JP2006276809A - Developing device, and processing cartridge and image forming apparatus using same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sufficiently increase the capacity of a starter developer while preventing large size. <P>SOLUTION: The developing device comprises a starter developer supply means 14 for delivering the starter developer G' into a developer storing chamber 2 during initial use, and has a developer storing chamber 15 for previously storing the starter developer G' capable of charge during the initial use. The developer storing chamber 15 is constituted freely to be expanded and contracted, and the developer storing chamber 15 is enlarged up to a position where a latent image writing optical path Bm is shaded when storing the starter developer G', and further the developer storing chamber 15 is contracted up to a position where the latent image writing optical path Bm is retreated when supplying the starter developer G'. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device used in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer, and more particularly to a developing device in which a starter developer can be charged and a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus using the developing device. About.

  Conventionally, for example, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image is formed on an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized by a developing device. Is usually adopted.

As a developing device of this type, a developing device that employs a two-component developing system and a toner replenishing unit (development auxiliary unit) that replenishes at least toner to the developing unit are known.
Here, the developing unit adopting the two-component developing system has a developer accommodating chamber in which a developer composed of, for example, toner and a carrier is accommodated, and a developer agitating and conveying auger is disposed in the developer accommodating chamber. A developing roll capable of carrying and transporting the developer stirred and transported by the developer stirring and transporting auger is provided. The toner replenishing unit has a toner replenishing chamber for accommodating at least toner above the developer accommodating chamber, and replenishes at least toner in the toner replenishing chamber by dropping due to its own weight on the developer in the developer accommodating chamber. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
Further, in this type of developing device, in consideration of convenience at the time of initial use, a developer storage chamber in which a developer (hereinafter referred to as a starter developer) that can be charged at the time of initial use is stored in the development unit. There has already been proposed a technique in which a starter developer is introduced into a developer storage chamber of a developing unit during initial use (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  JP 2002-108079 A (Embodiment of the Invention, FIG. 2)   JP-A-9-204105 (Embodiment of the Invention, FIG. 2)

In this type of developing device, when a starter developer is to be stored, a method of securing a predetermined amount of developer storage chamber in the developing device is usually employed.
In particular, the developing device is often disposed in the vicinity of the latent image writing optical path to the image carrier, and the developer storage chamber is extended to the latent image writing optical path side so as not to block the latent image writing optical path. It is very difficult to secure it.
Therefore, in order to sufficiently increase the capacity of the starter developer, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the developer storage chamber in the developing device, and accordingly, the developer storage chamber space (starter developer storage space) is increased. However, there is a technical problem that will lead to an increase in the size of the developing device (please check the suitability of the underlined part).

  The present invention has been made to solve the above technical problem, and is used in a developing device capable of sufficiently increasing the capacity of a starter developer while preventing an increase in size. A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus are provided.

That is, according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier 1 is arranged in the vicinity of the optical path for writing the latent image on the image carrier 1 and visualized with a developer. The developing device 12 includes a developer accommodating chamber 3 in which a developer is accommodated, and a starter developer supplying means 14 for supplying a starter developer G ′ to the developer accommodating chamber 3 during initial use. The developer supply means 14 includes a developer storage chamber 15 in which a starter developer G ′ that can be charged at the time of initial use is stored in advance. The developer storage chamber 15 is configured to be expandable and contractable, and the starter developer G ′. During storage, the developer storage chamber 15 is expanded to a position where the latent image writing optical path Bm is blocked, and when the starter developer G ′ is supplied, the developer storage chamber 15 is contracted to a position where it is retracted from the latent image writing optical path Bm. It is a feature.
In the model of FIG. 1, reference numeral 8 denotes a charging unit that charges the image carrier 1, and 9 denotes a cleaning unit that cleans residual toner on the image carrier 1.

In such technical means, the present case is directed to a developing device disposed in the vicinity of the latent image writing optical path Bm.
The developing device 12 needs to include at least the developing unit 2.
The developing unit 2 has a developer storage chamber 3 in which a developer (including not only a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier but also a one-component developer including only a toner) is stored. The developer storage chamber 3 Examples include various developing members 4 (for example, a developer carrying member 4a and developer agitating / conveying members 4b and 4c which are arranged to face the image carrier 1 and carry and convey the developer G). .

In addition, a toner replenishment unit 5 that replenishes toner to the developing unit 2 may be provided.
The toner supply unit 5 may include not only toner but also a two-component developer of toner and carrier.
Further, the toner replenishing unit 5 has at least a toner replenishing chamber for storing toner, and the toner replenishing chamber 6 has a toner conveying member 6 (for example, toner agitating / conveying members 6a and 6b and a toner fixed amount) capable of conveying toner. There may be mentioned one in which a dispensing member 6c) for carrying is provided.

Further, the starter developer supply means 14 is required to have an expansion / contraction type developer storage chamber 15. The expansion / contraction structure of the developer storage chamber 15 may be appropriately selected. However, as a typical aspect, a flexible sheet capable of expanding / contracting a portion of the developer storage chamber 15 that is separated from the latent image writing optical path Bm side. Or a portion of the developer storage chamber 15 that is separated from the latent image writing optical path side by a sheet that can be projected to the latent image writing optical path Bm side, and the sheet volume is regulated by the urging means. The portion of the developer storage chamber 15 that is separated from the latent image writing optical path Bm is configured as a movable wall that is movable in the expansion / contraction direction of the developer storage chamber 15 and is directed toward the reduction direction of the developer storage chamber 15 by the urging means. And energizing the movable wall.
Further, when the starter developer supply means 14 is configured by a sheet that can hang down the portion of the developer storage chamber 15 that is separated from the latent image writing optical path Bm side, this sag affects the operation of the developing device. In such a situation, it is preferable that the developer storage chamber 15 is provided with a mesh-like shelf member through which the starter developer can pass, and the sheet is supported by the shelf member after the starter developer is charged.
The starter developer supply means 14 expands the developer storage chamber 15 to a position where the latent image writing optical path Bm is blocked when the starter developer G ′ is stored, but this is particularly because the process cartridge is not yet used. There is no hindrance, and there is no influence on the size of the outer shape of the process cartridge.
On the other hand, when the starter developer G ′ is supplied, the developer storage chamber 15 is reduced to a position retracted from the latent image writing optical path Bm, so that the developer storage chamber 15 does not block the latent image writing optical path Bm. The function of writing the latent image on the carrier 1 is kept good.

Further, as a typical layout of the developer storage chamber 15, the developing unit 2 has a mode in which the developer storage chamber 15 is arranged so as to partially overlap the vertical direction region of the developer carrier 3a (developing member 3). Can be mentioned. According to this aspect, it is possible to reduce the vertical dimension of the developing unit 2.
Further, as another layout of the developer storage chamber 15, the developing unit 2 includes a developer storage chamber 15 of the starter developer supply means 14 disposed above the developer storage chamber 3. According to this aspect, the starter developer G ′ can be supplied by natural fall.

The developer inlet 16 of the developer storage chamber 15 is closed by a seal member 17 that can be opened when not in use. In this case, it is possible to effectively prevent the starter developer G ′ from leaking into the developing unit 2 during transportation.
The seal member 17 may be any member that closes the developer receiving port 16 and opens the developer receiving port 16 when in use, and may be appropriately selected such as a releasable shutter mode and an openable / closable shutter mode.

Further, as an effective mode for charging the starter developer G ′, the developing device 12 includes a toner replenishing unit 5 that can supply at least replenishing toner adjacent to the developing unit 2. The toner supply port 7 that opens so that the lower end position thereof is below the surface position of the developer G accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber 3 in the developing unit 2 is provided.
One or a plurality of the toner supply ports 7 may be provided, and the lower end thereof needs to be below the surface position of the developer G in the developer storage chamber 3. In other words, it is sufficient that the toner supply port 7 is at least partially buried from the surface position of the developer G in the developer storage chamber 3, and the supply toner is supplied to the developer in the developer storage chamber 3 from the side. The replenishment toner can be mixed with the existing developer G without causing the replenishment toner to float on the surface of the developer G.
As described above, when this mode is adopted, it is possible to improve the stirring and mixing properties of the replenishment toner and the existing developer, but it is difficult to adjust the toner concentration to an appropriate value at an early stage during initial use. There are concerns. However, in the present invention, since the starter developer G ′ is introduced to enable early toner density adjustment at the initial use, there is no concern as described above.

Further, the toner supply port 7 is preferably closed by a seal member (not shown) that can be opened when in use when not in use, so that replenishment toner can be prevented from leaking during transportation. Here, the seal member may be any member as long as it closes the toner supply port 7 and opens the toner supply port 7 when in use.
Furthermore, in consideration of the operability of the seal member, the developer inlet 16 and the toner supply port 7 of the developer storage chamber 15 are closed with a seal member that can be opened when not in use, and the operation can be performed with a single operation. It is preferable to open the seal member.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described developing device, but can be applied to a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus including the developing device.

