JP2014149437A - Developer container, developing unit, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developer container which prevents toner from being adhered and aggregating in the developer container, to fully utilize the toner, and a developing unit and an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A developer container includes a housing 31 for housing developer, an outlet 31f for discharging the developer, a rotating member 33a rotating in the housing, and a swing member having an engagement part to be engaged with the rotating member and a swing part 34a which swings due to the engagement, and to provide a developing unit which develops a developer image with developer supplied from the developer container, and an image forming apparatus including the developing unit.

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer container that contains a developer used in an electrophotographic process system such as a printer, a FAX, or a copying machine, and further, a developing unit including the developer container, and an image The present invention relates to a forming apparatus.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a FAX, or a copying machine that employs a conventional electrophotographic process method, the surface of the photosensitive member as an electrostatic latent image carrier is charged by a charging device such as a charging roller. Exposure is performed by exposure means such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) head to form an electrostatic latent image. Then, a toner as a developer is attached to the electrostatic latent image to obtain a developer image, and the developer image is transferred to a recording medium and fixed to obtain a printed matter.

  In such a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member, a toner cartridge that is a developer container that contains toner as a developer is detachably disposed. Toner is supplied from the cartridge to the developing unit. Therefore, a developer supply port is formed on the lower surface of the toner cartridge, and a shutter member for opening and closing the developer supply port is provided. An opening is formed in the shutter member, and the developer supply port can be opened by rotating the operation lever engaged with the shutter member and aligning the developer supply port with the opening.

  A general toner cartridge has a bearing portion on a longitudinal side wall of an outer cartridge that forms a toner storage chamber and a waste toner chamber for storing toner inside the toner cartridge. Some cartridges are rotatably supported on bearings on the side wall of the cartridge. In addition, some toner storage chambers of the outer cartridge include a swinging member for scraping off toner adhering to the inner wall (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-50505 A

  However, in conventional toner cartridges, the vibration during transportation and the leaving posture when not in use are not constant, so that the toner in the toner storage chamber aggregates while adhering to the inner wall of the toner cartridge or the toner container with corners is stored. In the chamber, the adhering toner may easily aggregate. Although a swinging member is provided for the purpose of preventing this, the conventional swinging member swings in the direction of pressing against the inner wall of the outer cartridge, and thus excessively compresses the toner. As a result, the adhesion and aggregation of the toner in the toner storage chamber are promoted, and the toner is not discharged from the developer supply port and cannot be used.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to develop a toner that can sufficiently utilize the toner by suppressing the toner from adhering and aggregating in the developer container. An agent container, a developing unit, and an image forming apparatus are provided.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a developer container in the present invention includes a housing that houses a developer, a discharge port that discharges the developer, a rotating member that rotates inside the housing, and the rotating member. And an oscillating member having an oscillating portion that oscillates with the engagement.

  The developing unit according to the present invention includes a housing that stores the developer, a discharge port that discharges the developer, a rotating member that rotates inside the housing, and an engaging portion that engages with the rotating member. A developer container including a rocking member having a rocking portion that rocks in accordance with the engagement, and a developing unit that develops the developer image with the developer discharged from the discharge port. Yes.

  Furthermore, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a housing that contains a developer, a discharge port that discharges the developer, a rotating member that rotates inside the housing, and an engagement that engages with the rotating member. Development including a developer container having a rocking member having a rocking portion that rocks with the engagement portion, and a developing unit that develops the developer image with the developer discharged from the discharge port. The image forming apparatus includes a unit, a transfer device that transfers the developed developer image onto a recording medium, and a fixing device that fixes the developer image transferred onto the recording medium.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a developer container, a developing unit, and an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing the toner from adhering to and aggregating in the developer container and making full use of the toner. it can.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a developing unit and a toner cartridge in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the toner cartridge according to the first embodiment. (A) is a schematic sectional drawing of the toner removal film in 1st Embodiment, (b) is a perspective view of a toner removal film and a stirring member. (A) is a schematic sectional drawing of the toner removal film in the modification of 1st Embodiment, (b) is a perspective view of a toner removal film and a stirring member. 2A and 2B are perspective views when the lever of the toner cartridge according to the first embodiment is opened and closed, in which FIG. 3A shows a state where the toner supply port is closed, and FIG. 2B shows a state where the toner supply port is opened. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of a toner removal film and a stirring member in the first embodiment. It is the D section enlarged view in FIG. It is the E section enlarged view in FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge according to a modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a toner cartridge according to a second embodiment. (A) is a schematic sectional drawing of the toner removal film in 2nd Embodiment, (b) is a perspective view of a toner removal film and a stirring member. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view of the toner removal film and the stirring member in the second embodiment, and FIG. ) Is a diagram for explaining the operation after the engagement between the toner removal film and the stirring member is released.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited to the following description, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it can change suitably.

[First Embodiment]
In the description of the first embodiment, first, an image forming apparatus and a developing unit to which the developer container according to the present invention is applied will be described, and then a toner cartridge as the developer container will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is a color printer that forms a color image by superimposing toners as four types of developers of black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C). It is.

