JPH11194613A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the deterioration of image quality such as the irregularity of image density and to obtain high image quality by controlling the actuation, for example, the rotating speed of a 1st developer carrying means or a 2nd developer carrying means according to an instruction from a control means. SOLUTION: The replenishment of developer is executed from a developer replenishing container 7. The container 7 is made of plastic and its bottom part is inclined by about 30 deg., and the screw-like developer carrying means 701 is disposed in parallel with the bottom part of the container 7 and driven to be rotated by a screw motor 702. While the developer reaching the front end of a developing means 3 is horizontally carried toward the rear end of the means 3 by a screw 312 disposed at the upper part of the means 3, it drops into the developing container 300 of the means 3 from the hole of a developer drop regulating means 313. The rotating speed of the motor 702 is controlled according to a signal QWT2 corresponding to the developer amount in the means 3 by a developer amount detection means 310 such as a piezoelectric element disposed on the inner side wall of the means 3, and the developer is replenished.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electrophotographic copying machine,
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer and a facsimile, and more particularly, to a developing apparatus that forms an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier by an electrophotographic process into a toner image using a one-component developer. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus of a type in which developer supply to the developing device is performed automatically and sequentially little by little.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 13 shows an electrophotographic system provided with a developing device for forming an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier by an electrophotographic process and converting the latent image into a toner image using a one-component developer. , Ie, an example of an electrophotographic copying machine.

According to this embodiment, an electrophotographic copying machine is provided with a cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image carrier, that is, a photosensitive drum 1. The photoreceptor drum 1 is rotatably supported in the direction of an arrow. A primary charger (a charging device) is provided around the photoreceptor drum 1 to uniformly charge the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1 in order along the rotation direction. Means) 2 and photosensitive drum 1
An exposure device 10 for exposing a surface to form an electrostatic latent image is provided.

In this embodiment, the exposure apparatus 10 illuminates a document placed on a platen glass 21 with a document illumination lamp 22 and a reflector 23, and reflects light reflected from the document image.
The light is further reflected by mirrors 25a, 25b, and 25c, passes through an imaging lens 26, and then enters a CCD sensor 27. Next, the laser beam converted into a digital signal by the image processing unit 28 is guided to the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 via the projection mirror 29. Thus, the uniformly charged surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is exposed to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to a document image.

The developer carrying means 301 of the developing device (developing means) 3 is arranged at a fixed distance from the photosensitive drum 1 and an appropriate developing bias voltage is applied between the two to apply a developing bias voltage on the photosensitive drum 1. The electrostatic latent image is developed, and the developed image is transferred to a recording medium such as paper by the transfer unit 4. The residual toner on the photosensitive drum 1 is removed by the cleaning unit 10.

A transfer material to which a toner image is transferred is fed from a feeder 11. Below the photoreceptor drum 1, a paper feeding device 11 for storing a transfer material (not shown) is arranged. The transfer material in the paper feeding device 11 is fed by a paper feed roller 12 and supplied between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer charger 4 via a transport roller 13 and a registration roller 15. The transfer material transfers the toner image from the photosensitive drum 1 here, and is conveyed to the fixing device 6 by the conveyance belt 16. The transfer material to which the toner image has been transferred by the fixing device 6 is discharged onto a discharge tray (not shown) by discharge rollers 18 and 19 as a final copy.

[0007] In the image forming apparatus of the type in which the developer is successively replenished as described above, the main image forming process means is integrated into one unit, and when the developer is exhausted, it is replaced with a so-called process cartridge type. Is different
When the remaining amount of the consumed developer falls below a certain amount as a result of the repetition of the image forming operation, the user or the like replenishes the developer according to a warning issued to replenish the developer.

