JP2000098723A - Developer recovery device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a burden related on maintenance such as the exchanging work of a developer container or the discharging work of improper developer by providing a developer recovery device with the developer container supplying developer to a developing device and recovering the improper developer to the developer container loaded at a developer supply position. SOLUTION: The developer recovery device 2 is provided with a developer housing part 21 temporarily housing the improper developer and a carrying means 22 carrying the improper developer to the housing part 21 in addition to a bottle 20 being as the developer container. Then, the developer housed in the bottle 20 is supplied to the developing device 4 by a developer supply means 27. The bottle 20 is freely attached and detached with respect to an image forming device 1 and the recovery device 2. Since the bottle 20 is driven to be rotated in a reverse direction and a carrying action in a recovery direction is given to the improper developer when the improper developer is recovered to the inside of the main body of the bottle 20, the improper developer is excellently recovered to the inside of the bottle 20 without being leaked outside from an aperture part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developer container for storing a developer to be supplied to a developing device of an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, etc., for supplying toner accompanying toner consumption and for aging. The present invention relates to a developer collection device for replacing a developer containing a deteriorated carrier and collecting waste toner collected from a latent image carrier, and an image forming apparatus having the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile or the like is provided with a developing device. As the developing device, there is known a two-component developing device for performing development using a developer comprising a toner and a carrier. Have been. In the two-component developing device, the carrier and toner in the device deteriorate, so it is necessary to replace them. The replacement operation is performed by a service person who periodically removes the developing device from the main body of the image forming apparatus and replaces the toner. This has been done by extracting the developing device and replacing it with a new developer. However, in such a method in which the whole amount is replaced after the life of the developer has expired, there is a problem that the image quality is significantly different between immediately before and immediately after the replacement. Therefore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-111598, An overflow type developing device has been proposed. The overflow type developing device stores a fresh carrier in addition to the fresh toner in a developer container, replenishes a predetermined amount of the carrier with the toner, and when the amount of the developer in the developing device exceeds a certain level, the developing device When the excess developer overflows from the opening provided in the printer, the carrier is exchanged simultaneously with the supply of the toner. Therefore, according to the overflow type developing device, there is no need for a service person to replace the developer, and there is no problem that the image quality differs before and after the developer replacement.

[0003]

However, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-1
In the overflow type developing device described in Japanese Patent No. 11598, a waste container for collecting the overflowed deteriorated developer is provided separately from the developing device, and the amount of the deteriorated developer collected in the waste container is reduced to a predetermined amount. When this happens, it is necessary to perform maintenance such as replacing the waste container with a serviceman or operator, and generally, it is also necessary to replace the developer container when the developer in the developer container runs out. Therefore, in the overflow type developing device, there is a problem that a work load of a service person or an operator is large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a developer collecting apparatus capable of reducing a maintenance load such as a work of replacing a developer container and a work of discarding collected deteriorated developer, and an image forming apparatus having the same. I do.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 has a developer container for supplying a developer to a developing device for developing a latent image on a latent image carrier, An unsuitable developer is collected in the developer container that is still attached to the developer supply position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer container for supplying a developer to a developing device for developing a latent image on a latent image carrier, and a developer container for temporarily storing an inappropriate developer. Having an inappropriate developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion,
It is characterized in that it is collected in the used developer container which has been attached to the toner supply position.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the developer collecting device according to the second aspect, further comprising a transporting unit for transporting the unsuitable developer to the developer storage section.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 2 or 3.
In the developer recovery device described in the above, the developer container conveys the developer contained therein by rotation in a developer supply opening and a first direction thereof in a supply direction toward the opening. A helical ridge formed on the inner peripheral surface of the developer container main body.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the developer collecting device according to the fourth aspect, the developer container has a cap for opening and closing the opening.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the developer collecting apparatus of the fifth aspect, the cap is displaced between an open position for opening the opening and a closed position for closing the opening. It is characterized by having means.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the developer collecting device according to the sixth aspect, the developer container is detachable from the developer collecting device main body, and the cap occupies the closed position. It is characterized by being attached to and detached from.

