JP3260985B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer, a copier, and a printer having an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus of the above-mentioned type, deterioration of a developer is inevitable. In particular, when a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier is used, replacement of the developer by a service person is indispensable. An example of the exchange of the developer is as follows.

[0003] The front cover of the apparatus main body is opened, the fixing bracket on the drum unit front side plate is removed, the developing unit release lever is opened to the left, and the developing unit is pulled out. Remove the fixing screw of the developing unit, place the developing unit upside down on newspaper or the like from which the toner hopper is taken out, and collect the developer while turning the knob. Next, while turning the knob, the developer is uniformly supplied from the supply port to the left and right. Further, after the new developer is charged, the developing sleeve is rotated so that the developer is uniformly deposited on the sleeve.

As precautions for such an operation, it is necessary to pull out the photosensitive member at the entrance seal of the developing unit so as not to damage the photosensitive member, and do not touch the entrance seal. Also, if the developer remains in the developing unit,
A larger amount of developer than the amount assumed at the time of design enters, and the unit torque of the developing device is overloaded, which adversely affects the rotation of the developing sleeve and the drive unit. If this is the case, the gears of the developing system and the developing device may be damaged.

[0005] As described above, many of the work steps for exchanging the developer must be performed by a skilled service person, and it is difficult for ordinary users to handle. Further, in most cases, the service person works at the user's site, and there is a possibility that the user may be inconvenienced by contamination with the developer.

In an electrophotographic copying machine or the like, it is necessary to replace a photosensitive member in addition to a developer as needed. For this reason, work is required separately from the replacement of the developer.

As described above, changing the developer requires specialized knowledge and skills. In addition, when the image carrier is replaced separately, much maintenance work is indispensable.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 3-200987 discloses a technique in which a developer cartridge including two developer accommodating chambers for accommodating a new developer and a used developer, respectively, is detachable from a main body of the developing device. It has been disclosed. As a result, an effect that replacement of the developer is facilitated is obtained.

[0009]

However, there is a problem that providing a new developer cartridge increases the volume of the apparatus. Further, since the image carrier needs to be replaced by another operation, the amount of maintenance work is not so reduced.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a service person or a user can change the developer by a simple operation without changing the size of the apparatus main body, and at the same time can change the image carrier.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier. A developer accommodating section provided inside the image carrier and rotating integrally with the image carrier, and a developer carrying-in section provided in the developer accommodating section for carrying in and discharging the developer. An outlet, and a developer transport path capable of transporting the developer bidirectionally between the developer storage unit and the developing device, wherein the developer storage unit is integrated with the image carrier. The developer accommodating portion is replaceable, and the developer accommodating portion also has a function of a developer supply chamber for accommodating a developer to be supplied to the developing device and a function of a developer collecting chamber for accommodating the developer collected from the developing device. A means for moving the developer is provided inside the developer storage section. It is characterized in.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a means for moving the developer provided inside the developer accommodating portion, the means for moving the developer by rotating about an axis. It is characterized by:

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the means for moving the developer provided inside the developer accommodating portion is a means having a spiral projection. I have.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention has an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier. In the image forming apparatus, a developer accommodating portion provided inside the image carrier and rotatable independently of the image carrier, and a developer carrying-in portion provided in the developer accommodating portion for carrying in and discharging the developer. An outlet, and a developer transport path capable of transporting the developer bidirectionally between the developer storage unit and the developing device, wherein the developer storage unit is integrated with the image carrier. The developer accommodating portion is replaceable, and the developer accommodating portion also has a function of a developer supply chamber for accommodating a developer to be supplied to the developing device and a function of a developer collecting chamber for accommodating the developer collected from the developing device. By rotating around the axis inside the developer storage section, It is characterized in that a means for moving the agent.

Still further, according to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, an image is formed such that when the image carrier is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the developer is supplied from the developer accommodating section to the developing apparatus. When the forming device is operated and it is determined that the image carrier or the developer has reached the end of its life, the image forming device is operated so that the developer is collected from the developing device into the developer collecting chamber. Features.

