JPH03116074A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify handling by constituting such that a developer replenishing means can contain a recovered developer. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with a recovered developer carrying means 65 which leads the recovered developer t'2 discharged by a discharging means 63 to the second developer containing part 77 of the developer replenishing means 27. Consequently, the recovered developer t'2 removed from an image carrier 10 by a cleaning means 16 can be contained in the second developer containing part 77 isolated from a first developer containing part 76 containing a replenished developer t1 of the developer replenishing means 27. Thus, the recovered developer t'2 is processed at the same time when the developer replenishing means 27 is replaced; therefore handling is simplified.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying device or a laser printer, and more specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying device or a laser printer. The present invention relates to an image transfer type image forming apparatus that forms an image and transfers it to a transfer material.

(Prior Art) In recent years, various image-transfer type image forming apparatuses have been put into practical use in which a developer image is once formed on an image carrier and then transferred to a transfer material.

Usually, in this type of apparatus, there is a developer replenishing means for replenishing the developer into the developing means, and a cleaning means for removing and recovering the developer remaining on the image carrier after the developer image is transferred to the transfer target material. It is configured with the following.

Furthermore, conventionally, a developer replenishment container (toner cartridge) that is removably attached to the developing means is used as a developer replenishment means, and a developer collection container (collection box) is attached to the cleaning means to remove the developer from the image carrier. It is configured to accommodate the recovered developer (recovered toner) that has been removed and recovered from the toner.

As described above, in conventional image forming apparatuses, there are separate developer supply containers and developer recovery containers, which is not only inefficient in terms of space, but also wastes the empty developer supply container. These tasks were tedious, as they involved installing a new developer supply container, disposing of the developer collection container that was full of recovered developer, and installing a new developer collection container. Furthermore, since the developer recovery container is removed when it is full of recovered developer, the recovered developer may scatter and stain not only hands and clothes but also the inside of the machine.

Furthermore, two containers, a developer supply container and a developer recovery container, are required, which not only requires a large dedicated space but also increases costs. Further, there is a problem in that a fullness detection means for detecting that the developer recovery container is full is required, leading to increased costs.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in conventional image forming apparatuses, the existence of separate developer supply containers and developer collection containers results in complicated handling and the scattering of developer. However, there have been problems such as high cost and increased space occupancy.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a developer Mil container and a developer recovery container that have been conventionally required as a structure capable of storing the recovered developer in a developer replenishing means. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that does not require a fullness detection means to detect when the image forming apparatus is full, thereby simplifying handling, preventing scattering of developer, reducing costs, and making effective use of space within the apparatus. That is.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a developing means for applying a developer onto an image carrier to form a developer image, and a developing means for forming a developer image. In an image forming apparatus equipped with a cleaning means for removing and recovering developer remaining on the image carrier after transfer to a transfer material, the cleaning means is attached to the developing means and replenishes the developer to the developing means. a developer replenishing means comprising a first developer accommodating part for accommodating the developer to be replenished and a second developer accommodating part for accommodating the recovered developer removed and collected by the cleaning means; a discharge means for discharging the recovered developer removed and recovered from the image carrier by the cleaning means; and a discharge means for guiding the recovered developer discharged by the discharge means to a second developer accommodating portion of the developer replenishing means. This configuration includes a recovered developer transporting means.

(Function) That is, according to the present invention, the recovered developer removed and recovered from the image bearing member by the cleaning means is transferred to the first developer accommodating section that accommodates the replenishing developer of the developer replenishing means. can be accommodated in a separate second developer storage section. As a result, when the developer replenishing means is replaced, the collected developer can be processed at the same time, and what used to take twice is now only done once, making it possible to simplify handling. In addition, since the developer for recovery is stored in a separate container from the developer for replenishment, it does not mix with the developer for replenishment, and moreover, it can be replaced before the developer for recovery is full. This makes it possible to prevent the recovered developer from scattering. Furthermore, a dedicated developer recovery container, which was conventionally necessary, is no longer necessary, making it possible to effectively utilize space within the apparatus and reduce costs. Further, a fullness detection means is not required, and costs can be reduced.

