JPH07152239A - Toner replenishment device and developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve maintenance easiness and space efficiency by providing a slide shutter in the connection part of a toner cartridge to a toner hopper and providing a means for controlling the propriety of operation for loading/ unloading the toner cartridge in accordance with the opening/closing state of the slide shutter. CONSTITUTION:An aperture 72 communicating with the inner part of the toner cartridge 70 is formed at the guide part 71 of the toner cartridge 70. A guide groove is formed inside the guide part 71 and the slide shutter 73 which freely slides in the guide groove is allowed to get in and out, so that the aperture 72 is opened/ closed. In the case of changing toner, the cartridge 70 is detached from the toner hopper 190 after closing the shutter 73, so that the toner is prevented from being spilled. Then, a cartridge locking member functioning as the loading/unloading operation control means for controlling the propriety of the operation for loading/unloading the cartridge 70 in accordance with the opening/closing state of the shutter 73 is provided on the side of the aperture part inside the hopper 190.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device and a developing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a developing device of an image forming apparatus using toner, there is a toner replenishing device in which a toner cartridge containing replenishment toner is detachably provided in a toner hopper communicating with a developing portion.

A color image forming apparatus, for example, a multi-color developing apparatus for electrophotography, which includes cyan, yellow,
To store magenta and black developers, and to sequentially supply these developers to the latent image section to visualize them as color images,
Some have adopted the rotary method.

For example, the inside of a cylinder which is driven to rotate intermittently is partitioned into a plurality of chambers in the circumferential direction, and the developer carrier is rotatably supported by a support so as to face the openings formed in each chamber. It is provided so as to be supported, and a developer regulating member is supported on the support so as to be in contact with the developer carrying member, and the developer carrying members in the respective chambers are sequentially carried in accordance with the rotational drive. This is a type that develops by facing the body, and this is called a rotary type developing device.

As a technique of this kind, Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-20
579, Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-26954, Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-7
No. 792, Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-151564, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-
151566, JP 61-203479, JP 61-231572, JP 64-54479, US Pat. No. 4,122,916, U.S. Pat.
JP-A-60-1622271, JP-A-60-212
480, JP-A-60-211481, JP-A-60-
230167, JP-A-60-230168, JP-A-60-2130169, and JP-A-60-232567.
No. 60-232568, 60-233.
No. 667 and JP-A No. 60-232565.

[0006]

When removing the toner cartridge from the toner hopper, care must be taken to prevent the toner from spilling out, and a means for stirring and conveying the toner in the toner hopper and the toner cartridge is required. However, there is a problem in space efficiency in terms of maintenance, such as difficulty in downsizing the device.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a toner replenishing device and a developing device which can improve maintainability and space efficiency.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following constitution.

(1). A slide shutter is provided at the connection portion of the toner cartridge with the toner hopper, and an attachment / detachment control means for controlling whether or not the toner cartridge can be attached / detached according to the opening / closing state of the slide shutter is provided (Claim 1).

(2). The toner hopper and the toner cartridge are provided so as to rotate integrally with the revolver unit (claim 2).

(3). The toner cartridge and the toner hopper are arranged in the revolver unit so that the communication passage formed in the attachment / detachment portion of the toner cartridge and the toner hopper is set in the substantially vertical direction at the developing position, and the toner cartridge due to gravity during rotation is arranged. The inner wall contact surface is constituted by a smooth surface connected to the communication passage (claim 3).

(4). The toner cartridge is composed of a cylindrical container, the discharge port is provided on one end side thereof, and the spiral feed line extending from the other end side to the discharge port is formed inside the container (claim 4).

(5). In (4), the discharge port is formed on a circumferential surface having a spiral line (claim 5).

(6). In (2) or (5), irregularities for generating vibration are formed on the peripheral surfaces of the front and rear side plates of the revolver unit (claim 6).

(7). In (4) or (5), the positional relationship between the toner hopper and the toner cartridge is determined so that the toner inlet of the toner hopper faces and is in communication with the discharge outlet of the toner cartridge (claim 7).

