JP2016186605A - Powder recovery device and processing apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve powder storage efficiency in a powder storage chamber in a powder recovery container including a fullness detection chamber adjacent to the powder storage chamber.SOLUTION: A powder recovery device 11 comprises: a recovery container 1 including one or more recovery ports 2 that recover a powder G conveyed from a powder processing part 10, a powder storage chamber 3 that initially stores the powder G recovered from the recovery ports 2, and a fullness detection chamber 4 that is provided adjacent to the powder storage chamber 3, stores the powder G overflown from the powder storage chamber 3, and detects whether the powder storage chamber 3 has become full with the powder G stored therein; and a conveyance member 7 that is provided inside the recovery container 1 and conveys the powder G stored in the powder storage chamber 3 toward the fullness detection chamber. The conveyance member 7 includes a first conveyance part 9a that is located on the upstream side in a direction of conveyance of the conveyance member 7, and a second conveyance part 9b that is located at a position adjacent to the fullness detection chamber 4 in the area of the powder storage chamber 3 and has a lower conveyance force than that of the first conveyance part 9a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder recovery apparatus and a processing apparatus using the same.

Conventionally, as this type of powder recovery apparatus, those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 can be cited.
In Patent Document 1, when a tandem color system with a high monochrome image ratio is adopted, a toner collection port for each color is provided in the longitudinal direction of the toner collection container, and either one of the left and right ends is used as a black toner collection port. A toner collection container is disclosed in which the distance between the collection port and the nearest housing side plate is longer than the distance between the color toner collection port at the other end and the nearest housing side plate.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-26883 provides a toner collecting container having a toner conveying means constituted by a paddle provided substantially below a toner collecting port and a spiral between adjacent paddles. To accommodate the toner in the horizontal direction of the collection container by the spiral, and form the pitch of the spiral from the spiral inside the paddle on both ends toward the junction near the center, near the junction A toner recovery container in which toner detection means is provided on the wall surface of the toner recovery container is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-66674 (Embodiment of the Invention, FIG. 3) JP 2003-15493 A (Embodiment of the Invention, FIG. 3)

  The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to improve the powder storage efficiency in the powder storage chamber in a mode including a full detection chamber adjacent to the powder storage chamber of the powder recovery container. is there.

  The invention according to claim 1 includes one or a plurality of recovery ports for recovering the powder conveyed from the powder processing unit, a powder storage chamber for initially storing the powder recovered from the recovery port, and A full detection chamber provided adjacent to the powder storage chamber for detecting whether or not the powder overflowing from the powder storage chamber is filled and the powder stored in the powder storage chamber is full; A recovery container that is provided in the recovery container and transports the powder stored in the powder storage chamber toward the full detection chamber, and the powder among the transport members The second transport unit located in a region adjacent to the full detection chamber in the storage chamber has a lower transport force than the first transport unit located upstream in the transport direction of the transport member. This is a characteristic powder recovery apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the powder recovery apparatus according to the first aspect, the second transport unit has a plate-like blade that protrudes in the radial direction with respect to the rotation shaft and extends in the axial direction. It is a powder recovery device.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the powder recovery apparatus according to the first aspect, the transport direction of the transport member is a predetermined direction, and the fullness detection chamber is downstream of the transport direction of the transport member. The powder recovery apparatus is provided at an end.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the powder recovery apparatus according to the third aspect, the conveying member is disposed obliquely upward from the powder storage chamber toward the full detection chamber. It is a powder recovery device.
The invention according to claim 5 is the powder recovery apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the powder storage chamber is partitioned by a plurality of partition walls with respect to the transport direction of the transport member, and of the partition walls, the The powder recovery apparatus is characterized in that the partition wall closest to the full detection chamber is set higher than the others.
The invention according to claim 6 is the powder recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying member is disposed at a position deviated from a region immediately below the at least one recovery port. In the region, the powder recovery apparatus is provided with a guide surface that is inclined toward the transport member and guides the powder recovered from the recovery port so as to contact the transport member.

