WO2014115833A1

WO2014115833A1 - Developing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2014115833A1
Application number: PCT/JP2014/051484
Authority: WO
Inventors: 和奈田口; 智昭枦山; 貴規宇野; 高橋　啓介; 和利樹神; 朱々江多久; 佐藤　正吾
Original assignee: ブラザー工業株式会社
Priority date: 2013-01-25
Filing date: 2014-01-24
Publication date: 2014-07-31

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a developing apparatus capable of effectively scraping off developing agent retained in the brush layer of a brush roller using a scraping member. [Solution] A developing apparatus has: a housing (54) having a supply unit (67) capable of storing toner (T) (developing agent); a roller body (32); and a brush layer (33) obtained by implanting fibers in the outer peripheral surface of the roller body (32), the apparatus being provided with: a brush roller (31) supported by the housing (54) so as to contact the toner (T) inside the supply unit (67); and a blade (35) (scraping member) contacting the brush roller (31) above the position where the brush roller (31) faces the toner (T) inside the supply unit (67), the blade (35) being configured so as to scrape the toner (T) retained in the brush layer (33). The housing (54) has a partition (61) disposed facing the brush roller (31) below the position where the blade (35) contacts the brush roller (31), the partition being capable of suppressing the level of the toner (T) in the supply unit (67) near the brush roller (31).

Description

Development device

The present invention relates to a developing device including a brush roller.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a developing device provided in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is known to contain a developer and supply the developer to a photoreceptor by a brush roller (for example, a patent) Reference 1 and Patent Reference 2).

In this developing device, a supply unit for supplying developer to the brush roller, and a scraping member (blade) for scraping off the developer held on the brush layer of the brush roller supplied by the supply unit above the supply unit And. The amount of developer carried on the brush roller by the blade is regulated.

Further, according to the developing device described in Patent Document 3, a frame having a developing unit and a developer containing unit that are partitioned by a partition wall and communicated by a supply port adjacent to the partition wall, a developing roller housed in the developing unit, And a conveying member provided in the developer accommodating portion. The conveying member rotates while being in sliding contact with the partition wall, and supplies the developer in the developer accommodating portion to the developing portion from the supply port when it is separated from the partition wall. . Such a developing device is provided with a plurality of columns that extend from a plurality of locations in the rotation axis direction of the conveying member on the partition wall toward the supply port and block a part of the supply port. In this developing device, the plurality of pillars prevent the rotating conveying member from jumping up when it is separated from the partition wall, so that the developer is vigorously supplied to the developing unit, and a part of the developing roller in the circumferential direction. It is possible to reduce the excessive supply of toner.

JP-A-57-109965 Japanese Utility Model Publication No.57-1000075 JP 7-239608 A

However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when the developer level in the supply unit becomes high and the developer contacts excessively such that the position where the scraping member contacts the brush roller is filled with the developer, The developer held on the brush layer by the scraping member may not be sufficiently scraped off.

Further, in the developing device described in Patent Document 2, in order to sufficiently scrape off the developer on the brush roller with the blade, when the blade is strongly applied to the brush roller, the load becomes large, and the brush There is a risk that the roller will be difficult to rotate or the blade may be damaged. Here, the developer carried on the brush roller is supplied to the photosensitive drum on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, but the developer is not sufficiently scraped off by the blade, and an excessive developer is placed on the brush roller. If so, a so-called “fogging” may occur in which the developer is placed on an unexposed portion of the photosensitive drum.

Further, in the developing device described in Patent Document 3, the developer in the developing unit can return to the developer accommodating unit from between the plurality of columns, but is accumulated on the developing unit side of the plurality of columns. The developer stays blocked by the pillar. If the developer stays partly in this way, there is a possibility that a printing defect may occur when the staying developer is placed on the developing roller.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a developing device capable of satisfactorily scraping off the developer held on the brush layer of the brush roller by the scraping member.

The second object of the present invention is to provide a developing device capable of sufficiently scraping off the developer placed on the brush roller without strongly applying a blade (scraping member) to the brush roller.

In addition, the present invention reduces the retention of the developer on the developing unit side of the regulating unit in the developing device provided with the regulating unit (column) that blocks a part of the supply port that communicates the developing unit and the developer containing unit. A third object of the present invention is to provide a developing device capable of performing the above.

In order to achieve the first object, a developing device according to the present invention includes a housing having a supply section capable of storing a developer, a roller main body, and fibers implanted on the outer peripheral surface of the roller main body. A brush roller that is supported by the housing so as to contact the developer in the supply unit, and the brush roller is in contact with the brush roller above a position where the brush roller faces the developer in the supply unit. A scraping member configured to scrape off the developer held on the brush layer.

And the housing | casing is arrange | positioned facing the brush roller below the position where a scraping member contacts a brush roller, and has a wall which can suppress the water level of the developer in the brush roller vicinity in a supply part. .

Here, the developer water level is the height position of the upper surface of the developer stored in the supply unit.

According to the developing device configured as described above, the position where the scraping member contacts the brush roller is filled with the developer, or the developer is excessively placed on the brush roller at the position where the scraping member contacts. Can be suppressed. Thereby, the developer held by the brush layer by the scraping member can be scraped well.

In the developing device described above, it is desirable that the wall be close to the brush roller with a gap between the wall and the brush layer.

According to the developing device configured as described above, when the developer is excessively loaded on the brush roller, the excessive developer contacts the wall and falls from the brush roller. Therefore, before the scraping member contacts, The developer on the brush roller can be reduced to some extent. Thereby, the developer held by the brush layer by the scraping member can be scraped well.

In the developing device described above, it is preferable that the housing has a return path configured to return the developer scraped off by the scraping member to the supply unit.

According to the developing device configured as described above, it is possible to reduce the stay of the developer scraped off by the scraping member in the vicinity of the brush roller.

In the developing device having the return path described above, the housing includes a developer storage section that can store the developer supplied to the supply section, and the return path passes through the developer storage section. desirable.

According to the developing device configured as described above, the developer can be circulated in the housing, and the developer scraped by the scraping member can be mixed with the developer in the developer accommodating portion.

Further, the developing device having the return path passing through the developer accommodating portion described above includes a return transport member that is provided in the vicinity of the scraping member and transports the developer scraped by the scraping member toward the return path. It is desirable that

According to the developing device configured in this way, the developer scraped by the scraping member can easily move toward the return path.

In the developing device described above, it is desirable that the supply unit is provided with a stirring member configured to stir the developer in the supply unit.

According to the developing device configured as described above, it is possible to suppress the uneven supply of the developer to the brush roller.

According to the present invention, the position where the scraping member contacts the brush roller is filled with the developer, and the developer is prevented from being excessively placed on the brush roller at the position where the scraping member contacts. be able to. Thereby, the developer held by the brush layer by the scraping member can be scraped well.

In order to achieve the second object, the developing device of the present invention includes a brush roller having a casing, a roller main body, and a brush layer in which fibers are implanted on the outer peripheral surface of the roller main body, and a developer. And a supply means configured to supply the surface of the brush roller to the brush roller, contacting the brush roller downstream of the supply position by the supply means in the rotation direction of the brush roller, and scraping off the developer held on the brush layer. A first scraping member configured to take, a second scraping member, and a housing provided with the first scraping member and the second scraping member.

The second scraping member is configured to contact the brush roller at the downstream side in the rotational direction from the supply position and at the upstream side in the rotational direction from the first scraping member to scrape the developer. .

According to the developing device configured as described above, it is possible to sufficiently scrape off the excess developer placed on the brush roller as compared with the case where only one scraping member is provided. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the fog generated when the developer on the brush roller is not sufficiently scraped off.

The developing device includes a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer supplied to the brush roller by the supply unit, and the developer scraped by the first scraping member returns to the developer accommodating portion. It is desirable to be configured as described above.

According to the developing device configured as described above, since the developer scraped by the first scraping member does not accumulate between the first scraping member and the second scraping member, the first scraping member scrapes. The taken developer can be prevented from reattaching to the brush roller. Thereby, the excessive supply of the developer to the brush roller can be suppressed.

In the developing device described above, it is desirable that the developer scraping ability on the brush roller by the second scraping member is smaller than the scraping ability of the developer on the brush roller by the first scraping member.

According to the developing device configured as described above, the developer on the brush roller can be scraped off by the first scraping member in a state where the developer on the brush roller is scraped to some extent by the second scraping member having a small scraping ability. Therefore, the developer on the brush roller can be sufficiently scraped off without increasing the load applied to the brush roller.

In this case, it is desirable that the first scraping member enters the brush layer deeper than the second scraping member.

According to the developing device configured as described above, the developer scraping ability on the brush roller by the first scraping member is made larger than the scraping ability of the developer on the brush roller by the second scraping member. The configuration can be simplified.

In the cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis of the brush roller in the developing device described above, the surface on the side of the second scraping member that scrapes the developer out of the portion entering the brush layer is the surface of the first scraping member. It is good also as a structure where the angle with respect to the rotation direction of a brush roller is larger than the surface at the side which scrapes off a developer among the parts which have entered the brush layer.

According to this, the developer scraping ability on the brush roller by the second scraping member can be made smaller than the scraping ability of the developer on the brush roller by the first scraping member.

Further, in the cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis of the brush roller in the developing device described above, the curvature of the portion of the second scraping member that contacts the fibers is larger than the curvature of the portion of the first scraping member that contacts the fibers. It is good also as a structure which becomes small.

In the developing device described above, the second scraping member extends along the axial direction of the brush roller, and is directed toward the brush roller from a main body portion supported by the housing and a plurality of locations in the axial direction of the main body portion. It is desirable to have a plurality of protrusions that protrude and enter the brush layer.

According to the developing device configured as described above, the developer clogged between the fibers can be scraped out by the plurality of protrusions, so that the clogging of the developer in the brush layer can be reduced.

In the developing device described above, it is desirable that the second scraping member is a protrusion protruding from the wall surface of the housing toward the brush roller.

According to the developing device configured as described above, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where the second scraping member is provided separately from the housing.

In the developing device described above, the first scraping member is a plate-like member, and is supported by the casing, and the scraping member is provided so that the front end faces the side opposite to the rotation direction of the brush roller. It is good also as a structure provided with a main-body part and the control part provided so that it might approach into the brush layer by protruding from the front-end | tip of a scraping member main-body part to the rotating shaft side of a brush roller. According to the developing device configured as described above, since the restricting portion of the first scraping member bites into the brush layer satisfactorily, the toner on the brush roller can be scraped off favorably by the first scraping member.

In this case, the first scraping member is formed in a thin plate shape in a cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis of the brush roller, and the restricting portion is bent from the tip of the scraping member main body toward the brush roller. It may be provided. Further, the above-described scraping member main body portion and the restriction portion may be integrally connected without a seam.

In this case, the first scraping member may be bent from the tip of the scraping member main body to the restricting portion.

According to this, when the rotation resistance is generated at the contact portion between the brush roller and the first scraping member due to the movement of the brush layer in accordance with the rotation of the brush roller, the restricting portion further enters the brush layer. Force acts on the first scraping member. Thereby, the toner on the brush roller can be scraped off favorably by the first scraping member.

According to the present invention, as compared with the case where only one scraping member is provided, the excess developer placed on the brush roller can be sufficiently scraped off. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the fog generated when the developer on the brush roller is not sufficiently scraped off.

In order to achieve the third object, the developing device of the present invention includes a developing roller, a partition wall that partitions the developing portion that stores the developing roller, and a developer storage portion that stores the developer, and adjacent to the partition wall. And a frame having a supply port through which the developing unit and the developer storage unit communicate with each other, and provided in the developer storage unit, so that the tip passes through the partition wall and the supply port in this order while slidingly contacting the partition wall. And a movable member having a plurality of restricting portions arranged at intervals along the rotation axis direction of the conveying member, and a conveying member configured to supply the developer from the supply port to the developing unit .

The movable member includes a first position where the plurality of restricting portions block a part of the supply port, and a developer accumulated on the developing portion side of the plurality of restricting portions when the first restricting portion is disposed at the first position. It can be moved between two positions.

