JP4530721B2 - Developer storage device, development device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer storage device that stores a developer used in a step of developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier, and collects a waste developer stored on the image carrier, and this development. The present invention relates to a developing device including an agent storage device and an image forming apparatus including the developing device.

  In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system, most of the developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) used for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier is usually a recording medium. Although it is consumed to form an image after being transferred to (hereinafter referred to as paper), a part remains on the image carrier.

  In addition, a small amount of toner that has adhered to the image carrier other than the area where the electrostatic latent image is formed and has not been transferred to the paper also remains on the image carrier. In addition to this, a toner image of a reference density pattern formed on an image carrier for various image forming process conditions, for example, process control (image quality adjustment) for maintaining good image quality is also transferred to a sheet. Without remaining on the image carrier.

  In order to effectively reuse such residual toner, the conventional image forming apparatus stores the residual toner on the image carrier using a cleaning device and transports it to a storage container for storing unused toner. Some of them are reused.

  However, the collected residual toner (collected toner) has been mixed with paper powder, abrasion powder of the drive transmission member, foreign matter such as dust and dust, and agglomerated toner. Also, some of the collected toner may have a smaller particle size compared to unused toner.

  Furthermore, the collected toner is deteriorated and hardly charged after the image forming process many times, and the reversely charged toner is included, and the frictional charging ability is reduced by receiving a load such as a transfer charge. For example, the fluidity as a solid characteristic of the toner is lowered.

  For this reason, it is very difficult to mix and use the collected toner and the unused toner, and it is difficult to maintain the uniformity of the toner density, the stability of the toner charge amount, and the like. Also, if a large amount of collected toner is replenished into the developing device at once, the quality of the image formed product, that is, the image quality, such as the occurrence of background stains due to a large amount of toner adhering to the background portion other than the image of the image carrier, is deteriorated. In addition, toner scattering easily occurs from the developing device. Therefore, some conventional image forming apparatuses are configured to discard the collected toner without reusing it (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, the image forming apparatus configured to discard the collected toner requires a collecting unit for collecting the waste toner (collected toner). This has led to an increase in the size of the device.

  Therefore, in order to save space, in recent image forming apparatuses, as shown in FIG. 7, a partition member that can be deformed between a storage unit (toner hopper unit) 210 and a recovery unit (waste toner storage unit) 220 is provided. There is one having a developing device 200 that is integrally provided with 230 (see, for example, Patent Document 2). That is, the internal capacity of the storage unit 210 and the collection unit 220 is increased or decreased by the deformation of the partition member 230. Therefore, the internal capacity of the storage unit 210 decreases and the internal capacity of the collection unit 220 increases due to a decrease in unused toner.

  On the other hand, in recent years, image forming apparatuses are also required to be recycled from the viewpoint of energy saving. Therefore, the manufacturer takes the unused toner storage container, the waste toner collection container, etc., and fills the storage container with new toner. The collection container takes out the collected waste toner, and re-uses it as a storage container and a collection container again. It has come to use.

  In order to perform such reuse, it is necessary to reduce the cost of performing each operation, and thus it is necessary to perform efficient operations. Therefore, the storage container is preferably replaced when the unused toner is completely used up, and the collection container is replaced when the waste toner is collected until it is full.

For this reason, some image forming apparatuses in recent years include a developing device having a storage container for storing unused toner that is detachable separately from the main body device and a recovery container for recovering waste toner.
JP-A-6-175493 Japanese Patent Application No. 5-88549

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 2 described above, since the storage unit and the collection unit are integrally configured, there is a possibility that all the unused toner will be replaced before the end of use, or the collection unit. There is a possibility that the waste toner is replaced without being collected until it is full. Therefore, cost, work efficiency, recovery efficiency, etc. deteriorate. This is because it is difficult to completely adjust the balance between the amount of unused toner used and the amount of waste toner collected because the waste toner collection rate of the collection unit varies depending on how the image forming apparatus is used. It is.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the agitator 250 that rotates and stirs unused toner and supplies it to the image carrier via the toner replenishing plate 240 or the like is in a state in which the internal capacity of the recovery unit 220 is maximized. Even in such a case, it is difficult to supply the unused toner accumulated near the partition member 230 to the toner supply plate 240. Therefore, the unused toner stored in the storage unit cannot be completely used up.

  On the other hand, in the configuration including the image forming apparatus having the storage container and the collection container that are separately detachable from the main body apparatus, the apparatus is increased in size as described above.

