JP2010190978A - Developer storage container, developing device and process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus configured to convey a developer against gravity which can detect a residual amount of the developer more accurately. <P>SOLUTION: The developer storage container has a discharging member 38 for dropping the developer to a space between a conveying sheet 36b and a wall surface at an upstream side in a rotating direction of a conveying member 36 of a developer detecting member 33 provided in a developer storage chamber 31a, the wall surface is formed in the developer storage chamber 31a, and a tip of the conveying sheet abuts on the wall surface while the conveying sheet moves. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer storage container that stores a developer, a developing device including the developer storage container, and a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus.

  An example of the image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming system. Examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (laser beam printer, LED printer, etc.), a facsimile apparatus and a word processor, and a complex machine (multifunction printer) thereof.

  The developing device visualizes an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier such as an electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer. Further, the process cartridge is a cartridge in which an image carrier and a developer carrier are integrally formed so that the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body.

  In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, a developer image is developed by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member (photosensitive drum) as an image carrier with a developing device. It is visualized as.

  In such an apparatus, a process cartridge system is adopted in which process means acting on the photosensitive drum is integrally formed into a cartridge and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. In this process cartridge system, since the apparatus can be maintained by the user himself, operability can be improved.

  One of the conditions for process cartridge replacement is running out of developer. However, in many process cartridges, there are various methods for the purpose of notifying the user of the developer remaining amount information in advance and facilitating smooth replacement. Thus, the remaining amount of developer in the process cartridge is detected.

  One of the methods is detection of a light transmission type developer remaining amount. Here, an outline of the light transmission type developer remaining amount detection will be described below with reference to FIG.

  Detection light L emitted from a light emitting unit such as an LED (not shown) attached to the image forming apparatus main body or the like is sent to a light guide 133a of the developer detection member 133 attached to the developer storage container 131a of the process cartridge 107. To the inside of the developer container 131a.

  The detection light L incident on the inside of the developer storage container 131a passes through the developer storage container 131a, and is emitted to the outside of the developer storage container 131a again through the light guide 133b of the developer detection member 133. Thereafter, the detection light L is guided to a light receiving unit such as a phototransistor (not shown) attached to the image forming apparatus main body or the like.

  In general, a developer transport member 136 for transporting the developer in the direction of the developer carrier while stirring the developer t is provided inside the developer storage container 131a. It is blocked by the rotation of the developer conveying member 136 and the developer t. As a result, the light transmission time becomes longer as the developer remaining amount decreases. By such a method, the remaining amount of the developer in the developer storage container 131a is detected by detecting the transmission time of the detection light L.

JP 2008-209897 A

  In the above-described conventional example, it is desirable that the amount of deflection of the developer conveying member by the inner wall of the developer container is constant. This is because if the amount of deflection decreases while the developer transport member is rotating, the developer transport member flexure is momentarily released, and the rotational speed of the developer transport member tip temporarily increases.

As a result, the time for which the developer covers the light guide in the developer storage container changes rapidly, and there is a possibility that good developer remaining amount detection accuracy cannot be obtained.
However, in an actual configuration, it may be difficult to install the inner wall of the developer container in which the amount of deflection of the developer transport member is constant due to restrictions on the mold configuration for forming the developer storage container.

  For this reason, conventionally, when the remaining amount detection is performed, the rotation speed of the developer conveying member is set to be low.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a developer storage that is less affected by the shape of the developer storage container and can detect the remaining amount of developer more accurately. To provide a container, a developing device, and a process cartridge.

