阅读说明：本技术 显影盒 (Developing box ) 是由 冈拓也 今村一晴 堤僚平 田中庆太郎 于 2021-05-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明公开了显影盒。一种能够安装在图像形成装置的装置主体中的盒,该盒包括：显影辊；包括显影室、显影剂容纳室和第一开口部分的框体构件,该显影剂容纳室包括内壁和第二开口部分；包括搅拌轴和片材的搅拌构件；以及输送构件,该输送构件被驱动为使得显影剂通过第二开口部分被补充到显影剂容纳室中,其中片材与内壁接触地旋转,使得：在片材通过与所述内壁部分接触而弹性变形之后,弹性变形的至少一部分被恢复,并且其中在片材通过前侧时的定时处,输送构件被驱动。(The invention discloses a developing cartridge. A cartridge mountable in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge comprising: a developing roller; a frame member including a developing chamber, a developer accommodating chamber, and a first opening portion, the developer accommodating chamber including an inner wall and a second opening portion; a stirring member including a stirring shaft and a sheet; and a conveying member driven so that the developer is replenished into the developer accommodating chamber through the second opening portion, wherein the sheet rotates in contact with the inner wall so that: after the sheet is elastically deformed by contact with the inner wall portion, at least a part of the elastic deformation is restored, and wherein the conveying member is driven at a timing when the sheet passes through the front side.)

1. A cartridge detachably mountable to an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge comprising:

a developing roller configured to carry developer thereon and rotatable about a rotation axis;

a frame member including a developing chamber in which the developing roller is provided, a developer accommodating chamber that accommodates a developer and is located below the developing chamber in a state in which the cartridge is mounted in the apparatus main body, and a first opening portion through which the developing chamber and the developer accommodating chamber communicate, the developer accommodating chamber including an inner wall and a second opening portion for receiving a developer replenished from outside of the cartridge into the developer accommodating chamber;

an agitation member rotatably provided in the developer accommodating chamber and configured to agitate the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber, the agitation member including an agitation shaft extending in a direction of the rotation axis and a sheet attached to the agitation shaft to rotate together with the agitation shaft; and

a conveying member configured to be capable of being driven so that the developer is replenished into the developer accommodating chamber through the second opening portion,

wherein the sheet of the stirring member is configured to rotate in contact with an inner wall of the developer accommodating chamber such that: after the sheet is elastically deformed by contact with a portion of the inner wall, at least a portion of the elastic deformation is restored, thereby projecting the developer on the sheet toward the first opening portion,

wherein the second opening portion of the developer accommodating chamber is disposed at a position such that the sheet passes through a front side of the second opening portion when the stirring member rotates, an

Wherein the conveying member is configured to be kept driven at a timing when the sheet passes through the front side of the second opening portion while the stirring member is rotated.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising:

a driving force receiving member configured to receive a driving force from the apparatus main body; and

a driving force transmission unit configured to transmit a driving force from the driving force receiving member to the stirring member and the conveying member, the driving force transmission unit being configured such that: both the stirring member and the conveying member are driven at all times while the driving force receiving member receives the driving force.

3. The cartridge of claim 2, further comprising:

a supply roller disposed in the developing chamber and configured to supply the developer to the developing roller,

wherein the driving force receiving member is provided at a first end portion which is a longitudinal end portion of the supply roller, an

Wherein the driving force transmission unit includes:

a first gear provided at a second end portion which is a longitudinal end portion of the supply roller opposite to the first end portion;

a second gear provided at a longitudinal end of the stirring member on the same side as the first gear;

a third gear provided at a longitudinal end of the conveying member on the same side as the first gear; and

an intermediate gear configured to transmit the driving force from the first gear to the second gear, the intermediate gear being configured such that the driving force is transmitted from the intermediate gear to the third gear.

4. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second opening portion is located on a lower side with respect to a rotational axis of the stirring member in a state where the cartridge is mounted in the apparatus main body.

5. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second opening portion is provided at a central portion of the developer accommodating chamber in a direction of a rotation axis of the agitating member.

6. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein, assuming that the sheet is a first sheet, the stirring member includes a second sheet attached to the stirring shaft so as to rotate together with the stirring shaft, the second sheet being attached to the stirring shaft so as to extend in a direction opposite to a direction in which the first sheet extends when viewed in a direction of a rotation axis of the stirring member.

7. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the conveying member is a screw including a shaft portion extending in a direction of a rotational axis of the developing roller and a helical blade portion provided on an outer periphery of the shaft portion.

8. The cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the rotation axis of the conveying member is located on a lower side with respect to the rotation axis of the stirring member in a state where the cartridge is mounted in the apparatus main body.

9. An image forming apparatus includes:

a device main body; and

a cartridge detachably mountable in an apparatus main body, the cartridge comprising:

a developing roller configured to carry developer thereon and rotatable about a rotation axis;

a frame member including a developing chamber in which the developing roller is disposed, a developer accommodating chamber that accommodates a developer and is located below the developing chamber, and a first opening portion through which the developing chamber and the developer accommodating chamber communicate, the developer accommodating chamber including an inner wall and a second opening portion for receiving the developer replenished from outside the cartridge into the developer accommodating chamber;

an agitating member rotatably provided in the developer accommodating chamber and configured to agitate the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber, the agitating member including an agitating shaft extending in a direction of a rotation axis and a sheet attached to the agitating shaft so as to rotate together with the agitating shaft; and

a conveying member configured to be capable of being driven so that the developer is replenished into the developer accommodating chamber via the second opening portion,

wherein the sheet of the stirring member is configured to rotate in contact with an inner wall of the developer accommodating chamber such that: after the sheet of the conveying member is elastically deformed by being brought into contact with a portion of the inner wall, at least a portion of the elastic deformation is restored, thereby projecting the developer on the sheet toward the first opening portion,

wherein the second opening portion of the developer accommodating chamber is disposed at a position such that the sheet passes through a front side of the second opening portion while the stirring member is rotated, an

Wherein the conveying member is driven at least at a timing when the sheet passes through the front side of the second opening portion while the stirring member is rotated.

