JPH04274263A - Toner scatter preventer for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent any toner scattered out of a developing apparatus or a cleaner from contaminating each part in a device by constituting it so as to give a vibration to a toner pan and thereby to convey the toner. CONSTITUTION:Some members necessary for image forming and processing are installed in and around an image carrier 1, through which an electrostatic latent image is formed on a surface of this image carrier, and when this latent image is reached to the opposed position of a sleeve 2 to a developing apparatus 5, a toner on this sleeve is fed so that development takes place. Here the toner dropped out of the developing apparatus 5 falls into a pan 6. In this case, a piezoelectric element U or a vibration generating means is installed on the backside of this pan 6, thereby generating a progressive wave (w) in direction of the image carrier by a power source 9. The toner dropped into the pan 6 thereat is conveyed in a direction separate from the image carrier as in an arrow (a), thus it is in no case scattered in the inner part of a device.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Purpose of the invention]

[Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to image forming apparatuses that utilize an electrostatic transfer process, such as electrostatic copying machines and printers, and particularly to a device for preventing scattering of overflowing toner from a developing device thereof. .

In the well-known image forming apparatus as described above, toner stored in a developing device is supplied to an electrostatic latent image on the surface of an image carrier through a developing sleeve to perform development.
At this time, when the toner that has not been transferred to the image carrier is returned to the developing device, it is inevitable that some toner will not be transferred to the latent image and will leak out.

[0003] Such a state will be briefly explained with reference to the configuration of a developing section of a typical image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

"FIG. 4" is a side view schematically showing the vicinity of a developing area of an image forming apparatus equipped with a cylindrical image bearing member that rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure and a developing device 5 disposed close to the cylindrical image bearing member. The stirring member 4 is housed in the developing device 5.
When the toner 3 that has been stirred and charged to a predetermined polarity is attached to the surface of the developing sleeve 2 and is transported to the development area where the image carrier 1 is in close proximity, the toner 3 that has been agitated and charged to a predetermined polarity is formed on the surface of the image carrier 1 by this time. A toner image is formed by being electrostatically attracted to the latent image.

In the case of the above-mentioned developing method, the toner layer formed on the surface of the developing sleeve 2 passes through the opening of the developing device container and approaches the surface of the image carrier 1, so that the toner layer formed on the surface of the developing sleeve 2 passes through the opening of the developing device container and approaches the surface of the image carrier 1. Since some of the toner remaining in the sleeve is collected into the container, it is necessary to form a slight gap between the outer surface of the developing sleeve 2 and the area around the opening of the developing container that it faces. do not have.

[0006] For this reason, it is difficult to completely prevent some toner from escaping to the outside from the developing device, and this spilled toner scatters inside the device, contaminating various parts and impairing their functions. There is a risk.

In order to deal with this situation, it has been proposed that a receiving tray 6 is disposed at a suitable position below the developing sleeve to receive overflowing toner and prevent its diffusion, as shown in the figure. There is. In addition, since such a tray has a limited capacity, a rotating roller 7 and a scraper 8 are provided on the tray 6, as shown in FIG. There have also been proposals for transportation to other departments.

However, in the former type, the amount of escaped toner increases gradually, and the toner eventually overflows from the tray 6, making maintenance troublesome. Since the space available for arrangement is small, installation is not easy, the capacity is small, it is disadvantageous in terms of cost, and it is difficult to put it into practical use.

The present invention has been made in order to cope with such a situation, and is configured to apply vibration to the tray for the escaped toner as described above, thereby transporting the toner, so that the tray itself is It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner scattering prevention device that can fully utilize the capacity of the toner, does not require a particularly large space for means for transporting and discharging toner, and is advantageous in terms of cost.

0010

[Structure of the invention] [Technical means to solve the problem and their effects]

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an image carrier carrying an electrostatic latent image, a developing device disposed close to the image carrier and applying toner to the electrostatic latent image, and/or an image carrier. It has a cleaner that removes residual toner on the surface of the carrier, and the developer and (
or) In an image forming apparatus equipped with a toner tray that receives toner escaping from the cleaner, a toner scattering prevention device is provided in which the toner tray is provided with means for conveying the toner that has fallen onto the tray in a direction away from the image carrier. be.