(8). A plurality of toner cartridges are arranged to be adjacent to each other, and one of the adjacent toner cartridges is combined with a pair of concave and convex holding shape portions that hold and fix the other (claim 8).

(9). In the item (4) or (5), the revolver unit has an accommodating portion for accommodating the cylindrical toner cartridge at the center of rotation (claim 9).

(10). In any one of (1) to (10), a stirring member that is freely movable in the toner cartridge is placed in the toner cartridge (claim 10).

(11). In (8), when the toner cartridges are coupled to each other, the shape of each toner cartridge is determined so as to form a ring shape or a part of the ring shape (claim 11).

[0020]

If the opening is not closed by the shutter, the toner cartridge cannot be removed from the toner hopper.
Further, the toner cartridge and the toner hopper rotate together with the revolver unit, and the stirring and conveying operation is performed.

[0021]

【Example】

1. Description of Overall Structure In FIG. 12, a front plate 4, a rear plate 5 (see FIG. 13), a developing casing 3 (see FIG. 14 (a)), and the like that constitute a four-color developing device are provided on the left side of the latent image carrier 1. The revolver unit 2 is arranged. The revolver unit 2 contains four toners of four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, respectively, and a carrier, and has four developing units that perform a developing function.

These four developing sections are the partition members 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3 of the developing casing 3 shown in FIG.
It is located between -4. The developing casing 3 is shown in FIG.
It is located between the front side plate 4 and the rear side plate 5 shown in (a) and (b).

Here, FIG. 14A shows the developing casing viewed from the longitudinal direction, and FIG. 14B shows a state in which the front and rear side plates are assembled to the developing casing.

FIG. 12 is a view seen from the axial direction with the front side plate 4 of the revolver unit 2 removed, and each member in front of the rear side plate 5 is visible. Note that FIG. 13 shows a cross section of any one of the developing units in FIG.

In FIG. 12, the developing section includes a small unit including a roller-shaped developer carrier 6 and a doctor 9 provided between two opposing small side plates 10, a paddle 8, a conveying screw 7 and the like. Become.

The small unit is pivotally attached to the front and rear side plates 4 and 5 by a shaft constituting a fulcrum 29, and the other end side is provided with an elongated hole 30.
It is fastened to the front and rear side plates with a screw through, and by rotating the small unit by loosening the screw, the developer carrying member 6 is moved closer to or further away from the latent image carrying member 1, thereby developing gap. Is adjustable.

As shown in FIG. 9, the front and rear side plates 4, 5 and the developing section constitute a revolver unit 2 having a cylindrical shape as a whole. In FIG. 9, a toner cartridge 2 containing cyan, magenta, and yellow toners as shown in FIG. 17 is provided in front of the revolver unit 2.
1 to 23 are provided. A cylindrical toner cartridge 20 for black toner is provided in the hollow portion of the rotating shaft portion.

These toner cartridges 21 to 23 are assembled so that the opening 400 shown in FIG. 16 communicates with the opening of the toner hopper 190 as shown in FIG. For the toner cartridge 20, the opening 25
Is provided so as to face an opening of a toner hopper described later.

The combination of the toner cartridge and the toner hopper has the appearance of forming a cylinder or a part of a cylinder.

When developing with an arbitrary developing color, as shown in FIG. 12, the rotating portion is stopped so that the rotation center of the developer carrying member 6 is located on the horizontal direction of the center line O of the latent image carrying member 1. The position is set. This position is called the developing position.

As shown in FIG. 9, magenta, yellow,
Each cyan toner is contained in a magenta toner cartridge 21, a cyan toner cartridge 22, and a yellow toner cartridge 23, which contain these toners, and is located at the forefront of the rotary developing device.

There are two types of configurations of the plurality of toner cartridges. The first type uses three toner cartridges 21 to 23 each having the shape shown in FIG.
Each of them is combined with a toner hopper 190 so as to form a part of the ring as a whole, and a cylindrical toner for black toner as shown by reference numerals 20 and 20 'in FIGS. The cartridge is mounted.

