JPH01319768A - developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a developing device that can be applied to image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers that utilize electrophotography, electrostatic recording, and the like.

Conventional technology In image forming apparatuses such as electrophotography, developing devices that use dry type developer (hereinafter referred to as developer) are often used, but in such image forming apparatuses, the amount of developer in the developing device is When the amount decreases, the image density decreases, so a method of replenishing the developer is usually adopted.

The methods currently in practical use for replenishing the developer mentioned above are either directly replenishing the developer into the developing device, or installing a developer replenishing container (usually called a hopper) connected to the developing device. However, there is a problem in that not only the developer in this container stains the hands and clothes of the user, which is bad for hygiene, but also the inside and outside of the device gets dirty.

Therefore, conventionally, a certain amount of developer is sealed inside the developing device, and the developing device is configured so that the life of the developing device comes to an end almost at the same time as this developer is consumed. Many methods for replenishing the fuel have been proposed, and for example, as shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-204866, a structure as shown in FIG. 3 has been proposed.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a developer carrier comprising a magnetic roller, which is rotatably supported within a developer supply container 2. As shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 3 denotes non-magnetic developer particles, which are stored in a developer storage section 4 located above the developer supply container 2 .

Charging means 5 charges the developer particles 3, and is comprised of a base layer (usually referred to as a carrier) containing magnetic particles, and is supported on the developer carrier 1.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a layer thickness regulating means for regulating the layer thickness of the developer particles 3 charged by the charging means 6 and supplied onto the developer carrier 1, and is fixed to the developer supply container 2.

A partition plate 7 partitions the inside of the developer supply container 2 into the developer storage section 4 and other parts.

8 is a charge carrier holding an electrostatic latent image.

By removing the partition plate 7 from the developer supply container 2, the developer particles 3 in the developer storage section 4 are allowed to fall naturally, and the fallen developer particles 3 are charged by the charging means 6. After being supplied to the developer carrier 1, the layer thickness is regulated by a layer thickness regulating means 6, and the developer is developed in a development area facing the charge carrier 8.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above configuration, the developer particles 3 are supplied in the direction of the charging means 6 and the developer carrier 1 by allowing the developer particles 3 to fall naturally. Therefore, it is necessary to always provide the developer storage section 4 above the charging means 6 and the developer carrier 1, which increases the size of the developing device.

Further, in an image forming apparatus such as a color copying machine in which a plurality of developing devices are sequentially arranged around the charge holding member 8, there is a problem that the entire apparatus becomes large and expensive.

In view of this problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a developing device that has a simple configuration and can reduce the size and cost of a developing device and an image forming apparatus using the same.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a storage section for storing a developer, a developer supply means provided in the storage section, a charging means for charging the developer, and a device for carrying the charged developer. a developer carrying member; a layer thickness regulating means for regulating the layer thickness of the developer on the developer carrying member; the charging means and the developer carrying means in which the developer in the storage section is supplied to the developer by the developer supplying means; This developing device is characterized by being equipped with a removable partition means for temporarily blocking the supply of the developing device to the developing device.

Operation The present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, so that the developer can be replenished together with the developing device, and the developer supply means can forcibly supply the charging means and the developer carrier (in the conventional example, the charging means 6 and the developer carrier 1). ), there is no need to always provide a storage section for storing the developer (the developer storage section 4 in the conventional example) above the charging means and the developer carrier. It is possible to downsize the forming device and reduce costs.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a developing device in an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a photoconductor drum which is a charge carrier, and is made by coating a photoconductor 13 such as zinc oxide, selenium, or an organic photoconductive material on the surface of a metal tube 12 made of aluminum or the like. It is rotating.

A charger 14 charges the entire surface of the photoconductor 13 of the photoreceptor drum 11 to a predetermined polarity using a DC high voltage power source (not shown).

Reference numeral 16 denotes an optical section that projects a patterned optical image onto the photoreceptor drum 11 to form an electrostatic latent image.

A developer 16 is a magnetic or non-magnetic one-component insulating toner.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a developing roller which is a developer carrier, and is made of a solid or hollow roller made of stainless steel, aluminum, etc., and has a rough surface with fine irregularities formed on the circumferential surface thereof, and has a constant roughness with respect to the photoreceptor drum 11. They are installed at intervals and rotate counterclockwise.

