JP3379660B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.
More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile, which forms an image on a recording sheet by using a toner by an electrophotographic method, and in particular, a toner residual amount is surely maintained without increasing the size of a developing device. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of detecting an amount.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The applicant of the present invention has developed a developing device for supplying toner to the surface of a photoconductor to develop a latent image on the surface of the photoconductor to form a toner image, and a toner image formed by the developing device on a sheet. Was arranged in a closed loop between the cleaning device for removing and collecting the residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoconductor after the transfer, and was not provided for development in the developing device. A toner conveying device that conveys a part of the excess toner to the cleaning device, the residual toner collected by the cleaning device to the developing device, and a toner replenishing device that replenishes the toner to the toner conveying path of the toner conveying device. An image forming apparatus equipped with it was developed.

A description will be given with reference to FIG. 7, which is an explanatory view of an embodiment of the invention of the present application, which will be described later. In FIG.
00 is a cleaning device, 500 is a toner conveying device, R
Is a toner conveying path, and 600 is a toner replenishing means.

In such an image forming apparatus, the toner conveying device is entrusted to the toner conveying device and the toner conveying path R is replenished with the toner, thereby reducing the size of the developing device and the entire image forming device. This has the advantage that it can be achieved and the degree of freedom in layout is greatly improved.

On the other hand, in an image forming apparatus which forms an image on a recording sheet by using toner by an electrophotographic method, recording cannot be performed when the developing device runs out of toner, and therefore the remaining amount of toner is detected. It is necessary to provide a toner remaining amount detecting means.

[0006]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus, normally,
The toner remaining amount detecting means is provided for the developing device.

[0007]

When the toner remaining amount detecting means is provided in the developing device as in the conventional image forming apparatus described above, there is a problem that the developing device becomes large in size.

Therefore, it is not desirable to use such a conventional technique in the image forming apparatus developed by the applicant of the present application in order to reduce the size of the developing device as described above.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide an image forming apparatus developed by the applicant of the present invention.
An object of the present invention is to reliably detect the remaining amount of toner without increasing the size of the developing device.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention supplies toner to the surface of a photoconductor and develops a latent image on the surface of the photoconductor to form a toner image. Between the developing device, a cleaning device that removes and collects the residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoconductor after the toner image formed by the developing device is transferred to the paper, and between the developing device and the cleaning device. A toner conveying device that is arranged in a closed loop and that conveys a part of the excess toner that has not been used for development in the developing device to the cleaning device and conveys the residual toner collected by the cleaning device to the developing device, and this toner. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a toner replenishing device that replenishes toner to a toner conveying path of a conveying device, wherein the toner is recirculated in the toner conveying path of the toner conveying device. A moving toner carrying means, a transparent detecting window provided in the toner carrying path and having a projecting surface projecting toward the toner carrying means, and an optical sensor provided in the detecting window. The optical sensor comprises a reflective optical sensor.
In addition, the toner transfer means of the detection window is
Elastic reflectors are provided at the opposite positions, and
Is attached so that the toner transport means faces the detection window.
It is characterized by being active . Image formation according to claim 2.
The device supplies toner to the photoreceptor surface and
A developing device for developing an image to form a toner image, and the developing device
After transferring the toner image formed by the device to the paper,
Remove and collect the residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoconductor
Cleaning device, developing device and cleaning
It is arranged in a closed loop between the developing device and the developing device.
Part of the excess toner that was not used for development.
To the cleaning device, the residue collected by the cleaning device
A toner conveying device for conveying the residual toner to the developing device,
Toner is replenished to the toner transport path of this toner transport device.
And an image forming apparatus including
A bullet that circulates in the toner transport path of the toner transport device.
And a toner conveying means having a property of
Vignetting, collision projecting toward the conveying means
A transparent detection window with an exit surface and the detection window
An optical sensor, and the toner transport path is the toner
-Has a side wall surface that slides on and guides the transportation means.
Located on the side wall surface at least near the detection window.
Surface forms an acute angle with the protruding surface of the detection window.
It is characterized by the fact that it is inclined.

An image forming apparatus according to a third aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect.
Alternatively, in the image forming apparatus of item 2 , the optical sensor is provided on the downstream side of the developing device and on the upstream side of the cleaning device.

[0012]

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first, second or third aspect, the toner conveying means is composed of a coil spring, and the toner on the protruding surface of the detection window is formed. The length in the carrying direction is equal to or less than 2 pitches of the coil spring.

An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect.
The image forming apparatus of the serial mounting said toner transporting path has a side wall surface for guiding it in contact the conveying means in sliding, at least the face positioned closer to the detection window of the side wall surface, wherein It is characterized in that it is inclined so as to form an acute angle with the protruding surface of the detection window.

An image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth aspect, in which at least the protruding surface of the detection window is rubbed against the charging polarity of the toner. It is characterized in that it is made of a material located on the same polarity side on the charging column.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect.
In the image forming apparatus described in 1, 3 , 4 , 5 or 6,
The contact surface of the reflection plate with the toner is made of a material positioned on the same polarity side on the triboelectric charging column with respect to the charging polarity of the toner.

An image forming apparatus according to an eighth aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh aspect, in which at least one of the toner conveying means, the detection window, and the reflecting plate is used. One is electrically floating.

[0018]

According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the developing device supplies toner to the surface of the photoconductor, and the toner develops the latent image on the surface of the photoconductor to form a toner image. The residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoconductor after the toner image is transferred to the paper is removed and collected by the cleaning device.

Between the developing device and the cleaning device,
The toner transport device is arranged in a closed loop, and the toner transport device transports a part of the excess toner that has not been used for development in the developing device to the cleaning device and the residual toner collected by the cleaning device to the developing device. In addition, since a new toner is replenished to the toner conveyance path of the toner conveyance device by the toner replenishing means, a predetermined amount of toner normally circulates in the developing device, the cleaning device, and the toner conveyance path. ing. Therefore, when the toner is consumed in the developing device, the consumed toner is normally replenished to the developing device through the toner transport path.

However, when new toner is not replenished from the toner replenishing means, the amount of toner in the toner conveying path gradually decreases, and first, the amount of toner in the toner conveying path decreases remarkably as compared with the normal case, and It becomes empty.

That is, according to such an image forming apparatus, when new toner is not replenished from the toner replenishing means, first, the toner in the toner conveying path is exhausted before the toner in the developing device is exhausted. Become.

According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, since the transparent detection window and the optical sensor are provided in the toner conveying path, the developing apparatus is prevented from increasing in size and the optical type. The remaining amount of toner can be detected by the sensor.

The toner carrying device is provided with elastic toner carrying means for circulatingly moving in the toner carrying path, and the detection window has a projecting surface projecting toward the toner carrying means. Since it has, the protruding surface is surely brought into sliding contact with the toner conveying means by the restoring force due to the elasticity of the toner conveying means itself.
Since the toner adhering to the protruding surface is wiped off by this sliding contact action, the light that should pass through the detection window is not blocked by the toner, and the presence or absence of toner in the toner transport path can be reliably detected. Becomes

That is, according to this image forming apparatus, since the toner conveying means constitutes the wiping means of the detection window,
The detection window can be wiped without providing any special wiping means, and a reliable detection operation can be obtained.

Further, since the detection by the optical sensor can suppress the fluctuation of the output signal with respect to the environmental noise generated from the mechanism around the sensor such as the vibration accompanying the driving of the apparatus and the fluctuation of the temperature and humidity, Even in continuous image formation for a long time or image formation in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment or a low-temperature and low-humidity environment, malfunction does not easily occur, and reliability can be improved. Further, according to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect,
If so, the optical sensor is a reflective optical sensor.
In addition, the toner conveying means of the detection window
A reflecting plate having elasticity is provided at the opposing position sandwiching,
This reflecting plate directs the toner conveying means toward the detection window.
Since it is biased, it requires a biasing means other than the reflector.
Without this, the wiping action can be made more reliable.
Moreover, the reflection plate urges the toner conveying means.
As a result, the toner adhering to the reflector is also wiped off.
Become. Therefore, the presence or absence of toner in the toner transport path
More reliable detection.

It should be noted that the meaning of "detecting the remaining amount of toner" does not mean detecting the quantitative remaining amount of toner, for example, how many grams of the remaining amount of toner, but the toner in the image forming apparatus is normally developed. It means to detect that there is less than what should be in the device.

