JP4742640B2 - Process cartridge and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a process cartridge used in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer, and in particular, various processing units related to a developer, for example, a developing unit that visualizes an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier. The present invention relates to an improvement in a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus including a toner replenishing unit that replenishes toner to the developing unit, a cleaning unit that can clean waste toner on an image carrier, and the like.

Conventionally, for example, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, various electrophotographic devices such as a charging unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a cleaning unit are usually disposed around an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum. Of these various devices, devices having similar lifetimes are collectively made into process cartridges, and replacement devices can be easily provided when the service life is reached.
In addition, in order to extend the life of the developing unit, a toner replenishing unit for replenishing toner with respect to the amount of toner consumed in the developing unit has already been provided.

Conventionally, this type of process cartridge has already been provided that includes a toner replenishing unit and a cleaning unit in addition to the developing unit (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4).
In this type of process cartridge, the developing unit is provided with a developing member such as a developing roll and a developer agitating / conveying auger, and the toner replenishing unit is provided with a toner conveying member such as an agitator for stirring and a dispensing auger. In addition, the cleaning unit is provided with a waste toner transporting member that transports waste toner scraped off by, for example, a cleaning blade to the waste toner storage unit.
As a drive system for this type of process cartridge, a developing member (developing roll, developer agitating / conveying auger, etc.) in the developing unit, a toner conveying member (agitator, dispense auger, etc.) in the toner replenishing unit, and a cleaning unit A waste toner conveying member using the same drive source has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 4). However, since the speed of the other conveying members is slower than that of the developing member, an appropriate number of deceleration elements is provided. It is necessary to transmit the drive using
In this case, if the drive of the waste toner transport member is transmitted from the drive of the toner transport member, the deceleration element for the waste toner transport member can be omitted.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-301460 (Example, FIG. 1) JP 2002-123143 A (Embodiment of the Invention, FIG. 2) JP 2003-162191 A (Embodiment of the Invention, FIG. 2) JP 2002-196585 (Embodiment of the Invention, FIG. 3)

  However, in this type of process cartridge, since the developing member, the toner conveying member, and the waste toner conveying member can be driven by the same drive system, the toner conveying member and the waste toner conveying member are Not only is it always driven and easily deteriorated in wear, but load fluctuations of the toner conveying member and the like directly affect the rotating operation of the developing member, causing deterioration in image quality.

The present invention has been made to solve the above technical problem, and effectively suppresses the deterioration of wear of the toner conveying member and the waste toner conveying member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus capable of effectively avoiding image quality deterioration due to members.

That is, according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier 1 using a drivable developing member 3 in a process cartridge that is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body. Development unit 2 that visualizes the toner with a developer , and a development cartridge that includes a main toner replenishment unit 4 (4a in this example) that replenishes at least toner to the development unit 2 using a drivable toner conveying member 5 A sub-toner replenishing unit 4 (4b in this example) for replenishing at least toner to the main toner replenishing unit 4 (4a) using the image carrier 1, a drivable toner conveying member, and drivable waste toner conveying An image carrier cartridge including a cleaning unit 6 that conveys waste toner collected from the image carrier 1 using a member 7 to a waste toner container ; The image carrier cartridge is positioned with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the developing cartridge is biased with respect to the image carrier cartridge, and the toner conveying member 5 (in the main toner supply unit 4 (4a)). In this example, 5a), a transport drive system 11 for driving the toner transport member 5 (5b in this example) of the sub-toner replenishment unit 4 (4b) and the waste toner transport member 7 of the cleaning unit 6 by the same drive source, and this transport A developing drive system 12 that drives the developing member 3 of the developing unit 2 using power that can be driven independently of the drive system 11 is provided.

In such a technical means, the process cartridge only needs to include the developing unit 2, the toner replenishing unit 4, and the cleaning unit 6, and it is not always necessary that the cartridge part is single, and a plurality of cartridge parts are not necessary. There is no problem even if it is divided. In the present invention, a mode in which a plurality of cartridge parts are divided is adopted. In the model shown in FIG. 1, the process cartridge includes an image carrier 1 and a charging unit 8 that charges the image carrier 1.
The developer in the developing unit 2 may be one component (toner) or two components (toner + carrier). The developing member 3 includes a wide range of functional members that are used for development. In addition to the developing roll (developer carrier) 3a, a developer supply roll (developer supply member), a developer agitating / conveying auger (developer) Agitating and conveying members) 3b, 3c and the like.

The toner replenishment unit 4 includes not only a toner replenisher but also a so-called trickle system (a system that replenishes the developer itself and discards and collects the deteriorated developer) that replenishes the developer itself composed of toner and carrier. . The toner replenishing unit 4 may be a single unit or may be separated into a plurality of parts 4a and 4b . In the present invention, a mode in which the toner replenishing unit 4 is separated into a plurality of parts 4a and 4b is adopted .
The toner conveying member 5 includes a wide range of toners that replenish at least the toner toward the developing unit 2. The toner agitating / conveying members 5 a and 5 b that agitate and convey the replenished toner and the replenished toner that has been agitated and conveyed are quantitatively replenished. For example, a dispense auger (dispensing member) 5c.
Further, the waste toner transporting member 7 may be any member as long as it transports the waste toner collected from the image carrier 1 to the waste toner storage unit. If it is a member (cleaning roll and brush), there also exists an aspect also including the cleaning member itself.

In particular, the feature of the present invention is that the transport drive system 11 and the development drive system 12 are separated.
In this case, the drive source of the transport drive system 11 and the drive source of the development drive system 12 may be separate and independent, but the same drive source may be used as long as it can be driven independently.
Typical examples of such a conveyance drive system 11 and the development drive system 12 include those having a drive transmission gear train that drives and transmits a drive force from a drive source.
Further, as a preferable aspect of the transport drive system 11, it is possible to include a connection element that can connect and disconnect the drive of the toner supply unit 4 to the toner transport member 5. By providing such a connecting element, it is possible to perform only the waste toner conveying operation separately from the toner replenishing operation. That is, only the waste toner recovery mode can be executed.
Here, as a typical aspect of the connecting / disconnecting element, there is a swing gear that forms part of the drive transmission gear train and connects / disconnects driving to the toner conveying member 5 according to the swing position.

Furthermore, as a typical aspect of the conveyance drive system 11, there is an aspect in which a dispense motor or a motor for other uses is used as a drive source.
This is because the toner conveying member 5 includes toner agitating / conveying members 5a and 5b for agitating and conveying the toner, and a dispensing member 5c for supplying a constant amount of the agitated and conveyed toner to the developing unit 2, and the conveying drive system 11 is a dispensing member. A motor (not limited to a dispense motor) that is drivingly coupled to 5c is used as a drive source.
According to this aspect, it is possible to perform the toner conveyance operation and the waste toner conveyance operation in conjunction with the dispensing operation (toner supply operation).

Further, as a preferable mode of the transport drive system 11 used in the split movable process cartridge, there is the following.
The split movable process cartridge here refers to an aspect in which each cartridge part of the image carrier cartridge and the developing cartridge is provided so as to be relatively movable with the engaging portion as the rotation center.
In such an aspect, the transport drive system 11 has a drive transmission gear train that drives and transmits the driving force from the drive source, and the engagement of the connecting gear to at least the movable cartridge part in the drive transmission gear train. It is preferable to set the position to a position along an arc trajectory having the engaging portion as a rotation center. Thus, even if the position of the cartridge parts changes by devising the meshing position of the coupling gear, it is possible to stably ensure the meshing state of the coupling gear.
In an aspect in which other cartridge parts are provided on the fixed cartridge parts of the image carrier cartridge and the developing cartridge so as to be relatively movable with the engaging portion as the rotation center among the split movable process cartridges. It is preferable that eleven drive input portions are provided in the cartridge part on the fixed side. According to this aspect, the drive input of the transport drive system can be stabilized.

