EP0238939B1 - Device for transferring toner from a transport cartridge into a toner hopper - Google Patents

Device for transferring toner from a transport cartridge into a toner hopper Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0238939B1
EP0238939B1 EP87103539A EP87103539A EP0238939B1 EP 0238939 B1 EP0238939 B1 EP 0238939B1 EP 87103539 A EP87103539 A EP 87103539A EP 87103539 A EP87103539 A EP 87103539A EP 0238939 B1 EP0238939 B1 EP 0238939B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
toner
transport container
underpressure
settling
space
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP87103539A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0238939A1 (en
Inventor
Mehmet Ali Dipl.-Ing.(FH) Büyükgüclü
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Production Printing Germany GmbH and Co KG
Original Assignee
Siemens AG
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Publication date
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Publication of EP0238939A1 publication Critical patent/EP0238939A1/en
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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0894—Reconditioning of the developer unit, i.e. reusing or recycling parts of the unit, e.g. resealing of the unit before refilling with toner
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0848—Arrangements for testing or measuring developer properties or quality, e.g. charge, size, flowability
    • G03G15/0849—Detection or control means for the developer concentration
    • G03G15/0855—Detection or control means for the developer concentration the concentration being measured by optical means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0865—Arrangements for supplying new developer
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S222/00—Dispensing
    • Y10S222/01—Xerography

