JP2001235996A - Cleaning method and cleaning device for process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable good and effective cleaning work by extracting effectively the toner remained in the toner storing part of a used process cartridge and to prevent the increase of component members to be discarded by minimizing the disassembling of the process cartridge. SOLUTION: A developing roll placed in the toner storing chamber portion 17a of a new toner storing part 17 is detached. The new toner storing part 17 is held by a holding member 30 so that an opening part 25 of toner storing chamber 17a formed after detachment of the roll may face upwards. In this state, the toner is sucked and extracted from the toner storing chamber 17a by a toner suction nozzle 39, furthermore, simultaneously with the suction, a mechanical vibration is applied by a shaking table 33 to the toner storing chamber 17a in which the toner remains, and then the toner fluidized by the vibration is placed in the air flow of suction and removed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming section such as a copying machine, a printer or a facsimile apparatus using an electrophotographic system, and a waste toner storing section for storing waste toner. The present invention is applied to a process cartridge having at least a new toner storage unit for storing new toner, and in particular, effectively removes and cleans toner remaining in a waste toner storage unit or a new toner storage unit in a used process cartridge. The present invention relates to a process cartridge cleaning method and a cleaning device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electrophotographic image forming unit often used in a copying machine or a printer is provided with a developing unit for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum. The developing unit includes a new toner storage unit that stores new toner, an agitator that stirs the toner in the new toner storage unit, a developing roller that abuts on the photosensitive drum or is driven to rotate with a small gap, The developing roller includes a supply roller that supplies toner to the developing roller. In this developing unit, if the developing roller or the like deteriorates after a predetermined period of time, the developing unit is replaced.

In recent years, a process cartridge in which a photosensitive unit in which a photosensitive drum is rotatably housed and a developing unit are connected and integrated has become widespread. In such a process cartridge, if there is no more toner in the new toner accommodating portion constituting the developing unit, the process cartridge is replaced with a new process cartridge.

[0004] In this case, since not all components constituting the process cartridge have reached the end of their life due to wear or the like, discarding all the components has promoted resource saving and recycling. Considering the current situation, it is not desirable. For this reason, in recent years, there has been a tendency to reuse component members of the process cartridge as much as possible from the above viewpoint.

[0005]

In a conventional process cartridge having a waste toner storage unit and a new toner storage unit, after extracting the toner remaining in the used toner storage unit, cleaning the constituent members and removing the worn parts. Recycle the process cartridge after the process such as replacement, fill the new toner storage section with new toner,
The process cartridge is being reused.

However, depending on the method of disassembling the process cartridge and extracting the toner, the scattering of the toner may cause contamination of the constituent members. Therefore, it is desired to reuse the constituent members that are contaminated with the toner. If this is the case, better cleaning is required, and the cleaning operation becomes complicated and complicated.

For example, in the conventional method of blowing off the toner in the toner storage section using a powerful air gun, this operation is usually performed in an air chamber filled with the blown-out toner, so that even a clean member or part can be cleaned. Contaminated with toner. As a result, the cleaning must be further carefully performed, and the worn-out part of the used article is more likely to repeat the cleaning operation.
It becomes a part that is more expensive than a new one, and causes irrationality from an economical point of view.

On the other hand, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-288442, it is also possible to provide an openable and closable lid in a new toner storage unit or a waste toner storage unit to facilitate toner cleaning or filling. However, in a process cartridge which tends to be miniaturized, an increase in the number of components due to the provision of an openable / closable lid causes problems in accuracy and strength.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to effectively extract toner remaining in a toner storage portion of a used process cartridge.
It is possible to reduce the cleaning work by reducing the contamination of the components due to the scattered toner as in the related art, and to minimize the number of components to be discarded by minimizing the disassembly of the process cartridge. An object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge cleaning method and a cleaning device that can increase the reuse rate of members.

