JP2007058121A - Powder conveying device and image forming apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a powder conveying device which effectively utilizes the space of the inside of the disposed device that has a part curved with a small curvature radius and a part bent at a right angle or acute angle, conveys powder along a conveying path having a horizontal conveying component and a vertical conveying component set in order to increase the degree of freedom in layout, and whose structure is simplified and, thereby, which is manufactured at a low cost, and to provide an image forming apparatus using the powder conveying device. <P>SOLUTION: The powder conveying device comprises: a conduit member 32 having the horizontal conveying component and the vertical conveying component and formed along the conveying path; a conveying member 34 that has an outer shape almost similar to the shape of a hollow passage of a passage hole provided to the conduit member 32 for making powder flow through it, and that is inserted in the passage with play; and a drive means 36 by which the conveying member 34 inserted in the passage hole of the conduit member 32 with the play is driven so as to draw a closed loop within a vertical plane along the powder conveying direction of the conduit member 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder conveying apparatus that conveys powder such as toner along a bent or curved conveying path, and an image forming apparatus using the same.

  In general, electrophotographic image forming apparatuses that transfer a toner image onto a recording medium such as recording paper and fix the toner image on the recording medium are widely used.

  In such an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, for example, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device, a toner supply device, and a toner recovery unit are arranged around a photoreceptor. There is.

  In such an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, for example, the toner is transported from the toner supply device to the developing unit, the toner is transported from the developing device to the toner collecting unit, and the developing device or the developing device or Some transport toner toward a toner recovery unit or a toner supply device.

  In such an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the positional relationship between the devices to which the toner is transported cannot be simply a vertical or horizontal positional relationship due to restrictions on the device layout. The path is complicated and bent.

  For this reason, in a conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus, in order to convey toner through a bent conveyance path, a toner conveyance apparatus (powder powder) configured by mounting a coil spring that is rotationally driven inside a bent conveyance tube. Some use a body transport device.

  In this toner conveying device, a bent portion in which, for example, a conveying pipe is formed with a linearly descending portion straight from a receiving portion for receiving toner, and the inclined angle from the horizontal is set within 30 ° along the bent conveying path. And formed so as to be connected to the transport destination. Then, a coil spring, which is a coiled rotary conveying member, is inserted into the conveying tube, and the moving force toward the outlet is applied to the toner in the conveying tube by rotating the coil spring by a driving mechanism. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such a conventional toner conveyance device, the coil spring rotates while being elastically deformed so as to slidably contact the inner peripheral surface of the bent conveyance tube and conform to the bent shape of the inner peripheral surface of the conveyance tube. However, there is a problem that the user may feel uncomfortable.

  At the same time, in a conventional toner conveying apparatus having a curved conveying path, it is necessary to set a largely curved path inside the image forming apparatus. In other words, there is a problem in that a wasteful space is formed, the space inside the image forming apparatus cannot be effectively used, and the image forming apparatus is increased in size.

  However, in such a conventional toner transport device having a curved transport path, the curvature of the curved portion increases when the transport path is shortened, and the coil spring can be rotated at the bent portion of the transport pipe. Therefore, it is impossible to cope with a conveyance path having a small radius of curvature or a conveyance path bent at a right angle or an acute angle.

  In order to reduce the size of the image forming apparatus, a plurality of toner conveying devices are used when toner is conveyed corresponding to a conveying path having such a small curvature radius or a conveying path bent at a right angle or an acute angle. Must be arranged so as to be connected at a bent position in the transport path, resulting in an increase in cost.

  In recent years, in an image forming apparatus, the conveyance path is narrowed by pursuing cost reduction and downsizing, and the conveyance path and the conveyance member are required to have a shape that can be manufactured more simply and easily.

  Further, in the conventional image forming apparatus, the collected toner generated during the image forming process is stored in the collecting unit, and discarded after the collecting. However, in recent image forming apparatuses, the technology for reusing recovered toner for effective use of resources has been established, and the destinations of recovered toner within the image forming apparatus have been diversified.

  In other words, in the image forming apparatus, it becomes necessary to transport the collected toner in various directions toward each apparatus, so that the layout of the toner transport path becomes complicated, and the coil spring of the toner transport apparatus rotates. It is difficult to secure a space for arranging a power source for driving, and this leads to an increase in cost because the driving source (power source) is installed.

