JP6624006B2 - Toner conveying device, image forming device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a toner conveying device provided in the image forming apparatus.

  An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developing unit that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum using toner. In addition, this type of image forming apparatus includes a toner transport device that transports toner supplied from a developer storage unit such as a toner container that stores toner to the development unit.

  For example, the toner transport device includes a first transport path that extends in the horizontal direction, a transport screw that transports toner in the first transport path, and a second transport path that extends downward from the first transport path. A transport path. Here, a configuration in which a moving member such as a coil spring provided in the second conveyance path is reciprocated by an eccentric shaft provided in the conveyance screw to suppress aggregation and fixation of toner in the second conveyance path is known in the related art. (See Patent Document 1).

JP-A-2002-311712

  By the way, in the above-described related art, a pair of support portions that support both ends of the eccentric shaft are provided with wall surfaces orthogonal to the eccentric shaft, and the movement of the moving member in the axial direction of the eccentric shaft is locked by the wall surfaces. ing. However, when a wall surface is provided on the support portion of the transport screw, the transport of the toner to the second transport path is hindered by the wall surface, and toner clogging may occur in the first transport path. On the other hand, when no wall surface is provided on the support portion of the transport screw, the moving member may be hooked on the support portion, and the rotation of the transport screw may be hindered by the movable member hooked on the support portion.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner conveying device and an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing toner clogging in a first conveying path and suppressing a rotation of a conveying screw from being hindered by a moving member.

  A toner conveying device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a first conveying path, a conveying screw, an opening, a second conveying path, an eccentric shaft, and a moving member. The first transport path extends in the horizontal direction. The transport screw is rotatably provided in the first transport path, and transports the toner in the first transport path along the first transport path. The opening is formed in the first transport path. The second transport path is provided to extend from the opening in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotation axis of the transport screw, and guides the toner in the orthogonal direction. The eccentric shaft is provided at a position facing the opening of the transport screw, and is eccentric with respect to the rotation shaft. The moving member has a hook portion that engages with the eccentric shaft and can contact the eccentric shaft at two or more contact points separated in the axial direction, and the second member is moved in response to rotation of the transport screw. It reciprocates in the transport path along the second transport path.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes the toner conveying device and an image forming unit. The image forming unit forms an image based on image data using toner.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the toner clogging in the first transport path and to inhibit the rotation of the transport screw from being hindered by the moving member.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming unit and an intermediate transfer device in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the toner conveying device in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a transport screw and a moving member in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a moving member in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a transport screw and a moving member in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a view showing a modification of the moving member in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a view showing a modification of the moving member in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention. Note that the following embodiments are merely examples embodying the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[Schematic Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 10]
First, a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 10. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the image forming units 31 to 34 and the intermediate transfer device 36.

  For convenience of explanation, the vertical direction in the installation state in which the image forming apparatus 10 can be used (the state shown in FIG. 1) is defined as a vertical direction D1. The front-rear direction D2 is defined with the left side of the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. Further, a left-right direction D3 is defined based on the front of the image forming apparatus 10 in the installed state.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is a multifunction peripheral having a plurality of functions such as a facsimile function and a copy function, as well as a scan function of reading image data from a document and a print function of forming an image based on the image data. The present invention is applicable to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, and a copier.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an ADF (automatic document feeder) 1, an image reading unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a paper feed unit 4, and an operation display unit 5.

  The ADF 1 includes a document setting unit (not shown), a plurality of conveyance rollers, a document pressing unit, a paper discharge unit, and the like, and conveys a document read by the image reading unit 2. The image reading unit 2 includes a document table (not shown), a light source, a plurality of mirrors, an optical lens, a CCD, and the like, and can read image data from a document.

  The operation display unit 5 includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display that displays various information according to a control instruction from a control unit (not shown), and operation keys that input various information to the control unit according to a user operation. Or, it has an operation unit such as a touch panel.