  Further, as a preferable aspect of the load sharing of the transport drive system 11, there is a method in which the load peak of the toner transport member 5 and the load peak of the waste toner transport member 7 are set biased. Thus, if the load peaks of the toner transport member 5 and the waste toner transport member 7 are biased, the load peaks of the members 5 and 7 do not act on the transport drive system 11 at the same time. The load which should be reduced can be reduced.

Further, the drive system applied in the present invention is not limited to the process cartridge described above, and can be applied particularly to a developer processing apparatus that is not formed into a process cartridge.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, the developer processing apparatus according to the reference invention of the present invention is capable of developing an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier 1 with a developer using a drivable developing member 3. From the image carrier 1 using a developing unit 2 for visualizing, a toner supplying unit 4 for supplying at least toner to the developing unit 2 using a drivable toner conveying member 5, and a waste toner conveying member 7 drivable. And a cleaning unit 6 that transports the collected waste toner to a waste toner container, and a transport drive system that drives the toner transport member 5 of the toner replenishment unit 4 and the waste toner transport member 7 of the cleaning unit 6 with the same drive source. 11 and a development drive system 12 that drives the developing member 3 of the development unit 2 using power that can be driven independently of the transport drive system 11.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the process cartridge described above, also directed to an image forming apparatus itself having the process cartridge.

According to the process cartridge of the present invention, the transport drive system for the transport members of the main toner replenishment unit, the sub toner replenishment unit, and the cleaning unit and the development drive system for the development member of the development unit are separated from each other. It is not necessary to always drive the toner conveying member and the waste toner conveying member as in the case of the use member, and the wear deterioration of the toner conveying member and the waste toner conveying member can be suppressed correspondingly, and the life of the process cartridge can be improved. it can.
Further, since the toner conveying member and waste toner conveying member having large load fluctuations and the developing member (mainly developer carrying member) required for rotation accuracy are driven separately, the toner conveying member and the like are caused by fluctuations in the load. The generated vibration does not affect the rotation of the developing member, and image defects can be prevented beforehand.
In the present invention, the main toner replenishing unit is provided in the developing cartridge, the sub toner replenishing unit is provided in the image carrier cartridge, the image carrier cartridge is positioned with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and the developing cartridge is Since the image carrier cartridge is energized, when a predetermined amount of toner is supplied from the main toner supply unit to the developing unit, toner in the sub toner supply unit is supplied to the main toner supply unit at the same time. It has become so. For this reason, substantially constant toner is filled in the main toner replenishment unit until the sub toner replenishment unit becomes empty, and the change in the weight of the developing cartridge is suppressed to a small extent. At this time, since the image carrier cartridge is positioned with respect to the cartridge receiving portion of the main body of the image forming apparatus, the change in the toner storage amount of the sub toner replenishment unit has no influence on the change in the weight of the developing cartridge.
Therefore, fluctuation of the urging force of the developing cartridge with respect to the image carrier cartridge is suppressed until the sub-toner replenishing unit is empty, and accordingly, image disturbance can be effectively prevented.

  Furthermore, according to the image forming apparatus incorporating such a process cartridge, it is possible to easily construct an image forming apparatus that has a long process cartridge life and can prevent image defects.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
<Overall configuration of image forming apparatus>
FIG. 2 shows Embodiment 1 of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
In the figure, the image forming apparatus is a so-called tandem type color image forming apparatus, and an image forming unit 22 (specifically, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black in this embodiment) is provided in the apparatus housing 21. 22a to 22d) are arranged in the vertical direction, and a paper feed cassette 23 for storing paper 24 for supply is arranged below the paper feed cassette 23, and a paper feed cassette is provided at a position corresponding to each image forming unit 22. 23, a sheet conveyance path 25 serving as a conveyance path for the sheet 24 from 23 is arranged in the vertical direction.

In the present embodiment, the image forming units 22 (22a to 22d) form toner images for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black in order from the upstream side of the sheet conveyance path 25, and various processes. A process cartridge 30 incorporating the unit and an exposure device 40 for irradiating the process cartridge 30 with scanning light for image formation are provided.
Here, the process cartridge 30 includes, for example, a photosensitive drum 31, a charging roll 32 that precharges the photosensitive drum 31, and an electrostatic device that is exposed and formed by the exposure device 40 on the charged photosensitive drum 31. A developing device 33 that develops the latent image with corresponding color toner (for example, negative polarity in the present embodiment), a cleaning device 34 that removes waste toner on the photosensitive drum 31, and a surface of the charged photosensitive drum 31 And an erase lamp 35 for neutralizing the battery.
On the other hand, the exposure apparatus 40 stores a semiconductor laser (not shown), a polygon mirror 42, an imaging lens 43 and a mirror 44 in the case 41, and deflects and scans the light from the semiconductor laser with the polygon mirror 42. The optical image is guided to the exposure point on the photosensitive drum 31 through the mirror 44.

Further, in the present embodiment, a conveyance belt 53 that circulates along the sheet conveyance path 25 is disposed at a position corresponding to each photosensitive drum 31 of each image forming unit 22.
The conveyor belt 53 is made of a belt material (rubber or resin) that can electrostatically attract the paper 24, and is stretched between a pair of tension rolls 51 and 52. The rack roll 52 is a driving roll, and the lower tension roll 51 is a driven roll.

  Furthermore, a paper suction roll 54 is disposed at the entrance portion of the transport belt 53 (the portion facing the stretching roll 51). By applying a high voltage suction voltage to the paper suction roll 54, the transport belt 53 is provided. The sheet 24 is attracted to the sheet. Further, a transfer roll 50 is disposed on the back side of the conveyance belt 53 corresponding to the photosensitive drum 31 of each image forming unit 22, and the sheet 24 on the photosensitive drum 31 and the conveyance belt 53 is transferred by the transfer roll 50. And more closely. A predetermined transfer bias by a transfer bias power source is appropriately applied between the transfer roll 50 and the photosensitive drum 31.

In the present embodiment, a pickup roll 61 is provided in the vicinity of the paper feed cassette 23 to feed the paper 24 at a predetermined timing. The pickup roll 61 is moved to the transfer position via the transport roll 62 and the registration roll 63. It comes to send.
Further, a fixing device 64 is provided in the paper conveyance path 25 located on the downstream side of the most downstream image forming unit 22d, and a discharge roll 66 for discharging paper is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device 64. The discharged paper is stored in a storage tray 67 formed on the upper portion of the apparatus housing 21.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 80 denotes a high-voltage power supply that supplies a high voltage to the high-voltage device, and reference numeral 81 denotes a low-voltage power supply that supplies a low voltage to the low-voltage device.

The image forming process of such an image forming apparatus is as follows.
As shown in FIG. 2, in each of the image forming units 22 (22 a to 22 d), after the photosensitive drum 31 is charged by the charging device 32 and a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 31 by the exposure device 40. A visible image (toner image) is formed by the developing device 33.
On the other hand, the paper 24 from the paper feed cassette 23 is fed out at a predetermined timing by the pickup roll 61, sent to the suction position of the transport belt 53 through the transport roll 62 and the registration roll 63, and sucked by the transport belt 53. In this state, it is sent to the transfer position.
Then, the toner images on the photosensitive drum 31 in each image forming unit 22 are respectively transferred to the paper 24 by the transfer roll 50, and each color component unfixed toner image on the paper 24 is fixed by the fixing device 64 and then fixed. The used paper 24 is discharged to the storage tray 67.