According to the developing device configured as described above, the developer accumulated on the developing unit side of each regulating unit is moved by moving the plurality of regulating units from the first position to the second position. It is possible to reduce the stay of the developer on the developing unit side.

The developing device is preferably configured such that the restricting portion moves between the first position and the second position by the rotation operation of the conveying member.

According to the developing device configured as described above, the restricting portion can be moved in accordance with the position of the tip of the conveying member.

Further, in this case, the restricting portion is positioned at the first position when the leading end of the conveying member is separated from the partition wall, and is moved to the second position after the leading end of the conveying member is moved downstream of the supply port in the rotation direction of the conveying member. It is desirable to be configured to move to.

According to the developing device configured as described above, at the timing when the conveying member supplies the developer in the developer accommodating portion from the supply port to the developing portion, the regulating portion is positioned at the first position to supply the developer. Can be regulated. Then, at the timing when the conveying member does not supply the developer to the developing unit, the regulating unit is positioned at the second position, and the developer accumulated on the developing unit side of each regulating unit can be moved.

In the developing device described above, the movable member is supported on the upper wall of the frame, and the restricting portions are disposed between the supply port and the rotation axis of the conveying member, and the tip is close to the partition wall by swinging. It is movable in a separating direction, and the tip of the restricting portion is in contact with the partition wall when positioned at the first position, and is spaced from the partition wall to the inside of the developer accommodating portion when positioned at the second position. You may do it.

In this case, the regulating portion can be moved from the second position to the first position by being pushed toward the partition wall by the rotating conveying member.

In the developing device described above, the movable member is provided so that each restricting portion is rotatable with respect to the partition wall, and the restricting portion is directed from the partition wall to the supply port when positioned at the first position. And protrudes to the inside of the developer accommodating portion from the first position when it is located at the second position.

In this case, the restricting portion is constantly urged from the first position toward the second position, and can be moved from the second position to the first position by being pushed toward the supply port by the rotating conveying member.

In the developing device described above, the partition wall has a hole that opens toward the supply port, and each restricting portion has a first position protruding from the hole toward the supply port, and a hole compared to the first position. You may be comprised so that movement between the 2nd positions which entered in is possible.

In this case, the developing device may further include an interlocking mechanism that moves the restricting portion to the first position and the second position in conjunction with the rotation of the transport member.

Further, in the developing device described above, the wall facing the tip of the partition wall across the supply port of the frame has a hole that opens toward the supply port, and each regulating portion protrudes from the hole to the supply port side. It may be configured to be movable between a first position to be moved and a second position that has entered the hole as compared with the first position.

In this case, an interlocking mechanism for moving the restricting portion to the first position and the second position in conjunction with the rotation of the transport member may be further provided.

According to the present invention, since the plurality of restricting portions move from the first position to the second position, the developer accumulated on the developing portion side of each restricting portion is moved, so that development is performed on the developing portion side of each restricting portion. The retention of the agent can be reduced.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a laser printer including a developing cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a developing cartridge. (A) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIIa-IIIa in FIG. 2, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III (b). FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a return path of a developing cartridge according to a first modification of the first embodiment. (A) is a sectional view showing a developing cartridge according to a second modification of the first embodiment, and (b) is a sectional view taken along line VV of (a). (A) is a sectional view showing a developing cartridge according to the second embodiment, and (b) is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of (a). It is a figure which shows schematic structure of a color printer provided with the developing cartridge which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows a photosensitive drum and a developing cartridge. It is an enlarged view which shows a brush roller, a 1st braid | blade, and a 2nd braid | blade. (A) is a figure which shows the 2nd scraping member which concerns on the 1st modification of 3rd Embodiment, (b) is the 2nd scraping member which concerns on the 2nd modification of 3rd Embodiment. (C) is a figure which shows the 2nd braid | blade which concerns on the 3rd modification of 3rd Embodiment. (A) is an enlarged view which shows the front-end | tip of the 1st blade which concerns on a 3rd modification, (b) is an enlarged view which shows the front-end | tip of the 2nd blade which concerns on a 3rd modification. It is a figure which shows the 2nd braid | blade which concerns on the 4th modification of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the 2nd scraping member which concerns on the 5th modification of 3rd Embodiment. It is a graph which shows an experimental result. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the laser printer provided with the developing cartridge which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a perspective view which shows a sheet | seat member and a partition wall, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state in which a sheet member is located in a 2nd position, (b) shows the state in which a sheet member is located in a 1st position. FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the developing cartridge, where (a) illustrates a state where the sheet member is positioned at the first position, and (b) illustrates a state where the sheet member is positioned at the second position. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a developing cartridge according to a fifth embodiment, where (a) illustrates a state where the movable member is positioned at the first position, and (b) illustrates a state where the movable member is positioned at the second position. It is a figure which shows a state. It is a perspective view which shows the movable member and division wall in 5th Embodiment, Comprising: (a) is a figure which shows the state which a movable member is located in a 1st position, (b) is a position where a movable member is located in a 2nd position. It is a figure which shows the state to do. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a developing cartridge according to a sixth embodiment, where (a) is a diagram illustrating a state in which a movable member is positioned at a first position, and (b) is a state in which the movable member is positioned at a second position. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the movable member and partition wall in 6th Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a developing cartridge according to a modification of the sixth embodiment, where (a) illustrates a state where the movable member is positioned at the first position, and (b) illustrates the movable member at the second position. It is a figure which shows the state located.

[First embodiment]

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the following description, after describing the schematic configuration of the laser printer 1 to which the developing cartridge 10 as an example of the developing device according to the embodiment is attached and detached, the detailed configuration of the developing cartridge 10 according to the characteristic portion of the present invention is described. explain.

In the following description, the direction will be described with reference to the user who uses the laser printer 1. That is, the right side in FIG. 1 is “front”, the left side is “rear”, the front side is “left”, and the back side is “right”. Also, the vertical direction in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the laser printer 1 includes, in a main body casing 2, a paper feed unit 3 that supplies a paper S, an exposure device 12, a process cartridge 8 that transfers a toner image onto the paper S, and a paper S The image forming apparatus mainly includes a fixing device 21 that thermally fixes the upper toner image.

The paper feed unit 3 is provided at a lower portion in the main body casing 2 and mainly includes a paper feed tray 4, a paper pressing plate 5, and a paper feed mechanism 6. The paper S stored in the paper feed tray 4 is brought to the upper paper feed mechanism 6 by the paper pressing plate 5, and is fed to the process cartridge 8 (between the photosensitive drum 11 and the transfer roller 14) by the paper feed mechanism 6. Supplied towards.

The exposure apparatus 12 is disposed in the upper part of the main casing 2 and includes a laser light emitting unit (not shown), a polygon mirror, a lens, a reflecting mirror, and the like that are not shown. In the exposure device 12, the surface of the photoconductive drum 11 is exposed by scanning the surface of the photoconductive drum 11 at high speed with laser light (see the chain line) based on the image data emitted from the laser light emitting unit.

The process cartridge 8 is disposed below the exposure apparatus 12 and is configured to be detachably mounted to the main casing 2 through an opening formed when the front cover 2A provided on the main casing 2 is opened. The process cartridge 8 includes a drum unit 9 and a developing cartridge 10.

The drum unit 9 mainly includes a photosensitive drum 11, a charger 13, and a transfer roller 14.

The developing cartridge 10 is detachably attached to the drum unit 9, and is configured to be detachably attached to the main casing 2 as a process cartridge 8 in a state where it is attached to the drum unit 9. The developing cartridge 10 mainly includes a brush roller 31, a blade 35 as an example of a scraping member, and a housing 54. The casing 54 includes a toner container 71 that stores toner T as an example of a developer, and a developing unit 70 that is disposed on the rear side of the toner container 71 and is provided with the brush roller 31 and the blade 35. Yes. The configuration of the developing cartridge 10 will be described in detail later.

In the process cartridge 8, the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is uniformly charged by the charger 13 and then exposed by high-speed scanning of laser light from the exposure device 12, whereby image data is transferred onto the photosensitive drum 11. An electrostatic latent image based on is formed. Further, the toner T in the toner container 71 of the developing cartridge 10 is supplied to the brush roller 31. As the brush roller 31 rotates, the blade 35 scrapes off excess toner T on the brush roller 31, and the amount of toner carried on the brush roller 31 is regulated.

The toner T carried on the brush roller 31 is supplied from the brush roller 31 to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 11. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is visualized and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 11. Thereafter, the sheet S is transported between the photosensitive drum 11 and the transfer roller 14 so that the toner image on the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred onto the sheet S.

The fixing device 8 is disposed behind the process cartridge 8 and mainly includes a heating roller 22 and a pressure roller 23 that presses the heating roller 22. In the fixing device 8, the toner image transferred onto the paper S is thermally fixed while the paper S passes between the heating roller 22 and the pressure roller 23. The paper S on which the toner image is thermally fixed is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 24 by the paper discharge roller 25.

In the state where the process cartridge 8 is mounted on the main casing 2, the fixing device 8, the photosensitive drum 11, the brush roller 31, and the toner containing portion 71 are arranged in this order from the back side of the main casing 2, and have substantially the same height. Is arranged. By arranging each member in this way, the size of the main casing 2 in the height direction can be suppressed.

Next, the configuration of the developing cartridge 10 will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 54 of the developing cartridge 10 is formed as a container having an opening on the rear side, and includes the toner storage portion 71 and the developing portion 70 described above.

The developing cartridge 10 includes a first conveying member 41 and a second conveying member 45 in the toner accommodating portion 71, the brush roller 31, the blade 35, an auger 50 as an example of a stirring member, and a return conveying member 51 in the developing portion 70. It has.

The toner container 71 is formed by connecting a first toner container 72 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and a second toner container 73 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. Specifically, the second toner storage portion 73 is disposed on the rear side of the first toner storage portion 72 and is provided at substantially the same height as the first toner storage portion 72. The first toner storage portion 72 and the second toner storage portion 73 are connected to each other with their lower walls connected to each other and the upper walls.

The developing unit 70 includes a bottom wall 86 that continuously extends rearward from the rear end of the lower wall 55 of the toner storage unit 71 and a rear obliquely upper surface of the upper wall 62 of the toner storage unit 71 above the second toner storage unit 73. And a fixed wall 66 extending upward. The front portion of the developing unit 70 includes a partition wall 58 that forms the rear portion of the second toner storage unit 73. That is, the toner container 71 and the developing unit 70 are partitioned by the partition wall 58.

The partition wall 58 is formed so as to connect the upper wall 62 and the lower wall 55 of the toner containing portion 71, and has a circular arc shape protruding rearward.

The partition wall 58 is provided with a partition 61 as an example of a wall extending rearward from a substantially central portion in the vertical direction. As a result, the space near the partition wall 58 of the developing unit 70 is partitioned by the partition 61, the supply unit 67 is between the partition 61 and the bottom wall 86, and the collection unit 68 is between the partition 61 and the fixed wall 66.

The partition 61 is disposed at a position where the tip is higher than the base portion, and is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so that the upper surface is positioned downward as the partition wall 58 is approached.

The first transport member 41 is provided in the first toner storage portion 72. The first transport member 41 includes a first base portion 43 that is rotatably supported by the housing 54 and a flexible first sheet member 44 that is fixed to the first base portion 43.

In the first conveying member 41, the first base portion 43 rotates clockwise in FIG. 2, so that the tip of the first sheet member 44 can be slidably contacted with the inner surface of the first toner accommodating portion 72. As a result, the toner T in the first toner accommodating portion 72 is agitated by the first conveying member 41 and the toner T in the first toner accommodating portion 72 is conveyed to the second toner accommodating portion 73. ing.

The second transport member 45 is provided in the second toner storage portion 73. The second transport member 45 includes a second base portion 46 that is rotatably supported by the casing 54 and a flexible second sheet member 47 that is fixed to the second base portion 46.

