JPH10274883A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently suck a scattered developer and further, to miniaturize a photoreceptor by bringing sucking ports close to both end parts of a developer supplying means and sucking the scattered developer from the sucking ports. SOLUTION: An intermediate duct 15 is provided in the axial direction of a magnet roller 4 as the developer supplying means. One end part of the intermediate duct 15 communicates with a first sucking port part through a first communicative duct 16 and one end part of a second communicating duct 17 is connected to a second sucking port. A sucking device 19 as a sucking source is connected to the other end parts of the duct 15 and the second communicating duct 17. At the time of attaining development, a part of a developer is scattered downward from both end parts of the magnet roller 4. At this time, a sucking fan 21 is rotated and air is sucked from both end part sides of the roller 4, as shown by the arrows. In other words, the developer including the scattered developer is sucked from both end parts of the roller 4, together with the air, to be collected by a filter 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a developing device provided in, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A developing device of this type is provided with, for example, a magnet roller as a developing roller in a developing container. Some are supplied to the image and developed.

At the time of supplying the developer, a part of the developer may be scattered to the outside from a lower portion of the magnet roller to stain the periphery.

Therefore, a duct for sucking the scattered developer is provided on the lower surface of the developing container, and the scattered developer is sucked from the duct and exhausted to the rear of the developing device. By the way, the developer scattered from the lower part of the magnet roller flows from the center part of the magnet roller toward both ends, and then flows downward from both ends.

[0005]

However, in the prior art, since the suction port of the duct is provided over the entire area in the axial direction of the magnet roller, the area other than both ends of the magnet roller also becomes the suction area, and the suction load is wasted. Was increasing.

[0006] Further, the air containing the scattered developer sucked from the suction port of the duct is U-turned at a sharp angle, so that the suction resistance is large.

Therefore, a large suction device is required,
There is a disadvantage that the size of the apparatus increases and the cost increases.

Further, since the duct is provided on the entire lower surface of the developing container, if the outer diameter of the photosensitive member is reduced in order to reduce the size of the image forming apparatus, the registration roller greatly interferes with the duct, and the small diameter of the photosensitive member is reduced. There was an inconvenience that it could not be changed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a developing device capable of efficiently sucking the scattered developer by a small suction device and reducing the diameter of the photoconductor.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to a developing container for storing a developer, and a developing container provided in the developing container, wherein the developing agent is subjected to development. A developer supply means for supplying the developer to the unit; and suction means for bringing a suction port close to both ends of the development supply means and suctioning the developer scattered from the development supply means from the suction port.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer container for storing a developer, a developer supply means provided in the developer container, for supplying the developer to a development target, and both ends of the developer supply means. And a suction means for sucking the developer scattered from the developing supply means from the central part of the developing supply means toward both ends from the suction port.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer container for storing a developer, a developer supply means provided in the developer container, for supplying the developer to a portion to be developed, and both ends of the developer supply means. First and second suction ports disposed in proximity to each other, first and second air guide paths connected to the first and second suction ports, and the first and second air A suction source connected to the guide path for sucking the developer scattered from the developer supply unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing container for storing a developer, a developer supplying means provided in the developing container, for supplying the developer to a developing section, and both ends of the developing supplying means. First and second suction ports disposed close to each other, first and second communication ducts having one ends connected to the first and second suction ports, and the first communication duct And a suction source connected to the other end of the intermediate duct and the second communication duct for sucking the developer scattered from the developing supply unit.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer container for storing a developer, a developer supply means provided in the developer container, for supplying the developer to a portion to be developed, and both ends of the developer supply means. First and second suction ports disposed close to each other, first and second communication ducts having one ends connected to the first and second suction ports, and the first communication duct An intermediate duct connected to the other end of the developing duct, a suction source connected to the intermediate duct and the other end of the second communication duct, and for sucking the developer scattered from the developing supply means; A collecting member for collecting the sucked scattered developer.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer container for storing a developer, a developer supply means provided in the developer container, for supplying the developer to a portion to be developed, and both ends of the developer supply means. First and second suction ports disposed in close proximity to the portion, first and second vertical air guides vertically connected to the first and second suction ports, and the first and second suction ports. A horizontal air guide connected between the lower ends of the two vertical air guide paths; and a suction source connected to the horizontal air guide and suctioning air scattered from the developing supply unit.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer container for storing a developer, a developer supply means provided in the developer container, for supplying the developer to a portion to be developed, and both ends of the development supply means. First and second suction ports disposed in close proximity to the portion, first and second vertical air guides vertically connected to the first and second suction ports, and the first and second suction ports. A horizontal air guide connected between the lower ends of the two vertical air guide paths; a suction source connected to the horizontal air guide for sucking air scattered from the developing supply means; and a suction source provided in the horizontal air guide. A collecting member for collecting the scattered developer sucked by the suction source.

