JP2010078797A - Developing agent conveyance device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing agent conveyance device that can contain a break-down member inside even if separated from a developing device. <P>SOLUTION: A toner cartridge 52 has: a toner accommodation part 150 which accommodates a toner; a supply passage 152 for supplying the toner to the developing device 48; an agitator 154 which agitates the toner in the toner accommodation part 150 and conveys the toner to the supply passage 152; a rotation shaft 156 which supports the agitator 154; and a drive transmission gear 158 which transmits rotation drive to the rotation shaft 156. A crank 154a is formed near the supply passage 152 of the agitator 154. The crank 154a is provided with a break-down member 180, and the break-down member 180 prevents the clogging of the toner in the supply passage 152. The break-down member 180 is formed so that it does not interfere with a cartridge shutter 134 when the toner cartridge 52 is detached from the developing device 48. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer conveying device and an image forming apparatus.

  For example, Patent Document 1 is provided with a toner blocking prevention member that rotates as the agitator rotates and a toner blocking loosening member, and the toner blocking loosening member swings and blocks when the toner blocking prevention member comes into contact therewith. Disclosed is a developing device configured to break down a sloppy toner.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-202034

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a developer transport device capable of breaking a developer.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 1 includes a developer accommodating portion that accommodates a developer, and a developer that is provided below the developer accommodating portion in the gravitational direction and accommodated in the developer accommodating portion. A supply path having a supply port for supplying the developer to the outside of the developer storage section, a transport member rotatably provided in the developer storage section, and transporting the developer to the supply path, and supporting the transport member A rotating shaft; and a moving member having one end connected to the transport member and the other end positioned in the supply path, wherein the transport member is rotated at a position facing the supply path of the transport member. The developer transport device includes a moving unit that moves a position deviated from a rotation center line of the shaft, and the moving member is connected to the moving unit.

  The present invention according to claim 2 is the developer conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving member has the other end fixed to the supply path.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the developer conveying device according to the first aspect, further comprising a restricting portion that restricts the other end of the moving member from protruding from the supply port.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the developer conveying device according to the first aspect, the other end of the moving member moves between the inside and the outside of the supply port by the rotation of the conveying member.

  The present invention according to claim 5 has an opening / closing member that opens and closes the supply port, and stops the rotation of the conveying member when the other end of the moving member is located inside the supply port. It is a developing agent conveyance apparatus of description.

  The present invention according to claim 6 has an opening / closing member that opens and closes the supply port, wherein the developer conveying device is detachable from the developing device, and when the developer conveying device is detached from the developing device. The developer conveying device according to claim 4, wherein the other end is positioned inside the supply port.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the developer conveyance according to any one of the first to third aspects, the moving member has a spiral shape, and the moving member has a gap in a state where the moving portion is closest to the supply path. Device.

  The present invention according to claim 8 is the developer conveying device according to claim 7, wherein the moving member extends from a natural length in a state where the moving portion is closest to the supply path.

  The present invention according to claim 9 is the developer conveying device according to claim 2 or 7, wherein the moving portion is formed in a direction intersecting with the rotation center line.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus to which the developer conveying device according to the first to ninth aspects can be attached.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the developer can be effectively destroyed as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the moving member does not lose against the developer.

  According to this invention concerning Claim 3, it is not necessary to consider the exterior of a supply port.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the developer can be broken down more effectively.

  According to this invention concerning Claim 5, when an opening-and-closing member closes a supply port, a moving member does not become obstructive.

  According to this invention concerning Claim 6, when an opening-and-closing member closes a supply port, a moving member does not become obstructive.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the developer can be supplied stably.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the developer can be supplied efficiently.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the developer can be effectively destroyed.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus having a developer conveying device that can effectively break down the developer.

