JPH06102765A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce toner scattering from a toner supply unit for supplying the toner to a rotary multicolor developing device and from a joint part of the toner supply unit and the developing device. CONSTITUTION:A toner distributor 303 is attached with respective end parts on one side of four toner supply pipes 302 having the end parts on the other side which are respectively connected with four toner tanks 301. Four toner supply ports 331 are formed on the peripheral surface of the toner distributor 303 main body by shifting the position of the port in a longitudinal direction, and toner sealing members 332 are also installed. On the other hand, a developer supply holder 130 provided with a toner supply unit inserting hole 131 is attached with the developing front side plate 103 of the rotary multicolor developing device 100. A toner entrance port is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the inserting hole 131 so that the position of the entrance port in an axial direction may be almost aligned with the toner supply port 331. And by inserting the toner distributor 303 for the toner supply unit 300 into the inserting hole 131, the device is fixed and held by a not-illustrated fixing member so as to prevent the failure such as falling, etc., when the rotary multicolor developing device 100 is rotated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile and a printer, and more particularly to a developing unit in a color copying machine or a color printer in which a plurality of developing units are supported by a rotating body. The present invention relates to improvement of a developer replenishing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the following method has been known as a method of supplying a developer to a plurality of developing units supported by a rotating body of this type. JP-B-4-8790, JP-B-64-8330, JP-A-61-243467, and JP-B-4-10071 disclose full-color copying in which a plurality of developing units are supported by a rotary support. In the machine, the end portion where the developer replenishing port of the developer conveying pipe extending from the developer accommodating container for accommodating the replenishment developer is opened is inserted into the hollow spindle of the developing unit rotation support and attached. It is disclosed that the developer is replenished in the developing unit. And of these, Shokoku Sho 6
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-8330 discloses that the developer is replenished to a developing unit located at a developer replenishing position different from the developing position facing the photoconductor which is a latent image carrier.
In Japanese Patent No. 3467, a developer is supplied to a developing unit and developer is agitated at a position upstream of the developing position. In Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-10071, a shutter for opening and closing a plurality of developer transport paths is disclosed. Providing means is disclosed respectively. Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-78872, a developer conveying auger means is provided for each color, and the auger means is selectively located at a position facing a developer receiving pipe extending from an end of the developing unit. It is disclosed that the developer is replenished by moving the developer. In addition, JP-A-4-78874 and JP-A-4-7887.
No. 6, etc., it is arranged such that one end of each auger means connected to each developing unit is in the vicinity of the other end thereof so as to rotate in the same circle by the rotation of the developing device near the side of the developing device. Then, near the other end of each auger unit, a developer receiving port having a position different in the rotation axis direction of the developing device and opening to the outside in the radial direction of rotation is provided, and the other end of the auger unit is positioned above each. It is sometimes disclosed that a developer replenishing means having a developer discharge port is provided at a position corresponding to each developer receiving port. And
Of these, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-78874 discloses that shutter means is provided at the developer receiving port of each auger means.

[0003]

However, Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-8790, Japanese Patent Publication No. 64-8330, Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-243467, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-10071.
As in the developer replenishing device of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-242242, in the configuration in which the end portion of the developer transport pipe where the developer replenishing port is opened is inserted into the hollow support shaft of the developing unit rotation support and attached, the rotation support is large. In addition, the maintenance work in the vicinity of the developer supply port of the developer transport pipe and the developer receiving portion on the developing unit side remains complicated. Further, as in the developer replenishing device of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-78872,
In the configuration in which the developer conveying auger means is selectively moved to a position facing the developer receiving pipe extending from the end of the developing unit, the moving mechanism is required, which makes the configuration complicated. However, there remains a problem that toner easily scatters from the facing portion between the conveying auger means and the developer receiving pipe. Further, the above-mentioned JP-A-4-78874,
In the developer replenishing device of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-78876, there remains a problem that toner easily scatters from the opposing portion of the developer receiving opening opening outward in the radial direction of rotation and the developer discharging opening of the auger means. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a developer replenishing device for a rotary developing unit capable of preventing toner scattering with a relatively simple structure. An image forming apparatus is provided.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 provides a latent image carrier, a latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the latent image carrier, and a latent image. A plurality of developing units that apply a developer onto the latent image carrier on which the toner image has been formed, and a desired developing unit is moved to a developing position that supports and rotates the plurality of developing units and faces the latent image carrier. And a plurality of developer accommodating containers for accommodating the developer to be supplied to the plurality of developing units and provided outside the rotational movement path of the plurality of developing units. In the image forming apparatus configured to convey the developer from the plurality of developing units to the plurality of developing units, a plurality of developer conveying paths communicating with the inside of the plurality of developer accommodating containers are formed independently of each other, and At the end remote from the agent container, A developer transport path member in which a developer distribution portion is formed in which the developer discharge ports of the transport paths open at different positions in the developer transport direction, and a plurality of developers that communicate with each other inside the plurality of developing units. For the developer distributing portion, the transport paths are formed independently of each other, and the developer receiving ports of the plurality of developer transport paths are opened at different positions in the rotation axis direction so as to correspond to the developer discharge ports. And a developer conveying path member mounting member provided on one end side common to the plurality of developing units in the rotation axis direction of the rotary support, and the developer distributing unit. And one of the mounting portions has a hole shape, and the other has a shape capable of being inserted into the hole. According to a second aspect of the invention, a developer transport drive member is provided in at least one of the developer transport path of the developer transport path member and the developer transport path of the developer transport path member mounting portion. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developer replenishment control is performed by the drive control of the developer transporting drive member, and the developer discharge port is located above the developer receiving port by the rotation of the rotary support. When there is a relationship, a control means for driving the developer transporting drive member corresponding to the developer discharge port and the developer receiving port in the relationship as needed is provided. Is.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the developer transport path member having a plurality of developer transport paths communicating with each other inside the plurality of developer storage containers is formed independently of each other. A plurality of developer communicating parts, which are the end portions, in which the developer discharge ports of the plurality of developer transport paths are opened at different positions in the developer transport direction, respectively communicate with the insides of the plurality of developing units. The developer discharge port of the mounting member for the developer transport path member, in which the transport paths are formed independently of each other and provided on one end side common to the plurality of developing units in the rotation axis direction of the rotary support. Therefore, it is mounted on the mounting portion for the developer distributing portion, in which the developer receiving ports of the plurality of developer transport paths are opened at different positions in the rotation axis direction. Here, one of the developer distributing portion and the mounting portion is formed into a hole shape, and the other is formed into a shape that can be inserted into the hole, so that the developer distributing portion can be used for the developer distributing portion. A member in which the developer distribution portion or the mounting portion is formed in a shape of a hole in a portion where the developer discharge port of the developer distribution portion and the developer receiving port of the mounting portion face each other when mounted on the mounting portion. To be surrounded by.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a full-color electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine) which is an image forming apparatus will be described below. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the copying machine according to this embodiment. This copying machine is composed of a printer unit 10 and a reading unit 20, and a photosensitive drum 11 as a latent image carrier is rotatably disposed at the substantially center of the printer unit 10. Around the photosensitive drum 11, a charger 12, a rotary developing device 100, an intermediate transfer /
The transport unit 200, the cleaning unit 13, the static eliminator 14, etc. are arranged. In addition, the printer unit 10
The upper part of the writing unit 30, the lower part thereof is the paper feeding / conveying unit 50, and the left part is the fixing device 15 and the discharging roller 1.
6 are arranged respectively.

