JP3290294B2 - Toner replenishing device and image forming apparatus having the toner replenishing 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 toner replenishing device used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and the like. More specifically, the present invention prevents an excessive accumulation of toner in a hopper of the toner replenishing device. The present invention relates to a toner replenishing member provided in a hopper, a toner conveying member, and a toner replenishing device capable of preventing a case forming a hopper from being damaged by pressure received from excessively accumulated toner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a toner replenishing device used in an image forming apparatus, a toner container containing a toner is detachably provided in the toner replenishing device of the image forming apparatus, and the toner is supplied from the toner replenishing device to the image forming apparatus main body. A replenisher for a developing device is known (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
Reference). In this device, when supplying toner to the developing device, the toner is first discharged from the toner container to the toner receiving portion, and then the toner is transported from the toner receiving portion to the hopper portion via the toner transport path using the toner transporting member. Further, toner is supplied from the hopper to the developing device.
In this apparatus, when the toner is transported from the toner receiving section to the hopper section, the toner is transported not to the entire area in the rotation axis direction of the latent image carrier of the hopper section but to a partial area. Then, in order to prevent the occurrence of density unevenness in a direction orthogonal to and along the direction of movement of the surface of the latent image carrier of the image to be formed, that is, in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor, an agitator provided in the hopper is provided. Is rotated to uniformly distribute the toner in the hopper in the rotation axis direction of the latent image carrier, and then the toner is supplied to the developing device.

However, in this apparatus, it is necessary to rotate the agitator in the hopper in order to uniformly distribute the toner in the rotation axis direction of the latent image carrier. For this reason,
There must be space for the agitator to rotate. Further, a space for providing a motor for driving the agitator must be secured. Therefore, a hopper unit having an agitator and a motor for driving the agitator,
As a result, there is a problem that the entire image forming apparatus including the toner replenishing device having the hopper becomes large.

In order to solve such a problem, the inventor of the present application has conducted intensive studies and has conducted toner latent transfer using a toner conveying member extending in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier and along the surface. The inventors have invented a toner replenishing device capable of uniformly distributing the image carrier in the above-described direction.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

The above toner replenishing device does not require an agitator and a motor for driving the agitator, and has a remarkable effect in solving the above problems. However, it has provided a new technical problem. In other words, in this toner replenishing device, the space for the agitator, which has conventionally been provided in the hopper, has been eliminated, so that the space formed by the hopper has been reduced, and the toner has been likely to accumulate excessively in the hopper. When the toner is further transported by the toner transport member into the hopper while the toner is excessively accumulated in the space formed by the hopper, the toner supply member, the toner transport member, and the hopper provided in the hopper are formed. There is a possibility that the above-described members may be damaged due to the force applied from the toner being conveyed to the case. Further, in the above state, pressure is applied not only to the above-described members but also to the toner itself, so that toner particles adjacent to each other may adhere to each other to generate coarse particles, and the coarse particles may be used for image formation. If used, the image may be adversely affected.

In the hopper, the toner conveying member moves from the end of the hopper near the toner receiving portion (hereinafter referred to as “front side”) to the opposite side (hereinafter referred to as “rear side”). The toner is transported to the end. For this reason, the toner that has excessively accumulated in the hopper accumulates on the back side of the hopper as the toner replenishing device continues to be used. Therefore, excessive accumulation of toner tends to occur from the near side to the far side of the hopper. Therefore, the adverse effect caused by the excessive accumulation of the toner becomes more remarkable toward the back of the hopper.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to uniformly distribute toner in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier and along the surface without using an agitator. And a toner replenishing device capable of preventing excessive accumulation of toner in the hopper , and an image having the toner replenishing device.
An image forming apparatus is provided.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a toner receiving section for receiving toner discharged from a toner container, and a toner receiving section through the toner conveying path from the toner receiving section. A hopper portion to which toner is conveyed, a toner replenishing member for replenishing toner from the hopper portion to the developing device, and a toner supply portion which is orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier and along the surface. A toner transporting member extending over an end of the toner replenishing member on a side close to the toner receiving portion and an end opposite to the toner receiving portion; and a case for housing the toner transporting member and the toner replenishing member and forming the hopper portion. Wherein the toner replenishing member has a groove on its surface.
A toner supply roller, and the toner supply roller
Part or all of the upstream seal part provided by pressure contact
And an upstream seal member and the toner supply roller.
Gap between the toner supply roller and the toner supply roller.
From the end on one side to the end on the other side
It is characterized by becoming .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the toner supply device of the first aspect, the case is provided from the hopper to the case.
A hole through which toner can flow out to the image forming apparatus;
The lid, which is opened by the pressure of the toner accumulated in the
There is a feature provided in the recording hole .