The invention according to claim 7 is a powder processing unit that processes using powder, and a powder recovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 that recovers the powder conveyed from the powder processing unit. , A processing apparatus comprising:
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the processing apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the powder processing unit includes an image holding body capable of holding an electrostatic latent image, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the image holding body. A developing device that develops with a developer as powder, a transfer device that transfers a visible image developed by the developing device to a recording material, and a cleaning device that cleans the developer remaining on the image carrier And the powder recovery device recovers the developer as powder conveyed from at least one of the cleaning device, the transfer device, and the developing device. It is.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to increase the powder storage efficiency in the powder storage chamber in a mode in which the full detection chamber is provided adjacent to the powder storage chamber of the powder recovery container.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the powder can be leveled toward the powder storage chamber without actively conveying the powder in the portion adjacent to the full detection chamber.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 3, a powder storage chamber can be ensured over a wide range within a collection container, and the freedom degree regarding the setting of the position and number of collection ports can be raised correspondingly.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to set a larger amount of powder in the powder storage chamber than in the case where the conveying member is arranged in the horizontal direction.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, compared with the aspect which sets the partition wall located in the upstream of the conveyance direction of a conveyance member higher than another thing, the accommodation amount of the powder in a powder storage chamber is raised. Can do.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 6, even if it collect | recovers powder from the collection port distant from the conveyance member, it can guide toward a conveyance member.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to increase the powder storage efficiency in the powder storage chamber in a mode including the full detection chamber adjacent to the powder storage chamber of the powder recovery container. A processing apparatus including a powder recovery apparatus can be provided.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in the processing apparatus using the developer as the powder, in the powder recovery apparatus, the powder storage efficiency in the powder storage chamber can be increased.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of embodiment of the processing apparatus containing the powder recovery apparatus with which this invention was applied. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus as a processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state when the front cover of the apparatus housing is opened in the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a developer recovery device is assembled in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is the arrow view seen from the V direction in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the developer recovery device used in Embodiment 1 as viewed from the inside. FIG. 3 is a perspective explanatory view in which a conveying member is removed from the developer recovery device used in the first embodiment. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating details of a conveying member used in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is the arrow line view which looked at the developer collection | recovery apparatus shown in FIG. 7 from the back side. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a peripheral structure of a full detection room used in Embodiment 1. FIG. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of each part of the conveyance member used in Embodiment 1, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the deformation | transformation form. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the collection port vicinity of the developer conveyed from the developing apparatus, (b) is explanatory drawing which wets the positional relationship of the collection port shown in (a), and a conveyance member. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of a developer recovery device used in a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a peripheral structure of a full detection chamber in the developer recovery device used in the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of a developer recovery device used in a third embodiment. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the behavior around the full detection room at the time of full detection, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the behavior around the full detection room in continuous use after full detection. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the surrounding structure of the full detection chamber in the developer collection | recovery apparatus used with a deformation | transformation form, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the principal part of an opening-and-closing door. (A) Explanatory drawing which shows the behavior around the full detection chamber at the time of full detection in the developer recovery apparatus used in the modified form, (b) is an explanation showing the behavior around the full detection chamber in continuous use after full detection FIG. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the accommodation state of the developer in the collection container in Example 1, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the accommodation state of the developer in the collection container in Comparative Example 1. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of developer accommodation in the entire collection container in Example 2 together with environmental conditions.

Outline of Embodiment FIG. 1 shows an outline of an embodiment of a processing apparatus including a powder recovery apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
In the figure, the processing apparatus includes a powder processing unit 10 that processes using the powder G, and a powder recovery device 11 that recovers the powder G conveyed from the powder processing unit 10.
Here, the powder processing unit 10 includes a wide range of processing using the powder G. For example, as a processing apparatus using a developer as the powder G, the powder processing unit 10 includes an image carrier that can hold an electrostatic latent image, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier. A developing device for developing with the developer, a transfer device for transferring the visible image developed by the developing device to a recording material, and a cleaning device for cleaning the developer remaining on the image carrier. The powder recovery device 11 includes a device that recovers the developer as the powder G conveyed from at least one of a cleaning device, a transfer device, and a developing device.
In this aspect, the cleaning device sets the cleaned developer as a collection target. If the transfer device is an intermediate transfer type transfer device, for example, the developer cleaned by the intermediate transfer body cleaning device is collected, and even if it is a direct transfer type transfer device, the transfer member is cleaned. By adding the device, the developer cleaned by the cleaning device is set as a collection target. As a developing device, for example, if a two-component developer including toner and carrier is used, the toner is consumed, but the carrier is not consumed. The developed developer is the target of collection.

  The powder recovery apparatus 11 used in the present embodiment includes one or a plurality of recovery ports 2 (2a to 2e in this example) for recovering the powder G conveyed from the powder processing unit 10, and the recovery ports 2. A powder storage chamber 3 that initially stores the collected powder G, and a powder storage chamber that is provided adjacent to the powder storage chamber 3 and stores the powder G overflowing from the powder storage chamber 3. A recovery container 1 including a full detection chamber 4 for detecting whether or not the powder G stored in 3 is full, and a powder G provided in the recovery container 1 and stored in the powder storage chamber 3. A second transfer unit 9b located in a portion of the transfer member 7 adjacent to the full detection chamber 4 in the region of the powder storage chamber 3, and a transfer member 7 for transferring toward the full detection chamber. The conveying member 7 has a conveying force lower than that of the first conveying unit 9a located on the upstream side in the conveying direction.

In such technical means, the fullness detection chamber 4 only needs to have a detector 4a for detecting that the powder G stored in the powder storage chamber 3 is full. The level at which the powder G is detected as full when the powder G is accommodated may be appropriately selected.
Moreover, the fullness detection chamber 4 should just be adjacent to the powder storage chamber 3, for example, the fullness detection chamber 4 may be provided in the downstream end of the conveyance direction of the conveyance member 7 of the collection container 1, or a collection container The full detection chamber 4 may be provided in the vicinity of the middle of 1 and the powder storage chamber 3 may be provided on both sides thereof.
Furthermore, the full detection chamber 4 is normally secured at a position where the powder G recovered from the recovery port 2 is not initially stored, but if the powder G floats and is directly stored in the full detection chamber 4, In order to prevent full detection of the body G, a mode in which the covering member 6 is provided to prevent the floating powder from directly entering the full detection chamber 4 is preferable.
Furthermore, the first conveying portion 9a of the conveying member 7 is not limited to a mode in which spiral blades are provided around the rotation shaft as long as the powder G is conveyed in a predetermined direction. You can select the appropriate paddle.
Moreover, the 2nd conveyance part 9b should just have a conveyance power lower than the 1st conveyance part 9a, Preferably it is preferable that a conveyance force is substantially zero. Incidentally, the point of conveying in the reverse direction is not preferable because there is a concern that the powder G cannot be conveyed to the full detection chamber and the full detection is not achieved.

