JPH0481789A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the periphery of a developing tank, a paper conveyance path part, etc., from being contaminated by providing a duct, a toner suction fan, a toner adsorption filter, etc., and collecting toner which is scattered falling from the gap part between a photosensitive body and a development device. CONSTITUTION:The image forming device is provided with the duct 5 whose one end is opened in a rectangular shape in the axial direction of a photosensitive body 1 below the gap part between at least the developing tank 2 and photosensitive body 1 arranged opposite each other, the toner suction fan 4 provided behind it, the toner adsorption filter 8 arranged behind the fan 4, and a cleaning means 9 for cleaning the filter 8. Further, a toner storage box 7 where toner removed by the filter cleaning means 9 is stored is provided. Consequently, the toner which is scattered falling from the gap between the photosensitive body 1 and developing tank 2 can be sucked and collected, so the periphery of the developing tank, the paper conveyance path part, etc., can be prevented from being contaminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of collecting toner that falls and scatters from, for example, a gap between a developer tank and a photoreceptor.

<Prior Art> In a conventional image forming apparatus, for example, a copying machine, as shown in FIG.
08 etc. were installed.

A toner stirring roller 102 is provided inside the developing device 102.
A, a developing roller 102b, and the like were provided. and,
Photoreceptor 1 on which an electrostatic latent image of a document is formed by an exposure device
01 rotates and reaches the position of the developing device 102,
The toner in the developing tank 102 stirred by the stirring roller 102a is transferred to the photoreceptor 10 by the developing roller 102b.
1, and the electrostatic latent image was visualized. However, since a gap is inevitably formed between the photoreceptor 101 and the developer tank 102, toner falls and scatters from the gap.

<Problem to be solved by the invention> In conventional copying machines, there is a problem in which toner that falls and scatters from the gap between the photoreceptor and the developer tank adheres to the area around the developer tank and the paper conveyance path, contaminating it. there were.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks.
As shown in FIG. 1 of the embodiment, the developer tank 2 containing toner for visualizing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 1 and the residual toner on the photoreceptor after transfer are removed. In an image forming apparatus in which a photoreceptor cleaning device 3 or the like is disposed facing the photoreceptor 1, at least one end of the photoreceptor cleaning device 3 is located below the gap between the developer tank 2 and the photoreceptor 1, which are disposed facing each other. a duct 5 having an elongated opening in the axial direction; a toner suction fan 4 connected to the rear of the duct 5; and a toner suction filter 8 disposed behind the toner suction fan 4; a filter cleaning means 9 for cleaning the toner adsorption filter 8;
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus characterized in that it is provided with a toner storage box 7 for storing the toner removed by the filter cleaning means 9.

<Operation> According to the above-described image forming apparatus, the toner that falls and scatters from the gap between the photoreceptor and the developer tank can be sucked and collected by the toner suction fan, so that the toner around the developer tank and the paper conveyance can be collected. There is no need to pollute roads, etc. (Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of essential parts of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the filter cleaning means shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a photoconductor, 2 is a developing device, 2a is a developing roller, 2b is an agitation roller, 3 is a photoconductor cleaning device, 4 is a toner suction fan, 5 is a duct, 6 is a toner conveying screw, 7 8 is a toner collection box, 8 is a toner adsorption filter, and 9 is a filter cleaning means.

The toner suction fan 4 is provided at an appropriate position within the image forming apparatus, and its type, size, etc. are determined according to the installed image forming apparatus. A duct 5 is provided between the upstream side of the toner suction fan 4 and the developer tank 2, and one end of the duct 5 is used to prevent toner from falling between the photoreceptor 1 and the developer tank 2. It is arranged so that it opens in a part where it is easily accessible. For example, a photoreceptor 1 that is elongated along the axial direction and fully tapered so that the cross-sectional area of the opening becomes larger toward the tip of the opening is placed below the gap between the photoreceptor 1 and the developer tank 2 with its longitudinal direction extending downward. It is arranged in the axial direction of the photoreceptor 1. On the other hand, the other end of the duct 5 is connected to the envelope 4a of the toner suction fan.

A duct 10 is similarly formed behind the toner suction fan 4, and further behind the duct 10, a toner adsorption filter 8 is detachably attached to the filter case 8a. As the toner adsorption filter 8, for example, one having a mesh capable of adsorbing toner particles is used. The rear part of the toner adsorption filter 8 is opened toward the outside of the image forming apparatus, so that the air flow after toner adsorption is discharged.

