JP2004184746A - Development apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a development apparatus that avoids pressure on toner and properly supplies toner from a toner container 6 to a development chamber 14 as toner in the development chamber 14 decreases. <P>SOLUTION: The development apparatus 2 includes a stir conveying means 28 disposed in the development chamber 14, and the toner container 6. The development chamber 14 has first and second conveying paths 26a and 26b and communication paths 27a and 27b. A toner receiving area is provided on the communication path 27b. A housing has a toner receiving opening 54 formed above the toner receiving area. The toner container 6 has a toner discharge opening 62 that communicates with the toner receiving opening 54. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image into a toner image used in an electrostatic image forming machine such as an electrostatic printer, a copying machine and a facsimile, and more specifically, a toner container or a toner hopper. The present invention relates to a developing device in which a toner discharge opening is formed to communicate with a toner receiving opening in a state where toner can be supplied to a developing chamber.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The developing device of the above-described embodiment has been developed by the present applicant, Kyocera Mita Corporation, and has already been filed (see Patent Document 1). The developing device includes a housing having a developing chamber that defines a toner circulation path, a stirring and conveying unit disposed in the development chamber for conveying the toner through the circulation path while stirring, and developing the toner in the development chamber. A toner application unit for applying an electrostatic latent image to be provided, and a toner container detachably mounted on a housing for replenishing toner into the developing chamber. The toner applying means includes a developing sleeve and a stationary permanent magnet provided in the developing sleeve. The developing chamber has a toner receiving opening located above the toner receiving area in the circulation path. The toner container includes a toner container case containing toner. The toner container case has a toner discharge opening that is located above and opposed to the toner receiving opening when the toner container is mounted on the housing. The toner container includes a toner conveying unit that conveys the toner stored in the toner container case toward the toner discharge opening. The transport capacity of the stirring transport unit provided in the developing chamber is locally reduced on the downstream side of the toner receiving area. More specifically, the stirring / conveying means is constituted by a rotating spiral blade extending along a circulation path, and locally reducing the outer diameter of the spiral blade downstream of the toner receiving area, or forming a spiral spiral blade. The transport capacity of the agitating and transporting means is locally reduced downstream of the toner receiving area by, for example, locally reducing the blade pitch.
[0003]
In the above-mentioned developing device, the conveying capacity of the stirring and conveying means for conveying the toner through the circulation path defined in the developing chamber while stirring the toner is located on the downstream side of the toner receiving area where the toner receiving opening is disposed above. Because of the local reduction, toner stagnation is generated in the toner receiving area. Such an amount of staying toner fluctuates according to the amount of toner in the developing chamber. The replenishment of toner from the toner container to the developing chamber does not depend directly on the drive control of the toner conveying means of the toner container, but is automatically performed in accordance with the amount of accumulated toner in the toner receiving area, and therefore in accordance with the amount of toner in the developing chamber. Is controlled.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-235933 A (Claims 1 to 3, FIGS. 3 and 4)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described conventional developing device, the amount of toner supplied to the developing chamber is controlled by controlling the driving of the toner conveying means of the toner container based on a detection signal from a toner amount detection sensor provided in the developing chamber. Therefore, it is not necessary to control the sensor and a dedicated driving source such as an electric motor provided only for driving the toner conveying means of the toner container is not required. An excellent effect is obtained that the toner can be appropriately replenished from the toner container to the developing chamber in accordance with the decrease of the toner in the room. However, on the other hand, in order to locally reduce the conveying capacity of the agitating and conveying means on the downstream side of the toner receiving area (to intentionally generate stagnation of toner), the outer diameter of the spiral blade on the downstream side of the toner receiving area. Needs to be locally reduced or the spiral blade pitch needs to be locally reduced, so that the toner may be excessively pressed in the developing chamber. In addition, since it is necessary to change the configuration of the spiral blade, the cost is increased accordingly.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved toner supply system capable of appropriately replenishing toner from a toner replenishing unit in response to a decrease in toner in a development chamber while avoiding excessive pressure of toner in the development chamber. An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device.
[0007]
Another object of the present invention is to appropriately supply toner to a developing chamber from a toner replenishing unit in accordance with a decrease in the amount of toner in the developing chamber without providing a means for intentionally retaining toner in the developing chamber. It is to provide a new and improved developing device.
[0008]
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method that can be easily put into practical use at low cost, and that can appropriately supply toner to a developing chamber from a toner replenishing unit in accordance with a decrease in toner in the developing chamber. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved developing device.
[0009]
Still another object of the present invention is to make it possible to arrange a toner replenishing means, such as a toner container or a toner hopper, on the front side of an image forming machine, thereby making it possible to reduce the size of the periphery of an image forming element, An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved developing device capable of appropriately replenishing toner from a toner replenishing unit to a developing chamber in accordance with a decrease in toner in a room.
[0010]
Still another object of the present invention is to make it possible to effectively mix the toner in the developing chamber with new toner supplied from a toner replenishing means such as a toner container or a toner hopper. An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved developing device capable of appropriately replenishing toner from a toner replenishing means to a developing chamber according to a decrease.
[0011]
Still another object of the present invention is to prevent a phenomenon in which new toner replenished from a toner replenishing means such as a toner container or a toner hopper directly flows into a developing sleeve side, thereby ensuring good image formation and developing. An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved developing device capable of appropriately replenishing toner from a toner replenishing unit to a developing chamber in accordance with a decrease in toner in a room.
[0012]
Still another object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for a dedicated driving source such as an electric motor provided only for driving the toner conveying means in the toner replenishing means, and to reduce the cost accordingly. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved developing device.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, a housing having a developing chamber that defines a toner circulation path, a stirring and conveying unit disposed in the development chamber for conveying the toner through the circulation path while stirring the toner, A first conveying unit extending in parallel with the toner applying unit, including a toner applying unit for applying the electrostatic latent image to be developed, and a toner replenishing unit for replenishing the toner into the developing chamber; Path, a second transport path extending along and between the first transport path and the toner application means, and a second transport path extending along and between the first transport path and the second transport path. And a communication path that communicates between both end regions of the first and second transport paths outside of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the partition wall, and the stirring and transporting means is disposed in the first transport path. A first stirring / transporting means and a second stirring / transporting means disposed on the second transporting path. The housing has a toner receiving opening located above the toner receiving area, and the toner replenishing means communicates with the toner receiving opening when toner can be supplied to the developing chamber. In the developing device in which the toner discharge opening is formed,
The toner receiving area is substantially set in one of the communication paths,
A developing device is provided.
