Powder conveying device, developing device, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To prevent, in a storage unit storing powder such as toner, adhesion of the powder to the storage unit or a conveying member.SOLUTION: A powder conveying device has: a housing 141 including a second chamber 142 that stores toner supplied from a toner supply port 147; an admix auger 145 that extends in a direction in which a rotation shaft 145a extends, is arranged in the second chamber 142 to rotate, and conveys the toner in the second chamber 142 in the direction in which the rotation shaft 145a extends; and a coil-shaped swing member 240 that is rotated following the rotation of the admix auger 145 with one end 241 being supported by the admix auger 145, and swings the other end 242 in a direction different from the direction in which the rotation shaft 145a extends.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a powder transport device, a developing device, and an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] In a developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image with toner, the toner transport force may be reduced due to toner aggregation or the like.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses that a member for breaking up toner is provided near an inlet through which toner flows in, to prevent toner clogging.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a structure in which a helical coil and a helical screw that is coaxial with the helical coil and has a longer helical pitch than the helical pitch of the helical coil are placed inside a conveying hose with a downward slope so that toner falls naturally, and even if the toner attempts to pass through the helical coil, the movement is blocked by the helical screw, thereby preventing the toner from solidifying. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-276631 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2015-184310 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention has an object to suppress adhesion of powder to a storage section or a conveying member, compared to a case in which a rocking member is not disposed in a storage section in which powder such as toner is stored. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] First aspect The invention relates to A storage section in which powder is stored; a conveying member that extends in an axial direction, is disposed in the container, and rotates to convey the powder in the container in the axial direction; The powder conveying device is characterized by comprising a swinging member that is supported by the conveying member so as to rotate following the rotation of the conveying member and swings in a direction different from the axial direction while rotating.

[0008] Second aspect The invention relates to The container has an inlet for receiving powder, The swing member is disposed at a position including a position facing the receiving port. First aspect 2 is a powder conveying device according to the first embodiment.

[0009] Third aspect The invention relates to The length of the swinging member in the axial direction is shorter than the length of the conveying member. First or second aspect 2 is a powder conveying device according to the first embodiment.

[0010] Fourth aspect The invention relates to The swinging member is a coil-shaped member. Any one of the first to third aspects 2 is a powder conveying device according to the first embodiment.

[0011] Fifth aspect The invention relates to The conveying member has a rotating shaft extending in the axial direction and a spiral blade extending in the axial direction while spirally surrounding the rotating shaft, The powder conveying device according to the fourth aspect is characterized in that the oscillating member is a member that extends spirally around the rotating shaft so as to be positioned between adjacent spiral blades when viewed in the axial direction.

[0012] Sixth aspect The invention relates to The swinging member is disposed between adjacent helical blades when viewed in the axial direction and at a position spaced apart from both of the adjacent helical blades. In the fifth aspect The powder conveying device described above.

[0013] Seventh aspect The invention relates to The swinging member is a member having one end in the axial direction supported by the conveying member and the other end supported with a play so as to be swingable. Fifth or Sixth Aspect 2 is a powder conveying device according to the first embodiment.

[0014] The invention according to the eighth aspect is The swinging member has one end supported by the conveying member and the other end being a free end that is swingable. First aspect 2 is a powder conveying device according to the first embodiment.

[0015] Ninth aspect The invention relates to a storage section for storing toner; a conveying member that extends in an axial direction, is disposed in the toner container and rotates to convey the toner in the toner container in the axial direction; a swinging member supported by the conveying member and swinging in a direction different from the axial direction while being driven by the rotation of the conveying member, This developing device is characterized in that it develops, with toner, an electrostatic latent image formed on an opposing image carrier.

[0016] Tenth Aspect The invention relates to An image forming apparatus including the developing device according to the ninth aspect, wherein a toner image obtained by developing the electrostatic latent image with toner is fixed onto a sheet of paper. Effect of the Invention

[0017] A powder conveying device according to a first embodiment, Ninth aspect developing device; Tenth Aspect According to this image forming apparatus, adhesion of the powder to the container or the conveying member is suppressed compared to a case where a rocking member is not disposed in the container in which the powder such as toner is contained.

