JP4329404B2 - Developer supply apparatus, development apparatus, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic system, and a developer supply device and a developing device used therefor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In an image forming apparatus, it is well known to supply a developer from a developer storage chamber that stores a developer to a development chamber. When the developer is supplied from the developer accommodating chamber to the developing chamber in this way, the developer aggregates in the vicinity of the developer supply port of the developer accommodating chamber, and the amount of developer supplied to the developing chamber becomes insufficient. Sometimes. For this reason, it is known that the developer supply port in the developer storage chamber is stirred by a stirring member to prevent aggregation of the developer (see Patent Documents 1 to 3).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 2919813
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-275939 A
[Patent Document 3]
US Pat. No. 5,987,286
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional example, only the stirring in the developer supply port by the stirring member is disclosed, and there is no mention of preventing aggregation of the developer when the developer supply amount is adjusted. If the developer is excessively supplied by a stirring member or the like, the image quality may be deteriorated or the rotating parts may be damaged. Therefore, if a regulating member or the like that regulates the supply amount of the developer is provided in order to prevent the developer from being supplied excessively, the developer may aggregate near the regulating member. That is, by providing the regulating member, the developer may not be used up even if the developer remains in the developer accommodating chamber.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of stably supplying a developer while adjusting a supply amount of the developer, and a developer supplying apparatus and a developing apparatus used therefor.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the first feature of the present invention is that a developer accommodating chamber, a developer agitating member provided in the developer accommodating chamber for agitating the developer, and the developer accommodating chamber. A developer agitating chamber that receives the developer from the developer, a supply path that communicates the developer accommodating chamber and the developer agitating chamber, a regulating means that regulates the amount of developer supplied to the developer agitating chamber, Supply path stirring means for stirring the developer in the supply path, the supply path stirring means,A contact piece that comes into contact with the developer agitating member and the contact piece;A stirrer that moves in the flow direction of the developer in the supply path in relation to the developer stirrerWhen,In the developer supply apparatus. Therefore, even if the developer is supplied from the developer storage chamber to the developer stirring chamber via the supply path while adjusting the supply amount of the developer, the developer can be prevented from aggregating in the vicinity of the supply path. The developer can be supplied stably and the developer in the developer storage chamber can be used up.
[0007]
  The second feature of the present invention is that the developer accommodating chamber, the developer agitating member that is provided in the developer accommodating chamber and agitates the developer, and the developer that receives the developer from the developer accommodating chamber. A stirring chamber, a supply path that communicates the developer storage chamber and the developer stirring chamber, a regulating means that regulates the amount of developer supplied to the developer stirring chamber, and a developer in the supply path. A supply path agitating means for agitating, the supply path agitating means being associated with the developer agitating member and moving in the flow direction of the developer in the supply path in relation to the developer agitating member; An elastic portion for urging the agent storage chamber;
In the developer supply apparatus.As a result, the contact piece can contact the developer stirring member. Moreover, it is preferable that the said elastic part is integrally formed with the said stirring part.
[0008]
Moreover, it is preferable that the said stirring part is formed with the wire. Thereby, the supply path stirring member can reduce the load that the stirring unit receives from the developer, and can smoothly stir the inside of the supply path. The stirring unit is preferably formed in a coil shape. Thereby, the supply path stirring member can efficiently stir and convey the developer in the supply path. Further, it is preferable that the agitation unit is bent at a plurality of locations in a direction intersecting with the flow direction of the developer. Thereby, the supply path stirring member can particularly efficiently stir the developer.
[0009]
The contact piece is preferably made of resin. Thereby, the sliding contact between the contact piece and the developer agitating member is smoothed, and the generation of noise can be further suppressed.
[0010]
The supply path is preferably provided in the vicinity of both ends of the developer accommodating chamber. As a result, the developer supply device can smoothly supply the developer from the developer storage chamber to the developer stirring chamber via the respective supply paths.
