JP5081655B2 - Agent-filled developer container manufacturing method, agent-filled developer container, developer supply device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing a developer-filled developer container that contains a replenishment developer composed of toner and a carrier, the developer-filled developer container, and a developer supply device and an image using the same. The present invention relates to a forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus using a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier, the toner in the developing device is consumed by the development, and thus the replenishment toner is newly supplied to the developing device by the consumed amount. In the developing device, the developer is circulated and conveyed, and a part of the developer is conveyed to the developing region and contributes to development. In recent years, the amount of developer contained in the developing device has decreased with the miniaturization of the device, and the developer tends to circulate at high speed in the developing device as the speed of the device increases. For this reason, the stress applied to the developer in the developing device increases, and the deterioration of the carrier is likely to be accelerated due to scraping of the carrier coating film, spent toner, and the like. When the carrier deteriorates in this way, the image quality is inevitably lowered. In a conventional toner replenishing device that replenishes toner to a developing device, the toner in the developing device is replaced, but the carrier in the developing device is not replaced. Therefore, in order to suppress deterioration in image quality due to carrier deterioration, it is required to replace the carrier in the developing device. However, in the method in which a serviceman or the like periodically replaces the carrier in the developing device, the maintenance cost increases.

  As an example of a configuration that can suppress an increase in maintenance cost and suppress a decrease in image quality due to carrier deterioration in the developing device, there is a replenishing device described in Patent Document 1, for example. In this replenishing device, a replenishment carrier is automatically replenished automatically in addition to the replenishment toner. Then, the developer in the developing device is replaced by discharging the developer corresponding to the amount of the replenishing carrier supplied from the developing device. As a result, the proportion of the carrier existing in the developing device by the deteriorated carrier can be reduced, and the deterioration in image quality due to the deterioration of the carrier in the developing device can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the frequency with which a serviceman or the like replaces the carrier in the developing device, and to suppress an increase in maintenance costs. However, this replenishing device is provided with a container for containing the replenishing toner and a container for housing the replenishing carrier, and transports the replenishing toner and the replenishing carrier from each container to the developing device. A replenishment mechanism is also provided separately. Therefore, the necessary space is large and the number of parts is large, so that the apparatus becomes large and the manufacturing cost increases.

  Further, Patent Document 2 includes a developer container that contains a replenishment developer in which a replenishment toner and a replenishment carrier are mixed in advance to store a replenishment developer having a higher toner concentration than the developer in the developing device. A developer replenishing device that replenishes the developer to the developing device is disclosed. In this developer replenishing device, an amount of developer corresponding to the amount of replenished developer that is replenished is discharged from the developing device, so that the carriers in the developing device are replaced. According to this developer replenishing device, it is not necessary to provide a container or a replenishment mechanism for each of the replenishing toner and the replenishing carrier, so the device can be made smaller than the toner replenishing device described in Patent Document 1, Manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  On the other hand, as a toner replenishing device for replenishing the developing toner to the developing device, the one described in Patent Document 3 is also known. This toner replenishing device sucks the replenishing toner in the toner container that contains the replenishing toner by the negative pressure of the powder pump, and conveys the sucked replenishing toner to the developing device. More specifically, a toner is provided with a conveying path member through which the replenishing toner passes and a powder pump, and the replenishment toner in the vicinity of the toner discharge port in the toner container is discharged by the negative pressure due to the suction force of the powder pump. To discharge from. The replenishment toner discharged from the toner discharge port passes through the conveyance path member by the negative pressure of the powder pump and is conveyed to the developing device. Further, since the toner container is composed of a flexible bag-like member having a substantially sealed structure, the volume of the toner container decreases as the replenishment toner near the toner discharge port is discharged from the toner discharge port. Therefore, the other supply toner existing in the toner container moves toward the toner discharge port by that amount when the supply toner near the toner discharge port is discharged from the toner discharge port. According to such a toner container replenishing device, the toner for replenishment is discharged and the toner for replenishment in the toner container is discharged by suction of the powder pump, so that the toner for replenishment in the toner container is discharged. Or a mechanism for moving the replenishing toner toward the discharge port in the toner container is not required.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-18065 JP 2004-29306 A JP 2004-323062 A

The developer replenishing device described in Patent Document 2 does not include a mechanism for stirring the replenishing developer in the developer container. Therefore, if the toner and the carrier are not uniformly dispersed in the developer container, the replenishment developer in which only the carrier is biased (replenishment developer having a high carrier weight ratio) is replenished to the developing device. May end up. In this case, if the developer portion in the developing device to which the replenishment developer is replenished is transported to the development area without receiving sufficient agitation and contributes to development, the toner concentration (toner weight ratio) is low. The density of the image portion corresponding to the development portion is locally lowered, leading to a reduction in image quality.
In particular, when images having a high image area ratio are continuously formed, the developer portion in the developing device to which the replenishment developer is supplied has a very low toner concentration, and the replenishment developer. The developer portion that has received the replenishment is carried on the developer carrying member and transported to the development area before making a round of the developing device. In such a case, when a replenishment developer having a high carrier weight ratio (a replenishment developer having a low toner concentration) is replenished, the developer portion in the developing device that has received the replenishment sufficiently recovers the toner concentration. In addition, since the toner is transported to the development area without being sufficiently stirred, it cannot be mixed with other developer before being transported to the development area to restore the toner density. For this reason, the above-described deterioration in image quality is likely to occur.
If a mechanism for stirring the replenishment developer in the developer container is provided, even if the toner and the carrier are not uniformly dispersed at the initial stage, it can be uniformly dispersed by the stirring by the mechanism. It becomes. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the situation where the developer for supply having a high carrier weight ratio is supplied to the developing device. However, in this case, the number of parts of the developer container, which is a consumable item, is increased, the manufacturing process is complicated, and the manufacturing cost is increased, which is not desirable.

In a configuration that does not have a mechanism for stirring the replenishment developer in the developer container as in the developer replenishment device described in Patent Document 2, a carrier is used to prevent image quality degradation due to local image density reduction. It is necessary to prevent a situation where a replenishment developer having a high weight ratio (a replenishment developer having a low toner concentration) is replenished. As a method therefor, a method is considered in which the entire replenishment developer filled in the developer container is preliminarily dispersed in a state where the toner and the carrier are uniformly dispersed. However, this method has the following drawbacks.
That is, since the developer containers that are consumables are mass-produced products, in general, a large amount of replenishment developer is prepared before filling, and this large amount of replenishment developer is supplied to each developer container. A manufacturing process of distributing and filling each developer container with a replenishment developer is conceivable. With this manufacturing process, high productivity can be realized, but it is extremely difficult to stir a large amount of replenishment developer until the toner and the carrier are uniformly dispersed, resulting in an increase in manufacturing cost. There is a drawback.
On the other hand, for each amount to be filled in each developer container, toner and carrier are mixed and stirred to prepare a replenishment developer in which the toner and carrier are uniformly dispersed, and this is filled in the developer container. A manufacturing process is also conceivable. With this manufacturing process, the entire replenishment developer filled in the developer container can be kept in a state where the toner and the carrier are uniformly dispersed, but the productivity is extremely poor and the manufacturing cost increases. Has the disadvantage of leading to

  As described above, it is not practical to leave the entire replenishment developer in the developer container in a state where the toner and the carrier are uniformly dispersed in advance. Therefore, even when the entire replenishment developer is not in a state where the toner and the carrier are uniformly dispersed in advance, a replenishment developer with a high carrier weight ratio (a replenishment developer with a low toner concentration) is replenished together. Measures to prevent this are desired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to stably suppress a local decrease in image density even when the entire replenishment developer is not uniformly dispersed. It is an object to provide a low-cost manufacturing method of a developer filled developer container, a developer filled developer container, and a developer supply device and an image forming apparatus using the same.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes a developer container for containing a replenishment developer comprising toner and a carrier, and the replenishment developer from the inside of the developer container. A developer container having a developer filled therein, the developer container having a developer discharge port for discharging to the outside, and mounted on the developer supply device that conveys the replenishment developer discharged from the developer discharge port to the developing device; In this production method, a toner and a carrier are mixed to produce a premix developer having a carrier weight ratio lower than that of the initial developer initially charged in the developing device, and the premix developer and the toner alone In the developer container so that only the premix developer is not present in the vicinity of the developer outlet in the developer container after the filling. And toner alone It is characterized in that to fill the bets in the interior of the individual the developer container.
Also, the invention of claim 2, a developer container for accommodating a replenishment developer comprising a toner and a carrier, for discharging to the outside the replenishment developer from inside the developer accommodating body A developer-filled developer container mounted on a developer replenishing device that transports the replenishing developer discharged from the developer discharging port to the developing device. Only the premix developer exists in the vicinity of the developer outlet inside the developer container after the premix developer consisting of the initial developer that is initially filled in the developing device and the toner itself are filled. The developer container is individually filled so as not to be in a state.
The invention of claim 3 is the method of manufacturing a developer container filled with the agent according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the toner simple substance is filled into the developer container from the developer discharge port side, The premix developer is filled into the developer container from the developer discharge port side.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer container for containing a replenishment developer composed of toner and a carrier, and for discharging the replenishment developer from the inside of the developer container to the outside. In a developer-filled developer container that has a developer discharge port and is mounted on a developer supply device that transports the replenishment developer discharged from the developer discharge port to the developing device, toner and carrier The premix developer having a carrier weight ratio lower than that of the initial developer initially mixed in the developing device and the toner alone not mixed with the carrier are discharged from the developer container. The developer container is filled so that only the premix developer is not present in the vicinity of the outlet .
Also, the invention of claim 5 includes a developer container for accommodating a replenishment developer comprising a toner and a carrier, for discharging to the outside the replenishment developer from inside the developer accommodating body A developer-filled developer container that is mounted on a developer supply device that transports the replenishment developer discharged from the developer discharge port to the developing device. In order to prevent the premix developer consisting of the initial developer initially filled in the toner and the toner alone from being in a state where only the premix developer exists in the vicinity of the developer discharge port inside the developer container. The developer container is filled inside.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the developer-filled developer container according to the fourth or fifth aspect , the developer container is discharged as the replenishment developer is discharged to the outside through the developer discharge port. It is characterized by being configured to reduce the volume.
The invention according to claim 7 is the developer container filled with the agent according to claim 6 , wherein the developer container is provided with a flexible portion in at least a part thereof and is replenished via the developer discharge port. When the developer is discharged to the outside, the flexible portion is deformed and reduced in volume.
The invention according to claim 8 is a developer container for storing a replenishment developer composed of toner and a carrier, and a developer transport for transporting the replenishment developer stored in the developer container to a developing device. The developer conveying means includes a conveyance path member through which the replenishment developer passes, and a negative pressure applied to the replenishment developer in the developer container. A developer replenishing device comprising a powder pump for moving the replenishing developer to the developing device through the developer-filled development according to any one of claims 4 to 7 as the developer container. An agent container is used.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a latent image carrier, a developing device that develops a latent image on the latent image carrier using a developer in the developer container, and development for supplying to the developer container. In the image forming apparatus provided with a developer replenishing means for replenishing the developer, the developer replenishing apparatus according to claim 8 is used as the developer replenishing means.

