JP2005017789A - Method and device to replenish developer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and device to replenish a developer in which cost is reduced, no maldetection is made for toner end, and toner end detection is surely made. <P>SOLUTION: The developer supplying device is provided with a developer container 40 which stores the developer, is made of a soft sheet member and has a hole within a portion of the container to eject the developer, a developer sucking means which sucks developer located in the vicinity of the ejection hole and a pipe which joins the ejection hole and the developer sucking means. In the developer supplying method which is used to transport the developer in the developer container to the external, an optical sensor 59 which emits light and receives light, is provided on the container wall side surface in the vicinity of the ejection hole and an end of the developer is detected at the prescribed position by the sensor through the presence or the absence of the container wall. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a two-component developer for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, and a direct digital plate making machine using an electrophotographic method, or a developer replenishing method for a developing device using a one-component developer. Relates to the device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In an electrophotographic apparatus, an image is created by forming a toner image with a developing device using a developer generally called toner or carrier.
Since toner is consumed along with image formation, it is common to supply toner to the main body as a toner cartridge with toner in a container, and replace the toner with a new toner container when the toner in the container runs out. It is.
[0003]
Since the toner is powder, it is an important issue to discharge the toner so that the remaining amount is surely reduced from the container, and a method usually used as a system for conveying the toner from the container toward the container outlet. In
As shown in FIG. 8, a method of feeding toner to one side by providing a screw called an auger inside the container and rotating the screw.
As shown in FIG. 9, a method called a screw bottle, in which a spiral protrusion is provided on the inner surface of a cylindrical portion of a cylindrical container, and the toner is gradually conveyed to the outlet portion by rotating the container.
-As a method for discharging the toner from the toner container, the toner container is accelerated by asymmetric reciprocating motion, and the toner in the container is moved in one direction by inertia, and the toner is discharged from a discharge port provided in the lower direction of the container. Toner transfer method.
A method in which toner in a bag-like flexible container is sucked by a suction pump and supplied to a developing device.
Further, as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is also shown that the volume of the container after toner discharge can be reduced by sucking and discharging the toner inside.
[0004]
The toner replenishing device needs a toner end detecting means for detecting that the toner in the container has run out, but a toner hopper is provided in the middle of the path for transporting the toner from the toner replenishing device to the developing device. In the case of storage, a general method is to detect the toner in the toner hopper by providing a piezoelectric sensor on the wall surface of the toner hopper that touches the toner. Further, when the toner hopper is not provided, a similar detection unit may be provided on the wall surface of the conveyance path. There is also a method in which a transparent member is attached to a part of the toner container and the presence or absence of toner in the toner container is directly observed. In addition to the piezoelectric sensor, the detection means may check the presence or absence of toner with an optical sensor.
[0005]
However, the toner tends to stay in the transport path and the toner container, and it is difficult to specify the location where the toner is surely absent when the toner is exhausted. In addition, the toner easily adheres to the conveyance path, the wall surface of the toner container, and the like. The toner end is likely to be erroneously detected due to toner retention and toner adhesion. For this reason, a cleaning member for cleaning adhering toner is provided on the surface of the sensor in the case of a piezoelectric sensor, and on the transparent member that emits light in the case of an optical sensor. Since cleaning is difficult, the problem of erroneous toner end detection has not been sufficiently solved.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-324863 A
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-72649 A
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a developer replenishing method and a developer replenishing device that are inexpensive, have no erroneous toner end detection, and perform reliable toner end detection.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention described in claim 1 contains a developer used in an electrophotographic apparatus, is composed of a flexible sheet member, and partially discharges the developer in a developer container. A developer container having a hole to be opened, a developer suction means for sucking the developer near the discharge hole, and a pipe for joining the discharge hole and the developer suction means. In the developer replenishing method for transferring the developer to the outside, an optical sensor for emitting and receiving light is provided on the side of the container wall near the discharge hole of the developer container, and the sensor is disposed at a predetermined position in the container. The developer replenishing method is characterized in that the end of the developer is detected by the presence or absence of a wall.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer container that contains a developer used in an electrophotographic apparatus, is composed of a flexible sheet member, and has a hole for discharging the developer in the developer container in part. In the vertical horizontal plane connecting the central portion of the developer container and the developer discharge hole of the developer container, a reciprocating motion with different acceleration is given in a substantially horizontal direction, and the internal developer is sequentially moved to the discharge hole side. A developer suction means for sucking the developer in the vicinity of the discharge hole, and a pipe for joining the developer discharge hole and the developer suction means to transfer the developer inside the developer container to the outside. In the developer replenishing method, an optical sensor that emits and receives light is provided on the side wall of the container near the discharge hole of the developer container, and the sensor has a developer container wall at a predetermined position. A developer characterized in that the end of the developer is detected by It is a replenishment method.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer container that contains a developer used in an electrophotographic apparatus, is composed of a flexible sheet member, and has a hole for discharging the developer in the developer container in part. And a developer suction means for sucking the developer in the vicinity of the discharge hole, and a pipe for joining the discharge hole and the developer suction means to transfer the developer inside the developer container to the outside. In the agent replenishing method, at least a part of the wall of the developer container is made of a transparent material, and an optical sensor that emits and receives light is provided to the side surface of the container wall near the discharge hole of the developer container. The sensor is a developer replenishing method characterized by detecting the presence or absence of the developer in the developer container at a predetermined position.
