JP2010026292A - Supply cartridge container, developing device using the cartridge container, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a supply cartridge container which uniformizes the proportion of carrier in a lengthwise direction within a supply cartridge container attached to a developing device using two component developer. <P>SOLUTION: The supply cartridge container stores supply developer containing toner and carrier and is attached to the developing device. A carrier holding member is disposed on the external wall of the supply cartridge container and above the liquid level of the supply developer stored in the supply cartridge container, the carrier holding member being configured to extend in the lengthwise direction of the supply cartridge container and having magnetic attraction force substantially uniform in the lengthwise direction. The carrier contained in the supply developer is temporarily held by the magnetic attraction force of the carrier hold member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a replenishing cartridge container to be mounted on a developing device of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a developing device using the cartridge container, and an image forming apparatus. The present invention particularly relates to a replenishment cartridge container mounted on a trickle-type developing device that supplies a new developer little by little and discharges a deteriorated developer little by little, a developing device using the cartridge container, and an image. The present invention relates to a forming apparatus.

  As a developing method used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a one-component developing method using toner as a main component of a developer and a two-component developing method using toner and a carrier as main components of a developer are known. Yes.

  In the two-component development method using toner and carrier, both toner and carrier are charged with a predetermined polarity by frictional contact between the toner and carrier, so that the stress received by the toner is higher than that in the one-component development method using one-component developer. It has the feature that there are few. Since the surface area of the carrier is larger than that of the toner, the carrier is less likely to become dirty due to the toner adhering to the surface of the carrier. However, due to long-term use, dirt (spent) adhering to the carrier surface increases, and as a result, the ability to charge the toner gradually decreases. As a result, the problem of fogging and toner scattering occurs. In order to extend the life of the two-component developing device, it is conceivable to increase the amount of carrier accommodated in the developing device, but this is not desirable because it leads to an increase in the size of the developing device.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems related to the two-component developer, Patent Document 1 discloses that a new developer is gradually supplied into the developing device and a developer whose charging performance is deteriorated is gradually discharged from the developing device. Discloses a so-called trickle-type developing device that suppresses an increase in deteriorated carriers. This developing device is configured to discharge the excess deteriorated developer by using the fluctuation in the developer volume and to keep the developer bulk level in the developing device substantially constant. According to this trickle-type developing device, the deteriorated carrier in the developing device is gradually replaced with a new carrier, and the charging performance of the carrier in the developing device can be kept substantially constant.

  In the trickle-type developing device, the developer is replenished while discharging the developer in the developing device, so that the developer to be replenished is uniformly mixed at a certain rate. Is required. That the replenished developer is non-uniform means that a developer rich in toner or a carrier rich developer than a predetermined toner concentration is supplied to the developing device. When a developer richer in toner than a predetermined toner concentration is replenished, there is a problem that the toner concentration in the developing tank increases, and background fogging or toner scattering occurs. Further, when a developer richer in carrier than a predetermined toner concentration is replenished, there is a problem that a nearly new carrier that is hardly deteriorated is discharged from the developing tank.

  There has also been proposed a method in which a toner replenishment cartridge container and a carrier replenishment cartridge container are provided separately, and the necessary replenishment amounts of toner and carrier are separately charged into the developing tank. However, in such a configuration, two cartridge containers are required, and it is necessary to control the replenishment amounts of the toner and the carrier. Therefore, there is a problem that the apparatus is increased in size and cost.

Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a developer storage that suppresses the stirring action in the storage container by gradually reducing the volume of the supply container for the replenishment developer by the suction action of the powder pump. A container and an image forming apparatus are disclosed.
JP 59-1000047 A JP 2007-183348 A

  However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 has the following problems.

  That is, in the developer storage container of Patent Document 2, the developer is filled such that a predetermined ratio of the gap remains with respect to the volume of the developer storage container. Also, in the developer filling process, the carrier sinks (ie, the carrier ratio in the storage container) by releasing the air in the developer storage container or additionally charging a small amount of developer. Of the air gap is less likely to occur). However, in order to realize the developer filling method disclosed in Patent Document 2, there is a problem in that a complicated process and a large-scale manufacturing facility are required.

  Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is that the replenishment cartridge container in which the carrier ratio in the longitudinal direction is uniformized in the replenishment cartridge container mounted on the developing device using the two-component developer, and the cartridge container A developing device and an image forming apparatus using the toner.

Means and actions / effects for solving the problem

In order to solve the technical problem, according to the present invention,
A replenishment cartridge container that contains a replenishment developer containing toner and a carrier and is attached to a developing device,
On the outer wall surface of the supply cartridge container and above the liquid level of the supply developer stored in the supply cartridge container, it extends in the longitudinal direction of the supply cartridge container and is roughly in the longitudinal direction. A carrier holding member having the same magnetic attraction force is disposed,
Provided is a replenishment cartridge container in which the carrier contained in the replenishment developer is temporarily held by the magnetic adsorption force of the carrier holding member.

  According to the replenishment cartridge container, the carrier in the replenishment cartridge container is located on the inner wall surface of the replenishment cartridge container and above the liquid level of the replenishment developer due to the magnetic attraction force of the carrier holding member. , Temporarily held as a carrier layer. The carrier layer is held in approximately the same amount with respect to the longitudinal direction by a magnetic attractive force having substantially the same strength in the longitudinal direction. Further, the toner remains as a toner layer on the lower side in the refill cartridge container. That is, in the replenishment cartridge container, the carrier layer is separated into the carrier layer collected upward and the toner layer collected downward.

  In such a two-layer separated state, for example, when the carrier holding member is quickly moved in the longitudinal direction of the replenishment cartridge container, the magnetic adsorption force acting on the carrier is weakened. Detaches from the inner wall surface and falls onto the toner layer. At this time, the carrier layer held in approximately the same amount in the longitudinal direction sequentially falls on the toner layer in the longitudinal direction, and the uniformity of the amount in the longitudinal direction of the carrier layer is maintained. Therefore, if the length of the toner layer in the lower part is configured to be approximately the same, the carrier ratio in the longitudinal direction of the replenishment developer in which the carrier layer and the toner layer are integrated by dropping the carrier layer. Becomes uniform.

