JP2003330269A - Developing device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing device in which the occurrence of developer scattering or toner scattering at pulling out a partitioning member at the time of not using the developing device and at using the developing device is prevented, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus using the developing device. <P>SOLUTION: The partitioning member (17) is provided between a developing case (16) storing developer (G) and a developing roller (8), and a magnetized member (18) is provided on the lower side of the developing case (16). The magnetized member (18) desirably possesses magnetic force stronger than that of the developing roller (8). The partitioning member (17) and the magnetized member (18) are pulled out respectively or together at using the developing device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device using a two-component developing system or a one-component magnetic developing system, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a developing device preset with a developer or magnetic toner, The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a developing device in which a developer or magnetic toner consisting of carrier and toner is preset, a partition member is usually provided between a developing case containing the developer or magnetic toner and a developing roller as a measure for preventing toner scattering. ing. The partition member is a seal member that closes the opening of the developing case and is used by pulling it out when the developing device is used. Developer or magnetic toner is replenished to the developing device through the opened opening.

[0003]

However, in the conventional method, the developer and the magnetic toner contained in the developing case become active due to vibrations during transportation, and the developer and the magnetic toner are normally used. In some cases, it was scattered even from an extremely small gap that did not scatter. In addition, the developer or magnetic toner that has become active due to vibration or the like easily adheres to the partition member that is pulled out when the developing device is used.Therefore, when the partition member is pulled out, the attached developer or magnetic toner scatters. There was also the problem of doing. JP 2000-4
In Japanese Patent No. 7467, as a means for solving the above problems, in order to improve the sealing property of the partition member, a material forming the developing case is a metal stearate or a metal stearate and a stearic acid 0.01 as a release agent. .About.0.1% by weight, as a flame retardant, a brominated flame retardant 10.0 to 15.0% by weight, and antimony trioxide 2.0 to 4.0% by weight have been proposed to be added to polystyrene. There is.

In view of the above problems, the present invention prevents developer scattering or toner scattering when the developing device is not used, for example, during storage or transportation, and pulls out the partition member when using the developing device. An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device that does not cause developer scattering or toner scattering at the time, a process cartridge using the developing device, and an image forming apparatus.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention according to claim 1 is a two-component developing system or one-component magnetic developing system developing device, which comprises a carrier and a toner. In a developing device equipped with a partition member that is pulled out during use between a developing case containing a developer or magnetic toner and a developing roller, a magnetic field is provided below the developing case containing a developer or magnetic toner when not in use. The developing device is characterized in that a charging member is provided. The present invention according to claim 2 provides the developing device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic member has a magnetic force stronger than that of the developing roller. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the developing device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the partition member and the magnetic member can be removed together. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge including the developing device according to any one of the first to third aspects. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including the developing device according to any one of the first to third aspects or the process cartridge according to the fourth aspect.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In this image forming apparatus, a photosensitive member (1) which is a cylindrical image carrier is rotatably supported in a direction of an arrow, and a charging roller (2), an exposing unit (3), and a photosensitive member (1) are provided around the photosensitive member (1). A developing device (4), a transfer roller (5), a cleaning blade (6), and a toner recovery screw (7) are sequentially arranged. The developing device (4) is housed in a developing case having an opening, and the developing roller (8) is rotatably supported at the position of the opening.
It is arranged so as to closely face the surface of the photoconductor (1). A first carrying screw (9) and a second carrying screw (10) are arranged at positions facing the developing roller (8) in the developing case and are rotatably supported.

Next, the operation of the above image forming apparatus will be described. The photoconductor (1) is uniformly charged by the charging roller (2), and then imagewise exposed by the exposure unit (3) to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor (1). A two-component developer is contained in the developing device (4). The two-component developer is a mixture of magnetic powder called carrier and non-magnetic toner. When the developer is stirred, the toner is charged by frictional charging. The developer containing the charged toner is drawn up onto the developing roller (8) and is conveyed with the rotation of the developing roller (8), and at a position facing the photoconductor (1) closely.
It transfers to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor (1) to form a toner image. A voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the transfer roller (5) from a power source (not shown), and an electric field between the transfer roller (5) and the photoconductor (1) develops on the photoconductor (1). The toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper sandwiched between the photoconductor (1) and the transfer roller (5). The transfer paper is then conveyed by the transfer roller (5) and is transferred to the fixing device (1
As it passes through 1), the toner image is thermally fused onto the transfer paper. On the other hand, the toner remaining on the photoconductor (1) without being transferred is blocked by the cleaning blade (6),
It is returned to the developing device (4) as recycled toner by the toner recovery screw (7). Here, (12) is a toner replenishing device, (13) is a toner replenishing motor, and (1
4) is a pair of registration rollers, and (15) is a P sensor.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of the developing device of the present invention. A partition member (1) is provided between the developing case (16) containing the developer (G) and the developing roller (8).
7) is provided, and a magnetic member (18) is provided below the developing case (16). As the magnetic member (18), for example, a magnet or the like can be used. Under the developing case (16), a magnetic member (1
By providing 8), the developer (G) can be attracted to the developing case (16) side (lower side), so that the developing device (4) vibrates when not in use, for example, during storage or transportation. It is possible to prevent the developer scattering or the toner scattering due to. In addition, the developer (G) is added to the development case (1
6) side (lower side), the developer (G)
Is less likely to adhere to the partition member (17) and the adhesion amount is reduced, so that it also prevents developer scattering or toner scattering when the partition member (17) is pulled out when the developing device (4) is used. .

