JPH09166912A - Image forming device and developer container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make an image forming device small in size and low in cost by reducing the number of parts used for supplying developer and recovering waste developer in the image forming device. SOLUTION: A movable partition wall plate 42 is provided in the developer container 40 replenishing the developer to the developing tank 30 of a developing device 11 so as to partition the container 40 into a replenishment chamber 43 and a recovery chamber 44. The new developer supplied to the tank 30 is housed in the chamber 43. Then, the waste developer in the tank 30 and waste toner from a cleaning device 12 are recovered to the chamber 44. By supplying the developer in the chamber 43 to the tank 30 and recovering the waste developer to the chamber 44 at the same time, the developer in the tank 30 is replaced with the new developer. The plate 42 is moved to the chamber 43 side according as the waste developer and the waste toner are recovered. Since the replenishment of the new developer and the recovery of the waste developer and the waste toner are executed in a lump by one container 40, the number of parts is reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser printer using an electrophotographic method, and more particularly, to a dry method using a two-component developer in which toner and carrier are mixed as a developer. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus equipped with the developing device and a developer container suitable for use therein.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a dry copying machine, a developing device for visualizing or developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photoconductor with a two-component developer in which a toner and a carrier are stirred and mixed is often used. ing. In such a developing device, the developer is agitated and the toner is consumed during the developing operation, while the carrier remains in the developing device without being consumed. Here, as the stirring frequency of the remaining carrier increases, the adhesion of the toner to the surface of the old carrier proceeds and the performance as a developer deteriorates, and as a result, the charging performance of the developer gradually decreases. As a result, a problem occurs that the image quality deteriorates.

Therefore, conventionally, there has been proposed a device capable of suppressing the deterioration of the charging performance by supplying the developer to the developing device. As an apparatus of this type, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-267683, as a new carrier is replenished to a developing tank, excess developer is discharged and collected in a waste developer container to replenish the carrier. By sequentially repeating the discharge of the developer and the developer, the deteriorated developer in the developing tank is replaced with the newly supplied toner and carrier. Further, in the apparatus of the publication, a cleaning device for removing the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor, the charger, and the photoconductor is collectively provided in the processing cartridge, and the processing cartridge is detachably attached to the apparatus main body. It is provided. Then, the toner removed by the cleaning device is collected in the processing cartridge or a waste toner container.

Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 6-314024, a developer, that is, a toner and a carrier is replenished together in a developing tank, and the excess developer in the developing tank is discharged to a waste developer container. While being discarded, there has been proposed a device in which residual toner is discharged from a cleaning device similar to the above to a waste toner container and discarded.

[0005]

Among the techniques described in the above publications, in the former case, since the replenishment container for replenishing the developing tank with the carrier and the waste developer container are integrated, There is an advantage that the attachment / detachment of the container to / from the apparatus body is simplified. However, in addition to the carrier, a toner replenishing container for replenishing the toner to the developing tank is additionally required, which leads to an increase in size of the apparatus.
Further, since the waste toner container is provided in the processing cartridge together with the photoconductor, and this processing cartridge is replaced with a new one when the life of the photoconductor is reached, the size of the waste toner container is inevitably large. It is set according to the life of the body. Therefore, the waste toner container has a large capacity according to the life of the photoconductor, and the size of the apparatus becomes more remarkable. Also, when the waste toner container is provided separately from the processing cartridge, when the waste toner container is full of waste toner,
The waste toner container is to be discarded. Therefore, in the case of such a configuration, a detection unit for detecting the toner full state and an informing unit for notifying the full state in conjunction with the detection unit are required, which causes a cost increase.

On the other hand, in the case of the device described in the latter publication, although the developer container and the waste toner container are integrated to simplify the replacement, each container is provided individually. Therefore, the size of the device and the cost increase are inevitable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an image forming apparatus in which the size and cost of the apparatus can be reduced by reducing the number of parts, and a developer container suitable for use in the image forming apparatus. Is intended.

