EP0332669B1 - Device for pneumatically filling a toner reservoir with toner from a transport container - Google Patents

Device for pneumatically filling a toner reservoir with toner from a transport container Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0332669B1
EP0332669B1 EP88907106A EP88907106A EP0332669B1 EP 0332669 B1 EP0332669 B1 EP 0332669B1 EP 88907106 A EP88907106 A EP 88907106A EP 88907106 A EP88907106 A EP 88907106A EP 0332669 B1 EP0332669 B1 EP 0332669B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
toner
filtering device
deposit chamber
chamber
developer station
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
EP88907106A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0332669A1 (en
Inventor
Erich KRÄHN
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
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Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
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Publication of EP0332669A1 publication Critical patent/EP0332669A1/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
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0877—Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit
    • G03G15/0881—Sealing of developer cartridges
    • G03G15/0886—Sealing of developer cartridges by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug
    • 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
    • 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
    • G03G15/0875—Arrangements for supplying new developer cartridges having a box like shape
    • 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
    • G03G15/0877—Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device for the pneumatic filling of toner from a transport container into a toner storage container according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
  • charge images are recorded on a recording medium e.g. produced with a 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 with a photoconductor drum or directly on special paper and then colored with a black powder (toner) in a developer station.
  • 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 used for 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 21 66 667.
  • 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 that is usually supplied in handy containers, filled in the storage container. 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.
  • Such a toner filling device is e.g. known from DE-PS 32 24 296.
  • 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 consolidation occurring or the toner being 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.
  • a transport container namely the toner bottle
  • the toner arrives in 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 generates a vacuum, whereupon the toner settles on the filter of the settling chamber.
  • the toner attached to the filter device is loosened and it falls to the bottom of the settling space in that there is a dosing device which doses the toner to the developer station of the printer.
  • the metering device contains at least one metering roller made of foam-like material, which transports the toner from the settling space into the developer station.
  • the toner cannot clump together because the toner is not mechanically compressed.
  • the filter device itself advantageously consists of a grid-shaped carrier part and a filter fabric connected to the carrier part, wherein the carrier part can consist of plastic which has a plurality of openings which can be arranged in such a way that a uniform Distribution of the toner in the reservoir results.
  • the carrier part takes on the function of a pressure distribution plate.
  • the toner cannot clump together because the toner is not mechanically compressed.
  • a toner reservoir 10 from which the toner is fed to a developer station 11 for developing charge images.
  • the toner reservoir 10 has approximately the width of the developer 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 grid-shaped support part 15 with a plurality of openings 16 arranged thereon.
  • the actual toner-tight filter 17 Connected to the grid-shaped carrier part 15 is the actual toner-tight filter 17, which e.g. can consist of a glass mat. This filter 17 is sealed by foam strips on the edges.
  • the openings of the grid-shaped carrier part 15, which is preferably made of plastic, can be arranged and dimensioned in accordance with the desired pressure distribution of the suction air.
  • 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 pipeline 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 supply container.
  • a motor-driven scraping device is arranged in the settling chamber 12, which scrapes the toner attached to the filter device 14 via scraping elements 28.
  • the toner falls into the lower, conical region 25 of the settling space (FIG. 2) and is deposited there.
  • a metering device driven by a motor 26, in the form of a foam roller 27 (FIG. 3).
  • the circumference of this foam roller grazes at the lower edge of the conically tapering settling space 25 and, depending on a fill level measuring device (not shown here), transports toner 23 to the developer station 11.
  • two foam rollers arranged side by side can also be provided as metering devices which are driven in opposite directions, the toner then being fed between the rollers to the developer station.
  • the drive of the metering device is coupled via a belt 29 to an axis 30 of the scraping device.
  • the scraping device itself has a multiplicity of elastic scraping elements 28 made of spring steel wire, which are fastened to the axis 30 of the scraping device via fastening disks 31. Due to their bending shape, the scraping elements 28 rest lightly and resiliently on the filter mat 17 and thus scrape off the adhering toner during a rotational movement.
  • the filter mat 17 can be welded to the grid-shaped carrier part made of plastic, wherein the grid-shaped carrier part 15 can form a replacement part together with the filter mat 17. The arrangement of the grid part 15 and filter mat 17 is placed on the settling chamber 12 in an airtight manner.
  • an inlet opening 32 which can be adapted in an airtight manner with the corresponding opening 20 of the suction nozzle 21 and which forms the passage to the suction chamber 12.
  • the scraper elements 28 designed as rotary scrapers can be glued and / or soldered to the fastening disks 31 connected to the axis 30.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Abstract

