JP2000122504A - Toner carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner carrying device carrying toner while preventing the scattering of the toner. SOLUTION: This toner carrying device 27 is provided with a magnet roller 29 rotating centering a rotary shaft 31 and attracting the toner by a magnetic force generating band arranged spirally, and a scraper 33 abutting along in the axial direction of the roller 29 so that the toner may be dammed. In the device 27 the toner on the roller 29 is carried to the terminal part 29b of the roller 29 while it is dammed by the scraper 33. The magnetic force generating band is arranged in a direction along the direction of the rotary shaft 31 of the roller 29 at the terminal part 29b of the roller 29.

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.

Further, in the technology disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, the toner accumulated on the cleaning blade can be collected by a magnet, but there is a problem that the toner cannot be transported to another place such as a developing device or a collecting container. .

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 rotating member which rotates about an axis and draws toner by a helically arranged magnetic force generating band, and a rotating member which extends along the axial direction of the rotating member. A scraper for contacting and damping the toner, wherein the toner conveying device conveys the toner on the rotating member toward one end of the rotating member while the toner is dammed by the scraper. At one end thereof is disposed in a direction along the axial direction of the rotating member.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the rotating member attracts the toner by the magnetic force of the magnetic force generating band while rotating about the axis, and the toner is blocked by the scraper by the rotation of the rotating member. Since the magnetic force generation band of the rotating member is spirally arranged, the blocked toner moves (is conveyed) toward the terminal end of the rotating member while being blocked by the scraper.

This toner is applied to one end of a rotating member (hereinafter, referred to as one end).
It is referred to as “termination part”. ), The spiral is interrupted by the magnetic force generating band being arranged along the axial direction of the rotating member, so that the toner stays at the terminal end. The toner at the terminal end is pushed out by the sequentially conveyed toner and supplied to the toner supply destination. The toner can be conveyed with a simple configuration in which a scraper is simply provided on a rotating member having a magnetic force generating band. Further, since the magnetic force generating band of the rotating member draws the toner, scattering of the toner can be prevented. Moreover, as described above, the toner stays at the end of the rotating member and is difficult to be conveyed to the end surface of the rotating member. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from staying at the end surface of the rotating member and accumulating, and to accumulate. This prevents the toner from falling by its own weight and contaminating the main body. The magnetic force generating band may be formed by directly magnetizing the rotating member, or a magnetic force generating member may be formed separately and wound around the rotating member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cylindrical rotating member which rotates about an axis and attracts toner by a magnetic force generating band spirally arranged from one end of the rotating member. A scraper for contacting and damping the toner, wherein the toner is conveyed from one end of the rotating member to the terminal end while being dammed by the scraper. It is characterized in that it is arranged in a direction along the rotation direction of the rotating member at a terminal end of the direction.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the conveyed toner reaches the end of the rotating member, the magnetic force generating band is arranged in the direction along the rotating direction of the rotating member, so that the spiral is formed. Because of the interruption, the toner stays at the terminal end. The toner at the terminal end is pushed out by the sequentially conveyed toner and supplied to the toner supply destination. Therefore, the invention according to claim 2 has the same operation and effect as the above-described claim 1.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cylindrical rotating member which rotates about an axis and draws toner from one end of the rotating member by a magnetic force generating band spirally arranged, and an axial direction of the rotating member. A scraper for contacting and damping the toner, wherein the toner is conveyed from one end of the rotating member toward the terminal end while being blocked by the scraper. The direction of the spiral of the magnetic force generating band is reversed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the conveyed toner reaches the end portion of the rotating member, the spiral direction of the magnetic force generating band is reversed, so that the toner ends. Stays at The toner at the terminal end is pushed out by the toner that is sequentially conveyed, and is supplied to the toner supply destination. Therefore, the third aspect of the invention has the same function and effect as the first aspect.

The invention described in claim 4 is the first to third aspects of the present invention.
In the invention according to any one of the above, a magnetic body that attracts toner is provided near one end of the rotating member in the structure that supports the rotating member.

