JP2010072118A - Development apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a development apparatus, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus, preventing a developer from being carried with its opening communicating a developer storing part with a developer feed part unblocked with a shutter means. <P>SOLUTION: The development apparatus 25 is equipped with: a developer carrier 252; the developer feed part 251 for feeding the developer to the developer carrier; a developer storing part 250 for adjoining the developer feed part and storing the developer; the communicating opening A communicating with the developer feed part and the developer storing part; the shutter means 253b for being displaced between a position blocking the communicating opening and a position retreated from the blocking position and exposing the communicating opening; and a drive means for driving the shutter means. The development apparatus has a moving member 256a displaced between a position to be reached when the shutter means is at the blocking position and a position where it retreats from the reached position when the shutter means displaces to the exposing position by being provided in the outside rather than a sidewall forming the developer storing part or the developer feed part to interlock with displacement of the shutter means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device used in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, and a copying machine, a process cartridge including the developing device, and an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, a developer supply unit that supplies a developer to the developer carrying member, a developer storage unit that stores a developer to be replenished to the developer supply unit, and a communication that connects the developer supply unit and the developer storage unit. A developing device having a port and a communication port sealing unit that seals the communication port is known. In such a developing device, by providing the communication port sealing means, when the developing device is transported alone, the developing is carried out from the opening of the developer supply part opened to partially expose the developer carrier. It prevents the agent from leaking and scattering. As an example, Patent Document 1 discloses a developing device that includes a communication port sealing unit that includes a frame body in which a communication port is formed and a seal member that is bonded to the frame body so as to cover the communication port. . In this developing device, the developer supplying unit and the developer containing unit communicate with each other by pulling out and removing the sealing member adhered to the frame of the communication port sealing unit at the start of use, and the developer is supplied to the developer supplying unit. Can be replenished.

  However, in the developing device described in Patent Document 1, it is troublesome because the user needs to pull out and peel off the seal member at the start of use of the developing device. Further, since the developer adheres to the peeled seal member, there is a possibility that the user's hand or clothes may be soiled by the developer.

  In the developing device described in Patent Document 2, a developer supply chamber that supplies a developer to a developing roller, and a developer that contains a developer to be supplied to the developer supply chamber adjacent to the developer supply chamber via a partition wall. And an agent storage chamber. The partition wall is provided with a communication port that allows the developer storage chamber and the developer supply chamber to communicate with each other, and the driving force from the solenoid is between the open position that opens the communication port and the closed position that closes the communication port. The communication port can be opened and closed by a shutter that is displaced by. In this way, the communication port can be opened and closed by the shutter, so that the communication port is closed by the shutter when the developing device is transported, and the communication port is closed by the seal member as in the developing device described in Patent Document 1. Similar to the configuration, it is possible to prevent the developer from leaking and scattering from the developing device due to vibration during transportation. In addition, since it is only necessary to displace the shutter and open the communication port at the start of use of the developing device, it takes time and effort for the user to peel off the seal member at the start of use of the developing device as in the developing device described in Patent Document 1. Or the user's hand or clothes can be prevented from being stained by the developer.

