JP5007773B2 - Toner supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner supply device.

  A so-called two-component developer containing toner and a magnetic carrier is used as an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine having these functions that forms a visible image by adhering powdered toner. This is widely used (for example, Patent Document 1). In this image forming apparatus, a developing device containing a two-component developer is disposed opposite to an image carrier, and toner is transferred to the surface of the image carrier to visualize an electrostatic latent image. In such an image forming apparatus, the developing device can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and when a predetermined amount of image formation is performed, the unit or cartridge including the developing device is taken out from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Exchanges are being made.

  In a developing device mounted on such an image forming apparatus, a two-component developer is accommodated in an initial stage before starting use (hereinafter referred to as “initial developer”). The initial developer has a predetermined toner concentration, that is, a predetermined mixing ratio of the toner and the magnetic carrier, and is enclosed in a predetermined region in the developing device. Then, before the image forming operation is started, that is, before the developing device is mounted on the image forming device or immediately after the mounting, the initial developer is supplied to the developing member facing the image holding member so that the developing operation can be performed. Become.

  On the other hand, in such a developing device, the toner in the two-component developer is consumed by developing the electrostatic latent image, and the toner for replenishing the toner is stored. This toner is contained in a predetermined area in an initial stage before the developing device is mounted on the image forming apparatus, and is sealed so as not to leak. Then, before being used for development, the storage area is unblocked and can be supplied to the two-component developer.

For example, as described in Patent Document 2, there is a method of closing the opening of a developer container containing a developer with a seal member. That is, when the developing device is not used, the encapsulated area containing the developer is closed with the seal member, and when the use is started, the seal member is removed to open the encapsulated area, and the developer is removed. The developing device is filled.
Further, Patent Document 3 describes a developer storage container provided with a drive source for winding a seal member. An elastic member such as a spring is used as the drive source, and the elastic member is held in a state where a restoring force is stored. When the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the holding of the restoring force is released, and the seal member is opened.

JP 2006-201528 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-65250 JP 2001-34055 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a toner supply device in which a shielding member that opens a supply port can be stably and movably installed.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention described in claim 1 has a toner storage chamber for storing toner, and the toner storage chamber has a cylindrical space whose inner peripheral surface is a cylindrical curved surface. And a supply port through which the toner sent from the cylindrical space passes is provided on the curved surface surrounding the cylindrical space, and is disposed along the inside of the cylindrical curved surface in the cylindrical space. A shielding member that is movable between a position that shields the supply port and a position that opens the supply port, and a drive member that is driven in the cylindrical space and conveys toner. The drive member has a spiral wing around the central axis, rotates around the central axis, conveys toner in the direction of the central axis, and contacts the shielding member to supply the toner. Move from the position where the mouth is blocked to the position where the supply port is opened Is intended to be, the shielding member, said supply ports from a position of blocking up to the position for opening the supply opening, the driving force from the drive member in contact with said blade body is transmitted, the supply port And a toner supply device including a driving force transmission unit that releases contact with the wing body and blocks transmission of driving force from the driving member .

The invention according to claim 2, in the toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein the driving force transmitting unit, when the shielding member is in a position to shield the supply port of the shielding member becomes cylindrical It is restrained in a state of projecting inward from the peripheral surface and is urged outward. When the projecting portion comes into contact with the drive member, a driving force is transmitted, and the shielding member is in a position to open the supply port. In some cases, the restraint is released and the contact with the driving member is released.

The invention according to claim 3 is the toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein the driving force transmitting portion is elastically deformed protruding along the cylindrical peripheral surface of the shield member from the shield member became cylindrical A cantilever member capable of supporting the cantilever member protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the shielding member and abutting and restraining against the curved surface forming the cylindrical space. A protrusion that is pushed out inside the cylindrical space is provided, and the cylindrical curved surface that forms the cylindrical space accommodates the protrusion provided on the cantilevered member at a position where the shielding member opens the supply port. It is assumed that a recessed portion is formed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the toner supply device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the shielding member moves in the circumferential direction by a driving force transmitted from the driving member. In addition, an opening is provided at a position corresponding to the supply port when the center angle is rotated.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the toner supply device according to the fourth aspect, the shielding member is provided in a partial range in the central axis direction of the cylindrical space.

The invention according to claim 6 is the toner supply device according to claim 5 , wherein the shielding member is a cylindrical member, and a cylindrical curved surface forming the cylindrical space has a central axis direction of the cylindrical space. In the range corresponding to the length of the shielding member, a recess having a depth corresponding to the thickness of the shielding member is formed over the entire circumference of the cylindrical curved surface, and the shielding member is fitted into the recess. Shall.

Invention Oite the toner supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shielding member, the center of the cylindrical space by the driving force transmitted from the driving member according to claim 7 It shall move in the direction of the axis.

  In the toner supply device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the shielding member that opens the supply port can be installed stably and movable. Moreover, after the shielding member moves to a position where the supply port is opened, the state where the supply port is opened can be maintained.

