JP2006276045A - Developer replenishment device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developer replenishment device in which enhancement of quantitative replenishment performance and simplification of a mechanism for maintaining the quantitative replenishment performance are achieved. <P>SOLUTION: The developer replenishment device 10 is provided with a developer package band storage part 15 on which a developer package band 9 formed by connecting a plurality of developer storage parts 92 in which quantized developer for replenishment is filled and sealed is loaded, a passing on means 8 for passing on the developer package band 9 from the developer package band storage part 15, a means 8A for opening the developer storage part conveyed by the passing on means 8, a discharge means 83 for discharging the developer in the developer storage part 15 opened by the opening means 8A to a development device 4 and a used developer storage part storage means 16 for storing the developer storage part 15 after opening. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer supply device and an image forming apparatus using the developer supply device. Here, the image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium (for example, recording paper, OHP sheet) using, for example, an electrophotographic image forming method, an electrostatic recording method, or the like. That is, the latent image formed on the image carrier is developed using a developer, and the developer image is transferred to a recording medium (for example, recording paper, OHP sheet) to form an image on the recording medium. is there. Examples of the image forming apparatus include a copying machine that forms an image on a recording medium (for example, recording paper, an OHP sheet), a printer (for example, a laser printer), a facsimile apparatus, a word processor, and the like.

  For example, a configuration described below is known. That is, an electrostatic latent image formed on a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as “photosensitive drum”) as an image carrier is developed with a developer using an electrophotographic image forming method. Then, the developer image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum is transferred to a recording medium. Thereafter, the developer image is fixed on a recording medium. The developer is consumed by repeating such image formation. Therefore, it is necessary to replenish the developer.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 10, as a developer supply system, a configuration in which a developer supply device 200 is provided above the developing device 4 is known.

  With such a configuration, the developer replenishing device 200 uses a cylindrical chamber 202 provided adjacent to the developer container (cartridge) 201 and a screw 203 arranged coaxially therewith when the screw is rotated. A configuration is known in which the toner replenishment volume is fed in the axial direction, that is, the amount of developer replenishment is controlled by controlling the number of rotations of the screw 203 using a toner transfer mechanism using an axial conveyor system. .

On the other hand, a sensor is provided to rotate the toner supply roll a predetermined number of times when the developer concentration decreases. Thus, a configuration is known in which a predetermined amount of developer is supplied to the developing device (see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-3-138672

  As described above, in the prior art, the amount of developer replenishment is controlled by controlling the number of rotations of the screw, or a predetermined amount of developer is replenished to the developing device by rotating the toner replenishing roll a predetermined number of times. Has been done.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to develop the above-described conventional technology, and realize a developer replenishment performance improvement and a developer replenishment device that realizes a simplified mechanism for maintaining the performance. And an image forming apparatus using the developer replenishing device.

The above object is achieved by the developer supply device and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In summary, the present invention provides a developer replenishing device for supplying a replenishing developer to a developing device that contains a developer and converts the electrostatic image formed on the image carrier into a developed image with the developer. In
A developer package band storage section loaded with a developer package band in which a plurality of developer storage sections filled and sealed with quantified replenishment developer are connected; and
A forward feed means for sequentially feeding the developer package belt from the developer package belt housing portion;
Means for unsealing the developer storage portion conveyed by the sequential feeding means;
Discharging means for discharging the developer in the developer storage part opened by the opening means to a developing device;
Used developer storage portion storage means for storing the developer storage portion after opening;
A developer replenishing device characterized by comprising:

According to another aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium,
(I) an image carrier;
(Ii) electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier;
(Iii) a developing device that contains a developer and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier using the developer;
(Iv) a developer replenishing device for supplying replenishment developer to the developing device,
A developer package band storage section loaded with a developer package band in which a plurality of developer storage sections filled and sealed with quantified replenishment developer are connected; and
A forward feed means for sequentially feeding the developer package belt from the developer package belt housing portion;
Means for unsealing the developer storage portion conveyed by the sequential feeding means;
Discharging means for discharging the developer in the developer storage part opened by the opening means to a developing device;
Used developer storage portion storage means for storing the developer storage portion after opening;
A developer replenishing device having
An image forming apparatus is provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the developer replenishment performance for replenishing the developer and to simplify the mechanism for maintaining it.

  Hereinafter, a developer supply device and an image forming apparatus using the developer supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Example 1
First, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which the developer supply device of the present invention is applied will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus is a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus 100. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus main body 100A includes a process cartridge 1 (1Y) that forms an image forming unit that forms an image using four developers in the horizontal direction, that is, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. 1M, 1C, 1K) are detachably mounted on the mounting portion 100B.