  According to the method for producing a developer container filled with the agent according to the present invention, the premix developer produced by mixing the toner and the carrier and the toner alone are individually filled in the developer container. . Here, the replenishment developer in the developer container is filled with the premix developer and the toner alone, so that the container as a whole has a target carrier weight ratio (toner concentration). Therefore, in this manufacturing method, the carrier weight ratio of the premix developer can be set higher than the target carrier weight ratio of the entire container in the replenishment developer in the developer container. In general, the higher the carrier weight ratio of the developer that needs to uniformly disperse the carrier and toner, the easier it is to make it uniform. Therefore, according to the present invention, compared with the case where the premix developer is adjusted to the target carrier weight ratio of the entire container and then only the premix developer is filled in the developer container, the premixed developer is uniformly dispersed. Preparation of mixed developer is easy. As a result, compared to the case where only the premix developer is filled in the developer container, there is a situation where the replenishment developer in which only the carrier that causes a local decrease in image density is biased is supplied to the developing device. Hard to occur.

  Here, according to the manufacturing method of the developer container filled with the agent according to the first aspect, the premix developer and the toner alone are individually filled in the developer container. Further, the replenishment developer in the developer container is not uniformly dispersed as a whole. Therefore, when replenishment is performed using this developer container, only the premix developer may be replenished to the developing device. The carrier weight ratio of the premix developer used in this production method is lower than that of the initial developer initially charged in the developing device. Since the initial developer is set to the same toner concentration (toner weight ratio) as the target toner concentration in the developing device, the premix developer is higher than the target toner concentration of the developing device to which it is replenished. The toner density is set. Therefore, even if only the premix developer portion is supplied to the developing device without being mixed with the toner alone, the toner concentration of the developer in the developing device is reliably recovered to approach the target toner concentration. Can be made. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus that replenishes using the developer container manufactured by this manufacturing method, a local decrease in image density is suppressed.

According to the manufacturing method of the developer container filled with the agent according to claim 3, the premix developer filled in the developer container together with the toner alone is initially supplied to the developing device to be replenished. It consists of an initial developer to be filled. Therefore, since the initial developer can be used as it is as the premix developer to be filled in the developer container, the cost can be reduced.
Here, in this production method, the premix developer and the toner alone are individually filled in the developer container, so that the replenishment developer in the developer container produced by this production method is entirely Will not be uniformly dispersed. Since the premix developer is an initial developer, if only the premix developer portion is supplied to the developing device, the toner concentration of the developer in the developing device is restored to the target toner concentration. There is a risk that local image density reduction may occur. Therefore, in this manufacturing method, the premix developer and the toner alone are filled so that only the premix developer does not exist in the vicinity of the developer discharge port inside the developer container. . As a result, when the replenishment developer is discharged from the developer container for the first time, only the premix developer portion is not replenished to the developing device without being mixed with the toner alone. That is, when only the premix developer is present in the vicinity of the developer discharge port inside the developer container, when the replenishment developer is discharged from the developer container for the first time, only the premix developer is discharged. It will be. Conversely, if only the premix developer is present in the vicinity of the developer discharge port inside the developer container, the premix development is performed when the replenishment developer is discharged from the developer container for the first time. Only the agent will not be discharged. When the replenishment developer Tp is discharged from the developer container 13 as described above, the replenishment developer in the developer container is sequentially moved toward the developer discharge port. In this case, the premix developer can be mixed with the toner alone. Therefore, even if the replenishment developer is filled so that the premix developer and the toner alone are completely separated in the developer container, the vicinity of the developer discharge port inside the developer container If only the premix developer is present, the premix developer only portion is not discharged. Therefore, according to the developer container manufactured by this manufacturing method, the toner concentration of the developer in the developing device can be reliably recovered so as to approach the target toner concentration. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus that replenishes using the developer container, local image density reduction is suppressed.

  According to the present invention, the local image density reduction can be stably suppressed even when the entire replenishment developer is not uniformly dispersed. Therefore, the local image density reduction can be reduced while suppressing the manufacturing cost. An excellent effect that it can be stably suppressed is exhibited.

Embodiment 1
Hereinafter, as an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, an embodiment (hereinafter referred to as the present embodiment) of a tandem type color laser copying machine (hereinafter simply referred to as “copying machine”) in which a plurality of photoconductors are arranged in parallel. The form is referred to as “Embodiment 1”).
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine according to the first embodiment.
The copying machine includes a printer unit 100, a paper feeding device 200 on which the printer unit 100 is placed, a scanner 300 fixed on the printer unit 100, and the like. An automatic document feeder 400 fixed on the scanner 300 is also provided.

  The printer unit 100 is an image forming unit including four sets of process cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K for forming images of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). 20 is provided. Y, M, C, and K added after the numerals are the members for yellow, cyan, magenta, and black (the same applies hereinafter). In addition to the process cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K, an optical writing unit 21, an intermediate transfer unit 17, a secondary transfer device 22, a resist roller pair 49, a belt fixing type fixing device 25, and the like are disposed. .

The optical writing unit 21 includes a light source (not shown), a polygon mirror, an f-θ lens, a reflection mirror, and the like, and irradiates the surface of a photoreceptor to be described later with laser light based on image data.
The process cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K include a drum-shaped photosensitive member 1, a charger, a developing device 4, a drum cleaning device, a static eliminator, and the like.

Hereinafter, the yellow process cartridge 18 will be described.
The surface of the photoreceptor 1Y is uniformly charged by a charger as charging means. The surface of the photoreceptor 1 </ b> Y that has been subjected to charging processing is irradiated with laser light that has been modulated and deflected by the optical writing unit 21. Then, the potential of the irradiation part (exposure part) is attenuated. By this attenuation, an electrostatic latent image for Y is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 1Y. The formed electrostatic latent image for Y is developed by the developing device 4Y as developing means to become a Y toner image.
The Y toner image formed on the Y photoconductor 1Y is primarily transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 110 described later. The surface of the photoreceptor 1Y after the primary transfer is cleaned of the transfer residual toner by a drum cleaning device.
In the Y process cartridge 18Y, the photoconductor 1Y cleaned by the drum cleaning device is discharged by the charge eliminator. Then, it is uniformly charged by the charger and returns to the initial state. The series of processes as described above is the same for the other process cartridges 18M, 18C, and 18K.

Next, the intermediate transfer unit will be described.
The intermediate transfer unit 17 includes an intermediate transfer belt 110, a belt cleaning device 90, and the like. Further, it also includes a tension roller 14, a driving roller 15, a secondary transfer backup roller 16, four primary transfer bias rollers 62Y, 62M, 62C, and 62K.
The intermediate transfer belt 110 is tensioned by a plurality of rollers including the tension roller 14. Then, it is endlessly moved clockwise in the drawing by the rotation of the driving roller 15 driven by a belt driving motor (not shown).
The four primary transfer bias rollers 62Y, 62M, 62C, and 62K are arranged so as to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 110, respectively, and receive a primary transfer bias from a power source (not shown). Further, the intermediate transfer belt 110 is pressed toward the photoreceptors 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K from the inner peripheral surface side to form primary transfer nips. In each primary transfer nip, a primary transfer electric field is formed between the photoreceptor 1 and the primary transfer bias roller 62 due to the influence of the primary transfer bias.
The above-described Y toner image formed on the Y photoconductor 1Y is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 110 due to the influence of the primary transfer electric field and nip pressure. On the Y toner image, the M, C, and K toner images formed on the M, C, and K photoconductors 1M, 1C, and 1K are sequentially superimposed and primarily transferred. By this primary transfer of superposition, a four-color superposed toner image (hereinafter referred to as a four-color toner image) that is a multiple toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 110.
The four-color toner image superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 110 is secondarily transferred onto a transfer sheet (not shown) as a recording medium at a secondary transfer nip described later. Transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 110 after passing through the secondary transfer nip is cleaned by a belt cleaning device 90 that sandwiches the belt with the driving roller 15 on the left side in the drawing.

