JP2014186147A - Conveyance device, developing device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the deterioration of slidability between a rotation shaft of a conveyance member conveying powder and a restriction member restricting the inflow of the powder into a bearing supporting the rotation shaft.SOLUTION: A conveyance device includes a housing in which a storage chamber storing the powder is provided, the conveyance member provided in the storage chamber and conveying the powder in a rotation axis direction by the rotation, the bearing provided in the housing and supporting the axial end of the rotation shaft of the conveyance member, the restriction member provided on the axial central side of the rotation shaft with respect to the bearing, to be slidable on the rotation shaft and restricting the inflow of the powder into the side of the bearing, and a wall part provided on the axial central side of the rotation shaft with respect to the restriction member and reducing the cross-sectional area of the storage chamber gradually or stepwise toward the side of the restriction member.

Description

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

  Patent Document 1 includes a developer storage container that stores a developer containing toner, a rotating member that stirs and conveys the developer, and a bearing member that holds the rotating member in the developer storage portion. A developing device is disclosed, wherein the bearing member has a protrusion at a portion for holding the rotating member.

JP 2006-251286 A

  It is an object of the present invention to suppress deterioration in slidability between a rotating shaft of a conveying member that conveys powder and a restricting member that restricts inflow of powder into a bearing that supports the rotating shaft. .

  The invention of claim 1 includes a housing in which a storage chamber for storing powder is provided, a transport member provided in the storage chamber for transporting the powder in the direction of the rotation axis by rotation, and the housing. A bearing that is provided on the body and supports an axial end of the rotating shaft of the conveying member; and is provided on the axially central side of the rotating shaft with respect to the bearing so as to be slidable with the rotating shaft, A restricting member that restricts inflow to the bearing side and an axially central side of the rotating shaft with respect to the restricting member, and gradually or stepwise reduces the cross-sectional area of the housing chamber toward the restricting member side. And a wall portion.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the wall portion covers a part of the restricting member on the axially central side of the restricting member.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the transfer device according to claim 2, wherein the restriction member and the bearing are attached to the housing from the outside in the axial direction.

  Invention of Claim 4 is provided in the axial direction center side of the said rotating shaft with respect to the said wall part, and is provided with the overhang | projection member which protrudes in the radial direction inner side from the said housing | casing. It is a transfer device.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention is the developing device as the conveying device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the latent image is developed with the developer as the powder.

  A sixth aspect of the invention is an image forming apparatus comprising: a holding body that holds a latent image; and the developing device according to the fifth aspect that develops the latent image with the developer.

  According to the structure of Claim 1 of this invention, the deterioration of the slidability with a rotating shaft and a limitation member can be suppressed compared with the case where it does not have a wall part in this structure.

  According to the structure of Claim 2 of this invention, the deterioration of the slidability with a rotating shaft and a limiting member can be suppressed compared with the case where a wall part does not cover a limiting member.

  According to the structure of Claim 3 of this invention, compared with the case where a restriction member and a bearing are attached from a different direction, the attachment operation | work of a restriction member and a bearing becomes easy.

  According to the structure of Claim 4 of this invention, the deterioration of the slidability with a rotating shaft and a limitation member can be suppressed compared with the case where it does not have an overhang member in this structure.

  According to the structure of Claim 5 of this invention, compared with the case where it does not have a wall part in this structure, the image development defect resulting from the deterioration of the slidability of a rotating shaft and a limiting member can be suppressed.

  According to the configuration of the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the image defect due to the development failure as compared with the case where the developing device in this configuration is not provided.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a developing device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view illustrating a configuration of a developing device according to the present embodiment. It is the enlarged view to which the axial direction one end side of the conveyance member in the structure shown in FIG. 3 was expanded. It is a figure which shows the 1st modification which deform | transformed the structure shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the 2nd modification which deform | transformed the structure shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example which applied the structure which concerns on a 1st modification to the structure which concerns on a 2nd modification. It is a figure which shows the 3rd modification which deform | transformed the structure shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example which applied the structure which concerns on the other modification to the structure which concerns on a 3rd modification.

