JP2003066706A - Developer replenishing device and developer replenishing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developer replenishing device capable of preventing a defect such as the scattering of developer to the outside of the device, maldistribution, clogging and the sticking of the developer in a circulation carrying path or the unstable detection of a developer residual amount sensor. SOLUTION: The developer is made to circulate in a plurality of temporary storage spaces for stably supplying the developer by a spiral screw using a partially perforated blade, and a plane part is provided at one end of the spiral screw and a replenishing port for a developing device is provided on the outside of the circulation path, then a flexible member is provided at a part of the screw for the purpose of the stable detection of a material detection sensor.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developer replenishing device and an image forming apparatus for replenishing a developing device of an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile, a printer or the like with a developer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electrostatic latent image is formed on a photoconductive photoconductor, and the latent image is developed by a developer in a charged developing device.
In an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, etc., which uses an electrophotographic method for transferring a visible image of the obtained developer onto a transfer material, in order to keep the developer concentration in the developing device constant. The developer replenishing device automatically replenishes the developing device with a fixed amount of developer. Therefore, the user of the image forming apparatus needs to replenish the developer replenishing device with the developer from the developer container at regular intervals.

Conventionally, as a means for replenishing a developer to an image forming apparatus, a developer storage container is set in the main body of the apparatus when replenishing the developer, and all the developer in the developer storage container is stored in a developer storage section. There has been a type of replenishing and removing the developer storage container from the apparatus main body after the replenishment is completed. However, in the replenishment method of the above type, the developer may be oversupplied in order to replenish the developer storage portion at once, and therefore the developer may overflow from the developer storage portion. I had to. It is difficult to prevent the excessive supply of the developer, and even if the means for preventing the excessive supply can be installed in the main body of the apparatus, the cost and size of the apparatus are increased.

Therefore, a developer accommodating container having a spiral protrusion inside the container is set with respect to the main body of the apparatus, and is rotated with the central axis of the developer accommodating container as the center of rotation, and a developer discharge port of the developer accommodating container. A type in which the developer is discharged from the developer and the developer is replenished in the developer storage part has been developed (JP-A-7-295356, etc.). In this type, the developer storage container is always installed in the main body of the device, so when the developer in the developer storage unit decreases, the developer storage container is rotated at any time to store the developer in the developer storage unit. Can be replenished.

Therefore, there has been proposed or provided a developer replenishing device for accommodating and using the developer accommodating container directly in the developer replenishing device in the image forming apparatus.

Conventionally, there are various types of developer replenishing devices using a bottle-shaped developer accommodating container. For example, a spiral protrusion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical container body. , A developer accommodating container having a developer discharge opening formed at one end side of the container main body is installed substantially horizontally in the image forming apparatus, and then the developer supply container is rotated in the axial direction thereof so that In some cases, the accommodated developer is moved to the developer discharge opening side by a spiral protrusion, discharged from the developer discharge opening, and the discharged developer is supplied to the developing device.

A cap is detachably attached to the developer discharge opening, and the developing device storage container in which the cap is removed to open the developer discharge opening is mounted in the image forming apparatus.

Further, there is also one that automatically opens and closes the developer discharge port sealing seal when the cylindrical developer accommodating container is mounted and the developer accommodating container is pushed in the axial direction of the cylinder. 10-213957).

Further, there is also a toner supply device in which augers are installed in a plurality of toner accommodating portions, the toner is circulated by rotating the augers, and a toner supply port to a developing device is arranged in the middle of the circulation path (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. HEI-HEI). 3-217879).

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the following problems in a developer container and a developer replenishing device for supplying the developer from the developer container to the developing device. Is. The problems to be solved by the invention will be listed below.

(1) In the above-mentioned prior art, in order to keep the developing density constant, it is necessary to replenish the developer replenishing device with the developer by the operator at regular intervals. At this time, the developer may overflow due to excessive replenishment. However, there is a drawback that the opening sealing material of the developing container must be removed in advance and the clothes and the device may be soiled.

(2) In a replenishing device in which the inside of the temporary developer storage tank is divided into a plurality of developer storage spaces and the developer circulates in the plurality of storage spaces, when the developer is conveyed by using the developer conveying spiral screw, The developer is biased to one side by the conveying force of the spiral screw blades, and if the developer replenishment port is provided directly below the developer conveying spiral screw in the developer circulation path, the developer will not fall into the replenishment port and the desired amount of developer will be developed. There are drawbacks in that it cannot be supplied to the apparatus, the storage tank cannot be fully used, and a desired amount of developer cannot be stored in the storage tank.