A toner collection box 7 is provided below the toner adsorption filler/letter 8 section. The toner collection box 7 is also used as a collection box for waste toner collected by the photoreceptor cleaning device 3. The toner collected by the photoreceptor cleaning device 3 is guided to the toner collection box 7 by a toner transporting screw 6.

The foremost part of the toner conveying screw 6 is located approximately below the toner adsorption filler 8 and above the toner collection box 7 . A filter cleaning means 9 is attached to the tip of the toner conveying screw. The filter cleaning means 9 is formed into a rectangular plate shape of, for example, elastic resin or metal, and is driven to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the toner conveying screw 6.

The toner adsorption filter 8 is vibrated by the cleaning means 90 rotations.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus configured as above will be explained.

When the copy is completed, the surface of the photoconductor 1 is uniformly charged by a main charger (not shown), and then a light image of the original placed on the document table is formed on the photoconductor 1 to form an electrostatic latent image. Ru. Next, the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 1 is visualized by the toner in the developing device 2 . Then, the paper is transported in time with the copy cycle.
The visible image is transferred by a transfer charger (not shown). Subsequently, after the charge on the photoreceptor 1 is removed, the residual toner on the photoreceptor is removed by the photoreceptor cleaning device 3.

At the time of the phenomenon caused by the developing device 2, the photoreceptor l and the developing device 2
Toner scatters from the gap between the It is presumed that this is because both the photoreceptor 1 and the developing roller 2a of the developing device 2 are rotating downward, so that the toner falls and scatters due to the action of the air flow.

The falling and scattering toner is sucked into the duct 5 by the toner suction fan 4 which is rotated in synchronization with the timing of the development. The sucked toner is then adsorbed by a toner adsorption filter 8 provided behind the toner suction fan 4. If too much toner is adsorbed on the toner adsorption filter 8, it will become clogged and difficult to adsorb toner, so it is necessary to periodically clean the filter 8. Therefore, in this embodiment, since the filter cleaning means 9 is operated in conjunction with the rotation of the toner conveying screw 6 of the photoreceptor cleaning device 3 as described above, the filter is cleaned periodically during the photoreceptor cleaning of the copying cycle. . Specifically, when the toner conveying screw 6 rotates, the filter cleaning means 9 attached to the tip of the screw 6 rotates in conjunction. The rotating filter cleaning means 9 hits the toner adsorption filter 8 and vibrates the filter 8, so that the adsorbed toner falls.

The fallen toner is then collected in the toner collection box 7 together with the waste toner from photoreceptor cleaning.

In this embodiment, the filter cleaning means is attached to the tip of the toner conveying screw and the filter is cleaned in conjunction with the rotation of the screw, but the filter cleaning means is configured so that it can be driven independently. Needless to say, it's fine.

Further, the shape of the toner receptacle at the tip of the duct may be changed as appropriate depending on each design.

<Effects> According to the present invention, it is possible to collect the toner that falls and scatters from the gap between the photoreceptor and the developing device, and prevents the toner from contaminating the area around the developing tank and the paper conveyance path. can be kept clean. Therefore, the user does not have to get his hands dirty when handling jams or the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of essential parts showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the filter cleaning means shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing a conventional image forming apparatus. It is a diagram. 4: Toner suction fan, 5: Duct, 7: Toner collection box, 8: Toner adsorption filter, 9 Nitona cleaning means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A developing tank containing toner for visualizing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor and photoreceptor cleaning for removing residual toner on the photoreceptor after transfer. In an image forming apparatus in which a device or the like is arranged facing the photoreceptor, an opening is provided at least below the gap between the developer tank and the photoreceptor, which are arranged facing each other, so that one end thereof is elongated in the axial direction of the photoreceptor. a toner suction fan connected to the rear of the duct; a toner suction filter disposed behind the toner suction fan; a filter cleaning means for cleaning the toner suction filter; An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner storage box that stores toner removed by a cleaning device. 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the toner storage box is provided so as to be able to contain together the toner collected by the suction fan and the toner collected by the photoreceptor cleaning device. Forming device. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filter cleaning means is driven in conjunction with a toner conveying means of the photoreceptor cleaning device.