JP2011164390A - Toner replenishing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner replenishing device capable of restraining the generation of a standby time in an unnecessary image forming state by suitably controlling the stirring time of a toner according to the flowability of a replenished toner. <P>SOLUTION: A second toner detector 13 for detecting the presence/absence of the toner 5 in the vicinity of a detecting surface 13a is disposed above a first toner detector 11. The rotating operation of a stirring roll drive motor 16 is controlled based on a toner presence/absence signal of the second toner detector 13 by a control part 15. When the replenished toner 5 reaches the detecting surface 13a of the second toner detector 13 in supplying the toner into a toner storing chamber 3, the flowability of the toner is determined to be favorable, and the second toner detector 13 outputs a signal indicating that the toner is present. According to the toner present signal, toner stirring by the rotation of a stirring roll 2 id determined to be unnecessary, and the rotation of the stirring roll 2 is not performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device of an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system.

  A general electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an electrostatic latent image according to image information on a uniformly charged photoreceptor, and supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image by a developing device. To visualize the electrostatic latent image. The toner image on the photoreceptor formed in this way is transferred onto a sheet by a transfer device, and is fixed on the sheet by being heated and pressurized by a fixing device. Further, untransferred toner on the photoconductor is cleaned and removed from the photoconductor by a cleaning device. The above process is repeated, and image formation (printing) is continuously performed on paper. Normally, the toner is agitated and conveyed in the developing device as a developer composed of a magnetic carrier, and is attracted and conveyed by a developing roll having a magnet at the center thereof, and the toner is supplied onto the photoconductor to electrostatic latent. The image is developed. Since toner is always consumed during continuous printing, it is necessary to replenish the toner gradually from the toner replenishing device to the developer in the developing device, and always keep the toner ratio or amount above the specified value. It becomes.

  As such a toner replenishing device, a toner replenishing device as shown in FIG. 4 is known. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional toner replenishing device, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state when replenishing toner is replenished to the toner replenishing device shown in FIG. The toner replenishing device 1 includes, as a toner stirring mechanism, for example, a rotatable stirring roll 2 and a diaphragm 4 made of an elastic material, one of which is fixed in the toner storage chamber 3 and the other is in contact with the stirring roll 2. I have. Further, the toner replenishing device 1 has a grooved rotary roll 6 for replenishing an amount of toner 5 corresponding to the number of rotations in a developing device (not shown), and the amount of toner 5a entering the groove portion of the grooved rotary roll 6. A toner feed amount regulating plate 7 for regulating toner, a leaf spring scraper 9 for scraping off the toner 5a from the groove of the grooved rotary roll 6, and a toner 5b scraped off by the scraper 9 (not shown). ) A guide wall 10 for guiding to a fixed position is provided.

  The presence / absence of the toner 5 contained in the toner storage chamber 3 is determined by detecting a toner-free signal and a toner-present signal by the toner detector 11 attached in the toner storage chamber 3. In addition, a certain amount of toner to be replenished in the toner storage chamber 3 is filled in a replenishment container (toner bottle) (not shown), and a signal indicating the toner replenishment timing is sent to the toner storage chamber 3 for all of the toner in the toner bottle. It is emitted at the timing when it can be accommodated.

  However, when replenishing toner to the toner storage chamber 3, it is desirable to replenish the toner replenishment bottle in advance in a state in which toner aggregation in the bottle is alleviated by, for example, shaking the toner replenishment bottle well. However, if it is insufficient, the toner is aggregated and the toner storage chamber 3 is replenished with the fluidity being remarkably lowered. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the replenished toner is not evenly accommodated in the toner accommodating chamber 3, and the toner 5 c that has not been able to enter the toner accommodating chamber 3 overflows from the toner replenishing port 12. 1 and the inside of the image forming apparatus, and other problems such as dirtying hands, clothes, the surrounding floor, and the surrounding floor.