  The object of the present invention is to reduce the size of the apparatus while maintaining the efficient use of the storage container and the recovery container, and to reduce the cost for reusing the storage container and the recovery container. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developer storage container, a developing device, and an image forming apparatus provided with a container and a collection container.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration.

(1) A storage container for storing a developer used in the step of developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier and a recovery container for recovering the waste developer stored from the image carrier are provided to the main body. In the developer storage device provided detachably,
The receiving container and the collecting container has a Shin contraction freely telescoping portion, and the expansion and contraction of the telescoping portion and a telescoping portion of the collection container of said container in a state where the storage container is mounted on the collection container At least a part of the region that changes with it is common,
The storage container is configured such that the stretchable portion is formed of a bellows, and the stretchable portion is provided at one end of the storage container.
The expanding / contracting portion expands / contracts while changing the content of the container in accordance with execution of the step of developing the electrostatic latent image.

  In this configuration, when developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier, an unused developer stored in the storage container is used, and the developer image formed by the development is transferred to the recording medium. Thereafter, the waste developer remaining on the image carrier is collected in a collection container. Accordingly, the developer in the storage container is decreased and the waste developer in the collection container is increased by executing the process of developing the electrostatic latent image.

  Also, in the common expansion / contraction region, the expansion / contraction part of the storage container contracts so that the internal capacity of the container decreases as the developer decreases, and the internal capacity of the container increases as the waste developer increases. The expansion / contraction part of the collection container expands.

Furthermore, since the storage container and the collection container are detachable from the main body independently, they are collected separately by the manufacturer or the like in accordance with the replacement time.
Moreover, since the expansion / contraction part of a storage container is comprised by the bellows, it is a simple structure which is easy to expand-contract, and the expansion-contraction direction of an expansion-contraction part is stabilized. Furthermore, since the expansion / contraction part is comprised by the bellows, it shrink | contracts by own elastic force.

  (2) The collection container extends as the storage container contracts.

  In this configuration, since the expansion / contraction part of the collection container expands by the amount contracted as the expansion / contraction part of the storage container contracts due to the decrease in the developer, the area corresponding to the contraction of the expansion / contraction part of the storage container is not used. It will never be vacant.

( 3 ) The storage container is rotatable about an axis parallel to the expansion / contraction direction, and the bellows of the expansion / contraction portion has a spiral shape.

  In this configuration, a rotational force about an axis parallel to the expansion / contraction direction of the storage container is applied as a moving force in the expansion / contraction direction to the developer stored in the storage container by the helical bellows.

( 4 ) The collection container includes an elastic member that urges the expansion / contraction portion in the expansion / contraction direction from the inside of the container.

  In this configuration, since the expansion / contraction portion is urged in the expansion / contraction direction from the inside of the recovery container, the recovery container is reliably extended as the storage container contracts. Further, when the expansion / contraction portion of the collection container abuts on the expansion / contraction portion of the storage container, the force in the expansion / contraction direction from the inside of the collection container is used for contraction of the storage container.

( 5 ) The storage container is provided with a filling port filled with a developer in the extending direction.

  In this configuration, the filling direction of the developer into the storage container is parallel to the expansion direction, and therefore the inside of the expansion / contraction portion is biased in the expansion / contraction direction by the weight of the developer falling in the filling direction when the developer is charged. The stretchable part is stretched.

( 6 ) In a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier using a developer,
(1)-( 5 ) provided with the developer storage device.

In this configuration, the storage container storing the developer used for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier and the recovery container for recovering the waste developer remaining on the image carrier are provided in (1) to ( 5 ). The storage container and the recovery container having an expansion / contraction portion having a common expansion / contraction area provided in the developer storage device described in any of (1).

( 7 ) In an image forming apparatus that forms an image by transferring a developer image formed on an image carrier to a recording medium based on image information.
( 6 ) The development apparatus described in ( 6 ) is provided.

In this configuration, the storage container storing the developer used for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier and the recovery container for recovering the waste developer remaining on the image carrier are described in ( 6 ). In addition, a storage container and a recovery container having an expansion / contraction portion having a common expansion / contraction area provided in the developer storage device included in the developing device are used.