The second conveying member 45 is configured such that the tip of the second sheet member 47 can be slidably contacted with the inner surface of the second toner accommodating portion 73 by rotating the second base portion 46 clockwise in FIG. The second conveying member 45 is configured to convey the toner T in the second toner storage portion 73 from the right side to the left side by rotating (see FIG. 3A). As a result, the toner T in the second toner accommodating portion 73 is agitated by the second conveying member 45, and the toner T in the second toner accommodating portion 73 is moved to the left side and supplied from 163 described later to the developing portion 70. It is supposed to be.

The brush roller 31 has a roller main body 32 formed in a columnar shape, and a brush layer 33 in which fibers are implanted on the outer peripheral surface of the roller main body 32. The brush roller 31 is disposed so that the rear portion is exposed to the outside of the housing 54 through the opening of the housing 54, and is rotatably supported by the housing 54. The brush roller 31 provided in this way can come into contact with the photosensitive drum 11 at a portion exposed from the housing 54.

The lower part of the brush roller 31 is in contact with the toner T in the supply unit 67. Specifically, the brush roller 31 is provided on the rear side of the partition 61, and the brush layer 33 is provided so as to face the supply unit 67 and the collection unit 68. The partition 61 is close to the brush roller 31 with a gap between the partition 61 and the brush layer 33.

The distance between the partition 61 and the brush layer 33 is, for example, when the fiber of the brush roller 31 is 1 mm, the distance between the tip of the partition 61 and the tip of the fiber facing the tip is 0 to 3 mm, more preferably , 0 to 1 mm.

The blade 35 is formed in a plate shape extending along the axial direction of the brush roller 31. The blade 35 is fixed to the fixed wall 66 above the brush roller 31, extends downward from the fixed position, and the tip is located on the front side of the brush roller 31. The tip of the blade 35 is bent toward the brush roller 31 and enters the brush layer 33.

Specifically, the tip of the blade 35 is in contact with the brush roller 31 in the collection unit 68, that is, above the position where the brush roller 31 faces the toner T in the supply unit 67. The partition 61 is disposed below the position where the blade 35 contacts the brush roller 31.

The auger 50 is provided in the supply unit 67 and is disposed so as to face the surface of the brush roller 31 and a supply port 74 described later. The auger 50 is configured to rotate and move the toner T in the supply unit 67 from the left to the right while stirring and uniformly supply the brush roller 31 with stirring.

The return conveyance member 51 is provided in the vicinity of the blade 35, that is, in the collection unit 68. The return conveying member 51 includes a third base portion 52 that is rotatably supported by the casing 54 and a flexible third sheet member 53 that is fixed to the third base portion 52.

The return conveying member 51 is movable while the third base member 52 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 2 so that the third sheet member 53 is in sliding contact with the partition 61 and the partition wall 58 at the tip. . As a result, the toner T scraped off by the blade 35 is conveyed by the return conveying member 51 from a second return port 65 (described later) toward the second toner accommodating portion 73.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the partition wall 58 is formed with a supply port 74 and a first return port 75 for communicating the second toner storage unit 73 and the supply unit 67 at a position facing the supply unit 67. ing.

The supply port 74 is provided at the left end of the partition wall 58. The first return port 75 is provided at the right end of the partition wall 58.

The second sheet member 47 of the second transport member 45 has a plurality of first sheets 48 and second sheets 49 arranged in the left-right direction. The plurality of first sheets 48 are inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the second conveying member 45 so that the toner T can be conveyed from right to left when the second conveying member 45 rotates. Yes. And the 2nd sheet | seat 49 is arrange | positioned in the position corresponding to the supply port 74 in the left-right direction. The leading edge of the second sheet 49 is substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the second conveying member 45 so that the toner T in the second toner accommodating portion 73 can be conveyed straight toward the supply port 74.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the partition wall 58 is formed with a second return port 65 that communicates the second toner storage portion 73 and the recovery portion 68 at a position facing the recovery portion 68. . The second return port 65 is provided from the left end to the right end of the partition wall 58. As shown in FIG. 2, the second return port 65 has a lower end edge formed near the root portion of the partition 61.

By providing such a second return port 65, a return path 69 that connects the second return port 65 to the supply port 74 via the second toner accommodating portion 73 is formed in the housing 54.

The operation and effect of the developing cartridge 10 configured as described above will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3A, when the first transport member 41 and the second transport member 45 rotate, the toner T in the toner containing portion 71 is brought toward the supply port 74, and from the supply port 74 to the developing unit 70. Is supplied to the supply unit 67.

The toner T supplied to the supply unit 67 moves from the left to the right in the supply unit 67 as the auger 50 rotates, and spreads throughout the supply unit 67. The toner T that has not been supplied to the brush layer 33 moves to the right end of the supply unit 67 and is then returned from the first return port 75 to the second toner storage unit 73.

When a large amount of toner T is supplied from the second toner storage unit 73 into the supply unit 67, the water level of the toner T in the vicinity of the brush roller 31 in the supply unit 67 is suppressed by the partition 61 as shown in FIG. Can do. As a result, it is possible to prevent the toner T in the supply unit 67 from entering the recovery unit 68 and filling the toner T around the portion of the blade 35 that is in contact with the brush roller 31.

When the brush roller 31 rotates, the toner T is supplied to the brush layer 33 when facing the toner T in the supply unit 67. Since the toner T in the supply unit 67 is spread over the entire supply unit 67 by the auger 50, the toner T is supplied to the brush roller 31 substantially uniformly in the left-right direction.

Then, the brush layer 33 holding the toner T faces the tip of the partition 61. At this time, if excessive toner T is placed on the brush layer 33, the excessive toner T comes into contact with the partition 61 and is scraped off to some extent.

When the brush roller 31 further rotates, the blade 35 comes into contact with the brush layer 33 that has passed the position facing the tip of the partition 61, and excess toner T held on the brush layer 33 is scraped off by the blade 35.

At this time, in the present embodiment, as described above, the partition 61 is provided between the supply unit 67 and the collection unit 68, so that the contact portion between the brush roller 31 and the blade 35 is not filled with the toner T, and Before the toner 35 on the brush layer 33 is scraped off by the blade 35, a certain amount of the toner T is scraped off by the partition 61. Thereby, since the toner T does not exist excessively in the vicinity of the contact portion between the brush roller 31 and the blade 35, the excess toner T held by the brush layer 33 can be scraped off favorably by the blade 35.

Then, the toner T scraped off by the blade 35 falls onto the partition 61. The toner T that has fallen on the partition 61 is returned from the second return port 65 to the second toner container 73 and mixed with the toner T in the second toner container 73. That is, the toner T scraped off by the blade 35 does not return directly to the supply unit 67 but is supplied again to the supply unit 67 through the return path 69 via the toner storage unit 71. Thus, the scraped toner T does not stay in the vicinity of the blade 35 or in the developing unit 70, and the toner T can be circulated in the housing 54.

Further, since the return conveyance member 51 is provided in the collection unit 68, the toner T scraped off by the blade 35 can be easily moved toward the return path 69. Since the upper surface of the partition 61 is inclined so as to be lowered toward the second return port 65, the toner T of the partition 61 can be easily moved toward the second return port 65.

In the first embodiment described above, the supply port 74 is provided at the left end of the partition wall 58 and the first return port 75 is provided at the right end of the partition wall 58. However, the present invention is limited to this. Is not to be done. For example, the supply port 74 may be provided at the right end portion of the partition wall 58, and the first return port 75 may be provided at the left end portion of the partition wall 58.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the supply port 74 may be provided at a substantially central portion in the left-right direction of the partition wall 58, and the first return ports 75 may be provided at both left and right ends of the partition wall 58.

In this case, the second conveying member 45 is configured to convey the toner T in the second toner accommodating portion 73 from both the left and right end portions to the central portion. A portion of the second transport member 45 corresponding to the supply port 74 in the left-right direction of the second sheet member 47 is formed so as to be able to transport the toner T collected at the center toward the supply port 74.

In the above-described first embodiment, the supply port 74 and the first return port 75 are provided as openings for communicating the second toner storage unit 73 and the supply unit 67 of the developing unit 70. It is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, one large communication port 76 may be provided at a position corresponding to the supply unit 67 of the partition wall 58.

Specifically, the communication port 76 is provided from the left end to the right end of the partition wall 58. The second transport member 45 is configured to be able to transport the toner T in the second toner storage unit 73 straight toward the supply unit 67 at any position in the left-right direction.

In this case, the supply unit 67 may be provided with an agitating member 77 that does not have a configuration for conveying the toner T in the left-right direction, like the auger 50 in the first embodiment. The stirring member 77 has a bar 78 that is disposed at a position shifted in the radial direction from the rotation axis. The bar 78 is formed long along the axial direction of the brush roller 31. Then, as the stirring member 77 rotates, the bar 78 rotates in the supply portion 67 clockwise around the rotation axis in FIG. 5A, and the toner T in the supply portion 67 is stirred. Yes.

In the first embodiment described above, the partition 61 (wall) is formed in a plate shape, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the wall may be configured by arranging a plurality of rod-shaped members extending from the partition wall 58 or the left and right side walls of the developing unit 70 with a slight gap.

[Second Embodiment]

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the second embodiment, the wall that partitions the supply unit and the recovery unit is configured by a wall that partitions the toner storage unit and the development unit. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the housing 80 of the developing cartridge 10 A has a toner containing portion 81 and a developing portion 82 provided on the rear side of the toner containing portion 81. A conveying member 92 is provided in the toner accommodating portion 81, and the brush roller 31, the blade 35, and the auger 50 are provided in the developing portion 82.

The toner container 81 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. A wall constituting the rear portion of the toner storage portion 81 is a partition wall 83 that partitions the toner storage portion 81 and the developing portion 82. The partition wall 83 has a shape protruding toward the developing unit 82, and a space near the partition wall 83 of the developing unit 82 is provided to the supply unit 84 and the recovery unit 85 disposed on the supply unit 84. It is divided.

Specifically, the developing unit 82 includes a bottom wall 86 that extends rearward from the lower portion of the toner storage portion 81 and a fixed wall 87 that extends rearward from the upper portion of the toner storage portion 81. The supply portion 84 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the front portion enters the toner storage portion 81. That is, the partition wall 83 has an arc shape with a lower portion projecting forward and an upper portion with an arc shape projecting backward. Then, the corner 88 (wall) having the two arcs connected to each other and having a surface facing downward is arranged between the blade 35 provided in the developing unit 82 and the auger 50 in the vertical direction.

Further, the corner 88 of the partition wall 83 faces the brush roller 31 below the position where the blade 35 contacts the brush roller 31. The corner 88 is close to the brush roller 31 with a gap between the brush roller 31 and the brush layer 33.

Further, since the corner portion 88 of the partition wall 83 is disposed with a gap between the brush layer 33, the toner T scraped off by the blade 35 is supplied between the partition wall 83 and the brush roller 31. A return path 89 for returning to is formed.

The partition wall 83 is formed with a supply port 90 and a return port 91 that allow the supply unit 84 and the toner storage unit 81 to communicate with each other at a position corresponding to the supply unit 84. The supply port 90 is provided at the left end portion of the partition wall 83 and opens upward. The return port 91 is provided at the right end of the partition wall 83 below the supply port 90, more specifically at the bottom of the supply unit 84.

The conveying member 92 includes a base portion 93 that is rotatably supported by the housing 80 and a flexible sheet member 94 that is fixed to the base portion 93.

In this conveying member 92, the base portion 93 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 6A, so that the leading end of the sheet member 94 can be in sliding contact with the inner surface of the toner containing portion 81. Further, the conveying member 92 is configured to convey the toner T in the toner storage portion 81 from the right to the left by rotating. Accordingly, the toner T in the toner storage unit 81 is agitated by the transport member 92 and the toner T in the toner storage unit 81 is moved to the left side and supplied from the supply port 90 to the supply unit 84. .

The operation and effect of the developing cartridge 10A configured as described above will be described.

