JP5352121B2 - Toner remaining amount detecting device and developing device provided with toner remaining amount detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for detecting the residual amount of a toner, the device scraping off a toner adhering to a sensor without fail. <P>SOLUTION: The device for detecting the residual amount of a toner includes a detection means which comprises a light-emitting element 14 and a light-receiving element 15 and receives light emitted from the light-emitting element 14 to determine whether a toner is present. In this case, the detection means is arranged at the outer part of the housing which accommodates the toner, and a light guidance part 17 for the light-emitting element which guides the light emitted from the light-emitting element 14 to the light-emitting element 14 of the detection means is protrusively provided in the housing, and a light guidance part 18 for the light-receiving element which guides the light to be received by the light-receiving element 15 to the light-receiving element 15 of the detection means is protrusively provided in the housing. Furthermore, a cleaning means is provided, which scrapes off the toner adhering both to the front end surfaces 18A of the light guidance part 18 for the light-receiving element and to the front end surface 17A of the light guidance part 17 for the light-emitting element. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner remaining amount detecting device, and more particularly, to prevent toner contained in a developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum from being insufficiently developed. The present invention relates to a toner remaining amount detecting device for detecting a remaining amount, and a developing device including the toner remaining amount detecting device.

  As a conventional toner remaining amount detection device, there is one using an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, or the like. At present, those using optical sensors in consideration of detection errors and the like are mainly used.

  As a toner remaining amount detection device using this optical sensor, a hopper bottom surface is provided in a developing device 50 ′ having a hopper 20 that stores toner 30 and an agitator that rotates around a rotating shaft 29 to stir and transfer the toner. From the photosensors 42a and 42b installed in the hopper at a predetermined height and an elastic plate 44 attached to the support bar 31 'protruding from the rotary shaft 29, and stirs the toner into the photosensor optical path. There has been proposed a toner remaining amount detection device of a developing device 50 ′ that includes a cleaning unit that cleans a light emitting / receiving surface portion of a photosensor (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  As is apparent from the description of paragraph numbers [0024] and [0025] and the illustrations of FIGS. 1 to 3, this patent document 1 is transparent on the side wall (first side surface) forming the hopper 20 for the light source. A transparent window 40 made of a synthetic resin is provided as a light emitting surface portion, and a transparent synthetic resin for receiving light is provided on the bottom surface portion of the hopper 20 at a predetermined distance from the transparent window 40 corresponding to the transparent window 40. The housing 38 formed in the above is projected as a light receiving surface portion.

  Further, in Patent Document 1, two light emitting elements 116 a and 116 b that emit light in response to an electric signal are installed on the back side of the light transmitting window 40, and an electric signal is generated in the housing 38 by receiving light. Two light receiving elements 1120a and 120b such as a photodiode and a phototransistor are incorporated. In Patent Document 1, the light-emitting elements 116a and 116b and the light-receiving elements 1120a and 120b are made to correspond to each other and arranged substantially in parallel at a predetermined height to constitute photosensors 42a and 42b. .

JP-A-7-261537

  In the case of the developing device 50 ′ in Patent Document 1, if the amount of toner stored in the hopper 20 is insufficient, printing unevenness occurs, or if there is too much toner stored in the hopper 20, so-called fluttering or the like occurs, and printing occurs. I know that I can't do it cleanly.

  Therefore, it is necessary to accurately detect the remaining amount of toner stored in the hopper 20. In order to accurately detect the remaining amount of toner, the light emitting elements 116a and 116b and the light receiving elements 1120a and 120b may be normally operated. For this purpose, it is necessary to remove the toner adhering to the detection site.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, a cleaning member is provided on a rotating shaft of a stirring unit that stirs toner supplied and stored in the hopper 20 or a rotating shaft of a transport unit that transports the toner stirred by the stirring unit to the developing roller side. Is provided. The cleaning member scrapes off the toner adhering to the detection site by utilizing the rotation of the stirring means / conveyance means.

