JP2018159808A - Developer transport member sealing structure, developing device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To regulate a part of a film-shaped developer breaking member in contact with a wall surface of the bearing portion to prevent the developing agent scattered due to rotation of the developer breaking member from moving to the bearing portion. As compared with the case where the developer is not provided, the developer is prevented from invading the bearing portion of the developer carrier member to generate agglomerates of the developer. SOLUTION: The film-shaped toner breaking member 172, which is attached to the end of the stirring and transporting member on the bearing portion side and breaks the toner existing at the end of the stirring and transporting member on the bearing portion side, is integrated with the toner breaking member 172. It is provided with a contact end portion 172c of a toner breaking member 172 as a regulating member that comes into contact with the wall surface 171 of the bearing portion and regulates the intrusion of toner into the bearing portion. [Selection diagram] FIG. 16

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer conveying member sealing structure, a developing device, and an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a developing device, the rotation speed of a developer conveying member tends to increase with the need for productivity improvement. In the developing device, when the rotation speed of the developer conveying member becomes high, the toner is fixed by sliding heat generated at the bearing portion of the developer conveying member, and an aggregate (lumps) of toner called “grit” is formed. May be generated. When a toner aggregate called “grit” is generated in the bearing portion of the developing device, the toner aggregate moves from the bearing portion to the inside of the developing device and is used for development. May occur. In particular, in the developing device, a mylar film may be attached to the developer conveying member in order to break the toner supplied from the toner supply port. In such a developing device, the toner supplied from the toner supply port is scattered with the elastic deformation of the Mylar film, and the “grit” tends to be deteriorated by entering the bearing portion adjacent to the toner supply port.

  Therefore, as a prior art related to a technical problem caused by toner entering the bearing portion, those disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have already been proposed.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a bearing member for toner and developer housed in a developing device between a rotating member and a bearing member that pivotally supports a rotating shaft end of a rotating member disposed in the developing device. In the developing device in which the seal member for preventing the intrusion into the bearing portion is provided, the bearing housing is provided with a toner discharge port for discharging the toner entering the bearing member from the seal member.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 covers a periphery of a bearing sliding portion of a driving portion of a copying apparatus and attaches the main body cover to the copying apparatus side so as to prevent foreign matter from entering the bearing sliding portion. And an attachment means.

JP 2000-147904 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-287022

  The object of the present invention is to control the film-like developer breaking member in contact with the wall surface of the bearing portion in order to prevent the developer scattered to a part of the film-like developer breaking member from moving along with the rotation of the developer breaking member. As compared with the case where the regulating portion is not provided, the developer is prevented from aggregating due to the developer entering the bearing portion of the developer conveying member.

The invention described in claim 1 is a film-like developer breakage that is attached to an end portion on the bearing portion side of the developer conveying member and breaks the developer that exists on the end portion on the bearing portion side of the developer conveying member. Members,
A regulating member that is provided integrally or separately with the developer breaking member, and that regulates the intrusion of the developer into the bearing portion in contact with the wall surface of the bearing portion;
Is a sealing structure of a developer conveying member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the developer transport member is a member that transports the developer supplied from a developer supply port.
2. The developer conveying member sealing structure according to claim 1, wherein the regulating member is provided at an end portion on the developer supply port side, and a tip of the restricting member protrudes outside the developer supply port.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the developer breaking member is restored to a free shape from a fixed end fixed to the developer conveying member and an elastically deformed state while the developer conveying member rotates. 3. The developer conveying member according to claim 1, wherein the developer conveying member is formed in a substantially fan shape or a substantially triangular shape having a free end portion for breaking the developer and a contact end portion that is always in contact with the wall surface of the bearing portion. This is a sealing structure.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects, the regulating member inhibits the developer from being scattered by regulating elastic deformation when the developer breaking member performs the breaking operation of the developer. 3. The developer transport member sealing structure according to any one of 3 above.

  The invention described in claim 5 is the developer transport member sealing structure according to claim 4, wherein the regulating member is provided integrally with the developer breaking member.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the development, the regulating member is scattered with the rotation of the developer breaking member by covering at least a part of the bearing portion while contacting the wall surface of the bearing portion. The developer transport member sealing structure according to claim 1, wherein the developer is prevented from entering the bearing portion.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, the regulating member is provided integrally with the developer breaking member, and a notch is formed between the developer breaking member and the regulating member. It is a sealing structure of the developer conveyance member of description.

The invention described in claim 8 is a developer conveying member that conveys a developer supplied from the outside to the inside of the apparatus main body,
A film-like developer breaking member that is mounted adjacent to a bearing portion that pivotally supports the developer conveying member, and that breaks the developer present at the end of the developer conveying member;
A regulating member that is provided integrally or separately with the developer breaking member, and that regulates the intrusion of the developer into the bearing portion in contact with the wall surface of the bearing portion;
With
A developing device to which the developer transport member sealing structure according to claim 1 is applied as the developer transport member.

