JP3748147B2 - Development device - Google Patents
Development device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- JP3748147B2 JP3748147B2 JP03681097A JP3681097A JP3748147B2 JP 3748147 B2 JP3748147 B2 JP 3748147B2 JP 03681097 A JP03681097 A JP 03681097A JP 3681097 A JP3681097 A JP 3681097A JP 3748147 B2 JP3748147 B2 JP 3748147B2
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- developer
- developing device
- conveying member
- developing
- toner
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 208000028659 discharge Diseases 0.000 description 5
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 4
- 108091008695 photoreceptors Proteins 0.000 description 4
- 238000003756 stirring Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004904 shortening Methods 0.000 description 3
- 210000000078 claw Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 230000005684 electric field Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Images
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- Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)
Description
【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、現像剤を現像装置内から排出する機構を備えた現像装置に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
一般に電子写真装置においては、均一に帯電された感光体上に像露光により静電潜像を形成し、現像装置によってトナー現像することにより静電潜像を顕像化する。感光体上のトナー像は転写装置によって用紙上に転写され、定着装置によって加熱加圧されることにより用紙に定着される。また、感光体上の未転写トナーは清掃機によって清掃される。上記プロセスを繰り返し、連続的に印刷が行われる。
【０００３】
現像装置の一形態として、２成分磁気ブラシ現像方式が挙げられる。この方式で使用される２成分現像剤はトナーとキャリアからなり、現像を行うにはトナーを摩擦帯電させるために現像剤を撹拌しながら搬送しなくてはならない。現像剤搬送手段の一形態としては、螺旋形状をした搬送部材を回転させて搬送を行う方法が知られている。螺旋形状搬送部材は中央に爪が設けてあり、この爪によって現像剤を撹拌する。現像剤は撹拌を繰り返すうちに現像剤にかかる負荷によってトナーがキャリア周囲に融着してしまい、やがて摩擦帯電できなくなってしまう。上記の現象は一例に過ぎないが、例えばこの様にして摩擦帯電できなくなってしまった場合などには現像剤を交換する必要が生じる。
【０００４】
現像剤を交換する構成としては、現像装置ごと交換する構成と現像剤のみを交換する構成の２つに大別することができるが、現像装置ごと交換する構成は高価となるため現像剤のみを交換する構成が主流である。現像剤の交換構成については種々提案がなされているが、装置の小形化等の理由から実装密度が高くなり、現像装置の側面方向に現像剤を排出して現像剤を交換する構成が多く用いられてきている。この構成は螺旋形状搬送部材を回転させることにより現像剤を搬送し、排出するものである。従って、現像剤を排出する時間は搬送部材の回転数で決定され、同時に投入時間も搬送部材の回転数によって決定されることとなる。
【０００５】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
現像装置内の搬送部材は現像剤を現像ロール軸方向に搬送すると同時に、現像剤を撹拌する。前記搬送部材の回転数は撹拌性および現像剤への負荷で決められる。従って、搬送部材の回転数を高くすることは、搬送性、撹拌性を良好にするが、現像剤への負荷が大きくなってしまい回転数には最適値がある。このことから現像剤を排出／投入する時間の短縮化には限界がある。
【０００６】
本発明の目的は、現像剤への負荷を大きくすることなく、確実に現像剤の交換時間を短縮することが可能な現像装置を提供することにある。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的は、トナーとキャリアからなる現像剤と、正転／逆転可能な現像剤搬送部材とを有し、前記現像剤搬送部材を正転または逆転のいずれか一方の方向に回転させることにより現像剤を現像装置内へ投入し、前記現像剤搬送部材を現像投入時と反対の方向に回転させることにより現像剤を現像装置内から排出する現像装置において、現像剤投入時の前記現像剤搬送部材の回転速度と現像剤排出時の前記現像剤搬送部材の回転速度とを異ならせるとともに、前記現像剤を前記現像装置内から排出する場合には、負荷が小さくなった時点で前記現像剤搬送部材の回転速度を速くすることにより達成される。
【０００８】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施例を図面を用いて説明する。
図３は本発明の一実施形態を示す構成図である。感光体は矢印の方向に一定の速度で回転可能なように配置され、その周囲に帯電装置２、光学装置３、現像装置４、転写装置５、清掃装置６が配置される。また、帯電装置２、転写装置５のスコロトロンまたはコロトロンワイヤに高圧を印加させコロナ放電を発生させるための帯電装置用高圧電源７、転写装置用高圧電源１０、帯電装置２のグリッドに電圧を印加するグリッド用高圧電源８および現像装置４にバイアス電圧を印加するバイアス用高圧電源９で構成される。
