JPH02304469A - Developing device - Google Patents

Developing device

Info

Publication number
JPH02304469A
JPH02304469A JP1124421A JP12442189A JPH02304469A JP H02304469 A JPH02304469 A JP H02304469A JP 1124421 A JP1124421 A JP 1124421A JP 12442189 A JP12442189 A JP 12442189A JP H02304469 A JPH02304469 A JP H02304469A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
developer
endless belt
developing device
replenishment tank
layer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
JP1124421A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
Masazumi Yabaneta
矢羽田 正純
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ricoh Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ricoh Co Ltd filed Critical Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority to JP1124421A priority Critical patent/JPH02304469A/en
Publication of JPH02304469A publication Critical patent/JPH02304469A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Landscapes

  • Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately detect the residual of developer from the speed of revolution of an endless belt by allowing developer to fall on each layer successively from its opening part with the aid of the rotation of the endless belt which vertically partitions a developer replenishing tank into plural parts. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with the sheet-shaped endless belt 14 which partitions the developer replenishing tank 11 into the plural layers 16a - 16d in the vertical direction, a developer detecting means 17 provided on the lowest layer part 16d, and a driving means 15 which moves the opening part 14a formed on the endless belt 14 by driving the endless belt 14 and allowing the developer 8 to fall successively. Then, the developer residual amount is detected by counting the revolution of the endless belt 14 by the driving means 15. Thus, whenever the endless belt 14 is rotated once, the prescribed amount of the developer 8 falls to the lowest layer 16d. Consequently, the used amount of the developer 8 is grasped by counting the revolution of the endless belt 14. Therefore, the residual amount in the developer replenishing tank 11 can be detected.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 〔産業上の利用分野〕 本発明は1成分あるいは2成分の乾式現像剤を用いる現
像装置に関する。
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a developing device using a one-component or two-component dry developer.

〔従来の技術〕[Conventional technology]

上記現像装置は、現像剤補給タンク内の現像剤を現像剤
補給ローラによりケーシング内にイ真給し、さらに攪拌
パドルおよび搬送パドル等を介して、現像スリーブに吸
着させて「穂」を形成し、感光体上の静電潜像と摺接さ
せて現像するように構成されている。
The above-mentioned developing device directly feeds the developer in the developer supply tank into the casing by a developer supply roller, and then adsorbs it to the development sleeve via a stirring paddle, a conveyance paddle, etc. to form a "spike". , is configured to be developed by bringing it into sliding contact with the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor.

ところで、現像剤補給タンク内の現像剤の残量検知シス
テムが備わっていない複写機において、現像剤補給タン
ク内の現像剤が無くなってから、現像剤補給表示を行う
ため、大量複写の際、途中でコピ一作業を中断しなくて
はならない。
By the way, in copying machines that are not equipped with a system for detecting the amount of developer remaining in the developer replenishment tank, the developer replenishment display is performed after the developer in the developer replenishment tank runs out. I have to stop copying work.

これを防ぐため、従来より以下の現像剤残量検知装置が
提案されている。
In order to prevent this, the following developer remaining amount detection device has been proposed.

第3図は現像剤補給タンクの要部を示す断面図であって
、9はケーシング、lOは補給ローラ、1)は現像剤補
給タンク、工8はスクレーバである。現像剤補給タンク
ll内の現像剤は補給ローラlOの回転によりケーシン
グ9内に落下するようになっている。したがって、この
補給ローラ10の1回転当たりの現像剤補給量を予め調
べておき、補給ローラ10の回転数をカウントすれば、
現像剤供給量が判り、結果的に現像剤補給タンクlI内
の現像剤の残量が検知される。
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the main parts of the developer replenishment tank, where 9 is a casing, 10 is a replenishment roller, 1) is a developer replenishment tank, and 8 is a scraper. The developer in the developer replenishment tank 11 falls into the casing 9 by the rotation of the replenishment roller 10. Therefore, if the amount of developer replenishment per rotation of the replenishment roller 10 is checked in advance and the number of rotations of the replenishment roller 10 is counted,
The amount of developer supplied is known, and as a result, the remaining amount of developer in the developer supply tank II is detected.