When the conveying member 92 rotates, the toner T in the toner storage unit 81 is supplied from the supply port 90 to the supply unit 84. Then, the toner T supplied to the supply unit 84 moves from the left to the right in the supply unit 84 as the auger 50 rotates, and spreads throughout the supply unit 84. The toner T that has not been supplied to the brush layer 33 moves to the right end of the supply unit 84 and is then returned from the return port 91 to the toner storage unit 81.

When a large amount of toner T is supplied to the supply unit 84, the water level of the toner T in the supply unit 84 is suppressed by the corner portion 88 of the partition wall 83. As a result, it is possible to prevent the toner T in the developing unit 82 from entering the recovery unit 85 and filling the position where the blade 35 contacts the brush roller 31 with the toner T, so that the brush layer 33 holds the brush layer 33. The toner T to be scraped off can be satisfactorily scraped off.

The toner T scraped off by the blade 35 falls to the supply unit 84 through the return path 89. The toner T that has fallen on the supply unit 84 is mixed with the toner T in the supply unit 84 and supplied again to the brush roller 31 or returned to the toner storage unit 81 from the return port 91.

In the above-described second embodiment, the supply port 90 and the return port 91 are provided separately, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the partition wall 83 is provided with a long opening in the left-right direction, and the toner T of the toner storage unit 81 is supplied to the supply unit 84 through the opening, so that the toner T of the supply unit 84 moves to the toner storage unit 81. It may be configured.

In the above-described embodiment, the developing

cartridges

10 and 10 ′ have the

partition walls

58 and 83 that partition the

toner containing portions

71 and 81 and the developing

portions

70 and 82, but the present invention is not limited thereto. is not. For example, the developing cartridge has a configuration in which only a wall that divides the space around the brush roller 31 up and down is provided as a wall that divides the space in the housing, without a partition wall that partitions the toner storage portion and the developing portion. There may be.

In the above-described embodiment, in the developing cartridges 10 and 10 ', the

toner containing portions

71 and 81 and the developing

portions

70 and 82 are integrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the developing cartridge may include a developing unit and a toner storage unit that can be attached to and detached from the developing unit. The above-described first object can be achieved by the above-described embodiment shown in FIGS.

[Third embodiment]

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. In the following description, first, the overall configuration of the color printer 101 provided with the developing cartridge 110 as an example of a developing device will be described, and then the details of the features of the present invention will be described.

In the following description, the direction will be described based on the user when the color printer 101 is used. That is, in FIG. 7, the left side toward the paper surface is “front side (front side)”, the right side toward the paper surface is “rear side (back side)”, the front side toward the paper surface is “right side”, and it faces the paper surface. The far side is the “left side”. In addition, the vertical direction toward the page is defined as the “vertical direction”.
<Overall configuration of color printer>

As shown in the figure, the color printer 101 includes an apparatus main body 102, a paper feeding unit 103 that supplies paper P, an image forming unit 107 that forms an image on the fed paper P, and a paper on which an image is formed. A discharge roller 125 for discharging P is mainly provided.

A discharge tray 124 on which the paper P discharged from the apparatus main body 102 is placed is provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 102.

The sheet feeding unit 103 is provided in the lower part of the apparatus main body 102 and is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body 102. The sheet P is transferred from the sheet feeding tray 104 to the transfer position (intermediate transfer) of the image forming unit 107. A sheet feeding mechanism 106 that conveys the belt 117 and the secondary transfer roller 118). The paper P in the paper feed tray 104 is separated one by one by the paper feed mechanism 106 and conveyed to the transfer position.

The image forming unit 107 mainly includes four photosensitive drums 111, a charger (not shown), four developing cartridges 110, four LED units 112, a transfer unit 114, and a fixing unit 121.

The photosensitive drum 111 is arranged in parallel in the front-rear direction below the intermediate transfer belt 117, which will be described later, facing the intermediate transfer belt 117. The photosensitive drum 111 is in contact with the primary transfer roller 119 via the intermediate transfer belt 117 at the upper part thereof.

As shown in FIG. 8, the developing cartridge 110 mainly includes a brush roller 131 and stores therein toner T as an example of a developer. Returning to FIG. 7, the four developing cartridges 110 are disposed below the four photosensitive drums 111 and are provided corresponding to the four photosensitive drums 111, respectively. The detailed configuration of the developing cartridge 110 will be described later.

The four LED units 112 are provided corresponding to the plurality of photosensitive drums 111, respectively. Each LED unit 112 is arranged to face the lower side of the corresponding photosensitive drum 111, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 111 is exposed by blinking the light emitting unit based on the image data.

The transfer unit 114 is provided between the four photosensitive drums 111 and the discharge tray 124, and is an endless intermediate transfer stretched between the driving roller 115, the driven roller 116, and the driving roller 115 and the driven roller 116. A belt 117, four primary transfer rollers 119 disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum 111 via the intermediate transfer belt 117, a secondary transfer roller 118 disposed opposite to the driving roller 115 via the intermediate transfer belt 117, and And a cleaning unit 120 for removing the toner T on the intermediate transfer belt 117 disposed above the intermediate transfer belt 117.

The fixing unit 121 is provided on the upper rear side of the intermediate transfer belt 117 and mainly includes a heating roller 122 and a pressure roller 123 that is disposed to face the heating roller 122 and presses the heating roller 122.

In the image forming unit 107 configured as described above, first, the surface of each photosensitive drum 111 is uniformly charged by a charger and then exposed by the LED unit 112. As a result, the potential of the exposed portion is lowered, and an electrostatic latent image based on the image data is formed on each photosensitive drum 111. Further, the toner T in the developing cartridge 110 is carried on the brush roller 131.

Then, the toner T is supplied from the brush roller 131 of the developing cartridge 110 to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 111. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is visualized and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 111. The toner images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 111 are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 117 by the action of each primary transfer roller 119 to which a transfer bias is applied.

The toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 117 is subjected to a secondary transfer to which a transfer bias is applied when the paper P supplied to the image forming unit 107 passes between the intermediate transfer belt 117 and the secondary transfer roller 118. The image is transferred onto the paper P by the action of the roller 118. The sheet P on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 121 and passes between the heating roller 122 and the pressure roller 123 so that the toner image is thermally fixed. The paper P on which the toner image has been thermally fixed is discharged outside the apparatus main body 102 by the discharge roller 125 and accumulated in the discharge tray 124.

Next, the detailed configuration of the developing cartridge 110 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8, the developing cartridge 110 includes a housing 154 provided with a toner containing portion 171 that contains toner T and a developing portion 170 that is disposed above the toner containing portion 171.

Further, the developing cartridge 110 includes a first rotating member 141 and a second rotating member 145 provided in the toner storage unit 171, a brush roller 131 provided in the developing unit 170, and a first scraping member as an example of a first scraping member. A blade 135 and a second blade 139 as an example of a second scraping member are mainly provided.

The toner storage portion 171 is formed by connecting a first toner storage portion 172 having a substantially cylindrical lower portion and a second toner storage portion 173 having a lower portion and a front portion formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. Specifically, the second toner storage unit 173 is disposed on the front side of the first toner storage unit 172 and is provided at a position higher than the first toner storage unit 172. The arc-shaped bottom wall 155 constituting the bottom of the first toner containing portion 172 and the arc-shaped bottom wall 156 constituting the bottom of the second toner containing portion 173 are connected.

The first rotating member 141 is provided in the first toner storage portion 172. The first rotating member 141 includes a first base portion 143 that is rotatably supported by the housing 154 and a flexible first sheet member 144 that is fixed to the first base portion 143.

The first rotating member 141 is movable while the first base member 143 rotates clockwise in FIG. 8, so that the first sheet member 144 is in sliding contact with the inner surface of the first toner containing portion 172. ing. Accordingly, the toner T in the first toner storage unit 172 is agitated by the first rotating member 141 and the toner T in the first toner storage unit 172 is conveyed to the second toner storage unit 173. ing.

The second rotating member 145 is provided in the second toner storage portion 173. The second rotating member 145 includes a second base portion 146 that is rotatably supported by the housing 154, and a flexible second sheet member 147 that is fixed to the second base portion 146.

The second rotating member 145 can move while the second base member 146 rotates clockwise in FIG. 8 while the second sheet member 147 is in sliding contact with the inner surface of the second toner containing portion 173. ing. As a result, the toner T in the second toner storage portion 173 is agitated by the second rotating member 145, and the toner T in the second toner storage portion 173 is lifted so that the toner T is supplied to a first communication port described later. 163 is supplied to the developing unit 170.

The developing unit 170 divides the toner containing unit 171 and the developing unit 170 and forms a bottom wall of the developing unit 170, and a front wall 169 continuously extending from the upper end of the front side wall of the second toner containing unit 173. And a fixed wall 166 extending continuously from the upper end of the rear side wall of the first toner storage portion 172.

The partition wall 158 extends obliquely upward and forward from below a brush roller 131 described later, and extends to the front of the brush roller 131. A first communication port 163 that communicates the second toner storage unit 173 and the developing unit 170 is formed between the front end of the partition wall 158 and the front wall 169. Further, a second communication port 164 that communicates the first toner storage unit 172 and the developing unit 170 is formed between the rear end of the partition wall 158 and the fixed wall 166.

In the developing unit 170, the toner T supplied from the first communication port 163 is stored on the partition wall 158 and a second blade 139 described later, and a toner reservoir T1 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 9, the brush roller 131 has a cylindrical roller body 132 and a brush layer 133 in which a plurality of fibers 134 are implanted on the outer peripheral surface of the roller body 132.

As shown in FIG. 8, the brush roller 131 is disposed so as to be in contact with the toner reservoir T 1 formed on the partition wall 158, and is supported rotatably with respect to the housing 154. The brush roller 131 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 8 so that the toner T is supplied to the brush layer 133 from the toner reservoir T1.

That is, the first rotating member 141 and the second rotating member 145 that supply the toner T in the toner storage unit 171 to the developing unit 170, and the toner reservoir T1 in the developing unit 170 cause the toner T to be brought to the surface of the brush roller 131. The supply means is configured to supply.

Further, the brush roller 131 is exposed to the outside of the housing 154 through an opening formed in the upper portion of the developing unit 170, and the exposed portion is in contact with the photosensitive drum 111.

The first blade 135 is provided on the rear side of the brush roller 131, and is located on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the brush roller 131 from the supply position where the toner T is supplied from the toner reservoir T 1 to the brush roller 131. It is in contact with the brush roller 131 on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the brush roller 131 from the supply position for supplying the toner T to the drum 111. The first blade 135 is configured to scrape the toner T held on the brush layer 133 of the brush roller 131 and regulate the amount of toner T carried on the brush roller 131.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the first blade 135 is a thin sheet metal formed in a substantially L shape in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis of the brush roller 131, and is supported by the fixed wall 166. The blade main body 136 is an example of a scraping member main body portion, and the regulating portion 137 is provided so as to be bent toward the brush roller 131 from the tip of the blade main body 136. That is, the blade body 136 and the restricting portion 137 are integrally connected without a joint.

Further, the first blade 135 is bent from the tip of the blade body 136 to the restricting portion 137. That is, the corner between the blade body 136 and the restricting portion 137 is formed in a curved shape.

The blade body 136 is provided such that the direction from the base end on the fixed wall 166 side toward the tip is directed to the side opposite to the rotation direction of the brush roller 131.

The regulating portion 137 protrudes from the tip of the blade body 136 toward the rotating shaft of the brush roller 131 and is provided so as to enter the brush layer 133. By providing the restricting portion 137 in this way, the restricting portion 137 can bite into the brush layer 133 and the first blade 135 can scrape off the toner T on the brush roller 131 satisfactorily.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the first blade 135 is in contact with the brush roller 131 on the second communication port 164. Accordingly, the toner T scraped off by the first blade 135 falls from the second communication port 164 to the first toner storage portion 172.

