JP2006235306A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing device which allows toner stored in a toner container to be efficiently replenished into a toner storage chamber (or a development chamber). <P>SOLUTION: When a toner container 70 will be taken out from a toner container loading chamber 162, the toner container 70 is rotated in a direction of an arrow C. When it is rotated, the toner container 70 and a shutter 170 are oscillated by contact between a projecting part 162c of the toner container loading chamber 162 and a rugged part 172a of a guide plate 172 because the projecting part 162c and the rugged part 172a are always engaged (brought into contact) with each other. Toner which is put (or will be put) on edges 166 of the toner container 70 and the shutter 170 are dropped into the toner container 70 or a development chamber 164 by the oscillation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device incorporated in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile.

  An example of a conventional copying machine will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional copying machine. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state of toner supply in the copying machine of FIG. FIG. 16A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which toner is supplied by the developing device of the copying machine of FIG. 14, and FIG. 16B is an enlarged view showing the periphery of the lower part of the opening. FIG. 17A is a schematic view showing the rotating toner container, and FIG. 17B is an enlarged view showing the periphery of the lower portion of the opening. FIG. 18A is a schematic view showing the toner container that has finished rotating, and FIG. 18B is an enlarged view showing the periphery of the lower portion of the opening.

  The copying machine 10 includes a first casing 20 in which a plurality of parts for reading an image recorded on a document are incorporated, and a second casing 30 in which a plurality of parts for forming an image on a recording medium are incorporated. And have. As shown in FIG. 14, the second housing 30 is disposed under the first housing 20. Accordingly, the first housing 20 is placed on the second housing 30. The first housing 20 moves in the directions of arrows A and B along the upper surface of the second housing 30.

  On the top surface of the copying machine 10, a rectangular parallelepiped original pressing plate 22 that can be freely opened and closed is disposed. An image reading device 24 that reads an image recorded on the original is disposed below the original pressing plate 22. An upper surface (upper wall) of the image reading device 24 is a document table glass (not shown) on which a document is placed. The first casing 20 is constituted by the original cover 22 and the image reading device 24.

  An operation panel 32 for inputting the number of copies and the like is disposed on the front side (front side) of the second casing 30 with respect to the first casing 20. A cassette 40 that stores a plurality of cut sheets is provided in the lower portion of the second housing 30 so as to be freely inserted into and removed from the second housing 30. The right side wall of the second housing 30 is provided with a rectangular manual feed tray 42 capable of feeding small-size recording paper such as postcards. The manual feed tray 42 rotates about the lower side portion 42a and opens to a position where a recording medium can be placed. In addition, a space is formed on the left side portion of the second housing 30, and a paper discharge tray 34 on which the discharged recording paper is stacked is formed.

  A developing device 36 is incorporated in the second housing 30 as shown in FIG. The developing device 36 is replenished with toner from a cylindrical toner container 70. The toner container 70 is mounted in the toner container mounting chamber 36 a of the developing device 36. When the toner container 70 mounted in the toner container mounting chamber 36a runs out of toner, the toner container 70 is removed from the toner container mounting chamber 36a, and a new toner container 70 filled with toner is mounted in the toner container. It is attached to the chamber 36a. This exchange procedure will be described.

  When exchanging the toner container 70, first, as shown in FIG. 15, the front cover 38 is opened, and the handle 71 of the toner container 70 already mounted is caused. Subsequently, the handle 71 is rotated in the clockwise direction (arrow C direction). Next, the handle 71 is grasped, and the toner container 70 is pulled out forward (in the direction of arrow D). Thereafter, a new toner container 70 is mounted in the toner container mounting chamber 36a in the reverse procedure. Thereby, the replacement of the toner container 70 is completed.