[0011]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer container that contains a developer used in an electrophotographic apparatus, is composed of a flexible sheet member, and has a hole for discharging the developer in the developer container in part. In the vertical horizontal plane connecting the central portion of the developer container and the toner discharge portion of the developer container, a reciprocating motion with different acceleration is given in a substantially horizontal direction, and the internal developer is sequentially moved to the discharge hole side. In the developer replenishing method for transferring the developer inside the developer container to the outside, the wall of the developer container is at least partially made of a transparent material, and the container wall near the discharge hole of the developer container An optical sensor for emitting and receiving light is provided on the side surface, and the sensor detects the presence or absence of the developer in the container at a predetermined position.
[0012]
A fifth aspect of the present invention is a developer container containing a developer used in an electrophotographic apparatus, constituted by a flexible sheet member, and having a hole for discharging the developer in the developer container in part. And a developer suction means for sucking the developer in the vicinity of the discharge hole, and a pipe for joining the discharge hole and the developer suction means to transfer the developer inside the developer container to the outside. In the agent replenishing device, an optical sensor that emits and receives light is provided on the side wall of the container near the discharge hole of the developer container, and the sensor detects the developer depending on the presence or absence of the container wall at a predetermined position. A developer replenishing device that detects completion.
[0013]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer container that contains a developer used in an electrophotographic apparatus, is composed of a flexible sheet member, and has a hole for discharging the developer in the developer container in part. In the vertical horizontal plane connecting the central portion of the developer container and the developer discharge hole of the developer container, a reciprocating motion with different acceleration is given in a substantially horizontal direction, and the internal developer is sequentially moved to the discharge hole side. A developer suction means for sucking the developer in the vicinity of the discharge hole, and a pipe for joining the developer discharge hole and the developer suction means to transfer the developer inside the developer container to the outside. In the developer replenishing device, an optical sensor that emits and receives light is provided on a side wall of the container wall near the discharge hole of the developer container, and the sensor has a developer container wall at a predetermined position. A developer characterized in that the end of the developer is detected by It is a replenishing device.
[0014]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer container that contains a developer used in an electrophotographic apparatus, is composed of a flexible sheet member, and has a hole for discharging the developer in the developer container in part. And a developer suction means for sucking the developer in the vicinity of the discharge hole, and a pipe for joining the discharge hole and the developer suction means to transfer the developer inside the developer container to the outside. In the developer replenishing device, at least a part of the wall of the developer container is made of a transparent material, and an optical sensor that emits light and receives light from the side of the container wall near the discharge hole of the developer container is provided. The sensor is a developer replenishing device that detects the presence or absence of a developer in the developer container at a predetermined position.
[0015]
The present invention according to claim 8 is a developer container containing a developer used in an electrophotographic apparatus, composed of a flexible sheet member, and having a hole for discharging the developer in the developer container in part. In the vertical horizontal plane connecting the central portion of the developer container and the toner discharge portion of the developer container, a reciprocating motion with different acceleration is given in a substantially horizontal direction, and the internal developer is sequentially moved to the discharge hole side. In the developer replenishing device for transferring the developer inside the developer container to the outside, the wall of the developer container is at least partially made of a transparent material, and the container wall near the discharge hole of the developer container An optical sensor for emitting and receiving light is provided on the side surface, and the sensor detects the presence or absence of the developer in the container at a predetermined position.
[0016]
The present invention according to claim 9 is a developer storage container for storing a developer used in an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising a flexible sheet member, and having a hole for discharging the developer in the developer container in part. A developer replenishing device using a developer replenishing device, comprising: a member that urges the developer container in a volume reducing direction; and a sensor that detects a position of a part of the urging member. is there.
[0017]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the sensor, the near end detection of the developer in the developer container and the set detection of the developer container are combined by a single sensor. The developer replenishing device according to any one of the above.
[0018]
The present invention described in claim 11 is characterized in that the developer remaining amount in the developer container is detected by providing a plurality of the sensors, and the developer replenishing device according to any one of claims 5 to 9 It is.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is an example of a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the present invention in a toner replenishing section. Reference numerals 1a to 1d denote photoconductors that are provided for magenta, cyan, yellow, and black. Similar to a general electrophotographic process, after a uniform charge is given by the charging device 3, an electrostatic latent image is formed by exposure according to the image formed by the exposure device 2.