In the invention according to claim 4, for example,
During maintenance of the main body such as replacement of the rotating member, the structure or the rotating member may be tilted. At this time, there is a possibility that toner may leak from a gap generated due to a tolerance between the structure and the rotating member. Since the toner to be attracted is attracted, leakage of the toner can be prevented.

The invention according to claim 5 provides the invention according to claims 1 to 4
The invention according to any one of the above, further comprising a guide path that is inclined downward from one end of the rotating member and guides the toner to a collection container provided below the rotating member.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the toner staying at the end of the rotating member is pushed out by the sequentially conveyed toner, falls from the entrance of the guide path by its own weight, and is collected in the collection container. . The toner can be easily guided to the collection container with a simple configuration in which the guide path is simply inclined downward.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a copying machine capable of recycling toner according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the copier includes a photoconductor 1, and the photoconductor 1 is an organic photoconductor (OP) having a photoconductive layer.
C). The photoreceptor 1 rotates counterclockwise (in the direction of the arrow a in the figure), and is uniformly 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. Charges.

Writing device (not shown) on charged photoreceptor 1
The charge on the photoconductor 1 is erased by a laser beam (see a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) based on the image data from, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor 1. The electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 1 is visualized as a toner image by attaching the toner having a magnetic material contained in the developing device 7 by the rotation of the developing sleeve 7A.

On the other hand, the transfer paper which is fed from a paper feeder (not shown) by the paper feed roller 11, is conveyed to the registration roller 13 via the turn roller 12, and is on standby is a toner image on the photosensitive member 1. Synchronize with the registration roller 1
3 to the photoconductor 1. The dashed line in FIG. 1 indicates the transfer path of the transfer paper.

When the transfer paper sent to the photosensitive member 1 enters the nip portion between the transfer roller 15 and the photosensitive member 11, a transfer bias is applied from the transfer roller 15, and the transfer roller 15
On the upper side, a charge having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image on the photoreceptor 1 is applied to perform transfer. After the toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper, the toner image is conveyed to a fixing device 19,
a and the pressure roller 19b fix the toner image on the transfer paper. The transfer paper on which the toner image has been fixed is discharged by a discharge roller pair 20. Reference numeral 17 in the drawing denotes a static elimination needle for neutralizing the transfer paper, which is a stainless steel plate having a thickness of 0.1 mm, and a saw-shaped member having a tip (R) (radius) of 50 μmm or less is used.

After transferring the toner image to the transfer paper, the photosensitive member 1
The toner remaining on the photoreceptor 1 is removed by the cleaning device 21, and the photoreceptor 1 is recharged while the residual charge on the photoreceptor 1 is erased by the DC component bias applied to the charging roller 3 in a superimposed manner. To prepare for the next printing process.

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 photoconductor 1, and removes the toner from the surface of the photoconductor 1 by scraping off the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 1. Aside from the cleaning blade 25, a toner conveying device 27 is provided.
Is located.

As shown in FIG. 2, the toner conveying device 27 has a magnet roller (rotating member) 29, a scraper 33, and a guide path 34 (see FIG. 4).

The magnet roller 29 is disposed near the portion of the cleaning blade 25 that contacts the photoconductor 1 and substantially parallel to the photoconductor 1 (see FIG. 1), and is supported by the main body structure 35. I have. Cleaning blade 2
5 attracts the scraped toner. A rotating shaft (axis) 31 of the magnet roller 29 receives the rotational force of the photoconductor 1 from a gear provided on a flange of the photoconductor 1 via an idler gear, and the magnet roller 29 rotates in the direction of arrow b in FIG. I do. The magnet roller 29 draws the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 25 while rotating, and the toner is blocked by a scraper 33 described later by the rotation of the magnet roller 29,
The magnet roller 29 moves (is conveyed) toward the terminal end (one end) 29b of the magnet roller 29.