In this type, since the capacity of the cylindrical toner cartridge can be made large, there is an advantage that the capacity of the black toner having a large number of copies and a large consumption amount can be secured.

The second type does not use a cylindrical cartridge as a cartridge for black toner but uses a cartridge shown in FIG. 16 for all four colors. In this type, four toner cartridges complete the ring (see FIGS. 4 and 8).

Any type of toner hopper 190
Are common in that four are provided rotationally symmetrically.

In the first type, for the toner cartridge for color toner, when the developing portion for color toner is at the developing position, the opening of the cartridge and the hopper are oriented substantially vertically, so that gravity causes the inside of the toner cartridge Toner is supplied to the toner hopper 190. As for the toner cartridge for black toner, there is a timing when the cartridge and the opening of the hopper are oriented in a substantially vertical direction during the rotation operation of the revolver unit 2, and therefore, the toner cartridge is replenished at that time.

In the second type, the black toner cartridge is also replenished in the same manner as in the color toner cartridge.

Each of these toner hoppers 190 is fixed to a disc-shaped side plate (not shown) to form a unit, and each toner hopper is connected to the revolver unit 2 side by a pipe-shaped guide that covers the in-paddle conveying screw 18.

The inside of each toner hopper is as shown on the right side of FIG. 13, and the toner replenished from the toner cartridge is accumulated on the replenishing roller 24.

In FIG. 13, the toner deposited on the replenishing roller 24 reaches the in-paddle conveying screw 18 according to the rotation of the replenishing roller 24. The toner on the paddle conveying screw 18 is conveyed toward the paddle 8.
The developer conveyed to the paddle 8 is discharged to the outside of the paddle through the opening formed in the paddle, and vertical stirring is performed by the paddle.

The vertically stirred developer is scraped up by the developer carrier 6 and provided for development. In FIG. 12, during development, as indicated by arrows, the latent image carrier 1
Rotates counterclockwise, and the developer carrying member 6 rotates clockwise. The doctor 9 is in contact with the developer carrier 6 and regulates the developer drawn up by the developer carrier.

In FIG. 12, reference numeral 15 denotes a screw guide, which covers the conveying screw 7 in a gutter shape, and which has a doctor 9
A part of the excess developer regulated by is put in this.

As shown in FIG. 13, the developer conveyed by the conveying screw 7 is sent to the conveying screw 18 in the paddle by the pipe 17, and at this portion, the toner cartridges 20 to 23 (see FIGS. 15 to 17). From the toner hopper 190 (see FIGS. 12, 13, and 17) to mix with the toner, that is, the agent is agitated by horizontal agitation by two screws and vertical agitation by a paddle.

The revolver unit 2 is provided with four developing sections that circulate such agents in a 90 ° rotational symmetric manner, and thereby a four-color rotary developing apparatus is constituted.

In this rotary developing device, as shown in FIG. 8, during development, the revolver unit 2 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and the colors are switched in the order of black → cyan → magenta → yellow.

By this rotation, the toner is loosened in the cartridge, and the rotation direction is taken into consideration so that the toner is deposited on the supply roller 24.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 9 and 15, the toner cartridge 20 for black toner has a cylindrical shape. Due to the screw shape formed on the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the toner cartridge 20 and the rotation of the developing device, The toner inside is conveyed to the opening 25. The conveyed black toner is supplied into the toner hopper 190 through the opening 25.

2. 1. Correspondence to Claim 1 In FIG. 1, a concave guide 191 composed of opposing ridges is formed on the upper portion of the toner hopper 190 in the figure. An opening (not shown) is formed between these guides 191.

On the other hand, a convex guide 71 that engages with the guide 191 of the toner hopper 190 is formed in the lower portion of the toner cartridge 70. By engaging both guides in the direction of the arrow, the toner hopper is brought into contact with the toner hopper. I am trying to connect the toner cartridge.