  Each process cartridge 1 (1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K) includes a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image carrier, that is, a photosensitive drum 2 (2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K). Each photosensitive drum 2 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow by a driving means (not shown).

  As will be better understood with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 as well, in this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 2 (2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K) is arranged around the photosensitive drum in order according to the rotation direction. 2 Charging roller 3 (3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K) as charging means for uniformly charging the surface, and laser beam irradiation based on image information as exposure means to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 2 A laser scanner 51 (51Y, 51M, 51M, 51K), and developing the electrostatic latent image using a two-component developer to form a developer image, that is, a toner image, as a developing device 4 (4Y). 4M, 4C, 4K) and an intermediate transfer unit 54 for transferring the toner image on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 2 to an intermediate transfer belt 54a as an intermediate transfer member.

  Here, in this embodiment, as described above, the photosensitive drum 1, the charging roller 3, and the developing device 4 are integrated into a cartridge to form the process cartridge 1 (1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K). Yes. The cartridge 1 is detachably mounted on the mounting portion 100B. In this embodiment, the developing device 4 is provided in the cartridge 1, but is not limited to this. The developing device 4 may be fixed or detachably attached to the apparatus main body 100A.

  Here, the electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier includes a charging roller 3 as a charging means and a laser scanner 51 as an exposure means.

  Hereinafter, each component in the image forming apparatus 100 will be described.

(Photosensitive drum)
The photosensitive drum 2 is obtained by laminating a photosensitive layer, a charge injection layer, and a protective layer on an aluminum cylindrical substrate having a diameter of about 30 mm and a thickness of 0.75 mm.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a drum flange 2b is fixed to one end of the photosensitive drum 2, and a non-drive flange 2d is fixed to the other end. A drum shaft 2 a passes through the axis of the photosensitive drum 2. The drum shaft 2a and the flange 2b are rotated together by a detent (not shown) provided on the flange 2b.

  The end of the non-driving side flange 2d of the drum shaft 2a is rotatably supported by the bearing 2e. The bearing 2e is fixed to the frame 1a of the cartridge 1 through a bearing case 2c.

(Charging means)
As shown in FIG. 2, the charging means 3 uses a charging roller 3a in this embodiment. The charging roller 3a rotatably holds both ends of the cored bar 3b by bearings (not shown). In addition, the compression coil spring 3 d is in pressure contact with the photosensitive drum 2 with a predetermined pressure, and is driven to rotate by the photosensitive drum 2.

  The cleaning member 3c for cleaning the charging roller 3a is obtained by attaching a flexible cleaning film 3e to the support member 3f. This film 3e is arranged in parallel with the axial direction of the charging roller 3a, one end is fixed to a support member 3f that oscillates in this direction with a constant amplitude, and the vicinity of the free end contacts the charging roller 3a to form a nip. is doing. Due to the oscillation of the support member 3f, the surface of the charging roller 3a is rubbed with the film 3e, thereby removing deposits (fine toner, external additives, etc.) on the surface of the charging roller 3a.

(Exposure means)
In this embodiment, when an image signal is sent from the image forming apparatus main body 100A, the laser beam modulated in accordance with the image signal scans the uniformly charged surface of the photosensitive drum 2. Thereby, the photosensitive drum 2 is exposed.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the laser scanner 51 includes a solid-state laser element (not shown), a polygon mirror 51a, an imaging lens 51b, a reflection mirror 51c, and the like. Based on the image signal, a light emitting signal generator (not shown) controls ON / OFF emission of the solid state laser element at a predetermined timing. Laser light emitted from the solid-state laser element is converted into a substantially parallel light beam by a collimator lens system (not shown) and scanned by a polygon mirror 51a that rotates at high speed. Then, an image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 via the imaging lens 51b and the reflection mirror 51c.

  On the photosensitive drum 2 charged to a uniform surface potential by the charging roller 3, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information is formed by receiving the above-described laser light exposure.

(Developer)
In this embodiment, the developing device 4 is a two-component contact developing device (two-component magnetic brush developing device). As shown in FIG. 2, a two-component developer containing carrier and toner is held on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 4a, which is a developer carrying member including the magnet roller 4b. A regulating blade 4c is provided at a vertically lower portion of the developing roller 4a with a predetermined clearance. As the developing roller 4a rotates in the direction of the arrow, a thin layer of developer is formed on the developing roller 4a.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the developing roller 4a has a spacer 4k rotatably engaged with journal portions 4a1 at both ends thereof. The spacer 4k is supported by urging means (not shown) so as to urge the photosensitive drum 2. Therefore, the clearance between the developing roller 4a and the photosensitive drum 2 is maintained at a predetermined value.