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device and a method for filling toner from a transport container into a toner storage container of an electrophotographic printing or copying machine.
  • charge images are recorded on a recording medium e.g. produced directly on an intermediate carrier (photoconductor drum) or directly on special paper and then colored with a black powder (toner) in a developer station.
  • a recording medium e.g. produced directly on an intermediate carrier (photoconductor drum) or directly on special paper and then colored with a black powder (toner) in a developer station.
  • an intermediate carrier is used, this toner image is then transferred to normal paper and fixed thereon.
  • a two-component developer consisting of ferromagnetic carrier particles and toner particles is generally used for the development.
  • the developer is guided past the charge image on the intermediate carrier by means of a magnetic brush arrangement, to which the toner sticks due to electrostatic forces.
  • An electrophotographic copier that develops charge images according to the specified principle is e.g. known from DE-AS 2 166 667.
  • the toner concentration in the developer mixture of the developer station decreases continuously. It is therefore necessary to continuously add new toner to the developer mixture. Since the toner consumption per unit of time is very high in the case of fast copying machines and high-performance data printers, a spacious toner reservoir is used in such machines in order to avoid downtimes by refilling the toner. When this toner reservoir is empty, the toner, which is usually supplied in handy containers, is filled into the reservoir. It is important to fill the toner from the container into the storage container in such a way that no toner is spilled, thereby polluting the environment.
  • DE-C 3 224 296 discloses a device for filling and sieving toner from a container into a toner supply container.
  • the toner located in a transport container namely a toner bottle
  • a storage container in that the toner bottle is slipped into a filling opening of the storage container.
  • a sieve basket In the area of the filling opening there is a sieve basket, which is closed off from the storage container by a sieve and which is connected to an electrical vibrating device which can be triggered if necessary.
  • the vibrating device is triggered by opening the lid that closes the filler opening.
  • US Pat. No. 3,951,539 discloses a filling device for toner from a transport container into a developer station of an electrophotographic copier, in which the toner is guided from the transport container into the developing device by means of pressure. The toner is pressed through a kind of filter device with a large number of small openings.
  • the object of the invention is to design a device of the type mentioned in such a way that the toner can be transferred from a simple, inexpensive transport container into a device-side storage container with a large capacity without toner solidifications occurring or that toner is spilled.
  • the toner is advantageously removed from a transport container, namely the toner bottle, by means of a flexible line by means of vacuum by suction. Via the flexible line, the toner reaches a storage container which is divided into a settling space and a suction space separated from the settling space.
  • the suction chamber is connected to a vacuum pump, which creates a vacuum, which causes the toner to settle on the filter of the sedimentation chamber. After the suction pump has been switched off, the toner falls onto a transport screw arranged at the bottom of the settling space, which feeds the toner in doses to the developer station of the printer.
  • the toner cannot clump together because the toner is not mechanically compressed.
  • the transport container is namely the toner bottle, not tied to a specific location and it can be connected or arranged in a user-friendly manner.
  • the toner reservoir itself does not contain any mechanically moving parts and can therefore be inexpensively thin-walled and made of plastic.
  • a combined holding and shaking device which accommodates the transport container is provided and is pivotably arranged on the device.
  • the transport container When inserting the toner bottle in a first receiving position of the holding device and after connecting the bottle to the flexible feed line, the transport container is pivoted upwards in a simple manner and thus the vibrating device which is arranged in the pivoting range of the holding device and the suction pump is triggered.
  • the device can optionally remain switched on until the bottle is empty, or it can be switched on as required if a predetermined remaining quantity in the storage container is undershot.
  • the transport container namely the toner bottle, can thus itself serve as an additional reservoir next to the actual storage container, with which the toner storage container itself can be made smaller.
  • a toner reservoir 10 from which the toner is fed to a developer station 11 for developing charge formers.
  • the toner reservoir 10 has approximately the width of the development station 11, which corresponds approximately to the printing width, and is divided into a settling chamber 12 and a suction chamber 13.
  • the chambers are separated from one another by a filter device 14.
  • the filter device 14 is closed with respect to the suction space 13 by a pressure distribution plate 15 with a plurality of openings 16 arranged thereon.
  • the actual toner-tight filter 17 is located on the pressure distribution plate 15, which filter e.g. can consist of a glass mat. This filter 17 is sealed by foam strips 18 at the edges.
  • the pressure distribution plate can also consist of a simple support grid.
  • the openings 16 can be arranged and dimensioned according to the desired pressure distribution.
  • the suction chamber 13 is connected to a vacuum pump 19 operated by an electric motor.
  • the settling chamber 12 in turn has a connection piece 20 to which a flexible pipe 21 in the form of a suction nozzle is connected.
  • the flexible nozzle-shaped suction line 21 is inserted with its suction nozzle 24 into the toner bottle 22 and the suction pump 19 is then actuated.
  • the toner settles underneath the filter device 14, namely uniformly over the entire width of the toner reservoir.
  • connection piece 20 for the flexible line is therefore arranged in the upper part of the conical region of the settling chamber 25.
  • a metering device driven by a motor 26, in the form of a screw conveyor 27.
  • this screw transports toner to the developer station 11 as required.
  • a combined holding and vibrating device is located on the toner reservoir 10.
  • This device consists of a holding device 28, which is arranged pivotably on the device, for receiving the toner bottle 22.
  • a vibrating device 29 In the pivoting area of the holding device 28 there is a vibrating device 29.
  • a switch 30 is provided which fills the position of the holding device 28.
  • the toner bottle 22 is locked in the holding device 28 in the pivoted-off, broken line state of the holding device.
  • the toner bottle is then connected to the flexible line 21 by means of a bayonet-type closure, not shown here, with an appropriately designed suction nozzle 31.
  • the switch 30 actuating the vacuum pump 19 is interrupted. After swiveling up the holding device 28 in the direction of the arrow, the bottle comes into the effective range of the vibrating device 29.
  • the switch 30 can now be coupled to the vibrating device 29 or the vacuum pump 19 such that the vacuum pump 19 and the vibrating device 29 are automatically switched on when swiveling up.
  • the toner bottle 22 is shaken above a handle 32 which is operated by an electric motor.
  • the vibrating device can also be designed according to DE-PS 32 24 296.
  • the bottle is quickly and completely emptied by shaking.
  • the device can optionally be switched on remain until the toner bottle 22 becomes empty - for a 1 kg bottle, for example, it takes less than 1 minute - or it can be switched on as required. This switching on can be carried out depending on the falling below a certain remaining amount in the storage container.
  • the toner bottle 22 serves as an additional reservoir for the toner reservoir 10.
  • the toner reservoir 10 itself can be made entirely of plastic.
  • the holding device with the hinge 33 connecting the housing of the device can be made of metal.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung und ein Verfahren zum Einfüllen von Toner aus einem Transportbehälter in einen Tonervorratsbehälter eines elektrofotografischen Druck- oder Kopiergerätes.The invention relates to a device and a method for filling toner from a transport container into a toner storage container of an electrophotographic printing or copying machine.