[0018] Second aspect According to the powder conveying device, adhesion of powder to the container or conveying member near the receiving port is suppressed, compared to when the oscillating member is disposed in a position not facing the receiving port.

[0019] Third aspect According to the powder conveying device, adhesion of the powder to the container or the conveying member is prevented from being concentrated in necessary areas, compared to a case in which the length of the oscillating member is the same as or longer than the length of the conveying member.

[0020] Fourth aspect According to the powder conveying device, the oscillating member also contributes to the conveyance of the powder, as compared with a case in which the oscillating member is, for example, a plate-shaped member.

[0021] Fifth aspect With this powder conveying device, both adhesion of powder to the rotating shaft side of the conveying member and adhesion of powder to the inner wall surface of the storage section are suppressed compared to when the oscillating member is positioned in a position that overlaps with the spiral blade in the axial direction.

[0022] Sixth aspect According to this powder conveying device, conveying performance close to that of a conveying member having a double helical blade can be obtained, compared to a case in which the oscillating member is located close to one of the adjacent helical blades.

[0023] Seventh aspect According to the powder conveying device, compared to a case in which one end of the oscillating member is fixed to the conveying member, the other end can be oscillated by utilizing the backlash.

[0024] Eighth aspect According to this powder conveying device, it is possible to make the powder conveying device swing more greatly than when both ends are supported. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow AA shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the developing device. [Diagram 5] 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a vertical cross section of a portion in the vicinity of a toner supply port of the second chamber, which is indicated by a circle R in FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional perspective view of the same portion as in FIG. 5 at a certain point during the swinging of the swing member. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0027] 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, which includes a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention and a powder transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] The image forming device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a tandem type color printer consisting of image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K arranged in parallel, corresponding to the colors yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and is capable of printing monochrome images as well as full-color images made up of four-color toner images.

[0029] The image forming apparatus 1 includes an exposure device 20 that irradiates exposure light to each of the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K, an intermediate transfer belt 30 onto which toner images are transferred from the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K of each color, a secondary transfer device 50 that transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 30 to paper, a fixing device 60 that fixes the toner to the paper, a belt cleaner 70 that collects toner from the intermediate transfer belt 30, a paper transport unit 80 that transports paper, and a paper container C that stores paper P. The image forming apparatus 1 also includes toner containers 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K that contain toner of each color, YMCK, and toner supply devices 19Y, 19M, 19C, and 19K that supply the toner in the toner containers 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K to the image forming sections 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K, respectively.

[0030] Here, the toner containers 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K are replaceable cartridge-type containers, and when they become empty, they are replaced with new toner containers. For this reason, new containers are prepared before they become empty, and are stored until the containers in use are empty. If the toner containers are stored in a high-temperature environment, the surface of the toner inside the containers may tend to melt.

[0031] Since the four image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K have almost the same configuration, the image forming unit 10Y corresponding to yellow will be described as a representative. The image forming unit 10Y includes an image carrier 11Y, a charger 12Y, a developing device 14Y, a primary transfer device 15Y, and an image carrier cleaner 16Y. The image carrier 11Y has a cylindrical surface, holds an image formed on the surface, and rotates in the direction of arrow a around the axis of the cylinder.

[0032] The charger 12Y has a charging roll 121Y that rotates while in contact with the image carrier 11Y, and charges the surface of the image carrier 11Y.

[0033] The developing device 14Y contains a developer containing toner and a magnetic carrier. The developing device 14Y includes a developing roll 146Y. The developing roll 146Y transports the developer to a position facing the image carrier 11Y. The toner in the developer adheres to the image carrier 11Y to form a toner image on the image carrier 11Y. When the toner in the developing device 14Y decreases, the toner in the toner container 18Y is replenished to the developing device 14Y by the toner supplying device 19Y. The toner supplying device 19Y includes a toner transport mechanism (not shown) that is driven under the control of the control unit 1A.

