JP7108228B2 - image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, facsimiles, and multifunction machines thereof.

Conventionally, in image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, facsimiles, and their multifunction machines, in addition to the four-color (for YMCB) image forming units for forming normal color images, white and transparent A device in which image forming units for special colors such as color are arranged side by side is widely known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Specifically, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, five photosensitive drums (image bearing members) are arranged side by side so as to face an intermediate transfer belt, and latent images formed on the five photosensitive drums are respectively transferred. Five developing devices are installed for developing. The five developing devices are a four-color (YMCB) developing device for forming normal color images and a developing device for special colors such as white and transparent. A toner image of a corresponding color is formed on the surface of the . The toner images formed on the surfaces of the five photosensitive drums are primarily transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt, and the superimposed toner images (color images) are secondarily transferred onto the sheet. become.

Further, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, five developer containers (toner containers) are installed corresponding to the five developing devices. Further, five tubes (conveyance paths) are provided for supplying the developer (toner) contained in the five developer containers to the five developing devices.
Specifically, the developer discharged from the developer container is temporarily stored in the storage section. A flexible tube connects between the storage section and a transfer pump installed in a sub-hopper (replenished section). By operating the transport pump, the developer stored in the storage portion is transported toward the sub-hopper (replenishment target portion) through the tube. The developer transported and stored in the sub-hopper is discharged from the discharge port of the sub-hopper by rotationally driving the transport screw installed in the sub-hopper and appropriately supplied to the developing device. Then, the latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum is developed by the developing device in which the developer is properly supplied and the appropriate amount of developer is accommodated.

On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-100000, when changing the arrangement of a plurality of developing devices and sub-hoppers (replenishment receiving portions) in order to change the order of toner colors to be superimposed on the surface of an intermediate transfer belt, developer is supplied to each of the plurality of sub-hoppers. A technique for changing distribution of a plurality of tubes without changing the arrangement of a plurality of tubes (conveyance paths) or a plurality of developer containers connected for replenishing the developer is disclosed.

In the conventional image forming apparatus, since the arrangement of a plurality of supplied parts is changed, workability is not sufficiently high when changing the routing of a plurality of transport paths.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus with high workability when changing the routing of a plurality of transport paths.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of developer containers each containing a developer, and a plurality of transport paths for transporting the developer from the plurality of developer containers toward a plurality of supplied portions. wherein at least one transport path among the plurality of transport paths has a relay part in the middle thereof capable of contacting and separating one of the upstream transport path and the downstream transport path, and When the arrangement of the agent container is not changed and the arrangement of at least two of the plurality of replenishment target parts is changed, the transport paths on the upstream side of the transport paths respectively corresponding to the replenishment target parts are changed. and the relay portion are fixed in position, and after the downstream transport path is removed from the relay portion, the downstream transport path is connected to the replenished portion and the relay portion whose positions have been changed. to be connected .

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus with high workability when changing the routing of a plurality of transport paths.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a process cartridge; 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a color developer replenishing device; FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a conveying pump and a sub-hopper; 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a developer replenishing device for special colors and black; FIG. (A) A schematic diagram showing a state in which the developer containers for color and black are attached to and detached from the developer replenishing device; and a schematic diagram showing a state in which it is attached and detached. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a conveying pump, a sub-hopper, and a developing device are attached to and detached from a developer replenishing device; (A) A schematic diagram showing the arrangement of each member when the toner images are primarily transferred in the order of spot color, color color, and black from the upstream side in the running direction to the intermediate transfer belt, and (B) with respect to the intermediate transfer belt 12A and 12B are schematic diagrams showing the arrangement of each member when the toner images are primarily transferred in the order of black, color, and special color from the upstream side in the running direction; FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a relay portion as Modified Example 1; (A) A schematic diagram showing the arrangement of each member when the toner images are primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt in the order of spot color, color color, and black from the upstream side in the running direction, and (B ) is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of each member when the toner images are primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt in the order of color, black, and special color from the upstream side in the running direction; (A) A schematic diagram showing the arrangement of each member when the toner images are primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt in the order of the spot color, the color color, and the black color from the upstream side in the running direction, and (B) as a third modification. ) is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of each member when the toner images are primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt in the order of black, color, and special color from the upstream side in the running direction;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be appropriately simplified or omitted.

First, the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a printer as an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the vicinity of the process cartridge 6Y.
As shown in FIG. 1, five substantially cylindrical toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K, and 32S, which are different types of toner containers, are detachably attached to one end of the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 100. Installed developer supply devices 90Y, 90M, 90C, 90K, and 90S (toner supply devices) are arranged side by side. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a toner container 32S (developer replenishing device 90S) corresponding to the spot color is installed on the leftmost side. To the right are toner containers 32Y, 32M, and 32C (developer replenishing devices 90Y, 90M, and 90C) corresponding to three colors (yellow, magenta, and cyan). are installed in the order of A toner container 32K (developer replenishing device 90K) corresponding to black is installed on the rightmost side.
In the present embodiment, the arrangement order (arrangement) of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K, and 32S and the developer supply devices 90Y, 90M, 90C, 90K, and 90S is variable. It is set so that it will not be

1, 3, etc., three color developer replenishing devices 90Y, 90M, and 90C are provided in color toner containers 32Y, 32M, and 32C (developer containers), respectively. They are for supplying yellow, magenta, and cyan toner (developers) to the color developing devices 5Y, 5M, and 5C, respectively.
Further, referring to FIGS. 1, 5, etc., the black developer replenishing device 90K supplies the black toner (developer) housed in the black toner container 32K (developer container) to the black toner container 32K (developer container). It is for replenishing the developing device 5Y.
The spot color developer supply device 90S supplies the spot color toner (developer) housed in the spot color toner container 32S (developer container) to the spot color developing device 5S. .

Known toners can be used as the black toner, color toner (yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner), and special toner.
In particular, special toners are different from black toners and color toners. A gold toner, a silver toner, or the like can be used.

