JP2021081674A - Developer conveying device, image forming unit, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To rotate a developer conveying member to allow smooth conveyance of developer.SOLUTION: A developer conveying device has: a developer conveying member that is rotatably disposed in a developer storage space; a rotating body for rotation transmission that transmits rotation to the developer conveying member; a rotating body for impact application that is rotated at a rotation speed slower than that of the rotating body for rotation transmission and applies an impact to the developer conveying member in association with the rotation; and an impact generation mechanism that generates an impact at a period longer than the rotational period of the developer conveying member through the relative rotation between the rotating body for rotation transmission and the rotating body for impact application. Not only developer conveyance performance of the developer conveying member is not reduced, but the developer is not adhered to portions of the developer conveying member and solidified, and thus the developer does not get stuck between the portions of the developer conveying member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a developer transfer device, an image forming unit, and an image forming device.

Conventionally, an image forming device such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, or a multifunction device, for example, an electrophotographic printer, is provided with an image forming unit, an LED head, a transfer unit, a fixing device, and the like, and the image forming unit is provided with an image forming unit, an LED head, a transfer unit, and a fuser. , Photoreceptor drum, charging roller, developing roller, supply roller, toner cartridge, cleaning device, etc. are arranged.

In this type of printer, the surface of the photoconductor drum uniformly charged by the charging roller is exposed by the LED head to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing roller. A toner image as a developer image is formed, the toner image is transferred to paper by a transfer unit, fixed by a fixing device, an image is formed on the paper, and printing is performed.

Then, after the toner image is transferred to the paper by the transfer unit, the toner as a developer remaining on the photoconductor drum is scraped off by the cleaning blade in the cleaning device, dropped, and placed in the toner storage chamber of the cleaning device. Be housed.

Further, a toner transfer device as a developer transfer device is arranged to transfer the toner in the toner accommodating chamber, and the toner transfer device is provided with blades having a spiral shape as a toner as a developer transfer member. A transport member is arranged. The toner in the toner accommodating chamber is conveyed as waste toner and collected in the toner collection chamber as the toner conveying member rotates.

However, in the printer, if the toner adheres to the blades of the toner conveying member in the toner accommodating chamber, solidifies and clogs between the blades, the toner cannot be conveyed.

Therefore, there is provided a printer in which the toner transport member is vibrated in the axial direction to prevent the toner from being clogged between the blades of the toner transport member (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-141443

However, in the conventional toner transfer device, since the toner transfer member is vibrated by 1 [time] or more each time it rotates 1 [rotation], the toner transfer property is lowered by that amount, the toner is aggregated, and the toner is smoothed. Cannot be transported to.

The present invention solves the problems of the conventional toner transfer device, and provides a developer transfer device, an image forming unit, and an image forming device capable of smoothly transferring a developer by rotating a developer transfer member. The purpose is to provide.

Therefore, in the developer transport device of the present invention, the developer transport member rotatably arranged in the developer storage space in which the developer is housed and the drive unit are rotated and rotated, and the development is performed. A rotating body for rotation transmission that transmits rotation to the agent transport member and a rotating body for rotation transmission that receives the rotation of the drive unit and is rotated at a rotation speed lower than that of the rotating body for rotation transmission. A rotating body for giving an impact, and a rotating body for transmitting rotation and a rotating body for applying impact are formed, and the relative rotation of the rotating body for rotating transmission and the rotating body for applying impact is formed. It has an impact generating mechanism that generates an impact at a cycle longer than the rotation cycle of the developer conveying member.

According to the present invention, in the developer transport device, the developer transport member rotatably arranged in the developer storage space in which the developer is housed and the drive unit are rotated and rotated, and the development is performed. A rotating body for rotation transmission that transmits rotation to the agent transport member and a rotating body for rotation transmission that receives the rotation of the drive unit and is rotated at a rotation speed lower than that of the rotating body for rotation transmission. A rotating body for giving an impact, and a rotating body for transmitting rotation and a rotating body for applying impact are formed, and the relative rotation of the rotating body for rotating transmission and the rotating body for applying impact is formed. It has an impact generating mechanism that generates an impact at a cycle longer than the rotation cycle of the developer conveying member.