[0016]

According to the above construction, the developer accommodating portion provided inside the image carrier can be exchanged integrally with the image carrier, and the developer supply for accommodating the developer to be supplied to the developing device is provided. And a means for moving the developer inside the developer accommodating section, so that the image carrier and the developer can be exchanged at the same time. The developer can be forcibly conveyed inside the developer accommodating section, and the developer can be reliably carried into and out of the developer accommodating section of the image carrier.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 is for forming an image by an electrophotographic method, has a drum-shaped image carrier 2 which rotates at a constant speed clockwise in the center, and has a rotation direction around the drum. Along the charging member 3 for uniformly charging the surface of the image carrier, an image exposing device 4 for forming an electrostatic latent image by light irradiation, a developing device 5 for developing the electrostatic latent image with toner, A transfer member 6 for transferring a toner image to a transfer material and a cleaning device 7 for cleaning the surface of the image carrier are provided. Reference numeral 8 denotes a fixing device for fixing the transferred toner image to a transfer material. The cylindrical surface of the image carrier 2 is coated with an OPC (organic photoreceptor). The developer used in the developing device 5 is a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier. In this image forming apparatus 1,
The life of the image carrier 2 and that of the developer are set in advance so as to be approximately the same.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the image carrier 2 taken along a vertical plane. This figure shows a state in which the image carrier 2 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. The image carrier 2 has a developer accommodating portion 29 therein, and includes a photosensitive drum cylindrical member 10, a retaining ring 13, a front flange 14, and a drum front side plate 1.
5, a rear flange 27, and a rotating shaft type developer moving member 26.

The developer accommodating portion 29 inside the image carrier 2 has
Although a new developer is stored in advance, the developer inlet / outlet 31 is covered with a lid member 32 (see FIG. 4), so that the stored developer does not leak. The shaft-rotating type developer moving member 2 provided inside the developer accommodating portion 29.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a screw blade having a shaft at the center of rotation of the image carrier 2. The rotary shaft of this member is rotatably supported via a bearing at the center of the drum front side plate 15 on the device front side (left side in the figure). Have been. The rear side of the rotation shaft is coupled to a drive shaft 30 provided in the image forming apparatus when the image carrier 2 is mounted.

When the image carrier 2 is set in the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, the left side of the figure (the front side of the image forming apparatus 1).
From the right side (same back side). A gear groove 27 ′ is formed in the outer peripheral portion of the rear flange 27 of the image carrier 2. When the setting of the image carrier 2 in the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 is completed, the gear groove 27 ′ meshes with the drive gear 11. Thus, the driving force is transmitted, and the image carrier 2 rotates.

A retaining ring 13 is screwed to a front flange 14 attached to the front side (left side in FIG. 2) of the image carrier 2 to position the drum front side plate 15 in the drum axis direction. ing. The drum front side plate 15 is
3 and the front flange 14 so as to be rotatable. When the shaft 18 is supported by a bearing described later, the image carrier 2 does not rotate even if it rotates. An opening is formed at a portion of the drum front side plate 15 which is off the center, and serves as a developer inlet / outlet 31. The developer inlet / outlet port 31 is covered with a lid member 32 that opens and closes the front side plate 15 of the drum slidably by an electromagnetic clutch (not shown). This positional relationship is shown on the front of the image carrier 2 in FIG. In FIG. 3, the solid line indicates the developer inlet / outlet 31.
Indicates an open state, and a broken line indicates a closed state.

As shown in FIG. 4, the image carrier 2 and the developing device 5 are connected by one developer conveying path 33. A screw conveyor 34 is provided in the developer transport path 33. The developing device 5 includes a conductive developing sleeve 51 for applying a developer to the image carrier 2.
And a stirring screw 52 for stirring the developer while transporting the developer in opposite directions. The developer conveyed from the developer accommodating section 29 in the image carrier 2 through the developer conveying path 33 enters through the opening 53 on the left side of FIG. 6 and is supplied to the developing device 5, where the first stirring screw 52a As a result, the developer is conveyed from the left to the right in the drawing in the developing device 5, conveyed from the right to the left in the drawing by the second stirring screw 52 b near the developing sleeve 51, and circulates in the developing device 5.
That is, in the developing device 5, the developer is exchanged between the developing sleeve 51 and the second stirring screw 52b. When the developer is discharged to the outside of the developing device 5, the screw conveyor 34 and the first and second stirring screws 52
“a” and “b” rotate in reverse, and the developer is sent from the opening 53 to the developer transport path 33. The opening 53 is provided with a cover agent (not shown) that can be opened and closed. Further, a toner supply unit (not shown) is attached to the developing device 5, and toner is supplied as needed.

In FIG. 5, when the user (user or service person) mounts the image carrier 2 on the image forming apparatus 1, first, the lever 36 integrally including the bearing 35 and the developer discharge path 33 is moved to the developing apparatus 5 by the user. It is retracted downward with the side as a fixed end (indicated by a solid line in the figure). After the image carrier 2 is mounted, the lever 36 is raised, the bearing 35 is fixed to the center shaft 18 of the drum front side plate 15, and the developer discharge path 3
3 is opposed to the developer inlet / outlet port 31 (shown by a broken line in the figure).

