JP7207880B2 - Developer Conveying Device, Developer Cartridge, Developer Cartridge, Drum Cartridge, Process Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to developer cartridges, developer cartridges, drum cartridges, and developer conveying devices provided in process cartridges detachable from image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers.

A developer cartridge is formed integrally with at least a toner replenishing port for supplying toner as a developer to a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image and a frame body, and is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. be. The developing cartridge is formed integrally with at least a developing roller as a developer carrying member and a frame, and is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. A drum cartridge is formed by integrating at least a photosensitive drum as an image bearing member and a frame body, and is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. A process cartridge is an integral structure of the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge, and is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material such as paper.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various powder conveying apparatuses for conveying powder such as developer are known. In Patent Document 1, a container holding member integrated with a toner container is reciprocated by a spring and a cam to convey toner in the toner container. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-100001, the toner in the storage container is conveyed by reciprocating the conveying member in the direction of the conveying surface by extending and contracting the conveying member by means of a rotating cam member.

JP-A-2002-46843 JP 2015-92226 A

However, in Patent Document 1, when a new toner container is set in the toner replenishing device, the container holding member and the toner container previously removed from the toner replenishing device are integrated and set on the support base. do. At this time, the container holding member interferes with the cam surface of the cam, which poses a problem of poor operability during installation. Further, in Patent Document 2, there is a problem that the configuration of the drive connecting portion for transmitting the driving force from the drive source on the apparatus main body side to the cam member provided on the cartridge side becomes complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a developer conveying device which has a simple structure and is excellent in mountability to the main body of the device.

A representative configuration of the developer conveying device according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes a developer container having an opening and containing developer; reciprocatingly movable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and capable of conveying the developer to the opening side when moved along the first direction. a conveying member; a biasing member that biases the conveying member in the second direction; an acted portion that receives a force that pushes the conveying member in the first direction against the urging force, and the conveying member moves along the first direction when the acted portion receives the pushing force. The maximum acceleration when the conveying member moves along the second direction due to the biasing force of the biasing member is set smaller than the maximum acceleration when the conveying member moves along the second direction. When the position of the acted portion when the pressing force is applied is defined as a home position, the home position is higher than the position where the acted portion has moved along the first direction by being acted on by the pushing force. The acting portion, which is arranged on the upstream side in the first direction and is in contact with the acted portion to generate the pushing force when the acted portion is positioned at the home position, and the acted portion are in contact with each other. It is characterized by being in a positional relationship that does not

According to the present invention, it has a simple structure and is excellent in mountability to the apparatus main body.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus; FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover rotatably provided on the front surface of the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus is opened; FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing how the process cartridge and the developer cartridge are attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a process cartridge; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the developer cartridge of the first embodiment; FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the developer cartridge of the first embodiment; FIG. (b) is a partially enlarged view of (a). 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control unit; FIG. (a) to (c) are cross-sectional views showing the operation of the developer conveying device of the first embodiment. (a) is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a developer conveying device according to a second embodiment. 3B is a cross-sectional view showing and comparing the configurations of the developer conveying device of the first embodiment; FIG.

An embodiment of a developer conveying device according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
First, the configuration of a first embodiment of a developer conveying device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. FIG.

<Image forming apparatus>
The configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. An image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a color printer that forms an image on a recording material P such as paper using an electrophotographic image forming method. Process cartridges 1a to 1d are detachably mounted on an apparatus main body 100a of the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG.

Since the process cartridges 1a to 1d have the same configuration except that the toner colors are different, the process cartridges 1a to 1d may be explained using the process cartridge 1 in some cases. The same applies to other image forming process means. Further, each developer cartridge 2 is provided to store toner as a developer and supply toner to each developer container 33 of each developing device 18 of each process cartridge 1 . Each developer cartridge 2 is also detachably attached to the apparatus main body 100 a of the image forming apparatus 100 .

A photosensitive drum 3 as an image carrier provided in each process cartridge 1 rotates clockwise in FIG. The surface of each photosensitive drum 3 is uniformly charged by a charging roller 17 as charging means. The surfaces of the uniformly charged photosensitive drums 3 are irradiated with laser light L corresponding to image information emitted from exposure devices 4 as exposure means. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 3 . Toner of each color is supplied from a developing device 18 as developing means to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 3 . Thereby, a toner image is developed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 3 .

An intermediate transfer unit 5 is provided facing each photosensitive drum 3 . The intermediate transfer unit 5 includes an intermediate transfer belt 6 and tension rollers 30a to 30c that stretch the intermediate transfer belt 6 so as to be rotatable in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. The outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6 contacts the surface of each photosensitive drum 3 . Primary transfer rollers 7 as primary transfer means are provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 6 so as to face the respective photosensitive drums 3 . A primary transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer rollers 7 from a primary transfer bias power source (not shown), and the toner images carried on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 3 are sequentially primary-transferred and superimposed on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6 . be.

