JP4035552B2 - Developer container, developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer container, a developing device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus that can be used in an electrophotographic apparatus.

  Conventionally, a storage container for storing a developer is provided in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer. This storage container is provided with an opening for discharging the developer to the developing device, but the opening is a sealing member so that the developer does not leak when the storage container is transported with the developer in the storage container. Covered with. The seal member has been opened by the user when the storage container is installed in the main body of the image forming apparatus. The developer storage container may be a developing device integrated with the developing container. Further, the process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus may include a photoconductor that is an image carrier, and a developing device that includes a developer storage container and a developing container. In this case, when the process cartridge is new, the seal member is provided in an opening through which the developer is passed from the storage container to the developing container, and the seal member is opened when the process cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus.

  However, in order to improve operability, it has been desired that the seal member be automatically opened rather than opened by the user.

  Accordingly, in order to give a force for automatically opening the seal member, drive is transmitted from the drive source of the image forming apparatus main body, and a drive transmission means for winding the seal member is required.

  On the other hand, a rotating member that rotates in contact with the developer is provided in the developer container and the developing device so as to transport the developer and stir the developer. In order to transmit the force, drive transmission means is provided for transmitting the drive from the drive source of the image forming apparatus main body.

  However, the conventionally considered drive transmission means for winding the seal member is configured to stop or shut off the drive when the winding operation of the seal member is completed, and a dedicated drive transmission means is required. Further, the winding operation of the seal member and the driving of the rotating member are often performed simultaneously.

  This complicates the driving means of the apparatus main body and leads to an increase in power consumption because the sealing member is opened and the rotating member is rotated simultaneously.

The present invention provides a developer storage container that is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body and stores toner .
An opening,
A sealing member for sealing the opening;
A winding member that winds the sealing member to open the sealing member ;
A first gear for transmitting drive to the winding member to give a force to open the sealing member;
An agitation member for agitating the toner in the developer container;
A second gear for transmitting drive to give a stirring force to the stirring member ;
A rotatable drive receiving gear that receives drive from the device body;
A movable movable gear that is engaged with the drive receiving gear and receives drive from the drive receiving gear, and is engaged with the first gear without being engaged with the second gear. Between the first position where the drive can be transmitted to the gear and the second position where the drive can be transmitted to the second gear in a state of being engaged with the second gear without being engaged with the first gear. A movable gear, and
Have
When the drive receiving gear rotates in a predetermined direction, the moving gear transmits drive to the first gear at the first position to perform the winding operation of the seal member, and the winding operation is completed. Thereafter, the driving gear is rotated in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction to move the moving gear from the first position to the second position, and the moving gear is moved to the second position at the second position. It is a developer storage container that transmits drive to the second gear.

  Alternatively, the developing device, the process cartridge, and the image forming apparatus in which the developer storage container is detachable are provided with the developer storage container.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the configurations of the image forming apparatus and the process cartridge can be simplified, and the power consumption of the image forming apparatus main body can be suppressed.

Example 1
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Description of process cartridge and image forming apparatus main body)
FIG. 1 is a main sectional view of a process cartridge according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a main sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The process cartridge is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and includes an image carrier and process means that acts on the image carrier. Examples of the process means include a charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, a developing device for forming a toner image on the image carrier, and a cleaning means for removing toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier. The process cartridge may be provided with an image carrier and at least one of process means.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the process cartridge 15 of the present embodiment includes a charging roller 12 as a charging means around an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier, a developing sleeve 18 as a developing device, a developing blade 19 and a developing device. A toner storage frame 16 as a developer storage container frame storing toner as a developer, a stirring member 20 as a rotating member for stirring the toner in the toner storage frame, and a cleaning blade 14 as a cleaning means, The cartridge 15 is integrally covered with a housing to be detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

  The process cartridge 15 is mounted on an image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 2 and used for image formation. The image formation is performed on the sheet S by conveying the sheet S from the sheet cassette 6 mounted at the lower part of the apparatus to the transfer position of the photosensitive drum 11 by the conveying roller 7.

  After the photosensitive drum 11 is charged by the charging roller 12, the exposure device 8 performs selective exposure according to image information to form an electrostatic latent image. The exposure by the exposure device 8 is performed in synchronization with the sheet conveyance by the registration rollers.

