JP2020052086A - Developing device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress toner clogging in a passage which guides tonner from a toner cartridge to a developing device.SOLUTION: A developing device includes: a storage part in which a developer is stored; a lid body having a passage for guiding the tonner to be supplied to the storage part and covering the storage part; a rotor which faces the passage in the storage part, whose one of a rotating shaft is supported and which is rotatably arranged by receiving a driving force at the other end of the rotating shaft; and breaking means for moving in one direction and the other direction opposite to one direction by receiving a driving force from the rotor in the vicinity of the rotor side in the passage and breaking the toner in the passage.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

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

In a toner transport mechanism having a toner transport path surface inclined downward toward the toner transport unit, receiving the falling toner and transferring it to the toner transport unit,
There is known a toner transport mechanism that has a movable plate movable in the surface direction on a toner transport path surface, and the movable plate moves in conjunction with the toner transport operation of the toner transport unit (Patent Document 1). .

  A toner receiving support member that is arranged in a casing that houses the developing roller, the toner supply roller, and the regulating blade, and that faces the developing roller or the toner supplying roller between the regulating blade and the image carrier; And a vibration generating means for vibrating the toner receiving member, the regulating blade is provided with a toner receiving member, the toner receiving member having a toner receiving surface that receives toner dropped from the developing roller. There is also known a developing device in which an inclined surface that slopes down toward the toner supply roller is formed on the top surface of the tip projecting from the edge on the side of the toner supply roller (Patent Document 2).

JP 2008-268800 A JP 2017-32931 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to suppress toner clogging in a passage for guiding toner from a toner cartridge to a developing device.

In order to solve the above problem, the developing device according to claim 1,
An accommodating section for accommodating the developer,
A lid having a passage for guiding the toner to be supplied to the container, and covering the container; and a first end of a rotating shaft supported in the container facing the passage in the container, the other end of the rotating shaft. A rotating body that is rotatably arranged at the end by receiving a driving force,
In the vicinity of the rotating body side of the passage, breaking means for receiving a driving force from the rotating body to break the toner in the passage.
It is characterized by the following.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the first aspect,
The breaking means receives a driving force from the rotating body and moves in one direction and the other direction opposite to the one direction,
It is characterized by the following.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the first aspect,
The breaking means has a pair of legs that straddle the rotation axis of the rotating body, and with the rotation of the rotating body, a protruding portion of the rotating shaft contacts the legs to move the breaking means in one direction. And moving in the other direction opposite to one direction,
It is characterized by the following.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the third aspect,
The distance between the inner sides of the pair of legs of the breaking means is greater than the amount of protrusion of the protrusion of the rotation shaft in the rotation radius direction of the rotation shaft,
It is characterized by the following.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the third aspect,
The protrusion of the rotating shaft has a tapered or R-shaped tip,
It is characterized by the following.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the third aspect,
The pair of legs of the breaking means has a guiding portion in a direction across the rotation axis,
It is characterized by the following.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the sixth aspect,
The guiding portion is formed as a tapered shape that is inclined in a direction straddling the rotation axis inside the tip portions of the pair of legs,
It is characterized by the following.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects,
The breaking means has a connecting wall intersecting the rotation axis of the rotating body and connecting the pair of side plates and the side plate facing each other in the rotation axis direction, and a plate surface facing the rotation axis direction of the rotating body, When moving in one direction and the other direction opposite to the one direction with the bearing portion provided on the side plate as the center of rotation, the connecting wall comes into contact with the toner to break the toner,
It is characterized by the following.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the eighth aspect,
The side plate has an opening that opens toward the passageway, and the breaking means is rotatable with respect to the lid by fitting a shaft provided in the lid from the opening into the bearing. Placed in the
It is characterized by the following.

The invention according to claim 10 is the developing device according to claim 9, wherein:
The bearing portion is formed to have a snap fit shape for receiving the shaft portion at one end of the opening,
It is characterized by the following.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to any one of the first to tenth aspects,
The breaking means does not contact the inner wall of the passage when moved in one direction and the other direction opposite to the one direction,
It is characterized by the following.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects,
The rotating body conveys the developer when the developer surface of the developer in the storage section is equal to or higher than a threshold height, stays at one end of the passage, and when the developer surface is lower than the threshold height. Conveying the toner in the passage to the storage section,
It is characterized by the following.

