JP2003162134A - Developing device, process cartridge and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (with correction) [PROBLEMS] A developing device capable of easily connecting a stirring shaft and a stirring blade in a stirring member, maintaining a current conveying force, and reducing costs. Provided is an image forming apparatus using the apparatus. A typical configuration includes a developer container that stores a developer and a first stirring member. The first stirring member includes a stirring shaft 78a and a stirring blade 79a, and is a light transmission type. It detects the amount of the developer in the developer container 25. Stirring shaft
78a is formed of a resin member, a plurality of caulking bosses are formed on the surface thereof, and the stirring blade 79a has a thickness of 50 to 150 μm.
The stirring shaft 78a and the stirring blade 79a are integrated by being caulked by a caulking portion 81a including a caulking boss and a caulking hole.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a process cartridge attachable to and detachable from a main body of the apparatus.

Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium by using an electrophotographic image forming system. Examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, laser beam printer, LED printer, etc.), a facsimile machine, a word processor and the like.

A process cartridge is a cartridge in which a charging means, a developing means or a cleaning means and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Since the user can attach / detach to / from the apparatus main body, the maintenance of the apparatus main body can be easily performed.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a printer using an electrophotographic process uniformly charges a photosensitive drum, which is an image carrier, and forms a latent image by selectively exposing the photosensitive drum. , The latent image is visualized with toner as a developer,
Image recording is performed by transferring the toner image onto a recording medium and further fixing the toner image onto the recording medium by applying heat or pressure to the transferred toner image.

Such an apparatus is accompanied by toner replenishment and maintenance of various process means. The photosensitive drum, charging means, developing means, cleaning means, etc. are provided in the frame as means for facilitating the toner replenishing work and maintenance. It has been put into practical use as a cartridge.

The developing device for such a process cartridge is provided with a developer residual amount detecting device for detecting the residual amount of the stored developer. There are various types of developer remaining amount detecting devices, but there is a light transmission type remaining amount detecting device as a cheaper and simpler structure. The light transmissive residual amount detection is a method in which the detection light is passed through a container that stores the developer, and the residual amount of the developer stored in the container is detected based on the passage time of the detection light.

FIG. 12 and FIG.
Specifically, with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, the detection light L emitted from the light emitting member 130a such as a light emitting element is provided in the developer container 125 through the first guide portion 131a formed of a light transmitting member. The light is incident on the inside of the container through the first light transmitting window 126a having the light transmitting property. In addition, the detection light L incident on the inside of the container is also provided in the container and has the second transparency.
The detection light L that has reached the outside of the container through the light transmission window 126b of the second guide portion and is further output to the outside of the container is a second guide portion formed of a light transmission member.
The light receiving member 130b such as a light receiving element is reached via 131b, and the remaining amount of the developer in the container is detected by the length of time that the light receiving member 130b receives the detection light L.

Further, the arrangement of the light transmitting window 126 in the longitudinal direction will be described.

The first light transmitting window 126a and the second light transmitting window 126
b is arranged at one end in the longitudinal direction of the developer container 125 and forms an optical axis of light transmission in the cross-sectional direction of the developer container 125. Forming at one end is to minimize the distance from the electric board arranged on one side of the main body of the image forming apparatus to the circuit such as the light emitting element or the light receiving element of the light transmission type developer remaining amount detection, and to connect the electric wiring. This is to prevent the generation of electrical noise by forming it short.

As shown in FIG. 15, the first stirring member 128a
A first light transmission window 126a disposed below the center of rotation of
Second arranged above the rotation center of the first stirring member 128a
The light transmission window 126b of the above forms the light transmission optical axis for detecting the remaining amount of the developer. In such a configuration, the second stirring member 128b
When the toner remains in the rotation area of the first roller 129 and the rotation area of the first stirring member 128a and the toner is left in the rotation area of the supply roller 129, the first light transmission window 126a to the second light transmission window 126b. The light is transmitted and the remaining toner amount can be detected.

The stirring member has a role of carrying the toner in the developer container 125 and a role of wiping the light transmitting window 128.
Therefore, in the longitudinal direction of the stirring blade 179a, a separation groove 180 is formed in the vicinity of the light transmitting window area, and the stirring blade is separated into a region facing the light transmitting window and another longitudinal region. Thereby, in the area facing the light transmitting window, it is possible to convey the toner and simultaneously wipe the light transmitting window.

