JP2002108083A - Developer replenishing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To refill a homogeneous developer in a developing device by sufficiently agitating and mixing the developer containing a recovered developer. SOLUTION: A recovery port 12 to recover the developer is formed at a position right above the housing part 8 and near the replenishing part 9 of a lid 11 which covers a housing part 8 to house the developer and a replenishing part 9 having a replenishing roller 6. An agitation-transport member 5 having a rotation axis 15 parallel to the longitudinal direction of a housing part 8 rotates from top to bottom immediately under the recovery port 12, agitates and mixes the recovered developer recovered from the recovery port 12, and the unused developer beforehand stored in the housing part 8, and then supplies them to the replenishing roller 6. The replenishing roller 6 replenishes the developer to an adjacent developer housing part 41 from a replenishing hole 10 formed under the replenishing roller 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developer replenishing apparatus used in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine includes a photosensitive member rotatably supported by a body of the image forming device and carrying an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof, and an electrostatic latent image carried on the surface of the photosensitive member. A developing device that applies a developer to the image to make it visible, a residual developer removing unit that removes the developer remaining on the surface of the photoconductor after the development, and a developer replenishing device that replenishes the developing device with the developer And

[0003] Initially, in an image forming apparatus, the residual developer removed from the surface of the photoreceptor by the residual developer removing means was discarded without being reused. Although it is difficult to reuse the residual developer alone for development, it can be reused for development if it is mixed with a new unused developer at a low mixing ratio. Therefore, in addition to the configuration of the image forming apparatus as described above, an image forming apparatus of a type in which a collecting means for collecting the residual developer removed by the residual developer removing means is provided, and the collected developer is reused is also practically used. Has been served.

FIG. 12 is a simplified view of the structure of a conventional developer replenishing device 101. FIG. 13 shows a system for recovering and reusing residual developer provided with the developer replenishing device 101 shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus 102. Conventional image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
In 02, the residual developer removed from the surface of the photoconductor 111 by the residual developer removing unit 103 is collected by the collecting unit 104 and the developer replenishing device 10.
Convey to 1. The developer replenishing device 101 mixes the collected developer and the unused developer, and replenishes the developing device 105 with the developer.

[0005] A developer replenishing apparatus 101 shown in FIG. 12 includes a housing section 106 for housing the developer, a stirring / transporting member 107 provided inside the housing section 106 for stirring and conveying the developer, and a stirring / transporting member 107. Provided and adjacent developing device 105
Roller 108 for supplying the developer to the supply roller 1 and the supply roller 1
08, a developer supply port 109 communicating with the developing device 105, and a recovery port 110 formed above the storage section 106 for recovering the recovered developer into the storage section 106. In the developer replenishing device 101 shown in FIG. 12, the collected developer collected by the collecting unit 104 is introduced into the storage unit 106 from the collection port 110. The recovered developer introduced into the developer supply device 101 from the recovery port 110 is stirred by the stirring and conveying member 107 and is supplied to the supply roller 108. The stirring and conveying member 107 provided in the developer replenishing device 101 is rotated below the recovery port 110 in a direction from bottom to top, that is, clockwise in FIG. The developer is supplied to the supply roller 108 so as to be pumped up.

As a prior art of such a system in which an unused developer and a collected developer previously stored in a storage section are mixed and supplied to a replenishing roller in such a manner that the developer is pumped up, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-198148. And JP 11
No. 143193 is disclosed.

[0007]

These prior arts have the following problems. Since the agitating and conveying member rotates from below to below the collecting port, the collected developer that has just been introduced from the collecting port is immediately pumped up by the agitating and conveying member and supplied to the supply roller. That is, in the configuration of the prior art, the developer in the vicinity of the replenishing roller and the developer on the opposite side of the replenishing roller with respect to the rotation axis of the stirring and conveying member are not sufficiently agitated and mixed, and The developer having a large mixing ratio of the collected developer in the vicinity is supplied to the supply roller. Therefore, the stirring and mixing of the collected developer and the unused developer previously stored in the storage section are not sufficiently performed, and the developer having a large mixing ratio of the collected developer is supplied to the developing device. Developing problems due to aggregation and the like are likely to occur.

The technique of stirring the developer stored in the storage section is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-123815. In this technique, the stirring / conveying member is rotated in a direction from the supply roller to the housing section bottom plate, that is, in a direction opposite to that of the above-described prior art. JP-A-10-123815
According to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-157, the developer in the vicinity of the supply roller and the developer on the opposite side to the supply roller with respect to the rotation axis of the stirring and conveying member are mixed and supplied to the supply roller. There is no means for collecting the developer, and there is no disclosure of a configuration suitable for stirring and mixing the developer containing the collected developer in order to reuse the collected developer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a developer replenishing apparatus capable of sufficiently stirring and mixing a recovered developer and an unused developer to replenish a uniform developer to a developing apparatus, a developing apparatus having the same, and an image forming apparatus. It is to provide a forming device.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a housing comprising: (a) an elongated accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; and an elongate replenishing portion extending adjacent to the accommodating portion and parallel to the accommodating portion. A supply port extending along the longitudinal direction of the supply unit is formed at the lower part of the unit, and there is a lid that covers the storage unit and the supply unit,
The lid has a housing in which a recovery port for recovering the developer is formed at a position just above the storage unit and near the supply unit, and (b) a rotation axis provided in the storage unit and parallel to a longitudinal direction of the storage unit. The rotation axis is a stirring and conveying member that is disposed on the opposite side to the replenishing unit with respect to the recovery port, and stirs the developer in the storage unit by rotation around the axis and conveys the developer to the replenishing unit,
(C) a stirring / conveying member in which the rotation direction of conveying the developer to the replenishing section is just below the collection port and is a direction from top to bottom;
A replenishing roller that extends elongated along the replenishing port and supplies the developer conveyed to the replenishing section from the replenishing port by rotation about an axis; and (d) agitating and transporting in a rotational direction moving from top to bottom below the recovery port. And a stirring and conveying driving means for rotating and driving a member.

