JP3328085B2 - Developing device and image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a portion facing a latent image carrier by a magnetic force of a magnet. The present invention relates to a developing device that forms a magnetic brush made of a magnetic developer in a developing area and vibrates the magnet to visualize a latent image formed on the latent image carrier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, in a developing device employed in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine, an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor as a latent image carrier by an exposure process is formed. Visible image processing is performed with a developer. In the case of using a dry developer, in the developing unit where the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member is subjected to a visible image processing by a developing device, a developer carrying member such as a developing sleeve carrying a developer on the surface is applied to the photosensitive member. The developer is brought close to and electrostatically attracts the developer on the surface to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor. As the developer, there are a two-component developer in which a toner composed of dielectric particles is adhered to a carrier such as a carrier, and a one-component developer without using the carrier described above. Further, the one-component developer includes a developer containing only a toner and a developer having an auxiliary agent added or mixed as needed. Further, the toner is classified into a magnetic toner in which a magnetic substance is kneaded and included in toner particles themselves, and a non-magnetic toner containing no magnetic substance.

[0003] Among these developers, when a two-component developer is a magnetic developer, it can supply a relatively stable toner because of its good carrier retention to the toner, thereby stabilizing the image density. There is an advantage that the supply control of the toner necessary for the toner can be easily performed. However, on the other hand, the carrier deteriorates and the mixing ratio between the carrier and the toner is apt to change, so that the characteristic management of the developer is troublesome, and it is necessary to provide a toner supply section. For this reason, a disadvantage that the developing device becomes large is caused. On the other hand, since the one-component developer does not contain a carrier, the one-component developer does not have the above-mentioned disadvantages and is therefore convenient.

Here, as a developing method using the two-component developer or the one-component magnetic toner, the two-component developer or the one-component magnetic toner is applied by a magnetic force of a magnet arranged to face the latent image carrier. There is a magnetic brush developing method in which a magnetic brush is formed with a component-based magnetic toner to perform development. This magnetic brush developing method has an advantage that a uniform image can be obtained with little emphasis on a peripheral portion called an edge effect. In particular, the magnetic brush developing method using the one-component magnetic toner can simplify the developing device as compared with, for example, the case using the two-component developer, and can stably provide a high-quality image. There is an advantage that can be obtained.

Regarding the above-described magnetic brush developing method, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 40-17227 discloses that a non-magnetic net is arranged between an electrostatic latent image forming surface and a magnet of a magnetic brush.
There is disclosed an apparatus which vibrates a net or a magnet to mix and stir the carrier and the toner constituting the magnetic brush and constantly supply the toner to the tip of the brush to improve the developing effect. Further, the publication discloses that the brush can be vibrated at a high frequency and that the hardness of the brush portion can be adjusted by changing the size of the mesh. In addition, the actual opening 53
As in Japanese Patent Publication No. 40-17227, a non-magnetic material is disposed between an electrostatic latent image forming surface and a magnet of a magnetic brush. There is disclosed an arrangement in which a non-magnetic electrode having an insulative surface is disposed between a magnetic toner holder and a developing bias voltage can be applied to the electrode.

[0006] For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 37-12640 discloses that a magnet on which a magnetic brush is formed is swung by a magnetic developer adsorbed, and the photosensitive brush is slid on a photosensitive paper while shaking the magnetic brush. An apparatus for performing a developing operation is disclosed. Further, the publication discloses that an electromagnet is used as a magnet, the state of capture of a magnetic developer is changed by changing the magnitude of a voltage supplied to the electromagnet, or the supply of the voltage is stopped. It is disclosed that replacement of the agent can be facilitated. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 39-8149 discloses the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Publication No. 37-8149.
As described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 12640, assuming that a developing operation is performed by slidably printing a latent image while oscillating a magnetic brush, a rotating cylindrical magnet having a plurality of poles is included and the oscillating motion is performed at a relatively low speed. There is disclosed a cylinder sleeve capable of reciprocating in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of photographic paper to eliminate uneven development and obtain a clear image.

By the way, in recent years, office equipment has been downsized (downsizing), and so-called downsizing of the section of the image forming apparatus has been actively performed with the advance of the material technology. For example, the diameter of the photoreceptor drum was changed from 40 mm in the past to 30 mm, or to 20 mm.
mm. Similarly, the developing device has been downsized by setting the diameter of the developing roller, which was conventionally 30 mm, to 20 mm, for example.
Here, a general developing device has a rotating sleeve, a developer is sucked on the sleeve to form a magnetic brush, development is performed by the magnetic brush, and the developer is removed from the sleeve. In a magnetic brush developing device that continuously performs a cycle of releasing, a sleeve that directly holds the developer, a sleeve that is housed in the sleeve and extends in the axial direction of the sleeve,
The relative positions of the magnet roll that generates the magnetic force to form the magnetic brush on the sleeve and the bearing of the sleeve in the rotation axis direction are as follows: the bearing is outside the magnet roll, the end of the sleeve is outside the bearing, and the shaft support. Was inevitably further outside (for example,
No. 1-3428, FIG. 4, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-5799.
No. 1 (see FIG. 3). Regarding the positional relationship in such a developing device, whether the developing device is a two-component developing device having a toner replenishing portion or a one-component developing device having no toner replenishing portion, As long as it is a magnetic brush developing device that has a sleeve that directly supports and rotates and performs the above-described development cycle continuously, it cannot be changed because it is the basic structure of the developing device.
In other words, the width of the developing device inevitably required to be much larger than the image width due to the basic structure for putting a general developing magnet roll into practical use. However, it was difficult to reduce the size of the developing device in the width direction.

In addition, the conventional magnetic brush developing method and the developing device used therein generally have a movable part in a toner supply mechanism or the like, so that the mechanism becomes mechanically complicated. However, there is a disadvantage that the load is applied to the toner and the deterioration of the toner is accelerated. Therefore, it has been desired to eliminate the movable part and simplify the apparatus.

