JP2018010252A - Development apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stabilize, in a wet type development apparatus, an amount of developing solution carried in a developer carrier to improve an image quality.SOLUTION: A development apparatus 4 includes: a supply port 47 where developing solution is supplied; and a feed part (45b) facing a developing roller 41 and being open. The feed part has a feed tray 45 that feeds the developing solution to the developing roller 41. The feed tray 45 includes, inside thereof, a division plate 46 dividing a first region A1 where the supply port 47 is arranged and a second region A2 where the feed part is arranged. The division plate 46 extends farther upwards than a discharge part (45c) from which the developing solution is discharged if a liquid level of the developing solution in the first region A1 becomes higher than a prescribed height.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device used in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a so-called wet development type (liquid development type) developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier using a developer in which coloring components (toner particles) are dispersed in a liquid carrier. Are known. Patent Document 1 discloses a developing device that includes a pre-chamber formed by opening the top and a developing roller disposed to face the pre-chamber. The developer filled in the pre-chamber is pumped up along with the rotation of the developing roller, coated on the roller surface, and used for development through a toner component concentration step and an excess developer removal step.

JP 2013-222208 A

  In the developing device described in Patent Document 1, since the developer stored in the pre-chamber is consumed as the developing roller rotates, a new developer is fed into the pre-chamber by a pump. . However, when the liquid level in the chamber largely fluctuates due to the inflow of the developing solution, the amount of the developing solution coated on the developing roller becomes non-uniform, and there is a risk of causing density unevenness of the output image.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a developing device that can contribute to improvement in image quality by stabilizing the amount of developer carried on a developer carrying member.

  An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a developer carrying member that rotates while carrying a developer, a replenishing unit that replenishes the developer, and a supply unit that is open to face the developer carrying member. A developer container that supplies developer to the developer carrier in the supply part, a first area in which the replenishment part is disposed, and a supply part that is disposed in the supply part. And a partition portion that forms a communication portion that communicates with the first region and the second region between the first region and the bottom surface of the developer container. Is provided with a discharge portion for discharging the developer in the first region when the level of the developer in the first region exceeds a predetermined height, and the partition portion is at least above the predetermined height. It is characterized by extending.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a developer carrying member that rotates while carrying a developer, a replenisher that replenishes the developer, and an opening that faces the developer carrying member. A supply unit, wherein the supply unit supplies a developer to the developer carrier, and is disposed above the developer storage unit, and at least one of the developer storage units as viewed from above. A cover portion that covers a portion, and extends downward from the cover portion, and divides the developer storage portion into a first region in which the replenishment portion is disposed and a second region in which the supply portion is disposed. And a partition portion that forms a communication portion that communicates the first region and the second region with a bottom surface of the developer storage portion.

  The developing device according to the present invention can contribute to the improvement of image quality by stabilizing the amount of the developer carried on the developer carrying member.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device according to the first embodiment when viewed from a thrust direction. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device according to the first embodiment when viewed from the back side. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the developing device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the developing device according to the first embodiment. 1 is a perspective view of a developing device according to a first embodiment. Sectional drawing which looked at the developing device which does not contain the structure for pressure adjustment from the thrust direction. The top view of the supply tray which concerns on a 1st Example. Sectional drawing which looked at the developing device which concerns on a 2nd Example from the width direction. Sectional drawing which looked at the image development apparatus concerning a 2nd example from the back side. The top view of the supply tray which concerns on a 2nd Example. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a developing device and a supply configuration of a developing solution. Sectional drawing which looked at the developing apparatus for a comparison from the width direction. Sectional drawing which looked at the image development apparatus for a comparison from the front.

  Hereinafter, a developing device and an image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The image forming apparatus is a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine, or the like, and forms an image on a recording material based on image information input from an external PC or image information read from a document. The recording material includes paper such as paper and envelope, plastic film such as overhead projector sheet (OHT), and cloth.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an electrophotographic image forming unit having a photosensitive drum 1 that is a drum-type photosensitive member. Although a single image forming unit is illustrated, the present technology may be applied to an image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming units (for example, a tandem intermediate transfer type full color laser beam printer).