According to the developing device of the present invention, the expansion / contraction type developer storage chamber is provided as the starter developer supply means, the developer storage chamber is expanded to the latent image writing optical path when the starter developer is stored, and the latent image is supplied when the starter developer is supplied. Since the developer storage chamber is reduced to the position where it is retracted from the image writing optical path, the capacity of the starter developer can be sufficiently increased without impairing the latent image writing performance.
In addition, according to the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus using such a developing device, it is possible to obtain a small size and starter developer capacity per process cartridge. A good image forming apparatus can be easily constructed.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
<Overall configuration of image forming apparatus>
FIG. 2 shows Embodiment 1 of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
In the figure, the image forming apparatus is a so-called tandem type color image forming apparatus, and an image forming unit 22 (specifically, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black in this embodiment) is provided in the apparatus housing 21. 22a to 22d) are arranged in the vertical direction, and a paper feed cassette 23 for storing paper 24 for supply is arranged below the paper feed cassette 23, and a paper feed cassette is provided at a position corresponding to each image forming unit 22. 23, a sheet conveyance path 25 serving as a conveyance path for the sheet 24 from 23 is arranged in the vertical direction.

In the present embodiment, the image forming units 22 (22a to 22d) form toner images for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black in order from the upstream side of the sheet conveyance path 25, and various processes. A process cartridge 30 incorporating the unit and an exposure device 40 for irradiating the process cartridge 30 with scanning light for image formation are provided.
Here, the process cartridge 30 includes, for example, a photosensitive drum 31, a charging roll 32 that precharges the photosensitive drum 31, and an electrostatic device that is exposed and formed by the exposure device 40 on the charged photosensitive drum 31. A developing device 33 that develops the latent image with corresponding color toner (for example, negative polarity in the present embodiment), a cleaning device 34 that removes waste toner on the photosensitive drum 31, and a surface of the charged photosensitive drum 31 An erase lamp 35 that neutralizes the charge is integrated into a cartridge.
On the other hand, the exposure apparatus 40 stores a semiconductor laser (not shown), a polygon mirror 42, an imaging lens 43 and a mirror 44 in the case 41, and deflects and scans the light from the semiconductor laser with the polygon mirror 42. The optical image is guided to the exposure point on the photosensitive drum 31 through the mirror 44.

Further, in the present embodiment, a conveyance belt 53 that circulates along the sheet conveyance path 25 is disposed at a position corresponding to each photosensitive drum 31 of each image forming unit 22.
The conveyor belt 53 is made of a belt material (rubber or resin) that can electrostatically attract the paper 24, and is stretched between a pair of tension rolls 51 and 52. The rack roll 52 is a driving roll, and the lower tension roll 51 is a driven roll.

  Furthermore, a paper suction roll 54 is disposed at the entrance portion of the transport belt 53 (the portion facing the stretching roll 51). By applying a high voltage suction voltage to the paper suction roll 54, the transport belt 53 is provided. The sheet 24 is attracted to the sheet. Further, a transfer roll 50 is disposed on the back side of the conveyance belt 53 corresponding to the photosensitive drum 31 of each image forming unit 22, and the sheet 24 on the photosensitive drum 31 and the conveyance belt 53 is transferred by the transfer roll 50. And more closely. A predetermined transfer bias by a transfer bias power source is appropriately applied between the transfer roll 50 and the photosensitive drum 31.

In the present embodiment, a pickup roll 61 is provided in the vicinity of the paper feed cassette 23 to feed the paper 24 at a predetermined timing. The pickup roll 61 is moved to the transfer position via the transport roll 62 and the registration roll 63. It comes to send.
Further, a fixing device 64 is provided in the paper conveyance path 25 located on the downstream side of the most downstream image forming unit 22d, and a discharge roll 66 for discharging paper is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device 64. The discharged paper is stored in a storage tray 67 formed on the upper portion of the apparatus housing 21.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 80 denotes a high-voltage power supply that supplies a high voltage to the high-voltage device, and reference numeral 81 denotes a low-voltage power supply that supplies a low voltage to the low-voltage device.

The image forming process of such an image forming apparatus is as follows.
As shown in FIG. 2, in each image forming unit 22 (22 a to 22 d), after the photosensitive drum 31 is charged by the charging roll 32 and a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 31 by the exposure device 40. A visible image (toner image) is formed by the developing device 33.
On the other hand, the paper 24 from the paper feed cassette 23 is fed out at a predetermined timing by the pickup roll 61, sent to the suction position of the transport belt 53 through the transport roll 62 and the registration roll 63, and sucked by the transport belt 53. In this state, it is sent to the transfer position.
Then, the toner images on the photosensitive drum 31 in each image forming unit 22 are respectively transferred to the paper 24 by the transfer roll 50, and each color component unfixed toner image on the paper 24 is fixed by the fixing device 64 and then fixed. The used paper 24 is discharged to the storage tray 67.

<Outline of process cartridge>
FIG. 3 shows details of the process cartridge 30 used in the present embodiment.
In the figure, a process cartridge 30 includes a photosensitive drum 31, a charging roll 32, a part of a developing device 33, a cleaning device 34, and an erase lamp 35 as a device for discharging the photosensitive drum 31 before the cleaning process. A photosensitive cartridge 30a included, and a developing cartridge 30b provided below the photosensitive cartridge 30a so as to be swingable and positioned with respect to the photosensitive cartridge 30a and including a main part of the developing device 33. And.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the developing device 33 faces the photosensitive drum 31 and visualizes the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 31 with a developer G composed of toner and carrier. And toner replenishing units 110 and 120 for replenishing toner T to the developing unit 100 (in this embodiment, a separate type from the main toner replenishing unit 110 and the sub toner replenishing unit 120 is employed).
The photosensitive cartridge 30a has a configuration in which a cleaning unit 200 in which the cleaning device 34 is unitized and a sub-toner replenishment unit 120 are integrated in the horizontal direction, and the development cartridge 30b has a development unit 100 and a main toner replenishment unit. 110 is integrated in the horizontal direction.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, in this embodiment, the developing cartridge 30b is swingable by a pivot shaft (not shown) at the developing unit 100 portion with respect to the photosensitive cartridge 30a positioned and fixed to the apparatus housing 21. The scanning path 135 through which the scanning light (scanning optical path Bm) from the exposure device 40 can pass is secured between the photosensitive cartridge 30a and the developing cartridge 30b, and the entrance of the scanning path 135 is provided. Spacers 130 made of an elastic member are interposed on both sides of each of the nearby part cartridges 30a and 30b so as to pressurize the developing cartridge 30b against the photosensitive cartridge 30a. Of course, a biasing element such as a biasing spring may be used instead of or in addition to the spacer 130.

In the present embodiment, the sub-toner replenishment unit 120 of the photoconductor cartridge 30a extends in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the photoconductor drum 31, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A and 4B, for example. A pair of support protrusions 141 are provided.
When the process cartridge 30 is mounted in a cartridge receiving portion (not shown) of the apparatus housing 21, both ends of the support shaft of the photosensitive drum 31 are predetermined by a fixed receiving member (not shown) provided in the cartridge receiving portion. A drive transmission member (drive transmission gear) disposed at one end of the photosensitive drum 31 that is fixed in position and rotatable with respect to the support shaft is connected to a drive system (not shown) provided in the cartridge receiver. Connect and engage. The pair of support protrusions 141 are engaged with engaged portions (such as recesses and holes) of the cartridge receiving portion so that the photosensitive cartridge 30 a is positioned and fixed to the apparatus housing 21. Here, the cartridge receiving portion of the apparatus housing 21 may be any as long as it can accommodate and hold the process cartridge 30, and may be configured using the housing frame itself, or may be configured by providing another member on the housing frame. May be.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the support protrusion 141 is provided on the unit outer wall away from the photosensitive drum 31 and is positioned with respect to a direction different from the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 31. The photoreceptor cartridge 30a can be stably supported. Further, a pair of the support protrusions 141 are provided, the support points of the photosensitive cartridge 30a are set to four, the weight burden of the process cartridge 30 at each support point is reduced, and the twist deformation of the process cartridge 30 is also corrected. It is like that.
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 142 denotes a gripping arm used when the process cartridge 30 is attached and detached.

<Developing device>
The units 100, 110, and 120 constituting the developing device 33 used in this embodiment will be described.
-Development unit-
In the present embodiment, the developing unit 100 employs a so-called two-component developing system as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, and the photosensitive drum 31 is disposed below the photosensitive drum 31. The developing housing 101 is open to the side, and the developing housing 101 is configured as a developer containing chamber 102 in which a developer G composed of toner and carrier can be stored, and development is performed at a portion facing the opening of the developing housing 101. A developing roll 103 for supporting the agent is disposed. The developing unit 100 bisects the developer accommodating chamber 102 with a partition wall 106 extending along the axial direction of the developing roll 103, and opens communication ports 107 and 108 at both longitudinal ends of the partition wall 106. As a result, a developer circulation path is formed in the developer storage chamber 102, and a pair of agitation transport augers 104 and 105 are disposed along the axial direction of the developing roll 103 in this developer circulation path. The developer G inside is conveyed while stirring.
Here, the agitating / conveying auger 104 is an admix auger whose main purpose is to agitate and mix the toner T replenished exclusively to the existing developer G. On the other hand, the agitating / conveying auger 105 is added to the agitating and mixing function of the toner. This is a supply auger responsible for the developer supply function to the developing roll 103.
In this embodiment, the agitating / conveying auger 105 near the developing roll 103 also serves as a developer supplying function to the developing roll 103. However, a developer supplying member (roll, paddle, etc.) is provided separately from the agitating / conveying auger 105. Of course, it may be added. Further, a trimming member for regulating the developer layer thickness, a collecting member for collecting unused developer, and the like are provided around the developing roll 103 as necessary.