[0008]

The present invention achieves the above object by the following means. An image carrier on which a latent image is formed, a developer consisting of a toner and a carrier is stirred and accommodated, and the developer is transferred to the surface of the image carrier to visualize the latent image, and A developing device, in which a developer storage port and a waste developer delivery port including a deteriorated carrier are provided at positions separated from each other, a replenishment port for replenishing the developing device with the developer from the storage port, and a developing device of the development device. The present invention is characterized by including a recovery container for recovering the waste developer delivered from the delivery port and a developer container provided at a position separated from each other. Further, an image carrier on which a latent image is formed and a toner are stored, and the toner is transferred to the surface of the image carrier to visualize the latent image,
Further, a developing device having a toner storage port, and a cleaning device for removing the toner adhering to the image carrier and the like,
A developer container provided with a replenishment port for replenishing the developing device with toner from the accommodation port and a recovery port for recovering the waste toner removed by the cleaning device are provided apart from each other. I am trying.

The developer container of the present invention is used for a developing device for agitating and accommodating a developer consisting of toner and carrier and transferring the developer to the surface of the image carrier to visualize the latent image. And a recovery port for recovering the waste developer containing the deteriorated carrier sent from the developing device are provided at positions separated from each other.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the supply of new developer (consisting of toner and carrier) to the developing device is performed from the supply port of the developer container through the accommodation port of the developing device, while the deterioration is caused. The waste developer containing the carrier is recovered in the developer container through the recovery port. As a result, the developer in the developing device is smoothly replaced with the new developer. Since one developer container collectively supplies new developer and collects waste developer, the device size and cost can be reduced as the number of parts is reduced, and at the same time, the developer container can be used. Replacement work becomes easy. Further, according to the other image forming apparatus, new toner is replenished to the developing device from the replenishing port of the developer container through the accommodation port of the developing device, while the waste toner removed by the cleaning device is collected. Collected from the mouth into the developer container. With one developer container, replenishment of new toner and collection of waste toner are performed at once, so that the device can be downsized and the cost can be reduced due to the reduction of the number of parts.
Exchange work of the developer container becomes easy.

According to the developer container of the present invention, new developer is replenished to the developing device through the replenishing port, while waste developer discarded from the developing device is collected in the collecting chamber through the collecting port. It With one developer container, the supply of new developer and the collection of waste developer are performed at once, so the device size can be reduced and the cost can be reduced as well as the replacement work due to the reduction in the number of parts. It will be easy.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (1) First Embodiment A. Configuration of Copying Machine FIG. 1 shows a copying machine 1 as an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. Reference numeral 2 in FIG. 1 is a casing that constitutes the main body of the copying machine. A document mounting table 3 is provided on the upper surface of the casing 2, and an exposure optical system 4 is disposed below the document mounting table 3. The exposure optical system 4 includes a light source lamp 5 that scans an original document (not shown) placed on the original document table 3 while irradiating the original light, and a photosensitive drum (image carrier) 6 that reflects light reflected from the original document. And a lens unit 8 disposed in the optical path of the reflected light.

Around the photosensitive drum 6, in the clockwise direction in the figure, a charging device 10, a developing device 11, a transfer device (not shown),
A cleaning device 12 and the like are provided. The photosensitive drum 6 is rotated clockwise in the figure, and first, the charging device 1
After 0, a charged layer having a predetermined potential is formed on the surface, and then the exposure optical system 4 forms an electrostatic latent image according to the original image on the charged layer. Next, toner is supplied from the developing device 11 to the photoconductor drum 6 to visualize the electrostatic latent image on the surface, and then the visible image is transferred onto the sheet S by the transfer device. Toner may remain on the surface of the photosensitive drum 6 after the transfer process, and the residual toner is removed by the cleaning device 12.

The paper S is fed to the transfer device by the paper feeding device 13. The sheet feeding device 13 includes a sheet feeding cassette 14 for accommodating and stacking a large number of sheets S, and
A delivery roller 15 for drawing out a sheet S of sheets, a registration roller 16 for feeding the sheet S to a transfer device at a predetermined timing, a conveyance roller 17 disposed between these rollers 15, 16, and each roller 15, 16 , 17 and a conveyance guide disposed between the two. Paper S
Is sent from the paper feeding device 13 to the transfer device, the visible image developed on the photosensitive drum 6 by the transfer device is transferred to the surface, and then sent to the fixing device 20. The fixing device 20 is composed of a pair of upper and lower rollers including a heating roller 21 and a pressure roller 22.
It is sandwiched between 22 and transferred, and the development transferred during that time is fixed on the surface. Paper S after development is fixed
Is ejected to the paper ejection tray 24 via the paper ejection roller 23. This completes the copying of the original.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the developing device 11 includes a developing tank 30 disposed adjacent to the photosensitive drum 6 and the photosensitive drum 6 in the developing tank 30. And a developing roller 31, which is a magnet roller and is arranged in parallel to face each other. The developing tank 30 has a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape, and inside thereof, a developer in which toner and a carrier made of a magnetic material such as iron powder are mixed at a constant ratio is stored. The surface of the carrier is coated with a resin layer that suppresses toner adhesion. Inside the developing tank 30, a stirring means (not shown) for mixing the toner and the carrier is provided, and the developer is stirred by the stirring means, so that the toner is separated from the carrier by the electrostatic force of triboelectrification. It is attached to the surface. Then, the developer adheres to the surface of the developing roller 31 due to the magnetic force of the carrier, the carrier functions as a magnetic brush, and only the toner is transferred to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor drum 6, thereby statically charging. The latent image is visualized or developed.