  In order to solve this problem, the present inventors rotate the grooved rotary roll 6 with a one-way clutch and the stirring roll 2 with the same drive roller, and rotate with the groove when supplying toner into the toner storage chamber 3. A method of preventing accumulation by improving the fluidity of the toner 5c deposited near the toner supply port 12 by the agitating roll 2 and the vibration plate 4 by rotating only the agitating roll 2 in the reverse direction without rotating the roll 6. Proposed. (See Patent Document 1)

  However, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to set an appropriate rotation time of the stirring roll 2 according to the fluidity of the toner supplied to the toner supply apparatus 1. Therefore, when the toner is replenished to the toner replenishing device 1, the stirring roll 2 is always rotated for a certain period of time (for example, a time when the toner having low fluidity can be sufficiently stirred). That is, even when the replenished toner is in a high fluidity state, the stirring roll 2 is operated, so that there is a problem in that standby time during image formation which is not necessary originally occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and appropriately controls the toner stirring time in accordance with the fluidity of the replenished toner to suppress the occurrence of unnecessary waiting time during image formation. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner replenishing device capable of this.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention described in claim 1 is characterized in that a toner storage chamber having an opening for supplying toner to the developing device at a lower portion and having a toner replenishing port, and the toner in the toner storage chamber are disposed in the toner storage chamber. A replenishing means for replenishing the developing device; a rotary agitating mechanism disposed above the replenishing means for agitating the toner in the toner containing chamber; In a toner replenishing device having a vibration plate made of an elastic material for releasing toner and first toner detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of toner in the toner containing chamber, the toner is disposed above the first toner detecting means. Fluidity detection means for detecting fluidity of the toner replenished in the storage chamber is provided, and control means for controlling the rotation of the stirring mechanism is provided based on the detection result of the fluidity detection means. Characterized in that was.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the toner replenishing device according to the first aspect, the stirring mechanism is disposed between the fluidity detecting means and the replenishing means, and the toner replenished from the toner replenishing port. And the toner is supplied to the replenishing means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the toner replenishing device according to the first or second aspect,
The fluidity detection means is a second toner detection means for detecting the presence or absence of toner in the vicinity of the fluidity detection means in the toner containing chamber, and the second toner detection means is configured to receive toner from the toner supply port. When the toner is supplied to the storage chamber and deposited at the toner supply port, the control means is provided with the stirring mechanism when the toner detecting means detects that there is no toner. It is characterized by rotating.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the toner replenishing device according to the third aspect,
The second toner detecting means is a piezoelectric sensor that detects a change in phase characteristics when the piezoelectric vibrator is vibrated.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the toner replenishing device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects further comprises humidity detecting means for detecting humidity around the toner replenishing device, and is detected by the humidity detecting means. The rotation of the stirring mechanism is controlled by the control means in accordance with the humidity around the toner replenishing device.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the toner replenishing device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the stirring mechanism and the toner replenishing means are driven to rotate by the same drive motor, and the toner replenishing means is driven. A one-way clutch is provided in the section.

  According to the present invention, the fluidity detecting means for detecting the fluidity of the toner replenished in the toner containing chamber is provided above the toner detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of toner in the toner containing chamber, and the fluidity detecting means. By providing a control means for controlling the rotation of the stirring mechanism based on the detection result of the toner, the toner stirring time is appropriately controlled according to the fluidity of the replenished toner, and unnecessary image formation is performed. It is possible to provide a toner replenishing device capable of suppressing the occurrence of waiting time.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a toner supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit that controls rotation of a stirring roll of the toner replenishing device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a drive unit of the toner supply device illustrated in FIG. 1 in a state where a stirring roll and a rotating roll are seen through. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the toner replenishing apparatus of a prior art. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state when replenishing toner is replenished to the toner replenishing device illustrated in FIG. 4.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, a toner replenishing device used in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a toner replenishing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit that controls the rotation of the stirring roll of the toner replenishing device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the stirring roll and the rotating roll for explaining the drive unit of the toner replenishing device shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the toner replenishing device 1 has an opening 8 for supplying toner 5 to a developing device (not shown) at the bottom, and toner replenishment for replenishing replenishment toner to an upper position facing the stirring roll 2. And a toner storage chamber 3 for storing the toner 5. Further, as a replenishing means for replenishing toner 5b in an amount corresponding to the rotational speed into a developing device (not shown) disposed adjacent to the opening 8 of the toner storage chamber 3 and below the opening 8. A grooved rotating roll 6, a toner feed amount regulating plate 7 for regulating the amount of toner 5a entering the groove 6a of the grooved rotating roll 6, and a plate for scraping off the toner 5a from the groove 6a of the grooved rotating roll 6. A spring scraper 9 and a guide wall 10 for guiding a predetermined amount of toner 5b scraped off by the scraper 9 to a fixed position in a developing device (not shown) are provided. When the toner 5 is replenished into the developing device (not shown), the grooved rotary roll 6 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow A so that a predetermined amount of toner 5 in the toner storage chamber 3 is passed through the opening 8. A developing device (not shown) is supplied.

