JP2815029B2 - Multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus and electrostatic latent image recording apparatus used therein - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus for performing multicolor recording by arranging a plurality of electrostatic recording units in series, and an electrostatic latent device used in the multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus. The present invention also relates to an image developing device.

BACKGROUND ART In general, in an electrostatic recording apparatus, an electrostatic latent image is written on an electrostatic latent image carrier such as a photoreceptor or a dielectric, and the electrostatic latent image is electrostatically charged with a developer as a charged toner image. Developed
Next, the charged toner image is electrostatically transferred to a recording medium such as recording paper, and then fixed on the recording medium by heat, pressure, light, or the like.

A single-drum type is known as a multicolor recording apparatus using such an electrostatic recording technique. In this single-drum type multi-color recording apparatus, a single electrostatic latent image carrier, for example, a photosensitive drum is used, and a plurality of developing devices are provided between a portion where the electrostatic latent image is written on the photosensitive drum and the transfer device. Are provided, and in each developing device, a developer having a toner component of a different color is used. For example, when performing full color recording,
Four developing units are provided, and each of these developing units uses a developer having a yellow toner component, a developer having a cyan toner component, a developer having a magenta toner component, and a developer having a black toner component. An electrostatic latent image is recorded on the photosensitive drum based on, for example, yellow image data, the electrostatic latent image is developed with yellow toner, and the yellow toner image is transferred and fixed on a recording sheet. Next, an electrostatic latent image is recorded on the photosensitive drum based on, for example, cyan image data, the electrostatic latent image is developed with cyan toner, and the cyan toner image is transferred onto recording paper having a yellow toner image. Be established. A similar process is performed for magenta image data and black image data, whereby four color toner images are superimposed on recording paper, thereby achieving full-color image recording. Such a single-drum type multi-color recording apparatus has an advantage that the whole configuration can be made relatively compact, but since a single photosensitive drum must form a toner image of each color, high-speed recording is possible. Can not be obtained.

As another type of the multi-color recording device using the electrostatic recording technology, a multi-drum type multi-color recording device is also known, and when performing full-color recording with the multi-drum type multi-color recording difference, as described above. Four electrostatic recording units, each of which is a unit of a simple electrostatic recording device, are used. These electrostatic recording units are arranged in series along a recording paper transport path, and when the recording paper is passed therethrough, the toner images of each color are transferred and superimposed on the recording paper, thereby forming a full-color image. It is formed on the recording paper.

Such a multi-drum type multi-color electrostatic recording apparatus has an advantage that high-speed multi-color recording can be achieved. However, since a plurality of electrostatic recording units are arranged in series, a large-sized structure is often required. It is pointed out as a problem.

Also, in order to achieve high-quality, high-speed, multicolor recording with such a multi-drum, multi-color electrostatic recording apparatus, the electrostatic latent image is developed at a high speed by an electrostatic latent image developing apparatus used in each electrostatic recording unit. It must be ensured that it can be developed stably.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is a multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus for performing multicolor recording by arranging a plurality of electrostatic recording units in series, and capable of reducing the overall structure of the multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus. It is to provide a recording device.

Another object of the present invention is an electrostatic latent image developing device for use in such a multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus, wherein the electrostatic latent image developing device is configured to be capable of developing an electrostatic latent image at high speed and stably. It is to provide a device.

A multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of electrostatic recording units arranged in series along a recording medium moving path, and each of the electrostatic recording units is an electrostatic latent image arranged on the recording medium moving path. A carrier, developing means provided on the upstream side of the recording medium moving path with respect to the electrostatic latent image carrier, and a developing means provided on the downstream side of the recording medium moving path with respect to the electrostatic latent image carrier Cleaning means. The developing means includes a developer holding container including a developer pool and a developer stirring section located above the developer pool, and a part of the developer held in the developer stirring section is a part of the developer. It is sequentially supplied to the reservoir. The developing means further includes a developer carrier provided in the developer reservoir, and the developer carrier is partially exposed so as to face the electrostatic latent image carrier, and further includes the electrostatic latent image carrier. The developer is conveyed from a developer reservoir to a region facing the electrostatic latent image carrier to develop the upper electrostatic latent image. The developing means further includes a developer lifting means for transporting the developer conveyed to the facing area by the developer carrier to the developer agitating section of the developer holding container. According to the present invention, in such a multi-color electrostatic recording apparatus, the cleaning means of one of the two electrostatic recording units adjacent to each other is one of the developing means of the other electrostatic recording unit. It is characterized in that it is arranged adjacent to the developer reservoir of the developer holding container forming the portion.

As is apparent from the above configuration, in the multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus according to the present invention, the developer stirring section of the developer holding container forming a part of the developing means is located above the developer accumulation section. As a result, the dimensional shape of the developer reservoir is greatly reduced. For this reason, the cleaning means of one of the two electrostatic recording units adjacent to each other is adjacent to the developer reservoir of the developer holding container which forms a part of the developing means of the other electrostatic recording unit. When the electrostatic recording units are arranged, the arrangement pitch of the electrostatic recording units is narrowed in accordance with the reduction in the size and shape of the developer reservoir.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a conventional electrostatic recording device.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view showing a developing unit of the electrostatic recording apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a conventional multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus constituted by using a plurality of electrostatic recording units obtained by unitizing the electrostatic recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic elevation view showing one embodiment of the multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram partially showing an arrangement state of the electrostatic recording units of the multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a modification of the developing device of the electrostatic recording unit shown in FIG.

 FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of the developing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another type of developing device that can be used in the electrostatic recording unit shown in FIG.

 FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view of the developing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view similar to FIG.
FIG. 9 is a view showing a modified embodiment of the developing device shown in FIG.

 FIG. 11 is a side view of the toner replenishing container.

 FIG. 12 is a front view of the toner replenishing container.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of rotations of the sponge roller provided at the replenishing port of the toner replenishing container and the amount of toner replenishment per one rotation.

FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically showing a plan view of the developing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically showing a plan view of the developing device shown in FIG. 8 and FIG.

FIG. 16 is a plan view schematically showing a developing device corresponding to the developing device shown in FIGS. 8 and 10.