The invention described in claim 9 is an image holding body for holding a latent image;
Developing means for developing the latent image held on the image carrier with a developer;
With
An image forming apparatus using the developing device according to claim 8 as the developing means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the developer breaker member in the form of a film moves part of the developer scattered by the rotation of the developer breaker member to the bearing portion. Compared with a case where a regulating portion that regulates in contact with the wall surface is not provided, it is possible to suppress the developer agglomeration from occurring when the developer enters the bearing portion of the developer conveying member.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the developer supplied from the developer supply port is broken and reliably conveyed, while the developer enters the bearing portion of the developer conveying member, The generation of aggregates can be suppressed.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the developer breaking member can be easily formed.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the developer aggregate due to the scattering of the developer.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, the regulating member can be provided without increasing the number of parts.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, by restricting the developer from entering the bearing portion, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the developer aggregate.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the influence of the restricting member on the developer breaking effect.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of developer aggregates with a simple configuration.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, compared to the case where the developing device according to the eighth aspect is not used, the developer intrudes into the bearing portion of the developer conveying member, so that the developer is condensed. Aggregation can be prevented from occurring, and deterioration in image quality due to developer aggregates can be reduced.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus to which a developer conveying member sealing structure and a developing device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention are applied. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; It is a cross-sectional block diagram which shows a process cartridge. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows a process cartridge. It is a back surface block diagram which shows a process cartridge. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows a process cartridge. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the developing device to which the sealing structure of the developer conveyance member which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is applied. FIG. 4 is a front configuration diagram illustrating a toner supply unit of the developing device. FIG. 6 is a perspective configuration diagram illustrating a toner supply unit of the developing device. FIG. 6 is a rear view of a partial determination showing a toner supply unit of the developing device. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the developing device to which the sealing structure of the developer conveyance member which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is applied. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating a toner supply unit of the developing device. FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a toner breaking member. FIG. 3 is a plan configuration diagram illustrating a toner conveying unit. FIG. 4 is a perspective configuration diagram illustrating a main part of a toner supply unit of the developing device. FIG. 6 is a perspective configuration diagram illustrating a toner supply unit of the developing device. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating a toner supply unit of the developing device. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating a toner supply unit of the developing device. It is a perspective block diagram which shows the principal part of the image development apparatus to which the sealing structure of the developer conveyance member which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention is applied.

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

[Embodiment 1]
1 and 2 show an image forming apparatus to which the developer conveying member sealing structure and the developing device according to the first embodiment are applied. FIG. 1 shows an outline of the whole image forming apparatus, and FIG.

<Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus>
The image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment is configured as a color printer, for example. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses 10 as an example of an image forming unit that forms a toner image developed with toner constituting the developer 4, and toner images formed by the image forming apparatuses 10. An intermediate transfer device 20 that respectively holds and finally transports it to a secondary transfer position for secondary transfer onto a recording sheet 5 as an example of a recording medium, and a required recording to be supplied to the secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer device 20 A paper feeding device 50 that accommodates and conveys the paper 5 and a fixing device 40 that fixes the toner image on the recording paper 5 that has been secondarily transferred by the intermediate transfer device 20 are provided. In the figure, reference numeral 1a denotes an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus 1. The apparatus main body 1a is formed of a support structure member, an exterior cover, and the like.

  The image forming device 10 includes four image forming devices 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K that respectively form four color toner images exclusively for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Composed. These four image forming apparatuses 10 (Y, M, C, K) are arranged so as to be arranged in a line in an inclined state in the internal space of the apparatus main body 1a. The four image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, and K) are relatively high because the yellow (Y) image forming device 10Y is positioned above the vertical direction, and the black (K) image forming device. 10K exists at a relatively low position.

  The yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, and K) each include an electrostatic latent image as shown in FIGS. A rotating photosensitive drum 11 is provided as an example of an image holding member for holding an image, and the following devices as examples of toner image forming means are mainly disposed around the photosensitive drum 11. ing. The main devices are a charging device 12 that charges a peripheral surface (image holding surface) on the photosensitive drum 11 on which an image can be formed to a required potential, and image information (on the charged peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11). The exposure device 13 as an example of an electrostatic latent image forming unit that irradiates light based on a signal to form an electrostatic latent image (for each color) having a potential difference, and the corresponding color (Y , M, C, K) developing device 14 (Y, M, C, K) which develops with toner of developer 4 to form a toner image, and primary transfer means for transferring each toner image to intermediate transfer device 20 Primary transfer device 15 (Y, M, C, K) as an example, and drum cleaning device that removes adhering matter such as toner remaining on the image holding surface of the photosensitive drum 11 after the primary transfer and cleans it. 16 (Y, M, C, K).

  The photosensitive drum 11 is formed by forming an image holding surface having a photoconductive layer (photosensitive layer) made of a photosensitive material on the peripheral surface of a cylindrical or columnar base material to be grounded. The photosensitive drum 11 is supported so as to rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow A when power is transmitted from a rotation driving device (not shown).