  Below, an example of an embodiment concerning the present invention is described based on a drawing.

(Configuration of image forming apparatus 10)
First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an apparatus main body 11 (housing) in which each component is housed. Inside the apparatus main body 11, a plurality of storage units 12 that store recording media P such as paper, an image forming unit 14 that forms an image on the recording medium P, and an image forming unit 14 are formed on the recording medium P. A fixing device 56 that fixes the image to the recording medium P, a transport unit 16 that transports the recording medium P from the storage unit 12 to the image forming unit 14, and a control unit 20 that controls the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 10. , Is provided. Further, a discharge unit 18 for discharging the recording medium P on which the image is fixed by the fixing device 56 is provided at the upper part of the apparatus main body 11.

  The image forming unit 14 includes a photosensitive drum 32 (an example of a holding body) that holds an image (latent image). The photosensitive drum 32 rotates in one direction (for example, counterclockwise in FIG. 1). Around the photosensitive drum 32, a charging roll 23 as a charging device for charging the photosensitive drum 32 and the photosensitive drum 32 charged by the charging roll 23 are exposed in order from the upstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 32. An exposure device 36 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 32, and a developing device 80 (conveyance) that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 32 by the exposure device 36 to form a black toner image. An example of the apparatus) and a transfer roll 26 as a transfer body that transfers the black toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 32 by the developing device 80 to the recording medium P are provided. The specific configuration of the developing device 80 will be described later.

  The exposure device 36 is configured to form an electrostatic latent image based on the image signal sent from the control unit 20. Examples of the image signal sent from the control unit 20 include an image signal acquired by the control unit 20 from an external device.

  The transfer roll 26 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 32. A nip region T that sandwiches the recording medium P is formed between the transfer roll 26 and the photosensitive drum 32. The transfer roll 26 transports the recording medium P between the photosensitive drum 32 and the upper side in the nip region T, and transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 32 to the recording medium P in the nip region T. It is like that. That is, the nip region T is a transfer position (transfer portion) at which the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 32 is transferred to the recording medium P.

  The transport unit 16 is provided along the transport path 48, a transport roll 48 that transports the recording medium P that is sent out by the transport roll 46, and a transport path 48 that transports the recording medium P stored in each storage section 12. And a plurality of conveyance roll pairs 50 that convey the recording medium P delivered by each delivery roll 46 to the nip region T.

  The fixing device 56 includes a heating roll 56A as a heating member and a pressure roll 56B as a pressure member. In the fixing device 56, the toner image transferred to the recording medium P by the transfer roll 26 is fixed to the recording medium P by heating by the heating roll 56A and pressing by the pressure roll 56B. A discharge roll 52 that discharges the recording medium P on which the toner image is fixed to the discharge unit 18 is provided above the fixing device 56 (downstream in the transport direction).

  Further, the reverse conveyance path 37 for reversing the recording medium P having the toner image fixed on one side and feeding it back to the nip region T is opposite to the photosensitive drum 32 with respect to the transfer roll 26 (right side in FIG. 1). ). When images are formed on both sides of the recording medium P, the recording medium P with the toner image fixed on one side is switched back by the discharge roll 52 and guided to the reverse conveyance path 37 and sent back to the nip region T. It is like that.

  Next, an image forming operation for forming an image on the recording medium P in the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus 10, the recording medium P sent out from any one of the storage units 12 by the sending roll 46 is sent to the nip region T by the plurality of conveying roll pairs 50.

  On the other hand, in the image forming unit 14, the photosensitive drum 32 is charged by the charging roll 23, and then exposed by the exposure device 36, so that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 32. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 80, and a black toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 32. This black toner image is transferred to the recording medium P in the nip region T by the transfer roll 26.