The developing tank 30 is provided with a toner concentration sensor (not shown) for detecting the ratio of toner to carrier, which changes as the developer inside is consumed, that is, the toner concentration of the developer.

A developer delivery port 32 is provided on one side of the developing tank 30 in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 6, and on the opposite side, that is, on the side farthest from the photosensitive drum 6,
Each developer storage port 33 is formed. The accommodation port 33 is formed on the side surface facing the outside of the bulging portion 34 that communicates with the inside of the developing tank 30 and bulges upward. The delivery port 32 is formed at the bottom of one side surface so as to face the bottom surface.

The cleaning device 12 is arranged on the opposite side of the developing device 11 with the photosensitive drum 6 interposed therebetween. As described above, the cleaning device 12 removes the residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 6, and the cleaning blade 35 that slides on the surface of the photosensitive drum 6 to scrape off the residual toner, and the cleaning blade 35.
And a toner collection container 36 for receiving the residual toner scraped off by.

A cylindrical developer container 40 is provided side by side with the developing device 11 and the cleaning device 12 at a slightly upper side thereof. The developer container 40 is detachably attached to the casing 2 in a horizontal state in which the axial direction is orthogonal to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 6. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, on the inner peripheral surface of the developer container 40, a pair of rail-shaped guides 41 facing each other and extending in the axial direction are attached at a position of 180 degrees. Inside the developer container 40, a partition plate (suppression member) having a disk shape and a surface direction of which is orthogonal to the axial direction of the developer container 40.
42 is movably provided along the guide 41. The outer peripheral edge of the partition plate 42 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the developer container 40 and slides, or is extremely close to it.
The partition plate 42 divides the interior of the developer container 40 into one end side and the other end side in the axial direction, and one end side is replenished to the replenishing chamber 4
3, the other end side is defined as a recovery chamber 44. A replenishment port 45 is formed on the bottom surface on the end side of the replenishment chamber 43.
A recovery port 46 is formed at the bottom of the bottom of the recovery chamber 44. Further, at the end of the replenishing chamber 43, a stirrer 47 for stirring and mixing the developer contained in the replenishing chamber 43 and composed of the toner and the carrier is attached. The developer is stored in the replenishing chamber 43, and is agitated and mixed by the intermittent operation of the agitator 47. In the initial state, the partition plate 42 is moved to the end side of the recovery chamber 44 so that the inside of the developer container 40 is almost a replenishment chamber 43, and the replenishment chamber 43 is substantially filled with the developer.

A developer replenishing pipe 50 is connected to the replenishing port 45. The developer supply pipe 50 has a supply port 45.
It extends further downwardly, bends horizontally toward the developing tank 30, and is inserted into the accommodation port 33 of the developing tank 30. That is, the supply port 4 of the supply chamber 43 in the developer container 40
5 and the accommodation port 33 of the developing tank 30 are connected by a developer supply pipe 50. The interior of the developer replenishing pipe 50 is simply a hollow, and the developer contained in the replenishing chamber 43 spontaneously drops from the replenishing port 45, and passes through the developer replenishing pipe 50 and from the containing port 33 to the developing tank 30. It is designed to be supplied internally. A shutter (not shown) that opens and closes the developer supply pipe 50 is provided at the end of the developer supply pipe 50 on the developing tank 30 side. The developer is not replenished when the shutter is closed, and the developer is replenished to the developing tank 30 when the shutter is opened.

A developer recovery pipe 51 is connected to the recovery port 46 on the recovery chamber 44 side. This developer recovery pipe 5
No. 1 is shortly extended downward from the accommodation port 33, then once horizontally extended toward the developer replenishing pipe 50, and then bent toward the developing tank 30 and connected to the delivery port 32 of the developing tank 30 with its front end surface aligned. Has been done. That is, the recovery port 46 of the recovery chamber 44 of the developer container 40 and the delivery port 32 of the developing tank 30 are connected by the developer recovery pipe 51.