  Around the photosensitive drum 1, a charging device 2, an exposure device 3, a developing device 4, a transfer roller 5, and a cleaning device 6 are arranged in this order along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1. When the image forming operation is started, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged by the charging device 2 as the photosensitive drum 1 rotates. The exposure device 3 modulates and outputs laser light based on the image information, and scans the photosensitive drum 1 to form an electrostatic latent image on the drum surface. The developing device 4 is a wet developing device that uses a developer in which toner particles are dispersed in a liquid carrier (carrier liquid), and supplies the developer carried on the developing roller 41 to the photosensitive drum 1 to generate an electrostatic latent image. Visualize (develop) toner image.

  As the image forming operation progresses, the recording material 101 is fed from a sheet feeding unit (not shown) and is conveyed toward a transfer nip formed by the transfer roller 5 pressed against the photosensitive drum 1. The toner image carried on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to the recording material 101 by the pressure at the transfer nip portion and the bias voltage (electrostatic load bias) applied to the transfer roller 5. The recording material 101 to which the toner image has been transferred forms a fixed image by applying heat and pressure, for example, in a fixing device (not shown). Note that deposits such as a developing solution remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 without being transferred to the recording material 101 are removed or collected by the cleaning device 6.

[Developer circulation configuration]
Next, a configuration for supplying the developing solution to the developing device 4 will be described. Inside the image forming apparatus 100, as shown in FIG. 12, a developer tank 71 connected to the developing device 4 via a supply pump 75 and a recovery pump 76 is disposed. The developer stored in the developer tank 71 is supplied (supplemented) to the developing device 4 via the supply pipe 53 by the supply pump 75. The developer recovered from the developing device 4 via the recovery pipe 52 is returned to the developer tank 71 by the recovery pump 76.

  The developer tank 71 is provided with a concentration sensor 72 capable of detecting the toner concentration (for example, the weight ratio of the toner component to the carrier liquid), and a toner replenishing unit 73 and a carrier replenishing unit 74 capable of replenishing toner and carrier, respectively. Is connected. A control unit (not shown) that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 appropriately replenishes toner or carrier from the toner replenishing unit 73 and the carrier replenishing unit 74 based on the detection signal from the density sensor 72. The replenished developer component (toner or carrier liquid) and the developer recovered via the recovery pump 76 are agitated and made uniform inside the developer tank 71.

  As described above, the developing device 4 is developed in the developing device 4 by the developer tank 71 which is a reservoir for storing the developer, the supply pump 75 and the recovery pump 76, the concentration sensor 72, the toner replenishing unit 73 and the carrier replenishing unit 74. A supply mechanism 70 for supplying liquid is configured. The developer is managed so that the toner concentration becomes constant while circulating between the developing device 4 and the supply mechanism 70.

  Note that the consumption rate of the developer components may differ between the toner and the carrier liquid depending on the image forming conditions. The carrier liquid is consumed when the developing roller 41 and the photosensitive drum 1 rotate in contact with each other regardless of the image density. On the other hand, toner consumption increases as the image density increases and the size of the output image increases. Accordingly, the toner concentration of the developer collected from the developing device 4 varies depending on conditions such as the density of the output image and the size of the image. The control unit obtains the consumption amounts of the toner and the carrier liquid from the measurement result of the toner density by the density sensor 72, and determines the replenishment amount of the toner and the carrier liquid so as to supplement the consumption amount.