  The paper feed unit 4 includes a paper feed cassette, a sheet transport path, a plurality of transport rollers, and the like, and supplies sheets stored in the paper feed cassette to the image forming unit 3. For example, the sheets accommodated in the sheet cassette are sheet materials such as paper, coated paper, postcards, envelopes, and OHP sheets.

  The image forming unit 3 can execute an image forming process (printing process) for forming a color or monochrome image by an electrophotographic method based on the image data read by the image reading unit 2. Further, the image forming section 3 can execute the printing process based on image data input from an information processing device such as an external personal computer.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming unit 3 includes a plurality of image forming units 31 to 34, an optical scanning device 35, an intermediate transfer device 36, a secondary transfer roller 37, a fixing device 38, And a paper discharge tray 39. Further, the image forming section 3 includes a toner conveying device 6 (see FIG. 3).

  The image forming unit 31 is an electrophotographic image forming unit corresponding to Y (yellow), the image forming unit 32 is C (cyan), the image forming unit 33 is M (magenta), and the image forming unit 34 is K (black). is there. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming units 31 to 34 are arranged in the order of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black from the front along the front-rear direction D2 of the image forming apparatus 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming unit 31 includes a photosensitive drum 311, a charging roller 312, a developing unit 313, a primary transfer roller 314, a drum cleaning unit 315, and a toner container 316.

  The photoreceptor drum 311 is rotatably provided at a position in contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 361 (see FIG. 2). The charging roller 312 charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 311. The developing unit 313 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 311 using toner. The primary transfer roller 314 transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 311 to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 361. The drum cleaning unit 315 cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum 311. The toner container 316 is detachably provided in the image forming unit 3 and stores yellow toner supplied to the developing unit 313.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming units 32 to 34 have the same configuration as the image forming unit 31. For example, the image forming units 32 to 34 include the photosensitive drums 321, 331, and 341. The image forming units 32 to 34 include developing units 323, 333, and 343. The image forming units 32-34 include toner containers 326, 336, and 346. The toner container 326 contains cyan toner, the toner container 336 contains magenta toner, and the toner container 346 contains black toner. Each component included in the image forming units 31 to 34 extends in the left-right direction D3 of the image forming apparatus 10. Here, the photosensitive drums 311, 321, 331, and 341 are examples of the image carrier in the present invention. Further, the toner containers 316, 326, 336, and 346 are examples of the toner container in the present invention.

  The optical scanning device 35 forms an electrostatic latent image on each of the photosensitive drums 311, 321, 331, and 341 included in the image forming units 31 to 34.

  The intermediate transfer device 36 conveys the toner image transferred from each of the photosensitive drums 311, 321, 331, and 341 included in the image forming units 31 to 34 to the intermediate transfer belt 361. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate transfer device 36 includes an intermediate transfer belt 361, a driving roller 362, a tension roller 363, and a belt cleaning unit 364.

  The drive roller 362 and the tension roller 363 are provided separately from each other in the front-rear direction D2 of the image forming apparatus 10. The intermediate transfer belt 361 is stretched by a driving roller 362 and a stretching roller 363. In the intermediate transfer device 36, the driving roller 362 is rotated in a rotation direction D5 shown in FIG. 2 by a driving force supplied from a power source (not shown). As a result, the intermediate transfer belt 361 travels along the movement direction D4 shown in FIG. 2, and conveys the toner image transferred to the surface. The belt cleaning unit 364 cleans the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 361.

  The secondary transfer roller 37 transfers the toner image transferred on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 361 to a sheet supplied by the paper supply unit 4.

  The fixing device 38 fuses and fixes the toner image transferred to the sheet by the secondary transfer roller 37 to the sheet. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the fixing device 38 includes a fixing roller 381 and a pressure roller 382. The fixing roller 381 is provided in contact with the pressure roller 382, and heats the toner image transferred to the sheet to fix it on the sheet. The pressure roller 382 presses a sheet that passes through a contact portion formed between the sheet and the fixing roller 381.