One of the communication paths preferably communicates a downstream end area of the second transport path with an upstream end area of the first transport path.
The second transport path extends downstream, and the first transport path extends upstream beyond one end of the toner application unit. The first transport path extends downstream from the downstream end area of the second transport path and the first transport path. The upstream end area of the path is positioned in an area extending beyond one end of the toner application unit, and one of the communication paths is located at a downstream end area of the second conveyance path and an upstream end area of the first conveyance path. Are preferably communicated.
It is preferable that a toner conveying unit that conveys toner from a downstream end area of the second conveying path to an upstream end area of the first conveying path is provided at one of the communication paths.
It is preferable that the toner replenishing means is a toner container detachably mounted on the housing.
It is preferable that the toner container is disposed on the front side of the image forming machine.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a developing device configured according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0015]
1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of a developing device constituted according to the present invention. The illustrated developing device, generally designated by reference numeral 2, comprises a developing device main body 4, a toner replenishing means, and a toner container 6 in the embodiment.
[0016]
The developing device main body 4 includes a housing 8, and the housing 8 includes a housing main body 10 and an upper wall member 12 mounted on the housing main body 10. In the left half of FIG. 1 of the housing body 10 which can be molded from an appropriate synthetic resin, a developing chamber 14 having an open upper surface (more specifically, a main portion excluding a left edge) and a left side surface is provided. Stipulated. The housing body 10 has a bottom wall 16, side walls 18 and 20, and a connecting wall 22. The connecting wall 22 extends between the upper edges of the left and right side walls 18 and 20 in FIG. The bottom wall 16 of the housing body 10 has three arc-shaped portions 16a, 16b, and 16c arranged in parallel and having a circular cross-sectional shape. A partition 24 extending substantially vertically upward is formed between the arc portion 16a and the arc portion 16b. On both sides of the partition 24, the first transport path 26a and the second transport path 26a, which are linear paths, are respectively provided. The transport path 26b is defined. Both ends of the partition 24 are separated from the inner surfaces of the side walls 18 and 20 of the housing body 10, and a gap exists between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the partition 24 and the inner surfaces of the side walls 18 and 20.
[0017]
A gap between one end (the right end in FIG. 2) of the partition wall 24 and the side wall 18 is a communication path that communicates with one end area (the right end area in FIG. 2) of each of the first transport path 26a and the second transport path 26b. 27a, and a gap between the other end (the left end in FIG. 2) of the partition wall 24 and the side wall 20 is formed in the other end region (FIG. 2) of each of the first transport path 26a and the second transport path 26b. At the left end area). Therefore, the first transport path 26a and the second transport path 26b extending in parallel with each other are communicated with each other via the communication paths 27a and 27b at both end regions, and thus the first transport path 26a , And then from the one end area of the first conveyance path 26a to the one end area of the second conveyance path 26b via the communication path 27a, extend along the second conveyance path 26b, and An endless circulation path extending from the other end area of the path 26b to the other end area of the first transport path 26a is defined (the toner is circulated through the circulation path as will be further described later). In other words, the circulation path is formed by a first conveyance path 26a extending in parallel with the toner application unit 40 described later, and a first conveyance path 26a between the first conveyance path 26a and the toner application unit 40. A second conveying path 26b extending along the toner applying means 40; and communication paths 27a and 27b communicating between both end areas of the first conveying path 26a and the second conveying path 26b. .
[0018]
In the circulation path described above, a stirring and conveying means 28 for conveying the toner through the circulation path while stirring the toner is provided. The stirring and conveying means 28 in the illustrated embodiment is a first stirring and conveying means disposed on the first conveying path 26a and extending along the first conveying path 26a, and in the embodiment, a first rotating spiral. A blade member 30a and a second stirring / transporting means disposed in the second transport path 26b and extending along the second transport path 26b, and in the embodiment, a second rotary spiral blade member 30b. Have been. The first rotating spiral blade member 30a, which can be molded from an appropriate synthetic resin, has a central shaft portion 32a and a spiral blade 34a. Similarly, the second rotary spiral blade member 30b, which can be molded from an appropriate synthetic resin, also has a central shaft portion 32b and a spiral blade 34b. The first rotary spiral blade member 30a is rotatably mounted between the side walls 18 and 20 of the housing body 10, and extends linearly along the first transport path 26a. The second rotary spiral blade member 30b is also rotatably mounted between the side walls 18 and 20 of the housing body 10, and extends linearly along the second transport path 26b. One end (right end in FIG. 2) of the central shaft portion 32a of the first rotary spiral blade member 30a and one end (right end in FIG. 2) of the central shaft portion 32b of the second rotary spiral blade member 30b are side walls 18. The input gears 32c and 32d are fixed to these protruding ends, respectively. When the developing device 2 is mounted at a predetermined position of the image forming machine, the input gear 32c of the first rotary spiral blade member 30a and the input gear 32d of the second rotary spiral blade member 30b mesh with a transmission gear (not shown). And a drive connection (not shown), which may be an electric motor. When a drive source (not shown) is energized, the first rotating spiral blade member 30a and the second rotating spiral blade member 30b are rotated at the same rotational speed in the same direction indicated by an arrow 36 in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. It is driven to rotate.
[0019]
As can be clearly understood by referring to FIG. 2, the spiral blades 34a of the first rotating spiral blade member 30a and the spiral blades 34b of the second rotating spiral blade member 30b have so-called spiral directions set in opposite directions. By rotating the first spiral blade member 30a in the direction indicated by the arrow 36, the toner is transported in the direction indicated by the arrow 37 through the first transport path 26a, and the second rotary spiral blade member 30b is rotated. By being rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 36, the toner is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow 38 through the second conveyance path 26b. As is clear from the above description, the communication path 27b communicates the downstream end area of the second conveyance path 26b with the upstream end area of the first conveyance path 26a, and the communication path 27a is connected to the second conveyance path 26b. And the downstream end area of the first transport path 26a.