  Further, as a toner stirring mechanism for stirring the toner 5 in order to release the aggregation of the toner 5 in the toner storage chamber 3, for example, a rotatable stirring roll 2 having a wing 2b attached to the rotating shaft 2a and one of the toner storing mechanisms. A vibration plate 4 made of an elastic material, which is fixed in the chamber 3 and arranged so that the other is in contact with the tip of the blade portion 2 b of the stirring roll 2, is provided in the toner storage chamber 3. Then, as the stirring roll 2 rotates, the tip of the vibration plate 4 that comes into contact with the tip of the blade portion 2b of the stirring roll 2 vibrates, so that the aggregation of the toner 5 around the vibration plate 4 is released and the fluidity of the toner is improved. It is designed to improve.

  Further, the toner storage chamber 3 is provided with a first toner detector 11 as a first toner detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the toner 5 in the toner storage chamber 3 at a position facing the stirring roll 2. is there. Then, the toner 5 in the toner storage chamber 3 is fed to and consumed by a developing device (not shown) through the lower opening 8, and the toner 5 exists near the detection surface 11 a of the first toner detector 11. When there is no more toner, a toner replenishment request signal is sent from the first toner detector 11 to the control unit 15 (see FIG. 2). When the controller 15 (see FIG. 2) receives the toner replenishment request signal, the controller 15 prompts the operator to replenish, so that the replenishing toner is supplied from the toner bottle (not shown) through the toner replenishing port 12 above the toner housing chamber 3. 3 is replenished. In this embodiment, the replenishment is performed by the operator. However, a toner bottle may be installed in the toner replenishing port 12 in advance, and a shutter member that is opened and closed by control may be provided in the toner replenishing port 12. In this case, the controller 15 controls the opening and closing of the shutter. In this case, if the toner in the toner bottle (not shown) aggregates and is replenished into the toner storage chamber 3 in a state where the fluidity is remarkably reduced, the toner 5 does not diffuse evenly in the toner storage chamber 3. As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, the toner is supplied in a state of protruding in a mountain shape with the toner supply port 12 as a vertex. As a result, the replenished toner 5 overflows from the toner replenishing port 12 and stains the inside of the toner replenishing device 1 and the image forming apparatus including the toner replenishing device 1, as well as the hands and clothes, the surrounding floor, and the surrounding floor. Have a problem. Such a problem is likely to occur in a printer for high-speed, high-volume printing that replenishes the entire amount of toner in the bottle into the toner storage chamber 3 from a toner bottle (not shown).

  In order to solve such a problem, in this embodiment, as will be described later, the grooved rotating roll 6 with a one-way clutch and the stirring roll 2 are connected to the same driving roller when supplying toner to the toner containing chamber 3. Rotating and driving, without rotating the grooved rotating roll 6, only the stirring roll 2 is rotated in the reverse direction (rotation in the B2 direction), and is accumulated near the toner supply port 12 by the stirring roll 2 and the vibration plate 4. The fluidity of the toner 5c is improved to prevent the accumulation.

  However, the grooved rotary roll 6 with the one-way clutch and the stirring roll 2 are rotationally driven by the same drive roller, and the rotating roll 6 with the groove is not rotated, but only the stirring roll 2 is rotated in the reverse direction. By simply improving the fluidity of the toner 5c deposited near the toner supply port 12 by the vibration plate 4, the rotation time of the stirring roll 2 that is appropriate for the fluidity of the toner supplied to the toner supply device 1 is set. Setting is difficult when the fluidity of the toner is unknown. Therefore, even when the replenished toner is in a high fluidity state, the stirring roll 2 is operated for a certain period of time, so that a standby time during image formation that is not necessary may occur. is there.