Next, the secondary transfer device 22 will be described.
Below the intermediate transfer unit 17 in the figure, a secondary transfer device 22 is disposed in which a paper conveying belt 24 is stretched by two stretching rollers 23. The paper transport belt 24 is moved endlessly in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing in accordance with the rotational drive of at least one of the stretching rollers 23. Of the two stretching rollers 23, one stretching roller 23 arranged on the right side in the drawing is between the intermediate transfer belt 110 and the paper transport belt between the secondary transfer backup roller 16 of the intermediate transfer unit 17. 24 is sandwiched. By this sandwiching, a secondary transfer nip is formed in which the intermediate transfer belt 110 of the intermediate transfer unit 17 and the paper transport belt 24 of the secondary transfer device 22 are in contact with each other. A secondary transfer bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the one stretching roller 23 by a power source (not shown). By applying this secondary transfer bias, the four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 110 of the intermediate transfer unit 17 is electrostatically moved from the belt side toward the one stretching roller 23 side in the secondary transfer nip. A next transfer electric field is formed. The transfer paper fed into the secondary transfer nip so as to synchronize with the four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 110 by a registration roller pair 49 to be described later has four colors affected by the secondary transfer electric field and nip pressure. The toner image is secondarily transferred. Instead of the secondary transfer method in which the secondary transfer bias is applied to one of the stretching rollers 23 as described above, a charger for charging the transfer paper in a non-contact manner may be provided.

  In the paper feeding device 200 provided at the lower part of the copying machine main body, a plurality of paper feeding cassettes 44 in which a plurality of transfer sheets can be stacked and accommodated in a bundle of sheets are arranged so as to overlap in the vertical direction. Has been. Each paper feed cassette 44 presses the paper feed roller 42 against the uppermost transfer paper in the paper bundle. Then, by rotating the paper feed roller 42, the uppermost transfer paper is sent out toward the paper feed path 46.

  The paper feed path 46 that receives the transfer paper fed from the paper feed cassette 44 has a plurality of conveying roller pairs 47 and a registration roller pair 49 provided near the end in the path. Then, the transfer paper is conveyed toward the registration roller pair 49. The transfer sheet conveyed toward the registration roller pair 49 is sandwiched between the rollers of the registration roller pair 49. On the other hand, in the intermediate transfer unit 17, the four-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 110 enters the secondary transfer nip as the belt moves endlessly. The registration roller pair 49 sends out the transfer paper sandwiched between the rollers at a timing at which the transfer paper can be brought into close contact with the four-color toner image at the secondary transfer nip. Thereby, in the secondary transfer nip, the four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 110 is in close contact with the transfer paper. Then, it is secondarily transferred onto the transfer paper and becomes a full color image on the white transfer paper. The transfer paper on which the full-color image is formed in this manner exits the secondary transfer nip as the paper transport belt 24 moves endlessly, and then is sent from the paper transport belt 24 to the fixing device 25.

  The fixing device 25 includes a belt unit that moves the fixing belt 26 endlessly while being stretched by two rollers, and a pressure roller 27 that is pressed toward one roller of the belt unit. The fixing belt 26 and the pressure roller 27 are in contact with each other to form a fixing nip, and the transfer paper received from the paper transport belt 24 is sandwiched therebetween. Of the two rollers in the belt unit, the roller that is pressed from the pressure roller 27 has a heat source (not shown) inside, and pressurizes the fixing belt 26 by the generated heat. The pressed fixing belt 26 heats the transfer paper sandwiched in the fixing nip. The full color image is fixed on the transfer paper by the influence of the heating and the nip pressure.

  The transfer paper subjected to the fixing process in the fixing device 25 is stacked on the stack portion 57 provided outside the left side plate in the drawing of the printer housing, or forms a toner image on the other surface. To the secondary transfer nip described above.

  When a document (not shown) is copied, for example, a bundle of sheet documents is set on the document table 30 of the automatic document feeder 400. However, when the original is a single-sided original that is closed in a main form, it is set on the contact glass 32. Prior to this setting, the automatic document feeder 400 is opened with respect to the copying machine main body, and the contact glass 32 of the scanner 300 is exposed. Thereafter, the single-bound original is pressed by the closed automatic document feeder 400.

  When a copy start switch (not shown) is pressed after the document is set in this way, the document reading operation by the scanner 300 starts. However, when a sheet document is set on the automatic document feeder 400, the automatic document feeder 400 automatically moves the sheet document to the contact glass 32 prior to the document reading operation. In the document reading operation, first, the first traveling body 33 and the second traveling body 34 start traveling together, and light is emitted from a light source provided in the first traveling body 33. Then, the reflected light from the document surface is reflected by a mirror provided in the second traveling body 34, passes through the imaging lens 35, and then enters the reading sensor 36. The reading sensor 36 constructs image information based on the incident light.

  In parallel with such document reading operation, each device in each of the process cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K, the intermediate transfer unit 17, the secondary transfer device 22, and the fixing device 25 start driving. Then, based on the image information constructed by the reading sensor 36, the optical writing unit 21 is driven and controlled, and Y, M, C, and K toner images are formed on the respective photoreceptors 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. Is done. These toner images become four-color toner images superimposed and transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 110.

  Further, almost simultaneously with the start of the document reading operation, the paper feeding operation is started in the paper feeding device 200. In this paper feeding operation, one of the paper feeding rollers 42 is selectively rotated, and the transfer paper is sent out from one of the paper feeding cassettes 44 accommodated in the paper bank 43 in multiple stages. The fed transfer sheets are separated one by one by the separation roller 45 and enter the reverse feeding path 46, and then conveyed toward the secondary transfer nip by the conveyance roller pair 47. In some cases, paper feeding from the manual feed tray 51 is performed instead of such paper feeding from the paper feeding cassette 44. In this case, after the manual feed roller 50 is selectively rotated to feed the transfer paper on the manual feed tray 51, the separation roller 52 separates the transfer paper one by one and feeds it to the manual feed path 53 of the printer unit 100. Make paper.

  In the case of forming another color image composed of two or more colors of toner, the copying machine stretches the intermediate transfer belt 110 so that the upper stretched surface thereof is substantially horizontal, Photoconductors 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. On the other hand, when forming a monochrome image consisting of only K toner, the intermediate transfer belt 110 is tilted to the lower left in the drawing by a mechanism (not shown) and the upper stretched surface is set to Y, M, C. The photoconductors 1Y, 1M, and 1C are separated. Of the four photoconductors 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, only the K photoconductor 1K is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing to form only the K toner image. At this time, for Y, M, and C, not only the photosensitive member 1 but also the developing device is stopped to prevent unnecessary consumption of the photosensitive member and the developer.

  The copying machine includes a control unit (not shown) configured by a CPU or the like that controls the following devices in the copying machine, and an operation display unit (not shown) configured by a liquid crystal display, various key buttons, and the like. The operator sends a command to the control unit by a key input operation on the operation display unit, so that one of the three modes is selected from the three-sided print mode, which is a mode for forming an image only on one side of the transfer paper. You can choose one. The three single-sided printing modes include a direct discharge mode, a reverse discharge mode, and a reverse decal discharge mode.

Next, the developer supply device will be described.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a developer supply device provided for each of the four process cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K.
The four developer supply devices respectively corresponding to the four process cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K have substantially the same configuration except that the color of the toner to be handled is different. Will be described as an example. In the following description, the subscripts Y, M, C, and K are omitted.

  The developer replenishing device 60 sucks out the replenishing developer accommodated in the developer container 13 by the suction force of the powder pump 61 and conveys it to the developing device 4 through the transfer tube 68. As the transfer tube 68, it is very effective to use a rubber material having an inner diameter of 4 to 10 mm, flexible and excellent in toner resistance, such as polyurethane, nitrile, EPDM, silicon and the like.

  Here, the developing device 4 will be briefly described. The developing device 4 includes a developing sleeve 4a as a developer carrying member disposed to face the photosensitive member 1, a first stirring screw 4b as a stirring and conveying member, and A second stirring screw 4c. The developer in the developing device 4 is circulated and conveyed through the developing device by the first agitating screw 4b and the second agitating screw 4c, and is carried on the surface of the developing sleeve 4a in the conveying path provided with the second agitating screw 4c. . The developer carried on the surface of the developing sleeve 4a is transported to a developing region that is a region facing the photoreceptor 1 as the surface of the developing sleeve 4a moves, and contributes to development. Further, an air filter 4d is provided on the upper portion of the developing device 4, and air in the developing device can be released to the outside of the device through the air filter 4d. The developing device 4 is also provided with a toner concentration sensor (magnetic permeability sensor) 4e for detecting the toner concentration of the developer inside the developing device.

  A developer container 13 is detachably attached to the developer supply device 60. The developer container 13 includes a bag portion 13a as a developer container made of a flexible and deformable flexible bag-like member. This bag part 13a is formed into a bag-like container shape with a single layer or multiple layers of a flexible sheet material (thickness of about 80 to 125 μm) such as a polyester film or a polyethylene film. This bag part 13a has a shape in which the lower part is tapered in a mortar shape, and the lower end is opened. A cap member 13b as a developer discharge port made of a resin such as polyethylene or nylon (registered trademark) is fixed to the opening.

  The base member 13b is a hollow cylindrical member, and a powder pump 61 of the developer supply device 60 is detachably mounted in the hollow portion. The powder pump 61 is a discharge type uniaxial eccentric screw pump, and is a rotor 61a made of a screw eccentrically made of a material having rigidity such as metal, and a double screw on the inside with an elastic body such as rubber. And a stator 61b that is fixed in shape and installed. When the developer container 13 is mounted on the developer replenishing device 60, the stator 61b of the powder pump 61 is fitted into the base member 13b of the developer container 13 from below, and the receiving member 13c of the developer container 13 is inserted. Thus, the stator 61b is held in the fitted position. Since the receiving member 13c is detachably fixed to the base member 13b by screwing, engagement or the like, the stator 61b and the rotor 61a are developed as shown in FIG. 3 by removing the receiving member 13c. It can be detached from the agent container 13. The cap member 13b is provided with a stopper 13d, and the stopper 13d prevents the rotor 61a from entering the bag portion 13a. The stopper 13d may be provided with a bearing that rotatably supports the rotor 61a.