<Outline of process cartridge>
FIG. 3 shows details of the process cartridge 30 used in the present embodiment.
In the figure, a process cartridge 30 includes a photosensitive drum 31, a charging roll 32, a part of a developing device 33, a cleaning device 34, and an erase lamp 35 as a device for discharging the photosensitive drum 31 before the cleaning process. A photosensitive cartridge 30a included, and a developing cartridge 30b provided below the photosensitive cartridge 30a so as to be swingable and positioned with respect to the photosensitive cartridge 30a and including a main part of the developing device 33. And.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the developing device 33 faces the photosensitive drum 31 and visualizes the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 31 with a developer G composed of toner and carrier. And toner replenishing units 110 and 120 for replenishing toner T to the developing unit 100 (in this embodiment, a separate type from the main toner replenishing unit 110 and the sub toner replenishing unit 120 is employed).
The photosensitive cartridge 30a has a configuration in which a cleaning unit 200 in which the cleaning device 34 is unitized and a sub-toner replenishment unit 120 are integrated in the horizontal direction, and the development cartridge 30b has a development unit 100 and a main toner replenishment unit. 110 is integrated in the horizontal direction.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the developing cartridge 30b is provided so as to be swingable by the pivot shaft 30c of the developing unit 100 relative to the photosensitive cartridge 30a positioned and fixed to the apparatus housing 21, and the photosensitive cartridge 30a. A scanning passage 135 through which scanning light from the exposure device 40 can pass is secured between the developing cartridge 30b and an elastic member on both sides of each part cartridge 30a, 30b near the entrance of the scanning passage 135. The developing cartridge 30b is pressed and urged against the photosensitive cartridge 30a. Of course, a biasing element such as a biasing spring may be used instead of or in addition to the spacer 130.

In the present embodiment, the sub-toner replenishment unit 120 of the photoconductor cartridge 30a extends in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the photoconductor drum 31, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A and 4B, for example. A pair of support protrusions 141 are provided.
When the process cartridge 30 is mounted in a cartridge receiving portion (not shown) of the apparatus housing 21, both ends of the support shaft of the photosensitive drum 31 are predetermined by a fixed receiving member (not shown) provided in the cartridge receiving portion. A drive transmission member (drive transmission gear) disposed at one end of the photosensitive drum 31 that is fixed in position and rotatable with respect to the support shaft is connected to a drive system (not shown) provided in the cartridge receiver. Connect and engage. The pair of support protrusions 141 are engaged with engaged portions (such as recesses and holes) of the cartridge receiving portion so that the photosensitive cartridge 30 a is positioned and fixed to the apparatus housing 21. Here, the cartridge receiving portion of the apparatus housing 21 may be any as long as it can accommodate and hold the process cartridge 30, and may be configured using the housing frame itself, or may be configured by providing another member on the housing frame. May be.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the support protrusion 141 is provided on the unit outer wall away from the photosensitive drum 31 and is positioned with respect to a direction different from the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 31. The photoreceptor cartridge 30a can be stably supported. Further, a pair of the support protrusions 141 are provided, the support points of the photosensitive cartridge 30a are set to four, the weight burden of the process cartridge 30 at each support point is reduced, and the twist deformation of the process cartridge 30 is also corrected. It is like that.
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 142 denotes a gripping arm used when the process cartridge 30 is attached and detached.

<Developing device>
The units 100, 110, and 120 constituting the developing device 33 used in this embodiment will be described.
-Development unit-
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the developing unit 100 employs a so-called two-component developing method, and is open to the photosensitive drum 31 side below the photosensitive drum 31. The developing housing 101 is configured as a developer containing chamber 102 in which the developer G composed of toner and carrier can be accommodated, and a developer carrying portion is provided at a portion facing the opening of the developing housing 101. The developing roller 103 is provided. The developing unit 100 bisects the developer containing chamber 102 with a partition wall 106 extending along the axial direction of the developing roll 103, and opens communication ports 107 and 108 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the partition wall 106. As a result, a developer circulation path is formed in the developer storage chamber 102, and a pair of agitation transport augers 104 and 105 are disposed along the axial direction of the developing roll 103 in this developer circulation path. The developer G inside is conveyed while stirring.
In this embodiment, the agitating / conveying auger 105 near the developing roll 103 also serves as a developer supplying function to the developing roll 103. However, a developer supplying member (roll, paddle, etc.) is provided separately from the agitating / conveying auger 105. Of course, it may be added. Further, a trimming member for regulating the developer layer thickness, a collecting member for collecting unused developer, and the like are provided around the developing roll 103 as necessary.

-Main toner supply unit-
Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the main toner replenishment unit 110 has a main replenishment housing 111 that also serves as a part of the rear partition wall of the developing housing 101 of the developing unit 100. A toner replenishing chamber in which the replenishing toner T is accommodated so as to be replenished is configured.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the toner supply chamber communicates with the toner storage chamber 112 in which the supply toner T is stored, and the toner storage chamber 112, and quantitatively supplies the toner T to the developing unit 100. It is divided into a dispensing chamber 113. Here, the dispensing chamber 113 is provided with a thick portion 101b near the lower portion of the rear partition 101a of the developing housing 101, and a long passage having a substantially circular cross section extending along the axial direction of the developing roll 103 in the thick portion 101b. It is configured as.
A dispenser inlet opening 114 is formed in a portion facing the toner storage chamber 112 on the far side in the longitudinal direction of the thick portion 101b, and the dispense portion is formed in a portion facing the dispense chamber 113 in the thick portion 101b. A toner supply port 115 is opened on the opposite side of the inlet opening 114 in the longitudinal direction.

Further, an agitator 116 for agitating and conveying the replenishing toner T in the toner storage chamber 112, and an agitator for agitating and conveying the toner T agitated and conveyed by the agitator 116 toward the dispensing inlet opening 114 of the dispensing chamber 113. 117 is disposed. In FIG. 5, the forms of the agitators 116 and 117 are schematically shown.
On the other hand, a dispense auger 118 is disposed in the dispense chamber 113 along the longitudinal direction. In particular, in the present embodiment, the dispense auger 118 is provided with a spiral blade having substantially the same diameter as the agitating / conveying augers 104 and 105 in the developing unit 100.

In the present embodiment, the toner supply port 115 is opened such that the lower end thereof is positioned below the surface position of the developer G stored in the developer storage chamber 102. That is, the toner supply port 115 only needs to be buried at least from the surface position of the developer G in the developer storage chamber 102, and the replenishment toner T can be supplied from the side to the developer accumulation portion of the developer storage chamber 102. The mixing property of the toner T to the developer G is ensured.
In this case, if the pressing force by which the replenishing toner T from the dispensing chamber 113 is pushed out from the toner supply port 115 is larger than the internal pressure by the developer G in the developer storage chamber 102, the toner supply port 115 is connected to the developer G. The replenishing toner T can be stably supplied even when facing downward from the surface.
In particular, if the lower end of the toner supply port 115 is set below the rotation center of the agitating / conveying auger 104, the toner T is replenished from below the rotation center of the agitating / conveying auger 104. It is caught in the transport auger 104 and quickly stirred and mixed with the developer G.

In addition, the dispensing inlet opening 114 may be appropriately opened, but from the viewpoint of sufficiently increasing the toner internal pressure in the dispensing chamber 113, the dispensing inlet opening 114 should be wider than the toner supply opening 115. Further, it is preferable that the transport length of the replenishment toner T in the dispense chamber 113 is sufficiently longer than the dispense inlet opening 114.
Further, regarding the diameter size, blade pitch, rotation speed, and the like of the dispense auger 118, the internal pressure of the developer G in the developer storage chamber 102 applied to the toner supply port 115 by the toner internal pressure based on the toner conveying force by the dispense auger 118 ( (Depending on the conveying force of the agitating / conveying auger 104).
At this time, in the present embodiment, the diameter size of the dispense auger 118 and the stirring and transporting augers 104 and 105 are substantially the same. For example, the diameter size of the dispensing auger 118 is made smaller than the diameter size of the stirring and transporting augers 104 and 105. As a result, a more stable supply becomes possible.