According to the present invention, the cover for covering the storage portion for storing the developer and the supply portion adjacent to the storage portion is provided with a recovery port for recovering the developer at a position just above the storage portion and near the supply portion. Since the stirring / conveying member rotates in a direction from top to bottom just below the collecting port, the developer introduced into the storage unit from the collecting port is not supplied to the supply roller by the stirring / conveying member. The toner is sufficiently agitated and mixed by the agitating / conveying member rotating in a direction from top to bottom just below the collection port, and is uniformly dispersed in the storage unit, and then supplied to the supply roller.

Therefore, the developer introduced into the storage section from the recovery port and the developer previously stored in the storage section are sufficiently stirred and mixed by the stirring and conveying member, and the homogeneous developer is supplied to the supply roller and the supply roller. It is supplied to the developing device. In particular, when the developer introduced into the container from the collection port is used once for development and is a collected developer collected, the collected developer and the developer previously stored in the container are combined. ,
As described above, the developer can be sufficiently stirred and mixed and supplied to the replenishing roller and the developing device, so that effective use of the recovered developer can be realized.

Further, according to the present invention, the stirring and conveying member has a resilient property, a base end portion of which is fixed to an outer peripheral portion of the rotating shaft, and a free end portion which extends radially outward of the rotating shaft. A developer replenishing device, which is close to the inner surface of the developer.

According to the present invention, the stirring / conveying member has resiliency, a base end portion of which is fixed to an outer peripheral portion of the rotating shaft, and a free end portion which extends radially outward of the rotating shaft and is accommodated therein. Since the agitating and conveying member rotates within the housing portion, the free end of the resilient stirring and conveying member rotates and moves while approaching the inner surface of the housing portion. Of the developer can be stirred. By rotating the free end of the stirring and conveying member while approaching the inner surface of the storage section, the developer in the storage section can be reliably and thoroughly stirred, and the developer stirred in the storage section can be removed. The moving distance can be increased.

Further, according to the present invention, a moving piece for moving the developer by rotation in a direction away from the collecting port in the direction of the rotation axis is provided on the rotating shaft of the stirring and conveying member. A developer replenishing device, which is formed near one end or in the middle between both ends in the rotation axis direction.

According to the present invention, the recovery port is formed near one end of the stirring and conveying member in the rotation axis direction or at an intermediate position between both ends. Since a moving piece that moves the developer by rotation in a direction away from the rotation axis direction is provided, the collection port does not need to be formed in a shape that is long in the rotation axis direction of the stirring and conveying member, and the collection port is introduced into the storage unit from the collection port. The developer can be easily dispersed by moving in a direction away from the collection port in the rotation axis direction of the stirring and conveying member.

Further, since there is no need to provide a separate moving member for moving the developer introduced from the collection port into the storage section in the rotation axis direction of the stirring and conveying member, other than the stirring and conveying member, it is simple. With such a configuration, the developer introduced into the storage unit from the collection port can be easily moved and dispersed in the rotation axis direction of the stirring and conveying member. Therefore, by rotating the stirring and conveying member provided with the moving piece around the rotation axis, the collected developer introduced into the storage unit from the collection port is moved in the rotation axis direction of the stirring and conveying member, and The toner is agitated in the rotation direction, mixed with the developer stored in the storage unit in advance, homogenized, and supplied to the supply roller.

Further, the present invention is the developer replenishing device, wherein the movable piece has a base end fixed to the rotating shaft, and the free end is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the rotating axis.

Further, the present invention is the developer supply device, wherein a plurality of moving pieces are arranged adjacent to each other in the rotation axis direction.

Further, the present invention is the developer supply device, wherein the movable piece is formed to be inclined in a direction in which the free end rises toward the downstream side in the rotational direction.

According to the present invention, the moving piece has a base end fixed to the rotating shaft and a free end formed to be inclined with respect to the rotating axis, or a plurality of moving pieces are arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of the rotating axis. Or the free end portion is formed so as to be inclined in a direction in which the free end portion rises toward the downstream side in the rotation direction, so that the developer introduced into the storage portion from the collection port moves away from the collection port in the rotation axis direction of the stirring and conveying member. And can be more easily moved and dispersed.

Further, according to the present invention, any one of the above-described developer replenishing devices, a photoreceptor carrying an electrostatic latent image, and a developer replenished from a replenishing port are used to visualize the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor. Developing means for forming an image, transfer means for transferring the developer on the photoreceptor to recording paper, residual developer removing means for removing the post-transferred developer remaining on the photoreceptor, and residual developer removal And a collecting means for collecting the developer removed by the means into a collecting port.

According to the present invention, since the image forming apparatus includes any one of the developer replenishing devices described above and the collecting means, it is possible to collect and develop the residual developer on the surface of the photoreceptor after the development is completed. The agent can be effectively used again for development, and an image having excellent development quality can be formed.

According to the present invention, there is provided any one of the above developer supply devices, a developer storage portion for storing a developer from a supply port, and a developer storage portion for storing an electrostatic latent image carried on a photosensitive member. And a developing means for developing using the developer.

According to the present invention, the developing device includes any one of the developer replenishing devices described above and can perform development using a well-mixed and homogenized developer.
Stable quality development can be performed.

[0026]

FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram showing the structure of a developing device 2 including a developer replenishing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the developer replenishing device shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a simplified configuration of an image forming apparatus 3 including the apparatus 1.
The developer supply device 1 generally includes a housing 4, a stirring and conveying member 5, a supply roller 6, and a stirring and conveying driving unit 7.

