JPH05158335A - One-component developing device - Google Patents

One-component developing device

Info

Publication number
JPH05158335A
JPH05158335A JP3323568A JP32356891A JPH05158335A JP H05158335 A JPH05158335 A JP H05158335A JP 3323568 A JP3323568 A JP 3323568A JP 32356891 A JP32356891 A JP 32356891A JP H05158335 A JPH05158335 A JP H05158335A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
toner
roller
developing device
elastic
developing roller
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.)
Pending
Application number
JP3323568A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
Takuo Shimokawa
拓生 下川
Tetsuhiro Tsuru
哲浩 津留
Yoshihiro Mizoguchi
義浩 溝口
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Panasonic Holdings Corp
Original Assignee
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd filed Critical Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Priority to JP3323568A priority Critical patent/JPH05158335A/en
Publication of JPH05158335A publication Critical patent/JPH05158335A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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  • Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the frictional resistance of an elastic developing roller with a toner regulating blade, a photosensitive body and a recovery seal, etc., which are arranged in contact with the developing roller by forming a toner layer on the surface of the elastic developing roller from the beginning of producing a developing device. CONSTITUTION:The toner layer 17 is formed on the surface of the elastic developing roller 1 which carries toner 7 to the surface of the photosensitive body 5 from the time when the device is not used. By thus forming the toner layer 17 on the periphery of the roller 1, the particles of the toner 7 lie between the roller 1 and the toner regulating blade 4, the photosensitive body 5, the recovery sheet 6, and a toner replenishing roller 2 which contact elastically with the roller 1. Therefore, in the case that the particles of the toner do not exist, the sum of the rolling friction of the toner 7 with the roller 1 and the toner 7 with the respective contact members is obtained though sliding friction is obtained between the roller 1 and the respective contact members, so that the initial driving torque of the developing device immediately after attaching an unused developing device to device main body is made small.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】Detailed Description of the Invention

【0001】[0001]

【産業上の利用分野】本発明は、電子写真装置本体に着
脱自在で、現像装置の寿命がきた場合、新しい現像装置
に交換する方式の電子写真装置の一成分現像装置に関す
る。
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a one-component developing device of an electrophotographic apparatus which is detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus and is replaced with a new developing apparatus when the life of the developing apparatus is reached.

【0002】[0002]

【従来の技術】電子複写機、レーザビームプリンタ、静
電記録装置、あるいは、その他の各種電子写真記録装置
に使用されている一成分現像装置は、従来より周知であ
る。この一成分現像剤を用いるこの種の現像装置は、ト
ナーの他にキャリアを使用する二成分現像装置のよう
に、キャリアの劣化、キャリアとトナーの混合比につい
て特に考慮を払う必要がないため、装置の構成を簡略化
できるという利点がある。そのため近年、レーザビーム
プリンタを中心に一成分現像装置が採用されてきてい
る。
2. Description of the Related Art One-component developing devices used in electronic copying machines, laser beam printers, electrostatic recording devices, and other various electrophotographic recording devices are well known. This type of developing device using this one-component developer does not need to pay particular attention to carrier deterioration and carrier-toner mixing ratio, unlike a two-component developing device using a carrier in addition to toner. There is an advantage that the structure of the device can be simplified. Therefore, in recent years, one-component developing devices have been adopted mainly in laser beam printers.

