JP2018081278A - Developer container, developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in which: the bulk density of a toner that is a developer in a developer container is increased due to vibration in transit and being left standing for a long period, and drive may not be reliably transmitted.SOLUTION: A developer container comprises: a first gear; a second gear; a third gear; and a movement regulating part that regulates the second gear from moving. When the distance between the second gear and movement regulating part is d, and the module of the second gear is m, the movement regulating part is provided at a position satisfying the relationship d<2m.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer container, a developing device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus.

  Here, the image forming apparatus refers to an apparatus that forms an image on a recording material. The process cartridge means a cartridge having at least an image carrier. In many cases, the charging unit, the developing unit, the cleaning unit, and the image carrier are integrally formed into a cartridge, which is a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Further, the developing device means a device having at least a developer carrying member. In many cases, the developer carrying member and the developing frame supporting the developer carrying are integrated so as to be detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The developer container refers to a container for containing the developer.

  Examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include a copying machine, an LED printer, a laser printer, and a facsimile.

  In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “image forming apparatus”), a photosensitive drum, which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member that is a drum type as an image carrier, is uniformly charged. Next, an electrostatic latent image (electrostatic image) is formed on the photosensitive drum by selectively exposing the charged photosensitive drum. Then, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum is developed as a toner image with toner as a developer. Then, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred to a recording material such as recording paper or plastic sheet, and the toner image is applied to the recording material by applying heat or pressure to the toner image transferred onto the recording material. Image recording is performed by fixing.

  Such an image forming apparatus generally requires toner replenishment and maintenance of various process means. In order to facilitate this toner replenishment and maintenance, a photosensitive cartridge, a charging unit, a developing unit, a cleaning unit, and the like are combined into a cartridge into a cartridge, and a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body has been put into practical use. ing.

  According to this process cartridge system, since the user can perform maintenance of the apparatus himself, the operability can be remarkably improved, and an image forming apparatus excellent in usability can be provided. For this reason, this process cartridge system is widely used in image forming apparatuses.

  The process cartridge described above generally includes a toner container that contains toner, a conveying member that stirs and conveys toner in the toner container, and a gear that rotationally drives the conveying member. Further, a configuration is known in which a toner sealing member attached to a toner container is opened along with the rotation of a conveying member (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2014-071126 A

  In such a cartridge configuration, it is assumed that the bulk density of the toner in the developer container increases due to vibration during transportation and long-term storage. When the bulk density of the toner increases, the rotational load of the transport member increases and the rotational torque of the transport member increases. For this reason, when the conveying member is rotationally driven in a state where the torque is high, the gear may cause tooth skipping or the teeth may be damaged. For this reason, it is necessary to enlarge the gear module or use a material having high strength. If such a measure is taken, the size and cost of the apparatus may not be reduced. The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. The purpose of the present invention is to increase the bulk density of toner, which is a developer in the developer container, due to vibration during transportation and long-term standing, and the torque of the conveying member is increased. This is to ensure that the conveying member can be rotationally driven even if the number of the conveying member increases.

Therefore, the present invention provides
A developer container containing a developer,
A transport member for transporting the stored developer;
A first gear for transmitting drive to the conveying member;
A second gear meshing with the first gear and transmitting drive to the first gear;
A third gear meshing with the second gear and transmitting drive to the second gear;
A movement restricting portion that has a contact surface that can come into contact with the tooth tip of the second gear and restricts movement of the second gear by a force received from the first gear;
When the distance between the circle formed by the locus of movement of the tooth tip of the second gear and the contact surface of the movement restricting portion is d and the module of the second gear is m, The movement restricting portion provides a developer container provided at a position satisfying a relationship of d <2 m.

  The present invention also provides a developing device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even if the bulk density of the toner, which is the developer in the developer container, increases due to vibration during transportation or standing for a long time, It can be reliably rotated.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a driving unit of a developing unit of the process cartridge according to the embodiment. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus main body and a process cartridge of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the process cartridge which concerns on an Example. 1 is a perspective view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to an embodiment in a state where an opening / closing door is opened. 1 is a perspective view of a state in which an opening / closing door of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to an embodiment is opened and a tray (drawer member) is pulled out. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus main body and the process cartridge when the process cartridge is attached to and detached from the tray in a state where the opening / closing door of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the embodiment is opened and the tray is pulled out. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a drive transmission unit of the image forming apparatus main body and the process cartridge according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a drive unit of the developing unit of the process cartridge according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a driving unit of a developing unit of the process cartridge according to the embodiment. It is a figure explaining the module of a gear.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be exemplarily described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in this embodiment should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions. That is, it is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to the following embodiments.

