JP3075936U - Powder transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a powder conveying apparatus having a low overall height, a small number of parts and a simple shape. SOLUTION: A first transport mechanism 100 having a screw-shaped plate body 120 and a second transport mechanism 20 orthogonal to the first transport mechanism 100 are provided.
0, wherein the second transport mechanism 200 includes a transport shaft 1 that constitutes the first transport mechanism 100.
10, an endless belt 220 wound between a belt support 151 at a tip end, a support shaft 212, and an endless belt 220.
Are provided with plate-like holding portions 230 for holding a plurality of powder bodies provided at predetermined intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the sheet. Further, in order to transmit the rotation of the transport shaft 110 to the endless belt 220, the protrusions 152, 15
2, the endless belt 220 has openings 240, 240
.. May be formed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

 The present invention relates to a powder conveying apparatus suitable for conveying a powder such as a toner used in an electrophotographic apparatus such as a laser printer and a copying machine.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 The electrophotographic apparatus reproduces a subject as a toner image by electrostatically attaching toner on a photosensitive drum, and finally prints the image by thermally transferring the toner image on paper. The toner remaining on the photoconductor drum without being transferred onto the paper is wiped off from the photoconductor drum as waste toner, conveyed in the apparatus, and collected in the used toner chamber.

An unused toner chamber for supplying toner to the photoconductor drum is generally arranged in parallel with the photoconductor drum with substantially the same width as the photoconductor drum. Therefore, the waste toner chamber is often located on the side of the apparatus away from the photosensitive drum and the unused toner chamber, and the waste toner wiped off from the photosensitive drum firstly extends to the photosensitive drum. The photosensitive drum is conveyed in a second conveying direction that intersects at a substantially right angle at the end of the photosensitive drum, and is conveyed to the waste toner chamber on the side of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 shows such a conventional toner powder conveying device. In this device, a screw-shaped plate continuously and spirally provided on the outer periphery of a shaft body rotates while sliding in a conveying groove that is in contact with the screw body, so that powder particles accumulated at the bottom of the conveying groove are rotated. A mechanism is used in which the toner is pushed in one direction on the surface of the screw-shaped plate while being slid on the bottom of the conveying groove and the surface of the screw-shaped plate, and is conveyed. In FIG. 3, the device is shown in a state where the above-mentioned screw-shaped plate is taken out from the transport groove upward for easy understanding.

[0005] The powder conveying device includes a first conveying mechanism 10 that conveys toner in a first conveying direction indicated by an arrow (a) in the figure, and an arrow (b) in the figure. And a second transport mechanism 20 for transporting the powder toner in the second transport direction. In each of the transfer devices, screw-shaped plate members 12 and 22 are provided around the outer circumference of the transfer shafts 11 and 21, which are shaft members, and these transfer shafts 11 and 21 are rotatably supported by bearings 13 and 23, respectively. Are arranged in the transfer grooves 14 and 24 with their axial directions directed in the respective transfer directions.

The conveying grooves 14, 24 have a semicircular cross section at the bottom, and are formed so that the edges of the screw-shaped plates 12, 22 are slidably contacted. Further, the transport groove 14 is provided such that the terminal end thereof is located above the transport groove 24 and is orthogonal to each other.

The bearing 13 for receiving the transport shaft 11 is provided on a side wall 241 of the transport groove 24, and the bearing 23 for receiving the transport shaft 21 is provided on a starting wall 242 of the transport groove 24. The transport shaft 11 and the transport shaft 21 cross each other at right angles in plan view. Engagement mechanisms 16 and 26 are provided at the distal end 15 of the transport shaft 11 and the distal end 25 of the transport shaft 12, and the transport shaft 11 rotates, for example, in the direction shown by the arrow (c) in the figure. And the transport shaft 21 is engaged so as to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow (d) in the figure.

In the conventional powder conveying device shown in FIG. 3, when the first conveying shaft 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow (c) in the figure by a rotation driving mechanism (not shown), As the screw-shaped plate 12 rotates, it slides on the bottom of the transport groove 14 and is pushed in the direction of the arrow (a) in the figure (first transport direction) and transported. Since the transport groove 14 is located above the transport groove 24 at the end thereof, the toner that has been transported so far falls by gravity and reaches the bottom of the transport groove 24. The transport shaft 21 rotates in the direction of the arrow (d) in the figure in conjunction with the rotation of the transport shaft 11 by the engagement mechanisms 16 and 26, so that the toner is transferred to the surface of the screw-shaped plate 22 and As the screw-like plate 22 rotates, it is pushed in the direction of the arrow (b) in the figure and conveyed.

