JP6508142B2 - Developing device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device and an image forming apparatus which perform development processing using a developer containing toner and a carrier.

  In a developing device for performing development processing using a developer containing a toner and a carrier (so-called two-component developer), a scooping guide portion for guiding the developer in the developer storage chamber toward the developer carrying roller may be provided is there. In such a configuration, the developer may stagnate on the upper surface of the suction guide. Since the developer stagnant for a long time is deteriorated in chargeability and fluidity, when such a developer is used for development processing, the image quality may be deteriorated.

  Incidentally, there is known an image forming apparatus in which an elastic member for filling the space is fixed to the restriction blade in order to prevent the developer from staying in the space in front of the restriction blade (for example, see Patent Document 1) ).

JP 2007-147915 A

  However, even if the space above the pumping guide portion is filled with the elastic member in order to prevent the developer from staying on the upper surface of the pumping guide portion, the developer adheres to the upper surface of the elastic member and stagnates. There are times when

  An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device and an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing the retention of the developer on the upper surface of the suction guide portion.

  A developing device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a developer storage chamber, a conveyance member, a developer carrying roller, a scooping guide, a member to be vibrated, and a vibration mechanism. The developer storage chamber stores a developer including a toner and a carrier. The transport member transports the developer in the developer storage chamber while stirring the developer. The developer carrying roller is positioned above the transport member, and carries the developer on the surface thereof for transport. The scooping guide portion guides the developer conveyed by the conveyance member toward the developer carrying roller. The vibrating member is provided on the upper surface of the pumping guide portion. The vibration mechanism vibrates the member to be vibrated.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and the developing device which develops the electrostatic latent image.

  According to the present invention, the developing device and the image forming apparatus capable of suppressing the retention of the developer on the upper surface of the suction guide portion are provided.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction showing the configuration of the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view showing the configuration of the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a vibration mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of the vibration mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that, for convenience of explanation, the vertical direction is defined as the vertical direction in the state where the image forming apparatus 10 is installed so as to be usable (the state shown in FIG. 1), and the plane shown in FIG. The front-rear direction is defined, and the left-right direction is defined with reference to the front of the image forming apparatus 10.

<Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 10>
First, the configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an image reading unit 1, an image forming unit 3, a sheet feeding unit 4, a control unit 5 and the like. The image forming apparatus 10 is merely an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be a printer, a fax machine, a copier, or a multifunction machine having these functions. .

  The image reading unit 1 includes an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) 2. The image reading unit 1 reads an image of the document P set on the ADF 2 or the contact glass 11 to obtain image data. The image reading unit 1 includes, for example, an imaging element such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a contact image sensor (CIS), an optical lens, a light source, and the like. The image reading unit 1 reads the image data of the document P by the light emitted from the light source and reflected on the document P being input to the imaging device through the optical lens. The detailed description of the image reading unit 1 is omitted.

  The sheet feeding unit 4 feeds the sheet S on which an image is formed in the image forming unit 3. A sheet feeding cassette is provided in the sheet feeding unit 4, and a plurality of sheets S stored in the sheet feeding cassette are taken out one by one and fed to the image forming unit 3.

  The image forming unit 3 executes an electrophotographic image forming process (printing process) based on image data read by the image reading unit 1 or image data input from an information processing apparatus such as an external personal computer. . The image forming unit 3 includes a photosensitive drum 31 (an example of the “image carrier” of the present invention), a charging device 32, a laser scanner unit (LSU) 33, a developing device 34, a transfer roller 35, a charge removing device 36, and a fixing roller 37. , A pressure roller 38, and a toner container 39 and the like.

  In the image forming unit 3, an image is formed on the sheet S fed from the sheet feeding unit 4 in the following procedure. First, the photosensitive drum 31 is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential by the charging device 32. Next, light based on image data is irradiated onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 by the LSU 33. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31. Then, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 31 is developed (visualized) as a toner image by the developing device 34 driven by a motor (not shown). Subsequently, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 31 is transferred onto the sheet S by the transfer roller 35. Thereafter, when the sheet S passes between the fixing roller 37 and the pressure roller 38, the toner image transferred onto the sheet S is heated by the fixing roller 37 and melted and fixed on the sheet S. The potential of the photosensitive drum 31 is removed by the discharging device 36. The sheet S on which the image is thus formed is then discharged to the discharge tray 40. When the toner in the developing device 34 decreases due to development, the toner is replenished from the toner container 39.

