JP2001083789A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make an image possible to be formed on the prescribed number of sheets even by the first novel toner replenishing container, without increasing a cost, enlarging the image forming device main body, or increasing the handling time for a user. SOLUTION: This image forming device, is made to compose an image forming cartridge A by integrating a photoreceptor together with electrostatic charging means, developing means and cleaning means. On one end of the cartridge, a frame part 44 is provided, and in the mentioned frame part, the fresh toner replenishing route B for leading the fresh toner being fed in this image forming cartridge to the developing means, and moreover the recovered toner recycling route C for returning the recovered toner by the cleaning means to the developing means is respectively produced. Then, the opening on the frame part 44 is blocked by engaging/fitting a service toner cartridge 46. This toner cartridge 46, is made to form the fresh toner containing chamber inside, and on the bottom surface, to dispose the opening for supplying the fresh toner contained in the containing chamber to the developing means in the image forming cartridge A, and moreover to block by a sealing member before starting to use.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper / copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and a multifunction machine thereof.
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that performs recording on a recording material such as a card.
In particular, an electrophotographic process in which an electrophotographic process such as charging, writing, development, transfer, and cleaning is repeated to transfer an image formed on an image carrier such as a photoconductor, fix the transferred image, and record the image on a recording material. The present invention relates to a photographic image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of image forming apparatus, a new toner supply container such as a toner bottle is attached, and new toner in the container is supplied to a developing means.
Thereafter, with the rotation of the drum-shaped or belt-shaped image carrier, writing is performed after charging, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the image carrier, and toner is adhered by a developing unit to develop the electrostatic latent image. Was.

When the new toner in the new toner supply container runs out over time, the new toner supply container is replaced with a new one.

However, in this type of image forming apparatus, the new toner in the newly installed new toner supply container is consumed to fill the new toner supply path to some extent, and only after it is filled to some extent. It is sent to the imaging cartridge. New toner consumed to fill the new toner supply path is not conveyed to the image forming cartridge until the end.

For this reason, in the first new toner supply container, the amount of toner used for image formation is reduced, and there has been a problem that a specified number of images cannot be formed.

In order to solve such a problem, some conventional image forming apparatuses require a larger amount of toner at first, so that the toner capacity of the first new toner supply container is smaller than that of the second and subsequent toner supply containers. To do more. The portion that consumes a large amount of toner first is packaged separately as a service toner cartridge in the image forming apparatus main body. The toner capacity of all new toner replenishment containers is increased by the amount of toner consumed first.

[0007]

However, in the case of
You have to prepare two kinds of new toner supply containers,
The number of parts increases and the cost increases, and the first large new toner replenishing container having an increased amount of toner must be accommodated, so that the size of the image forming apparatus main body increases.

In this case, an extra service toner cartridge must be prepared, which leads to an increase in cost and an increase in the number of toner replenishments, thereby increasing the user's labor.

In the case of (2), in the case of the second and subsequent new toner supply containers, the cost is increased by an increase in the amount of toner, and a large new toner supply container in which the amount of toner is increased as in (2). It is necessary to be able to store it, and the image forming apparatus main body becomes large.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem and to supply new toner without first increasing the cost, increasing the size of the image forming apparatus main body, and increasing the user's labor. It is another object of the present invention to allow a specified number of images to be formed even when a container is attached.

[0011]

Accordingly, the present invention provides
In an image forming apparatus in which a new toner supply container such as a toner bottle is attached and new toner in the container is supplied to an image forming cartridge, a new toner storage chamber is formed in the image forming cartridge, and a new toner stored in the storage chamber is formed. Is provided to the developing means of the image forming cartridge, and before starting use, the opening is closed with a seal member to seal the new toner.

A member for forming a new toner storage chamber may be provided with a collected toner recycling path for returning the collected toner collected by the cleaning means to the developing means. For example, the new toner storage chamber is made a part of the recovered toner recycling path, and the recovered toner recycling path is formed on the outer surface of the member forming the new toner storage chamber.

Similarly, a member forming the new toner storage chamber may form a new toner supply path for guiding the new toner supplied from the new toner supply container to the image forming cartridge to the developing means. For example, a new toner supply path is formed on the outer surface of the member forming the new toner storage chamber.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a main part of a laser copying machine according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 10 in the figure denotes a drum-shaped photosensitive member serving as an image carrier. Around the photoreceptor 10, the one-component developing unit 12 on the lower side, the transfer unit 13 on the right side, and the upper side from the charging unit 11 on the left side in FIG. The cleaning means 14 is disposed at the end.

The transfer means 13 comprises a transfer belt 17 stretched between upper and lower rollers 15 and 16 parallel to the photosensitive member 10, and the transfer belt 17 is pressed against the peripheral surface of the photosensitive member 10. . And such transfer means 13
A sheet conveying path 20 is formed at the lower position of the sheet conveying path toward the photoreceptor 10 by the guide plates 18 and 19, and a pair of registration rollers 21 and 21 are provided so as to sandwich the sheet conveying path 20. On the other hand,
A fixing unit 24 is provided above the transfer unit 13 by pressing a pressing roller 23 against the fixing roller 22.

The toner replenishing means 25 for replenishing the developing means 12 with new toner is provided on the left side of the charging means 11 and the cleaning means 14 in FIG.

In the illustrated laser copying machine, as in a general copying machine, an original is set on an original table (not shown), and a start switch is pressed to read image information of the set original. At the same time, the photoconductor 10 is rotated, and the charging means 11
The charging roller 30 uniformly charges the peripheral surface of the photoconductor 10.

Next, a laser beam L1 is irradiated from an optical writing device (not shown) in accordance with the content of reading, and optical writing is performed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive member 10 as the photosensitive member 10 rotates, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 10. Form. Then, one-component developing means 12
The toner is adhered by the developing sleeve 31 to visualize the electrostatic latent image, and an image is formed on the photoconductor 10 according to the read content.

On the other hand, a sheet of recording material is sent out of a sheet cassette (not shown), guided to a sheet transport path 20, and stopped by abutting the leading end between a pair of registration rollers 21. Then, the registration rollers 21 are rotated in synchronization with the image formed on the photoconductor 10, and the paper is fed to the right side of the photoconductor 10 in the drawing.

The transfer belt 17 of the transfer means 13
Then, the image on the photoreceptor 10 is transferred to a sheet, and the sheet after the image transfer is conveyed to the fixing unit 24. In the fixing unit 24, heat and pressure are applied while the sheet is conveyed between the fixing roller 22 and the pressing roller 23 to fix the transferred image. The sheet on which the image has been fixed is discharged to a discharge stack unit through a discharge path (not shown), and the copying is completed.

After the image transfer, the cleaning blade 32 of the cleaning means 14 pressed against the rotation of the photoreceptor 10 damps and removes residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor after the image is transferred.
In step 4, the peripheral surface of the photoconductor 10 is cleaned. The removed residual toner is scraped up by the toner collecting blade 33 and is collected by the remaining toner collecting section 3.
4 and is conveyed to the near side in FIG. 1 by a screw 35 stored in the remaining toner collecting section 34.

On the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 10 after cleaning,
Irradiation is performed with a neutralizing light L2 from a neutralizing lamp (not shown) to remove the charge remaining on the photoconductor 10 with the rotation of the photoconductor 10 to prepare for the next new image forming operation.

In the illustrated laser copying machine, the charging means 11, the developing means 12, the cleaning means 14 and the like are integrated with the photosensitive member 10 for the purpose of convenience of maintenance and miniaturization of the main body of the image forming apparatus. And an image forming cartridge A is formed.

FIG. 2 shows an image forming cartridge A in which the photosensitive member 10, the charging means 11, the developing means 12 and the like are omitted.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming cartridge A is configured so that the cleaning unit 1
4, a blade accommodating portion 41 is formed together with the remaining toner collecting portion 34, the screw 35 is accommodated in the remaining toner collecting portion 34, and the toner collecting blade 33 is accommodated in the blade accommodating portion 41 so as to be rotatable. They are covered with an upper cover 43 attached with screws 42.

On the front side of the cartridge case 40, as shown in FIG. 2, there is provided a box-shaped frame portion 44 which is opened forward. As shown in the figure, an upwardly directed step portion 44a is formed on the left side in the figure, and a new toner supply port 44b is opened in the upward stepped portion 44a.

A collection toner guide wall 44d is provided in the frame portion 44 so as to partition it to the left and right and inclined toward the supply toner guide wall 44c.
Is opposed to the supply toner guide wall 44c, and a transport path 45 partitioned by the cartridge case 40 is formed therebetween.

A toner outlet 44e is provided in the upper part of the transport path 45 in communication with the residual toner collecting part 34, and a toner collecting port 44g is formed in the lower part through the bottom 44f of the frame part 44. Become.

The frame portion 44 of such an image forming cartridge A
As shown in FIG. 2, the service toner cartridge 46 is fitted therein and the opening of the frame portion 44 is closed. As shown in FIG. 3, a new toner storage chamber 46a is formed inside the cartridge 46, and an opening 46b is opened at the bottom.

The opening 46b is closed by a seal member 47 to seal the new toner in the new toner storage chamber 46a. The sealing member 47 is formed in an elongated sheet shape, and is folded in a U-turn shape so as to be easily peeled when the tip is pulled in the direction of arrow a. The opening 46b faces the toner collecting port 44g when the cartridge 46 is fitted in the frame portion 44.

When the image forming cartridge A having such a construction is assembled in the main body of the laser copying machine shown in FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. The new toner supply port 44b of the frame portion 44 is positioned close to and opposed to the new toner discharge port 48 of the toner supply means 25. Although not shown, the toner collecting port 44g is formed to be in close proximity to the toner returning port of the developing unit 12.

At the start of use, the user pulls the tip in the direction of arrow a to peel off the sealing member 47 and open the opening 46.
b to open the new toner in the new toner storage chamber 46a through the opening 46b through the toner collecting port 44g.
Is supplied into the developing means 12 through a toner return port (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 5, a toner bottle 50, which is a new toner supply container, is placed on the toner supply means 25, and the toner supply means 25 is pushed in the direction of arrow b to set it. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the set lever 52 is rotated in the direction of arrow c, and the cap 53 pressed into the mouth 50a of the toner bottle 50 is gripped with the chuck 54 and pulled out. 5
Open 0b.

Then, as described above, the copy original is set on the original table, the start switch is pressed, and the driving force from the driving source (not shown) is transmitted to transmit the photoreceptor 10, the screw 35, the toner collecting blade 33, and the like. Rotate to make a copy.

At the time of copying, when a toner end detecting sensor (not shown) detects that the toner amount in the developing means 12 is equal to or less than the reference value, the bottle driving motor 55 shown in FIG. 5 is operated. As a result, the rotating body 56 that meshes with the toner bottle 50 is rotated to rotate the toner bottle 50 in the direction of arrow d, and the helical protrusion in the toner bottle 50 conveys the toner in the bottle and sends it out of the toner supply port 50b. It falls into the supply means 25.

The toner dropped into the toner replenishing means 25 is conveyed to a new toner discharge port 48 of the toner replenishing means 25 by four toner replenishing mylars 57 as shown in FIG. The toner supply mylar 57 is attached to a cover member 58 that rotates together with the toner bottle 50. The new toner conveyed to the new toner outlet 48 enters the conveyance path 45 shown in FIG.

The transport path 45 includes a supply toner guide wall 4
4c, a new toner supply path B connecting the new toner supply port 44b and the toner recovery port 44g, and a recovered toner recycling path connecting the toner discharge port 44e and the toner recovery port 44g guided by the recovered toner guide wall 44d. C is provided.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the angle between the line M connecting the toner discharge port 44e of the cleaning means 14 and the toner recovery port 44g to the developing means 12 with the horizontal line H (the recovery toner recycling path C). Α> β, where α is the angle between the horizontal line H and the line N connecting the new toner supply port 44b of the cartridge case 40 and the toner collection port 44g (the inclination of the new toner supply path B). Form.

As a result, the new toner discharged from the new toner discharge port 48 of the toner supply means 25 enters the transport path 45 from the new toner supply port 44b, and naturally flows along the new toner supply path B by gravity as shown in FIG. The toner collecting port 44g falls while being guided by the supply toner guide wall 44c.
The toner is supplied to the developing unit 12 from a toner return port (not shown) of the developing unit 12 and supplied to the developing unit 12.

On the other hand, the collected toner removed by the cleaning means 14 and collected in the remaining toner collecting section 34 and conveyed to the near side in FIG.
8, the toner enters the conveyance path 45, falls naturally on the collected toner recycling path C by gravity as shown in FIG. 8, and is guided to the toner collecting port 44g while being guided by the collected toner guide wall 44d. The toner is returned into the developing means 12 through the toner return port and is reused.

Therefore, before the toner is replenished to the developing means 12, the residual toner and the new toner are appropriately mixed at the toner collecting port 44g. That is, although the residual toner is inferior in image reproducibility as compared with the new toner, this configuration solves the problem that the image deteriorates during image formation.

The recovered toner and new toner that have entered the developing means 12 enter the paddle 36 shown in FIG. 1, and are transported to the far side in FIG. 1 by a toner transport screw (not shown) provided in the paddle 36. . The toner conveyed to the back side is then conveyed from the back side to the front side by a spiral around the paddle 36. That is, the toner is circulated by the paddle 36 from the front to the back and from the back to the front.

When the toner in the toner bottle 50 is used up over time, the set lever 52 is returned to the original position, the cap 53 is closed, the toner bottle 50 is replaced with a new one, and the toner bottle 50 is set again. The lever 52 is turned in the direction of arrow c.

In the above-described example, a new toner storage chamber 46a is formed in the service toner cartridge 46, and the new toner storage chamber 46a is defined by the outer surface of the service toner cartridge 46 and the frame portion 44 for fitting the cartridge 46 and closing the opening. Then, a new toner supply path B and a collected toner recycling path C are separately formed in the frame portion 44.

However, as shown in FIG. 9, for example, the service toner cartridge 46 is provided with an opening 46b closed with a seal member 47, and is also closed with a seal member 60 and collected with a new toner port 61 and a seal member 62. A toner port 63 is provided.

Then, when such a service toner cartridge 46 is fitted in the above-described frame portion 44 and the seal members 47, 60 and 62 which are folded back in a U-turn shape are peeled off, the new toner port 61 is inserted into the frame portion 44. The new toner replenishing port 44b and the collected toner port 63 closely approach the toner discharge port 44e of the frame portion 44, respectively.

As a result, the new toner storage chamber 46a is formed as a part of the new toner supply path B, and as a part of the recovered toner recycling path C, the new toner and the recovered toner are respectively passed from the opening 46b through the new toner storage chamber 46a. The guide may be guided to the toner collecting port 44g.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the new toner stored in the new toner storage chamber 46a inside the service toner cartridge 46 is similarly closed by a sealing member (not shown), A new toner supply path B and a collected toner recycling path C are formed by providing an opening 46b for charging the cartridge 12 and recessing the outer surface of the cartridge 46.

When such a service toner cartridge 46 is fitted in the frame portion 44 as described above, the upper portion of the new toner supply path B is connected to the new toner supply port 44b of the frame portion 44 and the collected toner recycling path. The upper part of C is closely opposed to the toner discharge port 44e of the frame part 44, respectively.

Thus, the new toner may be led to the toner collecting port 44g in the new toner supply path B and the collected toner may be guided to the collected toner recycling path C in the collected toner recycling path C.

In the illustrated example described above, the case where the present invention is applied to a laser copying machine has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the copying machine, and is similarly applied to other electrophotographic apparatuses such as a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction machine thereof. be able to. Of course, the image carrier is not limited to a drum-shaped one,
Further, the developing means and the cleaning means are not limited to those having the configuration shown in the figure. The same applies to the overall shape of the cartridge case.

In the illustrated example, the image forming cartridge A is formed integrally with the photosensitive member 10 and the charging means 11, the developing means 12, the cleaning means 14 and the like. However, the image forming cartridge A used in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
It is needless to say that is not limited to such a configuration as long as it has a developing means.

In the above-described example, the new toner storage chamber 46a is formed in the image forming cartridge A by attaching the service toner cartridge 46 having the new toner storage chamber 46a to the frame portion 44 of the cartridge case 40. However, it goes without saying that a new toner storage chamber may be formed directly in the cartridge case 40.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, at the time of installation, the seal member is peeled off and new toner in the new toner storage chamber is supplied to the developing means of the image forming cartridge.
A predetermined number of images can be formed from the first new toner supply container without having to prepare two types of new toner supply containers or increasing the amount of toner in the second and subsequent new toner supply containers.

Since the amount of toner in each new toner supply container is not large, it is not necessary to increase the size of the image forming apparatus main body.
Further, it is only necessary to first peel off the seal member, and the number of times of replacement of the new toner supply container does not increase, so that the user's labor does not increase.

In the inventions according to the second to sixth aspects, a member forming the new toner storage chamber is provided with a recovered toner recycling path or a new toner supply path. As a result, the size of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of a laser copying machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an image forming cartridge used in the copying machine with a part thereof omitted.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a service toner cartridge attached to the image forming cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a connection between an image forming cartridge and a toner supply unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a toner supply unit.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view after the set lever is rotated.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the toner supply state.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the collected toner in the image forming cartridge is recycled.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another example of the service toner cartridge.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of still another example of the service toner cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 photoconductor (image carrier) 12 developing means 13 transfer means 14 cleaning means 46 service toner cartridge (member forming new toner storage chamber) 46a new toner storage chamber 46b opening 47 seal member 50 toner bottle (new toner supply container) A image forming cartridge B new toner supply path C collected toner recycling path

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus in which a new toner supply container is attached and new toner in the container is supplied to an image forming cartridge, wherein a new toner storage chamber is formed in the image forming cartridge and stored in the storage chamber. An image forming apparatus comprising: an opening for introducing new toner into a developing unit of the image forming cartridge; and, before starting use, the opening is closed with a seal member to seal the new toner. 2. A member forming the new toner storage chamber, wherein the member forms a collected toner recycling path for returning collected toner collected by a cleaning unit to the developing unit.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the new toner storage chamber is a part of the collected toner recycling path. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recovered toner recycling path is formed on an outer surface of a member forming the new toner storage chamber. 5. A member forming the new toner storage chamber, the member forming a new toner supply path for guiding new toner supplied from the new toner supply container to the image forming cartridge to the developing unit. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 6. The new toner supply path is formed on an outer surface of a member forming the new toner storage chamber.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1.