  As shown in FIG. 16 and the like, the toner container 70 has a built-in toner transport unit including a shaft 70a and an elastic body 70b. By rotating the shaft 70a and rotating the elastic body 70b, the toner inside the toner container 70 is conveyed toward the discharge port (replenishment port) 72 of the toner container 70 and discharged outside. Since the developing chamber 36b is adjacent to the toner container 70, the discharged toner is supplied to the developing chamber 36b.

  The developing device 36 described above is incorporated in the process cartridge 80. In addition to the developing device 36, the process cartridge 80 also incorporates a photosensitive drum 12 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a charger 14 that uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 12.

  Further, a shutter 90 having a receiving port (replenishing port) 92 is disposed between the toner container mounting chamber 36a and the developing chamber 36b. The shutter 90 has a shape that covers about half of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical toner container 70 and has a semicircular cross section. The shutter 90 rotates together with the toner container 70 mounted in the toner container mounting chamber 36a, and when the toner container 70 is located at the replenishment position (position shown in FIG. 16), the opening 72 and the receiving port. 92 overlap. Further, when the toner container 70 is rotated to be extracted from the toner container mounting chamber 36a, as shown in FIG. 18, the shutter 90 is also rotated and the receiving port 92 is moved upward. As a result, the toner container mounting chamber 36a and the developing chamber 36b are partitioned by the shutter 90.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the toner contained in the toner container 70 incorporated in the developing device 36 is rotated through the discharge port 72 as the shaft 70a and the elastic body 70b are rotated. 36b is supplied (conveyed). The toner conveyed to the developing chamber 36b is carried on the developing sleeve 16 while being agitated by a toner agitating member (not shown) therein, and is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 12. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is developed to form a toner image.

  However, the conventional developing device described above has the following problems.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the toner stored in the toner container 70 passes through the discharge port 72 of the toner container 70 and the receiving port 92 of the shutter 90 and reaches the developing chamber 36b. By the way, a gap is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the toner container 70 and the inner wall surface of the shutter 90 (the surface facing the toner container 70). A seal member 94 is disposed between the edges 73 and 93 (gap) of both the discharge port 72 and the receiving port 92 so that the toner does not fall into this gap while passing through the discharge port 72 and the receiving port 92. ing.

  In order to ensure the sealing performance by the seal member 94, it is necessary to crush and use the seal member 94. For this reason, a seal member 94 that is thicker than the gap is attached to the shutter 90. Since the pressing force by the seal member 94 acts on the wall of the toner container 70, the toner container 70 formed of resin (ABS or the like) may be deformed inward due to this pressure. Alternatively, when the toner container 70 is a molded product, the toner container 70 may be warped due to the process, and the outer peripheral surface of the toner container 70 may be deformed in a direction away from the seal member 94.

  When the deformation as described above occurs, when the toner container 70 is rotated in the direction of arrow C, the edge 93 of the shutter 90 and the edge 73 of the toner container 70 are substantially horizontal as shown in FIG. Therefore, the toner can easily ride on the edges 73 and 93. When the toner container 70 is further rotated from this state, the toner remains attached to the inner peripheral surface of the shutter 90 and the outer peripheral surface of the toner container 70 as shown in FIG. When the toner container 70 is pulled out in this state, the user's hand or clothes handling the toner container 70 or the surrounding floor may be stained with toner.

  Further, when the thickness of the seal member 94 is increased in order to increase the toner shielding ability (toner shielding ability), the pressure on the sliding surface between the seal member 94 and the toner container 70 increases, so that the toner container 70 is rotated. The load torque for moving it increases. As a result, since the force required for the user to operate the toner container 70 increases, the operability may be significantly deteriorated.

  As described above, the developing device is usually formed with a toner storage chamber (development chamber in the above example) that stores toner replenished from a toner container that stores toner for replenishment. However, when the toner in the toner container is replenished (transferred) to the toner storage chamber, the toner may not be efficiently replenished due to scattering of the toner around the periphery.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a developing device that can efficiently replenish toner contained in a toner container into a toner containing chamber (or developing chamber).

