JP2004238082A - Method of filling powder, filling device and powder filling nozzle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device, which are used for filling a toner for an electrophotographic image formation device or the like and can instantaneously control the stop of a powder transfer to a container without causing change in properties of the powder. <P>SOLUTION: The powder filling nozzle comprises tubular bodies 30, 31 used for filling a fluidized powder while the powder is mixed with a gas in the container. Further, the nozzle has a function to stop the transfer of the powder in the tubular body 30 by sucking and separating the gas transferred together with the powder in a first tubular body 30 by a gas separation means 32 to the side of a second tubular body 31 from the powder to form a bridge comprising the powder in the tubular body 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention is a technique for filling a container with fine powder represented by an electrophotographic image forming toner, and it is difficult or impossible to fill the container with a conventional method. The present invention relates to a method, an apparatus, and a jig for efficiently filling small-volume containers.

As a filling method of powder such as toner powder for electrophotography, a rotary valve, a screw feeder, or a method based on a basic idea that the powder is dropped from a filling machine into a container arranged directly below the powder by its own weight and filled. There is an auger type, and in particular, the auger type is generally known and put to practical use as a method of efficiently filling powder into a container having a fixed volume (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
Immediately after being stored in a container by these filling methods, a large amount of air is contained between the powders. Degassing is performed by inserting a suction tube so that the tip is buried in powder (for example, see Patent Document 3).

  Normally, the auger type is a method in which the toner powder in the hopper is discharged downward from the discharge port by rotating a screw-shaped auger provided near the discharge port of the conical hopper. The toner powder is sequentially stored in a plurality of containers arranged and conveyed above.

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for high-speed, high-definition, high-quality images and the like for electrophotographic image formation, and accordingly, the particle size of toner powder has been reduced to an average volume particle size of 10 μm or less, and metal Various studies have been made on toner powders, such as increasing the fluidity (called an external additive) by fixing oxide fine particles, or using a binder resin having a low melting point to ensure low-temperature fixability. I have.
However, according to the auger method, since the toner powder is pressurized by rotation of the auger, the external additive of the toner powder is detached or released from the surface and further buried in the toner powder to reduce the fluidity. There is a problem in that the original function of the external additive, ie, enhancing the function, is reduced or eliminated.

  Further, in a low-temperature fixing toner powder using a binder resin having a low melting point, the toner powder easily adheres to each other or forms an aggregate by pressurization by rotation of the auger, and sometimes the aggregate does not return to the original state. As a result, the toner powder is clogged at the outlet of the hopper, and the discharge is stopped. As a result, there is a problem that the toner filling operation is hindered. Further, since the chargeability of the aggregate does not exhibit a desired value, the image quality of a copy using a developer containing the aggregate is insufficient.

  Originally, the smaller the particle size of the toner powder, the easier it is for the toner powder dropped from the hopper to the container to make a browning motion in a gas regardless of the material, and as a result the powder It becomes necessary to discharge a large amount of gas that will be present in between, and it becomes difficult to form a high-density filling state of the toner powder in the container. It is hoped that the above problems will be solved.

  Furthermore, as described above, the auger type requires at least a filling machine mainly including a belt and a hopper for carrying and transporting a plurality of containers, which is a large-scale device, and the containers are arranged directly below the filling machine. This has the disadvantage that the device must be fixed and constrained.

  In addition, as in the case of the hopper, a gas is introduced into the filling machine storing the powder to increase the fluidity of the powder, and then, while rotating the stirrer, the powder is conveyed from the discharge port provided in the filling machine to the transfer pipe. The purpose is to supply the powder efficiently and fill the container with high density by discharging the gas between the powder through the degassing pipe during the conveyance before the container There is a proposal (for example, see Patent Document 4).

  However, this filling method must be provided with a degassing pipe that is provided coaxially and accurately on the filling pipe, which is difficult to manufacture and increases the weight and the size of the entire apparatus. In addition, in order to arrange the filling machine and the container apart from each other, particularly, the container has a small diameter, or the container inner wall has various structures such as a spiral convex shape to facilitate toner discharge. When used, the movement of the powder is hindered, the powder is not easily displaced by the air inside the container, and the powder is degassed in the course of being transported to the container, so that the powder is difficult to be transported. Is discharged from the filling machine with the use of the auger type, the desorption of the external additive on the toner powder and the formation of aggregates occur as in the case of the auger type, and there is a problem that desired filling cannot be performed. .

  Further, there is provided an auger-type filling device for packing a powdery substance such as a pharmaceutical product or a foodstuff into a container such as a plastic bag, wherein a filter layer is provided on a cylindrical wall surrounding the auger connected to a lower portion of the hopper. There is a proposal aiming at instantaneously stopping the powdery material falling into the bag due to the rotation of the auger by degassing through the layer to make the pressure negative (see, for example, Patent Document 5).

  However, this proposal still has the above-mentioned specific problem due to the auger type, and in particular, in the case of a toner powder to which an external additive is fixed, the powder is not removed when passing through a rotating auger. If the external additive having a smaller particle size than the powder is sucked through the filter layer, the filter is likely to be clogged, and the intended stopping effect of the filter layer is reduced. There is a problem that it is not fully exhibited.

If you try to replenish the toner container or the development unit of the device directly in a general office where an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer is installed, toner dust will fly and even if it can be replenished, In a low-density state containing a large amount of
Further, if toner is directly supplied to the developing section having a particularly complicated structure, the filling state may not be uniform and voids may be formed, resulting in a poor quality image.

The present inventors have previously made a proposal for solving the above-mentioned problems in the toner filling method (Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-102264).
The content of this proposal is different from the method of storing powder from a filling device into a container by agitation and dropping as in the auger type. After obtaining the fluidized state of the powder controlled by the above, the main point is to flow into a container installed separately from the powder fluidizer and fill while keeping the fluidized state by pressurization. .
Hereinafter, the content of the proposal will be described based on the powder filling device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. 1 and 2, those corresponding to the same reference numerals have the same meaning.

The powder filling device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 based on the new powder filling method is a powder fluidizing device (10) provided with an air introduction unit used for powder fluidization at the bottom. It demonstrates its main function.
A powder outlet pipe (24) is previously inserted into the filling powder fluidizer (10), and one end of the powder outlet pipe is connected to the fluidized powder transport pipe (12). The other end of the fluidized powder transport pipe (12) is connected to a filling pipe (17) as a filling nozzle.
Further, the other end of the fluidized powder transport pipe (12) is connected to a filling pipe (17) as a filling nozzle. The other end of the filling tube (17) not connected to the fluidized powder transport tube (12) is inserted into the inside of the powder filling container (18) so as not to be in close contact with the bottom surface of the powder container (18). ing.

In operating this powder filling apparatus, first, the powder to be filled is introduced into the powder fluidizing apparatus (10) through a powder inlet (11) with a closing valve, and the internal pressure is released and sealed. The pressure release valve (13) for the pressure is opened. On the other hand, the operation of the powder flow rate control valve (15) for fine pressure adjustment may be automated by a human power or an electromagnetic valve.
After charging the powder, the pressure release valve (13) is closed, and gas is introduced from the ventilation pipe (7) into the air header (3), which is a pressurized air reservoir as gas introduction means. The inflow of this gas may be adjusted by a first pressure reducing valve (25) and a second pressure reducing valve (26) for pressure adjustment and flow rate adjustment, and the inflow is continued while the device is operating.
The introduced gas is uniformly dispersed in the powder through the perforated porous plate (2) to fluidize the powder.
With the pressure release valve (13) closed, the fluidized powder is extruded from the inside of the filling powder fluidizer (10) to the powder transport pipe (12) under the pressure of the gas used for fluidization. Then, the tip is discharged into the powder filling container (18) from the tip of the tubular filling nozzle (17) inserted into the powder filling container (18).
The fluidized powder transport pipe (12) can be made of a flexible material, and its length is not limited as long as it exhibits a function. It can be arranged separately from the container (18).

  In such a powder filling apparatus, at the beginning of the filling, particularly when the inside of the powder filling container (18) is completely empty, the powder of the filling powder fluidizing apparatus (10) is first used. The degree of opening and closing of the body flow rate control valve (15) is adjusted, and the speed of discharging the powder from the filling fluidization device (10) is reduced, so that the container for filling the filled fluid powder is filled. (18) Avoid the avalanche and diffusion inside, and then the amount of the fine powder cloud staying in the container (18) substantially reduces the fluidized powder flow discharged from the tip of the tubular filling nozzle (17). After increasing to the extent that it can be surrounded, the powder flow control valve (15) can be opened further to continue the filling operation.