(3) As a measure against the above-mentioned inability to supply the desired amount to the developing device, if a replenishing port is provided outside the circulation path and the developer conveying spiral screw is arranged up to the vicinity,
If the developer loses its place near the replenishment port, overflows, or causes packing, and if the spiral screw is stopped in the circulation path, the developer cannot be sufficiently conveyed to the replenishment port and the desired amount of development is performed in the developing device. There was a drawback that the agent could not be supplied.

(4) Further, as a measure against the developer being biased to one side due to the conveying force of the spiral screw blade, if a spiral screw with a hole in which part of the blade of the spiral screw is formed is used, Unevenness can be mitigated, but the carrying force is reduced, so that the developer tends to stay near the developer detection sensor, and the detection of the presence or absence of the developer by the sensor becomes unstable.
The amount of developer remaining in the temporary storage space cannot be kept constant, and the number of copies that can be made after detection of the remaining amount varies, so there is sufficient developer in the temporary storage hopper when the remaining amount in the temporary storage space is detected. However, there is a problem that the developer is lost before the developer container is prepared and copying becomes impossible.

(5) If the developer replenishing port is provided just below the spiral screw in the storage space, a developer conveying device toward the developing device is required under the replenishing port, which causes a problem that the device becomes large. there were.

The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. The developer storage container can be easily loaded into the apparatus without soiling clothes or the apparatus when the developer is replaced. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that can supply a desired amount of developer to the developing device without clogging of the developer in the device, and can always make a predetermined number of copies after the developer supply instruction is displayed.

[0017]

The above objects of the present invention can be achieved by the following components.

A developer replenishing device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a temporary developer storage tank (hopper), and the interior of the temporary developer storage tank is divided into a plurality of storage spaces. In a developer replenishing device in which the developer is circulated between spaces, the developer replenishing port to the developing portion is arranged at a position deviated from the developer circulation path.

Further, a developer replenishing device according to a sixth aspect is provided with a temporary developer storage tank (hopper), and the inside of the temporary developer storage tank is divided into a plurality of storage spaces. In the developer replenishing device in which the developer is circulated between the storage spaces, the developer circulating means is a spiral screw, the spiral screw vanes are partially removed, and the developing portion is developed at the vane-free position. It is characterized in that an agent supply port is provided.

A developer replenishing device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is
A temporary developer storage tank (hopper) having a developer supply port to the developing section is provided, and the interior of the temporary developer storage tank is divided into a plurality of storage spaces. In the developer replenishing device in which the developer is circulated, the developer circulating means is a spiral screw, and a part of the screw blade is constituted by a perforated blade spiral screw.

A developer replenishing device according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention is
A temporary developer storage tank (hopper) is provided, and the interior of the temporary developer storage tank is divided into a plurality of storage spaces, and the developer supply is such that the developer is circulated between the plurality of storage spaces. In the apparatus, the developer circulating means is a spiral screw, the storage space having the developer replenishing port is provided with a developer residual amount detection sensor, and the spiral screw of the storage space is located above the residual amount detection sensor. -The downstream spiral screw blade is characterized by being a holeless blade.

A developer replenishing device according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention is
A temporary developer storage tank (hopper) is provided, and the interior of the temporary developer storage tank is divided into a plurality of storage spaces, and the developer supply is such that the developer is circulated between the plurality of storage spaces. In the apparatus, the developer supply port to the developing section is arranged at a position outside the developer circulation path,
The means for circulating the developer is a spiral screw, a part of the screw blade is constituted by a perforated blade spiral screw, and a part of the spiral screw blade is eliminated, and the developer to the developing portion is placed at the position where the blade is eliminated. A feature is that a supply port is provided.

Further, the developer replenishing method according to claim 17 is
A temporary developer storage tank (hopper) is provided, and the interior of the temporary developer storage tank is divided into a plurality of storage spaces, and the developer supply is such that the developer is circulated between the plurality of storage spaces. In the method, the developer replenishing port to the developing unit is arranged at a position outside the developer circulation path,
The means for circulating the developer is a spiral screw, a part of the screw blade is constituted by a perforated blade spiral screw, and a part of the spiral screw blade is eliminated, and the developer to the developing portion is placed at the position where the blade is eliminated. A developer replenishing method having a replenishing port is characterized.