In der Kopiertechnik und bei modernen Datenschnelldruckern die nach dem Prinzip der Elektrofotographie arbeiten, werden Ladungsbilder auf einem Aufzeichnungsträger z.B. direkt auf einen Zwischenträger (Fotoleitertrommel) oder direkt auf Spezialpapier erzeugt und anschließend mit einem schwarzen Pulver (Toner) in eine Entwicklerstation eingefärbt. Dieses Tonerbild wird bei Verwendung eines Zwischenträgers anschließend auf Normalpapier übertragen und auf diesem fixiert. In der Regel wird zum Entwickeln ein Zweikomponenten-Entwickler verwendet, der aus ferromagnetischen Trägerteilchen und Tonerteilchen besteht. Der Entwickler wird mittels einer Magnetbürstenanordnung am Ladungsbild auf dem Zwischenträger vorbeigeführt, an dem der Toner verursacht durch elektrostatische Kräfte haften bleibt.In copying technology and in modern high-speed data printers that work on the principle of electrophotography, charge images are recorded on a recording medium e.g. produced directly on an intermediate carrier (photoconductor drum) or directly on special paper and then colored with a black powder (toner) in a developer station. When an intermediate carrier is used, this toner image is then transferred to normal paper and fixed thereon. A two-component developer consisting of ferromagnetic carrier particles and toner particles is generally used for the development. The developer is guided past the charge image on the intermediate carrier by means of a magnetic brush arrangement, to which the toner sticks due to electrostatic forces.

Ein elektrofotographisches Kopiergerät, das nach dem angegebenen Prinzip Ladungsbilder entwickelt, ist z.B. aus der DE-AS 2 166 667 bekannt.An electrophotographic copier that develops charge images according to the specified principle is e.g. known from DE-AS 2 166 667.

Durch das Einfärben der Ladungsbilder auf dem Zwischenträger nimmt die Tonerkonzentration im Entwicklergemisch der Entwicklerstation ständig ab. Es ist darum erforderlich, dem Entwicklergemisch ständig neuen Toner dosiert zuzuführen. Da bei schnellen Kopiergeräten und Hochleistungsdatendruckern der Tonerverbrauch pro Zeiteinheit sehr hoch ist, wird bei solchen Geräten ein geräumiger Tonervorratsbehälter verwendet um Stillstandszeiten durch Nachfüllen von Toner zu vermeiden. Wenn dieser Tonervorratsbehälter leer ist, wird der Toner, der üblicherweise in handlichen Behältem geliefert wird, in den Vorratsbehälter gefüllt. Dabei ist es wichtig, den Toner aus dem Behälter so in den Vorratsbehälter zu füllen, daß kein Toner verschüttet wird und dadurch die Umgebung verschmutzt.Due to the coloring of the charge images on the intermediate carrier, the toner concentration in the developer mixture of the developer station decreases continuously. It is therefore necessary to continuously add new toner to the developer mixture. Since the toner consumption per unit of time is very high in the case of fast copying machines and high-performance data printers, a spacious toner reservoir is used in such machines in order to avoid downtimes by refilling the toner. When this toner reservoir is empty, the toner, which is usually supplied in handy containers, is filled into the reservoir. It is important to fill the toner from the container into the storage container in such a way that no toner is spilled, thereby polluting the environment.

Aus der DE-C 3 224 296 ist eine Vorrichtung zum Einfüllen und Sieben von Toner aus einem Behälter in einen Tonervorratsbehälter bekannt. Dabei wird der in einem Transportbehälter, nämlich einer Tonerflasche, befindliche Toner einem Vorratsbehälter dadurch zugeführt, daß die Tonerflasch ein eine Einfüllöffnung des Vorratsbehälters gestülpt wird. Im Bereich der Einfüllöffnung ist ein gegenüber dem Vorratsbehälter mit einem Sieb abgeschlossener Siebkorb angeordnet, der mit einer bedarfsweise auslösbaren elektrischen Rütteleinrichtung in Verbindung steht. Die Rütteleinrichtung wird dabei durch Öffnen des die Einfüllöffnung abschlie-Benden Deckels ausgelöst.DE-C 3 224 296 discloses a device for filling and sieving toner from a container into a toner supply container. In this case, the toner located in a transport container, namely a toner bottle, is fed to a storage container in that the toner bottle is slipped into a filling opening of the storage container. In the area of the filling opening there is a sieve basket, which is closed off from the storage container by a sieve and which is connected to an electrical vibrating device which can be triggered if necessary. The vibrating device is triggered by opening the lid that closes the filler opening.

