JP3058280B2 - Developing device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner supply device for supplying toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus.

[Related Art] In a copying machine, after an image of a document is read by a photoelectric conversion device, the read image is formed as an electrostatic image on a latent image carrier, and this electrostatic image is developed by a developing device. It is designed to be visualized. In that case, toner is generally used in order for the developing device to make a visible image.

Conventionally, as a toner supply device for supplying the toner to the developing device, a toner box is provided in a copying machine main body, and the toner box is conveyed and supplied to the developing device by an auger or the like. When the toner box runs out of toner, the toner box is pulled out to the toner supply position, and the toner filled in the spare toner bottle is supplied to the toner box. This toner replenishment is difficult for the user because the type of toner differs depending on the type of copying machine, and is usually performed by a service person to prevent erroneous replenishment of toner.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, if the serviceman performs the toner replenishment as described above, the user must contact the serviceman every time the toner runs out, which is extremely troublesome. In addition, toner is not always replenished immediately even when contacted by a service person or the like, not only takes time, but also hardly copies during that time, making it impossible to copy efficiently.

Further, there is a problem that the toner is spilled on the floor when the toner is replenished and clothes and the like are stained. To cope with this problem, a toner-filled cartridge is used instead of the toner bottle, the cartridge is attached to the toner box at the time of toner replenishment, and then the toner is replenished by removing the cartridge cap and replenishing the toner. When the operation is completed, a cartridge is removed. According to the toner replenishing method using the cartridge, the toner does not spill, and the spilled toner does not stain clothes and the like.

However, in the toner supply method using the cartridge, three operations of the mounting operation of the cartridge, the toner supply operation, and the removal operation of the cartridge must be performed, and the operation is troublesome. In addition, even with this replenishment method, the service person must perform the replenishment work, so that the above-mentioned problem still cannot be solved.

As described above, none of the conventional toner replenishment methods has a good toner replenishment workability.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a developing device capable of improving workability by enabling a user to easily supply developer. To provide.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a developing device capable of preventing the developer from being spilled or stained by the developer when the developer is supplied.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a developing device capable of reliably detecting empty developer in a developer cartridge.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a developing device capable of improving the use efficiency of a developer by reliably enabling a predetermined number of copies even when the developer runs out.

[Means for Solving the Problem and Action Thereof] In order to solve the above-described problem, the developing device of the present invention includes:
A developing device that develops a latent image on a latent image carrier and visualizes the latent image has a first transport unit that stores the developer and gradually transports the developer, and is detachable from the developing device main body. A developer cartridge, an accommodating section for accommodating the developer conveyed by the first conveying means, a detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of the developer in the developer cartridge based on an amount of the developer in the accommodating section, and It is characterized by comprising a reserve tank having a second transport unit for transporting the developer in the storage unit, and a developing unit for storing the developer transported by the second transport unit and having a developing roll. As a result, the developer can be easily replenished without spilling of the developer or contamination by the developer, and workability is improved.

Moreover, the developer conveyed by the first conveying means in the developer cartridge is stored in the storage section of the reserve tank,
Further, a developer supply line is configured to be transported to the developing unit by the second transport unit in the reserve tank. This allows
The developer can be supplied without difficulty.

Further, the developer in the developer cartridge is reliably transported to the reserve tank by the first transport unit. Then, the developer conveyed to the reserve tank is detected by a detecting means provided in the reserve tank. Therefore,
Even if the detection means is provided in the reserve tank, empty detection of the developer in the developer cartridge can be performed more accurately.

Further, the second transport means includes a circulating means for circulating the developer in the storage section, and a supply means for supplying the developer to the developing section. As a result, the developer is more smoothly supplied in the developer supply line.

