EP0403469B1 - Device for dosed transfer of toner from a reservoir to the development station of a printer or photocopy machine - Google Patents

Device for dosed transfer of toner from a reservoir to the development station of a printer or photocopy machine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0403469B1
EP0403469B1 EP88902090A EP88902090A EP0403469B1 EP 0403469 B1 EP0403469 B1 EP 0403469B1 EP 88902090 A EP88902090 A EP 88902090A EP 88902090 A EP88902090 A EP 88902090A EP 0403469 B1 EP0403469 B1 EP 0403469B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
toner
metering
reservoir
metering drum
spiral
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
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EP88902090A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0403469A1 (en
Inventor
Peter Reindl
Albert Eben
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Canon Production Printing Germany GmbH and Co KG
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Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
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Publication of EP0403469A1 publication Critical patent/EP0403469A1/en
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    • 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
    • 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 for the metered filling of toner from a storage container into the developer station of a non-mechanical printing or copying machine.
  • charge images are stored on a charge image carrier e.g. generated by a photoconductor drum and then colored with a toner in a developer station.
  • a photoconductor drum When using a photoconductor drum, the toner images are subsequently printed on plain paper and thermally or chemically fixed there.
  • a two-component developer is used for development, which consists of ferromagnetic carrier particles and toner particles.
  • the developer mixture is e.g. guided by a magnetic brush to the Ladunos image carrier (photoconductor drum), to which the toner particles, caused by electrostatic forces, adhere.
  • the mixture flowing back is enriched with new toner from the toner reservoir before it flows back into the circuit of the mixture carpet in the developer station.
  • toner In order to achieve a uniform coloring of the charge image via the developer station, toner must be supplied to the developer station in uniform doses over the entire width of the developer station. When the toner is metered into the developer mixture, the mechanical load on the toner must be minimal in order to be able to work smoothly even in the limit temperature range of the toner and to prevent the toner from clumping.
  • a toner metering device for electrophotographic copying machines in which a conveyor spiral is provided to supplement the toner used during the development process, which feeds the toner to a toner supply space located via a toner metering roller.
  • the hollow conveyor spiral is at a relatively large distance from the metering roller, the developer collecting up to a height which corresponds to the upper edge of the conveyor spiral within the conveyor channel.
  • the speed of the metering roller is not linked to this height within the conveying channel, but to the required metering line. There is therefore a risk that the developer builds up unevenly in height and is therefore supplied unevenly.
  • the object of the invention is to design a device of the type mentioned in such a way that the toner is metered uniformly and without lumps over the entire printing width without great mechanical stress and independently of the toner supply in the storage container into the developer station.
  • the conveyor spiral extends over the metering roller and into the storage container and transports the toner from the storage container evenly over the metering roller.
  • the metering roller and feed spiral are coupled in terms of drive.
  • the feed spiral moves much more slowly than the metering shaft.
  • a conveyor spiral which in an advantageous embodiment of the invention can be designed as a spring spiral, prevents the toner from arching above the metering roller, since the toner is constantly cleared by the conveyor spiral.
  • the delivery rate is independent of the level in the toner reservoir. This makes it possible to use large storage containers into which toner can be refilled without interruption in printing.
  • the delivery rate can be varied continuously from almost 0 to several kilograms per hour by clocking the drive.
  • a printing device operating on the principle of electrophotography contains a photoconductor drum 10 as a charge carrier.
  • the charge image located on the photoconductor drum is colored with the aid of a developer station 11 with a two-component developer mixture consisting of carrier particles and toner particles.