According to a thirteenth aspect, in the developing device according to the twelfth aspect,
The passage has a receiving port that opens upward, and the receiving port has an opening width of a region facing the rotating body is smaller than an opening width of a region facing the rotating shaft of the rotating body.
It is characterized by the following.

In order to solve the problem, the image forming apparatus according to claim 14,
An image carrier,
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the latent image formed on the image carrier is developed as a toner image.
Transfer means for transferring the toner image to a recording medium,
Fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording medium,
It is characterized by the following.

  According to the first and fourteenth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to suppress toner clogging in a passage for guiding toner from the toner cartridge to the developing device.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, the toner aggregated in the passage can be broken.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, the toner aggregated in the passage can be broken.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, the breaking means can be continuously moved in one direction and the other direction opposite to the one direction.

  According to the fifth aspect of the invention, it is possible to suppress the impact and noise when the drive source comes into contact with the leg of the breaking means.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, the breaking means can be easily engaged with the drive source.

  According to the invention described in claim 7, the breaking means can be easily engaged with the drive source.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the cost can be reduced and noise during operation can be suppressed as compared with a configuration in which the breaking means is moved using an elastic member.

  According to the ninth aspect, an opening for disposing the breaking means toward the passage can be reduced.

  According to the tenth aspect, the breaking means can be easily attached to the lid.

  According to the eleventh aspect, it is possible to suppress noise when the breaking means operates.

  According to the twelfth aspect, the toner concentration of the developer in the expropriation section can be maintained in a predetermined range.

  According to the thirteenth aspect, leakage of the developer can be suppressed.

FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view illustrating an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view illustrating a photoconductor unit, a developing device, and a toner cartridge. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of the developing device including a toner passage. It is a perspective view which shows a magnetic roll. (A) is a plan view showing a passage of the lid together with a magnetic roller, and (b) is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a passage of the lid together with a magnetic roller. It is a perspective view showing the whole swinging member. It is a side view which shows the leg part side of a rocking | fluctuation member. It is a figure explaining attachment of a rocking member to a lid. It is a figure explaining operation of a rocking member in a passage. It is a figure explaining an operation of a rocking member. FIG. 7 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view illustrating a developing device of a comparative example without a swing member. FIG. 7 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view illustrating toner supply in a developing device of a comparative example. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a toner bridge in a passage.

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings and embodiments and specific examples, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and specific examples.
In the following description using the drawings, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and ratios of respective dimensions and the like are different from actual ones. Illustrations other than members are omitted as appropriate.
In order to facilitate understanding of the following description, in the drawings, the front-back direction is defined as an X-axis direction, the left-right direction is defined as a Y-axis direction, and the up-down direction is defined as a Z-axis direction.

(1) Overall Configuration and Operation of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing the internal configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.
Hereinafter, the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control device 10, a sheet conveying device 20, a photosensitive unit 30, a developing device 40, a toner cartridge 50, an exposing device 60, a transfer device 70, and a fixing device 80.

  The control device 10 includes an image forming device control unit 11 that controls the operation of the image forming device 1, a controller unit 12 that prepares image data according to a print processing request, and an exposure control unit that controls lighting of a light source of the exposure device 60. 13, a power supply device 14, and the like. The power supply device 14 applies a predetermined voltage to a charging roller 32, a developing roller 42, a transfer roller 72, and the like, which will be described later, and supplies power to the exposure device 60.

The controller unit 12 converts image data input from an image reading device (not shown) or print information input from an external information transmission device (for example, a personal computer) into image information for forming a latent image and sets the image information in advance. The drive signal is output to the exposure control unit 13 at the specified timing. The exposure controller 13 drives the exposure device 60 to scan the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 with light modulated according to image data to be formed.
The exposure apparatus 60 of the present embodiment is configured by an LED head in which LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are linearly arranged.

  At the bottom of the image forming apparatus 1, a paper transport device 20 is provided. The paper transport device 20 includes a paper cassette 21, and a large number of papers P are stacked on the upper surface of the paper cassette 21, and the papers P whose width direction positions are determined by a regulating plate (not shown) are one by one from the upper side. After being pulled out rearward (in the X direction) by the paper drawer 22, the paper is conveyed to a contact portion of the registration roller pair 23.

  The photoconductor unit 30 includes a photoconductor drum 31 that is provided above the paper transport device 20 and that is driven to rotate. A charging roller 32, a developing device 40, a transfer roller 72, and a cleaning blade 34 are arranged along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 31. A cleaning roller 33 for cleaning the surface of the charging roller 32 is opposed to and in contact with the charging roller 32.