  A drive shaft 64 extending in the vertical direction is provided in the set portion 63 in which the developer container 13 is set. The drive shaft 64 is supported by the lower member 63a of the set portion 63 so as to be rotatable and vertically movable via a bearing 63b, and is rotationally driven by a drive source (not shown). A joint 64 a that can be engaged with the rotor 61 a is fixed to the tip (upper end) of the drive shaft 64. The drive shaft 64 is urged upward by a spring 65. In a state in which the developer container 13 is not set on the set portion 63, the drive shaft 64 stands by at a position where the fixed plate 64b fixed thereto abuts on the lower surface of the bearing 63b. When the developer container 13 is set on the set portion 63, the rotor 61a provided on the base member 13b of the developer container 13 engages with the joint 64a of the drive shaft 64, and the urging force of the spring 65 is applied. The drive shaft 64 is pushed down against it. The engagement between the joint 64a and the rotor 61a is maintained by the urging force of the spring 65.

  The lower end surface of the set portion 63 communicates with a pipe portion 66 extending in the left-right direction in the drawing, and the replenishment developer discharged from the developer container 13 by the powder pump 61 falls into the pipe portion 66. A transfer tube 68 is connected to one end of the pipe portion 66, and communicates with the developing device 4 through the transfer tube 68. Further, an air pump 67 as an air supply means is connected to the other end of the pipe portion 66. The replenishment developer that has fallen into the pipe 66 is carried by the air pump 67 to the developing device 4 via the transfer tube 68.

  The single-shaft eccentric screw pump that is the powder pump 61 is capable of continuous quantitative transfer of powder at a high solid-gas ratio, and an accurate transfer amount of developer for replenishment proportional to the rotational speed of the rotor 61a can be obtained. It has been known. Accordingly, the transfer amount of the replenishment developer may be controlled by controlling the rotation speed and driving time of the powder pump 61. When the rotor 61a rotates, the powder pump 61 generates a discharge pressure in the downward direction and generates a suction pressure in the upward direction. The magnitude of the discharge pressure or the suction pressure depends on the shape of the rotor 61a and the stator 61b of the powder pump 61 and the rotational speed of the rotor 61a. In the first embodiment, since the transfer tube 68 is flexible and transports the replenishment developer in the airflow by the air pump 67, the degree of freedom of the transfer path by the transfer tube 68 is very high. , Can move freely in any direction up, down, left and right. Furthermore, since the air supply amount of the air pump 67 is very small at a maximum flow rate (no load) of 1 to 2 liters / minute, air can be easily evacuated from the developing device 4 and toner scattering and the like are easy to occur. Can be prevented.

  Further, since the powder pump 61 functions as a self-closing valve that is completely sealed when stopped, the base member 13b of the developer container 13 is sealed in a state in which the developer container 13 is removed from the set portion 63. . Therefore, the replenishment developer in the developer container 13 is not scattered outside, and it is possible to reliably prevent the replenishment developer from being scattered and contaminating the inside of the apparatus or the like when the developer container 13 is replaced.

  Since the bag portion 13a of the developer container 13 is a sealed bag-like member using a flexible material as described above, the developer container 13 is discharged as the replenishment developer is discharged by the powder pump 61. The bag portion 13a gradually decreases in volume. Accordingly, the bag portion 13a of the developer container 13 is in a reduced volume state as shown in FIG. 4 when all of the replenishment developer inside the developer container 13 is discharged and used up, and can be recovered and disposed of in this state. . That is, assuming that 90% of the volume of the bag portion 13a of the initial developer container 13 is filled with the replenishment developer, it automatically collapses to the initial 10% volume when the replenishment developer is used up. It becomes the state. As described above, according to the developer container 13 which is flexible, the used container is not bulky as compared with the conventional hard bottle such as a cartridge or a bottle, so that the handling property during transportation and storage is good and the storage space is not taken up. Has the advantage. In addition, the used developer container 13 is taken from the user by the manufacturer and is recycled, reused, or incinerated. The developer container 13 can arbitrarily round or fold the container, The ease of handling during transportation and storage is improved, and the advantage of not taking up storage space during transportation and storage is further increased, and the recovery logistics cost can be greatly reduced from the user to the manufacturer. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, since the powder pump 61 can be detached from the developer container 13, it is easy to regenerate and reuse the powder pump. The powder pump 61 has a life when the stator 61b made of rubber is worn. In this case, the rotor 61a can be used any number of times by replacing only the stator 61b.

  Further, since the lower portion of the bag portion 13a of the developer container 13 has a shape that tapers in a mortar shape toward the cap member 13b, the replenishment developer in the bag portion 13a can be used without waste. Can move toward.

  Note that the control of the developer supply device is realized by performing drive control of the powder pump 61 and drive control of the air pump 67 by a control unit having an MPU (not shown). These drive controls can use widely known techniques. In the first embodiment, the replenishment developer replenishment control is based on the detection result of the toner density sensor 4e provided in the developing device 4 so that the toner density related to the detection result approaches the target toner density. This is done by a method of controlling the amount of developer replenishment. As a replenishment developer replenishment control method, the density of the detection toner image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 or the intermediate transfer belt 110 is detected by an optical sensor or the like, and the reflection density according to the detection result is the target. A method of controlling the replenishment amount of the replenishment developer so as to approach the reflection density may be used.

  In the replenishment control according to the first embodiment, first, a control unit that captures a detection result of the toner density sensor 4e controls a drive source or a drive transmission unit (such as a clutch) (not shown) according to the detection result to drive. The powder pump 61 is driven via the shaft 64 and an operation signal is transmitted to the air pump 67 to drive the air pump 67. The control unit of the first embodiment has a timer function, and can drive and control the drive source and the air pump 67 at an arbitrary timing. The control unit starts the operation of the rotor 61a of the powder pump 61 and the air pump 67 at the same time, and each operates for a predetermined time. As a result, a predetermined amount of replenishment developer is discharged from the developer container 13 and sent to the developing device 4 via the transfer tube 68. The air pump 67 is further stopped for a predetermined time after the rotor 61a of the powder pump 61 is stopped, and then stopped. By doing in this way, it can be conveyed to all the developing devices 4 of the replenishment developer discharged from the developer container 13 by the powder pump 61. Further, since the replenishment developer remaining in the transfer tube 68 can be eliminated, clogging of the developer in the transfer tube 68 can be prevented.

  In the first embodiment, the developer container is a developer container similar to a toner container that has been conventionally used and in which a base part formed by a blow molding method or the like and a toner container form an integral structure. It is also possible to use.

Next, an example of another developing device that can be used as the developing device of Embodiment 1 will be described.
The other developing device carries a two-component developer composed of a magnetic carrier and toner on the surface, rotates, and applies toner to the latent image on the surface of the latent image carrier at a location facing the latent image carrier. A developing sleeve to be supplied and developed; a developer supplying / conveying path including a developer supplying / conveying member that conveys the developer along the axial direction of the developing sleeve and supplies the developer to the developing sleeve; Developer recovery for transporting the developer recovered from the developing sleeve after passing through the portion facing the image carrier along the axial direction of the developing sleeve and in the same direction as the developer supply / conveying member A developer recovery conveyance path including a conveyance member; an excess developer that is not used for development; and is conveyed to the most downstream side in the conveyance direction of the developer supply conveyance path; and the developer recovery that is recovered from the development sleeve Transported to the most downstream side in the transport direction of the transport path Developer that receives supply with the collected developer and conveys in the direction opposite to the developer supply / conveying member along the axial direction of the developing sleeve and while stirring the excess developer and the collected developer A developer agitating / conveying path for supplying the developer to the developer supply / conveying path, and from the developer collecting / conveying path, the developer supplying / conveying path, and the developer agitating / conveying path. The three developer transport paths are partitioned by a partition member, and the developer agitation transport path and the developer recovery transport path are provided at substantially the same height, and the developer supply transport path is the other two In a developing device provided to be positioned above the developer transport path and supplying toner to the developer transport path, the developer supply transport path is provided obliquely above the developer stirring transport path. It is characterized by being.
In this developing apparatus, it is preferable that the upper wall surface of the developer stirring and conveying path is positioned higher than the lower wall surface of the developer supply and conveying path.
It is also preferable that the distance between the centers of the developing sleeve and the developer supply / conveyance path is narrower than the distance between the centers of the developing sleeve and the developer stirring / conveying path.
Furthermore, the three developer transport members, the developer supply transport member, the developer recovery transport member, and the developer agitation transport member, have a spiral blade on the rotation shaft, and rotate the developer by rotating. It is also preferable that the developer transport screw is transported, and the three developer transport members are respectively a developer supply screw, a developer recovery screw, and a developer stirring screw. In particular, it is preferable to set the rotation direction and shape of the developer agitating screw so that the developer is lifted from the developer stirring and conveying path to the developer supply and conveying path from the side close to the developing sleeve.
Specific examples thereof will be described below.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged configuration diagram showing the developing device 4 ′ and the photoreceptor 1 of this example.
As shown in FIG. 5, the surface of the photosensitive member 1 is charged by a charging device (not shown) while rotating in the direction of arrow G in the drawing. The charged surface of the photosensitive member 1 is supplied with toner from the developing device 4 ′ to the latent image on which the electrostatic latent image is formed by laser light irradiated from an exposure device (not shown) to form a toner image. The developing roller 5 of the developing device 4 ′ supplies toner to the latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 while moving in the direction of arrow I in the drawing.