In this case, in the impact generation mechanism, the relative rotation of the rotating body for rotating transmission and the rotating body for applying impact causes an impact to be generated at a cycle longer than the rotation cycle of the developer transport member, and the impact is generated by the developer. Since it is given to the transport member, the transportability of the developer by the developer transport member is not lowered. Therefore, the developer does not adhere to the portion of the developer transport member and solidify, and the developer does not clog between the portions of the developer transport member, so that the developer can be smoothly transported.

It is the schematic of the toner transfer apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the printer in embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the image formation unit in embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the main part of the toner transfer apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the impact generation mechanism in Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view for demonstrating the impact generation mechanism in Embodiment of this invention. It is the first figure for demonstrating operation of the impact generating mechanism in embodiment of this invention. It is a 2nd figure for demonstrating the operation of the impact generating mechanism in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the judgment result of the quality of the impact generation by the impact generation mechanism in embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this case, an electrophotographic color printer as an image forming apparatus will be described.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 10 is a printer, Cs1 is a housing of the printer 10, Bd is the main body of the printer 10, that is, the main body of the device, and a paper cassette 11 as a medium accommodating portion is arranged below the main body Bd of the device. Paper P as a medium is placed on the paper feed cassette 11. Adjacent to the front end of the paper feed cassette 11, a paper feed mechanism (not shown) for separating and feeding paper P one by one is provided.

The paper P separated one by one by the paper feed mechanism and fed into the paper transport path Rt1 as the medium transport path is conveyed by a transport roller pair (not shown), and images of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan colors are obtained. Is supplied to the image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, 16C as the image forming unit for forming the above.

Each of the image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, 16C is detachably arranged as a process cartridge with respect to the apparatus main body Bd, and includes a photoconductor drum 31 and the like as an image carrier. An LED head 22 as an exposure device is arranged so as to face each of the photoconductor drums 31 so as to correspond to each image forming unit 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, 16C. The surface of each photoconductor drum 31 is exposed by the LED head 22 to form an electrostatic latent image as a latent image.

Then, a transfer unit u1 is arranged below the image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, 16C, and the transfer unit u1 is a drive roller (not shown) as a first roller and a driven roller (not shown) as a second roller. , A transfer belt 17 as a belt member stretched rotatably between a drive roller and a driven roller, and a transfer rotatably arranged so as to face each photoconductor drum 31 with the transfer belt 17 sandwiched therein. A transfer roller 21 as a member is provided.

The paper P supplied to the image forming unit 16Bk is conveyed as the transfer belt 17 is run, and passes between each photoconductor drum 31 and each transfer roller 21. At this time, each transfer roller 21 sequentially superimposes a toner image as a developer image of each color formed in each image forming unit 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, 16C corresponding to the electrostatic latent image on the paper P. Transfer to form a color toner image.

The paper P on which the color toner image is formed is sent to a fixing device 18 as a fixing device, and is heated by a heating roller 19 as a first fixing member in the fixing device 18 to serve as a second fixing member. By being pressurized by the pressurizing roller 20, a color toner image is fixed and a color image is formed. Then, the paper P is conveyed by a transfer roller pair (not shown), discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body Bd, and loaded on the stacker St formed on the top of the housing Cs1.

Next, the image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, 16C will be described. Since the image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, and 16C all have the same structure, the image forming unit 16Bk will be described, and the image forming units 16Y, 16M, and 16C will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an image forming unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the image forming unit 16Bk is a unit main body 37 provided with the photoconductor drum 31, and a toner cartridge 41 as a developer accommodating portion detachably arranged on the unit main body 37. To be equipped.