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 6 or 7.
In the developer collecting device described in the above, the developer accommodating portion is
A guide means is provided for guiding the stored inappropriate developer to the opening.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the developer collecting device of the eighth aspect, the guide means is displaceable with respect to the developer accommodating portion main body, and an inappropriate developer is provided in the opening. And a pipe-like guide member capable of occupying a non-supply position in which an inappropriate developer cannot be supplied.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the developer collecting apparatus of the ninth aspect, the guide member has elasticity.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the developer recovery apparatus according to the ninth or tenth aspect, the displacement means comprises:
In the open position, the guide member is set to the supply position, and in the closed position, the guide member is set to the non-supply position.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the developer recovery apparatus of the tenth aspect, the displacement means is disengaged with the guide means at the open position, and the guide member is disengaged in the disengaged state. Is displaced from the non-supply position to the supply position.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the developer collecting device of the twelfth aspect, there is provided a driving means for displacing the guide member from the non-supply position to the supply position in the non-engaged state. And

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the developer collecting apparatus according to any one of the eleventh to thirteenth aspects,
The displacing means engages with the guiding means when displacing from the open position to the closed position, thereby retracting the guide member to the non-supply position.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the developer recovery apparatus according to any one of the eighth to fourteenth aspects, the developer accommodating portion accommodates an improper developer; And an opening / closing means for opening / closing the guide means so that they can communicate with each other.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the developer collecting device according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the developer accommodating portion has a guide means for guiding the accommodated inappropriate developer to the opening. Features.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the developer collecting device according to the sixteenth aspect, the guide means is displaceable with respect to the developer accommodating portion main body, and an improper developer is provided in the opening. And a guide member capable of occupying a non-supply position where an inappropriate developer cannot be supplied.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the developer collecting device according to the seventeenth aspect, the guide member has elasticity.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the developer collecting apparatus according to any one of the sixteenth to eighteenth aspects,
A container for containing the inappropriate developer;
An opening and closing means for opening and closing the container and the guide means so as to be able to communicate with each other is provided.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the developer collecting apparatus according to any one of the fourth to nineteenth aspects, the developer container is configured to collect an inappropriate developer from the developer accommodating portion. , Rotating in a second collection direction opposite to the first direction, and conveying the inappropriate developer in a direction opposite to the supply direction by the ridge.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the developer collecting apparatus according to any one of the first to twentieth aspects, the inappropriate developer is a developer used in the developing device. And

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the developer recovery apparatus according to any one of the first to twenty-first aspects, the inappropriate developer removes the developer remaining on the latent image carrier. It is characterized in that the developer is removed by the cleaning device.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the developer collecting apparatus according to any one of the first to twenty-second aspects, the developer container is placed substantially horizontally.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the developer recovery apparatus according to any one of the first to twenty-third aspects, the developer comprises a toner and a carrier.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having the developer collecting device according to any one of the first to twenty-fourth aspects.

[0030]

An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, components having the same function, shape, and the like are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The term “developer” may mean not only a new developer but also an inappropriate developer.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a developer collecting device 2, a photosensitive member 3 as a latent image carrier, and a photosensitive member 3 having a developer including a toner and a carrier therein.
A developing device 4 for developing the upper latent image, a transfer unit 5 for transferring the toner image formed by the developing device 4 to a sheet (not shown) as a sheet-like medium, and a developer remaining on the photoconductor 3 after the transfer. A cleaning device 6 for removing and a charging device 7 for uniformly charging the surface of the photoconductor 3 after cleaning.
A latent image forming means (not shown) for emitting a laser exposure 8 for writing a predetermined latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 3 charged by the charging device 7, and a sheet conveyed from a sheet tray (not shown) synchronized with the toner image. A registration roller 10 for feeding the photosensitive member 3 and the transfer means 5 to the transfer section 9 facing the transfer roller 5; a guide plate 11 for guiding the paper conveyed in synchronization with the registration roller 10 to the transfer section 9; The fixing device mainly includes a fixing device 12 for fixing the toner image on the sheet to the sheet, and a conveyance belt 13 for conveying the sheet from the transfer unit 9 to the fixing device 12.

The fixing device 12 has a heating roller 15 having a heater 14 therein, and a pressure roller 16 which is in pressure contact with the heating roller 15. The heat generated by the heater 14 and the pressure contact force between the rollers 15, 16 are determined. Thus, the toner image on the sheet is melt-pressed and fixed on the sheet.

The developing device 4 is an overflow type developing device, and has a developer carrier 17 disposed opposite to the photosensitive member 3.
A developer supply member 18 for supplying the developer to the developer carrier 17 while stirring the developer in the developing device 4; and a developer regulating member 19 for regulating the developer on the developer carrier 17
And an opening (not shown) through which excess developer overflows out of the developing device 4 when the amount of the developer in the developing device 4 exceeds a predetermined amount.

The developer collecting device 2 has at least a bottle 20 as a developer container. In the present embodiment, in addition to the bottle 20, a developer accommodating portion 21 for temporarily accommodating an improper developer is provided. Incorrect developer is stored in the developer container 2
1 and a transporting means 22 for transporting the paper to the first position. The inappropriate developer refers to a deteriorated developer used in the developing device 4 and overflowing, and a developer mainly composed of toner removed from the surface of the photoconductor 3 by the cleaning device 6. The developer accommodating section 21 has a sufficient capacity to accommodate improper developer generated while the developer in the bottle 20 is completely consumed.

The transport unit 22 is a first transport unit 23 that transports the deteriorated developer overflowing from the developing device 4.
A second transport unit 24 that transports the developer removed by the cleaning device; and a first and a second transport unit 2 that transport the developer.
And a third transport unit 25 where the third and the third merge.
The bottle 20 also forms a part of the developer supply device 26, and the developer contained in the bottle 20 is supplied to the developing device 4 by developer supply means 27 constituting the developer supply device 26 together with the bottle 20. You. In this embodiment, the developer collecting device 2 is constituted by the bottle 20, the developer accommodating section 21, and the transporting means 22. The bottle 20 is detachable from the image forming apparatus 1 and the developer collecting apparatus 2.

As shown in FIG. 2 or FIG.
Reference numeral 0 denotes a developer supply opening 28, and transports the developer contained therein by rotation in the first direction in a supply direction (hereinafter referred to as “direction A”) indicated by an arrow A toward the opening 28. Spiral ridge 2 formed on the inner peripheral surface of bottle 20 main body
9, a cap 30 for opening and closing the opening 28, a projection 31 for receiving a rotational driving force from a bottle rotation driving unit (not shown), and the conveyance has been performed in the direction A although not shown in FIG. A shoulder portion 32 for scooping up the developer and guiding the developer to the opening 28; and is placed substantially horizontally at a developer supply position in the image forming apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the ridge 29 appears as a spiral groove 33 on the outer peripheral surface of the bottle 20.

As shown in FIG. 3 and the like, at a position facing the opening 28 of the bottle 20 mounted at the developer supply position,
Displacement means 34 for displacing the cap 30 between an open position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 for opening the opening 28 and a closed position shown in FIG. 3 for closing the opening 28 is provided. The displacement means 34 has a chuck 35 for gripping a knob 36 provided on the side of the cap 30 opposite to the main body of the bottle 20. The chuck 35 advances and retreats while gripping the knob 36 to open the opening. 28 are opened and closed. Such a shape of the bottle 20, a configuration for discharging and supplying the contents of the bottle 20 by rotating and driving the bottle 20, and a mechanism for opening and closing the cap 30 are disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-618
This is a well-known configuration as seen in Japanese Patent Publication No.

The developer in the bottle 20 is different from the developer in the developing device 4 in the ratio of the carrier and the toner.
The toner concentration is high, and the amount of developer stored in the bottle 20 is determined by considering the developer capacity of the developing device 4, the ratio of the amount of toner in the bottle 20, the degree of deterioration of the developer itself, and the like. 4 is about one-tenth of the amount of the developer stored in the storage unit 4. The developer supply means 27 receives the developer discharged from the opening 28 below the opening 28 mounted at the developer supply position, and supplies the developer by a screw 27a provided therein. To 4.
Although not shown, the conveying means 22 is also a developer supply means 27.
In the same manner as described above, a screw is provided in the inside thereof, so that an inappropriate developer is conveyed.