  Thereafter, the toner stored in the toner storage frame 16 is sent to the developing container frame 17 side, this toner is carried on the surface of the developing roller 18 by a developing blade, and a developing bias is applied to the developing roller 18 to thereby apply a latent bias. In accordance with the image, toner is supplied from the developing roller 18 to the photosensitive drum 11. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred to the sheet S conveyed by applying a bias voltage to the transfer roller 9 at the transfer position, and the sheet S is conveyed to the fixing device 10 to fix the image and discharged. The paper is discharged by a paper roller 1 to a discharge unit 2 at the top of the apparatus.

(Explanation of toner seal opening and stirring drive)
3 to 5 are explanatory views of the toner storage frame according to the present invention. In the new process cartridge, the opening 31 of the toner storage frame 16 is covered with a toner seal member, and the toner seal member 21 is welded or bonded to the toner storage frame 16 so as to cover the opening 31. One end 21 a of the toner seal member 21 is folded back and fixed to a winding member 23 that is rotatably provided on the toner storage frame 16.

  Further, the toner seal member 21 is provided with a detection unit 22 for detecting that all the openings 31 are opened on the insulating polyethylene terephthalate sheet. In this embodiment, the detection unit 22 is provided with a conductive part of an aluminum foil with adhesive on the seal member at the opening end of the toner seal member, and a contact point of the process cartridge is connected to the conductive part from the detection unit 35 of the image forming apparatus main body. A voltage is applied through a sheet metal including the parts 34a and 34b.

When a new process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the detection unit 35 and the conductive unit 22 are electrically connected via the contact units 34a and 34b, and the conductive unit 22 is conductive before the toner seal member 23 is wound up. State. This is detected by the detection unit 35 of the image forming apparatus main body. Then, a motor 26 as a drive source provided in the image forming apparatus main body starts driving in the direction of arrow Y. Then, the coupling gear 24 provided in the process cartridge and the swing gear 29 driven thereby are transmitted by the coupling 25 of the apparatus main body, which is driven and transmitted via the idler gear 33 of the apparatus main body. Swing gear 29 which is thus swung into the rotational force of the coupling gear 24 transmits the drive to the idler gear 30 engages the idler gear 30, rotates the gear of the winding member which meshes with idler gear, and the toner sealing member 21 is It is wound in the direction of arrow X. At this time, the swing gear 29 is separated from the idler gear 27 and is in a non-engaged state.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, after all the openings 31 are opened, when the conducting portion 22 is cut, an insulating state is obtained. When the conduction unit 22 is cut and the detection unit 35 of the image forming apparatus main body detects the insulation state, the motor 26 that has been transmitted to the coupling that drives the winding member 23 of the image forming apparatus rotates in the reverse direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the coupling 25 of the image forming apparatus starts reverse rotation in the direction of the arrow Z, and the coupling gear 24 of the process cartridge also starts reverse rotation. The reverse rotation coupling is reversely rotated in the process cartridge, the swing gear 29 by the force of the reverse rotation engages the A Idoragia 27 co becomes disengaged and separated from the idler gear 30, A Idoragia 27 And the drive is transmitted to the stirring gear 32 that rotates the stirring member 20 in the toner container shown in FIG. 1 via the idler gear 28.

  The detection unit 35 includes a DC power source and a current monitor, and detects whether the seal member is opened by applying a voltage from the power source and measuring the current with the monitor.

  FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the above operations together, and FIG. 7 is a simplified circuit diagram.

  After the process cartridge of this example is mounted on the image forming apparatus, it is confirmed whether the conductive portion is conductive. If the conductive portion is conductive, winding of the toner seal member is started, and the opening operation proceeds to cut the conductive portion. At this point, it is determined that the opening of the toner seal member has been completed, and the motor in the image forming apparatus main body is reversely rotated to start the rotation of the toner stirring member.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus main body according to the first embodiment, the rotational speed of the photosensitive drum 11 of the process cartridge 15, the number of sheets passing through the recording medium S, the printing rate, and the like are attached to the image forming apparatus main body. Information about the usage status of the process cartridge 15 is accumulated, and the apparatus main body further includes display means (not shown) for notifying the user of the life of the process cartridge 15 and the current usage status. Yes. For example, the life detecting means counts the number of developed pixels, predicts the amount of toner consumed, and detects the life of the process cartridge 15.