As a result, in the configuration for removing the toner adhering to the detection site in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to provide a toner remaining amount detection device on the rotation circumference of the cleaning site. For this reason, there are restrictions on the mounting position, angle, and the like.
In addition, when these sensors are arranged on the bottom of the developing device or on the side surface close to the bottom of the developing device (FIGS. 1 and 2 of Patent Document 1), the toner always adheres to the detection site due to the weight of the toner, It has the problem that it cannot be scraped off reliably.

  An object of the present invention is to make it possible to reduce the toner detection site, to surely scrape off the toner adhering to the sensor, to improve the response of the presence or absence of toner, and to reduce variation in the remaining amount of toner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner remaining amount detecting device capable of performing the above and a developing device including the toner remaining amount detecting device.

In order to achieve the above object, a toner remaining amount detection device according to a first aspect of the present invention is installed outside a housing for storing toner, and includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element. A light guide portion for light emitting element for guiding emitted light is provided protruding inside the housing, and a light guide portion for light receiving element for guiding light received by the light receiving element is provided protruding inside the housing. The light guide for the light emitting element and the light guide for the light receiving element are arranged so that the tip surface of the light guide for the light emitting element and the tip surface of the light guide for the light receiving element face each other, The light emitting element, the light receiving element, the light guiding element light guiding portion, and the light receiving element light guiding portion are unitized and attached at appropriate positions in a toner container (developing device). Toner for development by receiving the emitted light Detection means for detecting the remaining amount of the amount of toner that is accommodating to the reservoir,
Attached to the light guide for the light emitting element and the light introduction part for the light receiving element are unitized with the detection means, and between the tip surface of the light guide for the light emitting element and the tip surface of the light guide for the light receiving element By means of a cleaning member which is a scraping plate formed into a plate shape that passes by a driving means that uses the rotation of the stirring roller as a driving source, the tip surface of the light guide portion for the light emitting element and the tip surface of the light guide portion for the light receiving element Cleaning means for scraping off the toner adhering to the front end surface of the light guide for light emitting element and the front end surface of the light guide for light receiving element when passing between
Consists of
Said sensing means, the projecting light-emitting element light guiding portion of the light receiving element for light guiding portion from the mounting port formed in the side wall of the housing within said housing, said mounting opening via a mounting member mounted, said cleaning means, said casing housing the toner by mounting member via the fixing member is attached to one arm of the L-shaped arm which is formed into a substantially L-shaped is rotatably attached to the fixed member Attached to the inside of the body,
The driving means includes
A stirring portion provided in a storage portion for storing the toner inside the housing and spirally formed in the axial direction so as to stir the toner stored in the storage portion;
When the stirring means is rotated, the stirring unit pushes up the other arm of the L-shaped arm, so that the L-shaped arm is freely rotated at the bent portion and attached to one arm of the L-shaped arm. The cleaning means is driven to pass between the front end surface of the light guide for the light emitting element and the front end surface of the light guide for the light receiving element, and the front end surface of the light guide for the light emitting element and the light guide for the light receiving element. It is characterized by scraping off toner adhering to the front end surface of the part.

To achieve the above object, the remaining amount detecting apparatus of the toner according to the invention of claim 2, wherein said cleaning means of the invention claimed in claim 1, is gripped in one arm of the L-shaped arm attached, are always biased upward or downward between the front end surface of the light receiving element for light guiding portion and the front end surface of the light-emitting element guiding portion by the biasing means, the other of said L-shaped arm and driving the arm by the driving means, the tip of the L-shaped to bias the one arm of the arm swings the L-shaped arm, the front end surface of the light-emitting element guiding portion and the light receiving element for light guidance unit It is characterized by being configured to drive so as to block the surface.