  The control unit 5 generally controls the image forming apparatus 10, and includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, a motor driver, and the like. The motor driver of the control unit 5 drives and controls the motor to rotationally drive a rotating body such as a first stirring screw 61, a second stirring screw 62, and a developing roller 63, which are provided in the developing device 34 described later. The motor is capable of rotating in both directions, and the control unit 5 rotates the motor in any direction as needed to rotate the rotating body during development (hereinafter referred to as a positive rotation direction). Or, it is rotated in a rotational direction (hereinafter referred to as a reverse rotational direction) opposite to the rotational direction at the time of development.

<Configuration of Developing Device 34>
FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the configuration of the developing device 34. As shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view showing the configuration of the developing device 34. As shown in FIG. The configuration of the developing device 34 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

  The developing device 34 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 31 using a developer including a toner and a carrier (so-called two-component developer).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 34 includes a developing container 60 (an example of the “developer storage chamber” of the present invention), a first stirring screw 61, a second stirring screw 62 (the “conveying member” of the present invention) An example of the “screw member”, a developing roller 63 (an example of the “developer carrying roller” of the present invention), and the like are provided.

  The developer container 60 accommodates the developer containing toner and carrier, and also plays a role as a housing of the developing device 34. The developing container 60 is formed in a long shape in the longitudinal direction of the developing device 34 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2). The developing container 60 is divided into a first stirring chamber 60B and a second stirring chamber 60C by a partition wall 60A. As shown in FIG. 3, at both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the developing device 34, communication paths 112 and 113 which connect both the first stirring chamber 60B and the second stirring chamber 60C are provided.

  A first stirring screw 61 is rotatably provided in the first stirring chamber 60B. A second stirring screw 62 is rotatably provided in the second stirring chamber 60C. The first stirring screw 61 and the second stirring screw 62 are both rotatably supported by the side wall 60E (see FIG. 3) of the developing container 60. The bottom wall 60G of the first stirring chamber 60B provided with the first stirring screw 61 is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the outer periphery of the first stirring screw 61. The bottom wall 60H of the second stirring chamber 60C provided with the second stirring screw 62 is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the outer periphery of the second stirring screw 62. On the bottom wall 60G, a density detection sensor 97 for measuring the toner density of the developer is attached.

  The rotational driving force from the motor is transmitted to the rotation shafts 61A and 62A of the first stirring screw 61 and the second stirring screw 62, respectively. Thereby, the first stirring screw 61 and the second stirring screw 62 rotate in a predetermined direction. Specifically, at the time of development, the first stirring screw 61 and the second stirring screw 62 rotate in the positive rotation direction indicated by arrows 93 and 94 in FIG.

  In the developing container 60, a replenishment port 60D is formed. The supply port 60D is a through hole for guiding the toner supplied from the toner container 39 to the developing container 60.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first stirring screw 61 has a wing member 66 in a helical shape around an axis. The second stirring screw 62 has a wing member 67 in a helical shape around an axis. As a result, when rotationally driven by the rotational driving force from the motor, the first stirring screw 61 and the second stirring screw 62 mix the toner and the carrier supplied from the toner container 39 to the developing container 60 through the replenishment port 60D. And transport in the axial direction while stirring. In addition, the developer is stirred by the first stirring screw 61 and the second stirring screw 62, whereby the toner is charged. In the present embodiment, the developer passes between the first stirring chamber 60B and the second stirring chamber 60C via the communication paths 112 and 113 (see FIG. 3) formed in the partition wall 60A with the arrow 96 (see FIG. 3). It is transported circularly in the direction shown.