Further, the detecting means may detect a developer near a receiving port for receiving the developer conveyed by the first conveying means in the storage portion at a position deviated from a developer circulation path in which the developer circulates. It is characterized by being provided in. As a result, even if the detecting means detects that the developer is empty, since a predetermined amount of the developer still remains in the developer circulation path, a predetermined number of copies can be surely made after the detection of the empty state. Use efficiency is improved.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a color copying machine to which one embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the color copying machine.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the color copier 1
A main body 2, a platen 3 provided on the upper surface side of the main body 2, and on which a document (not shown) is placed, an image information reading section 4 provided below the platen 3 and reading image information of the document, An image forming apparatus 5 that receives a signal from the information reading unit 4 and forms a predetermined image;
A transfer unit 7 for transferring the image formed on the paper 6 as a transfer medium, a paper supply unit 8 for supplying and transporting the paper 6, and a paper transport unit 9.

The paper supply unit 8 includes three paper trays 81, 82, 83, each of which stores paper 6 according to the size,
4. It is composed of a double-sided tray 85 and a manual feed tray 86. Further, the sheet transport section 9 transfers the sheet 6 sent from the sheet reversing chute 91 and the trays 81 to 86 to the image forming apparatus 5.
And a second paper transport path 93 that transports the copied paper 6 to the image forming apparatus 5 again.

The paper 6 onto which the toner image has been transferred by the image forming apparatus 5 is sent to the fixing device 10 through the discharge side conveyance path 94, and the toner image is fixed by the pressure roll 101 and the heating roll 102 of the fixing device 10. After the operation, the sheet is conveyed to the discharge tray 87.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 5 includes a photosensitive drum.
51, a charger 52, a first latent image forming unit 53, a first developing unit 54, a second developing unit 54, which are sequentially arranged along the outer circumference of the photosensitive drum 51.
It comprises a latent image forming means 55, a second developing means 56, and a pre-transfer charger 57. The visible image formed on the photosensitive drum 51 is transferred to the sheet 6 in the transfer unit 7.

In the image forming apparatus 5 configured as described above, when the mode of the console panel 21 of the main body 2 is switched to the color mode in recording a color image, the charger 52 as shown in FIG. The surface of the photosensitive drum 51 is uniformly charged, and the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 51 is charged to one polarity. In this state, FIG.
After the first latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 51 by the first latent image forming means 53 as shown in FIG. 4 (a), a predetermined developing bias voltage is applied to the first developing means 54 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the first toner image is formed by the reversal phenomenon.
Next, a second latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 51 by the second latent image forming means 55 as shown in FIG.
By applying a predetermined developing bias voltage to 56,
A toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 51 by regular development as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 6F, after the polarities of both toner images are made uniform by the pre-transfer charger 57, the two toner images are collectively transferred onto the paper 6 by the transfer unit 7, thereby forming a color image. A record is to be made.

In this case, the first and second latent image forming means 53, 55
It is formed by a laser diode, and receives a signal from the image information reading unit 4 to write a predetermined latent image on the photosensitive drum 51. The first latent image forming means
Reference numeral 53 denotes a method of writing an image portion, and second latent image forming means 55 denotes a method of writing a background portion. However, the first and second latent image forming means 53 and 55 need not always be of these types.
Reference numeral 53 denotes a method of writing a background portion.
May be a method of writing an image portion, and the latent image forming means 53 and 55 may be a method of writing a common image portion or a background portion.

The first developing means 54 has a two-component developer for color (red), and includes a developing roll 541 provided on the photosensitive drum 51 side and a partition 54 on the back side of the developing roll 541.
1st auger 543a and 2nd auger 543 provided side by side
b and a receiving plate 544 above the augers 543a and 543b.
Third auger 543c provided through the housing and housing 54a
A sealing member 545 on the film which is mounted on the upstream side of the opening of the photosensitive drum 51 and comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 51; a blade 546 for scraping off the toner carried by the developing roll 541;
It comprises a toner transfer coil auger 547a and a toner transfer auger 547b disposed in a toner box 547 attached to the back side of 4a. In this case, the developing roll 541 is formed of a non-magnetic conductive member such as an aluminum alloy or stainless steel.

The second developing unit 56 is a developing device having a black two-component developer, and develops the second latent image by a magnetic brush developing method using an FX microtoning method.

Both of these developing units 54 and 56 are moved in a direction of coming and going with respect to the photosensitive drum 51 by a retract mechanism 58 disposed corresponding to each of them. These retract mechanisms 58 are operated by a drive source (not shown).

