JP2006003639A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner transfer device capable of preventing in-apparatus contamination and scumming of images by recovering deteriorated toner, and to provide an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: When air is supplied from an air pump 40 into a toner storage container 22, the toner is stirred and is fluidized. At the same time, the pressure in the container 22 is increased by the air flowing therein, a pressure difference is generated between the container 22 and a development apparatus 10 side, the fluidized toner is supplied to the development apparatus 10 side through a toner tube 30 from a nozzle 51. The development apparatus 10 and the air pump 40 are connected by a return air tube 33 so that the deteriorated toner (suspended toner), generated in the development apparatus, is sucked by the negative pressure of the pump. A spent toner recovering means 80 is disposed in the middle of a the tube 33, and the filter 82 is made to absorb the toner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner transfer device for transferring powder toner used in an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus using the transfer device.

JP 59-1000047 A JP 2001-183893 A JP 2002-122100 A

  Two-component development that visualizes an electrostatic latent image on the surface of an image carrier (photoreceptor) with a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier is particularly useful in electrophotographic and other image forming methods using powder toner. It is known as a development method with excellent high-speed compatibility. In recent years, it has been used as a mainstream technology in product fields such as copying machines and laser printers. In such a developing device, the toner is consumed by the developing operation, while the carrier is not consumed and the toner is charged while being stirred and conveyed in the developing device. When such friction and collision with the toner are repeated, a part of the toner adheres to the carrier and the carrier surface is contaminated, or the coat layer of the carrier is peeled off. For this reason, the charging ability of the carrier to the toner gradually decreases, which causes a significant decrease in image quality.

  In the conventional image forming apparatus, since the developer in the developing device is periodically replaced before the image quality defect as described above occurs, much labor and cost for maintenance are required.

  Therefore, the developer composed of a mixture of carrier and toner or the carrier and toner are separately supplied into the developing device, while the deteriorated developer having reduced charging performance is discharged from the developing device so that the charging performance can be prevented from lowering. An apparatus as described above is proposed, for example, in Patent Document 1 described above. In trickle development as proposed here, the developer that deteriorates in the developing device is replaced with newly supplied toner and carrier, so that the charging performance of the developer is maintained and the image quality is improved. Is designed to suppress the decline of In this trickle development system, a carrier having a constant ratio with the toner has been supplied in proportion to the toner consumption.

  However, in such a developer replenishing method, the change in the characteristics of the carrier is noticeable depending on the usage state of the image forming apparatus, and the developed toner image is also different. That is, since the carrier replenishment amount is determined by the toner consumption amount, the carrier replenishment amount is small or the carrier is not so much deteriorated despite the fact that the carrier degradation has actually progressed significantly. In spite of this, the carrier may be replenished.

  Therefore, apart from replenishment of toner consumed by the developing operation, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses an apparatus in which a carrier is also replenished in a small amount to suppress a decrease in charging performance. The system proposed here replenishes the carrier according to the operating frequency of the developing device.

  According to Patent Document 2, the carrier deterioration progresses in proportion to the driving time of the developing device or progresses in inverse proportion to the consumed toner amount. However, the carrier deterioration (coating layer scraping). In addition, the toner fixing) is not simply calculated as described above. For example, the carrier deterioration rate varies depending on the temperature and humidity at which the developing unit is used, the number of times of driving (number of sheets to be output at one time), the use interval, and the like. Further, depending on the carrier, there are cases where the toner consumption is larger when the toner consumption is larger. This is because the supplied toner has many opportunities to collide and rub against the carrier. In addition, excessive supply of carriers to stabilize the image quality also increases waste and is a waste of resources.

