JP2010096991A - Powder supply member, powder supply device, and image forming apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce passage failure caused by a mass of powder in a powder supply port and a powder conveyance path when supplying powder to another powder conveyance path adjacent to the former powder conveyance path via a powder supply port. <P>SOLUTION: The powder supply member includes: a powder storage container 1 that has a powder storage container 2 and a powder supply member 4 for supplying powder to the powder supply port 3; and a powder conveying unit 7 that is disposed adjacent to the powder storage container 1 via the powder supply port 3, has the powder conveyance path 8 extending along a predetermined direction in it, and conveys powder by a powder conveying member 9 along the predetermined direction. The powder supply member 4 has blades 6a different in length in a radial direction. The powder supply member 4 satisfies: the condition in which the radial length L of the upstream side is greater than the radial length L of the downstream side and the upstream side has a portion longer than the radial length L of the downstream side; or the condition in which, of the blades 6a, the radial length L of the upstream side in the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path 8 is greater than the radial length L of the downstream side and the downstream side has a portion shorter than the radial length L of the upstream side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder supply member, a powder supply apparatus, and an image forming apparatus using the same.

  Examples of the powder supply member used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus include an agitator (stirring member) used in a developer supply device. As this type of agitator, there are a rotating member that is rotatably provided in the developer supply container, a flexible member that is supported by the rotating member and rotates, and whose rotation free end side is in sliding contact with the inner wall of the developer supply container. There is something with. In this type of agitator, the flexible member is elastically deformed by sliding the flexible member against the inner wall of the developer supply container, and a thrust force is applied to the developer toward the developer supply port. There are known methods for conveying a developer (see Patent Documents 1 to 4).

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose a structure in which a plurality of slits in a direction inclined in the direction of the rotation axis with respect to the flexible member are provided. In Patent Document 3, a toner replenishing container for replenishing toner to the developer storage portion is provided with a discharge port on the upstream side in the toner transport direction by a screw provided below, and a transport blade is provided to the discharge port. There has been proposed a configuration in which toner is conveyed by a conveyance member that is held. Further, Patent Document 4 proposes a configuration in which a powder conveying member having an oblique cut toward the powder supply port of the powder housing housing is provided in the powder housing housing.

JP 2002-6610 A (Embodiment of the Invention, FIG. 4) JP 2006-64794 A (Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention, FIG. 4) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-296884 (column of [toner supply container], FIG. 5) JP 2006-276810 A (Embodiment 1, FIG. 7)

  The technical problem of the present invention is that when supplying powder to the adjacent powder conveyance path through the powder supply port established on the wall surface of the powder container, the powder supply port and the powder conveyance path It is intended to reduce the passage failure due to the agglomeration (soft blocking) action of the powder and to maintain the good supply performance of the powder from the powder container.

  The invention according to claim 1 is arranged to face a powder supply port opened in a part of the wall surface of the powder storage container in the powder storage container for storing the powder to be supplied. A powder supply member for supplying powder via the powder supply port to a powder conveyance path extending along a predetermined direction adjacent to the body supply port, and is rotatable inside the powder container A rotating member provided on the rotating member, and a flexible blade member that is held by the rotating member and rotates and whose free end is in sliding contact with the inner wall surface of the powder container. Facing the mouth, it has vanes with different radial lengths from the rotating member. Among these vanes, the radial length of the upstream side of the powder conveyance direction and the radial length of the downstream side of the powder conveyance path The radial length of the upstream side portion is equal to or greater than the radial length of the downstream side portion and is downstream of the upstream side portion. Condition having a part longer than the radial length of the part, or the radial length of the upstream side part of the powder conveyance path in the powder conveyance path of the blade part is greater than or equal to the radial length of the downstream side part The powder supply member is set so as to satisfy any one of the conditions in which the downstream side portion has a portion shorter than the length in the radial direction of the upstream side portion.

  The invention according to claim 2 is arranged in a powder container that contains the powder to be supplied, facing a powder supply port opened in a part of the wall surface of the powder container, and this powder A powder supply member for supplying powder via the powder supply port to a powder conveyance path extending along a predetermined direction adjacent to the body supply port, and is rotatable inside the powder container A rotating member provided on the rotating member, and a flexible blade member that is held by the rotating member and rotates and whose free end is in sliding contact with the inner wall surface of the powder container. It has blades with different radial lengths from the rotating member facing the mouth, and the amount of powder supplied to the upstream side in the powder transfer direction of the powder transfer path is increased compared to the downstream side. It is a powder supply member set to such a radial length.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the powder supply member according to the first or second aspect, the blade portion is configured such that the radial length becomes longer in the order toward the upstream side in the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path. It is a powder supply member set to.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the aspect in which the radial length of the powder supply member according to the third aspect changes stepwise, the blade portion is shorter at a portion where the radial length is longer. It is a powder supply member set so that the width dimension along the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path is wider than the part.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the powder supply member according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the blade portion is divided into a plurality of divided blade pieces along the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path. The powder supply member.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a powder storage container having a powder supply port in a part of a wall surface and storing powder to be supplied therein, and a powder container provided in the powder storage container. A powder container having a powder supply member for supplying powder to the supply port, and provided adjacent to the powder container via the powder supply port, in a predetermined direction inside A powder conveying path extending along the powder conveying path, and a powder conveying member disposed in the powder conveying path and conveying the powder along the predetermined direction by the powder conveying member. A powder supply member, a rotating member rotatably provided inside the powder container, and a rotation member that is held by the rotating member and rotates, and the rotation free end side slides on the inner wall surface of the powder container. A flexible blade member in contact with the flexible blade member. There are blade portions with different radial lengths, and in the relationship between the radial length of the powder conveyance path upstream side portion of the powder conveyance path and the radial length of the downstream side portion of the blade portion, the upstream side portion The condition that the radial length is equal to or longer than the radial length of the downstream portion and the upstream portion has a portion longer than the radial length of the downstream portion, or the powder in the powder conveyance path of the blade portion One of the conditions in which the radial length of the upstream portion in the body conveyance direction is equal to or greater than the radial length of the downstream portion, and the downstream portion has a portion shorter than the radial length of the upstream portion. This is a powder supply device set to satisfy the conditions.

  The invention according to claim 7 includes a powder container having a powder supply port in a part of a wall surface and storing powder to be supplied therein, and a powder container provided in the powder container A powder container having a powder supply member for supplying powder to the supply port, and provided adjacent to the powder container via the powder supply port, in a predetermined direction inside A powder conveying path extending along the powder conveying path, and a powder conveying member disposed in the powder conveying path and conveying the powder along the predetermined direction by the powder conveying member. A powder supply member, a rotating member rotatably provided inside the powder container, and a rotation member that is held by the rotating member and rotates, and the rotation free end side slides on the inner wall surface of the powder container. A flexible blade member in contact with the flexible blade member. It has blades with different radial lengths, and of these blades, the upstream side of the powder transfer path in the powder transfer direction is set to a radial length that increases the amount of powder supplied compared to the downstream side. This is a powder supply device.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the powder supply device according to the sixth or seventh aspect, the blade portion of the flexible blade member has a length in the radial direction toward the upstream side in the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path. The powder supply device is set to become longer in order.
The invention according to claim 9 is the aspect in which the radial length of the blade portion of the flexible blade member changes stepwise in the powder supply apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the blade portion of the flexible blade member is The powder supply device is set so that the width dimension along the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path is wider in the portion having the longer radial length than in the shorter portion.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the powder supply apparatus according to any one of the sixth to ninth aspects, the blade portion of the flexible blade member includes a plurality of divided blades along the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path. It is the powder supply apparatus divided | segmented into the piece.

