JP2016071346A - Developer supply cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developer supply cartridge high in accuracy of supply of a developer.MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM: A developer supply cartridge includes a developer supply vessel including: a developer housing part; a developer housed in the developer housing part; a discharge port for discharging the developer toward a developer supply device; a pump part that operates so that an emission operation via the discharge port is performed; a developer retention part that communicates with the developer housing part, is disposed at a position in contact with the discharge port, and retains a certain amount of the developer before discharge; and a suppression part that controls the inflow and the suppression of the inflow of the developer from the developer housing part to the developer retention part, and suppresses the inflow of the developer during the emission operation of the pump part. The degree of compression of the developer Ct is 30.0% or more and 45.0% or less.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer supply cartridge that can be attached to and detached from a developer supply device, and can be used in a copier, a facsimile machine, a printer, and an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction machine having a plurality of these functions.

  In general, a particulate developer is used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine. Then, the developer consumption associated with image formation is compensated by replenishment from the developer replenishment cartridge, and the image is output.

  In the conventional image forming apparatus, the developer replenished from the developer replenishment cartridge is temporarily stored in the image forming apparatus so that the developer can be replenished stably. Often a primary storage space is provided so that it can be refilled.

  However, in recent years, with the reduction in size and weight of image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, a configuration in which the primary storage space is eliminated and the developer is directly supplied from the developer supply cartridge to the developing device has been adopted.

  For this reason, the developer replenishment cartridge needs to have a replenishment capability capable of replenishing an appropriate amount of developer according to the required amount of developer that varies depending on various image formations.

  Patent Document 1 describes a developer supply container used in such a conventional developer supply cartridge.

  The apparatus described in Patent Document 1 employs a system in which the developer is discharged using a bellows pump provided in the developer supply container. As a specific method, the bellows pump is extended so that the pressure inside the developer supply container is lower than the atmospheric pressure, so that air is taken into the developer supply container and the developer is fluidized. . Further, by contracting the bellows pump to make the pressure inside the developer supply container higher than the atmospheric pressure, the developer is pushed out and discharged due to the pressure difference inside and outside the developer supply container. By alternately repeating these two steps, clogging of the developer near the developer replenishing cartridge discharge port is suppressed, the remaining amount of developer inside the developer replenishing cartridge is reduced, and stable replenishment is possible. It has become a structure.

  However, in recent years, there has been an increasing demand for the ability to replenish an appropriate amount.

  In addition, the developer replenishment cartridge may be tapped in the container due to vibration during transportation and storage state, and the developer may be excessively compressed. In the case where the developer is in a compacted state, in the method of controlling the discharge based on the internal pressure fluctuation as described above, the developer may be compressed and the developer may be clogged at the discharge port. Conversely, a phenomenon called flushing in which a large amount of developer is discharged at once may occur. In addition, the developer varies in fluidity depending on the temperature and humidity of the storage environment, and in order to satisfy stable discharge / high replenishment accuracy even in various environments, not only the developer supply container but also the developer. It is necessary to improve the matching between the agent supply cartridge and the developer.

JP 2010-256894 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a developer replenishment cartridge having high developer replenishment accuracy even in various storage / use environments.

A developer supply cartridge that is detachable from the developer supply device and has a developer supply container;
The developer supply container is
(I) a developer container;
(Ii) a developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion;
(Iii) a discharge port for discharging the developer stored in the developer storage portion toward the developer supply device;
(Iv) a pump unit that operates so that an exhaust operation through the discharge port is performed;
(V) a developer storage unit that communicates with the developer storage unit, is provided at a position in contact with the discharge port, and stores a predetermined amount of developer before discharge;
(Vi) a deterring unit that controls the inflow of the developer from the developer collecting unit to the developer storing unit and the deterrence of the inflow, and inhibits the inflow of the developer during the exhaust operation of the pump unit;
Have
The developer replenishment cartridge, wherein the developer has a compression degree Ct of 30.0% or more and 45.0% or less.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a developer replenishment cartridge with high developer replenishment accuracy even in various storage states / use environments.

It is a figure which shows a surface treatment apparatus (thermal spheronization processing apparatus). 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus (copier). (A) is a partial cross-sectional view of the developing device, (b) is a perspective view of the mounting portion, and (c) is a cross-sectional view of the mounting portion. (A) is an enlarged sectional view showing an example of a developer supply container and a developer supply device, (b) is an enlarged sectional view showing another example of the developer supply device, and (c) is a developer supply. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of. (A) is an overall perspective view showing a developer supply container, (b) is a partially enlarged view showing a state around a discharge port, and (c) is a mounting part of a developer supply device. It is a front view which shows the mounted state. (A) is a cross-sectional perspective view of the developer supply container, (b) is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the pump portion is extended to the maximum in use, and (c) is a maximum shrinkage in use in the pump portion. It is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the state made. (A) is a partial view showing a state in which the pump part is fully extended in use, (b) is a partial view showing a state in which the pump is maximally contracted in use, and (c) is a view of the pump part. FIG. (A)-(f) is an expanded view which shows an example of the shape of a cam groove. (A) is a perspective view of the whole conveyance member with which the container of Example 1 is equipped, (b) is a side view of a conveyance member. (A) is a cross-sectional view of the discharge portion during the operation stop process of the pump portion, (b) is a cross-sectional view of the discharge portion during intake, (c) is a cross-sectional view of the discharge portion during exhaust, (D) is sectional drawing of the discharge part after a developer is discharged | emitted. It is a cross-sectional perspective view of a conventional developer supply container. It is a figure which shows the other example of the conventional developer supply container.

The developer supply cartridge of the present invention is a developer supply cartridge that is detachable from the developer supply device and has a developer supply container,
The developer supply container is
(I) a developer container;
(Ii) a developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion;
(Iii) a discharge port for discharging the developer stored in the developer storage portion toward the developer supply device;
(Iv) a pump unit that operates so that an exhaust operation through the discharge port is performed;
(V) a developer storage unit that communicates with the developer storage unit, is provided at a position in contact with the discharge port, and stores a predetermined amount of developer before discharge;
(Vi) a deterring unit that controls the inflow of the developer from the developer collecting unit to the developer storing unit and the deterrence of the inflow, and inhibits the inflow of the developer during the exhaust operation of the pump unit;
Have
The developer has a compression degree Ct of 30.0% or more and 45.0% or less.

  One of the features of the present invention is that the developer supply container has a developer storage section having a constant volume, and the developer can be stably supplied by discharging only the temporarily stored developer. Is.

  Further, by using together the developer in which the degree of compression Ct, which is the ratio of the loose bulk density and the hardened bulk density (tap density), is controlled to a value within a specific range, the developer can be stably flowed into the developer reservoir. Thus, it is possible to achieve both suppression of bulk fluctuations in the developer storage section. As a result, the amount of developer discharged from the developer supply cartridge can be controlled satisfactorily.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the developer tap density ρ _t is 0.60 g / cm ³ or more and 0.90 g / cm ³ or less. By having the tap density, not only can the developer supply cartridge be used more efficiently, but also the operating energy of the developer supply device can be further reduced.

  In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, the developer is a two-component developer having a carrier and a toner.

  In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, the developer (two-component developer) contains 3.0 to 30.0 parts by mass of toner with respect to 1.0 part by mass of the carrier. is there. If the ratio of the carrier and the toner is within this range, good mixing is easily performed between the carrier and the toner.

[resin]
As the binder resin used in the toner according to the present invention, for example,
Homopolymers of styrene or styrene derivatives (substitutes) such as polystyrene, poly-p-chlorostyrene, and polyvinyltoluene (styrene homopolymers);
Styrene-p-chlorostyrene copolymer, styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer, styrene-vinylnaphthalene copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymer, styrene-methacrylic acid ester copolymer, styrene-α-chloromethacrylic acid Acid methyl copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ether copolymer, styrene-vinyl ethyl ether copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-indene copolymer, etc. Styrenic copolymer;
PVC;
Phenolic resin;
Naturally modified phenolic resin;
Natural resin-modified maleic resin;
acrylic resin;
Methacrylic resin;
Polyvinyl acetate;
Silicone resin;
Polyester resin;
Polyurethane;
Polyamide resin;
Furan resin;
Epoxy resin;
Xylene resin;
Polyvinyl butyral;
Terpene resin;
Coumarone-indene resin;
Examples include petroleum resins.

  Among these, a polyester resin is preferable from the viewpoint of improving low-temperature fixability and controlling chargeability.

The polyester resin is a resin having a “polyester unit” in a binder resin chain (resin molecule). As a component for constituting (synthesizing) a polyester unit,
A divalent or higher alcohol monomer component;
And acid monomer components such as divalent or higher carboxylic acid, divalent or higher carboxylic acid anhydride, and divalent or higher carboxylic acid ester.

Examples of the bivalent or higher alcohol monomer component include:
Polyoxypropylene (2.2) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxypropylene (3.3) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxyethylene (2. 0) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxypropylene (2.0) -polyoxyethylene (2.0) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxypropylene (6) alkylene oxide adducts of bisphenol A such as -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane;
ethylene glycol;
Diethylene glycol;
Triethylene glycol;
1,2-propylene glycol;
1,3-propylene glycol;
1,4-butanediol;
Neopentyl glycol;
1,4-butenediol;
1,5-pentanediol;
1,6-hexanediol;
1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol;
Dipropylene glycol;
Polyethylene glycol;
Polypropylene glycol;
Polytetramethylene glycol;
Sorbitol (sorbitol);
1,2,3,6-hexanetetrol;
1,4-sorbitan;
Pentaerythritol;
Dipentaerythritol;
Tripentaerythritol;
1,2,4-butanetriol;
1,2,5-pentanetriol;
Glycerin;
2-methylpropanetriol;
2-methyl-1,2,4-butanetriol;
Trimethylolethane;
Trimethylolpropane;
1,3,5-trihydroxymethylbenzene and the like can be mentioned.

  Among these, as the alcohol monomer component, an aromatic diol is preferable. In the alcohol monomer component for constituting (synthesizing) the polyester resin, the aromatic diol is preferably contained in an amount of 80 mol% or more.

On the other hand, as an acid monomer component such as the divalent or higher carboxylic acid, divalent or higher carboxylic acid anhydride, divalent or higher carboxylic acid ester, for example,
Aromatic dicarboxylic acids such as phthalic acid, isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid or anhydrides thereof;
Alkyl dicarboxylic acids such as succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid and azelaic acid or anhydrides thereof;
Succinic acid or anhydride thereof substituted with an alkyl or alkenyl group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms;
Examples thereof include unsaturated dicarboxylic acids such as fumaric acid, maleic acid and citraconic acid or anhydrides thereof.

  Among these, as the acid monomer component, terephthalic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, fumaric acid, trimellitic acid, pyromellitic acid, benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid or their anhydrides are preferable.

  The acid value of the polyester resin is preferably 1 mgKOH / g or more and 20 mgKOH / g or less from the viewpoint of the stability of the triboelectric charge amount of the toner.

  In addition, the acid value of resin can be adjusted by adjusting the kind and usage-amount (blending amount) of the monomer used for manufacture of resin. For example, it can be adjusted by adjusting the ratio of the alcohol monomer component / acid monomer component at the time of resin production and the molecular weight. Further, after ester condensation polymerization, the terminal alcohol can be adjusted by reacting with a polyvalent acid monomer (for example, trimellitic acid).

  The toner particles according to the present invention preferably contain a polymer having a structure formed by a reaction between a vinyl resin component and a hydrocarbon compound (preferably polyolefin).

As a polymer having a structure formed by a reaction between the vinyl resin component and a hydrocarbon compound,
A graft polymer having a structure in which a polyolefin is grafted onto a vinyl resin component;
A graft polymer having a structure in which a vinyl resin component is grafted to a polyolefin;
Is preferred.

  The polymer having a structure obtained by reacting the vinyl resin component and the hydrocarbon compound is like a surfactant with respect to the binder resin and wax melted in the kneading process or the surface smoothing process at the time of toner production. Work nicely. Therefore, the polymer having a structure in which the vinyl resin component and the hydrocarbon compound react with each other is used to control the dispersed particle diameter of the wax in the toner particles and, if necessary, the surface treatment with hot air. This contributes to the control of the transfer speed of the toner particles to the surface.

  In the polymer having a structure in which the vinyl resin component and the hydrocarbon compound are reacted, the hydrocarbon compound (polyolefin) is a polymer or copolymer of an unsaturated hydrocarbon monomer having a double bond. Preferably used. Among these, polyethylene and polypropylene are preferably used.

As a vinyl monomer for producing the vinyl resin component, for example,
Styrene, o-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, p-methoxystyrene, p-phenylstyrene, p-chlorostyrene, 3,4-dichlorostyrene, p-ethylstyrene, 2,4-dimethyl Styrene, pn-butyl styrene, p-tert-butyl styrene, pn-hexyl styrene, pn-octyl styrene, pn-nonyl styrene, pn-decyl styrene, pn-dodecyl styrene Styrene monomers such as styrene or styrene derivatives (substitutes);
Amino group-containing α-methylene aliphatic monocarboxylic acid esters such as dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate and diethylaminoethyl methacrylate;
Vinyl monomers containing nitrogen atoms such as acrylic acid or methacrylic acid derivatives such as acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylamide;
Unsaturated dibasic acids such as maleic acid, citraconic acid, itaconic acid, alkenyl succinic acid, fumaric acid, mesaconic acid;
Unsaturated dibasic acid anhydrides such as maleic anhydride, citraconic anhydride, itaconic anhydride, alkenyl succinic anhydride;
Maleic acid methyl half ester, maleic acid ethyl half ester, maleic acid butyl half ester, citraconic acid methyl half ester, citraconic acid ethyl half ester, citraconic acid butyl half ester, itaconic acid methyl half ester, alkenyl succinic acid methyl half ester, fumarate Half esters of unsaturated dibasic acids such as acid methyl half esters and mesaconic acid methyl half esters;
Unsaturated dibasic acids such as dimethylmaleic acid and dimethylfumaric acid;
Α, β-unsaturated acids such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, cinnamic acid;
Α, β-unsaturated acid anhydrides such as crotonic acid anhydride and cinnamic acid anhydride, anhydrides of α, β-unsaturated acids and lower fatty acids;
Vinyl monomers containing a carboxyl group such as alkenyl malonic acid, alkenyl glutaric acid, alkenyl adipic acid, anhydrides thereof, or monoesters thereof;
Acrylic acid or methacrylic acid esters such as 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, 4- (1-hydroxy-1-methylbutyl) styrene, 4- (1-hydroxy-1-methyl) Hexyl) vinyl monomers containing hydroxy groups such as styrene;
Methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, acrylate-n-butyl, acrylate isobutyl, propyl acrylate, acrylate-n-octyl, dodecyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, acrylate-2- An ester unit comprising an acrylic ester such as chloroethyl and acrylic ester such as phenyl acrylate;
Methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, methacrylate-n-butyl, methacrylate isobutyl, methacrylate-n-octyl, methacrylate-decyl, methacrylate-2-ethylhexyl, stearyl methacrylate, phenyl methacrylate, methacryl Examples include ester units composed of methacrylic acid esters such as α-methylene aliphatic monocarboxylic acid esters such as dimethylaminoethyl acid and diethylaminoethyl methacrylate.

