JP2002311712A - Toner carrying device and image forming device provided with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress such a trouble that toner aggregates and firmly sticks to the wall in a toner carrying duct, in a toner carrying device constituted so that the toner is fed into a hollow toner carrying duct by a 1st toner carrying member and the toner is dropped downward in the toner carrying duct and the dropped toner is discharged from the toner carrying duct by a 2nd toner carrying member. SOLUTION: An oscillation member 54 is arranged in the toner carrying duct 50, and a hook 57 formed at the upper end of the oscillation member 54 is engaged with the crank pin 59 of the 1st toner carrying member 44, and the oscillation member 54 is reciprocated by rotating the 1st toner carrying member 44.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner conveying device for conveying toner and an image forming apparatus having the toner conveying device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus configured as an electronic copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction machine having at least two of these functions, a cleaning object such as a photosensitive member, an intermediate transfer member or a transfer belt is used. 2. Description of the Related Art A toner transport device is used for the purpose of transporting a toner removed by a cleaning device to a toner collecting container or transporting toner to be used for development to a developing device. However, the toner to be transported is in a powder form, and the powder toner may be aggregated and fixed in the toner transport path. When such toner sticking occurs, the toner is not smoothly conveyed, causing a problem that the clogged toner overflows from, for example, the cleaning device and stains the inside of the image forming apparatus main body with the toner.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a first object of the present invention to provide a toner conveying device which can effectively suppress the occurrence of toner sticking with a simple structure, and an image having such a toner conveying device. Providing the forming device
The purpose of 2.

[0004]

In order to achieve the first object, the present invention proposes a toner conveying device characterized in that a swing member is provided in a toner conveying path (claim 1). .

At this time, it is advantageous that the swing member is configured to be driven by a rotating toner conveying member.

Further, in the toner conveying apparatus according to the second aspect, the swinging member has one end engaged with a crank pin of a crank provided on the toner conveying member, and the other end in a free state. The swing member is advantageously configured to reciprocate by the rotation of the toner transport member (claim 3).

Further, in the toner conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the oscillating member includes an oscillating bar and a plurality of protrusions projecting outward from the oscillating bar. It is advantageous to have it (claim 4).

Further, in the toner conveying device according to any one of the first to third aspects, it is advantageous that the swinging member comprises a member extending spirally along a longitudinal direction thereof (claim 5). .

Further, in the toner conveying device according to the fifth aspect, it is advantageous that the swing member is formed of a coil spring.

Further, in the toner conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, it is advantageous that the swinging member is made of an elastic body.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, the present invention proposes an image forming apparatus provided with the toner conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 (claim 8).

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the internal structure of a color printer which is an example of an image forming apparatus having a toner conveying device. The image forming apparatus shown here has an endless belt-shaped photoconductor 2 disposed in a main body housing 1 thereof, and an intermediate transfer body 15 also formed on an endless belt. The intermediate transfer member 15 is wound around the rollers 3 and 4 and driven in the direction of arrow A.
And is driven in the direction of arrow B. The photoconductor 2 and the intermediate transfer body 15 are in contact with each other at one place.

When the photoreceptor 2 is driven to rotate as described above, the photoreceptor 2 is subjected to a discharge operation by a discharge lamp 5 arranged opposite thereto, and then the surface of the photoreceptor is given a predetermined polarity by a charging device 6. Is uniformly charged. Next, the charged surface of the photoreceptor 2 is irradiated with modulated laser light L emitted from a laser writing unit 7 which is an example of an exposure device, and a first electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor. You.

On the other hand, a rotary developing device 8 having a yellow developing device 9Y, a magenta developing device 9M, a cyan developing device 9C, and a black developing device 9BK is disposed opposite to the photosensitive member 2, and each developing device has , Yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, and black toner.

When the above-described first electrostatic latent image passes through the developing device 8, a first developing device, in this example, a yellow developing device 9Y is located to face the photosensitive member 2, and the developing device 9Y
The first electrostatic latent image is visualized as a yellow toner image. This yellow toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 1 by a primary transfer roller 17 disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer member 15.
5 is primarily transferred. The transfer residual toner adhered to the photoconductor surface after the transfer of the toner image is removed by the cleaning device 10. The illustrated cleaning device 10 includes a cleaning member including a fur brush 18A and a cleaning blade 18B that abut on the surface of the photoconductor 2, and the cleaning member 18 removes transfer residual toner from the photoconductor surface. The removed toner is sent into the toner collecting container 43 by the toner conveying member 44A provided at the bottom of the cleaning case 19.

