JP3479479B2 - Developing device for 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 developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile and a printer. More specifically, the present invention relates to detection of presence / absence of toner contained in a developing housing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this electrostatic latent image developing device, a developing housing for accommodating toner, and a toner in the developing housing are used as a photoconductor (a photoconductor drum or photoconductor belt exists as a photoconductor. (A body drum will be described as an example.), A developing sleeve for supplying an electrostatic latent image to the electrostatic latent image, and a toner agitating means for agitating the toner in the developing housing and conveying the toner in a predetermined direction. The developing sleeve supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image in the developing area of the photosensitive drum to develop it into a toner image. The toner agitating means agitates the toner in the developing housing and conveys the toner toward the developing sleeve.
When the toner contained in the developing housing is consumed in accordance with the development of the electrostatic latent image, the toner presence / absence detecting means detects this and displays a message to that effect on the operation unit or the like.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-250514 is given as an example of detecting the presence or absence of toner. JP-A-6-25051
In No. 4, a transparent detection window is provided in the toner remaining amount detecting portion (recess) provided on the bottom surface of the developing housing, and the recess is detected by the optical toner remaining amount detecting means to detect the inside of the developing housing. Is detecting the toner. Further, since the presence / absence detection unit cannot be accurately detected if the toner presence / absence detection unit is contaminated, a cleaning unit for cleaning the toner remaining amount detection unit (recess) is provided.

Further, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a specific toner presence / absence detecting means in the related art, FIG. 8 (a) is a perspective view, and FIG. 8 (b) is an E- of FIG. 8 (a). It is an E line sectional view, and the same figure (c) is the FF line sectional view of the same figure (a).

At the bottom portion 100a of the developing housing 100, a toner presence / absence detecting housing generally designated by 300 is arranged from the outside to the inside of the housing 100. The toner presence / absence detection housing 300 has a horizontal base 320, transparent first protrusions 301 and second protrusions 302 protruding upward from the base 320, and is further provided inside the first protrusion 301. Has a light emitting element 402, and a light receiving element 404 inside the second protrusion 302. Then, the toner that falls (exists) in the recess 303 between the first protruding portion 301 and the second protruding portion 302 is a transmitted light detection type light amount detecting means 400 including the light emitting element 402 and the light receiving element 404.
The presence / absence of toner in the developing housing 100 is detected by performing the above detection.

[0006]

However, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-250514, there is provided a cleaning means for cleaning the toner presence / absence detecting means, but the cleaning is not sufficient because it is only a recess. The accuracy of toner presence / absence detection by the toner presence / absence detection means was insufficient.

In the prior art shown in FIG. 8, as the image forming apparatus is used, a toner pool is formed on both sides of the first protruding portion 301 and the second protruding portion 302 mainly due to aggregation of the toner T. The toner accumulation gradually increases,
Side walls 305, 30 of the protrusion 301 and the second protrusion 302
The toner that has adhered to the upper portions 307 and 308 from the side of 6 and the accumulated toner is the first protruding portion 301 and the second protruding portion 3
It will not fall into the recess 303 between 02. Then, the light amount detecting means 400 detects "no toner" and displays the fact on a display unit (not shown) such as an operation panel. When "no toner" is displayed, the operator collectively defines a process unit called PU (a set of image forming devices including a photoconductor, a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a cleaning device) as a unit. Or a developing unit (a unit in which only the developing device is unitized) is replaced, so that the sidewalls of the first projecting portion 301 and the second projecting portion 302 can be used even though they can be sufficiently used originally. 305, 306 side to top 3
The toner that has adhered (aggregated) to 07, 308 and has accumulated is wasted. Alternatively, since the toner is replenished to the developing unit, the frequency of replenishment is high, which is troublesome.