As described above, according to such an image forming apparatus, when the new toner from the toner replenishing means is not replenished, the toner in the toner conveying path is first removed before the toner in the developing device is used up. Lost. Moreover, in the toner transport path, first, the toner starts to be exhausted from the portion located on the downstream side of the developing device. This is because when the toner is consumed, the surplus toner conveyed from the developing device is first exhausted.

According to the image forming apparatus of claim 2,
The image device supplies toner to the surface of the photoconductor,
Toner develops the latent image on the surface of the photoconductor to form a toner image.
Is made. After the toner image is transferred to the paper, the surface of the photoconductor
The residual toner adhering to the
Removed and recovered. Developing device and cleaning device
The toner transport device is arranged in a closed loop between
With this toner transport device,
A part of the excess toner that was not supplied to the image was cleaned.
The residual toner collected by the cleaning device is developed.
The toner is conveyed to the device and
Toner is replenished with new toner by the toner replenishing means.
Therefore, the developing device, the cleaning device, and
A certain amount of toner normally circulates in the toner transport path.
There is. Therefore, the toner is consumed in the developing device.
Then, the consumed toner is normally transferred to the toner transport path.
It will be replenished to the developing device. But Naga
The new toner from the toner replenishing means
Then, the toner in the toner transport path gradually decreases,
First, the toner in the toner transport path is
Markedly reduced to almost empty. That is,
According to such an image forming apparatus,
When new toner in the
Before the toner runs out, first, the toner in the toner transport path
It will disappear. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.
Said a transparent detection window and optical sensor
Since it is provided for the transport path, the size of the developing device is large.
The amount of toner remaining by the optical sensor
Can be detected. And the toner transport device
Is the elastic toner that circulates in the toner transport path.
The toner transfer means and the detection window
Has a projecting surface projecting toward the toner transporting means.
Therefore, this protruding surface is
Due to the restoring force of the
The Rukoto. Adhered to the protruding surface by this sliding contact action
Since the toner will be wiped off, do not pass through the detection window.
The toner is not blocked by the toner,
The presence or absence of the corner can be reliably detected. Sanawa
According to this image forming apparatus, the toner conveying means detects
Since it constitutes the window wiping means, other special wiping means
The detection window can be wiped without installing
The detection operation can be obtained. In addition, the optical sensor
Detection of vibrations and fluctuations in temperature and humidity due to the drive of the device.
However, for environmental noise emitted from the mechanism around the sensor
The output signal fluctuation can be suppressed for a long time.
Continuous image formation, high temperature and high humidity environment or low
Malfunctions also occur during image formation in a low temperature / humidity environment.
It is difficult and reliable. Further, according to claim 2,
According to the image forming apparatus, the toner transport path is
-Has a side wall surface that slides on and guides the transportation means.
Located on the side wall surface at least near the detection window.
Surface forms an acute angle with the protruding surface of the detection window.
Since it is inclined like this,
At the abutting part of the
Force component is generated. Therefore, the toner conveying means
A more reliable sliding contact with the protruding surface ensures a better
Knowledge results will be obtained. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect , the detecting unit is provided on the downstream side of the developing device and on the upstream side of the cleaning device. Therefore, the remaining amount of toner can be detected more reliably and quickly.

[0029]

[0030]

[0031]

According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect, in the image forming apparatus of the first, second or third aspect, since the toner conveying means is composed of a coil spring, a good restoring force can be obtained. Thus, a more reliable sliding contact operation with the protruding surface of the detection window can be obtained.

Moreover, since the length of the protruding surface in the toner conveying direction is equal to or less than 2 pitches of the coil spring, a more reliable sliding contact operation can be obtained.

If the length of the projecting surface in the toner transport direction is more than 2 pitches of the coil spring, the coil spring will float from the projecting surface due to some bending or tolerance of the coil spring, so that the sliding contact is not always sure. May not be obtained.

On the other hand, according to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect, the length of the protruding surface in the toner conveying direction is less than 2 pitches of the coil spring.
Even if the coil spring has some bending or tolerance,
The coil spring does not float from the protruding surface,
A reliable sliding contact state can be obtained.

According to the image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 Symbol placement, the toner conveying path has a side wall surface for guiding it in contact said conveying means and sliding Since the surface of the side wall surface located at least near the detection window is inclined so as to form an acute angle with the projecting surface of the detection window, the contact between the inclined surface and the toner conveying means. In the section, a component force for urging the toner conveying means in the protruding surface direction is generated.

Therefore, the toner conveying means comes into more reliable sliding contact with the projecting surface, and a better detection result can be obtained.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth aspect, at least the protruding surface of the detection window has a polarity relative to the charging polarity of the toner. Since it is made of a material located on the same polarity side on the triboelectric charging line, it becomes difficult for the toner existing in the toner transport path to electrostatically adhere to the protruding surface of the detection window. Therefore, the light that should pass through the detection window is less likely to be blocked by the toner, and the presence or absence of toner in the toner transport path can be reliably detected. Further, since the wiping action is facilitated, the presence / absence of toner in the toner transport path can be detected more reliably.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect.
In the image forming apparatus described in 1, 3 , 4 , 5 or 6,
Since the contact surface of the reflection plate with the toner is made of a material positioned on the same polarity side in the triboelectric charging column with respect to the charging polarity of the toner, the toner present in the toner conveying path is against the reflection plate. It becomes difficult to adhere electrostatically. Therefore, the light to be reflected by the reflection plate is less likely to be blocked by the toner, and the wiping action is facilitated, so that the presence / absence of toner in the toner transport path can be detected more reliably.

According to the image forming apparatus of the eighth aspect, in the image forming apparatus of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh aspect, among the toner conveying means, the detection window and the reflecting plate. Since at least one is electrically floating,
The following effects are obtained.

That is, the toner carried by the toner carrying means is frictionally charged by sliding contact with the toner carrying means and the inner wall of the toner carrying path. Therefore, for example, if the toner conveying means and the reflection plate are grounded, an electric charge opposite to that of the toner is supplied to them, and a strong suction force is generated between them and it becomes difficult to wipe them.

On the other hand, according to the image forming apparatus of the eighth aspect, at least one of the toner conveying means, the detection window, and the reflection plate is electrically floated.
Toner is prevented from being electrostatically attached to the reflection plate, and the wiping action is facilitated.

Therefore, the presence / absence of the toner in the toner conveying path can be surely detected.

[0044]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a printer using an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view, FIG. 3 is a plan view, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view.

In these drawings, reference numeral 100 denotes a printer main body, and a case 101 has a paper feed roller 10 inside.
2, an optical unit 110, an image forming unit 200, a fixing unit 120, and a paper discharge roller 103 are provided. Note that the image forming unit 200 is schematically (schematically) drawn in FIG. 1.

A toner tank 600 serves as a toner replenishing means for replenishing the image forming unit 200 with toner.
The image forming apparatus includes an optical unit 110, an image forming unit 200, and a toner tank 600.

When the toner tank 600 is attached to the main body 100, the upper portion of the toner tank 600 is exposed to the outside of the case 101 of the main body 100. In FIG. 3, P2 indicates a recording sheet that is being discharged onto the discharge tray 108, and in FIG. 2, P3 indicates a recording sheet that is discharged onto the discharge tray 108. As is apparent from these figures, the exposed portion 600A of the toner tank 600 is exposed outside the case 101 outside the movement path of the recording paper.

Hereinafter, the main body 100 and the image forming unit 20
0, the toner tank 600 will be described in detail.

First, the overall structure of the main body 100 will be described.

At the back of the case 101, the paper feed tray 10 is provided.
4 is rotatably provided. The paper feed tray 104 is
Base part 1 rotatably supported on the back of case 101
04a and a tray 104b slidably attached to the base portion 104a. When not in use, the tray 104b is stored in the base portion 104a as shown by a broken line in FIG. It is folded so as to be in close contact with the back of the case, and when used, it is opened for use as shown by the solid line.

The recording paper P set in the paper feed tray 104
Are fed one by one by the paper feed roller 102.

The fed recording paper is fed by a paper feed path A formed by the paper guide 105 and the lower surface of the image forming unit 200.
1 and reaches between the photosensitive drum 201 and the transfer roller 106 where a toner image is formed as described later. Here, the recording paper onto which the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 201 passes through the path A2 and the fixing roller 1 of the fixing unit 120.
The toner image is fixed by passing between the pressure roller 122 and the pressure roller 122, and passes through the upwardly curved discharge path A3 and is discharged by the discharge roller 103 from the discharge port 107 to the discharge tray 10.
8 is discharged.