  The charging device 12 includes a contact-type charging roll that is disposed in contact with the photosensitive drum 11. A charging voltage is supplied to the charging device 12. As the charging voltage, when the developing device 14 performs reversal development, a voltage or current having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner supplied from the developing device 14 is supplied. As the charging device 12, a non-contact type charging device such as a scorotron disposed in a non-contact state on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 may be used.

  The exposure device 13 forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating the circumferential surface of the charged photosensitive drum 11 with light configured according to image information input to the image forming apparatus 1. Is. When the latent image is formed, image information (signal) input to the image forming apparatus 1 by any means is transmitted to the exposure apparatus 13.

  The exposure device 13 irradiates the photosensitive drum 11 with light corresponding to image information by LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) as a plurality of light emitting elements arranged along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 11 to electrostatic latent images. The LED print head that forms As the exposure device 13, a device that deflects and scans laser light configured according to image information along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 11 may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each of the developing devices 14 (Y, M, C, K) has an interior of a device housing 140 as an example of a developer storage container in which an opening and a storage chamber for the developer 4 are formed. In addition, a developing roll 141 as an example of a developer holding body that holds the developer 4 and conveys it to the developing area facing the photosensitive drum 11, and a screw that conveys the developer 4 while passing the developing roll 141 while stirring the developer 4. An agitation supply member 142 and an agitation conveyance member 143 made of auger or the like, and a layer thickness regulating member 144 that regulates the amount (layer thickness) of the developer held on the developing roll 141 are arranged. A developing voltage is supplied to the developing device 14 from a power supply device (not shown) between the developing roll 141 and the photosensitive drum 11. Further, the developing roll 141, the stirring supply member 142, and the stirring and conveying member 143 are rotated in a required direction by receiving power from a driving device (not shown). Further, as the four-color developer 4 (Y, M, C, K), a two-component developer containing a nonmagnetic toner and a magnetic carrier is used. The configuration of the developing device will be described in detail later.

  The primary transfer device 15 (Y, M, C, K) is in contact with the periphery of the photosensitive drum 11 via an intermediate transfer belt 21 and rotates, and a contact type provided with a primary transfer roll to which a primary transfer voltage is supplied. This is a transfer device. As the primary transfer voltage, a DC voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is supplied from a power supply device (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the drum cleaning device 16 is disposed so as to be in contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11 after the primary transfer with a container-shaped main body 160 that is partially opened at a required pressure. A cleaning plate 161 that removes and removes deposits such as toner, and a sending member 162 such as a screw auger that collects and removes deposits such as toner removed by the cleaning plate 161 and sends them to a collection system (not shown). ing. As the cleaning plate 161, a plate-like member (for example, a blade) made of a material such as rubber is used.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate transfer device 20 is disposed so as to exist at a position above each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K). The intermediate transfer device 20 includes an intermediate transfer belt 21 that rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow B while passing a primary transfer position between the photosensitive drum 11 and the primary transfer device 15 (primary transfer roll), and an intermediate transfer belt 21. Are arranged on the outer peripheral surface (image holding surface) side of the intermediate transfer belt 21 supported by the belt support rolls 25 and a plurality of belt support rolls 22 to 26 that hold the toner in a desired state from the inner surface thereof. The secondary transfer device 30 as an example of a secondary transfer member for secondary transfer of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 to the recording paper 5, and the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 after passing through the secondary transfer device 30 A belt cleaning device 27 as an example of a cleaning device according to the present embodiment that removes and removes adhering matters such as transfer residual toner and paper dust that remain and adhere to the toner.

  As the intermediate transfer belt 21, for example, an endless belt made of a material in which a resistance adjusting agent such as carbon black is dispersed in a synthetic resin such as polyimide resin or polyamide resin is used. Further, the belt support roll 22 is configured as a drive roll that is rotationally driven by a driving device (not shown), the belt support roll 23 is configured as a surface roll that holds the traveling position of the intermediate transfer belt 21, and the belt support roll 24 is The intermediate transfer belt 21 is configured as a tension applying roll that applies tension, the belt support roll 25 is configured as a secondary transfer backup roll, and the belt support roll 26 is disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 21 with which the belt cleaning device 27 contacts. It is comprised as a support roll which supports from.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the secondary transfer device 30 is configured to move the intermediate transfer belt 21 at a secondary transfer position that is an outer peripheral surface portion of the intermediate transfer belt 21 supported by the belt support roll 25 in the intermediate transfer device 20. The contact type transfer device includes a secondary transfer roll 31 that rotates in contact with a peripheral surface and is supplied with a secondary transfer voltage. Further, a DC voltage having a polarity opposite or the same as the charging polarity of the toner is supplied as a secondary transfer voltage to the secondary transfer roll 31 or the support roll 25 of the intermediate transfer device 20.

  The belt cleaning device 27 is disposed so as to come into contact with the main body 270 as an example of a container that is partially opened and the peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 after the secondary transfer with a required pressure, and is attached with residual toner or the like. A cleaning plate 271 that removes the kimono and cleans it, and a delivery member 272 such as a screw auger that collects and removes deposits such as toner removed by the cleaning plate 271 and sends them to a collection system (not shown). As the cleaning plate 271, a plate-like member made of a material such as rubber is used.