[0011]
  First of the present invention3The characteristic features of the housing, a developer storage chamber formed in the housing, a developer stirring member provided in the developer storage chamber for stirring the developer, and formed in the housing, A developer agitating chamber that receives developer from the developer accommodating chamber, a supply path that is formed in the housing and communicates with the developer accommodating chamber and the developer agitating chamber, and development to the developer agitating chamber And a supply path agitating means for agitating the developer in the supply path. The supply path agitating means is a duct that fits into the housing constituting the supply path. And a stirrer supported by the duct, wherein the stirrer is moved in the developer flow direction in the supply path in relation to the developer agitating member. .
[0012]
It is preferable to further include a contact piece that is swingably supported by the duct and that contacts the developer stirring member. As a result, the supply path agitation means is formed in the housing simply by fitting the duct into the housing.
[0013]
  First of the present invention4The characteristic features of the housing, a developer storage chamber formed in the housing, a developer stirring member provided in the developer storage chamber for stirring the developer, and formed in the housing, A developer agitating chamber that receives developer from the developer accommodating chamber, a supply path that is formed in the housing and communicates with the developer accommodating chamber and the developer agitating chamber, and development to the developer agitating chamber A regulating means for regulating the supply amount of the developer, a supply path agitating means for agitating the developer in the supply path, and formed in the housing, supplied with the developer from the developer agitating chamber, and provided with a developing roll. And the supply path agitating means is in a developing device including an agitating section that moves in the supply path in the supply path in relation to the developer agitating member.
[0014]
It is preferable that a scanning optical path through which light from the optical writing device passes is formed on the side of the supply path.
[0015]
Furthermore, the present invention includes an image forming apparatus having a developing device having the above-described characteristics.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an outline of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming apparatus main body 12. A discharge unit 14 is provided on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 12. 16a and 16b are arranged.
[0017]
Pickup rolls 18a and 18b are arranged in the upper vicinity of the rear ends of the respective paper feed cassettes 16a and 16b, and retard rolls 20a and 20b and feed rolls 22a and 22b are arranged behind the pickup rolls 18a and 18b.
[0018]
The conveyance path 24 is a sheet path from the pickup roll 18b of the lower sheet feeding cassette 16b to the discharge port 26, and this conveyance path 24 is near the back surface (right side in FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus main body 12. The lower end paper feed unit 16b has a portion formed substantially vertically from a feed roll 22b to a fixing device 28 described later. A transfer device 32 and an image carrier 34 which will be described later are disposed on the upstream side of the fixing device 28 in the conveyance path 24 via a sheet conveyance guide 30, and a registration roll 36 is further upstream of the transfer device 32 and the image carrier 34. Is arranged. The sheet conveyance guide 30 has a large number of ventilation holes so that air can pass therethrough. A discharge roll 38 is disposed in the vicinity of the discharge port 26 of the transport path 24.
[0019]
Accordingly, the sheet selectively fed from one of the paper feeding cassettes 16a and 16b by the pick-up rolls 18a and 18b is rolled by the retard rolls 20a and 20b and the feed rolls 22a and 22b and guided to the conveyance path 24 to be registered. The developer image is temporarily stopped by the roll 36, and the developer image is transferred between a transfer device 32 and an image carrier 34, which will be described later, at a timing, and the transferred developer image is fixed by the fixing device 28 and discharged. The paper is discharged from the discharge port 26 to the discharge unit 14 by the roll 38.
[0020]
The discharge portion 14 has a low discharge port portion and is inclined so as to gradually become higher in the front direction (left direction in FIG. 1). The discharge unit 14 is supported by the image forming apparatus main body 12 so as to be rotatable about the lower end. A process cartridge 44 (to be described later) can be attached and detached by rotating the discharge portion 14 upward and opening it.
[0021]
The fixing device 28 includes, for example, a heating roll 40 and a pressure roll 42. The heating roll 40 and the pressure roll 42 are in pressure contact with each other to form a nip portion, and a sheet passes through the nip portion. To fix the developer image on the sheet.
