JP2019045566A - Developing device and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

To supply a developer in accordance with the consumption of the developer in an axial direction of developer carrying means.SOLUTION: A developing device 3 includes: a developing sleeve 8 for carrying tonner; a tonner stirring chamber 20 for housing toner supplied to the developing sleeve 8; a toner conveyance path 17 and a conveyance screw 114d for supplying toner to the toner stirring chamber 20 while carrying the toner along an axial direction of the developing sleeve 8; and a CPU 100 for changing a supply amount of the toner in the axial direction from the toner conveyance path 17 to the toner stirring chamber 20 according to the position in the axial direction where an amount of toner supplied from the toner stirring chamber 20 to the developing sleeve 8 is equal to or more than a prescribed amount.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device and an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine or a facsimile equipped with the developing device.

  Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer or a facsimile, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of a photosensitive member, and a developer is supplied to the photosensitive member by a developing device to Develop the image. Thereafter, the toner image formed on the photosensitive member by development is transferred to a sheet such as a sheet, and the toner image is fixed on the sheet by the fixing device. The toner consumed in such an image forming process is sequentially replenished from the toner hopper to the developing device. Thereby, the toner amount in the developing device is maintained at a predetermined amount.

  Here, when a solid black image is continuously printed, the supply of toner to the developing device can not be in time in a portion where the toner consumption amount is large, so that the print density of the solid black image is reduced and white spots occur. In such a case, even if the total toner replenishment amount is simply increased, the toner is excessively supplied to the portion where the toner consumption amount is small, so that packing in the toner replenishment portion and toner aggregation occur.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 1 divides the image information at the time of image formation at equal intervals, calculates the toner consumption amount for each divided area, and prints the same amount of toner as the calculated toner consumption amount from supply. An image forming apparatus is disclosed that replenishes as quickly as the time required to

JP, 2014-6520, A

  However, in Patent Document 1, since the toner is conveyed by the conveyance screw, the toner is dispersed when the toner is conveyed to a desired divided area, and the toner is supplied according to the consumption amount of each divided area. Have the problem of not being able to

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of supplying a developer according to the amount of consumption of the developer in the axial direction of the developer carrying means.

  The developing device according to the present invention comprises a developer carrying means for carrying a developer, a developer containing portion for containing a developer to be supplied to the developer carrying means, and development along an axial direction of the developer carrying means. Supplying means for supplying the developer to the developer containing portion while conveying the developer, and the axial direction in which the developer supplied from the developer containing portion to the developer carrying means is a predetermined amount or more And control means for changing the supply amount of the developer supplied from the developer supply means to the developer containing portion in the axial direction according to the position.

  According to the present invention, the developer can be supplied in accordance with the consumption amount of the developer in the axial direction of the developer carrying means.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a toner replenishing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a toner hopper according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a toner conveyance path according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing the configuration of a toner conveyance path according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing transition of toner states when the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention executes the uniform replenishment sequence. FIG. 7 is a view showing a toner supply amount in the toner conveyance direction when the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention executes the uniform replenishment sequence. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing transition of toner states when the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention executes the R-side replenishment sequence. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a toner supply amount in the toner conveyance direction when the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention executes the R-side replenishment sequence. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing transition of toner states when the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention executes the F-side replenishment sequence. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a toner supply amount in the toner conveyance direction when the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention executes the F-side replenishment sequence.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus>
The configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  The image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a photosensitive drum 1, a charging unit 2, a developing device 3, a transfer unit 4, a fixing unit 5, a collection mechanism A, and an image signal capturing unit 103. A laser device 107 and an image signal processing unit 108 are included.

  The photosensitive drum 1 as an image carrier is rotatably supported by the main body of the apparatus, and is driven to rotate by a driving unit (not shown). An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1 by being exposed by the laser device 107. Here, the photosensitive drum 1 exemplifies an organic photosensitive member.

  The charging unit 2 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 1 and is driven to rotate as the photosensitive drum 1 rotates. The charging unit 2 uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 1 when a charging bias is applied.