The toner cartridge 41 is a toner tank as a first accommodating chamber for accommodating a new toner as a first developer (hereinafter, simply referred to as "toner") formed by dividing the outer frame Cs2. It is composed of 41a and a waste toner tank 41b as a second storage chamber for storing waste toner as a second developer.

A stirring bar 46 as a first stirring member is rotatably arranged in the toner tank 41a, and the toner in the toner tank 41a is stirred as the stirring bar 46 rotates.

Further, a waste toner transport member 42 made of a spiral is rotatably arranged in the waste toner tank 41b, and waste toner is collected via the toner receiving port h1 as the waste toner transport member 42 rotates. Toner.

Toner is supplied from the toner tank 41a to the toner storage unit 30 as a first developer storage space and as a developer storage unit formed in the unit main body 37.

Therefore, a toner supply port h2 as a developer supply port is formed at the lowermost portion of the toner tank 41a, and in order to open and close the toner supply port h2, the shutter St1 as an opening / closing member is movable, according to the present embodiment. Is rotatably arranged. An opening h3 is formed in the shutter St1. The toner supply port h2 is opened by rotating an operation lever (not shown) as an operation unit formed integrally with the shutter St1 to rotate the shutter St1 and aligning the toner supply port h2 with the opening h3. Toner. Further, the toner supply port h2 is closed by rotating the operation lever to rotate the shutter St1 and shifting the toner supply port h2 and the opening h3.

Further, a mounting portion Pnc formed of a concave surface is formed on the top wall portion of the unit main body portion 37 in order to set the toner cartridge 41 on the unit main body portion 37, and the mounting portion Pnc is connected to the toner supply port h2. Correspondingly, the toner supply port h4 as the developer supply port is formed. Therefore, when the toner supply port h2 is opened, the toner in the toner tank 41a is supplied to the toner storage unit 30, and is stored and stored.

Further, in the unit main body 37, the photoconductor drum 31, a charging roller 32 as a charging device for uniformly charging the surface of the photoconductor drum 31, and a developing roller as a developer carrier for holding toner. 33, a supply roller 34 as a developer supply member that supplies toner to the development roller 33, a development blade 35 as a developer layer regulating member that uniformly thins the toner supplied on the development roller 33, and toner. The cleaning device 36, which removes the toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 31 after the image transfer, is rotatably arranged close to the supply roller 34, and the toner in the toner storage unit 30 is agitated and the supply roller 34. A pair of stirring bars 38 as a second stirring member for supplying toner and a photoconductor drum 31 are rotatably arranged so as to extend in the axial direction, and the toner in the toner storage unit 30 flows as the toner rotates. A toner transfer device M1 or the like as a first developer transfer device for uniformly circulating toner in the longitudinal direction is provided.

The photoconductor drum 31 is an organic photoconductor, and is formed by laminating a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer as photoconducting layers on a conductive support made of a metal pipe made of aluminum.

The cleaning device 36 is arranged with its tip abutting against the photoconductor drum 31, and accommodates a cleaning blade 36a as a cleaning member for scraping toner and a second developer for accommodating the scraped and dropped toner. A toner storage chamber 36b is provided as a space and as a developer storage unit.

In the toner storage chamber 36b, a toner transfer device M2 as a second developer transfer device is arranged in order to transfer the toner, and the toner transfer device M2 is rotatably arranged in the first first. A toner transport member 47 as a developer transport member is provided. The toner transport member 47 is made of a spiral formed by spirally winding a stainless steel wire having a thickness that does not deform with rotation.

In the photoconductor drum 31, the charging roller 32, the developing roller 33, and the supply roller 34, the charging roller 32 and the developing roller 33 are brought into contact with the photoconductor drum 31, and the supply roller 34 is brought into contact with the developing roller 33. In this state, it is rotatably supported by the unit main body 37. The developing roller 33, the supply roller 34, and the developing blade 35 constitute a developing device.