-Main toner supply unit-
Further, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the main toner replenishment unit 110 has a main replenishment housing 111 which also serves as a part of the rear partition wall of the developing housing 101 of the developing unit 100. 111 is configured as a toner replenishing chamber in which replenishing toner T is accommodated so as to be replenished.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the toner supply chamber communicates with the toner storage chamber 112 in which the supply toner T is stored, and the toner storage chamber 112, and quantitatively supplies the toner T to the developing unit 100. It is divided into a dispensing chamber 113. Here, the dispensing chamber 113 is provided with a thick portion 101b near the lower portion of the rear partition 101a of the developing housing 101, and a long passage having a substantially circular cross section extending along the axial direction of the developing roll 103 in the thick portion 101b. It is configured as a (tunnel-shaped passage).
A dispensing inlet opening 114 is formed in a portion facing the toner storage chamber 112 on the far side in the longitudinal direction of the thick portion 101b, while a portion facing the developer storage chamber 102 in the thick portion 101b. A toner supply port 115 is opened on the opposite side of the dispensing inlet opening 114 in the longitudinal direction.

Further, an agitator 116 for agitating and conveying the replenishing toner T in the toner storage chamber 112, and an agitator for agitating and conveying the toner T agitated and conveyed by the agitator 116 toward the dispensing inlet opening 114 of the dispensing chamber 113. 117 is disposed.
Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the agitator 116 has an agitate film 402 made of a PET film or the like at the tip of a crank-shaped rotating rod 401, and the toner is conveyed along the wall of the toner supply chamber by the agitate film 402. To do. An appropriate number of stirring rods 403 extending in the radial direction of the rotating rod 401 are provided on the opposite side of the rotating rod 401 from the agitator film 402 so as to stir the toner in the toner supply chamber. The agitator 117 may be configured in substantially the same manner as the agitator 116, but it is preferable to adjust the toner conveyance direction toward the dispense inlet opening 114 by, for example, appropriately cutting the agitate film. However, as agitator 116, 117, it is needless to say that a stirring and conveying coil spring or the like may be used.
In FIG. 6, the forms of the agitators 116 and 117 are schematically shown.
On the other hand, a dispense auger 118 is disposed in the dispense chamber 113 along the longitudinal direction. In particular, in the present embodiment, the dispense auger 118 is provided with a spiral blade having a diameter substantially equal to or less than that of the agitating / conveying augers 104 and 105 in the developing unit 100, and the pitch of the dispense auger 118 is further increased. The pitch is set below the pitch of the agitating and conveying augers 104 and 105.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the lower end of the toner supply port 115 is located below the surface position of the developer G stored in the developer storage chamber 102. So that it is open. In other words, the toner supply port 115 only needs to be buried at least from the surface position of the developer G in the developer storage chamber 102, and the replenishment toner T can be supplied from the side to the developer accumulation portion of the developer storage chamber 102. The replenishment toner T is secured to the developer without causing the replenishment toner T to float on the agent G.
In particular, in this embodiment, the pressing force by which the replenishing toner T in the toner replenishing unit 110 is pushed out from the toner supply port 115 is set to be larger than the internal pressure by the developer G in the developer storage chamber 102.
Specifically, the dispense inlet opening 114 is formed wider than the toner supply opening 115, and the longitudinal length of the dispense chamber 113 is set sufficiently longer than the dispense inlet opening 114. Furthermore, the amount of toner supplied to the dispense inlet opening 114 by the agitator 117 is set to be larger than the amount of toner transported by the dispense auger 118 (corresponding to the amount of toner supplied from the toner supply port 115).
Furthermore, regarding the diameter size, blade pitch, rotation speed, and the like of the dispense auger 118, the internal pressure of the developer G in the developer storage chamber 102 applied to the toner supply port 115 is based on the toner internal pressure based on the toner conveying force by the dispense auger 118. It is selected to be larger than (depends on the conveying force of the agitating / conveying auger 104).

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the dispense auger 118 is used for preventing clogging at a portion facing the toner supply port 115 in addition to an auger blade 118a for normal stirring and conveying. The auger blade 118b for preventing clogging functions as an extruding portion PS, and the toner T blocked by the extruding portion PS is pushed out from the toner supply port 115 to the developer accommodating chamber 102. It has become.
In this embodiment, the toner supply port 115 is opened at a position away from the end position of the developer storage chamber 102. However, the toner supply port 115 is pushed out by the auger blade 118b for preventing damming. The replenishment toner T is pushed out of the toner.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the upper end of the toner supply port 115 is positioned above the upper end portion of the admix auger 104. However, depending on the layout, for example, if it is set to be positioned below, The toner is replenished from below from the upper end of the admix auger 104, and the replenished toner is wound into the admix auger 104 and rapidly stirred and mixed.
Furthermore, since the lower end of the toner supply port 115 is set below the rotation center of the admix auger 104, the toner T is replenished from below the rotation center of the admix auger 104. The toner T is wound on the admix auger 104 and quickly mixed with the developer by stirring.
Further, since the center of the dispense auger 118 is set to be substantially the same as or below the rotation center of the admix auger 104, toner is supplied from below the rotation center of the admix auger 104. Accordingly, the replenished toner is taken up in the admix auger 104 and quickly stirred and mixed.

Further, regarding the capacity of the toner storage chamber 112, if the capacity of the toner storage chamber 112 is made larger than the capacity of the dispense chamber 113 or the total capacity of the dispense chamber 113 and the developer storage chamber 102, the toner supply port 115 can be used. The toner can be continuously and stably supplied. Note that the capacity here means the toner capacity and the developer capacity, respectively.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the rotational centers of the agitators 116 and 117 are arranged so as to be positioned above the dispense auger 118 and the stirring and conveying augers 104 and 105.
Therefore, there is no need to lift the toner T from the toner storage chamber 112 to the dispensing chamber 113 and the developer storage chamber 102, so that the toner internal pressure in the dispense chamber 113 can be effectively increased, and the toner internal pressure in the dispense chamber 113 can be increased. The toner can be smoothly supplied to the developer storage chamber 102 without impairing the toner.

-Starter developer supply container-
In the present embodiment, the developing unit 100 is provided with a starter developer supply container 180 that holds a starter developer G ′ that can be charged during initial use, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 8 in particular. Yes. In this example, as the starter developer G ′, not only a developer composed of toner and carrier but also a carrier alone can be used.
The starter developer supply container 180 has a developer storage chamber 181 in which a starter developer G ′ can be stored above the developer storage chamber 102 in the development housing 101. The developer storage chamber 181 defines a substantially rectangular space extending along the axial direction of the developing roll 103, and is disposed so as to partially overlap the vertical region of the developing roll 103, and has a developer inlet at its lower end. 182 was established.
In this example, the developer inlet 182 is disposed above a region of the developer storage chamber 102 substantially corresponding to the admix auger 104, and a part of the developer inlet 182 is a part of the toner supply port 115. It is arranged directly above.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8A, the starter developer supply container 180 is configured to block the developer inlet 182 of the developer storage chamber 181 with a seal member 183 before the start of use. As shown in (b), the seal member 183 is removed and the developer inlet 182 can be opened.
The seal member 183 is configured in a film shape, for example, and a polyethylene film, a polypropylene film, or a laminate product thereof is used as a material. And this seal member 180 is attached so as to be peelable by heat welding or adhesion. For example, this seal member 180 has an extended portion whose one end in the longitudinal direction is folded outside the developing cartridge 30b, When the user pulls out this, the developer inlet 182 is opened.

  Here, the seal member 183 is not limited to a film-like form, and may be configured with a lid that can be opened and closed facing the developer inlet 183, for example. In this case, as a method of opening the seal member, an engaged portion that can be engaged with the seal member is provided on the cartridge receiving portion side when the process cartridge 30 is mounted, and the seal member is engaged with the engaged portion, The seal member is opened in conjunction with the mounting operation of the cartridge 30, or the seal member having a lid structure is biased in the closing direction in advance by a biasing means such as a bias spring, for example. Therefore, the seal member may be appropriately selected by opening the seal member in a direction against the urging means.

  In the present embodiment, a portion of the developer storage chamber 181 that is separated from the scanning passage (latent image writing passage) 135 is configured by an elastic sheet (flexible sheet) 186 that can be expanded and contracted. The elastic sheet 186 is made of, for example, polyurethane or rubber, and is elastically deformed so as to be able to protrude and retract toward the scanning path 135 as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b).

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the starter developer G ′ is stored, the developer storage chamber 181 is filled with the starter developer G ′, and then the developer inlet 182 is sealed with the seal member 183. Good. In addition, when the developer inlet 182 is sealed with the seal member 183 before filling, for example, the elastic sheet is held in an expanded state with a jig or the like, and the starter developer is supplied from a separately provided filling port. What is necessary is just to make it fill with G '.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 8A, the elastic belt 186 in the portion separating the developer storage chamber 181 is elastically deformed by the starter developer G ′ (pressure by the charged developer itself) and is scanned. It projects to the side and blocks the scanning optical path Bm. For this reason, when the starter developer G ′ is stored, the capacity of the developer storage chamber 181 is expanded, and the capacity of the starter developer G ′ can be increased. Even if the elastic sheet 186 blocks the scanning optical path Bm, there is no problem before the process cartridge 30 is used.