In order to achieve the above object, a developing device including a toner remaining amount detecting device according to a third aspect of the present invention has a housing for storing toner, and an image carrier is provided in the housing. In a developing device comprising a toner carrier for supplying toner, a supply roller for supplying toner to the toner carrier, and a stirring means for conveying the toner to the supply roller side,
A mounting opening is formed in the housing,
Installed outside the housing for containing toner, comprising a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and providing a light guide for the light emitting element for guiding the light emitted by the light emitting element, protruding inside the housing, A light guiding element light guiding portion for guiding light received by the light receiving element is provided to protrude inside the housing, and the light emitting element light guiding portion and the light receiving element light guiding portion include the light emitting element light. The leading end surface of the guiding portion and the leading end surface of the light guiding portion for the light receiving element are arranged to face each other, and the light emitting element, the light receiving element, the light guiding portion for the light emitting element, and the light for the light receiving element The guiding unit is unitized and attached to an appropriate position in the toner container (developer), receives the light emitted from the light emitting element, and the remaining amount of toner stored in the developing toner storage unit Detection means for detecting
Attached to the light guide for the light emitting element and the light introduction part for the light receiving element are unitized with the detection means, and between the tip surface of the light guide for the light emitting element and the tip surface of the light guide for the light receiving element By means of a cleaning member which is a scraping plate formed into a plate shape that passes by a driving means that uses the rotation of the stirring roller as a driving source, the tip surface of the light guide portion for the light emitting element and the tip surface of the light guide portion for the light receiving element Cleaning means for scraping off the toner adhering to the front end surface of the light guide for light emitting element and the front end surface of the light guide for light receiving element when passing between
Consists of
The detection means projects the light guide for the light emitting element and the light guide for the light receiving element from the mounting opening formed on the side wall of the casing into the casing, and attaches to the mounting opening via a mounting member. is, the cleaning means, said casing housing the toner by mounting member via the fixing member rotatably mounted on one arm of the L-shaped arm which is formed in the mounting et Re substantially L-shaped fixing member Attached to the inside of the body,
The driving means includes
A stirring portion provided in a storage portion for storing the toner inside the housing and spirally formed in the axial direction and agitating means for stirring the toner stored in the storage portion, the other arm of the L-shaped arm is pressed against,
When the stirring means is rotated, the stirring unit pushes up the other arm of the L-shaped arm, so that the L-shaped arm is freely rotated at the bent portion and attached to one arm of the L-shaped arm. The cleaning means is driven to pass between the front end surface of the light guide for the light emitting element and the front end surface of the light guide for the light receiving element, and the front end surface of the light guide for the light emitting element and the light guide for the light receiving element. The present invention is characterized in that a toner remaining amount detecting device is provided, which is provided with a toner remaining amount detecting device configured to scrape off toner adhering to the front end surface of the portion.

To achieve the above object, a developing device provided with a remaining-amount detecting device of the toner according to the invention of claim 4, wherein said cleaning means of the invention claimed in claim 3, one of the L-shaped arm mounted is gripped by the arm, which is always biased upward or downward between the tip surface and the front end surface of the light receiving element for light guiding portion of the light-emitting element light guiding portion by a biasing means, said L the other arm of the mold arm is driven by a driving means, the biases of the one arm of the L-shaped arm swings the L-shaped arm, the tip surface of the light-emitting element guiding portion and the light receiving element It is configured to be driven so as to block between the front end surface of the light guiding portion.

  According to the toner remaining amount detection device of the present invention, the toner detection site can be reduced, the toner adhering to the sensor can be scraped off reliably, the response of toner presence / absence can be improved, and the toner remaining amount can be improved. The amount of variation can be reduced.

  According to the developing device including the toner remaining amount detecting device according to the present invention, the toner detection portion can be reduced, the toner adhering to the sensor can be scraped off reliably, and the response of the presence or absence of the toner can be improved. In addition, variations in the remaining amount of toner can be reduced.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a toner remaining amount detecting device and a developing device including the toner remaining amount detecting device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 is a perspective view of a toner remaining amount detecting device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view showing an example of a developing device provided with the toner remaining amount detecting device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a development of FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the detection means of the toner remaining amount detection device of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cleaning means of the toner remaining amount detection device. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the toner remaining amount detecting device.
In the present embodiment, a developing device using a non-magnetic one-component developer that performs development by pressing a developing roller against a photosensitive drum will be described as an example.