As shown in FIG. 16, a conventional stirring member 128a is used.
The configuration of 2 includes a stirring blade 179a made of a flexible thin sheet.
By sandwiching the sheet metal 178a, the toner transport function was satisfied.

[0013]

However, the above-described conventional image forming apparatus uses the two metal plates for the stirring member, which causes a problem of cost increase.

Therefore, according to the present invention, in the stirring member, the stirring shaft and the stirring blade can be simply combined, the current carrying force can be maintained, and the cost can be suppressed, and the developing device, the process cartridge, and the An object is to provide an image forming apparatus.

[0015]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a developing device, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention have a typical construction, in which a developer container for containing a developer and the developer container are provided. And a stirring member for stirring the developer, wherein the stirring member comprises a stirring shaft for attaching to the developer container and a stirring blade for stirring the developer,
The stirring shaft is formed of a resin member, and a plurality of caulking bosses are formed on the surface thereof, and the stirring blade has a thickness of 50 to 1
A configuration in which a flexible thin sheet member of 50 μm is formed, and a plurality of caulking holes are formed, and when the stirring blade of the stirring member rotates, the amount of the developer in the developer container is detected by a light transmission method. In the image forming apparatus, the agitation shaft and the agitation blade are integrated by being caulked by the caulking portion including the caulking boss and the caulking hole.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a multicolor image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the mounting and demounting configuration of a process cartridge with respect to the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 is an engaging portion of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the developing device, FIG. 5 is a view showing the path of detection light, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge, FIG. 7 is a view showing the outline of the remaining light amount detection, and FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of toner agitation and detection of the remaining amount of light, FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a stirring member having a wide caulking portion, FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a stirring member having a narrow caulking portion, and FIG. 11 is a caulking portion in a transmission window area. It is a figure.

(Overall Configuration of Multicolor Image Forming Apparatus) First, the overall configuration of the multicolor image forming apparatus will be outlined with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the entire configuration of a full-color laser beam printer 50 which is one mode of the multicolor image forming apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, a multicolor image forming apparatus 50.
Includes four photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, which are electrophotographic photosensitive members arranged in a vertical direction. The photosensitive drum 1 is driven by a driving means (not shown),
It is driven to rotate counterclockwise. Around the photoconductor drum 1, the charging device 2 (2a, 2a, 2a, 2a, 2b) that is a charging means for uniformly charging the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 in order according to the rotation direction.
b, 2c, 2d), a scanner unit 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) that irradiates a laser beam based on image information to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1, and toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image. Developing device 4 for adhering and developing as a toner image
(4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), an electrostatic transfer device 5 that transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 to the transfer material S, and a cleaning unit that removes transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after transfer. Cleaning device 6 (6a, 6
b, 6c, 6d) and the like are provided.

Here, the photosensitive drum 1, the charging device 2, the developing device 4, and the cleaning device 6 are integrally made into a cartridge to form a process cartridge 7.

The photosensitive drum 1 will be described in detail below.

The photoconductor drum 1 is constituted by coating an organic photoconductor layer (OPC photoconductor) on the outer peripheral surface of an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of 30 mm, for example. Photoconductor drum 1
Has both ends rotatably supported by support members, and is driven to rotate counterclockwise by transmitting a driving force from a drive motor (not shown) to one end.

As the charging device 2, a contact charging type device can be used. The charging member is a conductive roller formed in the shape of a roller. The roller is brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 and a charging bias voltage is applied to the roller to make the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 uniform. It is to be charged.

The scanner unit 3 is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction of the photosensitive drum 1, and a polygon mirror 9 in which image light corresponding to an image signal is rotated at a high speed by a scanner motor (not shown) by a laser diode (not shown).
(9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) is irradiated. The image light reflected by the polygon mirror 9 is formed by the imaging lens 10 (10a, 10a).
b, 10c, 10d), the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 1 is selectively exposed to form an electrostatic latent image.

Each of the developing devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d is composed of a developing device in which toner of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan and black is stored.

All the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c,
An electrostatic transfer belt 11 is disposed so as to face 1d and to circulate so as to come into contact therewith. The electrostatic transfer belt 11 is 10 ¹¹ to 10 ¹⁴
It is composed of a film-like member having a volume specific resistance of Ω · cm and a thickness of about 150 μm. This electrostatic transfer belt 11
Is vertically supported by rollers with four axes, and electrostatically adsorbs the transfer material S on the outer peripheral surface on the left side in the figure, and moves in a circulating manner so as to bring the transfer material S into contact with the photosensitive drum 1. As a result, the transfer material S is conveyed to the transfer position by the electrostatic transfer belt 11, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred.