  • the developer station 11 contains a magnetic roller 12 for coloring the photoconductor drum as an application roller and two synchronously moving mixing rollers 13 (arrow direction) for mixing the mixture.
  • an emptying roller 14 is arranged on the bottom of the developer station 11, by means of which the used developer mixture can be removed from the developer station from time to time.
  • toner particles While the ferromagnetic carrier particles remain in principle in the developer station, the toner particles are used to color the charge images. These toner particles, briefly referred to as “toner”, must be fed to the developer station 11 in a metered manner as a function of the printing output from a toner reservoir 15 via a metering device.
  • a metering device 16 is a metering roller 16 made of metal or foam or other soft plastic that extends over the entire printing width and thus over the width of the developer station and its mixing rollers 13.
  • the metering roller 16 is rotatably arranged between the walls 17 of the outlet area of the storage container 11. It completely seals the exit area of the toner supply container 15.
  • toner 18 is transported in a metered manner between the walls 17 and the roller 16 and fed to the developer station 11.
  • the metering roller 16 is rotatably mounted in the walls 17 of the toner reservoir or the developer station and is driven by a motor 19.
  • a conveyor spiral 20 is arranged at the closest possible distance above the metering roller 16 to supply the toner to the metering roller.
  • the conveyor spiral consists of a coil spring, i.e. made of an elastic, axially prestressed material which is fastened with its ends 21 to a drive shaft 22.
  • the drive shaft 22 is in turn mounted in the walls of the toner reservoir 15 and is coupled to the motor 19 of the metering roller via a gear 23.
  • the conveyor spiral is arranged in a conveyor tube 24, which is open on one side in the area of the metering roller.
  • the conveyor spiral is located at a close distance directly above the metering roller and extends parallel to the metering roller up to the actual toner reservoir.
  • the toner supply container 15 itself has two counter-rotating scraper bars 25 which slide along the walls of the toner supply container 15 and thus prevent the toner from sticking to the walls of the toner supply container.
  • the scraper bars 25 are driven by the conveyor spiral 20 via a belt drive 26.
  • the toner storage container 15 has a filling opening 27, through which toner from transportable containers is poured into the toner storage container 15.
  • the toner poured into the toner reservoir 15 is distributed within the conveyor spiral or the conveyor tube 24 in such a way that a toner level of 1/3 to 1/2 tube diameter of the conveyor tube 24 is established above the metering roller.
  • This toner level depends on the metering output of the metering shaft and this in turn on the transmission ratio of the gear 23 between metering roller 16 and conveyor spiral 20.
  • this ratio is 27: 1, which means that the metering roller has a speed 27 times higher than that Conveyor spiral 20.
  • the gear 23 is designed as a crank mechanism with a freewheel on the conveyor spiral.
  • any other gearbox with the appropriate gear ratio can also be used.
  • the conveyor spiral 20 consists of a wire with a diameter of 4 mm. It has an outside diameter of 68 mm and a pitch of 34 mm and is arranged in a conveyor tube 24 with an inside diameter of 70 mm. Conveyor spiral and foam dosing roller with a diameter of 24 mm have a distance of 1 to 2 mm.
  • the delivery rate of the metering device is constant over the angle of rotation of the conveyor spiral 20 and depends solely on the speed of the conveyor spiral or the ratio of the speeds and the dimensioning between the metering roller and conveyor spiral.
  • This toner level is between 1/3 and 1/2 tube diameter of the delivery tube 24 should be independent of the level of the toner in the actual toner reservoir 15. The delivery rate is therefore independent of the level of the toner in the toner reservoir. Large storage containers can be used, which can be refilled with toner without interruption in printing.
  • the amount of toner supplied to the developer station can be varied depending on the printing output by changing the speed of the drive of the conveyor spiral and metering roller.
  • the conveyor spiral 20 slips over the metering roller 16 at a tight distance of 1 to 2 mm.
  • no cavities in the toner, so-called vaults can form above the metering roller, since these vaults are constantly cleared by the conveyor spiral.
  • a single metering roller 16 is arranged in the outlet region of the toner supply container 15.