In the toner supply device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the contact between the driving member and the driving force transmission unit when the shielding member starts to move from the position where the shielding member shields the supply port, compared to the case where the present configuration is not provided, This can be performed reliably on the inner peripheral surface of the shielding member.

In the toner supply device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the contact between the driving member and the driving force transmitting portion for starting the movement from the position where the shielding member shields the supply port, compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, This can be performed reliably on the inner peripheral surface of the shielding member, and after the supply port is opened, the state where the supply port is opened is maintained.

In the toner supply device according to the fourth aspect, the positions of the supply port and the opening of the shielding member overlap with each other, so that the toner can be supplied.

In the toner supply device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, smooth movement with less contact resistance between the curved surface forming the cylindrical space and the shielding member is possible.

In the toner supply device according to the sixth aspect, compared to a case where a step is generated between the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical shielding member and the inner peripheral surface outside the range where the shielding member of the cylindrical space is provided. Therefore, the toner can be smoothly conveyed with less stagnation.

In the toner supply device according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the cylindrical shielding member moves a predetermined distance in the axial direction to release the shielding of the supply port, and the toner can be supplied from the supply port.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus to which a toner supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a state in which an opening / closing unit provided in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is opened. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the image forming unit used with the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view of a developing device provided in the image forming unit shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a developing device provided in the image forming unit shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a toner intake port of a toner supply device provided in the developing device illustrated in FIG. 5 is opened. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a toner conveying member and a shielding member of a toner supply device provided in the developing device shown in FIG. 5. It is a plane sectional view showing a developing device to which the toner supply device of the present invention can be applied . It is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a toner conveying member that can be used in the toner supply device of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view illustrating another example of a toner conveying member and a shielding member that can be used in the toner supply device illustrated in FIG. 4 or the toner supply device illustrated in FIG. 8. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a toner conveying member / shielding member used in a toner supply device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state in which the shielding member of the toner supply device illustrated in FIG. 11 is incorporated. It is sectional drawing of the image development apparatus shown as a reference example . FIG. 14 is a plan sectional view of the developing device shown in FIG. 13. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a communication port and a toner supply port of the developing device illustrated in FIG. 13 are opened. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure which drives the shielding member of the developing device shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention according to the present application will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus to which a toner supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied .
The image forming apparatus 1 includes four image forming units 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, and 10 d that form yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images. The sheet conveying belt faces these image forming units 10. 11 is supported. The sheet conveying belt 11 is configured to adhere and move a recording sheet on the circumferential surface, and a transfer roll 12 is disposed at a position facing each image forming unit 10 via the sheet conveying belt 11. Yes. The sheet tray 13 and the conveyance path 19 for conveying the recording sheet P sent out from the sheet tray 13 are configured to supply the recording sheet so as to adhere to the sheet conveyance belt 11. Then, the recording sheet attached on the sheet conveying belt passes through a transfer portion where the image forming unit 10 and the transfer roll 12 face each other, and the toner image of each color is transferred onto the recording sheet.

  A fixing device 15 is disposed on the downstream side in the circumferential movement direction of the sheet conveying belt 11, and the recording sheet to which the toner image has been transferred and peeled off from the sheet conveying belt 11 is heated and pressurized to form toner on the recording sheet. The image is fixed. On the downstream side of the fixing device 15, a pair of paper discharge rolls 16 and a paper discharge tray 17 are provided to store the recording sheet on which the toner image is fixed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the side portion of the image forming apparatus 1 is an opening / closing unit 2, and the opening / closing unit 2 includes the sheet conveying belt 11, the transfer roll 12, and a double-sided conveying path. 14 is supported. The opening / closing portion 2 is rotatable about a support shaft 1a provided at the lower part of the image forming apparatus 1, and moves the sheet conveying belt 11 backward relative to the image forming apparatus unit 10 to convey the recording sheet. The route is opened. In a state where the opening / closing part 2 is opened, it is possible to remove a recording sheet that has become jammed in a region facing the image forming unit 10 and to attach the image forming unit 10 to the image forming apparatus main body in this state. And can be removed.

  Each of the image forming units 10 can form any one of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images, and is arranged in the vertical direction in the image forming apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. It is attached and each is removable. As shown in FIG. 3, gripping portions 18 are provided at both end portions of these image forming units 10, and an operator can detach the image forming unit 10 by holding the gripping portions 18.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming unit 10 includes a photosensitive unit 20 including a photosensitive drum 21 and a developing device 30 that is connected to the photosensitive unit 20 with a gap 27 below the photosensitive unit 20. Configured.
As shown in FIG. 1, an exposure device 25 that irradiates the photosensitive drum 21 with a laser beam 25a based on an image signal is provided at a position behind the image forming unit 10 of the image forming apparatus main body. ing. The laser beam 25a emitted from the exposure device 25 is reflected by the polygon mirror 26, passes through a gap 27 provided between the photoconductor unit 20 and the developing device 30, and is irradiated onto the photoconductor drum 21. It has become a thing.

