JP2007226060A - Developer storage container, developing device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve precision in the detection of an amount of remaining developer by decreasing, by means of a sheet member, an amount of developer to be stuck to a light transmission part. <P>SOLUTION: A guide 51 for gradually releasing bend in the stir sheet member 46a2 is disposed downstream of the light transmission window 49a used for detecting an amount of remaining developer, in the rotating direction of the stir sheet member 46a2. The guide 51 is disposed so as to be inclined away from the light transmission window 49a in the direction of the rotation shaft of the stir sheet member 46a2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer storage container that stores a developer, a developing device including the developer storage container, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus.

  Here, there is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus as an example of the image forming apparatus. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming system. Examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (laser beam printer, LED printer, etc.), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like.

  The process cartridge is a cartridge in which an image carrier and a developer carrier are integrally formed, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body.

  In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as a “photosensitive drum”) as an image carrier is uniformly charged and electrostatically exposed by selective exposure to the photosensitive drum. A latent image is formed. The latent image is visualized with a toner as a developer to be a visible image (that is, a toner image). Thereafter, the toner image is transferred to a recording medium. The toner image is fixed on the recording medium by applying heat or pressure to the toner image.

  Such an apparatus involves toner replenishment and maintenance of various process means. As a means for facilitating the toner replenishment work and maintenance, a so-called process cartridge in which a photosensitive drum, a charging means, a developing means, a cleaning means and the like are combined into a cartridge in a frame has been put into practical use.

  The developing device constituting the developing means in such a process cartridge includes a developer remaining amount detecting device for detecting the remaining amount of developer stored therein. There are various types of developer remaining amount detection devices, and light transmission type remaining amount detection is a cheaper and simpler configuration. Light transmission type remaining amount detection is a method in which detection light is allowed to pass through a container for storing developer, and the remaining amount of developer stored in the container is detected based on the passage time of the detection light (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

  The configuration of the light transmission type remaining amount detection device will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19.

  FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a developer storage container having a configuration of light transmission type remaining amount detection, and FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a process cartridge.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the detection light L emitted from the light emitting member 23a such as a light emitting element passes through the first guide portion 50a made of a light transmitting material. Then, the detection light L is incident on the inside of the container from the first light transmission window 49a having light transmission provided in the developer storage container 45 illustrated in FIG. In addition, the detection light L incident on the container 45 reaches the outside of the container from a second light transmission window 49b having light transmittance provided in the container. Furthermore, the detection light L emitted outside the container reaches the light receiving member 23b such as a light receiving element via the second guide portion 50b made of a light transmitting member. The remaining amount of developer in the container is detected based on the length of time that the light receiving member 23b receives the detection light L.

  A stirring member 46a is rotatably supported by the developer storage container 45. The stirring member 46a is generally a member in which an elastic sheet member 46a2 is attached to a rod-shaped member 46a1. Here, the agitating member 46a transports the developer in the region facing the light transmission windows 49a and 49b, and scrapes off the developer attached to the light transmission windows 49a and 49b.

  When the sheet member 46a2 wipes off the developer on the light transmission windows 49a and 49b, the free end abuts against the light transmission windows 49a and 49b. Therefore, the sheet member 46a2 is bent. When the bending of the sheet member 46a2 is abruptly released immediately after passing through the light transmission window 49a, the developer near the light transmission window 49a jumps up due to the repulsive force of the sheet member 46a2, and the light transmission time changes. was there.

On the other hand, as a configuration for reducing the amount of developer splashed up by the repulsive force of the sheet member 46a2, a developer storage container having a guide portion shape that gradually decreases the deflection of the sheet member 46a2 toward the opening is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-164768 Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-186294 (11th, FIG. 9)

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the remaining developer detection accuracy by reducing the amount of developer that adheres to the light transmission portion by the sheet member.

The above object is achieved by the developer container, the developing device, the process cartridge, and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In summary, according to the present invention, a light-transmitting light transmitting portion for detecting the amount of developer in the developer storage container by transmitted light;
In order to clean the light transmission portion, a sheet member having elasticity provided rotatably in the developer storage container;
A guide that is disposed downstream of the light transmitting portion in the rotation direction of the sheet member, protrudes inward of the developer storage container to abut against the free end of the sheet member and to restrict the bending of the sheet member. And
Have
The guide portion has a shape that gradually reduces the bending of the sheet member as it goes downstream in the rotation direction of the sheet member, and is arranged to be separated from the light transmission portion in the rotation axis direction of the sheet member. There are provided a developer container, a developing device having the developer container, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the developer remaining amount detection accuracy by reducing the amount of the developer attached to the light transmission portion by the sheet member.