Abstract

A device for dosed transfer of toner from a reservoir (15) to the development station (11) of an electrophotographic printer comprises a dosing cylinder arranged at the outlet of the toner reservoir (15). A feed spiral (20) arranged in a feed tube (24) above the dosing cylinder (16) extends parallel to the latter into the toner reservoir. Depending on the desired dosage, feed spiral (20) and dosing cylinder (16) have a coupled drive.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung zum dosierten Einfüllen von Toner aus einem Vorratsbehälter in die Entwicklerstation eines nichtmechanischen Druck- oder Kopiergerätes.The invention relates to a device for the metered filling of toner from a storage container into the developer station of a non-mechanical printing or copying machine.

In der Kopiergerätetechnik und bei nichtmechanischen Datenschnelldruckern, die nach dem Prinzip der Elektrofotografie arbeiten, werden Ladungsbilder auf einem Ladungsbildträger z.B. einer Fotoleitertrommel erzeugt und anschließend mit einem Toner in einer Entwicklerstation eingefärbt. Die Tonerbilder werden bei Verwendung einer Fotoleitertrommel anschließend auf Normalpapier umgedruckt und dort thermisch oder chemisch fixiert. In der Regel wird zum Entwickeln ein Zwei-Komponenten-Entwickler verwendet, der aus ferromagnetischen Trägerteilchen und Tonerteilchen besteht. Das Entwicklergemisch wird z.B. mittels einer Magnetbürstenanoronung am Ladunosbildträger (Fotoleitertrommel) vorbeigeführt, an dem die Tonerteilchen, verursacht durch elektrostatische Kräfte, haften bleiben. Das zurückfließende Gemisch wird aus dem Tonervorratsbehälter mit neuem Toner angereichert, ehe es in der Entwicklerstation wieder in den Kreislauf des Gemischteppichs fließt.In copier technology and in non-mechanical high-speed data printers that work on the principle of electrophotography, charge images are stored on a charge image carrier e.g. generated by a photoconductor drum and then colored with a toner in a developer station. When using a photoconductor drum, the toner images are subsequently printed on plain paper and thermally or chemically fixed there. Usually a two-component developer is used for development, which consists of ferromagnetic carrier particles and toner particles. The developer mixture is e.g. guided by a magnetic brush to the Ladunos image carrier (photoconductor drum), to which the toner particles, caused by electrostatic forces, adhere. The mixture flowing back is enriched with new toner from the toner reservoir before it flows back into the circuit of the mixture carpet in the developer station.

Um eine gleichmäßige Einfärbung des Ladungsbildes über die Entwicklerstation zu erreichen, muß der Entwicklerstation Toner gleichmäßig dosiert über die gesamte Entwicklerstationsbreite zugeführt werden. Bei der dosierten Zuführung des Toners zum Entwicklergemisch muß die mechanische Belastung des Toners minimal sein, um auch noch im Grenztemperaturbereich des Toners störungsfrei arbeiten zu können und um ein Verklumpen des Toners zu verhindern.In order to achieve a uniform coloring of the charge image via the developer station, toner must be supplied to the developer station in uniform doses over the entire width of the developer station. When the toner is metered into the developer mixture, the mechanical load on the toner must be minimal in order to be able to work smoothly even in the limit temperature range of the toner and to prevent the toner from clumping.

Aus der DE-A-3225870 ist eine Tonerdosiereinrichtung für elektrofotografische Kopiergeräte bekannt, bei der zur Ergänzung des während des Entwicklungsvorganges verbrauchten Toners eine Förderspirale vorgesehen ist, welche den Toner einem über eine Tonerdosierwalze befindlichen Tonervorratsraum zuführt. Die hohle Förderspirale hat einen relativ großen Abstand von der Dosierwalze, wobei sich der Entwickler bis zu einer Höhe, die der Oberkante der Förderspirale entspricht, innerhalb des Förderkanals ansammelt.From DE-A-3225870 a toner metering device for electrophotographic copying machines is known, in which a conveyor spiral is provided to supplement the toner used during the development process, which feeds the toner to a toner supply space located via a toner metering roller. The hollow conveyor spiral is at a relatively large distance from the metering roller, the developer collecting up to a height which corresponds to the upper edge of the conveyor spiral within the conveyor channel.

Die Geschwindigkeit der Dosierwalze ist nicht mit dieser Höhe innerhalb des Förderkanals verknüpft, sondern mit der verlangten Dosierleitung. Damit besteht die Gefahr, daß sich Entwickler ungleichmäßig in der Höhe aufbaut und damit ungleichmäßig zugeführt wird.The speed of the metering roller is not linked to this height within the conveying channel, but to the required metering line. There is therefore a risk that the developer builds up unevenly in height and is therefore supplied unevenly.

Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es, eine Vorrichtung der eingangs genannten Art so auszugestalten, daß der Toner über die gesamte Druckbreite ohne große mechanische Belastung gleichmäßig und klumpenfrei und unabhängig von dem Tonervorrat in dem Vorratsbehälter in die Entwicklerstation dosiert wird.The object of the invention is to design a device of the type mentioned in such a way that the toner is metered uniformly and without lumps over the entire printing width without great mechanical stress and independently of the toner supply in the storage container into the developer station.

Diese Aufgabe wird bei einer Vorrichtung der eingangs genannten Art gemäß dem Patentanspruch 1 gelöst.This object is achieved in a device of the type mentioned at the outset according to claim 1.

Vorteilhafte Ausführungsformen der Erfindung sind in den Unteransprüchen gekennzeichnet.Advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

Gemäß der Erfindung ist oberhalb der Dosierwalzen in dichtem Abstand eine Förderspirale angeordnet. Die Förderspirale erstreckt sich über die Dosierwalze und in den Vorratsbehälter und transportiert den Toner aus dem Vorratsbehälter gleichmäßig über die Dosierwalze.According to the invention is dense above the metering rollers Spacing a conveyor spiral arranged. The conveyor spiral extends over the metering roller and into the storage container and transports the toner from the storage container evenly over the metering roller.

Dosierwalze und Förderspirale sind antriebsmäßig gekoppelt. Dabei bewegt sich die Förderspirale wesentlich langsamer als die Dosierwelle.The metering roller and feed spiral are coupled in terms of drive. The feed spiral moves much more slowly than the metering shaft.

Durch die langsame Bewegung und die große Dimensionierung ergibt sich eine minimale Tonerbeanspruchung mit sehr geringer thermischer Belastung durch Reibungsenergie.The slow movement and the large dimensions result in minimal toner stress with very little thermal stress due to frictional energy.

Durch die Verwendung einer Förderspirale, die bei einer vorteilhaften Ausführungsform der Erfindung als Federspirale ausgebildet sein kann, kann es über der Dosierwalze zu keiner Gewölbebildung des Toners kommen, da dieser von der Förderspirale ständig freigeräumt wird.The use of a conveyor spiral, which in an advantageous embodiment of the invention can be designed as a spring spiral, prevents the toner from arching above the metering roller, since the toner is constantly cleared by the conveyor spiral.

Die Fördermenge ist unabhängig von der Füllstandshöhe im Tonervorratsbehälter. Damit ist es möglich, große Vorratsbehälter zu verwenden, in die druckunterbrechungsfrei Toner nachgefüllt werden kann.The delivery rate is independent of the level in the toner reservoir. This makes it possible to use large storage containers into which toner can be refilled without interruption in printing.

Durch die konstante Tonerfördermenge über den Drehwinkel der Förderspirale kann die Fördermenge von nahe 0 bis mehreren Kilogramm pro Stunde stufenlos durch Takten des Antriebes variiert werden.Due to the constant toner delivery rate over the rotation angle of the conveyor spiral, the delivery rate can be varied continuously from almost 0 to several kilograms per hour by clocking the drive.

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

  • FIG 1 eine schematische Darstellung der Dosiervorrichtung für eine elektrofotografische Druckeinrichtung im Längsschnitt und
  • FIG 2 eine schematische Darstellung der Dosiervorrichtung im Querschnitt.
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are described in more detail below, for example. Show it
  • 1 shows a schematic representation of the metering device for an electrophotographic printing device in longitudinal section and
  • 2 shows a schematic illustration of the metering device in cross section.

Eine nach dem Prinzip der Elektrofotografie arbeitende Druckeinrichtung enthält eine Fotoleitertrommel 10 als Ladungsträger. Das auf der Fotoleitertrommel befindliche Ladungsbild wird mit Hilfe einer Entwicklerstation 11 mit einem Zwei-Komponenten-Entwicklergemisch, bestehend aus Trägerteilchen und aus Tonerteilchen, eingefärbt. Die Entwicklerstation 11 enthält eine Magnetwalze 12 zum Einfärben der Fotoleitertrommel als Antragswalze und zwei gleichlaufend sich bewegende Mischwalzen 13 (Pfeilrichtung) zur Durchmischung des Gemisches. Weiterhin ist ai Boden der Entwicklerstation 11 eine Entleerwalze 14 angeordnet, über die das verbrauchte Entwicklergemisch von Zeit zu Zeit aus der Entwicklerstation entfernt werden kann.A printing device operating on the principle of electrophotography contains a photoconductor drum 10 as a charge carrier. The charge image located on the photoconductor drum is colored with the aid of a developer station 11 with a two-component developer mixture consisting of carrier particles and toner particles. The developer station 11 contains a magnetic roller 12 for coloring the photoconductor drum as an application roller and two synchronously moving mixing rollers 13 (arrow direction) for mixing the mixture. Furthermore, an emptying roller 14 is arranged on the bottom of the developer station 11, by means of which the used developer mixture can be removed from the developer station from time to time.