The toner conveying member 44A of the present embodiment comprises a coil spring which is driven to rotate as shown in FIG.
The toner conveying member 44A extends from a near side in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1 to a far side thereof. Further, the toner conveying member 44A is driven to rotate about its central axis F by a driving device (not shown). As a result, the powdery toner removed from the photoreceptor 2 by the cleaning member 18 is conveyed in the depth direction in FIG. The toner conveyed in this manner is discharged out of the cleaning case 19 through a discharge port (not shown) formed in the rear part of the cleaning case 19, and formed in the rear part of the toner collection container 43. The toner is fed into the toner collecting container 43 from the toner inlet (not shown).

On the photosensitive member 2 whose surface has been cleaned, a second electrostatic latent image is formed in exactly the same manner as described above, and this latent image faces the photosensitive member 2 by the rotation of the developing device 8. The image is visualized as a magenta toner image by the magenta developing device 19M. This toner image is also superimposed on the yellow toner image already transferred to the intermediate transfer body 15 and is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 15, and the surface of the photoconductor after the transfer is cleaned by the cleaning device 10.

Similarly, a cyan toner image and a black toner image are sequentially formed on the photoreceptor 2 by a cyan developing device 9C and a black developing device 9BK, and these toner images are already formed on the intermediate transfer member 15. The transferred toner images are sequentially superimposed on each other and primary-transferred, and the photoreceptor surface after each toner image transfer is cleaned by the cleaning device 10 each time.

On the other hand, transfer paper P is loaded on a paper feed cassette 20 mounted on the lower portion of
The top transfer paper is fed in the direction of arrow C by the rotation of. The transferred transfer paper P is sent to the registration roller pair 23.
At a predetermined timing, the toner image passes between the intermediate transfer member 15 and the secondary transfer roller 24, and at this time, the superimposed toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 15 is secondarily transferred to the transfer paper P. Subsequently, the transfer paper P is sent to the fixing device 25 as shown by an arrow D and passes between the fixing roller 26 and the pressure roller 27. At this time, the toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper P by the action of heat and pressure. Is established. Fixing device 2
The transfer paper which has passed through the transfer tray 5
Is discharged on top.

On the other hand, the transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member 15 after transferring the toner image to the transfer paper P is removed by the intermediate transfer member cleaning device 31 and the surface of the intermediate transfer member 15 is cleaned. . This cleaning device 3
1 has a cleaning member 29 composed of a fur brush 32 and a cleaning blade 33 which are driven to rotate, and the cleaning member 29 comes into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer body 15 to scrape off the transfer residual toner adhering to this surface. Remove and remove. The intermediate transfer body 1 is cleaned by the cleaning member 29.
The powdery toner removed from 5 falls into the cleaning case 34 of the cleaning device 31.

The cleaning member 29 is supported so as to be in contact with or separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer member. When each toner image is primarily transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer member 15, the cleaning member 29 is moved to the surface of the intermediate transfer member. Away from When cleaning the toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer member 15 after transferring the superimposed toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer paper P, the cleaning member 29 comes into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer member and removes the transfer residual toner. Remove by scraping.

The secondary transfer roller 24 is also used for the intermediate transfer so that the toner image of each color sequentially formed on the photosensitive member 2 is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 15 so that the toner image is not disturbed by the transfer roller 24. The superimposed toner image on the intermediate transfer body 15 is separated from the surface of the
When the secondary transfer is performed, the transfer roller 24 contacts the surface of the intermediate transfer body 15 via the transfer paper P.

The toner removed from the intermediate transfer member 15 by the cleaning member 29 is
The toner is conveyed in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1, that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. The toner conveying member 44 shown here is formed in a screw conveyor shape having a core shaft 35 and a spiral blade 36 integrally fixed therearound, and the toner conveying member 44 is driven by a driving device (not shown). It is driven to rotate around the central axis F1,
As a result, the toner in the cleaning case 34 is transported in the arrow X direction. As the toner conveying member 44, a member of another form, for example, a member made of a coil spring can be used.

