JP2004361564A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent recovered toner from sticking to the entire conveyance passage including a vertical conveyance passage and a succeeding lateral conveyance passage with a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: In the image forming apparatus, a conveyance coil 15 disposed in the lateral conveyance passage 12 is attached in a cantilever manner on the upstream side, and the downstream end of the pipe 12b of the lateral conveyance path has an opening 12c. In the image forming apparatus, a driving device 16 is disposed upstream of the lateral conveyance passage 12. The driving device rotates the conveyance coil 15 and vibrates a joint 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【００４５】
表１から分かる様に、振動音の観点からは実験Ｎｏ．１〜３の様にバネ指定荷重の小さいものが良く、実験Ｎｏ．４の様に指定荷重が０．５Ｎでは良くなかった。また回収トナー落下量の観点からは実験Ｎｏ．２〜４の様にバネ指定荷重の大きいものが良く、実験Ｎｏ．１の様に指定荷重が０Ｎでは良くなかった。このことからバネ２２としては付勢力が強いもの程、強く振動を与えることができて良いが、振動音が大きくなることが分かる。この実験結果の傾向からバネの指定荷重に関して総合判定すると、０．２５〜０．４５Ｎが良く、より好ましくは０．３〜０．４Ｎであり、最も好ましくは０．３５Ｎである。
【００４６】
＜検討２：振動幅についての検討＞
カム２１の段差部２１ｂの高さ（切り欠き深さ）が種々異なるカムを用い、連接箇所１４やパイプ部１２ｂの振動量（矢印Ｂ，Ｃ方向の振幅）について検討を行った。尚該振動量は搬送用コイル１５の振動量として表すが、これが大きいとリング２５がパイプ部１２ｂを大きく叩き、連接箇所１４やパイプ部１２ｂが大きく振動することとなる。また本実験に際して使用した搬送用コイル１５のスパイラルピッチは１２ｍｍであり、バネ２２の指定荷重は０．３５Ｎである。
【００４７】
その結果を表２に示す。尚各結果の判定については上記検討１と同じである。
【００４８】
【表２】

【００４９】
表２から分かる様に、振動音の観点からは実験Ｎｏ．５〜７の様に振動量の小さいものが良く、実験Ｎｏ．８の様に２ｍｍと大きいものは良くなかった。また回収トナー落下量の観点からは実験Ｎｏ．６〜８の様に振動量の大きいものが良く、実験Ｎｏ．５の様に振動量が０ｍｍのものは良くなかった。この実験結果の傾向から振動量に関して総合判定すると、０．４〜１ｍｍが良く、より好ましくは０．５〜０．９ｍｍであり、最も好ましくは０．７ｍｍである。
【００５０】
＜検討３：振動幅についての検討＞
搬送用コイル１５のスパイラルピッチとして各種の幅のものを用い、このピッチについて検討した。尚実験に際して使用したバネ２２の指定荷重は０．３５Ｎであり、カム２１の段差部２１ｂの高さは０．７ｍｍである。
【００５１】
その結果を表３に示す。尚各結果の判定については上記検討１と同じである。
【００５２】
【表３】

【００５３】
搬送用コイル１５のスパイラルピッチとしては、表３から分かる様に実験Ｎｏ．９〜１１のいずれも良いが、実験Ｎｏ．１０，１１の様に１２〜１８ｍｍがより好ましい。このことから搬送用コイル１５のスパイラルピッチは大きい程、搬送性が向上することが分かる。搬送性が向上すると、振動により落下したトナーの排除がスムーズとなるので、落下が停止することがない。尚搬送用コイルの製造にあたってピッチの長いものは真っ直ぐに加工し難く、本実験の場合、スパイラルピッチ１８ｍｍが量産可能なものの限界である。
【００５４】
【発明の効果】
以上の様に本発明に係る画像形成装置によれば、搬送路及びこれに続く横搬送路を有する搬送路全体に対して、回収トナーの付着防止を簡単な構成で実現でき、しかもメンテナンスの必要が殆どない。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の一実施形態に係る画像形成装置としての複写機の一例を示す全体断面図。
【図２】クリーナーユニットから搬送路を経てトナー回収タンクに至るまでの構成を表した正面からの透視図。
【図３】図２に示す矢印Ｅからの透視図。
【図４】駆動装置及び横搬送路付近を示す拡大断面図。
【図５】カムを表す斜視図。
【符号の説明】
１１ 縦搬送路
１１ｂ 縦方向のパイプ部
１２ 横搬送路
１２ｂ 横方向のパイプ部
１２ｃ 開口部
１２ｄ 上流側端面
１３ トナー回収タンク
１４ 連接箇所
１５ 搬送用コイル
１５ａ 上流側部
１５ｅ 下流側部
１６ 駆動装置
１７ 第２の駆動ギア
１８ 第１の駆動ギア
１９ 第１の回転軸
２１ カム
２１ａ 傾斜面
２１ｂ 段差部
２２ バネ
２３ ピン
２４ フレーム
２５ リング
２９ 第２の回転軸
３０６ クリーナーユニット[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a toner collecting mechanism, such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer using an electrophotographic process.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine is provided with a toner collecting mechanism, and a residual substance such as toner or an additive thereof remaining on the surface of an image carrier (for example, a photosensitive drum) without being transferred to recording paper. The toner may be removed and collected by a cleaner unit, and then stored in a toner collection tank via a conveyance path.
[0003]
The toner collecting tank is generally provided at a lower position on the back side of a copying machine or the like.Therefore, as a conveying path, a vertical conveying path extends from one end of the cleaner unit, and the collected toner is transferred from the horizontal conveying path to the toner collecting tank. There are many types that carry it out.
[0004]
The transport of the collected toner in the transport path is lowered by free fall in the vertical transport path, and is sent out to the toner recovery tank side by a transport coil (or transport screw) provided in the horizontal transport path. Has become.
