JP2014130223A - Developer storage container, developer replenishment device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve developer stirring and conveying properties by a rotary stirring member, while making the rigidity of a flexible blade member lower.SOLUTION: A developer storage container includes a rotary stirring member 53 rotated to convey a developer G stored in a container body 51 to a discharge port 51a, while stirring the developer G, inside. The rotary stirring member includes a rotary support member 55 rotated integrally with a rotary shaft 54 and flexible blade members 56 and 57 including at least one part thereof disposed on the rotation free end sides 55a and 55b of the rotary support member and sliding on the inner wall 51b of the container body, to convey the developer G to the discharge port 51a. The flexible blade members are attached to attachment surfaces 55A1 and 55B1 located on the upstream side in the rotational direction of the rotary support member.

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer storage container that stores a developer therein, a developer supply device that includes the developer storage container, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that includes the developer supply container.

In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine having these functions, a latent image is obtained by supplying a developer to the latent image on the image carrier with a developing device. Is visualized. For this reason, since the developer in the developing device decreases with use, the image forming apparatus is provided with a developed image replenishing device for supplying (supplementing) the developer that is a powder to the developing device. The developer supply device includes a developer storage container and a mounting portion that detachably mounts the developer storage container.
The developer storage container includes a container main body that stores the developer and the developer transport means, a discharge port that discharges the developer to the outside of the container, and a developer that transports the developer from the developer storage container to the discharge port. Conveying means. When the developer amount in the developing device is reduced, the developer replenishing device rotates the developer conveying means with a drive unit (not shown) to discharge the developer in the developer storage container to the outside of the container. Operates to supply.
The developer conveying means includes a screw that conveys the developer to the discharge port, and a rotating agitating member that agitates the developer so as to prevent the developer from forming a lump and conveys the developer to the screw. . The rotation stirring member includes a relatively high-rigidity rotation support member that is rotatably provided, and a flexible blade member that is disposed on the free end side of the rotation support member. The flexible blade member conveys the developer by making sliding contact with the inner wall of the container body (hereinafter referred to as “container inner wall”).
In the developer storage container provided with such developer transporting means, the developer is efficiently transported to the screw part by the rotating stirring member, and the developer is eliminated, and the residual developer when the container is replaced is reduced. For this reason, the rigidity of the flexible blade member has to be increased to some extent, and as a result, a developer agglomerate is easily generated due to a large pressure generated on the rubbing surface between the inner wall of the container and the flexible blade member.
In the rotary stirring member as described above, in order to reduce the pressure generated on the sliding contact surface between the inner wall of the container and the flexible blade member and to prevent the formation of developer aggregates, the rigidity of the flexible blade member Need to be small. Furthermore, in recent years, the fixing temperature of the developer has been lowered from the viewpoint of energy saving, and in such a developer that supports low-temperature fixing, agglomeration is more likely to occur due to sliding contact stress of the flexible blade member. It becomes. For this reason, the rigidity of the flexible blade member tends to be further reduced. However, when the developer is fixed at a low temperature, the fluidity decreases, and there is a problem that a flexible blade member with reduced rigidity cannot be efficiently conveyed.
Further, when the container main body filled with the developer is transported, a phenomenon occurs in which the bulk of the developer inside the container is reduced by the slight vibration and gravity during transport, and the bulk density is significantly increased. In the developer storage container in which this phenomenon has occurred, the flowability of the developer is deteriorated, and there is a problem that the developer cannot be conveyed by the flexible blade member having reduced rigidity.
Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a slit and a hole are provided in the flexible blade portion to reduce the rigidity of the flexible blade portion in order to prevent the developer from being pressed and hardened by the rotary stirring member. Yes. However, with this configuration, the rigidity of the flexible blade member can be weakened, but the agitation and transportability of the low-fluidity developer and the densely-tightened developer that are generated when weakened are ensured. This is not disclosed.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and is intended to improve developer agitation and transportability by the rotating agitating member while reducing the rigidity of the flexible blade member. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, the developer storage container according to the present invention includes a rotary stirring member that transports the developer stored in the container main body to the discharge port while rotating and stirring the developer. The member has a rotation support member that rotates integrally with the rotation shaft, and at least a part of the rotation support member is disposed on the rotation free end side of the rotation support member. By slidingly contacting the inner wall of the container body, the developer is supplied to the discharge port. The flexible blade member is mounted on a surface located on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the rotation support member.

  According to the present invention, the rotation support member that rotates integrally with the rotation shaft, and at least part of the rotation support member is disposed on the rotation free end side of the rotation support member, and the developer is discharged by slidingly contacting the inner wall of the container body. Since it has a flexible blade member that conveys it to the outlet, and the flexible blade member is mounted on a surface located on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the rotation support member, the flexible blade member by the edge on the downstream side in the rotation direction Can be prevented from breaking. For this reason, the reduction of the rigidity of the flexible blade member and the improvement of the developer stirring / conveying property of the rotating stirring member with respect to the developer having poor fluidity can be achieved at the same time.