An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device of an image forming apparatus capable of accurately detecting the presence or absence of toner.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention is to develop the electrostatic latent image by supplying toner to the surface of the photoconductor on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. A developing device of an image forming apparatus, comprising: a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner; and a pair provided at a bottom portion of the toner accommodating portion so as to protrude inward of the toner accommodating portion with a predetermined gap. And a toner presence / absence detection unit for detecting the presence / absence of toner in the gap between the pair of protrusions, and intermittently intruding into the gap between the pair of protrusions.
A first cleaning member to prevent aggregation of the toner in the gap portion, the orthogonal for both outer portions of the pair of projecting portions
Extending in a direction, intermittently arriving to earlier the both outer portion
The end is bent in the direction opposite to the direction of travel.
And a second cleaning member that prevents the toner from aggregating on both outer side portions.

According to the above structure, the gap between the pair of protrusions is cleaned by the first cleaning member in the developing housing. Further, both outer side portions from the side walls of the pair of protrusions are cleaned by the second cleaning member. Therefore, in the developing housing, the toner is prevented from aggregating from the side walls of the pair of protrusions on both outer side portions, and the toner accumulation is eliminated. Therefore, the toner can fall into the gap between the pair of protrusions, and the toner presence / absence detecting unit detects the fallen toner.

The invention described in claim 2 is the same as claim 1.
The developing device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The first cleaning by extending laterally from the upper part of the sweeping member
It is provided integrally with the member and intermittently arrives at the upper surface portions of the pair of protrusions, and the tips are bent in the direction opposite to the traveling direction.
It further comprises a third cleaning member that is in a bent state and comes into surface contact with the surface of the toner to prevent the toner from aggregating on the upper surface .

According to this structure, the upper surface portions (upper portions) of the pair of protrusions are intermittently cleaned by the third cleaning member.

The invention described in claim 3 is the same as claim 1
Or a developing device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 2.
So that it extends laterally from the side of the first cleaning member.
Are provided integrally with the first cleaning member, and
Intermittently arrives at both inside parts of the projecting part and the tip part is in the traveling direction
The surface is in contact with the other side by bending in the direction opposite to
However, the fourth method for preventing the toner from agglomerating in the both inner portions
It further comprises a cleaning member.

The invention according to claim 4 is the same as claim 3
The developing device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first cleaning member and the second cleaning member are arranged in a protruding direction of the protruding portion.
It is attached to the same rotation drive shaft having a rotation center axis in a direction orthogonal to the.

According to this structure, when the rotary drive shaft is rotationally driven, the gap portion of the pair of protrusions, both outer side portions and the upper surface portion from the side wall are simultaneously treated by the first cleaning member, the second cleaning member and the third cleaning member. To be cleaned.

The invention according to claim 5 is the electrostatic latent image.
The toner is supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed.
Is a developing device of an image forming apparatus that develops
A toner storage portion to be stored and a bottom portion of the toner storage portion
At a location such that it protrudes inward of the toner storage portion.
A pair of protrusions provided with a constant gap, and the pair
To detect the presence or absence of toner in the gap between the protruding parts of the
The corner presence / absence detecting means and the protrusion direction of the protrusion are orthogonal to each other.
Rotation drive shaft and stirring blades attached to this rotation drive shaft
And a stirring means for stirring and conveying the toner,
The rotary drive shaft of the stirring means is provided between the stirring blades.
And a cleaning member, wherein the cleaning member is attached to the rotary drive shaft.
The attached base and extending downward from this base,
The gap between the pair of protrusions as the rotary drive shaft rotates
Intermittently invades, causing the tip to move in the direction opposite to the direction of travel.
When it is bent, the toner presence / absence detecting means is exposed.
Contact with each other to prevent toner aggregation in the gap
And the first cleaning member that extends laterally from the base and the lower part
The upper part of the pair of protrusions as the rotary drive shaft rotates.
Intermittently, and the tip part folds in the direction opposite to the direction of travel.
Cleans the upper surface by making a curved contact and making surface contact
And a third cleaning section that is below the third cleaning member.
The rotation of the rotary drive shaft is provided on the side of the first cleaning member.
And intermittently arrive at both inside parts of the pair of protrusions.
And the tip is bent in the direction opposite to the direction of travel.
Becomes contact with each other, and the toner on both inner sides of
A fourth cleaning member for preventing agglomeration,
Both edges of the pair of protrusions are provided on the edge portion facing the cleaning member.
Rotation of the rotary drive shaft extending in a direction orthogonal to the outer part
And intermittently arrive at both outer sides of the pair of protrusions.
And the tip is bent in the direction opposite to the direction of travel.
And the two-dimensionally contact each other,
A second cleaning member for preventing agglomeration is provided.
It