On the other hand, when the process cartridge 30 starts to be used, as shown in FIG. 8B, the seal member 183 is removed and the developer inlet 182 of the developer storage chamber 181 is opened. .
At this time, the starter developer G ′ in the developer storage chamber 181 is supplied to the region on the admix auger 104 side of the developer storage chamber 102 by free fall, but a part of the developer inlet 182 is a toner supply port. Since part of the starter developer G ′ extends to the portion facing the toner supply port 115 because it is disposed immediately above the portion 115. Therefore, the starter developer G ′ is immediately agitated and mixed with the replenishing toner replenished from the toner supply port 115, and an appropriate toner concentration is quickly prepared even in the initial state for the starter developer G ′. Is possible.
In particular, if only the carrier is used as the starter developer G ′, the capacity of the developer storage chamber 181 can be reduced as much as it is not necessary to store the toner, and the developing unit 110 can be made thinner accordingly. Can be realized.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a part of the developer inlet 182 is disposed immediately above the toner supply port 115, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a part of the developer inlet 182 Although it is not directly above the toner supply port 115, even if it is arranged directly above the region adjacent to the toner supply port 115, the same operation is achieved.
Further, as a layout of the developer inlet 182, the developer inlet 182 may be provided so as to straddle the admix auger 104 side and the supply auger 105 side in the developer storage chamber 102. In this case, at this time, the developer G supplied to the supply auger 105 side of the developer storage chamber 102 can be immediately supplied to the developing roll 103, so that it can be subjected to a developing operation at an early stage. On the other hand, the developer G supplied to the admix auger 104 side of the developer storage chamber 102 is circulated and conveyed while being agitated and mixed with the toner supplied from the toner supply port 115. Note that, depending on the layout, a mode in which at least a part of the developer inlet 182 is arranged directly above the region on the supply auger 105 side may be employed.

-Sub-toner supply unit-
Further, in the present embodiment, the sub-toner replenishment unit 120 has a sub-replenishment housing 121 adjacent to the back side of the cleaning unit 200, as shown in FIG. It is configured as a toner replenishing chamber 122 that is accommodated so as to be replenished.
In the toner supply chamber 122, a pair of agitators 123 and 124 for stirring and transporting the supply toner T are disposed.
Here, the communication structure between the sub-toner replenishment unit 120 and the main toner replenishment unit 110 is a structure in which a communication path (toner supply path) 131 is formed in a spacer 130 made of an elastic member, as shown in FIGS. Used. In the present embodiment, the spacers 130 are provided at two positions on both sides between the units 110 and 120, and the toner supply paths 131 are formed respectively. For example, the toner supply paths 131 are provided only in one of the spacers 130. Alternatively, the spacer 130 may be provided at one location on one side, and the toner supply path 131 may be formed in the spacer 130.
In the present embodiment, the sub-toner replenishment unit 120 preferably closes the connecting portion with the toner supply path 131 with a seal member 125 that can be opened when in use, as indicated by a virtual line in FIG. . In this case, when the process cartridge 30 is not used (for example, during transportation), the toner in the sub toner replenishment unit 120 enters the toner supply path 131 and there is no fear of clogging, and the toner in the sub toner replenishment unit 120 is the main toner. It is possible to effectively avoid a situation in which the toner filling density in the main toner replenishing unit 110 is unnecessarily increased because the toner is charged in the replenishment unit 110 side.

In this embodiment, when a predetermined amount of toner T is supplied from the main toner supply unit 110 to the developing unit 100, the toner T in the sub toner supply unit 120 is supplied to the main toner supply unit 110 at the same time. It has become so. For this reason, the main toner replenishment unit 110 is filled with the substantially constant toner T until the sub toner replenishment unit 120 becomes empty, and the change in the weight of the developing cartridge 30b is suppressed to a small extent.
At this time, since the photosensitive cartridge 30a is positioned and fixed with respect to the cartridge receiving portion of the apparatus housing 21, the change in the toner storage amount of the sub toner replenishment unit 120 does not affect the change in the weight of the developing cartridge 30b.
Therefore, fluctuations in the pressing and urging force of the developing cartridge 30b with respect to the photosensitive cartridge 30a are suppressed until the sub-toner replenishing unit 120 is empty, and image disturbance can be effectively prevented correspondingly.

  Further, since the photosensitive member cartridge 30a is positioned and fixed to the apparatus casing 21, at least the lower surface position of the photosensitive member cartridge 30a forming the scanning passage 135 is not changed, and the photosensitive member cartridge is correspondingly changed. Even if the position of the developing cartridge 30b swingably supported by 30a changes, there is little possibility that the scanning path 135 is blocked.

<Cleaning device>
In the present embodiment, the cleaning device 34 is incorporated as a cleaning unit 200 in the photosensitive member cartridge 30a as shown in FIG.
The cleaning unit 200 includes a cleaning housing 201 that opens to face the photosensitive drum 31. The cleaning housing 201 is configured as a waste toner storage chamber 203 that can store waste toner, and an upper wall of the cleaning housing 201. 201a is extended in a bowl shape toward the photosensitive drum 31 side.
A cleaning blade 210 is disposed on the lower opening edge 201b of the cleaning housing 201. The cleaning blade 210 is a side wall (see FIG. 5) that hangs down from both the opening lower edge 201b and the upper wall 201a of the cleaning housing 201. (Not shown), a substantially L-shaped blade holder 212 is attached, and a blade body 211 made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber is attached to the outside of the distal end portion of the blade holder 212, and the distal end of the blade body 211 is attached to the photosensitive drum 31. It is elastically contacted so as to face the rotation direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 10).
On the other hand, a film seal 215 made of polyurethane or the like is provided on the upper edge of the opening of the cleaning housing 201 (in the vicinity of the front end of the upper wall 201a in this embodiment), and the front end of the film seal 215 extends in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 31. Along with the elastic contact, the waste toner collected by the cleaning blade 210 is prevented from scattering.

In the present embodiment, the portion other than the attachment portion of the cleaning blade 210 to the cleaning housing 201 is disposed substantially parallel to the bowl-shaped portion of the upper wall 201a of the cleaning housing 201, and the waste toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 210 is used. Is configured as a waste toner reservoir 213 (in this example, the inner surface of the blade holder 212 corresponds to the temporary storage). In particular, in this example, the waste toner reservoir 213 has a downward slope toward the waste toner storage chamber 203, so that the transportability of the waste toner Td can be improved.
In the present embodiment, the waste toner reservoir 213 is configured by only the cleaning blade 210, but may be configured by using not only the cleaning blade 210 but also a part of the cleaning housing 201.
Further, since a space that becomes a recess with respect to the photosensitive drum 31 is secured between the cleaning housing 201 and the cleaning blade 210, the charging roll 32 is disposed using the recess.
A holding block 202 for the erase lamp 35 is integrally formed at the tip of the upper wall 201a of the cleaning housing 201.

Further, in the present embodiment, a waste toner transport member 220 that transports waste toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 210 to the waste toner storage chamber 203 side is provided in the cleaning housing 201.
The waste toner transport member 220 has a transport plate 221 as a member element straddling between the waste toner storage chamber 203 and the waste toner reservoir 213, and is disposed at the end of the transport plate 221 on the side of the waste toner storage chamber 203. A drive input unit 222 capable of inputting an external driving force is provided, and a protrusion 223 capable of contacting the waste toner reservoir 213 is provided at the end of the transport plate 221 on the photosensitive drum 31 side.
Here, the transport plate 221 may remain plate-shaped, but from the viewpoint of effectively reducing the weight and the accumulation of waste toner on the upper surface portion, the protruding portion 223 and the drive input portion of the transport plate 221. It is preferable to form the opening 224 in a portion other than 222. In addition, the projecting portion 223 is not necessarily formed at the end portion of the transport plate 221, and may be a portion away from the end portion, and the number of the projecting portions 223 may be at least one. There may be more than one. Further, the method for forming the protruding portion 223 is appropriately selected, for example, by bending the tip portion of the transport plate 221 or by forming the protruding portion 223 integrally or separately on a part of the transport plate 221. It does not matter.
Of course, the member element of the waste toner conveying member 220 is not necessarily the conveying plate 221, and it is of course possible to use a frame frame structure, for example.

In the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, a driving force in the form of a rotation locus is input to the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220. The force can be easily obtained, for example, by rotating a crankshaft 231 that is a kind of the rotation drive mechanism 230 around the rotation center.
Further, in the present embodiment, the waste toner conveying member 220 is provided with a posture regulating mechanism 240 for regulating the movement posture of the waste toner conveying member 220.
In the present embodiment, the attitude regulating mechanism 240 is configured by a biasing spring 241 that has one end engaged with the protruding portion 223 side of the waste toner conveying member 220 and the other end engaged with a part of the cleaning housing 201. The waste toner conveying member 220 is biased in a direction away from the drive input unit 222.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the urging spring 241 is disposed in an oblique direction with respect to the advancing / retreating direction of the waste toner conveying member 220.
Here, as a mounting structure of the urging spring 241, in FIGS. 10 and 11, locking hooks 242 and 243 are provided at both ends of the urging spring 241, and one locking projection 204 on the cleaning housing 201 side is locked. The hook 242 is engaged, and the other hook 243 is engaged with the engagement piece 225 provided at the end of the waste toner conveying member 220 on the protruding portion 223 side.
In this embodiment, the engagement protrusion 204 is provided in the cleaning housing 201 as a mounting structure of the urging spring 241. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, communicates with the cleaning housing 201 to the outside. In a mode in which the locking hole is opened, there is a risk of waste toner leakage. In such a case, the locking hole may be sealed with a seal member. As this sealing member, it is preferable to also use a label or the like attached to the CRU.