  The carrier holding member can be detached from the inner wall surface of the supply cartridge container by moving in the longitudinal orthogonal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the supply cartridge container. However, the carrier holding member is moved in the longitudinal orthogonal direction. For this purpose must be secured separately. On the other hand, the carrier holding member is preferably configured to be detachable in the longitudinal direction of the supply cartridge container. In other words, the replenishment cartridge container is normally configured to be mounted along the longitudinal direction with respect to the developing device, so that it is not necessary to secure the above-described movement space.

  Various carriers can be used as the carrier holding member that provides the magnetic attractive force. The carrier holding member is a magnetic body that can easily produce a plate-like body or a rod-like body extending in the longitudinal direction. For example, sintered magnets produced by sintering such as ferrite magnets, Sm-Co magnets, Nd-Fe-B magnets, ferrite magnet powders, Sm-Co magnet powders, Nd-Fe-B magnets, etc. A bonded magnet formed by mixing magnet powder such as magnet powder and a binder such as nylon resin or rubber. As the carrier holding member, a bonded magnet having a high degree of freedom in molding and manufacturing is preferable.

  Double-sided multi-pole magnetization can be used, in which multi-pole magnetization is alternately arranged on the front and back surfaces of the bond magnet, but the N and S poles are difficult to line up neatly on the front and back surfaces. There's a problem. Single-sided multipolar magnetization in which S poles and N poles are alternately arranged on only one of the front and back surfaces of the bonded magnet is easier to manufacture. Therefore, the bond magnet is a single-sided multipolar magnet that is magnetized on the side facing the supply cartridge container.

The replenishment cartridge container for replenishing the developer in the developer tank described above to the developer tank,
A stirring member for stirring the developer in the developing tank containing the toner and the carrier while transporting the developer in the developing tank;
The developer is used by being mounted adjacent to the stirring member and provided with a developer carrier that supplies the stirred developer in the developing tank to the electrostatic latent image carrier.

  The developing device further includes a discharge mechanism that is provided in the developing tank and discharges the developer in the developing tank that has exceeded the amount outside the developing tank when the amount of the developer in the developing tank exceeds a predetermined amount. This is a so-called trickle system. In a developing device having a trickle type discharging mechanism, the developer in the developing tank is gradually discharged out of the developing tank, while the developer is replenished little by little by a replenishing developer. If the toner concentration of the replenishment developer varies, the toner concentration in the developing tank varies. Therefore, the toner concentration of the replenishment developer is required to be uniform.

  The carrier holding member is moved to drop the carrier layer onto the toner layer. However, even if the thickness of the carrier layer is uniform in the longitudinal direction, the distribution development in the longitudinal direction of the toner layer is unevenly distributed. The uniformity of the carrier concentration distribution in the longitudinal direction of the agent is impaired. Therefore, it is preferable that the liquid level of the toner layer in the supply cartridge container is flat by pre-rotating the supply cartridge container before dropping the carrier layer. In order to automatically execute such flattening of the liquid surface, the replenishing cartridge container is a substantially cylindrical body having a spiral groove formed therein, and is configured to be rotationally driven by a driving device. Has been.

  The developing device described above is used by being incorporated in an image forming apparatus provided with a rotatable electrostatic latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image on its peripheral surface.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, terms indicating a specific direction (for example, “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, and other terms including them, “clockwise direction”, “counterclockwise” ”) Is used to facilitate understanding of the invention with reference to the drawings, and the present invention should not be construed as being limited by the meaning of these terms. Further, in the image forming apparatus 1 and the developing device 34 described below, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar components.

  The image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and the developing device 34 used in the apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.

[Image forming apparatus]
FIG. 1 shows portions related to image formation of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 may be any of a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a multi-function machine having a combination of these functions. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a photoreceptor 12 that is an electrostatic latent image carrier. In the embodiment, the photoconductor 12 is formed of a cylindrical body, but the present invention is not limited to such a form, and an endless belt type photoconductor can be used instead. The photosensitive member 12 is drivingly connected to a motor (not shown), and is rotated in the direction of the arrow based on the driving of the motor. Around the photoconductor 12, a charging device 26, an exposure device 28, a developing device 34, a transfer device 36, and a cleaning device 40 are arranged along the rotation direction of the photoconductor 12.

  The charging device 26 charges the photoreceptor layer that is the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 12 to a predetermined potential. In the embodiment, the charging device 26 is represented as a cylindrical roller. However, instead of this, other types of charging devices (for example, a rotary or fixed brush-type charging device or a wire-discharge-type charging device) may be used. Can be used. The exposure device 28 disposed in the vicinity of the photoreceptor 12 or away from the photoreceptor 12 emits image light 30 toward the outer peripheral surface of the charged photoreceptor 12. On the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 12 that has passed through the exposure device 28, an electrostatic latent image is formed that includes a portion where the image light 30 is projected and a portion where the potential is attenuated and a portion where the charged potential is substantially maintained. In the embodiment, the portion where the potential is attenuated is the electrostatic latent image portion, and the portion where the charged potential is substantially maintained is the electrostatic latent image non-image portion. The developing device 34 visualizes the electrostatic latent image using the developer 3 in the developing tank described later. Details of the developing device 34 will be described later. The transfer device 36 transfers the visible image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 12 to a paper 38 such as paper or film. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the transfer device 36 is illustrated as a cylindrical roller, but other types of transfer devices (for example, a wire discharge transfer device) may be used. The cleaning device 40 collects untransferred toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 12 without being transferred onto the paper 38 by the transfer device 36 from the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 12. In the embodiment, the cleaning device 40 is illustrated as a plate-shaped blade, but other types of cleaning devices (for example, a rotary or fixed brush type cleaning device) may be used instead.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 having such a configuration forms an image, the photoconductor 12 rotates, for example, counterclockwise based on driving of a motor (not shown). At this time, the outer peripheral portion of the photoreceptor 12 that passes through the charging device 26 is charged to a predetermined potential by the charging device 26. The image light 30 is exposed to the outer peripheral portion of the charged photoconductor 12 by the exposure device 28 to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is conveyed to the developing device 34 along with the rotation of the photosensitive member 12 and is visualized by the developing device 34. The visualized toner image is conveyed to the transfer device 36 along with the rotation of the photoconductor 12 and transferred to the paper 38 by the transfer device 36. The paper 38 to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 20 and the toner image is fixed to the paper 38. The outer peripheral portion of the photosensitive member 12 that has passed through the transfer device 36 is conveyed to the cleaning device 40, and the toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive member 12 without being transferred to the paper 38 is scraped off from the photosensitive member 12.