10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured such that the conveying member can be driven while stopping the rotation of the stirring member.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus main body further comprises:

a first driving source configured to rotate the stirring member;

a second driving source configured to rotate the conveying member; and

a control unit configured to control the first drive source and the second drive source, the control unit being configured to control the first drive source and the second drive source such that: the conveying member is driven at a timing when the sheet passes through the front side of the second opening portion while the stirring member is rotated.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a drive source configured to rotate the stirring member and configured to drive the conveying member;

a driving force transmission unit configured to transmit a driving force of the driving source toward the stirring member;

an actuator configured to be switchable to a first state in which a driving force can be transmitted from the driving source to the stirring member and a second state in which transmission of the driving force from the driving source to the stirring member is prevented; and

a control unit configured to control the driving source and the actuator, the control unit being configured to be capable of executing a first mode of driving the conveying member while rotating the agitating member by switching the actuator to the first state, and a second mode of driving the conveying member by the driving source with the actuator switched to the second state.

13. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second opening portion is located on a lower side with respect to a rotational axis of the stirring member.

14. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second opening portion is provided at a central portion of the developer accommodating chamber in a direction of a rotation axis of the agitating member.

15. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein assuming that the sheet is a first sheet, the stirring member includes a second sheet attached to the stirring shaft so as to rotate together with the stirring shaft, the second sheet being attached to the stirring shaft so as to extend in a direction opposite to a direction in which the first sheet extends when viewed in a direction of a rotation axis of the stirring member.

16. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the conveying member is a screw including a shaft portion extending in a direction of a rotational axis of the developing roller and a helical blade portion provided on an outer periphery of the shaft portion.

17. An image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the rotational axis of the conveying member is located on a lower side with respect to the rotational axis of the stirring member.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a development cartridge (level cartridge) used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine.

Background

As an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a configuration is known in which a developing cartridge including a developing roller is disposed below an intermediate transfer unit (japanese patent application laid-open No. 2011-. A developing chamber in which a developing roller of such a developing cartridge is disposed is provided above a toner accommodating chamber (developer accommodating chamber) that accommodates toner (developer). This results in adoption of a configuration in which toner is supplied to the developing chamber by rotating an agitating member including a sheet to fly the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating chamber upward.

Disclosure of Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, a cartridge detachably mountable in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes: a developing roller on which a developer is carried and which is rotatably disposed; a frame member including a developing chamber in which the developing roller is disposed, a developer accommodating chamber that accommodates a developer and is located below the developing chamber in a state in which the cartridge is mounted in the apparatus main body, and a first opening portion that establishes communication between the developing chamber and the developer accommodating chamber, the developer accommodating chamber including an inner wall and a second opening portion for receiving the developer replenished from outside of the cartridge into the developer accommodating chamber; an agitating member rotatably provided in the developer accommodating chamber and configured to agitate the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber, the agitating member including an agitating shaft extending in a direction of a rotation axis of the developing roller and a sheet attached to the agitating shaft so as to rotate together with the agitating shaft; and a conveying member configured to be drivable so that the developer is replenished into the developer accommodating chamber via the second opening portion, wherein the sheet of the stirring member is configured to rotate in contact with an inner wall of the developer accommodating chamber such that: after the sheet is elastically deformed by contact with a portion of the inner wall, at least a portion of the elastic deformation is restored, thereby projecting the developer on the sheet toward the first opening portion; wherein the second opening portion of the developer accommodating chamber is disposed at a position such that: the sheet passes through the front side of the second opening portion while the stirring member rotates; and wherein the conveying member is configured to be kept driven at a timing when the sheet passes through the front side of the second opening portion while the stirring member is rotated.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating a process cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a process cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a developing unit according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating a toner conveying operation according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 6A and 6B are main cross-sectional views of toner cartridges (Y, M and C) according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 7A and 7B are main cross-sectional views of the toner cartridge (K) according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 8A and 8B are overall perspective views of the toner cartridges (Y, M and C) according to the exemplary embodiment, as viewed from the rear.

Fig. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of drive control of example 1 according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating a drive gear train (drive gear train) of the developing unit according to example 1.

Fig. 11A and 11B are sequence diagrams illustrating drive control of a toner conveying member and a receiving conveying screw according to example 1.

Fig. 12 is a graph illustrating respective timing charts and evaluation results of toner clogging according to example 1 and the example of the comparative example.

Fig. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of drive control of example 2 according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating a driving gear train of a developing unit according to example 2.

Fig. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a modified drive control according to example 1.

Detailed Description

In the following description, an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

< Overall arrangement of image Forming apparatus >

First, the overall configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to fig. 1. As shown in fig. 1, four detachably mountable process cartridges 70(70Y, 70M, 70C, and 70K) are mounted using mounting members (not shown). In addition, the upstream side and the downstream side in the direction in which the process cartridge 70 is mounted in the image forming apparatus 100 are defined as a front-side surface side and a rear-side surface side, respectively.

Each of the process cartridges 70 includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as photosensitive drum) 1(1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) and a developing roller 25(25a, 25b, 25c, 25 d). Each of the process cartridges 70 further includes process units such as the charging roller 2(2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) and the cleaning member 6(6a, 6b, 6c, 6 d). The charging roller 2 is for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, and the developing roller 25 is for developing the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 with toner to visualize it. Then, the cleaning member 6 is used to remove the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 after the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred onto the recording medium.

In addition, a scanner unit 3 is provided below the process cartridge 70, and this scanner unit 3 is used to selectively expose the photosensitive drum 1 based on image information to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum 1.