  The recording medium P onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 56 and the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 56. When an image is formed only on one side of the recording medium P, the recording medium P is discharged to the discharge unit 18 by the discharge roll 52 after the toner image is fixed.

  When images are formed on both sides of the recording medium P, after the image is fixed on one side, the recording medium P is switched back by the discharge roll 52, reversed, and sent to the reverse conveyance path 37. Further, the recording medium is again fed into the nip region T from the reverse conveyance path 37, and an image is formed on the opposite surface where no image is recorded in the same manner as described above, and is discharged to the discharge unit 18 by the discharge roll 52. . As described above, a series of image forming operations are performed.

(Configuration of developing device 80)
Next, the configuration of the developing device 80 (an example of a transport device) will be described. 2 and 3 are schematic views showing the configuration of the developing device 80. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 80 has a housing 82 that accommodates each component member. In the casing 82, a developing chamber 84 (an example of a storage chamber) in which a developer (an example of powder) made of toner and a magnetic carrier is stored is formed.

  The housing 82 is formed with an opening 86 that opens toward the photosensitive drum 32 side. A developing roll 90 as a developer supply member for supplying the developer to the photosensitive drum 32 is provided in the housing 82 so that a part of the opening 86 is exposed.

  The developing roll 90 holds the magnetic carrier contained in the developer with a magnetic force, forms a magnetic brush of the developer on the surface, and conveys the developer to a position facing the photosensitive drum 32. ing. The developer conveyed to the opposite position is regulated by the layer regulating member 83 in terms of the thickness of the developer layer (developer amount). The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 32 is visualized as a toner image by the developer (toner) on the developing roll 90.

  Further, the developing device 80 includes a suction mechanism 100 that sucks a toner cloud (toner scattered outside the developing device 80) generated with the rotation of the developing roller 90. In the suction mechanism 100, when the suction fan 102 is driven, the toner cloud is sucked through the suction passage 104 that opens to the photosensitive drum 32 side below the developing roll 90, and the toner is removed by the filter 106 in the suction passage 104. By removing the air, only the air is discharged out of the developing device 80.

  As shown in FIG. 3, on the developing roll 90 side (Y direction side) in the developing chamber 84, there is a conveying path 88 for conveying the developer while stirring in the axial direction (X direction) of the developing roll 90. Are formed along. A conveyance member 92 that conveys the developer from one end side (X direction end side) to the other end side (−X direction end side) of the conveyance path 88 is disposed in the conveyance path 88. The transport member 92 includes a rotation shaft 92A, a spiral member 92B spirally provided around the rotation shaft 92A, and a spiral around an axis on one end side (−X direction end side) of the rotation shaft 92A. The spiral member 92B is provided with a spiral member 92C that is provided in a reverse spiral manner.

  Both end portions in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 92A are supported by ball bearings 75 and 93 (an example of bearings) so as to be rotatable with respect to the side walls 82A and 82B of the housing 82, respectively. The ball bearing 75 is attached to a mounting member 76 mounted on the side wall 82 </ b> A of the housing 82. A gear portion 91 is provided at the other axial end portion (X direction end portion) of the rotation shaft 92A. A driving force of a driving unit (not shown) is transmitted to the rotating shaft 92A via the gear portion 91, so that the rotating shaft 92A rotates. The mounting member 76 constitutes a part of the side wall 82A of the housing 82.

  The spiral member 92B pushes the developer on the conveying surface 92D facing the one side in the axial direction (−X direction side) of the rotating shaft 92A by the rotation of the rotating shaft 92A, while pushing the developer in one axial direction (− (X direction). Thereby, the toner in the developer and the magnetic carrier are conveyed in one axial direction (−X direction) while being agitated.