For example, in an apparatus in a cartridge that needs to be replaced periodically in an image forming apparatus, the toner collected by collecting the toner that is poorly transferred on the photosensitive member by the cleaner unit is conveyed to the toner collecting unit or the developing device. In a normal apparatus, since the positional relationship between the two is often different from the vertical direction, it is necessary to carry the toner in both the horizontal and vertical directions in a small space and at a low cost. Furthermore, in the apparatus in the cartridge, it is difficult to obtain a space for installing the drive source for the toner conveying apparatus, and cost reduction is also required.
JP 2004-220012 A

  In view of the above-mentioned points, the present invention is set to increase the degree of freedom in layout by effectively utilizing the space inside the device that is arranged with a curved portion with a small curvature radius or a portion bent at a right angle or an acute angle. A powder conveying apparatus and a powder conveying apparatus capable of conveying powder along a conveying path having a horizontal conveying component and a vertical conveying component, which can be manufactured at low cost by simplifying the configuration An object is to provide a new image forming apparatus.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a powder conveying apparatus comprising: a pipe member formed along a conveying path having a horizontal conveying component and a vertical conveying component; and a powder provided on the pipe member. The shape of the hollow passage of the passage hole that passes through the body is formed in an outer shape that has a substantially similar form, and the conveyance member loosely inserted in the passage hole and the conveyance member loosely inserted in the passage hole of the pipe member Drive means for driving so as to draw a closed loop in a vertical plane along the conveying direction of the powder in the road member.

  By configuring as described above, the powder introduced into the passage hole of the pipe member is reciprocated by the driving means so as to draw a closed loop in a vertical plane along the powder conveyance direction in the pipe member. Therefore, the powder can be conveyed even when the pipe member is arranged with a curved portion having a small radius of curvature or a portion bent at a right angle or an acute angle. Therefore, the pipe member is arranged along a conveyance path that is curved with a small radius of curvature or bent at a right angle or an acute angle, and the space inside the apparatus to which the powder conveying apparatus is mounted is effectively used to increase the degree of freedom in layout. As a result, it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus equipped with the powder conveying apparatus.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the powder conveying device according to the first aspect, the conveying member is formed of a coiled wire.

  By configuring as described above, in addition to the operation and effect of the invention described in claim 1, a load is applied to the powder to change its properties and solidify, thereby impeding the conveyance of the powder. Trouble can be avoided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the powder conveying device according to the first or second aspect, the drive means is configured such that the powder inlet in the pipe member is vertically upward, and the powder in the pipe member is The outlet is arranged so as to be vertically downward.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the powder conveying device according to the first or second aspect, the drive means is configured such that the powder inlet of the pipe member is vertically downward, and the powder of the pipe member The outlet is arranged in a vertically upward direction.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the powder conveying apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the driving means uses the driving force of the apparatus disposed adjacent to the conveying means. The member is driven.

  By configuring as described above, in addition to the operation and effect of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 4, it is not necessary to newly provide a drive source and a rotation direction conversion mechanism, and the cost can be reduced. We can plan down.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the powder conveying apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, when the conveying member is driven by the driving means, the free end of the conveying member is Moves in the direction opposite to the powder conveyance direction with the part on the drive means side of the conveying member floating away from the inner surface of the passage hole by contacting the inner surface of the passage hole through which the powder is provided in the pipe member. It performs the operation | movement which performs.

  By configuring as described above, in addition to the operation and effect of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the conveying member is sufficiently formed from the powder on the inner bottom surface of the pipe member. Therefore, the powder can be transported satisfactorily without being pulled back to the inlet side of the conduit member.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is the powder conveying apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the drive means is within a vertical plane along the conveying direction of the powder in the duct member. When driving to draw a closed loop, the width along the conveying direction of the closed loop is (a), the outer width of the free end of the conveying member is (c), and the free end of the conveying member is loosely inserted. Further, when the width of the passage hole of the pipe member is (b), the following formula is satisfied.

Formula (a)>(b)-(c)> 0
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the powder conveying apparatus according to the second aspect, the vertical direction along the conveying direction of the powder driven by the driving means, rather than the pitch P of the coiled wire constituting the conveying member. It is characterized in that the width along the conveying direction of the closed loop drawn in the plane is made larger.

  By configuring as described above, in addition to the operation and effect of the invention according to claim 2, when the conveying member is moved in the powder carrying-out direction, the horizontal conveying component in the pipe member is mainly used. Since each part of the coil of the conveying member can be brought into sliding contact over the entire range of the conveying path portion, the powder can be smoothly conveyed in the horizontal direction.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the powder conveying device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, when the conveying member is driven by the driving means, the conveying member abuts on the conveying member to vibrate. Thus, it has a protrusion protrudingly provided in the passage hole of the pipe member.