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

FIG. 1 shows an outline of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming apparatus main body 12, and an openable / closable cover 16 that is rotatable about a rotation fulcrum 14 is provided on the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body 12.
A user interface (UI device) 18 such as a touch panel is provided on the front side (left side in FIG. 1) of the opening / closing cover 16. The UI device 18 displays control information and instruction information of the image forming apparatus 10 and accepts input by the user such as instruction information.
In addition, an opening / closing detection sensor 19 that detects opening / closing of the opening / closing cover 16 by contacting / separating according to opening / closing of the opening / closing cover 16 is provided near the rotation fulcrum 14.

In the lower part of the image forming apparatus main body 12, for example, a one-stage paper feeding unit 20 is disposed. The paper feed unit 20 includes a paper feed unit main body 22 and a paper feed cassette 24 that stores a recording medium such as paper.
A feed roll 26 that feeds paper from the paper feed cassette 24 and a retard roll 28 that sprinkles the fed paper one by one are arranged in the upper vicinity of the rear end of the paper feed cassette 24.

The conveyance path 34 is a sheet path from the feed roll 26 to the discharge port 36, and the conveyance path 34 is in the vicinity of the back side (right side surface in FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus main body 12 and is described later from the sheet feeding unit 20. The fixing device 100 is formed substantially vertically.
A secondary transfer roll 88 and a secondary transfer backup roll 82, which will be described later, are disposed on the upstream side of the fixing device 100 in the conveyance path 34, and a registration roll 38 is disposed on the upstream side of the secondary transfer roll 88 and the secondary transfer backup roll 82. Is arranged.
Further, a discharge roll 40 is disposed in the vicinity of the discharge port 36 of the transport path 34.

Accordingly, the sheet fed from the sheet feeding cassette 24 of the sheet feeding unit 20 by the feed roll 26 is turned by the retard roll 28 and only the uppermost sheet is guided to the transport path 34 and is temporarily stopped by the registration roll 38. The toner image is transferred between a secondary transfer roll 88 and a secondary transfer backup roll 82, which will be described later, and the transferred toner image is fixed by the fixing device 100, and the discharge port 40 discharges the discharge port 36. Are discharged to a discharge portion 42 provided on the upper portion of the opening / closing cover 16.
The discharge portion 42 has a low discharge port portion and is inclined so as to gradually increase in the front direction (left direction in FIG. 1).

In the image forming apparatus main body 12, for example, a rotary developing device 44 is disposed at a substantially central portion.
The rotary developing device 44 has a developing device unit main body 46, and four developing devices 48 a to 48 d for forming toner images are mounted on the developing device unit main body 46.
These developing devices 48a to 48d rotate together with the developing device unit main body 46 counterclockwise (counterclockwise in FIG. 1) about the rotation shaft 51. The developing devices 48a to 48d include cylindrical toner cartridges 52a that contain yellow (Yellow: Y), magenta (Magenta: M), cyan (Cyan: C), and black (Black: K) toner (developer). -52d are respectively mounted.
When the toner cartridges 52a to 52d are attached to the developing device unit main body 46 via the developing devices 48a to 48d, the outer surfaces thereof are substantially aligned with the outer periphery of the developing device unit main body 46.

  The rotary developing device 44 is arranged so that an image carrier 54 made of, for example, a photosensitive member comes into contact with the image forming device 10 while being abutted from the back side (right side in FIG. 1). That is, the rotary developing device 44 is prepared in four colors Y, M, C, and K for full-color development, and the developing devices 48a to 48d are respectively located at positions facing the image carrier 54 (developing position A). The image is rotated and positioned, and the latent image on the image carrier 54 is visualized one by one with yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner.

Below the image carrier 54, there is provided a charging device 60 comprising, for example, a charging roll for uniformly charging the image carrier 54. In addition, the image carrier cleaner 62 is in contact with the charging device 60 in the rotational direction of the image carrier 54 in a state where it abuts on the upstream side. The image carrier cleaner 62 includes, for example, a cleaning blade 64 that scrapes off toner remaining on the image carrier 54 after primary transfer, and a waste toner collection bottle 66 that collects toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 64.
The back side (the right side in FIG. 1) of the waste toner collection bottle 66 is formed with, for example, a rib or the like, and is curved to form a part of the conveyance path 34 so that the paper is smoothly conveyed.