Referring to FIG. 1, five exposure units 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K, and 7S are installed in the upper part of image forming apparatus main body 1, and each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, black, special color) is installed below them. ) are arranged side by side so as to face the intermediate transfer belt unit 15 (intermediate transfer belt 8). there is
As shown in FIG. 1, the five process cartridges 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K, and 6S (developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K, and 5S) are basically arranged (arranged) according to the running of the intermediate transfer belt 8. From the direction upstream side, the special color process cartridge 6S (developing device 5S), the yellow process cartridge 6Y (developing device 5Y), the magenta process cartridge 6M (developing device 5M), the cyan process cartridge 6C (developing device 5C), and a process cartridge 6K (developing device 5K) for black. The order of arrangement (arrangement) is configured to be appropriately changeable according to the user's purpose.
In particular, in the present embodiment, referring also to FIGS. 8A and 8B, a black process cartridge 6K (developing device 5K) and a special color process cartridge 6S (developing device 5S) are used. , is configured to be able to change the arrangement of

The spot color toner is not limited to one type, and in many cases, a different kind of spot color toner container 32S is appropriately exchanged according to the user's application. For example, the toner container 32S for clear toner is replaced with the toner container 32S for white toner.
In such a case, according to the type of the spot color toner, the sequence (arrangement) of the spot color process cartridges 6S (developing devices 5S) is changed from the most upstream side in the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt 8 to the most downstream side in the running direction. Sometimes it is better to change to the side. For example, when a clear toner is used as the spot color toner, it is used for the purpose of improving the glossiness of the image. As shown in A), the special color process cartridge 6S (developing device 5S) is arranged most upstream in the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt 8 . On the other hand, when white toner is used as the spot color toner, it is used for the purpose of forming an image on a colored sheet P that is not white. Desirably, as shown in FIG. 8B, the special color process cartridge 6S (developing device 5S) is arranged at the most downstream side in the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt 8. FIG. Along with the change in the arrangement (installation position) of the spot color process cartridge 6S (developing device 5S), the arrangement of the black process cartridge 6K (developing device 5K) is also changed. Become. Also, these replacement operations are manually performed by a user (or a service person) based on an operation manual displayed on a display panel installed on the exterior of the image forming apparatus 100 .
Such a change in arrangement of the black process cartridge 6K (developing device 5K) and the spot color process cartridge 6S (developing device 5S) will be described in more detail later.

Referring to FIG. 2, the process cartridge 6Y for yellow includes a photosensitive drum 1Y as an image carrier, a charging device 4Y, a developing device 5Y, and a cleaning device 2Y arranged around the photosensitive drum 1Y. It is an integrated unit (detachable unit). Then, an image forming process (charging process, exposure process, development process, transfer process, cleaning process) is performed on the photoreceptor drum 1Y to form a yellow image on the photoreceptor drum 1Y.

The other four process cartridges 6M, 6C, 6K, and 6S have substantially the same configuration as the yellow process cartridge 6Y, except that the color (kind) of toner used is different. An image corresponding to the toner color is formed. Hereinafter, description of the other four process cartridges 6M, 6C, 6K, and 6S will be appropriately omitted, and only the process cartridge 6Y corresponding to yellow will be described.

Referring to FIG. 2, a photosensitive drum 1Y as an image carrier is rotationally driven counterclockwise by a drive motor. Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y is uniformly charged at the position of the charging device 4Y (charging step).
After that, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches the irradiation position of the laser light L emitted from the exposure unit 7Y (writing device), and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to yellow is formed by exposure scanning at this position. (It is an exposure process.).

After that, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches a position facing the developing device 5Y, and the electrostatic latent image is developed at this position to form a yellow toner image (developing step).
After that, the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1Y reaches a position facing the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the primary transfer roller 9Y, and at this position the toner image on the photoreceptor drum 1Y is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 as an intermediate transfer body. (this is the primary transfer step). At this time, a small amount of untransferred toner remains on the photosensitive drum 1Y.

After that, the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1Y reaches a position facing the cleaning device 2Y, and the untransferred toner remaining on the photoreceptor drum 1Y at this position is collected into the cleaning device 2Y by the cleaning blade 2a (cleaning device 2Y). process).
Finally, the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1Y reaches the position facing the static elimination device, and the residual potential on the photoreceptor drum 1 is removed at this position.
Thus, a series of image forming processes performed on the photosensitive drum 1Y are completed.

The image forming process described above is performed in the other process cartridges 6M, 6C, 6K, and 6S in the same manner as in the yellow process cartridge 6Y. That is, laser beams L based on image information are directed onto the photosensitive drums of the process cartridges 6M, 6C, 6K, and 6S from the exposure units 7M, 7C, 7K, and 7S arranged above the process cartridges. is irradiated. Specifically, the exposure unit emits a laser beam L from a light source, and irradiates the photosensitive drum with the laser beam L through a plurality of optical elements while scanning the laser beam L with a rotationally driven polygon mirror.
After that, toner images of respective colors formed on respective photosensitive drums through a developing process are overlaid on the intermediate transfer belt 8 for primary transfer. A desired color image is thus formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 .

The intermediate transfer belt unit 15 (intermediate transfer belt device) includes an intermediate transfer belt 8 as an intermediate transfer body, five primary transfer rollers (9Y), a drive roller, a secondary transfer counter roller, a plurality of tension rollers, a cleaning It consists of an opposing roller, an intermediate transfer cleaning device, and the like. The intermediate transfer belt 8 (intermediate transfer body) is stretched and supported by a plurality of roller members, and is endlessly moved in the direction of the arrow (clockwise) in FIG. 1 by the rotational driving of one roller member (driving roller). .

Each of the five primary transfer rollers (9Y) sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 8 with the photosensitive drum (1Y) to form a primary transfer nip. A transfer voltage (primary transfer bias) opposite in polarity to the toner is applied to the primary transfer roller (9Y).
Then, the intermediate transfer belt 8 travels in the direction of the arrow and sequentially passes through the primary transfer nip of the primary transfer roller (9Y). In this way, the toner images of each color on the photosensitive drum (1Y) are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 in an overlapping manner.

After that, the intermediate transfer belt 8 on which the toner images of each color have been superimposed and transferred reaches a position facing the secondary transfer roller 19 . At this position, the secondary transfer facing roller sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 8 between itself and the secondary transfer roller 19 to form a secondary transfer nip. Then, the four-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is transferred onto a sheet P such as a sheet of paper conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer nip. At this time, untransferred toner that has not been transferred onto the sheet P remains on the intermediate transfer belt 8 .

The intermediate transfer belt 8 then reaches the position of the intermediate transfer cleaning device. At this position, the untransferred toner on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is removed.
Thus, a series of transfer processes performed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 are completed.

Here, referring to FIG. 1, the sheet P conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer nip is fed from a paper feed unit 26 (paper feed cassette) arranged below the apparatus main body 100 to a paper feed roller 27 or a paper feed roller 27 . It is conveyed via a conveying path K1 in which a registration roller pair 28 and the like are arranged.
Specifically, a plurality of sheets P are stacked and stored in the paper feed unit 26 . Then, when the paper feeding roller 27 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG.

The sheet P conveyed to the registration roller pair 28 (timing roller pair) temporarily stops at the roller nip position of the registration roller pair 28 whose rotational driving is stopped. Then, the registration roller pair 28 is rotationally driven in synchronization with the color image on the intermediate transfer belt 8, and the sheet P is conveyed toward the secondary transfer nip. A desired color image is transferred onto the sheet P in this way.