Reference numeral 109 is a cover in which the paper discharge path A3 is formed, and the shafts 109a, 10
It can be opened and closed by 9a. The paper discharge port 107
Is formed on the upper surface of the cover 109, and
The fixing unit 120 is attached to the cover 109. The cover 109 is opened to the front side when a paper jam or maintenance is performed.

Next, the image forming unit 200 will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the image forming unit 200 includes a photosensitive drum 201 which is a photosensitive member, a charging roller 202, a developing device 300, a cleaning device 400, a toner conveying device 500, and a detecting device. By assembling the means 700 and the case 210, the means 700 is configured as a single unit.

The photosensitive drum 201 is constructed by forming a photosensitive layer made of an organic photosensitive body on a conductive base made of an aluminum drum, and is rotatably supported by the case 210.
It is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow a by a drive mechanism (not shown).

The charging roller 202 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 201 by a pressing mechanism (not shown), and charges the photosensitive drum 201 while following the photosensitive drum 201. A bias voltage is applied to the charging roller 202.

The charged photosensitive drum 201 has a laser beam L emitted from the optical unit 110 shown in FIG.
B is scanned, and thereby a latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 201.

The case 210 is composed of a lower case 220 and an upper case 230, and a slit 231 for beam scanning is formed in the upper case 230.

The developing device 300 includes a toner storage chamber 301 formed in the longitudinal direction by the lower case 220,
A supply roller 310 rotatably provided in the toner storage chamber 301, a developing roller 320 rotatably provided in the toner storage chamber 301, and a regulation blade 330 that is in contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller 320. . The supply roller 310 and the developing roller 320 are the photosensitive drum 201.
6 are respectively driven to rotate in the directions of the arrows in FIG. The regulation blade 330 is made of an elastic body such as a stainless steel plate, and is attached to the upper case 230 by the attachment member 331.

The supply roller 310 is the toner storage chamber 301.
The toner stored therein is rotated while being stirred to coat the surface of the developing roller 320 with the toner. The toner coated on the surface of the developing roller 320 is brought into sliding contact with the regulation blade 330 to be thinned and frictionally charged. A bias voltage is applied to the developing roller 320, the thinned toner is conveyed to the photosensitive drum 201, and the photosensitive drum 201 is formed at a nip portion formed by a pressure contact portion between the developing roller 320 and the photosensitive drum 201. The latent image is reversely developed. As a result, the latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 201 is developed and a toner image is formed.

The toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 201 is the same as that of the transfer roller 106 (see FIG. 4) to which the bias voltage having the opposite polarity to the toner image is applied.
It is transferred to the recording paper P which is sandwiched by and conveyed.

The cleaning device 400 has a cleaning blade 410. Cleaning blade 4
10 is attached to the upper case 230 by the attachment member 420. Lower edge 41 of cleaning blade 410
Reference numeral 1 denotes a peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 201, and directs the residual toner adhering to the surface of the photosensitive drum 201 after the toner image is transferred to the recording paper to the toner collecting unit 560 of the toner conveying device 500. It is supposed to be scraped off.

Incidentally, the photosensitive drum 201 is cleaned by scraping off the residual toner, and thereafter, the above-mentioned image forming process is carried out again.

The toner conveying device 500 is the developing device 300.
And a cleaning device 400, which are arranged in a closed loop and serve as a toner conveying unit.
0, a drive gear 520 that engages with the coil spring 510 to circulate and drive the coil spring 510, and a coil spring 510.
A substantially groove-shaped guide portion 530 that slidably contacts with and guides
(See FIG. 8).

The coil spring 510 has an endless shape, and is provided inside the cleaning device 400 and the developing device 3.
It is arranged to be able to circulate between the inside of 00.

The drive gear 520 is driven by a drive mechanism (not shown) interlocking with the drive mechanism of the photosensitive drum 201 to circulate and drive the coil spring 510 in the direction of arrow b.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing the entire image forming unit 200.

As is clear from this figure, the guide portion 53
0 is a shape that guides the coil spring 510, which has an annular shape in a state of being left in a natural state, by correcting the coil spring 510 into an almost elliptical shape in a plan view, and two corner portions C1 formed in an approximately 1/4 arc shape. C2, a corner portion C3 formed in a semi-circular shape, and substantially linear portions L1 and L2 connecting these corner portions.

One straight line portion L1 of the two straight line portions L1 and L2 is in the developing device 300 as shown in FIG.
The other linear portion L2 is inside the cleaning device 400.
Then, with respect to one linear portion L1, a guide portion is configured by the standing wall 221 of the lower case 220, and regarding the other linear portion L2, a concave groove 222 formed on the upper surface of the lower case 220.
It constitutes the guide part. Regarding the straight portion L1 in the developing device 300, the standing wall 221 is configured to guide only the outside of the coil spring 510, and as a result, the lower part of the coil spring 510 is opened to the developing device 300. An open part 531 is formed.

That is, in the developing device 300, the coil spring 510 is guided only by the upright wall 221 on the outer side thereof, and the toner can be discharged to the developing device 300. On the other hand, the cleaning device 4
In the toner collecting section 560 in 00, the upper part thereof is open toward the cleaning blade 410 so that the toner scraped by the cleaning blade 410 can be received and collected.

The image forming unit 200 as described above operates as follows.

As described above, the developing device 300 supplies toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 201, and the toner develops the latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 201 to form a toner image. After the toner image is transferred to the recording paper P, the residual toner adhering to the surface of the photosensitive drum 201 is the cleaning blade 410 of the cleaning device 400.
And is recovered by the recovery unit 560 in the cleaning device 400.

Cleaning device 400 and developing device 300
An endless coil spring 510 is disposed between the cleaning gear and the developing device so as to circulate between the cleaning gear and the developing device.
Since it is driven to circulate by 0, a part of the excess toner that has not been used for development in the toner storage chamber 301 of the developing device 300 is conveyed to the cleaning device 400 by the coil spring 510 and is collected in the cleaning device 400. The residual toner is transported to the developing device 300 while being agitated and mixed with the excess toner transported by the coil spring 510.

When the toner in the toner storage chamber 301 is consumed and the level surface thereof is lowered, the toner conveyed to the developing device 300 is discharged toward the toner storage chamber 301 by its own weight.

By repeating the above operation, the toner in the image forming unit 200 is gradually consumed, but the consumed toner is in the toner tank 6.
It is replenished from 00 at any time.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 14, the toner tank mounting hole 101 is provided on the upper surface of the case 101 of the printer body.
a is provided, and the toner tank 600 is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the upper case 230 of the image forming unit 200 through the mounting hole 101a. Mounting hole 1
A guide groove 10 for guiding a convex portion 616 (see FIG. 9) provided on the toner tank described later is provided on the inner wall surface of the groove 01a.
1b is provided.

Next, the structure of the toner tank 600 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

The toner tank 600 includes a transparent tank case 610 filled with toner and the tank case 61.
Agitator 620 rotatably provided in the inside of the tank 0, and shutter portion 630 provided at the bottom of the tank case 610.
And a lid 640.

The bottom 611 of the tank case 610 is provided with a shaft hole 612, a toner supply port 613, and a pin 614. Further, the outer peripheral surface 615 is provided with a pair of convex portions 616 that engages and disengages with a pair of dovetail grooves (L-shaped grooves) 242 and 242 provided in a concave portion 240 (see FIG. 12) of the upper case 230 described later. ing.

The agitator 620 is integrally formed with the shaft portion 621 and the shaft portion 621, and is formed with a scooping blade 622 for scooping up the toner in the tank case, and also with the scooping blade 622 integrally with the tank case. And a stirring blade 623 for stirring the toner inside.
1 is rotatably attached to a bearing hole 612 at the bottom of the tank case via a seal ring (not shown). When the toner tank 600 is attached to the upper case 230 of the image forming unit as described later,
A groove 625 that engages with the shaft 521 of the drive gear 520 is formed. The stirring blade 623 may be integrally provided with a wiper-shaped cleaning member 626 made of rubber or the like for cleaning the inner wall surface of the tank case 610, as indicated by an imaginary line.

The shutter section 630 includes a sealing member 631 made of an elastic material such as sponge, and a disk-shaped shutter 63.
2 and a guide member 633.

The sealing member 631 has a fan shape and is adapted to be fitted in a recess 611a of the same shape provided in the tank case bottom portion 611. In the fitted state, it coincides with the shaft hole 612 in the tank case bottom portion. Shaft hole 631a
And a toner supply port 631b matching the toner supply port 613 at the bottom of the tank case.