Während die ferromagnetischen Trägerteilchen im Prinzip in der Entwicklerstation verbleiben, werden die Tonerteilchen zum Einfärben der Ladungsbilder verbraucht. Diese Tonerteilchen, kurz als "Toner" bezeichnet, müssen der Entwicklerstation 11 abhängig von der Druckleistung aus einem Tonervorratsbehälter 15 über eine Dosiereinrichtung dosiert zugeführt werden.While the ferromagnetic carrier particles remain in principle in the developer station, the toner particles are used to color the charge images. These toner particles, briefly referred to as "toner", must be fed to the developer station 11 in a metered manner as a function of the printing output from a toner reservoir 15 via a metering device.

Als Dosiereinrichtung ist eine sich über die gesamte Druckbreite und damit über die Breite der Entwicklerstation und ihrer Mischwalzen 13 erstreckende Dosierwalze 16 aus Metall oder Schaumstoff oder anderem weichen Kunststoff vorgesehen. Die Dosierwalze 16 ist zwischen den Wänden 17 des Austrittsbereiches des Vorratsbehälters 11 drehbar angeordnet. Sie dichtet den Austrittsbereich des Tonervorratsbehälters 15 vollständig ab. Durch Drehung der Dosierwalze 16 wird Toner 18 zwischen den Wänden 17 und der Walze 16 dosiert transportiert und der Entwicklerstation 11 zugeführt. Die Dosierwalze 16 ist drehbar in den Wänden 17 des Tonervorratsbehälters bzw. der Entwicklerstation gelagert und wird über einen Motor 19 angetrieben.A metering device 16 is a metering roller 16 made of metal or foam or other soft plastic that extends over the entire printing width and thus over the width of the developer station and its mixing rollers 13. The metering roller 16 is rotatably arranged between the walls 17 of the outlet area of the storage container 11. It completely seals the exit area of the toner supply container 15. By rotating the metering roller 16, toner 18 is transported in a metered manner between the walls 17 and the roller 16 and fed to the developer station 11. The metering roller 16 is rotatably mounted in the walls 17 of the toner reservoir or the developer station and is driven by a motor 19.

Im möglichst dichten Abstand über der Dosierwalze 16 ist zur Zuführung des Toners zur Dosierwalze eine Förderspirale 20 angeordnet. Die Förderspirale besteht aus einer Schraubenfeder, d.h. aus einem elastischen, axial vorgespannten Material die mit ihren Enden 21 auf einer Antriebswelle 22 befestigt ist. Die Antriebswelle 22 ist wiederum in den Wänden des Tonervorratsbehälters 15 gelagert und ist über ein Getriebe 23 mit dem Motor 19 der Dosierwalze gekoppelt.A conveyor spiral 20 is arranged at the closest possible distance above the metering roller 16 to supply the toner to the metering roller. The conveyor spiral consists of a coil spring, i.e. made of an elastic, axially prestressed material which is fastened with its ends 21 to a drive shaft 22. The drive shaft 22 is in turn mounted in the walls of the toner reservoir 15 and is coupled to the motor 19 of the metering roller via a gear 23.

Angeordnet ist die Förderspirale in einem Förderrohr 24, das im Bereich der Dosierwalze einseitig offen ist.The conveyor spiral is arranged in a conveyor tube 24, which is open on one side in the area of the metering roller.

Die Förderspirale befindet sich im dichten Abstand unmittelbar über der Dosierwalze und erstreckt sich parallel zur Dosierwalze bis in den eigentlichen Tonervorratsbehälter.The conveyor spiral is located at a close distance directly above the metering roller and extends parallel to the metering roller up to the actual toner reservoir.

Der Tonervorratsbehälter 15 selber weist zwei gegenläufig rotierende Schaberbügel 25 auf, die an den Wänden des Tonervorratsbehälters 15 entlangstreifen und so ein Festsetzen des Toners an den Wänden des Tonervorratsbehälters verhindern. Die Schaberbügel 25 werden dabei über einen Riemenantrieb 26 von der Förderspirale 20 angetrieben.The toner supply container 15 itself has two counter-rotating scraper bars 25 which slide along the walls of the toner supply container 15 and thus prevent the toner from sticking to the walls of the toner supply container. The scraper bars 25 are driven by the conveyor spiral 20 via a belt drive 26.