[0009]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

 By the way, the above-described conventional powder body transport device is configured to vertically combine the transport shafts provided around the screw-shaped plate body, so that the dimension in the height direction becomes large. If an attempt is made to reduce the size of the entire apparatus, the proportion of the powder body to the space defined by the conveying groove and the screw-shaped plate increases. In this case, the powder is likely to be clogged in the transport device due to the resistance of the powder, which makes it difficult to reduce the size. Thus, there has been a problem that a considerable amount of space is occupied in the electrophotographic apparatus. Further, the screw-shaped plate is difficult to process, so that its component cost is high. Further, although the details of the engagement mechanisms 16 and 26 were not described here, in order to interlock the rotation of the two shafts in a non-coplanar manner, a hypoid gear or a staggered gear must be used, or a plurality of bevel gears must be combined. Must. As described above, the use of the transport shaft having two screw-shaped plates has a disadvantage that the number of parts is increased, the overall shape is complicated, and the cost is increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a powder conveying apparatus that can reduce the overall height, the number of parts, and the cost by a simple shape. I do.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The invention according to claim 1 provides a first transport mechanism for transporting a powder body of an object to be transported in a first transport direction in a first transport section, and the powder transported by the first transport mechanism. And a second transport mechanism for transporting the powder in a second transport direction in a second transport section, wherein the first transport mechanism comprises: A rotatable transport shaft that extends in the first transport direction and has a belt support at the end thereof, and a screw-shaped plate that is continuously and spirally provided around the outer periphery of the transport shaft. An edge portion of the screw-shaped plate body slidably abutting on an outer periphery of the screw-shaped plate body, and a transport groove extending in the first transport direction in the first transport section; The second transport mechanism is disposed at both ends of the second transport section, and its axis is aligned with the first transport section. Two support shafts parallel to each other oriented in the transport direction, an endless belt wound around these support shafts, and a plurality of the endless belts arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt at predetermined intervals in a direction in which the endless belt extends. And a holding unit for holding the powder transported by the first transport mechanism, and one of the two support shafts is constituted by a belt support of the transport shaft. Features.

[0012] With such a configuration, in the first transport section, the powder body accumulates below the transport groove due to gravity, and when the transport shaft is rotated by the drive mechanism, the surface of the screw-shaped plate body is rotated. The sheet is pushed by the surface of the screw-shaped plate while sliding on the bottom of the transfer groove, and is transferred in the first transfer direction. The belt support at the end of the transport shaft is one of the support shafts around which the endless belt is wound. Are located at positions overlapping each other, and the powder material transported in the first transport direction is inserted between the two adjacent holding portions from the screw-shaped plate member without falling. The powder inserted between the two holding units is conveyed in the second conveyance direction while being held between the holding units by the orbiting movement of the endless belt. The second transport section is a section with both ends of the two support shafts around which the endless belt is wound, and the powder is released from the holding section when the holding section changes the transport direction by the orbital movement of the endless belt. Is done.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the powder material transporting apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the rotational movement of the transport shaft and the orbital movement of the endless belt on the endless track around the support shaft are linked. And a driving mechanism for driving the transport shaft or the endless belt.

With such a configuration, when the transport shaft is rotated by the drive mechanism, the interlocking mechanism transmits the rotation of the transport shaft to the endless belt. Alternatively, when the endless belt orbits by the drive mechanism, the interlocking mechanism transmits the orbital movement of the endless belt to the transport shaft. In this way, when the drive mechanism drives either the transport shaft or the endless belt, both drive in conjunction.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the powder conveying apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the interlocking mechanism is configured such that a peripheral length of the support shaft extends in the direction in which the endless belt extends. A plurality of openings formed at an interval of half, and two openings which are inserted into the support and inserted into the opening and are symmetrically positioned with respect to the axis of the support shaft which can be engaged with the endless belt. And a protrusion.

With this configuration, when the transport shaft rotates, the protrusion inserted into the opening of the endless belt comes into contact with the edge of the opening and pushes the edge in the rotation direction, thereby rotating the transport shaft. To the endless belt. Alternatively, when the endless belt makes orbital movement, the edge of the opening of the endless belt abuts on the protrusion and pushes it in the direction of movement, thereby transmitting the orbital movement of the endless belt to the transport shaft. Regardless of the rotation angle of the transport shaft, at least one of the two protrusions is engaged with the endless belt, and the rotational motion of the transport shaft and the orbital motion of the endless belt are always linked.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the powder conveying apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the holding portion is formed in a plate shape and its front and rear surfaces are orthogonal to the traveling direction. And a guide wall is provided in the vicinity of the first transport mechanism along a rotation locus of the tip of the holding unit.

With this configuration, the powder conveyed by the first conveying mechanism is inserted from the screw-shaped plate into the space defined by the two adjacent holding portions and the guide wall. The transfer of the powder is performed between the first and second transport mechanisms.