  An exposure device 68 for writing a latent image with a light beam such as a laser beam on the image carrier 54 charged by the charging device 60 is disposed below the rear side of the rotary developing device 44. Above the rotary developing device 44, the toner image visualized by the rotary developing device 44 is primary-transferred on the intermediate transfer member 74 by one color at the primary transfer position for each circumference of the intermediate transfer member 74. An intermediate transfer device 72 is provided that collectively transfers the four color toner images onto a sheet at a secondary transfer position described later.

The intermediate transfer device 72 includes an intermediate transfer member 74 such as an intermediate transfer belt, a primary transfer roll 76, a wrap-in roll 78, a wrap-out roll 80, a secondary transfer backup roll 82, a scraper backup roll 84, and a brush backup roll 86. Is done.
The intermediate transfer member 74 has elasticity, for example, and is stretched substantially flat so as to have a long side and a short side above the rotary developing device 44. The long side on the upper surface side of the intermediate transfer member 74 is stretched so as to be substantially parallel to, for example, the discharge unit 42 provided on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 12. Further, the intermediate transfer member 74 holds an image between a wrap-in roll 78 disposed upstream of the primary transfer roll 76 and a wrap-out roll 80 disposed downstream of the primary transfer roll 76 on the long side on the lower surface side. A primary transfer portion (image carrier wrap region) that contacts the body 54 in a wrap shape is provided, is wound around the image carrier 54 by a predetermined range, and is driven by the rotation of the image carrier 54.

Further, a flat surface portion (short side) is formed on the back side (right side surface in FIG. 1) of the intermediate transfer body 74 by a wrap-out roll 80 and a secondary transfer backup roll 82, and this flat surface portion is subjected to secondary transfer. It faces the transport path 34 as a part.
As described above, the intermediate transfer member 74 is primarily transferred by the primary transfer roll 76 to superimpose the toner image on the image holding member 54 in the order of, for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Transport toward the transfer section.

  A scraper backup roll 84 assists a scraper 94 described later to scrape off toner remaining on the intermediate transfer body 74 after the secondary transfer, and a brush backup roll 86 removes toner remaining on the intermediate transfer body 74 after the secondary transfer. A brush roll 96 to be described later assists in scraping.

  A secondary transfer roll 88 is opposed to the secondary transfer backup roll 82 of the intermediate transfer device 72 with the conveyance path 34 interposed therebetween. That is, the secondary transfer position in the secondary transfer portion is between the secondary transfer roll 88 and the secondary transfer backup roll 82, and the secondary transfer roll 88 is intermediate with the assistance of the secondary transfer backup roll 82. The toner image primarily transferred to the transfer body 74 is secondarily transferred to the paper at the secondary transfer position.

Here, the secondary transfer roll 88 is separated from the intermediate transfer member 74 while the intermediate transfer member 74 rotates three times, that is, while the three color toner images of yellow, magenta, and cyan are conveyed. When the image is transferred, the intermediate transfer member 74 is brought into contact.
In addition, a predetermined potential difference is generated between the secondary transfer roll 88 and the secondary transfer backup roll 82. For example, when the secondary transfer roll 88 is set to a high voltage, the secondary transfer backup backup is performed. The roll 82 is connected to a ground (GND) or the like.

An intermediate transfer member cleaner 92 is provided so as to come into contact with the end of the intermediate transfer member 74 on the side opposite to the opposite side of the image holding member.
The intermediate transfer body cleaner 92 includes, for example, a scraper 94 that scrapes and cleans toner remaining on the intermediate transfer body 74 after secondary transfer, a brush roll 96 that further scrapes off toner remaining after cleaning by the scraper 94, and a scraper 94 and The waste toner collecting bottle 98 collects the toner scraped off by the brush roll 96.

