JP2007072106A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adjust the amount of developer to be transported from a developer storage part to a developing part, without having to change the rotational speed of a developer transport means that is disposed in the developer storage part. <P>SOLUTION: In the developing device comprising a developer transport means constituted of a developing part, having a developer carrier for supplying a developer to an image carrier, a rotational axis part 10a disposed rotatably, and a plurality of transport members, each having a transport surface disposed at the rotational axis part, the crossing angle of the transport surface with respect to the rotational axis of the developer transport means can be adjusted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer that forms an image by an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, or the like, and in particular, a process unit or an image forming unit provided with a developer conveying means of a developing device that supplies a developer. Relates to the device.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an image forming apparatus using a conventional electrophotographic system.

  As shown in this figure, a drum-type photoreceptor (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive drum) 1 as an image carrier is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow a, and the surface thereof is uniformly charged by a charging roller 2 as a charging member. Image exposure L corresponding to the input image signal is performed by the exposure device 3, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. This electrostatic latent image is developed as a toner image by the toner T supplied from the developing roller 4c which is a developer carrying member of the developing device 4. The toner T is stored in a toner storage container 4a which is a developer storage section, and is a developing section in which the developing roller 4c is installed by a rotary transport member 9 which is a developer transport means installed in the toner storage container 4a. It is sent to the developing chamber 4b. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred by the transfer roller 5 onto the transfer material P that has been conveyed at a predetermined timing. The transfer material P onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 7. The toner image on the transfer material P is fixed on the transfer material P by being heated and pressed by the heating roller 7a and the pressure roller 7b of the fixing device 7, and then output to the outside.

  The transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the transfer is removed by the cleaning blade 6a of the cleaning device 6 and collected in the cleaning container 6b.

  In this example, the photosensitive drum 1, the charging roller 2, the developing device 4, and the cleaning device 6 are configured as an integral process unit (hereinafter referred to as a process cartridge) 29, and are detachably attached to an apparatus main body (not shown). Has been. The process cartridge can be easily replaced as a consumable when the toner T in the toner container 4a is exhausted or when the photosensitive drum 1 is consumed, thereby maintaining the image forming apparatus. It is intended to improve the convenience of users.

  The developing device of this example will be described in detail.

  FIG. 15 is a side sectional view of the developing device 4.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the developing device 4 is roughly composed of a developing chamber 4b in which a developing roller 4c is installed and a toner storage container 4a.

  In addition to the developing roller 4c, the developing chamber 4b is provided with a developing blade 4d for regulating the amount of toner carried on the developing roller 4c and applying it uniformly.

  The toner storage container 4a stores and stores the toner T and transports the toner T stored by the rotating rotary transport member 9 to the developing chamber 4b. The rotation conveyance member 9 of this example is composed of a rotation shaft member 10 and a toner conveyance member 11 installed on the rotation shaft member 10. In this example, a PET sheet is used as the conveying member 11 and, as shown in FIG. 15, the toner conveying property is improved by rotating the free end of the PET sheet while sliding the free end against the toner container 4a. The rotary conveying member 9 also serves as an agitation function for eliminating toner aggregation caused by being left unattended.

When the image forming apparatus is operated and the toner on the developing roller 4c is consumed, the toner in the developing chamber 4b is supplemented on the developing roller 4c. If the toner consumption progresses and the amount of toner in the developing chamber 4b is insufficient, an image defect such as a decrease in density occurs, so that a predetermined amount or more of toner must always be supplied into the developing chamber 4b. Therefore, the rotational speed of the rotary conveying member 9 is such that the toner is slightly excessive so that the toner amount in the developing chamber 4b does not become insufficient even when image formation with a high printing rate that consumes a large amount of toner is performed. It is often determined to be sent within. Then, a circulation occurs in which the excess toner in the developing chamber 4b overflows from the developing chamber 4b to the toner storage container 4a and returns naturally. The state in which this circulation is maintained is ideal.
However, a color image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing devices and a smaller image forming apparatus are required, and the capacity of the developing chamber 4b may not be sufficient due to the structure. In such a case, the amount of toner fed compared to the volume of the developing chamber 4b tends to be excessively large, and if it exceeds a certain limit, the toner aggregates / packes in the developing chamber 4b. A problem that adversely affects print quality occurred.

