JPH1048927A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent locking, etc., of a bearing by leaking, flooding, and entering of developer by providing a developer regulation means in the other end side of a developer raking-out means and regulating the developer moving from the end side of a puddle to a side board side of a developer vessel. SOLUTION: A developer regulation means 5 which is provided in the other side of a developer raking-out means 4 regulates developer D moving from the end part 3a side of a puddle 3 to a side board la side of a developer vessel 1. Namely, when the height of the developer D is raised or biased in the side board 1a side of the developer vessel 1 and the axial end side of a developer carrier 2, the developer D adjoining to the end part 3a of the puddle 3 whose movement to the side board 1a side is regulated by a regulating board of a developer regulating means 5 is raked out a lot in the direction for separating from the developing roller of the developer carrier 2 in the normal direction on the paper top side by a developer raking-out means 4 so that the puddled developer can be decreased in a short time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device. More specifically, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a laser beam printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine using an electrophotographic method, a developer stirred by a rotation of a paddle passes through a developer carrier and a latent image carrier. And a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image by supplying the electrostatic latent image to the developing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional developing device, for example, a blade plate is continuously provided on the upstream side in the rotating direction of a developer guide member provided on the outer periphery of a developer stirring plate, and the blade plate surrounds the developer stirring plate. The toner in the center of rotation to improve the mixing of the toner and the carrier, improve the charging efficiency of the toner, and improve the uniformity of the toner in the axial direction. A technique for obtaining stable development is known (see Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 1-135450). 9 and 10 are a horizontal cross-sectional plan view and a vertical front cross-sectional view showing the main components of a conventional developer stirring and pumping rotary member. In this conventional example, cylindrical rod-shaped fins 104 are provided at 180 ° intervals on disk portions provided at both axial end portions 103a of a developer agitating and pumping rotary member 103, so that an end of the developing roller 102 The developer (D) in the vicinity of both ends 103a of the developer stirring and pumping rotary member 103 is scraped in a direction away from the developing roller 102, so that the developer from the side plate 101a of the developing container 101 and the developer from the end of the developing roller 102 are removed. Techniques for preventing leakage or overflow of (D) or the occurrence of lock or the like due to the intrusion of the developer (D) into the bearing 102b of the developing roller 102 or the bearing 103b of the developer stirring and pumping rotary member 103 are also known. (See Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 3-45556).

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the rotating member and the developing roller and the flow of the developer. Based on this figure, the developer agitating and pumping rotary member 103 transfers the developing agent to the developing roller 102. The positional relationship of the developer (D) moving to the stirring / pumping rotary member 103 will be described. The developer (D) conveyed to the developing roller 102 with a width of x moves on the developing roller 102 with a width y substantially equal to the width of the internal magnet 102a on the developing roller 102, and separates from the developing roller 102. And then agitating and rotating the developer 1
03 to be collected. Developer (D)
(Y-x) of the developer (D) for the widened width in which the toner is conveyed
To the toner mixing and stirring area, the fins 104
Is provided, the developer (D) near the both ends 103 a of the developer agitating and pumping rotary member 103 is scraped from the end of the developing roller 102 in a direction away from the developing roller 102. In FIG. 12, however, the bulk of the developer (D) is higher than the height indicated by the arrow h1 by the height h2.
And the height becomes higher than the height h2 to h3, the remaining amount increases.
When the developer 1 is tilted, the developer container 101 is vigorously set up in the axial direction of the rotating member 103, or the developer (D) is erroneously put in too much, the developer (D) is shifted to one side. In this case, the scraping effect of the fins is reduced, and the developer (D) separated from the developing roller 102 cannot be collected.
01a and the end of the developing roller 102, the developer (D) leaks or overflows, or the developer (D) enters the bearing 102b or the bearing 103b to cause a lock (unrotatable) or the like. Was.