[0020]
A toner receiving area is set in the communication path 27b (which defines one of the communication paths 27a and 27b). The toner is introduced into the toner receiving area through a toner receiving opening 54 (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2) described in detail later. The first rotary spiral blade member 30a disposed in the first transport path 26a has a substantially constant toner transport capability over the entire area, and the first rotary spiral blade member 30a has a toner transport ability that is disposed in the second transport path 26b. The toner transfer capability of the second rotary spiral blade member 30b is also substantially constant over the entire area. The toner transporting ability of the first rotary spiral blade member 30a is substantially the same as the toner transporting ability of the second rotary spiral blade member 30b. In the illustrated embodiment, the diameter of the central shaft portion 32a of the first rotating spiral blade member 30a and the diameter of the central shaft portion 32b of the second rotating spiral blade member 30b, the spiral blade 34a of the first rotating spiral blade member 30a. And the diameter of the spiral blade 34b of the second rotary spiral blade member 30b, the pitch of the spiral blade 34a of the first rotary spiral blade member 30a, and the pitch of the spiral blade 34b of the second rotary spiral blade member 30b. , Respectively, are substantially fixed. As described above, the first rotating spiral blade member 30a and the second rotating spiral blade member 30b are rotationally driven at substantially the same rotational speed. Therefore, the toner conveying capacity (per unit pitch) of the stirring and conveying means 28 itself is substantially the same over the entire area.
[0021]
Above the arc-shaped portion 16c of the bottom wall 6 of the housing body 10, a toner applying unit 40 is disposed. The toner applying means 40 includes a developing sleeve 41 rotatably mounted between the side walls 18 and 20 of the housing body 10. In the developing sleeve 41, a stationary permanent magnet (not shown) is arranged. One end of the rotating shaft 42 to which the developing sleeve 41 is fixed projects through the side wall 18 and an input gear 43 is fixed to the projecting end. When the developing device main body 4 is mounted at a predetermined position of the image forming machine, the input gear 43 is meshed with one of transmission gears (not shown), and is drivingly connected to a drive source (not shown) which may be an electric motor. This drive source is a drive source common to the drive sources of the first and second rotary spiral blade members 30a and 30b. Therefore, when this driving source is energized, the developing sleeve 41 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 39. An ear cutting means 44 is provided in association with the developing sleeve 41. The developing chamber 14 contains a one-component developer composed of only toner, and the developer, that is, the toner, is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow 36 in a first rotating spiral blade member 30a and a second rotating spiral blade member. By the operation of 30b, the sheet is circulated and conveyed through the circulation path. The toner applying unit 40 holds the toner on the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 41 rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 39, and conveys the toner through the developing area 45. The ear cutting means 44 regulates the layer thickness of the toner held on the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 41 and conveyed to the developing area 45. In the development zone 45, the toner is applied to the electrostatic latent image to be developed, thus developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image.
[0022]
The upper wall member 12 is mounted on the housing body 10. The upper wall member 12 has an upper wall 50 that covers the upper surface of the developing chamber 14. An elongated immersion area 52 extending in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1) is formed on the upper surface wall 50. The cross section of the immersion area 52 is substantially V-shaped, but the lower end is formed to extend substantially horizontally. In the immersion area 52, a toner receiving opening 54, which may be rectangular, is formed. The toner receiving opening 54 is positioned above and opposed to a toner receiving area set in one of the communication paths 27b. It is preferable that a developer chamber shutter (not shown) is provided on the upper wall 50, and the toner chamber opening 54 can be opened and closed by selectively moving the developer chamber shutter between an open position and a closed position.
[0023]
In the illustrated embodiment, the toner container 6 constituting the toner supply means includes a toner container case 60. The toner container case 60 includes a box-shaped toner container main body 61 having an open upper surface, and a lid 61A fixed to the toner container main body 61 by appropriate means such as ultrasonic welding. The bottom wall of the toner container body 61 has an arc-shaped portion 61a having an arc-shaped cross section and a V-shaped portion 61b having a substantially V-shaped cross section. The V-shaped portion 61b is formed so that its lower end extends substantially horizontally, and has a shape of the immersion area 52 so that the immersion area 52 formed on the upper wall 50 of the housing body 10 can be superimposed from above. It is made to correspond to. At the substantially horizontal lower end of the V-shaped portion 61b, a toner discharge opening 62 which may be rectangular is formed. The toner discharge opening 62 is rectangularly surrounded by a rib extending slightly downward from a substantially horizontal lower end of the V-shaped portion 61b. When the toner container 6 is mounted on the housing 8 as required, the V-shaped portion 61b of the toner container main body 61 is overlapped with the immersion area 52 formed on the upper wall 50 from above. The toner discharge opening 62 formed in the V-shaped portion 61 b of the toner container main body 61 is fitted from above into the toner receiving opening 54 formed in the immersion area 52. Thus, when the toner container 6 is mounted on the housing 8 and the toner can be supplied into the developing chamber 14, the toner discharge opening 62 of the toner container 6 communicates with the toner receiving opening 54 of the housing 8. I'm sullen.
[0024]
The toner container main body 61 has a pair of side walls 63 spaced from each other in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1 (only one side wall 63 is shown in FIG. 1). A circular opening (not shown) is formed in the other side wall 63, and the toner is filled into the toner container case 60 through the opening. After the toner is filled into the toner container case 60, a closing member (not shown) is fixed to the opening, and the opening is closed. Between both side walls 63 of the toner container main body 61, a toner conveying means 64 extending along the arc-shaped portion 61a and a toner conveying means 65 extending along the V-shaped portion 61b are arranged. The toner conveying means 64 includes a rotation support shaft 64a rotatably mounted between the side walls 63, and a plurality of rectangular conveyance pieces 64b fixed to the rotation support shaft 64a. Each of the transporting pieces 64b can be formed from an appropriate synthetic resin film or sheet. One end of the rotation support shaft 64a protrudes through one side wall 63, and an input gear (not shown) is fixed to the one end.
[0025]
The toner conveying means 65 is constituted by a rotary spiral blade member having a central shaft portion 65a and a spiral blade 65b. One end of the central shaft portion 65a protrudes through one side wall 63, and an input gear (not shown) is fixed to the one end. This input gear is meshed with the input gear of the toner conveying means 64. When the toner container 6 is mounted on the housing 8 as required, the input gear of the toner conveying means 65 is connected to the input gear 32c of the first rotary spiral blade member 30a and the input gear 32d of the second rotary spiral blade member 30b. It is meshed with one of the transmission gears for drivingly connecting the drive source (not shown). Therefore, when the driving source is energized, the first rotating spiral blade member 30a, the second rotating spiral blade member 30b, and the developing sleeve 41 disposed in the developing chamber 14 as described above move the arrow 36 and the developing sleeve 41, respectively. In addition to being rotated in the direction indicated by 39, the toner conveying means 64 and 65 of the toner container 6 are also rotated in the directions indicated by arrows 66 and 67, respectively. By rotating the toner conveying means 64 in the direction indicated by the arrow 66, the toner present on the arc-shaped portion 61a is conveyed onto the V-shaped portion 61b by the action of the conveying piece 64b, and the toner conveying means 65 is indicated by the arrow 67. The toner on the V-shaped portion 61b is conveyed toward the toner discharge opening 62 by being rotated in the direction. It is noted that the illustrated embodiment constructed according to the present invention does not require a dedicated drive source such as an electric motor provided solely for rotating the toner conveying means 64 and 65 of the toner container 6. Should be.