  Further, the performance (charging and fluidity) of the toner in the developing device deteriorates with long-term use. In particular, when a small amount of toner is consumed, since the toner is repeatedly stirred in the developing device, the deterioration becomes remarkable and the charging performance is lowered. As described above, the toner having a reduced charging ability has a low adhesion force to the carrier, and therefore is separated from the carrier and floats by stirring. Even if it is a new toner, a toner having a low charging ability may be included in a small amount, and this toner also floats. That is, deteriorated toner (floating toner) blows into the image forming apparatus main body from the opening (developing sleeve) of the developing device, contaminates the inside of the apparatus, or adheres to the photoconductor to cause image smearing.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a toner transfer device and an image forming apparatus capable of solving the above-described conventional problems and preventing in-machine contamination and image background contamination by collecting deteriorated toner.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a sealed storage container for storing powder toner, and an air supply means for allowing air to flow into the storage container. A toner transfer device that transfers toner in the storage container to a transfer destination by a pressure difference, and circulates so that air from the air supply means returns to the air supply means through the storage container and the toner transfer destination. This is solved by providing a toner recovery device having a filter member for blocking toner between the toner transfer destination and the air supply means.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an inflow state in which air from the air supply means flows into the storage container between the air supply means and the storage container, It is proposed to provide a switching valve that can be switched to a discharge state in which it is discharged to the outside without flowing in.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention is configured to collect the toner floating at the toner transfer destination by the toner collecting device by switching the switching valve to a discharge state and operating the air supply unit. suggest.

  Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a storage container for storing powder toner, and an air supply means for allowing air to flow into the storage container. A toner transfer device for transferring toner in a storage container to a transfer destination, wherein toner from the air supply means is circulated so as to return to the air supply means through the storage container and the toner transfer destination. In the apparatus, the problem is solved by providing a toner recovery device having a filter member for blocking toner between the toner transfer destination and the air supply means.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes that the storage container has an opening having a filter function for preventing the passage of toner and allowing the air to pass therethrough.

  In order to solve the above problem, the present invention proposes that the toner collecting device collects the toner floating on the toner transfer destination by operating the air supply unit without operating the suction unit. To do.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention proposes that the toner recovery device includes a vibration unit that vibrates at least the filter member.
In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides the toner collection device having a discharge port for discharging the toner accumulated in the collection device, and providing a valve member for closing and opening the discharge port. It is proposed that the member is biased in the direction of closing the outlet.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides the valve member that is released by the weight of the collected toner when a predetermined amount of collected toner is accumulated in the toner collecting device, and the discharged toner is discharged by discharging the collected toner. It is proposed that the valve member closes the outlet.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention proposes to have a current detection means for detecting a current value flowing in a motor that drives the air supply means.
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes that a flow rate detection means for detecting the flow rate of the circulating air is provided between the toner recovery device and the air supply means.

  Further, in order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides the toner recovery device including a vibration unit that vibrates at least the filter member, and based on an output of the current detection unit or an output of the flow rate detection unit. It is proposed to operate the vibration means.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention includes a supply unit that supplies a carrier or a mixture of carrier and toner to the toner transfer destination, and outputs the current detection unit or the flow rate detection unit. Based on this, it is proposed that the replenishing means be controlled to replenish the carrier or the carrier and toner mixture to the toner transfer destination.

According to the present invention, the above problem is solved by an image forming apparatus including the toner transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.
Further, in order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a waste toner container that stores toner collected by the toner collecting device, and stores a removed material removed by an image carrier of an image forming apparatus or a transfer belt cleaning unit. Suggest to be shared with containers.

  According to the toner transfer device and the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the toner collecting device having the filter member for blocking the toner is provided between the toner transfer destination (developing device) and the air supply unit. The floating toner (deteriorated toner) generated in the front (developing device) can be collected.

According to the configuration of the second aspect, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the toner is collected without toner replenishment (toner transfer).
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the toner collecting operation can be performed without toner replenishment (toner transfer).

According to the configuration of the fifth aspect, it is possible to realize a configuration in which toner is collected without toner replenishment (toner transfer).
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the toner collecting operation can be performed without toner replenishment (toner transfer).

According to the configuration of the seventh aspect, the toner adhering to the filter member of the toner recovery device can be screened off.
According to the configuration of the eighth aspect, it is possible to discharge the toner accumulated in the collecting apparatus, and it is possible to prevent the toner from being unable to be transferred without the discharge port being left open.

According to the configuration of the ninth aspect, the toner accumulated in the collecting device can be automatically discharged. In addition, after discharge, the discharge port is automatically closed.
According to the configuration of the tenth aspect, the clogged state of the filter member of the toner recovery device can be grasped by the value of the current flowing through the motor that drives the air supply means.

According to the configuration of the eleventh aspect, the clogged state of the filter member of the toner recovery device can be grasped by the air flow rate between the toner recovery device and the air supply means.
According to the configuration of the twelfth aspect, the clogging of the filter member can be eliminated at an appropriate time by operating the vibration unit based on the output of the current detection unit or the output of the flow rate detection unit.