In order to achieve the above object, a first developing device of the present invention is a developing device in which toner is replenished from a toner container containing replenishing toner.
(1) The image forming apparatus includes a vibration generating unit that vibrates the toner container when the toner is replenished from the toner container to the developing device.

here,
(2) The vibration generating unit may vibrate the toner container by moving the toner container when the toner container is attached to or detached from the developing device.

In order to achieve the above object, the second developing device of the present invention is a toner in which a cylindrical toner container having a discharge port formed on the outer peripheral surface for discharging the contained toner is detachably mounted. The container mounting chamber, the toner discharged from the discharge port is accommodated, the developing chamber adjacent to the toner container mounting chamber, and between the developing chamber and the toner container mounting chamber and the discharge port A shutter formed with a receiving port overlapping with the toner container, and mounting the toner container in the toner container mounting chamber and rotating the shutter together with the shutter in the outer circumferential direction to overlap the discharge port and the receiving port. In a developing device for replenishing toner from a toner container to the developing chamber,
(3) A vibration generating means for vibrating the toner container in conjunction with the rotation of the shutter is provided.

Here, the vibration generating means is
(4) An uneven portion formed on the shutter and a pressing member that presses the uneven portion,
(5) The toner container may be vibrated by moving the uneven portion when the uneven portion rotates together with the shutter.

further,
(6) The uneven portion may be formed on an inner peripheral side or an outer peripheral surface of the shutter.

In order to achieve the above object, the third developing device of the present invention discharges from the toner discharge port by peeling off the toner leakage prevention seal that closes the toner discharge port of the toner container containing the replenishing toner. In a developing device for replenished toner,
(7) A vibration generating means for vibrating the toner container when the toner leakage prevention seal is peeled off is provided.

Here, the vibration generating means is
(8) an uneven portion formed on the toner leakage prevention seal;
(9) The toner leakage prevention seal may be provided with a protrusion that comes into contact with the concavo-convex portion and vibrates the toner container when the toner leakage prevention seal is peeled off.

In order to achieve the above object, a fourth developing device of the present invention provides a toner discharged from the toner discharge port by rotating a cap that closes the toner discharge port of a toner container containing replenishing toner. In the developing device to be replenished,
(10) A vibration generating means for vibrating the toner container when the cap is rotated is provided.

Here, the vibration generating means is
(11) An uneven portion formed on the cap;
(12) When the cap is opened, it may have a protrusion that contacts the uneven portion and vibrates the toner container.

  According to the present invention, when the toner is replenished from the toner container to the developing device, the vibration generating means vibrates the toner container, so that almost all of the toner in the toner container is transferred to the developing device, and the toner container and the developing device. The toner existing at the boundary is also transferred to the developing device (or toner container) by the vibration. As a result, the toner stored in the toner container can be efficiently replenished to the developing chamber.

  The present invention has been realized in a digital copying machine employing an electrophotographic system.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  A copying machine incorporating an embodiment of the developing device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a copying machine in which an embodiment of the developing device of the present invention is incorporated.

  The copying machine 100 includes an operation panel (not shown) for inputting the number of copies and a cassette 102 for storing a large number of recording media. In order to form an image recorded on an original on a recording medium using the copying machine 100, the original pressure plate 104 is opened, and the original is placed on the upper surface of the original platen glass 106 so that the image surface is downward. Then, the original is pressed by the original pressing plate 104 and fixed. Next, by pressing an operation button or the like on the operation panel, the image recorded on the document is read by the image reading device 108. The read image is converted into a digital signal, and this digital signal is transmitted to the laser scanner 110.

  The signal transmitted to the laser scanner 110 is converted into laser light, and this laser light is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 112 via the scanner mirror 110a and the folding mirror 110b that rotate at high speed. The photosensitive drum 112 is uniformly charged by the charger 114, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 112 irradiated with the laser beam. The electrostatic latent image is developed with the developer supplied from the developing roller 116 to form a developed image.