The invention according to claim 11 is the powder supply apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the powder is a developer.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image holding body on which a latent image is held on the surface, and development for making the latent image on the surface of the image holding body visible with a developer. An image forming apparatus having a powder supply device according to claim 11 for supplying a developer as powder.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the powder is supplied to the adjacent powder conveyance path via the powder supply port provided on the wall surface of the powder container, the powder supply port and the powder conveyance path are provided. The passage failure due to the agglomeration (soft blocking) action of the powder in the container can be reduced, and the good supply performance of the powder from the powder container can be maintained.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the powder is supplied to the adjacent powder conveyance path via the powder supply port provided on the wall surface of the powder container, the powder supply port and the powder conveyance path are provided. The passage trouble due to the agglomeration action of the powder in the container can be reduced, and the good supply performance of the powder from the powder container can be maintained.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the powder agglomeration action is suppressed and the supply of the powder through the powder supply port is improved as compared with the case without this configuration. Become.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, compared with the case where it does not have this structure, the powder supply by a powder supply member can be performed efficiently.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, compared with the case where it does not have this structure, the powder supply by a powder supply member can be performed efficiently.

According to the invention which concerns on Claim 6, when supplying powder to the adjacent powder conveyance path via the powder supply port established in the wall surface of a powder container, a powder supply port and a powder conveyance path It is possible to provide a powder supply device that can reduce the passage trouble due to the agglomeration effect of the powder and can maintain a good supply performance of the powder from the powder container.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 7, when supplying powder to the adjacent powder conveyance path via the powder supply port established in the wall surface of the powder container, the powder supply port and the powder conveyance path It is possible to provide a powder supply device that can reduce the passage trouble due to the agglomeration effect of the powder and can maintain a good supply performance of the powder from the powder container.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the powder that suppresses the agglomerating action of the powder and can be favorably supplied through the powder supply port as compared with the case without this configuration. A supply device can be provided.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 9, compared with the case where it does not have this structure, the powder supply apparatus which can perform the powder supply with a powder supply member efficiently can be provided.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 10, compared with the case where it does not have this structure, the powder supply apparatus which can perform the powder supply with a powder supply member efficiently can be provided.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, when the developer is supplied to the adjacent powder conveyance path via the powder supply port provided on the wall surface of the powder container using the developer as powder, the powder supply port In addition, it is possible to provide a developing device that can reduce the passage trouble due to the agglomeration effect of the powder in the powder conveyance path and maintain a good supply performance of the developer from the powder container.
When the developer is supplied to the adjacent powder conveyance path via the powder supply port provided on the wall surface of the powder container using the developer as powder, the powder supply port is provided. In addition, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus having a developing device capable of reducing the passage trouble due to the agglomeration effect of the powder in the powder conveyance path and maintaining a good supply performance of the developer from the powder container.

First, an outline of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described.
Outline of Embodiment FIGS. 1A and 1B show an outline of a powder supply apparatus according to a representative model of an embodiment embodying the present invention, and FIG. It is a schematic diagram.
In the figure, as a representative model of the powder supply apparatus, a powder container 2 having a powder supply port 3 in a part of a wall surface and containing powder to be supplied inside, and the powder container A powder container 1 provided in the container 2 and having a powder supply member 4 for supplying powder to the powder supply port 3 is adjacent to the powder container 1 through the powder supply port 3. And a powder conveyance path 8 extending along a predetermined direction (the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1B) inside, and a powder conveyance member 9 is provided in the powder conveyance path 8. And a powder carrier 7 for conveying the powder along the predetermined direction by the powder conveying member 9, and the powder supply member 4 is disposed inside the powder container 2. A rotating member 5 that is rotatably provided, and rotates while being held by the rotating member 5 and the rotation free end side of the powder container 2 A flexible blade member 6 that is in sliding contact with the wall surface, and the flexible blade member 6 has a blade portion 6a facing the powder supply port 3 and having a different radial length from the rotating member 5, Among the blade portions 6a, in the relationship between the radial length L of the upstream portion in the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path 8 and the radial length L of the downstream portion, the radial length L of the upstream portion is The condition of having a portion that is not less than the radial length L of the downstream side portion and longer than the radial length L of the downstream side portion on the upstream side portion, or the powder in the powder conveyance path 8 in the blade portion 6a Among the conditions in which the radial length L of the upstream portion in the body conveyance direction is equal to or greater than the radial length L of the downstream portion and the downstream portion has a portion shorter than the radial length L of the upstream portion , It is set to satisfy any one of the conditions.

  Further, if the powder supply device of the present invention is operatively understood, a powder container 2 having a powder supply port 3 in a part of a wall surface and containing powder to be supplied inside, and the powder A powder container 1 having a powder supply member 4 provided in the body container 2 and supplying powder to the powder supply port 3, and the powder container 1 through the powder supply port 3 The powder conveying path 8 is provided so as to be adjacent to each other and extends along a predetermined direction. A powder conveying member 9 is disposed in the powder conveying path 8 and the powder conveying member. 9 and a powder transporter 7 that transports the powder along the predetermined direction, and the powder supply member 4 includes a rotating member 5 that is rotatably provided inside the powder container 2, A flexible blade member 6 that rotates while being held by the rotating member 5 and whose sliding free end side is in sliding contact with the inner wall surface of the powder container 2. The flexible blade member 6 has a blade portion 6a facing the powder supply port 3 and having a different radial length L from the rotating member 5, and a powder conveyance path of the blade portion 6a. 8 is set to a length L in the radial direction such that the powder supply amount is increased in the powder conveyance direction upstream side portion as compared with the downstream side portion.

Here, the upstream side portion and the downstream side portion of the blade portion 6a are obtained when the blade portion 6a facing the powder supply port 3 in the flexible blade member 6 is separated into an upstream half and a downstream half. It means to refer to each part.
In the representative model described above as the powder supply apparatus of the present invention, for example, a part of the upstream side portion of the blade portion 6a does not include a portion having a short radial length L. Even if it is a simple shape, it is intended to include that the powder supply amount can be increased as compared with the downstream side portion.

  The powder container 2 is not particularly limited as long as the powder supply member 4 is capable of supplying powder. Furthermore, the powder supply member 4 only needs to be disposed so as to face the powder supply port 3, and the flexible blade member 6 is provided other than the portion facing the powder supply port 3. Alternatively, it may be provided only at a portion corresponding to the powder supply port 3. Furthermore, the rotation free end side of the flexible blade member 6 is in sliding contact with the powder container 2 as long as the flexible blade member 6 does not always have to be in sliding contact with the powder container 2 as long as it is in sliding contact temporarily. Good. The powder conveying member 9 only needs to be capable of conveying powder, and typically includes an agitating and conveying member.