Next, the second developing means 56 provided with the toner supply device of this embodiment will be described in more detail.

As shown in FIG. 5, the second developing means 56 develops the second latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 51 by the magnetic brush developing method of the FX microtoning method. A developing roll in which a part of the outer peripheral surface is exposed outside the housing 1001 from an opening provided at one end.
1002 (developer carrier), developer stirring means 1003 disposed in a housing 1001 on the back side of the developing roll 1002, and attached to the top plate of the housing 1001 above the developing roll 1002, And a trimmer plate 1004 (trimmer) for regulating the height of the magnetic brush of the formed developer. In addition, various accessories necessary for implementing the FX microtoning method are attached.

First, the developing roll 1002 is provided with a rotatable cylindrical sleeve 1006 disposed on the outer periphery of a fixedly supported substantially cylindrical magnet member 1005, and the developer is applied on the sleeve 1006 by the magnetic force of the magnet member 1005. This is similar to the normal magnetic brush developing method in that the magnetic brush is formed and the magnetic brush is transported to the developing area facing the photosensitive drum 51 as the sleeve 1006 rotates. Magnet material
In 1005, a plurality of magnetic poles such as a peeling pole N1, an attracting pole N2, a transport pole S3, N3, and a main developing pole S1, S2 are provided in this order in a counterclockwise direction, and these are attached to a ferrite magnet roll. It is magnetized by the magnetic method. Then, in the developing roll 1002 of the present embodiment having such a magnetic pole arrangement, the magnetic poles having different magnetic poles are alternately successively attached to the attracting pole N2 → the transport pole S3 → the transport pole N3 → the developing main poles S1, S2 → the attracting pole N1 While the developer is held on the surface of the sleeve 1006 during the interval, the developer separates from the sleeve 1006 between the separation pole N1 and the adsorption pole N2 where the magnetic poles of the same magnet are arranged adjacently. Further, between the developing main poles S1 → S2, a repulsive magnetic field is formed, and the magnetic forces of S1 and S2 expand and act at a predetermined angle, and act on the developer between these two magnetic poles. The configuration is such that the magnetic force is temporarily reduced and the developer can be rubbed against the photosensitive drum 51 with high efficiency, that is, a configuration unique to the FX microtoning method.

A tracking roll (not shown) is rotatably provided outside both ends of the developing roll 1002, and a gap between the developing roll 1002 and the photosensitive drum 51 is maintained by contacting the tracking roll with the photosensitive drum 51. It has become.

On the other hand, the stirring means 1003 is provided with a first auger 1007 and a second auger 1008 which are disposed so as to have the same axial direction as the developing roll 1002.
And a housing that separates these two augers
And a partition plate 1009 erected at 1001. The rotation directions of the first auger 1007 and the second auger 1008 are determined so that the developer conveying directions are opposite to each other. At both ends of the partition plate 1009, a region where the first auger 1007 is provided (hereinafter referred to as a first stirring channel 1010) and a region where the second auger 1008 is provided (hereinafter referred to as a second stirring channel 1011). An opening communicating with the first stirring path is provided.
The developer is circulated in the order of 1010 → second stirring path 1011 → first stirring path 1010.

Further, a paddle wheel 1012 having a plurality of blades 1012a parallel to the axial direction is provided between the developing roll 1002 and the stirring means 1003. With the rotation of the paddle wheel 1012, the developer peeled off from the developing roll 1002 is forcibly conveyed toward the stirring means 1003, and the developer mixed and stirred by the stirring means 1003 is continuously developed by the developing roll 1002.
To be supplied to

Further, a paddle wheel 1012 is provided on the rear side of the developing roll 1002.
Is located above the housing 1001 from the top plate to the back plate 1013.
Is provided. The rear plate 1013 is formed integrally with the trimmer 1004 and fixed to the housing 1001. Adsorption area (area where developer conveyed to paddle wheel 1012 is adsorbed to developing roll 1002) by this back plate 1013
Is formed above, and the developer scraped off from the developing roll 1002 by the trimmer 1004 is filled in the auxiliary suction area and flows clockwise. Thereby, the adsorption of the developer to the developing roll 1002 is made uniform.

