JP2008129336A - Developer cartridge, developing device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developer cartridge capable of supplying developer in a developer storage body to a developing device without wasting it, and to provide a developing device and an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The developer cartridge 31 includes: the developer storage body formed from an outer frame 35 and a third frame 37, storing developer, and having a developer supply port 45 through which the stored developer is supplied to the developing device; and a moving member 47 formed in the space of the developer storage body storing the developer, and moved while scraping developer T adhering to the walls W, which form the space inside the developer storage body, as the developer decreases. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer cartridge, a developing device, and an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic printer, a copier, or a multifunction machine, the surface of a photosensitive drum as an image carrier is uniformly charged by a charging device, and an LED is formed on the surface of the charged photosensitive drum. A developer is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum by forming a latent image with an exposure device such as (Light Emitting Diode) and electrostatically attaching the developer thinned on the developing roller onto the latent image. Develop the image. The developer used in the developing device provided in such an image forming apparatus is supplied from a developer cartridge that is detachable from the developing device.

  The developer cartridge supplies a developer contained in a predetermined developer container to a developing device from a supply port formed in the developer container. Such a developer cartridge is formed so as to be detachable from the developing device as described above. However, when the developer inside the developer collector is consumed, the old developer cartridge and the new developer cartridge are used. To replace the developer. When the developer is supplied from the developer cartridge to the developing device, the developer stored in the developer container of the developer cartridge falls due to gravity and flows out from the supply port to the developing device. As such a developer cartridge, there is a developer cartridge described in Patent Document 1.

JP 2000-181224 A

  However, when such a developer cartridge is used, the developer inside the developer container is dropped due to the weight of the developer particles, so the developer stuck to the inner wall of the developer container is transferred to the developing device. It cannot be supplied. Therefore, in such a developer cartridge, in anticipation that the developer sticks to the inner wall of the developer container and cannot be used, a developer of a specified amount or more must be accommodated in the developer cartridge, Increased costs.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and a developer cartridge, a developing device, and an image forming apparatus that can supply the developer inside the developer container to the developing device without waste. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a developer cartridge according to the present invention includes a developer container that includes a developer and a supply port that supplies the accommodated developer to the developing device, and the developer container. And a moving member that moves while scraping off the developer attached to the wall surface of the internal space in accordance with a decrease in the developer.

  According to this configuration, the developer cartridge according to the present invention can scrape off the developer attached to the wall surface of the internal space of the developer container in accordance with the decrease of the developer by the moving member. Then, by scraping off the developer adhering to the wall surface, the developer inside the developer container can be supplied to the developing device without waste.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a developing device according to the present invention includes a developer container in which a developer supply port is formed to store a developer and supply the stored developer, and the developer container. A developer cartridge having a moving member formed in an internal space in which the developer is accommodated and moving while scraping off the developer attached to the wall surface of the internal space in accordance with a decrease in the developer. A latent image carrier that carries a latent image based thereon, and a developer image that is supplied to the latent image carrier from the developer supply port of the developer cartridge and is based on the latent image. And a developer supply body for forming the toner.

  According to this configuration, the developing device according to the present invention can scrape off the developer attached to the wall surface of the internal space of the developer container according to the decrease in the developer by the moving member of the developer cartridge. The developer scraped off from the wall surface is supplied to the developer supply body via the developer supply port. Then, the developer supply body supplies the supplied developer to the latent image carrier. Thus, the developing device can supply the developer inside the developer container to the developing device without waste.

  In addition, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention stores a developer container in which a developer supply port for supplying a developer and supplying the stored developer is formed, and the developer in the developer container is stored. A developer cartridge having a moving member that is formed in the inner space and moves while scraping off the developer adhering to the wall surface of the inner space in accordance with a decrease in the developer, and carries a latent image based on image information A latent image carrier and a developer supplier that forms a developer image based on the latent image by supplying the developer supplied from the developer supply port of the developer cartridge to the latent image carrier. A transfer device that transfers the developer image developed by the developer device onto a recording medium, and the developer image transferred onto the recording medium by the transfer device. Characterized in that it comprises a fixing device for fixing on the body.