[Development equipment]
The developing device 34 includes a two-component developer including a non-magnetic toner (hereinafter simply referred to as toner) and a magnetic carrier (hereinafter simply referred to as carrier), and a developing tank 66 that accommodates various members. . The developing tank 66 has an opening that is open toward the photosensitive member 12, and a developing roller 48 is provided in a space formed in the vicinity of the opening. The developing roller 48 as a developer carrying member is a cylindrical member, and is pivotally supported in parallel with the photosensitive member 12 and through a predetermined developing gap with the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive member 12.

  The developing roller 48 is a so-called magnet roller having a magnet body 48a that is fixed so as not to rotate, and a cylindrical sleeve 48b (first rotating cylinder body) that is rotatably supported around the magnet body 48a. . Above the sleeve 48 b of the developing roller 48, a restricting plate 62 fixed to the developing tank 66 and extending in parallel with the central axis of the sleeve 48 b of the developing roller 48 is disposed to face with a predetermined restricting gap 63. Yes. The magnet body 48a inside the developing roller 48 has five magnetic poles N1, S2, N3, N2, and S1 along the rotation direction of the sleeve 48b. Of these magnetic poles, the main magnetic pole N <b> 1 is disposed to face the photoconductor 12. N2 and N3 of the same polarity that generate a repulsive magnetic field for peeling off the developer on the sleeve 48 b are disposed opposite to each other inside the developing tank 66. The sleeve 48b of the developing roller 48 rotates in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the photosensitive member 1 (in the counter direction).

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the developing device 34 as viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 2, a developer stirring and conveying chamber 67 is formed behind the developing roller 48. The developer stirring and conveying chamber 67 partitions the second conveying path 70 formed in the vicinity of the developing roller 48, the first conveying path 68 away from the developing roller 48, the first conveying path 68 and the second conveying path 70. And a partition wall 76. A developer supply tank 80 is disposed above the upstream side of the first conveyance path 68 in the conveyance direction, and communicates with the first conveyance path 68 through a supply port 82. The developer supply tank 80 is filled with a supply developer 2 containing toner as a main component and containing a carrier. As the replenishment developer 2, toner and carrier may be replenished separately. The carrier ratio of the replenishment developer 2 is preferably 5 to 40% by weight, more preferably 10 to 30% by weight. A developer recovery tank 90 is disposed below the second transport path 70 on the downstream side in the transport direction, and communicates with the second transport path 70 via a recovery port 92.

  At the bottom of the developer supply tank 80, a developer supply roller that is driven and controlled by the control unit 100 is disposed. When the developer supply roller is rotationally driven, a new replenishment developer 2 corresponding to the drive time flows down and is supplied to the first transport path 68 of the developing tank 66.

  A first screw 72 that is a stirring member that transports the developer 3 in the developing tank while stirring the developer 3 in the developing tank is rotatably supported in the first transport path 68. A second screw 74 that rotatably conveys the developer 3 in the developing tank from the first conveyance path 68 to the developing roller 48 while being stirred is rotatably supported on the second conveyance path 70. In this case, the communication path is formed by cutting out the upper portions of the partition walls 76 located at both ends of the first transport path 68 and the second transport path 70. The developer 3 in the developing tank that has reached the downstream end of the first transport path 68 in the transport direction is sent to the second transport path 70 through the communication path, and the downstream end of the second transport path 70 in the transport direction. The developer 3 in the developing tank that has reached 1 is fed into the first transport path 68 through the communication path. As a result, the developer 3 in the developing tank circulates in the developer agitating / conveying chamber according to the direction of the arrow in FIG.

  The first screw 72 and the second screw 74 are spiral screws in which spiral blades are fixed to a rotating shaft at a predetermined pitch. The second screw 74 extends to the right side (downstream side) of FIG.

  The second screw 74 has a shaft portion 74a, a normal blade portion 74b, a reverse blade portion 77 adjacent to the normal blade portion 74b, and a discharge screw portion 79 adjacent to the reverse blade portion 77, and is made of stainless steel or the like. It is made of a highly rigid material made of a metal material or a resin material such as PC or ABS.

  The shaft portion 74a has a cylindrical shape extending from the upstream end (left end in FIG. 2) to the downstream end (right end in FIG. 2) in the transport direction (right arrow in FIG. 2). It is a rod-shaped body.

  The forward blade portion 74b disposed in the second transport path 70 is a forward direction of the developer 3 in the developing tank 3 (hereinafter, the forward direction of the transport direction is the transport direction in the second transport path 70). It is a spiral regular blade configured to be conveyed. The regular blade portion 74b extends in the axial direction from the upstream end portion (left end portion in FIG. 2) in the transport direction to the downstream communication passage.

  The connecting passage from the second conveyance path 70 to the first conveyance path 68 and the reverse blade portion 77 disposed at a position corresponding to the downstream side end of the first conveyance path 68 convey the developer 3 in the developing tank. It is a spiral reverse blade configured to transport in the direction opposite to the direction (hereinafter, the direction opposite to the transport direction refers to the direction opposite to the transport direction in the second transport path 70).