  The developing device 3 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 to form a toner image as a developer image on the photosensitive drum 1. The details of the configuration of the developing device 3 will be described later.

  The transfer unit 4 transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 onto a recording material.

  The fixing unit 5 heats the recording material to which the toner image has been transferred, and fixes the toner image on the recording material.

  The collection mechanism A collects toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 without being transferred to the recording material by the transfer unit 4.

  The image signal acquisition unit 103 is configured of a scanner used for a copying function or the like, or a printer interface for receiving image data output from an external device. The image signal acquisition unit 103 acquires image data and outputs the image data to the image signal processing unit 108.

  The laser device 107 emits a laser beam based on a laser drive pulse input from the image signal processing unit 108, and exposes the photosensitive drum 1 via a polygon mirror and a reflection mirror (not shown).

  The image signal processing unit 108 converts image data input from the image signal capturing unit 103 into a video signal, converts a video signal into a laser drive pulse, and outputs a laser drive pulse to the laser device 107. The image signal processing unit 108 outputs the video signal to the CPU 100 of the developing device 3.

<Configuration of Developing Device>
The configuration of the developing device 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 9.

  9 (a) is a side view of the toner conveyance path 17, FIG. 9 (b) is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 9 (a), and FIG. 9 (c) is a toner conveyance. FIG.

  The developing device 3 includes a developing sleeve 8, a sensor 16, a toner conveyance path 17, a stirring member 19, a toner stirring chamber 20, a CPU 100, a ROM 101, and a RAM 102. The developing device 3 further includes a drive control unit 109, a main motor 110, a hopper motor 111, a bottle motor 112, a conveying screw 114d, and a toner regulating wall 114e. The toner conveyance path 17 and the conveyance screw 114 d constitute a developer supply unit.

  The developing sleeve 8 as a developer carrying means is a rotating body. The developing sleeve 8 is formed on the photosensitive drum 1 by supporting and flying the toner in the toner stirring chamber 20 by a potential difference with the photosensitive drum 1 when a developing bias is applied from a high voltage application substrate (not shown). Supply toner to the electrostatic latent image. The flight of this toner is called development. The development bias is exemplified here by superimposing AC bias and DC bias.

  The sensor 16 detects the amount of toner contained in the toner stirring chamber 20, and outputs the detection result to the CPU 100.

  The toner conveyance path 17 extends along the axial direction of the developing sleeve 8, and the toner is conveyed along the axial direction of the rotation shaft of the developing sleeve 8. A toner supply port 62 is provided above one end side of the toner conveyance path 17 in the toner conveyance direction.

  The stirring member 19 stirs the old toner supplied to the toner stirring chamber 20 and the new toner.

  In the toner stirring chamber 20 as the developer containing portion, the toner which is conveyed by the conveying screw 114 d and sequentially climbs over the toner regulation wall 114 e is supplied.

  The conveyance screw 114 d conveys the toner supplied from the toner supply port 61 to the toner conveyance path 17 from one end side to the other side of the toner conveyance path 17 in the toner conveyance direction. The time required for the toner conveyed on the toner conveyance path 17 by the conveyance screw 114 d to reach the other end side from one end side of the toner conveyance path 17 is one second in this example.

  A toner regulating wall 114 e as a regulating portion is provided between the toner stirring chamber 20 and the developing sleeve 8 and stands upright on the toner transport path 17 along the toner transport direction, and is being transported in the toner transport path 17. The toner is dropped into the toner stirring chamber 20 by overflowing the toner. The toner control wall 114e is provided with an upper edge portion 114f for controlling the amount of dropped toner. The upper edge portion 114 f is inclined such that the height thereof decreases in the toner conveyance direction of the toner conveyance path 17 in order to uniformly supply the toner in the axial direction of the developing sleeve 8.

  The CPU 100 as a control means executes various control programs of the image forming process stored in the ROM 101 to temporarily store various data etc. in the RAM 102 and read various data etc. from the RAM 102 in a timely manner. Perform arithmetic processing etc. The CPU 100 calculates an accumulated video count value by performing arithmetic processing and the like using the video signal input from the image signal processing unit 108. Here, the accumulated video count value is an integrated value of image density values measured in pixel units.