  Next, the operation of supplying the powder from the powder supply port 3 of the powder container 1 to the powder transfer path 8 of the powder transfer device 7 will be described with comparison with a comparative model. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing such an action, in which (a) is an implementation model and (b) is a comparison model. Here, as shown in (a), the blade portion 6a of the flexible blade member 6 of the implementation model is composed of three divided blade pieces, and is radially long toward the upstream side in the powder conveyance direction. On the other hand, the blade portion 6a of the flexible blade member 6 of the comparative model has a simple rectangular shape, and the powder conveyance direction (specifically, the powder supply port 3) (Corresponding to the powder conveyance direction in the powder conveyance path 8) was defined as the arrow direction.

  In such a configuration, in the implementation model, the amount of powder supplied to the powder supply port 3 by the blade 6a has a distribution as shown in (b). That is, the distribution is small at the downstream side and increased at the upstream side. The powder supplied in such a distribution is transported while being leveled downstream in the powder transport path 8 by the powder transport member 9. Now, assuming that the amount of powder to be uniformly transported is the hatched portion of (c), a powder supply amount (shown by a two-dot chain line in the figure) by the next blade portion 6a is added. Therefore, the distribution of the actual powder amount at the powder supply port 3 site is as shown in (d). That is, a powder increasing portion (indicated by α in the figure) is generated on the downstream end side of the powder supply port 3.

  Assuming that a powder such as a toner with a small diameter is assumed as the powder, the surface area of the reduced powder is relatively large. It becomes stronger. Furthermore, at the increased portion indicated by α, the resistance due to the downstream side wall of the powder supply port 3 is also added, and the powder tends to stay, and the agglomeration action between the powders (soft blocking: hereinafter referred to as blocking) is likely to occur. . However, since the α portion is low in the implementation model, the retention is suppressed and almost no blocking occurs, so that stable powder conveyance through the powder conveyance path 8 can be performed. Furthermore, in the implementation model, a portion where the powder supply amount is increased is provided on the upstream side of the powder supply amount, so that the powder conveyed through the powder conveyance path 8 by the powder conveyance member 9 is upstream. The powder is sequentially fed from the side, and the powder density in the powder conveyance path 8 is also leveled, so that it is easy to achieve a uniform density distribution as shown in (e).

  On the other hand, in the comparative model shown in (b), there is no difference in the amount of powder supplied by the blade 6a between the upstream side and the downstream side as shown in (b). Therefore, when the next powder is supplied by the blade 6a to the amount of powder (shaded part) that is uniformly conveyed as shown in (c), as shown in (d), downstream of the powder supply port 3 At the end, as shown by β, the increased amount of powder is supplied at a time. Therefore, the stay at this part is likely to occur, and blocking is also likely to occur. Furthermore, since the powder supply amount is uniform, it is difficult to obtain a uniform density distribution in the powder conveyance path 8, and a density change as shown in FIG.

Here, the blade portion 6a of the flexible blade member 6 has been described as an implementation model in the form of three divided blade pieces, but the blade portion 6a having a shape that can realize the powder supply amount of the implementation model. If it is. That is, when comparing the upstream side portion and the downstream side portion of the blade portion 6a (both corresponding to the half side of the blade portion 6a), the radial length L of the upstream portion is equal to or greater than the radial length L of the downstream portion. Or at least a portion having a length longer than the radial length L of the downstream side, or at least a portion where the radial length L of the downstream side is less than or equal to the radial length L of the upstream side. What is necessary is just to have a part shorter than radial direction length L of an upstream side part.
Or what is necessary is just to set to radial direction length L which makes the powder supply amount in the upstream part of the blade | wing part 6a increase from the powder supply amount in a downstream part.

  Moreover, in the implementation model, although the aspect provided with three division | segmentation blade pieces as the blade | wing part 6a was shown, the number of division | segmentation blade pieces of the blade | wing part 6a is not specifically limited, Three pieces may be sufficient and it is five or more pieces. However, from the viewpoint of the strength of the blade portion 6a and the powder supply force, three to five sheets are usually suitable. Furthermore, the blade portion 6a is not limited to the divided blade piece, and is not divided, for example, and the rotation free end of the blade portion 6a may be continuously changed or discontinuously (for example, stepped). It may change.

  From the viewpoint of further stabilizing and supplying the powder supply amount to the powder supply port 3, the blade portion 6a of the flexible blade member 6 has a radial length L of powder as shown in FIG. It is preferable that the length is set so as to increase in order toward the upstream side of the body conveyance path 8 in the powder conveyance direction. At this time, the shape of the rotation free end of the blade portion 6a may be inclined with respect to the powder supply port 3, or may be stepped. By sequentially changing the length L in the radial direction in this way, the amount of powder supplied from the downstream portion to the upstream portion to the powder supply port 3 can be made closer to a straight line, and the next by the blade portion 6a. Together with the powder at the time of supply, the amount of powder in the powder conveyance path 8 is further stabilized.

  Further, from the viewpoint of efficiently supplying the powder in a mode in which the radial length L of the blade portion 6a changes stepwise, the blade portion 6a has a shorter portion where the radial length L is longer. It is preferable that the width dimension W along the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path 8 is set so as to be wider than that.

  Furthermore, from the viewpoint of stably supplying the powder at the blade portion 6a, the blade portion 6a is divided into a plurality of divided blade pieces along the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path 8. Is preferred. According to this, the powder supply action for each divided blade piece having a different radial length L is effectively performed, and the supply of powder to the powder supply port 3 is more stably performed. In order to divide into such a plurality of divided blade pieces, the flexible blade member 6 is typically cut by making a cut at the rotation free end edge. The direction of the cut is, for example, the rotation axis of the rotating member 5. The direction may be substantially orthogonal to the direction, or may be a direction that intersects the rotational axis direction of the rotating member 5.

  And as a powder applied to such a powder supply apparatus, it is preferable to use a developer, and a powder supply apparatus using such a developer can be easily applied as a development apparatus. .

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
―Overall configuration of image forming device―
FIG. 3 shows Embodiment 1 of the image forming apparatus. In the figure, the image forming apparatus is a so-called tandem type color image forming apparatus, and image forming units 22 (22a to 22d) of four colors (for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) are vertically arranged in the apparatus housing 21. A recording material accommodating portion 23 for accommodating a recording material 24 to be supplied is disposed below the recording material accommodating portion 24, and a recording material from the recording material accommodating portion 23 is provided at a position corresponding to each image forming unit 22. A recording material conveyance path 25 serving as a conveyance path 24 is arranged in the vertical direction.

