JP3537602B2 - Toner / developer supply 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 such as an analog / digital copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer.
In particular, the present invention relates to a toner / developer supply device attached to a developing device in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image using a two-component developer composed of a carrier and a toner. It is possible to replace the deteriorated carrier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art JP-A-60-159768 and JP-A-7-20 describe bottles for supplying toner to a developing device.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 705-705 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 7-159768 are known. These discharge toner contained in a horizontal installation state by the action of a spiral fin (projection) provided inside the bottle container when rotating. However, these bottles are used only for toner supply and have no other uses.

In addition, in a two-component developing apparatus, in addition to toner replenishment to supplement consumption, supply of a developer containing a new carrier and replacement of a used developer containing a deteriorated carrier for replacement of a deteriorated carrier. Recovery is required. In particular, regarding replacement of the developer, in order to suppress fluctuations in image quality, partial replacement at regular intervals is becoming the mainstream, instead of replacing the entire amount every lifetime. Regarding toner replenishment and developer replacement, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-29271 discloses a developer supply / discharge mechanism including a unit for discharging a part of a used developer and a unit for supplying a new developer. In this mechanism, the used developer is collected after supplying the developer to a container containing the new developer. However, according to the technology disclosed in this publication, the serviceman simply re-attachs the empty container to a collection position different from the supply position, and therefore, automatically attaches the empty container to the container after the developer is supplied at the supply position. It is not intended to collect the used developer, and it is necessary to mount two containers in the apparatus, resulting in an increase in the size of the apparatus.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-6978 discloses a toner container in which a replenishing container portion and a collecting container portion have an integral structure and are detachably mountable to a developing device. In this container, the toner is collected in a separated collecting agent storage section. Therefore, a separate useless space called a collecting section is required as a toner supply container. Also need wasted space.

[0005] Therefore, without increasing the size of the device,
Moreover, without bothering service personnel and users,
It is required to automatically collect the used developer that has deteriorated. From the viewpoint of effective use of space, it is desirable that the used developer that has deteriorated is collected into a toner container that stores replenished toner after use. For example, in the technique of JP-A-60-159768, a spiral fin is provided internally, and in the technique of JP-A-7-20705, a part of the inner surface of the container shoulder further has a diameter larger than the diameter of the opening. The shape protrudes from the inner surface of the shoulder to the edge of the opening. These effective means for discharging toner, however, also cause performance degradation for developer recovery. As a result, the amount to be collected may not be collected.

The applicant of the present invention has previously described a cylindrical container which is concentric with the container and which is fitted into the central space of a container having an annular portion, which is composed of two storage containers, and which is concentric on the same side of each container. (Japanese Patent Application No. 7-1711) has proposed an integrated bottle for storing toner / developer, each of which has an opening in the shape of a toner.
No. 57). Further, in order to effectively use the integrated bottle, the inventors have further proposed a toner supply and developer supply / recovery mechanism disposed between the integrated bottle and the developing device (Japanese Patent Application No. 7-1995). 262984). This is provided with a supply section for sending out the toner / developer discharged from the bottle to the developing section by a rotation operation, and a recovery section for lifting up the developer sent from the development section by a rotation operation. A turning member having a space defined by the peripheral wall and having a bottom portion which becomes shallower toward the downstream side in the supply rotation direction and a scooping portion capable of rotatably transporting the developer at the time of recovery rotation, and a peripheral side wall and an inner wall of the turning member; A flat plate portion capable of forming a supply space by rubbing against each upper edge of the peripheral wall, and a toner / intermediate member having a supply hole and a recovery hole for carrying in / out the toner / developer with the rotation of the turning member / This is a developer supply device.