Next, a typical aspect or a preferable aspect of the powder recovery apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.
First, as a typical aspect of the second conveying portion 9b of the conveying member 7, there is an aspect having plate-like blades that protrude in the radial direction with respect to the rotation axis and extend in the axial direction.
Here, the number of plate-shaped blades is not limited to one, and a plurality of blades may be used. Further, when a plurality of sheets are provided, a plurality of positions may be provided around the rotation shaft with the same position in the axial direction, or the position in the axial direction may be displaced.
In this example, the plate-shaped blade moves the powder in the rotation direction of the rotation shaft, but the conveying force of the conveying member 7 in the conveying direction is substantially zero. For this reason, the conveying member 7 does not actively convey the powder G to the full detection chamber 4.
Moreover, as a preferable layout of the full detection chamber 4, in a mode in which the transfer direction of the transfer member 7 is one predetermined direction, the full detection chamber 4 is provided at the downstream end of the transfer direction of the transfer member 7. Good. In this embodiment, the powder container chamber 3 can be widely secured by bringing the full detection chamber 4 to one side of the collection container 1. Therefore, a large number of recovery ports 2 can be provided at an arbitrary position over a wide range of the recovery container 1.
Moreover, as a preferable aspect of the conveyance member 7, the aspect arrange | positioned inclining diagonally upward toward the full detection chamber 4 from the powder storage chamber 3 is mentioned. In this embodiment, the entrance of the powder G in the full detection chamber 4 is set high, the level value overflowing from the powder storage chamber 3 to the full detection chamber 4 is set high, and the powder in the powder storage chamber 3 is set. The body G can be accommodated while being inclined obliquely upward along the inclined posture of the conveying member 7. For this reason, a large amount of powder G can be set in the powder chamber 3.

Furthermore, as a preferable aspect of the powder container 3, the powder storage chamber 3 is partitioned by a plurality of partition walls 5 (in this example, 5 a to 5 c) in the transport direction of the transport member 7. The partition wall 5c closest to is set higher than the other walls 5a and 5b.
When the partition wall 5 is set high, the powder G accommodated in front of the partition wall 5 gets over after being sufficiently accommodated. In this example, the partition wall 5 is raised from the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport member 7 toward the upstream side, and the powder G is transported while being leveled in the powder storage chamber 3 on the near side and is sufficiently stored. After this, the behavior of getting over the last high partition wall 5 (5c in this example) is shown. For this reason, in this example, the powder G is sequentially transported while being sufficiently stored in the powder storage chamber 3.

Moreover, the following aspect is preferable in the aspect which does not have the conveyance member 7 in the area | region directly under the collection port 5. FIG.
That is, in an aspect in which the transport member 7 is disposed at a position deviating from the region immediately below the at least one recovery port 2, the region immediately below the recovery port 2 is inclined toward the transport member 7 and is recovered from the recovery port 2. The aspect which provided the guide surface (not shown) which guides so that the powder G which contacted may be made to contact the conveyance member 7 is mentioned.
In this example, even if the recovery port 2 and the transport member 7 are separated from each other, if the powder G recovered from the recovery port 2 falls, the powder G is guided to the transport member 7 side along the guide surface and contacts the transport member 7. Therefore, the collected powder G is transported while being leveled by the transport member 7.

Embodiment 1
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
<Overall configuration of image forming apparatus>
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing Embodiment 1 of an image forming apparatus as a processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
In the figure, an image forming apparatus 20 arranges image forming units 22 (specifically, 22a to 22d) of four colors (black, yellow, magenta, and cyan in this embodiment) in an apparatus casing 21 in the horizontal direction. A transfer module 23 including an intermediate transfer belt 230 that is circulated and conveyed along the arrangement direction of the image forming units 22 is disposed above the image forming unit 22. A recording material supply device 24 that accommodates the recording material is disposed, and a recording material conveyance path 25 from the recording material supply device 24 is disposed in a substantially vertical direction.

In the present embodiment, the image forming units 22 (22a to 22d) are, for example, for black, yellow, magenta, and cyan in order from the upstream side in the circulation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 230. (Not limited to) a toner image, a photoreceptor 31, a charging device (charging roll in this example) 32 that charges the photoreceptor 31 in advance, and each photoreceptor charged by the charging device 32. An exposure device 33 that writes an electrostatic latent image on 31 (in this example, a common exposure device is used for each image forming unit 22), and a corresponding color toner (this embodiment) that forms an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 31. In this embodiment, a developing device 34 that develops with negative polarity, for example, and a cleaning device 35 that cleans the residue on the photoreceptor 31 are provided.
In this embodiment, each image forming unit 22 is configured as a process cartridge in which a photosensitive member 31, a charging device 32, a developing device 34, and a cleaning device 35 are integrated as shown in FIG. 21 is detachably attached to an assembly receiving portion (not shown).
Here, the exposure apparatus 33 includes, for example, four semiconductor lasers (not shown), one polygon mirror 42, an imaging lens (not shown), and mirrors corresponding to the respective photoreceptors (see FIG. (Not shown), the light from the semiconductor laser of each color component is deflected and scanned by the polygon mirror 42, and the light image is guided to the exposure point on the corresponding photoreceptor 31 through the imaging lens and mirror. It is.
Reference numeral 36 (36a to 36d) denotes a toner cartridge for replenishing each developing device 34 with each color component toner.

Further, in the present embodiment, the transfer module 23 is, for example, a structure in which an intermediate transfer belt 230 is stretched between a pair of stretch rolls (one is a drive roll) 231 and 232, and the photoreceptor of each image forming unit 22. A primary transfer device (primary transfer roll 51 in this example) 51 is disposed on the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 230 corresponding to 31, and a voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the primary transfer device 51, The toner image on the photoreceptor 31 is electrostatically transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 230 side.
Further, a secondary transfer device 52 is disposed at a portion corresponding to the tension roll 232 on the downstream side of the most downstream image forming unit 22d of the intermediate transfer belt 230, and a primary transfer image on the intermediate transfer belt 230 is recorded. Secondary transfer (collective transfer) is performed on the material.