  Further, the tangential speed direction of the developing roller 4a in the present embodiment is opposite to the tangential speed direction of the photosensitive drum 2 (counter development). The developing roller tangential speed is about 1.7 times that of the photosensitive drum 2 (peripheral speed ratio).

  In this embodiment, the developer used in the developing device 4 having the above-described configuration is a mixture of a negative charging toner having an average particle diameter of 6 μm and a magnetic carrier having an average particle diameter of 35 μm, and the toner in the developer is in a mass ratio. 8%.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the developer accommodating portion 4h is provided with partition walls 4d except for the delivery portions at both ends (FIG. 3). And stirring screw 4eA, 4eB is arrange | positioned at the both sides of this partition 4d.

  The replenishment developer supplied from the developer replenishing device 10 to which this embodiment is applied falls to the right end of the stirring screw 4eB in FIG. And it is conveyed along the groove | channel of the stirring screw 4eB side of the partition 4d, stirring to the left side in the figure. And it is handed over to the stirring screw 4eA by the partition notch part of the left side in the figure. Then, it is conveyed while being stirred to the right side in the drawing along the groove on the stirring screw 4eA side of the partition 4d. And it is handed over to stirring screw 4eB by the partition notch part of the right side in a figure. The supplied developer is thus circulated repeatedly.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 2, a developing process for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 by the two-component magnetic brush method will be described.

  First, with the rotation of the developing roller 4a, the developer is drawn up on the surface of the developing roller 4a from the developer container 4h by the action of the developing pole of the magnet roller 4b. Next, the developer on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 4a passes through the gap between the outer diameter portion of the developing roller 4a and the regulating blade 4c, thereby uniformly reducing the thickness of the developer layer. Is done. Further, when this thinned developer enters the developing region where the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 and the surface of the developing roller 4a are closest, the developer head of the developer is raised by the action of the developing pole of the magnet roller 4b. Is formed. In this development area, the electrostatic latent image is such that toner moves from the carrier surface to the bright potential portion of the electrostatic latent image in the spike-like developer. As a result, it is developed as a developer image (toner image).

  The developer (carrier and undeveloped toner) that has passed through the development area enters the developer accommodating portion 4h as the developing roller 4a rotates. Then, the developer is peeled from the peripheral surface of the developing roller 4a by the action of the magnetic poles of the conveying pole of the magnet roller 4b and the counter sheet metal. Then, the developer is returned to the developer circulation portion of the developer accommodating portion 4h.

  An alternating current (AC) voltage including a direct current (DC) component is applied to the developing roller 4a from a high voltage power source (not shown). In this embodiment, with respect to the substrate of the photosensitive drum 2, an AC voltage of Vp-p: 1.8 KV and f: 2 KHz with DC: -200 to -650 V as the center of amplitude is used as a developing bias.

  Here, the DC component of the developing bias is controlled by a controller (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body 100A. Here, the reason for making this variable is that by maintaining this potential at an appropriate potential between the bright potential and the dark potential of the electrostatic latent image, the difference between the bright potential (development contrast of about 200 V center) and the dark potential. This is because the difference from the potential (back contrast of about 120 to 200 V) is set to an appropriate value. This is to obtain a desired development density while preventing “fogging” and carrier development.

In this embodiment, the toner concentration in the developer is 8% ± 2% (mass%). In order to maintain this, a toner concentration sensor 4g is provided at a position close to the outer periphery of the stirring screw 4eB. The sensor 4g detects the toner density at the developer circulating portion. This can prevent the following problems (1) and (2) from occurring.
(1) When toner is consumed by development, the toner concentration (% by mass) in the developer is lowered.
When the toner density is low, the development density cannot be obtained even if the toner amount in the development area is insufficient and the development contrast is increased. When the toner concentration is extremely reduced, it is possible to prevent the toner from being excessively charged and becoming undevelopable (charge-up) without being separated from the carrier.
(2) When the toner concentration is high, toner with a small charge amount is generated, fogging and toner scattering are generated, and it is possible to suppress this toner from contaminating the charging portion and causing charging failure.

  Here, the toner concentration sensor 4g used in this embodiment detects the toner concentration from the amount of carrier in a unit volume by detecting the change in magnetic permeability by utilizing the fact that the carrier is a paramagnetic material. It is. This sensor 4g detects the toner concentration by using a differential transformer to detect the change in inductance of the two coils due to the change in magnetic permeability. Therefore, this sensor 4g is called an inductance type toner density sensor.

  When a controller (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100A detects a decrease in toner density by the sensor 4g, the controller sends a toner supply operation request to the developer supply device 10. Then, a predetermined amount of toner is supplied from the developer supply device 10 to the developing device 4.

  The developer supply device 10 will be described later.

(Transfer means)
An intermediate transfer unit 54 as transfer means shown in FIG. 1 performs primary transfer of toner images in order from the photosensitive drum 2 to superimpose four toner images, and then secondary transfer them onto the recording medium 52 at once. is there.