The developer accommodating portion 21 is a container 37 for accommodating an improper developer, and is slidably displaceable with respect to the main body of the developer accommodating portion 21 and guides the contained improper developer to the opening 28. A guiding means 38, an opening / closing means 39 for opening and closing the container 37 and the guiding means 38 so as to be able to communicate with each other, and a seal between the outer peripheral surface of the guiding means 38 and the inner peripheral surface of the main body of the developer accommodating portion 21 to seal the guiding means 38 The image forming apparatus 1 includes a seal member 40 for preventing leakage of the developer even at the time of displacement to prevent contamination in the image forming apparatus 1. The opening / closing means 39 forms the bottom of the container 37 and is located above the guiding means 38. One end of the opening / closing means 39 is supported by the rotary solenoid 41, and swings by rotating the rotary solenoid 41. 38 are opened and closed so that they can communicate with each other.

As shown in FIG. 7, the guide means 38 is provided from the periphery of the opening 42 to the outside so as to communicate with the container 37, and is brought into contact with the seal member 40. A stopper 43 for preventing detachment from the member 21 and a diagonally downward bend toward the opening 28;
The tapered bent portion 44, a distal end portion 45 protruding from the distal end of the bent portion 44, engagement portions 46 provided on both sides near the proximal end side of the bent portion 44, and fitted to the distal end portion 45. Mating opening 28
5 and 6 that can supply an unsuitable developer to a non-supply position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 that cannot supply an unsuitable developer. And a guide member 47 in a shape of a circle.

The two end portions 49 of the Y-shaped push-down member 48 are engaged with the engagement portions 46, respectively. As shown by a two-dot chain line, the push-down member 48 has a base end 50 supported by a shaft (not shown), and a tip part 49 is swingable, and is bent downward between the base end 50 and the tip part 49. The tongue piece 51 is provided. The tongue piece 51 is connected to a solenoid 53 via a tension spring 52, and when the solenoid 53 is energized, the distal end portion 49 is displaced downward, and the guide member 38 is displaced downward. Engaging part 4
6, push-down member 48, tension spring 52, solenoid 5
The drive means 3 displaces the guide member 47 from the non-supply position to the supply position.

Since the present embodiment has the above configuration,
In the image formation in the image forming apparatus 1, the surface of the photoconductor 3 is uniformly charged by the charging device 7, the latent image is written by the laser exposure 8, the latent image is visualized by the developing device 4, The visible image is transferred to the sheet conveyed to the transfer section 9 by the guide plate 11 by the transfer means 5, and the sheet on which the visible image is transferred is transferred to the fixing means 12 by the transfer belt 13. This is performed by being guided and fixing a visible image. The residual toner on the photoconductor 3 after the transfer is removed and collected by the cleaning device 58 as an inappropriate developer, and the photoconductor 3 is prepared for the next charging by the charging device 7.

In the development by the developing device 4, the developer supply member 18 supplies the developer in the device to the developer carrier 17 while stirring the developer, and the developer on the developer carrier 17 is controlled by the developer regulating member 19. After being regulated and having a uniform thickness, the photoconductor 3
Is transported to a development area opposite to and is subjected to development. As such a development process is repeated, the toner concentration decreases,
When the lowering of the toner density is detected by a well-known toner density detecting means (not shown), the bottle rotation driving means
0 is rotationally driven in the first direction.

When the bottle 20 is driven to rotate, the ridges 29 transport the developer in the direction A, and the developer having received the transport action is scooped up by the shoulder 32 and discharged from the opening 28. The developer is supplied to the developing device 4 by the developer supply unit 27. The supply amount of the developer is set so that the toner concentration is restored and a predetermined amount of the developer overflows from the inside of the developing device 4. The overflow of the developer causes the exchange of the carrier, and the state of the developer is changed. Is kept in a state suitable for

When the operator opens the inside of the image forming apparatus 1 and closes the image forming apparatus 1 by setting it at the developer supply position, the displacement means 34 is operated, and the cap 30 is moved to the opening 28 shown in FIG. From the closed position to the open position separated from the opening 28 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 through the state shown in FIG. 4 to open the opening 28. When the cap 30 is in the open position, the displacement means 34 is disengaged from the guide means 38. When the opening 28 is opened, the solenoid 53
And the pressing member 48 displaces the guide means 38 downward. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the guide member 47 abuts on the periphery of the opening 28. However, since the guide member 47 has elasticity, it is elastically deformed as shown in FIG. The guide member 47 is displaced from the non-supply position shown in FIG. 3 to the supply position where the tip occupies the position in the opening 28 as shown in FIG.