  The fixing device 40 has a belt-shaped or drum-shaped heating rotator 41 heated by a heating source so that the surface temperature is maintained at a required temperature, and a predetermined state in a state substantially along the axial direction of the heating rotator 41. A rotating body 42 for pressurization in the form of a belt or a drum that rotates by contact with a certain pressure is arranged. In the fixing device 40, the contact portion where the heating rotator 41 and the pressing rotator 42 come into contact serves as a fixing processing portion (nip portion) that performs a required fixing process (heating and pressing).

  The sheet feeding device 50 is disposed so as to be present at a position below the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, K). Is done. The paper feeding device 50 is a single (or plural) paper container 51 that accommodates recording papers 5 of a desired size and type, and sends out the recording paper 5 from the paper container 51 one by one. It is mainly composed of devices 52 and 53. The paper container 51 is attached, for example, so that it can be pulled out to the front side (side surface on which the user faces during operation) of the apparatus main body 1a, that is, the left side surface in the illustrated example.

  Examples of the recording paper 5 include plain paper, thin paper, and OHP sheet used in electrophotographic copying machines, printers, and the like. In order to further improve the smoothness of the image surface after fixing, the surface of the recording medium 5 is preferably as smooth as possible. For example, coated paper in which the surface of plain paper is coated with resin, art paper for printing, etc. So-called cardboard having a relatively large basis weight can be used.

  Between the paper feeding device 50 and the secondary transfer device 30, a single (or plural) paper conveyance roll pair 54, a conveyance guide 55, and the like that convey the recording paper 5 delivered from the paper supply device 50 to the secondary transfer position. Is provided. The pair of paper transport rolls 54 is configured as, for example, a roll (registration roll) that adjusts the transport timing of the recording paper 5. Further, a conveyance guide for conveying the recording sheet 5 after the secondary transfer fed from the secondary transfer roll 31 of the secondary transfer device 30 to the fixing device 40 between the secondary transfer device 30 and the fixing device 40. 57, 58, etc. are provided. Further, in a portion near the paper discharge port formed in the apparatus main body 1 a, a paper discharge section provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 1 a through the conveyance guide 59 for the recording paper 5 after fixing sent out from the fixing device 40. A sheet discharge roll pair 61 for discharging to 60 is disposed.

  Between the fixing device 40 and the paper discharge roll pair 61, a switching gate 62 for switching the paper transport path is provided. The rotation direction of the paper discharge roll pair 61 can be switched between a normal rotation direction (discharge direction) and a reverse rotation direction. When images are formed on both sides of the recording paper 5, after the rear end of the recording paper 5 having an image formed on one side passes through the switching gate 62, the rotation direction of the paper discharge roll pair 61 is set to the normal rotation direction (discharge). Direction) to reverse direction. The recording paper 5 transported in the reverse direction by the paper discharge roll pair 61 is transported to the double-sided transport path 63 formed so as to be substantially along the vertical direction by switching the transport path by the switching gate 62. The duplex conveyance path 63 includes a sheet conveyance roll pair 64 that conveys the recording sheet 5 to the sheet conveyance roll pair 54 with the front and back sides reversed, and conveyance guides 65 to 68.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 70 indicates a manual feed tray that is openably and closably provided on the front surface (left side surface in the drawing) of the apparatus main body 1 a of the image forming apparatus 1, and between the manual feed tray 70 and the pair of paper transporting rolls 54. Are provided with a feeding device 71 for feeding the recording paper 5 stored in the manual feed tray 70 one by one, and a manual paper feed conveyance path 76 composed of a plurality of paper conveyance roll pairs 72 to 74, a conveyance guide 75, and the like. ing.

  Further, reference numeral 145 (Y, M, C, K) in FIG. 1 is arranged in a plurality along the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and at least the toner supplied to the corresponding developing device 14 (Y, M, C, K). Each of the toner cartridges containing the developer is shown.

  Further, reference numeral 100 in FIG. 1 indicates a control device that comprehensively controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The control device 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a bus connecting these CPUs and ROM, a communication interface, and the like (not shown).

<Operation of Image Forming Apparatus>
Hereinafter, a basic image forming operation by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

  Here, using the four image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, K), an operation of forming a full-color image configured by combining toner images of four colors (Y, M, C, K). Will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, when the control device 100 receives command information for requesting an image forming operation (printing), the four image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, K), the intermediate transfer device 20, and the secondary transfer device. 30, the fixing device 40 and the like are started.

  In each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K), each photoconductor drum 11 is first rotated in the direction indicated by an arrow A, and each charging device 12 makes a required surface of each photoconductor drum 11 on the surface. Each is charged to a polarity (negative polarity in the first embodiment) and a potential. Subsequently, the exposure apparatus 13 converts the image information input to the image forming apparatus 1 into each color component (Y, M, C, K) with respect to the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 after charging. The light emitted on the basis of the signal is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image of each color component composed of a required potential difference on the surface.

