JP6414848B2 - Developer supply container, developing device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer supply container mounted on a developing device.

  Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, when a developer is used and consumed, a developer replenishment method is newly employed in which a new developer is replenished. As the developer replenishing method, a method of replenishing the developer by replacing a developer replenishing container such as a toner bottle that is detachable from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is used.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a cylindrical toner bottle, which is a detachable developer supply container, is filled with toner, which is a developer, and is rotated and held on a rotation shaft that is rotatably provided in the toner bottle. In addition, there is described a developer stirring and conveying member provided with a flexible member whose sliding end side is in sliding contact with the inner wall surface of the toner bottle.

  The developer stirring and conveying member elastically deforms the flexible member by sliding the flexible member against the inner wall surface of the toner bottle, and generates a force in a predetermined direction along with the deformation. The toner inside is agitated and conveyed in the rotation direction of the developer agitating and conveying member, and the toner is conveyed in the direction of the rotation axis toward the toner replenishing port. In this way, the amount of residual toner in the toner bottle can be reduced by conveying the toner in the direction of the rotation axis toward the toner supply port. The toner supplied from the toner replenishing port to the developer container is sufficiently stirred and conveyed in the developer container and supplied to the developing roller, which is a developer carrying member.

JP 2003-156927 A

  Toner bottles are generally stored in factories, warehouses, users, etc. after production until they are mounted on an image forming apparatus and used. So-called toner blocking (including soft blocking) in which toner aggregates and hardens may occur. In particular, toner blocking tends to occur when stored for a long time in a high temperature and high humidity environment. Further, when the toner bottle is stored for a long time in an upside down or sideways posture as viewed from the state where the toner bottle is mounted on the image forming apparatus, toner blocking occurs on the upper surface or side surface of the toner bottle. Normally, even when toner blocking occurs, the toner stirring and conveying member provided inside the toner bottle releases toner blocking and conveys the toner.

  However, in recent years, in order to reduce toner leakage when the toner bottle is replaced, the opening width of the toner replenishing port connected to the toner bottle and the developer container (in particular, the opening width in the rotation axis direction of the toner stirring and conveying member) is reduced. There is a need to make it smaller. In the case of a toner bottle having such a toner replenishing port configuration, once toner blocking occurs, it becomes difficult to supply toner to the developer container while breaking the toner mass with the toner stirring and conveying member. If the toner is supplied before the lump of toner is broken, the image forming apparatus may be clogged with toner, or the output image may have image quality defects.

  However, with the toner agitating and conveying member provided in the toner bottle described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to release toner blocking at an early stage and supply the sufficiently disassembled toner to the developer container. There was a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a developer replenishing container that can sufficiently replenish the developer with a simple configuration .

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a developer supply container that is detachable from a developer container that contains a developer, and that supplies the developer to the developer container. The sheet member includes a freely arranged sheet member, and the sheet member includes a first developer conveying unit that conveys the developer in an axial direction of the rotating shaft, and the first developer conveying unit includes the rotating shaft. distance between are formed at different positions, have a, a second developer conveying means for conveying the developer in a direction opposite to the said first developer conveying means, said first and second developing Each of the agent conveying means is configured by arranging a plurality of openings .

According to the present invention , the developer can be sufficiently stirred and replenished with a simple configuration .

1 is a schematic view of a developing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a plurality of developer conveying units included in the agitating / conveying member. It is an example of the opening part formed in the conveyance surface of a sheet member. It is another example of the opening part formed in the conveyance surface of a sheet member. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an initial state in which toner is supplied from a toner bottle to a developer container. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an initial state in which toner is supplied from a toner bottle to a developer container. It is a schematic diagram explaining 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a case where a toner replenishing port is not positioned at the center in the axial direction of the rotation shaft of the stirring and conveying member. It is a mimetic diagram explaining a 3rd embodiment concerning the present invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining 4th Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the other example of 4th Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the other example of 4th Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the other example of 4th Embodiment which concerns on this invention.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Configuration of developing device)
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a developing device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The developing device 1 is an apparatus used for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile employing an electrophotographic system. The developing device 1 charges a developing roll 3 as a developer carrying body for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum, which is an image carrying body (not shown), and a toner 8 as a developer while charging the developing roll. 3 and a developing blade 4 that regulates the toner layer formed on the surface of 3.