  In addition, the toner conveyance amount varies depending on the amount of toner in the toner container 4a. The toner conveyance is based on the usage history such that the conveyance amount is large at the beginning of use when the toner amount is large and the conveyance amount is small near the end of use when the toner amount is small. Variations in quantity could complicate the above problem.

  As means for solving the above-described problem, as shown in Patent Document 1, a method of adjusting the conveyance amount by adjusting the rotation speed of the rotary conveyance member 9 is disclosed. Further, as shown in Patent Document 2, a method is disclosed in which the conveyance amount is adjusted by performing ON / OFF control of rotation of the rotary conveyance member 9.

  In addition, when the size of the transfer paper on which printing is performed is small, an area where the toner is consumed and an area where no toner is consumed are generated in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller, and the toner may be unevenly distributed in the developing chamber 4b. In such a case, the toner in a region where the toner is not consumed partially aggregates / packes, resulting in a problem that adversely affects print quality.

As a means for solving the above-described problem, as disclosed in Patent Document 3, a method is disclosed in which the rotation conveyance member 9 is divided into two in the longitudinal direction and the conveyance amount is adjusted by switching between only one rotation drive and both rotation drive. Has been. In addition, as shown in Patent Document 4, a method is disclosed in which the length of the rotary conveyance member 9 in the longitudinal direction can be varied to adjust the conveyance amount according to the size of the transfer paper. In the above two examples, the conveyance amount is adjusted by adjusting the effective conveyance area of the conveyance member 11 of the rotary conveyance member 9.
Published Patent Publication No. Hei 1-206378 Published Patent Publication 4-85572 Published Patent Publication No. 8-123167 JP Patent Publication No. 2000-98743

  As a method for adjusting the conveyance amount, the method that is most easily fine-adjusted is a method that adjusts the rotational speed of the rotary conveyance member 9 as disclosed in Patent Document 1. However, in some process cartridges 29 as shown in the conventional example, the drive system of the rotary conveying member 9 is simplified by sharing it with the drive system of the developing roller 4c for cost reduction. In such a configuration, since only the rotation conveyance member 9 cannot independently change the rotation speed, the toner conveyance amount cannot be adjusted by adjusting the rotation speed.

  In the method of adjusting the conveyance amount by adjusting the effective conveyance area of the conveyance member 11 of the rotary conveyance member 9 as shown in Patent Documents 3 and 4, the toner uneven distribution can be corrected to some extent, but the toner storage Toner stays in the container 4a without being stirred. In some cases, the toner charge amount is not uniform between the toner staying without stirring and the toner stirred by the rotary conveying member 9, resulting in uneven density and fogging. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to perform a sequence of stirring the staying toner regularly (for example, rotating the conveying member 11 to maximize the effective conveying area).

  Therefore, in the present invention, in addition to the method of adjusting the rotation speed of the rotary conveyance member 9, fine adjustment of the toner conveyance amount is easy, and the toner is not generated in the toner storage container 4a. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner conveying method capable of adjusting a toner conveying amount, and to provide a developing device capable of stably obtaining a good image.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a developing unit having a developer carrier that supplies a developer to an image carrier, a rotary shaft that is rotatably arranged, and the rotary shaft divided in the longitudinal direction. In a developing device comprising a developer accommodating portion having a developer conveying means composed of a plurality of conveying members installed in a section,
It is characterized by having a transport amount adjusting means for adjusting the developer transport amount to the developing section by displacing the intersection angle between the rotation shaft of the developer transport means and the transport member.

  Further, the transport amount adjusting means adjusts each of the transport members to a predetermined displacement angle in a predetermined direction.

