JP2010156909A - Powder storage container, powder conveyance device, and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adjust the amount of circulated toner without performing complicated driving control. <P>SOLUTION: In a conveyance tube 72, an open area of an air hole 84 is adjusted by moving an opening/closing member 86 along the circumferential direction. An internal pressure of the conveyance tube 72 is adjusted by adjusting the open area of the air hole 84. A toner conveyance amount per unit time is adjusted by adjusting the internal pressure of the conveyance tube 72. Since the air hole 84 is used for adjustment, the toner circulation amount can be adjusted without requiring complicated driving control unlike when driving control is indispensable in order to adjust the toner circulation amount. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder container, a powder conveyance device, and an image forming apparatus.

  As the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatuses disclosed in Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, and Patent Document 3 are known. An image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a toner supply device for supplying toner from a toner cartridge containing toner to a developing device, and calculates a toner consumption amount based on a driving time of the toner supply device. In the toner replenishment control device having the above, the calculated consumption calculated from the driving time of the toner supply device is compared with the toner consumption actually consumed from the toner cartridge, and the coefficient for calculating the consumption from the next time is changed. Have feedback control.

  In the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, a humidity sensor is installed in the vicinity of the developing device 44 to correct fluctuations in toner fluidity related to humidity determined in advance according to the component, particle size, etc. of the toner used. When the correction coefficient corresponding to the detected humidity information is determined from the relationship between the humidity for correction and the correction coefficient, and the video count number calculated from the pixel image signal is converted into the toner replenishment time, the video count that the CPU 67 has The number of video counts in the conversion table indicating the correspondence between the number and the toner replenishment time is multiplied by this correction coefficient to determine the toner replenishment time, and the toner is replenished after one toner image is formed.

  An image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 3 includes a video count ATR including a video counter 23 and the like, and a patch detection ATR including a toner concentration detection sensor including a photoelectric conversion element 28 and the like, and a toner conveying screw. 61 detects the replenishment amount of the toner 7 from the hopper 6 into the developing container 4 in advance, and replenishes the toner by operating the screw 61 based on the detected toner replenishment amount and the image formation information signal, and is detected by the detection sensor. The operation of the screw 61 is corrected based on the toner concentration of the developer 5 in the container 4.

JP 2008-33197 A JP-A-5-27527 (FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-11965 (FIG. 1)

  An object of the present invention is to make it possible to adjust the amount of powder flow without complicated driving control.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a powder conveyance device for conveying powder from a first powder storage chamber in which powder is stored toward a second powder chamber in which powder is stored. A path, a transport member disposed in the transport path, for transporting powder, an air hole formed in the transport path for allowing air to flow outside the transport path, and an opening area of the air hole being adjusted And an adjusting mechanism.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the powder conveying device according to the first aspect, wherein an intake port through which the powder is taken in from the first powder containing chamber is formed in the conveying path, and the air hole However, it is arrange | positioned in the conveyance direction upstream rather than the said inlet.

  An image forming apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention conveys the toner as powder, and the development includes the powder conveying device according to claim 2 or 3 and the toner conveyed by the powder conveying device. A developing device having a developing chamber serving as the second powder chamber for containing the agent, an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface is developed by the developer of the developing device, and the powder transport Notification means for notifying the outside of the adjustment amount of the opening area of the air hole determined by the adjustment amount of the toner conveyance amount in the apparatus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the third aspect, when the toner conveyance amount is finely adjusted rather than the adjustment by the driving unit that drives the conveyance member and the air hole, A control unit that controls the drive unit.

  A powder container according to claim 5 of the present invention is a container main body for storing powder, a discharge port formed in the container main body for discharging the powder stored in the container main body, and the container An air hole that is formed in the main body and allows air outside the container main body to flow in, and an adjustment mechanism that adjusts an opening area of the air hole.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: the powder container according to the first aspect that accommodates toner as powder; the apparatus main body to which the powder container is attached; and the apparatus main body. A developing device provided with a developing chamber for containing a developer containing toner, a toner conveying device provided in the device main body for conveying toner from the powder container to the developing chamber, and formed on the surface An image carrier that develops the electrostatic latent image with the developer of the developing device and an adjustment amount of the opening area of the air hole determined by the adjustment amount of the toner conveyance amount in the powder conveyance device are notified to the outside. Notification means.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the sixth aspect, the image forming apparatus is provided in the toner conveying device, and is provided in the toner conveying device, a conveying member that conveys toner toward the developing chamber, A driving unit that drives the conveying member; and a control unit that controls the driving unit when the toner conveyance amount is finely adjusted rather than the adjustment by the air hole.