Residual toner remaining on the surface of each photosensitive drum 3 after the primary transfer is scraped off by a cleaning blade 29 provided in a cleaning device 19 as cleaning means and stored in a waste toner recovery chamber 31 . A secondary transfer roller 8 as a secondary transfer means is provided so as to face the tension roller 30c with the intermediate transfer belt 6 interposed therebetween. A secondary transfer nip portion N is formed by the secondary transfer roller 8 and the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6 .

On the other hand, the recording material P such as paper stacked in the feed cassette 13 is fed out by the feed roller 14, separated one by one by the separation roller 32, and fed. After that, the recording material P is transported by the transport roller 15, and the leading edge of the recording material P abuts against the nip portion of the stopped registration roller 16, so that the skew of the recording material P is corrected. After that, the registration roller 16 moves the recording material so that the leading edge of the recording material P reaches the secondary transfer nip portion N at the timing when the image destination of the toner image carried on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6 reaches the secondary transfer nip portion N. P is transported.

When the recording material P reaches the secondary transfer nip portion N, a secondary transfer bias is applied to the secondary transfer roller 8 from a secondary transfer bias power supply (not shown), and a toner image is carried on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6 . are secondary-transferred onto the recording material P collectively. Residual toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6 after the secondary transfer is scraped off by a cleaning blade 9a provided in a cleaning device 9 as cleaning means and stored in a waste toner recovery chamber 9b.

In the secondary transfer nip portion N, the recording material P onto which the toner image has been secondarily transferred is conveyed to a fixing device 10 as fixing means, and is heated and The toner image is fixed on the recording material P by being pressed. After that, the recording material P on which the toner image is fixed is nipped and conveyed by discharge rollers 11 and discharged onto a discharge tray 12 provided outside the apparatus. Although the feeding cassette 13 shown in FIG. 1 is configured with one stage, it can be provided with a plurality of stages. Recording materials P having different sizes and stacking directions may be accommodated in the plurality of feed cassettes 13 so that a desired recording material P can be selected as appropriate.

<Attaching and removing the process cartridge and developer cartridge>
FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a state in which the cover 24 rotatably provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body 100a of the image forming apparatus 100 is opened. 2B is a perspective view showing how the process cartridge 1 and the developer cartridge 2 are attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100a of the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. FIG. 2A shows a state in which the cover 24 provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body 100a of the image forming apparatus 100 is opened, and a state in which the process cartridges 1 and developer cartridges 2 are mounted inside the apparatus main body 100a. indicates

FIG. 2B shows a state in which each process cartridge 1 and developer cartridge 2 are partially pulled out. Each of the process cartridges 1 and the developer cartridges 2 is detachable in the direction of arrow Y in FIG. 2(b) along a guide rail (not shown) provided inside the apparatus main body 100a.

<Process cartridge>
Next, the configuration of the process cartridge 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the structure of the process cartridge 1. As shown in FIG. The process cartridge 1 has a photosensitive drum 3 , a charging roller 17 and a developing device 18 . The developing device 18 supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 by the exposure device 4 provided in the apparatus main body 100a of the image forming apparatus 100, and visualizes it as a toner image.

The process cartridge 1 further includes a cleaning device 19 for collecting waste toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 after primary transfer, and a waste toner collection chamber 31 . The waste toner scraped from the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 by a cleaning blade 29 provided in the cleaning device 19 and collected is conveyed into a waste toner collection chamber 31 for storing waste toner by a waste toner conveying device (not shown). be.

The developing device 18 has a developing roller 21 as a developer carrying member which is partially exposed from an opening 41 of a developer container 33 containing toner as a developer. The toner contained in the developer container 33 is carried on the surface of the developing roller 21 . The toner carried on the surface of the developing roller 21 is supplied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 to develop a toner image. The developing device 18 is provided with a toner remaining amount sensor 34 as developer remaining amount detection means shown in FIG.

<Developer cartridge>
Next, the configuration of the developer cartridge 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of the developer cartridge 2. As shown in FIG. FIG. 5A is a sectional view showing the structure of the developer cartridge 2. FIG. FIG. 5(b) is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 5(a). As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the developer cartridge 2 configured as the developer conveying device 38 has a toner container 20a as a developer container containing toner as developer.

Further, the developer cartridge 2 has a toner conveying member 23 arranged on the bottom plate 20a1 on the lower side in the direction of gravity of the toner inside the toner container 20a (inside the developer container). The direction of the arrow F1 in FIG. 5A as the first direction toward the toner discharge port 20c (opening side) of the toner conveying member 23 and the second direction opposite to the direction of the arrow F1. It is configured to be reciprocally movable in the direction of arrow F2 in 5(a). When the toner conveying member 23 moves in the direction of the arrow F1 in FIG. 5A, the toner as developer placed on the toner conveying member 23 in the toner container 20a is conveyed toward the toner outlet 20c. configured as possible.