  In the image forming apparatus 100, each toner is formed along a substantially S-shaped medium route starting from the paper feed tray 101, passing through the conveying roller 102, the transfer device 103, and the fixing device 104 and ending at the stacker 105. A black (K) developing unit 110a, a yellow (Y) developing unit 110b, a magenta (M) developing unit 110c, and a cyan developing unit (C) 110d corresponding to color image formation are provided. The developing units 110a, 110b, 110c, and 110d include a toner cartridge 30a that stores black (K) toner, a toner cartridge 30b that stores yellow (Y) toner, and a toner cartridge 30c that stores magenta toner. A toner cartridge 30d for accommodating cyan toner is mounted. The developing units 110a, 110b, 110c, and 110d develop toner images, which are developer images corresponding to the respective toner colors, using toner supplied from the toner cartridges 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d.

  The paper feed tray 101 stores sheets P as recording media in a stacked state, and is detachably attached to the lower part of the image forming apparatus 100. A separation roller (not shown) provided on the upper portion of the paper feed tray 101 takes out the paper P stored in the paper feed tray 101 one by one from the top and feeds it to the medium route.

  The conveyance roller 102 corrects the skew of the paper P fed from a separation roller (not shown) and conveys the paper P to the transfer device 103.

  The transfer device 103 includes a transfer belt 1032 that is an endless belt material that electrostatically attracts and conveys paper P, a drive roller 1033 that rotates by a driving force transmitted from a driving source (not shown), and the drive roller 1033 A tension roller 1034 that rotates in a pair and is driven to rotate and stretches the transfer belt 1032 is provided. Further, the transfer device 103 includes transfer rollers 1031a, 1031b, 1031c, and 1031d that come into pressure-contact with the respective photoreceptors provided in developing units 110a, 110b, 110c, and 110d, which will be described later, via the transfer belt 1032. A high voltage power source (not shown) is connected to the transfer rollers 1031a, 1031b, 1031c, and 1031d. It is transferred to the paper P.

  The fixing device 104 is disposed on the downstream side of the medium route after the developing units 110a, 110b, 110c, and 110d, and includes a heat roller 104a, a backup roller 104b, a thermistor (not shown), and the like. For example, the heat roller 104a is formed by covering a hollow cylindrical cored bar made of aluminum or the like with a heat-resistant elastic layer of silicone rubber, and covering a PFA (tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer) tube thereon. Is formed by. In the core bar, for example, a heater such as a halogen lamp is provided. The backup roller 104b has a structure in which a heat-resistant elastic layer of silicone rubber is coated on a metal core made of aluminum or the like and PFA is coated thereon, and is arranged so that a pressure contact portion is formed between the backup roller 104b and the heat roller. It is installed. The thermistor is a means for detecting the surface temperature of the heat roller 104a, and is disposed in the vicinity of the heat roller 104a in a non-contact manner. The surface temperature of the heat roller 104a is maintained at a predetermined temperature by controlling the heater based on the detection result of the surface temperature of the heat roller 104a detected by the thermistor. When the paper P on which the toner image is transferred passes through the pressure contact portion formed by the heat roller 104a and the backup roller 104b maintained at a predetermined temperature, heat and pressure are applied to the toner on the paper P. The toner melts and the toner image is fixed.

  The stacker 105 is formed by using the outer casing of the image forming apparatus 100, and stacks the paper P that passes through the fixing device 104 and is discharged by a discharge roller (not shown).

  By the way, exposure devices 111a, 111b, 111c, and 111d are provided above the developing units 110a, 110b, 110c, and 110d. The exposure devices 111a, 111b, 111c, and 111d are, for example, LED heads having a light emitting element such as an LED element and a lens array, and irradiation light output from the LED element based on image data is developed by the developing units 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d are arranged so as to be positions where images are formed on the respective photoreceptor surfaces. These exposure apparatuses 111a, 111b, 111c, and 111d are held by an upper cover member that opens and closes when the developing units 110a, 110b, 110c, and 110d and the toner cartridges 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d are attached and detached.

  Next, the developing units 110a, 110b, 110c, and 110d and the toner cartridges 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d attached to these developing units will be described with reference to the schematic sectional view of FIG. The developing units 110a, 110b, 110c, and 110d are different from each other only in toner stored in the toner cartridges 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d, and the other configurations are all the same. Therefore, in the following description, the developing unit 110a and the toner cartridge 30a attached to the developing unit 110a will be described.

  The developing unit 110a according to the present embodiment is configured so that a toner cartridge 30a that accommodates toner therein can be detachably attached. The schematic cross-sectional view shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state where the toner cartridge 30a is mounted.

  Such a developing unit 110 a includes a photoreceptor 11, a developing roller 12, a supply roller 13, a developing blade 15, a cleaning device 18, and a charging device 19.

  The photoreceptor 11 includes a conductive support and a photoconductive layer. For example, a charge generation layer as a photoconductive layer and a charge transport layer are sequentially stacked on a metal shaft such as aluminum as a conductive support. An organic photoreceptor constituted.

  The developing roller 12 is provided with urethane rubber in which carbon black is dispersed on the outer periphery of a metal shaft such as stainless steel, and the surface thereof is subjected to an isocyanate treatment. The developing roller 12 is disposed so as to be in pressure contact with the surface of the photoconductor 11, supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed based on the irradiation light irradiated by the exposure device 111a, and develops the toner image.

