JPH11119535A - Detachable developer storage case and developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and securely stir developer without subjecting a developer stirring-and-carrying member and the developer to stress by providing a interlocking mechanism for rotating the developer stirring-and-carrying member in a normal direction interlocked with the act of pulling a tape member out. SOLUTION: On the side face of a housing 10 having an opening 18 from which the seal is taken out, the interlocking mechanism 5 is provided for rotating a first agitator 15 in the normal direction interlocked with the act of pulling a seal member 4 out. The interlocking mechanism 5 is composed of a movement conversion part 6 for converting a linear motion, obtained by the act of pulling the seal member 4 out, to a rotary motion, and a rotation transmission part 7 for transmitting the rotary motion, obtained by the motion conversion part 6, to the rotary shaft 15a of a first agitator 15. The instant the pulling out of the seal member 4 starts, the first agitator 15 and a second agitator 16 rotate together, and the developer agglomerating in a developer storage chamber 10b at the time of attachment is stirred and returned to a normal state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a detachable (cartridge-type) developer accommodating case and a developing device which are detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer and used in particular. The present invention relates to a developer accommodating case and a developing device having a function of allowing the aggregated developer to be loosened when the developer contained in the developer accommodating case or the developing device is aggregated. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a developer accommodating case of this type, a developer stirring / conveying member (e.g., a developer stirring / conveying member) which rotates within the case and conveys the developer accommodated in the case to a developer discharge port side while stirring the developer. , An agitator) are rotatably provided. Further, as a detachable developing device, a developing roll that supplies a developer to a developing area of a latent image carrier such as a photoconductor on which a latent image to be developed by the developer is formed, and a developer that supplies the developing roll to the developing roll , A developer stirring and conveying member that rotates in the developer housing chamber and conveys the developer housed in the housing chamber to the developing roll side while stirring, and is held on the developing roll. It is known that a developing blade for maintaining a constant thickness of a developer layer to be formed has a main part thereof.

When such a detachable developer accommodating case or developing device is mounted at a case mounting position or a developing device mounting position of an image forming apparatus, it is connected to a drive system provided on the image forming apparatus side. The developer agitating / conveying member and the developing roll are driven to rotate, whereby the developer in the case is sent out to the developing device main body side, or the developer in the developer accommodating chamber is sent to the developing roll side to be used for the developing process. Is to be made. Then, when the developer in the case or the developer accommodating chamber is almost consumed, the used accommodating case or developing device is removed and replaced with a new accommodating case or developing device.

In the case of the detachable developer accommodating case or the developing device, the developer in the case or the developer accommodating chamber may be in a state of being aggregated due to moisture absorption, vibration during conveyance, or the like. . If the agglomerated state is used, a large load is applied to the developer stirring / conveying member itself composed of a wire or a blade or the like and the driving system thereof, so that the member or the driving system is damaged. There is a possibility that the developer is not smoothly supplied to the developing device main body and the developing roll, and when a new storage case or the developing device is replaced, white spots or the like due to defective development may easily occur.

For this reason, conventionally, when replacing a new developer accommodating case or developing device, the accommodating case or developing device is shaken by hand or attached to the rotating shaft of the developer agitating / conveying member. The operation of rotating the developer stirring and conveying member by manually turning a gear for coupling with the drive system is performed, and the developer in the aggregated state is loosened by such an operation.

However, in the case of this coping method, the manual work of loosening the developer is unexpectedly troublesome.
In addition, there is a possibility that the user may forget to perform the loosening work and attach it as it is.

Further, in order to reduce such a work of loosening the developer, a rack is provided as a detachable developer accommodating case on the side of the developing device main body along the mounting direction of the developer accommodating case. By providing a gear train mechanism on the storage case side that meshes with the rack and rotates the developer stirring member in the case, the developer stirring member is moved to the rack and the gear in conjunction with the operation of mounting the storage case on the developing device body. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-337587 proposes an arrangement in which the developer is rotated via a row mechanism to loosen the developer in the case.

