JP2011053612A - Powder breaking device, powder discharge device using the same, and powder processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively break powder stored in the vertical discharge path of powder discharge paths. <P>SOLUTION: A functional member which is provided in the vertical discharge path 11b and breaks the powder stored in the vertical discharge path 11b is one element of a powder discharge device 10 including the powder discharge paths 11(horizontal discharge path 11a and vertical discharge path 11b) and a powder conveying member 12. The functional member includes: a part 2 to be supported by a part of the powder discharge paths 11; a plate-like breaking operation part 3 provided along the vertical discharge path 11b to freely move in the powder discharge direction of the vertical discharge path 11b and in a direction crossing the powder discharge direction; and a passive connection part 4 provided so as to connect the part to be supported 2 and the breaking operation part 3 and coming into contact with a part of the powder conveying member 12, to be passively moved according to the rotation of the rotating shaft 12a of the powder conveying member 12 and to bring the breaking operation part 3 into contact with, or separate the breaking operation part 3 from the powder discharge surface of the vertical discharge path 11b. The power discharge device using the functional member and a powder processor are provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder breaking member, a powder discharging apparatus using the same, and a powder processing apparatus.

For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 have already been provided as conventional powder discharging apparatuses.
In Patent Document 1, a toner breaker member is hung on a part of a carry coil via a shaft member, and positioned so that the lower part of the toner breaker member is in contact with a stagnation portion of toner as powder, By rotating, the toner breaker member is moved, and the toner breaker member is slidably brought into and out of contact with the transport path to break up a mass of toner accumulated on the transport path.
Patent Document 2 has, as a developer return mechanism as powder, a return conveyance path including a horizontal conveyance path and a vertical conveyance path, and a conveyance member that reciprocates at least along the horizontal conveyance path. At the time of forward movement toward the downstream side in the developer transport direction, the transport member is brought into contact with the developer along at least a part of the lateral transport path, and at the time of backward movement toward the upstream side in the developer transport direction, the movement locus at the time of forward movement On the other hand, a forcible conveyance mechanism that moves the conveyance member along a movement locus located on the side away from the developer reservoir in the lateral conveyance path is provided.

JP-A-11-149237 (Embodiment of the Invention, FIG. 1) JP 2006-276811 A (Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention, FIG. 1)

  A technical problem of the present invention is that a powder breaking member capable of effectively breaking powder stored in a vertical discharge path among powder discharging paths, a powder discharging apparatus using the same, and a powder processing apparatus Is to provide.

The invention according to claim 1 is a longitudinal discharge path that extends in the lateral direction so that powder can be accommodated, and a longitudinal extension that is connected so as to intersect the lateral discharge path and that the discharge port is positioned below. A powder discharge path for discharging powder toward the discharge port, and a rotary shaft provided in the horizontal discharge path of the powder discharge path and extending along the horizontal conveyance path And a powder conveying member having a helical helix blade that conveys the powder along the axial direction of the rotating shaft by rotating, as an element of a powder discharging device, in the longitudinal discharge path A powder breaking member that breaks down the powder stored in the longitudinal discharge path, the supported part supported by a part of the powder discharge path, and provided along the vertical discharge path and vertically Freely moveable in the direction of powder discharge in the direction discharge path and in the direction intersecting the powder discharge direction An operating plate-shaped crushing operation unit is provided to connect between the supported portion and the crushing operation unit, and contacts a part of the powder conveyance member to rotate the rotating shaft of the powder conveyance member And a passive connecting part that is passively connected to and separates the breaking operation part from the powder discharge surface of the longitudinal discharge path.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the powder breaking member according to the first aspect, the passive coupling portion is curved so as to cover a part of the powder conveying member between the supported portion and the breaking operation portion. The powder breaker member is constituted by an elastic plate that is elastically deformed, and is stretched over a part of the powder conveying member.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the powder breaker member according to the first or second aspect, the passive connecting portion is positioned on the rotational axis circumferential surface of the powder conveyance member while the rotation shaft of the powder conveyance member rotates once. And an elastic plate that elastically deforms between the outer peripheral position of the spiral blade and imparts movement toward the powder discharge direction and the crossing direction that intersects the powder discharge direction to the breaking operation part It is a powder breaking member.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the powder breaking member according to the second or third aspect, the breaking operation portion is formed on the powder discharge surface of the vertical discharge passage along with the elastic deformation of the elastic plate as the passive connecting portion. It is a powder breaking member characterized by being struck so as to come in contact with and away from a non-vertical direction.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the powder breaking member according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the breaking operation portion is a powder breaking member in which a hole is formed in a plate material.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the powder breaking member according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the breaking operation portion swings in a crossing direction intersecting the powder discharging direction with the supported portion position as a swinging fulcrum. The powder breaker is characterized by having a shape along the side wall surface of the longitudinal discharge path.