[Developer]
Next, the configuration and operation of the developing device 4 according to the first embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the developing device 4 includes a casing 40, a developing roller 41, a squeeze roller 42, a cleaning roller 43, an electrode segment 44, and a supply tray 45. The developing roller 41, the squeeze roller 42, and the cleaning roller 43 are arranged in parallel to each other. Hereinafter, the axial direction (axial direction) of these rollers is referred to as the thrust direction of the developing device 4, and the side (right side in the figure) facing the photosensitive drum 1 when viewed from the thrust direction is the front side, and the opposite side is the back side. And

  The casing 40 constituting the housing of the developing device 4 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in the thrust direction, and is formed by opening a part on the front side over substantially the entire length in the thrust direction. The developing roller 41 as a developer carrying member is disposed in the opening of the casing 40 so as to face the photosensitive drum 1, and forms a developing nip portion G 2 (developing portion) between the developing roller 41 and the photosensitive drum 1. The developing roller 41 can rotate in a direction that rotates around the photosensitive drum 1. The developer carrier is not limited to a roller member, and may be constituted by, for example, a sleeve-like (cylindrical) or belt-like member.

  The supply tray 45 for supplying the developing solution to the developing roller 41 is a developing solution storage unit disposed on the back side of the developing roller 41. The developing solution storage portion is not limited to the tray shape (dish shape), and refers to a portion that holds the developing solution among arbitrary members that can hold the liquid on the upper surface. The supply tray 45 is formed of a flexible sheet 45b disposed on the front side and a back side wall 45c erected on the back side with respect to a bottom 45a extending in a substantially horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 2, both end portions of the supply tray 45 in the thrust direction are closed by the casing 40, and a supply port 47 which is a supply portion for supplying developer is formed on one wall surface. However, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the developing device 4 at the position of the broken line shown in FIG.

  The flexible sheet 45b has an appropriate hardness capable of holding the developer while maintaining a state in contact with the developing roller 41. For example, a PET resin (polyethylene terephthalate) or a urethane resin can be used. . The sheet 45 b is arranged so that the upper side of the tray is opened, and forms a supply unit that supplies the developer to the developing roller 41. Further, the back side wall 45c, which is a discharge portion, is arranged so that the back side is opened so that the developer can be discharged when the liquid level in the tray reaches a predetermined height or more. As will be described later, the supply tray 45 is partitioned into a first region A1 and a second region A2 by a partition plate 46.

  The electrode segment 44 is disposed above the supply tray 45 and faces the developing roller 41 with a gap G1 having a predetermined width therebetween. The width of the gap G1 is set so that the amount of developer pumped up by the developing roller 41 becomes a target value. Accordingly, the electrode segment 44 functions as an adjustment unit that can adjust the amount of the developer carried on the developing roller 41. Further, a potential difference is formed between the electrode segment 44 and the developing roller 41 so as to urge toner toward the developing roller 41 in the gap G1 by a power source (not shown).

  A squeeze roller 42 that is a removing member that removes excess developer is disposed downstream of the electrode segment 44, and a cleaning roller 43 that is a cleaning member is disposed downstream of the developing nip portion G2. The squeeze roller 42 and the cleaning roller 43 rotate in a direction that rotates with the developing roller 41.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the developing device 4 and the flow path of the developer will be described. The developer sent from the supply pump 75 is supplied to the supply tray 45 through the supply port 47 that is an opening of the supply pipe 53. The developer held on the supply tray 45 is pumped up to the gap G <b> 1 as the developing roller 41 rotates, and the toner particles are attracted to the surface of the developing roller 41 in accordance with the potential difference formed by the electrode segment 44.

  When the developer reaches the nip portion between the squeeze roller 42 and the developing roller 41, the toner held on the surface of the developing roller 41 and a part of the carrier liquid are pushed back. The upper surface 44 a of the electrode segment 44 is inclined downward from the front side toward the back side, and forms a flow path for discharging the developer pushed back by the squeeze roller 42 through the upper side of the supply tray 45. doing. The developer that has dropped from the upper surface 44 a of the electrode segment 44 to the bottom 49 of the casing 40 is recovered to the developer tank 71 through the recovery port 51.