A device is disclosed for pneumatically filling a toner reservoir (10) with toner (23) from a transport container (22). From the reservoir (10), the toner (23) is then supplied to the developing station (11) of an electrophotographic printing machine. The filling device has a deposit chamber (12) that communicates with the developing station (11) and a suction chamber separated from the deposit chamber (12) by filtering means (14) and provided with associated, vacuum-generating means (19). The deposit chamber (12) is provided with a scraping device (28) that detaches with elastic scraping elements (28) the toner deposited on the filtering means (14).

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung zum pneumatischen Einfüllen von Toner aus einem Transportbehälter in einen Tonervorratsbehälter gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Patentanspruches 1.The invention relates to a device for the pneumatic filling of toner from a transport container into a toner storage container according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

In der Kopiertechnik und bei modernen Datenschnelldruckern die nach dem Prinzip der Elektrofotografie arbeiten, werden Ladungsbilder auf einem Aufzeichnungsträger z.B. einer Fotoleitertrommel oder direkt auf Spezialpapier erzeugt und anschließend mit einem schwarzen Pulver (Toner) in einer Entwicklerstation eingefärbt. Dieses Tonerbild wird bei Verwendung eines Zwischenträgers anschließend auf Normalpapier übertragen und auf diesem fixiert. In der Regel wird zum Entwickeln ein Zweikomponentenentwickler 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 with a 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. Typically, a two-component developer consisting of ferromagnetic carrier particles and toner particles is used for 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 elektrofotografisches Kopiergerät, das nach dem angegebenen Prinzip Ladungsbilder entwickelt, ist z.B. aus der DE-AS 21 66 667 bekannt.An electrophotographic copier that develops charge images according to the specified principle is e.g. known from DE-AS 21 66 667.

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 Zeitenheit 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 Behältern 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 that is usually supplied in handy containers, filled in the storage container. 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.

Eine derartige Tonereinfüllvorrichtung ist z.B. aus der DE-PS 32 24 296 bekannt.Such a toner filling device is e.g. known from DE-PS 32 24 296.

Bei derartigen Einfüllvorrichtungen besteht nun die Gefahr, daß beim manuellen Umfüllen aus der Tonerflasche 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.

Um diese Nachteile bei den bekannten Einfüllvorrichtungen zu vermeiden, wurde bereits vorgeschlagen (Europ.Patentanm. 87103539.0) den Toner aus einem Transportbehälter, nämlich der Tonerflasche über eine flexible Leitung mittels Unterdruck durch Saugen zu entfernen. 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 order to avoid these disadvantages in the known filling devices, it has already been proposed (European Patent No. 87103539.0) to remove the toner 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.

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 das 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 consolidation occurring or the toner being 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 Unteransprüchen gekennzeichnet.Advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

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 einen von dem Absetzraum getrennten Saugraum aufteilt. Der Saugraum steht mit einer Unterdruckpumpe in Verbindung die einen Unterdruck erzeugt, worauf sich der Toner am Filter des Absetzraumes absetzt. Mit Hilfe von elastischen Schabeelementen wird der an der Filtereinrichtung festgesetzte Toner gelöst und er fällt auf den Boden des Absetzraumes, indem sich eine Dosiereinrichtung befindet, 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 arrives in 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 generates a vacuum, whereupon the toner settles on the filter of the settling chamber. With the help of elastic scraping elements, the toner attached to the filter device is loosened and it falls to the bottom of the settling space in that there is a dosing device which doses the toner to the developer station of the printer.

Die Dosiereinrichtung enthält mindestens eine Dosierwalze aus schaumstoffartigem Material, die den Toner aus dem Absetzraum in die Entwicklerstation transportiert.The metering device contains at least one metering roller made of foam-like material, which transports the toner from the settling space into the developer station.

Von Vorteil ist dabei die Anordnung von zwei gegenläufig bewegten Schaumstoffwalzen, die eine exakte Dosierung ermöglichen.The arrangement of two foam rollers moving in opposite directions, which enable exact metering, is advantageous.