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the originals are placed on the original feed table 11 of the automatic original feeder 1 with the image surface facing upward, and are fed one by one by the operation of the feed roller 12, and are temporarily stopped by the registration roller 13 and the leading edge is stopped. After being adjusted, the image surface is read by the image reading unit 2 as an image reading means in the process of being conveyed counterclockwise together with the drum surface, and then at the position where the drum is substantially half-circulated. The paper is branched from the surface and discharged to the paper discharge table 15.

In the image reading section 2, the light source 231 is used.
A first mirror unit 23 including a mirror 232 and a mirror 232 illuminates and reads a document passing therethrough at a position directly below the transport drum 14, and includes a mirror 241 and a mirror 242 arranged so as to be orthogonal to the moving direction of the document. The light is reflected by the two-mirror unit 24 and forms an image on the linear image pickup device 26 via the image forming lens 25.

When the original is placed on the platen glass 27 and the image information is read, the movable light source 231a is used.
And a first mirror unit including a first mirror 232a,
The light is reflected by the second mirror unit including the mirrors 241a and 242a, and similarly forms an image on the linear image sensor 26 via the imaging lens 25. The above is the image reading unit 2
Is.

The image information of the document read by the image reading section 2 is subjected to image processing by an image processing section (not shown), signalized as image data, and temporarily stored in the memory.

When the image formation is started, the image forming unit 3 which is an image forming means starts to operate, the image data is called from the memory and input to the image writing unit 33, and the image data is supplied from a laser light emitter (not shown) according to the image data. The projected laser beam is subjected to axial scanning exposure of the photosensitive drum 31 and rotation of the photosensitive drum 31 with respect to the photosensitive drum 31, which has been previously given a potential by the charger 32 by the rotation operation of the polygon mirror (no reference numeral). Sub-scanning is performed to form an electrostatic latent image of the original image on the photosensitive layer.

The electrostatic latent image is reversely developed by the developing device 34 to form a toner image, and in parallel with this, a manual sheet feeding section 16 as a recording sheet feeding means or a sheet feeding section 5 for accommodating the recording sheet. One of the paper feed cassettes 90, 91, 92 is operated to carry out the recording paper, and the recording paper is fed to the conveyance rollers 93, 94 and the timing roller 39, and the photoconductor drum 31.
The sheet is fed to the photoconductor drum 31 in synchronization with the upper toner image.

The toner image on the photosensitive drum 31 is transferred to the transfer device 3
5, the recording paper on which the toner image is transferred is discharged by the static eliminator 36, separated from the photosensitive drum 31, and separated by the fixing belt 38 from the photosensitive drum 31. Then, the toner is fused and fixed by the contact pressure heating of the pair of heat rollers and then discharged to the tray 95.

On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 31 with the recording paper separated
After removing the residual potential, the cleaning device 37 removes and cleans the residual toner to start the next image forming process.

The image is formed as described above, and the consumed developer is supplied from the developer container 40 to the developer temporary storage tank (hereinafter simply referred to as a hopper) 67 and the developing device 34. It is replenished to the developing device 34 via the agent replenishing section 61.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a method of replacing a developer accommodating container in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows a developer accommodating container and a temporary developer storage tank (hopper) of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows a relationship.

In FIG. 3, when the amount of the developer in the hopper 67 is low, the remaining amount detecting sensor 70, which will be described later, detects that the developer is absent, and displays a "developer supply" instruction on the operation panel (not shown).

Even if this display is performed, the image forming apparatus continues the image formation if the image formation is in progress, and accepts a new image formation if the image formation is stopped.

2 and 3, the operator prepares a new developer accommodating container by this display, opens the developer accommodating container replacement door 50, and tilts the drawer lever 51 in the X direction shown in the drawing to hold the accommodating container holding hook 56. And the drive motor mounting member 623 fixed to the apparatus main body are disengaged. As a result, the storage container base 52 can be pulled out, and the telescopic rail 53 fixed to the apparatus main body is extended by grasping the pull-out lever and pulling it out in the X direction shown in the drawing. The storage container 40 is pulled out of the device.