Abutting on the inside of the electrostatic transfer belt 11
Transfer rollers 12 (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) are arranged in parallel at positions facing the respective photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d. Positive charges are applied to the transfer material S from the transfer rollers 12 via the electrostatic transfer belt 11, and an electric field generated by the charges causes the transfer material S in contact with the photosensitive material drum 1 to be transferred onto the photosensitive material drum 1. A negative toner image is transferred.

The electrostatic transfer belt 11 is a belt having a circumference of about 700 mm and a thickness of 150 μm, and is stretched by four rollers of a driving roller 13, driven rollers 14a and 14b, and a tension roller 15 and rotated in the direction of the arrow in the figure. To do. This allows
The toner image is transferred while the above-described electrostatic transfer belt 11 circulates and the transfer material S is conveyed from the driven roller 14a side to the drive roller 13 side.

The feeding section 16 feeds and conveys the transfer material S to the image forming section, and a plurality of transfer materials S are fed to the feeding cassette.
It is stored in 17. At the time of image formation, the feeding roller 18 (half-moon roller) and the registration roller pair 19 are driven and rotated in accordance with the image forming operation to separate and feed the transfer materials S in the feeding cassette 17 one by one, and at the end of the transfer material S. Is a pair of registration rollers
After stopping at 19 and temporarily forming a loop, the rotation of the electrostatic transfer belt 11 and the image writing position are synchronized with each other, and the registration roller pair 19 feeds the electrostatic transfer belt 11.

The fixing section 20 is for fixing the toner images of a plurality of colors transferred onto the transfer material S, and includes a rotating heating roller 21a and a pressurizing member which is pressed against the heating roller 21a to apply heat and pressure to the transfer material S. It consists of a roller 21b.

That is, the transfer material S onto which the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 has been transferred is conveyed by the fixing roller pair 21 when passing through the fixing section 20, and is given heat and pressure by the fixing roller pair 21. As a result, the toner images of a plurality of colors are fixed on the surface of the transfer material S.

In the image forming operation, the process cartridges 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d are sequentially driven at the recording timing, and the photosensitive drum 1 is driven in accordance with the driving.
a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are rotationally driven counterclockwise. Then, the scanner unit 3 corresponding to each process cartridge 7 is sequentially driven. By this driving, the charging roller 2 applies a uniform electric charge to the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 1, and the scanner unit 3 moves to the photoconductor drum 1 thereof.
The peripheral surface is exposed according to an image signal to form an electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1. The developing roller in the developing device 4 transfers the toner to the low potential portion of the electrostatic latent image to form (develop) a toner image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1.

At the timing when the leading edge of the toner image on the peripheral surface of the most upstream photosensitive drum 1 is rotatably conveyed to the opposed point to the electrostatic transfer belt 11, the recording start position of the transfer material S is set at the opposed point. The pair of registration rollers 19 starts rotating to feed the transfer material S to the electrostatic transfer belt 11 so that they coincide with each other.

The transfer material S is sandwiched between the electrostatic attraction roller 22 and the electrostatic transfer belt 11 so that the electrostatic transfer belt 11 is held.
Of the dielectric material of the transfer material S, which is a dielectric, and the dielectric layer of the electrostatic transfer belt 11 by applying a voltage between the electrostatic transfer belt 11 and the electrostatic attraction roller 22 while being pressed against the outer periphery of the electrostatic transfer belt 11. Then, the transfer material is configured to be electrostatically attracted to the outer periphery of the electrostatic transfer belt 11. As a result, the transfer material S is stably attracted to the electrostatic transfer belt 11 and is conveyed to the most downstream transfer unit.

While being conveyed in this way, the transfer material S sequentially transfers the toner image on each photosensitive drum 1 by the electric field formed between each photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 12.

The transfer material S on which the four color toner images have been transferred is
The curvature is separated from the electrostatic transfer belt 11 by the curvature of the belt driving roller 13 and is carried into the fixing unit 20. The transfer material S has a pair of discharge rollers after the toner image is heat-fixed by the fixing unit 20.
By 23, the image is discharged from the discharge unit 24 to the outside of the main body with the image surface facing down.