  The photosensitive unit 20 includes a photosensitive drum 21 on which a toner image is formed on the peripheral surface, and a charging device 22 that charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 substantially uniformly around the photosensitive drum 21. And a cleaning device 23 that collects toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 21 after the formed toner image is transferred, and a sub-toner storage chamber 24 that is a preliminary storage chamber for toner supplied to the developing device 30. Is provided.

The photosensitive drum 21 is obtained by forming an organic photosensitive layer on the peripheral surface of a cylindrical member made of metal, and the metal portion is electrically grounded. After the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is charged almost uniformly by the charging device 22, a latent image due to the difference in charging potential is formed on the peripheral surface by irradiating image light from the exposure device 25. It is what is done.
The charging device 22 includes a roll-shaped member obtained by coating a stainless steel cylindrical cored bar with a medium-resistance rubber. The charging device 22 applies a voltage obtained by superimposing an AC voltage on a DC voltage to apply the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 to the surface. It is charged to a desired voltage.

The developing device 30 uses a two-component developer containing toner and a magnetic carrier. A developing roll 31 is provided at a position close to the photosensitive drum 21, and this developing roll 31 is rotated by forming a thin layer of a two-component developer on the peripheral surface. As a result, the toner is transferred to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 21 at a position facing the photosensitive drum 21 to form a toner image. The toner consumed as a result of image formation is replenished according to the amount consumed.
The detailed configuration of the developing device 30 will be described later.

  A sheet conveying belt 11 that conveys a recording sheet to a position facing the image forming unit 10 is stretched by stretching rolls 11a and 11b, and rotates around the stretching roll 11a. is there. Further, an adsorption roll 11c is disposed at a position facing the stretching roll 11a via the sheet conveyance belt 11, and a recording sheet is electrostatically applied to the sheet conveyance belt 11 by applying a voltage to the adsorption roll 11c. It is designed to be absorbed.

  The transfer roll 12 is disposed on the back side of the sheet conveying belt 11 at a position facing the photosensitive drum 21 provided in each image forming unit 10, and a transfer bias voltage is applied between the transfer roll 12 and the photosensitive drum 21. ing. As a result, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 21 is electrostatically transferred to a recording sheet passing through a position where the transfer roll 12 and the photosensitive drum 21 face each other.

  The fixing device 15 includes a heating roll 15a having a built-in heating source and a pressure roll 15b pressed against the heating roll 15a, and these are arranged in parallel to form a nip portion that is pressed against each other. ing. The recording sheet to which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the nip portion, heated and pressed between the heated roll 15a and the pressure roll 15b that are driven to rotate, and the melted toner is pressed onto the recording sheet. It is supposed to be.

Such an image forming apparatus 1 operates as follows.
When a signal for starting an image forming operation is input, the photosensitive drums 21 are charged almost uniformly by the charging device 22, and a laser beam 25 a that is turned on / off according to the image signal is emitted from the exposure device 25. As a result, the charge of the irradiated portion is attenuated, and a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 21 due to the difference in electrostatic potential.

On the other hand, a thin layer of a two-component developer is formed on the circumferential surface of the developing roll 31 and is transported to a position close to and opposed to the photosensitive drum 21, and between the developing roll 31 and the photosensitive drum 21. A developing bias voltage is applied from a power supply device (not shown). As a result, an electric field is generated between the developing roll 31 and the photosensitive drum 21, and toner having a charge is transferred from the two-component developer held on the developing roll 31 to the image portion to form a toner image. Then, the toner image is transferred to a recording sheet that is conveyed while adhering to the sheet conveying belt 11.
Further, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 21 after the transfer is removed by the cleaning device 23.

  The recording sheet to which the toner image is transferred is peeled off from the sheet conveying belt 11 and sent to the fixing device 15. The heating roll 15a of the fixing device is heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the toner image. A recording sheet is sandwiched between the heating roll 15a and the pressure roll 15b, and the toner image is melted and recorded. Crimped onto the sheet. The recording sheet that has passed through the fixing device 15 passes between the pair of downstream discharge rollers 16 and is discharged to the discharge tray 17.

Next, a detailed configuration of the developing device 30 used in the image forming apparatus will be described.
The developing device 30 contains a developing roll 31 that holds the two-component developer on the peripheral surface, and a two-component developer supplied to the developing roll, and is transported so as to be stirred and circulated. A developer storage chamber 32, a second developer storage chamber 33, and a main toner storage chamber 34 for storing toner to be replenished in the second developer storage chamber are provided, and the first developer storage chamber 32, The second developer accommodating chamber 33 is provided with a first agitation transport member 35 and a second agitation transport member 36, respectively. The housing 30a of the developing device has an opening at a position where the developing roll 31 faces the photosensitive drum 21, and a part of the developing roll 31 is exposed from the housing 30a so as to be close to the photosensitive drum 21. It arrange | positions so that it may oppose.