By pulling out, the slide lid A flange 431 comes into contact with the slide lid hook 57 and the slide lid 43.
Is pressed in the Y direction shown in the drawing, and a flexible opening seal member in the form of an endless film such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which is not shown closes the developer discharge opening (not shown) to prevent the developer from leaking and scattering, and at the same time, the development is performed. The driven coupling 45 of the agent storage container is disengaged from the drive coupling 63 on the storage unit drive side.

At the position where the developer storage container 40 is pulled out of the apparatus main body 4, the retractable position of the telescopic rail 53 is regulated by a stopper (not shown).

At this position, the used developer accommodating container 40 on the accommodating container base is removed upward, and then the fixed lid 41 of the new developer accommodating container is used as the fixed lid holding member 55, and the slide lid 43 is used as the slide lid holding member. It is inserted in alignment with the positioning groove (not shown) of 58.

At this point, the slide lid 43 of the developer accommodating container is positioned in advance at the Y direction tip of the developer accommodating container, and the flexible opening sealing member (not shown) seals the developer discharging opening (not shown) to prevent the developer from leaking. Prevents leakage.

Next, when the pull-out lever 51 is grasped and pushed into the apparatus main body 4, the storage container opening 44 is inserted into the mounting portion 54 while sliding on the inner surface of the porous member 59.
The slide lid B flange 432 has a ring-shaped porous member 5
9, the slide lid 43 is moved in the X direction in the figure, and the flexible opening seal member (not shown) opens the developer discharge opening (not shown).

As a result, the developer is prevented from leaking out of the apparatus, and the position of the developer storage container opening 44 is set at the hopper 6.
The developer can be replenished to the developer replenishing device when it coincides with the position of the developer input port 66 of 7.

Then, the driven coupling 45 of the developer accommodating container is detachably engaged with the drive coupling 63 on the drive side of the accommodating portion (even if the driven coupling 45 is not engaged during insertion, a spring (not shown) attached to the drive coupling is used. The coupling is constantly pushed toward the developer accommodating container, and the drive coupling 6
Driven coupling 45 of developer storage container when 3 rotates
And the drive coupling 63 on the drive side coincides with each other and engages removably), and the storage container drive motor 60 allows the developer storage container 40 to rotate via the power transmission gear 601.

When the pull-out lever 51 is returned (standing up) after pushing, the storage container holding hook 56 is engaged with the drive motor mounting member 623 to hold the developer storage container, and finally the developer storage container replacement lid 50 is closed. The replacement of the developer container is completed.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a temporary developer storage tank (hopper) of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a spiral screw blade shape view of the temporary developer storage tank (hopper) of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the spiral screw of the temporary developer storage tank (hopper) of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, the developer storage container 40 is rotated in the direction of the arrow by the storage container drive motor 60 via the power transmission gear 601, and the side wall 68 is formed on the upper surface of the hopper 67.
The developer inside the hopper 67 charged from the developer charging port 66 provided between the 1 and the remaining amount detecting sensor 70 is a developer guiding spiral convex portion which is a developer guiding portion protruding inside the developer accommodating container. Sent to the storage container opening 44 by 42,
When the storage container opening (not shown) is located on the lower side in the drawing, it falls into the hopper 67.

Then, a spiral screw described later in the hopper 67 rotates from the storage container drive motor 60 via the power transmission gear 601 and the one-way gear 602, and the dropped developer is conveyed to the developer replenishing section 61 side via the hopper 67. To be done.

The hopper 67 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. The hopper 67 comprises a first hopper 68, which is a plurality of divided storage spaces, and a second hopper 69, which is shorter than the first hopper, and has a first hopper protrusion 79 for the second hopper and a developer replenishing section 61 for developing. The agent supply port 76 is opened.

Both the first and second hoppers are partitioned by a partition plate 78, and the partition plate A is partitioned by the partition plate A at both ends of the second hopper.
The opening 781 and the partition plate B opening 782 are opened, and the hopper 6
7, the partition plate openings 781 and 782 of the developer circulating path, and the second hopper 69 and the first hopper 68 of the first hopper 68 with respect to the second hopper.
It is possible to circulate the developer in the portion excluding.

The first and second hoppers are respectively provided with a first spiral screw 71 and a second spiral screw 72 which are means for circulating a developer, and a first spiral screw shaft 711 and a second spiral screw shaft are provided. Reference numeral 721 denotes a hopper of the hopper so that the outer circumferences of the first spiral screw blade 712 and the second spiral screw blade 722 arranged on the shafts have a slight gap on the arc-shaped inner walls of the first and second hoppers, respectively. Longitudinal side walls 681 and 682 and 691 and 69
Each of the two is rotatably supported.