  In this specification, the direction of the axis of rotation of the photosensitive drum, which is an image carrier, is the longitudinal direction. In the longitudinal direction, the side on which the photosensitive drum receives the driving force from the main body of the image forming apparatus is defined as the driving side, and the opposite side is defined as the non-driving side.

  The overall configuration of the image forming apparatus and the image forming process will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as apparatus main body A) and a process cartridge (hereinafter referred to as cartridge B) of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge B.
Here, the apparatus main body A is a portion obtained by removing the cartridge B from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

<Overall configuration of image forming apparatus>
The electrophotographic image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is a laser beam printer using an electrophotographic technique in which the cartridge B is detachably attached to the apparatus main body A. In general, the process cartridge is a cartridge in which an electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image carrier and a charging unit, a developing unit, a cleaning unit, and the like as a process unit acting on the photosensitive unit are integrated into a cartridge. . The process cartridge (hereinafter referred to as cartridge B) is detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. When the cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body A, an exposure device 3 (laser scanner unit) for forming an electrostatic image on the photosensitive drum 62 which is an image carrier and a photosensitive member of the cartridge B is disposed. In addition, a sheet tray 4 that stores a recording material (hereinafter referred to as a sheet material P) that is an image forming target is disposed below the cartridge B.

  Further, in the apparatus main body A, a pickup roller 5a, a feeding roller pair 5b, a conveying roller pair 5c, a transfer guide 6, and a transfer roller 7 serving as a transfer member are arranged along the conveying direction D of the sheet material P. . Further, a transfer roller 7, a conveyance guide 8, a fixing device 9, a discharge roller pair 10, a discharge tray 11, and the like are sequentially arranged along the conveyance direction D. The fixing device 9 includes a heating roller 9a and a pressure roller 9b.

<Image formation process>
Next, an outline of the image forming process will be described. Based on a print start signal transmitted from a control unit 100 such as a CPU, a photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as drum 62) is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow R with a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed).

  A charging roller 66, which is a charging member to which a bias voltage is applied, contacts the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62, and uniformly charges the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62. The charging member may be a non-contact corona charger depending on the configuration.

  The exposure device 3 outputs a laser beam L corresponding to the image information. The laser light L passes through a laser opening 71 h provided in the cleaning frame 71 of the cartridge B, and scans and exposes the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62. Thereby, an electrostatic image (or electrostatic latent image) corresponding to the image information is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, in the developing unit 20 as a developing device, the toner T, which is the developer in the developer chamber 29, is agitated and conveyed by the rotation of the conveying member 43 and sent out to the developer supply chamber 28. It is. The developer chamber 29 and the developer supply chamber 28 are constituted by a developing unit frame.

  The toner T, which is a developer, is carried on the surface of the developing sleeve 32, which is a developer carrying member and also a developing roller, by the magnetic force of the magnet roller 34 (fixed magnet).

  The toner T is regulated by the developing blade 42 which is a developer layer regulating member, and the layer thickness of the developer on the circumferential surface of the developing sleeve 32 which is the developing roller is regulated while being frictionally charged.

  The toner T is developed on the drum 62 in accordance with the electrostatic latent image, and is visualized as a toner image which is a developer image.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the sheet material P stored in the lower part of the apparatus main body A is moved to the sheet tray by the pickup roller 5a, the feeding roller pair 5b, and the conveying roller pair 5c in accordance with the output timing of the laser beam L. 4 is sent out. Then, the sheet material P is conveyed to the transfer position between the drum 62 and the transfer roller 7 via the transfer guide 6. At this transfer position, the toner image as the developer image is sequentially transferred from the drum 62 to the sheet material P.

  The sheet material P to which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the drum 62 and conveyed to the fixing device 9 along the conveyance guide 8. The sheet material P passes through the nip portion between the heating roller 9a and the pressure roller 9b constituting the fixing device 9. A pressure / heat fixing process is performed in the nip portion, and the toner image is fixed on the sheet material P. The sheet material P that has undergone the toner image fixing process is conveyed to the discharge roller pair 10 and discharged to the discharge tray 11.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the drum 62 after transfer is used again in the image forming process after the residual toner on the outer peripheral surface is removed by the cleaning blade 77 which is a cleaning member. The toner removed from the drum 62 is stored in the waste developer chamber 71b of the cleaning unit 60.