  A supply screw 8 is provided as a developer supply / conveying member that conveys the developer toward the rear side in the figure while supplying the developer to the developing roller 5. Further, on the downstream side of the surface moving direction from the portion facing the supply screw 8 of the developing roller 5, the developing doctor 12 as a developer regulating member for regulating the developer supplied to the developing roller 5 to a thickness suitable for development. It has. The developed developer that has passed through the developing area is collected downstream from the developing area, which is the area of the developing roller 5 facing the photoreceptor 1, and the collected developer is collected in the same direction as the supply screw 8. A recovery screw 6 is provided as a developer recovery / conveying member that is transported to the surface. A supply conveyance path 9, which is a developer supply conveyance path provided with a supply screw 8, is located on the substantially horizontal side of the developing roller 5, and a collection conveyance path 7 as a developer collection conveyance path provided with a collection screw 6 is provided on the development roller 5. It is juxtaposed below diagonally.

  The developing device 4 ′ is provided with an agitation conveyance path 10 that is a developer agitation conveyance path in parallel with the recovery conveyance path 7 below the supply conveyance path 9. The agitating and conveying path 10 includes an agitating screw 11 as a developer agitating and conveying member that conveys the developer to the near side in the figure, which is in the opposite direction to the supply screw 8 while agitating the developer. The supply conveyance path 9 and the stirring conveyance path 10 are partitioned by a first partition wall 133 as a partition member. In the first partition wall 133, the supply conveyance path 9 and the agitation conveyance path 10 are partitioned at both ends on the front side and the back side in the figure, and the supply conveyance path 9 and the agitation conveyance path 10 communicate with each other. doing. The supply conveyance path 9 and the recovery conveyance path 7 are both partitioned by the first partition member 133, but an opening is provided in the first partition wall 133 where the supply conveyance path 9 and the recovery conveyance path 7 are partitioned. Absent. Further, the two conveyance paths of the stirring conveyance path 10 and the collection conveyance path 7 are partitioned by a second partition wall 134 as a partition member. The second partition wall 134 has an opening on the front side in the figure, and the agitation transport path 10 and the collection transport path 7 communicate with each other. The supply screw 8, the recovery screw 6 and the agitation screw 11 are made of resin or metal screws, each screw diameter is φ22 [mm], and the screw pitch is 50 [mm]. No. 6 and the stirring screw 11 are wound at 25 [mm], and all the rotation speeds are set at about 600 [rpm].

  The developer thinned by the developing doctor 12 made of stainless steel on the developing roller 5 is transported to a developing region which is a region facing the photosensitive member 1 for development. The surface of the developing roller 5 is V-groove or sandblasted, and is made of an Al or SUS base tube with a diameter of 25 [mm]. The gap between the surface of the developing roller 5 and the developing doctor 12 and the photoreceptor 1 is 0.3. It is about [mm]. The developed developer is collected in the collection conveyance path 7, conveyed to the front side in FIG. 5, and developed to the agitation conveyance path 10 at the opening of the first partition wall 133 provided in the non-image area. The agent is transferred. The toner is supplied to the stirring and conveying path 10 from the toner replenishing port provided on the upper side of the stirring and conveying path 10 near the opening of the first partition wall 133 on the upstream side in the developer conveying direction in the stirring and conveying path 10.

Next, the circulation of the developer in the three developer conveyance paths will be described.
FIG. 6 is a perspective sectional view of the developing device 4 ′ for explaining the flow of the developer in the developer transport path.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the developer flow in the developing device 4 ′.
Each arrow in the figure indicates the moving direction of the developer.

  In the supply conveyance path 9 that has been supplied with the developer from the agitation conveyance path 10, the developer is conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction of the supply screw 8 while supplying the developer to the developing roller 5. Then, the excess developer that is supplied to the developing roller 5 and is not used for development and is transported to the downstream end in the transport direction of the supply transport path 9 is supplied to the stirring transport path 10 from the surplus opening 92 of the first partition wall 133 ( Arrow E) in FIG. The recovered developer fed from the developing roller 5 to the recovery conveyance path 7 and conveyed to the downstream end in the conveyance direction of the recovery conveyance path 7 by the recovery screw 6 is supplied to the agitation conveyance path 10 from the recovery opening 93 of the second partition wall 134. (Arrow F in FIG. 7). The agitating and conveying path 10 agitates the supplied surplus developer and the recovered developer, conveys them to the downstream side in the conveying direction of the agitating screw 11, and conveys them to the upstream side in the conveying direction of the supplying screw 8, and the first partition wall. It is supplied to the supply conveyance path 9 from the supply opening 91 of 133 (arrow D in FIG. 7). In the agitating and conveying path 10, the agitating screw 11 agitates and conveys the collected developer, the surplus developer, and the toner replenished as necessary in the transfer unit in the direction opposite to the developer in the collecting and conveying path 7 and the supply conveying path 9. . Then, the agitated developer is transferred to the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the supply conveyance path 9 communicating with the downstream side in the conveyance direction. A toner concentration sensor (not shown) is provided below the stirring and conveying path 10, and as described above, a control unit (not shown) performs supply control of the supply developer according to the sensor output.

  The developing device 4 ′ includes the supply conveyance path 9 and the collection conveyance path 7, and the developer is supplied and collected through different developer conveyance paths, so that the developed developer is mixed into the supply conveyance path 9. There is no. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the toner concentration of the developer supplied to the developing roller 5 decreases toward the downstream side of the supply conveyance path 9 in the conveyance direction. Further, since the recovery conveyance path 7 and the agitation conveyance path 10 are provided and the developer recovery and agitation are performed in different developer conveyance paths, the developed developer does not fall during the agitation. Therefore, since the sufficiently agitated developer is supplied to the supply conveyance path 9, it is possible to suppress the developer supplied to the supply conveyance path 9 from being insufficiently agitated.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the movement of the developer from the lower part to the upper part of the developing device 4 ′ is only the arrow D. The movement of the developer indicated by the arrow D is to push the developer by the rotation of the stirring screw 11 so as to raise the developer and supply the developer to the supply conveyance path 9. Such movement of the developer gives stress to the developer and contributes to a decrease in the life of the developer. When such a developer is lifted from the bottom to the top, the developer is stressed and the carrier film in the developer is scraped off and the toner is spent on the spot, and the stability of the image quality cannot be maintained accordingly. End up. Therefore, the life of the developer can be extended by reducing the stress of the developer in the movement of the developer indicated by the arrow D. By prolonging the life of the developer, it is possible to provide a developing device that prevents deterioration of the developer and is always stable in image quality without image density unevenness.

  In the developing device 4 ′, as shown in FIG. 5, the supply conveyance path 9 is disposed obliquely above the stirring conveyance path 10. By disposing it obliquely above, it is possible to reduce the stress of the developer in the movement of the developer indicated by the arrow D, as compared with the case where the supply conveyance path 9 is provided vertically above the stirring conveyance path 10 to lift the developer. it can. Further, in the developing device 4 ′, as shown in FIG. 5, the supply conveyance path 9 and the agitation conveyance path 10 are arranged obliquely, and the upper wall surface of the agitation conveyance path 10 is positioned higher than the lower wall surface of the supply conveyance path 9. It arrange | positions so that it may become. Lifting the supply conveyance path 9 vertically upward with respect to the agitation conveyance path 10 causes the developer to be stressed because the developer is lifted by the pressure of the agitation screw 11 against gravity. On the other hand, the developer present at the highest point of the agitating and conveying path 10 is placed at the bottom of the supplying and conveying path 9 by arranging the upper wall surface of the agitating and conveying path 10 to be higher than the lower wall surface of the supplying and conveying path 9. Since the point can flow without being against gravity, the stress applied to the developer can be reduced. Note that a fin member may be provided on the shaft of the stirring screw 11 in a portion where the stirring and conveying path 10 and the supply and conveying path 9 communicate with each other on the downstream side of the developer conveying path of the stirring and conveying path 10. This fin member is a plate-like member composed of a side parallel to the axial direction of the stirring screw 11 and a side perpendicular to the axial direction of the stirring screw. By scooping up the developer with this fin member, it is possible to more efficiently deliver the developer from the stirring conveyance path 10 to the supply conveyance path 9.

  Further, in the developing device 4 ′, the distance A between the center of the developing roller 5 and the supply conveyance path 9 is shorter than the distance B between the centers of the development roller 5 and the agitation conveyance path 10. A stirring conveyance path 10 is arranged. As a result, the developer can be supplied without difficulty from the supply conveyance path 9 to the developing roller 5, and the apparatus can be downsized. Further, the agitating screw 11 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the front side in FIG. 5 (arrow C direction in the figure), and the developer is supplied by lifting the developer along the shape of the agitating screw 11. It is transferred to the conveyance path 9. As a result, the developer can be lifted efficiently, and the stress on the developer can be further reduced.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the cross section at the center of rotation of the supply screw 8 of the developing device 4 ′ as seen from the direction of arrow J in FIG.
Reference symbol H in the drawing indicates a developing region in which the developing roller 5 supplies toner to the photoreceptor 1. The width in the axial direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller 5 in the developing area H is the developing area width α. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the developing device 4 ′ drops the developer from the supply conveyance path 9 to the stirring conveyance path 10, and the supply opening 91 that is a place where the developer is lifted from the stirring conveyance path 10 to the supply conveyance path 9. Both of the excessive openings 92 are provided within the development region width α.

  The replacement of the developer in the developing device will be described by taking the developing device 4 ′ described above as an example. When the developer in the supply conveyance path 9 exceeds a predetermined volume, a part of the developer is transferred to the developing device 4. A developer discharge port is provided outside of '. Further, a discharge conveyance path is provided for conveying the developer discharged from the developer discharge port to the outside of the developing device 4 ′. In the developing device 4 ′, the developer conveyance amount in the supply conveyance path 9, the developer supply amount to the developing roller 5, and the developer conveyance amount from the supply conveyance path 9 passing through the excess opening 92 to the stirring conveyance path 10. Due to the balance of the movement amount, the developer stays in the vicinity of the downstream end of the supply conveyance path 9 in the conveyance direction. While the amount of developer in the developing device 4 ′ is constant, the amount of developer that reaches the vicinity of the downstream end in the transport direction of the supply transport path 9 per time and the stirring transport path 10 through the excess opening 92 per time. The amount of the developer that moves to the same position becomes equal, and the volume of the developer that remains is constant. On the other hand, when the amount of developer in the developing device 4 ′ increases, the downstream end in the transport direction of the supply transport path 9 per unit time rather than the amount of developer that moves to the stirring transport path 10 through the excess opening 92 per unit time. The amount of developer reaching the vicinity is larger. Thereby, the bulk of the developer staying in the vicinity of the downstream end in the transport direction of the supply transport path 9 is increased. Therefore, the developer discharge port is arranged at a position where the developer stays in the vicinity of the downstream end in the transport direction of the supply transport path 9 and reaches the height of the developer discharge port when the volume of the staying developer increases. The developer is discharged to the discharge conveyance path.