  According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  (1) The area to be expanded and contracted is common, and has an expansion / contraction portion that expands and contracts while changing the content of the container according to the execution of the process of developing the electrostatic latent image, and is detachable from the main body device. Since the storage container and the recovery container are provided, the area corresponding to the contraction of the expansion / contraction part of the storage container as the developer decreases can be used as the area where the expansion / contraction part of the recovery container expands. The space required for the arrangement can be reduced while maintaining an appropriate internal volume for the container, and the apparatus can be miniaturized.

As a result, the appropriate contents of the storage container and the recovery container can be maintained, so that the appropriate usage efficiency of the storage container and the recovery container can be maintained, and it is not necessary to frequently perform recovery by the manufacturer or the like. It can prevent the cost of reuse from rising.
In addition, by configuring the expansion / contraction portion of the storage container with a bellows, the amount of change in the internal volume of the storage container due to expansion / contraction can be improved with a simple configuration, and the expansion / contraction direction of the expansion / contraction portion can be stabilized. Furthermore, since the stretchable part can be shrunk by its own elastic force, it is not necessary to apply a force for shrinkage, and the construction of the stretchable part can be simplified.

  (2) Since the common expanding / contracting area can be efficiently used by extending the extending portion of the collection container along with the contraction of the expanding / contracting portion of the storage container, the apparatus can be more appropriately downsized.

( 3 ) By forming the bellows constituting the expansion / contraction part of the storage container into a spiral shape, the developer stored in the storage container can have rotational force about an axis parallel to the expansion / contraction direction of the storage container as a moving force in the expansion / contraction direction. Can be granted. Thereby, the developer deposited on the stretchable portion with a simple configuration can be easily moved from the stretchable portion, and the stretchable portion can be appropriately shrunk as the developer in the storage container decreases.

( 4 ) By energizing the expansion / contraction part from the inside of the collection container in the expansion / contraction direction, the expansion / contraction part of the collection container can be extended to the maximum with the contraction of the expansion / contraction part of the storage container. Containers can be used. Further, since the expansion / contraction part of the collection container is brought into contact with the expansion / contraction part of the storage container, the force in the expansion / contraction direction from the inside of the collection container can be used for the contraction of the storage container. Since the expansion / contraction portion of the collection container does not contract, it is possible to prevent the expansion / contraction portion of the collection container from being stretched, and the expansion / contraction portion of the collection container can be reliably expanded while the expansion / contraction portion of the storage container is securely contracted.

( 5 ) By arranging the filling port so that the filling direction of the developer into the storage container is parallel to the extension direction, the expansion / contraction portion can be used by using the weight of the developer falling in the filling direction when the developer is filled. Therefore, it is not necessary to fill the developer after extending the contracted expansion / contraction part, and the burden on the operator can be saved.

( 6 ) By providing the developing device according to any one of (1) to ( 5 ), the expansion / contraction part of the collection container can be used as a region where the expansion / contraction part of the storage container contracts as the developer decreases. Since it can be used for the extending region, the space required for the arrangement can be reduced while maintaining an appropriate internal volume for the storage container and the recovery container, and the apparatus can be miniaturized.

( 7 ) By including the developing device according to ( 6 ), the region corresponding to the contraction of the expansion / contraction portion of the storage container as the developer decreases can be used as the region where the expansion / contraction portion of the collection container expands. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the space required for the arrangement while maintaining an appropriate inner volume for the storage container and the collection container, and to reduce the size of the apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus provided with a developing device having a developer accommodating device according to the best embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a simple configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an image forming unit 2, a paper feeding unit 3, and the like. The image forming unit 2 includes a photosensitive drum 4, and the charging unit 5, the optical scanning unit 6, the developing device 7, the transfer unit 8, and the cleaning unit 9 are arranged in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. Are arranged in this order along.

  The charging unit 5 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 4, and the optical scanning unit 6 writes an electrostatic latent image by scanning a light image based on image information on the uniformly charged photosensitive drum 4. The developing device 7 visualizes the electrostatic latent image written by the optical scanning unit 6 with toner (unused toner).

  The transfer unit 8 transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 4 onto the paper. The cleaning unit 9 removes the toner (waste toner) remaining on the photosensitive drum 4 after the transfer of the toner image paper. The waste toner removed by the cleaning unit 9 is discarded after being accommodated in a collection container (described later) provided in the developing device 7.

  The paper feed unit 3 is composed of a plurality of paper feed trays 11 to 14 and the like, and supplies paper to the image forming unit 2. The sheet feed trays 11 to 14 accommodate sheets by sorting them for each size, for example.