According to the above-described powder filling method proposed by the present inventors, particularly in the auger method, the desorption of external additives or the formation of aggregates of the toner powder, which are generated by rotation of the auger, do not occur. In addition, because the filling device is small and easy to carry, easy to operate and convenient, it can sufficiently fill small-diameter filling containers and containers with complicated shapes. It is extremely effective and has never existed before.
According to this new powder filling method, the powder fluidized in the powder fluidizer is fluidized and pressurized, so that it flows into the container through the transport pipe at a very high speed and vigorously. In order to fill a desired amount of powder sequentially into each of a plurality of containers because a container is easily filled with powder and gas immediately, if one container is filled with a desired amount of powder, An important technical issue is how to control the flow so that it can be stopped instantaneously, that is, it can be stopped sharply, and the flow can be resumed and the next container can be filled. If this control is not sufficient, the powder will be scattered around the filling device, resulting in work contamination.

The present inventors adjusted the pressure release valve (13) provided in the powder fluidization device (10) shown in FIG. 1 to control the feeding pressure. It was insufficient to stop the inflow instantaneously. This is considered to be because it takes time for air to escape from the pressure release valve, so that it takes time to reduce the residual pressure, and that the flow distance from the powder fluidization device to the container is long.
Furthermore, the present inventors provided a mechanical stop means such as a valve or a shutter at the tip of the filling nozzle inserted into the container and used it as a control means. It was confirmed that the desired control was not sufficiently performed due to the formation of aggregates. This may be because the powder is pressed by mechanical means.

JP-A-4-87901 JP-A-6-263101 JP-A-9-193902 JP 2001-31002 A JP 2000-247445 A

The object of the present invention is used in a new powder filling method of filling a flow state powder obtained by introducing a gas into the powder into a container, without changing the powder, It is an object of the present invention to provide a filling method and a filling device capable of controlling the instantaneous stoppage of powder flow to a container, and a filling nozzle used for the same.
Further, an object of the present invention is to use a new powder filling method, which can instantaneously stop the flow of powder into a container without deteriorating the powder, and furthermore, a high-density powder of a desired amount can be discharged. An object of the present invention is to provide a filling method and a device capable of filling a container in a state, and a filling nozzle used therefor.
In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a filling nozzle capable of solving the above-described problem that occurs when filling a toner to be developed into various storage containers or the like when performing image formation using an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. .

  An object of the present invention is to provide (1) a nozzle composed of a tubular body used for filling a container with powder in a fluidized state mixed with a gas, comprising a gas separating means, Means for separating gas that is sent along with the powder in the tubular body from the powder by the means, forming a bridge made of the powder in the tubular body, and stopping the flow of the powder in the tubular body. Characteristic powder filling nozzle ", (2)" Two tubular bodies having an outer diameter of the first tubular body smaller than the inner diameter of the second tubular body are used as a gas flow passage between the two tubular bodies. A nozzle having a double pipe structure, in which a first tubular body is inserted and installed in a second tubular body so as to form a gap, and the two tubular bodies are fixed to each other so that the gap is sealed at both ends. In addition, the first tubular body is used to transfer the fluidized powder fed from one of the openings. Has a function as a feed passage for discharging into the container from one of the openings, and a filter portion through which gas passes but powder does not pass is provided near the opening serving as the powder discharge port of the first tubular body. At least constituted, the second tubular body has a first gas outlet connected to an external first gas suction means, and the second tubular body passes through the filter portion and is sucked by the operation of the first gas suction means. A function of discharging the gas in the first tubular body through the feed passage formed between the two tubular bodies through the gas outlet, and wherein the filter portion functions as the gas separating means. The powder filling nozzle according to the above item (1), "(3)" using a third tubular body having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the second tubular body, So that there is formed a gap that serves as a gas flow path between the three tubular bodies A triple tube structure, wherein the powder filling nozzle according to claim 2 is inserted and installed in a third tubular body, and the second tubular body and the third tubular body are fixed to each other so that the gap is sealed at both ends. The third tubular body has a gas discharge port connected to an external second gas suction means, and the first tubular body has a gas discharge port on the opening side serving as a powder discharge port. At least a filter portion that does not pass through the body, gas present between the powder discharged into the container is sucked through the filter portion by the second gas suction means, and the second tubular body and the third tubular body are separated. (1) wherein the filter has a function of discharging the gas from the gas discharge port through the feed passage provided therebetween, and the filter unit functions as the gas separating means. Nozzle for filling powder described in the item "4." A through hole is provided in the vicinity of the opening for discharging the body powder, and a filter portion formed by winding a filter material around the first tubular body so as to cover the through hole is provided. (2) The nozzle for powder filling according to the item (3) or (3), (5) “a tubular body in which the first tubular body is formed of a filter material and a tubular body in which the first tubular body is formed of a non-filterable material. The powder filling nozzle according to any one of the above items (2) to (4), wherein a portion formed of a filter material is used as a filter portion. (6) “A powder filling nozzle according to the above (4) or (5), characterized by using a twill tatami weave filter material”, (7) “2. It must be composed of a laminate of more than one filter material. The powder filling nozzle according to any one of the above items (2) to (6), "(8)" the laminate is closer to the inner core side of the first filling tube, (9) The powder filling nozzle according to the above (7), wherein the filter portion is made of a filter material having a fine mesh. The powder filling nozzle according to any one of the above items (2) to (8), which is at least 0.3 times the inner diameter of the discharge opening.

  Further, the above object is achieved by providing (10) a powder fluidizing means which can be hermetically sealed and a filling nozzle having a powder discharge opening, wherein the powder fluidized by the powder fluidizing means is provided. A powder filling apparatus used for discharging and filling a body from a powder discharge opening of the filling nozzle into a filling container via a flow path, wherein the filling nozzle is used in any of the above items (1) to ( (9) A powder filling apparatus characterized in that it is the filling nozzle according to any one of the above (9), (11), wherein the filling nozzle is the above (2), (4) to (10). The filling nozzle having a double-pipe structure according to any one of Items, wherein one end of the filling nozzle is connected to the powder fluidizing means via a fluidized powder transport pipe serving as the flow path, and Providing a gas suction nozzle for sucking and discharging gas existing between powders after the powder has been discharged into the container (12) The first gas connected to the first gas outlet of the second tubular body constituting the filling nozzle having a double-pipe structure. (13) The powder filling apparatus according to the above (11), further comprising a suction means and a second gas suction means connected to the gas suction nozzle. Item) The filling nozzle having a triple pipe structure according to any one of Items 9 to 9, wherein the powder fluidizing means is provided via a fluidized powder transport pipe having one end of the filling nozzle serving as a flow path. And (14) "the first gas exhaust of the second tubular body constituting the filling nozzle having a triple tube structure." The first gas suction means connected to the outlet and the filling nozzle having a triple tube structure are configured. (13) The powder filling apparatus according to the above (13), further comprising a second gas suction means connected to the second gas discharge port of the three tubular bodies. A hole for inserting the filling nozzle is provided, and a lid member that can be fitted to the opening of the powder filling container is used, and the filling nozzle is fixed in a state inserted into the hole. (16) The powder filling device according to any one of the above (10) to (14), wherein the powder fluidizing means can adjust the flow rate of the introduced gas. (10) to (15), comprising: a control valve; and a feed powder flow rate control valve capable of adjusting a flow rate of the feed powder in the feed path of the fluidized powder. The powder filling apparatus according to any one of the above items, and (17) wherein the powder fluidizing means further comprises: (10) to (10) to (10), further including a gas introducing means for fluidizing the powder, wherein the gas introducing means is a pressure vessel for accommodating a gas so that the gas can be delivered to the fluidizing means. (18) The powder filling device according to any one of the above (16) and (18), wherein the powder fluidizing means further has a gas introducing means for the powder fluidizing, and the gas introducing means. Is an air supply pump with a check valve, the fine powder filling apparatus according to any one of the above (10) to (17), and (19) Wherein said body fluidizing means further comprises gas distribution means for uniformly introducing gas into said powder fluidizing means between said gas fluidizing means and said gas fluidizing means. (20) The powder filling apparatus according to any one of (10) to (18), wherein the powder is an electrostatic latent image. (10) The powder filling device according to any one of the above items (10) to (19), wherein the power source is at least one of sunlight energy and wind energy. The powder filling device according to any one of the above (10) to (20), wherein electric power obtained by one natural energy is used.