  The supply roller 13 is provided with a semiconductive foamed silicone sponge layer on the outer periphery of a metal shaft such as stainless steel. The supply roller 13 is in contact with the developing roller 12 with a predetermined pressure, and supplies the toner supplied from the toner cartridge 30 a to the developing roller 12. A toner storage chamber 22 for temporarily storing the toner supplied from the toner cartridge 30 a is formed above the supply roller 13.

  The developing blade 15 is a plate-like member made of, for example, a metal plate such as stainless steel. The developing blade 15 is sandwiched between the support member 16 and the support member 17 and is fastened together with screws (not shown). The developing blade 15 is disposed at a position where one end of the developing blade 15 is in contact with a predetermined position on the surface of the developing roller 12 and uniformly regulates the toner layer thickness on the developing roller 12.

  The cleaning device 18 is strongly bonded to a bracket 24 holding rubber such as urethane rubber by a bonding method such as hot melt, and the bracket 24 is supported by the base frame member 20. The cleaning device 18 contacts the photoconductor 11 and scrapes off toner remaining on the photoconductor 11 after transfer. A waste toner conveying member 23 made of a spiral or a coil spring is disposed in the lower gap of the cleaning device 18.

  The charging device 19 is, for example, a roller member composed of a metal shaft and semiconductive epichlorohydrin rubber. The charging device 19 is in contact with the photoconductor 11 with a predetermined pressure, and uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor 11 based on an applied voltage from a high voltage power source (not shown).

  The photoconductor 11, the developing roller 12, the supply roller 13, and the charging device 19 are each configured to be rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 by a driving force transmitted from a driving source (not shown). The photoconductor 11 and the charging device 19 are supported by side frames (not shown) disposed on the left and right of the photoconductor 11 in the axial direction. Further, the developing roller 12, the supply roller 13, and the developing blade 15 are also supported by side frames (not shown) disposed on the left and right in the longitudinal direction of the photoconductor 11.

  The developing unit 110 a supported by these side frames (not shown) is held by the base frame member 20 and covered with the cover frame member 21. A toner cartridge 30 a is disposed above the cover frame member 21, and toner supplied through a toner supply port 31 f as a discharge port passes through a toner supply port 21 a formed in the cover frame member 21. The toner is stored in the toner storage chamber 22.

  The toner storage chamber 31c of the toner cartridge 30a is provided with a toner removal film 34a as a swing member in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the toner removal film 34a is made of a PET resin sheet. The toner removal film 34a is a substantially hook-shaped swinging member as seen from the cross-sectional direction, having a bent portion that is fixed at one end to the top surface of the toner storage chamber 31c and bent at a predetermined angle. The toner removal film 34a is deformed by engaging with a stirring member 33a, which is a rotating member provided in an inner cartridge 32 described later, and is restored to return to its original shape when the engagement is released. It is a rocking member that rocks when force is applied.

  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the toner cartridge 30a shown in FIG. The toner cartridge 30a includes an outer cartridge 31 as a casing, an inner cartridge 32 as a shutter member, a cap 36, and a side cover plate 38. As shown in FIG. 2, the toner cartridge 30a has a toner storage chamber 31c for storing unused toner in the development unit 110 and a waste toner storage for storing waste toner discharged from the development unit 110. It is separated from the chamber 31d.

  The outer cartridge 31 is provided with a toner supply port 31 f and an insertion port 31 b for inserting the inner cartridge 32. Further, as described above, the toner removal film 34a as a swing member is disposed on the top surface of the toner storage chamber 31c of the outer cartridge 31. The configuration of the toner removal film 34a will be described later.

  An operation lever 35 is engaged with the inner cartridge 32, and a toner filling hole 32 a is provided at the center of the operation lever 35. The toner filling hole 32a is sealed by a cap 36 so that the filled toner does not spill after the toner is filled into the toner storage chamber 31c. The operation lever 35 controls the opening / closing operation of the shutter portion 32b with respect to the opening portion 32c, and can operate the toner supply to the toner storage chamber 22 of the developing unit 110a. The outer cartridge 31 is provided with a restricting portion 31e that restricts the rotation range of the operation lever 35.

  A seal sponge 37 for preventing toner leakage is provided inside the side cover plate 38 and is disposed so as to block the toner from spilling from the outer cartridge 31. The side cover plate 38 is provided with a gear 39 for rotationally driving at the same position as the central axis of the inner cartridge 32. The center of the gear 39 serves as a bearing, and the inner cartridge 32 is a rotatable rotating member. A stirring member 33a is provided. The stirring member 33a has a plate shape made of resin (PS or ABS). The stirring member 33a may be a crank member made of metal such as SUS.

  FIG. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the toner removal film 34a in the present embodiment. The toner removing film 34a includes an engaging portion 34a7 extending from a bent portion 34a20 as a first bent portion, a sliding portion 34a1, a bent portion 34a20 as a swinging portion 50a, a bent portion 34a21 as a second bent portion, The elastic deformation part 34a3 and the adhesion part 34a4 which is the fixed end 50b are provided. In the present embodiment, the toner removing film 34a is engaged with the stirring member 33a at the engaging portion 34a7, whereby the swinging portion 50a including the sliding portion 34a1, the bent portion 34a20, the bent portion 34a21, and the elastically deforming portion 34a3 is deformed. However, when this engagement is released, the deformable portion is configured as a swinging member that swings due to a restoring force acting to return to the original shape. Note that the engaging portion 34a7 of the toner removal film 34a is configured to avoid the frames 32d, 32e, and 32f shown in FIG. 3 formed to maintain the rigidity of the inner cartridge 32.

  FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the toner removal film 34a and the stirring member 33a. A surface of the bent portion 34a21 of the toner removal film 34a that is bent at a predetermined angle is configured as a sliding portion 34a1, and a separation wall 31a that separates the toner storage chamber 31c and the waste toner storage chamber 31d of the outer cartridge 31 from each other. It is arranged along. Further, the tip of the hanging toner removal film 34a is configured as an engaging portion 34a7 extending from the bent portion 34a20 so as to be engageable with the stirring member 33a. The sliding portion 34a1 is formed with mesh-shaped holes 34a5 that are uniformly provided at predetermined intervals, and the elastic deformation portion 34a3 that contacts the top surface of the toner storage chamber 31c of the outer cartridge 31 is also evenly spaced at predetermined intervals. The hole 34a6 provided in is formed.

  The agitating member 33a is formed to have a width that allows the inside of the inner cartridge 32 to be agitated, and the portion that engages with the engaging portion 34a7 of the toner removal film 34a is cut to the vicinity of the rotation shaft so that it can be engaged. The engaged portion 33a2 (33a21, 33a22, 33a23, 33a24) is formed. The stirring unit 33a1 (33a11, 33a12, 33a13, 33a14, 33a15) is formed in a comb shape so that the load is reduced when it rotates.

  FIG. 5A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a toner removal film 34b as a swing member having another form. The toner removal film 34b includes an engaging portion 34b7 extending from a bent portion 34b20 as a first bent portion, a sliding portion 34b1, a bent portion 34b20 as a swinging portion 60a, a bent portion 34b21 as a second bent portion, and an elastic portion. A deformable portion 34b3 and an adhesive portion 34b4 which is a fixed end 60b are provided. The toner removing film 34b in another form is engaged with the stirring member 33b in the engaging portion 34b7, whereby the swinging portion 60a including the sliding portion 34b1, the bent portion 34b20, the bent portion 34b21, and the elastically deforming portion 34b3 is deformed. However, when this engagement is released, the deformable portion is configured as a swinging member that swings due to a restoring force acting to return to the original shape. The engaging portion 34b7 of the toner removal film 34b is configured to avoid the frames 32d, 32e, and 32f shown in FIG. 3 that are formed to maintain the rigidity of the inner cartridge 32.

  FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the toner removal film 34b and the stirring member 33b. A surface of the bent portion 34b21 of the toner removal film 34b that is bent at a predetermined angle is configured as a sliding portion 34b1, and a separation wall 31a that separates the toner storage chamber 31c and the waste toner storage chamber 31d of the outer cartridge 31 from each other. It is arranged along. The tip of the hanging toner removal film 34b is configured as an engaging portion 34b7 extending from the bent portion 34a20 so as to be engageable with the stirring member 33b. The sliding portion 34b1 is provided with claws 34b5 as projections that are cut and bent in a direction to fill the gap, and is elastically deformed in contact with the top surface of the toner storage chamber 31c of the outer cartridge 31. The part 34b3 is formed with holes 34b6 provided uniformly at a predetermined interval.

  Further, the agitating member 33b is formed to have a width that allows the inside of the inner cartridge 32 to be agitated, and the portion that engages with the engaging portion 34b7 of the toner removal film 34b is in the vicinity of the rotation shaft so that it can be engaged. To the engaged portion 33b2 (33b21, 33b22, 33b23, 33b24). The stirring unit 33b1 (33b11, 33b12, 33b13, 33b14, 33b15) is formed in a comb shape so that the load is reduced when it rotates.

  In the present embodiment and other embodiments, an example in which all of the oscillating parts including the sliding part, the bent part, and the elastically deforming part correspond to the deforming part has been described. Only the deformation part corresponds to the deformation part, only the bent part corresponds to the deformation part, only the sliding part corresponds to the deformation part, only a part of each part corresponds to the deformation part, sliding part A plurality of portions of the bent portion or the elastic deformation portion may correspond to the deformation portion.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 including the developing unit 110a having the toner cartridge 30a having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. Since the operations of the other toner cartridges 30b, 30c, and 30d and the developing units 110b, 110c, and 110d having these toner cartridges are the same as those described below, the developing unit having the toner cartridge 30a is used here. Only 110a will be described.

  First, when image data is input to the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 starts an image forming process. At the start of the image forming process, the paper P stored in the paper feed tray 101 is fed out one by one to the medium route by rotation of a separation roller (not shown). Thereafter, the sheet P is conveyed to the transfer device 103 along the medium route while the skew is corrected by the conveying roller 102. At a predetermined timing until the paper P is conveyed to the transfer device 103, the image forming process shown below is started in the developing unit 110a.