  When performing image formation, the paper feed unit unit 3 selects one tray for storing paper having a size suitable for image formation from the paper feed trays 11 to 14, and the photosensitive drum 4, the transfer unit 8, and the like. Paper is supplied one by one in between.

  The paper feed unit 3 includes a first transport path 15 and a second transport path 16. The first transport path 15 transports the paper stored in the paper feed trays 11, 13, and 14 to the printer unit 2, and the second transport path 16 transports the paper stored in the paper feed tray 12 to the image forming unit 2. . Note that the replenishment of paper is performed by pulling out the target paper feed trays 11 to 14 from the back side to the front side of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1.

  In addition, a manual paper feed unit 18 in which a relatively small amount of paper is set is disposed above the paper feed tray 12. There is a high possibility that special paper is set in the manual paper feeding unit 18. This is because the paper can be easily exchanged or set in the manual paper feeding unit 18. The paper stored in the manual paper feed unit 18 is supplied from the third transport path 21 to the image forming unit 2 through the second transport path 16.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 can connect a paper feeding unit 20 as an optional device on the right side of the paper feeding unit unit 3 in FIG. The paper supply unit 20 has a larger amount of paper storage than the paper supply trays 11 to 14, and is suitable for use when performing image formation on a frequently used size paper or a large amount of paper. The paper stored in the paper supply unit 20 is supplied from the fourth transport path 19 to the image forming unit 2 via the second transport path 16.

  FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a simple configuration of the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The developing device 7 includes a developing unit 40, an intermediate hopper 50, a toner supply cartridge 60, and the like. The developing unit 40 includes a developing roller 41, a toner density sensor 42, a stirring roller 43, and the like, and supplies toner to the photosensitive drum 4 while maintaining the toner density at a predetermined value.

  The developing roller 41 is configured by inserting a magnet roller in which a plurality of magnet bodies for generating a magnetic field are fixed in a hollow cylindrical developing sleeve made of non-magnetic metal such as aluminum alloy, brass, SUS304 stainless steel or the like. ing. Further, the developing roller 41 conveys and supplies the toner magnetically attracted to the surface to the developing unit in contact with a part of the photosensitive drum 4 while rotating only the developing sleeve.

  The developing roller 41 and the stirring roller 43 are rotationally driven by a driving device (not shown) in response to an instruction from a control unit (not shown).

  The toner density sensor 42 is disposed below the developing unit 40, detects the toner density of the toner in the developing unit 40 as a voltage (density detection voltage) value, and transmits it to the control unit. The control unit compares the received voltage value with a reference voltage value (predetermined value), and if the toner density in the developing unit 40 is lower than the predetermined value, a driving device (not shown) is driven to supply toner described later. The toner is supplied from the intermediate hopper 50 by rotating the roller.

  In this embodiment, a two-component developer is used as a developer, the toner is charged by friction by stirring, and the charged toner is electrostatically attached to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 4 for development. It is carried out. In this type of developing unit 40, a magnetic permeability sensor is used as the toner concentration sensor 42. Of these, a differential transformer type toner concentration sensor may be used.

  The intermediate hopper 50 is detachable from the developing unit 40 and stores toner therein, and includes a toner supply roller 502, a stirring member 503, a toner feed screw 504, and the like. The intermediate hopper 50 supplies the toner supplied from the storage container 61 provided in the toner supply cartridge 60 to the developing unit 40 from the supply port A below the toner supply roller 502.

  The supply roller 502 rotates to supply toner to the developing unit 40 from the supply port A. The stirring member 503 includes a support shaft 505, a stirring blade 506, and the like. The support shaft 505 supports the stirring blade 506 so as to be rotatable clockwise. The stirring blade 506 has a comb shape or a ladder shape, and rotates to convey the toner stored together with the toner feeding screw 504 to the supply roller 502 while stirring.

  The intermediate hopper 50 is provided with a sensor S that is a detection unit for determining the remaining amount of toner in the intermediate hopper 50 and is equivalent to the magnetic permeability sensor used for the toner concentration sensor 42.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a sheet 507 made of a flexible polymer is attached to the stirring blade 506, and a detected member 508 is disposed at the tip of the sheet 507. When a large amount of toner is present in the intermediate hopper 50, the detecting member 508 rotates along a thin, substantially cylindrical cavity formed by the rotation of the stirring blade 506. However, when the toner decreases, the detected member 508 passes a locus close to the sensor S due to the action of gravity. Thereby, the output value of the sensor S changes. The control unit compares the received output value of the sensor S with the reference value, and detects the amount of toner remaining in the intermediate hopper 50.

