JP2003202739A - Developer-replenishing container and developer- replenishing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developer-replenishing container having a simple configuration and more efficiently transporting and discharging a developer to replenish the developer to a developing device and a developer-replenishing device. <P>SOLUTION: The developer-replenishing container 1 is unrotatably mounted in the rotary developing device 30 and exhibits revolution movement with the rotation axis of the rotary developing device 30 centered accompanying the rotation of the rotary developing device 30. The developer-replenishing container 1 houses the developer and has a container main body 1a having an opening portion 1b for discharging the developer, and a partition wall 2 provided by extending in the rotation axis direction in the container main body 1a. To transport the developer in the container main body 1a in the rotation axis direction and to discharge the developer from the opening portion 1b by means of the revolution movement accompanying the rotation of the rotary developing device 30, projecting parts 2 having a declined face in the same direction with respect to the rotation axis are provided on the both faces of the partition wall 2 while projected from the partition wall 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image of a copying machine, a printer or the like for forming an image by developing a latent image formed by using an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system with a toner included in a developer. The present invention relates to a developer supply container and a developer supply device for supplying a developer to a forming device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a developer replenishing technique for replenishing a developer from a developer replenishing container to a developing device by utilizing the rotation of a rotary developing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a support body rotatable around a rotation center is arranged to face an image carrier, and the support body is rotated so that a plurality of developing devices arranged on the support body are carried. A rotary developing device has been developed in which the latent image on the image carrier is developed by a developer of a desired color by sequentially moving to a developing position facing the body.

In this type of rotary developing device, a developer replenishing container having a discharge opening is connected to each of the developing devices so as to revolve around the rotation center together with a plurality of developing devices. There are various proposals for replenishing the developer in the developer replenishing container by gravity dropping from the discharge opening to replenish each developing device.

For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-38722 proposes a toner replenishing container having a rotary conveying member for conveying the toner by rotating in order to discharge the toner as a developer without leaving the container. Has been done.

However, according to the above construction, for example, a seal such as a drive coupling portion for transmitting the drive from the outside to the rotary conveying member in the developer supply container main body is required. Problems such as ups are inevitable. Further, since the developer supply container is a consumable item, the rotating conveyance member inside is also discarded together when it is replaced, which is not preferable from the viewpoint of resource conservation and global environment conservation.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the developer replenishing container revolves around the rotary shaft of the rotary developing device together with the developing device without providing a rotating conveying member for rotation in the developer replenishing container. Then, there is proposed a developer supply container in which the developer is conveyed toward the discharge opening portion by a baffle fixed in the developer supply container main body and can be discharged from the discharge opening portion.

As shown in FIG. 18, the baffle used in this developer supply container has a partition wall-like plate member 2'provided so as to divide the inside of the toner supply container main body into a plurality of parts and both surfaces of the partition wall. The movement of the developer when the developer replenishing container revolves around the rotation axis together with the developing device, the projection 2a 'having a surface inclined in the opposite direction to the rotation axis of the rotary developing device provided. Is used to convey and discharge the developer in the direction of the discharge opening 1b '. With such a configuration, it becomes possible to exhibit good developer transport / discharge performance with a simple configuration. Furthermore, by using the toner replenishing container having such a configuration, without using a complicated configuration such as a rotary conveying member,
The increase in the number of parts can be minimized, and the cost has been reduced.

[0008]

As described above, the developer revolving in the developer supply container is used to convey the developer in the container to the discharge opening without using a rotary conveying member or the like. The supply container rotates and stops relatively gently,
When it is used in a system in which it is continuously rotated by at least 180 ° or more, the action of the partition wall in the developer supply container and the inclined surface provided rotationally symmetrically with respect to the center of the partition wall, specifically, By the action of the protrusions provided on both sides of the partition wall and having surfaces inclined in opposite directions to the rotation axis of the rotary developing device, the developer moves so as to slide down on the partition wall and the protrusion. This makes it possible to reliably and effectively convey and discharge the developer in the developer supply container.

However, in recent years, there has been a demand for an increase in the image forming speed of the image forming apparatus, and in order to follow it, the developing speed of the developing device and the moving speed of each developing device in the rotary developing device to the developing position are increasing more and more. It tends to be faster. In addition, the manufacturing technology of the toner used in the image forming apparatus is also advancing day by day, and the toner particles are becoming spherical and their diameters are becoming smaller.

In such a technical situation, in a system in which the rotation speed of the rotary developing device is abruptly rotated / stopped unlike the above, the developer replenishment having the partition wall having the above-mentioned configuration is provided. When a developer replenishment test was actually performed using a container, it was confirmed that the developer filled inside jumped from the partition wall due to the inertial force due to the abrupt rotation and stop of the rotary developing device.

As a result, the developer jumps over the place where the developer should be conveyed by sliding down on the partition wall and the protrusions that normally project from the partition wall, so that the developer projects from the partition wall and the partition wall. The phenomenon that the developer does not slide down on the protrusions and the influences of the partition wall and the protrusions protruding from the partition wall cannot be exerted by this, and the developer transporting / discharging performance cannot be sufficiently exerted. confirmed.

Further, as described above, the rotation is relatively gentle.
When there is a developer replenishment container at a position where the baffle does not inherently perform the transport function in the system for stopping, specifically, the protrusion protruding from the partition wall provided on the baffle is opposite to the direction in which the developer is transported. In a system in which the rotary developing device suddenly rotates and stops when tilted in the direction, the developer jumps upward. Then, after that, the developer slides down on the projection inclined in the direction opposite to the direction in which the developer is desired to be conveyed, which causes a problem that the developer flows back in the direction opposite to the desired direction.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a developer replenishing container and a developer replenishing device which are capable of efficiently conveying and discharging a developer and replenishing it to a developing device with a simple structure. is there.

Another object of the present invention is to revolve the revolving developing device with a simple structure even in a system in which the revolving speed of the revolving developing device is increased as the copying speed of the image forming apparatus is increased. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developer replenishing container and a developer replenishing device that can efficiently convey and discharge a developer by utilizing movement.

Still another object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of developer remaining in the developer supply container,
It is possible to prevent the development of agglomerated coarse particles of the developer, and even if the developer hardens after distribution and storage, the revolution motion is used to loosen the developer and obtain good discharge performance. To provide a developer supply container and a developer supply device which can be used.

[0016]

The above objects can be achieved by a developer supply container and a developer supply device according to the present invention. In summary, the first aspect of the present invention is a developing device which is non-rotatably mounted on a rotary developing device and revolves around the rotation axis of the rotary developing device as the rotary developing device rotates. It is a developer supply container that stores developer inside,
A container main body having an opening for discharging the developer; and a partition wall provided inside the container main body so as to extend in the rotation axis direction; and an orbital motion associated with the rotation of the rotary developing device. In order to convey the developer in the container body in the rotation axis direction and discharge the developer from the opening,
The developer replenishing container is characterized in that projections having a surface inclined in the same direction with respect to the rotation axis are provided on both surfaces of the partition wall so as to project from the partition wall.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a rotary developing device which rotates about a rotary shaft; and a non-rotatably mounted on the rotary developing device, wherein the rotary developing device rotates to rotate the rotary developing device. A developer replenishing container that revolves around the axis of rotation of the rotary developing device; and wherein the developer replenishing container stores the developer therein,
A container main body having an opening for discharging the developer, and a partition wall provided inside the container main body so as to extend in the rotation axis direction, and revolves with the rotation of the rotary developing device. In order to convey the developer in the container body in the rotation axis direction and discharge the developer from the opening,
Provided is a developer replenishing device, characterized in that projections having surfaces inclined in the same direction with respect to the rotation axis are provided on both surfaces of the partition wall so as to project from the partition wall.

According to each of the embodiments of the present invention, the peripheral speed is 0.1 to 2 m / in association with the rotation of the rotary developing device.
sec, and the time required to reach from the moving state at this peripheral speed to the stopped state or from the stopped state to the moving state at this peripheral speed is 0.01 to 0.1 sec.
Under the condition of c, the orbital motion starts and stops intermittently. In one embodiment, the revolution radius of the revolution movement of the developer supply container is 50 mm or more and 300 mm or less.

In another embodiment of each of the above inventions, the partition wall is provided with a hole portion penetrating the partition wall. Further, the partition wall can be provided so as to divide the inside of the container main body excluding the region where the opening is provided into a plurality of parts. Dividing into two, the protrusions are provided on both sides of the partition wall. The cross-sectional shape of the protrusion may be L-shaped, and the cross-sectional shape of the protrusion may have a curved shape. In addition, according to each of the other embodiments of the present invention, the container body has a substantially cylindrical shape. According to another embodiment, the container body has a tubular shape with a non-circular cross section.
The opening is preferably provided on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical container body, and the opening is provided so as to discharge the developer in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction. .

In each of the above inventions, according to one embodiment, the developer discharged from the container body is toner. Further, according to another embodiment, the developer discharged from the container main body includes a toner and a carrier, and the carrier is mixed in a weight ratio of 5 to 30% with respect to the toner.

In each of the above inventions, according to one embodiment, the developer replenishing container replenishes the developer corresponding to each of a plurality of developing units installed in the rotary developing device. , A plurality of rotary developing devices are incorporated in the developing device;
The rotary developing device is controlled so as to stop at a plurality of predetermined angular positions corresponding to the number of the plurality of developing devices, and the developing device develops at at least one stop position;
The developer is naturally dropped and discharged from the developer supply container corresponding to the developing device at the developing position where the developing device performs the development. According to one embodiment, the partition wall is inclined by 20 to 70 ° in the clockwise direction with respect to the horizontal direction or the vertical direction when the developing device and the developer supply container are stopped. According to another embodiment, the partition wall is inclined at 20 to 70 ° in a clockwise direction with respect to a horizontal direction or a vertical direction when at least the developing device and the developer supply container are stopped at the developing position. Is provided. Further, the rotation angle of the developing device and the developer supply container once is
It is preferably 50 to 180 °.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the developer replenishing container capable of revolving around the rotation axis of the rotary developing device with the rotation of the rotary developing device, the developer discharge opening is provided. A container main body for accommodating the developer; provided in the container main body so as to be inclined with respect to the rotation axis, and causing the developer in the container main body to move in the rotation axis direction by the revolution movement accompanying the rotation of the rotary developing device. And a supporting portion that supports the plurality of conveying convex portions on both sides, respectively, and the supporting portion has a hole portion that allows the developer to pass back and forth. A developer supply container is provided, and according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the developer supply device is characterized in that the developer is supplied to the image forming apparatus main body by mounting the developer supply container. Will be provided. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the supporting part is
One surface supports a plurality of the transport convex portions provided at different positions in the rotation axis direction, and the holes are provided between the transport convex portions.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The developer replenishing container and the developer replenishing device according to the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Example 1 An example of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied will be described. FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section of an image forming apparatus 100 equipped with a toner supply container according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 is an electrophotographic copying machine capable of forming a full color image.