  Hereinafter, a developer container, a developing device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Example 1
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[Electrophotographic image forming apparatus]
First, the overall configuration of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 has four process cartridge mounting portions (not shown) arranged side by side. The process cartridge 7 (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) is mounted on the mounting portion. Each process cartridge 7 includes a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image carrier, that is, a photosensitive drum 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d). The photosensitive drum 1 is rotatably supported by a cleaning frame 60 (60a, 60b, 60c, 60d) as a first frame, and is rotated counterclockwise in the figure by a driving means (not shown). Is driven to rotate.

  Around the photosensitive drum 1, the following components are arranged in order according to the rotation direction.

  First, around the photosensitive drum 1, a charging roller 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) is disposed as a charging unit that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. Next, a scanner unit 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) is disposed as an exposure unit that irradiates a laser beam based on the image information and forms an electrostatic latent image on the uniformly charged photosensitive drum 1. Is done. Next, the electrostatic latent image is developed using a developer (hereinafter referred to as “toner”), and a developing device 4 (4 a, 4 b, 4 c) as developing means for forming a visible image (that is, a toner image). 4d). Next, an electrostatic transfer device 5 for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 to the recording medium S is disposed. Next, a cleaning device 6 (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) is provided as a cleaning unit for removing the transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the transfer.

  Here, in this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 1, the charging unit 2, the developing device 4, and the cleaning device 6 are integrated into a cartridge to form a process cartridge 7.

  The transfer device 5 of this embodiment includes an electrostatic transfer belt 10 that circulates and moves so as to face and contact all the photosensitive drums 1. The electrostatic transfer belt 10 is supported by four-axis rollers 12, 13 a, 13 b, and 14. The recording medium S is electrostatically attracted to the outer peripheral surface on the left side in the drawing, and is attached to the photosensitive drum 1. The recording medium S is circulated so as to be in contact therewith. As a result, the recording medium S is conveyed by the transfer belt 10 to a transfer position facing the four photosensitive drums 1, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred.

  More specifically, the transfer device 5 is in contact with the inside of the transfer belt 10 and faces the photosensitive drum 1, that is, a transfer roller 11 (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d). A positive charge is applied to the recording medium S from the transfer roller 11 via the transfer belt 10. As a result, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to the recording medium S. As described above, the transfer belt 10 is stretched around the four rollers of the driving roller 12, the driven rollers 13 (13a, 13b), and the tension roller 14, and rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. As a result, the transfer belt 10 circulates and the toner image is transferred while the recording medium S is conveyed from the driven roller 13a side to the driving roller 12 side.

  The feeding unit 15 feeds and transports the recording medium S to the image forming unit configured by each process cartridge 7. A plurality of recording media S are stored in the feeding cassette 16. At the time of image formation, the feeding roller 17 and the registration roller pair 18 are driven and rotated according to the image forming operation. Thereby, the recording medium S in the cassette 16 is separated and fed one by one. The leading edge of the recording medium S hits the registration roller pair 18 and stops temporarily. Thereafter, the registration roller pair 18 feeds the recording medium S to the transfer belt 10 in synchronization with the rotation of the transfer belt 10 and the toner image.

  The fixing unit 19 fixes the toner images of a plurality of colors transferred to the recording medium S. The fixing unit 19 includes a pair of fixing rollers 20 including a rotating heating roller 20a and a pressure roller 20b that is in pressure contact with the rotating roller and applies heat and pressure to the recording medium S. That is, the recording medium S is conveyed by the fixing roller pair 20 when passing through the fixing unit 19, and is given heat and pressure by the fixing roller pair 20. As a result, the toner images of a plurality of colors are fixed on the surface of the recording medium S.

  The image forming operation is as follows.

  First, the process cartridge 7 is sequentially driven in accordance with the image formation timing. Then, the photosensitive drum 1 is rotationally driven according to the drive. Then, the scanner units 3 corresponding to the respective process cartridges 7 are sequentially driven. By driving each photosensitive drum 1, the charging unit 2 applies a uniform charge to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1. The scanner unit 3 exposes the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 1 according to the image signal to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1. The electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing roller 42 (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d) as a developer carrying member in the developing device 4.