第4図は現像装置の他の構成を示す箔略図であって、2
はケーシング9に設けられた現像スリーブ、19は現像
剤補給タンクll内の現像剤を攪拌するアジテータであ
る。この構成の場合、アジテータ19の回転負荷トルク
は、現像剤が大量にある場合大きく、少ない場合小さく
なることから、この回転負荷トルクを検知することによ
って現像剤補給タンクll内の現像剤量を検知すること
ができる。
FIG. 4 is a foil schematic diagram showing another configuration of the developing device,
1 is a developing sleeve provided in the casing 9, and 19 is an agitator for stirring the developer in the developer supply tank 11. In this configuration, the rotational load torque of the agitator 19 is large when there is a large amount of developer, and becomes small when there is a small amount of developer, so by detecting this rotational load torque, the amount of developer in the developer supply tank 11 is detected. can do.

〔発明が解決しようとする課題〕[Problem to be solved by the invention]

第3図に示す構成における現像剤残量検知システム(補
給口・−ラの回転数検知による現像剤残量I★知クシス
テムにおいては、補給ローラ10上の現像剤を掻き取る
スクレーパ18と補給ローラ10の接触圧または補給ロ
ーラ10上の表面状態または現像剤の流動性等により補
給ローラlOの回転による現像剤供給量は経時的に安定
しないため、実際の現像剤残量と補給ローラ10の回転
数から推定した現像剤残量とは一致しないという問題が
あった。
In the developer remaining amount detection system with the configuration shown in FIG. The amount of developer supplied by the rotation of the replenishment roller IO is not stable over time due to the contact pressure of the roller 10, the surface condition on the replenishment roller 10, the fluidity of the developer, etc. There was a problem that the remaining amount of developer estimated from the rotation speed did not match.

また第4図に示すようなアジテータ19の負荷トルクか
ら現像剤残量を検知するシステムにおいても同様に、ア
ジテータ19の負荷トルクは経時的に安定せず、例えば
吸湿等により現像剤(トナー)が凝固した際には現像剤
補給タンクll内の現像剤量が少なくても大量にあると
誤検知してしまう不具合があった。
Similarly, in a system that detects the remaining amount of developer from the load torque of the agitator 19 as shown in FIG. When solidified, there is a problem in that even if the amount of developer in the developer supply tank 11 is small, it is falsely detected that there is a large amount of developer.

なお、従来の現像装置においては現像剤の凝固対策が十
分になされているとは言えなかった。
It should be noted that in the conventional developing device, it cannot be said that sufficient countermeasures against coagulation of the developer have been taken.

本発明の目的は、経時変化の影響を受けず常に安定した
現像剤残量検知が行える現像装置を従供することにある
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device that can always stably detect the remaining amount of developer without being affected by changes over time.

〔課題を解決するための手段〕[Means to solve the problem]

上記目的は、現像剤補給タンク内の現像剤を現像スリー
ブに供給し、感光体上に形成された静電潜像を現像する
現像装置において、現像剤補給タンクを上下方向の複数
層に仕切るシート状の無端ベルトと、最下層部”に設け
られる現像剤検知手段と、無端ベルトを駆動することに
よって無端ベルトに形成した開口部を移動させ、現像剤
を順次落下させる駆動手段とを備え、駆動手段による無
端ベルトの周回をカウントして現像剤残量を検知するよ
う構成したことによって達成される。
The above purpose is to use a sheet that partitions the developer supply tank into multiple vertical layers in a developing device that supplies the developer in the developer supply tank to the development sleeve and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor. A drive system comprising: a shaped endless belt, a developer detecting means provided at the bottom layer, and a driving means that moves an opening formed in the endless belt by driving the endless belt to cause the developer to fall one after another. This is achieved by detecting the remaining amount of developer by counting the number of revolutions of the endless belt.

〔作用〕[Effect]

無端ベルトが1周回転する毎に所定量の現像剤が最下層
に落下することから、この無端ベルトの周回をカウント
することにより現像剤の使用量を把握でき、結果的に現
像剤補給タンク内の残量を検知することができる。
Each time the endless belt rotates, a predetermined amount of developer falls to the bottom layer, so by counting the rotations of this endless belt, the amount of developer used can be ascertained, and as a result, the amount of developer used in the developer supply tank is The remaining amount can be detected.