(Method of Attaching / Detaching Process Cartridge to / from Image Forming Apparatus Main Body) Next, a method of attaching / detaching the process cartridge 7 to / from the image forming apparatus 50 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge 7 is attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus 50. At that time, the process cartridge 7 is inserted and removed in the horizontal direction with the front door 32 of the image forming apparatus 50 opened. It is composed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, an image forming apparatus
In the process cartridge 7, the guide rail portion 33 provided in the image forming apparatus 50 and the insertion guide portion provided in the process cartridge 7 engage with each other in the process cartridge 7. There is. When the process cartridge 7 is inserted into the image forming apparatus 50, the front door
When the process cartridge 7 is opened, it is inserted along the guide rail portion 33 to the inner side and stopped at the developing position of the process cartridge 7. Further, when the process cartridge 7 is detached, the process cartridge 7 is pulled out from the developing position along the guide rail portion 33 toward the front door 32 side.
Taken out of.

(Light Transmission Type Toner Remaining Amount Detection Method) Next, a light transmission type toner remaining amount detection method, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The developer container 25 of the process cartridge 7 containing the toner has a light-transmitting window.
26a and a light transmission window 26b are provided. In the developer container 25, the first stirring member 28 is placed from the side close to the developing roller 27.
a and a second stirring member 28b are provided, and the toner T is conveyed to the supply roller 29 by rotating each stirring member. The first stirring member 28a has a wiping function for removing the toner T attached to the light transmitting window 26a and the light transmitting window 26b, in addition to carrying the toner.

Further, on the side surface of the developer container 25, a light emitting member 30 provided on the image forming apparatus main body side as shown in FIG.
a and the light receiving member 30b are arranged. The detection light L emitted from the light emitting member 30a passes through the first guide portion 31a arranged over the length of the developer container 25 and enters the developer container 25 through the light transmission window 26a. And the developer container 25
The detection light L incident on the inside passes through the light transmitting window 26b to the outside of the developer container 25. The detection light L reaching the outside of the developer container 25 reaches the light receiving member 30b via the second guide portion 31b which is also arranged over the length of the developer container 25, and the light receiving member 30b determines how much light is received there. The remaining amount of the toner T stored in the developer container 25 is detected depending on the time and whether the detection light L is received.

With this structure, the light receiving member 30
It is possible to sequentially detect the remaining amount of the toner T stored in the developer container 25 by the change in the length of time that the detection light L is received by b, and the toner T is stored in the developer container 25.
The user is informed that there is about to disappear.

Here, the length of time that the light receiving member 30b receives the detection light L is the time interval from the time when the detection light L is blocked by the toner T to the time when the detection light L is blocked next. It can be detected by blocking the light transmitting window 26a with the toner T.

Further, the arrangement of the light transmitting window 26 in the longitudinal direction will be described.

The first light transmitting window 26a and the second light transmitting window 26b
Is arranged at one end in the longitudinal direction of the developer container 25,
An optical axis of light transmission is formed in the cross-sectional direction of the developer container 25. Forming at one end is to minimize the distance from the electric board arranged on one side of the main body of the image forming apparatus to the circuit such as the light emitting element or the light receiving element of the light transmission type developer remaining amount detection, and to connect the electric wiring. This is to prevent the generation of electrical noise by forming it short.

As shown in FIG. 7, a first light transmission window 26a disposed below the center of rotation of the first stirring member 28a, and a first light transmission window 26a
The second light transmission window 26b arranged above the center of rotation of the stirring member 28a forms the light transmission optical axis for detecting the remaining amount of the developer. In such a configuration, the toner T is lost in the rotation area of the second stirring member 28b, and when the toner T remains only in the area portion of the supply roller 29 and the rotation area of the first stirring member 28a, the first toner T From the light transmitting window 26a to the second light transmitting window 26
Light is transmitted to b, and the remaining amount of the toner T can be detected.

The stirring member has a role of transporting the toner T in the developer container 25 and a role of wiping the light transmitting window 28. Therefore, in the longitudinal direction of the stirring blade 79a, a separation groove 80 is formed in the vicinity of the light transmitting window area, and the stirring blade is separated into a region facing the light transmitting window and another longitudinal region. As a result, in the area facing the light transmitting window, it is possible to convey the toner T and simultaneously wipe the light transmitting window.