Image formation is performed with the guide member 47 occupying the supply position. When the developing process is performed and the developer supply operation is repeated each time the toner concentration decreases, the amount of the inappropriate developer temporarily stored in the developer storage unit 21 gradually increases, and the developer in the bottle 20 becomes Decrease gradually. Bottle 2
When all the developer in 0 is consumed, as shown in FIG.
The rotary solenoid 41 is energized to swing the opening / closing means 39 downward, and the unsuitable developer in the container 37 passes through the guide means 38 main body, the guide member 47, and the opening 28, and becomes a used developer. Bottle 2 still attached to supply position
0 Collect in the body.

When collecting the unsuitable developer in the main body of the bottle 20, the bottle 20 is driven to rotate in the second direction opposite to the first direction, and the unsuitable developer is moved in the direction by the ridge 29 against the unsuitable developer. Since the transfer action in the collection direction indicated by arrow B (hereinafter referred to as “direction B”) opposite to A is provided, the inappropriate developer is well collected in the bottle 20 without leaking from the opening 28 to the outside. You. After a lapse of a predetermined time sufficient to discharge the inappropriate developer, the rotary solenoid 41 is opened and closed by the opening / closing means 3.
9 is returned to the original state shown in FIG. 5, the power to the solenoid 53 is cut off, and the push-down member 48 can swing, and the displacement means is displaced to the closed position shown in FIG. 3 through the state shown in FIG. The opening 28 is closed by 30. When the opening 28 is closed by the cap 30, the cap 30 and the displacement means 34 sequentially engage with the bent portion 44 to push up the guide means 38, and retract the guide means 38 to the non-supply position shown in FIG.

When the guide means 38 is retracted to the non-supply position and the cap 30 occupies the closed position, the display means (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1 indicates that the bottle 20 needs to be replaced. 20 will be replaced. By simply replacing the bottle 20, the operator can mount the bottle containing the new developer and take out the inappropriate developer out of the image forming apparatus 1. Bottle 20
Since the cap 30 always occupies the closed position and closes the opening 28 when the attachment / detachment, ie, replacement, is performed,
The developer and the improper developer do not leak from 0, and the contamination due to the scattering is prevented.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show the second embodiment of the present invention, respectively.
Examples 3 and 4 will be described. The developer collection device 2 may collect the unsuitable developer in the used bottle 20 that is still attached to the developer supply position. Therefore, the developer collection unit 21 is not necessarily configured as shown by a broken line. Absent. In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the developer overflowing from the developing device 4 is collected as an inappropriate developer. In the third embodiment shown in FIG. In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the toner removed from the photosensitive member 3 by the cleaning device 6 and the developer overflowing from the developing device 4 are collected as an inappropriate developer. It is collected as a developer. If the fourth embodiment includes the developer collecting section 21, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Although not shown, as a fifth embodiment,
Instead of the driving means described in the first embodiment, as a means for displacing the guide means 38 downward, a pressing spring or a tension spring is provided as a driving means in the developer collecting section 21, and the guide means 38, the displacement means 34 and Is disengaged, the guide means 38 is displaced downward, and the guide member 47 is displaced from the non-supply position to the supply position. Thus, the guide means 38 can be displaced downward with a simple configuration.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, in the configuration having the driving means having the solenoid 53,
After the developer in the bottle 20 has been consumed, the guide member 47
May be displaced to the supply position, and when displacing the guide member 47 to the non-supply position, the driving means for displacing the guide member 47 upward instead of using the displacement of the displacement means 34. May be provided separately, or the guide member 47
When the guide means 38 is displaced downward by its own weight, the guide member 47 is displaced to the supply position when the displacement means 34 and the guide means 38 are disengaged. Become.

When the developer overflowing from the developer 4 and the developer removed from the photoreceptor 3 by the cleaning device 6 are collected as an unsuitable developer, the first and second transport sections are independently provided by transport means. 22, the developer may be independently guided to the bottle 20 or the developer accommodating portion 21. In the configuration without the developer accommodating section 21, the bottle 2
It is possible to periodically exchange the bottle 20 by detecting the number of rotations of zero.