The housing 4 is a hollow container made of a synthetic resin, and has an elongated accommodating portion 8 for accommodating the developer, and an accommodating portion 8.
And an elongate replenishing portion 9 extending in parallel with the storage portion 8 adjacent thereto, and a replenishing port 10 extending along the longitudinal direction of the replenishing portion 9 is formed below the replenishing portion 9. The housing 4 has a lid 11 that covers the storage section 8 and the supply section 9.
A collection port 12 for collecting the developer is formed at a position just above the storage section 8 and near the supply section 9. More specifically, collection port 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes a position on the cover 11 of the housing 4 immediately above the storage unit 8 near the replenishing unit 9, and the stirring and conveying member 5 of the replenishing roller 6.
Is formed at an intermediate position between the circumferential surface facing the side and the vertical plane including the rotation axis 15 of the stirring and conveying member 5. That is, the distance d1 between the center of the collection port 12 and the vertical plane including the rotation axis 15 of the stirring / conveying member 5, the center of the collection port 12 and the supply roller 6
And the distance d2 from the circumferential surface on the side facing the stirring and conveying member 5 is
Set almost equal.

Here, the developer may be either a two-component system consisting of a toner and a carrier or a one-component system consisting of only a toner.

The stirring and conveying member 5 includes a stirring blade member 13 and a conveying sheet 14. The stirring blade member 13 is made of a rigid material such as metal or hard synthetic resin,
It has a ladder-like frame shape and the rotation axis 1 of the stirring and conveying member 5.
It has a radius of rotation shorter than the shortest distance between 5 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing. The stirring blade member 13 has a rotating shaft 1 at its rotation center.
6 is attached so as to pass therethrough.

The transport sheet 14 is made of a sheet-like flexible elastic material such as polyethylene terephthalate (P).
ET), and the length from the base end portion 17 to the free end portion 18 is larger than the longest interval between the rotation axis 15 of the stirring and conveying member 5 and the inner surface of the storage portion 8. The conveying sheet 14 has a base end 17 fixed to one end 21 of the stirring blade member 13, and has a bending line 19 near the free end 18 parallel to the rotation axis 15 of the stirring and conveying member 5. Then, a bent portion 20 is formed which is bent toward the downstream side in the rotation direction of the stirring and conveying member 5 as indicated by an arrow 22. Free end 18 with fold 20
Moves close to the inner surface of the housing 8. Here, the proximity means both the case where the free end portion 18 of the transport sheet 14 moves in contact with the inner surface of the housing portion 8 and the case where the free end portion 18 moves at a distance from the inner surface of the housing portion 8 with an interval. Including.

The bent portion 20 is formed in the vicinity of the free end portion 18 of the transport sheet 14 so that the transport sheet 14 rotates in the storage section 8 to agitate and transport the developer. The bent portion 20 can hold a fixed amount of the developer. Therefore, a fixed amount of the developer is stably conveyed by the bent portion 20 formed on the conveying sheet 14 and supplied to the replenishing roller 6 irrespective of the amount of the developer stored in the storage portion 8. .

The stirring / transporting member 5 is provided in the storage section 8,
Having the rotation axis 15 parallel to the longitudinal direction of the housing portion 8;
The rotation axis 15 is disposed on the side opposite to the replenishing unit 9 with respect to the collection port 12, and the developer in the storage unit 8 is rotated by the rotation axis 15.
The mixture is stirred by the surrounding rotation and transported to the supply unit 9. The rotation direction of the stirring and conveying member 5 that conveys the developer to the replenishing unit 9 is right below the recovery port 12 and from top to bottom, that is, in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow 22 in FIG. is there.

The rotation axis 15 of the stirring and conveying member 5 is
It is provided closer to the supply unit 9 than the center position of the storage unit 8 in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis 15. This makes it possible to increase the moving distance of the transport sheet 14 in the storage unit 8 on the side opposite to the replenishing unit 9 with respect to the rotation axis 15. By increasing the moving distance of the transport sheet 14, a long time for stirring the developer is secured,
Stirring can be sufficiently performed. Furthermore, when the position where the rotation axis 15 of the stirring and conveying member 5 is provided on the body of the image forming apparatus 3 is limited by the relationship with the arrangement of other members, the rotation axis 15 of the stirring and conveying member 5 is Compared to the case where the storage unit 8 is provided at the center position in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis 15, the one provided on the supply unit 9 side
Since the space of the storage section 8 disposed on the opposite side of the replenishing section 9 with respect to the rotation axis 15 can be increased, the amount of developer stored in the storage section 8 can be increased.

The replenishing roller 6 has a cylindrical or columnar shape and is made of a porous elastic material having a large number of holes for adhering and holding the developer, for example, sponge rubber.
It extends elongated along zero. The replenishing roller 6 is rotatably supported by the replenishing portion 9 of the housing 4, and the rotation axis 35 of the replenishment roller 6 is parallel to a horizontal plane including the rotation axis 15 of the stirring and conveying member 5 and obliquely above the horizontal plane. The developer provided at intervals and conveyed to the replenishing unit 9 is supplied from the replenishing port 10 to an adjacent developer accommodating unit 41 described later by rotation about an axis.

FIG. 3 is a simplified plan view showing the structure of a developer supply device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The stirring / conveying driving means 7 includes a driving source such as an electric motor 27.
And first to fourth gears 28, 29, 30, 31 for transmitting the rotational driving force of the electric motor 27. The rotating shaft 16 of the stirring and conveying member 5 is supported by a pair of first and second bearings 32 and 33, and a second gear 29 is mounted on one of the rotating shafts 16. The rotational driving force of the electric motor 27 is transmitted to the first gear 28 by a shaft coupling or the like, and the first gear 28 and the second gear 29 are meshed with each other. It is rotationally driven in a rotational direction moving downward.