Thereafter, the sheet P onto which the color image has been transferred at the position of the secondary transfer nip is conveyed to the position of the fixing device 20 . At this position, the color image transferred to the surface is fixed onto the sheet P by heat and pressure from the fixing belt and the pressure roller (fixing process).
After that, the sheet P is discharged outside the apparatus by the paper discharge roller pair via the discharge path K2. The sheets P discharged outside the apparatus by the pair of discharge rollers are sequentially stacked on the stack section as an output image.
Thus, a series of image forming processes in the image forming apparatus are completed.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the configuration and operation of the developing device in the process cartridge will be described in more detail.
The developing device 5Y includes a developing roller 51 facing the photosensitive drum 1Y, a doctor blade 52 facing the developing roller 51, two conveying screws 55 arranged in a developer container, and detecting the toner concentration in the developer. , a unit-side opening 57 for supplying toner (developer) to the developer container, and the like. The developing roller 51 is composed of a magnet fixed inside, a sleeve that rotates around the magnet, and the like. A two-component developer G composed of carrier and toner is accommodated in the developer accommodating portion.

The developing device 5Y configured in this way operates as follows.
The sleeve of the developing roller 51 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The developer G carried on the developing roller 51 by the magnetic field formed by the magnet moves on the developing roller 51 as the sleeve rotates.

Here, the developer G in the developing device 5Y is adjusted so that the ratio of toner in the developer (toner density) is within a predetermined range. More specifically, the toner (powder) contained in the toner container 32Y (developer container) is supplied to the developing device 5Y (developer container) by the developer supplying device 90Y according to the consumption of toner in the developing device 5Y. replenished to The configuration and operation of the toner container 32Y and the developer supply device 90Y will be described later in detail.

After that, the toner replenished in the developing device 5Y (developer container) is mixed and agitated with the developer G by the two conveying screws 55, and circulates through the two developer containers partitioned by the partition member. (longitudinal movement in the direction perpendicular to the page of FIG. 2). The toner in the two-component developer G is attracted to the carrier by frictional electrification with the carrier, and is carried on the developing roller 51 together with the carrier by the magnetic force formed on the developing roller 51 .

The developer G carried on the developing roller 51 is conveyed along the rotational direction of the sleeve and reaches the position of the doctor blade 52 . Then, the developer G on the developing roller 51 is transported to a position facing the photosensitive drum 1Y (development area) after the amount of developer is adjusted at this position. Then, the electric field formed in the developing area causes the toner to be attracted to the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1Y. After that, the developer G remaining on the developing roller 51 reaches the upper side of the developer containing portion as the sleeve rotates, and is released from the developing roller 51 at this position and returned to the developer containing portion.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the configuration and operation of the developer replenishing device 90Y for yellow will be briefly described.
In the present embodiment, the other two color developer replenishing devices (developer replenishing device 90M for magenta and developer replenishing device 90C for cyan) are also used for toner colors ( The developer replenishing device 90Y has substantially the same configuration as the developer replenishing device 90Y for yellow except for the type), and therefore the description of these developer replenishing devices 90M and 90C will be omitted as appropriate, and the developer replenishment for yellow will be omitted. Only device 90Y will be described.

The developer replenishing device 90Y for yellow rotates the toner container 32Y as a developer container installed in the installation section 31 in a predetermined direction (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3), and accommodates it in the toner container 32Y. A toner replenishing path (toner conveying path) is formed for discharging the collected toner to the outside of the container and leading it to the developing device 5Y.
3 (and FIG. 5, which will be described later), the toner container 32Y, the developer replenishing device 90Y, and the developing device 5Y are shown in different orientations for easy understanding. Actually, in FIG. 3, the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32Y and part of the developer supply device 90Y is arranged so as to be perpendicular to the plane of the paper (see FIG. 1). The direction and arrangement of the tube 95Y (conveyance path) are also illustrated in a simplified manner.

The toner in the toner container 32Y installed in the installation portion 31 of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is appropriately replenished into the developing device 5Y by the developer replenishing device 90Y according to the toner consumption in the developing device 5Y.
More specifically, when the toner container 32Y is set in the installation portion 31 of the apparatus main body 100, the bottle gear 37 of the toner container 32Y meshes with the driving gear 110 of the apparatus main body 100, and the cap opening/closing chuck 92 of the cap receiving portion 91 is engaged. , the cap 34 (a member for closing the toner outlet C) is removed from the toner container 32Y. As a result, the toner outlet C (opening) of the toner container 32Y is opened, and the toner contained in the toner container 32Y can be discharged.

On the other hand, in the developer replenishing device 90Y, a storage section 81Y is provided below the open toner discharge port C with a drop path section 82 interposed therebetween. A suction port 83 is provided at the bottom of the reservoir 81Y, and this suction port 83 is connected to one end of a tube 95Y (conveyance path) via a nozzle. The tube 95Y is made of a flexible rubber material with low toner affinity, and the other end is connected to the transport pump 60Y (diaphragm pump). The conveying pump 60Y is connected to the developing device 5Y through the sub-hopper 70Y and the conveying pipe 98. As shown in FIG.
In the developer supply device 90Y configured as described above, when the drive gear 110 is driven by the drive motor 115, the container main body 33 of the toner container 32Y is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction, and the toner discharge port C of the toner container 32Y is driven to rotate. Toner is discharged. The toner discharged from the toner container 32</b>Y drops down the drop path portion 82 and is stored in the storage portion 81 . The toner stored in the storage section 81 is sucked from the suction port 83 by the operation of the transport pump 60Y and transported from the transport pump 60Y to the sub-hopper 70Y via the tube 95Y. The toner transported (replenished) to the sub-hopper 70Y serving as a replenishment target portion is replenished into the developing device 5Y through a transport pipe 98 extending in the vertical direction. That is, the toner in the toner container 32Y is conveyed in the direction of the dashed arrow in FIG. In this embodiment, unlike the tube 95Y, the transport pipe 98 (transport pipe) that connects the sub-hopper 70Y and the developing device 5Y is made of a hard resin or metal material that is hard to deform.

Next, referring to FIG. 4, the conveying pump 60Y and the sub-hopper 70Y in the developer supply device 90Y will be described in detail.
Referring to FIG. 4, conveying pump 60Y in the present embodiment is a diaphragm pump (positive displacement pump) and includes diaphragm 61 (rubber member), case 62, motor 67, rotating plate 68, check valve 63, 64, seal members 65 and 66 (elastic members), and the like. The conveying pump 60Y configured in this way is relatively small and inexpensive.

Here, the case 62 and the diaphragm 61 form a pump main body.
The case 62 is made of a rigid resin material or metal material and functions as a main part (housing) of the pump body. The case 62 (pump main body) is formed with an inlet A through which the developer and air flow in and an outlet B through which the developer and air flow out from the inside.
The diaphragm 61 is made of a rubber material having low toner affinity and elasticity. (The eccentric shaft 68a of the rotating plate 68 is fitted in the hole.) is formed. The diaphragm 61 is joined to the case 62 without any gap, and the variable volume portion W of the diaphragm 61 and the inside of the case 62 are formed as one closed space inside the pump body. The pump bodies 61 and 62 alternately generate a positive pressure and a negative pressure by increasing and decreasing the internal volume of the diaphragm 61 according to the rotation of a rotary plate 68 (eccentric shaft 68a), which will be described later. Become.

