JP3305135B2 - Developing 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 developing device for a multi-color image forming apparatus such as a full-color image, such as an electrostatic copying machine and a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a printer which is a terminal device of information equipment such as a computer and a CAD, or an image forming apparatus used for a facsimile, a copying machine or the like, an electrophotographic apparatus, that is, a photosensitive drum, etc. 2. Description of the Related Art In general, a device that obtains a monochromatic or multicolor image by developing an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier with a developer.

Therefore, in this type of apparatus, the developer needs to be replenished. The following replenishment methods are available.

First, a developer receiving container is provided in the main body of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, and a developer supply container filled with the developer in advance for supplying the developer is provided separately from the image forming apparatus. Prepared as a consumption member, when the remaining amount of the developer in the developer receiving container is reduced, the developer in the developer supply container is supplied to the developer receiving container in the entire amount at once, There is a supply type container system.

[0005] Next, a developer supply container is prepared in the same manner as in the above method, but without supplying the whole amount at once, the developer supply container is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, and the developer supply container is directly connected to the image forming apparatus. There is a so-called stationary container type in which the developer is stuck in a main body and the developer is gradually discharged by operating a developer stirring device until the developer is used up.

Further, there is a process cartridge system in which a photosensitive drum, a cleaning device, a developing device pre-filled with a developer and the like are integrally formed, and the process cartridge system is largely detachable to the image forming apparatus main body. When installed in the image forming apparatus main body, the developer agitating device is operated until the built-in developer is used up, so that the developer is gradually developed from the developer accommodating portion provided in the cartridge to the developing sleeve and the photosensitive drum side. The agent is being discharged.

However, in any case, it is necessary to detect the remaining amount of toner in the developer accommodating portion. Conventionally, the remaining amount of toner is detected by a light transmission method. A light transmission window is provided.

[0008]

However, among the above-mentioned prior arts, in the system in which the developer agitating device is provided in the developer accommodating portion, the agitating blades open the opening width regulating plate.
During rubbing, the stirring blade gets caught in the opening, causing blade distortion
Thus, there is a problem that the toner cannot be circulated and discharged smoothly .

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

An object of a first invention according to the present invention is to provide a developing device which can smoothly circulate and discharge toner in a container without generating a distortion at an opening when a stirring blade rubs an opening of an opening width regulating plate. Is to provide.

[0014] Another object of the second invention of the present application, in addition to the above object, without stirring blade generates the distortion is to provide a developing device having a and sufficient strength.

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the object is to provide a developer carrying member and a developer carrying member.
A developing chamber for holding the holding body and a narrow opening through which the developer passes
Contains a developer and is separated from the developing chamber
And a wall provided in the developer accommodating chamber.
Light emitted from the light emitting element for detecting the amount of developer is transmitted
Two light transmission windows and a flexible sheet at the tip of the stirring plate
And transports the developer to the developing chamber.
Having a rotatable stirring member for rubbing the light transmission window
In the apparatus , the flexible sheet rotates the stirring member.
This causes the partition to come into contact with the partition and elastically deform.
The width of the opening in the longitudinal direction of the opening is
Are also provided with two notches at slightly narrower intervals.
This is achieved by having no other cuts between the two cuts .

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the above object is achieved in that both of the two cuts are formed in the longitudinal direction of the opening.
0.5 to 2.0 mm inside from the direction end
The cutting depth is the above-mentioned flexible
This is achieved by being 20 to 40% of the short length of the flexible sheet .

[0019]

[0020]

[0021]

[0022]

[0023]

According to the first invention according to the present application, stir plate metal member agitating member, the agitating blades and the flexible sheet member, since the said stirring blade is provided with notches in the radial direction to the left and right, Even when the stirring blade rubs the opening, no distortion is generated, and the developer is smoothly circulated and discharged in the container.

[0024] Further, according to the second invention of the present application, in the first invention, the radial cuts of the left and right of the stirring blade, both sides than the width the opening width of the opening width regulating plate between cuts And the depth of each cut is set to 20% to 40% with respect to the length of the short side of the stirring blade, thereby preventing the occurrence of distortion when rubbing the opening. With a sufficient strength, a good stirring operation is performed over a long period of time.