Also in this case, at least the developer carrying means 3
01, means for moving the developer in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the developer carrying means 301, for example, the stirring blade member 30
As shown in FIG. 14, a method in which a user or the like directly replenishes developer to developing means 3 having
As shown in FIG. 6, a user or the like supplies a developer to a developer replenishing device provided independently of the developing means 3, that is, the external developer containing means 7, and the developer is supplied from the external developer containing means 7 to the developing means. There is a method of supplying small quantities to 3 in small increments. In the latter case, a larger amount of developer can be supplied at a time, so the supply interval is longer, which is convenient for users, etc., as well as providing a stable image for a long period of time by avoiding deterioration in output image quality after supply. It is possible to

Further, a system is provided in which a user or the like replenishes developer to an external developer accommodating means 7 provided independently of the developing means 3, and replenishes the developing means 3 little by little from the external developer accommodating means 7. Also, the positions of the external developer accommodating means 7 provided independently of the developing means 3 are substantially above the developing means 3 (FIG. 15) and substantially laterally (FIG. 1).
6). In the latter method, since expensive components such as a magnet roller are not required, the cost of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

The general operation will be described with reference to FIG. The developing means 3 includes a developing container 3 as a developer accommodating means.
The developing container 300 includes a developing chamber 303 and a developer accommodating chamber 304. A developer carrying means 301 such as a developing sleeve is disposed in an opening formed at a position facing the photosensitive drum 1 in the developing chamber 303, and a developer amount detecting means 310 is provided in the developer accommodating chamber 304. I have.
When the amount of the developer t in the developer accommodating chamber 304 decreases, the developer amount detection unit 310 sends a developer shortage signal TLC to the control unit 9. The external developer accommodating means 7 has a first developer conveying means 701 for conveying the developer t. The first developer conveying means 701 receives the developer replenishment foot signal TREP from the control means 9 and has a motor Drive means 702 such as
Is driven to rotate.

Next, the first developer conveying means 701
The developer t transported by the second developer transport means 3
By 12, the developer is conveyed in the longitudinal direction of the developing container 300 of the developing means 3 as the second developer accommodating means. In most cases, the longitudinal direction of the developing unit 3 is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the developer holding unit 301 and is horizontal, and is perpendicular to the direction of travel of the transfer material.

A gutter-shaped developer drop regulating means 313 disposed above the second developer accommodating means 300 and at a position separated from the developer conveying means 312 transfers the developer to the second developer accommodating means 300. Of the developer accommodating means 300, that is, a hole 313a for dropping into the developer accommodating chamber 304.

As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-265325, the shape of the drop hole 313a, the transport amount, etc.
By optimizing the combination of the rotational driving time and the rotational paper feed time of the developer transporting unit 312 in accordance with the characteristics of the developer, the developer can be supplied substantially uniformly in the longitudinal direction.

[0014]

However, in such a conventional system, the amount of the developer Wt1 in the external developer accommodating means 7 or the humidity H of the external environment, and the image density of the information to be output, are particularly high. There is a problem in that the distribution of the developer t present inside the developing means 3 in the longitudinal direction changes, and a uniform state cannot be maintained.

That is, since the rotational speed of the first developer conveying means 701 is constant, the amount of developer wt1 carried out per unit time by the first developer conveying means 701 is large while Wt1 is large. . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, the developer falls down a lot in the developer dropping control unit 313, but conversely, as Wt1 decreases, wt1 also decreases, and the developer drops down a lot in the developer dropping control unit 313. I do.

Also, since the rotation speed of the second developer conveying means 312 is constant, as shown in FIG. 18, when the humidity H is low, the fluidity of the developer is low, and the developer drop regulating means 31
3, but if the humidity H is high, the developer fluidity is high, so that the developer
Many fall inside 13 inside. However, this is a phenomenon when the toner is positively charged, and is often reversed when the toner is negatively charged.

Further, when the image density distribution of the information to be output is extremely non-uniform in the direction along the rotation axis of the developer carrying means 301, a large amount of such image output corresponds to a portion where the image density is high. At the position, the amount of the developer present inside the developing means is locally reduced.

In any case, there is a problem that the developer cannot be uniformly replenished in the longitudinal direction of the developing means 3 and the image quality deteriorates such as uneven image density in the longitudinal direction.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a high-quality, high-durability image forming apparatus free from image unevenness and the like.