[0022]
The process cartridge 44 houses and integrates the image carrier 34, the charging device 46, the developing device 48, and the cleaning device 50. The image carrier 34 is made of, for example, a photoconductor, and a latent image is formed by an optical writing device 52 described later. Further, a transfer device 32 made of, for example, a transfer roll is disposed opposite to the image carrier 34. The charging device 46 is composed of, for example, a charging roll, rotates in contact with the image carrier 34, and uniformly charges the image carrier 34.
[0023]
The developing device 48 visualizes the latent image formed on the image carrier 34 with a developer. The developing device 48 includes a housing 54 that extends in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. The developer storage chamber 56 is provided in the housing 54. And a developer stirring chamber 58 and a developing chamber 60. The developer storage chamber 56 and the developer agitation chamber 58 are arranged above and below the opening 62, and communicate with each other via supply paths 104a and 104b described later. The opening 62 is formed so that scanning light from an optical writing device 52 described later passes therethrough. A first developer stirring member 64 is disposed in the developer storage chamber 56, and second to fourth developer stirring members 66, 68, and 70 are disposed in the developer stirring chamber 58. The stored developer is conveyed to the developing chamber 60 through the developer stirring chamber 58. A developing roller 72 is disposed in the developing chamber 60, and the developing roller 72 supports the developer image on the latent image on the image carrier 34.
[0024]
The cleaning device 50 includes, for example, a cleaning blade 74 and a developer recovery chamber 76, and the developer scraped off by the cleaning blade 74 is recovered in the developer recovery chamber 76.
[0025]
The optical writing device 52 is disposed in the vicinity of the front of the image forming apparatus main body 12 (near the left end in FIG. 1) in the image forming apparatus main body 12 and in parallel with the paper feed cassettes 16a and 16b. The optical writing device 52 includes an optical component (not shown) such as a polygon unit 80 comprising a polygon mirror and a motor for rotating the polygon mirror, a semiconductor laser (not shown), and other plastic lenses. And the scanning light is emitted from the exit window 82 formed on the process cartridge side of the optical writing device main body 78, and this scanning light is irradiated to the image carrier 34 through the opening 62 of the process cartridge 44. Is done.
[0026]
Further, the process cartridge 44 has a shutter 84 that opens and closes the side surface of the image carrier 34 on the transfer device 32 side. The shutter 84 is guided by a guide (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus main body 12 so as to be opened and closed in conjunction with the attachment / detachment of the process cartridge 44. That is, before the process cartridge 44 is mounted, the shutter 84 closes the side surface portion of the image carrier 34 with an elastic body (not shown) to protect the image carrier 34, and after the process cartridge 44 is mounted, FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the image carrier 34 moves to a retreat position where the side surface portion of the image carrier 34 is opened against an elastic body (not shown).
[0027]
A blower fan 86 is provided above the optical writing device 52, and this blower fan 86 sends air from the front side to the back side (left side to right side in FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus main body 12. is there. A first duct 88 is provided on the upstream side of the blower fan 86 so as to take in air from an intake hole (not shown) formed in the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 12. A power supply device 90 that supplies power to each part of the image forming apparatus is disposed in the vicinity of the air intake hole, and the power supply device 90 and the optical writing device 52 are cooled by the air sucked from the air intake hole. Yes.
[0028]
A second duct 92 is provided on the downstream side of the blower fan 86, and the second duct 92 guides air to the inner surface side of the discharge unit 14. A large number of air guide ribs 94 are formed on the inner surface of the discharge portion 14 so as to guide air between the discharge portion 14 and the process cartridge 44. Furthermore, the shutter 84 described above is formed with a large number of through holes 96 through which air passes, so that the air flows to the sheet conveyance guide 30 side.