【0003】以下に従来の一成分現像装置について説明
する。図3は従来の一成分現像装置の断面を示すもので
ある。図3において、1は弾性現像ローラであって、こ
の弾性現像ローラ1の右隣にはスポンジ材から成るトナ
ー補給ローラ2が配設され、弾性現像ローラ1の上部に
は、ばね材3により弾性現像ローラ1の方向へ付勢され
たトナー規制ブレード4が設けられている。弾性現像ロ
ーラ1の左隣には静電像形成手段(図示せず)により形
成された静電潜像を担持する像担持体(以下、感光体と
いう。)5が配設されている。6は現像装置内部のトナ
ー7が外部へ洩れ出すことのないようにするためのリカ
バリーシートである。トナー補給ローラ2の右隣にはア
ジテータ8が設けられ、トナー7がトナー補給ローラ2
の方向へ搬送されるよう構成されている。9は現像バッ
トであって、この現像バット9の上部開口に新しく現像
装置を画像形成装置本体へ装着する前にトナー7を充填
するためのトナーカートリッジ10が嵌め込まれてい
る。
A conventional one-component developing device will be described below. FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a conventional one-component developing device. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes an elastic developing roller, a toner replenishing roller 2 made of a sponge material is arranged on the right side of the elastic developing roller 1, and an elastic developing roller 1 is provided with an elastic member by an elastic member 3 above the elastic developing roller 1. A toner regulating blade 4 biased toward the developing roller 1 is provided. An image carrier (hereinafter, referred to as a photoconductor) 5 that carries an electrostatic latent image formed by an electrostatic image forming unit (not shown) is disposed on the left side of the elastic developing roller 1. Reference numeral 6 is a recovery sheet for preventing the toner 7 inside the developing device from leaking to the outside. An agitator 8 is provided on the right side of the toner replenishing roller 2 so that the toner 7 is replenished with the toner 7.
It is configured to be conveyed in the direction of. Reference numeral 9 denotes a developing butt, and a toner cartridge 10 for filling the toner 7 before the developing device is newly attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus is fitted into the upper opening of the developing butt 9.

【0004】アジテータ8によりトナー7をトナー補給
ローラ2方向へ搬送し、トナー補給ローラ2は図示する
矢印の方向に回転し、弾性現像ローラ1との接点B近傍
で当接し、弾性現像ローラ1にトナー7が供給させる。
弾性現像ローラ1の表面上に供給されたトナー7はトナ
ー規制ブレード4と弾性現像ローラ1との接触部により
均一薄層化される。均一薄層化されたトナー7は感光体
5と弾性現像ローラ1との接触部または近接部Dへ搬送
され感光体5表面上に形成された静電潜像に対応してト
ナー7を転移させ感光体5表面上にトナー像を形成す
る。現像に使用されなかった弾性現像ローラ1上のトナ
ー7は弾性現像ローラ1とリカバリーシート6の接触部
Cを通過し再び現像装置内に回収される。
The toner 7 is conveyed toward the toner replenishing roller 2 by the agitator 8, the toner replenishing roller 2 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and comes into contact with the elastic developing roller 1 in the vicinity of the contact point B to contact the elastic developing roller 1. Toner 7 is supplied.
The toner 7 supplied onto the surface of the elastic developing roller 1 is uniformly thinned by the contact portion between the toner regulating blade 4 and the elastic developing roller 1. The uniform thinned toner 7 is conveyed to the contact portion or the proximity portion D between the photoconductor 5 and the elastic developing roller 1, and the toner 7 is transferred in accordance with the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 5. A toner image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 5. The toner 7 on the elastic developing roller 1 that has not been used for development passes through the contact portion C between the elastic developing roller 1 and the recovery sheet 6 and is collected again in the developing device.

【0005】このようにして印字プロセスが行われ、ト
ナーカートリッジ10中のトナーが全て消費された場
合、あるいはトナー補給式の現像装置においても現像装
置の寿命がきた場合、ユーザは新しい現像装置と交換す
る。従来は新しい現像装置を画像形成装置本体に装着す
る場合は、ユーザがトナー7の入っていない現像装置に
図示するようにトナーカートリッジ10に入れられたト
ナー7を現像バット9内に補給していた。
When the printing process is performed in this way and all the toner in the toner cartridge 10 is consumed, or when the developing device of the toner replenishing type has reached the end of its life, the user replaces the developing device with a new developing device. To do. Conventionally, when a new developing device is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the user replenishes the toner 7 contained in the toner cartridge 10 into the developing butt 9 as shown in the developing device not containing the toner 7. ..

