JPH07306594A - Toner supplying device and image forming device provided with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent toner from being excessively heaped in a hopper by providing a hole for allowing the toner to flow out from a hopper part in a toner case. CONSTITUTION:The hole 725 for communicating the hopper part with a developing device is provided in the vicinity of a position where toner carried from each of both end parts of a carrying screw 702 collides in a case 706 constituting the hopper part. In other words, the hole 725 is provided so that when the toner is excessively heaped in the hopper part by a specific amount or more, the toner flows out from the hopper part to a developing device through the hole 725. Therefore, the toner carrying member 702 provided in the hopper part, gears 715 and 716, etc., can be prevented from damaging by the pressure of the carried toner and moreover, from the effect that the pressure is applied to the toner itself to generate a coarse grain, and avoiding a deterioration in image equality.

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 used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine or a printer, and more specifically, to prevent excessive accumulation of toner in a hopper of the toner replenishing device. The present invention relates to a toner replenishing member, a toner conveying member, and a toner replenishing device that can prevent the case forming the hopper portion from being damaged by pressure received from excessively accumulated toner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a toner replenishing device used in an image forming apparatus, a toner container containing toner is detachably provided in the toner replenishing device of the image forming apparatus, and the toner is supplied from the toner replenishing device to the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is known to supply to a developing device (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-7077).
(See the official gazette). In this device, when replenishing toner to the developing device, the toner is first discharged from the toner container to the toner receiving portion, and then the toner is conveyed from the toner receiving portion to the hopper portion using the toner conveying member via the toner conveying path. Further, the toner was replenished from the hopper to the developing device.
Further, in this apparatus, when the toner is conveyed from the toner receiving portion to the hopper portion, the toner is conveyed not in the entire area of the latent image carrier of the hopper portion in the rotation axis direction but in a partial area. Then, after that, in order to prevent the occurrence of density unevenness in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the latent image carrier surface of the image to be formed, that is, in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor, an agitator is provided in the hopper section. The toner in the hopper is uniformly distributed in the rotation axis direction of the latent image carrier by rotating the toner cartridge, and then the toner is supplied to the developing device.

However, in this apparatus, it is necessary to rotate the agitator in the hopper section in order to uniformly distribute the toner in the rotation axis direction of the latent image carrier. For this reason,
Space must be provided for the agitator to rotate. Further, it is necessary to secure a space for providing a motor for driving the agitator. Therefore, a hopper unit equipped with an agitator and a motor for driving the agitator,
As a result, there is an adverse effect that the entire image forming apparatus including the toner replenishing device having the hopper section becomes large.

In order to solve such a problem, the inventor of the present application has conducted extensive research and carried out a latent toner transfer using a toner conveying member which is orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier and extends in the direction along the surface. The inventors have invented a toner replenishing device capable of uniformly distributing the image carrier in the above direction.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

The above toner replenishing device eliminates the need for an agitator and an agitator driving motor, and has a remarkable effect in solving the above problems, but it has provided a new technical problem. That is, in this toner replenishing device, since the space for rotating the agitator, which is conventionally provided in the hopper portion, is deleted, the space formed by the hopper portion becomes narrower, and the toner tends to be excessively accumulated in the hopper portion. When toner is further conveyed into the hopper by the toner conveying member in a state where the toner is excessively accumulated in the space formed by the hopper, the toner replenishing member and the toner conveying member provided in the hopper are formed. When the toner is conveyed, a force may be applied to the case to damage the above-mentioned members. Further, in the above state, pressure is applied not only to the above members but also to the toner itself, so that toner particles that are close to each other may adhere to each other to form coarse particles, and the coarse particles may form image formation. If used, the image may be adversely affected.

Further, in the hopper, a toner conveying member moves from an end portion of the hopper portion near the toner receiving portion (hereinafter referred to as "front side") to the opposite side (hereinafter referred to as "back side"). Toner is conveyed to the end. For this reason, the excessive toner accumulated in the hopper accumulates on the inner side of the hopper portion as the toner replenishing device is continuously used. Therefore, excessive accumulation of toner is likely to occur from the front side to the back side of the hopper unit. Therefore, the adverse effect caused by the excessive accumulation of the toner becomes more prominent toward the inner side of the hopper portion.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to uniformly distribute toner in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the latent image carrier surface and along the surface without using an agitator. Another object of the present invention is to provide a toner replenishing device that can prevent the toner from excessively accumulating in the hopper.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 provides a toner receiving portion for receiving toner discharged from a toner container and a toner conveying path from the toner receiving portion. A hopper portion to which the toner is conveyed, a toner replenishing member for replenishing the developing device with toner from the hopper portion, a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier and along the surface, and from the toner receiving portion. A case for forming the hopper portion by accommodating the toner conveying member and the toner replenishing member, the toner conveying member extending over the end portion on the side opposite to the end portion of the toner replenishing member close to the toner receiving portion. And a hole for allowing toner to flow from the hopper to the developing device in the case.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, wherein the toner replenishing device according to the first aspect and the toner flowing out from the holes provided in the developing device are moved in the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier. And a stirring member that stirs in a direction orthogonal to and along the surface.