First, the overall structure and operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 roughly includes a document reading unit 101 and an image forming unit 102. The document reading unit 101 scans and exposes the image of the document G placed on the document table 40, and reflects the reflected light on the CCD.
The document G is read by a well-known technique including forming an image on the image forming unit 102, and image information as an electric signal is read.
Send to.

The image forming section 102 forms an image on a recording material P, for example, a recording sheet or an OHP sheet, by an electrophotographic method based on the image information. The image forming apparatus 100 also includes an external host device (not shown) communicatively connected to the image forming apparatus main body (apparatus main body) 50.
An image can also be formed on the recording material P as a so-called printer based on the image information signal from the.

The structure of the latent image forming unit 103 will be described. The latent image forming unit 103 has a drum type electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image bearing member, that is, a photosensitive drum 20. The photosensitive drum 20 is arranged rotatably in the direction of arrow R1 in the figure with its outer peripheral surface abutting against the transfer drum 24 as a recording material carrier. Further, in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 20, a charge removing charger 25, a cleaning unit 26, and a primary charger 21 are sequentially arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 20, and the photosensitive drum 20 is further arranged. As an optical system 104 for forming an electrostatic latent image on the outer peripheral surface of the device, an image exposure means 22a such as a laser beam scanner and an image exposure reflection means 22b such as a mirror are provided.

A rotary developing device (rotary developing device) 30 is provided as a developing means in the vicinity of the latent image forming portion 103 centered on the photosensitive drum 20. The configuration of the rotary developing device 30 is as follows. At the position facing the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 20, a rotating body 31 as a housing (developing device holding body) rotatable around a rotating shaft 32.
Is provided, and four types of developing devices are mounted on the rotating body 31 at four positions in the circumferential direction so as to visualize and develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 20. .
The four types of developing devices are yellow developing devices 10 respectively.
Y, magenta developing device 10M, cyan developing device 10C, and black developing device 10Bk.

These four developing devices 10Y to 10Bk
Is a position (the position of the yellow developing device 10Y in FIG. 1) that sequentially faces the photosensitive drum 20 by the rotation of the rotating body 31.
It has been moved to, and the development and visualization of each color is performed.

When the image formation is started, the arrow R in the figure
The surface of the photosensitive drum 20 rotating in one direction is uniformly charged by the primary charger 21. The charged surface of the photosensitive drum 20 is scanned and exposed by the laser beam E according to the image information of the first color that has been color-separated by the optical system 104,
An electrostatic latent image of the first color image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 20. Then, the electrostatic latent image is visualized as a developer image (toner image) by a developing device of a desired color among the developing devices 10Y to 10Bk of the respective colors included in the rotary developing device 30.

On the other hand, a cassette 41 as a recording material storage section
The recording material P accommodated in (1) is supplied into the apparatus main body 50 by the separation roller 42. The recording material P is synchronized with the formation of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 20 by the registration roller 43, and the transfer drum 24, which is a recording material carrier, is formed.
The photosensitive drum 20 and the transfer means 23 provided inside the transfer drum 24 are conveyed to the transfer section facing each other. Then, by the action of the transfer unit 23, the toner image of the first color formed on the photosensitive drum 20 is electrostatically transferred onto the recording material P on the transfer drum 24.

Subsequently, in the same manner as described above, the photosensitive drum 2
The toner images of the second to fourth colors are sequentially formed on 0,
In the meantime, the toner images are sequentially transferred from the photosensitive drum 20 in multiplex onto the recording material P carried on the transfer drum 24 and repeatedly passing through the transfer portion.

After the transfer of the toner image of the fourth color, the recording material P is separated from the transfer drum 24 and is conveyed by the conveying means 44.
The sheet is conveyed to the fixing device 27. Fixing device 27
The recording material P is nipped and conveyed by a fixing roller 27a having a built-in heating unit and a pressure roller 27b pressed against the fixing roller 27a to record an unfixed toner image on the recording material P by heat and pressure. The material P is fixed. afterwards,
The recording material P is discharged to a tray 45 provided outside the apparatus main body 50.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 20 after the transfer of the toner images of the respective colors is completed is subjected to the residual latent image and the residual toner removal by the charge removing charger 25 and the cleaning means 26, and is repeatedly subjected to the image formation. To be done.

Next, four types of developing devices 10Y to 10Bk will be described. In this embodiment, each developing device 10Y-1
Since 0Bk has the same configuration except that the colors of the developers are different, the suffixes Y, M, C, and Bk indicating the developing devices of the respective colors are omitted below unless particularly distinguished. explain.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross section of the developing device 10 of this embodiment. The developing device 10 includes a developer replenishing container mainly containing toner as a replenishing developer, that is, a toner replenishing container 1 and a developing device 11. The developing device 11 is
It has a toner receiving portion 12 that receives the toner discharged from the toner supply container 1, and a developing device body 13 that is supplied with toner from the toner receiving portion 12 and that develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 20. The toner receiving portion 12 is fixed to the developing device main body 13, and the toner supply container 1 is detachably attached to the developing device 11 via the toner receiving portion 12.

The toner receiving portion 12 receives and stores the toner discharged from the toner supply container 1, and
Toner is quantitatively supplied to the developing device main body 13 in response to a request from the developing device main body 13 side. That is,
The toner receiving portion 12 has a conveying member 12a that can quantitatively convey and discharge the toner. In this embodiment, the transport member 12a is a screw. Then, the toner discharged from the toner replenishing container 1 is received through the toner receiving opening 12b detachably connected to the toner discharge opening 1b of the toner replenishing container 1. This toner is conveyed by the conveying member 12a toward the drop port 12c communicating with the replenishing port 13f of the developing device main body 13, and the toner is quantitatively supplied to the developing device main body 13 via the dropping port and the replenishing port 13f. .

The developing device main body 13 mainly contains non-magnetic resin toner particles (toner) and magnetic carrier particles (carrier).
And a so-called two-component developer (developer) having In addition, the inside of the developing device main body 13 is provided with a partition wall 13e provided along the longitudinal direction, and the stirring chamber 13a and the developing chamber 1 are provided.
3b is divided into approximately two parts. The partition wall 13e does not reach both ends of the developing device main body 13 in the longitudinal direction, and passages 13c and 13d through which the developer can pass are formed. The stirring chamber 13a and the developing chamber 13b are provided with two stirring / transporting members 15a and 15b for transporting the developer while stirring. The agitating / conveying members 15a and 15b convey the developer so that the traveling directions thereof are opposite to each other,
The toner and the carrier are circulated in the developing device main body 13 while being uniformly mixed. Further, in the developing device main body 13, a part of the side that can face the photosensitive drum 20 is opened along the longitudinal direction, and is formed by a non-magnetic sleeve having a magnet built in, which is located at this opening. A developer bearing member (developing sleeve) 14 is rotatably supported. The developing sleeve 14 attracts the carrier by the magnetic force generated by the internal magnet to form a magnetic brush, and rotates (in the direction of arrow R2 in FIG. 9) to supply the toner attracted to the carrier to the photosensitive drum 20. It is like this. The arrow in FIG. 2 indicates the moving direction of the toner or the two-component developer. Conveying member 12a, stirring conveying member 1
5a, 15b, and the developing sleeve 14, the longitudinal ends (the right end side in FIG. 2) of the respective rotary shafts are connected to a drive unit such as a motor provided in the apparatus main body 50 via a drive transmission unit such as a gear mechanism. It is connected and driven.

Next, the toner supply container 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the toner supply container 1 of this embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the toner supply container 1.

In the present embodiment, the toner supply container 1 has a hollow, substantially cylindrical shape. The cylindrical container body (toner storage portion) 1a for storing the toner therein has a toner discharge opening portion 1b for discharging the toner on the circumferential surface of the cylinder. The toner discharge opening 1b is openably and closably closed by a shutter 3 described later in detail until it is connected to the rotary developing device 30, that is, the toner receiving portion 12 of each developing device 10.

The length L of the container body 1a in the longitudinal direction is preferably 1.5 times or more and 6 times or less the diameter D thereof.
In this embodiment, the toner discharge opening 1b has a rectangular shape,
It is on the peripheral surface of the container body 1a at one end side in the longitudinal direction. The shutter 3 that opens and closes this is attached to the container body 1a while compressing the packing member 4.

The container body 1a can be manufactured by injection molding, blow molding, injection blow molding or the like of plastic. In this example, high impact polystyrene was manufactured by injection molding. Of course, other materials and manufacturing methods may be used. The container body 1a may be divided into two or more parts and formed by a method of integrating them by means such as welding or adhesion.

As shown in FIG. 5, the shutter 3 has an arc shape along the outer peripheral surface of the container body 1a, and has guide portions 3a having a U-shaped cross section at both end edges. Then, by engaging with two ridges 1d provided in the vicinity of the toner discharge opening 1b of the container body 1a and parallel to the circumferential direction of the container body 1a,
It is attached so as to be reciprocally movable in the circumferential direction of the container body 1. A packing member 4 is installed on the surface of the shutter 3 facing the container body 1 a, and the toner discharge opening 1 b is closed by compressing the packing member 4 with the shutter 3. The shutter 3 is preferably made of plastic by injection molding, but other materials and manufacturing methods may be used. It is preferable to use a material having a certain degree of rigidity or more for the shutter 3, and in this embodiment, impact-resistant polystyrene is manufactured by injection molding similarly to the container body 1a.