  According to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the flow rate of the powder can be adjusted without complicated drive control as compared with the configuration in which the drive control is essential for adjusting the flow rate of the powder.

  According to the structure of Claim 2 of this invention, compared with the case where the air hole is arrange | positioned rather than the intake port in the conveyance direction downstream, the outflow of the powder from an air hole can be suppressed.

  According to the structure of Claim 3 of this invention, compared with the structure which requires drive control in order to adjust the flow volume of powder, the flow volume of powder can be adjusted without complicated drive control.

  According to the structure of Claim 4 of this invention, compared with the case where it does not have this structure, the flow volume of powder can be adjusted with a sufficient precision.

  According to the structure of Claim 5 of this invention, compared with the structure which requires drive control in order to adjust the flow volume of powder, the flow volume of powder can be adjusted without complicated drive control.

  According to the structure of Claim 6 of this invention, compared with the structure which requires drive control in order to adjust the flow volume of powder, the flow volume of powder can be adjusted without complicated drive control.

  According to the structure of Claim 7 of this invention, compared with the case where it does not have this structure, the flow volume of powder can be adjusted with sufficient precision.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the toner conveying device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the end portion of the transport pipe according to the present embodiment as viewed from above. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the opening / closing member according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the toner cartridge according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the seal member according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a seal member according to a modification. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a seal member according to a modification. FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a configuration of a toner cartridge according to a modification. FIG. 10 is a graph showing the transition of the Dispense Rate in the configuration of this embodiment and the comparative example.

Below, an example of an embodiment concerning the present invention is described based on a drawing.
(Whole structure of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment)
First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes an apparatus main body 11 in which each component apparatus and each component member are accommodated. The apparatus main body 11 includes a recording medium storage unit 12 that stores a recording medium P such as paper, an image forming unit 14 that forms a toner image on the recording medium P, and recording from the recording medium storage unit 12 to the image forming unit 14. Conveying means 16 that conveys the medium P, a fixing device 18 that fixes the toner image formed by the image forming unit 14 to the recording medium P, and a recording medium P on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 18 is discharged. And a medium discharge unit 20.

  The image forming unit 14 includes image forming units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K that form toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and an image forming unit 22Y. , 22M, 22C, 22K, an intermediate transfer belt 24 as an example of an intermediate transfer member to which a toner image is transferred, and toner images formed by the image forming units 22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 24. A primary transfer roll 26 as an example of a primary transfer member that transfers the toner image, and a secondary transfer roll 28 as an example of a secondary transfer member that transfers the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 24 to the recording medium P. ing.

  Each of the image forming units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K has a photosensitive drum 30 that rotates in one direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 1) as an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface. Yes.

  Around each photosensitive drum 30, a charging device 32 for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 30 in order from the upstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 30, and the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 30 are exposed to expose the photosensitive drum 30. An exposure device 34 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the drum 30; a developing device 36 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 30 to form a toner image; and an intermediate transfer of the toner image A neutralization device 38 for neutralizing the surface of the photosensitive drum 30 after being transferred to the belt 24 and a toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 30 after the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 24 are removed. And a removal device 40.

  Above the intermediate transfer belt 24, a toner storage chamber 58 for storing toner is provided as an example of a first powder storage chamber for storing powder. The toner storage chamber 58 is provided for each of the image forming units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K. Toner is supplied from the toner storage chambers 58 to the developing devices 36 of the image forming units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K.

  The developing device 36 includes, as an example of a second powder chamber that stores powder, a developing chamber 36A that stores a developer including toner and a magnetic carrier. The developing chamber 36A is provided with a conveying member 36B that conveys the developer while stirring, and a developing roller 36C as an example of a developer holding body that holds the developer conveyed to the conveying member 36B. The toner held on the developing roll 36C is attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum 30, and the electrostatic latent image is developed.

  Between the toner storage chamber 58 and the developing chamber 36A, a toner transport device 60 that transports toner from the toner storage chamber 58 toward the developing chamber 36A is provided as a powder transport device for transporting powder. The configuration of the toner conveying device 60 will be described later.