However, in the case of this countermeasure, the rotation direction of the gear meshing with the rack is different between when inserting and removing the developer accommodating case and when removing the developer accommodating case. For this reason, especially when the developer stirring member rotates in a direction opposite to the original rotation direction, depending on the shape and structure of the developer stirring member, the member may be subjected to resistance by the developer and sometimes contact the case wall surface. As a result, the member may be twisted, set off, peeled off, or the like. Further, the developer may be subjected to extra stress by the developer stirring member rotating in the opposite direction.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances of the prior art, and has as its object to install a detachable developer accommodating case and a developing device. A developer that can be more easily and reliably disintegrated, without giving extra stress to the developer stirring / conveying member or the developer, in a state where the developer is aggregated in the case or the device. An object of the present invention is to provide a housing case and a developing device.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a developer accommodating case of the present invention accommodates a developer used in a developing device of an image forming apparatus, and stirs and transports the developer. A detachable developer accommodating case in which a developer agitating / conveying member is rotatably disposed, wherein the tape agitating member is removed by being pulled out in one direction, and the developer agitating / conveying member is interlocked with the withdrawal operation of the tape member. And an interlocking mechanism for rotating in a positive direction.

According to this developer accommodating case, when the tape member is withdrawn when the new accommodating case is mounted on the developing device main body (or the image forming apparatus main body), the developer stirring / conveying member is interlocked with the pulling operation. Rotates in the forward direction (the direction of rotation during normal operation). Thereby, the developer in the case is loosened. At this time, the developer stirring and conveying member is
Since the tape member is always rotated in the forward direction and not rotated in the reverse direction by the pulling-out operation in one direction, no extra stress is applied to the developer stirring and conveying member and the developer.

Preferably, the interlocking mechanism is configured to rotate the developer stirring and conveying member at least one rotation by pulling out the tape member. Thus, the developer stirring / conveying member exerts a stirring action on almost all of the developer housed in the case, so that the aggregated developer is surely loosened. Further, since the developer stirring and conveying member rotates in the forward direction, the upper limit of the number of rotation is not particularly limited.

It is preferable that the continuous image mechanism has a function releasing mechanism that functions by pulling out the tape member and that does not function before and after the pulling out operation is started. Thereby, especially after the tape member is pulled out, the developer stirring and conveying member is released from the interlocking mechanism, and the interlocking mechanism does not hinder the normal operation of the stirring and conveying member.

The structure of the interlocking mechanism is arbitrary as long as it has a function of rotating the developer agitating and conveying member in the forward direction in conjunction with the pulling-out operation of the tape member. A motion converting unit that converts a linear motion obtained by the pulling-out operation of the tape member into a rotary motion, and a rotation transmitting unit that transmits the rotary motion obtained by the motion converting unit to a rotary shaft of the developer stirring and conveying member. It is.

In the case where the interlocking mechanism includes the above-described motion conversion unit and the rotation transmitting unit, it is preferable that the rotation transmitting unit includes a speed reduction mechanism. Thus, the tape member can be pulled out with a relatively low tension, while the developer stirring / conveying member can be slowly rotated with a sufficient driving force. Thereby, the aggregated developer can be surely loosened with a weak force.

The tape member may be provided only for rotating the developer stirring / conveying member. Preferably, the tape member is provided with a developer outlet provided in the case body before use. A sealing member for closing is applied. In this case, the tape member (seal member) already provided in the case can be effectively used as it is, and there is no need to provide a tape member again, which is economical.

Further, according to the developing device of the present invention, a detachable developer accommodating case having the above-described structure is formed as a developer accommodating chamber having a structure communicating with a developing chamber in which a developing roll is provided. It is a developing device of the type. As a result, the developer in the developer storage chamber can be smoothly and sufficiently supplied to the developing roll immediately after the developing device is mounted.