  According to the structure of the thirteenth aspect, it is possible to perform appropriate carrier replenishment according to the state of occurrence of deteriorated toner, so that a stable output image can be obtained without consuming wasteful carriers in the developing device.

  According to the configuration of the fifteenth aspect, by sharing the waste toner container with the container for storing the removed material of the image carrier or the transfer belt cleaning device, it is possible to reduce the cost and the size of the device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing an example of a toner transfer device according to the present invention together with a developing device. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a photosensitive drum as an image carrier of an image forming apparatus, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the drum surface by a known electrophotographic process.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a developing device, which applies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 and visualizes it as a toner image. The toner image is transferred onto a sheet fed from a sheet feeding unit (not shown), and fixed on the sheet by a fixing device (not shown) to output an image.

  The developing device 10 of this example is a so-called two-component developing device, and a developer in which toner and a carrier are mixed is accommodated in the casing 11. Reference numerals 13a and 13b are two conveying screws for stirring the developer, and reference numeral 12 is a developing roller. The developing roller 12 carries the agitated developer on the roller surface by a magnetic force and conveys the toner. During the conveyance, the toner is transferred to the photosensitive drum 1 to develop the electrostatic latent image. Reference numeral 14 denotes a doctor blade that regulates the developer on the developing roller 12 to a certain height.

  A toner hopper 15 as a receiving portion for temporarily storing toner is provided at the upper portion of the developing casing. The toner hopper 15 is provided with a supply roller 16 that quantitatively replenishes toner stored in the groove portion into the casing 11 by rotating.

  In the developing device 10, toner is consumed as the image is formed. Therefore, it is necessary to replenish the toner, and the toner replenishing unit 20 is provided. In the toner replenishing unit 20, a toner container 22 is held by a holder 21 and communicated with the toner hopper 15 by a toner tube 30. The toner tube 30 may be of any type as long as it is a pipe, but if it is formed of a flexible tube, there is no restriction on the arrangement relationship between the toner storage container 22 and the developing device 10, and the design flexibility is greatly increased. Increase. As the flexible tube, a rubber material excellent in toner resistance, for example, polyurethane, nitrile, EPDM or the like is preferably used.

  The toner storage container 22 is sealed without air inflow or out by making a flexible sheet of a single layer or a multi-layer structure having a thickness of about 80 to 200 μm made of resin such as polyethylene and nylon, or paper, origami. Made in a bag-like container. A base member 23 is fixed to the lower portion of the toner container 22, and the base member 23 has a seal valve 24 made of sponge, rubber or the like.

  In the set portion in which the toner container 22 configured as described above is set, a nozzle 51 is provided so as to protrude from the bottom center of the holder 21 made of a hard material such as resin. When the toner storage container 22 is set in the holder 21, the nozzle 51 projects into the container 22 from a slit (not shown) provided in the seal valve 24 of the base member 23.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the nozzle 51 made of a material such as resin or metal has a double pipe structure having a toner passage 53 and an air passage 54, and smoothly inserted into the seal valve 24 at the tip thereof. A pointed head 52 is formed to allow for this. On the upper end side of the nozzle 51, a toner suction port 55 that communicates with the toner passage 53 and an air discharge port 56 that communicates with the air passage 54 are provided. On the lower side of the nozzle 51, the toner passage 53 communicates with the toner discharge port 57 and the air passage 54 communicates with the air suction port 58.

  The air suction port 58 communicates with an air discharge port 41 of an air pump 40 serving as an air supply means via an air tube 31 serving as an air conduction path. The air tube 31 is provided with a valve 32 that switches so that air flows in and out of the toner container (in the direction of arrow A) by an electrical signal. Further, the toner discharge port 57 communicates with the toner receiving port 17 provided in the toner hopper 15 through the toner tube 30 described above.