[0004]

In the above-described conventional developing device, the remaining amount increases as the bulk of the developer accumulated on the side plate side in the developing container increases, and the developing container tilts during maintenance or the like. If the developer container is vigorously set in the axial direction of the paddle of the rotating member, or if the developer is mistakenly put in too much and the developer is shifted to one side, the scraping effect is reduced and the developer is separated from the developing roller. The developer cannot be collected, and there is a problem that the developer leaks or overflows from the side plate of the developing container and the end of the developing roller, or locking of the bearing occurs due to intrusion of the developer. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve such a problem. In other words, even if the bulk of the developer is increased or shifted between the side plate side of the developing container and the end of the developer carrier, the developer near the both ends of the paddle is developed from the end of the developer carrier. An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device that scrapes a large amount in a direction away from a developer carrier in a short time to prevent leakage or overflow of the developer or occurrence of locking of a bearing due to intrusion of the developer. ing.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a developing container for storing a developer, a paddle rotatably disposed in the developing container, and a rotation of the paddle. A developer carrier that carries the developer supplied on the peripheral surface while being stirred by the developer carrier and transports the developer to the development area, and forms the latent image carrier with the developer transported to the development area by the developer carrier. In the developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image, the developer moving from the developer carrier and accumulated between the end of the paddle and the side plate of the developing container is provided on the axial end of the paddle. A developer scraping means for scraping the developer away from the developer carrier; and a second end of the developer scraping means for restricting movement of the developer from an end of the paddle to a side plate of the developing container. Check that the developer regulating means is fixed. The features. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the first aspect, the developer regulating unit is configured to allow the developer to move from the side plate side of the developing container to the end portion side of the paddle. The main feature is that the developing device has a notch. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the second aspect, the notch is provided at a position on the downstream side of the developer scraping unit in the rotation direction of the developer regulating unit. It is the main feature. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device of the first, second, or third aspect, the developer scraping means is a developing device having a cylindrical cross section. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the first, second or third aspect, the developer scraping means is a developing device having a quadrangular prism shape in cross section. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the first, second or third aspect, the developer scraping means is a developing device having a triangular prism in cross section.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device comprising:
In order to return to the paddle side from the axial end of the developer carrier, and to scrape out the developer that tends to accumulate between the end of the paddle and the side plate of the developing container in a direction away from the developer carrier. The developer scraping means having one end fixed to the end of the paddle and the developer regulating means fixed to the other end of the paddle cooperate from the end of the paddle to the side plate of the developing container. Since the movement of the developer is regulated, even if the bulk of the developer is increased or offset to the side plate side of the developing container and the end of the developer carrier, from the end of the developer carrier,
A large amount of the developer near the end of the paddle can be scraped away from the developer carrier in a short time, so that leakage or overflow of the developer or locking of the bearing due to intrusion of the developer can be achieved. The development of the developing device can be provided with a low running cost by preventing the generation of the developer, reducing the amount of the developer that does not contribute to the development, and reducing the amount of the developer used.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a notch is provided in the developer regulating means so that the developer can be moved from the side plate of the developing container to the end of the paddle. Even if the bulk of the developer is increased or offset between the side plate side and the end of the developer carrier, the developer near the end of the paddle is removed from the developer carrier from the end of the developer carrier. A large amount of the developer is scraped away in a short time, the amount of developer remaining near the side plate of the developing container is reduced, and the bearing is locked due to leakage or overflow of the developer or intrusion of the developer. And the like, the amount of developer not contributing to development is reduced, and the amount of developer used is reduced, so that a developing device with low running cost can be provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a notch is provided in the developer regulating means at a position downstream of the developer scraping means in the rotation direction of the developer regulating means, and the end of the paddle is provided from the side plate side of the developing container. As the developer is allowed to move to the side of the developer container, even if the volume of the developer is increased or offset between the side plate side of the developing container and the end of the developer carrier, the developer carrier A large amount of the developer near the end of the paddle is scraped away in a direction away from the developer carrier from the end of the paddle, and the amount of the developer remaining near the side plate of the developing container is also reduced. The amount of developer that does not contribute to development is reduced by reducing the amount of developer that does not contribute to development by preventing leakage or overflow of the developer or locking of the bearing due to intrusion of the developer. To provide a developing device with low running cost It can be so.