The tape member in this developing device may be provided only for rotating the developer stirring / conveying member, but preferably, the tape member is provided between the developer accommodating chamber and the developing chamber before use. A seal member for closing a communication port to be opened is applied. In this case, the tape member (seal member) already provided in the developing device can be effectively used as it is, and there is no need to provide a tape member again, which is economical.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the whole of a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a main part of the developing device. The developing device 1 of this embodiment includes:
It is a cartridge type which is detachably mounted on a main body of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer using electrophotography or the like, and is a photosensitive drum 20, a roll type charger 21 and a cleaning device. This is used as a so-called process cartridge 3 integrated with a zero unit (or a drum unit) 2 equipped with a cartridge 22. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 23 denotes a roll type transfer device, 2
Reference numeral 4 denotes a registration roll for feeding the recording paper P to a transfer nip portion between the photosensitive drum 20 and the transfer device 23 (indicated by a dashed line in the drawing indicates a transport path of the paper P), and reference numeral 25 denotes a heating / pressing type. 3 shows a fixing device. The process cartridge 3 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body such that the photosensitive drum 20 faces the transfer device 23 to form a transfer nip portion. The photosensitive drum 20 after being uniformly charged by the charger 21 is exposed to a light image corresponding to image information by an exposure device (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the developing device 1
A housing 10 partitioned into a developing chamber 10a and a developer accommodating chamber 10b communicating with the developing chamber 10a via a communication port 11; a developing roll 12 rotatably provided in a longitudinal direction of the developing chamber 10a; A supply agitator 13 that is provided rotatably in the developing chamber 10a in parallel with the roll 12 and supplies the developer T sent into the developing chamber 10a to the developing roll 12; And a developing blade 14 for keeping the thickness of the layer of the developer T held on the peripheral surface of the developing roll 12 constant, and a developing blade rotatably provided in the longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating chamber 10b. The main part is constituted by two first agitators 15 and second agitators 16 as agent stirring and conveying members. Note that a fixed amount of the developer T is initially contained in the developer accommodating chamber 10b. Here, a one-component developer is used as the developer T.

The developing roll 12 is constituted by a solid roll, or is constituted by a cylindrical sleeve and a magnet roll disposed inside the sleeve. The supply agitator 13 is obtained by bending a linear member into a predetermined shape. The first agitator 15 and the second agitator 16 include shafts 15a, 16a formed by bending a linear member into a predetermined shape, and the shaft 1
Blades (film, etc.) 1 attached to 5a, 16a
5b and 16b.

A driven gear 20 is provided at both ends of the developing roll 12.
The driven gear 20a is engaged with gears (not shown) attached to both ends of the photosensitive drum 20, whereby the rotational driving force of the photosensitive drum 20 is transmitted to the developing roll 12 side. It has become. Also,
A rotational driving force from a driving system of the image forming apparatus main body is supplied to the rear side surface portion of the housing 10 after the mounting.
3, a gear box 17 for transmitting to the first agitator 15 and the second agitator 16, respectively. That is, the gear box 17 is driven by a driven gear 17a coupled to a driving gear of a driving system on the image forming apparatus main body side.
, And the rotational driving force transmitted to the driven gear 17a is finally transmitted to (the shaft 15a of) the first agitator 15 via the gear 17b.
Finally, the second agitator 1 is connected via the gears 17c and 17d.
6 (the shaft 16a thereof). The rotational driving force from the driven gear 17a is finally transmitted simultaneously to the supply agitator 13 via the gear 17e. Supply agitator 13,
Each of the first agitator 15 and the second agitator 16 rotates clockwise in each drawing, and the direction of rotation is the forward direction.

The communication port 11 in the developing device 1
As shown in FIG. 2, a tape-shaped sealing member (tape) is used to prevent the developer T contained in the developer containing chamber 10b from entering the developing chamber 10a through the communication port 11 before use. (Member 4). Reference numeral 18 in the drawing denotes a housing 10 for pulling out and removing the seal member 4 at the time of mounting use.
This is a seal opening on the side surface on the front side of. One end of the seal member 4 is adhered to the portion of the housing 10 on the side of the seal outlet 18 and then adhered to the rear side of the housing so as to cover the communication port 11, and the communication port 11 is completely closed. Later, the other end 4a is turned back to the side opposite to the communication port 11 to extend to the seal outlet 18, and finally from the outlet 18 a predetermined length.
0 protruding outside. The seal member 4 is pulled out from the outlet 18 in one direction when the developing device 1 (process cartridge 3) is mounted.

