JPH0527652A - Powder carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent noise from being made and to surely carry powder by providing means for preventing the return of the powder, which are plurally arranged so that their leading edges contact with a sheet-like carrying body which reciprocates in a state where the powder is placed. CONSTITUTION:The sheet-like carrying body 32 is provided in a cylindrical carrying path 31 which communicates from the toner recovering port 25 of a cleaning device 15 to a toner accumulation part 28 along the base of the path 31. The one end of the carrying body 32 is projected from the end of the carrying path 31 on the cleaning device 15 side and bent downward, then the lever member 34 of a crank mechanism 33 provided under the carrying path 31 is coupled with the bent part 32a of the carrying body 32. The plate-like return preventing members (35 formed of an elastic material are plurally arranged on the upper surface in the carrying path 31 so that the base ends 35b may be attached and the tip parts 35a may be supported to be inclined to the feeding direction of toner 27 so as to contact with the carrying body 32. By the driving of the crank mechanism 33, the carrying body 32 reciprocates in the feeding direction and the returning direction of the toner 27, so that the member 35 prevents the return of the toner 27.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic system (a system for transferring an image formed on a photoconductor to a sheet for recording), for example, a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, etc. using a laser. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to an electrophotographic device for recording on a sheet. More specifically, the present invention relates to a powder transfer device for cleaning the surface of the photoconductor after image transfer with a cleaning device and transferring the removed toner to a toner reservoir in such an electrophotographic apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a powder conveying apparatus, as shown in FIG. 8, a conveying body 2 on which a powder 1 is placed is provided so as to be capable of reciprocating in a horizontal direction. The powder 1 placed on the carrier 2 is intermittently inertially intermittently by repeatedly moving at a low speed, releasing the cam 3 from the cam 3 and moving at a high speed by the spring 4 and suddenly stopping. There was something I tried to move.

[0003]

However, in such a powder conveying apparatus, since the powder 1 is moved only by inertia, when the powder 1 is light such as a toner, etc. However, reliable transport was impossible only with inertia. Further, since the carrier 2 moves at a high speed in the feed direction and moves at a low speed in the return direction, and the carrier 2 moving at a high speed is abruptly stopped, a large load fluctuation occurs and the machine body vibrates. However, there was a problem that shock noise was generated at the same time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable reliable powder conveyance without giving a large load fluctuation or vibration to the apparatus main body and without generating noise.

[0005]

Therefore, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, for example, as shown in the following illustrated embodiment, a powder such as toner 27 is placed and the feeding direction of the powder is set. A sheet-shaped carrier 32 that reciprocates in the returning direction,
A plurality of tip ends 35a are provided in contact with the carrier 32, and a return blocking member 35 for blocking the return of the powder on the carrier 32 is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the return blocking member 35 is made of an elastic material in the powder conveying device 30 according to the first aspect, for example, as shown in the following embodiments. It is characterized in that the tip end 35a is supported obliquely in the feeding direction.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, for example, as in the following illustrated embodiment, in the powder conveying device 30 according to the first aspect, the return blocking member 35 is formed of a rigid body, and It is characterized in that it is rotatable about the end 35b, and the tip 35a is brought into contact with the carrier 32 by gravity and is supported obliquely in the feeding direction.

Further, according to the present invention described in claim 4, for example, as in the following illustrated embodiment, in the powder transfer device 30 described in claim 1, the transfer body 32 is reciprocally moved and vertically moved. It is characterized by comprising drive means which is separated from the return blocking member 35 when moving in the feed direction, and contacts when moving in the return direction.

Further, according to the present invention described in claim 5, for example, as in the following illustrated embodiment, in the powder carrying device 30 according to claim 4, the driving means is rotated to move the carrying body 32. A cam member 36 that moves up and down, and the cam member 36
The lever member 3 which connects the carrier 32 to the carrier 32 and transmits the driving force from the driving means to reciprocate the carrier 32.
4 and an urging member 38 for urging the carrier 32 to press it against the cam member 36.