1 is a schematic front view of an image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a developer supply device according to the present invention, in which (a) shows a state where a supply door of the developer supply device is open and a state where a developer storage container is mounted, and (b) shows a developer. The state where the supply door of the supply device is closed is shown. The front view which shows the structure of the developer storage container which concerns on this invention. The expansion perspective view which shows one form of a rotation stirring member. The problems and functions of the rotary stirring member will be described, where (a) is a diagram for explaining a conventional problem, and (b) is a diagram showing the effects of the present application. The expansion perspective view which shows another form of a rotation stirring member. The figure explaining the relationship between the dimension of each part which comprises a rotation stirring member, and the clearance gap between a container main body. The enlarged view explaining the length which the flexible blade member protrudes, and the amount of biting. The front view which shows the form of the rotation stirring member which has arrange | positioned the flexible stirring member to one side. (A), (b) is a figure explaining the relationship between the dimension of each part which comprises the rotation stirring member shown in FIG. 9, and the clearance gap between a container main body. It is the figure which compared the developer storage container, (a) is a front view which shows the form which shifted the rotation center of the rotation stirring member, and the circular arc center of the circular arc surface of a container inner wall, (b) is a rotation stirring member. The front view which shows the form which made the rotation center and the circular arc center of the circular arc surface of a container inner wall the same.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus will be described, and then the features will be described.
FIG. 1 shows an electrophotographic printer which is a developer of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In this printer, a color image is formed using developers of four colors of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black. In the figure, the suffixes Y, C, M, and K attached to the end of the reference numerals indicate members for yellow, cyan, magenta, and black. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same function and the same member, and duplication description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The printer includes a transfer unit 20 inside the main body 100 as transfer means. In the transfer unit 20, an intermediate transfer belt 23 serving as an intermediate transfer body developer is wound around a plurality of rollers 21 and 22. The endless intermediate transfer belt 23 is moved endlessly in the counterclockwise direction in the figure by a drive motor (not shown). In the inner loop of the intermediate transfer belt 23, four primary transfer rollers 24Y, 24C, 24M, and 24K serving as a primary transfer member developer are disposed so as to be in contact with the belt. A secondary transfer roller 25 serving as a secondary transfer member developer is disposed outside the intermediate transfer belt 23 at a position facing the roller 21. Reference numeral 26 denotes a belt cleaning means for cleaning the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 23. A primary transfer bias is supplied from a power source (not shown) to the primary transfer rollers 24Y, 24C, 24M, and 24K, and a secondary transfer bias is supplied to the secondary transfer roller 25 from a power source (not shown).

  Above the transfer unit 20, four image forming units for Y, C, M, and K as image forming means are arranged along the upper stretched surface of the intermediate transfer belt 23 in the belt moving direction. ing. Each image forming unit includes drum-shaped photoreceptors 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11K serving as image carrier developers, charging units 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12K, and developing units 13Y, 13C, 13M, and 13K. Each image forming unit includes drum cleaning devices 14Y, 14C, 14M, and 14K. These members are integrated for each unit by a casing (not shown), and are detachable from the main body 100. Each photoconductor is in contact with the upper stretched surface of the intermediate transfer belt 23 facing the primary transfer rollers 24Y, 24C, 24M, and 24K, so that the lower part of the peripheral surface thereof is for Y, C, M, and K. The primary transfer nip is formed.

  A writing unit 30 is disposed above the image forming unit. The writing unit 30 rotates in the clockwise direction in the figure by driving a light source (not shown) based on the image information and irradiating each photoconductor with exposure light for Y, C, M, and K to perform optical scanning. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of each photoconductor to be driven.

  The developing means 13Y, 13C, 13M, and 13K store Y, C, M, and K color developers, respectively, and each developer is supplied to the surface of each photoconductor by a developer carrier to which a developing bias is supplied. By supplying to the electrostatic latent image, the electrostatic latent image is developed to form a developer image, which is visualized. Developer replenishing devices 40Y, 40C, 40M, and 40K are arranged above the developing units 13Y, 13C, 13M, and 13K. The developer supply devices 40Y, 40C, 40M, and 40K are detachably mounted with developer storage containers 50Y, 50C, 50M, and 50 that store a supply developer. When the developer concentration inside the developing units 13Y, 13C, 13M, and 13K is reduced, the developer supply devices 40Y, 40C, 40M, and 40K are operated, whereby the developer storage containers 50Y, 50C, 50M, and 50 are operated. The developer inside is supplied.

