JP2011022408A - Toner carrying device, developing device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner carrying device restraining deterioration of toner, a developing device, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: This toner carrying device includes: a toner container storing toner and forming a carrying passage for toner, a carrying member provided in the toner container and having a rotating shaft to thereby carry the toner in the toner container in the direction of the rotating shaft with rotation of the rotating shaft; and a rolling bearing having an outer ring fixed to the toner container and an inner ring disposed concentrically with the outer ring to be freely rotated with respect to the outer ring, and provided with a shaft hole, in which the rotating shaft is fitted. In the rotating shaft, the peripheral surface of the fit-in part fitted in the inner ring is provided with a projection for press-fitting the rotating shaft in the shaft hole. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner conveying device, a developing device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus.

  As a toner conveying device, a developing device that is used for development while conveying toner contained therein is known. The developing device has a mechanism that rotates and conveys the toner while stirring. Further, as a support structure of the rotating member in the developing device, for example, a cylindrical sintered bearing is fitted on a fixed shaft fixed to the fixed wall and fixed to the fixed wall, and a gear or a pulley is attached to the sintered bearing. A structure in which a rotating member such as this is attached is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-82474 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a toner conveying device, a developing device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus in which toner deterioration is suppressed.

The toner conveying device according to claim 1 is:
A toner container that contains toner and forms a toner conveyance path;
A conveying member provided in the toner container, having a rotation axis, and conveying the toner in the toner container in the rotation axis direction by rotation of the rotation axis;
Rolling comprising: an outer ring fixed to the toner container; and an inner ring disposed concentrically with the outer ring and rotatable with respect to the outer ring, having an axial hole and having the rotating shaft inserted into the axial hole. With bearings,
The rotating shaft has a protrusion for press-fitting the rotating shaft into the shaft hole on the peripheral surface of the fitting portion fitted into the inner ring.

  The toner conveying device according to claim 2 is characterized in that the protrusions are protrusions extending in the direction of the rotation axis, and the protrusions are provided at a plurality of locations in the rotation direction of the rotation axis.

  The toner conveying device according to a third aspect is characterized in that at least the surface of the fitting portion of the rotating shaft is formed of a resin material.

In the toner conveying device according to claim 4, the toner container is provided with a toner inlet into the toner container near one end of the rotating shaft,
The rotating shaft has the fitting portion at an end portion on the toner inlet side.

The toner conveying device according to claim 5 is:
The toner container has an oil seal that contacts the sealing portion inside the insertion portion of the rotating shaft and seals the toner;
The rotating shaft has a groove extending in the circumferential direction between the fitting portion and the sealing portion, and at least the surface of the sealing portion is formed of a metal material.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the toner conveying device according to the first aspect, wherein the rotating shaft has the end on the fitting portion side looked out to the outer side of the inner ring. The fixed portion is provided with a stopper for preventing the rotation shaft from coming off from the inner ring and located inside the inner diameter of the outer ring.

The developing device according to claim 7 is:
A toner container that contains toner and forms a transport path for the toner;
A conveying member provided in the toner container, having a rotation shaft, and conveying toner in the toner container in the rotation axis direction by rotation of the rotation shaft;
Rolling comprising: an outer ring fixed to the toner container; and an inner ring disposed concentrically with the outer ring and rotatable relative to the outer ring, having an axial hole and having the rotating shaft inserted into the axial hole. With bearings,
A developer conveying member that develops the developing member by conveying the toner in the toner container to the developing member;
The rotating shaft has a protrusion for press-fitting the rotating shaft into the shaft hole on the peripheral surface of the fitting portion fitted into the inner ring.

A process cartridge according to claim 8 is:
An image carrier that holds the image in response to formation of an image on the surface;
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier with toner,
The developer is
A toner container that contains toner and forms a transport path for the toner;
A conveying member provided in the toner container, having a rotation axis, and conveying the toner in the toner container in the rotation axis direction by rotation of the rotation axis;
Rolling comprising: an outer ring fixed to the toner container; and an inner ring disposed concentrically with the outer ring and rotatable relative to the outer ring, having an axial hole and having the rotating shaft inserted into the axial hole. With bearings,
A developer conveying member that develops the member to be developed by conveying the toner in the toner container to the member to be developed;
The rotating shaft has a protrusion for press-fitting the rotating shaft into the shaft hole on the peripheral surface of the fitting portion fitted into the inner ring.

