JP2000010452A - Toner carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry toner while preventing the scattering of the toner by rotating a screw member with respect to a magnetic force generating member. SOLUTION: The magnetic force generating member 29 is composed of a bar-like magnetic member and attracts the toner by magnetic force. One end 29a of the member 29 is coupled with a bearing 33, and the other end 29b is fixed in a cleaning device. A scraper 37 scraping the toner attracted to the member 29 abuts on the other end 29b. A screw member 31 is spirally constituted and arranged to be wound around the member 29. One end 31a of the member 31 is held by the bearing 33, and the member 31 is driven through a driving transmission gear 35 and rotated with the member 29 as center. An other end 31b of the member 31 is extended to the front of the scraper 37. Whatever non-magnetic material can be used as material constituting the member 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner conveying device used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to cope with environmental pollution, a toner image is transferred from a photoreceptor to a transfer paper, and then the toner remaining on the photoreceptor is collected by a cleaning device, and is transferred to a developing device by a toner conveying device. The number of image forming apparatuses that are returned and reused is increasing.

[0003] The toner conveying device generally uses a member called a conveying coil, which is formed by winding a sheet metal having a thickness of 0.3 to 0.5 mm into a spring coil shape.
It is arranged in a passage connecting the cleaning device and the developing device. One end of the transfer coil is connected to the drive transmission shaft, and the other end is a free end. By rotating in the passage, the transfer coil conveys the toner to the developing device while pressing the toner against the inner wall of the passage.

In order to facilitate removal of jammed paper, a paper feeder is disposed below the main body, a paper discharge device is disposed above the main body, and the transfer paper is conveyed from below the main body to above. The number of image forming apparatuses for vertical conveyance is increasing.

In a vertical conveying image forming apparatus, the cleaning device is arranged above the photosensitive member and the developing device is arranged below the photosensitive member due to the layout restrictions. For this reason, the toner accumulated on the cleaning blade does not fall down due to gravity, and accumulates as it is. When toner accumulates on the cleaning blade, a portion of the cleaning blade that is in contact with the photoconductor is pushed up, which may cause poor cleaning.

In order to prevent such defective cleaning, it is necessary to remove the toner on the cleaning blade and transport it to a developing device or a collection container for collecting the toner. As a technique for removing the toner accumulated on the cleaning blade, as disclosed in JP-A-7-175392 and JP-A-8-095456, a magnet is arranged near the cleaning blade and the magnet is deposited on the cleaning blade. A technique for attracting and collecting toner by magnetic force is disclosed.

[0007]

However, in the technique using a transfer coil, if a weak member such as a seal member is used in a part of the passage, sliding of the transfer coil with respect to the seal member causes a gap in the seal gap. Since the pressure of the toner acts intensively, there is a problem that the toner is scattered from a gap between the seal members.

In the technology disclosed in JP-A-7-175392 and JP-A-8-095456, the toner on the cleaning blade can be removed by a magnet. There is a problem that it cannot be transported to another place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner conveying device that conveys toner while preventing toner scattering.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner conveying apparatus including a magnetic force generating member for attracting toner by a magnetic force, and a spiral screw member around the magnetic force generating member. The screw member rotates with respect to the magnetic force generating member to convey the toner.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the toner is attracted to the magnetic force generating member by the magnetic force of the magnetic force generating member. This toner is conveyed by the rotation of the screw member. Since the magnetic force generating member attracts the toner, scattering of the toner can be prevented, and contamination due to toner scattering can be prevented. Further, the toner can be conveyed with a simple configuration having a screw member that rotates around the magnetic force generating member. Further, by adjusting the magnetic force from the magnetic force generating member, the amount of toner attracted to the magnetic force generating member can be adjusted.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner conveying apparatus including a magnetic force generating member for attracting toner by a magnetic force, and a spiral screw member around the magnetic force generating member. It is characterized by rotating the screw member and conveying the toner.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the toner attracted to the magnetic force generating member is conveyed by the rotation of the magnetic force generating member. Since the magnetic force generating member attracts the toner, scattering of the toner can be prevented, and contamination in the apparatus can be prevented. Further, the toner can be conveyed with a simple configuration in which a screw member is provided around the rotating magnetic force generating member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the first or second aspect.
In the invention described in (1), the magnetic force generating member is covered with a low friction member having a low coefficient of friction on an outer peripheral surface thereof.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the magnetic force generating member is covered with the low friction member and the friction between the magnetic force generating member and the screw member can be reduced, aggregation of the toner due to the friction is prevented. Further, since aggregation of the toner can be prevented, occurrence of an abnormal image is prevented. Furthermore, since the sliding between the magnetic force generating member and the screw member becomes smooth, generation of abnormal noise is prevented.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 2 or 3.
In the invention described in the above, it is provided that a cylindrical member having high rigidity is provided, the screw member is provided integrally with the cylindrical member, and the magnetic force generating member is provided in the hollow of the cylindrical member. Features.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the rigidity of the screw member can be increased by integrally providing the screw member with the cylindrical body. In addition, by increasing the rigidity of the screw member, when the screw member and the cylindrical body rotate, their self-vibration can be reduced, so that generation of abnormal noise is further prevented.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the cleaning member which abuts on the image carrier removes toner remaining on the image carrier. A toner conveying device for conveying toner to a collection container, wherein a scraper for scraping off the toner of the magnetic force generation member and a guide path for guiding the scraped toner to the collection container are provided at one end of the magnetic force generation member. And characterized in that:

