JP2006267680A - Developer supply container and developer supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly supply developer to a developing device from the beginning by actively breaking an agglomeration of developer in a developer supply container, especially near a developer discharge opening. <P>SOLUTION: In the developer supply container having at least a developer storage section storing developer and the developer discharge opening through which the developer is discharged, each end of the developer storage section is extended within the main body of an image forming apparatus when the developer supply container is attached to the main body of the developing device disposed in the image forming apparatus. The developer discharge opening is unsealed accompanying the operation of increasing the capacity of the developer storage section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is detachably provided in, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser-beam printer, an LED printer, etc.), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like. The present invention relates to a developer replenishing device and a developer replenishing container.

  An electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a laser beam printer selectively exposes a uniformly charged photosensitive drum. Then, an electrostatic latent image is formed. Next, the electrostatic latent image is developed with a developer to form an image. Thereafter, the image is transferred to a recording medium and image recording is performed.

  In such an apparatus, the developer must be replenished every time the developer runs out. Here, the developer replenishing container for replenishing the developer to the image forming apparatus includes a so-called replenishment type container for replenishing the stored developer in the developer receiving container of the image forming apparatus main body at once, and the image forming apparatus main body. After mounting the container, it is roughly classified into a so-called stationary container in which the container is left as it is. The stationary container gradually replenishes the developer with the developer until the developer is used up.

  In recent years, there is a tendency that a stationary type is used as a developer supply container. In the stationary container, in order to gradually replenish the developer to the developing device, a stirring member is provided in the container, driven by the image forming apparatus main body, and the developer is rotated by rotating the stirring member. There is a configuration for replenishing the developing device. As another configuration, a developer protrusion or a spiral protrusion is integrally provided in the developer supply container, and the developer supply container itself is rotated by being driven by the image forming apparatus main body side. Is supplied to the developing device.

  Here, the developer replenishing container may vibrate due to physical distribution or the developer in the replenishing container may solidify if left in the image forming apparatus or storage place for a long time. In the initial stage of replenishing the developer, the developing apparatus In some cases, the developer cannot be sufficiently supplied. As a means for breaking the solidification of the developer, in the stationary type developer replenishing container, there is a configuration that breaks the solidification of the developer by vibrating an elastic member provided inside, and in another means, In the developer supply container that replenishes the developer to the developing device by rotating the developer supply container itself, there is a configuration in which the solidification of the developer is lost when the container itself extends.

  Here, an example of a configuration in which the solidification of the developer is broken by extending and vibrating an elastic member provided inside is disclosed (Patent Document 1). In the developer supply container, a stirring device such as a spring is disposed in the supply device, which is maintained in a contracted state by a lock mechanism. By rotating the supply device in the image forming apparatus, the developer supply container is rotated. A configuration is disclosed in which the locked state of the stirring device is released, the stirring device is elongated and vibrated, and the solidified material is crushed and stirred by moving the stirring device through the particulate material.

  In addition, an example of a configuration in which the solidification of the developer is broken by the extension of the container itself (Patent Document 2) is shown. This developer supply container is a cylindrical container in which spiral ribs that are convex inward are formed on the peripheral wall, and the thickness of the peripheral wall where the rib is located is thin. Also, an exhaust opening or a developer is cut off, but a filter that allows only gas to pass through is provided, and the container is extended by using an internal pump or external force, and the accompanying increase in container volume is used. However, a configuration for breaking the solidification of the developer is disclosed.

JP 2003-202738 A Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-059572

  However, the configuration that breaks the solidification of the developer disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a very simple mechanism that breaks the solidification of the developer by using the extension of a spring compressed inside, but the developer is a developer. Although the effect in a sufficiently small state with respect to the volume of the storage portion is recognized, when the developer is filled with high density with respect to the volume, the volume of the developer storage portion is increased due to the expansion of the container. Since this is not accompanied, the developer stirring region is small, and the effect of breaking the solidification of the developer is not sufficient.

  In addition, in the configuration that breaks the solidification of the developer disclosed in Patent Document 2, a spring is provided on the peripheral wall of the container in order to extend the developer supply container, or a gas generating means is provided inside the container. It is a mechanism, and it is not easy to elongate the container using the above means.

  In addition, when the container is extended using the above-mentioned means, the developer is solidified over the entire area of the container, but the developer near the discharge port that needs to be broken down most importantly is solidified. It is not configured to actively break down.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to positively break the solidification of the developer in the developer supply container around the developer discharge port. It is to allow the developer to be replenished without any delay from the beginning.