  The polymer having a structure obtained by reacting the vinyl resin component and the hydrocarbon compound is produced by a reaction between monomers as described above, a reaction between a monomer of one polymer and the other polymer, or the like. be able to.

  The structural unit of the vinyl resin component preferably includes a styrene structural unit, and more preferably includes acrylonitrile and / or methacrylonitrile in addition to the styrene structural unit.

  The mass ratio of the hydrocarbon compound to the vinyl resin component (hydrocarbon compound / vinyl resin component) in the polymer having a structure obtained by the reaction of the vinyl resin component and the hydrocarbon compound is 1/99 to 75. / 25 is preferable. It is preferable to adjust the hydrocarbon compound and the vinyl resin component within the above range from the viewpoint of satisfactorily dispersing the wax in the toner particles. Further, when heat-treating the toner particles (surface treatment with hot air), it is also preferable from the viewpoint of controlling the transfer rate of the wax to the surface of the toner particles.

  The content of the polymer having a structure obtained by the reaction of the vinyl resin component and the hydrocarbon compound in the toner particles is 0.2 parts by mass or more and 20 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin in the toner particles. It is preferable that it is below mass parts. It is preferable from the viewpoint of satisfactorily dispersing the wax in the toner particles that the polymer having a structure obtained by the reaction of the vinyl resin component and the hydrocarbon compound is contained in the above range. Further, when heat-treating the toner particles (surface treatment with hot air), it is also preferable from the viewpoint of controlling the transfer rate of the wax to the surface of the toner particles.

[wax]
Examples of the wax used in the toner particles according to the present invention include:
Hydrocarbon waxes such as low molecular weight polyethylene, low molecular weight polypropylene, alkylene copolymers, microcrystalline wax, paraffin wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax;
Oxides of hydrocarbon waxes such as oxidized polyethylene wax or block copolymers thereof;
Waxes based on fatty acid esters such as carnauba wax;
Deoxidized part or all of fatty acid esters such as deoxidized carnauba wax;
Saturated linear fatty acids such as palmitic acid, stearic acid, and montanic acid;
Unsaturated fatty acids such as brassic acid, eleostearic acid, parinaric acid;
Saturated alcohols such as stearyl alcohol, aralkyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, carnauvyl alcohol, seryl alcohol, melyl alcohol;
Polyhydric alcohols such as sorbitol;
Esters of fatty acids such as palmitic acid, stearic acid, behenic acid, montanic acid, and alcohols such as stearyl alcohol, aralkyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, carnauvyl alcohol, seryl alcohol, melyl alcohol;
Fatty acid amides such as linoleic acid amide, oleic acid amide, lauric acid amide;
Saturated fatty acid bisamides such as methylene bis-stearic acid amide, ethylene bis-capric acid amide, ethylene bis-lauric acid amide, hexamethylene bis-stearic acid amide;
Unsaturated fatty acid amides such as ethylene bis oleic acid amide, hexamethylene bis oleic acid amide, N, N ′ dioleyl adipic acid amide, N, N ′ dioleyl sebacic acid amide;
aromatic bisamides such as m-xylene bis-stearic acid amide and N, N ′ distearyl isophthalic acid amide;
Aliphatic metal salts (commonly called metal soaps) such as calcium stearate, calcium laurate, zinc stearate, magnesium stearate;
Waxes grafted to aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes using vinyl monomers such as styrene and acrylic acid;
Partial esterified product of fatty acid such as behenic acid monoglyceride and polyhydric alcohol;
Examples include methyl ester compounds having a hydroxyl group obtained by hydrogenation of vegetable oils.

  Among these, hydrocarbon waxes such as paraffin wax and Fischer-Tropsch wax are preferable from the viewpoint of improving low-temperature fixability and improving anti-fixing wrapping property (hardness to wrap around a fixing member).

  The content of the wax in the toner particles is preferably 0.5 parts by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin in the toner particles.

  From the viewpoint of achieving both the storage stability of the toner and the high-temperature offset resistance, the toner has an endothermic curve at a temperature rise of 30 ° C. or higher and 200 ° C. or lower as measured by DSC (differential scanning calorimeter, the same shall apply hereinafter). It is preferable that the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak existing in this temperature range is 50 ° C. or higher and 110 ° C. or lower.

[Colorant]
The toner particles according to the present invention may contain a colorant.

  As the colorant, a pigment may be used alone, or a dye and a pigment may be used in combination. From the viewpoint of improving the definition and improving the image quality of a full color image, it is preferable to use a dye and a pigment in combination.

  Examples of the colorant used in the toner particles according to the present invention include the following.

Examples of black colorants include:
Carbon black;
Examples thereof include those prepared by adjusting the color to black using a yellow colorant, a magenta colorant, and a cyan colorant.

Among the magenta colorants, as the pigment, for example,
C. I. Pigment Red 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 48: 2, 48: 3, 48: 4, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57: 1, 58, 60, 63, 64, 68, 81: 1, 83, 87, 88, 89, 90, 112, 114, 122, 123, 146, 147, 150, 163, 184, 202, 206, 207, 209, 238, 269, 282;
C. I. Pigment violet 19;
C. I. Bat Red 1, 2, 10, 13, 15, 23, 29, 35
Etc.

Among the magenta colorants, examples of the dye include
C. I. Solvent Red 1, 3, 8, 23, 24, 25, 27, 30, 49, 81, 82, 83, 84, 100, 109, 121;
C. I. Disperse thread 9;
C. I. Solvent violet 8, 13, 14, 21, 27;
C. I. Disper Violet 1
Oil-soluble dyes such as
C. I. Basic Red 1, 2, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 27, 29, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40;
C. I. Basic violet 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 15, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28
And basic dyes.

Among the cyan colorants, as the pigment, for example,
C. I. Pigment blue 2, 3, 15: 2, 15: 3, 15: 4, 16, 17;
C. I. Bat Blue 6;
C. I. Acid Blue 45;
Examples thereof include copper phthalocyanine pigments having 1 to 5 phthalimidomethyl groups substituted on the phthalocyanine skeleton.

Among the cyan colorants, as the dye, for example,
C. I. Solvent Blue 70
Etc.

Among the yellow colorants, as the pigment, for example,
C. I. Pigment Yellow 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 23, 62, 65, 73, 74, 83, 93, 94, 95, 97, 109, 110, 111, 120, 127, 128, 129, 147, 151, 154, 155, 168, 174, 175, 176, 180, 181, 185;
C. I. Bat Yellow 1, 3, 20
Etc.

Among the yellow colorants,
C. I. Solvent Yellow 162
Etc.

  The content of the colorant in the toner particles is preferably 0.1 parts by mass or more and 30 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin in the toner particles.

[Charge control agent]
A negative or positive charge control agent can be internally or externally added to the toner particles according to the present invention as required.

  As the charge control agent, a metal compound of an aromatic carboxylic acid that is colorless, has a high toner charging speed, and can stably maintain a constant charge amount is preferable. Also, negative charge control agents are preferred.

As a negative charge control agent, for example,
Salicylic acid metal compounds;
Naphthoic acid metal compounds;
Dicarboxylic acid metal compounds;
A polymer compound having a sulfonic acid or carboxylic acid in the side chain;
A polymer type compound having a sulfonate or a sulfonated ester in the side chain;
A polymer compound having a carboxylate or a carboxylate ester in the side chain;
Boron compounds;
Urea compounds;
Silicon compounds;
Examples include calix arene.

  The charge control agent may be added internally or externally to the toner particles.

  The use amount (internal addition amount or external addition amount) of the charge control agent is preferably 0.2 parts by mass or more and 10 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin in the toner particles.

[External additive]
If necessary, an external additive can be externally added to the toner particles according to the present invention from the viewpoint of improving the fluidity of the toner particles and adjusting the triboelectric charge amount of the toner.

  Examples of the external additive include inorganic fine particles such as silicon oxide (silica), titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, and strontium titanate. The inorganic fine particles used as the external additive are preferably hydrophobized with a hydrophobizing agent such as a silane compound, silicone oil, or a mixture thereof.

The specific surface area of the external additive, from the viewpoint of suppressing embedding of the external additive to the toner particles, it is preferable 10 m 2 / ^g or more 50m 2 / ^g or less.

  The amount of the external additive used (addition amount / external addition amount) is preferably 0.1 parts by mass or more and 5.0 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the toner particles.

  A mixer such as a Henschel mixer can be used for mixing the toner particles and the external additive.

[Production method]
Various manufacturing methods can be employed as the toner manufacturing method.

  Hereinafter, a toner manufacturing method using a pulverization method will be described as an example.

  In the raw material mixing step, as a material (raw material) for constituting toner particles, for example, a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, and other components such as a charge control agent as required are respectively weighed in predetermined amounts. And mix.

  Examples of the mixing device include a double-con mixer, a V-type mixer, a drum-type mixer, a super mixer, a Henschel mixer, a nauter mixer, and a mechano hybrid (manufactured by Nippon Coke Industries, Ltd.).

Next, the mixed material is melt-kneaded to disperse a colorant, wax, or the like in the binder resin. Examples of the melt kneader include a batch kneader such as a pressure kneader and a Banbury mixer, and a continuous kneader. Among these, a single screw extruder and a twin screw extruder are preferable from the viewpoint of continuous production. As such an extruder, for example,
KTK type twin screw extruder (manufactured by Kobe Steel)
TEM type twin screw extruder (manufactured by Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd.),
PCM kneader (made by Ikegai Co., Ltd.),
2-axis extruder (manufactured by Kay C. K.)
Ko Kneader (Bus)
Needex (Nippon Coke Kogyo Co., Ltd.)
Etc.

  The resin composition obtained by melt kneading may be rolled with two rolls or cooled with water or the like.

  Next, in the pulverization step, the cooled resin composition is pulverized until a predetermined particle size is obtained. In the pulverization step, for example, after coarsely pulverizing with a pulverizer such as a crusher, a hammer mill, or a feather mill, for example, a kryptron system (manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.), a super rotor (manufactured by Nisshin Engineering Co., Ltd.) Then, it is finely pulverized with a turbo mill (manufactured by Freund Turbo Industry Co., Ltd.) or an air jet type fine pulverizer.

  After crushing, if necessary, inertial class elbow jet (manufactured by Nippon Steel & Mining Co., Ltd.), centrifugal classifier type turboplex (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation), TSP separator (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation), Faculty Classification is performed using a classifier such as (made by Hosokawa Micron Corporation) or a sieving machine to obtain toner particles.

  In addition, after pulverization, a hybridization system (manufactured by Nara Machinery Co., Ltd.), a mechano-fusion system (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd.), a faculty (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd.), Meteorinbo MR Type (Japan) You may process a toner particle, such as a spheroidization process, using a pneumatic industry Co., Ltd. product.

  In the present invention, silica fine particles are dispersed on the surface of the toner particles obtained by the above production method, and heat treatment (surface treatment with hot air) is performed in a state where the silica fine particles are dispersed on the surface of the toner particles. It is preferable to fix to the surface of the particles.

  In the present invention, for example, the toner can be obtained by performing heat treatment (surface treatment with hot air) using the surface treatment apparatus (thermal spheronization treatment apparatus) shown in FIG. 1 and classifying as necessary.

  The mixture quantitatively supplied by the raw material fixed supply means 1 is guided to the introduction pipe 3 installed on the vertical line of the raw material supply means by the compressed gas adjusted by the compressed gas adjusting means 2. The mixture that has passed through the introduction pipe is uniformly dispersed by a conical projection-like member 4 provided at the center of the raw material supply means, and is guided to the eight-direction supply pipe 5 that spreads radially, whereby a heat treatment is performed. 6 is supplied.

  At this time, the flow of the mixture supplied to the processing chamber is regulated by regulating means 9 for regulating the flow of the mixture provided in the processing chamber 6. For this reason, the mixture supplied to the processing chamber 6 is cooled after being heat-treated while turning inside the processing chamber 6.

  Heat for heat-treating the mixture supplied to the processing chamber 6 is supplied from the heat supply means 7, distributed by the distribution member 12, and the swirling member 13 for swirling the hot air generates hot air inside the processing chamber 6. It is introduced by turning in a spiral. As the structure, the turning member 13 for turning hot air has a plurality of blades, and the turning of hot air can be controlled by the number and angle of the blades. Regarding the temperature of the hot air supplied to the inside of the processing chamber 6, the temperature at the outlet of the hot air supply means 7 is preferably 100 ° C. or higher and 300 ° C. or lower, and more preferably 130 ° C. or higher and 170 ° C. or lower. If the temperature of the hot air at the outlet of the hot air supply means is within the above range, the toner particles can be spheroidized more uniformly while suppressing fusing and coalescence of the toner particles due to overheating of the mixture. it can. The average circularity of the toner after the spheronization treatment (heat treatment) is preferably 0.955 or more and 0.980 or less.

  Hot air is supplied from the hot air supply means outlet 11.