Further, a catch-up roll 1014 is provided below the developing roller 1002 on the photosensitive drum 51 side, that is, on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 51. This catch-up roll 1014 is a magnet member 1015 having magnetic poles N 'and S'.
And a cylindrical sleeve 1016 rotatable around the magnet member 1015. The carrier transferred onto the photosensitive drum 51 is adsorbed onto the sleeve 1016 by the catch-up roll 1014.

Further, the shape of the bottom of the housing 1001 is such that the developer having poor fluidity is not conveyed and does not stay. That is, a bottom surface extending from the developing roll 1002 to the paddle wheel 1012 is formed with a guide surface 1017 for guiding the developer adsorbed by the developing roll 1002 to the peeling region and a guide surface 1018 for guiding the peeled developer to the paddle wheel 1012. Have been. By determining the position at which the guide surface 1017 and the guide surface 1018 intersect based on the relationship between the peeling pole N1 and the attracting pole N2, the flow of the developer after peeling off from the developing roll 1002 is promoted.

Above the first auger 1007 in the housing 1001, the toner supply device 1020 of the present invention is provided. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the toner supply device 1020 includes a cartridge 1021 filled with toner and a reserve tank 1022 disposed below the cartridge 1021.

As shown in FIG. 8, the cartridge 1021 has a cylindrical portion 1023a made of paper and both side wall portions 1023 made of resin.
3b, a case body 1023 composed of 3b, an agitator 1024 formed by a metal wire, and a coupling 1025. When the cylindrical portion 1023a is formed of paper in this way, the paper can be cut freely to a predetermined length, so that simply changing the length of the cylindrical portion 1023a can easily correspond to various models. become able to. In addition, since paper is inexpensive, the cartridge 1021 can be formed very inexpensively.

The coupling 1025 is rotatably attached to the center of the right side wall 1023b.One end 1024a of the agitator 1024 is connected to the coupling 1025, and the other end 1024b of the agitator 1024 has a circular shape. It is formed and supported in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the case body 1023, and the agitator
1024 is supported cantilevered. Like this agitator
The reason for supporting the 1024 in a cantilever manner is that the toner is filled into the cartridge 1021 with the side surface on the left side wall 1023b side of the cartridge 1021 opened, and the toner is filled into the cartridge 1021 with this opening facing upward. In front, left wall 1023b
Is not fixed to the cylindrical portion 1023a. By filling the toner from the side opening as described above, the filling efficiency of the cartridge in the cartridge 1021 can be increased.

In addition, as shown in FIGS.
A supply hole 1028 for supplying the toner to the reserve tank 1022 and a bypass hole 1029 for bypassing and supplying the toner to the reserve tank 1022 are provided at the bottom of the 1023. The supply hole 1028 opens to one of the toner storage portions 1030a of the tank portion 1030 of the reserve tank 1022, which will be described later, while the bypass hole 1029 is connected to the developing means 56 of the reserve tank 1022.
An opening is provided in the toner supply unit 1031 to the printer. Further, the cartridge 1021 normally has these two holes 102
A shutter 1032 having a laminated structure for closing the shutter 81029 is provided slidably in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 1021 along a guide member 1033 fixed to the main body 1023. This shutter 10
32 has a through hole 1032a of a predetermined shape. Further, the main body 1023 has a sealing member 1 for sealing both holes 1028 and 1029.
032b and 1032c are attached, respectively, and one ends of these sealing members 1032b and 1032c are fixed to a shutter 1032 (in FIG. 8, the shutter 1032 and the sealing members 1032a and 1032a are
Although shown separately from one end of 32b, the sealing member 103
One end of each of 2b and 1032c is sandwiched between the laminated plates of the shutter 1032).

As shown in FIG. 7, the cartridge 1021 is detachably mounted at a predetermined position of a cartridge installation portion 1035 provided in the copying machine main body 2. When the cartridge 1021 is set in the cartridge installation portion 1035, the coupling 1025 of the cartridge 1021 engages with the coupling 1025 attached to the gear 1026a of the power transmission mechanism 1026 provided on the main body 2 side. It is supposed to. In this case, the cartridge 1021 is fixed at a predetermined position by fitting the projection 1021a formed on the bottom surface of the cartridge 1021 into the concave portion 1035a provided in the cartridge installation portion 1035. And the power transmission mechanism
The agitator 1024 is rotated by the rotational driving force of the driving unit 1027 such as a motor transmitted via the motor 1026 so that the toner flows from left to right as indicated by the arrow in FIG.