  According to this configuration, the image forming apparatus can scrape off the developer attached to the wall surface of the internal space of the developer container according to the decrease in the developer by the moving member of the developer cartridge. The developer scraped off from the wall surface is supplied to the developer supply body via the developer supply port. The image forming apparatus supplies the supplied developer to the latent image carrier with the developer supply body. The image forming apparatus can transfer the developer image formed on the latent image carrier with the transfer device onto the recording medium and fix the developer image on the recording medium with the fixing device. At this time, the image forming apparatus can scrape off the developer adhering to the wall surface of the internal space of the developer accommodating portion by the moving member, so the developer inside the developer accommodating portion is supplied to the developing device without waste, It can be used to form a developer image.

  Thus, according to the present invention, the developer inside the developer container can be supplied to the developing device without waste.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment is an electrophotographic color printer, and uses a developing device corresponding to each color of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, and a developer in a developer cartridge attached to the developing device. The developer image based on the image information is printed on the paper.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 according to the first embodiment includes four developing devices 3C, 3M, 3Y, and 3K that are detachably formed on the printer 1. In the following description, the development devices 3 are collectively referred to as “development devices 3C, 3M, 3Y, and 3K” when they are not distinguished.

  The developing device 3 is formed to be detachable from the printer 1 and develops a developer image based on image information input from a host device such as an information processing device. The developer image developed by the developing device 3 is transferred onto the paper by the transfer roller 5. At this time, the sheet onto which the developer image is transferred is accumulated on the stacker 7 and is conveyed to the conveying device 9 in the direction of arrow A by a conveying unit (not shown) at the time of printing.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 3 has a photosensitive drum 13 that carries a latent image exposed by the exposure head 11, a charging roller 15 that charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 13, and a photosensitive member. A developing roller 17 that attaches the developer to the latent image carried on the surface of the drum 13, a sponge roller 19 that supplies the developer to the developing roller 17, and a layer that forms a uniform developer layer on the developing roller 17. Forming blade 21. In such a developing device 3, the developer accumulated in the housing 23 of the developing device 3 is supplied to the developing roller 17 by the sponge roller 19 while being stirred by the developer stirring member 25 that stirs the developer. The developer supplied to the developing roller 17 is uniformly leveled by the layer forming blade 21. The exposure head 11 irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 uniformly charged by the charging roller 15 with LED (Light Emitting Diode) light, and removes the charge of the irradiated portion. The exposure head 11 includes an LED array arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the paper transport direction, and controls the light emission of each LED element constituting the LED array in accordance with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 13 in the arrow B direction. Thus, the latent image for one line is exposed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13. Then, when the photosensitive drum 13 rotates in the direction of arrow B, the developing roller 17 attaches the developer to the latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 and places the developer image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13. develop. The photosensitive drum 13 having the developer image developed on the surface thereof is further rotated in the direction of arrow B, and the sheet conveyed by the conveying device 9 is nipped and conveyed together with the transfer roller 5 to which a constant bias voltage is applied. As a result, the developer image is transferred onto the paper. Then, the sheet on which the developer image is transferred is conveyed by the conveying device 9 in the downstream direction of the medium conveying path. The developer image transferred onto the paper is fixed on the paper by being heated and pressurized by the fixing device 27. The paper on which the developer image is fixed is discharged outside the printer 1 and provided to the user.

  Further, the developing device 3 includes a cleaning blade 29 that scrapes off the developer remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 without being transferred onto the sheet. The cleaning blade 29 scrapes off the surface of the photosensitive drum 13, and the scraped waste developer is collected in a waste developer reservoir 31. The developer collected in the waste developer reservoir 31 is accommodated in the waste developer accommodating portion by a developer conveying means (not shown). Note that the waste developer container is formed in the developer cartridge 33, for example.