[0053]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer container for supplying a developing device to a developing device for developing a latent image on a latent image carrier, and an inappropriate developer is supplied to the developing device. Since the developer is collected in the above-described developer container that is still attached to the position, using the existing configuration of the developer container, the developer container containing the new developer is mounted simply by replacing the developer container, Provided is a developer collection device capable of removing an inappropriate developer from an image forming apparatus, thereby reducing a maintenance burden of replacing a developer container and discarding the collected incorrect developer. Can be.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a developer container for supplying a developer to a developing device for developing a latent image on a latent image carrier, and a developer container for temporarily storing an inappropriate developer. And collects the unsuitable developer stored in the developer storage section in the used developer container still mounted at the toner supply position. By simply replacing the developer container, the developer container containing the new developer can be installed, and the inappropriate developer can be taken out of the image forming apparatus. The burden of maintenance related to the disposal of improper developer can be reduced, and the improper developer can be stored in the developer container once, and the improper developer can be developed after the developer container is emptied. New to the container It is possible to provide a developer recovery device that can reliably prevent the developing agent and improper developer mix.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the conveying means for conveying the inappropriate developer to the developer accommodating section is provided, the distance between the position where the improper developer occurs and the developer accommodating section is reduced. Even in this case, it is possible to provide a developer collecting device that can transport the inappropriate developer to the developer accommodating section by the transporting means.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the developer container has an opening for supplying the developer and a supply direction toward the opening for supplying the developer contained therein by the rotation in the first direction. And a spiral ridge formed on the inner peripheral surface of the developer container main body, so that when the developer container is rotated in the first direction, the developer is discharged from the opening and the developer is discharged. It is possible to provide a developer recovery device having a configuration capable of performing supply.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the developer container has a cap for opening and closing the opening, a developer collecting device capable of avoiding a problem of inadvertent leakage of the developer is provided. Can be provided.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a displacement means for displacing the cap between an open position for opening the opening and a closing position for closing the opening. And a developer collection device capable of reliably controlling the open / close state of the developer.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the developer container is detachable from the developer collecting device main body,
Since the cap is attached and detached when occupying the closed position, leakage of the developer can be prevented when the developer container is attached to or detached from the developer collecting device main body, and the attaching / detaching operation of the developer container is easy. A developer collection device with high user reliability can be provided.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the developer accommodating section has the guide means for guiding the contained improper developer to the opening, the improper developer contained in the developer accommodating section is provided. It is possible to provide a developer collecting device capable of preventing inappropriate developer from leaking out of the developer container when the developer is collected in the developer container.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the guide means is displaceable with respect to the developer accommodating portion main body, and a supply position at which an inappropriate developer can be supplied to the opening portion. Since there is a pipe-shaped guide member that can occupy a non-supply position where the appropriate developer cannot be supplied, the inappropriate developer is transferred to the developer container by displacing the guide member between the supply position and the non-supply position. It is possible to provide a developer collecting device capable of reliably controlling when and when not to be collected.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, since the guide member has elasticity, it prevents the guide member itself from hindering the displacement when the guide member is displaced between the non-supply position and the supply position. A developer collecting device capable of avoiding complicating the configuration of the displacement means with a simple configuration having only elasticity itself, and capable of reliably collecting an inappropriate developer in a developer container. Can be provided.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the displacing means sets the guide member to the supply position in the open position and sets the guide member to the non-supply position in the closed position. The guide member can be set to the supply position and the non-supply position in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the opening due to the displacement, and it is possible to prevent an attempt to collect inappropriate developer when the opening is closed, which is safe. It is possible to provide a developer collecting device having high performance.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the displacement means is disengaged with the guide means in the open position, and in this disengaged state, the guide member moves from the non-supply position to the supply position. Therefore, the guide member is prevented from being displaced to the supply position when the displacement means is in the closed position, or the guide member is prevented from being displaced to the same position. Can be provided.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, since the driving means for displacing the guide member from the non-supply position to the supply position in the non-engaged state is provided, the displacement means and the guide means are disengaged. When the state is reached, the guide member can be reliably displaced to the supply position, and it is possible to provide a highly reliable developer collection device that can reliably collect the inappropriate developer in the developer container. .