  The sheet on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the discharge tray 39.

  The toner conveying device 6 is provided on the right side of the housing of the image forming apparatus 10. The toner transport device 6 transports the toner supplied from the toner containers 316, 326, 336, and 346 to the developing units 313, 323, 333, and 343, respectively. The toner transport device 6 will be described later in detail.

  In the image forming unit 3, a color image is formed on a sheet supplied from the sheet feeding unit 4 in the following procedure, and the sheet after image formation is discharged to the discharge tray 39.

  First, in the image forming unit 31, the surface of the photosensitive drum 311 is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential by the charging roller 312. Next, the light based on the image data is irradiated on the surface of the photosensitive drum 311 by the optical scanning device 35. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 311.

  Then, the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 311 is developed (visualized) as a yellow toner image by the developing unit 313. Specifically, in the developing unit 313, toner is supplied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 311 by a developing roller 313B (see FIG. 3) provided to face the surface of the photosensitive drum 311. As a result, the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 311 is developed as a toner image. Further, yellow toner is supplied to the developing unit 313 from the toner container 316.

  Subsequently, the yellow toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 311 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 361 by the primary transfer roller 314. On the other hand, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 311 is removed by the drum cleaning unit 315. For example, in the drum cleaning unit 315, toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 311 is removed by a blade-like cleaning member (not shown). The toner removed by the cleaning member is transported to a toner storage container (not shown) by a transport screw (not shown) and collected.

  Next, in the image forming units 32 to 34, toner images of respective colors are formed on the photosensitive drums 321, 331, and 341 included in the image forming units 32 to 34, respectively, in the same processing procedure as that of the image forming unit 31. . Then, the toner images of each color formed on each of the photosensitive drums 321, 331, and 341 are sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 361. As a result, yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toner images are transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 361 in a superimposed manner.

  Then, the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 361 is transferred by the secondary transfer roller 37 to a sheet supplied from the sheet feeding unit 4. On the other hand, the toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 361 is removed by the belt cleaning unit 364. For example, in the belt cleaning unit 364, toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 361 is removed by a brush roller (not shown). Then, the toner removed by the brush roller is transported to the toner container by a transport screw (not shown) and collected.

  Thereafter, the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is formed into an image by fusing and fixing the toner image by the fixing device 38, and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 39.

  Next, the toner transport device 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the configuration of the toner conveying device 6. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the transport screw 62, the eccentric shaft 64, and the moving member 65. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the moving member 65. FIG. 6 is a right side view showing the configuration of the transport screw 62, the eccentric shaft 64, and the moving member 65.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the toner conveying device 6 includes a first conveying path 61, a conveying screw 62, a plurality of second conveying paths 63, a plurality of eccentric shafts 64, and a plurality of moving members 65. The plurality of second transport paths 63, the plurality of eccentric shafts 64, and the plurality of moving members 65 are provided corresponding to the toner containers 316, 326, 336, and 346, respectively. FIG. 3 shows the second transport path 63, the eccentric shaft 64, and the moving member 65 corresponding to the toner containers 316 and 326.

  The first transport path 61 is provided on the right side of the housing of the image forming apparatus 10 so as to extend in the front-rear direction D2. Four openings 61A (see FIG. 3) that are separated in the front-rear direction D2 are provided on the upper surface of the first transport path 61.

  On the other hand, a discharge port 316A (see FIG. 3) that opens downward is provided at the right end of the toner container 316. The toner container 316 is connected to the first transport path 61 by connecting the discharge port 316A to the opening 61A provided at the forefront in the front-rear direction D2. The toner container 316 includes a transport screw 316B (see FIG. 3) extending in the left-right direction D3. In the toner container 316, the yellow toner accommodated therein is transported to the discharge port 316A by the transport screw 316B. Thus, yellow toner is supplied from the toner container 316 to the first transport path 61. Further, the toner containers 326, 336, and 346 have the same configuration as the toner container 316, and are connected to the respective openings 61A similarly to the toner container 316.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first transport path 61 is provided with a plurality of partition walls 61B that divide the space in the first transport path 61 in the front-rear direction D2. In the first transport path 61, the plurality of partition walls 61B form four transport spaces 61C (see FIG. 3) in which the toners of the respective colors supplied from the toner containers 316, 326, 336, and 346 are individually transported. .