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the cleaning member scrapes off the toner remaining on the image carrier, the toner is deposited on the edge of the cleaning member. The toner accumulated on the edge is attracted to the magnetic force generating member and is scraped off by the scraper. Since the toner on the magnetic force generating member can be scraped off by the scraper, the toner attracted to the magnetic force generating member can be easily peeled off.

Further, since the magnetic force generating member attracts the toner accumulated on the edge of the cleaning member, it becomes difficult for the toner to accumulate on the edge of the cleaning member, thereby preventing defective cleaning and maintaining stable cleaning performance over time. it can. Further, since the toner hardly accumulates on the edge of the cleaning member, the frictional resistance between the cleaning member and the image carrier can be properly maintained. .

The toner scraped off by the scraper is guided to a collection container by a guide path, and stored in the collection container. Since the toner is guided from the cleaning device to the collection container by the guide path, the collection container can be arranged at a position away from the rotating member.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, the cleaning device is located above, the collection container is located below, and the guide path is inclined downward. The toner is guided from the cleaning device to the collection container.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the toner scraped off by the scraper falls by gravity,
It is stored in the collection container via the guideway. With a simple configuration in which the guide path is simply inclined downward, the toner can be easily guided to the collection container.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 5 or 6.
In the invention described in (1), the recovery container is a developing device that develops a toner image, and the guide path guides the toner scraped off by the scraper to the developing device.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the guide path guides the toner to the developing device, the toner can be reused.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a toner-recyclable copying machine to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the copying machine includes a photoconductor 1 serving as an image carrier, and the photoconductor 1 is an organic photoconductor (OPC) having a photoconductive layer. The photoreceptor 1 rotates in a counterclockwise direction (the direction of the arrow in the figure), and is uniformly charged and charged by application of a high voltage by a charging roller 3 which is a contact rotating charging member that rotates in contact with the photoreceptor 1 I do.

The charge on the photoconductor 1 is erased from the charged photoconductor 1 by a laser beam based on image data from the writing device 5, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor 1. Photoconductor 1
The upper electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by attaching the toner having a magnetic material contained in the developing device 7 with the rotation of the developing sleeve 7A.

On the other hand, the transfer paper T, which is conveyed from the paper feed tray 9 to the registration roller 13 by the paper supply roller 11 and is on standby, is synchronized with the toner image on the photoconductor 1 by the registration roller 13 Sent to 1. Photoconductor 1
Is transferred to the nip portion between the transfer roller 15 and the photosensitive member 1, a transfer bias is applied from the transfer roller 15, and the transfer roller 15 has a polarity opposite to that of the toner image on the photosensitive member 1 on the transfer roller 15. An electric charge is applied and transfer is performed. After transferring the toner image to the transfer paper T, the transfer paper T is transported to the fixing device 19, and the toner image on the transfer paper T is fixed and discharged. Reference numeral 17 in the drawing denotes a static elimination needle for neutralizing the transfer paper T, and is a saw-toothed member having a thickness of about 0.1 mm, such as a stainless steel plate, and having a tip (R) (radius) of 50 μmm or less. .

After the transfer of the toner image onto the transfer paper T, the toner remaining on the photoreceptor 1 is removed by a cleaning device (cleaning device) 21, and the entire surface of the photoreceptor 1 is exposed by a discharge lamp (QL) 23. As a result, the residual charges on the photoconductor 1 are erased and prepared for the next step.

The cleaning device 21 has a cleaning blade 25 and a toner conveying device 27. The cleaning blade 25 is in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 1, and removes the toner from the surface of the photoreceptor 1 by scraping off the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 (FIG. 3).
reference). A toner conveying device 27 is located near the cleaning blade 25.

As shown in FIG. 2, the toner conveying device 27 has a magnetic force generating member 29 for generating a magnetic force, a screw member 31, and a guide path 32 (see FIG. 1).

The magnetic force generating member 29 is composed of a rod-shaped member having magnetism, and attracts toner by a magnetic force. The magnetic force generating member 29 is provided on the photosensitive member 1 of the cleaning blade 25.
And is arranged substantially parallel to the photoconductor 1 (see FIG. 3). One end 29a of the magnetic force generating member 29 is connected to the bearing 33, and the other end 29a.
b is fixed to the cleaning device 21 (not shown). A scraper 37 for scraping off the toner attracted to the magnetic force generating member 29 is in contact with the other end 29b.