Der Tonervorratsbehälter 15 weist eine Einfüllöffnung 27 auf, über die Toner aus transportablen Behältern in den Tonervorratsbehälter 15 eingeschüttet wird.The toner storage container 15 has a filling opening 27, through which toner from transportable containers is poured into the toner storage container 15.

Der in den Tonervorratsbehälter 15 eingeschüttete Toner verteilt sich innerhalb der Förderspirale bzw. dem Förderrohr 24 derart, daß sich über der Dosierwalze ein Tonerpegel von 1/3 bis 1/2 Rohrdurchmesser des Förderrohres 24 einstellt. Dieser Tonerpegel hängt von der Dosierleistung der Dosierwelle ab und diese wiederum von dem Übersetzungsverhältnis des Getriebes 23 zwischen Dosierwalze 16 und Förderspirale 20. Bei dem dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiel beträgt dieses Verhältnis 27: 1, das bedeutet, die Dosierwalze hat eine 27-fache höhere Drehzahl als die Förderspirale 20. Um diese sehr langsamen Drehzahlen der Förderspirale 20 zu ermöglichen, ist das Getriebe 23 als Kurbelgetriebe mit einem Freilauf auf der Förderspirale ausgebildet. Es kann jedoch auch jedes andere Getriebe mit entsprechender Übersetzung verwendet werden.The toner poured into the toner reservoir 15 is distributed within the conveyor spiral or the conveyor tube 24 in such a way that a toner level of 1/3 to 1/2 tube diameter of the conveyor tube 24 is established above the metering roller. This toner level depends on the metering output of the metering shaft and this in turn on the transmission ratio of the gear 23 between metering roller 16 and conveyor spiral 20. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this ratio is 27: 1, which means that the metering roller has a speed 27 times higher than that Conveyor spiral 20. In order to enable this very slow rotational speed of the conveyor spiral 20, the gear 23 is designed as a crank mechanism with a freewheel on the conveyor spiral. However, any other gearbox with the appropriate gear ratio can also be used.

Bei einer vorteilhaften Ausführungsform der Erfindung besteht die Förderspirale 20 aus einem Draht von 4 mm Durchmesser. Sie hat einen Außendurchmesser von 68 mm und eine Steigung von 34 mm und ist in einem Förderrohr 24 mit 70 mm Innendurchmesser angeordnet. Förderspirale und aus Schaumstoff bestehende Dosierwalze von 24 mm Durchmesser haben einen Abstand von 1 bis 2 mm.In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conveyor spiral 20 consists of a wire with a diameter of 4 mm. It has an outside diameter of 68 mm and a pitch of 34 mm and is arranged in a conveyor tube 24 with an inside diameter of 70 mm. Conveyor spiral and foam dosing roller with a diameter of 24 mm have a distance of 1 to 2 mm.

Wie bereits ausgeführt, ist es auch möglich, anstelle einer aus Schaumstoff oder aus anderem weichen Kunststoff bestehenden Dosierwalze eine Dosierwalze aus Metall mit Einkerbungen, Ausnehmungen oder dergleichen vorzusehen.As already stated, it is also possible to provide a metal metering roller with notches, recesses or the like instead of a metering roller made of foam or other soft plastic.

Die Fördermenge der Dosiereinrichtung ist über den Drehwinkel der Förderspirale 20 konstant und hängt allein von der Drehzahl der Förderspirale bzw. dem Verhältnis der Drehzahlen und der Dimensionierung zwischen Dosierwalze und Förderspirale ab.The delivery rate of the metering device is constant over the angle of rotation of the conveyor spiral 20 and depends solely on the speed of the conveyor spiral or the ratio of the speeds and the dimensioning between the metering roller and conveyor spiral.

