JP2015064466A - Powder supply device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a powder supply device configured to prevent the vicinity of a supply port in the powder supply device from being stained with powder when a powder container is mounted/dismounted, and an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A movable member 83 with an opening 83a communicating with a supply port 81a of a reservoir unit 81 is arranged so as to move in a detachable direction. A range of opening of the supply port 81a of the reservoir unit 81 is formed to include a range of opening of the opening 83a which moves in the detachable direction. The movable member 83 moves in the detachable direction interlocking with the motion of a powder container 28 to be mounted on or dismounted from a powder supply device 80. A shutter member 280 opens/closes an outlet W. The outlet W is configured to communicate/not to communicate with the supply port 81a via the opening 83a.

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder replenishing device that replenishes powder such as toner contained in a powder container toward a replenishment body such as a developing device, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a complex machine thereof, a toner container (powder container) is detachably installed, and toner (powder) stored in the toner container is removed. 2. Description of the Related Art A toner replenishing device (powder replenishing device) that replenishes a developing device (supplied body) is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Specifically, in Patent Document 1, a toner container (powder container) is provided with a shutter member that opens and closes a toner discharge port (discharge port) in conjunction with an attaching / detaching operation with respect to a toner supply device. When the toner container is mounted on the toner supply device, the shutter member moves in a direction to open the toner discharge port in conjunction with the mounting operation, and the toner supply port (supply port) of the toner supply device is discharged. The exit will communicate. Thus, the toner discharged from the toner discharge port of the toner container is supplied to the inside of the toner supply device from the toner supply port, and is conveyed toward the developing device by the toner supply device and supplied.
When the toner container is detached from the toner replenishing device, the shutter member moves in a direction to close the toner discharge port in conjunction with the release operation, and the toner remaining in the container from the toner discharge port of the toner container is moved. It will be prevented from spilling.

  Further, in Patent Document 1, the shutter member is provided with a shutter deformable portion formed so as to be elastically deformable based on a connection position with the shutter main portion, and a stopper portion and a stopper release portion are formed in the shutter deformable portion. Thus, a technique for preventing the shutter member from being easily opened with the toner container alone is disclosed.

In the conventional technique described above, since the toner container (powder container) is provided with the shutter member having the shutter deforming portion, the toner container is not easily opened with the toner container alone, and the toner container The toner discharge port (discharge port) can be easily opened and closed by the shutter member in conjunction with the attachment / detachment operation of the toner supply device (powder supply device).
However, according to the conventional technique, every time the toner container is attached or detached (replaced), the vicinity of the toner supply port (supply port) of the toner supply device may be stained with toner.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and even when the powder container is attached or detached, the powder replenishing device in which the vicinity of the replenishing port in the powder replenishing device is not easily contaminated with powder. And providing an image forming apparatus.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a powder replenishing device in which a powder container is detachably installed and replenishes the powder contained in the powder container toward a replenishment body. An apparatus comprising: a storage unit in which powder discharged from a discharge port of the powder container is replenished from a supply port and stored; and the powder container is in the same direction as an attaching / detaching direction with respect to the powder supply device And a shutter member that opens and closes the discharge port, and the storage portion includes a movable member that is formed with an opening that communicates with the replenishment port and is movable in an attaching / detaching direction. The movable member moves in the attaching / detaching direction in conjunction with the operation of attaching / detaching the powder container to / from the powder replenishing device, and the shutter member opens / closes the discharge port via the opening. The discharge port communicates with or does not communicate with the supply port, and the storage port The supply port of the parts are the opening range, in which the movable member is formed to include an opening range of the opening when there is a movement in the detachment direction.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a powder replenishing device and an image forming apparatus in which the vicinity of the replenishing port in the powder replenishing device is hardly contaminated with powder even when the powder container is attached and detached.

1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the vicinity of an image forming part and a powder supply apparatus. It is an enlarged view which shows a developing device. It is a perspective view which shows a powder container. It is an expansion perspective view which shows a part of powder container in the state from which the shutter member was removed. 4A is a perspective view showing a first shutter member, and FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing a second shutter member in the shutter member. It is sectional drawing which shows the vicinity of the discharge port in a powder container. It is a perspective view which shows the vicinity of the supply port in which the movable member was installed in the powder supply apparatus. It is the schematic which shows the operation | movement with which a powder container is mounted | worn with a powder supply apparatus. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation following FIG. 9. It is the schematic which shows the state by which a powder container is attached or detached in the state where the developer rose in the vicinity of the replenishing port. In the conventional powder replenishing apparatus, it is the schematic which shows the state by which a powder container is attached or detached in the state which the developer rose in the vicinity of the replenishing port.