FIG. 17 is a plan view schematically showing a developing device corresponding to the developing device shown in FIG. 8 and FIG.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, a high-speed printer adopting an electrophotographic system is schematically illustrated as an example of a conventional electrostatic recording apparatus. A photosensitive drum 10 is used as an image carrier. During the recording operation, the photosensitive drum 10 is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure. The photosensitive drum 10 is uniformly charged by the pre-charger 12, and an electrostatic latent image is written on the charged area by the optical writing means 14. The pre-charger 12 may be configured as, for example, a corona charger, such as a scorotron charger, or a corotron charger.Other examples of the pre-charger include a conductive roller charger and a conductive brush charger. Laser writing scanner, LE
D (light emitting diode) arrays, liquid crystal shutter arrays, and the like are known. The electrostatic latent image written on the photosensitive drum 10 is electrostatically developed as a charged toner image by a developing device 16, and the charged toner image is electrostatically transferred to a recording medium P such as a recording paper by a transfer device 18. You. The recording medium, that is, the recording paper P is fed from a paper feeding unit (not shown), and the recording paper P
Is temporarily stopped at the position of the pair of registration rollers 20, and then the recording paper is transferred to the photosensitive drum 10 and the transfer device 18 at a predetermined timing according to the writing of the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 10.
Between the pair of registration rollers 20,
Thus, the transfer of the charged toner image onto the recording paper P is performed at a predetermined location. In the illustrated example, the transfer unit 18 includes a transfer unit 18a formed of, for example, a corona discharger, and a charge elimination unit 18b formed of, for example, an AC charge eliminator. Has a function of transferring the charged toner image from the photosensitive drum 10 to the recording paper P side by giving a charge of the opposite polarity to that of the photosensitive drum 10.
The recording paper P is partially removed from the photosensitive drum 10
It has a function to make it easy to separate from The recording paper P that has undergone the transfer process is sent to the fixing device 22, where the transferred toner image is fixed on the recording paper P.

On the other hand, residual toner that has not been transferred onto the recording paper P adheres to the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 that has undergone the transfer process, and the residual toner is removed by the cleaning device 24. Needless to say, in a high-speed printer, it is necessary to remove the residual toner from the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 promptly and surely, and since recording is performed on a huge amount of recording paper, the amount of residual toner to be processed is Also increase. For this reason, a high-speed printer generally uses a cleaning device 24 of the type shown in FIG. More specifically, the cleaning device 24 includes a toner collecting container 24a having an opening adapted to receive a part of the photosensitive drum 10, and a fur brush 24b provided in the toner collecting container 24a and close to the opening. And the toner collection container 2
The toner collecting container 24a includes a toner scraping blade 24c provided along the upper edge of the opening 4a and a transport screw 24d provided at the bottom of the toner collecting container 24a. Of course, fur brush 26b
Functions to wipe off residual toner from the surface of the photosensitive drum 10, and the scraping blade 24c functions to scrape residual toner that could not be removed by the fur brush 24b. The residual toner removed by the fur brush 24b and the scraping blade 24c is once collected in the toner collecting container 24a, and the collected toner is conveyed from the toner collecting container 24a to a predetermined location by the transport screw 24d. Therefore, such a cleaning device 24 becomes relatively bulky. When the residual toner is removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 by the cleaning device 24 and cleaned, the cleaning surface is irradiated by the charge removing lamp 26, and the residual charge is removed therefrom.

As a developer used in the above-described developing process, a two-component developer composed of a toner component (fine powder particles of a colored resin) and a magnetic component (fine magnetic carrier) is widely known. It is common to use a two-component developer. As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the developing device using the two-component developer stirs a developer holding container 28 for holding the two-component developer and a two-component developer in the developer holding container 28. The developing device includes a stirrer 30 for frictionally charging the toner component and the magnetic carrier component with each other, and a magnet roller or a developing roller 32 for forming a magnetic brush by adsorbing a part of the magnetic carrier with a magnetic force. A part of the roller 32 is exposed from the developer holding container and faces the photosensitive drum 10. A toner component electrostatically adheres to the magnetic brush formed around the developing roller 32, and the toner component is carried by the rotation of the developing roller along with the magnetic brush to a region facing the photosensitive drum 10, that is, a developing region. Then, the electrostatic latent image is developed. Since the developing density of the electrostatic latent image is also affected by the amount of toner conveyed to the developing area, the length of the magnetic brush ears is regulated by the regulating blade 34 in order to homogenize the developing density. The developer that has passed through the developing area, that is, the developer having a reduced toner component, is scraped off from the developing roller 32 by the scraper member 36 and returned to the agitator 30 side.

When a two-component developer is used as the developer, the toner component is constantly consumed in the development process. Therefore, in order to maintain the quality of the developed toner image, that is, the quality of the recording toner image, it is necessary to appropriately supply the toner component. It is. Another factor that affects the quality of the recorded toner image is that the toner component is not only sufficiently triboelectrically charged with the magnetic carrier, but also that the toner component is uniformly distributed in the magnetic carrier. Further, in a high-speed printer, the amount of developer used in the developing process naturally increases, and therefore, it is required to stir the developer quickly and efficiently. For this reason, a circulation type as shown in the figure is generally employed as the stirrer 30. More specifically, the stirrer 30 includes a pair of transport screws 30a and 30b, and a partition plate 30c disposed therebetween, and the pair of transport screws 30a and 30b are parallel to the developing roller 32 in the developing holding container 28. Be placed. A pair of conveying screws 30a and 30b extend between both side walls of the developer holding container 28, the length of the partition wall 30c is shorter than the length of the conveying screw, and each of both ends is a corresponding side wall of the developer holding container 28. From a predetermined distance. The transport screws 30a and 30b are driven so as to transport the developer in opposite directions, thereby forming a developer circulation path. That is, when the developer is conveyed to the end by, for example, the conveying screw 30a, the partition plate 3
0c is moved to the opposite side of the conveying screw 30b around the corresponding end, and when the developer is conveyed to the end by the conveying screw 30b, the conveying screw is turned again around the opposite end of the partition plate 30c. The developer is moved to the side 30a, and thus the developer is circulated along the pair of transport screws 30a and 30b. Although a developing device having such a stirrer 30 can efficiently stir a large amount of developer, the overall configuration itself is relatively large.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a multi-drum type multi-color electrostatic recording apparatus for performing full-color recording.
Four electrostatic recording units Y, C, M and B are used. The electrostatic recording units Y, C, M, and B are arranged in series along the endless belt means 38 for transporting recording paper, and the respective electrostatic recording units Y, C, M, and B have the same structure.
Each electrostatic recording unit is obtained by unitizing the electrostatic recording device as shown in FIG. Therefore,
In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals are used for components similar to those shown in FIG. Characteristic items of each of the electrostatic recording units Y, C, M, and B are that the optical writing unit 14 is configured as a laser beam scanner, and that the transfer unit 18 is configured as a conductive transfer roller. Can be The conductive transfer roller 18 is connected to the photosensitive drum via the upper traveling portion of the endless belt means 38 for conveying the recording paper.
It is pressed against 10. A developer having a yellow toner component, a developer having a cyan toner component, a developer having a magenta toner component, and a developer having a black toner component are used in the developing units 16 of the printers Y, C, M and B, respectively. . That is, the electrostatic recording units Y, C, M
In each of B and B, recording of a yellow toner image, a cyan toner image, a magenta toner image, and a black toner image is performed. Endless belt means for recording paper conveyance 38
, A pair of registration rollers 20 is provided at the recording paper introduction end side. At the time of the recording operation, the recording sheet is temporarily stopped at the position of the pair of registration rollers 20 of the recording paper from the paper supply unit 40 and is on standby. In the electrostatic recording units Y, C, M, and B, an electrostatic latent image is sequentially written on the photosensitive drum 10 based on the image data of each color, and then the recording paper is printed at predetermined timing by the printers Y, C, M, and B. B is sequentially passed, whereby a yellow toner image, a cyan toner image, a magenta toner image, and a black toner image are sequentially transferred onto the recording paper to form a full-color image. The recording paper having a full-color image obtained in this way is passed through a fixing device 22 provided at the other end of the recording paper conveying endless belt means 38, and the full-color image is fixed on the recording paper, and then recorded. The paper is discharged via a discharge roller 42 onto a discharge tray 44 provided outside the multicolor recording apparatus.