An image forming apparatus according to claim 9 is provided.
An image carrier that holds the image in response to formation of an image on the surface;
A latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier;
A developing unit for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier by the latent image forming unit with toner;
The developer is
A toner container that contains toner and forms a transport path for the toner;
A conveying member that is provided in the toner container and has a rotation shaft, and conveys the toner in the toner container in the direction of the rotation axis by rotation of the rotation shaft;
Rolling comprising: an outer ring fixed to the toner container; and an inner ring disposed concentrically with the outer ring and rotatable relative to the outer ring, having an axial hole and having the rotating shaft inserted into the axial hole. With bearings,
A developer conveying member that develops the developing member by conveying the toner in the toner container to the developing member;
The rotating shaft has a protrusion for press-fitting the rotating shaft into the shaft hole on the peripheral surface of the fitting portion fitted into the inner ring.

  According to the toner conveying device of the first aspect, toner deterioration due to frictional heat can be suppressed as compared with the case where there is no press-fitting protrusion.

  According to the toner conveying device of the second aspect, compared with the case where the protrusion is not a protrusion extending in the rotation axis direction, the fitting input at the time of assembly is small, and toner deterioration due to frictional heat is suppressed.

  According to the toner conveying device of the third aspect, the fitting input at the time of assembling is small as compared with the case where the surface of the fitting portion is not a resin material, and toner deterioration due to frictional heat is suppressed. be able to.

  According to the toner conveying device of the fourth aspect, the toner deterioration immediately after being charged can be suppressed.

  According to the toner conveying device of the fifth aspect, even when the holding position of the conveying member is deviated, interference with adjacent members can be avoided.

  According to the toner conveying device of the sixth aspect, the deterioration of the toner due to frictional heat can be suppressed as compared with the case where the stopper protrudes from the inside of the inner diameter of the outer ring.

  According to the developing device of the seventh aspect, it is possible to suppress the formation of a deteriorated image as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the process cartridge of the eighth aspect, it is possible to suppress the formation of a deteriorated image as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the ninth aspect, the formation of a deteriorated image can be suppressed as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which looked at the developing device shown in Drawing 1 from the upper part. It is the perspective view which looked at the front part of the developing device from the upper part. It is a figure which shows the 1st stirring conveyance member shown in FIG. 2 alone. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the front end vicinity of the 1st stirring conveyance member in a developing device. It is sectional drawing of the insertion part in the rotating shaft of a 1st stirring conveyance member. It is a figure which shows the retaining ring shown in FIG. 5 alone.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating a photoconductor 10, a charging roll 11 for applying a charge to the surface of the photoconductor 10, and exposure light based on image data. An exposure unit 12 that develops an electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image, a paper cassette 16 that stores recording paper, and a paper transport device that pulls out and transports the recording paper from the paper cassette 16 17, a transfer roll 14 for transferring the toner image onto the recording paper, a fixing device 15 for fixing the toner image on the recording paper by heating and pressurizing the toner image on the recording paper, a toner cartridge 18, And a cleaner 19 for cleaning the surface of the photoreceptor 10. The photoconductor 10 has a cylindrical surface, and a rotating shaft 10 a extends in the front-rear direction of the printer 1. The photoconductor 10, the charging roll 11, the developing device 13, and the cleaning device 19 are provided in the process cartridge 1B, and the process cartridge 1B is attached to the printer 1 in a replaceable manner. The developing device 13 is opposed to the photoreceptor 10 and rotates while the developer roll 131 conveys the developer to a region between the photoreceptor 10 and two agitating conveyances that convey the developer in the developing device 13 while stirring. Members 132 and 133 are provided.

  Here, the developing device 13 is an embodiment of the powder conveyance device of the present invention. The photoconductor 10 corresponds to an example of the image carrier according to the present invention, and the combination of the charging roll 11 and the exposure device 12 corresponds to an example of a latent image forming unit according to the present invention.

  Here, an image forming method in the printer 1 will be briefly described.

