JPH08160698A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a developing device preventing the erroneous detection of the residual toner quantity by the effect of the creeping light on the side wall of a toner cartridge and capable of accurately detecting the residual toner quantity. CONSTITUTION: The side wall of a toner cartridge 42 is formed into a corrugated shape at the portion other than the residual toner quantity detection sections 421 opposite to a light emitting member 11 and a light receiving member 12 respectively. Even if the light from the light emitting member 11 is turned around on the side wall via refraction when it transmits the side wall of the toner cartridge 42, the light is scattered to the outside of the toner cartridge 42 before it reaches the light receiving member 12 by the reflection on the side wall of the toner cartridge 42, and it does not reach the light receiving member 12. The creeping light is not detected by the light receiving member 12, and the toner end time can be accurately detected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0006]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine or a printer, and more specifically, a developing device containing a developer and a toner replenishing the developing device. And a toner cartridge made of a transparent or semi-transparent member, and light emitted from a light emitting section arranged on one side of the toner cartridge so as to face the other side wall of the toner cartridge. The present invention relates to a developing device that includes a remaining toner amount detecting unit that detects a remaining amount of toner by receiving light by a light receiving unit provided, and that visualizes a latent image formed on an image bearing member by the developing device. .

[0007]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as the toner remaining amount detecting means, a toner remaining amount detecting device utilizing transmitted light has been known. As a developing device using such a device, a toner cartridge is transparent or semi-transparent. It is known that the presence or absence of the remaining toner amount is determined by detecting the light from the light emitting member provided on one side surface of the toner cartridge by the light receiving member provided on the other side surface. (For example, JP-A-63-2087 and JP-A-1-3
16765).

[0008]

However, according to the above configuration, since the toner cartridge is transparent or semi-transparent, when the light emitted from the light emitting portion passes through the side wall of the toner cartridge facing the light emitting portion. Refraction, FIG.
In some cases, it may go around the side wall portion of the toner cartridge 42Y indicated by the diagonal lines in (a). Then, this light is
As shown in (b), the light propagates while being totally reflected on the side wall of the toner cartridge 42Y and is detected by the light receiving portion.
Therefore, even when the toner is sufficiently present in the cartridge 42Y, the toner end is erroneously detected regardless of the presence or absence of the toner, and the toner end time cannot be accurately detected.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to prevent erroneous detection of the remaining toner amount due to the influence of light that goes around the side wall of the toner cartridge and to accurately detect the remaining toner amount. It is to provide a developing device capable of performing.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a developing device according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided with a developing device for accommodating a developer, and a developing device for supplying toner to the developing device. Light from a toner cartridge formed of a transparent member and a light emitting portion arranged on one side of the toner cartridge so as to face one side wall of the toner cartridge is received by a light receiving portion arranged so as to face the other side wall of the toner cartridge. And a toner residual amount detecting means for detecting the residual toner amount by means of the above, and in a developing device for visualizing the latent image formed on the image bearing member by the developing device, Is emitted,
When the light passes through the side wall of the toner cartridge, it goes around the side wall of the toner cartridge and scatters the light propagating in the side wall, so that the light is emitted in a shape or material that does not enter the light receiving portion of the toner remaining amount detecting means. And a side wall portion other than the side wall portion of the toner cartridge facing the light receiving portion and the light receiving portion, respectively.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device for accommodating a developer, a toner cartridge provided for replenishing the developing device with toner, and a toner cartridge formed of a transparent or semi-transparent member. Toner remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of toner by receiving light from a light emitting unit arranged on the side facing one side wall by a light receiving unit arranged facing the other side wall. In a developing device for visualizing a latent image formed on an image bearing member by the developing device, a light blocking member is provided on a side wall of the toner cartridge other than side wall portions respectively facing the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion. It is characterized by being covered with.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device for accommodating a developer, a toner cartridge which is provided for replenishing the developing device with toner, and which is composed of a transparent or semitransparent member. Toner remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of toner by receiving light from a light emitting unit arranged on the side facing one side wall by a light receiving unit arranged facing the other side wall. In a developing device that visualizes the latent image formed on the image bearing member by the developing device, the toner cartridge having a cross section perpendicular to the traveling direction of the light traveling straight from the light emitting portion to the light receiving portion. It is characterized in that it is formed so as to be stuck together, and a light shielding member is sandwiched between the stuck portions.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device which contains a developer, a toner cartridge which is provided for replenishing the developing device with toner, and which is composed of a transparent or translucent member. Toner remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of toner by receiving light from a light emitting unit arranged on the side facing one side wall by a light receiving unit arranged facing the other side wall. And a developing device for visualizing the latent image formed on the image carrier by the developing device, wherein the side wall of the toner cartridge facing the light emitting portion is formed in a convex lens shape, or the light emitting portion is formed. And a convex lens is provided between the side wall of the toner cartridge and the side wall of the toner cartridge facing the light emitting portion.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device for accommodating a developer, a toner cartridge provided for replenishing the developing device with toner, and a toner cartridge formed of a transparent or semitransparent member. Toner remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of toner by receiving light from a light emitting unit arranged on the side facing one side wall by a light receiving unit arranged facing the other side wall. A developing device for visualizing the latent image formed on the image bearing member by the developing device, wherein the light emitting portion is provided between the light receiving portion and the toner cartridge side wall facing the light receiving portion. It is characterized in that a light blocking member configured to block light other than the light that goes straight to the light receiving portion is provided.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device which stores a developer, a toner cartridge which is provided for replenishing the developing device with toner, and which is composed of a transparent or translucent member, and the toner cartridge. Toner remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of toner by receiving light from a light emitting unit arranged on the side facing one side wall by a light receiving unit arranged facing the other side wall. A developing device that visualizes the latent image formed on the image bearing member by the developing device, wherein the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are included in the light receiving amount detected by the light receiving portion of the toner remaining amount detecting means. It is characterized in that a processing means for subtracting a predetermined amount of light quantity other than the light quantity from the straight optical path of the section from the light receiving quantity of the light receiving section is provided.