  The developing device 40 has a developing housing 41 in which the developer G is stored. Inside the developing housing 41, a developing roller 42 arranged opposite to the photosensitive drum 31 and a pair of a pair of developer G supplied to the lower side of the developing roller 42 while being agitated toward the developing roller 42. A supply auger 43 and a stirring auger 44 are provided.

  Above the developing device 40, a toner cartridge 50 is arranged supported by a toner cartridge guide 51. The toner cartridge 50 contains the toner T therein, and replenishes the developing device 40 with toner as needed.

  The surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 31 is charged by the charging roller 32, and an electrostatic latent image is formed by the exposure device 60. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 31 is developed by the developing roller 42 as a toner image.

  The transfer device 70 includes a rear cover 1a that supports the transfer roller 72 so as to be separable from the photosensitive drum 31, and a transfer roller 72 that forms a nip with the photosensitive drum 31. A predetermined transfer voltage is applied to the transfer roller 72 from the power supply device 14 controlled by the image forming apparatus control unit 11, and the toner on the photosensitive drum 31 is applied to the paper P passing between the photosensitive drum 31 and the transfer roller 72. Transfer the image.

  The residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is removed by a cleaning blade 34 and collected in a waste toner box (not shown). Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is recharged by the charging roller 32. The residue that cannot be completely removed by the cleaning blade 34 and adheres to the charging roller 32 is captured on the surface of the cleaning roller 33 that rotates in contact with the charging roller 32, and then is again passed through the charging roller 32 and the photosensitive drum. 31.

The fixing device 80 includes a pair of a heating module 81 and a pressure module 82, and a fixing nip portion (fixing area) is formed by a pressure contact area between the heating module 81 and the pressure module 82.
The paper P to which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer roller 72 is conveyed to the fixing device 80 via the conveyance guide 74 in a state where the toner image has not been fixed.

  The toner image is fixed on the sheet P conveyed to the fixing device 80 by the action of heating and pressure bonding by the pair of heating module 81 and pressure module 82. The sheet P on which the fixed toner image is formed is discharged from the discharge roller pair 84 to the upper cover 1b on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus 1.

(2) Configuration of Principal Parts FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing the photoconductor unit 30, the developing device 40, and the toner cartridge 50. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing main parts of the developing device 40 including a toner passage. 4 is a perspective view showing a magnetic roll 50, FIG. 5 (a) is a plan view showing a passage 47 of a lid 46 together with a magnetic roller 45, FIG. 5 (b) is a schematic longitudinal section, and FIG. 7 is a side view showing the side of the leg 48C of the swinging member 48, and FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the attachment of the swinging member 48 to the lid 46.
Hereinafter, the configuration of the developing device and the passage of the toner will be described with reference to the drawings.

(2.1) Overall Configuration of Developing Apparatus The developing apparatus 40 includes a developing housing 41 serving as a storage section for storing the developer G, a developing roller 42 disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum 31, and a developing roller 42. A supply auger 43 for supplying the developer G, a stirring auger 44 for transporting the developer G while stirring, and a rotating body for supplying or stopping supply of the toner T supplied from the toner cartridge 50 into the development housing 41. The magnetic roller 45, a cover 46 having a passage 47 for guiding the toner T supplied from the toner cartridge 50 into the development housing 41 and covering the development housing 41, and a cover 46 in the passage 47 receiving driving force from the magnetic roller 45. A swing member 48 is provided as an example of a breaking unit for breaking the toner T.

(2.2) Developing Housing The developing housing 41 rotatably supports the developing roller 42 on one end side facing the photosensitive drum 31 in the longitudinal sectional direction, and rotatably supports the magnetic roller 45 on the other end side. A supply auger 43 and a stirring auger 44 partitioned by a partition wall 41a are rotatably supported between the developing roller 42 and the magnetic roller 45.

The developing housing 41 contains a developer G that holds the charged toner T on the surface thereof while the developing roller 42, the supply auger 43, the stirring auger 44, and the magnetic roller 45 are rotatably supported.
A part of the developer G accommodated in the developing housing 41 is held by the magnetic roller 45 in accordance with the height of the developer surface (the upper surface of the developer G in the developing housing 41), and the toner cartridge 50 The supplied toner T is taken in. Most of the developer G is held while being stirred and transported around the stirring auger 44 and the supply auger 43, and a part is held by the developing roller 42.