Further, in the developing device 1, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, an interlocking mechanism 5 for rotating the first agitator 15 in the forward direction in conjunction with the operation of pulling out the seal member 4 is provided on the side surface of the housing 10 having the seal outlet 18. This interlocking mechanism 5 includes a sealing member 4
A motion conversion unit 6 that converts a linear motion obtained by the pull-out operation into a rotary motion, and a rotation transmission unit 7 that transmits the rotary motion obtained by the motion conversion unit 6 to the rotary shaft 15a of the first agitator 15. ing.

The motion converting section 6 includes a roll member 60 rotatably disposed, a pressure contact member 61 pressed against the peripheral surface of the roll member 60, and a gear fixed to a shaft 60a of the roll member 60. 62 and a pair of upper and lower guides 63 for supporting the roll body 60 so as to advance and retreat with respect to the rotation transmitting unit 7.
And a pressure spring 64 that urges the pressure contact member 61 toward the roll body 60, and a bearing 65 of the roll body 60 in a direction away from the rotation transmitting unit 7 along the guide 63 (the direction of the arrow A in the figure). The main part is constituted by the tension spring 66 which is urged, and the seal member 4 is sandwiched between the roll body 60 and the pressure contact member 61 (nip portion). The guide 63 is fixed to the housing 10 of the developing device 1, and one ends of the pressure spring 64 and the tension spring 65 are fixed to a frame (not shown) of the interlocking mechanism 5.

The motion converting section 6 has a structure in which the roll member 60 is rotated by pulling the seal member 4, thereby obtaining a rotational driving force. Further, in the case of the motion conversion unit 6, when the seal member 4 is not pulled or after the seal member 4 is pulled out, the tension of the tension spring 66 causes the roll body 60 to be integrated with the pressure contact member 61 and move away from the rotation transmitting unit 7. Although it is located and does not transmit the rotational power to the rotation transmitting unit 7, when the seal member 4 is pulled, the roll body 60 approaches the rotation transmitting unit 7 together with the pressure contact member 61 against the tension of the tension spring 66 (in the figure). (In the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3) to transmit the rotational power to the rotation transmitting unit 7. That is, the function of the interlocking mechanism 5 is obtained only when the seal member is pulled out, and the function is automatically released when not needed (function releasing mechanism).

On the other hand, the rotation transmitting portion 7 is provided with a rotational driving force obtained by rotating the roll body 60 in the motion converting section 6, more specifically, a gear 6 fixed to a shaft 60a of the roll body.
2 is constituted by a gear train mechanism for transmitting the rotation driving force obtained from the second to the rotating shaft 15a of the first agitator 15. Specifically, a first gear 70 (spur gear) that rotates with the gear 62 of the roll body 60 coupled thereto, a second gear (spur gear) 71 that meshes with the first gear 70, and a second gear 71
A third gear (immediate bevel gear) 73 fixed to the other end of the rotating shaft 72 to which the first gear is fixed, and a fourth gear fixed to the rotating shaft 15 a of the first agitator 15 while meshing with the third gear 73. The main part is constituted by a gear (immediate bevel gear) 74, of which the first gear 70 and the rotating shaft 72 are rotatably attached to a frame (not shown) of the interlocking mechanism 5. Further, the rotation transmitting unit 7 is provided with a first gear 70 and a second gear 70 with respect to the gear 62 such that the rotational driving force obtained from the gear 62 of the motion converting unit 6 is reduced and transmitted to the rotating shaft 15 a of the first agitator 15. A speed reduction mechanism in which the gear ratio of 71 is set to gradually reduce the gear ratio is adopted.