According to the present invention, the suction port of the suction means is provided close to both ends of the developer supply means, so that a region other than both ends of the developer supply means is used as a suction area. Do not increase the load unnecessarily.

Further, by smoothly sucking the scattered developer along the flow of the air containing the scattered developer flowing from the center to the both ends of the developer supply means, it is possible to smoothly suck the developer and reduce the suction resistance. Be able to reduce.

Further, by sucking the scattered developer only from both ends of the developing container, a space can be secured on the lower side of the developing container.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the developing device.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a developing container, and an opening 3 facing a photosensitive drum 2 as a portion to be developed is formed on the front surface of the developing container 1.

Inside the developing container 1, there is rotatably provided a magnet roller 4 as a developer supply means facing the photosensitive drum 2 through an opening 3, and a two-component developing device comprising a toner and a carrier. Transport augers 6 and 7 for stirring and transporting the agent and supplying the same to the magnet roller 4 are provided. On the upper side of the magnet roller 4, a doctor blade 8 for regulating the developer layer on the magnet roller 4 to a constant thickness is provided.

A rubber sheet 10 is provided on the upper edge side of the front opening 3 of the developing container 1 as shown in an enlarged view in FIG.
Abuts over the entire area in the longitudinal direction.

A recess 1 is provided below the opening 3 of the developing container 1.
1 is formed along the axial direction of the magnet roller 4, and a resin film 12 is attached to both ends of the recess 11 so as to close the opening surface thereof, and the first and second suction ports 13, 14 are formed.

1 and 3 are provided on the lower surface of the developing container 1.
And FIG. 4 Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, an intermediate duct 15 is provided along the axial direction of the magnet roller 4. One end of the intermediate duct 15 and the first suction port 1
3 is communicated via a first communication duct 16, and one end of a second communication duct 17 is connected to the second suction port 13. The other end of the intermediate duct 15 and the other end of the second communication duct 17 have a suction device 1 as a suction source.
9 is connected. The suction device 19 includes the casing 2
A suction fan 21 and a filter 22 for collecting the developer as a collection member are disposed in the space 0.

At the time of development, the photosensitive drum 2 is rotated, and the magnet roller 4 is further rotated.
Are rotated. The developer is agitated and conveyed by the rotation of the first and second conveying augers 6 and 7 and supplied to the magnet roller 4. The developer supplied to the magnet roller 4 is transported upward by the rotation of the magnet roller 4, and the doctor blade 8 regulates the layer thickness of the developer. The developer whose layer thickness is regulated is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 2 by rotation of the magnet roller 4 to form a developer image. This developer image is transferred to a sheet sent to an image transfer section between the photosensitive drum 2 and the transfer charger 25 after being aligned by a registration roller.

During the development, a part of the developer is scattered downward from both ends of the magnet roller 4. However, at this time, the suction fan 21 is rotated, and the air including the scattered developer is sucked as shown in FIGS.

That is, air at one end of the magnet roller 4 is sucked as shown by an arrow, and this air is sent from the first suction port 13 to the intermediate duct 15 via the first communication duct 16. The suction is performed by the suction fan 21 from the intermediate duct 15.

The air at the other end of the magnet roller 4 is sucked as shown by the arrow, and this air is sucked from the second suction port 14 to the suction fan 21 via the second communication duct 17. You.

As described above, when the air is sucked, the developer scattered from both ends of the magnet roller 4 is sucked together with the air and collected by the filter 22.

As described above, since the first and second suction ports 13 and 14 are disposed in the diagonally downward direction at both ends of the magnet roller 4 through which the air containing the scattered developer flows, air is wasted. Without suction, suction can be performed efficiently.

On the lower side other than both ends of the magnet roller 4, almost no air containing the scattered developer is discharged, and the flow of the air containing the scattered developer from the center of the magnet roller 4 toward both ends is reduced. It is thought that there is.

In this embodiment, the magnet roller 4
Since air is sucked in parallel along the flow of air from the center to both ends from the center, air containing the scattered developer can be sucked more efficiently.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention.

At the lower end of both ends of the developing container 1, the first and second suction ports 3 are located close to both ends of the magnet roller 4.
1, 32 are provided. The first and second suction port portions 31 and 32 have first and second vertical duct portions 3 respectively.
3, 34 are connected. The lower ends of the first and second vertical ducts 33 and 34 are connected by a horizontal duct 35, and a suction fan 36 as a suction source is connected to the horizontal duct 35.