[0025]

[0026]

[0027]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.
First, the first embodiment will be described, then the second embodiment will be described, and finally the experimental results will be shown.

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Here, as the order of the description, (1) a general description of a multicolor image forming apparatus for obtaining a multicolor image using an electrophotographic method, (2) a configuration of a developing cartridge, (3) a configuration of a developer accommodating container, (4) The configuration of the light transmission window and the stirring member will be described in order.

(1) "Overall description of multicolor image forming apparatus"

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus has an image carrier 100 at a substantially central portion. In this embodiment, the image carrier 100 has a photosensitive layer on its surface, A photosensitive drum rotatable according to the operation is used.

An optical unit 107 is provided above the image carrier 100. The optical unit 107 allows the optical unit 107 to transfer the image onto the image carrier 100 based on a video signal sent from a controller (not shown). Image exposure is performed, and as a result, when a monochromatic image is formed on the image carrier 100, a latent image corresponding to the entire image is formed,
In the case of a multicolor image, a latent image for each color is sequentially formed.

When the latent image is a monochromatic image, the developing cartridges D of the respective colors arranged around the image carrier 100, that is, a yellow developing cartridge Dy, a magenta developing cartridge Dm, and a cyan developing cartridge D
c and the black developing cartridge Db, and a toner image of any color is formed on the image carrier 100.

In the case of a multicolor image, the image carrier 100
Each time the toner image is formed on the image carrier 100, the toner image is sequentially developed by the developing cartridge D of each color, and a toner image of each color is sequentially formed on the image carrier 100.

On the other hand, a transfer drum 103 is disposed on the opposite side of the image carrier 100 from the developing cartridge D. The transfer drum 103 is used to transfer the leading end of the paper 102 supplied from the paper feeding unit 101 to the transfer drum. Gripper 1 provided on the outer circumference
The transfer drum is held by the transfer drum 03f, held on the outer periphery by the rotation of the transfer drum, and transported to an image transfer section facing the image carrier 100.

The toner image formed on the image carrier 100 is transferred to a transfer drum 103 at an image transfer section.
Is transferred on the paper 102 held on the outer periphery of the single color alone or in the case of multiple colors, sequentially superimposed,
A multicolor image composed of a single color or four color toner images is obtained.

The paper 102 onto which the single-color or four-color toner image has been transferred is then separated from the transfer drum 103 and conveyed to a fixing unit 104 where the toner image is melted. Color mixing is performed, and paper 1
After being fixed as a permanent image on the sheet 02, the sheet is discharged onto a sheet discharge tray 106 via a sheet discharge section 105.

In the apparatus of the present embodiment as described above, the developing cartridges D of the respective colors are held by a holding member (rotary unit) 108 of the developing cartridge switching mechanism, and are rotated for selecting the developing cartridge.

The rotary unit 108 has a four-leaf clover shape, and is provided with storage holes each having a substantially semicircular cutout at four locations along the circumferential direction.
Each developing cartridge D is stored and held in the storage hole in the thrust direction.

The rotary unit 108 rotates about a non-rotating central axis (pressing control axis) 110 and is provided with a pressing member 111 housed slidably in the direction of the developing cartridge D. By pressurizing operation,
The development position of the developing cartridge D with respect to the image carrier 100 can be regulated.

(2) "Configuration of developing cartridge"

As shown in FIG. 2, each developing cartridge D comprises a developing unit 20 and a shell 13 covering the developing unit 20.

The shell 13 is a cylindrical member that accommodates the developing device 20 in a rotatable (rotatable) manner therein, and the rotation shaft 114 of the developing device 20 penetrates. However, even if the rotating shaft 114 is not used, any means can be used as long as the shell 13 is rotatably supported at both ends of the shell 13 and the rotation position can be regulated. The developing device 20 is roughly divided into a toner storage section 19 and a development section 12 adjacent thereto.
A stirring member 18 for stirring the toner and transporting the toner to the developing unit 12 is provided. The developing unit 12 includes a developer carrier 15 and a toner transport roller that supplies toner to the developer carrier 15 and peels off undeveloped toner thereon. And a developing blade 16 for controlling the layer thickness of the toner carried on the developer carrying member 15 and applying an electric charge.