A cassette 17 accommodating a recording medium S is mounted on a lower portion of the apparatus main body 100A. Then, the recording medium conveying unit is disposed in such a manner that the recording medium S passes through the secondary transfer roller 69 and the fixing unit 74, and then is conveyed to above the apparatus main body 100A. In addition, an intermediate transfer unit 5 is provided above the process cartridges 70(70Y, 70M, 70C, and 70K), and this intermediate transfer unit 5 functions as an intermediate transfer unit for transferring the toner image formed on each of the photosensitive drums 1(1a, 1b, 1C, and 1 d). The intermediate transfer unit 5 includes: primary transfer rollers 58(58a, 58b, 58c, and 58d) at positions facing the photosensitive drums 1 for the respective colors, and a counter roller 59 at a position facing a secondary transfer roller 69, and the transfer belt 50 is suspended on the primary transfer rollers 58 and the counter roller 59. The transfer belt 50 circulates and moves to face and contact all the photosensitive drums 1, and the toner images are primarily transferred from the photosensitive drums 1 onto the transfer belt 50 by applying voltages to the primary transfer rollers 58(58a, 58b, 58c, and 58 d). Then, the toner on the transfer belt 50 is transferred onto the recording medium S by applying a voltage to the counter roller 59 and the secondary transfer roller 69 disposed inside the transfer belt 50.

At the time of forming an image, each photosensitive drum 1 rotates, and the photosensitive drum 1 uniformly charged by the charging roller 2 is selectively exposed by the scanner unit 3. By this operation, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1. The latent image is developed by the developing roller 25. By this development, a toner image of each color is formed on each photosensitive drum 1. In synchronization with this image formation, the pair of registration rollers 55 conveys the recording medium S to the secondary transfer position where the counter roller 59 and the secondary transfer roller 69 abut on each other via the transfer belt 50 interposed therebetween. Then, the toner image of each color on the transfer belt 50 is secondarily transferred onto the recording medium S by applying a transfer bias voltage to the secondary transfer roller 69. By this operation, a color image is formed on the recording medium S. The recording medium S on which the color image is formed is heated and pressurized by the fixing unit 74, thereby fixing the toner image thereon. After that, the recording medium S is discharged onto the discharge unit 75 by the discharge roller 72. The fixing unit 74 is disposed in an upper portion of the apparatus main body 100A.

The first to fourth toner cartridges 9 are each arranged side by side in the horizontal direction below the process cartridge 70 in an order corresponding to the color of the toner accommodated in the corresponding process cartridge 70. More specifically, the first toner cartridge 9Y accommodates yellow (Y) toner. Similarly, the second toner cartridge 9M contains magenta (M) toner, and the third toner cartridge 9C contains cyan (C) toner. The fourth toner cartridge 9K accommodates black (K) toner. Then, each toner cartridge 9 replenishes toner into the process cartridges 70 containing the same color toner.

When a remaining amount detecting unit (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus 100 detects that the remaining amount of toner in the process cartridge 70 is insufficient, a replenishing operation by the toner cartridge 9 is performed. The toner cartridge 9 is detachably mountable in the image forming apparatus 100 via a mounting unit such as a mounting guide (not shown) and a positioning member (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 100. Details of the process cartridge 70 and the toner cartridge 9 will be described below.

The first to fourth toner conveying apparatuses 18 are arranged below the toner cartridges 9 in correspondence with the respective toner cartridges 9. Each toner conveying device 18 conveys the toner received from each toner cartridge 9 upward to supply it to each developing unit 4.

< Process Cartridge >

A process cartridge 70 (developing cartridge) according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a main cross-sectional view of the process cartridge 70 containing toner. The cartridge 70Y containing yellow toner, the cartridge 70M containing magenta toner, the cartridge 70C containing cyan toner, and the cartridge 70K containing black toner are configured similarly to each other.

The process cartridge 70(70Y, 70M, 70C, 70K) includes the cleaning unit 26(26a, 26b, 26C, 26d) and the developing unit 4(4a, 4b, 4C, 4 d). The cleaning unit 26 includes the photosensitive drum 1(1a, 1b, 1c, 1d), the charging roller 2(2a, 2b, 2c, 2d), and the cleaning member 6(6a, 6b, 6c, 6 d). The developing unit 4 includes a developing roller 25.

As described above, the charging roller 2 and the cleaning member 6 are disposed on the circumference of the photosensitive drum 1. The cleaning member 6 includes an elastic member 7 made of a rubber blade and a cleaning support member 8. The distal end portion 7a of the rubber blade 7 is arranged to abut the photosensitive drum 1 from a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 1. The residual toner removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by the cleaning member 6 falls into the removed toner chamber 27 a. In addition, a blade (not shown) for preventing the removed toner from leaking in the removed toner chamber 27a abuts on the photosensitive drum 1. The photosensitive drum 1 is rotationally driven in accordance with an image forming operation by transmitting a driving force of a main body driving motor (not shown) serving as a driving source to the cleaning unit 26. The charging roller 2 is rotatably attached to the cleaning unit 26 via a charging roller bearing 28, and is pressed toward the photosensitive drum 1 by a charging roller pressing member (not shown), and is rotated by being driven by the photosensitive drum 1.

< developing Unit >

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the developing unit 4 includes a developing roller 25 that rotates in contact with the photosensitive drum 1 and a developing frame member 31 that supports the developing roller 25. The developing frame member 31 includes a developing chamber 31b in which the developing roller 25 is disposed.

As shown in fig. 4, the developing roller 25 is rotatably supported on the developing frame member 31 via a developing front bearing 12 and a developing rear bearing 13 attached to both sides of the developing frame member 31, respectively. In addition, a toner supply roller 34 that rotates in contact with the developing roller 25 in the direction indicated by the arrow C, and a developing blade 35 for regulating the toner layer on the developing roller 25 are provided in the developing chamber 31 b.

When the toner supplied from the toner supply roller 34 to the developing roller 25 passes through the developing blade 35, the amount of the toner coating on the developing roller 25 is adjusted, and the toner is also charged. Therefore, a toner coat is optimally created to develop the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1.

The developing roller 25 and the photosensitive drum 1 each rotate in such a manner that their surfaces move in the same direction as each other (the direction from the bottom to the top in the present exemplary embodiment) at the portion where they face each other (the portion where they contact each other). In the present exemplary embodiment, in response to a predetermined Direct Current (DC) bias applied to the developing roller 25, the toner negatively charged by means of frictional charging is transferred to only a bright potential portion due to a potential difference therebetween, and an electrostatic latent image at a developing portion in contact with the photosensitive drum 1 is visualized.