  When image data is input to the image forming apparatus 100, the photoconductor 11 in the developing unit 110a shown in FIG. 2 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2 by a driving force transmitted from a driving source (not shown). Start spinning at speed. A charging device 19 provided in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 11 uniformly and uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor 11 based on a charging bias voltage from a high voltage power source (not shown). Next, irradiation light corresponding to the image data is irradiated onto the uniformly and uniformly charged surface of the photoconductor 11 by the exposure device 111a provided facing the photoconductor 11, and the potential of the light irradiation portion is light attenuated. Thus, an electrostatic latent image is formed.

  The developing roller 12 is disposed in close contact with the photoconductor 11, and a developing bias voltage is applied from a high voltage power source (not shown). The developing roller 12 adsorbs the toner conveyed by the supply roller 13 to which the supply bias voltage is applied, and rotates and conveys the toner. In this rotational conveyance step, the developing blade 15 disposed in pressure contact with the developing roller 12 forms a toner layer in which the toner adsorbed on the developing roller 12 is made to have a uniform thickness.

  The developing roller 12 reversely develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 11 with the toner to be carried. Since a bias voltage is applied between the conductive support of the photoconductor 11 and the developing roller 12 by a high voltage power source, a static electricity formed on the photoconductor 11 is provided between the developing roller 12 and the photoconductor 11. Electric lines of force are generated along with the electrostatic latent image. For this reason, the charged toner on the developing roller 12 adheres to the electrostatic part on the photoconductor 11 due to electrostatic force, and this part is developed to form a toner image.

  The toner image formed on the photoconductor 11 is transferred to the paper P by a transfer roller 1031 to which a transfer bias voltage is applied from a high voltage power supply (not shown) at the timing when the paper P is conveyed to the transfer device 103. . The same operation is performed in the developing units 110b, 110c, and 110d, and the toner images developed on the photosensitive members of the developing units 110b, 110c, and 110d are sequentially transferred onto the paper P.

  Thereafter, the paper P is conveyed to a fixing device 104 having a heat roller 104a and a backup roller 104b. The sheet P on which the toner image is transferred is controlled by a temperature control unit (not shown) and is conveyed to a pressure contact portion formed by a heat roller 104a and a backup roller 104b that are maintained at a predetermined surface temperature. Then, the toner is melted by the heat applied from the heat roller 104a and further pressed by the pressure contact portion, whereby the toner image is fixed on the paper P.

  The sheet P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the stacker 105, and a series of image forming processes is completed.

  Note that some toner may remain on the surface of the photoconductor 11 after the toner image is transferred. The remaining toner is removed by the cleaning device 18. When the cleaning device 18 is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 11, the toner remaining without being transferred is removed by rotating the photoconductor 11 about the rotation axis. The removed toner is transported to the waste toner storage chamber 31d of the toner cartridge 30a by the waste toner transport member 23 and collected. The cleaned photoreceptor 11 is repeatedly used in the next image forming process.

  By the way, the toner is supplied to the toner storage chamber 22 of the developing unit 110a by rotating the shutter portion 32b of the inner cartridge 32 provided in the toner cartridge 30a and aligning the opening portion 32c with the toner supply port 31f of the outer cartridge 31. The operation is performed via the toner supply port 21a provided in the cover frame 21 of the developing unit 110a with the supply port 31f opened. Here, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge 30a according to the first embodiment when the operation lever 35 of the toner cartridge 30a is opened and closed. FIG. 6A shows a state where the toner supply port 31f is closed, and FIG. A state where the toner supply port 31f is opened by the rotation of the lever in the direction of arrow A in the drawing is shown. Actually, the operation lever 35 is configured not to rotate unless the toner cartridge 30a is attached to the developing unit 110a.

  When the toner cartridge 30a is attached to the developing unit 110a, a gear (not shown) provided on the cover frame 21 of the developing unit 110a meshes with a gear 39 provided on the toner cartridge 30a. Thus, when the developing unit 110a is driven, the gear 39 of the toner cartridge 30a starts to be driven, and the stirring member 33a in the toner cartridge 30a starts to rotate, so that the toner can be stirred.

  The stirring member 33a in the toner cartridge 30a starts to rotate in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 7 (counterclockwise direction in this figure). As shown in the operation explanatory view shown in FIG. 8 in which the portion C in FIG. 7 is enlarged, when the stirring member 33a rotates between the position of 0 ° and the position of 90 °, the engaged portion is cut and narrowed. 33a2 starts engaging with the engaging portion 34a7 of the toner removal film 34a. As the rotation further proceeds, the engaging portion 34a7 of the toner removing film 34a and the engaged portion 33a2 of the stirring member 33a move downward together with the belt, so that the sliding portion 34a1 where the toner removing film 34a hangs down is formed. It moves along the separation wall 31a separating the toner storage chamber 31c and the waste toner storage chamber 31d.

  Further, when the stirring member 33a rotates and reaches about 170 °, the engagement between the engaging portion 34a7 of the toner removing film 34a and the engaged portion 33a2 of the stirring member 33a is released, and the toner removing film 34a is moved to the outer cartridge 31. It moves upward by the elastic reaction force of the elastic deformation portion 34a3 extending from the bonding portion 34a4 bonded to the top surface and returns to the original position. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the portion D in FIG. 7 at this time.