  When the developer that has passed through the squeeze roller 42 reaches the developing nip portion G2, the toner is electrophoresed according to the potential difference between the bias voltage applied to the developing roller 41 and the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 1. As a result, toner adheres to the drum surface according to the potential distribution of the electrostatic latent image, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1. Part of the carrier liquid carried on the developing roller 41 adheres to the photosensitive drum 1 in the process of separating the developing roller 41 and the photosensitive drum 1 on the downstream side of the developing nip portion G2.

  The toner and carrier liquid remaining on the developing roller 41 without moving to the photosensitive drum 1 in the developing nip G2 are collected by the cleaning roller 43 using electrostatic force. The developer adhering to the cleaning roller 43 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 50 that contacts the cleaning roller 43 and falls to the bottom 49 of the casing 40.

  Note that the amount of the developer supplied by the supply pump 75 is set to be larger than the amount of the liquid pumped up by the developing roller 41. For this reason, while a state where a predetermined amount or more of developer is held in the supply tray 45 is maintained, the developer over the back side wall 45c, which is a discharge portion, falls to the bottom 49 of the casing 40 as a surplus. .

  The developer discharged through the plurality of paths described above is collected through a collection port 51 formed in the bottom 49 of the casing 40. The developer flowing into the recovery pipe 52 via the recovery port 51 is returned to the developer tank 71 by a recovery pump 76 via a filter (not shown), and then the toner density is adjusted and the developing device 4 is replenished again. Is done.

[Developer level]
Next, the flow direction of the developer in the supply tray 45 and the undulation of the liquid surface will be described using a comparative developing device 4Z shown in FIGS. However, FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device 4Z at the position of the broken line shown in FIG. The developing device 4Z is different from the developing device 4 according to the present embodiment in that the partition plate 46 is not disposed on the supply tray 45, and other configurations are common to the developing device 4. In the following, elements that are the same as those of the developing device 4 are given the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the developing device 4Z includes a supply port 47 formed at the end of the supply tray 45 in the thrust direction, as in the present embodiment. Accordingly, the developer fed from the supply pump 75 flows into the supply tray 45 along the inflow direction V1 substantially parallel to the thrust direction.

  Here, in order to increase the image output speed, for example, when the rotational speed of the photosensitive drum 1 and the developing roller 41 is increased, the supply amount of the developer per unit time with respect to the supply tray 45 is increased accordingly. Need to be made. From the viewpoint of downsizing the apparatus and preventing the developer from staying for a long time, it is preferable to set the pipe diameter of the supply pipe 53 and the supply tray 45 to be small. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus and to expect an appropriate replacement of the developer.

  However, as the inflow speed of the developing solution flowing into the supply tray 45 increases, the waviness of the developing solution in the supply tray 45 tends to increase. In addition, when the supply tray 45 is small, the inflow speed of the developing solution becomes relatively large with respect to the capacity of the supply tray 45, and thus the undulation is likely to occur. Further, when the supply tray 45 is small (shallow), the height of the replenishing port 47 is close to the upper end position of the back side wall 45c that defines the average liquid level of the developing solution, which becomes a factor of increasing waviness. In this embodiment, the flow rate of the developer at the position of the replenishing port 47 was approximately 1 to 3 m / sec.

  When the liquid level in the supply tray 45 fluctuates due to such undulations, the amount of developer pumped up by the developing roller 41 fluctuates in time or space, which may lead to density unevenness in the output image. That is, when the developing roller 41 rotates in a state where the liquid level in the thrust direction is not stable, the carrying amount (coat amount) of the developing solution is insufficient in a part of the thrust direction, and a part of the output image becomes thin. It is possible. For example, in the case of the present embodiment, when air bubbles enter the gap G1 between the developing roller 41 and the electrode segment 44 due to a change in the liquid level, there is a possibility that the coating amount becomes non-uniform.