[0034] The primary transfer unit 15Y transfers the toner image formed on the image carrier 11Y onto the intermediate transfer belt 30. The image carrier cleaner 16Y cleans the surface of the image carrier 11Y after transfer.

[0035] The exposure unit 20 emits exposure light based on an image signal supplied from the outside, and exposes the image carriers 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K to the emitted light.

[0036] The intermediate transfer belt 30 is an endless belt-shaped member supported by belt support rolls 31, 32, 33, and 34, and moves in a direction indicated by an arrow b, passing through the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K, and the secondary transfer device 50. The intermediate transfer belt 30 holds the toner images of each color formed by the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K.

[0037] The secondary transfer device 50 is a roll that rotates with the intermediate transfer belt 30 and paper sandwiched between it and a backup roll 34, which is one of the belt support rolls 31 to 34. A voltage that generates an electric field for transferring toner is supplied between the secondary transfer device 50 and the backup roll 34, and the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 30 is transferred onto the paper.

[0038] The belt cleaner 70 removes the toner on the intermediate transfer belt 30 by bringing a blade 71 into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 30 .

[0039] The fixing device 60 includes a heating roll 61 and a pressure roll 62, and fixes the toner image onto the paper by passing the paper through the heating roll 61 and the pressure roll 62, on which a toner image before fixing has been formed.

[0040] The paper transport section 80 takes out the paper P from the paper container C, and transports it along a paper transport path r that passes through the secondary transfer device 50 and the fixing device 60. The paper transport section 80 includes a pickup roll 81 that takes out the paper P stored in the paper container C, a handling roll 82 that handles the taken-out paper P, a transport roll 83 that transports the paper P, a registration roll 84 that transports the paper P to the secondary transfer device 50, a discharge roll 86 that discharges the paper P to the outside, and reversal transport rolls 88 and 89 that transport the paper P during double-sided printing.

[0041] The basic operation of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. In the yellow image forming section 10Y, the image carrier 11Y is rotated in the direction of the arrow a, and the surface of the image carrier 11Y is charged by the charger 12Y. This is the same for the image forming sections 10M, 10C, and 10K corresponding to colors other than yellow. The exposure unit 20 irradiates the image carriers 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K with exposure light according to data corresponding to each color in the image signal. Yellow (Y) will be described as a representative. The exposure unit 20 irradiates the surface of the image carrier 11Y with exposure light based on an image signal corresponding to yellow among image signals supplied from the outside, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier 11Y. The developing device 14Y forms a toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image with yellow toner. Toner is supplied to the developing device 14Y from a toner container 18Y by a toner supply device 19Y. The image carrier 11Y rotates while holding the yellow toner image formed on its surface. The toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier 11Y is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 30 by a primary transfer device 15Y that applies a transfer potential between the surface of the image carrier 11Y and the intermediate transfer belt 30. After the transfer, the toner remaining on the image carrier 11Y is collected and removed by an image carrier cleaner 16Y.

[0042] The intermediate transfer belt 30 is supported by support rolls 31 to 34 and moves in a circular motion in the direction of the arrow b. The image forming units 10M, 10C, and 10K corresponding to colors other than yellow form toner images corresponding to the respective colors in the same manner as the image forming unit 10Y, and transfer the toner images of the respective colors onto the intermediate transfer belt 30, superimposing them on the toner images transferred by the image forming unit 10Y. Meanwhile, the paper P in the paper container C is taken out by the pickup roll 81, and is transported along the paper transport path r in the direction of the arrow c toward the secondary transfer device 50 by the separation roll 82, the transport roll 83, and the registration roll 84. The paper P is sent into the secondary transfer device 50 by the registration roll 84 in accordance with the timing at which the toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 30. The secondary transfer device 50 transfers the toner image of the intermediate transfer belt 30 onto the paper P by applying a transfer bias potential between the intermediate transfer belt 30 and the paper P. The paper P onto which the toner image has been transferred by the secondary transfer device 50 is transported to the fixing device 60, and the toner image transferred onto the paper P is fixed onto the paper P. In this manner, an image is formed on the paper P. The paper P on which the image has been formed is discharged by the discharge rolls 86 from the discharge port 87 to the top of the image forming apparatus 1. Any toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 30 after the transfer by the secondary transfer device 50 is removed by the belt cleaner 70.