  On the other hand, a recording medium such as recording paper is fed from the cassette 102 in the direction of arrow E (paper feeding direction) by the paper feeding roller 118, and conveyed to the transfer roller 124 by the conveying roller 120 and the registration roller 122. The transfer roller 124 transfers the developed image on the photosensitive drum 112 to the conveyed recording medium. The recording medium to which the developed image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 128 by the conveying device 126. The fixing device 128 includes a fixing roller 128a and a pressure roller 128b. The recording medium is conveyed while being sandwiched between the two rollers 128a and 128b, and the developed image is fixed to the recording medium. The recording medium on which the developed image is fixed in this manner is discharged by the paper discharge roller 130 and stacked on the paper discharge tray 132.

  As described above, various parts and members are incorporated in the copying machine 100. Among these components, the charger 114, the photosensitive drum 112, the developing roller 116, and the like are incorporated in the process cartridge 150. The process cartridge 150 is detachably attached to the copying machine 100. A developing device 160 having a developing roller 116 is incorporated in the process cartridge 150.

  The developing device 160 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an overview of the process cartridge. FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing a state in which toner is supplied by the developing device of the process cartridge of FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing the toner container rotating in the toner container mounting chamber of the developing device of the process cartridge of FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view schematically showing the toner container after the rotation of FIG.

  The developing device 160 has a toner container mounting chamber 162 in which a cylindrical toner container 70 is detachably mounted. The toner container mounting chamber 162 has a cylindrical outer wall 162a, and the toner container 70 is mounted in a space surrounded by the outer wall 162a. An opening 174 is formed in a portion of the outer wall 162a that becomes a boundary with a developing chamber 164 (which is an example of a toner storage chamber in the present invention) described later. The toner container 70 contains toner, and a discharge port 72 for discharging the toner is formed on the outer peripheral surface 74 of the toner container 70.

  Further, the developing device 160 is formed with a developing chamber 164 in which the toner discharged from the discharge port 72 of the toner container 70 is accommodated. The developing chamber 164 is formed adjacent to the toner container mounting chamber 162. Between the developing chamber 164 and the toner container mounting chamber 162, a shutter 170 having a semicircular cross section (arc shape) is disposed. The shutter 170 is shaped like a cylindrical one cut in half in the longitudinal direction, and the portion corresponding to the upper wall of the cylinder corresponds to the insertion port 161 into which the toner container 70 is inserted. For this reason, a portion corresponding to the upper wall of this cylinder is a space. In addition, a crescent-shaped guide plate 172 slightly extending from the edge is present in a portion corresponding to the bottom wall of the cylinder. The guide plate 172 guides the shutter 170 so as to move smoothly, and a continuous uneven portion 172a is formed on the inner peripheral portion thereof. In addition, the shutter 170 is formed with a receiving port 174 that overlaps the discharge port 72 of the toner container 70. The receiving port 174 has an elongated rectangular shape that is slightly curved. When replenishing toner from the toner container 70 mounted in the toner container mounting chamber 162 to the developing chamber 164, the toner container 70 mounted in the toner container mounting chamber 162 is rotated in the outer peripheral direction to discharge the discharge port 72. And the receiving port 174 are overlapped.

  An elongated seal member 180 is attached and fixed to a portion of the shutter 170 below the receiving port 174 and facing the toner container mounting chamber 162. The seal member 180 extends in the longitudinal direction of the receiving port 174. The seal member 180 closes a gap between the toner container 70 mounted in the toner container mounting chamber 162 and the shutter 170.

  On the bottom wall 162b of the toner container mounting chamber 162 (a wall adjacent to the guide plate 172 of the shutter 170), a cylindrical convex portion 162c that protrudes (inward) toward the shutter 170 is formed. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the convex portion 162 c is urged from the approximate center of the toner container mounting chamber 162 toward the outer periphery by an urging means such as a spring (not shown). The concavo-convex portion 172a of 172 is pressed in contact with it. An example of the vibration generating means referred to in the present invention is configured by the convex portion 162c. Moreover, the convex part 162c is an example of the press member said to this invention.