  1 and 2, the developing device 1 has a housing 2, and a part of the circumferential surface is exposed from an opening (not shown) in the housing 2 so as to press and contact the photosensitive drum 3. Layer thickness regulation that regulates the thickness of the developing roller 4 that is a toner carrier that provides toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 and the thickness of the toner layer formed on the developing roller 4 by contacting the developing roller 4 with an appropriate pressure. A roller 28, a supply roller 5 that is provided in contact with the developing roller 4 and supplies toner to the developing roller 4, and stirring rollers 6 and 7 that supply toner to the supplying roller 5 are accommodated. Yes. The housing 2 forms a developing toner reservoir.

  Further, the supply roller 5 and the stirring rollers 6 and 7 accommodated in the housing 2 are provided in parallel in the horizontal direction. The photosensitive drum 3, the developing roller 4, the supply roller 5, and the stirring rollers 6 and 7 are rotated by appropriate drive transmission means (not shown). In this embodiment, the image carrier, the toner carrier, and the supply member are rollers. However, a belt or a configuration in which the belt is supported by at least two or more points may be used.

Although not shown, a toner cartridge mounting portion is formed on a part of the upper wall of the housing 2. Then, toner is supplied from and stored in the housing 2 from the toner cartridge mounted in the toner cartridge mounting portion.
Further, the stirring rollers 6 and 7 provided in parallel to the supply roller 5 in the horizontal direction have stirring blades formed in a spiral shape, and the stirring rollers 22 and 7 constitute stirring means by the stirring blade 22. doing. The stirring blade of the stirring roller 6 and the stirring blade of the stirring roller 7 are formed so as to form spirals in different directions. By rotating the stirring roller 6 and the stirring roller 7 in different directions, the toner in the storage portion in the housing 2 is stirred. It has an effect of preventing the toner from aggregating and accumulating in a cross-linked state in the storage portion.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a toner remaining amount detecting device. The toner remaining amount detecting device 10 is attached to an attachment port 8 provided on the side wall 2A of the housing 2. The attachment port 8 is formed in the side wall 2A of the housing 2 so as to penetrate in a rectangular shape.

As shown in FIG. 2, the toner remaining amount detection device 10 includes a detection unit 11 that detects whether or not a predetermined amount of toner is stored in a storage unit constituted by the housing 2, and The cleaning unit 12 cleans the toner adhering to the detection unit of the detection unit 11. The toner remaining amount detection device 10 may be attached to the side wall 2 </ b> A of the housing 2 via an attachment member 13.
As a result, the detection unit 11 and the cleaning unit 12 are unitized, so that a desired toner remaining level can be freely set without being subjected to installation restrictions as described in Patent Document 1.

The detection means 11 has a light emitting element 14 and a light receiving element 15 as shown in FIG. The light emitting element 14 and the light receiving element 15 are housed separately in a container 16.
On the side of the container 16 where the light emitting element 14 is accommodated, a light guide portion 17 for light emitting element that guides light emitted from the light emitting element 14 is provided. The light guide 17 for the light emitting element is bent at an end in an L shape so that the tip surface 17A is the same as the axial direction of the light guide 17 for the light emitting element.
Further, on the side of the container 16 that houses the light receiving element 15, the light guiding element light guiding portion 18 that guides the light output from the light emitting element 14 that is emitted from the light guiding element light guiding portion 17 to the light receiving element 15. Is provided. The light receiving element light guiding portion 18 has a distal end bent in an L shape so that the front end surface 18A is the same as the axial direction of the light receiving element light guiding portion 18.

The light-guiding element light guiding portion 17 and the light-receiving element light guiding portion 18 are both made of a transparent resin (for example, acrylic, polycarbonate, or the like) so that light can pass therethrough. The light guide for light emitting element 17 guides the light emitted from the light emitting element 14 to the tip surface 17A and emits it from the tip surface 17A. The light guide for light receiving element 18 is the light guide for light emitting element 17. The light emitted from the tip surface 17A is received by the tip surface 18A, and this light is guided and received by the light receiving element 15.
Therefore, in the light guide element light guide 17 and the light guide element light guide part 18, the tip surface 17A of the light guide element light guide part 17 and the tip surface 18A of the light guide element light guide part 18 face each other. Are provided in a parallel state.

