JP3927914B2 - Developer supply container - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a developer supply container for supplying a developer to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a fine powder developer is used as a developer in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer. When the developer in the main body of the image forming apparatus is consumed, the developer is supplied to the image forming apparatus using the developer supply container.
[0003]
Since the developer is a very fine powder, there is a problem that the developer is scattered during the developer replenishment operation and the operator stains the surroundings. For this reason, there has been proposed and put to practical use a method in which a developer supply container is placed on the main body of the image forming apparatus and the developer is discharged little by little from a small opening. In such a system, it is difficult for the developer to be naturally discharged by the action of gravity or the like, and some kind of developer stirring and conveying means is required.
[0004]
Conventionally, a developer replenishing container provided with a stirring and conveying member as the developer agitating and conveying means inside the developer replenishing container has been widely known, but the increase in the number of parts and the amount of developer contained inside Depending on the state, the stirring torque of the stirring member may become larger than expected. Therefore, recently, a developer transport protrusion is integrally provided in the developer supply container, the developer supply container itself is rotated, or the developer supply container is attached to the rotary developing device, and the rotation of the rotary developer device is performed. Developer supply containers configured to discharge the developer are mainly used.
[0005]
For example, a developer supply container disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 7-44000 and 10-260574 is provided with a spiral protrusion on a cylindrical bottle-shaped inner surface, and near the center of one end side end surface. A small developer discharge port is provided at each end of the container on the side where the developer discharge port is provided. Then, by rotating the developer supply container, the developer is conveyed to the discharge port side by a spiral protrusion provided inside, and is lifted to the discharge port near the center of the container by the protruding shape near the opening, and is outside the container. Is discharged.
[0006]
Further, the developer supply containers disclosed in JP-A-6-337586 and JP-A-2000-214669 are provided with a spiral protrusion on the inner surface of a cylindrical bottle, and a small discharge is provided on the peripheral surface. There is an exit. Then, by rotating the developer supply container, the developer is conveyed to the discharge port side by a spiral protrusion provided inside, and discharged from the discharge port provided on the peripheral surface of the container to the outside of the container.
[0007]
Conventionally, as a developer replenishment container for reducing the diameter near the opening which is the developer discharge port, JP-A-3-2881, JP-A-7-5759, JP-A-7-199619, There are JP-A-7-20705, JP-A-9-160362, JP-A-10-213957, and JP-A-10-260575.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-44000
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-10-260574
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-6-337586
[Patent Document 4]
JP 2000-214669 A
[Patent Document 5]
JP-A-3-2881
[Patent Document 6]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-5759
[Patent Document 7]
JP-A-7-199619
[Patent Document 8]
JP-A-7-20705
[Patent Document 9]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-213957
[Patent Document 10]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-260575
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the prior art has the following problems.
[0010]
First, a developer replenishing container having spiral protrusions as disclosed in JP-A-7-44000, JP-A-10-260574, JP-A-6-337586, and JP-A-2000-214669. In this case, since there is no stirring member in the container body, if the developer is left standing for a long time under vibration caused by physical distribution or high temperature and high humidity, and aggregates in the container, the aggregated state is not lost. Since it is conveyed to the discharge port as it is, the discharge port may be blocked by the aggregated developer, and the developer discharge performance may be deteriorated. This phenomenon is particularly remarkable in a container in which a discharge port is provided on the peripheral surface of the container.
[0011]
In the meantime, the applicant has previously proposed a developer supply container that divides the protrusions in the developer storage container and breaks up the aggregated developer at the level difference between the divided protrusions. .
[0012]
Further, the developer supply container disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-2881 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-5759 is provided with a cap or a developer discharge regulating member in the vicinity of the opening to regulate the discharge of the developer. is doing. Further, the developer discharge amount per rotation is made uniform by the regulation of the discharge amount. In this developer replenishing container, the developer discharge performance is not improved but rather decreased.
[0013]
The developer supply containers disclosed in JP-A-7-199619 and JP-A-7-20705 also have an opening for discharging the developer in a portion having a smaller diameter than the main body. The connecting portion with the small diameter portion has a height difference. Accordingly, in order for the developer to exceed this height difference, a squeeze member is provided in the developer supply container, and the amount of developer discharged is substantially determined by the size of the squeeze member. That is, a developer discharging squeeze member must be provided, and the size of the developer must be determined according to the amount of developer discharged. There are problems such as complications.