  Subsequently, each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K) corresponds to the electrostatic latent image of each color component formed on the photosensitive drum 11 charged to a required polarity (minus polarity). Color (Y, M, C, K) toner is supplied from the developing roll 141 and electrostatically attached to perform development. By this development, the electrostatic latent images of the respective color components formed on the respective photosensitive drums 11 are visualized as toner images of four colors (Y, M, C, K) respectively developed with the corresponding color toners. It becomes.

  Subsequently, when each color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 of each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K) is conveyed to the primary transfer position, the primary transfer device 15 (Y, M, C, K) are primarily transferred in such a manner that the toner images of the respective colors are sequentially superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 21 that rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow B of the intermediate transfer device 20.

  Further, in each image forming apparatus 10 for which the primary transfer has been completed, the drum cleaning device 16 cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by removing the adhered material so as to scrape off. Thereby, each image forming apparatus 10 is brought into a state in which the next image forming operation can be performed.

  Subsequently, in the intermediate transfer device 20, the toner image primarily transferred by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 21 is held and conveyed to the secondary transfer position. On the other hand, the paper feeding device 50 sends out the required recording paper 5 to the paper feeding conveyance path 56 in accordance with the image forming operation. In the paper feed transport path 56, a pair of paper transport rolls 54 as registration rolls feeds the recording paper 5 to the secondary transfer position in accordance with the transfer timing.

  At the secondary transfer position, the secondary transfer roll 31 of the secondary transfer device 30 collectively transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 onto the recording paper 5. Further, in the intermediate transfer device 20 after the secondary transfer is completed, the belt cleaning device 27 removes adhering matters such as transfer residual toner and paper dust remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 after the secondary transfer, and cleans it.

  Subsequently, the recording paper 5 on which the toner image has been secondarily transferred is peeled from the intermediate transfer belt 21 and the secondary transfer roll 31 and then conveyed to the fixing device 40 via the conveyance guides 57 and 58. In the fixing device 40, the necessary fixing process (heating and heating) is performed by introducing and passing the recording sheet 5 after the secondary transfer through the contact portion between the rotating rotating body 41 for heating and the rotating body 42 for pressing. Pressure) to fix the unfixed toner image on the recording paper 5. Finally, the recording paper 5 after the fixing is completed is placed, for example, on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 1a by the paper discharge roll pair 61 in the image forming operation only for forming an image on one side thereof. The paper is discharged to the paper discharge unit 60.

  Further, when forming images on both sides of the recording paper 5, the recording paper 5 with the image formed on one side is not discharged to the paper discharge section 60 by the paper discharge roll pair 61, but the paper discharge roll pair 61 is used as the recording paper. While the rear end of the sheet 5 is held, the rotation direction of the sheet discharge roll pair 61 is switched to the reverse direction. The recording paper 5 conveyed in the reverse direction by the paper discharge roll pair 61 passes through the upper part of the switching gate 62, and then passes through the double-sided conveyance path 63 including the paper conveyance roll pair 64, the conveyance guides 65 to 68, and the like. The paper is again transported to the pair of paper transport rollers 54 with the front and back sides reversed. The pair of paper transport rolls 54 feeds the recording paper 5 to the secondary transfer position in accordance with the transfer timing, forms an image on the back surface of the recording paper 5, and is installed on the upper part of the apparatus main body 1a by the paper discharge roll pair 61. The discharged paper is discharged to the paper discharge unit 60.

  Through the above operation, the recording paper 5 on which a full color image formed by combining four color toner images is output.

<Structure of Developer Conveying Member Sealing Structure and Developing Device>
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing an image forming unit including a developing device to which the developer conveying member sealing structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a photosensitive drum 11 and an image forming member including a charging device 12, a developing device 14, and a drum cleaning device 16 arranged around the photosensitive drum 11 are provided. As a process cartridge 80 which is an example of an image forming unit, it is unitized and assembled together. Note that the exposure apparatus 13 is unitized separately from the process cartridge 80.

  4 is an external perspective view of the process cartridge 80 as viewed obliquely from the front side along the mounting direction, and FIG. 5 is a side view of the process cartridge 80 as viewed from the front end side (back side) along the mounting direction. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the process cartridge 80 as viewed from the diagonally lower side along the mounting direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the process cartridge 80 is an example of an image forming unit main body in which the photosensitive drum 11, the charging device 12, the developing device 14, and the drum cleaning device 16 are integrally mounted. A process cartridge main body 81 is provided. In the illustrated embodiment, the process cartridge main body 81 is disposed at the front and rear end portions along the mounting direction of the housing 140 of the developing device 14, the main body 160 of the drum cleaning device 16, and the process cartridge 80, respectively. Frame members 82, 83a and the like.