Further, with regard to the capacity of the toner storage chamber 112, the toner supply is stabilized if the capacity of the toner storage chamber 112 is made larger than the capacity of the dispense chamber 113 or the total capacity of the dispense chamber 113 and the developer storage chamber 102. Preferred above. Note that the capacity here means the toner capacity and the developer capacity, respectively.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the rotational centers of the agitators 116 and 117 are arranged so as to be positioned above the dispense auger 118 and the stirring and conveying augers 104 and 105.
Therefore, there is no need to lift the toner T from the toner storage chamber 112 to the dispensing chamber 113 and the developer storage chamber 102, so that the toner internal pressure in the dispense chamber 113 can be effectively increased, and the toner internal pressure in the dispense chamber 113 can be increased. The toner can be smoothly supplied to the developer storage chamber 102 without impairing the toner.

-Sub-toner supply unit-
Further, in the present embodiment, the sub-toner replenishment unit 120 has a sub-replenishment housing 121 adjacent to the back side of the cleaning unit 200, as shown in FIG. It is configured as a toner replenishing chamber 122 that is accommodated so as to be replenished.
In the toner supply chamber 122, a pair of agitators 123 and 124 for stirring and transporting the supply toner T are disposed.
Here, as a communication structure between the sub toner replenishment unit 120 and the main toner replenishment unit 110, as shown in FIG. 6, a structure in which a communication path (toner supply path) 131 is formed in a spacer 130 made of an elastic member is used. In the present embodiment, the spacers 130 are provided at two positions on both sides between the units 110 and 120, and the toner supply paths 131 are formed respectively. For example, the toner supply paths 131 are provided only in one of the spacers 130. Alternatively, the spacer 130 may be provided at one location on one side, and the toner supply path 131 may be formed in the spacer 130.
In this embodiment, the sub-toner replenishment unit 120 preferably closes the connecting portion with the toner supply path 131 with a seal member 125 that can be opened when in use, as indicated by a virtual line in FIG. . In this case, when the process cartridge 30 is not used (for example, during transportation), the toner in the sub toner replenishment unit 120 enters the toner supply path 131 and there is no fear of clogging, and the toner in the sub toner replenishment unit 120 is the main toner. It is possible to effectively avoid a situation in which the toner filling density in the main toner replenishing unit 110 is unnecessarily increased because the toner is charged in the replenishment unit 110 side.

In this embodiment, when a predetermined amount of toner T is supplied from the main toner supply unit 110 to the developing unit 100, the toner T in the sub toner supply unit 120 is supplied to the main toner supply unit 110 at the same time. It has become so. Therefore, the main toner replenishment unit 110 is filled with substantially constant toner T until the sub toner replenishment unit 120 becomes empty, and the change in the weight of the developing cartridge 30b is suppressed to a small extent.
At this time, since the photosensitive cartridge 30a is positioned and fixed with respect to the cartridge receiving portion of the apparatus housing 21, the change in the toner storage amount of the sub toner replenishment unit 120 does not affect the change in the weight of the developing cartridge 30b.
Therefore, fluctuations in the pressing and urging force of the developing cartridge 30b with respect to the photosensitive cartridge 30a are suppressed until the sub-toner replenishing unit 120 becomes empty, and accordingly, image disturbance can be effectively prevented.

  Further, since the photosensitive member cartridge 30a is positioned and fixed to the apparatus housing 21, at least the lower surface position of the photosensitive member cartridge 30a forming the scanning passage 135 does not change, and accordingly, the photosensitive member cartridge 30a. Even if the position of the developing cartridge 30b that is pivotally supported is changed, there is little possibility that the scanning passage 135 is blocked.

<Cleaning device>
In the present embodiment, the cleaning device 34 is incorporated as a cleaning unit 200 in the photosensitive member cartridge 30a as shown in FIG.
The cleaning unit 200 includes a cleaning housing 201 that opens to face the photosensitive drum 31. The cleaning housing 201 is configured as a waste toner storage chamber 203 that can store waste toner, and an upper wall of the cleaning housing 201. 201a is extended in a bowl shape toward the photosensitive drum 31 side.
A cleaning blade 210 is disposed on the lower opening edge 201b of the cleaning housing 201. The cleaning blade 210 is a side wall (see FIG. 5) that hangs down from both the opening lower edge 201b and the upper wall 201a of the cleaning housing 201. (Not shown), a substantially L-shaped blade holder 212 is attached, and a blade body 211 made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber is attached to the outside of the distal end portion of the blade holder 212, and the distal end of the blade body 211 is attached to the photosensitive drum 31. It is elastically contacted so as to face the rotation direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 7).
On the other hand, a film seal 215 made of polyurethane or the like is provided on the upper edge of the opening of the cleaning housing 201 (in the vicinity of the front end of the upper wall 201a in this embodiment), and the front end of the film seal 215 extends in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 31. Along with the elastic contact, the waste toner collected by the cleaning blade 210 is prevented from scattering.

In the present embodiment, the portion other than the attachment portion of the cleaning blade 210 to the cleaning housing 201 is disposed substantially parallel to the bowl-shaped portion of the upper wall 201a of the cleaning housing 201, and the waste toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 210 is used. Is configured as a waste toner reservoir portion 213 (corresponding to the inner surface of the blade holder 212 in this example). In particular, in this example, the waste toner reservoir 213 has a downward slope toward the waste toner storage chamber 203, so that the transportability of the waste toner Td can be improved.
In the present embodiment, the waste toner reservoir 213 is configured only by the cleaning blade 210, but may be configured by using not only the cleaning blade 210 but also a part of the cleaning housing 201.
Further, since a space that becomes a recess with respect to the photosensitive drum 31 is secured between the cleaning housing 201 and the cleaning blade 210, the charging roll 32 is disposed using the recess.
A holding block 202 for the erase lamp 35 is provided at the tip of the upper wall 201a of the cleaning housing 201.

Further, in the present embodiment, a waste toner transport member 220 that transports the waste toner Td scraped by the cleaning blade 210 to the waste toner storage chamber 203 side is provided in the cleaning housing 201.
The waste toner transport member 220 has a transport plate 221 as a member element straddling between the waste toner storage chamber 203 and the waste toner reservoir 213, and is disposed at the end of the transport plate 221 on the side of the waste toner storage chamber 203. A drive input unit 222 capable of inputting an external driving force is provided, and a protrusion 223 capable of contacting the waste toner reservoir 213 is provided at the end of the transport plate 221 on the photosensitive drum 31 side.
Here, the transport plate 221 may remain plate-shaped, but from the viewpoint of reducing the weight and effectively avoiding the accumulation of the waste toner Td on the upper surface portion, the protruding portion 223 of the transport plate 221 and the drive input. It is preferable to form the opening 224 in a portion other than the portion 222. In addition, the projecting portion 223 is not necessarily formed at the end portion of the transport plate 221, and may be a portion away from the end portion, and the number of the projecting portions 223 may be at least one. There may be more than one. Further, the method for forming the protruding portion 223 is appropriately selected, for example, by bending the tip portion of the transport plate 221 or by forming the protruding portion 223 integrally or separately on a part of the transport plate 221. It does not matter.
Of course, the member element of the waste toner conveying member 220 is not necessarily the conveying plate 221, and it is of course possible to use a frame frame structure, for example.