In order to achieve the above object, a typical configuration of the present invention has a developer storage chamber that has an opening above and stores a developer,
A developer transport member rotatably provided in the developer storage chamber, having elasticity, and supplying the developer to the opening;
In the rotation direction of the developer conveying member, the developer is provided on the downstream side of the lower end of the developer storage chamber and the upstream side of the opening, and allows the detection light to pass through the developer storage chamber. A developer detecting member for detecting the remaining amount of the agent;
In the rotational direction, a part of the developer transported by the developer transport member is disposed on the upstream side in the rotational direction on the downstream side of the lower end of the developer storage chamber and upstream of the developer detection member. The escape part to escape to,
It is characterized by having.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to control the amount of the developer on the developer conveying member by allowing a part of the developer to escape by the escape portion, and to detect the remaining amount of the developer. Can be improved.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state before the cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. It is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the cartridge. It is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the cartridge. It is a perspective view explaining the state which the escape part and the conveyance sheet are contacting. It is sectional drawing explaining the shape of a developing agent detection member. It is a perspective view explaining the shape of a conveyance member. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the conveying member and the developer in the cartridge of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the conveying member and the developer in the cartridge of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating operations of a conveyance member and a developer in the cartridge. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating operations of a conveyance member and a developer in the cartridge. It is the waveform which showed the relationship between the time and light quantity which are obtained in the light-receiving part in one Example of this invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the conveying member and the developer in the cartridge of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of a conveying member and a developer in a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of a conveying member and a developer in a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the conveying member and the developer in the cartridge of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a method for detecting the remaining amount of developer in a conventional cartridge.

[First Embodiment]
An embodiment of a process cartridge (hereinafter referred to as “cartridge”) and an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Overall configuration of image forming apparatus)
First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes mounting units 22 (22a to 22d) (see FIG. 2) that are mounting units for four cartridges arranged side by side with respect to the horizontal direction. Each of the cartridges 7 (7a to 7d) that can be attached to and detached from the mounting portion 22 includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 1 (1a to 1d) as one image carrier.

  Around the photosensitive drum 1, the following process means that act on the photosensitive drum are arranged in order according to the rotation direction. A cleaning member 6 (6a to 6d) for removing the developer t remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the transfer and a charging roller 2 (2a to 2d) for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 are disposed. Further, a developing device 4 (4a to 4d) for developing the electrostatic latent image using the developer t is disposed. Further, a laser unit is irradiated on the basis of the image information to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1, and an intermediate transfer in which the four color developer images on the photosensitive drum 1 are collectively transferred. A belt 5 is arranged. Here, the photosensitive drum 1, the cleaning member 6, the charging roller 2, and the developing device 4 are integrated into a cartridge to constitute a cartridge 7. The cartridge 7 is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body 100a of the image forming apparatus 100 by the user.

  The intermediate transfer belt 5 is stretched around a driving roller 10 and a tension roller 11. Further, primary transfer rollers 12 (12a to 12d) are disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt 5 so as to face the respective photosensitive drums 1 (1a to 1d). Then, a transfer bias is applied to the transfer belt 5 by bias applying means (not shown).

  In the developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 1, each photosensitive drum 1 rotates in the arrow Q direction, the intermediate transfer belt 5 rotates in the arrow R direction, and a positive bias is applied to the primary transfer roller 12. By applying, primary transfer is sequentially performed on the intermediate transfer belt 5. Then, the developer images of four colors are overlapped on the intermediate transfer belt 5 and conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 15.

  In synchronization with the image forming operation, a sheet S as a recording medium is conveyed by a conveying unit including a feeding device 13 and a registration roller pair 17. The feeding device 13 includes a feeding cassette 24 that stores the sheet S, a feeding roller 8 that feeds the sheet S, and a conveyance roller pair 16 that conveys the fed sheet S. The feeding cassette 24 can be pulled out toward the front of the main body in FIG. The sheets S stored in the feeding cassette 24 are pressed against the feeding roller 8 and are separated and conveyed one by one by the separation pad 9.

  Then, the sheet S conveyed from the feeding device 13 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 15 by the registration roller pair 17. In the secondary transfer unit 15, a positive bias is applied to the secondary transfer roller 18. As a result, the four color developer images on the intermediate transfer belt 5 are secondarily transferred to the conveyed sheet S.

  The fixing unit 14 serving as a fixing unit applies heat and pressure to the developer image formed on the sheet S to fix it. The fixing belt 14a has a cylindrical shape and is guided by a belt guide member (not shown) to which heat generating means such as a heater is bonded. The fixing belt 14a and the pressure roller 14b form a fixing nip with a predetermined pressure contact force.

  Then, the sheet S on which the unfixed developer image conveyed from the image forming unit is formed is heated and pressed at the fixing nip between the fixing belt 14a and the pressure roller 14b. Then, the unfixed developer image on the sheet S is fixed on the sheet S. Thereafter, the sheet S on which the developer image is fixed is discharged to the discharge tray 20 by the discharge roller pair 19.