  The heat-treated post-heat treated toner particles (heat treated toner particles) are cooled by the cold air supplied from the cold air supply means 8. The temperature of the cold air supplied from the cold air supply means 8 is preferably −20 ° C. or higher and 30 ° C. or lower. When the temperature of the cold air is within the above range, the toner particles after the heat treatment can be cooled more efficiently, and the uniform spheroidizing treatment of the mixture is less likely to be inhibited. Can be suppressed.

The absolute moisture content of the cold air is preferably 0.5 g / m ³ or more and 15.0 g / m ³ or less.

  The cooled toner particles after the heat treatment are collected by the collecting means 10 at the lower end of the processing chamber 6. In addition, a blower (not shown) is provided at the tip of the collecting means 10, and is configured to be sucked and conveyed by the blower.

  The powder particle supply port 14 is provided so that the swirling direction of the supplied mixture is the same as the swirling direction of the hot air. The recovery means 10 of the surface treatment apparatus is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the processing chamber so as to maintain the swirling direction of the swirled powder particles. The cold air supplied from the cold air supply means 8 is configured to be supplied horizontally and tangentially from the outer peripheral portion of the surface treatment apparatus to the inner peripheral surface of the processing chamber 6. The swirl direction of the pre-heat treatment toner particles supplied from the powder particle supply port 14, the swirl direction of the cool air supplied from the cool air supply means, and the swirl direction of the hot air supplied from the hot air supply means are all the same direction. . For this reason, turbulent flow is less likely to occur inside the processing chamber 6, the swirling flow inside the surface treatment apparatus is strengthened, a strong centrifugal force is applied to the toner particles before heat treatment, and the dispersibility of the toner particles before heat treatment is improved. In addition, toner particles having a uniform shape and a small number of coalesced particles can be obtained after heat treatment.

  Further, if necessary, further surface modification or spheronization treatment may be performed using a hybridization system manufactured by Nara Machinery Co., Ltd., a mechano-fusion system manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation, or the like. Further, if necessary, a sieving machine such as a wind-type sieve high voltor (manufactured by Shin Tokyo Machinery Co., Ltd.) may be used.

  Thereafter, if necessary, other inorganic fine particles may be externally added to the toner particles to improve the fluidity and charging stability of the toner. Examples of the mixing device include a double-con mixer, a V-type mixer, a drum-type mixer, a super mixer, a Henschel mixer, a nauter mixer, and a mechano hybrid (manufactured by Nippon Coke Industries, Ltd.).

  Hereinafter, a method for measuring physical properties according to the present invention will be described.

[Measurement Method of Developer Loose Apparent Density ρ _b and Tap Density ρ _t ]
For the measurement, a powder tester PT-R (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation) was used.

First, the loose apparent density ρ _b (g / cm ³ ) was measured. As a measurement sample, a developer conditioned for 24 hours in an environment of 23 ° C./50% RH was used. The measurement was performed in an environment of 23 ° C./50% RH. In addition, the measurement was performed by collecting the developer in a metal cup having a volume of 100 mL using a sieve having an opening of 75 μm and vibrating at an amplitude of 1 mm, and scraping the developer so as to be exactly 100 mL. And the loose apparent density ρ _b (g / cm ³ ) was calculated from the mass of the sample collected in the metal cup.

Next, the apparent apparent density (tap density) ρ _t (g / cm ³ ) was measured. Using a sieve with a mesh opening of 75 μm, the sample was replenished so as to overflow from the metallic cup while vibrating with an amplitude of 1 mm, and the metallic cup was tapped 180 times up and down with an amplitude of 18 mm. From the mass of the sample after tapping, the apparent apparent density (tap density) ρ _t (g / cm ³ ) was calculated.

And compression degree Ct was calculated | required by the following formula.
Ct (%) = 100 × (ρ _t −ρ _b ) / ρ _t

[Measurement method of weight average particle diameter (D4)]
The weight average particle diameter (D4) of the toner was measured using a precision particle size distribution measuring apparatus (trade name: Coulter Counter Multisizer 3) manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc. using a pore electrical resistance method equipped with an aperture tube of 100 μm, Using the dedicated software (product name: Beckman Coulter Multisizer 3 Version 3.51) attached to the device for analyzing the measurement data, the measurement data is analyzed with 25,000 effective measurement channels, Calculated.

  As the electrolytic aqueous solution used for the measurement, special grade sodium chloride is dissolved in ion-exchanged water so as to have a concentration of about 1% by mass, for example, ISOTON II (trade name) manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc. can be used. .

  Before the measurement and analysis, the dedicated software was set as follows.

  In the “Change Standard Measurement Method (SOM) Change Screen” of the dedicated software, the total count in the control mode is set to 50000 particles, the number of measurements is set to 1 and the Kd value is the standard particle 10 manufactured by Beckman Coulter. The value obtained using 0 μm was set. The threshold and noise level were automatically set by pressing the threshold / noise level measurement button. Also, the current was set to 1600 μA, the gain was set to 2, the electrolyte was set to ISOTON II, and the aperture tube flash after measurement was checked.

  In the “Pulse to particle size conversion setting screen” of the above dedicated software, the bin interval is set to logarithmic particle size, the particle size bin is set to 256 particle size bin, and the particle size range is set from 2 μm to 60 μm. .

  The specific measurement method is as follows.

  (1) About 200 mL of the above electrolytic solution was placed in a glass 250 mL round bottom beaker exclusively for the Multisizer 3, set on a sample stand, and stirred by rotating the stirrer rod at 24 rpm. Dirt and air bubbles inside the aperture tube were removed by the “aperture flush” function of the above-mentioned dedicated software.

  (2) About 30 mL of the electrolytic solution was placed in a glass 100 mL flat bottom beaker. In this, as a dispersant, Contaminone N (trade name) manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd. (neutral detergent for cleaning a precision measuring instrument having a pH of 7 consisting of a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant and an organic builder) About 10 mL of a diluted solution obtained by diluting 3 times (mass ratio) with ion exchange water was added.

  (3) A predetermined amount of ion-exchanged water is placed in a water tank of an ultrasonic power disperser (trade name: Ultrasonic Dispersion System Tetora 150) manufactured by Nikka Ki Bios Co., Ltd. About 2 mL of N was added. The ultrasonic disperser incorporates two oscillators with an oscillation frequency of 50 kHz with the phase shifted by 180 degrees.

  (4) The beaker of (2) was set in the beaker fixing hole of the ultrasonic disperser, and the ultrasonic disperser was operated. The height position of the beaker was adjusted so that the resonance state of the liquid surface of the electrolytic aqueous solution in the beaker was maximized.

  (5) In a state where the electrolytic aqueous solution in the beaker of (4) was irradiated with ultrasonic waves, about 10 mg of toner was added to the electrolytic aqueous solution little by little and dispersed. Then, the ultrasonic dispersion treatment was further continued for 60 seconds. In addition, in ultrasonic dispersion | distribution, it adjusted suitably so that the water temperature of a water tank might be 10 to 40 degreeC.

  (6) Into the round bottom beaker (1) installed in the sample stand, the electrolyte solution of (5) above, in which the toner is dispersed, is dropped using a pipette, and the measurement concentration is adjusted to about 5%. did. The measurement was performed until the number of measured particles reached 50,000.

  (7) The measurement data was analyzed using the dedicated software attached to the apparatus, and the weight average particle diameter (D4) was calculated. The “average diameter” on the analysis / volume statistics (arithmetic average) screen when the graph / volume% is set in the dedicated software is the weight average particle diameter (D4).

[Measurement method of average circularity of toner]
The average circularity of the toner was measured with a flow type particle image analyzer (trade name: FPIA-3000) manufactured by Sysmex Corporation under the measurement conditions and analysis conditions during calibration.

  The specific measurement method is as follows.

  First, about 20 mL of ion-exchanged water from which impure solids were previously removed was put in a glass container. About 0.2 mL of a diluted solution obtained by diluting the above-mentioned Contaminone N with ion-exchanged water 3 times (mass ratio) as a dispersant was added thereto. Further, about 0.02 g of toner as a measurement sample was added, and dispersion treatment was performed for 2 minutes using an ultrasonic dispersing device to obtain a dispersion for measurement. In that case, it adjusted suitably so that the temperature of a dispersion liquid might be 10 degreeC or more and 40 degrees C or less. As the ultrasonic disperser, a desktop ultrasonic washer disperser (for example, “VS-150” (manufactured by Vervo Crea)) having an oscillation frequency of 50 kHz and an electric output of 150 W was used. A predetermined amount of ion-exchanged water was placed in the water tank, and about 2 mL of the above-mentioned Contaminone N was added to this water tank.

  For the measurement, the above flow type particle image analyzer equipped with “UPlanApro” (magnification 10 ×, numerical aperture 0.40) as an objective lens was used. As the sheath liquid, a particle sheath (trade name: PSE-900A) manufactured by Sysmex Corporation was used.

  The dispersion prepared in accordance with the above procedure was introduced into the flow type particle image analyzer, and 3000 toner particles were measured in the total count mode in the HPF measurement mode. Then, the binarization threshold at the time of particle analysis was set to 85%, the analysis particle diameter was limited to a circle equivalent diameter of 1.985 μm or more and less than 39.69 μm, and the average circularity of the toner was determined.

  Prior to the start of measurement, automatic focus adjustment was performed using standard latex particles (for example, a RESEARCH AND TEST PARTICLES Latex Microsphere Suspensions 5200A (trade name) manufactured by Duke Scientific) diluted with ion-exchanged water. . Thereafter, focus adjustment was performed every 2 hours from the start of measurement.

  In the present invention, a flow type particle image measuring apparatus which has been calibrated by Sysmex Corporation and has received a calibration certificate issued by Sysmex Corporation is used. The measurement was performed under the measurement conditions and analysis conditions when the calibration certificate was received, except that the analysis particle diameter was limited to a circle equivalent diameter of 1.985 μm or more and less than 39.69 μm.

  The measurement principle of the FPIA-3000 is to capture flowing particles as a still image and perform image analysis. The sample (particles) added to the sample chamber is sent to the flat sheath flow cell by the sample suction syringe. The sample fed into the flat sheath flow is sandwiched between sheath liquids to form a flat flow. The sample passing through the flat sheath flow cell is irradiated with strobe light at 1/60 second intervals, and the flowing particles can be photographed as a still image. Further, since the flow is flat, the image is taken in a focused state. The particle image is picked up by a CCD camera, and the picked-up image is image-processed at an image processing resolution of 512 × 512 pixels (0.37 μm × 0.37 μm per pixel), the contour of each particle image is extracted, and the particle image The projected area S, the peripheral length L, etc. are measured.

Next, the equivalent circle diameter and the circularity were obtained using the area S and the peripheral length L. The equivalent circle diameter is the diameter of a circle having the same area as the projected area of the particle image. The circularity is defined as a value obtained by dividing the circumference of a circle obtained from the equivalent circle diameter by the circumference of the particle projection image, and is calculated by the following equation.
Circularity = 2 × (π × S) ^1/2 / L
When the particle image is circular, the degree of circularity is 1.000, and the degree of circularity becomes smaller as the degree of unevenness on the outer periphery of the particle image increases. After calculating the circularity of each particle, the range of the circularity of 0.200 to 1.000 is divided into 800, the arithmetic average value of the obtained circularity is calculated, and the value is defined as the average circularity.

[Image forming apparatus using developer supply cartridge]
Hereinafter, the basic configuration of an image forming apparatus in which the developer supply cartridge of the present invention is used will be described. Subsequently, a developer supply system mounted on the image forming apparatus, that is, a developer supply device and a developer supply kit. The configuration will be described.

[Image forming apparatus]
As an example of an image forming apparatus equipped with a developer supply device to which a developer supply cartridge is detachably mounted, the configuration of an image forming apparatus (copier) employing an electrophotographic system will be described with reference to FIG. .

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus (copier).

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a main body of the image forming apparatus. A document 101 is placed on the document glass 102. Then, a light image corresponding to the image information of the original is imaged on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 104 (hereinafter also referred to as “photosensitive member”) by the plurality of mirrors M and the lens Ln of the optical unit 103 to be photosensitive. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the body 104.

  This electrostatic latent image is developed (visualized) using toner as a developer by the developing device 201 a, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 104.

  Reference numeral 111 denotes a transfer charger, and reference numeral 112 denotes a separation charger.

  The toner image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 104 is transferred onto a transfer material (a sheet such as paper) S by the transfer charger 111. Then, the transfer material S onto which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photoreceptor 104 by the separation charger 112.

  Thereafter, the transfer material S conveyed by the conveyance unit 113 receives heat and pressure at the fixing unit 114. As a result, the toner image on the transfer material S is fixed and then discharged onto the discharge tray 117 by the discharge roller 116.

  In the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus, an image forming process device such as a developing unit 201a as a developing unit, a cleaner 202 as a cleaning unit, and a primary charger 203 as a charging unit is installed around the photosensitive member 104. . The developing device 201 develops the electrostatic latent image by attaching a developer (toner) to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member 104 by the optical unit 103 based on the image information of the document 101. The primary charger 203 is for uniformly charging the surface of the photoreceptor in order to form a desired electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor 104. The cleaner 202 is for removing the developer (toner) remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 104 after the toner image is transferred onto the transfer material S.

[Developer supply device]
A developer supply device that is a component of the developer supply system will be described with reference to FIGS.

  3A is a partial cross-sectional view of the developing device 201, FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the mounting portion 10 to which the developer supply container 1 is mounted, and FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the mounting portion 10. FIG.

  4A is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a developer supply container and a developer supply device, and FIG. 4B is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the developer supply container and the developer supply device. is there.

  The developer supply device includes a mounting portion (mounting space) 10 where the developer supply container 1 is detachably mounted (detachable), and a hopper 10a for temporarily storing the developer discharged from the developer supply container 1. And a developing device 201.

  The developer supply container 1 is configured to be mounted in the M direction with respect to the mounting portion 10 as shown in FIG. In other words, the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the mounting portion 10 so that the longitudinal direction (rotation axis direction) thereof substantially coincides with the M direction. The M direction is substantially parallel to the X direction in FIG. The direction in which the developer supply container 1 is removed from the mounting portion 10 is opposite to the M direction.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3A, the developing device 201 includes a developing roller 201f, a stirring member 201c, and feeding members 201d and 201e. Then, the developer replenished from the developer replenishing container 1 is agitated by the agitating member 201c, sent to the developing roller 201f by the feeding members 201d and 201e, and supplied to the photoconductor 104 by the developing roller 201f.