The developing roll 31 holds a two-component developer in which at least a magnetic carrier and a toner are mixed on an endless peripheral surface, and the peripheral surface moves around and moves from the peripheral surface to the image carrier, that is, the photosensitive drum 21. It functions as a developing member for transferring toner. A magnet roll 31a is fixedly supported with a plurality of magnetic poles in the circumferential direction, and a non-magnetic hollow cylindrical sleeve 31b rotatably supported around the magnet roll 31a. The component developer is magnetically adsorbed and can be conveyed by the rotation of the sleeve 31b. The two-component developer adsorbed on the sleeve 31b is held in a state where the magnetic carrier is connected in a spike shape, and the toner is in a state of being electrically attached to the magnetic carrier. A layer regulating member 37 for regulating the amount of the two-component developer adsorbed on the sleeve 31b is provided downstream of the region where the two-component developer is supplied in the circumferential direction of the sleeve 31b. As a result, a substantially uniform developer layer is formed on the sleeve 31 b, and is sent to the developing area facing the photosensitive drum 21.
At a position passing through the position facing the photosensitive drum 21, the two-component developer is peeled off from the sleeve 31 b by the repulsive magnetic field generated by the magnetic pole provided on the magnet roll 31 a and returned to the developer storage chamber 32.

  The first developer accommodating chamber 32 is provided adjacent to the rear side of the developing roll 31, that is, the position facing the image carrier, and the second developer accommodating chamber 33 is provided behind the developing roller 31. These are partitioned by a partition plate 38. The first agitating / conveying member 35 and the second agitating / conveying member 36 are parallel to the developing roll 31 in the first developer containing chamber 32 and the second developer containing chamber 33. Has been placed. As shown in FIG. 4, these agitating and conveying members are provided with spiral blades around the shaft at a predetermined pitch, and the agitating and conveying members 35 and 36 rotate to agitate the two-component developer. However, it is conveyed in these axial directions. These conveyance directions are such that the first agitation conveyance member 35 and the second agitation conveyance member 36 convey in opposite directions.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the partition plate 38 is provided with communication ports 38a and 38b at positions corresponding to the vicinity of both end portions in the axial direction of the stirring and conveying members 35 and 36, and the first developer. The storage chamber 32 and the second developer storage chamber 33 communicate with each other. As a result, the two-component developer conveyed by driving the two agitating and conveying members 35 and 36 circulates and moves between the first developer accommodating chamber 32 and the second developer accommodating chamber 33. Yes. The two-component developer is supplied from the first developer storage chamber 32 to the developing roll 31 and is magnetically attracted.

  An initial developer accommodating chamber 39 is provided in the upper part of the second developer accommodating chamber 33, and accommodates an initial developer whose mixing ratio of toner and magnetic carrier has been adjusted in advance, and is subjected to the second agitating and conveying. The region where the member 36 is provided is isolated from the seal 40. The seal 40 can be removed before the start of use of the developing device. By removing the seal 40 and opening the initial developer accommodating chamber 39, the initial developer is transferred to the developer accommodating chambers 32 and 33. It is to be supplied.

The main toner storage chamber 34 is provided on the rear side of the second developer storage chamber 33, and a toner transfer chamber 41 is provided therebetween. The toner stored in the main toner storage chamber 34 is supplied to the developer storage chamber 33 through the toner transport chamber 41, and the toner supply device of the present invention thus supplies the toner to the developer storage chamber. The structure supplied to 33 is included.
The toner transfer chamber 41 is shielded from the second developer storage chamber 33 by the first partition wall 42 and is shielded from the main toner storage chamber 34 by the second partition wall 43. The section has a circular shape and forms a cylindrical space having an axis parallel to the developing roll 31, and a toner conveying member 44 is supported therein so as to be rotatable around the axis. The toner transport member 44 transports the toner in the toner transport chamber 41 in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the second partition wall 43 on the upstream side thereof has a main toner storage chamber 34. A toner intake port 43a (a toner storage chamber side supply port) communicating with the printer is provided. Further, a toner supply port 42 a (developer storage chamber side supply port) communicating with the second developer storage chamber 33 is provided in the first partition wall 42 on the downstream side in the toner transport direction in the toner transport chamber 41. ing. The position where the toner supply port 42 a is provided is upstream in the transport direction of the two-component developer in the second developer storage chamber 33. Therefore, the toner supplied from the main toner storage chamber 34 to the second developer storage chamber 33 through the toner transfer chamber 41 is transported in the second developer storage chamber 33 and is thus supplied to the first developer storage chamber 33. Circulates to 32.

  The toner conveying member 44 provided in the toner conveying chamber 41 can adjust the amount of toner supplied from the toner supply port 42a into the second developer accommodating chamber 33 by controlling the rotation amount. It has become. Accordingly, as the toner is consumed due to image formation, a corresponding amount of toner is replenished to the second developer storage chamber 33, and the amount of toner contained in the two-component developer always has an appropriate density. It is maintained so that the development can be performed.