As described above, when the urging spring 241 is attached to the waste toner conveying member 220, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, when a driving force having a rotational locus is input to the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220. Following this, the protrusion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 moves forward and backward along the waste toner reservoir 213.
At this time, the biasing spring 241 regulates the posture change range of the waste toner transport member 220 with respect to the change in the position of the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner transport member 220. In this example, when the waste toner transport member 220 moves backward, the protrusion 223 moves in contact with the waste toner along the waste toner reservoir 213, and when the advance toner moves, the protrusion 223 moves to the waste toner reservoir 213. It moves non-contactingly. Specific behavior will be described later.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the urging spring 241 is disposed obliquely with respect to the advancing / retreating direction of the waste toner conveying member 220, so that it is possible to save the space for disposing the waste toner. The amount of expansion / contraction of the urging spring 241 can be set small with respect to the amount of movement of the conveying member 220, which is preferable in that the fluctuation of the driving force applied to the waste toner conveying member can be reduced accordingly.

Next, the operation of the cleaning device 34 used in the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12A, when the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 31 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 210, the scraped waste toner Td is accumulated on the cleaning blade 210 and in the vicinity thereof. However, the waste toner Td is deposited on the waste toner reservoir 213 (in this example, the inner surface of the blade holder 211 corresponds).
In such a state, if the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner transport member 220 is now in the position of FIG. 12A, the waste toner transport member 220 is disposed at the most advanced position.
At this time, the urging spring 241 urges the waste toner conveying member 220 in a direction away from the drive input unit 222, but the position of the driving input unit 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220 and the cleaning housing of the urging spring 241. By adjusting the relationship with the locking point position on the 201 side, a part of the urging force component of the urging spring 241 causes the protrusion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 to contact the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213. If acting in the direction, the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 contacts the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213.

From this state, when the position of the drive input unit 222 is rotated downward by the rotation drive mechanism 230, as shown in FIG. 12B, the waste toner conveying member 220 moves backward while being gradually inclined. The protruding portion 223 of the toner conveying member 220 conveys the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 toward the waste toner storage chamber 203 side.
When the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220 reaches the lowest point, the posture of the waste toner conveying member 220 becomes the steepest inclination, but the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 and the waste toner reservoir portion. From the standpoint of maintaining the contact state with 213, it is efficient to keep the portion other than the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 out of contact with the waste toner reservoir 213.
Thereafter, when the drive input portion 222 of the waste toner transport member 220 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 12C, the waste toner transport member 121 is further moved backward while gradually loosening the inclined posture. At this time, the urging spring 241 still acts to press the waste toner conveying member 220 toward the waste toner reservoir 213, so that the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveyance member 220 is disposed along the waste toner reservoir 213 with the waste toner Td. To move the waste toner Td to the waste toner storage chamber 203 side.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 12C and 13A, even if the waste toner conveying member 220 reaches the last retracted position, the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 is discarded. Although the waste toner does not move to the end of the toner reservoir 213 closer to the waste toner storage chamber 203, the waste toner transported to the vicinity of the end of the waste toner storage 213 closer to the waste toner storage chamber 203 is waste toner transported later. Are sequentially stored in the waste toner storage chamber 203.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13A, when the waste toner conveying member 220 reaches the last retracted position, the waste toner conveying member 220 is pulled by the urging force of the urging spring 241 and the waste toner is conveyed. The protruding portion 223 of the conveying member 220 is separated from the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 and reaches a state just before being arranged in a non-contact manner.
That is, since the waste toner conveying member 220 is urged in a predetermined direction by the urging spring 241, the position of the driving input portion 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220 and the position of the urging spring 241 on the cleaning housing 201 side. Based on the relationship, the arrangement posture of the waste toner conveying member 220 is determined. At this time, when the waste toner conveying member 220 shifts to the advancing movement, the layout should be such that the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 and the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 are arranged in a non-contact manner. Good.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 13B, when the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner transport member 220 rotates upward, the waste toner transport member 220 advances while changing the tilting posture so that the drive input unit 222 side rises. Moving.
At this time, the waste toner conveying member 220 is urged by the urging spring 241. When the position of the drive input portion 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220 is raised, the arrangement position of the waste toner conveying member 220 is further raised. Therefore, the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 and the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 remain arranged in a non-contact manner.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 13C, when the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220 is rotated in a direction downward from the top dead center position, the waste toner conveying member 220 moves forward while changing the inclined posture again. And gradually approaches the waste toner reservoir 213 side. When the waste toner conveying member 220 reaches the most advanced position, the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 is again placed in contact with the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213.
As described above, when the waste toner transport member 220 moves forward, the protrusion 223 of the waste toner transport member 220 moves in a non-contact manner with respect to the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213. Thus, the situation where the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 is pushed back is effectively avoided, and the transportability of the waste toner is kept good.
Thereafter, the behaviors of FIGS. 12A to 12C and FIGS. 13A to 13C are repeated.
In the present embodiment, the waste toner conveying member 220 is configured to move in contact with the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir portion 213 during the backward movement. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Of course, the conveying member 220 may be moved in a non-contact manner to the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 at the beginning of the backward movement region, and may be moved in contact with the middle. In addition, the waste toner transport member 220 is configured to move in a non-contact manner with respect to the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir portion 213 when moving forward, but is not limited to this. For example, the waste toner transport member 220 includes: Of course, the advance movement area may first be brought into contact with the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 and moved in a non-contact manner in the middle.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the waste toner conveying member 220 maintains a substantially horizontal uppermost position when the drive input unit 222 is at the top dead center position, and moves along a trajectory that does not protrude upward from the uppermost position. In addition, since the advancing movement is performed while maintaining a substantially horizontal posture, the upper space of the waste toner storage chamber and the upper space of the waste toner reservoir 213 can be set narrow, and the cleaning device 34 is made thin accordingly. It is possible to
In this embodiment, since the waste toner conveying member 220 has the opening 224, there is no concern that the waste toner is accumulated on the waste toner conveying member 220 when the waste toner conveying member 220 conveys the waste toner. In addition, there is no concern that waste toner is scattered by wind pressure due to air resistance.
Further, in the present embodiment, the waste toner conveying member 220 moves in contact with the waste toner reservoir 213 during the backward movement, but is not limited to this, and is not in contact with the waste toner reservoir 213. However, it may be moved in contact with the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213. In this case, since the waste toner conveying member 220 does not come into direct contact with the waste toner reservoir 213 during the backward movement, vibration is unnecessarily transmitted to the photosensitive drum 31 as the waste toner conveying member 220 moves. This is preferable in that there is less concern about the occurrence of the problem.

<Drive system of developing device and cleaning device>
In the present embodiment, the driving system 300 of the developing device 33 and the cleaning device 34 may be appropriately selected, but the following are used, for example.
That is, the drive system 300 used in the present embodiment is configured to drive each driven element of the toner replenishment units 110 and 120 in the developing device 33 and each drive of the cleaning unit 200 as the cleaning device 34, as shown in FIG. A transport drive system 301 that drives the elements with the same drive source, and a development drive system 302 that drives each drive element of the development unit 100 in the developing device 33 using a drive source different from the transport drive system 301. It has.

Here, the transport drive system 301 has a drive input gear 311 that is drivingly connected to a drive source (not shown). The drive input gear 311 is engaged with a first-stage drive transmission gear 312, A coaxial transmission gear 313 is provided coaxially, and the coaxial transmission gear 313 is engaged with drive transmission gears 315 and 316 connected to the agitators 116 and 117 of the main toner replenishing unit 110 via an idler gear 314, and further, one drive transmission is performed. From the gear 316, the dispense gear 318 connected to the dispense auger 118 via the idler gear 317 is engaged.
In addition, the conveyance drive system 301 is connected to the rotation shaft of the rotation drive mechanism 230 of the cleaning unit 200 in addition to meshing the drive transmission gears 319 and 320 connected to the agitators 123 and 124 of the sub-toner replenishment unit 120 with the coaxial transmission gear 313. The drive transmission gear 321 is also engaged.
On the other hand, the development transport system 302 is provided with a drive transmission gear 331 coaxially with the photosensitive drum 31, for example. The drive transmission gear 331 is engaged with a drive transmission gear 332 connected to the developing roll 103, and further this drive transmission gear 332. In this case, drive transmission gears 334 and 335 connected to the agitating and conveying augers 105 and 104 via the idler gear 333 are sequentially meshed.
The driving source of the development driving system 302 and the driving source of the conveyance driving system 301 are not limited to different modes, but the same driving source may be used as long as each can be driven independently.