The toner conveying member 23 is composed of a plate-like member. High-impact polystyrene is used as the material of the toner container 20a. In addition, ABS resin {copolymerized synthetic resin of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene} and the like can also be used as appropriate.

In this embodiment, the stroke of the toner conveying member 23 alternately moving in the directions of the arrows F1 and F2 within the toner container 20a is set to 1 mm. A gap in the reciprocating direction between the inner wall surface of the side plate 20a3 of the toner container 20a and the toner conveying member 23 is set to 2 mm. 4, which is the lateral direction of the developer cartridge 2, between the inner wall surfaces of the toner container 20a and the toner conveying member 23. are set to 0.3 mm within a range that does not interfere with the reciprocating motion of

A toner containing portion 22 provided inside the toner container 20a contains toner for replenishment. The toner in the toner container 22 is placed on the toner conveying member 23 . A bottom plate 20a1 of the toner container 20a is provided with a toner discharge port 20c as an opening facing a supply port (not shown) provided in the developer container 33. As shown in FIG. The toner discharge port 20c is provided at one end of the developer cartridge 2 in the longitudinal direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 5A).

When the developer cartridge 2 is new, the sealing member 39 is detachably adhered to the periphery of the toner discharge port 20c. When the developer cartridge 2 is new, the sealing member 39 prevents the toner in the toner containing portion 22 from leaking out from the toner outlet 20c. When the developer cartridge 2 is used, the sealing member 39 is peeled off to open the toner outlet 20c so that the toner can be transferred to the developing device 18 from the toner outlet 20c.

A side plate 20a2 at the other end of the toner container 20a in the longitudinal direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 5A) of the developer cartridge 2 is provided with a communicating port 20b. An operated portion 25, which is one end portion of the toner conveying member 23, is exposed to the outside of the toner container 20a through the communication port 20b.

The acted portion 25 is provided outside the toner container 20a as a developer container, and resists the biasing force of the biasing member 27 to convey the toner indicated by the arrow F1 direction of the toner conveying member 23 in FIG. receive a pushing force. The acted portion 25 is located upstream in the toner transport direction indicated by the arrow D in FIG. The acting portion 25 is arranged at a position away from the cam surface 26c of the cam 26. As shown in FIG.

Therefore, when a new developer cartridge 2 is attached to the apparatus main body 100a of the image forming apparatus 100, the operated portion 25 and the cam surface 26c of the cam 26 do not interfere with each other, and the attachment is excellent. Also, the cam 26 is provided on the apparatus main body 100a side, and the operated portion 25 is provided on the outside of the toner container 20a. For this reason, the configuration is simple because a driving connection portion for transmitting the driving force from the motor 36 as the driving source of the apparatus main body 100a side to the developer cartridge 2 side is not required.

The side plate 20a2 of the toner container 20a is provided with a protrusion 37 that protrudes outward. A through hole passing through the side plate 20a2 and the projecting portion 37 is configured as the communication port 20b. A groove 37b is formed in the inner peripheral surface 37a of the through hole that forms the communication port 20b. A seal member 28 is fitted in the groove 37b. A gap between the communicating port 20b and the operated portion 25 is sealed by a sealing member 28. As shown in FIG.

The operated portion 25 slides on the sealing member 28 when the operated portion 25 reciprocates in the direction of arrow F in FIG. The sealing performance is obtained by elastically deforming and crushing the sealing member 28 . As a result, even if the operated portion 25 moves in the direction of the arrow F in FIG. 5(a), the toner in the toner storage portion 22 will not leak outside through the communication port 20b.

As the material of the sealing member 28, moltoprene made of polyester polyurethane foam is used. The amount of crushing of the sealing member 28 is set to a minimum value that is enough to prevent toner leakage from the communication port 20b according to the particle size and shape of the toner used. The maximum value is the amount of crushing that does not stop the movement of the toner conveying member 23 in the direction of arrow F2 in FIG. The amount of crushing of these sealing members 28 may be appropriately set according to the conditions of use. As the material of the sealing member 28, urethane foam, non-woven fabric, etc., which are similar to moltoprene, can also be applied in addition to moltoprene.

<Force transmission part>
At the end of the toner transport member 23 in the direction of arrow F1 in FIG. One end of a biasing member 27 made of a coil spring is engaged with the force transmitting portion 23a. The other end of the biasing member 27 is engaged with the inner wall surface of a side plate 20a3 provided on the side of the toner outlet 20c of the toner container 20a as a developer container. The biasing member 27 is provided inside the toner container 20a. The biasing member 27 biases the toner conveying member 23 in the direction of arrow F2 in FIG. 5(a).