As shown in fig. 5, the developing frame member 31 includes a toner accommodating chamber 31a (developer accommodating chamber) provided below the developing chamber 31b and accommodating toner, and an opening portion 31c (first opening portion) establishing communication between the developing chamber 31b and the toner accommodating chamber 31 a. A toner conveying member 36 (stirring member) for stirring the toner contained in the toner containing chamber 31a and also conveying the toner to the developing chamber 31b (toner supply roller 34) is provided in the toner containing chamber 31 a.

The toner conveying member 36 includes an agitating shaft 36a extending in the rotational axis direction of the developing roller 25 and a sheet member 36b (sheet) fixed to the agitating shaft 36a so as to rotate together with the agitating shaft 36 a. The sheet member 36b is configured to be elastically deformable by receiving a force from the outside. The sheet member 36b is a flexible sheet. Due to the engagement of the Oldham coupling 21 (driving force receiving member) provided at the longitudinal end of the toner supply roller 34 shown in fig. 4 with the main body development coupling (not shown) of the apparatus main body 100A, a driving force is input to the developing unit 4. The developing unit 4 is configured in such a manner that the driving force is transmitted to a drive train (drive transmission member) of the developing unit 4, and the toner conveying member 36 is thereby rotated.

< toner Cartridge >

Next, the overall configuration of the toner cartridge 9 mounted in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 6A and 6B. Fig. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge (9Y, 9M, 9C) according to the present exemplary embodiment at a central portion in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction). Fig. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge (9Y, 9M, 9C) according to the present exemplary embodiment at the replenishing frame member opening 52 at the rear side in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction). Fig. 7A is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge (9K) according to the present exemplary embodiment at a central portion in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction). Fig. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge (9K) according to the present exemplary embodiment at the replenishment frame member opening 52 at the rear side in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction). Fig. 8A is a perspective view of the toner cartridges (9Y, 9M, 9C) according to the present exemplary embodiment as viewed from the rear. Fig. 8B is a perspective view of the toner cartridge (9Y, 9M, 9C) according to the present exemplary embodiment as viewed from the rear, with the side cover 62 removed.

The toner cartridge 9 includes: a replenishing frame member 50 that supports various members in the toner cartridge 9, and a replenishing toner accommodating chamber 51 that accommodates toner therein. The supplemental frame member opening 52 is provided below the direction of normal use of the toner cartridge 9 (the direction of use). In the supplementary toner accommodating chamber 51, a supplementary toner stirring member 53, a supplementary toner conveyance screw 54, and a partition member 55 are provided. In the present exemplary embodiment, the fourth toner cartridge (9K) accommodating black toner is configured to be larger in the width direction (left-right direction) than the first to third toner cartridges (9Y, 9M, and 9C) accommodating color toner.

The replenishment toner stirring member 53 is disposed in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge 9, and is rotatably supported on the replenishment frame member 50. In addition, the supplementary toner stirring member 53 includes a rotation shaft 53a and a supplementary stirring sheet 53b as a conveying member, and the supplementary stirring sheet 53b is a flexible sheet. One end of the supplementary agitation sheet 53b is attached to the rotation shaft 53a, and the other end of the supplementary agitation sheet 53b is configured as a free end. The rotation shaft 53a rotates, and the supplementary agitation sheet 53b rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow G, whereby the toner is agitated by the supplementary agitation sheet 53b and conveyed to the supplementary toner conveying screw 54.

The replenishment toner conveyance screw 54 is disposed in parallel with the rotation axis of the replenishment toner stirring member 53, and is rotatably supported on the replenishment frame member 50. The replenishment toner conveying screw 54 conveys the toner in the replenishment toner containing chamber 51 from the front side to the rear side (from the upstream side to the downstream side in the direction in which the toner cartridge 9 is mounted) by rotating. In other words, the replenishment toner conveyance screw 54 conveys the toner toward the replenishment frame member opening 52.

The partition member 55 forms a tunnel portion 56 together with the supplemental frame member 50. The tunnel portion 56 is formed to correspond to the outer diameter of the replenishment toner conveying screw 54, and functions to convey a fixed amount by scraping off the toner conveyed by the replenishment toner conveying screw 54. In addition, similarly, the partition member 55 forms a toner discharge chamber 57 together with the supplemental frame member 50.

The replenishment frame member opening 52 is provided at the toner discharge chamber 57. In addition, a pump 65 communicating with the inside is provided, the pump 65 including an extendable/compressible bellows portion 65 a. The pump 65 is extended/compressed by a drive train which will be described later, and can change its internal volume. The extension/compression of the pump 65 causes the internal pressures in the replenishment toner containing chamber 51 and the toner discharge chamber 57 to change, and air is supplied into the replenishment frame member opening 52 and discharged from the replenishment frame member opening 52, thereby allowing the toner to be stably discharged.

The drive train is disposed behind the toner cartridge 9. The drive input gear 59 receives rotational drive from the image forming apparatus 100 and transmits the rotation to the cam gear 60. A cam groove 60a is provided on the cam gear 60, and a link protruding portion 61a of the link mechanism 61 is engaged with the cam groove 60 a. The link mechanism 61 is supported on the side cover 62 movably in the front-rear direction. The rotation of the cam gear 60 causes the cam link portion 61a to alternately pass through the ridge and the bottom of the cam groove 60a, thereby reciprocating the link mechanism 61 in the front-rear direction. The link mechanism 61 is coupled with the coupling portion 65b of the pump 65, and the coupling portion 65b of the pump 65 reciprocates according to the movement of the link mechanism 61. Then, the bellows portion 65a of the pump 65 is extended/compressed, which causes a change in the internal volume in the pump 65, thereby causing a change in the internal pressures in the replenishment toner containing chamber 51 and the toner discharge chamber 57. Next, a helical gear 64 is provided at an end of the above-described replenishment toner conveyance screw 54, and the helical gear 64 receives rotational drive from the cam gear 60 and rotates the replenishment toner conveyance screw 54.