The packing member 4 is compressed by the container body 1a and the shutter 3 so that the toner discharge opening 1b is formed.
The various known foams and elastic bodies can be appropriately used. In this example, low-foam polyurethane was used.

The toner supply container 1 is mounted on the rotary developing device 30 as follows. Here, in this specification, the front side of the paper surface of FIG. 1 is referred to as the front side of the apparatus. The operator
Normally, the user is at the front side of the apparatus and performs operations such as mounting the toner supply container 1. The toner replenishing container 1 of this embodiment is inserted into the rotary developing device 30 in the apparatus main body 50 from the front side of the image forming apparatus 100 with the toner discharge opening 1b facing forward. Next, when the toner replenishing container 1 is rotated by a predetermined angle while holding the grip portion (not shown) provided at the front end (outer side surface) of the toner replenishing container 1, the shutter 3 is rotated. The toner discharge opening 1b is opened by being displaced from the shutter 3 without moving. In order to reliably maintain the opened state, it is preferable to use any conventionally known stopper means so that the toner supply container 1 does not rotate with respect to the rotary developing device 30 after the opening. The mounting position and method of the toner supply container 1 on the image forming apparatus 100 are not limited to the above, and can be appropriately selected according to the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100.

In this embodiment, the toner replenishing container 1 is filled with a predetermined amount of toner, and the rotary developing device 3 is used in the above-described procedure.
0, and the toner discharge opening 1b is opened. In the process of image formation, the toner in the developing device main body 13 is gradually consumed. Then, in response to a signal from the means for detecting the amount of toner in the developing device main body 13 or the ratio of toner to carrier (toner density), the toner conveying member 12a in the toner receiving portion 12 rotates for a predetermined time to develop the toner. It is designed to be sent to the container body 13. As a result, the developing device main body 1
The amount of toner in 3 or the ratio of toner to carrier is kept substantially constant. As a means for detecting the toner amount in the developing device main body 13 or the ratio of toner to carrier (toner density), for example, by counting the number of dots of the formed image for each color, the consumed toner amount can be calculated. Any conventionally known means such as a means for calculating the toner concentration in the developing device main body 13 for each color by calculation can be used. Various other toner concentration detecting methods are known, but in the present invention, these methods themselves are arbitrary, and therefore, further description will be omitted.

Inside the container body 1a, there is provided a partition wall 2 as a supporting portion for an inclined projection 2a, which will be described later and has a length extending in the longitudinal direction and extending to almost the entire length of the container body 1a.
The inside of the container body 1a is partitioned into two substantially equal parts.
The partition wall 2 is a toner discharge opening 1b of the container body 1a.
2 does not exist in the region 1c near one end of the container body 1a in the longitudinal direction of the container body 1a, but the two partitioned spaces are connected near the toner discharge opening 1b.

The partition wall 2 is 20 to 70 in the clockwise direction with respect to the horizontal direction when the developing device 10 (developing device 11 and toner supply container 1) mounted on the rotary developing device 30 is stopped. It is preferable that the angle is 20 ° (angle θa in FIG. 9) or 20 ° to 70 ° (angle θb in FIG. 9) clockwise with respect to the vertical direction. When this inclination angle is smaller than 20 ° in the clockwise direction with respect to the horizontal direction or larger than 70 ° in the clockwise direction with respect to the vertical direction, the partition wall 2
There is a possibility that the toner on the top cannot slide down the partition wall 2 and the toner cannot be sufficiently conveyed.
If the inclination angle is greater than 70 ° in the clockwise direction with respect to the horizontal direction, or 2 in the clockwise direction with respect to the vertical direction.
When the angle is smaller than 0 °, the amount of the toner that is released from the partition wall 2 and falls freely is larger than the amount of the toner that slides down on the partition wall 2, and also in this case, the toner transportability is impaired. There is a risk. Therefore, the inclination angle of the partition wall 2 is preferably within the above range, more preferably 30 to 60 °, and most preferably about 45 °.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the number of the developing devices 10 mounted on the rotary developing device 30 is four, and all of them have the same size.
The rotation angle of 1 is set to 90 degrees each time. However, for example, when the number of developing devices 10 is three as shown in FIG. 10 or the size is different for each color as shown in FIG. There may be cases where the rotation angles of are different. In such a case, the above-described inclination angle cannot be maintained at all the stop positions of the developing device 10. Therefore, it is desirable to set the partition wall 2 to have an inclination angle within the above range when at least the developing device 10 is moved to the developing position where the toner is most required to be supplied.

Thus, when the developing device 10 (developing device 11 and toner replenishing container 1) stops, or when the developing device 10 stops at least at the developing position, the partition wall 2 moves horizontally or vertically. 20 to 7 clockwise
The inclination of 0 ° ensures that the toner can slide on the partition wall when the developing device 10 stops. As a result, the toner can be reliably transported and discharged with a simple and inexpensive structure without providing a complicated mechanism, and
The degree of freedom in designing the toner supply container 1 with respect to the stop position of the developing device 11 can be increased. In the example shown in FIG.
The angle θa with respect to the horizontal direction of the developing device 10 at the developing position is within the above range.

Further, the partition wall 2 is provided with a plurality of slanting protrusions 2a which are conveying convex portions for conveying toner. The inclined projections 2a are provided on both surfaces of the partition wall 2 so as to have a surface inclined in the same direction as the revolution axis direction of the toner supply container 1, that is, the rotation axis direction of the rotating body 31. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, each inclined projection 2a is provided with a toner replenishing container 1 so that the scooped-up toner always slides down on one of the inclined projections 2a on each surface of the partition wall 2.
Are provided so as to overlap each other in the longitudinal direction.

The arrangement of the inclined projections 2a provided on both surfaces of the partition wall 2 is different from the present embodiment in the system in which the toner replenishing container 1 is rotating, or the same as in the present embodiment. Even if the revolution speed is relatively low,
Or for a system that continuously revolves without intermittent rotation / stop (hereinafter simply referred to as “conventional rotation condition”),
The inventors of the present application previously proposed a structure in which the inclined protrusion is inclined in a direction that is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the center of the partition wall. In other words, this partition wall, as shown in FIG.
On both surfaces of the partition wall 2 ', there are inclined projections 2'having surfaces inclined in directions opposite to each other with respect to the rotation axis of the rotary developing device 30. Under the above-mentioned conventional rotation conditions, it has been found that the toner can be most effectively conveyed by this arrangement for the reason described later in detail.

However, the rotation condition of the rotary developing device 30 is that the peripheral speed of the toner supply container 1 mounted on the rotary developing device 30 is 0.1 to 2 m / sec, and the rotary developing device 30 rotates at this peripheral speed. The time required to reach this peripheral speed from the stopped state to the stopped state or from the stopped state to 0.0
In the case of 1 to 0.1 sec, which is a condition for revolving while intermittently rotating and stopping (hereinafter, simply referred to as "rotation condition of this embodiment"), the previously proposed arrangement of the inclined projections (Fig. 18), a sufficient toner transport effect cannot be obtained and, conversely, toner may flow back in a direction different from the desired transport direction.

Therefore, the inventors of the present application detailed the movement of the toner replenishing container 1 and the toner when the toner filled in the toner replenishing container 1 revolves under the rotation conditions of this embodiment. Observation was carried out to elucidate the mechanism of toner transport under the rotating conditions of this example. Thus, as described in detail below, the inclined projections 2a provided on both surfaces of the partition wall 2 are inclined in the same direction with respect to the rotation axis of the rotary developing device 30, so that the toner can be more effectively conveyed. I found that.

Next, referring to FIGS. 11 to 16, the movement of the developing device 10 and the corresponding rough movement of the toner in the toner supply container 1 are confirmed, and the toner is conveyed by any mechanism. Will be explained.

Here, FIGS. 11 to 16 are schematic views showing a state in which the toner supply container 1 of this embodiment is mounted on the rotary developing device 10 and revolved. The shaded area in the figure shows the toner T filled in the toner supply container 1. If the developing position (developing station position) is set to the position I in the figure,
It is assumed that the toner supply container 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow in the order of I → II → III → IV → I by the rotation of the rotary developing device 30.

Further, FIGS. 11 to 13 show an example in which the partition wall 2 is inclined approximately 45 ° clockwise with respect to the horizontal direction when the toner supply container 1 is in the I position, that is, the developing position. Shows. 14 to 16 show an example in which the partition wall 2 is inclined by approximately 45 ° in the clockwise direction with respect to the vertical direction when the toner supply container 1 is at the position I.

Further, the partition wall 2 in the toner supply container 1
The rooms divided by are defined as the A side and the B side, respectively.
Corresponding rooms at respective positions of IV to IV are denoted by respective reference numerals in the drawing. In the following description, the state of the toner in each room on the A side and the B side at each position of I to IV is described as, for example, IA and IB. The toner discharge opening 1b is provided on the peripheral surface of the toner supply container 1 on the front side of the paper surface, and the direction in which the toner is conveyed from the back of the paper surface to the front is the forward feeding direction.

(Case 1) Rotation condition: Conventional rotation condition Revolution direction of toner replenishing container: Inclination of partition wall at clockwise developing position: Approximately 45 ° clockwise with respect to horizontal direction First, refer to FIG. Then, the conventional rotation conditions, that is, the case where the toner replenishing container 1 rotates, the case where the revolution speed of the toner replenishing container 1 is relatively low, and the case where the revolution is continuously performed without being intermittently described. To do. FIG. 11 shows
This is an example of the case where the toner supply container 1 revolves clockwise. As described above, in the example shown in FIG. 11, the partition wall 2 is inclined by 45 ° in the clockwise direction with respect to the horizontal direction at the developing position (position I).

In this case, when the toner supply container 1 moves from the position I to the position II, the toner T in the IA state is not affected by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a. Gravity is not conveyed, and the inner wall surface of the toner supply container 1 slides down due to gravity, resulting in a state II-A. The toner T in the IB state is also slightly scooped up by the partition wall 2, but has not yet slipped on the partition wall 2 and is in the II-B state.