  In the printer 1 shown in FIG. 1, a charge is applied to the surface of the photoreceptor 10 that rotates in the direction of arrow a about the rotation axis 10a by the charging roll 11, and the surface of the photoreceptor 10 to which the charge is applied is externally applied. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 10 by irradiating the exposure device 12 with laser light based on the transmitted image data. Toner 13 is supplied from the toner cartridge 18 to the developing device 13. In the developing device 13, a developer containing toner is supplied to the developing roll 131 and is carried to a region between the developing roll 131 and the photoreceptor 10. As the toner adheres onto the latent image, the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor 10 is developed. The photoreceptor 10 holds a toner image formed by development, and the toner image is transferred by a transfer roll 14 onto a recording sheet conveyed in the direction of arrow b, and is recorded by a fixing device 15 that heats and pressurizes the toner image. The toner image on the paper is melted and fixed on the recording paper. The developer remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 10 is removed by the cleaner 19. The printer 1 is a monochrome image dedicated machine, but the present invention may be applied to a color image machine.

  FIG. 2 is a top view of the developing unit shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front portion of the developing device as viewed from above.

  The developing device 13 includes a developer containing device 130 that contains the developer, a developing roll 131, a first stirring and conveying member 132 that conveys the developer inside the developer containing device 130, and a second stirring and conveying member. 133. The developer container 130 includes a container main body 134 and a developer supply and discard unit 135 provided on the front F side of the printer main body 134 of the container main body 134. 2 and 3 show a state in which the cover at the top of the container body 134 is removed. Since the container main body 134 and the developer supply / disposal unit 135 are fixed and integrated with each other, the developer container 130 will be described as long as it is not necessary to distinguish between them.

  The developer container 130 stores a developer containing toner, and the interior is divided into a first storage chamber 130 a and a second storage chamber 130 b by a wall 1301 extending in parallel with the developing roll 131. . The first storage chamber 130a is adjacent to the developing roll 131, and the second storage chamber 130b is disposed on the opposite side of the developing roll 131 with the first storage chamber 130a interposed therebetween. A first agitation transport member 132 is disposed in the first storage chamber 130a, and a second agitation transport member 133 is disposed in the second storage chamber 130b. A toner supply port 130c that opens upward is provided at the front F end of the first storage chamber 130a, and a developer discharge port 130d that opens downward is provided behind the toner supply port 130c. .

  Here, the developer container 130 corresponds to an example of a toner container according to the present invention. Each of the 1st stirring conveyance member 132 and the 2nd stirring conveyance member 133 is equivalent to an example of the conveyance member said to this invention.

  The two agitating / conveying members 132 and 133 include rotating shafts 1321 and 1331 extending in parallel with the developing roll 131 and spiral fins 1322 and 1332 provided around the rotating shafts 1321 and 1331, respectively. The first agitating and conveying member 132 and the second agitating and conveying member 133 are rotatably supported by rolling bearings 136 at both end portions of the respective rotating shafts 1321 and 1331. Further, the developer in the developer container 130 is sealed inside the rolling bearings 136 at both ends of the rotating shafts 1321 and 1331 to prevent leakage to the rolling bearing 136 side or the outside of the developer container 130. An oil seal 137 is provided. Further, a retaining ring 138 for preventing removal from the rolling bearing 136 is attached to the rotating shafts 1321 and 1331. The rear B ends of the rotating shafts 1321 and 1331 of the two agitating and conveying members 132 and 133 are connected to a gear G that transmits a driving force from a motor (not shown). The developing roll 131 and the two agitating / conveying members 132 and 133 are rotated by driving of a motor (not shown). The agitating and conveying members 132 and 133 convey the developer in the developer container 130 in the direction of the rotation shafts 1321 and 1331 by rotating around the rotation shafts 1321 and 1331.

  Discharge windows 1301a and 1301b are provided on the wall 1301 that partitions the first storage chamber 130a and the second storage chamber 130b, and the developer stored in the developer container 130 passes through the discharge windows 1301a and 1301b. And circulates around the wall 1301.

  The rotating shaft 1331 of the second agitating / conveying member 133 is continuously provided with spiral fins 1332 in the same turning direction, but the first agitating / conveying member 132 has different shapes as the fins 1322. Types of fins 1322a, 1322b, 1322c, 1322d are arranged.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the first stirring and conveying member shown in FIG. 2 alone.