The invention according to claim 7 is a longitudinal discharge path that extends in the lateral direction so that powder can be accommodated, and a longitudinal extension that is connected so as to intersect the lateral discharge path and that the discharge port is positioned below. A powder discharge path for discharging powder toward the discharge port, and a rotary shaft provided in the horizontal discharge path of the powder discharge path and extending along the horizontal conveyance path And a powder conveying member having a spiral spiral blade that conveys powder along the axial direction of the rotation shaft by rotating, and the vertical direction provided in the vertical direction discharge path among the powder discharge paths A powder breaker member that breaks down powder stored in the discharge passage, and the powder breaker member is provided along a supported portion supported by a part of the powder discharge passage and a longitudinal discharge passage. And the self-moving direction relative to the powder discharge direction of the vertical discharge path and the direction intersecting the powder discharge direction. A plate-shaped crushing operation part that operates between the supported part and the crushing operation part, and is in contact with a part of the powder conveyance member so that the rotating shaft of the powder conveyance member A powder discharge device comprising: a passive coupling portion that is passively rotated and that makes the breaking operation portion contact and separate from a powder discharge surface of the vertical discharge path.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier that holds an image formed of powder, a powder removal member that removes powder remaining on the image carrier, and the powder removal member. A powder processing apparatus comprising: the powder discharging apparatus according to claim 7 for discharging the removed powder.
The invention according to claim 9 is the powder processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the latent image forming apparatus forms an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier, and the electrostatic latent image formed by the latent image forming apparatus. And a developing device that visualizes the image into an image using powder, and the powder discharging device returns the discharged powder to the developing device.

According to the invention which concerns on Claim 1, compared with the aspect which does not have this structure, the powder stored in the vertical direction discharge path among powder discharge paths can be destroyed effectively.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, compared with the aspect which does not have this structure, the contact state of the powder crushing member with respect to a powder conveyance member can be kept favorable.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 3, compared with the aspect which does not have this structure, the powder breaking effect by the breaking operation part can be implement | achieved more reliably.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to effectively avoid a situation where the powder accumulated on the powder discharge surface of the vertical discharge path is stepped on.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to achieve a powder breaking effect while maintaining good transportability of the powder deposited on the longitudinal transport path.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 6, the powder deposited to the corner of the vertical direction discharge path can be destroyed.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 7, the powder discharge apparatus which can break down the powder stored in a vertical direction discharge path among powder discharge paths can be constructed | assembled easily.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 8, the powder processing apparatus which can break down the powder stored in a vertical direction discharge path among the powder discharge paths of a powder discharge apparatus easily can be constructed | assembled easily. it can.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 9, the powder stored in the vertical direction discharge path among the powder discharge paths of a powder discharge apparatus can be destroyed effectively, and it was discharged | emitted from the powder discharge apparatus. A powder processing apparatus capable of reusing powder can be easily constructed.

(A) is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of embodiment of the powder processing apparatus to which this invention was applied, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the powder breaking member in (a). 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus as a powder processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of an image forming unit used in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of a toner discharge device as a powder discharge device used in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the toner discharging device illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing details around a toner breaker member of the toner discharging device used in the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between a toner breaking member and a toner conveying member in FIG. 6. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of a toner breaker member, (b) is an arrow view seen from B direction in (a), (c) is explanatory drawing which shows the dimension setting example of the passive connection part of a toner breaker member It is. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the setting state of a toner breaker member, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the stroke state of a toner breaker member. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the relative positional relationship of the passive connection part and toner conveyance member in a toner breaker member setting state, (b)-(d) is the passive connection part and toner conveyance in a toner breaker member stroke state 1-3. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relative positional relationship with a member. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the setting state of the toner breaker member which concerns on Embodiment 1, (b)-(d) is the description which shows the operation | movement process of the stroke states 1-3 of the toner breaker member which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows typically a motion when the toner breaker member concerning Embodiment 1 is planarly seen, (b) removed the toner breaker member from the vertical direction discharge path of the powder discharge path. FIG. 8C is an explanatory view schematically showing a defect at the time, and is an explanatory view showing a clogging behavior process of toner as powder, as seen from an arrow C direction in FIG. (A) and (b) are explanatory drawings showing a modification of the toner discharging apparatus according to the first embodiment.