In the shutter 632, a shaft hole 632a that matches the shaft hole 612 of the tank case bottom 611, a toner supply port 632b that can match the toner supply port 613, and a pin 614 on the bottom of the tank case are inserted in an arc shape. Slot 632c and the upper case 23 of the image forming unit described later.
An engaging hole 632d that engages with the pin 244 provided at 0 is provided.

The guide member 633 has a ring shape as a whole, and the step portion 6 provided on the tank case bottom portion 611.
It is attached to 11b. In the mounted state, the four square holes 633e are the four engaging claws 611e formed in the step portion.
It is fixed to the bottom portion of the tank case by engaging with the bottom edge portion 633f, and the peripheral edge portion 632f of the shutter 632 is slidably supported by the inner surface (top surface) of the bottom edge portion 633f. In addition, the guide member 633 has an arc-shaped tongue piece 6 having elasticity.
33g is integrally provided, and a projection 633c that is loosely fitted from the back side (upper surface side in FIG. 10) of the engagement hole 632d of the shutter 632 to the tip end portion of the tongue piece 633g is provided (FIG. 13). The shutter 632 is provided with a tongue piece 63 from the upper surface side of the guide member 633.
It is attached to the guide member 633 so as to pass through 3 g below. The engagement of the projection 633c with the engagement hole 632d prevents the shutter 632 from rotating carelessly, and the toner supply port 632b is aligned with the toner supply port 613 at the bottom of the tank case 610.
The toner inside is prevented from leaking out.

In the toner tank 600 as described above, when the above parts are assembled, the pin 6 at the bottom of the tank case is
14 penetrates the elongated hole 632c of the shutter 632, and the tip end thereof projects from the elongated hole 632c (see FIG. 13). The sealing member 631 is attached to the tank case bottom 611 with its toner supply port 631b aligned with the toner supply port 613 at the bottom of the tank case, and the shutter 6
It is held in a state of being pinched by 32. This improves the adhesion between the sealing member 613 and the shutter 632.
Toner leakage is prevented. The shutter 632 is
Between the tank case bottom portion 611 and the guide member 633, the pin 614 is rotatably slidable in the direction of arrow a or b in the figure within a range in which the pin 614 can relatively move along the elongated hole 632c. That is, in the shutter unit 630, only the shutter 632 is provided in the tank case 610.
It becomes a state in which it can relatively rotate and slide. In a state where the toner tank 600 is not attached to the image forming unit, the toner supply port 632b of the shutter 632.
Does not coincide with the toner supply port 631b of the sealing member 631. That is, the toner supply port 63 of the sealing member 631
1b is in a state of being sealed by the shutter 632.

Next, referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the toner tank 6 in the upper case 230 of the image forming unit.
The mounting portion 240 of No. 00 will be described.

The mounting portion 240 is formed as a recess into which the lower portion of the toner tank 600 is fitted, and in this recess,
A shutter unit 250 having the same structure as the shutter unit 630 of the toner tank 600 described above is incorporated.

On the bottom surface 241 of the recess, the shaft hole 245 into which the shaft 521 of the drive gear 520 is inserted and the toner supply facing the engagement start point of the drive gear 520 and the coil spring 510 in the circulation path of the coil spring 510 described above. A mouth 243 (see FIG. 8) and a pin 244 are provided. Further, on the inner peripheral surface of the concave portion, a pair of dovetail grooves (L-shaped grooves) that engage and disengage with the convex portion 616 of the toner tank described above.
242 and 242 are provided. The dovetail groove 242 includes a vertical groove 242a and a horizontal groove 242b.
The upper end of 2a is the mounting hole 10 of the printer body case described above.
It is connected to the lower end of a guide groove 101b provided in 1a (see FIG. 14). Further, the end of the lateral groove 242b constitutes a restricting portion for restricting the end of the rotation operation of the toner tank 600 during the mounting operation of the toner tank described later.

The shutter section 250 includes a sealing member 251 made of an elastic material such as sponge, and a disk-shaped shutter 25.
2 and a guide member 253.

The sealing member 251 is adapted to be fitted and adhered to a concave portion 241a of the same shape provided on the bottom surface 241 of the concave portion, and in the fitted state, the shaft hole 2
45 and a shaft hole 251a, and the toner supply port 24
3 and the toner supply port 251b corresponding to No. 3.

The shutter 252 has a shaft hole 252a coinciding with the shaft hole 245, a toner supply port 252b which can coincide with the toner supply port 243, and an arc-shaped elongated hole 252c into which the pin 244 is inserted. The engagement hole 252d that engages with the pin 614 of the toner tank 600 described above is provided.

The guide member 253 has a substantially ring shape and is mounted in the recess (240). In the mounted state, the two engaging claws 253e are fixed in the recess by engaging with the engaging holes (not shown) provided in the wall surface in the recess, respectively, and are fixed on the lower surface of the bottom edge 253f. The peripheral portion 252f of the shutter 252 is supported so as to be slidably rotatable (see FIG. 13). The guide member 253 is integrally provided with an elastic arc-shaped tongue piece 253g, and the engaging hole 25 of the shutter 252 is provided at the tip of this tongue piece 253g.
2d is provided with a protrusion 253c that is loosely fitted from the back side (lower surface side in FIG. 10) (see FIG. 13). The shutter 252 is incorporated under the guide member 253 so that the shutter 252 passes above the tongue piece 253g from the lower surface side of the guide member 253. Protrusion 2 in engagement hole 252d
The engagement of 53c prevents the shutter 252 from rotating carelessly during transportation of the main body, and the toner supply port 252b coincides with the toner supply port 243 so that the toner in the image forming unit 200 leaks. Is prevented.

When the image forming unit 200 is assembled, the pin 244 on the bottom surface of the concave portion becomes the slot 2 of the shutter 252.
The tip of the penetrating portion 52c is projected from the elongated hole 252c (see FIG. 13). The sealing member 251 is held in a state of being sandwiched between the recess bottom surface 241 and the shutter 252. As a result, the sealing member 251 and the shutter 2
Adhesion with 52 is improved and toner leakage is prevented.
The shutter 252 includes a recess bottom surface 241 and a guide member 25.
3, the pin 244 is rotatably slidably held in the direction of arrow a or b in the figure within a range in which the pin 244 can relatively move along the elongated hole 252c. That is, in the shutter part 250, only the shutter 252 is in a state of being relatively rotatable and slidable with respect to the upper case 230. Further, in a state where the toner tank 600 is not mounted, the toner supply port 252b of the shutter 252 has the toner supply port 251 of the sealing member 251 as shown in FIG.
Does not match b. That is, the toner supply port 251b of the sealing member 251 is in a state of being sealed by the shutter 252.

The attachment / detachment operation of the toner tank 600 with respect to the attachment portion 240 as described above is as follows. FIG. 13 is a schematic sectional view showing a state immediately before the toner tank 600 is mounted on the mounting portion 240. The attaching / detaching operation and the operation will be described mainly with reference to this drawing.

First, the toner tank 600 is set to the convex portion 6 thereof.
16 is aligned with the guide groove 101b of the mounting hole 101a (see FIG. 14) of the main body case.
To insert. Then, the convex portion 616 is guided by the guide groove 101b and moves downward in the guide groove 101b, further enters the dovetail groove 242a provided in the mounting portion 240 of the image forming unit, and reaches the lower end thereof. To stop (FIG. 13 shows a state immediately before reaching the lower end). At this time, the shaft 521 of the gear 520 is connected to the shaft portion 621 of the agitator 620 of the toner tank. The pin 614 of the toner tank is attached to the mounting portion 240 of the image forming unit.
The shutter 252 is fitted into the engaging hole 252d, and the projection 253c of the tongue is pushed down to unlock the shutter 252 by the projection 253c. At the same time mounting part 240
The pin 244 on the side is fitted into the engaging hole 632d of the shutter 632 of the toner tank and pushes up the protrusion 633c of the tongue piece to unlock the shutter 632 by the protrusion 633c.