Bei derartigen Einfüllvorrichtungen besteht nun die Gefahr, daß beim manuellen Umfüllen aus der Tonertlasche der Toner verschüttet wird. Da außerdem der Toner nur an einer bestimmten Stelle dem Tonervorratsbehälter zugeführt wird, sind besondere Verteilereinrichtungen im Tonervorratsbehälter notwendig, um eine gleichmäßige Zuführung des Toners zur Entwicklerstation zu gewährleisten.With such filling devices there is now a risk that the toner will spill out of the toner bottle during manual refilling. In addition, since the toner is only supplied to the toner supply container at a certain point, special distribution devices in the toner supply container are necessary in order to ensure a uniform supply of the toner to the developer station.

Es ist weiterhin aus der US-A 3 951 539 eine Einfüllvorrichtung für Toner aus einem Transportbehälter in eine Entwicklerstation eines elektrofotografischen Kopiergerätes bekannt, bei der der Toner mittels Druck vom Transportbehälter in die Entwicklungsvorrichtung geführt wird. Der Toner wird dabei durch eine Art Filtereinrichtung mit einer Vielzahl von kleinen Öffnungen gedrückt.Furthermore, US Pat. No. 3,951,539 discloses a filling device for toner from a transport container into a developer station of an electrophotographic copier, in which the toner is guided from the transport container into the developing device by means of pressure. The toner is pressed through a kind of filter device with a large number of small openings.

Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es, eine Vorrichtung der eingangs genannten Art so auszugestalten, daß der Toner aus einem einfachen kostengünstigen Transportbehälter in einen geräteseitigen Vorratsbehälter mit großem Fassungsvermögen umgefüllt werden kann, ohne daß dabei Tonerverfestigungen auftreten oder daß Toner verschüttet wird.The object of the invention is to design a device of the type mentioned in such a way that the toner can be transferred from a simple, inexpensive transport container into a device-side storage container with a large capacity without toner solidifications occurring or that toner is spilled.

Diese Aufgabe wird bei einer Vorrichtung der eingangs genannten Art gemäß dem kennzeichnenden Teil des ersten Patentanspruches gelöst.This object is achieved in a device of the type mentioned at the outset according to the characterizing part of the first claim.

Vorteilhafte Ausführungsformen der Erfindung sind in den abhängigen Ansprüchen gekennzeichnet.Advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims.

In vorteilhafter Weise wird bei der Erfindung der Toner aus einem Transportbehälter nämlich der Tonerflasche über eine flexible Leitung mittels Unterdruck durch Saugen entfernt. Über die flexible Leitung gelangt der Toner in einen Vorratsbehälter, der sich in einen Absetzraum und in einen von dem Absetzraum getrennten Saugraum aufteilt. Der Saugraum steht mit einer Unterdruckpumpe in Verbindung, die einen Unterdruck erzeugt, wodurch sich der Toner am Filter des Absetzraumes absetzt. Nach Abschalten der Saugpumpe fällt der Toner auf eine am Boden des Absetzraumes angeordnete Transportschnecke, die den Toner dosiert der Entwicklerstation des Druckers zuführt.In the case of the invention, the toner is advantageously removed from a transport container, namely the toner bottle, by means of a flexible line by means of vacuum by suction. Via the flexible line, the toner reaches a storage container which is divided into a settling space and a suction space separated from the settling space. The suction chamber is connected to a vacuum pump, which creates a vacuum, which causes the toner to settle on the filter of the sedimentation chamber. After the suction pump has been switched off, the toner falls onto a transport screw arranged at the bottom of the settling space, which feeds the toner in doses to the developer station of the printer.