[0010]

In the invention described in claim 1, the powder is placed on the carrier 32 and the carrier 32 is reciprocated to move the carrier 3
When 2 moves in the return direction, the return blocking member 35 blocks the powder from returning.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the carrier 32 carrying the powder is reciprocated and moved in the feeding direction, the powder hits the return blocking member 35 and bends it. Further, when the carrier 32 moves in the return direction, even if the powder hits the tip 35a of the return blocking member 35, the tip 35a of the return blocking member 35 cannot be further bent by the carrier 32 in the return direction. , Prevent the powder from returning.

Further, in the third aspect of the invention, when the carrier 32 carrying the powder is reciprocated and moved in the feeding direction, the powder hits the tip 35a of the return blocking member 35 and escapes it. Further, when the carrier 32 moves in the return direction, even if the tip 35a of the return blocking member 35 hits the powder, the return blocking member 35 cannot prevent the tip 35a from escaping by the carrier 32 and prevent the powder from returning. To do.

Further, in the invention according to the fourth aspect, the conveying member 32 is reciprocally moved and moved up and down by the driving means, and is separated from the return blocking member 35 when moving in the feeding direction, and when moving in the returning direction. Contact.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the conveying member 32 is constantly pressed against the cam member 36 by the urging member 38, and the cam member 36 is rotated by the driving means to move the conveying member 32 up and down. The lever member 34 reciprocates the carrier 32 by the driving force from the driving means.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a laser printer having a powder carrying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 10 indicates a printer main body, and a drum-shaped photosensitive member 11 is provided in the printer main body 10 substantially at the center. Around the photoconductor 11, a charging device 12, a developing device 13, a transfer device 14, and a cleaning device 1 are sequentially arranged in the driving direction indicated by the arrow.
Place 5. An optical writing device 16 is arranged below the charger 12 and the cleaning device 15, and a paper feed cassette 17 is arranged below the optical writing device 16.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a paper feed roller.
The sheet 19 in the sheet feeding cassette 17 fed in the direction of arrow A is conveyed to the registration roller 21 through the sheet reversing path 20 formed in an arc shape, and the timing is adjusted by the registration roller 21. It is taken and conveyed to the drum-shaped photoconductor 11. Then, the photoconductor 11 is driven and rotated, and the surface thereof is charged by the charging device 12, and the laser light L from the optical writing device 16 is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 11. This latent image is visualized by attaching a toner as it passes through the developing device 13. On the other hand, this visible image is transferred to the transfer device 1.
It is transferred to the sheet 19 which is conveyed to the photoconductor 11 by 4. After that, the sheet 19 is conveyed to the fixing device 22,
The visible image on the sheet 19 is fixed by the fixing device 22,
It is discharged to the discharge unit 23. On the other hand, the photoreceptor 11 after the transfer of the visible image is the cleaning blade 2 of the cleaning device 15.
At 4, the residual toner is removed and the surface is cleaned.

By the way, below the cleaning device 15, a powder carrying device 30 as shown in FIG. 1 is provided. In the cleaning device 15, a receiving portion is provided at the lower portion of the passage from the blade 24 to the toner recovery port 25. In its receiving part,
The rotating body 26 is provided to compress the toner 27 that is removed from the photoconductor 11 and drops, and sends the compressed toner 27 toward the toner collecting port 25. Then, from there, the toner transfer device 30 transfers the toner 27 to the toner storage portion 28 located at a position away from the toner recovery port 25 and recovers it.

In this powder conveying device 30, a sheet-shaped carrier 32 is provided in a cylindrical carrier path 31 which communicates from the toner recovery port 25 of the cleaning device 15 to the toner reservoir 28, and a bottom surface 31a of the carrier 32. It is installed along. Then, one end of the transport body 32 is projected from the end of the transport path 31 on the cleaning device 15 side and bent downward. Then, the lever member 34 of the crank mechanism 33 provided on the lower side of the transport path 31 is connected to the bending portion 32 a of the transport body 32. Further, the plate-like return blocking member 35
Are formed of an elastic material, and a plurality of them are arranged side by side on the upper surface in the transport path 31 and their base ends 35b are attached. Then, the tip end 35a is supported obliquely in the feeding direction of the toner 27 and brought into contact with the carrier 32.