The developing device 20 is a unit for developing the electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image.
The toner image formed on the photosensitive member is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 5 by the intermediate transfer roller 4 and then transferred onto the transfer paper fed by the paper feeding device 7 at the transfer unit 8 and fixed. The apparatus 9 fixes the image onto the transfer paper and outputs an image from the paper discharge unit 10.
[0020]
The developing device 20 shown in this figure is a so-called two-component developing device, in which a developer in which toner and a carrier are mixed is stored and stirred. The latent image is developed while the developer thus stirred is held on the surface of the developing roller by a magnetic force to form a toner image.
Each of the four color toner containers (black, yellow, cyan, magenta) 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d has a square or rectangular front cross-section and a shape extending longitudinally from the front of the main body toward the back. It has become. In this embodiment, the toner container 40 is mounted from the front of the main body toward the back side. Removal is the opposite.
[0021]
FIG. 2 shows a toner replenishing device according to this embodiment.
The developing device 20 is provided with a device for replenishing toner consumed in forming an image at the top of the developing device.
As the powder pump 34, a uniaxial eccentric screw pump (commonly known as MONO pump) is used. The rotor 32 and the stator 33 are two main components constituting the pump, and the rotor 32 is a hard material having a circular cross section spirally twisted. On the other hand, the stator 33 is made of a rubber-like flexible material, and has a hole having an oval cross section spirally twisted. Further, the helical pitch of the stator 33 is formed to be twice as long as the helical pitch of the rotor 32. By fitting these two parts and rotating the rotor 32 side, a self-priming force (suction pressure) is generated in the pump, and the toner is sucked and conveyed from the toner container 40 via the transfer tube 31. In this case, the toner is taken in and discharged in a space formed between 33. A motor 38 rotates the rotor 32, and 37 indicates a universal joint. The toner enters from the toner suction port of the nozzle 51, is sucked and conveyed from right to left in the drawing, falls downward from the toner discharge port 39, and the dropped toner is supplied to the developing device 20.
[0022]
New toner is stored in the toner container 40, and when the toner is consumed, the container is used by replacing it with a new one. The toner container receiver 45 serves as a receiver for setting the toner container 40. The support base 46 is for supporting the toner replenishing portion, and is fixedly attached to the apparatus main body.
The toner container 40 is reciprocated by a driving device which will be described later, sequentially moves the toner in the outlet direction (right direction in the figure), discharges the toner by the powder pump 34, and transfers it to the developing device 20.
[0023]
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the toner container 40.
The toner container 40 includes a bottom plate 41, a mouth portion 42, a cap 43, a spring 44, a seal holder 47a, and a seal 47. Since the container 40 is made of a flexible material such as a transparent resin film having a thickness of about 50 μm to 300 μm, it is possible to reduce the cost of the container due to resource saving of the container and to reduce the volume before and after use. The container storage cost and the recovery cost when recovered after use are very excellent. By using a material having high rigidity such as a thick resin having a thickness of about 0.5 m or more as compared with the film, the bottom surface 41 can improve the operability when the container is attached to the apparatus main body. This prevents a decrease in the discharge amount and an increase in the remaining amount of toner due to the slack of the bottom surface during reciprocation.
[0024]
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the mouth part in the middle of mounting of the toner container (before completion of setting), and FIG. 5 is a toner conduction path (nozzle 51) when the toner container is completely mounted as viewed from the left in FIG. Sectional drawing of the mouth vicinity is shown.
The mouth portion 42 is fixed to the container 40 by welding, bonding or the like. The toner discharge hole 42 c provided in the opening 42 is provided with a cap 43 that closes the discharge hole 42 c, and the cap 43 is further urged toward the nozzle insertion hole 42 d by the spring 44 and abuts against the seal 47. This prevents the toner inside the container from leaking outside. When the container 40 is pushed in the D direction and attached, the tubular nozzle 51 fixed to the toner container receiver 45 is about to be inserted into the nozzle insertion hole 42 d of the mouth portion 42. When the container is further pushed in the direction D, as shown in FIG. 5, the nozzle 51 is completely inserted into the nozzle insertion hole 42d, the bottom plate 41 of the container hits the toner container receiver, and stops at a position where no further container can be inserted. Fixed. In this state, the suction port 52 of the nozzle 51 is fixed so as to come directly under the discharge hole 42c of the mouth part, and the inside of the toner container is connected to the toner transfer path via the discharge hole 42c and the suction port 52 of the nozzle 51. The Further, the toner transfer path is completely sealed when the seal 47 is in close contact with the tapered portion 54 of the nozzle 51.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 4, since the toner discharge hole 42c is provided on the bottom surface of the container, the toner is easy to drop, and it is possible to discharge the toner to the end without any remaining amount. Furthermore, by providing the mouth portion 42 on the bottom surface having high rigidity, it becomes easier to position the fitting between the mouth portion 42 and the main body nozzle 51 when the container is mounted, and the operability is improved. In addition, mass production of containers can be performed relatively easily. Providing the mouth portion 42 on the soft sheet surface on the side surface not only impairs the above advantages, but also obstructs the mouth portion 42 when the volume of the container is reduced, and makes it difficult to fold it cleanly. Further, in order to reduce the remaining amount of toner as much as possible, it is necessary to provide the mouth portion 42 at the lowest position. However, from the bottom of the container (because the mouth portion 42 and the film welding surface are required). About 10 mm is provided above.