  Next, the toner images on the respective photosensitive drums 1 are sequentially transferred onto the recording medium S conveyed from the feeding unit 15 by an electric field formed between the respective photosensitive drums 1 and the transfer roller 11. The recording medium S to which the four color toner images are transferred is separated from the transfer belt 10 by the curvature of the driving roller 12. Then, after the recording medium S is carried into the fixing unit 19 and the toner image is thermally fixed, the recording medium S is discharged out of the main body from the discharge unit 22 by the discharge roller pair 21.

[Process cartridge]
Next, the process cartridge (hereinafter referred to as “cartridge”) of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a main cross-sectional view of the cartridge 7 containing toner, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cartridge.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge 7 has a configuration in which the cleaning device 6 and the developing device 4, which are separate frames, are integrated. The cleaning device 6 has a cleaning frame 60. The frame 60 constitutes a cleaning container 63 by rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum 1. The frame 60 has a charging roller 2 as a charging means for charging the photosensitive drum 1 and a cleaning blade 61a as a cleaning means for collecting waste toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after development. Is also provided. The photosensitive drum 1 is rotationally driven according to an image forming operation by transmitting a driving force of a driving motor (not shown) through a coupling member 64 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the developing device 4. Referring also to FIGS. 2 and 3, the developing device 4 develops an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 and a toner container 45 that is a developer storage container for storing a developer (toner). And a developing frame 40 as a developing container having the developing roller 42. The toner container 45 and the developing device frame 40 are coupled by ultrasonic welding or the like.

  The developing roller 42 is rotatably supported by the developing frame body 40. A toner supply roller 43 for supplying toner to the developing roller 42 and a developing blade 44 for regulating the amount of toner on the developing roller 42 are disposed on the circumference of the developing roller 42 (FIG. 2). reference). The developing roller 42 is driven to rotate by a driving motor train (not shown) in the cartridge, with the developing driving gear 41 driven by a driving motor (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, bearing members 47 and 48 are provided at both ends of the developing device 4, and the bearing members 47 and 48 have holes 47a and 48a, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning device 6 is coupled by inserting parallel pins (not shown) in the bearings 47 a and 48 a of the developing device 4 at coupling portions 65 provided at both ends. That is, the developing device 4 has a suspended structure that is supported rotatably with respect to the cleaning device 6 around the coupling portion 65. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 4 is urged by a pressure spring 66, whereby the developing roller 42 contacts the photosensitive drum 1.

[Light transmissive toner remaining amount detection method]
Next, a light transmission type toner remaining amount detection method will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the toner container 45 is provided with light transmitting windows 49 a and 49 b as light transmitting light transmitting portions. Further, in the toner container 45, a first stirring member 46 a and a second stirring member 46 b are rotatably supported by the toner container 45 from the side close to the developing roller 42. The first stirring member 46a and the second stirring member 46b are obtained by attaching sheet members 46a2 and 46b2 having elasticity to rod-shaped members 46a1 and 46b1. Then, the stirring members 46 a and 46 b rotate in the toner container 45, whereby the sheet members 46 a 2 and 46 b 2 convey the toner in the toner container 45 to the toner supply roller 43.

  A light emitting member 23a such as a light emitting element and a light receiving member 23b such as a light receiving element are disposed on the image forming apparatus main body 100A side. The detection light L emitted from the light emitting member 23a is incident on the inside of the toner container 45 through the first light guide 50a disposed along the length of the toner container 45 from the light transmission window 49a shown in FIG. The Then, the detection light L entering the toner container 45 passes through the light transmission window 49b to the outside of the toner container 45. The detection light L that has reached the outside of the toner container 45 reaches the light receiving member 23b through the second light guide 50b that is also disposed along the length of the toner container 45. The remaining amount of toner stored in the toner container 45 is detected based on how long the light receiving member 23b has received the detection light L.

  When the first stirring member 46a rotates, the free end 46a23 in the rotational radius direction of the sheet member 46a2 comes into contact with the light transmission windows 49a and 49b (slids the light transmission windows 49a and 49b). As a result, the toner adhering to the light transmission windows 49a and 49b is scraped off by the sheet member 46a2, and the detection light L can pass through the toner container 45.