The outer peripheral surface of the magnetic force generating member 29 is coated with a low friction member having a low coefficient of friction. By applying the coating of the low friction member, the friction with the screw member 31 described later can be reduced, so that the aggregation of the toner due to the friction hardly occurs and the occurrence of an abnormal image is prevented. Further, the releasability of the toner is also improved.

The material forming the magnetic force generating member 29 is not particularly limited as long as it has magnetism such as a plastic magnet. When this plastic magnet is used, the surface of the plastic magnet is smooth and the friction coefficient is low, so that the surface of the plastic magnet does not need to be coated with a low friction member, and the configuration is simple.

The screw member 31 has a spiral shape and is arranged so as to wind around the magnetic force generating member 29. One end 31a of the screw member 31 is
The screw member 31 is driven by the drive transmission gear 35 and rotates around the magnetic force generating member 29 in the direction of the arrow a. The other end 31 b of the screw member 31 extends to a position short of the scraper 37. The material forming the screw member 31 is not particularly limited as long as it is a non-magnetic material.

As shown in FIG. 1, the guide path 32 is inclined from the other end 29 b of the magnetic force generating member 29 toward the developing device 7 located below the magnetic force generating member 29. The guide path 32 guides the toner on the magnetic force generating member 29 scraped off by the scraper 37 to the developing device 7. Since the scraped-off toner is guided to the developing device 7 by the guide path 32, the toner can be easily transported to the developing device 7 at a position away from the magnetic force generating member 29. Further, since the guide path 32 is merely inclined downward, the configuration is simple.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described based on the above configuration.

After the transfer of the toner image onto the transfer paper T, the cleaning blade 25 scrapes off the toner remaining on the photoreceptor 1. The scraped toner is deposited on the edge of the cleaning blade 25. This toner is attracted to the magnetic force generating member 29 as shown in FIG.

Since the magnetic force generating member 29 attracts the toner, the scattering of the toner can be prevented, and the contamination in the apparatus can be prevented. Further, since the magnetic force generating member 29 attracts the toner, the toner hardly accumulates on the edge of the cleaning blade 25, so that a cleaning failure can be prevented and a stable cleaning property can be maintained over time. Further, since the toner hardly accumulates on the edge of the cleaning blade 25, the frictional resistance between the cleaning blade 25 and the photoconductor 1 can be properly maintained. Less deflection. Further, by adjusting the magnetic force from the magnetic force generating member 29, the amount of toner attracted to the magnetic force generating member 29 can be adjusted.

Since the toner attracted to the magnetic force generating member 29 tends to stay in a portion having a high magnetic flux density, as shown in FIG. It is conveyed in the direction of arrow b while keeping it. The toner can be conveyed with a simple configuration having only the screw member 31 that rotates around the magnetic force generating member 29. Further, since the outer peripheral surface of the magnetic force generating member 29 is coated with a low friction member, the sliding between the magnetic force generating member 29 and the screw member 31 becomes smooth, thereby preventing generation of abnormal noise.

When the toner conveyed by the screw member 31 reaches the other end 29a of the magnetic force generating member 29,
It is scraped off by the scraper 37. Scraper 37
Is provided, the toner can be easily peeled off from the magnetic force generating member 29. The scraped toner is transferred to the guide path 32
And is returned to the developing device 7. By providing the guide path 32, the toner can be transported to the developing device 7 located at a position distant from the magnetic force generating member 29. Further, by returning the scraped toner to the developing device 7, the toner can be reused.

Next, the second and third embodiments will be described. In the description, the same portions as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4 shows a toner conveying device 2 according to the second embodiment.
7 is shown. As shown in FIG. 4A, the magnetic force generating member 2
The other end portion 29 b of 9 is supported by a support member 41 fixed in the cleaning device 31. Magnetic force generating member 29
Is held by a bearing 33, and the magnetic force generating member 29 is driven by the drive transmission gear 35 to rotate in the direction of arrow a. The other end 31 b of the screw member 31 is fixed to the support member 41.

The magnetic force generating member 29 draws the toner accumulated on the cleaning blade 25 while rotating. The toner attracted to the magnetic force generating member 29 moves in the direction of arrow b in FIG. The toner that has reached the other end 29b of the magnetic force generating member 29 is scraped off by the scraper 37 as shown in FIG.

In the first embodiment, the self-vibration of the screw member 31 due to the rotation may cause the cleaning blade 25 to come into contact with and damage the cleaning blade 25. Therefore, the distance between the magnetic force generating member 29 and the cleaning blade 25 is reduced. You need to open it to some extent. However, in the second embodiment, since the screw member 31 is fixed, there is no possibility that the screw member 31 is in contact with the cleaning blade 25 and is damaged, so that the magnetic force generating member 29 can be brought closer to the cleaning blade 25.