  In such a configuration, when the replenishment developer is replenished by the developer replenishment device 60, the amount of the developer in the developing device 4 ′ increases, and the developer stays in the vicinity of the downstream end in the transport direction of the supply transport path 9. Increases in bulk. Then, when the volume of the developer near the downstream end in the conveyance direction of the supply conveyance path 9 rises to the height of the developer discharge port, the developer reaching the height of the developer discharge port is discharged to the discharge conveyance path, The toner is discharged to the outside of the developing device 4 ′ through the discharge conveyance path.

Next, a manufacturing method of the developer container 13 filled with the replenishment developer, which is a characteristic part of the present invention, will be described.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a developer filling device 600 that fills the developer container 13 with the replenishment developer Tp.
As shown in FIG. 9, the developer filling device 600 includes a toner filling device 610 that fills the developer container 13 with the replenishing toner T ₀ , and a pre-fill that fills the developer container 13 with the premix developer TC _0. And a mixed developer filling device 620. Further, a deaeration device 630 for removing air from the developer container 13 after filling with the replenishing toner T ₀ and the premix developer TC ₀ is provided. Further, when the developer container 13 is filled with the replenishing toner T ₀ and the premix developer TC ₀ , as shown in FIG. 9, the opening part of the bag part 13 a to which the cap member 13 b of the developer container 13 is attached. The developer container 13 is placed with 13f facing upward, and the replenishment toner T ₀ and the premix developer TC ₀ are filled from the opening 13f. In this filling step, the base member 13b is not attached to the opening 13f.

The toner filling device 610 includes a toner storage unit 615 that stores the toner T ₀ supplied from the toner supply port 612. A toner filling nozzle 614 that conveys the replenishment toner T ₀ in the toner storage unit 615 by a suction force of a powder pump (not shown) is connected to the toner storage unit 615. The end of the toner filling nozzle 614 on the side not connected to the toner reservoir 615 is inserted into the opening 13f of the developer container 13 and a powder pump (not shown) is driven to move to the developer container 13. The replenishment toner T ₀ can be filled. The filling amount of the replenishing toner T ₀ is adjusted by the driving time of a powder pump (not shown).

On the other hand, the premix developer filling device 620 includes a premix developer storage unit 622 that stores the premix developer TC ₀ supplied from the premix developer supply port 621. A premix developer filling nozzle 623 is connected to the lowermost part of the premix developer storage section 622, and an open / close valve (not shown) is connected to the premix developer storage nozzle 623 connection section of the premix developer storage section 622. Is provided. The end of the premix developer filling nozzle 623 on the side not connected to the premix developer reservoir 622 is inserted into the opening 13f of the developer container 13 to open the opening / closing valve (not shown), thereby developing the premix developer filling nozzle 623. The premix developer TC ₀ can be filled in the agent container 13. The movement of the premix developer TC ₀ from the premix developer reservoir 622 to the developer container 13 is performed by gravity, and the filling amount of the premix developer TC ₀ is adjusted by the opening time of an opening / closing valve (not shown). .

  In addition, one end of a deaeration nozzle 631 is connected to the deaeration device 630, and the other end is inserted into the opening 13f of the developer container 13 to drive the deaeration device 630, whereby the developer container. The air in 13 can be extracted.

Thus, by filling the replenishment toner T ₀ premixed developer TC ₀ in the developer container 13, the developer container 13 and the supply toner T ₀ premixed developer TC ₀ The replenishment developer Tp is filled. As a result, the developer container 13 becomes a filled developer container.

By the way, the developer container 13 according to the first embodiment does not include a stirring member for stirring the replenishment developer therein, so that the replenishment filled in the developer container 13 filled with the agent is provided. The developer Tp for use cannot be stirred. Therefore, depending on the charging method of the replenishment toner T ₀ and the premix developer TC ₀ by the developer filling device 600, only the premix developer TC ₀ is discharged when the supply developer Tp is discharged from the base member 13b. There is a risk that. Here, in the first embodiment, the target toner concentration of the developer in the developing device is set to 7 [wt%] (that is, the carrier weight ratio is 93 [wt%]). Therefore, when the carrier weight ratio of the premix developer TC ₀ is higher than 93 [wt%], even when only the premix developer TC ₀ is supplied to the developing device, the target toner concentration of the developer in the developing device There are cases where it cannot be brought close to. That is, when the toner concentration before replenishment of the developer portion in the developing device that is replenished with the replenishment developer is higher than the toner concentration of the premix developer TC ₀ , the toner concentration is reversed even if the replenishment operation is performed. In this case, the developer portion cannot be brought close to the target toner density.

Even if the developer container 13 is not equipped with a stirring member, when the user sets the developer container 13 after the developer container 13 is shaken when the developer-filled developer container 13 is set in the set unit 63, It is also possible to prevent the developer in the developer container 13 from being agitated and discharging only the premix developer TC ₀ . However, in order to allow the developer in the developer container to be sufficiently agitated by the operation of shaking the developer container 13, the porosity in the developer container 13 (developer container 13). It is necessary to secure about 50% of the volume of air. The porosity in the developer container 13 is usually set as low as possible to ensure the replenishment developer filling amount, and is set to about 10%. In other words, setting the porosity to about 50% greatly reduces the amount of replenishment developer filled, which is not realistic. Moreover, there is no guarantee that the user will always set it after shaking.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, the carrier weight ratio of the premix developer TC ₀ filled in the developer container 13 together with the replenishment toner T ₀ as the replenishment developer is set to the carrier at the target toner concentration of the developing device. It is adjusted to a value lower than the weight ratio (93 [wt%]) (that is, the toner concentration is higher than the target toner concentration). As a result, even if a situation occurs in which only the premix developer TC ₀ is replenished to the developing device, the portion of the developer that receives the replenishment can be reliably brought close to the target toner concentration, The concentration can be restored.

Next, experimental results conducted by the present inventors will be described.
In this experiment, a test machine having the same configuration as the copying machine in the first embodiment described above is used, and an image for evaluation with a high image area ratio of 20% is formed in one image for a single job. By repeating this, a total of 3000 sheets of images were formed. Then, the replenishment operation was performed with the maximum replenishment capacity using three replenishment developers having different carrier weight ratios, and the detected pattern adhesion amount and the toner concentration TC of the developer in the developing device were measured. The detection pattern adhesion amount is determined by forming a patch (detection pattern) in which a measurement latent image is developed between images on the surface of the image carrier, and detecting the patch density with an optical sensor. mg / cm ² ]. Each of the replenishment developers is in a sufficiently stirred state, and the toner and the carrier are uniformly dispersed.

FIGS. 10A to 10C are graphs showing the experimental results regarding the detection pattern adhesion amount. FIG. 10A shows the result of an experiment using a developer for replenishment with a carrier weight ratio of 90 [wt%], and FIG. 10B shows the result for replenishment with a carrier weight ratio of 70 [wt%]. FIG. 10C shows experimental results using a developer, and FIG. 10C shows experimental results using a replenishment developer having a carrier weight ratio of 50 [wt%].
FIG. 11 is a graph showing experimental results for the toner concentration TC.

  In the graph shown in FIG. 10A, when a replenishment developer having a carrier weight ratio of 90 [wt%] is used, continuous image formation with a high image area ratio of 20% is achieved. In this case, toner replenishment cannot follow. This is because the amount of toner to be replenished per unit time is small, so that the amount of toner consumed by development cannot be sufficiently replenished. On the other hand, in the graphs shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C, when the replenishment developer having carrier weight ratios of 70 wt% and 50 wt% is used, the image area ratio is 20%. The toner replenishment can be managed to follow the continuous image formation with a high image area ratio of%. This is because the amount of toner replenished per unit time is relatively large, so that the amount of toner consumed by development can be replenished. This can also be understood from the graph shown in FIG.

As can be seen from the above experimental results, when a replenishment developer having a high carrier weight ratio (a replenishment developer having a low toner concentration) is replenished, the image density may be reduced, leading to a decrease in image quality. Even when the replenishment developer having a high carrier weight ratio is locally replenished, as described above, the image density of the corresponding portion is lowered. Therefore, in this testing machine, in order to prevent a local image density shortage from occurring even under severe conditions in which continuous image formation with a high image area ratio of 20% is performed, the developing device is replenished. It is important to replenish so that the carrier weight ratio of the developer for replenishment does not exceed 70 [wt%].
The upper limit of the carrier weight ratio of the replenishment developer that does not cause such image density deficiency was 70 wt% in this test machine, but this upper limit depends on the configuration and settings of the copying machine. It is thought that it fluctuates somewhat. However, in any case, when the carrier weight ratio of the replenishment developer to be replenished to the developing device temporarily exceeds the upper limit, the image density is locally insufficient in the corresponding image portion. Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of local image density deficiency, it is important to supply the developer so that the carrier weight ratio of the replenishment developer supplied to the developing device does not always exceed the upper limit.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, the carrier weight ratio of the premix developer TC _{0 is} a value lower than the carrier weight ratio (93 [wt%]) at the target toner concentration of the developing device, specifically, the image density. It is adjusted to a value equal to or lower than the upper limit (70 [wt%]) of the carrier weight ratio of the replenishment developer that does not cause a shortage. Thus, even if a situation occurs in which only the premix developer TC ₀ is replenished to the developing device under severe conditions such as continuously forming images with a high image area ratio, It is possible to stably prevent the occurrence of local image density shortage. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, local image density deficiency can be stably prevented regardless of the filling method of the premix developer TC ₀ and the replenishment toner T _0. Can do.