However, when the developer is collected using the bottle and the replenishing device as described above, the developer is lifted by a scooping portion of a rotating member that rotates while rubbing against the collection blade of the fixed intermediate member. Since the developer is dropped from the gap between the collecting blades and sent into the bottle using the slope of the stopper, when the bottle is removed after the collecting operation is completed, the central opening of the turning member separated from the bottle is removed. Uncollected developer from the vicinity may stain the inside of the image forming apparatus. If the size of the central opening can be changed like a diaphragm mechanism of a camera, such a problem can be avoided, but the mechanism must be extremely complicated.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, according to the present invention, toner / developer supply and developer recovery can be performed by a common member while suppressing contamination by the developer. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner / developer supply device capable of positively increasing the mixing property.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a container for accommodating a developer and a toner in respective spaces, and a powder mixing container member fitted to an opening end face of the container. The powder / mixing container member comprises a turning member and a lid side plate, and the turning member has a central opening corresponding to the opening of the storage container. Having a developer supply section and a developer recovery section on the inner surface thereof, the developer supply section having a bottom defined by the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral wall and becoming shallower toward the downstream in the supply rotation direction. Space, the developer collecting portion has a bottom surface with a flat surface having the same height as the upstream end of the developer supply portion, a wall portion forming the downstream side of the developer supply portion, and a peripheral side wall of the turning member. The enclosure is formed by When the collecting rotation is performed in the opposite direction, the collected developer can be rotatably transported, and the lid side plate rubs against the upper edges of the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral wall of the turning member to form a closed supply space. In a toner / developer supply device having a flat plate portion and an outflow hole and an inflow hole for carrying in / out the toner / developer with the supply rotation of the turning member, a part of the toner / developer pumped up by the space The width of the space is larger than the opening width of the outflow hole, and the opening of the outflow hole is located at a predetermined distance radially outward from the inner peripheral wall of the turning member so that the space is not carried out and remains in the supply space. The problem is solved by the following toner / developer supply device.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described based on the illustrated embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a developing device 2 equipped with a toner / developer replenishing device 1. As is known, a latent image on a photoconductor (not shown) is visualized using a developing roller or the like in the developing device 2. The toner / developer replenishing device 1 includes a powder container 3 for storing a toner and a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier, a toner and a developer discharged from the container to the developing device 2, and a developing device 2. And a toner / developer conveying device 4 for circulating the developer derived from the toner.

As shown, the toner / developer conveying device 4 includes a first conveying screw 21 and a second conveying screw 22.
Is contained in a case, and the developer sent from the developing device 2 by the first transport screw 21 is delivered to the second transport screw 22 by a delivery member on the near side in the drawing, and is transferred by the second transport screw 22. It is returned to the developing device 2. In some cases, the developer circulation system may be formed by only the developing device 2 and the powder container 3 without the toner / developer conveying device 4 interposed therebetween. At least a part of the developer transferred from the first transport screw 21 to the second transport screw 22 is supplied from a drop space 24 formed below the second transport screw 22 as shown on the right side of FIG. It is fed into the powder container 3 through the case shutter 5 and the container 6 shutter 6 through the hole 25 provided on the lower side of the side wall of the case 23 for the conveying screw, and the case 23 is returned from the container 3 side. Is returned to the circulation system from a hole 26 provided on the upper side of the side wall.

The structure of the detachable powder container 3 for accommodating new toner / new developer is as follows. Although the container 3 is apparently a single container, the first powder container 9, the second powder container 10, and the powder mixing container member 11 are actually integrated as shown on the left side of FIG. A shutter 6 is attached to a common end face for supplying toner and developer. Second powder container 10
Has the shape of an annular cylinder, and has a first concentric shape with the container.
A powder container 9 is fitted in this. In other words, the first powder container 9 has a protrusion inserted into the center space of the second powder container 10, and the fitting is realized between the protrusion and the center space of the second powder container. At least one of these containers is provided with a spiral projection (not shown) on the inner peripheral surface, and the powder (new toner, new developer) stored by the action of the spiral projection in response to rotation in a predetermined direction. ) Can be discharged. When the spiral projections are provided on both containers, the inclination of each spiral may be opposite to each other, or may be inclined in the same direction. If they are inclined in the same direction, the new toner and the new developer are simultaneously discharged by the rotation of the powder container in one direction.

Each opening of the first powder container 9 and the second powder container 10 is opened and closed by a stopper 40. In order to provide a difference in opening / closing timing of each opening, the depth of the lid portion may be different as shown in the figure. In the present embodiment, the new toner is stored in the first powder container 9 and the new developer is stored in the second powder container 10. However, the container capacity and other configurations are changed and the reverse relationship is applied. It is also possible to accommodate.

The closure plug 40 is initially provided with the first powder container 9 and the second powder container 9.
Each end opening of the powder container 10 is closed to prevent leakage of developer and toner, and at the time of supply / recovery, a predetermined amount is opened by a chuck device (not shown) so as to open each opening as shown. Pulled out. The closing of the first powder container 9 is performed at the central plug portion, and the closing of the second powder container 10 is performed at the outer peripheral plug portion. The central plug portion includes a conical surface protruding toward the container and a plurality of blades (not shown) evenly arranged on the conical surface. The conical surface has an angle of repose greater than the developer angle, for example, at least 20 degrees. As a result, the dropped developer is collected in the container by natural force. The conical surface and the blade portion function effectively when collecting the deteriorated developer, and the developer falling from above is reliably picked up by the blade portion, and slides on the conical surface to the first powder container. Will be collected.