  The developing roller 201f is provided with a developing blade 201g that regulates the amount of developer coating on the roller, and a leakage suppression sheet 201h that is placed in contact with the developing roller 201f to suppress leakage of the developer between the developing roller 201f. It has been.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the mounting portion 10 is in contact with the flange portion 4 (see FIG. 5A) of the developer supply container 1 when the developer supply container 1 is mounted. A rotation direction restricting portion (holding mechanism) 11 for restricting movement of the portion 4 in the rotation direction is provided.

  When the developer supply container 1 is mounted, the mounting portion 10 communicates with a discharge port (discharge hole) 4a (see FIG. 5B) of the developer supply container 1 to be described later. A developer receiving port 13 for receiving the discharged developer is provided. Then, the developer is supplied from the discharge port 4 a of the developer supply container 1 to the developing device 201 through the developer receiving port 13.

  In this example, the diameter of the developer receiving port 13 is set to about 3 mm as a fine port (pinhole) from the viewpoint of suppressing contamination by the developer in the mounting portion 10 as much as possible. The diameter of the developer receiving port may be any diameter that allows the developer to be discharged from the discharge port 4a.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4A, the hopper 10a is accommodated in the conveying screw 10b for conveying the developer to the developing device 201a, the opening 10c communicating with the developing device 201a, and the hopper 10a. It has a developer sensor 10d for detecting the amount of the developer.

  As shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the mounting unit 10 has a drive gear 300 that functions as a drive mechanism (drive unit). A rotational driving force is transmitted to the driving gear 300 via a driving gear train from a driving motor 500 (not shown), and the rotational driving force is applied to the developer supply container 1 set in the mounting portion 10. It has a function to grant.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the drive motor 500 is configured to be controlled by a control device (CPU) 600. As shown in FIG. 4A, the control device 600 is configured to control the operation of the drive motor 500 based on the developer remaining amount information input from the remaining amount sensor 10d.

  In this example, the drive gear 300 is set to rotate only in one direction in order to simplify the control of the drive motor 500. That is, the control device 600 is configured to control only the on (operation) / off (non-operation) of the drive motor 500. Therefore, the developer replenishing device 201 has a reversal driving force obtained by periodically reversing the drive motor 500 (drive gear 300) in the forward direction and the reverse direction. The drive mechanism can be simplified.

[Mounting / removing developer supply container]
A method for mounting / removing the developer supply container 1 will be described.

  First, the operator opens the replacement cover, inserts the developer supply container 1 into the mounting portion 10 of the developer supply device, and mounts it. With this mounting operation, the flange portion 4 of the developer supply container 1 is held and fixed by the developer supply device.

  Thereafter, the mounting process is completed when the operator closes the replacement cover. Thereafter, the control device 600 controls the drive motor 500 to rotate the drive gear 300 at an appropriate timing.

  When the developer in the developer supply container 1 becomes empty, the operator opens the replacement cover and takes out the developer supply container 1 from the mounting portion 10. Then, a new developer replenishing container 1 prepared in advance is inserted into the mounting portion 10, mounted, and the replacement cover is closed, whereby the replacement operation from taking out the developer replenishing container 1 to remounting is completed.

[Developer supply control by developer supply device]
Developer supply control by the developer supply device will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4C is a flowchart for explaining the flow of developer replenishment.

  The developer replenishment control is executed by controlling various devices by a control device (CPU) 600.

  In this example, the control device 600 controls whether the drive motor 500 is activated or deactivated according to the output of the developer sensor 10d, so that a predetermined amount or more of developer is not accommodated in the hopper 10a. ing.

  Specifically, first, the developer sensor 10d checks the amount of developer contained in the hopper 10a (S100). Then, when the developer is not detected by the developer sensor 10d (when the developer storage amount is less than the predetermined amount), the drive motor 500 is driven, and the developer replenishment operation is executed for a predetermined time (S101). ).

  As a result of the developer replenishment operation, when the developer is detected by the developer sensor 10d (when the developer storage amount reaches a predetermined amount), the drive motor 500 is turned off and the developer replenishment operation is performed. Stop (S102). By stopping the replenishment operation, a series of developer replenishment steps is completed.

  Such a developer replenishing step is configured to be repeatedly executed when the developer is consumed with image formation and the amount of developer contained in the hopper 10a becomes less than a predetermined amount.

  As described above, the developer discharged from the developer supply container 1 may be temporarily stored in the hopper 10a and then supplied to the developing device 201. In this example, the following development is performed. It is the composition of the agent replenishing device.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4B, the above-described hopper 10a is omitted, and the developer is directly supplied from the developer supply container 1 to the developing device 201.

  FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an example in which a two-component developing device 800 is used as a developer supply device.

  The developing device 800 has a stirring chamber in which the developer is replenished and a developing chamber that supplies the developer to the developing sleeve 800a. In the agitation chamber and the developing chamber, an agitation screw 800b in which the developer transport directions are opposite to each other is installed. The stirring chamber and the developing chamber communicate with each other at both ends in the longitudinal direction, and the two-component developer is configured to be circulated and conveyed through these two chambers.

  The stirring chamber is provided with a magnetic sensor 800c that detects the concentration of the toner in the two-component developer, and the controller 600 controls the operation of the drive motor 500 based on the detection result of the magnetic sensor 800c. ing. In this configuration, the developer replenished from the developer replenishing container is a nonmagnetic toner, or a nonmagnetic toner and a magnetic carrier.

  In this example, as will be described later, the developer in the developer supply container 1 is hardly discharged from the discharge port 4a only by the gravitational action, and the developer is discharged by a variable volume operation by the pump unit 3a. Variations in emissions can be suppressed. Therefore, the hopper 10a can be omitted, and even when the hopper 10 is not provided, the developer can be stably supplied to the developing chamber.

[Developer supply container]
The configuration of the developer supply container 1, which is a component of the developer supply system, will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5A is an overall perspective view showing the developer supply container 1, FIG. 5B is a partially enlarged view showing the periphery of the discharge port 4a of the developer supply container 1, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a front view showing a state where the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the mounting portion 10 of the developer supply device.

  6A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the developer supply container, FIG. 6B is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the pump portion is extended to the maximum in use, and FIG. 6C is a pump portion. It is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the state which was shrunk to the maximum on use.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the developer supply container 1 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, and includes a developer storage portion 2 (hereinafter also referred to as “container main body”) having an internal space for storing the developer. ). In this example, the cylindrical portion 2k, the discharge portion 4c (see FIG. 6), and the pump portion 3a (see FIG. 6) function as the developer accommodating portion 2. The developer supply container 1 further has a flange portion 4 (hereinafter also referred to as “non-rotating portion”) on one end side in the longitudinal direction (developer transport direction) of the developer storage portion 2. The cylindrical part 2k is configured to be rotatable relative to the flange part 4. Note that the cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical portion 2k may be a non-circular shape within a range that does not affect the rotational operation in the developer supply step. For example, an elliptical shape or a polygonal shape may be employed.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 6B, the total length L1 of the cylindrical portion 2k functioning as the developer storage chamber is set to about 460 mm, and the outer diameter R1 is set to about 60 mm. Further, the length L2 of the region where the discharge portion 4c functioning as the developer discharge chamber is installed is about 21 mm, and the total length L3 of the pump portion 3a (when it is in the most extended range in use). Is about 29 mm, and as shown in FIG. 6 (c), the total length L 4 of the pump portion 3 a (when it is in the most contracted range in use) is about 24 mm.

  In this example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cylindrical portion 2k and the discharge portion 4c are arranged in the horizontal direction when the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the developer supply device. Yes. That is, the cylindrical portion 2k has a configuration in which the horizontal length is sufficiently longer than the vertical length, and the horizontal direction side is connected to the discharge portion 4c. Accordingly, when the developer replenishing container 1 is mounted on the developer replenishing device, compared to the case where the cylindrical portion 2k is positioned above the discharge portion 4c in the vertical direction, the discharge port 4a described later is provided. The amount of developer present in the toner can be reduced. Therefore, the developer in the vicinity of the discharge port 4a is not easily consolidated, and the intake / exhaust operation can be performed smoothly.

[Material of developer supply container]
In this example, as will be described later, the developer is discharged from the discharge port 4a by changing the volume of the developer supply container 1 by the pump unit 3a. Therefore, it is preferable to employ a material having a rigidity that does not collapse or swell greatly due to a change in volume as the material of the developer supply container 1.

  Further, in this example, the inside of the developer supply container 1 communicates with the outside only through the discharge port 4a, and is configured to be sealed from the outside except for the discharge port 4a. That is, since the configuration in which the developer is discharged from the discharge port 4a by reducing or increasing the volume of the developer supply container 1 by the pump unit 3a is adopted, the airtightness to the extent that stable discharge performance is maintained. Desired.

  Therefore, in this example, the material of the developer accommodating portion 2 and the discharge portion 4c is made of polystyrene resin, and the material of the pump portion 3a is made of polypropylene resin.

  In addition, regarding the material to be used, the developer accommodating portion 2 and the discharge portion 4c are preferably materials that can withstand changes in volume. Examples of such materials include ABS (acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene copolymer), polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like, in addition to the above materials. Further, it may be made of metal.

  As for the material of the pump unit 3a, a material that exhibits an expansion / contraction function and can change the volume of the developer supply container 1 by changing the volume is preferable. For example, ABS (acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene copolymer), polystyrene, polyester, polyethylene or the like may be formed thin. It is also possible to use rubber or other elastic materials.

  In addition, if each of the pump part 3a, the developer accommodating part 2, and the discharge part 4c satisfies the functions described above by adjusting the thickness of the resin material, etc., each is made of the same material, for example, an injection molding method or What was integrally shape | molded using the blow molding method etc. may be used.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the flange portion 4, the cylindrical portion 2k, the pump portion 3a, the drive receiving mechanism 2d, and the drive conversion mechanism 2e (cam groove) in the developer supply container will be described.

[Flange part]
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the flange portion 4 has a hollow discharge portion (developer discharge chamber) 4c for temporarily containing the developer conveyed from the cylindrical portion 2k. Is provided. At the bottom of the discharge portion 4c, a small discharge port 4a for allowing the developer to be discharged out of the developer supply container 1, that is, for supplying the developer to the developer supply device, is formed. Above the discharge port 4a, there is provided a developer storage portion 4d capable of storing a certain amount of developer before discharge. The size of the discharge port 4a will be described later.

  The flange portion 4 is further provided with a shutter 4b for opening and closing the discharge port 4a. The shutter 4b is configured to abut against an abutment portion 21 (see FIG. 3B) provided in the attachment portion 10 in accordance with the attachment operation of the developer supply container 1 to the attachment portion 10. Accordingly, the shutter 4b is moved in the direction of the axis of rotation of the cylindrical portion 2k (the direction opposite to the M direction in FIG. 3C) in accordance with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 to the mounting portion 10. Slide relatively. As a result, the discharge port 4a is exposed from the shutter 4b, and the opening operation is completed.

  At this time, since the position of the discharge port 4a coincides with the developer receiving port 13 of the mounting portion 10, the discharge port 4a communicates with each other, and the developer can be supplied from the developer supply container 1. .

  The flange portion 4 is configured to be substantially immovable when the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the mounting portion 10 of the developer supply device.

Specifically, the rotation direction restricting portion 11 shown in FIG. 3B is provided so that the flange portion 4 does not rotate in the rotation direction of the cylindrical portion 2k. When mounted on the developer supply device, the discharge portion 4c provided on the flange portion 4 is also substantially prevented from rotating in the direction of rotation of the cylindrical portion 2k (the movement of the backlash is not enough). Tolerated.)

  On the other hand, the cylindrical portion 2k is configured to rotate in the developer supply process without being restricted by the developer supply device in the rotation direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a plate-like transport member 6 is provided for transporting the developer transported from the cylindrical portion 2k by the spiral convex portion (transport protrusion) 2c to the discharge portion 4c. ing. The conveying member 6 is provided so as to divide a part of the developer accommodating portion 2 into two substantially, and is configured to rotate integrally with the cylindrical portion 2k. The conveying member 6 is provided with a plurality of inclined ribs 6a inclined on the discharge portion 4c side with respect to the rotation axis direction of the cylindrical portion 2k on both surfaces. In this configuration, a suppression unit 7 is provided at the end of the conveying member 6. The detailed description of the suppression unit 7 will be described later.

  With the above configuration, the developer transported by the transport protrusion 2c is scraped up from the lower side in the vertical direction by the plate-shaped transport member 6 in conjunction with the rotation of the cylindrical portion 2k. Thereafter, as the rotation of the cylindrical portion 2k progresses, it slides down on the surface of the conveying member 6 due to gravity and is eventually delivered to the discharge portion 4c side by the inclined rib 6a. In this configuration, the inclined ribs 6a are provided on both surfaces of the conveying member 6 so that the developer is fed into the discharge portion 4c every time the cylindrical portion 2k makes a half turn.

[Flange outlet]
In this example, the discharge port 4a of the developer supply container 1 is set to a size such that when the developer supply container 1 is in a posture to supply the developer to the developer supply device 10, it is not sufficiently discharged only by gravity action. doing. That is, the opening size of the discharge port 4a is set to be small enough that the developer is not sufficiently discharged from the developer supply container by the gravitational action alone (also referred to as “fine hole (pinhole)”). In other words, the size of the opening is set so that the discharge port 4a is substantially blocked by the developer. Thereby, the following effects can be expected.
(1) The developer is less likely to leak from the discharge port 4a.
(2) Excessive developer discharge when the discharge port 4a is opened can be suppressed.
(3) The discharge of the developer can be made to depend predominantly on the exhaust operation by the pump unit 3a.

The diameter of the discharge port is preferably 4 mm or less (the opening area is 12.6 mm ² , the circumference is calculated as 3.14, and the same shall apply hereinafter). When the diameter of the discharge port is larger than 4 mm, the discharge amount increases rapidly, and stable supply may be difficult. Further, the developer may spill from the discharge port due to the gravity action.