  When the copying machine 100 is in operation, as shown in FIG. 3, the discharge port 72 of the toner container 70, the opening 162d of the toner container mounting chamber 162, and the receiving port 174 of the shutter 170 overlap. In this state, the shaft 70a (not shown in FIG. 3 or the like, but the same one as that shown in FIG. 16) is rotated, and the elastic body 70b is rotated to be accommodated in the toner container 70. The discharged toner is discharged to the outside through the discharge port 72, the opening 162 d and the receiving port 174, and is supplied to the developing chamber 164. During this supply, fine toner having a particle diameter of about 5 to 10 μm is applied to the edge 166 of the toner container 70 and the shutter 170 (corresponding to the edge 93 of the shutter 90 and the edge 73 of the toner container 70 in FIG. 17B). Particles get on.

  When the toner container 70 is taken out from the toner container mounting chamber 162, the toner container 70 is rotated in the direction of arrow C as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 as described with reference to FIG. During this rotation, the convex portion 162c of the toner container mounting chamber 162 is in contact with the concave / convex portion 172a of the guide plate 172 of the shutter 170, so that the toner container 70 and the shutter 170 are brought into contact with each other by the contact between the convex portion 162c and the concave / convex portion 172a. Vibrate. Due to this vibration, the toner on the edge 166 of the toner container 70 and the shutter 170 (or the toner likely to ride) falls (transfers) to the toner container 70 or the developing chamber 164. Therefore, even when the toner container 70 is extracted (removed) from the toner container mounting chamber 162, the toner hardly scatters from the edge of the toner container 70. As a result, the periphery of the developing device 160 is not soiled with toner.

  Embodiment 2 of the developing device will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an overview of a process cartridge in which the developing device of Example 2 is incorporated. FIG. 7 is a side view schematically showing a state in which toner is supplied by the developing device of the process cartridge of FIG. FIG. 8 is a side view schematically showing the rotating toner container in the toner container mounting chamber of the developing device of the process cartridge of FIG. FIG. 9 is a side view schematically showing the toner container after the rotation of FIG. In these drawings, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The developing device 260 according to the second embodiment is different from the developing device 160 according to the first embodiment in that a leaf spring 262 is disposed in the inner part of the toner container mounting chamber 162 instead of the convex portion 162c of the toner container mounting chamber 162. In addition, an uneven portion (step) 272 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shutter 270 instead of the uneven portion 172a of the guide plate 172. The leaf spring 262 constitutes an example of the vibration means referred to in the present invention.

  The leaf spring 262 presses the uneven portion 272 of the shutter 270 to press the shutter 270. Therefore, as in the first exemplary embodiment, when the toner container 70 is rotated when the toner container 70 is taken out from the toner container mounting chamber 162, the leaf spring 262 presses the uneven portion 272, so that the toner container 70 and the shutter 270 are rotated. Vibrates. Due to this vibration, the toner on the edge 266 of the toner container 70 and the shutter 270 (or the toner that is likely to ride) falls (transfers) to the toner container 70 or the developing chamber 164. Therefore, even when the toner container 70 is extracted (removed) from the toner container mounting chamber 162, the toner hardly scatters from the edge of the toner container 70. As a result, the periphery of the developing device 160 is not soiled with toner. The leaf spring 262 and the concavo-convex portion 272 may be disposed at a position where the toner container 70 vibrates when the toner container 70 is rotated.

  Embodiment 3 of the developing device will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing a toner container, and FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus in which the developing device of Example 3 is incorporated. FIG. 11A is a perspective view illustrating a first stage of supplying toner from the toner container to the hopper, and FIG. 11B is a perspective view illustrating a second stage of supplying toner from the toner container to the hopper. (C) is a side view which shows the protrusion which vibrates an uneven | corrugated | grooved part.