  Four discharge ports 61D (see FIG. 3) that are separated in the front-rear direction D2 are formed on the bottom surface of the first transport path 61. Specifically, four discharge ports 61D are formed corresponding to each of the transport spaces 61C. Here, the outlet 61D is an example of the opening in the present invention.

  The transport screw 62 is rotatably provided in the first transport path 61, and transports the toner in the first transport path 61 along the first transport path 61. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the transport screw 62 has a rotation shaft 62A extending in the front-rear direction D2 across the four transport spaces 61C. The transport screw 62 has a plurality of spiral blades 62B extending along the front-rear direction D2 which is the axial direction of the rotation shaft 62A.

  A plurality of spiral blades 62B are provided in pairs in each of the transport spaces 61C. Specifically, the pair of spiral blades 62B are provided in the transport space 61C with the discharge port 61D interposed therebetween, and are symmetric with respect to a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis 62A. Each of the spiral blades 62B transports the toner in the transport space 61C to the discharge port 61D.

  The second transport path 63 is provided to extend downward from each of the discharge ports 61D, and guides the toner downward. The lower end of each of the second transport paths 63 is connected to the right side surface of each of the developing units 313, 323, 333, and 343 (see FIG. 3). That is, each of the second transport paths 63 guides the toner transported to the outlet 61D by the transport screw 62 to each of the developing units 313, 323, 333, and 343. The extension direction of the second conveyance path 63 may be inclined rightward or leftward.

  On the other hand, the developing unit 313 includes a transport screw 313A (see FIG. 3) extending in the left-right direction D3. The transport screw 313 </ b> A extends into the second transport path 63, straddling a connecting portion connecting the second transport path 63 and the developing unit 313. The transport screw 313A transports the toner guided to the lower end of the second transport path 63 to the inside of the developing unit 313. The developing units 323, 333, and 343 have the same configuration as the developing unit 313.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the eccentric shaft 64 is provided at a position facing each of the discharge ports 61D of the transport screw 62. The eccentric shaft 64 is eccentric with respect to the rotation shaft 62A of the transport screw 62, as shown in FIG.

  The eccentric shaft 64 is supported by a pair of support portions 62C (see FIG. 4) provided on the transport screw 62. The pair of support portions 62C are provided at positions between the pair of spiral blades 62B corresponding to the respective transport spaces 61C in the transport screw 62. The pair of support portions 62C protrude from the rotation shaft 62A of the transport screw 62 in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction D2 which is the axial direction of the rotation shaft 62A. Both ends of the eccentric shaft 64 in the axial direction are supported by protruding ends 62C1 (see FIG. 6) of a pair of support portions 62C.

  The moving member 65 is provided in each of the second transport paths 63. As shown in FIG. 5, the moving member 65 has a rod-shaped portion 651 and a hook portion 652.

  The bar-shaped portion 651 is formed in a bar shape extending in the up-down direction D1, as shown in FIG. The moving member 65 is provided in the second transport path 63 in a posture in which the rod-shaped portion 651 extends along the second transport path 63. The hook 652 is connected to the upper end of the rod 651 and engages with the eccentric shaft 64. Thus, the moving member 65 reciprocates along the second transport path 63 in the second transport path 63 in accordance with the rotation of the transport screw 62. As the moving member 65 reciprocates, the toner aggregated or fixed in the second conveyance path 63 is released by the rod-shaped portion 651. Thereby, aggregation and fixation of the toner in the second conveyance path 63 are suppressed.

  For example, the moving member 65 is integrally formed by a wire. Note that the bar-shaped portion 651 may be formed in a coil shape extending in the up-down direction D1. Further, in the moving member 65, the hook portion 652 may be formed by a member different from the rod portion 651.

  By the way, a configuration in which a wall surface orthogonal to the eccentric shaft 64 is provided on the pair of support portions 62C (see FIG. 4) and the movement of the moving member 65 in the front-rear direction D2 is locked by the wall surface is known as a conventional technology. However, when the wall surface is provided on the pair of support portions 62 </ b> C, the conveyance of the toner to the second conveyance path 63 by the conveyance screw 62 is hindered by the wall surface, and toner clogging occurs in the first conveyance path 61. There is.

  On the other hand, when the wall surface is not provided on the pair of support portions 62C, the moving member 65 is hooked on the support portion 62C, and the rotation of the transport screw 62 may be hindered by the moving member 65 hooked on the support portion 62C. . For example, the hook portion 652 may be formed in a C shape along the circumference of the eccentric shaft 64. In this configuration, when the transport screw 62 rotates, the moving member 65 rotates around a contact point between the hook portion 652 and the eccentric shaft 64 in a rotation direction D6 (see FIG. 5) along a horizontal plane. As a result, the hook portion 652 may be hooked on the protruding end portion 62C1 (see FIG. 6) of the support portion 62C, and the rotation of the transport screw 62 may be hindered by the moving member 65 caught on the protruding end portion 62C1.

  On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as described below, toner clogging in the first transport path 61 is suppressed, and rotation of the transport screw 62 is inhibited by the moving member 65. It is possible to suppress that.

  Specifically, in the image forming apparatus 10, the hook portion 652 has two eccentric shafts 64 at two contact points P1 and P2 (see FIG. 5) separated in the front-rear direction D2 which is the axial direction of the rotation shaft 62A of the transport screw 62. Can be contacted.

  More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the hook portion 652 has a first curved portion 652A and a second curved portion 652B. The first curved portion 652A is curved around the axis of the eccentric shaft 64 and engages with the eccentric shaft 64. The second curved portion 652B is curved around the eccentric shaft 64 at a position separated from the first curved portion 652A in the front-rear direction D2, and engages with the eccentric shaft 64. The first curved portion 652A and the second curved portion 652B are formed to be curved in a C shape along the axis of the eccentric shaft 64. The lower end of the first curved portion 652A is an end of a wire constituting the moving member 65. Further, the upper end of the first curved portion 652A is connected to the upper end of the second curved portion 652B by the first connection portion 652C shown in FIG. Further, the lower end of the second curved portion 652B is connected to the rod-shaped portion 651 by a second connecting portion 652D shown in FIG. An engagement position of the first curved portion 652A with the eccentric shaft 64 is a contact point P1. The engagement position of the second curved portion 652B with the eccentric shaft 64 is the contact point P2.

  Thus, when the moving member 65 turns in the turning direction D61 (see FIG. 5), the hook portion 652 contacts the eccentric shaft 64 at the contact point P1, and the turning of the moving member 65 is suppressed. Further, when the moving member 65 turns in the turning direction D62 (see FIG. 5), the hook portion 652 contacts the eccentric shaft 64 at the contact point P2, and the turning of the moving member 65 is suppressed. Therefore, as compared with the configuration in which the hook portion 652 is formed in a C-shape, the rotation of the moving member 65 in the rotation direction D6 is suppressed, and the hook portion 652 becomes the protruding end portion 62C1 of the support portion 62C (FIG. 6). Therefore, the rotation of the transport screw 62 is prevented from being hindered by the moving member 65.

  Note that the hook portion 652 may be able to contact the eccentric shaft 64 at three or more contact points separated in the front-rear direction D2 which is the axial direction of the rotation shaft 62A.