As described above, this type of multi-drum type multi-color electrostatic recording apparatus has an advantage that high-speed multi-color recording can be achieved. However, since the configuration is such that a plurality of electrostatic recording units are arranged in series, a large-sized Structure. In particular, when a high-speed printer as shown in FIG. 1 is used, such a multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus is further enlarged because the developing device and the cleaning device have a relatively bulky structure.

Next, various embodiments of the multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 16 of the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown an embodiment of a multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus according to the present invention, which is an endless belt conveying means 46 for conveying a recording medium, for example, recording paper.
Is provided. The endless belt conveying means 46 is an endless belt 46 made of a flexible dielectric material such as a suitable synthetic resin material.
a, and the endless belt 46a has four rollers 46b, 46
wrapped around c, 46d and 46e. The roller 46b functions as a driving roller, and the driving roller 46b drives the endless belt 46a in a direction indicated by an arrow in the drawing by a suitable driving mechanism (not shown). The roller 46c functions as a driven roller, and the driven roller 46c also functions as a charging roller that applies electric charges to the endless belt 46c. Rollers 46d and 46e
Both function as guide rollers, and are arranged close to the drive roller 46b and the driven roller 46c, respectively. A tension roller 46f is provided between the driven roller 46c and the guide roller 46e, and an appropriate tension is applied to the endless belt 46a by the tension roller 46f. The upper traveling portion of the endless belt 46a, that is, the traveling portion partitioned between the driving roller 46b and the driven roller 46c forms a recording paper moving path, and the recording paper is introduced from the driven roller 46a side and from the driving roller 46b side. Is discharged. When the recording paper is introduced from the driven roller 46a side, the recording paper is electrostatically attracted to the endless belt 46a to charge the endless belt 46a. An AC static eliminator 46g is provided on the drive roller 46b side.
The charge is removed from the endless belt 46a by 46g, so that when the recording paper is discharged from the drive roller 46b side, the recording paper can be easily separated from the endless belt 46a.

The multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus has four electrostatic recording units Y, C,
M and B, and these electrostatic recording units are arranged in series from the upstream side to the downstream side along the upper running portion of the endless belt 46a. Electrostatic recording units Y, C,
M and B have the same structure as each other, and differ only in that a yellow toner image, a cyan toner image, a magenta toner image, and a black toner image are recorded on recording paper moving along the upper traveling portion of the endless belt 46a. It is.
Each electrostatic recording unit has a photosensitive drum 48, and during the recording operation, the photosensitive drum 48 is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure. Above the photosensitive drum 48, a pre-charger 50 configured as, for example, a corona charger, such as a scorotron charger, a corotron, etc., is arranged. Let me do. An electrostatic latent image is written on the charged area of the photosensitive drum 50 by an optical writing means, for example, a laser beam scanner 52. Note that the laser beam scanner 52 has the most bulky configuration as a component of the electrostatic recording unit, and is arranged at the uppermost portion in order to reduce the installation area of the electrostatic recording unit.

The electrostatic latent image written on the photosensitive drum 48 is electrostatically developed as a charged toner image with a predetermined color toner by the developing device 52, and the developing device 54 is located on the upstream side of the recording movement path with respect to the photosensitive drum 48. Placed in The charged toner image is electrostatically transferred to a recording medium such as recording paper by a conductive transfer roller 56 located below the photosensitive drum 40. As shown in FIG. 4, the conductive transfer roller 56 is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 48 via an upper running portion of the endless belt 46a, and the endless belt
The recording paper conveyed by 46a is given a charge having a polarity opposite to that of the charged toner image, so that the charged toner image is transferred to the photosensitive drum.
From 56, it is electrostatically transferred onto the recording paper.

According to the above configuration, when the recording paper is introduced from the driven roller 46c of the endless belt conveying means 46 and sequentially passes through the electrostatic recording units Y, C, M, and B, four color toners are formed on the recording paper. The images are superimposed to form a full-color image, and then the recording paper is driven by the driving roller of the endless belt conveying means 46.
From the side 46b, the paper is sent to a thermal fixing device 58, where the full-color image is thermally fixed on the recording paper. The heat fixing unit 58
Is a known type including a heat roller 56a and a backup roller 56b. On the other hand, in each of the electrostatic recording devices, residual toner that has not been transferred onto the recording paper adheres to the surface of the photosensitive drum 48 that has undergone the transfer process, and the residual toner is removed by the cleaning device 60. 60
Is provided on the downstream side of the recording paper moving path with respect to the photosensitive drum. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 62 denotes a light-emitting element for removing charges from the surface of the photosensitive drum 48 that has undergone the transfer process, for example, a light-emitting diode array. 4 shows a toner replenishing container for replenishing.

FIG. 5 schematically shows a part of the electrostatic recording units B arranged on the endless transport belt 46. As shown in detail in the figure, the image forming apparatus includes a developer holding container 66 for holding a two-component developer of the developing device 54, the developer holding container 66 having a first bottom wall portion 66a and a first bottom wall portion 66a. A first rear wall portion 66b extending upward from behind the portion 66a, a second bottom wall portion 66c extending horizontally at the upper end of the first rear wall portion 66b,
A second rear wall portion 66d extending upward from behind the second bottom wall portion 66c; a top wall portion 66e extending forward and horizontally from the upper end of the second rear wall portion 66d; A front wall portion 66f extending downward from a front end of the wall portion 66e, and a side wall portion (not shown) at each end of the wall portion.
And integrated. First bottom wall portion 66 of developer holding container 66
An opening is formed between the front end of a and the lower end of the front wall portion 66f, and a magnet roller or developing roller 68 is provided in the opening.
Are arranged in such a manner that a part of the surface is exposed.
The developing roller 68 is fixedly supported by both side walls of the developer holding container 66, a core 68b fixed on the shaft 48a and formed of a magnetic material, and is rotated around the core 68b. The sleeve 68c is freely arranged and made of a non-magnetic material, for example, aluminum. When the developing device 54 is operated, the sleeve 68c is driven to rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow in the drawing. When the illustrated developing device 54 is installed in the electrostatic recording apparatus, the exposed surface of the developing roller 68, that is, the sleeve 68c is opposed to the electrostatic latent image carrier such as a photosensitive drum.

The first bottom wall portion 66a of the developer holding container 66 provides a developer reservoir 70, in which a paddle roller 72 is provided. Paddle roller 72 is a developer holding container
The developing unit 54 is rotatably supported by both side walls of the developing unit 54.
Is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure. The paddle roller 72 supplies the developer in the developer reservoir 70 toward the developing roller 68, and the developer is carried by the developing roller 68 in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. The sheet is conveyed to a region facing the electrostatic latent image carrier such as a drum, that is, a developing region. A developer regulating blade 74 is attached to the front edge of the first bottom wall portion 66a in order to regulate the amount of the developer conveyed to the developing area by the developing roller 68 to a predetermined amount.