The cleaning device 19 for the photosensitive member 2 and the cleaning case 34 of the cleaning device 31 for the intermediate transfer member 15 are provided with a toner conveying duct 50 shown in FIG.
Are fixedly arranged. This toner transport duct 50 is
As shown in FIG. 3, the inside is formed hollow, and a toner inlet 51 formed above the toner inlet 51 is provided with the above-described toner conveying member 44 of the cleaning device 31 for the intermediate transfer member 15. (Referred to as a first toner conveying member). Similarly, the toner conveying duct 50
A toner outlet 52 formed in the lower part of the toner conveying member 4 in the cleaning device 10 for the photosensitive member 2
4A (hereinafter, referred to as a second toner conveying member as needed) enters the front end. FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration in which both toner conveying members 44 and 44A and a swinging member
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the toner conveying duct 50 separately from the toner conveying duct 50.

With the configuration described above, the cleaning case 34 of the cleaning device 31 for the intermediate transfer member 15 (see FIG. 2)
(Not shown in FIG. 3) by the rotating first toner conveying member 44 in the direction of arrow X (FIG. 2). Sent inside. Toner transport duct 50
The toner fed into the inside falls down to the bottom of the toner conveying duct 50 by its own weight, and is then sent out of the toner conveying duct 50 from the toner outlet 52 by the rotating second toner conveying member 44A to be cleaned by the cleaning case 19 (see FIG. 2 and not shown in FIG. 3). After that,
As with the toner removed from the photoconductor 2 by the cleaning member 18, the toner collection container 43
And is stored here.

As described above, in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, the toner removed from the intermediate transfer body 15 by the cleaning member 29 is transferred to the first toner conveying member 44, the toner conveying duct 50, and the second toner. The toner conveyed to the toner collecting container 43 by the toner conveying device including the conveying member 44A, and the toner removed from the photoconductor 2 by the cleaning member 18 is also conveyed to the toner collecting container 43 by the second toner conveying member 44A. As described above, in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, the first and second toner conveying members 4
4, 44A and the toner conveying duct 50 constitute a toner conveying device.

Here, in this type of conventional toner transport device, as described above, the toner transport path,
That is, there is a possibility that the toner is aggregated and fixed inside the toner conveying duct, and the toner is not conveyed there. When such a situation occurs, the first toner conveying member 44 cannot rotate, and the toner in the cleaning case 34 of the cleaning device 31 is not conveyed to the toner conveying duct 50, and the toner may overflow from the case 34. When the toner overflows like this,
Not only is the inside of the image forming device body stained with toner,
When a corona discharger having a charge wire is used as the charging device 6, toner adheres to the wire, which causes uneven charging of the photoreceptor 2 and causes a problem of deteriorating image quality.

Therefore, in the toner conveying device of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the swing member 54
Is provided. The swinging member can be formed in an appropriate form, but the swinging member 54 exemplified here has a swinging bar 55 and a plurality of projections 56 projecting outward from the swinging bar 55. . The swing bar 55 and the projection 56 are formed of a rigid body such as a metal or a hard resin, and the swing bar 55
Is formed as a hook 57 as shown in FIG.

One end of the toner conveying member 44 is formed as a crank 58 as clearly shown in FIG. That is, the end of the core shaft 35 is formed as a crankpin 59 eccentric with respect to the center axis F1 which is the rotation center of the toner conveying member 44. Such a crank 58 is arranged in the toner conveying duct 50, and a hook 57 on one end side of a swinging member 54 also arranged in the toner conveying duct 50 is engaged with the crank pin 59. As shown in FIG. 2, the other end of the swing member 54 is in a free state.

As described above, the toner conveying member 44 rotates around its central axis F1. At this time, the swinging member 54 engaged with the crank pin 59 interlocks with the rotation of the toner conveying member 44. 2 reciprocates as shown by arrow G in FIG. For this reason, an agitating action is given to the powdery toner existing in the toner conveying path in the toner conveying duct 50, whereby the toner can be prevented from aggregating and fixing, and the toner can always be smoothly moved. The toner can be conveyed to the toner collecting container 43. Particularly, in the swinging member 54 of the present embodiment, since the plurality of projections 56 are integrally formed on the swinging bar 55, the projections 56 can give a vigorous stirring action to the toner, and the toner sticks. Can be effectively prevented.

As described above, the oscillating member 54 of the present embodiment is configured to be oscillated by the rotating toner conveying member 44, so that a dedicated driving device for driving the oscillating member 54 is unnecessary. Thus, it is possible to prevent toner from sticking at low cost. This point is the same in the case of the examples shown in FIGS.