The first spiral screw shaft 711 is rotated in the arrow direction by the storage container drive motor 60 through the power transmission gear 601 and the one-way gear 602, and the first spiral screw shaft 711 is the developer replenishment drive motor 6
Power transmission gear 621 and one-way gear 622 from 2
Is rotated in the direction of the arrow.

The first spiral screw shaft 711 rotates the second spiral screw shaft 721 in the arrow direction by a gear, a chain or the like (not shown).

A developer residual amount detecting sensor 70 utilizing, for example, a piezo element pressure sensor is provided on the hopper side wall at a position approximately 90 mm from the side wall 681 of the first hopper to the side wall side.

In order to prevent the developer from adhering to the developer remaining amount detecting sensor, the first spiral screw 71 is provided with a sensor cleaner 73 instead of the spiral screw blade at the mounting position of the developer detecting sensor. There is.

In the sensor cleaner, a cleaning plate 731 made of a flexible PET sheet or the like having a width of about 20 mm is fixed to the first spiral screw shaft 711 so as to contact the inner wall of the hopper, and the surface of the detection sensor is rotated by the rotation of the spiral screw. To scrape off the adhering developer.

The first spiral screw blade 712 has a spiral shape twisted in the same direction with a uniform pitch, and as shown in FIG. 4, the side wall 681 side is located near the side wall 681.
The side wall 682 side is provided up to about 20 mm (a little less than one pitch of the spiral screw) side wall side of the side wall 691 of the second hopper 69 except for the mounting portion of the sensor cleaner 73 described above.

Further, the replenishment A plane portion 741 which is a plane portion (paddle) from the end face of the screw wing 712 to the replenishment edge position is replenished from the end face position of the first spiral screw wing 712 on the side wall 682 side of the first spiral screw 71. It is disposed parallel to the spiral screw shaft toward the outer side of the circulation path up to the edge position on the side wall side of the mouth 76, and on the opposite side from the first spiral screw shaft 711 to the opposite side from the cutting surface position of the spiral screw to the second hopper side wall. The replenishment B plane portion 742 is arranged parallel to the spiral screw shaft up to the 691 plane position (thus, only the first spiral screw shaft 711 is arranged in the region above the replenishment port 76 in the first hopper, and the spiral screw blade is also flat. Part is not provided).

By rotating the replenishment A / B plane portions 741 and 742, a part of the developer conveyed in the first hopper is sent over the partition plate A opening 781 to the second hopper 69, and at the same time, the replenishment A plane. The portion 741 conveys the remaining developer to the replenishing port 76 and sends it.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the replenishment A / B plane portion 7
41 and 742 have the same width in the radial direction of the screw axis as the radius of the screw.

At least the replenishment A plane portion 741 is formed by integrally forming the spiral screw and the plane portion, or is continuously formed by another member.

The first spiral screw 71 is shown in FIG.
The holeless spiral screw blade 713 shown in FIG. 4 and a part of the spiral screw blade 714 are formed by a perforated spiral screw blade 714 with a half-moon shaped hole 715 formed vertically with respect to the central axis, and in FIG. A spiral screw blade 714 with holes is arranged from the remaining amount detection sensor 70 to the mounting portion,
Side wall 682 direction 9 from the mounting portion of the remaining amount sensor 70
0mm (4.5 pitch) with no screw hole screw screw 7
13 is provided, and the above-described supply A / B plane portions 741 and 7 are provided.
A holeless spiral screw blade 713 is arranged at a distance of 60 mm (approximately 3 pitches) from the side wall side end surface of 42 to the side wall 681, and a holed spiral screw blade 714 is arranged at the remaining central portion.

Here, the first spiral screw 71 is a spiral screw blade downstream of the detection sensor, from the mounting portion of the remaining amount detection sensor 70 to the replenishment A / B plane portion 7
41 and 742 may be provided with holeless spiral screw blades 713, and the remaining portion may be provided with holed spiral screw blades 714 and the like.