  The photosensitive drum 11 is rotatably mounted on the frame members 82 and 83a of the process cartridge main body 81. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, in the developing device 14, the developing roll 141 comes in contact with and separates from the photosensitive drum 11 around a swing fulcrum 146 positioned at the upper end with respect to the process cartridge main body 81. It is attached so as to be swingable in the direction. Further, the developing device 14 is elastic, such as a coil spring, spanned between the device housing 140 of the developing device 14 and the frame members 82 and 83a of the process cartridge main body 81 on which the photosensitive drum 11 is rotatably mounted. A tracking roll (not shown) as a gap setting member disposed at both ends along the axial direction of the developing roll 141 is configured to contact the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by the member 147. With this configuration, the gap (so-called DRS) between the photosensitive drum 11 and the developing roll 141 is accurately maintained at a required value. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a first driving force transmission unit 77 that transmits a driving force to the photosensitive drum 11 and a developing roll 141 are provided on the end surface on the front end side along the mounting direction of the process cartridge 80. And a second driving force transmitting portion 78 that transmits the driving force to each other in a protruding state. In FIGS. 5 and 6, reference numerals 83 and 84 denote concave portions for mounting the process cartridge 80 to the apparatus main body 1 a of the image forming apparatus 1, respectively.

  FIG. 7 is an external perspective view showing the shape of the developing device according to this embodiment viewed from the near side and the far side along the mounting direction.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the developing device 14 has a part of the developing roll 141 exposed to the outside through an opening 148 provided in the upper portion of the device housing 140. Further, a toner supply unit 149 to which toner is supplied from a corresponding toner cartridge 145 ((Y, M, C, K), and the toner supply unit 149 are provided at an end of the developing device 14 on the back side of the device housing 140. An opening / closing member 150 that opens and closes a toner supply port, which will be described later, is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the toner supply unit 149 of the developing device 14 attaches the process cartridge 80 to the apparatus main body 1 a of the image forming apparatus 1, so that the toner of the toner supply apparatus 110 arranged on the apparatus main body 1 a side. A supply member 112 attached to the lower end of the supply pipe 111 is connected. At that time, the opening / closing member 150 of the developing device 14 is pushed by the supply member 112 and moves against the elastic force of the coil spring 150a to open a toner supply port described later.

  9 is a perspective configuration diagram illustrating a state in which the process cartridge 80 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1a of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 10 is a partially broken view illustrating a state in which the process cartridge 80 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1a of the image forming apparatus 1. It is a back surface block diagram.

  The developing device 14 attaches the process cartridge 80 to the apparatus main body 1a of the image forming apparatus 1 so that toner is supplied from the toner supply pipe 111 of the toner supply device 110 through the toner supply port 151 at a required timing.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the developing device 14 conveys the toner supplied from the toner supply port 151 of the toner supply unit 149 along the axial direction by the agitating and conveying member 143. The toner supplied to the inside of the apparatus housing 140 of the developing device 14 is agitated with the developer 4 accommodated in the inside of the apparatus housing 140 while being conveyed by the agitating and conveying member 143, and is frictionally charged to give a required charge. Is done. The developer 4 transported to the end in the axial direction by the stirring transport member 143 is transferred to the stirring supply member 142 through the first opening 153 opened at the end of the partition wall 152. At the end of the agitation conveyance member 143, conveyance blades 154 that return the developer 4 conveyed by the agitation conveyance member 143 to the upstream side are provided.

  The developer 4 delivered to the stirring supply member 142 is conveyed along the axial direction of the stirring supply member 142 while being supplied to the developing roll 141. The developer 4 transported to the end in the axial direction by the stirring supply member 142 is transferred to the stirring transport member 143 through the second opening 155 opened at the end of the partition wall 152 and circulates. So that it is conveyed.

  As shown in FIG. 12, a toner conveyance unit 156 that conveys the toner supplied from the toner supply port 151 to the inside of the device housing 140 of the developing device 14 is provided at the supply side end of the agitation conveyance member 143. It has been. The toner conveyance unit 156 includes a rotation shaft 157 that is rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown), and a conveyance blade 158 that is spirally formed on the outer periphery thereof. A tip 157 a of the rotation shaft 157 of the toner transport unit 156 is rotatably supported by the end of the toner supply unit 149 of the developing device 14 via a bearing member 159. In FIG. 12, reference numeral 170 denotes a flange portion provided on the rotation shaft 156 of the toner conveying portion 155, and 171 denotes a side wall of the apparatus housing 140 on the bearing member 159 side. The flange portion 170 is provided to prevent the toner supplied from the toner supply port 151 from moving to the bearing member 159 side.

  On the end of the toner conveying portion 156 adjacent to the bearing member 159 (on the upstream side of the toner supply port 151), a Mylar film made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) that breaks the toner supplied from the toner supply port 151 ( A toner breaker member 172 having a product name is mounted. On the rotating shaft 157 of the toner conveying portion 156, a planar substantially L-shaped convex portion 173 for attaching the toner breaking member 172 is integrally formed. In addition, a substantially L-shaped cut 174 (see FIG. 13) corresponding to the convex portion 173 of the toner conveying portion 156 is formed at the attachment-side end portion 172 a of the toner breaking member 172. The toner breaking member 172 is mounted in a fixed state by being press-fitted into the convex portion 173 of the toner conveying portion 156 via a substantially L-shaped cut 174 in a plane. Of course, the toner breaking member 172 may be attached to the toner conveying portion 156 by means such as adhesion.