In addition, at the toner discharge chamber 57, a replenishment frame member opening 52 is provided on the bottom surface of the toner discharge chamber 57 in the orientation at the time of normal use (orientation at the time of use) of the toner cartridge 9, and a replenishment port shutter 41 including a replenishment port 63 is movably supported on the replenishment frame member 50 in the front-rear direction. When the toner cartridge 9 is not mounted in the image forming apparatus 100, the replenishment frame member opening 52 is closed by the replenishment port shutter 41. The replenishment port shutter 41 is configured to be biased by the image forming apparatus 100 and to move to a predetermined position in conjunction with an operation for mounting the toner cartridge 9. When the toner cartridge 9 is mounted in the image forming apparatus 100, the replenishment frame member opening 52 and the replenishment port 63 communicate with each other, thereby allowing toner to be discharged from the toner cartridge 9.

< toner replenishment operation >

Next, a toner replenishing operation according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described.

As shown in fig. 4, a toner receiving port 40 is provided at one end (longitudinal end) of the downstream side in the direction in which the process cartridge 70 is mounted of the developing unit 4, and a receiving conveyance path 41 is provided in communication with the toner receiving port 40. The toner discharged from the toner cartridge 9 is supplied to the toner receiving port 40 by the toner conveying device 18 mounted in the apparatus main body 100A.

As shown in fig. 5, a receiving conveyance screw 44 (conveyance member) is disposed inside the receiving conveyance path 41. The receiving conveyance path 41 extends in the rotational axis direction (longitudinal direction) of the developing roller 25. The receiving conveyance screw 44 includes a shaft portion and a helical blade portion provided on an outer periphery of the shaft portion, and is configured to convey toner by rotating. In addition, as shown in fig. 5, in a state where the process cartridge 70 is mounted in the apparatus main body 100A, the rotational axis (Ra2) of the receiving conveyance screw 44 (conveyance member) is located on the lower side with respect to the rotational axis (Ra1) of the toner conveyance member 36.

The toner accommodating chamber 31a includes an accommodating chamber communication port 43 (second opening portion), and the accommodating chamber communication port 43 is used for receiving the toner received from the toner receiving port 40 and conveyed by the receiving conveyance screw 44 in the receiving conveyance path 41 to enter the toner accommodating chamber 31 a. The accommodating chamber communication port 43 is provided at a longitudinally central portion of the developing unit 4 (toner accommodating chamber 31a), and establishes communication between the receiving conveyance path 41 and the toner accommodating chamber 31 a. With the process cartridge 70 mounted in the apparatus main body 100A, the accommodating chamber communication port 43 is located on the lower side with respect to the rotational axis (Ra1) of the toner conveying member 36. The accommodating chamber communication port 43 is provided at a position such that the sheet member 36b of the toner conveying member 36 passes through the front side thereof when rotating. The sheet member 36b passes through the front side of the accommodating chamber communication port 43 to close the accommodating chamber communication port 43.

< toner conveying arrangement >

Next, the toner conveying configuration in the developing unit 4 will be described in detail with reference to fig. 4 and 5. Directions such as upward, downward, vertical, and horizontal directions with respect to members and the like in the developing unit 4 refer to directions along the orientation of the developing unit 4 in a case where the process cartridge 70 is mounted in the apparatus main body 100A and the image forming apparatus 100 is ready to form an image.

A receiving conveyance screw 44 provided in the developing unit 4 extends in the direction of the rotational axis of the developing roller 25, and conveys the toner received from the toner receiving port 40 into the toner accommodating chamber 31a via the accommodating chamber communication port 43.

The inner wall of the toner accommodating chamber 31a includes a deformed portion 31a1 (first portion) abutting the sheet member 36b below the opening portion 31 c. The deformation portion 31a1 is provided in an inner wall region opposite to an inner wall region of the accommodating chamber communication port 43 in which the toner accommodating chamber 31a is provided with respect to the rotation axis Ra1 in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis Ra1 of the toner conveying member 36. When the toner conveying member 36 rotates, the sheet member 36b of the toner conveying member 36 is elastically deformed (deflected) by abutting against the deforming portion 31a1 and receiving a force from the deforming portion 31a 1. In addition, the toner conveying member 36 rotates in a state where the sheet member 36b is in contact with the deforming portion 31a1, thereby rotating together with the toner carried on the surface of the sheet member 36b on the downstream side in the rotational direction thereof and conveying the toner in the rotational direction of the toner conveying member 36b while stirring the toner. In the present exemplary embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, the deformed portion 31a1 refers to a portion of the inner wall of the toner containing chamber 31a up to the position from which the sheet-like member 36b is separated. In addition, the inner wall of the toner containing chamber 31a includes a recovery portion 31a2 (second portion) on the downstream side of the deforming portion 31a1 and on the upstream side of the opening portion 31c in the rotational direction of the toner conveying member 36. The recovery portion 31a2 is provided in an inner wall region opposite to an inner wall region of the accommodating chamber communication port 43 in which the toner accommodating chamber 31a is provided with respect to the rotation axis Ra1 in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis Ra1 of the toner conveying member 36.

Now, the recovery portion 31a2 is a portion for recovering (solving) at least a part of the elastic deformation (deflection) caused by the sheet member 36b coming into contact with the inner wall of the toner accommodating chamber 31 a. In the present exemplary embodiment, the recovery portion 31a2 is arranged on the upper side with respect to the horizontal surface passing through the rotation axis (Ra1) of the toner conveying member 36. Therefore, after the sheet member 36b passes through the deforming portion 31a1 in accordance with the rotation of the toner conveying member 36, the contact state of the sheet member 36b with the inner wall is solved at the recovery portion 31a 2. Therefore, the elastic deformation of the sheet member 36b caused by the deformed portion 31a1 is restored to the natural state by its own elastic resilient force. According to the change in the geometry due to such restoration of the sheet member 36b, the toner carried on the sheet member 36b is caused to fly (jump) against the gravity and to be projected toward the opening portion 31 c. The inner wall of the toner accommodating chamber 31a is shaped to contact and separate from the sheet member 36b in this manner. The opening portion 31c of the inner wall is located on the downstream side of the recovery portion 31a2 in the rotational direction of the toner conveying member 36. The toner flown toward the opening portion 31c is partially supplied into the developing chamber 31 b. On the other hand, the toner that has failed to reach the inside of the developing chamber 31b drops into the toner accommodating chamber 31a and returns to the bottom of the toner accommodating chamber 31 a. The toner is stirred and conveyed by repeating this cycle.