As shown in FIG. 8, in order to shield the first light transmitting window 26a with the toner T, the first stirring blade 79a has supplied the toner T, but the toner T is not discharged. Then, the toner T is brought back to the developer container 25 side as it is, and the toner T is discharged to the first light transmission window 26a to block the detection light L.

As shown in FIG. 9, the first stirring member 28a
Is a stirring blade 78a made of a resin member and having a caulking boss formed on its surface, and a flexible thin sheet member having a thickness of 50 to 150 μm, and having caulking holes formed therein.
The caulking portion 81a formed by caulking bosses and caulking holes is integrated with 79a by heat caulking or ultrasonic caulking. As a result, unlike the conventional stirring member 28c (see FIG. 16), it is not necessary to sandwich the stirring blade, the cost can be reduced, and the assembling property is superior.

However, the first stirring member 28a shown in FIG.
Since the interval between the caulking portions 81a is wide, the tension of the agitating blade 79a is weakened, the agitating blade 79a between the caulking portions 81a is bent, and the transportability of the toner T is deteriorated.

In the stirring blade 79a, the separation groove 80 in the longitudinal direction allows the stirring blade 79a of the first stirring member 28a to move to the first position.
The first stirring member when wiping (passing through) the light transmission window 26a of
It is divided into a light transmission window region X facing 28a and a region Y other than it. In the separated light transmission window area X of the stirring blade 79a, if the interval between the caulking portions 81a is wide, the tension of the stirring blade 79a also decreases, and the first light transmission for satisfying the toner remaining amount detecting function is achieved. The window 26a cannot be cleaned. Therefore, it is impossible to detect the remaining amount of toner accurately.

Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG.
In the image forming apparatus configured to detect the amount of the developer in the developer container 25 by the light transmission method when the stirring blade 79a of the stirring member 28a rotates, the caulking portion including the caulking boss and the caulking hole.
The agitating shaft 78a and the agitating blade 79a are caulked and integrated by the 81a, and the agitating blade 79a has a constant tension by setting the interval between the caulking portions 81a to be 25 mm or less. The toner T can be accurately conveyed without the agitating blade 79a in between being bent.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the stirring blade 79a
In the light transmission window region area X, the first light transmission window 26a and the second light transmission window 26a
Two caulking portions 81a are provided at the line-symmetrical positions connecting the light transmitting windows 26b, and the distance between the caulking portions 81a is 20 mm or less. With this, the stirring blade 79a
Since the tension of the first window is kept constant, the first light transmission window can be accurately
26a can be wiped (cleaned).

As described above, the agitation shaft 78a and the agitation blade 79a are integrated by the caulking portion 81a, and the interval between the caulking portions 81a is regulated, so that the agitation shaft 78a and the agitation blade 79a can be easily coupled. The current carrying force can be maintained, and the cost of the device can be reduced.
Therefore, the function of wiping (cleaning) the first light transmitting window 26a can be satisfied, and accurate toner remaining amount detection can be performed.

As a result, it is possible to accurately provide the user with the signal of the remaining amount of toner, which allows the user to
The process cartridge 7 can be purchased and installed according to the life of the process cartridge 7 so as to come according to the print volume of the user.

[0054]

As described above, the stirring shaft and the stirring blade can be simply combined with each other by integrally forming the stirring shaft and the stirring blade and defining the interval between the caulking portions.
The current carrying force can be maintained, and the cost of the device can be reduced. Therefore, the function of wiping (cleaning) the light transmitting window can be satisfied, and accurate toner remaining amount detection can be performed.

Further, it is possible to accurately provide the user with the signal of the remaining amount of toner, so that the user can purchase the process cartridge according to the life of the process cartridge so as to come to the print volume of the user. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a multicolor image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a detachable structure of a process cartridge with respect to an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an engaging portion of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a developing device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a path of detection light.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a process cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an outline of remaining light amount detection.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of toner agitation and remaining light amount detection.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a stirring member having a wide caulking portion.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a stirring member having a narrow crimped portion.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a caulking portion of a transparent window area.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a conventional developing device.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a path of conventional detection light.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a conventional process cartridge.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an outline of conventional light remaining amount detection.

FIG. 16 is a configuration of a conventional stirring member.