  When it is determined that the process cartridge 15 mounted on the image forming apparatus main body has the toner seal 21 wound up and is already used by the above-described toner seal member presence / absence detection configuration, The information relating to the usage status of the process cartridge 15 accumulated in is continuously accumulated as information on the currently installed process cartridge 15. However, when it is determined that the process cartridge 15 is a new process cartridge 15 in which the toner seal 21 has not yet been wound, the information on the usage status of the process cartridge 15 is reset and new information starts to be accumulated.

  Therefore, when the paper jam occurs, the toner seal 21 includes the attachment / detachment of the process cartridge 15 to be performed for jamming and the attachment / detachment to be performed when the process cartridge 15 determined to have a lifetime is replaced with a new process cartridge 15. It can be clearly distinguished by detecting the presence or absence of. Therefore, the user can accurately know the life of the process cartridge 15 mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, and can accurately grasp the replacement timing of the process cartridge 15.

(Example 2)
In this example, a toner supply container is used as a developer storage container that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body instead of the process cartridge of the first embodiment.

(Explanation of toner seal opening and stirring drive)
In the new toner supply container 40, the opening 41 of the toner supply container 40 is covered with a toner seal member 42, and the toner seal member 42 is welded or bonded so as to cover the opening of the toner supply container 40. One end of the toner seal member is folded and fixed to a winding member 43 that is rotatably provided in the toner supply container. The toner seal member 42 is provided with detection means 44 for detecting that all of the openings 41 have been opened. In this embodiment, a conductive portion of an aluminum foil with an adhesive is provided on the seal member at the opening end portion of the toner seal member, and a voltage is applied to the conductive portion from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

  Then, the motor 45 provided in the image forming apparatus main body starts driving. Then, the coupling gear 48 provided in the toner container 26 and the swing gear 49 driven thereby are transmitted by the coupling 47 of the apparatus main body, which is transmitted through the idler gear 46 of the apparatus main body. Then, the swinging gear 49 that is swung by the rotational force of the coupling gear 48 transmits the drive to the idler gear 50, the winding member gear that meshes with the idler gear rotates, and the toner seal member 42 winds in the direction of the arrow W. It is done.

  And after opening all the opening parts 41, when the conduction | electrical_connection part 44 is cut | disconnected like Example 1, it will be in an insulated state. When the conductive portion 44 is cut and the image forming apparatus main body detects the insulation state, the motor 45 that has been transmitted to the coupling that drives the winding member 43 of the image forming apparatus rotates in the reverse direction. Then, the coupling 47 of the image forming apparatus starts reverse rotation, and the coupling gear 48 of the toner storage container also starts reverse rotation. Then, by the reverse rotation force, the swing gear 49 swings and engages with the idler gear 27 to rotate the idler gear 27, and the drive is transmitted via the idler gear 28 to the stirring gear 32 that rotates the stirring member in the toner container. It is the composition to do.

  In the first embodiment, the process cartridge including the developer storage container can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. In the second embodiment, the developer storage container itself can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. The developing device including the storage container may be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body.

(Example 3)
In this example, in addition to the first opening detection conductive part of Examples 1 and 2, in the conductive part of the seal member of Examples 1 and 2, it is further detected that the developer storage container is mounted at the correct position. It has a 2nd mounting | wearing detection electroconductive part. The seal member configuration, the conductive portion, and the like are the same as those in the first and second embodiments.

  The seal member of this example is shown in FIG. In the conductive portion 22 of FIG. 9, the inner side 22b is an opening detection conductive portion, and the outer side 22c is an attachment detection conductive portion. That is, with respect to the opening direction of the seal, the upstream side is the opening detection 22b, and the downstream side is the mounting detection 22c.

  In this example, the two conductive portions for detection of opening and mounting were arranged in the width direction perpendicular to the opening direction, as in Examples 1 and 2. Regarding the contact portion, one side 22a1 is shared to be one, but the opposite side 22a2 and 22a3 are separated. Of course, 22a1 may be installed separately, but the cost increases and the assemblability deteriorates because the number of contacts increases.