(2.3) Magnetic Roller The magnetic roller 45 is composed of a magnet roller (not shown) made of a magnet fixed inside and a sleeve 45A that rotates around the outer peripheral surface of the magnet roller. It is arranged below 47.
As shown in FIG. 4, the magnetic roller 45 is configured such that a rotational force is transmitted from a driving source (not shown) to one end of a rotating shaft 45B, and the sleeve 45A rotates (see an arrow in FIG. 4). A groove 45Aa is formed on the surface of the sleeve 45A in the direction of the rotation shaft 45B, and holds the developer G attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet roller and conveys the developer G with the rotation of the sleeve 45A.

  On the other end side of the rotation shaft 45B of the magnetic roller 45, a protrusion 45C that protrudes in the circumferential direction of the rotation shaft 45B is provided integrally. The protruding portion 45C comes into contact with a leg portion 48C of the swinging member 48 described later to swing the swinging member 48. The tip of the protrusion 45C has a tapered shape or an R shape. FIG. 4 shows the R shape of the tip. This suppresses impact and noise when coming into contact with the leg portion 48C of the swing member 48.

(2.4) Lid The lid 46 is a lid member that closes an upper opening of the developing housing 41 that stores the developing roller 42, the supply auger 43, the stirring auger 44, the magnetic roller 45, and the developer G.
The lid 46 has a passage 47 formed above the magnetic roller 45 and opened to be connected to the outside. The passage 47 is formed so as to be in contact with the toner supply port of the toner cartridge 50 held by the toner cartridge guide 51, receives the toner T supplied from the toner cartridge 50, and guides the toner T to a region above the magnetic roller 45.

  The opening 47A of the passage 47 has a rectangular shape extending in the apparatus depth direction (Y direction) when viewed from above (Z direction), and receives the toner T supplied from the toner cartridge 50. As shown in FIG. 5, the width (X direction) W1 of the opening 47A of the passage 47 is smaller than the outer shape D of the magnetic roller 45. Thus, leakage of the developer G from the developing device 40 can be suppressed.

  The opening 47A of the passageway 47 is provided with a shaft portion 47B protruding inward (Y direction) from each other. A swinging member 48 described later is fitted into the shaft portion 47B, and is disposed rotatably in the opening 47A of the passage 47.

(2.5) Swing Member When the swing member 48 is attached to the passage 47 of the lid 46 as shown in FIG. Direction), a pair of side plates 48A, which connect the side plates 48A, and a connecting wall 48B whose plate surface 48Ba faces the rotation axis 45B direction of the magnetic roller 45, and extend downward (-Z direction) from one side plate 48A. The magnetic roller 45 includes a pair of legs 48C that straddle a rotation shaft 45B of the magnetic roller 45.

As shown in FIG. 7, the side plate 48 </ b> A has an opening 48 </ b> Aa that opens upward (in the Z direction), and a shaft formed at one end of the opening 48 </ b> Aa so as to protrude toward the inside of the passage 47. A bearing portion 48Ac having a snap-fit shape portion 48Ab for receiving 47B is formed.
As shown by the arrow in FIG. 8, the swing member 48 is rotatable with respect to the lid 46 by fitting a shaft 47B provided in the passage 47 of the lid 46 from the opening 48Aa of the side plate 48A into the bearing 48Ac. Placed in Thus, the opening for disposing the swinging member 48 toward the passage 47 can be reduced, and the swinging member 48 can be easily attached to the lid 46.

  At an end of the pair of leg portions 48C, an inducing portion 48Ca having a tapered shape that is inclined in a direction across the rotation shaft 45B of the magnetic roller 45 is formed. Thus, the swing member 48 can be easily engaged with the rotation shaft 45B of the magnetic roller 45 as a drive source.

(3) Operation of rocking member FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the operation of rocking member 48 in passage 47, FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of rocking member 48, and FIG. 11 does not include a rocking member. FIG. 12 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view illustrating a developing device 400 of a comparative example, FIG. 12 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view illustrating replenishment of toner in the developing device 400 of a comparative example, and FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a toner bridge in the passage 47. is there.

(3.1) Developing Device of Comparative Example As shown in FIG. 11, a developing device 400 of a comparative example is arranged so as to face a developing housing 41 as a storage unit for storing a developer G and a photosensitive drum 31. Developing roller 42, supply auger 43 for supplying developer G to developing roller 42, stirring auger 44 for transporting developer G while stirring, and magnetism for supplying toner T supplied from toner cartridge 50 into development housing 41. The image forming apparatus includes a roller 45, a cover 46 having a passage 47 for guiding the toner T supplied from the toner cartridge 50 into the developing housing 41 and covering the developing housing 41.