In the present embodiment, the secondary transfer device 52 includes a secondary transfer roll 521 arranged in pressure contact with the toner image holding surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 230, and a secondary transfer roll disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 230. A backup roll (in this example, also serving as a stretching roll 232) is provided.
For example, the secondary transfer roll 521 is grounded, and a bias having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the backup roll (stretching roll 232).
Furthermore, a belt cleaning device 53 is disposed on the upstream side of the most upstream image forming portion 22a of the intermediate transfer belt 230 so as to remove residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 230.

Further, the recording material supply device 24 is provided with a supply roll 61 for supplying a recording material. A transport roll 62 for transporting the recording material is disposed immediately after the supply roll 61 and immediately before the secondary transfer site. A positioning roll (registration roll) 63 for supplying the recording material to the secondary transfer portion at a predetermined timing is disposed in the recording material conveyance path 25 positioned at the position.
On the other hand, a fixing device 66 is provided in the recording material conveyance path 25 located on the downstream side of the secondary transfer site. As shown in FIG. 3, the fixing device 66 is a heat fixing in which a heater (not shown) is incorporated. A roll 66a and a pressure fixing roll 66b that is arranged in pressure contact with the roll 66 and rotates following the roll 66a are provided. A recording material discharge device 67 is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device 66. The recording material discharge device 67 includes paired discharge rollers 67 a and 67 b for discharging the recording material in the apparatus housing 21. The recording material is sandwiched and conveyed to be discharged, and is formed on the upper portion of the apparatus housing 21. A recording material is accommodated in the material accommodating receptacle 68.
Further, in the present embodiment, a manual feed device (MSI) 71 is provided on the side of the apparatus housing 21, and the recording material on the manual feed device 71 is supplied by the supply roll 72 to the recording material conveyance path 25. It is to be supplied towards.
Furthermore, a double-sided recording module 73 is attached to the apparatus housing 21. The double-sided recording module 73 reverses the recording material discharging device 67 when selecting the double-sided mode in which image recording is performed on both sides of the recording material, and Then, the recording material on which one-side recording is performed is taken into the inside by the guide roll 74 before the entrance, the recording material is conveyed along the internal recording material return conveyance path 76 by an appropriate number of conveyance rolls 77, and the positioning roll 63 side again. To supply.

<Developer recovery device>
In particular, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, by opening the front cover 21 a of the device housing 21, the developer collection as a powder collecting device is provided on the front side of the device housing 21. The device 100 is assembled.
In this example, as shown in FIG. 3, hinge parts 101 and 102 are installed on the left and right sides when viewed from the front on the bottom front side of the apparatus housing 21, and as shown in FIG. Is supported by the hinge parts 101 and 102, and is rotated and incorporated into the front side of the apparatus housing 21.
In the present embodiment, the developer as powder recovered by the developer recovery apparatus 100 is a two-component developer including toner and carrier, and is intended to be conveyed from the following three systems.
(1) The cleaning device 35 of each image forming unit 22 (22a to 22d) cleans the developer remaining on the photosensitive member 31, and the cleaned developer is cleaned by a transport member inside the cleaning device 35. As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the toner is discharged to the developer recovery device 100 via the transport ducts 111 to 114.
(2) The belt cleaning device 53 cleans the developer remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 230, but the cleaned developer is discharged from one end of the belt cleaning container by a conveying member inside the belt cleaning device 53, and As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the developer is recovered to the developer recovery device 100 via the transport duct 115.
(3) The developing device 34 of each image forming unit 22 (22a to 22d) has a developing roll disposed in the developing container, and the developing container is charged while stirring and mixing the developer, for example, a plurality of stirring transport members However, since the carrier of the developer remains without being consumed, there is a concern that the charging characteristics of the developer may be hindered when the carrier of the developer becomes old. For this reason, in this example, after the old developer (waste developer) is periodically discarded from the developing container to the outside, the developer is conveyed via the transport ducts 116 to 119 as shown in FIGS. It is recovered into the recovery device 100.

  In particular, in this example, the transport ducts 116 to 119 from the developing device 34 are longer than the other transport ducts 111 to 115 so as to protrude from the front side of the device housing 21. When the developer recovery apparatus 100 is assembled, as shown in FIG. 5, after the developer recovery apparatus 100 is connected to the hinge parts 101 and 102 in a state where the developer recovery apparatus 100 is tilted so as not to interfere with the transport ducts 116 to 119, the hinge parts 101 and 102 are connected. The developer recovery device 100 may be rotated so as to be in a startup posture.

-Configuration of developer recovery device-
Next, the configuration of the developer recovery apparatus 100 will be described.
In this example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the developer recovery apparatus 100 includes a recovery container 130 for recovering the three systems of developer described above.
The collection container 130 is configured such that the front case 130f and the rear case 130r are combined to secure a developer storage space therein.
Hereinafter, in order to make the internal structure of the collection container 130 easier to see, a description will be given mainly using a rear case 130r from which the front case 130f is removed as shown in FIGS.
<Recovery port>
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the collection container 130 includes a substantially rectangular box-shaped rear case 130r having an opening on the front side. Collection ports 131 to 139 that can be connected so that 119 communicates are established. The transport ducts 111 to 119 and the collection ports 131 to 139 are provided with shutters and the like as necessary.
Among these collection ports 131 to 139, the leftmost position in the drawing in the horizontal direction of the vertical wall portion of the collection container 130 is connected to the transport duct 111 corresponding to the cleaning device 35 of the black image forming unit 22a, for example. The recovery port 131 is located at the rightmost end in the drawing is a recovery port 135 connected to the transport duct 115 of the belt cleaning device 53, and the other recovery ports 132 to 134 and 136 to 139 are in the surface direction of the recovery container 130. The leftmost collection port 131 and the rightmost collection port 135 are disposed in the region.