Further, as shown in FIG.
9, the light transmission method is used, and the light transmission windows 3a and 3b for this detection are provided in the toner storage section 19.
The shell 13 is further provided with transmission holes 132a and 132b in the same optical path.

Legs (not shown) are provided on both sides of the shell 13, and the legs abut a step 108a provided in the storage hole of the rotary unit 108 in FIG. In the above, the shell 13 is held non-rotatably with respect to the rotary unit 108.

When the developing cartridge D is moved to the developing position, the surface of the shell 13 opposite to the leg side is
An opening 13 b is provided to make the developer carrier 15 of the developing device 20 in the shell 13 face the image carrier 100.

(3) “Configuration of developer storage container”

As shown in FIG. 3, the toner container 22, which is a developer storage container, includes a toner container main body 1 and an opening width regulating plate 2 which is entirely integrated with the toner container main body 1 by ultrasonic welding or the like. The opening width regulating plate 2 covers the container opening 5 such that the lid opening 6 sealed by the toner seal 9 is at a predetermined position.

The material of the toner container main body 1 and the opening width regulating plate 2 is impact-resistant polystyrene or the like to which butadiene rubber or the like is added so that the container does not crack under the physical distribution conditions of drop and impact as a product. More preferably, when the developing cartridge D is mounted in the main body, it is more desirable to add a bromine-based or phosphorus-based flame retardant so that it is unlikely to be ignited by a high-voltage power supply or a heat fixing device.

The toner seal 9 seals the lid opening 6 of the opening width regulating plate 2 by heat sealing or the like as shown in FIG. 4, and the folded free end has a handle 40 as shown in FIG. Or it may be fixed by heat sealing or the like, or may be directly sealed to the toner container main body 1.
The handle 40 is locked to a handle receiving portion 41 of the toner container main body 1 shown in FIG.

The toner seal 9 is a flexible sheet in the form of a film, for example, laminated with polyester, nylon, polyethylene, ethylene = vinyl acetate (= EVA) based adhesive, and has a thickness of about 50 μm to 200 μm. And more preferably about 100 μm to 150 μm.

Further, the toner seal 9 is fixed to the opening width regulating plate 2 with sufficient strength to prevent toner leakage due to temperature / humidity fluctuations, pressure fluctuations, vibrations, drop impacts, etc. in the physical distribution process, and to be openable. Let it.

After the toner container 22 and the developing container 14 are combined as described above, the toner seal 9 is
When folded in 0 degrees and pulled in the longitudinal direction, a maximum of 10 kg
Or less, more preferably 7 kgf or less, most preferably 5 kgf or less.
It is desirable to be not more than kgf.

As a method for fixing the toner seal 9 to the opening width regulating plate 2, a heat seal (hot plate compression bonding), an impulse seal, an ultrasonic welding, a high frequency welding or the like can be used, and the heat seal is particularly preferable.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the sealing pattern 9b can reduce the opening strength when the front end and the rear end have a mountain shape.

The smaller the angle of the chevron shape, the lower the opening strength, but it is preferably 100 to 170 degrees, more preferably 110 to 150 degrees, most preferably 120 to 130 degrees. Conversely, if the angle of the chevron shape is set to 90 degrees or less, the toner accumulates in the chevron shape portion, and the toner blows out at the time of opening, which is not preferable.

The toner is sealed as described above.
The light transmitting windows 3a and 3b face each other and are locked by ultrasonic welding or the like on the body portion of the toner container main body 1 in which the light transmitting windows 3a and 3b face the optical path as described above. It is provided.

As a material of the light transmitting windows 3a and 3b, a light transmittance of about 85% or more can be secured at 900 to 940 nm, and the ultrasonic welding property with the toner container main body 1 is good and it is hard to be broken at the time of welding. Material, eg GP-P
Transparent polystyrene such as S is preferred, and it is more desirable to add a flame retardant.