The second blade 139 is provided below the brush roller 131. The second blade 139 is downstream of the first roller 135 in the rotation direction of the brush roller 131 with respect to the supply position where the toner T is supplied from the toner reservoir T 1 to the brush roller 131. Also, the brush roller 131 is in contact with the brush roller 131 on the upstream side in the rotation direction. The second blade 139 is configured to scrape off the toner T held on the brush layer 133 of the brush roller 131.

Specifically, the second blade 139 is a thin plate made of resin or the like, and is supported on the rear end of the partition wall 158. The direction of the second blade 139 from the base end toward the tip end on the partition wall 154 side extends toward the brush roller 131 toward the downstream side in the rotation direction of the brush roller 131, and the tip enters the brush layer 133. ing. Note that the second blade 139 is disposed at a position that does not overlap the first blade 135 when viewed from the top-bottom direction, that is, a position displaced forward and backward.

The tip of the second blade 139 extends in a straight line in the axial direction of the brush roller 131, that is, in the left-right direction, and is continuously in contact with the surface of the brush roller 131 in the left-right direction.

The scraping ability of the toner T on the brush roller 131 by the second blade 139 is smaller than the scraping ability of the toner T on the brush roller 131 by the first blade 135.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the restricting portion 137 of the first blade 135 has entered the brush layer 133 of the brush roller 131 deeper than the second blade 139. With this configuration, the scraping ability of the second blade 139 can be made smaller than the scraping ability of the first blade 135 with a simple configuration.

In addition, in a cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis of the brush roller 131, a portion 140 of the second blade 139 entering the brush layer 133 on the side to scrape off the toner T (facing upstream in the rotation direction of the brush roller 131). Surface) of the portion of the first blade 135 that enters the brush layer 133 of the restricting portion 137 than the surface 138 on the side that scrapes off the toner T (the surface that faces the upstream side in the rotational direction of the brush roller 131). The angle with respect to the rotation direction of the roller 131 is large. Here, the angle with respect to the rotation direction is the tangent line of the virtual circle connecting the tips of the brush layer 133 and the blade part entering the brush at the position where the

blades

135, 139 and the brush layer 133 intersect. This is an angle formed by the

surfaces

138 and 140 facing the upstream side in the rotation direction of the brush roller 131.

Specifically, the surface 140 of the second blade 139 entering the brush layer 133 on the side where the toner T is scraped off, and a virtual circle and the surface 140 connecting the tips of the fibers 134 of the brush roller 131. The angle on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the brush roller 131 among the angles formed with the tangent line S1 of the circle at the point where the circles intersect is α. Further, the surface 138 on the side where the toner T is scraped out of the portion entering the brush layer 133 of the first blade 135, and the tangent S2 of the circle at the point where the virtual circle and the surface 138 intersect with each other. The angle on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the brush roller 131 is defined as β. The relationship between the angles is α> β. That is, the tip of the second blade 139 is directed to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the brush roller 131 compared to the first blade 135.

The operation and effect of the developing cartridge 110 configured as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, when the first rotating member 141 and the second rotating member 145 rotate, the toner T in the toner storage unit 171 is supplied to the developing unit 170 through the first communication port 163. The toner T supplied to the developing unit 170 is supplied to the brush roller 131 and carried on the brush layer 133.

When the brush roller 131 rotates, the toner T carried on the brush layer 133 is first scraped off by the second blade 139 and then further scraped off by the first blade 135.

As described above, the first roller 135 and the second blade 139 scrape off the toner T on the brush roller 131, so that only one member for scraping off the toner T on the brush roller 131 is provided. The excess toner T placed on 131 can be scraped off sufficiently. Thereby, the fog generated when the toner T on the brush roller 131 is not sufficiently scraped off can be reduced.

Further, since the first blade 135 is bent from the tip of the blade body 136 to the restricting portion 137, the brush layer 133 moves along with the rotation of the brush roller 131, so that the first blade 135 and the first roller 135 move together with the first roller 135. When a rotational resistance is generated in the restricting portion 137 of the blade 135, a force that causes the restricting portion 137 to enter the brush layer 133 further acts on the first blade 135. Thereby, the toner T on the brush roller 131 can be scraped off favorably by the first blade 135.

Further, since the scraping ability by the second blade 139 is smaller than the scraping ability by the first blade 135, in a state where a certain amount of toner T is first scraped by the second blade 139 having a small scraping ability, It can be scraped off by the first blade 135. As a result, the toner T can be scraped off sufficiently without increasing the load applied to the brush roller 131, and the amount of toner T carried can be regulated.

Then, the toner T scraped off by the second blade 139 returns to the toner reservoir T1 or the toner container 171.

Further, the toner T scraped off by the first blade 135 is returned to the toner accommodating portion 171 through the second communication port 164. As a result, the toner T scraped off by the first blade 135 does not accumulate between the first blade 135 and the second blade 139, so that the toner T scraped off by the first blade 135 reattaches to the brush roller 131. Can be suppressed. Thereby, excessive supply of the toner T to the brush roller 131 can be suppressed.

Then, the toner T returned from the developing unit 170 to the toner storage unit 171 is mixed with the toner T in the toner storage unit 171 by the first rotating member 141.

Since the second blade 139 is provided at a position where it does not overlap with the first blade 135 when viewed from above and below, the toner T scraped off by the first blade 135 does not rest on the second blade 139 and becomes toner. It can fall into the storage portion 171. .

In the third embodiment, the second blade 139 formed in a thin plate shape is employed as the second scraping member, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, the second scraping member 139 A may be a columnar member provided so as to enter the brush layer 133 of the brush roller 131.

Specifically, the second scraping member 139 A enters the brush layer 133 more shallowly than the regulating portion 137 of the first blade 135. In addition, in the cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis of the brush roller 131, the surface 140A on the side of scraping off the toner T in the portion entering the brush layer 133 of the second scraping member 139A is the regulating portion of the first blade 135. The angle with respect to the rotation direction of the brush roller 131 is larger than the surface 138 on the side where the toner T is scraped out of the portion entering the brush layer 133 of 137.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10B, the second scraping member 139B may be a triangular prism-shaped member provided so as to enter the brush layer 133 of the brush roller 131. Specifically, the second scraping member 139 B is provided so that one corner portion enters the brush layer 133. Further, the second scraping member 139B enters the brush layer 133 more shallowly than the restriction portion 137 of the first blade 135. In the cross section perpendicular to the rotational axis of the brush roller 131, the surface 140B on the side that scrapes the toner T out of the portion entering the brush layer 133 of the second scraping member 139B is the restricting portion of the first blade 135. The angle with respect to the rotation direction of the brush roller 131 is larger than the surface 138 on the side where the toner T is scraped out of the portion entering the brush layer 133 of 137.

Even if the

second scraping members

139A and 139B as described above are provided, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

In the third embodiment, the second blade 139 is disposed at a position where it does not overlap the first blade 135 when viewed from the up-down direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 10C, the second blade 139C may be disposed at a position overlapping the first blade 135 when viewed in the vertical direction.

Specifically, the second blade 139 C is a sheet metal formed in an approximately L shape, and is supported by the fixed wall 166 of the housing 154. The second blade 139C extends from the base end portion below the first blade 135 to the bottom of the brush roller 131, and extends from the distal end portion of the second blade body 139C1 toward the brush roller 131. A second restricting portion 139C2 that enters the brush layer 133 upstream of the first blade 135 in the rotation direction of the brush roller 131 is provided.

In the second blade body 139C1, an opening 139C3 penetrating in the vertical direction is formed at a position overlapping the restriction portion 137 of the first blade 135 when viewed from the vertical direction. More specifically, an opening 139C3 is formed below the contact portion of the restricting portion 137 with the brush roller 131. As a result, the toner T scraped from the brush roller 131 by the first blade 135 can fall into the toner accommodating portion 171 through the opening 139C3.

As shown in FIG. 11, the curvature of the portion of the second blade 139 C that contacts the fibers 134 of the brush roller 131 in the cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis of the brush roller 131 contacts the fibers 134 of the first blade 135. It is smaller than the curvature of the part. Thereby, the scraping ability of the toner T on the brush roller 131 by the second blade 139C is smaller than the scraping ability of the toner T on the brush roller 131 by the first blade 135.

In the third embodiment, the second blade 139 is formed such that the tip extends in a straight line in the left-right direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the tip of the second blade 139D may be formed in a comb shape.

Specifically, the second blade 139D extends along the axial direction of the brush roller 131 and has a main body portion 140D supported by the housing 154 (the rear end of the partition wall 158), and a plurality of the main blade portions 140D in the axial direction. A plurality of projecting portions 184 projecting from the portion toward the brush roller 131, and the plurality of projecting portions 184 are provided so as to enter the brush layer 133.

When the portion entering the brush layer 133 of the second blade 139D is formed in a comb-like shape in this way, the toner T in the brush layer 133 can be scraped out by the second blade 139D. The clogging of the toner T at 133 can be reduced.

In the third embodiment, the second blade 139 (second scraping member) separate from the housing 154 is fixed to the partition wall 158, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the second scraping member is a protrusion formed integrally with the partition wall 158 so as to protrude from the upper surface (wall surface) of the partition wall 158 of the housing 154 toward the brush roller 131. 139E may be used.

Thus, by integrating the housing 154 and the second scraping member (protrusion 139E), the number of parts can be reduced.

In the third embodiment, the first rotating member 141, the second rotating member 145, and the toner reservoir T1 are exemplified as the supply means for supplying the toner T to the surface of the brush roller 131. However, the present invention is not limited to this. is not. For example, a supply roller that rotates in contact with the toner reservoir T1 and the brush roller 131 may be employed as the supply unit. When the supply roller is provided as described above, the brush roller 131 is provided apart from the toner reservoir T1, and the toner T placed on the surface of the supply roller is supplied to the brush layer 133.

In the third embodiment, the blade main body 136 and the restricting portion 137 of the first blade 135 are connected together seamlessly, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the blade body and the restricting portion may be formed separately, and the restricting portion may be fixed to the distal end portion of the blade body.

Next, in a laser printer equipped with a brush roller, by providing two blades for scraping the brush roller, it is more fogged than when there is only one blade (the problem that toner is placed on the unexposed white portion of the photosensitive drum surface). An experiment for confirming whether or not can be reduced will be described.

1. Examples and comparative examples

Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 were as follows.

Each of the blades is located on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the brush roller from the toner supply position to the brush roller, and on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the brush roller from the supply position for supplying the toner from the brush roller to the photosensitive drum. It provided so that it might contact.
(1) Example 1

One metal roller and one resin blade were applied to one brush roller. According to the third embodiment, the resin blade is disposed so as to contact the brush roller on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the brush roller relative to the metal blade.
(2) Comparative Example 1

Only one blade made of the same metal as in Example 1 was applied to one brush roller.

2. Evaluation methods

The confirmation of the fogging was performed as follows.
(1) In each of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, after performing a warming-up operation for a predetermined time before printing under the same conditions (zero number of printed sheets) and after the warming-up operation, predetermined test patterns are 500, 1000, 1500 After printing 2000 sheets, the toner adhering to the white background on the photosensitive drum is copied onto an adhesive tape (Scotch ending tape 810-3-18, distributor: Sumitomo 3M Limited), and then this adhesive tape. Was affixed to plain paper (product number 4200, manufactured by Xerox Corporation).

In the warm-up operation, the brush roller is rotated a predetermined number of times in a state where the surface of the photosensitive drum is uniformly charged without being exposed while the brush roller is in contact with the photosensitive drum.
(2) The reflection density of the plain paper with the adhesive tape attached in (1) was measured using a reflection densitometer (Spectrolino manufactured by Gretag Macbeth Co., Ltd.).
(3) The reflection density was measured on plain paper with an adhesive tape on which toner was not copied, as in (2).
(4) The difference between the reflection density measured in (2) and the reflection density measured in (3) was taken as the reflection density of the toner adhering to the white background portion on the photosensitive drum at each measurement.

3. result

The experimental results are shown in FIG. As the reflection density is higher, the toner is placed on the white background portion on the photosensitive drum, that is, more fog is generated.