In the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a driving force in the form of a rotation locus is input to the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220. The force can be easily obtained, for example, by rotating a crankshaft 231 that is a kind of the rotation drive mechanism 230 around the rotation center.
Further, in the present embodiment, the waste toner conveying member 220 is provided with a posture regulating mechanism 240 for regulating the movement posture of the waste toner conveying member 220.
In the present embodiment, the attitude regulating mechanism 240 is configured by a biasing spring 241 that has one end engaged with the protruding portion 223 side of the waste toner conveying member 220 and the other end engaged with a part of the cleaning housing 201. The waste toner conveying member 220 is biased in a direction away from the drive input unit 222.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the urging spring 241 is disposed in an oblique direction with respect to the advancing / retreating direction of the waste toner conveying member 220.
Here, as a mounting structure of the urging spring 241, in FIGS. 7 and 8, locking hooks 242 and 243 are provided at both ends of the urging spring 241, and one of the locking protrusions 204 on the cleaning housing 201 side is locked. The hook 242 is engaged, and the other hook 243 is engaged with the engagement piece 225 provided at the end of the waste toner conveying member 220 on the protruding portion 223 side.
In this embodiment, the engagement protrusion 204 is provided in the cleaning housing 201 as a mounting structure of the urging spring 241. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, communicates with the cleaning housing 201 to the outside. In a mode in which the locking hole is opened, there is a risk of waste toner leakage. In such a case, the locking hole may be sealed with a seal member. As this sealing member, it is preferable to also use a label or the like attached to the CRU.

As described above, when the urging spring 241 is attached to the waste toner conveying member 220, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when a driving force having a rotational locus is input to the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220. Following this, the protrusion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 moves forward and backward along the waste toner reservoir 213.
At this time, the biasing spring 241 regulates the posture change range of the waste toner transport member 220 with respect to the change in the position of the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner transport member 220. In this example, when the waste toner transport member 220 moves backward, the protrusion 223 moves in contact with the waste toner along the waste toner reservoir 213, and when the advance toner moves, the protrusion 223 moves to the waste toner reservoir 213. It moves non-contactingly. Specific behavior will be described later.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the urging spring 241 is disposed obliquely with respect to the advancing / retreating direction of the waste toner conveying member 220, so that it is possible to save the space for disposing the waste toner. The amount of expansion / contraction of the urging spring 241 can be set small with respect to the amount of movement of the conveying member 220, which is preferable in that the fluctuation of the driving force applied to the waste toner conveying member can be reduced accordingly.

Next, the operation of the cleaning device 34 used in the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9A, when the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 31 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 210, the scraped waste toner Td is accumulated on the cleaning blade 210 and in the vicinity thereof. However, after being pushed out one after another by the scraped toner, the waste toner Td accumulates on the waste toner reservoir 213 (in this example, the inner surface of the blade holder 211 corresponds).
In such a state, if the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner transport member 220 is now in the position of FIG. 9A, the waste toner transport member 220 is disposed at the most advanced position.
At this time, the urging spring 241 urges the waste toner conveying member 220 in a direction away from the drive input unit 222, but the position of the driving input unit 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220 and the cleaning housing of the urging spring 241. By adjusting the relationship with the locking point position on the 201 side, a part of the urging force component of the urging spring 241 causes the protrusion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 to contact the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213. If acting in the direction, the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 contacts the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213.

From this state, when the position of the drive input unit 222 is rotated downward by the rotation drive mechanism 230, the waste toner conveying member 220 moves backward while being inclined as shown in FIG. 9B. The protruding portion 223 of the waste toner transport member 220 transports the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 toward the waste toner storage chamber 203 side.
When the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220 reaches the lowest point, the posture of the waste toner conveying member 220 becomes the steepest inclination, but the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 and the waste toner reservoir portion. From the standpoint of maintaining the contact state with 213, it is efficient to keep the portion other than the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 out of contact with the waste toner reservoir 213.
Thereafter, when the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner transport member 220 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 9C, the waste toner transport member 220 further moves backward while gradually loosening the inclined posture. At this time, the urging spring 241 still acts to press the waste toner conveying member 220 toward the waste toner reservoir 213, so that the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveyance member 220 is disposed along the waste toner reservoir 213 with the waste toner Td. To move the waste toner Td to the waste toner storage chamber 203 side.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9C and 10A, even if the waste toner transport member 220 reaches the last retracted position, the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner transport member 220 is discarded. Although the waste toner does not move to the end of the toner reservoir 213 closer to the waste toner storage chamber 203, the waste toner transported to the vicinity of the end of the waste toner storage 213 closer to the waste toner storage chamber 203 is waste toner transported later. Are sequentially stored in the waste toner storage chamber 203.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10A, when the waste toner conveying member 220 reaches the last retracted position, the waste toner conveying member 220 is pulled by the urging force of the urging spring 241 and the waste toner is conveyed. The protruding portion 223 of the conveying member 220 is separated from the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 and reaches a state just before being arranged in a non-contact manner.
That is, since the waste toner conveying member 220 is urged in a predetermined direction by the urging spring 241, the relationship between the position of the drive input portion 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220 and the locking point position of the urging spring 241 on the cleaning housing 201 side. Based on this, the arrangement posture of the waste toner conveying member 220 is determined. At this time, when the waste toner conveying member 220 shifts to the advancing movement, the layout should be such that the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 and the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 are arranged in a non-contact manner. Good.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10B, when the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner transport member 220 rotates upward, the waste toner transport member 220 advances while changing its tilting posture so that the drive input unit 222 side moves up. Moving.
At this time, the waste toner conveying member 220 is urged by the urging spring 241. When the position of the drive input portion 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220 is raised, the arrangement position of the waste toner conveying member 220 is further raised. Therefore, the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 and the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 remain arranged in a non-contact manner.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10C, when the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220 is rotated in a direction to be lowered from the top dead center position, the waste toner conveying member 220 moves forward while changing the inclined posture again. And gradually approaches the waste toner reservoir 213 side. When the waste toner conveying member 220 reaches the most advanced position, the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 is again placed in contact with the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213.
As described above, when the waste toner transport member 220 moves forward, the protrusion 223 of the waste toner transport member 220 moves in a non-contact manner with respect to the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213. Thus, the situation where the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 is pushed back is effectively avoided, and the transportability of the waste toner is kept good.
Thereafter, the behaviors of FIGS. 9A to 9C and FIGS. 10A to 10C are repeated.
In the present embodiment, the waste toner conveying member 220 is configured to move in contact with the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir portion 213 during the backward movement. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Of course, the conveying member 220 may be moved in a non-contact manner to the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 at the beginning of the backward movement region, and may be moved in contact with the middle. In addition, the waste toner transport member 220 is configured to move in a non-contact manner with respect to the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir portion 213 when moving forward, but is not limited to this. For example, the waste toner transport member 220 includes: Of course, the advance movement area may first be brought into contact with the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 and moved in a non-contact manner in the middle.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the waste toner conveying member 220 maintains a substantially horizontal uppermost position when the drive input unit 222 is at the top dead center position, and moves along a trajectory that does not protrude upward from the uppermost position. In addition, since the advancing movement is performed while maintaining a substantially horizontal posture, the upper side space of the waste toner storage chamber 203 and the upper space of the waste toner reservoir portion 213 can be set narrow, and the cleaning device 34 is correspondingly reduced. It is possible to make it thin.
In this embodiment, since the waste toner conveying member 220 has the opening 224, there is no concern that the waste toner is accumulated on the waste toner conveying member 220 when the waste toner conveying member 220 conveys the waste toner. In addition, there is no concern that waste toner is scattered by wind pressure due to air resistance.
Further, in the present embodiment, the waste toner conveying member 220 moves in contact with the waste toner reservoir 213 during the backward movement, but is not limited to this, and is not in contact with the waste toner reservoir 213. However, it may be moved in contact with the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213. In this case, since the waste toner conveying member 220 does not come into direct contact with the waste toner reservoir 213 during the backward movement, vibration is unnecessarily transmitted to the photosensitive drum 31 as the waste toner conveying member 220 moves. This is preferable in that there is less concern about the occurrence of the problem.