Also, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cartridge 10
When 21 is set, the shutter 1032 is slid in the longitudinal direction by an appropriate operator provided on the cartridge installation portion 1035, whereby the seal members 1032a and 1032 are
b is peeled off from the case main body 1023, the shutter 1032 is disengaged from the supply hole 1028 to open the supply hole 1028, and the hole 1034 is located in the bypass hole 1029 so that the bypass hole 1029 is automatically opened.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the reserve tank 1022
Is a tank unit 1030 including two toner storage units 1030a and 1030b as described above, and these toner storage units 1030a and 1030
b and a toner supply unit 1031 that supplies toner to the developing unit 56. Partition walls 1036 and 1037 are provided between the toner storage units 1030a and 1030b and the toner supply unit 1031 respectively. These partition walls 1036 and 1037 have the reserve tank 1 at the left end side in FIG.
It does not extend to the left wall 1022b of the main body 1022a of 022,
Therefore, openings 1038 and 1039 are formed between the left side wall 1022b and the left ends of the partition walls 1036 and 1037, respectively. Also, the partition walls 1036, 1037 are similarly provided with openings 1040, 1041 leftward by a predetermined amount from their right ends.
These openings 1038, 1039, 1040, 1041 allow the toner storage units 1030a, 1030b and the toner supply unit 1031 to communicate with each other.

Agitators 1042, 1043 each formed of a metal wire such as a wire wound in a spiral shape are arranged in parallel with each other in the toner storage units 1030a, 1030b. The right end 1042a of one agitator 1042 is connected to the gear shaft 1044 and the left end 1042a.
2b is rotatably supported by the left side wall 1022b. The winding direction of the agitator 1042 is one direction, and a blade 1045 is attached at a position near the left end and facing the opening 1038. Both ends of the other agitator 1043 are similarly supported. The winding direction of this agitator 1043 is
It is wound in the opposite direction from 1041. That is, the agitator 1043 is wound in the same winding direction as the agitator 1042 to the left of the opening 1041, but is wound in the opposite winding direction to the agitator 1042 to the right of the opening 1041. A blade 1046 is attached at a position where the winding direction of the agitator 1043 changes, that is, at a position facing the opening 1041.

Further, the right end side of the toner storage unit 1030a from the opening 1040 is a toner introduction unit 1030c (corresponding to the receiving port of the present invention).
An empty detection sensor 1047 is provided at the bottom of the toner introduction unit 1030c (corresponding to the receiving port of the present invention). The supply hole 1028 of the cartridge 1021 is located just above the empty detection sensor 1047, that is, the supply hole 1028 faces the empty detection sensor 1047. Since the supply hole 1028 and the empty detection sensor 1047 face each other in this manner, the empty state of the toner cartridge can be accurately detected. This sky detection sensor 1047
Is formed, for example, as a frequency-detecting sensor,
By detecting that the frequency changes depending on the presence or absence of the toner on 1047, the presence or absence of the toner in the cartridge 1021 is detected.

On the other hand, a supply hole 1048 for supplying toner to the developing means 56 is formed at a predetermined position on the bottom of the toner supply unit 1031. An auger 1049 is provided in the toner supply unit 1031 in parallel with the two agitators 1042 and 1043. The auger 1049 is also rotatably supported by the main body 1022a similarly to the agitators 1042 and 1043. The spiral direction of the blade of the auger 1049 is reversed at the supply hole 1048.

In the reserve tank 1022 configured as described above, when the cartridge 1021 is set in the cartridge installation portion 1035, the shutter 1032 slides, and thus the supply hole 1028
And the bypass hole 1029 is automatically opened. For this reason,
The toner in the cartridge 1021 is supplied into the reserve tank 1022 through the supply hole 1028 and the bypass hole 1029.