Here, the intermediate transfer / conveyance unit 20
0 indicates that the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoconductor drum 11 are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer / conveyance belt 201 (first
Second transfer) to superimpose the toner images on the belt 201, and then collectively transfer the secondary toner images on the belt 201 to the transfer paper (secondary transfer). For details, see Japanese Patent Application Nos. 1-37081 and 2-742.
75, 2-107131 and the like. That is, the intermediate transfer / conveyance belt 201 includes the support roller / bias application roller pair 202A, 202B, the support roller 20.
5A, B pair, etc., the former roller pair 2
The area where the belt 201 stretched by 02A and B is in contact with the photosensitive drum 11 is the primary transfer portion 202, and the belt portion stretched by the latter roller pair 205A and 205B is the secondary transfer. The area in contact with the bias roller 204 is the secondary transfer portion 205. A bias is applied to the pair of supporting roller / bias applying rollers 202A, B at a predetermined timing to perform the primary transfer, and the transfer paper sent at a predetermined timing on the belt on which the toner images are superposed. When the carried belt portions face each other, a bias is applied to the secondary transfer bias roller 204 to perform the secondary transfer. In addition, intermediate transfer
A belt cleaner 206 is also provided so as to face the surface of the conveyor belt 201.

In the above structure, the document 10 is read by the reading unit 2.
0 and an image processing unit (not shown) convert it into an electric signal. Then, the writing unit 30 is driven based on this electric signal, and image exposure 31 is performed on the photoconductor 1 uniformly charged by the charger 12 to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original. This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing unit in the rotary multicolor developing device 100, and a toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer / transport belt 201 by the intermediate transfer / transport belt unit 200. This toner image is retransferred onto the transfer paper 40, and the transfer paper is passed through the fixing unit 15 to fix the toner image, and then discharged by the paper discharge roller 16 to the outside of the machine as a copy. During full color copying, conventionally known color image forming cycles of Y, M, C and BK are sequentially repeated. During black-and-white copying, this is also performed by a known image forming cycle.

The rotary multicolor developing device 100 of this embodiment is
As shown in the schematic configuration of FIG. 3, four developing units 101 of a non-magnetic one-component developing system are provided. Each developing unit has the same configuration except that the color of the toner used is different. As the toner color, for example, yellow,
Magenta, cyan, and black can be used. Hereinafter, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are represented by symbols Y, M, C, and Bk. For example, the symbol of yellow toner is 116.
The reference numeral of the developing unit using Y and yellow toner is 10
Each member is given a reference numeral related to the toner color, such as 1Y. Four developing units 101Y, M, C, Bk
The partition member 104 divides a pair of front and rear development plates 103 and 102 (see FIGS. 5 and 4) rotatably provided in the copying machine into four sections. Developing rollers 110Y, M, C, Bk, developing blades 111Y, M, C, Bk for frictionally charging non-magnetic toner to form a thin layer of toner on the developing roller, and supplying toner to the developing roller. Rollers 112Y, M,
C, Bk, stirring member 11 for stirring the toner in the unit
3Y, M, C, Bk, toner transfer screw 115Y,
Toner supply members 114Y, M, which contain M, C, Bk
It is configured by providing C, Bk and the like. The four developing rollers 110Y, M, C, Bk are rotatably supported in a state of being partially exposed from the openings formed in the developing lids 112Y, M, C, Bk covering the outer peripheral portions of the respective sections. .

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the front for showing the mounting state of the drive gear train mounted on the rear surface of the developing back side plate 102 of the rotary multicolor developing device 100. The developing roller 110Y, M, C,
The shafts on the back side of the rotating member such as Bk are bearings, and the drive gears are fixed to the ends of the shafts. Gears 120Y, M, C,
Bk is a developing roller driving gear, gears 121Y, M, C,
Bk is a supply roller drive gear, gears 122Y, M, C, Bk
Shows the stirring member drive gear and the gears 123Y, M, C, and Bk supply member drive gears, respectively. Further, a gear portion is laid on the peripheral portion of the developing back side plate 102, and the rotation of the entire rotary multicolor developing device 100 is controlled by the drive control of a drive gear (not shown) meshing with the gear portion to face the photoconductor 11. The developing unit located at the developing position is switched. Then, the developing roller drive gears 120Y, M, C, B of the developing unit located at the developing position.
A drive gear 106 is provided at a fixed position in the copying machine where k can mesh with each other.
Y, M, C, and Bk are rotationally driven. Further, the supply roller driving gears 121Y, M, C and Bk meshing with the developing roller driving gears 120Y, M, C and Bk are used to supply the supply roller 1.
12Y, M, C and Bk are rotationally driven. Further, the agitating member drive gear 122Y, the drive of which is transmitted through the intermediate gear by the supply roller drive gears 121Y, M, C, Bk,
The stirring members 113Y, M, C and Bk are rotationally driven by M, C and Bk. By the rotation of each rotating member, each color toner circulates in each developing unit and is used for development.