In the present invention, since the developer scraping means is a columnar body having a circular cross section, the volume of the developer is increased or offset between the side plate of the developing container and the end of the developer carrier. However, a large amount of the developer near the end of the paddle is scraped away from the end of the developer carrier in the diffusion direction away from the developer carrier in a short time, so that the developer leaks or overflows. Alternatively, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of locking of the bearing due to the intrusion of the developer, to reduce the amount of the developer not contributing to the development, and to reduce the amount of the developer, thereby providing a developing device having a low running cost. To be able to

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the developer scraping means has a quadrangular prism shape in cross section, the bulk of the developer may increase on the side plate side of the developing container and at the end of the developer carrier. Even if the developer is offset, a large amount of the developer near the edge of the paddle is scraped away from the end of the developer carrier in a direction away from the developer carrier in a short time. This prevents the occurrence of lock of the bearing due to overflow or intrusion of the developer, reduces the amount of the developer that does not contribute to the development, and reduces the amount of the developer to be used. Be able to provide.

In the present invention, since the developer scraping means has a triangular prism in cross section, the bulk of the developer may increase on the side plate side of the developing container and the end of the developer carrier. Even if it is offset, a large amount of the developer near the end of the paddle is scraped away from the end of the developer carrier in a desired non-tangential direction away from the developer carrier in a short time. The layout of the apparatus is relaxed and the size of the apparatus is reduced, the developer is prevented from leaking or overflowing, or locking of the bearing due to the intrusion of the developer is prevented, and the amount of the developer not contributing to the development is reduced. Thus, a developing device having a low running cost can be provided by using less developer.

[0012]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan horizontal sectional view of a main part thereof, and FIG. In each of the drawings, the developing device of the present invention includes a magnet (2a) disposed inside a developer (D) (for example, a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier) housed in a developing container 1 which rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG. Developing area (d) that is carried by the developer carrier 2 (developing roller) thus formed and is formed between the developer carrier 2 and the latent image carrier 6
And develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier 6 to form a toner image. The rotation of the rotatably supported paddle 3 in the direction of arrow B causes the developer (D) to be supplied to the developer carrier 2 having the magnet 2a disposed therein, with stirring. I have. By developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier 6, the toner concentration in the developer (D) decreases,
To compensate for this, the toner is replenished by the toner replenishing roller 7, and the developer (D) to which the toner has been replenished is mixed and stirred by the stirring roller 8, so that a predetermined toner density is maintained and the development quality is obtained. It is supposed to be.

The developer (D) after the development in which the toner concentration has decreased is indicated by an arrow C below the developing roller of the developer carrier 2.
Is moved to the area where the toner is mixed and stirred by the stirring roller 8 by the paddle 3 and is restored to the proper toner density. The developer scraping means 4 has a columnar cross-sectional shape, one end 4a of which is fixed to the end 3a side of the paddle 3, and the paddle 3 is rotated by the paddle 3 in the arrow B direction.
The developer (D) located between the axial end portion 3a and the side plate 1a of the developing container 1 is diffused in the direction of arrow E and scraped out. The developer regulating means 5 is provided on the other end 4 b side of the developer scraping means 4, and is provided at the end 3 of the paddle 3.
developer (D) from a side to the side plate 1a side of the developing container 1
Restrict movement.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the operation of the paddle shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 4, the developer (D) is supplied on the side plate 1a side of the developing container 1 and on the axial end side of the developer carrier 2. Even if the height of the paddle 3 is increased or offset, the rotation of the paddle 3 in the direction of arrow B causes the developer (D) from the end of the developer carrier 2 to the vicinity of the end 3a of the paddle 3 to be regulated by the developer regulating means. The movement to the side plate 1a side is regulated by the regulating plate 5 and a large amount of the developer is scraped out by the developer scraping means 4 in the direction of the normal line on the upper side of the drawing and away from the developing roller of the developer carrier 2. Therefore, the accumulated developer can be significantly reduced in a short time as compared with the conventional developing device.
FIG. 5 is a front vertical sectional view of a main part of a developing device according to a modification of the present invention. The developer regulating means 5 is provided on the outer peripheral edge thereof from the side plate 1a side of the developing container 1 to the end 3a of the paddle 3. It has a notch 5a which is cut out to allow the developer (D) to move to the side. The notch 5 a is provided at a position downstream of the developer scraping means 4 in the rotation direction B of the paddle 3. Therefore, the developer (D) in the vicinity of the side plate 1a of the developing container 1 moves from the side plate 1a side to the end 3a side through the notch 5a, so that the developer (D) is easily collected, and the vicinity of the side plate 1a of the developing container 1 is improved. Developer (D) remaining in the toner can be greatly reduced.