  The CPU 100 stores the calculated cumulative video count value in the RAM 102, reads out the cumulative video count value stored in the RAM 102 at appropriate times, and executes the control program to obtain the toner consumption. The CPU 100 controls the drive control unit 109 based on the calculated toner consumption amount, the detection result of the toner amount in the sensor 14, or the detection result of the toner amount in the sensor 16. The CPU 100 controls the drive control unit 109 to change the replenishment amount of toner replenished from the toner bottle 50 and the toner hopper 60 to the toner conveyance path 17.

  The ROM 101 stores various control programs of the image forming process.

  The RAM 102 temporarily stores various data and the like.

  The drive control unit 109 controls the driving of the main motor 110, the hopper motor 111, and the bottle motor 112 under the control of the CPU 100.

  The main motor 110 is driven by the control of the drive control unit 109 to rotate the developing sleeve 8, the conveying screw 114 d and the stirring member 19.

  The hopper motor 111 is driven by the control of the drive control unit 109 to rotate the hopper screw 13 of the toner hopper 60.

  The bottle motor 112 is driven by the control of the drive control unit 109 to rotate the rotation drive mechanism 10 of the toner bottle 50. The toner bottle 50 and the toner hopper 60 constitute developer supply means for supplying the developing device 3 with toner.

  The toner contained in the toner bottle 50 detachably mounted on the toner bottle mounting portion 9 is supplied to the developing device 3 having the above configuration through the toner hopper 60.

  Specifically, the toner bottle 50 is rotated by driving the bottle motor 112 and the rotation drive mechanism 10 rotating. The toner contained in the toner bottle 50 is discharged to the toner hopper 60 by being guided by a helical projection 50A formed so as to protrude inward from the inner peripheral surface of the toner containing portion as the toner bottle 50 rotates. Be done.

  Further, the toner hopper 60 drives the hopper motor 111 to rotate the hopper screw 13 through the toner supply port 62 by driving the hopper motor 111 so that the toner discharged from the toner bottle 50 via the toner supply port 61 is developed. Supply to

<Operation of developing device>
The operation of the developing device 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 10 to 15.

  In FIG. 11, (a) of FIG. 11 shows a state in which toner is present on the R side of the toner conveyance path 17. Further, FIG. 11B shows a state in which toner is present between the R side and the F side of the toner conveyance path 17. Further, FIG. 11C shows a state in which toner is present on the F side of the toner conveyance path 17. Further, in FIGS. 13 and 15, (a), (b) and (c) of each figure show the same state as that of FIGS. 11 (a), (b) and (c).

  The CPU 100 calculates an accumulated video count value from the end of the previous toner replenishment to the start of the current printing after the user starts the printing (S1). Specifically, the CPU 100 sets the image information read from the image signal processing unit 108 to the toner supply port 61 side (hereinafter referred to as “R side”) of the toner conveyance path 17 and the R side of the toner conveyance path 17. And the other side of (hereinafter, described as "F side"), and divided into two at equal intervals. Here, the R side is the upstream side in the toner conveyance direction in the toner conveyance path 17. Further, the F side is the downstream side in the toner conveyance direction in the toner conveyance path 17.

  Then, the CPU 100 calculates the R-side accumulated video count value a1 and the F-side accumulated video count value b1.

  Next, the CPU 100 detects a print job (S2).

  Next, the CPU 100 reads image information from the image signal processing unit 108 (S3).

  Next, the CPU 100 calculates an accumulated video count value of the entire job from the read image information (S4). Specifically, the CPU 100 divides the image information read from the image signal processing unit 108 into two at equal intervals into the R side and the F side, and calculates the cumulative video count value a2 of the R side and the cumulative video count value of the F side. Calculate b2.