[0020]

The above object is achieved by an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In summary, the present invention provides:
A first developer accommodating means for accommodating a one-component developer, a second developer accommodating means for accommodating the developer, and having a developer carrying means for carrying and transporting the developer to an image carrier; A first developer transport unit provided in the first developer storage unit and configured to discharge a developer from the first developer storage unit to the second developer storage unit; A second developer disposed substantially horizontally above the developer container, receiving the developer from the first developer carrier, and transporting the developer into the second developer carrier. Agent delivery means,
Wherein the operation of the first developer conveying means or the second developer conveying means is controlled by a command from a control means provided in the image forming apparatus. It is a forming device. Preferably, the first and second developer conveying means are each driven to rotate,
Each rotation speed is controlled by a command from the control means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the second developer accommodating means has means for moving the developer in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the developer carrying means. Further, according to another aspect, further provided above the second developer accommodating means and separated from the first developer conveying means, and conveyed by the second developer conveying means. And a developer drop restricting means having a hole for allowing the developer to drop into the second developer accommodating means.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the instruction is based on information including an amount of a developer present inside the first developer accommodating means, or based on an internal or external atmosphere of the image forming apparatus. It is based on information including the amount of water per unit area, or based on information including the image density of the information to be output.

[0023]

Next, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment described below, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is embodied in the electrophotographic copying machine described above with reference to FIG.
Although detailed description is omitted, the present invention is not limited to this.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a view best showing the characteristic portions of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the developer is a one-component insulative magnetic developer composed of only a toner.

The developer carrying means 301 is a non-magnetic stainless steel cylinder having a diameter of 20 mm, has a rotation support shaft at both ends thereof, and is rotatable via a bearing on the side wall of the developer accommodating means, ie, the developing container 300. At a peripheral speed of 157.
Rotate at 5 mm / sec.

The distance between the developer carrying means 301 and the photosensitive drum 1 as an image carrier is 300 μm, and the developer carrying means 301 has an amplitude of 1300 V and a frequency of 2400 V.
Hz rectangular AC voltage is applied while being superimposed on a DC voltage that is variable between 0V and -600V.

The outer surface of the developer carrying means 301 has been subjected to blasting by spraying fine particles such as spherical glass particles or amorphous alumina particles, and the center average roughness of the outer surface is 0.37 μm Ra. It is.

By the rotation A of the developer carrying means 301, the magnetic field generating means 302 fixedly supported inside the developer carrying means 301 is pumped at the S2 pole (the vertical component magnetic flux density at the surface of the developer carrying means is from 600 Gauss to 700 Gauss). The obtained developer t is regulated and thinned by the developer layer forming member 306. Next, the S1 pole (the vertical component magnetic flux density on the surface of the developer carrying means is changed from 900 Gauss to 1
000 Gauss) develops the electrostatic latent image, and the developer not subjected to the development is returned to the developing unit 3 again.

In this embodiment, the developer layer forming member 30
6 is silicone rubber (thickness 0.3 to 0.45 mm, J
IS-A hardness 64 ± 4 mm) and SUS305 (thickness 0.0
6 mm).

The developer layer forming member 306 is a rectangle having a width of 16 mm and a length of 298 to 307 mm, and has a rubber surface pressed against the developer holding means 301.

In this embodiment, the developer is supplied by a user to a developer supply container 7 serving as an external developer storage means provided independently of the developing means 3. This container has a maximum developer capacity of about 800g.
The bottom has a slope of about 30 degrees, and a screw-shaped developer conveying means 701 is disposed parallel to the bottom. The pitch of the screw 701 is about 15mm
, And is rotationally driven by the motor 702.

Referring also to FIG. 2, the front end 3 of the developing means 3
The developer that has reached f is then transferred by a developer conveying means disposed above the developing means 3, that is, by a screw 312.
While being horizontally conveyed toward the rear end of the developing unit 3, the developer drops into the developing container 300 of the developing unit 3 from the hole 313 a of the developer drop regulating unit 313. The pitch of the screw 312 as a developer conveying means is about 20 mm.

