JP3481772B2 - Toner / developer supply device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an analog / digital copying machine, a facsimile and a printer,
In particular, the present invention relates to a toner / developer supply device attached to a developing device in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms an image using a two-component developer composed of a carrier and toner. It is possible to replace the deteriorated carrier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Bottles for supplying toner to a developing device are disclosed in JP-A-60-159769 and JP-A-7-20.
The configurations disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 705 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-159769 are known. These serve to discharge the toner contained inside in a horizontally installed state by the action of a spiral fin (projection) provided in the bottle container during rotation. However, these bottles are used only for toner supply and have no other use.

Further, in the two-component developing device, in addition to toner replenishment for compensating for consumption, supply of developer containing new carrier and replacement of used developer containing deteriorated carrier for replacement of deteriorated carrier. Collection and recovery is required. In particular, regarding the replacement of the developer, in order to suppress the fluctuation of the image quality, the partial replacement at regular intervals is becoming the mainstream, instead of the total replacement at each life. Regarding toner replenishment and developer exchange, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-29271 discloses a developer supplying / discharging mechanism including means for discharging a part of used developer and means for supplying new developer. In this mechanism, however, the used developer is collected after the developer is supplied to the container containing the new developer. However, in the technique disclosed in the publication, the service person simply attaches the empty container to a collecting position different from the supply position. In addition, the used developer is not collected, and in addition, it is necessary to mount two containers in the device, resulting in an increase in size of the device.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-6978 discloses a toner storage container having a replenishing container part and a recovery container part which are integrally structured and which is detachably attached to a developing device. In this container, the toner is collected in the separated collecting agent storage section, so a separate wasteful space is required for the toner replenishment container, that is, the collection section. Also need wasted space.

[0005]

Therefore, it is required to automatically collect the deteriorated used developer without increasing the size of the apparatus and without bothering a service person or a user. In terms of effective use of space, it is desirable to collect the used developer that has deteriorated after its use in the toner container that stores the replenishment toner. For example, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-159769, a spiral fin is provided internally, and
According to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 0705, a part of the inner surface of the container shoulder portion has a shape protruding from the inner surface portion of the shoulder portion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the opening portion to the edge of the opening portion. However, these effective means for discharging the toner also cause a decrease in performance for the developer recovery. As a result, the recovery amount that should be recovered may not be recovered.

The applicant of the present invention has previously found that a cylindrical container having a concentric circular shape is fitted into the central space of a container having two annular containers and having an annular portion so as to be integrated, and the concentric circles are provided on the same side of each container. Proposes an integrated bottle for storing toner / developer, each of which has a circular opening (Japanese Patent Application No. 7-1711).
57). Then, in order to effectively use the integrated bottle, a toner replenishment and a developer supply / collection mechanism disposed between the integrated bottle and the developing device were further proposed (Japanese Patent Application No. 7- No. 262984). This is provided with a supply unit that sends the toner / developer discharged from the bottle to the developing unit by a rotating operation, and a collecting unit that lifts the developer sent from the developing unit by a rotating operation. A space having a bottom portion which is defined by the peripheral wall and becomes shallower toward the downstream side in the supply rotation direction, and a turning member having a scooping portion capable of rotationally transferring the developer during the recovery rotation, and the side wall and the inner wall of the turning member. A flat plate portion that can be rubbed against each upper edge of the peripheral wall to form a supply space, and a toner that is composed of an intermediate member that has a supply hole for carrying in and out toner / developer with the rotation of the tumbling member and a recovery hole. This is a developer supply device.

However, when the developer is collected using the bottle and the replenishing device as described above, the developer is lifted by the scooping portion of the rotating member that is rotated while sliding on the collecting blade of the fixed intermediate member. Since the developer is dropped from the break of the recovery blade and is fed into the bottle by using the slope of the closure plug, when the bottle is removed after the recovery operation is completed, the central opening of the tumbling member is separated from the bottle. Unrecovered developer may stain the inside of the image forming apparatus from the vicinity. If the size of the central aperture can be changed like a diaphragm mechanism of a camera, such a problem can be avoided, but the mechanism must be extremely complicated.