  Here, the eccentric shaft 64 is adjacent to the spiral blade 62B in the front-rear direction D2 which is the axial direction of the rotary shaft 62A, and the rotary shaft 62A of the end 62B1 (see FIG. 6) of the spiral blade 62B on the eccentric shaft 64 side. Eccentric in a direction different from the direction of projection from That is, the pair of support portions 62C are provided to project from the rotation shaft 62A in a direction different from the direction in which the end portion 62B1 of the spiral blade 62B projects.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the pair of support portions 62C are provided so as to protrude from the rotation shaft 62A in the direction (downward) opposite to the direction in which the end 62B1 of the spiral blade 62B protrudes (upward). . Therefore, the eccentric shaft 64 supported by the pair of support portions 62C is eccentric in the direction (downward) opposite to the direction in which the end 62B1 of the spiral blade 62B protrudes (upward).

  Thus, the eccentric shaft 64 does not hinder the conveyance of the toner by the end 62B1 of the spiral blade 62B.

  Note that the eccentric shaft 64 may be eccentric in a direction intersecting with the protruding direction of the end portion 62B1 of the spiral blade 62B. Further, the eccentric shaft 64 may be eccentric in the same direction as the projecting direction of the end portion 62B1 of the spiral blade 62B.

  Further, the pair of support portions 62C may not be provided on the transport screw 62. For example, the eccentric shaft 64 may be formed by cutting the peripheral surface of the rotation shaft 62A of the transport screw 62. Further, the eccentric shaft 64 may be supported by each of the ends 62B1 of the pair of spiral blades 62B.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 10, the hook portion 652 that engages with the eccentric shaft 64 can contact the eccentric shaft 64 at two contact points P1 and P2 that are separated in the front-rear direction D2 that is the axial direction of the rotation shaft 62A. It is. Thereby, the rotation of the moving member 65 in the rotation direction D6 is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the moving member 65 from being caught on the pair of support portions 62C without providing the wall surface on the pair of support portions 62C. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the toner clogging in the first transport path 61 and to prevent the rotation of the transport screw 62 from being hindered by the moving member 65.

  The toner conveying device 6 may be provided with a connection passage extending upward from the opening 61A of the first conveying path 61 and connecting the opening 61A and the outlet 316A of the toner container 316. . Further, the eccentric shaft 64 may be provided at a position facing the opening 61A of the transport screw 62, and the moving member 65 may be provided at the connection passage. In this case, the opening 61A is another example of the opening in the present invention. Further, the connection path is another example of the second transport path 63 in the present invention.

  Further, the toner conveying device 6 may be used for conveying the toner from the drum cleaning units 315, 325, 335, and 345 and the belt cleaning unit 364 to the toner container.

[Modification]
Hereinafter, a modified example of the hook portion 652 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

  FIG. 7 shows one modified example of the hook portion 652. The hook portion 652 shown in FIG. 7 can contact the eccentric shaft 64 at two contact points P3 and P4 separated in the front-back direction D2 which is the axial direction of the rotation shaft 62A.

  Specifically, the hook portion 652 shown in FIG. 7 has a curved portion 652E and an annular portion 652F. The curved portion 652 </ b> E is curved around the axis of the eccentric shaft 64 and engages with the eccentric shaft 64. The curved portion 652E is formed to be curved in a C shape along the axis of the eccentric shaft 64. The annular portion 652F is connected to the upper end of the curved portion 652E, and is formed in an annular shape so as to cover the right side from above of the eccentric shaft 64 engaged with the curved portion 652E. The lower end of the curved portion 652E is connected to the rod portion 651. The front end of the annular portion 652F in the front-rear direction D2 is a contact point P3. The rear end of the annular portion 652F in the front-rear direction D2 is a contact point P4.