  In the above, the charging roller 66, the developing roller 32, the transfer roller 7, and the cleaning blade 77 are process means that act on the drum 62. Details of the cartridge B will be described later.

<Removal of cartridge B from apparatus main body A>
Next, attachment and detachment of the cartridge B with respect to the apparatus main body A will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus main body A with the open / close door 13 opened in order to detach the cartridge B. As shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus main body A and the cartridge B in a state in which the opening / closing door 13 is opened and the tray 18 as a drawer member is pulled out in order to attach and detach the cartridge B. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus main body A and the cartridge B when the cartridge B is attached and detached with the opening / closing door 13 opened and the tray 18 as a drawer member pulled out. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cartridge B mounted on the tray 18 as a drawer member.

  An opening / closing door 13 is rotatably attached to the apparatus main body A, and a cartridge insertion opening 17 is provided when the opening / closing door 13 is opened. A tray 18 for mounting the cartridge B to the apparatus main body A is provided in the cartridge insertion opening 17. When the tray 18 is pulled out to a predetermined position, the cartridge B can be attached / detached along the attaching / detaching direction E. The cartridge B is mounted in the apparatus main body A along a guide rail (not shown) in the direction of arrow C in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the apparatus main body A includes a first drive shaft 14 and a first drive shaft 14 as drive transmission portions for transmitting drive to the first coupling 70 and the second coupling 21 provided in the cartridge B. Two drive shafts 19 are provided. The first drive shaft 14 and the second drive shaft 19 that are drive transmission units are driven by a motor (not shown) of the apparatus main body A. As a result, the drum 62 connected to the first coupling 70 is rotated by receiving a driving force from the apparatus main body A. Further, the driving force is transmitted from the second coupling 21 to rotate the developing roller 32 which is a developer carrier. Further, the charging roller 66 and the developing roller 32 are supplied with power from a power supply unit (not shown) of the apparatus main body A.

<Configuration of cartridge B>
Next, the configuration of the cartridge B will be described with reference to FIG. 3 (cross-sectional view of the cartridge B).

  The cartridge B of this embodiment forms an integral cartridge by coupling the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20. This is a so-called process cartridge.

  As shown in the figure, the cleaning unit 60 has a drum 62 as an image carrier and a charging roller 66 as a charging member. Furthermore, the cleaning unit 60 includes a cleaning member 77, a cleaning frame body 71 that supports these members, and a lid member 72 that is fixed to the cleaning frame body 71 by welding or the like. In the cleaning unit 60, the charging roller 66 and the cleaning member 77 are disposed in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62.

  The developing unit 20 includes a developing roller 32 that is a developer carrying member, a developing container 23 that is a frame that supports the developing roller 32, and a developing blade that regulates the thickness of the toner layer on the developing roller 32. 42 etc. A magnet roller 34 is provided in the developing roller 32. In the developing unit 20 of this embodiment, a developer container having a developer chamber 29 is formed by connecting a developing container 23 as a first frame and a bottom member 22 as a second frame.

  The developer chamber 29 is provided with a transport member 43 for transporting toner, which is a developer accommodated in the developer chamber 29, to the developer supply chamber 28. The conveying member 43 is driven by the second coupling 21 and rotates in the direction of arrow H.

  Further, the developer container 23 is provided with a developer opening 23 a that is an opening for discharging the toner in the developer chamber 29 toward the developer supply chamber 28. Then, in order to seal the developer opening 23a before use of the cartridge B, a sealing seal 43b as a sealing member is bonded to a developing container as a first frame body having a developing opening so as to cover the developing opening 23a. Has been. Here, one end side of the sealing seal 43 b is joined to the developing container 23, and the other end side is connected to the transport member 43. Thus, when the cartridge B is started to be used, the seal seal 43b is peeled off from the developing container 23 as the conveying member 43 rotates, so that the developer opening 23a is exposed, and toner is supplied from the developer chamber 29 to the developer supply chamber. 28 can be discharged. Here, the sealing member and the developing container each have a joint portion. In this embodiment, the joining portion is formed by ultrasonic welding or the like in a state where the sealing member and the developing container are overlapped.