  When air is supplied from the air pump 40 into the toner container 22, the toner stored in the container 22 is agitated by the air, and the toner contains a large amount of air, that is, fluidizes. At the same time, the pressure in the container 22 is increased by the air that flows in. Accordingly, a pressure difference is generated between the container 22 and the developing device 10 side (atmospheric pressure), and the fluidized toner tends to move toward a lower pressure, so that the toner is developed through the toner passage 53 of the nozzle 51 and the toner tube 30. The device 10 is replenished. In this example, the supply toner is once replenished to the toner hopper 15 and dropped into the casing 11 by the supply roller 16. However, this hopper 15 is for ensuring the accuracy of the replenishment amount and is always necessary. is not.

  An air discharge port 18 is provided in the casing 11 of the developing device, and the air discharge port 18 and an air intake port 42 of the air pump 40 are connected by a return air tube 33. In the middle of the air tube 33, a deteriorated toner recovery unit 80 is provided. The deteriorated toner recovery unit 80 includes a recovery container 81, a toner blocking filter 82, vibration means 83, a check valve 84, and the like.

  Incidentally, since the casing 11 of the developing device and the air pump 40 are connected by the air tube 33 as described above, the air supply source of the air pump 40 is the developing device 10, and deteriorated toner (floating toner) generated in the developing device 10. ) Is sucked out from the air discharge port 18 by the negative pressure of the air pump 40. Here, in the toner replenishing device of the present embodiment, the deteriorated toner collecting means 80 is provided in the middle of the air tube 33, so that the generated deteriorated toner can be collected by the collecting means 80.

  That is, the deteriorated toner sucked out from the air discharge port 18 flows into the collecting means 80 through the air tube 33. Since the filter 82 is provided in the collection container 81, the passage of the deteriorated toner is prevented, and only air returns to the air pump 40 through the air tube 33 on the downstream side. A check valve 84 provided at the bottom opening of the recovery container 81 is urged in a direction to close the bottom opening of the container 81 by a biasing means (not shown) such as a spring, and the bottom opening of the container 81 is initially set. Is closed. The check valve 84 is configured not to move in the internal direction of the collection container 81 (does not enter the container 81).

  When the collected deteriorated toner accumulates in the toner collecting portion 85 of the container 81 and exceeds a predetermined amount, the check valve 84 opens due to the accumulated weight of the deteriorated toner, and the deteriorated toner is not shown as shown by an arrow B in the figure. It is collected in a waste toner bottle.

  By the way, in the toner transfer device of this example, the air pump 40 is operated to supply the toner, and at the same time, the deteriorated toner is collected. Therefore, when the toner consumption in the developing device (image forming device) is small Since the toner is not replenished, the deteriorated toner is not collected and collected in the developing device. In view of this, the present embodiment is configured such that the deteriorated toner can be collected without toner replenishment.

  In other words, without replenishing the toner, the valve 32 provided on the air tube 31 connecting the air pump 40 and the toner storage container 22 (nozzle 51) is switched so that air flows outside the container (in the direction of arrow A). The air in the developing casing can be sucked out, so that only the deteriorated toner can be collected without toner replenishment (when toner is not replenished).

  Further, when the filter 82 is used over a long period of time, the toner gradually accumulates to cause clogging, and the performance deteriorates. Therefore, a vibrating means 83 is attached to the deteriorated toner collecting means 80 of this example. The vibration means 83 is a small vibration motor, and an eccentric weight is attached to the shaft of the motor, whereby the motor itself vibrates. By actuating the vibration means 83, the filter 82 can be vibrated together with the container 81, and the toner adhering to the filter can be removed.

  In the toner transfer device of this example, an ammeter 44 is provided in the air pump 40 so that the current flowing through the drive motor 43 of the air pump can be measured. As the deteriorated toner adheres to the filter 82, the air resistance increases, so the suction load in the air pump 40 increases. Accordingly, the value of the current flowing through the drive motor 43 of the air pump also increases, so that the transition of the amount of deteriorated toner attached to the filter can be known by detecting this current value. The output of the ammeter 44 is input to a control unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus, and when the current exceeding a predetermined value is detected (when the amount of deteriorated toner adhering to the filter exceeds a predetermined amount), the vibration means 83 is instructed, and the toner adhering to the filter is automatically removed. It should be noted that, regardless of this configuration, it is possible to operate the vibration means 83 at regular intervals, or to make the user or a serviceman instruct the operation of the vibration means 83.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, while using the same code | symbol for the part which is the same as that of the said 1st Embodiment, or equivalent, the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the toner transfer device of this embodiment shown in FIG. 3, after the toner in the toner storage container 22 is fluidized by the air pump 40, the toner transfer to the developing device 10B is a single shaft mounted on the upper portion of the developing device 10B. In this system, the eccentric screw pump 90 is used.