In the case of the interlocking mechanism 5, the gear 62 in the motion converting section 6 and the gear 62 in the rotation transmitting section 7 are so arranged that the first agitator 15 and the second agitator 16 make at least one rotation by the pull-out operation of the seal member 4. 70,
Gear ratios 71, 73 and 74 are set.

Next, the operation of the cartridge type developing device 1 will be described.

The developing device 1 is used as a process cartridge 3 integrated with a zero unit 2 mounted on an image forming apparatus main body. At this time, if the developing device 1 is new, the seal member 4 is pulled out and removed before the developing device 1 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body.

First, before the sealing member 4 is pulled out, as shown in FIG.
0 is displaced in the direction A away from the rotation transmitting unit 7 by the tension of the tension spring 66.

However, in this state, when the sealing member 4 starts to be pulled out, the position of the roll body 60 touched by the sealing member 4 is shifted with respect to the seal outlet 18, so that the state shown in FIG. As shown, the tension pulling the seal member 4 causes the roll body 60 to move along the guide 63 in the direction B approaching the rotation transmitting section 7 against the tension of the tension spring 66 and change. At this time, the pressure contact member 61 is always displaced in the same manner as the roll member 60 by the pressure spring 64, and presses the seal member 4 against the roll member 60. The gear 62 meshes with the first gear 70 of the rotation transmitting unit 7 by the movement of the roll body 60 toward the rotation transmitting unit 7.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 (b),
By pulling out the seal member 4 in the direction of arrow C, the roll body 60 rotates in the direction of arrow D. The rotational power in the direction of the arrow D is supplied to the first gear 70 and the second gear 7 of the rotation transmitting unit 7.
2, transmitted through the third gear 73 and the fourth gear 74 (through the rotating shaft 72), and consequently, the first agitator 15
The rotation is transmitted in the direction of arrow E to the shaft 15a.
The arrow E of the shaft 15a of the first agitator 15
The rotation in the direction is performed by the gear train 17b, 1 of the gear box 17.
The shaft 1 of the second agitator 16 via 7c and 17d
The rotation is transmitted in the direction of arrow E to 6a. Since the seal member 4 is attached in a folded state as described above, the seal member 4 is gradually peeled off from the inner side of the housing by the pulling operation.

As a result, both the first agitator 15 and the second agitator 16 rotate in the direction of the arrow E (ie, the forward direction), and the developer T contained in the developer accommodating chamber 10b is rotated.
Is stirred. As a result, the developer T that has been aggregated at the time of mounting is loosened and returned to a normal state.

At this time, since the first agitator 15 and the second agitator 16 rotate in the forward direction, unnecessary load is not applied even when stirring the aggregated developer. Therefore, the shafts 15a and 16a of each agitator are twisted as in the case of reverse rotation, and the blades 15
The b and 16b do not peel off, and the developer is not subjected to unnecessary stress.

Since both the first agitator 15 and the second agitator 16 make one or more rotations until all the seal members 4 are pulled out, the stirring action of each agitator is stored in the developer storage chamber 10b. The developer T covers the entire surface. Furthermore, since the rotation transmission unit 7 of the interlocking mechanism 5 employs a speed reduction mechanism, the seal member 4 can be pulled out with a relatively small force despite the rotation of the two agitators.

When the sealing member 4 is pulled out, the communication port 11 is opened as shown in FIG.
The developing chamber 10b is in communication with the developing chamber 10a, and the developer T can be supplied to the developing chamber 10a.

The roll body 60 in the interlocking mechanism 5
As shown in FIG. 5C, since the pull-out operation of the seal member 4 does not reach the position shown in FIG. As a result, the gear 62 is separated from the first gear 70 of the rotation transmitting unit 7, and the shaft of each agitator 15, 16 is released from the connection with the motion converting unit 6. Due to this opening, the rotation of the agitators 15 and 16 during normal operation is not affected by the roll body 60 that is being braked by the pressure contact member 61 in the motion conversion unit.

