JP3267455B2 - 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 and take out the toner hopper. Then, the developing unit is placed upside down on newsprint or the like, and the developer is collected 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 with the entrance seal member of the developing unit so as not to damage the photosensitive member, and do not touch the entrance seal member. Also, if the developer remains in the developing unit, more developer enters than the amount assumed at the time of design, and the unit torque of the developing device is overloaded, which adversely affects the rotation of the developing sleeve and the driving unit. give. 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.

In view of this, the present applicant has provided a developer accommodating section inside the image carrier, connects the developer accommodating section and the developing device by a developer conveying path, and connects the developer accommodating section to the developing device. An image forming apparatus capable of supplying and discharging a developer between them has been separately proposed. According to this image forming apparatus, since the developer accommodating portion can be exchanged integrally with the image carrier, even a general user without specialized knowledge and skills can easily supply and recover the developer. is there.

By the way, in the image forming apparatus,
It is necessary to ensure that the developer is conveyed between the developer accommodating section and the developing device. Therefore, a developer conveying unit is provided in the developer conveying path.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, merely operating the developer conveying means in the developer conveying path causes the developer to be stored in the developer accommodating portion or the developing device. Therefore, there is a problem that the developer is not reliably transported.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem in an image forming apparatus in which a developer accommodating section is provided inside an image carrier, and the developer accommodating section and the developing device are connected by a developer conveying path. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reliably transporting a developer between a storage unit and a developing device.

[0012]

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. An image forming apparatus comprising: a developer accommodating portion provided inside the image carrier, which can be exchanged integrally with the image carrier; and a developing device for discharging the developer provided in the developer accommodating portion. A developer discharge port and a developer carry-in port for carrying in the developer; a developer supply path for carrying the developer from the developer storage section to the developing device; and a developer supply path provided independently of the developer supply path. ,
A developer collection path for conveying the developer from the developing device to the developer accommodating portion; the developer accommodating portion includes a developer supply chamber for accommodating a developer to be supplied to the developing device; Having a function of a developer collecting chamber for storing the developer to be collected from the image forming apparatus, and having a function of moving the developer inside the developer accommodating section, when the image carrier is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. A developer supply mode for supplying a developer from the developer accommodating section to the developing device is performed, and after the completion of the mode, an image forming apparatus capable of performing an image forming operation is provided inside the developer collection path. A means for moving the developer provided in the developer accommodating portion, provided with a developer conveying means, is provided with a driving force from a developer conveying means provided in the developer collecting path, and supplies the developer. When executing the mode, A developer conveying means provided in a supply path, a developer stirring means provided in the developing device, a developer conveying means provided in the developer collecting path, and an inside of the developer accommodating portion. This problem can be solved by providing control means for controlling the means for moving the developer provided at the same time so as to operate simultaneously.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has means for determining the life of the image carrier and means for determining the life of the developer. When it is determined that one of the carrier and the developer has reached the end of its life, it is proposed to execute a developer collection mode for collecting the developer from the developing device to the developer storage unit.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, when the developer collecting mode is executed, a developer stirring means provided in the developing device and a developer stirring means provided in the developer collecting path are provided. It is proposed to simultaneously operate the developer conveying means and the means for moving the developer provided inside the developer accommodating section.

[0015]

When a developer supply mode for supplying a developer from a developer storage section to a developing device is executed, a developer conveying means provided in the developer supply path and a developer provided in the developing device. By simultaneously operating the stirring means, the developer conveying means provided in the developer collection path, and the means for moving the developer provided inside the developer storage section, the developer storage section The developer is prevented from being stored inside and inside the developing device, and the developer is reliably transported from the developer storage section to the developing device via the developer supply path.

Other functions will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments.