[0026]
In the toner container case 60, a container shutter (not shown) which can be turned from the outside of the toner container main body 61 and has a toner passage opening (not shown) is disposed, and the toner discharge opening 62 is closed. It is preferable to be configured so that it can be pivoted to any one of the position and the open position where the toner passage opening is positioned above the toner discharge opening 62. When the toner container 6 is not detachably attached to the housing 8 of the developing device main body 4 (in other words, when the toner supply into the developing chamber 14 is not possible), the container shutter is located at the closed position. In addition, illustration of the container shutter is omitted for easy understanding of the present invention.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 1, the toner container 6 is detachably mounted on a housing 8 of the developing device main body 4. When the developer container shutter (not shown) is moved to the open position to open the toner receiving opening 54 and the toner container 6 is mounted at a required position of the housing 8, the toner discharging opening 62 of the toner container main body 61 and the upper wall member 12 are opened. Are aligned vertically with a container shutter (not shown) interposed therebetween (the toner discharge opening 62 is fitted into the toner receiving opening 54). After the toner container 6 is mounted at a required position of the housing 8, the container shutter is moved to the open position. The toner passage opening (not shown) of the container shutter is aligned with the toner discharge opening 62 of the toner container main body 61, and the toner discharge opening 62 is opened. As a result, the toner discharge opening 62 is communicated with the toner receiving opening 54, and the toner container 6 constituting the toner replenishing unit is in a state where toner can be supplied into the developing chamber 14. Therefore, the toner in the toner container case 60 is supplied into the developing chamber 14 through the toner passage opening (not shown), the toner discharge opening 62 and the toner receiving opening 54.
[0028]
In the illustrated developing device having the above-described configuration, the developing chamber 14 is filled with a so-called one-component developer composed of only toner. When the development is performed, the toner is applied to the electrostatic latent image by the toner application unit 40, so that the toner is consumed according to the development. Therefore, it is important to appropriately supply the toner into the developing chamber 14 in accordance with the consumption of the toner. In the illustrated developing device configured according to the present invention, a dedicated driving source for selectively rotating the toner conveying means 64 and 65 provided in the toner container 6 as needed is not required, Supply of toner from the toner container 6 to the developing chamber 14 is appropriately controlled. More specifically, in the illustrated developing device constructed in accordance with the present invention, the above-mentioned driving source (not shown) is energized in order to perform development, and the stirring and conveying means 28 (that is, the first rotary spiral) together with the toner applying means 40 When the blade member 30a and the second rotary spiral blade member 30b) are rotated, the toner conveying means 64 and 65 of the toner container 6 are also connected to the driving source. Accordingly, the toner is conveyed in the toner container case 60 toward the toner passage opening and the toner discharge opening 62 (not shown).
[0029]
On the other hand, in the developing chamber 14, the toner transported along the first transport path 26a by the first rotary spiral blade member 30a passes through the communication path 27a in the downstream end area of the first transport path 26a. It is delivered to the upstream end area of the transport path 26b. The toner delivered to the upstream end area of the second conveyance path 26b through the communication path 27a in the downstream end area of the first conveyance path 26a is transferred along the second conveyance path 26b by the second rotary spiral blade member 30b. Transported. The toner transported along the second transport path 26b by the second rotary spiral blade member 30b is transferred to the upstream end area of the first transport path 26a through the communication path 27b at the downstream end area of the second transport path 26b. Handed over. The toner transferred from the downstream end area of the second conveyance path 26b to the upstream end area of the first conveyance path 26a through the communication path 27b is transferred along the first conveyance path 26a by the first rotary spiral blade member 30a. Transported. Thus, the toner in the developing chamber 14 is circulated through the circulation path.
[0030]
As can be easily understood from the above description, the toner transported along the first transport path 26a by the first rotary spiral blade member 30a receives the toner from the side wall 18, the communication path 27a, and the second rotary spiral blade member 30b. Is made substantially U-turn, and the second rotating spiral blade member 30b conveys along the second conveying path 26b in a direction exactly opposite to that in the first conveying path 26a. Similarly, the toner conveyed along the second conveying path 26b by the second rotary spiral blade member 30b is substantially cooperated by the side wall 20, the communication path 27b, and the first rotary spiral blade member 30a. It is U-turned, and is conveyed by the first rotating spiral blade member 30a along the first conveying path 26a in a direction exactly opposite to that in the second conveying path 26b. Therefore, in the toner circulation path, the toner substantially passes through the communication path 27a (that is, the communication path 27a and its vicinity area) and the communication path 27b (that is, the communication path 27b and its vicinity area). Stagnation is generated. In other words, the toner level in the communication path 27a and the area in the vicinity thereof and the toner level in the communication path 27b and the area in the vicinity thereof are respectively higher than the toner levels in other areas other than the communication path 27a. In FIG. 1, reference symbol S indicates the toner level in the developing chamber 14. In the above embodiment, since the toner receiving area where the toner receiving opening 54 is located above is substantially set in the communication path 27b, the above-described stagnation of the toner is caused by the toner flowing into the developing chamber 14 through the toner receiving opening 54. Suppress entry. The amount of staying toner in the toner receiving area varies according to the amount of toner in the developing chamber 14. Therefore, the degree of suppression of the entry of the toner into the developing chamber 14 is varied depending on the amount of the toner in the developing chamber 14, and when the amount of the toner decreases, the introduction of the toner into the developing chamber 14 increases, and when the amount of the toner increases, The introduction of toner into the developing chamber 14 is reduced. Thus, the supply of toner to the developing chamber 14 is appropriately controlled without directly depending on the drive control of the toner conveying means 64 and 65 of the toner container 6.