〔実施例〕〔Example〕

以下、本発明の実施例を図面を参照して説明する。 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

第1図は本発明による現像装置の一実施例の縦断面図で
あって、lは感光体(像担持体)、2は現像スリーブ、
3は固定マグネット、4はドクターブレード、5は整流
板、6は搬送パドル、7は攪拌パドル、8は現像剤、9
はケーシング、10は補給ローラ、1)は現像剤補給タ
ンク、12はシール部材、13はローラ、14はシート
状の無端ベルト、14aは開口部、15は駆動モータ(
駆動手段)、16a、16b、16c、16dは無端ベ
ルト14によって上・下に仕切られた現像剤補給タンク
1)の各層、17は現像剤残量を検知するセンサ(現像
剤検知手段)、18はスクレーバである。
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the developing device according to the present invention, in which l is a photoreceptor (image carrier), 2 is a developing sleeve,
3 is a fixed magnet, 4 is a doctor blade, 5 is a rectifying plate, 6 is a transport paddle, 7 is a stirring paddle, 8 is a developer, 9
1) is a casing, 10 is a replenishment roller, 1) is a developer replenishment tank, 12 is a sealing member, 13 is a roller, 14 is a sheet-like endless belt, 14a is an opening, 15 is a drive motor (
16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d are the layers of the developer replenishing tank 1) partitioned into upper and lower parts by an endless belt 14; 17 is a sensor (developer detection means) for detecting the remaining amount of developer; 18 is a scraper.

無端ベルト14は、現像剤補給タンク1)の外部に互い
違いに設けたローラ13によって、現像剤補給タンク1
)を上下に仕切るように掛は渡され、かつ駆動モータ1
5によって駆動されることにより、矢印方向に移動され
るようになっている。
The endless belt 14 is connected to the developer supply tank 1) by rollers 13 provided alternately outside the developer supply tank 1).
) is passed so as to partition it into upper and lower parts, and the drive motor 1
5, it is moved in the direction of the arrow.

シール部材12はその際の機密性を保つためのものであ
る。
The seal member 12 is for maintaining confidentiality at that time.

ケーシング9内の現像剤8は攪拌パドル7により攪拌さ
れ、搬送パドル6により現像スリーブ2に吸着される。
The developer 8 in the casing 9 is stirred by the stirring paddle 7 and adsorbed onto the developing sleeve 2 by the conveying paddle 6.

そしてドクターブレード4によって高さを規制されて形
成された磁気ブラシにより、感光体l上の静電潜像が現
像される。
Then, the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 1 is developed by a magnetic brush whose height is regulated by the doctor blade 4.

次に本発明の制御動作を説明する。Next, the control operation of the present invention will be explained.

第2図は本発明の制御動作を示すフローチャートであっ
て、まず現像剤補給タンク1)内の仕切り層数Nを設定
する(2−1)。なお本実施例の場合N=4である。次
に、上述した現像動作によリケーシング9内の現像剤8
が不足したがどうが判定しく2−2)、不足していたら
補給ローラlOを回転して、最下層16d内の現像剤8
をケーシング9内に供給する(2−3)。そしてこの部
分の現像剤8が無くなったことをセンサ17が検知する
と(2−4)、最後の層の現像剤8が空になったかどう
か(N=1かどうか)判断する(2−5)。なお、最下
層16dが空になったことによる補給に際して上層より
順次補給されるから、この場合の最後の層とは層16c
である。そして層16cが空でなければ駆動モータ15
を駆動し、無端ベルト14を矢印方向に一周する(2−
6)。
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the present invention. First, the number N of partition layers in the developer supply tank 1) is set (2-1). Note that in this embodiment, N=4. Next, the developer 8 in the recasing 9 is
2-2) If there is a shortage, rotate the replenishment roller lO to remove the developer 8 in the bottom layer 16d.
is supplied into the casing 9 (2-3). When the sensor 17 detects that the developer 8 in this part is empty (2-4), it is determined whether the developer 8 in the last layer is empty (N=1 or not) (2-5). . In addition, when the bottom layer 16d becomes empty, it is replenished sequentially from the upper layer, so the last layer in this case is the layer 16c.
It is. If the layer 16c is not empty, the drive motor 15
to drive the endless belt 14 once in the direction of the arrow (2-
6).