Then, when the toner supply container 1 moves from the position II to the position III, the toner T in the state II-A is not affected by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a. The gravity causes the inner wall surface of the toner supply container 1 to slide down, and the state becomes III-A. On the other hand, II-
The toner T in the state of B is scooped up by the partition wall 2,
It is transported while sliding down on the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a, and is in the state of III-B.

Further, when the toner supply container 1 moves from the position III to the position IV, III-A, III-
The toner T in the state of B is not influenced by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a due to the revolution, and is not transported and slides down the inner wall surface of the toner replenishing container 1 by gravity, IV-A and IV-, respectively. The state is B.

Finally, when the toner replenishing container 1 moves from the position IV to the position I, the toner T in the IV-A state is scooped up by the partition wall 2 and the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a. It slides down and becomes the state of IA.

Therefore, in this case, the inclined projections 2a provided on both surfaces of the partition wall 2 are provided with toner when the surface on the A side comes to the position I and the surface on the B side comes to the position III. It is necessary to incline so as to move in the forward feeding direction (front side of the paper surface). That is, in FIG. 11, the inclined protrusion 2a provided on the A side surface of the partition wall 2 inclines so that the lower right side faces toward the front side of the drawing at the I position, and the inclined 2a provided on the B side surface corresponds to the I position. It is necessary to incline so that the upper left side is toward the front side of the page.

(Case 2) Rotation condition: Conventional rotation condition Revolution direction of toner replenishing container: Inclination of partition wall at developing position clockwise: Approximately 45 ° clockwise with respect to vertical direction Next, referring to FIG. A case will be described with reference to which the partition wall 2 is inclined approximately 45 ° in the clockwise direction with respect to the vertical direction when the toner supply container 1 is at the developing position (position I).

In this case, on the surface on the A side, when the toner moves from the position I to the position II, the toner is slid down on the partition wall 2 and the slanted projection 2a and conveyed, but other toner replenishing containers. In the movement of 1, the toner is not conveyed. On the other hand, regarding the surface on the B side, from the position of III to IV
When the toner is moved to the position, the toner is slid down on the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a and is conveyed, but the toner is not conveyed when the toner replenishing container 1 is moved other than that.

Therefore, in this case, the inclined projections 2a provided on both surfaces of the partition wall 2 come to the position II on the surface on the A side and the position IV on the surface on the B side. At times, it is necessary to incline the toner so that the toner is conveyed in the forward direction (front side of the paper surface). That is, in FIG. 14, the inclined projection 2a provided on the A side surface of the partition wall 2 is inclined so that the upper right side is directed toward the front side of the drawing at the position of I, and the inclined 2a provided on the B side surface is located at the I position. The lower left side must be inclined so that it faces toward the front side of the page.

That is, as can be seen from the above-mentioned cases 1 and 2, when the conventional revolving condition, that is, when the toner replenishing container 1 rotates, or when the revolving speed of the toner replenishing container 1 is relatively low, the revolution further occurs. In order to convey the toner T charged on the A side / B side in the case of continuous operation, not intermittently, the inclination direction of the inclined projections 2a provided on both sides of the partition wall 2 on the A side and the B side is conveyed. 18 is most effectively arranged rotationally symmetrically with respect to the center of the partition wall 2, as shown in FIG.

(Case 3) Rotation condition: Rotation condition of this embodiment Revolving direction of toner replenishing container: Clockwise inclination of partition wall at developing position: Approximately 45 ° clockwise with respect to horizontal direction The rotation condition of the present embodiment, more specifically, the revolution condition of the developing device 10 (developing device 11 and toner supply container 1) is that the revolution peripheral speed is 0.1 to 2 m / sec, and the rotation condition is stopped. The time required to reach the rotating state from the state or from the stopped state is 0.01 to 0.1 sec,
The behavior of the internal toner T in the toner supply container 1 in a system in which high speed rotation and rapid start / stop are repeated intermittently will be described.

Depending on such rotation conditions, the developing device 11 for each color
It is possible to minimize the switching time and to secure the stop time necessary for developing. Further, by making such an orbital motion, it becomes possible to loosen the toner and improve the fluidity by the impact of starting and stopping.

The definitions of the revolution peripheral speed and the revolution radius here will be described. From the rotation center of the rotary developing device 30,
The maximum radius (length) in the rotary developing device with the toner supply container 1 attached is the revolution radius, and the speed at that location is the peripheral speed.

First, referring to FIG. 12, when the toner supply container 1 revolves in the clockwise direction and the toner supply container 1 is at the developing position (position I), the partition wall 2 moves horizontally. On the other hand, a case will be described in which it is tilted approximately 45 ° in the clockwise direction.

When the toner supply container 1 moves from the position I to the position II, the toner T inside the toner supply container 1 is not conveyed without being affected by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a. Then, the inner wall surface of the toner replenishing container 1 slides down due to gravity, and the state changes from IA to II-A and from IB to II-B.

Then, when the toner supply container 1 moves from the position II to the position III, the toner T in the state II-A is conveyed without being affected by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a. Instead, it slides down the inner wall surface of the toner supply container 1 due to gravity, and the state becomes III-A.
On the other hand, with respect to the toner T in the II-B state, since the toner replenishing container 1 moves very fast, many toners try to stay at the absolute position according to the law of inertia. Therefore, the toner T in the II-B state tends to stay at the position shown in the figure, and only the toner supply container 1 moves to the position III (leftward). As a result, the toner T moves relatively to the right in the toner supply container 1. that time,
Since the vertical movement amount of the toner replenishing container 1 is relatively small, the toner T that relatively moves in the toner replenishing container 1
Moves under the influence of the inclined projections 2a while being transported. Further, a part of the toner is dragged by the inner wall surface and the partition wall 2 of the toner supply container 1 and reaches the upper left in the figure of the room on the B side at the position of III, but the toner supply container 1 is III.
After stopping at the position of 3, the sheet is slid down while being transported on the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a by gravity, and the state becomes III-B.

Further, when the toner supply container 1 moves from the position III to the position IV, the toner T in the state III-B is conveyed without being affected by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a. Instead, the inner wall surface of the toner supply container 1 slides down due to gravity, and the state becomes IV-B. On the other hand, the toner T in the state of III-A suddenly stops at the position of IV from the moving state at high speed, and thus the toner T is kept in the room on the side of A at the position of IV according to the law of inertia.
Jumps as indicated by arrow X in the figure. Then, the jumping toner T lands on the upper right side in the figure of the room on the side A at the position IV, and then slides down while being conveyed along the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a due to gravity, resulting in the state IV-A. Become.

Finally, when the toner supply container 1 moves from the IV position to the I position, the toner T in the IV-B state is conveyed without being affected by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a. Instead, the inner wall surface of the toner supply container 1 slides down due to gravity, and the state becomes IB. On the other hand, I
The toner T in the state of VA is flipped up at a position of I by drawing a locus as shown by an arrow Y in the drawing in the room on the A side by the law of inertia. Therefore, the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a do not slip down and
-The state becomes A.

Therefore, under such a rotating condition, the inclined projections 2a provided on both surfaces of the partition wall 2 reach the position IV on the surface on the A side and I on the surface on the B side.
It is necessary to incline so that the toner T is conveyed in the forward feeding direction (front side of the paper) when the position II is reached. That is, in FIG. 12, both of the inclined projections 2a provided on the A side surface and the B side surface of the partition wall 2 need to be inclined so that the upper left side is directed toward the front side of the drawing at the position I.

(Case 4) Rotation condition: Rotation condition of this embodiment Revolving direction of toner replenishing container: Counterclockwise inclination of partition wall at developing position: About 45 ° clockwise with respect to horizontal direction 13, the toner replenishing container 1 revolves counterclockwise under the rotation conditions of this embodiment, and the partition wall 2 is placed when the toner replenishing container 1 is at the developing position (position I).
A case will be described where is tilted approximately 45 ° clockwise with respect to the horizontal direction.

First, the toner supply container 1 is moved from the position I to the position I.
When moving to the position I, the toner T in the state IB is not conveyed by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projections 2a, and is not transported to the inner wall surface of the toner supply container 1 by gravity. It slips off and becomes the state of II-B. On the other hand, IA
The toner T in the state of (2) suddenly stops at the position II from the moving state at high speed. Therefore, the toner T is moved in the room on the side A of the position II by the arrow X in the figure according to the law of inertia. It will be skipped by drawing a locus as shown in. Therefore, the toner T does not slide down on the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a, and the toner T is not subjected to the transport effect.
It becomes the state of A.

Next, when the toner supply container 1 moves from the position II to the position III, the toner T is conveyed without being affected by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a on both the A side and the B side. Instead, the inner wall surface of the toner replenishing container 1 slides down due to gravity, resulting in the states of III-A and III-B, respectively.

Then, when the toner supply container 1 moves from the position III to the position IV, the toner T in the state III-A is conveyed without being affected by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a. Toner supply container 1 without gravity
It slides down the inner wall surface of No. 4 and becomes the state of IV-A.
On the other hand, with respect to the toner T in the state of III-B, since the movement of the toner supply container 1 is very fast, many toners try to stay at the illustrated position in the state of III-B according to the law of inertia. Only the supply container 1 moves to the position IV (to the right). As a result, the toner T moves relatively to the left with respect to the toner supply container 1. At this time, since the vertical movement amount of the toner replenishing container 1 is relatively small, the toner relatively moving in the toner replenishing container 1 is moved by being influenced by the inclined projections 2a while being conveyed. Further, a part of the toner T is dragged by the inner wall surface of the toner supply container 1 and the partition wall 2 and reaches the upper right position in the drawing of the room on the B side at the position IV, but the toner supply container 1 is at the position IV. After the stop, gravity causes the partition wall 2 and the inclined projections 2
While being transported on a, it slides down to the state of IV-B.