  The developer container 60 is provided with a developer discharge mechanism 80. The developer discharge mechanism 80 is located at one end of the second stirring chamber 60C, that is, at the downstream end of the second stirring screw 62 in the transport direction. The developer discharge mechanism 80 includes a reverse conveyance unit 80A and a discharge unit 80B. The reverse conveyance unit 80A and the discharge unit 80B have wing members provided coaxially with the second stirring screw 62, and rotate integrally with the second stirring screw 62. When the second stirring screw 62 rotates in the normal rotation direction, the reverse conveyance unit 80A pushes back the developer conveyed by the second stirring screw 62 in the reverse direction. The developer pushed back by the reverse conveyance unit 80A flows into the first stirring chamber 60B through the communication passage 113. On the other hand, a part of the developer that has passed over the reverse conveyance unit 80A is discharged from the developing container 60 by the discharge unit 80B. As described above, in the present embodiment, the trickle technique in which a part of the developer is discharged from the developing container 60 is employed. The toner contained in the toner container 39 may include a carrier in order to compensate for the carrier thus discharged.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the developing container 60, a developing roller 63 for supporting and conveying the developer on the surface thereof is rotatably provided. The developing roller 63 is provided above the second stirring screw 62 in the second stirring chamber 60C. Specifically, the developing roller 63 is provided closer to the photosensitive drum 31 than the second stirring screw 62 and is provided in parallel to the second stirring screw 62. The developing roller 63 is disposed to face the second stirring screw 62 with a predetermined gap therebetween.

  The developing roller 63 includes a cylindrical developing sleeve 63A. The developing sleeve 63A is rotatably supported by the developing container 60. The developing sleeve 63A is configured of, for example, a raw tube made of aluminum.

  The developing roller 63 is opposed to the photosensitive drum 31 on the opening 64 side (right side in FIG. 2) of the developing container 60. That is, the developing roller 63 is disposed to face the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31 with a predetermined gap therebetween. At the time of development, the developing roller 63 receives a rotational driving force from the motor and is rotated in the normal rotation direction indicated by an arrow 91 in FIG. That is, the rotation direction of the developing roller 63 and the rotation direction of the second stirring screw 62 are the same rotation direction, and the developing roller 63 is rotated in the same rotation direction as the second stirring screw 62.

  The developing roller 63 includes a magnet unit 63B having a plurality of magnetic poles. The magnet unit 63B is provided inside the developing sleeve 63A. The magnet unit 63B is fixed in the developing sleeve 63A. In the present embodiment, the magnet unit 63B has five magnetic poles of the pole top pole 75, the main pole 76, the transport poles 77 and 78, and the separation pole 79. Each of the magnetic poles 75 to 79 is configured of, for example, a permanent magnet that generates a magnetic force.

  The pole upper pole 75 is a magnetic pole that generates a peak magnetic force substantially vertically downward as indicated by a dashed-dotted line shown in FIG. The scooping pole 75 generates a magnetic force over a wide range of about 80 ° around the rotation axis of the developing roller 63 so as to cover from the position facing the second stirring screw 62 to the position facing the control blade 65. The developer is attracted to the surface of the developing sleeve 63A by the magnetic force and attracted to the surface of the developing sleeve 63A. Thus, the developer is pumped up to the surface of the developing sleeve 63A. Then, the developing sleeve 63A is rotated in this state, so that the developer passes through the position opposed to the regulating blade 65 and is conveyed to the position opposed to the photosensitive drum 31 (developing area). The scooping pole 75 also serves as a regulating pole for regulating the layer thickness of the developer carried on the surface of the developing roller 63.

  The main pole 76 is a magnetic pole that generates a peak magnetic force at a position facing the photosensitive drum 31. The main pole 76 is attached to the magnet unit 63B in a state where the pole face thereof is directed to the photosensitive drum 31 side.

  The transport poles 77 and 78 are magnetic poles for generating a magnetic field in the circumferential direction of the developing sleeve 63A to hold and transport the developer on the developing sleeve 63A in the circumferential direction.

  The peeling pole 79 is a magnetic pole which forms a peeling area having substantially zero magnetic flux density on the opposite side to the photosensitive drum 31 in the developing sleeve 63A. When the developer is conveyed to the peeling area, the developer is peeled from the developing sleeve 63A and dropped to the second stirring screw 62 located below. The developer dropped in this manner is stirred and conveyed by the first stirring screw 61 and the second stirring screw 62, and then is again charged onto the developing sleeve 63A by the scooping pole 75 as a developer uniformly charged with an appropriate toner concentration. It is pumped up.