  On the other hand, the developer t remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the developer image transfer is removed by the cleaning member 6. The removed developer t is collected in a removed developer chamber in the photoreceptor unit 26 (26a to 26d).

  Further, the developer t remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 5 after the secondary transfer onto the sheet S is removed by the transfer belt cleaning device 23. The removed developer t passes through a waste developer transport path (not shown) and is collected in a waste developer collection container (not shown) disposed on the back surface of the apparatus.

(cartridge)
Next, the cartridge of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a main section of the cartridge 7 containing the developer t. A cartridge 7a containing a yellow developer t, a cartridge 7b containing a magenta developer t, a cartridge 7c containing a cyan developer t, and a cartridge 7d containing a black developer t are: It is the same configuration.

  The cartridge 7 includes a photosensitive drum 1, a charging roller (charging unit) 2, a photosensitive unit 26 including a cleaning member (cleaning unit) 6, and a developer carrier 25 (hereinafter “developing roller”) 25. The developing device 4 is divided.

  The photosensitive drum 1 is rotatably attached to the cleaning frame 27 of the photosensitive unit 26 via a bearing (not shown). Then, by transmitting a driving force of a driving motor (not shown) to the photosensitive unit 26, the photosensitive drum 1 is rotationally driven according to an image forming operation. As described above, the charging roller 2 and the cleaning member 6 are disposed on the circumference of the photosensitive drum 1. Further, the residual developer removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by the cleaning member 6 falls into the removed developer chamber 27a. A charging roller bearing 28 is attached to the cleaning frame 27 so as to be movable in the direction of arrow D passing through the center of the charging roller 2 and the center of the photosensitive drum 1. The shaft 2j of the charging roller 2 is rotatably attached to the bearing 28. The bearing 28 is pressed toward the photosensitive drum 1 by the charging roller pressing member 46.

  The developing device 4 includes a developing roller 25 and a developing frame 31 that are in contact with the photosensitive drum 1 and rotate in the direction of arrow B. The developing frame 31 is provided with a developing chamber 31c and a developer storage chamber 31a, and a developing roller 25 is provided in the developing chamber 31c. The developing roller 25 is rotatably supported by the developing frame 31 via bearing members 32 (32R and 32L) attached to both sides of the developing frame 31 in the longitudinal direction. Further, on the circumference of the developing roller 25, a developer supplying roller 34 that contacts the developing roller 25 and rotates in the direction of arrow C and a developing blade 35 for regulating the developer layer on the developing roller 25 are arranged. Yes. In the developing chamber 31c, a developer supply roller 34 and a developing blade 35 are also provided. Further, a developer storage chamber 31a is provided below the developing chamber 31c. The developer storage chamber 31 a is provided with a developer transport member 36 (hereinafter referred to as “transport member”) for stirring the stored developer t and transporting the developer t to the developer supply roller 34. . The conveying member 36 has elasticity.

  The developing device 4 is rotatably coupled to the photosensitive unit 26 around a shaft 37 (37R, 37L) fitted in the holes 32Rb, 32Lb provided in the bearing members 32R, 32L. The developing device 4 is biased by a pressure spring 38. Therefore, when the image of the cartridge 7 is formed, the developing device 4 rotates about the shaft 37 in the direction of arrow A, and the developing roller 25 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 1.

(Light transmission type developer remaining amount detection configuration)
Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7, the configuration of the light transmission type developer remaining amount detection (hereinafter referred to as “developer remaining amount detection”) of the present embodiment will be described.

  The inner wall surface of the developer storage chamber 31a is roughly divided into four parts.

  The first deforming portion W1 is a wall surface for extruding the developer t on the bottom surface (lower end) of the developer storage chamber 31a, and is disposed at an equal distance from the rotation center of the transport member 36.

  The second deforming portion W2 is a wall surface having the same function as the first deforming portion W1, but due to the molding die of the developing device frame 31, the first deforming portion W1 causes the transport member 36 to move. The shape increases the distance from the center of rotation. Here, the second deformation portion W2 is provided on the downstream side of the first deformation portion W1 in the rotation direction of the transport member 36.