[0010]

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the toner supply of the second aspect.
Device and outflow from the hole provided in the developing device.
The toner thus obtained is orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface of the latent image
And a stirring member for stirring in a direction along the surface .

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having a developing device for developing a latent image on a latent image carrier and a toner replenishing device for replenishing toner to the developing device. Item 1 or 2 is characterized by using the toner supply device.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the upstream side seal is provided.
The gap width between the member and the toner supply roller is
From the end to the far end. here
As the above gap increases, the hopper
Supplied to the developing device by the toner supply roller
The amount of toner supplied to the developing device
Increases from the near side to the far side. Therefore,
Prevents excessive accumulation of toner on the inner side of the paper
be able to.

In the toner supply device according to the second aspect, the toner container
A hole for toner to flow out of the hopper
Was. Therefore, the amount of toner accumulated in the hopper is less than a certain amount.
When it is on the top, toner passes from the hopper through the above hole
Is discharged. Therefore, excessive toner is accumulated in the hopper.
Can be prevented. And in the hopper
Place the lid, which is opened by the pressure of the accumulated toner, on the hopper
It was provided in a hole for toner to flow out of the section. For this reason,
More than a certain amount, that is, just enough to open the lid
The holes are open unless more toner is accumulated in the hopper
It does not become state. Therefore, a certain amount of toner is
Unless it accumulates, it does not flow out of the hopper. Obedience
As a result, toner flows from the hopper through
Out of the photoreceptor rotation axis in the hopper.
Prevents shortage of toner at holes
can do.

[0018]

[0019]

In the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, the liquid flows out of the hole.
Of the latent image bearing member at right angles to the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier and
The direction along the surface, that is, the image using the photosensitive drum
In an image forming apparatus, the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum
Below, it is referred to as “the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum”)
A stirring member is provided in the developing device. For this reason,
The toner discharged from the hole is exposed by the toner stirring member
Since the stirring is performed in the direction of the rotation axis of the body drum,
Was uniformly distributed in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor in the developing device.
State, the image developed by the developing device
Uniform density with no density unevenness in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum
It becomes

[0021]

[0022]

[0023]

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter, referred to as a copying machine) which is an image forming apparatus of the present invention and a first embodiment in which the toner replenishing apparatus of the present invention is applied to the above copying machine will be described. . FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming portion of a copying machine to which this embodiment is applied. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the developing device of this embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a schematic configuration diagram showing a horizontal stirring screw and a horizontal stirring screw of this embodiment. Also,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the toner supply device of this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a toner replenishing device of this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an AA section in FIG.

In FIG. 1, a drum-shaped photosensitive member 1 as a latent image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed is rotatably mounted, and a charging device 2, a developing device 3,
Transfer device (transfer charger) 4, cleaning device 5,
A static eliminator (static elimination lamp) 6 and the like are provided. The developing device 3 is provided with a toner replenishing device 7 for replenishing the developing device 3 with toner. The operation of the entire copying machine is a well-known electrophotographic process, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 2A, a developing device 3 is a dry developing device using a so-called two-component developer (hereinafter, referred to as a "developer") composed of a toner and a carrier. Roller 31, developing impeller 32, mixing roller 33, separator 34, horizontal stirring screw 3
5. A density sensor 36 for detecting the toner density inside the developing device located immediately below the mixing roller 33, a horizontal stirring fin 37, and the like are provided. Further, the developing device 3 is provided with a toner replenishing device 7 for replenishing the developing device 3 with toner.