FIG. 5 shows a toner conveying device 2 according to the third embodiment.
7 is shown. As shown in FIG. 5A, the toner conveying device 27 has a cylindrical body 39, and the screw member 31 is provided integrally with the cylindrical body 39, and the magnetic force generating member 2 is provided.
9 is different from the above-described embodiment only in that it is disposed in the hollow of the cylindrical body 39 as shown in FIG. 5B.

Since the screw member 31 is provided integrally with the cylindrical body 39, the rigidity of the screw member 31 can be increased. In addition, by increasing the rigidity of the screw member 31, the screw member 31 and the cylindrical body 3
Since the self-vibration can be reduced when 9 rotates, abnormal noise can be prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is used to convey (return) the toner from the cleaning device 21 to the developing device 7. For example, the toner is conveyed from the cleaning device to a collection container for collecting the toner. , The toner conveying device 27 is disposed in the developing device 7,
Any portion may be used as long as it is used to convey the toner to the photoreceptor 1 or the like in a copying machine.

Further, the present invention is applied to a copying machine. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, similar effects can be obtained by applying the present invention to an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a facsimile.

[0050]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the magnetic force generating member attracts the toner, the scattering of the toner can be prevented, and the contamination in the apparatus can be prevented. Further, with a simple configuration having a screw member that rotates around the magnetic force generating member, the toner can be transported, and the amount of toner drawn to the magnetic force generating member can be adjusted.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the magnetic force generating member attracts the toner, so that the scattering of the toner can be prevented, and the contamination in the apparatus can be prevented. Further, the toner can be conveyed with a simple configuration in which a screw member is provided around the rotating magnetic force generating member.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the magnetic force generating member is covered with the low friction member, it prevents aggregation of the toner due to friction and prevents occurrence of an abnormal image. Also, generation of abnormal noise is prevented.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, by providing the screw member integrally with the cylindrical body, the rigidity of the screw member can be increased, and generation of abnormal noise can be prevented.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the toner on the magnetic force generating member can be scraped off by the scraper, the toner attracted to the magnetic force generating member can be easily peeled off. Further, the magnetic force generating member draws toner accumulated on the edge of the cleaning member, thereby preventing poor cleaning and maintaining stable cleaning performance over time. Further, the load on the image carrier is less likely to be imposed, and the cleaning member is less likely to bend more than necessary. Further, since the toner is guided from the magnetic force generating member to the collection container by the guide path, the collection container can be disposed at a position away from the cleaning member.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the toner can be easily guided to the collection container with a simple configuration in which the guide path is simply inclined downward.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the guide path guides the toner to the developing device, the toner can be reused.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a toner conveying device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the vicinity of a cleaning blade.

FIG. 4 illustrates a toner conveying device according to a second embodiment,
FIG. 3A is a plan view illustrating a toner conveying device, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a toner conveying device.

FIG. 5 illustrates a toner conveying device according to a third embodiment,
FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a magnetic force generating member and a screw member, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a toner conveying device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 photoconductor (image carrier) 7 developing device 21 cleaning device 25 cleaning blade (cleaning member) 27 toner conveying device 29 magnetic force generating member 31 screw member 32 guide path 37 scraper 39 tubular body

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A toner conveying device comprising: a magnetic force generating member that attracts toner by a magnetic force; and a spiral screw member around the magnetic force generating member, wherein the screw member rotates with respect to the magnetic force generating member. A toner conveying device for conveying the toner. 2. A toner conveying device comprising: a magnetic force generating member that attracts toner by a magnetic force; and a spiral screw member around the magnetic force generating member, wherein the magnetic force generating member rotates with respect to the screw member. And a toner transport device for transporting toner. 3. The toner conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the magnetic force generating member is covered with a low friction member. 4. A cylindrical member having high rigidity, wherein the screw member is provided integrally with the cylindrical member, and the magnetic force generating member is provided in a hollow of the cylindrical member. The toner conveying device according to claim 2, wherein: 5. A toner conveying device for conveying toner to a collection container from a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on the image carrier by a cleaning member in contact with the image carrier, wherein one end of the magnetic force generating member is provided. The unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: a scraper that scrapes off the toner of the magnetic force generating member; and a guide path that guides the scraped toner to the collection container. Toner transport device. 6. The cleaning device is located above,
6. The toner conveying device according to claim 5, wherein the collection container is located below, and the guide path is inclined downward to guide the toner from the cleaning device to the collection container. 7. The developing device according to claim 5, wherein the collecting container is a developing device for developing a toner image, and the guide path guides the toner scraped by the scraper to the developing device. 4. The toner conveying device according to claim 1.