The replenishing roller 6 also has its rotating shaft 34 supported by a pair of third and fourth bearings 35 and 36,
The fourth gear 31 is mounted on one of the rotation shafts 34 of the supply roller 6. The rotational driving force is transmitted to the fourth gear 31 via the third gear 30 inserted between the fourth gear 31 and the second gear 29, so that the supply roller 6 also rotates around the axis. further,
The rotational driving force of the electric motor 27 is also used for driving the developer to be conveyed by the collection unit 53 that collects the residual developer via the transmission mechanism of the rotational driving force.

Next, the developer supply device 1 of the present embodiment will be described in detail. A collection port 12 for collecting the developer in the storage unit 8 is provided in the cover 11 of the housing 4 at a position directly above the storage unit 8 from the supply unit 9 and on a side facing the stirring and conveying member 5 of the supply roller 6. And the axis 15 of the stirring and conveying member 5
Formed at an intermediate position with the vertical plane including The developer introduced into the storage unit 8 from the recovery port 12 falls to an intermediate position between the circumferential surface of the supply roller 6 facing the stirring and conveying member 5 and the vertical plane including the axis 15 of the stirring and conveying member 5. .

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation accompanying rotation of the stirring and conveying member 5 around the axis. The collected developer introduced into the storage unit 8 from the collection port 12 and dropped to an intermediate position between the circumferential surface of the supply roller 6 facing the stirring and conveying member 5 and the vertical plane including the axis 15 of the stirring and conveying member 5 4 (a) to 4 (c), the stirrer blade member 13 which rotates from top to bottom below the recovery port 12 which is counterclockwise on the paper of FIG. 8 is pushed down from above into the developer stored in advance. Then FIG.
(D) to (f), as shown in FIG.
Is rotated to the opposite side of the replenishing roller 6 with respect to the rotation axis 15 via the bottom of the storage section 8, and the collected developer and the storage section 8 are rotated.
And a developer previously stored in the mixer.

Further, while the flexible conveying sheet 14 elastically deforms while following the rotation of the stirring blade member 13 with a delay, the free end portion 18 rotates close to the inner surface of the housing portion 8 and In addition to the stirring of the stirring blade member 13, further stirring and mixing of the developer is performed. The conveying sheet 13 stirs and mixes the developer, and conveys the developer while holding it in the bent portion 20, while rotating from the position shown in FIG. 4F to the position shown in FIG. The developer is supplied to the supply unit 9. Therefore, the collected developer introduced into the storage unit 8 from the collection port 12 is not immediately supplied to the replenishing unit 9 after being introduced, and the developer once stored in the storage unit 8 after the introduction is temporarily removed. Since the developer is agitated so as to penetrate deeply from the top to the bottom, the developer including the recovered developer is sufficiently stirred and mixed, and the developer of uniform quality is supplied to the replenishing unit 9.

In the storage section 8, the recovered developer introduced into the storage section 8 from the recovery port 12 and the developer previously stored in the storage section 8 are sufficiently stirred and mixed to homogenize the quality. Since the developer can be stably supplied to the developer accommodating portion 41, the effective use of the collected developer can be realized.

As described above, the developer agitated and transported by the agitating and transporting member 5 and supplied to the supply roller 6 in the storage section 8 adheres to the porous circumferential surface of the supply roller 6 and As the roller 6 rotates in the direction of the arrow 38, it is conveyed to a supply port 10 formed below the supply roller 6. The developer transported by the supply roller 6 is
The replenishing roller 6 and the edge of the replenishing port 10 rub against each other, so that the replenishing roller 6 is scraped off, and replenished by dropping into the internal space of the developer accommodating portion 41 with which the replenishing port 10 communicates.

Unlike the present embodiment, the collection port 12
When formed on the replenishing roller 6, the collected developer introduced from the collecting port 12 falls on the replenishing roller 6 or near the replenishing roller 6.
Due to the rotation of the supply roller 6, the developer container 41
Supplied to Therefore, the ratio of the recovered developer to the developer supplied to the developer accommodating portion 41 is high, and the developer is likely to aggregate.

On the contrary, the recovery port 12 is
When the developer is formed offset to the vertical side including the rotation axis 15, the collected developer introduced from the collection port 12 falls near the rotation axis 15 of the stirring and conveying member 5. The vicinity of the rotation axis 15 is a region where the effect of stirring and mixing is relatively difficult to be exhibited, and the collected developer may be unevenly distributed near the rotation axis 15 without being stirred and mixed.

Further, when the recovery port 12 is formed on the side opposite to the replenishing portion 9 with respect to the rotation axis 15 of the stirring and conveying member 5, the stirring and conveying member 5 jumps up and supplies the developer to the replenishing portion 9. Immediately before, the collected developer falls to a position where the stirring and conveying member 5 is about to jump up. Therefore,
As with the conventional developer supply device, the collected developer and the storage unit 8
Is supplied to the replenishing unit 9 without being sufficiently stirred and mixed, and the meaning of the system in which the stirring and conveying member 5 is flipped up is lost.

The developing device 2 having the developer replenishing device 1
The image forming apparatus includes the developer accommodating portion 41 for accommodating the developer from the supply port 10 and a developing unit 43 for developing the electrostatic latent image carried on the photoreceptor 42 using the developer in the developer accommodating portion 41. .

The developer container 41 is made of a synthetic resin.
The developer supplied from the developer supply device 1 by the supply roller 6 is stored. The developing means 43 includes first and second stirring rollers 44 and 45, a developing roller 46, a toner concentration detector 47, and a doctor blade 48. The developing roller 46 is made of aluminum, has a right cylindrical shape, and has a cylindrical or columnar permanent magnet piece arranged therein. The developing roller 46 is rotatably supported by the developer accommodating portion 41, and is driven to rotate in the direction of an arrow 49 around a rotation axis perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1 by an electric motor or the like. The permanent magnet pieces are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction, and extend in the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 46. The magnetic poles of the permanent magnet pieces are arranged such that N poles and S poles are alternately adjacent except for the magnetic pole N3.