  A second object is to reduce the initial driving force of the stirring member by breaking the developer supply container so as to break the coagulation of the developer when the developer supply container is completely attached to the image forming apparatus.

  The third object is to supply the developer when the user accidentally performs an unsealing operation by completing the simultaneous opening of the drive transmission to the stirring member and the opening of the discharge opening substantially simultaneously. The developer is surely replenished to the developing device only when the opening operation is completed.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a developer supply container having at least a developer storage portion for storing a developer and a developer discharge port for discharging the developer, wherein the developer supply container is an image forming apparatus. When the developing device provided in the main body is attached to the main body, the developer discharge port is expanded in accordance with an operation in which the end of the developer containing portion extends inside the main body of the image forming apparatus and the volume of the developer containing portion increases. Is opened.

  In addition, the present invention provides the developer detachable developer supply container provided in the image forming apparatus, which has at least a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer, and a developer discharge port for discharging the developer. In the developer replenishing apparatus having a replenishing container receiving portion, the developer replenishing container receiving portion is extended with the extension operation of the developer accommodating portion in the developer replenishing container.

  According to the present invention, when the developer replenishing container is extended inside the image forming apparatus, the developer containing portion volume is increased, so that the solidification of the developer can be broken, and the position of the discharge port is the original. By relatively displacing from the position, the solidification of the developer in the vicinity of the discharge port can be positively disrupted, and the developer can be replenished without occlusion from the beginning of discharge. Further, since the series of operations for expanding the storage portion is accompanied by the opening operation of the developer discharge port, the user is not required to apply a new load of an operation for extending the previous storage portion.

  Further, if a developer stirring member is provided in the developer supply container housing portion, the effect of breaking the developer coagulation is further increased, and the driving force of the stirring member can be further reduced. The load on the image forming apparatus main body can be reduced.

  Furthermore, when the developer can be replenished from the discharge port of the developer supply container, the timing at which the driving force of the stirring member is transmitted and transmitted substantially coincides with the completion of the discharge port opening operation. Incorrect operation of the developer can be prevented.

  The relationship between a developer supply container used in an electrophotographic copying machine as an image forming apparatus and a developer supply apparatus equipped with the developer supply container will be described below.

<Embodiment 1>
[Image forming apparatus]
First, the configuration of an electrophotographic copying machine as an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a developer supply container according to the present invention is mounted will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes an electrophotographic copying machine main body (hereinafter referred to as “apparatus main body”). Reference numeral 101 denotes a document, which is placed on the document table glass 102. Then, a light image corresponding to the image information is formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 104 by a plurality of mirrors M and lenses Ln of the optical unit 103. 105 to 108 are cassettes. Among the recording media (hereinafter referred to as “sheets”) S stacked in these cassettes 105 to 108, the optimum sheet is selected from the information input by the user from the operation unit or the sheet size of the original 101. Select from size information. Here, the recording medium is not limited to paper, and may be selected as appropriate, such as an OHP sheet.

  Then, one sheet S conveyed by the feeding / separating devices 105 </ b> A to 108 </ b> A is conveyed to the registration roller 110 via the conveying unit 109, and the rotation timing of the photosensitive drum 104 and the scanning timing of the optical unit 103 are set. Transport in synchronization. Reference numerals 111 and 112 denote a transfer discharger and a separation discharger. Here, the developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 104 is transferred to the sheet S by the transfer discharger 111. Then, the sheet S on which the developer image is transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 104 by the separation discharger 112.

  After that, the sheet S conveyed by the conveying unit 113 is fixed on the developer image on the sheet by heat and pressure in the fixing unit 114, and then passes through the discharge reversing unit 115 in the case of single-sided copying. 116 is discharged to a discharge tray 117. In the case of double-sided copying, the same path as in the case of single-sided copying is performed after the paper is transported to the registration roller 110 via the refeed transporting units 119 and 120 by the control of the flapper 118 of the discharge reversing unit 115. Traces and is discharged to the discharge tray 117.

  In the case of multiple copying, the sheet S passes through the discharge reversing unit 115 and is once discharged out of the apparatus by the discharge roller 116. After that, the end of the sheet S passes through the flapper 118, and is conveyed again into the apparatus by controlling the flapper 118 and rotating the discharge roller 116 in reverse at the timing still held by the discharge roller 116. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed to the registration roller 110 via the re-feed conveyance units 119 and 120, and then discharged to the discharge tray 117 along the same path as in the case of single-sided copying.