  The first agitation transport member 132 is provided with a main agitation fin 1322a whose direction of rotation is opposite to that of the fin 1332 of the second agitation transport member 133 at a position corresponding to the developing roll 131 (see FIG. 2). In front F of the main stirring fin 1322a, there is provided a reverse conveying fin 1322b whose direction of rotation is opposite to that of the main stirring fin 1322a, and further forward F of the reverse conveying fin 1322b is swirled with the main stirring fin 1322a. The discharge conveyance fins 1322c having the same orientation are provided, and a supply fin 1322d having a reverse turning direction to the main stirring fin 1322a is provided further forward F of the discharge conveyance fins 1322c. A portion supported by the developer container 130 is provided at the end of the first stirring / conveying member 132, and details thereof will be described later. Returning to FIG. 2 and continuing the description, the supply fin 1322d of the first stirring and conveying member 132 is disposed at a position corresponding to the toner supply port 130c. Further, the reverse conveyance fin 1322b is disposed in front F of the discharge window 1301a.

  The toner supplied from the toner cartridge 18 (see FIG. 1) to the developing device 13 is dropped from the toner supply port 130c to the front end portion of the first storage chamber 130a. The toner dropped into the first storage chamber 130a is first fed into the second storage chamber 130b by the supply fins 1322d of the rotating first stirring / conveying member 132, and the second storage chamber 130b by the second stirring / conveying member 133. It is conveyed in the direction indicated by arrow e. The toner is mixed with the developer containing the magnetic carrier that has been fed from the first storage chamber 130a through the discharge window 1301a in the middle of the second storage chamber 130b. The mixed developer is agitated by the second agitating and conveying member 133, and the toner and the magnetic carrier are charged with opposite polarities. For this reason, the toner adheres electrostatically to the magnetic carrier. As a result, the toner and the magnetic carrier are naturally integrated inside the developer container 130. The developer is sent from the rear end side of the second storage chamber 130b to the first storage chamber 130a via the discharge window 1301b. The developer fed into the first storage chamber 130a is transported in the direction indicated by the arrow d by the first agitation transport member 132, and a part of the developer is supplied to the developing roll 131 while being transported through the first storage chamber 130a. The The developer is carried to a region between the developing roll 131 and the photoreceptor 10 (see FIG. 1) by the developing roll 131, and the toner in the developer adheres to the photoreceptor 10 to form a toner image. . The magnetic carrier does not adhere to the photoreceptor 10 and returns to the first storage chamber 130a. The developer whose toner has been consumed by development and whose magnetic carrier concentration has increased is sent to the second storage chamber 130b via the discharge window 1301a and merged with the toner supplied from the toner supply port 130c.

  When the developer becomes excessive in the developing device 13, the excess developer gets over the reverse conveyance fin 1322b. The developer is conveyed to the front F by the discharge conveyance fin 1322c that has passed over the reverse conveyance fin 1322b, discharged from the developer discharge port 130d, and collected in a collection container (not shown). The toner supplied from the toner cartridge 18 to the developing device 13 is added with a magnetic carrier for supplementing the magnetic carrier in the developer discharged from the developer discharge port 130d.

  Since the toner in the developer has the property of being fixed by heat, it may deteriorate when heated by frictional heat generated by friction between the rotating portion and the supporting portion as the two agitating and conveying members 132 and 133 rotate. is there. Further, in the developing device 13 in which the length of the front and rear FB is limited due to the downsizing of the printer 1, the toner supply port 130 c has a front F to secure a stirring path length after the toner is put into the developing device 13. Near the end of the first agitating and conveying member 132 and close to the supporting portion of the first agitating and conveying member 132. In this case, if excessive frictional heat is generated due to friction between the rotating portion and the support portion as the first stirring / conveying member 132 rotates, the temperature of the toner supplied via the toner supply port 130c increases. In addition, the toner is easily solidified.

  Here, the support structure of the stirring and conveying member of the present embodiment will be described. The first agitating / conveying member 132 and the second agitating / conveying member 133 have the same structure for supporting both ends, and a description will be given by taking the front end portion of the first agitating / conveying member as a representative.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the front end of the first stirring / conveying member in the developing device.