Further, the first spiral screw 71 is provided with a holeless spiral screw blade 713 of 40 mm (approximately 2 pitches) or more in the direction of the supply A / B planes 741 and 742 in the downstream direction from the mounting portion of the remaining amount detection sensor 70. Install the remaining supply A and B plane parts 741 and 742 and the remaining amount detection sensor 7
0 Perforated spiral helix clew wing 71 from mounting part to side wall
You may arrange 4 etc.

Further, the first spiral screw 71 is a spiral screw blade upstream of the detection sensor, and a holeless spiral screw blade 713 is provided from the mounting portion of the remaining amount detection sensor 70 to the side wall in the upstream direction. The remaining portion may be provided with perforated spiral screw blades 714 and the like up to the supply A / B plane portions 741 and 742.

Further, the first spiral screw 71 is replenished from the remaining amount detecting sensor 70 mounting portion to the upstream side wall, and from the remaining amount detecting sensor 70 mounting portion in the downstream direction A / B.
40 mm (approximately 2 pitches) in the direction of the plane portions 741 and 742
The above may be provided with the spiral screw blade 713 without holes, and the remaining portion may be provided with the spiral screw blade 714 with holes to the supply A / B plane portions 741 and 742.

Further, the first spiral screw 71 is replenished A / B from the mounting portion of the remaining amount detecting sensor 70 to the upstream side wall and from the mounting portion of the remaining amount detecting sensor 70 in the downstream direction.
Helical screw blades 7 without holes up to the plane parts 741 and 742
13 may be provided.

The second spiral screw blade 722 has a spiral shape with the same uniform pitch as that of the first spiral screw 71 and is twisted in the same direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the side wall 691 side is located close to the side wall 692. Side is approximately 35m from the side wall
m (spiral screw approximately 1.5 pitch) is provided up to the side wall 691 side.

From the end face of the spiral screw to the side wall 69
The input A flat surface 751 having a length of about 20 mm (a little less than one pitch) in the axial direction in two directions is arranged parallel to the spiral screw shaft,
A throw-in B plane portion 752 having the same length is arranged parallel to the spiral screw shaft at the same axial position on the opposite side with respect to the second spiral screw shaft 721. Both flat surfaces 751,7
Both 52 have a width in the radial direction of the screw axis that is the same as the screw radius, and the developer conveyed in the second hopper passes through the partition plate B opening 782 and rotates to the first hopper 68 due to the rotation of both flat surfaces. Sent in.

In the second spiral screw 72, the holeless spiral screw blade 713 shown in FIG.
4 with a perforated spiral screw wing 714 shown in FIG.
20 m from the end face of the side wall 691 toward the side wall 692.
m (substantially 1 pitch) and the above-mentioned input AB plane portion 751
20mm from the side wall side end face of the and 752 to the side wall 691 side
The spiral screw blades 713 without holes are arranged (approximately 1 pitch), and the spiral screw blades 714 with holes are arranged in the remaining central portion.

Here, the second spiral screw 72 may have a perforated spiral screw blade 714 from the end face of the side wall 691 to the charging A / B planes 751 and 752.

The second spiral screw 72 has a side wall 69.
The holeless spiral screw blade 713 may be formed from the one end surface portion to the charging A / B flat surface portions 751 and 752.

In both the first and second spiral screws in FIG. 5, the central axis of the spiral screw blade with holes 714 has a quadrangular shape, but may have a cylindrical shape.

Further, the holes of the perforated spiral screw may be triangular, square, circular, elliptical or any other shape as long as the holes of the perforated spiral screw have the same area as the above-mentioned half-moon shaped hole.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the replenishing flat surface portions 741 and 742 of the first spiral screw 71 and the input AB flat surface portions 751 and 752 of the second spiral screw 72 are shown with respect to the central axis of the spiral screw. Θ = 0 ° to 30
Formed with an inclination of °, it reduces the axial conveying force of the developer and prevents packing of the developer, etc., and enables stable conveyance.

As described above, when the developer container 40 rotates to replenish the developer to the hopper 67, the replenishing portion spiral screw 80 of the developer replenishing portion 61 rotates to replenish the developer to the developing device 34. In either case, the first spiral screw 71 and the second spiral screw 72 rotate in the opposite directions, respectively, and the developer is conveyed in opposite directions in the axial direction, and the developer is described above due to the rotation of the flat portion of the spiral screw. The partition plates A and B of the first and second hoppers are passed over the openings 781 and 782 to circulate between the two hoppers. Further, the remaining amount detection sensor 70 is always cleaned.