Above the passage 47 of the developing device 40 (Z direction), a toner cartridge 50 is supported by a toner cartridge guide 51, and supplies toner to the developing device 40 as needed.
FIG. 12 shows the relationship between the developer surface GL of the developer G in the developing housing 41 and the toner T in the passage 47.
When the toner concentration of the developer G in the developing housing 41 is lower than a predetermined value (reference value) (see FIG. 12A), the developer surface GL of the developer G is The developer G is not attracted to the sleeve 45A of the magnetic roller 45 (open state). Therefore, the toner T in the passage 47 adheres to the surface of the magnetic roller 45 and is supplied into the developing housing 41.

  When the toner concentration of the developer G in the developing housing 41 approaches the reference value (see FIG. 12B), the developer surface GL of the developer G rises to a level reaching the magnetic pole of the magnetic roller 45, and the magnetic roller 45 The developer G starts to be adsorbed on the sleeve 45A. For this reason, the toner T in the passage 47 is supplied into the developing housing 41 while being mixed with the developer G adsorbed on the surface of the magnetic roller 45, but the amount of toner supplied from the toner cartridge 50 is adsorbed on the magnetic roller 45. The amount becomes larger than the amount of toner discharged together with the discharged developer G, and the bulk density of the toner T in the passage 47 increases.

  When the toner concentration of the developer G in the developing housing 41 reaches the reference value (see FIG. 12C), the developer surface GL of the developer G rises, and the developer G is applied to the sleeve 45A of the magnetic roller 45. A predetermined amount is adsorbed. Then, the toner T stays in the passage 47 in a state where the toner T is abraded by the magnetic roller 45 and conveyed by the developer G and conveyed (closed state). As a result, the amount of toner supplied from the toner cartridge 50 does not change, but almost no toner is discharged together with the developer G adsorbed on the magnetic roller 45, and the bulk density of the toner T in the passage 47 further increases to a maximum. Becomes

As described above, if the toner T in the developer G is consumed by the image formation in a state where the developer surface GL of the developer G rises and the bulk density of the toner T in the passage 47 increases, the developer G Since the developer surface GL is lowered, the toner T is supplied into the developing housing 41 again through the state shown in FIG.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13, when the use environment (installation environment) of the apparatus is high temperature and high humidity (for example, 28 ° C./85% RH), even if the developer surface GL of the developer G decreases, The toner T squeezed in the passage 47 in the state of FIG. 12C forms a toner bridge in the passage 47 so that the developer G is not attracted to the magnetic roller 45 (open state). However, the toner is not supplied into the developing housing 41, and the toner concentration of the developer G may decrease.

(3.2) Operation of Swinging Member FIG. 9A shows that the leg 48 </ b> C of the swinging member 48 is disposed across the rotating shaft 45 </ b> B of the magnetic roller 45 and is in contact with the protrusion 45 </ b> C of the rotating shaft 45 </ b> B. No state is shown. In this state, the swing member 48 is rotatably supported by the shaft portion 47B of the passage 47 and can swing left and right.
Then, as shown in FIG. 9A, the distance L1 between the insides of the legs 48C of the swing member 48 is larger than the protrusion amount L2 of the protrusion 45C of the rotating shaft 45B (L1> L2). Thus, the rotation of the magnetic roller 45 allows the swing member 48 to swing (move) continuously in one direction and the other direction opposite to the one direction.

  FIG. 9B shows a state in which the leg portion 48C of the swing member 48 is disposed across the rotation shaft 45B of the magnetic roller 45, and the magnetic roller 45 rotates and the protrusion 45C contacts the inside of the leg portion 48C. Is shown. When the magnetic roller 45 rotates and the protrusion 45C contacts the inside of the leg 48C of the rocking member 48, the rocking member 48 moves the shaft 47B of the passage 47 as a rocking center (rotation center) in the left and right directions (X direction). , -X direction).

(3.3) Operation of Swing Member FIG. 10A shows a state in which the swing member 48 swings in one direction in the passage 47. When the magnetic roller 45 rotates and the protrusion 45C contacts the inside of one leg 48C of the swing member 48, the swing member 48 moves the shaft 47B of the passage 47 as a swing center (center of rotation) to the right (center of rotation). (X direction). Therefore, even under the condition that a toner bridge is formed in the passage 47, the connecting wall 48B of the swinging member 48 comes into contact with the toner T and breaks the toner, so that the toner bridge is hardly formed.