[0010]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waste toner storage unit storing waste toner and a new toner storage unit storing new toner. And a component cartridge for forming an image on a sheet using toner is a method for cleaning a process cartridge, which is separably installed, wherein the waste toner storage unit or the new toner storage unit is separated. Remove a component member installed at an opening communicating with the toner storage chamber in any of the toner storage units, hold the opening upward, and arrange a toner suction nozzle at the opening, The toner in the toner storage chamber is sucked by the toner suction nozzle while applying mechanical vibration to the toner storage section. When only the constituent members arranged so as to seal the area where the toner is stored (toner storage chamber) are removed, the cleaning becomes possible, and the cleaning is performed with the opening held upward. The toner can be prevented from spilling out, and then the toner is sucked and extracted by the toner suction nozzle, and at the same time as the suction is applied, mechanical vibration is applied to the toner storage portion where the toner remains, so that the toner is fluidized by vibration. The removed toner can be effectively removed by placing it on a suction airflow. As a result, compared to the conventional method of blowing off with an air gun, the toner can be prevented from being contaminated in the peripheral portion, so that the cleaning work conventionally required to reuse the contaminated members and parts can be omitted. Will be possible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the method for cleaning a process cartridge according to the first aspect, mechanical vibration having an amplitude of 1 to 30 mm is applied to the toner storage section. The fluidization of the toner can be promoted without causing damage to the portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning method of a process cartridge according to the first or second aspect.
The method is characterized in that mechanical vibration having a frequency of 5 to 200 Hz is applied to the toner storage section, and this method can effectively promote fluidization of the toner.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an image is formed on a sheet by using a toner, a waste toner storage section storing waste toner, a new toner storage section storing new toner, and toner. A cleaning device for the process cartridge, wherein the component for
The waste toner storage unit or the new toner storage unit that has been disassembled from the process cartridge and has been removed from the opening that communicates with the toner storage chamber is held in a state where the opening is directed upward. The toner storage unit, comprising: a holding member; a toner suction nozzle installed at the opening portion for sucking toner in the toner storage chamber; and a vibration device for applying mechanical vibration to the toner storage unit held by the holding member. The toner in the toner storage chamber is sucked by the toner suction nozzle while applying mechanical vibrations to the toner, and the cleaning method according to claim 1, 2, or 3 is performed reliably and efficiently by this structure.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device for a process cartridge according to the fourth aspect, a toner suction nozzle smaller than the opening is used as the toner suction nozzle. Can be prevented from covering the opening. For this reason, an airflow is generated from the periphery of the toner suction nozzle toward the inside of the toner storage chamber, and the fluidized toner is more effectively removed by the suction airflow.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device for a process cartridge according to the fourth aspect, the vibrating device is driven by the vibration driving motor and supported by the vibration driving motor so as to be vibrated. It is constituted by a vibration table, and a holding member is installed on the vibration table,
With this structure, it is possible to apply substantially even vibration to the entire toner storage unit, so that the toner can be easily and evenly sucked through the opening by the toner suction nozzle and extracted from the toner storage chamber. become.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a process cartridge for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the process cartridge in a unit separated state, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an internal structure of the process cartridge. FIG. 4, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 are cross-sectional views for explaining the disassembled state of the toner storage unit during cleaning.

The process cartridge 1 is constructed by detachably connecting a photosensitive unit 2 and a developing unit 3. As shown in FIG. 2, a side plate 2 a of the photosensitive unit 2 is provided with a pin. An insertion hole 4, a fitting hole 5, and a screw insertion hole 6 are formed, while a pin insertion hole 7, a fitting protrusion 8, and a screw hole 9 are formed in the side plate 3a of the developing unit 3.

When the photosensitive unit 2 and the developing unit 3 are connected, as shown in FIG.
The outer side surface of the side plate portion 3a of the developing unit 3 comes into surface contact with the inner side surface of the side plate portion 2a, and the pin insertion holes 4 and 7 are overlapped on the same center line. Is press-fitted, the fitting projection 8 is elastically fitted into the fitting hole 5, and the screw 11 inserted into the screw insertion hole 6 is screwed into the screw hole 9.

As shown in FIG. 3, the photosensitive unit 2 has a photosensitive drum 12 and a photosensitive drum 12 inside.
A charging roller 13 for uniformly charging the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 12 is attached. Further, after the toner image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 12 is transferred to a transfer sheet, the toner image remains on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 12. A cleaning blade 14 for removing the removed waste toner and a waste toner storage unit 15 for collecting the removed waste toner are formed.

Both ends of the photosensitive drum 12 are rotatably held by side plate portions 2a formed on both sides of the photosensitive unit 2. A handle 16 is formed on the outer periphery of the photoreceptor unit 2 for use in attaching and detaching the process cartridge 1 after connecting the photoreceptor unit 2 and the developing unit 3 to a predetermined set position. ing.

The developing unit 3 is provided with a new toner storage section 17 for storing new toner. Inside the new toner storage section 17, an agitator 18 which is a rotating body for stirring the toner and a photosensitive drum 12 are provided. A developing roller 19 that contacts the outer peripheral surface to develop the latent image with toner;
A supply roller 20 for supplying toner to the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 9 and a developing blade 21 for contacting the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 19 to make the toner layer constant are provided.