  As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the toner breaking member 172 is formed in, for example, a substantially triangular shape or a fan shape. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the toner breaking member 172 is restored to a free shape from a fixed end 172 a fixed to the toner conveying portion 156 and an elastically deformed state while the toner conveying portion 156 rotates. The free end 172b that breaks the toner as an example of the developer 4 and the contact end 172c as an example of the regulating member that is integrally formed with the toner breaking member 172 that always contacts the wall surface 171 of the bearing portion. Have.

  More specifically, the toner breaking member 172 has a contact end portion 172c extending to the bearing portion side of the device housing 140 of the developing device 14. As shown in FIG. 16, the contact end portion 172c of the toner breaking member 172 has a curved shape in contact with the end surface 171 on the bearing portion side of the device housing 140 of the developing device 14 at all times. Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the toner breaker member 172 has a free end 172 b extending outward in the radial direction of the toner conveying portion 156. The free end 172b of the toner breaking member 172 is set to a length that is free to be in contact with the inner wall of the device housing 140 of the developing device 14 at least once while the toner transport unit 156 rotates once. The toner breaking member 172 is configured such that the free ends 172b and the contact ends 172c are projected from the toner supply port 151 to the outside. The contact end portion 172c of the toner breaking member 172 is intended to break the edge of the toner supply port 151 or external toner.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 17, the toner supply unit 149 of the developing device 14 to which the toner breaker member 161 is attached has a cylindrical shape whose cross-sectional shape corresponds to the outer peripheral shape of the toner transport unit 156 of the stirring transport member 143. A cylindrical portion 149a that forms a part of the shape, and an inclined plate portion 149b that continues to the cylindrical portion 149a and is inclined toward the toner supply port 151 are provided. The upper end of the inclined plate portion 149 b is opened to an opening width that is substantially equal to the opening end portion of the toner supply port 151. On the other hand, the free length of the free end 172b of the toner breaking member 172 is set to be shorter than the opening width of the inclined plate 149b. Therefore, while the toner conveying portion 156 makes one rotation, the free end portion 172b of the toner breaking member 172 is separated from the inner wall of the inclined plate portion 149b of the toner supply portion 149 and returns to the free shape. At that time, the free end portion 172b of the toner breaking member 172 instantaneously returns to the free shape from the elastically deformed state, and thus exerts an action of breaking the aggregate of the toner T present around by the elastic restoring force.

<Operation of Developer Conveying Member Sealing Structure>
By the way, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, image forming apparatuses for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are provided. At 10 (Y, M, C, K), the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 is developed by the developing device 14. At that time, toner is consumed in the developing device 14 of each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K). Therefore, toner is supplied to the developing device 14 of each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K) by a toner supply device 110 at a required timing as shown in FIGS.

  The toner supplied by the toner supply device 110 is supplied in a state of dropping from the toner supply port 151 into the inside of the device housing 140 of the developing device 14. As shown in FIG. 12, the developing device 14 conveys the toner supplied from the toner supply port 151 to the inside of the apparatus housing 140 by the toner conveying portion 156 of the stirring and conveying member 143.

  At that time, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 16, a toner breaker 172 is provided in the toner transport portion 156 of the stirring transport member 143. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the toner breaking member 172 elastically returns to a free shape from a state in which the free end is elastically deformed while the toner conveying portion 156 rotates once. Therefore, the toner T supplied from the toner supply port 151 is broken by the elastic restoring force when the free end portion 172b of the toner breaking member 172 returns to the free shape from the elastically deformed state. At this time, the toner T supplied to the inside of the toner supply port 151 may be wound up and scattered by the elastic restoring force of the free end 172b of the toner breaking member 172, as shown in FIG. .

  By the way, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 16, the toner breaking member 172 is provided with a contact end portion 172 c that always contacts the end surface 171 on the bearing member 159 side. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, when the toner breaking member 172 returns to the free shape from the state in which the free end 172b is elastically deformed, the contact end 172c becomes the end surface 171 of the bearing portion. It is always in contact. As a result, in the toner breaking member 172, the restoring force when the free end portion 172b returns to the free shape from the elastically deformed state is alleviated by the contact end portion 172c always in contact with the end surface 171 of the bearing portion, so that the toner is wound up. It is suppressed. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the toner breaking member 172 rotates in a state where the contact end portion 172 c is always in contact with the end surface 171 of the bearing portion, and thus exhibits an action of sealing the end surface 171 of the bearing portion. Therefore, the toner wound up by the contact end portion 172c of the toner breaking member 172 is suppressed from entering the bearing portion.