  The rolling bearing 136 is a ball bearing having an outer ring 136a, an inner ring 136c, and a ball 136b. The inner ring 136c is disposed concentrically with the outer ring 136a. The ball 136b is disposed between the outer ring 136a and the inner ring 136c, and supports the inner ring 136c rotatably with respect to the outer ring 136a. An outer ring 136 a of the rolling bearing 136 is fixed to the developer container 130. The rotation shaft 1321 of the first stirring / conveying member 132 is fitted in the shaft hole of the inner ring 136c.

  Here, referring again to FIG. 4, two grooves 1321 a and 1321 c extending in the circumferential direction are provided at both end portions of the rotating shaft 1321 of the first stirring and conveying member 132, respectively. The fitting portion 1321b provided between the two grooves 1321a and 1321c is press-fitted into the shaft hole of the inner ring 136c of the rolling bearing 136. A sealing portion 1321d that is in contact with the oil seal is provided on the inner side of the fitting portion 1321b, that is, closer to the center where the fins are provided. The sealing portion 1321d is provided on the opposite side of the fitting portion 1321b with the groove 1321c interposed therebetween. The first stirring / conveying member 132 is formed of a resin material, but the surface of the sealing portion 1321d is formed of a metal material for reducing the friction coefficient with the oil seal and preventing wear. More specifically, a sleeve made of a metal material is attached to the sealing portion 1321d. Further, a protrusion P for press-fitting into the shaft hole of the rotating shaft 1321 is provided on the peripheral surface of the fitting portion 1321b. The protrusions P are protrusions extending in the direction in which the rotating shaft 1321 extends, and are provided at a plurality of locations in the rotating direction of the rotating shaft 1321.

  6 is a cross-sectional view of a fitting portion of the first agitation transport member shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the height of the protrusion is shown enlarged so that the protrusion of the insertion portion can be easily understood.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the protrusions P are equally arranged at four places in the rotating direction of the rotation shaft. The diameter R1 of the portion of the fitting portion 1321b where the projection P is not provided is smaller than the inner diameter of the inner ring 136c of the rolling bearing 136, but the distance R2 between the vertices of the projections P provided on the opposite sides in the fitting portion 1321b. Is larger than the inner diameter of the inner ring 136c of the rolling bearing 136. The fitting portion 1321b is formed of a resin material. When the fitting portion 1321b is fitted into the inner ring 136c of the rolling bearing 136 in the assembling process of the developing device 13, the protrusion P is deformed, and the inner ring 136c of the rolling bearing 136 is deformed by an elastic force. Therefore, the fitting portion 1321b is securely fixed to the inner ring 136c of the rolling bearing 136.

  If no protrusion is formed in the fitting portion, fitting in the assembly process becomes difficult if the diameter of the fitting portion is larger than the inner diameter of the bearing inner ring. If the diameter of the fitting part is made smaller than the inner diameter of the bearing inner ring in consideration of errors during formation, a gap will be created between the fitting part and the bearing inner ring, and the fitting part will become a part of the bearing inner ring during the rotation of the stirring conveying member. In contrast, it rotates and generates frictional heat.

  In the first agitating and conveying member 132 of the present embodiment, since the fitting portion 1321b is securely fixed to the inner ring 136c of the rolling bearing 136, rotation of the fitting portion 1321b with respect to the inner ring 136c of the rolling bearing 136 is avoided, and frictional heat due to friction is generated. Is avoided. Accordingly, since the heat applied to the toner is reduced as compared with the configuration in which the protrusion is not formed in the insertion portion, the deterioration of the toner can be suppressed. As a result, formation of a deteriorated image due to deteriorated toner is avoided. Further, in the first agitation transport member 132 of the present embodiment, a rolling bearing 136 that supports the front F end of the first agitation transport member 132 is disposed close to the toner supply port 130c, but the toner supply port 130c. Since the protrusions P are provided on the fitting portions 1321b corresponding to the bearings 136 disposed in proximity to each other, generation of frictional heat is avoided. For this reason, the heat applied to the toner supplied via the toner supply port 130c is reduced, and the deterioration of the toner is suppressed.

  Returning to FIG. 5 and continuing the description, the front side of the rotation shaft 1321 of the first agitating and conveying member 132 is arranged with the end of the side fitted in the rolling bearing 136 being looked out to the outside of the inner ring 136c. A retaining ring 138 is attached to a groove 1321a provided at an end protruding to the outside of the inner ring 136c. Here, the retaining ring 138 corresponds to an example of a stopper according to the present invention.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the retaining ring shown in FIG. 5 alone.