  In addition, the above object is achieved by (22) the present invention, wherein the powder filling device according to any one of the above (10) to (21) can be used to hermetically seal a powder for filling. After the powder in the powder fluidizing means is fluidized by gas, the fluidized powder is sent from the stored powder fluidizing means to the inside of the filling nozzle via a sending path. (23) "The powder filling method according to the above (22), wherein the bulk density of the powder being fed is 0.1 to 0.2." Filling method ", (24)" the powder fed into the powder filling container in which the filling nozzle is inserted and a lid member holding the filling nozzle is fitted in the opening is filled in the filling nozzle. (25) or (25), wherein the powder is fed and discharged. The powder according to any one of (22) to (24), wherein the powder is fluidized by introducing an additional gas into the storage powder fluidizing means. (22) to (25), wherein the powder is fluidized by the gas by vibrating the stored powder fluidizing means. )), (27) “the feeding of the powder from the powder fluidizing means to the filling nozzle increases the pressure in the powder fluidizing means. The method for filling powder according to any one of the above items (22) to (26), which is performed by increasing the pressure. ", (28)" The powder fluidization of the powder. " Means for feeding the powder fluidization means to the powder fluidization means by applying an external pressure to the powder fluidization means. (29) The first gas according to any one of the above (22) to (27), wherein the step is performed by reducing the internal volume of the step. The flow of the powder fluidized by the powder fluidizing means is stopped by operating the suction means, wherein the flow of the powder fluidized by the powder fluidizing means is stopped. Powder filling method ", (30)" the powder filling method according to the above item (29), wherein the bulk density of the powder at the time of stoppage is 0.4 to 0.5 ". (31) The item (29) or (30), wherein the discharge amount and the discharge degree of the fluidized powder are controlled by adjusting the suction degree by operating the first gas suction means. (32) "The gas suction pressure by the first gas suction means is -10 to 10". The method for filling powder according to any one of the above items (29) to (31), characterized by being −60 kPa ”, (33)“ Discharge amount and discharge degree of the fluidized powder ” (29) is controlled by adjusting the opening / closing degree of the introduction gas control valve provided with the powder fluidization means and / or adjusting the opening / closing degree of the discharge powder flow rate control valve. ) To (32), and (34) that the tip of the gas suction nozzle used in combination with the filling nozzle having the double pipe structure is the powder in the powder filling container. The method according to the above (1), wherein the gas is disposed between the powders discharged from the filling nozzle into the powder filling container by operating the second gas suction means so as to be surrounded by the body. 22) The method for filling a powder according to any one of the items (33) to (33) ”, 35) “The tip of the filling nozzle having a triple tube structure is installed so as to be surrounded by the powder in the powder filling container, and the second gas suction means is operated to discharge the powder from the filling nozzle into the powder filling container. And (36) the second gas suction, wherein the method of filling the powder according to any one of the above items (22) to (33) is characterized by discharging the gas present between the powders. (35) The powder filling method according to the above (34) or (35), wherein the gas suction pressure by the means is -10 to -60 kPa. Any of the above items (29) to (36), wherein the flow of the powder is stopped and the lid member is removed from the powder filling container when the predetermined amount of the powder is filled. (38) "The powder is a toner for developing an electrostatic latent image." Is achieved by the second (22) section to the (37) filling method of the powder according to any one of claim 'wherein there.

  In addition, the above object is achieved by (39) a “container filled with the powder by the filling method according to any one of the above items (22) to (38)” of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.
First, the outline of the filling nozzle of the present invention will be described.
The nozzle used to fill the container with the powder in the fluidized state of the present invention is a gas which is sent together with the powder in the tubular body by the gas separating means provided in the tubular body. And a bridge made of powder is formed in the tubular body to stop the flow of the powder from the tubular body.
Normally, powder in a fluidized state is sent vigorously, so in the filling operation, when a desired amount of powder is supplied to the container, it is necessary to stop discharging the powder from the nozzle instantaneously. .
According to the filling nozzle of the present invention having the above-mentioned function, especially for the toner powder for electrophotography, since no mechanical pressure is applied, desorption of the external additive or generation of aggregates which cause a deterioration in image quality The powder fed in the fluidized state can be instantaneously stopped without generating the like, and the filling operation can be performed efficiently and in a state where the filling amount can be accurately controlled.

Next, the filling nozzle of the present invention will be described with reference to two specific examples.
One is to use two tubular bodies of different diameters and insert a small tubular body (referred to as first tubular body) into a large tubular body (referred to as second tubular body) and fix it at the end. The first tubular body has a function of sending fluidized powder from one opening to the other opening and discharging the powder into the container, and the first tubular body has a vicinity of a discharge-side tip portion. A through-hole is provided around a part of the tube wall, and a gas separating means, that is, a filter is provided in the through-hole to separate the gas from the flowing powder composed of the gas and the powder. The one provided with a gas outlet (referred to as first gas outlet) connected to the gas suction means (referred to as first gas suction means) (referred to as a first example of a filling nozzle having a double pipe structure) is used.

  As a modified example of the filling nozzle having the double pipe structure, as a first tubular body, a through-hole is provided in a part of a pipe wall near a distal end portion, and a fluid powder composed of gas and powder is provided in the through-hole. A gas separating means for separating gas from the gas, that is, a means provided with a filter is used, but as a second tubular body, a filling of a double pipe structure provided so as to substantially hermetically surround only a portion where the separating means is provided is provided. It is characterized by being manufactured using a nozzle shorter than that used in the first example of the nozzle, wherein the hermetic enclosure further has a structure connected to gas suction means, Further, the filter functions as gas separation means.

According to the filling nozzle having the double pipe structure of the present invention, when the first gas suction means connected to the first gas outlet provided in the second tubular body is operated, the powder flows along with the powder in the first tubular body. The flowing gas flows not through the powder discharge port but through the filter material constituting the first tubular body, and flows through the space formed between the first tubular body and the second tubular body as a flow path, At the same time as the powder is discharged from the first gas discharge port, the powder is sucked around the entire inner wall of the first tubular body in the portion where the filter material is formed, and the powder becomes a squeezed state and instantaneously becomes a powder group. A "plug" state is formed, so that the flow of powder in the first tubular body can be stopped instantaneously. The powder group that forms the stop state of the flow usually forms a “bridge”. However, in the present invention, the powder group is not necessarily limited to the bridge, and the “plug” state of the powder group As long as the flow stop state is formed, it is included in the “bridge”.
As described above, even if the “plug” state composed of the powder group is formed by using the filling nozzle of the present invention, the characteristics of the powder particles are not adversely affected, and the toner powder forms an aggregate or an external additive. The filling operation can proceed without the desorption of the water.

The filling nozzle of the double pipe structure type of the present invention functions particularly effectively when applied to the novel filling method described above.
That is, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the powder fluidized by the powder fluidizer (10) and discharged by being pressurized passes together with the gas through the fluidized powder transport pipe (12) and passes through the first nozzle of the filling nozzle. It is sent through one tubular body and discharged to the powder container (18).
In this case, one opening of the first tubular body constituting the filling nozzle is connected to the fluidized powder transport pipe (12), and the other opening is located near the bottom of the powder container (18). , A filling nozzle is installed.
Since not only the powder but also the gas is discharged from the first tubular body into the powder container (18), and the powder and the gas are mixed, the discharged powder is extremely low in the container. The density is filled.
For example, when the powder is a toner powder for forming an electrophotographic image, a large number of images are taken for the transportation efficiency of the container product filled with the toner powder or without changing the container as much as possible. For this purpose, one container needs to be filled with as much powder as possible. On the other hand, the toner powder can be smoothly discharged from the container every time an image is formed without changing the quality of the toner powder. It is also usually required to be packed at a high density.
In order to fill the powder in the powder container so as to form the “high density” in such a state, an operation (degassing operation) of discharging gas existing between the powders in the container is required. Normally, when using the filling nozzle of the double-tube structure type of the present invention, a gas suction nozzle prepared separately is used together, and the suction port is installed in a state surrounding the powder to perform deaeration work. Done.

The series of operations for filling the powder is not limited to the double-tube type filling nozzle. Preferably, the operation of discharging the powder from the filling nozzle of the present invention into the container is started first, and the suction of the gas suction nozzle is performed. When the mouth is surrounded by the powder, the degassing operation is started, and the discharging of the powder into the container and the degassing of the gas are performed in parallel, and the powder in the container is reduced to a desired amount. At the timing of the density state, the discharge of the powder from the filling nozzle is stopped by operating the first gas suction means using the function of the filling nozzle of the present invention.
The discharge of the powder is stopped instantaneously, but by adjusting the degree of suction by the first gas suction means, the amount and degree of discharge of the powder can be adjusted.
When the desired amount of powder and the desired density are filled, the container is replaced with another container, and then the stop of the powder discharge is released, and the filling operation is continued.
Such a filling method can be applied in an automated factory where a large number of powder containers are continuously fed, but is also used individually by a service person to directly fill a developing unit of a customer's image forming apparatus with toner powder. It is also applicable to cases, and its application is not limited.

However, in the case of using two types of nozzles of the present invention, a filling nozzle and a gas suction nozzle having a double pipe structure, the powder container is provided with two insertion ports so that the two nozzles can be inserted separately, or It is necessary to provide a wide insertion port into which two nozzles can be collectively inserted.
As a specific example of the filling nozzle used for filling the fluidized powder into the container not satisfying such conditions by the above-described novel filling method, a filling nozzle having a triple pipe structure will be described below.