<Developer storage room / full detection room>
In this example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the recovery container 130 includes a developer storage chamber 140 that first stores the developer (not shown) recovered from the recovery ports 131 to 139, and A full detection chamber 150 is provided adjacent to the developer storage chamber 140 and stores the developer overflowing from the developer storage chamber 140.
In this example, the full detection chamber 150 is seen at one end in the horizontal direction of the vertical wall portion of the collection container 130, and the other region is allocated as the developer storage chamber 140.
Furthermore, a plurality of partition walls 141 to 143 are provided in the developer storage chamber 140 in the horizontal direction of the vertical wall portion of the collection container 130. In this example, the height of each partition wall 141 to 143 is set gradually higher toward the full detection chamber 150.
On the other hand, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, the fullness detection chamber 150 is provided with a developer reservoir 151 made of a transparent or translucent resin having a U-shaped cross section extending in the vertical direction. For example, an optical detector 152 such as a photocoupler in which the light emitting element 153 and the light receiving element 154 are arranged to face each other is disposed at a position corresponding to the determined full detection position, and whether or not the developer has reached the full detection position. The optical detector 152 is used to detect this.
Further, for example, a cylindrical tubular body 160 is provided as a covering member above the full detection chamber 150, and a communication port 155 leading to the full detection chamber 150 is opened in a part of the tubular body 160. Yes.
The cylindrical body 160 constitutes a conveyance path for the developer G overflowing from the developer accommodating chamber 140 to be conveyed to the full detection chamber 150, and prevents the floating toner from directly entering the full detection chamber 150. Work as a member to do.
More specifically, for example, when the developer G conveyed from the belt cleaning device 53 falls from the recovery port 135, most of the developer G reaches the developer storage chamber 140, but is close to the position where the developer G is dropped from the recovery port 135. Since the full detection chamber 150 exists, there is a concern that a part of the toner of the developer G becomes a cloud and floats to the full detection chamber 140 side. However, as described above, since the communication port 155 of the full detection chamber 150 is covered with the cylindrical body 160, there is very little concern that floating substances such as toner will directly enter.

<Conveying member>
Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 and 10, the transport member 170 is provided across the developer storage chamber 140 and the full detection chamber 150, and includes a collection container 130 (specifically, Both ends of the rotating shaft 171 are rotatably supported by bearings 181 and 182 provided in advance at both ends of the rear case 130r), and particularly face the developer accommodating chamber 140 as shown in FIGS. in the region, in the region R _I other than adjacent regions R _II where full detection chamber 150, the direction to convey the developer G in the direction of arrow a with the rotation in a predetermined direction of the rotating shaft 171 around the rotating shaft 171 helical blade 172 a predetermined pitch p1, is formed at a predetermined outer diameter d1, the plate-like vanes 370 extending h radially m projecting and axially with respect to the region _{R II} in the rotary shaft 171 adjacent to the full state detection chamber 150 Provided It is.
Here, the number of the plate-like blades 370 is not limited to one and may be a plurality. Further, when a plurality of sheets are provided, a plurality of positions may be provided around the rotation shaft with the same position in the direction of the axis, or the position in the direction of the axis may be displaced.
Furthermore, the region _{R III} full detection chamber 150 is passed through the rotary shaft 171 in the cylindrical body 160, around the rotating shaft 171 to the front reaching the communication port 155 of at least full state detection chamber 150, rotating in a predetermined direction The spiral blades 173 having an outer diameter d2 within a range that fits in the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 160 are set at a predetermined pitch p2 so that the developer in the cylindrical body 160 is conveyed toward the communication port 155 as the shaft 170 rotates. On the other hand, around the rotation shaft 171 located on the back side across the communication port 155 of the cylindrical body 160, the developer in the cylindrical body 160 is communicated with the rotation of the rotation shaft in a predetermined direction. A spiral blade 174 having an outer diameter d3 within a range that fits within the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 160 is formed so as to be pushed back toward the 155 side. In addition, bearing parts 175 (for example, D cut) and 176 (for example, large diameter shaft parts) supported by bearing parts 181 and 182 are provided at both ends of the rotating shaft 171 in FIG. A driving force from a driving motor (not shown) is transmitted to the bearing portion 175.

Furthermore, in this example, the transport member 170 transports the developer along the direction from the developer storage chamber 140 to the full detection chamber 150, but it is closer to the full detection chamber 150 side than the developer transport direction. It is disposed obliquely upward so that the position becomes higher.
In this example, the inclined blades 172 of the conveying member 170 are at least at the upper ends of the partition walls 141 to 143, although they are inclined at an angle substantially corresponding to the height change of the partition walls 141 to 143 of the developer storage chamber 140. It arrange | positions above the partition walls 141-143 so that it may not interfere.

<Control device>
In this example, as shown in FIG. 10, the control device 300 is configured by a microcomputer system, and drives the conveying member 170 of the developer recovery device 100 via the drive mechanism 310, for example, a full detection chamber. Upon receiving detection signals from 150 optical detectors 152, for example, the display unit 320 displays “The collection container of the developer collection device is full.”, “Replace the old collection container with a new collection container.” To display the message.