[0031]
Therefore, according to the developing device according to the present invention, as in the above-described conventional device, in order to locally reduce the transporting ability of the stirring and transporting means 28 on the downstream side of the toner receiving area (intentionally reducing the accumulation of toner). Therefore, it is not necessary to locally reduce the outer diameter of the spiral blade downstream of the toner receiving area or to locally reduce the spiral blade pitch. As a result, there is no need to intentionally cause the toner to stay in the developing chamber 14 (specifically, without changing the configuration of the stirring and conveying unit 28, for example, the configuration of the first rotary spiral blade member 30a). By utilizing the natural retention of the toner in the communication path 27b, the toner can be appropriately supplied from the toner container 6 to the developing chamber 14 in accordance with the decrease in the toner in the developing chamber 14. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost and to put it into practical use easily. In addition, it is possible to prevent the toner from being excessively pressed in the developing chamber 14, thereby preventing the toner from agglomerating or blocking, thereby preventing the smooth flow of the toner. The toner can be appropriately replenished from the toner container 6 to the developing chamber 14 in accordance with the toner decrease. Further, since the communication path 27b in which the toner receiving area is set exists substantially in the upstream end area of the first transport path 26a, new toner supplied from the toner container 6 is supplied to the developing sleeve 41. Since the distance until the toner reaches the second transport path 26b becomes longer, the stirring time and charging time between the new toner and the old toner can be increased, and the mixing of the new toner and the old toner can be effectively performed. It can contribute to good image formation. Furthermore, in addition to the above effects, a dedicated drive source such as an electric motor provided only for driving the toner conveying means 64 and 65 in the toner container 6 is unnecessary, and the cost is reduced accordingly. Can be.
[0032]
When the toner in the toner container case 60 is exhausted, the toner container 6 needs to be replaced. In this case, the toner container 6 is detached from the housing 8 of the developing device main body 4 after the above-described container shutter is turned from the outside of the toner container main body 61 to the closed position to close the toner discharge opening 62. Can be done. Next, the developing chamber shutter (not shown) is moved from the open position to the closed position, and thus the toner receiving opening 54 of the developing chamber 14 is closed. After the toner container 6 is detached from the housing 8, a new toner container 6 can be mounted on the housing 8 by the above-described procedure. The container shutter is turned to position the container shutter at the open position, and the toner discharge opening 62 is opened. Thus, the toner can be appropriately supplied from the new toner container 6 into the developing chamber 14.
[0033]
In the above-described embodiment of the developing device 2 according to the present invention, the toner receiving area is substantially set at one of the communication paths 27b, but there is another embodiment which is substantially set at the other communication path 27a. . In this embodiment, the toner receiving opening 54 of the developing chamber 14 is formed on the upper wall 50 so as to be located above the other communication path 27a, and the toner container 6 is mounted on the housing 8 so that toner can be supplied to the housing 8. In this state, it goes without saying that the toner discharge opening 62 of the toner container 6 communicates with the toner receiving opening 54 (the toner discharging opening 62 is also formed at a position aligned with the toner receiving opening 54). Further, the toner receiving area may be set to extend over the communication path 27b and the upstream end area of the first transport path 26a and / or the downstream end area of the second transport path 26b. The communication path 27b and the area near the communication path 27b have such a meaning. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the toner receiving area includes the communication path 27b, the upstream end area of the first conveyance path 26a, and the second area. Is set over the downstream end area of the transfer path 26b. Similarly, the toner receiving area may be set across the communication path 27a and the downstream end area of the first transport path 26a and / or the upstream end area of the second transport path 26b.
[0034]
Next, another embodiment of the developing device 2 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, when the toner container 6 is mounted on the housing 8, a part of the toner container 6 is substantially formed on the upper surface wall 50 of the housing body 10. Above, it is arranged to extend along the first and second transport paths 26a and 26b. On the other hand, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, when the toner container 7 is attached to the housing 8, a part of the toner container 7 is in a region where the communication passage 27 b exists. An image (not shown) is located above the upper surface wall 50 and extends beyond one end of the developing sleeve 41 in a downstream direction of the second transport path 26b and an upstream direction of the first transport path 26a. It is arranged on the front of a forming machine, for example, a copying machine. To enable such a configuration, a part of the housing body 10 including the upper surface wall 50 and the first and second transport paths 26a and 26b extends in one direction beyond one end of the developing sleeve 41. . That is, the configuration in which the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 is substantially different from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the layout of the toner container 7 with respect to the housing 8, and the other basic configuration is substantially the same. Therefore, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0035]
At least in an area where the communication passage 27b exists, an elongated immersion area 53 extending in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 3) is formed on the upper surface wall 50 of the housing body 10. The cross section of the immersion area 53 has a substantially arc shape that protrudes downward, and a toner receiving opening 54 that may be rectangular is formed at the lower end thereof. The periphery of the toner receiving opening 54 is rectangularly surrounded by a rib extending slightly downward from the lower end of the immersion area 53.
[0036]
The toner container 7 includes toner container cases 70 and 71. The toner container case 70 has a vertically long rectangular shape when viewed from a plane, has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape as a whole, and its bottom wall has an arc shape having a cross section protruding downward, and two arc portions 70a and 70b. have. The arc-shaped portion 70b is made to correspond to the shape of the immersion area 53 so that it can overlap with the immersion area 53 formed on the upper surface wall 50 of the housing body 10 from above. A rectangular toner discharge opening 72 is formed at the lower end of the arcuate portion 70b. The toner discharge opening 72 is rectangularly surrounded by a rib extending slightly downward from the lower end of the arc-shaped portion 70b. The toner container case 71 includes a box 71a having an open top and a lid 71b fixed to the box 71a by an appropriate means such as ultrasonic welding, and has a container shape as a whole. The toner container case 71 thus configured is provided integrally with the toner container case 70 so as to extend upward from an upper surface near one end in the longitudinal direction of the toner container case 70. The toner container case 71 and the toner container case 70 communicate with each other via a communication port 73 formed between a lower end of the toner container case 71 and an upper surface of the toner container case 70 corresponding to the lower end.
[0037]
When the toner container 7 is mounted on the housing 8 as required, the arc-shaped portion 70b at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the toner container case 70 overlaps the immersion area 53 formed on the upper wall 50 from above. Can be The toner discharge opening 72 formed in the arc portion 70 b of the toner container case 70 is fitted from above into the toner receiving opening 54 formed in the immersion area 53. When the toner container 7 is mounted in the housing 8 in this manner, the toner discharge opening 72 of the toner container case 70 is communicated with the toner receiving opening 54 of the housing 8 so that toner can be supplied into the developing chamber 14. (The description about the developing chamber shutter and the container shutter, which has been extended, is omitted). A pair of side plates 102 and 104 are provided on a main body of an image forming machine, for example, a copying machine (not shown), and the developing device main body 4 is mounted between the side plates 102 and 104. A support mechanism (not shown) for detachably supporting the toner container 7 is provided on the side plate 104, and a supported mechanism (not shown) is provided on the toner container 7 corresponding to the support mechanism. Have been. The toner container 7 is detachably mounted on the housing 8 by the cooperation of the support mechanism and the supported mechanism.