  In the apparatus main body 100A, the light emitting member 23a and the light receiving member 23b are located on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the toner container 45. Therefore, the light transmission windows 49a and 49b and the light guides 50a and 50b are also arranged on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the toner container 45, which is the same as the light emitting member 23a and the light receiving member 23b.

  FIG. 5 is a partial view of the stirring member 46. As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet member 46a2 is provided with a cut portion 46a3 in the rotational radius direction. Thereby, the sheet member 46a2 is separated into a scraping portion 46a21 facing the light transmission windows 49a and 49b and another toner conveying portion 46a22. Here, the scraping unit 46a21 transports the toner and scrapes off the toner on the light transmission windows 49a and 49b.

  Next, actual detection will be described.

  In a state where there is a large amount of toner in the toner container 45, the scraping portion 46a21 may not contact the light transmission windows 49a and 49b due to bending. Even if the scraping portion 46a21 contacts the light transmission windows 49a and 49b and scrapes off the toner on the window surface, the toner immediately covers the window surface and shields the light transmission windows 49a and 49b. For this reason, the detection light L does not pass through the toner container 45, or even if it passes, the light transmission time is short. However, when the toner in the toner container 45 is consumed and the remaining amount decreases, the scraping portion 46a21 scrapes off the toner on the window surfaces of the light transmission windows 49a and 49b, and then again until the toner covers the window surface. The interval of becomes longer. For this reason, when the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 45 decreases, the time for the detection light L to pass through the toner container 45 becomes longer. In this way, the light transmission type toner remaining amount detecting means measures the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 45 by the change in the length of time that the detection light L passes through the toner container 45.

[Light transmission toner remaining amount detection configuration]
The light transmission type toner remaining amount detection configuration will be described. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device 4.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the light transmission windows 49 a and 49 b protrude from the inner wall of the toner container 45 toward the inside thereof. Therefore, when the scraping portion 46a21 rotates, the free end 46a23 comes into contact with the emission surface 49a1 of the light transmission window 49a and bends greatly. Therefore, the guide portion 51 is provided in the toner container 45 on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the sheet member 46a2 with respect to the light transmission window 49a. The guide part 51 is a rib for gradually reducing the bending of the scraping part 46a21. Thereby, after the scraping portion 46a21 rubs the light transmitting windows 49a and 49b, the bending of the scraping portion 46a21 is prevented from being released at once. The shape of the guide portion 51 is configured such that the distance from the rotation center of the scraping portion 46a21 to the sheet contact position 51a of the guide portion 51 is gradually increased. Thereby, bending can be decreased gradually. Further, the scraping portion 46a21 is released from bending in the vicinity of the end portion 51c on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the guide portion 51.

  Note that gradually reducing the above-described bending means the following.

That means
Deflection reduction rate [mm / deg] = Amount of increase from the rotation center of the scraping portion 46a21 to the guide portion 51 (r2-r1) [mm] / Rotation angle θ of the sheet member 46a2 after passing through the light transmission window 49a [Deg]
(Refer to FIG. 6), it means that the guide portion 51 is disposed so that the reduction rate is 1/10 [mm / deg] or less.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device 4 in the longitudinal direction. Of the guide portion 51, the end portion 51b on the light transmission window 49a side is located inside the left end surface 49a2 of the light transmission window 49a in the rotation axis direction (longitudinal direction) of the scraping portion 46a21. That is, the end 51b overlaps the light transmission window 49a in the rotation axis direction. The other end 51c of the guide 51 is located outside the left end surface 49a2 of the light transmission window 49a in the direction of the rotation axis. That is, the end 51c does not overlap with the light transmission window 49a in the rotation axis direction. Moreover, the guide part 51 is inclined and arrange | positioned toward the notch part 46a3 of the scraping part 46a21 from the edge part 51b. In other words, the guide part 51 is disposed so as to incline from the outer side to the inner side in the rotational axis direction as it advances in the rotational direction of the scraping part 46a21.

  FIG. 8 is a view when the scraping portion 46 a 21 is in contact with the guide portion 51. 9 is a view when the scraping portion 46a21 contacts the guide portion 51 on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the scraping portion 46a21 with respect to FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the scraping portion 46a21 is curved in both the rotational radius direction and the rotational axis direction of the scraping portion 46a21. For this reason, inflection points 46a24 and 46a31 are generated at the free end 46a23 and the notch 46a3 of the scraping part 46a21, respectively.