-Operation of developer recovery device-
<Developer recovery operation>
In this example, as shown in FIG. 6, the developer G conveyed from the cleaning device 35, the belt cleaning device 53, and the developing device 34 of the image forming apparatus via the conveying ducts 111 to 119, respectively, is collected from the collection ports 131 to 139. To the recovery container 130.
At this time, in the collection container 130, the developer G conveyed to the collection ports 111 to 119 falls and is stored in the developer storage chamber 140 of the collection container 130. In this state, when the conveyance member 170 is driven and rotated, the developer that has dropped just below the collection ports 111 to 119 is stored in the developer storage chamber 140 as it is, but is stored at a certain level. Then, the stored developer G is transported to the full detection chamber 150 side while being leveled by the transport member 170.
In this example, the developer G stored in the developer storage chamber 140 is leveled every time it contacts the transport member 170 and moves toward the full detection chamber 150.
In particular, in this example, the partition walls 141 to 143 of the developer storage chamber 140 gradually increase in height along the transport direction of the transport member 170, and the transport member 170 is also obliquely upward toward the full detection chamber 150. Therefore, the conveying member 170 repeats the leveling operation and moving operation of the developer G, and gradually increases the amount of developer G stored in the developer storage chamber 140 toward the full detection chamber 150. Increasing the situation near the full detection chamber 150, the developer is accommodated in an increasing distribution inclined obliquely upward toward the full detection chamber 150 side.

Now, try to consider conveying force of each section of the conveying member 170 of the present embodiment, FIG. 11 (a), a predetermined pitch around the region R _I the rotary shaft 171, the outer diameter of the spiral blade 172 the has, for example, conveys the developer G in the conveying force F _I.
Further, in the R _II region of the developer storage chamber 140 adjacent to the full detection chamber 150, the plate-like blade 370 moves the developer G toward the rotation direction of the rotation shaft 171. The conveying force toward the direction is substantially zero. For this reason, the conveying member 170 does not actively convey the developer G to the full detection chamber 150. Therefore, in the region _RII , the plate blade 370 presses the developer in the rotation direction, so that the developer is sufficiently filled. Therefore, it becomes possible to accommodate the amount of area R _II in the developer G is increased, and thereafter reaches the level rides a developer chamber 140, the developer G is transported passes over into the full state detection chamber 150 The
In addition, the region R _III of the full detection chamber 150 has spiral blades 173 and 174 having a predetermined pitch and an outer diameter around the rotation shaft 171, for example, a conveyance force F _III (F _III > F _{I in} this example). To transport the developer G.

In this state, the operation of collecting the developer G further continues, and when the developer G in a portion adjacent to the full detection chamber 150 of the developer storage chamber 140 overflows from the developer storage chamber 140, the transport member 170 causes the cylinder to be The developer G is conveyed from the communication port 155 to the full detection chamber 150 through the state body 160.
Thereafter, when the developer G overflowing from the developer storage chamber 140 is stored in the full detection chamber 150, the optical detector 152 indicates that the developer storage chamber 140 is full as shown in FIG. Then, a predetermined message (replacement request message for the collection container 130) is displayed on the display 320, but the developer collection apparatus 100 continues the developer collection operation until a new collection container 130 is ready. .

Further, in the present embodiment, the plate-like vanes 370 in the region R _II of the developing agent storage chamber 140 is provided is not limited to this, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), a region R _{If the} conveying force F _II by the second conveying unit in the region R _II is adjusted to be lower than the conveying force F _I of the first conveying unit at _I , it may be selected as appropriate.
For example _{F I} first conveying section is characteristic by (pitch p1, spiral blade 172 of the outer diameter _{r1), F II} the second conveying section (pitch p2, the outer diameter r2, the length h spiral blade 371) It is a characteristic by.
When the spiral direction of the second transport unit is reversed, the developer G may not be transported to the full detection chamber 150.

-Developer recovery from the development device-
In this example, the developer recovery apparatus 100 is also configured to recover the developer conveyed from the developing device 34 of each image forming unit 22 (22a to 22d).
In particular, in this example, as shown in FIG. 5, the recovery ports 136 to 139 for the developer G from the developing device 34 are in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the transport member 170 compared to the other recovery ports 131 to 135. Is displaced.
For this reason, in this aspect, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the conveying member 170 is not disposed at a position substantially immediately below the collection ports 136 to 139.
Therefore, in this example, an inclined guide surface 330 is provided below the collection ports 136 to 139 so that the developer G dropped from the collection ports 136 to 139 is guided toward the conveying member 170 side. Yes. Therefore, in this example, the transport member 170 is installed at a location away from the recovery ports 136 to 139, but the developer G that has dropped from the recovery ports 136 to 139 passes through the guide surface 330 to the transport member 170. Guided to the contact area. Therefore, the developer G dropped from the recovery ports 136 to 139 is not simply stored in the developer storage chamber 140 but is guided to the position of the transport member 170 and is transported while being leveled by the transport member 170. .