Further, the photoconductor drum 31, the charging roller 32, the developing roller 33, the supply roller 34, and the like are connected to a drive motor (drum motor) (not shown) as a drive unit for image formation, and the drive motor is driven. It can be rotated.

In the printer 10 having the above configuration, the developing roller 33 and the supply roller 34 are rotated counterclockwise by the drive motor during printing. Then, toner is supplied to the developing roller 33 by the supply roller 34, and the toner supplied to the developing roller 33 is sent to the contact portion between the developing roller 33 and the developing blade 35 as the developing roller 33 rotates to develop the developing roller 33. It is thinned by the blade 35 and then sent to the photoconductor drum 31 as the developing roller 33 rotates.

The photoconductor drum 31 is rotated clockwise by the drive motor, the surface of the photoconductor drum 31 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 32, and the surface is exposed by the LED head 22 to obtain an electrostatic latent image on the surface. Is formed. Then, the toner on the developing roller 33 is electrostatically adhered to the electrostatic latent image, and the toner image is formed on the photoconductor drum 31.

When the toner image is formed on the photoconductor drum 31 in this way, the toner image is transferred to the paper P by the transfer roller 21.

The toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor drum 31 after the transfer of the toner image is scraped off by the cleaning blade 36a as the photoconductor drum 31 rotates, and falls into the toner storage chamber 36b, and the toner in the toner storage chamber 36b is removed. As the toner transport member 47 rotates, it is transported as waste toner and collected in the waste toner tank 41b of the toner cartridge 41.

Next, the toner transfer device M1 will be described.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the toner transfer device according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the toner transfer device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 shows an impact generation mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention. A perspective view for explaining, FIG. 6 is a side view for explaining the impact generation mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, M1 is a toner transfer device, 30 is a toner storage unit, 37 is a unit main body portion, Pnc is a mounting portion, h4 is a toner supply port formed in the mounting portion Pnc, and Fr is one side wall of the unit main body portion 37. The constituent outer frame, fr1, is arranged inside the outer frame Fr, and the first frame, fr2, as a support wall on the drive end side that supports the toner transfer device M1, has fr2 on the other side wall of the unit main body 37. It is a second frame as a support wall on the free end side that is arranged inside the outer frame (not shown) and supports the toner transfer device M1.

The toner transfer device M1 is supported by the first and second frames fr1 and fr2 so as to be rotatable and axially (longitudinal) movable. A gear train 52, which is arranged in the transmission mechanism accommodating space Rm1 formed between the outer frame Fr and the first frame fr1 and transmits the rotation of the drive motor to the toner transfer member 51. It has a spring sp1 or the like as an urging member that urges the toner transport member 51 in a predetermined direction, in the present embodiment, toward the transmission mechanism accommodating space Rm1 direction.

The toner transport member 51 includes blades vn1 and vn2 as portions spirally formed around the shaft portion sh1 and the outer periphery of the shaft portion sh1 in opposite directions, and is formed from the center of the shaft portion sh1. The first blade portion 54 is formed toward the frame fr1 side of 1, and the second blade portion 55 is formed from the center of the shaft portion sh1 toward the second frame fr2 side.

When the toner transport member 51 is rotated, the toner supplied to the toner storage unit 30 through the toner supply port h4 in the direction of arrow A flows in the toner storage unit 30 along the toner transfer member 51 in the directions of arrows B and C. It is conveyed, hits the first and second frames fr1 and fr2, and is conveyed in the toner storage unit 30 in the opposite direction.

A through hole h5 is formed from the surface Sa of the first frame fr1 facing the toner storage portion 30 to the surface Sb of the first frame fr1 facing the transmission mechanism accommodating space Rm1, and one end of the shaft portion sh1 penetrates. It is supported rotatably and movably in the axial direction by a bearing br1 formed so as to extend through the hole h5 and project from the surface Sb. Further, the other end of the shaft portion sh1 is rotatably and rotatably formed by a bearing br2 formed so as to project from the surface Sc of the second frame fr2 facing the toner storage portion 30 inside the spring sp1 in the radial direction. , Supported so as to be movable in the axial direction.