  On the other hand, as the lower limit of the size of the discharge port 4a, the developer to be replenished from the developer replenishing container 1 (magnetic toner for one-component developer, non-magnetic toner for one-component developer, and for two-component developer) The non-magnetic toner and the magnetic carrier) are preferably set to values that can pass through. That is, it is preferable that the outlet be larger than the particle size of the developer contained in the developer supply container 1 (volume average particle size in the case of toner, number average particle size in the case of carrier). For example, when non-magnetic toner and magnetic carrier for two-component developer are included as replenishment developer, the larger particle size, that is, the discharge port larger than the number average particle size of magnetic carrier Is preferred.

Specifically, when the developer to be replenished includes a non-magnetic toner for two-component developer (volume average particle size is 5.5 μm) and a magnetic carrier (number average particle size is 40 μm), It is preferable to set the diameter of 4a to 0.05 mm (opening area 0.002 mm ² ) or more.

  However, if the size of the discharge port 4a is set to a size close to the particle size of the developer, the energy required to discharge a predetermined amount from the developer supply container 1, that is, the pump unit 3a is operated. The energy required for this will increase. In addition, there may be restrictions in manufacturing the developer supply container 1. In order to mold the discharge port 4a in the resin part using the injection molding method, the durability of the mold part that forms the portion of the discharge port 4a becomes severe. From the above, it is preferable that the diameter of the discharge port 4a be 0.5 mm or more.

In this example, the shape of the discharge port 4a is circular. However, if the opening has an opening area of 12.6 mm ² or less, which is an opening area corresponding to a diameter of 4 mm, a square, a rectangle, an ellipse, a straight line The shape can be a combination of a curve and a curve.

  However, when the area of the opening of the circular discharge port is the same, the peripheral length of the edge of the opening where the developer adheres and becomes dirty is the smallest compared to other shapes. Therefore, the amount of developer that spreads in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the shutter 4b is small, and it is difficult to get dirty. In addition, the circular outlet has the lowest resistance when discharging and has the highest discharging performance. Therefore, the shape of the discharge port 4a is preferably a circular shape having the best balance between the discharge amount and the dirt suppression.

From the above, the size of the discharge port 4a is preferably such that the discharge port 4a is vertically discharged downward (assuming a replenishment posture to the developer replenishing device 201) and is not sufficiently discharged only by gravity action. Specifically, the diameter of the outlet 4a is preferably set to the range of 0.05 mm (opening area 0.002 mm ²⁾ or more 4 mm (opening area 12.6 mm ^2). The diameter of the outlet 4a, it is more preferable to set the following range 0.5 mm (opening area 0.2 mm ²⁾ or more 4 mm (opening area 12.6 mm ^2). In this example, from the above viewpoint, the discharge port 4a is circular, and the diameter of the opening is set to 2 mm.

  In this example, the number of outlets 4a is one, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of outlets 4a are provided so that each opening area satisfies the above-described range of opening areas. It is good also as a structure. For example, two discharge ports 4a having a diameter of 0.7 mm are provided for one developer receiving port 13 having a diameter of 3 mm. However, in this case, since the developer discharge amount (per unit time) tends to decrease, a configuration in which one discharge port 4a having a diameter of 2 mm is provided is more preferable.

[Cylindrical part]
Next, the cylindrical portion 2k functioning as a developer storage chamber will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cylindrical portion 2 k has a discharge portion 4 c (discharge port 4 a) that functions as a developer discharge chamber on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 2 k along with its rotation. A conveying protrusion 2c that protrudes in a spiral shape and functions as a means for conveying toward is provided. The cylindrical portion 2k is formed by a blow molding method using the above-described resin.

  When the volume of the developer supply container 1 is increased to increase the filling amount, a method of increasing the volume of the discharge unit 4c as the developer storage unit 2 in the height direction can be considered. However, with such a configuration, the gravity action on the developer near the discharge port 4a is further increased by the dead weight of the developer. As a result, the developer in the vicinity of the discharge port 4a is likely to be consolidated, which hinders intake and exhaust through the discharge port 4a. In this case, in order to loosen the developer that has been compacted by intake air from the discharge port 4a or to discharge the developer by exhaust, it is necessary to further increase the amount of change in the volume of the pump unit 3a. However, as a result, the driving force for driving the pump unit 3a also increases, and the load on the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus may be excessive.

  On the other hand, in this example, the cylindrical portion 2k is horizontally arranged on the flange portion 4 and the filling amount is adjusted by the volume of the cylindrical portion 2k. The thickness of the developer layer on the discharge port 4a inside the container 1 can be set thin. This makes it difficult for the developer to be consolidated by the gravitational action. As a result, the developer can be stably discharged without applying a load to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, the cylindrical portion 2k is compressed with respect to the flange portion 4 in a state where the flange seal 5b of the ring-shaped seal member provided on the inner surface of the flange portion 4 is compressed. It is fixed so that it can rotate relative to the other.

  Thereby, since the cylindrical part 2k rotates while sliding with the flange seal 5b, the developer does not leak during the rotation, and the airtightness is maintained. In other words, air can be appropriately entered and exited through the discharge port 4a, and the volume of the developer supply container 1 during supply can be changed to a desired state.

[Pump part]
A pump unit 3a (which can reciprocate) whose volume is variable with the reciprocation will be described with reference to FIG.

  6A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the developer supply container, FIG. 6B is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the pump portion is extended to the maximum in use, and FIG. 6C is a pump portion. It is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the state which was shrunk to the maximum on use.

  The pump unit 3a of this example functions as an intake / exhaust mechanism that alternately performs intake and exhaust operations via the discharge port 4a. In other words, the pump unit 3a functions as an airflow generation mechanism that alternately and repeatedly generates an airflow that goes to the inside of the developer supply container and an airflow that goes from the developer supply container to the outside through the discharge port 4a.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the pump unit 3a is provided in the X direction from the discharge unit 4c. That is, the pump part 3a is provided so as not to rotate in the rotation direction of the cylindrical part 2k together with the discharge part 4c.

  Further, the pump unit 3a of the present example is configured to accommodate the developer therein. As will be described later, the developer storage space inside the pump unit 3a plays a major role in fluidizing the developer during the intake operation.

  In this example, as the pump unit 3a, a resin variable volume pump unit (bellows pump) whose volume is variable with reciprocation is adopted. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, a bellows-like pump is employed, and a plurality of “mountain folds” and “valley folds” are periodically and alternately formed. Yes. Therefore, the pump unit 3 a can repeatedly perform compression and expansion alternately by the driving force received from the developer supply device 1.

In this example, the amount of change in volume when the pump unit 3a is expanded and contracted is set to 5 cm ³ (cc). L3 shown in FIG. 6B is about 29 mm, and L4 shown in FIG. 6C is about 24 mm. The outer diameter R2 of the pump 3a is about 45 mm.

  By adopting such a pump unit 3a, the volume of the developer supply container 1 can be varied and can be alternately and repeatedly changed at a predetermined cycle. As a result, the developer in the discharge portion 4c can be efficiently discharged from the discharge port 4a having a small diameter (diameter of about 2 mm).

[Drive receiving mechanism]
A drive receiving mechanism (drive input unit, drive force receiving unit) of the developer supply container 1 that receives the rotational drive force for rotating the cylindrical portion 2k provided with the conveyance protrusion 2c from the developer supply device 201 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the developer supply container 1 has a drive receiving mechanism (drive input unit) that can be engaged (drive coupled) with a drive gear 300 (functioning as a drive mechanism) of the developer supply device. , A gear portion 2d that functions as a driving force receiving portion) is provided. The gear part 2d is configured to be rotatable integrally with the cylindrical part 2k.

  Accordingly, the rotational driving force input from the drive gear 300 to the gear portion 2d is transmitted to the pump 3a via the reciprocating member 3b shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. Specifically, a drive conversion mechanism will be described later. The bellows-like pump part 3a of this example is manufactured using a resin material having a strong resistance to twisting in the rotation direction within a range that does not hinder its expansion and contraction operation.

  In this example, the gear portion 2d is provided on the longitudinal direction (developer transport direction) side of the cylindrical portion 2k. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the other end in the longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating portion 2 is provided. You may provide in the side, ie, the rearmost side. In this case, the drive gear 300 is installed at a corresponding position.

  Further, in this example, a gear mechanism is used as a drive coupling mechanism between the drive input unit of the developer supply container 1 and the drive unit of the developer supply device, but the present invention is not limited to such a form. For example, a coupling mechanism may be used. Specifically, a non-circular concave portion may be provided as the drive input unit, while a convex portion having a shape corresponding to the above-described concave portion may be provided as the drive unit of the developer supply device, and these may be driven and connected to each other. .

[Drive conversion mechanism]
The drive conversion mechanism (drive conversion unit) of the developer supply container 1 will be described.

  In this example, a case where a cam mechanism is used as an example of the drive conversion mechanism will be described.

  The developer supply container 1 functions as a drive conversion mechanism (drive conversion unit) that converts a rotational driving force for rotating the cylindrical portion 2k received by the gear portion 2d into a force in a direction for reciprocating the pump portion 3a. A cam mechanism is provided.

  That is, in this example, the driving force for rotating the cylindrical portion 2k and the driving force for reciprocating the pump portion 3a by converting the rotational driving force received by the gear portion 2d into reciprocating power on the developer supply container 1 side. Is received by one drive input section (gear section 2d).

  As a result, the configuration of the drive input mechanism of the developer supply container 1 can be simplified as compared with the case where two drive input units are separately provided in the developer supply container 1. In addition, since it is configured to be driven from one drive gear of the developer supply device, it is possible to contribute to simplification of the drive mechanism of the developer supply device.

  FIG. 7A is a partial view showing a state in which the pump portion 3a is fully extended in use, and FIG. 7B is a partial view showing a state in which the pump portion 3a is maximally contracted in use. FIG. 7C is a partial view of the pump unit 3a.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a reciprocating member 3b is used as a member interposed for converting the rotational driving force into the reciprocating power of the pump portion 3a. Specifically, the cam groove 2e provided with a groove on the entire circumference integrated with the drive input portion (gear portion 2d) that receives the rotational drive from the drive gear 300 rotates. The cam groove 2e will be described later. A reciprocating member engaging projection 3c partially protruding from the reciprocating member 3b is engaged with the cam groove 2e.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 7C, the reciprocating member 3b does not rotate in the rotation direction of the cylindrical portion 2k (allows a backlash), and the cylindrical portion is provided by the rotation restricting portion 3f. The 2k rotation direction is restricted. In this way, by restricting the rotation direction, the reciprocation is restricted along the groove of the cam groove 2e (X direction or the reverse direction in FIG. 8). The reciprocating member engaging projections 3c are provided so as to engage with the cam groove 2e. Specifically, the two reciprocating member engaging protrusions 3c are provided to face the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 2k at about 180 °.

  Here, the number of the reciprocating member engaging protrusions 3c may be at least one. However, since a moment is generated in the drive conversion mechanism or the like due to the drag force when the pump portion 3a is expanded or contracted, smooth reciprocation may not be performed, so that the relationship with the shape of the cam groove 2e described later is not broken. It is preferable to provide it.

  The cam groove 2e is rotated by the rotational driving force input from the drive gear 300, the reciprocating member engaging protrusion 3c is reciprocated in the X direction or the reverse direction along the cam groove 2e, and the pump portion 3a is extended ( The state (FIG. 7A) and the pump unit 3a contracted (FIG. 7B) are repeated alternately. By doing so, the volume of the developer supply container 1 becomes variable.

[Setting conditions of drive conversion mechanism]
In this example, the drive conversion mechanism causes the developer transport amount (per unit time) transported to the discharge unit 4c to be discharged from the discharge unit 4c to the developer replenishing device by the action of the pump unit as the cylindrical unit 2k rotates. The drive conversion is performed so as to be larger than a predetermined amount (per unit time).

  This is because when the developer discharging ability by the pump unit 3a is larger than the developer conveying ability by the conveying protrusion 2c to the discharging unit 4c, the amount of the developer present in the discharging unit 4c gradually decreases. Because it ends up. In other words, this is to prevent the time required for supplying the developer from the developer supply container 1 to the developer supply device from becoming long.

  In this example, the drive conversion mechanism performs drive conversion so that the pump unit 3a reciprocates a plurality of times while the cylindrical unit 2k rotates once. This is due to the following reason.

  In the case of the configuration in which the cylindrical portion 2k is rotated in the developer replenishing device, it is preferable that the drive motor 500 is set to an output necessary for constantly rotating the cylindrical portion 2k. However, in order to reduce energy consumption in the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus as much as possible, it is preferable to reduce the output of the drive motor 500 as much as possible. Here, since the output required for the drive motor 500 is calculated from the rotational torque and the rotational speed of the cylindrical portion 2k, in order to reduce the output of the drive motor 500, the rotational speed of the cylindrical portion 2k is made as low as possible. It is preferable to set.

  However, in the case of this example, if the rotational speed of the cylindrical portion 2k is reduced, the number of operations of the pump portion 3a per unit time is reduced. Therefore, the amount of developer discharged from the developer supply container 1 (Per unit time) will decrease. In other words, the amount of developer discharged from the developer supply container 1 may be insufficient to satisfy the developer supply amount required from the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus in a short time.

  Therefore, if the amount of change in the volume of the pump unit 3a is increased, the developer discharge amount per cycle of the pump unit 3a can be increased, so that the demand from the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus can be met. However, such a countermeasure has the following problems.

  In other words, when the amount of change in the volume of the pump unit 3a is increased, the peak value of the internal pressure (positive pressure) of the developer supply container 1 in the exhaust process increases, so the load required to reciprocate the pump unit 3a increases. Resulting in.

  For this reason, in this example, the pump portion 3a is operated for a plurality of cycles while the cylindrical portion 2k rotates once. As a result, the developer discharge amount per unit time can be reduced without increasing the amount of change in the volume of the pump unit 3a as compared with the case where the pump unit 3a is operated only for one cycle while the cylindrical unit 2k rotates once. It becomes possible to increase. Then, the number of rotations of the cylindrical portion 2k can be reduced by the amount that the developer discharge amount can be increased.

  Therefore, with the configuration as in this example, the drive motor 500 can be set to a smaller output, which can contribute to reduction of energy consumption in the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus.

