JPH09319197A - Developer container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To keep temp. in a developer unit and a developing unit, not to reduce the static charge characteristic of a developer by providing a dehumidifier member in the developer container. SOLUTION: The dehumidifier member 12 has a long size and a projecting cross-section and a recessed part formed in the projecting part of the member 12 is filled with a dehumidifying agent 11. On the other hand, in a part opposite to the part, where a heat seal 90 is attached, of the developer container 70, an opening fitted on the projecting part of the dehumidifier member 12 is formed and it is fitted into the opening, to attach the member 12. In this attached state, the dehumidifying agent 11 is located in the developer container 70, so that, when the dehumidifying function of the dehumidifying agent 11 is reduced by the lapse of time, after the developer container 70 is installed in the developing unit, humidity in the developing container is lowered. In other words, the humidity in the developing unit can be kept in an excellent state in such a degree that a developing function is not affected by exchanging a new dehumidifier member 12 for removing moisture.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developer container and a dehumidifying agent holding member as a developing means used in an electrophotographic image recording apparatus or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image recording apparatus, a developing device for visualizing an electrostatic latent image is provided around a drum-shaped or belt-shaped photosensitive member. As the developer, only the toner is stored as a developer in the type using a one-component type developer, and the mixture of toner and carrier is stored in the type using a two-component type developer as the developer. Is attached to the latent image on the photoconductor through the developing sleeve in the developing device, and development is performed.

An image recording apparatus of the type that uses a two-component developer will be described. Generally, in a state immediately after the image recording apparatus is carried in by a user, the developer is generally not filled with the developer. The developer is filled in the developing device when the image recording apparatus is ready for use. As a means for this filling, a developer container is used.

The developer container is detachably attached to the developing device. The developer container is filled with the developer in a factory or the like, is held in a sealed state, reaches the user, and is attached to the developing device. After this mounting, the sealed state of the developing device is released and the developer inside is transferred into the developing device. Since the toner is consumed each time an image is formed, the toner is supplied from a toner bottle or the like to the developing device in order to supplement the consumed amount of the toner.

[0005]

Since the developing device does not have a completely closed structure, the humidity in the developing device varies depending on the user's environment setting. In a high-humidity environment, the inside of the developing device also has high humidity, and the charging property of the developer is deteriorated, so that the developing performance may be deteriorated.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a developer container capable of holding the humidity in the developer container and in the developing device so as not to deteriorate the charging property of the developer.

[0007]

The present invention has the following configuration to achieve the above object. (1) A developer container containing a developer to be supplied into a developing device, wherein a dehumidifying member is provided in the developer container (claim 1).

(2) The developer container according to (1),
The developing device is detachable from the developing device, and after being attached to the developing device, the developer is supplied to the developing device (claim 2).

(3) A developer container containing a developer to be supplied into the developing device, wherein water in the developer container can be taken out of the developer container (claim) Item 3).

(4) In the developer container according to (1) or (2), the dehumidifying member in the developer container is attached to and detached from the developer container in order to take out water from the developer container. (Claim 4).

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In FIG. 1, a drum-shaped photosensitive member 1 is rotated in the direction of an arrow during development. A developing device 2 covered with a casing is provided at a predetermined portion around the photoconductor 1.
The developing device 2 has a length in the direction of penetrating the surface of the paper in accordance with the photoconductor 1, and a developing sleeve 5 is disposed in the vicinity of the photoconductor 1 from the opening of the developing device 2 and is pivotally supported. Further, next to the developing sleeve, a first member 3 and a second member 4 for sequentially conveying the developer are axially supported. First member 3, second
The member 4 is provided with a large number of blades each having a function of stirring and conveying the developer, and the developer is stirred and conveyed according to the rotation of the first member 3 and the second member 4, and the developing sleeve 5 is provided.
After that, the developing device 2 is circulated. In addition,
The developer after being used for development is scraped off by the doctor blade 8.

A portion of the developing device 2 corresponding to an upper portion of a specific region extending over the first member 3 and the second member 4 is formed with an opening 6 which is long in a direction penetrating the paper surface and is elongated in accordance with the opening 6. A box-shaped developer container 7 is detachably attached to the developing device 2. In this example, as the attaching / detaching means, the locking projections 7a, 7 protruding from the side of the developing container 7 are provided.
In the structure of b, the locking convex portion 7a is inserted into the opening of the locking portion 2a of the locking portions 2a and 2b formed on the developing container 2 side, and the locking convex portion 7b is attached to the locking portion 2b. By adopting, it is removable.