As shown in FIG. 2, the toner cartridge 7
An opening 72 communicating with the inside of the toner cartridge is formed in the 0 guide 71 portion. A guide groove is formed inside the guide 71, and the slide shutter 73 slidable in and out of the guide groove allows the opening 7 to be opened.
2 can be opened and closed.

When the toner is replaced, the toner spill can be prevented by closing the slide shutter 73 and removing the toner cartridge 70 from the toner hopper 190.

Here, inside the toner hopper 191, on the side of the opening, there is provided a cartridge lock member 192 as an attaching / detaching operation control means for controlling whether or not the attaching / detaching operation of the toner cartridge is possible. The cartridge lock member 192 is made of a bent elastic plate, and the tip end thereof is
A step portion 192a that engages with the thickness portion of the opening 72 is formed.

The step portion 192a is located at a level crossing the guide 191 in the free state.

The toner cartridge 70 is mounted on the toner hopper 190 with the slide shutter 73 removed, and in this mounted state, as shown in FIG. 2, a step 192 provided at the tip of the cartridge lock member 192.
a is engaged with the end portion of the opening 72 of the toner cartridge 70 in the depth direction, and the engagement state is maintained by the elastic force of the lock member.

Under such an engaged state, the cartridge lock member 192 functions as a stopper and the toner cartridge 70 cannot be pulled out from the toner hopper 190. That is, in the state where the slide shutter 73 is not provided and the opening 72 is left open, the toner cartridge 70 cannot be removed from the toner hopper 190, so that toner spill does not occur.

In this state, the slide shutter 7
3, the cartridge lock member 192 is pushed down by the slide shutter 73 and the step 192a comes into contact with the back surface of the slide shutter 73, as shown in FIG. Will not be.

As described above, the toner cartridge 70 can be removed only after the slide shutter 73 is closed. In this state, the opening 72 is closed by the slide shutter 191, so that the toner is spilled. There is no.

The cartridge lock member 192 is provided for the toner cartridge 70 according to the open / closed state of the slide shutter.
The control of whether or not the attaching / detaching operation is performed is included in the attaching / detaching operation control means.

In the above example, the toner hopper 190 is described as a rotary type developing device, but the present invention can also be applied to a toner hopper of a non-rotary type developing device. Further, the configuration of the toner cartridge 70 in the above example can be applied to the configurations of the toner cartridges 21 to 23 in the rotary type developing device.

3. Description corresponding to claim 2 As described with reference to FIGS. 9, 12, 13, and 17,
Toner hopper 190 and toner cartridges 20 and 21
˜13 are configured to rotate integrally with the revolver unit 2.

The toner is very fine and if left for a long time,
The particles agglomerate to deteriorate the fluidity and hinder the toner supply. In this example, the toner is loosened as the revolver unit 2 rotates.

4. FIG. 4 shows a second type of toner cartridge, and all the toner cartridges including the black toner cartridge have a shape as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, the black toner cartridge 20-1 is in the developing position. At this time, the communication passage 72 formed in common in the attachment / detachment portion of the toner cartridge 20-1 and the toner hopper 190, that is, the joint portion, is oriented in a substantially vertical direction as indicated by an arrow 70.

Further, since the side wall portion of the toner cartridge which faces the communication path has a funnel shape, the toner in the toner cartridge 20-1 is moved and filled in the toner hopper 190 by the action of gravity.

When the other toner cartridges are sequentially positioned at the developing position, the corresponding toner hoppers are similarly filled with the toner. here,
The contact surface of the toner on the inner wall of the toner cartridge due to the gravity during rotation is connected to the communication path by a smooth surface 71.

As a result, not only the communication path becomes vertical, but also the cartridge shape conveys the toner to the discharge port (the entrance of the communication path) by the rotation of the revolver unit, so that the toner can be used up completely.

5. Descriptions corresponding to Claims 4, 5, and 7 In this example, the configuration of the toner cartridge is the first type, and the cylindrical shape shown by reference numerals 20 and 20 'in FIGS. It can be applied to black toner cartridges.