[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.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image carrier 2 includes a photosensitive drum cylinder 10, a developer leakage preventing member 11, a rear flange 12, a retaining ring 13, a front flange 14, and a drum front side plate 1.
5, and the inside thereof is configured as a developer accommodating section 9. A developer carrying path 21 for carrying the developer into the developer accommodating section 9 is provided on the inner side of the image forming apparatus 1 (the right side in the drawing), and the developer is carried inside the developer carrying path 21. A screw conveyor 22 is provided. Then, a coil-shaped spring 24 is fitted around the outer periphery of the developer carrying-in path 21. A rear end of the spring 24 is locked to the device frame 20, and a cylindrical member 25 is locked to a front (left side in the figure) end. Therefore, the cylindrical member 25 is slidable left and right outside the developer carrying path 21.

When the image carrier 2 is set on 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). Then, the cylindrical member 25 is pushed by the developer leakage preventing member 11 of the image carrier 2.
Is moved to the back side of the apparatus, and the developer supply port 23 at the tip of the developer carry-in path 21 is connected to the developer leakage prevention member 1 of the image carrier 2.
Push open the center of 1. When the setting of the image carrier 2 in the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 is completed, the developer supply port 23 reaches the developer accommodating section 9 inside the image carrier 2 as shown in FIG. At this time, since the end surface of the cylindrical member 25 urged leftward by the spring 24 is in contact with the developer leakage prevention member 11, the leakage of the developer from the developer accommodating portion 9 is prevented. A gear groove 12 ′ is formed in the outer peripheral portion of the rear flange 12 of the image carrier 2, from which a driving force is transmitted, and the image carrier 2 rotates.

The front side of the image carrier 2 (the left side in FIGS. 2 and 3).
A retaining ring 13 is screw-fixed to the front flange 14 attached to the front flange 14 to position the drum front side plate 15 in the drum axial direction. The drum front side plate 15 is rotatably mounted on the retaining ring 13 and the front flange 14, and does not rotate even when the image carrier 2 rotates by being supported by a bearing described later. The drum front side plate 15
An opening is formed at a portion deviated from the center of the developer, and this becomes the developer discharge port 31. The developer discharge port 31 is covered with a lid member 32 that opens and closes the drum front side plate 15 in a slidable manner by an electromagnetic clutch (not shown). This positional relationship is shown on the front of the image carrier 2 in FIG. In FIG. 4, a solid line indicates a state where the developer discharge port 31 is open, and a broken line indicates a state where the developer outlet 31 is closed.

A new developer is stored in advance in the developer storage 9 inside the image carrier 2.
Is covered with the lid member 32, so that the stored developer does not leak. Inside the developer accommodating section 9, there is provided a shaft-rotating type developer moving member 26 having a screw blade having a shaft at the rotation center of the image carrier 2. The front side of the rotating shaft of the shaft-rotating type developer moving member 26 is rotatably supported at the center of the drum front side plate 15, and the back side of the rotating shaft is the developer carrying path 21 when the image carrier 2 is mounted. It is designed to be coupled with the shaft of the screw conveyor 22 in the inside, and to drive the screw conveyor 2
Obtained from 2.

Referring to FIG. 5, when a 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 discharge port 31 (indicated by a broken line in the figure).

The developer discharged from the developer discharge port 31 of the drum front side plate 15 is conveyed to the developing device 5 through a developer discharge path 33 provided at right angles to the rotation axis of the image carrier 2. You. 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.

In FIG. 6, a developing device 5 includes a conductive developing sleeve 51 for applying a developer to the image carrier 2,
A stirring screw 52 for stirring the developer while transporting the developer in opposite directions. The developer conveyed from the developer accommodating section 9 through the developer discharge path 33 enters through the left entrance 53 in FIG. 6 and is supplied to the developing device 5, and the inside of the developing device 5 is illustrated by the first stirring screw 52a. Are transported from the left side to the right side, and are transported from the right side to the left side in the figure by the second stirring screw 52 b near the developing sleeve 51, and circulate 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 developer is conveyed from the outlet 54 on the right side of FIG. 6 to the developer carrying path 21 and enters the developer accommodating section 9 inside the image carrier 2. The developer inlet 5 of the developing device 5
The lid 3 and the outlet 54 are 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.

The image forming apparatus 1 having the above configuration operates in the following three modes shown in the flowchart of FIG. In addition,
This control is performed by control means (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1.