[0014]
The developer supply containers disclosed in JP-A-10-213957 and JP-A-10-260575 are also provided with an opening for discharging the developer in a portion having a smaller diameter than the main body. There is a height difference in the connecting portion between the portion and the small diameter portion. A slope is provided in order for the developer to exceed this height difference. However, since the developer rises the slope against gravity, the transportability of the developer deteriorates.
[0015]
Therefore, the object of the present invention is not only the above-mentioned agitating / conveying projection proposed by the applicant, but also the shape of the container body, the cost increases due to the increase in the number of parts, the size of the apparatus, the complexity of the configuration, It is to further improve the developer discharging performance, which is the problem described above, without performing the above.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A typical configuration of the present invention for achieving the above object is as follows. It is mounted on a rotary developing device provided in the image forming apparatus, and is accommodated inside by the rotation of the rotary developing device. A developer supply container for transporting and discharging the developer, Provided along the axis of rotation It consists of a first part and a second part Inside A container main body for containing the developer, a discharge port provided on the peripheral surface of the first part for discharging the developer in the container main body, and a developer provided on the inner surface of the second part directed toward the discharge port The first portion is smaller in diameter than the second portion. The inner surface of the connecting portion between the first portion and the second portion is composed of a portion having a step and a portion having no step. It is characterized by that.
[0017]
According to the above configuration, the first portion and the second portion of the developer supply container main body Connection Step Part with As a result, the aggregated developer is destroyed, fluidity is imparted, and the connection between the first part and the second part is further improved. Parts without steps Thus, the developer is smoothly conveyed from the second portion to the first portion, and the developer is smoothly discharged from the discharge port of the first portion peripheral surface. Therefore, the developer discharging performance can be further improved without increasing the cost due to the increase in the number of parts, increasing the size of the apparatus, and complicating the configuration.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in the following embodiments should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied and various conditions. As long as there is no specific description, it is not the meaning which limits the scope of the present invention only to them.
[0019]
[First Embodiment]
First, the configuration of an electrophotographic copying machine, which is an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a developer supply container according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted, will be described with reference to FIG.
[0020]
(Electrophotographic image forming apparatus)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a developer supply container. The structure of the latent image forming unit will be described. First, the photosensitive drum 19 is disposed so as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow B in the drawing with the outer peripheral surface abutting against the transfer drum 15. From the upstream side to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 19, a static elimination charger 20, a cleaning unit 21, and a primary charger 23 are sequentially arranged. Further, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 19. An image exposure means 24 such as a laser beam scanner for forming the image and an image exposure reflection means 25 such as a mirror are provided.
[0021]
In the vicinity of the latent image forming portion centering on the photosensitive drum 19, a rotary developing device 30 is disposed as a developing means. The configuration of the rotary developing device 30 is as follows. A rotating body 26 as a rotatable housing is disposed at a position facing the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 19, and four types of developing devices are mounted at four positions in the circumferential direction in the rotating body 26. The electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 19 is visualized and developed. The four types of developing devices are a yellow developing device 7Y, a magenta developing device 7M, a cyan developing device 7C, and a black developing device 7Bk, respectively.
[0022]
These four types of developing devices sequentially come into contact with the photosensitive drum 19 (position 7Y in the figure) by the rotation of the rotating body 26, and develop and visualize each color. The four types of developing devices have the same configuration, and the developer is supplied from the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving portion 8 that receives the developer discharged from the developer supply container 1, and the photosensitive drum 19 includes a developing device 9 for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image.
[0023]
In other words, the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the rotary developing device 30 so as not to rotate, and is configured to revolve by rotation of the rotary developing device 30. Since the rotation is performed using the rotation of the developing device during development, the container is not required to be rotated and the cost of the developer supply container and the cost of the apparatus main body can be reduced.