The side plate portion 3a of the developing unit 3 is formed with a portion that is recessed from a surface that comes into surface contact with the inner side surface of the side plate portion 2a of the photoreceptor unit 2, and the recessed portion is provided with a drive motor ( A power transmission mechanism 22 for transmitting a driving force transmitted from the photosensitive drum 12 to the developing roller 19 or the supply roller 20 and the agitator 18 is provided.

A shutter 23 for exposing the photosensitive drum 12 and bringing its outer peripheral surface into contact with a transfer roller (not shown) is rotatably attached to the side plate 2a of the photosensitive unit 2. I have.

When the photoconductor unit 2 and the developing unit 3 are disconnected and disassembled, the toner storage chamber 15a of the waste toner storage unit 15 in the photoconductor unit 2 has the cleaning blade 14, the photoconductor drum 12, The toner storage chamber 17a of the new toner storage unit 17 of the developing unit 3 is sealed with a leakage prevention seal (not shown).
It is in a state where it is sealed by the developing roller 19 and a toner leakage prevention seal (not shown).

Therefore, in the cleaning operation described later,
When disassembling the photoconductor unit 2 and the developing unit 3,
As it is, the photosensitive drum unit 12 and the photosensitive drum 12
Or remove the developing roller 1 from the developing unit 3.
9 is removed, the toner inside from the toner storage chambers 15a and 17a leaks to the periphery of the unit. Therefore, it is necessary to work while maintaining the photosensitive unit 2 and the developing unit 3 so that the opening formed when the photosensitive drum 12 or the developing roller 19 is removed is upward.

In this case, the intended toner can be extracted only by removing the photosensitive drum 12 from the photosensitive unit 2 and removing the developing roller 19 from the developing unit 3. That is, at this time, since the number of disassembled components of the process cartridge 1 is minimized, there is almost no discarded component (part). Therefore, an effect is obtained that the reusability of the components constituting the process cartridge 1 can be increased.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the developing unit 3 is disassembled and its opening 25 is maintained upward, and FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the photosensitive unit 2 and its opening 26 is raised upward. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the state is maintained. In such a state, even if the toner in the toner storage chambers 15a and 17a accidentally touches the photoconductor unit 2 and the developing unit 3, it does not spill.

FIG. 6 is a structural view of a cleaning device for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 30 denotes a waste toner storage unit 15 or a new toner storage unit 17 to be cleaned, and upper openings 26 and 25 thereof. A holding member for holding toward
In this example, a new toner storage unit (hereinafter, referred to as a toner storage unit 17 for simplicity of description) is set. The holding member 30 is provided with a receiving portion 31 conforming to the outer shape of the toner storing portion 17 and a pressing member 32 for holding the toner storing portion 17 in the receiving portion 31. The holding member 30 is installed on a vibration table 33 that forms a vibration device by the vibration driving motor 36. The vibration table 33 is a table having an appropriate mass and separated from the foundation 35 by an elastic member such as a spring 34, and a vibration drive motor 36 is attached to a lower portion of the vibration table 33. A weight 38 is eccentrically attached to a motor shaft 37 of the vibration drive motor 36, and the motor shaft 37 rotates to generate vibration. The vibration generating means is not limited to this configuration, and any other configuration can be appropriately selected. Further, a toner suction nozzle 39 connected to a suction vacuum pump (not shown) is provided in the opening 25 of the toner storage unit 17.

According to the cleaning device having the above-described structure, the toner is sucked out of the toner storage chamber 17a together with the air by the toner suction nozzle 39, and simultaneously with the suction, the vibration table 33 is transferred to the toner storage chamber 17a where the toner remains. Mechanical vibration is applied, and the toner fluidized by the vibration can be effectively removed by putting it on a suction airflow. Therefore, as compared with the conventional method of blowing off with an air gun, the toner can be prevented from contaminating in the peripheral portion, thereby eliminating the conventional cleaning work for reusing the contaminated members and parts. Becomes possible.

As a result of an experiment, the amplitude of the vibration applied to the toner storage portion 17 and the toner storage
The thickness is preferably 0 mm, preferably 3 to 10 mm. If it is less than 1 mm, it is insufficient to sufficiently accelerate and fluidize the toner.
7 itself may collide with the vibration table 33 and cause damage.