Outline of Embodiment FIG. 1A shows an outline of an embodiment of a powder processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
In the figure, a powder processing apparatus includes an image carrier 15 that holds an image formed of powder (for example, toner), and a powder removal member 16 that removes powder remaining on the image carrier 15. And a powder discharging device 10 for discharging the powder removed by the powder removing member 16.
In particular, as a preferred embodiment as a powder processing apparatus, a latent image forming apparatus (not shown) that forms an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier 15 and an electrostatic latent image formed by the latent image forming apparatus are used. And a developing device 17 that visualizes an image into an image with powder (for example, toner), and the powder discharging device 10 may return the discharged powder (for example, toner) to the developing device 17. . This aspect is effective in reusing powder (for example, toner).
Moreover, in this Embodiment, as shown to FIG. 1 (a) (b), the powder discharge apparatus 10 is the horizontal direction discharge path 11a extended in the horizontal direction so that powder can be accommodated, and this horizontal direction discharge path 11a. A powder discharge path 11 that has a vertical discharge path 11b that extends in the vertical direction so that the discharge port is positioned below and discharges powder toward the discharge port, and the powder. A spiral helix provided in the horizontal discharge path 11a of the discharge path 11 and extending the rotary shaft 12a along the horizontal transport path 11a and rotating to convey the powder along the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12a. A powder conveying member 12 having blades 12b and a powder breaking member 1 that is provided in the vertical discharge path 11b of the powder discharge path 11 and breaks the powder stored in the vertical discharge path 11b. Is.

  As described above, the powder breaking member 1 used in the present embodiment includes the powder discharge path 11 (lateral discharge path 11a, vertical discharge path 11b) and the powder conveying member 12. As a component of the discharge device 10, a functional member that is provided in the vertical discharge path 11 b and breaks down the powder stored in the vertical discharge path 11 b and is supported by a part of the powder discharge path 11. A support unit 2 and a plate-shaped breaking operation unit 3 that is provided along the vertical discharge path 11b and that is movable in the powder discharge direction of the vertical discharge path 11b and the direction intersecting the powder discharge direction. And the supported portion 2 and the breaking operation portion 3 are connected to each other, and are stretched over a part of the powder conveying member 12 to rotate the rotating shaft 12a of the powder conveying member 12. Passively and in front of the powder discharge surface of the vertical discharge passage 11b. The breaking operation unit 3 is obtained by a passive coupling section 4 for contacting and separating.

In such technical means, the powder means, for example, toner when the powder processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus using powder, but widely includes those other than this.
As the powder discharge device 10, the powder discharge path 11 has a vertical discharge path 11b and a horizontal discharge path 11a, and a powder conveying member 12 (rotating shaft 12a + spiral blade 12b) is placed in the horizontal discharge path 11a. The presupposed mode is assumed.
Moreover, although the thing which has an inclined surface is mainly assumed as the vertical direction discharge path 11b, the thing extended in a perpendicular direction is also included, for example. Moreover, the horizontal direction discharge path 11a is not restricted to what was arrange | positioned horizontally, The thing inclined in the diagonal direction is also included.
Here, as the vertical direction discharge path 11b, the one in which the degree of inclination is almost vertical is typical, but even if the degree of inclination is not close to vertical, it is used so that the powder falls by its own weight. In this case, it functions as the vertical discharge path 11b. Further, the horizontal discharge path 11a is typically horizontal or nearly horizontal, but even in a mode not close to horizontal, when the powder conveying member 12 is accommodated therein, it functions as the horizontal discharge path 11a. Is.
Further, the powder conveying member 12 may be appropriately selected as long as it conveys powder, but typically, a mode in which a spiral spiral blade 12b is provided around the rotating shaft 12a is adopted. Has been.

Further, as the powder breaking member 1, a member that breaks the stored powder in the longitudinal discharge path 11b is mainly used.
Here, the supported portion 2 may be selected as appropriate in addition to a mode in which the supported portion 2 is fixed with a double-sided tape, such that the supported piece is hooked on the supporting concave portion.
Moreover, as the breaking operation part 3, it is necessary to operate | move freely in a powder discharge direction and the crossing direction which cross | intersects this with a plate-shaped member. This is because the movement in the crossing direction is taken into consideration in addition to the movement in the powder discharging direction as an operation necessary for breaking the stored powder.
Further, the passive coupling portion 4 may be appropriately selected as long as the passive connection portion 4 can be passively moved along with the rotation of the rotating shaft 12a of the powder conveying member 12 and can be moved toward and away from the breaking operation portion 3. In this case, the breaking operation unit 3 may be any as long as it has an action of moving in the powder discharge direction having a degree of freedom of movement in accordance with the contact / separation operation and also in the intersecting direction. The movement in the crossing direction here is not limited to the mode in which the breaking operation part 3 is displaced in position along the crossing direction, but is not limited to this. For example, the movement is repeated in a seesaw shape along the crossing direction. A mode of displacement is also included.
Moreover, the passive connection part 4 should just be passive (it receives an action from others) with rotation of the rotating shaft 12a of the powder conveyance member 12, and typically the rotating shaft 12a of the powder conveyance member 12 is used. In general, the embodiment uses a change in the diameter between the rotary blade 12b and the spiral blade 12b. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a cam member is fixed to a part of the rotating shaft 12a separately from the spiral blade 12b. Of course, you may make it passive by contact with a member surrounding surface.