Embodiment 2
As shown in FIG. 13, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a full detection chamber 150 is provided near the center of the collection container 130, and the developer storage chamber 140 is adjacent to both sides thereof. (Specifically, 140a and 140b) are provided, and the conveying members 170 (specifically 170a and 170b) are respectively provided from the respective developer storage chambers 140 (specifically 140a and 140b) to the full detection chamber 150. It is provided. A cylindrical body 160 as a covering member is provided above the full detection chamber 150.
In this example, one conveying member 170a conveys the developer G accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber 140a in the direction of arrow A, and the other conveying member 170b represents the developer G accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber 140b as an arrow. It is conveyed in the B direction.
Here, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, one conveying member 170 a has a predetermined area around the rotation shaft 171 a except for a portion adjacent to the full detection chamber 150 among portions corresponding to the developer storage chamber 140 a. In the portion adjacent to the full detection chamber 150, a spiral blade 172a having a pitch and an outer diameter size of 1 mm is provided, and in the same manner as in the first embodiment, a plate shape that protrudes m in the radial direction and extends in the axial direction with respect to the rotating shaft 171a. A blade 370a is provided, and further, a spiral blade 173 having a predetermined pitch and an outer diameter is provided around the rotation shaft 171a at a position located closer to the developing storage chamber 140a than the communication port 155 of the full detection chamber 150.
The other conveying member 170b has a spiral blade 172b having a predetermined pitch and an outer diameter around the rotation shaft 171b except for a portion adjacent to the full detection chamber 150 among the portions corresponding to the developer accommodating chamber 140ba. In addition, a plate-like blade 370b is provided in a portion adjacent to the full detection chamber 150, and a predetermined pitch is provided around the rotation shaft 171b at a position located on the developing container chamber 140b side from the communication port 155 of the full detection chamber 150. A spiral blade 173b having an outer diameter is provided.
Further, in the present embodiment, the conveying members 170a and 170b extend substantially in the horizontal direction, and the developer collection ports 136 to 139 conveyed from the developing device 34 are not used.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the developer falls from the collection ports 131 to 135 of the collection container 130 and is stored in the developer storage chambers 140a and 140b, respectively. The transport members 170a and 170b move the developer G stored in the developer storage chambers 140a and 140b to the full detection chamber 150 side while leveling the developer G.
Now, when the developer G in the developer storage chambers 140a and 140b increases and rides on the full detection chamber 150 side via the cylindrical body 160, the developer G is carried into the full detection chamber 150.
In this state, when the flow of developer G into the full detection chamber 150 increases, full detection is performed by the optical detector 152, and a predetermined message (replacement request message for the collection container 130) is displayed on the display 320. Is displayed, but the developer recovery apparatus 100 continues the recovery operation of the developer G until a new recovery container 130 is ready.

Embodiment 3
FIG. 15 shows a main part of the developer recovery apparatus according to the third embodiment.
In the figure, the basic configuration of the developer recovery apparatus 100 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, but unlike the first embodiment, an opening / closing door 200 is provided on the upper wall portion of the cylindrical body 160. Yes. Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.
In this example, the opening / closing door 200 is configured integrally with the cylindrical body 160 using a resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and is provided with respect to a bearing portion 182 serving as a damming wall located on the back side of the cylindrical body 160. The hinge portion 201 (in this example, a living hinge) that is integrally formed is rotatably supported. Further, the opening edge facing the rotation free end of the open / close door 200 has, for example, a V-shaped elastic section. A deformable receiving portion 202 is formed, and a hooking portion 203 having substantially the same cross-sectional shape as that of the receiving portion 202 is provided at the rotation free end edge of the opening / closing door 200. When the opening / closing door 200 is closed, the catching portion 203 is elastically deformed and is fitted into the receiving portion 202. When, for example, developer is pushed up from the inside of the opening / closing door 200 with a predetermined pressing force, the catching portion 203 is hooked. The part 203 is detached from the receiving part 202, and the opening / closing door 200 is opened.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the amount of developer G stored in the developer storage chamber 140 increases and the developer G overflowing from the developer storage chamber 140 is stored in the full detection chamber 150, FIG. As shown in (a), the optical detector 152 detects that the developer storage chamber 140 is full, and a predetermined message (replacement request message for the collection container 130) is displayed on the display 320. The developer recovery apparatus 100 continues the developer recovery operation until a new recovery container 130 is ready.
At this time, if the developer recovery amount suddenly increases, the developer stored in the full detection chamber 150 increases transiently, and eventually the developer G in the full detection chamber 150 overflows and becomes a cylindrical body. A situation occurs in which the current flows back into the area 160.
Then, the developer G that has flowed back into the cylindrical body 160 reaches the top of the cylindrical body 160, and as shown in FIG. 16B, the developer G in the cylindrical body 160 opens the door 200 from the inside. Push up with a predetermined pressing force. At this time, when the pressing force by the developer G exceeds a predetermined level, the hooking portion 203 at the rotation free end of the opening / closing door 200 is disengaged from the receiving portion 202 of the opening edge by a snap fitting action, and the hinge portion 201. Is opened upward as a fulcrum.
As a result, the developer G in the cylindrical body 160 overflows upward from the opening of the opening / closing door 200, and the pressing force of the developer G in the cylindrical body 160 is reduced. Therefore, the developer G is released from the packed state in the cylindrical body 160, and there is no concern that the transport member 170 is damaged even if the transport member 170 rotates.