The filling nozzle having a triple pipe structure according to the present invention further includes a tubular body having a larger inner diameter than an outer diameter of the second tubular body in the second tubular body of the filling nozzle having the double pipe structure (referred to as a third tubular body). , A so-called double-tube-structured filling nozzle inserted into the third tubular body and fixed, and the third tubular body located on the powder outlet side of the first tubular body A filter portion through which a gas can pass is formed around the vicinity of the opening of the first tubular member, and the third tubular body has a gas outlet (second gas sucking device) connected to an external gas suction means (referred to as a second gas suction means). Discharge outlet).
The functions of the first tubular body and the second tubular body in the filling nozzle having the triple tube structure are the same as those of the filling nozzle having the double tube structure.
The filling nozzle of the triple tube structure connects the opening of the first tubular body at one end to the fluidized powder transport pipe, and the filter of the third tubular body at the other end is surrounded by the powder. Is installed as follows.

When the powder is discharged into the container and the filter portion of the third tubular body is surrounded by the powder, the second gas suction means is operated to suck the gas between the powders, and the second tubular body and the second tubular body are sucked. Gas is discharged from the second gas discharge port through a space formed as a gas feeding path between the three tubular bodies.
As described above, the powder is filled in the powder container at a high density in the same manner as in the case where the filling nozzle having the double pipe structure is used.

  As is clear from the above and the following, detailed and specific explanations, the present invention makes it possible to fill a large number of containers with a predetermined amount of powder in a high-density state sequentially and efficiently and accurately. And a filling method and an apparatus therefor can be provided, that is, a gas can be uniformly introduced into the powder to obtain a controlled flow state of the powder with a minimum gas amount, and a small-diameter filling container or a filling container having a complicated shape can be provided. Flowing powder into the back or bottom of the tub, providing a method that can be easily filled with high density and dust-free, and accurate weighing is possible, and it is small and portable so that anyone can fill it anywhere. Thus, it is possible to provide a filling nozzle and a filling device which are easy to operate and have an extremely excellent effect.

The filling nozzle of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking as an example the filling of an electrophotographic toner in which the application of the filling nozzle of the present invention exerts the maximum effect. However, the present invention is limited by this figure and description. Not something.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first example of a filling nozzle having a double pipe structure.
A through hole (33) is provided near the opening (b) of the first tubular body (30) from which the powder is discharged, and a filter is provided around the first tubular body (30) so as to cover the through hole (33). The material is wound, and a mesh degree corresponding to a toner average volume particle size of 10 μm or less, for example, a 3500 mesh metal mesh, and a filter portion (32) of a sintered glass filter are formed.
The outer diameter of the first tubular body (30) is smaller than the inner diameter of the second tubular body (31), and the first tubular body (30) is inserted and installed in the second tubular body (31). A space (d) is formed between the two tubular bodies, and the first tubular body (1) and the fixing members (35) and (36) are fixed at both ends of the second tubular body (31), and the space is formed at that portion. Part (d) is sealed.
Near the end of the second tubular body (31) on the opening (a) side where the powder of the first tubular body (30) flows, a gas outlet (34) connected to an external first gas suction means is provided. ) Is provided.

When the first gas suction means is operated, the powder and the gas flowing in the first tubular body (30) are sucked, and the gas passes through the filter part (32), passes through the space part (d), and passes through the space part (d). The powder is discharged from the discharge port (34). On the other hand, the powder is attracted to the filter part (32) provided around the entire first tubular body (1) without passing through the filter part (32), and is filtered. At the position (1), a plug is formed in which the first tubular body (30) is clogged with the powder, and thus the flow of the powder in the first tubular body (30) is stopped.
The gas suction pressure by the first gas suction means is preferably from -10 to -60 kPa, and more preferably from -30 to -45 kPa.
In addition, it is preferable to feed the powder by adjusting the internal pressure and the feed rate so that the bulk density of the powder in the first tubular body (30) is about 0.1 to 0.2. On the other hand, suctioning by the first gas suction means so that the bulk density of the powder in which the plug state is formed is about 0.4 to 0.5 can be achieved without reducing the quality of the powder and reducing the flow rate. It is particularly preferred for instantaneous stopping.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modified example of the filling nozzle having the double pipe structure.
A feature of the modified example of the filling nozzle having the double pipe structure is that a through-hole provided only in the vicinity of the tip portion is used as the first tubular body, and is provided on the through-hole as the second tubular body. Another object of the present invention is to use a filter having a short length which can surround only a filter portion as a separating means for separating a gas from a fluidized powder composed of a gas and a powder.
That is, in FIG. 4, the through hole (33) is provided near the opening (b) from which the powder of the first tubular body (30) is discharged, and the filter portion (32) covers the through hole (33). The first tubular body (30) is wound around, and the second tubular body (31) is slightly longer than the width of the filter portion (32) around which the first tubular body (30) is wound. The first tubular body (30) is considerably shorter than that of the first tubular body (30), and is fixed by a fixing member (36) near the distal end of the first tubular body (30), and the space (d) is sealed at that location.
Except for the points described above, the respective conditions constituting the above-mentioned filling nozzle of the first example are used, and similarly to the case of the above-mentioned filling nozzle of the first example, the external condition connected to the gas discharge port (34) is used. By operating the first gas suction means, the flow of the powder in the first tubular body (30) is instantaneously stopped, and the fluidized powder is removed from the opening (a) of the first tubular body (30). And filled into the container for powder filling.
The filling nozzle of the modified example of the double tube structure has the same operation and effect as the above-described filling nozzle of the first example, but as is clear from FIG. Since the space (d) formed between the two tubular bodies (31) serves as a gas storage chamber to form a vortex gas flow, the effect of instantaneously stopping the powder flow is improved, and the gas discharge port is further improved. This effect can be further enhanced because (34) is located very close to the through-hole (33), and the advantage is that it is more convenient to use because it is more compact than the first filling nozzle. Have

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of a filling nozzle having a triple tube structure.
As the filling nozzle having the triple tube structure, a third tubular body (37) longer and thicker than the second tubular body (31) is used, and the filling nozzle having the double tube structure is inserted into the third tubular body (37). An installed structure, wherein a space (e) is formed between the second tubular body (31) and the third tubular body (37), and the second tubular body is formed at both ends of the third tubular body (37). (31) is fixed by the fixing members (41) and (42), and the space (e) is sealed at that portion.
A plurality of through holes (38) are provided near the end of the third tubular body (37) on the side of the opening (b) from which the powder of the first tubular body (30) is discharged. A filter material is wound around the third tubular body (37) so as to cover (38), thereby forming a filter portion (39).

FIG. 5B shows a plurality of through holes (38) provided in the first tubular body (30).
Near the end of the third tubular body (37) on the opening (a) side where the powder of the first tubular body (30) flows, a gas outlet (40) connected to an external second gas suction means is provided. ) Is provided.
The functions and configurations of the first tubular body (30) and the second tubular body (31) constituting the filling nozzle having the triple tube structure are the same as those of the filling nozzle having the double tube structure.

When the second gas suction means is operated in the filling nozzle having the triple pipe structure, the powder and the gas discharged into the container are sucked, and the gas passes through the filter section (39) and passes through the space section (e). The powder is discharged from the gas discharge port (40), but the powder remains without passing through the filter section (39), and is finally filled in the container at a high density.
The gas suction pressure by the second gas suction means is preferably from -10 to -60 kPa, and more preferably from -20 to -35 kPa.

The first tubular body, the second tubular body, and the third tubular body constituting the filling nozzle will be described.
As each tubular body, a long pipe-shaped one is usually used, and it can be applied to a metal such as stainless steel, titanium, aluminum or the like or a plastic.
The length of each tubular body is not limited, but the first tubular body is the longest, then the second tubular body, and the shortest third tubular body, in terms of filling nozzle functionality and workability. And is usually preferably used.
The thickness of each tubular body is not particularly limited as long as the intended function is exhibited, but for example, the outer diameter of the first tubular body is preferably 4 to 20 mm.
In particular, the length and thickness of each of the first tubular body, the second tubular body and the third tubular body, and the width of the space formed between the tubular bodies are important for exhibiting the function of the filling nozzle of the present invention. It is preferable that the element satisfies the following conditions (1) to (5) at the same time.
(1) Length of first tubular body / outer diameter of first tubular body; 65 to 85
(2) Length of second tubular body / outer diameter of second tubular body; 55 to 75
(3) Length of third tubular body / outer diameter of third tubular body;
(4) Inner diameter of second tubular body / outer diameter of first tubular body; 1.05 to 1.3
(5) Inner diameter of third tubular body / outer diameter of second tubular body; 1.08 to 1.5

In the first tubular body constituting the filling nozzle of the present invention, a filter for stopping powder flow is provided around the vicinity of the powder outlet.
"Near" indicating the installation location of the filter means that it is preferable that the end is not located in order to sufficiently exhibit the function of stopping the flow of the powder in the first tubular body. It is preferably provided at a position of about 25 mm.
The width of the filter is preferably at least 0.3 times the inner diameter of the powder discharge opening of the first filling tube, and more preferably about 4 to 20 mm.