(Example) Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows the internal mechanism of an electronic copying device. In the figure, 1 is the device main body. A paper feed cassette 2 is installed on the right side of the device main body 1, and a paper output tray 3 is installed on the left side. has been done. The paper feed cassette 2 is provided with a manual paper feed tray 4 on its upper surface for manually feeding paper P as a transfer material.

Further, on the top surface of the device main body 1, there is a
, b) is provided with a reciprocating document table table (hereinafter simply referred to as a table) 5.

A photoreceptor drum 10 as an image carrier is arranged approximately in the center of the apparatus main body 1, and the photoreceptor drum 10 is moved in the direction of arrow C at the same speed as the moving speed of the table 5 by a drive mechanism (not shown). be rotated.

Around the photoreceptor drum 10, along the rotational direction thereof, there are provided a charging charger 11 as a charging means, a charge removal/exposure device 12 as an electrostatic latent image forming means, a developing device unit 13 as a developing means, and a transfer means. A transfer charger 14 as a transfer charger, a peeling charger 15 as a peeling means, and a cleaner unit 16 as a cleaning means are arranged in this order.

Further, inside the main body 1 of the apparatus, paper P fed from the paper cassette/soto 2 via the paper feeding means 17 and paper P manually fed from the manual paper feed tray 4 are stored on the photoreceptor drum 10.
A paper transport path 19 is formed that leads to a paper discharge tray 3 installed on the left side of the apparatus main body 1 through an image transfer section 18 between the image transfer unit 14 and the transfer charger 14.

A pair of aligning rollers 20 is arranged on the upstream side of the image transfer section 18 of the paper transport path 19, and a fixing unit 21 as a fixing means and a pair of paper ejecting rollers 22 as a paper ejecting means are arranged on the downstream side. has been done. Further, an aligning switch 23 is provided near the aligning roller pair 20.
is provided.

Note that 25 is an ozone filter that neutralizes ozone generated from each charger 11, 14, and 15, and 26 is a cooling fan unit that prevents a rise in temperature inside the machine.

Further, a developer storage container (hereinafter referred to as a toner cartridge) 27, which is a developer replenishing means, is attached to the developer unit 13.

As the photoreceptor drum 10 rotates in the direction of arrow C, the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10 is charged to -700V by the charger 11. The charging device 11 is equipped with a grid lla, and the grid lla is used during charging.
The voltage of la is set to 750v.

The negatively charged photoreceptor drum 10 is transferred to an exposure device 1 that also serves as a charge remover.
A light-condensing optical transmitter (trade name: Selfo Schiff Lens Array) 33 collects the original image on the original platen 31 made of transparent glass, which is uniformly illuminated by a lamp 30 as a rod-shaped light source constituting the light source 2. An image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10 by forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10. Next, the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum 10 is opposed to the developer unit 13, and a positive polarity toner t1, which is a developer, is attached to the electrostatic latent image, thereby forming a toner image (developer image) 1+... It is formed.

The developing unit 13 uses a positive polarity two-component magnetic brush system, and the sleeve 34a of the developing roller 34 is rotated in the direction of arrow d at a faster speed than the photosensitive drum 10 by a drive mechanism (not shown), and is biased at -200V. Voltage is applied.

Meanwhile, in synchronization with the forming operation of the toner image t1..., the paper P taken out from the paper feed cassette 2 or manually fed from the manual paper feed tray 4 is transferred to the image transfer section 18 via the aligning roller pair 20. sent to.

The paper P fed into the image transfer section 18 is fed by the pre-transfer guide 35 so as to come into close contact with the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10, and the toner image t1... formed in advance on the photoreceptor drum 10 is transferred. The image is transferred onto the paper P by the negative charging action of the charger 14. Next, the paper P onto which the toner images t1... have been transferred is AC-charged by the peeling charger 15, thereby being peeled off from the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10, and conveyed through the paper conveyance path 19 before being transferred to the fixing device. It is fed into the fixing device unit 21 along the guide 36. Then, the toner image t1... is melted and fixed onto the paper P by a pair of fixing rollers consisting of a heating roller 37 and a pressing roller 38, and is then discharged onto the paper output tray 3 via a pair of paper discharge rollers 22. Ru.

