JPH0452773Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] "Industrial Application Field" The present invention relates to an apparatus for recovering used toner removed from the surface of a photoreceptor after toner image transfer in an electrophotographic copying machine.

``Prior Art'' Conventionally, copying machines have a so-called crocodile-mouth opening/closing mechanism, which is installed in the upper part of the casing centering on one side edge of the copying machine body in order to remove paper jams, etc. Electrophotographic copying machines exist. Fourth
The figure shows this type of electrophotographic copying machine.

In FIG. 4, a copying machine main body 1 is installed in a housing 3 having a toner collection container 2 so as to be openable and closable around one side edge (rear edge in FIG. 4). The copying machine main body 1 includes a charging device for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor, an exposure device, a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image, and a transfer device for transferring a toner image (all not shown). and a cleaning device 4 for cleaning the photoreceptor after the toner image has been transferred. The used toner accumulated in the cleaning device 4 is transported to the toner collection container 2 by an elastic guide tube 5 that connects the toner collection container 2 and the cleaning device 4 .

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" In the above-mentioned conventional toner recovery device of an electrophotographic copying machine, the toner 6 (see FIG. 5) is conveyed to the toner recovery container 2 by free fall.
The guide tube 5 and the toner collection container 2 have to be placed almost directly below the cleaning device 4, which has the disadvantage that the space in the housing 3 cannot be used effectively. In addition, since the guide tube 5 is made of a bellows-like elastic member, toner 6 gradually accumulates in the inner troughs as shown in FIG. 5, causing toner clogging in the guide tube 5. There was a problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide a toner recovery device that solves the above-mentioned problems.

"Embodiment" An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

Components having the same functions as those shown in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, a base portion of an outer tube 12 is swingably attached to a toner receiving opening 11a of a tubular toner receiving member 11 which is provided upright above the toner collecting container 2. As shown in FIGS. The upper part of the inner tube 13, which is slidably inserted into the outer tube 12, is connected to a box-shaped connecting member 14 in communication.
By pivotally connecting this connecting member 14 to a tubular toner discharging member 15 provided on the side of the cleaning device 4, the inner tube 13 can swing freely around the toner discharging member 15.

Used toner 6 in cleaning device 4
is discharged to the connection member 14 by an auger (not shown) provided in the cleaning device 4. A coil-shaped auger 16 is inserted into the inner tube 13, and its upper end is locked to the lower end of a shaft 18 which is pivotally connected to the connecting member 14 and a support plate 17 fixed to the inside thereof. . The spiral-shaped auger 16 itself does not expand or contract, and its lower end is a free end so that it can freely rotate within the inner tube 13. A shaft 1 extending from the connecting member 14
A gear 23 of a motor 22 attached to the connecting member 14 via a support plate 21 meshes with the gear 19 fixed to the outer end of the motor 8 . Above auger 1
6 is driven by a motor 22 to convey the toner 6 in the connecting member 14 to the toner collection container 2 when copying is performed by the electrophotographic copying machine.

The cleaning device 4 and the toner collection container 2 are
Outer tube 12 and inner tube 13 that are telescopically fitted
Since the copying machine main body 1 is connected to the second
As shown in the figure, when opening in the direction of the arrow or closing the copying machine main body 1, the connection between the cleaning device 4 and the toner collection container 2 is reliably maintained. Thereby, it is not necessary to install the toner collection container 2 directly below the cleaning device 4, and the space of the housing 3 can be used effectively. Also,
The toner 6 in the connecting member 14 is reliably conveyed to the toner collection container 2 by the auger 16 during copying operations when the copying machine main body 1 is closed.
Also, the occurrence of toner clogging in the inner tube 13 is always prevented.

"Effects of the Invention" As explained above, according to the present invention, the cleaning device and the toner collection container are connected by the outer tube and the inner tube, which are fitted in a telescopic and swingable manner, and the toner collection container is connected to the inner tube. By providing an auger to convey the toner, the toner collection container can be installed in a location other than directly under the cleaning device, making it possible to use the space of the housing effectively. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of toner clogging in the toner transport path.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an electrophotographic copying machine to which the toner recovery device of the present invention is applied, FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view showing an example of a conventional toner recovery device, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of section A in FIG. 4. 1... Copying machine main body, 2... Toner collection container, 3
...Housing, 4...Cleaning device, 6...Toner, 11...Toner receiving member, 11a...Toner receiving port, 12...Outer tube, 13...Inner tube, 14...
Connection member, 15... Toner discharge member, 16... Auger, 22... Motor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A copier body having a cleaning device for cleaning toner existing on a photoreceptor is opened and closed around one edge of the upper part of a casing equipped with a toner collection container. In a freely installed copying machine, there is provided an outer tube whose base is swingably attached to the toner receptacle of the toner collection container, and an outer tube which is slidably inserted into the outer tube and whose upper portion is attached to the toner outlet of the cleaning device. an inner tube that is swingably mounted in communication with the inner tube; the upper end of the inner tube is inserted into the inner tube, the upper end of which is connected to a suitable drive section, and the other end is a free end;
A toner recovery device comprising: a spiral-shaped auger that is rotated by the drive unit in a direction to convey toner within the inner tube toward the toner recovery container.