Next, a typical aspect or a preferable aspect of the powder breaking member 1 will be described.
First, from a viewpoint of maintaining good contact with the powder conveying member 12 as a typical aspect of the passive coupling portion 4, the powder conveying member 12 is not deformed between the supported portion 2 and the breaking operation portion 3. A mode in which it is configured by an elastic plate that is elastically deformed in a curved shape so as to cover a part of the periphery and is stretched over a part of the powder conveying member 12 is exemplified.
Moreover, as a preferable aspect of the passive connection part 4, between the rotating shaft 12a peripheral surface position of the powder conveyance member 12, and the helical blade 12b outer peripheral position, while the rotating shaft 12a of the powder conveying member 12 makes one rotation. Examples include an elastic plate that is elastically deformed and that imparts a movement toward the breaking operation unit 3 toward the powder discharge direction and the crossing direction that intersects the powder discharge direction. Here, the elastic plate as the passive connecting portion 4 is elastically deformed between the peripheral surface position of the rotating shaft 12a and the outer peripheral position of the spiral blade 12b, but in the setting state, the passive connecting portion 4 is a powder conveying member. It is necessary to arrange so as to be in contact with only the twelve rotating shafts 12a.
Moreover, as a preferable aspect of the breaking operation part 3, from the viewpoint of effectively avoiding the situation where the deposited powder is stepped and solidified, the elastic discharge plate 11b as the passive connecting part 4 is elastically deformed to cause the longitudinal discharge path 11b. It strikes and moves away from the non-vertical direction to the powder discharge surface.
Furthermore, as another preferable aspect of the breaking operation part 3, from the viewpoint of achieving both the transportability of the deposited powder and the breaking effect, there may be mentioned one in which holes are formed in the plate material.
Furthermore, as another preferred mode of the breaking operation portion, from the viewpoint of effectively breaking the powder accumulated in the corners of the longitudinal conveying path 11a, the supported portion 2 position is set as a rocking fulcrum, and the powder is discharged. The aspect which has the shape which follows the side wall surface of the vertical direction discharge path 11b when rock | fluctuating in the cross direction which cross | intersects a direction is mentioned.

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of Embodiment 1 of an image forming apparatus which is an example of a powder processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. Here, a state in which the inside of the apparatus is viewed from the front side (front side) is shown.
-Overall configuration of image forming apparatus-
In the figure, the image forming apparatus includes, for example, an electrophotographic image forming engine 21 in an apparatus housing 20, and a predetermined number (for example, four) of image forming engines 21 in the apparatus housing 20. A paper supply device 22 (22a to 22d) capable of supplying paper as a recording medium is provided, and a paper discharge receiver 27 capable of storing recorded paper is provided on the top of the device housing 20, and the device housing A sheet conveyance path 23 that guides the sheet S sent from each sheet supply device 22 to the image forming engine 21 and the sheet discharge receptacle 27 is provided in a substantially vertical direction on the side surface side (corresponding to the left side in FIG. 2). It is.

In the present embodiment, the image forming engine 21 includes a photosensitive drum 31 capable of holding an electrostatic latent image, a charging device 32 such as a charging roll for charging the photosensitive drum 31, and a charged photosensitive drum. For example, an exposure device 33 such as a laser scanning device for writing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 31, a developing device 34 for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 31 with toner as powder, and a photosensitive drum 31 For example, a transfer device 35 using a transfer roll, a toner removing device 36 for removing residual toner on the photosensitive drum 31, and a toner removed by the toner removing device 36 is discharged. And a toner discharging device 60.
In the present embodiment, the developing device 34 employs a two-component developing system, and toner can be supplied from a toner cartridge 37 that stores replenishing toner via a supply path 38.
A positioning roll 24 for positioning and conveying the paper S is provided on the upstream side of the photosensitive drum 31 in the paper conveyance path 23, and a fixing device 25 is provided on the downstream side of the photosensitive drum 31 in the paper conveyance path 23. And a discharge roll 26 is provided immediately before the paper discharge receiver 27.
In the present embodiment, the apparatus housing 20 is provided with a duplex unit 28 that enables duplex recording of paper.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the image forming engine 21 includes a photosensitive drum 31, a charging device 32, a developing device 34, a toner removing device 36, and a toner discharging device 60. Are integrated.
3 shows a main part of the process cartridge 30 of FIG. 2 as viewed from the front side, and FIG. 4 shows an arrow view of the process cartridge 30 as viewed from the back side.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the process cartridge 30 employs a configuration in which a toner discharging device 60 is interposed between the toner removing device 36 and the developing device 34 as shown in FIG. The toner collected in step 1 is returned to the developing device 34 for reuse.