Therefore, the present invention has an object to provide a toner / developer supply device capable of performing toner / developer supply and developer recovery by a common member while suppressing contamination by the developer with a simple structure. And

A second object is to eliminate the need for the operation and time for collecting the developer for partial replacement of the developer.

[0010]

According to the present invention, the first problem is that (1) a container for accommodating a developer and a toner in each space, and (2) a container fitted in an opening end face of the container. A detachable toner / developer supply device comprising a powder mixing container member to be combined, wherein the powder mixing container member is a turning member and a lid side plate, and the turning member corresponds to the opening of the accommodating container. It has a cylindrical opening with a central opening, and has a developer supply part and a developer recovery part on its inner surface, and the developer supply part is defined by the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral wall. It is a space having a bottom that becomes shallow, and the developer recovery section has a flat surface whose bottom surface is at the same height as the upstream end of the developer supply section, and the wall section which constitutes the downstream side of the developer supply section and the above-mentioned turning point. The surrounding wall of the member and the surrounding wall form an enclosure. The collected developer can be rotatably transferred during the collection rotation in the direction opposite to the rotation, and the lid side plate can rub against the upper side edges of the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral wall of the turning member to form a closed supply space. And a toner / developer supply device having an outflow hole and an inflow hole for carrying in / out the toner / developer with the supply rotation of the turning member. The second problem is solved by the supply space being configured to be able to store the same amount of powder as the developer contained in the container.

The second object is a detachable toner / developer supply device comprising a container for containing toner and a powder mixing container member fitted into the opening end face of the container. The powder mixing container member is composed of a tumbling member and a lid side plate, and the tumbling member is cylindrical with a central opening corresponding to the opening of the accommodating container, and has a developer supply section on its inner surface. The developer supply portion is a space having a bottom portion which is defined by the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral wall and becomes shallower toward the downstream side in the supply rotation direction, and the lid side plate is formed by the upper edges of the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral wall of the turning member. With a flat plate portion capable of forming a closed supply space by rubbing against the end, and a toner / developer supply device having an outflow hole and an inflow hole for carrying in / out the toner / developer with the rotation of the turning member, Will be resolved.

It is more effective if a shutter for opening and closing the outflow hole and the inflow hole of the lid side plate is attached.
Further, it is preferable that a stopper for opening and closing the opening of the container is provided and the stopper is opened and closed by a stopper guide member formed on the shutter. It is convenient that the stopper is opened and closed with the rotation of the shutter.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. A developing device 2 equipped with a toner / developer replenishing device 1 is shown in FIG. Using a developing roller or the like in the developing device 2, a latent image on a photoreceptor (not shown) is made visible as is well known. The toner / developer supply device 1 includes a powder container 3 for storing toner and a two-component developer composed of toner and carrier, a toner and a developer discharged from the container to the developing device 2, and a developing device 2 The toner / developer transport device 4 circulates the developer derived from.

The toner / developer conveying device 4 includes a first conveying screw 21 and a second conveying screw 22 as shown in the figure.
The developer sent from the developing device 2 by the first carrying screw 21 is sent to the second carrying screw 22 by the delivery member on the front side of the drawing by the second carrying screw 22. It is adapted to be returned to the developing device 2. In some cases, this developer circulation system may be formed only by the developing device 2 and the powder container 3 without the toner / developer conveying device 4 interposed. At least a part of the developer transferred from the first carrying screw 21 to the second carrying screw 22 is, as shown on the right side of FIG. 2, from a dropping space 24 formed below the second carrying screw 22, Through the hole 25 provided in the lower side wall of the case 23 for the conveying screw, it is sent to the powder container 3 side through the case shutter 5 and the container 3 shutter 6, and again from the container 3 side to the case 23. It is designed to be returned to the circulation system from a hole 26 provided on the upper side wall of the. As shown in FIG.
The case shutter 5 is rotatable, and the flat surface thereof has corresponding holes 1 for closing the holes 25 and 26 of the case 23 before setting the container and opening these holes after setting.
8 and 19 are provided. Further, a guide hole 20 is formed in the central area of the plane portion for allowing the tip of the powder container opening stopper to protrude toward the transfer device. Peripheral notch 4
The reference numeral 1 and the protrusion 42 are pieces for rotating in conjunction with the container shutter.