The toner passing through the bypass hole 1029 is supplied directly to the auger 1049, and is immediately supplied to the developing means 56 through the supply hole 1048 by the auger 1049. Thus, copying can be performed in a relatively short time after the cartridge 1021 is set.

The toner passing through the supply hole 1028 is supplied to the toner introduction section 1030c.
Will be introduced. The introduced toner is detected by the empty detection sensor 1047 and sent to the left by the rotation of the agitator 1042. At this time, the toner is not directly supplied to the toner supply unit 1031 by the partition wall 1036, but moves neatly toward the left opening 1038. When the toner is sent to the left, new toner is further introduced from the cartridge 1021 into the toner introduction unit 1030c. The toner is stored in the toner container 10
When the toner reaches the left end of 30a, the toner is smoothly sent to the toner supply unit 1031 through the opening 1038 by the blade 1045. A part of the toner sent to the toner supply unit 1031 is sent to the supply hole 1048 by the auger 1049, and is supplied to the developing unit 56 through the supply hole 1048. In this case, even when the toner passes through the supply hole 1048, the blades of the auger 1049 are in the opposite direction, so that the passed toner is returned to the supply hole 1048, and the developing means is passed through the supply hole 1048.
Surely sent to 56.

On the other hand, the remainder of the toner sent to the toner supply unit 1031 is:
Since the toner is pushed by the new toner sent by the blade 1045, the toner flows into the toner container 1030b through the opening 1039. The toner that has flowed into the toner storage unit 1030b is sent to the right opening 1041 by the agitator 1043. Aperture
The toner that has come to 1041 is fed to the openings 1041 and 1040 by the blade 1046.
Through the toner storage unit 1030a. Also in this case, even when the toner passes through the opening 1041, the toner is returned to the opening 1041 by the agitator 1043 in the opposite direction.

The toner flowing into the toner container 1030a is
It is sent to the left again by 042. In this case, the toner is surely sent to the left by the agitator 1042, so that the toner flowing from the opening 1040 is
It does not flow toward 30c. Therefore, the toner introduction unit 103
Only toner from the cartridge 1021 is introduced into 0c. As a result, when the cartridge 1021 is emptied and its toner is not introduced into the toner introduction unit 1030c, even if there is toner in the toner storage units 1030a and 1030b, there is no toner in the toner introduction unit 1030c. The sensor 1047 can reliably detect the empty state of the cartridge 1021.

In this way, the toner in the toner cartridge 1022 is temporarily supplied to the toner storage unit 1030a,
The supplied toner is circulated between the two toner storage units 1030a and 1030b. Then, the toner container 1030a
A part of the toner is introduced into the toner supply unit 1031 and further sent from the supply hole 1048 of the toner supply unit 1031 to the developing unit 56,
The remainder of the toner continues in the two toner storage units 1030a and 1030.
Cycles between b. At this time, the toner container 103
0a is supplied to the developing unit 56 via the toner supply unit 1031, so that the toner storage units 1030a and 1030b
The toner circulating ability between the toner supply unit 1031 and the developing means
Since the toner supply capacity is larger than the toner supply capacity to the toner 56, the toner circulates as a large flow in the toner storage units 1030a and 1030b.

This circulation of the toner prevents the toner from hardening. The toner in the toner supply unit 1030a is
Even when the toner is supplied to the toner storage unit 1030a, the circulation capacity between the toner storage units 1030a and 1030b is larger than the toner supply capacity to the developing unit 56 in the toner supply unit 1031. The toner is supplied to the toner supply unit 1031, the toner amount of the toner supply units 1030a and 1030b is kept constant, and the toner is supplied to the developing unit 56 stably. In particular, the toner storage units 1030a and 1030b and the toner supply unit 103
The partition wall 1036 separates the toner supply portion 1036 from the toner supply portion 1031, so that the toner is more stably supplied to the developing device 56.