A sealing material 56 having an annular shape is arranged on the surface Sa side of the first frame fr1 in the through hole h5 so that the toner in the toner storage portion 30 does not leak into the transmission mechanism accommodation space Rm1. The seal material 56 is pressed against the first frame fr1 by a flange-shaped seal retainer 58 formed so as to project from the shaft portion sh1.

Further, the spring sp1 is pressed against the second frame fr2 by a flange-shaped spring receiver 59 formed so as to project from the shaft portion sh1.

The gear train 52 has a gear gr1 as a first rotating body, a gear gr2 as a second rotating body that is meshed with the gear gr1 and is connected to a shaft portion sh1 via a connecting member rt1, and the gear gr1. Gear gr3 as a third rotating body integrally formed coaxially, and gear gr4 as a fourth rotating body that is meshed with the gear gr3 and brought into contact with the gear gr2 to be rotatably supported. To be equipped. The gears gr1 to gr4 are spur gears.

The gears gr1 and gr3 are arranged on the drive motor side of the gears gr2 and gr4 to form a rotating body on the driving unit side, and the gear gr2 is a rotating body for rotating transmission that transmits rotation to the toner conveying member 51. The gear gr4 is rotated at a rotation speed lower than that of the gear gr2, and constitutes a rotating body for applying an impact that gives an impact to the toner transport member 51 with the rotation.

The gear gr2 is formed with a first boss portion bs1 projecting toward the first frame fr1 side and a second boss portion bs2 projecting toward the outer frame Fr side to form a first boss portion bs2. The bs1 is surrounded by the bearing br1 and is rotatably supported, and the second boss portion bs2 is formed so as to project from the outer frame Fr toward the first frame fr1 side, inside the bearing br3. It is rotatably supported by br3.

Further, a through hole h6 is formed in the gear gr4, and the gear gr4 is rotatably supported by the bearing br3 on the outside of the bearing br3.

Then, in the present embodiment, the gears gr2 and gr4 are rotated at different rotation speeds.

Therefore, the diameter d3 of the gear gr3 is smaller than the diameter d1 of the gear gr1, the number of teeth z3 of the gear gr3 is smaller than the number of teeth z1 of the gear gr1, the diameter d4 of the gear gr4 is smaller than the diameter d2 of the gear gr2, and the gear. The number of teeth z4 of gr4 is larger than the number of teeth z2 of gear gr2, and when the modules of gear gr1 and gr3 are mo1 and the modules of gear gr2 and gr4 are mo2, the modules mo1 and mo2 are
mo1 = d1 / z1
= D3 / z3
mo2 = d2 / z2
= D4 / z4
become.

Further, the reduction ratio of the gear gr2 to the gear gr1 is set to γ1.
γ1 = z2 / z1
Then, the reduction ratio of the gear gr4 to the gear gr3 is γ2.
γ2 = z4 / z3
When, the reduction ratios γ1 and γ2 are made different from each other, and in the present embodiment,
γ2> γ1
Be made.

The value ε represented by the ratio γ1 / γ2 of the reduction ratio γ1 to the reduction ratio γ2 is
0.50 ≤ ε ≤ 0.94
Be made.

Therefore, the gear gr4 is rotated at a rotation speed ε times lower than that of the gear gr1.

By the way, the rotation of the drive motor is transmitted to the gear gr2 via the gear gr1 and is transmitted to the gear gr4 via the gear gr1 and the gear gr3. At this time, the rotation of the drive motor is transmitted to the toner transport member 51 with the rotation of the gear gr4. Axial impact is applied periodically.

