JPH02134669A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To minimize the turning radius of a carrying pipe and to readily connect joint parts to a developing device by providing the carrying pipe so that its midway part is turnable. CONSTITUTION:A toner recovering device 2 receives toner dropped and discharged from the toner discharge part 16a of a cleaning device 16 with the joint part 22, a twist coil spring 23 rotated and driven by a driving part carries the toner through the carrying pipe 21. The toner is dropped to the toner supply part 13a of the developing device 13 from the joint part 24, and led to the developing device 13. The carrying pipe 21 is U-shaped, and its midway part 21a is supported by a stay 17 and divided into an upper pipe 21b on the side of the developing device 13 and a lower pipe 21c on the side of the cleaning device 16. However, they are fitted turnably in the midway part 21a. Thus, the device can be miniaturized, and the joint part of the carrying pipe 21 can be readily connected to the developing device.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Fields The present invention is provided with a toner recovery device that returns toner removed from a photoreceptor drum of an image forming apparatus by a cleaning device from the cleaning device to a developing device. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

Conventional technology> Conventionally, image forming apparatuses have been provided with an image forming section consisting of a photoreceptor drum, a cleaning device, a developing device, etc. that can be pulled out forward from the main body of the image forming apparatus in order to facilitate inspection work. , there is one with an image forming section pull-out type.

On the other hand, in an image forming apparatus, toner removed from a photoreceptor drum by a cleaning device is stored in a predetermined container, and when the container is filled with toner, the container is taken out from the image forming apparatus and the toner is discharged. was. Furthermore, when the amount of toner in the developing device decreases, new toner is supplied.

Therefore, there is a problem that maintenance is time-consuming, and since a large amount of toner is used, there is a problem that the cost for image forming processing increases.

FIG. 4 shows an image forming apparatus provided in order to solve the above problem in the image forming apparatus of the image forming unit pull-out type.
A toner recovery device (103) returns the removed toner from the cleaning device (101) to the developing device (102).
is provided so that the removed toner can be reused (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 140373/1983).

In the figure, the toner collection device (103) is located on the pulling-out side of the image forming section, which consists of a cleaning device (101), a photosensitive drum (104), a developing device (102), etc., in order to facilitate its inspection. It is provided. The toner recovery device (103) is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the conveyance pipe (105) of the toner recovery device (103) is installed so that it does not get in the way of pulling out the image forming unit (100). By rotating around the lower end side, it is possible to retreat from the extraction track of the image forming section (100).

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, as described above, the conveyance pipe (105) must be rotated each time the image forming section (100) is pulled out, resulting in poor inspection workability. In addition, the conveyor pipe (
Since the above-mentioned rotation of 105) is performed around the lower end side, the retracting operation becomes large, and since such a large retracting operation is performed within the main body of the image forming apparatus, - layer workability is deteriorated and Since it is necessary to secure a retreat space for the conveyance pipe (105) within the main body of the image forming apparatus, there is a problem that the image forming apparatus becomes larger.

Furthermore, to prevent toner scattering, a conveyor pipe (105
) in which the connecting portion (105a) of the toner collecting device (103 ) If the positional accuracy of the attachment of
There was a problem that it became difficult to connect accurately to a).

This invention was made in view of the above problems, and
It can be made smaller, has better workability during inspection, and
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which a connecting portion of a conveying pipe can be easily connected to a developing device.

<Means for Solving the Problems> An image forming apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above object has the following features:
An image forming section including at least a cleaning device, a photoreceptor drum, and a developing device is provided so as to be pulled out from the main body of the image forming apparatus in the axial direction of the photoreceptor drum, and is configured to transport toner discharged from the cleaning device to the developing device. In an image forming apparatus provided with a toner recovery device having a conveyance pipe, the toner recovery device is provided so as to be pulled out from the main body of the image forming apparatus together with an image forming section, and the conveyance pipe is connected to a connecting section with a developing device. The device is characterized in that it is rotatably provided in the middle so that it can be moved away from the developing device.

Further, the connecting portion of the conveying pipe is provided with an opening/closing lid that is biased to a closed state by a biasing means, and the opening/closing lid is provided with an opening/closing lid that is attached to the connecting portion of the developing device when the connecting portion is connected to a predetermined portion of the developing device. An engaging portion that engages with a predetermined portion and opens the opening/closing lid against the urging means may be provided.

Effect> According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, when the image forming section is pulled out from the image forming apparatus for inspection, the toner collection device is pulled out from the image forming apparatus together with the image forming section. Further, in this state, the conveying pipe can be rotated in the middle thereof to separate the connecting portion of the conveying pipe from the developing device.