[0029]
The image forming apparatus main body 12 is provided with an air discharge port 98 on the back surface (right side in FIG. 1). Further, the exhaust fan 100 is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 12 so as to face the air discharge port 98, and discharges air in the image forming apparatus main body 12 through the air discharge port 98. That is, the air flow generated by the blower fan 86 is guided between the inner surface of the discharge unit 14 and the process cartridge 44, passes through the through hole 96 of the shutter 84, and passes through the peripheral portions of the process cartridge 44 and the fixing device 28. Cooling. Then, air is sucked into the exhaust fan 100 through the vent hole of the sheet conveyance guide 30 and discharged through the air discharge port 98. In addition, air is sucked in from the vent 102 provided above the fixing device 28 by the exhaust fan 100, and this air cools the peripheral portion of the fixing device 28 and is discharged through the air discharge port 98.
[0030]
Next, details of the developing device 48 will be described.
2 to 4, details of the developer storage chamber 56, the developer agitating chamber 58, the supply paths 104a and 104b, and the surroundings of the developing device 48 are shown. As described above, the developing device 48 includes the housing 54 that extends in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. A developer accommodating chamber 56 is formed in the upper portion of the housing 54, and the developer is accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber 56. The developer storage chamber 56 is provided with a first developer stirring member 64 for stirring and conveying the developer. The first developer agitating member 64 is made of, for example, a wire formed in a crank shape, and is rotated in the vicinity of the inner wall of the developer accommodating chamber 56. The first developer agitating member 64 agitates and conveys the developer in the developer accommodating chamber 56 in the left-right direction in FIG. 4 and abuts on a contact portion 124 described later.
[0031]
The left and right ends of the developer storage chamber 56 communicate with a developer stirring chamber 58 formed in the lower portion of the housing 54 through supply paths 104 a and 104 b formed in the housing 54. Further, the supply path agitating unit 106 is fitted into the housing 54 at each of the portions constituting the supply paths 104a and 104b.
[0032]
In FIG. 5, the supply path stirring unit 106 is shown. The supply path stirring unit 106 includes a duct 108 that forms a developer flow path, an actuator 110 that contacts the first developer stirring member 64, and a stirring elastic unit 112 having, for example, a coil spring.
The duct 108 has a developer introduction port 114 and a developer discharge port 116, and is fitted into a portion constituting the supply paths 104 a and 104 b of the housing 54, so that the developer storage chamber 56 and the developer stirring chamber. A developer flow path communicating with 58 is formed. Further, the duct 108 is provided with an inclined portion on the inner wall so that the developer is smoothly guided to the regulating members 136a and 136b described later. Further, the duct 108 includes bearing portions 118a and 118b that support the actuator 110 so as to be swingable. For example, the bearing portion 118a is provided with a notch 120 for facilitating the mounting of the actuator 110.
[0033]
The actuator 110 is made of, for example, resin, and includes a shaft portion 122 and a contact portion 124 that extends from the approximate center of the shaft portion 122, and is formed in a T shape. In this actuator 110, the shaft portion 122 is swingably supported by the bearing portions 118a and 118b described above, and when the first developer stirring member 64 rotates, the contact portion 124 becomes the first developer. It contacts the stirring member 64.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 6, the agitation elastic portion 112 includes, for example, a coil spring main body 126, a linearly formed urging arm portion 128, and an agitation arm portion 130 for agitating the developer. The stirring arm portion 130 includes a linear portion 132 that is formed in a straight line by opening at an angle of, for example, approximately 120 degrees with respect to the biasing arm portion 128, and a stirring portion 134 that is formed in a coil shape. Further, the stirring arm portion 130 is bent so that the stirring portion 134 is substantially perpendicular to the linear portion 132 below the linear portion 132. The stirring elastic portion 112 is attached to the actuator 110 when the shaft portion 122 of the actuator 110 is inserted into the coil spring body 126. Further, the biasing arm portion 128 is locked to the inner wall of the duct 108, and the linear portion 132 of the stirring arm portion 130 is locked to the lower portion of the contact portion 124 of the actuator 110, whereby the stirring elastic portion 112. Urges the actuator 110 toward the developer accommodating chamber 56.