According to this structure , the toner is agitated by the agitating means in the toner accommodating portion, the aggregation is prevented, and the pair of protruding portions are cleaned.

The invention described in claim 6 is the same as claim 5
The developing device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The sweeping member is provided with the pair of protrusions as the rotary drive shaft rotates.
Face-to-face contact when intermittently arriving at the front of the exit
And the rotation direction is the original rotation direction.
By rotating in the opposite direction, the spine of the pair of protrusions
It is configured to come in contact with the surface part intermittently and come into surface contact.
It is what has been.

According to this structure, the second cleaning member
Opposite the front of the pair of protrusions that are normally cleaned
Cleaning effect can be further increased by cleaning the rear part in the direction
It becomes Noh.

[0020]

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Hereinafter, the configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

In the image forming apparatus 2, a photosensitive drum 4 having a surface coated with a photoconductive layer is rotatably arranged at a required position in the main body in the arrow A direction. A corona charging device 6 that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 is disposed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 4, and the charged photosensitive drum 4 receives information (signal) such as an image at an exposure position. An electrostatic latent image is formed by being exposed by a light emitting element 8 such as a laser. After that, the electrostatic latent image is developed (visualized) into a toner image by the developing device 10. Then, the paper feed cassette 1
The toner image on the photosensitive drum 4 is transferred by the transfer device 12 onto the sheet member P fed from the sheet feeding roller 16 from the sheet feeding roller 4, and conveyed through the pair of registration rollers 18.
The sheet member P is temporarily stopped before the nip point of the registration roller pair 18, and the registration roller pair 18 is adjusted in timing so that the leading edge of the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 and the leading edge of the sheet member P coincide with each other. To drive. The sheet member P having the toner image transferred on its surface is peeled off from the photosensitive drum 4 by the peeling device 20, is further transported to the downstream side, and the transferred image is fixed on the surface of the sheet member P by the fixing device 22 and discharged outside the machine. It The sheet member P is the peeling device 2
After being separated from the photoconductor 4 by 0, the photoconductor 4 continues to rotate, the toner T remaining on the surface of the photoconductor drum 4 is collected by the cleaning device 24, and the charge removing device 26 including a charge removing lamp is used. The residual charges remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 4 are removed and the next image forming step is prepared.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the details of the developing device, which will be described below with reference to FIG.

One-component magnetic toner T (hereinafter simply referred to as toner T
Called. ) Is accommodated inside the developing housing 100 (which functions as a toner accommodating portion), a developing sleeve 102 is disposed at a position facing the photosensitive drum 4 (left side in the developing housing in FIG. 2). Development sleeve 1
Reference numeral 02 denotes a cylinder made of a non-magnetic material such as aluminum or stainless steel, and is configured so as to be rotationally driven in the arrow B direction. Inside the developing sleeve 102, for example, a cylindrical permanent magnet 1 having 8 magnetic poles.
04 is fixedly arranged. Further developing sleeve 102
Magnetic blade 110 (which functions as a bristle cutting member) for controlling the amount of toner supplied to the photosensitive drum 4 above
Are provided over the entire width direction. Further, on the right side of the developing sleeve 102, an agitating paddle (functioning as an agitating means) 120 for agitating and transporting the toner T to the developing sleeve 102 by rotating in the arrow C direction is provided. Further, a stirring rod 1 for rotating the stirring paddle 120 to the side of the stirring paddle 120 (on the right side in the developing housing in FIG. 2) in the direction of the arrow D to stir and convey the toner T to the stirring paddle 120.
30 are provided.