In this example, as shown in each drawing, the toner cartridge is composed of a cylindrical container, and the discharge port 25 is formed at one end side, and the discharge port 25 is internally formed toward the discharge port 25. A spiral feed strip is formed.

In the illustrated example, the same line is formed on the outer circumference, but a similar line is formed on the inner side. The discharge port 25 is formed on the circumferential surface having the spiral stripe.

With this configuration, the toner cartridge 2
By rotating 0 and 20 ', the black toner contained therein is conveyed toward the discharge port 25 according to the spiral line.

When the toner cartridges 20 and 20 'are housed in the holes at the center of the rotation shaft of the revolver unit and the opening of the toner hopper 190 is made to correspond to the rotation trajectory of the discharge port 25, the revolver unit 2 is used. When is rotated, the discharge port and the opening may automatically be in communication with each other, and in this state, the toner in the toner cartridge moves to the toner hopper.

6. Description corresponding to Claim 6 In this example, when the revolver unit 2 is rotated, a means for applying vibration during rotation is provided in order to effectively loosen the toner.

As a means for applying this vibration, a convex portion 33 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the front plate 4 as shown in FIG. Similar protrusions are formed on the rear plate 5. Since the outer peripheral portion of the intermediate side plate is supported by the two receiving rollers 34, the front side plate 4 when the developing device is rotated.
The revolver unit 2 vibrates each time the convex portion 33 rides on the roller 34, and this vibration is directly transmitted to the toner cartridge via the screw 18 in the paddle and the pipe accommodating the same, and the toner cartridge is rotated. The toner blocked inside is destroyed.

7. Description Corresponding to Claim 8 As shown in FIG. 8, each of the toner cartridges 21 to 23 has a U-shaped recess, and the recess is adapted to engage with the toner hopper 190. Further, the position corresponding to the opening portion 400 (see FIG. 16) of the toner cartridge and the opening portion of the toner hopper 190 facing the opening portion 400 are fitted into each other as shown in FIG. Are configured. Further, the portions of the toner cartridges that are in contact with each other except the holding shape portion 74 are in close contact with each other with a tapered boundary line defined.

As a result, one of the adjacent toner cartridges has a function of holding and fixing the other.

8. An example corresponding to claim 9 This example is the case where the toner cartridge is of the first type, and accommodates a cylindrical black toner cartridge denoted by reference numerals 20 and 20 'in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 9, the accommodating portion 2A for
It is formed at the center of rotation of.

In the example of FIG. 9, the toner cartridges 21 to 21
A hole coaxial with the containing portion 2A is formed in the center of the substantially ring-shaped toner cartridge group constituted by 23 to form a part of the containing portions of the toner cartridges 20 and 20 '.

9. Example Corresponding to Claim 10 As shown in FIG. 10, in this example, the agitating member 90 is put inside the toner cartridges 21 to 23. When the revolver unit 2 rotates, the stirring member 90 freely moves around and breaks the blocked toner.

The shape of the stirring member 90 is shown in FIG.
Various types can be considered as shown in (b) and (c).

The type shown in FIG. 11A is a marble type. The type shown in FIG. 11B is a sea urchin shape. The type shown in FIG. 11C has a shape in which two discs are orthogonal to each other.

10. Example Corresponding to Claim 11 As shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 8 and FIG. 17, the toner cartridges 21 to 23 are divided into a plurality of target portions having a ring shape or a shape forming a part of the ring shape. One shape at this time constitutes one toner cartridge, and this shape is shown in FIG. 16 as an example.

Therefore, when the toner cartridges shown in FIG. 16 are combined, a ring shape or a part of a ring shape as shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8 is formed.

Here, the case where a complete ring is formed is a case where four toner cartridges having the shape shown in FIG. 16 are formed, and cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toners are contained in these cartridges. This is the case.

Further, the case where a part of the ring shape is formed means that the toner cartridge on the cylinder as shown in FIG. 15 is used for the black toner, and in this case, for the color toner. , Cyan, yellow, and magenta, the number of toner cartridges shown in FIG. 16 is 3, and a complete ring is not formed.