Thus, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-52587
In order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-150572 discloses a magnetic toner discharge port provided below a storage container, a magnet disposed near the discharge port, and the magnetic toner moved to a magnetic brush forming area by its own weight. A developing device in which a magnetic brush is formed outside the discharge port to prevent toner from flowing out of the discharge port by the magnetic force of the magnet, and the flow of the magnetic toner is smoothed by vibrating the magnet. I have. According to this, since the magnetic toner can move to the magnetic brush forming area by its own weight, it is not necessary to provide a special toner supply mechanism. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-6228 discloses a magnetic toner outlet provided below the storage container, and a magnet for holding the magnetic toner near the discharge port, similarly to Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-52587. Is disclosed.

The applicant of the present invention has previously filed Japanese Patent Application No. 5-628.
No. 06, a developing method of forming a magnetic brush made of a magnetic developer by the magnetic force of a magnet, and vibrating the magnet to visualize a latent image formed on a latent image carrier, comprising: The magnet in which the length in the width direction of the image carrier is set to be shorter than the width of the latent image forming area on the latent image carrier in the direction is used by the magnetic brush in the direction of the latent image forming area. A developing method and an apparatus for vibrating in the direction so as to face the latent image forming area over the entire width of the developing apparatus. Further, the present applicant has filed Japanese Patent Application No. 5-2356.
No. 04, a developing method of forming a magnetic brush made of a magnetic developer by the magnetic force of a magnet, and vibrating the magnet to visualize a latent image formed on a latent image carrier, comprising: Causing the brush to perform a vibration that combines vibration in the width direction of the latent image carrier and vibration in a direction perpendicular to the width direction, and causes the vibration in the perpendicular direction to the magnetic force on the latent image carrier. A predetermined percentage of the latent image forming area passing through the portion facing the brush is
A developing method wherein the magnetic brush receives vibrations such as to receive a scavenge in the same direction as the moving direction of the latent image carrier and a scavenge in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the latent image carrier; The device was proposed.

[0011]

By the way, in a developing device for performing development by forming such a magnetic brush,
It is necessary to check whether the magnetic brush is well formed and whether or not the predetermined developer movement is performed.
This inspection is performed with the developing device removed from the image forming apparatus main body. Conventionally, for example, in a developing device using a rotating sleeve as a magnetic brush holding unit, in order to enable the removal of such a developing device, a drive transmission between a driving source such as a main motor of an image forming apparatus main body and the developing sleeve is performed. The system is configured to be separable between the image forming apparatus main body and the developing device. For example, a drive input gear that meshes with a gear on the image forming apparatus main body side is provided on the developing device side, so that when the developing device is taken out, the meshing of both gears is released without any trouble. At the time of the above inspection, while the developing device was removed from the image forming apparatus main body, the drive input gear of the developing device was manually turned to rotate the sleeve, and the state of the magnetic brush and the quality of the movement were confirmed. The manual operation of the drive input gear is not only troublesome, but also makes it difficult to continuously rotate the soub at the same speed as during the developing operation. For this reason, there has been a problem that it is difficult to confirm whether or not the operation is favorably performed by the developing device alone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a developing apparatus and a developing apparatus which can easily confirm the quality of operation when the developing apparatus is taken out of the image forming apparatus main body. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus including:

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device comprising: a magnetic brush holding means for holding a magnetic developer in a magnetic brush shape by a magnetic force; a motor; A rotation / vibration conversion mechanism for converting the rotation of the output shaft into vibration having a component in the width direction of the latent image carrier and causing the magnetic brush holding means to vibrate at least in the width direction of the latent image carrier; An image forming apparatus main body including: a power receiving unit configured to receive power supply from the apparatus main body to supply the electric power to the motor; and a developer container that stores a magnetic developer supplied to the magnetic brush holding unit. It is constituted so that it can be attached to and detached from.

[0014]

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the developing device of the first aspect, a DC motor is used as the motor. In addition, claim 3
The image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier and a latent image on the latent image carrier.
A latent image forming means for forming a latent image, and the latent image forming means
A developing device for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said developing device is used as said developing device.
Wherein the developing device is used.

[0016]

In the developing device of the present invention, power can be supplied to the driving device for the holding device via the power receiving device while the developing device is taken out of the image forming apparatus main body.
Therefore, in this state, the driving means for the holding means is operated to vibrate the magnetic brush holding means in the same manner as during the developing operation, and whether or not the magnetic brush is formed satisfactorily, or the predetermined developer movement is performed. It is possible to check whether or not it has been done.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a developing device used in a printer (hereinafter, referred to as a printer) as an image forming apparatus will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an appearance of a printer according to the present embodiment. A lid 2 is attached to the upper surface of the printer 1 so as to be freely opened and closed. When the cover 2 is closed as shown in FIG. 1A, the operation portion on the upper surface of the printer 1 is covered by the cover 2. FIG. 1B is a schematic configuration diagram of the printer 1 with the cover 2 opened. At this time,
A paper guide 21 for guiding the printing paper P to the inside of the printer 1 is provided on the front side of the cover 2 in the drawing, and the printing paper P is inserted from above along the paper guide 21 to a predetermined position to perform printing. Preparations are being made. The printing paper P on which data output from a personal computer or the like (not shown) is printed by an operation such as giving a predetermined instruction from the operation display unit 3 or the like.
Is discharged from a discharge port 4 provided on the front surface of the printer. Further, the printer 1 is configured so that the upper housing of the printer 1 is opened by depressing the button 5 and various components therein can be taken out of the printer 1.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the printer 1. The printing paper P inserted to a predetermined position along the paper guide 21 of the cover 2 is conveyed into the apparatus at a predetermined timing at the position of the registration roller 6 and moves in the apparatus to move as a latent image carrier. The toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 as described below is transferred by the transfer unit 11. In order to form a toner image, first, the photosensitive drum 7 is given a surface potential of, for example, −700 V by the charging unit 8. Next, image exposure is performed by an exposure unit 9 such as a laser beam.
Of the surface potential. This electrostatic latent image is reversely developed with a toner T as a one-component magnetic developer negatively charged contained in the developing device 10 and is visualized, thereby forming a toner image. The printing paper P on which the toner image has been transferred passes between the pair of heat rollers of the fixing unit 12 so that the toner image is fixed and is discharged from the discharge port 4 provided on the front surface of the printer 1. The photosensitive drum 7 on which the toner image has been transferred onto the printing paper P by the transfer unit 11 is
The residual toner thereon is removed by the cleaning means 13 and is used repeatedly.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which the upper housing of the printer 1 is opened and the developing device 10 is taken out. As will be described later, the developing device 10 is formed integrally with a portion for storing the toner T, a developing mechanism portion, and a motor, and can be pulled out substantially vertically above the printer 1. Note that the developing device 10 is not limited to this example, and the photosensitive drum 7,
It may be configured so that it can be taken out together with the cleaning means 13 and the like.