[0024]
The developer receiving unit 8 receives and stores the developer discharged from the developer supply container 1, and quantitatively supplies the developer to the developing unit 9 in response to a request from the developing unit 9 side. ing. In the developing device 9, there are two developer conveying members 9a whose traveling directions are opposite to each other, and are uniformly mixed while circulating the developer and the carrier. A developing sleeve 9b incorporating a magnet is rotatably supported in the developing unit 9, and a carrier is attracted by a magnetic force to form a magnetic brush, and the developer attached to the carrier is supplied to the photosensitive drum 19. It is like that.
[0025]
Further, the developer supply container 1 corresponding to the developing device at the stop position where the developing device 9 performs development, that is, the position in contact with the photosensitive drum 9 (position 7Y in the figure) is provided with a developer discharge opening which will be described later. 2a is directed substantially in the direction of gravity, and the developer is naturally dropped and discharged. As a result, the developer can be effectively replenished to the developing device at the developing position where the developer is consumed (position 7Y in the figure).
[0026]
(Developer supply container)
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a hollow developer supply container having a cylindrical shape. A developer supply container 1 shown in this embodiment includes a container body 2, a shutter 3, a packing material 4, and a knob 5.
[0027]
(Container body)
The configuration of the container body 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 3A is a front view of the container body 2, FIG. 3B is a front sectional view, FIG. 3C is a perspective view, and FIG.
[0028]
The container body 2 is provided with a developer discharge opening 2a as an opening (discharge port), a shutter guide 2b, a knob guide 2c, and a conveyance protrusion 2d as a conveyance unit.
[0029]
The shape of the container body 2 according to the present embodiment includes a large-diameter portion 2L as a second portion in which a trapezoid is coupled to a semicircle having a cross-sectional outer diameter of 36 mm, and a trapezoid in a semicircle having an inner diameter of 25 mm. It consists of a small-diameter portion 2S as a first portion shaped like a combination, and its length in the longitudinal direction is about 350 mm. Of the total length 350 mm of the container body 2, the small diameter portion 2S having the discharge opening 2a on the peripheral surface is about 110 mm, the large diameter portion 2L is about 240 mm, and of the connecting portions of the small diameter portion 2S and the large diameter portion 2L, The semicircular part has a shape with a level difference (level difference), and the trapezoidal part has an inner surface without a level difference (level difference). The inner surface is a surface substantially along the rotation axis, and is an inner surface common to the small diameter portion 2S and the large diameter portion 2L. In this case, “substantially” means that the surface is not completely along the axis of rotation, and includes a small amount of error.
[0030]
In the present embodiment, the container body 2 is manufactured by molding two members divided in the container longitudinal direction and welding them with ultrasonic waves. That is, the container main body 2 according to the present embodiment includes a lower member 2-2 as a first member and an upper member 2-1 as a second member provided at different positions in the circumferential direction ( 4 and 5).
[0031]
(Discharge opening)
The discharge opening 2a has a rectangular shape of 10 mm × 15 mm, and is provided on the circumferential surface of the semicircular portion of the small diameter portion 2S at a position 40 mm from the container end surface. The developer stored in the container main body 2 is discharged from the discharge opening 2a to the developing device of the apparatus main body.
[0032]
(Shutter guide)
Details of the shutter guide are shown in FIG. The shutter guide 2b is two key-shaped ribs provided in the vicinity of the developer discharge opening 2a of the container body 2 and parallel to the circumferential direction. The shutter 3 engages with the shutter guide 2b and is reciprocally attached in the circumferential direction. The shutter guide 2b is provided with four notches 2b1 and locking ribs 2b2. The notch 2b1 is for attaching the shutter 3 to the shutter guide 2b, and the locking rib 2b2 restricts the movement of the shutter 3 at the time of closing, and the shutter guide 2b when an impact due to dropping or the like is applied. This suppresses vertical deflection. Even when a drop impact or the like is applied to the developer supply container due to the locking rib 2b2, the developer does not leak.
[0033]
(Knob guide)
The knob guide 2 c is a circular protrusion and is provided at the end of the container body 2. The knob guide 2c is engaged with a circular protrusion and a claw portion provided on the knob 5 (see FIG. 2), and is attached to the container body 2.