[0043] In the case of double-sided printing, in which an image is also formed on the reverse side of the side on which an image has been formed, the discharge rolls 86 discharge the paper P partway from the discharge port 87, and then transport it in the opposite direction. The paper P transported in the opposite direction is transported via a reverse transport path r' by reversing transport rolls 88 and 89. The transported paper P is sent to the secondary transfer device 50 in an inverted state via the registration rolls 84, and an image is also formed on the reverse side.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the developing device.

[0045] The image forming apparatus 1 shown in Fig. 1 is equipped with four developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K, all of which have approximately the same configuration. Therefore, in the explanation from Fig. 2 onwards, the symbols Y, M, C, and K indicating the toner colors will be removed and the device will simply be referred to as the developing device 14. The same applies to each component of the developing device 14. The same also applies to the components other than the developing device 14 when explaining with reference to Fig. 1.

[0046] 2 shows the top surface of the developing device 14, and a toner supply port 147 that opens upward is formed in the housing 140 of the developing device 14. A developer discharge port 148 is also formed in the housing 140 of the developing device 14. The developer discharge port 148 is an opening that opens downward, and here, the position where the developer discharge port 148 is provided is indicated by a dashed rectangle. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow AA shown in FIG.

[0047] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the developing device.

[0048] The developing device 14 has a housing 140 in which two storage chambers, consisting of a first chamber 141 and a second chamber 142, are provided to store the developer. These two storage chambers (the first chamber 141 and the second chamber 142) are separated from each other by a partition wall 143. The first chamber 141 is provided with a supply auger 144, and the second chamber 142 is provided with an admix auger 145. The supply auger 144 and the admix auger 145 each extend in a rod-like shape, and their respective rotation shafts 144a, 145a are disposed substantially horizontally and substantially parallel to each other. The supply auger 144 has a rotation shaft 144a with a circular cross section and a spiral blade 144b that extends in the direction of the rotation shaft 144a while revolving in a spiral around the rotation shaft 144a. Similarly to the supply auger 144, the admix auger 145 has a rotating shaft 145a with a circular cross section and a spiral blade 145b that revolves around the rotating shaft 145a in a spiral and extends in the direction of the rotating shaft 145a. The admix auger 145 has a portion 145x where the spiral blade 145b ends. A sensor (not shown) that detects the toner concentration (ratio of toner to carrier) of the developer in the developing device 14 is provided at a position of the developing device 14 corresponding to the portion 145x where the spiral blade 145b ends. The admix auger 145 has the portion 145x where the spiral blade 145b ends in order to avoid interference with the sensor.

[0049] The supply auger 144 and the admix auger 145 rotate in the same direction as each other, as indicated by arrows e and f in Fig. 3. The spiral blade 144b of the supply auger 144 and the spiral blade 145b of the admix auger 145 are spiral blades that revolve in opposite directions, and when the supply auger 144 and the admix auger 145 rotate in the same direction as each other, as indicated by arrows e and f, the developers in the first chamber 141 and the second chamber 142 are transported in opposite directions while being stirred. That is, the developer in the first chamber 141 in which the supply auger 144 is disposed is transported in the direction of arrow g, and the developer in the second chamber 142 in which the admix auger 145 is disposed is transported in the direction of arrow h.