Japanese Patent No. 3144933 JP 2005-250362 A

  However, in the developing device described in Patent Document 2, it has not been possible to confirm from the outside of the developing device whether or not the shutter is in a position to close the communication port. Therefore, when the developing device is shipped, the developing device is transported by mistake when the developing device is not shipped for some reason, such as a manufacturing defect, and the communication port is not blocked by the shutter. In addition, there is a problem that toner leakage occurs due to vibration during transportation.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and its purpose is to convey the communication port that communicates the developer container and the developer supply unit without being blocked by the shutter means. It is an object to provide a developing device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus that can be prevented.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes a developer carrying member for carrying a developer, a developer supplying unit for supplying the developer to the developer carrying member, and adjacent to the developer supplying unit. A developer container that contains developer to be replenished to the developer supply part, a communication port that communicates the developer supply part and the developer container, a position that closes the communication port, and a position that closes the position. In the developing device including a shutter unit that can be displaced between a position where the communication port is retracted and a position where the communication port is exposed, and a driving unit that drives the shutter unit, the developer containing unit or the developer supplying unit is formed. Provided outside the side wall to be interlocked with the displacement of the shutter means, and reached when the shutter means is at the closing position, and when the shutter means is displaced from the closing position to the exposing position. Retreat from the position to reach Is characterized in that a position and a moving member displaceable between.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the developing device of the first aspect, the developer accommodating portion is provided above the developer supplying portion, and the developer accommodating volume of the developer supplying portion is the developer. It is characterized by being smaller than the developer accommodating volume of the accommodating portion.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the first or second aspect, the developer supply unit is provided with a supply unit agitating member for agitating the developer in the developer supply unit. is there.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the first, second, or third aspect, the shutter means is provided in the developer accommodating portion and rotates about a rotation shaft to remove the developer in the developer accommodating portion. A container stirring member having a side part larger than the communication port to be stirred, and a position where the container stirring member closes the communication port at the side part by the rotation operation by the stirring member driving means It is configured to be displaceable between the position where the communication port is retracted and the communication port is exposed.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device of the fourth aspect, the side surface portion is made of a flexible sheet-like material.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device of the fifth aspect, a slit shape that is cut in the rotation direction of the accommodating portion stirring member is formed in the side surface portion.
The invention of claim 7 is the developing device according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein a part of the axial end of the rotating shaft is exposed outside the side wall forming the developer containing portion, A gear for applying a rotational driving force to the rotary shaft is fitted to a portion of the rotary shaft exposed to the outside of the side wall, and the moving member is formed on the gear. It has a mark shape.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the first, second, third, fourth, sixth or seventh aspect, the developing device main body is transported in a state where the shutter means is in the closing position. It is what.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the process cartridge in which the developing unit and at least one of the image carrier, the charging unit, the charge eliminating unit, or the cleaning unit are integrally formed and detachable from the image forming apparatus, the development is performed. As a means, the developing device according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh aspect is used.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the process cartridge according to the ninth aspect, the process cartridge main body is transported in a state where the shutter means is in the closed position.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier that carries a latent image; and a developing unit that develops the latent image on the image carrier. 2, 2, 4, 5, 6 or 7 developing devices are used.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a developing unit and at least one of an image carrier, a charging unit, a discharging unit or a cleaning unit, and a process cartridge which is detachable from the apparatus main body. In the apparatus, the process cartridge according to claim 9 is used as the process cartridge.
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the eleventh or twelfth aspect, the main body of the image forming apparatus is transported in a state where the shutter means is in the closed position.
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect, when the developing device is mounted in the main body of the image forming device, the shutter means is automatically displaced to the closing position. It has a control means.
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the twelfth or thirteenth aspect, when the process cartridge is mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the shutter means is automatically displaced to the closing position. It has the control means which performs.

  In the present invention, it can be seen that the moving member provided outside the side wall is in the reaching position, so that the shutter means is in a position for closing the communication port. Thus, when the developing device is transported, it is determined whether or not the communication port is blocked by the shutter means by checking whether or not the moving member is at the above-mentioned position from the outside of the device. Can do. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the developing device in a state where the communication port is not blocked by the shutter unit from being transported by mistake.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the developing device from being transported in a state where the communication port that communicates the developer accommodating portion and the developer supplying portion is not blocked by the shutter unit. There is.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an image forming apparatus provided with a process cartridge integrally formed with the developing device of the present invention. In this image forming apparatus, four process cartridges 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K are aligned and arranged at substantially the center of the apparatus casing. Here, Y, M, C, and K mean yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively. Above the process cartridge 2, an exposure device 3 for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptors 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K is provided. Below the process cartridge 2, an intermediate transfer belt 4 as a transfer medium wound around two support rollers is provided along the horizontal direction. The intermediate transfer belt 4 is sandwiched between the primary transfer rollers 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K and the photoreceptors 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K. When an electric field is formed between the photoconductor 20 and the intermediate transfer belt 4 by applying a high voltage to the primary transfer roller 5, the charged toner image on the surface of the photoconductor is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 4.