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the developing device of the present invention as shown in FIG.
It is a schematic block diagram which shows embodiment different from. In FIG. 3, by bending the end of the magnetic member (18),
The force of attracting the developer (G) to the developing case (16) side is increased. In addition, in FIG. 4, a magnetic member (1
By matching 8) to the bottom shape of the developing case 16, the developer (G) can be attracted more efficiently, and the effect of preventing the developer scattering or the toner scattering is further enhanced.

By making the magnetic force of the above-mentioned magnetic member (18) stronger than the magnetic force of the developing roller (8), the developer (G) can be attracted more effectively. By making the magnetic force of the magnetic member (18) stronger than the magnetic force of the developing roller (8), the developer is more strongly attracted to the developing case (16) side (lower side), so that developer scattering or toner More effective against splattering. Further, since the adhesion of the developer to the partition member (17) is further reduced, the developer or toner scattering when the partition member (17) is pulled out is further reduced.

5 and 6 are side views of the developing device of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the partition member (17) is pulled out to the left side in the drawing as shown by the arrow, and then the member (18) having a magnetic property is drawn.
I also removed it by pulling it to the left or peeling it down. In FIG. 6, as shown by the arrow in the figure, the partition member (17) and the magnetic member (18) can be removed together to improve the efficiency of use when using the developing device (4). did.

Further, the developing device of the present invention can be formed integrally with other parts as a process cartridge. Other components include a cleaning device such as the photoconductor (1), the charging roller (2) and the cleaning blade (6). Further, by equipping the image forming apparatus with the developing device or the process cartridge, it is possible to provide an image forming device which prevents toner scattering when the developing device is not used or when the partition member is pulled out. The developing system of the developing device (4) of the present invention has been described as a dry two-component developing system having a carrier.
A developing system such as a one-component magnetic system may be used as long as it is a developing device having magnetism.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, in a developing device provided with a partitioning member that is pulled out during use between the developing case and the developing roller, the developing case is not used. By providing a magnetic member on the lower side, it prevents developer scattering or toner scattering when not in use, and at the time of using the developing device, developer scattering or toner scattering when the partition member is pulled out. It is possible to provide a developing device that does not cause Further, according to the present invention described in claim 2, by making the magnetic force of the magnetic member stronger than the magnetic force of the developing roller, it is possible to more effectively prevent the developer scattering or the toner scattering. Since the adhesion of the developer to the partition member is further reduced, it is possible to provide a developing device that does not scatter the developer or the toner when the partition member is pulled out. Further, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 3, the partition member and the magnetic member provided on the lower side of the developing case can be removed together, so that the efficiency in using the developing device can be improved. Therefore, it is possible to provide a developing device which is improved in usability. Further, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 4, it is possible to provide a process cartridge free from developer scattering or toner scattering by mounting the developing device. Furthermore, according to the present invention of claim 5, the developing device or the process cartridge is provided,
It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that does not cause developer scattering or toner scattering.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a developing device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a developing device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a developing device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the developing device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the developing device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 photoconductor 2 charging roller 3 exposure means 4 Developing device 5 Transfer roller 6 cleaning blade 7 Toner recovery screw 8 developing roller 9 First conveying screw 10 Second conveying screw 11 Fixing device 12 Toner supply device 13 Toner supply motor 14 Registration roller pair 15 P sensor 16 Development case 17 Partition member 18 Magnetic members G developer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A two-component developing system or a one-component magnetic developing system developing device, which is pulled out between a developing case containing a developer consisting of carrier and toner or magnetic toner and a developing roller at the time of use. A developing device including a partition member, wherein a magnetic member is provided below a developing case that contains a developer or magnetic toner when not in use. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic member has a magnetic force stronger than that of the developing roller. 3. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the partition member and the magnetized member can be removed together. 4. A process cartridge in which the developing device according to claim 1 is mounted. 5. An image forming apparatus comprising the developing device according to claim 1 or the process cartridge according to claim 4.