  The toner conveying device 60 according to this embodiment may be applied when conveying powder other than toner. For example, the toner transport device 60 can be applied to powders other than toner whose fluidity changes with changes in the surrounding environment, manufacturing conditions, and the like.

  The intermediate transfer belt 24 is supported by a counter roll 42, a drive roll 44, and a support roll 46 that face the secondary transfer roll 28, and circulates and moves in one direction (clockwise in FIG. 1) while being in contact with the photosensitive drum 30. It is supposed to be.

  On the intermediate transfer belt 24, a toner removing unit 48 for removing toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 24 is provided.

  The primary transfer roll 26 faces the photosensitive drum 30 with the intermediate transfer belt 24 interposed therebetween. Between the primary transfer roll 26 and the photosensitive drum 30, a primary transfer position where the toner image on the photosensitive drum 30 is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 24 is formed. At the primary transfer position, the primary transfer roll 26 transfers the toner image on the surface of the photoconductive drum 30 to the intermediate transfer belt 24 by a pressing force and an electrostatic force.

  The secondary transfer roll 28 faces the opposing roll 42 with the intermediate transfer belt 24 interposed therebetween. A secondary transfer position where the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 24 is secondarily transferred to the recording medium P is formed between the secondary transfer roll 28 and the opposing roll 42.

  The conveying means 16 includes a sending roll 50 that sends out the recording medium P accommodated in the recording medium accommodating portion 12, and a conveying roll pair 52 that sandwiches and conveys the recording medium P sent out by the sending roll 50 to the secondary transfer position. I have.

  The fixing device 18 is disposed downstream in the transport direction from the secondary transfer position, and fixes the toner image transferred at the secondary transfer position to the recording medium P.

  On the downstream side of the fixing device 18 in the transport direction, a transport roll pair 54 that sandwiches and transports the recording medium P and a discharge roll pair 56 that discharges the recording medium P to the recording medium discharge unit 20 are arranged in this order.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes a display unit 90 that displays information to the outside as an example of a notification unit that notifies the information to the outside. The display unit 90 displays, for example, an adjustment amount of an opening area of an air hole 84 to be described later. The notification means may be a speaker that notifies the outside by sound or voice.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a control unit 92 that controls driving of each device and each member. For example, the control unit 92 is configured to control a drive unit 69 of a conveyance member 64 described later.

  Next, an image forming operation for forming an image in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when an image is formed on the recording medium P, first, the recording medium P sent out from the recording medium container 12 is sent to the secondary transfer position by the transport roll pair 52.

  On the other hand, the toner images of the respective colors formed by the image forming units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 24 to form a multicolor toner image. The toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 24 is transferred to the recording medium P sent to the secondary transfer position.

  The recording medium P to which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 18, and the transferred toner image is fixed by the fixing device 18. The recording medium P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the recording medium discharge unit 20 by the discharge roll pair 56. As described above, a series of image forming operations are performed.

(Configuration of Toner Conveying Device According to this Embodiment)
Next, the configuration of the toner conveyance device according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the toner conveying device according to the present embodiment.

  The toner transport device 60 according to the present embodiment includes a transport path 62 for transporting toner from the toner storage chamber 58 toward the developing chamber 36A, and a transport member 64 that is disposed in the transport path 62 and transports toner. Yes.

  The toner storage chamber 58 is formed inside a toner cartridge 82 as an example of a toner storage container that stores toner.

  The toner cartridge 82 includes a container main body 82A that stores toner, and a discharge port 82B that is formed in the container main body 82A and discharges the toner stored in the container main body 82A.

  In the toner cartridge 82, a conveying member 83 is provided for conveying the toner contained in the container main body 82A to the discharge port 82B. The conveying member 83 is configured by, for example, a coil that is spirally wound around an axis along the axial direction of the toner cartridge 82. The conveying member 83 is not limited to a coil, and may be, for example, a conveying screw similarly to the conveying member 64, or another conveying member.

  A discharge port 82B is formed on one end side in the axial direction of the toner cartridge 82, and the transport member 83 rotates to transport toner from the other end side in the axial direction of the toner cartridge 82 to the discharge port 82B. The toner cartridge 82 is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 11 of the image forming apparatus 10.

  The transport path 62 is formed inside a transport pipe 72 extending in the lateral direction. A transport member 64 is disposed inside the transport pipe 72.