  The photoreceptors 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K are arranged in the order of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) toward the downstream side in the endless rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 4. The toner images of these colors are sequentially superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 4 to form a four-color toner image. On the right side of the intermediate transfer belt 4 in the figure, a secondary transfer roller 6 and an intermediate transfer body cleaning device 7 are provided. Below the intermediate transfer belt 4, a paper feed cassette 8 that accommodates a recording medium P such as paper or a resin sheet is provided. The recording medium P is sent out from the paper feeding cassette 8 by the paper feeding roller 9 at a timing, and the four-color toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 4 to the recording medium P by the secondary transfer roller 6. During this transfer, a high voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller 6, an electric field is formed between the secondary transfer roller 6 and the intermediate transfer belt 4, and the charged four-color toner image is on the recording medium P side. The four-color toner image is transferred to the recording medium P by being attracted by the electrostatic force.

  The recording medium P on which the four-color toner image is transferred passes between the intermediate transfer belt 4 and the secondary transfer roller 6 and is guided to the fixing device 10. Then, the four-color toner image is thermally fixed to the recording medium P in the fixing device 10. After the thermal fixing, the recording medium P is sent to the paper discharge roller 11, and the paper discharge roller 11 discharges the recording medium P onto the tray.

  On the other hand, untransferred toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 4 without being transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 4 to the recording medium P is scraped off by the cleaning blade 71 of the intermediate transfer body cleaning device 7 and collected in the toner collection chamber. . The cleaned intermediate transfer belt 4 prepares for the transfer of the next toner image.

  Next, the electrophotographic image forming process will be described. FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the process cartridge 2. The photoconductor 20 is rotated forward (clockwise in the drawing) by a driving device installed in the image forming apparatus main body, and the photosensitive layer on the surface of the photoconductor 20 is charged to a uniform high potential by the charging roller 22. The uniformly charged photosensitive layer is exposed to a light beam L having an optical image from the exposure device 3. By this exposure, an electrostatic latent image composed of a low potential portion where the potential is attenuated and a high potential portion by initialization is formed on the photosensitive layer.

  Next, when the low potential portion (or high potential portion) of the electrostatic latent image reaches a position where the photosensitive member 20 and the developing roller 252 provided in the developing device 25 are opposed to each other, development with a thin toner layer formed on the surface is performed. The toner is transferred from the roller 252 to the photoconductor 20, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by the toner to form a toner image on the surface of the photoconductor 20. As the photosensitive member 20 rotates, the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 4 at a position where the photosensitive member 20 and the intermediate transfer belt 4 face each other. At this time, there remains untransferred toner remaining on the photoconductor 20 without being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 4, but this untransferred toner is removed from the photoconductor 20 by the cleaning blade 21. A charging roller 22 is provided on the downstream side of the cleaning blade 21 in the photosensitive member rotation direction, and a neutralization device (not shown) is provided on the downstream side of the charging roller 22 in the photosensitive member rotation direction. . In the static eliminator, residual charges on the surface of the photoreceptor 20 are removed.

Next, features of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the developing device 25 includes a developing roller 252 that carries toner as a developer, a toner supply unit 251 that supplies toner to the developing roller 252, and a communication port above the toner supply unit S2. There is provided a toner storage unit 250 that stores toner to be replenished to the toner supply unit 251 that is adjacent via A. In addition to the developing roller 252, the toner supplying unit 251 includes a toner supplying roller 254 that supplies toner to the developing roller 252, a developing blade 255 that regulates the amount of toner carried on the surface of the developing roller 252, a toner supply An agitation member 257 for agitating the toner in the part 251 is provided. The toner storage unit 250 is provided with a stirring member 253 that can stir the toner in the toner storage unit 250 and that can rotate around a rotation shaft 253a.