Next, the toner tank 600 is replaced with the arrow b in FIG.
Rotate counterclockwise as shown in. Then, the convex portion 616 of the toner tank enters the lateral groove 242b of the dovetail groove and engages with the lateral groove 242b to prevent the toner tank from coming off.
It will be attached to the. As described above, the pin 614 of the toner tank fits into the engagement hole 252d of the shutter 252 of the mounting portion 240, and the pin 24 on the mounting portion 240 side is attached.
4 is an engagement hole 632d of the shutter 632 of the toner tank
Since the toner tank 600 is rotated in the direction of arrow b in FIG.
52 is the same direction as the toner tank 600, that is, FIG.
1 The toner supply port 252b rotates counterclockwise as indicated by arrow b so as to coincide with the toner supply port 251b of the sealing member 251, and the shutter 632 of the toner tank moves even when the toner tank is rotated in the direction of arrow b. Therefore, the toner supply port 632b is rotated in the clockwise direction as shown by the arrow a in FIG. 9 relative to the tank, and the toner supply port 632b coincides with the toner supply port 631b of the sealing member 631. That is, the toner supply ports 613, 631b, 632b, 252 of all parts
b, 251b, and 243 are in the matched state, and the toner can be supplied from the toner tank 600 to the image forming unit 200.

When the image forming unit 200 operates as described above with the toner tank 600 attached to the image forming unit 200 as described above, the drive gear 52
The agitator 620 is rotationally driven by the zero shaft 521.

The toner contained in the tank case 610 is agitated upward by the scraping blades 622 of the agitator 620.
When the toner in the inside is consumed, the toner is supplied from the toner supply port 613 to the respective toner supply ports and the upper case 23 by that much.
Image forming unit 20 through the toner supply port 243 of 0.
The toner will fall freely into 0 and the toner will be replenished in the image forming unit 200.

As shown in FIG. 7, the toner tank 600 is attached on the upstream side of the developing device 300. As shown in FIG. 8, since the toner supply port 243 opens toward the position where the drive gear 520 and the coil spring 510 start to mesh with each other, the toner is not excessively supplied to the toner conveyance path C. Supplied in appropriate amount.

In this way, the toner is replenished to the image forming unit 200 from the toner tank 600, the toner in the toner tank is exhausted, and the tank 600 is discharged.
When the toner is no longer replenished from the image forming unit 2
The amount of toner in 00 decreases, and this is the detection means 7 described later.
00, the toner tank is replaced. Note that the toner in the toner tank is exhausted can be visually confirmed because the tank case 610 is transparent.

To remove the toner tank 600, the opposite operation to the above-mentioned mounting operation may be performed. That is,
Grasp the upper part of the tank 600 (exposed part 600A exposed from the main body case 101), and point in the direction of arrow a (clockwise).
After rotating the main body case 101, the main body case 101 may be pulled out from the mounting hole 101a. When the tank 600 is rotated in the direction of arrow a, the shutter 632 of the tank relatively rotates in the counterclockwise direction shown by arrow b in FIG.
At the same time that 13 and 631b are shielded, the shutter 250 of the image forming unit 200 rotates in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 11 to rotate the toner supply ports 243 and 2 of the unit 200.
52b is shielded. Therefore, when the tank 600 is removed, even if some toner remains in the tank 600, it does not scatter and stain the printer and its surroundings. Further, for example, when the printer is transported, the toner in the unit 200 is supplied to the toner supply port 243 even when the printer is transported with the tank 600 removed.
And 252b does not leak and scatter.

Next, the detecting means 700 will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the detecting means 700 is provided with respect to the toner conveying path R on the downstream side of the developing device 300 and on the upstream side of the cleaning device 400.

FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 8, and FIG. 16 is FIG.
5 is an XVI-XVI sectional view, and FIG. 17 is an XVII-XVII sectional view in FIG.

The detecting means 700 is, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, a detection window 71 provided in the toner conveying path R.
0, an elastic reflection plate 720 provided facing the detection window 710, and a reflection type optical sensor 730 provided in the detection window 710. The optical sensor 730 is provided in close contact with the lower surface of the detection window 710.

The detection window 710 is made of a transparent material such as glass or synthetic resin. Detection window 710
Is a plate-shaped base portion 711, as shown in FIG.
The base portion 711 has a convex portion 713 integrally formed on the upper surface 712, and the upper surface of the convex portion 713 has a protruding surface 7.
Make up 15. As shown in FIG. 18A, the convex portion 713 has a toner transport path R in which the detection window 710 is arranged.
Radius of curvature R1 that is the same as the part (here, corner C3)
Is curved with. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17,
A recess 223 is formed in the lower case 220 of the image forming unit, and by mounting the base portion 711 in the recess 223, the detection window 710 is closed.
Is attached to.

The length L of the protruding surface 715 in the toner conveying direction (see FIGS. 18B and 21A) is equal to or less than 2 pitches (2p) of the coil spring 510.

16 and 17, reference numeral 224 denotes a smoother made of a low friction material such as fluororesin or polyacetal, and the upper surface 712 of the base portion 711 can be smoothly connected to the smoother 224. To
An arcuate recess 714 is formed (see FIG. 18).

With the detection window 710 attached, the projecting surface 715 of the convex portion 713 slightly projects toward the coil spring 510 side from the smoother 224. Therefore, the coil spring 510 has the protruding surface 715.
It will be bent and moved so that it will be pushed up a little by. As a result, the protruding surface 7 of the detection window 710
15 reliably slides in contact with the coil spring 510 by the restoring force due to the elasticity of the coil spring 510 itself, and the toner adhering to the projecting surface 715 is retained by the coil spring 510.
Be wiped by. Note that the protruding surface 715 may be curved upward in conformity with the movement path that is curved slightly upward of the coil spring 510.

The smoother 224 is a coil spring 510.
8 for smoothing the circulation operation of
The corner portions C1, C2 and C3 shown in are provided in a gutter shape.

As shown in FIG. 17A, the smoother 224 has a side wall surface 224a which is in sliding contact with the coil spring 510 and guides it. This side wall surface 224
a is a protruding surface 715 of the detection window as shown in FIG.
And is inclined so as to form an acute angle θ. Therefore, at the contact portion 510a between the inclined surface 224a and the coil spring 510, a component force that urges the coil spring 510 toward the protruding surface 715 is generated. As a result, the coil spring 510 is more surely attached to the protruding surface 715.
It comes in contact with. In this embodiment, θ is set to 86 °.

The reflecting plate 720 is made of a metal plate having spring elasticity. As shown in FIG. 19, a curved portion 721 is formed at the front end and a bent portion 723 is formed at the rear end. . As shown in FIG. 16, a recess 233 is formed in the upper case 230 of the image forming unit, and the bent portion 723 is fitted into the recess 233 to attach the reflection plate 720 to the upper case 230. Has been. In the attached state, the reflection plate 720 biases the coil spring 510 toward the detection window 710 due to its spring elasticity.

Therefore, the coil spring 510 surely comes into sliding contact with the projecting surface 715 of the detection window 710, and the projecting surface 715.
The wiping action of the toner is surely performed. Further, as a result of the reflection plate 720 biasing the coil spring 510, the reflection surface 724 of the reflection plate 720 (see FIG. 17).
The toner adhered to is also wiped off.

The material used for the reflection plate 720 may be any material as long as it has a high reflectance such as a metallic glossy surface with respect to the light of the wavelength emitted by the light emitting element used for the reflection type optical sensor 730. In the example, S having a predetermined spring elasticity
A rolled plate of US304 is used.

At least one of the detection window 710 and the reflection plate 720, preferably the surface in contact with both toners, is
It is made of a material positioned on the same polarity side on the triboelectric charging train with respect to the charging polarity of the toner. In this embodiment, the contact surface of the detection window 710 with the toner is made of a material positioned on the same polarity side on the triboelectric charging column with respect to the charging polarity of the toner. The triboelectrification train measures the polarities of the surface potentials produced by contact charging two kinds of materials arbitrarily selected in an electrically shielded space by a surface electrometer to measure the positive and negative electrodes of the materials. It is required by ordering the relationship of. When the toner is used by being triboelectrically charged to the negative polarity, at least the surface of the transparent detection window 710 that comes into contact with the toner is selected from a material positioned on the negative polarity side in the triboelectric charging column, like the toner, and is equal to the toner. Alternatively, it is preferable to select a material positioned on the negative polarity side. For example, in the case of using a negative charge type toner made of a polyester binder, a material positioned on the negative polarity side of PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate), more preferably a polyolefin positioned on the negative polarity side of the toner may be selected. . When the toner is used by being triboelectrically charged with a positive polarity, at least the surface of the transparent detection window 710 that is in contact with the toner is selected from a material positioned on the positive polarity side on the triboelectric charging column, like the toner.
It is preferable to select a material that is equivalent to the toner or is positioned on the positive polarity side. For example, in the case of using a positive charging toner composed of a styrene / acrylic copolymer binder, a material positioned on the positive polarity side of the polyolefin,
More preferably, polyamide or the like positioned on the positive polarity side of the toner may be selected. In this embodiment, since the toner is used by being negatively charged, amorphous polyolefin is used as the detection window 710 as a material positioned on the negative side of the toner on the triboelectric charging column. Similarly, transparent organic materials such as PMMA, polyamide, melamine resin, polyurethane, SA resin, polystyrene, ABS resin, epoxy resin, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile resin, polyimide, vinyl chloride, and inorganic glass such as alumina, diamond, silica, etc. Can be used.