Durch die Verwendung einer Druckverteilerplatte mit einer Vielzahl von Offnungen ergibt sich eine gleichmäßige Verteilung des Toners im Vorratsbehälter. Der Toner setzt sich dabei an den Stellen des Filters ab, an denen eine starke Strömung auftritt, wobei sich zunächst mehr Toner an diesen Stellen absetzt, als an Stellen mit geringerer Strömung. Durch die dickere Tonerschicht wird aber dann der Strömungswiderstand größer, so daß sich nun die Strömung verlagert. Dieser Vorgang wiederholt sich solange, bis eine bestimmte Tonerschichtdicke erreicht wird, dann fallen die Tonerpartikel in den Bereich der Dosiereinrichtung.The use of a pressure distribution plate with a large number of openings results in an even distribution of the toner in the storage container. The toner settles at the points of the filter where a strong flow occurs, with more toner initially settling at these points than at places with less flow. The thicker layer of toner then increases the flow resistance, so that the flow is now shifted. This process is repeated until a certain thickness of toner layer is reached, then the toner particles fall into the area of the metering device.

Eine Verklumpung des Toners kann nicht vorkommen, da der Toner mechanisch nicht zusammengedrückt wird.The toner cannot clump together because the toner is not mechanically compressed.

Durch den flexiblen Schlauch ist der Transportbehälter nämlich die Tonerflasche, nicht ortsgebunden und sie kann bediengünstig angeschlossen bzw. angeordnet werden. Der Tonervorratsbehälter selbst enthält keine mechanisch bewegten Teile und kann deshalb kostengünstig dünnwandig und aus Kunststoff hergestellt sein.Due to the flexible hose, the transport container is namely the toner bottle, not tied to a specific location and it can be connected or arranged in a user-friendly manner. The toner reservoir itself does not contain any mechanically moving parts and can therefore be inexpensively thin-walled and made of plastic.

Bei einer besonders vorteilhaften Ausführungsform der Erfindung ist eine den Transportbehälter aufnehmende kombinierte Halte- und Rütteleinrichtung vorgesehen, die schwenkbar am Gerät angeordnet ist. Beim Einlegen der Tonerflasche in einer ersten Aufnahmeposition der Haltevorrichtung und nach Anschluß der Flasche an die flexible Zuleitung wird in einfacher Weise der Transportbehälter nach oben geschwenkt und damit die Rütteleinrichtung die im Schwenkbereich der Halteeinrichtung angeordnet ist und die Saugpumpe ausgelöst.In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, a combined holding and shaking device which accommodates the transport container is provided and is pivotably arranged on the device. When inserting the toner bottle in a first receiving position of the holding device and after connecting the bottle to the flexible feed line, the transport container is pivoted upwards in a simple manner and thus the vibrating device which is arranged in the pivoting range of the holding device and the suction pump is triggered.

Die Einrichtung kann dabei wahlweise eingeschaltet bleiben bis die Flasche leer ist oder sie kann nach Bedarf eingeschaltet werden, wenn eine vorbestimmte Restmenge im Vorratsbehälter unterschritten wird. Damit kann der Transportbehälter, nämlich die Tonerflasche, selbst als zusätzliches Reservoir neben dem eigentlichen Vorratsbehälter dienen, womit der Tonervorratsbehälter selbst kleiner ausgestaltet werden kann.The device can optionally remain switched on until the bottle is empty, or it can be switched on as required if a predetermined remaining quantity in the storage container is undershot. The transport container, namely the toner bottle, can thus itself serve as an additional reservoir next to the actual storage container, with which the toner storage container itself can be made smaller.

Ausführungsformen der Erfindung sind in den Zeichnungen dargestellt und werden im folgenden beispielsweise näher beschrieben. Es zeigen

  • Fig. 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Einfüllen von Toner aus einem Transportbehälter in einen Tonvorratsbehälter teilweise in Schnittdarstellung und
  • Fig. 2 eine schematische Darstellung derselben Vorrichtung mit einer den Transportbehälter aufnehmenden kombinierten Halte- und Rütteleinrichtung.
Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail below, for example. Show it
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a device for filling toner from a transport container into a clay storage container, partly in a sectional view and
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the same device with a combined holding and vibrating device receiving the transport container.

