JPS602660B2 - developing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to cleaning the light-emitting surface and light-receiving surface of an optical sensor for detecting when a developing agent is replenished in a developing unit of an electronic copying machine.

One of the means for detecting the replenishment of developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) in the developing device, that is, the amount of developer remaining, detects the light between the light-receiving surface and the light-emitting surface of the optical sensor when there is toner and when there is no toner. There are some methods that take advantage of the fact that the transmittance of

FIG. 1 shows a general example of this. 1 is a toner hopper, 2 is a rotating sleeve containing a fixed roller magnetized with N/B, 3 is a plate that regulates the toner layer thickness on the sleeve surface, and P' 4 is a light-emitting surface, 5 is a light-receiving surface, and the light received by the light-receiving surface is sent to the photoelectric element through a light guide.
The amount of light is converted into an electrical signal such as voltage, and when the amount of light becomes less than a set value, a replenishment notification or an automatic replenishment mechanism is activated. In the above configuration, since toner is always in contact with the light emitting surface 4 and the light receiving surface 5, the toner adheres to the light transmittance and reduces the light transmittance, resulting in malfunctions and failure to properly detect replenishment. easy.

Furthermore, since the toner supplied in large quantities to the hopper 1 is likely to crosslink due to blocking, especially if the distance between the side walls of the hopper is not large, a toner crosslinking prevention device is used.

A specific example of the present invention uses the above-mentioned crosslinking prevention device to constantly clean the surfaces of the optical sensor elements 4 and 5 of the replenishment detection device to prevent a decrease in light transmittance, thereby eliminating the above drawbacks. It is characterized by

Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings. Reference numeral 6 denotes a rotating shaft provided in the hopper parallel to the sleeve 2, and 7 a toner retaining blade attached to the shaft 6, which is rotated constantly or intermittently to prevent cross-linking of the toner.

Divide the above-mentioned Nohaihane 7 as shown in Figure 2, and make one part 7.
Both ends 7a of a. - The optical sensor elements 4 and 5 are arranged facing each other facing the rotation path of 7a2.

Then, facing the light emitting body 4 and the light receiving body 5, the cleaning member 8 is softened and formed on the blade 7a by, for example, flocking or pasting with velvet. 11 is a cleaning member mounting base. In this way, the optical sensor surface is rubbed by the cleaning member 8 every time the blade 7 rotates, thereby preventing toner from adhering to the surface, making it possible to detect toner replenishment in a very stable manner.

3 and 4 show another embodiment, in which a comb-shaped toner register plate 9 is arranged along one side wall surface of the hopper 1, and
The cam 10', which rotates together with the cam 2, is moved up and down to prevent cross-linking of the toner.

By providing the cleaning member 8 on the screen of one of the boundary plates 9 9a to clean the surfaces of the optical sensors 4 and 5, the same effect as in the previous example was obtained.

The present invention uses a toner cross-linking prevention device to prevent toner from adhering to the optical sensor of the toner replenishment detection device and prevent malfunction thereof, and there is no need to provide a special cleaning device. , composed of a single pith and inexpensively.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. i is a schematic diagram of a phenomenon device equipped with the device of the present invention, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a modified example, and FIG. 4l is a partial plan view thereof. 1 is the hopper, 2 is the sleeve, 3 is the blade, 4-5 is the light emitting surface and light receiving surface of the optical sensor, 7 and 9 are the toner loss floating blades,
8 is a cleaning member. Figure 1 Figure 2 * Figure 3 Tsutomu diagram

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1: a container for storing a developer, a developer stirring means for stirring the developer in the container to prevent crosslinking of the developer, a residual developer detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the developer, and the above-mentioned developer stirring means. 1. A developing device comprising: a cleaning device for cleaning a detection surface of the developer remaining amount detection device.