  As a result of various studies to suppress the occurrence of unnecessary waiting time during image formation, the present inventor has put replenishing toner to be supplied into the toner storage chamber 3 into the toner storage chamber 3. Depending on the fluidity of the toner, the toner replenishment port 12 is raised as a center, a void (a space without toner) is generated in the toner storage chamber 3, and the replenishment toner flows. It was noticed that the film may diffuse and flatten, and voids may not be generated. Therefore, it is considered that the rotation operation of the stirring roll 2 can be appropriately controlled by detecting the upper gap state in the toner storage chamber 3 and controlling the rotation operation of the stirring roll 2 in accordance with the gap state. . As a result, fluidity detection means for detecting fluidity of the toner 5 replenished in the toner storage chamber 3 is provided above the first toner detector 11 that detects the presence or absence of the toner 5 in the toner storage chamber 3. Based on the detection result of the fluidity detection means, if the rotation of the stirring roll 2 is controlled by the control means, it will be found that it is possible to suppress the occurrence of unnecessary waiting time, and the present invention is completed. It came to.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the second toner detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the toner 5 in the vicinity of the detection surface 13a is used as the toner fluidity detection means for detecting the toner fluidity. There is no toner in the vicinity of a certain second detector 13 above the first toner detector 11 when toner is replenished from the toner replenishing port 12 to the toner storage chamber 3 and deposited in the toner replenishing port 12. It is arranged at the position. The second toner detector 13 has a detection surface 13a composed of a piezoelectric vibrator having a unimorph structure in which piezoelectric ceramic is bonded to a thin metal plate, and detects a change in phase characteristics when the piezoelectric vibrator is vibrated. As a result, the presence or absence of the toner 5 in the vicinity of the detection surface 13a is detected. Thereby, it is possible to detect the toner accumulation state in the vicinity of the toner supply port 12 at the time of toner supply, that is, the toner fluidity. In this embodiment, the piezoelectric vibrator having the unimorph structure has been described. However, this is only an example, and for example, a bimorph piezoelectric vibrator may be used as long as the presence or absence of toner can be detected.

  That is, when the toner for replenishment is replenished into the toner storage chamber 3, the second toner disposed above the first toner detector 11 despite the presence of toner by the first toner detector 11. When the toner detector 13 determines that there is no toner, the toner 5 is not diffused to the detection surface 13a of the second toner detector 13, the replenishment toner is aggregated, and the toner has low fluidity. Determined. When it is detected that toner having low fluidity has been replenished as described above, the stirring roller 2 is rotated to release the agglomerated toner to improve fluidity, and the fluidity of the replenishment toner 5 is enhanced to increase the toner storage chamber. 3 to be evenly accommodated.

  On the other hand, if the toner is replenished in a state where the fluidity of the toner for replenishment in the toner bottle (not shown) is high by sufficiently shaking the toner bottle (not shown), the toner into the toner storage chamber 3 will be described. At the time of replenishment, the replenished toner 5 flows and diffuses into the toner storage chamber 3 and reaches the detection surface 13 a of the second toner detector 13. As described above, when the replenished toner 5 reaches the detection surface 13a of the second toner detector 13 when replenishing the toner into the toner storage chamber 3, it is determined that the fluidity of the toner is good, 2 The toner detector 13 outputs a signal indicating the presence of toner. Based on this toner presence signal, it is determined that the toner stirring by the rotation of the stirring roll 2 is not necessary, and the stirring roll 2 is not rotated.

  Such rotation control of the stirring roll 2 is performed by the control unit 15 as shown in FIG. The control unit 15 has a first toner detector 11 and a second toner detector 13 connected to the input side, and a stirring roll drive motor 16 connected to the output unit. The rotation operation of the agitating roll drive motor 16 is controlled based on the toner presence / absence signal from the second toner detector 13. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, the agitating roll 2 rotates in the direction of arrow B <b> 1 (forward rotation) together with the rotation of the grooved rotary roll 6 when supplying the toner 5 to the developing device (not shown). However, as described above, the rotation operation of the agitating roll drive motor 16 is controlled so as to reversely rotate in the direction of the arrow B2 when the toner is supplied into the toner storage chamber 3. This point will be described later.