  The image forming apparatus 380 in which the developing device 360 of Example 3 is incorporated is of a type that replenishes toner from a toner container (toner bottle) 382 to the hopper 362. A toner discharge port 382a (see FIG. 11C) of the toner container 382 is closed with a toner leakage prevention seal 384 so that the toner does not leak. The toner leakage prevention seal 384 is thin and thin, and has uneven portions 384a that are continuous along the longitudinal direction at both ends in the width direction. The toner container 382 is placed on the hopper 362 as shown in FIG. Thus, when the toner container 382 is placed on the hopper 362, a protrusion 364 that contacts the uneven portion 384 a of the toner leakage prevention seal 384 is formed on the hopper 362. The protrusion 364 is biased upward by a biasing means (not shown).

  When the toner is replenished from the toner container 382 to the hopper 362, the toner container 382 is placed on the hopper 362 so that the toner leakage prevention seal 384 faces down, and then the inner lid 366 of the hopper 362 is moved to the arrow E. Pull in the direction. Subsequently, the toner leakage prevention seal 384 is pulled out slightly upward in the direction of arrow E. At the time of pulling out, the toner leakage prevention seal 384 is pulled out while the concavo-convex portion 384 a is in contact with the protrusion 364. As a result, when the toner leakage prevention seal 384 is pulled out, the toner container 382 vibrates, so that the toner in the toner container 382 is dropped onto the hopper 362 without remaining. Note that the uneven portion 384a may be formed on the hopper 362 and the protrusion 364 may be formed on the toner container 382. Even with this configuration, the same effect can be obtained.

  Embodiment 4 of the developing device will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus in which the developing device of Example 4 is incorporated. FIG. 13A is a perspective view showing a stage in which toner is supplied from the toner container to the hopper, and FIG. 13B is a bottom view of the toner container set in the hopper.

  The image forming apparatus 480 in which the developing device 460 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment is incorporated is of a type that replenishes toner from the toner container (toner bottle) 482 to the toner storage unit 462. A circular toner outlet 482a of the toner container 482 is closed with a cap 483 so that the toner contained in the toner container 482 does not leak. The cap 483 rotates by rotating a lever 484 protruding from the peripheral edge of the cap 483, and the opening 483a of the cap 483 moves below the toner discharge port 482a. On the peripheral edge of the cap 483, an uneven portion 483b that is continuous in a circular shape is formed. In addition, a protrusion 464a having continuous concavo-convex contact with the concavo-convex portion 483b is formed on the peripheral portion of the toner receiving port 464 on the upper surface of the toner storage portion 462. The protrusion 464a is urged toward the cap 483 by an urging means (not shown).