Toner discharged from the powder containers 9 and 10,
The powder mixing container member 11 for mixing the developer with the circulating developer includes a turning main body 1 forming a developer turning space 15.
3 and a lid side plate 14. The lid side plate 14 is the turning body 13
Is rotatably fitted to the developer rotating space 15.
Of the turning body 13 as shown in FIG.
Holes 16, 1 located in the second and fourth quadrants as viewed from the side
7 and a flat plate portion 28 having a central opening, a cylindrical portion 29 surrounding the flat plate portion, and a supply support blade 30 and a recovery support blade 31 projecting from the flat plate portion 28 to the turning main body side so as to surround the flat plate central opening. ing. Outflow hole 16 and inflow hole 17
Are located in the second and fourth quadrants, not in the vertical and vertical positions, the end of the transport screw 22 can be located in a location that is excellent in space efficiency.

The turning body 13 has a cylindrical shape having a relatively large central opening as shown in FIG. A gear 34 for transmitting a rotational drive from a drive unit (not shown) is attached to the outer peripheral side wall. When returning the developer to the circulation system, the developer rotates in the direction of arrow A, for example. Further, on the inner surface of the turning main body 13, a developer supply unit 35 for sending out the toner or the developer to the toner / developer conveying device, and a developer collection unit for returning the collected developer to the inside of the container are formed. At least one pair of the developer supply unit 35 and the developer collection unit 36 is provided (two pairs in the illustrated example). The developer supply unit 35 is defined by an outer peripheral side wall of the turning main body 13 and an inner peripheral wall that rubs the outside of the support blade 30 of the lid side plate 14, and a bottom surface between these walls is a downstream side when the developer supply rotation is performed. It is higher than the upstream side and forms a slope. The developer collecting unit 36 has a bottom surface that is a flat surface having the same height as the upstream end of the developer supply unit, and forms an enclosure 37 by an extension of the inner wall of the developer supply unit. Rotation (B
(Reverse rotation), the collected developer is transported.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the turning main body 13 to which the lid side plate 14 is attached, as viewed from the powder container 3 side. As shown in the drawing, the outlet hole 16 has an opening width b smaller than the width c of the developer supply section 35 and is positioned so as to be located radially outward from the inner peripheral wall of the turning main body 13 at a distance a. It is arranged on the flat plate portion 28 of the side plate 14. At this time, the opening width b of the outflow hole 16 is such that a part of the toner or the developer pumped up by the developer supply unit 35 is not discharged from the outflow hole 16 but stays in the developer turning space 15 and naturally falls. It must be chosen so that it is possible and the outflow from the outflow hole 16 is the same as or slightly greater than the inflow from the inflow hole 17.

FIG. 6 shows the appearance of the powder container 3 to which the shutter 6 is attached. The shutter 6 has a projection 38 and a recess 39 for engaging with the case shutter. Both the projection and the depression may be provided as shown in the figure, but only one of them may be formed in accordance with the notch or the projection on the case side.
Holes 44 and 45 corresponding to the holes in the lid side plate are formed in the shutter flat portion. The container is set in the apparatus main body, and the protrusion 38 and the peripheral notch (not shown) of the case shutter, and the recess 39 and the case shutter protrusion (not shown) engage with each other to rotate the shutter. The positions of the holes are shifted, and the holes 16 and 17 of the lid side plate are opened.
6 and 17 communicate with 26 and 25, respectively. At that time, the position of the guide (not shown) is also moved by the rotation of the shutter, and is engaged with the tip of the plug 40, and the plug is pulled out from the container.

When the lid side plate 14 and the turning main body 13 are fitted, the flat plate portion 28 of the lid side plate 14, the bottom surfaces of the supply portion and the recovery portion of the turning main body 13, the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral wall of the turning main body 13, and the lid side plate By 14 support blades 30 and 31,
A developer turning space 15 is defined. When the rotating main body 13 rotates, the lid side plate 14 prevents the developer from entering.
A first seal member 48 is mounted between the rotating body 13 and the rotating body 13 (FIG. 2). The sealing member 48 is a rubber-based V-ring, G-seal, or an alternative thereof, such as a sponge. The turning body 1 is used for holding and sealing when the powder container 3 is set in the toner / developer supply device.
A second seal member 49 is also attached to the inner peripheral edge portion of the third member 3, and a third seal member 50 is also attached between the lid 40 and the lid side plate 14.