  The toner that has entered or adhered / aggregated into the gap between the inner wall of the outer cartridge 31 and the elastically deforming portion 34a3, the bent portion 34a21, and the sliding portion 34a1 (swinging portion 50a) of the toner removal film 34a is removed from the toner removal film 34a. It is broken by the reaction force of the elastic deformation portion 34a3 and falls into the toner storage chamber 31c from the hole 34a5 provided in the sliding portion 34a1 of the toner removal film 34a. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the portion E in FIG. As the toner removal film 34a moves up and down along the separation wall 31a of the outer cartridge 31, the toner adhering to and aggregating on the side wall in the outer cartridge 31 is moved to the sliding portion 34a1 of the toner removal film 34a at a predetermined interval. The surface opposite to the moving direction of the uniformly provided mesh holes 34a5 becomes an edge and is scraped off. That is, when the toner removal film 34a moves downward, the toner 34 adhered to and agglomerated the upper edge 34a5 of the hole 34a5 provided in the toner removal film 34a is scraped off, and the toner removal film 34a moves upward. In this case, the toner to which the edge 34a5b below the hole 34a5 provided in the toner removal film 34a is adhered and aggregated is scraped off.

  In this description, when the toner removal film 34a and the stirring member 33a are disposed, the distance from the center of the engaged portion 33a2 of the stirring member 33a is 5.5 mm, and the relationship between the toner removal film 34a and the toner removal film 34a. The example of the rotational operation angle of the stirring member 33a when the length of the joining portion 34a7 is 4 mm and the sliding portion 34a1 of the toner removal film 34a moves about 5 mm has been described. Although the operation rotation angle of the stirring member 33a is changed depending on the distance from the center of the engaging portion 33a2 and the length of the engaging portion 34a7 of the toner removing film 34a, the moving distance of the sliding portion 34a1 of the toner removing film 34a is as follows. It is preferably 5 mm or more.

  By the way, as shown in the example of another form shown in FIG. 5, the sliding portion 34b1 arranged along the separation wall 31a of the outer cartridge 31 is cut to fill the gap. In the case where the claws 34b5 as the projections bent in the direction are formed at a predetermined interval, the stirring member 33b rotates in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 11 (counterclockwise direction in this figure) When the engaged portion 33b2 whose width is cut and narrowed engages with the engaging portion 34b7 of the toner removing film 34b, the toner removing film 34b is lowered downward until the engagement is completed, and the engagement is released. The toner removal film 34b moves upward and returns to the original position. At this time, the tip of the claw 34b5 provided on the toner removal film 34b becomes an edge and comes into contact with the separation wall 31a of the outer cartridge 31 to scrape off the toner.

  As described above, in the method of moving the sliding portion of the toner removal film up and down along the separation wall of the outer cartridge in the present embodiment, the separation wall of the outer cartridge can be struck by the reaction force obtained by warping the swing member. Therefore, the toner in the gap is not pressed against the inner wall. Here, the outer cartridge, which is a developer container as a toner cartridge, has been described as having a toner storage chamber and a waste toner storage chamber. The invention is applicable.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the toner cartridge inner wall can be used even when the toner cartridge is left in a transported or unused state even when the swinging member is not provided. Therefore, the toner can be fully utilized because the toner can be prevented from being compressed and pressed and the adhesion and aggregation of the toner can be suppressed.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge 30a ′ in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, since the configuration other than the toner cartridge 30a ′ is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted and different portions will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 12, only a toner storage chamber 40c for supplying unused toner to the developing unit 110a is provided in the toner cartridge 30a ′. Waste toner discharged from the developing unit 110a is stored in a waste toner storage chamber (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus from the waste toner collection path.

  The toner storage chamber 40c of the toner cartridge 30 ′ is provided with a toner removal film 43 as a swing member in the present embodiment. The toner removal film 43 in this embodiment is made of PET resin. The toner removal film 43 has a shaft fulcrum portion 43a5 that enables a seesaw motion with a shaft 44 inserted through the ceiling 44 as a fulcrum on the upper side of the toner storage chamber 40c. This is a rocking member formed by extending one end of the letter shape. Similarly to the toner removal film 34a in the first embodiment, the toner removal film 43 in this embodiment is deformed by engaging with the stirring member 42 that is a rotating member, and when this engagement is released, the original toner removal film 43a is deformed. It is a rocking member that rocks when a restoring force is applied to return to its shape.

  FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the toner cartridge 30a ′ shown in FIG. The toner cartridge 30a ′ in the present embodiment includes an outer cartridge 40 that is a developer container, an inner cartridge 41 that is a shutter member, a side cover plate 45, and a cap 46.

  The outer cartridge 40 is provided with an insertion port 40a for inserting the inner cartridge 41 integrated with the operation lever 41a. In addition, a shaft 44 is inserted above the toner storage chamber 40c of the outer cartridge 40 with a clearance from the ceiling, and a toner removal film 43 as a swinging member formed so as to have the shaft 44 as a fulcrum is disposed. ing. The configuration of the toner removal film 43 will be described later.

  The side cover plate 45 is provided with a toner filling hole 45a. The toner filling hole 45a is sealed by a cap 46 so that the filled toner does not spill after the toner is filled into the toner storage chamber 40c.