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.

Die Filtereinrichtung selbst besteht in vorteilhafter Weise aus einem gitterförmigen Trägerteil und einem mit dem Trägerteil verbundenen Filtergewebe, wobei das Trägerteil aus Kunststoff bestehen kann, das eine Vielzahl von Öffnungen aufweist, die so angeordnet sein können, daß sich eine gleichmäßige Verteilung des Toners im Vorratsbehälter ergibt. Das Trägerteil übernimmt dabei die Funktion einer Druckverteilerplatte.The filter device itself advantageously consists of a grid-shaped carrier part and a filter fabric connected to the carrier part, wherein the carrier part can consist of plastic which has a plurality of openings which can be arranged in such a way that a uniform Distribution of the toner in the reservoir results. The carrier part takes on the function of a pressure distribution plate.

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.

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 Tonervorratsbehälter teilweise in Schnittdarstellung
  • FIG 2 eine schematische Explosionsdarstellung derselben Vorrichtung und
  • FIG 3 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung der Einfüllvorrichtung mit zugeordneter Dosiereinrichtung.
Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail below, for example. Show it
  • 1 shows a schematic representation of a device for filling toner from a transport container into a toner storage container, partly in a sectional view
  • 2 shows a schematic exploded view of the same device and
  • 3 shows a schematic sectional view of the filling device with an associated metering device.

In einem hier nicht dargestellten, nichtmechanischen Schnelldrucker der nach dem Prinzip der Elektrofotografie arbeitet, befindet sich ein Tonervorratsbehälter 10 aus dem der Toner einer Entwicklerstation 11 zur Entwicklung von Ladungsbildern zugeführt wird. Der Tonervorratsbehälter 10 hat etwa die Breite der Entwicklerstation 11, was in etwa der Druckbreite entspricht und gliedert sich in einem Absetzraum 12 und einen Absaugraum 13. Die Räume sind durch eine Filtereinrichtung 14 voneinander getrennt. Die Filtereinrichtung 14 ist hinsichtlich des Saugraumes 13 durch ein gitterförmiges Trägerteil 15 mit mehreren darauf angeordneten Öffnungen 16 abgeschlossen. Mit dem gitterförmigen Trägerteil 15 verbunden ist das eigentliche tonerdichte Filter 17, das z.B. aus einer Glasmatte bestehen kann. Dieses Filter 17 ist durch Schaumstoffstreifen an den Rändern abgedichtet. Die Öffnungen des gitterförmigen vorzugsweise aus Kunststoff bestehenden Trägerteiles 15 können entsprechend der gewünschten Druckverteilung der Saugluft angeordnet und dimensioniert sein.In a non-mechanical high-speed printer, not shown here, which works according to the principle of electrophotography, there is a toner reservoir 10 from which the toner is fed to a developer station 11 for developing charge images. The toner reservoir 10 has approximately the width of the developer 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 grid-shaped support part 15 with a plurality of openings 16 arranged thereon. Connected to the grid-shaped carrier part 15 is the actual toner-tight filter 17, which e.g. can consist of a glass mat. This filter 17 is sealed by foam strips on the edges. The openings of the grid-shaped carrier part 15, which is preferably made of plastic, can be arranged and dimensioned in accordance with the desired pressure distribution of the suction air.

Der Saugraum 13 steht mit einer elektromotorisch betreibenen 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 pipeline 21 in the form of a suction nozzle is connected.

Zum Umfüllen eines in Tonerflaschen 22 angelieferten Toners 23 in den Vorratsbehälter 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 des gitterförmigen Trägerteils 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 Tonervorratsbehälters.In order to transfer a toner 23 delivered in toner bottles 22 into the 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 grid-shaped carrier part 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 supply container.

In dem Absetzraum 12 ist eine motorisch angetriebene Abschabeeinrichtung angeordnet, die über Schabeelemente 28 den an der Filtereinrichtung 14 festgesetzten Toner löst.A motor-driven scraping device is arranged in the settling chamber 12, which scrapes the toner attached to the filter device 14 via scraping elements 28.