Also, the capacity of the toner storage units 1030a and 1030b is set to a size that allows 2000 to 3000 copies before the new cartridge is set even if the toner in the cartridge 1021 becomes empty. I have. Since the empty detection sensor 1047 is provided at the bottom of the toner introduction unit 1030c at a position off the toner circulation path of the toner circulating between the toner storage units 1030a and 1030b, the empty detection sensor 104
Such a number of copies can be made even after the sensor 7 detects the empty toner in the toner introduction unit 1030c. In this case, after the empty detection sensor 1047 detects empty of the cartridge 1021, if a considerable number of copies are made without a new cartridge set, the toner storage units 1030a and 1030
Also in b, the amount of toner decreases. Even if a new cartridge 1021 is set in this state, the toner introduction unit 1030c
Since the toner transport distance from the printer to the supply hole 1048 to the developing means 56 is relatively long, it is possible that copying may not be performed reliably. However, in this case, as described above, the toner of the cartridge 1021 is directly transferred to the auger 10 through the bypass hole 1029.
Since the toner is supplied to the toner storage 49, the toner can be reliably copied even if the toner in the toner storage units 1030a and 1030b is small.

As shown in FIG. 10, the cartridge 1021, the cartridge installation section 1035, the reserve tank 1022, the power transmission mechanism 1026
And a dispenser unit 1050 including a motor drive unit 1027,
The main body 2 is rotatable horizontally between a cartridge 1021 use position A in the left-right direction of the main body 2 shown by a dotted line and a cartridge 1021 replacement position B which protrudes out of the main body 2 in the front-rear direction of the main body 2 shown by a solid line. It is supported by. That is, the entire cartridge installation portion 1035 is rotatable between a cartridge 1021 use position A inside the main body 2 and a cartridge 1021 exchange position B outside the main body 2.

Therefore, to replace the cartridge 1021, the dispenser unit 1050 is rotated to the replacement position B, the used cartridge 1021 is removed, and the new cartridge 1021 is removed.
21 is set in the cartridge installation part 1035. Thereafter, the dispenser unit 1050 is rotated to the use position A and fixed at the use position A. In this case, since the toner supply hole 1048 is formed at the bottom of the reserve tank 1022, when the reserve tank 1022 is rotated to the replacement position B, the toner may spill out from the toner supply hole 1048. For this reason, a shutter for sealing the toner supply hole 1048 is rotatably provided at the bottom of the reserve tank 1022, though not shown. This shutter is used for the reserve tank 10
When the storage tank 1022 is at the use position A, the toner supply hole 1048 is opened, and when the reserve tank 1022 is at the replacement position B, the toner supply hole 1048 is sealed so as to be interlocked with the rotation of the reserve tank 1022. I have.

The transfer unit 7 includes a transfer corotron 73 in which a wire electrode 72 is stretched in a shell 71 having a U-shaped cross section that opens toward the photosensitive drum 51, and a transfer corotron 73 disposed downstream of the transfer corotron 73. It comprises a peeling corotron 76 in which two wire electrodes 75, 76 are stretched in parallel with each other in a shell 74 having a U-shaped cross section opening toward 51.

On the downstream side of the transfer unit 7, a peeling claw 200 for peeling the paper 6 adhered to the photosensitive drum 51 after the transfer from the photosensitive drum 51.
Are arranged. Further, a cleaning device 300 for removing residual toner attached to the photosensitive drum 51 is provided downstream of the peeling claw 200. In this case, the cleaning device 300 includes a cleaning blade 301 that scrapes toner adhered to the photosensitive drum 51, and a rotating brush roll 302 provided on the upstream side of the cleaning blade 301.
It comprises a toner receiver 303 provided on the upstream side of the rotating brush roll 302, and a film sticker 304 for toner scattering prevention attached to the photosensitive drum 51 side of the toner receiver 303 and in contact with the photosensitive drum 51.

FIG. 11 is a view showing another embodiment of the present invention. In addition,
The same components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 11, in this embodiment, the toner cartridge 1021 is provided with two toner storage portions 1030a,
1030b and supply holes 1028
The sky detection sensor 1047 is disposed immediately below. The paddle 1060 is pendulum-moved, so that the
47, the toner dropped onto the respective toner storage units 1030a,
It is distributed to 1030b. By doing so, the two toner storage units can be used more effectively.