The surface of the reflection plate 720 is preferably coated with a substance selected by the above-mentioned triboelectric series.

At least one, and preferably all, of the good conductive members such as the coil spring 510 and the reflection plate 720 are electrically floated. In this embodiment, all are arranged in an electrically floating manner. When the detection window 710 is made conductive, it is also preferable to electrically float it.

The toner carried by the coil spring 510 and circulated and conveyed is frictionally charged by being rubbed against the coil spring 510 and the inner wall of the toner conveying path, and the conductive coil spring 510 and the reflection plate 720. When this is grounded, an electric charge opposite to that of the toner is supplied, and a strong suction force is generated between the toner and the coil spring 510 or the reflection plate 720, which makes it difficult to wipe the toner. To prevent this, it is electrically floated. When floated, the reflector 72
When the coil spring 510 makes sliding contact with the reflection plate 720, the toner attached to the toner particles is easily wiped off.

To the optical sensor 730, a detection device and a notification device (not shown) are connected.

A toner tank 600 is provided in the toner carrying path R.
A predetermined amount of toner is circulated in a state where the toner is being replenished from the device, and is emitted from the reflection type optical sensor 730 at the portion of the detection means 700, transmitted through the detection window 710, and passed through the toner conveyance route R. Reflected by the reflector 720,
The optical path of the detection light that passes through the toner transport path R again, passes through the detection window 710, and is received by the reflective optical sensor 730 is
An output signal corresponding to no reflected light is output from the reflection type optical sensor 730, which is shielded by a predetermined amount of circulating toner.

When the amount of toner in the toner conveying path portion where the detecting means 700 is provided is extremely low or absent, the above-mentioned state where the optical path of the detection light is not blocked by the toner occurs. Since the optical path of the detection light is only temporarily blocked by the coil spring 510 when there is no light, the reflection type optical sensor 7
An output signal corresponding to the detection of the reflected light is output by 30, and a repetitive signal corresponding to the 1/2 pitch of the coil spring 510 is output particularly when there is no toner.

Therefore, the output signal from the sensor 730 is monitored by a detection device (not shown) connected to the sensor 730, and when the repetitive signal is continuously output for a predetermined period of time with a predetermined probability, the toner signal is output with this. It is designed to detect that there is no state.

At this time, a notification sound is emitted by the notification device and / or a message is displayed on a display device (not shown) so that the user is in a toner-free state (correctly, the toner in the toner tank 600 is That the toner of the developing device 300 is starting to decrease).

According to the printer as described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.

(I) The photoconductor 20 is developed by the developing device 300.
Toner is supplied to the surface of No. 1 and the toner develops the latent image on the surface of the photoconductor to form a toner image. The residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoconductor after the toner image is transferred to the recording paper P is removed and collected by the cleaning device 400.

Developing device 300 and cleaning device 400
A toner transfer device 500 is arranged in a closed loop between the cleaning device 4 and the cleaning device 4 and a part of the excess toner not developed by the developing device 300 is transferred to the cleaning device 400 and the cleaning device 4.
The residual toner collected in 00 is conveyed to the developing device 300, and new toner is replenished to the toner conveying route R of the toner conveying device 500 by the toner tank 600. Therefore, the developing device 300 and the cleaning device 4
00 and the toner transport path R, a predetermined amount of toner is normally circulated. Therefore, when the toner is consumed in the developing device 300, the consumed toner is normally replenished to the developing device 300 through the toner transport path 500.

However, when the toner tank 600 becomes empty and new toner from the toner tank 600 cannot be replenished, the toner in the toner transport path R gradually decreases, and first, the toner in the toner transport path R is removed. ,
It will decrease significantly compared to normal and will be almost empty.

20 (a) and 20 (b) are XX in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line XX, showing how the toner T in the developing device 300 disappears from the normal state.

FIG. 13A shows a state where new toner is being replenished to the toner transport path R by the toner tank 600, and the toner storage chamber 30 of the developing device 300 is shown.
A predetermined amount of toner circulates in 1 and the toner transport path R. The toner T is conveyed on the toner storage chamber 301 along the longitudinal direction by the coil spring 510, so that the toner is partially consumed in the toner storage chamber 301, and even if the level thereof is lowered, the toner T is lowered. Toner, such as D1 and D2 indicated by imaginary lines, is replenished with toner by free fall (free flow) from the coil spring 510. Therefore, even if the toner is consumed in the developing device 300, the consumed toner T is supplied to the developing device 3 through the toner transport path R.
00 to replenish the toner T in the toner storage chamber 301.
The level of is kept almost horizontal. When there are two or more lowered toner levels (for example, D1 and D2), the toner is replenished sequentially from the upstream portion (D1) to be leveled.

FIG. 13B shows a state after the toner tank 600 has been emptied, and some time has passed since the supply of new toner from the toner tank 600 was stopped.

Immediately after the supply of new toner from the toner tank 600 is stopped, a predetermined amount of toner still remains in the toner transport path R. Therefore, even if the toner is consumed in the developing device 300, the toner is replenished in the developing device 300 as described above while the same amount of toner as the consumed toner exists in the toner transport path R. The level of the toner T in the toner storage chamber 301 is kept substantially horizontal.

However, when the toner continues to be consumed and the amount of toner existing in the toner transport path R becomes smaller than the amount of toner consumed in the developing device 300, the toner in the toner storage chamber 301 is transported. It decreases from the downstream side of the route. The reduced portion is indicated by D3 in FIG. The decrease from the downstream side is because the toner is replenished to the toner storage chamber 301 sequentially from the upstream side as described above.

Thus, as a result of the toner in the toner storage chamber 301 decreasing from the downstream side of the transport path, the toner in the toner transport path R first becomes empty in the downstream side 301A of the toner storage room 301, When the empty state progresses sequentially according to the circulation direction of the coil spring 510 and reaches the upstream side 301B of the toner storage chamber 301, the toner in the toner transport path R becomes almost empty. At this time, the developing device 300
Unless the amount of toner consumed by the toner is extremely large, a certain amount of toner still remains in the toner storage chamber 301 and is used for development.
Be recovered by. Since the collected toner is carried to the developing device 300 by the carrying device, there is some toner (a considerably smaller amount than the normal state) in the carrying path from the cleaning device 400 to the developing device 300.

As described above, in this embodiment,
When new toner is not replenished from the toner tank 600, first, the toner in the toner transport path R is exhausted before the toner in the developing device 300 is exhausted.

According to the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, since the detecting means 700 for detecting the toner depletion is provided for the toner conveying path R, the developing device 3
00, it is possible to reliably detect the remaining amount of toner, that is, the amount of toner that is less than the amount that should normally be in the developing device 300.

Then, in the toner carrying device 500, the coil spring 510 which circulates in the toner carrying path R is moved.
In addition, since the detection window 710 has the protruding surface 715 protruding toward the coil spring 510, the protruding surface 715 can be surely secured by the restoring force due to the elasticity of the coil spring 510 itself. It will be in sliding contact with 510. Since the toner adhering to the protruding surface 715 is wiped by this sliding contact action, the light that should pass through the detection window 710 is not blocked by the toner, and the presence or absence of toner in the toner transport path R is reliably detected. Will be done.

That is, according to such an image forming apparatus, since the coil spring 510 constitutes the wiping means for the detection window 710, the detection window 710 can be provided without providing any special wiping means (for example, a wiper). It can be wiped off and a reliable detection operation can be obtained.

The detection by the optical sensor 730 is
Since the fluctuation of the output signal can be suppressed against the environmental noise generated from the mechanism around the sensor 730 such as the vibration and the fluctuation of the temperature / humidity due to the driving of the device, the continuous image formation for a long time and the high temperature and high humidity can be performed. A malfunction does not easily occur even in image formation in an environment or in a low temperature and low humidity environment, and a highly reliable detection result can be obtained.