[Location of drive conversion mechanism]
In this example, as shown in FIG. 7, a drive conversion mechanism (a cam mechanism constituted by a reciprocating member engaging protrusion 3 c and a cam groove 2 e) is provided outside the developer accommodating portion 2. That is, the drive conversion mechanism is removed from the internal space of the cylindrical portion 2k, the pump portion 3a, and the discharge portion 4c so as not to come into contact with the developer accommodated in the cylindrical portion 2k, the pump portion 3a, and the discharge portion 4c. It is provided in a separated position.

  Thereby, the problem assumed when the drive conversion mechanism is provided in the internal space of the developer container 2 can be solved. That is, when the developer enters the rubbing spot of the drive conversion mechanism, heat and pressure are applied to the developer particles (toner particles) to soften them, and some particles stick together to form a large lump (coarse particles). It can be suppressed. Further, it is possible to suppress an increase in torque due to the developer biting into the conversion mechanism.

  Hereinafter, a developer replenishing process to the developer replenishing device by the developer replenishing container 1 will be described.

[Developer supply process]
The developer replenishment process by the pump unit 3a will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIGS. 8A to 8F are development views showing an example of the shape of the cam groove 2e in the above-described drive conversion mechanism (cam mechanism constituted by the reciprocating member engaging protrusion 3c and the cam groove 2e).

  In this example, as will be described later, an intake process (intake operation through the exhaust port 4a) and an exhaust process (exhaust operation through the exhaust port 4a) and an operation stop process (exhaust port) by non-operation of the pump unit are performed. 4a is not performed). The drive conversion mechanism converts the rotational driving force into reciprocating power.

  Hereinafter, the intake process, the exhaust process, and the operation stop process will be described.

[Intake process]
First, the intake process (intake operation through the discharge port 4a) will be described.

  By the above-described drive conversion mechanism (cam mechanism), the pump unit 3a is in the most contracted state (FIG. 7 (b)) and the pump unit 3a is in the most extended state (FIG. 7 (a)). Is called. That is, with this intake operation, the volume of the portion (pump portion 3a, cylindrical portion 2k, discharge portion 4c) that can store the developer in the developer supply container 1 increases.

  At that time, the inside of the developer supply container 1 is substantially sealed except for the discharge port 4a, and the discharge port 4a is substantially closed with the developer T. Therefore, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 decreases as the volume of the portion of the developer supply container 1 that can store the developer T increases.

  At this time, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure (external pressure). Therefore, the air outside the developer supply container 1 moves to the inside of the developer supply container 1 through the discharge port 4 a due to a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the developer supply container 1.

  At that time, since air is taken in from the outside of the developer supply container 1 through the discharge port 4a, the developer T located in the vicinity of the discharge port 4a can be loosened (fluidized). Specifically, the bulk density can be reduced by including air in the developer located near the discharge port 4a, and the developer T can be fluidized appropriately.

  At this time, since air is taken into the developer supply container 1 through the discharge port 4a, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 is the atmospheric pressure (external pressure) despite the increase in volume. ).

  In this way, by allowing the developer T to flow, the developer T can be smoothly discharged from the discharge port 4a without the developer T being clogged in the discharge port 4a during the exhaust operation described later. It becomes. Therefore, the amount (per unit time) of the developer T discharged from the discharge port 4a can be made almost constant over a long period of time.

  Note that because the intake operation is performed, the pump unit 3a is not limited to the most extended state from the most contracted state, and even if the pump unit 3a stops in the middle of the most extended state from the most contracted state, the development is performed. If a change in the internal pressure of the medicine supply container 1 occurs, an intake operation is performed. That is, the intake process is a state where the reciprocating member engaging projection 3c is engaged with the cam groove 2h shown in FIG.

[Exhaust process]
Next, the exhaust process (exhaust operation through the exhaust port 4a) will be described.

  The pumping operation is performed by changing the pump portion 3a from the most extended state (FIG. 7A) to the pump portion 3a being the most contracted state (FIG. 7B). Specifically, the volume of the parts (pump portion 3a, cylindrical portion 2k, discharge portion 4c) that can store the developer in the developer supply container 1 decreases with the exhaust operation. At this time, the inside of the developer supply container 1 is substantially sealed except for the discharge port 4a, and the discharge port 4a is substantially blocked with the developer T until the developer is discharged. It has become. Accordingly, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 increases as the volume of the portion of the developer supply container 1 that can store the developer T decreases.

  At this time, since the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 becomes higher than the atmospheric pressure (external pressure), the developer T is pushed out from the discharge port 4 a due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the developer supply container 1. That is, the developer T is discharged from the developer supply container 1 to the developer supply device.

  Since the air inside the developer supply container 1 is also discharged together with the developer T, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 decreases.

  As described above, in this example, since the developer can be discharged efficiently using one reciprocating pump unit 3a, the mechanism required for discharging the developer can be simplified.

  Since the pumping operation is performed, the pump unit 3a is not limited to the most contracted state from the most extended state, and even if the pump unit 3a stops in the middle of the most contracted state from the most extended state, the development is performed. When the internal pressure of the agent supply container 1 changes, the exhaust operation is performed. That is, the exhaust process is a state in which the reciprocating member engaging projection 3c is engaged with the cam groove 2g shown in FIG.

[Operation stop process]
Next, an operation stop process in which the pump unit 3a does not reciprocate will be described.

  In this example, as described above, the control device 600 controls the operation of the drive motor 500 based on the detection results of the magnetic sensor 800c and the developer sensor 10d. In this configuration, since the amount of developer discharged from the developer supply container directly affects the toner density, it is necessary to supply the developer amount required by the image forming apparatus from the developer supply container 1. . At this time, in order to stabilize the amount of the developer discharged from the developer supply container, it is preferable to perform a variable volume that is determined each time.

  For example, if the cam groove 2e is configured only by the exhaust process and the intake process, the motor drive is stopped during the exhaust process or the intake process. At that time, the cylinder portion 2k rotates due to inertia even after the drive motor 500 stops rotating, and the pump portion 3a continues to reciprocate in conjunction with the cylinder portion 2k until the exhaust portion or the intake step is performed. It becomes. The distance that the cylindrical portion 2k rotates due to inertia depends on the rotational speed of the cylindrical portion 2k. The rotational speed of the cylindrical portion 2k depends on the torque applied to the drive motor 500. From this, the torque to the motor changes depending on the amount of the developer in the developer supply container 1, and the speed of the cylindrical portion 2k may also change. Therefore, the stop position of the pump portion 3a is made the same every time. Difficult to do.

  Therefore, in order to stop the pump portion 3a at a predetermined position every time, it is necessary to provide a region in the cam groove 2e where the pump portion 3a does not reciprocate even when the cylindrical portion 2k is rotating. In this example, a cam groove 2i shown in FIG. 8A is provided to prevent the pump portion 3a from reciprocating. The cam groove 2i has a straight shape in which a groove is dug in the rotation direction of the cylindrical portion 2k, and the reciprocating member 3b does not move even if rotated. That is, the operation stop process is a state where the reciprocating member engaging projection 3c is engaged with the cam groove 2i.

  Further, the fact that the pump unit 3a does not reciprocate means that the developer is not discharged from the discharge port 4a (developer that falls from the discharge port 4a due to vibration during rotation of the cylindrical portion 2k is allowed). . That is, the cam groove 2i may be inclined in the rotation axis direction with respect to the rotation direction unless the exhaust process and the intake process through the discharge port 4a are performed. Since the cam groove 2i is inclined, the reciprocating operation corresponding to the inclination of the pump portion 3a is allowed.

[Another example of cam groove setting conditions]
Next, another example of setting conditions for the cam groove 2e will be described with reference to FIG. With reference to a development view of the drive conversion mechanism shown in FIG. 8A, the influence on the operating conditions of the pump 3a when the shape of the cam groove 2e is changed will be described.

  Here, in FIG. 8A, the arrow A indicates the rotation direction of the cylindrical portion 2k (the movement direction of the cam groove 2e), the arrow B indicates the extension direction of the pump portion 3a, and the arrow C indicates the compression direction of the pump portion 3a. Further, the cam groove 2e has a structure in which the groove used when compressing the pump portion 3a is the cam groove 2g, the groove used when extending the pump portion 3a is the cam groove 2h, and the pump portion 3a described above is used. The pump part non-operating part 2i does not reciprocate. The angle formed by the cam groove 2g with respect to the rotation direction A of the cylindrical portion 2k is α, and the angle formed by the cam groove 2h is β. The amplitude of the cam groove in the expansion / contraction directions B and C of the pump 3a (= the expansion / contraction length of the pump 3a ) Is K1.

  First, the expansion / contraction length K1 of the pump part 3a will be described.

  For example, when the expansion / contraction length K1 is shortened, that is, the volume variable amount of the pump unit 3a is reduced, the pressure difference that can be generated with respect to the external air pressure is also reduced. Therefore, the pressure applied to the developer inside the developer supply container 1 is reduced, and as a result, the developer discharged from the developer supply container 1 per one cycle of the pump unit (= the pump unit 3a is expanded and contracted once). The amount decreases.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8B, if the cam groove amplitude K2 is set to K2 <K1 with the angles α and β being constant, the pump unit is compared with the configuration of FIG. The amount of developer discharged when the 3a is reciprocated once can be reduced. On the other hand, if K2> K1, the developer discharge amount can naturally be increased.

  Further, with respect to the angles α and β of the cam groove, for example, when the angle is increased, if the rotation speed of the cylindrical portion 2k is constant, the reciprocating member engagement that moves when the developer accommodating portion 2 rotates for a certain period of time. The moving distance of the protrusion 3c increases. Therefore, as a result, the expansion / contraction speed of the pump part 3a increases.

  On the other hand, when the reciprocating member engaging protrusion 3c moves in the cam groove 2g and the cam groove 2h, the resistance received from the cam groove 2g and the cam groove 2h increases. Therefore, as a result, the torque required to rotate the cylindrical portion 2k increases.

  From this, as shown in FIG. 8C, the angle α ′ of the cam groove 2g and the angle β ′ of the cam groove 2h are set to α ′> α and β ′> β in a state where the stretchable length K1 is constant. If it sets to, the expansion-contraction speed of the pump part 3a can be increased with respect to the structure of Fig.8 (a). As a result, the number of expansions / contractions of the pump part 3a per one rotation of the cylindrical part 2k can be increased. Further, since the flow velocity of the air entering the developer supply container 1 from the discharge port 4a is increased, the effect of loosening the developer present around the discharge port 4a is improved.

  On the contrary, if α ′ <α and β ′ <β are set, the rotational torque of the cylindrical portion 2k can be reduced. For example, when a developer with high fluidity is used, when the pump unit 3a is extended, the developer present around the discharge port 4a is easily blown away by the air that has entered from the discharge port 4a. As a result, the developer cannot be sufficiently stored in the discharge portion 4c, and the developer discharge amount may be reduced. In this case, if the extension speed of the pump unit 3a is reduced by this setting, the discharging ability can be improved by suppressing the blowing of the developer.

  If the angle α <angle β is set as in the cam groove 2e shown in FIG. 8D, the extension speed of the pump portion 3a can be increased with respect to the compression speed. Conversely, if the angle α> the angle β is set, the extension speed of the pump unit 3a can be reduced with respect to the compression speed.

  Thereby, for example, when the developer in the developer supply container 1 is in a high density state, the operating force of the pump unit 3a is larger when the pump unit 3a is compressed than when the pump unit 3a is expanded. Therefore, as a result, the rotational torque of the cylindrical portion 2k tends to be higher when the pump portion 3a is compressed.

  However, in this case, if the cam groove 2e is set to the configuration shown in FIG. 8D, the developer loosening effect when the pump portion 3a is extended can be increased as compared with the configuration of FIG. 8A. . Further, the resistance received by the reciprocating member engaging projection 3c from the cam groove 2e when the pump portion 3a is compressed is reduced, and it is possible to suppress an increase in rotational torque when the pump portion 3a is compressed.

  As shown in FIG. 8E, the cam groove 2e may be provided so as to pass through the cam groove 2g immediately after the reciprocating member engaging protrusion 3c passes through the cam groove 2h. In this case, an exhaust operation is started immediately after the pump unit 3a performs an intake operation. Since the process of stopping the operation in the extended state of the pump portion 3a in FIG. 8A is excluded, the decompressed state inside the developer supply container 1 is not maintained during the operation stop being removed, and the developer T is loosened. The effect will fade. However, since the process of stopping the operation is excluded, many intake / exhaust steps can be taken while the cylindrical portion 2k makes one rotation, and a large amount of the developer T can be discharged.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8 (f), the operation stop process can be provided during the exhaust process and the intake process in addition to the state where the pump part 3a is contracted most or the state where the pump part 3a is extended most. . Thus, it is possible to set the required volume variable amount, and the pressure inside the developer supply container 1 can be adjusted.

  As described above, since the discharge capacity of the developer supply container 1 can be adjusted by changing the shape of the cam groove 2e in FIGS. 8A to 8F, the developer supply device 201 is required. It is possible to appropriately cope with the amount of developer to be used and the physical properties of the developer to be used.

  As described above, in this example, the driving force for rotating the cylindrical portion 2k provided with the conveying protrusion (spiral convex portion 2c) and the driving force for reciprocating the pump portion 3a are used as one drive input portion. The configuration is such that it is received by the (gear portion 2d). Therefore, the configuration of the drive input mechanism of the developer supply container can be simplified. Further, since the driving force is applied to the developer supply container by one drive mechanism (drive gear 300) provided in the developer supply device, it can contribute to simplification of the drive mechanism of the developer supply device. it can.

  Further, according to the configuration of this example, the rotational drive force for rotating the cylindrical portion 2k received from the developer supply device is driven and converted by the drive conversion mechanism of the developer supply container. 3a can be appropriately reciprocated.

(Deterrence Department)
Next, the suppression unit 7 which is the most characteristic configuration of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 9 to 11.