[0050] On the other hand, a partition wall 143 separating the first chamber 141 and the second chamber 142 has a first window 143a and a second window 143b formed at both ends thereof, which connect the first chamber 141 and the second chamber 142. Therefore, the developer in the first chamber 141 conveyed in the direction of the arrow g flows into the second chamber 142 through the first window 143a, and the developer in the second chamber 142 conveyed in the direction of the arrow h flows into the first chamber 142 through the second window 143b. In this way, the developer in the developing device 14 circulates while being agitated in the first chamber 141 and the second chamber 142. The admix auger 145 out of the supply auger 144 and the admix auger 145 corresponds to an example of a conveying member according to the present invention. The second chamber 142 in which the admix auger 145 is accommodated corresponds to an example of a storage section according to the present invention.

[0051] The developing device 14 also includes a developing roll 146 at a position adjacent to the first chamber 141 in which the supply auger 144 is disposed. A portion of the developing roll 146 is exposed from the housing 140. The developing device 14 is disposed in the image forming apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1) such that the exposed portion of the developing roll 146 is adjacent to the image carrier 11.

[0052] This developing roll 146 magnetically attaches the developer in the first chamber 141 to its surface and rotates in the direction of arrow d, transporting the developer to a position facing the image carrier 11. Then, the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier 11 is developed with the toner in the developer, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the image carrier 11. Meanwhile, the developer attached to the surface of the developing roll 146 after development with the toner returns into the housing 140 as the developing roll 146 rotates, separates from the developing roll 146, and is stirred while circulating together with the other developers in the first chamber 141.

[0053] When development using toner is repeated as described above, the amount of toner in the developer inside the developing device 14 decreases. To address this issue, the developing device 14 is provided with a toner supply port 147 for receiving a supply of toner, and the toner in the toner container 18 shown in FIG. 1 is supplied into the developing device 14 by the toner supply device 19. As shown in FIG. 4, the toner supply port 147 is provided further upstream (opposite the direction indicated by the arrow h) of the first window 143a of the second chamber 142 in which the admix auger 145 is disposed. The admix auger 145 extends to the position where the toner supply port 147 is provided. However, the shape of the spiral blade 145b of this extending portion is different from the shape of the spiral blade 145b of the portion parallel to the supply auger 144. The toner supplied from the toner supply port 147 is transported by the admix auger 145 downstream (in the direction indicated by the arrow h) within the second chamber 142, where it merges with the developer that has flowed in through the first window 143a, and is then transported further downstream (in the direction indicated by the arrow h) within the second chamber 142.

[0054] A developer discharge port 148 is provided on the bottom surface of the developing device 14 to gradually discharge the developer in the developing device 14. The developer in the developing device 14 is discharged little by little from the developer discharge port 148, thereby preventing the developer in the developing device 14 from excessively deteriorating due to stirring and transport. Not only the toner but also the carrier is discharged from the developer discharge port 148. For this reason, the toner supplied from the toner supply port 147, i.e., the toner in the toner container 18 (see FIG. 1), also contains a small amount of carrier to compensate for the decrease in the carrier.

[0055] The developer discharged from the developer discharge port 148 to the outside of the developing device 14 passes through a waste toner discharge path (not shown) and is stored in a waste toner tank (not shown).

[0056] 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a vertical cross section of a portion in the vicinity of the toner supply port of the second chamber, which is indicated by a circle R in FIG.

[0057] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view in vertical section of the same portion as in FIG. 5 at a certain point during the swinging of the swing member.

[0058] In FIG. 5, the end of the admix auger 145 on the toner supply port 147 side is shown.

[0059] The admix auger 145 is rotatably supported by a housing 141 of the developing device 14 .

[0060] A swingable member 240 is disposed on the toner supply port 147 side of the second chamber 142. This toner supply port 147 corresponds to an example of the receiving port according to the present invention.

[0061] When the toner in the developing device 14 becomes insufficient, the toner in the toner container 18 is transported by the toner supply device 19 and supplied from the toner supply port 147 into the developing device 14. This supplied toner is transported in the direction of the arrow h by the rotation of the admix auger 145. However, since most of what is supplied from the toner supply port 147 is toner and there is only a small amount of carrier, when toner whose surface is somewhat molten is supplied, the toner aggregates and adheres to and accumulates on the inner wall surface 142a of the second chamber 142 and the admix auger 145, which may develop into adhesion.