  The intermediate transfer unit 54 includes an intermediate transfer belt 54a that travels in the direction of the arrow at substantially the same speed as the peripheral speed of the photosensitive drum. The transfer belt 54a is a seamless belt having a circumferential length of about 940 mm, which is based on a polyimide resin, and is stretched between three rollers: a driving roller 54b, a secondary transfer counter roller 54g, and a driven roller 54c.

  In the transfer belt 54a, a transfer charging roller 54f (54fY, 54fM, 54fC, 54fK) is disposed at a position facing the photosensitive drum 2 for each color, and in the center of the photosensitive drum 2 with the transfer belt 54a interposed therebetween. Pressurized.

  Each transfer charging roller 54f (54fY, 54fM, 54fC, 54fK) is applied with a transfer voltage from a high-voltage power source, and the toner images (developer images) formed on the photosensitive drum 2 are sequentially transferred onto the transfer belt 54a. Transcript.

  A secondary transfer roller 54d is disposed in the secondary transfer portion with the secondary transfer counter roller 54g and the transfer belt 54a interposed therebetween. The transfer roller 54d is driven separately from the transfer belt 54a. When the recording medium 52 enters the secondary transfer portion, a predetermined transfer bias is applied to the secondary transfer roller 54d. As a result, the toner image on the transfer belt 54 a is secondarily transferred to the recording medium 52.

  The recording medium 52 subjected to the secondary transfer is transported toward the fixing unit 56 along the transport guide by a tangential driving force between the transfer roller 54d and the transfer belt 54a.

  On the other hand, the transfer residual toner at the secondary transfer portion is peeled off from the transfer belt 54 a by the blade 55 a of the cleaning unit 55. The toner taken into the unit 55 is sent and stored in a waste toner tank (not shown) by the feed screw 55b.

(Feeding means)
The feeding unit 53 is mainly composed of a cassette 53a storing a plurality of recording media 52, a pickup roller 53b, a feed / retard roller pair 53c, conveyance guides 53d, 53e, 53f, and a registration roller 53g. The feeding unit 53 supplies the recording medium 52 to the image forming unit at a predetermined time interval during image formation.

  The recording medium 52 is fed to the transfer belt 54a by the registration roller 53g in synchronization with the rotation of the transfer belt 54a and the developer image (toner image).

(Fixing means)
The fixing unit 56 fixes the developer images of a plurality of colors transferred to the recording medium 52 to the recording medium 52.

  In this embodiment, the fixing unit 56 uses a roller fixing configuration including a heating roller 56a including a halogen lamp 56c and a pressure roller 56b. Then, the developer image transferred to the recording medium 52 is heated and melted and fixed to the recording medium.

(Discharge part)
The fixed recording medium 52 is transported by the transport roller 53 h and the discharge roller 53 j and is loaded on the tray 57. Further, the controller can change the conveyance path of the recording medium 52 by switching the flapper 53k, and can eject the recording medium 52 from the fixing unit 56 in a substantially horizontal left direction.

(Image forming operation)
First, the process cartridge 1 (1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K) is sequentially driven in accordance with the timing of image formation. In response to the drive, the photosensitive drum 2 (2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K) is rotationally driven. Then, the laser scanners 51 (51Y, 51M, 51C, 51K) corresponding to the respective cartridges 1 are sequentially driven. By this driving, the charging roller 3 (3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K) applies a uniform charge to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2. The laser scanner 51 exposes the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2 in accordance with an image signal to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 2. Thereafter, the developing device 4 develops the electrostatic latent image.

  As described above, the developer image on each photoconductive drum 2 is sequentially transferred to the transfer belt 54a by an electric field formed between each photoconductive drum 2 and the transfer roller 54f. The developer image on the transfer belt 54a to which the four color developer images have been transferred is transferred to the recording medium 52 by the transfer roller 54d. The recording medium 52 onto which the developer image has been transferred is separated from the transfer belt 54a.

  The recording medium 52 after fixing is transported by the transport roller 53h and the discharge roller 53j and stacked on the tray 57.

(Cleanerless system)
The image forming apparatus of this embodiment is a cleanerless system.

  That is, in this embodiment, there are provided a uniforming means 3g and a charging control means 3h for uniformizing the developer (toner) remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2 after the transfer. The residual developer generated on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2 at the transfer portion d passes through the charging portion a and the exposure portion b as the photosensitive drum rotates, and is simultaneously cleaned (collected) by the developing portion c. A cleanerless system is used. Of course, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a cleaning device provided with a normal cleaning blade is provided.