【０００９】
次に本装置の印刷プロセスについて説明する。感光体は帯電装置２により均一に帯電され、光学装置３により照射されるレーザ光により２段階の電位（背景部、画像部）が形成される。電位が形成された感光体は現像装置４によってトナー現像される。この時、現像装置４内の現像ロールには現像バイアスが印加されており、画像部の電位と現像バイアスの電位差によって電界が形成され、トナーがこの電界の影響によって感光体上に現像される。
【００１０】
感光体に現像されたトナーは転写装置５によって用紙上に転写され、図示していない定着装置によって定着される。感光体に残されたトナーは清掃装置６によって清掃される。上記プロセスを繰り返すことによって連続印刷が可能になる。
【００１１】
次に本装置における現像装置の印刷動作について詳しく説明する。図２は本発明の一実施例を示す現像装置の構成図である。通常印刷時において、現像装置４中の現像剤は搬送部材１１によって現像ロール１２の軸方向に撹拌されながら搬送される。この時の搬送部材１１の回転数は現像剤の撹拌性および現像剤への負荷により決められており一定である。搬送部材１１によって押し出された現像剤は水車型のパドル１３によって現像ロール１２に搬送され、規制部材１４によって均一に整えられた後、現像部へ移動し、感光体にトナーを現像する。トナー現像し終えた現像剤は再びパドル１３によって搬送部材１１に戻され、搬送部材１１によって搬送、撹拌される。上記の印刷動作を繰り返すうちに現像剤は寿命となり交換が必要となってくる。
【００１２】
次に本装置における現像剤排出動作仕様について図１を用いて詳しく説明する。現像剤の排出は搬送部材のみによって行うが、この時、搬送部材の回転数は図１に示すように従来仕様では、常時モータ回転数１６０rpmで回転するよう制御されている。しかしながら、ステッピングモータを使用した場合、回転数の変更が可能になる。そこで、負荷が最も大きい排出初期のみ通常の回転数で回転させ、現像剤をある程度排出し負荷が小さくなった時点で回転数を速くする。これによって通常の１６０rpmの回転数で排出動作を行う場合には、ある一定量の現像剤を回収するのに１５０秒を費やしていたのが、約１２０秒で回収可能となった。これによって現像剤を交換するのに要する時間は約３０秒短縮可能となった。
【００１３】
【発明の効果】
以上述べた如く本発明によれば、現像剤を現像装置内から排出する場合には、負荷が小さくなった時点で現像剤搬送部材の回転速度を速くしているので、現像剤への負荷を大きくすることなく、確実に現像剤の交換時間を短縮することが可能な現像装置を提供することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の現像装置の動作仕様を示す説明図。
【図２】本発明の現像装置の一実施例を示す断面図。
【図３】電子写真装置の概略構成図。[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a developing device having a mechanism for discharging a developer from the developing device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, in an electrophotographic apparatus, an electrostatic latent image is formed by image exposure on a uniformly charged photoreceptor, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized by developing the toner with a developing device. The toner image on the photosensitive member is transferred onto a sheet by a transfer device, and is fixed on the sheet by being heated and pressed by a fixing device. Further, untransferred toner on the photoreceptor is cleaned by a cleaning machine. The above process is repeated and printing is performed continuously.
[0003]
As one form of the developing device, there is a two-component magnetic brush developing system. The two-component developer used in this method comprises a toner and a carrier, and in order to perform development, the developer must be conveyed while stirring in order to frictionally charge the toner. As one form of developer conveying means, a method is known in which conveyance is performed by rotating a helical conveying member. The spiral conveying member has a claw at the center, and the developer is stirred by the claw. As the developer is agitated repeatedly, the toner is fused around the carrier due to the load applied to the developer and eventually cannot be triboelectrically charged. The above phenomenon is only an example, but it is necessary to replace the developer, for example, when friction charging cannot be performed in this way.