The first and second stirring rollers 44 and 45 are
Similarly to the developing roller 46, the developing roller 46 is rotatably supported by the developer accommodating portion 41, and is driven to rotate about an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the developing roller 46. Thereby, the developer supply device 1
The developer supplied from the supply roller 6 to the developer accommodating portion 41 is further stirred and supplied to the developing roller 46.

The doctor blade 48 is provided with a developing roller 46.
The thickness of the developer adsorbed on the circumferential surface of the developing roller 46 by the magnetic force of the magnet included therein is made uniform.
The toner concentration detector 47 detects the toner concentration in the developer, and derives a detection output for displaying the toner supply timing and the like.

In the developing device 2 according to the present embodiment, development is performed as follows. The developer sufficiently stirred and mixed by the developer supply device 1 is supplied to the developer accommodating section 41. The developer supplied to the developer accommodating section 41 is further stirred and transported by the first and second stirring rollers 44 and 45, and is supplied to the developing roller 46. The developer adsorbed on the developing roller 46 and raised is:
After the thickness is uniformly regulated by the doctor blade 48, the toner is adhered to the surface of the photoconductor 42 and development is performed.

The developing device 2 includes a developer replenishing device 1,
Since the developer can be developed using the developer that has been sufficiently stirred and mixed by the developer replenishing device 1 and has been homogenized, stable quality development can be performed.

Image forming apparatus 3 including developer supply device 1
A developing unit 43 for developing an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 42 by using a developer supplied from the supply port 10; Transfer means 51 for transferring the developer to the recording paper, and residual developer removing means 52 for removing the transferred developer remaining on the photoconductor 42.
And a collecting means 53 for collecting the developer removed by the residual developer removing means 52.

The photoreceptor 42 has a columnar shape and has a photoconductive photoreceptor layer on the outer periphery. The photoconductor 42 is rotatably supported by the body of the image forming apparatus 3 and is driven to rotate in the direction of an arrow 54 around an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the developing roller 46. The photoreceptor 42 is provided to face the developing roller 46 at a predetermined interval, and
The electrostatic latent image is visualized by the developer on the circumferential surface of No. 6 being adhered to the photoreceptor 42.

The charger 55 is arranged to face the photosensitive member 42 and uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive member 42 prior to development. The exposure device 56 exposes the uniformly charged surface of the photoreceptor 42 according to image information to form an electrostatic latent image prior to development. The developing means 43 has the same configuration as that of the developing device 2.

The transfer means 51 is disposed to face the photosensitive member 42, and applies a bias voltage opposite to that of the developer to transfer an image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member 42 to recording paper. The residual developer removing unit 52 has a flat plate shape, and one end 57 is provided in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 42. The residual developer removing unit 52 scrapes and removes the developer remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 42 after the development is completed.

The collecting means 53 includes a residual developer removing means 52.
Spiral member 58 for collecting and transporting the residual developer removed by
And a tubular passage member 59 that accommodates the spiral member 58 and serves as a transport passage for the collected developer, and a discharge port 60 that discharges the collected developer toward the collection port 12. The driving force for conveying the collected developer of the collecting unit 53 includes the stirring and conveying driving unit 7.
Is used.

In the image forming apparatus 3 of the present embodiment, image formation and recovery of the residual developer are performed as follows. The developer sufficiently stirred and mixed by the developer replenishing device 1 is supplied to the developer accommodating section 41 and supplied to the developing roller 46 in the developer accommodating section 41. The developer supplied to the developing roller 46 adheres from the surface of the developing roller 46 to the surface of the photoconductor 42 carrying the electrostatic latent image, whereby the image is visualized. The visualized image is transferred to a transfer unit 51.
The residual developer remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 42 after the transfer is completed is removed by the residual developer removing unit 52. The residual developer removed by the residual developer removing unit 52 is collected by the collecting unit 53 to be a collected developer, collected by the developer supply device 1, and stored in the storage unit 8 in the developer supply device 1 in advance. Stir and mix with developer.

The image forming device 3 includes a developer replenishing device 1
Since the developer includes the recovery means 53, the developer obtained by recovering the residual developer on the surface of the photoconductor 42 after the development is completed can be effectively used again for development, and an image having excellent development quality can be formed. Can be.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a simplified structure of a stirring and conveying member 61 of a developer replenishing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. It is sectional drawing seen from. The stirring and conveying member 61 of the present invention is similar to the stirring and conveying member 5 of the first embodiment, and corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

In the second embodiment, the stirring and conveying member 61
Are a stirring blade member 62, a conveying sheet 63, and a moving piece 64.
And The stirring blade member 62 is made of a rigid material such as hard synthetic resin or metal, and has a ladder-like frame shape. The stirring blade member 62 includes first to fourth blade portions 65, 66, 67, 68 and first to fourth support pieces 69, 7.
0, 71, and 72. First to fourth blade portions 65 and 6
6, 67, 68 are formed in the stirring blade member 62 integrally in a row in this order. First and second support pieces 69, 7
0 is provided at an interval between the second blade portion 66 and the rotating shaft 16 and extends radially outward of the rotating shaft 16. Third
The fourth support pieces 71 and 72 are provided symmetrically with the first and second support pieces 69 and 70 with respect to the rotation shaft 16. The first to fourth support pieces 69, 70, 71, 72 increase the strength of the frame of the stirring blade member 62, and increase the strength of the stirring blade member 62.
Increases the stirring effect when rotating. First and third
The rotation shaft 16 is inserted through the center position of the blade portions 65 and 67, and the stirring blade member 62 is attached to the rotation shaft 16. The stirring blade member 62 has a rotation radius shorter than the shortest distance between the rotation axis 15 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing 8.