[0005]
By the way, in the vertical transport path, since it is freely dropped as described above, there is no need to particularly provide a transport means such as a screw, but there is a concern that the recovered toner adheres and solidifies on the inner wall and the transport path is narrowed. For this reason, a method has been proposed in which a vibration device is attached to the vertical transport path, and the collected toner attached to the inner wall of the vertical transport path is shaken off by the vibration (conventional example (1): for example, paragraph [1] of Patent Document 1). 0019], [0020], [0022], see FIGS.
[0006]
Also, in a lateral transport path in which a transport coil is installed, the lateral transport path is struck from the side outer wall to break the adhered and collected toner (conventional example {circle around (2)}: For example, paragraphs [0035] to [0040] of Patent Document 2). , [0046] to [0047], see FIGS. 1 to 5), and a method of crushing toner coarse particles by vibrating the transfer coil itself (conventional example (3): for example, paragraphs [0007] and [0022] of Patent Document 3) ] (See FIGS. 1 and 2). The conventional example (3) will be described in detail. One end of a transfer coil in a transfer path is connected and fixed to a rotary drive device, and the other end is brought into contact with a cam, so that the transfer coil rotates. Thus, axial vibration is applied to the transfer coil at the step portion of the cam.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-24524 (paragraphs [0019], [0020], [0022], FIGS. 2 and 3)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-11-327397 (paragraphs [0035] to [0040], [0046] to [0047], FIGS. 1 to 5)
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-7-334051 (paragraphs [0007] and [0022], FIGS. 1 and 2)
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, conventionally, in order to prevent the collected toner from adhering and clogging due thereto, it has been proposed to attach a vibrating device or a striking device to each portion of the transport path. This is not a study of the entire length of the conveyance path leading to the toner collection tank, but a measure for preventing the adhesion of the collected toner to a part. That is, for example, in the above-mentioned conventional example (1), it is recognized that it is sufficient to provide a transport coil inside the horizontal transport path, and a vibration device is provided only in the vertical transport path. .
[0009]
However, it may be necessary to take measures to prevent the collected toner from adhering to the conveyance path in which the conveyance coil is provided. For example, the recovery toner discharge port of the horizontal transport path is provided so as to open downward on the peripheral wall on the downstream side of the horizontal transport path toward the toner recovery tank and the like located therebelow. Since the toner is transported straight toward the downstream side, the collected toner once comes into contact with the downstream end face of the horizontal transport path and then exits from the discharge port. For this reason, the collected toner may adhere to the downstream end face, and may cause clogging. As described above, the collected toner may adhere to the inner wall or the like even in the transport path in which the transport coil is provided. As a countermeasure, the above-mentioned conventional examples (2) and (3) can be mentioned.