In FIG. 2B, the developer conveyed from the upstream side in the toner conveying direction of the developing device to the lateral stirring fins 37 is charged by the lateral stirring fins 37 and the lateral stirring screw 35 as indicated by the arrow in the drawing. A direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the body surface and along the outer surface, that is, according to the present embodiment in which the photosensitive drum is used as the latent image carrier, the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum (hereinafter, “photosensitive member”) (In the direction of the rotation axis)). Since the stirring of the developer by the horizontal stirring fin 37 and the horizontal stirring screw 35 in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor is well known, the detailed description is omitted. 3 and 4
5, a toner replenishing device 7 includes a hopper portion 701 for storing a predetermined amount of toner and replenishing the developing device 3 with toner as necessary, and a toner receiving portion 722 for discharging toner from the toner bottle 8. And a toner transport path 723 for transporting toner from the toner receiving section 722 to the hopper section 701.
Etc. Here, the hopper section 701 and the toner receiving section 72
2, and the toner conveying path 723 is composed of a case 706. Both ends of the case 706 have a pipe shape, and a central portion has an opening communicating with the developing device 3. Above the toner receiving portion 722 of the toner replenishing device 7, a toner bottle 8 that accommodates toner therein and is configured to be detachable from the toner replenishing device 7 is mounted.

The case 706 houses a toner conveying screw 702 as a toner conveying member extending in the direction of the photosensitive member rotation axis. The toner conveying screw 702 is moved from the toner receiving portion 722 to the toner conveying path. 72
3 and an end of the hopper 701 on the side close to the toner receiving portion (hereinafter referred to as “front side”), and the opposite side to the end of the hopper 701 on the side adjacent to the toner receiving portion (hereinafter referred to as “front side”). (Hereinafter referred to as “rear side”). For convenience of description, the right side in FIG. 4 of the apparatus, that is, the side where the toner container 8 and the toner receiving portion 722 are located is referred to as a near side, and the opposite side is referred to as a back side.

A toner replenishing roller 705 serving as a toner replenishing member that is rotated by a signal output from the density sensor 36 is accommodated in an opening of the case 706 with the developing device. Further, a toner supply roller 705 is connected to the case 706 via the gutter 714 from the toner conveying screw 702.
The upstream side sealing member 712 made of, for example, urethane foam for inserting the toner conveyed to the toner supply roller 705 into the groove provided therein, and the developing device 3 by scraping the toner inserted into the groove. Downstream sealing material 713 made of, for example, urethane foam
Is attached. In addition, the upstream side seal member 712
In addition to the function of inserting the toner into the groove provided in the toner supply roller 705, the downstream seal material 713 prevents the toner from dropping from the hopper 701 through the gap formed between the case 706 and the toner supply screw 702. It also has a function as a sealing material to prevent. Here, the upstream side sealing member 712 may be configured to have only a function as a sealing material, and the toner may be inserted into the groove of the toner supply roller 705 by its own weight or the like. Alternatively, the downstream seal member 713 may have only a function as a seal member so that the toner falls from the groove by its own weight.

A screw gear 715 is fixed to one end of the rotation shaft of the toner conveying screw 702, and a supply roller gear 716 is fixed to one end of the rotation shaft of the toner supply roller 705, and the screw gear 715 and the supply roller gear 71 are fixed.
6 mesh with each other. Further, the supply roller gear 7
Reference numeral 16 meshes with a main body gear 718 to which a driving force from a driving system of the copying machine main body is transmitted.

Here, a region (a region B shown in FIG. 4) from the front end portion of the toner conveying screw 702 to a portion located above the rear end portion of the toner replenishing roller 705 includes: Screw blades are provided in the direction of conveying the toner in the direction of arrow b. On the other hand, a region (region C shown in FIG. 4) from the end on the back side of the toner conveying screw 702 to the portion located above the end on the back side of the toner supply roller 705 is indicated by an arrow c in the drawing. Screw blades are provided in the direction in which the toner is conveyed. Accordingly, the position where the toner conveyance from both ends of the conveyance screw 702 in the hopper 701 hits, that is, the position where the direction of the screw blades of the conveyance screw 702 in the hopper 701 changes (the position indicated by D in FIG. 4) is The toner is most easily deposited in the hopper 701.

In this embodiment, a hole 725 for communicating the hopper 701 with the developing device 3 is provided near the position indicated by D in FIG. 4 of the case 706 constituting the hopper 701. When the holes 701 are provided, if toner excessively accumulates in the hopper 701, the toner flows out of the hopper 701 to the developing device 3 through the holes 725. Further, it is desirable to provide a lid 726. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a lid 726 made of a thin mylar having a double-sided tape adhered to the upper end thereof is attached to the case 706 by using a surface of the double-sided tape opposite to the surface adhered to the mylar. Installed outside. In addition, the lid 726 is
Any configuration may be used as long as the configuration can be opened by the pressure of the toner excessively accumulated in the hopper 701 in the hole 725, and various modifications other than the configuration shown in the present embodiment can be adopted.