-Developer-
As shown in FIG. 3, the developing device 34 is provided below the toner removing device 36, and includes a developer container 41 that contains a two-component developer containing toner and a carrier and that opens on the photosensitive drum 31 side. The developer roll 42 is rotatably disposed at a portion facing the opening of the developer container 41, and a pair of agitating and conveying members are provided in the developer container 41 along the axial direction of the developer roll 42. 43 and 44 are provided, and a partition plate 45 is provided between the pair of agitating and conveying members 43 and 44, and through holes (not shown) are provided in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the partition plate 45 so that the developer is circulated and conveyed. A possible developer circulation path 48 is configured. Reference numeral 49 denotes a layer regulating member that regulates the developer layer on the developing roll 42.
Here, the agitating and conveying member 43 located on the developing roll 42 side mainly functions as a supply member for supplying the developer to the developing roll 42, while the agitating and conveying member 44 on the side separated from the developing roll 42. Functions mainly as a stirring member for stirring the developer. These agitating and conveying members 43 and 44 are adapted to drive and transmit a driving force from a driving motor (not shown) via a driving transmission mechanism (not shown) including a gear train and the like.
Further, in the present embodiment, a toner supply port 39 is opened in the vicinity of the upstream end of the agitating and conveying member 44 in the developer container 41, and a supply path 38 connected to the toner cartridge 37 is connected to the toner supply port 39. Is connected. In the developer container 41, a reuse toner supply port 50 is opened in the vicinity of the downstream end of the stirring and conveying member 43.

-Toner removal device-
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the toner removing device 36 includes a collection container 51 that is provided obliquely above the photosensitive drum 31 and that opens on the photosensitive drum 31 side. A cleaning member (for example, a plate blade or brush) 52 for removing residual toner that comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 31 is provided, and a toner recovery space is secured in a portion of the recovery container 51 that faces the cleaning member 52.

-Toner discharging device-
In particular, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the toner discharging device 60 is provided integrally with the toner removing device 36 and is collected in the collecting container 51 of the toner removing device 36. The toner is discharged from the toner removing device 36, and in this example, the discharged toner is returned to the developing device 34 side.
<Toner discharge path>
Such a toner discharge device 60 has a toner discharge path 61 for discharging the collected toner in the toner collection space of the collection container 51 of the toner removing device 36.
In the present embodiment, the toner discharge path 61 includes a toner collection space extending in the longitudinal direction of the collection container 51 (corresponding to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 31), as shown in FIGS. A lateral discharge path 62 that extends laterally toward one side in the longitudinal direction of the collection container 51 adjacent to the toner delivery space, and intersects the lateral discharge path 62 on one longitudinal side of the collection container 51. Thus, it has the vertical direction discharge path 63 extended in the vertical direction.
In this example, the lateral discharge path 62 is provided horizontally and linearly along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 31.
On the other hand, the vertical discharge path 63 is connected at one end in the longitudinal direction of the horizontal discharge path 62, and is located at, for example, an inclined discharge path 63a inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction and a lower end of the inclined discharge path 63a. And a vertical discharge path 63b extending in the vertical direction from the opening 64, and a discharge port 65 located at the lower end of the vertical discharge path 63b is connected to the reuse toner supply port 50 of the developing device 34. Here, the inclination angle θ with respect to the vertical direction of the inclined discharge path 63a may be selected as appropriate, but in this example, it is set to be less than 45 degrees so that the discharged toner easily falls.
In this example, the horizontal discharge path 62 is provided horizontally and linearly, but is not limited to this, and may be inclined with a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the horizontal, Further, it may be appropriately bent or curved. On the other hand, although the vertical discharge path 63 is a mode in which a vertical discharge path 63b is separately provided in addition to the inclined discharge path 63a, the vertical discharge path 63 is not limited to this and may be configured by only the inclined discharge path 63a. Or you may comprise only the vertical discharge path 63b.

<Toner conveying member>
A toner conveying member 70 is disposed in the lateral discharge path 62 of the toner discharge path 61. The toner conveying member 70 is integrally formed of, for example, ABS resin, and includes a rotation shaft 71 rotatably supported by bearing members 75 installed at both longitudinal ends of the lateral discharge path 62. A spiral blade 72 spirally formed around the rotation shaft so as to convey the collected toner along the axial direction of the rotation shaft 71, and the rotation shaft 71 is connected via a drive transmission mechanism (not shown). By rotating in a predetermined direction, the toner discharged to the horizontal discharge path 62 by the rotational behavior of the spiral blade 72 is conveyed toward the vertical discharge path 63 side.
As shown in FIG. 5, the toner conveying member 70 used in this example is a toner conveying unit per unit time if the diameter of the rotating shaft 71 is d, the pitch of the spiral blades 72 is p, and the outer diameter thereof is h. It may be selected appropriately according to the amount, and as an example, d = 4 mm, p = 15 mm, and h = 8 mm are selected.

<Toner breaker>
In this example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a toner breaker member 80 is disposed in a portion of the toner discharge path 61 corresponding to the inclined discharge path 63 a of the vertical discharge path 63.
The toner breaker member 80 is integrally formed using, for example, an elastic plate material having a thin thickness (for example, 1 mm) made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin. For example, as shown in FIGS. For example, the supported portion 81 fixed to the inner wall corresponding to the intersection of the horizontal discharge path 62 and the vertical discharge path 63, and a substantially rectangular shape having a size substantially corresponding to the toner discharge surface of the inclined discharge path 63a. A collapsible actuating portion 82 that is composed of a plate-shaped member and is movably actuated in a toner discharging direction and a crossing direction intersecting the toner discharging direction; A passive connecting portion 83 that is passed over a part of the member 70 and passively accompanies the rotation of the toner conveying member 70 and contacts and separates the breaking member 82 from the toner discharge surface of the inclined discharge path 63a; It has.

In this example, the supported portion 81 is a rectangular support plate piece 811 extending along the longitudinal direction of the lateral discharge path 62 as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8A and 8B. The support plate piece 811 is provided with a double-sided adhesive material (so-called double-sided tape) 812, and the support plate piece 811 is supported by the inner wall of the lateral discharge path 62 via the double-sided adhesive material 812. Yes.
The breaking operation portion 82 has a substantially rectangular breaking plate piece 821, and the width direction dimension w intersecting the toner discharging direction of the breaking plate piece 821 is the width dimension of the toner discharge surface of the inclined discharge path 63 a. In addition, a notch taper portion 822 is formed at one corner on the front end side which is set smaller than the supported portion 81 and spaced from the supported portion 81. In particular, in this example, the one side edge in the width direction of the breaking plate piece 821 is disposed close to the side wall of the inclined discharge path 63a, but the other side edge in the width direction of the breaking plate piece 821 (notch taper portion 822). The side edge portion of the breaking plate piece 821 is slightly spaced from the side wall of the inclined discharge path 63a, and the notch taper portion 822 of the breaking plate piece 821 is inclined when the breaking operation portion 82 swings around the supported portion 81 as a fulcrum. It is arranged in contact with the side wall of the discharge path 63a.
Further, in the present embodiment, the breaker plate piece 821 has a plurality of rows (three rows in this example) of holes 823 along the toner discharge direction, and the breaker plate piece 821 is discharged from the inclined discharge path 63a. When the toner accumulated on the surface comes into contact, a part of the accumulated toner is broken through the hole 823 and can be moved to the back side of the plate piece 821.

Further, the passive connecting portion 83 connects the supported portion 81 and the breaking operation portion 82, and is provided at a position offset to one side in the width direction of the supported portion 81 and the breaking operation portion 82. A connecting plate piece 831 having a dimension w ₁ narrower than the width direction dimension of the chamber 81 and the breaking operation portion 82 and extending in the rotation direction of the toner conveying member 70 is provided.
Here, the connecting plate piece 831 is provided at a position offset to one side in the width direction of the supported portion 81 and the breaking operation portion 82 because the spiral blade 72 is provided in the vicinity of the bearing member 75 of the toner conveying member 70. This is to maintain the contact state between the rotating shaft 71 and the spiral blade 72 without being formed.
In particular, in this embodiment, the connecting plate piece 831 is provided in a state of being stretched around a part of the toner conveying member 70. However, in order to ensure a large operation amount of the breaking operation unit 82, the toner conveying member 70 is set so as to contact only the rotating shaft 71 portion.
Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8C, the width w ₁ of the connecting plate piece 831 is the pitch of the spiral blade 72 so as to be in contact with only the rotating shaft 71 portion of the toner conveying member 70. It is set sufficiently shorter than p. As an example, w ₁ = 4 mm is selected for p = 15 mm.
The connecting plate piece 831 has a span length α to the toner conveying member 70, as shown in FIGS. 8C and 9A, the connecting plate piece 831 is only on the rotation shaft 71 of the toner conveying member 70. Adjusted to touch.
In this example, the passive connecting portion 83 is a mode in which the connecting plate piece 831 moves in contact between the rotating shaft 71 of the toner conveying member 70 and the spiral blade 72. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The dimension of the connecting plate piece 831 may be set so as to move from the outer diameter to the maximum outer diameter.

―Operation of toner discharge device―
Next, the operation of the toner discharging device will be described focusing on the toner breaking member 80.
4-7, when the cleaning member 52 of the toner removing device 36 removes the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 31, the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is cleaned and the toner removing device 36 Residual toner is collected in the collection container 51.
In this state, the toner discharge device 60 drives the toner conveying member 70 by a driving force from a drive transmission system (not shown), and the toner accumulated on the lateral discharge path 62 in the toner discharging path 61 by the toner conveying member 70. Is conveyed toward the vertical discharge path 63.
Then, the toner conveyed through the horizontal discharge path 62 falls by its own weight when it reaches the inclined discharge path 63a of the vertical discharge path 63, and moves to the toner discharge surface of the inclined discharge path 63a.
In this state, if there is no toner breaker member 80, there is a concern that toner accumulates on the toner discharge surface of the inclined discharge path 63a and becomes clogged.
However, in this embodiment, the toner breaking member 80 is movable from the setting state as shown in FIG. 9A to the stroke state as shown in FIG. 9B as the toner conveying member 70 rotates. Is done.