  The conveying member 64 is constituted by a conveying screw, a rotatable rotating shaft 64A, and a blade member 64B that is provided around the rotating shaft 64A in a spiral shape and can convey toner by the rotation of the rotating shaft 64A. It has.

  A gear portion 66 is provided at one axial end portion (right end portion in FIG. 2) of the rotation shaft 64A. The gear portion 66 meshes with a gear portion 68 provided on the drive shaft 70 of the drive portion 69. As a result, the drive shaft 70 is rotated by the drive force of the drive unit 69, and this rotational force is transmitted to the rotation shaft 64 </ b> A via the gear portion 68 and the gear portion 66. The rotating shaft 64A to which the rotational force of the driving shaft 70 is transmitted rotates and the toner is conveyed by the blade member 64B.

  One end of the conveying member 78 is connected to the other axial end of the rotating shaft 64A (the left end in FIG. 2). The conveying member 78 is configured by a coil wound in a spiral shape.

  An intake port 80 through which toner is taken in from the toner storage chamber 58 is formed in the intermediate portion of the transport pipe 72. The toner falling from the discharge port 82 </ b> B of the toner storage chamber 58 is taken into the transport path 62 in the transport pipe 72 from the intake port 80. The toner taken in from the take-in port 80 is transported from the intermediate portion of the transport tube 72 where the intake port 80 is formed to one end portion side (left end portion side in FIG. 2) of the transport tube 72.

  Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an air hole 84 for allowing air outside the transport pipe 72 to flow in is formed in the transport pipe 72. The air hole 84 is formed on the upstream side in the transport direction from the intake port 80. That is, the air hole 84 is located on the other end side of the transport pipe 72 opposite to the one end side of the transport pipe 72 to which the toner is transported from the intermediate portion of the transport pipe 72 in which the intake port 80 is formed ( It is arranged on the right end side in FIG. The air hole 84 is formed in the upper part of the transport pipe 72.

  The air hole 84 may be provided with a filter that allows inflow of air from the outside to the inside of the transport pipe 72 and prevents toner from flowing out from the inside of the transport pipe 72.

  Further, the air holes 84 may be formed in the side portion and the lower portion of the transport pipe 72 or may be formed at any location in the circumferential direction of the transport pipe 72. Further, the air hole 84 may be formed on the intermediate portion of the conveyance tube 72 in which the intake port 80 is formed and on one end portion side (left end portion side in FIG. 2) of the conveyance tube 72 that is a side on which the toner is conveyed. Alternatively, it may be formed at any location in the transport direction (axial direction) of the transport pipe 72. In the case where the air hole 84 is formed at a location where the toner is likely to flow out of the transport pipe 72, it is desirable to provide the above filter.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the transport pipe 72 is provided with an opening / closing member 86 as an example of an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the opening area of the air hole 84. The opening / closing member 86 is formed of an annular belt. The opening / closing member 86 is attached to the outer periphery of the transport pipe 72 along the circumferential direction so as to cover the air hole 84.

  The opening / closing member 86 is attached so as to be movable in the circumferential direction of the transport pipe 72. The opening / closing member 86 is formed with an opening 86 </ b> A larger than the air hole 84 in the axial direction and the circumferential direction of the transport pipe 72. Thereby, the opening / closing member 86 is moved in the circumferential direction stepwise, and the air hole 84 is opened stepwise through the opening 86A. A memory (adjustment amount) 88 is described along the circumferential direction in the transport pipe 72, and the open area of the air hole 84 is adjusted by moving the opening / closing member 86 in accordance with the memory 88.

  By adjusting the open area of the air hole 84, the internal pressure in the transport pipe 72 is adjusted. By adjusting the internal pressure of the transport pipe 72, the toner transport amount per unit time is adjusted. That is, when the internal pressure of the transport pipe 72 becomes lower than the pressure on the discharge end side where the toner is discharged from the transport pipe 72, toner transport is suppressed, and the internal pressure of the transport pipe 72 is reduced from the transport pipe 72 to the toner. When the pressure is higher than the pressure at the discharge end side, toner conveyance is promoted.

  The adjustment amount of the opening area of the air hole 84 determined by the adjustment amount of the toner conveyance amount in the toner conveyance device 60 is notified to the outside by the display unit 90 of the image forming apparatus 10.