Developing device 1 after removing seal member 4
Is pushed into the main assembly of the image forming apparatus as the process cartridge 3 and then moves to a normal operation. That is, the main operation will be described. When the gear box 17 is connected to the drive system on the image forming apparatus main body side and the rotational driving force is transmitted, the first agitator 15 and the second agitator 16 move in the direction of the arrow E. While rotating, the supply agitator 13 also rotates clockwise. Thereby, the developer T in the developer accommodating chamber 10b is conveyed to the developing chamber 10a side while being stirred. On the side of the developing chamber 10a, the developing roll 12 rotates in synchronization with the photosensitive drum 20, and the developer T is supplied to the developing roll 12 by the supply agitator 13. The developer held on the developing roll 12 has its layer regulated by the developing blade 22 to a certain layer thickness,
The photosensitive drum 20 is conveyed to the developing area of the photosensitive drum 20.
It is subjected to a developing process of the latent image formed thereon. The developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 20 by this developing process is transferred by the transfer unit 23 from the paper supply unit to the recording paper P that is conveyed to the transfer nip part through the registration roll 24 and then transferred. The subsequent sheet P is fixed on the sheet by passing through the fixing device 15.

As the image is formed in this manner, the developer in the developing device 1 is gradually consumed. When the developer becomes almost zero, the developing device 1 is replaced with a new one. When replacing the developing device,
The above-described operation of pulling out the seal member is performed in the same manner.

In the above-described embodiment, FIG.
As shown in (1), a closing member 67 for closing the seal outlet 18 may be provided in the motion conversion section 6 of the interlocking mechanism 5. The illustrated closing member 67 is attached to the bearing 65 of the roll body 60, and after the sealing member 4 has been pulled out, the roll body 6 is removed.
It is set so that it stops at the position where it seals the seal outlet 18 when the movement of the rotation transmission unit 7 in the direction away from the rotation transmission unit 7 is completed. When such a closing member 67 is provided, it is possible to more reliably prevent the developer T from leaking from the seal outlet 18 after the pull-out of the seal member 4 is completed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a pressure roll 68 pressed against the roll 60 may be rotatably provided on the bearing 65 instead of the pressure contact member 61 in the motion converter 6 of the interlocking mechanism 5. In this case, the seal member 4 may be pulled out between the roll body 60 and the press-contact roll body 68.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the developer adhering process (adhesion layer or the like is formed on the surface of the pressure contact member 61 and the roll body 60 in the motion conversion unit 6 of the interlocking mechanism 5 and the surface of the pressure contact roll body 68 described above). Do). In this case, the developer adhering to one surface of the seal member 4 (the surface facing the developer accommodating chamber 10b) is removed.
When the seal member is pulled out, it can be removed by the pressure contact member 61 which has been subjected to the developer adhesion process. This allows
It is possible to prevent the developer from being stained when the seal member is pulled out.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the developing device 1 is of a type which is detachably mounted to the image forming apparatus in the form of the process cartridge 3, but the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus by itself. The present invention can also be applied to a detachable type. Further, although the developing device using a one-component developer as the developer T has been exemplified, the present invention can be applied to a developing device using a two-component developer if necessary.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a cartridge type developing device has been exemplified. However, the present invention is directed to a cartridge type developer for replenishing the developing device body with the developer. The present invention can be applied to a storage case (a so-called toner cartridge).

In this case, a seal member for closing the developer outlet of the developer accommodating case is used as the tape member, and the interlocking mechanism 5 as in the above embodiment is attached to the side surface of the case on the drawer side of the seal member. What is necessary is just to provide. Then, when the new developer accommodating case is mounted on the apparatus main body side, the seal member is pulled out, so that the developer stirring / conveying member rotatably disposed in the developer accommodating case via the interlocking mechanism 5 is rotated. To be formed.
Thereby, the aggregated developer can be loosened. The removal of the seal member from the toner cartridge is performed in a state where the cartridge is half-mounted on the apparatus main body side (a state in which the developer stirring and conveying member on the cartridge side and the drive system on the apparatus main body side are not connected). Or, it is configured to be performed in a state of being completely mounted. When the seal member is pulled out when the seal member is pulled out, it is necessary to provide a mechanism for temporarily releasing the connection between the developer agitating / conveying member and the drive system by the complete mounting.