Further, the toner flowing out of the hole 725 is conveyed to the horizontal stirring fin 35 as a stirring member for stirring the toner in a direction orthogonal to and along the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier in the developing device 3. It is desirable to be done. Hopper part 7
When the toner flowing out of the hole 06 through the hole 725 is conveyed to the horizontal stirring screw 35, the toner discharged from the hole 725 is uniformly distributed in the developing device 3 in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1 by the horizontal stirring screw 35. Is stirred into
It is possible to prevent the density unevenness of the image formed by the developing device 3 in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1 from occurring. In this embodiment, the horizontal stirring screw 35 is provided below the hole 725.
Are laid out so that the toner supply device 7 and the developing device 3 are located. Further, the seal member 38 is disposed on a path where the toner flows out of the hole 725 to the lateral stirring screw 35, and the toner is surely conveyed to the lateral stirring screw 35 without leaking to other parts in the developing device. Configuration.

The toner replenishing device 7 configured as described above
And a toner bottle 8 that is rotatably and detachably mounted
Is formed of, for example, a cylindrical bottle formed of a resin material, and one end thereof is provided with an opening for supplying toner to the toner replenishing device 7. Also, the toner bottle 8
A spiral rib (not shown) for guiding the stored toner toward the opening is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the toner cartridge. Further, the toner bottle 8 rotates when a driving force is transmitted from a driving source (not shown), and the toner stored in the toner bottle 8 is gradually removed from the opening 81 of the toner bottle 8 by a spiral rib (not shown). The toner receiving section 72
It is discharged to 2.

Next, the toner supply operation of the toner supply device will be described. When the image forming operation in the copying machine is repeated and the toner density in the developing device 3 decreases, the toner replenishing screw 702, the toner replenishing roller 705, and the toner bottle 8 are driven by the toner replenishment signal output from the density sensor 36. Start spinning. When the toner bottle 8 rotates, the spiral ribs are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the toner bottle 8 as described above, so that the toner stored in the toner bottle 8 gradually becomes The toner is sent out toward the opening of the bottle 8 and discharged to the toner receiving portion 722. The toner in the toner receiving unit 722 is supplied to the hopper 70 by the toner conveying screw 702.
It is transported to 1.

The toner conveyed into the toner hopper 701 is moved by the toner conveying screw 702 in a direction orthogonal to and along the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier, that is, in the embodiment, in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor. In order to distribute the toner uniformly, the toner is conveyed along the gutter 714 in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor, and is substantially uniformly deposited on the gutter 714. Thereafter, when the amount of the accumulated toner becomes equal to or more than a predetermined amount, the toner falls from the gutter 714 to the toner supply roller 705, and the toner supply roller 705
To the developing device 3.

Here, as described above, the toner conveying screw 702 has a region from the front end to the portion located above the rear end of the toner supply roller 705 (B shown in FIG. 4). Area), screw blades are provided in the direction of conveying toner in the direction of arrow b in the drawing.
Due to 02, the toner is transported and distributed in a direction orthogonal to and along the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier, that is, the entire area of the toner in the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor of the copying machine. In addition, a region (a region C shown in FIG. 4) from an end on the back side of the toner conveying screw 702 to a portion located above an end on the back side of the toner replenishing roller 705 includes:
In the figure, screw blades are provided in the direction of conveying the toner in the direction of arrow c, so that by rotating the toner conveying screw, the toner accumulated in the area C can be scraped out, and the toner accumulates in the area E. Can be prevented.