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the toner / developer carrying device 4 and the case shutter 5 from the device side.
A guide guide 33 is formed around the guide hole 20 for setting the powder container and pulling out the closing plug that closes the opening of the powder container while rotating the case shutter 5. The tip of the closure plug that protrudes toward the transport device through the guide hole 20 is guided by the guide guide 33 as it is rotated.
The container opening will be opened while sliding on the slope of the container. Further, when removing the container from the apparatus, the stopper is pushed into the container opening by a spring action or the like while rotating in the direction opposite to the setting direction. The guide guide may be a groove having a sloped portion, and in short, it is desirable that the closure plug is interlocked with the movement of the container to open / close it.

The structure of the detachable powder container 3 for containing the new toner / new developer is as follows. The container 3 is apparently one container, but in reality, as shown on the left side of FIG. 2, the first powder container 9, the second powder container 10, and the powder mixing container member 11 are integrated. Further, a shutter 6 is attached to the common end face side for supplying the toner and the developer. Second powder container 10
Has a shape of an annular cylinder and is concentric with the container.
The powder container 9 is fitted therein. In other words, the first powder container 9 has a protruding portion that is inserted into the central space of the second powder container 10, and the fitting is realized by this protruding portion and the central space of the second powder container. At least one of these containers has a spiral protrusion on its inner peripheral surface (not shown), and the powder (new toner, new developer) stored by the action of the spiral protrusion in response to rotation in a predetermined direction. ) Can be discharged. When both containers are provided with spiral protrusions, the respective spirals may be tilted in opposite directions, but may be tilted in the same direction. When the powder container is inclined in the same direction, the new toner and the new developer are discharged at the same time by rotating the powder container in one direction.

The respective openings of the first powder container 9 and the second powder container 10 are opened and closed by a closure plug 40. In order to provide a difference in the opening / closing timing of each opening, the depth of the lid portion may be different as illustrated. In the present embodiment, the new toner is stored in the first powder container 9 and the new developer is stored in the second powder container 10. However, the container capacity and other configurations are changed and the relationship is reversed. It is possible to accommodate.
First, the closure plug 40 includes the first powder container 9 and the second powder container 10.
To prevent the developer and the toner from leaking and to open each opening as shown in the drawing, the tip end of the closing plug 40 has the slope of the guide guide 33. By sliding on, a predetermined amount is pulled out. The first powder container 9 is closed by the central plug portion, and the second powder container 10 is closed by the outer peripheral plug portion. The central plug portion is composed of a conical surface protruding toward the container and a plurality of blade portions (not shown) evenly arranged on the conical surface. The conical surface has a repose angle of the developer or more, for example, at least 20 degrees. As a result, the dropped developer is naturally collected in the container.
The conical surface and the blade portion effectively function when collecting the deteriorated developer, and the developer falling from above is reliably picked up by the blade portion and slips on the conical surface to the first powder container. Will be collected.

Toner discharged from the powder containers 9 and 10,
The powder mixing container member 11 for mixing the developer with the circulating developer includes a turning body 1 that forms a developer turning space 15.
3 (FIG. 6) and the lid side plate 14 (FIG. 5). Lid side plate 1
Numeral 4 is rotatably fitted to the turning body 13, and includes a flat plate 28 and a cylindrical portion 29 surrounding the flat plate 28. The flat plate portion 28 serves as one end surface of the developer turning space 15,
As shown in FIG. 5, holes 16 and 17 located in the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant as viewed from the turning body 13 side and a central opening are provided. Further, there are a supply support blade 30 and a recovery support blade 31 protruding from the flat plate portion 28 toward the turning main body so as to surround the central opening of the flat plate portion. By positioning the outflow hole 16 and the inflow hole 17 in the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant rather than the vertical position, the end of the conveying screw (22) can be positioned in a space-efficient position.