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 discharge port 31 is opened. At the same time, the entrance 53 of the developing device 5 opens and the exit 54 closes. Next, the screw conveyor 34 in the developer discharge path 33, the shaft-rotating developer moving member 26 in the developer accommodating section 9, and the stirring member 52 in the developing device 5 start rotating, and the developer is moved to the developer accommodating section. 9
Is transferred to the developing device 5 through the developer discharge path 33. After a predetermined time has elapsed or the capacity of the developer in the developer accommodating section 9 or the developing device 5 is detected by a sensor (not shown), it is determined that almost all the developer has entered the developing device 5, The operation of the developer conveying means stops.
Thereafter, the electromagnetic clutch operates, the lid member 32 slides to close the developer discharge port 31, and further, the inlet 5 of the developing device 5 is closed.
3 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 at least one of the image carrier 2 and the developer has reached the end of its life, the developer collection mode is executed. The service lives of the image carrier 2 and the developer are set in advance according to the number of copies and the like. In the developer collection mode,
The outlet 54 of the developing device 5 opens, and the screw conveyor 22 in the developer carrying-in path 21, the shaft-rotating developer moving member 26 in the developer accommodating section 9, and the stirring member 52 in the developing device 5
Rotates, and the developer flows from the developing device 5 to the developer carrying path 21.
Is carried into the developer accommodating section 9 through the When it is determined by the elapsed time or the developer capacity detecting means (not shown) that the transport of the developer is completed, the operation of each of the developer transporting means is stopped. Thereafter, the outlet 54 of the developing device 5 is closed. In the developer collecting mode, the developer can be collected without rotating the shaft-rotating type developer moving member 26 in the developer accommodating section 9. However, in order to increase the developer transport efficiency, this example is used. In the figure, the shaft rotation type developer moving member 26 is rotated.

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

In the present embodiment, in the developer supply mode, the screw conveyor 34 in the developer discharge path 33 and the shaft-rotating type developer moving member 2 in the developer storage 9 are used.
6 and the stirring member 52 in the developing device 5 are simultaneously operated, so that the developer can be reliably supplied to the developing device. In the developer collection mode, the screw conveyor 22 in the developer carrying path 21 and the developing device 5
Since the agitating member 52 in the inside is operated at the same time, it is possible to reliably collect the developer from the developing device to the developer accommodating section 9. Therefore, the developer can be reliably supplied and discharged between the developer accommodating section and the developing device, and by replacing the developer accommodating section integrally with the image carrier, even a general user having no specialized knowledge or skill can be provided. Supply and recovery of the developer can be easily performed.

The image carrier 2 is not limited to the cylindrical drum 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 outlet 31 of the developer accommodating section 9 is provided.
And the developer inlet 53 of the developing device 5, and the developer supply port 23 of the developer accommodating section 9 and the developer outlet 54 of the developing device 5 are substantially horizontal.
The developer is efficiently transported by the transfer rollers 2 and 34. In particular, it is desirable that the inclination is 30 ° or less with respect to the horizontal line.

Further, instead of the screw conveyors 22 and 34 in the developer carrying-in path 21 and the developer carrying-out path 33, they may be conveyed by a belt conveyor. In this case, the developer can be transported more reliably.

Further, the developer outlet 31 of the developer accommodating section 9 is provided.
And the developer inlet 53 of the developing device 5, and the developer supply port 23 of the developer accommodating section 9 and the developer outlet 54 of the developing device 5 are substantially horizontal.
The developer is efficiently transported by the transfer rollers 2 and 34. In particular, it is desirable that the inclination is 30 ° or less with respect to the horizontal line.

