JPH04208964A - image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To completely consume toner to the end without exerting adverse influence such as irregularity in pitch and blurring on an image by constituting a part of a developer container so that it can be deformed and allowing developer inside the container to move toward a developer carrier when the container is deformed. CONSTITUTION:This device is constituted so that the leading edge part of a paper feeding cassette 10 pushes in the soft part 5 of the toner container 5 by inserting the cassette 10 in a main body. By comparing the above state with a state where the cassette 10 is completely inserted in the main body, it is recognized that the soft part 5 of the toner container is pushed in by the leading edge part of the cassette 10 and the toner inside the container swells to envelope a sleeve 3. Especially, when the remaining amount of toner is small, the toner is more effectively supplied to the sleeve 3. Thus, printing is performed without the occurrence of void caused by the depletion of toner on the image until there is no toner in the toner container.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a developer carrier on which a developer is carried, an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a developer container in which the developer is stored. , and in which developer is supplied from a developer container onto a developer carrier to develop a latent image on the image carrier, particularly for electrostatic copying machines, printers, etc. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that uses an electrostatic transfer process. [0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus is generally constructed as shown in FIG. That is, the developing device for the developing process is composed of a toner container 104, a developing sleeve 103, and a doctor blade 123.
3 is located at a position facing the photosensitive drum 101. The cleaning device used in the Cleanijig process is composed of a cleaning blade 124 for collecting residual toner of the transferred image on the photosensitive drum 101, a cleaning container 107, and a scooping sheet 125. [0003] Conventionally, in such an image forming apparatus,
As a means for conveying the toner in the toner container 104 to the developing sleeve 103, there is a rotating member such as an agitator 126 or a stirring blade shown in FIG. 11. [0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above conventional example, when the power for driving the stirring bar 126 and the power for rotating the photosensitive drum 101 or conveying the transfer material are common, the image cannot be passed through due to fluctuations in torque. Density unevenness called pitch unevenness occurs in the paper direction. [0005] Furthermore, in the conventional method of supplying toner to the developing sleeve 103 by rotating the stirring rod 126, if the toner is left for a long time or absorbs moisture, the powdered toner aggregates and the movement of the toner deteriorates, as shown in FIG. As shown, the toner 128 remains outside the rotation range of the stirring rod 126, making it impossible to use all of the toner in the toner container 104. [0006] These problems did not pose a major problem in replenishment type developers, which have a toner replenishment port in the toner container and replenish toner directly or from a toner cartridge, but they are now widely used due to their ease of use. Disposable developing devices and process cartridges that combine a charging device, a developing device, a cleaning device, a photosensitive drum, etc. have had a major problem in that the toner cannot be used until the end. [0007] In addition, in a disposable developing device or process cartridge, putting the stirring means inside the toner container 104 means putting the drive gear, stirring rod 126, etc. in a small space, which makes it difficult to use the developing device or process cartridge. Since this increases the cost, the running cost also increases, which has become a very big problem. Therefore, as shown in the toner container 129 in FIG.
A possible method is to increase the angle of the toner 9a so that the toner naturally falls near the developing sleeve 103 under its own weight. [0008] However, in this method, since the toner capacity is reduced, it may not be possible to make the angle of the bottom portion 129a very large. Furthermore, if the angle is too large, the force applied to the toner near the developing sleeve 103 will increase initially, causing the toner to aggregate and
There is a problem that toner cannot be supplied to 03 and development cannot be performed. [0009] In addition, by means different from rotary movements such as stirring rods and feeding blades, and toner containers with large angles at the bottom,
One possible method for moving the toner in the toner container is to vibrate the toner container by hitting it to move the toner, but in this case, when the toner container is mechanically or electrically vibrated at a constant cycle. has a photosensitive drum 10
1. The effect appears on the latent image being formed on the surface, the image being developed, and the image being transferred to the transfer material, resulting in the formation of a defective image. [00101 In this case, in order to prevent the image from being affected, it is possible to apply vibration to the toner container at times other than during printing, for example after post-rotation or when replenishing paper, but in order to move the toner, it is possible to apply vibration to a certain degree. This is unsuitable because it causes toner to leak from the developing device and cleaner container, and vibration shortens the life of the main body. [0011] Therefore, the present invention eliminates pitch unevenness and
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can use up toner to the end without causing any adverse effects such as blurring, and does not cause white spots when the remaining amount of toner is small. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that has a simple structure, reduces running costs, and can secure a sufficient amount of toner storage. [0012]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a developer-carrying material on the surface of which a developer is carried, an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; and a developer container containing a developer, and the developer is supplied from the developer container onto the developer carrier to develop the latent image on the image carrier. In the apparatus, at least a portion of the developer container includes a deformable portion, and the developer container includes:
The developer is configured to include a deforming means for deforming at least a portion of the deformable member so as to move the developer therein toward the developer carrier. [0013] Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 2, the deforming means is constituted by a paper feed cassette. [0014]