[0010]
Therefore, as a measure for preventing the collected toner from adhering to the entire long conveyance path in which the vertical conveyance path and the horizontal conveyance path are combined, a vibration device is attached to the vertical conveyance path and a conveyance coil is provided as in the conventional example (1). It is conceivable that a hitting device or a vibration imparting means (cam) as in the conventional examples (2) and (3) is provided in the horizontal conveying path, and that the collected toner is prevented from adhering to the entire conveying path. However, if measures are taken to prevent the adhesion of the collected toner to each location, there is a problem that the apparatus becomes complicated and the cost increases.
[0011]
In addition, in particular, in the conventional example (3), the vibration applying means (cam) for the transfer coil is provided near the outlet of the collected toner, and the vibration applying means itself is contaminated with the collected toner. There is a concern that vibrations due to vibration may not be given well, and often require maintenance.
[0012]
Therefore, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that can realize prevention of adhesion of collected toner with a simple configuration on the entire transport path having a vertical transport path and a horizontal transport path following the transport path, and that requires little maintenance. The purpose is to do.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A study was conducted on a transport path having a vertical transport path and a horizontal transport path following the vertical transport path. The places where the collected toner easily adhered were connected to the vertical transport path and the horizontal transport path, and fed from the horizontal transport path to the toner collection tank. It was found that it was near the opening at that time (that is, near the opening on the downstream side of the horizontal transport path). The reason why these portions are likely to adhere is that the collected toner that has been transported vertically in the vertical transport path at the connection point is changed in the horizontal direction at the connection point. Because they are disturbed and stay. Also, in the vicinity of the downstream opening of the horizontal transport path, in addition to changing the traveling direction of the toner when the collected toner exits from the discharge port provided below the peripheral wall of the horizontal transport path, the horizontal This is because the collected toner that has been conveyed to the downstream side collides with the downstream end face, so that the collected toner is compressed at the downstream end face.
[0014]
Now, if attention is paid to these two locations where toner is likely to adhere, and measures are taken to prevent the adhesion of the collected toner, it is considered that clogging or the like due to the adhesion of the collected toner hardly occurs. Therefore, it is preferable to attach a vibration device to these locations. However, since these two portions are separated from each other, they are attached to each other, so that the purpose of simplifying the device cannot be achieved.
[0015]
The present invention solves this problem and implements an anti-adhesion measure with a simple configuration at the two locations where toner easily adheres, thereby realizing prevention of adhesion of collected toner to the entire conveyance path.
[0016]
Such an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a transport path for transporting the residual matter removed from the surface of the image carrier by the cleaner unit to the toner collection tank, and the transport path is connected vertically to the cleaner unit. An image forming apparatus having a vertical transport path having a pipe section in the horizontal direction and a horizontal transport path following the vertical transport path to the toner collection tank, wherein the horizontal transport path includes a pipe section in the horizontal direction and the horizontal direction. A spiral conveying member provided inside the pipe section, wherein the horizontal pipe section is opened to communicate with the vertical pipe section at a part of the upstream peripheral wall, and the downstream end of the pipe section has a shaft end. The spiral conveying member is not mounted on the downstream side, but is mounted on the upstream side, and a driving device is mounted on the upstream end portion of the horizontal conveying path. Is provided, the drive apparatus, with rotating the helical conveying member, and characterized in that vibrating the connecting portion of the pipe portion of the pipe section of at least the vertical conveying path the lateral conveyance path.