  Next, the bending in the rotational radius direction of the scraping portion 46a21 gradually decreases as the scraping portion 46a21 rotates. Therefore, the inflection points 46a24 and 46a31 move toward the corner 46a27 side of the free end of the scraping part 46a21 as the scraping part 46a21 rotates. As a result, the toner to be conveyed is conveyed in the direction of the cut portion 46a3 in the rotation axis direction as the inflection points 46a24 and 46a31 move (in the direction of arrow A in FIGS. 8 and 9). Thereafter, the deflection of the scraping portion 46a21 is released immediately before passing through the end 51c of the guide portion 51 on the developing roller side. At that time, the amount of toner remaining in the scraping portion 46a21 decreases, and the amount of toner that jumps up and returns to the light transmission windows 49a and 49b decreases. Thereby, the remaining toner amount detection accuracy is improved.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the end 51b may be located outside the left end surface 49a2 of the light transmission window 49a in the direction of the rotation axis.

Example 2
FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the developing device 4 for explaining the second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the end 51d is provided inside the right end surface 49a3 of the light transmission window 49a in the rotation axis direction of the sheet member 46a2. And the guide part 51 is arrange | positioned so that it may incline toward the right end part 46a25 of the scraping part 46a21 from the edge part 51d. In other words, the guide part 51 is disposed so as to incline from the inner side to the outer side in the rotation axis direction as it advances in the rotation direction of the scraping part 46a21.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram when the scraping portion 46 a 21 is in contact with the guide portion 51. As shown in FIG. 12, the scraping portion 46a21 is curved in both the rotational radius direction and the rotational axis direction of the scraping portion 46a21. Therefore, inflection points 46a26 and 46a32 are generated at the free end 46a23 and the axial end 46a25 of the scraping portion 46a21, respectively.

  Next, the bending in the rotational radius direction of the scraping portion 46a21 gradually decreases as the scraping portion 46a21 rotates. Therefore, the inflection points 46a26 and 46a32 move toward the corner 46a28 side of the free end of the scraping portion 46a21 as the scraping portion 46a21 rotates. As a result, the toner to be conveyed is conveyed in the direction of the end 46a25 of the scraping portion 46a21 along with the movement of the inflection points 46a26 and 46a32 (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 12). Thereafter, the deflection of the scraping portion 46a21 is released immediately before passing through the end 51e on the developing roller side of the guide portion 51. At that time, the amount of toner remaining in the scraping portion 46a21 decreases, and the amount of toner that jumps up and returns to the light transmission windows 49a and 49b decreases. Thereby, the remaining toner amount detection accuracy is improved.

  Further, the end 51d of the present embodiment is located inside the right end surface 49a3 of the light transmission window 49a in the rotation axis direction, but may be located outside the right end surface 49a3.

Example 3
FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of the developing device 4 for explaining the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram immediately before the scraping portion 46 a 21 gets over the guide portion 51.

  As shown in FIG. 13, in the present embodiment, the end 51b is located inside the left end surface 49a2 of the light transmission window 49a in the rotation axis direction of the sheet member 46a2. Further, the end 51c is located outside the left end surface 49a2 of the light transmission window 49a in the rotation axis direction of the sheet member 46a2. And the guide part 51 is inclined and arrange | positioned toward the outer side rather than the notch part 46a3 of the scraping part 46a21 from the edge part 51b. By disposing the guide portion 51 in an inclined manner, the scraping portion 46a21 is curved in both the rotational radius direction and the rotational axis direction of the scraping portion 46a21, as in the first embodiment. For this reason, inflection points 46a24 and 46a31 are generated at the free end 46a23 and the notch 46a3 of the scraping part 46a21, respectively.

  Next, the bending in the rotational radius direction of the scraping portion 46a21 gradually decreases as the scraping portion 46a21 rotates. Therefore, the inflection points 46a24 and 46a31 move toward the corner 46a27 side of the free end of the scraping part 46a21 as the scraping part 46a21 rotates. Thus, the conveyed toner is conveyed in the direction of the cut portion 46a3 in the axial direction of the scraping portion 46a21 as the inflection points 46a24 and 46a31 move (in the direction of arrow A in FIGS. 8 and 9).

