Developer container, development device, process unit, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a developer container, a development device provided with the developer container, a process unit and an image forming apparatus. The developer container is provided with a canopy (65) disposed inside the container body (70) and facing a discharge outlet (52), a developer conveyance chamber (66) is defined by the canopy (65) and the inner face of the container body (70), and the developer is transported by a conveyance member (53). A return opening (67) formed in the canopy to return the developer from the developer conveyance chamber to the developer containing chamber (66). The return opening (67) is positioned downstream from the discharge outlet (52) in the developer conveyance direction of the developer conveyance member (53). The developer conveyance member (53) includes a first conveyance portion (H1) to transport the developer toward the discharge outlet (52) and a second conveyance portion (H2) transporting the developer toward the return opening (67). The developer conveyance velocity (Q2) of the second conveyance portion (H2) of the developer conveyance member is slower than a developer conveyance velocity (Q1) of the first conveyance portion (H1). The developer container where damages thereof can be prevented even when the discharge outlet is blocked is provided.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a developer container (DEVELOPER CONTAINER) for accommodating developer, a developing device having the developer container, a process unit, and an image forming apparatus. Background technique [0002] In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, facsimile machines, and multifunction machines of these devices, many devices have been developed that include a processing unit that integrates a photoreceptor and a developing device. The processing unit is replaced with a new one at the end of its service life, but in order to reduce the frequency of replacement and reduce running costs, the service life of each component of the processing unit is increased. [0003] However, as a result of increasing the service life of the process unit, if the amount of developer required to reach the service life increases, the developer storage space in the process unit will increase, leading to an increas...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, if the discharge port is made smaller, there is a problem that the discharge port is easily clogged due to the accumulated developer.

In the state where the discharge port is blocked, if the developer replenishment operation is performed, in the worst case, the conveying screw and the container body may be damaged due to the pressure generated by the conveyed developer.

[0006] Although the amount of developer in the developing device has not decreased much, when the developer is replenished from the developer container due to a failure of the control system, the discharge port of the developer container may be clogged, which may cause damage to the conveying screw or the main body of the container.

[0007] In addition, such damage to components due to the clogging of the discharge port is not limited to the case where the developer container is separately replaceable, for example, the developer container and the developing device can also be integrally replaced.

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