Further, since the rotation radius of the conveying pipe is small, when the connecting portion is connected to the developing device, it is possible to reduce the deviation in the positional relationship between the connecting portion and the developing device due to the influence of the mounting accuracy of the toner recovery device.

Further, when an opening/closing lid having the above-mentioned engaging portion is provided at the connecting portion of the conveying pipe and the opening/closing lid is biased by the aforementioned urging means, the engaging portion of the opening/closing lid is pressed during the connection. The opening/closing lid can be engaged with a predetermined portion of the developing device to open the opening/closing lid against the urging means, and the opening/closing lid can be engaged with the opening/closing lid when the connecting portion of the conveying pipe is separated from the prescribed portion of the developing device. The opening/closing lid can be closed by the biasing means by disengaging the part from the predetermined part of the developing device.

<Example> Embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in which an image forming section (1) is disposed below the optical section.

The image forming section (1) includes a photoreceptor drum (11), a charger (12) arranged in order around the photoreceptor drum (11), a developing device (13), and a transfer charger (14).
, separation charger (15) and cleaning device (16)
).

The image forming section (1) forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating a light signal corresponding to an image signal onto the surface of the photoreceptor drum (II) which has been negatively charged by a charger (12). , after the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image by a developing device (13), the toner image is transferred to a transfer charger (
14) onto the paper (P), and the paper (P)
The photoreceptor drum (11) is separated by the charger (15).
), and then the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum (II) is removed by a cleaning device (I6).

At least a cleaning device (16), a photosensitive drum (11), and a developing device (13) of the image forming section (1).
As shown in FIG. 1, it can be physically pulled out forward from the image forming apparatus main body (3). The developing device (13) also includes a photosensitive drum (11) from the image forming section (1).
) can be removed in the radial direction. Further, on the front side of the image forming section (1), a toner collecting device (2) that conveys the toner discharged from the cleaning device (16) to the developing device (I3) is pulled out together with the image forming section (1). placed as possible.

In FIG. 1, the toner recovery device (2) is provided with a conveyance pipe (21) and one end of the conveyance pipe (21), and a toner discharge section (lead) of a cleaning device (16).
), and the connecting part (22
), and a torsion coil spring (
23), and a connecting portion (24) provided at the other end of the conveying pipe (21) and connected to the toner supply section (13a) of the developing device (13).

The above-mentioned toner collection device (2) includes a cleaning device (1).
The toner discharged from the toner discharging section (lea) of G) is stopped by the connecting section (22) and passed through the conveying pipe (21) by the torsion coil spring (23) rotated by the driving section. Transport the connecting part (2
4) to the toner supply section (13a) of the developing device (13), and then guided to the developing device (13).

The conveying pipe (21) has a U-shape, and its middle part (21a) is supported by the stay (17), and in the middle part (21a), the upper part of the developing device (13) side is Pipe (21b) and cleaning device (
16) and a lower pipe (21c) on the side. The above upper pipe (21b) and lower pipe (21c) are F
They are self-sealing and rotatably fitted. Above stay (17)
is a shackle (171) attached to the support plate (1g) on the drawer side of the image forming section (1), and the shackle (17
1), and is rotatably attached to the upper pipe (21b
) and a lower pipe (21c), each of which is rotatably supported by a holder (172) and a holder (173).

FIG. 2 shows a connected state and a non-connected state between the connecting part (24) of the conveying pipe (21) and the toner supply part (13a) of the developing device (13). In the figure, the toner supply section (13a) is in the shape of a container with an open top.

The connecting portion (24) includes an opening/closing lid (25) for opening and closing an opening (not shown) at the lower part thereof, and a torsion spring as a biasing means for urging the opening/closing lid (25) to a closed state. f2G)
is provided. In the connected state, the opening/closing lid (25) engages with the upper edge (13b) of the toner supply section (13a) and resists the torsion spring (2G).
) is provided with an engaging portion (25a) that can open the lock.

According to the configuration of this embodiment, the toner collection device (2) can be pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body (3) together with the image forming section (1), so when pulling out the image forming section (1), the conveying pipe (21) is removed. This eliminates the need for evacuation operations, and therefore
Good inspection workability.

Further, since the conveying pipe (21) is rotatably provided at the intermediate portion (21a) so as to separate the connecting portion (24) from the toner supplying portion (13a) of the developing device (13), the conveying pipe The turning radius of (21) can be made smaller,
Therefore, the connecting portion (24) is connected to the toner supply portion (13a).
When connecting the connecting part (24) to the toner supplying part (13a), it is possible to reduce misalignment in the positional relationship between the connecting part (24) and the toner supplying part (13a) due to the influence of the mounting accuracy of the toner collection device (2). It can be easily connected to L3a). Moreover, the conveying pipe (21) is connected to the developing device (13).
) It only needs to be rotated when removing it, and there is no need to rotate it in other cases, so the work efficiency is even better.