  FIG. 10B shows a state in which the swinging member 48 swings in the other direction opposite to the one direction in the passage 47. When the magnetic roller 45 rotates and the protrusion 45C comes into contact with the inside of the other leg 48C of the swing member 48, the swing member 48 sets the shaft 47B of the passage 47 as a swing center (center of rotation) to the left (center of rotation). (-X direction). Therefore, even under the condition that a toner bridge is formed in the passage 47, the connecting wall 48B of the swinging member 48 comes into contact with the toner T and breaks the toner, so that the toner bridge is hardly formed.

  In the developing device 40 of the present embodiment, the rotation of the magnetic roller 45 causes the swinging member 48 to alternately repeat the above-described states of FIG. 10A and FIG. The toner bridge is broken to prevent toner clogging.

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described with specific examples. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is possible.
For example, the present invention can be applied to a case where a trickle developer containing a small amount of developer G is replenished to the toner T from the toner cartridge 50. The image forming apparatus is not limited to an image forming apparatus for monochrome printing, but also for color printing. An image forming apparatus can also be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 10 ... Control apparatus 20 ... Paper conveyance apparatus 30 ... Photoconductor unit 40 ... Developing apparatus 41 ... Developing housing 45 ... Magnetic roller 46 ... Lid Body 47 ... Passing path 48 ... Swinging member 50 ... Toner cartridge 60 ... Exposure device 70 ... Transfer device 80 ... Fixing device G ... Developer T ... Toner

Claims (14)

An accommodating section for accommodating the developer,
A lid having a passage for guiding the toner to be supplied to the container, and covering the container; and a first end of a rotating shaft supported in the container facing the passage in the container, the other end of the rotating shaft. A rotating body that is rotatably arranged at the end by receiving a driving force,
In the vicinity of the rotating body side of the passage, breaking means for receiving a driving force from the rotating body to break the toner in the passage.
A developing device, characterized in that: The breaking means receives a driving force from the rotating body and moves in one direction and the other direction opposite to the one direction,
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein: The breaking means has a pair of legs that straddle the rotation axis of the rotating body, and with the rotation of the rotating body, a protruding portion of the rotating shaft contacts the legs to move the breaking means in one direction. And moving in the other direction opposite to one direction,
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein: The distance between the inner sides of the pair of legs of the breaking means is greater than the amount of protrusion of the protrusion of the rotation shaft in the rotation radius direction of the rotation shaft,
The developing device according to claim 3, wherein: The protrusion of the rotating shaft has a tapered or R-shaped tip,
The developing device according to claim 3, wherein: The pair of legs of the breaking means has a guiding portion in a direction across the rotation axis,
The developing device according to claim 3, wherein: The guiding portion is formed as a tapered shape that is inclined in a direction straddling the rotation axis inside the tip portions of the pair of legs,
The developing device according to claim 6, wherein: The breaking means has a connecting wall intersecting the rotation axis of the rotating body and connecting the pair of side plates and the side plate facing each other in the rotation axis direction, and a plate surface facing the rotation axis direction of the rotating body, When moving in one direction and the other direction opposite to the one direction with the bearing portion provided on the side plate as the center of rotation, the connecting wall comes into contact with the toner to break the toner,
The developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The side plate has an opening that opens toward the passageway, and the breaking means is rotatable with respect to the lid by fitting a shaft provided in the lid from the opening into the bearing. Placed in the
The developing device according to claim 8, wherein: The bearing portion is formed to have a snap fit shape for receiving the shaft portion at one end of the opening,
The developing device according to claim 9, wherein: The breaking means does not contact the inner wall of the passage when moved in one direction and the other direction opposite to the one direction,
The developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: The rotating body conveys the developer when the developer surface of the developer in the storage section is equal to or higher than a threshold height, stays at one end of the passage, and when the developer surface is lower than the threshold height. Conveying the toner in the passage to the storage section,
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein: The passage has a receiving port that opens upward, and the receiving port has an opening width of a region facing the rotating body is smaller than an opening width of a region facing the rotating shaft of the rotating body.
The developing device according to claim 12, wherein: An image carrier,
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the latent image formed on the image carrier is developed as a toner image.
Transfer means for transferring the toner image to a recording medium,
Fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording medium,
An image forming apparatus comprising:

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