Therefore, a mechanism for generating an impact in the axial direction of the toner transport member 51 by the relative rotation of the gear gr2 and the gear gr4, that is, an impact generation mechanism E1, is formed between the gear gr2 and the gear gr4.

The impact generation mechanism E1 is projected onto the cam Cm1 as a first engaging portion formed by projecting from the surface Sd corresponding to the gear gr4 in the gear gr2 and the surface Se corresponding to the gear gr2 in the gear gr4. A cam Cm2 is provided as the formed second engaging portion, and as the toner transport member 51 is rotated, an impact is generated at a cycle longer than the rotation cycle of the toner transport member 51.

Further, the cams Cm1 and Cm2 both have a fan-like shape, have a predetermined width in the radial direction, and are formed over a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction, 180 [°] in the present embodiment. , The gears gr2 and gr4 are engaged with each other as they rotate.

Then, the distance from the surface Sd of the cam surface Sf as the first contact surface to be brought into contact with the cam Cm2 in the cam Cm1, that is, the height is closer to the upstream side in the rotation direction of the gear gr2, that is, the surface. It is raised as one end of the cam surface Sf on the same surface as Sd is separated from eg1, and is raised at the other end eg2 of the cam surface Sf 180 [°] away in the clockwise direction, and is between the cam surface Sf and the surface Sd. The step portion q1 is formed.

Further, the distance from the surface Se of the cam surface Sg as the second contact surface to be brought into contact with the cam Cm1 in the cam Cm2, that is, the height is closer to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the gear gr4, that is, the surface. It is raised as one end of the cam surface Sg on the same surface as Se is separated from eg3, and is raised at the other end eg4 of the cam surface Sg 180 [°] away in the clockwise direction, and is between the cam surface Sg and the surface Se. The step portion q2 is formed.

In the present embodiment, the inclination angle θ1 from one end eg1 to the other end eg2 of the cam surface Sf and the inclination angle θ2 from one end eg3 to the other end eg4 of the cam surface Sg are constant in the circumferential direction. And
θ1 = θ2
Be made.

Next, the operation of the impact generation mechanism E1 will be described.

FIG. 7 is a first diagram for explaining the operation of the impact generating mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a second diagram for explaining the operation of the impact generating mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention. is there.

In the figure, fr1 is a first frame, fr2 is a second frame, gr1 to gr4 are gears, and 51 is a toner conveying member.

In this case, since the gear gr4 is rotated at a rotation speed lower than that of the gear gr1, the position of the cam Cm2 is relatively moved to the upstream side in the rotation direction from the position of the cam Cm1 as the toner transport member 51 rotates. The surface Sd is separated from the surface Se by the sum of the height of the cam surface Sf and the height of the cam surface Sg, and the toner transport member 51 is moved to the second frame fr2 side against the urging force of the spring sp1. Be done.

Then, when the other end eg2 of the cam surface Sf reaches the other end eg4 of the cam surface Sg and the engagement between the cam Cm1 and the cam Cm2 is released, the step portions q1 and q2 are slid and the surface Sd becomes The toner transport member 51 is brought close to the surface Se, and is rapidly moved to the first frame fr1 side by the urging force (restoring force) of the spring sp1.

Then, when the other end eg2 of the cam surface Sf is brought into contact with the surface Se and the other end eg4 of the cam surface Sg is brought into contact with the surface Sd, an impact is applied to the toner transport member 51.

Here, as described above, when the reduction ratio of the gear gr2 to the gear gr1 is γ1 and the reduction ratio of the gear gr4 to the gear gr3 is γ2, the toner transport member 51 is 1 / (1-γ1 / γ2) [. While being rotated], an impact of 1 [times] is applied to the toner transport member 51.