  By configuring as described above, in the powder conveyance device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the powder is favorably conveyed by applying vibration that shakes the powder to the conveyance member. be able to.

  A tenth aspect of the present invention is the powder conveying apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the both ends of the conveying member are vertically arranged along the conveying direction of the powder in the duct member. A drive means for driving to draw a circular or elliptical or closed loop in a plane is provided.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including the powder conveyance device according to any one of the first to tenth aspects.

  According to the powder conveyance device of the present invention, even when a portion that is curved with a small radius of curvature or a portion that is bent at a right angle or an acute angle is provided, the space inside the device is effectively used to increase the degree of freedom in layout. Therefore, there is an effect that the powder can be transported along the transport path having the transport component in the horizontal direction and the transport component in the vertical direction set for this purpose, and the structure can be simplified and manufactured at low cost. In addition, according to the image forming apparatus using the powder conveying apparatus of the present invention, there is an effect that the space inside the image forming apparatus can be effectively utilized, the degree of freedom in layout can be increased, and the size can be reduced.

  A powder conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer using an electrophotographic system using the same will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing the main part of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus equipped with a powder conveying device. Inside the housing of this image forming apparatus, there is a photosensitive for forming a toner image by electrophotographic method. Place the body 10.

  A charging device 12, an exposure device 14, a developing device 16, a transfer device 18, and a cleaning device 20 are disposed around the photoreceptor 10.

  Further, inside the housing of the image forming apparatus, the cleaning device 20 disposed at a relatively high position in the height direction, and the developing device 16 is shifted from the cleaning device 20 in the horizontal direction and at a relatively low predetermined position. The toner supply device 22 is arranged at a predetermined position shifted in the horizontal direction between the cleaning device 20 and the developing device 16 at an intermediate position with respect to the height direction, and the cleaning device is located at a position lower than the toner supply device 22. The toner collecting unit 24 is arranged at a predetermined position shifted in the horizontal direction with respect to each of the toner 20 and the toner supply device 22.

  In the image forming apparatus configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 1, a powder conveyance device 26 that conveys the collected toner from the cleaning device 20 toward the toner collection unit 24 is installed. Further, although not shown in the figure, this image forming apparatus is provided with a powder conveying device for conveying toner from the toner supply device 22 toward the developing device 16.

  In the image forming apparatus, depending on the manner in which the collected toner is reused, for example, a powder conveyance device 26 that conveys the collected toner from the cleaning device 20 to the developing device 16 is installed or the toner supply device from the cleaning device 20 In some cases, a powder conveying device 26 that conveys the collected toner toward 22 is installed.

  The photoconductor 10 of the image forming apparatus configured as described above is configured as a drum-shaped image carrier (photosensitive drum) on which a latent image is formed by irradiation with scanning light.

  The charging device 12 is configured to uniformly charge the surface of the photoreceptor 10. The exposure device 14 is configured to form an electrostatic latent image by writing a light image by scanning and exposing the surface of the photoreceptor 10. The developing device 16 is configured to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 10 with toner to form a toner image. The transfer device 18 includes a transfer member (transfer roller) that transfers a toner image formed on the photoreceptor 10 onto a recording paper 28 that is a recording medium. The cleaning device 20 is configured to remove and collect residual toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 10 after the toner image is transferred to the recording paper 28.

  In addition, the developing device 16, the cleaning device 20, the toner supply device 22, and the toner collection unit 24 installed in the image forming apparatus are supplied with or collected toner over the entire width of the photosensitive member 10, respectively, and are not shown. A rotary spiral conveying member (auger) 30 that is rotationally driven by a source is arranged in parallel with the rotation axis of the photoconductor 10.

  In this powder conveyance device and an image forming apparatus using the same, a fixing device is disposed downstream of the transfer device 18 in the conveyance direction of the recording paper 28 (not shown).

  In the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the recording paper 28 fed from a paper feeding unit (not shown) by a pick-up roll or other unloading means is used to transfer the photoconductor 10 on which the toner image is formed at a predetermined timing and the transfer device. 18, the toner image is transferred onto the recording paper 28, the toner image transferred onto the recording paper 28 is fixed by a fixing device (not shown), and the recording paper 28 on which the image is formed is discharged to a discharge portion. I do.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rotary spiral conveying member 30 as the toner conveying member constitutes a so-called screw conveyor, and a spiral blade 30B is integrally provided around the rotating shaft 30A. It is a member. The rotary spiral conveying member 30 is mounted in a container for storing toner and is driven to rotate by a drive source, whereby the toner is rotated in the direction of the rotation axis 30A (here, the rotation of the photoconductor 10) by the spiral blade 30B. Transport in a direction parallel to the axis.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the powder conveying device 26 that conveys the collected toner from the cleaning device 20 attached to the image forming apparatus toward the toner collecting unit 24 is provided in a spiral conveying member 30 of the cleaning device 20. It is arranged so as to span between the rear end portion in the toner transport direction and the front end portion in the toner transport direction of the spiral transport member 30 of the toner collection unit 24.