As described above, according to the embodiment, since the transport drive system 301 and the development drive system 302 are separate systems, the toner transport member (as compared with the mode in which the development drive system 302 and the transport drive system 301 are interlocked) is used. The agitators 116 and 117, the dispense auger 118, the agitators 123 and 124), and the waste toner conveying member 220 need not always be driven during the developing operation, and accordingly, energy loss due to the constant driving and the toner conveying member and the waste toner conveying member are worn. Deterioration can be suppressed and the life of the process cartridge 30 can be improved.
In addition, since the toner conveying member or waste toner conveying member 220 having a large load fluctuation and the photosensitive drum 31 and the developing roll 103 that require rotational accuracy are driven separately, the toner conveying member, the waste toner conveying member 220, etc. The vibration caused by the load fluctuation does not affect the rotation of the photosensitive drum 31 and the developing roll 103, and image defects can be prevented in advance.
Further, in the present embodiment, the photosensitive cartridge 30a is positioned and fixed with respect to the apparatus housing 21, and the drive transmission gear 312 with which the drive input gear 311 meshes together with the coaxial transmission gear 313 and the fixed side photosensitive cartridge 30a. Is supported on the side. For this reason, the drive input from the drive input gear 311 is performed stably.
Furthermore, if the conveyance drive system 301 is provided with a connection element (such as a swinging gear) that can be connected to the drive elements of the toner supply units 110 and 120, the waste toner is separated from the toner supply operation. Only the transfer operation can be performed. Further, if a part of the driving element of the toner replenishing unit 110, for example, a connecting element that can be connected to the dispensing auger 118 is provided, the toner replenishing unit is not operated by the dispensing auger 118. It is also possible to perform the toner agitating and conveying operation only by the agitators 116, 117, 123, and 124 in the 110 and 120 to periodically loosen the replenishing toner.

Embodiment 2
FIG. 15A shows a main part (corresponding to a part of FIG. 5) of the second embodiment of the process cartridge according to the present invention.
In the figure, the basic configuration of the developing cartridge 30b of the process cartridge 30 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment. However, unlike the first embodiment, the toner supply port 115 is provided by a seal member 184 that can be opened during use. It is supposed to close. The seal member 184 here may be the same as the seal member 183.
According to the present embodiment, before starting the use of the process cartridge 30, the developer inlet 182 of the starter developer supply container 180 is closed with the seal member 183, and the toner supply port 115 is closed with the seal member 184. Therefore, when the process cartridge 30 is transported, the starter developer G ′ does not leak into the developing unit 100, and the toner replenishment unit 110 does not unnecessarily leak to the developing unit 100 side. .
At the start of use of the process cartridge 30, the seal members 183 and 184 may be removed to open the developer inlet 182 and the toner supply port 115, and the starter developer G ′ is supplied to the developer storage chamber 102. At the same time, the replenishment toner T of the toner replenishment unit 110 can be supplied through the toner supply port 115.
In this embodiment, the seal member 183 of the developer inlet 182 of the starter developer supply container 180 and the seal member 184 of the toner supply port 115 are provided separately. For example, the developer inlet 182 If the toner supply port 115 is sealed with the common seal member 185, the developer input port 182 and the toner supply port 115 can be opened by removing the seal member 185 with one operation at the start of use. .

Embodiment 3
FIG. 16 shows a third embodiment of a process cartridge to which the present invention is applied.
In the figure, the basic configuration of the developing cartridge 30b of the process cartridge 30 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, but includes a starter developer supply container 180 different from that of the first embodiment.
In the figure, a starter developer supply container 180 can store a starter developer G ′, for example, above the admix auger 104 region in the developer storage chamber 102 in the development housing 101 as in the first embodiment. A developer storage chamber 181 is provided, and a developer inlet 182 is opened at the lower end thereof. When the starter developer is stored, the developer inlet 182 is sealed with a seal member 183. First Embodiment 16 and 17A and 17B, a portion of the developer storage chamber 182 that is separated from the scanning passage 135 is configured as a movable wall 187 that is movable in the direction of expansion and contraction of the developer storage chamber 181. The movable wall 187 is urged by the urging spring 189 in the direction of reduction of the developer storage chamber 181.
Here, the movable wall 187 is formed of a lid member having a recess 187a on the inner side, and the recess 187a is slidably and airtightly fitted to the upper guide boss 188a of the fixed wall 188 separating the developer storage chamber 181. The urging force of the urging spring 189 is pressed in the closing direction.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the starter developer G ′ is stored, the developer storage chamber 181 is filled with the starter developer G ′, and then the developer inlet 182 is sealed with the seal member 183. Good. Alternatively, the energizing spring 189 may be installed after first being sealed with the seal member 183 and filled with a developer from a separate filling port while the movable wall 187 is held in the expansion / contraction direction.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 17 (a), the movable wall 187 at a portion separating the developer storage chamber 181 is pressed by the biasing spring 189 by the filling pressure of the starter developer G ′ (pressure by the filled developer itself). It protrudes toward the scanning path 135 against the urging force and blocks the scanning optical path Bm. For this reason, when the starter developer G ′ is stored, the capacity of the developer storage chamber 181 is expanded, and the capacity of the starter developer G ′ can be increased. Even if the movable wall 187 blocks the scanning optical path Bm (see FIG. 16), there is no problem before the process cartridge 30 is used.

On the other hand, when using the process cartridge 30 is started, as shown in FIG. 16, the seal member 183 may be removed and the developer inlet 182 of the developer storage chamber 181 may be opened.
At this time, the starter developer G ′ in the developer storage chamber 181 is supplied to the region on the admix auger 104 side of the developer storage chamber 102 by free fall, but a part of the developer inlet 182 is a toner supply port. Since part of the starter developer G ′ extends to the portion facing the toner supply port 115 because it is disposed immediately above the portion 115. Therefore, the starter developer G ′ is immediately agitated and mixed with the replenishing toner replenished from the toner supply port 115, and an appropriate toner concentration is quickly prepared even in the initial state for the starter developer G ′. Is possible.
The layout of the developer storage chamber 181 may be appropriately selected as in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 4
FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of a process cartridge according to a fourth embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
In the figure, the basic configuration of the developing cartridge 30b of the process cartridge is substantially the same as in the first embodiment, and the dispensing chamber 113 includes a toner supply port 115, and the peripheral structure of the toner supply port 115 is different from that in the first embodiment. It is a thing. Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the toner supply port 115 has a lower end positioned below the surface position of the developer G stored in the developer storage chamber 102. In addition to the opening, the replenishment toner T is supplied to the developer storage chamber 102 and developed in the developer storage chamber 102 in a direction (arrow β direction) opposite to the replenishment toner supply direction (arrow α direction). A part of the agent G is made to flow backward.

Specifically, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the toner conveyance direction in the portion facing the toner supply port 115 in the dispensing chamber 113 and the portion in the developer storage chamber 102 facing the toner supply port 115. In this embodiment, a sufficient shearing force is generated at the interface between the replenishing toner T and the developer G, and α, A circulation flow as indicated by β is generated.
Similarly to the first embodiment, the dispense auger 118 has a damming auger blade 118b in a portion facing the toner supply port 115 in addition to a normal agitating / conveying auger blade 118a. The auger blade 118b for damming in the present embodiment has a slightly reduced toner pushing force as compared with the first embodiment, and the auger blade 118b for damming blocks the toner T that has been conveyed. The toner stays temporarily and functions as a premixing section PM for premixing the toner T and the developer G in the toner staying area.

That is, in the present embodiment, the replenishment toner T in the dispensing chamber 113 is further promoted to be premixed near the toner supply port 115 in addition to the substantially same function as in the first embodiment.
More specifically, a part of the developer G transported by the stirring transport auger (admix auger) 104 enters the tunnel-like dispense chamber 113 in which the dispense auger 118 is disposed from the toner supply port 115, and is dispensed auger. The normal auger blade 118a is rotated along with the toner in the direction opposite to the developer moving direction by the rotation of the normal auger blade 118a, and reaches the toner retention area (preliminary mixing area).
At this time, the developer that has flowed around the replenishing toner T clumps as if it is yellowish powdery yellow powder, passes through the toner retention area, and again from the toner supply port 115 through the toner supply port 115 by the auger blade 118b for preventing clogging. It is pushed out to 102.
At the time of the extrusion, the developer G is coated like yellow powder around the replenishment toner T as described above, so that it is heavier than the case of the toner alone. Accordingly, it becomes difficult for the replenishing toner T replenished from the toner supply port 115 to float on the surface of the developer G conveyed by the admix auger 104. Stir and mixability is improved.

Further, in such a mode in which a partial backflow phenomenon of the developer occurs, the pressure distribution in which the replenishment toner T in the dispense chamber 113 is pushed out from the toner supply port 115 is caused by the developer G in the developer storage chamber 102. A portion that is larger and smaller than the internal pressure is mixed, and the replenishment toner T is supplied to the developer storage chamber 102 from a portion where the pressure of the replenishment toner T is greater than the internal pressure of the developer G in the developer storage chamber 102. On the contrary, it is estimated that the developer G enters the dispensing chamber 113 from a small portion.
Accordingly, the transport amount, transport speed, auger diameter, auger pitch, and the like of the dispense auger 118 and the admix auger 104 are appropriately selected so that a partial backflow phenomenon of the developer G is possible.

Embodiment 5
20A to 20C show the toner supply port peripheral structure of the process cartridge according to the fifth embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
In the figure, the basic structure of the toner supply port peripheral structure is substantially the same as in the third embodiment, and the lower end of the toner supply port 115 is positioned below the surface position of the developer G stored in the developer storage chamber 102. And the toner transport direction at the portion facing the toner supply port 115 in the dispense chamber 113 and the developer transport direction at the portion facing the toner supply port 115 in the developer storage chamber 102. Although reversed, unlike the second embodiment, an extrusion paddle 150 along the axial direction is provided in a portion of the dispense auger 118 facing the toner supply port 115. Components similar to those in the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the second embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted here. The same applies to the following embodiments.
According to the present embodiment, in the vicinity of the toner supply port 115, a circulation flow (α direction, β direction) due to the toner T and the developer G is generated in substantially the same manner as in the second embodiment, and the toner supply to the dispense chamber 113 is performed. The toner T and the developer G are premixed in the area facing the mouth 115 (preliminary mixing area). At this time, in the premixing region, the replenishment toner T and the developer G are pushed out from the toner supply port 115 to the developer storage chamber 102 while being stirred by the push-out paddle 150 serving as a premixing unit. The premixability with the agent G is improved.