  As described above, in the developing device 14 according to the above-described embodiment, since the toner is wound up by the toner breaking member 172 and the toner that has been wound up is prevented from entering the bearing portion, the toner is placed in the bearing portion of the stirring and conveying member 143. It is possible to suppress the generation of toner agglomerates due to the intrusion of the toner. Further, since the occurrence of toner aggregates in the developing device 14 is suppressed, development of the toner aggregates and deterioration in image quality are also suppressed.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 19 shows a main part of a developing device to which the developer conveying member sealing structure according to the second embodiment is applied.

  In the case of the first embodiment, the free end portion 172b and the contact end portion 172c of the toner breaking member 172 are integrally formed. Therefore, in the toner breaker member 172, as described above, the contact end portion 172c rotates with the end surface 171 of the bearing portion always in contact with the end surface 171 of the bearing portion, so that the elastic restoring force of the free end portion 172b is reduced. Thus, the effect of suppressing toner scattering can be obtained.

  On the other hand, since the toner breaking member 172 has a free end portion 172b and a contact end portion 172c integrally formed, the elastic deformation of the free end portion 172b is suppressed and the toner by the free end portion 172b of the toner breaking member 172 is removed. There is a possibility that the breaking effect is limited.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, by providing a slit (cut) 180 between the free end 172b and the contact end 172c of the toner breaking member 172, the elastic restoring force of the free end 172b by the contact end 172c. , And the functions of the free end portion 172b and the contact end portion 172c are separated and made independent, thereby improving the toner breaking effect due to the elastic restoring force of the free end portion 172b and the contact end portion 172c. By increasing the degree of contact with the end surface 171 of the bearing portion, the sealing effect by the contact end portion 172c is improved.

  The length of the slit (cut) 180 can be set as appropriate. When the length of the slit (cut) 180 is set to be relatively long, the function of separating the functions of the free end portion 172b and the contact end portion 172c and making them independent increases. Further, when the length of the slit (cut) 180 is set to be relatively short, the function of separating the functions of the free end part 172b and the contact end part 172c and making them independent is limited, and a pair of actions of both of them. Can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, a full-color image forming apparatus that forms toner images of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) has been described as the image forming apparatus. Needless to say, the present invention can be similarly applied to an image forming apparatus that forms the image.

  In the above embodiment, the toner breaking member has been described as having a substantially triangular shape or a fan shape. However, the toner breaking member may be formed in other shapes such as a rectangular shape or a trapezoidal shape.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 1a ... Image forming apparatus main body 11 ... Photosensitive drum 14 ... Developing apparatus 141 ... Developing roll 142 ... Supply conveyance member 143 ... Agitation conveyance member 156 ... Toner conveyance part 172 ... Toner breaking member

Claims (9)

A film-like developer breaking member that is attached to the bearing-side end of the developer conveying member and breaks the developer present at the bearing-side end of the developer conveying member;
A regulating member that is provided integrally or separately with the developer breaking member, and that regulates the intrusion of the developer into the bearing portion in contact with the wall surface of the bearing portion;
A developer transport member sealing structure comprising: The developer transport member is a member that transports the developer supplied from a developer supply port.
2. The developer conveying member sealing structure according to claim 1, wherein the regulating member is provided at an end portion on the developer supply port side, and a leading end thereof protrudes to the outside of the developer supply port.   The developer breaking member includes a fixed end portion fixed to the developer conveying member, and a free end portion that restores a free shape from an elastically deformed state while the developer conveying member rotates to break the developer. 3. The developer conveying member sealing structure according to claim 1, wherein the developer conveying member is formed in a substantially fan shape or a substantially triangular shape having a contact end portion that always contacts the wall surface of the bearing portion.   4. The developer transport according to claim 1, wherein the regulating member restrains scattering of the developer by regulating elastic deformation when the developer breaking member performs a breaking operation of the developer. 5. Member sealing structure.   The developer conveying member sealing structure according to claim 4, wherein the regulating member is provided integrally with the developer breaking member.   The regulating member contacts the wall surface of the bearing portion and covers at least a part of the bearing portion, so that the developer scattered by the rotation of the developer breaking member is prevented from entering the bearing portion. 4. The developer transport member sealing structure according to claim 1, wherein the developer transport member sealing structure is regulated.   The developer conveying member sealing structure according to claim 6, wherein the regulating member is provided integrally with the developer breaking member, and a notch is formed between the developer breaking member and the regulating member. . A developer conveying member that conveys the developer supplied from the outside to the inside of the apparatus main body;
A film-like developer breaking member that is mounted adjacent to a bearing portion that pivotally supports the developer conveying member, and that breaks the developer present at the end of the developer conveying member;
A regulating member that is provided integrally or separately with the developer breaking member, and that regulates the intrusion of the developer into the bearing portion in contact with the wall surface of the bearing portion;
With
A developing device to which the developer conveying member sealing structure according to claim 1 is applied as the developer conveying member. An image carrier for holding a latent image;
Developing means for developing the latent image held on the image carrier with a developer;
With
An image forming apparatus using the developing device according to claim 8 as the developing unit.

Images