[0019]

[Embodiment of the invention]

 Hereinafter, a powder conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The powder conveying apparatus A shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 conveys toner, which is a powder of an object to be conveyed, in a first conveying direction in a first conveying direction indicated by an arrow (a) in the drawing. A first transport mechanism 100, and a second transport mechanism for transporting the toner transported by the first transport mechanism in a second transport direction indicated by an arrow (b) in the figure between the second transport sections. 200.

The first transport mechanism 100 includes a rotatable transport shaft 110 that extends in a first transport section in a first transport direction and has a belt support 151 at a leading end 150 thereof. The screw-shaped plate 120 continuously and spirally provided around the outer periphery of the transfer shaft 110 and the edge of the screw-shaped plate 120 are slidably contacted with each other so that the first transfer section is moved to the first transfer section. And a transport groove 140 extending in the opposite direction.

The second transport mechanism 200 is disposed at both ends of the second transport section, and has two support shafts 211 and 212 whose axes are parallel to each other in the first transport direction. An endless belt 220 wound around the support shafts 211 and 212, and a plurality of endless belts are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt 220 at predetermined intervals in a direction in which the endless belt 220 extends, and are transported by the first transport mechanism 100. Are provided for holding the toner. Here, one of the two support shafts 211 and 212 is constituted by the belt support 151 of the transport shaft 110. That is, the endless belt 220 is wound around the belt support 151 of the transport shaft 110 and the support shaft 212. When assembling the endless belt 220 to the belt support portion 151 and the support shaft 212, the length of the endless belt 220 is set so that the circumferential distance of the endless belt 220 is increased by, for example, 2 to 6%. preferable. Here, as the material of the endless belt 220, rubber such as EPDM, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), or the like is preferable.

The holding units 230, 230... Are formed in a rectangular plate shape, and are disposed so that the front and back surfaces thereof are orthogonal to the traveling direction. A guide wall 250 is provided along the rotation trajectory of the tip, that is, a guide wall 250 having an arc-shaped cross section. The guide wall 250 is formed so as to be continuous with the transport groove 140.

The endless belt 220 has a plurality of openings 240, 240... Formed in the direction in which the endless belt 220 extends at intervals of half the circumference of the support shaft 211. The belt support 151 has protrusions 152, 152 inserted into the openings 240, 240, and engageable with the endless belt 220 at positions symmetrical with respect to the axis.

A drive mechanism (not shown) such as a motor for rotating the transport shaft 110 around the axis is provided at the distal end 150 of the transport shaft 110.

In the powder conveying apparatus A shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the first conveying section, the toner accumulates below the conveying groove 140 due to gravity, and the driving shaft moves the conveying shaft 110 by an arrow (C) in the drawing. ) Is pushed on the surface of the screw-shaped plate body 120 while sliding on the surface of the screw-shaped plate body 120 and the bottom of the conveying groove 140 to rotate in the direction of the arrow (a) in the figure (first direction). Transport direction).

Since the endless belt 220 is wound around the belt support 151 of the distal end 150 of the transport shaft 110, the outer peripheral surface of the belt support 151 is viewed from the side, that is, in the axial direction of the transport shaft 110. , And the toner holding portions 230 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt 220 are located at positions overlapping each other. Therefore, the toner transported in the first transport direction is pushed by the screw-shaped plate body 120 into the space R defined by the rectangular plate-shaped holding portions 230 and 230 and the guide wall 250 that are adjacent to each other.

When the transport shaft 110 rotates in the direction of the arrow (C) in the figure, the protrusion 152 inserted into the opening 240 of the endless belt 220 abuts against the edge of the opening 240 and pushes it in the rotating direction. Then, the rotation of the transport shaft 110 is transmitted to the endless belt 220. In this way, the outer peripheral surface 221 on the upper surface side of the endless belt 220 moves in the direction of the arrow (b) in the drawing (second transport direction).

When the transport shaft 110 rotates in the direction of the arrow (c) in the figure, the toner is scooped up from the guide wall 250 by the rectangular plate-like holding unit 230, and slides down the surface of the holding unit 230 with the rotation, and the endless belt 220 is mounted on the outer peripheral surface 221 on the upper surface side. The toner placed on the outer peripheral surface 221 in this manner is conveyed in the direction of the arrow (b) in the drawing (second conveying direction) by the orbital movement of the endless belt 220, and is the terminal end of the second conveying section. When the outer peripheral surface changes the direction of movement by the support shaft 212, it is separated from the outer peripheral surface by gravity and is sent to a waste toner chamber (not shown).