その間に無端ベルト14の開口部14aが最下層16d
の上面を通過し、これによって最下1)6dに上層部の
現像剤が補充される。そして現像剤8が充填されている
層の数を1つ減じ(2−7)、N=1になるまでこの補
給動作を続け、N=1、すなわち現像剤8が充填されて
いる層が最後の最下層16dのみになった時は(2−8
)、その行表示する(2−9)。あるいは現像剤END
表示を行う(2−10)。
Meanwhile, the opening 14a of the endless belt 14 is inserted into the bottom layer 16d.
As a result, the lowermost layer 1) 6d is replenished with the developer in the upper layer. Then, the number of layers filled with developer 8 is decreased by one (2-7), and this replenishment operation is continued until N=1, that is, the layer filled with developer 8 is the last layer. When only the bottom layer 16d is left (2-8
), display that line (2-9). Or developer END
Display is performed (2-10).

またこれらの動作中、例えば現像剤補給タンクll内が
1ONに分かれているとすると、無端ベルト14が1回
転すれば現像側補給タンク1)内の現像剤が1/10消
費されたことになり、これらを表示すればユーザがどれ
だけ現像剤が残っているかを把握でき、また消費する速
度などからあとどの位で現像剤を補給しなければならな
いか予測できる。
Furthermore, during these operations, for example, assuming that the developer replenishment tank 11 is divided into 1 ON, one rotation of the endless belt 14 means that 1/10 of the developer in the developer replenishment tank 1) is consumed. By displaying these, the user can grasp how much developer is left, and can also predict how much more developer needs to be replenished from the consumption rate.

なお、現像剤8は開口部14aにより、現像補給タンク
1)内で少量°ずつ下方に落下するので、現像剤の凝固
を防ぎ、円滑に現像剤の補給を行うことができる。
Incidentally, since the developer 8 falls downward little by little in the developer replenishment tank 1) through the opening 14a, coagulation of the developer can be prevented and the developer can be replenished smoothly.

〔発明の効果〕〔Effect of the invention〕

以上説明したように、本発明によれば、現像剤補給タン
クを上下に複数に仕切る無端ベルトの回転によりその開
口部から各層毎に順次現像剤を落下させるようにしたか
ら、現像剤の凝固などの影響を受けることなく、またス
クレーパと補給ローラとの摩耗などの影響を受けること
なく、無端ベルトの回転数から正確に現像剤の残量を検
知することが可能な現像装置を提供することができる。
As explained above, according to the present invention, since the endless belt that divides the developer replenishment tank into a plurality of upper and lower parts rotates and the developer is sequentially dropped from the opening in each layer, the developer is prevented from coagulating. To provide a developing device capable of accurately detecting the remaining amount of developer from the rotational speed of an endless belt without being affected by the scraper and the abrasion between the scraper and the replenishment roller. can.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of drawings]

第1図は本発明による現像装置の一実施例の縦断面図、
第2図は本発明の制御動作を示すフローチャート、第3
図および第4図は従来例による現像剤検知システムを説
明するために示す構成図である。 1・・・感光体、2・・・現像スリーブ、1)・・・現
像剤補給タンク、14・・・無端ベルト、14a・・・
開口部、i s ・・・駆動モータ、16a、16b、
16c、16d・・・各層、17・・・センサ。
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of a developing device according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the present invention;
4 are configuration diagrams shown to explain a conventional developer detection system. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Photoreceptor, 2...Developing sleeve, 1)...Developer supply tank, 14...Endless belt, 14a...
Opening, is... Drive motor, 16a, 16b,
16c, 16d...each layer, 17...sensor.