In another embodiment, the developing device includes a developer detecting unit that detects a developer amount in a predetermined detection region of the developing unit, and the developer conveying unit includes a developer detecting unit that detects a developer amount in the predetermined detection region. Having a conveyance amount adjusting means for adjusting the displacement angle of the conveyance member, or
The developing device has a conveyance amount adjusting means for adjusting a displacement angle of a conveying member of the developer conveying means according to a use history of the developing device; or
The developing device includes a transport amount adjusting unit that adjusts a displacement angle of a transport member of the developer transport unit according to a width in a longitudinal direction of a transfer material for image formation.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that a process unit including at least the developing device described above is configured so as to be detachable from the image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus including at least the developing device or the process unit further includes a conveyance amount control unit that controls a unit that adjusts a displacement angle of a conveyance member of the developer conveyance unit.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily finely adjust the toner conveyance amount in accordance with the size of the transfer paper and the like without causing the staying toner in the toner storage container. In addition, it is possible to suppress fluctuations in the toner conveyance amount due to usage history, and a stable and good image can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. Members having the same functions as those of the conventional image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The image forming apparatus of this embodiment includes a photosensitive drum 1 as an image carrier, as in the conventional example. Around the photosensitive drum 1, a charging roller 2, an exposure device 3, a developing device 4, a transfer roller 5, and a cleaning device 6 are disposed. The photosensitive drum 1, the charging roller 2, the developing device 4, and the cleaning device 6 are integrated as a process cartridge 29 and are detachably attached to the apparatus main body 8. A fixing device 7 is provided in the apparatus main body 8.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment, the transfer reference position of the transfer material is set at the center of the image. That is, when printing a small-size transfer material, an image is formed so as to have a non-image area in which the central area is an image area and toner is not consumed on the left and right.

  The configuration of the developing device 4 of this embodiment will be described in detail below.

  FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the developing device 4 of this embodiment.

  As in the conventional example, the developing device 4 of the present embodiment includes a developing chamber 4b in which a developing roller 4c is installed and a toner storage container 4a. In the developing chamber 4b, a rotatable developing roller 4c, a toner amount carried on the developing roller 4c are regulated, a developing blade 4d for uniform application, and toner adheres on the developing roller 4c. And a toner supply roller 4e for prompting the supply. An optical toner sensor 28 is disposed on the back of the developing blade 4d. The toner of this embodiment is a non-magnetic one-component toner.

  The developing roller 4c of the present embodiment is an elastic roller in which a metal core is covered with a conductive rubber having a predetermined resistance. The toner supply roller 4e is a soft elastic porous roller made of urethane foam and can carry a large amount of toner in the foam cell on the surface.

  The toner supply roller 4e is pressed against the developing roller 4c with a predetermined intrusion amount and rotates in the same direction. That is, the contact surfaces of the toner supply roller 4e and the developing roller 4c rub against each other in opposite directions. The toner supply roller 4e and the developing roller 4c are rubbed to scrape off the development residual toner remaining on the developing roller 4c, and newly charged toner is attached to the developing roller 4c by rubbing. The toner adhered on the developing roller 4c is uniformly applied by the developing blade 4d and used for development. In the developing chamber 4b, toner is supplied from the toner storage container 4a so that at least the surface of the toner supply roller 4e has a toner reservoir that can be easily scraped off.

  An optical toner sensor 28 including an LED light source and a light receiving portion is provided on the back of the developing blade 4d of this embodiment. When the optical path of the toner sensor 28 is always blocked, the toner storage container 4a is provided. Therefore, it is determined that the toner is excessively supplied.

  The toner storage container 4a of the present embodiment includes a rotation conveyance member 9 that conveys the toner T to the developing chamber 4b. The rotation conveyance member 9 includes a rotation shaft member 10 and five toner conveyance members 11 (each portion is divided). 12-16).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the rotating shaft member 10 includes two shaft portions 10a and 10b, and bearings 10c, 10d, and a spring 10e included in 10d. The bearing portions 10c and 10d are rotatably installed on the side surface of the toner storage container 4a. The shaft portion 10a passes through the center of rotation of the bearing portion 10c and is configured to be movable in the axial direction (longitudinal direction). Further, a spring 10e is provided at the end of the shaft portion 10a on the bearing portion 10d side, and always urges the shaft portion 10a toward the bearing portion 10c. In order to prevent the shaft portion 10a from falling off, a dropout prevention member 10f fixed to the shaft portion 10a is provided, and the dropout prevention member 10f is configured to abut against the bearing portion 10c. As shown in FIG. 3, the shaft portion 10 b has a bent structure, and both ends thereof are fixed to the bearing portions 10 c and 10 d. Protrusions (17a, 18a, 19a, 20a, 21a, 22a and 17b, 18b, 21b, 22b) connected to toner conveying members (12 to 16) described later are provided on the shafts 10a, 10b. . The bearing portion 10c is configured to be fitted with the drive gear 32 of the rotary conveying member 9, and the rotary gear member 10 is rotated through the shaft portion 10b when the drive gear 32 is rotationally driven by a drive system (not shown). The whole is designed to rotate.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, a part 12 of the toner conveying member 11 includes a base portion 12a and a wing portion 12b fixed to the base portion 12a. In this example, a PET sheet was used as the wing portion 12b. The free end of the wing portion 12b is configured to rotate while being rubbed against the toner storage container 4a. The base portion 12 a is provided with two holes 23 a and 23 b that engage with the two shaft portions 10 a and 10 b of the rotary shaft member 10. Reference numeral 23a denotes a circular hole, which is rotatably fitted to the protruding portion 17a of the shaft portion 10a. Reference numeral 23b denotes an elongated hole which engages so that the protrusion 17b of the shaft portion 10b can slide in 23b.