The scraper 94 is made of, for example, a thin plate of stainless steel, and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied. The brush roll 96 is made of, for example, an acrylic brush that has been subjected to a conductive treatment.
Further, while the intermediate transfer member 74 conveys the toner image, the scraper 94 and the brush roll 96 are separated from the intermediate transfer member 74 and come into contact with the intermediate transfer member 74 at a predetermined timing. Has been.

A fixing device 100 is disposed above the secondary transfer position. The fixing device 100 includes a heating roll 102 and a pressure roll 104, fixes the toner image secondarily transferred to the paper by the secondary transfer roll 88 and the secondary transfer backup roll 82, and fixes the toner image to the discharge roll 40. Transport toward.
Further, in the image forming apparatus main body 12, a control unit 106 that controls each part constituting the image forming apparatus 10 is disposed.

  The image carrier unit 108 is obtained by integrating the image carrier 54, the charging device 60, and the image carrier cleaner 62. Further, the image forming unit 110 is obtained by integrating the image carrier unit 108, the intermediate transfer device 72, and the intermediate transfer body cleaner 92. The fixing unit 112 is an integrated unit of the fixing device 100 and the discharge roll 40.

In FIG. 2, the rotary developing device 44 and its periphery are shown.
Each of the developing devices 48a to 48d has a developing roll 49, and is urged in a substantially normal direction with respect to the rotation direction of the developing device unit main body 46 by an elastic body 50 such as a coil spring.
In a state where the developing roller 49 is not in contact with the image carrier 54, a part of the outer periphery of each of the developing roller 49 protrudes from the outer periphery of the developing device unit main body 46 in the radial direction, for example, 2 mm.

The toner cartridges 52a to 52d are moved to a position facing the toner cartridge attaching / detaching space 53 provided on the front side (opening / closing cover 16 side) in the image forming apparatus main body 12, and then the opening / closing cover 16 is opened. The toner cartridge is attached to and detached from the front side of the image forming apparatus 10 through the toner cartridge attaching / detaching space 53.
Hereinafter, when any one of a plurality of components such as the developing devices 48a to 48d is not specified, it may be simply abbreviated as “developing device 48” or the like.

FIG. 3 shows a process of attaching the toner cartridge 52 to the developing device 48.
As shown in FIG. 3, the developing device 48 includes a developing device main body 120, a developing device side connection port 122 for receiving toner from the toner cartridge 52, and a developing device shutter 124 that opens and closes the developing device side connection port 122. Have A developing device seal member 126 is provided between the developing device shutter 124 and the developing device main body 120.
The developing device sealant 126 reduces the amount of toner entering between the developing device main body 120 and the developing device shutter 124, reduces the friction and contact area of the developing device shutter 124 with respect to the developing device main body 120, and smoothly slides. To.

The portion of the developing device main body 120 where the developing device shutter 124 slides and the developing device shutter 124 are curved in accordance with the shape of the toner cartridge 52 so that the toner cartridge 52 is mounted.
The developing device shutter 124 is urged to close the developing device side connection port 122, and when the toner cartridge 52 is not attached to the developing device 48 as shown in FIG. The side connection port 122 is closed.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, when the toner cartridge 52 is mounted on the developing device 48, the developing device side connection port 122 is opened.

The toner cartridge 52 includes a cylindrical portion 130 that is formed in a cylindrical shape and stores toner, a cartridge side connection port 132 for supplying toner to the developing device 48, a cartridge shutter 134 that opens and closes the cartridge side connection port 132, It has a handle portion 140 formed integrally with the tube portion 130. A cartridge seal member 136 is provided between the cylindrical portion 130 and the cartridge shutter 134.
The cartridge seal material 136 reduces the amount of toner entering between the cylindrical portion 130 and the cartridge shutter 134, reduces the friction and contact area of the cartridge shutter 134 with respect to the cylindrical portion 130, and makes the sliding smooth.