  A developer container 2 of the developing device 1 is a container for storing toner 8 as a developer used when visualizing an electrostatic latent image, and includes a toner conveying member 5 that supplies and conveys the toner 8 to the developing roll 3. And an agitating and conveying member 6 for agitating and conveying the toner 8 in the developer container 2 and supplying and conveying the toner 8 to the toner conveying member 5.

(Configuration of toner bottle)
The toner bottle 7 is a developer supply container that can be attached to and detached from the developer container 2 and has a cylindrical shape. The toner bottle 7 has a toner replenishing port 9 which is an opening (developer replenishing port) in which the magnetic one-component toner 8 is accommodated in the container and the toner 8 is replenished to the developer container 2. . Further, the toner bottle 7 has a rotating shaft 12 in the height direction of the cylindrical shape, and has a stirring and conveying member 10 that can rotate around the rotating shaft 12 and stir and convey the toner 8 in the toner bottle 7. The agitating and conveying member 10 supplies and conveys the toner 8 in the toner bottle 7 to the developer container 2 through the toner supply port 9. The supplied toner 8 is guided to the stirring and conveying member 6 facing the toner supply port 9.

(Configuration of toner bottle stirring and conveying member)
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a plurality of developer conveying means included in the agitating / conveying member 10. The agitating / conveying member 6 and the toner bottle 7 of the developer container 2 are connected to the developer container 2 through the toner supply port 9. It is the schematic diagram which looked at the inside of the structure attached so that the stirring conveyance member 10 may be located side by side from the upper part.

The agitating / conveying member 10 of the toner bottle 7 includes a rotating shaft 12 extending along the same direction as the rotating shaft of the developing roller 3, a side perpendicular to the rotating shaft 12, and the rotating shaft 12. And a sheet member 14 that is a sheet-like member having a substantially quadrilateral conveying surface 13 having sides in the axial direction. The sheet member 14 is attached to the rotary shaft 12 so as to be rotatable around the rotary shaft 12 inside the toner bottle 7. The toner bottle 7 filled with the toner 8 is filled with the toner supplied to the developer container 2 through the toner replenishing port 9 in a state where the rotating shaft 12 of the stirring and conveying member 10 is embedded in the toner 8. 8 is stored.

(Configuration of two developer conveying means of the stirring and conveying member of the toner bottle)
The sheet member 14 includes a plurality of developer conveying units that convey the toner 8 along the axial direction of the rotation shaft 12 between the rotation center and the rotation end in the rotation radius direction. The plurality of developer conveying means rotate the sheet member 14 around the rotation shaft 12 from the lower part of the toner bottle 7 to the upper part of the toner bottle 7 through the toner replenishing port 9, thereby moving on the surface of the conveying surface 13. A function of conveying and moving the toner 8 along the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12 is provided. The plurality of developer conveying means extends on the conveying surface 13 of the sheet member 14 along the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12, and the first developer conveying means 15 and the first developer conveying means 15 are rotated. The second developer conveying means 16 is formed at a position where the distance from the shaft 12 is different . The first developer conveying means 15 is disposed adjacent to the rotating end side of the rotating shaft 12 on the outer side in the rotational radial direction than the second developer conveying means 16.