  The length of the sheet 507 is preferably set to such an extent that at least the detected member 508 can operate in sliding contact with the bottom of the casing of the intermediate hopper 50. This is because if it is shorter than this, it is difficult to detect the remaining amount of toner. In addition, the length of the sheet 507 is preferably shorter than the distance from the center of the support shaft 505 of the stirring member 503 to the inner wall immediately below. This is because if the length is too long, smooth operation may be difficult due to interference with the stirring member 503.

  Further, it is desirable that the sheet 507 is flexible enough to allow the detected member 508 to swing by gravity. This is because, if the sheet 507 is low in flexibility, the resistance of the toner is very small, so that when the toner is fluidized by the stirring member 503, the sheet 507 may sink into the toner layer deposited on the intermediate hopper 50 due to the rigidity of the sheet 507. This is because there is a risk that problems such as rotation in the air away from the toner layer may occur.

  Any method can be used as long as the remaining toner amount is detected by changing the distance between the detected member 508 and the sensor S in accordance with the remaining amount of toner. And a method of detecting the upper and lower positions thereof, or a method of detecting the amount of toner remaining inside using a piezoelectric sensor or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the toner supply cartridge 60 which is the developer storage device of the present invention includes a storage container 61, a recovery container 62, a cartridge receiving portion 60a, a support base 60b, and the like. The storage container 61 has a cylindrical shape, and rotates the container to stir and supply unused toner to the intermediate hopper 50. The storage container 61 is detachably and rotatably supported by the cartridge receiving portion 60a and the support base 60b.

  The cartridge receiving portion 60a uses the two fastening screws 66 to detachably fix the storage container 61 to the support base 60b. The screwing method is not limited to this.

  The support base 60b includes a discharge portion 60c. The discharge unit 60 c includes a shutter unit 60 d and supplies toner in the storage container 60 to the intermediate hopper 50. The shutter part 60d opens the discharge part 60c when the storage container 61 is attached to the intermediate hopper 50, and shields the discharge part 60c again when the storage part 61 is removed.

  In addition, the storage container 61 includes an extendable part P. The telescopic part P is integrally fixed to one end of the storage container 61 on the front side of the main body device in the direction of the rotation axis. The expansion / contraction portion P is formed of a helical bellows, and is extendable / contractible in the arrow Y direction, which is the rotational axis direction of the storage container 61. The inside of the expansion / contraction part P leads to the inside of the storage container 61 and is in an expanded state with the toner stored in the storage container 61.

  By configuring the expansion / contraction portion P with a bellows, the amount of change in the internal volume of the storage container 61 due to expansion / contraction can be improved with a simple configuration, and the expansion / contraction direction of the expansion / contraction portion P can be stabilized. Further, since the stretchable portion P is formed of a helical bellows, a rotational force around an axis parallel to the arrow Y direction can be applied to the toner stored in the storage container 61 as a moving force in the arrow Y direction. Thereby, the toner deposited on the expansion / contraction part P can be easily moved from the expansion / contraction part P with a simple configuration, and the expansion / contraction part P can be appropriately contracted by the reduction of the toner in the storage container 61.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the collection container 62 includes a toner collection port 601, a coupling 602, a rotating shaft 603, a blade member 604, and the like. The toner collection port 601 is connected to a toner collection mechanism 90 that collects waste toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 4 when the main body is mounted, and guides the waste toner into the collection container 62.

  The coupling 602 is provided as a joint means in the vicinity of the end where the toner recovery port 601 is located, and is fitted via a protrusion 612 to a gear 610 that rotates integrally with the stirring member 503 by the intermediate hopper 50. The coupling 602 and the gear 610 transmit the rotating force of the stirring member 503 of the intermediate hopper 50 to the blade member 604 of the collection container 62 via the rotating shaft 603 to rotate. The blade member 604 has a ladder shape and is rotatably supported by the rotating shaft 603 to stir the waste toner.

  Accordingly, when the waste toner conveyed from the toner recovery mechanism 90 is recovered from the toner recovery port 601 into the recovery container 62, it can be prevented that the waste toner accumulates in a part of the recovery container 62. .