The developing cartridge D needs to be substantially cylindrical because it needs to rotate around the image carrier 100 in the main body and maintain the same structure at any position.
Accordingly, the toner container main body 1 also has a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape.

The toner container main body 1 is provided with the stirring member 18 for stirring and discharging the toner in the toner storage section 19 to the developing section 12 as described above.

Therefore, in order to stir the inside of the toner storage unit 19 uniformly and to stably discharge the toner through the lid opening 6, the stirring member sliding portion of the opening width regulating plate 2 is provided on the stirring track of the stirring member 18. 7, a sliding portion 3a 'at the tip of the light transmitting window 3a is provided.

When the stirring member sliding portion 7 is formed by injection molding, since the sliding portion 7 is partially thick, there is a possibility that the opposite side may be large and the flatness may be deteriorated. Since the thickness is greatly reduced due to the thick portion, integral molding is performed by hollow molding in which a hollow molding portion 7a is provided in the stirring member sliding portion 7.

Thus, the opening width regulating plate is dimensionally stable, free from image defects, and can be stably ultrasonically welded to the container body.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the stirring member 18 includes a stirring plate 18a and a stirring blade 18b.
8a are held at both ends by a stirring plate supporting member 10 and a stirring plate supporting member 11 formed integrally with the stirring gear 10b, and the stirring plate supporting member 10 and the stirring plate supporting member 11 are held.
Are rotatably supported by a sliding portion 1b and a sliding portion 1c of the toner container body 1, respectively.

As a method of locking the stirring plate support member 10 formed integrally with the stirring gear 10b to the toner container main body 1, a claw portion capable of being snapped to the stirring plate support member 10 is provided, and the container inner wall is provided. Although there is a locking method, in the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS.
A method is provided in which a snap pin hole 10c is provided and the snap pin 30 and the washer 31 are engaged.

On the other hand, the stirring plate supporting member 11 is
As shown in FIG. 7, the sliding portion 1c also serves as a filling port for filling the toner while ensuring smooth rotation of the stirring member 18 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, after the toner is filled, it is locked by the filling port cap 33 made of polyethylene or the like.

As shown in FIG. 9, the toner container 22 having the above-described structure includes the developer carrier 15 and the developing blade 1.
6. The developing device 20 is combined with the developing container 14 on which the toner conveying roller 17 and the developing blade 16 are mounted.

In the method of combining the toner container 22 and the developing container 14, only the longitudinal ends of the toner container main body 1 and the developing container 14 are combined by ultrasonic welding or the like, and the short ends are sealed with a spacer made of polyurethane foam or the like. After opening the gap 9, the gap is sealed so that toner does not leak from the developing cartridge D.

(4) “Configuration of Light Transmission Window and Stirring Member” In the multicolor image forming apparatus of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the periphery of the image carrier 100 is developed by a rotary unit for selection of development CRG. Since the cartridge D rotates and it is necessary to maintain the same posture at any position in order to prevent toner splitting and scattering, the developing cartridge D needs to be cylindrical so that the developing device can rotate in the shell. Accordingly, the toner container 22 becomes substantially semi-cylindrical as shown in FIG.

The light transmitting windows 3a and 3b are provided in the toner container main body 1 as described above for detecting the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 22, but the toner container 22 has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape as described above. Light transmitting windows 3a and 3b are provided on the body of the container body 1 so as to face each other.

Further, when the stirring member 18 is rotated and stirred in the toner container 22, the front end portions of the light transmitting windows 3a and 3b must be located on the rotation path of the stirring member 18, and Since the toner container 22 has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a window tip rubbing portion 3a 'is provided, which is protruded and rounded in accordance with the stirring track.

If the R removal is not performed, the toner wiping effect of the light transmission window 3a is deteriorated, and the remaining toner amount in the toner container 22 cannot be accurately detected.