  Below the transfer unit 20, a paper feeding unit 60 in which the recording material P is stored is disposed. The recording material P of the paper feed unit 60 is sent from the paper feed unit 60 to the paper feed path 62 by the paper feed roller 61. In the paper feed path 62, a conveyance roller 63 and a registration roller 64 that convey the recording material P fed from the paper feed unit 60 toward the secondary transfer nip are arranged. The recording material P in the paper feed path 62 is conveyed to the secondary transfer nip by the registration roller 64 in synchronization with the developer image on the intermediate transfer belt 23. A fixing unit 70 is disposed above the secondary transfer nip, and a paper discharge roller 65 is disposed upstream of the fixing unit 70 in the conveyance direction of the recording material.

In the printer having such a configuration, when a color image is formed, a developer image formed on the surface of each color photoconductor is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 23 in a primary transfer nip, and the transferred developer image is transferred. The recording material P is collectively transferred to the secondary transfer nip. Each transferred photoreceptor is removed by drum cleaning devices 14Y, 14C, 14M, and 14K, and the intermediate transfer belt 23 after transfer is removed by developer and paper dust remaining on the surface by belt cleaning means 26, respectively. The
The recording material P to which the developer image has been transferred passes through the fixing means 70 to fix the developer image, and is discharged to the outside of the main body 100 by the paper discharge roller 65. In this example, the stacking portion formed on the upper surface of the main body 66.

Next, the configuration of the developer supply device and the developer storage container will be described.
In this embodiment, the developer supply devices 40Y, 40C, 40M, and 40K for the respective colors and the developer storage containers 50Y, 50C, 50M, and 50K have the same configuration except that the colors of the developers are different. One of them will be described below. The subscripts Y, C, M, and K are omitted.

2A and 2B, the developer supply device 40 includes a developer storage container 50 and a mounting portion 41 that detachably supports the developer storage container 50. The developer in the storage container 50 is supplied to the developing device 14 of the corresponding color.
The mounting portion 41 has an opening 42 for storing the developer storage container 50 therein and a door 43 for opening and closing the opening 42. The mounting portion 41 has an internal shape that approximates the general shape of the developer storage container 50, and holds the developer storage container 50 so as to be movable in the attaching / detaching direction indicated by the symbol A. Reference symbol A1 indicates an insertion direction, and reference symbol A2 indicates a removal direction.

  FIG. 2A shows a configuration in which openings 42 for storing four developer storage containers 50 are formed. FIG. 2A shows a state in which one developer storage container 50 is stored in the mounting portion 41 and an open state of the door 43. FIG. 2B shows a closed state of the door 43, and the opening 42 is closed in this state. The door 43 is located on the exterior surface of the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus, and can be opened and closed from the outside of the main body 100.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the developer storage container 50 includes a container main body 51 in which a discharge port 51 a is formed, a developer G stored in the container main body 51, and the developer G by stirring and conveying the discharge port 51 a. Rotating stirring member 53 and screw 52 serving as a developer conveying means for feeding to the outside. The rotary stirring member 53 and the screw 52 are arranged on the container main body 51 so as to be parallel to each other. The developer container 50 is rotated by the rotating stirring member 53 and the screw 52 so that the developer G in the container main body 51 is driven to rotate by a driving means (not shown), so that the discharge port 51a is moved to the outside of the container. And discharge.

As shown in FIG. 3, the container main body 51 has a bottom portion of the container inner wall 51b formed on the arc surface 51c, and the container inner walls 51b located on both sides of the arc surface 51c are substantially vertical, and are perpendicular to the paper surface (detachment direction). A) is a deep box shape.
A discharge port 51a that communicates the inside and the outside of the container main body 51 is formed at one end of the discharge portion 50d in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. A screw 52 extending in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 3 for conveying the developer G to the discharge port 51a is disposed inside the discharge unit 50d. The developer G in the discharge unit 50d is conveyed to the discharge port 51a when the screw 52 is rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown).

  The rotary agitating member 53 is for agitating the developer G in the container main body 51 to prevent it from being agglomerated, and for conveying the developer G to the discharge portion 50d where the screw 52 is disposed. The rotating agitating member 53 includes a rotating shaft 54 that is driven to rotate by a driving means (not shown), and rotates around the rotating shaft 54 counterclockwise in FIG. 3 to discharge the developer G while stirring. Transport to 51a.

  The developer container 50 is equipped with a shutter 110 that opens and closes the discharge port 51a. The shutter 110 is configured to close the discharge port 51a before the developer storage container 50 is mounted on the mounting unit 41, and to open and open the discharge port 51a when mounted on the mounting unit 41. . A transport port 41a is formed in the mounting portion 41 opposed to the discharge port 51a, and the developer G that is discharged from the discharge port 51a and dropped when the shutter 110 is opened is transported from the transport port 41a through a transport path (not shown). And is supplied to the developing device 14.