[Partition section]
Therefore, in this embodiment, the partition plate 46 is disposed as a partition portion that partitions the inside of the supply tray 45 that is a developer holding region. As shown in FIG. 3, the partition plate 46 is disposed above the supply tray 45 with a gap 48 having a predetermined width with respect to the bottom surface of the tray (the top surface of the bottom portion 45 a). Thereby, the inside of the supply tray 45 is partitioned into a first area A1 in which the supply port 47 and the discharge part (45c) are arranged, and a second area A2 in which the supply part (45b) is arranged. 1st area | region A1 and 2nd area | region A2 are connected via the gap | interval 48 which is a communication part.

  The partition plate 46 is a plate-like member disposed along the thrust direction, and extends upward from the upper end of the back side wall 45c that defines the height of the liquid level S1 in the first region A1. Further, the partition plate 46 extends downward from the lower surface 44b of the electrode segment 44 as a cover portion that covers the supply tray 45 when viewed from above.

  The electrode segment 44 is an example of a cover portion, and the partition plate may be extended downward from a member that covers at least a part of the supply tray 45. Even if the supply tray 45 is open upward, the partition plate 46 only needs to extend upward from the back side wall 45c. The partition plate 46 may be supported or integrally formed with the electrode segment 44, or may be supported by the supply tray 45 as long as the function of the gap 48 is not impaired.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the developer supplied to the supply tray 45 via the supply port 47 first flows into the first area A <b> 1 and then moves to the second area through the gap 48 below the partition plate 46. To do. At this time, even if the liquid surface S1 in the first region A1 undulates, the wave is prevented from directly propagating to the liquid surface S2 in the second region A2 by being blocked by the partition plate 46 ( (See FIG. 3). Thereby, compared with the case where the partition plate 46 is not provided, the fluctuation of the liquid level in the second region A2 is reduced, and the coating amount of the developer by the developing roller 41 can be stabilized.

  Further, the replenishing port 47 is disposed at the end in the thrust direction, while the partition plate 46 is disposed along the thrust direction. That is, the replenishing port 47 and the partition plate 46 are arranged so that the developer flowing direction V1 in the first region A1 is different from the developer moving direction V2 from the first region A1 to the second region A2. . For this reason, the flow rate of the developer passing through the gap 48 is smaller than the configuration in which the developer supplied to the supply tray 45 flows directly toward the second region A2, and the liquid level in the second region A2 is reduced. The fluctuation can be further reduced.

  Here, on the upper part of the partition plate 46, an upper communication portion 54 that communicates the upper portions of the first region A1 and the second region A2 is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper communication part 54 is arrange | positioned at the both ends of the partition plate 46 in a thrust direction. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper communication portion 54 is formed by a notch provided at the upper end of the partition plate 46 and a lower surface 44 b of the electrode segment 44.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the partition plate 460 without the upper communication portion is disposed, the upper part of the second region A2 is hermetically sealed by the liquid surface S2, the electrode segment 44, and the partition plate 460. It becomes a closed space. That is, when the developing solution is supplied to the supply tray 45 by starting the circulation of the developing solution such as when the image forming apparatus 100 is installed, the liquid level S2 reaches the height of the lower end portion 44c of the electrode segment 44. The space above the liquid level S2 is closed.

  In this case, even if the liquid level S2 is lower than the liquid level S1 in the first area A1, the rise in the liquid level S2 is prevented by the atmospheric pressure above the second area A2. Accordingly, in the second region A2, the liquid surface S2 and the lower end portion 44c of the electrode segment 44 are in close proximity, and even if the liquid surface S2 slightly varies, bubbles enter the open portion 45d. Therefore, it is considered that the uniformity of the coating amount is impaired.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the upper communication portion 54 is disposed as a pressure adjusting portion that adjusts the pressure difference (atmospheric pressure difference) between the first region A1 and the second region A2, the height of the liquid surface S2 in the second region A2 is increased. It can approach the height of the liquid surface S1 of the first region A1. For this reason, bubbles are less likely to enter the open portion 45d between the lower end portion 44c of the electrode segment 44 and the sheet 45b, which is pumped to the gap G1, and the uniformity of the coating amount can be improved.