[0026]
In FIG. 4, the mouth portion 42 is provided with an inclined portion 42b toward the discharge hole 42c, so that the toner remaining in the container can be substantially eliminated even if the small nozzle hole and the discharge hole 42c are used. The use of a small nozzle reduces the size of the mouth portion 42 (the entire container and the main body device), prevents toner contamination when being attached to and detached from the mouth portion 42, and improves the efficiency of toner suction conveyance (the smaller the transfer path, the more space is required). This is very effective for increasing the pressure and increasing the flow rate of the toner.
Further, by inserting / removing the mouth part and the nozzle 51 in the horizontal direction, it is possible to make a structure that extends in the horizontal direction and does not take up space as in the case of the container. In addition, by attaching the container in the longitudinal direction, the mouth portion and the nozzle 51 can be simultaneously fitted, and one-action attachment of the container is possible (no operation of a lever or the like is required after the attachment). Furthermore, since this desorption operation is in the horizontal direction, toner scattering can be greatly reduced as compared with the method of desorption in the vertical direction.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 2, a roller 50 is disposed between the toner container receiver 45 and the support base 46 so that the toner container receiver 45 can move relative to the support base 46 in the direction of arrow BC in the figure. Supported. It is assumed that it is held by a general means so that it does not move or come off in other directions.
The pressure spring 49 has one end fixed to the toner container receiver 45 and the other end fixed to the support base 46, and urges the container receiver 45 rightward in the figure. As shown in the figure, the pressure spring 49 can be not only a coil spring but also an elastic body. The elastic body can save space and have an appropriate elasticity, an appropriate viscosity resistance, and an effect of reducing noise. is there. The cam 57 is supported by a general means on a main body (not shown) or a support base 46.
[0028]
As the cam 57 rotates in the direction of arrow A, the cradle 30 is moved leftward (in the direction of arrow C in the figure) by the cam as the first step, and the pressure spring 49 is pressed, and the zenith of the cam is the second step. Is opened, and the cradle 45 moves while accelerating in the left direction of the arrow B by the force of the pressure spring 49. As a third step, the cradle 45 collides with a stopper 48 provided on the support pedestal 46 at a certain speed and stops. The container rapidly decelerates due to the stopper, and the difference in acceleration between the B direction and the C direction of the toner container is significantly different. Therefore, the inertia force of the toner increases and the toner moves in the B direction. When an elastic member such as rubber or sponge is used for the stopper 48, a damper effect (due to a viscous force) can be obtained with an appropriate acceleration (deceleration), and at the same time, vibration and noise of the apparatus can be prevented. As a fourth step, the suction pump 34 is activated to generate a suction force, and the internal toner that has moved to the left is supplied to the developing device through the flexible tube 31. In the uniaxial eccentric screw pump, the rotation angle of the rotor 32 and the toner transfer amount are in a proportional relationship, and the toner replenishment amount can be accurately controlled. Further, since a flexible member is used as the transfer member, the movement due to the reciprocating motion of the cradle 45 can be absorbed, and the influence of the vibration being transmitted to the current organ is prevented.
[0029]
By reciprocating the container for each suction, the toner discharge port is always covered with toner, preventing emptying (sucking air in the container) and stabilizing the replenishment amount (continuing only suction) If so, the toner at the upper portion of the discharge hole 42c is lost due to the cross-linking phenomenon of the toner).
By repeating the above operation, the toner in the container is reliably discharged. The toner in the container decreases sequentially in the order of FIGS. 6a to 6d. At this time, the container is sequentially reduced in volume due to the soft sheet material, and when the toner discharge is completed, the container is reduced to about 1/10 to 1/5 of the initial.
[0030]
7a and 7b show the state of the toner container after the initial and final volume reduction. That is, when the container is taken out by the container exchanging operation after use, the take-out operability is easy because it is in the form of a horizontal thin plate, and the storage space for the container after use is not taken.
The toner end sensor includes the light emitting means 59 and the light receiving means 58 shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b. FIG. 5a shows a state in which the toner is almost filled in the container immediately after the toner is replaced. In this case, the light emitted from the light emitting means 59 is blocked by the toner container and the toner in the toner container, and the toner is detected. In FIG. 5b, almost all of the toner in the container is discharged, and the volume of the toner discharged from the toner container is reduced as described above. In this state, the light emitted from the light emitting means 59 is received by the light receiving means 58, and the toner end state is detected. Therefore, it is desirable to adjust the position of the toner end sensor to a position that can accurately detect the absence of a volume reduction wall at the time of toner end, as shown in FIGS. The position in the horizontal direction (swing direction) of the sensor is preferably near the discharge port where the toner remains until the end. Care must be taken in the vertical position of the sensor. That is, if the sensor position is moved upward, the toner end time is advanced, and a large amount of toner may remain. If you move it down, the toner end time can be delayed to the end, and the toner can be used up to the end, but if it is too low, the toner is discharged to the end, but the toner container does not reduce the volume completely. This is because the detection may not be performed despite the toner end.
[0031]
FIG. 8 shows a case where the powder pump of the toner replenishing device of FIG. 2 is not used, and it is effective to provide an optical toner end sensor 59 and detect the presence or absence of toner in the toner container. In this case, by using a transparent sheet member for the toner container, light can be transmitted and the toner in the container can be easily detected. As shown in the figure, when there is toner on the surface facing the sensor, the light emitted by the sensor is not received and the presence of toner is detected. When all the toner in the container is finally discharged, since there is no toner on the surface facing the sensor, the light emitted by the sensor is received to detect the absence of toner. Conventionally, in the toner end detection based on the presence or absence of toner by an optical sensor, it has been necessary to provide a separate transparent member on the sensor detection surface, but this is not necessary in a flexible toner container using a transparent sheet. Further, the toner easily adheres to the detection wall surface, and the cleaning member is required. However, in the present invention, since the vibration is appropriately applied for toner conveyance, the toner adhered to the wall surface is dropped by this vibration. Therefore, toner adhesion can be prevented. That is, it is possible to provide a reliable toner end sensor at low cost without the need for a cleaning member.
[0032]
FIGS. 9a and 9b show another example of the toner container, and the entire container is constituted by a highly rigid member 87 such as a resin having a thickness of about 0.5 to 2 m. The state in which the toner moves and discharges inside the container by the above-described swinging of the toner container is the same as in FIG. 7, but the container is not reduced in volume by the suction operation because it is made of a highly rigid material. Detection cannot be performed. This container has very high operability when mounting the container.
FIG. 9 shows a toner container having a double structure in which a bag container made of a film material as shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 is contained inside a rigid member 87 as shown in FIG. The manner in which the toner moves and discharges inside the container due to the swinging of the toner container and the state in which the bag container 40 is reduced in volume together with the toner discharging operation are the same as in FIG. Same as 8, no change. When this container is reused after use, it is possible to save resources, reduce collection costs due to volume reduction, and reduce management costs by exchanging only the inner bag container as in the case of FIG. This is effective because it has the advantage of the operability of the container of FIG. Moreover, the part which an optical sensor detects has provided the hole in the hard container. Needless to say, this container can also be used in the toner replenishing device of FIG.
[0033]
FIGS. 10 and 11 are views of a conventional toner container. FIG. 10 shows a toner discharge member 71 provided inside the container 70. By rotating the drive shaft 72 from the outside (image forming apparatus main body), FIGS. The toner discharge member rotates, moves the toner inside the container to the right, and drops the toner from the discharge hole.
In FIG. 11, a spiral groove 81 is provided on the outer periphery of the toner container 80. When the container 80 is driven to rotate, the spiral groove 81 moves the toner inside to the left and discharges the toner from the discharge hole.
[0034]
12 to 14 show another embodiment of the toner replenishing device of the present invention, and FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of only the toner container receiver 100 therein.
When the toner container is empty, replace the toner container attaching / detaching door 103 in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 12 and open it as shown in the figure. This is done by setting the container and closing the door 103.
Screws 15 and 16 having spiral fins called conveyance augers inside the developing device 14 rotate in the directions of arrows C and D, and a developer containing a mixture of toner and carrier is contained in this portion. For example, in the screw 15, the developer is transported from the front side to the back side in the drawing by the transport auger, and in the screw 16, the developer is transported from the back side to the front side, and there is no central partition 17 on the back side and the front side. A portion is provided, and the developer is stirred while circulating. A part of the circulating developer is sucked up and adsorbed by a magnetic force by the developing roller 19 and uniformed to a uniform thickness by the doctor blade 18, and then an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member is formed by contacting the photosensitive member. A toner image is formed by developing with toner. Here, only the toner adheres to the photosensitive member, and in order to keep the amount of toner in the developer circulating in the developing device constant, development is performed while replenishing the toner little by little from the toner replenishing port 67. Done.
[0035]
The toner replenishing unit has a toner container 150 for storing new toner, and the toner 140 in the toner container is sucked and discharged by the powder pump means 60 (uniaxial eccentric screw pump) and supplied to the toner replenishing port 67 of the developing device. To do.
The toner container is composed of a bag-like flexible toner container for storing toner and a base part 30 connected to the lowermost part thereof. A suction nozzle 113 is inserted into the base part.
The shutter 113a is for stopping toner outflow when the nozzle 113 is not inserted.
Moreover, the sealing material 115 is arrange | positioned at the both sides of the nozzle 113 or the shutter 113a, and is for keeping airtightness.
The powder pump means 60 is connected to the toner suction path 110 of the nozzle 113 via a tube. The powder pump is a uniaxial eccentric screw pump, which is the same as described above.
The portion from the nozzle 113 to the developing device is fixed to the main body, and the toner container 150 is replaced with a new container every time the toner inside the toner container is consumed. Since the nozzle is attached / detached every time it is exchanged, sealing between the base part and the nozzle is very important in order to prevent dirt and air leakage during the attachment / detachment.
[0036]
When supplying toner, the motor 38 is energized from the power source N in response to a signal that the toner density in the developing device is insufficient, and the uniaxial eccentric screw pump is turned on to suck the toner in the toner container. Supply (drop) the agent part. Turn off when a certain amount of replenishment is completed.
The cross-sectional shape of the shutter and the cross-sectional shape of the nozzle are substantially the same. When the nozzle pushes out the shutter, the shutter comes out of the base, and the portion of the nozzle opening 114 is connected to the toner discharge path. The toner can be sucked.
The container receiver 105 receives the container on the main body side, and is provided with a space for retracting the shutter, a pressing member 106 for pushing back the shutter, and a compression spring 107, and urges the shutter toward the base part, so that the nozzle comes off. At the same time, the shutter is returned to its original position.
With this configuration, since the nozzle tip and the shutter end face are in close contact with each other while the shutter is moving, toner leakage during nozzle setting can be reliably prevented. When the nozzle is set, the right seal material is in close contact with the nozzle, and the left seal material is in close contact with the right end peripheral surface of the shutter.
[0037]
The toner end sensors 130 and 131 have optical light emitting means and light receiving means. The toner end sensor 130 is on the back side of the toner container and emits light toward the wall surface of the toner container on the near side. A light receiving unit (not shown) is provided on the near side across the toner container.
Because of the flexible toner container, when the toner is replenished, the toner container is reduced in volume. Further, the replenishment operation is repeated, and when almost all the toner is finally discharged, the container is almost completely crushed and becomes a toner end. The method of reducing the toner and the method of reducing the volume of the toner container at this time are as shown in FIGS. That is, only when the toner end state diagram 14 is reached, the light emitted from the light emitting means of the toner end sensor 130 reaches the light receiving means, and it is possible to detect the toner end and the achievement of complete volume reduction. Further, by providing the second toner end sensor 131, it is possible to detect the state of FIG. 13 just before the toner end. Accordingly, a plurality of near ends (toner remaining amount) can be detected, such as 10 g and 50 g remaining toner. Furthermore, it goes without saying that by displaying more toner end sensors, it is possible to display a finer amount of remaining toner. Needless to say, this can also be used in the toner replenishing system of FIG. 2 or FIG. 8 using reciprocating motion. In this case, the sensors 59a, 59b and 59c shown in FIGS. 7b, 7c and 7d are provided in three places in the reciprocating direction.
[0038]
FIG. 16 shows another embodiment of the toner replenishing device of the present invention. In contrast to FIG. 12, an air supply pump 260 is provided, and from the air supply pump, a tube 262, a valve 261, a tube 263, and an upward nozzle 51 are provided. The difference is that air is supplied into the toner container 40. The reason for supplying air is to stir the toner at a certain replenishment interval (every time constant toner replenishment) so that the toner in the toner container does not crosslink. Since air is supplied into the toner container, the volume of the toner container is not reduced even after the toner is replenished. That is, at the end of the toner, the toner container is in a swelled state as when a large amount of toner is contained. Therefore, toner end detection by volume reduction detection as shown in FIG. 12 cannot be performed. Therefore, it is effective to provide an optical toner end sensor at a position 59 in the figure to detect the presence or absence of toner in the toner container. By using a transparent sheet member for the toner container, light can be transmitted and toner in the container can be easily detected.
[0039]
The toner container has a structure in which a flexible bag container is covered with a hard hard container in order to improve the workability of replacement, but a portion detected by the optical sensor is provided with a hole in the hard container. Needless to say, this method can be used in the toner replenishing device shown in FIG. In the case of the toner container of FIG. 12, it is necessary to print on the container in appearance, but at least the part detected by the sensor can be dealt with by leaving the original transparent part without printing.
