JPH10240086A - Dust collecting device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively prevent from clogging of a toner filter, with a simple constitution by arranging a filter main body of a dust guard filter in a flowing path of air in a duct so as to slantly intersect with respect to the flowing path, and setting the flowing direction of the air form the oblique lower side of the filter main body to the up side. SOLUTION: The dust guard filter 60 is, fitted to the filter pack 56 from an opening 57 provided on a top surface the filter pack 56. The dust guard filter 60 is provided with a stopper blade 61 located outside, a frame body 62 integrally extended from the stopper blade 61, the filter main body 63 supported by the frame body 62, and a seal 64. At this time, the filter main body 63 is fitted in a state of inclined by a specific angle with respect to the stopper 61. In such a manner, since the filter main body 63 is set in the inclined direction instead of vertical direction with respect to the flowing direction of the toner moving inside the duct, the toner in the air entering from the slopewise left side is caught. The toner being caught there, falls below when a fan stops, therefore the clogging is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer using an electrophotographic system, and more particularly, to an improvement in a dust collecting apparatus for sucking scattered toner inside the apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electrophotographic image forming apparatus has a configuration in which toner is supplied from a developing device to develop an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor. In an image forming apparatus using toner, a developing device is used. Also, the toner may leak out from a cleaning unit or the like that removes and collects residual toner on the photoconductor, and the leaked toner may be scattered in the apparatus. Such scattered toner not only deteriorates the appearance by staining the inside and outside of the device, but also causes uneven charging on the photoreceptor, and increases the sliding load of gears, shafts and the like constituting a driving mechanism, This causes abnormal noise and the like. In order to prevent such a problem, a dust collector has conventionally been used in which scattered toner in the apparatus is suctioned by forced convection generated by rotation of a fan and processed by a filter. However, if the amount of scattered toner inside the machine increases, the filter of the dust collector may be clogged early,
As a result, the drawbacks are that the suction force is reduced and the temperature inside the machine rises due to the obstruction of the flow of air inside the machine. For this reason, it is necessary to replace the filter in a relatively short time in order to prevent the filter from being clogged, which causes an increase in maintenance cost. In addition, since the inside of the apparatus, hands, and clothes are easily stained when the filter is replaced, there is a problem that cleaning, washing, and the like are required, and improvement of this point has been strongly desired. As a method of preventing clogging of a suction nozzle by toner, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1994871/1992 discloses a method of vibrating a suction nozzle to prevent the toner from adhering around the suction port of the suction nozzle and the inner wall thereof. I have. However, it is clear that this conventional nozzle vibration method is not a measure for preventing filter clogging, and a mechanism for generating vibration becomes complicated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dust collector which can effectively prevent clogging of a toner filter, extend a filter replacement cycle, and make the configuration easier to replace, while having a simple configuration. It is an object.

[0003]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dust collecting apparatus including a duct, a fan, and a dustproof filter for collecting toner scattered in an image forming apparatus. The filter main body of the dustproof filter disposed in the air flow path in the duct is disposed so as to obliquely intersect the air flow path, and the air flow direction is obliquely upward from the diagonally lower side of the filter main body. It is characterized by having been set. The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that a toner accommodating chamber for receiving toner dropped after being collected by the filter main body is provided on a bottom surface inside the duct below the filter main body. The invention according to claim 3, wherein the toner storage chamber forms a part of the duct and is disposed on an inner bottom surface of a filter pack that is detachable from the duct and communicates with the air flow path. Wherein the dustproof filter is detachably assembled from outside. The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the toner storage chamber according to claim 2 or 3 can temporarily store toner.

[0004]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a color copying apparatus as an example of an image forming apparatus to which the dust collection device of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view around a photoconductor and an intermediate transfer belt. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the present apparatus will be described. A color image reading device (hereinafter, referred to as a color scanner) 1 forms an image of a document 3 on a color sensor 7 via an illumination lamp 4, a mirror group 5, and a lens 6, and outputs color image information of the document. For example, Blue, G
Each color separation light of red and red is read and converted into an electric image signal. The color sensor 7 is B in this example,
It is composed of G and R color separation means and a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD, and performs simultaneous reading of three colors. Based on the B, G, and R color separation image signal intensity levels obtained by the color scanner 1, a color conversion process is performed by an image processing unit (not shown), and Black (hereinafter, referred to as Bk), Cya
n (same, C), Magenta (same, M), Yellow
The color image data of w (the same, Y) is obtained. The color image data is converted into Bk, C, M, and Y by a color image recording device (hereinafter, referred to as a color printer) 2 described below.
To make a final color copy. The operation of the color scanner 1 for obtaining Bk, C, M, and Y image data is such that the illumination / mirror optical system shown in FIG. The original is scanned in the direction of the left arrow to obtain one color of image data for each scan. By repeating this operation four times in total, sequential four-color image data is obtained. Then, each time the color printer 2 sequentially superimposes the images while superimposing them to form a four-color full-color image.