  The uniaxial eccentric screw pump 90 is a rotor 91 made in the shape of a screw eccentric with a material having rigidity such as metal, and an elastic body such as rubber, and is made in the shape of a double screw and is fixedly installed. It has a stator 92 and a holder 93 made of a resin material or the like that encloses these and forms a powder conveyance path. When the shaft 91a of the rotor 91 is driven by a driving means (not shown) and the rotor 91 rotates, a strong self-priming force (suction pressure) is generated in the pump and the toner is sucked from the toner storage container 22.

  In the toner replenishing unit 20, the nozzle 5B has a single tube structure, and the internal passage 53B serves as both an air supply path and a toner supply path. The lower side of the nozzle 51B is bifurcated, and the toner tube 30 is connected to the toner discharge port 57, and the air tube 31 is connected to the air suction port 58, respectively. Further, the toner storage container 22B is provided with an opening 25 with a filter at the top, and is not a sealed container.

  The developing device 10B can be appropriately configured. For example, the developing device 10B may be the same as the developing device 10 in FIG. 1 or may not have the toner hopper 15. The air tube 33 is connected to the air discharge port 18 provided in the developing casing. The toner tube 30, the air tube 31, and the return air tube 33 can be equivalent to the tubes of the first embodiment.

  In the middle of the return air tube 33, a deteriorated toner recovery unit 80 is provided as in the first embodiment. The configuration of the deteriorated toner recovery unit 80 is the same as that in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the air pump 40 and the uniaxial eccentric screw pump 90 are operated to supply toner from the toner storage container 22 to the developing device 10B. The deteriorated toner (floating toner) generated in the developing device 10B is sucked out from the air discharge port 18 by the negative pressure of the air pump 40 and recovered by the deteriorated toner recovery means 80.

  By the way, in the first embodiment, in order to know the amount of toner adhering to the filter 82 of the deteriorated toner collecting means 80, the ammeter 44 is provided to measure the current flowing through the drive motor of the air pump 40. However, in the second embodiment, no ammeter is provided, and instead, a flow meter 34 is provided in the return air tube 33 between the deteriorated toner recovery unit 80 and the air pump 40. The flow meter 34 detects the flow rate of air passing through the return air tube 33 on the downstream side of the collection unit 80.

  As the toner adheres to the filter 82 of the deteriorated toner collecting means 80, the resistance of the air transfer path increases, so the flow rate of air flowing through the path decreases. Therefore, by measuring this flow rate with the flow meter 34, the amount of toner blocked by the filter 82 can be grasped. The output of the flow meter 34 is input to a control unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus. When the flow rate becomes a predetermined value or less (when the amount of deteriorated toner adhering to the filter becomes a predetermined amount or more), the collecting unit 80. The operation of the vibration means 83 is instructed, and the toner adhering to the filter is automatically removed. It should be noted that, regardless of this configuration, it is possible to operate the vibration means 83 at regular intervals, or to make the user or a serviceman instruct the operation of the vibration means 83.

  In the second embodiment, when only the deteriorated toner is collected without replenishing toner, only the air pump 40 needs to be driven without operating the uniaxial eccentric screw pump 90. Although air flows into the container 22 by the operation of the air pump 40, the uniaxial eccentric screw pump 90 does not operate, so that no toner is supplied. At this time, in the second embodiment, since the toner storage container 22 is provided with the opening 25 with a filter, the air supplied into the container 22 is discharged from the opening 25 to the outside of the container. On the other hand, the deteriorated toner is sucked out of the developing device 10B by the negative pressure of the air pump 40.

Next, an example in which the present invention is applied to a toner transfer device to a developing device capable of supplying and discharging a carrier will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view of the developing device and the toner transfer device, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the developing device.

  First, the configuration of the developing device 60 will be described first. In the casing 61 of the developing device 60, a developing roller 62 and conveying screws 63a and 63b are disposed. This developing device is a two-component developing device, and the developing roller 62 incorporates a magnet roller (not shown). A developer in which an appropriate amount of toner is mixed with a carrier circulates inside the developing device, and the developer is carried by a developing roller 12 to a developing area facing the photoreceptor 1 so that only the toner adheres to the photoreceptor and develops. Is to do.