[0016]

In the developing device according to the present invention, the light emitted from the light emitting portion is refracted when passing through the side wall of the toner cartridge, and even if the light goes around the side wall of the toner cartridge, the light is reflected while traveling while reflecting the side wall. Are scattered and go out from the side wall of the cartridge before reaching the light receiving portion.

In the developing device according to the second aspect and the third aspect, the light emitted from the light emitting portion is refracted when passing through the side wall of the toner cartridge and circulates inside the side wall of the cartridge.
This light is blocked by the light blocking member.

In the developing device of claim 4, since the light from the light emitting portion is narrowed down by the convex lens and then passed through the inside of the toner cartridge, when the light emitted from the light emitting portion passes through the side wall of the toner cartridge, It goes straight to the light receiving portion side without being bent by the side wall of the cartridge.

In the developing device according to the fifth aspect, even if the light emitted from the light emitting portion goes around the toner cartridge, the light shielding member disposed between the light receiving portion and the toner cartridge causes the light to be emitted from the light emitting portion. The light is blocked so that the light other than the light that goes straight to the light receiving unit is not received by the light receiving unit.

In the developing device according to the sixth aspect, among the received light amounts on the light receiving portion side of the toner remaining amount detecting means, the light amount other than the light transmitted through the straight optical path of the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion is processed by the processing means. Perform the deduction process.

[0021]

EXAMPLES As a developing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied,
An embodiment applied to a rotary developing device (hereinafter referred to as a revolver developing device) used in a full-color printer will be described. FIG. 1 shows a revolver developing device 4 according to this embodiment.
It is a front view which shows the schematic structure of. It should be noted that FIG. 1 shows a state in which a developing unit as one developing unit, for example, a yellow developing unit is in the developing position. The revolver developing device 4 is arranged in the vicinity of the photosensitive belt 1 serving as a latent image carrier that rotates in the A direction as an endless belt. Then, in the cover member 41 of the revolver developing device 4, a casing 20 as a rotating body is rotatably provided around a rotation center axis O, and is rotated in a direction of an arrow C by a drive mechanism (not shown). Has become. The casing 20 is a casing in which the respective color developing units of the yellow developing unit 22Y, the magenta developing unit 22M, the cyan developing unit 22C, and the black developing unit 22K are integrated, and each developing unit is provided in the cover member 41. It is formed so that the space is divided into four and occupied.

Each developing unit 22Y, 22M, 22C,
22K is a developing unit using a non-magnetic one-component developer, which stores yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, respectively. In addition, each developing unit 22Y, 22M,
22C and 22K are provided with cylindrical developing rollers 23Y, 23M, 23C and 23K as a developer bearing member, respectively. The developing rollers 23Y, 23M, 23
Each of C and 23K is arranged so that a part thereof is exposed to the outside through an opening 22a provided in the casing 20.