The cartridge shutter 134 is formed with a protrusion 138 that pushes and slides the developing device shutter 124.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the toner cartridge shutter 134 closes the cartridge side connection port 132 when the toner cartridge 52 is not attached to the developing device 48, and as shown in FIG. When the toner cartridge 52 is mounted on the developing device 48, the cartridge side connection port 132 is opened.

As shown in FIG. 3A, when the toner cartridge 52 is moved from the state where the toner cartridge 52 is detached from the developing device 48 in the mounting direction as shown by an arrow B, as shown in FIG. The cylindrical portion 130 and the developing device shutter 124 come into contact with each other.
Here, when the handle portion 140 is pressed in the direction indicated by the arrow C, the cylindrical portion 130 rotates in the same direction as the arrow C, and the protrusion 138 contacts the end portion of the developing device shutter 124. On the other hand, at this time, the cartridge shutter 134 contacts the developing device main body 120.

When the handle 140 is further pressed in the direction indicated by the arrow C, the protrusion 138 presses the end of the developing device shutter 124, so that the developing device shutter 124 moves the developing device main body 120 through the developing device seal member 126. The developing device side connection port 122 is opened as shown in FIG. On the other hand, at this time, the cartridge shutter 134 is restricted from rotational movement by the developing device main body 120, so that the cartridge side connection port 132 is opened as shown in FIG.
At this time, since the developing device side connection port 122 and the cartridge side connection port 132 are opposed to each other, toner is supplied from the toner cartridge 52 to the developing device 48.

  When the toner cartridge 52 is detached from the developing device 48, the toner cartridge 52 is detached in the reverse process.

FIG. 4 shows details of the toner cartridge 52 when the toner cartridge 52 is attached to the developing device 48.
The toner cartridge 52 includes a toner storage unit 150 that stores toner, a supply path 152 for supplying toner to the developing device 48, and an agitator 154 that stirs the toner in the toner storage unit 150 and conveys the toner to the supply path 152. The rotating shaft 156 that supports the agitator 154, the drive transmission gear 158 that transmits the rotational drive to the rotating shaft 156, and the breaking member 180 are included.
The agitator 154 is formed, for example, in a spiral shape, is provided at the end of the rotation shaft 156, and rotates with the rotation of the rotation shaft 156. The drive transmission gear 158 is provided at the end of the rotating shaft 156 opposite to the agitator 154 side. The spiral winding direction of the agitator 154 is a direction in which the toner can be conveyed toward the supply path 152 when the agitator 154 rotates.
The supply path 152 is located below the toner container 150 in the gravity direction in a state where the toner cartridge 52 is mounted on the developing device 48 and supplies toner, and basically supplies toner by gravity.

The toner storage unit 150 is formed by the cylindrical unit 130 and the side plates 160 and 162. The side plate 160 on the drive transmission gear 158 side rotatably supports the rotating shaft 156.
The supply path 152 is formed by a supply pipe 164 formed integrally with the cylindrical portion 130. Further, the connection surface 166 formed at the end of the supply pipe 164 is in contact with the developing device seal member 126 provided at the developing device side connection port 122.
The toner transported from the toner container 150 to the supply path 152 by the agitator 154 is sent to the developer transport path 170 via the cartridge side connection port 132 and the developer side connection port 122 and passes through the developer transport path 170. It is conveyed by a conveying member 172 such as an auger.

Further, a crank portion 154 a bent from the rotation center axis D is formed at a position facing the supply path 152 in the agitator 154. The crank portion 154a is formed substantially parallel to the rotation center axis D, and the locus thereof deviates from the rotation center axis D.
A breaking member 180 that breaks the toner in the supply path 152 is connected to the crank portion 154a. The breaking member 180 is a spiral coil spring, for example, and has an elastic force.
The spiral winding direction of the agitator 154 is reversed before and after the crank portion 154a. By doing so, the toner on the side plate 162 side can also be stably conveyed in the direction of the supply path 152.