  Here, the transport direction of the toner 8 by the first developer transport unit 15 and the transport direction of the toner 8 by the second developer transport unit 16 are configured to be opposite to each other with respect to the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12. Has been. The developer conveying units 15 and 16 whose conveying directions are opposite to each other form the respective toner conveying paths 11 on the surface of the conveying surface 13 as the stirring and conveying member 10 rotates. In the toner transport path 11, the toner 8 transported to the one end side in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 12 by the first developer transporting unit 15 along the surface of the transport surface 13, this time from the one end side to the first end. The path is such that the second developer transport means 16 transports the developer so as to circulate toward the opposite end side.

  The toner conveyance path 11 prevents the toner 8 from staying at the shaft end of the rotating shaft 12 of the toner bottle 7 and can stir the toner 8 so as to make it more uniform. Furthermore, since the toner 8 in the toner bottle 7 can be circulated in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 12 of the stirring and conveying member 10, toner blocking is eliminated at an early stage, and the toner 8 in a sufficiently unwound state is removed from the developer container 2. Can be supplied to.

  The first developer conveying means 15 and the second developer conveying means 16 have a structure in which a plurality of openings 17 having a predetermined shape as described below are arranged in rows on the conveying surface 13 of the sheet member 14. Have

  The opening 17 has such a shape that the size of the opening (opening width) in the direction perpendicular to the toner conveyance direction along the axial direction increases toward the downstream side in the toner conveyance direction. Here, when the conveyance surface 13 rotates about the axis of the rotation shaft 12, the toner 8 pushed and moved by the conveyance surface 13 opens the opening 17 from the front side of the conveyance surface 13 toward the back side (front to rear in the rotation direction). When coming out, the smaller opening width of the opening portion 17 becomes resistance to the movement of the toner 8. Therefore, the resistance when the toner 8 passes through the opening 17 can be reduced, and the toner 8 moves toward the larger opening width. This movement of the toner 8 causes toner conveyance in a predetermined direction. This is because the toner 8 is pushed by the transport surface 13 and moved in the direction in which the pressure from the toner 8 on the rotating transport surface 13 decreases, that is, in the direction in which the opening width increases. This is because the toner is conveyed to the toner.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the opening 17 formed on the conveying surface 13 of the sheet member 14 as the developer conveying means.

The opening 17 is a hole having a shape in which the apex of the triangle faces in the direction opposite to the direction in which the toner 8 is conveyed so that the opening width increases so that the pressure of the toner 8 received by the conveying surface 13 decreases. . Therefore, the direction of the vertices of the triangles of the plurality of openings 17 of the first developer conveying means 15 and the triangles of the plurality of openings 17 of the second developer conveying means 16, which have a reverse relationship in the toner conveying direction. The directions of the vertices are opposite to each other.

  The shape of the opening 17 formed on the conveying surface 13 of the sheet member 14 may be any shape that causes the movement of the toner 8 as described above by the rotation of the stirring and conveying member 10 inside the toner bottle 7. Now, an example in which the shape of the opening 17 is a trapezoid will be described.

The opening 17, with respect to the direction you want to transport the toner 8, placing a trapezoidal shape to the conveying surface 13 so that the opening size (opening width) increases spread. That is, the trapezoidal opening 17 is formed in the triangular opening 17 of the two developer conveying means 15 and 16 in FIG. 2 so that the upper base and the lower base of the trapezoid are located in the direction in which the toner 8 is to be conveyed. These are provided in place of each other, and have the same stirring effect of the toner 8.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an initial state in which the toner 8 starts to be supplied from the toner bottle 7 to the developer container 2.

  FIG. 5A is a schematic side sectional view of the developing device 1 in an initial state in which the toner 8 starts to be supplied from the toner bottle 7 to the developer container 2, and FIG. 5B is a schematic view of the toner bottle 7 at that time. It is the cross-sectional schematic diagram which looked at from the upper direction.