A third aspect of the present invention is the toner replenishing device according to the first aspect, wherein the hole is provided with a lid that is opened by the pressure of the toner accumulated in the hopper portion. is there.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a toner receiving portion for receiving the toner discharged from the toner container, a hopper portion for conveying the toner from the toner receiving portion through the toner conveying path, and
A toner replenishing member for replenishing toner from the hopper to the developing device, and a toner replenishing member in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier and along the surface and close to the toner receptive member of the toner replenishing member. Replenishing toner for an image forming apparatus, which comprises a toner conveying member extending over the opposite end and a case for accommodating the toner conveying member and the toner replenishing member to form the hopper portion. In the apparatus, the toner replenishing ability from the hopper portion of the toner replenishing member to the developing device is increased from the toner receiving portion side end of the toner replenishing member to the opposite end thereof. It is characterized by being configured.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the toner replenishing device according to the fourth aspect, wherein the toner replenishing member comprises a toner replenishing roller having a groove on its surface, and the groove of the toner replenishing roller is the toner replenishing roller. It is characterized in that it becomes deeper from the end portion on the toner receiving portion side to the end portion on the opposite side.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the toner replenishing device according to the fourth aspect, wherein the toner replenishing member comprises a toner replenishing roller having a groove on its surface, and the toner replenishing member is provided in pressure contact with the toner conveying roller. There is a downstream side seal member for scraping off the toner inserted in the groove, and the amount of biting into the toner replenishing roller of the downstream side seal member is from the end on the toner receiving portion side of the toner replenishing roller to the opposite end thereof. It is characterized in that it becomes larger as it reaches the section.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the toner replenishing device according to the fourth aspect, wherein the toner replenishing member comprises a toner replenishing roller having a groove on the surface thereof, and a part or all of the toner replenishing roller is in pressure contact with the toner replenishing roller. And a gap width between the upstream seal member and the toner replenishing roller extends from the end portion on the toner receiving portion side of the toner replenishing roller to the opposite end portion thereof. It is characterized by the fact that it becomes larger as time goes by.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner replenishing device for an image forming apparatus, wherein a toner receiving portion for receiving toner discharged from a toner container, and toner is conveyed from the toner receiving portion via a toner conveying path. A hopper portion for supplying toner to the developing device from the hopper portion, and a toner replenishing member for replenishing toner from the hopper portion to the toner replenishing member in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the latent image carrier surface and along the surface. A toner conveying member extending over an end opposite to the toner receiving portion and an end opposite to the toner receiving portion; a gutter for holding toner to be conveyed by the toner conveying member in at least the hopper portion; A toner replenishing device for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a conveying member, the toner replenishing member, and a case that houses the gutter and forms the hopper portion. Of the, it is characterized in that it has set to be lower as the distance from the end portion of the toner receiving side 該樋 to its opposite end.

[0016]

In the toner replenishing device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the toner case is provided with the hole through which the toner flows out from the hopper. Therefore, when the amount of toner accumulated in the hopper unit exceeds a certain amount, the toner is discharged from the hopper unit through the above holes. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from being excessively accumulated in the hopper.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus in which the toner flowing out from the hole is perpendicular to the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier and along the surface, that is, in the image forming apparatus using the photosensitive drum. Has a stirring member in the developing device for stirring in the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor drum (hereinafter, referred to as "rotation shaft direction of the photoconductor drum"). For this reason, the toner discharged from the holes in the developing device is agitated by the toner agitating member in the rotational axis direction of the photoconductor drum. Therefore, the toner is uniformly distributed in the developing device in the rotational axis direction of the photoconductor. As a result, the image developed by the developing device becomes uniform with no density unevenness in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum.

In the toner replenishing device of the third aspect, the lid that is opened by the pressure of the toner accumulated in the hopper is provided in the hole for the toner to flow out from the hopper. Therefore, the hole is not opened unless a certain amount or more, that is, an amount enough to open the lid is accumulated in the hopper. Therefore, the toner does not flow out from the hopper section unless a certain amount of toner is accumulated in the hopper. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the amount of toner from being insufficient at the position where the hole is provided in the hopper portion in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor by the toner flowing out of the hopper portion through the hole more than necessary.

In the toner replenishing device of the fourth aspect, the toner replenishing ability of the toner replenishing member for replenishing toner to the developing device from the hopper is such that the toner receiving portion side of the toner replenishing member (hereinafter referred to as "front side") is the end. It is configured so that it becomes higher from the portion to the end portion on the opposite side (hereinafter referred to as “back side”). Therefore, the amount of toner replenished from the hopper to the developing device increases from the front side to the back side. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from excessively accumulating on the inner side of the hopper portion.

In the toner replenishing device of the fifth aspect, the groove of the toner replenishing roller for replenishing the developing device with toner from the hopper portion becomes deeper from the front end of the toner replenishing roller to the opposite back side. Composed. Therefore, the amount of toner inserted into the groove and then replenished to the developing device increases from the front side to the back side. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from excessively accumulating on the inner side of the hopper portion.

In the toner replenishing device of the sixth aspect, the amount of depression of the downstream seal member into the toner replenishing roller increases from the front end of the toner replenishing roller to the rear end thereof. Composed. Here, as the amount of depression of the downstream side seal member into the toner supply roller increases, the amount of toner supplied from the hopper portion to the developing device by the toner supply roller increases, so that the toner is supplied from the hopper portion to the developing device. The amount of toner increases from the front side to the back side. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from excessively accumulating on the inner side of the hopper portion.

In the toner replenishing device of the seventh aspect, the gap width formed by the upstream seal member and the toner replenishing roller increases from the front end to the rear end.
Here, the amount of toner replenished to the developing device by the toner replenishing roller from the hopper portion increases as the above-mentioned gap increases, so the amount of toner replenished to the developing device increases from the front side to the back side. Will increase. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from excessively accumulating on the inner side of the hopper portion.

In the toner replenishing device of the eighth aspect, the height of the gutter becomes lower from the front side to the back side. Here, the toner is conveyed along the gutter by the toner conveying member in the hopper, and the amount of toner that can be supported by the gutter is accumulated in the gutter, and when the amount of toner that is more than the amount that can be supported by the gutter is accumulated in the gutter, The toner drops to the toner replenishing roller and is replenished from the hopper to the developing device by the toner replenishing roller. Further, the amount of toner that can be supported by the gutter depends on the height of the gutter, and the higher the gutter, the more the gutter is lowered and the less the gutter is. Therefore, if the height of the gutter is configured to decrease from the front side to the back side, the amount of toner supported by the gutter decreases from the front side to the back side. The amount of toner dropped to the developing device from the hopper portion increases from the front side to the back side. Therefore, in the toner replenishing device of the eighth aspect, it is possible to prevent the toner from being excessively accumulated on the inner side of the hopper portion. (Hereafter, margin)

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine) which is an image forming apparatus of the present invention and a first embodiment in which the toner replenishing device of the present invention is applied to the above copying machine will be described below. . FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming portion of a copying machine to which this embodiment is applied. 2A is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the developing device of this embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a schematic configuration diagram showing a horizontal stirring screw and a horizontal stirring screw of this embodiment. Also,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the toner replenishing device of this embodiment. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the toner replenishing device of this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the AA section of FIG.

In FIG. 1, a drum-shaped photoconductor 1 as a latent image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed is rotatably mounted, and a charging device 2, a developing device 3,
Transfer device (transfer charger) 4, cleaning device 5,
A charge removing device (charge removing lamp) 6 and the like are provided. A toner replenishing device 7 for replenishing the developing device 3 with toner is attached to the developing device 3. Since the operation of the entire copying machine is a well-known electrophotographic process, its explanation is omitted.

In FIG. 2 (a), the developing device 3 is a dry developing device using a so-called two-component developer (hereinafter referred to as "developer") consisting of toner and carrier. Roller 31, development impeller 32, mixing roller 33, separator 34, horizontal stirring screw 3
5, a concentration sensor 36 for detecting the toner concentration inside the developing device located directly below the mixing roller 33, a horizontal stirring fin 37, and the like are provided. Further, the developing device 3 is provided with a toner replenishing device 7 for replenishing the developing device 3 with toner.

In FIG. 2B, the developer conveyed from the upstream side in the toner conveying direction of the developing device to the horizontal stirring fin 37 is carried by the horizontal stirring fin 37 and the horizontal stirring screw 35 as shown by an arrow in the figure to carry a latent image. A direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the body surface and along the outer surface, that is, in the present embodiment in which the photosensitive drum is used as the latent image carrier, will be described. It is agitated in the “rotational axis direction”). Since the stirring of the developer by the horizontal stirring fins 37 and the horizontal stirring screw 35 in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor is well known, detailed description thereof will be omitted. 3 and 4
In FIG. 5, the toner replenishing device 7 includes a hopper portion 701 that stores a predetermined amount of toner and replenishes the developing device 3 with toner when necessary, and a toner receiving portion 722 that discharges toner from the toner bottle 8. , A toner conveying path 723 for conveying toner from the toner receiving portion 722 to the hopper portion 701.
And so on. Here, the hopper unit 701 and the toner receiving unit 72
2, and the toner transport path 723 is composed of a case 706. Both ends of the case 706 are pipe-shaped, and an opening communicating with the developing device 3 is provided at the center. In addition, above the toner receiving portion 722 of the toner replenishing device 7, a toner bottle 8 configured to detachably attach to the toner replenishing device 7 with toner stored therein is mounted.