  The conveying member 43 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a sheet-like conveying portion 43a for conveying the developer, a toner seal that is a sealing member 43b for sealing the opening, and a shaft portion 43c. However, it is not limited to this. For example, you may have a sheet-like 2nd conveyance part for conveying a developing agent. Furthermore, you may have a sheet-like 3rd conveyance part.

<Configuration of development unit drive unit>
Next, the configuration of the drive unit of the developing unit 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the drive unit of the developing unit 20, and FIG. 9 is a side view of the developing unit 20 with the side cover 57 that is a part of the frame removed.

  As shown in the drawing, the driving unit of the developing unit 20 includes the second coupling 21, the input gear 51, the developing roller gear 52, the first idler gear 53, the second idler gear 54, the third idler gear 55, the conveying member driving gear 56, and the side. A cover 57 is included. The input gear 51 is rotatably supported by a support portion of a developing roller bearing (support member) 27 that is a part of the frame. The developing roller bearing, which is a support member, also has a support portion that supports the developing roller. The input gear 51 is engaged with the second coupling 21, and the drive is transmitted from the second coupling 21. The developing roller drive gear 52 is a drive transmission member that is engaged with the end of the developing roller 32 and transmits driving to the developing roller 32. The drive transmission members, which are the first idler gear 53, the second idler gear 54, and the third idler gear 55, are attached to the support shafts 23c, 23d, and 23e of the developing container 23, respectively. Further, a drive transmission member that is a conveyance member drive gear 56 is attached to the support portion 23 f of the developing container 23. The conveying member driving gear 56 is engaged with the conveying member 43 inside the developer container, and transmits driving to the conveying member 43. That is, a part of the frame body is interposed between the transport member 43 and the transport member drive gear 56, and a plurality of gears are arranged at positions outside the part of the intervening frame body. A conveying member 43 is arranged. The developing unit of this embodiment takes a form in which the outer side of the gear train that is a drive transmission member is covered with a side cover 57 that is also a part of the frame.

  Formally, the conveying member drive gear 56 is the first gear, the third idler gear is the second gear, the second idler gear is the third gear, the first idler gear 53 is the fourth gear, and the input gear 51 is the fifth gear. The gear and the developing roller driving gear 52 are also referred to as a sixth gear.

  Further, the developing container 23 which is the first frame body of the present embodiment is provided with a convex portion (gear movement restricting portion) 23b on an arc having a predetermined distance from the outer diameter of the third idler gear 55. A convex portion, which is a gear movement restricting portion, protrudes from the inside to the outside of the developer container in the axial direction of the developing roller. Moreover, the convex part which is a movement control part of the gear of a present Example protrudes from the side wall which is a part of frame. A gear train is disposed outside the side wall, and is further covered with a side cover that is a third frame that is a part of the frame.

  The convex portion that is the gear movement restricting portion has a contact surface that comes into contact with the gear tip. The contact surface of the convex part of this embodiment has an arc shape so as to follow the rotation locus of the gear tooth tip. It has an arc shape centered on the rotation axis of the gear. When the developer container is shipped, the contact surface of the movement restricting portion and the tooth tip of the gear are not in contact (if the gear moves, the contact is possible). When the gear is driven, if the driving torque is large, the gear teeth contact the contact surface of the convex portion. The gear is in contact with the movement restricting portion, so that the gear is restricted from moving or deforming outward. Thereby, tooth skipping of the gear can be prevented.

  Input of driving from the apparatus main body A to the developing unit 20 is performed from the second drive shaft 19 to the second coupling 21 and is an input gear which is a fifth gear engaged with the second coupling 21. 51 rotates in the direction of arrow G. Drive transmission downstream from the input gear 51, which is the fifth gear, is divided into two paths (FIG. 9). In the first path, the developing roller 32 is driven from the input gear 51 serving as the fifth gear through the developing roller gear 52 serving as the sixth gear (FIG. 9). In the second path, the conveyance member 43 is driven from the input gear 51 through the first idler gear 53, the second idler gear 54, the third idler gear 55, and the conveyance member drive gear 56 (FIG. 9). That is, the drive is transmitted in the order of the fifth gear, the fourth gear, the third gear, the second gear, and the first gear. The first idler gear 53 and the second idler gear 54 are stepped gears that decelerate the rotation of the input gear 51 and drive the conveying member 43. The third idler gear 55 meshes with the small gear 54 a of the second idler gear 54 and the conveying member drive gear 56.