In the configuration in which the toner is supplied from the toner accommodating chamber 31a to the developing chamber 31b by the rotational drive using the toner conveying member 36, in the case where the accommodating chamber communication port 43 is disposed at the toner accommodating chamber 31a, the following possibility arises.

If the receiving conveyance screw 44 is not kept driven at the timing when the sheet member 36b of the toner conveying member 36 passes the front side of the accommodating chamber communication port 43, the toner located near the accommodating chamber communication port 43 is pushed by the sheet member 36 b. One possible result thereof is that the toner moves in the receiving conveyance path 41 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the toner is conveyed by the receiving conveyance screw 44 (reverse flow). In addition, when the sheet member 36b passes through the front side of the accommodating chamber communication port 43 to close the accommodating chamber communication port 43, the toner flowing backward to the receiving conveyance path 41 may be accumulated due to the pressure applied to the toner. If the toner accumulates in the receiving conveyance path 41, the toner may clog the inside of the receiving conveyance path 41, making it impossible to replenish the toner containing chamber 31a with a predetermined amount.

Therefore, the present exemplary embodiment is directed to preventing toner from clogging in the accommodating chamber communication port 43.

< drive transmission configuration of developing unit >

Next, a drive transmission configuration of the developing unit 4 according to example 1 will be described with reference to fig. 9 and 10.

Example 1 is configured in such a manner that the driving of the toner conveying member 36 and the driving of the receiving conveying screw 44 can be controlled independently of each other.

Fig. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of drive control provided in, for example, the image forming apparatus 100 shown in fig. 1. When performing an image forming or replenishing operation, drive signals are transmitted from the drive control unit 301 shown in fig. 9 to the developing unit drive motor 302 (first drive source) and the receiving conveyance screw drive motor 303 (second drive source), which are drive sources of the apparatus main body 100A.

The driving force output from the developing unit driving motor 302 is transmitted to a main body developing coupling (not shown) of the apparatus main body 100A. Then, a driving force is input from the apparatus main body 100A to the developing unit 4 by engagement of an Oldham coupling 21 (driving force receiving member) provided at a longitudinal end of the toner supply roller 34 with a main body developing coupling (not shown). The driving force is transmitted to a gear train provided in the developing unit 4, and the driving force is transmitted to a conveying member gear 84 (second gear). The conveying member gear 84 is provided at a longitudinal end of the toner conveying member 36 so as to rotate together with the toner conveying member 36.

The driving force output from the receiving-conveying-screw driving motor 303 is transmitted from a receiving-conveying-screw body gear (not shown) of the apparatus body 100A to the conveying screw gear 86 (third gear). The conveying screw gear 86 is provided at a longitudinal end of the receiving conveying screw 44 so as to rotate together with the receiving conveying screw 44.

Now, the drive gear train provided in the developing unit 4 will be described in detail with reference to fig. 10. As shown in fig. 10, a toner supply roller gear 80 (first gear) is provided at a second end portion which is a longitudinal end portion of the toner supply roller 34 opposite to the first end portion where the Oldham coupling 21 is provided. The developing roller gear 81 is provided at the longitudinal shaft portion of the same side of the developing roller 25 as the toner supply roller gear 80. The driving force input to the Oldham coupling 21 is transmitted from the toner supply roller gear 80 to the developing roller gear 81 via the developing idle gear 82, by which the developing roller 25 is rotated.

The above-described conveying member gear 84 is provided at the longitudinal end portion of the toner conveying member 36 on the same side as the toner supply roller gear 80. The conveying member idle gear 83 meshes with both the developing idle gear 82 and the conveying member gear 84, and transmits the driving force from the developing idle gear 82 to the conveying member gear 84. In this way, the driving force of the Oldham coupling 21 input to the toner supply roller 34 is transmitted to the toner supply roller gear 80, the developing idle gear 82, the conveying member idle gear 83, and the conveying member gear 84 in this order.

In consideration of the space and the like in the present exemplary embodiment, a gear train such as the toner supply roller gear 80 is disposed on the side (the other end side) axially opposite to the driving force input unit of the developing unit 4, but the above-described gear train and the driving force input unit may be disposed on the same side.

< control of Driving of toner conveying Member and receiving conveying screw >

Drive control of the toner conveying member 36 and the receiving conveying screw 44 according to the present example will be described with reference to fig. 11A and 11B.

Fig. 11A is a sequence diagram illustrating drive control in a case where the toner conveying member 36 and the receiving conveying screw 44 are driven substantially simultaneously. First, in step S101, a print signal is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100. Then, in step S102, a supplement necessary/unnecessary determination device (not shown) determines whether supplement is necessary. If replenishment is necessary (yes in step S102), in step S103, the driving of the replenishing operation, the toner conveying member 36, and the receiving conveying screw 44 is started substantially at the same time. If replenishment is not necessary (no in step S102), in step S104, driving of the toner conveying member 36 and the receiving conveyor screw 44 is started substantially simultaneously without starting the replenishment operation. In step S105, the image forming operation is started after the start of driving. In step S106, the image forming operation ends. Thereafter, in step S107, the replenishing operation, the toner conveying member 36, and the receiving conveying screw 44 are stopped substantially at the same time.