Embodiment.
Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same or it corresponds, The duplication description is simplified or abbreviate | omitted suitably.

First, the configuration and operation of the entire image forming apparatus in the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The writing units 2A to 2D are devices for writing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 21 (image carrier) after the charging process based on image information. The writing units 2A to 2D are optical scanning devices using polygon mirrors 3A to 3D, optical elements 4A to 4D, and the like. An LED array can be used as the writing unit instead of the optical scanning device.
The paper feed unit 61 stores a transfer material P such as recording paper or OHP, and feeds the transfer material P toward the transfer belt 30 during image formation.

The transfer belt 30 is an endless belt for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 21 onto the transfer material P by electrostatically attracting and transferring the transfer material P to the surface thereof. A suction roller 64 and a belt cleaner 65 are provided on the outer peripheral surface.
The transfer roller 24 that faces the photosensitive drum 21 via the transfer belt 30 includes a cored bar and a conductive elastic layer that covers the cored bar. The conductive elastic layer of the transfer roller 24 is prepared by blending and dispersing a conductive agent such as carbon black, zinc oxide or tin oxide in an elastic material such as polyurethane rubber or ethylene-propylene-diene polyethylene (EPDM). It is an elastic body whose (volume resistivity) is adjusted to medium resistance.

The fixing unit 66 includes a heating roller 68 and a pressure roller 67 and fixes the toner image on the transfer material P to the transfer material P by pressure and heat.
The four process cartridges 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK arranged in the vertical direction along the transfer belt 30 are for forming toner images of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black, respectively.

On each process cartridge 20Y, 20C, 20M, 20BK, a carrier (magnetic carrier) and toner (toner particles) of each color (yellow, cyan, magenta, black) are replenished to the developing device 23 as a replenishment body. Powder containers 28Y, 28C, 28M, 28BK (developer containers) and a powder replenishing device 80 (see FIG. 2) are installed.
The process cartridges 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK are viewed from the side of the apparatus main body 1 (on the right side in FIG. 1) in a state where the transfer belt 30 is rotated around the rotation support shaft to expose the inside of the apparatus. Detachable.
The powder containers 28Y, 28C, 28M, and 28BK are open / close doors (dedicated for attaching and detaching the powder container 28) provided on the front side of the apparatus main body 1 (the front side in the vertical direction in FIG. 1). Can be attached and detached from the front side of the apparatus main body 1 in a state in which the container installation portion of the powder replenishing device 80 is exposed. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the orientation of the powder container 28 and the storage unit 81 of the powder replenishing device 80 is shown rotated by 90 degrees in order to facilitate understanding of the configuration of the entire device.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is a composite image forming apparatus that functions as a copying machine and a printer. When functioning as a copying machine, the image information read from the scanner is subjected to various image processing such as A / D conversion, MTF correction, gradation processing, etc., and converted into writing data. In the case of functioning as a printer, image processing is performed on image information in a format such as a page description language or a bitmap transmitted from a computer or the like, and converted into write data.

  At the time of image formation, exposure light corresponding to black, magenta, cyan, and yellow image information is irradiated from the writing units 2A to 2D to the process cartridges 20BK, 20M, 20C, and 20Y (image forming units). That is, exposure light (laser light) emitted from each light source passes through the polygon mirrors 3A to 3D, the optical elements 4A to 4D, and is irradiated onto each photosensitive drum 21. Thus, a toner image corresponding to the exposure light is formed on the photosensitive drum 21 (image carrier) of each process cartridge 20BK, 20M, 20C, 20Y. The toner image is transferred to the transfer material P.

  The material to be transferred P fed from the paper feeding unit 61 is conveyed to the position of the transfer belt 30 at the timing of the registration roller 63 and the timing. The suction roller 64 disposed at the feeding position of the transfer belt 30 causes the transfer belt 30 to suck the material to be transferred P fed by voltage application. As the transfer belt 30 travels in the direction of the arrow, the transfer material P moves sequentially through the positions of the process cartridges 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK, and the toner images of the respective colors are superimposed and transferred.

  The material P to which the color toner image is transferred is separated from the transfer belt 30 and reaches the fixing unit 66. The toner image on the transfer material P is fixed on the transfer material P by being heated while being sandwiched between the heating roller 68 and the pressure roller 67. On the other hand, the surface of the transfer belt 30 after the transfer material P is separated reaches the position of the belt cleaner 65, and dirt such as toner adhering to the surface is cleaned.