[0017]
That is, in the present invention, first, a drive mechanism (drive device) for rotating a spiral transport member such as a transport coil is provided on the upstream side of the horizontal transport path, and the spiral transport member is cantilevered by the upstream side. The downstream side is released by attaching in the downstream side, thereby enabling the downstream side end face to be opened without being closed. By opening the downstream side end face to make it open, the horizontal conveying path is opened. To prevent toner adhesion in the vicinity of the opening on the downstream side. Secondly, since the drive mechanism for rotation is provided on the upstream side of the horizontal transport path as described above, the position of the rotational drive mechanism and the connection point (the connection point between the vertical transport path and the horizontal transport path) is not changed. As a result, it is possible to form a vibration generating mechanism for the connecting portion by using the rotation drive mechanism, and as a result, it is possible to prevent toner adhesion with a simple configuration (note that the rotation drive mechanism and the A device having both functions of a vibration generating mechanism is referred to as a driving device). In addition, since the driving device for rotation and vibration is arranged on the upstream side of the horizontal conveyance path, the driving device is not contaminated by the collected toner, causing no trouble, and therefore requires almost no maintenance.
[0018]
The driving device includes the following, that is, the driving device is connected to a driving gear and an upstream side of the spiral conveying member, and rotates the spiral conveying member by a driving force from the driving gear. A rotation transmitting portion, and a vibrating portion that vibrates at least the connecting portion by a driving force from the driving gear. The vibrating portion includes a cam having a stepped portion, a pin abutting on the cam, and a cam. And a biasing member for biasing the pins toward each other, wherein the drive gear is provided with a play that allows the spiral conveying member to move in the axial direction. The pin or the cam, which is urged against, rotates by the driving force of the drive gear, and the vibration generated by the pin falling into the step portion of the cam causes the connection via the drive gear. It shall be given at is the preferred embodiment.
[0019]
By using the cam and the pin and the urging member for urging the cam and the pin toward each other, vibration can be generated with a simple configuration. The vibration generated by the cam and the pin is transmitted to the connecting portion via the driving gear because there is play in the driving gear, and the connecting portion vibrates to prevent toner adhesion.
[0020]
Further, it is more preferable that the spiral conveying member also vibrates due to the vibration of the driving gear, so that the collected toner attached to the spiral conveying member can be shaken off.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
First, an entire copier as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0022]
FIG. 1 is an overall sectional view showing an example of the copying machine. The copying machine includes a paper feeding unit 100 provided at a lower part of the main body of the copying machine, a recording paper transporting unit 200 provided on the side and above the paper feeding unit 100, and a recording paper transporting unit 200. An image forming unit 300 disposed above, a fixing unit 400 disposed on the discharge side of the image forming unit 300, and an optical system disposed above the image forming unit 300 and the fixing unit 400. The image reading unit 500 includes members and the like.
[0023]
The paper supply unit 100 is configured to supply the recording paper 115 at the uppermost position to the recording paper transport unit 200 one by one from within the paper supply tray 111 selected from the four paper supply trays 111. The recording paper transport unit 200 transports the recording paper 115 fed from the paper feeding unit 100 toward the image forming unit 300 by various roller pairs 202 and 203, and further performs image formation from the image forming unit 300 to the fixing unit 400. The discharged recording paper 115 is discharged onto a discharge tray 204 by a discharge roller pair 205.
[0024]
The image forming unit 300 includes a photoconductive drum (image carrier) 301 rotatably supported and having photoconductivity, and a charging unit 302 and an exposure unit around the photoconductive drum 301 along the rotation direction thereof. 303, a developing unit 304, a transfer unit 305, a cleaner unit 306, and a charge removing unit 307. The charging unit 302 applies a predetermined potential to the surface of the photosensitive drum 301. This potential is selectively attenuated by laser light emitted from the exposure unit 303, and the electrostatic potential is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 301. Form a latent image. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing unit 304 to form a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 301. Subsequently, the transfer unit 305 transfers the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 301 to the recording paper 115. The cleaner unit 306 removes residual matters such as toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 301 after transfer, and the charge removing unit 307 removes residual charges on the surface of the photosensitive drum 301. is there.
[0025]
The fixing unit 400 heats the recording paper 115 to which the toner image has been transferred in the image forming unit 300 by sandwiching the recording paper 115 between the heating roller 401 and the pressure roller 402, and fixes the toner image on the recording paper 115.
[0026]
The image reading unit 500 irradiates a document placed on the contact glass 501 with light from an exposure lamp, and guides reflected light to a photoelectric conversion unit to read image information of the document. The image information is transmitted to the exposure unit 303, and a desired image is formed.