In this embodiment, the image forming unit 22 forms, for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images in order from the upstream side of the recording material conveyance path 25, and incorporates various process units. The process cartridge 30 and an exposure device 40 for irradiating the process cartridge 30 with scanning light for image formation are provided.
Here, the process cartridge 30 includes, for example, a photosensitive drum 31, a charging device 32 that pre-charges the photosensitive drum 31, and electrostatic that is exposed and formed on the charged photosensitive drum 31 by the exposure device 40. A developing device 33 that visualizes the latent image with a corresponding color toner, a cleaning device 34 that cleans residual toner on the photosensitive drum 31, and a static elimination lamp 35 that neutralizes the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 before cleaning. Are integrated into a cartridge.
On the other hand, the exposure apparatus 40 stores a semiconductor laser (not shown), a polygon mirror 42, an imaging lens 43, a reflection mirror 44, etc. in the case 41, deflects and scans the light from the semiconductor laser with the polygon mirror 42, and forms an image. The optical image is guided to the exposure point on the photosensitive drum 31 through the lens 43, the reflection mirror 44, and the like.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a recording material conveyance belt 53 that circulates along the recording material conveyance path 25 is disposed at a position corresponding to each photosensitive drum 31 of each image forming unit 22. The recording material transport belt 53 is made of a belt material capable of electrostatically attracting the recording material 24 and is circulated around a pair of stretching rolls 51 and 52. In this embodiment, The upper tension roll 52 is a drive roll, and the lower tension roll 51 is a driven roll.

  Furthermore, an adsorbing roll 54 is disposed at the entrance portion of the recording material conveyance belt 53 (the opposite portion of the stretching roll 51). By applying a high voltage as an adsorbing voltage to the adsorbing roll 54, the recording material The recording material 24 is attracted to the conveyance belt 53. Further, a transfer roll 50 is disposed on the back side of the recording material conveyance belt 53 corresponding to the photosensitive drum 31 of each image forming unit 22, and a transfer bias is provided between the transfer roll 50 and the photosensitive drum 31. A predetermined transfer bias by a power source is appropriately applied so that the toner image on the photosensitive drum 31 is transferred onto the recording material 24.

In the present embodiment, an operation roll 61 that feeds the recording material 24 at a predetermined timing is provided in the vicinity of the recording material container 23, and the fed recording material 24 is a transport roll 62 and a registration roll. It is sent to the transfer position via 63.
Further, a fixing device 64 is provided in the recording material conveyance path 25 located on the downstream side of the most downstream image forming unit 22d, and a discharge roll 66 for discharging the recording material is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device 64. Thus, the discharged recording material is discharged and accommodated in a recording material discharge portion 67 formed in the upper part of the apparatus housing 21. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 80 denotes a high-voltage power supply that supplies a high voltage to the high-voltage device, and reference numeral 81 denotes a low-voltage power supply that supplies a low voltage to the low-voltage device.

The image forming process of such an image forming apparatus is as follows.
As shown in FIG. 3, in each of the image forming units 22 (22 a to 22 d), the photosensitive drum 31 is charged by the charging device 32, and after the latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 31 by the exposure device 40, development is performed. A visible image (toner image) is formed by the device 33. On the other hand, the recording material 24 from the recording material storage unit 23 is fed out at a predetermined timing by the feeding roll 61 and is sent to the adsorption position of the recording material conveyance belt 53 via the conveyance roll 62 and the registration roll 63. The sheet is fed to the transfer position while being attracted to the recording material conveyance belt 53. Then, the toner images on the photosensitive drum 31 in each image forming unit 22 are respectively transferred onto the recording material 24 by the transfer roll 50, and each color component unfixed toner image on the recording material 24 is fixed by the fixing device 64. Thereafter, the fixed recording material 24 is discharged to the recording material discharge portion 67.

―Outline of process cartridge―
FIG. 4 shows details of the process cartridge 30 used in the present embodiment.
In the figure, a process cartridge 30 includes, in addition to a photosensitive drum 31, a charging device 32, a part of a developing device 33, and a cleaning device 34, a static elimination lamp 35 that neutralizes the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 before the cleaning process. A photosensitive cartridge 30a and a developing cartridge 30b provided below the photosensitive cartridge 30a so as to be swingable and positioned with respect to the photosensitive cartridge 30a and including a main part of the developing device 33 are provided. I have.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the developing device 33 faces the photosensitive drum 31 and visualizes the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 31 with a developer G composed of toner and carrier. And toner replenishing units 110 and 120 for replenishing toner T to the developing unit 100 (in this embodiment, a separate type from the main toner replenishing unit 110 and the sub toner replenishing unit 120 is employed).
The photosensitive cartridge 30a has a configuration in which a cleaning unit 200 in which the cleaning device 34 is unitized and a sub-toner replenishment unit 120 are integrated in the lateral direction, and the development cartridge 30b has a development unit 100 and a main toner replenishment unit. 110 is integrated in the horizontal direction.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the developing cartridge 30b is provided at the developing unit 100 portion so as to be swingable by the pivot shaft 30c with respect to the photosensitive cartridge 30a positioned and fixed to the apparatus housing 21, and the photosensitive cartridge 30a. A scanning passage 135 through which scanning light from the exposure device 40 can pass is secured between the developing cartridge 30b and an elastic member on both sides of each part cartridge 30a, 30b near the entrance of the scanning passage 135. The spacer 130 is interposed to pressurize and press the developing cartridge 30b with respect to the photosensitive cartridge 30a. Needless to say, a biasing element such as a biasing spring may be used instead of or in addition to the spacer 130.

Next, each unit 100, 110, 120 of the process cartridge 30 in the present embodiment will be described.
―Development unit―
5 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge 30b according to the present embodiment as viewed from above, FIG. 6 is a diagram of the developing cartridge 30b as viewed from the side, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the developing cartridge 30b as viewed from above. And shows a schematic aa cross section of FIG. This will be described with reference to these figures.
The developing unit 100 according to the present embodiment employs a so-called two-component developing system, and has a developing container 101 that opens on the photosensitive drum 31 side below the photosensitive drum 31, and this developing container 101 is configured as a developer storage chamber 102 that can store a developer G composed of toner and carrier, and the developer is transported and held in a portion facing the opening of the developer container 101 to supply the toner to the photosensitive drum 31. The developing roll 103 is disposed. The developing unit 100 bisects the developer accommodating chamber 102 with a partition wall 106 extending along the axial direction of the developing roller 103, and through holes 107 through which the developer passes at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the partition wall 106. By opening 108, a developer circulation path is configured in the developer storage chamber 102. Further, a pair of agitating / conveying members (augers) 104 and 105 are arranged along the axial direction of the developing roller 103 in the developer circulation path so that the developer G in the developer circulation path is conveyed while stirring. It has become.

  Here, the agitating and conveying member 104 is an admix auger whose main purpose is to agitate and mix the toner T supplied exclusively to the existing developer G, while the agitating and conveying member 105 is added to the agitating and mixing function of the toner. This is a supply auger responsible for the developer supply function to the developing roll 103. Further, a layer thickness regulating member 109 that regulates the developer layer thickness is provided around the developing roll 103. A collecting member for collecting unused developer is provided around the developing roll 103 as necessary.

―Main toner supply unit―
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the main toner supply unit 110 has a main supply container 111 that also serves as a part of the rear partition wall of the developing container 101 of the developing unit 100. A toner replenishing chamber in which the replenishing toner T is accommodated so as to be replenished is configured.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the toner replenishing chamber is provided adjacent to the toner housing chamber 112 in which the replenishing toner T is accommodated, and the toner T is quantitatively supplied to the developing unit 100. It is divided into a dispensing chamber 113 for replenishing. Here, the dispensing chamber 113 is provided with a thick portion 101b near the lower portion of the rear partition 101a of the developing container 101, and a long passage having a substantially circular cross section extending along the axial direction of the developing roller 103 in the thick portion 101b. A dispense auger 118 as a stirring and conveying member is disposed in the conveying path.