  The second deformed portion W2 is provided with rib-shaped escape portions 38a and 38b (see FIG. 4). The escape portions 38a and 38b have a shape in which a space P is provided between the conveyance sheet 36b and the second deformation portion W2, and a part of the developer t is dropped from the conveyance sheet member onto the bottom surface of the developer storage chamber 31a. It has become. That is, the escape portions 38a and 38b allow part of the developer t to escape upstream in the rotation direction of the transport member 36 (see FIG. 5). In the present embodiment, the escape portions 38a and 38b are provided at two locations outside the developer detection member 33 in the longitudinal direction. However, the position, shape, and number of the relief portions 38a, 38b are not limited to the shape of the present embodiment, and may be any shape for providing the space P where the developer t on the conveying member falls.

  The third deformation portion W3 is a wall surface for increasing the deflection of the conveyance sheet 36b in order to supply the developer t on the conveyance sheet 36b to the opening portion 31b, and decreased at the second deformation portion W2. The shape is such that the deflection of the conveying sheet 36b is increased again. Here, the third deformation portion W3 is provided on the downstream side of the second deformation portion W2 in the rotation direction of the transport member 36.

  The third deformed portion W3 includes a light transmissive developer detecting member 33. Here, the developer detection member 33 is located downstream of the escape portions 38 a and 38 b and upstream of the opening 31 b in the rotation direction of the transport member 36.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the developer detection member 33 includes a light guide 33a and a light guide 33b.

  Detection light L from an LED (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 100 is incident on the developer storage chamber 31a from the light guide 33a, and passes through the light guide 33b and a phototransistor (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 100. ) Is injected.

In addition, a transport member 36 is rotatably provided in the developer storage chamber 31a.
As shown in FIG. 7, the conveyance member 36 includes a shaft member 36a, a conveyance sheet 36b, a fall prevention sheet 36c, a cleaning sheet 36d, and a cleaning auxiliary sheet 36e.

  The shaft member 36a is a rod-shaped shaft member and is rotatably mounted in the developer storage chamber 31a.

  In this embodiment, the transport sheet 36b is a strip-shaped sheet attached to the shaft member 36a, and rotates in the G direction while coming into contact with the wall surface of the developer storage container 31a, so that the developer is supplied to the developer supply roller 34. t is conveyed.

  Further, the length of the conveyance sheet 36b in the short direction of the conveyance sheet 36b is longer than the distance from the rotation center of the conveyance member 36 to the first deformation portion W1, the second deformation portion W2, and the third deformation portion W3. is doing.

  The length in the longitudinal direction of the transport sheet 36b is the length between both side walls of the developer storage chamber 31a located on both sides of the shaft member 36a in the rotation axis direction.

  In the present embodiment, the fall prevention sheet 36c is a strip-shaped sheet attached to the shaft member 36a, and the developer t lifted by the transport sheet 36b falls into the developer storage container 31a and scatters. t is prevented from adhering to the light guide.

  The position is provided at a position rotated 90 ° upstream of the rotation direction of the shaft member 36a with respect to the transport sheet 36b, and the length in the short direction is a length that does not contact the developer storage container 31a. Yes, the length in the longitudinal direction is the same as that of the transport sheet 36b.

  In the present embodiment, the cleaning sheet 36d and the cleaning auxiliary sheet 36e are both sheets, and are attached to the shaft member 36a in the state where the cleaning sheet 36d and the cleaning auxiliary sheet 36e are stacked in this order, and the position thereof is the conveying sheet. It is provided on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the shaft member 36a with respect to 36b.