[0038]
When the toner container 7 is mounted on the housing 8, the toner container case 70 moves relative to the housing main body 10 beyond the upstream end of the first conveyance path 26a and the downstream end of the second conveyance path 26b. It is arranged so as to extend in the upstream direction of the first transport path 26a and in the downstream direction of the second transport path 26b. The area on one end side of the toner container case 70 (in the embodiment, a substantially half area in the longitudinal direction of the toner container case 70) and the entirety of the toner container case 71 are in front of the side wall 104 of a copying machine (not shown) (see FIGS. 5 (left side in FIG. 5). The side wall 104 has a through hole (not shown) for avoiding interference with the toner container case 70 and / or for supporting the toner container case 70.
[0039]
A circular opening (not shown) is formed in one side wall of the box-shaped body 71a of the toner container case 71, and the toner is charged into the toner container case 71 through the opening. After the toner is filled in the toner container case 71, a closing member (not shown) is fixed to the opening, and the opening is closed. The toner filled in the toner container case 71 is supplied into the toner container case 70 through the communication port 73. Between both side walls 70c and 70d of the toner container case 70, a toner conveying means 74 extending along the arcuate portion 70a and a toner conveying means 75 extending along the arcuate portion 70b are provided. The toner conveying means 74 is constituted by a rotating spiral blade member having a central shaft portion 74a and a spiral blade 74b rotatably mounted between both side walls 70c and 70d. One end of the central shaft portion 74a protrudes through one side wall 70d, and an input gear (not shown) is fixed to the one end. The toner conveying means 75 is constituted by a rotary spiral blade member having a central shaft portion 75a and a spiral blade 75b. One end of the central shaft portion 75a protrudes through one side wall 70d, and an input gear (not shown) is fixed to the one end. This input gear is meshed with the input gear of the toner conveying means 74 via an intermediate gear (not shown).
[0040]
When the toner container 7 is mounted on the housing 8 as required, the direction of the axis of each of the rotary spiral blade members constituting the toner conveying means 74 and 75 of the toner container 7 (the left-right direction in FIG. 4) is determined by the housing body. The directions of the respective axes of the first and second rotating spiral blade members 30a and 30b arranged in the direction 10 (the left and right directions in FIG. 4) are matched. An input gear of the toner conveying means 75 is meshed with a transmission gear (not shown) and is drivingly connected to the driving source. When the driving source is energized, the first rotating spiral blade member 30a, the second rotating spiral blade member 30b, and the developing sleeve 41 provided in the developing chamber 14 as described above are indicated by arrows 36 and 39, respectively. In addition to being rotated in the directions shown, the above-mentioned rotating spiral blade members constituting the toner conveying means 74 and 75 of the toner container 7 are also rotated in the directions shown by arrows 76 and 77, respectively. The toner present on the arcuate portion 70 b is conveyed toward the toner discharge opening 72 by rotating the rotary spiral blade member constituting the toner conveying means 75 in the direction indicated by the arrow 77. The toner present on the arcuate portion 70a is conveyed toward the communication port 73 by rotating the rotary spiral blade member constituting the toner conveying means 74 in the direction indicated by the arrow 76. The toner in the toner container case 70 is circulated between the communication port 73 and the toner discharge opening 72 through a pair of toner conveyance paths formed along the arcuate portions 70b and 70a. It is supplied to the communication path 27b through the opening 54.
[0041]
According to another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, as described above, the toner container 7 can be disposed at the front side of the copying machine. The space around the image forming element such as the above can be given a margin, and the area around the image forming element can be made compact. The other embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 have substantially the same basic configuration as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and therefore have substantially the same operation and effect as to the basic configuration. Can be achieved.
[0042]
Next, still another embodiment of the developing device 2 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the second transport path 26 b in the housing body 10 is in the downstream direction (leftward in FIG. 7), and the first transport path 26 a is in the upstream direction (leftward in FIG. 7). ) Extend beyond one end of the developing sleeve 41 (the left end in FIG. 7). The downstream end area (left end area in FIG. 7) of the second conveyance path 26b and the upstream end area (left end area in FIG. 7) of the first conveyance path 26a extend beyond one end of the developing sleeve 41. It is located in the region that has been. One of the communication paths 27b communicates the downstream end area of the second transport path 26b with the upstream end area of the first transport path 26a. The toner receiving area is substantially set at one of the communication paths 27b. The upper surface wall 50 of the upper surface wall member 12 mounted on the housing body 10 is formed substantially flat, and the upper surface wall 50 is formed with a toner receiving opening 54 which may be rectangular. The toner receiving opening 54 is positioned above and opposed to a toner receiving area set in one of the communication paths 27b.
[0043]
The toner container 80 includes a toner container case 80A. The toner container case 80A is composed of a box-shaped body having an open upper surface and a lid fixed to the box-shaped body by an appropriate means such as ultrasonic welding, and has a container shape as a whole. The bottom wall of the toner container case 80A has two arc-shaped portions 80a and 80b whose cross sections are arc-shaped projecting downward. A rectangular toner discharge opening 82 is formed at the lower end of the arc-shaped portion 80b. The toner discharge opening 82 is rectangularly surrounded by a rib extending slightly downward from the lower end of the arc-shaped portion 80b. The configuration of the bottom wall of the toner container case 80A is substantially the same as the configuration of the bottom wall of the toner container case 70 of the toner container 7 shown in FIG.
[0044]
Between both side walls 80c and 80d of the toner container case 80A, a toner conveying unit 84 extending along the arc portion 80a and a toner conveying unit 85 extending along the arc portion 80b are arranged. The toner conveying means 84 is composed of a rotating spiral blade member having a central shaft portion 84a and a spiral blade 84b rotatably mounted between both side walls 80c and 80d. One end of the central shaft portion 84a protrudes through one side wall 80c, and an input gear (not shown) is fixed to the one end. The toner conveying means 85 is composed of a rotating spiral blade member having a central shaft portion 85a and a spiral blade 85b. One end of the central shaft portion 85a protrudes through one side wall 80c, and an input gear (not shown) is fixed to the one end. This input gear is meshed with the input gear of the toner conveying means 84 via an intermediate gear (not shown).