Further, instead of the screw conveyors 22 and 34 in the developer carrying-in path 21 and the developer carrying-out path 33, they may be conveyed by a belt conveyor. 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, a reference example will be described. The basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the embodiment described above, and different portions will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 8, the image carrier 2 has a developer accommodating portion 9 inside. As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the photosensitive drum cylinder 10, the developer leakage preventing member 11, the rear flange 12, a retaining ring 13, a front flange 14, and a drum front side plate 15. 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 9 includes the photosensitive drum cylindrical member 1.
0, a resin-made cylinder 37 fixed inside, and a helical continuous concave or convex portion or a concave or convex portion over the entire inner wall.
A developer moving means 37b having a combination of protrusions is provided. The sectional shape of the developer moving means 37b is V-shaped, U-shaped.
It is preferably a letter, rectangle, or wavy shape. It is particularly preferable that the width of these concave portions and convex portions is 1 to 120 mm, the height and the depth are 1 mm or more, and the pitch is 5 to 50 mm. As a result, when the image carrier 2 rotates, the spiral groove also rotates with the rotation, and the developer inside moves to the near side of the image carrier (left side 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 discharge port 31 is opened. At the same time developing device 5
Entrance 53 opens and exit 54 closes. Next, the screw conveyor 34 in the developer discharge path 33, the image carrier 2, and the developer stirring member 52 in the developing device 5 start rotating, and the developer flows from the developer accommodating section 9 to the developer discharge path 33. The developer is then conveyed to the developing device 5. After almost all the developer enters the developing device 5, the operation of each of the developer conveying means rotates.

In the developer recovery mode of the present embodiment, first, the outlet 54 of the developing device is opened, and the screw conveyor 22 in the developer carrying path 21 and the developer stirring member 52 in the developing device 5 start rotating. Then, the developer is carried into the developer accommodating section 9 from the developing device 5 through the developer carrying path 21. In the developer collection mode, the image carrier 2 may or may not rotate, but is rotated here in order to smoothly carry the developer into the developer accommodating section 9.

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.

In the present embodiment, as a means for moving the developer in the developer accommodating portion 9, a concave or convex portion, or a concave or convex portion, which is spirally continuous over the entire inner wall of the cylindrical member 10.
Since the developer moving means 37b in which the protrusions are combined 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 accommodating portion 9 is simply rotated by the image carrier 2. The developer can be efficiently moved in the inside.

Next, another reference example will be described.

As shown in FIG. 9, the image carrier 2 of this embodiment is
The developer accommodating portion 19 provided inside has a shape in which the top of the cone is cut parallel to the bottom surface, and a developer discharge port 31 is provided.
Side (left side in the figure) is larger. The developer accommodating portion 19 is formed by a resin funnel member 27 fixed inside the cylindrical member 10. Therefore, the developer accommodating portion 19 rotates together with the image carrier 2.

When the rotation of the image carrier 2 is stopped, the lower surface of the inner wall of the developer accommodating portion 19 where the developer is to be placed is inclined toward the developer discharge port 31, and when the developer is collected, The developer carried into the developer accommodating portion 19 from the developer carrying-in port 23 moves toward the developer outlet 31 without staying near the carrying-in port. When the image carrier 2 is rotating, the developer moves to the developer discharge port 31 along the inner wall of the developer accommodating portion 19 by the action of the rotating force and the gravity. Therefore, the developer recovered from the developing device is moved from the vicinity of the small-volume carry-in port 23 to the vicinity of the large-volume discharge port 31, and the developer can be collected smoothly.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along a vertical plane of an image carrier 2 according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG.
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. Further, the device front side of the rotation shaft of the shaft rotation type developer moving member 26 is rotatably supported by the center of the front side plate 38b. When the image carrier 2 is mounted on the image forming apparatus, the shaft on the side of the rotating shaft of the shaft-rotating type developer moving member 26 is coupled to the shaft of the screw conveyor 22 and driven to rotate. After the image carrier 2 is mounted on the image forming apparatus, the inner cylinder 38
The bearing 18 is supported by a bearing (not shown) so as not to rotate, and the inner cylinder 38 is fixed to the image forming apparatus even when the image carrier 2 (the cylindrical member 10) rotates.

In the present embodiment, in the developer supply mode, the screw conveyor 22 in the developer carrying path 21 rotates to rotate the shaft-rotating type developer moving member 26.