Next, the toner supply to the rotary multicolor developing device 100 in this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the toner supply unit 300 for the rotary multicolor developing device 100 is connected to the front developing plate 103 of the rotary multicolor developing device 100. FIG. 5 is a rear view of the rotary multicolor developing device 100. In FIG. 1, the toner supply unit 300 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes 4
One toner tank 301Y, M, C, Bk, and four toner supply pipes 3 with one end connected to each tank
02Y, M, C, Bk, and a toner distributor 303 attached to the other ends of these four pipes. Each of the four toner supply pipes 302Y, M, C, Bk has a toner carrying coil 310Y, M, C, Bk built therein.
C and Bk extend into the toner tanks 301Y, M, C and Bk and are rotationally driven by toner supply motors 311Y, M, C and Bk attached to the respective toner tanks 301Y, M, C and Bk. ing. The main body of the toner distributor 303 has a cylindrical shape, and the four toner supply pipes 302Y, M, C, Bk are provided in four holes opened at one end surface thereof.
The other end of each is loaded. The four holes have different depths, are bent from the bottom toward the peripheral surface of the cylindrical main body, and are opened to the peripheral surface. The four toner supply ports 33 are opened at different positions in the toner conveying direction.
1Y, M, C and Bk are formed. Then, on the peripheral surface of the main body of the toner distributor 303, each toner supply port 331Y,
Three annular toner seal members 332 made of, for example, an elastic or flexible material are provided so as to partition M, C, and Bk. In addition, most toner tanks 301Y, 301M,
A similar toner seal member 332 is also provided between the toner supply ports 331Y on the C and Bk sides and the end portions of the toner tanks 301Y, M, C and Bk on the main body.

Then, the rotary multicolor developing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment.
A developer supply holder 130 to which the toner distributor 303 is attached is attached to the front development side plate 103 of No. 0 by screwing or the like. A cylindrical toner supply unit insertion hole 131 coaxial with the rotation axis of the main body of the rotary multicolor developing device 100 is formed in the agent supply holder 130. The inner diameter of the insertion hole 131 is set to a size that does not hinder the rotation of the main body of the rotary multicolor developing device 100 when the toner distributor 303 is inserted and is fixed in the device such that it cannot rotate. deep. Further, in the agent supply holder 130, as shown in FIGS.
Independently of Y, M, C, and Bk, one end communicates with the toner replenishing member 104Y, M, C, and Bk in each developing unit, and the other end opens to the peripheral surface of the insertion hole 131 and the toner is supplied. The holes that form the receiving ports 132Y, M, C, and Bk are provided. This toner receiving port 132Y, M, C, Bk
Is the position of the toner distributor 30 installed in the insertion hole 131.
3, toner supply ports 331Y, 331Y for corresponding toners,
It is set so that C and Bk and the position of the rotary multicolor developing device 100 in the rotation axis direction substantially match. And
Toner replenishing members 104Y, M, C, Bk in the developing unit up to the vicinity of the toner receiving ports 132Y, M, C, Bk.
Toner transfer screws 115Y, M,
The ends of C and Bk extend.

Then, the toner distributor 303 of the toner supply unit 300 is inserted into the toner supply unit insertion hole 131 of the agent supply holder 130, and the fixing member (not shown) causes the toner dispenser 303 to fall off when the rotary multicolor developing device 100 rotates. It is fixedly held so that there are no problems.

In the above structure, the toner tank 301
It is stored in. Toner supply motor 31
1 is driven for a required time, so that the toner carrying coil 31
0 rotates, is transported in the toner supply pipe 302, and is transported to the toner distributor 303. And toner dispenser 3
The toner is discharged from the toner supply port 331 on the circumferential surface 03 and supplied to the developing unit side through the toner receiving port 132 and the like.