FIG. 4 is an assembly view showing the entire structure of the developing device 10, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the developing device. Developing device 10
Is provided with a case 10a in which a one-component magnetic toner as a magnetic developer is housed, and an opening 15 for passing the housed toner to develop an electrostatic latent image is formed on the front surface. On the side surface of the case 10a, there is provided a guide means 14 configured by, for example, a groove as shown in the drawing for guiding the case 10a so that the case 10a fits in a predetermined position when mounted on the printer 1. This guide means 14
For example, the case 10 can be moved along a convex positioning member (not shown) provided inside the printer 1 main body.
The relationship is such that a fits into a predetermined position inside the printer 1 main body. As a result, correct handling can be performed with a simple operation. Further, an opening (not shown) for filling the toner is provided on the back surface of the case 10a, and a cap member 10d after the filling of the toner is attached to this opening. In addition, a terminal 30 for receiving power from the power supply of the printer 1 main body is provided, for example, on the rear surface (or another surface) of the case 10a.

In the vicinity of the opening 15 in the case 10a, a part of the toner contained therein is held by magnetic force to form a magnetic brush extending outward from the opening 15 on the front surface. A magnet 16 composed of a magnet,
Is provided between the magnet 16 and the opening 15 so as to cover the magnet. This magnet 16
Is fixed to a magnet holder 18, and the magnet holder 18 is supported by the case 10 a by a support unit also serving as a rotation / vibration conversion mechanism described later. And this case 10
a includes a DC motor (hereinafter referred to as a motor) M which is a driving source for causing the magnet holder 18 to perform a predetermined motion.
Is attached. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a partition wall 23 that is provided integrally in the case and that separates a motor mounting space from a space in which the magnet holder 18 and the like are provided and that stores toner is provided. It is fixed to the vertical part with screws. The motor M is electrically connected to the terminal 30, and receives power from, for example, a dry battery on the printer body side.

On the back side opposite to the magnet holding surface of the magnet holder 18 to which the magnet 16 is fixed, 3
There are holes in several places. Rotating members 29a, 29b, 29b with flat heads are engaged with these holes, respectively. Specifically, a pin (hereinafter, referred to as an eccentric pin) parallel to a rotation center line provided so as to protrude from a position deviated from the rotation center on the distal end surface of each of the rotation members 29a, 29b, 29b is slidable in the hole. Has been inserted. Of these rotating members 29a, 29b, 29b, the rotating member 29a that engages with the hole formed in the center in the longitudinal direction of the magnet holder 18 penetrates the hole formed in the partition wall 23 as shown in FIG. Then, it extends to the rear side inside the case, and is fixed to the output shaft of the motor M fixed to the case 10a as described above. The other two rotating members 29b, 29b that engage with holes provided at both ends of the magnet holder 18 are:
Each is rotatably attached to the partition 23. These rotating members 29a, 29b, 29b constitute a support mechanism for the magnet holder 18, and the motor M
The rotation / vibration conversion mechanism which converts the rotation of the output shaft into a predetermined motion (hereinafter, referred to as a parallel rotation motion) in which each part of the magnet 16 draws a circle as shown by an arrow A in FIG. Make up. The parallel rotation movement by the rotation / vibration conversion mechanism will be described later in detail.

The rotating member 2 fixed to the output shaft
9a positively transmits the rotation of the output shaft to the magnet holder 18, and the other rotating members 29b, 29b rotate via the eccentric pin following the magnet holder 18 which moves by the rotation of the driving rotating member 29a. I do. The holes of the magnet holder 18 into which the following rotating members 29b, b and the eccentric pins of the rotating members 29b, 29b are inserted are surely parallel to the magnet holder 18 driven by the driving rotating member 29a fixed to the output shaft. It guides the robot to make a rotational movement. Therefore, if such a guide is possible, various modifications are possible. For example, the rotating members 29b, b
Instead, a projection protruding from the vertical portion of the partition wall 23 toward the magnet holder 18 is provided, and the hole in the facing surface portion of the magnet holder 18 is formed along the inner peripheral surface of the hole when the projection enters and the holder 18 rotates in parallel. It can also be shaped to guide the movement of the holder. This projection is desirably formed to have elasticity.

The length of the magnet 16 in the longitudinal direction (shown as magnet width in the figure) is determined by the image width on the printing paper P and the magnet 1.
As shown in FIG. 6 showing the relationship between the length of the photosensitive drum 7 and the length of the photosensitive drum 7 in the latent image forming area on the photosensitive drum 7, which is the maximum width for transferring the toner image onto the printing paper P. The width is set shorter than the width in the axial direction (shown as an image area in the figure). As described above, the magnetic brush formed by the magnet 16 shorter than the width of the latent image forming area makes the entire width of the latent image forming area on the photosensitive drum 7 due to the parallel rotation of the magnet 16 integrated with the magnet holder 18, that is, FIG. The vibration width of the magnet holder 18 in the width direction of the photosensitive drum is set so as to be able to oppose the entire image area in the middle.
Specifically, the amount of eccentricity of the eccentric pin of the drive rotation member 29a is set so as to have a desired vibration width. The practical eccentric amount is 5 mm or less, preferably 3 mm or less.
mm or less.

The developing grid 20 provided on the front surface of the developing device 10 has a large number of holes formed in a diagonal stripe shape. In order to prevent background contamination during development, a power supply (not shown) of, for example, -500 V is used. A developing bias voltage is applied. The material of the developing grid 20 may be magnetic or non-magnetic as long as it is conductive. However, when a magnetic material is used, it is desirable that the thickness be 0.5 mm or less, preferably 0.2 mm or less so that the magnetic sealing action does not become too strong. Further, the pitch of the holes of the oblique stripes provided in the developing grid 20 is preferably 2 mm or less, more preferably 1 mm or less. Further, it is desirable that the ratio of the large number of holes to the entire area of the developing grid 20, that is, the opening ratio be 30% or more. In particular, in order to improve the image quality, it is preferably set to 60% or more.