As shown in FIG. 8, in both Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, the reflection density increases as the number of printed sheets increases. In Example 1, the number of printed sheets increases compared to Comparative Example 1. The amount of increase in reflection density was small.

Thus, it was found that the fogging can be reduced by providing two blades for scraping off the toner on the brush roller rather than providing one blade. The above-described second object can be achieved by the above-described embodiment shown in FIGS.

[Fourth embodiment]

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 15 to 17. In the following description, after describing the schematic configuration of the laser printer 201 to which the developing cartridge 210 as an example of the developing device according to the embodiment is attached and detached, the detailed configuration of the developing cartridge 210 according to the characteristic portion of the present invention is described. explain.

In the following description, the direction will be described with reference to the user who uses the laser printer 201. That is, the right side in FIG. 1 is “front”, the left side is “rear”, the front side is “left”, and the back side is “right”. Also, the vertical direction in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 15, the laser printer 201 includes, in a main body casing 20202, a paper feeding unit 203 that supplies paper S, an exposure device 212, a process cartridge 208 that transfers a toner image onto the paper S, and paper S It mainly includes a fixing device 221 that thermally fixes the upper toner image.

The paper feeding unit 203 is provided at a lower portion in the main body casing 202 and mainly includes a paper feeding tray 204, a paper pressing plate 205, and a paper feeding mechanism 206. The paper S stored in the paper feed tray 204 is moved upward by the paper pressing plate 205 and supplied toward the process cartridge 208 (between the photosensitive drum 211 and the transfer roller 214) by the paper feed mechanism 206.

The exposure device 212 is disposed in the upper part of the main body casing 202 and includes a laser light emitting unit, a polygon mirror, a lens, a reflecting mirror, and the like (not shown). The exposure device 212 exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 211 by scanning the surface of the photosensitive drum 211 at high speed with laser light (see the chain line) based on the image data emitted from the laser light emitting unit.

The process cartridge 208 is disposed below the exposure device 212 and is detachably mounted to the main body casing 202 through an opening formed when the front cover 202A provided in the main body casing 202 is opened. The process cartridge 208 includes a drum unit 209 and a developing cartridge 210.

The drum unit 209 mainly includes a photosensitive drum 211, a charger 213, and a transfer roller 214.

The developing cartridge 210 is detachably attached to the drum unit 209, and is configured to be detachably attached to the main body casing 202 as a process cartridge 208, that is, attached to the drum unit 209. The developing cartridge 210 mainly includes a brush roller 231 as an example of a developing roller, a blade 235, and a conveying member 241, and stores toner as an example of a developer therein.

In the process cartridge 208, the surface of the photosensitive drum 211 is uniformly charged by the charger 213, and then exposed by high-speed scanning of laser light from the exposure device 212, whereby image data is transferred onto the photosensitive drum 211. An electrostatic latent image based on is formed. Further, the toner in the developing cartridge 210 is supplied to the brush roller 231 while being agitated by the conveying member 241. As the brush roller 231 rotates, the blade 235 scrapes off the toner on the brush roller 231 and the amount of toner carried on the brush roller 231 is regulated.

The toner carried on the brush roller 231 is supplied from the brush roller 231 to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 211. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is visualized and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 211. Thereafter, the sheet S is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 211 and the transfer roller 214, so that the toner image on the photosensitive drum 211 is transferred onto the sheet S.

The fixing device 221 is disposed behind the process cartridge 208 and mainly includes a heating roller 222 and a pressure roller 223 that is disposed to face the heating roller 222 and presses the heating roller 222. In the fixing device 221, the toner image transferred onto the paper S is thermally fixed while the paper S passes between the heating roller 222 and the pressure roller 223. The paper S on which the toner image has been thermally fixed is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 224 by a paper discharge roller 225.

Next, the detailed configuration of the developing cartridge 210 will be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the developing cartridge 210 includes a frame 254 that includes a developing unit 270 and a toner storage unit 271 that is provided in front of the developing unit 270 and stores a toner. Yes.

Further, the developing cartridge 210 includes a brush roller 231 and a blade 235 accommodated in the developing unit 270, and a sheet member 280 as an example of a conveying member 241 and a movable member provided in the toner accommodating unit 271.

The frame 254 is formed in a box shape having an opening in the rear wall. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the frame 254 has a partition wall 258 that protrudes upward from a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction of the bottom wall of the frame 254, that is, toward the inside of the frame 254.

Specifically, the partition wall 258 includes a first partition wall 259 that extends rearward and obliquely upward at a rear end portion of a substantially arc-shaped bottom wall 255 that constitutes a bottom of a toner storage unit 271 described later, and a developing unit 270 described later. It has the 2nd division wall 260 extended in the front diagonally upward in the front-end part of the substantially circular arc-shaped bottom wall 256 which comprises a bottom. The upper end of the first partition wall 259 and the upper end of the second partition wall 260 are connected.

The space inside the frame 254 configured as described above is partitioned by a partition wall 258, and a developing unit 270 is located behind the partition wall 258 and a toner containing portion 271 is located ahead of the partition wall 258. That is, the developing unit 270 and the toner storage unit 271 are partitioned by the partition wall 258.

Also, a supply port 263 that allows the developing unit 270 and the toner storage unit 271 to communicate with each other is provided adjacent to the partition wall 258 between the front end (upper end) of the partition wall 258 and the upper wall 262 of the frame 254.

The frame 254 has a rib-like fixed wall 266 that protrudes downward from the upper wall 262 in the toner storage portion 271.

The fixed wall 266 is provided between the supply port 263 and a shaft portion 242 of the transport member 241 described later, more specifically, near the supply port 263. The lower end (front end) of the fixed wall 266 is disposed above the central portion of the supply port 263 in the vertical direction. That is, the distance between the tip of the partition wall 258 and the upper wall 262 of the frame 254 is arranged on the side closer to the upper wall 262.

As shown in FIG. 17A, the brush roller 231 has a cylindrical roller body 232 and a brush layer 233 formed by implanting a plurality of fibers on the outer peripheral surface of the roller body 232.

The brush roller 231 is disposed adjacent to the rear of the second partition wall 260 in the developing unit 270, and is rotatably supported by the frame 254.

The blade 235 is formed in a plate shape extending along the axial direction of the brush roller 231 and is supported by the upper wall 262 of the frame 254. The blade 235 extends from above the brush roller 231 to the front of the brush roller 231 (between the brush roller 231 and the supply port 263). The blade 235 has a tip bent toward the brush roller 231 and enters the brush layer 233.

Thus, the toner in the brush layer 233 is scraped off by the blade 235 and the amount of toner on the brush roller 231 can be regulated.

The conveying member 241 is configured to supply the toner in the toner storage unit 271 to the developing unit 270 from the supply port 263 by rotating.

Specifically, the transport member 241 includes a shaft portion 242, a film attachment portion 243, and a transport film 244.

The shaft portion 242 is a shaft extending along the axial direction of the brush roller 231, that is, the left-right direction, and is rotatably supported on the left and right side walls of the toner storage portion 271.

The film attachment portion 243 extends radially outward from the shaft portion 242 and fixes the transport film 244 at the tip portion.

The transport film 244 is made of, for example, resin, and the base end is fixed to the film mounting portion 243 by sticking, and the free end is bent to the inner surface (the bottom wall 255, the partition wall 258, and the upper wall 262) while being bent. It is a flexible member formed in such a size as to be in sliding contact.

The transport film 244 rotates around the shaft portion 242 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 17 as the shaft portion 242 rotates. That is, the conveyance member 241 is configured to rotate so that the front end of the conveyance film 244 passes through the partition wall 258 and the supply port 263 in this order while slidingly contacting the partition wall 258 and the like.

16A, the sheet member 280 is a flexible sheet made of resin or the like, and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction.

As shown in FIG. 17B, the sheet member 280 is fixed to the front surface of a fixed wall 266 provided between the supply port 263 and the shaft portion 242 of the conveying member 241 in the upper wall 262 by sticking or the like. Thus, it is supported by the upper wall 262 of the frame 254. The sheet member 280 is provided so as to hang down from the upper wall 262, and can swing back and forth between the supply port 263 and the shaft portion 242 of the transport member 241.

Referring back to FIG. 16A, the sheet member 280 is provided with notches 282 formed so as to be recessed upward at a plurality of positions in the left-right direction at the front end. That is, the sheet member 280 has a main body portion 230 fixed to the fixed wall 266 and a plurality of restricting portions 281 protruding downward from a plurality of positions in the left-right direction at the front end of the main body portion 230, and has a comb tooth shape. ing. A notch 282 is formed between the adjacent restricting portions 281 of the sheet member 280.

Each notch 282 is formed in a substantially U shape, and has a curved shape whose upper end is convex upward. Thereby, the notch 282 can be enlarged compared with the case where the upper end is formed in a straight line. Further, the plurality of notches 282 are provided side by side at equal intervals in the left-right direction.

The plurality of regulating portions 281 are arranged at intervals from each other along the rotation axis direction of the conveying member 241, that is, the left-right direction. The plurality of regulating portions 281 are arranged between the supply port 263 and the shaft portion 242 (rotation axis) of the transport member 241 (see FIG. 17B).

Each regulation part 281 has a tip provided below the upper end of the partition wall 258. More specifically, the lower end of each restricting portion 281 is provided such that the tip contacts the upper portion of the first partition wall 259 when the sheet member 280 swings backward (supply port 263 side).

The plurality of restricting portions 281 can move in the direction in which the sheet member 280 swings in the direction of approaching / separating from the partition wall 258, the tip contacts the partition wall 258, and one of the supply ports 263. It is possible to move to a first position (a position in FIG. 16B) that blocks the portion and a second position that has moved to the toner storage portion 271 side from the first position. Specifically, at the second position, the ends of the plurality of restricting portions 281 are separated from the partition wall 258 toward the inside of the toner containing portion 271.

In addition, in order to minimize the occurrence of unevenness in the toner supplied to the developing unit 270 in the left-right direction by the plurality of regulating units 281 blocking a part of the supply port 263, each regulating unit 281 can It is desirable to be as thin as possible.

The operation and effect of the developing cartridge 210 configured as described above will be described.

When the conveying member 241 is not in contact with the sheet member 280, the sheet member 280 is located at the second position.

When the conveyance member 241 rotates, the conveyance film 244 is swung in a bent state because the leading end of the conveyance film 244 is in sliding contact with the inner surface of the toner storage portion 271 as shown in FIG. As a result, the toner in the toner container 271 is agitated.

When the transport film 244 moves from the bottom wall 255 of the toner containing portion 271 toward the partition wall 258, the transport film 244 lifts the toner, and the tip of the transport film 244 comes into contact with the bottom wall 255 or the partition wall 258 while being bent as a whole. Turn.

When the transport film 244 rotates while being in contact with the partition wall 258, the transport film 244 comes into contact with the tips of the plurality of regulating portions 281 of the sheet member 280. Thereby, the some control part 281 is pushed toward the division wall 258 by the rotating conveyance film 244, and as shown to Fig.17 (a), it moves to a 1st position from a 2nd position. As described above, when the plurality of restricting portions 281 move to the first position, the tips of the plurality of restricting portions 281 come into contact with the upper ends of the partition walls 258 to block a part of the supply port 263 (FIG. 16B). )reference).

Then, when the transport film 244 further turns, as shown in FIG. 17A, the leading end of the transport film 244 moves away from the partition wall 258 and moves to the same height as the supply port 263.

At this time, if a plurality of regulating portions 281 are not provided, the leading edge of the transport film 244 jumps up due to the elastic force of the transport film 244, and the toner lifted by the transport film 244 is vigorously moved from the supply port 263 to the developing unit 270. Fly towards you. In this way, when the transport film 244 vigorously blows off the toner, a large amount of toner is supplied to the brush roller 231 only when the toner is blown off, and the amount of toner carried by the brush roller 231 is insignificant in the circumferential direction of the brush roller 231. It becomes uniform.