The rotating plate 68 is installed on the motor shaft of the motor 67, and an eccentric shaft 68a is provided on the surface of the rotating plate 68 so as to stand at a position eccentric from the motor shaft (rotational center). The eccentric shaft 68 a of the rotary plate 68 is inserted (fitted) into a hole formed at the tip of the arm portion 61 a of the diaphragm 61 .
With such a configuration, when the motor 67 is driven under the control of the control unit 120, the rotary plate 68 (eccentric shaft 68a) rotates, and accordingly the diaphragm 61 changes the volume of the variable volume portion W periodically. It expands and contracts so as to increase and decrease. As the diaphragm 61 expands and contracts, positive pressure and negative pressure are alternately generated inside the pump bodies 61 and 62 .

Here, an inflow side check valve 63 is installed at the inflow port A of the pump main body (case 62). The inflow side check valve 63 opens the inflow port A when negative pressure is generated inside the pump bodies 61 and 62, and opens the inflow port A when positive pressure is generated inside the pump bodies 61 and 62. is closed. The inflow side check valve 63 is arranged so as to face the inflow port A from the inside (inside) of the pump bodies 61 and 62 . A reservoir 81 is connected to the inlet A side of the transport pump 60Y via a tube 95Y.
On the other hand, an outflow side check valve 64 is installed at the outflow port B of the pump body (case 62). The outflow side check valve 64 closes the outflow port B when negative pressure is generated inside the pump bodies 61 and 62, and closes the outflow port B when positive pressure is generated inside the pump bodies 61 and 62. It is intended to open The outflow side check valve 64 is arranged so as to face the outflow port B from the outside of the pump bodies 61 and 62 . A sub-hopper 70Y is connected to the outflow port B side of the conveying pump 60Y.
With such a configuration and operation, as described above with reference to FIG. After being transported through the tube 95Y, the toner is transported into the sub-hopper 70Y via the transport pump 60Y. Specifically, when the hopper remaining amount sensor 76 of the sub hopper 70Y detects that the amount of toner in the sub hopper 70 is insufficient, the conveying pump 60Y (motor 67) is driven to supply toner from the reservoir 81 to the sub hopper 70Y.
The conveying pump 60Y (motor 67) is intermittently driven at relatively short intervals when the hopper remaining amount sensor 76 detects that the amount of toner in the sub-hopper 70 has not reached a predetermined amount and that the amount of toner is insufficient. . This prevents the problem that the amount of toner conveyed by the conveying screws 71 and 72 in the sub-hopper 70Y does not catch up with the amount of toner supplied from the conveying pump 60Y, and the toner stays in a part of the sub-hopper 70Y.

Referring to FIG. 4, a sub-hopper 70Y serving as a part to be replenished is provided with two conveying screws 71 and 72, a hopper remaining amount sensor 76, a replenishment motor 121 (see FIG. 3), and the like. A replenishment port communicating with the outflow port B of the conveying pump 60Y is formed above the upstream side of the first conveying route (the conveying route in which the first conveying screw 71 is installed) of the sub-hopper 70Y. . A discharge port 74 is formed below the downstream side of the second conveying route (the conveying route in which the second conveying screw 72 is installed) of the sub-hopper 70Y. ) to the developing device 5Y. An exhaust port 75 is provided above the second conveying path of the sub-hopper 70Y for discharging the air sent together with the toner from the conveying pump 60Y.
As described above, the hopper remaining amount sensor 76 functions as detection means for detecting a shortage state in which the amount of toner (developer) contained in the sub-hopper 70Y has not reached a predetermined amount.

Here, in the sub-hopper 70Y, the downstream side of the first conveying path and the upstream side of the second conveying path are communicated at one end side in the longitudinal direction (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIGS. 3 and 4). The first conveying path and the second conveying path are separated by a wall except for the communicating portion.
The toner replenished in the sub-hopper 70Y is conveyed through the first conveying path and the second conveying path in the sub-hopper 70Y by the conveying screws 71 and 72 rotationally driven by the replenishing motor 121, and then conveyed to the sub-hopper 70Y. is replenished into the developing device 5Y through the conveying pipe 98 from the outlet. More specifically, when the density detection sensor 56 of the developing device 5Y detects insufficient toner density in the developer container (the circulation path of the transport screw 55), the controller 120 controls the transport screws 71 and 72 of the sub-hopper 70Y. is rotationally driven to replenish toner from the sub hopper 70Y to the developing device 5Y.
Thus, in the present embodiment, the flexible tube 95Y forms the toner transport path from the reservoir 81Y to the transport pump 60Y. Therefore, even if various members are installed in the space between the reservoir 81Y and the conveying pump 60Y, the toner conveying path can be formed by arranging the tube 95Y so as to avoid these members. can be done. Therefore, the installation portion 31 of the toner container 32Y can be relatively freely laid out at a position distant from the developing device 5Y.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the toner container 32Y and the associated developer replenishing device 90Y will be described.
As described above, the toner container 32Y is mainly composed of the container body 33 and the cap 34 (plug member) detachably provided on the toner outlet C thereof.
A bottle gear 37 that rotates integrally with the container body 33 and a toner outlet C are provided at the head of the container body 33 . The bottle gear 37 meshes with the driving gear 110 of the apparatus main body 100 to rotate the container main body 33 in a predetermined direction. Further, the toner discharge port C is for discharging the toner (powder) as the developer accommodated in the container main body 33 toward the drop path portion 82 .
The container main body 33 is provided with a spiral projection 33a extending from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface. The helical projection 33a serves to rotate the container body 33 and discharge the toner from the toner discharge port C. As shown in FIG.
The container body 33 configured in this way can be manufactured by blow molding together with the bottle gear 37 .

On the other hand, referring to FIG. 3, the cap receiving portion 91 of the developer supply device 90Y is provided so as to cover the head portion of the toner container 32Y installed in the installation portion 31 (developer supply device 90Y). there is
The cap receiving portion 91 is provided with a cap opening/closing chuck 92 that opens and closes the cap 34 in conjunction with the attachment/detachment operation of the toner container 32Y, and an opening/closing driving portion that drives the cap opening/closing chuck 92. , etc., as part of the reservoir 81Y. When the toner container 32Y placed on the installation portion 31 is slid toward the cap receiving portion 91 and the cap 34 reaches the position of the cap opening/closing chuck 92, the toner container 32Y is further slid and pushed. In conjunction with the operation, the opening/closing driving section operates so as to remove the cap 34 from the toner discharge port C while the cap opening/closing chuck 92 holds the cap 34 therebetween. As a result, the toner discharge port C of the toner container 32Y is opened, and the toner can be discharged from the toner discharge port C. Further, in conjunction with such mounting operation of the toner container 32Y, the locking mechanism operates to lock the head side of the toner container 32Y so that it cannot be removed from the installation portion 31. FIG. At this time, the toner container 32Y is rotatably fixed to the developer replenishing device 90Y (installation section 31) at the toner outlet C (head) side, and the container main body 33 rotates on the installation section 31. be retained as possible.
Further, when the toner container 32Y is detached from the installation portion 31 (toner container receiving base), an operation opposite to the above-described mounting operation is performed.