Each color developing unit 22Y, 22M, 2
Since the 2C and 22K have the same form and the same operation, the yellow developing unit 22Y will be described as an example in the following description, and the description of the other developing units 22M, 22C and 22K will be omitted. In addition, each developing unit 22Y, 2
Regarding the same corresponding members in 2M, 22C, and 22K, only the letters at the end of the reference numerals in FIG. 1 are changed and shown.

In FIG. 1, the developing unit 22Y is disposed below the photosensitive belt 1 when used for development, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive belt 1 is provided with yellow toner as a non-magnetic one-component developer. To supply. An opening 22a is formed in the upper part of the casing 20 of the yellow developing unit 22Y at the developing position. The developing roller 23Y is provided in the opening 22a so as to face the photoconductor belt 1.
However, it is arranged so as to rotate in the same direction as the moving direction of the photosensitive belt 1 at a portion facing the photosensitive belt 1 with a predetermined peripheral speed ratio. An end portion of the shielding member 38Y is in contact with a surface portion of the developing roller 23Y on the downstream side in the rotation direction with respect to the facing portion of the photosensitive belt 1 to prevent the toner from leaking or scattering from the opening 22a. ing.

Below the developing roller 23Y, a supply roller 31Y made of an elastic material such as foamed polyurethane as a toner supply member slides on the developing roller 23Y, and
It is provided so as to rotate in the same direction as the rotation direction of the developing roller 23Y at a sliding portion against the developing roller 23Y at a predetermined peripheral speed ratio with respect to the developing roller 23Y.

Further, a developing blade 32Y as a developer regulating member made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber is provided on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the developing roller 23Y with respect to the position where the supply roller 31Y is disposed and near the opening 22a. However, the vicinity of its free end is provided so as to contact the developing roller 23Y.

On the left side of the rubbing portion, a screw-shaped first toner carrying member (hereinafter referred to as a first toner carrying screw) for carrying toner from the front side to the back side of the paper surface.
33Y, and below the supply roller 31Y, a screw-shaped second toner conveying member (hereinafter, referred to as a second toner conveying screw) 35Y that conveys toner from the back side of the paper toward the front side is provided. . Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, a toner containing portion 40Y is provided at the end of the yellow developing unit 22Y in the longitudinal direction. Here, the toner carrying screw 33Y is arranged in parallel with the developing roller 23Y and the supply roller 31Y from the toner containing portion 40Y to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the developing unit 22Y. Then, in order to convey the toner from the toner container 40Y to the other end of the yellow developing unit 22Y, the toner is interlocked with the developing roller 23Y and the supply roller 31Y and rotated at a predetermined peripheral speed ratio. A second toner carrying screw 35Y is provided in the lower part of the yellow developing unit 22Y with a developing roller 23Y and a supply roller 3
1Y and the first toner carrying screw 33Y are arranged in parallel. Then, the first toner carrying screw 33Y
It is rotated so as to convey the toner in the opposite direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the casing 20 is formed so that a part thereof is in contact with the supply roller 31Y, and the developing roller 23Y, the supply roller 31Y and the casing 20 surround the toner conveying member 33Y. A toner transport space is formed.

Further, reference numerals 42Y and 42 in FIG.
M, 42C, and 42K are the developing units 22Y and 22Y, respectively.
22M, 22C, 22K toner accommodating portions 40Y, 40
The toner cartridges 42Y and 42 are detachable toner cartridges M, 40C, and 40K.
By mounting and replacing M, 42C, and 42K when the revolver developing device 4 is newly mounted and at the time of toner end, a required amount of toner is always stored in the toner storage units 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K.

In the revolver developing device 4 having the above structure,
The first toner carrying screw 33Y is rotated in a predetermined direction to carry the toner from the toner container 40 into the toner carrying space and to supply the toner onto the supply roller 31Y. The toner supplied onto the supply roller 31Y is supplied to the surface of the developing roller 23Y while being charged by being rubbed by the supply roller 31Y and the developing roller 23Y, and is carried on the surface of the developing roller 23Y. The toner carried on the surface of the developing roller 23Y is made into a toner thin layer having a uniform thickness and a predetermined thickness by the developing blade 32Y, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive belt 1 is contacted or non-contact developed. develop.