Next, two methods for forming the filter section will be described.
One of them is to provide a plurality of through holes near one end serving as a powder discharge port, which is a filter portion of the first tubular body, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, and a through hole is provided. This is a method in which a filter material is wound so as to cover the periphery of the first tubular body portion thus obtained, thereby forming a filter portion.
The method of providing the through-holes in the first tubular body itself aims at the stiffness of the nozzle, the workability for winding the filter material, the operability by forming a straight nozzle, and the like.
The size of the through-hole is not limited, but is preferably not more than 2/3 of the inner diameter of the first tubular body, and it is preferable to provide two or more in a row in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body. Preferably, two or more rows are provided.

  Another method is that the first tubular body is formed by joining a tubular body formed of a filter material and a tubular body formed of a non-filterable material. It is aimed at an advantage that powder clogging of the filter portion is small.

When the filter is sucked by the gas suction means, it is basically necessary to allow gas to pass through but not to pass powder. The filter material is not particularly limited.
It is important to select a mesh as the filter material, and a laminate of two or more types of filter materials having different mesh sizes can be used. The laminate is preferably a filter having a coarse mesh on the outside and a fine mesh on the inside. The laminate is particularly preferably applicable to the latter method, which has a drawback of weak stiffness.
In addition, a twill tatami filter, in particular, has a finer filtration particle size and a higher surface smoothness than the plain tatami filter, and is dense, so that the gas used in the present invention is passed through but not the powder. This is the most preferable filter material.
Further, it is preferable to select the filter material particularly in consideration of the narrow space width formed between the first tubular body and the second tubular body.

A gas suction filter portion is provided around the third tubular body of the triple-tube structure filling nozzle of the present invention near the powder discharge port side of the filling nozzle.
"Near" indicating the installation location of the filter means that it is preferable that it is not at the end in order to sufficiently exhibit the function of sucking the gas in the powder container. It is preferable to provide the filter at a position of about 15 to about 15 mm, and the width of the filter is preferably wider than the width of the filter of the first tubular body because it is necessary to discharge a large amount of gas. Preferably, there is.

The method of forming the filter portion and its material are basically the same as those of the first tubular body.
Unlike the first tubular body, when the filter section is formed by providing a through-hole in the tubular body itself, the through-hole preferably has a diameter of 2/3 or less of the inner diameter of the third tubular body, Further, it is preferable to provide four or more rows in a row in the length direction of the tubular body, and it is preferable to provide two or more rows of such four or more rows.

The positions of the first gas outlet and the second gas outlet provided on each of the second tubular body and the third tubular body constituting the filling nozzle of the present invention are not particularly limited, but the first tubular body is not limited to the first tubular body. It is preferable to arrange them in the vicinity of the opening where the fluidized powder of the body flows.
The diameter of the gas outlet is not particularly limited either, but is preferably about 4 to 7 mm.

As the gas suction means connected to each of the first gas outlet and the second gas outlet in the present invention, a vacuum pump suction type, an ejector suction type, or the like is used. Among them, the ejector suction type requires little maintenance. Is preferred.
A space formed between the vicinity of the end of the first tubular body and the end of the second tubular body, and a space formed between the vicinity of the end of the second tubular body and the end of the third tubular body. A ring-shaped fixing member, an adhesive, solder, or the like is used as a fixing member for fixing and fixing gas and preventing gas from leaking.

Next, a powder filling apparatus of the present invention, to which the above-described triple-tube filling nozzle is attached, will be described with reference to FIGS. However, the device of the present invention is not limited to those shown in these figures.
In the case of the powder filling apparatus of the present invention in which a filling nozzle having a double tube structure (not shown) is attached, a gas suction nozzle is separately prepared, and two nozzles capable of separately inserting two nozzles as a powder container are provided. A device provided with an insertion port or a device provided with a wide insertion port into which two nozzles can be inserted collectively is used.
In the powder filling apparatuses shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, those corresponding to the same reference numerals have the same meaning.

The powder filling device of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided with a powder fluidizing device (10) provided with an air introduction portion used for fluidizing the powder at the bottom, and the powder for filling is provided. A powder outlet pipe (24) is inserted into the body fluidizing device (10) in advance, and one end of the powder outlet pipe is connected to the fluidized powder transport pipe (12). The leading end of the fluidized powder transport pipe (12) not connected to the pipe (24) is connected to a filling pipe (17) which is a filling nozzle having a triple pipe structure of the present invention.
The tip of the filling pipe (17) on the side not connected to the fluidized powder transport pipe (12) is inserted into the inside of the powder filling container (18) so as not to be in close contact with the bottom surface of the powder container (18). Have been.

  The air header (3) is slightly pressure-resistant enough to increase the pressure inside the filling powder fluidizer (10), and the air header (3) has a third pressure gauge (p3). Provided. The compressed air pipe (7) connected to the air header (3) is provided with a first pressure reducing valve (25), a second pressure reducing valve (26), and an air flow meter (27) in this order. ) And the second pressure reducing valve (26), a first pressure gauge (p1) is provided between the second pressure reducing valve (26) and the air flow meter (27). Have been.

In operating this powder filling apparatus, first, the powder to be filled is introduced into the powder fluidizing apparatus (10) through a powder inlet (11) with a closing valve, and the internal pressure is released and sealed. The pressure release valve (13) for the pressure is opened. On the other hand, the operation of the powder flow rate control valve (15) for fine pressure adjustment may be automated by a human power or an electromagnetic valve.
After charging the powder, the pressure release valve (13) is closed, and gas is introduced from the ventilation pipe (7) into the air header (3), which is a pressurized air reservoir as gas introduction means. The inflow of this gas may be adjusted by a first pressure reducing valve (25) and a second pressure reducing valve (26) for pressure adjustment and flow rate adjustment, and the inflow is continued while the device is operating.
The introduced gas is uniformly dispersed in the powder through the perforated perforated plate (2),
Fluidize the powder.

The introduced gas is uniformly dispersed in the powder by the gas-permeable porous plate (2) to fluidize the powder.
With the pressure release valve (13) closed, the fluidized powder is extruded from the inside of the filling powder fluidizer (10) to the powder transport pipe (12) under the pressure of the gas used for fluidization. Then, the tip is discharged from the tip of the tubular filling nozzle (17) of the present invention inserted into the powder filling container (18) into the powder filling container (18).
The tip of the filling nozzle (17) is inserted so as not to be in close contact with the bottom surface of the powder container.
The ventilation pipe (7) can be made of a flexible material, and its length is not limited as long as it functions, so that the powder fluidizer (10) and the filling vessel (18) can be used. ) Can be arranged at a distance.

The fluidized powder transport pipe (12) can be made of a flexible material, and its length is not limited as long as it exhibits a function. It can be arranged separately from the container (18).
A large amount of gas discharged together with the powder is discharged into the container, and the inside of the container is divided into a lower layer portion in which the powder and the gas are mixed and an upper layer portion substantially containing only the gas.
In order to discharge the gas in the upper layer, at least a powder-gas separation sieve (vented porous plate) (16) is used for a lid member attached to the mouth of the powder filling container (18). The gas in the upper portion is discharged, and the pressure in the container is adjusted.

  The lid member is made of at least a gas-permeable porous material, is provided with a hole for inserting the filling nozzle, and has a size that can be fitted into the opening of the powder filling container. By using a material in which the periphery of the lid member is wrapped with soft packing, the fitting property can be improved.

In the case of a gas filling nozzle having a triple tube structure, the gas present between the powders in the lower layer portion is connected to a second gas discharge port provided in the third tubular body and is provided with a second gas suction means provided outside. The deaeration is performed by the operation of.
In the case of a filling nozzle having a double pipe structure, for example, a gas suction nozzle inserted into powder in a container as described in Patent Document 4 is used, and degassing is performed by operating a second gas suction unit. Is performed.

  In the filling apparatus of the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, at the beginning of filling, particularly when the inside of the powder filling container (18) is completely empty, first, the fluidizing powder for filling is first used. The degree of opening and closing of the powder flow rate control valve (15) of the device (10) is adjusted so that the powder discharge speed from the filling powder fluidization device (10) is reduced, and Avoid the ablation and diffusion inside the powder filling container (18), and then the amount of fine powder cloud staying in the container (18) is fluidized by discharging from the tip of the tubular filling nozzle (17). After the powder flow is increased to the extent that it can substantially surround the powder flow, the powder flow control valve (15) can be opened further to continue the filling operation.