As shown in FIG. 3, the magnet roller 29 has a magnetized pattern (magnetic force generating band) in which S poles and N poles are alternately arranged (magnetized). Magnet roller 2
As shown in FIG. 3A, the side cross section 9 has the S pole and the N pole arranged in six equal parts. Magnet roller 2
At the end portion 29b within a range of approximately 10 to 30 mm from the one end surface 29a of FIG. 9, the six-pole magnetized pattern is in the direction along the rotation axis 31 (the longitudinal direction of the magnet roller 29).
And from the end portion 29b,
These magnetization patterns are spirally arranged. That is, as shown in FIG. 3B, the direction of the spiral of the magnetized pattern is arranged at an angle γ from the other end surface 29c (see FIG. 1) of the magnet roller 29, and the end portion 29b
Is arranged such that the angle γ is approximately 90 °.

In this embodiment, the width of one pole of the magnetized pattern is approximately 4 to 6 mm, and the pitch of the magnetized pattern of six poles is approximately 24 to 30 mm (the width of one pole is approximately 4 to 6 mm). However, the present invention is not limited to this. In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the magnet roller 29 is approximately 9 mm, the thickness of the rubber is approximately 1.5 mm, and the maximum surface magnetic flux density is approximately 5 mm.
0-60mT (tesla) rubber magnet roller (T
Although BQG14 manufactured by DK Corporation is used, the invention is not limited to this, and any roller that generates a magnetic force may be used.

As shown in FIG. 2, the scraper 33 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the magnet roller 29 along the direction of the rotation shaft 35 of the magnet roller 29, and is directed from the magnet roller 29 to a guide path 34 described later. And is inclined diagonally downward. The scraper 33 is moved from the vicinity of one end 29a of the magnet roller 29 to the other end 29c.
, And stops the toner drawn to the magnet roller 29. The scraper 33 is made of, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) having a thickness of about 0.05 to 0.2. In addition,
The members constituting the scraper 33 are not limited to the members described above, and may be any material that is non-magnetic and capable of blocking the toner.

As shown in FIG. 4, the guide path 34 is inclined from the terminal end 29b of the magnet roller 29 toward the developing device (collection container) 7 located below the magnet roller 29. The guide path 34 is provided for the magnet roller 2
9 is guided to the developing device 7 (details will be described later). Since the guide path 29 is merely inclined downward, the configuration is simple. It is preferable that a hollow member such as a pipe is used as the guide path 34, for example.

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

After the transfer of the toner image onto the transfer paper, the cleaning blade 25 scrapes off the toner remaining substantially over the entire length of the photosensitive member 1 in the longitudinal direction. The scraped toner is
Although deposited on the edge of the cleaning blade 25, it is attracted to the magnet roller 29.

Since the magnet roller 29 draws the toner, scattering of the toner can be prevented, and contamination in the apparatus can be prevented. Further, since the toner is hardly deposited on the edge of the cleaning blade 25 by attracting the toner by the magnet roller 29, defective cleaning can be prevented and stable cleaning performance can be maintained. Further, since the frictional resistance between the cleaning blade 25 and the photoconductor 1 can be properly maintained, a load is hardly applied to the photoconductor 1, and the cleaning blade 25 is hardly bent more than necessary.

The toner attracted to the magnet roller 29 is blocked by the scraper 33 by the rotation of the magnet roller 29 as shown in FIG. Since the magnetized pattern of the magnet roller 29 is spirally arranged, the blocked toner is blocked by the scraper 33 while the end portion 29 of the magnet roller 29 is stopped.
b (in the direction of arrow A). Since the toner moves on the outer peripheral surface of the magnet roller 29, there is no need for a passage for pressing the toner as in the related art, so that the apparatus is downsized.

When the toner conveyed on the magnet roller 29 reaches the terminal end 29b of the magnet roller 29, the magnetization pattern follows the rotation axis 31 of the magnet roller 29 from the spiral direction as shown in FIG. Since the orientation is changed and the spiral is interrupted, the toner stays in the terminal end portion 29b.

