JP4498637B2 - Toner recycling classifier - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a toner recycling classification device, and more particularly, toner recycling capable of skillfully processing the excess collected toner when a cleaning toner exceeding the processing capability of the toner recycling classification device is supplied from a cleaning device. It relates to a classification device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, effective use of resources has been demanded, and as part of this, it has been demanded to reuse the collected toner (collected toner) in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. As a means for reusing the collected toner, many devices are proposed in which the collected toner is recycled by a cleaning device and transferred to a developing device or a toner replenishing device in the same image forming apparatus.
As an apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, for example, there are a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a complex machine of these.
[0003]
FIG. 6 shows an example of a conventional toner recycling system. After the image formation, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 101 without being transferred to the transfer paper is removed from the photosensitive drum 101 by the cleaning device 105. The toner collected from the cleaning device 105 is transported to the developing device 103 and reused. Reference numeral 102 denotes a charger, 104 denotes a transfer paper conveyance belt, and 106 denotes a toner conveyance path.
However, when the collected toner is actually reused in the same image forming apparatus, there are many cases where the collected toner is mixed with paper powder or there are not a few toner aggregates larger than the appropriate size. For this reason, when the collected toner is returned to the developing device as it is, abnormal images often occur such as white spots and black spots caused by these paper dusts and toner aggregates, which causes a problem in image quality.
[0004]
Therefore, in order to solve these problems, the applicant of the present application has previously proposed a toner recycling classification device using a fur brush and a cylindrical filter (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-64742). In this proposal, the collected toner is sent into the cylindrical filter, the reusable toner is separated from the toner aggregates and the like by the cylindrical filter, and the toner aggregates are discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus. I am doing so.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the toner recycling classification device of the aforementioned Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-64742, it is possible to accurately classify reusable toner and toner agglomerates that are impurities. It is necessary to take measures against the case where excess recovered toner is supplied from the cleaning device.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a toner recycling classifying apparatus that can skillfully process this excessive collected toner when the recovered toner exceeding the processing capacity of the toner recycling classifying apparatus is supplied from a cleaning device. That is.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that a fur brush is disposed in a cylindrical filter means, and the collected toner after image forming processing is recycled while rotating both the filter means and the fur brush. A toner recycling classifying device for separating toner to be used and impurities to be discarded, wherein the toner recycling classifying device includes a rotating filter means and a fur brush, and a classifying unit for classifying the toner to be reused and waste impurities. An over-recovered toner processing unit disposed adjacent to the classifying unit for processing the excessively supplied recovered toner, and the classifying unit between the inlet of the recovered toner and the over-collected toner processing unit. A fixed amount wall is provided for overflowing the collected toner exceeding the processing capacity of the unit to the excessively collected toner processing unit side.
[0008]
In this way, when the collected toner exceeding the processing capability of the classification device has been collected from the cleaning device, or when the classification device has failed, the collected toner is carried out of the image forming unit beyond the fixed amount wall. Therefore, problems such as the mechanism stoppage of the classifier can be avoided.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the excessively collected toner processing section includes a rotating collected toner carrying-out mechanism, and both the impurities classified by the classification section and the collected toner overflowing the quantitative wall are collected. It is characterized in that it is guided to a toner carry-out mechanism.
In this way, both the impurities and the excessively supplied recovered toner can be guided to the recovered toner carrying means, and the configuration of the classification device having both functions can be simplified.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the classification unit and the collected toner carry-out mechanism are rotationally driven by the same rotational driving means.
In this way, the classification unit and the collected toner carry-out mechanism are rotationally driven by the same rotational driving means, so that the configuration of the classification device can be simplified.
[0011]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the rotational drive means for rotationally driving the classification unit and the collected toner carrying-out mechanism are independent rotational drive means.
In this way, since the classification unit and the collected toner carry-out mechanism are independent rotational drive means, for example, even when the classification device fails, the collected toner can be discharged to the outside, and the device (image forming apparatus) The copy function can be maintained.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the illustrated embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a toner recycling system to which the toner recycling classification device ТB of the present embodiment is applied. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the already demonstrated part, and duplication description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1, a toner recycling classification device (hereinafter referred to as a classification device) ТB is provided between the cleaning device 105 and the developing device 103. After the image forming process, the toner collected from the cleaning device 105 (“collected toner”, see FIG. 2) is conveyed to the classifier inlet 14 on the upper side of the classifier ТB by the collecting coil 21 through the toner conveyance path 20.
[0014]
The classifying device ТB skillfully classifies the collected toner into reusable toner and toner aggregates that are impurities, and the collected toner that is excessively supplied to the classifying unit 10 via the collection coil 21. And an excessively recovered toner processing unit 30 for processing.
Reference numeral 40 denotes a waste toner bottle that stores “impurities” such as paper powder and toner agglomerates. Reference numeral 41 denotes a waste toner path that conveys paper powder and toner agglomerates.
Between the classification device inlet 14 and the upper side of the developing device 103, a classification unit 10 and an excessively collected toner processing unit 30, which will be described below, are arranged in parallel, orthogonal to the collection coil 21 (see FIG. 5). The collected toner conveyed to the rear part of the machine (image forming apparatus) by the excessively collected toner processing unit 30 is sent to the waste toner bottle 40 via the waste toner path 41.
[0015]
Next, details of the classification device ТB will be described.
First, the classifying unit 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the classifying unit 10, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cylindrical filter 11 constituting the classifying unit 10.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the classifying unit 10 includes a cylindrical filter 11 having a net portion 11 b and a fur brush 12 provided on the inside of the filter 11 and coaxially with the filter 11. In the fur brush 12, hair (brush portion) made of polyacetal or the like is formed in a spiral shape so as to convey impurities F such as paper dust toward the opening 11f as the fur brush rotates. Reference numeral 11d denotes an opening cover that forms the opening 11f.
[0016]
The filter 11 includes a frame portion 11a that forms a cylindrical “filter means” in which a window 11c for attaching a mesh portion 11b that forms a “filter means” having a filter function is formed. The material of the frame portion 11a is polyacetal. And a resin molded product such as polybutylene terephthalate, and the material of the net portion 11b is a metal or resin wire. Use a mesh of 200 mesh.
[0017]
The filter 11 (see FIG. 2) is rotatably attached to a hermetically sealed housing 13 that prevents the collected toner from leaking outside.
The fur brush 12 is attached to a fur brush shaft 12a that is rotatably supported by the housing 13, and the fur brush 12 is formed so that the outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter up to the net part 11b, and the net part is formed inside the frame part 11a. 11b and the front end of the fur brush 12 are rubbed and rotated.
A fur brush gear 15 (described later) for rotating the filter 11 is fixed to the left end of the fur brush shaft 12a (in FIG. 2). The fur brush gear 15 is rotationally driven by a rotational driving means such as a motor (not shown).
[0018]
Reference numeral 16 denotes a screw formed in a spiral shape for feeding the recovered toner K sent through the inlet 13 b formed in the casing 13 of the classifying unit 10 into the classifying unit 10. Reference numeral 13a denotes an opening window for discharging the classified impurities F. Below the inlet 13b, a fixed wall 17 is formed that causes the collected toner K to overflow into the excessively collected toner processing unit 30 when the collected toner K exceeding the processing capacity of the classifying unit 10 (excessive) is sent (FIG. 4, FIG. 4). See FIG. 5, below).
A portion of the housing 13 below the inlet 13b is referred to as an inlet cover portion 13Aa (see FIG. 4).
[0019]
Next, the excessively collected toner processing unit 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a drop window 22 a is formed at the upper end of the cylindrical body 22 constituting the toner transport path 20 to drop the transported collected toner K onto the classifier ТB.
Below the drop window 22 a, the screw 16 of the classification unit 10 arranged in parallel and the carry-out coil 32 which is a “collected toner carry-out mechanism” of the excessively collected toner processing unit 30 are arranged orthogonal to the collection coil 21.
The carry-out coil 32 is fixed to the coil shaft 31, and a coil gear 33 that is screwed to the fur brush gear 15 is fixed to the lower end of the coil shaft 31 (in FIG. 5). In this way, the classifying unit 10 and the excessively collected toner processing unit 30 can be simultaneously rotated by a single motor (not shown).
[0020]
In addition, the fixed-quantity wall 17 is disposed between the screw 16 of the classifying unit 10 arranged in parallel and the carry-out coil 32 of the excessively collected toner processing unit 30. The height of the fixed wall 17 is set slightly lower than the maximum value of the processing capability of the collected toner K when the filter 11 of the classification unit 10 is rotated at a predetermined speed. That is, if the fixed wall 17 is too low, a large amount of collected toner K is discharged before classification, which increases waste. On the other hand, if it is too high, the classification unit 10 may not function normally or the filter 11 is normal. There is a risk that it will not rotate.
[0021]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the collected toner K containing paper powder, toner aggregates, and the like is peeled off from the surface of the photosensitive drum 101 by the cleaning device 105. The collected toner K that has been peeled off is dropped from the drop window 22a onto the classification unit 10 by the collection coil 21 of the toner transport path 20 (see FIGS. 1 and 4). The collected toner K that has fallen on the classification unit 10 (see FIG. 2) passes through the recycle toner R that passes through the mesh of the mesh unit 11b and the mesh of the mesh when the frame unit 11a and the fur brush 12 rub against each other. It is separated into impurities F such as paper dust and toner aggregates that cannot be obtained.
The recycled toner R that has passed through the mesh is sent to the developing device 103 and reused.
[0022]
Impurities F, such as paper dust and toner agglomerates that could not pass through the mesh, were sequentially sent to the opening 11f by the fur brush 12 in which the hair was wound in a spiral shape, and discharged out of the filter 11 from the opening 11f. Thereafter, the toner is carried out to the excessively collected toner processing unit 30 through the opening window 13a (see FIGS. 2 and 5), and is carried to the waste toner bottle 40 by the carry-out coil 32.