  Further, the pitch of the positive blade portion 74 b of the second screw 74 is larger than the pitch of the positive blade portion 79 b of the discharge screw portion 79. Further, a reverse blade portion 77 for transporting the developer 3 in the developing tank 3 in the reverse direction is provided while the developer 3 in the developing tank is transported in the forward direction of the transport direction by the forward blade portion 74b. Accordingly, when the second screw 74 rotates, the height of the developer 3 in the developing tank at the downstream end (right end) in the transport direction of the second screw 74 becomes higher than the other portions. That is, the rising of the developer 3 in the developing tank is formed at the downstream end (right end) in the transport direction of the second transport path 70.

  Here, since the developing device 34 employs a so-called trickle system, the developing device 34 has an outlet 75 for allowing the excess developer 3 in the developing tank to flow out. That is, the outflow port 75 is formed by providing the notch 75 in which the upper part of the side wall located at the downstream end (right end) in the transport direction of the second transport path 70 is partially cut out. The developer conveyed by the second screw 74 is blocked by the discharge prevention force of the reverse blade portion 77 in a normal state, so that the second conveying path 70 to the first conveying path 68 as indicated by the solid line arrow in FIG. It is conveyed to. When the developer 3 in the developing tank increases in the developing tank and the liquid level in the developing tank 66 rises, the outflow port 75 provided at the upper part of the side wall against the damming action of the reverse blade 77 is developed in the developing tank. Agent 3 gets over and overflows to the adjacent collection chamber. The excess developer 3 in the developing tank overflowing into the collection chamber is conveyed to the collection port 92 by the discharge screw portion 79 and is collected (discarded) to the developer collection tank 90 through the collection port 92.

  The developer agitation transport chamber 67 is provided with a toner concentration detection sensor 78 that detects the current toner density in the developer agitation transport chamber 67. For example, the toner concentration detection sensor 78 detects the magnetic permeability of the developer 3 in the developing tank conveyed in the developer agitating / conveying chamber 67 from a change in inductance of the coil. From the magnetic permeability detected by the toner concentration detection sensor 78, the ratio of the toner to the developer 3 in the developing tank is obtained. For example, when the amount of carrier contained in the developer 3 in the developing tank is small, it is detected that the toner ratio is high. On the other hand, when the amount of carrier contained in the developer 3 in the developing tank is large, it is detected that the toner ratio is low. The voltage signal output from the toner concentration detection sensor 78 is input to the control unit 100. Based on the detection signal, a necessary supply amount is calculated, and the supply cartridge container 110 is supplied. After the developer 2 is temporarily stored in the developer supply tank 80, the developer supply roller of the developer supply tank 80 is driven, and a predetermined amount of supply developer 2 is supplied into the developer tank 66.

  In the developing device 34, when the toner concentration of the developer 3 in the developing tank is lowered by the printing operation, the replenishment developer 2 containing toner and a small amount of carrier is replenished from the developer replenishment tank 80. The replenishment amount of the replenishment developer 2 includes the current toner concentration of the developer 3 in the developing tank detected by the toner concentration detection sensor 78, the printing rate (dot counter) at the time of image formation, and the developer replenishment tank 80. The carrier ratio with respect to the replenishment developer 2 is determined. The carrier ratio with respect to the replenishment developer 2 in the developer replenishment tank 80 is adjusted to the extent that the deterioration of the carrier in the developing device 34 is suppressed and the cost is not increased. As the toner is replenished, the carrier is supplied little by little.

  The supplied replenishment developer 2 is conveyed along the first conveyance path 68 and the second conveyance path 70 of the developer agitation conveyance chamber 67 while being mixed and stirred with the developer 3 in the developing tank. The Basically, the toner is consumed by the photoconductor 12, whereas the carrier is stored in the developing device 34, but the charging performance of the carrier gradually decreases. Since the replenishment developer 2 contains a small amount of carrier bulkier than the toner, the amount of the developer 3 in the developing tank in the developing device 34 gradually increases as the replenishment developer 2 is replenished. To do. The developer 3 in the developing tank having an increased volume circulates in the developer agitating / conveying chamber 67. The surplus developer 3 in the developing tank that cannot circulate through the developer agitating / conveying chamber 67 gets over the reverse blade portion 77 and is provided at the downstream end (right end) of the second conveying path 70 in the conveying direction. It flows out from the outlet 75 and is collected in the developer collection tank 90 through the collection port 92.

  FIG. 3 is a control block diagram relating to the developing device 34 of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The control unit 100 as a control unit includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 102, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 104, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 106, and the like. The CPU 102 centrally controls various operations in the image forming apparatus 1 according to various processing programs and tables stored in the ROM 104. The ROM 104 stores, for example, a toner density calculation table for converting and calculating the voltage detected by the toner density detection sensor 78 to the current toner density of the developer 3 in the developing tank, and the current toner density of the developer 3 in the developing tank. A developer replenishment table for calculating the amount of developer to be replenished from the toner density difference between the reference toner density and the reference toner density is stored.

  Various devices, devices, and sensors related to image formation are connected to the CPU 102 of the control unit 100. That is, the developing device 34, the developer supply tank 80, the counter 108, and the like are connected to the CPU 102 of the control unit 100. The operations of the developer agitating members 72 and 74, the toner concentration detection sensor 78, the developing roller 48, and the replenishment cartridge container 110 constituting the developing device 34 are controlled by the CPU 102 of the control unit 100. That is, the CPU 102 has a function as a control unit that controls a developing operation, a replenishing operation, an image forming operation, a scanning operation of a scanner (image reading unit), a rotational drive of the container body 112 of the replenishing cartridge container 110, and the like. Yes.

  The RAM 106 has a work area for temporarily storing various programs executed by the control unit 100 and data related to these programs.

  Various types of information obtained from the sensors and devices described above, that is, the toner density in the developing tank 66, the number of printed outputs, the number of rotations of the developing roller 48, the replenishment developer in the replenishment cartridge container 110, and the like. The ratio of the carrier to 2, the image density, the printing rate (image information) at the time of image formation, and the like are temporarily stored in the RAM 106.

(Developer)
The two-component developer contains toner and a carrier for charging the toner. In the present invention, a known toner that has been generally used in the image forming apparatus 1 can be used. The particle size of the toner is, for example, about 3 to 15 μm. A toner containing a colorant in a binder resin, a toner containing a charge control agent and a release agent, and a toner holding an additive on the surface can also be used.

  The toner is produced by a known method such as a pulverization method, an emulsion polymerization method, or a suspension polymerization method.

  The binder resin used for the toner is not limited. For example, styrene resin (monopolymer or copolymer containing styrene or styrene-substituted product), polyester resin, epoxy resin, vinyl chloride resin, phenol resin. , Polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polyurethane resin, silicone resin, or any mixture of these resins. The binder resin preferably has a softening temperature in the range of about 80 to 160 ° C. and a glass transition point in the range of about 50 to 75 ° C.

  For the colorant, a known material such as carbon black, aniline black, activated carbon, magnetite, benzine yellow, permanent yellow, naphthol yellow, phthalocyanine blue, first sky blue, ultramarine blue, rose bengal, lake red, etc. should be used. Can do. In general, the addition amount of the colorant is preferably 2 to 20 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.

  As the charge control agent, materials conventionally known as charge control agents can be used. Specifically, for the positively charged toner, for example, nigrosine dyes, quaternary ammonium salt compounds, triphenylmethane compounds, imidazole compounds, and polyamine resins can be used as charge control agents. For the negatively charged toner, metal-containing azo dyes such as Cr, Co, Al, and Fe, salicylic acid metal compounds, alkyl salicylic acid metal compounds, and curixarene compounds can be used as charge control agents. The charge control agent is preferably used at a ratio of 0.1 to 10 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.

  As the release agent, a known release agent conventionally used as a release agent can be used. As the material for the release agent, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, carnauba wax, sazol wax, or a mixture of them as appropriate is used. The release agent is preferably used at a ratio of 0.1 to 10 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.

  Furthermore, a fluidizing agent that promotes fluidization of the developer may be added. As the fluidizing agent, for example, inorganic fine particles such as silica, titanium oxide, and aluminum oxide, and resin fine particles such as acrylic resin, styrene resin, silicone resin, and fluorine resin can be used. In particular, it is preferable to use a material hydrophobized with a silane coupling agent, a titanium coupling agent, silicon oil or the like. The fluidizing agent is preferably added at a ratio of 0.1 to 5 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the toner. The number average primary particle size of these additives is preferably 9 to 100 nm.

  As the carrier, a known carrier that has been generally used can be used. Either a binder type carrier or a coat type carrier may be used. The carrier particle size is not limited, but is preferably about 15 to 100 μm.

  The binder type carrier is obtained by dispersing magnetic fine particles in a binder resin, and those having fine particles or a coating layer charged positively or negatively on the surface can be used. The charging characteristics such as the polarity of the binder type carrier can be controlled by the material of the binder resin, the chargeable fine particles, and the type of the surface coating layer.

  Examples of the binder resin used for the binder-type carrier include thermoplastic resins such as vinyl resins, polyester resins, nylon resins, polyolefin resins, and the like typified by polystyrene resins, and curable resins such as phenol resins. .

  Magnetic fine particles of the binder type carrier include spinel ferrite such as magnetite and gamma iron oxide, and magnets such as spinel ferrite and barium ferrite containing one or more metals other than iron (Mn, Ni, Mg, Cu, etc.). Plumbite type ferrite, iron or alloy particles having an oxide layer on the surface can be used. The shape of the carrier may be granular, spherical, or needle-shaped. In particular, when high magnetization is required, it is preferable to use iron-based ferromagnetic fine particles. In consideration of chemical stability, it is preferable to use ferromagnetic fine particles of magnetoplumbite type ferrite such as spinel ferrite and barium ferrite containing magnetite and gamma iron oxide. A magnetic resin carrier having a desired magnetization can be obtained by appropriately selecting the type and content of the ferromagnetic fine particles. The magnetic fine particles are suitably added in an amount of 50 to 90% by weight in the magnetic resin carrier.

  Silicone resin, acrylic resin, epoxy resin, fluorine resin, etc. are used as the surface coating material for the binder type carrier. The charge imparting ability of the carrier can be improved by coating and curing these resins on the carrier surface to form a coat layer.

  For example, the charging fine particles or the conductive fine particles can be fixed to the surface of the binder type carrier by, for example, mixing the magnetic resin carrier and the fine particles uniformly and adhering the fine particles to the surface of the magnetic resin carrier. This is done by driving fine particles into the magnetic resin carrier by applying a strong impact force. In this case, the fine particles are not completely embedded in the magnetic resin carrier, but are fixed so that a part thereof protrudes from the surface of the magnetic resin carrier. Organic and inorganic insulating materials are used for the chargeable fine particles. Specifically, organic insulating materials include polystyrene, styrene-based copolymers, acrylic resins, various acrylic copolymers, nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, fluororesin, and cross-linked products thereof such as organic insulating fine particles. is there. The charge imparting ability and the charge polarity can be adjusted to the material of the chargeable fine particles, the polymerization catalyst, the surface treatment and the like. As the inorganic insulating material, negatively charged inorganic fine particles such as silica and titanium dioxide, and positively charged inorganic fine particles such as strontium titanate and alumina are used.

  The coat type carrier is a carrier in which carrier core particles made of a magnetic material are coated with a resin, and like the binder type carrier, chargeable fine particles that are charged positively or negatively can be fixed to the surface of the carrier. The charging characteristics such as the polarity of the coated carrier can be adjusted by selecting the type of the surface coating layer and the electrifying fine particles. As the coating resin, the same resin as the binder resin of the binder type carrier can be used.

  The mixing ratio of the toner and the carrier in the developer 3 in the developing tank is adjusted so as to obtain a desired toner charge amount. The toner ratio of the developer 3 in the developing tank is preferably 3 to 20% by weight, more preferably 4 to 15% by weight, based on the total amount of toner and carrier. The replenishment developer 2 filled in the developer replenishment tank 80 contains toner and a small amount of carrier, and the carrier ratio of the replenishment developer 2 is preferably 1 to 50% by weight. More preferably, it is 5 to 30% by weight.

  The basic operation of the developing device 34 configured as described above will be described.

  During image formation, the sleeve 48b of the developing roller 48 rotates in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise) based on the driving of a motor (not shown). Due to the rotation of the first screw 72 and the rotation of the second screw 74, the developer 3 in the developer tank existing in the developer stirring and transporting chamber 67 is stirred while being circulated and transported through the first transport path 68 and the second transport path 70. Is done. As a result, the toner contained in the developer and the carrier are in frictional contact with each other and are charged with opposite polarities. In the embodiment, it is assumed that the carrier is positively charged and the toner is negatively charged. The chargeability of the toner and carrier used in the present invention is not limited to such a combination. The outer dimension of the carrier is considerably larger than that of the toner. Therefore, the negatively charged toner adheres around the positively charged carrier mainly based on the electrical attraction force of both.

  The charged developer 3 in the developing tank is supplied to the developing roller 48 while being transported to the second transport path 70 by the second screw 74. The developer is held on the surface side of the sleeve 48 b by the magnetic force of the magnet body 48 a inside the developing roller 48, rotates in the counterclockwise direction together with the sleeve 48 b, and is a regulation plate provided facing the developing roller 48. After the passage amount is restricted at 62, the sheet is conveyed to a development area facing the photoconductor 12. In the developing area, a head (magnetic brush) is formed by the magnetic force of the main magnetic pole N1 of the magnet body 48a. In the development region, the toner is caused by the force applied to the toner by the electric field (electric field in which alternating current is superimposed on direct current) formed between the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 12 and the developing roller 48 to which the developing bias is applied. It moves toward the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 12, and this electrostatic latent image is developed into a visible image. The developer that has consumed the toner in the developing region is conveyed toward the developing tank 66 and is developed by the repulsive magnetic field of N3 and N2 of the magnet body 48a provided facing the second conveying path 70 of the developing tank 66. It is peeled off from above and collected into the developing tank 66. The collected developer is mixed with the developer 3 in the developing tank being transported through the second transport path 70.

  When toner is consumed from the developer tank developer 3 by such image formation, an amount of toner corresponding to the consumed amount is supplied to the developer tank developer 3. For this purpose, the developing device 34 includes a toner concentration detection sensor 78 that measures the ratio of the toner to the developer 3 in the developing tank existing in the developer agitating / conveying chamber 67. A developer supply tank 80 is provided above the first conveyance path 68.

  A replenishment cartridge container 110 is detachably attached to the developer replenishment tank 80 of the developing device 34 described above. With reference to FIGS. 4 to 8, a replenishment cartridge container 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a usage pattern thereof will be described.

  The supply cartridge container 110 includes a container main body 112 filled with the supply developer 2 and a cap 114 that closes the opening of the container main body 112.

  The container body 112 is a resin container having a substantially cylindrical shape, and is configured to be rotatably supported in the mounting hole 130 of the developing device 34. A spiral feed groove 116 is formed inside the container body 112.

  The cap 114 is a resin lid having a substantially cylindrical shape, and is fitted to the end of the container body 112 on the opening side so as to be rotatable. On the lower surface of the cap 114, a discharge port 118 for supplying the replenishing developer 2 to the developer replenishing tank 80 of the developing device 34 is provided. The cap 114 is attached to the mounting hole 130 of the developing device 34 with the discharge port 118 positioned on the lower side.

  When the container main body 112 filled with the replenishment developer 2 is rotated forward using a rotation mechanism (not shown), the replenishment developer 2 is stirred inside the container main body 112 by the spiral feed groove 116. However, it is conveyed to the discharge port 118 of the cap 114.

  As described above, the container body 112 does not necessarily have a substantially cylindrical shape and the container body 112 itself does not need to be configured to rotate. Instead of providing the spiral feed groove 116, for example, a configuration in which a stirring / conveying screw extending in the longitudinal direction is provided inside the replenishment cartridge container 110 may be employed. In this case, if the lower portion of the replenishment cartridge container 110 is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape, the replenishment developer 2 accumulated in the lower semi-cylindrical portion can be conveyed to the discharge port 118 with sufficient stirring. it can.

  Further, as an example that does not limit the present invention, the length of the container body 112 is about 40 cm, the length of the cap 114 is about 10 cm, the total length of the supply cartridge container 110 is about 50 cm, and the outer diameter of the supply cartridge container 110 is about 6 cm.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the carrier holding member 120 is temporarily attached (that is, temporarily fixed) to the side surface in the longitudinal direction of the container main body 112.

  The carrier holding member 120 includes a carrier holding part 122 that temporarily holds the carrier by magnetic attraction force, and a grip part 124 that is connected to the carrier holding part 122 so as to be bent at an angle of about 90 degrees. ing.

  The carrier holding part 122 is a magnetic body having an elongated bar shape or plate shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the container body 112. The carrier holding part 122 has a magnetic attracting force having substantially the same strength in the longitudinal direction. Since the container body 112 is a long object having a length of, for example, about 40 cm as described above, the carrier holding portion 122 has a long shape of at least about 40 cm. Examples of such a long rod-shaped or plate-shaped magnetic body include a sintered magnet manufactured by sintering such as a ferrite-based magnet, an Sm-Co-based magnet, and an Nd-Fe-B-based magnet. Bond magnets formed by mixing magnet powder such as ferrite magnet powder, Sm-Co magnet powder, Nd-Fe-B magnet powder, and binders such as nylon resin and rubber can be used. The carrier holding part 122 is preferably a bonded magnet in terms of cost and ease of manufacture.

  As an example that does not limit the present invention, about 400 g of the replenishment developer 2 is accommodated with respect to the supply cartridge container 110 illustrated as an example that does not limit the present invention. When the carrier ratio is about 15%, about 60 g of carrier and about 340 g of toner are accommodated in the replenishment cartridge container 110.

  Depending on the weight of the carrier to be filled, it is determined how much magnet attracting force is used as the carrier holding portion 122. If a carrier of about 100 g or 200 g is magnetically attracted, a bond magnet can be used. It is enough. Almost all the carriers contained in the replenishment developer 2 are temporarily held on the inner wall surface of the container main body 112 as the carrier layer 2b by the magnetic adsorption force of the carrier holding portion 122.

  Double-sided multi-pole magnetization can be used, in which multi-pole magnetization is alternately arranged on the front and back surfaces of the bond magnet, but the N and S poles are difficult to line up neatly on the front and back surfaces. There's a problem. Single-sided multipolar magnetization in which S poles and N poles are alternately arranged on only one of the front and back surfaces of the bonded magnet is easier to manufacture. Therefore, it is preferable that the bond magnet is a single-sided multipolar magnetized body in which the side facing the supply cartridge container 110 is magnetized.

  The grip portion 124 functions as a grip means for pulling out the replenishment cartridge container 110 mounted in the mounting hole 130 of the developing device 34 and is reinforced when the replenishment cartridge container 110 is erected. It functions as a support leg that supports the carrier, but is not an essential component of the carrier holding member 120.

  The carrier holding member 120 is temporarily fixed in close contact with the outer wall surface in the longitudinal direction of the container body 112 at a position above the liquid level of the replenishment developer 2 accommodated in the replenishment cartridge container 110. Although there is no displacement of the carrier holding member 120 after the replenishment developer container 2 is charged into the replenishment cartridge container 110 and before the replenishment cartridge container 110 is attached to the developing device 34, The carrier holding member 120 is temporarily fixed to the outer wall surface in the longitudinal direction of the container main body 112 by various methods as described below so that the cartridge cartridge 110 for replenishment can be easily removed after being mounted.

  For example, an adhesive such as a detachable double-sided tape or an adhesive can be interposed between the carrier holding member 120 and the outer wall surface of the container body 112. Alternatively, the container main body 112 to which the carrier holding member 120 is in close contact may be bundled with a resin binding band, a rubber band, or the like.

  Next, a usage pattern of the supply cartridge container 110 will be described.

  By using at least one of the temporary fixing methods described above, the carrier holding member 120 is integrally and firmly fixed to the outer wall surface of the container main body 112. After removing the cap 114, the container body 112 is erected and the grip portion 124 is bent to use the grip portion 124 as a support leg. First, as a part of the replenishment developer 2, a predetermined amount of carrier is filled from the opening of the container main body 112, and all the filled carriers are formed as carrier layers 2b in the longitudinal direction of the side surface by the carrier holding portion 122. Is magnetically adsorbed. Thereafter, a predetermined amount of toner is filled from the opening of the container main body 112 as the remaining portion of the replenishment developer 2. Then, the cap 114 closes the opening of the container body 112 filled with the carrier and the toner. When the replenishment of the replenishment developer 2 is finished, the replenishment developer 2 in the container main body 112 is formed on the side surface by the toner layer 2a accumulated in the lower part of the container main body 112 and the carrier holding portion 122, as shown in FIG. The carrier layer 2b is magnetically attracted in the longitudinal direction. At this time, since the carrier holding portion 122 has a magnetic attractive force having substantially the same strength in the longitudinal direction, the carrier layer 2b is held with substantially the same thickness in the longitudinal direction. The replenishment cartridge container 110 filled with the replenishment developer 2 is packed in such a state and shipped to the user. Alternatively, instead of the separate filling method in which the carrier is first filled after the carrier is filled, a predetermined amount of the replenishment developer 2 in which the carrier is mixed with the toner in a predetermined ratio is filled in the container body 112. There may be. Also in this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the replenishment developer 2 in the container main body 112 causes the toner layer accumulated in the lower portion of the container main body 112 due to the stirring action of the replenishment cartridge container 110 during filling and transportation. 2a and the carrier layer 2b magnetically attracted in the longitudinal direction of the side surface by the carrier holding part 122.

  The replenishment cartridge container 110 with the carrier holding member 120 packed in the above-described form is appropriately unpacked by the user. However, in an extreme case, the replenishment cartridge container 110 is a toner as shown in FIG. The distribution amount of the layer 2a may vary in the longitudinal direction (in the case shown in FIG. 5, the toner layer 2a is distributed to the bottom side). In such a state, even if the carrier holding member 120 is pulled away from the container main body 112, the carrier ratio in the longitudinal direction of the replenishment developer 2 does not become uniform.

  Therefore, a liquid surface flattening operation is performed to flatten the liquid surface of the toner layer 2a whose distribution amount varies in the longitudinal direction.

  The developing device 34 is provided with a mounting hole 130 for receiving the supply cartridge container 110 with the carrier holding member 120. That is, as shown in the schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 7, the mounting hole 130 includes a container body housing portion 132 having a round hole for receiving the substantially cylindrical supply cartridge container 110 and a square plate-like carrier holding member 120. And a carrier holding member accommodating portion 134 having a square hole in the cross section for receiving. The carrier holding member accommodating portion 134 of the mounting hole 130 functions as a guide hole for positioning at the time of mounting the supply cartridge container 110.

  The mounting hole 130 of the developing device 34 includes a sensor that detects the mounting of the replenishment cartridge container 110. The developing device 34 includes a drive device that automatically rotates the container main body 112 in the forward direction or the reverse direction after detecting the mounting of the supply cartridge container 110 by the sensor.

  In order to flatten the liquid surface of the toner layer 2a, the container main body 112 is preliminarily rotated using a driving device.