  As in the first and second embodiments, when the opening of the seal member is advanced, the opening detection conductive portion 22b is torn almost simultaneously with the opening of the developer discharge opening. The state can be detected, and the opening operation of the seal is stopped at that time.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the opening detection conductive portion 22b is cut when the seal member has been opened, but the attachment detection conductive portion 22c is maintained as it is, and 22a1 and 22a3 are in a conductive state. ing.

  FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the above-mentioned operations collectively, and FIG. 12 is a simplified circuit diagram on the image forming apparatus main body side. After the developer storage container of this example is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the detection unit 2 detects whether the mounting detection conductive part (conductive part 2) is conductive. If there is no conduction, the main body displays that there is no container. If there is continuity, the detection unit 1 detects whether the unsealing detection conductive part (conductive part 1) is conductive next. If there is no continuity, the continuity of the conductive part 2 is confirmed again. Similarly, the main body is displayed, and if there is continuity, it is determined that the toner seal has been opened. When the conductive portion 1 is conductive, the toner seal is started to be wound, and when the opening is advanced and the conductive portion 1 is cut and the opening is detected, it is determined that the toner seal has been opened. The detectors 1 and 2 may be the same as the detector 35 shown in FIG.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, before the end side X1 is peeled off by disposing the end side X1 of the heat welding portion X of the seal member with respect to the developer container between the opening detection conductive portion and the mounting detection conductive portion. In addition, it is possible to stop the pulling of the seal, and it is not necessary to peel off the end side of the heat-welded portion for opening the seal, so that the opening strength can be reduced.

  The mounting detection conductive portion detects that the developer container main body or the developing device or process cartridge incorporating the developer container is correctly mounted on the image forming apparatus.

It is a principal section schematic diagram of a process cartridge in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a main cross-sectional schematic view of an image forming apparatus main body in an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a toner container of a process cartridge in a new state according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a toner storage container of a process cartridge in a state where a toner seal member of Example 1 is wound up. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a toner storage container of a process cartridge when rotating a stirring member according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the first embodiment. 1 is a simplified circuit diagram of Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a toner storage container and a toner supply container of Example 2. 6 is a plan view of a seal member of Example 3. FIG. It is an enlarged view at the time of completion | finish of opening of the sealing member of Example 3. FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the third embodiment. 6 is a simplified circuit diagram of Example 3. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Discharge roller 2 Discharge part 6 Sheet cassette 7 Conveyance roller 8 Exposure apparatus 9 Transfer roller 10 Fixing apparatus 11 Photosensitive drum 14 Cleaning blade 16 Toner storage container 17 Developing frame body 20 Stirring member 21 Toner seal member 22 Detection part 23 Winding member 24 Coupling 29 Oscillating gear 31 Opening 32 Stirring gear

Claims (10)