  Next, an embodiment of the developer replenishing device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Overall configuration of developer supply device)
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the overall configuration of an embodiment of the developer supply device of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG.

  4 and 5, the developer supply device 10 is detachably or fixedly attached to a mounting portion 60 including a hook 61 provided on the upper portion of the developing device 4. It is done. In FIG. 5, an outer cover 70 is attached to the replenishing device 10. However, since these members are not essential components in the replenishing device 10 of the present embodiment, further explanation is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the replenishing device 10 uses a developer package band (hereinafter referred to as “toner package band”) 9. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 6, the toner package band 9 is filled with a quantified replenishment developer (hereinafter simply referred to as “toner”) and sealed, as a developer container. A plurality of packaging bags (hereinafter simply referred to as “toner packaging bags”) 92 are connected in series.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the replenishing device 10 includes a toner package band accommodating portion (developer package band accommodating portion) 15 that accommodates the package band 9 and a toner package band sequential feed that sequentially feeds and opens the toner package band 9. The toner package band opening means 8 and a packaging film storage portion (developer storage portion storage means) 16 for storing the used packaging film 91 after opening are also provided.

  That is, the toner package band 9 is stored in the storage unit 15 in a state in which the toner package band 9 is alternately folded at the connecting portion 93 (see FIG. 6) of each toner packaging bag 92. When the toner is supplied to the developing device 4, the toner is sequentially fed from the first toner packaging bag 92 to the unsealing mechanism 8 </ b> A by the sequential feeding mechanism in the unsealing means 8. And it opens by the said opening mechanism part 8A. The used packaging film 91 after opening is folded and stored in the film storage unit 16.

  Here, the developer for replenishing the contents, that is, the toner is discharged from the toner discharge portion 83g (FIG. 5) of the replenishing device 10 to the developing device 4.

  More specifically, in this embodiment, the replenishing device 10 has a developer replenishing device body 12 having a box shape with a substantially rectangular cross section. The replenishing device body 12 includes side frames 13 (13a, 13b) on both sides extending in the longitudinal direction and support frames 14 (14a, 14b) for holding the side frames 13a, 13b at both ends in the longitudinal direction. Connect together.

  In the inside of the replenishing device main body 12, a toner package band accommodating part (developer package band accommodating part) that accommodates a toner package band 9 before use in which a toner packaging bag 92 is formed in a series. ) 15, toner package band sequential feeding / opening means arranged adjacent to the storage portion 15, that is, an opening unit 8, and a used toner package band storage portion 16.

  The used toner package band storage unit 16 stores the used package band after the toner discharged from the opening unit 8, that is, the packaging films 91 (91a, 91b) (see FIG. 6).

(Toner package belt)
FIGS. 6A and 6B show an embodiment of the toner package band 9.

  A toner package band (developer package band) 9 is filled with toner T between two packaging films 91 (91a, 91b). The toner package band 9 has a plurality of toner packaging bags (developer packaging bags) 92 sealed in four directions along the longitudinal direction thereof. The toner packaging bags 92 are connected in series at the packaging connecting portion 93.

  In this embodiment, the laminated films 94 having the same configuration are used as the packaging films 91a and 91b. In this embodiment, the laminated film 94 includes a base layer 94a that is a biaxially stretched polyester film, and an aluminum layer that is excellent in moisture and gas barrier properties as a barrier layer for protecting the filler from the external environment. And a third layer 94c laminated with low density polyethylene as a heat seal layer.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the toner package band 9 is configured by using a pair of laminated films 94 having the same specifications. However, different films may be used in the form of a package such as a blister pack.

  In this embodiment, the toner content in one toner packaging bag 92 is 6 g, and this is quantitatively packaged by a packaging machine, and the four sides of the packaging bag 92 are heat-sealed by thermocompression bonding. Specifically, the toner package band 9 was cut at a portion where 27 toner packaging bags 92 were connected in series to form one toner package band 9.

  In this embodiment, this one toner package band (developer package band) 9 is loaded in the toner package storage portion 15 of the developer supply device 10.

  The perforations 96 are provided at 4.75 mm pitch (P) in the heat seal portions 95 at both end edges in the forward direction (longitudinal direction) of the toner package band 9. Using this perforation 96, the toner package band 9 is sequentially fed in the developer supply device 10 as will be described later.

  Further, a detection code 97, which will be described later in detail, is provided on one end edge of the toner package strip 9 in the progressive direction (longitudinal direction).

(Toner package belt opening unit)
The unsealing unit 8 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As best shown in FIG. 9, the unsealing unit 8 has an unfolding unit frame 80 having a substantially U-shape in which a horizontal plate 80b is integrally formed above and below a vertical plate 80a. The opening unit frame 80 is integrally fixed to the developer supply device main body 12.

