided on the other side of attachment / detachment and the sliding displacement, elastically deforms after opening the shutter at the time of mounting and climbs over the projection, and releases the shutter at the time of detachment. 2. The image forming developing device according to claim 1, further comprising an engaging piece which is elastically deformed after being closed to get over said projection. 3. The developer cartridge and the developing unit each have a surface on which the outlet opening and the inlet opening are provided, and the mounting and dismounting are performed by sliding displacement along the surface. The opening / closing mechanism includes a projection provided on a mating / removable side of the attachment / detachment, an engagement piece that engages between the sliding displacement and opens the shutter at the time of attachment, and a spring that biases the shutter in a closing direction. 3. The image forming developing device according to claim 1, wherein 4. A developer storage portion of the developer cartridge, wherein at least a lower portion of an inner wall surface is substantially cylindrical, and the agitator has a rotation axis disposed on an axis of the cylinder, and A stirring blade attached to extend radially outward from the shaft rotates to stir the stored developer, and the outlet opening is provided on a part of the inner wall surface of the developer storage unit. The length of the stirring blade of the agitator extending radially outward from the rotating shaft near the position where the outlet opening is provided is shorter than at other positions. ~ 3
The image forming developing device according to any one of the above. 5. An inner wall surface of the developer storage section has an inclined surface that opens upward in a portion above the rotation shaft, and a passage for supplying the developer stored in the developer cartridge to a developing unit. Is provided on the inclined surface on the inner wall surface of the developer storage section, the agitator is mounted so as to extend rearward in the rotational direction from the tip of the stirring blade along a tangent at the time of the rotation,
2. A flip-up piece which is flexible and contacts the cylindrical inner peripheral surface and further jumps up the developer toward the passage when leaving the inclined surface. 5. The image forming developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The image forming developing device according to claim 5, wherein the flip-up piece is formed of a synthetic resin film.