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the displacement means retreats the guide member to the non-supply position by engaging with the guide means when displacing from the open position to the closed position. Therefore, since the guide member can be retracted to the non-supply position only by displacing the displacement means, a highly-reliable developer recovery device that can reliably retract the guide member to the non-supply position with a simple configuration is provided. Can be provided.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, since the developer accommodating portion has the container for accommodating the improper developer and the opening / closing means for opening and closing the container and the guide means so as to be able to communicate with each other. This makes it possible to reliably control the timing at which the inappropriate developer contained in the container is guided to the guide means, thereby preventing an attempt to recover the inappropriate developer when the guide member does not enter the opening. Thus, a highly reliable developer recovery device can be provided.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, since the developer accommodating portion has the guide means for guiding the accommodated inappropriate developer to the opening, the improper developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion is provided. It is possible to provide a developer collecting device capable of preventing inappropriate developer from leaking out of the developer container when the developer is collected in the developer container.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the guide means is displaceable with respect to the developer accommodating portion main body, and a supply position at which an inappropriate developer can be supplied to the opening, and Since the guide member is capable of occupying the non-supply position where the appropriate developer cannot be supplied, when the guide member is displaced between the supply position and the non-supply position, the inappropriate developer is collected in the developer container. It is possible to provide a developer collecting device that can reliably control when and when not.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, since the guide member has elasticity, it prevents the guide member from disturbing the displacement when the guide member is displaced between the non-supply position and the supply position. A developer collecting device capable of avoiding complicating the structure of the displacement means with a simple structure having elasticity itself, and reliably collecting an unsuitable developer in the developer accommodating portion. An apparatus can be provided.

According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, since the developer accommodating portion has the container for accommodating the improper developer and the opening / closing means for opening and closing the container and the guide means so as to be able to communicate with each other. This makes it possible to reliably control the timing at which the inappropriate developer contained in the container is guided to the guide means, thereby preventing an attempt to recover the inappropriate developer when the guide member does not enter the opening. Thus, a highly reliable developer recovery device can be provided.

According to the twentieth aspect, the developer container rotates in the second recovery direction opposite to the first direction when recovering the inappropriate developer from the developer storage portion. ,
The ridges transport the unsuitable developer in the collection direction opposite to the supply direction, so that the unsuitable developer transported to the developer container by using the existing configuration is moved to the back side of the developer container. And a highly reliable developer collecting device capable of preventing the developer from being conveyed to the outside and leaking from the opening.

According to the twenty-first aspect, since the inappropriate developer is the developer used in the developing device,
It is possible to provide a developer collecting device capable of collecting a deteriorated developer used in the developing device as an inappropriate developer.

According to the twenty-second aspect of the present invention, the inappropriate developer is a developer removed by a cleaning device for removing the developer remaining on the latent image carrier. It is possible to provide a developer collecting device capable of collecting the developer as an inappropriate developer.

According to the twenty-third aspect of the present invention, since the developer container is placed substantially horizontally, it is easy to secure a space for accommodating the developer container, and both supply and recovery of the developer are good. And a developer collection device that can be used for the developer collection.

According to the twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, since the developer comprises a toner and a carrier, the deteriorated carrier can be collected in the developing device for performing the two-component development, and good development and image formation with time can be achieved. And a developer collecting device that contributes to the image forming apparatus can be provided.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having the developer collecting device according to any one of the first to twenty-fourth aspects. An apparatus can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a developer recovery device and an image forming apparatus having the same according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the developer container shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a state in which a cap is in a closed position in the developer collecting device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the cap is being displaced to an open position or a closed position and the guide means is being displaced downward or upward in the developer recovery device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing a state in which a guide member is at a supply position in the developer recovery device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the opening / closing unit makes the container and the guide unit communicate with each other in the developer collecting device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the guide means shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 and a driving means for displacing the guide means.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a developer recovery device and an image forming apparatus having the same according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a schematic configuration of a developer recovery device and an image forming apparatus having the same according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a schematic configuration of a developer recovery device and an image forming apparatus having the same according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image forming device 2 developer collecting device 3 latent image carrier 4 developing device 6 cleaning device 20 developer container 21 developer accommodating section 22 transporting means 28 opening 29 ridge 30 cap 34 displacement means 37 container 39 opening / closing means 38 Guide means 46, 48, 52, 53 Driving means 47 Guide member A Supply direction B Collection direction