Further, the case 706 houses a toner carrying screw 702 as a toner carrying member extending in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor, and the toner carrying screw 702 extends from the toner receiving portion 722 to the toner carrying path. 72
3 and the end portion of the hopper portion 701 that is close to the toner receiving portion (hereinafter referred to as “front side”), and the opposite side of the end portion of the hopper portion 701 that is close to the toner receiving portion in the toner transport path ( In the following, it will be referred to as "back side"). For convenience of description below, the right side of FIG. 4 of the apparatus, that is, the side where the toner container 8 and the toner receiving portion 722 are located is the front side, and the opposite side is the back side.

A toner replenishing roller 705 as a toner replenishing member which is rotated by the signal output of the density sensor 36 is housed in the opening of the case 706 with respect to the developing device. Further, in the case 706, the toner replenishing roller 705 is inserted from the toner conveying screw 702 through the gutter 714.
The upstream side seal member 712 made of, for example, foamed urethane for inserting the toner conveyed to the toner into the groove provided in the toner replenishing roller 705, and the toner inserted in the groove are scraped off, thereby developing device 3 The downstream side sealing material 713 made of, for example, urethane foam
Is attached. The upstream seal member 712
In addition to the function of inserting the toner into the groove provided in the toner replenishing roller 705, the downstream sealing material 713 prevents the toner from passing through the gap formed by the case 706 and the toner replenishing screw 702 and dropping from the hopper 701. It also has a function as a sealing material to prevent. Here, the upstream seal member 712 may have only the function as a seal material, and the toner may be inserted into the groove of the toner supply roller 705 by the weight of the toner or the like. It is also possible to give the downstream sealing material 713 only a function as a sealing material so that the toner falls from the groove by its own weight.

Further, a screw gear 715 is fixed to one end of the rotating shaft of the toner conveying screw 702, and a replenishing roller gear 716 is fixed to one end of the rotating shaft of the toner replenishing roller 705. The screw gear 715 and the replenishing roller gear 71 are fixed.
6 are in mesh with each other. Furthermore, the supply roller gear 7
Reference numeral 16 is engaged with a main body gear 718 to which the driving force from the drive system of the copying machine main body is transmitted.

Here, in the area (area B shown in FIG. 4) from the front end portion of the toner conveying screw 702 to the portion located above the rear end portion of the toner replenishing roller 705, as shown in FIG. Screw blades are provided in the direction of arrow b to convey the toner. On the other hand, in the region from the rear end of the toner transport screw 702 to the portion located above the rear end of the toner replenishing roller 705 (C region shown in FIG. 4), the direction of arrow c in the figure. A screw blade is provided in the direction in which the toner is conveyed. Therefore, the position where the toner transfer from both ends of the transfer screw 702 in the hopper unit 701 collides, that is, the position where the direction of the screw blade of the transfer screw 702 in the hopper unit 701 changes (the position indicated by D in FIG. 4) is The toner is most likely to be accumulated in the hopper unit 701.

In this embodiment, a hole 725 for communicating the hopper 701 and the developing device 3 is provided near the position shown by D in FIG. 4 of the case 706 which constitutes the hopper 701. If this hole 701 is provided, when the toner is excessively accumulated in the hopper unit 701, the toner flows out from the hopper unit 701 to the developing device 3 through the hole 725. It is also desirable to provide a lid 726. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a lid 726 made of thin mylar having a double-sided tape attached to the upper end thereof is used to cover the case 706 with the surface of the double-sided tape opposite to the surface attached to the mylar. It is attached to the outside. The lid 726 is
Any configuration may be adopted in addition to the configuration shown in the present embodiment, as long as it is in the open state due to the pressure of the toner excessively accumulated in the hopper 701 in the hole 725.

Further, the toner flowing out from the hole 725 is conveyed to the horizontal stirring fin 35 as a stirring member which stirs the toner in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier in the developing device 3 and along the direction. It is desirable to be done. Hopper part 7
When the toner flowing out from the hole 06 through the hole 725 is conveyed to the horizontal stirring screw 35, the toner discharged from the hole 725 is uniformly distributed in the developing device 3 in the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor drum 1 by the horizontal stirring screw 35. Because it is stirred in
It is possible to prevent the occurrence of density unevenness of the image formed by the developing device 3 in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1. In this embodiment, the horizontal stirring screw 35 is provided below the hole 725.
The toner replenishing device 7 and the developing device 3 are laid out so that Further, the sealing material 38 is disposed in the path through which the toner flows from the hole 725 to the horizontal stirring screw 35, so that the toner is reliably conveyed to the horizontal stirring screw 35 without leaking to other parts in the developing device. Is adopted.