Der Toner fällt in den unteren konisch zulaufenden Bereich 25 des Absetzraumes (FIG 2) und lagert sich dort ab. Am unteren Bereich 25 des konisch ausgestalteten Absetzraumes 12 ist eine über einen Motor 26 angetriebene Dosiereinrichtung in Form einer Schaumstoffwalze 27 (FIG 3) angeordnet. Diese Schaumstoffwalze streift mit ihrem Umfang am unteren Rand des konisch zulaufenden Absetzraumes 25 und transportiert in Abhängigkeit von einer hier nicht dargestellten Füllstandsmeßeinrichtung Toner 23 zu der Entwicklerstation 11.The toner falls into the lower, conical region 25 of the settling space (FIG. 2) and is deposited there. 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 foam roller 27 (FIG. 3). The circumference of this foam roller grazes at the lower edge of the conically tapering settling space 25 and, depending on a fill level measuring device (not shown here), transports toner 23 to the developer station 11.

Bei einer hier nicht dargestellten Ausführungsform der Erfindung können auch zwei nebeneinander angeordnete Schaumstoffwalzen als Dosiereinrichtungen vorgesehen sein, die gegenläufig angetrieben werden, wobei dann der Toner zwischen den Walzen der Entwicklerstation zugeführt wird.In an embodiment of the invention, not shown here, two foam rollers arranged side by side can also be provided as metering devices which are driven in opposite directions, the toner then being fed between the rollers to the developer station.

Der Antrieb der Dosiereinrichtung ist über einen Riemen 29 mit einer Achse 30 der Abschabeeinrichtung gekoppelt. Es ist jedoch auch möglich, die Abschabeeinrichtung und die Dosiereinrichtung getrennt voneinander über motorische Einrichtungen anzutreiben.The drive of the metering device is coupled via a belt 29 to an axis 30 of the scraping device. However, it is also possible to drive the scraping device and the metering device separately from one another via motor devices.

Die Abschabeeinrichtung selbst weist eine Vielzahl von elastischen Schabeelementen 28 aus Federstahldraht auf, die über Befestigungsscheiben 31 auf der Achse 30 der Abschabeeinrichtung befestigt sind. Durch ihre Biegeform liegen die Schabeelemente 28 leicht und federnd auf der Filtermatte 17 auf und schaben so bei einer Drehbewegung den anhaftenden Toner ab. Die Filtermatte 17 kann dabei mit dem gitterförmigen, aus Kunststoff bestehenden Trägerteil verschweißt sein, wobei das gitterförmige Trägerteil 15 gemeinsam mit der Filtermatte 17 ein Auswechselteil bilden kann. Die Anordnung aus Gitterteil 15 und Filtermatte 17 ist luftdicht auswechselbar auf den Absetzraum 12 aufgesetzt.The scraping device itself has a multiplicity of elastic scraping elements 28 made of spring steel wire, which are fastened to the axis 30 of the scraping device via fastening disks 31. Due to their bending shape, the scraping elements 28 rest lightly and resiliently on the filter mat 17 and thus scrape off the adhering toner during a rotational movement. The filter mat 17 can be welded to the grid-shaped carrier part made of plastic, wherein the grid-shaped carrier part 15 can form a replacement part together with the filter mat 17. The arrangement of the grid part 15 and filter mat 17 is placed on the settling chamber 12 in an airtight manner.

An der Stirnseite des gitterförmigen Trägerteiles 15 befindet sich eine Einlaßöffnung 32, die mit der entsprechenden Öffnung 20 des Saugrüssels 21 luftdicht adaptiert werden kann und den Durchgang zum Saugraum 12 bildet.At the end face of the grid-shaped carrier part 15 there is an inlet opening 32 which can be adapted in an airtight manner with the corresponding opening 20 of the suction nozzle 21 and which forms the passage to the suction chamber 12.

Die als Drehschaber ausgebildeten Schabeelemente 28 können auf den mit der Achse 30 verbundenen Befestigungsscheiben 31 verklebt und/oder verlötet sein.The scraper elements 28 designed as rotary scrapers can be glued and / or soldered to the fastening disks 31 connected to the axis 30.