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masami Hiramatsu 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Hiromitsu Takagaki 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo・ In Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masayuki Ueda 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Ricoh Co., Ltd. (reference) 2H034 AA06 CA01 CA04 2H077 AA05 AA11 AA14 AA25 AA31 AA37 AC16 CA19 EA01

Claims (25)

[Claims] A developer container for supplying a developer to a developing device for developing a latent image on the latent image carrier;
A developer collecting device, wherein the developer is collected in the developer container mounted on the developer supply position. A developer container for supplying a developer to a developing device for developing a latent image on the latent image carrier; and a developer container for temporarily storing an inappropriate developer. A developer collection device that collects the inappropriate developer stored in the developer storage portion into the used developer container that is still mounted at the toner supply position. 3. The developer collecting device according to claim 2, wherein
A developer collecting device, comprising: a transport unit configured to transport an inappropriate developer to the developer storage unit. 4. The developer collecting device according to claim 2, wherein the developer container has an opening for supplying a developer,
A helical ridge formed on an inner peripheral surface of the developer container main body, which transports the developer contained therein by the rotation in the first direction in a supply direction toward the opening. Developer recovery device. 5. The developer collecting device according to claim 4, wherein
The developer collection device according to claim 1, wherein the developer container has a cap for opening and closing the opening. 6. The developer collecting device according to claim 5, wherein
A developer recovery device, comprising: a displacement unit that displaces the cap between an open position that opens the opening and a closed position that closes the opening. 7. The developer collecting device according to claim 6, wherein
The developer collecting device according to claim 1, wherein the developer container is detachable from the developer collecting device main body, and is detachably mounted when the cap occupies the closed position. 8. The developer collecting device according to claim 6, wherein said developer accommodating portion has a guide means for guiding the accommodated inappropriate developer to said opening. apparatus. 9. The developer collecting device according to claim 8, wherein
The guide means is displaceable with respect to the developer accommodating portion main body, and occupies a supply position where an inappropriate developer can be supplied to the opening and a non-supply position where an inappropriate developer cannot be supplied. A developer collecting device, comprising a pipe-shaped guide member capable of performing the following. 10. The developer collecting device according to claim 9, wherein said guide member has elasticity. 11. The developer collecting device according to claim 9, wherein said displacing means sets said guide member to said supply position at said open position and sets said guide member to said non-supply position at said closed position. A developer recovery device, characterized in that: 12. The developer collecting device according to claim 10, wherein said displacement means is disengaged from said guide means in said open position, and said guide member is disengaged from said non-supply position in said disengaged state. A developer recovery device, wherein the developer recovery device is displaced to the supply position. 13. The developer collecting device according to claim 12, further comprising a drive unit for displacing the guide member from the non-supply position to the supply position in the non-engaged state. . 14. A developer collecting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said displacement means engages with said guide means when displacing from said open position to said closed position. A developer recovery device, wherein the guide member is retracted to the non-supply position. 15. A developer collecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said developer accommodating portion comprises a container for accommodating an improper developer, and said container and said guiding means. An opening / closing means for opening and closing so as to be able to communicate with each other. 16. A developer collecting device according to claim 4, wherein said developer accommodating portion has a guide means for guiding the accommodated inappropriate developer to said opening. apparatus. 17. A developer collecting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said guide means is displaceable with respect to said developer accommodating portion main body, and is capable of supplying an inappropriate developer to said opening. And a guide member capable of occupying a non-supply position where improper developer cannot be supplied. 18. The developer collecting device according to claim 17, wherein said guide member has elasticity. 19. A developer collecting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said developer accommodating portion comprises a container for accommodating an improper developer, and said container and said guiding means. An opening / closing means for opening and closing so as to be able to communicate with each other. 20. The developer collecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the developer container is configured to move in a first direction when collecting an inappropriate developer from the developer accommodating portion. The developer recovery device rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and conveys the inappropriate developer in a recovery direction opposite to the supply direction by the protrusions. 21. A developer collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said unsuitable developer is a developer used in said developing apparatus. . 22. The developer collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unsuitable developer is removed by a cleaning device for removing the developer remaining on the latent image carrier. A developer collecting device, which is a developer. 23. A developer collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said developer container is placed substantially horizontally. 24. The developer collecting device according to claim 1, wherein the developer comprises a toner and a carrier. 25. An image forming apparatus comprising the developer collecting device according to claim 1.