[0035]
In this manner, the actuator 110 is urged toward the first developer agitating member 64 in the developer accommodating chamber 56 by the agitation elastic portion 112, so that the abutting portion 124 is above the developer introduction port 114. The first developer agitating member 64 is brought into contact with the first agitating / conveying member 64 by being disposed at a position slightly within a circle formed by the toner agitating / conveying member 64. That is, the stirring unit 134 of the supply path stirring unit 106 swings substantially parallel to the developer flow direction in the duct 108 by the first developer stirring member 64 rotating and contacting the contact unit 124. To do.
[0036]
That is, the developer is transported to the left and right of the developer accommodating chamber 56 by the first developer agitating member 64 and falls into the developer agitating chamber 58 via the supply path agitating portions 106a and 106b. Furthermore, an opening 62 is formed in the housing 54 at the sides of the supply paths 104a and 104b, that is, between the supply paths 104a and 104b, and the light from the optical writing device 52 described above is transmitted through the opening 62. It has come to pass.
[0037]
The regulating members 136a and 136b are made of, for example, plastic or metal, and are, for example, in the developer stirring chamber 58 and in the vicinity of the developer discharge port 116 of the supply path agitating unit 106 provided in the supply paths 104a and 104b, respectively. Each is arranged. The restricting members 136a and 136b are formed in a roll shape, for example, and two concave grooves 138 are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the restricting members 136a and 136b at an angle of 180 degrees. The outer peripheral surfaces of the regulating members 136a and 136b are in contact with seal members 140a and 140b provided below the supply paths 104a and 104b, respectively. The seal members 140a and 140b are made of, for example, urethane foam, felt, rubber, and the like, and are elastically deformed when the regulating members 136a and 136b come into contact with each other. The seal members 140a and 140b are formed with through holes 142a and 142b, and the supply passage agitator 106 and the regulating member 136a provided in the supply passages 104a and 104b through the through holes 142a and 142b, respectively. , 136b communicate with the groove 138.
[0038]
Therefore, the developer from the developer storage chamber 56 is supplied to the developer stirring chamber 58 only when the regulating members 136a and 136b rotate and the groove 138 opens into the through holes 142a and 142b of the seal members 140a and 140b. In other cases, the developer discharge port 116 of the supply path agitating unit 106 provided in the supply paths 104a and 104b is sealed by the seal members 140a and 140b, so that the supply of the developer is stopped. The supply of the developer can be regulated.
[0039]
Further, a scraping member 144 for sealing the developer and scraping off the developer that has entered the groove 138 is provided on the bottom surfaces of the seal members 140a and 140b. That is, the scraping member 144 is made of a flexible material such as a mylar film, and from the bottom surface of the sealing members 140a and 140b, toward the regulating members 136a and 136b so that one end enters the groove 138 of the regulating members 136a and 136b. It extends. The tip of the scraping member 144 only needs to enter the groove 138 as much as possible, and does not necessarily contact the bottom of the groove 138.
[0040]
Therefore, when the restricting members 136a and 136b rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 3, for example, the tip of the scraping member 144 enters the groove 138 every time the groove 138 comes to the position of the scraping member 144. Therefore, the restricting members 136a and 136b The developer that has entered the groove 138 is scraped by the scraping member 144, and a correct amount of developer can be supplied from the developer storage chamber 56 to the developer stirring chamber 58.
[0041]
The regulating members 136 a and 136 b are connected to each other via the second developer stirring member 68. The second developer agitating member 68 is connected to the restricting members 136a and 136b in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surfaces of the restricting members 136a and 136b, and rotates with the restricting members 136a and 136b so that the developer is brought to the center portion and is equal in the horizontal direction. Then, the developer is dispersed and conveyed to the downstream side.