The second bottom wall portion 66c of the developer holding container 66 provides a developer agitator 76 located above the developer reservoir 70, and the developer agitator 76 is provided with a developer agitator 78. Fifth
As is clear from the drawing, the developer stirring section 76 partially projects behind the developer accumulation section 70, and a space is formed below the projecting portion. In this embodiment, the developer agitator 78 includes a pair of transport screws 78a and 78b extending between both end walls of the developer holding container 66, and the pair of transport screws 78a and 78b are arranged in parallel with each other. As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of curved concave portions adapted to receive the spiral blades of the pair of conveying screws 78a and 78b are formed on the upper surface of the second bottom wall portion 66c. Transfer screw 78a
The shaft portions 78b and 78b are rotatably supported by both side wall portions of the developer holding container 46, and are driven to rotate in directions indicated by arrows in the drawing (that is, in directions opposite to each other) when the developing device 54 is operated. In the present embodiment, the spiral blades of the conveying screws 78a and 78b are both formed in the form of a right-handed screw. Therefore, the conveying screw 78a conveys the developer to the rear side with respect to the plane of FIG.
Transports the developer forward with respect to the plane of FIG. A pair of partition plates 80a and 80b upright from the second bottom wall portion 66c are disposed between the transport screws 78a and 78b, and the length of the pair of partition plates 80a and 80b is
It is shorter than the length of 78a, 78b, and each of both ends is separated from the corresponding side wall of the developer holding container 66 by a predetermined distance. Therefore, as in the case of the conveying screws 30a and 30b described with reference to FIG.
And 78b form a developer circulation path. That is, when the developer is transported to the end by the transport screw 78a, it is moved to the opposite transport screw 78b side around the corresponding end of the pair of partition plates 80a and 80b,
When the developer is transported to the end by the transport screw 78b, the developer is moved to the transport screw 78a side again around the opposite end of the pair of partition plates 80a and 80b, and thus the developer is transferred to the pair of transport screws 58a. And circulated along 58b.

A developer reservoir 70 is provided between the pair of partition plates 80a and 80b.
A communication path 82 is formed to allow the developer agitating section 76 to communicate with the
The upper opening of the communication path 82 forms a developer overflow 66h for the developer in the developer stirring section 76. As shown in FIG. 5, the partition plate 80b is lower than the partition plate 80a, so that the upper edge of the partition plate 80b becomes the developer overflowing edge. That is,
Part of the developer circulated by the conveying screws 78a and 78b overflows from the upper edge of the partition plate 80b and falls into the communication path 82, whereby the developer reservoir 70 is moved to the developer stirring section 76.
From the developer.

As shown in FIG. 5, the second
A vertical partition wall portion 66g is formed integrally with the front wall portion of the bottom wall portion 66c. 66g vertical partition wall and 46f front wall
A developer ascending passage 84 is formed between the two, and the developer ascending passage 84 is disposed right above the developing roller 68 as is apparent from FIG. Two magnet rollers 86 and 88 are arranged in the developer ascending passage 84 so as to be vertically aligned with respect to the developing roller 68. Magnet roller 86
And 88 have the same configuration as the developing roller 68 configured as a magnet roller. That is, each of the magnet rollers 86, 88 has shafts 86a, 88a fixedly supported by both side walls of the developer holding container 66, and a core portion 86 fixed on the shaft and formed of a magnetic material.
b and 88b, and sleeves 86c and 88c rotatably disposed around the core and formed of a non-magnetic material, for example, aluminum.
Each of c and 88c is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure. The core 68b of the developing roller 68, the core 86b of the magnet roller 86, and the core 8 of the magnet roller 88
Each of 8b is locally poled along its perimeter, as shown in FIG. 5, and such localization is possible by applying a magnetic field locally to each core 68b, 86b, 88b. It is. The magnetic pole of the core 68b of the developing roller 68 is the sleeve 6
The arrangement is such that the developer is conveyed from the developer reservoir 70 to the development area with the rotation of 8c and conveyed to the lower side of the magnet roller 86. The magnetic poles of the core portion 86b of the magnet roller 86 are arranged so that the developer is pulled up from the upper side of the developing roller 68 and carried to the lower side of the magnet roller 88 with the rotation of the sleeve 86c. The magnetic poles are rotated with the rotation of the sleeve 88c by the magnet roller 68.
Are arranged so that the developer is pulled up from the upper side and carried to the upper side of the magnet roller 88. With such a configuration, the developer reacted to the development area by the developing roller 68 is raised to the upper side of the topmost magnet roller 88 without being returned to the developer reservoir 70.

A scraper member 90 is attached to the upper end of the vertical partition wall portion 66g, and the front edge of the scraper member 90 is engaged with the magnet roller 88 at a position slightly rearward from the top thereof. Thus, the developer raised to the upper side of the magnet roller 88 is supplied by the scraper member 90 to the transport screw 78a side of the developer stirring section 76.

In short, the developer held in the developer holding container 66 is supplied from the developer stirring section 76 to the developer storage section 70 through the developer overflow 66h and the communication path 82, and then from the developer storage section 70. The developer conveyed to the developing area by the developing roller 68 is sequentially pulled up by the magnet roller 86 and the magnet roller 88 after passing through the developing area, and is returned to the developer stirring section 76 again via the scraper member 90. Thus, when the developing device 54 is operated, the developer is constantly circulated in the developer holding container 66, whereby the developer (ie, the toner component and the magnetic carrier component) that is always sufficiently stirred in the developer reservoir 70 is provided. Is sufficiently triboelectrically charged and supplies a developer in which the toner component is evenly distributed in the magnetic carrier component.

As a structural feature of the developing device 54 as described above, the developer holding container 66 is divided into a developer storage section 70 and a developer stirring section 66, and a relatively bulky developer stirring section 66 is provided. The point is that it is arranged above the accumulation part 70. According to the configuration of the developer holding container 66, the dimension and shape of the developer reservoir 70 can be greatly reduced. As described above, the laser beam scanner 52 is disposed at the top of the electrostatic recording unit because it has the most bulky configuration as a component of the electrostatic recording unit.
However, the developer holding container 66 is located above the electrostatic recording unit.
The space for accommodating the developer agitating section 76 is sufficiently removed, and thus, by disposing the developer agitating section 76 above the developer reservoir 70, the electrostatic recording unit itself becomes large. There is no.

The cleaner 60 is similar to the type described with reference to FIG. That is, the cleaning device 60 is a toner collection container having an opening for receiving a part of the photosensitive drum 48.
60a, a fur brush 60b provided in the toner collecting container 60a near the opening thereof, a toner scraping blade 60c provided along an upper edge of the opening of the toner collecting container 60a, And a transport screw 60d provided at the bottom of the container 60a. Residual toner is removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 48 by the fur brush 60b, and residual toner that cannot be removed by the fur brush 60b is scraped off by the scraping blade 60c. The residual toner removed by the fur brush 60b and the scraping blade 60c is once collected in the toner collecting container 60a, and the collected toner is carried from the toner collecting container 60a to a predetermined location by the transport screw 60d.