  It should be noted that when the toner stored in the main toner storage chamber 34 is supplied to the second developer storage chamber 33 and the remaining amount decreases, the toner in the sub toner storage chamber 24 is replenished to the main toner storage chamber 34. It has become. The toner supply chambers 24 and 34 are provided with a toner agitating member 45 that is arranged in parallel with the axis of the developing roll 31 and is driven to rotate, so that the toner can be conveyed while preventing agglomeration of toner.

A cylindrical shielding member 46 is disposed in the toner transfer chamber 41 at a position corresponding to the toner intake port 43a. 5 and 6 are enlarged cross-sectional views showing the vicinity of the toner transfer chamber in which the shielding member is arranged. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the toner conveying member 44 and the shielding member 46 disposed in the toner conveying chamber 41.
As shown in FIG. 4, the shielding member 46 is fitted into a portion where the inner diameter of the toner conveyance chamber 41 that is a cylindrical space is enlarged, and the outer peripheral surface is a portion where the diameter of the toner conveyance path 41 is increased. It faces the inner circumferential surface with a slight gap and can rotate in the circumferential direction. In the initial state before the use of the developing device is started, the toner intake port 43a can be closed as shown in FIG. The shield member 46 is provided with an opening 46a. As shown in FIG. 6, when the shield member 46 rotates in the circumferential direction, the opening 46a moves to a position facing the toner intake port 43a. The toner can be taken into the toner transport chamber 41 from the main toner storage chamber 34 through the toner intake port 43a and the opening 46a.

Next, a mechanism for rotationally driving the shielding member in the circumferential direction will be described.
As shown in FIG. 7, the shielding member 46 is provided with a driving force transmitting portion 46b in which a part of a cylindrical member formed by providing a slit is projected in a cantilever shape along the peripheral surface. And the protrusion 46c which protruded outside the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical shielding member is provided in the front-end | tip part projected in the shape of a cantilever. The shielding member 46 is made of a material that is elastically deformed, such as a synthetic resin, and the driving force transmitting portion 46b that projects in a cantilever shape can be deformed in a direction perpendicular to the peripheral surface.

  In an initial state before the use of the developing device 30 is started, as shown in FIG. 5, the shielding member 46 is arranged so that the opening 46a is moved in the circumferential direction from the toner intake port 43a. 43a is closed. At this time, the driving force transmission portion 46 b has a protrusion 46 c at the tip end in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the toner transport chamber 41, elastically deformed inward, and protrudes inward from the inner peripheral surface of the shielding member 46.

  The toner conveying member 44 disposed so as to penetrate the inside of the shielding member 46 functions as a driving member for driving the shielding member 46, and as shown in FIG. A locking portion 44a is provided at a position corresponding to the provided position. The locking portion 44a protrudes in the radial direction of the toner transfer chamber 41, which is a cylindrical space, from the shaft 44c of the toner transfer member between the spiral blade bodies 44b. The tip is formed so as to be slightly inside the inner peripheral surface of the shielding member 46. Therefore, when the use of the developing device 30 is started and toner replenishment is required and the toner conveying member 44 is first driven to rotate, the locking portion 44a projects the driving force transmitted to the inside of the shielding member 46. The rotational driving force is transmitted to the shielding member 46 in contact with the portion 46b. Accordingly, the shielding member 46 is rotationally driven in the toner conveyance chamber 41, and the opening 46a moves to a position where the toner intake port 43a is provided. On the other hand, in the housing 30a forming the cylindrical space, a concave portion 30b is formed at a position corresponding to the projection 46c of the driving force transmitting portion when the shielding member 46 rotates to this position. Therefore, when the opening 46a moves to a position corresponding to the toner intake port 43a, the protrusion 46c of the driving force transmitting portion is deformed so as to be fitted into the concave portion 30b of the housing by the elastic restoring force, and the inner peripheral surface of the shielding member 46 The driving force transmission part 46b and the locking part 44a protruding further inward are not in contact with each other, and the engagement is released. Thereby, even if the toner conveying member 44 is driven after that, the shielding member 46 does not rotate, and the state where the toner intake port 43a is opened is maintained.

In the above developing device, the shielding member 46 in the toner transport chamber 41 is provided so as to shield and open the toner intake port 43a. However, the developing device including the toner supply device of the present invention is shown in FIG. Thus, in place of the shielding member 46, a shielding member 47 for shielding and opening the toner supply port 42a provided between the toner transport chamber 41 and the second developer accommodating chamber 33 is provided. In such a configuration, the toner transfer chamber 41 communicates with the main toner storage chamber 34 and is a part of the main toner storage chamber. Even in such a configuration, similarly, when the toner conveying member 47 is first driven, the toner supply port 42 a can be opened and the toner can be supplied to the second developer accommodating chamber 33.