Note that, after the toner images t, . Furthermore, after this, the afterimage on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10 is erased by the charge removal light from the charge removal/exposure device 12, and the image returns to the initial state. The above-mentioned static elimination light is led out from a static elimination light opening 41 as an opening formed in a reflecting member (hereinafter referred to as a reflector), passes through a static elimination light filter 42, and is converted into an appropriate static elimination light amount and wavelength to be used in the cleaner unit 16. The surface of the photoreceptor drum 10 is irradiated from the static eliminating light aperture 43 to complete the copying operation.

Further, in the developing unit 13, a developing roller 34 is provided in a casing 51 having a developer accommodating portion 50 in a state facing the photoreceptor drum 10 i), and a developer accommodating g550 is provided with a toner roller 34. A two-component developer A consisting of (colored powder) 1+ and carrier (magnetic powder) C is contained. Further, a developer magnetic brush A' formed on the surface of the developing roller 44 is provided at a sliding contact portion with the photoreceptor drum 10, that is, on an upstream side in the rotational direction of the photoreceptor drum 10 than the development position. Doctor 5 regulating the thickness of A'
3 is provided. Further, the developer storage section 50 includes a first. A second developer stirring body 54,55 is housed. The developing roller 44 includes a magnetic roll 34b and a non-magnetic sleeve 34a that is fitted around the magnetic roll 34b and rotates counterclockwise (direction of arrow d) in the figure. In addition, 57 is the second developer stirring body 55
This is an automatic toner sensor that is provided above the toner sensor and controls the specific toner density of the two-component developer A.

On the other hand, the cleaner unit 16, which faces the developing device unit 13 as a developing means configured in this manner with the photosensitive drum 10 interposed therebetween, removes residual toner (residual developer) t2 remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10. a cleaning blade 16a that scrapes off the
a cover blade 61 located below and collecting the scraped off residual toner t2 into the cleaner case 60;
The construction includes a toner discharge auger 63 as a developer discharge means for conveying the recovered toner (recovered developer) t2' collected in the cleaner case 61 to the developer discharge port 62 (see FIGS. 1 and 3). It has become.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the developer discharge port 62 of the cleaner unit 16 and the toner cartridge 27 installed in the developer unit 13 are connected by a toner transfer device rIt65 as a recovered developer transfer means. The toner cartridge 27 is in a connected state, and the collected toner t2- is accommodated in the toner cartridge 27.

The toner transfer device 65 includes a first connecting portion 66 that connects to the developer discharge port 62 of the cleaner unit 16, a second connecting portion 67 that connects to the toner cartridge 27, and a communication unit that connects these connecting portions 66 and 67. It has a configuration with six tubes 68. In addition, in the communication pipe 68, one end side is provided with a driving body 6.
a coil spring 70 as a toner transfer member fixed to 9;
The collected toner t2'' discharged from the developer discharge port 62 as it rotates is transferred to the second connecting portion 6.
7 side and housed in the toner cartridge 27.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the inside of the toner cartridge 27 is divided into upper and lower halves by a partition member 75, and a developer accommodating portion 50 of the developing device unit 13 is provided in the lower part.
A first developer storage section 7 that stores the supplied toner t.
6. Recovered toner removed and collected by the cleaner unit 16 on the upper part 1. - This is a second developer accommodating section 77 for accommodating.