Agitation As shown in FIG. 4, the rotation agitation member 53 includes a rotation support member 55 that rotates integrally with the rotation shaft 54 and flexible blade members 56 and 57. The rotation shaft 54 and the rotation support member 55 are simply and preferably integrally formed of metal or resin, but other materials or manufacturing methods may be used. The rotation center O of the rotary shaft 54 that is the rotation center of the rotary stirring member 53 is arranged to be coaxial with the arc center O1 of the arc surface 51c.
The rotation support member 55 is a plate-like member, and a rotation shaft 54 is integrally formed at a base end 55c located on the center side thereof. An opening 58 that penetrates the rotation support member 55 in the rotation direction is formed in the base end 55c. The rotation support member 55 is formed as support portions 55 </ b> A and 55 </ b> B that are line targets on both sides of the rotation shaft 54.

  The flexible blade members 56 and 57 are so-called mylar made of resin, and the base ends 56b and 57b are attached to the support portions 55A and 55B on the rotation free end side of the rotation support member 55. The distal ends 56a and 57a, which are at least a part of the flexible blade members 56 and 57, protrude outward from the end portions 55a and 55b of the support portions 55A and 55B, and are in sliding contact with the container inner wall 51b and the arc surface 51c. Arranged to be possible. For this reason, when the rotating shaft 54 of the rotary stirring member 53 is rotationally driven by a driving means (not shown), the flexible blade members 56 and 57 have their tips 56a and 57a slidingly contact the container inner wall 51b and the circular arc surface 51c. Then, the developer G is conveyed toward the discharge port 51a. In FIG. 4, the code | symbol 59 shows the notch part formed in the site | part which protrudes from the edge parts 55a and 55b of the flexible blade | wing members 56 and 57. FIG.

In general, the generation rate of agglomerates of developer G, which is a powder, increases in proportion to the pressure (stress) generated on the sliding contact surfaces of the flexible blade members 56 and 57 and the container main body 51. This is an abnormal image. Cause. The recent low-temperature fixing of toner tends to further promote the formation of this aggregate. For this reason, the rigidity of the flexible blade members 56 and 57 must be further reduced.
Here, if the definition of rigidity is an elastic deformation amount δ with respect to the load F, a member having a small elastic deformation amount δ when the same load F is applied is a highly rigid member, and conversely, a member having a large elastic deformation amount δ is rigid. It becomes a low member. As shown in FIG. 5, the amount of elastic deformation δ when the concentrated load F is applied to the end portions 56a and 56b of the flexible blade members 56 and 57 fixed to the rotation support member 55 that is rigid on one side is as follows: It is given by the number 1.

From the above equation 1, the following method can be considered as a method of reducing the rigidity of the flexible blade members 56 and 57 (increasing the upper number δ).
• Use of materials with low elastic modulus.
-Extension of the length of the flexible blade member.
・ Change of the shape (size) of the cross section (perpendicular to external force) of the flexible blade member (reduce the moment of inertia of the cross section. For example, reduce the thickness, make a notch, etc.)
Thus, it is easy to reduce the rigidity of the flexible blade members 56 and 57.

  Of the functions of stirring and transporting the developer G that the rotary stirring member 53 in the container body 51 has, the developer transporting function is mostly handled by the flexible blade members 56 and 57. However, the smaller the rigidity of the flexible blade members 56 and 57, the worse the developer G conveyance performance and the more difficult it is to convey the developer. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, the flexible blade members 56 and 57 are deformed before the developer G is moved, so that the developer G conveying function is lost. This phenomenon occurs with a higher probability for a low-fluidity developer such as a recent low-temperature fixing toner or a developer that is tightened by vibration during transportation. This is particularly noticeable when the flexible blade members 56 and 57 are mounted on the mounting surfaces 55A2 and 55B2 of the support portions 55A and 55B of the rotation support member 55 that are the downstream surfaces of the rotation stirring member 53 in the rotation direction. It becomes. That is, when the rotary stirring member 53 is rotated, the flexible blade members 56 and 57 are elastically deformed to the upstream side in the rotation direction due to the resistance of the developer G and convey the developer G. However, when mounted on the surfaces 55A2 and 55B2 of the support portions 55A and 55B, the elastic deformation to the upstream side in the rotational direction is hindered by the edges 55a1 and 55b1 of the end portions 55a and 55b, and the edges 55a1 and 55b1 are used as fulcrums. This is because it breaks. Further, if the flexible blade members 56 and 57 are broken in this way, the rigidity that has been weakened becomes strong, and the plate is not elastically deformed. Then, the sliding contact between the tips 56a and 57a of the flexible blade members 56 and 57 and the container inner wall 55b and the arc surface 52c becomes too strong, and the developer G is rubbed against the container inner wall 55b and the arc surface 52c. It becomes a cause of generation of residual developer. Thus, with the conventional configuration, it has been difficult to establish both the reduction in rigidity of the flexible blade members 56 and 57 and the conveyance function.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the flexible blade members 56 and 57 are mounted on the mounting surfaces 55A1 and 55B1 of the support portions 55A and 55B located on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the rotary stirring member 53 and rotated. It was set as the structure which does not contact edge 55a1, 55b1 at the time of rotation of the stirring member 53. FIG.
With such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 5B, the flexible blade members 56 and 57 projecting outward from the end portions 55a and 55b of the rotation support member 55 (support portions 55A and 55B). The ends 56a and 57a are not in contact with the edges 55a1 and 55b1 of the ends 55a and 55b. As a result, even if the rotary stirring member 53 rotates and deforms upstream in the rotational direction due to resistance with the developer G, the deformation is not hindered and bending can be prevented. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the developer G from being rubbed against the container inner wall 55b and the arcuate surface 52c and the deterioration of the transport function of the developer G. For this reason, it can prevent and generation | occurrence | production of a residual developer can be reduced. For this reason, it is possible to achieve both a reduction in rigidity of the flexible blade members 56 and 57 and a conveyance function.