Fig. 11B is a sequence diagram illustrating drive control in a case where the toner conveying member 36 and the receiving conveyance screw 44 are driven at different timings. First, in step S201, a print signal is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100. Then, in step S202, a supplement necessary/unnecessary determination device (not shown) determines whether supplement is necessary. If replenishment is necessary (yes in step S202), in step S203, the replenishment operation and the reception conveyor screw 44 are started to be driven substantially simultaneously. If replenishment is not necessary (no in step S202), in step S204, the drive of the receiving conveyor screw 44 is started without starting the replenishment operation. After the start of driving the receiving conveyance screw 44, in step S205, the driving of the toner conveying member 36 is started. In step S206, the image forming operation is started while starting driving the toner conveying member 36. In step S207, the image forming operation ends. After that, in step S208, the toner conveying member 36 is stopped. After stopping the operation of the toner conveying member 36, in step S209, the replenishing operation and the receiving conveying screw 44 are simultaneously stopped.

In this way, when the toner conveying member 36 is driven, the receiving conveying screw 44 is kept in a driven state. More specifically, by keeping the receiving conveyance screw 44 in a driven state at a timing when the sheet member 36b of the toner conveying member 36 passes through the front side of the accommodating chamber communication port 43, the image forming apparatus 100 can prevent toner clogging that may occur in the accommodating chamber communication port 43 due to toner flowing backward into the receiving conveyance path 41. In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 can prevent malfunction in supplying toner from the toner cartridge 9.

The receiving conveyance screw 44 does not have to be kept driven at a timing other than the timing when the sheet member 36b of the toner conveying member 36 passes through the front side of the accommodating chamber communication port 43. That is, as long as the receiving conveyance screw 44 is in a driven state at the timing when the sheet member 36b of the toner conveying member 36 passes through the front side of the accommodating chamber communication port 43, the intended advantageous effect can be achieved.

< experiment for evaluating the present example >

The following experiment was performed to verify the advantageous effects of the present example. The two-page intermittent printing durability test was performed under an environment of normal temperature and normal humidity conditions (temperature of 23 ℃, humidity of 60%). In this printing durability, horizontal lines were printed at an image rate of 1%. The experiment was started with loading 200g of toner in the process cartridge 70, and control was performed such that 10g of toner was replenished from the toner cartridge 9 each time the toner was reduced by 10 g. Then, the printing durability is continued until the consumption amount of the process cartridge 70 reaches 100%, and an evaluation is made as to whether toner clogging has occurred in the receiving conveyance path 41 and whether a replenishing failure has occurred.

As comparative examples, the following three types of drive control were performed. In comparative example 1, when the print signal is transmitted, the toner conveying member 36 is driven, and then the receiving conveying screw 44 is driven. The receiving conveyance screw 44 is stopped, and thereafter the toner conveying member 36 is stopped. In comparative example 2, when the print signal is transmitted, the toner conveying member 36 is driven, and then the receiving conveying screw 44 is driven. The toner conveying member 36 is stopped, and then the receiving conveying screw 44 is stopped. In comparative example 3, when the print signal is transmitted, the receiving conveyance screw 44 is driven, and then the toner conveying member 36 is driven. The receiving conveyance screw 44 is stopped, and thereafter the toner conveying member 36 is stopped.

(evaluation of toner clogging)

After the two-page intermittent printing durability test described above, whether to pass or fail is determined based on whether toner clogging has occurred in the receiving conveyance path 41. If no toner clogging occurred, the result was evaluated as pass.

Fig. 12 illustrates respective timing charts and evaluation results of the present example and comparative examples 1, 2, and 3.

The control according to the present example can prevent the toner from flowing backward into the receiving conveyance path 41 and accumulating in the receiving conveyance path 41 by keeping the receiving conveyance screw 44 in a rotated state while the toner conveyance member 36 is rotated. Therefore, toner clogging can be prevented.

In the control according to comparative example 1, after the toner conveying member 36 was driven, the receiving conveying screw 44 was driven. In addition, after the receiving conveyance screw 44 is stopped, the toner conveying member 36 is stopped. Therefore, the toner flows backward into the receiving conveyance path 41 and is collected in the receiving conveyance path 41. Therefore, toner clogging occurs.

In the control according to comparative example 2, after the toner conveying member 36 is driven, the receiving conveying screw 44 is driven, and therefore the toner flows backward into the receiving conveying path 41 and is accumulated in the receiving conveying path 41. Therefore, toner clogging occurs.

In the control according to comparative example 3, after stopping the receiving conveyance screw 44, the toner conveying member 36 is stopped, and therefore, the toner flows backward into the receiving conveyance path 41 and is accumulated in the receiving conveyance path 41. Therefore, toner clogging occurs.

According to the above evaluation result, in the present example, the receiving conveyance screw 44 is in a driven state at the timing when the sheet member 36b of the toner conveying member 36 passes through the front side of the accommodating chamber communication port 43. Therefore, the present example can prevent toner clogging that may occur in the accommodating chamber communication port 43 due to toner flowing backward into the receiving conveyance path 41. In addition, the present example can prevent a malfunction from occurring in supplying toner from the toner cartridge 9.

In the present example, the image forming apparatus 100 is configured to include two motors, i.e., a motor for driving the receiving conveyance screw 44 and a motor for driving the toner conveying member 36, but is not limited thereto. An exemplary modification using a single developing unit drive motor 302 and actuator 222 will be described.

Fig. 15 illustrates a block diagram of a drive transmission route according to an exemplary modification. The present exemplary modification is configured such that: the conveyance screw gear 86 is always driven when the developing unit drive motor 302 is driven, and is configured such that drive is transmitted from the developing unit drive motor 302 to the Oldham coupling 21 via the actuator 222. The actuator 222 is made of an electromagnetic clutch or a spring clutch. The actuator 222 can be switched to a first state in which the driving force can be transmitted from the developing unit driving motor 302 to the Oldham coupling 21 and a second state in which the transmission of the driving force from the developing unit driving motor 302 to the Oldham coupling 21 is prevented. In the second state, the conveying member gear 84 is not driven, and therefore the rotation of the toner conveying member 36 is stopped. The drive control unit 301 may execute a first mode of driving the receiving conveyor screw 44 while rotating the conveying member 36 by switching the actuator 222 to the first state, and a second mode of driving the receiving conveyor screw 44 with the actuator 222 switched to the second state. In both the first mode and the second mode, toner aggregation and toner clogging in the receiving conveyance path 41 are less likely to occur.