In the apparatus main body 100 having the above-described configuration, a developing device 201, a cleaner unit 202, a primary charger 203, and the like are disposed around the photosensitive drum 104. The cleaner unit 202 is for removing the developer remaining on the photosensitive drum 104. The primary charger 203 is for charging the photosensitive drum 104.
[Developer]
Here, the developing device 201 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 104 by the optical unit 103 with the information of the document 101 using a developer. A developer supply container 1 for supplying developer to the developing device 201 is detachably provided on the apparatus main body 100 by a user. Here, the developing device 201 has a developer supply device 2 and a developing device 201a for detachably mounting the developer supply container 1, and the developing device 201a further includes a developing roller 201b and a feeding member 201c. Have. The developer replenished from the developer replenishing container 1 is sent to the developing roller 201b by the feeding member 201c, and is supplied to the photosensitive drum 104 by the developing roller 201b.

Further, a developer replenishing container replacement cover 15 which is a part of the exterior cover is provided, and when the user attaches / detaches the developer replenishing container 1 to / from the apparatus main body 100, it is replaced in the direction of arrow A in FIG. The cover 15 is opened.
[Developer supply device and developer supply container]
Next, details of embodiments of the developer supply container and the developer supply device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 shows a developer supply container and a developer supply device. The developer replenishing container 1 is configured to replenish the developer by being mounted from the a direction on the developer replenishing device 2 provided in the developing device and slidable in the b direction.

  Further, when the developer replenishing device is mounted, the developer replenishing container is locked in the rotation direction c by a control unit (not shown) provided in the developer replenishing device.

  FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the container in a contracted state, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the container in an extended state. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the developer supply container has a double cylinder structure of an inner cylinder 3 and an outer cylinder 4, and a developer discharge port 5 for supplying developer is provided. It has on the inner cylinder circumference. 4A is a front view of the inner cylinder, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the inner cylinder. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the ribs 6 are provided spirally on the outer wall of the inner cylinder.

  5A is a side view of the outer cylinder, and FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the outer cylinder. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the inner wall of the outer cylinder is provided with a spiral groove 7 having a shape corresponding to the shape into which the rib 6 can be fitted. On the outer wall surface, there is provided an operation portion 8 capable of giving a rotational force in the circumferential direction c as shown in FIG. Further, the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are locked in the circumferential direction and the longitudinal direction by a lock member 9 shown in FIG.

  Here, FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the developer supply container in a contracted state, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the developer supply container in an extended state.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the developer is in a solidified state 10 in the developer supply container before being attached to the developing device. At this time, the inner cylinder and the inner cylinder are non-rotatable with each other, and here, the container outer cylinder in a contracted state using the operation unit is arranged in the circumference shown in FIG. When a rotational force is applied in the direction c, the lock member provided in the developer supply container engages with the lock release portion 11 provided in the image forming apparatus or the development apparatus shown in FIG. Elastically deformed and unlocked.

  Further, when a rotational force is applied, the outer cylinder rotates in the c direction, and the inner cylinder is locked to the developer supply device in the rotating direction c along the spiral groove. It is configured to slide in the longitudinal direction b without rotating. The developer replenishing device is configured to slide in the longitudinal direction integrally with the developer replenishing container.

  By the above operation, as shown in FIG. 6B, the position of the developer discharge port provided in the container inner cylinder is displaced in the longitudinal direction, and the solidification of the developer in the developer supply container is centered around the discharge port. When the developer discharge port 5 and the developer receiving port 13 are in communication with each other, the developer discharge port 5 and the developer receiving port 13 communicate with each other. The developing device is replenished.

  As described above, the developer supply container is configured to expand the container volume and open the discharge port in the developing device, and actively collapse the developer solidified in the container, mainly in the vicinity of the discharge port. The developer can be replenished without delay from the beginning, and the developer discharge port 5 can be opened at the same time.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, an embodiment in the present invention of a developer supply container having an expandable / contractible stirring member will be described with reference to FIGS. The relationship between the image forming apparatus and the developer supply device, and the developer supply device and the developer supply container are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the developer supply container in a contracted state in which the expandable and contractible stirring member 14 is provided. At least one end 16 of the stirring member is locked by a bearing 15 on the side wall of the container so that it cannot be displaced in the longitudinal direction.