The detection means 11 is attached to the attachment port 8 via an attachment member 13 from the outside of the housing 2 to the side wall 2A. In attaching the detection means 11, the light guide element light guiding portion 17 and the light receiving element light guiding portion 18 of the detection means 11 are formed by punching in a rectangular shape formed on the side wall 2 </ b> A of the housing 2. Projecting from the mouth 8 into the housing 2 is attached.
Then, the height position of the mounting position of the light guiding element light guiding portion 17 and the light receiving element light guiding portion 18 of the detecting means 11 (that is, the forming position of the mounting opening 8 for mounting the detecting means 11) is determined by the housing 2. The residual amount of toner stored in the configured storage unit is determined.

As described above, the light guiding element light guiding portion 17 and the light receiving element light guiding portion 18 of the detecting means 11 are provided so as to protrude from the storage portion constituted by the housing 2, and thus the light guiding element light guiding portion. The front end surface 17A of 17 and the front end surface 18A of the light guide portion 18 for the light receiving element are always exposed to the toner.
For this reason, the toner adheres to the distal end surface 17A of the light guiding element light guiding portion 17 and the leading end surface 18A of the light receiving element light guiding portion 18. When this toner adheres to the tip surface 17A of the light guide element 17 for light emitting element, even if the light emitted from the light emitting element 14 is guided through the light guide part 17 for light emitting element and reaches the tip surface 17A, light is emitted from the tip surface 17A. Not. When the toner adheres to the front end surface 18A of the light receiving element light guiding portion 18, even if light is emitted from the front end surface 17A of the light emitting element light guiding portion 17, the light cannot be received. The light is not received by the light receiving element 15 without being guided in the light guiding portion 18.

As described above, the front end surface 17A of the light guide for light emitting element 17 or the front end face 18A of the light guide for light receiving element 18 or the front end face 17A of the light guide for light emitting element 17 and the front end of the light guide for light receiving element 18 is used. When the toner adheres to the surface 18A, the amount of toner stored in the storage portion constituted by the housing 2 is larger than a predetermined amount, or the amount of toner stored in the storage portion of the housing 2 is predetermined. It becomes a state where it cannot be detected whether the amount is less than the fixed amount.
That is, erroneous detection is performed. Therefore, it is necessary to always keep the tip surface 17A of the light guide device light guide 17 and the tip surface 18A of the light guide device light guide portion 18 clean. Therefore, the toner remaining amount detection device 10 is attached to the front end surface 17A of the light guide for light emitting element 17 and the front end surface 18A of the light guide for light receiving element 18 which are detection units for the remaining amount of toner of the detecting means 11. A cleaning means 12 for periodically cleaning the toner that has been used is provided.

The cleaning means 12 scrapes the toner adhering to the front end surface 17A of the light guide element light guiding portion 17 and the front end surface 18A of the light receiving element light guide portion 18, and has a configuration as shown in FIG. Yes.
That is, the cleaning means 12 includes a cleaning member 19 formed of a plate-like resin, and the cleaning member 19 as a front end surface 17A of the light guide element light guide portion 17 and a front end surface 18A of the light guide device light guide portion 18. Drive means 20 for driving between the two.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cleaning member 19 has a scraping plate 21 that scrapes the front end surface 17 </ b> A of the light guide for light emitting element 17 and the front end face 18 </ b> A of the light guide for light receiving element 18. The curettage plate 21 is made of a flexible resin and is formed in a plate shape.
The curettage plate 21 is supported by a gripping member 22. The gripping member 22 grips the curettage plate 21 from the front and back surfaces and holds it horizontally. The holding member 22 is provided with an engaging portion 23, and one end of an urging member (for example, a coil spring) 24 is engaged with the engaging portion 23, and the other end is attached to the attachment member 13. The fixing member 25 is engaged. By this urging member 24, the curettage plate 21 is constantly urged so as to be positioned above both end surfaces of the distal end surface 17 A of the light guiding element light guiding portion 17 and the leading end surface 18 A of the light receiving element light guiding portion 18. ing.