The cleaning sheet 36d is provided at a position where the cleaning member 36d slides with the light incident portion 33d and the light emitting portion 33c inside the developer container of the developer detecting member 33 by the rotation of the shaft member 36a, and this operation causes the light incident portion 33d and the light emitting portion 33d to emit light. The developer t adhering to the portion 33c is removed.
Therefore, in this embodiment, the cleaning sheet 36d is a trapezoidal sheet, and slides with the light incident portion 33d and the light emitting portion 33c (see FIG. 6) in a state where the edge portions 36da and 36db are bent. The developer t adhering to the light incident portion 33d and the light emitting portion 33c is removed. (See Figure 7)
However, in order to remove the developer t adhering to the light incident portion 33d and the light emitting portion 33c inside the developer storage container, the cleaning sheet 36d should have a certain vertical direction or more perpendicular to the light incident portion 33d and the light emitting portion 33c. Rigidity is required. However, if the cleaning sheet 36d is too rigid, the cleaning sheet 36d cannot be inserted between the light incident portion 33d and the light emitting portion 33c. In order to allow the light incident part 33d and the light emitting part 33c to enter, it is necessary to increase the rigidity in the agitating member rotation radial direction with respect to the rigidity in the vertical direction to the light incident part 33d and the light emitting part 33c.

  Therefore, as described above, the rigidity in the stirring member rotation radial direction is increased by providing the cleaning auxiliary sheet 36e on the downstream side of the stirring member rotation with respect to the wiping sheet 36d.

(Developer remaining amount detection method)
Next, the developer remaining amount detection method of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 shows a state in which a predetermined amount of developer t has accumulated in the developer storage chamber 18a and the transport sheet 36b is above the upper surfaces H1 and H2 of the developer t.

FIG. 12 shows a waveform obtained by a phototransistor (not shown).
A control unit (not shown) provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus that receives an electrical signal obtained from the phototransistor (not shown) according to the amount of light receives a time during which the amount of light exceeding a predetermined amount is received. Measured as transmission time. Then, the remaining amount of developer is estimated from the transmission time.

  The waveform obtained by the phototransistor (not shown) in the state of FIG. 8 corresponds to the portion (A) in FIG. That is, since the developer t does not reach the light guides 33a and 33b, the detection light L is transmitted through the developer storage chamber 31a.

  Thereafter, the transport member 36 rotates and the transport sheet 36b pushes the upper surface H2 of the developer t as shown in FIG. 9, whereby the upper surface H1 of the developer t rises.

  FIG. 9 shows a state in which the upper surface H1 of the developer t has reached the light guides 33a and 33b.

  In this state, the developer t is interposed between the light guides 33a and 33b, so that the detection light L emitted from the LED (not shown) is shielded, and as shown in FIG. 12, a phototransistor (not shown). Then, the detection light L is not received (state (B)).

  As shown in FIG. 10, the developer t on the fall prevention sheet 36c falls from the fall prevention sheet 36c with the rotation of the conveying member 36, and accumulates again on the developer storage chamber 31a. Further, the developer t deposited between the conveyance sheet 36b and the fall prevention sheet 36c is regulated by the fall prevention sheet 36c and accumulated on the conveyance sheet 36b.

  At this time, the developer t still exists between the light guides 33a and 33b provided in the third deformed portion W3, and the detection light L is shielded as shown in FIG. Status).

  The state where the detection light L is blocked continues until the cleaning sheet 36d and the cleaning auxiliary sheet 36e pass through the light guides 33a and 33b.

This is because the developer t attached to the light guides 33a and 33b is removed by the cleaning sheet 36d, so that the detection light L can be transmitted. (See FIG. 11) (state (D))
In the above series of movements, one rotation of the conveying member 36 is defined as one cycle, and the time during which the detection light L is shielded in one cycle (time (B) to (D) in FIG. 11) is measured.
Since the time during which the detection light L is blocked decreases as the remaining amount of the developer t decreases, the remaining amount of developer in the developer storage chamber 31a can be detected based on the time during which the detection light is blocked.

(Improved developer detection accuracy)
The basic developer detection method is as described above.

  However, in the shape shown in the present embodiment and the shape in which the escape portions 38a and 38b do not exist, the conveyance sheet 36b is in the phase where the leading edge of the conveyance sheet 36b is in contact with the second deformation portion W2 for the reason described above. Is temporarily accelerated from ω to ω1.

  The range affected by this is from the developer remaining amount (see FIG. 14) in which the upper surface H1 of the developer t is immediately in front of the light guides 33a and 33b at the moment when the leading edge of the transport sheet 36b reaches the second deformed portion W2. The upper surface H1 of the developer t is a region up to the remaining amount of developer (see FIG. 15) immediately before the light guides 33a and 33b at the moment when the leading edge of the transport sheet 36b reaches the third deformed portion W3.

