JPH0227386A - Device for giving vibration to waste toner recovery container - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To raise the recovery efficiency without exerting an undesirable influence on an image by giving vibration to a waste toner recovery container by interlocking with forward and backward movements of a developing device at the time of non-image formation. CONSTITUTION:A recovery container 30 is restored by a spring 32. When a developing unit 1 executes a descending movement at the time of non-image formation, an eccentric cam 47 synchronized with a pinion 45 rotates and gives vibration by interlocking with said movement. By this vibration, a bridge formation phenomenon of a waste toner is prevented in the container 30, and also, a toner drop point is made even like a plane, and a leakage of the waste toner from a throw-in port 30 is also prevented. When the developing device 1 ascends, a transfer action of a one-way clutch 46 is disconnected, only a pinion 45 idles, and the eccentric cam 47 does not rotate. According to this constitution, the containing efficiency of the waste toner is improved, and an uneven development and image irregularities are not generated due to vibration.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a device for applying vibration to a waste toner collection container;
Specifically, a waste toner collection container that stores waste toner collected from an electrostatic latent image carrier of an image forming device such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a laser beam printer is made to have a good storage condition for waste toner. Therefore, it relates to a device that applies vibration.

'Last technology and its problems Generally, residual toner on the surface of an electrophotographic photoreceptor is scraped off with a blade and sent to a collection container. in this case,
If the waste toner is simply dropped into the collection container, it will coagulate and cause cross-linking, resulting in a decrease in the capacity, or the falling part will swell up and leak from the container opening, or the waste toner may be full. There are problems such as malfunction of the sensor that detects whether or not the

Therefore, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-172366, a vibration device has been proposed which vibrates a collection container in conjunction with and synchronizes with the rotation of a photoreceptor drum. However, in this method, the collection container is vibrated during the image forming operation, so
Vibrations have an adverse effect on the photoreceptor drum, and specifically, fluctuations in the distance between the developing sleeve that carries developer in the developing device and the surface of the photoreceptor drum (development interval) can cause uneven development, and problems caused by the optical system. Image blurring occurs due to "blurring" at the image exposure point. In particular, such problems are
This is particularly noticeable in full-color copying machines because they form one image by overlapping toners of multiple colors, and because there are many images that require fine detail, such as photographs, drawings, and graphics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vibration applying device that increases the storage efficiency of a waste toner collection container and does not adversely affect images.

Means and Effects for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having a developing device in which a plurality of developing devices are movably provided with respect to a predetermined developing position of an electrostatic latent image carrier. The present invention is directed to an apparatus, and is characterized in that it is provided with means for applying vibration to the waste toner collection container in conjunction with the forward and backward movement of the developing unit when not image forming.

"During image formation" refers to a state in which image exposure, development, and transfer steps are being processed, and in the present invention, vibration is generated in conjunction with the movement of the developing device toward and away from the waste toner collection container during other non-image forming periods. Grant. Therefore, the crosslinking phenomenon of the waste toner in the collection container is prevented, the storage efficiency is improved, and image formation is not adversely affected.

In particular, it is preferable that the timing of applying the vibration be linked to the operation of the developing unit returning to its initial position before or after a series of image forming operations.

Embodiment Hereinafter, one embodiment of the vibration imparting device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The vibration applying device in this embodiment is applied to a color copying machine, and the developing device can be moved forward and backward to the developing position using an elevator system.

In FIG. 1, a photosensitive drum (60) is installed so as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow (a), and around it is a developing device equipped with a charger (61) and a plurality of developing units (2a) to (2d). A device (1), a transfer drum <62), a residual toner cleaning device (63), and a residual charge eraser lamp (66) are arranged. The image read by an image noder device (not shown) is exposed onto the surface of the photoreceptor drum (60) by a laser beam scanning device (50) [only the laser beam generating bag (51) and folding mirror (52) are shown]. be done.

The developing device (1) performs full-color development; for example, the top developing device (2a) contains cyan, the second develops magenta, the third develops yellow, and the bottom develops black. A developer containing toner is contained therein.

Each developing device (2>) is moved in the vertical direction by a drive means (20), which will be described in detail below, and is sequentially moved to the developing position (60
Complete setting in a) and perform development.

On the other hand, the transfer sheets are fed one by one from the automatic paper feed force roller (54), and then transferred to the conveyor roller pair (55), (56).
is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the transfer drum (62), and one color image is transferred per rotation in the direction of arrow (b). After the transfer, the sheet is peeled off from the transfer drum (62) and transferred to the fixing device (5) via the conveyor belt (57).
8), where the toner is fixed, and then discharged onto the tray (59).

Note that a description of the full-color image forming process and sheet conveyance process will be omitted.

The cleaning device (63) uses a blade (64) to scrape off residual toner on the photosensitive drum (60).