  Further, in the present embodiment, the guide portion 51 is disposed so as to incline from the inside to the outside of the cut portion 46a3 of the scraping portion 46a21 in the rotation axis direction. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 14, the scraping portion 46a21 is freed from bending by the left corner portion 46a27 at the free end in the rotational radius direction of the scraping portion 46a21 getting over the guide portion 51. Therefore, the toner that jumps up due to the repulsive force generated when the deflection of the scraping portion 46a21 is released can be skewed leftward (in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 14). Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the amount of the splashed toner adhering to the light transmission windows 49a and 49b. Thereby, the remaining toner amount detection accuracy can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the end 51b is positioned inside the left end surface 49a2 of the light transmission window 49a in the rotation axis direction, but may be positioned outside the left end surface 49a2.

  In addition, the end 51b may be provided inside or outside the right end surface 49a3 of the light transmission window 49a. At this time, the toner that jumps up due to the repulsive force that is generated when the deflection of the scraping portion 46a21 is released can be blown diagonally to the right in the rotation axis direction.

Example 4
FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of the developing device 4 for explaining the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, two guide portions 52a and 52b are provided so as to be symmetric with respect to the center line of the light transmission window 49a. Of the guide part 52a, the end part 52a1 on the light transmission window 49a side is located inside the left end surface 49a2 of the light transmission window 49a in the rotation axis direction of the scraping part 46a21. And the guide part 52a is inclined and arrange | positioned so that it may extend from the inner side to the outer side of the notch part 46a3 of the scraping part 46a21 from the edge part 52a1.

  On the other hand, the end portion 52b1 on the light transmission window 49a side in the guide portion 52b is located inside the right end surface 49a3 of the light transmission window 49a in the rotation axis direction. And the guide part 52b is inclined and arrange | positioned so that it may extend from the inner side to the outer side of the edge part 46a25 of the scraping part 46a21 from the edge part 52b1. For this reason, the distance H between guide parts of the guide part 52a and the guide part 52b spreads as it goes to the rotation direction downstream of the scraping part 46a21. Therefore, the contact positions 52a3 and 52b3 in the scraping portion 46a21 and the guide portions 52a and 52b move toward the respective end portions 46a3 and 46a25 in the rotation axis direction as the scraping portion 46a21 rotates.

  FIG. 16 is a view when the scraping portion 46a21 comes into contact with the guide portions 52a and 52b. 17 is a view when the scraping portion 46a21 contacts the guide portions 52a and 52b on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the scraping portion 46a21 with respect to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the scraping portion 46a21 is curved in both the rotational radius direction and the rotational axis direction of the scraping portion 46a21. Therefore, inflection points 46a29, 46a30, 46a33, and 46a34 are generated at the free end 46a23 of the scraping portion 46a21 and the axial end portions 46a3 and 46a25 of the scraping portion 46a21, respectively.

  Next, the bending in the rotational radius direction of the scraping portion 46a21 gradually decreases as the scraping portion 46a21 rotates. Therefore, the inflection points 46a29 and 46a33 move toward the corner 46a27 side of the free end of the scraping portion 46a21 as the scraping portion 46a21 rotates.

  On the other hand, the inflection points 46a30 and 46a34 move toward the corner 46a28 side of the free end of the scraping portion 46a21 as the scraping portion 46a21 rotates. As a result, the conveyed toner is conveyed in the direction of the cut portion 46a3 in the axial direction of the scraping portion 46a21 and the other end portion 46a25 along with the movement of the inflection point (in the directions of arrows D and E in FIG. ).

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the guide portion 52a is disposed to be inclined so as to extend from the inside to the outside of the cut portion 46a3 of the scraping portion 46a21. Moreover, the guide part 52b is inclined and arrange | positioned so that it may extend outside from the inner side of the axial direction edge part 46a25 of the scraping part 46a21. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, the left and right corners 46a27 and 46a28 of the free end in the rotational radius direction of the scraping part 46a21 get over the guide parts 52a and 52b, respectively, and the bending is released. Therefore, the toner that jumps up due to the repulsive force generated when releasing the bending of the scraping portion 46a21 can be blown in the left and right oblique directions (in the directions of arrows F and G in FIG. 17). Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the amount of toner that has jumped up and returns to the light transmission windows 49a and 49b. Thereby, the remaining toner detection accuracy can be further improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus including the process cartridge in which the developing device including the developer container is integrated with the electrophotographic photosensitive member has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention similarly applies to an image forming apparatus in which the electrophotographic photosensitive member is fixed to the apparatus main body and the developing device is a detachable developing cartridge with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. Can be adopted. The image forming apparatus of the present invention is not limited to a multicolor image forming apparatus.