As shown in FIG. 6, the turning body 13 has a cylindrical shape having a relatively large central opening. A gear 34 for transmitting rotational drive from a drive unit (not shown) is attached to the outer peripheral side wall, and when returning the developer to the circulation system, for example, it rotates in the direction of arrow A. Further, on the inner surface of the turning main body 13, there are formed a developer supplying section 35 for sending the toner or the developer to the toner / developer carrying device, and a developer collecting section 36 for returning the collected developer into the container. . At least one pair of the developer supplying section 35 and the developer collecting section 36 is provided (two pairs in the illustrated example). The developer supply unit 35 includes the peripheral side wall of the turning body 13 and the lid side plate 1.
4 is defined by an inner peripheral wall that rubs the outer side of the support blade 30, and the bottom surface between these walls has a downstream side higher than the upstream side during developer supply rotation, forming a slope. The bottom surface of the developer recovery portion 36 is a flat surface having the same height as the upstream end of the developer supply portion, and is surrounded by the wall portion constituting the downstream side of the developer supply portion and the peripheral side wall of the turning body. Three
7 is formed, and the collected developer is conveyed during the rotation (rotation in the B direction) at the time of collecting the developer.

FIG. 7 shows the appearance of the powder container 3 with the shutter 6 attached. The shutter 6 is formed with a protrusion 38 and a recess 39 for engaging with the case shutter. Both of these protrusions and depressions may be provided as shown in the figure, but only one of them may be formed in accordance with the notch or protrusion on the case side.
Holes 44 and 45 corresponding to the holes in the lid side plate are formed in the shutter plane portion. The container is set in the apparatus main body, and the protruding portion 38, the peripheral notch portion of the case shutter, and the recess portion 3
Due to the engagement of 9 and the case shutter projection, the position of the hole shifts as the shutter rotates, and the hole 16 of the lid side plate,
17 is open, so that holes 16 and 17 are 26 and 2 respectively.
Communicate with 5. At that time, the position of the guide guide 33 also moves due to the rotation of the shutter, engages with the tip of the stopper 40, and pulls out the stopper from the container.

When the lid side plate 14 and the turning main body 13 are fitted to each other, the flat plate portion 28 of the lid side plate 14, the bottom surfaces of the supply and recovery parts of the turning main body 13, the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral wall of the turning main body 13, and the lid side plate. With the support blades 30 and 31 of 14
The developer turning space 15 is defined. The lid side plate 14 prevents the developer from entering during the rotation of the turning body 13.
The first seal member 48 is mounted between the rotating body 13 and the turning body 13 (FIG. 2). The seal member 48 is a rubber-based V ring, a G seal, or a substitute thereof, such as a sponge. In order to hold and seal the powder container 3 when setting it in the toner / developer replenishing device, the turning body 1
A second seal member 49 is also attached to the inner peripheral edge portion of 3, and a third seal member 50 is also attached between the lid 40 and the lid side plate 14.

A series of operations in this embodiment will be described below. For example, if it is determined that the toner in the powder container 3 does not have toner even though the toner density of the developing device 2 has decreased and the toner needs to be replenished, the user is informed of the container 3
Encourage exchange. When the new container 3 is installed, the stopper 40 is opened as described above. When the stopper 40 is opened, the turning main body 13 is driven by a drive unit (not shown) via the gear 34 and is rotated in the A direction. At the same time, the powder container 3 has the same A
The toner is discharged from the first powder container 9 into the turning space 15 by being rotated in the direction. Depending on the spiral state (tilt) of the spiral protrusion attached to the inner peripheral surface of the first powder container 9, the toner may be discharged by rotating in the B direction. The powder container may be driven by an independent drive unit,
The turning body may be driven via the power transmission mechanism. Further, when the inclination of the spiral protrusions attached to the inner peripheral surface of the second powder container 10 is the same as that of the first powder container 9, the developer is supplied at the same time when the toner is replenished. Become. Further, if the inclination of the spiral protrusion is in the opposite direction, the developer can be discharged to the turning space 15 by rotating in the opposite direction to the case of toner supply.

The toner or the developer discharged from the opening falls into the turning space 15, and the turning main body 13 rotates in the direction A so as to move upward in the developer feeding portion 35 and the inclined surface of the feeding portion causes the toner / developer carrying device. 4 are moved in the direction of approaching 4, and eventually the holes 16 and 4 provided on the upper side of each side wall.
It is sent out onto the second conveying screw 22 which is rotationally driven via 4, 19, and 26. When the toner or the developer is rotatably conveyed by the developer supply unit 35 in the turning space, the toner or the developer is conveyed in the space defined by the inclined bottom portion, the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral side wall. Therefore, it is also possible to omit the supply support blade 30 that rubs against the inner peripheral side wall. The second conveying screw 22 and the first conveying screw 21 start to be driven at least at the same time when the powder container 3 is rotationally driven, so that the developer is circulated and conveyed from the developing device 2, and especially the toner is conveyed. When replenishing, mixing with the developer is started before reaching the developing device 2, and it is possible to minimize unevenness in the toner density in the developing device 2.