Furthermore, a toner supply lower 9 (see FIG. 1) closed by a lid 78 is provided on one side of the toner cartridge 27 in correspondence with the first developer storage section 76, and a second toner supply lower 9 (see FIG. 1) is provided on the other side of the toner cartridge 27. A toner receiving port 80 is formed corresponding to the developer storage portion 77 . The communication pipe 6 is connected to the toner receiving port 80.
The second connecting portion 67 is connected with the second connecting portion 67 in a state where the discharge end 68a of the second connecting portion 8 is fitted. In addition, the toner receiving port 80
can be closed by a lid 81. (5th
4 and 6, the inner bottom of the toner cartridge 27 is formed with a filler hole 27a, which is accommodated in the first developer storage portion 76 on one end side. A toner discharge port 82 is formed for discharging the toner t into the developing unit 13, and a groove 27 is also formed.
Inside a, there is a toner transfer auger 83 that rotates in response to a developer replenishment signal to transfer the toner t1 to the toner discharge port 82 side and discharges a predetermined amount of toner t1 from the toner discharge port 82 to the developing unit 13. It is provided.

Also, a partition member 7 that separates the inside of the toner cartridge 27 into a first developer storage section 76 and a second developer storage section 77 is provided.
5 is made of a flexible sheet member, and the vicinity of the attachment portion is folded into a bellows shape, and the first developer storage portion 7
As the toner t1 in the toner 6 is taken out and reduced, and the recovered toner t2- is collected, the toner t1 in the toner 6 is naturally lowered by its own weight, and the second developer accommodating portion 77 is expanded.

Further, it is desirable to select a material that does not harden or melt with the toner, for example, a material that does not use a plastic material or the like.

Note that 85 shown in FIG. 5 is a sealing member that closes the toner discharge port 82, and is configured to be removed after being loaded into the developing unit 13.

According to the present invention, the collected toner t2- removed and collected from the photoreceptor drum 10 by the cleaner unit 16 is transferred to the replenishing toner 1 of the toner cartridge 27.
．． The developer can be accommodated in a second developer accommodating section 77 that is separated from the first developer accommodating section 76 that accommodates the developer. As a result, when the toner cartridge 27 is replaced, the collected toner 12- can be processed at the same time, and what conventionally required two steps can be done only once, thereby simplifying handling. Also,
Since the collected toner 12- is stored in a separate storage section from the replenishment toner t1, the replenishment toner 1. Furthermore, since the collected toner t2'' is replaced before it becomes full, it is possible to prevent the collected toner t2'' from scattering.Furthermore, there is no longer a need for a dedicated collection box, which was previously required.
This makes it possible to effectively utilize space within the device and reduce costs. Further, a fullness detection means is not required, and costs can be reduced.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the developer collection container, which was conventionally required, and the developer collection container that is full, can be configured to accommodate the collected developer in the developer replenishing means. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that eliminates the need for a fullness detection means for detecting the full state, simplifies handling, prevents developer from scattering, reduces costs, and enables effective use of space within the apparatus.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the main parts of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a recovered toner transport device. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway schematic front view of the toner cartridge that also serves as a collection box, FIG. 5 is a schematic side view, and FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the toner cartridge that also serves as a collection box. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which collected toner is accommodated. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Photosensitive drum (image carrier), 13... Developing device unit (developing means), 16... Cleaner unit (cleaning means), 27... Toner cartridge (developer replenishing means), 63 ... Toner transport auger (developer discharge means) 65 ... Toner transport device (recovered developer transport means) 76 ... First developer storage section, 77 ... Second
developer storage section, t, ... replenishment toner (replenishment developer), t2 ... residual toner (residual developer), i2''.
...Recovered toner (recovered developer), P...Paper (transferred material).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A developing means for forming a developer image by applying a developer onto an image carrier, and a developer for removing the developer remaining on the image carrier after the developer image is transferred to a transfer target material. In the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is provided with a cleaning means for collecting the developer, which is attached to the developing means and replenishing the developer to the developing means and accommodating the replenished developer; a developer replenishing means including a second developer accommodating section for accommodating the recovered developer collected by the cleaning means; and a developer replenishing means for discharging the recovered developer removed from the image carrier by the cleaning means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a discharge means; and a collected developer transport means for guiding the collected developer discharged by the discharge means to a second developer storage section of the developer replenishing means.