JPH04340986A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a developing device capable of resolving the failure of the deformation of a stirring stick, the missing of the tooth of a driving gear, etc., by reducing a load acting on the stirring stick. CONSTITUTION:In the developing device 10 having a toner container (developing container) 2, housing toner (t) as a developer and the stirring stick 1 stirring/ carrying the toner (t), the stirring/carrying part 1a of the stirring stick 1 is made into a plate shape. Therefore, rotational resistance inside the toner (t) of the stirring stick 1 is minimized, and the load acting on the stirring stick 1 and its driving system can be reduced so that the problems of the deformation of the stirring stick 1, the missing of the tooth of the driving gear for driving tame stirring stick 1, the trouble of the driving system, etc., are resolved.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer using electrophotographic technology.

0002

[Prior Art] Such a developing device agitates toner, which is a developer, inside a toner container by rotating a stirring rod, and sends the toner out of the toner container, and transfers the toner onto the circumferential surface of a developing sleeve, which is a developer carrier. The latent image is developed by magnetically attaching it and bringing it close to the latent image formed on the image carrier. FIG. 11 shows a conventional toner container 10.
2 to the toner container 10 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 and FIG.
An example in which a stirring rod 101 is provided inside each of the two is shown.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, since the conventional stirring rod 101 is composed of a round rod as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, it is difficult to use the stirring rod 101 to
2 to the developing sleeve 103, a high load may be applied to the stirring rod 101.
Problems such as missing teeth in the drive gear (not shown) that drives the stirrer 101, failure of the drive system, and deformation of the stirring rod 101 have occurred.

[0004] Also, the developing sleeve 1 is removed from the toner container 102.
When the toner t is supplied to the toner 03, a high load may be applied to the stirring rod 101 due to the toner t that has been made denser by tapping, and in this case, the same problem as described above has occurred.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to reduce the load acting on the stirring rod and eliminate problems such as deformation of the stirring rod and chipping of teeth in the drive gear. The object of the present invention is to provide a developing device that can.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, a first invention provides a developing device having a developing container that houses a developer and a stirring rod for stirring and transporting the developer. It is characterized by having a flat plate shape.

[0007] A second aspect of the present invention is a developing device having a developing container containing a developer, characterized in that a partition is provided on the developing container or on the stirring rod.

[0008]

[Operation] According to the first invention, since the stirring rod is configured in a flat plate shape, the rotational resistance of the stirring rod in the developer is suppressed to a low level, and the load acting on the stirring rod is reduced. Problems such as deformation and tooth loss in the drive gear are eliminated.

Further, according to the second invention, free movement of the developer within the developer container is suppressed by the partition, thereby preventing the developer from increasing in density due to tapping, and thereby preventing deterioration of development performance. At the same time, the load on the stirring rod and drive system is reduced, and the same effects as the first invention can be obtained.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the first invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cutaway perspective view of a toner container of a developing device according to the first invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same developing device.

The developing device 10 is arranged close to a photosensitive drum 11, which is an image carrier rotating in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and includes a toner container 2, a developing sleeve 3, which is a developer carrier rotating in the direction of the arrow, and a blade. 7, etc., and a toner t as a developer and a stirring rod 1 for stirring the toner t are housed in the toner container 2.

The stirring rod 1 is bent into a U-shape, and the stirring/conveying portion 1a at the center thereof is rolled and formed into a flat plate. Both ends of the stirring rod 1 are rotatably supported by the toner container 2 via bearings 8, and the stirring rod 1 is rotatably driven by a drive motor (not shown) to agitate the toner t and develop it. It is transported to the sleeve 3 side and subjected to development.

In this embodiment, since the stirring/conveying portion 1a of the stirring rod 1 is formed into a flat plate shape as described above, the rotational resistance of the stirring rod 1 within the toner t is suppressed to a low level. The load acting on the stirring rod 1 and its drive system is reduced. As a result, problems such as deformation of the stirring bar 1, tooth loss in the drive gear for driving the stirring bar 1, or failure of the drive system are eliminated.