The developer discharged from the developer inlet / outlet 31 of the drum front side plate 15 is supplied to the developing device 5 via a developer discharge path 33 provided at right angles to the rotation axis of the image carrier 2.
Transported to As described above, the screw conveyor 34 is provided inside the developer discharge path 33, and transports the developer almost horizontally to the developing device 5. Further, a bearing 35 that supports the center shaft 18 of the drum front side plate 15 so as not to rotate is provided integrally with the lever 36.

The image forming apparatus 1 having the above configuration operates in the following three modes shown in the flowchart of FIG.

When the image carrier 2 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1, the developer supply mode is set. In this mode, first, the electromagnetic clutch slides the lid member 32 on the drum front side plate 15, and the developer inlet / outlet port 31 is opened. At the same time, the opening 53 of the developing device opens. Next, the screw conveyor 34 in the developer transport path 33, the shaft-rotating type developer moving member 26 in the developer accommodating section 29, and the stirring member 52 in the developing device 5 start rotating in the forward direction, and the developer is developed. The developer is transported from the developer container 29 to the developing device 5 through the developer transport path 33. After the predetermined time has elapsed or after it is determined that almost all of the developer has entered the developing device 5 by detecting the capacity of the developer by a sensor (not shown) provided in the developing device and the developer accommodating section 29, The operation of each of the developer conveying means stops. afterwards,
The cover member 32 slides due to the operation of the electromagnetic clutch to close the developer inlet / outlet 31, and the opening 53 of the developing device 5 is closed.

Thereafter, the image forming mode is executed. In this mode, a normal image forming process is repeated to obtain a recorded matter. During this mode, the toner is replenished so that the mixing ratio of the toner and the carrier of the developer in the developing device 5 becomes constant. The detection of the mixture ratio of the toner and the carrier and the replenishment of the toner are performed by a conventionally known method.

When the life of the image carrier 2 and the developer reaches a preset life depending on the number of copies and the like, a developer collection mode is executed. In the developer collection mode, the opening 53 of the developing device 5 and the developer inlet 3
1 is opened, the screw conveyor 34 in the developer conveying path 33, the shaft-rotating type developer moving member 26 in the developer accommodating section 29, and the stirring member 52 in the developing device 5 rotate in the opposite direction, and the developer Is carried into the developer accommodating section 29 from the developing device 5 through the developer conveying path 33. Due to the elapsed time or the aforementioned sensor, almost all the developer is stored in the developer storage section 29.
When it is determined that the developer has entered, the operation of each of the developer conveying means stops. Thereafter, the opening 53 of the developing device 5 is closed.

In the above embodiment, it is not necessary to rotate the image carrier 2 in the developer supply mode and the developer collection mode.

With the above configuration, even a user without specialized knowledge or skills can easily supply and recover the developer. Further, since the space inside the image carrier 2 is effectively used, the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

Further, by providing the above-described operation mode of the image forming apparatus 1 described in this embodiment, the user automatically mounts the image carrier 2 containing a new developer on the main body, and the image carrier is automatically mounted. The developer is sent from the developer accommodating portion 29 inside the body 2 to the developing device 5, so that an image can be formed without being conscious of the supply of the developer. When the set life of the image carrier 2 and the developer reaches the set life, the developer of the developing device 5 is automatically stored in the developer storage section 29 inside the image carrier 2, so that the user The developer can be collected without being conscious of the disposal of the developer.

As described above, the replacement of the developer can be performed simultaneously with the replacement of the image carrier 2, so that the maintenance work is greatly simplified.

Incidentally, the shaft-rotating type developer moving member 26 is not limited to the form in which the screw blades are connected to the rod-like member as described above, but is constituted by a member having a slope around the rotation shaft. For example, screw blades partially provided with voids, those with protrusions or those with bent portions, and plates with a plurality of ellipses or polygons (notches, protrusions, bends, etc.) Part may be attached obliquely with respect to the central rod-shaped member, or even without a rod-shaped member and provided only with a spiral continuous blade (partially notched portion or There may be a projection or a bent portion). These may be made of metal or resin, and may be an elastic body or a sponge-like member.

The image carrier 2 is not limited to a drum as described above, but may be a flexible belt or the like. In the case of a belt, a developer container is provided with a rotating container in a region surrounded by the belt.