Here, the direction of the magnetization pattern is changed to the end portion 29.
In b, the reason for setting the direction along the rotation axis 31 will be described. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, a case where the magnetization pattern of the magnet roller 100 is uniformly spiraled over both ends of the rotating shaft is considered. In this case, the toner attracted to the magnet roller 100 is transported to the vicinity of the end face 100a of the magnet roller 100.

As shown in FIG. 11A, when the magnet roller 100 is made longer than the scraper 101, toner is accumulated on the magnet roller 100 extending outside the scraper 101. When this toner accumulates until the magnetic force of the magnetized pattern of the magnet roller 100 stops, the toner drops (see FIG. 11B) and contaminates the main body (for example, drops on the photoconductor and contaminates the photoconductor). And so on).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12A, when the scraper 101 is made longer than the magnet roller 100, the scraper 101 is guided by the scraper 101 extending outside the magnet roller 100, and is brought into contact with the end face 100a of the magnet roller 100. Toner runs around. As shown in FIG. 12B, the toner that has reached the end face may fall and contaminate the main body, or the toner may aggregate (block) on the end face 100a.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the magnetized pattern spirally arranged up to the end portion 29b at the end portion 29b of the magnet roller 29 is arranged in the direction along the rotation axis 31, so that the toner is By preventing the magnet roller 29 from falling around the end face 29a, contamination of the main body and aggregation of the toner can be prevented.

The toner staying at the terminal end 29b of the magnet roller 29 is pushed out by the sequentially conveyed toner, falls from the entrance of the guide path 34 by its own weight, and is conveyed (returned) to the developing device 7. By providing the guide path 34, the toner can be easily transported to the developing device 7 located at a position separated from the magnet roller 29. By returning the toner to the developing device 7, the toner can be reused.

Next, other 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. 5 shows a magnet roller 29 according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the magnet roller 2
The magnetized pattern at the end portion 29b of No. 9 is arranged in the direction along the rotation direction of the magnet roller 29. Even when the magnetization pattern of the magnet roller 29 is arranged in this manner, the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained.

FIG. 6 shows a magnet roller 29 according to the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the magnet roller 2
9, the magnetization pattern at the end portion 29b is
It is arranged in the direction opposite to the direction of the spiral arranged up to b. In this case, the conveyed toner does not accumulate on the end surface 29a of the magnet roller 29 but stays at the portion D where the spiral direction changes. Therefore,
Also in the third embodiment, the same operation and effect as those in the first embodiment are provided.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a toner conveying device 27 according to a fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the main body structure 35
, A rib 39 is protruded in the axial direction of the magnet roller 29 in the vicinity of the terminal end portion 29b of the magnet roller 29, and a magnetic body 37 for attracting toner is attached to the rib 39.

For example, replacement of the magnet roller 29, etc.
At the time of maintenance of the main body, the structure 35 and the magnet roller 29 may be tilted. At this time, there is a possibility that toner may leak from a gap generated due to a tolerance between the structure 35 and the magnet roller 29, as shown in FIG. Since the magnetic substance 37 draws in the toner to be leaked, the leakage of the toner can be prevented.

FIG. 9 shows a toner conveying device 2 according to the fifth embodiment.
7 is shown. In the fifth embodiment, in the structure 35 of the main body, near the end portion 29 b of the magnet roller 29,
A fitting recess 39 is formed, and a rubber magnet sheet 41 as a magnetic material is fitted in the fitting recess 39. As is apparent from FIG. 9, the magnetization pattern of the rubber magnet sheet 37 is such that the S pole and the N pole are alternately arranged, and the toner that is to leak out of the gap between the structure 35 and the magnet roller 29. Attraction. Therefore, the same operation and effect as those of the above-described fourth embodiment can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, N1400 manufactured by Sumitomo 3M is used as the rubber magnet sheet 37. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is sufficient if the rubber magnet sheet 37 has a magnetic force. Further, the magnet sheet 37 can be used as the magnetic body 37 of the above-described fourth embodiment.