  In the developing device 25 of the present embodiment, the toner capacity stored in the toner storage unit 250 and the toner supply unit 251 is different, and the toner storage unit 250 has a larger volume of toner that can be stored than the toner supply unit 251.

  The stirring member 253 includes a rotation shaft 253a serving as a center of rotation and a wing portion 253b for stirring the toner. As shown in FIG. 4, when the stirring member 253 is in a predetermined position, the wing portion 253b is connected to the communication port A. The communication port A is covered and closed while being bent along the edge.

  In the present embodiment, a part of the rotating shaft 253a is exposed to the outside of the case forming the toner accommodating portion 250, and is illustrated at the shaft end portion exposed to the outside of the rotating shaft 253a as shown in FIG. A gear 256 is attached to which a driving force for rotating the rotary shaft 253a is transmitted from a drive source that does not. Further, a laser reflector 256a as shown in FIG. 5 is attached to the side surface of the gear 256 as a mark for identifying where the wing portion 253b is located with respect to the communication port A. The laser reflector 256a rotates and moves in the circumferential direction of the gear 256 as the gear 256 rotates, but the wing portion 253b of the stirring member 253 also rotates along with the rotation of the gear 256 via the rotating shaft 253a. At this time, since the positional relationship between the laser reflecting plate 256a and the wing portion 253b is maintained, the position of the laser reflecting plate 256a when the wing portion 253b is at the position closing the communication port A is obtained in advance. The laser reflector 256a can be visually confirmed from outside the apparatus.

  Normally, a side plate 258 that covers the gear 256 and the like is attached to the end of the developing device 25 on the side where the gear 256 and the like are provided, as shown in FIG. A window portion 258a is formed so that the position of the laser reflecting plate 256a located inside 258 can be visually confirmed. Then, it is possible to visually confirm from the position of the laser reflector 256a whether or not the wing portion 253b is in a position to close the communication port A from the window portion 258a. In the developing device 25 of the present embodiment, a virtual straight line that passes through the reference mark A1 attached to the edge of the window 258a in the developing device height direction and a virtual straight line that passes through the reference mark A2 in the short direction of the developing device intersect. When the laser reflecting plate 256a is present, the communication port A is blocked by the wing portion 253b.

  As described above, since the wing portion 253b can be detected and confirmed from the outside of the apparatus that the wing portion 253b is in the position to close the communication port A, the developing device 25 in a state where the communication port A is not blocked by the wing portion 253b is provided. It is possible to prevent the process cartridge 2 from being accidentally shipped at the time of shipment. In addition, the process cartridge 2 including the developing device 25 in a state where the communication port A is not blocked by the wing portion 253b is transported to prevent the toner from leaking out of the developing device 25 due to vibration during transport. It is also possible.

  Further, the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is provided with an optical sensor (not shown), and the laser light L ′ emitted from this optical sensor is reflected by the laser reflector 256a through the window portion 258a and reflected. The laser beam L ′ is received by an optical sensor so that it can be detected that the wing 253b is at a position where the communication port A is blocked. When the process cartridge 2 is mounted in the image forming apparatus, the wing portion 253b detects that the wing portion 253b is in a position blocking the communication port A based on the information from the optical sensor. Control that automatically rotates the stirring member 253 to a position where the communication port A is blocked is performed by a control unit (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus main body. As a result, when the process cartridge 2 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body, the communication port A is surely blocked by the wings 253b. Therefore, when the image forming apparatus including the process cartridge 2 is transported, It is possible to prevent the toner from leaking out of the developing device 25 due to vibration of time.

  In addition, such a method is used because it is possible to detect whether or not the stirring member 253 of the developing device 25 is stopped at the position where the communication port A is blocked by the wing portion 253b using the sensor as described above. The developing device 25 or the process cartridge 2 may be inspected before shipment using an inspection device to check whether the communication port A is blocked by the wing portion 253b.