  In addition, as long as it is above the upper end position of the back side wall 45c which is a discharge part, you may provide a pressure adjustment part in a different position. For example, the end of the supply tray 45 in the thrust direction or the electrode segment 44 may be provided with an opening shape that allows the upper portion of the second region A2 to communicate with the outside of the supply tray 45. Further, the position and the number of installations other than the height of the upper communication portion 54 are arbitrary, and for example, one may be arranged at the central portion in the thrust direction.

  In addition, the shape of the partition portion is not limited as long as the supply tray 45 is divided into an upstream region (first region A1) and a downstream region (second region A2) in the developer flow direction. It is not restricted to what was described in the example. For example, it is not limited to a flat plate shape, and may have a V-shaped member in a sectional view or a bent shape in a plan view. Further, the communication portion that communicates the first region A1 and the second region A2 may be formed in a part of the thrust direction (including the case where the communication portion has a tube shape) instead of the gap 48. However, in this embodiment, the gap 48 is formed over substantially the same length as the length of the developing roller 41 in the thrust direction (see FIGS. 2 and 6), so that the cross-sectional area of the communicating portion is increased without increasing the gap width. This can ensure the flow rate of the developer toward the second region A2.

  Next, the developing device 4B according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The developing device 4B according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the replenishing port 56 is disposed and a rectifying plate 57 disposed in the first area A1 of the supply tray 45 is provided. In addition, elements common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the developing device 4B according to the present embodiment is a partition plate that partitions the supply tray 45 into the first region A1 and the second region A2, similarly to the developing device 4 according to the first embodiment. 46 (partition part) is provided. However, as shown in FIG. 9, the supply port 56 according to the present embodiment is disposed at the center of the supply tray 45 in the thrust direction, and is formed at the bottom 45a of the tray. The supply pipe 53 is connected to the supply port 56 via the lower side of the supply tray 45. However, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device 4B at the position of the broken line shown in FIG.

  The rectifying plate 57 provided as a guide portion for guiding the developer is a facing member arranged to face the replenishing port 56. As shown in FIG. 10, the rectifying plate 57 is disposed so as to cover the supply port 56 as viewed from above.

  With such a configuration, the developer sent from the supply pump 75 flows into the first region A1 along the upward inflow direction V1, and is distributed to both sides in the thrust direction by colliding with the rectifying plate 57. (V4, V4). Then, the developing solution spreading in the thrust direction moves to the second region via a gap 48 (communication portion) between the partition plate 46 and the bottom 45a of the supply tray 45. The developer that has moved to the second region A2 is pumped up to the gap G1 as the developing roller 41 rotates, and is used for development.

  Thus, also in this embodiment, since the supply tray 45 is partitioned by the partition plate 46 that is a partition portion, as in the first embodiment, the fluctuation of the liquid level in the second region A2 is reduced and the developing roller is reduced. The coating amount with respect to 41 can be stabilized.

  Further, in this embodiment, the developer flowing into the first area A1 through the replenishing port 56 flows in the developer flow direction V4 in the first area A1 and the moving direction from the first area A1 toward the second area A2. It is configured to be guided by the current plate 57 so as to be different from V2. For this reason, even when the flow rate of the developing solution is relatively high, the flow of the developing solution can be reduced by the rectifying plate 57 and the developing solution can be dispersed in the thrust direction. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the developer flowing into the first region A1 from flowing directly toward the second region A2, and to effectively suppress fluctuations in the liquid level in the second region A2.