  On the other hand, the spiral member 92C pushes the developer on the transport surface 92F facing the other side (X direction side) of the rotation shaft 92A by rotating the rotation shaft 92A, while pushing the developer on the other side (X Direction). As a result, the developer is prevented from clogging (accumulating) at the other axial end portion (−X direction end portion) in the conveyance path 88 and the developer is discharged from the conveyance path 88 to the discharge port 98 described later. Inflow is promoted.

  On the opposite side (-Y direction side) to the developing roller 90 side with respect to the conveyance path 88, the developer conveyed on the conveyance path 88 is in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction (-X direction side) of the conveyance path 88 (X direction). A return path 94 (conveyance path) for returning to the side) is provided. The return path 94 communicates with the transport path 88 at both ends in the axial direction (upstream end and downstream end in the transport direction), and the return path 94 and the transport path 88 constitute a developer circulation path. The return path 94 and the transport path 88 are partitioned by a partition wall 79 at an axially intermediate portion thereof.

  In the return path 94, a transport member 96 that transports toner from one end side (−X direction end side) to the other end side (X direction end side) of the return path 94 is disposed. The conveying member 96 has a rotating shaft 96A, a helical member 96B spirally provided around the rotating shaft 96A, and a helical shape around an axis on one end side in the axial direction (X direction end side) of the rotating shaft 96A. The member 96B is provided with a spiral member 96C provided in a spiral shape reversely wound.

  Both end portions in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 96A are supported by ball bearings 73 and 95 (an example of bearings) so as to be rotatable with respect to the side walls 82A and 82B of the housing 82, respectively. The ball bearing 73 is attached to a mounting member 74 mounted on the side wall 82 </ b> A of the housing 82. A gear portion 97 that meshes with the gear portion 91 is provided at the other axial end portion (X direction end portion) of the rotation shaft 96A. The driving force from the gear portion 91 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 96A via the gear portion 97, so that the rotating shaft 96A rotates. The mounting member 74 constitutes a part of the side wall 82A of the housing 82.

  The spiral member 96B transports the developer in one axial direction (X direction) while pushing the developer on the transport surface 96D facing the one side in the axial direction (X direction side) by the rotation of the rotating shaft 96A. It is like that. As a result, the toner in the developer and the magnetic carrier are conveyed in one axial direction (X direction) while being stirred.

  On the other hand, the helical member 96C pushes the developer with the transport surface 96F facing the other side (−X direction side) in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 96A by the rotation of the rotating shaft 96A, while pushing the developer in the other axial direction ( -X direction). As a result, the developer is prevented from clogging (accumulating) at the other axial end (X-direction end) in the return path 94, and the inflow of the developer from the return path 94 to the transport path 88 is promoted. It has become so.

  A discharge port 98 for discharging the developer from the conveyance path 88 is provided on the other end side (−X direction end side) of the conveyance path 88. Further, a supply port 99 for supplying toner to the return path 94 is provided on one end side (−X direction end side) of the return path 94.

  Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, the axial direction center side (−X direction side) of the rotation shaft 96A with respect to the ball bearing 73 in the mounting member 74 is along the rotation shaft 96A. A seal member 77 (an oil seal (an example of a limit member)) that restricts the flow of developer to the ball bearing 73 side is provided. The seal member 77 is formed of a nonmagnetic resin into an annular shape (ring shape) having a through hole 77A at the center of the shaft (see FIG. 4B). The rotation shaft 96A of the conveying member 96 is inserted into the through hole 77A of the seal member 77, and the seal member 77 is slidably provided on the rotation shaft 96A.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the seal member 77 is specifically attached to the attachment space S <b> 1 formed in the mounting member 74. The mounting space S1 of the mounting member 74 has an opening for inserting the seal member 77 into the mounting space S1 on the −X direction side. The seal member 77 is located with respect to the mounting space S1 of the mounting member 74. It is attached in the direction of arrow B.