In this embodiment, the opening 58 is formed in the rotation support member 55 so that the developer G can pass through the opening 58 when the rotation stirring member 53 rotates, so that the rotation resistance of the rotation support member 55 is lowered. For this reason, since the rotational resistance of the rotation support member 55 is touched when the opening 58 is closed, the flexible blade members 56 and 57 have the openings 58 on the mounting surfaces 55A1 and 55B1 so as to avoid the opening 58. More than the outer area.
The flexible blade members 56 and 57 are attached by attaching the base ends 56b and 57b to the attachment surfaces 55A1 and 55B1 of the support portions 55A and 55B (rotation support member 55) with an adhesive or double-sided tape. ing. For this reason, when the adhesion region is located up to the end portions 55a and 55b of the support portions 55A and 55B (the rotation support member 55), the distal end 56a in which elastic deformation toward the upstream side in the rotation direction protrudes outward from the end portions 55a and 55b. 57a, and the amount of elastic deformation may be limited. For this reason, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the end S1 of the adhesion region S of the flexible blade members 56 and 57 is closer to the rotating shaft 54 than the ends 55a and 55b of the support portions 55A and 55B. It is offset. The adhesion region S (area) is made as small as possible as long as reliable adhesion between the flexible blade members 56 and 57 and the support portions 55A and 55B (the rotation support member 55) is guaranteed.

  As described above, when the adhesive region S is used, the elastic deformation toward the upstream side in the rotation direction is not only from the front ends 56a and 57a protruding outward from the end portions 55a and 55b, but also from the outer portion from the end portion S1 of the adhesive region S. Elastically deforms. That is, since the deformation region of the flexible blade members 56 and 57 overlaps with the support portions 55A and 55B (the rotation support member 55), the amount of elastic deformation is not limited and can be sufficiently firm. It is possible to secure the conveyance performance.

The shape of the flexible blade member or the rotation support member can be any shape according to the shape of the container, and is not limited to those shown in FIGS. Also, the number of flexible blade members may be two or more, and may have different shapes.
For example, FIG. 6 shows another form of the rotary stirring member 53, in which the flexible blade members 56A and 57A are bonded to the mounting surfaces 55A1 and 55B1 of the support portions 55A and 55B with an adhesive or a double-sided tape. It is pasted and installed. Further, the opening area of the opening 58 formed in the rotation support member 55 in this form is made larger than that in the case of FIG. 4, and the resistance to the developer during the rotation of the rotary stirring member 53 is reduced. Yes.

  In FIG. 6, the adhesion region S between the flexible blade member 57A and the support portion 55B is formed shorter than the adhesion region S between the flexible blade member 57 and the support portion 55B. The length in the radial direction is also short. Further, the contact range of the flexible blade members 56A, 57A, the container inner wall 51b, and the circular arc surface 51c is set wider than that of the flexible blade members 56, 57.

  In this embodiment, the flexible blade member 57A is formed of a single mylar, and the 56 tip 57Aa protrudes outward from the end 55b of the support portion 55B. The flexible blade member 56A is formed by dividing two mylars, and the tip 56Aa of the flexible blade member 56 is protruded outside the end portion 55a of the support portion 55A. In particular, the flexible blade member 56A is mounted on the mounting surface 55A1 of the support portion 55A so that the side end 56Ab protrudes outward (inner wall 51b) from the side end portions 55d and 55e on both sides of the support portion 55A. Has been. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 59 </ b> A denotes a cut portion formed in a portion protruding from the end portions 55 a and 55 b and the side end portions 55 d and 55 e of the flexible blade members 56 </ b> A and 57 </ b> A.

  Even in such a configuration, the ends 56Aa and 57Aa of the flexible blade members 56A and 57A protruding outward from the end portions 55a and 55b of the support portions 55A and 55B (rotation support member 55) are end portions. No contact with the edges 55a1 and 55b1 of 55a and 55b. As a result, even if the rotary stirring member 53 rotates and deforms upstream in the rotational direction due to resistance with the developer G, the deformation is not hindered and bending can be prevented. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the developer G from being rubbed against the container inner wall 55b and the arcuate surface 52c and the deterioration of the transport function of the developer G. For this reason, it can prevent and generation | occurrence | production of a residual developer can be reduced. For this reason, it is possible to achieve both the reduction in rigidity of the flexible blade members 56A and 57A and the conveyance function.