The toner that has not been used in the developing step is conveyed by the first toner conveying screw 33Y to the end of the developing unit opposite to the toner containing portion 40Y. First
The toner conveyed to the toner circulating portion by the toner conveying screw 33Y is gravitationally applied to the yellow developing unit 22Y.
Fall to the bottom. Then, the yellow developing unit 22Y
The toner dropped to the lower part of the inside is conveyed by the second toner conveying screw 35Y in the direction opposite to that of the first toner conveying screw 33Y. As a result, the toner not used in the developing process is returned to the toner storage unit 40Y.

The revolver developing device 4 having the above structure is
The developing units 22Y, 22M, 22 are synchronized with the color information.
The casing 20 is rotated about the rotation center axis O so that C and 22K are selectively arranged at the developing position, and corresponding electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive belt 1 are sequentially developed. . Then, the developed images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt (not shown) and the transfer paper to form a full-color image.

By the way, in the revolver developing device 4,
A toner remaining amount detecting means 3 for detecting the toner remaining amount of the toner cartridge 42 is provided. Then, at the toner end, the toner cartridge 42 is replaced. As shown in FIG. 2A, the toner remaining amount detecting means 3 is composed of a toner remaining amount sensor 10 for detecting the toner present in the toner remaining amount detecting units 421a and 421b of each toner cartridge. Has been done. As shown in FIG. 2B, the toner remaining amount sensor 10 includes a light emitting member 11 such as an infrared LED, a light receiving member 12 such as a photodiode, and the light emitting member 11 and the light receiving member 12 facing each other at a narrow interval. And the fixing member 13 for fixing the toner cartridge 42 so as to sandwich it, and these are arranged in the lower part in the direction of gravity. Further, even if the toner cartridge 42 rotates, the toner remaining amount sensor 10 is arranged so as not to contact the outer circumference of the toner cartridge 42.

Then, the light emitting member 11 and the light receiving member 12 are provided.
When the toner T that blocks the light does not exist in the remaining toner amount detecting unit 421 between and, the light from the light emitting member 11 is transmitted through the transparent remaining toner amount detecting units 421a and 421b and is received by the light receiving member 12. To be done. From this, it can be seen that the toner cartridge 42 is at the toner end. Further, since the toner cartridge 42 is made of a transparent material so that the toner inside can be seen, the remaining amount of toner can be visually confirmed. In the present embodiment, the toner cartridges 42Y, 42M, 42
Polycarbonate, for example, is used as the transparent material forming the cartridge in order to detect the remaining amount of toner in C and 42K by light, but the material is not limited to polycarbonate as long as it can be molded as a toner cartridge. (Hereinafter, margin)

Below, when the light from the light emitting member 11 is transmitted through the side wall of the toner cartridge 42, the light sneak into the side wall of the toner cartridge 42 by refraction is received.
An example for preventing the detection by the above will be described. The toner cartridges 42Y, 42M,
The toner cartridges 42Y and 42K have the same configuration, and therefore the toner cartridge 42Y containing the yellow toner is used.
Will be described as an example, and description of other toner cartridges will be omitted. [Embodiment 1] FIG. 3A shows the toner detecting portions 421a and 421 on the side facing the light emitting member 11 and the light receiving member 12, respectively.
The side wall shape of the toner cartridge 42Y other than 21b is
It is formed in a wavy shape. Moreover, FIG.3 (b) shows what formed the said side wall shape in an uneven shape. With these shapes, when the light emitted from the light emitting member 11 passes through the side wall of the toner cartridge 42Y, even if the light refracted by the side wall enters the side wall of the toner cartridge 42Y.
The light does not reach the light receiving member 12 because it is scattered by the reflection in the side wall of Y before it reaches the light receiving member 12 and goes out of the cartridge. Therefore, the wraparound light is received by the light receiving member 1.
It is possible to accurately detect the toner end time without being detected in 2.