  Since the embodiment has the above-described configuration, an optimum toner stirring operation can be performed based on the detection result of the second toner detector 13 when the toner is supplied to the toner storage chamber 3. For example, when the fluidity of the toner to be replenished is low due to insufficient shaking of the replenishing toner bottle (not shown), the replenished toner 5 as shown in FIG. The (two-dot chain line) accumulates in a mountain shape in the vicinity of the toner supply port 12, and the toner storage chamber 3 is not evenly filled with the toner 5. Accordingly, since the second toner detector 13 detects a signal indicating no toner, the control unit 15 causes the stirring roll drive motor 16 of the stirring roll 2 to move in the direction of the arrow B2 shown in FIG. Rotate. As a result, the fluidity of the toner in the toner storage chamber 3 is improved by the vibration of the vibration plate 4 in contact with the stirring roll 2 simultaneously with the rotation of the stirring roll 2, and the toner storage chamber 3 is efficiently and evenly flattened. Toner 5 is accommodated. When the toner storage chamber 3 is filled with the toner 5 evenly and flatly, the second toner detector 13 detects a signal indicating the presence of toner, so the control unit 15 rotates the stirring roll drive motor 16. finish.

  On the contrary, when the replenished toner is in a high fluidity state, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, all the toners 5 are uniformly and flatly accommodated in the toner accommodating chamber 3. The toner detector 13 detects a toner presence signal. Therefore, since all the toner is already filled in the toner storage chamber 3 uniformly and flatly, the controller 15 does not rotate the stirring roll drive motor 16 of the stirring roll 2. As a result, it is possible to set an optimum rotation time of the stirring roll 2 in accordance with the fluidity of the replenished toner. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress generation of useless waiting time during image formation associated with the rotation operation of the agitation roll 2 for releasing the aggregated toner when replenishing toner is replenished.

  In this case, the stirring roll 2 is preferably disposed between the second toner detector 13 and the grooved rotary roll 2. In this way, by disposing the stirring roll 2 between the second toner detector 13 and the grooved rotary roll 2, the toner 5 having good fluidity is fed by the single stirring roll 2 to the grooved rotary roll. 6 and the flow of the replenishment toner can be increased from the bottom of the replenishment toner to increase the flowability of the replenishment toner. It becomes possible to reliably form a flattened surface. As a result, the fluidity of the replenishment toner can be easily and reliably detected by the second toner detector 13.

  In the above embodiment, a toner detector using a piezoelectric vibrator is used as the fluidity detecting means. However, the toner is conveyed by another toner fluidity detecting means, for example, a rotating screw, and the toner detector is rotated. The fluidity of the toner may be detected by measuring the load. However, when a toner detector using a piezoelectric vibrator is used as in the above embodiment, it is preferable because the fluidity of the toner can be reliably detected with a simple structure.

  Further, as the first toner detector 11, a toner detector using a piezoelectric vibrator similar to the second toner detector 13 is used. However, in place of the piezoelectric vibrator, whether or not light is transmitted by optical means is used. A detector that detects the height of the toner surface may be used.

  Furthermore, in the toner replenishing device 1 according to the present embodiment, a humidity sensor 17 is provided around the toner replenishing device 1 as shown in FIG. 2, and the humidity around the toner replenishing device 1 detected by the humidity sensor 17 is agitated rolls. It can also be used as the second control condition. For example, when the humidity sensor 17 detects that the vicinity of the toner replenishing device 1 is highly humid, the fluidity of the toner tends to be low, so the control unit 15 increases the rotational speed of the stirring roll drive motor 16 faster than usual. It is controlled to rotate at speed. Therefore, even when the conditions of the surrounding environment of the toner replenishing device 1 change and the toner fluidity becomes low, the toner is efficiently stirred by controlling the rotation speed of the stirring roll 2 as described above. It becomes possible.

As described above, the humidity sensor 17 is provided around the toner replenishing device 1, and the rotation speed of the stirring roll 2 is controlled according to the detection result of the humidity sensor 17, so that it is stable over a long period of time regardless of environmental changes. Since the toner can be agitated, the reliability of the toner replenishing device can be improved. Further, in a situation where the replenished toner has high fluidity, there is an effect of shortening the waiting time for stirring the toner.