The filling nozzle (17) is placed above the filling port of the powder filling container (18), and is automatically inserted into the powder filling container (18) after the setting of the powder filling container (18). It may be inserted manually.
Further, a lid member is fixed near a connecting portion between the fluidized powder transport pipe and the filling nozzle in a state where the filling nozzle is inserted into the hole, and a container is attached to the lid member, and the powder is removed. One method using the filling device of the present invention is to replace a container after filling and sequentially fill a large number of containers with powder.
Then, although not shown, the first gas suction means connected to the first tubular body constituting the filling nozzle having the triple tube structure is operated to stop the flow of the powder in the first tubular body, and the inside of the container is stopped. Discharge of powder to the can be stopped.
This powder discharge can be stopped by opening the pressure release valve (13) of the filling powder fluidization device (10) and operating the gas suction means in parallel. When the internal pressure in the filling powder fluidization device (10), which has been a powder transportation force, is reduced by slightly opening the powder, the powder feeding can be effectively stopped.

  In the powder filling device (1) of FIG. 2, a filling powder fluidization device (10) made of a flexible material such as a soft plastic, A gas-permeable porous plate (2) (sintered metal plate, sintered resin plate, fine mesh, etc.) that is removably connected by a flange and forms a fluidized bed of powder. A compressed air pipe as a ventilation pipe (7), an air header (3) as a gas introduction means in which the ventilation pipe (7) is detachably fitted, an inlet (11) for powder with a closing valve, an internal pressure Pressure release valve (13) for opening and sealing of the container, powder flow rate control valve (15) for fine adjustment of pressure, stainless steel pipe as fluidized powder outlet pipe (24), and the filling nozzle for fluidized powder (17) Ejection path (transfer path) to (12), detachable At the base of a stainless steel filling nozzle (17) attached and detachably connected to a connected urethane tube and discharge path (12) (urethane tube), an opening of a powder container (18) for powder filling is provided. A gas-powder separating screen (16) is provided which is sized to fit and in this example is wound around a soft packing (19) consisting of a frusto-conical polypropylene ring.

  However, unlike the apparatus of FIG. 1, as a gas introducing means, a bellows-type pump (6) which has a check valve (8) at the gas outlet and which expands and contracts by a small electric motor (5) and sends air to the air header (3). ). The pump (6) is detachably fixed in the holding frame (9). When the pump (6) expands and contracts by the small electric motor (5), the powder fluidizing device for filling via the holding frame (9). (10) is vibrated, and by this vibration, the powder in the filling powder fluidizing device (10) is fluidized by gas.

  In the apparatus of the example shown in FIG. 2, neither the powder fluidizer for filling (10) nor the air header (3) needs to be made of a thick material specific to the pressurized container, and the entire apparatus can be reduced in weight and size. This can be further facilitated, and the power line plug (21) for the small electric motor (5) can be operated simply by plugging it into an outlet provided in the copying machine, for example.

Further, the powder filling apparatus of the present invention has an advantage that power consumption can be reduced as compared with the case of an auger type powder filling apparatus which has been generally used in the past. It can be operated with household energy of about 100V.
However, if only electric power energy is used, even if 100 V is used for the purpose of reducing the load on the environment, there is not much difference from the case where 200 V is used.
In the present invention, natural energy can be preferably used as a power source for operating the powder filling apparatus to take advantage of the above advantages.
The electric power energy in the present invention means electric power transmitted from a so-called electric power company to offices, homes, and the like via transmission lines. On the other hand, renewable energy refers to power generated by ourselves other than power generated by electric power companies. Specifically, solar energy (solar power generation system), wind energy (wind heat generation system), geothermal It refers to the power obtained by energy.
In particular, easily available solar energy and wind energy are preferably used.
For conversion of solar energy into electrical energy, a solar cell that irradiates a junction between a p-type semiconductor such as silicon and an n-type semiconductor with light from the sun to obtain DC electrical energy is effectively used.
In addition, the conversion of wind energy to electric energy is performed, for example, by rotating about 1 to 3 blades by wind power and transmitting the rotation to the rotation of a coil disposed between the N pole and the S pole, thereby obtaining a direct current or a direct current. It is to obtain an alternating current.

In another apparatus example of the present invention not shown, a gas is filled together with the powder, and the container is formed of a soft plastic such as polyethylene which is easily deformed manually by a closed container provided with one pipe connection port. Alternatively, the plastic container may be deformed by applying pressure from the outside, and the internal pressure may be increased to obtain a urethane tube or the like connected to the pipe connection port to guide the powder to the bottom of the filling container.
Alternatively, at least two pipe connection ports are provided in a container made of hard plastic or the like that does not deform, one of them is connected to compressed air of 0.2 Mpa or less, and the other is a powder transport tube and the powder is passed through the tube. It may be guided to the bottom. As the source of the compressed air, a manual compressor, for example, a bicycle inflator can be used in place of a normal compressor.

  As described above, the discharge of the powder from the powder fluidization device (10) to the filling nozzle (17) can be performed by increasing the pressure in the powder fluidization device (10) as described above. Alternatively, it may be performed by reducing the internal volume of the powder fluidization device (10) by applying external pressure to the powder fluidization device (10).

As described above, the powder filling apparatus and the filling nozzle of the present invention are not limited as applicable powders, but are particularly effective when applied to an electrostatic latent image developing toner irrespective of its type, and the average volume The present invention can be applied to filling not only powder having a particle size of 0.2 μm to 20 μm but also 5 μm to 15 μm and further 7 μm to 12 μm into a container.
The powder filling container (18) applied to the powder filling apparatus is not particularly limited. For example, in the case of a container for forming an electrophotographic image, a bottle type or cartridge made of a resin such as polyethylene or polyester is used. Types can be preferably used, and the shapes are various such as cylindrical, polygonal, and other irregular shapes. For example, in the case of a cylindrical container, the diameter is about 10 to 300 mm and the length is about 50 to 2000 mm. Things are used.

  Next, a novel powder filling method using the filling nozzle of the present invention will be described based on the following examples and comparative examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

1) (Confirmation of the powder flow stop function of the filling nozzle of the present invention)
Powder Filling Apparatus and Powder Filling Container Used in the Experiment The powder filling apparatus will be described based on the powder filling apparatus (1) shown in FIGS.
As the powder fluidizer (10), a substantially cylindrical shape having a capacity of 200 liters and a bottom portion formed of a resin-made porous material having a pore diameter of 10 μm, a porosity of 30%, and a thickness of 5 mm made of a plate-like porous material. A perforated plate (2) is prepared, and the powder outlet pipe (24) provided in the powder fluidizer (10) and one end of a filling nozzle having a double pipe structure transport fluid powder. It is connected via a pipe (12), and the filling nozzle is inserted and installed in a powder container (18) through a hole provided in a lid member made of a resin-made porous plate (16).
As a container for filling the toner powder, a container made of a polyester resin having an inner volume of about 1560 cc, a diameter of about 100 mm, a length of about 200 mm, and a diameter of an opening into which the filling nozzle is inserted is about 20 mm is used.

(2) Discharge of toner to powder container As a toner powder, a Ricoh color laser printer type 8000 toner (average volume particle size; 7 μm; specific gravity; 1.2) is prepared, and a powder fluidizing device (10) While adjusting the powder flow rate control valve (15) from the powder input port (11) attached to the device, 60 kg of the toner powder was charged into the powder fluidization device (10).
Next, the pressure release valve (13) provided near the powder inlet (11) of the powder fluidization device (10) is adjusted, and the first pressure reducing valve (25) and the second pressure reducing valve ( While adjusting the air pressure through the two-stage pressure reducing valve of 26), air is supplied to the air header (3) at a rate of 30 liters per minute for 5 minutes, and the toner powder in the powder fluidizer (10) is discharged. The powder layer of the body cloud and the air layer were balanced, and the upper powder surface was kept still to form a fluidized state of the toner powder.

Air pressure was applied so that the internal pressure of the container became 15 kPa, and the filling nozzle was surrounded by the toner powder via the filling nozzle (17) with the toner powder in the powder fluidizing device (10). It was discharged to the filling container (18).
Subsequent work will be described in (3) and (6) below.

(3) (Stopping of toner powder discharge when using the filling nozzle of the present invention (described in (4) and (5) below))
By using the filling nozzle of the present invention, the toner powder is discharged into the powder container as described in (2) above, and the filling container (18) is weighed in advance by a scale (load cell, 6 kgf). When the discharged toner powder reaches a predetermined weight, the gas suction means is operated so that the suction pressure becomes -20 kPa. When the air is discharged, the outlet of the nozzle is closed at the same time, and the discharge of the toner is instantaneously performed. I was able to stop.