[0062] Here, adhesion refers to a state in which toner is in contact with a member, accumulation refers to a state in which toner adheres to the toner that has adhered to a member, and adhesion refers to a state in which the bulk density of the accumulated toner increases and the toner hardens.

[0063] When toner adheres to the inner wall surface 142a of the second chamber 142 or the admix auger 145, the gap between the admix auger 145 and the inner wall surface 142a of the second chamber 142 used for transporting toner narrows, causing a decrease in transport capacity. This in turn causes an increase in the bulk density of the toner, and causes the toner to accumulate or adhere, which may prevent normal transport.

[0064] Therefore, the developing device 14 is provided with a swinging member 240 as a member for breaking up the toner that tends to clump together and suppressing the accumulation of toner.

[0065] This oscillating member 240 is disposed at a position including a position facing toner supply port 147. Because oscillating member 240 is disposed at a position including a position facing toner supply port 147, adhesion of toner in the vicinity of toner supply port 147 is suppressed compared to a case in which oscillating member 240 is disposed at a position not facing toner supply port 147.

[0066] Furthermore, the length of the swinging member 240 in the direction of the rotation shaft 145a of the admix auger 145 is shorter than that of the admix auger 145. Therefore, toner aggregation is suppressed intensively in the vicinity of the toner supply port 147 where the carrier concentration is low and toner aggregation is likely to occur.

[0067] The swinging member 240 is supported by the admix auger 145 so as to rotate following the rotation of the admix auger 145, and swings in a direction different from the direction in which the rotation shaft 145a of the admix auger 145 extends. Specifically, the swinging member 240 in this embodiment is a coil-shaped member that draws a spiral at approximately the same pitch as the spiral pitch of the spiral blade 145b of the admix auger 145, and the wire of the coil extends in a spiral shape around the rotation shaft 45a so that the wire of the coil is disposed between the adjacent spiral blades 145b when the rotation shaft 145a is viewed in the axial direction. In this embodiment, the coil-shaped swinging member 240 has approximately the same diameter as the diameter of the spiral blade 145a of the admix auger 145.

[0068] In this manner, since the oscillating member 240 in this embodiment is a coil-shaped member, the oscillating member 240 can contribute to the transport of toner, as compared to the case where the oscillating member 240 is, for example, a flat plate-shaped member. In addition, since the oscillating member 240 is a member that extends in a spiral shape around the rotating shaft 45a so that the coil wire is disposed between the adjacent spiral blades 145b, the aggregation of toner on both the rotating shaft 145a of the admix auger 145 and the inner wall surface 142a of the second chamber 142 is suppressed.

[0069] More specifically, the coil wire of the oscillating member 240 is disposed between adjacent helical blades 145b when viewed in the axial direction, and is disposed at a position approximately in the center of the adjacent helical blades 145b, away from both of the adjacent helical blades 145b. Therefore, compared to a case in which the oscillating member 240 is disposed close to one of the adjacent helical blades 142b, it is possible to obtain conveying performance closer to that obtained when the admix auger 145 has a double helical blade.

[0070] One end 241 of the swinging member 240 is supported by the admix auger 145, and the other end 242 is a free end that can swing freely. Therefore, the other end 242 (free end) side swings in the direction of the arrow UD shown in FIG. 6, which is different from the direction in which the rotation shaft 145a of the admix auger 145 extends. In this way, since the other end 242 of the swinging member 240 is a free end that can swing freely, the swinging member 240 can be swung to a greater extent than when both ends of the swinging member 240 are supported by the admix auger 145. This makes it possible to suppress both adhesion of toner to the rotation shaft 134a of the admix auger 145 and adhesion of toner to the inner wall surface 142a of the second chamber 142.

[0071] Specifically, the swinging member 240 of this embodiment has one end 241 supported by the admix auger 145 with some play so that the other end 242 can swing. When the one end 241 is supported with some play in this manner, the other end 242 can swing more freely than when the one end 241 is fixed to the admix auger 145.