  Next, the CPU 100 adds the cumulative video count value a1 and the cumulative video count value a2 to obtain the cumulative video count value a from the previous toner replenishment on the R side of the toner transport path 17 to the end of the current job ( a = a1 + a2). Further, the CPU 100 adds the accumulated video count value b1 and the accumulated video count value b2 to obtain the accumulated video count value b from the previous toner replenishment on the F side of the toner conveyance path 17 to the end of the current job (b = B1 + b2) (S5).

  Next, the CPU 100 determines whether the accumulated video count value a is equal to or more than the threshold X (S6). The threshold value X is set to a value for determining whether the toner consumption amount is large on the F side and the R side, and whether to change the toner replenishment method. Here, the threshold value X exemplifies a video count value of 6, 959, 582 when printing a half of one A3 sheet at a printing rate of 10% at 600 dpi.

  When the accumulated video count value a is equal to or more than the threshold value X (S6: Yes), the CPU 100 causes the toner supplied from the toner stirring chamber 20 to the developing sleeve 8 to have a predetermined amount or more on the F side. At this time, the CPU 100 determines that the toner consumption amount on the F side is large, and determines whether the accumulated video count value b is equal to or more than the threshold value X (S7).

  When the accumulated video count value b is equal to or more than the threshold value X (S7: Yes), the CPU 100 makes the toner supplied from the toner stirring chamber 20 to the developing sleeve 8 equal to or more than a predetermined amount on both the F side and R side. At this time, since the CPU 100 consumes a large amount of toner on both the F side and the R side, it determines that it is necessary to replenish the toner in the entire longitudinal direction of the toner transport path 17 and executes the uniform replenishment sequence ( S8).

  The CPU 100 executes the uniform replenishment sequence and controls the drive control unit 109 to drive the hopper motor 111 in a predetermined toner replenishment ON time (replenishment time), and the hopper motor in a predetermined toner replenishment OFF time (stop time) Stop the drive of 111. Specifically, the CPU 100 sets the toner replenishment ON time to 0.2 seconds and the toner replenishment OFF time to 0.1 seconds, and the F side and the R side according to the accumulated video count value a and the accumulated video count value b. Determine the number of repetitions of the supply, and supply the determined number of repetitions.

  As a result, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, since the toner uniformly falls from the toner regulating wall 114e to the toner stirring chamber 20 in the longitudinal direction of the toner conveyance path 17, the toner is uniformly supplied to the toner stirring chamber 20. be able to.

  Next, the CPU 100 resets the accumulated video count value a and the accumulated video count value b (S9), and ends the operation.

  On the other hand, when the accumulated video count value a is less than the threshold value X (S6: No), the CPU 100 reduces the amount of toner supplied from the toner stirring chamber 20 to the developing sleeve 8 less than the predetermined amount on the F side. At this time, the CPU 100 determines whether the accumulated video count value b is equal to or more than the threshold X (S10).

  When the accumulated video count value b is less than the threshold X (S10: No), the CPU 100 reduces the amount of toner supplied from the toner stirring chamber 20 to the developing sleeve 8 less than the predetermined amount on both the F side and R side. At this time, since the consumption amount of toner on both the F side and the R side is small, the CPU 100 determines that toner replenishment is not necessary and does not replenish toner (S11), and ends the operation.

  On the other hand, when the accumulated video count value b is equal to or larger than the threshold X (S10: Yes), the CPU 100 reduces the amount of toner supplied from the toner stirring chamber 20 to the developing sleeve 8 to less than a predetermined amount on the F side and It becomes more than a predetermined amount. At this time, the CPU 100 determines that the toner consumption amount on the F side is small and the toner consumption amount on the R side is large, and executes the R side replenishment sequence in which the R side replenishes a large amount of toner in parallel to printing. S12).

  The CPU 100 controls the drive control unit 109 by executing the R-side replenishment sequence to drive the hopper motor 111 in a predetermined toner replenishment ON time, and to stop driving the hopper motor 111 in the predetermined toner replenishment OFF time. . Specifically, the CPU 100 sets the toner replenishment ON time to 0.3 seconds and the toner replenishment OFF time to 0.1 seconds, and determines the number of repetitions of replenishment to the R side according to the accumulated video count value b. , Supply the determined number of repetitions.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 13A, the height of the toner stacked on the R side before conveyance is higher than when the uniform replenishment sequence is performed.