  The developer cartridge 33 contains developer of any one color of cyan, magenta, yellow, or black, and is formed to be detachable from the developing device 3 corresponding to the stored color. Further, when the developer cartridge 33 is attached to the developing device 3, the developer cartridge 33 supplies the developer to the developing device 3 from a developer supply port described later.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the developer cartridge 33 includes an outer frame 35 that stores the developer and a side frame 37 that seals the outer frame 35. In the following, for convenience of explanation, detailed explanation will be given using the three-dimensional orthogonal coordinates shown in FIG. In this case, the X-axis direction indicates the upper direction when the printer 1, the developer cartridge 33, etc. are arranged in a normal use state, the Y-axis direction indicates the arrangement direction of the LED array of the exposure head 11, and the Z-axis direction indicates The sheet conveying direction is shown.

  The outer frame 35 is hollow and has a length in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) that is substantially the same as the length of the photosensitive drum 13, the developing roller 17 and the like in the axial direction, and the length of the LED array. Are formed. The cross section in the XZ plane of the outer frame 35 is a substantially semicircular opening / closing member insertion for inserting a substantially rectangular developer accommodating portion 39 for accommodating the developer and a supply port opening / closing member 41 as shown in FIG. Part 43. The cross section of the outer frame 35 in the XZ plane is formed by overlapping the straight portion of the opening / closing member insertion portion 43 on the short side of the developer accommodating portion 39 in the Z-axis direction. And the space which connected by the opening-and-closing member insertion part 43 is formed.

  Further, the outer frame 35 includes a developer supply port 45 that supplies the developer to the developing device 3 at the bottom in the X-axis direction. The developer supply port 45 is formed on a surface where the developer cartridge 33 contacts the developing device 3 when the developer cartridge 33 is mounted on the developing device 3. Specifically, the developer supply port 45 is formed at the bottom of the opening / closing member insertion portion 43 across the Y-axis direction. The developer supplied from the developer supply port 45 to the developing device 3 flows into the housing 23 from a developer inlet (not shown) formed in the housing 23 of the developing device 3.

  Further, the outer frame 35 includes a guide rail 49 that supports a moving member 47 as shown in FIG. In the guide rail 49, two plate-like rail members 49a and 49b are arranged on the upper surface (surface in the X-axis direction) of the developer accommodating portion 39 with a certain distance from each other and substantially parallel to the Y-axis direction. It is formed by doing. And these rail members 49a and 49b are provided with the guide groove 49c for sliding the projection part which the movement member 47 mentions later. The guide groove 49c is formed in the mutually opposing surface of the rail members 49a and 49b in a straight line parallel to the Y axis over the longitudinal direction of the outer frame 35.

  Protrusions 51a and 51b for engaging the side frame 37 are provided near the end of the outer frame 35 in the Y-axis direction along the periphery of the XZ cross section. The protrusions 51 a and 51 b engage with the engagement holes 53 a and 53 b formed in the side frame 37, thereby fixing the outer frame 35 and the side frame 37 to each other.

  The side frame 37 is fixed to a side portion of the outer frame 35 and seals the developer accommodating portion 39 and the opening / closing member insertion portion 43 by covering the outer frame 35. Such a side frame 37 has substantially the same cross-sectional shape as the XZ cross-sectional shape of the outer frame 35.

  A developer stirring member 55 is disposed inside the outer frame 35.

  The developer agitating member 55 is installed in the vicinity of the center of a pseudo circle that forms the opening / closing member insertion portion 43, and is formed by the developer accommodating portion 39 and the opening / closing member insertion portion 43 by rotating around the Y axis. Stir the developer inside the space. Such a developer stirring member 55 is configured by fixing a stirring surface 59 around a predetermined shaft 57. The shaft 57 is connected to a drive gear (not shown) of the developing device 3 via a drive drive gear 61 formed on the side frame 37, and rotates in accordance with the driving operation of the drive gear (not shown). In such a developer agitating member 55, when the shaft 57 rotates, the agitating surface 59 rotates around the shaft 57, thereby agitating the developer.

  The supply port opening / closing member 41 opens and closes the developer supply port 45 by rotating around the Y axis. Specifically, when the developer supply port 45 is opened, the supply port opening / closing member 41 is configured so that the developer supply port 45 communicates with the space formed by the developer accommodating portion 39 and the opening / closing member insertion portion 43. Moving. On the other hand, when closing the developer supply port 45, the supply port opening / closing member 41 is located at a position interposed between the developer supply port 45 and the space formed by the developer accommodating portion 39 and the opening / closing member insertion portion 43. Moving.

  Such a supply port opening / closing member 41 includes a frame member 63 having an arc-shaped cross section in the XZ plane, and a plurality of rib members 65 extending from the frame member 63 so as to draw a circle. The cross section of the supply port opening / closing member 41 in the XZ plane forms a circle corresponding to a pseudo circle forming the opening / closing member insertion portion 43 by the frame member 63 and the rib member 65. In addition, the frame member 63 includes a developer outlet 67a having substantially the same shape as the developer supply port 45, and a seal sponge 67b attached around the developer outlet 67a. When the supply port opening / closing member 41 is inserted into the opening / closing member insertion portion 43 and the user rotates the supply port opening / closing member 41 around the Y axis via the handle portion 69, the developer outlet 67a is supplied with developer. It is formed so as to communicate with the mouth 45. When the developer supply port 45 and the developer outlet 67a communicate with each other, the developer inside the space formed by the developer accommodating portion 39 and the opening / closing member insertion portion 43 is transferred to the developer supply port 45 and the developer. It flows into the developing device 3 through the outflow port 67a. On the other hand, when the user rotates the supply port opening / closing member 41 around the Y axis in the direction opposite to the above via the handle portion 69, the developer supply port 45 and the developer outlet 67a do not communicate with each other. The developer supply port 45 is closed by the frame member 63. Further, at this time, the seal sponge 67b formed on the outer side of the substantially arc shape of the frame member 63 covers the developer supply port 45, and the gap between the developer supply port 45 and the frame member 63 is hermetically sealed. The developer is prevented from flowing out from the gap.

  The moving member 47 moves while scraping off the developer attached to the wall surface of the internal space formed by the outer frame 35 and the side frame 37. Specifically, the moving member 47 includes a partition plate member 71 having substantially the same shape as the surface formed in the YZ plane when the outer frame 35 and the side frame 37 are fixed, and the partition plate member 71. Arm members 73a and 73b fixed to the upper main surface of the partition plate 71, and an elastic film member 75 formed around the YZ plane of the partition plate member 71.

  The partition plate member 71 has substantially the same shape as the cross section in the YZ plane formed when the outer frame 35 and the side frame 37 are fixed to each other. Such a partition plate member 71 has, for example, a metal material, ABS resin, PS resin or the like having a bending strength of a certain level or more in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction when the outer frame 35 and the side frame 37 are fixed to each other. And formed in a rectangular shape substantially the same as the cross section in the YZ plane.

  The arm members 73a and 73b stabilize the operation of the partition plate member 71 in the X-axis direction. Specifically, one end of each of the arm members 73a and 73b is rotatably supported by the upper main surface of the partition plate member 71, and the other end is formed on the guide rail 49 of the outer frame 35 so as to be slidable in the Y-axis direction. . Further, the width of the arm members 73a and 73b in the Z-axis direction is substantially the same as the width between the rail members 49a and 49b. Further, the arm member 73 a is formed at a point-symmetrical position with respect to the arm member 73 b via the center of gravity of the partition plate member 71. Further, the arm members 73 a and 73 b are formed at the center portion of the partition plate member 71 in the short direction. Thereby, when the partition plate member 71 moves in the X-axis direction according to the operation of the arm members 73a and 73b, the arm members 73a and 73b can be moved while keeping the partition plate member 71 substantially horizontal. .

  Further, the arm members 73a and 73b include a protrusion 77 that slides inside the guide groove 49c of the guide rail 49 in the vicinity of the other end. The protrusion 77 is formed in the vicinity of the other end of the arm members 73a and 73b so as to protrude in parallel with the Z axis from the side surfaces of the arm members 73a and 73b. The arm members 73a and 73b are provided with such protrusions 77 on each side surface in the Z-axis direction of the arm members 73a and 73b. The protrusions 77 formed on both side surfaces are formed in a straight line with each other in the Z-axis direction. Such a protruding portion 77 is guided to the guide groove 49 c and the moving member 47 is suspended inside the space formed by the outer frame 35 and the side frame 37, so that the arm members 73 a and 73 b drop from the guide rail 49. This can be prevented.