The storage portion 81Y of the developer supply device 90Y is formed in a substantially bowl shape so as to store the toner that has fallen down the drop path portion 82, and a toner detection sensor 86 and an agitating member are installed inside the storage portion 81Y. . The transport pump 60Y is connected to the suction port 83 of the storage section 81Y through a tube 95Y as a transport path, sucks the toner stored in the storage section 81Y, and transports it through the tube 95Y.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the toner discharged from the toner container 32Y is not directly sucked by the conveying pump 60Y, but the toner discharged from the toner container 32Y and stored to some extent in the storage portion 81Y is absorbed. Of these, only the required amount is sucked by the transport pump 60Y, so it is possible to reliably reduce the problem that the amount of toner sucked by the transport pump 60Y is insufficient.

The toner detection sensor 86 indirectly detects a state in which the toner contained in the toner container 32Y is empty (toner end state) or a state close thereto (toner near end state). , is installed at a position close to the suction port 83 . Then, based on the detection result of the toner detection sensor 86, the toner is discharged from the toner container 32Y.
Specifically, a piezoelectric sensor, a transmitted light sensor, or the like can be used as the toner detection sensor 86 . In this embodiment, a piezoelectric sensor is used as the toner detection sensor 86 . The height of the detection surface of the toner detection sensor 86 is set so that the amount of toner accumulated above the suction port 83 (accumulation height) is a target value.
Then, based on the detection result of the toner detection sensor 86, the drive timing and drive time of the drive motor 115 that rotationally drives the toner container 32Y (container main body 33) are controlled by control by the control unit 120. FIG. Specifically, when the toner detection sensor 86 determines that there is no toner at that position, the drive motor 115 is driven for a predetermined time, and the toner detection sensor 86 determines that there is toner at that position. In this case, driving of the drive motor 115 is stopped.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the spot color developer supply device 90S (and the black developer supply device 90K), which are characteristic of the present embodiment, will be described with reference to FIG. 5 and the like.
Note that the spot color developer supply device 90S (and the black developer supply device 90K) use different colors (types) of toner, and tubes 95S and 96S (95K and 96K) as conveyance paths. ), the yellow developer replenishing device 90Y (and the magenta developer replenishing device 90M and cyan developer replenishing device 90M) described with reference to FIG. Since the configuration is substantially the same as that of the developer replenishing device 90C) for the second embodiment, the description of the configuration and operation common to both will be omitted as appropriate.
Further, the developer supply device 90K for black has substantially the same configuration as the developer supply device 90S for the special color, except that the color (kind) of the toner used is different. For the sake of brevity, only the spot color developer supply device 90S will be described.

The spot color developer supply device 90S (or the black developer supply device 90K), like the color developer supply devices 90Y, 90M, and 90C, has a toner container 32S (32K) as a developer container. The contained toner (developer) is replenished toward the sub-hopper 70S (70K) serving as a replenishment receiving portion (replenishment destination).

As shown in FIG. 5 (and FIG. 8), the developer supply device 90S (90K) includes an installation portion 31 in which the toner container 32S is installed, a storage portion 81S (81K) in which the cap receiving portion 91 and the like are installed, Conveying pump 60S (60K), sub-hopper 70S (70K) as replenishment receiving part, upstream side tube 95S (95K) as upstream side conveying path, downstream side tube 96S (96K) as downstream side conveying path, upstream side tube 95S (95K) and the downstream tube 96S (96K).

Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6B, in the developer supply device 90S for spot color, the toner container 32S and the storage section 81S are integrated into the developer supply device 90S. It is configured to be detachable. Specifically, the suction port 83 of the unit in which the toner container 32S and the reservoir 81S are integrated is detachably installed with respect to the upstream opening (nozzle portion) of the upstream tube 95S. By configuring the toner container 32S and the storage section 81S as an integrated unit in this manner, even if the toner container 32S for a different type of spot color is replaced, the storage section in which the spot color toner after replacement is to be stored. It is possible to reduce the problem that the spot color toner before replacement is mixed with 81S.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6A, in the black developer replenishing device 90K, the toner container 32K has a storage portion 81K (developing It is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the agent replenishing device 90K).
Here, in any of the developer replenishing devices 90Y, 90M, 90C, 90K, and 90S, the tubes 95Y, 95M, 95C, 95K, and 95S, excluding the downstream tubes 96S and 96K, have various Since the members are distributed in a dense space and it is difficult to replace them, they are basically fixed so that the user does not have to remove them from the image forming apparatus main body 100 .

Note that the spot color developer supply device 90S can be configured in the same manner as the other developer supply devices 90Y, 90M, 90C, and 90K, or the other developer supply devices 90Y, 90M, 90C, and 90K can be configured in the same way. It can also be configured in the same manner as the developer replenishing device 90S for spot color.
Further, the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K, and 32S are not indirectly connected to the tubes 95Y, 95M, 95C, 95K, and 95S via the reservoirs 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K, and 81S. Containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K, 32S can also be configured to connect directly to tubes 95Y, 95M, 95C, 95K, 95S. In particular, the spot color developer replenishing device 90S is configured in such a manner that the toner container 32S that can be attached to and detached from the tube 95S through the nozzle portion as described above with reference to FIG. will be simplified.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, in the developer supply device 90S for spot color, the conveying pump 60S is attached to and detached from the developer supply device 90S integrally with the sub hopper 70S (supplemented portion). configured as possible. Furthermore, the developing device 5S (in which the transport pipe 98 is connected to the process cartridge 6S) can be detachably attached to the unit in which the transport pump 60S, the sub-hopper 70S, and the downstream tube 96S are integrated. It is configured. When the special color toner container 32S (and the storage section 81S) is replaced with a different kind of spot color toner container 32S, the special color conveying pump 60S, the sub hopper 70S, and the downstream tube 96S, Developing devices 5S for special colors of different types are attached and detached as shown in FIG. As a result, it is possible to reduce the problem that the spot color toner before replacement is mixed in the developing device 5S and the sub hopper 70S in which the spot color toner after replacement is to be stored.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a discharge port 74 is opened and closed in conjunction with the attachment/detachment operation of the developing device 5S in a unit in which the conveying pump 60S, the sub-hopper 70S, and the downstream tube 96S are integrated. A shutter 79 is provided. As a result, even if the developing device 5S is removed from the unit in which the conveying pump 60S, the sub-hopper 70S, and the downstream tube 96S are integrated, toner leaks from the outlet 74 of the sub-hopper 70S. can be prevented.
Further, in the present embodiment, the developer supply device 90K for black also integrates the conveying pump 60K, the sub-hopper 70K, and the downstream tube 96K as shown in FIG. The integrated unit and the developing device 5K are configured to be separately attachable and detachable.