<Action part>
A cam 26 that is rotationally driven by a motor 36 as a drive source is provided on the apparatus main body 100a side of the image forming apparatus 100 . The cam 26 is configured as an acting portion that pushes the end portion 25a of the acted portion 25 in the direction of the arrow F1 in FIG. 5(a). The cam 26 rotates in the direction of arrow R in FIG. 5(b) around a rotating shaft 26b. The biasing force of the biasing member 27 biases the toner conveying member 23 in the direction of arrow F2 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5(a), when the biasing force of the biasing member 27 becomes zero and the cam 26 is stopped at the attitude shown in FIGS. An end portion 25 a of the action portion 25 is separated from the cam surface 26 c of the cam 26 .

The cam surface 26c of the cam 26 continuously decreases in diameter from the rotation center 26b1 of the rotary shaft 26b to the cam surface 26c from upstream to downstream in the direction of rotation indicated by arrow R in FIG. The portion 26a is displaced from the minimum diameter r1 to the maximum diameter r2. That is, the cam surface 26c of the cam 26 continuously increases in diameter from the rotation center 26b1 of the cam 26, and is provided with a missing portion 26a as a stepped portion between the maximum diameter r2 and the minimum diameter r1.

In this embodiment, the shape of the cam surface 26c of the cam 26 is set so that the amount of movement of the toner conveying member 23 in the direction of arrow F1 in FIG. 5A is 1 mm. Therefore, the difference between the minimum diameter r1 and the maximum diameter r2 of the cam surface 26c is set to 1 mm. The cam 26 rotates in the direction of arrow R in FIG. 5(b). As a result, the cam surface 26c, which is separated from the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25, contacts the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 and slides against the urging force of the urging member 27 to move the toner conveying member 23. 1 mm in the direction of arrow F1 in FIG. 5(a). After that, due to the biasing force of the biasing member 27, the end portion 25a of the acted portion 25 moves at once in the direction of arrow F2 in FIG. .

When the toner conveying member 23 moves in the direction of arrow F2 in FIG. also moves in the direction of arrow F2 in FIG. 5(a). The toner conveying member 23 moved in the direction of arrow F2 in FIG.

The force transmission portion 23a that receives the biasing force of the biasing member 27 moves between the first position A1 and the second position B2. The first position A<b>1 is a home position where the biasing force of the biasing member 27 is minimized and the end 25 a of the acted portion 25 is separated from the cam surface 26 c of the cam 26 . The second position B2 is the position of the force transmitting portion 23a when the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 contacts the maximum diameter portion 26c2 of the cam surface 26c. In this manner, the force transmission portion 23a takes the first position A1, which is the home position, and the second position B2, which is the maximum movement in the direction of the arrow F1 in FIG. 5(a).

As the cam 26 rotates in the direction of arrow R in FIG. Moving in the direction of arrow F1 in (a), the force transmission portion 23a reaches the second position B2. At this time, the biasing member 27 stores a biasing force for pushing back the toner conveying member 23 in the direction of the arrow F2 in FIG. 5(a).

Further, when the cam 26 rotates in the direction of arrow R in FIG. 5(b), the end 25a of the acted portion 25 is separated from the maximum diameter portion 26c2 of the cam surface 26c. At this time, the biasing force stored in the biasing member 27 pushes back the toner conveying member 23 in the direction of the arrow F2 in FIG. 5(a). As a result, the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 moves along the missing portion 26a of the cam 26 at once toward the minimum diameter portion 26c1 of the cam surface 26c, and the force transmitting portion 23a returns at once to the first position A1.

<Forcing member>
Due to the biasing force of the biasing member 27, the force transmitting portion 23a of the toner conveying member 23 in contact with the biasing member 27 moves from the second position B2 to the first position A1 in the direction of the arrow F2 in FIG. 5(a). At this time, the biasing force of the biasing member 27 is set so that the toner on the toner conveying member 23 is accelerated so as to slip when the toner conveying member 23 moves. The biasing force of the biasing member 27 may be appropriately set according to the amount of toner on the toner conveying member 23 or the like.

The home position of the toner conveying member 23 is when the force transmitting portion 23a of the toner conveying member 23 is at the first position A1. At this time, the biasing force of the biasing member 27 is minimized. When the force transmitting portion 23a of the toner conveying member 23 is at the first position A1, the end portion 25a of the acted portion 25 is at the third position A3 moved in the direction of the arrow F2 in FIG. 5(a). When the force transmitting portion 23a of the toner conveying member 23 is at the second position B2, the end portion 25a of the acted portion 25 is at the fourth position B4, which is the maximum movement in the direction of the arrow F1 in FIG. 5(a). The home position of the operated portion 25 is when the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 is at the third position A3.