(4) Double-tube filling nozzle used in the experiment (described with reference to FIG. 3)
The first tubular body (30) constituting the nozzle having the double-tube structure is a stainless steel pipe having a length of about 400 mm, an inner diameter of 6 mm and an outer diameter of 7 mm, at a position 12 mm from one end and a position 5 mm therefrom. Further, similarly, a stainless steel mesh having a through-hole (33) having a diameter of 3 mm provided at a total of eight locations at the positions in the cross direction and having a width of about 10 mm around the through-hole so as to cover the through-hole is prepared. A twill tatami weave.500 / 3500) is attached to form a filter portion (32).
The second tubular body (31) is a stainless pipe having a length of about 450 mm, an inner diameter of 8 mm, and an outer diameter of 9 mm, and a first gas outlet (34) is prepared near one end thereof. After the first tubular body (30) is inserted into the body (31), both ends are sealed and fixed with solder (Sn-Pb alloy) to form a double-tube nozzle. The first gas outlet (34) is connected to a separately prepared first gas suction means (ME-60, manufactured by Koganei).

(5) Filling nozzle of triple tube structure used for the experiment (described with reference to FIG. 4)
As the first tubular body (30) and the second tubular body (31) constituting the triple tube structure nozzle, the same ones as the double tube structure nozzle of (5) are used, and both ends are soldered (Sn) in the same manner. (Pb alloy).
Further, as the third tubular body (37), a stainless pipe having a length of about 500 mm, an inner diameter of 11 mm, and an outer diameter of 12 mm, and a through hole having a diameter of 5 mm at a total of 11 places at a pitch of 8 mm from a position of 15 mm from one end thereof. (38) are provided, and a through hole (38) having a diameter of 5 mm is provided at a total of 10 places at a pitch of 8 mm from a position 19 mm from the same end in the cross direction thereof, so as to cover the through holes. A filter part (39) is formed by attaching a stainless steel mesh (twill tatami weave. 500/3500) to a width of about 100 mm around the part, and a second gas outlet (40) is provided near one end of the filter part (39). Is used.
After fixing the first tubular body (30) and the second tubular body (31) inside the third tubular body (37), both ends are sealed with solder (Sn-Pb alloy). To form a triple tube nozzle. The second gas outlet (40) is connected to a separately prepared second gas suction means (ME-60, manufactured by Koganei).

(6) (Stop of toner powder discharge when using a comparative filling nozzle)
A stainless pipe having a length of about 400 mm, an inner diameter of 6 mm and an outer diameter of 7 mm was used as a comparative filling nozzle.
By using the comparative filling nozzle, the toner powder is discharged into the powder container as described in (2) above, and the filling container (18) is weighed in advance by a scale (load cell, 6 kgf). When the discharged toner powder reaches a predetermined weight, the application of air pressure is stopped by the introduction gas control valve (20) provided in the powder fluidization device (10), and at the same time, by the pressure release valve (13). The pressure in the powder fluidization device (10) was released to balance with the atmospheric pressure, but the discharge of the toner could not be stopped instantaneously.

(7) (Comparative evaluation of powder feeding stop function of filling nozzle)
The above-described series of operations for stopping the discharge of the toner powder into the container are performed using a filling nozzle having a double tube structure (Example 1), using a filling nozzle having a triple tube structure (Example 2), and In the case of using the filling nozzle for comparison (Comparative Example 1), 100 containers (a total of 400 bottles) were used for each of the four color (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) toners constituting the Ricoh color laser printer type 8000 toner. ) Was repeated, and the accuracy of the amount of toner deficient with respect to the target amount of toner powder in each container was confirmed based on the standard deviation to evaluate the powder flow stopping function. The results are shown in Table 1 (where the filling accuracy is indicated by 3σ. Σ: standard deviation (± 3σ, probability of 99.6%)).
From Table 1, when the target filling amounts are 275 g and 550 g, the deficient amounts are 1.1 to 1.5 g and 2.2 to 2.3 g in Examples 1 and 2, whereas Comparative Examples And the weight is 11.5 to 14.2 g and 24 g, respectively, and it is clear that the filling nozzle of the present invention has an extremely excellent powder feed stopping function.

2) (Confirmation of the high filling function of the triple tube structure filling nozzle of the present invention)
(1) (High filling by triple tube structure filling nozzle)
In the above 1), while discharging the toner powder into the container by using the triple tube structure filling nozzle, the second gas suction means is operated so that the suction pressure becomes -30 kPa, so that the toner gas is surrounded by the toner powder. Only the air is sucked and discharged from a certain nozzle to raise the nozzle while reducing the volume of the toner powder, thereby forming a high density state of the toner powder in the container.

(2) (Comparative evaluation of powder filling function of filling nozzle)
When the bulk density of the toner powder in the container is set to a high density state using the triple tube structure filling nozzle of (1) (Case 1), and in the above 1), the container is filled with the triple tube structure filling nozzle. In the case where the toner powder is still discharged (Case 2), 100 containers (total) for each of the four colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) constituting the Ricoh color laser printer type 8000 toner 400 samples), and the average value of the measured values for 100 samples was calculated.
The bulk density is measured by placing a mark on the container to indicate the volume, recording the volume level immediately after filling, calculating from the filled toner powder weight and volume, and the container volume mark is:
It was applied using water measured with a measuring cylinder.
The results are as shown in Table 2, and it is clear that the triple-tube structure filling nozzle of the present invention has a sufficient filling function.

(3) (Comparison evaluation of filling method by filling time)
The time required for discharging the toner powder into the container by using the filling nozzle having the double tube structure and the filling nozzle for comparison in the above 1) and allowing the toner powder to settle as it is (Example 1, Comparative Example) and triple After the toner powder was discharged into the container using a filling nozzle having a tubular structure, the time required for filling by suctioning air (Example 2) was measured. The above-mentioned black toner (550 g / line) was repeated 100 times, and the average filling time was measured.
As a result, it was 35.1 seconds in Example 1 and 41.8 seconds in Comparative Example, whereas it was 18.5 seconds in Example 2. When a triple tube structure filling nozzle was used, toner powder It was confirmed that not only the function of stopping the flow of water, but also the function of increasing the filling was sufficiently exhibited, which was effective in shortening the filling time.

3) (Operation of the powder filling apparatus of the present invention by natural energy)
For conversion of sunlight energy into electric energy, a solar cell that irradiates a junction between a p-type semiconductor such as silicon and an n-type semiconductor with light from the sun to obtain DC electric energy was used.
In addition, the conversion of wind energy to electric energy is performed, for example, by rotating about 1 to 3 blades by wind power and transmitting the rotation to the rotation of a coil disposed between the N pole and the S pole, thereby obtaining a direct current or a direct current. It is to obtain an alternating current.
A solar electrode device and two wind power generators were prepared. The solar power generation capacity is 3 KW, and the wind power generation capacity is 60 W for one side and 72 W for one side.
The result of filling 100 toner containers (capacity: 1560 ml) with the toner by this apparatus was compared with the case of only 100 V commercial power under summer and winter conditions.
Summer: maximum temperature 35 ° C, minimum temperature 20 ° C, average wind speed 5m / s, sunny weather Winter: maximum temperature 15 ° C, minimum temperature 5 ° C, average wind speed 10m / s, weather cloudy Was 1/5 and in winter 1/3, the amount of carbon dioxide generated was 1/5 or less as compared with the case of only 100V of commercial power, and it was environmentally friendly.

It is the schematic which shows an example of the powder filling apparatus in this invention. It is the schematic which shows another example of the powder filling apparatus in this invention. It is the simplified sectional view of the powder filling nozzle of the double tube structure of the present invention. It is the simplified sectional view of the modification of the powder filling nozzle of the double pipe structure of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a powder filling nozzle having a triple tube structure according to the present invention and a diagram showing a third tubular body provided with a plurality of through holes in the powder filling nozzle.