The example shown in FIG. 1 shows a state immediately after the developer container 7 is attached to the developing device 2.
The opening is set downward, and the opening is closed by a heat seal 9 to seal the developer container 7. Inside the developer container 7, a developer 10 and a dehumidifying agent 11 are enclosed. In this sealed state,
The developer 10 can flow in the developer container 7 while being simply filled, but the dehumidifying agent 11 is adhered to a portion corresponding to the bottom portion on the opposite side of the opening 6 side where the heat seal 9 is provided. Since it is fixed by the above means, it does not fall when it is mounted in the state of FIG. Hereinafter, means for fixing and holding the developer and the developer in the developer container,
For example, an adhesive material and a fixing member will be collectively referred to as a dehumidifying member.

As shown in FIG. 1, the heat seal 9 can be easily pulled out while the developer container 7 is attached to the developing device 2. When the heat seal 9 is pulled out, the developer container 7 and the developing device 2 are brought into communication with each other, and the developer 10 in the developing container 7 falls into the developing device 2, but the dehumidifying agent 11 remains in the developer container 7.

As described above, until the heat seal 9 is pulled out, the developer container 7 is in a sealed state in which the developer 10 and the dehumidifying agent 11 are enclosed in the container. That is, even if the developer filling environment such as a factory is in a high humidity state, since the developer 10 is put in the developer container together with the dehumidifying agent 11 and then sealed by the heat seal 9,
Due to the moisture absorbing action of the dehumidifying agent 11, the inside of the developer container 7 has a low humidity, and the charging characteristic of the developer 10 is not reduced.

Incidentally, the developing device and the developer container are integrated,
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which each has a separation space and a dehumidifying member is provided in the developer container. Also in this case, at the time of initial use of the developing device, a member for partitioning the developer container from the developing device, for example, a heat seal or a partition plate is pulled out so that both spaces can be connected to each other. A dehumidifying member is provided in the container. By doing so, it is possible to dehumidify the inside of the developer container before the extraction, and dehumidify the inside of the developing device after the extraction according to the contents described below.

Of the developer that has fallen into the developing device 2, toner is consumed each time of development, and new toner is replenished in the developing device 2 from a toner bottle (not shown) to supplement the consumed toner. . Since the developer container 7 is in communication with the developing device 2, the dehumidifying agent 11 performs the dehumidifying function in the developing device 2 after the heat seal 9 is pulled out, and the developer 10 in the developing device 2 has a charging characteristic due to humidity. Is prevented from being reduced. Although it can be considered that the dehumidifying agent may be installed in the developing device 2, there is no extra space in the developing device 2 due to the demand for downsizing of the device. On the other hand, the developer container 7 has a margin for providing the dehumidifying agent, and even after the developer container 7 is attached to the developing device 2, the dehumidifying agent is provided by the mounting position of the developer container 7. The increase in space is not a problem as a whole. Therefore, when such a space is limited, it is preferable to provide the developer container 7 with a dehumidifying agent.

By providing the dehumidifying agent 11 in the developer container 7, the following advantages can be obtained. That is, the developer container 7 is filled with the developer at the factory as described above. Humidity may be controlled for the environmental conditions under which this filling operation is performed.However, if humidity is not controlled, the humidity in the developer container may not be constant due to environmental conditions such as season and weather. When the developer is filled in the environment under the environment, the humidity environment at that time is taken into the developer container, so that the charging property of the developer inside is deteriorated. However, it may cause deterioration of image quality, such as a decrease in developing performance and an increase in image density. However, if the dehumidifying agent 11 is provided in the developer container 7 and sealed at the same time as the filling of the developer 10 into the developer container 7 as in the present example, if the dehumidifying agent 11 absorbs moisture, the dehumidifying agent 11 absorbs the developer container 7 thereafter. Since the humidity is improved, it can be said that when the developer container 7 is attached to the developing device 2, the developer 10 is in a state of being well charged.

A developer container 70 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. This developer container 70 is also similar in basic shape to the developer container 7 shown in FIG. 1, and is provided with locking projections 70a, 70b, a heat seal 90, etc. according to the developer container 7. It has a common part with the developer container 7 shown in FIG. The difference is that an opening is formed in a portion corresponding to the bottom portion on the side opposite to the portion where the heat seal 9 is provided,
The point is that the dehumidifying member 12 holding the dehumidifying agent 11 is detachably attached to the opening.