As described above with reference to FIG. 1 and the like, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes an intermediate transfer belt serving as an intermediate transfer member that runs in a predetermined running direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 1). 8, and a plurality of photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K, and 1S as image bearing members arranged in parallel along the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt 8 (intermediate transfer body) so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 8 (intermediate transfer body). is installed. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a plurality of developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5Y, 5M, 5C for developing latent images formed on the plurality of photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K, 1S. 5K, 5S, and a plurality of toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K, and 32S (developer containers) each containing toner as a developer, and a plurality of toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K, and 32S. A plurality of tubes 95Y, 95M, 95C, 95K, 95S, etc. are installed for supplying toner to the plurality of developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K, 5S, respectively.

In the present embodiment, as described above, a plurality of toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K, and 32S (developer containers) are arranged without changing the arrangement (arrangement) as necessary. , the arrangement of the developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K, and 5S in the running direction (the arrangement order along the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt 8) is changed.
Specifically, as described above, the plurality of developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K, and 5S are respectively provided with the corresponding photosensitive drums among the plurality of photosensitive drums and the process cartridges 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K, 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K. It constitutes 6S. Accordingly, the arrangement of the plurality of toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K, and 32S is changed.

In particular, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the arrangement of the five toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K, and 32S (and the five reservoirs 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K, and 81S) is changed. of the five developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K, and 5S (process cartridges 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K, and 6S) and sub-hoppers 70Y, 70M, 70C, 70K, and 70S, the developing device positioned most upstream. 5S (process cartridge 6S) and sub hopper 70S (and transport pump 60S and downstream tube 96S), developing device 5K (process cartridge 6K) and sub hopper 70K positioned most downstream (and transport pump 60K and downstream tube 96K). ) and the placement of . By performing such a layout change operation, it is possible to prevent the problem that black and special colors are mixed before and after the layout change.

In this manner, image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment conveys toner (developer) from a plurality of toner containers 32S and 32K (developer containers) toward a plurality of sub hoppers 70S and 70K (supplemented portions). Tubes 95S (96S) and 95K (96K) are provided as a plurality of transport paths for carrying out.
In the present embodiment, in the middle of at least one of the plurality of tubes (tubes 95S (96S) and 95K (96K) as two transport paths in the present embodiment), Intermediate portions 140S and 140K are provided to allow one of the upstream tubes 95S and 95K as the upstream transport paths and the downstream tubes 96S and 96K as the downstream transport paths to come into contact with each other.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the spot color developer replenishing device 90S includes, from the upstream side, an upstream tube 95S (upstream transport path), a relay section 140S, a downstream tube, and a transport path. 96S (downstream transport path) are provided. The relay portion 140S is provided at a position sufficiently distant from both the upstream end (upstream opening) and the downstream end (downstream opening) of the transport path. Further, the relay portion 140S is formed so as to communicate with both the upstream tube 95S and the downstream tube 96S, and the toner flowing in from the upstream opening of the upstream tube 95S is discharged from the downstream opening of the downstream tube 96S. will be spilled. In this embodiment, the downstream tube 96S can be connected to or separated from the relay portion 140S.
Similarly, the black developer replenishing device 90K is provided with, from the upstream side, an upstream tube 95K (upstream transport path), a relay section 140K, and a downstream tube 96K (downstream transport path) as transport paths. It is The relay portion 140K is provided at a position sufficiently distant from both the upstream end (upstream opening) and the downstream end (downstream opening) of the transport path. Further, the relay portion 140K is formed so as to communicate with both the upstream tube 95K and the downstream tube 96K, and the toner flowing in from the upstream opening of the upstream tube 95K is discharged from the downstream opening of the downstream tube 96K. will be spilled. In this embodiment, the downstream tube 96K can be connected to or separated from the relay portion 140K.
The upstream tubes 95S, 95K and the downstream tubes 96S, 96K are made of a flexible rubber material with low toner affinity, like the other tubes 95Y, 95M, 95C.

Here, in the present embodiment, the arrangement of the plurality of toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32S, and 32K is not changed, and at least two of the plurality of sub-hoppers 70Y, 70M, 70C, 70S, and 70K (supplemented portions) When the arrangement of the two sub-hoppers 70S, 70K is changed, the positions of the upstream tubes 95S, 95K and the relay portions 140S, 140K of the conveying paths corresponding to the sub-hoppers 70S, 70K are fixed. After the side tubes 96S, 96K are removed from the relay portions 140S, 140K, the downstream tubes 96S, 96K are connected to the rearranged sub-hoppers 70S, 70K and the relay portions 140S, 140K.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8A, the spot color developing device 5S (process cartridge 6S) and the sub-hopper 70S (and the conveying pump 60S) are arranged in the uppermost stream, and the black developing device 5K (process With the cartridge 6K) and the sub-hopper 70K (and the conveying pump 60K) arranged at the most downstream side, first, the downstream tubes 96S and 96K are removed from the relay portions 140S and 140K.
Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the special color developing device 5S (process cartridge 6S) and the sub hopper 70S (and the conveying pump 60S and the downstream tube 96S) are rearranged to the most downstream position, and the black developing device 5S is arranged at the most downstream position. The device 5K (process cartridge 6K) and the sub-hopper 70K (and the conveying pump 60K and the downstream tube 96K) are rearranged to the most upstream. At this time, the positions of the toner containers 32S and 32K (and the reservoirs 81S and 81K) and the upstream tubes 95S and 95K remain fixed.
Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the spot color downstream tube 96S, which has been rearranged to the most downstream side, is connected to the spot color relay portion 140S (the position of which is fixed), and is arranged to the most upstream side. The modified downstream tube 96K for black is connected to the relay portion 140K for black (the position is fixed).
When changing the layout from the state shown in FIG. 8B to the state shown in FIG. 8A, the same procedure is followed.

By configuring in this way, the arrangement (arrangement order) of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K, and 32S and the storage portions 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K, and 81S can be changed as shown in FIG. 8B. Developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K, and 5S, sub-hoppers 70Y, 70M, 70C, 70K, and 70S, and conveying pumps 60Y, 60M, 60C, 60K, and 60S are arranged in the order shown, and the image forming process is performed. becomes possible to do. A case where the image forming process is performed in such an arrangement (arrangement order) is, for example, a case where white toner is used as the spot color toner, as described above.

In the present embodiment, the special color tube and the black tube, which are involved in the replacement of the arrangement, are provided with the relay portions 140S and 140K, respectively. workability can be improved.
Specifically, since the tubes are long, if the relay portions 140S and 140K are not provided, the tubes will not be stable when changing the arrangement of the tubes, making it difficult to contact and separate them. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the relay portions 140, 140K are provided, the positions from the upstream tubes 95S, 95K to the relay portions 140S, 140K can be fixed. Only by moving 140K and the relatively short downstream tubes 96S and 96K apart, it is possible to change the arrangement of the tubes in a relatively stable state. Therefore, the sub-hopper 70S, conveying pump 60S and process cartridge 6S for spot color and the sub-hopper 70K, conveying pump 60K and process cartridge 6K for black can be exchanged relatively easily.