  Note that the wing portion 253b is preferably a sheet-like material having flexibility such as a pet sheet. Each time the wing 253b rotates, the wing 253b comes into contact with the inner wall of the case near the communication port A. Therefore, if the wing 253b is made of a rigid material, the load applied to the stirring member 253 when the wing 253b comes into contact with the case inner wall. This increases the torque and raises the torque or causes abnormal noise when the wing portion 253b contacts the case inner wall.

  In order to reduce the load when the wing portion 253b and the inner wall of the case are in contact with each other, the slit shape is cut in the stirring member rotation direction (direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotation shaft 253a) as shown in FIG. It is also effective to provide 253c on the wing portion 253b.

  Further, as the mark shape, a convex shape 256b as shown in FIG. 6 may be used for the gear 256 for applying the rotational driving force to the stirring member 253, or a shape in which a hole is formed in a part of the gear 256 may be used. .

  When the process cartridge 2 integrally formed with the developing device 25 and the like as described above is shipped from the factory, the toner cartridge B is provided on the side of the developing device 25 as shown in FIG. The toner container 250 is filled with toner. At this time, a position where the communication port A that communicates the toner container 250 and the toner supply unit 251 as shown in FIG. 8 is closed by the side surface of the wing 253b that is pivotally supported by the rotating shaft 253a as shown in FIG. Then, the stirring member 253 is stopped. In the developing device 25 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, two communication ports A are provided in the developing device longitudinal direction with a space between each other. It is not limited. Since the communication port A is blocked by the wing portion 253b in this way, the toner filled in the toner storage unit 250 cannot move to the toner supply unit 251, thus preventing the toner from leaking from the toner supply unit 251. it can. Further, after the toner container 250 is filled with toner, the toner filling port B is closed with the toner cap 259.

  Here, it can be considered that the most important inspection item in assuring the quality of the process cartridge 2 is to assure the quality of the output image by actually using the process cartridge 2 to be shipped. When such inspection items are inspected, the process cartridge 2 is once mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus in the process before shipment, and an image is output, so that the developing device 25 can perform a normal developing operation. In addition, the communication port A is opened, and the toner filled in the toner storage unit 250 is moved to the toner supply unit 251. When the inspection of the inspection items is completed, the process cartridge 2 is driven using a jig or the like, and the stirring member 253 is stopped at a position where the communication port A is closed by the wing portion 253b.

  Since the developing roller 252 is rotatably held by the developing device main body, there is always a gap between the surface of the developing roller 252 and the case of the developing device main body facing the surface. Normally, in order to prevent toner leakage in this gap, a seal member 260 as shown in FIG. 3 or the like is attached to the case, and even if toner is present in the toner supply unit 251, toner leakage from the gap is avoided. It is configured not to occur. However, since the developing roller 252 slides with respect to the seal member 260 when the developing roller rotates, the sealing pressure cannot be increased with respect to the developing roller 252 much. Therefore, when a strong impact is applied to the developing device 25 due to dropping or the like, even if the seal member 260 is provided in the gap, the toner may leak from the seal portion around the developing roller 252.

  In particular, in the developing device 25 of the vertical type (the toner container 250 is provided via the communication port A above the toner supply unit 251) as in the present embodiment, if the communication port A is open, Since there is a long space in the vertical direction, the toner powder pressure around the developing roller 252 increases due to the weight of the toner in the toner storage unit 250 and the toner supply unit 251. Therefore, when an impact is applied due to vibration or dropping during transportation, toner leakage is likely to occur from the seal portion around the developing roller 252.

  Therefore, during transportation, the communication port A is closed by the wings 253b, so that the toner pressure around the developing roller 252 is only due to the weight of the toner in the toner supply unit 251. The increase in toner powder pressure is suppressed, and even if an impact is applied due to vibration or dropping during transportation, the toner hardly leaks from the seal portion around the developing roller 252.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, even if the communication port A is not completely blocked by the wing portion 253b, the weight of the toner in the toner containing portion 250 that applies the toner powder pressure around the developing roller 252 is reduced. Since the influence can be reduced, the toner is less likely to leak from the seal portion around the developing roller 252 than in the case where the communication port A is completely open.