  Further, the collection container 62 is detachably fixed to the support base 60b using a fastening screw 65 as shown in FIG. For example, two fastening screws 65 are provided, and the recovery container 62 is fixed by the same fastening structure at two locations from the upper side and the lower side of the shutter portion 60d.

  Furthermore, the collection container 62 includes an extendable part Q and an elastic member R. The expansion / contraction portion Q constitutes a part of the container of the collection container 62 and has a bellows shape that can be expanded and contracted in the arrow Y direction. Further, the expansion / contraction portion P of the storage container 61 is inserted into the expansion / contraction portion Q in the arrow Y direction. One end of the elastic member R is fixed inside the collection container 62, and the other end abuts on the inside of the expansion / contraction part Q, and applies an elastic force in the arrow Y direction to the expansion / contraction part Q.

  Thereby, the expansion / contraction part Q of the collection container 62 can be extended to the maximum with the contraction of the expansion / contraction part P of the storage container 61, and the recovery container 62 can be used more efficiently. Further, by bringing the expansion / contraction part Q of the collection container into contact with the expansion / contraction part P of the storage container 61, the force in the arrow Y direction from the inside of the collection container 62 can be used for contraction of the storage container 61. Even so, the expansion / contraction part P of the storage container 61 is not contracted, so that the expansion / contraction part Q of the collection container 62 cannot be extended, and the recovery container is reliably contracted while the expansion / contraction part P of the storage container 61 is contracted. The 62 stretchable portions Q can be reliably stretched.

  In this embodiment, the elastic member R is used. However, when the expansion / contraction part P of the storage container 61 and the expansion / contraction part Q of the collection container 62 are sufficiently contracted and expanded by their own elastic force, the elastic member R is used. R can be omitted.

  In order to mount the toner supply cartridge 60 in which the collection container 62 is mounted on the storage container 61 to the intermediate hopper 50 (image forming apparatus 1), the state shown in FIG. 3 is changed to the state shown in FIG. Insert in the direction of arrow Y on the side. At this time, a lock member (not shown) provided in the intermediate hopper 50 is engaged with the support base 60b of the toner supply cartridge 60, and the toner supply cartridge 60 is detachably fixed to the intermediate hopper 50. Further, at this time, the user can feel a click when the toner supply cartridge 60 is inserted.

  The toner replenishing cartridge 60 may be replaced entirely, or the storage container 61 and the recovery container 62 may be separated and only necessary portions may be replaced. Exchange can be performed in a manner desired by the user or service person.

  The toner collection port 601 of the collection container 62 is blocked by a shutter 601a that exerts an urging force by a spring or the like, except that the toner supply cartridge 60 is attached to the main body device. The shutter 601a opens to open the toner collection port 601 when the toner supply cartridge 60 is attached to the main body apparatus.

  6 to 8 are enlarged side sectional views of a part of the toner supply cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention. The collection container 62 is detachable from the storage container 61, and is detachable from the intermediate hopper 50 in a state where the storage container 61 is mounted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when a new storage container 61 storing toner is attached to the collection container 62, the expansion / contraction part P of the storage container 61 in the expanded state is inserted into the expansion / contraction part Q of the recovery container 62 in the contracted state. To do. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the expansion / contraction part Q of the collection container 62 is extended, and the expansion / contraction part P of the storage container 61 is inserted into the collection container 62. In the state shown in FIG. 7, the storage container 61 and the collection container 62 are mounted on the intermediate hopper 50.

  When the toner stored in the storage container 61 is used, the expansion / contraction portion P of the storage container 61 is contracted as shown in FIG. 8, and the expansion / contraction portion Q of the collection container 62 is expanded. As a result, the internal volume of the collection container 62 increases, that is, the expansion / contraction part P contracts and the expansion / contraction part Q of the recovery container 62 contracts due to the use of toner in the storage container 61.

  To replenish toner from the storage container 61 to the intermediate hopper 50, when the control unit detects that the toner in the intermediate hopper 50 is less than a predetermined amount by the sensor S, a driving device (not shown) is driven to store the toner. This is done by rotating 61 for a predetermined time.

  If the toner amount in the intermediate hopper 50 is not recovered even after the storage container 61 is rotated for a predetermined time, the control unit determines that the toner in the storage container 61 has been exhausted, and displays a toner on a display device (not shown). A replenishment display is output to notify the user.

  The user sees this, pulls out the toner supply cartridge 60, removes the collection container 62, removes only the storage container 61 from the intermediate hopper 50, and replaces it.