In the developer storage container that is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body and stores toner ,
An opening,
A sealing member for sealing the opening;
A winding member that winds the sealing member to open the sealing member ;
A first gear for transmitting drive to the winding member to give a force to open the sealing member;
An agitation member for agitating the toner in the developer container;
A second gear for transmitting drive to give a stirring force to the stirring member ;
A rotatable drive receiving gear that receives drive from the device body;
A movable movable gear that is engaged with the drive receiving gear and receives drive from the drive receiving gear, and is engaged with the first gear without being engaged with the second gear. Between the first position where the drive can be transmitted to the gear and the second position where the drive can be transmitted to the second gear in a state of being engaged with the second gear without being engaged with the first gear. A movable gear, and
Have
When the drive receiving gear rotates in a predetermined direction, the moving gear transmits drive to the first gear at the first position to perform the winding operation of the seal member, and the winding operation is completed. Thereafter, the driving gear is rotated in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction to move the moving gear from the first position to the second position, and the moving gear is moved to the second position at the second position. A developer storage container, wherein driving is transmitted to a second gear. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein the developer storage container includes a detection unit that detects that the winding operation of the seal member has been completed. The detection unit is a severable conductive part that is cut by a winding operation of the seal member, and whether the severable conductive part is in a conductive state in order to detect whether the severable conductive part is cut or not The developer storage container according to claim 2 , wherein the image forming apparatus main body detects the error. A developing device that is detachable from an image forming apparatus main body and that develops an electrostatic image formed on an image carrier with toner ,
A developer container having a developer carrier for carrying and transporting the toner at a development position for developing the electrostatic image; and a developer container for housing the toner ; the developer container and the developer container in opening the developing device provided for discharging the toner from the developer container to the developer container between,
A seal member that seals the opening; a winding member that winds the seal member to open the seal member; and a drive that transmits driving force to the winding member to provide a force for opening the seal member. A gear, a stirring member that stirs the toner in the developer container, a second gear that transmits driving to give the stirring member a force to stir the toner, and a rotation that can be driven by the apparatus main body. A movable drive gear that is engaged with the drive receiving gear and that is driven to rotate from the drive receiving gear and that engages with the first gear without engaging with the second gear. A first position where the drive can be transmitted to the first gear, and a second position where the drive can be transmitted to the second gear without being engaged with the first gear. Can be moved between Includes a movable gear, and by the drive receiving gear is rotated in a predetermined direction, said movable gear is to transmit the driving to the first gear in said first position performs a winding operation of said seal member After the winding operation is finished, the drive gear is rotated in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction to move the moving gear from the first position to the second position, thereby moving the moving gear. Transmits the drive to the second gear at the second position. Said developer accommodating container may be any of the developing device according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a detecting unit that will be detected that the winding operation of the sealing member is completed. The detection unit is a severable conductive part that is cut by a winding operation of the seal member, and whether the severable conductive part is in a conductive state in order to detect whether the severable conductive part is cut or not The developing device according to claim 5 , wherein the image forming apparatus main body detects the image of the developing device. A process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body,
An image carrier;
A developing device for developing an electrostatic image formed on the image carrier with toner , a developer container including a developer carrier for carrying and transporting the toner to a development position for developing the electrostatic image, and the toner A developer storage container for storing toner , and a developing device provided with an opening for discharging toner from the developer storage container to the developer container between the developer container and the developer container;
In a process cartridge having
A seal member that seals the opening; a winding member that winds the seal member to open the seal member; and a drive that transmits driving force to the winding member to provide a force for opening the seal member. A gear, a stirring member that stirs the toner in the developer container, a second gear that transmits driving to give the stirring member a force to stir the toner, and a rotation that can be driven by the apparatus main body. A movable drive gear that is engaged with the drive receiving gear and that is driven to rotate from the drive receiving gear and that engages with the first gear without engaging with the second gear. A first position where the drive can be transmitted to the first gear, and a second position where the drive can be transmitted to the second gear without being engaged with the first gear. Can be moved between Includes a movable gear, and by the drive receiving gear is rotated in a predetermined direction, said movable gear is to transmit the driving to the first gear in said first position performs a winding operation of said seal member After the winding operation is finished, the drive gear is rotated in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction to move the moving gear from the first position to the second position, thereby moving the moving gear. Transmits the drive to the second gear at the second position. It said developer accommodating container, the process cartridge according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a detection unit winding operation of said seal member is detected the completion. The detection unit is a severable conductive part that is cut by a winding operation of the seal member, and whether the severable conductive part is in a conductive state in order to detect whether the severable conductive part is cut or not The process cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus main body is detected. A developer storage container for storing toner ,
An opening, a sealing member that seals the opening, a winding member that winds the sealing member to open the sealing member, and a drive to the winding member to provide a force to open the sealing member A first gear that transmits toner, a stirring member that stirs the toner in the developer container, a second gear that transmits driving to give the stirring member a force to stir the toner, and a drive from the apparatus main body A rotatable drive receiving gear that is engaged with the drive receiving gear, and is a rotatable moving gear that is driven by the drive receiving gear, and is not engaged with the second gear. A first position where the drive can be transmitted to the first gear when engaged with the gear, and a drive which is transmitted to the second gear while engaged with the second gear without being engaged with the first gear. Between possible second position, A movable movable gear, in the image forming apparatus developer accommodating container is detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus main body having,
The device has a drive means for transmitting drive to said drive transmitting means, said driving means is engaged with the driving force receiving gear, by rotating the drive receiving gear in a predetermined direction, said movable gear In the first position, the drive is transmitted to the first gear to perform the winding operation of the seal member. After the winding operation is completed, the drive receiving gear is rotated in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction. By moving the moving gear from the first position to the second position, driving is transmitted from the moving gear to the second gear at the second position. apparatus.

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