The swing member 54 shown in FIGS.
Has one end engaged with a crank pin 59 of a crank 58 provided on the toner conveying member 44 and the other end in a free state. The swing member 54 reciprocates by the rotation of the toner conveying member 44. As a result, the swinging member 54 can be reliably swung with a simple structure, and the sticking of the toner can be effectively prevented. This point is not changed in the examples shown in FIGS.

The oscillating member 54 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 has a linear oscillating rod 55, but the oscillating member is constituted by a member extending spirally along the longitudinal direction. Can also.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an example of this. The swing member 154 shown here is formed by a coil spring in which a wire made of metal or resin is spirally wound. The swing member 154 also has a hook 157 formed at one end thereof.
Is engaged with a crank pin 59 of a crank 58 provided on the toner conveying member 44, and the other end of the swinging member 154 is in a free state, and is disposed in the toner conveying path in the toner conveying duct 50. I have. Also in this case, the toner conveying member 44 rotates around its central axis F1, and the swinging member 154 is driven by the rotating toner conveying member 44. The swing member 154 reciprocates as shown by an arrow G in FIG. 5 by the rotation of the toner conveying member 44. As described above, since the swinging member 154 operates in conjunction with the rotation of the toner conveying member 44, it is possible to prevent the toner in the toner conveying path from being aggregated and fixed. Moreover, the swing member 154 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 can be manufactured at a lower cost than the swing member 54 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, and the cost of the toner conveying device can be further reduced.

Further, since the swinging member 154 formed of a coil spring has elasticity, even if the toner conveying path is curved or bent, the swinging member 1 is moved along the curved path.
54 can be arranged. That is, in the toner conveying duct 50 shown in FIG. 5, the lower portion 50B is bent at an angle α smaller than 180 ° with respect to the upper portion 50A, but the elastic swinging member 154 is Can be elastically deformed substantially in accordance with the shape of the internal space, so that the toner can be agitated over a wide internal space in the toner conveying duct 50 to prevent the toner from sticking. The swing member 54 shown in FIGS.
Can also be made of an elastic material such as rubber, for example, whereby the same operational effects as described above can be achieved.

As described above, when the oscillating member is made of an elastic material, the oscillating member can be disposed in the toner conveying path of various forms, and the toner can be efficiently stirred to prevent the toner from sticking.
It is possible to increase the degree of freedom in designing the configuration of the toner transport path.

The other structures of the toner conveying device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and the image forming apparatus to which the toner conveying device is mounted are the same as those described above with reference to FIGS.

The present invention is not limited to the toner conveying device for conveying the toner removed from the intermediate transfer member and the toner removed from the photosensitive member, and for example, cleaning the residual toner removed from the photosensitive member so as to reuse it. The present invention can also be applied to a toner transport device that returns toner from a device to a developing device, a toner transport device that transports toner from a toner container to a developing device, or a toner transport device that transports toner removed from a transfer belt that transports transfer paper. it can.

【The invention's effect】

According to the present invention, the problem that toner aggregates and adheres in the toner conveying path can be effectively suppressed by a simple configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a toner conveying device in which a swing member is disposed in a toner conveying duct.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a state where both toner conveying members and a swing member are removed from the toner conveying duct shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a state where a swing member is removed from a first toner conveying member.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2, showing another example of the toner conveying device.

6 is an exploded perspective view of the toner conveying device shown in FIG. 5, similar to FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 44 Toner conveying member 54 Swing member 55 Swing bar 56 Projection 58 Crank 59 Crank pin 154 Swing member

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H077 AA37 AC02 AC07 CA02 FA22 FA23 2H134 GA01 GA06 JA02 JA11 KH13 2H200 FA14 GA24 GB11 JA01 JB06 JC03 JC12 LB17

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A toner conveying device comprising a swing member provided in a toner conveying path. 2. The toner conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the swing member is driven by a rotating toner conveying member. 3. The oscillating member has one end engaged with a crank pin of a crank provided on the toner conveying member and the other end in a free state. 3. The toner transport device according to claim 2, wherein the toner transport device reciprocates by rotation of the member. 4. The rocking member includes a rocking bar and a plurality of protrusions protruding outward from the rocking bar.
4. The toner conveying device according to any one of 1 to 3. 5. The toner conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the swing member is a member that extends spirally along a longitudinal direction of the swing member. 6. The toner conveying device according to claim 5, wherein said swing member comprises a coil spring. 7. The swing member according to claim 1, wherein the swing member is made of an elastic body.
7. The toner conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. An image forming apparatus comprising the toner conveying device according to claim 1.