  When a method of interposing an adhesive is adopted as a temporary fixing method by the carrier holding member 120, when the container main body 112 is rotated, the carrier holding member 120 received in the carrier holding member accommodating portion 134 maintains its accommodated state as it is. However, since the container main body 112 received in the container main body accommodating portion 132 tries to rotate, the adhesive force is lost to the rotational force, and the adhesive substance interposed between the carrier holding member 120 and the container main body 112 is peeled off. It will be. Therefore, the container main body 112 can freely rotate in the container main body accommodating part 132 after peeling off the adhesive.

  Further, when a method of binding with a resin binding band, rubber band or the like is adopted as a temporary fixing method with the carrier holding member 120, a cutting blade or a thermal fusing means for cutting them at the time of mounting or rotation is mounted on the mounting hole 130. Is provided within. In addition, a recovery unit for recovering the cut resin binding band, rubber band, and the like is provided in the lower portion of the container main body storage unit 132. Therefore, the container body 112 can freely rotate in the container body housing part 132 after cutting the resin binding band, the rubber band, or the like.

  When the container body 112 is rotated in the forward direction, for example, the toner layer 2a distributed toward the bottom surface side of the container body 112 is conveyed to the cap 114 side, and the toner layer that is unevenly distributed on the bottom surface side of the container body 112 The mountain of 2a collapses. Then, when the container main body 112 is rotated in the reverse direction, the toner layer 2a distributed toward the cap 114 side is conveyed to the bottom surface side of the container main body 112. By alternately repeating such forward rotation and reverse rotation, as shown in FIG. 6, the liquid level of the toner layer 2a that varies in the longitudinal direction is flattened.

  When the user pulls the grip portion 124 of the carrier holding member 120 outward in the longitudinal direction with the liquid surface of the toner layer 2a being flattened, the carrier holding member 120 is detached from the container main body 112 in the longitudinal direction. Since the magnetic attractive force acting on the carrier is weakened, as shown in FIG. 8, the carrier layer 2b, which has been held in the upper part of the container main body 112 with approximately the same thickness in the longitudinal direction, is a flattened toner layer. It falls sequentially on 2a.

  The carrier layer 2b having substantially the same thickness in the longitudinal direction drops onto the flattened toner layer 2a, so that the replenishment developer 2 has a substantially uniform carrier ratio with respect to the longitudinal direction of the container body 112. Can have. By the rotation of the container body 112 in the positive direction, the replenishment developer 2 having a substantially uniform carrier ratio is supplied to the developing tank 66 via the developer replenishment tank 80.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the developing device of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from above. FIG. 3 is a block diagram relating to a developing device of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2. It is a figure when the cartridge container for replenishment of this invention is made vertical. FIG. 5 is a view when the supply cartridge container shown in FIG. 4 is laid sideways. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the replenishment cartridge container of the present invention is mounted on the developing device. It is a figure when the cartridge container for replenishment shown in FIG. 6 is seen from the side. FIG. 7 is a view when the carrier holding member is detached from the supply cartridge container shown in FIG. 6 in the longitudinal direction.

Explanation of symbols

1: Image forming device 2: Replenishment developer 2a: Replenishment toner 2b: Replenishment carrier 3: Developer in developing tank 12: Photoconductor 20: Fixing device 22: Fixing roller 26: Charging device 28: Exposure device 30: Image light 34: Developing device 36: Transfer device 38: Paper 40: Cleaning device 48: Developing roller (developer carrier)
48a: Magnet body 48b: Sleeve 62: Restriction plate 63: Restriction gap 66: Developing tank 67: Developer stirring and conveying chamber 68: First conveying path 70: Second conveying path 72: First screw (stirring member)
74: Second screw (stirring member)
74a: Shaft portion 74b: Positive blade portion 75: Notch (outlet)
76: partition wall 77: reverse blade portion 78: toner density detection sensor 79: discharge screw portion 80: developer supply tank 82: supply port 90: developer recovery tank 92: recovery port 100: control unit 102: central processing unit ( CPU)
104: Read-only memory (ROM)
106: Read / write memory (RAM)
108: counter 110: supply cartridge container 112: container main body 114: cap 116: feed groove 118: discharge port 120: carrier holding member 122: carrier holding part 124: gripping part 130: mounting hole 132: container main body accommodating part 134: Carrier holding member housing

Claims (8)

A replenishment cartridge container that contains a replenishment developer containing toner and a carrier and is attached to a developing device,
On the outer wall surface of the supply cartridge container and above the liquid level of the supply developer stored in the supply cartridge container, it extends in the longitudinal direction of the supply cartridge container and is roughly in the longitudinal direction. A carrier holding member having the same magnetic attraction force is disposed,
A replenishment cartridge container, wherein the carrier contained in the replenishment developer is temporarily held by the magnetic adsorption force of the carrier holding member.   The replenishment cartridge container according to claim 1, wherein the carrier holding member is configured to be detachable in a longitudinal direction of the replenishment cartridge container.   The replenishment cartridge container according to claim 1, wherein the carrier holding member is a bonded magnet.   4. The replenishment cartridge container according to claim 3, wherein the bond magnet is a single-sided multipolar magnet that is magnetized on the side facing the replenishment cartridge container. A stirring member for stirring the developer in the developing tank containing the toner and the carrier while transporting the developer in the developing tank;
A developer carrier that is disposed adjacent to the stirring member and supplies the stirred developer in the developing tank to the electrostatic latent image carrier;
The replenishment cartridge container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the developer in the developer tank is replenished to the developer tank.
A developing device comprising:   A discharge mechanism is provided in the developing tank, and when the amount of developer in the developing tank in the developing tank exceeds a predetermined amount, the discharging tank further discharges the developer in the developing tank that has exceeded the amount outside the developing tank. The developing device according to claim 5.   6. The developing device according to claim 5, wherein the replenishing cartridge container is a substantially cylindrical body having a spiral groove formed therein, and is configured to be rotationally driven by a driving device. .   An image forming apparatus comprising: the developing device according to claim 1; and a rotatable electrostatic latent image carrier that bears an electrostatic latent image on a peripheral surface thereof.

Images