[0034]
(Conveyance protrusion)
Inside the container main body 2, a conveyance protrusion 2 d as a conveyance unit for conveying the stored developer to the discharge opening 2 a is provided so as to protrude from the inner wall of the container. 2 d of conveyance protrusions are divided and provided in two upper and lower groups spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the container main body 2. The protrusion height is 5 mm and the thickness is 1 mm. In addition, the height of the conveyance protrusion of the container small-diameter portion on the discharge opening side is 2.5 mm, each of the container upper member 2-1 as the second member has six conveyance protrusions as the second conveyance portion, and the first member The container lower member 2-2 is provided with seven conveying protrusions as first conveying portions (see FIGS. 4 and 5).
[0035]
FIG. 4 shows a view of the container upper member 2-1 and the container lower member 2-2 as seen from the mold release direction during molding.
[0036]
Each conveyance protrusion 2d provided on the container upper member and the container lower member is provided so as to be inclined so that the discharge opening side is delayed with respect to the rotation direction. This inclined shape will be described in detail using the container lower member 2-2 in FIG.
[0037]
In the container lower member 2-2 in FIG. 4, the protrusion provided on the right side with the discharge opening 2a as a boundary has a shape in which the left side is delayed with respect to the rotation direction because the left side of the protrusion is the discharge opening side. Since the rotation direction is downward, that is, the protrusion provided on the right side with the discharge opening 2a as a boundary is a protrusion inclined to the upper left. Similarly, the protrusion provided on the left side with respect to the discharge opening 2a is a protrusion inclined to the upper right because the right side is the discharge opening side.
[0038]
Moreover, each conveyance protrusion 2d provided in the container upper member and the container lower member has a flat plate shape. The flat plate shape is a shape that can be represented by a straight line when viewed from the mold release direction when the upper member 2-1 and the lower member 2-2 are molded.
[0039]
Further, the positional relationship between the conveying protrusion 2d disposed on the container upper member 2-1 and the conveying protrusion 2d disposed on the container lower member 2-2 is the positional relationship shown in FIG. The conveying projections of the lower member are arranged between the arranged conveying projections and overlap each other, and this overlap amount is the length projected in the axial direction. Is about 5 mm (X dimension in the figure). Therefore, the developer transported by the transport protrusion of the upper member is surely transported to the transport protrusion of the lower member, and the developer transported to the transport protrusion of the lower member is transported to the transport protrusion of the upper member. The developer is conveyed to the discharge opening 2a while being alternately repeated.
[0040]
The inclination angle of the conveyance protrusion 2d with respect to the rotation axis direction is Y in FIG. 4, preferably 20 ° to 70 °, more preferably 40 ° to 50 °. In this embodiment, it is 45 °.
[0041]
As shown in FIG. 5, the positional relationship between the transport protrusion 2d-1 adjacent to the discharge opening 2a and the discharge opening 2a is connected to the upstream side of the discharge opening 2a in the rotation direction. Therefore, the developer transported to the vicinity of the discharge opening 2a by the transport protrusion 2d-1 is not directly transported to the discharge opening 2a, but is rotated once in the vicinity of the discharge opening 2a, so that the developer is further stirred and discharged easily. .
[0042]
(shutter)
Details of the shutter 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 7, the shutter 3 has an arc shape along the outer peripheral surface of the container body 2, and has U-shaped guide portions 3 b at both end edges. And it engages with two shutter guides 2b provided in the vicinity of the discharge opening 2a of the container body 2 and parallel to the circumferential direction, and is reciprocally attached in the circumferential direction of the container body 2.
[0043]
In the present embodiment, the shutter 3 moves in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
[0044]
A packing material 4 is installed between the shutter 3 and the container body 2, and the discharge opening 2 a is sealed by compressing the packing material 4 with the shutter 3.
[0045]
Further, a shutter gear 3 a that receives driving is provided at a side end portion of the shutter 3. The shutter 3 rotates when the shutter gear 3a receives a rotational driving force from the main body side drive transmission gear, and the discharge opening which is the opening is opened.
[0046]
The shutter 3 is provided with a bridging portion 3d. The strength of the shutter 3 could be increased by the bridging portion 3d.
[0047]
A shutter sheet 3c is attached to the shutter 3 with a double-sided tape. This shutter sheet 3c is based on a single layer of polyester, biaxially oriented polypropylene (OPP), polyamide, polyethylene, fluororesin, or a composite layer thereof, and the surface is coated with silicone oil, silicone wax, silicone paint, or the like. Use things.