[Explanation of symbols]

L ... Detection light S ... Transfer material X: Light transmitting window area Y ... area 1 ... Photosensitive drum 2 ... Charging device 3 ... Scanner unit 4 ... Developer 5 ... Electrostatic transfer device 6 ... Cleaning device 7 ... Process cartridge 9 ... Polygon mirror 10… Imaging lens 11… Electrostatic transfer belt 12… Transfer roller 13… Drive roller 14a ... driven roller 16… Feeding department 17… Feed cassette 18… Feeding roller 19… Registration roller pair 20 ... Fixing unit 21a ... Heating roller 21b ... Pressure roller 22… Electrostatic attraction roller 23… Ejection roller pair 24… Ejector 25 ... Developer container 26a ... first light transmitting window 26b ... second light transmitting window 27 ... Development roller 28a ... the first stirring member 28b ... Second stirring member 28c ... Stirring member 29… Supply roller 30a ... Light emitting member 30b ... Light receiving member 31a ... First guide portion 31b ... second guide portion 32… Front door 33… Guide rail section 50 ... Multicolor image forming device 78a… Stirring shaft 79a ... Stirrer 80… Separation groove 81a ... Caulking section

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Tatsuya Suzuki             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation F-term (reference) 2H071 BA04 BA13 BA27 BA33 DA08                       DA32                 2H077 AB03 AB14 AB18 AC04 AD02                       AD06 AD13 AD17 BA09 DA16                       DA36 DA64 EA15 FA22 GA13

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A developer container containing a developer, and a stirring member for stirring the developer in the developer container, wherein the stirring member includes a stirring shaft for mounting the developer container and the developer. The stirring shaft is formed of a resin member, and a plurality of caulking bosses are formed on the surface of the stirring shaft. The stirring blade is formed of a flexible thin sheet member having a thickness of 50 to 150 μm. In the image forming apparatus having a plurality of caulking holes formed therein, and detecting the amount of the developer in the developer container by a light transmission method when the stirring blade of the stirring member rotates, the stirring shaft and stirring The developing device is characterized in that the blade is integrated by being caulked by a caulking portion including the caulking boss and the caulking hole. 2. A developer container accommodating a developer, a first light transmission window provided on the lower side of the developer container, and a second light transmission window provided on the upper side of the developer container. A stirring member for stirring the developer in the developer container, the stirring member being formed of a stirring shaft for attaching to the developer container and a stirring blade for stirring the developer. Is formed of a resin member, and a plurality of caulking bosses are formed on the surface thereof, the stirring blade is formed of a flexible thin sheet member having a thickness of 50 to 150 μm, and a plurality of caulking holes are formed, In the image forming apparatus configured to detect the amount of developer in the developer container by a light transmission method when the stirring blade rotates, the stirring shaft and the stirring blade are caulked by a caulking portion including the caulking boss and the caulking hole. By being integrated Ri, a developing device, wherein an interval of the caulking portion is 25mm or less. 3. A developer container accommodating a developer, a first light transmitting window provided on the lower side of the developer container, and a second light transmitting window provided on the upper side of the developer container. A stirring member for stirring the developer in the developer container, the stirring member being formed of a stirring shaft for attaching to the developer container and a stirring blade for stirring the developer, wherein the stirring shaft is Molded with a resin member, a plurality of caulking bosses are formed on the surface thereof, the stirring blade is formed of a flexible thin sheet member having a thickness of 50 to 150 μm, and a plurality of caulking holes are formed, In the image forming apparatus configured to detect the amount of the developer in the developer container by a light transmission method when the blade rotates, the stirring shaft and the stirring blade are crimped by a caulking portion including the caulking boss and the caulking hole. Integrated by The interval between the crimped portions is 25 mm or less, and the portion of the sheet separated in the vicinity of the position of the first light transmission window in the longitudinal direction of the stirring member faces the first light transmission window. A developing device, which has two caulking portions symmetrically with respect to a line connecting the first light transmitting window and the second light transmitting window, and the interval between the two caulking portions is within 20 mm. 4. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the caulking portion including the caulking boss and the caulking hole is caulked by heat caulking or ultrasonic caulking. 5. An electrophotographic photosensitive member, a cleaning unit that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging unit that charges the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the developing device according to claim 1. Process cartridge characterized in that. 6. An electrophotographic photosensitive member, a cleaning unit that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging unit that charges the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the developing device according to claim 1. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above. 7. An image forming apparatus, wherein the process cartridge according to claim 5 is removable.