  The operation lever 41a of the inner cartridge 41 is provided with a gear (not shown) for rotationally driving at the same position as the central axis of the inner cartridge 41. The gear center is a bearing, and the inner cartridge 41 has a rotatable rotation. A stirring member 42 as a member is disposed. The stirring member 42 has a plate shape made of resin (PS or ABS). The stirring member 42 may be a crank member made of metal such as SUS.

  The agitating member 42 is formed to have a width that allows the inside of the inner cartridge 41 to be agitated, and a portion that engages with an engaging portion 43a7 of a toner removal film 43, which will be described later, is scraped so as to be engageable. The engaging portion 42a2 (42a21, 42a22, 42a23, 42a24, 42a25) is formed. The stirring portion 42a1 (42a11, 42a12, 42a13, 42a14, 42a15) is formed in a comb shape so that the load is reduced when it rotates.

  FIG. 14A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the toner removal film in this embodiment, and FIG. 14B is a perspective view of the toner removal film and the stirring member. The toner removal film 43 includes an engaging portion 43a7, sliding portions 43a11 and 43a12 which are swinging portions 70a, a bent portion 43a20 which is a first bent portion, bent portions 43a21, 43a22 and 43a23 which are second bent portions, and elastic deformation. It includes parts 43a31 and 43a32, a connecting part 43a4, a shaft fulcrum part 43a5, and a claw 43a6 as a protruding part. The toner removing film 43 in the present embodiment is engaged with the stirring member 42 at the engaging portion 43a7, whereby the sliding portions 43a11 and 43a12, the bent portion 43a20, the bent portions 43a21, 43a22 and 43a23, and the elastically deforming portions 43a31 and 43a32. The swinging portion 70a composed of the connecting portion 43a4, the shaft fulcrum portion 43a5, and the claw 43a6 is deformed (deformed portion), and when this engagement is released, a restoring force is exerted to return the deformed portion to the original shape. It is comprised as a rocking | swiveling member rock | fluctuated by. The engaging portion 43a7 extending from the bent portion 43a20 via the connecting portion 43a4 is configured to avoid the frames 41c, 41d, 41e, and 41f shown in FIG. 13 that are formed to maintain the rigidity of the inner cartridge 32. Has been.

  Each of the sliding portions 43a11 and 43a12 is disposed along the inner wall of the outer cartridge 40, and has mesh-shaped holes 43b1 and 43e1 provided evenly at a predetermined interval. In the elastic deformation portion 43a31, mesh-shaped holes 43c1 for scraping off the toner that has entered between the top surface of the outer cartridge 40 and the toner removal film 43 are equally provided at predetermined intervals. In addition, mesh-shaped holes 43d1 for scraping off the toner that has entered between the top surface of the outer cartridge 40 and the toner removal film 43 are also provided at predetermined intervals in the elastic deformation portion 43a32. The claw 43a6 having a spring action is disposed so as to contact the top surface of the outer cartridge 40. The shaft fulcrum portion 43a5 may be a method in which the oscillating portion 70b can oscillate like a seesaw, and the shaft fulcrum portion 43a5 may be fixed by providing a space between the shaft fulcrum 43a5 and the ceiling.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which all of the sliding portion, the bent portion, the elastic deformation portion, the connection portion, the shaft fulcrum portion, and the swinging portion including the claw correspond to the deformation portion has been described. Instead, each part, a part of each part, or a combination of each part may correspond to the deformed part.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus including the developing unit 110 having the toner cartridge 43 having the above configuration will be described. Note that the image forming process is the same as that described in the first embodiment with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

  The stirring member 42 in the toner cartridge 30a ′ starts to rotate in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 15 (counterclockwise direction in this figure). As illustrated in FIG. 15A, when the stirring member 42 rotates between the 0 ° position and the 90 ° position, the engaged portion 42a2 of the stirring member 42 shown in FIG. Engagement with the engaging portion 43a7 of the film 43 is started. When the rotation further proceeds, the engaging portion 43a7 of the toner removing film 43 and the engaged portion 42a2 of the stirring member 42 move downward together with the belt, so that the engaging portion 43a7 of the toner removing film 43 is shown in FIG. a) In the middle arrow g4 direction, the sliding portion 43a11 is downward as indicated by the arrow g1, the sliding portion 43a12 is upward as indicated by the arrow g2, and the claw 43a6 provided in the elastic deformation portion 43a32 is indicated in the arrow g3 direction. Move counterclockwise. At this time, the sliding portion 43 a 11 and the sliding portion 43 a 12 of the toner removal film 43 move along the side wall of the toner storage chamber 40 c of the outer cartridge 40.

  Further, as shown in the operation explanatory diagram of FIG. 15B, when the stirring member 42 rotates and reaches about 110 °, the engaged portion 42a2 of the stirring member 42 and the engaging portion 43a7 of the toner removing film 43 The engagement is released, and the claw 43a6 provided in the elastic deformation portion 43a32 becomes a spring, and due to the elastic reaction force of the claw 43a6 provided in the elastic deformation portion 43a32 pushed in the top surface direction of the outer cartridge 40, FIG. b) By moving clockwise as indicated by the middle arrow h3, the engaging portion 43a7 of the toner removal film 43 is directed in the direction of the arrow h4, and the sliding portion 43a11 is directed upward as indicated by the arrow h1, and the sliding portion 43a12. Moves downward as indicated by the arrow h2 and returns to the original position.