  Accordingly, when the moving member 65 rotates in the rotation direction D61, the hook portion 652 contacts the eccentric shaft 64 at the contact point P3, and the rotation of the moving member 65 is suppressed. Further, when the moving member 65 turns in the turning direction D62, the hook portion 652 contacts the eccentric shaft 64 at the contact point P4, and the turning of the moving member 65 is suppressed. Therefore, as compared with the configuration in which the hook portion 652 is formed in a C-shape, the rotation of the moving member 65 in the rotation direction D6 is suppressed, and the hook portion 652 becomes the protruding end portion 62C1 of the support portion 62C (FIG. 6). Therefore, the rotation of the transport screw 62 is prevented from being hindered by the moving member 65.

  FIG. 8 shows one modification of the hook portion 652. The hook portion 652 shown in FIG. 8 can contact the eccentric shaft 64 at two contact points P5 and P6 separated in the front-back direction D2 which is the axial direction of the rotation shaft 62A.

  Specifically, the hook part 652 shown in FIG. 8 has a spiral part 652G. The spiral portion 652G is formed in a spiral shape from the upper end of the rod portion 651 around the eccentric shaft 64 and engages with the eccentric shaft 64. The rear end of the spiral portion 652G in the front-rear direction D2 is a contact point P5. The front end of the spiral portion 652G in the front-rear direction D2 is the contact point P6.

  Thus, when the moving member 65 rotates in the rotation direction D61, the hook portion 652 contacts the eccentric shaft 64 at the contact point P5, and the rotation of the moving member 65 is suppressed. Further, when the moving member 65 turns in the turning direction D62, the hook portion 652 contacts the eccentric shaft 64 at the contact point P6, and the turning of the moving member 65 is suppressed. Therefore, as compared with the configuration in which the hook portion 652 is formed in a C-shape, the rotation of the moving member 65 in the rotation direction D6 is suppressed, and the hook portion 652 becomes the protruding end portion 62C1 of the support portion 62C (FIG. 6). Therefore, the rotation of the transport screw 62 is prevented from being hindered by the moving member 65.

1 ADF
2 Image reading unit 3 Image forming unit 4 Paper feeding unit 5 Operation display unit 6 Toner transport device 10 Image forming devices 31 to 34 Image forming unit 35 Optical scanning device 36 Intermediate transfer device 37 Secondary transfer roller 38 Fixing device 39 Paper discharge tray 61 First transport path 62 Transport screw 63 Second transport path 64 Eccentric shaft 65 Moving member 651 Rod 652 Hook

Claims (6)

A first transport path extending in the horizontal direction,
A transport screw rotatably provided in the first transport path and transporting the toner in the first transport path along the first transport path;
An opening formed in the first transport path;
A second transport path that is provided extending from the opening in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the rotation axis of the transport screw, and guides the toner in the orthogonal direction;
An eccentric shaft that is provided at a position facing the opening in the transport screw and is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis,
It has a hook portion that engages with the eccentric shaft and can contact the eccentric shaft at two or more contact points separated in the axial direction, and the inside of the second conveyance path according to the rotation of the conveyance screw. A moving member that reciprocates along the second transport path;
Equipped with a,
The moving member, the toner conveying device that will be formed together by wire. The hook portion is curved around the axis of the eccentric shaft, and is engaged with the eccentric shaft. The first curved portion, and the axis of the eccentric shaft at a position separated from the first curved portion in the axial direction. Having a second curved portion curved along the circumference and engaged with the eccentric shaft;
The toner conveying device according to claim 1. The transport screw has a spiral blade extending along the axial direction,
The eccentric shaft is adjacent to the spiral blade in the axial direction, and is eccentric in a direction different from a direction in which the end of the spiral blade on the eccentric shaft side protrudes from the rotation shaft.
The toner conveying device according to claim 1. The transport screw protrudes from the rotating shaft in the different direction, and has a pair of supporting portions that support the eccentric shaft at a protruding end portion.
The toner conveying device according to claim 3. The first transport path is used for transporting toner supplied from a toner storage unit that stores toner,
The second transport path guides the toner to a developing unit that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier using the toner.
The toner conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A toner conveying device as claimed in claim 1,
An image forming unit that forms an image based on image data using toner,
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images