Here, referring to FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, the relay units 140S and 140K are provided with two sub-hoppers 70S and 70K (at least two sub-hoppers 70S and 70K (two replenished units whose positions are interchanged according to changes in the arrangement of at least two replenished units). ) are arranged at substantially the same distance (X0/2).
8A to 8B (or from the state of FIG. 8B to the state of FIG. 8A). ) and the sub-hoppers 70K, 70S (and the conveying pumps 60K, 60S), the lengths of the downstream tubes 96S, 96K that are brought into contact with and separated from each other when changing the arrangement are less likely to occur, and the conveying path is optimized as a whole. length can be set.

<Modification 1>
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing relay portions 140S and 140K as Modification 1. As shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, in Modification 1, relay portions 140S and 140K are formed such that two joint portions 140b and 140c capable of contacting and separating downstream tubes 96S and 96K are opened in different directions. .
Specifically, upstream tubes 95S and 95K are connected to the upstream ends of the branch portions 140a of the relay portions 140S and 140K. Further, the downstream side of the branch portion 140a is branched into a first joint portion 140b and a second joint portion 140c. The two joint portions 140b and 140c are arranged at positions offset by about 180 degrees from each other and are gently curved so that the downstream openings face different directions. The first joint portion 140b opens toward the most upstream sub-hopper, and the second joint portion 140c opens toward the most downstream sub-hopper. The downstream tubes 96S and 96K connected to the most upstream sub-hopper are connected to the first joint portion 140b, and the downstream tubes 96S and 96K connected to the most downstream sub-hopper are connected to the second joint portion 140c. will be Of the two joint portions 140b and 140c, the opening of the joint portion that is not connected to the downstream tubes 96S and 96K is preferably closed with a shutter or the like.
By using the relay units 140S and 140K configured in this way, the state of FIG. 8A can be changed to the state of FIG. 8B (or the state of FIG. 8B can be changed to the state of FIG. ), the workability of connecting and separating the downstream tubes 96S and 96K can be further improved.

<Modification 2>
FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of each member when the toner images are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 in the order of spot color, color color, and black from the upstream side in the running direction. 10(B) is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of each member when the toner images are primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 8 in the order of color, black, and special color from the upstream side in the running direction. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 8 (A) and (B) in the form of .
As shown in FIG. 10(A), in Modification 2 as well, the five process cartridges 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K, and 6S (developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K, and 5S) are arranged in a basic order (arrangement). ) are, from the upstream side in the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt 8, a special color process cartridge 6S (developing device 5S), a yellow process cartridge 6Y (developing device 5Y), a magenta process cartridge 6M (developing device 5M), A process cartridge 6C (developing device 5C) for cyan and a process cartridge 6K (developing device 5K) for black are provided.
However, in Modified Example 2, as shown in FIG. When changing, from the upstream side in the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt 8, the yellow process cartridge 6Y (developing device 5Y), the magenta process cartridge 6M (developing device 5M), and the cyan process cartridge 6C (developing device 5C). , a process cartridge 6K (developing device 5K) for black, and a process cartridge 6S (developing device 5S) for special color. That is, the spot color process cartridge 6S (and the sub hopper 70S and the conveying pump 60S) is rearranged from the most upstream side to the most downstream side, and the other four process cartridges 6Y, 6M, 6C and 6K (and the sub hoppers 70Y and 60Y, 70M, 70C, 70K, and conveying pumps 60Y, 60M, 60C, 60K) are shifted upstream by one position.
In Modified Example 2, upstream tubes 95Y, 95M, 95C, 95K, and 95S, relay portions 140Y, 140M, 140C, 140K, and 140S, and downstream tubes 96Y, 96M, 96C, and 96K are provided in the transport paths of all colors. , 96S are provided. Further, as in the present embodiment, the upstream tubes 95Y, 95M, 95C, 95K, 95S and the relay portions 140Y, 140M, 140C, 140K, 140S are fixed, and when the arrangement is changed, The downstream tubes 96Y, 96M, 96C, 96K and 96S are brought into contact with and separated from the relay portions 140Y, 140M, 140C, 140K and 140S.
Furthermore, as in the present embodiment, the relay units 140Y, 140M, 140C, 140K, and 140S are arranged at positions substantially equidistant from the two sub-hoppers whose positions are interchanged. Specifically, the spot color relay section 140S is arranged at a position approximately equal distance (X0/2) from the most upstream sub-hopper and the most downstream sub-hopper. Further, the other relay sections 140Y, 140M, 140C, and 140K are arranged at substantially equal distances (X1/2, X2/2, X2/2, X4/2) from adjacent sub-hoppers.
Also in Modification 2, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those of the present embodiment.