Next, an outline of the color printer 2 will be described. The writing optical unit 8 converts the color image data from the color scanner 1 into an optical signal, performs optical writing corresponding to the original image, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 9. The unit 8 includes a laser 8-serving as a light source.
1, a light emission drive control unit (not shown), a polygon mirror 8-2, a rotation motor 8-3, an f / θ lens 8-4, a reflection mirror 8-5, and the like. The photoreceptor drum 9 rotates counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow, but around it, a photoreceptor cleaning unit (including a pre-cleaning static eliminator) 10, a static elimination lamp 11, a charger 12, a potential sensor 13, and Bk (black) A developing unit 14, a C (cyan) developing unit 15, an M (magenta) developing unit 16, a Y (yellow) developing unit 17, a development density pattern detector 18, an intermediate transfer belt 19 and the like are arranged. Each developing unit is
Developing sleeves (14-1, 15-) which rotate by bringing the developer spikes into contact with the surface of photoreceptor 9 to develop an electrostatic latent image
1, 16-1, 17-1) and developing paddles (14-2, 15-2, 14-2) rotating to pump up and agitate the developer.
16-2, 17-2) and a toner concentration detection sensor for developer (14-3, 15-3, 16-3, 17-3)
It is composed of By the way, in the standby state, the agent on the developing sleeve is in the cutting edge (development inoperative) state in all four developing units, but the order of the developing operation (color image forming order) is Bk, C, M, and An example of Y will be described below.
(However, the order of image formation is not limited to this.) When the copy operation is started, reading of Bk image data is started at a predetermined timing by the color scanner 1 and based on this image data, a laser beam is used. Optical writing / latent image formation starts. (Hereinafter, an electrostatic latent image based on Bk image data is referred to as a Bk latent image. The same applies to C, M, and Y). In order to enable development from the tip of this Bk latent image, B
Before the leading end of the latent image reaches the developing position of the k developing unit 14, the rotation of the developing sleeve 14-1 is started to perform the brushing of the developer, and the Bk latent image is developed with the Bk toner. After that Bk
Although the developing operation of the latent image area is continued, the Bk developing sleeve 14- is quickly moved when the rear end of the latent image passes the Bk developing position.
1 is cut off to make the development inoperative. This is completed at least before the leading end of the C latent image based on the next C image data arrives. In addition, the ear cutting is the developing sleeve 1
This is performed by switching the rotation direction of 4-1 to a direction opposite to that during the developing operation. The Bk toner image formed on the photoconductor 9 is transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 19 driven at the same speed as the photoconductor (hereinafter, transfer of the toner image from the photoconductor to the intermediate transfer belt is referred to as belt transfer). ). The belt transfer is performed by applying a predetermined bias voltage to the transfer bias roller 20 while the photoconductor 9 and the intermediate transfer belt 19 are in contact with each other. The Bk, C, M, and Y toner images sequentially formed on the photoreceptor 9 are sequentially aligned on the same surface of the intermediate transfer belt 19 to form a four-color superimposed belt transfer image. Perform transcription. The configuration and operation of the intermediate transfer belt unit will be described later.

On the photosensitive member 9 side, the process proceeds to the C process after the Bk process. At a predetermined timing, reading of C image data by the color scanner 1 starts, and a C latent image is formed by writing a laser beam based on the image data. The C developing device 15 starts rotating the developing sleeve 15-1 with respect to the developing position after the trailing end of the preceding Bk latent image has passed and before the leading end of the C latent image has arrived, thereby causing the developer to stand. And develop the C latent image with C toner. Thereafter, the development of the C latent image area is continued, but when the trailing end of the latent image has passed, the cutting of the material on the C developing sleeve 15-1 is performed as in the case of the Bk developing device. This is also completed before the leading end of the next M latent image arrives. Regarding the steps of M and Y, the operations of reading image data, forming a latent image, and developing are the same as those of the above-described steps of Bk and C, and thus description thereof is omitted. Next, the intermediate transfer belt unit will be described. The intermediate transfer belt 19 is stretched around a drive roller 21, a belt transfer bias roller 20, and a group of driven rollers, and is driven and controlled by a drive motor (not shown) as described later. The belt cleaning unit 22 includes a brush roller 22-1, a rubber blade 22-2, and a mechanism 22-3 for contacting and separating from the belt.
After the image is transferred to the belt, the second, third, and fourth colors are separated from the belt surface by the contact / separation mechanism 22-3 during the belt transfer. The paper transfer unit 23 includes a paper transfer bias roller (paper transfer roller) 23-1, a roller cleaning blade 23-2, and a mechanism 2 for contacting and separating from the belt.
3-3 and the like. The bias roller 23-
1 is normally separated from the surface of the belt 19, but the timing of the contact / separation mechanism 23-3 is adjusted when the four-color superimposed images formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 19 are collectively transferred onto transfer paper.
And a predetermined bias voltage is applied to the roller 23-1 to perform transfer to paper. The transfer paper 24 is fed by the paper feed roller 25 and the registration roller 26 at the timing when the leading end of the four-color superimposed image on the intermediate transfer belt surface reaches the paper transfer position.