A hook portion 180a is formed at the end of the breaking member 180, and the hook portion 180a is rotatably attached to the crank portion 154a.
Further, an engaging portion 180b is formed at the end of the breaking member 180 opposite to the hook portion 180a, and this engaging portion 180b is engaged with a recess 164a formed on the inner wall of the supply pipe 164. By doing so, the breaking member 180 is fixed to the wall forming the supply path 152.

When viewed from the crank portion 154a side (that is, viewed in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 4), the breaking member 180 is formed in a spiral shape having a gap 180c as shown in FIG. That is, the breaking member 180 is formed so that the diameter on the hook portion 180a side is smaller and the diameter on the engaging portion 180b side is larger. After the toner is broken by the breaking member 180, the toner is supplied downstream through the gap 180c.
Further, when the crank portion 154a is located at the lowermost position in FIG. 4, that is, when the crank portion 154a is closest to the supply path 152 and the collapsing member 180 is compressed most, the gap 180c may be formed. . In this way, although the supply amount changes, the toner is always supplied instead of intermittently, so that the toner can be supplied more stably than when the toner is supplied intermittently.

The breaking member 180 expands and contracts as the agitator 154 rotates. That is, if the crank portion 154a is located at a position away from the supply path 152, the crank section 154a is extended as shown in FIG. 4, and if the crank section 154a is located near the supply path 152, it is contracted as shown in FIG. It becomes.
The breaking member 180 breaks the solidified toner by repeating expansion and contraction in this way.
Further, when viewed from the direction of the arrow F shown in FIG. 4, the breaking member 180 moves also in the left-right direction due to the rotation of the crank portion 154a, so that the toner is broken down more effectively than simply expanding and contracting. Can do.

Further, since the breaking member 180 is fixed to the wall forming the supply path 152, the breaking member 180 does not interfere with the cartridge shutter 134 when the toner cartridge 52 is detached from the developing device 48.
In addition, since the breaking member 180 is fixed, there is little possibility that the breaking member 180 is detached from the supply path 152. Furthermore, since it is fixed, it always expands and contracts by the rotation of the crank portion 154a.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the breaking member 180 is extended from the natural length even when the crank portion 154a is located near the supply path 152 (that is, the breaking member 180 is always urged in the direction in which it is contracted). It is better to install it. Since the toner accumulates below in the direction of gravity, the agitator 154 can be brought closer to the supply path 152, and the toner can be efficiently conveyed.

FIG. 7 shows details of the toner cartridge 190 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 7A, a protrusion 192 that protrudes inward is formed in the vicinity of the cartridge side connection port 132 on the inner wall of the supply pipe 164.
Also, an abutting portion 194b is formed at the end of the breaking member 194 opposite to the hook portion 194a, and the abutting portion 194b abuts against the protruding portion 192, whereby the breaking member 194 is connected to the cartridge side connection port. The entry to the developing device 48 side from 132 is restricted.
As shown in FIG. 7B, a restricting portion 196a formed so as to increase the diameter of the spiral may be provided near the center of the breaking member 196. When the restricting portion 196 a hits the vicinity of the supply path 152 of the cylindrical portion 130, the collapsing member 196 is restricted from entering the developing device 48 side from the cartridge side connection port 132.

FIG. 8 shows details of the toner cartridge 200 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
The breaking member 202 is not engaged with the supply pipe 164, and therefore moves in the supply path 152 as the agitator 154 rotates as shown in FIGS.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the crank portion 154 a comes closest to the supply path 152, the tip 202 d of the breaking member 202 enters the developer 48 side from the cartridge side connection port 132.
That is, the breaking member 202 enters the developing device 48 side from the cartridge side connection port 132 and breaks the toner.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the crank portion 154a is farthest from the supply path 152, the tip 202d of the breaking member 202 is located inside the cartridge side connection port 132 (that is, inside the toner cartridge 200). It is in.