  The conveying screws 63a and 63b are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows, and the conveying screw 63a conveys the developer from the back side to the near side. The conveying screw 63b conveys the developer from the near side to the far side. A partition 67 is provided between the conveying screws 63a and 63b. However, a portion without the partition 67 is provided at both ends in the axial direction of the conveying screws 63a and 63b, that is, the front side and the rear side. Is stirred while circulating. The developer is carried as a magnetic brush on the developing roller 62 and conveyed to the developing area, but the layer thickness of the developer is regulated by the doctor blade 64.

  A toner and carrier replenishing port 66 is provided above the conveying screw 63b. FIG. 5 shows a state where the carrier supply pipe 73 containing the transport auger 74 is connected to the supply port 66. Further, a developer discharge port 68 is provided at the upper part of the casing on the conveying screw 63b side, and the developer at a level higher than the lowest part of the discharge port 68 overflows and is discharged as shown by the arrow in the figure. It is discharged out of the developing device via the portion 69. Accordingly, the discharge is controlled by the level (height) of the internal developer. The developer discharge port 68 is a rectangular, circular, or oval opening. A developer discharge pipe 70 containing a conveyance auger 71 is connected to the lower portion of the discharge portion 69. The driving means of the transport auger 71 is not shown.

  In addition, a toner concentration sensor 65 is disposed below the conveying screw 63b. The toner concentration sensor 65 is a sensor that detects the toner mixing ratio by measuring the magnetic permeability of the developer inside the developing device.

  Referring to FIG. 4, a carrier cartridge 72 is connected to a carrier supply pipe 73 connected to the toner and carrier supply port 66, and the carrier is supplied from the cartridge 72 into the developing device through the supply port 66. Reference numeral 75 denotes a motor for driving a conveyance auger 74 built in the carrier supply pipe 73, and the carrier is supplied into the developing device 60 by rotating the motor 75.

  As the toner transfer device, the one of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. The toner tube 30 of the toner transfer device is connected to the toner and carrier supply port 66 of the developing device 60. Further, the return air tube 33 of the toner transfer device is connected to an air discharge port (not denoted by reference numeral) of the developing device 60. In the middle of the return air tube 33, the deteriorated toner recovery unit 80 described above is provided. Below the deteriorated toner collection unit 80, a waste toner container 86 for storing toner discharged from the collection unit 80 is provided. The waste toner container 86 is also connected with a developer discharge pipe 70 from a discharge portion 69 of the developing device 60. Further, the waste toner removed from the waste toner container 86 by the cleaning device (not shown) of the photosensitive member 1 and the waste toner removed by the transfer device (intermediate transfer belt) of the image forming apparatus (not shown) are removed. If the container is shared, the configuration of the image forming apparatus can be simplified, and the size and cost can be reduced.

  The toner storage container (toner cartridge) 22, the carrier cartridge 72, and the waste toner container 86 are detachably provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus. When the toner or carrier stored in the cartridges 22 and 72 is consumed, The waste toner container 86 is replaced when the container is full. The waste toner container 86 is preferably provided with a sensor that detects the fullness of the container.

  By the way, the replenishment control of the carrier to the developing device can be controlled by the number of output images, the toner consumption amount of the output image, and the like. For example, the amount of deteriorated toner is shortly after the carrier is replenished. If not increased, the toner and the carrier are not deteriorated, so there is no need to replenish the carrier. Therefore, if the amount of deteriorated toner is grasped based on the value of the driving current of the air pump detected by the ammeter 44 in the first embodiment or the air flow value detected by the flow meter 34 in the second embodiment, the deterioration will occur. By controlling the amount of carrier replenishment and the replenishment timing according to the amount of toner, a stable image can be obtained without consuming wasteful carriers.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the illustrated examples, the present invention is not limited thereto.
For example, the shape of the toner container, the configuration of the holder portion, and the like can be changed as appropriate. Also, the configuration of the deteriorated toner recovery unit can be arbitrarily configured. In the image forming apparatus, a developing device having an arbitrary configuration can be used. In a color image forming apparatus (including full color) including a plurality of developing devices, the present invention can be applied as a toner transfer device to each developing device.