By driving the crank mechanism 33,
The carrier 32 reciprocates in the feed direction and the return direction of the toner 27. Then, the toner recovery port 25 of the cleaning device 15
The toner 27 that has fallen from the carrier rests on the carrier 32 as shown in FIG. 2A, and as shown in FIG.
When 2 moves in the feed direction, the tip 35a of the return blocking member 35 is bent and pushed up to pass thereunder. Then, the return blocking member 35 returns to its original shape as shown in FIG. 2C with the passage of the toner 27, and its front end 35a.
Is brought into contact with the carrier 32. Here, when the carrier 32 moves in the returning direction as shown in FIG.
Tries to return together with the carrier 32. However, since the return blocking member 35 is obliquely supported in the feeding direction, the tip 35a of the return blocking member 35 cannot hit the transport body 32 to escape the return blocking member 35, and the toner 27 is prevented from returning and the transporter body is blocked. Move in the feed direction on 32. Then, the reciprocating motion of the carrier 32 causes the toner 27 to repeat the state shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D, so that the toner 27 is reliably fed on the carrier 32.

Further, the return blocking member 35 is formed of a rigid body,
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the base end 35b may be rotatable, and the tip end 35a may contact the carrier 32 by gravity and be supported obliquely in the feeding direction. In this case, when the carrier 32 on which the toner 27 is placed moves in the feeding direction, the toner 27 rotates the return blocking member 35 to pass thereunder. After passing through the toner 27, the return blocking member 35 contacts the carrier 32 with the tip 35a by gravity. Therefore, even if the toner 27 tries to return together with the carrier 32, the return blocking member 35 cannot rotate in the returning direction any more, so that the toner 27 is prevented from returning and moves on the carrier 32 in the feeding direction. To do. The reciprocating motion of the carrier 32 ensures that the toner 27 is fed on the carrier 32. Further, even when the toner 27 is solidified on the carrier 32, the toner 27 solidified when the carrier 32 moves in the returning direction can be broken by the tip 35a of the return blocking member 35 and sent.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the leading end 35a of the return blocking member 35 in the transport path 31 and the transport path 3 in the above-described embodiment.
A space where the carrier 32 can move up and down is provided between the bottom surface 31a and the bottom surface 31a. Further, the crank mechanism 33 is connected to the cam member 36.
And lever member 34. Then, the cam member 36
Is a cam surface 36a having a semicircular circumference centered on the rotation shaft 37 of the cam member 36, and the remaining semicircle is a cam surface 36b made of a part of an arc of a circle larger than the semicircle. Then, the bending portion 32 a of the carrier 32 and the cam member 3
6, the rotary shaft 3 of the cam member 36 at the central portion on the cam surface 36a side.
The lever member 34 is connected to a position spaced a predetermined distance from 7. Further, the urging member 38 is hooked on the carrier 32 to urge the carrier 32 downward, and the cam surface 36 a of the cam member 36 is urged.
・ Press against 36b.