  As the toner removal film 43 moves up and down along the side wall of the outer cartridge 40, the toner adhering to and aggregating on the side wall in the outer cartridge 40 passes through the mesh-shaped holes 43 b 1 and 43 e 1 provided in the toner removal film 43. The surface opposite to the moving direction becomes an edge and is scraped off.

  In the description here, when the toner removing film 43 and the stirring member 42 are disposed, the distance from the center of the engaged portion 42a2 of the stirring member 42 is 15 mm, and the engaging portion of the toner removing film 43 is provided. The example of the rotational operation angle of the stirring member 42 when the length of 43a7 is 4 mm and the sliding portions 43a11 and 43a12 of the toner removal film 43 are moved by about 5 mm has been described. Although the operation rotation angle of the stirring member 42 is changed depending on the distance from the center of the engaging portion 42a2 and the length of the engaging portion 43a7 of the toner removing film 43, the sliding portions 43a11 and 43a12 of the toner removing film 43 are moved. The distance is preferably 5 mm or more.

  As described above, in the method of moving the sliding portion of the toner removal film up and down along the separation wall of the outer cartridge in the present embodiment, the separation wall of the outer cartridge can be struck by the reaction force obtained by warping the swing member. Therefore, the toner in the gap is not pressed against the inner wall.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, even when the leaving posture when the toner cartridge is transported or not used is not constant, as compared with the case where only the swing member is provided as in the prior art. The toner is no longer compressed and pressed against the inner wall of the toner cartridge, and adhesion and aggregation of the toner can be suppressed, so that the toner can be fully utilized. Furthermore, compared to the case where one sliding portion is provided on one side surface in the outer cartridge as shown in the first embodiment, in this embodiment, two sliding surfaces are formed on both side surfaces in the outer cartridge. By providing the moving part, it is possible to further improve the amount of toner scraped off, and to fully utilize the toner.

  The present invention can be applied to a copying machine, a FAX, an MFP, or the like other than a printer as an image forming apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Photoconductor 12 Developing roller 13 Supply roller 15 Developing blade 16, 17 Support member 18 Cleaning device 19 Charging device 20 Base frame member 21 Cover frame member 21a Toner replenishing port 22 Toner storage chamber 23 Waste toner conveying member 24 Brackets 30a, 30a ′ , 30b, 30c, 30d Toner cartridge 31, 40 Outer cartridge 31a Separation wall 31b Insertion port 31c, 40c Toner storage chamber 31d Waste toner storage chamber 32e Restriction portion 31f Toner supply port 32, 41 Inner cartridge 32a, 45a Toner filling hole 32b Shutter Portion 32c Opening 32d, 32e, 32f Frame 33a, 33b, 42 Stirring member 33a11, 33a12, 33a13, 33a14, 33a15, 33b11, 33b12, 33b13, 33b1 , 33b15, 42a11, 42a12, 42a13, 42a14, 42a15 Stirrer 33a21, 33a22, 33a23, 33a24, 33b21, 33b22, 33b23, 33b24, 42a1, 42a2, 42a3, 42a4, 42a5 Engaged part 34a, 34b, 43 Toner removal Film 34a1, 34b1, 43a11, 43a12 Sliding part 34a20, 34a21, 34b20, 34b21, 43a20, 43a21, 43a22, 43a23 Bent part 34a3, 34b3, 43a31, 43a32 Elastic deformation part 34a4 Adhesive part 34a5, 34a6, 34b6, 43b1, 43c1 , 43d1, 43e1 Hole 34b5, 43a6 Claw 34a7, 34b7, 43a7 Engagement part 35, 41a Operation lever 36, 46 Cap 37 See Sponges 38, 45 Side cover plate 39 Gear 40a Insert port 43a4 Connection portion 43a5 Shaft fulcrum portion 44 Shaft 50a, 60a, 70a Swing portion 50b, 60b Fixed end 100 Image forming apparatus 101 Paper feed tray 102 Transport roller 103 Transfer device 1031a, 1031b, 1031c, 1031d Transfer roller 1032 Transfer belt 1033 Drive roller 1034 Tension roller 104 Fixing device 104a Heat roller 104b Backup roller 105 Stacker 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d Developing unit 111a, 111b, 111c, 111d Exposure device

Claims (7)

A housing for containing the developer;
A discharge port for discharging the developer;
A rotating member that rotates inside the housing;
A developer container, comprising: an engaging portion that engages with the rotating member; and an oscillating member that oscillates with the engagement.   The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the swinging portion includes a deforming portion that deforms in accordance with the engagement.   The developer container according to claim 1, wherein holes are formed at predetermined intervals in the swing member.   The developer container according to claim 1, wherein protrusions are formed on the swing member at a predetermined interval. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the rocking member is formed of a film material. A developer container according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A developing unit comprising: a developing unit that develops a developer image by the developer discharged from the discharge port. A developing unit according to claim 6;
A transfer device for transferring the developed developer image to a recording medium;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a fixing device that fixes the developer image transferred to the recording medium.