[0040]
FIG. 17 shows the toner replenishment system of FIG. 2 in which a biasing member 90 is provided to bias the toner container downward, and a sensor 58 (light receiving means) for detecting a partial position 92 of the biasing member; 59 (light emitting means).
The urging member 90 is rotatable with respect to the shaft 91 and is urged downward by gravity, but may be urged downward by a separate spring or the like. FIG. 17A shows a state in which the toner is almost filled in the container, and FIG. 17B shows a toner end state after the toner is almost discharged. In each state, the position of the urging member and the partial position 92 of the urging member changes as shown in the figure, and the toner end state diagram 17b is detected by the optical sensors 58 and 59 that detect the partial position of the urging member. (In this case, light is received when toner is present, and light is blocked when toner ends). As shown in the drawing, the position of the toner end sensor with respect to the partial position 92 of the urging member is set to a position where the difference with respect to the presence of toner can be accurately determined at the time of toner end.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention can perform both low-cost and low-cost detection of a toner container using a flexible sheet and toner end detection by detecting a low-volume state. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a developer replenishing method that can also be used for toner container set detection. In addition, the present invention can perform both low-volume detection of a toner container volume reduction state using a flexible sheet and toner end detection by detecting the volume reduction state. It is possible to provide a developer replenishing device that can also be used for both set detection.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a developing device and a toner supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the mouth part in the middle of mounting the toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the mouth when the toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention is completely installed.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state where toner in a toner container is decreasing.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an initial state where toner in a toner container decreases and a state after final volume reduction.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a case where a powder pump is not used in the toner supply device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a view when another toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention is used.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a conventional toner container.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a conventional toner container.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another toner replenishing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
13 is a diagram illustrating a state in which toner is reduced in the toner supply device of FIG.
14 is a diagram illustrating a toner end state in the toner supply device of FIG. 12;
15 is an exploded perspective view of a toner container receiver of the toner supply device of FIGS. 12 to 14. FIG.
16 is a diagram illustrating a toner replenishing device provided with an air supply pump in FIG.
17 is a diagram in which a biasing member is provided in the toner replenishing device of FIG. 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
1a, 1b, 1c, 1d photoconductor
2 Exposure equipment
3 Charging device
4 Intermediate transfer roller
5 Intermediate transfer belt
6 Cleaning device
7 Paper feeder
8 Transfer section
9 Fixing device
10 Paper discharge unit
14 Development device
15 screw
16 screw
17 Central divider
18 Doctor blade
19 Developing roller
20 Developer
30 base part
31 Transfer tube
32 rotor
33 Stator
34 Powder pump (uniaxial eccentric screw pump)
37 Universal joint
38 motor
39 Toner outlet
40 Toner container
41 Bottom plate
42 mouth
43 cap
44 Spring
45 Toner container holder
46 Support stand
47 Seal
47a Seal holder
48 Stopper
49 Pressure spring
50 roller
51 nozzles
52 Nozzle suction port
54 Taper
58 Toner End Sensor
59 Toner End Sensor
60 Powder pump (uniaxial eccentric screw pump)
65 tubes
67 Toner supply port
70 Conventional toner container A
71 Toner discharging member
72 Drive shaft
80 Conventional toner container B
81 Spiral groove
90 Biasing member
91 Shaft of biasing member
92 Partial position of biasing member
105 Container receptacle
106 Pushing member
107 Compression spring
110 Suction channel
113 Suction nozzle
113a Shutter
114 Nozzle opening
115 Sealing material
130 Toner End Sensor
131 Toner end sensor
150 toner container
260 Air supply pump
261 valve
262 tubes
263 tubes

Claims (11)

Contains developer used in electrophotographic equipment,
Consists of flexible sheet members,
A developer container partially having a hole for discharging the developer in the developer container;
Developer suction means for sucking developer in the vicinity of the discharge hole;
A pipe for joining the discharge hole and the developer suction means;
In the developer replenishing method for transferring the developer inside the developer container to the outside,
An optical sensor for emitting and receiving light is provided on the side wall of the container near the discharge hole of the developer container,
The developer replenishing method, wherein the sensor detects the end of the developer at a predetermined position by the presence or absence of a container wall. Contains developer used in electrophotographic equipment,
Consists of flexible sheet members,
A developer container partially having a hole for discharging the developer in the developer container;
Giving a reciprocating motion with different accelerations in a substantially horizontal direction in a vertical horizontal plane connecting the central portion of the developer container and the developer discharge hole of the developer container;
Sequentially move the internal developer to the discharge hole side,
Developer suction means for sucking developer in the vicinity of the discharge hole;
A pipe for joining the developer discharge hole and the developer suction means;
In the developer replenishing method for transferring the developer inside the developer container to the outside,
An optical sensor for emitting and receiving light is provided on the side wall of the container near the discharge hole of the developer container,