Next, a process cartridge (image forming unit), a powder container, and a powder supply device in the image forming apparatus will be described.
The process cartridges 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK have substantially the same structure, and the powder containers 28Y, 28C, 28M, and 28BK have substantially the same structure. Is shown by removing the alphabet (Y, C, M, BK). In addition, the writing unit is illustrated by removing the alphabet (A to D).
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the process cartridge 20, the powder container 28 (developer container), and the powder supply device 80 (developer supply device) installed in the apparatus main body 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the developing device 23 installed in the process cartridge 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge 20 includes a photosensitive drum 21 as an image carrier, a charging unit 22, a developing device 23 (developing unit), and a cleaning unit 25, and is a premix developing unit. System (development system in which carrier is replenished / discharged as appropriate) is adopted.
The photosensitive drum 21 as an image carrier is a negatively charged organic photosensitive member, and is rotationally driven counterclockwise by a rotation driving mechanism (not shown).

The charging unit 22 is a charging roller having elasticity, in which a medium-resistance foamed urethane layer in which a urethane resin, carbon black as conductive particles, a sulfurizing agent, a foaming agent, and the like are formed in a roller shape on a core metal. The material of the middle resistance layer of the charging unit 22 is urethane, ethylene-propylene-diene polyethylene (EPDM), butadiene acrylonitrile rubber (NBR), silicone rubber, isoprene rubber, etc. It is also possible to use a rubber material in which a conductive material such as the above is dispersed or a foamed material of these materials.
The cleaning unit 25 is provided with a cleaning brush (or cleaning blade) that is in sliding contact with the photosensitive drum 21, and mechanically removes and collects untransferred toner on the photosensitive drum 21.

  The developing device 23 as a replenished member is arranged so that two developing rollers 23a1 and 23a2 as developer carriers are close to the photosensitive drum 21, and the opposite portions of the developing device 23 and the magnetic roller 21 are magnetically connected to each other. A development area is formed in contact with the brush. In the developing device 23, a developer G (two-component developer) as a powder composed of toner T and carrier C is accommodated. The developing device 23 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 21 (forms a toner image).

Here, the developing device 23 in the present embodiment is of a premix developing system, and a new carrier C (developer G) is appropriately supplied from the powder container 28 into the developing device 23. The deteriorated developer G is discharged toward the agent storage container 70 installed outside the developing device 23.
Referring to FIG. 2, the powder container 28 accommodates developer G (toner T and carrier C) for replenishing the developing device 23 therein. The powder container 28 functions to supply new toner T to the developing device 23 and also functions to supply new carrier C to the developing device 23. Specifically, the powder replenishing device 80 is based on the information on the toner concentration (the ratio of the toner in the developer G) detected by a magnetic sensor (not shown) installed in the developing device 23. The conveying screw 82 is rotationally driven, the developer G stored in the storage portion 81 is conveyed toward the dropping path portion 85, and the developer G is dropped from the dropping path portion 85 into the developing device 23 by its own weight. Let them replenish.
In the present embodiment, the mixing ratio (toner concentration) of the toner T with respect to the carrier C in the developer G in the powder container 28 is set to be relatively high.

Next, an image forming process performed on the photosensitive drum 21 will be described.
Referring to FIG. 2, when the photosensitive drum 21 is driven to rotate counterclockwise, first, the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is uniformly charged at the position of the charging unit 22. Thereafter, the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 21 reaches the irradiation position of the exposure light L, and an exposure process by the writing unit 2 is performed. That is, by selectively removing the charge on the photosensitive drum 21 in accordance with the image information by irradiation with the exposure light L, a difference (potential contrast) from the potential of the non-image portion that has not been irradiated is generated, and electrostatic latent Form an image. In this exposure step, the charge generation material receives light in the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive drum 21 to generate charges, and among these holes, the holes cancel out the charged charges on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21.

Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 on which the latent image is formed reaches a position facing the developing device 23. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 21 comes into contact with the magnetic brush on the developing rollers 23a1 and 23a2, and the negatively charged toner T in the magnetic brush is attached and visualized.
Specifically, the developer G pumped up by the magnetic force generated by the magnetic poles of the upper developing roller 23a1 is adjusted to an appropriate amount by the doctor blade 23c, and then the developing region (the two developing rollers 23a1, 23a2 and the photosensitive drum 21). The carrier C spiked in the development area rubs the photosensitive drum 21. At this time, the toner T mixed with the carrier C is negatively charged due to friction with the carrier C. On the other hand, the carrier C is positively charged. A predetermined developing bias is applied to the developing rollers 23a1 and 23a2 from a power supply unit (not shown). As a result, an electric field is formed between the developing rollers 23a1 and 23a2 and the photosensitive drum 21, and the negatively charged toner T is selectively attached only to the image portion on the photosensitive drum 21 by the electric field, and the toner image. Form.

Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 on which the toner image is formed reaches a position facing the transfer belt 30 and the transfer roller 24. Then, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred onto the transfer material P conveyed to the opposite position in accordance with this timing. At this time, a predetermined voltage is applied to the transfer roller 24.
Thereafter, the transfer material P to which the toner image is transferred passes through the fixing unit 66 and is discharged from the discharge roller 69 to the outside of the apparatus.

On the other hand, the toner T (untransferred toner) remaining on the photosensitive drum 21 without being transferred to the transfer material P during the transfer process reaches a portion facing the cleaning unit 25 while remaining on the photosensitive drum 21. The untransferred toner on the photosensitive drum 21 is removed and collected by the cleaning unit 25.
Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 passes through a static elimination unit (not shown), and a series of image forming processes on the photosensitive drum 21 is completed.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the developing device 23 will be described in detail.
Referring to FIG. 3, the developing device 23 includes developing rollers 23a1 and 23a2 (developer carrier), conveying screws 23b1 to 23b3 (conveying members), a doctor blade 23c, a carrier collecting roller 23k, a scraper 23m, and a discharging screw 23n. , Etc. Further, in the developing device 23, three developer conveying portions B1 to B3 (conveying paths) that convey the developer G and form a circulation path are formed.

The developing rollers 23a1 and 23a2 are configured such that a sleeve formed of a nonmagnetic material such as aluminum, brass, stainless steel, or conductive resin in a cylindrical shape is rotated clockwise by a rotation driving mechanism (not shown). . In the sleeves of the developing rollers 23a1 and 23a2, a magnet for forming a magnetic field is fixed so as to cause the developer G to rise on the peripheral surface of the sleeve. The carrier C in the developer G rises in a chain shape on the sleeve so as to follow the normal magnetic field lines emitted from the magnet. The charged toner T is attached to the carrier C that is spiked in a chain shape to form a magnetic brush. The magnetic brush is transferred in the same direction (clockwise) as the sleeve by the rotation of the sleeve.
The doctor blade 23c is installed on the upstream side of the developing area, and regulates the developer on the first developing roller 23a1 to an appropriate amount.

Each of the three transport screws 23b1 to 23b3 has a screw portion spirally formed on the shaft portion, and the developer G accommodated in the developing device 23 is in the longitudinal direction (in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2). )) While circulating.
Specifically, the conveyance path (first developer conveyance part B1) by the first conveyance screw 23b1, the conveyance path (second developer conveyance part B2) by the second conveyance screw 23b2, and the conveyance path (by the third conveyance screw 23b3) ( The third developer conveying part B3) is isolated from the wall part. The downstream side of the second developer transport unit B2 and the upstream side of the third developer transport unit B3 communicate with each other via the first relay unit. In addition, the downstream side of the third developer transport unit B3 and the upstream side of the first developer transport unit B1 communicate with each other via the second relay unit. In addition, the downstream side of the first developer transport unit B1 and the upstream side of the third developer transport unit B3 communicate with each other via a dropping path. With such a configuration, a circulation path for circulating the developer G in the longitudinal direction in the developing device 23 is formed by the three developer conveying portions B1 to B3 (conveying screws 23b1 to 23b3).

Here, a pocket portion 23d (outlet) for discharging a part of the developer G accommodated in the developing device 23 to the outside (agent storage container 70) is provided on the wall portion of the first developer conveying portion B1. Is provided. Specifically, the pocket portion 23d has a developer surface (upper surface) of the developer that is supplied to the developing device 23 by the powder replenishing device 80 and the amount of the developer in the device increases and flows into the pocket portion 23d. ) Exceeds a predetermined height, the excess developer G is discharged toward the agent storage container 70. As described above, the carrier deteriorated by being contaminated by the base resin or the external additive of the toner T is automatically discharged to the outside of the developing unit, so that deterioration of the image quality can be suppressed even over time. Referring to FIG. 3 (illustration is omitted in FIG. 2), a discharge screw 23n for conveying the developer discharged from the pocket portion 23d in the horizontal direction is installed in the discharge path. ing.
Referring to FIG. 3 (not shown in FIG. 2), the development is performed below the second developing roller 23a2 (on the downstream side in the rotational direction) and at a position facing the photosensitive drum 21. A carrier collecting roller 23k for moving (flying) from the apparatus 23 and collecting the carrier adhering to the photosensitive drum 21 is provided. Further, a scraper 23m for mechanically scraping the carrier carried on the carrier collecting roller 23k is installed at a position where it abuts on the carrier collecting roller 23k.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the powder container 28 (developer container) will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS.
4 to 7 (and FIG. 2), powder container 28 in the present embodiment is a substantially box-shaped container, and a shutter member that opens and closes discharge port W (powder discharge port). 280, a conveying screw 285, a stirring member 286, a first coupling 295, a second coupling 296, and the like are provided.
The powder container 28 is attached / detached to / from the powder replenishing device 80 (image forming apparatus 1) with a substantially horizontal direction as an attaching / detaching direction by a user's manual operation (see FIGS. 9, 10 and the like). Referring to FIGS. 5, 7, etc., at the bottom of the powder container 28, the developer G accommodated in the powder container 28 is discharged toward the storage part 81 of the powder replenishing device 80. The discharge port W is formed to open downward. 4 and 7, the powder container 28 is provided with a shutter member 280 that moves in the same direction as the attachment / detachment direction with respect to the powder replenishing device 80 to open and close the discharge port W. Specifically, in conjunction with the movement of the powder container 28 in the mounting direction, the shutter member 280 moves relatively in the separation direction to open the discharge port W, and the powder container 28 moves in the separation direction. In conjunction with the operation, the shutter member 280 moves relatively in the mounting direction to close the discharge port W.