Inside the developing housing 100,
The stirring rod 130 rotates to stir the toner T and conveys the toner T to the stirring paddle 120. The stirring paddle 120 further stirs the toner T and supplies the toner T to the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 102. The toner T supplied to the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 102 receives the magnetic force of the magnet 104 and adheres to the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 102. The toner T attached to the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 102 is frictionally charged by passing through the gap between the developing sleeve 102 and the magnetic blade 110 as the developing sleeve 102 rotates, and at the same time, the toner T adheres to the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 102 by a predetermined amount. Thin layer of toner T with length (magnetic brush)
To form.

The toner T, which has become a thin layer on the developing sleeve 102, is further conveyed and developed in the developing area P by applying, as a developing bias, an alternating voltage in which a direct current and an alternating current are superposed, as a developing bias. The toner T on the sleeve 102 jumps to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 4,
The electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image.

The toner T remaining on the developing sleeve 102 without jumping onto the photosensitive drum 4 in the developing area.
Moves with the rotation of the developing sleeve 102 and is peeled off from the developing sleeve 102 in the peeling region Q by the rotating action of the stirring paddle 120 in the arrow C direction. At the same time, new toner T is supplied onto the developing sleeve 102 by the stirring paddle 120, and along with the rotation of the developing sleeve 102, the toner T passes through the magnetic blade 110 and the photosensitive drum 4.
Of the developing area P. The toner T peeled off from the developing sleeve 102 in the peeling area Q is mixed with the new toner T during the stirring action of the stirring paddle 120 and is newly supplied to the development.

Next, the structure of the cleaning means, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described. 3 is a side view of the stirring paddle, FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the arrangement of the cleaning member, the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion, and FIG. 5 is a cleaning member, the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of FIG. 6, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first to third cleaning members are operating. Hereinafter, description will be given based on FIGS. 3 to 6.

A stirring paddle 120 functioning as a stirring means
Is composed of a rotary shaft 122 (which functions as a rotary drive shaft) and a stirring blade 124 attached to the rotary shaft 122. The agitating blade 124 is 1 in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 122.
The stirring blade 124 is provided with a plurality of stirring blades (2 in the width direction of the rotating shaft 122 (left and right direction in FIG. 3)).
01, 202, 203, 204, 205 are shown. ) Is divided into.

The stirring blade 124 is made of a flexible material such as polyester film and has a thickness of 50 to 30.
The thickness is about 0 μm, preferably 100 to 200 μm. Further, a region 124A indicated by diagonal lines in the stirring blade 124 is cut off. As described above, the stirring blades 124 are divided into a plurality of pieces in the width direction of the rotating shaft 122, and the region 124A is cut off to reduce the resistance when the toner is stirred by the stirring paddle 120. There is. The stirring force and the stirring resistance can be appropriately adjusted by changing the dividing method and the thickness of the stirring blade 124. In addition, the ablation area 12
By changing the number of 4A, it is possible to reduce the resistance due to the rotation of the stirring blade 124.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, a cleaning blade 205 for cleaning the first protruding portion 301 and the second protruding portion 302 is provided between the stirring blades 201 and 202. Here, the first protrusion 301 and the second protrusion 302 function as a pair of protrusions.

Like the stirring blade 124, the cleaning blade 205 is also attached to the rotary shaft 122, and the material and thickness of the cleaning blade 205 are also the same as those of the stirring blade 124. Cleaning blade 205 is the first
Recess 303 between the protrusion 301 and the second protrusion 302
Recess cleaning part 205a for cleaning the entire (gap part)
(Functioning as a first cleaning member). Furthermore, the length of the recess cleaning portion 205a can be sufficiently cleaned by forming the recess cleaning portion 205a in such a length that the recess cleaning portion 205a abuts the bottom portion 303a of the recess 303 and bends when cleaning by rotating. it can.