As described above, the developer in the storage tank does not become stuck or clogged, circulates between the first and second hoppers, and the desired developer is sent to the replenishment port, and the residual amount detection is stable without erroneous detection. Thus, it is possible to stably supply the developer to the developing supply unit.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the relationship between the temporary developer storage tank (hopper) of the image forming apparatus of the present invention and the developer replenishing section for the developing apparatus.

The first hopper projecting portion 7 with respect to the second hopper of the first hopper 68 in which only the first spiral screw shaft 711 is provided and neither the spiral screw shaft nor the flat surface portion is provided.
9, a part of the upper side of the replenishing portion spiral screw 80 of the developer replenishing portion 61 is orthogonal to the first hopper 68 and the developing device replenishing port 81 is inclined upward so that the developer is A replenishment section 61 is provided.

Here, the developer replenishing section 61 does not cross at a right angle and 45
They may intersect with each other within an angle range of 90 ° to 90 °, and may be arranged horizontally without being inclined.

The replenishing portion spiral screw 80, which is a developer replenishing means for replenishing the developer to the developing device 34, is rotated in the direction of the arrow by the developer replenishing drive motor 62 via the power transmission gear 621 to the developing device 34. And the developer replenishing drive motor 62 simultaneously replenishes the first
The spiral screw 71 is rotated to convey the developer toward the developing device supply port 81.

In this way, the developer fed from the replenishing port 76 of the first hopper 68 to the developer replenishing section 61 is conveyed obliquely upward by the replenishing section spiral screw 80, and from the developing device replenishing port 81 to the replenishing port. The toner is fed into an unillustrated input port of the developing device 34 arranged below.

[0083]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained, that is, the developer storage container is placed on the storage container stand that is pulled out of the apparatus, and is simply pushed inward to automatically open the storage container opening. By opening it, the storage container can be easily replaced without soiling clothes or equipment.

Further, the temporary storage tank for the developer is divided into a plurality of temporary storage spaces, and the developer is circulated and conveyed between the plurality of storage spaces by a spiral screw whose part is a perforated screw blade to replenish the developing device. By providing the opening outside the circulation path and by orthogonalizing the circulation path and the supply path to the developing device, a desired amount of the developer can be stored in the temporary storage tank and at the same time the desired amount of the developer can be blocked. It is possible to stably supply the toner to the developing device without sticking, and it is possible to always make a predetermined number of copies after the developer supply instruction is displayed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a method of replacing a developer accommodating container in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between a developer storage container and a developer temporary storage tank (hopper) of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a temporary developer storage tank (hopper) of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a spiral screw blade shape diagram of a developer temporary storage tank (hopper) of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a spiral screw of a temporary developer storage tank (hopper) of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a relationship between a temporary developer storage tank (hopper) of the image forming apparatus of the present invention and a developer replenishing unit for the developing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

40 developer container 60 Storage container drive motor 61 Developer Supply Section 62 Developer replenishment drive motor 66 slot 67 Temporary developer storage tank (hopper) 68 First Hopper 69 Second Hopper 70 Remaining amount detection sensor 71 1st spiral screw 72 Second spiral screw 741 Supply A plane section 751 Input A plane part 76 Supply port 78 Partition board 79 First hopper protrusion 82 Biting part