Next, the relationship of the length of the rotary stirring member 53 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the flexible blade members 56 and 57 are used as the flexible blade members, but the flexible blade members 56A and 57A can be replaced.
In FIG. 7, it is desirable that the total length L1 of the rotation support member 55 in the rotational radius direction is extended so as to be close to the container inner wall 51b and the arc surface 51c unless they contact the container inner wall 51b and the arc surface 51c. Specifically, it is preferable that the distance (gap) L2 between the arcuate surface 51c (the container bottom surface) and the end portions 55a and 55b of the rotation support member 55 be about 0.5 to 5 mm. The shape of the rotation support member 55 is preferably a shape that matches the internal shape of the container body 51 so that the distance (gap) L2 is small.

  With such a dimensional relationship, the amount of developer conveyed by the rotation support member 55 is increased, and the amount of developer that the flexible blade members 56 and 57 must carry is decreased. The rigidity of 57 can be further reduced.

The flexible blade members 56 and 57 have their tips 56 a and 57 a in contact with the container inner wall 51 b and the arcuate surface 51 c of the container body 51 to convey the developer G. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 8, the protrusion amount (protruding length, free length) L3 from the end portions 55a and 55b of the rotation support member 55 is at least 0.5 to 5 mm, and the container inner wall 51b, It touches the circular arc surface 51c or bites into about 0 to 20 mm. When the amount of biting exceeds 20 mm, the range of the flexible blade members 56 and 57 that come into contact with the container inner wall 51b and the arcuate surface 51c is wide, and the contact resistance increases. The protrusion amount (protruding length, free length) L3 is an amount of protrusion in the direction perpendicular to the rotation center O.
Since the amount of biting of the flexible blade members 56 and 57 into the container main body 51 affects the developer conveying force (the remaining amount of developer when the developer container is replaced), the type of developer and the flexible blade In consideration of the material of the members 56 and 57 and the protrusion amount L2, it is preferable to set within the range of 0 to 20 mm as appropriate.
As shown in FIG. 8, the amount of biting here means the flexible blade members 56 and 57 attached to the rotation support member 55, the inner wall 51b of the container and the arc surface 51c when the rotation stirring member 53 is stopped. It is the length L4 from the contact part to the tip. For this reason, the biting amount of 0 mm indicates a state where the tip of each flexible blade member is in contact with the container inner wall 51b or the arcuate surface 51c.
The flexible blade members 56 and 57 have a longer deformation area than the flexible blade members 56A and 57A. Therefore, a material having a larger elastic coefficient can be used.
When the same material is used for the flexible blade members 56, 57 and the flexible blade members 56A, 57A, the stress on the developer G (pressure on the arc surface 51c and the container inner wall 51b) is the flexible blade member. Compared to 56 and 57, the flexible blade members 56A and 57A having a larger contact range are larger.

On the other hand, the opening 58 formed in the rotation support member 55 is narrower in the rotation support member 55 shown in FIG. 4 than the opening of the rotation support member 55 shown in FIG. Increases, and the torque required to rotate the rotary stirring member 53 increases.
Since the cut portions 59 and 59A are formed in the flexible blade members 56, 57, 56A, and 57A, the rigidity can be reduced. Further, it is assumed that the conveyance performance of the developer G of the flexible blade members 56, 57, 56A and 57A is lowered, but not only the stress on the developer G is reduced but also a complicated container shape. Further, the followability to the container body 51 is increased, which is preferable. Whether or not the notches 59 and 59A are formed is preferably determined by the relationship between the flexible blade members 56, 57, 56A and 57A, the internal shape of the container body 51, and the developer conveying force.

  In the conventional configuration, as described with reference to FIG. 5, the flexible blade members 56 and 57 are deformed before the developer is moved, and the developer G cannot be conveyed any more. However, by using the rotary stirring member 53 according to the present invention shown in the form shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, the rotation support member 55 can be moved until the container inner wall 51 b or the arcuate surface (bottom surface) 51 c of the container body 51 passes. Therefore, the rotation support member 55 can stir and convey more toner. Further, finally, the amount of developer that the flexible blade members 56 and 57 or the flexible blade members 56A and 57A must carry alone is the amount of the container inner wall 51b, the arc surface (bottom surface) 51c, and the rotation support member 55. Only the development amount corresponding to the gap L2 between the tips 55a and 55b is obtained. For this reason, the developer can be transported without causing the phenomenon that the flexible blade members 56 and 57 having a small rigidity lose the developer G and are completely deformed. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the amount of residual developer while ensuring the transportability of the developer.