As shown in FIG. 2, the dehumidifying member 12 has an elongated shape with a convex cross section, and a dehumidifying agent is filled and held in the concave portion formed in the convex portion. On the other hand, an opening that fits with the convex portion of the dehumidifying member 12 is formed in a portion of the developer container 70 on the side opposite to the mounting portion of the heat seal 90, and the convex portion of the dehumidifying member 12 is fitted into this opening. It is installed by doing. In this mounted state, the dehumidifying agent 11 is positioned inside the developer container 70. Therefore, after the developer container 70 is mounted on the developing device 2, when the dehumidifying function of the dehumidifying agent 11 deteriorates with the passage of time. Reduces the humidity in the developer container, that is, a new dehumidifying member 1 for removing moisture.
By exchanging with 2, the humidity in the developing device 2 can be maintained in a good condition such that the developing function is not affected.

In addition to the above example, a dehumidifying member is not provided in the developer container, and after the developer is filled in the developer container, the air inside the sealed developer container is sucked and sucked in the air. After removing the water content, the dehumidified air can be returned to the developer container to take out the water content in the developer container to the outside of the developer container.

The following description based on FIGS. 3 to 6 is an example of a specific device, and although it is slightly different from the principle member shape described in FIG. 1, it has the same function as the member shown in FIG. Specifically, the same members are included. Therefore, functionally the same members will be described with the same reference numerals in order to avoid complication.

In FIG. 3, the developing device 2 is integrally formed with a photosensitive body case 13 that supports the photosensitive body 1, and constitutes a photosensitive body unit 22. The photoconductor 1 rotating in the clockwise direction is first charged by the charging roller 2 and then exposed by the exposure light 15 containing image information to carry an electrostatic latent image. The latent image is visualized, and the visible image is transferred to the transfer paper passing between the photoconductor 1 and the transfer roller 16. The toner image on the transfer paper is fixed on the transfer paper by a fixing device (not shown) and is discharged to a tray. On the other hand, the photosensitive member 1 after the transfer of the toner image
The residual toner is removed by the cleaning blade 17, and the electricity is removed by the electricity removing light 220. The residual toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 17 falls into a recovery container provided in a part of the photoconductor case 13 and is sent to the axial end portion of the carrying screw by the rotation of the carrying screw 20. , And is sent to the developing device 2 by a recycling belt 21 provided on the end side. The toner sent to the developing device 2 side is mixed with new toner from the toner bottle 18 and sent to the developing sleeve 5, and the cycle is repeated.

As described with reference to FIG. 1, the developing device 2 is provided with the developing container 7 which is detachable. 3 shows the state before the heat seal 9 is pulled out, the developer 10 is still in the developing container 7, but the heat seal 9
The developer 11 drops into the developing device 2 by pulling out, and the developing sleeve 5 passes through the first member 3, the second member 4, and the like.
And sent for development. The dehumidifying agent 11 performs a dehumidifying function in the developing device 3 after the heat seal 9 is pulled out.
If the environment where the image recording apparatus is installed is high, such as when the environment is high, the developer container 70 as shown in FIG. 2 is used and the dehumidifying member 12 is replaced at an appropriate frequency.

From the opening of the developing device 2 formed above the second member 4, the toner in the toner bottle 18 is replenished through the path shown by the arrow so that the toner consumed by the development is supplemented. ing. Reference numeral 19 indicates a toner concentration detection sensor 19, and the amount of toner replenished from the toner bottle 18 is controlled according to the detection information of the toner concentration detection sensor 19.

4 and 5 show the appearance of the photoconductor unit 22. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the developer container 7 is attached to the developing device 2, and FIG. 5 shows a state in which the developer container 7 is removed. As described above, the developer container 7 is formed with the locking projections 7a and 7b, while the developing device 2 is formed with the locking parts 2a and 2b combined with the locking projections 7a and 7b. The developer container 7 can be attached to and detached from the developing device 2 by a combination of these.