Next, when the number of teeth z1 to z4 of the gears gr1 to gr4 are different and each rotation speed of the toner transfer member 51 for giving an impact of 1 [times] to the toner transfer member 51 is set to μ [rotation], The result of determining whether or not the impact generation is good or bad by the impact generation mechanism E1 will be described.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a result of determining the quality of impact generation by the impact generation mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In this case, each rotation number μ [rotation] of the toner transfer member 51 for giving an impact of 1 [turn] to the toner transfer member 51 is 1 [rotation], 2 [rotation], 5 [rotation], 10 [rotation]. ], 15 [rotation], and 20 [rotation], the toner transportability and the solidification prevention effect of the toner transport member 51 were evaluated, and the quality of impact generation by the impact generation mechanism E1 was determined.

Regarding the toner transportability, in the figure, ◯ indicates that the transportability is high, Δ indicates that the transportability is slightly low, and × indicates that the transportability is low. Regarding the anti-caking effect of the toner, ◯ indicates that there is an anti-caking effect, Δ indicates that the anti-caking effect is low, and × indicates that there is no anti-caking effect. Regarding the quality of impact generation by the impact generation mechanism E1, ○ indicates that the impact generation mechanism E1 has a high evaluation, Δ indicates that the impact generation mechanism E1 has a medium evaluation, and × indicates that the impact generation mechanism E1 has a medium evaluation. Indicates that the evaluation is low.

The reduction ratios γ1 and γ2 are set in order to give an impact of 1 [turn] to the toner transport member 51 every time the toner transport member 51 is rotated by 2 [rotations].
γ1: γ2 = 1: 2
Be made. Further, in order to give an impact of 1 [turn] to the toner transport member 51 every time the toner transport member 51 is rotated 10 [rotations], the reduction ratios γ1 and γ2 are set.
γ1: γ2 = 9:10
Be made.

From the determination result in the figure, when the toner transport member 51 is subjected to an impact of 1 [turn] each time the toner transport member 51 is rotated by 5 [rotation] or more and 15 [rotation] or less, the toner is transferred by the toner transport member 51. It can be seen that not only the transportability is not lowered, but also the toner is not solidified on the blades vn1 and vn2 of the toner transporting member 51, and the toner is not clogged between the blades vn1 and vn2.

Further, when the toner transporting member 51 is subjected to an impact of 1 [turn] each time the toner transporting member 51 is rotated by 3 [rotation] or more and 15 [rotation] or less, the toner transportability by the toner transporting member 51 is further improved. It can be seen that the toner can be increased, and the toner does not solidify on the blades vn1 and vn2 of the toner transport member 51, and the toner does not clog between the blades vn1 and vn2.

As described above, in the present embodiment, in the impact generation mechanism E1, the relative rotation of the gear gr2 and the gear gr4 causes an impact to be generated in a cycle longer than the rotation cycle of the toner transport member 51, and the impact is generated. Since it is given to the toner transport member 51, not only the toner transportability of the toner transport member 51 is not lowered, but also the toner does not adhere to the blades vn1 and vn2 of the toner transport member 51 and solidify. There is no clogging between the blades vn1 and vn2 of the toner transport member 51.

Therefore, since the toner can be smoothly conveyed, the density unevenness does not occur in the image formed by the toner, and the image quality can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the gear gr2 and the toner transfer member 51 are adjacent to each other so that the rotation of the gear gr2 is transmitted to the toner transfer member 51, but the shaft of the gear gr4 is contained in the boss of the gear gr2. It is also possible to transmit the rotation of the gear gr4 to the toner transport member 51. In that case, the rotation speed of the gear gr2 is lower than the rotation speed of the gear gr4.

Further, in the present embodiment, the cams Cm1 and Cm2 are formed so as to face each other and are engaged with each other so that the cam surfaces Sf and Sg slide with each other. A cam can be formed on one of the surfaces Se, and a protrusion having a predetermined shape can be formed on the other, and the cam and the protrusion can be engaged with each other.