Here, the parallel rotational movement of the magnet holder will be described. This parallel rotation movement is the same movement as the movement of the upper link 90a in a so-called parallel four-bar crank mechanism in which four links are connected as shown in FIG. That is, in the parallel four-bar crank mechanism shown in FIG. 7, the links 90a and 90b arranged vertically in the figure have the same length and are arranged in parallel. Also,
The links 90c and 90d disposed on the left and right in the figure are also formed to have the same length and are disposed in parallel. The lower link 90b is fixed, and the left and right links 90b are fixed.
Reference numerals c and 90d are adapted to rotate in the direction of the arrow in the figure around the connection with the lower link 90b. This 4
In the articulated clan mechanism, the left and right links 90c, 90
As each of d rotates in the direction of the arrow, the upper link 90a performs a motion such that an arbitrary point draws a circle. This is the above-described parallel rotational movement. (Hereinafter, margin)

On the other hand, in the rotation / vibration conversion mechanism of the present embodiment, the rotating members 29a, 29b, 29b correspond to the left and right links 90c, 90d in FIG. 11, respectively. 29a, 29b, 2
Rotational motion with the eccentricity γ of 9b as the radius is the magnet holder 1
It is conveyed to 8. As a result, the magnet holder 18 performs a parallel rotational movement similar to that of the above-described four-bar double-crank mechanism in which an arbitrary point A draws a circle having a diameter of 2γ.

By this parallel rotational movement, the magnetic brush B
The trajectory on the photosensitive drum 7 at an arbitrary portion of FIG.
(A). That is, FIG. 8A shows, for example, the moving speed V of the photosensitive drum surface = 37 mm / sec (6 pp).
m), rotation frequency ω of magnet 16 = 50 Hz, eccentric cam 19
a, 19b, the magnetic brush B when the rotational eccentricity φ = 2 mm
2 shows a trajectory on the photosensitive drum 7 at an arbitrary position, and this trajectory is spiral as shown in the figure. In this case, the pitch P1 of the scavenge (positive scavenge) of the magnetic brush B in the forward direction with respect to the moving direction of the photosensitive drum is obtained by V / 2ω + φ, and 37 / (2 ×
50) + 2 = 2.37 mm. In this case, the pitch P2 of the scavenging (reverse scavenging) of the magnetic brush B in the direction opposite to the photosensitive drum moving direction is V / 2.
37 / (2 × 50) −2 = 1.63
mm. Here, when P2 / P1 is obtained, 1.6 is obtained.
3 / 2.37 ≒ 0.69, and in the case of FIG. 14A, about 70% of the image portion on the photosensitive drum 7 once passed by the magnetic brush B is scavenged again by the magnetic brush B from the opposite direction. It is understood that it is done.

FIG. 8B shows a configuration in which the magnet 16 vibrates only in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 7, for example, the moving speed V of the photosensitive drum surface is 37 mm / sec (6 pp).
m) shows a locus on the photosensitive drum 7 of an arbitrary portion of the magnetic brush B when the vibration frequency ν of the magnet 16 is 50 Hz, and this locus has a waveform as shown. In this case, the pitch P of the trajectory in the moving direction of the photosensitive drum is obtained by V / ν, and 37/50 =
The image portion on the photosensitive drum 7 once passed by the magnetic brush B is not again scavenged by the magnetic brush B from the opposite direction.

In the above configuration, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the magnetic brush B is moved from the opening 15 through the hole formed in the grid 20 by the magnetic force of the magnet 16 to the case 1.
0a extends to the outside. The toner of the magnetic brush B is used as described above during the development of the electrostatic latent image.
Are rotated in parallel, the toner T moves from the lower part in the case 10a as shown by the arrow D in the figure, and is further supplied vertically upward on the surface of the magnet 16. The magnetic brush moves relatively to the developing grid 20 by the rotation of the magnet 16 which directly carries the toner, and is cut off intermittently by the developing grid 20. As a result, the cut magnetic brush is repeatedly held temporarily on the developing grid 20 or floats around it. This phenomenon ensures that the toner supplied from the magnetic brush to the electrostatic latent image during the developing operation is in soft contact with the electrostatic latent image. As a result, a good image having excellent gradation can be obtained.

Here, as described above, the toner T is
It is considered that the phenomenon of raising the surface is caused by moving the toner T cut and free by the developing grid 20 upward by the attraction force of the magnetic field formed by the magnet 16 on the toner T. Further, when the opening 15 is filled with the magnetic brush B, the toner T does not continuously advance from below the magnet 16. This is considered because the gravity applied to the magnetic brush B and the magnetic attraction generated by the magnet 16 are balanced. Further, when the magnetic brush B is consumed for developing the latent image, the advancing pressure of the toner T from below the magnet 16 increases, and the toner T moves as shown by the arrow D in the drawing. The amount of the brush B is always kept constant.

From the viewpoint of controlling the amount of toner supplied to the magnetic brush B and preventing leakage of the toner T from the opening 15 of the case 10a, the front plate 10c of the case 10a is It is desirable to set the gap between them to an appropriate size. According to experiments by the present inventors, when a rubber magnet having a thickness of 2 mm, a magnetic flux density of 750 gauss, and a width of 12 mm is used, an appropriate size of the gap is 3 mm or less, and preferably 1 mm or less. Thus, the front side plate 10c is considered to function as a toner supply amount regulating member. However, if the gap needs to be larger than the appropriate size for some reason, the toner T in the gap moves. A toner regulating member such as a doctor blade may be provided in the middle of the path.