  The developing container 60 is provided with a regulating blade 65. The restriction blade 65 is, for example, a plate member made of metal. The regulating blade 65 is attached below the developing roller 63 along the longitudinal direction of the developing container 60 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2). The restricting blade 65 is disposed downstream of the opposing position of the developing roller 63 and the second stirring screw 62 in the rotational direction of the developing roller 63 in the rotational direction (see arrow 91) of the developing roller 63 during the development. . The regulating blade 65 is disposed to face the developing roller 63 in a noncontact manner, and regulates the layer thickness of the developer carried on the surface of the developing roller 63. That is, a slight gap (gap) is formed between the tip 65 A of the regulating blade 65 and the surface of the developing roller 63. The developer attached to the developing roller 63 is regulated by the regulating blade 65 to a thickness corresponding to the gap.

  On the front side of the regulation blade 65 (that is, on the upstream side in the normal rotation direction of the developing roller 63), adjacent to the regulation blade 65, along the longitudinal direction of the developer container 60 (the direction perpendicular to the paper of FIG. 2). A pumping guide portion 68 is disposed. That is, the suction raising guide portion 68 is provided along the second stirring screw 62 between the regulating blade 65 and the second stirring screw 62 below the developing roller 63. The scooping guide portion 68 guides the developer conveyed by the second stirring screw 62 toward the developing roller 63. That is, with the rotation of the second stirring screw 62 in the forward rotation direction, a part of the developer conveyed by the second stirring screw 62 causes the bottom wall 60H of the second stirring chamber 60C and the side surface of the pumping guide portion 68 Move to the upper surface 68B of the pumping guide 68 along 68A. A portion of the developer moved to the upper surface 68 B of the suction guide portion 68 is attracted to the developing sleeve 63 A by the suction pole 75.

  Note that, in the present embodiment, the restriction blade 65 is fixed to the scooping guide portion 68 by a screw. That is, the scooping guide portion 68 also functions as a blade holding portion for fixing the regulating blade 65 at a predetermined position. The pumping guide portion 68 may be configured integrally with the developing container 60.

  By the way, in such a configuration, the developer may stagnate on the upper surface 68B of the scooping guide portion 68 (in particular, the space 98 in the vicinity of the regulating blade 65 shown in FIG. 2). Since the developer stagnant for a long time is deteriorated in chargeability and fluidity, when such a developer is used for development processing, the image quality may be deteriorated. Therefore, in order to prevent the developer from staying in the space 98 in front of the regulation blade 65, it is conceivable to fill the space 98 with an elastic member. However, even if the space 98 is filled with the elastic member, the developer may adhere to the upper surface of the elastic member and stay there. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the retention of the developer on the upper surface 68B of the pumping guide portion 68 can be suppressed by adopting the configuration described below.

  In the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, a film member 69 (an example of the “vibrated member” in the present invention) is provided on the upper surface 68B of the scooping guide portion 68. That is, substantially the entire upper surface 68 B of the suction raising guide portion 68 is covered with the film member 69. The film member 69 is, for example, a flexible resin member such as a polyester (PET) film.

  The film member 69 is vibrated by a vibration mechanism described later. That is, the film member 69 is supported by the upper surface 68B of the pumping-up guide portion 68 in a vibratable state. When the film member 69 vibrates, the developer (hereinafter, simply referred to as “retained developer”) staying on the upper surface of the film member 69 (in particular, the space 98 shown in FIG. 2) also vibrates. As a result, the stagnant developer is loosened and becomes easy to move. As a result, retention of the developer is eliminated.

  Incidentally, when the developer stagnates for a long time, the chargeability and the flowability may be deteriorated. Therefore, in order to prevent the developer from staying for a long time, it is conceivable to always vibrate the film member 69 at the time of image formation (during development). However, when the film member 69 is vibrated at the time of image formation, the layer thickness of the developer on the developing sleeve 63A may be uneven due to the influence of the vibration, and the image quality may be degraded. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the staying developer is recovered by vibrating the film member 69 by the vibrating mechanism only during non-image formation (during non-developing) (that is, returning the staying developer to the second stirring screw 62). .