[0042]
One of the restriction members 136a and 136b is provided with a rotating shaft 146, and the other is provided with a support shaft 148 at the center of the restriction members 136a and 136b. The regulating members 136a and 136b and the second developer agitating member 68 are rotatably supported by the housing 54 by the rotation shaft 146 and the support shaft 148. Further, the rotation shaft 146 protrudes from the housing 54 to the outside and is connected to the first gear 150. The first gear 150 meshes with the third gear 154 via the second gear 152 that is an idle gear, and the third gear 154 is connected to the first developer stirring member 64. Any one of these gears 150 to 154 is connected to a drive gear that rotates in conjunction with the motor. Therefore, the first developer stirring member 64, the regulating members 136 a and 136 b, and the second developer stirring member 68 are connected. And rotate in sync. The rotation shafts 146 of the regulating members 136a and 136b are positioned at the uppermost position of the developer stirring chamber 58, that is, below the ceiling surface position of the housing 54 constituting the developer stirring chamber 58 by a substantially radius of the regulating members 136a and 136b. is doing.
[0043]
The regulating members 136a and 136b are rotated at a rotation speed of 100 rpm or less, and the developer supply amount at that time is preferably 10 g / min or more. The regulating members 136a and 136b may be rotated continuously or intermittently.
[0044]
The developing chamber 60 is formed on the image carrier 34 side of the housing 54 so as to communicate with the developer stirring chamber 58. The developer stirring chamber 58 is provided with a third developer stirring member 68 and a fourth developer stirring member 70. The third developer stirring member 68 and the fourth developer stirring member 70 are provided. Thus, the developer is supplied to the developing chamber 60.
[0045]
In the developing chamber 60, a developing roll 72 is disposed. As is well known, the developing roll 72 is formed by winding a sleeve around a magnet roll, and a layer thickness regulating member (not shown) made of resin, for example, is in contact with the developing roll 72, The layer thickness of the developer attached to the surface of the developing roll 72 is regulated by the layer thickness regulating member. The developing roller 72 faces the image carrier 34, and the developer conveyed by the developing roller 72 is supplied to the image carrier 34.
[0046]
Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
The image carrier 34 is uniformly charged by the charging device 46, and the charged image carrier 34 is irradiated with scanning light emitted from the optical writing device 52 based on the image signal to form a latent image. . Scanning light from the optical writing device 52 passes through the developing device 48 through the opening 62 of the developing device 48. The latent image of the image carrier 34 formed by the optical writing device 52 is visualized by the developer of the developing device 48.
[0047]
The developer accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber 56 is conveyed to both sides by the rotation of the first developer agitating member 64 and guided to the supply paths 104a and 104b. As shown also in FIG. 7, the housing 54 is fitted with supply path agitating portions 106 at portions constituting the supply paths 104 a and 104 b, and the developer is developed below through the supply path agitating portion 106. An attempt is made to drop toward the agent stirring chamber 58. Here, when the first developer agitating member 64 rotates (counterclockwise in FIG. 2) and contacts the abutting portion 124 of the actuator 110, the developer container formed in the supply path agitating portion 106 is accommodated. The stirring unit 134 is pushed down in the developer flow direction in the developer flow path that communicates the chamber 56 and the developer stirring chamber 58. When the first developer agitating member 64 further rotates and the first developer agitating member 64 moves away from the contact portion 124, the actuator 110 is biased toward the developer accommodating chamber 56 by the agitation elastic portion 112. At the same time, the stirring unit 134 moves upward in the developer flow path that connects the developer storage chamber 56 and the developer stirring chamber 58. That is, the stirring unit 134 is a developer flow path that connects the developer storage chamber 56 and the developer stirring chamber 58 formed in the supply path stirring unit 106 by the rotation of the first developer stirring member 64. In the direction of the flow of the developer. Therefore, the supply path stirring unit 106 can transport the developer from the developer storage chamber 56 to the developer stirring chamber 58 while stirring the developer.
