JP2013228584A5

JP2013228584A5 -

Info

Publication number: JP2013228584A5
Application number: JP2012100956A
Authority: JP
Filing date: 2012-04-26
Publication date: 2014-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2032-04-26

Description

本発明は、斯かる問題点に鑑みてなされたものであり、現像室よりも下方に配置された収容室から現像室に現像剤を搬送するよう構成された現像装置を用いた場合に、簡易な構成で収容室と現像室との間で現像剤を循環させることを課題とする。 The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, in the case of using a developing device configured to carry the current image to the developing chamber from the storage chamber disposed below the developing chamber, An object is to circulate the developer between the storage chamber and the developing chamber with a simple configuration .

上記目的を達成するために本出願に掛かる発明は、
画像形成装置に用いられる現像装置であって、
潜像を現像剤によって現像する現像剤担持体と、
前記現像剤担持体と当接して形成されるニップ部において、その表面が前記現像剤担持体の表面と同じ向きに移動するように回転して前記現像剤担持体に現像剤を供給する供給部材と、
前記現像剤担持体が潜像を現像する際に担持する現像剤の量を規制する規制部材と、
前記現像剤担持体と前記供給部材を備える現像室と、
前記現像室よりも下方に配置されて、現像剤を収容する収容室と、
前記収容室に収容された現像剤を前記現像室へ搬送する搬送部材と、
前記現像剤担持体に担持されなかった現像剤が前記供給部材の回転によって前記収容室に向けて移動するために、前記現像室の内部に設けられた空間と、
を有することを特徴とする。 The invention applied to the present application to achieve the above object is as follows:
A developing device used in an image forming apparatus,
A developer carrying member for developing the latent image with the developer;
Supply member for supplying developer to the developer carrier by rotating so that the surface thereof moves in the same direction as the surface of the developer carrier in a nip formed in contact with the developer carrier When,
A regulating member that regulates the amount of developer carried when the developer carrying body develops a latent image;
A developing chamber comprising the developer carrier and the supply member;
A storage chamber disposed below the development chamber and storing a developer;
A transport member for transporting the developer stored in the storage chamber to the development chamber;
In order for the developer not carried on the developer carrier to move toward the storage chamber by the rotation of the supply member, a space provided in the development chamber;
It is characterized by having .

以上説明したように、本発明によれば、現像室よりも下方に配置された収容室から現像室に現像剤を搬送するよう構成された現像装置を用いた場合に、簡易な構成で収容室と現像室との間で現像剤の循環を行い、現像剤が現像室に滞留するのを抑制することができる。 As described above, according to the present invention, when a developing device configured to convey the current image to the developing chamber from the storage chamber disposed below the developing chamber, accommodating a simple structure perform circulation of the developer between the chamber and the developing chamber, a developer can restrain the staying in the developing chamber.

一方、現像ブレードにより規制されたトナー（現像ローラに担持されなくなったトナー）は、トナー供給ローラの回転によって現像室に設けられた現像開口（開口部）の方向へと搬送され、現像開口を通ってトナー収容室へと戻される。ここで本実施例において現像室とトナー収容室とを隔てている現像開口下方の壁（現像室の内面）３０ｂの上端（すなわち現像開口の下端）がトナー供給ローラの中心より１ｍｍ下方に、現像室の底（現像室の内面）を形成している枠体とトナー供給ローラの下面（下端）との隙間（距離）が１．５ｍｍになるように配置した。 On the other hand, toner regulated by the developing blade ( toner that is no longer carried by the developing roller) is conveyed toward the developing opening (opening) provided in the developing chamber by the rotation of the toner supply roller, and passes through the developing opening. And returned to the toner storage chamber. Here, in this embodiment, the lower wall of the developing opening (the inner surface of the developing chamber) that separates the developing chamber and the toner storage chamber 30b (ie, the lower end of the developing opening) is 1 mm below the center of the toner supply roller. The gap (distance) between the frame forming the bottom of the chamber (inner surface of the developing chamber ) and the lower surface (lower end) of the toner supply roller was 1.5 mm.