【0006】[0006]

【発明が解決しようとする課題】しかしながら上記の従
来の方法では、弾性現像ローラ1とトナー規制ブレード
4、弾性現像ローラ1とトナー補給ローラ2、トナー補
給ローラ2とリカバリーシート6、弾性現像ローラ1と
感光体5とのそれぞれの接触部A,B,C,Dが存在
し、その部分の摩擦により、それぞれの接触部A,B,
C,Dにトナーが挟み込まれる状態になるまで、初期駆
動トルクが非常に大きい状態となり、そのために装置の
モータにトルクの大きいものを使用する必要があった
り、現像装置のギアやシフトなどの駆動系を必要以上に
強度の高い仕様にする必要がある。甚だしい場合は、弾
性現像ローラ1と周囲の部材が密着してしまい弾性現像
ローラと周囲の部材の位置関係がずれてしまったり、現
像装置のフレームやギアが破損してしまうという問題点
を有していた。
However, in the above-mentioned conventional method, the elastic developing roller 1 and the toner regulating blade 4, the elastic developing roller 1 and the toner replenishing roller 2, the toner replenishing roller 2 and the recovery sheet 6, and the elastic developing roller 1 are used. There are respective contact portions A, B, C and D between the photosensitive member 5 and the photoconductor 5, and the contact portions A, B, and
The initial driving torque becomes extremely large until the toner is caught between C and D. Therefore, it is necessary to use a motor having a large torque for the device motor, driving of the gear or shift of the developing device. It is necessary to make the system stronger than necessary. In the extreme case, there is a problem that the elastic developing roller 1 and the surrounding members come into close contact with each other, the positional relationship between the elastic developing roller and the surrounding members is displaced, and the frame or gear of the developing device is damaged. Was there.

【0007】また、このような問題を低減するために、
弾性現像ローラ1の層構成を図3に示すような摩擦係数
の小さい表面層11を形成する方法も採用されている
が、弾性現像ローラのコストが上昇しかつ表面の摩擦係
数が小さいため接触部Aにおけるトナー薄層が安定かつ
均一に形成できないという問題があった。
Further, in order to reduce such a problem,
A method of forming the surface layer 11 having a small friction coefficient as shown in FIG. 3 in the layer structure of the elastic developing roller 1 is also adopted, but the cost of the elastic developing roller is increased and the surface friction coefficient is small, so that the contact portion is formed. There is a problem that the toner thin layer in A cannot be formed stably and uniformly.

【0008】本発明は上記課題を解決するもので、低コ
ストでかつ安定したトナー層の形成が可能となるととも
に、現像装置の初期駆動トルクを低減することにより、
小さいパワーのモータを使用することが可能となった
り、現像装置の各種部品の剛性を低減することが可能
で、さらには、現像装置の破損を防止するという問題も
解決した信頼性の高い一成分現像装置を提供することを
目的としている。
The present invention solves the above-described problems, and enables the formation of a stable toner layer at low cost and reduces the initial drive torque of the developing device.
A highly reliable component that can use a motor with low power, reduce the rigidity of various parts of the developing device, and prevent the damage of the developing device. An object is to provide a developing device.

【0009】[0009]

【課題を解決するための手段】この目的を達成するため
に、本発明の一成分現像装置は、像担持体表面へトナー
を搬送する弾性現像ローラと、弾性現像ローラにトナー
を搬送するトナー補給ローラと、弾性現像ローラの表面
に供給されたトナーを均一薄層化するトナー規制ブレー
ドなどを備えた一成分現像剤を用いる現像装置であっ
て、この現像装置の製造当初から弾性現像ローラの表面
にトナー層を形成している。
To achieve this object, a one-component developing device of the present invention comprises an elastic developing roller which conveys toner to the surface of an image bearing member, and toner replenishment which conveys toner to the elastic developing roller. A developing device using a one-component developer including a roller and a toner regulating blade for uniformly thinning the toner supplied to the surface of the elastic developing roller, the surface of the elastic developing roller having been manufactured from the beginning. A toner layer is formed on.

【0010】[0010]

【作用】この構成によって、弾性現像ローラと周囲の接
触部材、つまりトナー規制ブレード、トナー補給ロー
ラ、リカバリーシート、感光体との接触点A,B,C,
Dにトナーを挟み込んだ状態になり、トナー粒子の存在
のために、トナーがない場合の滑り摩擦から転がり摩擦
となり、それぞれの接触部における摩擦による駆動負荷
を低減することができる。
With this structure, the contact points A, B, C between the elastic developing roller and the peripheral contact member, that is, the toner regulating blade, the toner replenishing roller, the recovery sheet, and the photoconductor are provided.
The toner is sandwiched in D, and due to the presence of toner particles, the sliding friction in the absence of toner changes to rolling friction, and the driving load due to the friction at each contact portion can be reduced.