In the present embodiment, the extrusion paddle 150 functions as a preliminary mixing unit. However, for example, by setting a large toner pushing force by the extrusion paddle 150, the extrusion paddle 150 is configured as the extrusion unit PS. For example, the toner supply port 115 may supply replenishment toner in one direction toward the developer storage chamber 102 without causing a circulation flow.
Of course, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus may be constructed by using the developing device according to the present embodiment. The same applies to the following embodiments.

Embodiment 6
21A to 21C show the toner supply port peripheral structure of the embodiment 6 of the process cartridge to which the present invention is applied.
In the drawing, the basic structure of the toner supply port peripheral structure is substantially the same as in the fourth embodiment, and the lower end of the toner supply port 115 is positioned below the surface position of the developer G stored in the developer storage chamber 102. The toner conveying direction and the developer conveying direction at the portion facing the toner supply port 115 are reversed, but unlike the fourth embodiment, the surface of the dispense auger 118 facing the toner supply port 115 is different. The auger blade pitch P2 of the portion thus formed is set wider than the other auger blade pitches P1. In this example, P1 is set to 4 to 8 mm, P2 is set to about 1.2 to 2 times, and is appropriately selected in consideration of the rotation speed based on the supplied toner amount. The auger blade pitch P3 of the admix auger 104 is appropriately selected in consideration of the toner conveyance amount by the dispense auger 118 and the like.
According to the present embodiment, in the vicinity of the toner supply port 115, a circulation flow (α direction, β direction) due to the toner T and the developer G is generated in substantially the same manner as in the fourth embodiment, and the toner supply to the dispense chamber 113 is performed. The toner T and the developer G are premixed in the area facing the mouth 115 (preliminary mixing area). At this time, since the auger blade pitch P2 is set wider than the other auger blade pitches P1 in the premixing region (premixing portion PM), it is possible to take in a lot of developer G, Therefore, the premixability of the toner T and the developer G can be improved.

In this embodiment, a mode in which a premixing unit is provided in a portion corresponding to the toner supply port 115 of the dispense auger 118 is disclosed. For example, an auger in a portion corresponding to the toner supply port 115 of the dispense auger 118 is disclosed. The blade pitch P2 may be set narrower than other auger blade pitches P1.
According to this aspect, the toner filling density at the portion facing the toner supply port 115 in the dispense chamber 113 is increased, and the replenishment toner T is supplied to the developer G in the developer storage chamber 102 via the toner supply port 115. It is supplied from the lateral direction and is reliably mixed with the existing developer G in the admix auger 104 without floating on the developer G.
At this time, the auger blade pitch P2 portion of the dispense auger 118 functions exclusively as an extruding portion PS that replenishes the replenishment toner T from the toner supply port 115 in one direction.

◎ Embodiment 7
FIG. 22 shows the essential parts of Embodiment 7 of a process cartridge to which the present invention is applied.
In the figure, the basic configuration of the developing cartridge 30b of the process cartridge is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, but unlike the first embodiment, the portion of the dispensing chamber 113 facing the developer storage chamber 102 is different. A toner supply port 115 is opened on the opposite side of the dispensing inlet opening 114 in the longitudinal direction, and the toner supply port 115 and the dispensing inlet opening 114 are located upstream of the toner supply port 115 and the dispensing inlet opening 114 at a portion facing the developer storage chamber 102. The developer receiving port 119 is opened, and the toner supply port 115 is opened so that the lower end thereof is located below the surface position of the developer G accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber 102.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the developer G stirred and conveyed by the admix auger 104 hits the end of the circulation path on the admix auger 104 side, a large amount of the developer G is supplied via the communication port 108. A part of the developer G flows into the circulation path on the auger 105 side, and flows into the dispense chamber 113 through the developer receiving port 119.
At this time, in the toner conveyance process by the dispense auger 118, the received developer G is agitated and conveyed together with the toner. For this reason, the replenishing toner T in the dispensing chamber 113 is preliminarily mixed with the received developer G, and reaches the portion of the replenishing toner T in the dispensing chamber 113 that faces the toner supply port 115. It can be said that what was done was fully premixed. As a result, the replenishment toner T to be replenished from the toner supply port 115 is premixed in advance, and the replenishment toner T is supplied to the developer storage chamber 102 by the admix auger 104 at the stage where it is supplied. The developer G is further stirred and mixed.
Thus, the replenishment toner T is premixed with a part of the developer G in the dispense chamber 113 and then supplied to the developer storage chamber 102 side. To be kept.

Here, in the present embodiment, the toner supply port 115 may supply the reinforcing toner from one direction as in the first embodiment, or may be replenished as in the fourth embodiment. The toner T may be supplied to the developer storage chamber 102 and a part of the developer G in the developer storage chamber 102 may be caused to flow backward in a direction opposite to the replenishment toner supply direction.
For example, if the same structure as that of the third embodiment is adopted as the structure of the toner supply port 115, the replenishment toner T in the dispense chamber 113 is premixed together with the developer G received from the developer receiving port 119. In addition, premixing is further promoted near the toner supply port 115.

◎ Eighth embodiment
FIG. 23 shows Embodiment 8 of the process cartridge to which the present invention is applied.
In the drawing, the developing cartridge 30b of the process cartridge is formed by connecting the developing unit 100 and the toner replenishing unit 170 through the toner supply port 177, but unlike the first to sixth embodiments, the toner replenishing unit 170 is provided. The toner conveyance direction supplied from the toner to the developing unit 100 is along the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the developing roller 103 in the developer storage chamber 102 of the developing unit 100.
That is, in the present embodiment, the developing unit 100 includes substantially the same components (the developing housing 101, the developer storage chamber 102, the developing roll 103, the agitating / conveying augers 104 and 105, the partition wall 106, the communication, and the like. Mouths 107 and 108 (see FIG. 6)).
On the other hand, the toner replenishing unit 170 has a toner housing 171, a toner housing chamber 172 in which toner for replenishment is housed is provided in the toner housing 171, and an agitator 173 for stirring and transporting is disposed in the toner housing chamber 172. Further, one side in the longitudinal direction of the toner housing 171 and the developing housing 101 is connected to each other by a connecting duct 174, and a dispensing chamber 175 is secured in the connecting duct 174. A dispensing inlet opening 176 and a toner supply port 177 are opened in the vicinity of the communication port 108 on the side wall of the toner housing 171 and the developing housing 101, and a dispensing auger 178 for supplying a constant amount of toner is disposed in the dispensing chamber 175. Is.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the toner supply port 177 opens so that its lower end is positioned below the surface position of the developer G accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber 102, and the starter is provided in the developing unit 100. A developer supply container 180 (having substantially the same configuration as that of the first embodiment) is provided.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, at the start of use, the seal member 183 of the developer inlet 182 of the starter developer supply container 180 may be removed and the starter developer may be charged into the developer storage chamber 102. . At this time, the developer G is supplied to the developer storage chamber 102 adjacent to the toner supply port 177, and is immediately stirred and mixed with the replenishing toner T from the toner supply port 177, so that an appropriate toner concentration is obtained in the initial state. To be formulated.
When the toner is consumed, the dispense auger 178 is driven, and the toner replenishment unit 170 replenishes the toner T in the toner storage chamber 172 to the developer storage chamber 102 of the development unit 100 via the dispense chamber 175.
At this time, in the vicinity of the toner supply port 177, the toner in the dispense chamber 175 is supplied from the lateral direction to the developer storage chamber 102 through the toner supply port 177 by the pushing force of the dispense auger 178, and is supplied to the admix auger 104. And mixed with the existing developer G.

Ninth embodiment
FIG. 24 shows Embodiment 9 of the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
In the figure, the image forming apparatus is a full-color printer that does not use a process cartridge, unlike the first to eighth embodiments. This full-color printer includes an image forming unit 320 having photosensitive drums 321 for cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), and these photosensitive drums 321 (321C to 321K). A charging device 322 for primary charging that is in contact; an exposure device such as a laser optical unit (not shown) that emits laser light 323 of each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K); A developing device 324 containing a developer containing each color component toner, a refresher 325 for temporarily holding foreign matter on the photosensitive drum 321, two photosensitive drums 321 </ b> C among the four photosensitive drums 21, The first primary intermediate transfer drum 331 in contact with 321M and the second primary intermediate transfer in contact with the other two photosensitive drums 321Y and 321K. A drum 332, a secondary intermediate transfer drum 333 in contact with the first and second primary intermediate transfer drums 331 and 332, and a final transfer roll 334 in contact with the secondary intermediate transfer drum 333, the main parts thereof are It is configured.
In FIG. 24, 340 is a paper transport path, 341 is a paper transport roll, 342 is a fixing device, and 351 to 354 are cleaners.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 25, the developing device 324 includes a developing housing 361 that opens to face the photosensitive drum 321, and a developing roll 362 that is disposed facing the opening of the developing housing 361. A layer thickness regulating roll 363 for regulating the developer layer thickness on the developing roll 362, stirring transport augers 365 and 366 disposed in the developer storage chamber 364 in the developing housing 361 and stirring and transporting the developer; A paddle wheel 367 is provided between the agitating / conveying auger 365 and the developing roll 362, and supplies a developer to the developing roll 362. A starter developer supply container is provided near the center of the agitating / conveying augers 365 and 366. 180 is provided.
This starter developer supply container 180 has a developer storage chamber 181 in which a starter developer G ′ can be stored above the developer storage chamber 364 in the development housing 361, and a developer inlet 182 is opened at the lower end thereof. At the same time, the developer inlet 182 is sealed with a seal member 183 before use.