  Note that, as shown in FIG. 2, when the inclination of the upper surface of the film member 69 is close to horizontal, it is not possible to efficiently recover the staying developer by only vibrating the film member 69. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to efficiently collect the staying developer, the film roller 69 is vibrated and at the same time the developing roller 63 is rotated so that the staying developer is conveyed by the developing roller 63 and the second stirring screw Drop to 62. In this case, the rotation direction of the developing roller 63 may be a forward rotation direction or a reverse rotation direction. However, when the direction of rotation of the developing roller 63 is reverse, as compared with the case of forward rotation, the time until the stagnant developer adsorbed on the surface of the developing sleeve 63A reaches the peeling area Because of the short length, the stagnant developer can be recovered in a shorter time. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the staying developer is collected by rotating the developing roller 63 in the reverse direction while vibrating the film member 69 by the vibration mechanism.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a specific example of a vibration mechanism for vibrating the film member 69 will be described.

  FIG. 4 shows a first example of the vibration mechanism. In this specific example, a gear 71, a gear 72, and a rotating body 73 are provided as the vibration mechanism. The gear 71 is provided on the rotation shaft of the developing sleeve 63A, and rotates integrally with the developing sleeve 63A. The gear 72 meshes with the gear 71, and the gear 72 also rotates in response to the rotation of the gear 71. The rotating body 73 is provided coaxially with the rotating shaft of the gear 72, and the rotational driving force of the gear 72 is transmitted to the rotating body 73 via a one-way clutch (not shown). The outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 73 is provided with a plurality of protruding portions 73A (an example of the "convex portion" in the present invention). The outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 73 is opposed to the end of the film member 69.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the developing sleeve 63A rotates in the normal rotation direction, the rotational driving force of the gear 72 is not transmitted to the rotating body 73 by the one-way clutch. As a result, when the developing sleeve 63A rotates in the normal rotation direction, the film member 69 does not vibrate.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the developing sleeve 63A is rotating in the reverse rotation direction, the rotational driving force of the gear 72 is transmitted to the rotating body 73 by the one-way clutch. As a result, the end of the film member 69 is intermittently pushed down by the plurality of projections 73A provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 73, and the film member 69 vibrates.

  In this case, the control unit 5 can recover the staying developer by simply rotating the developing sleeve 63A in the reverse direction.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, the film member 69 is vibrated by displacing the film member 69 in the direction perpendicular to the main surface of the film member 69, but the present invention is not limited to this. In another embodiment, the film member 69 may be vibrated by displacing the film member 69 in the direction along the main surface of the film member 69 (for example, the longitudinal direction of the film member 69).

  Although the gear 72 meshes with the gear 71 provided on the rotation shaft of the developing sleeve 63A in the example shown in FIG. 4, the present invention is not limited to this. In another embodiment, the gear 72 and the rotating body 73 are provided on the lower side of the film member 69, and the gear 72 engages with a gear (not shown) provided on the rotation shaft 62A of the second stirring screw 62. May be configured. In this case, the end of the film member 69 is intermittently pushed up by the plurality of projections 73A provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 73, and the film member 69 vibrates.

  FIG. 5 shows a second specific example of the vibration mechanism. In this specific example, a vibrating element 70 is provided as a vibrating mechanism. The vibrating element 70 is disposed in contact with the film member 69 and vibrates in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 5 that controls the operation of the developing device 34. The vibrating element 70 is disposed in a recess provided on the upper surface 68 B of the pumping-up guide 68 so as to abut on the lower surface of the film member 69. The vibrating element 70 is disposed, for example, near the center of the film member 69 in the longitudinal direction.

  In this case, the control unit 5 can recover the staying developer by rotating the developing sleeve 63A in the reverse direction and vibrating the vibrating element 70.