According to the experiments of the present inventors, when images were confirmed using six laser printers per minute, an electroformed nickel plate having a thickness of 0.1 mm as the developing grid 20 was inclined at 45 °. When a grid having a pitch of 1 mm and a thickness of the stripe rib of 0.1 mm was used, the amount of eccentricity of the magnet 16 was set to 2 mm, and the number of rotations was set to 2000 rpm, good image quality could be obtained. The lower limit of the rotation speed is 12
It was found that a good image can be obtained when the eccentricity of the magnet 16 with respect to 00 rpm and the grid pitch is 0.8 times or more. According to the experiments by the present inventors, as the driving motor M for vibrating the magnet 16, if the motor is operated by two 1.5 V AA batteries, there is no problem in performing the developing operation. The result was also obtained.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the magnet 16 whose length in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the width of the latent image forming area on the photosensitive drum 7 in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 7 can be used for the photosensitive area of the latent image forming area. Vibration is performed at an amplitude corresponding to the difference between the width of the body drum 7 in the axial direction and the length of the magnet 16 in the longitudinal direction.
Since the magnet vibrating means for vibrating the magnet 6 is provided not at the longitudinal end of the magnet 16 but at the back of the magnet 16, the developing device 1 having a width of the magnet 16 and a length that is generally several mm in length is combined.
0 to the developing device 10
Of the entire width. The entire width can be made substantially equal to the maximum sheet passing width, and the size of the developing device 10 in the width direction can be reduced.

For example, the amplitude of the magnet 16 (shown as magnet amplitude in FIG. 6) is set to 2 mm, and the maximum paper passing width is set to A4.
Size (210 mm x 297 mm). in this case,
The photosensitive drum 7 is selected to have a width exceeding 210 mm. If a margin of 5 mm width is provided on each side of the A4 size and the rest is an image area, the width of the image area is 20
0 mm. The length of the magnet 16 at this time is a value obtained by subtracting the amplitude of 2 mm from the width of the image area of 200 mm because the amplitude of the magnet 16 is set to 2 mm as described above.
That is, if the width is 198 mm, the image area can be completely covered. That is, the entire area of the latent image forming area on the photosensitive drum 7 can be printed by the magnetic brush B. Usually, the developing device 10 is formed by wrapping the magnet 16, the driving mechanism, and the toner tank with an exterior member. Generally, a resin material having a thickness of about 1 mm is often used as the exterior member. Further, a seal member for preventing toner leakage such as a sponge is attached to a gap between the exterior member and the magnet 16.
Even if these are combined, the length added to the combined length and amplitude of the magnet 16 may be several mm. Therefore, this number m
m is the width (198 mm) and amplitude (2 mm) of the magnet 16
It only adds to the combined length (200mm)
The width of the developing device 10 can be set to a length substantially equal to the maximum sheet passing width (210 mm). That is, a length exceeding the width of the photosensitive drum 7 is not required at all unlike the conventional apparatus. Further, even when the entire paper passing width is used as the image area, the length added to the length obtained by adding the width and the amplitude of the magnet 16 is only the thickness of the exterior member of the developing device 10, that is, Is fine. In this case, the developing device has a width obtained by adding a few mm to the maximum sheet passing width. However, even if there is no danger, various driving mechanisms are much smaller than the developing device provided at the axial end of the developer carrier. It can be a developing device.

The developing device 10 of the magnet vibration type is provided with a drive motor M provided near the magnet 16, and the drive motor M is provided with a rotation / vibration converter constituted by the rotating members 29 a and 29 b and the magnet holder 18. Since it is directly engaged with the means, unlike a conventional developing device that rotates and drives a developing roller having a magnetic brush formed on the surface with the magnetic force of an internal magnet to perform development, a gear for transmitting a rotational driving force is unnecessary, The size can be reduced. Further, since the motor M integrally mounted on the developing device directly drives the magnet holder 18, the vibration is transmitted to the photosensitive member via the drive gear train unlike the conventional case, and no jitter is caused. It is also possible to obtain a high image quality.

Further, since there is no gear for transmitting the rotational driving force outside the developing device 10 as in the conventional developing device, there is no lubricating grease or the like outside the developing device 10 where the operator touches. When the device 10 is replaced, the hands of the operator and the periphery of the device are not stained. Further, there is no need to provide a cover for protecting the hand of the operator from the gears and the like, so that the device structure can be simplified and the appearance of the device can be made smart.

In a conventional developing device in which a developing roller having a magnetic brush formed on its surface is rotated by the magnetic force of an internal magnet to perform development, when the developing roller is rotated from the outside, the developing roller rotates with the rotation of the developing roller. The developer may flow out. For this reason, it is necessary to configure the developing roller so as to withstand a useless operation on the developing roller by, for example, applying a large load to the developing roller. On the other hand, in the developing device 10 of the present embodiment, since the developer does not flow out unless power is supplied to the motor M, it is necessary to apply a large load to withstand the unnecessary operation as described above. Absent.

Further, in the developing device 10 of this embodiment, since the size can be reduced as described above, it can be easily handled. Further, the downsizing of the developing device 10 allows the printer itself to be downsized.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the magnetic brush
Since it is intermittently cut by the developing grid 20 by the vibration of the magnet 16 and temporarily held or floated on the developing grid 20 and softly comes into contact with the electrostatic latent image, it is possible to form a developed image during the developing operation. It can be performed better.
In addition, the magnet holder 18 to which the magnet 16 is fixed performs a parallel circular motion by the rotation of the rotating members 29a and 29b. As a result, the frontage of the toner supply unit can be widened by vibration in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the magnet 16. The toner supply can be made smoother than in the case where the magnet 18 is simply vibrated only in the longitudinal direction. Further, since the magnetic brush can be cut from the developing grid 20 in all directions and the toner can be made more fluid, the toner can be more appropriately supplied to the magnet 16. Also,
The image portion on the photosensitive drum 7 is scavenged by the magnetic brush B from various directions such as a direction parallel to the moving direction of the photosensitive drum 7 and a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 7, so that the sharpness of the image can be improved. . In particular, for example, when about 70% of the image portion on the photosensitive drum 7 once passed by the magnetic brush B is scavenged once by the magnetic brush B and then scavenged again by the magnetic brush B from the opposite direction,
The sharpness of the image can be further improved.