According to the powder conveying apparatus A shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, since the first conveying mechanism 100 and the second conveying mechanism 200 are provided at the same height, the height of the entire apparatus is kept low. Can be In addition, the shape of the endless belt 220 is simpler than that of the screw shape, and inexpensive synthetic resin, rubber-based material, etc. can be used as the material. It is possible to lower. In addition, there is no need for an engagement mechanism using gears other than the protrusions 152, 152 provided on the support 151 at the tip of the transport shaft 110 and the plurality of openings 240, 240,. A simple configuration can be achieved with the number of parts, and the overall cost can be further reduced. Further, in the space defined by the guide wall 250 and the rectangular plate-shaped holding portions 230, 230, toner can be transferred between the first transport mechanism 100 and the second transport mechanism 200, There is no need to consider the complicated shape of the holding section. Therefore, the configuration of the device is simplified.

In the above-described embodiment, the transport shaft 110 is driven to rotate, and the rotation is linked to the endless belt 220. On the contrary, the endless belt 220 is driven to rotate. Alternatively, the rotation may be linked to the transport shaft 110 side. Further, as a mechanism for transmitting rotation between the transport shaft 110 and the endless belt 220, the endless belt 220 is provided with a plurality of openings 240, 240..., And the transport shaft 110 is provided with protrusions 152, 152. Other configurations are also possible. For example, the shape of the protruding portion 152 may be not a pin shape but, for example, a truncated cone shape or another shape. In addition, the opening 240 may be a concave portion that matches the shape of the protruding portion. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the toner is described as an example of the powder, but the present invention can be applied to an object other than the toner as long as the powder is transported. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the electrophotographic apparatus alone.

[0032]

[Effect of the invention]

 The present invention has the following effects. As described above, according to the powder transport device of the first aspect, the first transport mechanism and the second transport mechanism are provided at the same height. The height of the entire apparatus can be reduced as compared with a case where the powder body is dropped from the first transport mechanism to the second transport mechanism by gravity by combining the transport mechanism up and down. In addition, the shape of the endless belt is simpler than that of the screw shape, and it is possible to use inexpensive synthetic resin or rubber-based material as the material. It is possible.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the interlocking mechanism interlocks the rotating motion of the transport shaft and the revolving motion of the endless belt, the drive mechanism for driving either the transport shaft or the endless belt is provided. It can be provided, and the overall cost can be reduced.

[0034] According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is no need for any gear engaging mechanism other than the protrusion provided on the support at the tip of the transfer shaft and the plurality of openings provided on the endless belt. In addition, the configuration can be simplified with a small number of parts, and the overall cost can be reduced.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the powder is transferred between the first and second transport mechanisms in the space defined by the guide wall and the plate-shaped holding unit. It is not necessary to consider the complicated shape of the holding part. Therefore, the configuration of the device is simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view showing an example of a powder conveying apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing main components of the powder conveying apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing main components of a conventional powder body transporting apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: powder transport device 100: first transport mechanism 110: transport shaft 120: screw-shaped plate 140: transport groove 151: support portion 152: projecting portion 200 ... second transport mechanism 211 ... support shaft 212 ... support shaft 220 ... endless belt 230 ... holding unit 240 ... opening 250 ... guide wall

Claims (4)

[Utility model registration claims] 1. A first transport mechanism for transporting a powder body of an object to be transported in a first transport direction in a first transport section, and a second transport mechanism configured to transport the powder body transported by the first transport mechanism to a second transport mechanism. And a second transport mechanism for transporting the powder in a second transport direction in the transport section, wherein the first transport mechanism is provided in the first transport section in the first transport direction. , A rotatable transport shaft having a belt support at its tip, a screw-like plate continuously and spirally provided around the outer periphery of the transport shaft, and the screw-like plate An edge of the screw-shaped plate body slidably abutting on the outer periphery of the first transport section, and a transport groove extending in the first transport direction in the first transport section; and the second transport mechanism Are disposed at both ends of the second transport section, and their axes are oriented in the first transport direction. Two support shafts parallel to each other, an endless belt wound around these support shafts, and a plurality of the endless belts are provided on an outer peripheral surface of the endless belt at predetermined intervals in a direction in which the endless belt extends. And a holding unit for holding the powder transported by the first transport mechanism, and wherein one of the two support shafts is constituted by a belt support of the transport shaft. apparatus. 2. The powder conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking mechanism interlocks a rotating motion of the conveying shaft with a circular motion of the endless belt on the endless track around the support shaft, and the conveying device. And a drive mechanism for driving a shaft or the endless belt. 3. The powder conveying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the interlocking mechanism is formed on the endless belt at an interval of a half of the circumference of the support shaft in a direction in which the endless belt extends. A plurality of openings, and two projections which are inserted into the opening in the support and are symmetrically positioned with respect to the axis of the support shaft which can be engaged with the endless belt. Characteristic powder material transfer device. 4. The powder conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion is formed in a plate shape, and is arranged so that front and back surfaces thereof are orthogonal to a traveling direction. A powder conveying device, wherein a guide wall is provided in the vicinity of the first conveying mechanism along a rotation locus of a tip of the holding unit.