  A pair of driven sprocket rollers 81 (81a, 81b) as a forward feed means and a drive sprocket roller pair 82 (82a, 82b) as a forward feed means are attached to the opening unit frame 80 using the horizontal plate 80b. . As shown in FIG. 9, the driven sprocket roller 81b and the drive sprocket roller 82b have their rotary shafts loosely fitted to the horizontal plate 80b. The rollers 81b and 82b are pressed against the driven sprocket roller 81a and the driving sprocket roller 82a by spring members 81c and 82c, respectively, with a predetermined pressure. That is, the pair of rollers 81 and 82 as the forward feeding means sequentially feeds the toner package belt 9 as the developer package belt from the toner package belt housing portion 15 as the developer package belt housing portion.

  The roller 82 a is rotationally driven by a driving unit 84 that is integrally attached to the opening unit frame 80. In this embodiment, the drive unit 84 includes a worm 84a that is driven by a drive shaft 84b. The worm 84a meshes with a wheel 82a1 provided integrally with the lower end of the roller 82a in FIG.

  Therefore, when the drive shaft 84b is rotationally driven, the roller 82a rotates through the worm / wheel speed reducer configured by the worm 84a of the drive unit 84 and the wheel 82a1 of the roller 82a.

  As the sprocket tooth 82a2 of the roller 82a drives the perforation 96 of the toner package band 9, the toner package band 9 is sequentially fed in the direction of arrow A.

  The sprocket tooth 81 a 1 of the driven sprocket roller pair 81 (81 a, 81 b) is engaged with the perforation 96 of the toner package band 9. Accordingly, the toner package band 9 that is sequentially fed by the driving of the roller 82a is pulled and driven.

  The roller 81 a has a ratchet mechanism 86 disposed at the shaft end thereof, and receives a constant torque load from the ratchet mechanism 86. That is, the ratchet mechanism 86 includes a ratchet wheel 86b fixed to the shaft end of the roller 81a, and a spring-like claw member 86a that engages with each tooth of the ratchet wheel 86b.

  Therefore, the toner package band 9 receives a constant torque load from the ratchet mechanism 86 when the driven sprocket roller pair 81 (81 a, 81 b) is pulled by the toner package band 9 and driven. Therefore, the toner package band 9 always receives a tensile force between the roller pair 82 (82a, 82b) and the roller pair 81 (81a, 81b).

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the unsealing unit 8 includes an unsealing core 83 that constitutes a toner discharging means (developer discharging means). Further, the opening unit 8 has cutting blades 83a and 83b as toner package band cutting means (opening means) in the upstream portion of the core 83. That is, the cutting blades 83a and 83b as the opening means open the toner packaging bag 92 as the developer storage portion that has been conveyed by the roller pair 81 and 82 as the forward feeding means.

  Therefore, the toner package band 9 is pulled into the opening unit 8 with a tensile force applied between the roller pair 82 (82a, 82b) and the roller pair 81 (81a, 81b). The toner package band 9 drawn into the opening unit 8 is cut by cutting blades (opening means) 83a and 83b provided at the upstream portion of the core 83, and the heat seal section 95 at both upper and lower edges and the toner package band 9 The central part of the is cut off.

  The heat seal portions 95 of the cut and separated packaging films 91a and 91b pass through the upper and lower guide portions 83e (83e1, 83e2) and 83f (83f1, 83f2) of the core 83. At this time, the two films 91a and 91b of the central toner packaging bag 92 pass through the central scraping core portion 83d therebetween. At this time, the toner T in the toner packaging bag 92 is scraped off by the slope portion 83d1 of the scraping core portion 83d. The scraped toner T passes through the lower opening 83c of the core 83 and is discharged from the discharge port 83g (see FIGS. 5 and 9) to the supply port 1b of the developing device 4. That is, the core 83 (the core portion 83d, the slope portion 83d1, the guide portion 83e) as the developer discharge means is a toner packaging bag 92 as the developer storage portion opened by the cutting blades 83a and 83b as the opening means. The developer inside is discharged to the developing device 4.

  Further, a swing head 85 is swingably attached to the unsealing unit frame 80 using the horizontal plate 80b.

  That is, as can be understood with reference to FIGS. 7 and 9, the swing head 85 includes a swing support plate 87 and a support plate 88 that are rotatably attached to the horizontal plate 80b. The support plates 87 and 88 extend in the vertical direction and are connected by an operating piece 89 provided with a slit 89a along the vertical direction. The used toner package band 9 from which the toner is discharged by the opening unit 8, that is, the packaging films 91 (91 a and 91 b) is passed through the slit 89.

  In FIG. 7, the upper swing support plate 87 includes a protruding portion 87a provided with a long hole 87a1. A pin 85b planted in a gear 85a rotatably attached to the horizontal plate 80b is loosely fitted in the long hole 87a1.