[0027]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the front showing a structure from the cleaner unit 306 to the toner recovery tank 13 via the transport paths 11 and 12 in the above copying machine, and FIG. 3 is a side view (shown in FIG. 2). It is a perspective view (from arrow E).
[0028]
The cleaner unit 306 includes a rubber blade 326 for scraping residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 301, and a transfer spiral 316 for transferring the scraped collected toner to the far end side of the cleaner unit 306. The sheet is fed toward the back side of the forming apparatus (the back side in FIG. 2 and the right side in FIG. 3).
[0029]
The vertical end of the cleaner unit 306 is connected to a vertical conveying path 11 for the collected toner, and subsequently, a horizontal conveying path 12 is connected. The downstream side of the horizontal conveying path 12 is located near the ceiling of the toner collecting tank 13. It is open.
[0030]
The vertical transport path 11 is composed of only a vertical pipe portion 11b having a hollow inside. On the other hand, the horizontal transport path 12 is composed of a horizontal pipe section 12b and a transport coil (spiral transport member) 15 provided inside the pipe section 12b, and the downstream end of the vertical pipe section 11b is defined by the horizontal pipe section 12b. It is connected to the upstream peripheral wall. The transfer coil 15 is connected and fixed to the driving device 16 at its upstream side 15a, while the downstream side is not fixed, that is, the transfer coil 15 is in a cantilevered state by only the upstream side 15a. I have. An opening 12c is formed at the downstream end of the horizontal pipe portion 12b, and the transfer coil 15 extends from at least the connecting portion (connection portion) 14 of the pipe portions 11b and 12b to the opening portion 12c.
[0031]
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the driving device 16 and the horizontal transport path 12. A driving force from a motor (not shown) is transmitted to a first driving gear 18 via a second driving gear 17 of the driving device 16. The first drive gear 18 and the second drive gear 17 are provided with a play that allows the transfer coil 15 to move in the axial direction (arrow D). Play). A first rotation shaft (rotation transmitting portion) 19 and a second rotation shaft 29 extend from both sides of the first drive gear 18 on both sides thereof. The unit 15a is connected.
[0032]
A ring 25 is fixed to the first rotating shaft 19 at a position outside the upstream end of the pipe portion 12b, and the ring 25 moves together with the first rotating shaft 19 in the direction of arrow D (arrows B and C). To hit the upstream end surface 12d of the pipe portion 12b.
[0033]
A cam 21 is attached to an end of the second rotating shaft 29, a spring (biasing member) 22 is attached to a tip of the cam 21, and a frame 24 is attached to a tip of the spring 22. As shown in FIG. 5 [a perspective view showing the cam 21], a part of one end face (the end face on the gear 18 side) of the cam 21 is cut out in a radial direction to form a circumferential step, and the step section is formed. 21b, the shape is gradually inclined in the circumferential direction, and the pin 23 comes into contact with the inclined surface 21a. The pin 23 is connected to the frame 24, and is pressed against the inclined surface 21a of the cam 21 by the urging force (arrow A) of the spring 22. The number of steps may be one in one round (FIG. 5), or may be plural if necessary.
[0034]
Next, the operation will be described.
[0035]
The driving force transmitted from the motor is transmitted to the first driving gear 18 via the second driving gear 17, and further transmitted to the first rotating shaft 19 to rotate the transfer coil 15 so that the inside of the pipe portion 12 b Is transported to the toner recovery tank 13.
[0036]
The rotational driving force transmitted to the first drive gear 18 rotates the cam 21 via the second rotation shaft 29. Since the pin 23 is in contact with the inclined surface 21a of the cam 21, the rotation causes the cam 21 to be gradually pushed up in the direction of the arrow C against the urging force of the spring 22, and to rotate once to make a step 21b. (See arrow B). The vibration caused by the drop of the cam 21 is transmitted to the gear 18 via the second rotation shaft 29. Since the gear 18 has play in the direction of arrow D, the vibration is further transmitted to the first rotation shaft 19. The ring 25 fixed to the first rotating shaft 19 hits the upstream end face 12d of the pipe section 12b in the horizontal transport path, and vibrates the entire pipe section 12b and the vicinity of the lower end of the pipe section 11b in the vertical transport path.