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. For example, instead of the magnet roller 29, a rubber magnet sheet as in the fifth embodiment may be spirally wound around a non-magnetic roller to form a magnetic force generating band. 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, in a copying machine, the toner is conveyed from the cleaning device 21 to a collection container for collecting the toner. May be used for the part that transports the paper.

Further, although the present invention is applied to a copying machine, 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.

[0052]

According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the toner can be conveyed with a simple structure in which the scraper is provided on the rotating member having the magnetic force generating band, and the scattering of the toner can be prevented. In addition, since it is difficult to convey the toner to the end surface of the rotating member, it is possible to prevent the toner from staying and accumulating on the end surface of the rotating member, and prevent the accumulated toner from falling by its own weight and contaminating the main body. I do.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the magnetic material is provided, the toner is attracted to the magnetic material.
Leakage of toner can be prevented.

According to the fifth 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.

[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 perspective view showing a state in which a scraper is in contact with a magnet roller.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views showing a magnet roller, wherein FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of a magnetized pattern viewed from a side cross section of the magnet roller, and FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram showing a direction of a spiral magnetized pattern. .

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a toner conveying device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a magnet roller according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a magnet roller according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a toner conveying device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the vicinity of the magnet roller of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a toner conveying device according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view comparing a case where a spiral magnetized pattern is arranged over both ends of a magnet roller.

11 shows a state in which the magnet roller of FIG. 10 is longer than the scraper, FIG. 11 (a) is a plan view showing the vicinity of the magnet roller, and FIG. 11 (b) is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the magnet roller.

12 shows a state in which the magnet roller of FIG. 10 is shorter than the scraper, FIG. 12 (a) is a plan view showing the vicinity of the magnet roller, and FIG. 12 (b) is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the magnet roller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 7 Developing Device (Recovery Container) 27 Toner Conveying Device 29 Magnet Roller (Rotating Member) 29a End Part (One End) 31 Rotary Shaft (Axis) 33 Scraper 34 Guide Path 35 Structure 37 Magnetic Material 41 Rubber Magnet Sheet (Magnetic Material)

Claims (5)

[Claims] A rotating member that rotates about an axis and draws toner by a spiral magnetic field generating band; and a scraper that abuts along the axial direction of the rotating member to block the toner. Is a toner conveying device that conveys the toner on the rotating member toward one end of the rotating member while being blocked by the scraper, wherein the magnetic force generating band is oriented along the axial direction of the rotating member at one end of the rotating member. A toner conveying device, wherein the toner conveying device is disposed in the toner conveying device. 2. A cylindrical rotating member which rotates around an axis and draws toner by a magnetic force generating band spirally arranged from one end thereof, and a scraper which abuts along the axial direction of the rotating member to block the toner. A toner conveying device for conveying the toner from one end of the rotating member toward the terminal end while being blocked by the scraper, wherein the magnetic force generating band rotates at the terminal end of the rotating member in the toner conveying direction. A toner conveying device arranged in a direction along a rotation direction of a member. 3. A cylindrical rotating member which rotates around an axis and draws toner by a magnetic force generating band spirally arranged from one end thereof, and a scraper which abuts along the axial direction of the rotating member to block the toner. A toner conveying device in which the toner is conveyed from one end of the rotating member toward the terminal end while being blocked by the scraper, wherein the spiral of the magnetic force generating band is formed at the terminal end of the rotating member in the toner conveying direction. A toner conveying device characterized in that the direction is reversed. 4. The toner conveying device according to claim 1, further comprising a magnetic material that attracts toner near one end of the rotating member in the structure that supports the rotating member. . 5. The rotating member is inclined downward from one end of the rotating member,
The toner conveying device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide path that guides the toner to a collection container provided below the rotating member.