  On the other hand, a drive gear 84c is attached to the shaft end of the roller 82a, and the gear 85a meshes with the drive gear 84c.

  Therefore, the driving gear 84c rotates by driving the roller 82a. The gear 85a is rotationally driven by the drive gear 84c. For this purpose, the swing support plate 87 performs a swing motion. In this embodiment, the swing support plate 87 is designed to perform a swing motion of about 60 ° by the rotational motion of the gear 85a.

  After the toner is discharged, the used toner package band 9 is aligned in the thickness direction by the roller pair 82 (82a, 82b), and then passes through the slit 89a of the swinging head 85 to store the used toner package band storage part (developer storage). Part storage means) 6. That is, the toner package band storage unit 6 stores the used packaging films 91a and 91b after opening. In this embodiment, the swing head 85 having the above-described configuration is provided. As a result, the swing head 85 swings in a range of about 60 degrees in synchronization with the cycle of the connecting portion 93 of the toner packaging bag 91. Therefore, the used package strip 9 can be stored in a folded state as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG.

  In the above-described embodiment, the unsealing unit 8 sequentially takes in the toner package bands 9, opens the toner packaging bag 92, and supplies the toner contained in the package packaging bag to the developer supply device 10 developing device 4. An example of quantitative supply is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the members may not be unitized.

(Toner supply operation)
The toner (developer) supply operation of the developer supply device 10 in this embodiment will be described.

  When the developing device 4 detects a decrease in toner density, the image forming apparatus main body controller drives a toner replenishing drive motor (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100A at a predetermined rotational speed.

  This rotational drive is transmitted from the supply drive coupling 71 (FIG. 4) to the developer supply device 10 and input to the drive shaft 84b (FIG. 7). As a result, the toner package band 9 is sequentially fed by the unsealing unit 8, the toner in the toner packaging bag 92 is unsealed, and supplied from the developer supply device 10 to the developing device 4.

  As described above, the toner amount in the toner packaging bag 92 in this embodiment is 6 g.

  As a specific example, it is assumed that one toner package band is 6 g × 27 per toner packaging bag with a 6000 sheet print (5% printing rate) specification.

  Here, the integrated amount of the toner supply amount at the time when the opening of one pack of the toner package band 9 is completed can be quantified, but the toner discharge amount per unit feed amount of the package during the opening is not constant.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, a detection code 97 having a marking or notch shape as toner color identification and / or remaining amount detection information means is provided on one of both edge portions 95 parallel to the forward direction of the toner package band. It is done. Moreover, a detection means for detecting this is provided on the supply device side.

  More specifically, in this embodiment, the detection code 97 of the heat seal portion 95 is read by a detection means (not shown) such as a reflective optical sensor provided on the opening core 83. Thus, the front end position of the toner packaging bag 92 is detected, and a toner discharge amount table per unit feed amount with respect to the feed position from the front end position obtained in the experiment is stored in the memory of the image forming apparatus main body controller (not shown). Keep it. Then, the number of rotations of the replenishing motor with respect to the required toner amount is calculated by referring to this table during replenishment.

  In addition, in the detection code 97, in addition to detecting the tip position, the numbers of the toner packaging bags 92 loaded in the developer supply device 10 in the initial state are written in descending order. When this part passes through the reflection type optical sensor, the number data of the toner packaging bags 92 remaining in the developer supply device 10 is sent to the controller.

  In the above embodiment, toner is used as the replenishment developer. However, the replenishment developer is not limited to this, and a replenishment developer containing a carrier and toner is used as the replenishment developer. It can also be used.

  According to the developer supply device 10 configured as described above, the following effects can be achieved.

(1) Quantitative replenishment performance and simplification of mechanism for maintaining the same Replenishment developer, that is, replenishment toner, is loaded into the developer replenishing device 10 in a state of being filled and sealed in the toner packaging bag 92. . Since the toner packaging bag 92 is opened and discharged to the developing device 4 as necessary for toner replenishment, the mechanism is simple. Therefore, a conventionally used stirring member for preventing toner packing and a mechanism for driving the stirring member or a seal portion of the stirring shaft are unnecessary.

  In addition, an axial screw mechanism for toner quantification is not required. In addition, the toner is packaged. This eliminates the need for a toner seal (opening seal), a filling port lid, or a seal member for a frame body joint, which has been used in a configuration in which a toner container is directly filled with toner.

(2) Prevention of toner deterioration over time The replenishment toner is loaded into the developer replenishing device 10 in a state of being filled and sealed in a toner packaging bag 92 having excellent moisture and gas barrier properties. It is opened and discharged to the developing device 4. Therefore, even when applied to a highly durable cartridge having a large toner capacity, it is not affected by the usage environment such as ambient temperature and humidity. In addition, since no stress was applied to the toner due to stirring, the deterioration of the toner with time was eliminated.