[0037]
Due to this vibration, the collected toner attached to the connecting portion 14 of the pipe portions 11b and 12b and the inner wall of the pipe portion 12b can be shaken off. In particular, since the connecting portion 14 of the pipe portions 11b and 12b is a portion where the collected toner dropped from the vertical transport path 11 easily adheres, it is effective to vibrate this portion to drop the attached collected toner.
[0038]
Further, when the first rotating shaft 19 vibrates in the direction of arrow D, the transfer coil 15 also vibrates in the direction of arrow D (axial direction), and the collected toner attached to the transfer coil 15 itself can be shaken off.
[0039]
Note that the rotation speed of the cam 21 is recommended to be 90 to 400 rotations / minute, and in the present embodiment, the cam 21 is rotated at 180 rotations / minute.
[0040]
Next, the horizontal transport path 12 will be described. Since the transport coil 15 is configured to be supported only by the upstream side portion 15a, the downstream side portion 15e of the transport coil 15 is in an open state, and the pipe is directed straight. The downstream end of the portion 12b can be the opening 12c. As a result, the recovered toner transported by the transport coil 15 moves in the transport direction and is stored in the toner recovery tank 13, and the risk of toner adhesion is reduced. In the above conventional example (3), since the cam is brought into contact with the transfer coil, it is necessary to support both ends of the transfer coil. Are not brought into contact with each other, so that a cantilever structure that does not support the downstream end of the transfer coil 15 at all can be obtained.
[0041]
As described above, in the present embodiment, while taking into account the entire conveyance path and taking measures to prevent toner adhesion, all the mechanisms for rotating the conveyance coil 15 and applying vibrations to the connecting portions 14 and the like are provided in the horizontal conveyance path. Since the components are collected on the upstream side of the horizontal transport path 12, the configuration is simple, and there is almost no risk of toner contamination on the upstream side of the horizontal transport path 12, so that maintenance is hardly performed.
[0042]
<Study 1: Examination of the specified load of the spring 22>
Using springs of various designated loads, the occurrence of vibration noise (silent noise) and the amount of collected toner dropped on the inner wall of the conveyance path (collected toner falling amount) were examined. The spiral pitch of the transfer coil 15 used in the experiment was 12 mm, and the height of the step 21b of the cam 21 was 0.7 mm.
[0043]
Table 1 shows the results. As for “quiet sound”, “○” means that there is almost no vibration sound, and “X” means that there is a little vibration sound. Regarding the “recovered toner drop amount”, “場合” indicates that the attached collected toner dropped well, “○” indicates that the collected toner remained slightly on the inner wall of the transport path but almost dropped, and “x” indicates that it remained on the inner wall of the transport path. With regard to “judgment”, very good was indicated by ◎, good was indicated by ○, slightly defective was indicated by Δ, and defective was indicated by ×.
[0044]
[Table 1]

[0045]
As can be seen from Table 1, from the viewpoint of the vibration sound, Experiment No. As shown in Experiment Nos. When the specified load was 0.5 N as in No. 4, it was not good. Further, from the viewpoint of the amount of the dropped toner, the experiment No. As shown in Experiment Nos. 2 to 4, those having a large spring designated load are good. When the designated load was 0N as in the case of 1, it was not good. From this, it is understood that the stronger the biasing force of the spring 22, the stronger the vibration can be given, but the greater the vibration noise. When comprehensively determining the specified load of the spring from the tendency of the experimental results, 0.25 to 0.45N is good, more preferably 0.3 to 0.4N, and most preferably 0.35N.
[0046]
<Examination 2: Examination of vibration width>
Using cams having different heights (notch depths) of the step portions 21b of the cam 21, the amount of vibration (amplitude in the directions of arrows B and C) of the connecting portion 14 and the pipe portion 12b was examined. The vibration amount is expressed as the vibration amount of the transfer coil 15. If the vibration amount is large, the ring 25 hits the pipe portion 12b greatly, and the connection portion 14 and the pipe portion 12b vibrate greatly. The spiral pitch of the transfer coil 15 used in this experiment was 12 mm, and the specified load of the spring 22 was 0.35 N.