As shown in FIG. 10, the stirring member 18 includes a stirring plate 18a made of a metal plate such as SUS304 having a thickness of about 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm and a thickness of 50 μm to 1 mm.
A stirring blade 18b made of a flexible sheet of about 20 μm of polyester or the like is formed by combining with a double-sided tape or the like at the blade bonding portion 18c.

At the center in the left-right direction of the stirring plate 18a, there is provided a stirring plate light transmitting portion 18d through which transmitted light for detecting the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 22 passes.

Further, the projections 18e and 18f are provided at both ends of the stirring plate 18a, and the projections 18e and 18f are provided on the container gear sliding portion 1b and the container bearing sliding portion 1c of the toner container main body 1 while being held by the stirring gear and the stirring bearing 11. Fix it.

Further, when the stirring member 18 rotates and stirs, when the stirring blade 18b is caught in the lid opening 6 and the distortion occurs when the opening width regulating plate 2 is rubbed with the opening, smooth toner circulation and discharge cannot be performed. Cuts 18b 'are made on the left and right sides of the stirring blade 18b in order to prevent the toner from partially scattering from the lid opening 6.

The width of the left and right cuts 18 b ′ is preferably smaller by 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm on both sides than the opening width of the opening width regulating plate 2, and more preferably, 1.0 mm to 2.3 mm.
It is desirable to be narrow, more preferably 1.5 mm to 2.
Desirably, it is 0 mm narrow. If there is no cut 16b ', or if the cut 16b' is out of the predetermined range, the toner is scattered from the lid opening 6, and an image defect such as uneven density occurs.

The depth of the cut 18b 'is desirably 20% to 40% with respect to the length of the short side of the stirring blade.

In this embodiment, the stirring blade 18b has a thickness of 75 μm.
The width of the left and right cuts 18b 'is 214 mm and the opening width of the opening width regulating plate 2 is 21 mm.
6 mm, depth of cut 18b 'of stirring blade 18b is 3.5
mm, the short length of the stirring blade 18b is 13 mm, the short length of the blade bonding portion 18c is 3.5 mm,
The stirring blade 18b is very good in terms of distortion prevention and strength generated when the opening width regulating plate 2 is rubbed against the opening.

The amount of friction between the stirring blade 18b of the stirring member 18 and the light transmitting windows 3a and 3b is 1.0 mm to 2.5 mm.
And more preferably 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

When the rubbing amount is less than 1.0 mm, the toner wiping effect of the light transmitting windows 3a and 3b is so poor that the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 22 cannot be accurately detected.

On the other hand, if the rubbing amount is larger than 2.5 mm, permanent deformation of the stirring blade 18b is generated, and the central portion, that is, the rubbing portion with the light transmitting windows 3a and 3b during image formation durability. The toner cannot be uniformly transported by the agitating blade 18b, and a density reduction defect at the center of the image occurs.

The shape of the stirring blade 18b is as follows.
As shown in FIG. 11, when one piece is stuck at each symmetrical position in the vertical direction of the stirring plate 18a, the following problems are caused as compared with the case of one stirring blade as shown in FIG. Therefore, the stirring member 18 of the present invention is of a single blade type with a stirring blade.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in the two- or four-sheet system in which the stirring blades 18b are located symmetrically, the light transmitting window 3a, which is on the upper side when the developing cartridge D is installed in the main body, is stirred. At the time of rubbing, the toner scraped off from the window tip rubbing portion 3a 'falls on the lower light transmitting window 3b, so that the wiping effect is deteriorated and a problem that the remaining toner amount cannot be accurately detected occurs.

Therefore, due to the configuration of the toner container 22 of the present invention, the stirring member 18 is of a single blade type with a stirring blade.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In the above-described embodiment, the stirring member 18 is of a single-blade type with a stirring blade, but as shown in FIG.
May be bent at the center, and the bending angle θ may be 20 to 45 degrees, desirably 30 to 40 degrees.

In the above case, when the light transmitting window 3a is agitated and rubbed, the toner scraped off the rubbing portion 3a 'at the window tip does not fall on the lower light transmitting window 3b, so that it can be accurately formed. The remaining amount of toner can be detected.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the stirring plate 18a
Even if the agitating blade is a three-sheet system in which at least two agitating blades are asymmetric, the toner scraped off from the window tip rubbing portion 3a 'does not fall on the lower light transmitting window 3b, so that it can be used sufficiently. .