[Embodiment 2]
Next, another embodiment of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied (hereinafter, this embodiment is referred to as “embodiment 2”) will be described. The copying machine according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the configurations of the developer container and the developer replenishing device used for this are different. The components related to the developing device and the developer supply device will be described, and the description of the other components will be omitted.

FIG. 12 is a perspective explanatory view of a developer supply device 500 included in the copying machine according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an outline of the developer supply device 500.
FIG. 14 is an external perspective view of the developer container 520.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the developer container 520 for K color is set.
FIG. 16 is an external perspective view of the copying machine for explaining a state in which the developer container 520 for K color is set.
As shown in FIGS. 12, 15, and 16, the copying machine according to the second embodiment, which is a tandem image forming apparatus, has a developer container 520 in which each color developer is stored. The configuration is taken. Each color developer container 520 is connected to a supply unit including a sub hopper 568, a powder pump 560, and the like via a transfer tube 565, and the developing device 4 is connected below the supply unit.

  The developer container 520 is filled with a replenishment developer in the same manner as in the first embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the developer container 520 includes a bag portion 521 as a developer container and a cap as a developer discharge port attached to a toner discharge port 522 that is the only powder discharge port. It is comprised with the member 530. Note that the symbol Tf in FIG. 12 indicates the flow of the replenishment developer. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the developer supply device 500 is provided with four container support holders 575 </ b> Y, 575 </ b> M, 575 </ b> C, and 575 </ b> K that can be opened and closed by rotating about a rotation shaft (not shown). The outer side surfaces 576Y, 576M, 576C, and 576K of the container support holder are exposed from the front surface of the apparatus main body as shown in FIG. The container support holders 575Y, 575M, 575C, and 575K store and support the developer containers 520 of the corresponding colors. For example, when the developer container 520K for K is set in the container support holder 575K, the operator removes a lock (not shown) and opens the container support holder 575K so as to rotate forward as shown. Then, the operator holds the base member 530 with his / her hand so that the base member 530 is on the lower side in the vertical direction, and inserts the developer container 520K into the container support holder 575K.

  The developer container 520 is set in the container support holder 575, and the tip of the nozzle 580 as a connecting member on the apparatus main body side connected to the base member 530 is inserted into the developer container 520. It becomes. As a result, the toner discharge port 522 and the toner receiving port of the nozzle 580 communicate with each other. The nozzle 580 has a tube connecting joint-shaped portion, the transfer tube 565 communicates with the powder pump 560, and the powder pump 560 communicates with the developing device 4 via the sub hopper 568. In this manner, the developer container 520 is set in the container support holder 575 so as to communicate with the developing device 4.

  The powder pump 560 is said to be a suction type uniaxial eccentric screw pump. As shown in FIG. 13, the powder pump 560 rotates inside a stator 569 and an elastic member having a spiral groove on a cylindrical inner wall surface. Thus, a MONO pump, which is a screw pump provided with a rotor 561 that moves the supply developer in the axial direction, is used. The rotor 561 is formed by spirally twisting a shaft-like member having a hard circular cross section, and is connected to the drive motor 566 via a drive transmission portion and a universal joint 564. The stator 569 is made of a rubber-like flexible material and has a hole with an oval cross section spirally twisted, and the helical pitch of the stator 569 is twice the helical pitch of the rotor 561. It is formed in the length. By fitting these two parts and rotating the rotor 561, the replenishment developer in the space formed between the rotor 561 and the stator 569 can be transferred. That is, in the powder pump 560, by rotating the rotor 561 that is one of the two members of the rotor 561 and the stator 569, the stator 569 that is the other member is caused to move with sliding to the suction port 563. Generate negative pressure. By generating a negative pressure at the suction port 563, an air flow is generated inside the transfer tube 565. In the powder pump 560 configured as described above, when the rotor 561 is rotationally driven, the replenishment developer in the developer container 520 enters the powder pump 560 from the suction port 563. Then, the toner is sucked and conveyed from left to right in FIG. 13 and supplied from the discharge port 567 to the developing device 4 through the toner replenishing port 595 of the developing device 4 disposed below through the sub hopper 568. In addition, as the powder pump 560, the thing of Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2000-98721 can be used.

  Even if a test machine having the same configuration as the copying machine in the second embodiment is used, an experiment similar to that in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Modification]
Next, a modified example of the manufacturing method of the developer containers 13 and 520 will be described. In the following description, the developer container 13 of the first embodiment will be used.
Since the developer container 13 is a consumable item, it is a mass-produced product. Therefore, high productivity is required while keeping the manufacturing cost low. The premix developer TC ₀ used in the manufacturing method of Embodiment 1 described above has a carrier weight ratio of 70 [wt%] or less, and thus is separate from the initial developer having a carrier weight ratio of 93 [wt%]. Need to be prepared. As described above, it is very difficult to stir a large amount of toner and carrier until they are dispersed to some extent, and therefore it is difficult to prepare two types of developers: an initial developer and a premix developer TC _0. , Soaring manufacturing costs. Therefore, in the present modification, the initial developer is used as it is as the premix developer TC ₀ , and development that can stably prevent the occurrence of local image density deficiency is the same as in the first embodiment described above. A method for manufacturing the agent container 13 will be described.

Also in the production method of the present modification, using a developer filling apparatus 600 shown in FIG. 9, the interior of the cap member 13b near the bag part 13a in after filling of the replenishment toner T ₀ premix developer TC ₀ In this way, the developer container filled with the agent is manufactured so that only the premix developer TC ₀ is not present. Specifically, after the toner filling device 610 starts filling the replenishing toner T ₀ , the premix developer filling device 620 starts filling the premix developer TC ₀ . The filling of the premix developer TC ₀ by the premix developer filling device 620 starts after the filling of the replenishment toner T ₀ by the toner filling device 610 starts after the refilling of the replenishment toner T _0. Also good. In the first embodiment, after the toner filling device 610 completes the filling of the replenishment toner T ₀ , the premix developer TC ₀ is started to be filled by the premix developer filling device 620.

According to the manufacturing method of this modification, only the premix developer TC ₀ does not exist in the vicinity of the cap member 13b in the developer container 13 filled with the agent. Therefore, a situation in which only the premix developer TC ₀ is discharged from the developer container 13 without being mixed with the replenishing toner T ₀ and supplied to the developing device does not occur. More specifically, assuming that only the premix developer TC ₀ exists in the vicinity of the cap member 13 b inside the bag portion 13 a, when the replenishment developer Tp is discharged from the developer container 13 for the first time. In this case, only the premix developer TC ₀ is discharged. However, if the premix developer TC ₀ alone is not present in the vicinity of the cap member 13b in the bag portion 13a, the replenishment developer Tp is discharged from the developer container 13 for the first time. In this case, only the premix developer TC ₀ is not discharged. When the replenishment developer Tp is discharged from the developer container 13 as described above, the replenishment developer Tp in the developer container is sequentially moved toward the base member 13b. At this time, the premix developer TC ₀ can be mixed with the replenishing toner T ₀ . Therefore, even when the replenishment developer is filled so that the premix developer TC ₀ and the replenishment toner T ₀ are completely separated in the developer container as in this modification, Only the mixed developer TC ₀ is not discharged. Therefore, according to the manufacturing method of the present modified example, the premix developer TC ₀ is premix developed while using the initial developer having a high carrier weight ratio of 93 [wt%] as it is and keeping the manufacturing cost low. Since the portion of the agent TC ₀ can be supplied to the developing device in a state of being mixed with the replenishing toner T ₀ , local image density reduction is suppressed.