As shown in Table 1, according to a signal QWT2 corresponding to a developer amount Wt2 in the developing means, a screw motor is detected by a developer amount detecting means 310 such as a piezoelectric element disposed on the inner wall of the developing means. 702 rotation speed Vmot
or1 is controlled, and the developer is supplied.

[0034]

[Table 1]

If the signal QWT2 does not exceed a certain level even if the screw motor 702 operates continuously for 30 seconds, it is determined that the developer in the external developer accommodating means 7 is insufficient, and the user or the like is notified. In response, a developer supply warning is issued. Wt2 = 150 g-200 g in a state where a developer replenishment warning is issued in a state of normal temperature and normal humidity.

The user or the like supplies about 500 g of the developer to the external developer accommodating means 7 and replenishes it every time the A4 size output of the standard density (image ratio is about 6%) is performed about 9000 sheets.

Further, a developer amount detecting means 704 is provided in the external developer accommodating means 7, and as shown in FIG.
Vmotor1 according to the signal QWT1 corresponding to
Is controlled.

According to the present embodiment, the developer distribution as shown in FIG. 3 can be obtained after outputting 5,000 sheets of A4 size paper of standard density (image ratio of about 6%) at normal temperature and normal humidity.

According to Example 1 of the present invention, it is shown that a more uniform developer drop distribution is obtained as compared with the first comparative example. However, the first comparative example refers to an image forming apparatus in which neither Vmotor1 nor Vmotor2 is controlled in the first embodiment.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in that Vmotor1 and Vmotor2 are controlled in accordance with the combination of QWT1 and QWT2. Therefore, the description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment is omitted.

QWT1 and QWT2 in Embodiment 2
Table 2 shows the relationship between the combination of Vmotor1 and Vmotor2.

[0042]

[Table 2]

As a result, after 5,000 sheets of A4 size output of standard density (image ratio of about 6%) are output at normal temperature and normal humidity, a drop distribution as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained.

It is shown that a more uniform developer distribution is obtained as compared with the second comparative example. However, the second comparative example refers to an image forming apparatus in which Vmotor2 is not controlled in the second embodiment.

The developer in Examples 1 and 2 is composed of a styrene-acrylic resin, a magnetic material, a fluidizer, an abrasive, etc., and has an initial weight average particle size of 8.5 to 8.5.
The average charge q of the developer on the developer holding means 301 at 9.5 μm and normal temperature and normal humidity is +9 to +15 μC / g, and the coating amount m is 0.7 to 0.9 mg / cm ² .

Embodiment 3 Next, a third embodiment will be described, but a description of parts common to the above embodiments will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view that best illustrates the features of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the developer carrying means 301 has a diameter of 24.5 mm.
Having a rotation support shaft at both ends thereof, rotatably supported via a bearing on a side wall of the developer container, that is, a developing container 300, and having a peripheral speed of 470.4.
/ Direction in A direction.

The distance between the developer carrying means 301 and the photosensitive drum 1 as an image carrier is 210 to 250 μm, and the developer carrying means 301 has an amplitude of 1350 to 1650.
V, a rectangular AC voltage having a frequency of 2400 to 3000 Hz is applied to be superimposed on a DC voltage variable between 0 V and +600 V.

The outer surface of the developer carrying means 301 is subjected to a blasting treatment by spraying spherical glass particles, and then coated with a phenol resin, crystalline graphite, carbon or the like and having a volume resistance of 100 Ωcm or less (film thickness of 10 μm).
１４14 μm), and the center line average roughness of the outer surface is
It is a rough surface of 0.70 to 0.90 μm Ra.

In the above configuration, the developer holding means 301
Of the magnetic field generation means 302 (the vertical component magnetic flux density on the surface of the developer holding means 301 is 600 Gau
The one-component magnetic developer t pumped at 700 Gauss from ss is regulated and thinned by the developer layer forming member 306. Next, the N2 pole (developer carrying means 301)
The vertical component magnetic flux density at the surface is 950 Gauss to 10
The developer that has risen at 50 Gauss) develops the electrostatic latent image, and the developer that has not been subjected to development is returned to the developing unit 3 again.