  The curettage plate 21 configured in this way passes vertically between the end surface 17A of the light guide element light guiding portion 17 and the both end surfaces 17A and 18A of the front end surface 18A of the light receiving element light guide portion 18. The front end surface 17A of the light emitting element light guiding portion 17 and the front end surface 18A of the light receiving element light guiding portion 18 are rubbed to scrape the toner adhering to the both end surfaces 17A and 18A. That is, the width of the curettage plate 21 is made larger than the width between the end surfaces 17A and 18A of the front end surface 18A of the light guide portion 17 for the light receiving element and the front end surface 18A of the light guide portion 18 for the light receiving element.

The driving means 20 includes a gripping member (one arm) 22 that supports the curettage plate 21 at the tip, and a leg portion (the other arm) 25 that is bent at right angles to the one arm (grip member) 22. It is formed by an L-shaped arm 27 that is formed in a mold and is attached to a fixing member 26 that is attached to the attachment member 13 so as to freely rotate at a bent portion.
The other arm (leg part) 25 of the L-shaped arm 27 is provided in a storage part for storing the toner inside the housing 2 and is a stirring roller (stirring means) 6 in which a stirring part is formed in a spiral shape in the axial direction. , 7 is pressed against.

In the curettage plate 21, the toner stored in the storage section constituted by the housing 2 is stirred by the stirring means (stirring rollers) 6 and 7 and is uniformized in the storage section. Each time the stirring means (stirring rollers) 6 and 7 are rotated once, the scraping plate 21 of the cleaning member 19 is provided with a spiral stirring portion provided in the stirring means (stirring rollers) 6 and 7, as shown in FIG. As a result, the other arm of the L-shaped arm 26 pressed against the stirring rollers (stirring means) 6 and 7 is pushed up, and the distal end surface 17A of the light guiding element light guiding portion 17 and the leading end of the light receiving element light guiding portion 18 are pushed. It passes up and down between the surface 18A.
At that time, the scraping plate 21 strongly rubs the distal end surface 17A of the light guiding element light guiding portion 17 and the leading end surface 18A of the light receiving element light guiding portion 18. Thus, every time the stirring means (stirring rollers) 6 and 7 make one rotation, the scraping plate 21 of the cleaning member 19 rubs the both end surfaces 17A and 18A twice. As a result, the toner adhering to the distal end surface 17A of the light emitting element light guiding portion 17 and the toner adhering to the distal end surface 18A of the light receiving element light guiding portion 18 are scraped.

Such detection means 11 and cleaning means 12 can also be directly attached to the attachment port 8 provided on the side wall 2A of the housing 2. In this case, it is necessary to attach so that there is no gap between the attachment port 8 and the detection means 11.
In addition, a detection unit 11 that detects whether or not a predetermined amount of toner is stored in a storage unit constituted by the housing 2 and a cleaning that cleans toner adhering to the detection unit of the detection unit 11. The means 12 may be attached to the side wall 2 </ b> A of the housing 2 via the attachment member 13.

  The attachment member 13 houses and detects the detection means 11 and is attached to the outer wall 2 </ b> A of the housing 2. Specifically, the container 16 that houses the light emitting element 14 and the light receiving element 15 is fitted and pressed from the front and back, and is attached to the outer wall 2A of the housing 2 with a bolt or the like.