  As a result, the amount of toner falling over the toner regulation wall 114e on the R side and falling into the toner stirring chamber 20 is increased as compared with the case where the uniform replenishment sequence is performed as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. More toner can be supplied to the R side of the stirring chamber 20. Then, the toner in the toner conveyance path 17 is conveyed to the F side by the conveyance screw 113d, and as shown in FIGS. 13 (b) and 13 (c), over the toner regulation wall 114e as in the case of executing the uniform replenishment sequence. The toner drops into the toner stirring chamber 20.

  Next, the CPU 100 resets the accumulated video count value a and the accumulated video count value b (S13), and ends the operation.

  Further, when the accumulated video count value b is less than the threshold X (S7: No), the CPU 100 reduces the toner consumption amount on the R side and also increases the toner consumption amount on the F side. The F-side replenishment sequence for partially replenishing toner is executed (S14).

  The CPU 100 controls the drive control unit 109 by executing the F-side replenishment sequence, drives the hopper motor 111 in a predetermined toner replenishment ON time, and stops the driving of the hopper motor 111 in the predetermined toner replenishment OFF time. . Specifically, the CPU 100 sets the toner replenishment ON time to 0.1 seconds and the toner replenishment OFF time to 0.1 seconds, and determines the number of repetitions of replenishment to the F side according to the accumulated video count value b. , Supply the determined number of repetitions.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 15A, the height of the toner accumulated on the R side before conveyance is lower than the height of the toner regulation wall 114e and is lower than when the uniform replenishment sequence is executed. Become.

  As a result, the toner stirring chamber 20 is not replenished because there is no toner that gets over the toner regulation wall 114 e on the R side. Then, the toner in the toner conveyance path 17 is conveyed to the F side by the conveyance screw 113 d as shown in FIG. Furthermore, the toner in the toner transport path 17 is lower at the F side than at the R side, so the toner control wall 114 e passes over the toner control wall 114 e for the first time on the F side as shown in FIG. The toner drops into the toner stirring chamber 20. Therefore, the toner can be partially replenished to the F side of the toner stirring chamber 20.

  Next, the CPU 100 resets the accumulated video count value a (S15), and ends the operation. Here, when the F-side replenishment sequence is executed, only the cumulative video count value a on the F-side is reset in order to replenish the toner only on the F-side.

  As described above, the CPU 100 performs the operation of step S8, step S12 or step S14 according to the position in the axial direction where the toner supplied from the toner stirring chamber 20 to the developing sleeve 8 exceeds the predetermined amount. Then, the CPU 100 performs the operation of step S8, step S12 or step S14 to change the supply amount of toner supplied from the toner conveyance path 17 to the toner stirring chamber 20 in the axial direction.

  Here, the CPU 100 changes the toner replenishment amount from the toner hopper 60 to the toner conveyance path 17 by switching the toner replenishment ON time and the toner replenishment OFF time, but the toner to the toner conveyance path 17 has a configuration other than this configuration. You may change the supply amount of

  Specifically, the CPU 100 controls the bottle motor 112 or the hopper motor 111 to change the toner replenishing port of the toner bottle or toner hopper provided with a plurality of toner replenishing ports of different sizes, and thereby the toner to the toner conveyance path 17 You may change the supply amount of Alternatively, the CPU 100 controls the bottle motor 112 or the hopper motor 111 to change the size of the toner supply port of the toner supply port by changing the size of the toner supply port of the toner supply port. You may change the amount of replenishment.

  Further, the CPU 100 may change the replenishment amount of toner by moving the position of the toner replenishing port of the toner hopper 60 along the toner conveying direction of the toner conveying path 17 by controlling the hopper motor 111. This configuration can be adopted, for example, when the upper edge portion 114f of the toner regulating wall 114e has the same height in the toner conveyance direction of the toner conveyance path 17.