The toner in the toner container 22 is placed on the toner conveying member 23 . Therefore, the cam surface 26c of the cam 26 rotating in the direction of arrow R in FIG. 5(b) slides on the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25, and the toner conveying member 23 moves in the direction of arrow F1 in FIG. 5(a). At the same time, the toner in the toner container 22 moves in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 5A. Further, the cam 26 rotates in the direction of the arrow R in FIG. 5(b), and the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 is separated from the maximum diameter portion 26c2 of the cam surface 26c. Then, the biasing force of the biasing member 27 causes the end portion 25a of the applied portion 25 to move along the cutout portion 26a toward the minimum diameter portion 26c1 of the cam surface 26c at once.

At this time, the toner conveying member 23 moves at once in the direction of the arrow F2 in FIG. 5(a). At this time, the toner placed on the toner conveying member 23 slides due to the movement of the toner conveying member 23, and therefore does not move in the direction of the arrow F2 in FIG. 5(a). By continuing the rotation of the cam 26 in the direction of arrow R in FIG. The toner is conveyed in the toner conveying direction indicated by arrow D in FIG. 5(a).

The toner conveying member 23 is provided with a toner discharge port 23b facing the toner discharge port 20c of the toner container 20a. The toner on the toner conveying member 23 is replenished into the developer container 33 through the toner discharge port 23b and the toner discharge port 20c of the toner container 20a from a replenishment port (not shown) provided in the developer container 33 of the developing device 18. be. When the developer cartridge 2 is new, the toner discharge port 20c as an opening is sealed by a sealing member 39 that is detachably adhered to the periphery of the toner discharge port 20c. Before the new developer cartridge 2 is installed in the apparatus main body 100a of the image forming apparatus 100, the sealing member 39 is peeled off to open the toner outlet 20c for use.

<Control section>
A toner remaining amount sensor 34 provided in the developing device 18 is connected to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 35 as a control means shown in FIG. A motor 36 that drives the cam 26 to rotate is connected to the CPU 35 . The CPU 35 transmits a toner replenishment signal based on the detection result of the remaining toner sensor 34 , and rotates the cam 26 by driving the motor 36 as a drive source.

The cam surface 26c of the cam 26 slides on the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 of the toner conveying member 23 to reciprocate the toner conveying member 23 in the directions of arrows F1 and F2 in FIG. 5(a). As a result, the toner in the toner container 22 is conveyed in the toner conveying direction indicated by arrow D in FIG. 5(a). Toner is replenished into the developer container 33 from the toner discharge port 23 b of the toner conveying member 23 , the toner discharge port 20 c of the toner container 20 a and a replenishment port (not shown) provided in the developer container 33 .

<Developer Conveying Device>
Next, the operation of the developer conveying device 38 constituting the developer cartridge 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 7. FIG. 7A to 7C are sectional views showing the operation of the developer conveying device 38. FIG. The developer conveying device 38 has a toner conveying member 23 provided movably in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 5A within the toner container 20a. On the side of the apparatus main body 100a of the image forming apparatus 100, the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 of the toner conveying member 23 is slid to reciprocate the toner conveying member 23 in the directions of arrows F1 and F2 in FIG. 5(a). A cam 26 is provided.

When the developer cartridge 2 is attached to the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1, the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 of the toner conveying member 23 is at the third position A3 shown in FIG. 7(a). When the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 is at the third position A3, the cam surface 26c of the cam 26 and the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 are in a non-contact state. At this time, the biasing force of the biasing member 27 is minimized. This state is the home position of the end portion 25 a of the operated portion 25 .

Consider a fourth position B4 where the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 has moved maximum in the conveying direction of the toner as the developer indicated by arrow D in FIG. 5(a). The home position of the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 is arranged upstream of the fourth position B4 in the direction of conveyance of toner as the developer indicated by arrow D in FIG. 5(a).

That is, the position of the end portion 25a of the acted portion 25 when the biasing force of the biasing member 27 is minimized is the home position (third position A3). A cam surface 26 c of the cam 26 applies a pushing force to the end portion 25 a of the operated portion 25 . As a result, the operated portion 25 moves to the fourth position B4 along the direction of the arrow F1 in FIG. 5(a). The home position (third position A3) of the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 is arranged upstream of the fourth position B4 in the direction of the arrow F1. Further, when the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 is positioned at the home position (third position A3), the cam surface of the cam 26 as an action portion that abuts against the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 to generate a pushing force. 26c and the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 are in a non-contact positional relationship.

The amount of toner in the developer container 33 of the developing device 18 decreases, and the CPU 35 executes toner replenishment control from the developer cartridge 2 based on the detection result of the remaining toner sensor 34 provided in the developing device 18 . The CPU 35 rotates the motor 36 to rotate the cam 26 in the arrow R direction.

As the cam 26 rotates in the direction of the arrow R, the cam surface 26c slides in contact with the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 located at the third position A3, and as shown in FIG. The end portion 25a of the applied portion 25 is pushed in the direction of the arrow F1 in FIG. 7(b) against the biasing force. As a result, the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 that was at the third position A3 moves to the fourth position B4.