In the present embodiment, the shutter member 280 includes a first shutter member 281 that directly opens and closes the discharge port W, and a second shutter member 282 that covers the first shutter member 281 from the outside.
Referring to FIG. 6A, the first shutter member 281 includes a shutter main portion 281a and a shutter deformation portion 281b. At both ends of the shutter main portion 281a on the front end side in the mounting direction, held portions 281d held by a holding portion 85 (see FIG. 8) of the powder supply device 80 are provided so as to stand upward. Yes. Further, a sealing material 281c for preventing the developer G from leaking out of the container from the discharge port W when the shutter member 280 closes the discharge port W is pasted on the upper surface of the shutter main portion 281a. It is worn. The shutter deforming portion 281b is formed to be elastically deformable with a connection position with the shutter main portion 281a as a base point.

  Referring to FIG. 6B, the second shutter member 282 is provided with a first locking portion 282c, a second locking portion 282b, and a protruding portion 282a. The first locking portion 282c is formed to be elastically deformable so that the front end side in the mounting direction becomes a free end with the central portion in the attaching / detaching direction of the second shutter member 282 as a root, and the first locking portion 282c is first with respect to the second shutter member 282. The shutter member 281 is restrained from relatively moving in the mounting direction (leftward in FIG. 7). The second locking portion 282b is formed so as to protrude upward on the rear end side in the mounting direction of the second shutter member 282, and the first shutter member 281 is detached from the second shutter member 282 (FIG. 7). It is restricted to move relatively toward the right side.) The protrusions 282a are formed so as to protrude upward in the center portion of the second shutter member 282 in the attaching / detaching direction, and slopes (inclined surfaces) are formed at both ends of the attaching / detaching direction.

  In the shutter member 280 configured as described above, the powder container 28 is attached to the powder replenishing device 80 and the second shutter member 282 is formed on the ceiling surface 81 d of the storage portion 81 with reference to FIG. When moving in a substantially horizontal direction (mounting direction) while being guided by the fence portion 81e, the second shutter member 282 comes into contact with the step of the ceiling surface 81d and the movement of the second shutter member 282 in the mounting direction is stopped. At this time, the free end side of the first locking portion 282c engages with the protruding portion formed on the ceiling surface 81d and the interval is widened, so that the first shutter member 281 is elastically deformed to release the locking. Thus, by further pushing the powder container 28 in the mounting direction, the first shutter member 281 moves in the mounting direction together with the powder container 28 while sliding relative to the second shutter member 282. At this time, in the first shutter member 281, the held portion 281 d is held by the holding portion 85 (which is rotatably supported by the ceiling surface 81 d of the storage portion 81), and the direction orthogonal to the mounting direction. The position moves relative to the mounting direction without shifting. Eventually, the shutter deforming portion 281b comes into contact with the protruding portion 282a and elastically deforms, whereby the locking of the first shutter member 281 with respect to the powder container 28 is also released, and the discharge port W is opened by the first shutter member 281. Is possible.

When the powder container 28 is further pushed in the mounting direction, the first shutter member 281 comes into contact with the movable member 83 and the movement of the first shutter member 281 in the mounting direction is stopped, and then the powder container 28 is pressed. The position in the mounting direction of the powder container 28 is determined at a position where the discharge port W matches the supply port 81a (opening 83a) of the powder supply device 80. In this way, the developer G can be discharged from the powder container 28 toward the powder supply device 80 (storage unit 81).
At this time, the first coupling 295 installed at the end of the conveying screw 285 of the powder container 28 in the rotational axis direction can refer to the drive coupling 90 (FIG. 10C) and the like of the powder supply device 80. )), And the rotation of the conveying screw 285 by the drive motor installed in the powder replenishing device 80 becomes possible. The conveying screw 285 is for conveying the developer G (powder) accommodated in the powder container 28 toward the discharge port W.
Although not shown, when the powder container 28 is set in the powder replenishing device 80, the powder container 28 is installed at the end of the stirring member 286 (see FIG. 2) of the powder container 28 in the rotation axis direction. The second coupling 296 is fitted into the second drive coupling of the powder replenishing device 80, so that the stirring member 286 can be driven to rotate by a drive motor installed in the powder replenishing device 80. The stirring member 286 is for stirring the developer G stored in the powder container 28 to prevent the developer G from aggregating.