Dadurch, daß die Förderspirale hohl ist, kann sich ein gleichmäßiger Tonerpegel über der Dosierwalze 16 aufbauen. Dieser Tonerpegel, der zwischen 1/3 und 1/2 Rohrdurchmesser des Förderrohres 24 haben sollte, ist unabhängig von dem Pegelstand des Toners im eigentlichen Tonervorratsbehälter 15. Die Fördermenge ist damit unabhängig von der Füllstandshöhe des Toners im Tonervorratsbehälter. So können große Vorratsbehälter verwendet werden, die druckunterbrechungsfrei mit Toner nachgefüllt werden können.Because the conveyor spiral is hollow, a uniform toner level can build up over the metering roller 16. This toner level is between 1/3 and 1/2 tube diameter of the delivery tube 24 should be independent of the level of the toner in the actual toner reservoir 15. The delivery rate is therefore independent of the level of the toner in the toner reservoir. Large storage containers can be used, which can be refilled with toner without interruption in printing.

Die der Entwicklerstation zugeführte Tonermenge kann abhängig von der Druckleistung durch Veränderung der Drehzahl des Antriebes von Förderspirale und Dosierwalze variiert werden.The amount of toner supplied to the developer station can be varied depending on the printing output by changing the speed of the drive of the conveyor spiral and metering roller.

Die Förderspirale 20 überstreift die Dosierwalze 16 in einem dichten Abstand von 1 bis 2 mm. Dadurch können sich über der Dosierwalze keine Hohlräume im Toner, sogenannte Gewölbe, bilden, da diese Gewölbe von der Förderspirale ständig freigeräumt werden.The conveyor spiral 20 slips over the metering roller 16 at a tight distance of 1 to 2 mm. As a result, no cavities in the toner, so-called vaults, can form above the metering roller, since these vaults are constantly cleared by the conveyor spiral.

Bei dem dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiel ist im Austrittsbereich des Tonervorratsbehälters 15 eine einzige Dosierwalze 16 angeordnet. Es ist jedoch auch möglich, z.B. zwei gegenläufige Dosierwalzen vorzusehen.In the illustrated embodiment, a single metering roller 16 is arranged in the outlet region of the toner supply container 15. However, it is also possible, e.g. to provide two counter-rotating metering rollers.

Claims (5)

1. Device for the metered filling in of toner (18) from a toner reservoir (15) into the developer station (11) of a non-mechanical printer or copier with the following features:
a) at least one metering drum (16) extending along the developer station (11) is arranged in the outlet region of the toner reservoir (15) to the developer station (11);
b) a hollow conveying spiral (20) is located in a conveying channel (24) as closely as possible above the metering drum;
c) the axis of the conveying spiral (20) extends parallel to the metering drum (16) into the toner reservoir (15);
d) conveying spiral (20) and metering drum (16) are coupled with respect to drive in accordance with the metering power such that a toner level of approximately uniform height is obtained above the metering drum (16).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the conveying spiral (20) is constructed as a screw spring which is coupled at least at one end (21) to a central drive shaft (22).
3. Device according to Claim 2, characterised in that the conveying spiral (20) is arranged in a conveying tube (24) which is open on one side in the region of the metering drum (16).
4. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that arranged in the toner reservoir (15) above the conveying spiral (20) are scraper brackets (25) which are driven in the opposite direction and slide over the lateral face of the housing of the toner reservoir (15).
5. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that conveying spiral (20) and metering drum (16) are driven in opposite directions.
EP88902090A 1988-03-02 1988-03-02 Device for dosed transfer of toner from a reservoir to the development station of a printer or photocopy machine Expired - Lifetime EP0403469B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/DE1988/000110 WO1989008284A1 (en) 1988-03-02 1988-03-02 Device for dosed transfer of toner from a reservoir to the development station of a printer or photocopy machine

Publications (2)

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EP0403469A1 EP0403469A1 (en) 1990-12-27
EP0403469B1 true EP0403469B1 (en) 1991-09-18

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EP88902090A Expired - Lifetime EP0403469B1 (en) 1988-03-02 1988-03-02 Device for dosed transfer of toner from a reservoir to the development station of a printer or photocopy machine

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US5139176A (en)
EP (1) EP0403469B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH03503088A (en)
DE (1) DE3865022D1 (en)
WO (1) WO1989008284A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US5139176A (en) 1992-08-18
DE3865022D1 (en) 1991-10-24
JPH03503088A (en) 1991-07-11
WO1989008284A1 (en) 1989-09-08
EP0403469A1 (en) 1990-12-27

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