  Next, FIG. 8A shows a cross-sectional view of the developer supply container in the contracted state, and FIG. 8B shows a cross-sectional view of the developer supply container in the extended state.

  In the contracted state, the developer inside the container is in a solidified state 10, but the stirring member also extends in the b direction along with the container extending operation, thereby making the effect of disrupting the solidification of the developer greater and more reliable. The solidified developer is in a state 12 that is sufficiently collapsed around the vicinity of the discharge port. When the developer is displaced to the vicinity of the developer reception port provided in the developing device, the developer discharge port 5 and the developer reception port 13 communicate with each other. In addition, the developer in the developer supply container is supplied to the developing device. At this time, since the solidification of the developer is sufficiently disrupted, the initial driving force of the stirring member can be reduced.

  Here, details of the expandable and contractible stirring member will be described.

  FIGS. 9A to 9C show the agitated member in the contracted state, and FIGS. 10A to 10C show the agitated member in the extended state. The stirring member has a slide portion 18 that can slide in the axial direction b on the shaft portion 17 as shown in FIG. As described above, with the container extending operation, the end portion is fixed to the container in the longitudinal direction and the slide portion is extended, so that the stirring member is moved in the longitudinal direction b as shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b). It is the composition which extends to.

  Another embodiment of the slidable stirring member is shown in FIG. (A) is in a contracted state, (b) is in an expanded state, and has a shaft end portion 16 'that is free in the rotational direction but locked in the longitudinal direction, and further slides for sliding in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. It has the structure which has part 18 '.

  In this way, by providing a stirrable stirring member inside the developer supply container, the solidified developer can be broken down more reliably than in the configuration of the developer supply container shown in the first embodiment. In particular, the driving force of the stirring member at the initial stage of replenishment can be further reduced.

  12A to 12C show the contracted state of the developer supply container after being mounted on the developer supply device in the developing device. The driving force receiving portion 19 of the stirring member provided in the developer supply container is positioned substantially on the extension line of the axial center of the stirring member included in the image forming apparatus when the container is in the contracted state, and the image forming apparatus includes It is not engaged with the stirring member driving unit 20. In this state, the stirring member cannot be driven and cannot transport the developer.

  Next, FIGS. 13A to 13C show the developer supply container when the extension operation described in the first embodiment is completed after being mounted on the developer supply device in the image forming apparatus.

  In the drawing, as indicated by a portion 21 surrounded by a dotted line, when the extension operation of the developer supply container and the developer supply device is completed, the driving force of the stirring member drive unit 20 of the image forming apparatus and the developer supply container is provided. The receiving portion 19 is engaged, the driving force is transmitted, the stirring member acts, and the developer is conveyed. Further, the opening operation of the developer discharge port of the developer supply container described in the first embodiment is completed substantially coincident with the timing at which the stirring member obtains the driving force, and the discharge port and the developer reception are completed. The mouth communicates with the developer.

  As described above, the configuration is such that the stirring member is extended along with the container extending operation, and the timing at which the opening operation of the developer discharge port is completed substantially coincides with the timing at which the stirring member is driven. Even if the container extension operation described in 1 and 2 is stopped halfway, it is possible to prevent the developer from being replenished with a simple configuration.

<Embodiment 3>
In the above configuration, the developer supply container having a discharge port in the inner cylinder is shown. However, as shown in FIGS. 14 (a) to 14 (c) and FIGS. The structure which has discharge port 5 'may be sufficient. That is, either the outer cylinder or the inner cylinder has a discharge port, and one of the walls is configured to block the discharge port. It is the intention of the present invention that the wall position is relatively displaced. Further, the extension operation of the container is the same as that described in the first embodiment.

  As described above, the wall near the discharge port is surely displaced in accordance with the container extending operation, so that the solidification of the developer near the discharge port can be surely broken, and the developer can be discharged without delay from the beginning of replenishment. Is possible. Furthermore, the effect is still greater if there is a stirring member in the container.