[0004]
The configuration for exchanging the developer can be roughly divided into a configuration for exchanging the entire developing device and a configuration for exchanging only the developer, but the configuration for exchanging only the developing device is expensive, so only the developer is replaced. The replacement structure is mainstream. Various proposals have been made for the developer replacement structure, but the mounting density is increased due to the downsizing of the apparatus, etc., and a structure in which the developer is discharged in the lateral direction of the developing device and the developer is replaced is often used. It has been. In this configuration, the developer is transported and discharged by rotating the spiral-shaped transport member. Accordingly, the time for discharging the developer is determined by the rotation speed of the conveying member, and at the same time, the charging time is also determined by the rotation speed of the conveying member.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conveying member in the developing device agitates the developer at the same time as conveying the developer in the developing roll axial direction. The number of rotations of the conveying member is determined by the stirring property and the load on the developer. Therefore, increasing the number of rotations of the conveying member improves the conveyance and stirring properties, but the load on the developer increases and there is an optimum value for the number of rotations. For this reason, there is a limit to shortening the time for discharging / injecting the developer.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device capable of reliably shortening the replacement time of the developer without increasing the load on the developer.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above object is developed by rotating a developer containing a toner and a carrier, have a normal rotation / reverse rotatable developer carrying member, said developer conveying member in either direction of forward or reverse In the developing device that discharges the developer from the developing device by charging the developer into the developing device and rotating the developer conveying member in the direction opposite to that at the time of developing, the developer conveying member when the developer is charged When the developer is discharged from the developing device, the developer conveying member is reduced when the load is reduced. This is achieved by increasing the rotation speed of the.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. The photoconductor is arranged so as to be rotatable at a constant speed in the direction of an arrow, and a charging device 2, an optical device 3, a developing
[0009]
Next, the printing process of this apparatus will be described. The photosensitive member is uniformly charged by the charging device 2, and a two-stage potential (background portion, image portion) is formed by the laser light irradiated by the optical device 3. The photosensitive member on which the potential is formed is developed with toner by the developing
[0010]
The toner developed on the photoreceptor is transferred onto a sheet by the transfer device 5 and fixed by a fixing device (not shown). The toner remaining on the photoreceptor is cleaned by the
[0011]
Next, the printing operation of the developing device in this apparatus will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a developing device showing an embodiment of the present invention. During normal printing, the developer in the developing
[0012]
Next developer discharge operation specifications of the apparatus will be described in detail with reference to FIG. While the developer discharge is carried out only by the conveying member, this time, the rotational speed of the conveying member is in the conventional design as shown in FIG. 1, and is controlled to rotate at a constant motor speed 160 rpm. However, when the stepping motor is used, the rotation speed can be changed. Therefore, the rotation speed is rotated only at the normal rotation speed only at the initial discharge stage where the load is the largest, and the rotation speed is increased when the load is reduced by discharging the developer to some extent. As a result, when the discharging operation is performed at the normal number of revolutions of 160 rpm, 150 seconds is required to recover a certain amount of developer, but it can be recovered in about 120 seconds. As a result, the time required to change the developer can be shortened by about 30 seconds.
[0013]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the developer is discharged from the developing device, since the rotation speed of the developer conveying member is increased when the load becomes small, the load on the developer is reduced. It is possible to provide a developing device capable of reliably shortening the developer replacement time without increasing the size.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing operation specifications of a developing device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the developing device of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electrophotographic apparatus.
Claims (1)
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP03681097A JP3748147B2 (en) | 1997-02-21 | 1997-02-21 | Development device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP03681097A JP3748147B2 (en) | 1997-02-21 | 1997-02-21 | Development device |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPH10232557A JPH10232557A (en) | 1998-09-02 |
| JP3748147B2 true JP3748147B2 (en) | 2006-02-22 |
Family
ID=12480140
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP03681097A Expired - Lifetime JP3748147B2 (en) | 1997-02-21 | 1997-02-21 | Development device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP3748147B2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP4710928B2 (en) * | 2008-05-21 | 2011-06-29 | コニカミノルタビジネステクノロジーズ株式会社 | Developing device and image forming apparatus |
-
1997
- 1997-02-21 JP JP03681097A patent/JP3748147B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH10232557A (en) | 1998-09-02 |
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