(Ii) As described above, according to such an image forming apparatus, when new toner is not replenished from the toner replenishing means, first, before the toner in the developing device 300 runs out, the toner conveying path is first used. There is no toner in R. Moreover, in the toner transport path, first, the toner starts to be exhausted from the portion located on the downstream side of the developing device 300.

According to the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, since the detecting means 700 is provided on the downstream side of the developing device 300 and on the upstream side of the cleaning device 400, the toner can be discharged more reliably and quickly. The remaining amount can be detected.

The detecting means 700 can be provided not only on the downstream side of the developing device 300 but also on the upstream side. Even in this case, first, before the toner in the developing device 300 is exhausted as described above, first, the toner conveying path. Since the toner in R runs out, it is possible to reliably detect the remaining amount of toner. However, when the detection unit is provided on the downstream side of the cleaning device 400 and the upstream side of the developing device 300, the toner conveyance is performed. Since there is some toner collected from the cleaning device 400 on the path R, the detection accuracy may be lowered depending on the configuration of the detection unit.

On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, the detecting means 700 is provided on the downstream side of the developing device 300 and on the upstream side of the cleaning device 400, so that the remaining amount of the toner can be more reliably determined. Can be detected.

Further, when the detecting means is provided on the downstream side of the toner supply port 243 and on the upstream side of the developing device 300, new toner supplied immediately after the toner tank 600 is replaced is detected. Although there is not enough toner in the chamber 300, it may be determined that there is toner.

On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, the detecting means 700 is provided on the downstream side of the developing device 300 and on the upstream side of the cleaning device 400. The remaining amount of toner can be detected quickly. That is, in this embodiment, the toner is conveyed to the position where the detecting means 700 is provided only after the toner storage chamber 301 in the developing device is filled with the toner, so that extremely reliable toner detection can be performed. it can.

(Iii) Since the reflecting plate 720 biases the coil spring 510 toward the detection window 710, the wiping action can be ensured without requiring any biasing means other than the reflecting plate. As a result of the reflection plate 720 urging the coil spring 510, the toner adhering to the reflection surface 724 of the reflection plate 720 is also wiped off, so that the presence or absence of toner in the toner conveyance path can be detected more reliably. .

Further, according to such a configuration, it is not necessary to wipe the toner from the detection surface by means having a strong stirring ability such as a wiper, so that the toner is not excessively stressed to deteriorate the image quality. There is also an effect that a stable image quality can be obtained without giving. The pressing force applied between the coil spring 510 and the detection surface can be in the range of 2 to 200 gf, and more preferably in the range of 5 to 50 gf.

(Iv) Since the length L of the protruding surface 715 in the toner conveying direction is equal to or less than the two pitches (2p) of the coil spring 510, the protruding surface 715 and the coil spring 510 are more reliable. A smooth sliding operation can be obtained.

As shown in FIG. 21B, the protruding surface 715
If the length L ′ in the toner transport direction is 2 pitches (2p) or more of the coil spring 510, the coil spring 510 may be slightly pushed up by the protruding surface 715 due to some bending or tolerance of the coil spring 510. By being curved and moving,
When there are three parts to be in sliding contact with the projecting surface 715 of the coil spring 510 (the three parts are 511, 512,
(Shown by 513), the central portion 512 floats from the projecting surface 715 as shown in the drawing, and there is a possibility that a reliable sliding contact state may not be obtained.

On the other hand, according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), since the length L of the protruding surface 715 in the toner transport direction is equal to or less than 2 pitches (2p) of the coil spring, the coil spring 510 has some bending or tolerance. In addition, even if the coil spring 510 is bent and moved by the protruding surface 715 to some extent, the coil spring 51
The maximum number of portions that should be in sliding contact with the protruding surface 715 of 0 is two (two portions are indicated by 511 and 512). Therefore, the coil spring 510 does not float from the protruding surface 715, and a reliable sliding contact state is obtained.

(V) As shown in FIG. 17, a side wall surface 224a that slidably contacts with and guides the coil spring 510.
Are inclined so as to form an acute angle .theta. With the projecting surface 715, the inclined surface 224a and the coil spring 51.
In the contact portion 510a with 0, the coil spring 5
A component force for urging 10 toward the protruding surface 715 is generated, whereby the coil spring 510 comes into more reliable sliding contact with the protruding surface 715, and a better detection result can be obtained.

(Vi) Since the contact surface of the detection window 710 with the toner is made of a material positioned on the same polarity side in the triboelectric charging column with respect to the charging polarity of the toner, the toner existing in the toner conveying path Is less likely to electrostatically adhere to the detection window 710. Therefore, the light that should pass through the detection window 720 is less likely to be blocked by the toner, and the presence or absence of toner in the toner transport path can be reliably detected. Moreover, the detection window 710
Since the wiping action by the coil spring 510 described above on the contact surface with the toner is facilitated, the presence or absence of the toner in the toner transport path can be detected more reliably.

(Vii) Since both the coil spring 510 and the reflector 720 are electrically floating,
Toner is prevented from being electrostatically attached to the coil spring 510 and the reflection plate 720, and the wiping action is facilitated. Therefore, the presence / absence of toner in the toner transport path can be reliably detected.

(IiX) When the absence of toner is detected by the optical sensor 730, the user is informed of this by the notification device.
Replace 00.

At this time, as described above, the developing device 3 is usually used.
Since a certain amount of toner still remains in 00 to be used for development, it is possible to continue the printing operation on the recording paper. Moreover, the exposed portion 600 of the toner tank 600
A is the case 10 of the main body outside the movement path of the recording paper P.
1 is exposed to the outside, the toner tank 600 can be easily replaced in a short time by rotating the exposed portion 600A while performing the printing operation.

That is, for example, when toner is about to run out while printing a document or the like on a large number of recording papers, a toner-less message is given in advance, and accordingly, the user can use the toner without interrupting the printing operation. The tank 600 can be replaced and the printing operation can be continued.

(IX) As described above, by detecting this when the toner in the developing device 300 starts to decrease, it is possible to prevent a state in which the toner in the developing device 300 is extremely low or absent. As a result, the phenomenon that foreign matter such as toner or paper powder adheres to the regulation blade 330 is prevented.

That is, the developing device 300 is constructed so that a predetermined developing operation is carried out in a state where a desired amount of toner is in the toner storage chamber 301, and when the toner in the toner storage chamber 301 is extremely small. If the toner runs out, good developing operation may not be performed, and damage may occur due to the toner being extremely low or absent. For example, the toner storage chamber 30
When the amount of toner in 1 is extremely low, the toner is coated on the developing roller 320 by the supply roller 310 in the operation of the developing device 300 described above, or the developing roller 3
The toner on the surface of 20 is thinned by the regulating blade 330 and triboelectrification is not performed uniformly in the width direction of image formation, and the toner partially coated on the developing roller 320 is slidably contacted with the regulating blade 330. Therefore, there is a possibility that the sliding contact with the toner may cause the toner to be fixed and the foreign matter such as a small amount of paper powder mixed in the toner storage chamber 301 may coat the developing roller 320 to cause clogging at the sliding contact portion of the regulation blade 330. When such sticking or clogging occurs, the toner may not be returned to its original state even if toner is replenished thereafter, and good image formation may not be performed.

On the other hand, according to the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, it is possible to detect the toner at the time when the toner in the developing device 300 starts to decrease as described above, thereby preventing the occurrence of such a defect. You can

<Modification> A modification of the above embodiment will be described below. In the following modifications, the same members as the members in the above embodiment (including corresponding members in some cases) are designated by the same reference numerals and described.

FIG. 22 is a schematic view showing a modification of the mechanism arrangement of the detecting means. The reflection type optical sensor 730 is movably supported on the main body of the recording apparatus and one of the toner conveying paths R of the image forming apparatus is provided. This is an example in which the element surface of the reflection type optical sensor 730 follows the surface of the detection window 710 disposed in the part so that the element surface can approach or closely contact. The sensor support base 35 is a member for directly supporting and fixing the reflection type optical sensor 730. The coil spring 36 is interposed between the sensor support base 35 and the main body support base 37 fixed to the printer body, and the elasticity of the coil spring 36 with respect to the printer body. It is movably positioned within the range where it can be deformed. Therefore, even if the case 210 including the detection window 710 has a structure in which the position is likely to be displaced, the reflection-type optical sensor 7 is attached to the surface of the detection window 710.
Since the element faces of 30 can follow or come close to each other,
Not only can the dimensional tolerances of the components be increased, but also the case 210 having the detection window 710 can be detached from and mounted on the sensor 730. In the present embodiment, the coil spring 36 is interposed between the sensor support base 35 and the main body support base 37 so as to be freely movable, but a leaf spring, a soft rubber, a soft foam or the like is used as a device having the same function. be able to. With such a configuration of the toner remaining amount detecting means, the image forming apparatus can be freely detached from / attached to the printer body 100.