また、本実施例の構成において、現像室の底（現像室の内面）を形成している枠体とトナー供給ローラの下面との隙間（距離）を１．５ｍｍに設定した。この隙間（距離）は、トナー供給ローラの下方のトナーをトナー供給ローラの回転により十分に搬送するためには、５．０ｍｍ以下にすることが望ましい。 In the configuration of this embodiment, the gap (distance) between the frame forming the bottom of the developing chamber (the inner surface of the developing chamber) and the lower surface of the toner supply roller is set to 1.5 mm. This gap (distance) is desirably 5.0 mm or less in order to sufficiently convey the toner below the toner supply roller by the rotation of the toner supply roller.

以上述べたように、本実施例においては、トナー搬送部材から搬送されたトナーを、トナー供給ローラの駆動回転により、効率よくトナー供給ローラと現像ローラのニップ部に供給することができる。また、現像室内における、現像ローラと供給ローラの下方の領域（空間）にあるトナー（主に、現像ブレードにより規制されて現像ローラから落下したトナー）もトナー供給ローラの回転駆動により、現像開口を通じてトナー収容室へ戻される。そのため、トナーの劣化を抑制しつつ、ベタ画像の濃度安定化し、高品位な画像を供給することが可能な現像装置、プロセスカートリッジ、画像形成装置を提供することができる。 As described above, in this embodiment, the toner conveyed from the toner conveying member can be efficiently supplied to the nip portion between the toner supply roller and the developing roller by the driving rotation of the toner supply roller. In addition, toner (mainly toner that is regulated by the developing blade and dropped from the developing roller ) in the region (space) below the developing roller and the supplying roller in the developing chamber also passes through the developing opening by the rotation driving of the toner supplying roller. Returned to the toner storage chamber. Therefore, it is possible to provide a developing device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus capable of stabilizing the density of a solid image and supplying a high-quality image while suppressing toner deterioration.

Claims

A developing device used in an image forming apparatus,
A developer carrying member for developing the latent image with the developer;
Supply member for supplying developer to the developer carrier by rotating so that the surface thereof moves in the same direction as the surface of the developer carrier in a nip formed in contact with the developer carrier When,
A regulating member that regulates the amount of developer carried when the developer carrying body develops a latent image;
A developing chamber comprising the developer carrier and the supply member;
A storage chamber disposed below the development chamber and storing a developer;
A transport member for transporting the developer stored in the storage chamber to the development chamber;
In order for the developer not carried on the developer carrier to move toward the storage chamber by the rotation of the supply member, a space provided in the development chamber;
A developing device comprising:

2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer carrying member and the supply member rotate so that the surfaces of the developer carrying member and the supply member move from the upper end to the lower end of the nip portion.

The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the developer discharged from the supply member is held above the nip portion.

4. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein an upper end of an inner surface of the developing chamber facing the space is lower than an upper end of the supply member. 5.

The developing device according to claim 4, wherein an upper end of an inner surface of the developing chamber facing the space is at a position lower than a rotation center of the supply member.

The developing device includes:
An opening through which the developer conveyed by the conveying member passes through the developing chamber and the storage chamber;
2. The supply member transports the developer in the space toward the opening by moving the surface of the supply member toward the opening in a region facing the space. 6. The developing device according to any one of 5 above.

The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the transport member transports the developer from the storage chamber toward the upper side of the supply member.

The conveying member conveys the developer toward the developing chamber by rotating,
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a rotation center of the transport member is located at a position lower than an upper end of an inner surface of the developing chamber facing the space.

The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the supply member includes a foam layer for holding a developer.

The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the space is disposed below the supply member.

11. The developing device according to claim 10, wherein when the distance from the lower end of the supply member to the inner surface of the developing chamber facing the space along the direction of gravity is measured, the distance is 5 mm or less.

The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a peripheral speed of the supply member is faster than a peripheral speed of the developer carrier.

An image carrier on which a latent image is formed;
A developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
Have
A process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

An image carrier on which a latent image is formed;
A developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
Have
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising an intermediate transfer member that is disposed above the image carrier and onto which a developer image formed on the image carrier is transferred.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising an exposure device that is disposed below the image carrier and forms the latent image by exposing the image carrier.