FIG. 6 is a front vertical sectional view of a main part of a developing device according to another embodiment of the present invention. The sectional shape of the developer scraping means 4 of the above embodiment is cylindrical. 4
A prismatic developer scraping means 40 is used. For this reason, the developer can be more reliably caught by the flat surface than the column-shaped developer scraping means 4 (not shown). As a result, a large amount of the developer (D) near the end 3a of the paddle 3 is scraped away from the end of the developer carrier 2 in a direction away from the developer carrier 2, and the conventional developing device In comparison with the above, it is possible to further reduce the amount of the developer that tends to accumulate in a short time.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment. The developing device of this embodiment has a columnar developer scraping means 40 having a triangular cross section.
a, and one of the bases of the triangle is arranged so as to face the rotation axis. According to the columnar developer scraping means 40a, the developer scraping means 40 having a quadrangular prism shape is more
The developer (D) in the vicinity of the end 3a of the paddle 3 from the end of the developer carrier 2 is further scraped away in a direction away from the developing roller of the developer carrier 2, so that the conventional technique is improved. In comparison with the developing device of the first embodiment, the amount of the developer that is likely to be accumulated significantly can be reduced in a short time.

FIG. 8 is a structural view of still another embodiment, wherein the triangular prism-shaped developer scraping means 40a of FIG. 7 is rotated by a desired angle so that one of its bases faces the outer diameter direction. 7 is different. As shown in the drawing, a developer scraping means 40b having a regular triangular prism shape transfers the developer (D) near the end 3a of the paddle 3 from the end of the developer carrier 2 to the developing roller of the developer carrier 2. Since a large amount is scraped off in a desired non-tangential direction away from the device, layout restrictions are relaxed and the device can be made compact.