The detection window 710 is arranged so as to be close to or in close contact with the reflection type optical sensor 730.
This is a measure for reducing so-called flare light generated when a part of the light from the light emitting element of the reflection type optical sensor 730 is reflected on the inner surface of the detection window 710, and from the optical reflection plate 720 transmitted and received by the light receiving element. It is necessary to sufficiently reduce the flare light with respect to the reflected light. If the flare light that becomes a noise signal is close to the reflected light from the reflection plate 720 that becomes a normal signal, the so-called S / N ratio decreases, so even if a toner depletion state occurs on the toner detection surface, a detection signal is generated. Is low, it becomes difficult to detect the deficiency state as the absence of toner.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the relationship between the S / N ratio with respect to the distance between the reflection type optical sensor 730 and the detection window 710 used as the detecting means in the above modification. This relationship also holds for the above-described embodiments.

The horizontal axis represents the distance between the reflective optical sensor 730 and the detection window 710, and the vertical axis represents the reflector 72.
The ratio between the normal signal due to the reflected light from 0 and the noise signal due to the flare light is taken and expressed as S / N.

The S / N ratio remarkably decreases as the distance increases, and when the distance is 1.5 mm or more, the S / N ratio decreases.
Since the / N ratio is 10 or less, it becomes difficult to detect the absence of toner under this condition. The S / N ratio required for detecting the absence of toner needs to be 10 or more, preferably 100 or more, in consideration of manufacturing variations of each element constituting the reflective sensor 730, environmental changes, and temporal changes. Is. Therefore, the distance between the reflective optical sensor 730 and the detection window 710 satisfying the S / N ratio described above is 1.5.
It is less than mm, preferably less than 0.6 mm. Although the OMRON photomicrosensor (EE-SY110 type) is used as the reflection type optical sensor 730 in the above-described embodiment, it is also possible to use other light emitting elements and light receiving elements in combination, and both elements are integrated. It does not have to be a sensor packaged in. Further, regarding the distance between the reflective optical sensor 730 and the detection window 710, which is required as a condition for satisfying the S / N ratio of 10 or more,
The required value also changes depending on the distance between the light emitting element and the light receiving element, the angle of the light emitting element and the light receiving element with respect to the reflection plate 720, and the closer the distance between the reflective optical sensor 730 and the detection window 710 is, the more preferable. That doesn't change.
When the distance between the reflective optical sensor 730 and the detection window 710 cannot be made close to each other, a light blocking element for preventing flare light is provided between the light emitting element and the light receiving element in order to reduce the amount of flare light transmitted and received by the light receiving element. It is also possible to provide a cover or the like.

In the above-described embodiment, a metal plate having spring elasticity is used for the reflection plate 720 itself, but as another configuration, an optical reflection plate which is a rigid body is used as a plate spring, a coil spring, a soft rubber, a soft foam or the like. The same effect can be obtained by supporting and pressing with the elastic body.

Although the embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and modifications, and can be modified appropriately within the scope of the gist of the present invention. .

[0169]

According to the present invention, a developing device for supplying toner to the surface of a photoconductor to develop a latent image on the surface of the photoconductor to form a toner image, and a sheet of toner image formed by the developing device. The cleaning device for removing and collecting the residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoconductor after the transfer to the photosensitive member and the cleaning device are arranged in a closed loop between the developing device and the cleaning device and are not used for development in the developing device. And a toner feeding device for feeding a part of the excess toner to the cleaning device and the residual toner collected by the cleaning device to the developing device, and a toner replenishing means for replenishing the toner to the toner feeding path of the toner feeding device. In the image forming apparatus including the above, it is possible to reliably detect the remaining amount of toner without increasing the size of the developing device.

[0170]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a printer using an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the same.

FIG. 5 is a partially omitted perspective view showing an image forming unit and a toner tank.

6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing an image forming unit and a toner tank.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing the entire image forming unit.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the toner tank as viewed from below.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a toner tank.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the image forming unit.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a toner tank mounting portion of the image forming unit.

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state immediately before the toner tank is mounted on the mounting portion.

FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view of a main body case.

FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

16 is a sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in FIG.

FIG. 17 (a) is XVII-XVII in FIG.
Sectional drawing, (b) is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing details of a detection window, (a) is a front view,
(B) is a left side view and (c) is a bottom view.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a reflection plate.

20 (a) and (b) are both XX in FIG.
-XX is a schematic sectional view showing a toner state in the developing device.

FIG. 21 (a) and (b) are explanatory views of operation.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the relationship between the S / N ratio and the distance between the reflective optical sensor and the detection window.

[Explanation of symbols]

R Toner transport path 201 photosensitive drum 224a inclined surface 300 developing device 400 cleaning device 500 toner transport device 510 coil spring 600 toner tank 700 detection means 710 detection window 715 protruding surface 720 reflector 730 Reflective optical sensor

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --- Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-6-149056 (JP, A) JP-A-58-107572 (JP, A) JP-A-63-85661 (JP, A) Actual development Sho-63- 107452 (JP, U) Actual development Sho 64-10759 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/08 114 G03G 15/08 507 G01N 21/47

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A developing device that supplies toner to the surface of a photoconductor to develop a latent image on the surface of the photoconductor to form a toner image, and the photoconductor after the toner image formed by the developing device is transferred to a sheet. A cleaning device that removes and collects the residual toner adhering to the body surface, and a part of the excess toner that is not provided for development in the developing device and is arranged in a closed loop between the developing device and the cleaning device. To the cleaning device, a toner conveying device that conveys the residual toner collected by the cleaning device to the developing device, and a toner replenishing device that replenishes the toner conveying path of the toner conveying device with toner. And an elastic toner transporting unit that circulates in the toner transporting path of the toner transporting device; A transparent detection window having a projecting surface that projects toward the conveying means, and an optical sensor provided in the detection window, the optical sensor is formed by a reflective optical sensor
The toner transport means of the detection window
A reflecting plate having elasticity is provided at the opposite position.
An image forming apparatus characterized in that a projection plate biases the toner conveying means toward the detection window . 2. A surface of the photoconductor is prepared by supplying toner to the surface of the photoconductor.
Developing device that develops the latent image on the surface to form a toner image, and
After transferring the toner image formed by the developing device on the paper
After removing the residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoconductor,
The cleaning device to collect, the developing device and the cleaner
Is arranged in a closed loop between the developing device and the developing device.
The excess toner that was not used in the
To the cleaning device.
Toner transport device for transporting the residual toner that has left
And place toner in the toner transport path of this toner transport device.
An image forming apparatus equipped with a toner replenishing means for replenishing toner.
hand, Circulates in the toner transport path of the toner transport device
A toner conveying means having elasticity, It is provided in the toner transport path and
Protruding towards A transparent detection window having a protruding surface, With an optical sensor provided in this detection window, The toner transport path should be in sliding contact with the toner transport means.
Since it has a side wall surface that guides this,
And the surface located near the detection window is the projection of the detection window.
Being inclined to form an acute angle with the projecting surface
A characteristic image forming apparatus. Wherein the optical sensor, the developing downstream of the device, and an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein, characterized in that provided upstream of the cleaning device. 4. The toner conveying means is composed of a coil spring, and the length of the protruding surface of the detection window in the toner conveying direction is 2 times that of the coil spring.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the length is equal to or less than the pitch. 5. The toner transport path has a side wall surface that is in sliding contact with and guides the toner transport means, and a surface of the side wall surface located at least near the detection window,
The detection window of claim 1 Symbol placing the image forming apparatus is characterized in that is inclined so as to form an acute angle between the protruding surface. 6. At least the protruding surface of the detection window,
3. A material which is positioned on the same polarity side of the triboelectric charging train with respect to the charging polarity of the toner.
The image forming apparatus according to 3, 4, or 5. 7. The contact surface with the toner of the reflector, according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists of a material located in the same polarity side on the triboelectric series with respect to the toner charging polarity, 3,4, 5
Alternatively, the image forming apparatus according to item 6. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the toner conveying means, the detection window and the reflection plate is electrically floated. Image forming apparatus.