A toner recovery pipe 52 extending toward the developer container 40 is connected to the end of the toner recovery container 36 of the cleaning device 12 on the developer container 40 side. The pipe 52 is joined in the middle of the developer recovery pipe 51.

An auger 51 is provided inside the developer recovery pipe 51.
a is passed through, and due to the rotating action of the auger 51a, the developer (discarded developer) overflowing from the developing tank 30 travels from the delivery port 32 through the developer recovery pipe 51 and from the recovery port 46 to the developer container 40. It is designed to be transferred to the recovery chamber 44. A similar auger 52a is also passed through the inside of the toner recovery pipe 52. This auger 52a
Is passed through the toner collecting pipe 52, and the auger 52
Due to the rotating action of a, the toner (waste toner) in the toner recovery container 36 reaches the developer recovery pipe 51 through the toner recovery pipe 52 and is transferred to the recovery chamber 44 of the developer container 40. There is.

Shutters of the developer supply pipe 50, augers 51a and 52 of the developer recovery pipe 51 and the toner recovery pipe 52, respectively.
The a is operated by receiving an output of an operation signal of a control device (not shown).

B. Operation of First Embodiment Next, the operation of the first embodiment based on the control of the control device will be described. When the above-mentioned copying operation is repeated, the toner in the developer contained in the developing tank 30 of the developing device 11 is gradually consumed, and the toner concentration of the developer decreases. This change in toner density is always detected by the toner density sensor provided in the developing tank 30, and when it is detected that the toner density is below the lower limit of the proper range required for development, the detection signal is input to the control device. It When the control device receives the detection signal from the toner concentration sensor, the developer replenishment pipe 50
The shutter outputs the operation signals to the augers 51a and 52a. Then, the shutter is opened, and each auger 51a, 52a
a rotates.

By the opening of the shutter, the developer is supplied from the replenishing chamber 43 of the developer container 40 to the developing tank 30 through the replenishing pipe 50. When the toner concentration sensor detects that the toner concentration has reached the upper limit of the proper range, the shutter is closed and the supply of the developer to the developing tank 30 is stopped. Further, at the same time when the shutter is closed, the operation of each auger 51a, 52a is stopped.

Usually, the carrier in the developer in the developing tank 30 is not consumed by the developing operation, but gradually deteriorates due to stirring in the developing tank 30 and contact with the photoconductor. When the carrier deteriorates in this way, it becomes impossible to impart a predetermined charge amount to the toner, which causes deterioration of image quality. However, in the case of the present embodiment, when the toner concentration becomes low, new developer is replenished from the replenishing chamber 43 of the developer container 40, so that new carrier is replenished, and deterioration of image quality is prevented in advance. To be done.

Then, the developer in the developing tank 30 increases due to the replenishment of the developer, and the surplus portion overflows from the delivery port 32. The developer containing the deteriorated carrier overflowed from the developing tank 30, that is, the waste developer is the auger 5
By the rotating action of 1a, it is transferred, that is, collected in the collecting chamber 44 of the developer container 40 along the developer collecting pipe 51. Further, in the cleaning device 12, the photosensitive drum 6
The cleaning blade 35 scrapes off the residual toner adhering to the surface of the toner collecting container 36 into the toner collecting container 36. The scraped-off waste toner accumulates in the toner collection container 36, and the auger 5
By the rotating action of 2a, the toner is transferred from the toner recovery pipe 52 to the recovery chamber 44 of the developer container 40 via the developer recovery pipe 51, that is, is recovered.

As described above, by supplying the new developer to the developing tank 30 and recovering the waste developer from the developing tank 30 at the same time, the developer in the developing tank 30 becomes a new developer. It will be replaced smoothly. As the developer is replaced in this way, in the developer container 40,
The amount of new developer in the replenishing chamber 43 is reduced, and the collecting chamber 44
The amount of old waste developer and waste toner in the inside increases.
As the capacity of the developer in both chambers increases and decreases, the recovery chamber 4
The partition plate 42 gradually moves to the replenishment chamber 43 side by the pressure of the developer in 4, and the waste developer and the waste toner are collected in the collection chamber 44. When all the developer in the replenishing chamber 43 has been replenished, the role of the developer container 40 ends, and a new developer is replaced with a new developer container 40 housed in the replenishing chamber 43.