As described above, according to the first and second embodiments, the bag portions 13a and 521 as developer containers for storing the replenishment developer Tp composed of toner and carrier, and the replenishment developer Tp as the bag portion 13a. , 521, and base members 13 b and 530 as developer discharge ports for discharging from the inside to the outside, and supply developer Tp discharged from the base members 13 b and 530 is supplied to the developing devices 4 and 4 ′. When manufacturing the developer filled developer containers 13 and 520 to be mounted on the developer replenishing devices 60 and 500 to be transported, the toner and the carrier are mixed and initially charged in the developing devices 4 and 4 ′. A premix developer TC ₀ having a carrier weight ratio lower than that of the initial developer is manufactured, and the premix developer TC ₀ and the toner T ₀ alone are individually filled in the bag portions 13 a and 521, Filled To manufacturing a developer container 13,520. As a result, as described above, it is possible to stably prevent the occurrence of local image density shortage regardless of the filling method of the premix developer TC ₀ and the replenishment toner T _0. It is possible to manufacture the developer containers 13 and 520 that are filled with the appropriate agent.
However, even if the developer-filled developer containers 13 and 520 manufactured by this method are used under severe conditions in which images having a high image area ratio are continuously formed, local images are used. Insufficient concentration may occur. Therefore, when the premix developer TC ₀ and the toner T ₀ are filled into the bag portions 13a and 521, the premix developer TC is placed near the base members 13b and 530 inside the bag portions 13a and 521 after the filling. _The premix developer TC ₀ and the toner T ₀ alone may be individually filled in the bag portions 13a and 521 so that only ₀ is not present. With the agent-filled developer containers 13 and 520 manufactured by this manufacturing method, as described above, the premix developer TC ₀ can be supplied to the developing devices 4 and 4 ′ while being mixed with the toner T _0. Thus, it is possible to prevent a situation where only the premix developer TC ₀ is supplied to the developing devices 4 and 4 ′. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the agent-filled developer containers 13 and 520 capable of suppressing a situation in which local image density shortage occurs even under severe conditions in which images with a high image area ratio are continuously formed. Can do.
Further, according to the above modification, the initial developer premix developer TC ₀ consisting of the toner T ₀ itself filled initially in a developing device 4, 4 ', the bag portion 13a after the filling, 521 By separately filling the inside of the bag portions 13a and 521 so that only the premix developer TC ₀ is not present in the vicinity of the inner base members 13b and 530, the developer container 13 filled with the agent, 520 is manufactured. This eliminates the need to newly prepare the premix developer TC ₀ separately from the initial developer, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. Moreover, if the agent-filled developer containers 13 and 520 manufactured by this method are used, the premix developer TC ₀ is supplied to the developing devices 4 and 4 ′ in a state of being mixed with the toner T ₀ as described above. Thus, it is possible to prevent a situation where only the premix developer TC ₀ is supplied to the developing devices 4 and 4 ′. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the agent-filled developer containers 13 and 520 capable of suppressing a situation in which local image density shortage occurs even under severe conditions in which images with a high image area ratio are continuously formed. Can do.
Note that only the premix developer TC ₀ does not exist in the vicinity of the cap members 13 b and 530 inside the bag portions 13 a and 521 after the premix developer TC ₀ and the toner T ₀ alone are filled. As a specific method of individually filling the inside of the bag portions 13a and 521, after filling the toner T ₀ alone into the bag portions 13a and 521 from the side of the base members 13b and 530, the side of the base members 13b and 530 is provided. From the above, it is possible to use a method of filling the premix developer TC ₀ into the bag portions 13a and 521. According to this method, productivity can be further increased.
Further, like the developer-filled developer containers 13 and 520 of the first and second embodiments, the bag portions 13a and 521 for storing the replenishment developer Tp composed of toner and carrier, and the replenishment developer. Developer having base members 13b and 530 for discharging Tp from the inside of the bag portion 13a to the outside, and transporting the replenishment developer Tp discharged from the base members 13b and 530 to the developing devices 4 and 4 ′ The developer container 13 and 520, which is loaded into the replenishing device, is a carrier weight ratio relative to the initial developer that is initially charged in the developing devices 4 and 4 ′ by mixing the toner and the carrier. Use of the developer-filled developer containers 13 and 520 in which the premix developer TC ₀ and the toner T ₀ alone are filled in the bag portions 13a and 521 can cause local image density shortage. Stabilize stably It is possible. In particular, the premix developer TC ₀ and the toner T ₀ alone are contained in the bag portions 13a, 521 so that only the premix developer TC ₀ exists in the vicinity of the cap members 13b, 530 inside the bag portions 13a, 521. As long as the image is filled inside, it is possible to suppress a situation in which local image density shortage occurs even under severe conditions in which images with a high image area ratio are continuously formed.
Further, like the developer-filled developer containers 13 and 520 of the above-described modified example, the bag portions 13a and 521 for storing the replenishment developer Tp composed of toner and carrier, and the replenishment developer Tp are bags. A replenishment developer Tp for discharging replenishment developer Tp discharged from the base members 13b and 530 to the developing devices 4 and 4 ′. Agent-filled developer containers 13 and 520 mounted on the apparatus, including a premix developer TC ₀ and an initial toner T ₀ composed of an initial developer that is initially filled in the developing devices 4 and 4 ′. However, the developer-filled developer container filled in the bag portions 13a and 521 is prevented so that only the premix developer TC ₀ exists in the vicinity of the cap members 13b and 530 in the bag portions 13a and 521. 13 The use of 520, it is possible to suppress a situation where a low cost, is localized insufficient image density even in severe conditions such as continuous form an image of high image area ratio occurs.
In particular, if the volume of the bag portions 13a and 521 of the developer containers 13 and 520 is reduced as the replenishment developer Tp is discharged to the outside through the base members 13b and 530, a conventional cartridge, Compared to hard bottles such as bottles, the used state is not bulky, its handling and handling are good, and there are many beneficial effects such as not taking up storage space. In such a configuration, for example, the bag portions 13a and 521 are provided with a flexible portion at least in part, and the flexible portion is deformed when the replenishment developer Tp is discharged to the outside through the base members 13b and 530. It can be easily realized by the structure that reduces the volume.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copier according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a developer supply device in the copier. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a developer container set in the developer supply device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which used up the same developer container. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of the developing devices 4 and 4 ′ that can be applied to the copying machine together with a photosensitive member. FIG. 6 is a perspective cross-sectional view illustrating a developer flow in a developer transport path of the developing devices 4 and 4 ′. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a developer flow in the developing devices 4 and 4 ′. FIG. 7 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the developing device 4, 4 ′ viewed from the direction of arrow J in FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the developer filling apparatus for filling the developer container with the replenishment developer. (A) thru | or (c) is a graph which shows the measurement result when the amount of detection pattern adhesion is measured in the experiment which formed the image of a high image area ratio continuously using the replenishment developer from which a carrier weight ratio each differs. is there. 5 is a graph showing measurement results when toner density is measured in the same experiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective explanatory view of a developer supply device included in a copying machine according to a second embodiment. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the outline of the developer supply apparatus. 10 is an external perspective view of a developer container in Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a figure explaining a mode that the same developer container for K colors is set. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a copying machine for explaining a state in which the developer container for K color is set.

Explanation of symbols

1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K Photoconductor 4,4 'Developing device 4,4'
13,520 Developer container 13a, 521 Bag portion 13b, 530 Cap member 13f Opening portion 18Y, 18M, 18C, 18K Process cartridge 60,500 Developer supply device 61,560 Powder pump 61a, 561 Rotor 61b, 569 Stator 63 Set portion 64 Drive shaft 65 Spring 66 Pipe portion 67 Air pump 68,565 Transfer tube 100 Printer portion 200 Paper feed device 300 Scanner 400 Automatic document feeder 575Y, 575M, 575C, 575K Container support holder 600 Developer filling device 610 Toner filling Device 620 Premix developer filling device 630 Deaeration device T ₀ replenishment toner TC ₀ premix developer Tp replenishment developer

Claims (9)

A developer container for containing a replenishment developer composed of toner and a carrier, and a developer discharge port for discharging the replenishment developer from the inside of the developer container to the outside, In a method for manufacturing a developer-filled developer container mounted on a developer replenishing device that transports a replenishing developer discharged from a developer discharge port to a developing device,
A toner and a carrier are mixed to produce a premix developer whose carrier weight ratio is lower than the initial developer initially charged in the developing device,
When filling the developer container with the premix developer and the toner alone, only the premix developer is present in the vicinity of the developer outlet inside the developer container after the filling. In order to prevent this, the premix developer and the toner alone are individually filled into the developer container. A developer container for containing a replenishment developer composed of toner and a carrier, and a developer discharge port for discharging the replenishment developer from the inside of the developer container to the outside, In a method for manufacturing a developer-filled developer container mounted on a developer replenishing device that transports a replenishing developer discharged from a developer discharge port to a developing device,
Only the premix developer exists in the vicinity of the developer outlet inside the developer container after the premix developer consisting of the initial developer that is initially filled in the developing device and the toner itself are filled. A method for producing a developer container filled with an agent, wherein the developer container is individually filled so as not to be in a state. In the manufacturing method of the developer container filled with the agent according to claim 1 or 2 ,
An agent characterized in that the premix developer is filled into the developer container from the developer discharge port side after the toner simple substance is filled into the developer container from the developer discharge port side. Manufacturing method of filled developer container. A developer container for containing a replenishment developer comprising toner and a carrier;
A developer discharge port for discharging the replenishment developer from the inside of the developer container to the outside;
In a developer filled developer container mounted on a developer supply device that transports a replenishment developer discharged from a developer discharge port to a developing device,
A premix developer having a carrier weight ratio lower than that of an initial developer that is mixed with toner and a carrier and initially filled in the developing device, and a single toner that is not mixed with a carrier are contained in the developer container. The developer- filled developer container is filled in the developer container so that only the premix developer is not present in the vicinity of the developer discharge port . A developer container for containing a replenishment developer comprising toner and a carrier;
A developer discharge port for discharging the replenishment developer from the inside of the developer container to the outside;
In a developer filled developer container mounted on a developer supply device that transports a replenishment developer discharged from a developer discharge port to a developing device,
The premix developer composed of the initial developer that is initially charged in the developing device and the toner alone are prevented from being in a state where only the premix developer exists in the vicinity of the developer discharge port inside the developer container. And a developer container filled with the agent, wherein the developer container is filled in the developer container. The developer container filled with the agent according to claim 4 or 5 ,
The developer container, wherein the developer container is configured to be reduced in volume as the replenishment developer is discharged to the outside through the developer discharge port. The developer container filled with the agent according to claim 6 ,
The developer container includes a flexible portion at least in part, and the flexible portion is deformed and reduced in volume when the replenishment developer is discharged to the outside through the developer discharge port. A developer container filled with an agent. A developer container for containing a replenishment developer comprising toner and a carrier;
Developer transport means for transporting the replenishment developer stored in the developer container to a developing device;
The developer conveying means includes a conveyance path member through which the replenishment developer passes, and a negative pressure applied to the replenishment developer in the developer container to pass through the conveyance path member to the developing device. In a developer replenishing device comprising a powder pump for moving a replenishing developer,
A developer replenishing apparatus using the developer filled container according to any one of claims 4 to 7 as the developer container. A latent image carrier;
A developing device for developing the latent image on the latent image carrier using the developer in the developer container;
In the image forming apparatus provided with a developer replenishing means for replenishing the developer accommodating portion with a replenishment developer,
An image forming apparatus using the developer supply device according to claim 8 as the developer supply means.

Images