The scraped off waste toner is transported in the direction of arrow (c) by the rotation of a spiral roller or a coiled spring member (not shown) inside the transport vibrator (65), and is dropped into the waste toner collection container (30) and stored therein. .

The developing device (1) has four developing units (
2a) to (2d) are placed on a support plate (11) provided between frames (10) and (10) to form a developing unit, and this unit is connected to a stepping motor (21).
) is used as a drive source to move each developing device (2a) to (2d) up and down.
They are moved step by step to the developing position (60a) of the photoreceptor drum (60) and made to face each other. In Figure 1, the second stage developer (2b) is at the developing position (60), and in Figure 2, the lowest stage developer (2d) is at the developing position (60
This shows the state moved to a). Each of the developing devices <2a) to (2d) that has moved to the developing position (60a) is urged toward the photosensitive drum (60) by a pressure contact cam (not shown) and is fixed in position by a locking means (not shown), and in this state. Development is performed.

During full-color image formation, this developing device (1) first performs a descending operation to bring the first stage developing device (2a) to face the developing position (60a) (returns to the initial position). (return), and each time the development of one color is completed, the development position (60a) is raised to the development position (60a), and development is performed in the pressed and locked state as described above.

Each of the developing units (2a) to (2d) uses a well-known magnetic brush system for conveying developer on the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve (3), and each has the same internal structure. Note that the internal structure and developing operation are conventionally well known, and their explanation will be omitted.

Next, the driving means (20) for the developing device e(1) and the vibration applying means (40) for preventing the crosslinking phenomenon of waste toner will be explained in detail.

In FIG. 2, the driving means (20) is composed of a stepping motor (21) and a timing belt (27> stretched over sprockets (24>, (25)), and is connected to each developing device (2a) to (za). Frame to hold (10)
, (10) is engaged with a guide rail (16) fixed on the inside of the fixed frame (15), (15). Now, the developing device (1)
is vertically movable as a whole, and the frame (1
0), bracket (13) fixed to the outside of (10)
, (13) protrudes outward from the fixed frame (15), the guide (15a), (15a) of (15), and is fixed to the timing belt (27) via the metal fitting (14) M-a. There is. The output gear (22) of the stepping motor (21) meshes with a gear (23), and the gear (23) is fixed to one end of a support shaft (26) that supports a sprocket (25). The other end of the support shaft (26) extends to the outside of the fixed frame (15) at the back in FIG. 2, and another timing belt (not shown) is stretched across it.

The stepping motor (21) is rotationally driven by a drive circuit (not shown) so that it can be switched between forward and reverse directions, and its rotational force is transmitted through a gear (21).
2), (23) are transmitted to the timing belt 27) via the sprocket (25) and move the developing device (1) up and down. The position of each developer (2a) to (2d) is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the stepping motor <21
) by controlling the rotation speed of the predetermined developing device (28
) to (2d) are stopped at positions facing the development position (60a).

Further, a constant force spring (19) is installed in the fixed frames (15), (15). This constant force spring <19)
The free ends of are fixed to the frames (10), (10),
A spring force equal to the total weight of the developing device (1) is constantly output to lift the developing device (1), thereby reducing the driving force of the driving means (20).

By the way, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the waste toner collection container <30), the tip of the conveying pipe (65) is inserted into the input port (30a) on the top surface, and the waste toner is fed into the container. If the waste toner simply falls, the falling point will rise as shown by the dotted chain line in FIG. 3, and a crosslinking phenomenon will occur due to coagulation, which will deteriorate the storage efficiency. Therefore, in this embodiment, a saucer (31) is attached to the collection container (30) and is held swingably by a coil spring (32), and a vibration imparting means (40) is provided to keep the collection container (30) constant. By vibrating at the same timing, these problems were resolved17.

The vibration imparting means (40) is attached to a frame (4) on the main side of the copying machine.
1) and the bracket (42), attach the support shaft (43) to the bearing (44).
, ), (44), and the support shaft (
43), a binion (45) is attached to it via a one-way clutch (46), and an eccentric cam (47) is fixed thereto. The binion (45) meshes with a rack (10a) formed on the end face of the frame (10) in the foreground in FIG. 2 that supports the developing device (1), and the developing device (1) It rotates in the direction of arrow (d) only when it descends (see Figure 5a). The eccentric cam (47) comes into contact with the protruding piece (31a) of the saucer (31), and the binion (
45). When the small diameter portion (47a) of the eccentric cam (47) is in contact with the protrusion (31a), the saucer (31) and the collection container (30) are fully set to the solid line position in Figure 3, and they move in the direction of the arrow (d). When the large diameter portion (47b) comes into contact with the projection (31a) based on the rotation of the saucer (3
1), the collection container (30) swings to the position indicated by the dotted chain line in FIG. When the large diameter portion (47b) of the eccentric cam (47>) moves away from the projection (3La), the saucer <31) and the collection container (30> return to their original positions due to the elasticity of the coil spring (32). That is, The collection container (30) is connected to an eccentric cam (4) that synchronizes with the binion (45) in conjunction with the downward movement of the developing device (1).
Vibration can be applied based on the rotation of 7). As a result, the crosslinking phenomenon of the waste toner in the collection container (30) is prevented, and the falling point is made flat as shown by the dotted line in FIG. No more leaking. Note that when the developing device (1) rises, the transmission action of the one-way clutch (46) is cut off, and the pinion (46) is disconnected.
Only the eccentric cam (5) rotates idly in the direction of the arrow (d'), and the eccentric cam (4)
7) does not rotate (see Figure 5b).

Further, a waste toner detection sensor (not shown) is installed in the collection container (30) to detect whether or not the collection container (30) is full of waste toner. In this embodiment, as described above, since the bridging phenomenon and the swelling at the falling point are eliminated, the detection sensor will not malfunction.

Next, the timing of applying vibration to the collection container (30) will be explained together with the image forming process with reference to FIG. 6.

First, when the print button is turned on, the stepping motor (21) is driven in reverse, and as the developing device (1) descends and returns to its initial position, the eccentric force l, (47
) rotates in the direction of arrow (d) and imparts vibration to the collection container (30). After that, first, the first stage developing device (2a) performs development, and after the development is completed, the stepping motor (
21) is driven in normal rotation for a certain period of time, the entire developing device (1) is moved up by one step, and development is performed by the second stage developing device (2b). Thereafter, similar operations are repeated, and development is performed using the developing devices <2c) and (2d). When the transfer charge + (61) is turned off and transfer of the final image is completed, the image forming operation for one full-color image is completed. At this time, the stepping motor (21) is driven in reverse again, and the developing device (1) is lowered to the initial position.
At the same time, vibrations are applied to the collection container (30). The above operations are repeated for the input number of copies.

Note that the lock release solenoid is connected to each developing unit (2a) to (2).
d) in the developing position (60a),
It is turned on when the developing device <1) is moved to release the lock. In addition, the pressure contact solenoid is connected to each developing unit (2a) to (2d).
This is for pushing out the developing device δ(1) to the developing position (60a), and is turned off when the developing device δ(1) is moved.
Release the urging force on 2d).

As is clear from the above control, in this example, the developing device (
Vibration is applied to the collection container (30) only during the non-image forming period when the container 1) is lowered, and the vibration does not adversely affect the image forming process, and uneven development, image shift, etc. can be completely eliminated.

Note that the vibration imparting device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be variously modified within the scope of the gist thereof.

In particular, the developing device may be switched by a rotary type instead of an elevator type, and the driving means (20) and the vibration applying means (4) can be used.
0) can also have various configurations.

Further, the present invention can be applied not only to full-color copying machines but also to monochrome color copying machines in which the developing device is operated selectively.

As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, vibration is applied to the waste toner collection container in conjunction with the advancing and retracting movement of the developing device during non-image formation, so that the waste toner collection container is not disposed of in the collection container. Not only can the toner storage efficiency be improved, but also the negative influence of vibration on image forming processing is eliminated, and problems such as uneven development and image disturbances do not occur.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the vibration applying device according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a full-color copying machine, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a driving means of a developing device, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the vibration applying device. Front view, Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 3, Figure 5a,
FIG. 5b is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the vibration applying means, and FIG. 6 is a time chart diagram of the full-color image forming process. (1)... Developing device, (2a) to (2d)... Developing device, (20)... Drive means, (30)... Collection container, (31)... Receiver, (31a )... protrusion, (32
)...Fill spring, (40)...Vibration imparting means, (
45)... Binion, (46>... One-way clutch, (47)... Eccentric cup 2, (60>... Photosensitive drum, (60a)... Development position.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A developing device in which a plurality of developing units are movably provided to a predetermined developing position of an electrostatic latent image carrier, and which accommodates waste toner collected from the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier. 1. A device for applying vibration to a waste toner collection container, comprising: a waste toner collection container; and means for applying vibration to the waste toner collection container in conjunction with the forward and backward movement of the developing device during non-image formation. 2. A developing device in which a plurality of developing devices are provided so as to be movable toward and away from a predetermined developing position on an electrostatic latent image carrier, and each developing device returns to its initial position before or after a series of image forming operations; A waste toner collection container for storing waste toner collected from the surface of an image carrier; and means for applying vibration to the waste toner collection container in conjunction with the movement of each of the developing devices to return to an initial position. A device for applying vibration to a waste toner collection container.