Claims (3)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] (1)現像剤補給タンク内の現像剤を現像スリーブに供
給し、感光体上に形成された静電潜像を現像する現像装
置において、現像剤補給タンクを上下方向の複数層に仕
切るシート状の無端ベルトと、最下層部に設けられる現
像剤検知手段と、無端ベルトを駆動することによつて無
端ベルトに形成した開口部を移動させ、現像剤を順次落
下させる駆動手段と、駆動手段による無端ベルトの周回
をカウントして現像剤残量を検知し、表示する手段とを
備えていることを特徴とする現像装置。
(1) In a developing device that supplies developer in a developer replenishment tank to a developing sleeve and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor, a sheet-like structure partitions the developer replenishment tank into multiple layers in the vertical direction. an endless belt, a developer detecting means provided at the lowest layer, a driving means for moving an opening formed in the endless belt by driving the endless belt and sequentially dropping the developer; A developing device comprising means for counting the number of revolutions of an endless belt to detect and display the remaining amount of developer.
(2)現像剤補給タンク内の現像剤を現像スリーブに供
給し、感光体上に形成された静電潜像を現像する現像装
置において、現像剤補給タンクを上下方向の複数層に仕
切るシート状の無端ベルトと、最下層部に設けられる現
像剤検知手段と、無端ベルトの駆動手段と、現像剤検知
手段の出力により駆動手段を駆動して無端ベルトに形成
した開口部を移動させ、現像剤を順次落下させる手段と
を備えていることを特徴とする現像装置。
(2) In a developing device that supplies developer in a developer replenishment tank to a developing sleeve and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor, a sheet-like structure partitions the developer replenishment tank into multiple layers in the vertical direction. an endless belt, a developer detection means provided at the bottom layer, a drive means for the endless belt, and an output of the developer detection means to drive the drive means to move an opening formed in the endless belt, and to detect the developer. A developing device characterized by comprising: means for sequentially dropping the.
(3)現像剤補給タンク内の現像剤を現像スリーブに供
給し、感光体上に形成された静電潜像を現像する現像装
置において、現像剤補給タンクを上下方向の多数層に仕
切るシート状の無端ベルトと、この無端ベルトに形成し
た開口部を、各層間に水平移動させて、現像剤を順次落
下させる手段とを備えていることを特徴とする現像装置
(3) In a developing device that supplies developer in a developer replenishment tank to a developing sleeve and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor, a sheet-like structure partitions the developer replenishment tank into multiple layers in the vertical direction. 1. A developing device comprising: an endless belt; and means for horizontally moving openings formed in the endless belt between each layer to cause developer to fall one after another.
JP1124421A 1989-05-19 1989-05-19 Developing device Pending JPH02304469A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1124421A JPH02304469A (en) 1989-05-19 1989-05-19 Developing device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1124421A JPH02304469A (en) 1989-05-19 1989-05-19 Developing device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPH02304469A true JPH02304469A (en) 1990-12-18

Family

ID=14885067

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP1124421A Pending JPH02304469A (en) 1989-05-19 1989-05-19 Developing device

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JPH02304469A (en)

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP2001183895A (en) Developer cartridge
JPH10333412A (en) Image forming device
JPH02304469A (en) Developing device
JPH09274369A (en) Image forming device
JP4180687B2 (en) Toner supply method and apparatus
JP2014059356A (en) Image forming device
JP2001092234A (en) Image-forming device
JP3248116B2 (en) Image forming device
JPH0358115B2 (en)
JP2930209B2 (en) Toner supply device
JPH04110977A (en) Image forming device
CN110320779A (en) Cleaning unit and image forming apparatus
JPH01583A (en) developing device
JP3984758B2 (en) Image forming method and image forming apparatus
JP2560749B2 (en) Development device
JP3493576B2 (en) Developing device and developer container mounted thereon
JP4049039B2 (en) Image forming apparatus
JP4294238B2 (en) Developing device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus using the same
JP2651573B2 (en) Dry developing device
JP3024811B2 (en) Developing device
JPH04121764A (en) Toner replenishment device
JP2001117343A (en) Printing device
JP6248958B2 (en) Developer supply device and image forming apparatus provided with the same
JPH09269643A (en) Toner/developer supplying/recovering mechanism and its constituting member
JPS62222279A (en) Method for detecting toner empty in electrostatic latent image developing device