Here, a color in which the toner supply port 331 on the peripheral surface of the toner distributor 303 and the toner reception port 132 of the toner supply unit insertion hole 131 face each other, for example, yellow in the state shown in FIG. Figure 6
In the case of (b)), when the toner supply motor 331 is driven to supply the toner, the toner discharged from the toner supply port 331 smoothly enters the toner receiving port 132, so that the developing unit 101 side A smooth toner supply is possible. Therefore, the toner supply port 331 on the peripheral surface of the toner distributor 303 and the toner supply unit insertion hole 13
With a part of the toner receiving port 132 facing each other,
It is desirable to supply toner. Further, as in the illustrated example, the circumferential position of the toner supply port 331 on the peripheral surface of the toner distributor 303 is set to be lower than the center, whereby the weight of the toner discharged from the toner supply port 331 is reduced. It is desirable to make it available. Further, if the toner transfer screw 115 is driven during toner supply to positively convey the toner to the developing unit side, the toner supply to the developing unit side will be smoother and the toner supply to the developing unit side will be immediate. Done. Therefore, it is desirable to rotate the toner transfer screw 115 of the corresponding developing unit when toner is supplied. In the illustrated example, as can be seen from FIGS. 1A and 4, for example,
Regarding the developing unit in which the toner supply port 331 and the toner receiving port 132 face each other, the toner transfer screw 11 is driven by the drive gear 106 shown in FIG.
5 can not be rotated. Therefore, the drive gear 10
In addition to 6, a drive transmission mechanism for rotating the toner transfer screw 115 of the developing unit in such a state when toner is supplied is separately provided.

In the present embodiment, the space between the inner peripheral surface of the toner supply unit insertion hole 131 and the peripheral surface of the toner distributor 303 is opened for each color. Since the toner seal member 332 divides each set of the toner supply port 331 and the toner receiving port 132, it is possible to prevent the color mixture of toners. Further, since the toner sealing member 332 from the most toner tank 301 also shields the outside, it is possible to prevent the toner from scattering to the outside. Also,
Since the toner distributor 303 of the toner supply unit 300 is detachable from the toner supply unit insertion hole 131, the rotary multicolor developing device 100 and the toner supply unit 3 can be attached.
Maintenance work for 00 is also easy.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 to 12, the toner supply unit 300 is used for the rotary multicolor developing device 100 having four developing units 101Y, M, C, Bk of the two-component developing system. Examples will be described. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of the rotary multicolor developing device 100 in this embodiment. Each developing unit 101Y, M, C, Bk
Have the same configuration except that the color of the toner used is different. That is, in this example, each developing unit 101 is provided with a dedicated developing case 150Y, M, C, Bk, and in this case, a developing roller 110 including a developing sleeve including a magnet roller and the like, and an agent stirring unit 160 are provided. The developing doctor 15 so that it faces the surface of the developing roller 110.
1 is attached. Then, developers 152Y, M, C, and Bk composed of toner and carrier are contained in the case.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view showing the mounting state of the drive gear train mounted on the rear surface of the developing back side plate 102 of the rotary multicolor developing device 100. The developing roller 110Y, M, C,
The shafts on the back side of the rotating member such as Bk are bearings, and the drive gears are fixed to the ends of the shafts. Gears 120Y, M, C,
Bk is a developing roller driving gear, gears 160Y, M, C,
Bk is an agent stirring drive gear, and a driving gear 106 provided at a fixed position in the copying machine meshes with the agent stirring drive gear. Thereby, the agent stirring unit 1
60 is driven, and the agent stirring drive gear 160Y,
The developing roller driving gears 110Y, M, C, and Bk whose driving force is transmitted via M, C, and Bk rotate the developing sleeve and / or the built-in magnet roller of the developing roller 110. By the rotation of each of these rotating members, the developer in the developing unit circulates in each developing unit and is used for development. That is, the developer is agitated by the agent agitation unit 160 so that the carrier and the toner are agitated so that the agent concentration and charge amount are uniform, and the developer is transferred to the developing roller 110. After the layer thickness of the developer is made constant by the developing doctor 151, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 11 is developed. The developed developer flows down on the inner wall surface of the developing case 150 and is returned to the developer stirring unit 160. As shown in FIG.
An image density sensor 17 is disposed so as to face to, and detects the reflection density of the toner image on the photoconductor developed by this,
Conventionally known process controls such as developer concentration and developing bias are performed so that the developing conditions are always constant. This sensor 17 can be used for process control such as developing bias even when the above-described one-component developing system is used. Switching between the developing units for each color is performed by rotational movement of the developing units by a drive / control device (not shown), as in the above embodiment.