The transport sheet 63 is made of a sheet-like flexible elastic material such as polyethylene terephthalate (P).
ET), and the length from the base end 73 to the free end 74 is longer than the longest interval between the rotation axis 15 of the stirring and conveying member 61 and the inner surface of the housing 8. Further, the transport sheet 63 has the base end 73 fixed to the fourth blade 68 of the stirring blade member 62, and rotates as the stirring and transporting member 61 rotates around the rotation axis 15.

The moving piece 64 is a flat member made of a rigid material such as a hard synthetic resin. Moving piece 64
The base end 75 of the second blade 66 is opposite to the fourth blade 68 to which the conveying sheet 63 is fixed to the stirring blade 62.
Attached to. The free end 76 of the moving piece 64 is
5 and a plurality of moving pieces 64 are arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of the rotation axis 15. In the present embodiment, six moving pieces 64 having the same configuration are provided. As the stirring and conveying member 61 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 22, the moving piece 64 rotates around the rotation axis 15, and is formed at the free end portion 76 of the moving piece 64 by the rotation of the moving piece 64. The inclined portion with respect to the rotation axis 15 is
Since the developer is agitated in a direction inclined with respect to the rotation axis 15, the developer is moved in a direction indicated by an arrow 77 away from the recovery port 12 formed near one end of the rotation axis 15 in the direction of the rotation axis 15. Moving.

The first embodiment in which the moving piece 64 is not provided because the amount of the collected developer introduced into the storage section 8 from the collection port 12 is smaller than the amount of the developer stored in the storage section in advance. Although the stirring and conveying member 5 can move and homogenize the collected developer in the direction of the axis 15 by the rotation of the stirring and conveying member 5, the stirring and conveying member 5 can be introduced from the collection port 12 by providing the moving piece 64 on the stirring and conveying member. The effect of moving the developed developer away from the direction of the rotation axis 15 to homogenize the developer is further promoted.

FIG. 7 is a simplified perspective view showing the structure of a stirring and conveying member 81 of a developer supply device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VI of FIG.
It is sectional drawing seen from II. The stirring and conveying member 81 of the present invention
Is similar to the stirring and conveying member 61 of the second embodiment, and corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

In the third embodiment, the stirring and conveying member 81
Are the stirring blade member 62, the conveying sheet 14, and the moving piece 82
And It should be noted that the free end 83 of the moving piece 82
The point is that it is formed to be inclined in a direction rising toward the downstream side in the rotation direction of the stirring and conveying member 81. Stirring conveying member 81
Is the same as the stirring and conveying member 61 of the second embodiment except that the conveying sheet 14 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The configuration of the moving piece 82 is similar to the configuration of the moving piece 64 of the second embodiment, and rises at the free end 83 of the moving piece 82 toward the downstream side in the rotation direction of the stirring and conveying member 81 indicated by the arrow 22. Except that a holding portion 84 that is inclined in the direction and can hold the developer is formed.
4 has the same configuration.

As the stirring and conveying member 81 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 22, the moving piece 82 rotates around the rotation axis 15. The rotation of the moving piece 82 causes the moving piece 8
In addition to the fact that the inclined portion formed on the free end portion 83 of the second end portion 83 with respect to the rotation axis 15 agitates the developer in the direction inclined with respect to the rotation axis 15, the holding portion 84 holds the developer while rotating the rotation axis 15. The developer is moved in the direction away from the developer, so that the developer introduced from the collection port 12 is
The effect of moving away from the direction and homogenizing is further enhanced.

FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration of a developer supply device 86 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The developer replenishing device 86 of the present invention is similar to the developer replenishing device 1 of the first embodiment, and corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the fourth embodiment, the configuration of the developer supply device 86 is such that the developer collection port is
The configuration is the same as that of the developer supply device 1 in the first embodiment, except that it is formed at an intermediate position between both ends in the direction of the rotation axis 15 of the stirring and conveying member 13.

The recovery port 87 for the developer is
Is formed in the housing 88 at an intermediate position between both end portions in the direction of the rotation axis 15 of the
As the stirring and conveying member 13 rotates around the rotation axis 15, the collected developer introduced into the
It is moved in a direction toward both ends from an intermediate position between both ends in the direction.

In the present embodiment, the collected developer introduced into the storage section 8 from the collection port 87 is moved from the intermediate position between both ends in the direction of the rotation axis 15 toward both ends. Is shorter than moving in one direction from the one end to the other end in the direction of the rotation axis 15 in the direction of the rotation axis 15. Therefore, after the collected developer is introduced into the storage section 8 from the collection port 87, the time required for the rotation of the stirring and conveying member 13 to be moved in the direction of the rotation axis 15 and homogenized is short.

FIG. 10 is a simplified perspective view showing the structure of a stirring and conveying member 89 of a developer supply device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The stirring and conveying member 89 of the present invention is similar to the stirring and conveying member 61 of the second embodiment, and the corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. In the fifth embodiment, the configuration of the stirring and conveying member 89 is different from that of the moving piece 9.
The configuration is the same as that of the stirring and conveying member 61 in the second embodiment, except that the directions of 0 are different from each other.

In the present embodiment, the free end 9 of the moving piece 90
1 is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the rotation axis 15,
The moving pieces 90 are arranged adjacent to each other so that the direction in which the free end portion 91 is inclined alternately faces the opposite direction along the rotation axis 15. As the stirring and conveying member 89 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 22, the moving piece 90 rotates around the rotation axis 15. The direction in which the free end portion 91 inclines is the rotation axis 1
The free end portion 91 of the moving piece 90 is rotated by the rotation of the moving piece 90 that is arranged adjacent to each other so as to face in opposite directions in five directions.
The inclined portion formed with respect to the rotation axis 15 agitates the developer in a direction inclined with respect to the rotation axis 15. Therefore, by the rotation of the stirring and conveying member 89 about the axis,
The developer moves in a direction away from the recovery port 87 formed at an intermediate position between both ends in the direction of the rotation axis 15 in the direction of the rotation axis 15, and a part of the developer moves to the recovery port 87 in the direction of the rotation axis 15. Also move in the direction approaching.