  A toner supply port 114 is opened at a portion facing the toner storage chamber 112 on the inner side in the longitudinal direction of the thick portion 101b, and a portion facing the developer storage chamber 102 in the thick portion 101b. A toner discharge port 115 is provided on the opposite side of the toner supply port 114 in the longitudinal direction. In the present embodiment, the toner supply port 114 is shown in a substantially rectangular shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any shape may be used as long as it is opened in the direction along the rotation axis direction of the dispense auger 118. In this embodiment, the dispense auger 118 is used. However, as long as the toner can be conveyed in the dispense chamber 113, it may be appropriately selected.

  Further, an agitator 116 for agitating and conveying the replenishment toner T into the toner storage chamber 112 and the toner T agitated and conveyed by the agitator 116 while agitating and conveying the toner T toward the toner supply port 114 of the dispensing chamber 113. An agitator 117 as a powder supply member to be supplied is disposed. In the agitators 116 and 117 of the present embodiment, one ends of flexible films 402 and 404 made of PET film or the like are fixed to the rotating members 401 and 403, and the flexible films 402 and 404 are used to store the toner storage chamber 112. The toner is conveyed to the toner supply port 114 side along the wall surface.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the agitators 116 and 117 each have a region where the flexible films 402 and 404 are in contact with the wall surface of the toner storage chamber 112 and a region where they are not in contact with each other. In the non-contact region, the driving torque of the agitators 116 and 117 is minimized, and a large difference is generated between the driving torque when the flexible film 402 or 404 of at least one agitator 116 or 117 is in contact with the wall surface. . If there is such a driving torque difference, the toner replenishing unit 110 becomes a vibration source, and the process cartridge 30 itself vibrates, which may cause image quality defects such as banding. Therefore, in this embodiment, the rotational positional relationship between the agitators 116 and 117 is adjusted in advance so that the flexible film 402 or 404 of at least one agitator 116 or 117 always contacts the wall surface. In addition, even if it exists in the aspect which mounts three or more agitators, it should just be adjusted so that the flexible film of any one agitator may always contact a wall surface.

  In this embodiment, since the agitator 116 only has to supply the replenishing toner to the adjacent agitator 117, no cut or the like is formed in the rotation free edge of the flexible film 402. On the other hand, the agitator 117 has a characteristic shape because it is necessary to transport the replenishment toner toward the toner supply port 114 and to prevent blocking of toner near the toner supply port 114. .

That is, in this embodiment, the main supply container 111 forming the toner storage chamber 112 is the powder storage container, the agitator 117 disposed facing the toner supply port 114 is the powder supply member, and the dispense chamber 113 is the discharge chamber 113. It corresponds to a powder conveyance path.
As shown in FIG. 8, the flexible film 404 of the agitator 117 serving as the powder supply member has a plurality of blades facing the toner supply port 114 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotating member 403. Incisions (four in this example), and the flexible film 404 is divided into strip pieces A to C which are three divided blade pieces with respect to the toner supply port 114 on the rotation free edge side. It has become. The left side of the figure corresponds to the downstream side in the toner transport direction at the toner supply port 114, and in this embodiment, the diameter of the strip A on the most downstream side in the toner transport direction among the three strips A, B, and C. The direction length L _A is the shortest, and the strip piece B (radial length L _B ) and the strip piece C (radial length L _C ) become longer in this order. Further, in this embodiment, depending on the radial length L _A ~L _C of each of the strips A through C, so that the width dimension W _A to _W-C along the axial direction of the rotary member 403 is wider Is set. That is, the strip _A has the smallest radial length L _A and the width dimension WA, and the supply piece C has the largest radial length L _C and the width dimension W _C.

―Sub-toner replenishment unit―
In the present embodiment, the sub-toner replenishment unit 120 has a sub-replenishment housing 121 adjacent to the back side of the cleaning unit 200 as shown in FIG. The toner supply chamber 122 is configured to be replenished and is configured as a toner supply chamber 122. In the toner supply chamber 122, a pair of agitators 123 and 124 for stirring and transporting the supply toner T are disposed.
Here, as a toner supply structure of the sub toner supply unit 120 and the main toner supply unit 110, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, a toner supply path (through hole) 131 is formed in a spacer 130 made of an elastic member. Is used. In the present embodiment, the spacers 130 are provided at two positions on both sides between the units 110 and 120, and the toner supply paths 131 are formed respectively. For example, the toner supply paths 131 are provided only in one of the spacers 130. Alternatively, the spacer 130 may be provided at one location on one side, and the toner supply path 131 may be formed in the spacer 130.

  In the present embodiment, the sub-toner replenishment unit 120 preferably closes the connecting portion with the toner supply path 131 with a seal member 125 that can be opened when in use, as indicated by a virtual line in FIG. . In this case, when the process cartridge 30 is not used (for example, during transportation), the toner in the sub-toner replenishment unit 120 enters the toner supply path 131, and there is no fear of clogging or leakage of toner from the connected portion. It is effectively avoided that the toner in 120 is charged to the main toner supply unit 110 side by side and the toner filling density in the main toner supply unit 110 becomes unnecessarily high.

  In this embodiment, when a predetermined amount of toner T is supplied from the main toner supply unit 110 to the developing unit 100, the toner T in the sub toner supply unit 120 is supplied to the main toner supply unit 110 at the same time. It has become so. Therefore, the main toner replenishment unit 110 is filled with substantially constant toner T until the sub toner replenishment unit 120 becomes empty, and the change in the weight of the developing cartridge 30b can be suppressed to a small extent.

―Cleaning device―
In the present embodiment, the cleaning device 34 is incorporated as a cleaning unit 200 in the photosensitive member cartridge 30a as shown in FIG. The cleaning unit 200 includes a cleaning container 201 that opens to face the photosensitive drum 31. The cleaning container 201 is configured as a waste toner storage chamber 203 that can store waste toner, and an upper wall 201a of the cleaning container 201. Is elongated in an eaves shape toward the photosensitive drum 31 side.
A cleaning blade 210 is disposed at the lower edge of the opening of the cleaning container 201, and the tip of the cleaning blade 210 is in pressure contact so as to face the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 31. Further, a film seal 215 made of PET resin or the like is provided on the upper edge of the opening of the cleaning container 201, and the leading end of the film seal 215 touches lightly along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 31 and is collected by the cleaning blade 210. This prevents the waste toner from scattering.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a waste toner transport member 220 that transports waste toner scraped by the cleaning blade 210 to the waste toner storage chamber 203 side is provided in the cleaning container 201. The waste toner conveying member 220 is provided with a rotation driving mechanism 230 that is rotatably supported at one end side thereof, and a biasing spring 240 provided between the other end side and the cleaning container 201 side. . Therefore, the waste toner conveying member 220 moves in a substantially rotational locus shape in accordance with the rotation operation of the rotation driving mechanism 230 so that the waste toner scraped by the cleaning blade 210 is conveyed to the waste toner storage chamber 203 side. It has become.