The toner remaining amount detection device 10 configured as described above is provided in a storage portion for storing toner inside the housing 2 and is provided with a stirring roller (stirring means) 6 in which a stirring portion is formed spirally in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the leg portion (the other arm) 25 pressed against 7 is pushed up by the helical stirring portions provided in the stirring means (stirring rollers) 6 and 7 as shown in FIG.
As a result, the arm (gripping member) 22 that is bent at a right angle to the leg portion (the other arm) 25 and is formed in an L shape is pushed down as shown in FIG. That is, the arm (gripping member) 22 biasing member 24 is always attached so as to be positioned above both end surfaces of the distal end surface 17A of the light guiding element light guiding portion 17 and the leading end surface 18A of the light receiving element light guiding portion 18. The scraping plate 21 of the cleaning member 19 that is being urged agitates means (stirring roller) 6 between the end surfaces 17A and 18A of the tip surface 17A of the light guide device light guide 17 and the tip surface 18A of the light guide device light guide unit 18. , 7 is rubbed twice each time it is rotated.

  As described above, the toner remaining amount detection device 10 is configured such that the stirrer (stirring rollers) 6 and 7 stirs the toner stored in the storage unit inside the housing 2 and stirs the front end surface of the light guide unit 17 for the light emitting element. 17A and both end surfaces 17A and 18A of the front end surface 18A of the light guide portion 18 for the light receiving element can be cleaned.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a toner remaining amount detecting device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating an example of a developing device including the toner remaining amount detecting device illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a configuration of a toner remaining amount detection device of the developing device of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a plan view of detection means of the toner remaining amount detection device of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a cleaning unit of a toner remaining amount detection device. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the toner remaining amount detection device.

Explanation of symbols

1 …………………… Developer 2 ……………………… Case 5 ……………………… Supply roller 6, 7 ………………… Stirrer roller 10… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Light emitting element 15 …………………… Light receiving element 17 …………………… Light guiding portion 17A for light emitting element ………………… End face 18 ……………… …… Light guiding part 18A for light receiving element …………………… Tip 19 …………………… Cleaning member 20 …………………… Drive means 21 …………………… Plate 22 …………………… Gripping member (one arm)
24 …………………… Biasing member 25 …………………… Leg (the other arm)
27 …………………… L-shaped arm 28 …………………… Layer thickness regulating roller

Claims (4)