A series of operations in this embodiment will be described below. For example, if it is determined that there is no toner in the powder container 3 even though the toner concentration of the developing device 2 has decreased and toner replenishment has become necessary, the user
Prompt for replacement. When a new container 3 is installed, the stopper 40 is opened as described above. Upon opening the stopper 40, the drive unit (not shown) drives the turning body 13 via the gear 34 to rotate in the A direction. At the same time, the powder container 3 has the same A
And discharges the toner from the first powder container 9 to the turning space 15. Depending on the spiral state (inclination) of the spiral projection attached to the inner peripheral surface of the first powder container 9, the toner may be discharged by rotating in the B direction. The drive of the powder container may be performed by an independent drive unit,
The turning body may be driven via a transmission mechanism. If the inclination of the spiral projection attached to the inner peripheral surface of the second powder container 10 is the same as that of the first powder container 9, the developer is supplied simultaneously with toner supply. Become. If the spiral projection is in the opposite direction, the developer can be discharged to the rotation space 15 by rotating in the opposite direction to the case of toner supply.

The toner or developer discharged from the opening falls into the turning space 15 and is rotated upward in the developer supply section 35 by the rotation of the turning main body 13 in the A direction and by the inclined surface of the supply section to the toner / developer conveying device. 4 is moved in the direction approaching the hole 4, and the holes 16, 4
Second transport screw 22 that is rotationally driven via 4 and 26
Sent up. At this time, a part of the toner or the developer pumped up by the developer supply unit 35 is supplied to the outflow hole 1.
It is not discharged from 6 and stays in the turning space 15. As a result, the residual toner or the developer is newly supplied to the turning space 15 from the powder container 3.
The mixture with the developer and / or the circulating developer flowing from the inflow hole 17 increases the mixing property. In particular, when the toner or the developer to be pumped next is already prepared in the rotation space 15 as in the case where only one pair of the developer supply unit 35 and the developer recovery unit 36 is provided, the residual toner or the developer is used. The result is that the developer is agitated by free fall, and the mixing property between the toner and the developer is further improved. This is because the developer has a higher specific gravity than the toner, and when the developer flows over the toner, the developer sinks into the toner group through the toner and mixes with the toner. This is because that.

When the toner or the developer is rotated and conveyed by the developer supply section 35 in the turning space, the toner or the developer is conveyed in the space defined by the inclined bottom portion, the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral side wall. Therefore, it is also possible to omit the supply support blade 30 that rubs against the inner peripheral side wall. The second transport screw 22 and the first transport screw 21
When the powder container 3 is driven to rotate, the developer is circulated and conveyed from the developing device 2 at least at the same time. In particular, when replenishing toner, the powder mixing container member 11 In the turning space 15, the toner and the developer mixed by the above-described method are further mixed before reaching the developing device 2, so that the unevenness of the toner density in the developing device 2 can be suppressed to the minimum.

After a predetermined amount of toner has been supplied, the rotation of the powder container 3 is stopped. At this time, the turning body 13 and the first
The transport screw 21 and the second transport screw 22 may stop driving, or may be kept driven. First transport screw 21 and second transport screw 2
When the developing device 2 constitutes a part of the developing device 2, it is preferable that the developing device 2 is always driven from the viewpoint of stirring the developer in the developing device 2. Further, the case shutter 5 is rotated to rotate the case 2
The third holes 25 and 26 may be closed, and only the first transport screw 21 and the second transport screw 22 may be driven.

When all the new toner is discharged from the first powder container 9, the empty powder container 9 is used as a collection container for the deteriorated developer. In the case of collecting the deteriorated developer, the first transport screw 21 and the second transport screw 22 are driven in the same manner as in the case of supplying the toner or the developer, and the turning main body 13 is rotated in the opposite direction to the case of supplying the toner or the developer. In the direction B. The closure is located at a predetermined withdrawal position. The developer is collected at a time when toner replenishment is required due to a decrease in toner concentration by a magnetic toner concentration sensor, an optical toner concentration sensor, a sensor for sensing toner concentration on a photoconductor, or the like in the developing device 2. It is reasonable to match with. A decrease in toner concentration is determined by various sensors, and when the toner in the first powder container 9 runs out, a developer collection mode is set.