  In an initial state in which the toner 8 starts to be replenished to the developer container 2, the agitating and conveying member 10 in the toner bottle 7 rotates around the rotation shaft 12, so that the conveying surface 13 of the sheet member 14 rotates outward in the rotational radius direction. The toner 8 is conveyed so as to be supplied to the developer container 2 at the rotation end side. At that time, the first developer conveying means 15 and the second developer conveying means 16 make the direction along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 12 of the stirring and conveying member 10 (the direction along the longitudinal direction of the toner supply port 9). ) Also carries the toner 8. Here, the axial direction of the rotating shaft 12 of the stirring and conveying member 10 is also a direction along the longitudinal direction of the toner bottle 7. The longitudinal direction of the toner bottle 7 is also the direction along the longitudinal direction of the toner supply port 9 and the rotational axis direction of the developing roll 3.

  The toner 8 in the toner bottle 7 is sufficiently agitated by the transport movement of the toner 8 by the two developer transport means 15 and 16, and the uniform state along the longitudinal direction of the toner bottle 7 is the same as the developer so far. Compared with the state of the container, it was confirmed that it was made more uniform. Even when toner blocking occurs, the toner 8 in the toner bottle 7 can be reciprocated and circulated along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 12 of the agitating and conveying member 10, so that toner blocking can be eliminated early and sufficiently solved. The toner 8 can be supplied to the developer container 2 with the toner 8 in the state of being formed.

  Next, another example of the configuration for realizing the conveyance of the toner 8 along the axial direction of the rotation shaft 12 formed on the conveyance surface 13 of the sheet member 14 will be described.

  FIGS. 6A to 6D are explanatory views of the cut portion 18 formed on the conveying surface 13 of the sheet member 14.

  In the two developer conveying means 15 and 16, the agitating / conveying member 10 is located behind the rotation axis 12 around the rotation axis 12 (back side of the sheet member 14 with respect to the rotation direction) in the direction in which the toner 8 is desired to be conveyed. A cut portion 18 is formed so as to be bent to form an opening (FIG. 6A). The notch 18 is moved so that the toner 8 moves from the side having no notch to the tip of the bent piece of the notch 18 due to the pressure from the toner 8 received by the conveying surface 13 of the sheet member 14 as the stirring and conveying member 10 rotates. Shape. When the pressure from the toner 8 is applied to the conveying surface 13, the toner 8 moves in the direction in which the opening is formed in the cut portion 18, thereby conveying the toner 8 in each predetermined direction.

The opening formed in the cut portion 18 may be U-shaped, triangular, or trapezoidal (FIGS. 6B, 6C, and 6D). In the case of a U-shaped notch, it bends with the pressure from the toner 8 from the non-notched side to the opposite notched side. In this way, the toner 8 can be transported by moving to the tongue-shaped cut portion 18 in which the toner 8 is bent.

  In the case of a triangular cut, a cut is formed from the bottom side of the triangle to the apex side so as to be easily bent by the pressure from the toner 8, and the toner 8 is conveyed in that direction.

  In the case of a trapezoidal cut, a cut is formed from the lower base side to the upper base side for the same reason, and the toner 8 is conveyed in that direction. Since the trapezoidal shape has more sides than the triangular shape, the size of the opening (opening width) in the direction perpendicular to the toner conveyance direction can be easily adjusted, so that the toner conveyance amount can be easily adjusted.

  In the above embodiment, the plurality of openings 17 and the plurality of notches 18 formed in the two developer conveying means 15 and 16 are substantially the same size, and have the same conveying force. It was set to be about. However, the conveying force of the toner 8 can be set by appropriately selecting the size of each part such as a side of the shape of the opening 17 or the cutting direction of the cut part 18 and the size of each part of the shape.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a second embodiment according to the present invention.

  Here, each of the first developer conveying means 15 on the rotation end side on the outer side in the rotation radius direction of the sheet member 14 and the second developer conveying means 16 on the rotation axis side in the rotation radius direction are respectively The direction in which the toner 8 is conveyed in the same developer conveying means is reversed with the region facing the toner replenishing port 9 on the conveying surface 13 of the sheet member 14 as a boundary. Thereby, both the toner discharging property from the toner bottle 7 to the developer container 2 through the toner supply port 9 and the toner circulation property in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 12 are compatible.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the first developer conveying means 15 on the rotation end side on the outer side in the rotation radius direction of the sheet member 14 moves from the axial end portion side of the rotation shaft 12 to a region facing the toner supply port 9. The toner 8 is configured to be conveyed.