Further, the developer is conveyed by the screw conveyor 34 in the developer conveying path 33, so that the developer can be efficiently taken in and out of the developer accommodating portion 29 in a simple structure. It may be conveyed by a belt conveyor instead of the screw conveyor 34. In this case, the developer can be transported more reliably.

The above construction and operation are not limited to electrophotography, and use a powdery developer to form an image on an image carrier that rotates in one direction and transfer the image to a transfer material such as recording paper for recording. The present invention can be generally applied to an image forming apparatus for obtaining a product. As an example of such an image forming apparatus, there is an electrostatic recording apparatus in which an electrostatic latent image is formed directly on an image carrier having a dielectric surface by a recording electrode and developed with toner.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, and different portions will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 7, the inside of the image carrier 2 has a developer accommodating portion 29, and the photosensitive drum cylinder 10, the retaining ring 13, and the front flange 1 are the same as in the embodiment shown in FIG.
4. It comprises a drum front side plate 15 and a rear flange 27. The mounting method and the driving method of the image carrier 2 are the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIG.

The developer accommodating portion 29 is formed of a resin cylindrical member 37 fixed inside the photosensitive drum cylindrical member 10, and has a concave or convex portion, or a concave or convex portion, which is spirally continuous over the entire inner wall. A combined developer moving means 37b is provided. The sectional shape of the developer moving means 37b is
V-shaped, U-shaped, rectangular or wavy shapes are preferred. The width of these concave portions and convex portions is 1 to 120.
mm, height / depth is 1mm or more, pitch is 5-50mm
Is particularly preferred. As a result, when the image carrier 2 rotates,
At the same time, the spiral groove also rotates, and the internal developer moves toward the image carrier (to the left in the figure).

In the developer supply mode of this embodiment, first, the electromagnetic clutch slides the lid member 32 on the drum front side plate 15, and the developer inlet / outlet port 31 is opened. At the same time, the opening 53 of the developing device 5 opens. Next, the screw conveyor 34 in the developer transport path 33, the image carrier 2, and the developing device 5
The developer stirring member 52 in the inside starts rotating in the forward direction, and the developer is transported from the developer accommodating section 29 to the developing device 5 through the developer transport path 33. After almost all the developer has entered the developing device 5, the operation of each of the developer conveying means stops.

In the developer collection mode of this embodiment, first, the opening 53 of the developing device and the developer inlet / outlet 31 of the developer accommodating section 29 are opened, and the screw conveyor 34 in the developer transport path 33 and the image The carrier 2 and the developer stirring member 52 in the developing device 5 start rotating in the opposite direction, and the developer is carried from the developing device 5 into the developer accommodating section 29 through the developer transport path 33.

In the present embodiment, as a means for moving the developer in the developer accommodating portion 29, a spirally continuous concave or convex portion or a combination of concave and convex portions is formed on the entire inner wall of the cylindrical member 37. Since the developer moving means 37b is provided, there is no need for an independent member or the like driven by a driving mechanism as the developer moving means, and the developer can be efficiently developed in the developer accommodating portion 29 simply by rotating the image carrier 2. The agent can be moved.

Incidentally, the developer accommodating portion inside the image carrier 2 is
Instead of being formed as a member 37 separate from the cylindrical member 10 of the image carrier 2, the inner wall of the cylindrical member 10 may be machined to provide projections and depressions, and this may be used as developer moving means. Also, a separately formed member is inserted into the inside of the cylindrical member 10 and the cylindrical member 10 is formed by a method such as bonding or screwing.
, Which can be used as a developer moving means. These developer moving means are preferably, for example, a screw-shaped continuous blade member or a large number of plate-shaped members inclined with respect to the inner wall surface of the cylindrical member 10, and are not necessarily in contact with the inner wall of the cylindrical member 10. You don't have to.

Next, still another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, and different portions will be mainly described.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along a vertical plane of the image carrier 2 of this embodiment. As shown in this figure, the developer accommodating portion 29b is formed by an inner cylinder 38 provided inside the cylindrical member 10. The inner cylinder 38 is a resin or metal cylinder, and is rotatably supported inside the cylindrical member 10 by a bearing or the like.
An end face of the inner cylinder 38 on the front side of the apparatus (left side in the figure) is a front plate 38 b of the developer accommodating portion 29. The front side of the rotation shaft of the shaft-rotating developer moving member 26b is rotatably supported by the center of the front side plate 38b.
The back side of the rotation shaft of the shaft rotation type developer moving member 26b is
When the image carrier 2 is mounted on the image forming apparatus, the drive shaft 30
And driven to rotate. Further, the image carrier 2
After being mounted on the image forming apparatus, the bearing 18 of the inner cylinder 38 is supported by a bearing (not shown) so as not to rotate. Even when the image carrier 2 (cylindrical member 10) rotates, the inner cylinder 38 is attached to the image forming apparatus. Will be fixed.