[Operation] Since the present invention has the above-mentioned means, the developer can be appropriately applied onto the developer carrier. The electrostatic latent image on the image carrier is developed with a developer on the developer carrier. [0015] For example, in conjunction with the above-described developing operation, or at predetermined intervals, the deformable member of the developer container is
Deformed by a deforming means. Then, the developer stored in the developer container is moved toward the developer carrier due to the deformation of the container. Therefore, substantially all of the developer in the developer container is used for development. [0016] In the invention according to claim 2, since the deforming means is a paper feed cassette, the developer container is deformed each time the paper feed cassette is inserted, and the developer is moved toward the developer carrier. . [0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, an embodiment of the developer container will be mainly described with reference to FIG. [0018] A developing device serving as a developing process includes a toner container 4, a developing sleeve 3, and a doctor blade 23, and the developing sleeve 3 is located at a position facing the photosensitive drum 1. A cleaning device for the cleaning process includes a cleaning blade 24 for collecting residual toner of the transferred image on the photosensitive drum 1, a cleaning container 7, and a scooping sheet 2.
Consists of 5.

The lower portion 5 of the toner container 4 is made of soft rubber with a thickness of 2 mm, and is deformable. [00201 FIGS. 2 and 3 show an example in which the deformation means is implemented by a paper feed cassette. The paper feed cassette 10 can hold approximately 200 sheets of paper. When this paper feed cassette 10 is inserted into the main body, the tip of the paper feed cassette 10 is configured to push into the soft portion 5 of the toner container. Figure 3 shows the state in which the paper cassette 10 is completely inserted into the main body.
Shown below. As you can see by comparing with Figure 2, paper cassette 1
The soft portion 5 of the toner container is pushed in by the tip of the sleeve 0, and the toner inside swells up so as to further envelop the sleeve 3. Thereby, toner can be more effectively supplied to the sleeve 3 especially when the remaining amount of toner is low. [00211As a result of an experiment using the device shown in Figure 3, the capacity of the paper feed cassette is approximately 200 sheets, so the toner can be moved in the three directions of the sleeve once every 200 sheets, so the toner can be moved in the three directions of the sleeve until the toner in the toner container is empty. , I was able to print the image without any white spots due to running out of toner. [0022] Furthermore, when a similar experiment was carried out using the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 10, when there was about 500 remaining toner remaining, white spots occurred due to toner exhaustion. The white spots were resolved by shaking the toner container, but after that, about 2
White spots occurred again after printing 00 sheets. This white staining was also resolved by shaking the toner container, but the frequency of whitening increased after that, and this was repeated until the toner ran out. [0023] As described above, according to this embodiment, the toner can be used up without causing white spots on the image due to toner exhaustion. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since no stirring rod is used, pitch unevenness on the image due to torque unevenness caused by the stirring rod does not occur. Furthermore, since no vibration is applied to the toner container, there is no need to worry about image blur or toner leakage caused by vibration. [00241 FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic configuration diagrams showing a second embodiment of the present invention. [0025] Components similar to those in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 are given the same numbers and will not be described repeatedly. [0026] This embodiment is characterized in that the entire toner container 6 is made of a soft rubber member. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the paper feed cassette 10 is inserted into the state shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, it can be seen that the toner container 6 is lifted up by the paper feed force cell 1-10 and the toner inside is moved toward the sleeve 3. In order to smoothly lift the toner container 6 as described above, it is more effective to provide a surface layer with excellent slip properties on the surface of the toner container in the contact portion with the paper feed cassette. In this example, when a printing experiment similar to that in Example 1 was conducted, the same effect as in Example 1 was obtained, and the toner could be used up to the end without white spots due to running out of toner. Ta. [00271 FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic configuration diagrams showing a third embodiment of the present invention. [0028] Parts similar to those in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 are given the same numbers. I will not repeat the explanation. The present embodiment is characterized in that the member that pushes the toner container is not the paper feed cassette but the connecting rod 11 that is interlocked with the power switch 12. The state in Figure 6 is when the power switch is off, and Figure 7
is in the on state. In the state shown in FIG. 7, it can be seen that the soft portion 5 of the toner container is pushed in by the connecting rod 11, and the toner inside is pushed toward the sleeve 3. [00291 A small laser beam printer like the one used in this example is expected to print about 10 to 100 sheets at a time, so white spots may occur even with this configuration. There isn't. Also, even if it operates with the power switch turned on, the
Compared to the conventional example of 0, the possibility of white spots occurring is extremely low.