Finally, when the toner supply container 1 moves from the position (4) to the position I, the toner T in the IV-B state is not affected by the partition wall 1 and the inclined projection 2a. However, the toner is not conveyed, but slides down on the inner wall surface of the toner supply container 1 due to gravity, and the state becomes IB as it is. on the other hand,
Since the toner T in the IV-A state suddenly stops at the position I from the moving state at high speed, the toner T does not move in the room on the A side at the position I due to the law of inertia. It jumps up as shown by the middle arrow Y. Then, the jumping toner T lands on the upper left in the figure of the room on the A side at the position of I, and then slides down while being conveyed along the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a due to gravity, and becomes the state of IA. Become.

Therefore, under such a rotation condition, the inclined projections 2a provided on both surfaces of the partition wall 2 are located at the position I on the surface on the A side and are IV on the surface on the B side.
It is necessary to incline the toner T so that the toner T is conveyed in the forward feeding direction (front side of the paper) when it comes to the position. That is, in FIG. 13, both the inclined projections 2a provided on the A side surface and the B side surface of the partition wall 2 need to be inclined so that the lower right side faces the front side of the drawing at the position I.

(Case 5) Rotation condition: Rotation condition of this embodiment Revolution direction of toner supply container: Clockwise inclination of partition wall at developing position: Approximately 45 ° clockwise with respect to vertical direction 15, under the rotation conditions of this embodiment, when the toner replenishing container 1 is at the developing position (position I), the partition wall 2 is provided so as to be inclined by approximately 45 ° in the clockwise direction with respect to the vertical direction. The case where the toner replenishing container 1 is revolved in the clockwise direction will be described.

First, the toner supply container 1 is moved from the position I to the position I.
When moving to the position I, the toner T in the state IB is not affected by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projections 2a, and is not transported, and slides on the inner wall surface of the toner supply container 1 by gravity. It falls and becomes the state of II-B as it is. On the other hand, I
With respect to the toner T in the −A state, the toner replenishing container 1 moves very fast, and many toners try to stay at the illustrated absolute position in the I-A state according to the law of inertia. Only the supply container 1 moves to the position II (downward). As a result, the relative position of the toner T in the toner supply container 1 does not change, and at the position II, the toner T tries to stay at the upper left position in the figure of the room on the A side. After that, when the toner supply container 1 is stopped at the position II, the toner T remaining in the upper left of the room on the A side slides down on the partition wall 2 due to gravity while being conveyed by the inclined projection 2a, and II-A It becomes a state.

Next, when the toner supply container 1 moves from the position II to the position III, the toner T in the state II-A is not affected by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a. Gravity is not conveyed, and the inner wall surface of the toner supply container 1 slides down due to gravity, and the state of III-A is maintained.
On the other hand, since the toner T in the II-B state suddenly stops from the moving state at the position III, the toner T in the room on the B side at the position III at the position III is in accordance with the law of inertia. It draws a locus as shown by arrow X and jumps.
Then, after the toner T lands on the upper right side of the room on the B side in the figure, the toner T slides down along the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a by gravity, and becomes a state of III-B.

Further, when the toner supply container 1 moves from the position III to the position IV, the toner T in the state III-A is conveyed without being affected by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a. Toner supply container 1
It slips down the inner wall surface of IV and enters the state of IV-A. On the other hand, I
The toner T in the state of II-B suddenly stops at the position of IV from the moving state at high speed, and thus the toner T in the room on the B side at the position of IV is determined by the law of inertia. It is skipped by drawing a locus as shown by an arrow Y in the figure. Therefore, the toner T does not slide down on the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a, and is not conveyed and is in the IV-B state as it is.

Finally, when the toner replenishing container 1 moves from the position IV to the position I, the toner T is not affected by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a on both the A side and the B side, and is gravitationally moved. Sliding down the inner wall surface of the toner supply container 1,
The states are IA and IB, respectively.

Therefore, under such a rotation condition, the inclined projections 2a provided on both surfaces of the partition wall 2 are located at the position II on the surface on the A side and I on the surface on the B side.
It is necessary to incline so that the toner T is conveyed in the forward feeding direction (front side of the paper) when the position II is reached. That is, in FIG. 15, both the inclined projections 2a provided on the A side surface and the B side surface of the partition wall 2 need to be inclined at the position I so that the upper right side faces the front side in the drawing.

(Case 6) Rotation condition: Rotation condition of this embodiment Revolving direction of toner supply container: Counterclockwise inclination of partition wall at developing position: Approximately 45 ° clockwise with respect to vertical direction Finally, Referring to FIG. 16, when the toner supply container 1 is at the developing position (position I), the partition wall 2 is provided so as to be inclined by approximately 45 ° in the clockwise direction with respect to the vertical direction, and A case where the revolving direction of the supply container 1 is the counterclockwise direction will be described.

First, the toner supply container 1 is moved from the position I to the position I
When moving to the position I, the toner T in the states I-A and I-B is not influenced by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projections 2a, and is not transported.
It slides down the inner wall surface of the plate and becomes the state of II-A and II-B, respectively.

Next, when the toner supply container 1 moves from the position II to the position III, the toner T in the state II-A is conveyed without being affected by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a. Instead, the inner wall surface of the toner supply container 1 slides down due to gravity, and the state of III-A is maintained. On the other hand, with respect to the toner T in the II-B state, since the movement of the toner supply container 1 is very fast, many toners try to stay at the absolute position shown in the II-B state due to the law of inertia. Only the supply container 1 moves to the position III (downward). As a result, the relative position of the toner T in the toner replenishing container 1 does not change, and the toner tends to stay at the upper right position in the figure of the room on the B side at the position III. After that, when the toner supply container 1 is stopped at the position III, the toner T on the upper right side in the figure of the room on the B side is separated by the gravity from the partition wall 2.
Sliding down while being transported by the inclined projection 2a, III-
The state is B.

Further, when the toner supply container 1 moves from the position III to the position IV, the toner T in the state III-B is conveyed without being affected by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a. Instead, the inner wall surface of the toner supply container 1 slides down due to gravity, and the state becomes IV-B. On the other hand, the toner T in the state of III-A suddenly stops from the moving state at the position of IV, so that the toner T in the room on the A side at the position of IV at the position of IV is in the figure according to the law of inertia. It draws a locus as shown by arrow X and jumps. After this toner T lands on the upper left of the room on the A side in the figure,
While being transported along the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a by gravity, it slides down and becomes the state of IV-A.

Finally, when the toner supply container 1 moves from the IV position to the I position, the toner T in the IV-B state is conveyed without being affected by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a. Instead, the inner wall surface of the toner supply container 1 slides down due to gravity, and the state becomes IB. On the other hand, IV
The toner T in the state of −A suddenly stops at the position of I from the moving state at high speed. It draws a trajectory as shown by the middle arrow Y and jumps up. Therefore, the toner T does not slide down the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a, is not transported, and is I-.
It becomes the state of A.

Therefore, under such a rotating condition, the inclined projections 2a provided on both surfaces of the partition wall 2 are located at the IV position on the A side surface and I on the B side surface.
It is necessary to incline the toner T so that the toner T is conveyed in the forward feeding direction (front side of the paper) when the position II is reached. That is, in FIG. 16, both of the inclined projections 2a provided on the A side surface and the B side surface of the partition wall 2 need to be inclined so that the upper right side faces the front side of the drawing at the position I.

As can be seen from the description of Case 3 to Case 6 above, under the rotation (revolution) conditions of this embodiment,
Regardless of the direction of rotation (revolution) and the direction of inclination of the partition wall 2, the inclined projections 2 have a surface inclined in the same direction with respect to the rotation axis of the rotary developing device 30 on both surfaces of the partition wall 2.
By disposing a, the toner T in the toner supply container 1 can be effectively conveyed.

Here, the inclination angle of the inclined projection 2a is 20 to 70 ° (angle θc in FIG. 3) with respect to the direction of the revolution axis when the toner supply container 1 is stopped on the rotary developing device 30.
It is preferable to provide it at an inclination. When the inclination angle is less than 20 °, the toner on the partition wall 2 cannot slide down the inclined protrusion 2a when the toner supply container 1 is stopped, and the toner may not be sufficiently conveyed. . Further, when the inclination angle is larger than 70 °, the amount of the toner that is released from the partition wall 2 and falls freely is larger than the amount of the toner that slides on the partition wall 2, which hinders the toner transportability. May cause Also, the inclined protrusion 2a
If the angle is outside the above range, the toner may be inclined projections 2a.
The moving distance in the carrying direction when sliding down the slanted surface becomes short, and the ability to carry the toner toward the toner discharge opening 1b decreases, and in this case as well, good discharging performance may not be obtained. Therefore, it is preferably within the range of the inclination angle of the inclined protrusion 2a, more preferably 30 to 60.
It is desirable that the angle of inclination is, most preferably about 45 °.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the number of the developing devices 10 (developing device 11 and toner supply container 1) mounted on the rotary developing device 30 is four, all of the same size. Therefore, the rotation angle of the rotating body 31 is set to 90 degrees each time. However, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the number of developing devices 10 is three, or when the size is different for each color, when the rotation angle for one rotation of the rotating body 31 is different, Occurs. In such a case, the inclination angle cannot be maintained at all the stop positions of the developing device 10. Therefore, at least when the developing device 10 is moved to the developing position where the most toner is required to be supplied, the inclined protrusion 2
It is desired to set a so that the inclination angle is in the above range.

Regarding the installation angles and installation intervals of the inclined projections 2a, it is not necessary that all the inclined projections 2a be provided at the same angle and interval. For example, in order to suppress the initial toner discharge amount and reduce the amount of toner remaining in the toner replenishing container 1, it is possible to quickly remove toner that is far from the toner discharge opening 1b when the toner becomes low. In order to be able to convey the toner to the vicinity of the toner discharge opening 1b, the inclination angle of the inclined projection 2a is increased at a position far from the toner discharge opening 1b, and the installation interval thereof is further decreased. The inclination angle can be reduced and the installation interval can be increased.

As described above, as the installation angle and the installation interval of the inclined protrusions 2a, it is possible to use an optimum configuration as appropriate. Further, the arrangement of the inclined projections 2a does not necessarily have to be provided in line symmetry with respect to the partition wall 2. For example, similarly to the above, the initial toner discharge amount is suppressed and the amount of toner remaining in the toner supply container 1 In order to reduce the above, the partition walls 2 may be provided with optimum installation angles and installation intervals on both surfaces.