Incidentally, the shaft-rotating type developer moving member 26b is not limited to the form in which the screw blades continuous with the rod-like member are attached as described above, but is constituted by a member having an inclination around the rotation shaft. For example, screw blades partially provided with voids, those with protrusions or those with bent portions, and plates with a plurality of ellipses or polygons (notches, protrusions, bends, etc.) Part may be attached obliquely with respect to the central rod-shaped member, or even without a rod-shaped member and provided only with a spiral continuous blade (partially notched portion or There may be a projection or a bent portion). These may be made of metal or resin, and may be an elastic body or a sponge-like member.

In the present embodiment, since the developer accommodating portion 29 is rotatable with respect to the image carrier 2 (the cylindrical member 10), when the image carrier 2 is driven to rotate in the image forming mode, Irrespective of the position of the center of gravity of the developer accommodating portion 29 for accommodating the developer therein, the image carrier 2 can be driven with low torque without the rotation balance of the image carrier 2 being lost.

[0049]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the exchange of the image carrier and the exchange of the developer can be performed simultaneously, and the developer is forcibly conveyed in the developer accommodating portion. Thus, the developer can be reliably carried into and out of the developer accommodating portion of the image carrier.

Further, simply by mounting the image carrier containing the new developer on the main body, the developer is automatically sent from the developer accommodating portion inside the image carrier to the developing device, and the supply of the developer is performed. An image can be formed without being conscious. Also,
When the set life of the image carrier and the developer reaches the set life, the developer of the developing device is automatically stored in the developer storage section inside the image carrier, so that the user is conscious of the disposal of the developer. The developer can be collected without performing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along a vertical plane of the image carrier.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the image carrier.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device as viewed from above.

FIG. 5 is a front view when the image carrier is mounted on the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart including three modes of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical plane of an image carrier, showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along a vertical plane of an image carrier, showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Image carrier 5 Developing device 29, 29b Developer accommodating part 10 Image carrier cylindrical member 26, 26b Axle-rotation type developer moving member 27 Rear flange 28, 31 Developer carrying-in / discharging port 33 Developer carrying path 34 screw conveyor 37b developer moving member 38 inner cylinder 52 developer stirring member 53 developing device opening

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hidetoshi Yano 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Satoshi Muramatsu 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Masako Suzuki, inventor 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Nobuto Yokokawa 1-3-6, Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-56-146171 (JP, A) JP-A-6-19306 (JP, A) JP-A-6-213850 (JP, A) JP-A-4-85454 (JP, A) U) Actually open 1988-84152 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 13/08-13/095 G03G 15/08-15/095 G03G 21/10

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; and a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier. A developer accommodating portion provided to rotate integrally with the image carrier; a developer carrying-in / discharging port provided in the developer accommodating portion for carrying in / out the developer; the developer accommodating portion; and the developing device. And a developer transport path capable of bidirectionally transporting the developer between the image carrier and the developer accommodating portion. The developer accommodating portion is integrally replaceable with the image carrier. A means for moving the developer into the developer accommodating portion, which also has a function of a developer supply chamber for accommodating a developer to be supplied to the developing device and a developer collection chamber for accommodating the developer collected from the developing device. An image forming apparatus, comprising: 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for moving the developer provided inside the developer accommodating portion is means for moving the developer by rotating about an axis.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for moving the developer provided inside the developer accommodating portion is a means having a spiral projection. 4. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; and a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier. A developer accommodating portion provided and rotatable independently of the image carrier; a developer carrying-in / discharging port provided in the developer accommodating portion for carrying in / out the developer; A developer transport path capable of transporting the developer bidirectionally between the developing device and the developing device, wherein the developer accommodating portion is integrally replaceable with the image carrier,
The developer accommodating section also has a function of a developer supply chamber for accommodating a developer supplied to the developing device and a function of a developer collecting chamber for accommodating a developer collected from the developing apparatus. An image forming apparatus, further comprising means for moving the developer by rotating about an axis. 5. When the image carrier is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the image forming apparatus operates so that the developer is supplied from the developer accommodating section to the developing device, and the image carrier or the developing device is operated. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the developer has reached the end of its life, the image forming apparatus operates so that the developer is collected from the developing device into the developer collection chamber. Image forming device.