[0045]
When the toner container 80 is mounted on the housing 8 as required, the direction of the axis (the vertical direction in FIG. 7) of each of the rotary spiral blade members constituting the toner conveying means 84 and 85 of the toner container 80 is changed to the housing body. The first and second rotary spiral blade members 30a and 30b disposed on the axis 10 are disposed so as to be orthogonal to the direction of the axis (the left-right direction in FIG. 7) when viewed from a plane. An input gear of the toner conveying means 85 is meshed with a transmission gear (not shown) and is drivingly connected to the driving source. When the driving source is energized, the first rotating spiral blade member 30a, the second rotating spiral blade member 30b, and the developing sleeve 41 provided in the developing chamber 14 as described above are indicated by arrows 36 and 39, respectively. In addition to being rotated in the directions shown, the rotating spiral blade members constituting the toner conveying means 84 and 85 of the toner container 80 are also rotated in the directions shown by arrows 85 and 86, respectively. The toner present on the arcuate portion 80b is conveyed toward the toner discharge opening 82 by rotating the rotary spiral blade member constituting the toner conveying means 85 in the direction indicated by the arrow 87. By rotating the rotary spiral blade member constituting the toner conveying means 84 in the direction indicated by the arrow 86, the toner existing on the arc-shaped portion 80a is conveyed in the opposite direction. The toner in the toner container case 80A is circulated through an arc-shaped portion 80b including the toner discharge opening 82 and a pair of toner conveying paths formed along the arc-shaped portion 80a, and communicates through the toner discharge opening 82 and the toner receiving opening 54. It is supplied to the passage 27b.
[0046]
According to another embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 6-8, the toner container 80 is substantially identical to that of the previous embodiment described with reference to FIGS. Since it is possible to dispose it on the front side, a space around the image forming element such as a photosensitive drum (not shown) can be made extra, and the area around the image forming element can be made compact. Further, as described above, the second transport path 26b extends downstream, and the first transport path 26a extends upstream beyond one end of the developing sleeve 41, respectively. The downstream end area of the transport path 26b and the upstream end area of the first transport path 26a are positioned in an area extending beyond one end of the developing sleeve 41, and one of the communication paths 27b is connected to the second transport path 26b. And the upstream end area of the first conveyance path 26a. Since the toner receiving area is set at one of the communication paths 27b, new toner replenished from the toner container 80 to the one of the communication paths 27b via the toner discharge opening 82 and the toner receiving opening 54. Can be prevented from directly flowing into the developing sleeve 41 side, that is, the area downstream of the second transport path 26b and facing the developing sleeve 41. As a result, good image formation can be sufficiently ensured. Since the other embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 have substantially the same basic configuration as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, substantially the same operation and effect can be obtained with respect to the basic configuration. Can be achieved.
[0047]
Next, still another embodiment of the developing device 2 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The basic configuration in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is substantially the same as the previous embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8 except for the configuration described below. The same reference numerals are used and the description is omitted.
[0048]
9 and 10, a toner conveying means 90 for conveying toner from a downstream end region of the second conveying passage 26b to an upstream end region of the first conveying passage 26a is provided in one of the communication paths 27b. Have been. The toner conveying means 90 is composed of a rotating spiral blade member having a central shaft portion 92 and a spiral blade 94. The central shaft portion 92 is rotatably supported between the end walls 10A and 10B in a region of the housing main body 10 extending from one end (the left end in FIG. 9) of the developing sleeve 41, and a portion near the inner side of the side wall 20. The first and second rotary spiral blade members 30a and 30b extend so as to be orthogonal to the respective axial directions (left and right directions in FIG. 9) when viewed from a plane. One end of the central shaft portion 92 of the toner conveying means 90 is protruded through one end wall 10A, and an input gear (not shown) is fixed to the one end. When the developing device main body 4 is mounted on an image forming machine (not shown), the input gear is meshed with a transmission gear (not shown) and is drivingly connected to the driving source. A pair of support walls 17 are provided upright from the bottom wall 16 of the housing body 10 at a position near the toner conveying means 90 and on a side opposite to the side wall 20 on one side 27b of the communication path. One end of the first rotary spiral blade member 30a is rotatably supported on one side of the support wall 17, and one end of the second rotary spiral blade member 30b is rotatably supported on the other side of the support wall 17. Have been.
[0049]
When the toner container 80 is mounted on the housing 8 as required, the toner conveying units 84 and 85 of the toner container 80 are formed in the same manner as in the previous embodiment described with reference to FIGS. The direction of the axis of each of the rotary spiral blade members is flat with respect to the direction of each of the axis of the first and second rotary spiral blade members 30a and 30b disposed in the housing body 10 (the left-right direction in FIG. 9). Are arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other. An input gear of the toner conveying means 85 is meshed with a transmission gear (not shown) and is drivingly connected to the driving source. When the driving source is energized, the first rotating spiral blade member 30a, the second rotating spiral blade member 30b, and the developing sleeve 41 provided in the developing chamber 14 as described above are indicated by arrows 36 and 39, respectively. In addition to being rotated in the direction shown, the rotating spiral blade members constituting the toner conveying means 84 and 85 of the toner container 80 are also similar to those in the previous embodiment described with reference to FIGS. Is rotated. The toner in the toner container case 80A is circulated through an arc-shaped portion 80b including the toner discharge opening 82 and a pair of toner conveying paths formed along the arc-shaped portion 80a, and communicates through the toner discharge opening 82 and the toner receiving opening 54. The toner is supplied to the passage 27b, more specifically, to the toner conveying means 90 provided in the communication passage 27b. The toner supplied to the communication path 27b is agitated and transported from the downstream end area of the second transport path 26b to the upstream end area of the first transport path 26a by the above-mentioned rotary spiral blade member constituting the toner transport means 90. Is done. By such an action, excessive accumulation of toner in the communication path 27b is avoided, and the toner is appropriately transferred from the toner container 80 to the developing chamber 14 according to the decrease of the toner in the developing chamber 14 without hindering smooth conveyance. Can be supplied with toner.
[0050]
Another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 has substantially the same basic configuration as the previous embodiment described with reference to FIGS. With regard to the physical configuration, substantially the same effects as in the previous embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8 can be achieved. Further, the other embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 have substantially the same basic configuration as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and therefore have substantially the same operation as the basic configuration. The effect can be achieved.