Further, the toner suction nozzle 39 is
Synchronizing with the above, it becomes difficult to maintain the positional relationship between the tip of the toner suction nozzle 39 and the opening 25.

Further, the frequency of the vibration is 5 to 200
Hz, preferably 20 to 100 Hz, and the vibration drive motor 36 is a commercial power supply frequency of 50 Hz.
A sufficient effect can be obtained by using an AC motor driven at a frequency of 60 Hz to 60 Hz. When the vibration frequency is low, it is difficult to maintain the fluidity of the toner, and when the frequency is high, the fluidity of the toner does not coincide with the fluidity of the toner.

The tip of the toner suction nozzle 39 is the opening 25
It is set smaller than. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the toner suction nozzle 39 from covering the opening 25 so as to close the opening 25, and an airflow is generated from the periphery of the toner suction nozzle 39 toward the inside of the toner storage chamber 17a where the toner remains. Then, the fluidized toner is effectively removed along with the suction airflow (see FIG. 7).
The most effective airflow occurs at a position where the tip of the toner suction nozzle 39 is slightly inserted into the toner storage chamber 17a from the entrance of the opening 25.

The shape of the toner suction nozzle 39 does not need to be circular in cross section, but may be, for example, a rectangular shape extending toward the back side in the drawing. If the size is larger, the toner inside the toner storage chamber 17a can be discharged in a shorter time.

[0036]

As described above, according to the method and apparatus for cleaning a process cartridge according to the present invention,
The toner is sucked and extracted by the toner suction nozzle from the opening of the toner storage chamber, and mechanical vibration is applied to the toner storage chamber at the same time as the suction, so that the toner can be satisfactorily and effectively removed without scattering. And thus prevent contamination of other components,
As a result, it is possible to omit a cleaning operation for reusing the contaminated components. Further, the disassembly of the components in the process cartridge during this cleaning is minimal, and the components and components discarded by the disassembly are almost eliminated, so that the reuse rate of the components constituting the process cartridge can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a process cartridge for describing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the process cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention in a unit separated state.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view schematically illustrating an internal structure of the process cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a disassembled state of the new toner storage unit during cleaning according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a disassembled state of the waste toner storage unit during cleaning according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a cleaning device for describing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an airflow generation state in the toner storage unit due to a suction operation of the toner suction nozzle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Process cartridge 2 Photoconductor unit 3 Developing unit 12 Photoconductor drum 14 Cleaning blade 15 Waste toner storage unit 15a Toner storage room of waste toner storage unit 17 New toner storage unit 17a Toner storage room of new toner storage unit 19 Developing roller 20 Supply Roller 21 Developing blade 25, 26 Opening 30 Holding member 31 Receiving part 32 Holding member 33 Vibration table 36 Vibration drive motor 39 Toner suction nozzle

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A waste toner storage section storing waste toner, a new toner storage section storing new toner, and a component for forming an image on a sheet using toner can be separated. Wherein the waste toner storage section or the new toner storage section is separated and installed in an opening communicating with the toner storage chamber in one of the toner storage sections. Remove the member, hold the opening part upward, arrange the toner suction nozzle in the opening part, and apply the mechanical vibration to the toner storage part to remove the toner in the toner storage chamber by the toner suction nozzle. A method for cleaning a process cartridge, comprising suctioning. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a mechanical vibration having an amplitude of 1 to 30 mm is applied to the toner storage section. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a mechanical vibration having a frequency of 5 to 200 Hz is applied to the toner storage section.
The cleaning method of the process cartridge described in the above. 4. A waste toner storage section storing waste toner, a new toner storage section storing new toner, and a component for forming an image on a sheet using toner can be separated. A waste toner accommodating section or a new toner accommodating section in a state where the component installed in the opening portion communicating with the toner accommodating chamber has been removed after being disassembled from the process cartridge. A holding member that holds the opening with the opening portion facing upward, a toner suction nozzle that is installed in the opening portion and sucks toner in the toner storage chamber, and mechanically controls the toner storage portion that is held by the holding member. A vibrating device for applying vibration, wherein a mechanical vibration is applied to the toner storage section while the toner suction nozzle is used to apply mechanical vibration. Cleaning device of the process cartridge, which comprises sucking the toner. 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said toner suction nozzle is smaller than said opening. 6. The vibration device comprises a vibration drive motor and a vibration table driven by the vibration motor and supported so as to be vibrable, and the holding member is installed on the vibration table. The cleaning device for a process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein: