JP2001051569A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an image forming device by which the wasteful driving time of a recovered toner carrying means carrying recovered toner by intermittent driving can be eliminated even in the case of consecutive image formation, carriage quality of the recovered toner is improved, the mixing ratio of the recovered toner being carried and used again with respect to new toner becomes constant, so that the quality of an image to be formed is improved. SOLUTION: This device is constituted of the recovered toner carrying means 5 carrying the recovered toner obtained by recovering remaining toner adhering and remaining on an image carrier 1 by a cleaning means 4 after transferring by a transfer means 3 to a developing means 2 as mixed air flow with gas, and an intermittent driving means 6 intermittently driving the means 5 so that recovered toner amount to be inputted to the means 5 becomes a specified amount at a driving interval by which the means 5 is intermittently driven so that the recovered toner is carried as the mixed air flow with the gas after the turning condition of the image carrier 1 is detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a residual toner remaining on an image carrier after transferring a toner image formed on the image carrier in an electrophotographic system to a transfer target. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a multifunction machine for forming an image by reusing the collected image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
2. Description of the Related Art A cleaning device that removes and collects residual toner remaining on a photosensitive drum of an image carrier after transfer of a formed image to a transfer target by a cleaning blade or the like is conventionally known. In recent years, since effective use of resources and reduction of operating costs have been demanded, in order to reuse the residual toner collected by the cleaning device,
2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus is known in which a collected toner is returned to a developing device by a transfer device, mixed with new toner, and reused again for forming a toner image on a photosensitive drum of an image carrier (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6 (1994) -108).
175488). As a device for transferring the collected toner described above, a powder screw pump called a so-called mono pump is used as a pump having a high degree of freedom in a transfer path and capable of transferring powder. It is also known that air is mixed and fluidized and transferred (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-22).
8170, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-73079, etc.). As a transfer device for the collected toner using a powder screw pump called a so-called mono pump, a powder screw pump collected by a cleaning means and conveyed through the elastic tube as a mixture with air by a powder screw pump called a so-called mono pump. In order to reliably transport the collected toner, the powder screw pump, which is commonly called a mono pump, is not driven at all times because of problems such as life, airtightness, temperature rise, and toner scattering. Thus, the drive is performed only when it is detected that the amount of the collected toner in the toner reservoir reaches a predetermined amount. Further, the powder screw pump, which is generally called a monopump of the collected toner transferring means, has a structure in which when the number of pixels counted by the pixel number detecting means at the time of image formation reaches a predetermined number, the collected toner in the toner collecting portion is stored. It has also been proposed to assume that the amount has reached the fixed amount and to perform the intermittent drive so as to omit the collected toner amount detecting means.

The intermittent driving of the powder screw pump, which is generally called a mono pump, of the collected toner transferring means is intermittently driven at the same number of sheets in any paper feeding mode for the same image. However, for example, in the “1 to 1” copy in which one copy image is formed, the number of rotations of the photosensitive drum of the image carrier per copy is larger than in the “continuous” copy in which a plurality of copy images are continuously formed. Since the moving time is several times longer, the amount of collected toner input to the powder screw pump of the collected toner transfer means is increased by the amount of background contamination on the photosensitive drum of the image carrier, and the effect is smaller for images having a lower image ratio. Is large, and “1 to 1” copy of an image having an image ratio of about 5% is 3 to
The input amount of collected toner is about five times as large. Further, when the rotating state of the image carrier immediately after the power is turned on is the pre-rotation immediately after the power is turned on, the developer is not sufficiently charged. The input amount of the collected toner is larger than that at the time of formation. Furthermore, in the case of the toner consumption pattern for adjusting the toner concentration immediately after the power is turned on or the pattern for measuring the toner concentration on the photoconductor of the image carrier, the toner on the photoconductor of the image carrier is not transferred to the transfer target. The input amount of the collected toner is several times as large as that during normal image formation. Furthermore, the rotation time of the photoconductor of the image carrier varies depending on the size of the transfer paper of the transfer object and the shape of the vertical and horizontal papers, and the size of the transfer paper of the transfer medium is large,
The input amount of the collected toner is larger than that in the normal image formation. The intermittent drive interval of such a powder screw pump, commonly called a mono pump, must be set in accordance with the input amount in "1 to 1" copy, and useless drive is performed during "continuous" copy. Was. Similarly, the rotation state of the image carrier, the presence or absence of transfer of the toner image formed on the image carrier to the transfer target (P), the shape of the transfer target, and the like are also taken into consideration in consideration of the environment and the like. Assuming the worst case, it is inevitable to set the interval so as to drive early with a margin. Therefore, in such a conventional image forming apparatus, the collected toner transferring means for transferring the collected toner by intermittently driving often wastefully drives the continuous image formation, the conveyance quality of the collected toner deteriorates quickly, and the new toner is not used. There has been a problem that the mixing ratio of the recovered toner to be transferred and reused is uncertain, and the quality of the formed image deteriorates.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional image forming apparatus, the waste toner driving means for intermittently driving the waste toner to transfer the waste toner has a long driving time, and the quality of the waste toner is deteriorated quickly. There has been a problem that the mixing ratio of the recovered toner to be transferred and reused with respect to the new toner is uncertain, and the quality of the formed image deteriorates. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve such a problem. That is, even during continuous image formation of the collected toner transferring means for transferring the collected toner by intermittently driving, there is no useless driving time, the collected toner transfer quality is improved, and the collected toner to be transferred and reused for new toner. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which the mixture ratio of is constant and the quality of the formed image is improved.

[0005]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier after transferring a toner image formed on the image carrier in an electrophotographic system to a transfer member. In an image forming apparatus that forms an image by collecting and reusing residual toner remaining on an upper portion, an image carrier that is rotatably supported and carries a formed image, and a toner image is formed on the image carrier. Developing means for forming, transferring means for transferring the toner image formed by the developing means to a transfer body, and attaching and remaining on the image carrier after transferring the toner image by the transfer means to the transfer body Cleaning means for collecting the residual toner, collected toner transfer means for transferring the collected toner collected by the cleaning means to the developing means as a mixed gas flow with gas, and After the rotation state of the image carrier is detected, the amount of the collected toner input to the collected toner transferring means at the drive interval for intermittently driving to transfer the collected toner as a gas mixture with the gas to a predetermined amount. The most important feature of the present invention is that the image forming apparatus comprises an intermittent driving means for intermittently driving the collected toner transferring means. A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the collected toner transferring means is an image forming apparatus including a powder screw pump. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the second aspect, the powder screw pump is contained in the stator and is contained in the stator, and is rotated in contact with the powder screw pump to be collected in the axial direction. The main feature is that the image forming apparatus is composed of a rotor for transferring toner. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first, second or third aspect, the recovered toner transferring means is an image forming apparatus including a gas supply pump for supplying gas to a powder screw pump. Main features.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first, second, third or fourth aspect, the intermittent driving means sets a rotation state signal at the start of rotation of the image carrier. A signal setting means for a body rotation state, a first signal setting means for setting a first signal when the image carrier starts rotating, and a number of pixels of an image formed on the image carrier. The main feature is that the image forming apparatus includes the second signal setting unit. The present invention according to claim 6 is based on claim 1,
2. The image forming apparatus according to 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the intermittent driving means includes a setting value set by a signal setting means for rotating the image carrier and a setting value set by the first signal setting means. , Adding the set value set by the second signal setting means,
The main feature of the present invention is that the image forming apparatus is configured to start the driving of the collected toner transfer unit after the integrated value reaches a predetermined value. The invention according to claim 7 is based on claims 1, 2, 3, 4,
7. The image forming apparatus according to 5 or 6, wherein the intermittent driving unit is configured to start driving the collected toner transfer unit, continue driving the collected toner transfer unit, and stop driving after a lapse of a predetermined time. It is the main feature. According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fifth, sixth or seventh aspect, the first signal setting means detects a shape of the transfer target body onto which the toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred. The main feature of the present invention is that the image forming apparatus performs the following operations. According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth aspect, the first signal setting means is configured to transfer the toner image formed on the image carrier to the transfer receiving body. The main feature is that the image forming apparatus detects the presence or absence.

[0007]

In the image forming apparatus constructed as described above, in the first aspect, the residual toner adhered to the image carrier after the transfer of the toner image by the transfer means to the transfer receiving body is collected by the cleaning means. Collected toner transfer means for transferring the collected toner to the developing means as a mixed gas flow with gas,
After the rotation state of the image carrier is detected by the intermittent drive unit, the collected toner transfer unit is intermittently set so that the amount of the collected toner input to the collected toner transfer unit at the drive interval for the intermittent drive becomes a predetermined amount. When the continuous image formation is performed by the collecting toner transferring means for transferring the collected toner by intermittently driving according to the rotating state of the image carrier by driving to form an image, no wasteful driving time is required. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the transfer quality of toner is improved, and the mixing ratio of recovered toner to be transferred and reused with respect to new toner is constant, and the quality of an image formed is improved. According to the second aspect, after the transfer of the toner image by the transfer unit to the transfer-receiving member, the residual toner adhered to the image carrier and remaining is recovered by the cleaning unit, and the recovered toner is transferred to the developing unit as a mixed gas flow with gas. After the rotation of the image carrier is detected by the intermittent driving means, the amount of the collected toner input to the powder screw pump of the collected toner transferring means is determined by the intermittent driving means. The powder screw pump of the collected toner transfer means is intermittently driven to form an image so as to have a predetermined amount, and the collected toner is intermittently driven according to the rotation state of the image carrier. There is no useless drive time during continuous image formation of the powder screw pump of the collected toner transfer means to be transferred, and the transfer quality of the collected toner is improved. It is to be able to provide an image forming apparatus for image quality improvement mixing ratio of the recovery toner transferring and reused to the toner is formed remains constant.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the developing unit converts the toner image adhered to the image carrier after transfer of the toner image by the transfer unit onto the image carrier and collects the collected toner by the cleaning unit as a mixed gas flow with the gas. After the rotation of the image carrier is detected by the intermittent driving means, the powder screw pump of the collected toner transferring means is transferred to the collecting screw inputted to the powder screw pump of the collected toner transferring means. The powder screw pump of the collected toner transfer means is intermittently driven to form an image so that the toner amount becomes a predetermined amount, and the powder screw pump is included in and contacts a stator fixed to the holder. The recovered toner is transported in the axial direction by the rotating rotor, and the degree of freedom of the transport path for transporting the recovered toner is increased. There is no useless driving time during continuous image formation of the powder screw pump of the collection toner transfer means for transferring the collection toner by intermittently driving the collection toner in accordance with the rotation state of the carrier, and the collection quality of the collection toner is improved. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the mixing ratio of the recovered toner to be transferred and reused with respect to the new toner is constant and the quality of the formed image is improved. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the residual toner adhered to the image carrier after the transfer of the toner image by the transfer unit to the transfer receiving body is recovered by the cleaning unit, and the collected toner is transferred to the developing unit as a mixed gas flow with the gas. After detecting the rotation state of the image carrier by the intermittent driving means, the collected toner transfer means is controlled so that the amount of collected toner input to the collected toner transfer means at the drive interval for intermittent driving becomes a predetermined amount. The collected toner transfer means is intermittently driven to form an image, and the collected toner transfer means comprises a gas supply pump for supplying gas to the powder screw pump, so that the transfer path for more reliably transferring the collected toner is free. And the collected toner transferring means for transferring the collected toner by intermittently driving according to the rotating state of the image carrier has no effect during continuous image formation. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the transfer quality of the collected toner is improved without any driving time, the mixing ratio of the collected toner to be transferred and reused with respect to the new toner is constant, and the quality of the formed image is also improved. To do.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the developing means converts the toner image adhered to the image carrier after transfer of the toner image by the transfer means onto the image carrier and collects the collected toner by the cleaning means as a mixed gas flow with the gas. After the rotation state of the image carrier is detected by the intermittent driving means, the amount of the collected toner input to the collected toner transferring means at the intermittently driving interval is set to a predetermined amount. The intermittent drive means intermittently drives the collected toner transfer means to form an image, and the intermittent drive means sets a signal of the rotation state at the start of rotation of the image carrier. A first signal setting means for setting a first signal when the body starts to rotate; and a second signal setting means for setting the number of pixels of an image formed on the image carrier. A simple device does not require a sensor for detecting the amount of collected toner, so that the cost is low, and the collected toner transferring means for transferring the collected toner by intermittently driving according to the rotating state of the image carrier is useless at the time of continuous image formation. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which there is no driving time, the transfer quality of the recovered toner is improved, and the mixing ratio of the recovered toner to be transferred and reused with respect to the new toner is constant and the quality of the formed image is also improved. To In the present invention, the residual toner adhered on the image carrier after the transfer of the toner image by the transfer unit to the transfer receiving body is collected by the cleaning unit, and the collected toner is transferred to the developing unit as a mixed gas flow with the gas. After detecting the rotation state of the image carrier by the intermittent driving means, the collected toner transfer means is controlled so that the amount of collected toner input to the collected toner transfer means at the drive interval for intermittent driving becomes a predetermined amount. The intermittent drive means intermittently drives the collected toner transfer means to form an image, and the intermittent drive means sets the value set by the signal setting means for rotating the image carrier, the set value set by the first signal setting means, and the second value. After the set values set by the signal setting means are added and integrated to reach a predetermined value, the drive of the collected toner transfer means is started, so that the intermittent operation is performed in accordance with the rotation state of the image carrier. There is no useless driving time during continuous image formation of the collected toner transferring means for moving and transferring the collected toner, the driving is reliably started, the transfer quality of the collected toner is improved, and the transfer of new toner is performed. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the mixture ratio of the used toner is constant and the quality of the formed image is improved. In the present invention, the residual toner adhered to the image carrier after the transfer of the toner image by the transfer unit to the transfer receiving body is recovered by the cleaning unit, and the recovered toner is transferred to the developing unit as a mixed gas flow with the gas. After detecting the rotation state of the image carrier by the intermittent driving means, the collected toner transfer means is controlled so that the amount of collected toner input to the collected toner transfer means at the drive interval for intermittent driving becomes a predetermined amount. The intermittent drive unit intermittently drives the collected toner transfer unit to form an image, and the intermittent drive unit continues to drive the collected toner transfer unit after starting the drive of the collected toner transfer unit and stops the drive after a predetermined time elapses. There is no useless drive time during continuous image formation of the collected toner transfer unit that transfers the collected toner by intermittently driving according to the rotation state of the image carrier. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the driving is reliably stopped, the transfer quality of the recovered toner is also improved, and the mixing ratio of the recovered toner to be transferred and reused with respect to the new toner is constant and the quality of the formed image is improved. Make it possible.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the developing unit converts the toner image adhered to the image carrier after transfer of the toner image by the transfer unit onto the image bearing member and collects the collected toner by the cleaning unit into a mixed gas flow with the gas. After the rotation state of the image carrier is detected by the intermittent driving means, the amount of the collected toner input to the collected toner transferring means at the intermittently driving interval is set to a predetermined amount. The intermittent drive means intermittently drives the collected toner transfer means to form an image, and the intermittent drive means sets a signal of the rotation state at the start of rotation of the image carrier. First signal setting means for detecting a shape of a transfer-receiving body onto which a toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred when the body starts rotating, and setting a first signal; and forming the first signal on the image carrier. The second set number of pixels of the image in which
And the cost is reduced because a sensor for detecting the amount of collected toner is unnecessary, and the shape of the transfer target body on which the toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred when the image carrier starts rotating. In response to the rotating state of the image carrier, the collected toner transferring means for intermittently driving and transferring the collected toner has no wasted driving time even during continuous image formation, and the collected toner transfer quality has been improved. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the mixing ratio of the collected toner to be transferred and reused with respect to the toner is constant and the quality of the formed image is improved. In the ninth aspect, the residual toner adhered to the image carrier after the transfer of the toner image by the transfer unit to the transfer receiving body is collected by the cleaning unit, and the collected toner is transferred to the developing unit as a mixed gas flow with the gas. After detecting the rotation state of the image carrier by the intermittent driving means, the collected toner transfer means is controlled so that the amount of collected toner input to the collected toner transfer means at the drive interval for intermittent driving becomes a predetermined amount. The intermittent drive means intermittently drives the collected toner transfer means to form an image, and the intermittent drive means sets an image carrier rotation signal at the start of rotation of the image carrier. First signal setting means for detecting the presence or absence of transfer of the toner image formed on the image carrier to the transfer receiving body at the start of the movement and setting a first signal, and the first signal setting means for the image formed on the image carrier. The second signal setting means, which is set by a prime number, eliminates the need for a sensor for detecting the amount of collected toner and reduces the cost, and allows the toner image to be formed on the image carrier when the image carrier starts rotating. In accordance with the presence or absence of transfer to the transfer member and the rotation state of the image carrier, there is no useless driving time during continuous image formation of the collected toner transferring means for transferring the collected toner by intermittently driving the collected toner. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the transfer quality is improved, and the mixing ratio of the recovered toner to be transferred and reused with respect to the new toner is constant, and the quality of the formed image is also improved.

[0011]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, a digital copying machine of an image forming apparatus 0 uses a well-known electrophotographic system,
A drum-shaped photoconductor of an image carrier 1 that is rotatably supported by a support member (not shown) and carries a formed image is provided therein. An electrophotographic copying process is performed around the drum-shaped photoreceptor of the image carrier 1 along the rotation direction of the arrow A shown in the drawing, and the drum-shaped photoreceptor of the image carrier 1 is uniformly charged. Charging means 7, exposing means 8 for exposing an image formed on the drum-shaped photoreceptor of the image carrier 1 uniformly charged by the charging means 7 to form an electrostatic latent image, Developing means 2 for developing the electrostatic latent image on the drum-shaped photoreceptor to form a toner image; transfer means 3 for transferring the toner image formed by the developing means 2 onto a transfer sheet of a transfer target (P); After transferring the toner image by the transfer unit 3 onto the transfer paper of the transfer-receiving member (P), a cleaning unit 4 that collects residual toner remaining on the drum-shaped photoconductor of the image carrier 1 as collected toner is disposed. Have been. The recovered toner transfer means 5 is composed of a powder screw pump 5a, commonly called a mono pump, and a gas supply pump 5b for supplying gaseous air to the powder screw pump 5a. The collected toner collected by the cleaning unit 4 is transported to the developing unit 2 as a mixed gas flow with the gas. The intermittent drive unit 6 controls the powder screw pump 5 a and the gas supply pump 5 b, which are commonly called a mono pump, of the collected toner transfer unit 5 to detect the rotation state of the image carrier 1, and then to mix the collected toner with the gas. The powder screw pump 5a and the gas supply are controlled so that the amount of the collected toner input to the powder screw pump 5a of the collected toner transferring means 5 becomes a predetermined amount at a drive interval of intermittent driving for the transfer. The pump 5b is intermittently driven. The exposing unit 8 scans the original (O) screen placed on the original placing table 8 a on the upper surface of the main body 0 a of the image forming apparatus 0 on the basis of the image signal read by the reading unit 8 b. The electrostatic latent image is formed by scanning the photoconductor with a laser beam. The electrostatic latent image formed on the drum-shaped photoreceptor of the image carrier 1 is formed into a toner image by the developing means 2, and the toner image is transferred from the sheet feeding means 9 to the transfer-receiving body (P). Is electrostatically transferred to the transfer paper by the transfer means 3. The transfer sheet of the transfer-receiving body (P) onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 10 and fixed, and then discharged from the discharge roller 11 to the discharge tray 12 and stored.

In FIG. 2, the developing means 2 is a two-component developing device, and contains a developer composed of a carrier and a toner in a developing tank 2a. When the developing unit 2 forms the toner image, the toner of the developer is consumed, the ratio decreases, the toner density decreases, and the image density of the formed image decreases. Therefore, in order to suppress a decrease in the density of the formed image, when the toner density in the developer becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the toner is supplied from the toner hopper 2b to maintain the toner density in the developer. . The toner concentration in the developer is measured by a magnetic permeability sensor 2c attached below the developing tank 2a. The toner supplied from the toner hopper 2b via the supply roller 2d is frictionally charged while being agitated with the carrier by the agitating member 2e in the developing tank 2a. The developer including the carrier and the toner is jumped up to the developing roller 2g by the paddle wheel 2f, and is attracted onto the developing roller 2g by a magnet (not shown) in the developing roller 2g. The developer is transported by an outer sleeve (not shown) of the developing roller 2g, and the excess is scraped off by a developing doctor 2h. The toner in the developer conveyed to the drum-shaped photoconductor side of the image carrier 1 adheres to the drum-shaped photoconductor of the image carrier 1 by a developing bias corresponding to the electrostatic latent image. The toner adhered on the drum-shaped photoconductor of the image carrier 1 by the development of the developing unit 2 is transferred by the transfer unit 3 to the transfer target (P).
About 10% of the toner is untransferred, adheres to the drum-shaped photoreceptor of the image carrier 1, and remains as residual toner. The untransferred toner, which remains on the drum-shaped photoconductor of the image carrier 1 and remains on the drum-shaped photoconductor of the image carrier 1, is cleaned by the cleaning blade 4 a and the brush roller 4 b of the cleaning unit 4. It is scraped off. The collected toner scraped and collected by the cleaning blade 4a and the brush roller 4b of the cleaning means 4 falls by its own weight from the discharge port 4c to be reused as the reused toner, and the toner guide member 4d By
The collected toner is conveyed as collected toner to the powder screw pump 5 a of the collected toner transfer means 5. The toner guide member 4d also serves as a collected toner transfer path for sending collected toner from the cleaning unit 4 to the powder screw pump 5a of the collected toner transfer unit 5. On the other hand, the transfer cleaning means 3b is also provided on the transfer belt 3a of the transfer means 3 because the residual toner adheres to the untransferred portions and the non-image portions of the image carrier 1 on the drum-shaped photosensitive member. ing. Transfer belt 3
Residual toner remaining on the transfer belt 3a is scraped off by a cleaning blade of the transfer cleaning unit 3b that is in sliding contact with the transfer belt 3a. Since there is a high possibility that the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade of the transfer cleaning unit 3b contains foreign matter such as paper dust, the toner falls by its own weight from the discharge port 3c and is discharged via the toner guide member 3d. After being sent to the container 13, it is discarded.

3 and 4, the powder screw pump 5a of the recovered toner transferring means 5 transfers the recovered toner to the developing means 2 as a mixture of the recovered toner and the gas air supplied by the gas supply pump 5b. To be transported. Powder screw pump 5a of the recovery toner transferring means 5, and a rotor 5a ₃ to move the collected toner in the axial direction by rotating in contact with the stator 5a _2, the stator 5a ₂ is fixed to the holder 5a ₁ And the stator 5a
₂ are arranged to form a passage so as to surround the rotor 5a _3. The rotor 5a ₃ is engaged with the transverse conveying screw 5c axis. The other end of the horizontal transport screw 5c is engaged with the seal member 5d, the bearing 5e, and the rotating shaft 6d of the driving motor of the intermittent driving unit 6, and the intermittent rotating driving force of the rotating shaft 6d of the driving motor of the intermittent driving unit 6 is used. The rotor 5a ₃ and the horizontal transport screw 5c are intermittently driven to rotate. The powder screw pump 5a and the gas supply pump 5b of the recovered toner transfer unit 5 are connected to the signal setting unit 6a, the first signal setting unit 6b, and the second signal setting unit 6c of the intermittent driving unit 6 for rotating the image carrier. With the signal setting described above, the micro-processing unit (MPU) 6e allows the rotation shaft 6d of the drive motor and the horizontal transport screw 5
c) After the rotor 5a ₃ starts the intermittent rotation drive and starts the transfer operation of the collected toner, the rotor 5a ₃ is continuously rotated and driven for a predetermined time and then stopped, so that the transfer operation of the collected toner is stopped. Then, control is performed such that the collected toner transfer operation is performed intermittently.

The signal of the rotation state of the image carrier of the intermittent driving means 6 is transmitted.
The signal setting means 6a includes a power switch 6a₁In conjunction with
Improper charging of the developer in the developing means 2 immediately after the power is supplied
Image with a larger amount of toner attached than during normal image formation
Detecting the pre-rotational state of the drum-shaped photoconductor of the image carrier 1
For example, in the case of the pre-rotation state, the toner consumption amount is added.
The value is 3000mg, and the toner consumption pattern is written.
5 times the number of pixels counted, and then consume toner
The amount is set and added. The first intermittent drive means 6
The signal setting means 6b includes a transfer paper shape detecting means 6b.₁By
And the drum-shaped photosensitive member of the image carrier 1
To be transferred to the nip portion of the transfer means 3
The shape of the transfer paper of (P) is set to the size of the transfer paper and
Detects horizontal paper passing and, for example,
Is set and added. The first signal of the intermittent drive means 6
Signal setting means 6b, P pattern detecting means 6b_TwoBy
The toner density at the start of the rotation of the drum-shaped photoconductor of the image carrier 1
Consumption toner pattern for image adjustment and drum shape of image carrier 1
The toner for measuring the toner concentration on the photoconductor
Detects when the P pattern is not transferred to the transfer paper of (P)
For example, in the case of the P pattern, five times the number of counted pixels
Then, the toner consumption is set and added. Intermittent drive
The second signal setting means 6c of the moving means 6 includes an image carrier
1 formed by the exposure means 8 on the drum-shaped photosensitive member.
Pixel number counter 6c ₁, And
The number of pixels counted for each transfer sheet of the transfer object (P)
-Converted to consumption and set and added. Intermittent drive means
6 above micro-processing unit (MP
U) 6e, the image carrier rotating state of the intermittent driving means 6
And the first set value set by the signal setting means 6a.
Setting value set by the signal setting means 6b, the second signal
The setting values set by the setting means 6c are added, and for example,
When the integrated value of the toner consumption reaches 3000 mg,
The rotor 5a_ThreeAnd the gas supply pump 5b are turned on at the same time.
You. Then, the rotor 5a_ThreeAnd the gas supply pump 5b
Turn OFF in order. After turning off the gas supply pump 5b,
The toner consumption integrated value is reset.

In FIG. 5, after the recovered toner transferring means 5 detects the rotation state of the drum-shaped photosensitive member of the image carrier 1 by the micro-processing unit (MPU) 6e of the intermittent drive means 6, the recovered toner The collected toner transfer means 5 is intermittently driven so that the amount of collected toner input to the collected toner transfer means 5 at a drive interval for intermittently driving the toner to be transferred as a mixed gas flow with gas becomes a predetermined amount. Is controlled. Here, the pixel count is converted into the toner consumption amount, but there is no particular problem in control with the pixel count integrated value and the collected toner amount. The signal setting means 6a of the image bearing member rotation state of the intermittent drive means 6, in conjunction with the power switch 6a _1, normal image for charging insufficient developer of the the developing unit 2 immediately after power-on Image carrier 1 having a larger amount of toner attached than at the time of formation
The pre-rotation state of the drum-shaped photoconductor is detected (step 1). If the drum-shaped photoconductor of the image carrier 1 is in the pre-rotation state, a toner consumption of 300 mg is set and added (step 2). It is determined whether the pattern consumes toner (step 3). If the pattern consumes toner, the toner consumption is set from the pixel count multiplied by 5 and added, and then the process proceeds to step 9 (step 4). If the pattern does not consume toner, the process ends.

If the drum-shaped photoreceptor of the image carrier 1 is not in the pre-rotation state, the transfer paper shape detecting means 6b1 of the _first signal setting means 6b of the intermittent driving means 6 causes the transfer paper shape detecting means 6b1 to output the signal from the paper feeding means 9. The shape of the transfer sheet of the transfer member (P) conveyed to the nip portion of the drum-shaped photoreceptor of the image carrier 1 and the transfer means 3 is detected by detecting the size of the transfer sheet and whether the sheet is passed vertically or horizontally. (Step 5) The table 1 corresponding to the size of the detected transfer paper of the transfer object (P) and the shape of the vertical or horizontal paper passing.
, The toner consumption amount is set, and the transfer paper shape is set to size A5.
Lengthwise paper is 60 mg, transfer paper size is A5 and widthwise paper is 4
0 mg, transfer paper shape of size A4 vertical paper 90 mg, transfer paper shape of size A4 horizontal paper 60 mg, transfer paper shape of size A3 vertical paper 120 mg, transfer paper shape of size B
5 vertical paper 80 mg, transfer paper shape size B5 horizontal paper 50 mg, transfer paper shape size B4 vertical paper 110 mg
There is added (Step 6), the P pattern detection means 6b ₂ of the first signal setting means 6b of the intermittent drive means 6, for toner density adjustment at the start rotation of the drum-shaped photosensitive member of the image bearing member 1 It is determined whether the toner consumption pattern or the toner density for measuring the toner density on the drum-shaped photoconductor of the image carrier 1 has been detected at the time of the P pattern in which the toner is not transferred to the transfer paper of the transfer object (P) (step 7) If the time of the P pattern is detected, the process proceeds to (Step 4). If the time of the P pattern is not detected, the second signal setting means 6 of the intermittent driving means 6 is operated.
c on the drum-shaped photoreceptor of the image carrier 1
The number of pixels of the image formed by the pixel number counter 6c
_The number of pixels counted for each transfer sheet of the transfer-receiving body (P) is converted into a toner consumption amount, set and added (step 8). The set value set by the signal setting means 6a in the moving state, the set value set by the first signal setting means 6b, and the set value set by the second signal setting means 6c are added, and the toner consumption It is determined whether or not the integrated value has reached 3000 mg (step 9). If the integrated value is 3000 mg or less, it is determined whether or not the next copy exists (step 10). If there is no next copy to 7), the process ends. If the integrated value is 3000mg or more, and ON simultaneously the rotor 5a ₃ and the gas supply pump 5b (step 11), the rotor 5a ₃ after the toner transfer O
FF (step 12), the gas supply pump 5b is turned off.
F (step (13)), the integrated value of the toner consumption is reset (step 14), and the presence or absence of the next copy is determined (step 15). If there is the next copy, the process proceeds to (step 7). If there is no next copy, the process ends.

[0017]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the toner image adheres to the image carrier after the toner image is transferred to the object by the transfer means. A drive interval for intermittently driving the collected toner transfer means for transferring the collected toner collected by the cleaning means to the developing means as a mixed gas flow with the gas after detecting the rotation state of the image carrier by the intermittent drive means The intermittently driving the collected toner transferring means to form an image so that the amount of collected toner input to the collected toner transferring means becomes a predetermined amount, corresponds to the rotating state of the image carrier. Even during continuous image formation of the collected toner transferring means for transferring the collected toner by intermittently driving, there is no useless driving time, the transfer quality of the collected toner is improved, and the transfer of new toner is performed. Mixing ratio of the recovery toner reuse has become possible to provide an image forming apparatus for improved picture quality which is formed remains constant. According to the second aspect of the present invention, after the toner image transferred by the transfer unit is transferred to the transfer receiving body, the residual toner that adheres to the image carrier and remains is collected by the cleaning unit, and the collected toner is mixed with a gas to form a mixed gas flow. After the rotation of the image carrier is detected by the intermittent driving means, the powder screw pump of the collected toner transferring means is transferred to the collecting screw inputted to the powder screw pump of the collected toner transferring means. Since the powder screw pump of the collected toner transfer means is intermittently driven to form an image so that the toner amount becomes a predetermined amount, the intermittent drive is performed according to the rotation state of the image carrier. No wasteful drive time during continuous image formation of the powder screw pump of the collected toner transfer means that transfers collected toner by hand, and improves the transfer quality of the collected toner Te, has become possible mixing ratio of the recovery toner transferring and reused for new toner to provide an image forming apparatus for improved picture quality which is formed remains constant.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, after the transfer of the toner image by the transfer means to the transfer-receiving member, the residual toner which adheres to the image carrier and remains is collected by the cleaning means. After the rotation of the image carrier is detected by the intermittent drive unit, the powder screw pump of the recovered toner transfer unit that is transferred to the developing unit is input to the powder screw pump of the recovered toner transfer unit at the intermittent drive drive interval. The powder screw pump of the collected toner transferring means is intermittently driven to form an image so that the amount of collected toner to be obtained is a predetermined amount, and the powder screw pump is included in the stator fixed to the holder. Since the recovered toner is transported in the axial direction by the rotor that rotates in contact with the rotor, the degree of freedom of the transport path for transporting the recovered toner is high. In addition, there is no useless driving time even during continuous image formation of the powder screw pump of the collected toner transferring means for transferring the collected toner by intermittently driving the collected toner according to the rotation state of the image carrier, and the transfer quality of the collected toner. As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the mixing ratio of the collected toner to be transferred and reused with respect to the new toner is constant and the quality of the formed image is improved. According to the invention of claim 4, after the transfer of the toner image by the transfer means to the transfer receiving body, the residual toner which adheres to the image carrier and remains is collected by the cleaning means, and the collected toner is mixed with gas to form a mixed gas flow with the developing means. After the rotation state of the image carrier is detected by the intermittent driving means, the amount of the collected toner input to the collected toner transferring means at the intermittently driving interval is set to a predetermined amount. The collected toner transfer means is intermittently driven to form an image, and the collected toner transfer means comprises a gas supply pump for supplying gas to the powder screw pump, so that the collected toner is transferred more reliably. The degree of freedom of the transfer path is increased, and the intermittent driving of the image carrier in accordance with the rotation state of the image carrier transfers the collected toner. However, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that has no wasteful driving time, improves the transfer quality of the recovered toner, and maintains a constant mixing ratio of the recovered toner to be transferred and reused with respect to the new toner, thereby improving the quality of the formed image. I can do it. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the developing unit converts the toner image adhered on the image carrier after transfer of the toner image by the transfer unit onto the image receiving body and collects the collected toner by the cleaning unit as a mixed gas flow with the gas. After the rotation state of the image carrier is detected by the intermittent driving means, the amount of the collected toner input to the collected toner transferring means at the intermittently driving interval is set to a predetermined amount. The intermittent drive means intermittently drives the collected toner transfer means to form an image, and the intermittent drive means sets a signal of the rotation state at the start of rotation of the image carrier. Since the first signal setting means for setting the first signal when the body starts to rotate and the second signal setting means for setting the number of pixels of the image formed on the image carrier, A simple device eliminates the need for a sensor for detecting the amount of collected toner, which reduces costs, and drives the collected toner transfer means that intermittently drives and transfers collected toner according to the rotating state of the image carrier, even when performing continuous image formation. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the transfer quality of recovered toner is improved in a short time, the mixing ratio of the recovered toner to be transferred and reused with respect to new toner is constant, and the quality of an image formed is improved. became.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, after the transfer of the toner image by the transfer means to the transfer-receiving member, the residual toner which adheres to the image carrier and remains is collected by the cleaning means. After the rotation of the image carrier is detected by the intermittent driving means, the amount of the collected toner to be input to the collected toner transferring means is determined in advance. An image is formed by intermittently driving the collected toner transfer means so as to have a predetermined amount, and the intermittent drive means is set by the set value set by the signal setting means for rotating the image carrier and by the first signal setting means. The set value set by the second signal setting means and the set value set by the second signal setting means are added and integrated to reach a predetermined value, and then the drive of the collected toner transfer means is started. There is no useless driving time even during continuous image formation of the collected toner transferring means for transferring the collected toner by intermittently driving the collected toner in accordance with the state, the driving is reliably started, the transfer quality of the collected toner is improved, and It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the mixing ratio of the recovered toner to be transferred and reused with respect to the toner is constant and the quality of the formed image is improved. According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the developing means converts the toner image adhered on the image carrier after transfer of the toner image by the transfer means to the image receiving body and which is collected by the cleaning means into a mixed gas flow with the gas. After the rotation state of the image carrier is detected by the intermittent driving means, the amount of the collected toner input to the collected toner transferring means at the intermittently driving interval is set to a predetermined amount. The intermittent drive means starts driving the collected toner transfer means, continues driving the collected toner transfer means, and stops the drive after a predetermined time elapses. Therefore, the waste toner transfer means for transferring the waste toner by intermittently driving according to the rotation state of the image carrier also causes unnecessary drive during continuous image formation. Provided is an image forming apparatus in which the driving is reliably stopped, the transfer quality of the recovered toner is improved, and the mixing ratio of the recovered toner to be transferred and reused for the new toner is constant and the formed image quality is improved. Now you can do it.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, after the transfer of the toner image by the transfer means to the transfer receiving body, the residual toner which adheres to the image carrier and remains is recovered by the cleaning means, and the recovered toner is mixed with gas. After the rotation of the image carrier is detected by the intermittent driving means, the amount of the collected toner to be input to the collected toner transferring means is determined in advance. The intermittent drive means intermittently drives the collected toner transfer means so as to have a predetermined amount to form an image, and the intermittent drive means sets a rotation state signal at the start of rotation of the image carrier. A first signal setting means for detecting a shape of a transfer-receiving body onto which a toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred when the image carrier starts rotating, and setting a first signal; Since the second signal setting means is set by the number of pixels of the image to be formed, a sensor for detecting the amount of collected toner is unnecessary and the cost is reduced, and the image carrier is formed on the image carrier at the start of rotation. According to the shape of the transfer-receiving body on which the transferred toner image is transferred and the rotation state of the image carrier, the waste toner driving means for intermittently driving the waste toner to transfer the waste toner is used even during continuous image formation. As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the transfer quality of the recovered toner is improved, the mixing ratio of the recovered toner to be transferred and reused with respect to the new toner is constant, and the formed image quality is also improved. Was. According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the developing unit converts the collected toner remaining on the image carrier after transfer of the toner image by the transfer unit onto the image receiving body by the cleaning unit into a mixed gas flow with the gas. After the rotation state of the image carrier is detected by the intermittent driving means, the amount of the collected toner input to the collected toner transferring means at the intermittently driving interval is set to a predetermined amount. The intermittent drive means intermittently drives the collected toner transfer means to form an image, and the intermittent drive means sets a signal of the rotation state at the start of rotation of the image carrier. A first signal setting means for detecting whether or not a toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred to a transfer body when the body starts rotating, and setting a first signal; and a first signal setting means formed on the image carrier. Picture And the second signal setting means that is set by the number of pixels. Therefore, a sensor for detecting the amount of collected toner is unnecessary, the cost is reduced, and the toner formed on the image carrier when the image carrier starts rotating. In accordance with the presence or absence of transfer of the image to the transfer receiving body and the rotation state of the image carrier, there is no useless driving time even during continuous image formation of the collected toner transfer unit that intermittently drives and transfers the collected toner, It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the transfer quality of the recovered toner is improved, the mixing ratio of the recovered toner to be transferred and reused with respect to the new toner is constant, and the formed image quality is also improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating another main part of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view illustrating another main part of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of another main part of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

0 image forming apparatus, 0a main body 1 image carrier 2 developing means, 2a developing tank, 2b toner hopper, 2c magnetic permeability sensor, 2d replenishing roller, 2e
Stirring member, 2f paddle wheel, 2g developing roller,
2h developing doctor 3 transfer means, 3a transfer belt, 3b transfer cleaning means, 3c discharge port, 3d toner guide member 4 cleaning means, 4a cleaning blade,
4b brush roller, 4c discharge port, 4d toner guide member 5 collected toner transfer means, 5a powder screw pump, 5a ₁ holder, 5a ₂ stator, 5a ₃ rotor, 5b gas supply pump, 5c horizontal transport screw,
5d seal member, 5e bearing 6 intermittent drive means, 6a signal setting means for image carrier rotating state, 6a ₁ power switch, 6b first signal setting means, 6b ₁ transfer paper shape detection means, 6b ₂ P pattern detection means , 6c 2nd signal setting means, 6c ₁ pixel number counter, 6d rotation axis of drive motor, 6e micro processing unit (MPU) 7 charging means 8 exposure means, 8a document table, 8b reading means 9 paper feeding means DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fixing means 11 Discharge roller 12 Discharge tray 13 Waste toner container

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An image forming an image by collecting a residual toner remaining on an image carrier or the like after transferring a toner image formed on the image carrier to an image receiving body in an electrophotographic system and reusing the toner image to form an image. In the forming apparatus, an image carrier that is rotatably supported and carries a formed image, a developing unit that forms a toner image on the image carrier, and a toner image that is formed by the developing unit is transferred to a transfer target body. Transfer means for transferring, cleaning means for collecting residual toner adhered and remaining on the image carrier after transferring the toner image by the transfer means to a transfer-receiving body, and collecting the collected toner collected by the cleaning means with gas. Collecting toner transferring means for transferring the collected toner to the developing means as a mixed gas flow, and detecting the rotating state of the image carrier with the collected toner transferring means. Intermittently driving means for intermittently driving the collected toner transfer means so that the amount of collected toner input to the collected toner transfer means at a drive interval for intermittently driving to transfer as a stream is a predetermined amount. An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
An image forming apparatus, wherein the collected toner transferring means comprises a powder screw pump. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
An image forming apparatus comprising: a powder screw pump; a stator fixed to a holder; and a rotor contained in the stator and rotating in contact with the rotor to transfer collected toner in an axial direction. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the collected toner transferring means comprises a gas supply pump for supplying gas to the powder screw pump. 5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said intermittent driving means sets a signal of a rotation state at the start of rotation of said image carrier. Setting means, first signal setting means for setting a first signal when the image carrier starts rotating, and second signal setting means for setting the number of pixels of an image formed on the image carrier. An image forming apparatus comprising: 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermittent driving means includes a setting value set by a signal setting means for rotating the image carrier and a first signal. The set value set by the setting means and the set value set by the second signal setting means are added, integrated, and after a predetermined value is reached, the drive of the collected toner transfer means is started. Image forming apparatus. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermittent driving means continues to drive the collected toner transferring means after starting driving the collected toner transferring means. An image forming apparatus that stops driving after a lapse of a predetermined time. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first signal setting means detects a shape of a transfer target body onto which the toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred. Characteristic image forming apparatus. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first signal setting unit detects whether or not the toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred to the transfer member. An image forming apparatus.