Further, when the cam 26 rotates in the direction of the arrow R, the end portion 25a of the acted portion 25 passes through the maximum diameter portion 26c2 of the cam surface 26c and is moved along the cutout portion 26a by the biasing force of the biasing member 27. 26c moves toward the minimum diameter portion 26c1. As a result, the toner conveying member 23 moves in the direction of arrow F2 in FIG. 7(c).

At this time, the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 moves from the fourth position B4 in FIG. 7B to the third position A3 in FIG. The CPU 35 rotates the cam 26 in the direction of arrow R until the amount of toner in the developer container 33 of the developing device 18 becomes full based on the detection result of the remaining toner sensor 34, and rotates the toner conveying member 23 in the direction of arrows F1 and F2. Toner is replenished by alternately reciprocating in the direction.

<Conveying Action of Developer>
Next, the operation of conveying the toner by alternately reciprocating the toner conveying member 23 in the directions of arrows F1 and F2 will be described. When the end portion 25a of the acted portion 25 receives a pushing force from the cam surface 26c of the cam 26, the toner conveying member 23 moves along the arrow F1 direction in FIG. Consider the maximum acceleration a1 when moving. Further, the cam face 26c of the cam 26 releases the force pushing the end portion 25a of the acted portion 25, and the biasing force of the biasing member 27 causes the toner conveying member 23 to move in the direction of the arrow F2 in FIG. Consider the maximum acceleration a2 when moving. The maximum acceleration a1 is set smaller than the maximum acceleration a2.

As a result, the cam surface 26c of the cam 26 slides on the end portion 25a of the acted portion 25, and the force transmitting portion 23a of the toner conveying member 23 moves against the biasing force of the biasing member 27 as shown in FIG. It moves from the first position A1 shown to the second position B2. At this time, the toner placed on the toner conveying member 23 in the toner container 22 does not slip on the toner conveying member 23, and the amount of movement of the toner conveying member 23 in the direction of the arrow F1 in FIG. It moves in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 5(a) by the same amount of movement.

On the other hand, when the force transmitting portion 23a of the toner conveying member 23 is pushed back from the second position B2 shown in FIG. 5A to the first position A1 by the biasing force of the biasing member 27, the toner conveying member 23 Due to the biasing force of the member 27, it vigorously moves in the direction of the arrow F2 in FIG. 5(a). At this time, the toner placed on the toner conveying member 23 in the toner containing portion 22 is moved from the second position B2 to the first position A1 shown in FIG. The maximum acceleration a2 when pushed back acts.

At this time, the toner placed on the toner conveying member 23 slides on the toner conveying member 23 without interlocking with the movement of the toner conveying member 23 in the direction of arrow F2 in FIG. 5(a). As a result, the toner placed on the toner conveying member 23 stays where the force transmitting portion 23a of the toner conveying member 23 has moved to the second position B2 shown in FIG. 5(a).

On the other hand, the toner conveying member 23 completes the movement of the force transmitting portion 23a to the first position A1 shown in FIG. 5(a). As a result, the relative positional relationship between the toner conveying member 23 and the toner causes the toner to move in the toner conveying direction indicated by arrow D in FIG.

The toner conveying member 23 repeats the reciprocating motion in the directions of arrows F1 and F2 in FIG. The toner is conveyed in the toner conveying direction indicated by direction. After that, the toner is replenished into the developer container 33 of the developing device 18 through the toner discharge port 23b of the toner conveying member 23, the toner discharge port 20c of the toner container 20a, and the replenishment port (not shown) of the developer container 33. FIG.

Here, consider the maximum acceleration a1 in the direction of arrow F1 in FIG. . In this embodiment, the maximum acceleration a1 is set to such an extent that the toner on the toner conveying member 23 does not slip on the toner conveying member 23 . At this time, it does not mean that the toner on the toner conveying member 23 must never slide on the toner conveying member 23 .

Here, the maximum acceleration a1 set when the force transmitting portion 23a of the toner conveying member 23 moves from the first position A1 shown in FIG. 5A to the second position B2 in the direction of the arrow F1 in FIG. Consider. Furthermore, the maximum acceleration a2 that occurs when the force transmitting portion 23a of the toner conveying member 23 moves from the second position B2 shown in FIG. 5A to the first position A1 in the direction of arrow F2 in FIG. 5A is considered. . If the amount of toner slipping on the toner conveying member 23 caused by the maximum acceleration a2 is smaller than the amount of toner slipping on the toner conveying member 23 caused by the maximum acceleration a1, the difference in the amount of slipping causes the toner to slip. The toner is conveyed in the toner conveying direction indicated by the arrow D in a).