C. Effects of the First Embodiment According to the copying machine of the first embodiment, one developer container 40 not only contains a new developer but also a waste developer containing a deteriorated carrier. Waste toner is also collected. That is, the developer container 40 is configured to serve as both a container for storing a new developer and a container for collecting waste developer. Therefore, as compared with the case where these respective containers are provided independently, or the case where they are combined and integrated so as to be collectively replaceable, downsizing of the device and cost reduction can be achieved with a reduction in the number of parts. Further, by exchanging the developer container 40, it is possible to discard the waste developer and the waste toner and set a new developer, and as a result, the usability is significantly improved.

In the above embodiment, the waste toner is collected in the developer container 40 together with the waste developer, but only the waste developer is collected in the developer container 40 and the waste toner is collected by another collecting means. It may be configured to collect.

D. Modification of First Embodiment Next, a modification in which the suppressing member in the developer container 40 is changed will be described. D-1. First Modification (FIGS. 5 and 6) A partition plate 42A (suppressing member) has a form in which the upper part of the partition plate 42 is cut out. Due to the notch portion 55, the supply chamber 43 and the recovery chamber 44 communicate with each other at the upper side, and the chambers 43 and 44 are not completely partitioned. This partition plate 4
2A moves in the axial direction of the developer container 40 along guides 41 provided on the left and right sides and the bottom of the inner surface of the developer container 40.

D-2. Second Modification (FIG. 7) A balloon-shaped accommodating bag (suppressing member) 56 is accommodated in the developer container 40, the opening of the accommodating bag 56 is attached to the recovery port 46, and the waste developer and Store waste toner. The accommodating bag 56 is formed of, for example, an elastic film such as rubber, and is capable of largely expanding in the developer container 40 as the waste developer and the waste toner are accommodated. In this case, the inside of the storage bag 56 becomes the recovery chamber 44, the inside of the developer container 40 outside the storage bag 56 becomes the replenishment chamber 43, and the replenishment chamber 43
A new developer is contained therein. The storage bag 56 expands as the developer in the supply chamber 43 is replenished and the waste developer and the waste toner are stored in the storage bag 56.

D-3. Third Modified Example (FIG. 8) Contrary to the second modified example, the opening of the accommodation bag 56 accommodating the new developer is attached to the supply port 45. in this case,
The inside of the storage bag 56 serves as a replenishment chamber 43, and the inside of the developer container 40 outside the storage bag 56 serves as a collection chamber 44, and waste developer and waste toner are stored in the collection chamber 44. As the developer in the storage bag 56 is replenished, the storage bag 56 shrinks,
Waste developer and waste toner are accommodated in the increasing collection chamber 44.

D-4. Fourth Modification (FIG. 9) A partition plate (suppressing member) 42B is extended in the horizontal direction, an upper side of the partition plate 42B is a recovery chamber 44 for storing waste developer and waste toner, and a lower side is a new developer. It is used as a replenishment chamber 43 to be accommodated. In this case, the partition plate 42B can move up and down, so that the developer container 40 is formed in, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape. Then, the developer container 40
Is provided with a supply port 45 at the bottom and a recovery port 46 at the top.
A developer supply pipe 50 and a developer recovery pipe 51 are connected to each other. The partition plate 42B is simply placed on the upper surface of the developer in the replenishment chamber 43, and the developer is supplied by being pushed by the weight of the partition plate 42B. Therefore, even if the capacity of the developer in the replenishment chamber 43 is reduced, the replenishment of the developer is less likely to be delayed and is sufficiently replenished.

(2) Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a full-color copying machine will be described. A. Configuration of Copier FIG. 10 shows the entire full-color copier 61.
Reference numeral 62 in the figure denotes a photosensitive drum (image carrier). The photoconductor drum 62 is rotated clockwise in the figure, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information is formed on the surface thereof by an electrophotographic process (not shown). In the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 62,
A developing device 63 in which developing devices 63B, 63Y, 63M, 63C corresponding to the colors of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan are incorporated is provided. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 62 is transferred to any one of the developing devices (63
(B, 63Y, 63M, 63C) are developed as a toner image. That is, if the electrostatic latent image corresponds to the yellow image information, the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 63Y having the yellow toner, and the yellow toner image T is formed on the photosensitive drum 62. Is formed. The toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor drum 62 after development is removed by the cleaning device 73.