FIG. 87 FIG. 9 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In other words, a dedicated push rod 13 is used as a deformation means.
An example of this is shown. This rod can be operated from the outside of the case, and is biased by a spring 14. When pushed in the state shown in FIG. 8, the rod deforms the developer container 4 as shown in FIG. Spring 1 when pressed
4, it is pushed back to its original state, resulting in the state shown in FIG. That is, the rod 13 is constructed in the form of a button. The device is normally used in the state shown in FIG. In this example, this special rod is used for every 200 prints.
By pressing 3, the toner is moved toward the sleeve 3, so that the same effect as in the embodiment described above was obtained, and white spots due to toner exhaustion did not occur until the toner ran out. [00311] [Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the developer container is made up of at least a portion of a deformable member, and is provided with a deforming means for deforming the container. The container is modified as appropriate. The developer is therefore pushed out in each case towards the developer carrier. [0032]According to the present invention, the developer is moved simply by deforming the developer container, so the structure is simple and there is no vibration. Therefore, the toner can be used up to the end without adversely affecting the image, such as pitch unevenness or blurring, and without causing white spots even when the remaining amount of toner is low.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of a developer container.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the state of use of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state in which the second embodiment is used.

FIG. 6 is a similar cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a state in which the third embodiment is used.

FIG. 8 is a similar cross-sectional view showing a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of use of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a first conventional example.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a second conventional example.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a third conventional example.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a fourth conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1... Photosensitive drum 3... Developing sleeve 4~
6... Toner container 10... Paper feed cassette 11.
...Connecting rod 13...rod.

[Figure 5]

[Figure 13]

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A developer carrier comprising: a developer carrier on the surface of which a developer is carried; an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; and a developer container containing the developer. In an apparatus in which a developer is supplied from a container onto the developer carrier to develop a latent image on the image carrier,
At least a portion of the developer container is made up of a deformable portion, and the developer container is configured such that at least a portion of the developer container is deformed through the deformable member, and the developer inside is transferred to the developer container through the deformable member. An image forming apparatus comprising a deforming means for deforming the agent so as to move it toward the agent carrier. 2. An image forming apparatus, wherein the deforming means according to claim 1 is a paper feed cassette.