BezugszeichenlisteReference symbol list

  • 10 Tonervorratsbehälter10 toner containers
  • 11 Entwicklerstation11 developer station
  • 12 Absetzraum12 weaning room
  • 13 Absaugraum13 suction chamber
  • 14 Filter14 filters
  • 15 gitterförmiges Trägerelement15 grid-shaped support element
  • 16 Öffnungen16 openings
  • 17 Filtermatte17 filter mat
  • 19 Unterdruckpumpe19 vacuum pump
  • 20 Anschlußstutzen20 connecting pieces
  • 21 Rohrleitung21 pipeline
  • 22 Tonerflasche22 toner bottle
  • 23 Toner23 toner
  • 24 Saugstutzen24 suction ports
  • 25 unterer Bereich Absetzraum25 lower area of the settling room
  • 26 Motor26 engine
  • 27 Schaumstoffwalze, Dosiereinrichtung27 foam roller, dosing device
  • 28 Schabeelemente28 scraping elements
  • 29 Riemen29 straps
  • 30 Achse der Schabeeinrichtung30 axis of the scraping device
  • 31 Scheiben31 slices
  • 32 Einlaßöffnung32 inlet opening

Claims (7)

  1. Apparatus for pneumatically filling toner (23) from a transport container (22) into a toner reservoir (10), from which the toner (23) is then supplied to a developer station (11) of a non-mechanical printer or copier, characterised in that the toner reservoir (10) has a deposit chamber (12), which communicates with the developer station (11), and a suction chamber (13), which is separated from the deposit chamber (12) via a filtering device (14), with an assigned device (19) generating negative pressure, and in that the deposit chamber (12) has a scraper device (28) which strips the toner (23) which has settled on the filtering device (14) via scraper elements (28).
  2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the filtering device (14) is of circular segment-shaped cross-section, the scraper elements (28) being moved past the filtering device (14) in a rotary movement via a drive device (29, 26).
  3. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the scraper elements (28) are of flexible construction and rest resiliently against the filtering device (14).
  4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterised in that the scraper elements (28) are composed of bow-shaped spring elements (28) which are secured to a common axis of rotation (30).
  5. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the filtering device (14) has a lattice-type carrier part (15) and a filter fabric (17) connected to the carrier part (15).
  6. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a metering device (27) supplying the toner (23) to the developer station (11) is arranged at the bottom of the deposit chamber (25).
  7. Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterised in that the metering device (27) has at least one metering drum (27) composed of foam-type material.
EP88907106A 1987-09-10 1988-08-05 Device for pneumatically filling a toner reservoir with toner from a transport container Expired - Lifetime EP0332669B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3730454 1987-09-10
DE19873730454 DE3730454A1 (en) 1987-09-10 1987-09-10 DEVICE FOR PNEUMATICALLY FILLING TONER FROM A TRANSPORT CONTAINER INTO A TONER STORAGE CONTAINER

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0332669A1 EP0332669A1 (en) 1989-09-20
EP0332669B1 true EP0332669B1 (en) 1992-11-11

Family

ID=6335732

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88907106A Expired - Lifetime EP0332669B1 (en) 1987-09-10 1988-08-05 Device for pneumatically filling a toner reservoir with toner from a transport container

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0332669B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2632993B2 (en)
DE (2) DE3730454A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1989002616A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IES66708B2 (en) * 1994-08-23 1996-01-24 Faircove Systems Improvements in and relating to dispensing apparatus
JP3483087B2 (en) * 1995-04-14 2004-01-06 株式会社リコー Image forming system

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4029047A (en) * 1975-10-28 1977-06-14 Xerox Corporation Toner handling system
US4833501A (en) * 1986-03-14 1989-05-23 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Apparatus and method for filling a toner reservoir by suction

Non-Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Patent Abstracts of Japan, Band 10, Nr. 223 (P-483)(2279), 5. August 1979, & JP, A, 6159465 *
Patent Abstracts of Japan, Band 10, Nr. 353 (M-539)(2409), 28. November 1986, & JP, A, 61151675 *
Patent Abstracts of Japan, Band 8, Nr. 31 (P-253)(1468), 9. Februar 1984, & JP, A, 58184968 *
Research Disclosure, Nr. 213, Januar 1982, (Havant, Hampshire, GB), "Pneumatic toner transport", Seite 485 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2632993B2 (en) 1997-07-23
DE3730454A1 (en) 1989-03-30
WO1989002616A1 (en) 1989-03-23
JPH03501296A (en) 1991-03-22
DE3875954D1 (en) 1992-12-17
EP0332669A1 (en) 1989-09-20

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