After supplying a predetermined amount of toner, the rotation of the powder container 3 is stopped. At this time, the turning body 13 and the first
The driving of the carrying screw 21 and the second carrying screw 22 may be stopped, or may be kept driving. First transport screw 21 and second transport screw 2
When 2 constitutes a part of the developing device 2, it is preferable to always drive the developing device 2 from the viewpoint of stirring the developer in the developing device 2. Also, rotate the case shutter 5 to rotate the case 2
The holes 25 and 26 of No. 3 may be closed and only the 1st conveyance screw 21 and the 2nd conveyance screw 22 may be driven.

When all the new toner is discharged from the first powder container 9, the empty powder container 9 is used as a recovery container for the deteriorated developer. In the case of collecting the deteriorated developer, the first conveying screw 21 and the second conveying screw 22 are driven in the same manner as in the case of supplying the toner or the developer, and the turning main body 13 is reverse to the case of supplying the toner or the developer. Rotate in the B direction. The closure plug is arranged at a predetermined collecting position. The timing for collecting the developer is determined when the toner concentration needs to be replenished as the toner concentration decreases due to a magnetic toner concentration sensor, an optical toner concentration sensor in the developing device 2, a sensor that detects the toner concentration on the photoconductor, or the like. It is reasonable to adjust to. When the decrease in toner concentration is determined by various sensors and the toner in the first powder container 9 is used up, the developer recovery mode is set.

The deteriorated developer sent from the developing device 2 passes through holes 25, 18, 45, 17 provided on the lower side wall of the case 23 or the like from a dropping space 24 formed below the second conveying screw 22. And enters the rotating turning space 15. The developer that has entered the turning space 15 collects in the space surrounded by the side wall of the turning main body 13 and the recovery support blades 31, is lifted up by the enclosure 37 of the developer recovery unit 36, and eventually the recovery support blades 31 of the recovery support blades 31. It falls at the position where it is interrupted, is picked up by the blade portion of the stopper 40, slides on the conical surface, and is collected in the first powder container 9. At this time, by rotating the first powder container 9 in the direction opposite to that at the time of replenishing the toner, the collected developer is taken into the inner side of the container by the action of the inner peripheral spiral protrusion. Recovered when the amount of deteriorated developer recovered in the turning space 15 and the first powder container 9 becomes equal to the amount of new developer initially contained in the second powder container 10 and supplied to the developing device 2. To finish. For the old and new replacement of the developer, a part of the capacity of the developing device 2 is generally replaced, but the entire amount can be replaced. As described above, after the end of collection, the user is prompted to replace the container as a toner end.
In that case, the developer leakage can be completely prevented by rotating the case shutter and the container shutter to close the respective holes.

If a circulating developer of the same amount as the new developer contained in the second powder container 10 is present in the turning space 15, the powder may be collected without performing the collecting operation as described above. By taking out the body accommodating container 3, the required amount of the developer to be replaced, which has entered the turning space of the powder mixing container member, is automatically collected.