The base portion 20 is provided above the cleaning blade 205.
5d is provided, extends laterally in the left and right directions on the side of the base portion 205d, and a third cleaning portion 205e for cleaning the upper portions 307 and 308 of the first protruding portion 301 and the second protruding portion 302,
205f (functioning as a third cleaning member) is provided. Further, slightly below the third cleaning portions 205e, 205f, fourth cleaning portions 205b, 205c for cleaning the central portion 304 of the recess 303 of the first protruding portion 301 and the second protruding portion 302 are provided. . The fourth cleaning units 205b and 205c are configured separately from the base unit 205d, in order to reduce the load and resistance at the time of stirring and cleaning the toner.

Next, a second cleaning portion 201a (which functions as a second cleaning member) for cleaning the left side portion 305 of the first protruding portion 301 is provided on the right side of the lower end of the stirring blade 201. ing. Similarly, a second cleaning portion (functioning as a second cleaning member) 202 for cleaning the left side portion 306 of the second protruding portion 302 is provided on the left lower end portion of the stirring blade 202.
a is provided.

By being properly constructed,
When the rotary shaft 122 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow C, the stirring blades 201 and 202 and the cleaning blade 205 also rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow C. By this rotation, the stirring blade 201,
202 mainly supplies the toner to the developing sleeve 102 while stirring the toner.

At the bottom of the developing housing 100,
The same toner presence / absence detection housing 300 as that of the conventional example shown in FIG. 8 is arranged.

In FIG. 5, the same components as those in FIG. 8 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As described in detail with reference to FIG. 5, the toner presence / absence detection housing 300 is entirely made of colorless and transparent resin, and the first protrusion 301 and the second protrusion 302 are provided above the base 310. It is configured to project into. In addition, the light emitting element 402 is disposed inside the first protruding portion 301, and the light receiving element 404 is disposed inside the second protruding portion 302.
Are arranged, and the light emitting element 402 and the light receiving element 404 constitute a toner presence / absence detection unit indicated by 400 in its entirety. Then, the toner presence / absence detection information by the toner presence / absence detection unit 400 is displayed on the display unit such as the operation unit via the control unit as described above, such as "no toner".

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described in detail. 2 and 5, the stirring paddle 120 has an arrow C.
When rotated in the direction, first, the recess cleaning portion 2 of the cleaning blade 205
Reference numeral 05a indicates that the recess 303 between the first protruding portion 301 and the second protruding portion 302 of the toner presence / absence detecting housing 300 (a gap portion between the pair of protruding portions) is entirely cleaned so that toner is newly added from above the developing housing 100. Allow gravity to fall. Since the width of the recess cleaning portion 205a is narrower than the gap of the recess 303, it does not hinder the rotation of the stirring paddle 120 (load resistance).

As is apparent from FIG. 6, the third cleaning portion 205e of the stirring blade 201 first comes into contact with the upper portion 307 of the first protruding portion 301, and then slidably comes into contact with the upper portion 307 of the first protruding portion 301 to collect and accumulate. Clean the toner that is holding. Similarly,
The third cleaning portion 205f of the stirring blade 202 first contacts the upper portion 308 of the second protruding portion 302, and then slidably contacts while flexing to clean the toner accumulated and agglomerated.

Further, the second cleaning section 201 of the stirring blade 201
First, a comes in contact with the front surface portion 309 of the first protruding portion 301, and then slidably contacts the left side wall 305 to clean the toner accumulated from the left side wall 305 to the left side. Similarly, the second cleaning unit 202a of the stirring blade 202 is
After coming into contact with the front surface portion 310 of the protruding portion 302, the toner that slidably comes into sliding contact with the right side wall 306 and agglomerates from the right side wall 306 to the right side to collect and collects. Therefore, as the stirring paddle 120 rotates, the toner presence / absence detection housing 3
The toner accumulation (toner agglomeration) existing around 00 is removed, and the toner is recessed 303 between the first protrusion 301 and the second detection window 302 of the toner presence / absence detection housing 300.
Therefore, the toner presence / absence detection unit 400 can detect the toner. By rotating the stirring paddle 120 several times at an appropriate timing in the direction opposite to the arrow C direction, the toner pool generated on the back surface portions 311 and 312 of the first projecting portion 301 and the second projecting portion 302 is removed. 2 It can be removed by the cleaning units 201a and 202a.