[0047]
Table 2 shows the results. The determination of each result is the same as in Study 1 above.
[0048]
[Table 2]

[0049]
As can be seen from Table 2, from the viewpoint of the vibration sound, Experiment No. As shown in Experiment Nos. As shown in Fig. 8, a large one of 2 mm was not good. Further, from the viewpoint of the amount of the dropped toner, the experiment No. It is preferable that the vibration amount is large as in Examples 6 to 8. As shown in FIG. 5, those having a vibration amount of 0 mm were not good. Comprehensively judging the amount of vibration based on the tendency of the experimental results, the value is preferably 0.4 to 1 mm, more preferably 0.5 to 0.9 mm, most preferably 0.7 mm.
[0050]
<Examination 3: Examination of vibration width>
The spiral pitch of the transfer coil 15 was of various widths, and the pitch was examined. The specified load of the spring 22 used in the experiment was 0.35 N, and the height of the step portion 21 b of the cam 21 was 0.7 mm.
[0051]
Table 3 shows the results. The determination of each result is the same as in Study 1 above.
[0052]
[Table 3]

[0053]
As can be seen from Table 3, the spiral pitch of the transfer coil 15 was the same as that of Experiment No. 9 to 11 are all good, 12 to 18 mm is more preferable, such as 10 and 11. This indicates that the larger the spiral pitch of the transfer coil 15, the better the transferability. When the transportability is improved, the toner that has fallen due to the vibration is smoothly removed, so that the fall does not stop. In the production of the transfer coil, it is difficult to process a coil having a long pitch straight, and in the case of this experiment, a spiral pitch of 18 mm is the limit of a coil that can be mass-produced.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to realize the prevention of the adhesion of the collected toner to the entire transport path including the transport path and the lateral transport path following the transport path with a simple configuration, and furthermore, it is necessary to perform maintenance. There is almost no.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall sectional view showing an example of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view illustrating a configuration from a cleaner unit to a toner collection tank via a conveyance path.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view from an arrow E shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a driving device and a lateral conveyance path.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a cam.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 11 vertical transport path 11b vertical pipe section 12 horizontal transport path 12b horizontal pipe section 12c opening 12d upstream end face 13 toner collection tank 14 connection point 15 transfer coil 15a upstream side 15e downstream side 16 drive unit 17 Second drive gear 18 First drive gear 19 First rotating shaft 21 Cam 21a Inclined surface 21b Step 22 Spring 23 Pin 24 Frame 25 Ring 29 Second rotating shaft 306 Cleaner unit

Claims (2)

A vertical transport path having a transport path for transporting the residual matter removed from the surface of the image carrier by the cleaner unit to the toner recovery tank, the transport path having a vertical pipe portion connected to the cleaner unit; An image forming apparatus having a vertical conveyance path and a horizontal conveyance path toward the toner collection tank,
The horizontal transport path includes a horizontal pipe portion, and a spiral transport member provided inside the horizontal pipe portion,
The horizontal pipe portion is open to communicate with the vertical pipe portion at a part of the upstream peripheral wall, and the downstream end is axially open,
The spiral conveying member is not mounted on the downstream side, but is mounted on the upstream side,
A drive device is provided at an upstream end portion of the horizontal transport path,
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the driving device rotates the spiral conveying member and vibrates at least a connecting portion between the pipe section of the vertical conveying path and the pipe section of the horizontal conveying path. The drive device, a drive gear,
A rotation transmission unit that is connected to the upstream side of the spiral transport member and rotates the spiral transport member by a driving force from the drive gear;
A vibrating unit that vibrates at least the connecting portion by a driving force from the driving gear,
The vibrating portion includes a cam having a step portion, a pin abutting on the cam, and an urging member for urging the cam and the pin toward each other,
The drive gear is provided with a play that allows the spiral transport member to move in the axial direction,
The pin or the cam biased against the cam or the pin is rotated by the driving force of the drive gear, and the vibration generated when the pin falls into a step portion of the cam causes the drive gear to rotate. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided to the connection portion via a link.

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