11. Advantages of each example a. Advantages of adopting the configuration of claim 1 The lock mechanism is not released unless the slide shutter is closed. Therefore, if there is residual toner in the toner cartridge, the user may inadvertently pull out the toner cartridge and spill the toner. It is possible to prevent problems. Further, since the exclusive lock releasing mechanism is dependent, the number of parts and the cost can be reduced.

B. Advantages of adopting the configuration of claim 2 Since the toner conveying path is simplified and the toner is agitated by utilizing the rotating operation, an agitator is not required, the number of parts is reduced, the cost is reduced, and the unit is reduced. There is an advantage that it can be made compact.

C. Advantages of adopting the configurations of claims 3 and 4 Since it is not necessary to provide a toner conveying member or an agitator in the toner cartridge, the toner in the toner cartridge can always be moved to the discharge port, so that the number of parts can be reduced. There are advantages of reduction and cost reduction.

D. Advantages of adopting the configuration of claim 5 Since the toner is conveyed to the discharge port along the cylindrical surface of the toner cartridge along the spiral line, the toner can be discharged most efficiently by providing the discharge port on the cylindrical surface. You can Therefore, the inside of the cartridge can be effectively utilized as the toner storage volume, and the space can be saved.

E. Advantages of adopting the configuration of claim 6 By providing the revolver rotation support surface with irregularities, vibration is generated each time the revolver unit rotates. here,
Since the revolver unit 2 and the toner cartridge rotate integrally, the vibration is transmitted to the toner cartridge, which has the advantage of breaking the blocking of the toner in the toner cartridge.

Therefore, the conventionally provided agitator is unnecessary, and there are advantages such as simplification of the apparatus, reduction of the number of parts, and cost reduction.

F. Advantages of adopting the configuration of claim 7 Toner transfer from the toner cartridge to the hopper has been conventionally performed by a transfer member such as a screw. However, when the revolver unit rotates, the toner is charged by the action of gravity. As a result, the conveyance member becomes unnecessary. Therefore, there are advantages of simplification of the device, reduction of the number of parts, and cost reduction.

G. Advantages of adopting the configuration of claim 8 Since the toner cartridge is held and fixed by using the shape of the necessary constituent members without using a special holding member, the advantages of simplification of the device and effective utilization of space There is.

H. Advantages of adopting the configuration of claim 9 By arranging the black toner cartridge long in the rotation axis direction of the revolver unit, it is possible to secure the toner cartridge capacity while minimizing the sacrifice of the unit space. .

Further, by combining with the structure of claim 4, there are advantages of simplification of the device, reduction of the number of parts and cost reduction.

I. Advantages of adopting the structure of claim 10 The rotation of the revolver unit can surely prevent the blocking of the toner without requiring any external driving. Further, the cost can be reduced because an agitator is not required.

J. Advantages of adopting the configuration of claim 11 The space can be used to the maximum extent.

[0097]

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve maintainability and space efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a slide shutter.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge illustrating the configuration of a slide shutter.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge illustrating the configuration of a slide shutter.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating toner supply at a developing position.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration of a transfer unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part of a revolver unit, which illustrates a vibrating unit.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the revolver unit illustrating the vibrating means.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a cartridge group illustrating a combined structure of toner cartridges.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a mounting state of the cylindrical toner cartridge in the revolver unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state of a stirring member in the toner cartridge.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating various shapes of a stirring member.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a rotary developing device.

FIG. 13 is a main-portion cross-sectional view illustrating toner supply and a circulation path of the revolver unit.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a developing casing.