FIG. 11 shows a modification of the cleaning device used in the present embodiment.
In the figure, the cleaning device 34 is configured in substantially the same manner as in the first embodiment. However, unlike the first embodiment, the cleaning device 34 changes the position of the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220 and also has a posture regulating mechanism. 240 is a separate configuration. Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.
In this modified embodiment, the waste toner conveying member 220 has a drive input unit 222 at a position away from the end on the waste toner storage chamber 203 side, and is located at a position of the center of gravity at a position biased with respect to the drive input unit 222. It comprises.
In addition, the posture restricting mechanism 240 is provided with a posture restricting member 251 in a portion of the waste toner storage chamber 203 that straddles the back rear wall and the upper wall, and a predetermined guide surface 252 is formed on the surface of the posture restricting member 251. It is a thing.
The posture restricting member 251 engages the end portion of the waste toner conveying member 220 on the side of the waste toner containing chamber 203 and the guide surface 252 when the waste toner conveying member 220 moves forward, so that the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 is engaged. The waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 is arranged in a non-contact manner.
Since the posture restraining member 251 does not engage with the waste toner transport member 220 when the waste toner transport member 220 moves backward, the waste toner transport member 220 tries to rotate clockwise around the drive input unit 222, and the waste toner transport member 220 The protruding portion 223 of the conveying member 220 is disposed in a natural posture that can come into contact with the waste toner reservoir portion 213.

Next, the operation of the cleaning device according to the present embodiment will be described.
Now, as shown in FIG. 12A, it is assumed that the waste toner conveying member 220 is not engaged with the attitude restraining member 251 when the waste toner conveying member 220 is disposed at the most advanced position.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 12A, the waste toner conveying member 220 is maintained in a natural posture by the biased center of gravity, so that the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 is disposed in contact with the waste toner reservoir 213. Has been.
In this state, when the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220 rotates downward, the waste toner conveying member 220 moves backward while changing its posture. During this time, the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 accumulates waste toner. While keeping in contact with the portion 213, it moves backward and transports waste toner toward the waste toner storage chamber 203 side.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12B, when the drive input portion 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220 reaches the lowest point, the natural inclination posture of the waste toner conveying member 220 is maximized. The member elements other than the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 may be arranged in non-contact with the waste toner reservoir portion 213 so as to ensure the contact state between the protruding portion 223 of the conveying member 220 and the waste toner reservoir portion 213. is necessary.
Further, as shown in FIG. 12C, when the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner transport member 220 further rotates, the waste toner transport member 220 further moves backward while changing the tilting posture. During this time, the waste toner transport member Since 220 moves backward with the natural inclination posture, the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner transport member 220 moves in contact with the waste toner reservoir 213 and transports the waste toner toward the waste toner storage chamber 203 side.
In the modified embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 12C and 13A, even if the waste toner conveying member 220 reaches the last retracted position, the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 does not collect waste toner. However, the waste toner transported to the vicinity of the end of the waste toner reservoir 213 near the waste toner storage chamber 203 is pushed by the waste toner transported later. Then, the toner is sequentially stored in the waste toner storage chamber 203.
In this way, the waste toner peeled and collected by the cleaning blade 210 is forcibly transported into the waste toner storage unit 203 by the waste toner transport member 220.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, when the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner transport member 220 rotates and the waste toner transport member 220 tries to move forward from the last retracted position, the waste toner transport member An end portion (hereinafter referred to as a rear end portion) of the waste toner storage chamber 203 of 220 engages with the guide surface 252 of the posture restraining member 251. Then, the inclined posture of the waste toner conveying member 220 is restrained, and the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 and the waste toner reservoir 213 are arranged in a non-contact manner.
At this time, the guide surface 252 of the posture restraining member 251 is preferably restricted so that the posture of the waste toner conveying member 220 is maintained in a substantially horizontal posture from the viewpoint of thinning the cleaning device.
In particular, as shown in FIG. 13B, when the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner conveying member 220 reaches the top dead center position, this position becomes the uppermost position of the waste toner conveying member 220. It is preferable that the upper posture is a substantially horizontal posture and does not exceed the uppermost posture.

Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 13B and 13C, when the drive input unit 222 of the waste toner transport member 220 rotates, the waste toner transport member 220 has its rear end portion on the guide surface 252 of the posture restraining member 251. Move forward in the engaged state. At this time, the waste toner conveying member 220 keeps the protruding portion 223 and the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 in a non-contact state until reaching the most advanced position, and when reaching the most advanced position, the protruding portion 223 comes into contact with the waste toner reservoir 213 again.
As described above, when the waste toner transport member 220 moves forward, the protrusion 223 of the waste toner transport member 220 moves in a non-contact manner with respect to the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213. Thus, the situation where the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 is pushed back is effectively avoided, and the transportability of the waste toner is kept good.
Thereafter, the behaviors of FIGS. 12A to 12C and FIGS. 13A to 13C are repeated.
In this modification, the waste toner conveying member 220 is configured to move in contact with the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir portion 213 during the backward movement. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Of course, the member 220 may be moved in a non-contact manner with respect to the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 at the beginning of the backward movement region, and may be moved in the middle. In addition, the waste toner transport member 220 is configured to move in a non-contact manner with respect to the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir portion 213 when moving forward, but is not limited to this. For example, the waste toner transport member 220 includes: Of course, the advance movement area may first be brought into contact with the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 and moved in a non-contact manner in the middle.
In this modified embodiment, the posture restriction mechanism 240 is a mode in which the posture restraining member 251 is provided in a portion of the waste toner storage chamber 203 that straddles the back partition and the upper wall. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, guide grooves are formed on both side walls of the cleaning housing 201 on the waste toner reservoir side, and guide pins are provided on both ends of the waste toner conveying member 220 so that the guide pins can slide along the guide grooves. The movement trajectory of the protruding portion 223 of the waste toner conveying member 220 may be restricted.

<Drive system of developing device and cleaning device>
In the present embodiment, the drive system 300 of the developing device 33 and the cleaning device 34 is as follows.
That is, the drive system 300 used in the present embodiment is configured to drive each driven element of the toner replenishment units 110 and 120 in the developing device 33 and each drive of the cleaning unit 200 as the cleaning device 34, as shown in FIG. A transport drive system 301 that drives the elements with the same drive source, and a development drive system 302 that drives each drive element of the development unit 100 in the developing device 33 using a drive source different from the transport drive system 301. It has.

Here, the transport drive system 301 has a drive input gear 311 that is drivingly connected to a drive source (not shown). The drive input gear 311 is engaged with a first-stage drive transmission gear 312, A coaxial transmission gear 313 is provided coaxially, and the coaxial transmission gear 313 is engaged with drive transmission gears 315 and 316 connected to the agitators 116 and 117 of the main toner supply unit 110 via an idler gear 314, and further, one of the drive transmissions is transmitted. From the gear 316, the dispense gear 318 connected to the dispense auger 118 via the idler gear 317 is engaged.
In addition, the conveyance drive system 301 is connected to the rotation shaft of the rotation drive mechanism 230 of the cleaning unit 200 in addition to meshing the drive transmission gears 319 and 320 connected to the agitators 123 and 124 of the sub-toner replenishment unit 120 with the coaxial transmission gear 313. The drive transmission gear 321 is also engaged.
On the other hand, the development drive system 302 is provided with a drive transmission gear 331 coaxially with the photosensitive drum 31, for example, and the drive transmission gear 331 is engaged with a drive transmission gear 332 connected to the developing roll 103, and further this drive transmission gear 332. In this case, drive transmission gears 334 and 335 connected to the agitating and conveying augers 105 and 104 via the idler gear 333 are sequentially meshed.
The driving source of the development driving system 302 and the driving source of the conveyance driving system 301 are not limited to different modes, but the same driving source may be used as long as each can be driven independently.