Further, since the developing device 10 is configured such that the flow of toner in the developing area formed at the portion facing the photosensitive drum 7 is from bottom to top, the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is , An upper transport type printer that moves the print paper P upward from the bottom and transports the print paper P above the photosensitive drum 7 to transfer and fix the toner image on the lower surface of the print paper P to obtain an image. Further, it is possible to provide the developing device 10 suitable for the upper transport type printer.

In this embodiment, the motor M is attached to the case 10a containing the magnetic developer and the magnet 16 for forming the magnetic brush, and the entire developing device including the motor can be detachably attached to the printer main body. And the case 10a is provided with a motor M
The terminal 30 for supplying power to the motor is provided. Therefore, when judging the quality of operation of the developing device in a state where the developing device is taken out of the printer main body, the power is actually supplied from this terminal 30 to the motor while the developing device is taken out. By operating the motor M and observing the movement of the magnetic developer or the like, it is possible to determine whether the operation is good or not.

In the above embodiment, a one-component magnetic toner was used as the magnetic developer, but instead, a one-component magnetic developer composed of toner and magnetic carrier particles consumed in development was used. Is also good. Also in this case, unlike the case of using a normal two-component developer, problems such as deterioration of the carrier and a change in the mixing ratio between the carrier and the toner do not occur unlike the case where a carrier having a relatively large diameter is repeatedly used.

The amount of toner contained in the case 10a is suitably 100 g or less. This is because a normal print (a print of A4 size and a document image ratio of 5%) has a toner amount of 150 g and about 3000
Although it is possible to print one sheet, this amount of toner requires a toner storage portion in the case 10a having a volume of at least 250 cc or more, and it cannot be said that the handleability is excellent. A compact developing device having a toner container in a case 10a of 150 cc or less, preferably 100 cc or less, which is excellent in handleability, can be handled with one touch. Moreover, in such an apparatus, the toner is consumed when the number of prints is 1,000 or less than 500, and the developing device is replaced. Therefore, compactness can be ensured by limiting the amount of toner to 100 g or less, preferably 50 g or less. In addition, as a result of the replacement of the developing device when the limited amount of toner is consumed, the durability of the developing device is not required much.
Therefore, a low-cost motor, in particular, a DC motor without a servo circuit can be used as it is. Also, the overall reliability is better than using expensive and durable motors.

Next, another configuration example for causing the magnet in the developing device 10 to perform a parallel rotational movement will be described. FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram. In the figure, a drive motor M as a rotary drive source is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of a partition 23 as a fixing member such as a plate-shaped chassis.
The drive shaft 24a is mounted on the surface 23b opposite to the motor mounting surface 23a so as to protrude. A drive eccentric cam 19a as an eccentric rotation member is fixed to the drive shaft 24a. A fixed shaft 24b is fixed to the drive shaft protruding surface 23b at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the partition wall 23 by caulking or the like, and the fixed eccentric cam 19 as an eccentric rotating member is fixed to the fixed shaft 24b.
Alternatively or eccentric cams 19a, 19b eccentric cams 19
b is rotatably mounted. The drive eccentric cam 19a and the driven eccentric cam 19b are formed with holes 18a, 18 formed in a plate-shaped magnet holder 18 to which a magnet is fixed.
b are slidably and rotatably fitted respectively. The above drive eccentric cam 19a, driven eccentric cam 19b, and hole 18
The magnet holder 18 on which a and 18b are formed constitutes a rotation / vibration conversion mechanism. The magnet 16 is fixed to the magnet holder 18 with, for example, a double-sided adhesive tape. In this configuration example, the eccentric cams 19a and 19b correspond to the left and right links 90c and 90d in FIG. 11, respectively.
Rotational motion with the eccentricity γ of 19b as the radius is transmitted to the magnet holder 18. As a result, the magnet holder 18 and the magnet perform a parallel rotational movement similar to the above-described four-bar double-crank mechanism, in which an arbitrary point A draws a circle having a diameter of 2γ.

In this configuration example, as shown in FIG. 10, the same drive motor M 'as the drive motor M is also provided at the other longitudinal end of the partition wall 23.
The driven eccentric cam 19b may be attached to the drive shaft 24c of the drive motor M 'and rotated in synchronization with the rotation of the drive eccentric cam 19a. The rotation of the drive motor M is transmitted to the driven eccentric cam 19b using a gear or a belt, and the driven eccentric cam 19b is connected to the drive eccentric cam 1b.
You may make it rotate in synchronization with rotation of 9a.
Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the eccentric cams 19a, 19
b and the sliding surfaces of the holes 18a and 18b may be formed in a tapered shape so that they can be fitted to each other. This facilitates the fitting of the eccentric cams 19a, 19b and the holes 18a, 18b.

Further, when the magnet holder 18 on which the magnet 16 is mounted makes a circular motion by the rotation of the eccentric cams 19a and 19b, the inertia force corresponding to the mass of the magnet 16 causes the printer 1 to rotate.
Other parts inside may vibrate, generating noise and the like. In order to prevent this, as shown in FIG.
The balancer member 28 is attached to the eccentric cams 19a and 19b, and the rotation center position 191 of the eccentric cams 19a and 19b is
The point 192 giving the maximum displacement and the center of gravity 193 of the entire eccentric cam 19 to which the balancer member 28 is attached are on the same straight line, and the rotation center position 1
The point 192 at which the maximum displacement is given to the point 91 and the center of gravity position 193 are set to be on opposite sides. According to this configuration, the eccentric cams 19 a and 19 b to which the balancer member 28 is attached are connected to the holes 18 a and 18 of the magnet holder 18.
b, the eccentric cams 19a, 19b
The inertia force corresponding to the mass of the magnet 16 is applied to the point 192 where the maximum displacement amount is given. However, the position of the center of gravity 193 on the eccentric cam side including the balancer member 28 is
Is located on the side opposite to the point 192 at which the maximum displacement is given, the inertial force corresponding to the mass of the magnet 16 and the inertial force of the eccentric cam side itself due to rotation can be balanced with each other. Therefore, vibration and noise of other components in the printer 1 which occur when the magnet holder 18 on which the magnet 16 is mounted makes a circular motion due to the rotation of the eccentric cams 19a and 19b can be suppressed.