Further, in the present embodiment, the reduction ratios γ1 and γ2 are γ2> γ1.
However, the height of the cam surface Sf in the cam Cm1 is lowered toward the upstream side in the rotation direction of the gear gr2, and the height of the cam surface Sg in the cam Cm2 is set in the rotation direction of the gear gr4. By lowering the downstream side in, the reduction ratios γ1 and γ2 are reduced.
It is also possible to set γ2 <γ1.

Then, in the present embodiment, the toner transfer member 51 arranged in the toner storage unit 30 is described, but the present invention is described in the toner transfer device M2 arranged in the toner storage chamber 36b of the cleaning device 36. Can be applied to.

Further, in the present embodiment, although the printer 10 is described, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a multifunction device.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made based on the gist of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

30 Toner storage 36b Toner storage chamber 47, 51 Toner transfer member E1 Impact generation mechanism gr2, gr4 Gear M1 Toner transfer device

Claims (14)

(A) A developer transport member rotatably arranged in a developer storage space in which the developer is housed, and
(B) A rotating body for rotation transmission, which is rotated in response to the rotation of the drive unit and transmits the rotation to the developer transport member.
(C) A rotating body for applying an impact, which is rotated at a rotation speed lower than that of the rotating body for rotating transmission in response to the rotation of the drive unit and gives an impact to the developer transporting member as the rotation is performed.
(D) The developer transporting member is rotated by the relative rotation of the rotating body for rotating transmission and the rotating body for applying impact, which is formed between the rotating body for rotating transmission and the rotating body for applying impact. A developer transporting device characterized by having an impact generating mechanism that generates an impact at a cycle longer than the cycle. (A) It has an urging member that urges the developer transporting member in a predetermined direction, and also has an urging member.
(B) The developer transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the impact generating mechanism generates an impact based on the urging force of the urging member. (A) It has a rotating body on the drive unit side, which is arranged on the drive unit side of the rotating body for rotation transmission and the rotating body for applying impact, and is rotated by receiving the rotation of the drive unit, and also has a rotating body on the drive unit side.
(B) A claim that the first reduction ratio of the rotating body for transmitting rotation to the rotating body on the drive unit side and the second reduction ratio of the rotating body for applying impact to the rotating body on the drive unit side are different. Item 2. The developer transporting device according to Item 1 or 2. The developer transfer device according to claim 3, wherein the second reduction ratio is made larger than the first reduction ratio. The developer transfer device according to claim 4, wherein the ratio of the first reduction ratio to the second reduction ratio is 0.50 or more and 0.94 or less. The impact generating mechanism includes a first engaging portion formed on a rotating body for rotating transmission and a second engaging portion formed on the rotating body for applying impact, and has first and second engagements. The developer transporting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which generates an impact as the joint is disengaged. The developer transporting device according to claim 6, wherein the first and second engaging portions are cams formed so as to project from a rotating body for rotating transmission and a rotating body for applying impact so as to face each other. .. (A) The height of the cam surface of the first engaging portion is increased toward the upstream side in the rotation direction of the rotating body for rotation transmission.
(B) The developer conveying device according to claim 7, wherein the height of the cam surface of the second engaging portion is increased toward the downstream side in the rotation direction of the rotating body for generating an impact. The developer transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the developer storage space is a developer storage unit that stores the developer supplied from the developer storage unit. The developer transporting device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the developing agent accommodating space is a developing agent accommodating portion included in the cleaning device. The impact generating mechanism is any one of claims 1 to 10 in which the developer transporting member is impacted by 1 [rotation] each time the developer transporting member is rotated by 2 [rotation] or more and 15 [rotation] or less. The developer transfer device according to item 1. The impact generating mechanism is any one of claims 1 to 10 in which the developer transporting member is impacted by 1 [rotation] each time the developer transporting member is rotated by 5 [rotation] or more and 15 [rotation] or less. The developer transfer device according to item 1. An image forming unit including the developer transporting device according to any one of claims 1 to 12. An image forming apparatus including the image forming unit according to claim 13.

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