In the powder replenishing device 80 in the present embodiment, a movable member 83 (movable replenishing portion) in which an opening 83a (movable replenishing port) communicating with the replenishing port 81a is formed above the replenishing port 81a. Although it is installed so as to be movable in the attaching / detaching direction, this will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS.
Further, when the powder container 28 is taken out (at the time of detachment) from the powder replenishing device 80 (image forming apparatus 1), an operation reverse to the operation at the time of mounting described above is performed, and the procedure is reversed. Each part operates.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the powder supply device 80 (image forming apparatus 1), which is characteristic in the present embodiment, will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
The powder replenishing device 80 (developer replenishing device) replenishes the developer G (powder) accommodated in the powder container 28 toward the developing device 23 (supplied body). As described above, the powder container 28 is configured to be detachable (replaceable).
The powder replenishing device 80 in the present embodiment is provided with a storage part 81 and a drop path part 85. Referring to FIG. 2 and the like, the storage unit 81 stores and stores the developer G discharged from the discharge port W of the powder container 28 through the supply port 81a. It is formed so as to open.
Further, the storage portion 81 is formed with a transport path for transporting the developer G in a substantially horizontal direction from a position below the supply port 81a. Specifically, the storage portion 81 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a conveyance screw 82 is provided therein. Then, when the conveyance screw 82 is rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown), the developer G stored in the storage unit 81 is conveyed toward the drop path unit 85, and the development in which the fall path unit 85 is dropped by its own weight. The agent G is supplied to the developing device 23.

Here, referring to FIGS. 8 to 10 and the like, the storage unit 81 of the powder replenishing device 80 according to the present embodiment is movable in the attaching / detaching direction (the horizontal direction in FIGS. 9 and 10). A configured movable member 83 (movable supply portion) is provided. The movable member 83 is formed with an opening 83a (movable supply port) communicating with the supply port 81a.
Further, the opening range A (the opening range in the attaching / detaching direction) of the replenishing port 81a of the storage unit 81 is the opening range B (the opening range in the attaching / detaching direction) of the opening 83a when the movable member 83 moves in the attaching / detaching direction. Is included). That is, the opening range A of the replenishing port 81a is larger than the opening range of the opening 83a of the movable member 83 (A> B), and even if the movable member 83 moves in the left-right direction in FIGS. Are all connected to the supply port 81a.
Then, in conjunction with the operation of attaching / detaching the powder container 28 to / from the powder replenishing device 80, the movable member 83 moves in the attaching / detaching direction, and the shutter member 280 opens and closes the discharge port W to open the opening 83a. The discharge port W communicates or does not communicate with the supply port 81a via

Specifically, the movable member 83 is pushed and attached to the shutter member 280 (first shutter member 281) in conjunction with the operation of attaching the powder container 28 to the powder replenishing device 80 (storage unit 81). Moving in the direction (the right direction in FIGS. 9 and 10), the movable member 83 comes into contact with the stopper portion 81b (first stopper portion) and the movement in the mounting direction is restricted, so that the shutter member 280 ( The first shutter member 281) is relatively moved so as to open the discharge port W by being pushed by the movable member 83.
Further, in conjunction with the operation of removing the powder container 28 from the powder supply device 80 (reservoir 81), the pushing of the movable member 83 by the shutter member 280 (first shutter member 281) is released. The movable member 83 is urged by the compression spring 84 (the urging member) and moves in the disengagement direction (leftward in FIGS. 9 and 10), and the movable member 83 contacts the second stopper portion 81c. Thus, the movement of the movable member 83 in the detaching direction is restricted.