  This is because when the developer in the toner bottle 7 decreases, the first developer transport means 15 on the rotating end side has a function of transporting the toner 8 in the toner bottle 7 to the toner supply port 9. As a result, the second developer conveying means 16 on the rotating shaft 12 side of the sheet member 14 is not in contact with the toner 8, and its replenishment function is not fulfilled. Even in such a case, in order to supply the toner 8 in the toner bottle 7 to the developer container 2 without leaving it, it is necessary to collect the reduced amount of toner 8 in the toner bottle 7 to the toner supply port 9. Therefore, the first developer conveying means 15 that maintains and exhibits the function of conveying to the toner replenishing port 9 is configured to convey the toner 8 at the end toward the toner replenishing port 9, thereby improving efficiency. The toner can be supplied to the developer container 2 well.

  The configuration of a specific developer conveying means that exhibits the above-described effects will be described in detail below.

  The first developer transport means 15 transports the toner in the direction from the both ends in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 12 toward the region on the transport surface 13 facing the toner supply port 9, and transports the second developer. The means 16 transports toner in a direction from the region on the transport surface 13 facing the toner supply port 9 toward both ends of the rotary shaft 12 in the axial direction. In this way, the toner 8 in the toner bottle 7 is transported from the region on the transport surface 13 facing the toner replenishing port 9 to both ends in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 12 of the stirring transport member 10, and then replenished with toner. A first developer conveying means 15 and a second developer conveying means 16 are provided so as to be conveyed and moved back to the region on the conveying surface 13 facing the opening 9.

  Therefore, on the conveyance surface 13 of the sheet member 14 of the agitating and conveying member 10, the second developer conveying means 16, with respect to the axial direction of the rotation shaft 12, has a rotation shaft 12 with a region facing the toner supply port 9 as a boundary. An opening 17 and a notch 18 are formed so as to convey toner to both ends in the axial direction.

  Further, the first developer conveying means 15 is conveyed to both ends by the second developer conveying means on the conveying surface 13 outside the rotation radius (rotating end side) of the second developer conveying means 15. An opening 17 and a notch 18 are formed so as to convey the toner 8 so as to return to the region facing the toner supply port 9.

  With this configuration, the toner 8 in the toner bottle 7 is sufficiently stirred, and the toner 8 in the longitudinal direction of the toner bottle 7 can be made uniform. Furthermore, when the remaining amount of toner in the toner bottle 7 is small, the toner can be positively conveyed to the toner supply port 9 side by the first developer conveying means 15 on the rotation end side of the sheet member 14. The remaining amount of toner in the toner bottle 7 can be efficiently reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, even if the toner replenishing port 9 is not located near the center in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 12 of the stirring and conveying member 6 due to the arrangement of the entire apparatus, Configuration can be applied. The configuration of the two developer conveying means 15 and 16 described above is formed on the conveying surface 13 so that the region facing the toner replenishing port 9 is the boundary described above. Similar effects can be obtained.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining a case where the toner replenishing port 9 is not positioned at the center in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 12 of the stirring and conveying member 10.

  As shown in FIG. 8, even if the toner replenishing port 9 is not positioned near the center in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 12 of the stirring and conveying member 10 due to the arrangement of the entire apparatus, the configuration of this embodiment is the same. Can be applied. The configuration of the two developer conveying means 15 and 16 described above is formed on the conveying surface 13 so that the region on the conveying surface 13 facing the toner replenishing port 9 is the boundary opposite to the above-described conveying. Thus, the same effects of the developer conveying units 15 and 16 can be obtained.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining a third embodiment according to the present invention.

  Here, the toner conveyance force in the rotation direction around the rotation shaft 12 by the first developer conveyance means 15 and the toner conveyance force in the rotation direction around the rotation shaft 12 by the second developer conveyance means 16 are described. It makes a difference in power. More specifically, the toner conveyance force to the toner replenishing port 9 due to the rotation of the sheet member 14 is greater than the first developer conveyance region than the region of the conveyance surface 13 where the second developer conveyance unit 16 is disposed. The area of the conveying surface 13 where the means 15 is arranged is larger.

  Note that the stirring and conveying member 10 can be applied to the present embodiment even if it is the two developer conveying means 15 and 16 of various forms in the first embodiment and the second embodiment. For example, as long as the shape of the opening 17 and the notch 18 satisfies the predetermined relationship between the toner conveyance direction and the opening width, the shape shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 in addition to the shape shown in FIG. May be. Further, as the arrangement of the opening 17 and the notch 18 in the two developer conveying means 15 and 16, the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and the configuration of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are combined. It may be.

  As described above, the size of the opening 17 or the notch 18 of the first developer conveying means 15 of the present embodiment is made smaller than the size of the opening 17 or the notching 18 of the second developer conveying means 16. Yes. With this configuration, the toner conveying force in the rotational direction around the rotation shaft 12 by the first developer conveying means 15 is made smaller than the toner conveying force in the same rotational direction of the second developer conveying means 16. ing. That is, the amount of the toner 8 that passes through the opening 17 or the notch portion 18 of the first developer conveying means 15 from the front side to the back side of the conveying surface 13 is made smaller than that of the second developer conveying means 16. Yes.

  With this configuration, the toner 8 in the toner bottle 7 is sufficiently agitated, and the conveying force of the toner 8 in the direction of the toner replenishing port 9 is increased from the side of the agitating / conveying member 10 closer to the rotating shaft 12 of the sheet member 14. Also, it can be increased on the rotating end side in the rotational radius direction. Therefore, the toner 8 can be easily supplied to the toner supply port 9 and can be stably performed.

  In particular, the second embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 showing the toner transport path 11 for returning the toner 8 at the end to the region facing the toner replenishing port 9, and the opening of the first developer transport means 15 is the second. By combining with the present embodiment in which the toner conveying force in the direction of the toner replenishing port 9 can be increased on the rotating end side of the sheet member 14 by making it smaller than the opening of the developer conveying means 16. The toner 8 in the toner bottle 7 can be efficiently supplied to the developer container 2.

(Fourth embodiment)
10 and 11 are schematic views for explaining a fourth embodiment according to the present invention.

  Here, the toner conveying force in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 12 by the developer conveying means 15, 16 is the conveying force toward the end from the axial center in the vicinity of the axial end on the conveying surface 13. It is set as the structure smaller than the conveyance force which goes to a center part from a part.

  In addition, the stirring conveyance member 10 can apply the thing similar to the two developer conveyance means 15 and 16 of the various forms in 1st Embodiment, 2nd Embodiment, and 3rd Embodiment.

  In addition to these various forms, the present embodiment further has a configuration in which the toner transport amounts at the axial ends of the rotating shafts 12 of the two developer transport units 15 and 16 are different between the two developer transport units. Has been applied. This is an effect obtained by using an increase in the amount of toner transport along the axial direction when the size of the opening 17 and the notch 18 is increased.

  In the configuration of FIG. 10, the opening 17 of the second developer conveying means 16 at the axial end of the rotating shaft 12 of the stirring and conveying member 10 is made smaller than the opening 17 of the first developer conveying means 15. ing. With this configuration, it is possible to provide a difference in the toner transport amount in the transport direction of each of the two developer transport means 15 and 16 in the axial end region. Specifically, by reducing the toner conveying force in the end direction at the axial end of the second developer conveying means 16, the amount of toner conveyed from the central portion to the end along the axial direction is reduced. doing.

  In this way, it is possible to reduce the force for pressing the toner 8 against the inner wall of the developer container 2 at the end in the axial direction, and it is possible to suppress the retention amount of the toner 8 in the vicinity of the wall.

  In the configuration of FIG. 11, the opening 17 of the first developer conveying means 15 at the axial end of the rotating shaft 12 of the stirring and conveying member 10 is made to pass through the opening 17 of the second developer conveying means 16. It is getting bigger. With this configuration, it is possible to provide a difference in the toner transport amount in the transport direction of each of the two developer transport means 15 and 16 in the axial end region. Specifically, by increasing the toner conveying force toward the central portion at the axial end portion of the first developer conveying means 15, the central portion side (the central side of the toner bottle 7) from the axial end portion. The amount of toner 8 to be conveyed to is increased.

  As described above, by reducing the amount of the toner 8 at the end portion in the axial direction, the retention amount of the toner 8 in the vicinity of the inner wall of the developer container 2 can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, the effect can be further increased by combining the configuration of FIG. 10 and the configuration of FIG. 11. That is, the opening 17 at the end in the axial direction of the second developer conveying means 16 is made smaller than the opening 17 other than the end of the same developer conveying means 16, and the axial direction of the first developer conveying means 15 is made. The opening 17 at the end is made larger than the opening 17 other than the end of the same developer conveying means 15.

  With this configuration, it is possible to increase the amount of returning the toner 8 to the central portion while suppressing the force of pressing the toner 8 against the inner wall, so that the retention amount of the toner 8 in the vicinity of the inner wall of the toner bottle 7 can be further suppressed. Can be sufficiently stirred.

  12 and 13 are schematic views for explaining still another example of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 12, at the axial end of the rotating shaft 12 of the agitating and conveying member 10, the arrangement interval between the openings 17 of the second developer conveying means 16 is the opening of the first developer conveying means 15. It is formed larger than the arrangement interval between the portions 17. When the arrangement interval is increased, the toner conveyance amount can be reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13, a configuration is provided in which the toner 8 is transported at the end of the second developer transport unit 16 in the direction opposite to the transport direction by the second developer transport unit 16. In the configuration of FIG. 13, the opening 17 at the end of the second developer conveying means 16 is opposite to the opening 17 of the other second developer conveying means 16, and the first developer conveying means 15. The opening 17 is formed in the same direction as the opening 17. By forming the opening 17 in the reverse direction, the toner conveyance amount can be reduced.

  Also with these configurations, it is possible to provide a difference in the toner transport amount in the transport direction of each of the two developer transport means 15 and 16 in the region of the end portion in the axial direction of the transport surface 13. 10 and 11, the toner transport amount to the central portion side by the first developer transport means 15 rather than the toner transport amount to the end portion side by the second developer transport means 16. Can be more. Therefore, the toner 8 can be sufficiently stirred while avoiding stagnation of the toner 8 at the inner end of the developer container 2, which is the same effect as that obtained by the configuration of FIGS. 10 and 11.

  The opening 17 shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 has the shape shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 in addition to the shape shown in FIG. 3 as long as the opening 17 has a shape satisfying the relationship between the predetermined toner conveyance direction and the opening width. It may be a thing. Further, as the toner circulation path 11 for toner circulation based on the arrangement of the openings 17 and the notches 18 in the two developer conveyance means 15 and 16, the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The configuration of the second embodiment shown may be combined.

  In particular, the second embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 showing the toner transport path 11 for returning the toner 8 at the end to the region facing the toner supply port 9, and the center portion from the end to the toner transport force toward the end. In combination with the present embodiment, which can increase the toner conveying force toward the toner supply port 9 side, the toner 8 in the toner bottle 7 can be supplied to the developer container 2 more efficiently. .

  Further, by combining the present embodiment with the configuration of the two developer conveying means 15 and 16 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the third embodiment, the end portion inside the developer container 2 of the third embodiment. It is possible to avoid the retention of the toner 8 in the toner.

  In each embodiment described above, the stirring and conveying member 10 has one sheet member 14, but a plurality of sheet members 14 are arranged around the rotation shaft so as not to overlap the rotation direction of the rotation shaft 12. Also good.

  Further, the sufficient stirring state of the toner 8 as an effect obtained in each of the above-described embodiments is compared with the degree of toner aggregation (toner blocking) at the central portion and the end portion in the axial direction as compared with the apparatus having the conventional configuration. It was confirmed by a small difference in degree).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Developing device 2 ... Developer container 3 ... Developing roll 4 ... Developing blade 5 ... Toner conveying member 6 ... Agitation conveying member 7 ... Toner bottle 8 ... Toner DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 ... Toner replenishment port 10 ... Agitation conveyance member 11 ... Toner conveyance path 12 ... Rotating shaft 13 ... Conveyance surface 14 ... Sheet member 15 ... First developer conveyance means 16 ... second developer conveying means 17 ... opening 18 ... notch

Claims (14)

In a developer supply container that is detachable from a developer container that contains a developer and replenishes the developer container,
A sheet member that is rotatably arranged with respect to the rotation axis;
The sheet member includes first developer conveying means for conveying the developer in the axial direction of the rotation shaft;
The first developer conveying means is a second developer conveying means that conveys the developer in a direction opposite to the first developer conveying means, which is formed at a position different from the rotation axis. and, the possess,
Each of the first and second developer conveying means is configured by arranging a plurality of openings . A developer replenishing port for replenishing the developer container with the developer in the developer replenishing container;
Each of the first developer transport means and the second developer transport means is a transport direction of the developer transported in the axial direction with a region facing the developer supply port in the sheet member as a boundary. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein: The first developer conveying means is disposed closer to the rotation end of the sheet member than the second developer conveying means,
The first developer conveying means conveys the developer in a direction from the end in the axial direction toward the opposing region,
3. The developer supply container according to claim 2, wherein the second developer transport unit transports the developer in a direction from the opposed region toward the end in the axial direction. The first developer conveying means is disposed closer to the rotation end of the sheet member than the second developer conveying means,
The developer conveying force in the rotation direction by the rotating sheet member is larger in the area where the first developer conveying means is arranged than in the area where the second developer conveying means is arranged. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the developer supply container is a developer supply container.   There is a difference between the conveying force for conveying the developer in the axial direction by the first developer conveying means and the conveying force for conveying the developer in the axial direction by the second developer conveying means. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the developer supply container is a developer supply container.   The transport force for transporting the developer in the axial direction by the first and second developer transport means is such that the transport force from the central portion in the axial direction toward the end portion is near the end in the axial direction. The developer supply container according to claim 5, wherein the developer supply container is smaller than a conveying force from an end portion toward the central portion. 7. The developer replenishment according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the openings of the first and second developer transporting units are arranged in the axial direction. container. The development according to claim 7, wherein the opening of the first developer transport unit and the opening of the second developer transport unit have an overlapping region in the axial direction of the rotation shaft. Agent replenisher.   9. The developer supply container according to claim 7, wherein the developer conveying force in the axial direction is changed by changing the shape of the opening.   The developer supply container according to claim 7 or 8, wherein a developer conveying force in the axial direction is changed by changing an arrangement interval of the plurality of openings.   11. The developer supply container according to claim 7, wherein the shape of the opening is a hole whose opening width increases as it goes in the developer transport direction.   11. The developer supply container according to claim 7, wherein the shape of the opening is a tongue-shaped notch that bends toward a developer conveyance direction. 11. A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier,
A developer supply container according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
A developer container having an opening communicating with the developer supply port of the developer supply container;
A developing device comprising:   An image forming apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier with a developing device to form an image, comprising the developing device according to claim 13 as the developing device.

Images