  The moving member 47 includes a spring 79 that biases the arm members 73 a and 73 b from the partition plate member 71 between the arm members 73 a and 73 b and the partition plate member 71.

  The spring 79 applies an urging force to the arm members 73a and 73b. Such a spring 79 is provided corresponding to each arm member 73a, 73b, and is formed so that the same force can be applied to each arm member 73a, 73b. Specifically, the spring 79 is a spring member having a substantially L shape in a state where no load is applied, one end is fixed to the upper main surface of the partition plate member 71, and the other end is an extension of the arm members 73a and 73b. It is formed along the existing direction. Such a spring 79 biases the arm members 73a and 73b so as to push the arm members 73a and 73b upward around the Z axis. In this case, when the weight of the partition plate member 71 is W (g) and the maximum biasing force applied to the arm members 73a and 73b by the spring 79 is F (g), the weight W of the partition plate member 71 is set. It is preferable to satisfy the inequality of (g) ≧ maximum urging force F (g). Thereby, for example, even when the user opens the developer supply port 45 with the developer supply port 45 facing upward, the partition plate member 71 is separated from the developer supply port 45 by the arm members 73a and 73b. It is possible to prevent the developer from overflowing from the developer supply port 45.

  The elastic film member 75 is pressed against the wall surface of the internal space formed by the outer frame 35 and the side frame 37, and scrapes off the developer attached to the wall surface as the partition plate member 71 moves in the X-axis direction. Such an elastic film member 75 is formed of, for example, a urethane film, a urethane sponge, a PET film or the like having a certain elasticity, and is formed around the periphery of the partition plate member 71 in the YZ plane. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the elastic film member 75 includes, for example, a first member 71a and a second member 71b in a partition plate member 71 configured by superimposing a first member 71a and a second member 71b. Sandwiched between and fixed. Specifically, the first member 71 a and the second member 71 b include an engaging portion 81 and an engaging hole 83 that can be engaged with each other. Then, the first member 71a inserts the engaging portion 81 into the engaging hole 83 while inserting the engaging portion 81 into the insertion hole 85 formed in the elastic film member 75, and the elastic film member 75 is inserted into the second hole 71. It is sandwiched between the member 71b. The elastic film member 75 fixed to the partition plate member 71 in this manner is bent between the partition plate member 71 and the wall surface W of the internal space formed by the outer frame 35 and the side frame 37. Placed in. Then, when the partition plate member 71 moves in the negative direction of the X axis with the elastic film member 75 being bent, the elastic film member 75 scrapes off the developer T adhering to the wall surface W, and the partition plate member 71. Move in the same direction.

  The outer frame 35, the side frame 37, the moving member 47, and the supply port opening / closing member 41 are assembled as shown in FIG. Specifically, first, the supply port opening / closing member 41 is inserted into the opening / closing member insertion portion 43. At this time, the supply port opening / closing member 41 is inserted into the opening / closing member insertion portion 43 so that the developer stirring member 55 is inserted into a circle formed by the rib member 65 and the frame member 63 of the supply port opening / closing member 41. The The moving member 47 is movably installed inside the space formed by the outer frame 35 and the side frame 37 via the guide rail 49. At this time, the moving member 47 guides the two protrusions 77 of the arm member 73b to the guide groove 49c and slides them in the negative direction of the Y axis, and then moves the two protrusions 77 of the arm member 73a to the guide groove. By being guided to 49c, it is installed substantially horizontally inside the space. When the moving member 47 is installed substantially horizontally inside the space, a space partitioned by the moving member 47 is formed above and below the moving member 47. The developer cartridge 33 is assembled by fixing the side frame 37 to the outer frame 35 via the engagement holes 53a and 53b and the protrusions 51a and 51b after the moving member 47 is installed. At this time, the developer is stored in a space formed below the moving member 47.

  Such a developer cartridge 33 is in a state as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 when a predetermined amount of developer is stored. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the AA ′ cross section, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the BB ′ cross section.

