JP2010237329A5

JP2010237329A5 -

Info

Publication number: JP2010237329A5
Application number: JP2009083648A
Authority: JP
Filing date: 2009-03-30
Publication date: 2012-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2029-03-30

Description

本発明の現像装置は、現像剤を収容する第１室と、現像剤を収容し、前記第１室の両端部で連絡して現像剤の循環路を形成する第２室と、前記第１室と前記第２室とを仕切る隔壁と、前記第１室の搬送方向下流側で前記循環路外に設けられ、現像剤を排出するための排出口と、前記第１室に回転可能に設けられ、循環路内の現像剤を搬送する主スパイラル部と、前記主スパイラル部の搬送方向下流側に設けられ、前記循環路の外側から前記循環路側に向かって現像剤を搬送する副スパイラル部と、を備えた第１搬送部材と、前記第２室に回転可能に設けられ、現像剤を搬送する第２搬送部材と、前記副スパイラル部の周方向に関して、前記第１搬送部材の回転軸よりも高くなる領域において、前記第２室側の領域の方が前記第２室側とは逆側の領域よりも前記副スパイラル部の外周部と前記第１室の側面との間隔が狭くなるように前記第１室に設けられた突起部と、を有するものである。The developing device of the present invention includes a first chamber for storing a developer, a second chamber for storing the developer and communicating with both ends of the first chamber to form a developer circulation path, and the first chamber. A partition partitioning the chamber and the second chamber, a discharge port for discharging the developer provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the first chamber, for discharging the developer, and rotatably provided in the first chamber A main spiral portion that conveys the developer in the circulation path, and a sub spiral portion that is provided on the downstream side of the main spiral portion in the conveyance direction and conveys the developer from the outside of the circulation path toward the circulation path side. , A second conveyance member that is rotatably provided in the second chamber and conveys the developer, and a rotation direction of the first conveyance member with respect to a circumferential direction of the sub spiral portion. The region on the second chamber side is the opposite side to the second chamber side Those having a protruding portion provided in the first chamber so that the distance between the outer peripheral portion and the side surface of the first chamber is narrowed in the sub spiral portion than the region.

本発明の現像装置では、第１搬送部材と第２搬送部材の高速回転によって顕著となる現像剤の流れを、隔壁と副スパイラル部とに挟まれた空間に配置した突起部によって抑制する。回転速度によって現像剤の流れが大きく変動する隔壁と前記副スパイラル部とに挟まれた空間を通じてではなく、回転速度によって現像剤の流れが大きく変動しない隔壁の反対側の第１室壁面と副スパイラル部とに挟まれた空間を通じて排出開口部へ現像剤を導く。 In the developing device of the present invention, the developer flow that becomes noticeable due to the high-speed rotation of the first conveying member and the second conveying member is suppressed by the protruding portion disposed in the space between the partition wall and the sub spiral portion. Rather than through sandwiched between the partition wall varies greatly the flow of the developer by the rotation speed and the secondary spiral portion space, sub a first chamber wall on the opposite side of the partition wall does not vary significantly the flow of the developer by the rotation speed The developer is guided to the discharge opening through a space sandwiched between the spiral portion.

このため、突起部によって妨げられただけ、高速回転時に排出口を通じて排出される二成分現像剤が少なくなる。低速回転時には、同じ空間を通じて排出口へ向かう二成分現像剤の流れが顕著でないため、排出口部を通じて排出される二成分現像剤は高速回転時ほどには削減されない。 For this reason, the amount of the two-component developer discharged through the discharge port during high-speed rotation is reduced only by being blocked by the protrusion . At the time of low-speed rotation, the flow of the two-component developer toward the discharge port through the same space is not remarkable, so the two-component developer discharged through the discharge port is not reduced as much as at the time of high-speed rotation.

従って、搬送部材の回転速度が変化しても排出口を通じた二成分現像剤の排出量が安定して適正に制御される。なお、第１搬送部材と第２搬送部材の高速回転によって排出口へ向かう二成分現像剤の流れが顕著となるメカニズムについては後述する。 Therefore, even if the rotation speed of the conveying member changes, the discharge amount of the two-component developer through the discharge port is stably and appropriately controlled. Note that a mechanism by which the flow of the two-component developer toward the discharge port becomes remarkable due to the high-speed rotation of the first transport member and the second transport member will be described later.

図２に示すように、現像容器４２の内部は、二成分現像剤を受け渡すための開口部４７ａ、４７ｂが両端に形成された長手方向の隔壁４７によって仕切られる。隔壁４７を挟んで、二成分現像剤の搬送方向が逆方向に設定された一対の搬送スクリュー４５、４６が配置されている。第１搬送部材の一例である搬送スクリュー４６が矢印Ｃ方向に二成分現像剤を攪拌しつつ搬送し、第２搬送部材の一例である搬送スクリュー４５が矢印Ｂ方向に二成分現像剤を攪拌しつつ搬送する。隔壁４７の一方の側（第１室）に搬送スクリュー４６が配置され、他方の側（第２室）に搬送スクリュー４５が配置される。隔壁４７の長手方向の両端に形成された開口部４７ａ、４７ｂを通じて、一方の搬送スクリュー４６と他方の搬送スクリュー４５とが二成分現像剤をスムーズに受け渡すことで、二成分現像剤が現像容器４２の内部を循環する。 As shown in FIG. 2, the inside of the developing container 42 is partitioned by a partition wall 47 in the longitudinal direction in which openings 47a and 47b for delivering the two-component developer are formed at both ends. A pair of conveying screws 45 and 46 in which the conveying direction of the two-component developer is set in the opposite direction are arranged with the partition wall 47 interposed therebetween. A conveyance screw 46 that is an example of a first conveyance member conveys the two-component developer in the direction of arrow C while agitating, and a conveyance screw 45 that is an example of the second conveyance member agitates the two-component developer in the direction of arrow B. Transport while. The conveying screw 46 is disposed on one side (first chamber) of the partition wall 47, and the conveying screw 45 is disposed on the other side (second chamber) . Through the openings 47a and 47b formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the partition wall 47, the one conveying screw 46 and the other conveying screw 45 smoothly deliver the two-component developer, so that the two-component developer becomes a developing container. Circulate inside 42.

Claims

A first chamber containing a developer;
A second chamber containing developer and communicating at both ends of the first chamber to form a developer circulation path;
A partition partitioning the first chamber and the second chamber;
A discharge port provided outside the circulation path on the downstream side in the transport direction of the first chamber, for discharging developer;
A main spiral part that is rotatably provided in the first chamber and that conveys the developer in the circulation path, and is provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the main spiral part, from the outside of the circulation path toward the circulation path side. A first conveying member provided with a sub-spiral part for conveying the developer ;
A second conveyance member that is rotatably provided in the second chamber and conveys the developer ;
With respect to the circumferential direction of the sub spiral portion, in the region that is higher than the rotation axis of the first transport member, the region on the second chamber side is more on the sub spiral than the region on the opposite side to the second chamber side. And a protruding portion provided in the first chamber so that a distance between an outer peripheral portion of the first portion and a side surface of the first chamber is reduced .

The developing device according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is positioned at an edge of the opening and is formed integrally with the partition .

3. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the protruding portion in the developer conveying direction is larger than one pitch of the sub spiral portion.