Considering that the operation for collecting the developer can be made unnecessary by effectively utilizing the turning space, a further improved example of the powder container will be described with reference to FIG. This powder container 53 is also apparently one container, but in reality, as shown on the left side of FIG. 8, the first powder container 9 and the powder mixing container member 51 are integrally connected. Further, a shutter 6 is attached to the common end face side for supplying the toner and the developer. Stopper 6
As described above, the spiral protrusion is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the first powder container 9 whose opening is opened and closed by 0 (not shown). The powder mixing container member 51, which stores the amount of new developer necessary for the developer replacement, is the same as the powder mixing container member 11.
The developer main body 63 and the lid side plate 64 form the developer turning space 55. The required amount of new developer is all stored in the turning space 55. Since the structure of the powder mixing container member 51 is basically the same as that of the powder mixing container member 11 shown in FIG. 2, the same reference numerals are assigned to the respective parts so that the parts have the same functions. The detailed description is omitted here. However, since there is a storage capacity for the developer to be exchanged in the turning space 55 and the collecting operation is not necessary, there is a slight difference in the configuration. It becomes clear in FIGS. 9 and 10. The lid side plate 64 shown in FIG. 9 includes a flat plate portion 28 having a central opening and holes 16 and 17, a cylindrical portion 29 surrounding the flat plate portion 28, and a supply support blade 30 attached around the flat plate central opening. There is. Although the vanes facing the supply support vanes are shown in the figure, they are not functionally necessary. However, in forming the lid side plate, when the holes 16 and 17 are provided at opposing positions, if the blades are also paired, they can be used in common. Further, the turning body 63 shown in FIG. 10 is not provided with the enclosing portion 37 for collection. A developer supply unit 35 for sending the toner or the developer to the toner / developer transport device is provided in the turning main body 5.
3 is defined by the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral wall that rubs the support blades 30 of the lid side plate 54 from the outside. The bottom surface between these walls has a downstream side higher than the upstream side during developer supply rotation, forming a slope. What is done is the same as the turning body 13.

When the container 3 is set and the toner is discharged from the first powder container 9, the toner is supplied to the developer supply unit by the rotation of the rotation main body 63 together with the new developer previously stored in the rotation space 55. It is moved upward in 35 and in the direction approaching the toner / developer conveying device by the inclined surface of the supply portion, and is eventually sent out to the second conveying screw through the hole of each side wall. When the conveying screw is driven and the circulating developer enters the turning space that rotates through the hole from the dropping space 24 during the supply of new toner, the developer that has entered the turning space 55 is the same as the new toner supply path. The developer supply portion 35 of the turning body 63, the holes 16, 26
And the like, and is passed to the second conveying screw 22.

When all the new toner is discharged from the first powder container 9, the toner ends, and the user replaces the powder container 3 as described above. At that time, when the powder container 3 having the empty first powder container is taken out, the developer taken into the turning space 55 is also replaced. Since the amount of the developer taken into the turning space 55 is equal to the amount of the new developer previously put in the turning space of the new powder container 3, the powder container is automatically replaced by the new one. That is, the developer in the developing device is partially replaced without performing a special recovery operation.

[0031]

According to the invention described in claim 1, (1)
A detachable toner / developer supply device comprising a container for accommodating a developer and a toner in each space, and (2) a powder mixing container member fitted to an opening end surface of the container. The powder mixing container member is composed of a tumbling member and a lid side plate, and the tumbling member is cylindrical with a central opening corresponding to the opening of the accommodating container, and has a developer supply section and a developer collecting section on its inner surface. The developer supply section is a space having a bottom portion defined by the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral wall and becoming shallower toward the downstream side in the supply rotation direction, and the developer recovery section has a bottom surface upstream of the developer supply section. On a flat surface having the same height as the end, the wall portion that constitutes the downstream side of the developer supply portion and the peripheral side wall of the rotating member forms an enclosure portion, and the recovery rotation in the opposite direction to the supply rotation is performed. The collected developer can be rotatably transferred at the time of A flat plate portion capable of forming a closed supply space by rubbing the respective upper edge ends of the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral wall of the turning member, and an outflow hole for carrying in / out the toner / developer with the supply rotation of the turning member. And (2) the powder mixing container member is integrally attached to the above-mentioned (1) accommodating container, and toner / developer supply and developer recovery can be performed by a common member. As well,
The structure of the connecting surface between the supply device and the main body of the image forming apparatus can be simplified, and as a result, it becomes easy to close the opening in the connecting surface, and the contamination of the inside of the image forming apparatus due to the uncollected developer is suppressed. It became possible to do it.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the volume of the supply space can accommodate the same amount of powder as the developer contained in the container, the developer can be collected in the container. The developer can be automatically replaced by replacing the supply device without performing the operation.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the detachable toner / developer supply is composed of the container for containing the toner and the powder mixing container member fitted to the opening end face of the container. In the apparatus, the powder mixing container member is composed of a turning member and a lid side plate, and the turning member has a cylindrical shape having a central opening corresponding to the opening of the accommodating container, and has a developer supply section on its inner surface. However, the developer supply portion is a space having a bottom portion which is defined by the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral wall and becomes shallower toward the downstream side in the supply rotation direction, and the lid side plate is formed of the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral wall of the turning member. It has a flat plate portion that can be rubbed against each upper edge to form a closed supply space, and an outflow hole and an inflow hole for carrying in and out toner / developer with the supply rotation of the turning member. If the powder mixing container member is integrally attached to the container, Runode, can automatically exchange of the developer by the exchange of the supply device, a special recovery operation, time becomes unnecessary.