[0018]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the developer carrier returns from the axial end to the paddle,
To scrape away the developer accumulated between the axial end of the paddle and the side plate of the developing container in a direction away from the developer carrier,
A developer regulating means is provided at one end of the paddle at the other end of the developer scraping means provided at the end of the paddle so as to regulate the movement of the developer from the end of the paddle to the side plate of the developing container. Therefore, even if the bulk of the developer is increased or shifted between the side plate of the developing container and the end of the developer carrier, the developer near the end of the paddle is removed from the end of the developer carrier. A large amount of material can be scraped away in a short time in a direction away from the developer carrier, thereby preventing leakage and overflow of the developer, or occurrence of locking of the bearing due to intrusion of the developer, and development. Since the amount of the developer that does not contribute to the development is reduced, the amount of the developer used is reduced, and a developing apparatus with low running cost can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the notch is provided in the developer regulating means so that the developer can be moved from the side plate of the developing container to the end of the paddle. Even if the bulk of the developer is increased or offset between the side plate side of the developing container and the end of the developer carrier, the developer near the end of the paddle is removed from the end of the developer carrier by the developer. A large amount of the developer is scraped away in a short time in a direction away from the carrier, the amount of the developer remaining near the side plate of the developing container is also reduced, and the developer leaks or overflows, or the developer is intruded. Locking of the bearing and the like can be prevented, and the amount of the developer that does not contribute to the development can be reduced, so that the developing device to be used can be reduced and the running cost can be reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the notch provided in the developer regulating means at a position downstream of the developer scraping means in the rotational direction of the developer regulating means is provided in the developer regulating means, so that the notch is provided from the side plate side of the developing container. Since the developer can be moved to the end of the paddle, the developer can be developed even if the volume of the developer is increased or offset between the side plate of the developing container and the end of the developer carrier. From the end of the agent carrier, the developer near the end of the paddle is
A large amount of the developer is scraped away in a short time in a direction away from the developer carrier, the amount of the developer remaining near the side plate side of the developing container is also reduced, and leakage or overflow of the developer, or
The occurrence of locking of the bearing due to the intrusion of the developer can be prevented, and the amount of the developer that does not contribute to the development can be reduced, so that the developing device used can be reduced and the running cost can be reduced.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the section of the developer scraping means has a cylindrical shape, the volume of the developer is increased or offset between the side plate of the developing container and the end of the developer carrier. However, a large amount of the developer near the end of the paddle is scraped away from the end of the developer carrier in the diffusion direction away from the developer carrier in a short time, so that the developer leaks or overflows. Alternatively, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of locking of the bearing due to the intrusion of the developer and to reduce the amount of the developer which does not contribute to the development, so that the amount of the developer to be used is reduced and a developing device having a low running cost can be provided. Became.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the developer scraping means has a quadrangular prism shape in cross section, the bulk of the developer is increased or shifted between the side plate of the developing container and the end of the developer carrier. In this case, the developer in the vicinity of the end of the paddle from the end of the developer carrier is scraped in a larger amount in a short time in a direction away from the developer carrier. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of overflow or the locking of the bearing due to the intrusion of the developer, and to reduce the amount of the developer which does not contribute to the development. It became so.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the developer scraping means has a triangular cross section, the bulk of the developer is increased or shifted between the side plate of the developing container and the end of the developer carrier. Even if it does, the developer near the end of the paddle from the end of the developer carrier will be scraped out more in a short time in the desired non-tangential direction away from the developer carrier, The device is compact because the restrictions on layout are relaxed, and it prevents the leakage and overflow of the developer or the occurrence of locking of the bearing due to the intrusion of the developer, and reduces the amount of the developer that does not contribute to the development. The amount of developer is reduced, and a developing device with low running cost can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a main part of the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front vertical sectional view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view for explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is a front longitudinal sectional view illustrating a developing device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating a main part of a developing device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a main part of a developing device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating a main part of a developing device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a main part of a conventional developing device.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of another main part of a conventional developing device.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of another main part of a conventional developing device.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of another main part of a conventional developing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Developing container, 1a side plate, 2 developer carrier, 2a
Magnet, 2b bearing, 3 paddle, 3a end, 3
b bearing, 4 developer scraping means, 4a one end, 4b
The other end, 5 developer regulating means, 5a notch, 6 latent image carrier, 7 toner supply roller, 8 stirring roller, 4
0 developer scraping means, 40a developer scraping means, 40b developer scraping means, 101 developing container,
101a side plate, 102 developing roller, 102a magnet, 102b bearing, 103 developer stirring and pumping rotary member, 103a end, 103b bearing, 104
fin

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A developing container for storing a developer, a paddle rotatably arranged in the developing container, and a developer supplied on a peripheral surface while being stirred by the rotation of the paddle and transported to a developing area. A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier by the developer conveyed to the developing area by the developer carrier. On the side, a developer scraping means for scraping the developer that has moved from the developer carrier and accumulated between the end of the paddle and the side plate of the developing container in a direction away from the developer carrier, and the developer scraping device And a developer regulating means provided on the other end of the means for regulating movement of the developer from an end of the paddle to the side plate of the developing container. 2. A developing device according to claim 1, wherein said developer regulating means has a notch for allowing the developer to move from said side plate of said developing container to an end of said paddle. A developing device, characterized in that: 3. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the notch is provided at a position downstream of the developer scraping means in the rotation direction of the developer regulating means. Developing device. 4. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein said developer scraping means has a cylindrical cross section. 5. A developing device according to claim 1, wherein said developer scraping means has a quadrangular prism shape in cross section. 6. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein said developer scraping means has a triangular prism shape in cross section.