The free end portions 91 formed obliquely with respect to the rotation axis 15 are alternately turned in the opposite direction, and
By disposing the moving piece 90 adjacent to 9, the effect that the collected developer introduced from the collection port 87 is moved in the direction of the rotation axis 15 and agitated while being homogenized is further promoted. The stirring and conveying member 89 of the present embodiment is different from the stirring and conveying member of the fourth embodiment in that the recovery port 87 is the rotation axis 15 of the stirring and conveying member.
It is suitable when formed at an intermediate position between both ends in the direction.

FIG. 11 is a simplified perspective view showing a configuration of a stirring and conveying member 92 of a developer supply device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The stirring and conveying member 92 of the present invention is similar to the stirring and conveying member 89 of the fifth embodiment, and the corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

In the sixth embodiment, it should be noted that the free end portion 94 of the moving piece 93 is formed so as to be inclined in a direction rising toward the downstream side in the rotation direction of the stirring and conveying member 92. . The configuration of the stirring and conveying member 92 is the same as that of the stirring and conveying member 89 of the fifth embodiment except that the conveying sheet 14 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The structure of the moving piece 93 is similar to the structure of the moving piece 90 of the fifth embodiment.
Inclined in the direction of rising toward the downstream side in the rotation direction of 2,
It has the same configuration as the moving piece 90 of the fifth embodiment except that a holding portion 95 that can hold the developer is formed.

As the stirring and conveying member 92 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 22, the moving piece 93 rotates around the rotation axis 15. The rotation of the moving piece 93 arranged adjacent to the free end 94 so that the direction in which the free end 94 inclines is opposite to the direction of the rotation axis 15 causes the rotation axis 15 formed on the free end 94 of the moving piece 93 to rotate. Is agitated in a direction inclining the developer with respect to the rotation axis 15. Further, the holding portion 95 formed on the free end portion 94 moves the developer in a direction inclining with respect to the rotation axis 15 of the free end portion 94 while holding the developer. Therefore, the stirring and conveying member 92
Around the axis of the developer, the developer is transferred to the rotation axis 15.
The developer moves in the direction away from the collection port 87 formed at a position halfway between both ends in the direction of the rotation axis 15, and a part of the developer also moves in the direction approaching the collection port 87 in the direction of the rotation axis 15. . Thereby, the collected developer introduced into the storage section 8 from the collection port 87 is more effectively homogenized. The stirring and conveying member 92 of the present embodiment is suitable when the recovery port 87 in the fourth embodiment is formed at a position halfway between both ends in the direction of the rotation axis 15 of the stirring and conveying member.

As described above, the first to third embodiments of the present invention are described.
In the sixth embodiment, the rotation axis 15 of the stirring and conveying member is disposed closer to the replenishing unit 9 than the center position in the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the storage unit, but is not limited thereto. It may be arranged at the center position of a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Further, the stirring and conveying member is
Although the configuration includes the stirring blade member and the transport sheet, the configuration is not limited to this, and may be another configuration, for example, a configuration including only the transport sheet. In addition, although the number of moving pieces provided on the stirring and conveying member is six, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be any configuration including at least one moving piece. In addition, although a plurality of moving pieces of the stirring and conveying member are arranged adjacent to each other, without being limited thereto,
They may be arranged at intervals. Further, although the moving piece of the stirring and conveying member is fixed to the stirring blade member, the moving piece may be directly fixed to another rotating shaft 16 of the stirring and conveying member without being limited to this.

[0076]

According to the present invention, the cover for covering the storage section for storing the developer and the supply section adjacent to the storage section has a recovery port for collecting the developer at a position just above the storage section and near the supply section. Is formed, and the stirring / conveying member rotates in a direction from top to bottom immediately below the collection port, so that the developer introduced into the storage unit from the collection port is immediately supplied to the supply roller by the stirring / conveying member. Instead, they are sufficiently stirred and mixed by a stirring and conveying member rotating in a direction from top to bottom just below the collection port, and are uniformly dispersed in the storage section before being supplied to the supply roller.

Therefore, the developer introduced into the storage section from the recovery port and the developer previously stored in the storage section are sufficiently stirred and mixed by the stirring and conveying member, and the uniform developer is supplied to the supply roller and the supply roller. It is supplied to the developing device. In particular, when the developer introduced into the container from the collection port is used once for development and is a collected developer collected, the collected developer and the developer previously stored in the container are combined. ,
As described above, the developer can be sufficiently stirred and mixed and supplied to the replenishing roller and the developing device, so that effective use of the recovered developer can be realized.

Further, according to the present invention, the stirring and conveying member has resiliency, the base end portion is fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the rotating shaft, and the free end portion extends outward in the radial direction of the rotating shaft. Since the agitating / conveying member rotates in the accommodating portion, the free end of the resilient agitating / conveying member rotates and moves while approaching the inner surface of the accommodating portion. The developer in the section can be agitated. The free end of the stirring and conveying member is
By rotating and moving while approaching the inner surface of the storage section, the developer in the storage section can be reliably and thoroughly stirred, and the moving distance of the developer stirred in the storage section can be increased.

Further, according to the present invention, the recovery port is formed near one end of the stirring and conveying member in the rotation axis direction or at an intermediate position between both ends, and the recovery shaft is provided on the rotation shaft of the stirring and conveying member. Since a moving piece is provided for moving the developer in a direction away from the rotation axis direction by rotation, the collection port does not need to be formed in a shape long in the rotation axis direction of the stirring and conveying member, and the collection port is introduced from the collection port into the container. The used developer can be easily dispersed by moving in a direction away from the collection port in the rotation axis direction of the stirring and conveying member.