As described above, according to the embodiment, since the transport drive system 301 and the development drive system 302 are separate systems, the toner transport member (as compared with the mode in which the development drive system 302 and the transport drive system 301 are interlocked) is used. Agitators 116, 117, dispense auger 118, agitators 123, 124), and waste toner conveying member 220 need not be constantly driven during the developing operation, and energy loss due to constant driving, toner conveying member, waste toner conveying member 220 is reduced accordingly. Wear deterioration can be suppressed and the life of the process cartridge 30 can be improved.
In addition, since the toner conveying member or waste toner conveying member 220 having a large load fluctuation and the photosensitive drum 31 and the developing roll 103 that require rotational accuracy are driven separately, the toner conveying member, the waste toner conveying member 220, etc. The vibration caused by the load fluctuation does not affect the rotation of the photosensitive drum 31 and the developing roll 103, and image defects can be prevented in advance.
Further, in the present embodiment, the photosensitive cartridge 30a is positioned and fixed with respect to the apparatus housing 21, and the drive transmission gear 312 with which the drive input gear 311 meshes together with the coaxial transmission gear 313 and the fixed side photosensitive cartridge 30a. Is supported on the side. For this reason, the drive input from the drive input gear 311 is performed stably.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the pivot shaft 30c is provided at a position different from the drive transmission gear 312 axis. However, if the pivot shaft 30c is provided coaxially with the drive transmission gear 312 axis, for example, the fixed side This is preferable in that the positional relationship between the input gear and the input gear can be easily obtained by driving input to the photosensitive member cartridge 30a.

Embodiment 2
FIG. 15 shows Embodiment 2 of the process cartridge according to the present invention.
In the figure, the basic configuration of the process cartridge 30 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, but the configuration of the transport drive system 301 is different from that of the first embodiment. Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.
In other words, in the present embodiment, the conveyance drive system 301 has the same drive transmission gear train (including idler gears in addition to the drive transmission gear) 312 to 321 as in the first embodiment. In contrast, a dispense motor 325 for driving the dispense auger 118 is used as a drive source, and a drive input gear 326 that is drivingly connected to the dispense motor 325 and a dispense gear 318 are engaged with each other.
According to the present embodiment, when the toner replenishment operation by the dispense mechanism is performed, the dispense motor 325 is operated, and the dispense auger 118 is rotationally driven via the drive input gear 326 and the dispense gear 318. .

At this time, the driving force from the dispense gear 318 drives the agitators 116 and 117 of the main toner supply unit 110 via the drive transmission gear trains 317, 316, 314 and 315, and the drive transmission gear trains 317, 316 and 314. , 313, 319, and 320, the agitators 123 and 124 of the sub-toner replenishment unit 120 are driven, and the waste toner conveying member 220 is driven through the drive transmission gear trains 317, 316, 314, 313, and 321. .
For this reason, in the present embodiment, a toner transport operation (to the dispensing chamber in the main toner supply unit 110) in the toner supply units 110 and 120 in conjunction with the dispensing operation (quantitative toner supply operation) by the dispensing mechanism. It is possible to perform a toner replenishing operation, a toner replenishing operation from the sub toner replenishing unit 120 to the main toner replenishing unit 110), and a waste toner transporting operation by the cleaning unit 200.
In the present embodiment, a mode using the dispense motor 325 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to the dispense motor 325, and a motor for other applications that can be connected to and disconnected from the dispense auger 118 is used. You may make it do.

Embodiment 3
FIG. 16 shows Embodiment 3 of the process cartridge according to the present invention.
In the figure, the basic configuration of the process cartridge 30 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, but the configuration of the transport drive system 301 is different from that of the first embodiment. Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.
In other words, in the present embodiment, the conveyance drive system 301 is retracted with respect to the axial direction or the like so as not to obstruct the insertion / removal operation of the process cartridge 30, which is drivingly connected to a drive source (not shown). The first drive transmission gear 312 is meshed with the drive input gear 311, the coaxial transmission gear 313 is provided coaxially with the drive transmission gear 312, and the coaxial transmission gear 313 is provided with the coaxial transmission gear 313. Engages a drive transmission gear 315 connected to the agitator 116 of the main toner replenishment unit 110 via the swing gear 340, and further connects a drive transmission gear 316 connected from the drive transmission gear 315 to the other agitator 117 via the idler gear 322. The drive transmission gear 316 is connected to the dispense auto via the idler gear 317. The dispense gear 318 leading to over 118 in which are engaged.
In addition, the transport drive system 301 meshes the drive transmission gear 315 with the drive transmission gears 319 and 320 connected to the agitators 123 and 124 of the sub-toner replenishment unit 120 via the idler gear 323 and the rotation drive mechanism 230 of the cleaning unit 200. The drive transmission gear 321 connected to the rotating shaft is also engaged.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the rocking gear 340 is supported on a rocking arm 341 that rocks with the drive transmission gear 313 as a rotation fulcrum, for example, so as to freely rotate. Yes. A shift actuator 342 such as a solenoid is connected to the swing arm 341 via an operating rod 343, and the swing gear 340 swings while meshing with the drive transmission gear 321 via the swing arm 341. The other drive transmission gear 315 is detachable. The shift actuator 342 is fixedly installed on the process cartridge 30 or the apparatus housing.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17A, when the swing gear 340 is in a position separated from the drive transmission gear 315 (the operating rod 343 of the shift actuator 342 is in the retracted position). ), The driving force from the drive input gear 311 drives the waste toner conveying member 220 of the cleaning unit 200 via the drive transmission gear trains 312, 313, 321 and rotationally drives the swing gear 340. To do.
At this time, since the swing gear 340 is not meshed with the drive transmission gear 315, it only rotates in an idle state, and no driving force is transmitted to each agitator 116, 117, 123, 124 and the dispense auger 118. .
Therefore, the toner transport operation by the toner replenishment units 110 and 120 is not performed, and only the waste toner transport operation by the cleaning unit 200 is performed.
In this case, only the waste toner collection mode by the cleaning unit 200 is executed without executing the toner supply mode by the toner supply unit.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17B, when the operating rod 343 is advanced by the shift actuator 342, the swing arm 340 is swung, and the drive transmission gear 315 is engaged with the swing gear 340. The driving force from the drive input gear 311 drives the waste toner conveying member 220 of the cleaning unit 200 via the drive transmission gear trains 312, 313, and 321 and rotationally drives the swing gear 340, and further drives the drive transmission gear. The agitators 116 and 117 and the dispense auger 118 of the main toner supply unit 110 are rotationally driven through the rows 315, 322, 316, 317 and 318, and the sub toner is supplied through the drive transmission gear trains 315, 323, 320 and 319. The agitators 123 and 124 of the unit 120 are rotationally driven.
Therefore, the toner transport operation (toner supply mode) by the toner replenishment units 110 and 120 and the waste toner transport operation (waste toner collection mode) by the cleaning unit 200 are performed simultaneously.
Thus, in this embodiment, the waste toner collection mode can be executed separately from the toner supply mode, and the waste toner collection mode can be executed independently.
In the present embodiment, in the toner replenishment mode, in the toner replenishment units 110 and 120, the agitators 116, 117, 123, and 124 and the dispense auger 118 operate in conjunction with each other. If a part of the drive element 110, for example, a connection element that can be connected to the dispense auger 118 is provided, a toner supply operation by the dispense auger 118 is not performed, and the toner supply units 110 and 120 in the toner supply unit 110 and 120 can be connected. It is also possible to perform only the toner agitating / conveying operation by the agitators 116, 117, 123, and 124 and periodically loosen the replenishing toner.

Embodiment 4
FIG. 18 shows Embodiment 4 of a process cartridge to which the present invention is applied.
In the figure, the basic configuration of the process cartridge is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, but a transport drive system 301 different from that of the first embodiment is provided. Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.
In the present embodiment, the transport drive system 301 has a drive input gear 311 that is drivingly connected to a drive source (not shown). The drive input gear 311 is engaged with a first-stage drive transmission gear 312, and this drive transmission is performed. A coaxial transmission gear 313 is provided coaxially with the gear 312, and a drive transmission gear 316 connected to the agitator 117 of the main toner supply unit 110 is engaged with the coaxial transmission gear 313 via a connection gear (idler gear) 324. The drive transmission gear 316 is engaged with a drive transmission gear 315 connected to an agitator 116 via an idler gear 322, and a dispense gear 318 connected to the dispense auger 118 is engaged from the drive transmission gear 316 via an idler gear 317. .
In addition, the conveyance drive system 301 is connected to the rotation shaft of the rotation drive mechanism 230 of the cleaning unit 200 in addition to meshing the drive transmission gears 319 and 320 connected to the agitators 123 and 124 of the sub-toner replenishment unit 120 with the coaxial transmission gear 313. The drive transmission gear 321 is also engaged.