[0048]
With the above configuration, since the silicone-based paint is coated on the contact surface between the packing material 4 and the shutter sheet 3c, an increase in the opening strength can be suppressed even when the packing material 4 is compressed.
[0049]
(Manufacturing method of shutter 3)
The shutter 3 is preferably made of plastic by injection molding, but may be made of other materials and production methods. A material having a certain degree of rigidity is suitable for the shutter, and in this embodiment, a highly slidable ABS is manufactured by injection molding. Thereafter, the shutter sheet 3c is pasted to complete.
[0050]
(Assembly method of shutter 3)
In the case of the container body 2 shown in the present embodiment, the shutter 3 can be assembled from the end portion as usual because the opening 2a is provided in the small diameter portion which is the first portion. Therefore, a notch 2b1 (see FIG. 6) is provided in a part of the shutter guide 2b, and the shutter 3 is assembled at a position in the opening direction (position shown in FIG. 8A) and assembled by sliding to the closing position. Yes. Note that the position where the shutter 3 is assembled (the position shown in FIG. 8A) is a position slid further to the opening side than the normal opening position of the shutter 3 (the position shown in FIG. 8B). The shutter 3 is configured not to come off.
[0051]
(Packing material)
As shown in FIG. 2, the packing material 4 is disposed so as to surround the discharge opening 2a of the container body 2, and is compressed by the container body 2 and the shutter 3, thereby sealing the discharge opening 2a. Various foams and elastic bodies can be used as appropriate. In the present embodiment, foamed polyurethane is used.
[0052]
(Knob)
Details of the knob 5 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the knob 5 includes a handle portion 5a and a double cylindrical portion 5c. The knob gear 5b is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion, and the side end portion of the container body 2 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion. A claw 5d for engaging with the provided knob guide 2c (see FIG. 3) is provided. Using this claw 5d, it is reciprocally attached to the front side end of the container body 2 in the circumferential direction.
[0053]
Further, a no-block engaging portion 5e and a no-block releasing projection 5f are provided on the opposite side of the knob gear 5b. The no-block engaging portion 5e is locked to the lock projection on the container side. At the time of distribution, the knob 5 is restricted so as not to rotate due to the locking. When the container is mounted on the developing device, the protrusion on the developing device side is engaged with the unlocking projection 5f, and the unlocking projection 5f is moved to the knob side. Then, the engagement between the no-block engaging portion 5e and the lock projection on the container side is released, and the knob 5 becomes rotatable and the knob 5 can be turned.
[0054]
(Manufacturing method of knob)
As with the shutter 3, the knob 5 is preferably manufactured by injection molding of plastic, and impact-resistant polystyrene is manufactured by injection molding.
[0055]
Here, the difference in developer dischargeability depending on the shape of the developer supply container (container body) will be verified by experiments.
[0056]
(Experiment)
By this experiment, the container main body 2 is composed of a large diameter portion 2L and a small diameter portion 2S, and the small diameter portion is configured by having a common inner surface with no difference in height at the connecting portion between the large diameter portion 2L and the small diameter portion 2S. It is verified that the developer discharge performance from the 2S discharge opening 2a is improved.
[0057]
This experiment was performed using three types of developer supply containers having no small diameter portion (φ36), a small diameter portion inner diameter φ31, and a small diameter portion inner diameter φ25. A perspective view of the developer supply container used is shown in FIG. 10A shows the developer supply container 1 having no small diameter portion, FIG. 10B shows the small diameter portion inner diameter φ31, and FIG. 10C shows the small diameter portion inner diameter φ25.
[0058]
Each of these developer replenishing containers is filled with a developer such that the filling rate is constant at 0.43 g / cc (A: 185 g, B: 178 g, C: 170 g), and a simple rotating developer discharging jig ( The developer was removed from the rotary developing device, and a discharge test was performed using a jig that can directly measure the amount of developer discharged from the discharge opening 2a of the container. The setting of the simple rotation type developer discharging jig is 90 ° × 4 (90 ° → 90 ° → 90 ° → 90 °), the moving time is about 0.3 seconds, and the stop time for image formation Is about 1.2 seconds, the peripheral speed during movement is about 0.7 m / second, and the diameter is 190 mm.