  6A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the developer supply container, FIG. 6B is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the pump is fully expanded, and FIG. 6C is used by the pump unit. It is a fragmentary sectional view showing the state where it was contracted to the maximum. FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the entire conveying member 6 installed in the container of the first embodiment, and FIG. 9B is a side view of the conveying member 6. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the inside of the container during the replenishment operation as seen from the pump unit 3a side in FIG. FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of the discharge portion during the operation stop process of the pump portion, FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of the discharge portion during intake, and FIG. 10C is a cross-sectional view of the discharge portion during exhaust. FIG. 6D is a cross-sectional view of the discharge portion after the developer is discharged.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, in this configuration, the suppression unit 7 is integrally provided at the end of the conveying member 6 on the pump unit 3 a side. Therefore, with the rotation operation of the conveying member 6 that rotates integrally with the cylindrical portion 2k, the suppression portion 7 is also rotated in conjunction with it.

  9 (a) and 9 (b), the restraining portion 7 includes two thrust restraining walls 7a and 7b provided in parallel to a position separated by a width S in the rotational axis direction, and a rotational direction. The two radial deterring walls 7c and 7d are provided. In addition, a container opening 7e is formed in the vicinity of the center of the rotation shaft of the thrust deterring wall 7a on the pump unit 3a side so that the space inside the developer accommodating section 2 and the space inside the deterring section 7 can communicate with each other. . Further, the developer storage section 4d can communicate with the two thrust suppression walls 7a and 7b and the two radial suppression walls 7c and 7d surrounded by the outer ends away from the center of the rotation axis. A reservoir opening 7f is formed. That is, the position in the thrust direction of the rotation axis of the storage portion opening 7f is disposed at a position where at least a part of the storage portion opening 7f overlaps the developer storage portion 4d. The inside of the deterrence part 7 surrounded by the two thrust deterrence walls 7a and 7b and the two radial deterrence walls 7c and 7d is a communication path 7g through which the accommodation part opening 7e and the storage part opening 7f can communicate. Is formed.

  Next, the operation of the suppression unit 7 during the developer supply process will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 10A, the developer supply container 1 is in an operation stop process in which the pump portion 3a is stopped as the cylindrical portion 2k rotates.

  At this time, the suppression unit 7 rotates with the rotation of the conveying member 6 and the storage unit opening 7f of the suppression unit 7 does not cover the upper portion of the developer storage unit 4d located at the bottom of the discharge unit 4c. It becomes. Further, since the pump unit 3a is not operated, the pump unit 3a does not reciprocate and there is no change in the internal pressure of the developer containing unit 2.

  As a result, the suppressing unit 7 does not act on the developer storage unit 4d, and the developer T (developer before discharge) transported by the transport member 6 to the vicinity of the upper portion of the developer storage unit 4d. However, it flows into the developer reservoir 4d and is stored (developer inflow non-suppressed state).

  When the conveying member 6 rotates from this state, the state shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 10 (b), the pump unit 3a is in the middle of moving from the most contracted state to the most extended state, that is, an intake process.

  At this time, the suppression unit 7 rotates with the rotation of the conveying member 6, and covers a part of the upper portion of the developer storage unit 4 d from a state where the storage unit opening 7 f of the suppression unit 7 is not covered. Become. Further, since the pump unit 3 a is an intake process, the pump unit 3 a extends, so that the pressure inside the developer storage unit 2 is reduced, and the air outside the developer supply container 1 is transferred to the developer supply container 1. Due to the pressure difference between the inside and the outside, it moves to the inside of the developer supply container 1 through the discharge port 4a.

  As a result, the developer T stored in the developer storage unit 4d in the above-described process includes air taken in from the discharge port 4a, and thus the bulk density is reduced and becomes a fluidized state.

  Further, the state of the upper portion of the developer storage portion 4d is that the storage portion opening 7f of the suppression portion 7 covers the upper portion of the developer storage portion 4d as the suppression portion 7 rotates, and thus the downstream of the suppression portion 7 in the rotation direction. The radial suppression wall 7c on the side is in a state of pushing away the developer T on the upper part of the developer reservoir 4d. Further, the storage portion opening 7f of the suppression portion 7 is partially covered with respect to the upper portion of the developer storage portion 4d. As a result, the thrust deterrence walls 7a and 7b and the radial deterrence walls 7c and 7d of the deterrence unit 7 inhibit the inflow of the developer T in the vicinity of the upper part of the developer reservoir 4d into the developer reservoir 4d. State (developer inflow suppression state).

  When the conveying member 6 further rotates from this state, the state shown in FIG.

  In FIG.10 (c), the pump part 3a is a state in the middle from the most extended state to the most contracted state, ie, an exhaust process.

  At this time, the suppression unit 7 rotates with the rotation of the conveying member 6, and at least a part of the storage unit opening 7f of the suppression unit 7 always covers the upper part of the developer storage unit 4d. Yes. Further, since the pump unit 3a is an exhaust process, the pressure (internal pressure) inside the developer supply container 1 becomes higher than the atmospheric pressure when the pump unit 3a contracts. Therefore, the air inside the developer supply container 1 moves to the outside of the developer supply container 1 through the discharge port 4a due to a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the developer supply container 1.

  As a result, the fluidized developer T inside the developer reservoir 4d in the above-described intake process is discharged to the developer supply device through the discharge port 4a.

  Also in this exhausting process, the state of the upper portion of the developer storing portion 4d is the radial restraining wall 7c on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the restraining portion 7 following the above-described intake step, as the restraining portion 7 rotates. The toner in the upper part of the developer reservoir 4d is pushed away. In addition, a part of the reservoir opening 7f of the suppression unit 7 is always covered with respect to the upper portion of the developer reservoir 4d. As a result, during the exhaust process, the thrust restraining walls 7a and 7b and the radial restraining walls 7c and 7d of the restraining portion 7 always keep the developer reservoir 4d of the developer T near the upper portion of the developer reservoir 4d. The state where the inflow to the inside is suppressed (developer inflow suppression state) is obtained.

  Here, the flow of air inside the developer supply container 1 that acts on the developer T inside the developer reservoir 4d during the exhaust process will be described in detail.

  In the present configuration, the following two types of air flows to the developer storage portion 4d during the exhaust process can be mentioned.

One is from the inside of the developer container 2,
A housing opening 7e provided near the center of the rotation axis of the restraining portion 7,
A communication path 7g inside the deterrent section 7,
A reservoir opening 7f of the restraining portion 7 communicating with the developer reservoir 4d;
, And the flow of air acting on the developer T inside the developer reservoir 4d.

  The other is air that acts on the developer T inside the developer reservoir 4d through the gap between the upper portion of the developer reservoir 4d and the deterring portion 7 that covers the upper portion of the developer reservoir 4d. It is the flow of.

  However, for the following reasons, the air flow to the developer storage portion 4d during the exhaust process is mainly the former air flow.

  During the exhausting process, the developer T in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the storage portion opening 7f of the suppression portion 7 that covers the upper portion of the developer storage portion 4d is caused by the thrust suppression walls 7a and 7b and the radial suppression walls 7c and 7d of the suppression portion 7. Inflow to the inside of the developer reservoir 4d is suppressed. Therefore, since the developer T stays in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the storage portion opening 7f of the suppression portion 7, the staying developer T becomes resistant to the air flow to the developer storage portion 4d. . On the other hand, the vicinity of the accommodating portion opening 7e provided in the vicinity of the rotation shaft of the suppressing portion 7 is positioned above the vertical direction compared to the storage portion opening 7f during the exhaust process. Therefore, the developer T stays less than the reservoir opening 7f, and the resistance to the air flow is small. As a result, the main air flow during the exhaust process is mainly the air flow that passes through the communication path 7g inside the former deterring section 7 and has a small resistance by the developer T to the air flow. is there.

  As a result, during the exhausting process, the developer T inside the developer storage portion 4d that can communicate with the communication passage 7g by the air that has passed through the communication passage 7g inside the suppression portion 7 causes the developer to flow together with the air flow. It will be discharged to the replenishing device. Further, as described above, during the exhaust process, the developer reservoir 4d is in a developer inflow restraint state in which the inflow of developer T is always restrained by the restraint 7, and therefore in the developer reservoir 4d, A substantially constant amount of developer is stored.

  The pressure (internal pressure) inside the developer supply container 1 during the exhaust process is the space inside and outside the developer supply container 1 when the developer T inside the developer storage section 4d is discharged together with the air flow. Communicate. Thereafter, only air is released and finally becomes equal to the pressure outside the developer supply container 1. That is, after the developer T inside the developer reservoir 4d is discharged, only air is released due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the developer supply container 1, and the developer T is not discharged. Therefore, during the exhaust process, only a fixed amount of developer T stored in the developer storage section 4d is discharged, and therefore the developer T can be discharged to the developer supply device with very high supply accuracy. Become.

  In the exhaust process, it is preferable that the storage portion opening 7f of the suppression portion 7 completely covers the upper portion of the developer storage portion 4d without a gap. As a result, during the exhaust process, the developer T near the upper portion of the developer reservoir 4d does not flow into the developer reservoir 4d, and more stable replenishment accuracy can be obtained.

  Here, as a conventional example, a configuration without the suppression unit 7 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a conventional developer supply container. The configuration shown in FIG. 11 is the same as the configuration according to the present invention except that the deterring unit 7 is omitted, and the other configuration is the same as the configuration according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the configuration of the conventional example, there is no suppression unit 7 above the developer storage unit 4d, and the developer T that is always open and flows into the developer storage unit 4d is developed. Control such as inflow suppression to the agent reservoir 4d is not received. Therefore, the developer T discharged to the developer supply device 201 in the exhaust process is controlled in the vicinity of the upper portion of the developer storage unit 4d in addition to the developer T stored in a fixed amount in the developer storage unit 4d. An impossible amount of developer T is also discharged together. The uncontrollable amount of developer in this conventional configuration was influenced mainly by the uncontrolled developer powder level in the developer supply container 1 in the vicinity of the upper portion of the developer reservoir 4d. The developer T is indicated. When the powder level of the developer is not controlled, the powder level of the developer near the top of the developer reservoir 4d may be high or low, and the developer that flows into the developer reservoir 4d during the exhaust process The amount of is uncontrollable and not constant. Therefore, in the conventional example, an uncontrollable amount of the developer T in the vicinity of the upper portion of the developer reservoir 4d is discharged during the exhaust process.

  In the conventional example, the upper portion of the developer storage portion 4d is open during the exhaust process. Therefore, the developer T always exists in the upper part of the discharge port 4a, and the air until the internal pressure (internal pressure) of the developer supply container 1 becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the developer supply container 1. The developer T continues to be discharged with the flow of.

  Therefore, in the conventional example, since the amount of uncontrollable developer near the upper portion of the developer reservoir 4d is continuously discharged during the exhaust process, it is difficult to obtain the replenishment accuracy as in this configuration.

  On the other hand, in this configuration, the developer T is pushed away from the developer T in the vicinity of the upper portion of the developer storage portion 4d by the radial inhibition wall 7c on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the inhibition portion 7, thereby developing the developer. It is constant so as to grind the powder surface. By doing so, the powder level of the developer inside the developer reservoir 4d is controlled to be constant. Further, by covering the developer reservoir 4d with the suppression unit 7, the inflow of the developer T into the developer reservoir 4d is suppressed, and the powder level of the developer inside the developer reservoir 4d is made constant. It becomes possible to keep. In the exhaust process, as described above, when the developer T inside the developer storage section 4d is discharged, the space inside and outside the developer supply container 1 communicates, and then only air is released. . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the developer T from being continuously discharged due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the developer supply container 1.

  From the above, the present configuration provided with the suppression unit 7 can discharge a constant amount of the developer T stored in the developer storage unit 4d to the developer supply device at any time in the exhaust process. It can be said that the developer T can be discharged with a stable replenishment accuracy.

  FIG. 10D shows a state after the developer inside the developer storage section 4d is discharged. At this time, the developer T is not present in the developer reservoir 4d except for the amount attached to the wall surface. When the conveying member 6 further rotates from here, the state returns to the state of FIG. 10A and the same process is repeated. Therefore, by using this configuration, it becomes possible to always discharge the developer T with a stable replenishment accuracy from the early stage to the later stage of the discharge, and the suppression unit 7 is very effective for dealing with a high replenishment accuracy. It can be said that it is a proper configuration.

  In this configuration, the suppression unit 7 is attached to the transport member 6 at two locations, but the configuration of the present invention is not limited to this. As described above, in this configuration, since the cam configuration includes two exhaust steps while the cylindrical portion 2k rotates 360 °, the two suppression portions 7 are provided. For example, when the cylindrical portion 2k rotates 360 °, if the exhaust process is performed three times, the arrangement may be such that three suppression portions 7 are provided.

  Further, in the present configuration, as described above, the suppression unit 7 is provided integrally with the conveying member 6, and the suppression unit 7 rotates in conjunction with the operation of the conveyance member 6 rotating integrally with the cylindrical portion 2 k. It has become. In this configuration, as described above, the driving force for rotating the cylindrical portion 2k and the driving force for reciprocating the pump portion 3a are received by one drive input portion (gear portion 2d). Further, the driving force for rotating the suppression unit 7 is also received by one drive input unit (gear unit 2d) together with the driving force for rotating the cylindrical portion 2k. That is, this configuration requires three driving forces, that is, the rotation of the cylindrical portion 2k, the reciprocation of the pump portion 3a, and the rotation of the suppression portion 7, and these three driving forces are used as one drive input portion (gear portion 2d). ).

  Therefore, this configuration can greatly simplify the configuration of the drive input mechanism of the developer supply container 1 compared to the case where three drive input units are separately provided in the developer supply container 1. In addition, since it is configured to receive driving from one drive mechanism (drive gear 300) of the developer supply device, it can greatly contribute to simplification of the drive mechanism of the developer supply device.

  In addition, since the two driving operations relating to the discharge of the developer T, that is, the reciprocating motion of the pump unit 3a and the rotation of the suppression unit 7, are interlocked with the rotation of the cylindrical unit 2k, the present configuration includes the pump unit 3a and the suppression unit. Adjustment of the timing for driving 7 is very easy.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described based on examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these.

[Developer production example]
[Production Example of Binder Resin 1]
・ Polyoxypropylene (2.2) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane 76.9 parts by mass (0.167 mol parts)
-24.1 parts by mass of terephthalic acid (0.145 mol parts)
-Titanium tetrabutoxide 0.5 mass part The said material was put into the glass 4L 4-neck flask, the thermometer, the stirring rod, the condenser, and the nitrogen introducing tube were attached, and it put in the mantle heater.