  Further, as in the developing device 25 of the present embodiment, since the toner storage volume of the toner supply unit 251 is smaller than the toner storage volume of the toner storage unit 250, the amount of toner in the toner supply unit 251 is small. The toner powder pressure around the roller 252 can be reduced, and toner leakage at the time of dropping can be further reduced.

  Further, as in the developing device 25 of the present embodiment, a stirring member 257 that stirs the toner in the toner supply unit 251 is provided between the communication port A and the developing roller 252, so that the toner supply unit 251 can be transported during transportation. Even if there is toner, the movement of the toner in the toner supply unit 251 can be suppressed, and furthermore, the stirring member 257 functions as a buffer material that receives the toner powder pressure at the time of dropping. Is even more effective.

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the developing roller 252 that is a developer carrying member that supports a developer, the toner supply unit 251 that is a developer supply unit that supplies toner as a developer to the developing roller 252, and the toner Adjacent to the supply unit 251, a toner storage unit 250 that is a developer storage unit that stores toner to be supplied to the toner supply unit 251, a communication port A that connects the toner supply unit 251 and the toner storage unit 250, and a communication port A A wing portion 253b of the stirring member 253 that is a shutter means that can be displaced between a position that closes the position and a position that retracts from the closing position and exposes the communication port A, and driving means that drives the wing portion 253b. In the developing device 25, the stirring unit 253 b provided on the outer side of the side wall forming the toner storage unit 250 or the toner supply unit 251 is interlocked with the displacement of the blade 253 b of the stirring member 253, A position reached when the wing portion 253b of the H.253 is located at the closing position, and a position where the wing portion 253b of the stirring member 253 is retracted from the reaching position when the wing portion 253b of the stirring member 253 is displaced from the closing position to the exposing position. A laser reflecting plate 256a, which is a movable member that can be displaced between them, is provided. In the present embodiment, it can be seen that the wing 253b of the stirring member 253 is in a position to block the communication port A because the laser reflector 256a provided outside the side wall is in the reaching position. Accordingly, when the developing device 25 is transported, the communication port A is blocked by the wing portion 253b of the stirring member 253 by checking whether or not the laser reflecting plate 256a is in the above-mentioned position from the outside of the device. It can be determined whether or not. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the developing device 25 in a state where the communication port A is not blocked by the stirring member 253 from being mistakenly transported.
Further, according to the present embodiment, the toner storage unit 250 is provided above the toner supply unit 251, and the toner storage volume of the toner supply unit 251 is smaller than the toner storage volume of the toner storage unit 250. Thereby, since the toner amount of the toner supply unit 251 having the developing roller 252 that easily causes toner leakage is small, toner leakage at the time of dropping can be reduced.
Further, according to the present embodiment, the toner supply unit 251 is provided with the stirring member 257 that is a supply unit stirring member that stirs the toner in the toner supply unit 251, so that the toner powder pressure when the stirring member 257 drops is reduced. It functions as a buffer material to receive and can reduce toner leakage when dropped.
Further, according to the present embodiment, the shutter unit is provided in the toner storage unit 250 and rotates about the rotation shaft 253a to stir the toner in the toner storage unit 250. The side surface is larger than the opening of the communication port A. The agitating member 253 is a container agitating member having a wing portion 253b that is a portion, and is rotated from the position where the agitating member 253 closes the communication port A with the wing portion 253b and retreats from the closing position by the rotation operation by the driving means. Since it is configured to be displaceable from the position where the communication port A is exposed, a dedicated member is not newly provided as the shutter means, so that the apparatus can be reduced in size and cost.
Of course, as the shutter means, a dedicated member may be provided as in the developing device described in Patent Document 2, for example, and the shutter means only needs to be configured to open and close the communication port A. At this time, in conjunction with the displacement of the shutter means, the position reached when the shutter means is at the closing position, and the position reached when the shutter means is displaced from the closing position to the exposing position. Depending on the configuration and location of the shutter means, the movable member that can be displaced between the retreat position and the side wall that forms the toner container 250 and the side wall that forms the toner supply unit 251 is used. It suffices to provide it on the outside.