  Note that it may be possible to recover the staying developer only by continuing the reverse rotation of the developing sleeve 63A for a long time without vibrating the film member 69. However, it is possible to recover the staying developer in a shorter time by vibrating the film member 69 while rotating the developing sleeve 63A in the reverse direction.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the developing sleeve 63A and the second stirring screw 62 are rotationally driven by a common motor, and when the developing sleeve 63A is rotated in the reverse rotation direction, the second stirring screw 62 is also rotated in the reverse rotation direction. It is configured to rotate. Then, when the second stirring screw 62 rotates in the reverse rotation direction, the reverse conveyance portion 80A of the developer discharge mechanism 80 shown in FIG. 3 conveys the developer in the direction in which the developer is discharged. Therefore, in such a configuration, when the developing sleeve 63A is continuously reversely rotated for a long time, the amount of discharged developer increases. Therefore, in such a configuration, it is particularly effective to vibrate the film member 69 while rotating the developing sleeve 63A in the reverse direction.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the film member 69 provided on the upper surface 68B of the suction guide portion 68 is vibrated by the vibration mechanism, the retention of the developer on the upper surface 68B of the suction guide portion 68 is suppressed. Is possible.

  In the present embodiment, the film member 69 is provided on the upper surface 68B of the scooping guide portion 68. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Instead of the film member 69, for example, other vibrating can be used. Any member may be used.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the toner is conveyed from the developing sleeve 63A, which is a developer carrier, to the photosensitive drum 31, which is an image carrier, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the toner may be transported from the developing sleeve 63A, which is a developer carrier, to the toner carrier, and the toner may be transported from the toner carrier to the photosensitive drum 31.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 is an image forming apparatus that supports only monochrome images, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also applicable to an image forming apparatus that supports both monochrome images and color images. Can be applied.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 image forming apparatus 31 photosensitive drum 34 developing device 60 developing container 61 1st stirring screw 62 2nd stirring screw 63 developing roller 65 regulation blade 68 pumping up guide part 69 film member 70 vibrating element 71 gear 72 gear 73 rotating body 73A protrusion part 80 Developer Discharge Mechanism 80A Reverse Transport Unit 80B Discharge Unit

Claims (10)

A developer storage chamber for storing a developer including toner and a carrier;
A conveying member for conveying the developer in the developer storage chamber while stirring the developer;
A developer carrying roller located above the carrying member and carrying and carrying the developer on the surface;
A scooping guide portion for guiding the developer transported by the transport member toward the developer carrying roller;
A vibrated member provided on the upper surface of the pumping guide portion;
A vibration mechanism for vibrating the member to be vibrated;
Developing device. The pumping guide portion is provided along the transport member below the developer carrying roller.
The developing device according to claim 1. The image forming apparatus further comprises a control blade disposed in non-contacting relation to the developer carrying roller and controlling a layer thickness of the developer carried on the surface of the developer carrying roller.
The scooping guide portion is disposed adjacent to the regulating blade on the upstream side in the rotational direction of the developer carrying roller during development.
The developing device according to claim 1. The vibration mechanism vibrates the member to be vibrated during non-development.
The developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The vibration mechanism vibrates the member to be vibrated in conjunction with the rotation of the developer carrying roller in the direction opposite to the rotation direction during development.
The developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The vibration mechanism includes a rotating body having a convex portion in contact with the member to be vibrated on the circumferential surface and rotating in conjunction with the rotation of the developer carrying roller in the direction opposite to the rotation direction during development.
The developing device according to claim 5. It further comprises a control unit that controls the operation of the developing device,
The vibration mechanism includes a vibration element which is disposed in contact with the member to be vibrated and vibrates according to a control signal from the control unit.
The developing device according to claim 5. The transport member includes a screw member that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the developer carrier roller.
The developer storage chamber is provided with a developer discharge mechanism for discharging the developer out of the developer storage chamber as the screw member rotates in a direction opposite to the rotational direction during development.
The developing device according to any one of claims 5 to 7. An upper pole is provided inside the developer carrying roller to pump the developer onto the surface of the developer carrying roller,
The scooping pole also functions as a regulating pole for regulating the layer thickness of the developer carried on the surface of the developer carrying roller.
The developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. An image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;
The developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which develops the electrostatic latent image.
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images