The circulation path of the developer will be described with reference to FIG. The second member 4 is longer (toward the outside) than the first member 3, and a screw is formed in this long portion.
A large number of blades 4h shaped as if the elliptical plate were cut in approximately half at a portion inside the portion where the screw was formed,
The developer is provided obliquely with respect to the axis, and has a function of agitating and transporting the developer in accordance with the rotation of the second member 4. The conveying direction by the rotation of the second member 4 is the arrow A direction. Similarly, for the first member 3, similar blades 3h are formed corresponding to the arrangement regions of the blades 4h formed on the first member 3. The inclination of the blade 3h formed on the first member 3 is opposite to the inclination of the blade 4h of the second member 4, and the blade 3h is fed in the direction of arrow B according to the rotation.

A partition plate 24 is provided between the first member 3 and the second member 4, and the first member 3 and the second member 4 are provided.
And partition. While the developer is sent in the direction of arrow B in response to the rotation of the first member 3, the developer is sent to the developing sleeve 1 by the magnetic attraction of the developing sleeve 1, and the remaining developer is left just before being separated from the partition plate 24. It moves to the second member 4 side from the gap on the side, is sent in the direction of arrow A by the second member 4, and moves to the first member 3 from the gap on the back side of the partition plate 24. As described above, the developer is basically circulated in a loop by the first member 3 and the second member 4 with the partition plate 24 interposed therebetween.

Reference numeral 23 in FIGS. 4 and 5 indicates an opening / closing lid, and the toner in the toner bottle 18 is replenished into the developing device 2 with the opening / closing lid 23 opened. This replenishment position is on the screw portion 4a outside the screw portion formed on the second member 4 in FIG. 6, that is, the formation portion of the partition plate 24, the blade 4h, and the like. The photosensitive member 1 is provided on a screw portion 4b axially outside the screw portion 4a.
The waste toner scraped from the toner is sent by the recycling belt 21 for reuse.

Therefore, the waste toner is fed into the screw portion 4b of the second member 4, and the new toner is fed into the screw portion 4a, and the waste toner and the new toner are supplied to the developer in the loop-shaped circulation path. It is sent into the inside and is agitated and conveyed by the blade 4h. In this initial stage of stirring, the charged state is insufficient, and it is not preferable that the insufficiently charged developer rides over the partition plate 24 and is used for development. The height of the partition plate 24 is set higher than that of other parts.

In the photoconductor unit 22, the dehumidifying agent 11 is provided in the developer container 7 as in the present invention so that the developer has a low humidity immediately after being attached to the developing device 2 and further the developing device is provided. The humidity condition in 2 can be maintained well, the deterioration of the charged state can be prevented, and the developing performance can be maintained. For the deterioration of the dehumidifying agent 11, the developer container 7 is set to the state shown in FIG.
The dehumidifying member 12 may be detachably attached and the dehumidifying member 12 may be appropriately replaced.

When a one-component developer is used, the toner bottle serves as a developer container. Therefore, by providing a dehumidifying member in the toner bottle, it is possible to dehumidify the inside of the toner bottle. After the toner bottle is attached to the developing device, dehumidification in the developing device can be performed. Even in a developing device that uses a two-component developer, by providing a dehumidifying member in the toner bottle, it is possible to dehumidify the toner bottle as well as dehumidify the inside of the developing device after mounting the developing device. There is no end.

[0033]

According to the present invention, the humidity in the developer container and the developing device can be maintained so as not to deteriorate the charging property of the developer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a developing device immediately after a developer container is attached.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a developer container provided with a dehumidifying member.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a developer container together with a photoconductor unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the photoconductor unit with a developer container attached.

5 is a perspective view of the photoconductor unit when the developer container is removed from the state shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the developer unit when an upper cover is removed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 7 Developer Container 11 Dehumidifying Agent 12 Dehumidifying Member 70 Developer Container

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kenzo Tatsumi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshitaka Yamaguchi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo・ In Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeo Suda 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo ・ Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Yoshinaga 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo ・ Stock Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Ken Amamiya 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo / Stock Company Ricoh Company (72) Mayumi Ohori 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Company / Ricoh Company Inside

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A developer container containing a developer to be supplied into a developing device, wherein a dehumidifying member is provided in the developer container. 2. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the developer container is detachable from the developing device and is supplied to the developing device after being attached to the developing device. A developer container characterized by the above. 3. A developer container containing a developer to be supplied into a developing device, wherein water in the developer container can be taken out of the developer container. Agent container. 4. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein water is taken out from the developer container by attaching and detaching a dehumidifying member in the developer container to the developer container. A developer container characterized in that