Specifically, the passive connecting portion 83 of the toner breaking member 80 is elastically deformed between the rotating shaft 71 and the spiral blade 72 with the supported portion 81 as a fulcrum as the rotating shaft 71 of the toner conveying member 70 rotates. Accordingly, as shown by the solid line and the dotted line in FIG. 9B, the breaking operation part 82 contacts and separates from the accumulated toner on the toner discharge surface of the inclined discharge path 63a.
At this time, as shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D, the passive connecting portion 83 of the toner breaking member 80 contacts only the rotating shaft 71 while the rotating shaft 71 of the toner conveying member 70 makes one rotation. From the neutral position (see FIG. 10A) to the position toward the maximum outer diameter position of the spiral blade 72 from the position of the rotary shaft 71, it swings (swings) in the right direction in FIG. 10B. Thereafter, the position reaches the maximum outer diameter position of the spiral blade 72 and returns to the neutral position in the drawing shown in FIG. 10C, and further moves from the maximum outer diameter position of the spiral blade 72 toward the position of the rotating shaft 71. After swinging (swinging) in the left direction in the figure shown in (d), it returns to the neutral position in FIG.
In this state, if the movement of the toner breaker member 80 is captured in a plane, it behaves as shown in FIGS. Here, FIGS. 11A to 11D correspond to the states shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12A, the breaking operation portion 82 moves along the toner discharge direction m of the inclined discharge path 63a as the inclined discharge path 63a contacts and separates from the toner discharge surface (see FIG. 12A). 9 (b) (see solid and dotted lines), and swings in the crossing direction (width direction) n that intersects the toner discharge direction m with the swing of the passive connecting portion 83 shown in FIGS. 10 (a) to 10 (d). Try to (swing).
However, in this example, since the one side edge in the width direction of the breaking operation part 82 is set and arranged along the side wall of the inclined discharge path 63a, as shown in FIG. Is blocked by the side wall of the inclined discharge passage 63a, and the breaking operation portion 82 hardly swings. On the other hand, since the other side edge in the width direction of the breaking operation part 82 is separated from the side wall of the inclined discharge path 63a, the supported part 81 is used as a fulcrum in that direction as shown in FIG. The notch taper part 822 of the breaking operation part 82 moves to a position along the side wall of the inclined discharge path 63a.

In this way, as shown in FIGS. 9B and 12A, the breaking operation unit 82 applies the toner discharge direction m and the direction intersecting with the accumulated toner on the toner discharge surface of the inclined discharge path 63a. Since the toner moves to n, the accumulated toner on the toner discharge surface of the inclined discharge path 63a is broken in a state of being disturbed in the front-rear and left-right directions.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the notch taper portion 822 of the breaking operation portion 82 hits the corner area of the inclined discharge path 63a, so that the toner accumulated in the corner area is also broken down effectively.
Further, in the present embodiment, the hole 823 of the breaker operating portion 82 acts to release the toner accumulated on the toner discharge surface when the breaker operating portion 82 contacts the toner discharge surface of the inclined discharge path 63a. As a result, the toner deposited on the toner discharge surface of the inclined discharge path 63a is not unnecessarily hardened with the contact and separation of the breaking operation portion 82.
As described above, in this embodiment, the toner accumulated on the toner discharge surface of the inclined discharge path 63a is effectively destroyed, so that the toner moves to the vertical discharge path 63b side of the vertical discharge path 63 to the developing device 34. Is returned.
In this regard, in the case of not using the toner breaking member 80 of this embodiment, for example, as shown in S ₁ in FIG. 12 (b) (c), depositing the toner T to the inclined discharge passage 63a of the longitudinal discharge passage 63 it is advanced As a result, the inclined discharge path 63a is blocked with the accumulated toner T. Then, as shown in S ₂ of FIG. 12 (c), will be clogged toner nowhere to go is the downstream end of the toner conveying member 70, finally, as shown in S ₃ of FIG. 12 (c), There is a concern that the frictional heat between the packed toner and the toner conveying member 70 may exceed the melting point of the toner, leading to a toner clogging (blocking) phenomenon. Does not occur.