Moreover, according to this embodiment, the wing | blade part 253b is comprised with the sheet-like material which has flexibility, As mentioned above, the load at the time of rotation can be reduced.
Further, according to the present embodiment, the slit shape 253c that is cut in the rotating direction of the stirring member is formed in the wing portion 253b, so that the load during rotation can be reduced as described above.
Further, according to the present embodiment, a part of the axial end portion of the rotating shaft 253a is exposed to the outside of the case forming the toner storage portion 250, and the portion of the rotating shaft 253a that is exposed to the outside of the case is rotated. A gear 256 for applying a rotational driving force to the shaft 253a is fitted, and a mark shape for confirming that the wing 253b of the stirring member 253 is in the closing position on the gear 256. A laser reflector 256a is provided. Accordingly, it is possible to easily detect that the wing portion 253b is located at the position where the communication port A is closed from the outside of the apparatus with a simple configuration.
In addition, according to the present embodiment, the developing device main body is transported in a state where the wing portion 253b of the stirring member 253 is in the closed position, thereby preventing toner leakage that may occur during transportation.
Further, according to the present embodiment, the developing unit and at least one of the photoconductor 20 as the image carrier, the charging roller 22 as the charging unit, the discharging unit or the cleaning blade 21 as the cleaning unit are integrally formed, In the process cartridge 2 that is detachable from the image forming apparatus, by using the developing device 25 of the present invention as the developing means, it is possible to prevent toner leakage that may occur when the process cartridge 2 is transported.
In addition, according to the present embodiment, the process cartridge main body is transported in a state where the wing portion 253b of the stirring member 253 is in the closed position, so that toner leakage that may occur during transportation can be prevented.
In addition, according to the present embodiment, in the image forming apparatus including the photoconductor 20 that is an image carrier that carries a latent image, and the developing unit that develops the latent image on the photoconductor 20, as the developing unit, By using the developing device 25 of the present invention, it is possible to prevent toner leakage that may occur during transportation of the image forming apparatus.
Further, according to the present embodiment, the developing unit and at least one of the photoconductor 20 as the image carrier, the charging roller 22 as the charging unit, the discharging unit or the cleaning blade 21 as the cleaning unit are integrally formed, In an image forming apparatus provided with a process cartridge that is detachable from the apparatus main body, by using the process cartridge 2 having the developing device 25 of the present invention as the process cartridge, toner leakage that may occur during transportation of the image forming apparatus is prevented. be able to.
Further, according to the present embodiment, toner leakage that may occur during transportation can be prevented by transporting the main body of the image forming apparatus with the wings 253b of the stirring member 253 being in the closed position.
Further, according to the present embodiment, when the developing device 25 or the process cartridge 2 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body, the control for automatically displacing the blade portion 253b of the stirring member 253 to the closing position is performed. By having the control unit as means, the communication port A can be reliably closed by the wing portion 253b when the developing device 25, the process cartridge 2, or the like is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body.

The perspective view of the process cartridge which has the characteristic part of this invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to an embodiment. Sectional drawing of a process cartridge. The schematic diagram which shows the state by which the communicating port is obstruct | occluded with the wing | blade part. The schematic diagram at the time of attaching a laser reflector to the side of a gear. The schematic diagram at the time of providing a convex shape in the side surface of a gear, or providing the slit shape in the wing | blade part. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the developing device showing a state where a toner cap is removed and a toner filling port is opened. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a process cartridge showing a state in which a communication port is closed with wings. The schematic diagram which shows the state which has block | closed a part of communicating port with the wing | blade part.