Next, the toner supply operation by the agitator 117 in the main toner replenishment unit 110, which is a feature of the present case, in the process cartridge 30 will be described. FIG. 10 schematically shows the toner supply mechanism of the agitator 117, wherein (a) to (c) show the movements of the strips A to C, and (d) shows once by the flexible film 404. Shows the toner amount distribution at the toner supply port 114 supplied to.
Now, when the agitator 117 is rotated by the rotation of the rotating member 403, the flexible film 404 held by the rotating member 403 is also rotated. At this time, the strips A to C having different radial lengths L due to the deformation of the flexible film 404 have different contact start positions on the inner wall in the rotation direction, and the timing of starting toner conveyance differs. . Therefore, as the rotating member 403 rotates, the amount of toner supplied by the strip A, the strip B, and the strip C is different, and the A region, B corresponding to each of the strips A to C with respect to the toner supply port 114. The supplied toner amount is different between the region and the C region, and the toner amount distribution shows a distribution that increases in the order of the A region, the B region, and the C region.

  Normally, in order to supply toner to the developer storage chamber 102 (see FIG. 6), the dispense auger 118 is rotated for a predetermined time. Therefore, in the dispense chamber 113, the toner is continuously conveyed at a uniform density. It is hoped that Further, if too much toner is supplied to the toner supply port 114 at once, the toners are likely to be blocked each other, and the fluidity of the toner may be impaired. Therefore, how to adjust the toner supply amount to the toner supply port 114 by the flexible film 404 is important.

  In the present embodiment, the amount of toner supplied to the toner supply port 114 is increased in the upstream portion from the downstream portion by the three strips A to C. Therefore, in the downstream portion of the toner supply port 114. This prevents the toner from staying and prevents the toner from blocking each other at the downstream end portion of the toner supply port 114. Further, since a large amount of toner is supplied on the upstream side, the dispense chamber 113 is gradually conveyed downstream by the dispense auger 118, so that the amount and density of toner conveyed in the dispense chamber 113 are stabilized. Will act in the direction.

  On the other hand, instead of the flexible film 404 configured as in the present embodiment, when the flexible film 404 whose rotation free end is a straight line substantially parallel to the toner supply port 114 is used, the flexible film 404 is bent. The flexible film 404 supplies substantially the same amount of toner from the downstream portion to the upstream portion of the toner supply port 114. For this reason, the toner tends to stay at the downstream end portion of the toner supply port 114, and the mutual blocking of the toner also easily occurs. The change in the amount of toner supplied to the dispensing chamber 113 due to the rotation of the flexible film 404 increases, and it becomes difficult to keep the toner density in the dispensing chamber 113 uniform.

In the present embodiment, the shape of the flexible film 404 is shown as an embodiment using three strips A to C. However, the shape is not limited to three and may be a plurality. Note that three to five sheets are preferable in view of the specific size of the toner supply port 114 and the like.
Here, the radial length L and the width dimension W of the strips are arranged so as to increase in order from the downstream portion along the toner conveyance direction in the dispense chamber 113. For example, in the downstream portion, If the average value of the entire radial length L is shorter than the average value of the entire radial length L in the upstream portion, the distribution of the toner amount supplied to the toner supply port 114 by the flexible film 404 is upstream. The distribution of the portion is larger than that of the downstream portion, so that the occurrence of blocking at the downstream end portion is suppressed, and the toner density in the dispense chamber 113 also acts uniformly.

As other various shapes as the flexible film 404 that performs such a toner supply action, those shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 can be cited. Here, the strip pieces to be divided are representatively shown as three pieces.
In FIG. 11A, the widths W of the three strips A to C of the flexible film 404 are set to the same size, and this also reduces the amount of toner supplied to the downstream portion of the toner supply port 114. In addition to being suppressed to a small amount, the amount of toner supply at the upstream portion is increased, and stable toner conveyance in the dispensing chamber 113 is achieved.
In FIG. 11B, the flexible film 404 is formed in a direction in which the rotation free end side intersects the axial direction of the rotating member 403 (not shown) (the toner conveyance direction at the toner supply port 114). Therefore, the rotation free ends of the three strips A to C are formed so as to be connected in a straight line. In particular, when the free end side of the strips A to C of the flexible film 404 is inclined as described above, the free end side of the strips A to C is the left side in the figure (upstream in the toner transport direction at the toner supply port 114). Side)), the elimination of the bending is delayed, and the amount of toner supplied on the upstream side is increased accordingly. Therefore, each of the strips A to C acts in a direction in which the toner supply amount on the downstream side decreases. This also reduces the amount of toner supplied to the downstream portion of the toner supply port 114, increases the amount of toner supplied at the upstream portion, and enables stable toner conveyance in the dispensing chamber 113.

In FIG. 11C, when the flexible film 404 is divided into three strips A to C, a cut is formed in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the rotating member 403, and the direction of the cut is The direction is inclined in the toner conveyance direction along the free rotation end and is inclined toward the upstream side in the toner conveyance direction. In particular, when the strips A to C are formed by obliquely cutting the flexible film 404 in this way, a thrust force toward the left side in the drawing acts on the free end side of the strips A to C, and the toner It is conveyed obliquely in the left (upstream) direction in the figure. Therefore, the amount of toner supplied by the flexible film 404 is generally reduced at the downstream portion of the toner supply port 114, the amount of toner supplied to the downstream portion of the toner supply port 114 is suppressed, and the upstream portion thereof is suppressed. Thus, the toner supply amount is increased, and the toner is stably conveyed in the dispense chamber 113.
Moreover, in FIG.11 (d), the strip length B with the radial direction length L of the three strip pieces AC is the longest. For this reason, the toner supply amount in the midstream region is larger than that in the upstream region. However, considering the separation into the downstream portion and the upstream portion of the toner supply port 114, the toner supply amount in the downstream portion is the toner supply amount in the upstream portion. By suppressing the amount to less than the amount, the amount of toner supplied to the downstream portion of the toner supply port 114 can be suppressed to a small amount, and the amount of toner supplied to the upstream portion can be increased, so that stable toner conveyance in the dispensing chamber 113 is achieved. Become so.

Further, FIG. 12A shows that the flexible film 404 is not divided into strips, and the rotational free end of the flexible film 404 is skewed with respect to the toner conveyance direction as shown in FIG. It is formed in the direction. Even when the flexible film 404 having such a free rotation end is used, the toner supply amount in the downstream portion can be suppressed, so that the toner supply amount to the downstream portion of the toner supply port 114 can be reduced. The toner supply amount at the upstream portion is increased, and the toner is stably conveyed in the dispensing chamber 113.
12B does not divide the flexible film 404 into strips, as in FIG. 12A. Here, the rotation free ends are provided stepwise with respect to the toner conveyance direction, and the appearance is apparent. The radial length L is longer on the upstream side. Even in this case, the amount of toner supplied by the flexible film 404 can be reduced at the downstream portion, the amount of toner supplied at the upstream portion can be increased, and stable toner conveyance in the dispensing chamber 113 can be achieved. Will be made.