The position where the area B and the area C contact each other, that is, the position where the toner conveyance from both ends of the conveying screw 702 in the hopper 701 hits, and the screw of the conveying screw 702 in the hopper 701 The toner excessively deposited at the position where the direction of the blade changes (the position indicated by D in FIG. 4) opens the lid 726 by the pressure of the toner from the hopper unit 701 to open the hole 725. Then, the toner is transferred to the hole 7 in the communicating state.
After passing through the hopper 25, it falls from the hopper 701 to the horizontal stirring fins 37 provided in the developing device 3. During conveyance, the seal member 38 is disposed in a path where the toner flows out of the hole 725 to the horizontal stirring screw 35, so that the toner does not leak to a portion other than the horizontal stirring fin 37 in the developing device. It is transported to the horizontal stirring screw 35 reliably. The toner conveyed to the horizontal stirring fins 35 is agitated by the horizontal stirring fins 35 so as to be orthogonal to the direction of movement of the surface of the latent image carrier in the developing device 3 and along the direction.
That is, the toner is uniformly distributed in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1 and is mixed with the carrier by the mixing roller 33 before being used for development.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The description of the configuration of the copier to which this embodiment is applied and the configuration of the toner supply device that are common to the first embodiment will be omitted. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the shape and operation of the gutter 714 of this embodiment. FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (c) show the operation of the gutter 714, and FIG. ) EE
6E shows a cross section, and FIG. 6E shows a FF cross section of FIG. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the shape of the gutter 714. As shown in FIG. 6D and FIG.
14 has a shape whose height decreases from the end on the toner receiving portion side to the end on the side opposite to the toner receiving portion side, that is, from the near side to the far side.

Next, the toner supply operation of this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C,
In this gutter 714, the toner is
When the toner is conveyed by the gutter, an amount of toner that can be supported by the gutter 714 accumulates on the gutter 714, and when an amount of toner that can be supported by the gutter 714 accumulates on the gutter, the toner drops from the gutter to reach the toner supply roller. The toner is supplied from the hopper to the developing device 3 by the toner supply roller 705. Here, the amount of the toner that can be supported by the gutter 714 depends on the height of the gutter 714. The height of the gutter increases, and the amount of the toner decreases or decreases. Therefore, in this embodiment, since the height of the gutter 714 is configured to decrease from the near side to the back side, the amount of toner supported by the gutter 714 decreases from the near side to the back side. Become. Therefore, the amount of toner dropped from the gutter to the toner supply member and supplied from the hopper to the developing device is:
It increases from the near side to the far side. Therefore, gutter 7
14, the toner is replenished to the developing device 3 from the toner replenishing roller 705, so that the amount of toner supplied from the hopper 701 to the developing device 3 goes from the near side to the far side. Increase in accordance with Therefore, in this embodiment, by adopting the shape of the above-mentioned gutter 714, excessive toner is generated on the deeper side of the hopper portion where toner tends to be excessively accumulated unless the above-mentioned shape of the gutter 714 is adopted. Accumulation can be prevented.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The description of the configuration of the copying machine and the configuration of the toner supply device to which this embodiment is applied, which are common to those of the first embodiment, will be omitted. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the shape of the groove provided in the toner supply roller 702.