Toner replenishing device 7 configured as described above
Toner bottle 8 that can be freely and rotatably and detachably attached
Is a cylindrical bottle formed of, for example, a resin material, and an opening for supplying toner to the toner replenishing device 7 is provided at one end thereof. Also, the toner bottle 8
A spiral rib (not shown) that guides the stored toner toward the opening is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the. Further, the toner bottle 8 rotates when a driving force is transmitted from a driving source (not shown), and the toner contained in the toner bottle 8 is gradually discharged from the opening 81 of the toner bottle 8 by a spiral rib (not shown). To the toner receiving portion 72.
It is discharged to 2.

Next, the toner replenishing operation of this toner replenishing device will be described. When the image forming operation in the copying machine is repeated and the toner concentration in the developing device 3 decreases, the toner replenishing screw 702, the toner replenishing roller 705, and the toner bottle 8 are driven by the toner replenishing signal output from the concentration sensor 36. Start spinning. When the toner bottle 8 rotates, as described above, since the spiral ribs are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the toner bottle 8, the toner contained in the toner bottle 8 gradually becomes the toner due to this rotation. It is sent out toward the opening of the bottle 8 and discharged to the toner receiving portion 722. The toner in the toner receiving portion 722 is transferred to the hopper portion 70 by the toner conveying screw 702.
It is transported to 1.

The toner carried in the toner hopper 701 is moved by the toner carrying screw 702 in a direction orthogonal to and along the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier, that is, in the rotational axis direction of the photoconductor in this embodiment. In order to be uniformly distributed, it is conveyed along the gutter 714 in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor and is deposited almost uniformly on the gutter 714. After that, when the accumulated toner reaches a certain amount or more, the toner drops from the gutter 714 to the toner supply roller 705, and the toner supply roller 705
Is supplied to the developing device 3.

Here, as described above, in the toner conveying screw 702, the region from the front end portion to the portion located above the rear end portion of the toner replenishing roller 705 (B shown in FIG. 4). In the area), since the screw blades are provided in the direction of conveying the toner in the direction of the arrow b in the figure, the toner conveying screw 7 in the toner supply device 7 is provided.
By 02, the toner is conveyed and distributed in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier and along the direction, that is, in the entire region in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor of the copying machine. Further, in the region from the rear end of the toner transport screw 702 to the portion located above the rear end of the toner supply roller 705 (C region shown in FIG. 4),
In the figure, since the screw blades are provided in the direction of conveying the toner in the direction of arrow c, the toner accumulated in the area C can be scraped out by rotating the toner conveying screw, and the toner is further accumulated in the area E. Can be prevented.

Further, a position where the B region and the C region are in contact with each other, that is, a position where the toner transport from both ends of the transport screw 702 in the hopper 701 collides, and the screw of the transport screw 702 in the hopper 701 is the screw. Toner excessively deposited at the position where the blades change direction (the position shown by D in FIG. 4) opens the lid 726 by the pressure of the toner from the hopper portion 701 to open the hole 725. Then, the toner is communicated with the hole 7
After passing 25, it falls from the hopper 701 to the horizontal stirring fin 37 provided in the developing device 3. During the conveyance, the seal material 38 is arranged in the path through which the toner flows out from the hole 725 to the horizontal stirring screw 35, so that the toner does not leak to a portion other than the horizontal stirring fin 37 in the developing device. It is surely conveyed to the horizontal stirring screw 35. The toner conveyed to the horizontal stirring fins 35 is stirred by the horizontal stirring fins 35, so that the toner is orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier in the developing device 3 and along the direction.
That is, the toner is evenly distributed in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1, is mixed with the carrier by the mixing roller 33, and is then used for development.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. It should be noted that, of the configurations of the copying machine and the toner replenishing device to which this embodiment is applied, the description of the configurations common to the first embodiment will be omitted. 6A and 6B are schematic configuration diagrams showing the shape and operation of the gutter 714 of this embodiment, FIGS. 6A to 6C show the operation of the gutter 714, and FIG. ) EE
6 (e) shows the FF section of FIG. 6 (a). This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the shape of the gutter 714. As shown in FIGS. 6 (d) and 6 (e), the gutter 7
14 has a shape in which the height decreases from the end on the toner receiving portion side to the end on the side opposite to the toner receiving portion side, that is, from the front side to the back side.