In the present embodiment, the process cartridge 30 is configured such that the photosensitive cartridge 30a and the developing cartridge 30b are swingably supported by the pivot shaft 30c of the developing unit 100, and are positioned and fixed to the apparatus housing. The developing cartridge 30b is urged against the photosensitive cartridge 30a so as to be swingable.
Accordingly, the developing cartridge 30b moves along a rotation locus centering on the pivot shaft 30c with respect to the photosensitive member cartridge 30a.
In particular, in the present embodiment, of the drive transmission gear train, the connection gear (idler gear) 324 and the drive transmission gears 315, 316, 317, 318, and 322 are assembled to the developing cartridge 30b. A meshing position of a connection gear (idler gear) 324 coupled to the drive transmission gear train on the 30a side is set to a position along an arc locus centering on the pivot shaft 30c.
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, by devising the meshing position of the coupling gear 324, the meshing state of the coupling gear 324 with respect to the drive transmission gear 313 is stably secured even if the position of the developing cartridge 30b changes. The
Therefore, even with the split movable process cartridge 30, drive transmission by the transport drive system 301 is performed reliably.

Embodiment 5
FIG. 19 shows a transport drive system used in Embodiment 5 of a process cartridge to which the present invention is applied.
In the present embodiment, the basic configuration of the process cartridge and its transport drive system is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment. However, the toner supply operation by the toner supply units 110 and 120 and the waste toner transfer by the cleaning unit 200 are further performed. The operation and load balance are adjusted. Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment.
In the present embodiment, in the toner replenishing units 110 and 120, the agitator 116 (123) has an agitate film 402 made of a PET film or the like at the tip of the crank-shaped rotating rod 401. It is conveyed along the wall surface of the replenishing chamber, and as shown in FIG. 19A, the load is maximized when the toner is conveyed by the agitate film 402. An appropriate number of stirring rods 403 extending in the radial direction of the rotating rod 401 are provided on the opposite side of the rotating rod 401 from the agitator film 402 so as to stir the toner in the toner supply chamber.
On the other hand, the cleaning unit 200 has a waste toner transport member 220, and when the waste toner on the waste toner reservoir 213 is transported by the waste toner transport member 220 as shown in FIG. The load is maximized.

In particular, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19A, the transport drive system 301 has a minimum load on the waste toner transport member 220 when the load on the agitator 116 (123) is maximum. (For example, when the waste toner conveying member is located at the most advanced position), and when the load on the waste toner conveying member 220 is maximized as shown in FIG. 19B, the agitator 116 (123), etc. The positional relationship between the drive transmission gear trains is adjusted so that the load becomes minimum (the position where toner is not transported: the agitate film 402 is not in contact with the toner).
In other words, in the present embodiment, the conveyance drive system 301 is set by biasing the load peak of the agitator 116 (123) and the load peak of the waste toner conveyance member 220, and thus the agitator 116 (123). If the load peaks of the waste toner conveying member 220 are biased, the load peaks of the respective members do not act on the conveying drive system 302 at the same time, and the load to be borne by the conveying drive system 302 can be reduced.
Here, the rotation ratio between the agitator 116 (123) and the waste toner conveying member 220 is set to 1: 1, for example.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process cartridge, a developer processing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing Embodiment 1 of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the detail of the process cartridge used by this Embodiment. (A) is the arrow view which looked at the process cartridge used in this embodiment from one side, (b) is the arrow view which looked at the process cartridge used in this embodiment from the other side on the opposite side It is. FIG. 5 is a partially broken explanatory view taken along the line VV in FIG. 3 of the developing cartridge. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a communication structure between a main toner supply unit and a sub toner supply unit. It is principal part explanatory drawing of the cleaning apparatus used by this Embodiment. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the operation state of the urging | biasing spring at the time of forward / backward movement of a waste toner conveyance member. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows the operation state at the time of the waste toner conveyance member backward movement in the cleaning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows the operation state at the time of the waste toner conveyance member advance movement. A modification of the cleaning device used in the first embodiment will be described. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows the operation state at the time of a waste toner conveyance member backward movement in the cleaning apparatus which concerns on a deformation | transformation form. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows the operation state at the time of the waste toner conveyance member advance movement. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the conveyance drive system used by this Embodiment, and a development drive system. It is explanatory drawing which shows Embodiment 2 of the process cartridge which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows Embodiment 3 of the process cartridge which concerns on this invention. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the operation example of a rocking | fluctuation gear. It is explanatory drawing which shows Embodiment 4 of the process cartridge which concerns on this invention. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the operation example by the conveyance drive system used in Embodiment 5 of the process cartridge based on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image carrier, 2 ... Development unit, 3 (3a-3c) ... Developing member, 4 (4a, 4b) ... Toner replenishment unit, 5 (5a-5c) ... Toner conveyance member, 6 ... Cleaning unit, 8 ... Charging unit, 11 ... Conveyance drive system, 12 ... Development drive system modified draft 050318

Claims (9)

In a process cartridge that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body,
At least toner is replenished to the developing unit using the developing unit that visualizes the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer using the drivable developing member and the drivable toner conveying member. A developing cartridge including a main toner supply unit;
The image carrier, a sub-toner replenishment unit that replenishes at least toner to the main toner replenishment unit using a drivable toner conveying member, and waste toner recovered from the image carrier using a drivable waste toner conveying member An image carrier cartridge including a cleaning unit for transporting to a waste toner container ,
The image carrier cartridge is positioned with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and the developing cartridge is biased with respect to the image carrier cartridge,
And a transport drive system for driving the toner transport member of the main toner replenishment unit, the toner transport member of the sub toner replenishment unit, and the waste toner transport member of the cleaning unit with the same drive source;
A process cartridge comprising: a development drive system that drives a development member of a development unit using power that can be driven independently of the transport drive system. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein
A process cartridge, wherein the conveyance drive system and the development drive system have a drive transmission gear train that drives and transmits a drive force from a drive source. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein
A process cartridge comprising a connection element capable of connecting and disconnecting driving of a toner replenishment unit to a toner conveyance member. The process cartridge according to claim 3, wherein
A process cartridge, wherein the connecting element constitutes a part of a drive transmission gear train and is a swinging gear that disconnects driving to the toner conveying member in accordance with a swinging position. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein
The toner conveying member includes a toner agitating and conveying member for agitating and conveying the toner, and a dispensing member for supplying a fixed amount of the agitated and conveyed toner to the developing unit,
A process cartridge, wherein the transport drive system is configured with a motor drivingly connected to the dispense member as a drive source. The process cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein each cartridge part of the image carrier cartridge and the developing cartridge is provided to be relatively movable with the engaging portion as a rotation center.
The transport drive system has a drive transmission gear train that drives and transmits the driving force from the drive source, and rotates the engagement portion at the meshing position of the connecting gear to at least the movable cartridge part in the drive transmission gear train. A process cartridge which is set at a position along a circular arc trajectory as a center. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein another cartridge part is provided on the cartridge part on the fixed side of the image carrier cartridge and the developing cartridge so as to be relatively movable with the engaging portion as a rotation center.
A process cartridge in which a drive input unit of a conveyance drive system is provided in a fixed cartridge part. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein
2. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the transport drive system is configured to bias the load peak of the toner transport member and the load peak of the waste toner transport member.   An image forming apparatus comprising the process cartridge according to claim 1.

Images