  The powder conveyance device 26 includes a tubular (tubular) pipe member 32 formed along a conveyance path having a horizontal conveyance component and a vertical conveyance component, and a passage hole of the pipeline member 32. And a driving means 36 for causing the conveying member 34 to perform a powder feeding operation.

  The powder conveying device 26 has toner from the rear end in the conveying direction of a conveying path portion mainly composed of a horizontal conveying component mainly conveyed in a horizontal direction from an inlet connected to the cleaning device 20 to a position directly above the toner recovery unit 24. A conveyance path portion mainly composed of a vertical conveyance component that is mainly conveyed in the vertical direction to an outlet connected to the collection unit 24 is made to follow a conveyance path set in a substantially inverted L shape.

  With this configuration, toner can be transported in both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction by a single powder transport device 26. In addition, since the powder conveyance device 26 can be configured with a conveyance path that is bent at a right angle, the degree of freedom in layout when the powder conveyance device 26 is installed inside the image forming apparatus is increased, and the powder is conveyed. Since the space near the bent portion of the conveying device 26 can be effectively used, the waste of space can be saved, and as a result, the powder conveying device 26 can be arranged in a small space to convey the toner.

  For this reason, in the powder conveying apparatus 26 corresponding to the substantially inverted L-shaped conveying path, the pipe line member 32 is formed in an approximately inverted L shape along the conveying path. The pipe member 32 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed in a tubular shape (tubular shape) having a passage hole having a rectangular cross section so that the pipe member 32 can be easily and inexpensively manufactured. The pipe member 32 may be formed in a tubular shape (cylinder shape) having any cross-sectional shape as long as it forms a hollow passage hole through which toner passes.

  The conveying member 34 disposed inside the passage hole of the pipe member 32 is configured to be bent in a substantially inverted L shape so as to exhibit a substantially similar shape to the hollow passage shape of the passage hole of the pipe member 32. . In the conveying member 34 shown in FIG. 2, a coil spring in which a spring wire is formed in a coil shape is bent into a substantially inverted L shape. The conveying member 34 has a shape suitable for conveying toner as powder in a conveying direction having a horizontal component, and suitable for scraping off toner in a conveying direction having a vertical component. You may comprise as members, such as a plastics, which combined the shape so that it might be bent and integrated.

  When the conveying member 34 is constituted by a coil spring, it is possible to prevent the toner from being loaded. In particular, when the transport path is narrow, if the transport member is formed of a plate-shaped member, the toner is packed and the properties of the toner are changed and solidified, and the toner is easy to adhere to the transport member. In such a case, the trouble can be avoided by configuring the conveying member 34 with a coil spring.

  When the entire pipe member 32 has a curved shape or the like, the conveying member 34 is formed in a curved shape or the like corresponding to the curved shape.

  The driving means 36 for causing the conveying member 34 to feed the powder is slidably contacted along the inner surface of the lower side of the hollow passage of the pipe member 32 with a portion of the conveying member 34 along the conveying direction mainly composed of the horizontal component. In this state, the toner moves from the upstream side to the downstream side in the toner conveyance direction, and the portion along the conveyance direction mainly including the horizontal component of the conveyance member 34 is separated from the lower inner surface of the hollow passage of the pipe member 32. It is configured to perform a series of cycle operations that move from the downstream side in the transport direction to the upstream side.

  At the same time, the driving unit 36 operates to cause a portion of the conveying member 34 along the conveying direction mainly including the vertical component to move freely in the hollow passage of the pipe member 32 and drop the toner without clogging. Configure as follows.

  In addition, the driving means 36 is arranged adjacent to the rotary helical conveying member 30 or the rotating helical conveying member 30 in a portion to which the portion along the conveying direction mainly including the horizontal component of the conveying member 34 is connected. It is composed of other devices that can provide driving force, or a motor driving mechanism or actuator that is a driving source dedicated to the driving means 36.

  The drive means 36 shown in FIG. 2 is configured to drive and operate the transport member 34 using the rotational driving force of the rotary spiral transport member 30. With this configuration, it is not necessary to newly provide a drive source and a rotation direction conversion mechanism, and the cost can be reduced.