A belt-shaped intermediate transfer member (image carrier) 64 is disposed on the opposite side of the developing device 63 with the photosensitive drum 62 interposed therebetween. The intermediate transfer member 64 is made of, for example, a polyimide resin containing an appropriate amount of an antistatic agent such as carbon black, and is molded to have a thickness of about 0.075 mm, and its volume resistivity is adjusted to 10 ¹⁰ Ω · cm. Has been done. The surface of the intermediate transfer body 64 is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor drum 62, and the toner image T formed on the photoconductor drum 62 is at a position where the photoconductor drum 62 and the intermediate transfer body 64 are in contact with each other. At the (primary transfer position T1), the image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 62 to the surface of the intermediate transfer member 64. At the primary transfer position T1, a corona discharger 65 is arranged on the back surface side of the intermediate transfer body 64. This corona discharger 6
A voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the toner image 5, and the toner image T on the photosensitive drum 62 is electrostatically attracted to the surface of the intermediate transfer member 64.

In the case of forming a single color image, the toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer member 64 as described above is immediately secondarily transferred to the paper S, but a color image in which toner images of a plurality of colors are superposed is formed. When forming, the process of forming the toner image T on the photosensitive drum 62 and the primary transfer process of the toner image T is repeated for the number of colors. For example, when forming a full-color image in which toner images of four colors are superimposed, a toner image of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan is formed on the photosensitive drum 62 for each rotation, and these toner images are sequentially intermediate. The image is primarily transferred to the transfer body 64. On the other hand, the intermediate transfer member 64 rotates in the same cycle as the photosensitive drum 62 while holding the black toner image that has been primarily transferred first. On the intermediate transfer member 64, yellow, magenta, and cyan are rotated for each rotation. Toner image is transferred over the black toner image.

The toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer body 64 in this manner is conveyed to the secondary transfer position T2 facing the conveyance path of the sheet S as the intermediate transfer body 64 rotates. At the secondary transfer position T2, the semiconductive bias roller 66 is in contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer member 64, and the paper S fed from the paper feed tray 68 at a predetermined timing by the feed roller 67 is biased. It is sandwiched between the roller 66 and the intermediate transfer member 64. Further, on the back surface side of the intermediate transfer body 64 at the secondary transfer position T2, a backup roll 69 which is an opposite electrode of the bias roller 66 is arranged. Then, when a voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the bias roller 66 or a voltage having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the backup roll 69, the toner image on the intermediate transfer body 64 is secondary. It is electrostatically transferred onto the paper S at the transfer position T2. The cleaning device 70 removes the toner adhering to the bias roller 66.

Next, the sheet S on which the toner image has been transferred is peeled from the surface of the intermediate transfer member 64 by the peeling claw 71, and then the fixing device 80 including the heating roller 81 and the pressure roller 82 by the conveyor belt 72. And the fixing process of the toner image is performed while passing between the rollers 81 and 82. On the other hand, after the secondary transfer of the unfixed toner image is completed, the cleaning device 83 removes the residual toner adhering to the surface of the intermediate transfer member 64, and then shifts to a new copying cycle.

The bias roller 66 and the peeling claw 7 are provided.
1 and the cleaning device 83 are provided so as to be capable of coming into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer member 64, and when a color image is formed, the toner image of the final color is intermediately transferred to the intermediate transfer member 64. It is separated from the transfer body 64.

B. Configuration of Developing Device The developing device 63 includes the developing devices 63B and 63Y for the respective colors (black, yellow, magenta, and cyan).
63M and 63C are combined and integrated, and the developing units 63B, 63Y, 63M and 63C are
As shown in FIG. 11, a developing container 91 is arranged in parallel in a cylindrical developer container 90. The inside of the developing tank 91 is divided by a partition wall 92 into two tanks, an upstream tank 93 and a downstream tank 94 on the left and right in FIG. In this case, the developer container 90 is detachable and can be replaced as the developer is consumed.