[0072] FIG. 6 shows the swing member 240 in a state in which the other end 242 (free end) has moved to the side of the arrow D due to the swing and is in contact with the inner wall surface 142a of the second chamber 142. In this manner, since this embodiment includes the above-described swinging member 240, the aggregation of toner in the vicinity of the toner supply port 147 is suppressed, and therefore the decrease in the toner transport force is suppressed.

[0073] In this embodiment, the swingable member 240 is disposed at a position including a position facing the toner receiving opening 147, but may be disposed at any position where there is a risk of toner agglomeration.

[0074] Further, an example of application of the present invention to a developing device 14 provided in a so-called tandem type image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 has been described here, but the present invention is not limited to the type of image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and may be, for example, a monochrome printer, and can be applied to various types of image forming apparatus.

[0075] Furthermore, although an example in which the oscillating member 240 is provided in the developing device 14 has been described here, the oscillating member 240 may also be provided in a device other than the developing device 14, for example, in a waste toner recovery device (not shown) that transports the developer discharged from the developer discharge port 148 toward a waste toner tank (not shown).

[0076] Furthermore, the present invention may be applied to a powder transport device that transports powder other than toner. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1. Image forming device 10 Image forming section 11 Image holder 14 Developing device 140 Case 141 Room 1 142 Room 2 143 Partition Wall 143a Window 1 143b 2nd window 144 Supply Auger 144a Rotation axis 144b Spiral Blade 145 Admix Ogre 145a Rotating shaft 145b Spiral Blade 145x Part of the spiral blade that has been cut off 146 Developing Roll 147 Toner supply port 148 Developer outlet 240 Swinging member 241 One end of the swinging member 242 Other end of the swinging member

Claims

1. A storage section in which powder is stored; a conveying member that extends in an axial direction, is disposed in the container, and rotates to convey the powder in the container in the axial direction; a swinging member supported by the conveying member so as to rotate following the rotation of the conveying member and swinging in a direction different from the axial direction while rotating, The accommodation portion is provided with a first chamber extending in the axial direction, and a second chamber extending in the axial direction and separated from the first chamber by a partition wall extending in the axial direction, a first window and a second window connecting the first chamber and the second chamber are formed at both ends of the partition wall, The conveying member that conveys the powder in the second chamber in the axial direction is disposed in the second chamber, another conveying member is disposed in the first chamber, which conveys the powder in the first chamber in the axial direction, supplies the powder to the second chamber through the first window, and receives the powder from the second chamber through the second window, thereby circulating the powder between the first chamber and the second chamber; the second chamber extends upstream of the first window in a powder transport direction, the container has a receiving port that receives powder in the second chamber at a portion extending upstream of the first window, The swinging member is disposed at a position including a position facing the receiving port. Powder conveying device.

2. 2. The powder transport device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the rocking member in the axial direction is shorter than the length of the transport member.

3. 3. The powder transport device according to claim 1, wherein the oscillating member is a coil-shaped member.

4. The conveying member has a rotating shaft extending in the axial direction and a spiral blade extending in the axial direction while spirally surrounding the rotating shaft, 4. The powder conveying device according to claim 3, wherein the oscillating member is a member that extends spirally around the rotation shaft so as to be disposed between adjacent spiral blades when viewed in the axial direction.

5. 5. The powder conveying device according to claim 4, wherein the oscillating member is disposed between adjacent helical blades when viewed in the axial direction, and at a position spaced apart from both of the adjacent helical blades.

6. 6. The powder transport device according to claim 4, wherein the swinging member is a member having one end in the axial direction supported by the transporting member and the other end supported with a play so as to be swingable.

7. 2. The powder transport device according to claim 1, wherein the swingable member has one end supported by the transport member and the other end being a free end that is capable of swinging freely.

8. A powder conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the powder conveying device having a storage section in which toner is stored as powder; A developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an opposing image carrier with toner.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising the developing device according to claim 8, and characterized in that a toner image obtained by developing the electrostatic latent image with toner is fixed onto a sheet of paper.

Images