<Modification 3>
FIG. 11A is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of each member when the toner images are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 in the order of special color, color color, and black from the upstream side in the running direction. 11B is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of each member when the toner images are primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 8 in the order of black, color, and special color from the upstream side in the running direction. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 8 (A) and (B) in the form of .
As shown in FIG. 11A, even in Modification 3, the five process cartridges 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K, and 6S (developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K, and 5S) are arranged in a basic order (arrangement). ) are, from the upstream side in the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt 8, a special color process cartridge 6S (developing device 5S), a yellow process cartridge 6Y (developing device 5Y), a magenta process cartridge 6M (developing device 5M), A process cartridge 6C (developing device 5C) for cyan and a process cartridge 6K (developing device 5K) for black are provided. Then, as shown in FIG. 11B, also in Modified Example 3, the special color process cartridge 6S (and the sub hopper 70S and the transport pump 60S) and the black process cartridge 6K (and the sub hopper 70K and the transport pump) 60K) and the arrangement of .
In Modification 3, the arrangement of the toner container and the storage section is in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, black, and special color from the upstream side.
Here, in Modified Example 3, as shown in FIG. 11, the arrangement of the plurality of toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K, 32S (developer containers) is not changed, and the plurality of sub hoppers 70Y, 70M, 70C, 70K , 70S (supplemented portion), the downstream tube of the conveying path corresponding to one sub-hopper 70S out of the two sub-hoppers 70S, 70K whose arrangement is changed when the arrangement of at least two sub-hoppers 70S, 70K is changed. After the upstream tube 95S (upstream transport path) is removed from the relay part 141 in a state where the positions of 97 (downstream transport path) and the relay part 141 are fixed, one sub-hopper 70S is rearranged. , the downstream tube 97 is connected to another sub-hopper 70K whose arrangement is switched, and the tube 95K corresponding to the sub-hopper 70K is connected to the relay section 141 as an upstream conveying path. be.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11(A), when the basic arrangement order is used, the transfer between the spot color toner container 32S (and the storage section 81S) and the sub hopper 70S (and the transfer pump 60S) is performed. The path is composed of the upstream tube 95S, the relay section 141, and the downstream tube 97. As shown in FIG. On the other hand, the conveying path connecting the black toner container 32K (and the storage section 81K) and the sub-hopper 70K (and the conveying pump 60K) is composed of only one tube 95K. Here, the relay portion 141 and the downstream tube 97 are fixed, and the upstream tube 95S (95K) is configured to be able to come into contact with and separate from the relay portion 141 .
Then, as shown in FIG. 11B, when the arrangement order is changed, first, the spot color upstream tube 95S is removed from the relay portion 141, and the black tube 95K is also removed from the sub hopper 70K. After the arrangement of the sub hoppers 70S and 70K and the developing devices 5S and 5K is changed, the tube 95K for black is connected to the relay portion 141 as an upstream tube, and the downstream end of the upstream tube 95S for spot color is , is connected to the sub-hopper 70S positioned most downstream.
Even with this configuration, it is possible to improve the workability when changing the routing of the two transport paths.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of toner containers 32S and 32K (developer containers) each containing toner (developer) and a plurality of toner containers 32S and 32K from the plurality of toner containers 32S and 32K. A plurality of transport paths (tube 95S, 95K, 96S, 96K) are provided for transporting the toner respectively toward the sub-hoppers 70S, 70K (replenishment target portions). At least one of the plurality of transport paths connects one of the upstream tubes 95S and 95K (upstream transport paths) and the downstream tubes 96S and 96K (downstream transport paths). Separable relays 140S and 140K are provided.
As a result, it is possible to improve workability when changing the distribution of a plurality of transport paths.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to the process cartridge 6Y in which the developing device 5Y is integrated with the photosensitive drum 1Y (image carrier), the charging device 4Y, and the cleaning device 2Y. . However, the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and even if the developing device 5Y is configured as a single unit that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 100, the present invention can of course be applied. can be applied.
In this specification and the like, the term "process cartridge" includes a charging device that charges an image carrier, a developing device that develops a latent image formed on the image carrier, and a cleaning device that cleans the image carrier. At least one of the image forming apparatus and the image carrier are integrated and defined as a unit detachably installed on the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Further, in the present embodiment, the transport pump 60S is connected to and integrated with the sub-hopper 70S. On the other hand, the transport pump 60S can be connected to and integrated with the developing device 5S. That is, it is also possible to supply the toner to the developing device 5S as the replenishment receiving portion via the transport path and the transport pump 60S without interposing the sub-hopper.
Further, in this embodiment, the tube (downstream tube 96S) is indirectly connected to the sub-hopper 70S arranged most upstream (or most downstream) via the conveying pump 60S. In other words, a plurality of transport paths are provided which are formed to be indirectly connectable to a plurality of supplied parts. Alternatively, the tube (downstream tube 96S) may be directly connected to the most upstream (or most downstream) sub-hopper without the transfer pump. That is, it is also possible to provide a plurality of transport paths that are formed to be directly connectable to a plurality of replenishment receiving portions.
Further, in the present embodiment, a plurality of tubes (conveyance paths) are indirectly connected to a plurality of toner containers (developer containers) via storage portions. It is also possible to configure such that a plurality of transport paths are directly connected to each other.
In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the developer replenishing device 90S in which the toner container 32S in which the substantially cylindrical container body is driven to rotate is applied. The shape of the container is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to, for example, a developer replenishing device in which a box-shaped toner container is installed.
Even in such cases, substantially the same effects as those of the present embodiment can be obtained.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and it is obvious that the embodiment can be appropriately modified within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention other than suggested in the present embodiment. . Further, the number, position, shape, etc. of the above constituent members are not limited to those of the present embodiment, and the number, position, shape, etc. can be set to be suitable for carrying out the present invention.

5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K, 5S developing device,
6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K, 6S process cartridges,
8 intermediate transfer belt (intermediate transfer body),
32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K, 32S toner container (developer container),
60Y, 60M, 60C, 60K, 60S Conveying pumps,
70Y, 70M, 70C, 70K, 70S sub hopper (replenishment part),
81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K, 81S reservoirs,
90Y, 90M, 90C, 90K, 90S developer supply device,
95Y, 95M, 95C tube (conveyance path),
95K, 95S upstream tube (transport path, upstream transport path),
96K, 96S downstream tube (transport path, downstream transport path),
100 image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus main body),
140S, 140K relay unit (switching unit),
140a branch portion, 140b, 140c joint portion,
141 relay unit (switching unit).

JP 2017-215415 A

Claims (5)

a plurality of developer containers each accommodating a developer;
a plurality of transport paths for respectively transporting the developer from the plurality of developer containers toward the plurality of supplied portions;
with
At least one transport path among the plurality of transport paths has a relay part in the middle thereof capable of contacting and separating one of the upstream transport path and the downstream transport path,
When the arrangement of the plurality of developer containers is not changed and the arrangement of at least two replenishment target portions among the plurality of replenishment target portions is changed, the transport path corresponding to each of the replenishment target portions is changed. In a state where the positions of the upstream transport path and the relay part are fixed, after the downstream transport path is removed from the relay part, the position of the replenished part and the relay part whose positions have been changed are connected to the downstream side. An image forming apparatus to which a side transport path is connected. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the relay section is formed such that two joint sections capable of contacting and separating from the downstream conveying path are opened in different directions. a plurality of developer containers each accommodating a developer;
a plurality of transport paths for respectively transporting the developer from the plurality of developer containers toward the plurality of supplied portions;
with
At least one transport path among the plurality of transport paths has a relay part in the middle thereof capable of contacting and separating one of the upstream transport path and the downstream transport path,
When the arrangement of the plurality of developer containers is not changed and the arrangement of at least two of the plurality of replenishment target parts is changed, one of the two replenishment target parts whose arrangement is switched is changed. The positions of the downstream transport path and the relay part of the transport path corresponding to the replenishment part are fixed, and after the upstream transport path is removed from the relay part, the arrangement is changed. The upstream transport path is connected to one replenished part, the downstream transport path is connected to another replenished part whose arrangement is switched, and the transport path corresponding to the other replenished part is connected. An image forming apparatus connected to the relay unit as an upstream transport path. According to any one of claims 1 to 3, the relay portion is arranged at a position substantially equidistant from the two replenishment target portions whose arrangement is switched according to the change in the arrangement of the at least two replenishment target portions. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above. each of the plurality of transport paths is a tube connected to the developer container via a reservoir,
The supplied portion is a developing device that develops a latent image formed on an image bearing member, or a sub-hopper connected to the developing device, and is detachably attached to the downstream side of the tube via a conveying pump. connected and
5. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the conveying pump is integrally detachable with the developing device or the sub-hopper with respect to the image forming apparatus.

Images