The developer container 90 is the above-mentioned developer container 40.
And a similar configuration (for example, the developer container 4 in FIGS. 3 and 4).
The same as 0). That is, in the developer container 90,
Partition plate (suppressing member) 9 movable via the guide 105
5, a replenishment chamber 96 is defined on the front side of FIG. 11, and a recovery chamber 97 is defined on the back side thereof, and a new developer (consisting of toner and carrier) is accommodated in the replenishment chamber 96. . An agitator 98 that stirs and mixes the developer is provided in the replenishment chamber 96. A supply chamber 100 accommodating the auger 99 is provided between the replenishment chamber 96 and the developing tank 91, and the developer accommodated in the replenishment chamber 96 is supplied to the replenishment port 1
It enters into the supply chamber 100 from 04, and is further supplied from the accommodation port 101 into the upstream side tank 93 of the developing tank 91 by the auger 99.

Augers 93a and 94a for transporting the developer are provided in the upstream tank 93 and the downstream tank 94 of the developing tank 91, and the downstream tank 94 faces the photosensitive drum 62. The developing roller 102 is provided. The replenishment chamber 9 for the developer container 90 is provided in the upstream tank 93.
The developer supplied from 6 is conveyed to the downstream tank 94 by the auger 93a, and the developer is conveyed to the surface of the developing roller 102 by the auger 94a. The developer is
The magnetic force of the carrier causes the carrier to adhere to the surface of the developing roller 102, the carrier functions as a magnetic brush, and only the toner is transferred to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 62.
As a result, the toner image T is developed on the photosensitive drum 62 as described above.

A recovery port 103 is provided on the recovery chamber 97 side of the developer container 90, and a delivery port (not shown) is provided on the downstream side bath of the developing tank 91. These recovery port 103 and the delivery port are
They are connected by a developer recovery pipe (not shown) containing an auger similar to that shown in FIG. In addition, the photosensitive drum 6
2. The toner (waste toner) removed by the cleaning devices 73, 70, and 83 of the bias roller 66 and the intermediate transfer member 64 is collected by a toner recovery pipe (not shown) having an auger similar to that shown in FIG. At least one developing device (63B, 63Y, 63M, 63C) is collected in the recovery chamber 97 from the recovery port 103 of the developer container 90. Although the waste toner is a mixture of four color toners, since it has the partition plate 95, it does not enter the replenishment chamber 96 and there is no possibility of mixing with a new developer.

C. Operation of Second Embodiment According to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a new developer is supplied from the replenishment chamber 96 of the developer container 90 according to the decrease in the toner concentration. The waste developer, which is supplied to the developing tank 91 and contains the deteriorated carrier in the downstream tank 94 in the developing tank 91, is collected in the recovery chamber 97 of the developer container 90.
And the developer is replaced. Further, the waste toner of each cleaning device 73, 70, 83 is collected in the collecting chamber 97 of the developer container 90 in any one of the developing devices (63B, 63Y, 63M, 63C). When all the developer in the replenishment chamber 96 is replenished, the developer container 90
, The new developer is replaced with a new developer container 90 housed in the replenishment chamber 96.

D. Effects of Second Embodiment The full-color copying machine 61 of the second embodiment also has the same effects as those of the first embodiment. That is, since one developer container 90 replenishes new developer and collects waste developer and waste toner all at once, the size of the apparatus can be reduced and the cost can be reduced as the number of parts is reduced. , Replacement work becomes easy.

(3) Modified Examples and Other Application Examples of the Present Invention The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes, for example, the following modified examples and other application examples. The invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus using the two-component developer obtained by mixing the toner and the carrier, but can be applied to the image forming apparatus using the one-component developer containing only the toner. In this case, the removed waste toner is sent to the recovery port of the developer container from the cleaning device that removes the toner adhering to the photosensitive drum or the intermediate transfer member, and the waste toner is stored in the developer container. Therefore, the new toner and the waste toner are collectively stored in the developer container. In the above case, similarly to the first embodiment, by providing a suppressing member such as a partition plate or a storage bag in the developer container, it is possible to suppress the mixing of waste toner with new toner. Each of the above-described embodiments applies the present invention to a copying machine, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other types of image forming apparatuses such as a laser printer.

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the supply of new developer or toner and the collection of waste developer or waste toner are collectively performed by one developer container. As a result, the size of the device can be reduced and the cost can be reduced as the number of parts is reduced, and the replacement work can be facilitated. Further, according to the developer container of the present invention,
Since the three developer containers collectively supply new developer or toner and collect waste developer or waste toner, the device size and cost can be reduced as the number of parts is reduced. Exchange work becomes easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a copying machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a developing device and a developer container of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the developer container of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of the same.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a first modified example of the developer container.

FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of the same.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of a second modified example of the developer container.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the third modification.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the fourth modified example.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of a full-color copying machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a front sectional view of the developing device according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 1 ... Copier (image forming apparatus), 6, 62 ... Photosensitive drum (image carrier), 11, 63 ... Developing device, 12, 70, 7
3, 80 ... Cleaning device, 30, 32 ... Delivery port, 3
3, 101 ... Receiving port, 40, 90 ... Developer container, 42,
42A, 42B, 95 ... Partition plate (suppression member), 45, 1
04 ... Replenishing port, 46, 103 ... Collection port, 56 ... Storage bag (suppressing member), 61 ... Full color copying machine (image forming apparatus), 64 ... Intermediate transfer body (image carrier).

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An image carrier on which a latent image is formed and a developer consisting of toner and carrier are stirred and accommodated, and the developer is transferred to the surface of the image carrier to form the latent image. A developing device that is visualized, and a developer storage port and a waste developer delivery port including a deteriorated carrier are provided at positions separated from each other; and a supply port that replenishes the developing device with the developer from the storage port. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a developer container provided at a position where a recovery port for recovering waste developer delivered from the delivery port of the developing device is separated from each other. 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the waste toner removed by a cleaning device that removes toner adhering to the image carrier and the like is sent to the recovery port of the developer container. Forming equipment. 3. A suppressing member is provided between the replenishment port and the recovery port in the developer container, the suppression member suppressing the mixing of the waste developer into the developer, and the suppression member is disposed from the recovery port to the waste development. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developer moves or extends toward the replenishment port as the developer is stored in the developer container. 4. The recovery port and the replenishment port of the developer container are provided above and below the developer container, respectively, and the suppressing member is provided in a substantially horizontal direction between the recovery port and the replenishment port. 4. A plate-shaped member arranged over the entire area of the developer container.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 5. A replenishment port for replenishing the developer to a developing device for agitating and accommodating a developer consisting of a toner and a carrier and transferring the developer to the surface of an image carrier to visualize a latent image. A developer container, wherein a recovery port for recovering the waste developer containing the deteriorated carrier sent from the developing device is provided at positions separated from each other. 6. The developer container according to claim 5, wherein the waste toner removed by a cleaning device attached to the recovery port is fed into the recovery port. 7. A suppression member is provided between the replenishment port and the recovery port to suppress mixing of waste developer with the developer,
The developer container according to claim 5, wherein the suppressing member moves or extends toward the replenishment port as the waste developer is stored in the developer container from the recovery port. 8. The recovery port and the replenishment port are provided above and below a developer container, respectively.
8. The developer container according to claim 7, wherein the suppressing member is a plate-shaped member that is disposed substantially horizontally across the entire area of the developer container between the recovery port and the supply port. 9. An image carrier on which a latent image is formed, a toner is accommodated, the toner is transferred to the surface of the image carrier to visualize the latent image, and a toner accommodation port is provided. A developing device, a cleaning device for removing toner adhering to the image carrier, a replenishing port for replenishing the developing device with toner from the storage port, and a recovery port for recovering waste toner removed by the cleaning device. And a developer container provided at positions spaced apart from each other, and the image forming apparatus. 10. A suppressing member is provided between the replenishing port and the collecting port in the developer container, the suppressing member suppressing the mixing of the waste toner into the toner, and the suppressing member develops the waste toner from the collecting port. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image forming apparatus moves or extends in the direction of the replenishment port as it is stored in the agent container. 11. The recovery port and the replenishment port are provided above and below a developer container, respectively, and the suppressing member is provided between the recovery port and the replenishment port.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image forming apparatus is a plate-shaped member that is arranged substantially horizontally in the entire developer container. 12. A developing device which contains toner and transfers the toner to a surface of an image carrier to visualize a latent image,
A replenishment port for replenishing the developer and a recovery port for recovering the waste toner removed by a cleaning device for removing the toner adhering to the image carrier and the like are provided at positions separated from each other. Developer container. 13. A suppressing member is provided between the replenishment port and the recovery port to suppress the mixing of waste toner into the developer, and the suppression member stores waste toner in the developer container from the recovery port. 13. The developer container according to claim 12, wherein the developer container moves or extends in the direction of the replenishment port. 14. The recovery port and the replenishment port are provided above and below a developer container, respectively, and the suppressing member is provided between the recovery port and the replenishment port.
14. The developer container according to claim 13, wherein the developer container is a plate-shaped member arranged substantially horizontally in the entire area of the developer container.