Next, the toner replenishing operation of this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (c),
The toner is transferred to the gutter 714 by the toner transfer screw 702.
When it is conveyed by, the amount of toner that can be supported by the gutter 714 is deposited on the gutter 714, and when the amount of toner that is more than the amount that the gutter 714 can support is deposited on the gutter, it falls from the gutter and reaches the toner supply roller, The toner replenishing roller 705 replenishes the developing device 3 from the hopper. Here, the amount of toner that can be supported by the gutter 714 depends on the height of the gutter 714. The higher the gutter, the more the gutter is lowered and the less the gutter is. Therefore, in this embodiment, since the height of the gutter 714 decreases from the front side to the back side, the amount of toner supported by the gutter 714 decreases from the front side to the back side. Become. Therefore, the amount of toner dropped from the gutter to the toner replenishing member and replenished from the hopper to the developing device is
It increases from the front side to the back side. Therefore, gutter 7
The amount of toner replenished from the hopper 701 to the developing device 3 from the front side to the back side by dropping from 14 to the toner replenishing roller 705 and further replenishing from the toner replenishing roller 705 to the developing device 3 is from the front side to the back side. According to Therefore, in this embodiment, by adopting the above-mentioned shape of the gutter 714, if the shape of the gutter 714 is not adopted, the toner is excessively accumulated on the inner side of the hopper portion where the toner is likely to be excessively accumulated. Accumulation can be prevented.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. It should be noted that, of the configuration of the copying machine and the configuration of the toner replenishing device to which this embodiment is applied, the description common to that of the first embodiment will be omitted. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the shape of the groove provided in the toner supply roller 702.

First, prior to the description of this embodiment, the depth of the groove provided in the toner replenishing roller 702 and the toner replenished from the hopper 701 to the developing device 3 by being inserted into the groove and then falling from the groove. The relationship of the amount of is explained. As shown in FIG. 8, the inventor of the present invention finds that the toner replenishing ability of the toner replenishing roller 702, that is, the toner replenishing amount in a unit time per unit length of the toner replenishing roller is
As a result of an experiment, it was discovered that the toner feeding ability depends on the depth of the groove of the toner supply roller 702. The deeper the groove, the higher the toner carrying capacity, and the shallower the groove, the lower the toner carrying capacity. Therefore, using this finding, in this embodiment, the depth of the groove of the toner conveying roller is changed in the direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive member, so that the hopper portion on the inner side of the hopper portion where toner is likely to be excessively accumulated. The amount of toner replenished from 701 to the developing device 3 is controlled as shown in FIG. 7 to avoid excessive accumulation of toner on the inner side of the hopper. Note that FIG. 7 shows the toner feeding ability of the toner replenishing roller 705 at a point of distance x in the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor drum 1, measured with the front end of the toner feeding roller 705 as the origin. Specifically, the depth of the groove of the toner replenishing roller 705 is set to be shallow on the hand side as shown in FIG. 9 and deeper toward the back side. 9B is a schematic diagram showing the shape of the toner supply roller 702.
9A is a sectional view showing the GG section of FIG. 9B, and FIG. 9C is a sectional view showing the HH section of FIG. 9B.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. It should be noted that, of the configuration of the copying machine and the configuration of the toner replenishing device to which this embodiment is applied, the description common to that of the first embodiment will be omitted. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the amount T1 of the downstream side sealing material 713 dented into the toner supply roller 705 is changed in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1. First, prior to the description of this embodiment, the amount of bite T1 and the downstream sealing material 713 after being inserted into the groove
The relationship between the amount of toner that is dropped from the groove by being scraped off by and is replenished from the hopper unit 701 to the developing device 3 will be described. The inventor of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10, has a toner replenishing capability of the toner replenishing roller 702, that is,
The amount of toner replenishment per unit length of the toner replenishing roller within a unit time depends on the amount of dents T1. If the amount of dents T1 is large, the toner carrying capacity is high.
As a result of experiments, it was discovered that the toner carrying force is low when the amount of dents T1 is small. In view of this, using this finding, in this embodiment, the amount of biting T1 is changed in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor 1, so that the toner is easily accumulated excessively from the hopper portion 701 on the inner side of the hopper portion to the developing device. The toner replenishment amount to No. 3 is controlled as shown in FIG. 7 as in the third embodiment to avoid excessive accumulation of toner on the inner side of the hopper. Specifically, the value of the bite amount T1 is configured to be small on the labor side and increase on the far side as shown in FIG. In addition,
FIG. 11A is a sectional view showing a cross section on the front side of the toner supply device 7, and FIG. 11B is a sectional view showing a cross section on the back side of the toner supply device 7.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. It should be noted that, of the configuration of the copying machine and the configuration of the toner replenishing device to which this embodiment is applied, the description common to that of the first embodiment will be omitted. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the distance T2 formed by the upstream seal material 712 and the toner supply roller 705 is changed in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1. First, prior to the description of this embodiment, the distance T2
The relationship between the amount of toner that is inserted into the groove provided in the toner conveying roller 705 by the upstream side seal material 712 and then drops from the groove and is replenished from the hopper unit 701 to the developing device 3 will be described. As shown in FIG. 12, the toner replenishing ability of the toner replenishing roller 702, that is, the toner replenishing amount per unit length of the toner replenishing roller in a unit time depends on the distance T2, and the value of the distance amount T2 is If it is large, the toner carrying capacity is high, and if the value of the distance amount T2 is small, the toner carrying force is low. This indicates that if the value of the distance T2 is large, that is, if the gap formed by the upstream seal material 712 and the toner replenishing roller 705 is large, the amount of toner that passes through the gap and falls onto the toner replenishing roller 705 is large. ing. Therefore, by changing the distance T2 in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor 1 in this embodiment using the above relation, the developing device is moved from the hopper portion 701 on the inner side of the hopper portion where toner is likely to be excessively accumulated. The toner replenishment amount to No. 3 is controlled as shown in FIG. 7 as in the third embodiment to avoid excessive accumulation of toner on the inner side of the hopper. Specifically, the value of the distance T2 is set to be small on the labor side and increase on the far side as shown in FIG. Here, FIG.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section on the front side of the toner replenishing device 7, and FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section on the back side of the toner replenishing device 7. In this embodiment, the distance T2 is set to a negative value on the near side. This indicates that the upstream side seal material 712 is provided at a position where it is difficult to feed the toner replenishing roller 705. (Hereafter, margin)