Further, the shape of the inclined projection 2a may be a plate shape having a portion projecting in a substantially vertical direction from the surface of the partition wall 2 as shown in FIG. 4, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (B) and (C), respectively, the cross-sectional shape may be an L-shape, a semicircle, or a substantially semicircular gutter shape.
In the case of taking a gutter shape, it is installed so that the toner is conveyed toward the toner discharge opening 1b by the concave portion formed by the partition wall 2 and the inclined projection 2a.

In this way, the sectional shape of the inclined projection 2a is L.
By having a character shape or having a curved cross-sectional shape, it is possible to more efficiently carry and discharge the toner without dropping the toner that slides down on the inclined projection 2a. In particular, when the cross-sectional shape of the inclined protrusion 2a has a curved shape, between the partition wall 2 and the inclined protrusion 2a,
In addition, there is no acute or right angled corner in the inclined protrusion 2a, and toner bridging can be prevented.

The partition wall 2 and the inclined projections 2a may be integrally formed of plastic or the like, or may be divided into two or more parts and integrated by any conventionally known joining method. There is no problem.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
When the toner replenishing container 1 revolves due to the rotation of the rotary developing device 30, the toner is inclined by the inclined projections 2 provided on the partition wall 2.
The toner is conveyed in the direction of the toner discharge opening 1b along a, and is efficiently discharged to the toner receiving portion 12 through the toner discharge opening 1b.

Here, the revolution radius of the toner replenishing container 1 due to the rotation of the rotary developing device 30 is 50 mm or more and 300 m.
It is preferably m or less. As a result, a sufficient impact can be applied to the toner supply container 1 when the rotary developing device 30 is started and stopped, and the effect of stirring the toner in the toner supply container 1 can be enhanced. If the revolution radius is smaller than 50 mm, it is difficult to store the developing device 10 in the plurality of rotating bodies 31, and if it exceeds 300 mm, the toner stirring effect becomes weak.

Further, the rotation angle of the developing device 10 (developing device 11 and toner replenishing container 1) once is preferably 50 to 180 °. As a result, a sufficient impact can be applied to the toner replenishing container when starting and stopping the rotary developing device 30, and the fluidity of the toner can be improved, so that the toner can be reliably conveyed and discharged. In addition, regarding the rotation angle of the developing device 10, the toner supply container 1
The degree of freedom in design can be increased.

Further, in this embodiment, the partition wall 2 is configured so that the inside of the container body 1a of the toner supply container 1 is roughly divided into two, and the inclined projections 2a are provided on both surfaces of the partition wall 2. According to such a configuration, since two conveying opportunities can be obtained per revolution, it is possible to convey and discharge the toner more efficiently, and if it is about two minutes, toner agglomeration due to physical vibration or the like occurs. However, the revolving rotation of the rotary developing device 30 can easily loosen it and improve the fluidity of the toner.

Further, in this embodiment, the container body 1a of the toner replenishing container 1 has a substantially cylindrical shape.
Compared to a cylindrical container having a cross-sectional shape other than a circular shape, the container body 1
The amount of toner adhered to the inner wall surface of a can be reduced,
In addition, the rigidity and strength of the container can be increased, and the thickness of the container can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, in this embodiment, the toner discharge opening portion 1b is provided.
Is provided on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the container body 1a,
With such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the amount of toner remaining in the container after the toner is discharged, compared with the case where the toner discharge opening is provided on the end surface of the cylindrical container, for example.

Further, in the present embodiment, the rotary developing device is internally provided with a plurality of developing devices and a plurality of toner replenishing containers for replenishing the toner corresponding to the respective developing devices. Is controlled to stop at a plurality of predetermined angle positions corresponding to, and the developing device performs development at at least one stop position. Then, the toner is naturally dropped and discharged from the toner supply container corresponding to the developing device at the developing position where the developing device performs the development. With this configuration, for example, four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black
Color developing units 11Y to 11Bk and toner supply container 1Y to
1Bk can be integrally mounted to form a full-color image, and by starting and stopping at several locations, the toner supply container 1 can be rotated by the number of times of start and stop per revolution of the toner supply container 1. The toner adhered to the inner wall surface of the toner can be scraped off, and further, the toner packed after the distribution and storage can be disentangled by applying the impact for the number of times of starting and stopping. As a result, the amount of toner remaining in the toner supply container 1 after the toner is discharged can be reduced.

Next, the results of testing the toner discharge performance of the toner supply container 1 according to the present invention and the toner supply container 1'of the comparative example will be described.

Test Example 1 First, according to the present invention, FIG.
The toner replenishing container 1 according to the present invention described with reference to FIG. 1 is mounted on the rotary developing device 30 in the apparatus main body 50, and the rotary developing device 30 is operated under the following conditions to remove the toner replenishing container 1 from The toner discharge performance was tested.

Toner filling amount: Approx. 350 g Revolution direction of toner supply container: counterclockwise direction (see FIG. 1)
3) ・ Inclination of partition wall: approximately 45 ° clockwise with respect to the horizontal direction at the developing position (position I in FIG. 13) ・ revolution radius: about 95 mm ・ revolution peripheral speed: 1 m / sec ・ above peripheral speed The time required from the rotating state to the stopped state or from the stopped state to the above peripheral speed:
0.05 sec

Under the above rotation conditions, the rotary developing device 30 is used.
One image is formed on the recording material P of A4 size (image ratio 10
The toner was discharged from the toner replenishing container 1 by rotating it by 90 ° for each 0% (solid image). As a result, the discharge of the toner from the toner supply container 1 is completed at the time when about 7,000 sheets of images are formed, and the amount of the toner remaining in the toner supply container 1 is measured to be about 3 to
It was about 4 g (about 1% in filling amount ratio). From the above, it was confirmed that the toner replenishing container 1 of this example has a very good discharge performance.

(Test Example 2 (Comparative Example)) FIG.
A similar test was conducted using the toner supply container 1 ′ shown in FIG. A toner replenishing container 1'shown in FIG. 18 is provided with inclined projections 2a 'having surfaces inclined in opposite directions with respect to the rotation axis direction of the rotary developing device 30 on both sides of a partition wall 2'. .

The toner discharge condition of the toner supply container 1'was checked in the same manner (same conditions) as the test in Test Example 1 above.

In this case, in the initial stage of toner discharge from the toner supply container 1 ', the toner supply container 1 of this embodiment is used.
Although no difference in discharge performance was recognized as compared with the case where the toner discharge amount was about 250 to 300 g,
A significant difference began to be seen in the discharge amount per one rotation of the rotary developing device 30. Then, observing the behavior of the toner inside the toner supply container 1 ′, as described above,
It was confirmed that the toner was flowing backward in the direction opposite to the desired direction. After that, when about 6,500 sheets of image were formed in total, the discharging of the toner from the toner supply container 1 ′ was completed. When the amount of toner remaining in the toner supply container 1'is measured, it is about 20 to 30 g (about 5 to 9% in filling amount ratio).
It was confirmed that a larger amount of toner remained in the toner supply container 1 as compared with the case of using.

In the toner supply container 1'shown in FIG. 18, the partition wall 2 is provided with a through hole 2b '. This is provided for the purpose of effectively agitating the toner in the toner supply container 1'as will be described later. A test similar to the above was conducted on the one in which the through hole 2b 'was closed, but the toner discharging property was inferior to that of the toner replenishing container 1 according to the present invention.
Backflow of toner was observed.

From the results of Test Examples 1 and 2, it was revealed that the toner replenishing container 1 of this example has a higher discharging performance.

As described above, according to the rotation condition of the present embodiment, the switching time of each color in the rotary developing device 30 can be shortened as much as possible, and by performing such a rotary motion,
The impact at the time of starting / stopping can loosen the toner and improve the fluidity.

Further, according to this embodiment, the toner replenishing container 1 revolves revolvingly and intermittently repeating abrupt rotation and stop under the rotation conditions of this embodiment, so that the toner filled inside is jumped up. Even in such a system, it is possible to reliably and efficiently convey the toner with a simple structure without causing a phenomenon such as the conveyance of the toner in the opposite direction. Further, according to the present embodiment, the toner inside the toner replenishing container 1 that has been packed and distributed after the distribution and storage of the toner replenishing container 1 can be loosened to obtain a good toner discharging property, and the toner remaining in the container after discharging can be obtained. The amount of toner can be reduced and a rotating stirring member is not required inside the container body 1a. Therefore, the toner generated by the friction between the inner wall surface of the toner supply container 1 and the stirring member, or the bearing portion of the stirring member, etc. It is also possible to prevent the generation of coarse particles that are aggregated.

Embodiment 2 Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. 7 and 8 are a sectional view and a perspective view, respectively, showing the toner supply container 1 of this embodiment.

This embodiment is characterized in that the partition wall 2 described in Embodiment 1 is further provided with a through hole 2b.
Since the other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the elements having the same functions and configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted, and the partition wall 2 characteristic of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

The outer shape of the toner supply container 1 of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, but the through hole 2b is formed in the partition wall 2 provided so as to divide the inside of the container body 1a into two substantially equal parts. Is provided. Although the inside of the toner supply container 1 is divided into two by the partition wall 2, the through hole 2b allows the toner to move back and forth between the two partitioned spaces to some extent. Similar to the first embodiment, the partition wall 2 has a container body 1a.
It does not exist in the vicinity of the portion where the toner discharge opening 1b is provided.

Here, the inclined projections 2a are provided on both sides of the partition wall 2 so as to have an inclination in the same direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. The toner replenishing container 1 is overlapped in the longitudinal direction so as to slide down on the inclined protrusion 2a. The through hole 2b is a portion for scooping up the toner on the partition wall 2, specifically, the entire longitudinal direction of the container body 1a of the portions 2c1, 2c2 connected to the inner wall surface of the container body 1a,
It penetrates leaving a part 2d along the inclined projection 2a. Therefore, as shown in the figure, the through hole 2b is typically a substantially parallelogram shaped hole.