Furthermore, since the upper pipe (21b) is rotated with the toner collection device (2) pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body (3), the above-mentioned rotation space is secured within the image forming apparatus main body (3). There is no need to do this, and the image forming apparatus can be made smaller.

Moreover, when connecting the connecting portion (24) to the toner supplying portion (13a), the engaging portion (25a) of the opening/closing lid (25) engages with the upper edge of the toner supplying portion (13a), and the above-mentioned connection occurs. Since the opening/closing lid (25) can be opened at the same time, the effort of opening the opening/closing lid (25) can be saved, which is convenient. Further, when the connecting portion (24) is separated from the toner supplying portion (13a), the engagement between the engaging portion (25a) of the opening/closing lid (25) and the upper edge of the donor supplying portion (13a) is released; Since the opening/closing lid (25) can be closed by the torsion spring (26) at the same time as the separation, it is possible to prevent toner from scattering during the separation.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, a well-known screw conveyor can be used as the conveying means, and in this case, the curvature of the bent part of the conveying pipe (21) can be ensured to a large extent as in the case of using a torsion coil spring (23). Since there is no need to do this, the conveying pipe (21>) can be placed closer to the support plate (18), and the image forming apparatus can be further downsized.

Alternatively, the conveying pipe may be provided integrally without being divided, and the intermediate portion of the conveying pipe may be supported by a stay that is rotatable around an axis parallel to the axial direction of the photoreceptor drum. In this case, since the conveyance pipe can be rotated around an axis parallel to the axial direction of the photoreceptor drum, the connection of the connecting portion of the conveyance pipe to both the cleaning device and the developing device can be released at the same time. .

Furthermore, a transfer charger (14) and a separation charger (
15) does not necessarily have to be pulled out integrally with the photoreceptor drum (11) and the like.

In addition, various design changes can be made without changing the gist of the invention.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the toner collection device can be pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body together with the image forming section, so that the operation of retracting the conveying pipe is not necessary when pulling out the image forming section. It can be made unnecessary, so inspection workability is improved. In addition, since the conveying pipe is rotatably provided in the middle, the rotation radius of the conveying pipe can be reduced, and therefore, when connecting the connecting part to the developing device, the mounting accuracy of the toner collecting device can be improved. Misalignment in the positional relationship between the connecting portion and the developing device due to influence can be reduced, and the connecting portion can be easily connected to the developing device. moreover,
Since the rotation of the conveying pipe is performed with the toner collection device pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body, there is no need to secure the rotation space within the image forming apparatus main body, and the image forming apparatus can be made smaller. It has a unique effect.

Further, when the connecting portion of the conveying pipe is provided with an opening/closing lid having the engaging portion, and the opening/closing lid is urged by the urging means, when connecting the connecting portion to the developing device, the above-mentioned At the same time as the connection, the engaging portion of the opening/closing lid engages with a predetermined portion of the developing device to open the opening/closing lid, which is convenient. In addition, when the connecting portion is separated from the developing device, the engaging portion of the opening/closing lid is disengaged from the predetermined portion of the developing device at the same time as the separation, and the opening/closing lid can be closed by the torsion spring. It is possible to prevent toner from scattering when the toner is separated.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the main parts of an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention showing a state in which the image forming section is pulled out, FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the operation of the connecting section of the conveying pipe, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a copying machine, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of a toner collection device of a conventional image forming apparatus. (1)...Image forming section, (2)...Toner collection device, (
3) Image forming apparatus main body, (11) Photoreceptor drum, (13) Developing device, (16) Cleaning device, (21) Conveying pipe, (21a)・
...Middle part, (24)...Connection part, (25)...Opening/closing lid, (25a)...Engagement part, (2B)...Torsion spring as biasing means. Figure Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. At least the cleaning device and photoreceptor An image forming section including a drum and a developing device, from the image forming apparatus main body to the shaft of the photoreceptor drum. It is provided so that it can be pulled out in the Develops the toner discharged from the printing device. Has a transport pipe for transporting to the equipment Image forming equipment equipped with a toner recovery device In the apparatus, the toner collection device includes: Pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body together with the image forming unit. It is provided so that it can be taken out and The connection part with the developing device is connected to the developing device. in the middle so that it can be separated from It is characterized by being rotatably provided. image forming device. 2. A biasing means is provided at the connecting portion of the conveying pipe. The opening/closing lid is energized to the closed state by The opening/closing lid has the above connection. When connecting the developing device and the developing device, engages with the fixed part and lifts up against the biasing means. An engaging part is provided to open the opening/closing lid. Claim 1 above is characterized in that: The image forming apparatus described in .