[0045]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the toner from excessively accumulating in the hopper. Therefore, when the toner is further accumulated in the hopper portion, the toner is further conveyed and is conveyed to the toner replenishing member and the toner conveying member provided in the hopper portion, and the case forming the hopper portion. It is possible to prevent the force from being applied from the toner. Therefore, the above-mentioned members are not damaged by the force applied from the conveyed toner. Further, since the toner does not accumulate excessively, pressure is not applied to the toner itself.
Therefore, when a force is applied to the toner, the toner particles adhere to each other to generate coarse particles, and it is possible to avoid deterioration of image quality caused by using the coarse particles in image formation.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the toner is uniformly distributed in the developing device in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor, so that the image developed by the developing device is in the direction of the rotation shaft of the photoconductor drum. It is uniform with no uneven density.

According to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to prevent the amount of toner at the position in the hopper portion where the hole is provided in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor from becoming insufficient. Therefore, even in the developing device to which the toner is supplied from the hopper, the amount of toner at the position where the hole is provided in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor does not become insufficient, so that the image developed by the developing device is It is uniform with no density unevenness in the direction of the rotation axis of the body drum.

According to the invention of claim 4, the toner replenishing ability of the toner replenishing member for replenishing toner from the hopper to the developing device becomes higher from the front side to the back side, so that the toner is replenished from the hopper to the developing device. The amount of toner that is stored increases from the front side to the back side. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from excessively accumulating on the inner side of the hopper unit, so that the toner is further conveyed to the inner side of the hopper unit while the toner is accumulated on the inner side of the hopper unit,
It is possible to prevent a force from being applied to the toner supplied to the toner replenishing member and the toner conveying member provided in the hopper, and to the case forming the hopper.
Therefore, in the inner part of the hopper part, the above-mentioned members are not damaged by the force applied from the conveyed toner. Further, since the toner does not accumulate excessively, pressure is not applied to the toner itself. Therefore, when a force is applied to the toner, the toner particles adhere to each other to generate coarse particles, and it is possible to avoid deterioration of image quality caused by using the coarse particles in image formation.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the amount of toner that is inserted into the groove of the toner replenishing roller and then replenished to the developing device increases from the front side to the back side. Can be prevented from being excessively deposited. Therefore, the same effect as that of the fourth aspect can be obtained.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the amount of the downstream side seal member indented into the toner replenishing roller increases from the front end of the toner replenishing roller to the rear end, the hopper portion is increased. The amount of toner supplied from the developing device to the developing device increases from the front side to the back side. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from being excessively accumulated on the inner side of the hopper portion. Therefore, the same effect as that of the fourth aspect can be obtained.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the gap width formed by the upstream seal member and the toner replenishing roller increases from the front end to the rear end. The amount of toner supplied to the device increases from the front side to the back side. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from being excessively accumulated on the inner side of the hopper portion. Therefore, the same effect as that of the fourth aspect can be obtained.

According to the invention described in claim 8, since the height of the gutter decreases from the front side to the back side, the amount of toner replenished from the hopper section to the developing device is small. , It increases from the front side to the back side. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from being excessively accumulated on the inner side of the hopper portion. Therefore, the same effect as that of the fourth aspect can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine to which a toner supply device according to an embodiment is applied.

FIG. 2A is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a developing device and a toner replenishing device of the copying machine shown in FIG. (B) The front view which shows schematic structure of the horizontal stirring screw and horizontal stirring fin of Fig.2 (a).

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the toner replenishing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the toner replenishing device shown in FIG.

5 is a sectional view showing an AA section in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 (a) is a front view showing the gutter of the second embodiment. (B) The same front view. (C) The same front view. (D) Sectional drawing which shows the EE cross section of FIG.6 (a). (E) Sectional drawing which shows the FF cross section of FIG.6 (a).