  In the driving means 36 configured as described above, a crank mechanism provided at the rear end of the rotary spiral conveying member 30 in the toner conveying direction is provided with a portion of the conveying member 34 along the conveying direction mainly composed of the horizontal component. Attach the free end.

  For this reason, the conveying member 34 is provided with a ring portion 38 formed by winding a spring wire roundly for a bearing at the end of the coil spring bent in a substantially inverted L shape on the drive means 36 side.

  Further, in the crank mechanism provided on the rotary spiral conveying member 30, a crank arm 31 bent in a substantially L shape is provided with the rotary shaft 30 </ b> A as a crank shaft, and a crank pin 33 is provided at a free end of the crank arm 31. To project. Further, the rotary spiral conveying member 30 is provided with an auxiliary crank arm 31A on the crank pin 33, and an auxiliary rotating shaft 35 aligned coaxially with the rotating shaft 30A at the end of the auxiliary crank arm 31A. In addition, you may comprise this rotary helical conveying member 30 so that the auxiliary | assistant rotating shaft 35 of the one end part may be supported by the bearing which is not shown in figure.

  Then, the crank pin 33 portion of the rotary spiral conveying member 30 is inserted into the ring portion 38 of the conveying member 34 to constitute a crank mechanism.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the powder conveying device 26 provided with this crank mechanism, the center of the crank pin 33 is a vertical plane along the toner conveying direction when the rotating shaft 30A of the helical conveying member 30 rotates. The rotation width (width along the closed loop conveying direction), which is the diameter of the circular orbit drawn inside, is (a), and the free end of the conveying member 34 (the end opposite to the one where the ring portion 38 is provided) The diameter of the coil spring, which is the width of the outer shape corresponding to (c), is defined as (c), and the inner diameter of the internal space, which is the width of the passage hole of the duct member 32 in which the free end of the conveying member 34 is loosely inserted, is defined as (b). At this time, the dimensions of each part are determined and configured so that the following formula is established.

Formula (a)>(b)-(c)> 0
In particular, the difference between the inner diameter of the internal space of the pipe member 32 (b) and the width (c) corresponding to the diameter of the coil spring of the conveying member 34, that is, the gap (b) − (c) is determined by the spiral conveying member 30. Rotation width (rotation width of the ring portion 38 by the drive means 36) (a) at which the center of the crankpin 33 is the diameter of a circular orbit drawn in a vertical plane along the toner conveyance direction when the rotation shaft 30A rotates (a ), The toner can be transported satisfactorily by increasing the contact between the inner peripheral surface of the pipe line member 32 and the transport member 34.

  Further, with this configuration, when the conveying member 34 is driven by the driving unit 36, the free end portion of the conveying member 34 that is loosely inserted into the vertical portion of the duct member 32 is the duct member 32. It can be operated in a freely movable state without being elastically deformed due to an unreasonable force acting on the wall.

  Further, in the powder conveyance device 26 using a coil spring as the conveyance member 34, the horizontal direction of the conveyance member 34 driven by the driving means 36 is larger than the pitch P of the coil spring (coil interval with respect to the axial direction of the spring). The stroke (the width along the closed loop conveyance direction drawn in the vertical plane along the toner conveyance direction) when the conveyance path portion mainly composed of the conveyance component is reciprocated in the toner feeding direction is increased. Constitute.

  In the powder conveying device 26 configured as described above, when the conveying member 34 is moved in the toner carrying-out direction, the conveying member 34 is conveyed over the entire range of the conveying path portion mainly including the horizontal conveying component in the pipe member 32. Since each part of the coil of the member 34 can be slidably contacted, the toner can be smoothly conveyed in the horizontal direction.

  On the contrary, if the stroke in the toner feeding direction is made smaller than the pitch P of the coil springs of the conveying member 34, the conveying member 34 and the inner circumferential bottom surface of the pipe member 32 extending in the horizontal direction are arranged. A non-contact portion may be formed, and toner may stay there. However, when the stroke in the toner feeding direction is set to be larger than the pitch P of the coil spring of the conveying member 34, the entire range on the inner peripheral bottom surface of the conduit member 32 extending in the toner conveying direction is covered. Since the conveying member 34 comes into contact, the toner can be prevented from staying and the toner can be conveyed without stagnation.