In the vicinity of the drive transmission gear 158 of the image forming apparatus main body 12 or the rotary developing device 44, a sensor 204 as a detecting means is provided.
In addition, the drive transmission gear 158 is provided with a detection target portion 206 that is a detection target of the sensor 204. The detection target part 206 can be, for example, a part painted with a predetermined color or a protrusion.
As shown in FIG. 8B, the detection target part 206 is provided at a position where the sensor 204 can detect when the crank part 154 a is farthest from the supply path 152. In other words, when the sensor 204 detects the detection target portion 206, the tip 202 d of the breaking member 202 is inside the cartridge side connection port 132.
Here, when an operation for stopping the rotation of the drive transmission gear 158 is performed, for example, when the toner cartridge is replaced, the drive transmission gear 158 is configured to stop the rotation when the sensor 204 detects the detection target portion 206. It has become.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8C, when the toner cartridge 200 is detached from the developing device 48 and the cartridge side connection port 132 is closed by the cartridge shutter 134, the breaking member 202 does not interfere with the cartridge shutter 134. It has become.

9 and 10, a toner cartridge 210 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown. 9A, 10A, and 10C are side views of the toner cartridge 210, and FIGS. 9B, 10B, and 10D are front views of the toner cartridge 210. FIG. FIG.
The breaking member 212 is not engaged with the supply pipe 164 in the same manner as the breaking member 202, and therefore moves in the supply path 152 as the agitator 154 rotates.

As shown in FIG. 9B, when the crank portion 154a comes closest to the supply path 152, the tip 212d of the breaking member 212 enters the developing device 48 side from the cartridge side connection port 132.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10D, when the crank portion 154 a is farthest from the supply path 152, the tip 212 d of the breaking member 212 is inside the cartridge side connection port 132.

The rotary shaft 156 or the drive transmission gear 158 is provided with a tooth-missing gear 214 that transmits rotational drive to the rotary shaft 156. The tooth missing gear 214 has a tooth missing portion 214a in which teeth are not formed.
The image forming apparatus main body 12 is provided with a rack 216 that meshes with the tooth-missing gear 214 and transmits power. The rack 216 moves in conjunction with, for example, the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover 16.
In addition, the rack 216 transmits power when the drive transmission gear 158 does not transmit rotational driving. For example, when the drive transmission gear 158 is transmitting rotational drive, the rack 216 may be retracted from the chipped gear 214, or the drive may not be transmitted to the chipped gear 214 by a clutch or the like. Also good.
As will be described later with reference to FIGS. 10C and 10D, the tooth missing portion 214 a is formed at a position facing the rack 216 when the crank portion 154 a is farthest from the supply path 152.

Next, the operation of the toner cartridge 210 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the rack 216 is linked to the operation shown in FIG. 10 in conjunction with the operation required to remove the toner cartridge 53 from the developing device 48 (for example, the opening operation of the opening / closing cover 16). When moved in the F direction, the tooth-missing gear 214 is transmitted with power from the rack 216 and rotates in the direction of arrow G, and the agitator 154 also rotates as the tooth-missing gear 214 rotates.
As shown in FIGS. 10C and 10D, when the tooth missing portion 214a faces the rack 216, the tooth missing gear 214 cannot transmit power from the rack 216, so the tooth missing gear 214 and the agitator 154 rotate. Stop.
At this time, since the tip 212 d of the breaking member 212 is inside the cartridge side connection port 132, the breaking member 212 does not interfere with the cartridge shutter 134 even if the toner cartridge 210 is detached from the developing device 48 in this state.

FIG. 11 shows a toner cartridge 220 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 11, the crank portion 222 a formed on the agitator 222 is not parallel to the rotation center axis D.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11A, when the drive transmission gear 158 side of the crank portion 222a is close to the supply path 152, the breaking member 180 is biased in the direction of the arrow H, so that the hook portion 180a is moved to the crank portion 222a. The hook portion 180a moves to the end of the crank portion 222a on the drive transmission gear 158 side, as shown in FIG. 11B.
Further, when the agitator 222 rotates, as shown in FIG. 11C, the side plate 162 side of the crank portion 222a is close to the supply path 152, so that the hook portion 180a slides in the arrow J direction along the crank portion 222a. Then, the crank part 222a moves to the end part on the side plate 162 side.
As described above, the hook member 180 a of the breaking member 180 slides on the crank portion 222 a, so that the breaking member 180 can break the toner over a wider range of the supply path 152.