Further, as the toner conveying member 44 as a driving member, a member in which a locking portion 44a is provided between spiral wings as shown in FIG. 7 can be used . Like the toner conveying member 48 shown in FIG. 9, a part of the spiral wing body 48a has a surface 48b parallel to the axis . The surface 48 b comes into contact with the driving force transmitting portion 46 b protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the shielding member 46, and the rotational driving force can be transmitted to the shielding member 46.
Further, when the shielding member is provided in the vicinity of the end portion in the axial direction of the toner conveyance path, as in the toner conveyance member 49 shown in FIG. 10, it is related to the end portion in the range where the spiral wing body 49a is provided. A stop portion 49 b may be provided, and the locking portion 49 b may contact the driving force transmission portion 50 a of the shielding member 50 to transmit the rotational driving force to the shielding member 50.

  On the other hand, in the developing device, the shielding member is rotationally driven in the circumferential direction in the toner conveyance chamber. However, the shielding member may be moved in the axial direction in the toner conveyance chamber.

11 and 12 are partial perspective views showing a toner supply device according to another embodiment of the present invention, which moves the shielding member 51 in the toner conveyance chamber 52 in the axial direction thereof.
The toner transfer chamber 52 of this toner supply device is also a cylindrical space, and the enlarged diameter portion 52 a provided in the toner transfer chamber 52 is formed longer than the axial length of the cylindrical shielding member 51. ing. The cylindrical shielding member 51 is accommodated in the enlarged diameter portion so as to be movable in the axial direction.
As shown in FIG. 11, an axial groove 52b is formed on the wall surface of the toner transfer chamber 52, and a protrusion 51a provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical shielding member 51 is inserted into the groove 52b. ing. As a result, the rotational movement of the shielding member 51 in the circumferential direction is restricted, and the protrusion 51a moves in the groove 52b with respect to the movement in the axial direction, and the movement in the axial direction is not restricted.

Similarly to the shielding member 46 shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the shielding member 51 is also provided with a driving force transmission portion 51 b that is cantilevered along the circumferential surface. Then, at the initial stage before the use of the developing device including the toner supply device is started, the outer protrusion 51c of the driving force transmitting portion 51b is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the toner transfer chamber 52 to be cantilevered. The driving force transmitting portion 51 b that is shaped protrudes inward from the inner peripheral surface of the shielding member 51. The toner conveying member 53 supported in the toner conveying chamber 52 is rotated and driven, and the vicinity of the tip edge of the spiral wing body 53a is brought into contact with the driving force transmitting portion 51b and shielded while sliding. A driving force in the axial direction is applied to the member 51. As a result, the shielding member 51 moves in the axial direction of the toner transfer chamber 52 and opens the toner intake port or the toner supply port. At this time, the driving force transmission portion 51b moves to a position where the concave portion 52c is provided on the inner wall surface of the toner conveyance chamber 52, and the protrusion 51c provided outside the driving force transmission portion 51b enters the concave portion 52c. As a result, the driving force transmitting portion 51 b that protrudes inward from the inner peripheral surface of the shielding member 51 is moved outward by the elastic restoring force, and the engagement with the toner conveying member 53 is released. Therefore, even if the toner conveying member 53 is subsequently driven, the shielding member 51 does not move, and the toner intake port or the toner supply port is kept open.
In the toner supply device as described above, the driving force transmitting portion 51b having a cantilever shape is inclined with respect to the circumferential direction so as to be smoothly engaged with the spiral wing body 53a. It is desirable to overhang.

  In the developing device 30 described above, the initial developer is stored in the initial developer storage chamber 39 provided above the second developer storage chamber 33. By removing the seal 40, the initial developer is stored. However, the structure for accommodating the initial developer and the structure for opening the initial developer from the accommodation chamber may employ various configurations other than those described above. For example, the initial developer is accommodated in a rotatable container, and the container rotates as the developing device is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus to release the initial developer. For example, a shutter that slides along the guide and seals the initial developer to the developer storage chamber can be employed.

Next, a developing device having a shielding member as in the invention according to the present application will be described as a reference example with reference to FIGS.
The developing device 60 is provided with a developing roll 61 and a layer thickness regulating member 81 that are the same as those of the developing device 30 shown in FIG. 3, and a first developer accommodating chamber 62 is provided at a position adjacent to the developing roll 61. A second developer accommodating chamber 63 is provided behind the second developer accommodating chamber 63. A first agitating / conveying member 64 is provided in the first developer accommodating chamber, and a second agitating / conveying member 65 is rotatably provided in the second developer accommodating chamber 63. In this developing device, the second developer accommodating chamber 63 is isolated from the first developer accommodating chamber 62 by a covering member 66 provided so as to cover the periphery of the second agitating and conveying member 65, and is a cylindrical space. It has become. As shown in FIG. 14, the covering member 66 includes a first developer accommodating chamber 62 and a second developer accommodating chamber 63 at positions corresponding to both ends in the axial direction of the second agitating and conveying member 65, respectively. Are provided with communication ports 66a and 66b through which the developer can be moved.