Specifically, the operation of each part when the powder container 28 is attached to the powder supply device 80 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.
First, as shown in FIG. 9 (A), the powder container 28 held by the user (in a state where the discharge port W is closed by the shutter members 281 and 282) is in the mounting direction (white in the figure). It is moved almost horizontally in the direction of the arrow). At this time, the powder container 28 is moved so that the bottom surface of the second shutter member 282 is along the ceiling surface 81 d of the storage unit 81. The movable member 83 is urged to the left by the urging force of the compression spring 84 as an urging member and is in a position where it abuts against the second stopper portion 81c (the left end position of the opening 83a and the supply port 81a The left end position matches.)
When the movement in the mounting direction of the powder container 28 is advanced, as shown in FIG. 9B, the second shutter member 282 comes into contact with the step of the ceiling surface 81d, and the movement of the second shutter member 282 is performed. Due to the restriction, the first shutter member 281 moves in the direction of the black arrow in the figure.
When the movement of the powder container 28 in the mounting direction is further advanced, the first shutter member 281 comes into contact with the movable member 83 as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 10A, the movable member 83 starts to move to the left (black arrow direction) in the figure so as to resist the urging force of the compression spring 84.

Thereafter, when the movement of the powder container 28 in the mounting direction is further advanced, the movable member 83 comes into contact with the first stopper portion 81b and the first shutter member 281 together with the movable member 83, as shown in FIG. The first shutter member 281 moves relative to the discharge port W and the opening of the discharge port W is started. At this time, the right end position of the opening 83a matches the right end position of the supply port 81a.
Then, when the movement in the mounting direction of the powder container 28 is further advanced, as shown in FIG. 10C, the attaching / detaching direction of the powder container 28 at a position where the discharge port W is in communication with the opening 83a. And the mounting of the powder container 28 to the powder supply device 80 is completed. At this time, the first coupling 295 is fitted to the drive coupling 90.
Then, as shown in FIG. 10C, development is performed from the powder container 28 toward the storage unit 81 (powder replenishing device 80) with the discharge port W communicating with the replenishing port 81a through the opening 83a. Agent G will be replenished.
Further, when the developer G in the powder container 28 is almost empty and the powder container 28 is replaced, when the powder container 28 is taken out from the powder supply device 80 (storage unit 81) (detachment). ), The operation reverse to the operation at the time of mounting described above is performed, and each part operates in the reverse procedure.

In the powder supply device 80 configured and operated in this manner, even if the powder container 28 is repeatedly attached and detached (replaced), the vicinity of the supply port 81a (opening 83a) of the powder supply device 80 is located near the developer G ( It becomes difficult to cause a problem that the powder becomes dirty.
Specifically, immediately before the developer G in the powder container 28 is emptied and the powder container 28 is replaced (detached), as shown in FIG. In many cases, the developer G rises from 83a) to the height of the discharge port W. This is because when the state in which the developer G in the powder container 28 is almost empty is detected by a sensor in the powder container 28, the operation of the powder replenishing device 80 is forcibly stopped and the conveying screw 82. This is because, for example, the rotational driving of the toner is stopped, and the amount of the developer stored most below the supply port 83a (discharge port W) is increased. Such a state is particularly noticeable in an apparatus in which a conveyance path (storage part 81) extending in the horizontal direction is formed directly below the supply port 81a, like the powder supply apparatus 80 in the present embodiment. become.
The powder replenishing device 80 according to the present embodiment has the powder container 28 as shown in FIG. 11 (B) even if the developer G is swelled as shown in FIG. 11 (A). When the movable member 83 moves in the separation direction in accordance with the separation operation, the opening 83a is a developer using the space on the left end side of the supply port 81a (the portion surrounded by the broken line in FIG. 11A). When the G crest is broken and the powder container 28 is finally removed, the height of the raised developer G crest becomes lower than the upper end position of the supply port 81a. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11C, even if a new powder container 28 for replacement is mounted on the powder replenishing device 80, the crest of the developer G interferes with the movable member 83 that moves to the right. Without this, the problem that the developer G scatters from the replenishment port 81a (opening 83a) and the surroundings are stained with the developer G is suppressed.

A powder supply device 800 shown in FIG. 12 differs from that of the present embodiment in that a supply port 810a having a constant opening area is formed in the supply unit 830 without the supply unit 830 moving ( It is a conventional powder supply device).
In such a powder replenishing device 800, when the swell of the developer G as shown in FIG. 12A is formed in the vicinity of the replenishing port 810a, the powder container 28 is shown in FIG. 12B. As a result of the detachment operation, the powder container 28 collapses the crest of the developer G and stains the ceiling surface of the reservoir 810. Further, as shown in FIG. 12C, even when a new powder container 28 for replacement is mounted on the powder replenishing device 80, the powder container 28 moving to the right interferes with the crest of the developer G. As a result, the developer G scatters from the replenishing port 810a, and the periphery of the developer G is stained with the developer G.
As described with reference to FIG. 11, the powder replenishing device 80 in the present embodiment reliably reduces such problems.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the movable member 83 formed with the opening 83a communicating with the replenishment port 81a of the storage unit 81 is installed so as to be movable in the attachment / detachment direction, and the replenishment port 81a of the storage unit 81 is provided. The movable member 83 is attached in the attachment / detachment direction in conjunction with the operation of attaching / detaching the powder container 28 to / from the powder supply device 80. The shutter member 280 opens and closes the discharge port W, and the discharge port W communicates with or does not communicate with the replenishment port 81a through the opening 83a. Thereby, even if the powder container 28 is attached and detached, the vicinity of the replenishing port 81a in the powder replenishing device 80 can be made difficult to be stained with toner.