[0023]
By the way, the classifying unit 10 has the processing capability described above depending on its size, the rotational speed of the filter 11, and the like. However, in the cleaning device 105, when the toner after the image forming process on the photosensitive drum 101 is peeled off, the recovered toner K is peeled off beyond the processing capability, or the classification unit 10 breaks down and becomes unrotatable. There is a fear.
When the collected toner K is transported beyond the processing capacity, the collected toner K that has fallen from the drop window 22a to the classification unit 10 accumulates on the inlet cover portion 13Aa and eventually passes through the fixed wall 17 ( 4 and FIG. 5, it falls to the carry-out coil cover portion 13 </ b> Ab of the excessively recovered toner processing portion 30. The unclassified recovered toner K beyond the fixed wall 17 is also carried out to the waste toner bottle 40 by the carry-out coil 32 in the same manner as the impurities F carried out through the opening window 13a. Therefore, even when the collected toner K having a processing capacity or more is conveyed to the classification device ТB, it is possible to prevent the normal operation of the classification device ТB from being affected.
[0024]
In addition, although the configuration of the classification device ТB is complicated, the collected toner K that has passed through the quantitative wall 17 can be guided again to the classification device ТB via another path to perform the classification process.
[0025]
Although the present embodiment has been described for the case of an image forming apparatus, it is needless to say that the present invention can also be applied to a process cartridge.
Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the fur brush shaft 12a and the coil shaft 31 are rotated by one rotation driving means by screwing the gears 15 and 33 is described. May be rotated by separate rotational driving means (for example, a motor).
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be exhibited.
According to the first aspect, when the collected toner exceeding the processing capability of the classifying device has been collected from the cleaning device, or when the classifying device fails, the collected toner is carried out of the image forming unit beyond the fixed amount wall. Therefore, it is possible to avoid problems such as stopping the mechanism of the classifier.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, both the impurities and the excessively supplied recovered toner can be guided to the recovered toner carrying-out means, and the configuration of the classification device having both functions can be simplified.
[0027]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the classifying unit and the collected toner carry-out mechanism are rotationally driven by the same rotational driving means, so that the configuration of the classifying device can be simplified.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the classification unit and the collected toner carrying mechanism are independent rotation driving means, for example, even when the classification device fails, the collected toner can be discharged to the outside. The copying function of the forming apparatus) can be maintained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner recycling system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a classifying unit constituting the classifying device in the same embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a filter constituting the classifying unit in the same embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the classifying device in the same embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the classification device as viewed from above in the same embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional toner recycling system.
[Explanation of symbols]
D: Arrow F indicating overflow of collected toner ... Impurity K ... Collected toner R ... Recycled toner 10 ... Classification unit 11 ... Filter 11a ... Frame unit 11b ... Net unit 11c ... Window 11d ... Opening cover 11f ... Opening unit 12 ... Fur Brush 12a ... Fur brush shaft 13 ... Housing 13A ... Classification device cover 13Aa ... Inlet cover portion 13Ab ... Unloading coil cover portion 13a ... Opening window 15 ... Fur brush gear 16 ... Screw 17 ... Metering wall 20 ... Toner transport path 21 ... Recovery Coil 22 ... Cylinder 22a ... Drop window 30 ... Excess recovery toner processing unit 31 ... Coil shaft 32 ... Out coil 33 ... Coil gear 101 ... Photoconductor drum 102 ... Charger 103 ... Developer 104 ... Transfer paper transport belt 105 ... Cleaning Device 106 ... Toner transport path

Claims (4)

A toner recycling classifying device in which a fur brush is disposed in a cylindrical filter means, and both the filter means and the fur brush are rotated, and the collected toner after image forming processing is separated into toner to be reused and impurities to be discarded. Because
The toner recycling and classifying device includes: a reusable toner comprising the rotating filter means and a fur brush; a classifying unit for classifying into waste impurities; and an overcollected toner for processing an excessively supplied collected toner disposed adjacent to the classifying unit. A processing unit,
A fixed wall is provided between the inlet of the classifying unit to which the collected toner is fed and the excessively collected toner processing unit to overflow the collected toner exceeding the processing capability of the classifying unit to the excessively collected toner processing unit side. A toner recycling classifier.   The excessively collected toner processing unit is provided with a rotating collected toner carrying-out mechanism, and guides both the impurities classified by the classification unit and the collected toner overflowing the quantitative wall to the collected toner carrying-out mechanism. The toner recycling classification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein   3. The toner recycling classifying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the classifying unit and the collected toner carry-out mechanism are rotationally driven by the same rotational driving unit.   3. The toner recycling classifying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotational driving means for rotationally driving the classification unit and the collected toner carrying-out mechanism are independent rotational driving means.

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