FIG. 13 shows a modified example of the flexible film 404 (see FIG. 8) of the agitator 117 used in the present embodiment. A plurality of cuts 405 in the direction intersecting the axial direction of the rotating member 403 are provided in a portion where C is not provided. The cut 405 is provided so as to be inclined in a direction toward the toner supply port 114 (not shown) across the strips A to C. In this example, the cut depth (length from the free rotation end) is It is suppressed to be shorter than the cutting depth in the strips A to C.
When such an agitator 117 is used, the toner in the vicinity receives the force in the thrust direction toward the toner strips A to C due to the oblique cuts 405 provided in the flexible film 404. FIG. The amount of toner supplied to the toner supply port 114 can be increased as a whole as compared with the apparatus using the agitator 117. Also in such an agitator 117, since the strips A to C are provided, the toner conveyance in the dispenser chamber 113 is favorably performed. In addition, as the cuts provided in the portions other than the strips A to C, the cut depths may be appropriately selected in consideration of the toner transportability, and all the cut depths need to be the same. Absent.

Embodiment 2
FIGS. 14A and 14B show an outline of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment in which the powder supply member is provided in a portion different from the arrangement portion of the agitator according to the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, among the image forming apparatuses, a developing device is particularly shown, and a recording material conveyance system and the like are omitted. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted here. And (b) is a bb sectional view of (a).

  In the figure, the developing device 600 in the present embodiment is arranged to face the photosensitive drum 500, and has a configuration in which a supply bottle 700 for supplying toner is attached above the developing device 600. . The developing device 600 is provided with a developing roll 602 that holds and conveys the developer in the developing container 601 facing the photosensitive drum 500 disposed facing the opening of the developing container 601, and behind the developing roll 602. Two agitating / conveying members (augers) 603 and 604 are both disposed substantially parallel to the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 500. The two agitating and conveying members 603 and 604 are separated by a partition wall 605 that is a part of the developing container 601 while leaving a hole as provided near both ends of the agitating and conveying members 603 and 604. By rotating the agitating and conveying members 603 and 604, the developer circulates through the developer conveying path provided with the two agitating and conveying members 603 and 604 through the holes as described above.

In addition, a dispensing unit 610 that supplies toner to a developer conveyance path provided with the stirring and conveying member 604 is provided above the stirring and conveying member 604 behind the partition wall 605 from the developing roll 602. The dispensing unit 610 is provided with a dispensing chamber 613 having a dispensing auger 612 inside at a position below the dispensing container 611, and once provided with a toner discharge port 614 for discharging toner to the developing container 601 side. On the opposite side of the discharge port 614, a toner supply port 615 directed upward is provided. Further, a reserve chamber 616 for temporarily storing toner is disposed at an upper position adjacent to the toner supply port 615 of the dispense chamber 613. The reserve chamber 616 has a rotatable powder supply member 620.
Further, above the reserve chamber 616, the replenishment toner supply port 700 in which the replenishment bottle 700 in which the replenishment toner is stored in the container 701 supplies the replenishment toner is aligned with the position corresponding to the opening of the reserve chamber 616. It can be attached in a state.

  As shown in FIG. 15A, the powder supply member 620 provided in the reserve chamber 616 of the present embodiment includes a rotating member 621 and a flexible film 622 that is held by the rotating member 621 and rotates. It is configured. The flexible film 622 is divided into a strip A with a short radial length L on the downstream side in the toner conveyance direction in the dispensing chamber 613 and a strip B with a long radial length L adjacent to the upstream side. It has been made. The flexible film 622 is in sliding contact with the inner wall of the reserve chamber 616, protrudes from the replenishment toner supply port 702 located above the reserve chamber 616, and supplies toner that is vacant below the reserve chamber 616. It also protrudes from the mouth 615. In the present embodiment, the strips A and B have the same width.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, the powder container is configured by the portion corresponding to the container 701 of the supply bottle 700 and the reserve chamber 616 of the dispense container 611. With such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 15B, the flexible film 622 scrapes out the toner in the supply bottle 700 on the supply toner supply port 702 side as shown in FIG. As shown in c), toner is supplied from the toner supply port 615 of the reserve chamber 616 to the dispense chamber 613 while maintaining the distribution state as it is. The toner supplied to the dispensing chamber 613 is conveyed by the rotation of the dispensing auger 612, and is supplied as new toner from the toner discharge port 614 to the agitating and conveying member 604.

In such a configuration, among the strips A and B provided on the flexible film 622 of the powder supply member 620, the radial length L of the strip A on the downstream side in the toner conveyance direction in the dispensing chamber 613 is set. Since the length is shortened, the toner supply from the toner supply port 615 is satisfactorily performed. In addition, since the strips A and B are left as they are, the toner for replenishment from the supply bottle 700 is scraped off, so that the distribution of toner in the reserve chamber 616 is smaller on the strip A side than on the strip B side. Occurrence of blocking at the supply port 615 is suppressed.
In this embodiment, the toner supply port 615 of the reserve chamber 616 is provided in the lower position. However, for example, the toner supply port 615 may be provided in the lateral direction. In this case, the toner supply port 615 is supplied from the toner supply port 615. The toner is more easily supplied with a distribution along the radial length L of the strips A and B of the flexible film 622.

In this example, the process cartridge of the first embodiment is used, and the dispense amount (conveyance amount) when the shape of the rotation free edge with respect to the toner supply port of the flexible film is changed is confirmed.
As shown in FIGS. 16A to 16D, the shape of the flexible film was the following four types.
(A) Three strips are used, the length in the radial direction is increased in order from the downstream side to the upstream side at the toner supply port, and the width dimension is increased in order (Example 1).
(B) Five strips are used, the lengths in the radial direction are sequentially increased from the downstream side to the upstream side at the toner supply port, and the width dimensions are the same (Example 2).
(C) For comparison, the radial length is constant without being divided into strips (Comparative Example 1).
(D) For comparison, five strips were used, the radial lengths were sequentially shortened from the downstream side to the upstream side at the toner supply port, and the width dimensions were the same (Comparative Example) 2).

Using the flexible film as described above, the specific amount of dispense with respect to the time elapsed until the toner in the main toner supply unit runs out was measured.
As a result, as shown in FIGS. 17 (a) and 17 (b), the amount of dispense was large in Example 1 and Example 2, and the subsequent change showed a gradual decreasing tendency, and the fluctuation width was also small. After that, it showed a tendency to decrease rapidly.
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, in Comparative Example 1, the initial dispense amount was smaller than that in Examples 1 and 2, and the deflection width tended to be larger than Examples 1 and 2. And after dispensing for a longer time than Examples 1 and 2, a rapid decrease was shown, but after that, the amount of dispensing with a large swing width was maintained.
In Comparative Example 2, the same amount of dispensing as in Comparative Example 1 was shown, but the midway runout was larger than that in Comparative Example 1, and a sharp drop was observed in a shorter time than Comparative Example 1. Also at this time, the runout tended to be large.