Incidentally, the force transmitting portion 23a of the toner conveying member 23 moves from the first position A1 shown in FIG. 5A to the second position B2 in the direction of the arrow F1 in FIG. 5A. At this time, the conditions for the toner to slip or not slip on the toner conveying member 23 are the setting of the shape of the cam surface 26c of the cam 26 provided on the apparatus main body 100a side of the image forming apparatus 100 and the rotational speed of the cam 26. determined by

Further, when the force transmitting portion 23a of the toner conveying member 23 is pushed back from the second position B2 shown in FIG. 5A to the first position A1 in the direction of the arrow F2 in FIG. We used the free decay of Besides, it is also possible to use a damper or the like. At this time, if the acceleration when the force transmitting portion 23a of the toner conveying member 23 stops at the first position A1 shown in FIG. be done.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the biasing member 27 is provided inside the toner container 20a. 27 is not required. Therefore, the toner capacity that can be accommodated inside the toner container 20a can be increased by the space J shown in FIG. 8B. In addition, foreign matter may be caught in the biasing member 27 provided outside the toner container 20a, or the biasing member 27 may be damaged by the user's careless contact with the biasing member 27. As a result, the toner conveying member may be damaged. 23 does not affect the toner conveying operation. Although an example in which the toner conveying member 23 and the acted portion 25 are provided integrally has been described, the toner conveying member 23 and the acted portion 25 may be configured separately.

[Second embodiment]
Next, the configuration of a developer conveying device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. It should be noted that components configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, or even if the reference numerals are different, the same member names are given, and the description thereof is omitted. FIG. 8A is a sectional view showing the configuration of the developer conveying device 38 of this embodiment. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view showing and comparing the configuration of the developer conveying device 38 of the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment, the biasing member 27 is provided inside the toner container 22 of the toner container 20a. For this reason, the toner in the toner containing portion 22 may interfere with the urging member 27 made of a coil spring and affect the toner conveying operation of the toner conveying member 23 . Also, the amount of toner that can be accommodated in the toner accommodating portion 22 may be reduced by the volume of the biasing member 27 . Therefore, in this embodiment, the biasing member 27 and the force transmitting portion 23a are provided outside the toner container 20a.

<Force transmission part>
The force transmission portion 23a of the present embodiment is provided on a portion of the toner conveying member 23 exposed to the outside of the toner container 20a as a developer container. One end of a biasing member 27 made of a coil spring is engaged with the force transmitting portion 23a.

<Forcing member>
The biasing member 27 of this embodiment is provided outside the toner container 20a as a developer container. The other end of the biasing member 27 is engaged with the outer wall surface of the side plate 20a2 on the side of the cam 26 of the toner container 20a. As a result, the biasing member 27 biases the toner conveying member 23 in the direction of arrow F2 in FIG. 8(a).

In this embodiment as well, the end portion 25a of the acted portion 25 receives the pushing force from the cam surface 26c of the cam 26 as the acting portion, and the toner conveying member 23 moves in the direction of the arrow F1 in FIG. 8(a). The maximum acceleration a1 at that time is set smaller than the maximum acceleration a2 when the toner conveying member 23 moves in the direction of arrow F2 in FIG.

A third position A3 of the end portion 25a of the acted portion 25 when the biasing force of the biasing member 27 is minimized is defined as a home position. This home position is arranged upstream in the direction of arrow D from the fourth position B4 where the end portion 25a of the operated portion 25 has moved maximum in the direction of arrow F1 in FIG. 8(a). Further, as shown in FIG. 8(a), this home position is a state in which the cam 26 acting as the acting portion for applying a pushing force to the end portion 25a of the acted portion 25 is stopped. The portion 25a is arranged at a position away from the cam surface 26c of the cam 26. As shown in FIG.

The force transmission portion 23a moves between a first position A1 moved in the direction of arrow F2 in FIG. 8(a) and a second position B2 moved maximum in the direction of arrow F1 in FIG. 8(a). At this time, when the force transmitting portion 23a is at the first position A1, the end portion 25a of the acted portion 25 is at the third position A3 moved in the direction of the arrow F2 in FIG. is at the second position B2, it is at the fourth position B4, which is the maximum movement in the direction of the arrow F1 in FIG. 8(a).

Since the biasing member 27 is provided outside the toner container 20a, the toner in the toner containing portion 22 does not interfere with the biasing member 27, and the amount of toner that can be accommodated in the toner containing portion 22 is controlled by the biasing member 27. nor is it reduced by the volume of On the other hand, the space between the cam 26 in the direction of arrow F in FIGS. 8A and 8B and the side plate 20a3 of the toner container 20a opposite to the cam 26 is considered.

In the case of this embodiment shown in FIG. 8A, the amount of toner that can be accommodated in the toner accommodating portion 22 is equal to the space J where the biasing member 27 and the force transmitting portion 23a are provided outside the side plate 20a2 of the toner container 20a. is reduced. Further, it is conceivable that a foreign object may be caught in the biasing member 27 made of a coil spring provided outside the toner container 20a, or the user may touch the biasing member 27 carelessly. In this case, it is conceivable that the biasing member 27 may be damaged or the toner conveying operation of the toner conveying member 23 may be affected. For this reason, a cover (not shown) that covers the periphery of the biasing member 27 can be provided. Other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment, and similar effects can be obtained.