  Next, the operation and operation of the powder conveying apparatus configured as described above will be described. In this powder conveying device 26, the portion 34A of the conveying member facing the substantially horizontal direction at the position where the toner as the powder shown in FIGS. A portion 34A facing the substantially horizontal direction of the conveying member is pulled by being pulled toward the mouth side through which the toner passes and the upper end portion of the portion 34B facing the substantially vertical direction of the conveying member is brought into pressure contact with the bent inner surface portion of the conduit member 32. Are separated from each other so as to be lifted from the bottom surface of the pipe member 32.

  In the powder conveying device 26, the rotation shaft 30A is rotated 90 degrees in the direction of arrow A from the position where the toner shown in FIGS. The toner is transferred in a substantially horizontal direction. In a state where the toner is being transported in the substantially horizontal direction, the substantially horizontal portion 34A of the transport member is pulled down to the bottom surface side in the pipe member 32 and is directed in the substantially horizontal direction of the pipe member 32. The toner is transported by sliding on the bottom surface along the toner transport direction.

  Next, in the powder conveying device 26, the toner shown in FIGS. 6 and 11 is substantially omitted by rotating the rotary shaft 30A in the direction of arrow A by 90 degrees from the toner conveying state shown in FIGS. The operation moves to the end position of the operation of conveying in the horizontal direction. At the end position of the operation of conveying the toner in the substantially horizontal direction, the portion 34A facing the substantially horizontal direction of the conveying member is located on the side opposite to the opening through which the toner of the conduit member 32 passes most (on the substantially vertical portion side of the conduit member 32). ), The toner being conveyed is interposed in the inner peripheral surface portion of the lower end of the portion of the pipe member 32 facing substantially vertical, and the portion 34B facing the substantially vertical direction of the transport member is rotated in the direction of arrow A. When the force is applied, a portion 34A of the conveying member that faces in the substantially horizontal direction is separated from the bottom surface of the duct member 32 so as to be lifted.

  Next, in the powder conveying device 26, the rotation shaft 30A is rotated by 90 degrees in the direction of arrow A from the end position of the conveying operation shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, so that the conveying member shown in FIGS. A transition is made to the state of the returning operation of the portion 34A directed substantially in the horizontal direction. In the state during the return operation of the conveying member, the free end (lower end) of the portion 34B facing the substantially vertical direction of the conveying member is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the duct member 32, so that the conveying member is substantially horizontal. The portion 34A facing in the direction is pulled up from the bottom surface side in the pipe member 32 to the highest position, and moved away from the bottom surface portion of the pipe member 32 facing in the substantially horizontal direction in the direction opposite to the toner transport direction. Let

  Next, in this powder conveying device 26, the rotation shaft 30A is rotated 90 degrees in the direction of arrow A from the state during the return operation shown in FIGS. Return to the position to start conveyance in the horizontal direction.

  In the powder conveying device 26, the toner is conveyed in the conduit member 32 by repeating a series of operations as described above.

  That is, in the powder conveying device 26, as shown in FIG. 8, the center of the crank pin 33 into which the ring portion 38 portion of the conveying member 34 is fitted has a circular locus in the vertical plane along the toner conveying direction. In accordance with the movement on the circular orbit to be drawn, the bending point Q of the boundary between the substantially horizontal portion 34A of the conveying member and the substantially vertical portion 34B of the conveying member extends along the toner conveying direction. An operation of moving on an elliptical orbit close to a circular orbit in the vertical plane is performed, and the point R of the free end portion 34B of the conveying member facing the substantially vertical direction of the conveying member is perpendicular to the toner conveying direction. The toner is transported in the pipe member 32 by performing an operation of moving on a flat elliptical orbit in the plane.

  As described above, the powder conveying device 26 is configured so that the pipe line member 32 and the conveying member 34 are in contact with each other, so that the movement trajectory of the conveying member 34 is a ring by the driving means 36 as shown in FIG. When the movement locus of the portion 38 is circular, the movement locus at the bending point Q of the intermediate portion of the conveying member 34 and the movement locus of the point R at the free end at the lower end draw an ellipse.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, when the conveying member 34 does not contact at the left and right positions in the pipe member 32, the movement locus of the portion 34B facing the substantially vertical direction of the conveying member is a simple vertical movement. Therefore, there is a case where toner cannot be shaken off, so that the toner conveyance amount is increased and the toner can be efficiently conveyed.

  Further, in the operation of conveying the toner in the powder conveying device 26 in the substantially horizontal direction, the portion 34A of the conveying member facing in the substantially horizontal direction is located on the inner bottom surface of the pipe member 32 as shown in FIG. The toner is transported to the outlet side by sliding in the toner transport direction to a substantially horizontal transport operation end position.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the free end portion (lower end portion) of the portion 34 </ b> B facing the substantially vertical direction of the conveying member comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pipe member 32, thereby substantially horizontal direction of the conveying member. As shown in FIG. 11, the portion 34 </ b> A facing to the side is lifted and the toner can be firmly scratched and pushed out, so that the toner conveyance amount increases and the toner can be conveyed efficiently.