The agent stirring units 160Y, M, C and Bk will now be described with reference to FIG. 9. In this agent stirring unit, the main body of the agent stirring unit is a hollow cylinder and a plurality of blade portions axially parallel to the circumferential surface. And a toner transfer screw roller 163 built in the hollow inside of the agent stirring roller 161. The agent stirring roller 1
An agent transfer fin 162 is spirally attached to the blade portion of 61, and a toner carry-in hole 164 is formed in the peripheral surface portion of the main body which is attached to the end portion on the front side in the copying machine, and a peripheral portion of the main body at the end portion on the rear side. Toner discharge holes 165 are formed on the surface portions, respectively. The toner transfer screw roller 163
The back side end is supported by the back side flange of the agent stirring roller 161, and the front side end is supported by the lid member 161a fixed to the front side opening end of the agent stirring roller 161. Then, a gear 163 is fixed to a shaft portion protruding toward the front side from the lid member 161a, and rotation from a drive gear 161 attached to the lid member on the gear is performed by an idle gear 162.
Is transmitted through the agent stirring roller 161.
Due to the rotation of, the rotation is driven at a faster rotation speed than this.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 12, the agent stirring roller 161 is attached to the front developing plate 103 of the rotary multicolor developing apparatus 100 by screwing or the like. The toner replenishing member 10 provided in the supply holder 130 independently for each developing unit 101Y, M, C, Bk, and having one end in each developing unit.
4Y, M, C, and Bk, and the other end is opened to the peripheral surface of the insertion hole 131, and the toner receiving ports 132Y, M,
It extends to the ends of the holes forming C and Bk. The toner carrying-in port 164 of the agent stirring roller 161 is formed so that the axial and circumferential positions of the corresponding toner carrying-in port 164 substantially coincide with each other.

In the above-described structure, the toner supply unit 130 is connected to the toner supply port 331 in the same manner as in the above embodiment.
The toner that has entered the toner receiving port 132 through the toner inlet 132 enters the toner carrying-in hole 164, and is moved leftward in FIG. 12 (direction of arrow b in FIG. 9) by the toner transfer roller 161 together with the already filled developer. The developer is transferred while being stirred together with the developer, is discharged from the toner discharge port 165 (see FIG. 9) opened in the developing unit 101, and is further transferred by the developer stirring roller 121 in the direction of arrow a in FIG. The agent is supplied to the roller 110.

FIG. 11 shows a rotary multicolor developing device 100.
FIG. 1 is a front view of the developing roller 1.
A member for adjusting a main pole when 10 is composed of a rotary developing sleeve having a fixed magnet built therein is shown. Further, reference numeral 16 in FIG.
Reference numeral 3 denotes a lid for collecting the developer, and by opening the lid and driving the developing unit, the developer can be automatically collected.

Here, as can be seen from FIGS. 7, 8 and 10, in the illustrated example, the toner supply port 331 on the peripheral surface of the toner distributor 303 and the toner receiving port 132 of the toner supply unit insertion hole 131 are formed. Since the developing units of the facing colors are in the developing position and can be driven by the drive gear 106 (see FIG. 8) to rotate the member, the agent agitating unit 160 is driven when toner is supplied, so that a smooth and quick developing unit can be driven. It is possible to supply toner to the. Further, since the developing unit is below the rotation center axis of the rotary multicolor image forming apparatus 100, and the toner receiving port 132, the toner carrying-in port 164, and the like of the developing unit are located lower than the toner supply port 331, it is smooth. It is possible to supply toner into the developing unit.