  When a predetermined amount of developer is stored, the partition plate member 71 is located above the space formed by the outer frame 35 and the side frame 37 in the X-axis direction. At this time, the arm members 73a and 73b are positioned such that the protrusion 77 slides in the guide groove 49c and the other end portions of the arm members 73a and 73b are close to each other. In such a state, since the spring 79 is in a compressed state, the partition plate member 71 is urged toward the developer supply port 45. When the developer is supplied to the developing device 3 from the developer supply port 45 and the amount of the developer is reduced, the partition plate member 71 is moved by the biasing force of the spring 79 as the developer interface decreases. It moves in the direction of the supply port 45. When the partition plate member 71 moves in the direction of the developer supply port 45, the arm members 73a and 73b gradually shift to an upright state while sliding the protrusion 77 inside the guide groove 49c. When the partition plate member 71 moves in the direction of the developer supply port 45, the elastic film member 75 pressed against the wall surface W moves the wall surface W in the negative direction of the X axis while being bent. The developer T adhering to the wall surface W is scraped off from the wall surface W by the elastic film member 75. The developer T thus scraped off is mixed with the developer supplied to the developing device 3 and supplied to the developing device 3.

  Then, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, when the partition plate member 71 reaches a position close to the rib member 65 and the arm members 73a and 73b are in an upright state, the movement of the partition plate member 71 is stopped. To do. At this time, by adjusting the lengths of the arm members 73a and 73b so that the lower main surface of the partition plate member 71 comes into contact with the rib member 65 while the arm members 73a and 73b are upright, A lot of developer can be scraped off the wall surface W.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the developer T can be scraped off from the wall surface W by making the cross-sectional shape of the partition plate member 71 in the YZ plane into a curved shape that is convex upward. .

  As described above, according to the printer 1 according to the first embodiment, since the developer inside the developer cartridge 33 can be used without waste, the amount of developer filling can be saved and the cost of the developer can be reduced. Can be reduced.

  Next, a second embodiment of the printer according to the present invention will be described in detail. In the second embodiment, since there is a portion having the same configuration as the printer 1, the same reference numeral is given to the portion, and detailed description is omitted.

  The developer cartridge attached to the printer according to the second embodiment includes a waste developer storage unit that stores the developer scraped from the photosensitive drum and collected in the waste developer storage unit. The waste developer accommodating portion is formed by a space partitioned by the partition plate member of the moving member.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the developer cartridge 101 is formed by fixing an outer frame 35 and a side frame 103 to each other.

  In addition to the configuration of the developer cartridge 33, the developer cartridge 101 includes a waste developer storage unit 105 including an upper space partitioned by a partition plate member 71.

  The waste developer storage unit 105 stores the waste developer scraped off from the photosensitive drum 13. Such a waste developer container 105 is formed by an upper space defined by the moving member 47 in the internal space formed by the outer frame 35 and the side frame 103.

  In addition to the configuration of the side frame 37, the side frame 103 is a waste developer into which the waste developer conveyed by a waste developer conveyance unit (not shown) that conveys the waste developer collected in the waste developer reservoir 31 is introduced. The agent inlet 107 is provided.

  The waste developer inlet 107 is formed in the side frame 103 so as to be openable and closable. When the waste developer inlet 107 is opened, the waste developer inlet 105 communicates with the outside. Then, the waste developer that has flowed from the waste developer inlet 107 flows into the waste developer container 105. Such a waste developer inlet 107 is formed at an upper portion of the side frame 103, that is, at a position facing the developer supply port 45 through the partition plate member 71. The partition plate member 71 divides an internal space formed by the outer frame 35 and the side frame 103 into a waste developer storage unit 105 and a developer storage unit 39.

  Further, the developer cartridge 101 includes a transport member 109 that transports the waste developer that has flowed into the waste developer storage unit 105 to a depth of the waste developer storage unit 105.