[0059]
(result)
There was almost no difference in the remaining amount of developer remaining in the container after the end of developer discharge (discharge was stopped when 0.1 g of developer was no longer discharged). The total number of rotations of the rotary developing device required until the end of the discharge is about 120 revolutions for the container without the small diameter portion shown in FIG. The container with the small diameter part (inner diameter φ31) shown in FIG. 10B was about 110 rotations, and the container with the small diameter part (inner diameter φ25) shown in FIG.
[0060]
A graph of the results of this experiment is shown in FIG. From the graph showing the results of the above-described experiment, the developer supply container without the small diameter portion → the developer supply container with the small diameter portion (inner diameter φ31) → the developer supply container with the small diameter portion (inner diameter φ25) It can be seen that the discharge performance of is improved.
[0061]
(Discussion)
The reason for the above result will be described from the shape of the developer supply container. Ratio of the opening 2a to the developer storage portion by reducing the diameter of the portion (first portion) provided with the opening 2a in the developer supply container 1 as compared with the other portion (second portion). Can be increased. As a result, the developer discharge performance was improved. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the opening which is the discharge opening 2a of each developer supply container shown in FIG. The developer stored by the revolving motion is carried to the end of the opening and discharged from the opening. If the velocity V at this time is divided into a circumferential component Vx and a falling component Vy, the developer is stored. As the ratio of the opening 2a to the portion increases, the component Vy in the drop direction increases. For this reason, the larger the proportion of the opening 2a with respect to the storage portion, the more the developer can be discharged. In addition, this is because there is a common inner surface that does not have a difference in height at the connecting portion from the large diameter portion 2L of the developer supply container 1 to the small diameter portion 2S, so that the small diameter is smoothly passed from the large diameter portion 2L through the common inner surface. Since the developer can be conveyed to the part 2S, it is considered that the above result was obtained. Even if the developer is in an agglomerated state, the developer in the agglomerated state is collapsed by the step (level difference) between the small-diameter portion 2S and the large-diameter portion 2L of the developer supply container 1, and fluidity is imparted. Therefore, in addition to the above effects, the developer is more smoothly discharged from the opening.
[0062]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the developer in the agglomerated state is collapsed by the step between the large-diameter portion 2L and the small-diameter portion 2S of the developer supply container main body 2, fluidity is imparted, and the large-diameter portion. 2L and the small diameter portion 2S have a common inner surface with no difference in height, and the developer is smoothly conveyed from the large diameter portion 2L to the small diameter portion 2S through the common inner surface. The developer is smoothly discharged from the discharge opening 2a. Therefore, the developer discharging performance can be further improved without increasing the cost due to the increase in the number of parts, increasing the size of the apparatus, and complicating the configuration.
[0063]
Further, since the developer supply container 1 has a non-circular cross-sectional shape of the container main body 2, the limited space in the rotary developing device can be used effectively. In the space in the apparatus, the developer filling amount of the developer supply container can be increased.
[0064]
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a developer supply container according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0065]
The developer supply container according to the second embodiment is provided with a plurality of baffle plates 12 as stirring protrusions parallel to the developer conveyance direction in the developer supply container having the configuration shown in the first embodiment. FIG. 13A shows a perspective view of the configuration of the developer upper container 2-1 and the container lower member 2-2. Since the configuration of other parts is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, description thereof is omitted.
[0066]
In the present embodiment, four baffle plates 12 are provided in the middle of the conveyance protrusion 2d of the container upper member 2-1.
[0067]
(Baffle plate)
The baffle plate 12 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The shape of the baffle plate 12 is a dimension 20 mm, b dimension 10 mm (height), and c dimension 30 mm. The b dimension side of the baffle plate 12 is the knob side, and the side inclined obliquely is the side on which the filling port for filling the developer is provided.
[0068]
By adopting this shape, when filling the developer from the filling port provided on the side opposite to the knob, there is no obstacle, and even if a baffle plate is provided, the developer filling operation can be performed smoothly.
[0069]
As described above, by providing a plurality of baffle plates 12 as stirring protrusions having a developer stirring effect between the conveying protrusions 2d, the flowability of the developer can be further improved, and as a result, the developer discharge is stable. Turn into.