Next, FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the present invention, which will be described below with reference to FIG.

In the figure, first, the developing housing 10
In 0, a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier is contained as a developer. A toner concentration detecting housing 330, which is substantially the same as the toner presence / absence detecting housing 300 of the above-described embodiment, is provided at the bottom of the developing housing 100. The toner concentration detecting means 350 for detecting the toner concentration in the developer is the developing housing 100.
Is provided in a predetermined portion of the toner concentration detection housing 330 from below. Further, on the upper part of the developing housing 100, a toner cartridge 500 having toner inside.
(Functioning as a toner accommodating portion) is detachably arranged in the cartridge holder 601. And
The toner density detecting means 35 is not more than the preset value of the toner density in the developing housing 100, that is, the decrease due to toner consumption.
When it is detected by 0, the toner in the toner cartridge 500 is agitated by the second agitating means 220 provided in the toner cartridge 500 and supplied to the developing housing 100 through the lower opening 502. is there. In the lower portion of the toner cartridge 500, the toner presence / absence detecting unit 60 is provided as in the above embodiment.
0, a toner presence / absence housing 602, and a cleaning unit 224 are provided.

The toner concentration detecting means 350 is a magnetic force detecting type detecting means for detecting the amount of toner in the developer by measuring the magnetic force in the developer.

By the way, the toner presence / absence detection housing 60
The detailed configuration and operation of No. 2 are the same as those of the toner presence / absence detection housing 300 of the above-described embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted. Regarding the detailed configuration and operation of the cleaning unit 224 in another embodiment, the configuration of the cleaning unit 124 of the present embodiment,
Since the operation is the same, the description is omitted.

In the above-described embodiment, the rotating shaft 122 of the stirring paddle has a cylindrical shape, but it may have a cylindrical (pipe) shape or a rectangular shape.

In the above two embodiments, the stirring blade 1
Although the one provided in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 122 is exemplified as 24, a plurality of the rotating shaft 122 may be provided in the rotating shaft 122, and the number thereof can be appropriately changed.

In the above embodiment, the stirring blade 124 is attached to the rotating shaft 122 of the stirring paddle 120 by way of example, but instead of this, it may be attached to the rotating shaft 132 of the stirring rod 130. Also, the rotating shaft 1 of the stirring paddle 120
22, the stirring rod 130 may be separately provided in the developing housing 100, instead of being attached to the rotating shaft 132.

In the above embodiment, the first protrusion 30
Although the first and second protrusions 302 are always rotated in the direction C, the both slopes (the front face and the rear face) of the first protrusion 301 and the second protrusion 302 are surely cleaned to remove the toner. In order to prevent the formation of pools, for example, during aging during warm-up or during standby, the surface is opposite to the slope (front parts 309, 310) that is normally cleaned by rotating it once or several times in the direction opposite to the C direction. The cleaning effect can be further increased by cleaning the sloping surfaces (back surfaces 311, 312).

In the above-described embodiment, the one-component magnetic toner is illustrated as the toner contained in the developing housing 100, but the toner is not limited to this and, for example, a non-magnetic one-component toner may be applied. is there.

In the above-described embodiment, the pair of protrusions has a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front, but may have a rectangular shape or the like. Although the pair of protrusions are all transparent, if the toner presence / absence detecting means is of a transmitted light type, at least the opposing surfaces for detecting the transmitted light may be transparent.

In the above embodiment, the toner presence / absence detecting means is exemplified by the transmitted light method, but the magnetic force detecting method may be used.

In the above embodiment, the first cleaning member,
Although the thing provided with the 2nd cleaning member and the 3rd cleaning member was illustrated, it should just be provided with the 1st cleaning member and the 2nd cleaning member.