FIG. 15 is a front view of a cylindrical toner cartridge.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a toner cartridge that is a component part that forms a ring shape as a whole.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a toner hopper and a toner cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Revolver Unit 20 Toner Cartridge 20-1 Toner Cartridge 21 Toner Cartridge 22 Toner Cartridge 23 Toner Cartridge 73 Slide Shutter 90 Stirring Member 190 Toner Hopper 192 (Locker Operation Control Means) Cartridge Locking Member

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location G03G 21/16 15/01 113 Z

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A toner replenishing device in which a toner cartridge containing replenishment toner is detachably provided in a toner hopper communicating with a developing portion, and a slide shutter is provided at a connecting portion of the toner cartridge with the toner hopper, and A toner replenishing device, comprising: an attachment / detachment operation control means for controlling whether or not the toner cartridge can be attached / detached according to the opened / closed state of the slide shutter. 2. A partition member extending substantially radially from the center of rotation divides the chamber into a plurality of chambers in the circumferential direction of rotation, and each of these chambers has a developer carrying member, a developer regulating member, and a developer transport stirring means. Is arranged to configure a revolver unit having a plurality of developing portions, and a toner hopper is connected to each of these developing portions via a toner conveying means, and a toner cartridge is detachably provided to each of these toner hoppers. Developing device, wherein the toner hopper and the toner cartridge are provided so as to rotate integrally with the revolver unit. 3. A partition member extending substantially radially from the center of rotation divides the chamber into a plurality of chambers in the circumferential direction of rotation, and each of these chambers has a developer carrying member, a developer regulating member, and a developer transport stirring means. Is arranged to configure a revolver unit having a plurality of developing portions, and each developing portion is communicated with a toner hopper via a toner transporting means, respectively, and when these toner hoppers are mounted with a toner cartridge, they are in a communicating state. In this way, the developing unit is provided so as to be detachable, and at the time of development, the developing unit sequentially stops rotation of the revolver unit at a developing position facing the latent image carrier,
A rotary developing device for developing under this condition, in which the communication path formed at the attachment / detachment portion of the toner cartridge and the toner hopper is set in the developing position in a substantially vertical direction, the toner cartridge and the toner hopper are set. A developing device arranged in the revolver unit, wherein a contact surface of the toner on the inner wall of the cartridge due to gravity during rotation is constituted by a smooth surface connected to the communication passage. 4. A partition member extending substantially radially from the center of rotation divides the chamber into a plurality of chambers in the circumferential direction of rotation, and each of these chambers has a developer carrying member, a developer regulating member, and a developer transport stirring means. Is arranged to configure a revolver unit having a plurality of developing portions, and a toner hopper is connected to each of these developing portions via a toner conveying means, and a toner cartridge is detachably provided to each of these toner hoppers. In the developing device, the toner cartridge is composed of a cylindrical container, a discharge port is provided at one end side thereof, and a spiral feed line extending from the other end side to the discharge port is formed inside the container. Developing device. 5. The developing device according to claim 4, wherein the discharge port is formed on a circumferential surface having a spiral line. 6. The developing device according to claim 2 or 5, wherein the peripheral surfaces of the front and rear side plates of the revolver unit are provided with irregularities for generating vibration. 7. The positional relationship between the toner hopper and the toner cartridge is set so that the toner inlet of the toner hopper faces the discharge outlet of the toner cartridge and is in communication with each other. Developing device. 8. A partition member extending substantially radially from the center of rotation divides the chamber into a plurality of chambers in the circumferential direction of rotation, and each of these chambers has a developer carrying member, a developer regulating member, and a developer transport stirring means. Is arranged to configure a revolver unit having a plurality of developing portions, and a toner hopper is connected to each of these developing portions via a toner conveying means, and a toner cartridge is detachably provided to each of these toner hoppers. Developing device, wherein a plurality of toner cartridges are adjacent to each other, and one of the adjacent toner cartridges is combined with a pair of concave and convex holding shape portions that hold and fix the other. . 9. The developing device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the revolver unit has an accommodating portion for accommodating a cylindrical toner cartridge at a center of rotation. 10. A developing device according to claim 1, wherein the toner cartridge includes an agitating member that is freely movable in the toner cartridge. 11. A developing device according to claim 8, wherein when the toner cartridges are connected to each other, the shape of each toner cartridge is determined so as to form a ring shape or a part of the ring shape as a whole. apparatus.