  The toner conveying members 13, 15, and 16 have the same structure as that of the toner conveying member 12, and the protrusions 18 a and 18 b are formed in the holes 24 a and 24 b of the toner conveying member 13, respectively. The protrusions 21a and 21b are fitted or engaged with the holes 26a and 26b, and the protrusions 22a and 22b are fitted or engaged with the holes 27a and 27b of the toner conveying member 16, respectively. Only the toner conveying member 14 is provided with circular holes 25a and 25b, which are fixed to the protrusions 20a and 21a of the shaft 10a so as not to move.

  Projections (for example, 17a and 17b) on shafts 10a and 10b connected to one toner conveying member are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. 5A. The protrusion on the shaft portion 10a is arranged to be closer to the bearing portion 10c in the longitudinal direction than the protrusion on the shaft portion 10b.

  When the shaft portion 10a of the rotary conveying member 9 configured as described above is pushed into the bearing portion 10d side, the protrusions (for example, 17a and 17b) on the shaft portions 10a and 10b connected to one toner conveying member are Since the distance L in the longitudinal direction is narrowed, as shown in FIG. 4B, it is rotationally displaced about the protrusion on the shaft portion 10b. As a whole, the displaceable toner conveying members (12, 13, and 15, 16) are rotationally displaced about the protrusions on the shaft portion 10b and opened as shown in FIG. 5B. Since the displacement angle is determined by how close the longitudinal interval of the protrusions on the shaft portions 10a and 10b is with the movement of the shaft portion 10a, the displacement angle in the reference position where the shaft portion 10a is not pushed in is determined. By setting the movement distance of the shaft portion 10a when the shaft portion 10a is pushed in, the displacement angle of each toner conveying member (12, 13 and 15, 16) can be determined.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, the wings (12b, 13b and 15b,) of the displaceable toner conveying members (12, 13 and 15, 16) at the reference position of the shaft part 10a described above. 16b) is adjusted by adding the “twist angle θ” to each of the base portions (12a, 13a and 15a, 16a) of the respective toner conveying members so that they are aligned in parallel with the rotation axis of the rotating conveying member 9. Further, in order to improve the toner conveying capability when the shaft portion 10a is at the reference position, an overlap portion is provided on each wing portion (12b to 16b) of each toner conveying member as shown in FIG.

  The operation of the developing device 4 of this embodiment will be described in detail below.

  During the image forming operation, the rotary conveying member 9 of the developing device 4 is driven by the same drive system as the developing roller 4c and the toner supply roller 4e and is rotated at a predetermined rotational speed. In the normal state, the wings (12b to 16b) of the toner conveying member of the rotary conveying member 9 are overlapped to feed the toner to the developing chamber 4b like one wing.

  When the optical toner sensor 28 in the developing chamber 4b detects an excessive supply of toner, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 7, a control device serving as a conveyance amount control unit in the image forming apparatus main body 8 from the toner sensor 28. A signal is sent to 30, and the adjustment pin push-out mechanism 31 disposed on the side surface of the process cartridge 29 in the apparatus main body 8 is operated.

  As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the adjustment pin push-out mechanism 31 takes in and out the adjustment pin 31a by means of a rotating cam 31c attached to a reversible step motor 31b. It is attached so as to push the shaft portion 10a of the rotary conveying member 9 slightly protruding from the side surface. The pushing amount of the adjustment pin 31a can be finely adjusted by the rotation angle of the rotary cam 31c, that is, the rotation angle from the reference position of the step motor 31b. The control device 30 controls the rotation angle of the step motor 31b.