[Embodiment 2] FIG. 4 is a side view of the toner cartridge 42Y in which a toner detecting section 4 and a toner detecting section 4 are provided.
The thickness portions other than 21a and 421b are molded by the foam member 14. In this configuration, the light that has entered the side wall of the toner cartridge 42Y by refraction is diffusely reflected by the foaming member 14 and thus scattered, and does not reach the light receiving member 12 because it is not propagated in the side wall. No light is received. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect the toner end time. The foaming member 14 need only be a transparent member because it is sufficient to scatter the light that has entered the side wall.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 5A shows a light shielding member 15 attached to a position near the remaining toner amount detecting portion 421b at a position where the remaining toner amount detecting portion 421b is not blocked. With this configuration, the wraparound light is shielded by the light shielding member 15, and thus is not detected by the light receiving member 12. Further, in FIG. 5B, the light shielding member 15 is attached in the vicinity of the remaining toner amount detecting portion 421a at a position where the remaining toner amount detecting portion 421a is not blocked. With this configuration, the generation of the wraparound light in the toner remaining amount detecting unit 421a is suppressed, and therefore the light receiving member 12 is not affected. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect the toner end time. It should be noted that the light shielding member 15 may be attached anywhere as long as the light can be prevented from entering the light receiving member 12. Further, the material of the light shielding member 15 may be any material that shields or absorbs light.
The influence of the wraparound light on the light receiving member 12 can also be prevented by applying a paint that absorbs or blocks light, such as a black paint, to the position shown in (a) or (b).

[Embodiment 4] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the toner cartridge 42Y is used.
Are bonded to each other in a cross section perpendicular to the traveling direction of light that goes straight from the light emitting member 11 to the light receiving member 12. The joining portion 16 that is the bonded portion is used as the light shielding member 15, for example, colored polycarbonate. Sandwiched between. As a result, the light that tries to wrap around the side surface of the toner cartridge 42Y is blocked by the light blocking member 15, so that the wrap-around light is not received by the light receiving member 12. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect the toner end time. In addition, the light blocking member 15 blocks light,
Moreover, as long as the toner cartridge 42Y can be molded, it is not always necessary to use polycarbonate, and it may be formed using a material such as polypropylene or polyethylene.

[Fifth Embodiment] FIG. 7 shows a convex lens type of the detection portions 421a and 421b of the toner cartridge 42Y, which is an optical path portion of the toner remaining amount detection means 3. As a result, the light emitted from the light emitting member 11 is narrowed down by the convex lens type detection unit 421a and goes straight to the detection unit 421b side facing the light receiving member. Therefore, when the light passes through the side wall of the toner cartridge 42Y, the light does not wrap around inside the side wall due to refraction, so that there is no erroneous detection of the remaining amount of toner due to the influence of the wrap-around light to the light receiving member 12, and the toner end time is accurately detected. It becomes possible to do. In addition,
In the example shown in FIG. 7, the detectors 421a on both sides of the toner cartridge 42Y on the light emitting member 11 side and the light receiving member 12 side,
421b is a convex lens type, but this is a light receiving member 1
This is because the light receiving sensitivity is improved by converging the light to 2, and both sides of the toner cartridge 42Y do not necessarily need to be convex lens type in order to prevent the wraparound light, and at least the detection unit 421 facing the light emitting member 11 is necessary.
It is sufficient that a is a convex lens type.

[Sixth Embodiment] FIG. 8 shows a convex lens 17 disposed between the light emitting member 11 of the toner remaining amount detecting means 3 and the toner remaining amount detecting portion 421b. As a result, the light emitted from the light emitting member 11 is narrowed down by the convex lens 17,
The light passing through the detection portion 421a is the toner cartridge 4
It is orthogonal to the 2Y side wall, and it is possible to prevent the generation of wraparound light due to refraction. Therefore, accurate toner end detection is possible. Although the convex lens 17 is arranged only on the side of the light emitting member 11 of the toner cartridge 42Y in the example of FIG. 8, the convex lens 17 is further arranged on the side of the light receiving member 12 to narrow down the light so that the light receiving member 12 receives the light. It is also possible to improve the light receiving sensitivity.

[Embodiment 7] In FIG. 9, light other than the light which goes straight from the light emitting member 11 to the light receiving member 12 is blocked between the light receiving member 12 and the side wall of the toner cartridge 42Y facing the light receiving member 12. The slit 18 is provided as the light shielding member configured as described above. As a result, even if the light from the light emitting member 11 wraps around the side wall of the cartridge 42Y facing the light emitting member 11, the slit 18 prevents the wraparound light from entering the light receiving member 12 side. Therefore, the light receiving member 12 is not affected by the wraparound light. Therefore, the toner end time can be accurately detected.