Explanation of symbols

2 Process cartridge 3 Exposure device 4 Intermediate transfer belt 5 Primary transfer roller 6 Secondary transfer roller 7 Intermediate transfer body cleaning device 8 Paper feed cassette 9 Paper feed roller 10 Fixing device 11 Paper discharge roller 20 Photosensitive member 21 Cleaning blade 22 Charging roller DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 25 Developing apparatus 71 Cleaning blade 250 Toner accommodating part 251 Toner supply part 252 Developing roller 253 Stirring member 253a Rotating shaft 253b Wing 253c Slit shape 254 Toner supply roller 255 Developing blade 256 Gear 256a Laser reflector 256b Convex shape 257 Stirring member 258 Side plate 258a Window portion 259 Toner cap 260 Seal member

Claims (15)

A developer carrying member carrying the developer;
A developer supply unit for supplying the developer to the developer carrying member;
A developer storage section that is adjacent to the developer supply section and stores a developer to be replenished to the developer supply section;
A communication port communicating the developer supply unit and the developer storage unit;
Shutter means displaceable between a position for closing the communication port and a position for retreating from the blocking position to expose the communication port;
In a developing device including a driving unit that drives the shutter unit,
A position that is provided outside a side wall that forms the developer accommodating portion or the developer supply portion and that is interlocked with the displacement of the shutter means to reach when the shutter means is in the closing position; and A developing device, comprising: a moving member that is displaceable between a position to be retracted from the position to be reached when the position to be exposed is displaced from the closing position. The developing device according to claim 1.
The developer accommodating portion is provided above the developer supply portion,
A developing device characterized in that a developer accommodating volume of the developer supplying section is smaller than a developer accommodating volume of the developer accommodating section. The developing device according to claim 1 or 2,
A developing device comprising: a supply unit stirring member for stirring the developer in the developer supply unit provided in the developer supply unit. The developing device according to claim 1, 2 or 3,
The shutter means is a container stirring member that is provided in the developer container and rotates around a rotation shaft to stir the developer in the developer container, and has a side part larger than the communication port,
By the rotation operation by the stirring member driving means, the accommodating portion stirring member can be displaced between a position where the side surface portion closes the communication port and a position where the communication port is retracted from the closing position to expose the communication port. A developing device characterized by comprising. The developing device according to claim 4.
A developing device, wherein the side portion is made of a flexible sheet-like material. The developing device according to claim 5.
A developing device characterized in that a slit shape with a cut in the rotation direction of the container stirring member is formed in the side surface portion. The developing device according to claim 4, 5 or 6,
A part of the axial end portion of the rotating shaft is exposed outside the side wall forming the developer containing portion,
A portion of the rotating shaft exposed to the outside of the side wall is configured to be fitted with a gear for applying a rotational driving force to the rotating shaft.
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the moving member has a mark shape formed on the gear. The developing device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7.
A developing device, wherein the developing device main body is transported in a state where the shutter means is in the closed position. In a process cartridge in which a developing unit and at least one of an image carrier, a charging unit, a charge eliminating unit, or a cleaning unit are integrally formed and detachable from an image forming apparatus
A process cartridge using the developing device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 as the developing means. The process cartridge according to claim 9, wherein
A process cartridge, wherein the process cartridge body is transported in a state where the shutter means is in the closed position. An image carrier for carrying a latent image;
In an image forming apparatus comprising a developing means for developing a latent image on the image carrier,
An image forming apparatus using the developing device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 as the developing means. In an image forming apparatus including a developing unit and at least one of an image carrier, a charging unit, a discharging unit, or a cleaning unit, and a process cartridge that is detachable from the apparatus main body.
An image forming apparatus using the process cartridge according to claim 9 as the process cartridge. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 or 12,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus main body is transported in a state where the shutter means is in the closing position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13.
An image forming apparatus comprising: control means for performing control to automatically displace the shutter means to the closing position when the developing device is mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 or 13,
An image forming apparatus comprising: control means for performing control to automatically displace the shutter means to the closing position when the process cartridge is mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus.

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