  When replenishing toner from the toner container 482 to the toner storage portion 462, the cap 483 of the toner container 482 is fitted into the toner receiving port 464 so that the toner discharge port 482a faces downward, and the lever 484 is rotated to rotate the cap 483. Rotate. When the lever 484 is rotated, the cap 483 is rotated while the concavo-convex portion 483b is in contact with the protrusion 464a. As a result, when the cap 483 rotates, the toner container 482 vibrates, so that the toner in the toner container 482 is dropped to the toner storage portion 462 without leaving any toner. Note that the uneven portion 483b may be formed in the toner storage portion 462 and the protrusion 464a may be formed in the toner container 482, and the same effect can be obtained with this configuration.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an internal structure of a copying machine in which an embodiment of a developing device of the present invention is incorporated. It is a perspective view which shows the general appearance of a process cartridge. FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing a state in which toner is supplied by the developing device of the process cartridge of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing a toner container rotating in a toner container mounting chamber of the developing device of the process cartridge of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a side view schematically showing the toner container after the rotation of FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an overview of a process cartridge in which a developing device of Example 2 is incorporated. FIG. 7 is a side view schematically showing a state where toner is supplied by the developing device of the process cartridge of FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is a side view schematically showing a rotating toner container in a toner container mounting chamber of the developing device of the process cartridge of FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is a side view schematically showing the toner container after the rotation of FIG. (A) is a perspective view showing a toner container, and (b) is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus in which the developing device of Example 3 is incorporated. (A) is a perspective view showing a first stage of replenishing toner from the toner container to the hopper, (b) is a perspective view showing a second stage of replenishing toner from the toner container to the hopper, (c) ) Is a side view showing a protrusion that vibrates an uneven part. FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus in which a developing device of Example 4 is incorporated. (A) is a perspective view showing a stage in which toner is supplied from a toner container to a hopper, and (b) is a bottom view of the toner container set in the hopper. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the conventional copying machine. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state of toner supply in the copying machine of FIG. 14. (A) is a schematic diagram showing a state in which toner is replenished by the developing device of the copying machine of FIG. 14, and (b) is an enlarged view showing the periphery of the lower part of the opening. (A) is a schematic diagram showing a rotating toner container, and (b) is an enlarged view showing the periphery of the lower part of the opening. (A) is a schematic view showing the toner container after the rotation, and (b) is an enlarged view showing the periphery of the lower part of the opening.

Explanation of symbols

70, 382, 482 Toner container 72, 282, 382 Discharge port 462 Toner container 160, 260, 360, 460 Developing device 162 Toner container mounting chamber 162c Protruding portion 164 Developing chamber 166, 266 Edge 170, 270 Shutter 172 Guide plate 172a , 272, 384a Uneven portion 262 Leaf spring 364 Protrusion 384 Toner leakage prevention seal 384

Claims (9)

In a developing device in which toner is replenished from a toner container containing toner for replenishment,
A developing device comprising vibration generating means for vibrating the toner container when the toner is replenished from the toner container to the developing device. The vibration generating means includes
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein when the toner container is attached to or removed from the developing device, the toner container is vibrated by the movement of the toner container. A toner container mounting chamber in which a cylindrical toner container having a discharge port for discharging the stored toner is formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof is detachably mounted; and the toner discharged from the discharge port is stored and A developing chamber adjacent to the toner container mounting chamber; and a shutter disposed between the developing chamber and the toner container mounting chamber and having a receiving port that overlaps the discharge port. In the developing device for replenishing toner from the toner container to the developing chamber by mounting the toner container and rotating the shutter together with the shutter in the outer circumferential direction so as to overlap the discharge port and the receiving port.
A developing device comprising vibration generating means for vibrating the toner container in conjunction with rotation of the shutter. The vibration generating means includes
It has a concavo-convex portion formed on the shutter, and a pressing member that presses the concavo-convex portion,
The developing device according to claim 3, wherein the toner container is vibrated by the pressing portion moving the uneven portion when the uneven portion rotates together with the shutter. The developing device according to claim 4, wherein the uneven portion is formed on an inner peripheral side or an outer peripheral surface of the shutter. In the developing device in which the toner discharged from the toner discharge port is replenished by peeling off the toner leakage prevention seal that closes the toner discharge port of the toner container containing the toner for replenishment.
A developing device comprising vibration generating means for vibrating the toner container when the toner leakage prevention seal is peeled off. The vibration generating means includes
Concave and convex portions formed on the toner leakage prevention seal;
The developing device according to claim 6, further comprising a protrusion that contacts the uneven portion when the toner leakage prevention seal is peeled off and vibrates the toner container. In the developing device in which the toner discharged from the toner discharge port is replenished by rotating a cap that closes the toner discharge port of the toner container containing the toner for replenishment.
A developing device comprising vibration generating means for vibrating the toner container when the cap is rotated. The vibration generating means includes
An uneven portion formed on the cap;
The developing device according to claim 8, further comprising: a protrusion that contacts the uneven portion when the cap is opened to vibrate the toner container.

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