  For example, the adjustment amount of the opening area of the air hole 84 determined by the adjustment amount of the toner conveyance amount may be measured in advance and stored in the image forming apparatus 10. Specifically, for example, each time the memory 88 of the opening / closing member 86 is increased by one stage, the memory 88 is set so that the toner conveyance amount increases by a specific value (for example, 50 [mg / sec]). May be. Further, for example, each time the memory 88 of the opening / closing member 86 is increased by one stage, the memory 88 is set so that the toner conveyance amount increases by a specific ratio (for example, 50%) of the initial setting value. Also good.

  When the toner conveyance amount is finely adjusted rather than the adjustment at the air hole 84, the drive unit 69 of the conveyance member 64 is controlled by the control unit 92 of the image forming apparatus 10. For example, the control unit 92 adjusts the toner conveyance amount by controlling the driving time and the rotation speed of the conveyance member 64. Specifically, when the adjustment is performed in units smaller than the adjustment amount that can be adjusted in one step of the memory 88, for example, in the case where adjustment can be made in units of 50 [mg / sec] by one step of the memory 88, The adjustment by the drive unit 69 is performed in units of 1 [mg / sec], for example.

  The necessary adjustment amount of the toner conveyance amount may be obtained, for example, from the difference between the toner conveyance amount of the toner conveyance device 60 that is calculated and the toner conveyance amount actually conveyed by the toner conveyance device 60.

  The toner conveyance amount of the toner conveyance device 60 obtained by calculation is obtained, for example, by multiplying the conveyance amount per rotation of the conveyance member 64 measured in advance by the rotation number of the conveyance member 64.

  The toner transport amount actually transported by the toner transport device 60 is determined, for example, by detecting the remaining amount of the toner cartridge 82 with a sensor or the like.

  A necessary adjustment amount of the toner conveyance amount may be specified for each toner cartridge 82, and the toner conveyance amount may be adjusted in the toner cartridge 82 replaced after that.

  The adjustment mechanism for adjusting the opening area of the air hole 84 is not limited to the opening / closing member 86, and for example, a seal member described later may be used, and various configurations may be employed.

(Configuration of toner cartridge)
Next, the configuration of the toner cartridge will be described.

  In addition to or instead of the air holes 84 formed in the conveyance pipe 72, a configuration in which air holes 94 for allowing air outside the toner cartridge 82 to flow in may be formed in the toner cartridge 82.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of air holes 94 are formed at one end side in the axial direction of the toner cartridge 82 and at the upper part of the transport pipe 72.

  The air hole 94 may be provided with a filter that allows the inflow of air from the outside to the inside of the toner cartridge 82 and prevents the outflow of toner from the inside of the toner cartridge 82 to the outside.

  Further, the air holes 94 may be formed in the side portion and the lower portion of the toner cartridge 82, or may be formed at any location in the circumferential direction of the toner cartridge 82. Further, the air hole 94 may be formed at any position in the axial direction of the toner cartridge 82. In the case where the air hole 94 is formed at a location where the toner is likely to flow out of the toner cartridge 82, it is desirable to provide the above-described filter.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the toner cartridge 82 is provided with a plurality of seal members 96 as an example of an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the opening area of the air hole 94.

  The seal member 96 closes the plurality of air holes 94, and the opening area of the air holes 94 is adjusted according to the number of air holes 94 opened.

  The seal member 96 is formed with an unbonded peel portion 96A, and the seal member 96 can be peeled off by grasping the peel portion 96A.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the seal member 96 may be configured to block a plurality of air holes 94 by a single piece (one piece). In this configuration, a perforation is formed between the air holes 94 in the seal member 96, and the seal member 96 is broken at the perforation.

  The air hole 94 may also be configured as a single unit as shown in FIG. In this configuration, the air hole 94 is a long hole, and the air hole 94 is partially opened by partially peeling the seal member 96.

  The toner cartridge 82 is not limited to a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 5, but may be a box shape surrounded by a flat surface and a curved surface as shown in FIG. It can be shaped.

  Further, the adjustment mechanism for adjusting the opening area of the air hole 94 is not limited to the seal member 96, and for example, the above-described opening / closing member 86 may be used, and various configurations are possible.

(Operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment)
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.

  The toner accommodated in the toner cartridge 82 falls from the discharge port 82 </ b> B to the conveyance path 62 and is conveyed toward the developing device 36 by the rotating conveyance member 64.