  When all of the toner stored in the storage container 61 is used, if the recovered waste toner is almost full in the recovery container 62, the entire toner supply cartridge 60 may be replaced. Further, when the capacity of the waste toner recovered for the toner stored in the storage container 61 is larger than the capacity of the recovery container 62, the recovery container 62 becomes full before the storage container 61 is empty. Therefore, it is only necessary to replace the collection container 62.

  When the storage container 61 in a state in which the collected expansion / contraction part P is contracted is filled with new toner, the storage container 61 is charged from a filling port 67 provided on one end side facing the expansion / contraction part P of the storage container 61. When new toner is filled from the filling port 67, the toner falls in the extending direction of the expansion / contraction part P in the arrow Y direction and accumulates on the expansion / contraction part P. Therefore, the expansion / contraction part P expands from the contracted state due to the weight of the falling toner.

  As a result, the expansion / contraction part P of the storage container 61 can be extended from the inside by using the weight of the toner that falls when the toner is filled, and therefore it is necessary to fill the toner after the contraction of the contraction / contraction part P is extended. Therefore, the burden on the operator can be saved.

  As described above, the toner supply cartridge (developer storage device) of the present invention is detachably provided with the storage container 61 and the recovery container 62 having the same expansion / contraction region, so that the toner container 61 can be used as the toner decreases. Since the area corresponding to the contraction of the expansion / contraction part P can be used as the area where the expansion / contraction part Q of the collection container 62 extends, the storage container 61 and the collection container 62 can be provided with a space necessary for arrangement while maintaining an appropriate internal capacity. The toner supply cartridge 60 can be reduced in size. Therefore, the developing device 7 and the image forming apparatus 1 can be downsized.

  As a result, it is possible to maintain appropriate internal capacities of the storage container 61 and the recovery container 62, so that appropriate usage efficiency of the storage container 61 and the recovery container 62 can be maintained, and there is no need for frequent collection by a manufacturer or the like. It is possible to prevent the cost of reusing 61 and the collection container 62 from rising.

  In addition, since the expansion / contraction portion Q of the collection container 62 expands with the expansion / contraction portion P of the storage container 61, the common expansion / contraction region can be used efficiently, and the toner supply cartridge 60 can be more appropriately downsized. it can.

1 is a front sectional view showing a simple configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a side sectional view showing a simple configuration of a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged top cross-sectional view of a part of the configuration of the developing device. FIG. 3 is an enlarged top cross-sectional view of a part of the configuration of the developing device. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a simple configuration of a toner supply cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a part of the toner supply cartridge. FIG. 4 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a part of the toner supply cartridge. FIG. 4 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a part of the toner supply cartridge. It is sectional drawing which shows the simple structure of the conventional image development apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1- Image forming apparatus 4-Photoconductor drum 7-Development apparatus 60-Toner supply cartridge 61-Storage container 62-Collection container 67-Filling port 90-Toner collection mechanism P-Expandable part Q-Expandable part R-Elastic member

Claims (7)

A storage container for storing the developer used in the process of developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier and a collection container for collecting the waste developer stored in the image carrier are detachable from the main body. In the developer storage device provided in the
The receiving container and the collecting container has a Shin contraction freely telescoping portion, and the expansion and contraction of the telescoping portion and a telescoping portion of the collection container of said container in a state where the storage container is mounted on the collection container At least a part of the region that changes with it is common,
The storage container is configured such that the stretchable portion is formed of a bellows, and the stretchable portion is provided at one end of the storage container.
The developer storage device, wherein the expansion / contraction portion expands / contracts while changing the internal volume of the container in accordance with execution of the step of developing the electrostatic latent image.   The developer storage device according to claim 1, wherein the collection container expands as the storage container contracts. The developer storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the storage container is rotatable about an axis parallel to an expansion / contraction direction, and the bellows of the expansion / contraction portion has a spiral shape. The developer storage device according to claim 1, wherein the collection container includes an elastic member that urges the expansion / contraction portion in the expansion / contraction direction from the inside of the container.   The developer storage device according to claim 1, wherein the storage container includes a filling port that is filled with a developer in an extending direction. In a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier using a developer,
Developing apparatus is characterized by comprising any of the developer accommodating device according to claim 1-5. In an image forming apparatus for performing image formation by transferring a developer image formed on an image carrier based on image information to a recording medium,
An image forming apparatus comprising the developing device according to claim 6 .

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