[0048]
Since the seal members 140a and 140b and the regulating members 136a and 136b are disposed in the vicinity of the developer discharge port 116 in the developer stirring chamber 58, the grooves 138 of the regulation members 136a and 136b are opened to the developer discharge port 116. In this case, the developer is guided by the inclined portion of the duct 108 and enters the groove 138, and falls into the developer stirring chamber 58 when the groove 138 is directed below the developer stirring chamber 58 due to the rotation of the regulating members 136 a and 136 b. However, when the groove 138 of the regulating member 136a, 136b is not open to the developer discharge port 116, that is, the communication port is sealed by the outer peripheral surface of the regulating member 136a, 136b and the sealing member 140a, 140b. If it is, the supply of the developer to the developer stirring chamber 58 is stopped. While the supply of the developer to the developer stirring chamber 58 is stopped, even if the developer flows into the developer flow path in the supply path stirring section 106, the stirring section 134 remains in the developer flow path. The developer is prevented from aggregating in the developer flow path. As described above, the stirring unit 134 swings when the first developer stirring member 64 comes into contact with the contact unit 124. That is, the agitating unit 134 can agitate and convey the developer in the flow path of the developer in the supply path agitating unit 106 in synchronization with the conveyance of the developer by the first developer agitating member 64.
[0049]
As described above, the regulating members 136a and 136b can be rotated at a rotation speed of 100 rpm or less, and the developer supply amount at that time can be 10 g / min or more. If the regulating members 136a and 136b are rotated at a high speed, the developer may be melted due to sliding friction. However, the melting of the developer due to such sliding friction can be prevented by setting the rotation speed of the regulating members 136a and 136b to 100 rpm or less. be able to.
[0050]
The developer regulated by the regulating members 136a and 136b and supplied to the developer stirring chamber 58 is stirred by the second developer stirring member 66, and further the third developer stirring member 68 and the fourth developer stirring. It is stirred by the member 70 and conveyed to the developing chamber 60. The developer conveyed to the developing chamber 60 is supplied to the developing roll 72 and supplied to the image carrier 34.
[0051]
On the other hand, one of the paper feed cassettes 16a and 16b is selected by a size signal or the like, and the sheets stored in either of the paper feed cassettes 16a and 16b are sent out by the pickup rolls 18a and 18b, and the retard rolls 20a and 20b and the feed rolls. 22a and 22b are guided to the conveyance path 24, temporarily stopped by the resist roll 36, and are guided between the transfer device 32 and the image carrier 34 at a timing.
[0052]
When the sheet is guided between the transfer device 32 and the image carrier 34 in this way, the developer on the image carrier 34 is transferred to the sheet by the transfer device 32. The sheet onto which the developer has been transferred passes through the fixing device 28 and is discharged from the discharge port 26 to the discharge unit 14.
[0053]
In FIG. 8, a modified example of the supply path stirring unit 106 is shown. This modified example is different from the above-described embodiment in the shape of the stirring unit 134 in the stirring elastic unit 112. As shown in FIG. 9, in this modification, the stirring unit 134 is bent at a plurality of locations in a direction intersecting with the flow direction of the developer, and the resistance received from the developer is reduced. Can be performed efficiently.