Then, the cam member 3 is driven by a driving means (not shown).
6 is driven, the cam member 36 rotates to rotate the cam surface 36a.
When the carrier comes into contact with the carrier 32, the carrier 32 comes into contact with the tip 35a of the return blocking member 35, and the cam surface 36b is brought into contact with the carrier 32.
When it comes into contact with, the return blocking member 35 separates from the tip 35a. At the same time, the conveyance member 32 is reciprocated in the feed direction and the return direction by the crank operation of the cam member 36 and the lever member 34. When the carrier 32 moves in the feed direction, the carrier 32 separates from the return blocking member 35, and when the carrier 32 moves in the return direction, the carrier 32 contacts the return blocking member 35. Then, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the toner 27 dropped from the toner recovery port 25 is placed on the carrier 32 pushed up by the cam member 36, and as shown in FIG. 6 (b). 36 rotates, and the toner 27 descends together with the carrier 32. Then, the carrier 32 is lowered and moved in the feeding direction by the crank operation.
As shown in (c), the toner 27 includes the return blocking member 36.
Pass under. Further, as the cam member 36 rotates, as shown in FIG. 6 (d), the carrier 32 moves up to a position where it comes into contact with the return blocking member 35, and moves in the returning direction in that state by the crank operation. Then, the carrier 3
The toner 27 on the upper part 2 is prevented from returning by the return blocking member 35 and moves on the carrier 32 in the feeding direction. Then, by the continuous rotation of the cam member 36, the state shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D is repeated and the toner 27 is moved by the carrier 3.
2 is sent reliably.

[0024]

Therefore, in the present invention, since the carrier carrying the powder only reciprocates in the feeding direction and the returning direction, no noise is generated. Further, when the transport body moves in the return direction, the return blocking member blocks the powder from returning, so that the powder can be transported reliably.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even if the powder is further solidified on the carrier, when the carrier moves in the return direction, the solidified powder is collected at the tip of the return blocking member. It can be broken down and transported reliably.

Further, according to the inventions of claims 4 and 5, when the transporting body on which the powder is placed is further moved by the driving means in the feeding direction, it is separated from the return blocking member. When the carrier moves in the returning direction, the carrier comes into contact with the carrier to prevent the powder from returning, so that the powder can be transported more reliably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a powder carrying device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing a state where the powder is conveyed,
(A) shows a state in which the powder is transferred onto the carrier, and (b) shows a state in which the powder bends the return blocking member and passes under it.
(C) shows a state in which the return blocking member has returned to its natural state after passing the powder, and (d) shows a state in which the carrier has moved in the return direction and the powder has been blocked by the return blocking member. .

FIG. 3 is a front view showing another example of the return blocking member in relation to the carrier.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view thereof.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view showing a state where the powder is conveyed by the carrier, and FIG. 6A shows a state in which the powder is transferred onto the carrier.
(B) shows a state in which the powder descends together with the carrier and moves in the feed direction, (c) shows a state in which the powder moves together with the carrier in the downward feed direction of the return blocking member, and (d) shows the carrier. Shows a state in which the powder moves up in the return direction and the powder is prevented from returning by the return blocking member.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a laser printer including the powder conveying device.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional powder conveying device.

[Explanation of symbols]

27 toner (powder) 30 powder conveying device 32 transport paths 34 Lever member 35 Return blocking member 36 Cam member 38 Biasing member

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] February 20, 1992

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 1]

[Fig. 2 Part 1]

[Figure 2 Part 2]

[Figure 3]

[Figure 4]

[Figure 1 of 1]

[Figure 5]

[Fig. 6 Part 2]

[Figure 7]

[Figure 8]

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A sheet-like carrier body on which powder is placed and which reciprocates in the feeding direction and the returning direction of the powder body, and a plurality of the carrier bodies are arranged in line with their tips in contact with each other. And a return blocking member for blocking the return of the powder. 2. The powder conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the return blocking member is formed of an elastic body, and the tip end thereof is supported obliquely in the feeding direction. 3. The return blocking member is formed of a rigid body, is rotatable about a base end thereof, and has a distal end which comes into contact with the carrier by gravity and is supported obliquely in the feeding direction. The powder conveying device according to claim 1. 4. A drive means is provided which reciprocates and vertically moves the carrier, separates from the return blocking member when moving in the feeding direction, and contacts when moving in the returning direction. Item 1. The powder conveying apparatus according to item 1. 5. A cam member that is rotated by the drive means to move the carrier up and down, and the cam member and the carrier are connected to each other, and the driving force from the drive means is transmitted to the carrier. The powder conveying apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a lever member that reciprocates, and an urging member that urges the conveying member to press the conveying member against the cam member.