Explanation of reference numerals

1 powder filling device 2 gas-powder separation sieve (aerated porous plate)
3 Air header 4 Gas distribution plate 5 Small electric motor (motor)
Reference Signs List 6 Pump 7 Compressed air pipe 8 Check valve 9 Holding frame 10 Powder fluidizer for filling 11 Powder inlet 12 Fluid powder transport pipe (discharge / transfer path)
13 Pressure release valve 14 Pressure gauge 15 Powder flow rate control valve 16 Gas-powder separation sieve (aerated porous plate)
17 Filling Nozzle 18 Powder Container 19 Soft Packing 20 Introduced Gas Control Valve 21 Power Line Plug 24 Powder Outgoing Tube 25 First Pressure Reducing Valve 26 Second Pressure Reducing Valve 27 Air Flow Meter p1 First Pressure Gauge p2 Second Pressure Gauge p3 Third pressure gauge 30 First tubular body 31 Second tubular body 32 Filter section 33 Through hole 34 Gas outlet 35 Fixing member 36 Fixing member 37 Third tubular body 38 Through hole 39 Filter section 40 Gas outlet 41 Fixing member 42 Fixing member a Opening b Opening c Space part d Space part e Space part

Claims (39)

A nozzle composed of a tubular body used to fill a container with powder in a fluidized state mixed with a gas, comprising a gas separating means, which is sent along with the powder through the tubular body by the gas separating means. A powder filling nozzle having a function of separating gas from the powder to form a bridge made of the powder in the tubular body, and stopping the flow of the powder in the tubular body. An outer diameter of the first tubular body is smaller than an inner diameter of the second tubular body, and the first tubular body is formed of the second tubular body such that a gap serving as a gas flow path is formed between the two tubular bodies. A nozzle having a double pipe structure, which is inserted and installed in a tubular body, and the two tubular bodies are fixed to each other at both ends so as to seal the gap, wherein the first tubular body is fed from one opening. It has a function as a flow passage for discharging the fluidized powder to be introduced into the container from the other opening, and the gas passes through the vicinity of the opening serving as the powder discharge port of the first tubular body. At least a filter portion that does not allow powder to pass through, the second tubular body has a first gas outlet connected to an external first gas suction means, and the second tubular body is provided with the first gas suction means. The gas in the first tubular body that is sucked through the filter unit by operation is transferred between the two tubular bodies. 2. The powder according to claim 1, wherein the powder has a function of passing through the formed flow passage and discharging from the gas discharge port, and the filter unit functions as the gas separation unit. 3. Filling nozzle. The third tubular body having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the second tubular body is used, and a gap serving as a gas flow path is formed between the second tubular body and the third tubular body. A nozzle having a triple pipe structure, wherein the powder filling nozzle according to the above is inserted and installed in a third tubular body, and the second tubular body and the third tubular body are fixed to each other so that the gap is sealed at both ends. The third tubular body has a gas outlet connected to an external second gas suction means, and the opening of the first tubular body serving as a powder outlet allows gas to pass therethrough but does not allow powder to pass through. A gas, which is at least constituted by a filter portion, is present between the powder discharged into the container, is sucked through the filter portion by the second gas suction means, and is provided between the second tubular body and the third tubular body. Having the function of discharging through the gas discharge port after passing through the feed channel, Powder filling nozzle according to claim 1, data unit is characterized in that functions as the gas separating means. A through-hole is provided in the vicinity of the opening for discharging the powder of the first tubular body, and a filter portion formed by winding a filter material around the first tubular body so as to cover the through-hole is provided. The powder filling nozzle according to claim 2 or 3, wherein The first tubular body is formed by joining a tubular body formed of a filter material and a tubular body formed of a material having no filter property, and a portion formed of the filter material is used as a filter portion. The powder filling nozzle according to any one of claims 2 to 4. The powder filling nozzle according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a filter material of twill tatami weave is used. The powder filling nozzle according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the filter portion is configured by a laminate of two or more filter materials having different meshes. The powder filling nozzle according to claim 7, wherein the laminated body is formed of a filter material having a finer mesh as it becomes closer to the inner core of the first filling tube. The powder filling nozzle according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the width of the filter portion is 0.3 times or more the inner diameter of the powder discharge opening of the first filling tube. A powder nozzle having a sealable powder fluidization means and a powder discharge opening, wherein the powder in the fluidized state by the powder fluidization means is supplied to the powder of the filling nozzle via a flow path; A powder filling device used to discharge and fill a filling container from a body discharge opening, wherein the filling nozzle is the filling nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 9. Body filling device. The said filling nozzle is a filling nozzle of a double pipe | tube structure as described in any one of Claim 2, Claim 4 thru | or 10, One end of this filling nozzle is via the fluidized powder transport pipe which becomes the said flow path. 11. A gas suction nozzle according to claim 10, further comprising a gas suction nozzle connected to the powder fluidizing means for sucking and discharging gas existing between the powders after the powder is discharged into the container. Powder filling equipment. A first gas suction means connected to a first gas discharge port of a second tubular body constituting the filling nozzle having a double pipe structure; and a second gas suction means connected to the gas suction nozzle. The powder filling device according to claim 11, wherein The said filling nozzle is a filling nozzle of a triple pipe structure as described in any one of Claims 3 thru | or 9, Comprising: The said one end part of this filling nozzle fluidizes the said powder via a flowing powder transport pipe which becomes a flow path. 11. The powder filling apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus is connected to a means. First gas suction means connected to a first gas outlet of a second tubular body constituting the filling nozzle having a triple tube structure, and a second gas outlet of a third tubular body constituting the filling nozzle having a triple tube structure. 14. The powder filling apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a second gas suction unit connected to the second gas suction unit. A hole for inserting the filling nozzle made of at least a gas-permeable porous material is provided, and a lid member that can be fitted to an opening of the powder filling container is used, and the filling nozzle is inserted into the hole. The powder filling device according to claim 10, wherein the powder filling device is fixed. The powder fluidization means, an introduction gas control valve capable of adjusting the flow rate of the introduction gas, and a flow rate powder flow rate control valve capable of adjusting the flow rate of the flow rate powder of the flow path of the fluidization powder. The powder filling apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 15, comprising: The powder fluidization unit may further include a gas introduction unit for the powder fluidization, and the gas introduction unit may be a pressure vessel that stores gas so as to be able to be sent to the powder fluidization unit. The powder filling device according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein: The said powder fluidization means further has a gas introduction means for the said powder fluidization, The said gas introduction means is an air supply pump with a check valve, The Claims 10 thru | or 17 characterized by the above-mentioned. An apparatus for filling fine powder according to any one of the above. Wherein the powder fluidization means further comprises a gas distribution means for uniformly introducing gas into the powder fluidization means between the powder fluidization means and the gas introduction means. The powder filling apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 18, wherein: 20. The powder filling apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the powder is an electrostatic latent image developing toner. The powder filling apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 20, wherein electric power obtained by at least one of natural energy of solar energy and wind energy is used as a power source. 22. Using the powder filling device according to any one of claims 10 to 21 to fluidize the powder in a hermetically sealable powder fluidizing means containing powder for filling with a gas, followed by flowing the powder. A method for filling powder, characterized in that the converted powder is sent from the stored powder fluidizing means through the feeding nozzle through the filling nozzle. 23. The method of filling a powder according to claim 22, wherein the bulk density of the powder being fed is 0.1 to 0.2. Into the powder filling container in which the filling nozzle is inserted, and a lid member holding the filling nozzle is fitted in the opening, the fed powder is sent through the filling nozzle and discharged. The powder filling method according to claim 22 or 23, wherein: 25. The powder filling method according to claim 22, wherein the powder is fluidized by introducing an additional gas into the stored powder fluidizing means. 26. The powder filling method according to claim 22, wherein the powder is fluidized by the gas by vibrating the stored powder fluidizing means. 27. The flow of the powder from the powder fluidizing means to the filling nozzle is performed by increasing the pressure in the powder fluidizing means. The method for filling a powder according to the above. The flow of the powder from the powder fluidizing means to the filling nozzle is performed by reducing the internal volume of the powder fluidizing means by applying external pressure to the powder fluidizing means. The method for filling powder according to any one of claims 22 to 27, characterized in that: 29. The operation of the first gas suction means to stop the flow of the powder fluidized by the powder fluidization means, 29. Filling method. The powder filling method according to claim 29, wherein the bulk density of the powder at the time of stopping is 0.4 to 0.5. 31. The powder filling method according to claim 29, wherein a discharge amount and a discharge degree of the fluidized powder are controlled by adjusting a suction degree by operating a first gas suction unit. The powder filling method according to any one of claims 29 to 31, wherein a gas suction pressure of the first gas suction means is -10 to -60 kPa. The discharge amount and discharge degree of the fluidized powder are controlled by adjusting the opening / closing degree of the introduction gas control valve provided with the powder fluidizing means and / or adjusting the opening / closing degree of the discharged powder flow rate control valve. 33. The method of filling a powder according to claim 29, wherein the method is performed. The tip of the gas suction nozzle used in combination with the filling nozzle of the double pipe structure is installed so as to be surrounded by the powder in the powder filling container, and the second gas suction means is operated, so that the powder is discharged from the filling nozzle. The method for filling powder according to any one of claims 22 to 33, wherein gas present between the powders discharged into the filling container is discharged. The tip of the filling nozzle having a triple-tube structure is installed so as to be surrounded by the powder in the powder filling container, and the powder discharged from the filling nozzle into the powder filling container by operating the second gas suction means. The method for filling powder according to any one of claims 22 to 33, wherein a gas existing between the two is discharged. The method according to claim 34 or 35, wherein the gas suction pressure of the second gas suction means is -10 to -60 kPa. 37. The method according to claim 29, wherein when a predetermined amount of powder is filled in the powder filling container, the flow of the powder is stopped and the lid member is removed from the powder filling container. 2. A method for filling a powder according to item 1. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 37, wherein the powder is a toner for developing an electrostatic latent image. A container filled with the powder by the filling method according to any one of claims 22 to 38.

Images