In addition to the above configuration example, the link mechanism itself shown in FIG. 7 can also be used. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, for example, guide members 25a and 25b in which sliding grooves 26a and 26b are formed on the side and lower part of the magnet 16, respectively.
And the eccentric shafts 27a and 27b are fitted into the sliding grooves 26a and 26b of the respective guide members 25a and 25b, and the respective eccentric shafts 27a and 27b are connected to the drive motor M.
1 and M2 which are driven to rotate with predetermined synchronization can also be used.

FIG. 14 shows the case 1 of the developing device 10.
13 shows a modification of the structure for attaching the motor M to the motor M. FIG. 14A shows the motor M with respect to the case 10a.
14B is a sectional view of the developing device 10, and FIG. 14C is a rear view of the developing device. In the example of FIG. 14, the outer wall of the case 10a is recessed to form a recess 10b for setting the motor M. This recess 10
The inner diameter of b is set to be slightly smaller than the outer shape of the motor M. When the motor M is inserted into this concave portion, the concave portion is slightly expanded by the elasticity of the material of the case so that the motor M is fixed. Since the motor M has a flat cross section, the motor M can be prevented from rotating by the concave portion. In this example, the terminal 3 for receiving external power is connected to the lead extending from the motor M in FIG.
In contrast to the case where 0 is connected, the terminal portion 30a protruding from the outer wall of the motor M itself receives external power. Specifically, the case 10a
Is attached to the main body of the printer 1, and the terminal 30a is
A power supply terminal on the main body side is provided at a position where can be contacted. In the illustrated example, the rotational vibration conversion mechanism is configured using the eccentric cam 19a similar to the example of FIG. 9 described above.

Next, a modification for more stably supplying toner to a latent image will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 14, a magnet 16 includes a developing magnetic pole 16a that contributes to the development of an electrostatic latent image and a toner having the same polarity as the developing magnetic pole, which is configured to be substantially parallel to the developing magnetic pole 16a and supplies toner to the developing magnetic pole 16a. It has two magnetic poles with the supply magnetic pole 16b. In the magnet 16, a magnetic circuit is formed by connecting the developing magnetic pole 16a and the toner supply magnetic pole 16b with a plurality of magnetic circuit forming portions 16c. Such a magnet 1
6 has a plurality of holes 16 on the grid 20 side of one magnet 16.
d, the developing magnetic pole 16a and the toner supply magnetic pole 16
b and a magnetic circuit forming portion 16c connecting the two. Further, it is also possible to configure such that a similar magnetic field is generated using a plurality of magnets. Further, the magnetizing yoke may be formed in a predetermined shape, and a continuous flat magnet member may be magnetized to obtain the magnetic field.

In the case of the magnet 16 having the hole 16d as in the illustrated example, it is desirable to cover the magnet 16 with a thin non-magnetic metal plate so that the toner is not buried in the hole 16d. . It is desirable that the nonmagnetic plate and the magnet 16 be fixed so that they vibrate integrally.

The developing grid 20 provided between the opening 16 and the magnet 16 or the magnet 16 covered with the non-magnetic plate as described above is separated by a stay 20a extending in the longitudinal direction. Upper rib 20b and lower rib 20c
Have a diagonal stripe shape in a mirror image relationship. When the ribs of the developing grid 20 are formed in a diagonal stripe shape, the toner held by the magnetic force of the magnet 16 moves directionally when the magnet 16 rotates in the direction of the arrow A shown in the drawing. That is, in the illustrated example, the toner in the upper rib 20b is moved to the left in the drawing,
The toner in the portion c moves slowly to the right in the figure (1 to 5 mm per second).

In the magnetic circuit forming portions 16c provided at various positions of the magnet 16, when the developing magnetic pole 16a has a large amount of toner, the toner is lowered (on the side of the toner supply magnetic pole 16b).
When the amount of toner in the developing magnetic pole 16a is small, the toner is moved upward (toward the developing magnetic pole 16a) by bypassing between the developing magnetic pole 16a and the toner supply magnetic pole 16b. That is, by using the developing magnetic pole 16a, the toner supply magnetic pole 16b, and the magnetic circuit forming part 16c provided on the magnet 16 in combination with the developing grid 20 on which the oblique stripe-shaped ribs having a mirror image relationship are formed in the upper and lower directions, It is possible to circulate the toner on the surface 16.

According to the configuration example of FIG.
a, the toner supplied from the lower part is
And is supplied from the toner supply magnetic pole 16b to the developing magnetic pole 16a. Therefore, a sufficient amount of toner can always be supplied to the developing magnetic pole 16a, and the magnetic brush can be stably formed in the developing area. Therefore, the toner can be stably supplied to the electrostatic latent image, and good image formation can be stably maintained. Further, by covering the magnet 16 with a non-magnetic plate, the magnetic force can be weakened, so that the toner can be prevented from being held with an excessively strong force. Therefore, the intermittent cutting of the magnetic brush by the developing grid 20 can be favorably performed. Further, by covering the magnet 16 with a non-magnetic plate, toner can be prevented from being buried in the hole 16d formed in the magnet 16, so that a sufficient amount of toner in the developing area can be secured. Further, since the toner can be circulated between the developing magnetic pole 16a, the toner supplying magnetic pole 16b, and the magnetic circuit forming portion 16c, the amount of the toner staying on the developing magnetic pole 16a can be further stabilized. (Hereinafter, margin)

The developing device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 40-17227 is a two-component developing system using a carrier having a strong magnetic force. Therefore, in order to reduce the driving load due to the resistance of the mesh, the mesh is non-magnetic. It was required to be. Further, there is a disadvantage that toner scattering is severe due to the two-component developing system. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, since a one-component magnetic toner (one-component magnetic developer) is used,
Compared to a conventional device using a two-component developer, the scattering of the developer is suppressed, and the driving load is much smaller,
It is possible to use a small driving device, which can contribute to further downsizing of the image forming apparatus, and can further enhance the reliability of the toner.

The developing device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 53-16441 has a structure having a developing sleeve, so that the device is complicated, and there is an obstacle to downsizing the developing device in the width direction. There was a disadvantage. On the other hand, according to this embodiment, since the magnetic brush is directly carried on the magnet 16 without the developing sleeve, the developer carrying member can have a simple structure. The size in the width direction can be reduced.

Further, the structure of the developing device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 37-12640 is different from the basic structure of the conventional magnetic brush developing device in that the developing device does not have the sleeve and therefore requires a bearing. Therefore, it is expected to reduce the width of the developing device in the width direction. However, this developing device uses an electromagnet as a magnet to change or replace the capturing state of the magnetic powder by changing and stopping the voltage supplied to the electromagnet, and generally enameled copper wire is used as the magnetic member. In order to apply sufficient magnetic force to an electromagnet configured by winding a large number of copper wires for use in the developing device, it is necessary to wind a large number of copper wires in the longitudinal direction, which is not necessarily advantageous for downsizing the developing device in the width direction. There were drawbacks. In contrast, according to the present embodiment,
Since a permanent magnet is used as the magnet 16, a small magnet can be used and the width direction of the developing device 10 can be reduced.

In the developing device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 39-8149, the magnet has a width approximately equal to that of the photographic paper, and the sleeve includes the magnet and is swingable. For this reason, there is a disadvantage that the device itself becomes longer in the width direction and is not suitable for miniaturization. Further, since the magnetic brush is formed on the sleeve and is not directly held by the magnet, when the sleeve reciprocates, the toner slides on the sleeve and wears, and the characteristics are changed, so that the reliability is low. There was a disadvantage. Further, although the magnetic brush moves on the sleeve due to the swing of the sleeve, the movement may be delayed in time due to the frictional resistance of the sleeve or the movement distance may be reduced. was there. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, as described above, the developing device 10
In addition, since the magnetic brush is directly carried on the magnet 16, the characteristics of the toner do not change due to friction or the like. It can move without being delayed in time or reducing the moving distance.

[0059]

According to the first to third aspects of the present invention , the developing device is removed from the image forming apparatus main body, and includes the motor and the rotation / vibration conversion mechanism in the same manner as during the developing operation.
Since the driving means for the holding means can be operated,
Whether the magnetic brush is satisfactorily formed, or whether such a predetermined developer movement is being carried out, the developing device alone, moreover Ru can be easily inspected while checking directly.

[0060] Further, the magnetic brush holding means converts the rotation of the motor to the predetermined vibration by the rotation-vibration conversion mechanism,
Since the development is performed by vibrating at least in the width direction of the latent image carrier, the rate of change of the image with respect to the change in the rotation speed of the motor is smaller than that in the conventional development method in which the developing sleeve is rotated. Therefore, it is not necessary to strictly control the number of rotations, and a low-cost motor can be used instead of a motor having a servo circuit.

[0061] In particular, according to the second aspect of the invention, since use of the DC motor as a driving source, a field power supply developing device is not require special power, it is also possible to use commercially available batteries. Therefore, the cost and size of the device can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to an embodiment with a lid closed, and FIG. 1B is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer with a lid opened.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the printer in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where a developing device is taken out of the printer.

FIG. 4 is an assembly view showing the entire configuration of the developing device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross-sectional structure inside the developing device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a dimensional relationship between an image width and a magnet width.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the operation of the parallel four-bar double crank mechanism.

FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram of a locus of an arbitrary position of a magnetic brush on a photosensitive drum in a developing device according to an embodiment. FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram of a locus on a photosensitive drum of an arbitrary portion of a magnetic brush in a developing device that vibrates a magnet only in a width direction.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a magnet vibrating unit according to another configuration example.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a modified example of the configuration of the magnet oscillating means on the driven eccentric cam side.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a modification of the configuration of the eccentric cam of the magnet vibrating means and the hole of the magnet holding member.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of a modification of the magnet vibrating means.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of a modified example of the configuration of the eccentric cam of the magnet vibrating means.

FIG. 14A is a perspective view of a developing device according to a modification. (B) Sectional drawing of the developing device. (C) Rear view of the developing device.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the magnet and the developing grid.

[Explanation of symbols]

 B Magnetic brush M Driving motor T Toner P Printing paper 1 Printer 2 Lid 3 Operation display unit 4 Discharge port 5 Button 6 Registration roller 7 Photoconductor drum 8 Charging means 9 Exposure means 10 Developing device 11 Transfer means 12 Fixing means 13 Cleaning means 14 Guide means 15 Opening 16 Magnet 16a Developing magnetic pole 16b Toner supplying magnetic pole 16c Magnetic circuit forming part 16d Hole 18 Holder 18a Hole 18b Hole 19 Eccentric cam 19a Drive eccentric cam 19b Followed eccentric cam 20 Development grid 20a Stay 20b Upper rib 20c Lower rib DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Paper guide 22 Magnet holding member 23 Partition wall 23a Motor mounting surface 23b Opposite surface of motor mounting surface 24a Drive shaft 24b Fixed shaft 25a Guide member 25b Guide member 26a Sliding groove 26b Sliding groove 27a Uneven Center shaft 27b Eccentric shaft 28 Balancer member 29a Drive side rotating member 29b Follower side rotating member 90a Upper link 90b Lower link 90c Left link 90d Right link 191 Rotation center position 192 Maximum displacement amount giving point 193 Center of gravity position 193

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-4-287065 (JP, A) JP-A-6-250515 (JP, A) JP-A-6-250447 (JP, A) JP-B-39-8149 (JP) , B1) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 13/08-13/095 G03G 15/08-15/095

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A magnetic brush holding means for holding a magnetic developer in a magnetic brush shape by a magnetic force, a motor, and a rotation of an output shaft of the motor converted into vibration having a component in a width direction of the latent image carrier. A rotation / vibration conversion mechanism for vibrating the magnetic brush holding means at least in the width direction of the latent image carrier, and a power receiving means for receiving power supply from the image forming apparatus main body and supplying the power to the motor And a developer container that stores the magnetic developer supplied to the magnetic brush holding means, and is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a DC motor is used as said motor. A latent image carrier, a latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the latent image carrier, and a latent image formed on the latent image carrier by the latent image forming means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a developing device, wherein the developing device according to claim 1 is used as the developing device.