In einem hier nicht dargestellten nichtmechanischen Schnelldrucker (Laserdrucker) befindet sich ein Tonervorratsbehälter 10, aus dem der Toner einer Entwicklerstation 11 zur Entwicklung von Ladungsbildem zugeführt wird. Der Tonervorratsbehälter 10 hat etwa die Breite der Entwicklungsstation 11 was in etwa der Druckbreite entspricht und gliedert sich in einen Absetzraum 12 und einen Absaugraum 13. Die Räume sind durch eine Filtereinrichtung 14 voneinander getrennt. Die Filtereinrichtung 14 ist hinsichtlich des Saugraumes 13 durch eine Druckverteilerplatte 15 mit mehreren darauf angeordneten Öffnungen 16 abgeschlossen. Auf der Druckverteilerplatte 15 befindet sich das eigentliche tonerdichte Filter 17, das z.B. aus einer Glasmatte bestehen kann. Dieses Filter 17 ist durch Schaumstoffstreifen 18 an den Rändern abgedichtet. Die Druckverteilerplatte kann auch aus einem einfachen Stützgitter bestehen. Die Öffnungen 16 können dabei entsprechend der gewünschten Druckverteilung angeordnet und dimensioniert sein.In a non-mechanical high-speed printer (laser printer), not shown here, there is a toner reservoir 10, from which the toner is fed to a developer station 11 for developing charge formers. The toner reservoir 10 has approximately the width of the development station 11, which corresponds approximately to the printing width, and is divided into a settling chamber 12 and a suction chamber 13. The chambers are separated from one another by a filter device 14. The filter device 14 is closed with respect to the suction space 13 by a pressure distribution plate 15 with a plurality of openings 16 arranged thereon. The actual toner-tight filter 17 is located on the pressure distribution plate 15, which filter e.g. can consist of a glass mat. This filter 17 is sealed by foam strips 18 at the edges. The pressure distribution plate can also consist of a simple support grid. The openings 16 can be arranged and dimensioned according to the desired pressure distribution.

Der Saugraum 13 steht mit einer elektromotorisch betriebenen Unterdruckpumpe 19 in Verbindung. Der Absetzraum 12 wiederum hat einen Anschlußstutzen 20, an dem eine flexible Rohrleitung 21 in Form eines Saugrüssels angeschlossen ist.The suction chamber 13 is connected to a vacuum pump 19 operated by an electric motor. The settling chamber 12 in turn has a connection piece 20 to which a flexible pipe 21 in the form of a suction nozzle is connected.

Zum Umfüllen eines in Tonerflaschen 22 angelieferten Toners 23 in den Tonervorratsbehälter 10 bzw. in die Entwicklerstation 11 wird die flexible rüsselförmige Saugleitung 21 mit ihrem Saugstutzen 24 in die Tonerflasche 22 eingeführt und dann die Saugpumpe 19 betätigt. Der im Saugraum 13 erzeugte Unterdruck, der gleichmäßig über die Öffnungen 16 der Druckverteilerplatte 15 wirkt, erzeugt einen entsprechenden Unterdruck im Absetzraum 12, wodurch der Toner 23 nach dem "Staubsaugerprinzip" in den Absetzraum 12 eingesaugt wird. Der Toner setzt sich unterhalb der Filtereinrichtung 14 ab und zwar gleichmäßig über die gesamte Breite des Tonervorratsbehälter.To transfer a toner 23 delivered in toner bottles 22 into the toner storage container 10 or into the developer station 11, the flexible nozzle-shaped suction line 21 is inserted with its suction nozzle 24 into the toner bottle 22 and the suction pump 19 is then actuated. The negative pressure generated in the suction chamber 13, which acts uniformly through the openings 16 of the pressure distribution plate 15, generates a corresponding negative pressure in the settling chamber 12, whereby the toner 23 is sucked into the settling chamber 12 according to the "vacuum cleaner principle". The toner settles underneath the filter device 14, namely uniformly over the entire width of the toner reservoir.