In this embodiment, the developer carrying means 30
A developer layer forming means 306 that is not in contact with 1 is provided. The developer layer forming means 306 is a plate member made of SPCC (thickness: 1.4 to 1.6 mm, width: 10 to 15 mm, length: 3).
00 to 320 mm), and faces the developer holding unit 301 in a manner similar to the distance G1 = 0.20 to 0.26 mm from the developer holding unit 301.

Also in this embodiment, the developer is supplied by a user to a developer supply container 7 as an external developer accommodating means provided independently of the developing means 3. The container 7 has a maximum developer amount of about 200
0 g of plastic, the bottom is substantially horizontal, and a screw-shaped developer conveying means 701 is disposed horizontally with the bottom. The pitch of the screw 701 is about 15 mm, and the screw 701 is rotationally driven by the motor 702 at a speed of 100 revolutions / minute. In the container 7, a developer stirring means 703 is arranged.

Referring also to FIG. 6, the front end 3 of the developing means 3
The developer that has reached f is then horizontally conveyed (in the direction of arrow C) toward the rear end of the developing unit 3 by a screw 312 as a developer stirring unit disposed above the developing unit, and the developer drops. From the hole 313a of the regulating means 313, it falls into the developing means 3. The pitch of the screw 312 is about 20 mm, and the screw 312 is rotationally driven by a gear connected to a gear for driving the developer holding means 301.

Further, as shown in Table 3, the rotation speed Vmotor2 of the screw motor 314 provided above the developing means is provided on the operation plate 101 of the image forming apparatus.
The developer is replenished under the control of the moisture weight per unit volume Ww of the external atmosphere detected by the humidity detecting means 102.

Even if the motor operates continuously for 30 seconds,
If the signal QWT2 does not exceed a certain level, it is determined that the developer in the external developer storage means 7 is insufficient, and a developer replenishment warning is issued to a user or the like. Wt2 in a state where a developer replenishment warning is issued in a state of normal temperature and normal humidity
= 250 g-300 g.

The user supplies about 1600 g of the developer to the external developer accommodating means 7 every time the A4 size output of the standard density (image ratio is about 6%) is performed about 30,000 sheets, and replenishes.

Further, as shown in Table 3, a developer amount detecting means 704 is also provided in the external developer accommodating means 7, and Wt
Vmotor2 is controlled according to signal QWT1 corresponding to 1.

[0058]

[Table 3]

According to this embodiment, the standard density (image ratio 6
%) After performing 25,000 sheets of A4 size output,
A drop distribution as shown in FIG. 7 is obtained.

Example 3 of the present invention shows that a more uniform development distribution was obtained as compared with the third and fourth comparative examples.

However, the third comparative example refers to an image forming apparatus in which the Vmotor 2 is not controlled according to Ww in the third embodiment. QWT1 and Vmot in Comparative Example 3
Table 4 shows the relationship of or2.

[0062]

[Table 4]

The fourth comparative example is different from the third embodiment in that Q
Refers to an image forming apparatus in which Vmotor2 is not controlled according to WT1. Table 5 shows the relationship between Ww and Vmotor in Comparative Example 4.

[0064]

[Table 5]

Embodiment 4 Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.
Since the control of Vmotor1 is different from that of the third embodiment only in that the control of Vmotor1 is based on the image density Dio of the information to be output, the description of the same parts as the third embodiment is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 8, the main control means 9 distributes the image density of one page of information to be output in the longitudinal direction Dio.
Is smoothed to be Dis, and the image density longitudinal distribution pattern Disp (i) (i
= 1 to 3) (FIG. 9 to FIG. 11), the closest one Di
sp * (Disp * = Disp (2) in the case of FIG. 8) is determined, and Vmotor1 is controlled accordingly.

Table 6 shows the relationship between Disp (i) and Vmotor1.

[0068]

[Table 6]

After 100 pieces of information having the above-described distribution of the image density in the longitudinal direction of Dio were continuously output, the development distribution was substantially uniform.

As shown in FIG. 12, the fourth embodiment of the present invention shows that a more uniform development distribution can be obtained as compared with the fifth comparative example. However, the fifth comparative example refers to an image forming apparatus in which the Vmotor is not controlled according to Dio in the fourth embodiment.