It should be noted that the stirring bar 1 (stirring/conveying section 1) shown in FIG.
If the gap b between a) and the toner container 2 is large, the load acting on stirring and transporting the toner t will be reduced, but the original function of the stirring rod 1 to transport the toner to the developing sleeve 3 will be impaired. The gap b should be set to a value that allows the rotational resistance of the stirring rod 1 to be kept small within a range that does not impair the original function of the stirring rod 1.

By the way, the stirring rod 1 does not have to be a round rod, and the stirring/conveying section 1a does not have to be entirely flat, but only needs to be partially formed into a flat plate.

Various embodiments of the stirring rod 1 are shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. 3 to 5 are perspective views of various types of stirring rods 1. FIG.

The stirring rod 1 shown in FIG. 3 is obtained by forming a flat material such as a sheet metal into a U-shape, and has a stirring/conveying portion 1a.
remains in the form of a flat plate.

Further, the stirring bar 1 shown in FIG. 4 is obtained by molding, and its stirring/conveying portion 1a is formed into a flat plate shape.

Furthermore, the stirring rod 1 shown in FIG. 5 has a flat stirring/conveying portion 1a formed by welding flat plate parts.

Next, a first embodiment of the second invention will be explained based on FIGS. 6 and 7. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the toner container of the developing device according to the second invention, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the same developing device, and in these figures, the parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are different from each other. Identical elements are given the same reference numerals.
Hereinafter, explanations about them will be omitted.

In this embodiment, in the toner container 2,
Multiple partitions 4 for suppressing free movement of toner t
are formed at appropriate intervals in the direction in which the toner t is transported.

In the toner container 2, the free movement of the toner t is suppressed by the partition 4, thereby preventing the toner t from becoming denser due to tapping, which is harmful to the developing device 10. This prevents the occurrence of excessive resistance and deterioration of developing performance.

[0024] The partition 4 is not limited to a plate-like one, but may be of any shape. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, the partition 4 may have a U-shape with its center section cut out, and in short, it can suppress the free movement of the toner t within the toner container 2. It's fine as long as it's something.

A second embodiment of the second invention is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. 9 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the toner container of the developing device according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the developing device, and these figures also have the same features as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Identical elements are given the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, a stirring rod 1 is rotatably provided in the toner container 2, and the stirring rod 1 is rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown) to stir the toner t and transfer it to the developing sleeve 3. transport in the direction. A plurality (three in this embodiment) of disc-shaped partitions 4 are attached to the stirring bar 2 at appropriate intervals in the direction of transport of the toner t.

The partition 4 rotates together with the stirring rod 1 in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and similarly to the first embodiment, in order to suppress the free movement of the toner t, high density is generated by tapping the toner t. Therefore, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

The number and shape of the partitions 4 are not limited to those in the above embodiment, and the partitions 4 may be provided partially on the stirring bar 1.

[0029]

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, according to the first invention, since the stirring rod is configured in a flat plate shape, the rotational resistance of the stirring rod in the developer is suppressed to a low level, and the effect on the stirring rod is reduced. The effect is that the load on the stirrer is reduced, and problems such as deformation of the stirring rod and chipping of the drive gear are eliminated.

Further, according to the second invention, free movement of the developer within the developer container is suppressed by the partition, thereby preventing the developer from increasing in density due to tapping, and thereby preventing deterioration in development performance. At the same time, the load on the stirring rod and the stirring rod drive system is reduced, and the same effects as the first invention can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cutaway perspective view of a toner container of a developing device according to a first invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the developing device according to the first invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a stirring bar.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a stirring bar.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a stirring bar.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the toner container of the developing device according to the first embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the developing device according to the first embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a developing device showing a modification of the first embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a toner container of a developing device according to a second embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a developing device according to a second embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 11 is a cutaway perspective view of a conventional toner container.

FIG. 12 is a cutaway perspective view of a toner container showing a conventional stirring bar.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a conventional developing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Stirring rod 1a Stirring/conveying section 2 Toner container (developer container) 4
Partition 10 Developing device t Toner (developer)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A developing device having a developing container configured to house a developer and a stirring rod for stirring and transporting the developer, characterized in that the stirring rod is shaped like a flat plate. 2. A developing device having a developing container containing a developer, characterized in that the developing container or the stirring rod is provided with a partition.