From this, the following matters became clear.
(1) In each of Examples 1 and 2, the dispensing amount is high and stable, and stable dispensing is maintained until just before the toner runs out.
(2) Almost no difference is observed between Example 1 and Example 2, and both stable dispensing properties are maintained.
(3) In Comparative Examples 1 and 2, the stable dispensing property was inferior to that in Examples 1 and 2, and the dispensing property tended to become more unstable immediately before the toner runs out.
(4) In particular, in Comparative Example 2, it was confirmed that the fluctuation amount of the dispense amount was very large, and it was difficult to obtain stable dispensing properties.
(5) In Examples 1 and 2, since stable dispensing properties are maintained, it is estimated that the toner density in the dispensing chamber is more uniform than in Comparative Examples 1 and 2.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the powder supply apparatus which concerns on the representative model of embodiment which embodies this invention, (b) shows the schematic diagram of (a). It is explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action in a powder supply member, (a) is a powder supply member of a representative model, (b) shows the powder supply member of a comparative model. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process cartridge according to the first embodiment. 3 is a perspective view of a developing unit according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a developing unit according to the first embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the aa cross section of FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a powder supply member according to Embodiment 1. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a communication structure between a sub toner replenishing unit and a main toner replenishing unit according to Embodiment 1. FIG. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of each supply piece of the flexible film of Embodiment 1, (d) shows the toner amount distribution supplied at once by a flexible film. . (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of a flexible film. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the further modification of a flexible film. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which has the notch over the whole flexible film as a modification of Embodiment 1. FIG. (A) and (b) are explanatory views showing a developing device according to the second embodiment. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows the structure and effect | action of the flexible film of Embodiment 2. FIG. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing which shows the various shapes of the flexible film used for evaluation in an Example. (A) (b) is a graph which shows the result of Example 1,2. (A) and (b) are graphs showing the results of Comparative Examples 1 and 2.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Powder container, 2 ... Powder container, 3 ... Powder supply port, 4 ... Powder supply member, 5 ... Rotating member, 6 ... Flexible blade member, 6a ... Blade part, 7 ... Powder Conveyor, 8 ... powder conveying path, 9 ... powder conveying member, L ... radial length, W ... width dimension

Claims (12)

In the powder container that contains the powder to be supplied, the powder container is disposed facing a powder supply port opened on a part of the wall surface of the powder container, and is adjacent to the powder supply port. A powder supply member for supplying powder via the powder supply port to a powder conveyance path extending along the direction,
A rotating member that is rotatably provided inside the powder container, and a flexible blade member that is held by the rotating member and rotates and whose rotation free end side is in sliding contact with the inner wall surface of the powder container,
The flexible blade member has a blade part facing the powder supply port and having a different radial length from the rotating member, and the diameter of the blade part on the upstream side in the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path. In the relationship between the directional length and the radial length of the downstream side portion, the radial length of the upstream side portion is equal to or greater than the radial length of the downstream side portion, and the upstream side portion is longer than the radial length of the downstream side portion. Or the radial length of the upstream side portion in the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path of the blade portion is equal to or greater than the radial length of the downstream side portion, and the upstream side portion in the downstream side portion. A powder supply member, characterized in that it is set to satisfy any one of the conditions having a portion shorter than the length in the radial direction. In the powder container that contains the powder to be supplied, the powder container is disposed facing a powder supply port opened on a part of the wall surface of the powder container, and is adjacent to the powder supply port. A powder supply member for supplying powder via the powder supply port to a powder conveyance path extending along the direction,
A rotating member that is rotatably provided inside the powder container, and a flexible blade member that is held by the rotating member and rotates and whose rotation free end side is in sliding contact with the inner wall surface of the powder container,
The flexible blade member has a blade portion facing the powder supply port and having a different radial length from the rotating member, and the upstream portion in the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path is downstream of the blade portion. A powder supply member, characterized in that it is set to a radial length that increases the amount of powder supply compared to the side portion. In the powder supply member according to claim 1 or 2,
The powder supply member according to claim 1, wherein the blade portion is set so that the length in the radial direction becomes longer toward the upstream side in the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path. In the aspect in which the radial length of the powder supply member according to claim 3 changes stepwise,
The powder is characterized in that the blade portion is set so that the width dimension along the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path is wider in the portion having the long radial direction length than in the short portion. Supply member. In the powder supply member according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The said blade | wing part is divided | segmented into the some division | segmentation blade | wing piece along the powder conveyance direction of a powder conveyance path, The powder supply member characterized by the above-mentioned. A powder container having a powder supply port in a part of the wall and containing powder to be supplied inside, and a powder container provided in the powder container and supplying powder to the powder supply port A powder container having a powder supply member;
The powder container is provided adjacent to the powder supply port via the powder supply port, and has a powder conveyance path extending along a predetermined direction inside, and the powder is contained in the powder conveyance path. A powder conveying device that arranges a conveying member and conveys the powder along the predetermined direction by the powder conveying member;
The powder supply member includes a rotating member that is rotatably provided inside the powder container, and a flexible blade member that is held by the rotating member and rotates, and whose free rotation end side is in sliding contact with the inner wall surface of the powder container. And
The flexible blade member has a blade part facing the powder supply port and having a different radial length from the rotating member, and the diameter of the blade part on the upstream side in the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path. In the relationship between the directional length and the radial length of the downstream side portion, the radial length of the upstream side portion is equal to or greater than the radial length of the downstream side portion, and the upstream side portion is longer than the radial length of the downstream side portion. Or the radial length of the upstream side portion in the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path of the blade portion is equal to or greater than the radial length of the downstream side portion, and the upstream side portion in the downstream side portion. A powder supply apparatus, characterized in that it is set to satisfy any one of the conditions having a portion shorter than the length in the radial direction. A powder container having a powder supply port in a part of the wall and containing powder to be supplied inside, and a powder container provided in the powder container and supplying powder to the powder supply port A powder container having a powder supply member;
The powder container is provided adjacent to the powder supply port via the powder supply port, and has a powder conveyance path extending along a predetermined direction inside, and the powder is contained in the powder conveyance path. A powder conveying device that arranges a conveying member and conveys the powder along the predetermined direction by the powder conveying member;
The powder supply member includes a rotating member that is rotatably provided inside the powder container, and a flexible blade member that is held by the rotating member and rotates, and whose free rotation end side is in sliding contact with the inner wall surface of the powder container. And
The flexible blade member has a blade portion facing the powder supply port and having a different radial length from the rotating member, and the upstream portion in the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path is downstream of the blade portion. A powder supply apparatus, characterized in that it is set to a length in the radial direction that increases the amount of powder supply compared to the side portion. In the powder supply apparatus according to claim 6 or 7,
The powder supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the blade portion of the flexible blade member is set such that the length in the radial direction becomes longer in order toward the upstream side in the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path. In the aspect in which the radial length of the blade portion of the flexible blade member of the powder supply device according to claim 8 changes in a stepped manner,
The blade portion of the flexible blade member is set so that the width dimension along the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path is wider at the portion having the longer radial length than at the shorter portion. A powder supply device. In the powder supply apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9,
The powder supply device, wherein the blade portion of the flexible blade member is divided into a plurality of divided blade pieces along the powder conveyance direction of the powder conveyance path. In the powder supply apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 10,
A powder supply apparatus, wherein the powder is a developer. An image carrier on which a latent image is held on the surface;
A developing device that is arranged to face the image carrier and visualizes the latent image on the surface of the image carrier with a developer;
12. An image forming apparatus comprising the powder supply device according to claim 11, wherein the developing device supplies a developer as powder.

Images