JPH06314050A - Toner recovering device for electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a piezoelectric sensor from malfunctioning by removing toner stuck to the piezoelectric sensor by a function of a toner removing device when the toner is stuck to the piezoelectric sensor. CONSTITUTION:The piezoelectric sensor 8 and a diaphragm 9 are arranged inside a toner recovering container 7, and, when quantity of the toner 2 recovered inside the toner recovering container 7 increases and the toner 2 comes into contact with the piezoelectric sensor 8, a signal is outputted to indicate that the toner recovering container 7 has attained the allowable quantity for recovering the toner 2, then the toner recovering container 7 is replaced by an operator of the electro-photographic device. In such a case, when the toner recovering container 7 is replaced, the toner 2 sticking to the piezoelectric sensor 8 is shaken down by imparting vibration to the piezoelectric sensor 8, since the piezo-electric sensor 8 is provided with the diaphragm 9. Thus, the piezoelectric sensor 8 can be stably operated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner collecting device for an electrophotographic apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a generally known toner collecting apparatus for an electrophotographic apparatus. The toner collecting device of the electrophotographic apparatus includes a photoconductor 1, a toner 2, a transfer device 3, a cleaning device 4, a suction device 5, a cyclone 6, a toner collecting container 7, and a piezoelectric sensor 8. Toner 2, which is powder ink remaining on the photoconductor 1 having conductivity, is peeled off from the photoconductor 1 by the cleaning device 4, and then the suction device 5 connected to the cleaning device 4 and the cyclone. 6 collects the toner in the toner collecting container 7. The piezoelectric sensor 8 installed inside the toner collection container 7 detects that the amount of toner 2 collected in the toner collection container 7 has reached the allowable amount of the toner collection container 7.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional toner collecting device, the toner 2 may adhere to the piezoelectric type sensor 8 when it is repeatedly used. In this case, even when there is no toner 2 inside the toner collection container 7, the piezoelectric sensor 8 detects that the amount of toner 2 collected inside the toner collection container 7 has reached the allowable amount of the toner collection container 7 ( = False detection).

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and prevent the occurrence of obstacles in detecting the amount of toner 2.

[0005]

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to install a device for removing the toner 2 in a piezoelectric sensor in order to accurately detect the amount of toner 2 collected in the toner collecting container 7. To be achieved.

[0006]

As described above, the toner removing device installed in the piezoelectric sensor 8 for accurately detecting the amount of toner 2 collected in the toner collecting container 7 removes the toner 2 adhering to the piezoelectric sensor 8. It has a function to prevent malfunction of the collection amount detection.

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a toner recovery device of an electrophotographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a piezoelectric sensor 8 and a vibrating plate 9.

The structure of the present invention comprises a photoconductor 1, a toner 2, a transfer device 3, a cleaning device 4, a suction device 5, a cyclone 6, a toner collecting container 7, a piezoelectric sensor 8 and a vibrating plate 9. Toner 2 which is powder ink remaining on the photoconductor 1 having photoconductivity after 3 is peeled off from the photoconductor 1 by the cleaning device 4, and then the suction device 5 connected to the cleaning device 4. And, the toner is collected in the toner collecting container 7 by the cyclone 6. Since the piezoelectric sensor 8 and the vibration plate 9 are arranged inside the toner collecting container 7, the amount of toner collected inside the toner collecting device 7 increases, and when the toner 2 touches the piezoelectric sensor 8. A signal indicating that the toner collection container 7 has reached the collection allowable amount of the toner 2 is output, and the operator of the electrophotographic apparatus replaces the toner collection container 7. Further, a vibration plate 9 is attached to the piezoelectric sensor 8, and when the toner recovery container 7 is replaced, the piezoelectric sensor 8 is vibrated to shake off the toner 2 attached to the piezoelectric sensor 8. Therefore, the piezoelectric sensor 8 can operate stably.

[0009]

According to the present invention, when toner adheres to the piezoelectric sensor, the toner adhering to the piezoelectric sensor is removed by the action of the toner removing device, so that the malfunction of the piezoelectric sensor can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a toner collecting device of an electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a toner collecting device of an electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a toner collection device of a generally known electrophotographic apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a photoconductor, 2 is toner, 3 is a transfer device, 4 is a cleaning device, 5 is a suction device, 6 is a cyclone, 7 is a toner recovery container, 8 is a piezoelectric sensor, and 9 is a diaphragm.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Isao Watanabe 1060 Takeda, Katsuta-shi, Ibaraki Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tsukasa Onose 1060 Takeda, Katsuta-shi, Ibaraki Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A toner remaining on a photoconductor after transfer is peeled off from the photoconductor by a cleaning device, and then collected in a toner collection container by a suction device and a cyclone connected to the cleaning device. In a toner recovery device of an electrophotographic apparatus having a piezoelectric sensor for detecting the amount of toner recovered in a toner recovery container, a device for removing toner adhering to the piezoelectric sensor is added. Toner collection device for photographic equipment. 2. The toner collecting device according to claim 1, wherein the toner removing device comprises a vibrating body.