In the above embodiment, the rotary stirring member 53 has symmetrical shapes of the support portions 55A and 55B located on both sides of the rotary shaft 54, and the flexible blade members 56, 56A, 57, and 57A are attached to the rotary stirring members 53, respectively. However, it is not limited to this form.
For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the support portions 55 </ b> A and 55 </ b> B may be asymmetrical, and a flexible blade member may be attached to either the support portion 55 </ b> A or the support portion 55 </ b> B. In the form shown in FIG. 9, a flexible blade member 56 </ b> B whose planar shape is a U-shape is attached to the support portion 55 </ b> A so as to avoid the opening 58. That is, the flexible blade member 56B is attached to the support portion 55A by being bonded to the outside of the opening portion 58, and the tip 56Ba and the side surface tip 56Bb are the end portion 55a and the side end portion 55d of the support portion 55A, Projecting from 55e. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10A, the flexible blade member 56B is at least 0.5 to 5 mm from the track R drawn by the end portion 55b of the support portion 55B when the rotary stirring member 53 rotates. It is set as the above protrusion amount L8. Further, the end portion 55b of the support portion 55B is formed so as to be closer to the container inner wall 51b and the arc surface 51c than the end portion 55a of the support portion 55A. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the length L6 from the rotation center O of the rotation shaft 54 to the end portion 55b of the support portion 55B is the length from the rotation center O of the rotation shaft 54 to the end portion 55a of the support portion 55A. It is set longer than L5.

Even when the flexible blade member is arranged on only one side of the rotary stirring member 53 as described above, as shown in FIG. 10A, the end portions of the support portions 55A and 55B (rotation support member 55) are provided. The tip 56Ba of the flexible blade member 56B protruding outward from 55a and 55b does not contact the edge 55a1 of the end 55a. As a result, even if the rotary stirring member 53 rotates and deforms upstream in the rotational direction due to resistance with the developer G, the deformation is not hindered and bending can be prevented. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the developer G from being rubbed against the container inner wall 55b and the arcuate surface 52c and the deterioration of the transport function of the developer G. For this reason, it can prevent and generation | occurrence | production of a residual developer can be reduced. For this reason, it is possible to achieve both the reduction in rigidity of the flexible blade member 56B and the conveyance function.
In the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10 (b), the end portion 55b of the support portion 55B on the side where the flexible blade member 56B is not installed and the arc surface 51c serving as the bottom surface of the container inner wall 51b. The gap L7 is set to 0.5 to 5 mm. As a result, the amount of developer conveyed by the rotation support member 55 increases and the amount of developer that the flexible blade member 56B has to carry decreases, so that the rigidity of the flexible blade member 56B can be further reduced. it can. For this reason, it is possible to improve the stirring and transportability of the developer G by the rotating stirring member 53 while the rigidity of the flexible blade member 56B is weakened.

The above-described flexible blade members 56, 57, 56A, 56B, and 57A are made of a material having low rigidity, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), polyurethane sheet. It is formed of a film having equal flexibility.
The thickness of the flexible blade members 56, 57, 56A, and 57A is preferably about 50 μm to 500 μm, and more preferably 50 μm to 200 μm, when the film is made of PET. In this case, the protrusion amount L3 is preferably 10 mm or more.
When the flexible blade members 56, 57, 56A, 57A are made of polyurethane film, the thickness is preferably about 200 μm to 2 mm. In this case, the protrusion L3 is preferably 5 mm or more. When the polyurethane film is 1 mm or more in thickness, the protrusion L3 is more preferably 10 mm or more.
As the developer G used in the present embodiment, toner that is a low temperature fixing compatible developer having an outflow temperature of 90 ° C. or lower is used.

In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), the protruding amount L3 of the flexible blade member and the rotational center O of the rotating shaft 54 are the same center with respect to the arc center O1 of the arc surface 51c. The amount of biting L4 and the total length L1 and the gap L2 of the rotation support member 55 were adjusted. However, the present invention is not limited to such a form.
For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the rotation center O of the rotating shaft 54 may be shifted from the arc center 51 of the arc surface 51c toward the arc surface 51c. Then, the rotation radius r1 of the rotary stirring member 53 from the rotation center O is made smaller than the arc radius r2 of the arc surface 51c.
With such a configuration, when the rotation center O of the rotating shaft 54 and the arc center O1 of the arc surface 51c are set as the same center, the flexible blade member moves from the total contact area B2 when moving while contacting the arc surface 51c. In addition, when the rotation center O of the rotating shaft 54 and the arc center O1 of the arc surface 51c are shifted, the total contact area B1 when each flexible blade member moves while contacting the arc surface 51c can be reduced. For this reason, the contact time between each flexible blade member causing the formation of the developer G aggregate and the container inner wall 51b or the arc surface 51c is greatly reduced, and the generation of the developer aggregate is more efficiently suppressed. can do.