  Inside the second developer accommodating chamber 63, the inner diameter is enlarged near the position where the first communication port 66a is provided and near the position where the second communication port 66b is provided. And the cylindrical 1st shielding member 67 and the 2nd shielding member 68 are each inserted in this part, and it can rotate to the circumferential direction. The outer diameters of the shielding members 67 and 68 are set to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the enlarged inner peripheral surface of the first developer accommodating chamber, and the outer peripheral surfaces of the shielding members 67 and 68 are the second developer accommodating chamber. The seal member 69 is interposed between the inner peripheral surfaces of the inner peripheral surface 63 with a gap between them, and a two-component developer is prevented from entering between them.

  In the initial state before the use of the developing device 60 is started, the shielding members 67 and 68 can close the communication ports 66a and 66b as shown in FIG. Can store an initial developer mixed at a predetermined ratio. Further, openings 67a and 68a are provided in the shielding members 67 and 68, and as shown in FIG. 15, the openings 67a and 68a are connected to the communication ports 66a and 68a by the rotational movement of the shielding members 67 and 68 in the circumferential direction. The communication ports 66a and 66b are opened so that the two-component developer can move between the first developer storage chamber 62 and the second developer storage chamber 63. ing.

In the range where the first shielding member 67 in the axial direction of the second developer accommodating chamber 32 is provided, the toner conveying chamber 70 is separated by a partition wall 72 that partitions the toner conveying chamber 70 and the second developer accommodating chamber 63. A toner supply port 72a for replenishing toner from the toner supply port 72a is provided. The toner supply port 72a is closed by the first shielding member 67 as shown in FIG. 13 in an initial state before the use of the developing device is started. An opening 67b for opening the toner supply port 72a is also provided at a position facing the toner supply port 72a when the first shielding member 67 rotates in the circumferential direction. The toner supply port 72a is opened by the rotational movement of the shielding member 67.

  The first shielding member 67 and the second shielding member 68 are rotationally driven by the same configuration as the rotational driving of the shielding member 46 provided in the toner transport chamber 41 in the developing device shown in FIGS. It can be rotated. That is, as shown in FIG. 16, the shielding members 67 and 68 have cantilevered driving force transmitting portions 67c and 68c extending in the circumferential direction along the peripheral surface by providing slits (the driving force transmitting portion 68c is illustrated). Not) is formed. The driving force transmission portions 67c and 68c are formed so as to avoid the positions where the communication ports 66a and 66b and the toner supply port 72a are provided in the axial direction, and are provided on the outside near the tip of the driving force transmission portion 67c. 67d is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the second developer accommodating chamber 63, and the inside of the driving force transmitting portion 67c is in contact with a locking portion (not shown) provided in the second stirring and conveying member 65. It has become. When the second agitating and conveying member 65 is driven to rotate with the start of use of the developing device 60, the shielding members 67 and 68 rotate to a position where the communication ports 66a and 66b and the toner supply port 72a are opened. . At this time, the projection 67d provided on the driving force transmission portion is fitted into the recess 60b provided on the housing 60a of the developing device, and the engagement between the driving force transmission portion 67c and the second stirring and conveying member 65 is released. Thereafter, the shielding members 67 and 68 do not rotate, and the communication ports 66a and 66b and the toner supply port 72a are kept open.

  When the communication ports 66a and 66b are opened as described above with the start of use of the developing device 60, the initial developer housed in the second developer housing chamber 63 is opened, and the first developer is opened. The first stirring / conveying member 64 and the second stirring / conveying member 65 respectively convey the two-component developer in these axial directions. Since these transport directions are opposite to each other, the two-component developer circulates between the first developer storage chamber 62 and the second developer storage chamber 63 via the communication ports 66a and 66b. So that it is conveyed. Further, by opening the toner supply port 72 a, it is possible to supply toner from the toner transport chamber 70 to the second developer storage chamber 63. A partition 73 that separates the toner transfer chamber 70 and the toner storage chamber 71 is provided with a toner intake port 73a. The toner is introduced from the toner storage chamber 71 into the toner transfer chamber 70, and the toner supply port 72a is opened. When the toner conveying member 74 is driven, new toner is supplied to the two-component developer in the developer accommodating chamber.

  In the developing device shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, not only the communication port 66a is closed by the first shielding member 67 provided in the second developer accommodating chamber 63 but also the toner supply port 72a. However, the toner supply port may be provided at a position where it is not closed by the first shielding member 67 or the second shielding member 68. When the toner supply port is provided as described above, a separate shielding member is provided in the toner transport chamber as in the developing device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and the toner is supplied from the toner supply port or the main toner storage chamber to the toner transport chamber. It is also possible to employ a configuration in which the toner intake port to be taken in is shielded.