In each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which the developer cartridge 2 is configured by the developer conveying device 38 has been described. Alternatively, the developer conveying device 38 can be provided in a developing cartridge having the developing device 18 that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 100 a of the image forming apparatus 100 . Further, the developer conveying device 38 can be provided in a drum cartridge having a cleaning device 19d that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 100a of the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. Further, the developer conveying device 38 may be provided in the process cartridge 1 which integrates the developer cartridge and the drum cartridge and is provided detachably with respect to the apparatus main body 100a of the image forming apparatus 100. FIG.

<Development cartridge>
The developing device 18 having the developing roller 21 as a developer carrying member that carries toner as a developer is configured as a developing cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100a of the image forming apparatus 100 by itself. The developer conveying device 38 described above can also be provided in the developing cartridge. In this case, the toner in the developer container 33 can be conveyed by the toner conveying member 23 toward the opening 41 that exposes the developing roller 21 in the developing device 18 facing the photosensitive drum 3 .

<Drum cartridge>
Further, the cleaning device 19d having the photosensitive drum 3 as an image carrier is configured as a single drum cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100a of the image forming apparatus 100, and the developer conveying device 38 described above is attached to the drum cartridge. can also be provided. At that time, the waste toner as the developer scraped off by the cleaning blade 29d of the cleaning device 19d is accommodated in the cleaning container 42 as the developer container. Thereafter, the waste toner in the cleaning container 42 may be conveyed by the toner conveying member 23 from the cleaning container 42 toward an opening (not shown) leading to the waste toner collecting chamber 31d.

<Process cartridge>
Further, the process cartridge 1 integrally provided with the developing cartridge and the drum cartridge is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body 100a of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. The toner in the developer container 33 and the waste toner in the cleaning container 42 may be transported by the toner transport member 23 .

20a... Toner container (developer container)
20c... Toner outlet (opening)
23... Toner conveying member (conveying member)
25 ... acted part 27 ... biasing member

Claims (11)

a developer container having an opening and containing developer;
arranged in the developer container, reciprocally movable in a first direction toward the opening side and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and movable along the first direction; a conveying member capable of conveying the developer to the opening side;
a biasing member that biases the conveying member in the second direction;
A receiving member protruding from the developer container with respect to the moving direction of the conveying member and provided outside the developer container and receiving a force that pushes the conveying member in the first direction against the biasing force of the biasing member. and
The maximum acceleration when the conveying member moves along the first direction due to the force applied to the acted portion is as follows: It is set smaller than the maximum acceleration when moving,
When the position of the acted portion when the biasing force by the biasing member is minimized is defined as a home position,
The home position is arranged upstream in the first direction from a position where the acted portion moves along the first direction by being acted on by the pushing force,
The developing device, wherein when the operated portion is positioned at the home position, an operating portion that abuts on the operated portion to generate the pushing force and the operated portion are in a non-contact positional relationship. Agent transport device. The biasing member is provided inside the developer container, one end of the biasing member is engaged with a force transmission portion provided on the conveying member, and the other end of the biasing member is connected to the developer. 2. A developer conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the developer conveying device is engaged with an inner wall surface of the developer container. The biasing member is provided outside the developer container, one end of the biasing member is engaged with a force transmission portion provided on the conveying member, and the other end of the biasing member is connected to the developer. 2. The developer conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the developer conveying device is engaged with an outer wall surface of the developer container. The developer conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the conveying member is a plate-like member. The developer conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a sealing member that seals the opening. A developer cartridge detachably mounted on a main body of an image forming apparatus,
A developer cartridge comprising the developer conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A developer cartridge that is detachably attached to a main body of an image forming apparatus,
a developer conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
a developer carrier that carries a developer;
A developer cartridge characterized by comprising: A drum cartridge detachably mounted on a main body of an image forming apparatus,
a developer conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
an image carrier;
A drum cartridge comprising: A process cartridge detachably mounted on a main body of an image forming apparatus,
a developer conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
a developer carrier that carries a developer;
an image carrier;
A process cartridge characterized by comprising: The developer conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the developer cartridge according to claim 6, the developer cartridge according to claim 7, the drum cartridge according to claim 8, and the drum cartridge according to claim 9. having any one of the described process cartridges;
further comprising an acting portion that pushes the acted portion in the first direction;
An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material. 11. The working portion according to claim 10, wherein the action portion comprises a cam, the diameter from the center of rotation of the cam increases continuously, and a stepped portion is provided between the maximum diameter and the minimum diameter. Image forming device.

Images