Further, there is no need to provide a moving member for moving the developer introduced from the collection port into the storage section in the rotation axis direction of the stirring and conveying member as a separate and independent member other than the stirring and conveying member. With such a configuration, the developer introduced into the storage unit from the collection port can be easily moved and dispersed in the rotation axis direction of the stirring and conveying member. Therefore, by rotating the stirring and conveying member provided with the moving piece around the rotation axis, the collected developer introduced into the storage unit from the collection port is moved in the rotation axis direction of the stirring and conveying member, and The toner is agitated in the rotation direction, mixed with the developer stored in the storage unit in advance, homogenized, and supplied to the supply roller.

Further, according to the present invention, the moving piece has a base end fixed to the rotating shaft and a free end formed to be inclined with respect to the rotating axis, or a plurality of moving pieces are arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of the rotating axis. Or the free end portion is formed so as to be inclined in a direction in which the free end rises toward the downstream side in the rotation direction, so that the developer introduced into the storage portion from the collection port is moved away from the collection port in the rotation axis direction of the stirring and conveying member. Direction can be more easily moved and dispersed.

Further, according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes any one of the above-described developer replenishing devices and the recovery means, and thus recovers the residual developer remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor after the development is completed. The developer can be effectively used again for development, and an image having excellent development quality can be formed.

Further, according to the present invention, the developing device includes any one of the developer replenishing devices described above, and can perform development using a well-mixed and homogenized developer. Can be developed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a developer supply device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a simplified view showing a configuration of a developing device 2 including the above.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a simplified configuration of an image forming apparatus 3 including a developer supply device 1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a developer supply device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a simplified configuration of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an operation accompanying rotation of the stirring and conveying member 5 around an axis.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a configuration of a stirring and conveying member 61 of a developer supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along section line VI-VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a simplified configuration of a stirring and conveying member 81 of a developer supply device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along section line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a simplified plan view showing a configuration of a developer supply device 86 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a simplified configuration of a stirring and conveying member 89 of a developer supply device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a simplified perspective view showing a configuration of a stirring and conveying member 92 of a developer supply device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a simplified configuration of a conventional developer supply device 101.

FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus 102 including a conventional developer replenishing device 101 shown in FIG. 12 and collecting and reusing residual developer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1,86 Developer supply device 2 Developing device 3 Image forming device 4 Housing 5,61,81,89,92 Stirring / conveying member 6 Supply roller 7 Stirring / conveying driving means 8 Housing unit 9 Supply unit 10 Supply port 12,87 Recovery port 41 developer accommodating section 42 photoreceptor 43 developing means 51 transfer means 52 residual developer removing means 53 collecting means 54 charger 55 exposure unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Kubota 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Inside (72) Inventor Yu Wakabayashi 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Sharp Incorporated (72) Inventor 2330 Mizoguchi 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Tomohiko Kimura 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi Osaka In-house F term (reference) 2H034 BF00 CB01 2H077 AA12 AA15 AA20 AA37 AB03 AB04 AB13 AB15 AC16 AD06 AD31 BA02 EA03 EA13 FA22

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A housing comprising: an elongated accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; and an elongated replenishing portion extending adjacent to the accommodating portion and extending in parallel with the accommodating portion. A housing having a supply port extending in the longitudinal direction, a cover for covering the storage section and the supply section, and a cover formed with a recovery port for collecting developer at a position just above the storage section and near the supply section. (B) a rotation axis provided in the storage section and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the storage section, the rotation axis being disposed on the opposite side of the collection port from the supply section, and allowing the developer in the storage section to be aligned with the axis; A stirring and conveying member that stirs around and conveys the developer to the replenishment unit, wherein the rotation direction for conveying the developer to the replenishment unit is directly below the collection port and is a direction from top to bottom; (C) It is elongated along the supply port and transported to the supply section. A replenishing roller for supplying the developer from a replenishing port by rotation about an axis; and (d) a stirring and conveying driving means for rotating and driving the stirring and conveying member in a rotational direction moving from above to below the collecting port. Characteristic developer supply device. 2. The stirring and conveying member has a resiliency, a base end portion of which is fixed to an outer peripheral portion of the rotating shaft, and a free end portion which extends radially outward of the rotating shaft and is provided on an inner surface of the housing portion. The developer supply device according to claim 1, wherein the developer supply device is close to the developer supply device. 3. A rotating piece of the stirring and conveying member is provided with a moving piece for moving the developer by rotation in a direction away from the recovery port in the direction of the rotation axis from the recovery port, and the recovery port of the developer is provided in the rotation axis direction. The developer supply device according to claim 1, wherein the developer supply device is formed near one end or between the two ends. 4. The developer replenishing device according to claim 3, wherein the movable piece has a base end fixed to the rotation shaft and a free end formed to be inclined with respect to the rotation axis. . 5. The developer replenishing device according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of moving pieces are arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of the rotation axis. 6. The developer replenishing device according to claim 3, wherein the movable piece is formed such that the free end is inclined in a direction rising toward the downstream side in the rotational direction. 7. A developer replenishing apparatus according to claim 1, a photoreceptor for carrying an electrostatic latent image, and a photoreceptor electrostatically charged using a developer supplied from a replenishing port. Developing means for visualizing the latent image, transfer means for transferring the developer on the photoreceptor to recording paper, residual developer removing means for removing the post-transferred developer remaining on the photoreceptor, An image forming apparatus comprising: a collecting unit that collects the developer removed by the residual developer removing unit into a collecting port. 8. A developer replenishing device according to claim 1, a developer accommodating section for accommodating a developer from a replenishing port, and Developing means for developing using the developer in the developer accommodating portion.