[Embodiment 8] FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of the toner remaining amount detecting means 3. As the circuit of the toner remaining amount detecting means, a similar configuration is adopted in the other embodiments, but in this embodiment, in particular, the CPU stores the light amount of the wraparound light in advance, and the light receiving member 12 detects it. It is configured such that the amount obtained by subtracting the light amount of the wraparound light stored in advance from the obtained light amount is determined as the true detection amount. As a result, the remaining toner amount is detected in consideration of the influence of the wraparound light, so that the erroneous detection of the remaining toner amount can be prevented without adding a new member.

According to each of the above-described embodiments, the light emitting member 1 is used while the toner remains in the toner cartridge 42Y.
When the light emitted from No. 1 passes through the toner remaining amount detecting unit 421a of the toner cartridge 42Y, the toner cartridge 4
Since the propagation of light that wraps around the side wall of 2Y is prevented by scattering or absorption, the wrap-around light is not received by the light receiving member 12, erroneous detection of the toner remaining amount can be prevented, and the toner end time can be accurately detected. It becomes possible. In particular, according to the eighth embodiment, since the influence of the wraparound light is prevented by the signal control by the CPU, it is very effective in that it can be directly applied to the conventional device without adding a new member.

Although each of the above embodiments describes the rotary developing device, the application of the present invention is not limited to such a rotary developing device.

[0045]

According to the developing device of the first aspect, while the light that goes around the toner cartridge travels while reflecting on the side wall, the light is scattered and goes out from the side wall of the cartridge before reaching the light receiving portion. Therefore, the wraparound light is not received by the light receiving section. Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of the remaining amount of toner due to the influence of the wraparound light.

According to the developing device of the second and third aspects, the light emitted from the light emitting portion is refracted when passing through the side wall of the toner cartridge, and even if the light goes around into the side wall of the cartridge, the light is blocked by the light shielding member. Since the light is blocked, the light receiving unit does not receive the light, and it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of the remaining amount of toner due to the influence of the wraparound light.

According to the developing device of the fourth aspect, since the light from the light emitting portion is narrowed down by the convex lens and then passed through the inside of the toner cartridge, the light emitted from the light emitting portion passes through the side wall of the toner cartridge. , Since it goes straight to the side of the light receiving portion without being bent by the side wall of the cartridge,
There is no light that wraps around the side wall of the cartridge. Therefore, erroneous detection of the remaining toner amount can be prevented.

According to the developing device of the fifth aspect, even if the light emitted from the light emitting portion goes around the toner cartridge,
The light blocking member disposed between the light receiving unit and the toner cartridge blocks light other than light that goes straight from the light emitting unit to the light receiving unit, so that the wraparound light does not enter the light receiving unit and is received. Never. Therefore, erroneous detection of the remaining toner amount can be prevented.

According to the developing device of the sixth aspect, of the received light amount on the light receiving portion side of the toner remaining amount detecting means, the light other than the light transmitted on the straight optical path between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion is detected. Since it is processed by the above processing means so as to be subtracted,
Even if the wraparound light is received, it is not affected by this and the toner end time can be accurately detected.

[0050]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a rotary developing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the developing device in FIG. (B)
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a toner cartridge and a toner remaining amount sensor of the developing device.

FIG. 3A is a diagram in which the side wall of the toner cartridge according to the embodiment is formed in a corrugated shape. FIG. 7B is a view showing a toner cartridge side wall formed in a concavo-convex shape as a modified example of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram in which a thickness portion of a side wall of a toner cartridge other than a toner remaining amount detecting portion is formed of a foam member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a diagram according to still another embodiment of the present invention, in which a light blocking member is attached to the side wall of the toner cartridge on the light receiving member side. FIG. 6B is a diagram in which a light blocking member is attached to the side wall of the toner cartridge on the light emitting member side as a modified example of the embodiment.

FIG. 6A is an exploded perspective view of a toner cartridge according to still another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6B is a view in which a light blocking member is sandwiched between the toner cartridge joint portions according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a toner remaining amount detection unit of a convex lens type according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram according to still another embodiment of the present invention, in which a convex lens is arranged between the light emitting member and the toner remaining amount detecting portion.