  Note that the rotation direction of the gear in this embodiment is as shown in FIG. The second idler gear 54 and the conveying member drive gear 56 rotate clockwise in FIG. The third idler gear 55 rotates counterclockwise. It can be said that the conveying member drive gear 56 and the third idler gear 55 are moving in the same direction when viewed at a position where the tooth tips contact.

  Next, the convex part (rib) 23b which is a movement control part provided in the developing container 23 which is the frame of the present embodiment will be described.

  The convex portion 23 b that is a movement restricting portion is formed integrally with the developing container 23. The transfer convex portion 23b has a circular arc portion 23b1 concentric with the third idler gear 55 and a guide surface 23b22 provided toward the upstream end of the circular idle portion 55b in the rotation direction of the third idler gear 55. Part 23b2. Here, the arc portion 23 b 1 has a contact surface 23 b 11 that can come into contact with the tooth tip of the third idler gear 55. A predetermined distance d is provided between the locus formed by rotation of the tooth tip of the third idler gear 55 and the contact surface 23b11 of the convex portion that is the movement restricting portion. In other words, the outer diameter (tooth diameter) of the third idler gear 55 and the contact surface 23b11 are provided with a predetermined distance d.

In this embodiment, the distance d is set so that d <2m ₃ with respect to the module of the third idler gear 55 for m ₃ .

  Here, the module is a value indicating the size of the gear. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, it is defined that module = pitch circle diameter ÷ the number of teeth.

A pitch circle diameter, the base of the teeth of the addendum circle diameter d _{A (circle} formed by the locus addendum of the gear is drawn by moving) the root circle diameter d _B (gear moves And a circle formed by a trajectory drawn in FIG.
The pitch circle diameter d _s = z (number of teeth) × m (module), the tip circle diameter d _A = d + 2 m, and the root circle diameter d _B = d−2.5 m.

  Further, the guide surface 23b22 of the guide portion 23b2 is formed such that the distance from the tooth tip of the third idler gear 55 gradually increases as the distance from the arc portion 23b1 increases. Further, the guide surface 23b22 is provided when the gear tooth tip rotates and enters a position corresponding to the convex portion. Therefore, the guide part and the guide surface are located on the upstream side of the convex part with respect to the rotation direction of the gear. On the other hand, the arc portion and the contact surface are located on the downstream side of the convex portion. This is to prevent the gear teeth from coming into contact with and damaging the end surface, which is the end of the rib, which is a convex portion.

  When the cartridge B is used for the first time, when the driving force is transmitted from the second drive shaft 19 of the apparatus main body A to the cartridge B, the sealing seal 43 b as a sealing member is moved along with the rotation of the conveying member 43. Torn off. At this time, the conveying member 43 is subjected to a load for stirring and conveying the toner, a load for peeling off the sealing seal 43b from the joint portion of the developing container 23, and a load for the sealing seal 43b to move while moving the toner. . The sealing seal 43b is opened, the toner in the developer chamber 29 is discharged to the developer supply chamber 28, and the toner in the developer chamber 29 is agitated to loosen the toner (the bulk density decreases). ), The load applied to the subsequent conveying member 43 decreases.

  In the cartridge B before use, the bulk density of the toner in the developer chamber 29 may be high due to vibration during transportation or long-term storage. The load applied to the transport member 43 during the initial use of the cartridge B in such a state is extremely large compared to the load during image formation after the sealing seal 43b is peeled off. In such a state, a larger meshing force is applied to the third idler gear 55 meshed with the conveying member drive gear 56 than during normal image formation. Next, the operation will be described.

The effect | action of the convex part 23 which is a movement control part is demonstrated using FIG. The third idler gear applied meshing force 55 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 (a), the resultant force F ₃ of the meshing force F- ₂₃ with meshing force F _a3 between the conveying member driving gear 56 and the second idler gear 54 It becomes. That is, a force is applied to the third idler gear 55 in a direction in which the meshing portion between the second idler gear 54 and the conveying member drive gear 56 is separated. As described above, when the load applied to the conveying member 43 is large, the meshing force F _a3 becomes large. Therefore, the third idler gear 55 moves in the direction of the resultant force F ₃ due to deformation of the support shaft 23e and the third idler gear 55 engagement amount _{X 3a} of the conveying member driving gear 56 is reduced. As shown in FIG. 1B, the meshing amount X is a value represented by X = Da + Db−Y where Da and Db are the outer diameters of the pair of gears meshed and Y is the distance between the centers. , About 2 m for the gear module m. Therefore, if the gear moves due to deformation of the support shaft or the like and the meshing amount decreases below 2 m, the meshing becomes small, and finally the meshing of the teeth is disengaged so that the drive cannot be transmitted.