  A retaining ring 138 shown in FIG. 7 is an E-shaped retaining ring and is located inside the inner diameter of the outer ring 136a of the rolling bearing 136. More specifically, in the design of the first stirring / conveying member 132, the dimension of the retaining ring 138 is adjusted by adjusting the depth of the groove 1321a in the rotating shaft 1321. More specifically, the retaining ring has a standard dimension according to the diameter of the shaft to be attached. Therefore, the diameter of the groove 1321a is formed so that the retaining ring 138 positioned on the inner side of the inner diameter of the outer ring 136a of the rolling bearing 136 is selected from the retaining rings of various sizes.

  An outer ring 136 a of the rolling bearing 136 is fixed to the developer container 130, and an inner ring 136 c is fixed to the rotating shaft 1321. The retaining ring 138 is attached to the rotating shaft 1321. Therefore, the retaining ring 138 rotates together with the inner ring 136c of the rolling bearing 136 when the developing device 13 is operated. Since the rotating retaining ring 138 is positioned on the inner side of the inner diameter of the outer ring 136a of the rolling bearing 136, contact with the outer ring 136a fixed to the developer container 130 can be avoided. For this reason, frictional heat due to contact between the retaining ring 138 and the outer ring 136a does not occur. Therefore, in the developing device 13 of this embodiment, the frictional heat generated during operation is further reduced as compared with the case where the retaining ring protrudes from the inner diameter of the outer ring of the bearing.

  The oil seal 137 shown in FIG. 5 is an annular member made of a rubber material and is in contact with the sealing portion 1321d. The surface of the sealing portion 1321d is formed of a metal material, friction between the oil seal 137 and the sealing portion 1321d is reduced, and wear of the sealing portion 1321d is suppressed.

  A groove 1321c extending in the circumferential direction is provided between the sealing portion 1321d and the fitting portion 1321b. The distance R2 (see FIG. 6) between the vertices of the protrusions P provided on the opposite sides of the fitting portion 1321b is larger than the diameter of the sealing portion 1321d. Even when the first stirring / conveying member 132 is displaced in the axial direction due to the change, the interference between the oil seal 137 and the fitting portion 1321b is avoided by the groove 1321c.

  In the above-described embodiment, the two agitating / conveying members 132 and 133 are described as having the fitting portions 1321b formed with the protrusions on both ends, but the fitting portions having the press-fitting projections according to the present invention are described. May be provided on some of the plurality of conveying members, or may be provided on one side, not limited to both sides of the conveying member. However, since the insertion portion having the press-fitting protrusion is provided at the end on the toner insertion port side, the influence on the toner immediately after being inserted from the toner insertion port is reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example of a protrusion is shown as the protrusion according to the present invention. However, the protrusion according to the present invention is not limited to the elongated protrusion, and may be, for example, a dot-shaped protrusion.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example of a ball bearing is shown as the rolling bearing according to the present invention. However, the rolling bearing according to the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a roller bearing, for example.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example of the E-type retaining ring is shown as the stopper according to the present invention. However, the stopper according to the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a C-shaped retaining ring, for example.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example of the developing device 13 is shown as an example of the toner conveying device. However, the toner conveying device according to the present invention is not limited to the developing device, and any device that conveys toner inside may be used. For example, a photoreceptor cleaner or a toner cartridge may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example of a printer is shown as the image forming apparatus. However, the image forming apparatus referred to in the present invention is not limited to a printer, and may be a copying machine or a facsimile, for example.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example of a photoreceptor having a cylindrical surface is shown as the image carrier referred to in the present invention. However, the image carrier referred to in the present invention is not limited to this, and is, for example, a belt-shaped member. May be. Further, the image carrier referred to in the present invention is not limited to a photoconductor, and for example, a potential corresponding to an image may be directly applied from an electrode.