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A developer temporary storage tank (hopper) is provided, and the interior of the developer temporary storage tank is divided into a plurality of storage spaces. The developer is circulated between the plurality of storage spaces. In the developer replenishing device described above, the developer replenishing port to the developing portion is arranged at a position outside the developer circulation path. 2. The developer circulating means is a spiral screw, and a flat surface portion (paddle) is provided at one end portion of the spiral screw in one of the storage spaces, and the flat surface portion is close to the developer supply port. The developer replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein an end surface of the spiral screw is extended in a plane shape toward the outside of the circulation path. 3. The developer replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the flat portion is formed in a shape integrally formed with the blade of the spiral screw or in a continuous shape. . 4. The flat extension is formed between 0 ° and 30 ° with respect to the central axis direction of the spiral screw centering on the boundary between the spiral screw and the plane. Item 4. The developer replenishing device according to any one of items 3. 5. The developer replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the region above the developer replenishing port of the storage space is not provided with a spiral screw blade and a flat surface portion. . 6. A temporary developer storage tank (hopper) is provided, and the interior of the temporary developer storage tank is divided into a plurality of storage spaces, and the developer is circulated between the plurality of storage spaces. In the developer replenishing device described above, the developer circulating means is a spiral screw, and a part of the screw of the spiral screw is eliminated, and a developer replenishing port to the developing portion is provided at a position where the wing is eliminated. Agent supply device. 7. A developer replenishing portion for a developing device is provided below the developer replenishing port, and a developer replenishing spiral screw for replenishing the developer to the developing device is arranged in the developer replenishing portion. The developer replenishing device according to claim 6, which is characterized in that. 8. A part of the developer replenishing spiral screw is inserted into a part of the developer temporary storage tank (hopper) where the spiral screw wing is lost or a part where a flat surface part is not arranged. Claim 6 or 7
Item 7. The developer replenishing device according to item. 9. The central axis of the developer replenishing spiral screw is arranged at an angle to the vertical plane of the central axis of the spiral screw, and is perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the central axis of the spiral screw. The developer replenishing device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the developer replenishing device is disposed so as to have the same surface or an inclination. 10. A temporary developer storage tank (hopper) having a developer supply port to a developing section is provided, and the interior of the temporary developer storage tank is divided into a plurality of storage spaces. In the developer replenishing device adapted to circulate the developer between the storage spaces, the developer circulating means is a spiral screw, and a part of the screw blade is constituted by a perforated blade spiral screw. Developer supply device. 11. The storage space having the developer supply port is provided with a developer remaining amount detecting sensor, and the spiral screw of the storage space has a spiral screw blade downstream of the remaining amount detecting sensor, The developer replenishing device according to claim 10, wherein: 12. The storage space having the developer replenishing port is provided with a developer remaining amount detecting sensor, and a spiral screw of the storage space is provided with the holeless blade arrangement range downstream of the remaining amount detecting sensor. , 40 from the remaining amount sensor
11. The developer replenishing device according to claim 10, wherein the width is 2 mm or more or the pitch of the spiral screw blades is 2 or more. 13. The storage space having the developer replenishing port is provided with a developer remaining amount detecting sensor, and the spiral screw of the storage space has a spiral screw blade upstream of the remaining amount detecting sensor, The developer replenishing device according to claim 10, wherein: 14. The storage space having the developer replenishing port is provided with a developer remaining amount detecting sensor, and a spiral screw of the storage space is provided with the holeless blade arrangement range downstream of the remaining amount detecting sensor. 40m from the remaining amount sensor
11. The developer replenishing device according to claim 10, wherein the blade width of the spiral screw is 2 m or more, or the blade pitch of the spiral screw is 2 pitches or more, and the spiral screw blade upstream of the remaining amount detecting sensor is the holeless blade. 15. A temporary developer storage tank (hopper) is provided, and the interior of the temporary developer storage tank is divided into a plurality of storage spaces. The developer is circulated between the plurality of storage spaces. In the developer replenishing device described above, the developer circulating means is a spiral screw, the storage space having the developer replenishing port is provided with a developer remaining amount detecting sensor, and the spiral screw of the storage space is the residual screw. A developer replenishing device characterized in that the spiral screw blades on the upper and lower sides of the amount detection sensor are blades without holes. 16. A developer temporary storage tank (hopper) is provided, and the interior of the developer temporary storage tank is divided into a plurality of storage spaces, and the developer is circulated between the plurality of storage spaces. In the developer replenishing device described above, the developer replenishing port to the developing section is arranged at a position deviated from the developer circulating path, the developer circulating means is a spiral screw, and a part of the screw wing is perforated. A developer replenishing device comprising a spiral screw, wherein a part of the wing of the spiral screw is eliminated, and a developer replenishing port to the developing section is provided at a position where the wing is eliminated. 17. A developer temporary storage tank (hopper) is provided, and the interior of the developer temporary storage tank is divided into a plurality of storage spaces, and the developer is circulated between the plurality of storage spaces. In the developer replenishing method described above, the developer replenishing port to the developing section is arranged at a position deviated from the developer circulating path, the developer circulating means is a spiral screw, and a part of the screw wing is perforated. A developer replenishing method characterized by comprising a spiral screw, eliminating a part of the spiral screw wing, and providing a developer replenishing port to the developing section at a position where the wing is eliminated.