The deteriorated developer sent out from the developing device 2 passes through holes 25, 45, and 17 provided on the lower side of the side wall of the case 23 and the like from a drop space 24 formed below the second transport screw 22. Rotating rotating space 15
Get into it. The developer that has entered the turning space 15 accumulates in a space surrounded by the peripheral side wall of the turning main body 13 and the collecting support blade 31, and is lifted upward by the surrounding portion 37 of the developer collecting unit 36, and eventually the collecting support blade 31 It falls at the position where it is interrupted, is picked up by the blades of the stopper 40, slides on the conical surface, and is collected in the first powder container 9. At this time, when the first powder container 9 is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction at the time of toner replenishment, the recovered developer is taken into the container inner side by the action of the inner peripheral spiral projection. The amount of the deteriorated developer collected in the turning space 15 and the first powder container 9 is first stored in the second powder container 10 and the developing device 2
When the amount becomes equal to the amount of the new developer supplied, the collection is terminated. The replacement of the developer with the old one is generally performed by replacing a part of the capacity of the developing device 2, but it is also possible to replace the entire amount. As described above, after the collection is completed, the user is prompted to replace the container as a toner end. In this case, the developer shutter can be completely prevented by rotating the case shutter and the container shutter to close the respective holes.

If the same amount of the circulating developer as the new developer contained in the second powder container 10 is present in the turning space 15, the powder can be collected without performing the collecting operation as described above. By taking out the body container 3, the necessary amount of the developer to be exchanged, which has entered the turning space of the powder mixing container member, is automatically collected.

[0027]

According to the present invention, (1) a container for accommodating the developer and the toner in the respective spaces, and (2) a powder mixing container member fitted to the opening end surface of the container. A detachable toner / developer supply container, wherein the powder mixing container member comprises a turning member and a lid side plate, and the turning member has a cylindrical shape having a central opening corresponding to the opening of the storage container; A space having a developer supply part and a developer recovery part on its inner surface, the developer supply part having a bottom part which is defined by the peripheral side wall and the inner peripheral wall and becomes shallower toward the downstream in the supply rotation direction, The developer collecting section is a flat surface whose bottom surface is at the same height as the upstream end of the developer supply section, and surrounds an enclosing section with a wall constituting the downstream side of the developer supply section and a peripheral side wall of the turning member. The developer during the recovery rotation in the direction opposite to the supply rotation. A flat plate portion capable of transferring and transferring, wherein the lid side plate is capable of forming a closed supply space by rubbing against each upper edge of a peripheral side wall and an inner peripheral wall of the turning member, and toner along with the supply rotation of the turning member. In a toner / developer supply device having an outflow hole and an inflow hole for carrying in / out the developer, a part of the toner / developer pumped up by the space stays in the supply space without being discharged from the outflow hole. As described above, since the width of the space is larger than the opening width of the outflow hole, and the opening of the outflow hole is located at a predetermined distance radially outward from the inner peripheral wall of the turning member, the supplied new toner Mixing and stirring in the above-mentioned supply space without immediately supplying to the developing device makes it possible to supply sufficiently mixed toner and developer to the developing device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a positional relationship between a toner / developer supply device and a developing device according to the present invention, in which a toner / developer conveying device is partially opened.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a powder container, particularly a member of a powder mixing container.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lid side plate constituting the powder mixing container member.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a turning main body constituting the powder mixing container member.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the turning main body to which the lid side plate is attached as viewed from the powder container side.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a powder container to which a shutter is attached.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Powder mixing container members 13 Turning body 14 Lid side plate 15 Developer turning space 16 Outflow hole 35 Developer supply section a Distance between the inner peripheral wall of the turning member and the outflow hole b Opening width of outflow hole c Width of developer supply section

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/08 G03G 21/10

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A detachable toner / developer supply device comprising a storage container for storing a developer and a toner in respective spaces, and a powder mixing container member fitted to an opening end surface of the storage container. The powder mixing container member includes a turning member and a lid side plate, and the turning member has a cylindrical shape having a central opening corresponding to the opening of the storage container, and has a developer supply portion on its inner surface. A developer collection section, wherein the developer supply section is a space having a bottom defined by a peripheral side wall and an inner peripheral wall and having a bottom part which becomes shallower toward the downstream side in the supply rotation direction, and the bottom of the developer collection section A flat surface having the same height as the upstream end of the developer supply section, and an enclosure formed by a wall constituting the downstream side of the developer supply section and a peripheral side wall of the turning member; Rotate and transfer collected developer during collection rotation The lid side plate has a flat plate portion capable of forming a closed supply space by rubbing each upper peripheral edge of a peripheral side wall and an inner peripheral wall of the turning member, and a toner / developing unit in accordance with the supply rotation of the turning member. In a toner / developer supply device having an outflow hole and an inflow hole for carrying in / out a developer, a part of the toner / developer pumped up by the space remains in the supply space without being carried out. A toner / developer supply device, wherein the width is larger than the opening width of the outflow hole, and the opening of the outflow hole is located at a predetermined distance radially outward from the inner peripheral wall of the turning member.