In the copying machine of each of the above embodiments,
The rotary multicolor developing device 100 has four developing units including the black developing unit 101Bk. Instead of this, as shown in FIG. 13, for example, a large black developing unit 300 is provided.
The rotary multicolor developing device 100 is provided with, for example, yellow,
It is also possible to provide three developing units of magenta and cyan. In this case, the toner tanks of the toner supply unit 300 for the rotary multicolor developing device 100 are three tanks of yellow, magenta and cyan as shown in the figure. Here, in the example of FIG. 13, instead of the intermediate transfer / conveying belt unit 200 of the copying machine of FIG.
An intermediate transfer belt unit 210 and a conveyor belt 212 including 11 and the like are provided.

In the toner supply unit 300 of each of the above embodiments, the toner distributor 303 is inserted into the insertion hole 131 of the agent supply holder 130 to prevent the toner from scattering. Holder 1
A cylindrical protrusion is formed on 30, and a toner receiving port 132 is formed on the peripheral surface of this protrusion, and a toner distributor 303 is formed.
A hole portion into which the projecting portion can be inserted is formed, and a toner supply port 331 is formed on the peripheral surface of the hole portion, so that the toner distributor 3
The toner scattering may be prevented by the configuration in which the projecting portion of the agent supply holder 130 is inserted into the insertion hole of 03.

According to each of the above embodiments, the rotary multicolor developing device 100 can be miniaturized, simplified, and reduced in cost. Further, the toner supply unit 300 can be provided at one end of the rotary multicolor developing device, and the toner supply device can be downsized, so that the entire rotary multicolor developing device can be downsized without difficulty. Therefore, the main body can be downsized. Further, the developing unit for each color does not require a complicated structure or unit. Further, the toner supply unit 300 has a simple structure and is economically excellent. Further, the reliability of the rotary multicolor developing device 100 can be improved. This is because the developer (toner) supply units for the respective colors are completely independent, so that they do not mix colors and have excellent reliability. Further, maintenance of the rotary multicolor developing device 100 is easy. Further, the developing unit and the agent supply holder 130 are configured as independent units,
Moreover, since the number of components is small, productivity and maintenance can be improved. Further, since the mounting position of the toner tank 301 is not restricted by the developing unit and the toner supply unit 300, the toner tank 301 can be installed at a position where the user can most easily perform the replenishment operation, and the replenishment of toner can be facilitated. Further, since the toner tank installation location is not restricted, it is easy to secure the storage amount of the tank, and the size of the toner storage can be increased to reduce the maintenance burden on the user.

[0028]

According to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the developer distributing portion at the other end of the developer transport path member, one end of which is connected to the plurality of developer accommodating containers, is provided with the rotary shaft of the rotary support. One of the developer distributing portion and the mounting portion may be formed into a hole shape and the other may be inserted into the hole when the developer conveying path member mounting member provided on one end side in the direction is mounted and used. With the shape, the developer outlet of the developer distributor and the developer inlet of the mount are opposed to each other when the developer distributor is mounted on the mount for the developer distributor. Since the part is surrounded by the member having the hole-shaped developer distribution part or the mounting part, the toner scattering from the vicinity of the facing part can be made easier than the conventional one by a relatively simple structure. It has an excellent effect that it can be easily prevented.
Particularly, according to the second aspect of the invention, a developer transport driving member is provided in at least one of the developer transport path of the developer transport path member and the developer transport path of the developer transport path member mounting portion. When the developer discharge port is located above the developer receiving port due to the rotation of the rotary support, the developer discharging port and the developer receiving port in the relationship are provided. The developer transporting drive member is driven by the control means as needed to supply the developer, so that the weight of the developer is applied to the movement of the developer from the developer discharge port to the developer receiving port. It has an excellent effect that it can be used and the developer can be supplied smoothly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a rotary multicolor developing device rear side plate portion and a toner supply unit of a copying machine according to an embodiment. FIG. 6B is a sectional view of a toner supply pipe in the toner supply unit.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the rotary multicolor developing device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the front of a back side plate portion of the rotary multicolor developing device.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a front side plate portion of the rotary multicolor developing device.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of a back side plate portion of the rotary multicolor developing device. (B) is sectional drawing of other parts of the back side plate part of the same rotation multicolor developing device.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a rotary multicolor developing device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view from the front of a back side plate portion of the rotary multicolor developing device.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an agent stirring unit in a developing unit of the rotary multicolor developing device.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a rotary multicolor developing device rear side plate portion and a toner supply unit of the copying machine according to the embodiment. (B)
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a toner supply pipe in the toner supply unit.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a front side plate portion of the rotary multicolor developing device.

FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view of a back side plate portion of the rotary multicolor developing device. (B) is sectional drawing of other parts of the back side plate part of the same rotation multicolor developing device.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Photoreceptor Drum 12 Charging Device 13 Photoreceptor Cleaner 14 Static Eliminator 15 Fixer 16 Paper Ejection Roller 100 Rotating Multicolor Developing Device 101Y, M, C, Bk Developing Device 102 Development Side Plate 103 Front Development Side Plate 110Y, M, C, Bk developing roller 106 developing drive member 111Y, M, C, Bk developing blade 112Y, M, C, Bk supply roller 113Y, M, C, Bk stirring member 114Y, M, C, Bk toner replenishing member 115Y, M, C, Bk toner transfer screw 120Y, M, C, Bk developing roller drive gear 121Y, M, C, Bk supply roller drive gear 122Y, M, C, Bk stirring member drive gear 123Y, M, C, Bk replenishment member drive gear 130 agent supply holder 131 toner supply unit insertion hole 132Y, M, C, Bk toner receiving port 151Y, M C, Bk developing doctor 160Y, M, C, Bk agent stirring unit 161 agent stirring roller 162 agent transfer fin 163 toner transfer screw roller 164Y, M, C, Bk toner carry-in hole 165 toner discharge hole 160Y, M, C, Bk agent Agitation drive gear 161 Toner transfer roller drive gear 162 Idle gear 163 Toner transfer roller driven gear 300 Toner supply unit 301Y, M, C, Bk Toner tank 302Y, M, C, Bk Toner supply pipe 303 Toner distributor 310Y, M, C , Bk toner conveying coil 311Y, M, C, Bk toner supply motor 331Y, M, C, Bk toner supply port 332 toner seal member 400 black developing device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A latent image carrier, a latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the latent image carrier, and a plurality of developing units for applying a developer onto the latent image carrier on which the latent image is formed. A rotation support that supports and rotates the plurality of development units to move a desired development unit to a development position facing the latent image carrier; and a developer that contains a developer to be supplied to the plurality of development units. In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of developer accommodating containers provided outside the rotational movement path of a plurality of developing units and conveying the developer from the plurality of developer accommodating containers to the plurality of developing units, A plurality of developer transport paths communicating with the interiors of the plurality of developer storage containers are formed independently of each other, and the plurality of developer transport paths are respectively provided at the ends remote from the developer storage container. The developer discharge ports of the And a plurality of developer transport paths that communicate with the insides of the plurality of developing units, respectively, are formed independently of each other. Correspondingly, a mounting portion for the developer distributing portion, in which the developer receiving ports of the plurality of developer transport paths are opened at different positions in the rotation axis direction, is formed, and rotation of the rotary support body is performed. A mounting member for a developer transport path member provided on one end side common to the plurality of developing units in the axial direction is provided, and one of the developer distributing portion and the mounting portion is formed in a hole shape, and the other is formed. An image forming apparatus having a shape that can be inserted into the hole. 2. A developer transport driving member is provided in at least one of the developer transport path of the developer transport path member and the developer transport path of the mounting portion for the developer transport path member, and the developer transport path is provided. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developer supply control is performed by the drive control of the drive member for the developer, when the developer discharge port is located above the developer receiving port due to the rotation of the rotary support. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control means for driving the developer transporting drive member corresponding to the developer discharge port and the developer receiving port in the relationship, if necessary. Forming equipment.