First, prior to the description of this embodiment, the depth of the groove provided in the toner replenishing roller 702 and the toner supplied from the hopper 701 to the developing device 3 by being inserted into the groove and thereafter falling from the groove. The relationship between the quantities will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, the inventor of the present invention has set the toner supply capacity of the toner supply roller 702, that is, the toner supply amount per unit time per unit length of the toner supply roller, as follows.
As a result of the experiment, it has been found that the toner conveyance ability depends on the depth of the groove of the toner replenishing roller 702. Therefore, using this finding, in this embodiment, by changing the depth of the groove of the toner conveying roller in the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor, the hopper portion on the back side of the hopper portion where toner is liable to excessively accumulate. By controlling the toner supply amount from 701 to the developing device 3 as shown in FIG. 7, excessive accumulation of toner on the back side of the hopper is avoided. FIG. 7 shows the toner transfer capability of the toner supply roller 705 at a point at a distance x in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1 measured with the end on the near side of the toner transfer roller 705 as the origin. Specifically, the depth of the groove of the toner supply roller 705 is configured to be shallower on the trouble side and deeper toward the back side as shown in FIG. FIG. 9B is a schematic view showing the shape of the toner supply roller 702, and FIG.
9A is a cross-sectional view showing a GG cross section of FIG. 9B, and FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional view showing an HH cross section of FIG. 9B.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The description of the configuration of the copying machine and the configuration of the toner supply device to which this embodiment is applied, which are common to those of the first embodiment, will be omitted. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the amount T1 of the downstream sealing material 713 to be transferred to the toner supply roller 705 is changed in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1. First, prior to the description of this embodiment, the amount of indentation T1 and the downstream sealing material 713
The relationship between the amount of toner dropped from the groove by being scraped off and supplied from the hopper 701 to the developing device 3 will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, the inventor of the present invention has applied the toner supply capability of the toner supply roller 702, that is,
The toner replenishment amount per unit time per unit length of the toner replenishment roller depends on the depth T1, and the larger the value of the depth T1, the higher the toner transport capability.
As a result of an experiment, it has been found that the toner conveying force is low when the value of the indentation amount T1 is small. Therefore, using this finding, in this embodiment, by changing the indentation amount T1 in the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor 1, the developing device is moved from the hopper portion 701 on the back side of the hopper portion where toner tends to excessively accumulate. The amount of toner supplied to the hopper 3 is controlled as shown in FIG. 7 in the same manner as in the third embodiment, so that excessive accumulation of toner on the back side of the hopper is avoided. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the value of the indentation amount T1 is configured to be smaller on the labor side and larger on the far side. In addition,
FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross section on the near side of the toner replenishing device 7, and FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross section on the back side of the toner replenishing device 7.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The description of the configuration of the copying machine and the configuration of the toner supply device to which this embodiment is applied, which are common to those of the first embodiment, will be omitted. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the distance T2 between the upstream seal member 712 and the toner supply roller 705 is changed in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1. First, prior to the description of this embodiment, the distance T2
And the amount of toner that is inserted into the groove provided in the toner conveying roller 705 by the upstream-side sealing material 712, then falls from the groove, and is supplied from the hopper 701 to the developing device 3 will be described. As shown in FIG. 12, the toner replenishing ability of the toner replenishing roller 702, that is, the toner replenishing amount per unit time per unit length of the toner replenishing roller depends on the distance T2. The larger the distance, the higher the toner transport capability, and the lower the distance amount T2, the lower the toner transport capability. This indicates that if the value of the distance T2 is large, that is, if the gap between the upstream seal material 712 and the toner supply roller 705 is large, the amount of toner that passes through the gap and falls to the toner supply roller 705 increases. ing. In this embodiment, the distance T2 is changed in the direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive member 1 using the above relationship, so that the developing device is moved from the hopper 701 on the deeper side of the hopper where toner tends to excessively accumulate. The amount of toner supplied to the hopper 3 is controlled as shown in FIG. 7 in the same manner as in the third embodiment, so that excessive accumulation of toner on the back side of the hopper is avoided. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the value of the distance T2 is configured to be smaller on the labor side and larger on the far side. Here, FIG.
FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a front-side cross section of the toner replenishing device 7, and FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a rear-side cross section of the toner replenishing device 7. In this embodiment, the distance T2 is set to a negative value on the near side. This indicates that the upstream-side seal member 712 is provided at a position where the toner supply roller 705 is difficult to retract. (Hereinafter, margin)

[0045]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the upstream side seal is provided.
The gap width between the member and the toner supply roller is
From the end to the far end,
The amount of toner supplied from the hopper to the developing device is closer to the front
From the back to the back. Therefore, inside the hopper
Prevents excessive accumulation of toner on the back side
Noh. Therefore, toner has accumulated on the inner side of the hopper.
In this state, the toner is transported further inside the hopper.
The toner supply member provided in the hopper and the toner
The transport member and the case forming the hopper
Prevents the toner from being applied with force.
Wear. Therefore, it is conveyed at the back of the hopper.
Each of the above members is damaged by applying force from the toner
Will not be done. Also, excessive toner accumulation
Pressure on the toner itself.
Disappears. Therefore, when force is applied to the toner, the toner particles
Particles adhere to each other to form coarse particles, and the coarse particles
Of image quality caused by the use of
The bottom can be avoided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention , the toner is installed in the hopper.
Can be prevented from being excessively deposited. For this reason, the hopper
The toner is further transported with the toner accumulated inside
Thereby, the toner supply member provided in the hopper section
To the case forming the toner conveying member and the hopper,
Make sure that no force is applied to the toner being transported.
Can be. Therefore, force is applied from the toner being conveyed.
By doing so, each of the above members will not be damaged
You. Also, since toner does not accumulate excessively,
No pressure is applied to the nut itself. Yo
The toner particles adhere to each other by applying a force to the toner
Coarse particles are generated, and the coarse particles are used for image formation.
To avoid degradation of image quality caused by
Can be. And a photoreceptor rotating shaft in the hopper
Insufficient amount of toner at the position where the holes are provided
Can be prevented. Therefore, toner from the hopper
Of the hole in the photoconductor rotation axis direction
The amount of toner at the set position will not be insufficient
The image developed by the developing device is
Uniform without density unevenness in the rotation axis direction of the system.