  On the other hand, the ball bearing 73 is mounted in the mounting space S <b> 2 of the mounting member 74. The mounting space S2 has an opening for inserting the ball bearing 73 into the mounting space S2 on the X direction side. The ball bearing 73 extends in the direction of arrow A with respect to the mounting space S2 of the mounting member 74. It is attached. That is, the mounting direction of the seal member 77 with respect to the mounting member 74 is opposite to the mounting direction of the ball bearing 73 with respect to the mounting member 74.

  The transport member 96 including the rotation shaft 96A is formed of resin. In order to suppress wear due to sliding with the seal member 77, one end of the rotation shaft 96A in the axial direction is provided with FIG. ), A metal cylindrical member 96E is mounted.

  A cross-sectional area (passage) of the return path 94 is gradually formed on the axially central side (−X direction side) of the rotation shaft 96A with respect to the seal member 77 in the mounting member 74 toward the seal member 77 side (X direction side). A wall portion 78 for reducing the width is provided. The wall portion 78 is formed in a staircase shape when viewed in plan (FIG. 4A).

  Note that, similarly to the mounting member 74, the mounting member 76 is provided with a seal member 77 and a wall portion 78.

(Operation according to the embodiment)
Next, the operation according to the embodiment will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the toner replenished to one end side (−X direction end side) of the return path 94 through the replenishment port 99 and the developer flowing into the one end side of the return path 94 from the conveyance path 88 are rotated by the rotating shaft 96A. Is rotated and conveyed in one axial direction (X direction) by the spiral member 96B.

  A part of the developer conveyed to the other end side of the return path 94 is returned to the other axial direction (−X direction) by the spiral member 96C as the rotation shaft 96A rotates, and the shaft is rotated by the spiral member 96B. The developer collides with the developer conveyed in one of the directions (X direction), and the developer flows into the conveyance path 88.

  Then, a part of the developer that has reached the spiral member 96C passes through (turns around) the spiral member 96C toward the mounting member 74 (X direction side). The seal member 77 restricts the developer that has traveled toward the mounting member 74 from flowing into the ball bearing 73.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the wall portion 78 that gradually decreases the cross-sectional area (passage width) of the return path 94 toward the seal member 77 side (X direction side) is a rotation of the mounting member 74 relative to the seal member 77. Since the shaft 96A is provided on the center side in the axial direction, the amount of developer toward (inflows) the seal member 77 is reduced as compared with the configuration without the wall portion 78. For this reason, the inflow of toner between the seal member 77 and the rotary shaft 96A is suppressed, and the deterioration of the slidability between the seal member 77 and the rotary shaft 96A is suppressed. In addition, since the amount of the developer that flows (inflows) toward the seal member 77 is reduced, the load that the seal member 77 receives from the developer is also reduced.

  As a result, poor development due to deterioration in slidability between the seal member 77 and the rotating shaft 96A and image defects due to the poor development are suppressed.

(First modification)
In the above embodiment, the mounting direction of the seal member 77 with respect to the mounting member 74 is opposite to the mounting direction of the ball bearing 73 with respect to the mounting member 74, but it may be the same direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), in the mounting member 174 according to the first modification, the mounting space S1 of the seal member 77 has the seal member 77 in the mounting space S1 on the X direction side. An opening for insertion is provided, and the seal member 77 is attached to the attachment space S1 of the mounting member 174 in the arrow A direction.

  Similarly, the mounting space S2 to which the ball bearing 73 is mounted has an opening for inserting the ball bearing 73 into the mounting space S2 on the X direction side. The ball bearing 73 is mounted on the mounting member 174. It is attached in the direction of arrow A with respect to S2. That is, both the seal member 77 and the ball bearing 73 are attached to the mounting member 174 from the outside in the axial direction (X direction side) of the rotation shaft 96A.