FIG. 5 also shows the photosensitive drum 48, the pre-charger 50, and the cleaning device 60 of the electrostatic recording unit M adjacent to the electrostatic recording unit B. That is, the device 60 can be disposed adjacent to the developer reservoir 70 of the developer holding container 66 of the electrostatic recording unit B and below the developer agitator 76. That is, in the present embodiment, in the developer holding container 66 on the side of the electrostatic recording unit B, a void is formed below the developer stirring portion 76 by partially projecting the developer agitating portion 76 behind the developer storage portion 70. This means that the cleaner 60 on the electrostatic recording unit M side is accommodated in the space. Note that such an arrangement configuration can be applied not only to the electrostatic recording unit B and the electrostatic recording unit M but also to all two adjacent electrostatic recording units. Thus, the electrostatic recording unit Y,
Although each of C, M and B has "L" as a length dimension along the recording paper moving direction, the arrangement pitch "P" of the developing drum 48 is the length "L" of each electrostatic recording unit.
5 (FIG. 5), so that the arrangement length of the electrostatic recording unit is greatly reduced from that of the conventional one shown in FIG. The structure can be miniaturized.

In the above-described embodiment, the two magnet rollers 68 and 88 are used as developer raising means for pulling up the developer from the developing roller 68 and returning the developer to the developer stirring section 76. However, if necessary, It should be understood that the developer raising means may be constituted by a single magnet roller, or may be constituted by three or more magnet rollers.

FIG. 6 shows a modification of the developing device 54 shown in FIG. 5. In this modification, an impeller 86 'is used as a mechanical developer pulling means in place of the magnet roller 86. The impeller 86 'is rotatably supported by both side wall portions of the developer holding container 66, and is driven to rotate in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. The vertical partition wall portion 66g is formed with a concave arc-shaped wall surface 92 adapted to the impeller 86 '. The impeller 86' cooperates with the concave arc-shaped wall surface 92 to pull up the developer from the developing roller 68 and to magnet roller 88. Move up to In FIG. 6, the developer is depicted as a set of fine points. In order to easily pull up the developer, the lower edge of the concave arc-shaped wall surface 92 should be positioned as shown in FIG. More specifically, the core portion 68b of the developing roller 68 is locally magnetized as shown in FIG. 7, and a dotted line is provided between the N pole and the S pole adjacent to the impeller 86 'side. When the magnetic field MF is formed, when the lower edge of the concave arc-shaped wall surface 92 is positioned at the position where the magnetic field MF disappears, the impeller 86 ′ easily lifts the developer from the developing roller 68 without being affected by the magnetic field MF. be able to.

FIG. 8 shows a developing device 54 'of a different type from the developing device 54 shown in FIG. 5, and this developing device 54' is also a developing device 54 '.
4 can be incorporated in the electrostatic recording units Y, C, M and B shown in FIG. In FIG. 8,
The same components as those of the developing device 54 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the developing device 54 ', a developer holding container
The communication path 82 is eliminated from the second bottom wall portion 66c of 66, and a single partition plate 80 is disposed between the pair of conveying screws 78a and 78b. On the other hand, the vertical partition wall portion 66g is the second
And extends to the scraper member 90 from the front wall of the bottom wall portion 66c. A communication passage 82 'is formed between the front wall portion of the second bottom wall portion 66c and the vertical partition wall portion 66g, and the communication passage 82' is an upper edge of the front wall portion of the second bottom wall portion 66c. The scraper member 90 communicates with the inside of the developer stirring section 76 through an opening formed therebetween, and the opening forms a developer overflow 66h 'for the developer in the developer stirring section 76. Cores 86b and 88b of magnet rollers 86 and 88
9 is locally magnetized as shown in FIG. 9, and according to such an arrangement of the magnetic poles, as apparent from FIGS. 8 and 9, the developer is transferred from the developing roller 68 to the magnet roller 86.
And 88 are raised and raised along the front side. On the other hand, according to the magnetic poles of the core portions 86b and 88b as shown in FIG. 9, the developer falling along the communication path 82 'from the developer overflow 66h' does not allow the magnet rollers 68 and 88 to move.
Therefore, the developer can be smoothly supplied from the developer agitating section 76 to the developer reservoir 70. The impeller 86 'shown in FIG. 6 does not magnetically affect the developer.
The impeller 86 'can be used in the developing device 54' of FIG.

FIG. 10 shows a modified embodiment of the developing unit 54 'shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and this developing unit 54' also has the electrostatic recording units Y, C, M and B shown in FIG. Can be incorporated within. In FIG. 10, the same components as those of the developing device 54 'shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In this modified embodiment, the front wall of the second bottom wall portion 66c extends to the scraper member 90, and a developer overflow 66h 'is formed in the front wall in a slit shape. As is clear from FIG. 10, the lower edge of the developer overflow 66h is located at substantially the same height as the rotation axis of the transport screw 78a. The partition wall portion 66g does not extend to the scraper member 90, so that the communication passage 82 'and the developer rising passage 84
Are communicated with each other on the upper edge side of the partition wall portion 66g. As in the case of the embodiment of FIG.
Since the developer falling from h 'along the communication path 82' is not magnetically affected by the magnet rollers 68 and 88, the developer is not taken into the developer ascending path 84.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the amount of the developer overflowing from the developer overflow 66h 'varies depending on the width of the developer overflow 66h'. It also relates to the total amount of the developer held in the inside, that is, the amount of the developer held in the developer stirring section 76. On the other hand, in order that the electrostatic latent image can always be properly developed at a predetermined density, the developer accumulation portion
A predetermined amount of the developer must be held in 70, and the developer held in the developer reservoir 70 is a developing roller 68.
Must be uniformly distributed along the axial direction of
This is because the developing density of the electrostatic latent image can be influenced by the amount of the developer conveyed by the developing roller 68, and when the distribution of the developer along the axial direction of the developing roller 68 is largely deviated, the axial line This is because a development density difference occurs along the direction. The relationship between the total amount of developer held in the developing device 54 'and the width of the developer overflow 66h' was examined, and the results shown in the following table were obtained.

In the developer stirring section 76, conveying screws 78a and 78b having a screw pitch of 37 mm and an outer diameter of 27 mm were used.

As is clear from the above table, the width of the developer overflow is 3 mm
At the time, 1.2 kg was required as the minimum amount of the total amount of developer to obtain the amount of developer to be secured in the developer reservoir 70 in order to develop the electrostatic latent image at a predetermined density. When the total amount of the developer exceeded 1.3 kg, the developer overflowed in the developer stirring section 76. That is, the width of the developer overflow
At 3 mm, the total amount of developer to be held in the developing unit 54 'is 1.2 kg to 1.3 kg. On the other hand, the developer pool
The difference in developer distribution at 70 was about 1 mm.