The developer replenishing method, wherein the sensor detects the end of the developer at a predetermined position by the presence or absence of the developer container wall. Contains developer used in electrophotographic equipment,
Consists of flexible sheet members,
A developer container partially having a hole for discharging the developer in the developer container;
Developer suction means for sucking developer in the vicinity of the discharge hole;
A pipe for joining the discharge hole and the developer suction means;
In the developer replenishing method for transferring the developer inside the developer container to the outside,
The wall of the developer container is at least partially made of a transparent material,
An optical sensor for emitting and receiving light is provided to the side wall of the container near the discharge hole of the developer container,
The developer replenishing method, wherein the sensor detects the presence or absence of a developer in the developer container at a predetermined position. Contains developer used in electrophotographic equipment,
Consists of flexible sheet members,
A developer container partially having a hole for discharging the developer in the developer container;
Giving a reciprocating motion with different accelerations in a substantially horizontal direction in a vertical horizontal plane connecting the central portion of the developer container and the toner discharge portion of the developer container;
Sequentially move the internal developer to the discharge hole side,
In the developer replenishing method for transferring the developer inside the developer container to the outside,
The wall of the developer container is at least partially made of a transparent material,
An optical sensor for emitting and receiving light is provided on the side wall of the container near the discharge hole of the developer container,
A developer replenishing method, wherein the sensor detects presence or absence of developer in a container at a predetermined position. Contains developer used in electrophotographic equipment,
Consists of flexible sheet members,
A developer container partially having a hole for discharging the developer in the developer container;
Developer suction means for sucking developer in the vicinity of the discharge hole;
A pipe for joining the discharge hole and the developer suction means;
In the developer supply device for transferring the developer inside the developer container to the outside,
An optical sensor for emitting and receiving light is provided on the side wall of the container near the discharge hole of the developer container,
The developer replenishing device, wherein the sensor detects the end of the developer at a predetermined position by the presence or absence of a container wall. Contains developer used in electrophotographic equipment,
Consists of flexible sheet members,
A developer container partially having a hole for discharging the developer in the developer container;
Giving a reciprocating motion with different accelerations in a substantially horizontal direction in a vertical horizontal plane connecting the central portion of the developer container and the developer discharge hole of the developer container;
Sequentially move the internal developer to the discharge hole side,
Developer suction means for sucking developer in the vicinity of the discharge hole;
A pipe for joining the developer discharge hole and the developer suction means;
In the developer supply device for transferring the developer inside the developer container to the outside,
An optical sensor for emitting and receiving light is provided on the side wall of the container near the discharge hole of the developer container,
The developer replenishing device, wherein the sensor detects the end of the developer at a predetermined position by the presence or absence of a developer container wall. Contains developer used in electrophotographic equipment,
Consists of flexible sheet members,
A developer container partially having a hole for discharging the developer in the developer container;
Developer suction means for sucking developer in the vicinity of the discharge hole;
A pipe for joining the discharge hole and the developer suction means;
In the developer supply device for transferring the developer inside the developer container to the outside,
The wall of the developer container is at least partially made of a transparent material,
An optical sensor for emitting and receiving light is provided to the side wall of the container near the discharge hole of the developer container,
The developer replenishing device, wherein the sensor detects the presence or absence of the developer in the developer container at a predetermined position. Contains developer used in electrophotographic equipment,
Consists of flexible sheet members,
A developer container partially having a hole for discharging the developer in the developer container;
Giving a reciprocating motion with different accelerations in a substantially horizontal direction in a vertical horizontal plane connecting the central portion of the developer container and the toner discharge portion of the developer container;
Sequentially move the internal developer to the discharge hole side,
In the developer supply device for transferring the developer inside the developer container to the outside,
The wall of the developer container is at least partially made of a transparent material,
An optical sensor for emitting and receiving light is provided on the side wall of the container near the discharge hole of the developer container,
The developer replenishing device, wherein the sensor detects the presence or absence of the developer in the container at a predetermined position. Contains developer used in electrophotographic equipment,
Consists of flexible sheet members,
In the developer supply device using a developer container having a hole for discharging the developer in the developer container in part,
A developer replenishing device, comprising: a member that urges the developer container in a volume reducing direction; and a sensor that detects a position of a part of the urging member. The sensor is a near-end detection of the developer in the developer container;
10. The developer replenishing device according to claim 5, wherein the detection of the developer container set is shared by a single sensor. By providing a plurality of the sensors,
The developer supply device according to claim 5, wherein the developer remaining amount in the developer container is detected.

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