1 is a diagram showing a configuration diagram of an electrophotographic copying apparatus shown in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows the developer supply container and developer supply apparatus which concern on Embodiment 1 of this invention. 4A is a perspective view of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the contracted state, FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the extended state, and FIG. FIG. 2A is a side view of a developer supply container inner cylinder according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2A is a front view of a developer supply container outer cylinder according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2A is a side cross-sectional view in a contracted state of the developer supply container according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 5A is a perspective sectional view in a contracted state and FIG. 5B is a perspective sectional view in an expanded state of a developer supply container with a stirring member according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 4A is a side sectional view in a contracted state and FIG. 5B is a side sectional view in an expanded state of a developer supply container with a stirring member according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is the (a) perspective view, (b) side view, (c) front sectional view of the stirring member of the contracted state which is Embodiment 2 of the present invention. It is the (a) perspective view, (b) side view, and (c) front sectional view of the stirring member in the extended state according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. It is the perspective view of the (a) contraction state of the other stirring member concerning Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and (b) the perspective view of the extension state. 3A is a perspective view, FIG. 3B is a side view, and FIG. 3C is a side cross-sectional view of the developer supply device, the developer supply container, and the image forming apparatus driving unit according to Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention in a contracted state. . 3A is a perspective view, FIG. 4B is a side view, and FIG. 3C is a side cross-sectional view of the developer supply device, the developer supply container, and the image forming apparatus driving unit according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention. . FIG. 6A is a side view of a developer supply container according to a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. FIG. 10A is a side view of the developer supply container according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Developer supply container 2 Developer supply apparatus 3 Container inner cylinder 4 Container outer cylinder 5,5 'Developer discharge port 6 Spiral rib 7 Spiral groove 8 Operation part 9 Lock part 10 Solidified developer 11 Lock release part 12 Collapsed developer 13 Developer receiving portion 14 Stirring member 15 Bearing portion 16, 16 'Stirring member shaft end portion 17 Shaft portion 18, 18' Slide portion 19 Driving force receiving portion 20 Driving portion 21 Drive is transmitted 100 Apparatus main body 101 document 102 platen glass 103 optical unit 104 photosensitive drum 105-108 cassette 105A-108A feeding separation device 109 transport unit 110 registration roller 111 transfer discharger 112 separation discharger 113 transport unit 114 fixing unit 115 discharge reversal unit 116 Discharge roller 117 Discharge tray 118 Flapper 119, 120 Refeed conveyance unit 201 Developing roller 201a Developing device 201b Developing roller 201c Feeding member 202 Developing blade

Claims (10)

A developer replenishing container having at least a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer and a developer discharge port for discharging the developer;
When the developer supply container is attached to the main body of the developing device provided in the image forming apparatus, the end of the developer containing portion extends inside the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the volume of the developer containing portion increases. A developer supply container, wherein the developer discharge port is opened in accordance with an operation.   The developer supply container according to claim 1, further comprising a stirring member that stirs and conveys the developer to the developer discharge port, wherein the stirring member extends in accordance with the operation of extending the developer containing portion.   When the developer accommodating portion is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the developer accommodating portion expands within the image forming apparatus main body, and the developer accommodating portion volume increases. 3. The developer supply container according to claim 1, further comprising means for allowing the driving force of the stirring member to be transmitted from the image forming apparatus main body by extending in the direction.   The developer supply container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the developer accommodating portion has a double cylinder structure of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder.   The inner cylinder has at least one spiral protrusion or groove on an outer wall surface, and the outer cylinder has a groove or protrusion that can engage with the spiral protrusion or groove on an inner wall surface. Item 5. A developer supply container according to Item 4. A developer replenishing container receiving portion, which is provided in the image forming apparatus and has at least a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer, and a developer replenishing container having a developer discharge port for discharging the developer; A developer supply device comprising:
The developer replenishing device, wherein the developer replenishing container receiving portion extends in accordance with the extending operation of the developer accommodating portion in the developer replenishing container.   The developer replenishing device according to claim 6, further comprising a stirring member that stirs and conveys the developer to the developer discharge port, wherein the stirring member extends in accordance with the extension operation of the developer containing portion.   When the developer replenishing device is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the developer accommodating portion expands in the image forming apparatus main body and the developer accommodating portion volume increases, whereby the stirring from the image forming apparatus main body is increased. 8. The developer replenishing device according to claim 6, further comprising means for transmitting a driving force of the member.   9. The developer replenishing apparatus having a drive receiving portion for the stirring member, wherein the opening operation of the developer discharge port is completed substantially simultaneously with receiving the driving force from the image forming apparatus main body. Developer supply device.   10. The developer replenishing device according to claim 6, wherein the developer accommodating portion has a double cylinder structure of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder.

Images