It is to be noted that the inner cylinder 38 is not fixed to the image forming apparatus, but the image carrier 2 (the cylindrical member 10) is fixed.
May be rotated by a drive unit independent of. In this case, the developer moving member in the developer accommodating portion 29 is not limited to the shaft-rotating type developer moving member 26. For example, a spirally continuous concave portion shown in FIG.
Alternatively, a developer moving means 37 b in which a convex portion or a combination of a concave and a convex may be provided on the inner wall of the inner cylinder 38. Alternatively, the funnel member 2 as shown in FIG.
7, the developer accommodating portion 29 may be formed in a shape in which the top of the cone is cut parallel to the bottom surface.

In this embodiment, since the developer accommodating portion 29 is rotatable with respect to the image carrier 2 (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.

[0053]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in the developer supply mode, the screw conveyor 34 in the developer discharge path 33 and the developing device 5
Since the stirring member 52 in the inside, the screw conveyor 22 in the developer carrying-in path 21 and the shaft-rotating type developer moving member 26 in the developer accommodating section 9 are operated at the same time, the developer is supplied to the developing device. Supply can be performed reliably.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when at least one of the image carrier 2 and the developer has reached the end of its life, the developer collection mode is executed. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the image carrier or the developer. When this occurs, the developer is automatically collected in the developer storage section inside the image carrier.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the developer collection mode, the stirring member 52 in the developing device 5, the screw conveyor 22 in the developer carrying-in path 21, and the shaft-rotating type developer in the developer accommodating section 9. Since the moving member 26 and the moving member 26 are operated at the same time, the developer can be reliably collected from the developing device to the developer accommodating portion.

[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 cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the image carrier is mounted on the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the image carrier.

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

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device as viewed from above.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart including three modes of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a reference example, taken along a vertical plane of the image carrier.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical plane of the image carrier, showing another reference example.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical plane of an image carrier, showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Image carrier 5 Developing device 9, 19, 29 Developer accommodating section 10 Image carrier cylindrical member 21 Developer carrying path 22, 34 Screw conveyor 23 Developer carrying inlet 26 Shaft rotary type Developer moving member 27 Funnel member 28 Developer carrying-in / out port 31 Developer discharging port 33 Developer discharging path 37b Developer moving member 38 Inner cylinder

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hidetoshi Yano 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Satoshi Muramatsu 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Company Inside Ricoh (72) Inventor Masako Suzuki 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Nobuto Yokokawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (56) References JP-A-56-146171 (JP, A) JP-A-6-19306 (JP, A) JP-A-63-84152 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷⁾ G03G 13/08-13/095 G03G 15/08-15/095 G03G 21/10 G03G 21/00 512

Claims (3)

(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 inside and exchangeable integrally with the image carrier; a developer outlet provided for discharging the developer provided in the developer accommodating portion; and a developing device for carrying in the developer. A developer supply port for conveying a developer from the developer accommodating section to the developing device; and a developer supplying path provided independently of the developer supplying path, and developing from the developing apparatus to the developer accommodating section. A developer collection path for transferring the developer, the developer storage unit includes a developer supply chamber for storing the developer to be supplied to the developing device, and a developer collection for storing the developer recovered from the developing device. And a function of moving the developer into the developer accommodating section. When the image carrier is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, a developer supply mode for supplying a developer from the developer accommodating section to the developing device is executed. In the image forming apparatus capable of performing a forming operation, a developer conveying unit is provided inside the developer collecting path, and a unit for moving the developer provided in the developer accommodating section is provided in the developer collecting path. A driving force is applied from a developer conveying means provided in the developing device, and a developer conveying means provided in the developer supply path and a developer stirring provided in the developing device when the developer supply mode is executed. Means, a developer transporting means provided in the developer collecting path, and a control means for controlling to simultaneously operate a developer moving means provided inside the developer accommodating section. Characterized by Image forming apparatus. Means for determining the life of the image carrier;
Means for judging the life of the developer, and when the judgment means judges that either the image carrier or the developer has reached the end of life, the developing device stores the developer in the developer accommodating section. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a developer collection mode for collecting the developer is executed. 3. When the developer collection mode is executed, a developer agitating unit provided in the developing device, a developer conveying unit provided in the developer collection path, and a developer storage unit. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for moving the developer provided therein is simultaneously operated.