  In the developing device 60 as described above, the second developer accommodating chamber out of the first developer accommodating chamber 62 and the second developer accommodating chamber 63 provided for conveying and stirring the two-component developer. Since 63 is closed by the shielding members 67 and 68 and the initial developer is sealed, it is not necessary to separately provide a region for sealing the initial developer. Therefore, the developing device can be reduced in size.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Image forming apparatus, 2: Opening / closing part, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d: Image forming unit, 11: Sheet conveyance belt, 11a, 11b: Stretching roll, 11c: Adsorption roll, 12: Transfer roll, 13: Sheet Tray: 14: double-sided conveyance path, 15: fixing device, 15a: heating roll, 15b: pressure roll, 16: paper discharge roll pair, 17: paper discharge tray, 18: gripping section, 19: recording sheet conveyance path, 20: Photoconductor unit, 21: Photoconductor drum, 22: Charging device, 23: Cleaning device, 24: Sub-toner storage chamber, 25: Exposure device, 26: Polygon mirror, 27: Between the photoconductor unit and the developing device Provided gap, 30: developing device, 30a: housing of developing device, 30b: recess provided in housing, 31: developing roll, 31a: magnetism Roll, 31b: sleeve, 32: first developer accommodating chamber, 33: second developer accommodating chamber, 34: main toner accommodating chamber, 35: first agitating and conveying member, 36: second agitating and conveying member 37: Layer regulating member, 38: Partition plate, 39: Initial developer storage chamber, 40: Seal, 41: Toner transfer chamber, 42: First partition, 42a: Toner supply port (developer storage chamber side supply port) ) 43: second partition wall 43a: toner intake port (toner storage chamber side supply port),
44: Toner conveying member, 45: Toner stirring member, 46: Shielding member, 46a: Opening, 46b: Driving force transmitting portion, 46c: Projection, 47: Shielding member, 48, 49: Toner conveying member, 50: Shielding member, 51: Shielding member, 51a: Protruding part, 51b: Driving force transmitting part, 51c: Protrusion, 52: Toner conveying chamber, 52a: Expanded part, 52b: Groove, 52c: Concave part, 53: Toner conveying member, 60: Development Apparatus 60a: housing of developing device 60b: recess provided in housing 61: developing roll 62: first developer accommodating chamber 63: second developer accommodating chamber 64: first stirring and conveying Member: 65: second agitating and conveying member, 66: covering member, 66a, 66b: communication port, 67, 68: shielding member, 69: sealing member, 70: toner conveying chamber, 71: main toner collecting 72: partition wall, 72a: toner supply port, 73: partition wall, 73a: toner intake port, 74: toner conveying member, 81: layer regulating member

Claims (7)

A toner storage chamber for storing toner;
A cylindrical space having an inner peripheral surface that is a cylindrical curved surface is formed in the toner storage chamber.
The curved surface surrounding the cylindrical space is provided with a supply port through which the toner sent from the cylindrical space passes,
In the cylindrical space, a shielding member that is arranged along the inside of the cylindrical curved surface and is movable between a position that shields the supply port and a position that opens the supply port; A driving member that is driven in the cylindrical space and conveys toner;
The driving member has a spiral wing around the central axis, rotates around the central axis, conveys toner in the direction of the central axis, and contacts the shielding member so as to feed the supply port. The supply port is moved from the shielding position to the opening position ,
The shielding member is in contact with the wing body from the position where the supply port is shielded to the position where the supply port is opened, and the driving force is transmitted from the drive member, and in the position where the supply port is opened. A toner supply device comprising: a driving force transmission unit that releases contact with the wing body and blocks transmission of driving force from the driving member . When the shielding member is in a position to shield the supply port, the driving force transmission unit is restrained in a state of projecting inward from the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical shielding member and urged outward. When the projecting portion comes into contact with the driving member, the driving force is transmitted, and when the shielding member is in a position to open the supply port, the restraint is released and the contact with the driving member is released. The toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein the toner supply device is a toner supply device. The driving force transmission unit has a cantilever member that can be elastically deformed and protrudes along the cylindrical peripheral surface of the shielding member from the cylindrical shielding member,
The cantilever member is provided with a protrusion that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the shielding member and abuts against the curved surface forming the cylindrical space and is restrained to push the cantilever member to the inside of the cylindrical space. ,
The cylindrical curved surface forming the cylindrical space is formed with a recess for accommodating the protrusion provided on the cantilevered member at a position where the shielding member opens the supply port. The toner supply device according to claim 1 . The shielding member is moved in the circumferential direction by a driving force transmitted from the driving member, and has an opening at a position corresponding to the supply port when rotating at a predetermined center angle. The toner supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the toner supply device is a toner supply device.   The toner supply device according to claim 4, wherein the shielding member is provided in a partial range in a central axis direction of the cylindrical space. The shielding member is a cylindrical member,
The cylindrical curved surface forming the cylindrical space has a cylindrical concave surface having a depth corresponding to the thickness of the shielding member in a range corresponding to the length of the shielding member in the central axis direction of the cylindrical space. The toner supply device according to claim 5, wherein the toner supply device is formed over the entire circumference, and the shielding member is fitted in the recess. 4. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the shielding member is moved in a direction of a central axis of the cylindrical space by a driving force transmitted from the driving member. 5. Feeding device.

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