However, in the present embodiment, since the plurality of restricting portions 281 are arranged in the left-right direction to block a part of the supply port 263, the transport film 244 has a plurality of restricting portions 281 after the tip is separated from the partition wall 258. Turn while touching. Then, the transport film 244 supplies the developing unit 270 with an appropriate amount of toner through the notch 282 of the sheet member 280.

As a result, the toner is not supplied to the developing unit 270 vigorously at the moment when the leading edge of the transport film 244 moves away from the partition wall 258, so that the amount of toner carried on the brush roller 231 becomes uneven in the circumferential direction of the brush roller 231. Can be reduced.

Note that the toner supplied to the developing unit 270 through the notch 282 also wraps around the developing unit 270 side of each regulating unit 281 and spreads in the entire horizontal direction.

Then, when the leading edge of the transport film 244 passes through the plurality of restricting portions 281, the notches 282 are opened, and the toner accumulated above the partition wall 258 in the developing portion 270 returns from the notches 282 to the toner containing portion 271. At this time, a part of the toner collected on the developing unit 270 side of the plurality of regulating units 281 is blocked by the regulating unit 281 and does not return to the toner storage unit 271, but remains on the developing unit 270 side of the regulating unit 281. is there.

When the conveying member 241 further rotates, as shown in FIG. 17B, the leading end of the conveying film 244 moves away from the sheet member 280 and comes into contact with the upper wall 262 of the toner accommodating portion 271.

Thus, when the leading end of the transport film 244 moves away from the sheet member 280, the sheet member 280 moves to the inside of the toner storage portion 271, and the plurality of restricting portions 281 move to the second position. That is, the tip of each regulating portion 281 is separated from the partition wall 258 to the inside of the toner containing portion 271.

As a result, the toner accumulated on the developing unit 270 side of the plurality of restriction portions 281 when the plurality of restriction portions 281 are located at the first position is moved by the movement of the plurality of restriction portions 281 and returns to the toner storage portion 271. Will be able to.

As described above, in the developing cartridge 210, the toner that has accumulated on the developing unit 270 side of the plurality of regulating units 281 is also returned to the toner storage unit 271 by moving the plurality of regulating units 281 from the first position to the second position. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the retention of toner on the developing unit 270 side of the plurality of regulating units 281. As a result, it is possible to reduce printing defects caused by toner remaining in a part of the developing unit 270.

Since the plurality of restricting portions 281 are configured to move to the first position and the second position by the rotation operation of the conveying member 241, the plurality of restricting portions 281 are adapted to the position of the leading end of the conveying film 244. Can be moved.

Specifically, the plurality of regulating portions 281 are positioned at the first position when the leading end of the transport film 244 moves away from the partition wall 258, and the leading end of the transport film 244 passes through the supply port 263 and is more than the supply port 263. When the conveyance member 241 moves downstream in the rotation direction, the conveyance member 241 moves to the second position. Accordingly, the supply of toner can be regulated by the plurality of regulating units 281 at the timing when the conveying member 241 supplies the toner in the toner storage unit 271 to the developing unit 270 from the supply port 263. In addition, while the leading end of the transport film 244 is in sliding contact with the inner wall of the toner storage unit 271, that is, at a timing when the transport member 241 does not supply toner to the development unit 270, the regulation unit 281 accumulates on the development unit 270 side. Toner can be moved.

[Fifth embodiment]

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. In the developing cartridge 210A according to the fourth embodiment, a movable member 290 is rotatably provided on the partition wall 258. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the fourth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

The movable member 290 has a shaft portion 291 and a plurality of restricting portions 292 protruding from the shaft portion 291.

The shaft portion 291 is formed in a columnar shape extending in the left-right direction. The shaft portion 291 is disposed on the partition wall 258 so as to be adjacent to the tip of the partition wall 258, and is rotatably supported by the frame 254.

The plurality of restricting portions 292 protrude radially outward from a plurality of positions in the left-right direction of the shaft portion 291. The plurality of restricting portions 292 are arranged in a straight line in the left-right direction, and are arranged at intervals along the left-right direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 18A, when each regulating portion 292 is located at a first position, which will be described later, the tip is provided at substantially the same height as the contact position between the brush roller 231 and the blade 235. It is formed with a long length.

Further, the movable member 290 is moved to a position where the restricting portion 292 is inclined slightly forward from the vertical posture as shown in FIG. 18A by a stopper (not shown) provided on the frame 254, and in FIG. As shown, the rotation is restricted so that the restriction part 292 moves only between the position where the restriction part 292 falls to the inside of the toner storage part 271 substantially horizontally.

In the movable member 290 configured in this manner, each regulating portion 292 rotates with respect to the partition wall 258, so that the plurality of regulating portions 292 protrude from the partition wall 258 toward the supply port 263, and the supply port 263. It is possible to move between a first position (a position shown in FIG. 19A) that blocks a part of the toner and a second position (a position shown in FIG. 19B) that falls to the inside of the toner container 271 from the first position. It has become.

Further, since the movable member 290 is in a posture in which each restricting portion 292 falls to the inside of the toner storage portion 271 at the first position, the plurality of restricting portions 292 are moved from the first position to the second position by the weight of the restricting portion 292. It is in a state of being constantly urged toward the.

Next, the operation of the developing cartridge 210A configured as described above will be described.

18A, when the transport film 244 of the rotating transport member 241 is moving from the partition wall 258 toward the supply port 263, the transport film 244 comes into contact with the plurality of regulating portions 292.

Thereby, the plurality of restricting portions 292 are pushed toward the supply port 263 by the rotating transport film 244 and moved from the second position to the first position. As described above, when the plurality of restricting portions 292 move to the first position, the plurality of restricting portions 292 protrude from the upper end of the partition wall 258 to the supply port 263, and a part of the supply port 263 is part of the plurality of restricting portions 292. Blocked by.

In this state, when the transport film 244 moves away from the partition wall 258, the transport film 244 moves while sliding on the plurality of regulating portions 292 without jumping up. At this time, the toner on the transport film 244 is supplied to the developing unit 270 from between the adjacent regulating units 292.

When the transport film 244 is separated from the plurality of regulating portions 292, the transport film 244 jumps up and collides with the upper wall 262, as shown in FIG.

At this time, most of the toner lifted by the transport film 244 is already supplied to the developing unit 270 from between the adjacent restricting units 292. Therefore, the toner that jumps to the developing unit 270 when the transport film 244 jumps up. There are few. Further, since the transport film 244 jumps up from the upper part of the developing unit 270, the toner is blown to the upper part of the blade 235. Thereby, even if the transport film 244 jumps away from the plurality of restricting portions 292, it is possible to suppress excessive supply of toner to the brush roller 231.

When the leading edge of the transport film 244 moves away from the plurality of restricting portions 292, the plurality of restricting portions 292 return from the first position to the second position due to their own weight, so that they accumulate on the developing portion 270 side of the plurality of restricting portions 292. The toner that has been moved is moved back to the toner container 271.

As described above, in the fifth embodiment as well, similarly to the fourth embodiment, it is possible to reduce the retention of toner on the developing unit 270 side of the plurality of regulating units 292.

[Sixth embodiment]

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. In the developing cartridge 210 B in the sixth embodiment, the restricting portion 301 is configured to protrude from the upper end of the partition wall 258 or to be retracted to the outside of the frame 254. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the fourth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

The frame 254 has a plurality of holes 308 that open toward the supply port 263 at the upper end of the partition wall 258, that is, at the portion connecting the first partition wall 259 and the second partition wall 260.

The hole 308 penetrates in the vertical direction, and is provided at a plurality of locations in the left-right direction at the upper end of the partition wall 258.

The movable member 295 has a connecting part 300 and a plurality of restricting parts 301 protruding from the connecting part 300.

The connecting portion 300 is formed in a columnar shape extending in the left-right direction, and the left end extends outward from the left side wall of the frame 254.

The plurality of restricting portions 301 protrude radially outward from a plurality of locations in the left-right direction of the connecting portion 300. And the some control part 301 is provided on the straight line in the left-right direction, and is arrange | positioned at intervals along the left-right direction. That is, the plurality of restricting portions 301 arranged in the left-right direction are connected by the connecting portion 300.

In the movable member 295, the connecting portion 300 is disposed between the first partition wall 259 and the second partition wall 260 (below the connecting portion between the first partition wall 259 and the second partition wall 260), and a plurality of restriction members are provided. The part 301 is provided on the frame 254 so as to be disposed in the hole 308. The movable member 295 is supported so as to be movable up and down with respect to the frame 254.

By configuring the movable member 295 in this way, each restricting portion 301 is compared with the first position (the position shown in FIG. 20A) that protrudes most from the hole 308 toward the supply port 263, and the first position. Thus, it can move between the second position (the position shown in FIG. 20B) that has entered the hole 308. Specifically, in the second position, the plurality of restricting portions 301 have their tips housed in the holes 308 and do not protrude from the partition wall 258.

Further, as shown in FIG. 20, the developing cartridge 210B further includes an interlocking mechanism 302 that moves the restricting portion 301 to the first position and the second position in conjunction with the rotation of the conveying member 241.

The interlocking mechanism 302 is fixed to the first gear 303 fixed to the shaft portion 242 of the conveying member 241, the second gear 304 meshing with the first gear 303, and the rotation shaft of the second gear 304, and the second gear 304. And a cam 305 that rotates together with the cam 305.

The second gear 304 is a gear formed with substantially the same diameter as the first gear 303 and is rotatably supported on the side wall of the frame 254. The diameters of the first gear 303 and the second gear 304 may be different. In this case, the first gear 303 and the second gear 304 are connected via an idle gear, and the first gear 303 and the second gear 304 are connected. It is desirable that the two gears 304 have the same rotation period.

The cam 305 has a shape protruding in the radial direction from the rotating shaft, and is disposed below the left end portion of the connecting portion 300 of the movable member 290. The cam 305 has a first surface 306 disposed on the circumferential surface at a position farthest from the rotation axis, and a second surface 307 closer to the rotation axis than the first surface 306.

More specifically, when the connecting portion 300 is placed on the first surface 306, the cam 305 positions the plurality of restricting portions 301 at the first position, and when the connecting portion 300 is placed on the second surface 307, It forms so that the some control part 301 may be located in a 2nd position.

The cam 305 is provided in such a posture that the plurality of regulating portions 301 protrude from the holes 308 toward the supply port 263 when at least the transport film 244 of the rotating transport member 241 is separated from the partition wall 258. Yes. Specifically, the cam 305 is positioned such that the first surface 306 is closest to the upper end of the partition wall 258 when the transport film 244 is separated from the partition wall 258, and the plurality of restricting portions 301 are set to the first position. It is provided to move.

Next, the operation of the developing cartridge 210B configured as described above will be described.

When the transport film 244 of the rotating transport member 241 moves from the bottom wall 255 toward the partition wall 258, the connecting portion 300 of the movable member 295 is pushed up by the cam 305 of the interlocking mechanism 302, and the plurality of restricting portions 301 are moved. It gradually emerges from the hole 308 to the supply port 263 side.

20A, when the rotating transport film 244 moves away from the partition wall 258, the plurality of regulating portions 301 are positioned at the first position by the interlocking mechanism 302 (cam 305), and the supply port Part of H.263 is blocked.

Thereby, the transport film 244 separated from the partition wall 258 moves while sliding on the plurality of regulating portions 301 without jumping up. At this time, toner is supplied to the developing unit 270 from between the adjacent regulating units 301.

When the conveying member 241 further rotates, as shown in FIG. 20B, the cam 305 also rotates, and the surface of the cam 305 located closest to the upper end of the partition wall 258 is switched to the second surface 307. Thereby, the connection part 300 of the movable member 295 gradually falls, and the plurality of restricting parts 301 move from the first position toward the second position. In other words, the plurality of restriction portions 301 gradually enter the holes 308. The plurality of restriction portions 301 move to the second position when the transport film 244 is in sliding contact with the inner wall of the frame 254.

As described above, when the plurality of restriction portions 301 move from the first position to the second position, the toner accumulated on the developing portion 270 side of the plurality of restriction portions 301 is moved and returned to the toner storage portion 271.