[0070]
[Third Embodiment]
Next, a developer supply container according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0071]
The developer supply container according to the third embodiment is a developer supply container having a configuration in which a baffle 13 as a stirring member is provided in a non-rotatable manner in the vicinity of the discharge port of the developer supply container having the configuration shown in the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the configuration of the container upper member 2-1 and the container lower member 2-2. Since the configuration of other parts is the same as that of the first and second embodiments described above, description thereof is omitted.
[0072]
(Baffle)
The baffle 13 as a stirring member includes a baffle itself as a lifting portion that lifts the developer by rotation of the developer supply container, a portion that guides the developer lifted by the baffle itself downward, and the lifting portion. The inclined plate 13a as a guide portion that guides the developer lifted by the lower side toward the opening (opening 2a) with rotation, and the opening lifted by the lifting portion with the opening. And a hole 13b as a dropping portion that drops downward without being conveyed to the (opening 2a) side.
[0073]
FIG. 15 shows a side view of the baffle 13. The baffle 13 includes an inclined plate 13a as the guide portion, a hole 13b as the dropping portion, a fixing rib 13c, and a notch 13d. The baffle 13 is revolved by the revolving motion of the rotary developing device, and the developer stored in the developer supply container is lifted by the baffle itself. Part of the lifted developer falls so as to slide down the baffle 13, part falls from the hole 13 b, and part is conveyed toward the opening by the inclined plate 13 a.
[0074]
Moreover, the fixing method of the said baffle 13 and a container (lower member 2-2) is demonstrated using FIG.15 and FIG.16. The fixing rib 13c provided on the baffle 13 and the U-shaped rib 14a provided on the container lower member 2-2 are fixed. Further, the rib 14b of the mouth of the container lower member 2-2 and the notch 13d corresponding to the rib of the mouth on the baffle 13 side are fixed, and the baffle is fixed to the container lower member 2-2. In order to ensure that 13 is attached accurately and accurately, it cannot be reversed.
[0075]
Thus, by providing the baffle 13 near the opening (opening 2a), the developer stored in the developer supply container can be stably opened even after high temperature, high humidity, and harsh logistics. Can be discharged from the section.
[0076]
[Other Embodiments]
In the embodiment described above, the entire small diameter portion constituting the container body is illustrated as the first portion having a smaller diameter than the second portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the entire small diameter portion described above is used. Alternatively, at least the portion of the peripheral surface provided with the opening may be a first portion having a smaller diameter than the second portion.
[0077]
In the above-described embodiment, an apparatus using four developing devices is illustrated. However, the number used is not limited, and may be set as needed.
[0078]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the developer supply container that divides the conveyance protrusion as the conveyance portion in the container and breaks the aggregated developer at the step between the divided protrusions is exemplified, but the present invention is limited to this. Is not to be done. For example, a developer replenishing container may be provided in which a spiral projection as a transport unit is provided on the inner surface of the container, and the developer is transported and discharged by the spiral projection by rotating the container. The same effect can be obtained by applying.
[0079]
In the embodiment described above, the copying machine is exemplified as the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other image forming apparatuses such as a printer and a facsimile apparatus, or a combination of these functions. Using another image forming apparatus such as a multifunction machine or an intermediate transfer member, the toner images of each color are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer member, and the toner image carried on the intermediate transfer member is used as a transfer material. The image forming apparatus may be a batch-transferring image forming apparatus, and the same effect can be obtained by applying the present invention to a developer supply container for supplying a developer to the image forming apparatus.
[0088]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the first portion and the second portion of the developer supply container main body Connection Step Part with As a result, the aggregated developer is destroyed, fluidity is imparted, and the connection between the first part and the second part is further improved. Parts without steps Thus, the developer is smoothly conveyed from the second part to the first part. Furthermore, since the discharge port is provided on the peripheral surface of the first portion, the developer that has been smoothly conveyed as described above is discharged smoothly from the discharge port. Therefore, the developer discharging performance can be further improved without increasing the cost due to the increase in the number of parts, increasing the size of the apparatus, and complicating the configuration.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus having a rotary developing device.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a developer supply container according to the first embodiment.