【0011】[0011]

【実施例】以下に本発明の実施例について図面を参照し
ながら説明する。図1は本発明の一実施例における現像
装置ユニットの断面図である。ここで従来例と同一部品
については同一番号を付与して説明は省略する。
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a developing device unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the same parts as those of the conventional example are given the same numbers and their explanations are omitted.

【0012】図1に示すように、この実施例は、トナー
を補給する方式の一成分現像装置であって、現像装置の
未使用時から弾性現像ローラ1の表面にトナー層17が
形成されている。12は現像バット3へのトナー補給の
ための補給口の蓋である。
As shown in FIG. 1, this embodiment is a one-component developing device for replenishing toner, and a toner layer 17 is formed on the surface of the elastic developing roller 1 when the developing device is not used. There is. Reference numeral 12 denotes a replenishing port lid for replenishing toner to the developing butt 3.

【0013】以上のように構成された現像装置におい
て、弾性現像ローラ1の周囲にトナー層17を形成する
ことによって、弾性現像ローラ1と弾性現像ローラ1に
接触しているトナー規制ブレード4、感光体5、リカバ
リーシート6、トナー補給ローラ2との間にトナー7の
粒子が挟まれることにより、トナー7の粒子がない場
合、弾性現像ローラ1と各接触部材は滑り摩擦であった
のに対して、トナー7と弾性現像ローラ1、およびトナ
ー7と各接触部材の転がり摩擦の和となり、未使用の現
像装置を装置本体に装着した直後の現像装置の初期駆動
トルクを小さくすることが可能となった。我々が試作し
た現像装置において、トナー層がない場合と有る場合の
弾性現像ローラのシャフトを回転させるための負荷トル
クは、それぞれ7kgfcm と1.3kgfcmとなり、本発明の効
果を確認できた。
In the developing device configured as described above, the toner layer 17 is formed around the elastic developing roller 1, so that the elastic developing roller 1 and the toner regulating blade 4 that is in contact with the elastic developing roller 1 are exposed. The particles of the toner 7 are sandwiched between the body 5, the recovery sheet 6, and the toner replenishing roller 2, so that when the particles of the toner 7 do not exist, the elastic developing roller 1 and each contact member have sliding friction. As a result, the rolling friction between the toner 7 and the elastic developing roller 1 and between the toner 7 and the respective contact members becomes the sum of the rolling friction, and the initial drive torque of the developing device immediately after the unused developing device is mounted on the main body of the device can be reduced. became. The load torques for rotating the shaft of the elastic developing roller with and without the toner layer were 7 kgfcm and 1.3 kgfcm, respectively, in the developing device prototyped by us, confirming the effect of the present invention.

【0014】図2は他の実施例の現像装置ユニットの断
面図である。上記実施例では、現像装置を工場から梱包
出荷する場合はトナー7を補給せず、ユーザまたはサー
ビスマンがトナー7をトナー補給口の蓋12を開けてト
ナーを補給する方式を採用しているが、この他の実施例
は図2に示すように、工場においてすでにトナー7を現
像バット9内に充填し密封した状態で、ユーザが現像装
置を装置本体にセットするのみで使用でき、トナーを消
費してしまい寿命がきた場合は新しい現像装置と交換す
るタイプのものである。このタイプの方式にても、トナ
ー7が弾性現像ローラ1の周囲にトナー層17を形成し
た状態で梱包出荷することにおいては、図1に示した実
施例と同様である。
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a developing device unit of another embodiment. In the above embodiment, when the developing device is packaged and shipped from the factory, the toner 7 is not replenished, but the user or the service person opens the toner replenishing port lid 12 to replenish the toner. As shown in FIG. 2, the other embodiment can be used only by the user setting the developing device in the main body of the developing device with the toner 7 already filled and sealed in the factory, and the toner is consumed. If it has reached the end of its life, it will be replaced with a new developing device. Even in this type of system, packing and shipping the toner 7 with the toner layer 17 formed around the elastic developing roller 1 is the same as in the embodiment shown in FIG.