According to the invention described in claim 4, since the shutter for opening and closing the outflow hole and the inflow hole of the lid side plate is attached, it is possible to prevent the developer from spilling from the device when the supply device is replaced. Can be completely prevented. According to the invention of claim 5, a stopper for opening and closing the opening of the container is provided, and the stopper guide member formed on the shutter opens and closes the stopper. It becomes unnecessary. In particular, if the opening and closing of the plug is performed according to the rotation of the shutter, as in the invention described in claim 5,
The mechanism is simple.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a positional relationship between a toner / developer supply device and a developing device according to the present invention, in which a toner / developer transport device is partially opened.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a powder container, particularly a powder mixing container member.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a shutter portion of a connecting portion of the toner / developer carrying device with the powder container.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the connecting portion of FIG. 3 viewed from the back side.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a lid side plate that constitutes the powder mixing container member.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a turning main body that constitutes a powder mixing container member.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a powder container to which a shutter is attached.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of a powder mixing container member having a structure different from that of FIG.

9 is a perspective view of a lid side plate which constitutes the powder mixing container member of FIG. 8. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a turning main body that constitutes the powder mixing container member of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 powder container 5 Case shutter 6 container shutter 9 First powder container 10 Second powder container 11 Powder mixing container member 13 Turning body 14 Lid side plate 15 Developer turning space 21 1st conveying screw 22 Second conveying screw 23 cases 24 Drop Space 40 stopper

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Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A detachable toner / developer supply device comprising a container for accommodating a developer and a toner in each space and a powder mixing container member fitted into an opening end surface of the container. The powder mixing container member is composed of a turning member and a lid side plate, and the turning member has a cylindrical shape having a central opening corresponding to the opening of the accommodating container, and the inner surface thereof is provided with a developer supplying portion. The developer collecting portion is a space having a bottom portion defined by a peripheral side wall and an inner peripheral wall and becoming shallower toward the downstream side in the supply rotation direction, and the developer collecting portion has a bottom surface for developing. A flat surface having the same height as the upstream end of the agent supply section forms an enclosure section by the wall section that constitutes the downstream side of the developer supply section and the peripheral side wall of the tumbling member. Transfers the recovered developer during the recovery rotation in the direction The lid side plate is a flat plate portion capable of forming a closed supply space by rubbing the upper side edges of the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral wall of the turning member, and the toner / developing along with the supply rotation of the turning member. A toner / developer supply device having an outflow hole and an inflow hole through which an agent is carried in and out. 2. The toner according to claim 1, wherein the closed supply space is configured to be able to store the same amount of powder as the developer stored in the storage container. Developer supply device. 3. A detachable toner / developer supply device comprising a container for accommodating toner and a powder mixing container member fitted to an opening end surface of the container, the powder mixing container comprising: The member includes a turning member and a lid side plate, and the turning member has a cylindrical shape having a central opening corresponding to the opening of the accommodating container, and has a developer supply portion on its inner surface. The part is a space having a space defined by a peripheral side wall and an inner peripheral wall and having a bottom that becomes shallower toward the downstream side in the rotation direction, and the lid side plate is an upper edge of each of the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral wall of the turning member. A toner / developer supply device characterized by having a flat plate portion capable of forming a closed supply space by rubbing against the surface, and an outflow hole and an inflow hole for carrying in / out the toner / developer with the rotation of the turning member. . 4. The toner / developer supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a shutter for opening and closing an outflow hole and an inflow hole of the lid side plate. 5. A stopper for opening and closing the opening of the storage container is disposed, and the stopper is opened and closed by a stopper guide member formed on the shutter.
The toner / developer supply device according to 1. 6. The toner / developer supply device according to claim 5, wherein the stopper is opened and closed with the rotation of the shutter.