[0012] With this configuration, it is possible to reliably prevent various parts within the apparatus from being contaminated by toner escaping from the developing device or the like.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a side view of the main parts of an embodiment of the present invention, in which a developing device 5 is arranged close to a cylindrical image carrier 1 that rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure. has been done.

A primary charger, an image signal applying means, and other members necessary for image formation and processing (none of which are shown) are arranged around the image carrier 1, and electrostatic latent particles are formed on the surface of the image carrier 1. An image is formed, and when this latent image comes to a position facing the sleeve 2 of the developing device 5, the toner on the sleeve is supplied to the latent image to perform development.

The toner spilled from the developing device 5 falls into a tray 6. A piezoelectric element U serving as a vibration generating means is disposed on the back surface of the tray 6, and a power source 9 generates a traveling wave ω in the direction of the image carrier.

As a result, the toner that has fallen onto the tray 6 is transported in a direction away from the image carrier as indicated by arrow a, so that it is not scattered inside the apparatus.

As the piezoelectric element, a ceramic, PZT, or the like sandwiched between electrodes can be used, and vibration is generated by applying an alternating current voltage between the electrodes. Further, it is preferable to use a material with a high attenuation rate, such as acrylic resin, as the tray so that reflected waves are not generated too much at the ends of the tray.

"FIG. 2" shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which only the image carrier 1 and a receiving tray for falling toner are shown, and the developing device is omitted.

In this device, a piezoelectric element U is disposed on the back surface of the tray 6, and an image carrier 1 of the tray is provided.
The opposite end is bent downward, and a toner container 10 extending perpendicularly to the plane of the paper is disposed below the end.

With this structure, the toner that falls onto the tray 6 and is transported in the b direction away from the image carrier further falls into the container 10. Furthermore, since the container 10 can have a relatively large capacity, it is possible to prevent toner from scattering into the machine and to facilitate maintenance.

"FIG. 3" shows still another embodiment, in which a piezoelectric element U is provided at the end of the saucer 6.
to generate a traveling wave in the direction d shown in the figure to transport the toner in the direction of the arrow e, and the pipe 11 disposed at the end of the tray.
The toner is received and guided to a waste toner container (not shown).

It is easy to understand that this configuration can prevent toner from scattering, and can also be applied to the apparatuses of the above embodiments to process toner more efficiently. Dew.

Although the embodiment of the present invention is described above as a means for preventing scattering of toner spilled from a developing device, it goes without saying that this is also effective for treating toner spilled from a cleaning device. .

[0024]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, toner spilled from the developing device can be collected in various parts of the device using a simple and inexpensive structure without requiring a particularly large space or complicated mechanism. It is possible to effectively prevent the scattering of water and the occurrence of functional disorders due to this.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, particularly in the vicinity of a development area.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing another embodiment of the present invention, with the developing device omitted;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part showing the configuration of a toner tray portion, showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of a portion near a development site of a known image forming apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing another configuration of the toner tray shown above.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image carrier 2
Developing sleeve 3
Toner 4 Stirring member 5 Developing device 6
saucer 9
power supply

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image, a developing device that is arranged close to the image carrier and applies toner to the electrostatic latent image, and/or a cleaner that removes residual toner on the surface of the image carrier. In an image forming apparatus including a toner tray for receiving toner escaping from a developing device and/or a cleaner, means for causing the toner tray to convey the toner that has fallen onto the toner tray in a direction away from an image carrier. A toner scattering prevention device equipped with a toner scattering prevention device. 2. The toner scattering prevention device according to claim 1, wherein the means for conveying the toner on the receiving tray is a piezoelectric element that generates a traveling wave. 3. The toner scattering prevention device according to claim 2, wherein a container for receiving the transported toner is disposed on the opposite side of the receiving tray from the image carrier. Claim 4: Claims 1 to 3 provide means for conveying the toner that has fallen into the receiving tray in the longitudinal direction thereof.
The toner scattering prevention device according to any one of paragraphs.