  In the toner replenishing device 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the rotation shaft 2 a of the stirring roll 2 and the rotation shaft 6 b of the grooved rotation roll 6 are driven by the same timing belt 18. The toner is rotated in conjunction with the power of one drive motor 16 attached to the toner replenishing device 1. Further, the one-way clutch is attached to the drive pulley 20 attached to the rotary shaft 6b of the grooved rotary roll 6, and the grooved rotary roll only in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 2 only when the stirring roll 2 rotates in the forward direction (B1 direction). 6 rotates to supply a predetermined amount of toner to a developing device (not shown). Therefore, when the agitation roll 2 is reversely rotated in the direction of the arrow B2 to reverse the rotation of the drive motor 16 in order to release the aggregation of the supply toner when the toner is supplied into the toner storage chamber 3, the one-way clutch is operated. The rotating operation of the stirring roll 2 can be performed while the grooved rotary roll 6 is stopped.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the stirring roll 2 has a hollow portion 2d framed by an edge frame portion 2c as a wing portion 2b attached to the rotating shaft 2a, and fluidity from the hollow portion 2d. A good toner 5 can be dropped toward the grooved rotary roll 6.

  As described above, in the toner replenishing device 1 according to the present embodiment, the stirring roll 2 and the grooved rotary roll 6 in the toner storage chamber 3 are driven by the same timing belt 18, and the drive pulley 20 of the grooved rotary roll 6 is driven. Since the one-way clutch is attached, the stirring roll 2 can be rotated while the grooved rotary roll 6 is stopped without using a special mechanism. As a result, the toner fluidity can be improved when toner is supplied to the toner storage chamber 3 with a simple and inexpensive configuration, so that the toner storage efficiency is improved and the compact toner supply device 1 can be provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the agitating roll 2 is reversely rotated when the toner is supplied to the toner containing chamber 3. However, the brake means is attached to the driving pulley 20 of the grooved rotating roll 6 and the stirring roll 2 is rotated in the forward direction. You may make it stop rotation of the rotary roll 6 with a groove | channel with this brake means.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is obvious that the above-described embodiment can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, other than suggested in the above-described embodiment. In addition, the number, position, shape, and the like of the constituent members are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be set to a suitable number, position, shape, and the like in carrying out the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toner supply apparatus 2 Stirring roll 2a Rotating shaft 2b Blade | wing part 2c Frame part 2d Hollow part 3 Toner storage chamber 4 Vibration plate 5, 5a, 5b, 5c Toner 6 Grooved rotating roll 6a Groove part 6b Rotating shaft 7 Toner feed amount regulation board DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 Opening part 9 Scraper 10 Guide wall 11 1st toner detector 11a detection surface 12 Toner replenishment port 13 2nd toner detector 13a detection surface 15 Control part 16 Stirring roll drive motor 17 Humidity sensor 18 Timing belt 20 Drive pulley

JP 2006-343656 A

Claims (6)

A toner accommodating chamber having an opening for supplying toner to the developing device at the lower portion and having a toner replenishing port, a replenishing means for replenishing the developing device with toner in the toner accommodating chamber, and a portion above the replenishing means A rotating stirring mechanism that stirs the toner in the toner containing chamber, a vibration plate made of an elastic material that vibrates by a rotating operation of the rotating stirring mechanism and releases aggregated toner in the toner containing chamber, and a toner in the toner containing chamber A toner replenishing device having first toner detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of
A fluidity detection means for detecting fluidity of the toner replenished in the toner storage chamber is provided above the first toner detection means, and the rotation of the stirring mechanism is performed based on the detection result of the fluidity detection means. A toner replenishing device comprising control means for controlling the toner. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1.
The agitation mechanism is disposed between the fluidity detecting unit and the replenishing unit, and agitates the toner replenished from the toner replenishing port and supplies the toner to the replenishing unit. Toner supply device. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1 or 2,
The fluidity detection means is a second toner detection means for detecting the presence or absence of toner in the vicinity of the fluidity detection means in the toner containing chamber, and the second toner detection means is configured to receive toner from the toner supply port. When the toner is supplied to the storage chamber and deposited at the toner supply port, the control means is provided with the stirring mechanism when the toner detecting means detects that there is no toner. And a toner replenishing device. The toner replenishing device according to claim 3.
The toner replenishing device, wherein the second toner detecting means is a piezoelectric sensor that detects a change in phase characteristics when the piezoelectric vibrator is vibrated. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1,
Humidity detecting means for detecting the humidity around the toner replenishing device is provided, and the rotation of the stirring mechanism is controlled by the control means in accordance with the humidity around the toner replenishing device detected by the humidity detecting means. Toner replenishing device. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1,
A toner replenishing device, wherein the agitation mechanism and the toner replenishing means are rotationally driven by the same drive motor, and a one-way clutch is provided in the drive part of the toner replenishing means.

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