  In the first embodiment, a flow meter is arranged in the return air tube between the toner recovery device and the air pump regardless of the value of the current flowing through the drive motor of the air pump, and the filter is used based on the detected air flow rate. You may make it grasp | ascertain the quantity of the toner which adhered. Conversely, in the second embodiment, the amount of toner adhering to the filter may be ascertained by detecting the value of the current flowing through the drive motor of the air pump without using a flow meter.

1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating a toner transfer device according to a first embodiment of the present invention together with a developing device. It is the side view and sectional drawing which show the nozzle of the toner transfer apparatus. It is a cross-sectional block diagram which shows the toner transfer apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of this invention with a developing device. FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an example in which the present invention is applied to a toner transfer device to a developing device configured to be able to supply and discharge a carrier. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the developing device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,10B Developing device 20 Toner supply part 21 Holder 22, 22B Toner storage container 30 Toner tube 31 Air tube 33 Return air tube 34 Flow meter 40 Air pump 44 Ammeter 60 Developing device 72 Carrier cartridge 80 Degraded toner collecting part 82 Toner blocking Filter 83 Vibrating means 84 Check valve 86 Waste toner container 90 Uniaxial eccentric screw pump

Claims (15)

A sealed storage container for storing powder toner, and an air supply means for allowing air to flow into the storage container, and the toner in the storage container by a pressure difference between the storage container and a toner transfer destination. A toner transfer device for transferring the air to the transfer destination, wherein the air from the air supply means is circulated so as to return to the air supply means through the storage container and the toner transfer destination.
A toner transfer device comprising a toner recovery device having a filter member for blocking toner between the toner transfer destination and the air supply means. Switching between the air supply means and the storage container between an inflow state in which the air from the air supply means flows into the storage container and a discharge state in which the air is discharged outside without flowing into the storage container. The toner transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising a switching valve that can be used. 3. The toner transfer device according to claim 2, wherein the toner collection device collects the toner floating at a toner transfer destination by switching the switching valve to a discharge state and operating the air supply unit. A storage container for storing toner in powder form; and an air supply means for allowing air to flow into the storage container, and the toner in the storage container is transferred to the transfer destination by suction means attached to the transfer destination of the toner. In the toner transfer device, wherein the air from the air supply means is circulated so as to return to the air supply means through the storage container and the toner transfer destination.
A toner transfer device comprising a toner recovery device having a filter member for blocking toner between the toner transfer destination and the air supply means. 5. The toner transfer device according to claim 4, wherein the storage container has an opening having a filter function for blocking the passage of toner and allowing air to pass therethrough. 6. The toner transfer device according to claim 5, wherein the toner supply device recovers the toner floating on the toner transfer destination by operating the air supply unit without operating the suction unit. The toner transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the toner recovery device includes a vibration unit that vibrates at least the filter member. The toner recovery device has a discharge port for discharging the toner accumulated in the recovery device, and is provided with a valve member for closing and opening the discharge port, and the valve member is urged in a direction to close the discharge port. The toner transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the toner transfer device is a toner transfer device. The valve member is opened by the weight of the collected toner when a predetermined amount of collected toner is accumulated in the toner collecting device, and the valve member closes the discharge port by discharging the collected toner. The toner transfer device according to claim 8. 5. The toner transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising a current detection unit configured to detect a current value flowing in a motor that drives the air supply unit. 5. The toner transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising a flow rate detection unit configured to detect a flow rate of the circulating air between the toner recovery device and the air supply unit. 11. The toner collecting apparatus includes a vibration unit that vibrates at least the filter member, and operates the vibration unit based on an output of the current detection unit or an output of the flow rate detection unit. Or the toner transfer device according to 11; A replenishing unit that replenishes the toner transfer destination with a carrier or a carrier and toner mixture; and controls the replenishing unit based on an output of the current detecting unit or an output of the flow rate detecting unit to carry the carrier or carrier and toner The toner transfer device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein a toner transfer destination is replenished with the mixed agent. An image forming apparatus comprising the toner transfer device according to claim 1. 15. The waste toner container for storing toner collected by the toner collecting device is commonly used as a storage container for removed materials removed by an image carrier of an image forming apparatus or a transfer belt cleaning unit. The image forming apparatus described in 1.

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