Note that, in the above-described modification, the same reference numerals are given to substantially the same parts as those in the above-described embodiment. In addition, the shape of the stirring unit 134 is not limited to this, and may be other shapes such as a comb shape.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the stirring unit moves in the flow direction of the developer in the supply path in relation to the developer stirring member, so that while adjusting the supply amount of the developer, A developer can be supplied stably.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a supply path of the developing device according to the embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a supply path stirring section in FIG.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2, showing the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a supply path stirring section according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are a front view and a side view showing the shape of a stirring elastic part of a supply path stirring part according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a supply path agitating unit attached to the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a developer storage chamber.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a modified example of a supply path agitation unit attached to the developing device according to the embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the shape of a stirring elastic part attached to a modified example of the supply path stirring part according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Image forming apparatus
12 Image forming device body
32 Transfer device
34 Image carrier
44 Process cartridge
48 Developer
52 Optical writing device
54 Housing
56 Developer storage chamber
58 Developer stirring chamber
60 Development chamber
62 opening
64 First developer stirring member
66 Second developer stirring member
68 Third developer stirring member
70 Fourth developer stirring member
72 Development Roll
104a, 104b supply path
106 Supply path stirring section
108 duct
110 Actuator
112 Stirring elastic part
114 Developer inlet
116 Developer outlet
122 Shaft
124 Contact part
126 Coil spring body
128 Biasing arm
134 Stirrer
136a, 136b Restriction member
138 groove
144 scraping member

Claims (13)

A developer storage chamber;
A developer agitating member provided in the developer accommodating chamber for agitating the developer;
A developer stirring chamber for receiving the developer from the developer containing chamber;
A supply path communicating the developer storage chamber and the developer stirring chamber;
Regulation means for regulating the amount of developer supplied to the developer stirring chamber;
A supply path stirring means for stirring the developer in the supply path,
This supply path stirring means
A contact piece that contacts the developer stirring member;
An agitation part provided through the contact piece and moving in the flow direction of the developer in the supply path in relation to the developer agitation member ;
A developer supply apparatus comprising: A developer storage chamber;
A developer agitating member provided in the developer accommodating chamber for agitating the developer;
A developer stirring chamber for receiving the developer from the developer containing chamber;
A supply path communicating the developer storage chamber and the developer stirring chamber;
Regulation means for regulating the amount of developer supplied to the developer stirring chamber;
A supply path stirring means for stirring the developer in the supply path;
This supply path stirring means
A stirring unit that moves in the flow direction of the developer in the supply path in relation to the developer stirring member ;
An elastic portion for urging the stirring portion toward the developer accommodating chamber;
A developer supply apparatus comprising: The elastic part is
The developer supply device according to claim 2 , wherein the developer supply device is formed integrally with the stirring unit. The stirring unit is
It developer supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that is formed by the wire. The stirring unit is
It developer supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that formed in a coil shape. The stirring unit is
Developer supply apparatus of claims 1 to 4, wherein any one, characterized by comprising bent plurality of positions in the direction crossing the flow direction of the developer. The contact piece is
The developer supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the developer supply device is made of resin. The supply path is
The developer chamber developer supplying apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that provided respectively near both ends of the. A housing;
A developer storage chamber formed in the housing;
A developer agitating member provided in the developer accommodating chamber for agitating the developer;
A developer stirring chamber formed in the housing and receiving developer from the developer storage chamber;
A supply path formed in the housing and communicating the developer storage chamber and the developer stirring chamber;
Regulation means for regulating the amount of developer supplied to the developer stirring chamber;
A supply path stirring means for stirring the developer in the supply path,
This supply path stirring means
A duct fitted to the housing constituting the supply path;
A stirring portion supported by the duct,
The developer supply device, wherein the agitation unit moves in the flow direction of the developer in the supply path in relation to the developer agitation member. The developer supply device according to claim 9 , further comprising a contact piece that is swingably supported by the duct and that contacts the developer stirring member. A housing;
A developer storage chamber formed in the housing;
A developer agitating member provided in the developer accommodating chamber for agitating the developer;
A developer stirring chamber formed in the housing and receiving developer from the developer storage chamber;
A supply path formed in the housing and communicating the developer storage chamber and the developer stirring chamber;
Regulation means for regulating the amount of developer supplied to the developer stirring chamber;
A supply path stirring means for stirring the developer in the supply path;
A developer chamber formed in the housing, supplied with developer from the developer agitating chamber, and provided with a developing roll;
The supply path stirring means includes
A developing device comprising: a stirring unit that moves in the flow direction of the developer in the supply path in relation to the developer stirring member. The developing device according to claim 11, wherein a scanning optical path through which light from an optical writing device passes is formed on a side of the supply path. An image forming apparatus wherein a developing device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein.

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