Dies wird automatisch dadurch bewirkt, daß an den Stellen des Filters, an denen bedingt durch größere Öffnungen 16 oder erhöhte Durchlässigkeit des Filters 17 eine starke Strömung auftritt, so daß sich zunächst mehr Toner 23 an diesen Stellen absetzt, als an anderen Stellen mit geringerer Strömung. Durch die entstehende dickere Tonerschicht wird aber der Strömungswiderstand an den erstgenannten Stellen größer, was wiederum zu einer Verlangsamung des Absetzvorganges führt - womit wiederum die zweitgenannten Stellen eine stärkere Strömung erhalten. Dadurch setzen sich an diesen Stellen verstärkt die Tonerpartikeln ab. Dieser Vorgang wiederholt sich solange, bis eine bestimmte Tonerschichtdicke erreicht wird. Dann fallen die Tonerpartikel in den unteren konisch zulaufenden Bereich 25 des Absetzraumes. Um das weitere Absaugen des Toners 23 nicht zu behindern ist deswegen der Anschlußstutzen 20 für die flexible Leitung im oberen Teil des konischen Bereiches des Absetzraumes 25 angeordnet. Am unteren Bereich 25 des konisch ausgestalteten Absetzraumes 12 ist eine über einen Motor 26 angetriebene Dosiereinrichtung in Form einer Transportschnecke 27 angeordnet. Diese Schnecke transportiert bedarfsweise in Abhängigkeit von einer hier nicht dargestellten Füllstandsmeßeinrichtung Toner zu der Entwicklerstation 11.This is automatically brought about by the fact that at the points of the filter where a strong flow occurs due to larger openings 16 or increased permeability of the filter 17, so that initially more toner 23 settles at these points than at other places with less flow . The resulting thicker toner layer, however, increases the flow resistance at the former points, which in turn slows down the settling process - which in turn gives the latter points a stronger flow. As a result, the toner particles increasingly settle at these points. This process is repeated until a certain toner layer thickness is reached. Then the toner particles fall into the lower, conical region 25 of the settling space. In order not to hinder the further suction of the toner 23, the connection piece 20 for the flexible line is therefore arranged in the upper part of the conical region of the settling chamber 25. At the lower region 25 of the conically shaped settling chamber 12 there is a metering device, driven by a motor 26, in the form of a screw conveyor 27. Depending on a level measuring device (not shown here), this screw transports toner to the developer station 11 as required.

Bei einer in der Fig. 2 dargestellten besonders vorteilhaften Ausführungsform der Erfindung befindet sich am Tonervorratsbehälter 10 eine kombinierte Halte- und Rütteleinrichtung. Diese Einrichtung besteht aus einer schwenkbar am Gerät angeordneten Haltevorrichtung 28 zur Aufnahme der Tonerflasche 22. Im Schwenkbereich der Haltevorrichtung 28 befindet sich eine Rütteleinrichtung 29. Weiterhin ist ein Schalter 30 vorgesehen, der die Position der Haltevorrichtung 28 abfüllt.In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, a combined holding and vibrating device is located on the toner reservoir 10. This device consists of a holding device 28, which is arranged pivotably on the device, for receiving the toner bottle 22. In the pivoting area of the holding device 28 there is a vibrating device 29. Furthermore, a switch 30 is provided which fills the position of the holding device 28.

Um den Tonervorrat im Tonervorratsbehälter zu ergänzen, wird die Tonerflasche 22 im abgeschwenkten, gestrichelt dargestellten Zustand der Haltevorrichtung in der Haltevorrichtung 28 verrastet. Sodann wird die Tonerflasche mittels eines bajonettartigen, hier nicht dargestellten Verschluß mit einem entsprechend ausgestalteten Ansaugstutzen 31 mit der flexiblen Leitung 21 verbunden. Der die Unterdruckpumpe 19 betätigende Schalter 30 ist dabei unterbrochen. Nach Hochschwenken der Haltevorrichtung 28 in Pfeilrichtung gelangt die Flasche in den Wirkungsbereich der Rütteleinrichtung 29. Der Schalter 30 kann nun so mit der Rütteleinrichtung 29 bzw. der Unterdruckpumpe 19 gekoppelt sein, daß beim Hochschwenken die Unterdruckpumpe 19 und die Rütteleinrichtung 29 automatisch eingeschaltet werden. Ober einen Schwengel 32, der elektromotorisch betrieben ist, wird die Tonerflasche 22 gerüttelt. Die Rütteleinrichtung kann aber auch entsprechend der DE-PS 32 24 296 ausgestaltet sein.In order to supplement the toner supply in the toner supply container, the toner bottle 22 is locked in the holding device 28 in the pivoted-off, broken line state of the holding device. The toner bottle is then connected to the flexible line 21 by means of a bayonet-type closure, not shown here, with an appropriately designed suction nozzle 31. The switch 30 actuating the vacuum pump 19 is interrupted. After swiveling up the holding device 28 in the direction of the arrow, the bottle comes into the effective range of the vibrating device 29. The switch 30 can now be coupled to the vibrating device 29 or the vacuum pump 19 such that the vacuum pump 19 and the vibrating device 29 are automatically switched on when swiveling up. The toner bottle 22 is shaken above a handle 32 which is operated by an electric motor. The vibrating device can also be designed according to DE-PS 32 24 296.