  The conveying member 109 is configured to allow the waste developer flowing in from the end of the waste developer accommodating portion 105 on which the side frame 103 is formed, to a central portion of the waste developer accommodating portion 105 or a position deeper than the central portion (Z axis A spiral shape formed so that it can be conveyed to the direction). Such a conveying member 109 is driven by a driving force supplied from the driving gear 61 via the gear 111 and the gear 113. Further, the transport member 109 is formed in the waste developer storage unit 105 in the vicinity of the substantially central portion of the XY plane. In this way, the transport member 109 is formed in a substantially central portion in the XY plane, and the waste developer is transported to the vicinity of the substantially central portion in the XZ plane, whereby the waste developer is separated from the partition plate member 71. Accumulate at the center of gravity. Then, by transporting the waste developer to the vicinity of the central portion of the waste developer container 105 by the transport member 109, the partition plate member 71 can be prevented from being inclined due to the weight of the waste developer.

  At this time, the arm members 115 a and 115 b are formed so as to be positioned on a diagonal line of the upper main surface of the partition plate member 71. Specifically, the outer frame 35 is provided with two sets of rail members made up of two rails (not shown), and each rail member is formed in parallel with the Z axis and in the vicinity of the long side of the partition plate member 71. Is done. And each arm member 115a, 115b slides along the rail member corresponding to each similarly to arm member 73a, 73b, and moves the partition plate member 71 up and down. Thus, by forming the arm members 115a and 115b on the diagonal line of the partition plate member 71, the partition plate member 71 can be prevented from being inclined.

  As shown in FIG. 14, such a developer cartridge 101 has a large amount of unused developer in the developer accommodating portion 39 in a state immediately after the start of use, and therefore the partition plate member 71. Does not move downward due to drag of unused developer. The volume of the waste developer container 105 is smaller than the volume of the developer container 39. However, if the absolute value of the increase amount of the waste developer is compared with the absolute value of the decrease amount of the unused developer in a state immediately after the start of use, the absolute value of the increase amount of the waste developer is compared. Is overwhelmingly smaller than the absolute value of the amount of decrease in unused developer, even if the volume of the waste developer container 105 is made smaller than the volume of the developer container 39, The developer accommodating portion 105 does not overflow.

  As the use of the developer cartridge 101 proceeds, the unused developer decreases and the waste developer increases. When the unused developer decreases, the partition plate member 71 gradually moves downward, so that the volume of the waste developer accommodating portion 105 increases, while the volume of the developer accommodating portion 39 decreases. Then, by gradually increasing the volume of the waste developer container 105 according to the usage period of the developer cartridge 101, it is possible to prevent the waste developer from overflowing.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the ratio between the volume of the waste developer storage unit 105 and the volume of the developer storage unit 39 can be changed over time. The limited volume of the developer cartridge 101 can be effectively utilized without enlarging the size of the cartridge itself.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and each of the above configurations can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the bias is applied using the spring 79 in order to move the partition plate member 71 downward. However, for example, the partition plate member 71 itself can be formed of a material having a certain mass or more without using a spring to move the partition plate member 71 downward. Thus, the number of members can be reduced by not using a spring.

  In the above-described embodiment, the partition plate member 71 is suspended inside the space by the arm members 73 and 115. However, in order to scrape off the developer attached to the wall surface W, the partition plate member 71 is armed. There is no need to suspend the members 73 and 115, and it is sufficient if the partition plate member 71 is provided inside the space.

  In the above-described embodiment, the detailed description has been given using an electrophotographic color printer. However, the present invention can also be applied to a monochrome printer, a copier, an MFP, and the like.