  In addition, the shape and arrangement of the guide portion may be different from those of the rectifying plate 57 as long as the developer flowing into the first region A1 can be appropriately guided. For example, when the replenishing port 56 is provided at a place other than the bottom of the supply tray 45, it is preferable to arrange the replenishing port 56 so as to face the replenishing port 56 at a position and posture corresponding to the inflow direction of the developer. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which suppresses the flow rate by increasing the flow resistance of a developing solution by arrange | positioning not only a plate-shaped member but the guide part formed, for example in the shape of a pile, or net shape in 1st area | region A1.

4, 4B ... developing device / 41 ... developer carrier (developing roller) / 42 ... removal member (squeeze roller) / 44 ... covering portion (electrode segment) / 45 ... supply tray / 45a ... bottom portion / 45b ... feeding portion ( Sheet) / 45c ... discharge part (back side wall) / 46 ... partition part (partition plate) / 47, 56 ... supply part (supply port) / 48 ... communication part (gap) / 54 ... upper communication part, pressure adjustment part / A1 ... first area / A2 ... second area

Claims (12)

A developer carrier that carries a developer and rotates;
A replenishing unit for replenishing the developer, and a supply unit opened to face the developer carrier, and a developer storage unit for supplying the developer to the developer carrier in the supply unit;
The developer container is partitioned into a first region in which the replenisher is disposed and a second region in which the supply unit is disposed, and the first region between the developer container and the bottom surface of the developer container A partition that forms a communication part that communicates with the second region,
The developer container is provided with a discharge unit that discharges the developer in the first region when the level of the developer in the first region exceeds a predetermined level.
The partition extends at least above the predetermined height;
A developing device. A developer carrier that carries a developer and rotates;
A replenishing unit for replenishing the developer, and a supply unit opened to face the developer carrier, and a developer storage unit for supplying the developer to the developer carrier in the supply unit;
A cover that is disposed above the developer container and covers at least a part of the developer container as viewed from above;
Extending downward from the cover, the developer container is partitioned into a first region in which the replenishment unit is disposed and a second region in which the supply unit is disposed, and the developer container A partition portion that forms a communicating portion that communicates the first region and the second region with a bottom surface,
A developing device. The covering portion is opposed to the developer carrying member with a predetermined gap therebetween, and the amount of the developer carried on the developer carrying member can be adjusted.
The developing device according to claim 2. A removal member that is disposed downstream of the cover in the rotation direction of the developer carrier and removes excess developer from the developer carrier;
The cover is disposed so as to cover the developer container together with the developer carrier, and forms a flow path for discharging the developer removed by the removing member via the upper part of the developer container. It is characterized by
The developing device according to claim 2. The developing solution storage unit is provided with a discharge unit that discharges the developing solution in the first region when the level of the developing solution in the first region exceeds a predetermined height.
The developing device according to claim 2. The partition portion is provided with an upper communication portion that communicates the first region and the second region above the predetermined height.
The developing device according to claim 1. A pressure adjusting unit that communicates the second region with the outside above the predetermined height and reduces a pressure difference between the first region and the second region is provided.
The developing device according to claim 1. The inflow direction of the developer flowing into the first region via the replenishment unit and the moving direction of the developer moving from the first region to the second region via the communication unit are different from each other. The replenishment part and the partition part are arranged,
The developing device according to claim 1. The developer carrying member comprises a roller member;
The partition part extends along the axial direction of the developer carrier,
The developing device according to claim 1. The replenishing portion is disposed at an end portion of the developer accommodating portion in the axial direction.
The developing device according to claim 9. The replenishment portion is disposed in a central portion of the developer storage portion in the axial direction;
The first region of the developer storage unit includes a guide unit that guides and distributes the developer flowing in via the replenishment unit along the axial direction.
The developing device according to claim 9. The replenishing portion is disposed at the bottom of the developer accommodating portion;
The guide portion is composed of an opposing member that faces the supply portion on the lower surface,
The developing device according to claim 11.

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