The shape of the pair of projecting portions exemplified in the above embodiment is not limited, and may be modified in accordance with the gist of the invention.

In the above-described embodiment, the first cleaning member, the second cleaning member and the third cleaning member are illustrated as being in slidable contact with the pair of protrusions. However, if the protrusions are to be cleaned, they are not necessarily in slidable contact. Instead, it may be one that passes through the immediate vicinity for cleaning.

Although the first cleaning member, the second cleaning member and the third cleaning member are arranged on the same rotary shaft in the above embodiment, they may be arranged on different rotary shafts.

[0056]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the developing device of the image forming apparatus supplies toner to the surface of the photoreceptor on which the electrostatic latent image is formed to develop the electrostatic latent image. A toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner; a pair of protrusions provided at a bottom portion of the toner accommodating portion so as to protrude inward of the toner accommodating portion; A toner presence / absence detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of toner in the gap portion of the protruding portion; and a first cleaning member for intermittently entering the gap portion of the pair of protruding portions to prevent toner aggregation in the gap portion. And a second cleaning member that intermittently arrives at both outer side portions of the pair of protrusions and prevents toner from aggregating at the both outer side portions, as a developing device of an image forming apparatus. Has been done.

With the above arrangement, the gap between the pair of protrusions is cleaned by the first cleaning member in the developing housing. Further, both outer side portions from the side walls of the pair of protrusions are cleaned by the second cleaning member. Therefore, in the developing housing, the toner is prevented from aggregating from the side walls of the pair of protrusions on both outer side portions, and the toner accumulation is eliminated. Therefore, the toner in the developing housing can fall reliably into the gap portion of the pair of projecting portions until the very end, the toner fell between gap portion is reliably detected by the toner detecting means.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the third cleaning member intermittently arrives at the upper surface portion (upper portion) of the pair of projecting portions for cleaning.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the rotary drive shaft is rotationally driven, the first cleaning member and the second cleaning member are provided on the gap portion of the pair of protrusions, the outer side portions from the side wall and the upper surface portion. And the third cleaning member simultaneously cleans.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention , the toner is agitated by the agitating means in the toner accommodating portion to prevent agglomeration and to clean the pair of protrusions.

According to the invention described in claim 6,
The pair of protrusions normally cleaned by the second cleaning member
Cleaning the rear part of the
Therefore, the cleaning effect can be increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing details of a developing device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a stirring paddle.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a stirring paddle and a toner presence / absence detection housing.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a stirring paddle and a toner presence / absence detecting housing.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which first to third cleaning members are operating.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing details of a developing device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

8A and 8B are diagrams showing conventional toner presence / absence detection, FIG. 8A is a perspective view, and FIG. 8B is an E- line in FIG. 8A.
It is an E line sectional view, and the same figure (c) is the FF line sectional view of the same figure (a).

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... Image forming apparatus 4 ... Photosensitive drum (photosensitive member) 10 ... Developing device 100 ... Development housing (toner storage part) 120 ... Stirring paddle (stirring means) 122 ... Rotary shaft (rotary drive shaft) 205a ... Recess cleaning section (first cleaning member) 201a, 202a ... 2nd cleaning part (2nd cleaning member) 205e, 205f ... Third cleaning unit (third cleaning member) 301 ... First protrusion 302 ... Second protrusion 303 ... Recess (gap) 305, 306 ... Side walls (both outer side portions) 307, 308 ... Upper part (upper surface part) 350 ... Toner concentration detecting means 400 ... Toner Presence / Absence Detection Means 500 ... Toner cartridge (toner storage section) T ... Toner