In addition, when the toner cartridge is stored for a long time or transported, the crank portion may be stored in a state closest to the supply path before the toner cartridge is mounted on the developing device. By doing so, even when the crushing member is stored in the supply path and toner clogging occurs in the supply path, the crushing member is in the toner clogged state (or the toner around the crushing member). Clogged state).
Therefore, the crushing member can easily remove the toner clogging by attaching the toner cartridge to the developing device and driving the agitator.
Further, the present invention may be applied to a so-called process cartridge in which functional parts (for example, a developing device) necessary for image formation are appropriately unitized instead of the toner cartridge.

1 is a side view illustrating an outline of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view which shows a rotary developing device and its periphery. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a process of mounting a toner cartridge on a developing device. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating details of a toner cartridge. It is a figure which shows a breaking member. It is a figure which shows the state which the breaking member contracted. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating details of a toner cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating details of a toner cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing details of a toner cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing details of a toner cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating details of a toner cartridge according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 44 Rotary developing device 46 Developer unit main bodies 48a to 48d Developer units 52a to 52d Toner cartridge 120 Developer unit main body 122 Developer side connection port 124 Developer unit shutter 130 Tube portion 132 Carriage side connection port 134 Cartridge shutter 138 Projection Part 150 toner storage part 152 supply path 154 agitator 154a crank part 156 rotation shaft 158 drive transmission gear 164 supply pipe 164a recess 180 breaking member 180a hooking part 180b engaging part 190 toner cartridge 192 projecting part 194,196 breaking member 194b butting part 196a Restricting portion 200 Toner cartridge 202 Breaking member 204 Sensor 206 Detection target portion 210 Toner cartridge 212 Breaking member 214 Tooth missing gear 214a Tooth missing portion 216 Rack 22 0 Toner cartridge 222 Agitator 222a Crank portion

Claims (10)

A developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer;
A supply path that is provided below the developer container in the direction of gravity and has a supply port for supplying the developer housed in the developer container to the outside of the developer container;
A conveying member that is rotatably provided in the developer accommodating portion and conveys the developer to the supply path;
A rotating shaft that supports the conveying member;
One end is connected to the conveying member, and the other end has a moving member located in the supply path,
The transport member includes a moving unit that moves to a position opposite to the supply path of the transport member and moves away from the rotation center line of the rotation shaft.
The developer conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving member is connected to the moving unit.   The developer conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the moving member has the other end fixed to the supply path.   The developer conveying device according to claim 1, further comprising a restricting portion that restricts the other end of the moving member from protruding from the supply port.   The developer conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the other end of the moving member moves between the inside and the outside of the supply port by the rotation of the conveying member. An opening and closing member for opening and closing the supply port;
The developer conveying device according to claim 4, wherein the rotation of the conveying member is stopped when the other end of the moving member is positioned inside the supply port. An opening and closing member for opening and closing the supply port;
The developer conveying device is detachable from the developing device,
The developer conveying device according to claim 4, wherein when the developer conveying device is detached from the developing device, the other end is positioned inside the supply port.   4. The developer conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the moving member has a spiral shape, and the moving member has a gap in a state where the moving portion is closest to the supply path. 5.   The developer conveying device according to claim 7, wherein the moving member extends from a natural length in a state where the moving unit is closest to the supply path.   The developer conveying device according to claim 2, wherein the moving portion is formed in a direction intersecting with the rotation center line.   An image forming apparatus to which the developer conveying device according to claim 1 can be attached.

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