(3) Ease of remaining amount detection and elimination of residual toner The toner package belt 9 can be sequentially fed and opened, and the consumption of the toner packaging bag 92 or the number of remaining toner packaging bags can be detected. . As a result, the user can accurately know the remaining amount of toner. In addition, the toner in the toner packaging bag can be discharged almost completely except for the toner adhering to the used film.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which a developer supply device of the present invention is applied. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus and a developer supply device of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. 1 is an external perspective view of a developer supply device of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4. 6A is an external view of the developer package band, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 6A. FIG. 3 is an external view of the developer supply device of the present invention as viewed from one side of a toner package band opening unit. FIG. 4 is a front view of a toner package band opening unit of the developer supply device of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an external view of the developer supply device of the present invention as viewed from the other side of the toner package band unsealing unit. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the conventional developer supply apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 (1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K) Process cartridge (image forming unit)
2 (2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K) Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
3 (3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K) Charging roller (charging means)
4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K) Developing device (developing means)
8 Developer package belt sequential feeding / opening means 9 Developer package belt 10 Developer supply device 12 Developer supply device main body 15 Developer package belt housing portion 16 Used developer package belt housing portion 51 (51Y, 51M, 51C, 51K) ) Laser scanner (exposure means)
81 Driven sprocket roller pair 82 Drive sprocket roller pair 83 Developer toner package band opening core (discharge means)
83a, 83b Cutting blade (cutting means)
83d Scraping core part 84 Sprocket drive part 85 Swing head 86 Ratchet mechanism 91 (91a, 91b) Packaging film 92 Developer packaging bag (developer storage part)
93, 95 Heat seal portion 97 Information means for toner color identification and / or remaining amount detection

Claims (9)

In a developer supply device for supplying a developer for supply to a developing device that contains a developer and develops the electrostatic image formed on the image carrier with the developer.
A developer package band storage section loaded with a developer package band in which a plurality of developer storage sections filled and sealed with quantified replenishment developer are connected; and
A forward feed means for sequentially feeding the developer package belt from the developer package belt housing portion;
Means for unsealing the developer storage portion conveyed by the sequential feeding means;
Discharging means for discharging the developer in the developer storage part opened by the opening means to a developing device;
Used developer storage portion storage means for storing the developer storage portion after opening;
A developer replenishing device comprising:   The developer replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer storage portion is formed of a packaging film, and the packaging film is a laminated film having a heat seal layer.   The developer container is a developer sachet that is sealed by heat-sealing and heat-sealing a heat-seal layer of a wrapping film around the developer sachet filled with a replenishment developer. The developer supply device according to claim 1, wherein the developer supply device is configured as described above.   The developer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein perforations for forward feeding are provided at both edges of the developer package strip that are heat-sealed parallel to the forward feeding direction. Replenishment device.   The forward feed means engages with the perforation and drives a pair of drive sprocket rollers that drive forward the developer package band, and a follower that applies tension to the developer package band that is driven forward by the pair of drive sprocket rollers. The developer replenishing device according to claim 4, further comprising a pair of sprocket rollers.   Information means for toner color identification and / or remaining amount detection is formed on both edges of the developer package strip parallel to the forward feed direction, and a detection means for detecting this is provided on the main body side of the developer supply device. The developer replenishing device according to claim 4, wherein the developer replenishing device is provided. The unsealing means is heat-sealed by cutting both the heat-sealed edges parallel to the forward-feeding direction of the developer package belt to be forward-fed and the heat-sealed connecting portions of the developer storage portions. A cutting means for separating the packaging film into two parts,
7. The development according to claim 6, wherein the discharging means includes a core member that is positioned between the separated packaging films and discharges the developer in the developer storage portion to a developing device. Agent supply device.   8. The developer replenishing device according to claim 7, further comprising a folding unit that folds the opened packaging film and sequentially feeds the packaging film to the storage unit. In an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium,
(I) an image carrier;
(Ii) electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier;
(Iii) a developing device that contains a developer and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier using the developer;
(Iv) a developer replenishing device for supplying replenishment developer to the developing device,
A developer package band storage section loaded with a developer package band in which a plurality of developer storage sections filled and sealed with quantified replenishment developer are connected; and
A forward feed means for sequentially feeding the developer package belt from the developer package belt housing portion;
Means for unsealing the developer storage portion conveyed by the sequential feeding means;
Discharging means for discharging the developer in the developer storage part opened by the opening means to a developing device;
Used developer storage portion storage means for storing the developer storage portion after opening;
A developer replenishing device having
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images