FIG. 17A shows a modified form of the developer recovery apparatus according to the third embodiment.
In the figure, the basic configuration of the developer recovery apparatus 100 is substantially the same as that of the third embodiment, but has an opening / closing door 200 different from that of the third embodiment. Components similar to those in the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the third embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.
In this example, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the open / close door 200 is configured by, for example, a bent door member 340 at the upper part of the cylindrical body 160, and the door member 340 can be rotated by a hinge portion 341. The hinge portion 341 is wound with an urging spring 342 to urge the door member 340 in the closing direction, while the cylindrical body 160 penetrates the rotation shaft 171 of the conveying member 170 and the rotation shaft. 171 is provided with a movable wall 345 movable along the axial direction of 171. As shown by a solid line, a dotted line, and a two-dot chain line in FIG. 340 is lifted and supported against the urging direction of the urging spring 342.
According to this example, as shown in FIG. 18A, the optical detector 152 detects that the developer storage chamber 140 is full. In this state, as in the first embodiment, a new Until the recovery container 130 is ready, the developer recovery apparatus 100 continues the developer recovery operation.
At this time, if the developer recovery amount suddenly increases, the developer stored in the full detection chamber 150 increases transiently, and eventually the developer G in the full detection chamber 150 overflows and becomes a cylindrical body. A situation occurs in which the current flows back into the area 160.
Then, as shown in FIG. 18B, the developer G that has flowed back into the cylindrical body 160 presses the movable wall 345 in the cylindrical body 160, and moves toward the inner side of the cylindrical body 160. 345 is pressed. At this time, the door member 340 is opened upward against the urging direction of the urging spring 342 as the movable wall 345 moves.
As a result, the developer G in the cylindrical body 160 overflows upward from the opening of the opening / closing door 200, and the pressing force of the developer G in the cylindrical body 160 is reduced. Therefore, the developer G is released from the packed state in the cylindrical body 160, and there is no concern that the transport member 170 is damaged even if the transport member 170 rotates.

Example 1
In this example, the developer collection apparatus according to the first embodiment is embodied, and the developer storage amount in the developer storage chamber 140 is evaluated.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19A, the developer G from a belt cleaning device (not shown) falls from the recovery port 135, but the plate-like blade 370 is placed at a location corresponding to the recovery area of the developer G. In other areas, a conveying member 170 in which spiral blades are continuously formed around the rotation axis is used.
Incidentally, as Comparative Example 1, as shown in FIG. 19B, a conveying member 170 ′ in which spiral blades are continuously formed around the rotation shaft over the entire area of the developer accommodating chamber 140 is used. A spiral blade acts on the area for collecting the developer G from the outer belt cleaning device.
In this experiment, the same amount of developer is sequentially collected under the same conditions, and the amount of developer contained in the region enclosed between the partition wall 143 and the full detection chamber 150 in the developer containing chamber 140 is determined. When measured, the results shown in FIGS. 19 (a) and 19 (b) were obtained.
In this example, the target recovery amount was determined in advance and evaluated in comparison with it. As a result, the developer storage amount Ga of Example 1 was 113% of the target recovery amount, whereas the development of Comparative Example 1 was performed. The agent storage amount Gb was 70% with respect to the target recovery amount.
Thus, it can be understood that Example 1 has higher developer storage efficiency than Comparative Example 1.

Example 2
In this example, the developer collection apparatus according to the first embodiment is embodied, and the developer storage amount of the entire developer storage chamber 140 is evaluated.
In this example, the target recovery amount is determined in advance, and the usage environment conditions are (1) normal temperature and normal humidity environment (22 ° C./55% RH), (2) high temperature and high humidity environment (28 ° C./85% RH), (3) When the evaluation was carried out twice in a low temperature and low humidity environment (10 ° C./15% RH), results as shown in FIG. 20 were obtained.
Under any circumstances, it is understood that the target recovery amount is sufficiently achieved, and it is proved that the developer is stored in the developer storage chamber in a sufficiently filled state.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Recovery container, 2 (2a-2e) ... Recovery port, 3 ... Powder storage chamber, 4 ... Full detection chamber, 4a ... Detector, 5 (5a-5c) ... Partition wall, 6 ... Cover member, 7 ... Conveying member, 10 ... powder processing unit, 11 ... powder recovery device, G ... powder

Claims (8)

One or a plurality of recovery ports for recovering the powder conveyed from the powder processing unit, a powder storage chamber for initially storing the powder recovered from the recovery port, and adjacent to the powder storage chamber A collection container including a full detection chamber for detecting whether or not the powder stored in the powder storage chamber has been filled by storing powder overflowing from the powder storage chamber;
A conveying member that is provided in the recovery container and conveys the powder accommodated in the powder accommodating chamber toward the full detection chamber;
With
Of the transport member, the second transport unit located in a region adjacent to the full detection chamber in the powder storage chamber is a first transport unit located upstream in the transport direction of the transport member. A powder recovery apparatus characterized by having a lower conveying force. In the powder recovery apparatus according to claim 1,
The powder recovery apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second transport unit includes plate-like blades that protrude in the radial direction with respect to the rotation axis and extend in the axial direction. In the powder recovery apparatus according to claim 1,
The transport direction of the transport member is a predetermined direction, and the fullness detection chamber is provided at a downstream end of the transport direction of the transport member. In the powder recovery apparatus according to claim 3,
The powder recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying member is disposed obliquely upward from the powder storage chamber toward the full detection chamber. The powder recovery apparatus according to claim 4,
The powder storage chamber is partitioned by a plurality of partition walls in the transport direction of the transport member, and the partition wall closest to the full detection chamber among the partition walls is set higher than the others. A powder recovery apparatus characterized by that. In the powder recovery apparatus according to claim 1, in the aspect in which the conveying member is disposed at a position deviated from a region immediately below the at least one recovery port.
A powder recovery surface characterized in that a guide surface is provided in a region directly below the recovery port to guide the powder recovered from the recovery port so as to come into contact with the transfer member. apparatus. A powder processing unit for processing using powder;
The powder recovery apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the powder transported from the powder processing unit is recovered.
A processing apparatus comprising: The processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
The powder processing unit includes an image holding member capable of holding an electrostatic latent image, a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the image holding member with a developer as powder, and the developing device. A transfer device that transfers the visible image developed in step 1 to a recording material, and a cleaning device that cleans the developer remaining on the image carrier,
The processing apparatus, wherein the powder recovery device recovers developer as powder conveyed from at least one of the cleaning device, the transfer device, and the developing device.

Images