The image carrier 100 on which the toner image is formed by the multi-developing cartridge D is not limited to the photosensitive drum of the first embodiment, but includes the following.

First, a photoconductor is used as the photoconductor.
The photoconductor includes, for example, amorphous silicon, amorphous selenium, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and organic photoconductor (OPC). The shape on which the photoconductor is mounted includes, for example, a rotating body such as a drum or a belt, and a sheet. In general, a drum-shaped or belt-shaped one is used. For example, in the case of a drum-type photoconductor, a photoconductor is deposited or coated on a cylinder of an aluminum alloy or the like. It is.

Further, in the above-described first embodiment, a laser beam printer is exemplified as an image forming apparatus using the developing cartridge D. However, if the apparatus forms an image using toner, the laser beam printer may be used. It is not necessary to limit the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to LED printers, electrophotographic copying machines, facsimile machines, and the like.

(Experimental Result) {Experiment-1} Using the developing cartridge D shown in the first embodiment, the shape of the window tip rubbing portion 3a ', which is the tip of the light transmitting window 3a, was changed by the stirring member 18. In the case of performing R removal corresponding to the stirring orbit of, and the case of not performing R removal at all,
The toner wiping state of the window tip rubbing portion 3a 'was confirmed, and an image endurance test was performed in each case, and the variation in the toner remaining amount detection was confirmed.

The toner is filled with about 130 g of a non-magnetic one-component toner having an average particle diameter of about 8 μm using a polyester-based binder.
0 rpm, image output durability test is guaranteed number of about 300
A continuous image endurance test was performed on 0 sheets.

[0094]

[Table 1]

As shown in Table 1, when the R removal was performed, the toner wiping effect was good, and the remaining amount of the toner was within a level of 2 g with no problem. Was completed.

On the other hand, when R removal is not performed, unevenness occurs in the toner wiping effect. As a result, the variation in the remaining amount of toner is as large as 20 g, so that accurate detection of the remaining amount of toner cannot be obtained. The minimum guaranteed number could not be cleared.

{Experiment-2} Using the same developing cartridge D as in Experiment-1, the shape of the stirring blade 18b was one, two asymmetric, three asymmetric, two symmetric, and four symmetric = cross type. Using five types, the state of toner falling on the light transmission window 3b of each toner container T and the variation in the remaining toner amount detection of each developing cartridge D were confirmed.

[0098]

[Table 2]

As shown in Table 2, when the shape of the stirring blade 18b is one, two asymmetric, and three asymmetric, the toner does not fall onto the light transmission window 3b, and the amount of toner remaining varies by 2 g. Within this range, accurate detection of the remaining amount of toner could be obtained.

On the other hand, when the shape of the agitating blade 18b is symmetrical 2 sheets and symmetrical 4 sheets = cross type, it is confirmed that the toner falls on the light transmission window 3b, and the toner remaining amount is also large and the dispersion is as large as 20 g. In the worst case, the minimum guaranteed number of sheets could not be cleared.

{Experiment-3} Using the same developing cartridge D as in Experiment-1, the cutting width of the stirring blade with respect to the opening width of the opening width regulating plate 2 was -0.3 mm to -3.
Image of the case where it was changed to 0 mm and the case where the incision of the stirring blade 18b was eliminated, the confirmation of the stirring blade distortion when the lid opening 6 was rubbed, and the case where the toner was scattered due to the stirring blade distortion. The effect was confirmed.

[0102]

[Table 3]

As shown in Table 3, the results are shown in Table 3.
In the case where the cutting width of the stirring blade with respect to the opening width is within a predetermined range, there is no stirring blade distortion when the lid opening 6 is rubbed, so that there is no toner scattering due to the stirring blade distortion, and there is no problem on the image. Was.

On the other hand, when the cut width of the stirring blade is out of the predetermined range or when the cut of the stirring blade is eliminated, the stirring blade distortion occurs when the lid opening 6 is rubbed, and the toner due to the stirring blade distortion is generated. Scattering was observed, and image density unevenness occurred.