As described above, the toner replenishing container 1 according to the first embodiment also revolves revolving movements in which sudden rotation and stop are repeated intermittently, so that the toner is loosened by the impact at the time of start and stop. However, according to the present embodiment, the toner replenishing container 1 can be more efficiently used.
The toner inside can be agitated.

That is, when the toner supply container 1 revolves in the rotary developing device 30, the toner inside the container body 1a moves between the two spaces partitioned by the partition wall 2 to impart fluidity. As a result, a stirring action for breaking the blocked (aggregated) toner is generated. In addition, as described above, a part of the toner slides down on the partition wall 2 left without penetrating while being conveyed along the inclined projections 2a, so that almost all of the toner can be finally discharged.

The position and shape of the through hole 2b are not limited in any way, and it depends on the ease of blocking the filled toner, the expected physical distribution, and the shape of the toner supply container body 1. It can be appropriately selected.

(Test Example 3) About 350 g of toner was filled in the toner replenishing container 1 of the present embodiment described above, and 1000 times tapping (dropping height: drop height: 20 mm, tap speed: 2 times / sec, tapping was performed in the direction in which the toner discharge opening 1b was closed.) The sample subjected to tapping was set in the apparatus main body 50 under the same rotation conditions as in Test Example 1. The rotary developing device 30 was operated to confirm the toner discharge status from the toner supply container 1.

As a result, the toner discharge from the toner supply container 1 was completed at the time when about 7,000 sheets of images were formed, and the amount of toner remaining in the toner supply container was measured and found to be about 3 to 4 g. It was about (about 1% in filling amount ratio). From the above, the toner supply container 1 of the present embodiment
It was confirmed that the product had a very good discharge performance even in the state of assuming physical distribution.

In the present embodiment, the inclined protrusion 2a has a plate-like shape protruding from the surface of the partition wall 2 in a substantially vertical direction.
As the shape of the inclined projection 2a, the other shape (FIG. 6) described in the first embodiment may be adopted.

As described above, according to this embodiment, in addition to the effect described in Embodiment 1, the partition wall 2 can be obtained.
Since the through hole 2b is formed in the toner supply container 1, even if the toner is packed (aggregated) in the toner replenishing container 1 due to physical distribution vibration or the like, when the toner replenishing container 1 revolves, the toner may come and go through the through hole 2b. The moving distance and moving space of the toner are increased, and a more effective stirring action can be obtained.

Third Embodiment Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 shows a schematic cross section of the rotary developing device 30 with the toner supply container 1 according to the present embodiment attached.

The present embodiment is characterized in that the toner replenishing container 1 has a non-circular cylindrical cross section. Since the other configurations are the same as those of the first and second embodiments, the elements having the same functions and configurations are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted, and the cross section of the toner replenishing container 1 which is characteristic of the present embodiment The shape will be described in detail.

In Examples 1 and 2, the toner replenishing container body 1
An example is shown in which the shape is substantially cylindrical. However, as described above, the toner replenishing container 1 revolves integrally with the rotary developing device 30 in a series of toner replenishing operations, and is immovable relative to the rotary developing device 30. Is installed. Therefore, the shape of the toner supply container body 1 is not restricted at all.

As described above, the toner supply container 1 does not have to be cylindrical. On the contrary, in order to effectively use the dead space of the rotary developing device 30, a shape that matches the main body 50 of the device is appropriately selected to increase the volume of the toner replenishing container 1, and a more space-efficient design is made. It is desirable to do.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the toner replenishing container 1 is the rotary developing device 30 of this embodiment.
To be close to the maximum volume that can be taken when mounting on
The cross-sectional shape is a non-circular tubular shape.

Further, in this embodiment, in order to replenish the black toner which is frequently used, the toner replenishing containers 1Bk for black are filled with the toner replenishing containers 1Y, 1M filled with toners of the other three colors. It was made larger than 1C. In this way, the space distribution of each toner supply container 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1Bk in the rotary developing device 30 was changed.

Then, all the toner supply containers 1Y, 1
Inside the M, 1C, and 1Bk, the first embodiment or the second embodiment is provided.
The partition wall 2 provided with the inclined projections 2a similar to the toner supply container 1 described in 1.
The C and 1Bk container bodies 1a are arranged so as to be divided into a plurality of parts (in this embodiment, approximately two parts). Regarding the inclination of the partition wall 2, the inclination of the inclined projections provided on the partition wall 2, or the through hole 2b provided in the partition wall 2, the description in Example 1 or 2 is cited.

(Test Example 4) Here, for each color of yellow, magenta, and cyan of this embodiment, which employs the partition wall 2 described in Embodiment 2, that is, the through hole 2b (FIGS. 7 and 8). 400 toner in the toner supply containers 1Y, 1M, 1C
g, about 800 g is filled in the toner replenishing container 1Bk for black, and the tapping is performed 1000 times (drop height: 20
mm, tap speed: 2 times / sec, tapping was performed in the direction in which the toner discharge port 1b was closed. The sample subjected to () was operated in the apparatus main body 50 under the same rotation conditions as in Test Example 1, and the discharge status of toner from each toner supply container 1Y to 1Bk was confirmed.

As a result, the toner discharge from each of the toner supply containers 1Y to 1Bk was completed when about 8000 color images were formed and about 8000 monochrome images were formed. Then, the amount of toner remaining in the toner supply container was measured, and about 3 to 5 g (a filling amount ratio of about 1% was obtained in the toner supply containers 1Y, 1M, and 1C for each color of yellow, magenta, and cyan. Approximately 5 to 7 g in a black toner supply container (filling amount ratio is 1%
Was less than). From the above, it was confirmed that the toner replenishing container 1 of the present example has a very good discharge performance even in a state where physical distribution is assumed.

Further, the toner replenishing container 1 having a cylindrical shape with a non-circular cross section has the following effects. That is, in the first and second embodiments, the toner discharge opening 1b is provided on the peripheral surface of the substantially cylindrical shape.
Since the position of the toner receiving opening (toner receiving opening 12b) provided in the toner receiving opening 12b is determined, the position of the toner discharge opening 1b when the user mounts the toner replenishing container 1 in the toner receiving opening 12b. I have to make adjustments. At this time, if the toner replenishing container 1 has a substantially cylindrical shape as in the first and second embodiments, the alignment may be difficult.

On the other hand, when the toner replenishing container 1 has a cylindrical shape with a non-circular cross section as in this embodiment, when the toner replenishing container 1 is inserted into the rotary developing device 30 in its longitudinal direction. In addition, if the shape of the toner replenishing container insertion opening on the apparatus main body 50 side is formed so as to match the cross-sectional shape of the toner replenishing container 1, the toner replenishing container 1 can be inserted in a direction that matches the shape of the inlet. , Natural and toner discharge opening 1
The position b can be aligned, which is also excellent from the viewpoint of operability.

In this embodiment, the toner replenishing container 1 has an approximately trapezoidal cross section or a substantially rice grain-shaped tubular shape. However, the toner replenishing container has no shape according to the gist of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to this, and there is no problem even if an article having an optimum shape is selected, which fulfills the function of the toner replenishing container, and has a space efficiency of the apparatus main body 50 and other design restrictions. Absent.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the advantages described in Embodiments 1 and 2, the container body 1a of the toner supply container 1 has a non-circular cylindrical cross section. With this, it is possible to mount a container that matches the apparatus main body 50 and effectively use the dead space, increase the toner filling amount, and efficiently carry out and discharge the toner. Also plays.

In each of the above embodiments, the replenishing developer is mainly described as a toner, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is equally applicable to the case where the replenishment developer is a two-component developer, and the same effects as described above can be obtained.

For example, the carrier used in the two-component developer is deteriorated by long-term use in which the toner adheres to the surface of the carrier or the external additive separated from the toner adheres to the surface of the carrier. As a result, the charge amount of the toner is reduced and the toner is scattered. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the carrier in a timely manner.

In order to facilitate the work of recovering the deteriorated carrier, the two-component developer containing the deteriorated carrier is gradually discharged from the developing device, and is collected in the developer collecting container. There is a technique of gradually replenishing a developing device with a two-component developer containing a carrier that is used.

The method of recovering the developer is not limited, but for example, a developer recovery container is attached to the developing device attached to the rotary developing device, and the direction of gravity acting with the rotation of the rotary developing device is increased. There is a method of replenishing the two-component developer containing the toner and the carrier and discharging the two-component developer containing the deteriorated carrier from the developing device to recover the two-component developer containing the toner and the carrier. In this case, the developer recovery container can be formed integrally with the developer supply container via a partition wall or the like. Then, for example, as shown in FIG.
When the amount of the developer inside becomes excessive, the developer enters the developer recovery port 13g provided in the developing device main body 13, and the rotation of the rotating body 31 changes the direction of gravity, so that the developer is It is collected in a developer collecting container (not shown) provided integrally with the developer supply container 1 through the path 13h.

As described above, when the two-component developer is stored in the developer replenishing container 1 and replenished to the developing device 11, the replenishing developer discharged from the developer replenishing container 1 contains toner. It is preferable that the carrier is mixed in a weight ratio of 5 to 30%. As a result, a new carrier can be constantly supplied to the apparatus body 50 without providing a special mechanism, a good image can always be obtained during the life of the apparatus body 50, and the cost of the apparatus body 50 can be reduced. , And can be made compact. If the weight ratio of the carrier to the toner is less than 5%, the replacement amount of the carrier due to the replenishment operation of the developer becomes small and the carrier exchange effect becomes weak, and if it exceeds 30%, the consumption amount of the carrier becomes large. Running cost may increase. Of course,
The mixing ratio of the toner of the developer for replenishment and the carrier is not particularly limited to the above numerical values, and an appropriate mixing ratio may be separately determined in each device.