The developer in Examples 3 and 4 is composed of a polyester resin, a magnetic material, a fluidizing agent, an abrasive, etc., and has an initial weight average particle size of 6.5 to 7.5 μm.
m, the average charge q of the developer on the developer holding means 301 at normal temperature and normal humidity is −9 to −15 μC / g, and the coating amount m is 0.8.
１．０1.0 mg / cm ² .

In each of the above embodiments, a one-component insulating magnetic developer is used as a developer, but the present invention is also applicable to a one-component insulating non-magnetic developer. Further, as the developer carrying means 301, a belt or the like can be used.

Further, various changes, changes, selections or improvements within the spirit of the present invention are of course possible.

[0074]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the first developer accommodating means for accommodating the one-component developer, the developer accommodating the developer, and the developer A second developer accommodating means having a developer carrying means for carrying and transporting the second developer accommodating means, provided on the first developer accommodating means, for example, by rotating the first developer accommodating means from the first developer accommodating means. A first developer conveying means for discharging the developer to the developer accommodating means, and a substantially horizontally disposed above the second developer accommodating means; A second developer transporting means for receiving the developer and transporting the developer into the second developer accommodating means by, for example, rotation, and an image forming apparatus comprising: By an instruction from the provided control means,
Since the operation of the first developer transport means or the second developer transport means, for example, the rotation speed is configured to be controlled,
Since the developer can be uniformly replenished in the longitudinal direction in the developing means, it is possible to effectively prevent image quality deterioration such as uneven image density in the longitudinal direction, and to obtain an image forming apparatus with high image quality and high durability. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a developer supply system of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a developer supply system of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a development distribution in an image forming apparatus according to Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a development distribution in an image forming apparatus according to Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a developer supply system of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a developer supply system of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a developer distribution in an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a longitudinal image density distribution of an input image and its smoothing in an image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a longitudinal image density distribution pattern of an input image in an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a longitudinal image density distribution pattern of an input image in an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a longitudinal image density distribution pattern of an input image in an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a developer distribution in an image forming apparatus according to Example 4 and Comparative Example 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the entirety of an electrophotographic copying machine which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus capable of embodying the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating supply of a developer by a user or the like.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating supply of a developer by a user or the like.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating supply of a developer by a user or the like.

FIG. 17 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a developer supply system inside the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a developer distribution in a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a developer distribution in a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image carrier (photosensitive drum) 3 Developing means 7 First developer accommodating means 9 Control means 102 Humidity detecting means 300 Second developer accommodating means 301 Developer carrying means 310 Second developer detecting means 312 Second developer conveying means 701 First developer conveying means 704 First developer detecting means

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A second developer having a first developer accommodating means for accommodating a one-component developer, and a developer carrying means for accommodating a developer, and carrying and transporting the developer to an image carrier. Accommodation means, a first developer conveyance means provided in the first developer accommodation means, for discharging the developer from the first developer accommodation means to the second developer accommodation means, Disposed substantially horizontally above the second developer storage means,
A second developer transport unit that receives the developer from the first developer transport unit and transports the developer into the second developer storage unit. An image forming apparatus, wherein the operation of the first developer conveying means or the second developer conveying means is controlled by a command from a control means provided in the image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second developer conveying units include:
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the image forming apparatuses is driven to rotate, and each of the rotational speeds is controlled by a command from the control unit. 3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second developer accommodating means has means for moving the developer in a direction substantially perpendicular to a rotation axis of said developer carrying means. apparatus. 4. A developing device which is disposed above the second developer accommodating means and is separated from the first developer conveying means, and is conveyed by the second developer conveying means. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a developer drop restricting means having a hole for dropping the developer into the second developer accommodating means. 5. The image according to claim 1, wherein the instruction is based on information including an amount of a developer present inside the first developer storage unit. Forming equipment. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction is based on information including a water content per unit area of an atmosphere inside or outside the image forming apparatus. . 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the command is based on information including an image density of information to be output.