Further, in still another embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the partition for partitioning the two toner storage portions 1030a and 1030b is positioned so as to be directly below the supply hole 1028 of the toner cartridge 1021, and the toner from the toner cartridge 1021 is removed. The partition partitions the toner into the two toner storage units 1030a and 1030b. In that case, the empty detection sensor 1047 is provided in one of the toner storage units.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design changes are possible.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, two toner storage units of the reserve tank are provided. However, one or three or more toner storage units may be provided.

Further, although the toner supply section of the reserve tank is provided between the two toner storage sections, the toner supply section may be provided below the two toner storage sections.

[Effects of the Invention] As is apparent from the above description, according to the developing device of the present invention, at the time of replenishment of the developer, only the developer cartridge containing the developer is replaced, and after the replacement, the developer cartridge is replaced. The developer can be easily replenished without the developer being spilled or stained by the developer, so that the workability can be improved.

Moreover, a developer supply line is configured to transport the developer in the developer cartridge to the storage section of the reserve tank by the first transport means, and further transport the developer in the reserve tank to the developing section by the second transport means. Therefore, the developer can be supplied smoothly without any difficulty.

Further, the developer in the developer cartridge is reliably transported to the reserve tank by the first transport unit, and the developer transported to the reserve tank is detected by the detection unit provided in the reserve tank. Even if it is provided in the reserve tank, empty detection of the developer in the developer cartridge can be performed more accurately.

Further, since the second transport means is constituted by a circulating means for circulating the developer in the storage section of the reserve tank and a supply means for supplying the developer to the developing section, the supply of the developer in the developer supply line is performed. Can be performed more smoothly.

Further, the detecting means is provided so as to detect the developer near the receiving port for receiving the developer conveyed by the first conveying means of the storage portion at a position deviated from the developer circulation path in which the developer circulates. Therefore, even if the detecting means detects that the developer is empty, a predetermined number of copies can be surely made thereafter, and the developer use efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a color copying machine to which an embodiment of the developing device according to the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the color copying machine, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the image forming apparatus, FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an image forming process in the image forming apparatus, FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a developing unit, FIG.
7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the toner supply device, FIG. 8 shows an example of the toner cartridge, (a) is a front view thereof, and (b)
Is a bottom view, (c) is a right side view, (d) is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII d-VIII d in (a), FIG. 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a reserve tank, and FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are diagrams showing another embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Color copying machine, 5 ... Image forming apparatus, 51 ... Photosensitive drum, 54 ... First developing means, 56 ... Second developing means, 10
20 ... toner supply device, 1021 ... toner cartridge,
1022… Reserve tank, 1023… Cartridge body,
1024 agitator (toner moving means), 1028 supply hole, 1029 bypass hole, 1030 tank portion, 1030a, 10
30b ... toner storage unit, 1031 ... toner supply unit, 1032 ...
... Shutter, 1042, 1043 ... Agitator (toner moving means), 1049 ... Auger (toner moving means), 1047 ... Empty detection sensor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kenno 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Ebina Works (56) References JP-A-64-24283 (JP, A) JP-A-60 JP-A-228228 (JP, A) JP-A-56-87068 (JP, A) JP-A-59-188678 (JP, A) JP-A-60-220372 (JP, A) JP-A-64-2080 (JP, A) (Japanese) Shokai 59-17454 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/08

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A developing device that develops a latent image on a latent image carrier and visualizes the latent image, the developing device having a first conveying unit that accommodates the developer and gradually conveys the developer; Detecting the presence or absence of the developer in the developer cartridge based on a developer cartridge detachably attached to the container, a storage portion for storing the developer transported by the first transporter, and a developer amount in the storage portion; A reserve tank having a second transport unit that transports the developer in the storage unit, and a developing unit that stores the developer transported by the second transport unit and has a developing roll, The second transporting means includes a circulating means for circulating the developer in the storage section, and a supplying means for supplying the developer to the developing section, and the detecting means is out of a developer circulation path in which the developer circulates. Location, the developing apparatus is characterized in that is provided so as to detect the developer receiving opening neighborhood for receiving the transported developer in the first conveying means of the receiving portion.