  Further, in the mounting member 174, as shown in FIG. 5A, a part 78A (an overhang part) of the wall part 78 covers a part of the seal member 77 on the axial center side of the seal member 77. Yes. Specifically, a part 78 </ b> A of the wall portion 78 protrudes from the outer edge of the entire circumference of the seal member 77 toward the center of the shaft when viewed in the axial direction (viewed in the X direction). It covers the part. Thereby, it is set as the structure which the step-shaped part increased one step at the rotating shaft 96A side of the wall part 78. As shown in FIG.

  In the configuration of the first modification, the seal member 77 and the ball bearing 73 are attached to the mounting member 74 from the same direction, so that the seal member is different from the case where the seal member 77 and the ball bearing 73 are attached from different directions. 77 and the ball bearing 73 can be easily attached.

  Further, in the configuration of the first modified example, the part 78A of the wall part 78 covers a part of the seal member 77 on the center side in the axial direction of the seal member 77, so that the wall part 78 does not cover the seal member 77. , The amount of developer toward (inflowing) the seal member 77 is reduced. For this reason, the inflow of toner between the seal member 77 and the rotary shaft 96A is suppressed, and the deterioration of the slidability between the seal member 77 and the rotary shaft 96A is suppressed.

(Second modification)
In the mounting member 74 in the above embodiment, the wall portion 78 is configured to gradually reduce the cross-sectional area (passage width) of the return path 94 toward the seal member 77 side (X direction side). The cross-sectional area (passage width) of the return path 94 may be gradually reduced toward the member 77 side (X direction side).

  In the mounting member 274 according to the second modified example, as shown in FIG. 6, there is a wall portion 278 that gradually reduces the cross-sectional area (passage width) of the return path 94 toward the seal member 77 side (X direction side). Is provided. The wall portion 278 is configured by an inclined surface that inclines toward the rotating shaft 96A as it goes in the X direction in a plan sectional view (FIG. 6). A portion of the return path 94 surrounded by the wall portion 278 (inclined surface) has a truncated cone shape.

  In the second modified example, the wall 278 that gradually reduces the cross-sectional area (passage width) of the return path 94 toward the seal member 77 side (X direction side) is provided in the mounting member 274. The amount of developer going to (inflowing) 77 is reduced. For this reason, the inflow of toner between the seal member 77 and the rotary shaft 96A is suppressed, and the deterioration of the slidability between the seal member 77 and the rotary shaft 96A is suppressed.

  Note that the configuration of the first modification may be applied to the configuration of the second modification as follows.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 7B, the mounting space S1 of the seal member 77 has an opening for inserting the seal member 77 into the mounting space S1 on the X direction side. Is mounted in the direction of arrow A with respect to the mounting space S1 of the mounting member 274.

  Similarly, the mounting space S2 to which the ball bearing 73 is mounted has an opening for inserting the ball bearing 73 into the mounting space S2 on the X direction side. The ball bearing 73 is mounted on the mounting member 274. It is attached in the direction of arrow A with respect to S2.

  Further, a part 278A (projected portion) of the wall portion 278 projects from the outer edge of the entire circumference of the seal member 77 toward the center of the shaft in the axial direction view (X direction view). Covers the outer periphery.

(Third Modification)
As shown in FIG. 8A, in addition to the configuration of the present embodiment, a tension projecting radially inward from a side wall 82A (wall portion) on the radially outer side of the rotation shaft 96A in the housing 82. The protruding member 360 may be provided on the axially central side (−X direction side) of the rotation shaft 96 </ b> A with respect to the wall portion 78.

  The overhang member 360 includes a cylindrical portion 362 formed in a cylindrical shape, and a disk 363 having a through hole 364 formed along the axial direction. The rotation shaft 96A is inserted through the through hole 364. The through hole 364 is larger than the rotation shaft 96A, and a gap is formed between the inner edge of the through hole 364 and the rotation shaft 96A.