  The displaceable toner conveying members (12, 13 and 15, 16) are respectively pressed by a predetermined displacement angle corresponding to the moving distance of the shaft portion 10a when the shaft portion 10a of the rotation conveying member 9 is pushed by the adjustment pin 31a. And a state having a predetermined crossing angle with respect to the rotation axis as schematically shown in FIG. When the rotating and conveying member 9 rotates in this state, the toner pushed by the wings (12b to 16b) of the toner conveying member is pushed in the rotating direction of the rotating and conveying member 9 as indicated by white arrows in FIG. A force that moves in the longitudinal direction works according to the crossing angle of each toner conveying member, and moves so that a part of the toner escapes from the gap between the toner conveying members to the rear of the toner conveying member as indicated by the hatched arrows in FIG. . That is, the toner conveyance force of the rotary conveyance member 9 is reduced by the amount of the escaped toner. In other words, the rotary conveyance member 9 itself also serves as a conveyance amount adjusting means.

  In the configuration of this embodiment, the crossing angles of the displaceable toner conveying members (12, 13 and 15, 16) with respect to the rotation axis are all ± 30 ° (the toner conveying members 12, 13 are in the + direction and 15, 16 are in the-direction). ), The toner conveying force is approximately halved compared to the case where there is no crossing angle (all parallel to the rotation axis), and all the crossing angles are ± 45 ° (the toner transporting members 12 and 13 are in the + direction, 15 and 16 are in the negative direction), the toner conveying force was about 20%. As a matter of course, the total toner conveying force decreases in proportion to the crossing angle, although it varies depending on the shape of the toner storage container 4a, the configuration of the rotating conveying member 9 (number and shape of toner conveying members), the rotation speed, and the like. is there. In the configuration of this embodiment, the overall toner conveying force can be easily controlled by the amount of push of the adjustment pin 31a that controls the displacement angle of the crossing angle of the displaceable toner conveying members (12, 13, and 15, 16). .

  The displacement angle of the displaceable toner conveying member (12, 13 and 15, 16) is determined by how close the longitudinal interval of the protrusions (17 to 22) on 10a and 10b approaches as described above. The Accordingly, the displacement angles of the toner conveying members (12, 13 and 15, 16) can be set differently. For example, the maximum displacement angle of the toner conveying member 12 is + 45 °, the maximum displacement angle of the toner conveying member 13 is + 30 °, the maximum displacement angle of the toner conveying member 15 is −30 °, and the maximum displacement angle of the toner conveying member 16 is −45. It may be °.

  Further, in the configuration of this embodiment, the toner conveying force to the developing chamber 4b is reduced in the displaced toner conveying members (12, 13 and 15, 16), and the toner conveying force in the portion of the toner conveying member 14 which is not displaced. Therefore, the relative toner conveying force can be biased to the center. In this embodiment, since the transfer reference position of the transfer material is in the center of the image, a non-image area in which toner is not consumed is generated on the left and right sides of the image area when printing a small-size transfer material, but the toner is supplied to the non-image area. It is possible to maintain toner supply to the central portion, which is an image area, while suppressing the above-described problem. Therefore, in this embodiment, when it is detected that the transfer material is a small size or is recognized by a setting change by the user, the control device 30 adjusts the adjustment pin push-out mechanism 31 regardless of the detection result of the toner sensor 28. Was operated so that the relative toner conveying force was biased toward the center. Even when the toner conveying member (12, 13 and 15, 16) is displaced as described above, the toner is agitated in almost the entire area inside the toner container 4a, so that toner staying inside the toner container 4a is generated. There is no concern. Therefore, in this embodiment, density unevenness and fogging that occur due to the uniformity of the toner charge amount do not occur, and a special sequence that periodically stirs the staying toner can be omitted.