FIG. 9 is a view showing slits arranged between a light receiving member and a toner cartridge according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of toner remaining amount detecting means according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11A is an explanatory view showing a side wall portion of the toner cartridge in which wraparound light is generated. FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram showing a problem caused by light that wraps around the side wall of the toner cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor belt 3 Remaining toner amount detecting means 4 Revolver developing device 10 Toner residual amount sensor 11 Light emitting member 12 Light receiving member 13 Fixing member 14 Foaming member 15 Light shielding member 16 Toner cartridge joint 17 Convex lens 18 Slit 20 Casing 40Y Toner accommodating portion 41 Cover member 42Y Toner cartridge 421a, 421b Toner remaining amount detection unit O Central axis T Toner

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Eiichi Sasaki 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yutaka Shio 10-3 Kitamura, Tottori, Tottori Prefecture Ricoh Micro Electronics

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A developing device for accommodating a developer, a toner cartridge provided for replenishing the developing device with toner, and comprising a transparent or translucent member, and one side wall of the toner cartridge. And a toner remaining amount detecting means for detecting the toner remaining amount by receiving the light from the light emitting unit disposed on the side by the light receiving unit disposed so as to face the other side wall. In the developing device for visualizing the latent image formed on the image carrier by the light emitting portion of the toner remaining amount detecting means, when the light passes through the side wall of the toner cartridge, it wraps around the side wall of the toner cartridge.
Except for the side wall of the toner cartridge and the side wall of the toner cartridge facing the light emitting part and the light receiving part, the light or the light receiving part of the toner remaining amount detecting means is prevented from entering the light receiving part by scattering the light propagating in the side wall. A developing device having a side wall portion of the developing device. [0001] 2. A developing device containing a developer, a toner cartridge provided for replenishing the developing device with toner, and made of a transparent or translucent member, and one side wall of the toner cartridge. And a toner remaining amount detecting means for detecting the toner remaining amount by receiving the light from the light emitting unit disposed on the side by the light receiving unit disposed so as to face the other side wall. In a developing device for visualizing a latent image formed on an image carrier by means of the toner cartridge, side walls of the toner cartridge other than side wall portions facing the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are covered with a light shielding member. And developing device. [0002] 3. A developing device for accommodating a developer, a toner cartridge provided for replenishing the developing device with toner, and comprising a transparent or translucent member, and one side wall of the toner cartridge. And a toner remaining amount detecting means for detecting the toner remaining amount by receiving the light from the light emitting unit disposed on the side by the light receiving unit disposed so as to face the other side wall. In the developing device for visualizing the latent image formed on the image carrier by the toner cartridge, the toner cartridge is formed so as to be bonded in a cross section perpendicular to the traveling direction of the light which goes straight from the light emitting portion to the light receiving portion. A developing device in which a light shielding member is sandwiched between the bonded portions. [0003] 4. A developing device for accommodating a developer, a toner cartridge provided for replenishing the developing device with toner and formed of a transparent or semi-transparent member, and facing one side wall of the toner cartridge. And a toner remaining amount detecting means for detecting the toner remaining amount by receiving the light from the light emitting unit disposed on the side by the light receiving unit disposed so as to face the other side wall. In the developing device for visualizing the latent image formed on the image carrier by the toner cartridge, the side wall of the toner cartridge facing the light emitting portion is formed in a convex lens shape, or the light emitting portion and the light emitting portion are opposed to each other. A developing device in which a convex lens is provided between the toner cartridge and the side wall of the toner cartridge. [0004] 5. A developing device for accommodating a developer, a toner cartridge provided for replenishing the developing device with toner and formed of a transparent or semi-transparent member, and facing one side wall of the toner cartridge. And a toner remaining amount detecting means for detecting the toner remaining amount by receiving the light from the light emitting unit disposed on the side by the light receiving unit disposed so as to face the other side wall. In a developing device for visualizing a latent image formed on an image carrier by means of a light-receiving part and a side wall of the toner cartridge facing the light-receiving part, the light-emitting part goes straight to the light-receiving part. A developing device having a light blocking member configured to block light other than incoming light. [0005] 6. A developing device for accommodating a developer, a toner cartridge provided for replenishing the developing device with toner and formed of a transparent or translucent member, and one side wall of the toner cartridge. And a toner remaining amount detecting means for detecting the toner remaining amount by receiving the light from the light emitting unit disposed on the side by the light receiving unit disposed so as to face the other side wall. In a developing device for visualizing a latent image formed on an image carrier by means of a linear light path between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion, among light receiving amounts detected by the light receiving portion of the toner remaining amount detecting means. The developing device is provided with processing means for subtracting a predetermined amount of light amount other than the above-mentioned light amount from the light receiving amount of the light receiving portion.