  The distance Da in FIG. 1B is the distance from the rotation center 55a of the third idler gear shown in FIG. 1A to the tip of the tooth of the third idler gear in FIG. The locus of the circle drawn by the rotation of the tip of the tooth of the third idler gear is also used in relation to the distance from the movement restricting portion.

  The distance Db in FIG. 1B is the distance from the rotation center 56a of the conveying member drive gear shown in FIG. 1A to the tip of the teeth of the third idler gear in FIG.

As described above, in this embodiment, a position where the distance d from the arc contact surface of the convex portion 23b, which is the movement restricting portion, to the outer diameter (the gear tip) of the third idler gear 55 satisfies the relationship d <2m _3. Is provided with a movement restricting portion (contact surface). Also, the arc portion 23b1 is disposed in a direction including a force F ₃ exerted on the third idler gear 55. For this reason, the movement of the third idler gear due to the load that drives the conveying member 43 is restricted by the outer diameter (tooth tip) of the third idler gear 55 coming into contact with the arc portion 23b1. Even if the third idler gear 55 moves until it comes into contact with the arc portion 23b1, the third idler gear 55 and the second idler gear 54, and the third idler gear 55 and the conveying member drive gear 56 are not disengaged. Drive can be transmitted.

  Thus, when the load of the conveying member 43 is extremely high, the third idler gear 55 rotates with the tooth tip in contact with the arc portion 23b1. Such a situation is only in a limited case such as when the bulk density of the toner in the developer chamber 29 is high or when a load is applied to open the sealing seal 43b, so that the third idler gear 55 is brought into contact with the convex portion 23b. The possibility of occurrence of wear or damage can be minimized. Further, the guide surface 23b22 of the guide portion 23b2 is provided at the upstream end portion of the convex portion in the rotation direction of the third idler gear 55. Thereby, when the 3rd idler gear 55 rotates in the state which contacted the circular arc part 23b1, the edge part of the convex part 23b and the tooth surface of the 3rd idler gear 55 do not contact, and it can prevent damage to a gear. .

The outer diameter and the distance d of the arcuate portion contact surface and the third idler gear 55 of the convex portion 23b is a movement restricting portion is preferably provided at a position satisfying the relation d <m _3. If the distance from the tooth tip of the third idler gear 55 to the movement restricting portion is shortened, it is possible to reduce the size of the developer container and the developing device in combination with other configurations.

  In addition, the configuration in which the convex portion and the tooth tip are in contact with each other when the sealing member is not opened (or when it is not used or new) can prevent tooth skipping when the teeth are well meshed and the torque is large. However, since the tooth tip is easily damaged, it is preferable to provide the contact surface of the movement restricting portion so as to satisfy the relationship of 0 <d. When the movement amount of the gear is small, a configuration in which the gears are in contact with each other (0 = d) may be used.

  Moreover, although it is the convex part extended from the side wall of a frame, the height from the side wall of a frame to the front-end | tip of a convex part in a longitudinal direction must be lower than the height from the side wall of a frame to the side edge part of a gear Is preferred. This is because the material cost can be kept low if the height of the convex portion is low. That is, it is not necessary to have a height that covers all the gear teeth, and it is sufficient to cover a part of the gear teeth. For example, half the thickness of the gear (the distance from the side surface of the frame body in the longitudinal direction to the center of the width in the direction perpendicular to the rotation direction of the gear teeth) may be covered.

  The cartridge is not limited to the cartridge B (process cartridge) configuration described in this embodiment. For example, there is a developer container (for example, a toner cartridge) that contains a developer, and a developing device (for example, a developing cartridge) that has at least a developer carrying member. Further, there are an image carrier cartridge (for example, a drum cartridge) having at least an image carrier, and a process cartridge having at least an image carrier.

  Here, the developing device has a form in which the developing device itself has a frame for storing the developer, and when the stored developer is used up, the developing device itself is replaced. Further, the developing device may have a configuration in which a developer container for containing the developer is detachable from the developing device. In this case, the developing device is configured such that the developer can be replenished from the developer container into a space that can accommodate the developer of the frame that supports the developer carrying member.