18 is a charging means for charging the developer 16 to a predetermined polarity; for example, a fur brush or a sponge roller is effectively used, and the charging means slides against the developing roller 17 and rotates clockwise at a circumferential speed higher than the circumferential speed of the developing roller 17. ing.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a developer storage means, which is composed of a storage section 20 that stores the developer 16 and a developer supply means 22 that rotates clockwise around a support shaft 21 .

Reference numeral 23 denotes a removable partition means for temporarily partitioning the inside of the developing frame 24 into a developer storage means 19 portion and other portions (a portion provided with the developing roller 17 and the charging means 18); As shown in the figure, it is composed of a partition plate 26 having a developer supply port 26 and fixed to the developing frame 24, and a removable blocking seal 27.

Reference numeral 28 denotes an elastic blade which is a layer thickness regulating means for regulating the layer thickness of the developer 16 supplied to the developing roller 17, and is a rubber blade made of urethane rubber, silicone rubber, etc., or a metal blade made of thin bronze, spring steel, etc. for springs. is effectively used, and is fixed to the developing frame 24 so that one end 28a thereof comes into contact with the circumferential surface of the developing roller 17.

In the developing device of this embodiment configured as described above,
The operation will be explained below.

The photoconductor 13 of the photoconductor drum 11 is charged to a predetermined polarity, for example, negative, by a band T-type device 14.

Next, this negatively charged photoreceptor drum 11 is attached to the optical section 1.
6 is irradiated with a reflected light image (pattern light image) of the original to form a positive electrostatic latent image, which reaches the development area.

When the developing device is in use, the blocking seal 27 of the partition means 23 is closed.
is removed from the device consisting of the partition plate 26.

Then, the developer 1θ stored in the storage section 2o of the developer storage means 19 is transferred to the developer supply means 22 and the developer supply port 2.
5 into the charging means 18, and this charging means 1
8, it is rubbed and frictionally charged to a predetermined polarity, for example, positive. Then, this charged developer 16 is transferred to a charging means 18.
The toner is conveyed to a position facing the developing roller 17 by the rotation of the toner, and is supplied to the developing roller 17 by its electrostatic force.

Thereafter, the layer thickness of the developer 16 supplied to the developing roller 17 is regulated by the elastic blade 28 as the developing roller 17 rotates, and when it faces the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum 11 in the developing area, it becomes static. It flies due to the electrostatic force of the electrostatic latent image and develops the electrostatic latent image.

As described above, according to the developing device of this embodiment, the developer supplying means 22 is provided in the storage section 20 of the developer storage means 19, and the inside of the developing frame 24 is divided into the developer storage means 19 part and other parts. Since the partition means 23 for temporarily partitioning the developer 16 is provided, there is no need to provide the storage section 2o for storing the developer 16 above the charging means 18 and the developing roller 17, and as a result, the storage section 2o can be freely arranged. As a result, the developing device and the image forming apparatus using the same can be downsized and cost reduced.

As described in detail, according to the present invention, a developer supplying means is provided in a storage section that stores a developer, and the developer in the storage section is charged by the charging means and the developer carrying means. Since the structure is provided with a removable partition means that temporarily blocks the supply of developer to the developer, there is no need to provide the storage section above the charging means and the developer carrier. Since the storage section can be freely arranged, it is possible to downsize and reduce the cost of the developing device and the image forming device using the same, which has great practical effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partition means of the same device, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of a conventional developing device. 17... Developing roller, 18... Charging means, 20... Storage section, 22... Developer supply means, 23... Partition Means, 26...
・Partition plate, 27...Break seal, 28...
...Elastic blade. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person No. 1
Figure j 4 thousand electric 5 no 3 ahead at Body figure 2 Difficult escape direction N3 figure

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A storage section that stores a developer, a developer supply means provided in the storage section, a charging means that charges the developer, a developer carrier that carries the charged developer, and a developer carrier that carries the charged developer. a layer thickness regulating means for regulating the layer thickness of the developer on the developer carrier; and a layer thickness regulating means for regulating the layer thickness of the developer on the developer carrier; A developing device comprising a removable partition means for blocking. (2) The developing device according to claim 1, wherein by removing the partitioning means, the developer in the storage section is supplied to the charging means and the developer carrier by the developer supplying means, thereby enabling development. . (3) Claim 1 characterized in that the charging means is a fur brush having a large number of conductive fiber bristles on a conductive core bar.
The developing device described.