Inside the horizontal duct 35, a filter 37 is provided as a collecting member for collecting the scattered developer sucked.
Is provided.

According to this embodiment, the horizontal duct 35, which is a relay duct, can be arranged below the transfer peeling portion having the largest space in the structure of the image forming apparatus, so that further space saving is realized.

Further, since two systems of air containing the scattered developer sucked from both ends of the developing section can be joined at the center of both, it is easy to obtain a uniform suction force in the right and left directions.

[0040]

According to the present invention, as described above, since the suction port of the duct is provided near both ends of the developer supply means, areas other than both ends of the developer supply means are wastefully used as suction areas. And the suction load can be reduced.

Further, since the suction is performed along the flow of the air containing the scattered developer flowing from the center to the both ends of the developer supply means, smooth suction is possible and the suction resistance can be reduced.

Therefore, suction with a small and inexpensive suction device becomes possible.

Further, since there is no need to provide a suction duct on the entire lower surface of the developing container, a space can be provided on the lower side of the developing container, and the outer diameter of the image carrier is reduced in order to reduce the size of the image forming apparatus. Even if is reduced, the image forming apparatus can be downsized without causing interference with the registration rollers.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a scattered developer suction device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a developing device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one side of a suction device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another side of the suction device.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a part of the developing device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of a scattering developer sucked.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of a scattering developer sucked.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a scattered developer suction device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Development container 2 ... Photosensitive drum (development part) 4 ... Magnet roller (developer supply means) 6, 7 ... Conveyor auger 8 ... Doctor blade 10 ... Rubber sheet 12 ... Resin film 15 ... Intermediate duct 16 ... First Communication duct 17: Second communication duct 21, 36: Suction fan 22, 37: Filter (collection member) 24: Registration roller

Claims (7)

[Claims] A developer container for storing the developer; a developer supply means provided in the developer container for supplying the developer to a development target portion; and suction ports near both ends of the development supply means. And a suction means for sucking the developer scattered from the development supply means from the suction port. 2. A developer container for storing a developer, a developer supply means provided in the developer container, for supplying the developer to a development target portion, and suction ports near both ends of the development supply means. And a suction means for sucking the developer scattered from the development supply means from the suction port along a direction from a central portion to both ends of the development supply means. 3. A developer container for storing a developer, a developer supply means provided in the developer container, for supplying the developer to a development target portion, and a developer supply means disposed close to both ends of the development supply means. First and second suction ports, and first and second suction ports connected to the first and second suction ports.
And a suction source connected to the first and second air guide paths and suctioning the developer scattered from the developer supply unit. 4. A developer container for storing a developer, a developer supply unit provided in the developer container, for supplying the developer to a development target, and a developer container disposed in proximity to both ends of the development supply unit. A first and second suction port, a first suction port having one end connected to the first and second suction port;
And a second communication duct, an intermediate duct connected to the other end of the first communication duct, connected to the other end of the intermediate duct and the second communication duct, and scattered from the developing supply unit. And a suction source for sucking the developer to be developed. 5. A developer container for storing a developer, a developer supply means provided in the developer container, for supplying the developer to a development target, and a developer supply means disposed in close proximity to both ends of the development supply means. A first and second suction port, a first suction port having one end connected to the first and second suction port;
And a second communication duct, an intermediate duct connected to the other end of the first communication duct, connected to the other end of the intermediate duct and the second communication duct, and scattered from the developing supply unit. And a collecting member for collecting the scattered developer sucked by the suction source. 6. A developer container for storing a developer, a developer supply means provided in the developer container, for supplying the developer to a development target, and a developer supply means disposed in proximity to both ends of the development supply means. First and second suction ports, first and second vertical air guides vertically connected to the first and second suction ports, and the first and second vertical air guide paths And a suction source connected to the horizontal air guide and sucking air scattered from the developing supply means. 7. A developer container for storing a developer, a developer supply means provided in the developer container, for supplying the developer to a portion to be developed, and a developer supply means disposed near both ends of the development supply means. First and second suction ports, first and second vertical air guides vertically connected to the first and second suction ports, and the first and second vertical air guide paths A horizontal air guide portion connected between the lower ends of the developing device; a suction source connected to the horizontal air guide portion for sucking air scattered from the developing supply means; and a suction source provided in the horizontal air guide portion and sucked by the suction source. A collecting member for collecting the scattered developer to be produced.