Durch das Rütteln wird eine schnelle rückstandfreie Entleerung der Flasche erreicht.The bottle is quickly and completely emptied by shaking.

Die Einrichtung kann wahlweise eingeschaltet bleiben, bis die Tonerflasche 22 leer wird - für eine 1 Kg-Flasche braucht man z.B. weniger als 1 Minute - oder sie kann nach Bedarf eingeschaltet werden. Dieses Einschalten kann in Abhängigkeit von dem Unterschreiten einer bestimmten Restmenge im Vorratsbehälter vorgenommen werden. Die Tonerflasche 22 dient dabei als zusätzliches Reservoir für den Tonervorratsbehälter 10.The device can optionally be switched on remain until the toner bottle 22 becomes empty - for a 1 kg bottle, for example, it takes less than 1 minute - or it can be switched on as required. This switching on can be carried out depending on the falling below a certain remaining amount in the storage container. The toner bottle 22 serves as an additional reservoir for the toner reservoir 10.

Der Tonervorratsbehälters 10 selbst kann vollständig aus Kunststoff gefertigt werden. Die Haltevorrichtung mit dem das Gehäuse des Gerätes verbindenden Scharnier 33 kann aus Metall hergestellt sein.The toner reservoir 10 itself can be made entirely of plastic. The holding device with the hinge 33 connecting the housing of the device can be made of metal.

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus for filling toner (23) from a transport container (22) into a toner reservoir (10), from which the toner is then supplied to a developing station (11) of an electrophotographic printer or copier device, the toner reservoir (10) having a settling space (12), which communicates with the developing station (11), and a suction space (13) separated from the settling space via a filter device (14) and having an allocated device (19) generating an underpressure, it being possible, for the purpose of transferring the toner (23) from the transport container (22), to connect the transport container (22) to the settling space (12) via a feedline (21), and the toner settling in the settling space (12) by generating an underpressure in the suction space (13).
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein a metering device (27) supplying the toner (23) to the developing station (11) is arranged on the floor of the settling space (12).
3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the filter device (14) has a pressure distributing plate (15) having a plurality of openings (16) and a filter mat (17).
4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the settling space (12) is constructed such that, at least on the interruption of the underpressure generation, the toner (23) settles in the region of the metering device (27).
5. Device according to claim 2, wherein the metering device has a worm conveyor (27).
6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the suction space (13) communicates with a suction pump (19).
7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, having a holding and shaking device (28, 29) which receives the transport container.
8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the holding device (28) is pivotably arranged at the device, the transport container (23) being insertable into the holding device (28) in a first receiving position and being connectable to the toner reservoir (10) with a flexible line (21), and wherein, after pivoting the holding device (28) into the range of influence of the shaking device (29), the shaking device (29) and/or the device generating the underpressure (19) can be activated via appropriate switch devices (30).
9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the shaking device (29) and/or the device (19) generating the underpressure are switched on as a function of the undershooting of a particular residual amount of toner supply in the toner reservoir (10).
10. Method for filling toner (23, from a transport container (22) into a toner reservoir (10) from where the toner (23) is then supplied to a developing station (11) of an electrophotographic printer or copier device, comprising the following process steps:
a) the toner (23) is sucked out of the transport, container (22) with the assistance of underpressure and deposited at a filter device (14) in the toner reservoir (10),
b) the toner (23) deposited at the filter device (14) is fed to the developing station (11) via a metering device (27).
EP87103539A 1986-03-14 1987-03-11 Device for transferring toner from a transport cartridge into a toner hopper Expired - Lifetime EP0238939B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3608605 1986-03-14
DE3608605 1986-03-14

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EP0238939B1 true EP0238939B1 (en) 1990-06-06

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EP (1) EP0238939B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH07117786B2 (en)
DE (1) DE3763118D1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH07117786B2 (en) 1995-12-18
EP0238939A1 (en) 1987-09-30
DE3763118D1 (en) 1990-07-12
US4833501A (en) 1989-05-23
JPS62218976A (en) 1987-09-26

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