  In the powder conveying device 26, as shown in FIG. 12, the substantially horizontal portion 34A of the conveying member passes through a high position sufficiently separated from the toner on the inner bottom surface of the pipe member 32, and the toner Therefore, the toner can be transported satisfactorily without being pulled back to the inlet side of the pipe line member 32.

  Next, regarding the operation of conveying the toner in the powder conveying device 26 in a substantially vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper end portion of the portion 34B facing the substantially vertical direction of the conveying member is a pipe member. From the state in which the free end portion (lower end portion) is in contact with the side surface on the side opposite to the driving means 36 of the conduit member 32, as shown in FIG. Is close to the side surface of the pipe member 32 on the side opposite to the driving means 36, and the pipe member is such that its free end (lower end) is in contact with the side face of the pipe member 32 on the driving means 36 side. The toner 32 is swung around, and the toner adhering to the conveying member 34 is shaken off, and the toner adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the conduit member 32 is shaken off and conveyed to the lower part.

  In other words, in the powder conveying device 26, the free end portion (lower end portion) of the portion 34B facing the substantially vertical direction of the conveying member is swung around to the left and right to thereby shake off the toner adhering to the conveying member 34. There is.

  Further, in the powder conveying device 26, the configuration of the pipe member 32 and the conveying member 34 is laid out so that the conveying member 34 contacts the pipe member 32 as shown in FIGS. The movement locus of the conveying member 34 can be increased.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the portion 34 </ b> B facing the substantially vertical direction of the conveying member comes into contact with the duct member 32 at the position moved left and right, so that the portion facing the substantially vertical direction of the conveying member By swinging the free end side of 34 </ b> B greatly left and right, it is possible to increase the effect of shaking off the toner adhering to the conveying member 34.

  Further, in the powder conveying device 26, as shown in FIG. 13, for example, on the inner peripheral surface of the pipe member 32 on the side surface in the vertical direction opposite to the driving means 36, the powder conveying device 26 faces in the substantially vertical direction. By providing the protrusion 40 at a position corresponding to the vicinity of the upper end of the portion 34B, the toner may be transported satisfactorily by giving vibration to the transport member 34 to shake off the toner. The protrusion 40 can be formed in various protruding shapes such as a shape protruding in a spherical shape. Although not shown, the powder conveying device 26 is configured to cut a large number of fine grooves on the inner peripheral wall surface of the pipe member 32 and to apply vibration when the conveying member 34 slides on the fine grooves. May be.

  Further, in the powder conveying device 26, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the protrusion 40 by configuring the conveying member 34 so as to always operate in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pipe line member 32.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which only one end portion of the conveying member 34 is rotationally driven by the driving means 36 has been described. However, the both end portions of the conveying member 34 are configured to be rotationally driven by the driving means. Also good. Further, when configured in this way, toner can be stably transported by configuring the drive means for rotationally driving the both end portions of the transport member 34 in synchronization with each other.

  Further, the drive unit 36 moves the portion 34A of the transport member 34 facing the substantially horizontal direction in the toner transport direction along the inner bottom surface of the duct member 32, and then the substantially horizontal direction of the transport member. 34A is raised so as to be separated from the inner bottom surface of the conduit member 32, and then the portion 34A facing the substantially horizontal direction of the conveying member is separated from the inner bottom surface of the conduit member 32 in the conveying direction. Any link may be used as long as it has a function of moving the closed loop that performs the returning operation to move in the opposite direction and then lowers the substantially horizontal portion 34A of the conveying member onto the inner bottom surface of the pipe member 32. A mechanism, a cam mechanism, or other various mechanisms can be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the pipe member 32 is configured as a rectangular tubular (tubular), but the pipe member 32 may be configured as a circular tubular (circular cylindrical). In the powder conveying device 26, when the pipe member 32 is formed in a rectangular tubular shape (rectangular tube shape), the pipe member 32 can be formed by configuring the outer shape of the coil spring of the conveying member 34 to be rectangular. It is possible to prevent the toner from remaining in the inner corner.

  In the above-described embodiment, the description has been given of the powder conveying device 26 in which the driving means 36 side is vertically upward and the free end portion of the portion 34B facing the substantially vertical direction of the conveying member is vertically downward. The powder conveying device 26 may be arranged with the drive means 36 side vertically downward and the free end side of the portion 34B facing the substantially vertical direction of the conveying member vertically upward.