[0051]
In the above embodiment, the toner replenishing means for replenishing the toner into the developing chamber 14 is constituted by the toner container 6 (7, 80) detachably mounted on the housing 8, but is not limited thereto. Instead, the toner container 6 (7, 80) which is detachably attached to the housing 8 and / or the image forming apparatus main body may be used. Further, another toner replenishing means, for example, a toner hopper which is mounted on the housing 8 and / or the image forming apparatus main body and replenishes the toner when the stored toner is exhausted may be used. In any form of toner replenishing means, in a state where the toner can be replenished into the developing chamber 14, the toner receptive opening 54 or substantially the same as the toner receptive opening so as to communicate with the toner receptive opening corresponding thereto. It is essential that a toner discharge opening 62 (72, 82) communicating with the corresponding toner receiving opening from above or a toner discharge opening corresponding thereto is formed. When the toner replenishing means comprises at least the toner container 6 (7, 80) or the toner hopper mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, these are positioned at required positions where the toner can be replenished into the developing chamber 14. In this state, the toner discharge opening 62 (72, 82) or the corresponding toner discharge opening communicates with the toner receiving opening 54 or the corresponding toner receiving opening, or the toner receiving opening 54 or the corresponding toner receiving opening. In general, the toner is positioned so as to align with the toner receiving opening from above. However, even in the upper position, the position may be shifted in the horizontal direction on the layout. In this case, an appropriate communication path between the toner discharge opening 62 (72, 82) or the corresponding toner discharge opening and the toner receiving opening 54 or the corresponding toner receiving opening, that is, free fall of the toner It is needless to say that an appropriate communication path which allows the above is provided. As can be easily understood from the above description, in the developing device of the present invention, “provided with a toner replenishing unit for replenishing toner in the developing chamber” means that the toner replenishing unit is directly mounted on the developing device main body 4. Either the embodiment, an embodiment in which the toner replenishing unit is mounted or disposed on the image forming machine main body, or an embodiment in which the toner replenishing unit is mounted across the image forming machine main body and the developing device main body 4. Is also included.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
According to the developing device of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately supply toner from the toner replenishing unit to the developing chamber in accordance with a decrease in toner in the developing chamber, while avoiding excessive pressure of the toner in the developing chamber.
Further, the toner can be appropriately replenished from the toner replenishing means to the developing chamber in accordance with the decrease of the toner in the developing chamber without providing a means for intentionally retaining the toner in the developing chamber.
Further, the toner can be easily put into practical use at low cost, and the toner can be appropriately supplied from the toner replenishing means to the developing chamber in accordance with the decrease of the toner in the developing chamber.
Furthermore, by enabling a toner replenishing means, such as a toner container or a toner hopper, to be disposed at the front side of the image forming machine, it is possible to reduce the size of the periphery of the image forming element and reduce the amount of toner in the developing chamber. The toner can be appropriately supplied from the toner replenishing means to the developing chamber in accordance with the above condition.
Further, it is possible to effectively mix the toner in the developing chamber and new toner supplied from a toner replenishing means such as a toner container or a toner hopper. The toner can be appropriately supplied from the replenishing means to the developing chamber.
Further, it is possible to prevent a phenomenon that new toner replenished from a toner replenishing means such as a toner container or a toner hopper directly flows into the developing sleeve side, thereby ensuring good image formation and reducing toner in the developing chamber. The toner can be appropriately supplied from the toner replenishing means to the developing chamber in accordance with the above condition.
Furthermore, a dedicated driving source such as an electric motor provided only for driving the toner conveying means in the toner replenishing means is not required, and the cost can be reduced accordingly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a developing device configured according to the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a developing device main body in the developing device shown in FIG. 1 with a part thereof omitted.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the developing device configured according to the present invention, and is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 4;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the developing device shown in FIG. 3, with a part of the main body of the developing device being omitted.
5 is a side view of the developing device shown in FIG. 4 as viewed from below in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view showing still another embodiment of the developing device constituted according to the present invention, and is a partial sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 7;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the developing device shown in FIG. 6, with a part of the developing device main body being omitted.
8 is a side view of the developing device shown in FIG. 7 as viewed from below in FIG. 7, and a partial cross-sectional side view.
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing still another embodiment of the developing device constituted according to the present invention, and a plan view showing a part of the developing device omitted;
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the developing device shown in FIG. 9, which is partially omitted.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Developing device
4 Developing device body
6, 7, 80 Toner container
8 Housing
14 Developing room
24 partition
26a First transport path
26b Second transport path
27a, 27b communication passage
28 Stirring and conveying means
30a First rotating spiral blade member (first stirring and conveying means)
32a center shaft
34a spiral blade
30b Second rotating spiral blade member (second stirring and conveying means)
32b center shaft
34b spiral blade
40 Toner application means
41 Developing sleeve
54 Toner receiving opening
61 Toner container body
62, 72, 82 Toner discharge opening
64, 65, 74, 75, 84, 85, 90 Toner conveying means

Claims (6)

A housing having a developing chamber for defining a toner circulation path, a stirring and conveying means provided in the development chamber for conveying the toner through the circulation path while stirring, and an electrostatic latent image for developing the toner in the development chamber. A toner supply unit for applying toner to the image; and a toner supply unit for supplying toner to the developing chamber. The circulation path includes a first conveyance path extending in parallel with the toner application unit, and a first conveyance path. A second transport path extending between the transport path and the toner applying means along the partition, a partition extending along the first transport path and the second transport path along the partition, and a partition. A communication path that communicates between both end regions of the first and second transport paths on the outer sides of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the first transport path; And second stirring and conveying means disposed on the second conveying path The housing is provided with a toner receiving opening located above the toner receiving area, and the toner replenishing means has a toner discharge opening communicated with the toner receiving opening when toner can be supplied into the developing chamber. Is formed in the developing device,
The toner receiving area is substantially set in one of the communication paths,
A developing device, comprising: The developing device according to claim 1, wherein one of the communication paths communicates a downstream end area of the second transport path with an upstream end area of the first transport path. The second transport path extends downstream, and the first transport path extends upstream beyond one end of the toner application unit. The second transport path extends downstream from the downstream end area of the second transport path. The upstream end area of the path is located in an area extending beyond one end of the toner applying unit, and one of the communication paths is located at the downstream end area of the second conveyance path and the upstream end area of the first conveyance path. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein The developing device according to claim 3, wherein a toner conveying unit that conveys the toner from a downstream end region of the second conveying path to an upstream end region of the first conveying path is provided at one of the communication paths. . The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the toner replenishing unit is a toner container detachably mounted on the housing. The developing device according to claim 5, wherein the toner container is disposed on a front side of the image forming machine.

Images