  In the configuration of the third modification, an overhanging member 360 that projects from the side wall 82 </ b> A to the inside in the radial direction of the rotation shaft 96 </ b> A is provided on the axially central side (−X direction side) of the rotation shaft 96 </ b> A with respect to the wall portion 78. Therefore, the amount of developer toward (inflows) the seal member 77 is reduced as compared with the case where the overhang member 360 is not provided. For this reason, the inflow of toner between the seal member 77 and the rotary shaft 96A is suppressed, and the deterioration of the slidability between the seal member 77 and the rotary shaft 96A is suppressed.

  In addition, you may apply the structure of a 1st modification as follows with respect to the structure of a 3rd modification. That is, as shown in FIG. 8B, both the seal member 77 and the ball bearing 73 are attached to the mounting member 174 from the outside in the axial direction (X direction side) of the rotating shaft 96A. Yes. In addition, a part 78A of the wall portion 78 protrudes from the outer edge of the entire circumference of the seal member 77 toward the center of the shaft when viewed in the axial direction (viewed in the X direction), and covers the outer peripheral portion of the seal member 77. ing.

  Further, the configuration of the second modification may be applied to the configuration of the third modification as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 9A, a wall portion 278 is provided to gradually reduce the cross-sectional area (passage width) of the return path 94 toward the seal member 77 side (X direction side).

  In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 9B, each of the configurations obtained by combining the first modification and the second modification may be applied to the configuration of the third modification. Furthermore, the shape of the projecting member 360 can be various, and is not limited to the above configuration.

(Other variations)
In the above embodiment and each modification, the seal member 77, the wall portions 78 and 278, the overhang member 360, and the like are provided for the bearing portion of the transport member that transports the developer in the developing device 80. For example, the seal member 77, the wall portions 78 and 278, and the overhang member are supported with respect to the bearing portion of the transport member in the transport path for supplying the toner from the storage container that stores the toner to the developing device. 360 or the like may be provided.

  In the above embodiment, the ball bearings 73 and 75 are provided with the seal member 77, the walls 78 and 278, the overhang member 360, and the like, but the ball bearing 93 disposed on the −X direction side of the developing device 80. , 95 side, a seal member 77, wall portions 78, 278, an overhang member 360, and the like may be provided.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications, changes, and improvements can be made. For example, the modification examples described above may be appropriately combined.

10 Image forming apparatus 32 Photosensitive drum (an example of a holder)
73 Ball bearing (an example of a bearing)
74 Mounting member (example of housing)
75 Ball bearing (an example of a bearing)
76 Mounting member (example of housing)
77 Seal member (an example of a limiting member)
78 Wall 80 Developing device (an example of a transport device)
82 Case 84 Development chamber (an example of a storage chamber)
92 Conveying member 92A Rotating shaft 96 Conveying member 96A Rotating shaft 174 Mounting member (an example of a housing)
274 Mounting member (example of housing)
278 Wall 360 Overhang member

Claims (6)

A housing provided with a storage chamber for storing powder;
A conveying member that is provided in the storage chamber and conveys the powder in a rotation axis direction by rotation;
A bearing provided in the housing and supporting an axial end of the rotation shaft of the transport member;
A restricting member that is slidable with the rotating shaft on the axial center side of the rotating shaft with respect to the bearing, and restricts the inflow of the powder to the bearing side;
A wall portion that is provided on the axially central side of the rotation shaft with respect to the restriction member, and that gradually or stepwise reduces the cross-sectional area of the storage chamber toward the restriction member side;
A transport apparatus comprising:   The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the wall portion covers a part of the restriction member on the axially central side of the restriction member.   The transport device according to claim 2, wherein the restriction member and the bearing are attached to the housing from the outside in the axial direction.   The conveying apparatus of any one of Claims 1-3 provided with the overhang | projection member which is provided in the axial direction center side of the said rotating shaft with respect to the said wall part, and protrudes in the radial inside from the said housing | casing.   The developing device as a conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the latent image is developed with the developer as the powder. A holding body for holding a latent image;
The developing device according to claim 5, wherein the latent image is developed with the developer.
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images