  The image carrier cartridge only needs to have at least an image carrier. In many cases, a charging unit for charging the surface of the image carrier and a cleaning unit for cleaning the surface of the image carrier are provided. However, the image carrier cartridge does not have cleaning means in a so-called cleaner-less configuration. The process cartridge may have at least an image carrier. In many cases, this means a structure having a charging means for charging the image carrier and a developing means for developing an electrostatic image on the image carrier.

  The apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus may be configured such that only the process cartridge is detachably mounted, or may be configured such that the developing cartridge and the drum cartridge are detachable. Further, in the case of two units, a configuration in which the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge and then attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, or a configuration in which each can be attached to the main body of the apparatus regardless of the mounting state of other cartridges. Good.

  Up to now, a configuration in which different types of cartridges can be attached / detached has been illustrated, but a configuration in which a plurality of cartridges of the same type can be attached / detached may be used. For example, in the case of a color machine, an image forming apparatus in which four cartridges of the same type of YMCK can be attached and detached can be considered.

  Note that the apparatus main body refers to an apparatus component that excludes at least the detachable structure from the structure of the image forming apparatus. For example, when the process cartridge is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body, the apparatus configuration portion excluding the process cartridge from the configuration of the image forming apparatus is defined as the apparatus main body.

32 Development roller (developer carrier)
42 Development blade (developer regulating member)
43 Conveying member 43b Sealing seal 51 Input gear 52 Developing roller driving gear 53 First idler gear 54 Second idler gear 55 Third idler gear 56 Conveying member driving gear A Image forming apparatus main body B Process cartridge (cartridge)
C Insertion direction G Rotation direction (input gear)
H Rotation direction (conveying member)
X Engagement amount Y Center-to-center distance

Claims (13)

A developer container containing a developer,
A transport member for transporting the stored developer;
A first gear for transmitting drive to the conveying member;
A second gear meshing with the first gear and transmitting drive to the first gear;
A third gear meshing with the second gear and transmitting drive to the second gear;
A movement restricting portion that has a contact surface that can come into contact with the tooth tip of the second gear and restricts movement of the second gear by a force received from the first gear;
When the distance between the circle formed by the locus of movement of the tooth tip of the second gear and the contact surface of the movement restricting portion is d and the module of the second gear is m, The developer container, wherein the movement restricting portion is provided at a position satisfying a relationship of d <2 m.   The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface has an arc shape centering on a rotation axis of the second gear.   The movement restricting portion is provided on the upstream side of the contact surface in the rotation direction of the second gear, and the distance from the tooth tip of the second gear gradually increases toward the upstream side in the rotation direction. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the developer container has a larger guide surface. Having a frame for containing the developer;
The said 1st gear and the said 2nd gear are attached to the side surface of the said frame, The said movement control part is the convex part protruded from the side of the said frame, The Claim 1 to 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The developer container according to any one of the above. Having a frame for containing the developer;
Having a sealing member for sealing the opening of the frame,
The said sealing member is attached to the said conveyance member, the said sealing member moves with rotation of the said conveyance member, and the said opening is opened, The any one of Claim 1 to 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. Developer container.   When the distance between the circle formed by the locus of movement of the tooth tip of the second gear and the contact surface of the movement restricting portion is d and the module of the second gear is m, The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the movement restricting portion is provided at a position satisfying a relationship of 0 <d <m. A fourth gear meshing with the third gear and transmitting drive to the third gear;
7. The developer container according to claim 1, further comprising a fifth gear that meshes with the fourth gear and transmits drive to the fourth gear. 8. A developer container according to any one of claims 1 to 7;
And a developer carrying member for carrying the developer. A developer container according to claim 7;
A sixth gear for transmitting drive to the developer carrier,
The developing device according to claim 6, wherein the sixth gear is driven by the fifth gear. A support member for supporting the shaft portion of the developer carrier;
The developing device according to claim 9, wherein the support member includes a support portion that supports the fifth gear. At least one of the developer container according to claim 1, the developing device according to claim 8, and
A process cartridge having an image carrier for carrying a developer image.   An image forming apparatus comprising at least one of the developer container according to claim 1, the developing device according to claim 8 or 9, and the process cartridge according to claim 10. At least one of the developer container according to claim 7, the developing device according to claim 9 or 10, and
An image forming apparatus comprising: a drive transmission unit that transmits drive to the fifth gear.

Images