  In the above-described embodiment, the latent image forming unit according to the present invention is configured with a charging roll and an exposure device. However, the latent image forming unit according to the present invention is not limited to this, for example, charging It may have a corona discharger instead of a roll, or may have an array of a plurality of light emitting diodes instead of an exposure unit.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 1B Process cartridge 10 Photoconductor 13 Developing device 130 Developer container 130c Toner supply port 132,133 Stirring conveyance member 1321,1331 Rotating shaft 1321d Sealing portion 1321b Inserting portion 1321c Groove 136 Rolling bearing 137 Oil seal 138 Retaining ring P Protrusion

Claims (9)

A toner container that contains toner and forms a transport path for the toner;
A conveying member provided in the toner container, having a rotation shaft, and conveying the toner in the toner container in the direction of the rotation shaft by rotation of the rotation shaft;
Rolling comprising: an outer ring fixed to the toner container; and an inner ring disposed concentrically with the outer ring and rotatable with respect to the outer ring, having an axial hole and having the rotating shaft inserted into the axial hole. With bearings,
A toner conveying device, wherein the rotation shaft has a protrusion for press-fitting the rotation shaft into the shaft hole on a peripheral surface of a fitting portion where the rotation shaft is inserted into the inner ring.   The toner conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are protrusions extending in the rotation axis direction, and the protrusions are provided at a plurality of positions in a circumferential direction of the rotation shaft.   The toner conveying device according to claim 1, wherein at least the surface of the insertion portion is made of a resin material. The toner container is provided with a toner inlet into the toner container in the vicinity of one end of the rotating shaft,
4. The toner conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation shaft has the insertion portion at an end portion on the toner inlet side. 5. The toner container has an oil seal that contacts a sealing portion inside the insertion portion of the rotating shaft and seals toner;
The rotating shaft has a groove extending in a circumferential direction between the fitting portion and the sealing portion, and at least the surface of the sealing portion is formed of a metal material. Item 5. The toner conveying device according to any one of Items 1 to 4.   The rotating shaft has an end on the fitting portion side looked out to the outer side of the inner ring, and the toner conveying device further has a portion of the rotating shaft looked to the outside of the inner ring to 6. The toner conveying device according to claim 1, further comprising: a stopper for preventing the inner ring from coming off and positioned on the inner side of the inner diameter of the outer ring. 6. A toner container that contains toner and forms a transport path for the toner;
A conveying member provided in the toner container, having a rotation shaft, and conveying the toner in the toner container in the direction of the rotation shaft by rotation of the rotation shaft;
Rolling comprising: an outer ring fixed to the toner container; and an inner ring disposed concentrically with the outer ring and rotatable with respect to the outer ring, having an axial hole and having the rotating shaft inserted into the axial hole. With bearings,
A developer conveying member that develops the developing member by conveying the toner in the toner container to the developing member;
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation shaft has a protrusion for press-fitting the rotation shaft into the shaft hole on a peripheral surface of the insertion portion in which the rotation shaft is inserted. An image carrier that holds the image in response to formation of an image on the surface;
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier with toner,
The developer is
A toner container that contains toner and forms a transport path for the toner;
A conveying member provided in the toner container, having a rotation shaft, and conveying the toner in the toner container in the direction of the rotation shaft by rotation of the rotation shaft;
Rolling comprising: an outer ring fixed to the toner container; and an inner ring disposed concentrically with the outer ring and rotatable with respect to the outer ring, having an axial hole and having the rotating shaft inserted into the axial hole. With bearings,
A developer conveying member that develops the developing member by conveying the toner in the toner container to the developing member;
A process cartridge, wherein the rotation shaft has a protrusion for press-fitting the rotation shaft into the shaft hole on a peripheral surface of a fitting portion where the rotation shaft is inserted into the inner ring. An image carrier that holds the image in response to formation of an image on the surface;
A latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier;
A developing unit for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier by the latent image forming unit with toner;
The developer is
A toner container that contains toner and forms a transport path for the toner;
A conveying member provided in the toner container, having a rotation shaft, and conveying the toner in the toner container in the direction of the rotation shaft by rotation of the rotation shaft;
Rolling comprising: an outer ring fixed to the toner container; and an inner ring disposed concentrically with the outer ring and rotatable with respect to the outer ring, having an axial hole and having the rotating shaft inserted into the axial hole. With bearings,
A developer conveying member that develops the developing member by conveying the toner in the toner container to the developing member;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation shaft has a protrusion for press-fitting the rotation shaft into the shaft hole on a peripheral surface of a fitting portion in which the rotation shaft is inserted.

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