[0047]

[0048]

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the toner is a developing device.
In the direction of the rotation axis of the photoreceptor in the unit
Therefore, the image developed by the developing device is
Uniform without density unevenness in the direction of the rotation axis of the system.

[0050]

[0051]

[0052]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine to which a toner supply device according to an embodiment is applied.

FIG. 2A is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a developing device and a toner replenishing device of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 2B is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the horizontal stirring screw and the horizontal stirring fins in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of the toner supply device illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of the toner supply device illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an AA section in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6A is a front view showing a gutter of the second embodiment. (B) The front view. (C) The front view. (D) A sectional view showing an EE section in FIG. FIG. 7E is a cross-sectional view showing the FF cross section in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the toner replenishing ability of the toner replenishing member in the direction of the latent image carrier.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a relationship between a depth of a groove of a toner supply roller and a toner supply ability.

9A is a cross-sectional view showing a GG cross section of FIG. 9B. (B) Front view showing the shape of the toner supply roller of the third embodiment. (C) is a sectional view showing an HH section in FIG. 9 (b).

FIG. 10 is a graph showing a relationship between a depth T1 and a toner carrying capacity.

FIG. 11A is a front sectional view of a toner supply device according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view of the toner supply device according to the fourth embodiment on the back side.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing a relationship between a distance T2 and a toner conveying ability.

FIG. 13A is a front sectional view of a toner supply device according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view of the toner supply device according to the fifth embodiment on the back side.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor drum 2 Charging device 3 Developing device 31 Developing roller 32 Impeller 33 Mixing roller 34 Separator 35 Horizontal stirring screw 36 Concentration sensor 37 Horizontal stirring fin 38 Sealing material 4 Transfer device 5 Cleaning device 6 Static eliminator 7 Toner replenishing device 701 Hopper part 702 Toner transport screw 704 as a toner transport member Communication opening 705 Toner replenishment roller 706 Case 712 Upstream seal member 713 Downstream seal member 714 Gutter 715 Screw gear 716 Supply roller gear 718 Body gear 720 clutch 722 toner receiving section 723 toner transport path 724 toner transport path member 725 hole 726 lid 8 toner bottle as toner container

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-258976 (JP, A) JP-A-54-30840 (JP, A) JP-A-63-47363 (JP, U) JP-A-1 59266 (JP, U) Actually open 63-150962 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 13/08-13/095 G03G 15/08-15/095

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A toner receiving section for receiving toner discharged from a toner container; a hopper section for transferring toner from the toner receiving section via a toner conveying path; and supplying toner from the hopper section to a developing device. A toner replenishing member, and an end opposite to an end of the toner replenishing member adjacent to the toner receiving portion of the toner replenishing member from the toner receiving portion in a direction orthogonal to and along the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier. And a case that houses the toner conveying member and the toner replenishing member and forms the hopper portion. A toner replenishing device for an image forming apparatus, comprising: Replenishing toner with grooves on its surface
Roller, and part or all of the roller is pressed against the toner supply roller.
An upstream seal member provided, and a gap between the upstream seal member and the toner supply roller.
Is the end of the toner supply roller on the toner receiving portion side.
From the end to the opposite end
Characteristic toner supply device. 2. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1 , wherein the toner is transferred from the hopper to the developing device in the case.
Is formed in the open state by the pressure of the toner accumulated in the hopper.
Wherein the lid is provided in the hole.
apparatus. 3. A toner replenishing device according to claim 2, wherein said toner replenishing device is provided in said developing device.
Direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the surface of the latent image carrier and along the surface.
And an agitating member that agitates the image in an axial direction . 4. An image forming apparatus having a toner replenishing device for replenishing toner to the developing device and the developing device for developing a latent image on the latent image bearing member, as the toner replenishing device, according to claim 1 or 2 An image forming apparatus using a toner supply device.