  Further, when the shortest distance between the arc surface 51c (bottom surface) and the rotation center O of the rotating shaft 54 is r3, the rotation radius r1 of the rotary stirring member 53, and the arc radius r2 of the arc surface 51c (bottom surface), (r3, r1 <r2) is also possible. That is, by making the rotation radius r1 of the rotary stirring member 53 longer than the distance r3 from the rotation center of the rotary shaft 54 of the rotary stirring member 53 to the bottom surface of the container, the rotation radius r1 of the rotary stirring member 53 is changed to the arc surface 51c. It is smaller than the arc radius r2. Even if it is such a structure, the total contact area | region when each flexible blade | wing member moves, contacting the circular arc surface 51c can be made small. For this reason, the contact time between each flexible blade member that causes the formation of the developer G aggregate and the container inner wall 51b or the arc surface 51c of the container body is greatly reduced, and the developer aggregate is more generated. It can be suppressed efficiently.

  As the developer G that can be used in the present embodiment, a developer that has an outflow temperature of 90 ° C. or lower and is compatible with low-temperature fixing, and a developer having an outflow temperature higher than this may be used.

  In the above-described embodiments, the image forming apparatus is described as a color printer. However, the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applicable is not limited to this, and can be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a plotter. .

11 (Y, C, M, K) image carrier 14 (Y, C, M, K) developing device 40 (Y, C, M, K) developer replenishing device 41 mounting portion 51 container body 51a discharge port 51b inner wall 51c Arc surface 53 Rotating stirring member 54 Rotating shaft 55 Rotating support member 55a, 55b Rotating free end 55A, 55B Supporting portion 55A1, 55B1 Surface 56 (A, B), 57, 57A flexible Wing member 58 Opening 97, 97A Notch G Developer L2 Clearance between the end of the free rotation end and the bottom L3 The length of the flexible wing member protruding L4 Biting amount L7 Rotation free without flexible wing member Gap between end and bottom of end L8 Length protruding from orbit О Rotation center of rotating stirrer О1 Arc center of arc surface R Orbit r1 Rotating radius of rotating stirrer r2 Arc radius of arc surface r3 Rotating axis Distance from the center of rotation to the arc surface

JP 2005-134694 A

Claims (14)

A rotating stirring member that conveys the developer stored in the container main body to the discharge port while stirring by rotating,
The rotating agitating member includes a rotation support member that rotates integrally with a rotation shaft, and at least a part of the rotation agitation member that is disposed on a rotation free end side of the rotation support member, and is in sliding contact with the inner wall of the container body. A flexible blade member that conveys to the discharge port,
The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the flexible blade member is attached to a surface located upstream of the rotation support member in the rotation direction. The rotation support member is a plate-shaped member, and has an opening that penetrates in the rotation direction.
The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein the flexible blade member is attached to a surface located upstream of the rotation direction so as to avoid the opening.   The developer storage container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a gap between the end portion of the free rotation end and the bottom surface of the inner wall of the container main body is set to 0.5 to 5 mm.   The flexible blade member has a length that protrudes at least 0.5 mm or more from the rotation free end of the rotation support member, and touches the inner wall of the container body or bites within a range of 0 to 20 mm. 4. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein the developer storage container is mounted on a rotation free end side. The rotary stirring member has an asymmetric shape of support portions located on both sides of the rotary shaft,
3. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein the flexible blade member is attached to a surface located on the upstream side of a support portion on one side of the rotary stirring member.   6. The development according to claim 5, wherein a gap between the end portion of the rotation free end on the side where the flexible blade member is not installed and the bottom surface of the inner wall of the container body is set to 0.5 to 5 mm. Agent storage container.   The flexible blade member has a length that protrudes toward the inner wall by at least 0.5 mm or more than a track drawn by an end of the rotation free end on the side where the flexible blade member is not installed. 6. The developer storage container according to claim 5, wherein the developer storage container is attached to the rotation free end so as to contact or bite into the inner wall in a range of 0 to 20 mm. The container body has an arc surface at least part of its inner wall;
8. The development according to claim 1, wherein the rotation center of the rotary stirring member is arranged so as to be shifted closer to the arc surface with respect to the arc center of the arc surface of the inner wall. Agent storage container.   9. The developer storage container according to claim 8, wherein a rotation radius of the rotary stirring member is smaller than an arc radius of the arc surface.   The developer storage container according to claim 9, wherein a rotation radius of the rotary stirring member is longer than a distance from a rotation center of the rotation shaft to the arc surface.   11. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein a cut portion is formed in a portion of the flexible blade member protruding from the rotation support member.   The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein the developer is toner having an outflow temperature of 90 ° C. or less. Development that includes a developer storage container in which a developer and a rotating stirring member are stored, and a mounting portion that detachably supports the developer storage container, and supplies the developer in the developer storage container to a developing device. In the agent supply device,
The developer supply device according to claim 1, wherein the developer storage container is the developer storage container according to claim 1. In an image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; a developing device that develops a latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer; and a developer supply device that supplies the developer to the developing device.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the developer replenishing device is the developer replenishing device according to claim 14.

Images