  When arranged in this way, the toner charged into the vertical portion in the vertical direction corresponding to the substantially vertical portion 34B of the conveying member in the pipe member 32 is the portion of the conveying member that faces in the substantially horizontal direction. It is dropped to the side of 34A, and an operation of moving in the horizontal direction is performed by the portion 34A of the conveying member facing in the substantially horizontal direction.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various other configurations can be taken without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus using the powder conveying apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a main part extracted from a portion related to a powder conveyance device provided in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a principal part schematic front view which takes out and shows the powder conveying apparatus provided in the image forming apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part schematic front view which shows the operation state of the powder conveying apparatus provided in the image forming apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part schematic front view which shows the operation state of the powder conveying apparatus provided in the image forming apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part schematic front view which shows the operation state of the powder conveying apparatus provided in the image forming apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part schematic front view which shows the operation state of the powder conveying apparatus provided in the image forming apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part schematic front view which shows the operation state of the powder conveying apparatus provided in the image forming apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part schematic front view which expands and shows the principal part of the operation state of the powder conveying apparatus provided in the image forming apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part schematic front view which expands and shows the principal part of the operation state of the powder conveying apparatus provided in the image forming apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part schematic front view which expands and shows the principal part of the operation state of the powder conveying apparatus provided in the image forming apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part schematic front view which expands and shows the principal part of the operation state of the powder conveying apparatus provided in the image forming apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part schematic front view which shows the other structural example of the powder conveying apparatus provided in the image forming apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Photoconductor 12 Charging device 14 Exposure device 16 Development device 18 Transfer device 20 Cleaning device 22 Toner supply device 24 Toner collection unit 26 Powder conveyance device 28 Recording paper 30 Helical conveyance member 30A Rotating shaft 31 Crank arm 31A Auxiliary crank arm 32 Pipe member 33 Crank pin 34 Conveying member 34A Portion 34B of the conveying member facing in the substantially horizontal direction Portion 36 of the conveying member facing in the substantially vertical direction Drive means 38 Ring portion 40 Projection

Claims (11)

A pipe member formed along a transport path having a transport component in the horizontal direction and a transport component in the vertical direction;
Contrary to the hollow passage shape of the passage hole through which the powder provided in the pipe member passes, a conveying member formed in an outer shape having a substantially similar form and loosely inserted in the passage hole;
Driving means for driving the conveying member loosely inserted into the passage hole of the duct member so as to draw a closed loop in a vertical plane along the conveying direction of the powder in the duct member;
A powder conveying apparatus comprising: The powder conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying member is made of a coiled wire. 2. The drive means is configured to be arranged in a state in which a powder inlet of the pipe member is vertically upward and a powder outlet of the pipe member is vertically downward. Or the powder conveying apparatus of Claim 2. 2. The drive means is configured to be arranged in a state where the powder inlet of the pipe member is vertically downward and the powder outlet of the pipe member is vertically upward. Or the powder conveying apparatus of Claim 2. The powder conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the driving unit drives the conveying member by using a driving force of an apparatus disposed adjacent thereto. . When the conveying member is driven by the driving means, the free end of the conveying member comes into contact with the inner surface of the passage hole through which the powder provided in the pipe member passes, and the driving means of the conveying member The operation of moving in the direction opposite to the conveying direction of the powder is performed in a state where the side portion is lifted apart from the inner surface of the passage hole. The powder conveying apparatus described in 1. When the driving means drives to draw a closed loop in a vertical plane along the powder conveyance direction in the pipe member, the width along the conveyance direction of the closed loop is (a), When the width of the outer shape of the free end portion is (c) and the width of the passage hole of the duct member in which the free end portion of the transport member is loosely inserted is (b), the following equation is established. The powder conveyance device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the powder conveyance device is configured as described above.
Formula (a)>(b)-(c)> 0 The width along the conveying direction of the closed loop drawn in the vertical plane along the conveying direction of the powder driven by the driving means is made larger than the pitch P of the coiled wire constituting the conveying member. The powder conveying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus is configured. 2. A protrusion projecting from the passage hole of the pipe member so as to abut on the transport member and vibrate when the transport member is driven by the driving means. The powder conveying apparatus of any one of thru | or 8 thru | or 8. The drive means for driving both ends of the transport member so as to draw a circular or elliptical track or a closed loop in a vertical plane along the powder transport direction in the pipeline member, respectively. The powder conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9. An image forming apparatus comprising the powder conveyance device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

Images