1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus shown as a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a developing device provided in the image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a part of a developer cartridge provided in the developing device. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a supply port opening / closing member provided in the developer cartridge. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a moving member provided in the developer cartridge. It is principal part sectional drawing of the moving member, and is a figure for demonstrating the structure and effect | action of the moving member. FIG. 3 is a perspective view when the developer cartridge is assembled. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the developer cartridge taken along the line AA ′, for illustrating the operation of the developer cartridge. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the developer cartridge taken along the line BB ′ for explaining the operation of the developer cartridge. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the developer cartridge taken along the line AA ′, for illustrating the operation of the developer cartridge. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the developer cartridge taken along the line BB ′ for explaining the operation of the developer cartridge. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the developer cartridge. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of the developer cartridge shown as the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a view for explaining the operation of the developer cartridge. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the developer cartridge taken along the line BB ′ for explaining the operation of the developer cartridge. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the developer cartridge taken along the line BB ′ for explaining the operation of the developer cartridge.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 3C, 3M, 3Y, 3K Developing device 5 Transfer roller 7 Stacker 9 Conveying device 11 Exposure head 13 Photosensitive drum 15 Charging roller 17 Developing roller 19 Sponge roller 21 Layer formation blade 23 Housing 25 Developer stirring member 27 Fixing device 29 Cleaning blade 31 Waste developer reservoir 33 Developer cartridge 35 Outer frame 37 Side frame 39 Developer container 41 Supply port opening / closing member 43 Opening / closing member insertion portion 45 Developer supply port 47 Moving member 49 Guide rails 49a, 49b Rail member 49c Guide groove 55 Developer stirring member 63 Frame member 65 Rib member 67a Developer outlet 67b Seal sponge 71 Partition plate members 73a and 73b Arm member 75 Elastic film member 77 Protrusion 79 Spring 101 Developer cartridge 103 Side Frame 105 waste developer containing portion 105 developer accommodating portion 107 waste developer inlet 109 conveying member 115a, 115b arm member

Claims (11)

A developer container in which a developer supply port is formed for containing the developer and supplying the stored developer to the developing device;
A moving member that is formed in an internal space in which the developer is accommodated in the developer container and moves while scraping off the developer attached to the wall surface of the internal space in accordance with a decrease in the developer,
A developer cartridge. A waste developer inlet for allowing the transported waste developer to flow into the internal space;
The moving member communicates the internal space with the waste developer inflow port, a waste developer accommodating portion that accommodates the waste developer, and a developer that communicates with the developer supply port and supplies the developer to the developing device. It was formed so as to be divided into a developer accommodating portion to be accommodated,
The developer cartridge according to claim 1. The waste developer inlet is formed at a position substantially opposite to the developer supply port via the moving member;
The developer cartridge according to claim 2. A waste developer transport unit that moves the waste developer that has flowed in from the waste developer inlet to the vicinity of a central portion of the internal space;
The developer cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the developer cartridge is characterized by the following. The moving member is
A plate-like member formed to have a certain gap with the wall surface of the internal space;
A developer scraping portion formed to be flexible and pressed against the wall surface of the internal space along the periphery of the plate-like member;
The developer cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the developer cartridge is characterized in that: The moving member is
An arm that suspends the plate-like member so as to move in the direction of the developer supply port in accordance with a decrease in the developer from the surface of the inner space facing the surface on which the developer supply port is formed. Comprising a member,
The developer cartridge according to claim 5. Two arm members having substantially the same shape are provided,
The two arm members are pivotally supported by the partition plate member at a point-symmetric position via the center of gravity of the partition plate member;
The developer cartridge according to claim 6. The moving member is
Comprising an elastic member for biasing the arm member from the partition plate member;
The developer cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the developer cartridge is characterized in that: The weight of the partition plate member is equal to or greater than the maximum biasing force of the elastic member;
The developer cartridge according to claim 8. A developer container in which a developer supply port for supplying the developer and supplying the stored developer is formed;
A developer cartridge having a moving member that is formed in an internal space in which the developer is accommodated in the developer container and moves while scraping off the developer attached to the wall surface of the internal space in accordance with a decrease in the developer. When,
A latent image carrier that carries a latent image based on image information;
A developer supply body for supplying the developer supplied from the developer supply port of the developer cartridge to the latent image carrier and forming a developer image based on the latent image;
A developing device. A developer container in which a developer supply port for supplying the developer and supplying the stored developer is formed;
A developer cartridge having a moving member that is formed in an internal space in which the developer is accommodated in the developer container and moves while scraping off the developer attached to the wall surface of the internal space in accordance with a decrease in the developer. When,
A latent image carrier that carries a latent image based on image information;
A developing device having a developer supply body configured to supply a developer supplied from the developer supply port of the developer cartridge to the latent image carrier and form a developer image based on the latent image;
A transfer device for transferring the developer image developed by the developing device onto a recording medium;
A fixing device for fixing the developer image transferred onto the recording medium by the transfer device onto the recording medium;
An image forming apparatus.