Example 2 differs from example 1 in that example 2 includes only a single drive input unit for driving the toner conveying member 36 and the receiving conveying screw 44.

< drive transmission configuration of developing unit >

The drive transmission configuration of the developing unit 4 will be described with reference to fig. 13 and 14.

Fig. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of drive control provided in, for example, the image forming apparatus 100 shown in fig. 1. When the image forming or replenishing operation is performed, a drive signal is transmitted from the drive control unit 301 shown in fig. 13 to the developing unit drive motor 302 as the drive source of the apparatus main body 100A. An Oldham coupling 21 (driving force receiving member) provided at a first end portion as a longitudinal end portion of the toner supply roller 34 is engaged with a main body development coupling (not shown) of the apparatus main body 100A. With this configuration, the driving force output from the developing unit driving motor 302 is input to the developing unit 4. The Oldham coupling 21 is configured to receive a driving force for driving the developing unit 4 from the apparatus main body 100A.

Now, the driving configuration of the developing unit 4 will be described in detail with reference to fig. 14. A toner supply roller gear 80 (first gear) is provided at a second end portion of the toner supply roller 34, which is opposite to the first end portion in the longitudinal direction. The developing roller gear 81 is provided at the longitudinal end of the developing roller 25 on the same side as the second end of the toner supply roller 34. A developing idle gear 82 that meshes with both the toner supply roller gear 80 and the developing roller gear 81 is provided. The driving force input from the Oldham coupling 21 at the first end of the toner supply roller 34 is transmitted to the developing roller gear 81 via the toner supply roller gear 80 and the developing idle gear 82, and the developing roller 25 is rotationally driven thereby.

The developing unit 4 further includes a conveying member gear 84 (second gear), a conveying screw gear 86 (third gear), a conveying member idle gear 83 (intermediate gear), and a receiving conveying screw idle gear 85.

The conveying member gear 84 is fixed to a longitudinal end portion of the toner conveying member 36 on the same side as the toner supply roller gear 80, and rotates together with the toner conveying member 36. The conveying screw gear 86 is fixed to a longitudinal end portion of the receiving conveying screw 44 on the same side as the toner supply roller gear 80, and rotates together with the receiving conveying screw 44. The conveying member idle gear 83 meshes with both the developing idle gear 82 and the conveying member gear 84, and transmits the driving force from the developing idle gear 82 to the conveying member gear 84. The receiving conveying screw idler gear 85 meshes with both the conveying member idler gear 83 and the conveying screw gear 86, and transmits the driving force from the conveying member idler gear 83 to the conveying screw gear 86.

The driving force of the Oldham coupling 21 input to the toner supply roller 34 is transmitted to the toner supply roller gear 80, the developing idle gear 82, the conveying member idle gear 83, and the conveying member gear 84 in this order, and the toner conveying member 36 is rotationally driven. In addition, the driving force transmitted to the conveying member idler gear 83 is transmitted to the conveying screw gear 86 via the receiving conveying screw idler gear 85, and the receiving conveying screw 44 is thereby rotationally driven.

As the configuration of the process cartridge 70, the process cartridge 70 includes: an Oldham coupling 21 that receives a driving force from the apparatus main body 100A; and a driving force transmission unit configured to transmit a driving force from the Oldham coupling 21 to the toner conveying member 36 and the receiving conveying screw 44. The driving force transmission unit includes all the gears described above for rotationally driving the toner conveying member 36 and the receiving conveying screw 44. The drive force transmission unit is configured such that: when the Oldham coupling 21 is rotated, the toner conveying member 36 and the receiving conveying screw 44 are rotated (driven all the time).

< timing of operation of toner conveying member and receiving conveying screw >

The operation timings of the toner conveying member 36 and the receiving conveying screw 44 according to the present example will be described with reference to fig. 11A and 11B.

The operation timings of the toner conveying member 36 and the receiving conveying screw 44 according to the present example are controlled in a similar manner to the control described with reference to fig. 11A. The toner conveying member 36 and the receiving conveying screw 44 start to be driven substantially at the same time, and stop being driven substantially at the same time. While the toner conveying member 36 rotates, the receiving conveying screw 44 is always kept in a rotating state. More specifically, by keeping the receiving conveyance screw 44 in a driven state at a timing when the sheet member 36b of the toner conveying member 36 passes through the front side of the accommodating chamber communication port 43, it is possible to prevent toner clogging in the accommodating chamber communication port 43 that may occur due to toner flowing backward into the receiving conveyance path 41. In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 can prevent malfunction in supplying toner from the toner cartridge 9.

< experiment for evaluating the present example >

Similarly to example 1, the following experiment was performed to verify the advantageous effects of the present example. The two-page intermittent printing durability test was performed under an environment of normal temperature and normal humidity conditions (temperature of 23 ℃, humidity of 60%). In this printing durability, horizontal lines were printed at an image rate of 1%. The experiment was started with loading 200g of toner in the process cartridge 70, and control was performed such that 10g of toner was replenished from the toner cartridge 9 each time the toner was reduced by 10 g. Then, the printing durability is continued until the consumption amount of the process cartridge 70 reaches 100%, and an evaluation is made as to whether toner clogging has occurred in the receiving conveyance path 41 and whether a replenishing failure has occurred.

(evaluation of toner clogging)

After the two-page intermittent printing durability test described above, whether to pass or fail is determined based on whether toner clogging has occurred in the receiving conveyance path 41. If no toner clogging occurred, the result was evaluated as pass.

Similarly to example 1(a), by keeping the receiving conveyance screw 44 in a rotated state while the toner conveying member 36 is rotated, it is possible to prevent toner clogging in the accommodating chamber communication port 43 which may occur due to toner flowing backward into the receiving conveyance path 41. In addition, the present example can prevent a malfunction from occurring in supplying toner from the toner cartridge 9.

Examples 1 and 2 have been described based on the configuration of a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum and a developing unit, but the present invention is also applicable even to the configuration of a developing cartridge configured in the following manner: only the developing unit 4 can be detachably mounted in the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. In addition, the present invention is also applicable even to a developing device fixed to an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.