[0048]

As described above, according to the developer accommodating case and the developing device of the present invention, when the developer is replaced with a new one, the developer agitating / conveying member moves in the forward direction in conjunction with the operation of pulling out the tape member. , It is possible to easily and surely loosen the aggregated developer in the case or the developer accommodating chamber. Further, at this time, the developer stirring and conveying member only rotates in the forward direction and does not rotate in the reverse direction, so that no extra stress or damage is given to the developer stirring and conveying member or the developer.

When the interlocking mechanism is configured to rotate the developer agitating / conveying member at least once by pulling out the tape member, the developer agitating / conveying member is housed in the case or the developer accommodating chamber. Since the stirring effect is exerted on almost all of the developer, the aggregated developer is surely loosened.

In the case where the continuous image mechanism is provided with a function releasing mechanism which functions by the pulling-out operation of the tape member and does not function before and after completion of the pulling-out operation, especially when the tape member is pulled out, In addition, the developer stirring and conveying member is released from the interlocking mechanism, and the interlocking mechanism does not hinder the normal operation of the stirring and conveying member.

Further, in the case where the interlocking mechanism is constituted by the above-described motion converting section and rotation transmitting section and the rotation transmitting section is further provided with a speed reducing mechanism, the tape member is relatively weak. The developer can be pulled out by tension, and even in this case, the developer stirring and conveying member can be sufficiently rotated. Thereby, the aggregated developer can be surely loosened with a weak force.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a main part of a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention and an image forming apparatus to which the developing device is mounted.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a main part of the developing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the developing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of an interlocking mechanism.

5 is a main part plan view showing an operation state of the developing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a main part plan view showing a modification of the interlocking mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a main part plan view showing another modification of the interlocking mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Detachable developing device, 4 ... Tape member (seal member), 5 ... Interlocking mechanism, 6 ... Motion conversion part, 7 ... Rotation transmission part, 10a ... Development chamber, 10b ... Developer accommodation chamber, 11 ... Communication port , 12: developing roll, 15, 16: first and second
Agitator (developer stirring and conveying member), T: developer.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A detachable developer accommodating case in which a developer used in a developing device of an image forming apparatus is accommodated, and a developer stirring / conveying member for stirring and conveying the developer is rotatably disposed. A developer that has a tape member that is pulled out in one direction and is removed, and an interlocking mechanism that rotates the developer stirring and conveying member in the forward direction in conjunction with the pulling operation of the tape member. Storage case. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking mechanism is configured to rotate the developer stirring and conveying member at least once by pulling out the tape member. 3. The developer accommodating case according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking mechanism functions by a pulling-out operation of the tape member, and has a function releasing mechanism that does not function before starting and after completion of the pulling-out operation. 4. An interlocking mechanism for converting a linear motion obtained by a pulling-out operation of the tape member into a rotary motion, and transmitting the rotary motion obtained by the motion converting unit to a rotary shaft of the developer stirring and conveying member. The developer accommodating case according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation transmitting unit. 5. The developer accommodating case according to claim 4, wherein the rotation transmitting portion of the interlocking mechanism includes a speed reduction mechanism. 6. The developer accommodating case according to claim 1, wherein the tape member is a seal member for closing a developer discharge opening formed in the case main body before use. 7. A detachable type wherein the developer accommodating case according to claim 1 is formed as a developer accommodating chamber having a structure communicating with a developing chamber provided with a developing roll. Developing device. 8. The developing device according to claim 7, wherein the tape member is a seal member for closing a communication port opened between the developer accommodating chamber and the developing chamber before use.