  Here, for example, when the toner is subjected to thermal stress or the like and its fluidity is lowered, the transport amount per time in the toner transport device 60 is decreased.

  On the other hand, the open area of the air hole 84 formed in the transport pipe 72 is widened to adjust the toner transport amount in the toner transport device 60. In this case, the toner conveyance amount increases.

  In addition to or instead of the air hole 84, the open area of the air hole 94 formed in the toner cartridge 82 may be widened to adjust the toner circulation amount.

  When fine adjustment of the toner conveyance amount is necessary, the rotation speed or driving time of the conveyance member 64 is adjusted.

  As described above, since the adjustment is performed using the air hole 84, the toner conveyance amount is adjusted without depending on the conveyance capability of the conveyance member 64 for circulating the toner. Since the toner conveyance amount is adjusted by the adjustment by the air hole 84 and the adjustment by the driving control of the conveying member 64, the adjustment range is expanded as compared with the adjustment only by the driving control of the conveying member 64.

  Note that the toner conveyance amount may be adjusted only by the air hole 84 without adjusting the toner conveyance amount by the drive control of the conveyance member 64.

(Evaluation)
Next, evaluation performed on the configuration of the present embodiment and the configuration of the comparative example will be described.
In this evaluation, the configuration of the present embodiment in which the air holes 84 were formed as described above and the configuration of a comparative example in which the air holes 84 were not provided were performed. The configuration of the present embodiment and the configuration of the comparative example are the same except for the presence or absence of the air holes 84.

  Evaluation is based on toner flow per unit time for one toner cartridge using toner with poor fluidity that has been subjected to thermal stress due to storage in a high temperature environment and toner with good fluidity that has not been subjected to thermal stress. This was done by calculating the amount (Dispense Rate).

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, it can be seen that the configuration in which the air holes 84 are provided has a better toner conveyance amount per unit time.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications, changes, and improvements can be made.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Apparatus main body 30 Photosensitive drum (Image holding body)
36 Developing device 60 Toner conveying device (powder conveying device)
62 Conveying path 64 Conveying member 69 Driving unit 80 Intake port 82 Toner cartridge (powder container)
82B Discharge port 82A Container body 84 Air hole 86 Opening / closing member (adjustment mechanism)
90 Display (notification means)
92 Control part 94 Air hole 96 Seal member (adjustment mechanism)

Claims (7)

A transport path for transporting powder from the first powder storage chamber in which the powder is stored toward the second powder chamber in which the powder is stored;
A conveying member disposed in the conveying path for conveying powder;
An air hole formed in the transport path for allowing air outside the transport path to flow in;
An adjustment mechanism for adjusting the opening area of the air hole;
A powder conveying apparatus comprising: An intake port through which the powder is taken in from the first powder storage chamber is formed in the transport path,
The powder conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air hole is arranged on the upstream side in the conveying direction from the intake port. The powder conveying apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein toner as powder is conveyed;
A developing device having a developing chamber as the second powder chamber for containing a developer containing toner conveyed by the powder conveying device;
An image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface is developed by the developer of the developing device;
A notification means for notifying the outside of the adjustment amount of the opening area of the air hole determined by the adjustment amount of the toner conveyance amount in the powder conveyance device;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A drive unit for driving the conveying member;
A control unit that controls the driving unit when finely adjusting the toner conveyance amount rather than the adjustment at the air hole;
An image forming apparatus according to claim 3. A container body containing powder;
An outlet for discharging the powder formed in the container body and accommodated in the container body;
An air hole formed in the container body for allowing air outside the container body to flow in;
An adjustment mechanism for adjusting the opening area of the air hole;
A powder container. The powder container according to claim 1, which contains toner as powder;
An apparatus main body to which the powder container is attached and detached;
A developing device provided in the apparatus main body and having a developing chamber for containing a developer containing toner;
A toner conveying device provided in the apparatus main body for conveying toner from the powder container to the developing chamber;
An image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface is developed by the developer of the developing device;
A notification means for notifying the outside of the adjustment amount of the opening area of the air hole determined by the adjustment amount of the toner conveyance amount in the powder conveyance device;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A conveying member provided in the toner conveying device, for conveying toner toward the developing chamber;
A drive unit that is provided in the toner conveying device and drives the conveying member;
A control unit that controls the driving unit when finely adjusting the toner conveyance amount rather than the adjustment at the air hole;
An image forming apparatus according to claim 6.

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