In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a powder replenishing device 80 in which a powder container 28 containing developer G (two-component developer) as powder is detachably installed. On the other hand, the present invention is naturally applicable to a powder replenishing device in which a powder container (toner container) containing only toner T as powder is detachably installed.
Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the powder replenishing device 80 in which the substantially box-shaped powder container 28 is detachably installed. However, other forms of powder containers (for example, patent documents) The present invention can also be applied to a powder replenishing device in which a cylindrical bottle-shaped powder container disclosed in No. 1 and the like is detachably installed.
In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the powder supply device 80 in which the powder container 28 in which the shutter member 280 including the two shutter members 281 and 282 is installed is detachably installed. The present invention is also applied to a powder replenishing device in which a powder container (for example, a powder container disclosed in Patent Document 1) provided with one shutter member is detachably installed. Can do.
Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the powder replenishing device that replenishes powder to the developing device 23 as a replenished body, but the replenishing body other than the developing device 23 is replenished with powder. Naturally, the present invention can also be applied to a powder replenishing device.
Even in these cases, the same effects as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the powder replenishing device 80 configured by the storage portion 81 and the dropping path portion 85 extending in the substantially horizontal direction, but the powder to which the present invention is applied. The form of the body replenishing device is not limited to this. For example, the body replenishing device is also applicable to a powder replenishing device which is not provided with a dropping path portion and is configured such that the reservoir directly communicates with the developing device. The invention can be applied.
Even in such a case, substantially the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and it is obvious that the present embodiment can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, other than suggested in the present embodiment. is there. In addition, the number, position, shape, and the like of the constituent members are not limited to the present embodiment, and the number, position, shape, and the like suitable for implementing the present invention can be achieved.

1 image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus main body),
20, 20Y, 20C, 20M, 20BK Process cartridge,
21 Photosensitive drum (image carrier),
23 Developing device (developing part),
28 Powder container (developer container),
80 powder supply device (developer supply device),
81 Reservoir (conveyance path),
81a supply port,
81b 1st stopper part (stopper part),
81c second stopper portion,
83 Movable member (movable supply part),
83a opening (movable supply port),
84 Compression spring (biasing member),
280 shutter member,
281 1st shutter member, 282 2nd shutter member,
W outlet,
G Developer (powder), T toner, C carrier.

Japanese Patent No. 4958325

Claims (5)

A powder replenishing device in which a powder container is detachably installed and replenishes the powder contained in the powder container toward a replenishment body,
The powder discharged from the discharge port of the powder container is provided with a storage part that is supplied and stored from the supply port,
The powder container includes a shutter member that moves in the same direction as the attaching / detaching direction with respect to the powder supply device to open and close the discharge port,
The reservoir includes a movable member formed with an opening communicating with the replenishing port and configured to be movable in an attaching / detaching direction.
The movable member moves in the attaching / detaching direction in conjunction with the operation of attaching / detaching the powder container to / from the powder replenishing device, and the shutter member opens / closes the discharge port through the opening. The discharge port communicates with or does not communicate with the supply port,
The powder replenishing apparatus, wherein the replenishing port of the storage part is formed so that an opening range thereof includes an opening range of the opening when the movable member moves in the attaching / detaching direction.   In conjunction with the operation of mounting the powder container on the powder replenishing device, the movable member is pushed by the shutter member and moves in the mounting direction, and the movable member contacts the stopper portion. The powder replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the shutter member is pushed by the movable member to open the discharge port by restricting movement in the mounting direction.   In conjunction with the movement of the powder container with respect to the powder replenishing device, the pressing of the movable member by the shutter member is released and the movable member is urged by the urging member so that the detachment direction is reached. The powder replenishing device according to claim 2, wherein movement of the movable member in a detaching direction is restricted by moving the movable member in contact with the second stopper portion. The powder container is attached to and detached from the powder replenishing device with a substantially horizontal direction as an attaching / detaching direction, and the discharge port is formed to open downward,
2. The storage section is formed such that the replenishing port opens upward, and includes a conveyance path for conveying powder in a substantially horizontal direction from a position below the replenishing port. The powder supply device according to any one of claims 3 to 4.   An image forming apparatus comprising the powder replenishing device according to claim 1.

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