As described above, also in the sixth embodiment, it is possible to reduce the retention of toner on the developing unit 270 side of the plurality of regulating units 301 as in the fourth embodiment.

In the sixth embodiment described above, the movable member 290 is configured such that the plurality of regulating portions 301 protrude from the upper end of the partition wall 258 toward the supply port 263, but the present invention is not limited to this. is not. For example, the movable member may be configured such that a plurality of restricting portions protrude from the upper wall 262 of the frame 254 toward the supply port 263.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 22A, the movable member 310 provided in the developing cartridge 210 C includes a connecting portion 311 that extends in the left-right direction on the upper wall 262 of the frame 254, and a peripheral surface of the connecting portion 311. And a plurality of restricting portions 312 that protrude downward. A hole (not shown) that opens toward the supply port 263 is provided at a position facing the front end of the partition wall 258 across the supply port 263 of the upper wall 262, and each regulating portion 312 passes through this hole. Projecting into the frame 254.

Further, the plurality of restricting portions 312 are formed to have such a length that the tips can come into contact with the tips of the partition walls 258.

The movable member 310 configured as described above has a first position in which the plurality of restricting portions 312 protrude from the hole of the upper wall 262 toward the supply port 263 and the tip is in contact with the tip of the partition wall 258 (see FIG. ) And a plurality of restricting portions 312 enter the hole as compared with the first position, and the tip is movable to the second position (position of FIG. 22B) that is separated from the partition wall 258. It is supported by the frame 254 so as to be. In addition, the movable member 310 is moved to the first position and the second position in conjunction with the rotation of the transport member 241 by the interlocking mechanism 302 having the same configuration as that of the sixth embodiment.

Specifically, when the leading end of the transport film 244 of the rotating transport member 241 moves away from the partition wall 258, the surface of the cam 305 that is located farthest from the upper end of the partition wall 258 becomes the second surface 307, and the movable member The connecting portion 311 of 310 moves to a position closest to the upper end of the partition wall 258, and the plurality of restricting portions 312 move to the first position. Accordingly, the transport film 244 separated from the partition wall 258 moves while sliding on the plurality of regulating portions 301 without jumping up.

Then, as shown in FIG. 22B, when the leading end of the transport film 244 is separated from the plurality of restricting portions 312 and is in sliding contact with a portion different from the supply port 263, the upper end of the most partition wall 258 of the cam 305. The surface located far from the first surface 306 becomes the first surface 306, the connecting portion 311 of the movable member 310 moves to the farthest position from the upper end of the partition wall 258, and the plurality of restricting portions 312 move to the second position. Accordingly, the toner accumulated on the developing unit 270 side of the plurality of regulating units 312 is moved when the plurality of regulating units 312 are positioned at the first position.

In the fourth embodiment, the brush roller 231 is exemplified as the developing roller, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the developing roller may be a roller in which a peripheral surface of a cylindrical main body is covered with rubber. When such a developing roller is employed, a supply roller that rotates while being in contact with the developing roller is provided between the developing roller and the second partition wall 260, and the toner of the developing unit 270 is passed through the supplying roller. And may be configured to be supplied to the developing roller.

In the fifth embodiment described above, the plurality of regulating portions 292 are directly pressed by the rotating transport film 244 and moved from the second position to the first position. However, the present invention is limited to this. It is not a thing. For example, a pressing portion that protrudes in the radial direction may be provided at one end of the shaft portion 242 of the transport member 241, and a protrusion that can contact the pressing portion may be provided on the shaft portion 291 of the movable member 290. Thereby, when the conveyance member 241 rotates, the protrusion of the movable member 290 is pushed up by the pressing portion of the conveyance member 241, and the plurality of restriction portions 292 can move from the second position to the first position.

In the fifth embodiment described above, the plurality of restricting portions 292 are always urged from the first position to the second position by their own weight, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the developing cartridge 210A may be provided with a spring that urges the plurality of restricting portions 292 from the first position toward the second position.

In the fourth embodiment described above, the sheet member 280 is fixed to the fixed wall 266 provided between the supply port 263 and the shaft portion 242 of the transport member 241, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the sheet member 280 is provided so as to cross the supply port 263, the upper end is fixed behind the supply port 263, that is, the upper wall 262 in the developing unit 270, and the lower end is the supply port in the toner storage unit 271. 263 and the shaft portion 242 of the conveying member 241 may be disposed. Note that the third object described above can be achieved by the above-described embodiment shown in FIGS.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. About a concrete structure, it can change suitably in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.

10, 10 ', 110, 210

Developer cartridge

31, 131, 231

Brush roller

32, 132

Roller body

33, 133 Brush layer 35 Blade 50 Auger 51

Return conveying member

54, 154

Housing

63, 263 Supply port 65 Second return port 71 Toner storage portion 67 Supply portion 89 Return path 80 Housing 88 Corner portion 81 Toner storage portion 84 Supply portion 89 Return path T Toner 134 Fiber 135 First blade 136 Blade body 137 Regulating portion 139 Second blade 139D Second blade 139E Projection 140D Body 141 First Rotating Member 145 Second Rotating Member 184 Protruding Portion 241 Conveying Member 254 Frame (Housing)
258 Partition wall 270 Developing unit 271 Toner storage unit 280 Sheet member 281 Restricting unit 290 Movable member 292 Regulating unit 400 Movable member 301 Regulating unit 302 Interlocking mechanism 308 Hole 310 Movable member 312 Regulating unit

Claims

A housing having a supply section capable of storing developer;
A brush body having a roller body and a brush layer in which fibers are implanted on the outer peripheral surface of the roller body, and being supported by the housing so as to be in contact with the developer in the supply unit;
A scraping member configured to contact the brush roller above a position where the brush roller faces the developer in the supply unit and scrape off the developer held on the brush layer; Prepared,
The housing is disposed so as to face the brush roller below a position where the scraping member contacts the brush roller, and a wall capable of suppressing a developer water level in the vicinity of the brush roller in the supply unit. A developing device comprising:
2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the wall is close to the brush roller with a gap between the wall and the brush layer.
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a return path configured to return the developer scraped by the scraping member to the supply unit. .
The housing has a developer accommodating portion capable of accommodating a developer supplied to the supply portion,
The developing device according to claim 3, wherein the return path passes through the developer accommodating portion.
5. The developing device according to claim 4, further comprising a return conveying member that is provided in the vicinity of the scraping member and conveys the developer scraped by the scraping member toward the return path.
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the supply unit is provided with a stirring member configured to stir the developer in the supply unit.
A brush roller having a roller body and a brush layer in which fibers are implanted on the outer peripheral surface of the roller body;
Supply means configured to supply developer to the surface of the brush roller;
A first scraping member configured to come into contact with the brush roller at a downstream side in the rotation direction of the brush roller with respect to a supply position by the supply means, and to scrape off the developer held on the brush layer;
A second scraping configured to scrape the developer by contacting the brush roller at the downstream side in the rotational direction from the supply position and at the upstream side in the rotational direction from the first scraping member. Members,
A developing device comprising: a housing provided with the first scraping member and the second scraping member.
A developer containing portion for containing the developer supplied to the brush roller by the supply means;
The developing device according to claim 7, wherein the developer scraped by the first scraping member is configured to return to the developer accommodating portion.
2. The developer scraping ability on the brush roller by the second scraping member is smaller than the scraping ability of the developer on the brush roller by the first scraping member. The developing device according to claim 8.
The developing device according to claim 9, wherein the first scraping member enters deeper into the brush layer than the second scraping member.
In the cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis of the brush roller, the surface of the second scraping member that is entering the brush layer, the surface on the side that scrapes off the developer, is the brush layer of the first scraping member. 11. The developing device according to claim 9, wherein an angle with respect to a rotation direction of the brush roller is larger than a surface on a side where the developer is scraped out of a portion entering the toner.
In a cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis of the brush roller, a curvature of a portion of the second scraping member that contacts the fibers is smaller than a curvature of a portion of the first scraping member that contacts the fibers. The developing device according to any one of claims 9 to 11.
The second scraping member extends along the axial direction of the brush roller, protrudes toward the brush roller from a main body supported by the housing, and a plurality of locations in the axial direction of the main body, The developing device according to claim 7, further comprising a plurality of protrusions that enter the brush layer.
The developing device according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the second scraping member is a protrusion protruding from the wall surface of the housing toward the brush roller.
The first scraping member is a plate-like member, is supported by the housing, and the scraping member main body provided so that the tip faces the opposite side to the rotation direction of the brush roller; 15. A regulating portion provided so as to enter the brush layer by protruding from the tip of the scraping member main body portion toward the rotating shaft side of the brush roller. The developing device according to claim 1.
The first scraping member is formed in a thin plate shape in a cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis of the brush roller,
The developing device according to claim 15, wherein the restricting portion is provided to be bent from the tip of the scraping member main body toward the brush roller.
The developing device according to any one of claims 15 and 16, wherein the scraping member main body portion and the restriction portion are integrally connected without a joint.
The developing device according to claim 17, wherein the first scraping member is bent from the tip of the scraping member main body portion to the restricting portion.
A developing roller;
A partition wall that partitions a developing unit that stores the developing roller and a developer storage unit that stores a developer, a supply port that is adjacent to the partition wall and communicates the developing unit and the developer storing unit; A frame having
It is provided in the developer accommodating portion, and rotates so as to pass through the partition wall and the supply port in this order while the tip is in sliding contact with the partition wall, and supplies the developer from the supply port to the developing portion. A conveying member constituted by:
A plurality of restricting portions arranged at intervals along the rotation axis direction of the conveying member; and a first position where the plurality of restricting portions block part of the supply port; A developing device comprising: a movable member that is movable to a second position where the developer accumulated on the developing unit side of the plurality of regulating units is moved when arranged.
20. The developing device according to claim 19, wherein the restricting portion is configured to move between the first position and the second position by a rotation operation of the conveying member.
The restricting portion is positioned at the first position when the leading end of the transport member moves away from the partition wall, and after the leading end of the transport member moves to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the transport member from the supply port, 21. The developing device according to claim 20, wherein the developing device is configured to move to a second position.
The movable member is supported on the upper wall of the frame, and the restricting portions are disposed between the supply port and the rotation axis of the conveying member, and the tip is close to the partition wall by swinging.・ It can move in the direction of separation,
The tip of the restricting portion is in contact with the partition wall when positioned at the first position, and is spaced from the partition wall to the inside of the developer accommodating portion when positioned at the second position,
The said restriction | limiting part moves to the said 1st position from the said 2nd position by being pushed toward the said partition wall by the said conveyance member to rotate, The any one of Claim 19 to 21 characterized by the above-mentioned. The developing device according to item.
The movable member is provided such that each of the restricting portions is rotatable with respect to the partition wall,
When the restricting portion is located at the first position, the restricting portion protrudes from the partition wall toward the supply port. When the restricting portion is located at the second position, the restricting portion is inclined to the inside of the developer accommodating portion from the first position. And
The restricting portion is constantly urged from the first position toward the second position, and is moved toward the supply port from the second position by being pushed toward the supply port by the rotating conveying member. The developing device according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the developing device is characterized in that:
The partition wall has a hole that opens toward the supply port;
Each of the restricting portions is configured to be movable between the first position protruding from the hole to the supply port side and the second position entering the hole as compared with the first position. ,
The interlocking mechanism which moves the said control part to the said 1st position and the said 2nd position in response to rotation of the said conveyance member is provided, The any one of Claims 19-21 characterized by the above-mentioned. The developing device described.
The wall facing the tip of the partition wall across the supply port of the frame has a hole that opens toward the supply port,
Each of the restricting portions is configured to be movable between the first position protruding from the hole to the supply port side and the second position entering the hole as compared with the first position. ,
The interlocking mechanism which moves the said control part to the said 1st position and the said 2nd position in response to rotation of the said conveyance member is provided, The any one of Claims 19-21 characterized by the above-mentioned. The developing device described.