{Experiment-4} Using the same developing cartridge D as in Experiment-1, the rubbing amount between the stirring blade 18b and the light transmitting windows 3a and 3b was -0.5 mm to 3.0 m as shown in Table 4.
When the value was changed to m, the wiping state of the light transmission window, the permanent distortion of the stirring blade, the variation in the detection of the remaining amount of toner, and the effect on the durability image were confirmed.

[0106]

[Table 4]

As shown in Table 4, when the amount of rubbing between the stirring blade 18b and the light-transmitting windows 3a and 3b is within a predetermined range, the effect of wiping the light-transmitting window is good and the stirring blade has a permanent effect. It was confirmed that there was no distortion, there was little variation in the toner remaining amount detection, and there was no problem in durable images.

On the other hand, the stirring blade 18b and the light transmitting windows 3a and 3a
When the amount of rubbing with b is 0.5 mm, which is smaller than a predetermined range,
The wiping state of the light transmitting window was poor, the variation in the toner remaining amount detection was large, and accurate toner remaining amount detection could not be obtained. In the worst case, the minimum guaranteed number of sheets could not be cleared.

Further, the stirring blade 18b and the light transmitting windows 3a and 3b
When the amount of rubbing with と was 3.0 mm, which was larger than the predetermined range, permanent deformation of the stirring blade occurred, and a decrease in density occurred at the center of the image.

[0110]

[0111]

As described above, according to the present invention, first according to the application
According to the invention, the stirring plate of the stirring member is a metal member, the stirring blade is a flexible sheet member, and the stirring blades are provided with radial cuts on the left and right, so that the stirring blades rub the opening. Even in such a case, no distortion occurs, and the developer can be smoothly circulated and discharged from the container.

[0112] Further, according to the second invention of the present application, in the first invention, the radial cuts of the left and right of the stirring blade, both sides than the width the opening width of the opening width regulating plate between cuts And the depth of each cut is 20% to 40% with respect to the length of the short side of the stirring blade. Therefore, even when the opening is rubbed, no distortion is generated. Good stirring operation can be performed over a long period of time due to the high strength.

[0113]

[0114]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory sectional view of a developing cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory sectional view of a toner container according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of locking of a toner container lid and a toner seal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating shapes of a front end and a rear end of the toner seal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a method of supporting a stirring member according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a filling port provided in a sliding portion for supporting a support member of a stirring member in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a state where a cap is attached to the filling port of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state where the toner container and the developing device are attached in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a stirring member in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional stirring member to be compared with the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of another conventional stirring member to be compared with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a configuration of a stirring member according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a configuration of another stirring member according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Opening control plate 3a, 3b Light transmission window 5 Container opening 18 Stirring member 18a Stirring plate 18b Stirring blade 22 Toner container (developer storage container) D Developing cartridge t Toner (developer)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 13/08-13/095 G03G 15/08-15/095

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A developer carrying member, comprising : a developer carrying member;
Having a developing chamber for accommodating and an elongated opening through which the developer passes
Development that is separated from the development chamber by a partition and contains developer
A developer storage chamber and a developer provided on a wall of the developer storage chamber.
Two lights through which the light emitted from the light emitting element for quantity detection is transmitted
A flexible sheet is attached to the transmission window and the tip of the stirring plate.
Transports the developer to the development room and has two light transmission windows
And a rotatable stirring member for rubbing the flexible sheet , wherein the flexible sheet is separated from the partition by rotation of the stirring member.
This flexible sheet is elastically deformed by contact with
At the tip of the opening is slightly smaller than the longitudinal width of the opening
There are two cuts at a distance, and these two cuts
A developing device characterized in that there is no other cut between the two . 2. The two cuts are formed in the opening.
At the 0.5~2.0mm than the inside longitudinal end
It is provided at the corresponding position, and the cutting depth is
2. The developing device according to claim 1 , wherein the width is 20 to 40% of the short length of the flexible sheet .