  Next, after the inside of the flask was replaced with nitrogen gas, the temperature was gradually raised while stirring, and the reaction was carried out for 4 hours while stirring at 200 ° C. (first reaction step). Thereafter, 2.0 parts by mass (0.010 mol part) of trimellitic anhydride was added and reacted at 180 ° C. for 1 hour (second reaction step), whereby a binder resin 1 was obtained.

  The acid value of the binder resin 1 was 10 mgKOH / g, and the hydroxyl value was 65 mgKOH / g. Moreover, the molecular weight by GPC of the binder resin 1 was a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 8,000, a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 3,500, and a peak molecular weight (Mp) of 5,700. . The softening point of the binder resin 1 was 90 ° C.

[Example of production of binder resin 2]
-Polyoxypropylene (2.2) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane 71.3 parts by mass (0.155 mol parts)
-24.1 parts by mass of terephthalic acid (0.145 mol parts)
-Titanium tetrabutoxide 0.6 mass part The said material was put into the glass 4L four necked flask, the thermometer, the stirring rod, the condenser, and the nitrogen introducing tube were attached, and it put in the mantle heater.

  Next, after the inside of the flask was replaced with nitrogen gas, the temperature was gradually raised while stirring, and the reaction was carried out for 2 hours while stirring at 200 ° C. (first reaction step). Thereafter, 5.8 parts by mass (0.030 mol%) of trimellitic anhydride was added and reacted at 180 ° C. for 10 hours (second reaction step), whereby a binder resin 2 was obtained.

  The acid value of the binder resin 2 was 15 mgKOH / g, and the hydroxyl value was 7 mgKOH / g. Moreover, the molecular weight by GPC of the binder resin 2 was a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 200,000, a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 5,000, and a peak molecular weight (Mp) of 10,000. . The softening point of the binder resin 2 was 130 ° C.

[Production Example 1 of Polymer A]
Low-density polyethylene (Mw: 1400, Mn: 850, maximum endothermic peak by DSC: 100 ° C.) 18.0 parts by mass Styrene 66.0 parts by mass n-butyl acrylate 13.5 parts by mass Acrylonitrile 2.5 parts by mass Part The above materials were charged into an autoclave and the inside of the system was replaced with N ₂ , and then the temperature was raised and maintained at 180 ° C. with stirring. In the system, 50 parts by mass of a 2% by mass t-butyl hydroperoxide xylene solution was continuously dropped for 5 hours, and after cooling, the solvent was separated and removed, and the low-density polyethylene and the vinyl resin component reacted. A polymer A was obtained.

  When the molecular weight of the polymer A was measured, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) was 7100, and the number average molecular weight (Mn) was 3000. Moreover, the transmittance | permeability in the wavelength of 600 nm measured at 25 degreeC in the dispersion liquid which disperse | distributed the polymer A in 45 volume% methanol aqueous solution was 69%.

[Toner Production Example 1]
Binder resin 1 50.0 parts by mass Binder resin 2 50.0 parts by mass Fischer-Tropsch wax (peak temperature of maximum endothermic peak: 78 ° C) 5.0 parts by mass I. Pigment Blue 15: 3 5.0 parts by mass ・ Aluminum 3,5-di-t-butylsalicylate compound 0.5 parts by mass ・ Polymer A 6.0 parts by mass Henschel mixer (FM-75 type, Mitsui Mine) The product was mixed under the conditions of a rotation speed of 20 s ⁻¹ and a rotation time of 5 minutes. Then, it knead | mixed using the biaxial kneader (PCM-30 type | mold, Co., Ltd. product made from Ikegai) set to 125 degreeC. The obtained kneaded product was cooled and coarsely pulverized to 1 mm or less using a hammer mill to obtain a coarsely pulverized product. The obtained crushed material was finely pulverized using a mechanical pulverizer (T-250, manufactured by Freund Turbo Industry Co., Ltd.). Further, classification was performed using a rotary classifier (200TSP, manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation) to obtain toner particles. As operating conditions of the rotary classifier (200TSP, manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation), the rotational speed of the classification rotor was set to 50.0 s ⁻¹ .

  The obtained toner particles had a weight average particle diameter (D4) of 6.3 μm.

The obtained toner particles were heat-treated with the surface treatment apparatus shown in FIG. As operating conditions, the feed rate was 5 kg / hour. Moreover, the temperature C of hot air was 220 degreeC, and the flow rate of hot air was 6 m < ³ > / min. The temperature E of the cold air was 5 ° C., the flow rate of the cold air was 4 m ³ / min, and the absolute moisture content of the cold air was 3 g / m ³ . Moreover, the air volume of the blower was set to 20 m ³ / min. Further, the flow rate of the injection air was set to 1 m ³ / min. The obtained heat-treated toner particles had an average circularity of 0.965 and a weight average particle diameter (D4) of 6.8 μm.

0.8 parts by mass of silica fine particles having a BET specific surface area of 80 m ² / g are added to 100 parts by mass of the obtained toner particles after heat treatment, and a Henschel mixer (FM-75 type, manufactured by Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.) is used. The toner 1 was obtained by mixing under conditions of a rotation speed of 30 s ^-1 and a rotation time of 10 minutes. Table 1 shows the physical properties of the obtained toner.

[Production Examples of Toners 2, 3, 5 and 7 and Comparative Toner 2]
In Toner Production Example 1, the pulverization / classification conditions and the processing temperature of the surface treatment apparatus were adjusted, and the average particle diameter and average circularity shown in Table 1 were changed. As shown in Table 1, the addition amount of silica fine particles was changed. did. Other than these, Toner 2, 3, 5 and 7 and Comparative Toner 2 were obtained as shown in Toner Production Example 1. Table 1 shows the physical properties of the obtained toner.

[Toner Production Example 4]
Binder resin 1 50.0 parts by mass Binder resin 2 50.0 parts by mass Fischer-Tropsch wax (peak temperature of maximum endothermic peak: 78 ° C) 5.0 parts by mass I. Pigment Blue 15: 3 5.0 mass parts 0.5 mass part of 3,5-di-t-butylsalicylic acid aluminum compound Polymer A 6.0 mass parts

The above materials were mixed using a Henschel mixer (FM-75 type, manufactured by Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.) under conditions of a rotation speed of 20 s ^-1 and a rotation time of 5 minutes. Then, it knead | mixed using the biaxial kneader (PCM-30 type | mold, Co., Ltd. product made from Ikegai) set to 125 degreeC. The obtained kneaded product was cooled and coarsely pulverized to 1 mm or less using a hammer mill to obtain a coarsely pulverized product. The obtained crushed material was finely pulverized using a mechanical pulverizer (T-250, manufactured by Freund Turbo Industry Co., Ltd.). Further, classification was performed using a rotary classifier (200TSP, manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation) to obtain toner particles. The operating condition of the rotary classifier (200TSP, manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation) was set to 50.0 s ⁻¹ for the classifying rotor speed.

  The obtained toner particles had an average circularity of 0.955 and a weight average particle diameter (D4) of 6.8 μm.

To 100 parts by mass of the obtained toner particles, 0.8 part by mass of silica fine particles having a BET specific surface area of 80 m ² / g is added, and the rotation speed is 30 s with a Henschel mixer (FM-75 type, manufactured by Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.). ^-1 and a rotation time of 10 minutes were mixed to obtain toner 4. Table 1 shows the physical properties of the obtained toner.

[Production Examples of Toner 6, 8, 9 and 10 and Comparative Toner 1]
In Toner Production Example 4, the pulverization / classification conditions were adjusted and changed to the average particle diameter and average circularity shown in Table 1, and the addition amount of silica fine particles was changed as shown in Table 1. Other than those, Toner 6, 8, 9 and 10 and Comparative Toner 1 were obtained as shown in Toner Production Example 4. Table 1 shows the physical properties of the obtained toner.

[Production Example 1 of Magnetic Carrier]
Fe ₂ O ₃ was added water to 100 parts by weight, ball mill pulverizing the _Fe 2 _{O 3} 15 minutes with an average particle diameter to prepare a magnetic core of 55 .mu.m.

  Next, a mixed solution of 1 part by mass of a silicone resin (straight silicone resin) (KR271, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), 0.5 part by mass of γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, and 98.5 parts by mass of toluene was added. To 100 parts by mass of the magnetic core. Further, the solution was dried under reduced pressure at 70 ° C. for 5 hours while stirring with a solution vacuum kneader to remove the solvent. After that, it was baked at 140 ° C. for 2 hours, and sieved with a sieve shaker (300MM-2 type, Tsutsui Rika Instruments Co., Ltd .: 75 μm opening) to obtain a magnetic carrier.

[Developer Production Example 1]
The toner 1 and the magnetic carrier are mixed for 0.5 s with a V-type mixer (type V-10: Tokuju Corporation) so that the toner 1 is 9.0 parts by mass with respect to 1.0 part by mass of the carrier. ^-1 and a rotation time of 5 minutes were mixed to obtain Developer 1. Table 2 shows the physical properties of Developer 1 thus obtained.

[Production Examples of Developers 2 to 17 and Production Examples of Comparative Developers 1 and 2]
Developers 2 to 17 and comparative developers 1 and 2 were obtained in the same manner as in Developer Production Example 1 except that the type of toner and the toner / carrier ratio were changed as shown in Table 2. Table 2 shows the physical properties of the developer thus obtained.

[Example 1]
Using developer 1, a discharge test was performed by the following method to evaluate the discharge of the developer from the developer supply cartridge.

(Evaluation 1) Ejection Test from Consolidation State As a developer supply device, a developer supply portion of imageRUNNER ADVANCE C2030 (trade name), which is a full color copying machine manufactured by Canon Inc., is a developer supply container shown in FIG. A (developer supply cartridge) was remodeled so that it could be installed. Further, the cam groove pattern of the developer supply container A is as shown in FIG. The pump stroke is 6.0 mm and the outlet diameter is 3.0 mm.

  The developer supply container A was filled with 270 g of developer 1 and tapped 1000 times up and down with an amplitude of 10 cm in a state where the discharge part was downward, thereby bringing the developer into a compacted state.

Thereafter, the developer supply cartridge is mounted on the developer supply device, the rotation speed of the developer supply container is set to 0.85 s ⁻¹ , the developer discharge amount is measured every second, and the average discharge amount is 1 second. The standard deviation of each emission amount was calculated. The evaluation results are shown in Table 3.

Evaluation criteria: Standard deviation of developer discharge amount per second A: 0.020 or less B: 0.021 or more and 0.030 or less C: 0.031 or more and 0.040 or less D: 0.041 or more

(Evaluation 2) Emission test when environment is changed Using the developer replenishing cartridge, 135 g of developer is evaluated for evaluation in an evaluation environment of 45 ° C./95% RH. The change was made to 5 ° C / 5% RH, and the same evaluation of the discharge was performed, and the average discharge and the standard deviation were similarly calculated. The evaluation results are shown in Table 3.

Evaluation criteria: Standard deviation of developer discharge amount per second A: 0.020 or less B: 0.021 or more and 0.030 or less C: 0.031 or more and 0.040 or less D: 0.041 or more

[Examples 2 to 17 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2]
Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that Developer 1 was changed to Developers 2 to 17 and Comparative Developers 1 and 2. The evaluation results are shown in Table 3.

[Comparative Example 3]
Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 using the developer supply container and supply device for imageRUNNER ADVANCE C2030 (trade name), which is a full color copying machine manufactured by Canon Inc., and using developer 15. The evaluation results are shown in Table 3.

  FIG. 12 is a view showing another example of a conventional developer supply container.

  The developer supply container for imageRUNNER ADVANCE C2030 (trade name), which is a full color copying machine manufactured by Canon Inc., has a substantially cylindrical shape like the developer supply container 1 shown in FIG. It is arranged substantially horizontally inside the main body of the apparatus. The image forming apparatus is configured to rotate by receiving a rotational drive from the main body of the image forming apparatus. A spiral protrusion 1 </ b> C is provided on the inner surface of the developer supply container 1. When the developer supply container 1 rotates, the developer is transported in the axial direction along the spiral protrusion 1 </ b> C, and the developer is discharged from the opening 1 a provided on the end surface of the developer supply container 1. ing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Toner particle supply port 101 Hot-air supply port 102 Airflow injection member 103 Cold-air supply port 104 Second cold-air supply port 106 Cooling jacket 114 Toner particle 115 High-pressure air supply nozzle 116 Transfer pipe 1 Metal lid 2 Screen 3 Vacuum gauge 4 Air volume Control valve 5 Suction port 6 Suction machine 7 Condenser 8 Measuring container 9 Electrometer

Claims (8)

A developer supply cartridge that is detachable from the developer supply device and has a developer supply container;
The developer supply container is
(I) a developer container;
(Ii) a developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion;
(Iii) a discharge port for discharging the developer stored in the developer storage portion toward the developer supply device;
(Iv) a pump unit that operates so that an exhaust operation through the discharge port is performed;
(V) a developer storage unit that communicates with the developer storage unit, is provided at a position in contact with the discharge port, and stores a predetermined amount of developer before discharge;
(Vi) a deterring unit that controls the inflow of the developer from the developer collecting unit to the developer storing unit and the deterrence of the inflow, and inhibits the inflow of the developer during the exhaust operation of the pump unit;
Have
The developer supply cartridge, wherein the developer has a compression degree Ct of 30.0% or more and 45.0% or less. The tap density [rho _t of the developer, the developer replenishing cartridge according to claim 1 0.60 g / cm ³ or more 0.90 g / cm ³ or less.   The developer supply cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developer is a two-component developer having a carrier and a toner.   The developer supply cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the developer contains 3.0 parts by mass or more and 30.0 parts by mass or less of the toner with respect to 1.0 part by mass of the carrier.   The developer supply cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the toner has an average circularity of 0.955 or more and 0.980 or less. The toner has toner particles and an external additive;
The developer supply cartridge according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein an addition amount of the external additive is 0.1 parts by mass or more and 5.0 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the toner particles. .   The developer supply cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the external additive is silica fine particles.   The developer supply cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the developer stored in the developer storage section is fluidized by an intake operation of the pump section.

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