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the toner replenishment ability of the toner replenishment member toward the latent image carrier.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relationship between the groove depth of the toner supply roller and the toner supply capacity.

9A is a sectional view showing a GG section of FIG. 9B. FIG. FIG. 7B is a front view showing the shape of the toner supply roller of the third embodiment. (C) Sectional drawing which shows the HH cross section of FIG.9 (b).

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of dents T1 and the toner carrying capacity.

FIG. 11A is a front sectional view of the toner replenishing device of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 6B is a sectional view of the toner replenishing device of the fourth embodiment on the back side.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing the relationship between the distance T2 and the toner carrying capacity.

FIG. 13A is a front sectional view of the toner supply device according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 6B is a sectional view of the toner replenishing device of the fifth embodiment on the back side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Photosensitive Drum 2 Charging Device 3 Developing Device 31 Developing Roller 32 Impeller 33 Mixing Roller 34 Separator 35 Horizontal Stirring Screw 36 Density Sensor 37 Horizontal Stirring Fin 38 Sealing Material 4 Transfer Device 5 Cleaning Device 6 Electrification Device 7 Toner Supply Device 701 Hopper 702 toner conveying screw as toner conveying member 704 communication port 705 toner replenishing roller as toner replenishing member 706 case 712 upstream seal member 713 downstream seal member 714 gutter 715 screw gear 716 replenishing roller gear 718 main body gear 720 clutch 722 toner receiver Part 723 Toner transport path 724 Toner transport path member 725 Hole 726 Lid 8 Toner bottle as a toner container

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A toner receiving portion for receiving toner discharged from a toner container, a hopper portion for conveying toner from the toner receiving portion via a toner conveying path, and a toner supply from the hopper portion to a developing device. Toner replenishing member and an end opposite to the end of the toner replenishing member near the toner receiving portion in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier and along the surface. A toner replenishing device for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a toner conveying member extending over a portion; and a case that accommodates the toner conveying member and the toner replenishing member to form the hopper portion,
A toner replenishing device for an image forming apparatus, wherein a hole through which toner can flow from the hopper portion to the developing device is formed in the case. 2. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, and the toner provided in the developing device, the toner flowing out from the hole is agitated in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier and along the surface. An image forming apparatus comprising: a stirring member. 3. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein a lid that is opened by the pressure of the toner accumulated in the hopper is provided in the hole. 4. A toner receiving portion for receiving toner discharged from a toner container, a hopper portion for conveying the toner from the toner receiving portion through a toner conveying path, and a toner supply from the hopper portion to a developing device. Toner replenishing member and an end opposite to the end of the toner replenishing member near the toner receiving portion in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier and along the surface. A toner replenishing device for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a toner conveying member extending over a portion; and a case for accommodating the toner conveying member and the toner replenishing member to form the hopper portion,
The toner replenishing ability of the toner replenishing member from the hopper portion to the developing device is increased from the end portion on the toner receiving portion side of the toner replenishing member to the opposite end portion thereof. A toner replenishing device for a characteristic image forming apparatus. 5. The toner replenishing member comprises a toner replenishing roller having a groove on its surface, and the groove of the toner replenishing roller extends from an end of the toner replenishing roller on the toner receiving portion side to an end on the opposite side thereof. 5. The toner replenishing device according to claim 4, wherein the depth of the toner replenishes. 6. The toner replenishing member is composed of a toner replenishing roller having a groove on its surface, and has a downstream side seal member which is provided in pressure contact with the toner conveying roller and scrapes off the toner inserted in the groove. 5. The amount of depression of the downstream seal member into the toner replenishing roller increases from the end on the toner receiving portion side of the toner replenishing roller to the end on the opposite side thereof. Toner replenishing device. 7. The toner replenishing member is composed of a toner replenishing roller having a groove on the surface thereof, and has an upstream side seal member provided in pressure contact with a part or all of the toner replenishing roller. 5. The toner replenishing device according to claim 4, wherein the gap width between the seal member and the toner replenishing roller increases from the end of the toner replenishing roller on the toner receiving portion side to the opposite end thereof. . 8. A toner receiving portion for receiving toner discharged from a toner container, a hopper portion for conveying the toner from the toner receiving portion through a toner conveying path, and a toner supply from the hopper portion to a developing device. Toner replenishing member and an end opposite to the end of the toner replenishing member near the toner receiving portion in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface of the latent image carrier and along the surface. A toner conveying member extending over a portion, a gutter that holds toner to be conveyed by the toner conveying member in at least the hopper portion, the toner conveying member, the toner replenishing member, and the gutter, A toner replenishing device for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a case that forms the hopper section, wherein the height of the gutter is changed from an end on the toner receiving portion side of the gutter to an end on the opposite side. The toner replenishing device of an image forming apparatus characterized by being set to be lower as that.