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Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A developing device of an image forming apparatus for supplying toner to a surface of a photoconductor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed to develop the electrostatic latent image, the toner containing portion containing the toner, A pair of projecting portions provided at a predetermined gap in the bottom of the toner containing portion so as to project inward of the toner containing portion, and the presence or absence of toner in the gap between the pair of projecting portions is detected. a toner detecting means, and intermittently entering the gap portion of the pair of projecting portions, and the first cleaning member to prevent aggregation of the toner in the gap portion, for both the outer portion of said pair of projections That orthogonal
Extending from direction, the tip portion is intermittently arriving at the both outer portion
It becomes a state that it is bent in the direction opposite to the traveling direction and is planar
And a second cleaning member that prevents the toner from agglomerating on both outer side portions of the developing device of the image forming apparatus. 2. The first cleaning member extends laterally from an upper portion of the first cleaning member.
In this way, it is provided integrally with the first cleaning member, and intermittently arrives at the upper surface portions of the pair of projecting portions so that the tip portions are
It becomes a state that it is bent in the direction opposite to the traveling direction and is planar
3. A third cleaning member , which comes into contact with the toner and prevents aggregation of toner on the upper surface portion, is further provided.
The developing device of the image forming apparatus described in 1. 3. The first cleaning member extends laterally from a side portion.
Thus, the first cleaning member is integrally provided,
The tip of the pair of protrusions intermittently arrives at both inner side portions.
Is bent in the direction opposite to the direction of travel.
To prevent the toner from agglomerating on both inside parts
A fourth cleaning member is further provided.
The developing device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The first cleaning member and the second cleaning member are attached to the same rotary drive shaft having a rotation center axis in a direction orthogonal to the projecting direction of the projecting portion. 4. The developing device of the image forming apparatus according to item 3. 5. A toner is formed on the surface of a photoconductor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed.
Of an image forming apparatus for supplying a latent image to develop the electrostatic latent image
An apparatus , wherein a toner storage unit for storing toner and an inner side of the toner storage unit at the bottom of the toner storage unit
Provided with a predetermined gap so as to project in the direction
The presence or absence of toner in the gap between the pair of protrusions and the pair of protrusions is detected.
The toner presence / absence detecting means for outputting, the rotary drive shaft orthogonal to the protruding direction of the protruding portion,
It consists of a stirring blade attached to the rolling drive shaft and
A stirring means for stirring and conveying, and a rotation drive shaft of the stirring means provided between the stirring blades.
A cleaning member, the cleaning member being a base attached to the rotary drive shaft.
And extends downward from this base to rotate the rotary drive shaft.
Along with this, the gap between the pair of protrusions intermittently enters.
The tip is bent in the direction opposite to the direction of travel.
Becomes in contact with the toner presence / absence detection means,
First cleaning member for preventing aggregation of toner in the gap
And extending laterally from the base, the lower part of the rotary drive shaft
It intermittently arrives at the upper part of the pair of protrusions as it rotates.
And the tip is bent in the direction opposite to the direction of travel.
Third cleaning unit for cleaning the upper surface by making a planar contact
Of the first cleaning member below the third cleaning member.
It is provided on a side part and is rotated by the rotation of the rotary drive shaft.
The tips of the pair of protrusions arrive intermittently on both inner sides and the tip advances.
It is bent in the direction opposite to the row direction
Contact with each other to prevent the toner from aggregating on the inner side
And a fourth cleaning member, wherein the edge of the stirring blade facing the cleaning member has the first cleaning member.
It extends in a direction orthogonal to both outer side portions of the pair of protrusions, and
Both outer side portions of the pair of protrusions as the rolling drive shaft rotates.
Intermittently, and the tip part folds in the direction opposite to the direction of travel.
Surface to contact with a bent state is, in the both outer portion
A second cleaning member is provided to prevent toner aggregation in
A developing device of an image forming apparatus characterized by being. 6. The second cleaning member is provided for the rotary drive shaft.
Intermittently arrives at the front of the pair of protrusions as it rotates.
It is configured to make surface contact when the
By rotating the drive shaft in the opposite direction to the original rotation direction,
The surface of the pair of protrusions also comes intermittently to the back surface of the projection.
The developing device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the developing device is configured to be in contact with each other .