[0151]

As described above, according to the present invention, (1) even in a system in which the rotational speed of the rotary developing device is increased as the copying speed of the image forming apparatus is increased,
With a simple structure, the developer can be efficiently conveyed and discharged by utilizing the revolution movement of the rotary developing device. (2) It is possible to reduce the amount of developer remaining in the developer supply container. (3) It is possible to prevent the generation of coarse particles in which the developer is aggregated. (4) Even if the developer hardens after distribution and storage, the developer can be unraveled by utilizing the orbital motion to obtain good discharge performance. The effects described above can be obtained, and the developer can be efficiently conveyed and discharged to be supplied to the developing device with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the toner supply container according to the present invention is attached to a developing device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a toner supply container according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic partial cross-sectional perspective view of a toner supply container according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a shutter that seals the opening of the toner supply container.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a modified example of an inclined projection provided on a partition wall.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the toner supply container according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic partial cross-sectional perspective view of another embodiment of the toner supply container according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a rotary developing device.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the rotary developing device.

FIG. 11 shows a system in which the rotation of the rotary developing device is relatively slow.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the behavior of toner inside the toner supply container.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing an example of the behavior of the toner inside the toner supply container when the toner supply container according to the present invention is revolved clockwise.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the behavior of the toner inside the toner supply container when the toner supply container according to the present invention is revolved counterclockwise.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing an example of the behavior of toner inside the toner supply container in a system in which the rotation of the rotary developing device is relatively slow when the inclination direction of the partition wall is changed.

FIG. 15 shows a case where a toner supply container according to the present invention, in which the partition wall is changed in inclination direction, is revolved clockwise.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the behavior of toner inside the toner supply container.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the behavior of the toner inside the toner supply container when the partition wall of the toner supply container according to the present invention having a different inclination direction is revolved counterclockwise.

FIG. 17 is a schematic sectional view of a rotary developing device for explaining another embodiment of the toner supply container according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a schematic partial cross-sectional perspective view showing a toner supply container of a comparative example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Toner supply container (developer supply container) 1a Toner storage (developer storage, container body) 1b Toner discharge opening 3 shutters 4 Packing member 2 partition walls (supporting parts) 2a Inclined protrusion (conveyance protrusion) 2b through hole 10 Development device 11 Developer 12 Toner receiving section 13 Developing device body 20 Photosensitive drum (electrophotographic photosensitive member, image bearing member) 21 Primary charger 22a Image exposure means 23 Transferring means 24 Transfer drum 27 Fixing device 50 Image forming apparatus main body (apparatus main body) 100 image forming apparatus

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2H030 AB02 BB24 BB38 BB44 BB46                       BB63                 2H077 AA03 AA05 AA12 AA14 AA25                       AA34 AB02 AB06 AB12 AB13                       AD06 AD13 BA01 BA08 DB14                       EA01 GA13

Claims (41)

[Claims] 1. A developer supply container which is non-rotatably mounted on a rotary developing device and which revolves around the rotation axis of the rotary developing device as the rotary developing device rotates. A container body that stores a developer therein and has an opening for discharging the developer; and a partition wall that is provided inside the container body and extends in the rotation axis direction. In order to convey the developer in the container body in the direction of the rotation axis and discharge the developer from the opening due to the revolving motion associated with the rotation of the device, both surfaces of the partition wall are in the same direction with respect to the rotation axis. A developer supply container, wherein a projection having an inclined surface is provided so as to project from the partition wall. 2. The peripheral speed is 0.1 to 2 m / sec with the rotation of the rotary developing device, and the peripheral speed moves from the stopped state to the stopped state, or from the stopped state to the peripheral speed. 2. The developer replenishing container according to claim 1, wherein the developer replenishing container revolves while intermittently starting and stopping under the condition that the time required to reach the moving state is 0.01 to 0.1 sec. 3. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the revolution radius of the revolution movement of the developer supply container is 50 mm or more and 300 mm or less. 4. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall is provided with a hole penetrating the partition wall. 5. The partition wall is provided so as to divide the inside of the container main body into a plurality of parts excluding a region where the opening is provided. The developer supply container according to the item. 6. The partition wall substantially divides the interior of the container body into two parts, and the projections are provided on both surfaces of the partition wall, according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Developer supply container. 7. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has an L-shaped cross section. 8. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the protrusion has a curved shape. 9. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the container body has a substantially cylindrical shape. 10. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the container body has a tubular shape with a non-circular cross section. 11. The container according to claim 9, wherein the opening is provided on a peripheral surface of the cylindrical container body.
0 developer supply container. 12. The developer according to claim 1, wherein the opening is provided so as to discharge the developer in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction. Supply container. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the opening is provided on a side surface of the container body on one end side.
13. The developer supply container according to any one of item 12. 14. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the developer discharged from the container body is toner. 15. The developer discharged from the container body comprises a toner and a carrier, and the carrier is mixed in the toner in an amount of 5 to 30% by weight. The developer supply container according to any one of items. 16. A plurality of the developer replenishing containers are installed in the rotary developing device so as to replenish the developer corresponding to the plurality of developing devices installed in the rotary developing device, respectively. The rotary developing device is controlled to stop at a plurality of predetermined angular positions corresponding to the number of the plurality of developing devices, the developing device performs the developing at at least one stop position, and the developing device performs the developing. The developer supply container according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the developer is naturally dropped and discharged from a developer supply container corresponding to the developing device at the position. 17. The partition wall is inclined by 20 to 70 ° in a clockwise direction with respect to a horizontal direction or a vertical direction when the developing device and the developer supply container are stopped. The developer supply container according to claim 16. 18. The partition wall is provided in a clockwise direction with respect to a horizontal direction or a vertical direction at least when the developing device and the developer supply container are stopped at the developing position.
17. The developer supply container according to claim 16, wherein the developer supply container is provided so as to be inclined by about 70 degrees. 19. The developer supply container according to claim 16, 17 or 18, wherein a single rotation angle of the developing device and the developer supply container is 50 to 180 °. 20. A rotary developing device which rotates about a rotary shaft, and a rotary developing device which is non-rotatably mounted on the rotary developing device and which rotates with the rotation axis of the rotary developing device. A developer replenishing device having a developer replenishing container that revolves around its center, wherein the developer replenishing container contains a developer therein and has an opening for discharging the developer. And a partition wall provided inside the container body so as to extend in the rotation axis direction, and the developer in the container body is rotated in the rotation axis direction by the revolving motion associated with the rotation of the rotary developing device. In order to be conveyed to and discharged from the opening, the projections are provided on both surfaces of the partition wall, the projections having surfaces inclined in the same direction with respect to the rotation axis line. Developer supply device. 21. With the rotation of the rotary developing device,
The peripheral speed of the developer supply container is 0.1 to 2 m / sec,
In addition, the time required to reach from the state of moving at this peripheral speed to the stopped state or from the stopped state to the state of moving at this peripheral speed is intermittently under the condition of 0.01 to 0.1 sec. 21. The developer replenishing device according to claim 20, which revolves while starting and stopping. 22. The developer replenishing device according to claim 20, wherein the revolution radius of the revolution movement of the developer replenishing container is 50 mm or more and 300 mm or less. 23. The partition wall is provided with a hole penetrating the partition wall.
21 or 22 developer replenishing device. 24. The partition wall is provided so as to divide the inside of the container main body into a plurality of parts except for the region where the opening is provided, according to any one of claims 20 to 23. Item 7. The developer replenishing device according to item. 25. The partition wall substantially divides the interior of the container body into two parts, and the protrusions are provided on both surfaces of the partition wall. Developer supply device. 26. The developer replenishing device according to claim 20, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the protrusion is L-shaped. 27. The developer replenishing device according to claim 20, wherein the protrusion has a curved cross-sectional shape. 28. The developer supply device according to claim 20, wherein the container body has a substantially cylindrical shape. 29. The developer replenishing device according to claim 20, wherein the container body has a tubular shape having a non-circular cross section. 30. The developer replenishing device according to claim 28, wherein the opening is provided on a peripheral surface of the cylindrical container body. 31. The developer according to claim 20, wherein the opening is provided so as to discharge the developer in a direction intersecting with the rotation axis direction. Supply device. 32. The opening is provided on a side surface of the container body on the side of one end thereof.
32. The developer replenishing device according to any one of 1 to 31. 33. The developer replenishing device according to claim 20, wherein the developer discharged from the container body is toner. 34. The developer discharged from the container body comprises a toner and a carrier, and the carrier is mixed in the toner in an amount of 5 to 30% by weight. The developer replenishing device according to any one of items. 35. The rotary developing device is internally provided with a plurality of developing devices and a plurality of developer replenishing containers for replenishing the developer corresponding to the developing devices, respectively. The developing device is controlled so as to stop at a plurality of predetermined angular positions corresponding to the number of the plurality of developing devices, the developing device develops at at least one stop position, and the developing device in the developing position in which the developing device develops The developer replenishing device according to any one of claims 20 to 34, wherein the developer is naturally dropped and discharged from a corresponding developer replenishing container. 36. The partition wall is inclined by 20 to 70 ° in a clockwise direction with respect to a horizontal direction or a vertical direction when the developing device and the developer supply container are stopped. The developer supply device according to claim 35. 37. The partition wall is provided so as to be inclined by 20 to 70 ° clockwise with respect to the horizontal direction when at least the developing device and the developer supply container are stopped at the developing position. 36. The developer supply device according to claim 35. 38. The developer replenishing device according to claim 35, 36 or 37, wherein a single rotation angle of the developing device and the toner replenishing container is 50 to 180 °. 39. A developer replenishing container capable of revolving around an axis of rotation of the rotary developing device in association with rotation of the rotary developing device, the container main body having a developer discharge opening and containing the developer; A conveyance convex portion that is provided in the container main body so as to be inclined with respect to the rotation axis, and conveys the developer in the container main body in the rotation axis direction by the revolving motion associated with the rotation of the rotary developing device, A developer replenishing container, comprising: a support portion that supports a plurality of the transport convex portions on both sides, and the support portion includes a hole portion that allows the developer to pass back and forth. 40. The support portion supports, on one surface, a plurality of the transport protrusions provided at different positions in the rotation axis direction, and the holes are provided between the transport protrusions. 38. The developer supply container according to claim 37, wherein: 41. A developer replenishing device, characterized in that the developer replenishing container according to claim 39 is mounted to replenish the image forming device main body with the developer.