  When there is a change in toner transport amount due to usage history, such as a large transport amount at the beginning of use with a large amount of toner in the toner storage container 4a and a small amount of toner near the end of use, the transport amount decreases due to usage history. It is also possible to suppress fluctuations in the toner conveyance amount by increasing the crossing angle of the toner conveyance member at each stage to reduce the toner conveyance force and decreasing the crossing angle to increase the toner conveyance force as usage progresses. Is possible. In this case, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 10, storage means 33 for storing usage history information (remaining toner amount, photosensitive drum rotation number, etc.) is mounted on the main body or the process cartridge 29 or the developing device 4 and used. Based on the history information, the control device 30 activates the adjustment pin pushing mechanism 31.

  In this embodiment, five toner conveying members are provided. Of course, the number of toner conveying members can be increased or decreased as necessary. The setting of the crossing angle of each toner conveying member can also be changed as appropriate. For example, if the transfer material conveyance reference position is on the right end side of the image, the toner conveyance member may be set to be displaced as shown in FIG. 11 so that the relative toner conveyance force is biased to the right side.

  The shape of the toner conveying member is not limited to that shown in this embodiment, and any shape may be used as long as it has a function of pushing toner into the developing chamber 4b. For example, an arm member formed of a metal bar as shown in FIG. 12 may be used.

  Further, the configuration of the conveying member 9 itself is not limited to that shown in the present embodiment. For example, the conveying member 9 has a symmetrical toner conveying member about the axis as shown in FIG. 13, or the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. Alternatively, toner conveying members may be alternately provided.

  Further, the developer to be used is not limited to a non-magnetic one-component developer but may be a magnetic developer.

  The process cartridge 29 described in the present embodiment is not limited to the configuration of the present embodiment. For example, only the developing device 4 may be configured to be detachable as a developing process unit. As long as the developing device 4 is included, any other process element may be included.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a developing device according to the present invention. The figure which shows the rotating shaft part of the developer conveyance member which concerns on this invention. FIGS. 4A and 4B show the movement of the toner conveying member of the developer conveying member according to the present invention. FIGS. 4A and 4B show the movement of the rotating shaft portion of the developer conveying member according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a shape of a toner conveying member of a developer conveying member according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control system for a developer conveying member according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a control mechanism of a developer conveying member according to the present invention. Schematic diagram showing the movement of the toner of the developer conveying member according to the present invention FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another control system of the developer conveying member according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a developer conveying member according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the developer conveying member according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a view showing another embodiment of the developer conveying member according to the present invention. FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the developer conveying member according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus in a conventional example. Sectional drawing which shows the image development apparatus of the image forming apparatus in a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

1 Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 Developing apparatus 4a Developer storage chamber 4b Developing chamber 4c Developing roller 9 Developer conveying member 10a Rotating shaft part (movable shaft) of developer conveying member
10b Rotating shaft (non-moving shaft) of developer conveying member
11 Toner conveying member of developer conveying member

Claims (7)

A developing unit having a developer carrier for supplying a developer to the image carrier;
In a developing device, comprising: a rotating shaft portion that is rotatably arranged; a plurality of conveying members having a conveying surface installed on the rotating shaft portion; and a developer storage portion that includes a developer conveying means that is configured. ,
A developing device comprising: a conveyance amount adjusting unit capable of setting an intersection angle of a conveyance surface with respect to a rotation axis of the developer conveyance unit within an arbitrary range.   The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the transport amount adjusting unit adjusts each of the transport members to a predetermined direction and an angle within a predetermined range. The developing device has developer detecting means for detecting a developer amount in a predetermined detection region of the developing unit;
The developing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a conveyance amount adjusting unit that adjusts an intersection angle between a rotation axis of the developer conveying unit and a conveying surface according to a detection result of the developer detecting unit.   3. The developing device according to claim 1, further comprising a transport amount adjusting unit that adjusts an intersection angle between a rotation axis of the developer transport unit and a transport surface in accordance with a use history of the developing device. Development device.   2. The developing device according to claim 1, further comprising a conveyance amount adjusting unit that adjusts an intersection angle between a rotation axis of the developer conveying unit and a conveying surface according to a width in a longitudinal direction of a transfer material on which image formation is performed. The developing device according to 2-2.   A process unit comprising at least the developing device according to claim 1 and configured to be detachable from an image forming apparatus.   At least a developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, or a process unit according to claim 6, further comprising a transport amount control means for controlling a means for adjusting a displacement angle of a transport member of the developer transport means. Image forming apparatus.

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