Developing device and image forming device having the same

Abstract

A developing device includes a casing, a first mixing conveying screw, and a developer removing unit. The casing is able to store toner. The first mixing conveying screw has a shaft arranged to be able to rotate freely in the interior of the casing, and a spiral in a spiral shape formed on the outer circumference portion of the shaft. The developer removing unit has a plurality of spring members arranged to be lined up in the axial direction corresponding to the spiral pitch of the spiral and are able to contact the spiral, and a retaining member that is retained in the casing and retains the plurality of the spring members.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a multifunction device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a developing device of the multifunction device;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the developing device with a portion thereof removed for illustrative purposes;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a toner removing unit of the developing device with a portion thereof omitted for illustrative purposes;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of the main portions of the toner removing unit of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view showing the toner removing unit of FIG. 4 with a portion thereof removed for illustrative purposes.

Claims

1. A developing device, comprising: a casing being configured to store developer;a first mixing conveying member having a first shaft portion arranged to rotate freely in the interior of the casing, and a first blade portion having a spiral shape formed on an outer circumferential portion of the first shaft portion; anda developer removing unit having a plurality of first scrape members being aligned in an axial direction corresponding to a spiral pitch of the first blade portion and being configured to contact the first blade portion, and a retaining member being mounted to the casing and configured to retain the plurality of the first scrape members.

2. The developing device according to claim 1, further comprising a second mixing conveying member that is parallel to the first mixing conveying member and made of a second shaft portion arranged to rotate freely in the interior of the casing, and a second blade portion formed on the outer circumference portion of the second shaft portion, wherein the developer removing unit further includes a plurality of second scrape members aligned in the axial direction corresponding to the spiral pitch of the second blade portion and configured to contact the second blade portion, and the retaining member further retains the plurality of the second scrape members.

3. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein each of the conveying members further includes a plate portion that is formed on the outer circumference portion of a tip portion in the conveying direction of the respective shaft portion and extends in the radial direction to convey developer to the side of the other mixing conveying member.

4. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of the scrape members is formed by an elastic metal wire rod.

5. An image forming device, comprising: an image carrier;a developing device being configured to supply developer to the image carrier, the developing device including a casing being configured to store developer,a first mixing conveying member having a first shaft portion arranged to rotate freely in the interior of the casing, and a first blade portion having a spiral shape formed on an outer circumferential portion of the first shaft portion, anda developer removing unit having a plurality of first scrape members being aligned in an axial direction corresponding to a spiral pitch of the first blade portion and being configured to contact the first blade portion, and a retaining member being mounted to the casing and configured to retain the plurality of the first scrape members; anda transfer device being configured to transfer developer supplied to the image carrier to a recording medium.

6. A developing device, comprising: a casing being configured to store developer;a first mixing conveying member having a first shaft portion arranged to rotate freely in the interior of the casing, and a first blade portion having a spiral shape formed on the outer circumference portion of the first shaft portion;a conductive member mounted to the casing; anda developer removing unit having a first scrape member being configured to contact the first blade portion and to contact the conducting member, and a retaining member mounted to the casing and retains the first scrape member.

7. The developing device according to claim 6, further comprising a developer carrier arranged to rotate freely in the interior of the casing and supplies developer to an image carrier of an image forming device, anda developing bias input portion mounted to the casing, in which a predetermined developing bias to be applied to the developer carrier is inputted, and the developing bias input portion is conducted by the conductive member.

8. The developing device according to claim 6, wherein the first scrape member includes a plurality of first scrape members aligned in the axial direction corresponding to the spiral pitch of the first blade portion, and the conductive member extends in the axial direction along the first mixing conveying member.

9. The developing device according to claim 6, further comprising a second mixing conveying member that is parallel to the first mixing conveying member and made of a second shaft portion arranged to rotate freely in the interior of the casing, and a second blade portion formed on the outer circumference portion of the second shaft portion, wherein the developer removing unit further includes a second scrape member configured to contact the second blade portion and to contact the conductive member, the retaining member further retains the second scrape member.

10. The developing device according to claim 6, wherein the scrape member is formed by an elastic metal wire rod.

11. An image forming device, comprising: an image carrier;a developing device being configured to supply developer to the image carrier, the developing device including a casing being configured to store developer,a first mixing conveying member having a first shaft portion arranged to rotate freely in the interior of the casing, and a first blade portion having a spiral shape formed on the outer circumference portion of the first shaft portion, a conductive member mounted to the casing, anda developer removing unit having a first scrape member being configured to contact the first blade portion and to contact the conducting member, and a retaining member mounted to the casing and retains the first scrape member; anda transfer device being configured to transfer developer supplied to the image carrier to a recording medium.