A portion of the developer storage chamber 181 that is separated from the scanning optical path Bm has a covering sheet 191 that protrudes toward the scanning optical path Bm, and the volume of the covering sheet 191 is pressed by the pressing mechanism 192. ing.
In this example, the pressing mechanism 192 has a pressing arm 193 having one end as a fulcrum, for example, and the swinging free end side of the pressing arm 193 is biased downward by a biasing spring 194. . Here, the pressing arm 193 and the urging spring 194 are provided on the outer side of the upper wall of the developing housing 361. However, since the pressing arm 193 and the urging spring 194 are disposed at a position away from the scanning optical path Bm, the optical scanning is not affected. Absent.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the starter developer G ′ is stored, the developer storage chamber 181 is filled with the starter developer G ′, and then the developer inlet 182 is sealed with the seal member 183. Alternatively, the energizing spring 189 may be installed after first being sealed with the seal member 183 and filled with a developer from a separate filling port while the movable wall 187 is held in the expansion / contraction direction.
At this time, since the cover-like sheet 191 that separates the developer storage chamber 181 protrudes to a position that blocks the maximum reduction scanning optical path Bm, the cover sheet 191 covers against the pressing force by the pressing mechanism 192 when the starter developer is filled. The sheet 191 is pushed upward, and the cover sheet 191 is held in a state of protruding upward.

On the other hand, when the use of the developing device 324 is started, the seal member 183 may be removed and the developer inlet 182 of the developer storage chamber 181 may be opened.
In this case, the starter developer in the developer storage chamber 181 is charged into the developer storage chamber 364 from the developer charging port 182, and accordingly, the cover sheet 191 is pressed downward by the pressing mechanism 192. For this reason, it is pushed down from the position protruding upward and stored in a state of being recessed substantially horizontally or downward.
At this time, when the height dimension of the developer storage chamber 181 cannot be sufficiently ensured, there is a concern that the cover-like sheet 191 hangs down and is caught, for example, in the agitation transport augers 165 and 166. In order to avoid such a situation, for example, a mesh-like shelf member 195 through which developer can pass is provided in the developer storage chamber 181, and the shelf member 195 prevents the cover sheet 191 from hanging down. It is preferable.

Further, the expandable / shrinkable wall element of the starter developer supply container 180 is not limited to this, and for example, there are modes shown in FIGS. 26 and 27.
In FIG. 27, the lateral end of the cover sheet 191 constituting the top of the developer storage chamber 181 is pressed from above by the urging spring 196, and when the starter developer is filled, the cover sheet 191 is projected upward. When the developer is charged, the cover sheet 191 is naturally returned downward by the urging force of the urging spring 196.
In FIG. 28, the top peripheral wall of the developer storage chamber 181 is supported by a bellows member 197, and the top plate 198 is biased downward by a biasing spring 199.

  (A) is an explanatory view showing a developing device according to the present invention, a process cartridge using the same, and an image forming apparatus, and (b) is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along line BB in (a).   1 is an explanatory diagram showing Embodiment 1 of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.   It is explanatory drawing which shows the detail of the process cartridge used by this Embodiment.   (A) is the arrow view which looked at the process cartridge used in this embodiment from one side, (b) is the arrow view which looked at the process cartridge used in this embodiment from the other side on the opposite side It is.   It is explanatory drawing which shows the developing cartridge used in this Embodiment.   It is VI-VI line partial fracture | rupture explanatory drawing in FIG.   (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the toner supply port periphery structure of this Embodiment, (b) is a BB sectional drawing in (a).   (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the state before the use start of the developing cartridge used by this Embodiment, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the state at the time of starting use of a developing cartridge.   FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a communication structure between a main toner supply unit and a sub toner supply unit.   It is principal part explanatory drawing of the cleaning apparatus used by this Embodiment.   (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the operation state of the urging | biasing spring at the time of forward / backward movement of a waste toner conveyance member.   (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows the operation state at the time of the waste toner conveyance member backward movement in the cleaning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG.   (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows the operation state at the time of the waste toner conveyance member advance movement.   It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the conveyance drive system used by this Embodiment, and a development drive system.   (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the principal part of the developing cartridge used in Embodiment 2 of the process cartridge to which this invention was applied, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the deformation | transformation form.   It is explanatory drawing which shows the principal part of Embodiment 3 of the process cartridge which concerns on this invention.   (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of a starter developer supply container, (b) is the arrow line view which looked at (a) from the B direction.   It is explanatory drawing which shows the principal part of Embodiment 4 of the process cartridge which concerns on this invention.   (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the toner supply port periphery structure of the process cartridge based on Embodiment 4, (b) is BB sectional drawing in (a).   (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the toner supply port periphery structure of Embodiment 5 of the process cartridge based on this invention, (b) is a BB disconnection figure in (a), (c) is C in (b). It is an arrow view seen from the direction.   (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the toner supply port periphery structure of Embodiment 6 of the process cartridge based on this invention, (b) is a BB disconnection figure in (a), (c) is C in (b). It is an arrow view seen from the direction.   It is explanatory drawing which shows the principal part of Embodiment 7 of the process cartridge which concerns on this invention.   It is explanatory drawing which shows the principal part of Embodiment 8 of the process cartridge which concerns on this invention.   It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of Embodiment 9 of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention.   FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of the ninth embodiment.   FIG. 32 is an explanatory view showing a modified form of the starter developer supply container of the ninth embodiment.   FIG. 29 is an explanatory view showing another modified form of the starter lower male image agent supply container according to the ninth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image carrier, 2 ... Development unit, 3 ... Developer accommodation chamber, 4 (4a-4c) ... Developing member, 5 (5a, 5b) ... Toner replenishment unit, 6 (6a-6c) ... Toner conveyance member , 7 ... Toner supply port, 8 ... Charging unit, 9 ... Cleaning unit, 12 ... Developing device, 14 ... Starter developer supply means, 15 ... Developer storage chamber, 16 ... Developer inlet, 17 ... Seal member, G ... Developer, G '... Starter developer, T ... Toner, Bm ... Latent image writing optical path

Claims (12)

In a developing device that is disposed in the vicinity of a latent image writing optical path to an image carrier and visualizes an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer,
A developer storage chamber for storing the developer;
A starter developer supply means for supplying a starter developer to the developer storage chamber during initial use;
The starter developer supply means has a developer storage chamber in which a starter developer that can be charged during initial use is stored in advance. The developer storage chamber can be expanded and contracted, and the latent image writing optical path is stored when the starter developer is stored. A developing device, wherein the developer storage chamber is expanded to a position where the developer is blocked, and the developer storage chamber is contracted to a position where the developer storage chamber is retracted from the latent image writing optical path when the starter developer is supplied. The developing device according to claim 1,
The developing device, wherein the starter developer supply means comprises a flexible sheet capable of expanding and contracting a portion of the developer storage chamber separated from the latent image writing optical path side. The developing device according to claim 1,
The starter developer supply means blocks the portion of the developer storage chamber where the latent image writing optical path side is separated with a sheet that can be extended to the latent image writing optical path side, and regulates the sheet volume by the pressing means. A developing device. The developing device according to claim 1,
The starter developer supply means comprises a portion of the developer storage chamber separated from the latent image writing optical path side as a movable wall movable in the developer storage chamber expansion / contraction direction, and the urging means reduces the developer storage chamber in the reduction direction. A developing device for biasing the movable wall toward the surface. The developing device according to claim 1,
The starter developer supply means is configured by a sheet that can hang down the portion of the developer storage chamber that is separated from the latent image writing optical path side, and the developer storage chamber is provided with a mesh shelf member through which the starter developer can pass. A developing device, wherein the sheet is supported by the shelf member after the starter developer is charged. The developing device according to claim 1,
A developer carrier that is disposed opposite to the image carrier and on which the developer is carried and transported, and the developer storage chamber of the starter developer supply means is arranged so as to partially overlap the vertical region of the developer carrier. A developing device characterized by that. The developing device according to claim 1,
A developing device characterized in that a developer storage chamber of a starter developer supply means is disposed above the developer storage chamber. The developing device according to claim 1,
2. A developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer inlet of the developer storage chamber is closed with a seal member that can be opened when not in use. The developing device according to claim 1,
A developing unit having a developer accommodating chamber and a starter developer supplying means, and a toner replenishing unit capable of supplying at least replenishing toner adjacent to the developing unit, the lower end position of which is a developing unit A developing device comprising a toner supply port that opens below a surface position of a developer accommodated in a developer accommodating chamber. The development according to claim 1, wherein the image carrier and the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier are visualized with a developer in a process cartridge that is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. And a process cartridge.   An image forming apparatus comprising the process cartridge according to claim 9.   An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and the developing device according to claim 1.

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