  Further, the CPU 100 changes the toner replenishment amount for the developing device 3 according to the toner consumption amount of the toner stirring chamber 20, but changes the toner conveyance speed in the toner conveyance path 17 according to the toner consumption amount of the toner stirring chamber 20 May be Specifically, the CPU 100 controls the main motor 110 to control the rotation speed of the conveyance screw 114 d to change the toner conveyance speed in the toner conveyance path 17, thereby replenishing the toner conveyance path 17 with toner. Change the amount. In this case, a constant amount of toner can be supplied from the toner hopper 60 to the toner conveyance path 17.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the supply amount of toner supplied from the toner conveyance path 17 to the toner stirring chamber 20 in the axial direction according to the consumption amount of toner in the axial direction of the developing sleeve 8 of the toner stirring chamber 20 change. As a result, the toner can be supplied in accordance with the toner consumption in the axial direction of the developing sleeve, and the occurrence of partial white spots in the image can be suppressed.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  Specifically, in the present embodiment, the image information is divided into two at equal intervals on the R side and the F side, but the image information may be further divided into smaller pieces to predict the toner consumption. As a result, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the toner supply amount to the toner stirring chamber 20 with respect to the toner consumption amount in the axial direction of the developing sleeve.

Reference Signs List 1 photosensitive drum 2 charging unit 3 developing device 4 transfer unit 5 fixing unit 8 developing sleeve 9 toner bottle mounting unit 10 rotation drive mechanism 13 hopper screw 14 sensor 16 sensor 17 toner conveyance path 19 stirring member 20 toner stirring chamber 50 toner bottle 50A protrusion 60 toner hopper 61 toner supply port 100 CPU
103 image signal take-in unit 107 laser device 108 image signal processing unit 109 drive control unit 110 main motor 111 hopper motor 112 bottle motor 113 d conveying screw 114 d conveying screw 114 e toner regulating wall 114 f upper edge

Claims (10)

Developer carrying means for carrying a developer;
A developer containing portion for containing a developer to be supplied to the developer carrying means;
Developer feeding means for feeding the developer to the developer containing portion while conveying the developer along the axial direction of the developer carrying means;
The developer supplied from the developer supply unit to the developer storage unit according to the axial position where the developer supplied from the developer storage unit to the developer carrying unit is equal to or more than a predetermined amount Control means for changing the supply amount in the axial direction;
And a developing device characterized by comprising: The control means
Changing the replenishment amount of the developer supplied to the developer supply unit according to the axial position where the developer supplied from the developer storage unit to the developer carrying unit is equal to or more than a predetermined amount;
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein The developer supply means is
The developer supply device further includes a restriction portion which is erected along the axial direction and whose height decreases from the upstream side to the downstream side of the developer conveyance direction in the developer supply unit, and the developer is The developer is supplied to the developer containing portion by being dropped,
The control means
Changing the replenishment amount to change the height of the developer before conveyance on the upstream side;
The developing device according to claim 2, wherein The control means
When the supply amount is larger on the upstream side than on the downstream side, the height of the developer before the conveyance is made higher than in the case where the supply amount is larger on the downstream side than the upstream side ,
The developing device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The control means
When the supply amount is larger on the downstream side than on the upstream side, the height of the developer before the conveyance is set to be lower than that of the regulation portion.
The developing device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein The control means
The replenishment amount is changed by changing a replenishment time in which the developer is replenished to the developer supply unit and a stop time in which replenishment of the developer to the developer supply unit is stopped.
The developing device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein The control means
The replenishment amount is changed by changing the size of the replenishment port when replenishing the developer from the developer replenishment means to the developer supply means via the replenishment port.
The developing device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein The control means
The replenishment amount is changed by changing the position of the replenishment port in the axial direction when the developer is replenished to the developer supply unit from the developer replenishment unit through the replenishment port.
The developing device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that: The control means
The supply amount is changed by changing the conveyance speed of the developer conveyed by the developer supply unit.
The developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: A developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9;
An image bearing member on which a developer image is formed by forming an electrostatic latent image and supplying a developer to the electrostatic latent image from the developing device;
A transfer unit that forms an image on a recording material by transferring the developer image formed on the image carrier to the recording material;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

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