  Next, the phenomenon in the configuration of the present embodiment, that is, the configuration having the escape portions 38a and 38b will be described.

  Also in the configuration of the present embodiment, the above-described temporary acceleration of the transport sheet 36b occurs.

  However, in the configuration of this embodiment, escape portions 38a and 38b are provided in a region where temporary acceleration of the transport sheet 36b occurs.

As a result, a space P is formed between the second deforming portion W2 and the conveyance sheet 36b. (See Figure 5)
As a result, a certain amount of developer t falls from the space P per unit time.

  Accordingly, the upper surface H1 of the developer t on the stirring sheet member 36b is lowered with respect to the stirring sheet member 36b.

That is, the upper surface H1 of the developer t has a relative speed ω2 with the transport member 36b in the reverse rotation direction with respect to the transport member 36. (See Figure 16)
That is, the speed at which the upper surface H1 of the developer t rises toward the light guides 33a and 33b decreases from ω1 to ω1-ω2.

  This acts as an action to cancel the above-described problem that occurs due to temporary acceleration of the conveyance sheet 36b, and as a result, good developer remaining amount detection accuracy is achieved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photosensitive drum 4 Developing device 7 Cartridge 13 Feeding device 22 Mounting part 25 Developing roller 26 Photosensitive unit 31 Developing frame 31a Developer storage chamber 31b Opening part 33 Developer detecting member 36 Conveying member 36a Shaft member 36b Conveying sheet 36c Fall prevention sheet 36d Cleaning sheet 36e Cleaning auxiliary sheet 38a, 38b Relief portion 100 Image forming apparatus W1 First deforming portion W2 Second deforming portion W3 Third deforming portion

Claims (3)

In the developer container used in the image forming apparatus,
A developer storage chamber having an opening above the developer storage chamber;
A developer conveying member rotatably provided in the developer storage chamber, having elasticity, and supplying the developer to the opening;
In the rotational direction of the developer transport member, the developer is provided on the downstream side of the lower end of the developer storage chamber and upstream of the opening, and allows the detection light to pass through the developer storage chamber. A developer detecting member for detecting the remaining amount of the agent;
A part of the developer transported by the developer transport member is placed upstream of the lower end of the developer storage chamber in the rotational direction and upstream of the developer detection member. The escape part to escape,
A developer storage container characterized by comprising: A developer carrying member carrying the developer;
A developing chamber for supplying the developer to the developer carrying member;
A developer storage chamber provided below the development chamber;
An opening provided in the developer storage chamber for supplying the developer from the developer storage chamber to the development chamber;
A developer transport member that is rotatably provided in the developer storage chamber, has elasticity, and supplies the developer to the development chamber from the opening;
In the rotational direction of the developer transport member, the developer is provided on the downstream side of the lower end of the developer storage chamber and upstream of the opening, and allows the detection light to pass through the developer storage chamber. A developer detecting member for detecting the remaining amount of the agent;
In the rotational direction, a part of the developer transported by the developer transport member is disposed upstream of the lower end of the developer storage chamber and upstream of the developer detection member. The escape part to escape to,
A developing device comprising: In a process cartridge detachable from an image forming apparatus,
An image carrier;
A developer carrier for carrying a developer for developing a latent image formed on the image carrier;
A developing chamber for supplying the developer to the developer carrying member;
A developer storage chamber provided below the development chamber;
An opening provided in the developer storage chamber for supplying the developer from the developer storage chamber to the development chamber;
A developer transport member that is rotatably provided in the developer storage chamber, has elasticity, and supplies the developer to the development chamber from the opening;
In the rotation direction of the developer conveying member, the developer is provided on the downstream side of the lower end of the developer storage chamber and the upstream side of the opening, and allows the detection light to pass through the developer storage chamber. A developer detecting member for detecting the remaining amount of the agent;
In the rotational direction, a part of the developer transported by the developer transport member is disposed on the upstream side in the rotational direction on the downstream side of the lower end of the developer storage chamber and upstream of the developer detection member. The escape part to escape to,
A process cartridge comprising: