JPH07140871A - Waste toner processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a waste toner processor capable of disposing of waste toner without causing a failure such as the soiling of a device and an operator due to the scattering of waste toner by surely collecting powdery waste toner with simple handling. CONSTITUTION:The waste toner processor is provided with a heater 7 heating and melting the waste toner, a barrel 8, a part 8a cooling/solidifying the waste toner, holes 4a, 4b and 8b through which the waste toner is carried, a carrying member 6 housed in the hole and having a carrying coil 6a for the transition part of the waste toner and a carrying screw 6b for a part from the melted state to the solidified state and a cutter 9 provided on the exit of the hole. The carrying member 6 is constituted by assembling the carrying coil 6a and the carrying screw 6b consisting of another member and rotated by a driving motor.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a waste toner processing device for discarding powdery waste toner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Toners are used for image recording in image recording apparatuses such as copying machines and laser printers.
This toner is usually in the form of powder and is appropriately used when recording an image. On the other hand, unnecessary toner that is not substantially used during the image recording process and remains in the apparatus (for example, toner that remains attached to the outer periphery of the drum) is accumulated by a cleaning device or the like and discarded.

Here, since the toner discarded from such an image recording apparatus is in the form of powder, it tends to scatter, and if the waste toner accumulation method is improper or the waste toner accumulated is mishandled, an image is generated. The area around the recording device and the workers are easily soiled. Therefore, various methods and structures have been proposed for accumulating and discarding waste toner remaining in the image recording apparatus.

For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-38307,
In the device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 57-184962,
As described above, the waste toner is conveyed in a powdery state by the conveying screw and accumulated in the collection container.

However, in the collecting method (structure) having such a structure, since the powdery waste toner is directly collected in the collecting container, a relatively large storage volume is required, and the collecting container becomes large in size. Also, once the collection container in which the waste toner is accumulated is removed from the image recording apparatus main body, the waste toner is taken out from the collection container and disposed of at a predetermined toner disposal site, and the empty collection container is attached to the image recording apparatus again. However, if the handling of the waste toner is not properly performed when the waste toner is removed from the waste container at the waste disposal site, the surroundings of the image recording apparatus and the worker are likely to be contaminated.

On the other hand, in the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 55-178158, the waste toner accumulated in the collecting container is discarded as it is.
In the device shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. -73776, the powdery waste toner accumulated in the collecting container is melted by heat, and in the device shown in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 64-78277, the toner is attached to a cleaning web. It is configured to be wound and collected together with the cleaning web.

In any of these configurations, since the collection container removed from the image recording apparatus is discarded as it is, it is relatively easy to handle and the surroundings of the image recording apparatus and the worker are less likely to be contaminated, but on the other hand, Since the collection container is thrown away after each disposal, there is a drawback that the cost becomes high. Further, since the substantial disposal of the waste toner at the toner disposal site cannot be performed together with the collection container, even if the waste container is sent to the toner disposal site as it is from the image recording device. After that, it is necessary to take out the waste toner from the collection container, and the handling is not substantially improved.

Further, the applicant of the present invention has disclosed the invention in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-6478.
We have already considered the waste toner processing device (shown in FIG. 18) disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 0-44, and the waste toner processing device (shown in FIG. 19) disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-44453. According to the configurations disclosed in these documents, the above problems are solved, but since the waste toner in the transition state in which the powder state changes to the molten state may adhere to the groove of the screw shaft of the conveying unit. However, there is a fear that the waste toner may be clogged by the conveying means, and the waste toner cannot be reliably processed.

[0009] Therefore, the present applicant has filed Japanese Utility Model Application No. 5-4445.
Consider the waste toner processing device disclosed in No. 4 (shown in FIG. 20). According to the configuration disclosed in this, since the conveying means is configured by the coil spring, the waste toner in the transition state is less likely to adhere to the coil spring, and there is no fear that the waste toner is clogged by the conveying means. There is a problem that the processing amount is reduced.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above facts, the present invention has a problem that waste toner in powder form is surely accumulated by simple handling, and the waste toner is scattered and the apparatus or an operator is soiled. An object of the present invention is to obtain a waste toner processing device that can be efficiently and surely disposed of without being generated.

[0011]

The first waste toner processing apparatus of the present invention cools the waste toner liquefied by the heating and melting means for heating and melting the powdery waste toner. Cooling and solidifying means for solidifying, crushing means for crushing the waste toner solidified by the cooling and solidifying means, and conveying means for continuously transporting the waste toner from the heating and melting means to the cooling and solidifying means and the crushing means. In the waste toner processing device, the conveying means is a conveying coil section having a spiral shape at least a portion for conveying the waste toner in a transition state in which the heating and melting means shifts from a powder state to a melting state. The part that conveys the waste toner in the solidified state is a conveying member that is a conveying screw part, a through-hole member that accommodates the conveying member, and a driving member that rotates the conveying member. It is characterized.

The second waste toner processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a heating and melting means for heating and melting powdery waste toner, and a cooling and solidifying means for cooling and solidifying the waste toner liquefied by the heating and melting means. A waste toner processing apparatus comprising: a crushing unit that crushes the waste toner solidified by the cooling and solidifying unit; and a conveying unit that continuously conveys the waste toner from the heating and melting unit to the cooling and solidifying unit and the pulverizing unit. The transport means includes a transport member having the transport screw portion integrally formed by assembling a coil portion and a shaft portion, which are separately formed, and a through-hole member for storing the transport member. , And a drive member for rotating the transport member.

A third waste toner processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a heating and melting means for heating and melting powdery waste toner, and a cooling and solidifying means for cooling and solidifying the waste toner liquefied by the heating and melting means. A waste toner processing apparatus comprising: a crushing unit that crushes the waste toner solidified by the cooling and solidifying unit; and a conveying unit that continuously conveys the waste toner from the heating and melting unit to the cooling and solidifying unit and the pulverizing unit. The crushing means comprises a waste toner outlet provided at the tip of the through-hole member, and a rotary cutter arranged adjacent to the waste toner outlet and rotated by the driving member. .

[0014]

In the first waste toner processing apparatus of the present invention, the conveying member in the through-hole member is rotated by the driving member, so that the powdery waste toner is heated and melted from the heating and melting unit to the crushing unit along the conveying member. It is continuously conveyed to the means. Focusing on the waste toner, the powdery waste toner is heated and melted by the heating and melting means. The waste toner in the transition state, which transitions from the powder state to the melting state in the middle, is in a sticky gum state, but it is difficult for the waste toner in the transition state to stick to the transport coil portion because it is transported by the transport coil portion of the transport member. Be transported to. The waste toner is melted, and subsequently, the waste toner solidified by the cooling and solidifying means is crushed by the crushing means.
Since this crushing action is performed by the cutting portion at the tip of the through-hole member and the conveying screw portion, the solidified waste toner is surely crushed. This waste toner does not easily scatter, is easy to handle, and can be easily accumulated.

In the second waste toner processing apparatus of the present invention, the conveying member in the through hole member is rotated by the driving member, so that the powdery waste toner is heated and melted from the heating and melting means to the crushing means along the conveying member. It is continuously conveyed to the means. Since the conveying means has a coil portion and a straight shaft portion that are formed separately from each other and is integrally formed with a conveying screw portion having ridges and valleys, the conveying means is easier than cutting the whole. Can be manufactured.

In the third waste toner processing apparatus of the present invention, the conveying member in the through-hole member is rotated by the driving member, so that the powdery waste toner is heated and melted from the heating and melting means to the crushing means along the conveying member. It is continuously conveyed to the means. The crushing unit can effectively crush the cooled and solidified waste toner by bringing the waste toner outlet provided at the tip of the through hole member into contact with the rotating cutter.

[0017]

As described above, in the waste toner processing apparatus according to the present invention, the powdery waste toner is reliably and efficiently accumulated by simple handling, and the waste toner is scattered and the apparatus and the operator are contaminated. It has an excellent effect that the disposal process can be surely performed without causing a problem.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The waste toner processing apparatus of the present invention mainly comprises heating and melting means, cooling and solidifying means, crushing means, and conveying means. FIG. 1 shows a partial sectional view of a first embodiment of a waste toner processing device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a top view thereof.

The waste toner processing device 100 is provided inside an image processing device such as a copying machine or a laser printer (not shown), and is particularly provided near a waste toner cleaning device for collecting the waste toner around the drum. A waste toner cleaning device (not shown) conveys the powdery waste toner 2 to the waste toner processing device 100 by the toner conveyance pipe 1.

The waste toner processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mainly composed of the following. Connection pipe 3, main body 4, cover 5, transport member 6, transport coil unit 6
a, a conveying screw 6b, a heater 7, a barrel 8, a cutter 9, a bearing 10, gears 11a, 11b and 11c, a drive motor 12, a recovery container 14, a heat insulating material 15, and a shaft 16.

The connecting pipe 3 has a hole 3a and the main body 4 has holes 4a and 4b. The powdery waste toner 2 is conveyed by the conveying member 6 through these holes. Further, the barrel 8 has a hole 8b for accommodating the conveying member 6, and the powdery waste toner 2 is conveyed to the barrel tip 8a through the hole which is a through hole member.

The carrying member 6 comprises a carrying coil portion 6a and a carrying screw portion 6b. The transport coil section 6a is
The waste toner is provided from the drive motor 12 side to a portion where there is a transition state in which the waste toner is moved from the powder state to the molten state by the heating and melting means. The conveying screw portion 6b is provided from the portion where the transition state exists to the discharge front end.

Each of the conveying coil portion 6a and the conveying screw portion 6b of the conveying member 6 forms an axial surface 6e, and the waste toner is conveyed along the axial surface 6e by a certain amount in the axial direction.

The holding portion 6d of the transfer coil portion 6a is fixed to the shaft 16, and the shaft 16 supports the bearing 10 with respect to the main body 4.
Supported by. A gear 11a is provided at the rear end of the shaft 16. Then, gears 11a, 11b, 11c are arranged in a space 4c constituted by the main body 4 and the cover 5 (a method for supporting the gears is not shown). The gear 11c
(Not shown) is an output shaft of the drive motor 12 (not shown)
Is rotated by. With the above configuration, the rotation of the drive motor 12 is transmitted to the gear 11c, the gear 11b, and the gear 11a, and the carrier coil unit 6a is rotated.

The shape, size, and pitch of each of the carrying coil portion 6a and the carrying screw portion 6b of the carrying member 6 can be variously changed. The winding pitches of the conveying coil portion 6a and the conveying screw portion 6b are equidistant, the winding pitches of the conveying coil portion 6a and the conveying screw portion 6b become narrower in the waste toner discharge direction, and the axial surface of the conveying coil portion. It is possible that there exists up to the axis center.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view showing the radial dimensions of the transport member 6 and the through-hole member. The gap H between the inner diameter L2 of the barrel 8 and the outer diameter L1 of the transport member 6 is 5 to 1 of the outer diameter of the transport coil.
Select 0%. The gap allows the waste toner to be smoothly transported.

In the axial sectional view of the conveying member 6 of the above embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the conveying member 6 forms an axial surface 6e, and the shape, size, and pitch of the axial surface 6e are constant. The transport member 6 can be easily produced in manufacturing, and the waste toner is transported by a certain amount along the axial direction.

Further, referring to FIG. 1, the barrel 8 is fixed to the main body 4, the heater 7 is fixed to the outer periphery of the barrel 8, the heat insulating material 15 is provided on the outer periphery of the heater 7, and the cutter 9 is provided.
Is fixed to the barrel tip 8a. The waste toner is cooled and solidified at the barrel tip 8a. Barrel hole 8
The conveying screw portion 6b is housed inside b. Also,
The container 14 is fixed to the main body 4 with bolts 14 a and accumulates the solid waste toner 13.

The powdery waste toner 2 generated in the copying machine is sent from the end 1 of the carrying pipe. After that, powder waste toner 2
Enters the connecting pipe 3 and reaches the conveying member 6 through the holes 3a and 4a. The conveying coil 6a of the conveying member 6 is rotated by the drive motor 12, and the conveying screw 6b is also rotated.
Also rotates. The powdery waste toner 2 passes through the hole 4b, which is a through-hole member, to the side of the collection container 14, and the carrying coil 6a, which is the carrying member 6.
Is transported by.

Next, the powdery waste toner 2 is heated and melted by the barrel 8 heated by the heater 7 and is conveyed by the conveying screw 6b which is the conveying member 6 and comes out to the front end portion 6c of the conveying member 6. This heat-melted toner is
While being naturally cooled around the barrel tip 8a and solidified, the solidified waste toner is transferred to the axial surface 6e of the transport screw portion 6b, which is the transport member 6, the tip portion 6c, and the cutter 9 of the transport screw portion 6b. It is cut at a rate of once per rotation, and is collected as the solid waste toner 13 in the collecting container 1
4 is stored inside.

In the above structure, the heater 7 and the barrel 8 correspond to the heating and melting means, the barrel tip 8a corresponds to the cooling and solidifying means, and the conveying member 6 and the holes 4a and 4b of the main body 4 are formed. The drive motor 12 corresponds to the conveying means, and the cutter 9 and the tip portion 6c of the conveying screw portion 6b correspond to the crushing means.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The waste toner is conveyed by the rotation of the conveying member from the right to the left in the drawing. First, the waste toner is the powdery waste toner A, and the powdery waste toner A coming out from the terminal end 1 of the toner carrying pipe successively enters the holes 4a and 4b, whereby the powdery waste toner A is compressed. . The compressed powdery waste toner A becomes molten waste toner C through an intermediate portion called transitional waste toner B as it approaches the barrel 8 heated by the heater 7. The characteristics of these waste toners are:
The powdery waste toner A is in a free-flowing powder state, the transitional waste toner B is in a sticky gum state, and the molten waste toner C is in a sticky molten state.

In these portions, the powdery waste toner A and the molten waste toner C are easily transported, but the transitional waste toner B is easily attached to the transporting means, so that they are difficult to transport. At this time, if the powdery waste toner A is continuously conveyed, the powdery waste toner A is jammed with the transitional waste toner B. Furthermore, if the powdery waste toner A continues to be compressed, the powdery waste toner A may make a squeak noise and the conveying means may not function. (For example, it tends to occur when the transporting means has a screw shape.) However, when the transporting coil portion which is the transporting means is used, the powdery waste toner A is axially attached even if the transitional waste toner B adheres to the transporting coil portion 6a. Since the powdery waste toner A is less likely to be compressed, the squeak noise is not generated, and the conveying coil portion 6a is not stopped.

This operation will be described below with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5A, there are 6G, 6H, and 6I on the surface of the conveying screw portion 6b. The transitional waste toner easily sticks and sticks to the surfaces of 6G, 6H, and 6I. As a result, the inner surface of the barrel and 6G, 6H,
The waste toner transport path surrounded by the 6I surface becomes narrow, and the transportability deteriorates. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, 6J, 6K, and 6L are provided on the surface of the carrier coil portion 6a. The transitional waste toner sticks to the surfaces of 6J, 6K, and 6L, but the waste toner conveyance path is secured wider than the conveyance screw portion 6b, so the pressure of the powdery waste toner pushing the transitional waste toner is low. The transfer coil portion 6a has good transferability.

A graph showing the transportability of waste toner is shown in FIG. This graph shows the conveying screw portion 6 of the conveying member 6.
7 is a graph showing the pressure for transporting waste toner with the same torque when b and the transport coil unit 6a are used independently with the same outer diameter and the same pitch. As shown in the graph, when the powdery toner and the molten toner are transported, the transporting screw portion 6b has a higher transporting pressure than the transporting coil portion 6a. In particular, when the molten toner is transported, the difference in transportability is remarkable and the screw is preferable.

Inside the boundary between the barrel 8 and the main body 4, the conveyed powdery waste toner 2 becomes a gum-like sticky state by the heat from the heater 7 and is in a transition state before the melting state. Here, if the surface treatment (for example, the surface treatment of Teflon coating) by which the waste toner in the molten state is easily released is performed on the surfaces of the transport coil 6a and the transport screw portion 6b which are the transport member 6, the waste toner in the transition state is obtained. Is less likely to stick to the surface of the transport member 6 and is transported smoothly. Further, even if the inner surface of the barrel 8 which is a through hole member is subjected to a surface treatment, the transportability of the waste toner is similarly improved. If both the surface of the transport member 6 and the inner surface of the barrel 8 are surface-treated, the transportability is still good.

This solid waste toner 1 obtained in this example
3 is waste toner that has been melted and solidified, and has a density of 1.0 gf
/ Cm is about ^3, the density of the waste toner obtained by conventional waste toner processing apparatus (apparatus of JP 64-44975 JP) is 0.4Gf / cm ³ order. Comparing these, in the present embodiment, the amount of waste toner collected per unit volume is 2.5 times. Further, if the amount of recovery is constant, the size of the recovery container can be reduced. Solid waste toner 13
Is a plastic itself, it does not get dirty even if you touch it, and it does not stain the area around the copier. Further, since the contamination due to the scattering of powdery toner, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 28150/1990, does not occur, a shutter mechanism or the like is unnecessary, and the number of parts can be greatly reduced.

Next, a second embodiment is shown in FIG. The conveying member 6 includes a conveying coil portion 6a, a conveying screw portion 6b,
6f. The difference from the first embodiment is that the transport coil portion 6a is provided at a portion where a transition state exists in which the waste toner is moved from the powder state to the molten state by the heating and melting means. Then, the conveying screw portion includes a portion 6b from the portion in which the transition state exists to the discharge front end and a transition state in which the waste toner is transferred from the drive motor 12 side to the powder state by the heating and melting means. It is provided at two locations on the portion 6f. In the second embodiment, the pressure for conveying the powdery toner can be secured higher than that in the first embodiment, and the conveying property is good.

A third embodiment is shown in FIG. The transport member 6 is composed of a coil portion 6g and a straight shaft portion 6h which are separately formed. The coil portion 6g constitutes the conveying coil portion 6i itself, and the shaft portion 6h is integrally assembled with the coil portion 6g to constitute the conveying screw portion 6j. Specifically, the shaft portion 6h is inserted into the inner diameter of the coil portion 6g and welded to form the conveying screw portion 6j. According to the above-described embodiment, when forming the conveying screw portion 6j, it is not necessary to cut into a spiral groove for a shaft as is conventionally done, and a coil wound in a spiral shape on one shaft is not necessary. Manufacturing is easy because all that is required is to perform fitting and welding.

A concrete conveying member 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9A shows the transport member shown in FIG. This type of transport member is configured separately from the coil portion 6g shown in FIG. 9B and the shaft portion 6h and the shaft 16 shown in FIG. Transport member 6k shown in d)
Is configured. FIG. 9 (a) is a round wire coil, FIG. 9 (b).
From FIG. 9D, a rectangular coil is shown, but the function is equivalent. Further, FIG. 10A shows the transport member shown in FIG. 7. This type of transport member includes a coil portion 6g shown in FIG. 10 (b) and a shaft portion 6 shown in FIG. 10 (c).
m, the shaft portion 6n, and the shaft 16a are separately formed, and by combining them, FIG.
The transport member 6o shown in (d) is configured. Figure 10
10A shows a round wire coil, and FIGS. 10B to 10D show a square wire coil, which have the same function.

Further, the fourth embodiment shows another embodiment of the crushing means, and a partial sectional view of the waste toner processing device thereof is shown in FIG. This crushing means is provided for the first embodiment of FIG. A nozzle portion 16 is provided at the tip of the barrel 8, and the nozzle portion 16 is provided with a nozzle hole 16a. The nozzle hole 16a is a passage through which the waste toner in the barrel 8 is pushed out. A cylindrical heat insulating guide 17 is provided at the center of the nozzle portion 16, and a screw 19 that is fastened to the shaft 6h of the conveying screw of the conveying member is inserted and supported inside the heat insulating guide 17. The heat insulating guide 17 prevents the heat transmitted from the heater 7 to the nozzle portion 16 from being transmitted to the screw 19 and further to the guide portion 18. The guide portion 18 is provided with a guide hole 18a, and the guide hole 18a is a positioning means for guiding the waste toner toward the cutter 9a and crushing the waste toner. The guide hole 18a is provided with the nozzle hole 1 so that waste toner can easily enter.
It has a larger diameter than 6a. A cutter 9a is provided at the exit of the guide hole 18a so as to be in sliding contact with the cutter, and the cutter 9a is fixed to the tip of the shaft 6h with a screw 19.

Next, the movement of the waste toner will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 12 shows a front view of the crushing means as seen from the rotation axis direction of the conveying means. The waste toner is sent to the tip of the barrel 8 by the rotation of the carrying screw 6. Then, the waste toner passes through the nozzle hole 16a of the nozzle portion 16 and is discharged to the outside to come into contact with the outside air to promote cooling. The cooled waste toner then enters the guide hole 18a of the guide 18. The waste toner continuously pushed out from the guide hole 18a is cut by the intersection of the rotating cutter 9a and the fixed guide portion 18. Therefore, this waste toner is cut into the amount pushed out when the conveying member 6 makes one rotation. Then, the pulverized waste toner becomes the solid waste toner 13 and is collected in the collecting container 14. With the above configuration, the solid waste toner 13 can be reliably crushed into a small shape.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the waste toner processing apparatus is shown in FIGS. 13 to 17. In this embodiment, the guide portion 18 of the crushing means and the heating means are further characterized. FIG. 13 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the fifth embodiment of the waste toner processing device. In this embodiment, the nozzle holes 16a are provided at three positions in order to improve the discharge property of the waste toner.

First, the guide portion 18 of the crushing means will be described. The guide portion 18 is attached to a base 19 together with the recovery container 14 via bolts 14 a, and the base 19 is attached integrally to the main body 4. FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of the guide portion 18 of the crushing means of the fifth embodiment as seen from the AA direction. Guide hole 1 for discharging waste toner
A fin 18b is provided around 8a. Therefore, the heat of the waste toner discharged through the guide hole 18a is released to the outside through the fin 18b, so that the waste toner can be efficiently cooled and solidified.

At the leading end of the guide portion 18 in the carrying direction,
A guide box 18c is provided so that the rotating cutter 9a can be stored sufficiently. FIG. 15 is a partial sectional view of the guide portion of the crushing means of the fifth embodiment as seen from the BB direction. A guide box hole 18d is provided on the collection container 14 side of the guide box 18c. Guide hole 1
The solid waste toner discharged from 8a may be scattered around by the centrifugal force at the time of cutting by the cutter 9a, but since the tip of the guide hole 18a is covered by the guide box 18c, it is scattered around. Without guide box hole 18
It is collected in the collecting container 14 through d.

16 and 17, since the nozzle 16a has three points, the guide portion 18 is also the same. 3 nozzle holes 16a
If the point is set, the number of nozzle holes per one rotation of the conveying screw is large, so that uneven discharge of waste toner is reduced. Further, since the discharge resistance is reduced, the dischargeability of the waste toner is improved.

Next, the arrangement of the heater 7 as the heating means will be described. FIG. 16A is a detailed sectional view of the vicinity of the barrel 8 of the fifth embodiment, but the entire peripheral surface of the circular heater 7 is the barrel 8. Therefore, the heat of the heater 7 is easily transmitted to the barrel 8 main body. Therefore, when a current is applied to the heater 7, it is possible to bring the barrel 8 main body to the preset temperature in a short time as shown in FIG. 16 (b).

FIG. 17A is a detailed sectional view of another modification near the barrel 8 of the fifth embodiment, in which a part of the peripheral surface of the circular heater 7 is in contact with the barrel 8. in this case,
The heat of the heater 7 is difficult to be sufficiently transmitted to the barrel 8 main body. Therefore, when a current is applied to the heater 7, it takes a longer time to bring the barrel 8 main body to the set temperature as shown in FIG. 17B, as compared with the modification of FIG. However, since the structure is simple, it can be easily manufactured.

The invention described in the examples but not characterized in the claims is as follows.

A barrel through which the powdery waste toner is communicated, a heater provided around the barrel, and at least a portion of the transitional state in which the waste toner in the barrel is transferred from the powder state to the molten state by the heater is spiral. A waste toner processing device, comprising: a transport member having a shape of a transport coil, and a transport screw portion that transports the waste toner from the molten state to the solidified state; and a motor that rotates the transport member.

According to the above construction, at least the portion of the waste toner in the transitional state where the powder state is changed to the molten state by the heater is the spiral carrying coil portion, and the waste toner is changed from the molten state to the solidified state. Since the portion that conveys is the conveying member that is the conveying screw portion, the waste toner is less likely to be clogged in the transition state portion, and the waste toner is reliably conveyed and processed.

A barrel through which the powdery waste toner is communicated, a heater provided around the barrel, and the conveying screw portion integrally formed by assembling a coil portion and a shaft portion, which are separately formed, respectively, are assembled. A carrying member having
A waste toner processing device having a motor for rotating the conveying member.

According to the above construction, since the coil portion and the shaft portion are separately produced as the conveying screw portion and assembled later, when the shaft portion is produced, there is no need for cutting or the like, and the conveying screw portion can be easily carried out. Can be produced.

A barrel through which the powdery waste toner is communicated, a heater provided around the barrel, a conveying member composed of a coil portion or a screw portion, a motor for rotating the conveying member, and a leading end of the conveying member are provided. A waste toner processing device comprising: a nozzle portion having a nozzle hole communicating with the inside of a barrel; and a cutter provided in a conveying member and arranged adjacent to the nozzle hole.

According to the above construction, the nozzle portion is provided at the tip of the conveying member and has the nozzle hole communicating with the inside of the barrel, and the cutter provided on the conveying member is arranged adjacent to the nozzle hole. Therefore, the crushing means can efficiently perform the treatment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of a waste toner processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view showing a state of a main body and a barrel used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view showing a carrying member used in the first embodiment.

5A and 5B are axial cross-sectional views of a conveying screw portion and a conveying coil portion of a conveying member for explaining the operation of the waste toner processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the pressure for conveying the waste toner with the same torque when each of the conveying screw portion and the conveying coil portion of the conveying member is used to explain the operation of the waste toner processing device according to the present invention. It is a graph.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the waste toner processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the waste toner processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of parts of a first modification of the carrying member of the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of parts of a second modification of the carrying member of the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the waste toner processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the crushing means as seen from the rotation axis direction of the conveying member of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of the waste toner processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a view showing the guide portion of the crushing means of the fifth embodiment as indicated by A-
The front view seen from the A direction is shown.

FIG. 15 shows a guide portion B- of the crushing means of the fifth embodiment.
The partial sectional view seen from the B direction is shown.

16A is a detailed cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the barrel of the fifth embodiment, and FIG. 16B is a graph showing the time taken for the barrel body to reach a set temperature when the heater is heated.

FIG. 17 (a) is a detailed cross-sectional view near the barrel of the modified example of the fifth embodiment, and FIG. 17 (b) is a graph showing the time until the barrel body reaches the set temperature when the heater of the modified example is heated. Show.

FIG. 18: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5 (1994), already filed by the applicant
FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the waste toner processing device disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 64780.

FIG. 19: Japanese Patent Application No. 5 already applied by the applicant
FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a waste toner processing device disclosed in No. 44453.

FIG. 20: Practical application No. 5 already filed by the applicant
FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a waste toner processing device disclosed in No. 44454.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 Connection pipe 4 Main body 4a, 4b, 8b Hole (perforated member) 6 Conveying member (conveying means, crushing means) 6a Conveying coil part 6b Conveying screw part 6c Tip part 6d Holding part of conveying coil part 7 Heater (heating and melting means) ) 8 barrel (perforated member, heating and melting means, cooling and solidifying means) 8a barrel tip (cooling and solidifying means) 9, 9a cutter (crushing means) 10 bearing 12 drive motor (driving member) 15 heat insulating material 16 nozzle section (crushing) Means) 18 Guide unit (crushing means) 100, 200 Waste toner processing device

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location // B29B 17/00 9350-4F B09B 3/00 303 Z

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A heating and melting means for heating and melting a powdery waste toner, a cooling and solidifying means for cooling and solidifying the waste toner liquefied by the heating and melting means, and a waste solidified by the cooling and solidifying means. A waste toner processing device comprising: a crushing unit for crushing toner; a transporting unit for continuously transporting the waste toner from the heating and melting unit to a cooling and solidifying unit; and a crushing unit, the transporting unit comprising: At least a portion for transferring the waste toner in the transition state in which the powder is changed from the powder state to the melting state by the heating and melting means is a spiral conveying coil portion, and a portion for conveying the waste toner in the solidifying state from the melting state is a conveying screw portion. The waste toner processing device, which comprises: a transport member, a through-hole member that houses the transport member, and a drive member that rotates the transport member. 2. A heating and melting means for heating and melting powdery waste toner, a cooling and solidifying means for cooling and solidifying the waste toner liquefied by the heating and melting means, and a waste solidified by the cooling and solidifying means. A waste toner processing device comprising: a crushing unit for crushing toner; a transporting unit for continuously transporting the waste toner from the heating and melting unit to a cooling and solidifying unit; and a crushing unit, the transporting unit comprising: A conveying member having the conveying screw portion integrally formed by assembling a coil portion and a shaft portion which are separately formed, a through hole member for accommodating the conveying member, and a driving member for rotating the conveying member. A waste toner processing device comprising: 3. A heating and melting means for heating and melting powdery waste toner, a cooling and solidifying means for cooling and solidifying the waste toner liquefied by the heating and melting means, and a waste solidified by the cooling and solidifying means. A waste toner processing device comprising: a pulverizing unit for pulverizing toner; a conveying unit for continuously conveying the waste toner from the heating and melting unit to a cooling and solidifying unit; and a pulverizing unit, wherein the pulverizing unit comprises: A waste toner processing device comprising: a waste toner outlet provided at a tip of the through hole member; and a rotary cutter disposed adjacent to the waste toner outlet and rotated by the driving member.