In the present embodiment, the supported portion 81 of the toner breaking member 80 uses the double-sided adhesive material 812, but is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. A support recess 76 may be provided in a part of the support recess 76, and the support plate piece 811 may be hooked on the support recess 76.
In the present embodiment, the passive coupling portion 83 of the toner breaking member 80 is disposed in contact with the rotating shaft 71 and the spiral blade 72 of the toner conveying member 70. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 13B, a cam member 77 is provided on the rotation shaft 71 of the toner conveying member 70 in addition to the spiral blade 72, and the passive connecting portion 83 of the breaking member 80 is disposed in contact with the cam member 77. May be.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Powder breaking member, 2 ... Supported part, 3 ... Breaking action part, 4 ... Passive connection part, 10 ... Powder discharge apparatus, 11 ... Powder discharge path, 11a ... Lateral discharge path, 11a ... Longitudinal direction Discharge path, 12 ... powder conveying member, 12a ... rotating shaft, 12b ... spiral blade, 15 ... image carrier, 16 ... powder removing member, 17 ... developing device

Claims (9)

A horizontal discharge path extending in the horizontal direction so that the powder can be accommodated, and a vertical discharge path connected to intersect the horizontal discharge path and extending in the vertical direction so that the discharge port is positioned below, A powder discharge path for discharging powder toward the discharge port, and a rotary shaft provided in the horizontal discharge path of the powder discharge path and extending along the horizontal conveyance path, and the rotary shaft by rotating A powder conveying member having a spiral spiral blade that conveys powder along the axial direction of the powder as a component of a powder discharging device, the vertical discharging path provided in the vertical discharging path A powder breaking member that breaks down the powder stored in
A supported portion supported by a part of the powder discharge path;
A plate-shaped breaking operation part that is provided along the longitudinal discharge path and that is movable in a direction intersecting the powder discharge direction and the powder discharge direction of the vertical discharge path;
Provided so as to connect between the supported portion and the breaking operation portion, contact with a part of the powder conveying member, and passively accompany the rotation of the rotating shaft of the powder conveying member and discharge in the longitudinal direction A powder breaking member, comprising: a passive coupling portion that contacts and separates the breaking operation portion with respect to the powder discharge surface of the road. In the powder breaking member according to claim 1,
The passive coupling part is composed of an elastic plate that is elastically deformed in a curved shape so as to cover a part of the powder conveying member between the supported part and the breaking operation part, and is hung on a part of the powder conveying member. A powder breaking member that is delivered. In the powder breaking member according to claim 1 or 2,
The passive coupling part is composed of an elastic plate that is elastically deformed between the position of the rotational axis of the powder conveying member and the position of the outer periphery of the spiral blade during one rotation of the rotation axis of the powder conveying member. A powder breaking member characterized by imparting a movement toward a crossing direction intersecting the powder discharging direction and the powder discharging direction to the portion. In the powder breaking member according to claim 2 or 3,
The crushing operation part is a powder that is struck so as to come in contact with and separate from the powder discharge surface of the vertical discharge path from the non-vertical direction in accordance with the elastic deformation of the elastic plate as the passive coupling part. Body collapse member. In the powder breaking member according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The breaking operation part is a powder breaking member characterized in that a hole is formed in a plate material. In the powder breaking member according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The breaking operation part has a shape along the side wall surface of the vertical discharge path when the supported part position is set as a swing fulcrum and swings in a crossing direction intersecting the powder discharge direction. Powder breaking member. A horizontal discharge path extending in the horizontal direction so that the powder can be accommodated, and a vertical discharge path connected to intersect the horizontal discharge path and extending in the vertical direction so that the discharge port is positioned below, A powder discharge path for discharging powder toward the discharge port;
A spiral helix blade provided in a lateral discharge path of the powder discharge path, and a spiral shaft that conveys powder along the axial direction of the rotation shaft by rotating and a rotating shaft extending along the horizontal transport path A powder conveying member having
A powder breaker member that breaks down the powder stored in the vertical discharge path provided in the vertical discharge path of the powder discharge path,
The powder breaking member is
A supported portion supported by a part of the powder discharge path;
A plate-shaped breaking operation part that is provided along the longitudinal discharge path and that is movable in a direction intersecting the powder discharge direction and the powder discharge direction of the vertical discharge path;
Provided so as to connect between the supported portion and the breaking operation portion, contact with a part of the powder conveying member, and passively accompany the rotation of the rotating shaft of the powder conveying member and discharge in the longitudinal direction A powder discharge device comprising: a passive connection portion that brings the breaking operation portion into contact with and away from the powder discharge surface of the road. An image carrier that holds an image formed of powder;
A powder removing member for removing powder remaining on the image carrier;
A powder processing apparatus comprising: the powder discharging apparatus according to claim 7 which discharges the powder removed by the powder removing member. The powder processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
A latent image forming apparatus for forming an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier;
A developing device that visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed by the latent image forming device into an image with powder;
The powder processing apparatus returns the discharged powder to the developing device.

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