When the width of the developer overflow is 4 mm, the minimum amount of the total amount of the developer is 1.1 to obtain the amount of the developer to be secured in the developer reservoir 70 in order to develop the electrostatic latent image at a predetermined density. k
g was required, but when the total amount of developer exceeded 1.6 kg, the developer overflowed in the developer stirring section 76.
That is, when the width of the developer overflow is 4 mm, the developing device 5
The total amount of developer to be kept in 4 'is 1.1kg to 1.6kg
It is. On the other hand, the difference in the distribution of the developer in the developer pool 70 was about 3 mm.

When the width of the developer overflow is 5 mm, the minimum amount of the total amount of the developer is 1.1 kg in order to obtain the amount of the developer to be secured in the developer reservoir 70 in order to develop the electrostatic latent image at a predetermined density. However, when the total amount of the developer exceeded 2.0 kg, the developer overflowed in the developer stirring section 76.
That is, when the width of the developer overflow is 5 mm, the developing device 5
The total amount of developer to be kept in 4 'is 1.1kg to 2.0kg
It is. On the other hand, the difference in the distribution of the developer in the developer pool 70 was about 6 mm.

When the width of the developer overflow is 6 mm and 7 mm, the minimum amount of the total amount of the developer is required to obtain the amount of the developer to be secured in the developer reservoir 70 in order to develop the electrostatic latent image at a predetermined density. Both required 1.2 kg, but the total amount of developer was 2.0 kg
Then, the developer overflows in the developer stirring section 76. That is, when the width of the developer overflow is 5 mm and 7 mm, the total amount of developer to be held in the developing device 54 'is
1.2kg to 2.0kg. On the other hand, the distribution difference of the developer in the developer reservoir 70 was about 9 mm when the width of the developer overflow was 6 mm, and was about 15 mm when the width of the developer overflow was 7 mm.

When the width of the developer overflow is 8 mm, the minimum amount of the total amount of the developer is 1.4 kg in order to obtain the amount of the developer to be secured in the developer reservoir 70 in order to develop the electrostatic latent image at a predetermined density. However, when the total amount of the developer exceeded 2.0 kg, the developer overflowed in the developer stirring section 76.
That is, when the width of the developer overflow is 8 mm, the developing device 5
Total amount of developer to be kept in 4 'is 1.4kg to 2.0kg
It is. On the other hand, the difference in the distribution of the developer in the developer pool 70 was about 25 mm.

When the width of the developer overflow is 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm, regardless of the total amount of developer in the developing device 54 ', the amount of developer required to develop the electrostatic latent image at a predetermined density is It could not be obtained in pool 70.

It has been found that when the difference in the distribution of the developer in the developer pool 70 exceeds about 20 mm, a difference in the development density occurs along the axial direction of the developing roller 68. Therefore, 78
When the outside diameter of a and 78b is 27mm, the width of the developer overflow is 3m
It is preferably about m to 7 mm. In other words, the width of the developer overflow should be at least 1/9 or more with respect to the outer diameter of the conveying screws 78a and 78b, and should be 7/27 or less.

In order to achieve high-speed recording with a multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus as shown in FIG. 4, it is necessary to constantly replenish the toner in each developing unit 54 during the recording operation. This is because the toner component is rapidly consumed from the developer in each developing unit 54. Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a toner refill container 64 is shown.
Reference numeral 64 includes a toner replenishing unit 64a and a developer supplying unit 64b.
The toner replenishing section 64a contains only the toner component, and the developer supplying section 64b contains a developer composed of the toner component and the magnetic carrier component. A replenishing port 64a 'and a supplying port 64b' are provided in the toner replenishing section 64a and the developer supplying section 64b, respectively.
Is provided. When the toner replenishing container 64 is mounted on the developer holding container 66 of the developing device 54, the replenishing port 64a 'and the supply port 64b' are connected to the connection port 66i provided on the top wall portion 66e of the developer holding container 66. And 66j (FIG. 5).

When the developer held in the developing device 54 deteriorates, the developer is entirely replaced with a new developer. To elaborate,
First, the developer in the developing device 54 is discharged from a developer discharge port 66k provided in the second bottom wall portion 66c, and then a new developer is supplied from the developer supply portion 64a of the toner replenishing container 64 to the supply port 6a.
The developer is supplied into the developer holding container 66 via 4b '.

On the other hand, during the recording operation of the multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus, a predetermined amount of the toner component is replenished from the toner replenishing portion 64a of the toner replenishing container 64 into the developer holding container 66 through the replenishing port 64a '.
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a sponge roller 64c for replenishing toner components is provided in the replenishing port 64a ', and a toner component is conveyed to the replenishing port 64a' at the bottom of the toner replenishing part 64a. Is provided.
The toner replenishment amount by the sponge roller 64c is
4a and the sponge roller 64c
Depends on the rotation speed. For example, when the sponge roller 64c has a diameter of 16 mm and a length of 86 mm, the sponge roller 64c was checked for a toner replenishment amount per one rotation, and a result as shown in the graph of FIG. 13 was obtained. .
As is clear from the graph, the sponge roller 64c is 100
If it is rotated at more than rpm, it can be understood that the amount of toner replenishment per rotation of the sponge roller 64c is about 1 g, regardless of the amount of toner component stored in the toner replenishment unit 64a. That is, if the sponge roller 64c is rotated at 100 rpm or more,
This means that the toner replenishment amount per rotation of the sponge roller 64c can be maintained at approximately 1 g, regardless of the remaining amount of the toner component in the toner replenishment unit 64a.

In the present embodiment, the toner replenishing container 64 is additionally provided with a developer replenishing unit 64a.
Can be configured as an independent container.

Incidentally, the amount of toner consumed during the recording operation of the multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus can be expressed by the following equation.

Toner consumption (g / s) = [surface speed of photosensitive drum 48 (cm / s)] × [recording width (cm)] × [development rate (%) × 0.01] × [developed toner amount (g / cm ² )] On the other hand, the toner replenishment amount can be expressed by the following equation.

Toner replenishment amount (g / s) = [length of roller 64c (cm)] × [surface speed of roller 64c (cm / s) × [toner replenishment amount per unit area (g / cm ² )] During the recording operation of the color electrostatic recording apparatus, the following formula should be established for the toner replenishment amount.

[Toner replenishment amount (g / s)] ≧ toner consumption amount (g / s) For example, the surface speed of the photosensitive drum 48 is 24 cm / s, and the recording width is 30
cm, the developing rate is 10%, the developing toner amount is 0.0007 g / cm ² , while the diameter of the sponge roller 64c is 16 mm and the rotation speed is 100 rpm, the length of the sponge roller 64c is at least 2.6. mm. Of course, if the diameter of the sponge roller 64c is 16 mm or more, the length of the sponge roller 64c can be shortened accordingly.

The toner component replenished to the developer agitator 76 should be supplied to the developer reservoir 70 after being sufficiently triboelectrically charged. Referring to FIG. 14, the developing device 54 is shown in a schematic view as a plan view. At this time, the positions of the sponge roller 64c and the toner conveying screw 64d are indicated by two-dot chain lines. In this case, in the developer stirring section 76, the developer should be circulated in the direction shown by the arrow in the figure. That is, the toner component replenished at the position of the sponge roller 64c is agitated on the side of the conveying screw 78a and is sufficiently charged, and thereafter, is transferred to the side of the conveying screw 78b. Then, the developer overflows 66h (FIG. 4). This is because the developer is supplied to the developer reservoir 70 through the above. In the case of a developing device 54 'as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the developer is
It should be circulated in the reverse direction as shown in FIG.
That is, the toner component replenished at the position of the sponge roller 64c is agitated on the side of the conveying screw 78b and sufficiently charged, and thereafter, is transferred to the side of the conveying screw 78a, and then the developer overflow 66h '(FIG. 8, This is because the developer is supplied to the developer reservoir 70 via FIG. 10).