3A is a front view of a container body, FIG. 3B is a front sectional view of the container body, FIG. 3C is a perspective view of the container body, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a view of a container upper member and a container lower member as viewed from the mold release direction of the developer supply container according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing configurations of a container upper member and a container lower member of a container main body of the developer supply container according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a shutter guide of the container body according to the first embodiment.
7A is a front perspective view, and FIG. 7B is a rear perspective view of the shutter according to the first embodiment.
8A is a view showing an assembly position of the shutter according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 8B is a view showing an opening position.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the knob according to the first embodiment.
10A is a perspective view of a developer supply container without a small diameter part (inner diameter φ36), FIG. 10B is a perspective view of a developer supply container with a small diameter part (inner diameter φ34), and FIG. 10C is a small diameter part (inner diameter φ25); ) Perspective view of the developer supply container
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the cumulative toner discharge amount and the cumulative rotational speed of the rotary developing device in each developer supply container.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram relating to the ratio between the discharge opening and the storage.
FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing configurations of a container upper member and a container lower member of a container main body of a developer supply container according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 13B is a detailed view of a baffle plate;
FIG. 14 is a view showing the configuration of a container upper member and a container lower member of a container main body of a developer supply container according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a detailed view of a baffle according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a detailed view of a baffle fixing portion of a developer supply container (container lower member) according to the third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Developer supply container
2 ... Container body
2-1 ... Container upper member
2-2 ... Container lower member
2L ... large diameter part
2S ... Small diameter part
2a: Developer discharge opening
2b ... Shutter guide
2b1 ... Notch
2b2 ... locking rib
2c ... Knob guide
2d: Conveyance protrusion
3 ... Shutter
3a ... Shutter gear
3b ... guide part
3c ... Shutter sheet
3d… Bridge part
4 ... Packing material
5 ... Knob
5a ... handle part
5b ... Knob gear
5c ... Double cylindrical part
5d ... nail
5e ... No-block engagement part
5f ... No-block release protrusion
7Y, 7M, 7C, 7Bk ... developing device
8 ... Developer receiving part
9 ... Developer
9a: developer conveying member
9b: Development sleeve
12 ... Baffle plate
13 ... Baffle
13a ... inclined plate
13b ... hole
13c ... fixed rib
13d ... Notch
14a ... U-shaped rib
14b ... mouth rib
15: Transfer drum
19: Photosensitive drum
20: Charger for static elimination
21 ... Cleaning means
23 ... Primary charger
24 Image exposure means
25. Image exposure reflection means
26 ... Rotating body
30: Rotating type developing device

Claims (5)

A developer replenishing container that is mounted on a rotary developing device provided in the image forming apparatus and that transports and discharges the developer contained therein by rotation of the rotary developing device ;
Is composed of a first portion and a second portion provided along the rotation axis direction, a container body accommodating a developer therein,
A discharge port provided on the peripheral surface of the first portion for discharging the developer in the container body;
A transport unit that is provided on the inner surface of the second part and transports the developer toward the discharge port;
Wherein the first portion is Ri diameter der than the second portion,
An inner surface of a connecting portion between the first portion and the second portion is constituted by a portion having a step and a portion having no step . A developer replenishing container that is mounted on a rotary developing device provided in the image forming apparatus and that transports and discharges the developer contained therein by rotation of the rotary developing device ;
A container main body configured by a first member and a second member provided at different positions in the circumferential direction and containing a developer;
A discharge port provided on the peripheral surface of the first portion of the first member for discharging the developer in the container body;
A first transport unit that is provided on the inner surface of the second portion of the first member and transports the developer toward the discharge port;
A second transport unit that is provided on the inner surface of the second member and transports the developer toward the discharge port;
The first part and the second part are provided along a rotation axis direction,
The developer supply container , wherein the first portion has a smaller diameter than the second portion . Developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the rotation axis direction and stirred projection parallel to the same direction are provided.   In the vicinity of the discharge port, a lifting portion that lifts the developer with the rotation, a guide portion that guides the developer lifted by the lifting portion downward toward the discharge port with the rotation, and the lifting A stirring member comprising: a dropping unit that causes the developer lifted by the unit to fall downward without being conveyed to the discharge port side as it rotates, is provided so as not to rotate with the container body. Item 4. The developer supply container according to Item 1 or 3. Sectional shape developer supply container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a non-circular of the container body.

Images