A light guide element for light emitting element, which is installed outside the housing for housing the toner and is composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element and guides light emitted by the light emitting element, protrudes inside the housing, and A light guide element for guiding light received by the light receiving element is provided so as to protrude inside the housing, and the light guide part for light emitting element and the light guide part for light receiving element are light guides for the light emitting element. The light-emitting element, the light-receiving element, the light-guiding element light-guiding part, and the light-receiving-element light guiding element Are unitized and attached at appropriate positions in the toner container (developer), receiving the light emitted from the light emitting element, and determining the remaining amount of toner stored in the developing toner reservoir. Detecting means for detecting;
Attached to the light guide for the light emitting element and the light introduction part for the light receiving element are unitized with the detection means, and between the tip surface of the light guide for the light emitting element and the tip surface of the light guide for the light receiving element By means of a cleaning member which is a scraping plate formed into a plate shape that passes by a driving means that uses the rotation of the stirring roller as a driving source, the tip surface of the light guide portion for the light emitting element and the tip surface of the light guide portion for the light receiving element Cleaning means for scraping off the toner adhering to the front end surface of the light guide for light emitting element and the front end surface of the light guide for light receiving element when passing between
Consists of
Said sensing means, the projecting light-emitting element light guiding portion of the light receiving element for light guiding portion from the mounting port formed in the side wall of the housing within said housing, said mounting opening via a mounting member mounted, said cleaning means, said that rotatably mounted on one arm of the L-shaped arm which is formed in the mounting et Re substantially L-shaped fixing member for accommodating the toner by mounting member via the fixing member mounted within the housing,
The driving means includes
A stirring portion provided in a storage portion for storing the toner inside the housing and spirally formed in the axial direction and agitating means for stirring the toner stored in the storage portion, the other arm of the L-shaped arm is pressed against,
When the stirring means is rotated, the stirring unit pushes up the other arm of the L-shaped arm, so that the L-shaped arm is freely rotated at the bent portion and attached to one arm of the L-shaped arm. The cleaning means is driven to pass between the front end surface of the light guide for the light emitting element and the front end surface of the light guide for the light receiving element, and the front end surface of the light guide for the light emitting element and the light guide for the light receiving element. A toner remaining amount detection device characterized by scraping off toner adhering to a tip surface of a part. The cleaning means includes
Gripped and attached to one arm of the L-shaped arm,
The biasing means being always biased upward or downward between the tip surface and the front end surface of the light-receiving element guiding portion of the light-emitting element light guiding portion,
Driven by drive means other arm of the L-arm, to bias the one arm of the L-shaped arm swings the L-shaped arm, the light receiving and front end surface of the light-emitting element light guiding section Drives so as to block the tip surface of the light guide portion for the element
The toner remaining amount detection device according to claim 1. A housing for storing toner is provided. In the housing, a toner carrier for supplying toner to the image carrier, a supply roller for supplying toner to the toner carrier, and the toner are conveyed to the supply roller side. In a developing device equipped with stirring means,
A mounting opening is formed in the housing,
Installed outside the housing for containing toner, comprising a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and providing a light guide for the light emitting element for guiding the light emitted by the light emitting element, protruding inside the housing, A light guiding element light guiding portion for guiding light received by the light receiving element is provided to protrude inside the housing, and the light emitting element light guiding portion and the light receiving element light guiding portion include the light emitting element light. The leading end surface of the guiding portion and the leading end surface of the light guiding portion for the light receiving element are arranged to face each other, and the light emitting element, the light receiving element, the light guiding portion for the light emitting element, and the light for the light receiving element The guiding unit is unitized and attached to an appropriate position in the toner container (developer), receives the light emitted from the light emitting element, and the remaining amount of toner stored in the developing toner storage unit Detection means for detecting
Attached to the light guide for the light emitting element and the light introduction part for the light receiving element are unitized with the detection means, and between the tip surface of the light guide for the light emitting element and the tip surface of the light guide for the light receiving element By means of a cleaning member which is a scraping plate formed into a plate shape that passes by a driving means that uses the rotation of the stirring roller as a driving source, the tip surface of the light guide portion for the light emitting element and the tip surface of the light guide portion for the light receiving element Cleaning means for scraping off the toner adhering to the front end surface of the light guide for light emitting element and the front end surface of the light guide for light receiving element when passing between
Consists of
The detection means projects the light guide for the light emitting element and the light guide for the light receiving element from the mounting opening formed on the side wall of the casing into the casing, and attaches to the mounting opening via a mounting member. is, the cleaning means, said casing housing the toner by mounting member via the fixing member rotatably mounted on one arm of the L-shaped arm which is formed in the mounting et Re substantially L-shaped fixing member Attached to the inside of the body,
The driving means includes
A stirring portion provided in a storage portion for storing the toner inside the housing and spirally formed in the axial direction and agitating means for stirring the toner stored in the storage portion, the other arm of the L-shaped arm is pressed against,
When the stirring means is rotated, the stirring unit pushes up the other arm of the L-shaped arm, so that the L-shaped arm is freely rotated at the bent portion and attached to one arm of the L-shaped arm. The cleaning means is driven to pass between the front end surface of the light guide for the light emitting element and the front end surface of the light guide for the light receiving element, and the front end surface of the light guide for the light emitting element and the light guide for the light receiving element. A developing device equipped with a toner remaining amount detecting device, comprising a toner remaining amount detecting device configured to scrape off toner adhering to a tip surface of a portion. The cleaning means includes
Gripped and attached to one arm of the L-shaped arm,
The biasing means being always biased upward or downward between the tip surface and the front end surface of the light-receiving element guiding portion of the light-emitting element light guiding portion,
Driven by drive means other arm of the L-arm, to bias the one arm of the L-shaped arm swings the L-shaped arm, the light receiving and front end surface of the light-emitting element light guiding section Drives so as to block the tip surface of the light guide portion for the element
A developing device provided with a remaining-amount detecting device of toner according to claim 3, characterized in that.

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