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the developer holding container 66
On one side wall, a gear box 94 for rotationally driving the developing roller 68, the conveying screws 78a and 78b, and the magnet rollers 86 and 88 is provided, so that the toner replenishing container 64 is arranged on the opposite side to the gear box 94. You. Therefore, it is necessary to appropriately determine the developer circulation direction in the developer stirring section 76 according to the positions of the developer overflows 66h and 66h '.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the developer stirring portion 76 of the developer holding container 66 is extended beyond the length of the developing roller 68, and the toner replenishing container 64 is mounted on the extended portion. I have. However, the developer stirring section 76 can be configured to correspond to the length of the developing roller 68 as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. The developing device 54 ″ shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 corresponds to the developing device 54 ′ shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, and in this case, the sponge roller 64c is indicated by a two-dot chain line. If it is arranged at the position shown, the toner component replenished there can be supplied to the developer reservoir 70 via the developer overflow 66h 'after being sufficiently charged.
Of course, when the developing device 54 ″ shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is configured to correspond to the developing device 54 as shown in FIG. 5, the developer circulation in the developer stirring section 76 The direction is reversed.

As is apparent from the above description, the multicolor electrostatic recording device according to the present invention can be downsized in its entire structure, thus reducing the installation area when installing the multicolor electrostatic storage. The effect of obtaining is obtained. Further, in the multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus according to the present invention, high-quality recorded images can be guaranteed even in high-speed recording.

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G03G 21/10 G03G 21/00 312 (72) Inventor Eiji Suzuki 1015 Kamodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Keiko Higashiuchi 1015 Uedanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Shozo Higashiuchi 1015, Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Hitoshi Yoshii Kato-gun, Hyogo Prefecture 35, Saho, Shamachi Fujitsu Around Aircraft Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tsutomu Kawai 35, Saho, Shatomachi, Kato-gun, Hyogo Pref. Inside, Fujitsu Around Aircraft Co., Ltd. (72) Katsuya Shimazu, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture 1015 Odanaka Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Kunihiko Sato 1015 Kamiodanaka Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fujitsu Limited (56) References JP-A-3-132681 (JP, A) JP-A-2-262172 (JP, A) JP-A-5-40407 (JP, A) JP-A-4-168457 JP, A) JP-A-4-238377 (JP, A) JP-A-61-167655 (JP, U) JP-A-62-176858 (JP, U) JP-A-62-181958 (JP, U) (58) ) Surveyed field (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03G 13/01 G03G 15/01-15/01 117 G03G 13/08 G03G 15/08-15/08 507

Claims (23)