【0015】[0015]

【発明の効果】以上のように本発明は、現像装置の製造
当初から弾性現像ローラの表面にトナー層を形成するこ
とにより、弾性現像ローラと弾性現像ローラに接触配置
されているトナー規制ブレード、感光体、リカバリーシ
ール、トナー補給ローラとの摩擦抵抗を低減でき、現像
装置を未使用のものに交換した直後の初期駆動トルクを
小さくでき、かつ低摩擦係数の表面層を設けた弾性現像
ローラを使用する必要がないため、低コストで信頼性の
高い一成分現像装置を実現できるものである。
As described above, according to the present invention, since the toner layer is formed on the surface of the elastic developing roller from the beginning of manufacturing the developing device, the elastic developing roller and the toner regulating blade disposed in contact with the elastic developing roller are provided. It is possible to reduce the frictional resistance between the photoconductor, the recovery seal and the toner replenishing roller, reduce the initial drive torque immediately after replacing the developing device with an unused one, and use an elastic developing roller provided with a surface layer having a low friction coefficient. Since it is not necessary to use it, a low-cost and highly reliable one-component developing device can be realized.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief description of drawings]

【図1】本発明の第1の実施例における一成分現像装置
の断面図である。
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a one-component developing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

【図2】本発明の第2の実施例における一成分現像装置
の断面図である。
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a one-component developing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

【図3】従来の一成分現像装置の未使用現像装置を装着
した状態の断面図である。
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a state in which an unused developing device of a conventional one-component developing device is mounted.

【符号の説明】[Explanation of symbols]

1 弾性現像ローラ 2 トナー補給ローラ 4 トナー規制ブレード 5 像担持体(感光体) 6 リカバリーシート 7 トナー 8 アジテータ 17 現像ローラ表面トナー層 1 Elastic Development Roller 2 Toner Supply Roller 4 Toner Regulation Blade 5 Image Carrier (Photoreceptor) 6 Recovery Sheet 7 Toner 8 Agitator 17 Development Roller Surface Toner Layer

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] 【請求項1】 像担持体表面へトナーを搬送する弾性現
像ローラと、弾性現像ローラにトナーを搬送するトナー
補給ローラと、弾性現像ローラの表面に供給されたトナ
ーを均一薄層化するトナー規制ブレードなどを備えた一
成分現像剤を用いる現像装置であって、この現像装置の
製造当初から弾性現像ローラの表面にトナー層を形成し
た一成分現像装置。
1. An elastic developing roller that conveys toner to the surface of an image carrier, a toner replenishing roller that conveys toner to the elastic developing roller, and a toner regulation that uniformly thins the toner supplied to the surface of the elastic developing roller. A developing device using a one-component developer equipped with a blade or the like, wherein a toner layer is formed on the surface of an elastic developing roller from the beginning of manufacturing the developing device.
JP3323568A 1991-12-09 1991-12-09 One-component developing device Pending JPH05158335A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP3323568A JPH05158335A (en) 1991-12-09 1991-12-09 One-component developing device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP3323568A JPH05158335A (en) 1991-12-09 1991-12-09 One-component developing device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPH05158335A true JPH05158335A (en) 1993-06-25

Family

ID=18156155

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP3323568A Pending JPH05158335A (en) 1991-12-09 1991-12-09 One-component developing device

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JPH05158335A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2008281750A (en) * 2007-05-10 2008-11-20 Konica Minolta Business Technologies Inc Method for suppressing developing roller creep deformation in process unit, and process unit
US20130287451A1 (en) * 2012-04-26 2013-10-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus, developing apparatus, and process cartridge

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2008281750A (en) * 2007-05-10 2008-11-20 Konica Minolta Business Technologies Inc Method for suppressing developing roller creep deformation in process unit, and process unit
US20130287451A1 (en) * 2012-04-26 2013-10-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus, developing apparatus, and process cartridge

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