  Since the configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus according to these modified modes are well known to those skilled in the art, detailed description thereof is omitted.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the process cartridge which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view of a process cartridge according to the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a developing device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a partial view of a sheet member configured in accordance with the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the toner stirring member comprised according to this invention. FIG. 3 is a top view of the toner stirring member according to the first embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the sheet | seat member which concerns on a 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing of the sheet | seat member which concerns on a 1st Example. FIG. 3 is a top view of the toner stirring member according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a top view of a toner stirring member according to a second embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the sheet | seat member which concerns on a 2nd Example. FIG. 6 is a top view of a toner stirring member according to a third embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the sheet | seat member which concerns on a 3rd Example. FIG. 10 is a top view of a toner stirring member according to a fourth embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the sheet | seat member which concerns on 4th Example. It is explanatory drawing of the sheet | seat member which concerns on 4th Example. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the conventional developing device. It is sectional drawing of the conventional image development apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Photosensitive drum (electrophotographic photosensitive member)
2 Charging roller (charging means)
3 Scanner unit (exposure means)
4 Developing device (Developing means)
5 Transfer Device 6 Cleaning Device 7 Process Cartridge 10 Transfer Belt 11 Transfer Roller (Transfer Unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Feed part 16 Feed cassette 19 Fixing part 20 Fixing roller pair 23a Light emitting member 23b Light receiving member 40 Developing frame (developing container)
42 Developing roller (developer carrier)
43 Toner supply roller 44 Developing blade 45 Toner container (developer storage container)
46 Toner stirring member 46a First stirring member 46a1 Rod member 46a2 Sheet member 46b Second stirring member 46b1 Rod member 46b2 Sheet member 47 Bearing member 47a Hole 48 Bearing member 48a Hole 49 Light transmitting window 49a First light transmitting window 49b Second light transmitting window 50 Light guide 51 Guide portion 60 Cleaning frame 61 Cleaning member 61a Cleaning blade 61b Cleaning blade support sheet metal 100 Image forming apparatus S Recording medium L Detection light

Claims (8)

In a developer storage container for storing a developer used in an image forming apparatus,
A light transmissive light transmitting portion for detecting the amount of developer in the developer storage container by transmitted light;
In order to clean the light transmission portion, a sheet member having elasticity provided rotatably in the developer storage container;
A guide that is disposed downstream of the light transmitting portion in the rotation direction of the sheet member, protrudes inward of the developer storage container to abut against the free end of the sheet member and to restrict the bending of the sheet member. And
Have
The guide portion has a shape that gradually reduces the bending of the sheet member as it goes downstream in the rotation direction of the sheet member, and is arranged to be separated from the light transmission portion in the rotation axis direction of the sheet member. A developer storage container.   2. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion is disposed from the inner side to the outer side of the end portion of the sheet member in a rotation axis direction of the sheet member.   3. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion is disposed on both sides of the light transmission portion in a rotation axis direction of the sheet member. In the developing device detachable from the image forming apparatus,
A developer carrying member carrying the developer;
The developer storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A developing device comprising: In a process cartridge detachable from an image forming apparatus,
An image carrier;
A developer carrier for carrying a developer for developing a latent image formed on the image carrier;
The developer storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A process cartridge comprising: In an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium,
An image carrier;
A developer carrier for developing a latent image formed on the image carrier;
A developer storage container for storing a developer to be supplied to the developer carrier;
A light emitting member for allowing light to pass through the developer container;
A light receiving member for detecting light that has passed through the developer container;
A light-transmitting light transmitting portion disposed in the developer storage container for detecting the amount of developer in the developer storage container by transmitted light;
In order to clean the light transmission portion, a sheet member having elasticity provided rotatably in the developer storage container;
A guide portion that is disposed on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the sheet member with respect to the light transmission portion, and protrudes to the inside of the developer storage container in order to abut against the free end of the sheet member and restrict the bending of the sheet member. When,
Have
The guide portion has a shape that gradually reduces the bending of the sheet member as it goes downstream in the rotation direction of the sheet member, and is disposed so as to be separated from the light transmission portion in the rotation axis direction of the sheet member. An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the guide portion is disposed from the inner side to the outer side of the end portion of the sheet member in a rotation axis direction of the sheet member.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the guide portion is disposed on both sides of the light transmission portion in a rotation axis direction of the sheet member.

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