(57) [Claims] 1. A multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus comprising a plurality of electrostatic recording units (Y, C, M, B) arranged in series along a recording medium moving path, wherein each of the electrostatic recording units is And an electrostatic latent image carrier (48) arranged on the recording medium moving path, and developing means (54, 54 ') provided on the upstream side of the recording medium moving path with respect to the electrostatic latent image carrier. Cleaning means (60) provided on the downstream side of the recording medium moving path with respect to the electrostatic latent image carrier, wherein the developing means comprises a developer reservoir (70); A developer holding container (66), which is located above the developer container and comprises a developer agitator (76) communicated with the developer reservoir through a communication path (82); A part of the developer held in the developer reservoir is sequentially supplied to the developer reservoir, and the developing unit further moves to the developer reservoir. A developer carrier (68) provided, wherein the developer carrier is partially exposed so as to face the electrostatic latent image carrier; In order to develop an image, the developer is transported from the developer reservoir to a region facing the electrostatic latent image carrier, and the developing unit further transports the developer transported to the facing region by the developer carrier. Developer raising means (86, 86 ',
88), and the cleaning means (60) of one of the two electrostatic recording units adjacent to each other is part of the developing means (54, 54 ') of the other electrostatic recording unit. The electrostatic recording unit is disposed adjacent to the developer reservoir (70) of the developer holding container (66) and below the developer stirring unit (76), and is adjacent to the developing device of the electrostatic recording unit. A multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus, wherein the unit cleaning means and the unit cleaning means are respectively formed inside separate housings. 2. A multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said developer raising means comprises at least one magnet roller (86, 88). apparatus. 3. A multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said developer raising means is a mechanical developer pulling means (8) located above said developer carrier (68).
6 '), and a magnet roller (88) located above the mechanical developer pulling means. 4. A multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said mechanical developer pulling means is an impeller (8).
6 ′), wherein the impeller is the developer carrier (68)
A multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus, wherein the developer is pulled up from the developer carrying member at a location where the magnetic field disappears. 5. A multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said developer stirring means (68) is provided in a developer stirring section (76) of said developer holding container (66). A first developer transport screw (78a) arranged along the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier (68), and parallel to the first developer transport screw and opposite to the developer carrier; A second developer transport screw (78b) disposed on the side of the first developer transport screw and the second developer transport screw between the first developer transport screw and the second developer transport screw. A first partition plate (80a) and a second partition plate (80a) positioned between the first developer transport screw and the second developer transport screw on the second developer transport screw side. ), Wherein the first and second developer conveying screws are The developer is driven in opposite directions to circulate the developer in the developer agitating section, and the developer overflow of the communication path (82) is formed by the first and second partition plates. Electrostatic recording device. 6. A multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus comprising a plurality of electrostatic recording units (Y, C, M, B) arranged in series along a recording medium moving path, wherein each of said electrostatic recording units And an electrostatic latent image carrier (48) arranged on the recording medium moving path, and developing means (54, 54 ') provided on the upstream side of the recording medium moving path with respect to the electrostatic latent image carrier. Cleaning means (60) provided on the downstream side of the recording medium moving path with respect to the electrostatic latent image carrier, wherein the developing means comprises a developer reservoir (70); A developer holding container (66), which is located above the developer container and comprises a developer agitator (76) communicated with the developer reservoir through a communication path (82); A part of the developer held in the developer reservoir is sequentially supplied to the developer reservoir, and the developing unit further moves to the developer reservoir. A developer carrier (68) provided, wherein the developer carrier is partially exposed so as to face the electrostatic latent image carrier; In order to develop an image, the developer is transported from the developer reservoir to a region facing the electrostatic latent image carrier, and the developing unit further transports the developer transported to the facing region by the developer carrier. Developer raising means (86, 86 ',
88), and further includes a developer stirring section (76) in the developer holding container (66).
Is partially protruded to the rear side of the corresponding developer reservoir (70) to form a space, and the cleaning means (60) for one of the two electrostatic recording units adjacent to each other is cleaned. ) Is accommodated in the space formed in the developer holding container (66) which forms a part of the developing means (54, 54 ′) of the other electrostatic recording unit, and the developing device of the electrostatic recording unit and A multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus, wherein cleaning means for adjacent electrostatic recording units are formed inside separate housings. 7. A multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said developer raising means comprises at least one magnet roller (86, 88). apparatus. 8. A multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said developer raising means is a mechanical developer pulling means (8) located above said developer carrier (68).
6 '), and a magnet roller (88) located above the mechanical developer pulling means. 9. A multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said mechanical developer pulling means includes an impeller (8).
6 ′), wherein the impeller is the developer carrier (68)
A multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus, wherein the developer is pulled up from the developer carrying member at a location where the magnetic field disappears. 10. The multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said developer stirring means (68) is provided in a developer stirring section (76) of said developer holding container (66). A first developer transport screw (78a) arranged along the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier (68), and parallel to the first developer transport screw and opposite to the developer carrier; A second developer conveying screw (78b) arranged on the side,
A first partition plate (80a) positioned between the first developer transport screw and the second developer transport screw on the first developer transport screw side, and the first developer transport screw; A second developer conveying screw located between the second developer conveying screw and the second developer conveying screw;
The first and second developer conveying screws are driven in opposite directions to circulate the developer in the developer agitating section, and the developing passage in the communication path (82) is formed. A multicolor electrostatic recording apparatus, wherein an agent overflow is formed by the first and second partition plates. 11. A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image with a two-component developer, comprising: a developer reservoir (70); and a developer stirring unit (10) located above the developer reservoir. 76), a communication path (84, 84 ′) is formed between the developer stirring section and the developer accumulation section, and the communication path is And a developer carrying member (68) provided in a developer reservoir of a developer holding container, the opening being formed so as to form a developer overflow port (66h, 66h ') with respect to the portion. The developer carrier is partially exposed so as to face the electrostatic latent image carrier (48), and is further provided with the electrostatic latent image carrier to develop the electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier. Transporting the developer from the developer reservoir to the facing area of the developer, and further transporting the developer transported to the facing area by the developer carrier. Developer raising means (86, 88, 86 ') for raising and transporting the developer to the developer stirring section of the developer holding container
And a developer stirring means (78a, 78b) for stirring the developer in a developer stirring section of the developer holding container, wherein a part of the developer stirred by the developer stirring means The toner supply unit is supplied to the developer reservoir through the developer overflow and the communication path, and further includes a toner replenishing unit (64) for replenishing the developer stirring unit with a toner component. The replenished toner component is sufficiently agitated by the developer agitating means to be triboelectrically charged, and then positioned with respect to the developer agitating section (76) so as to reach the developer overflow port (66h). A developing device. 12. The developing device according to claim 11, wherein said communication path (64) is provided with said developer raising means (86, 8).
8, 86 '). 13. A developing device according to claim 11, wherein said developer raising means has at least one member.
A developing device comprising: two magnet rollers (86, 88), wherein the magnetic poles of the magnet rollers are arranged so as to rise along the exposed surface side of the developer carrier (68). 14. A developing device according to claim 11, wherein said developer raising means is provided with a mechanical developer pulling means (86 ') located above said developer carrier (68). A developing device comprising a magnet roller (88) positioned above the mechanical developer pulling means. 15. A developing device according to claim 14, wherein said mechanical developer pulling means comprises an impeller (86 '), said impeller being a magnetic field of said developer carrier (68). A developing device, wherein the developing device is arranged so as to pull up the developer from the developer carrier at the disappearance portion. 16. The developing device according to claim 11, wherein said communication path (84) is located substantially at the center of a developer stirring section (76) of said developer holding container (66). At least two magnet rollers (86, 88) with means for raising the agent
Wherein the magnet rollers have a magnetic pole arrangement such that the developer pulled up from the developer carrying member (48) is raised in an S-shape. 17. A developing device according to claim 11, wherein said toner replenishing means (64) holds a toner component in a toner container (64a).
And a refill port (64a ') provided in the toner container,
The toner replenishing sponge roller (64c) disposed in the replenishing port is substantially equal to the toner replenishing sponge roller, and the toner replenishing amount per unit time is substantially constant irrespective of the remaining amount of toner in the toner storage unit. A developing device that is rotated at such a rotational speed. 18. A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image with a two-component developer, comprising: a developer pool (70); and a developer stirring section (70) located above the developer pool. 76), a communication path (84 ') is formed between the developer stirring section and the developer accumulation section, and the communication path is connected to the developer stirring section. A developer carrier (68) provided in a developer reservoir of a developer holding container, the developer carrier having an opening to form a developer overflow port (66h '); Is partially exposed to face the electrostatic latent image carrier (48), and in an area facing the electrostatic latent image carrier to develop the electrostatic latent image in the form of the electrostatic latent image carrier. The developer is transported from the developer reservoir, and the developer transported to the facing area by the developer carrier is transferred to the developer container. Developer lifting means for conveying raised to the developer agitating portion of the agent holding vessel (86,88,86 ')
And a developer stirring means (78a, 78b) for stirring the developer in a developer stirring section of the developer holding container, wherein a part of the developer stirred by the developer stirring means The developer overflow is provided to the developer reservoir through the developer overflow and the communication path, and the developer overflow (66h ') is provided to the developer raising means (8
6, 88, 86 ') is formed as a slit-like overflow opening in a vertical plane and extending in the horizontal direction, and the developer stirring means comprises a pair of conveying screws (78a, 78b). A developing device, wherein the vertical width of the slit-like overflow is in the range of 1/9 to 7/27 with respect to the outer diameter of the transport screw. 19. A developing device according to claim 18, further comprising a toner replenishing means (64) for replenishing a toner component to said developer stirring section, wherein said toner replenishing means is provided. The replenished toner component is sufficiently agitated by the developer agitating means and frictionally charged, and is positioned with respect to the developer agitating section (76) so as to reach the developer overflow port (66h). A developing device, characterized in that: 20. The developing device according to claim 18, wherein said developer raising means comprises at least one magnet roller (86, 88), and a magnetic pole of said magnet roller is connected to said developer carrier (68). The developing device is arranged so as to be raised along the exposed surface side of the developing device. 21. A developing device according to claim 18, wherein said developer raising means comprises a mechanical developer pulling means (86 ') located above said developer carrier (68), and A developing device comprising a magnet roller (88) positioned above the mechanical developer pulling means. 22. A developing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said mechanical developer pulling means comprises an impeller (86 '), and said impeller is configured to generate a magnetic field of said developer carrier (68). A developing device, wherein the developing device is arranged so as to pull up the developer from the developer carrier at the disappearance portion. 23. A developing device according to claim 18, wherein said toner replenishing means (64) holds a toner component in a toner container (64a).
And a refill port (64a ') provided in the toner container,
The toner replenishing sponge roller (64c) disposed in the replenishing port is substantially equal to the toner replenishing sponge roller, and the toner replenishing amount per unit time is substantially constant irrespective of the remaining amount of toner in the toner storage unit. A developing device that is rotated at such a rotational speed.