[0007] The way the intermediate transfer belt 19 moves is as follows.
There are a constant speed forward system, a skip forward system, a reciprocating (quick return) system, and the like, but details are not described here. The transfer paper 24 on which the four-color superimposed toner image is collectively transferred from the intermediate transfer belt surface is conveyed to a fixing device 28 by a paper conveyance unit 27, and the fixing roller 28-1 and the pressure roller 28 controlled to a predetermined temperature. At -2, the toner image is melted and fixed, and is carried out to the copy tray 29 to obtain a full color copy. The photoconductor 9 after the belt transfer is replaced with a photoconductor cleaning unit 10 (a pre-cleaning static eliminator 10-).
1. The surface is cleaned by a brush roller 10-2 and a rubber blade 10-3), and the charge is uniformly removed by a charge removing lamp 11. Further, the intermediate transfer belt 19 after transferring the toner image onto the transfer paper 24 presses the cleaning unit 22 again by the contact / separation mechanism 22-3 to clean the surface. Further, the intermediate transfer belt 19 places the second sheet of B-colored image in the area where the surface is cleaned by the cleaning unit 22 following the batch transfer step of the first sheet of four-color superimposed images onto transfer paper.
The k toner image is transferred to the belt. After that,
The operation is the same as for the first sheet. The transfer paper cassette 30,
Transfer papers 31, 32, and 33 store transfer papers of various sizes. The registration rollers 26 are controlled by timing from a storage cassette for papers of a size specified by an operation panel (not shown).
The paper is fed and transported in the direction. Reference numeral 34 denotes a manual paper feed tray for OHP paper and thick paper. Up to this point, the copy mode for obtaining four full colors has been described. However, in the case of the three-color copy mode and the two-color copy mode, the same operation as described above is performed for the designated color and the number of times. In the case of the single-color copy mode, only the developing device of the color is set in a developing operation (spring) state until the predetermined number of sheets is completed, and the intermediate transfer belt 19 is kept in contact with the surface of the photosensitive member 9 in the forward movement direction. Then, the copying operation is performed while the belt cleaner 22 is still in contact with the belt 19.

Next, FIG. 3 is a view of the image forming apparatus as viewed from the back, and the dust collecting apparatus of the present invention appears in the rear view. The dust collecting device includes a portion (developing position) where the developing sleeves 14-1 to 17-1 of the developing devices 14 to 17 and the photoconductor 9 are opposed to each other, a photoconductor cleaning unit 10 and the photoconductor 9
Duct portions 50, each of which is open toward
51, a duct main body 52 extending downward after the two duct portions merge, a suction siccolo fan 53, a fan duct 55 connected to the siccolo fan 53 and containing an ozone filter 54 therein, a fan duct 55 and a duct A filter pack 56 detachably disposed between the main body 52 and the filter pack 56 and having a dust collection filter therein. In this way, the openings of the duct portions 50 and 51 are directly connected to the rear plate of the rear surface of each developing device and the cleaning unit, and the scattered toner and the generated ozone from each developing device and the cleaning unit are removed from each duct at one location (the duct main body). 52), the toner is removed by the dustproof filter 60 in the filter pack 56, and then the ozone is removed by the ozone filter 54. The ozone is removed by the fan, for example, the sirocco fan 53, and discharged out of the apparatus.

Next, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the filter pack and its surroundings, FIG. 5 (a) is a longitudinal sectional view of the filter pack, and FIG. 5 (b) is a configuration diagram of the dust collecting filter.
The filter pack 56 can be freely attached to and detached from a detachable guide portion 52a provided at the end of the main body duct 52 and a detachable guide 55a provided at the end of the fan duct 55. In this example, both the detachable guides 52a and 55a are formed in a groove shape, and the flanges 5 at both ends of the filter pack 56 are formed.
6a is slid into and removed from the guides 52a and 55a. The ozone filter 54 is disposed downstream of the dust filter 60. The dustproof filter 60 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5B, the filter plate 56 is mounted in the pack 56 in a posture shown in FIG. 5 through an elongated hole 57 provided on the upper surface of the filter pack 56. As shown in FIG. A frame 62 extending integrally from the stopper plate 61; and a filter body 63 supported by the frame 62.
And a seal 64. The frame body 62 has a thickness and dimensions that can be inserted from the hole 57, and the filter support portion 62a of the frame body 62 is obliquely bent as shown in the figure. 5) (in FIG. 5 (a)) with a predetermined angle (inclining downward from the upstream side to the downstream side of the air flow).

On the bottom surface of the stopper plate corresponding to both side surfaces of the hanging portion 62b between the filter support portion 62a and the stopper plate 61, a seal 6 made of an elastic material functioning as a packing is provided.
The seal 64 prevents the toner from leaking from the hole 57 when the dust filter 60 is mounted in the hole 57. Further, the dustproof filter 6 is formed by the elastic force of the seal 64.
The omission may be prevented. On the inner bottom surface of the filter pack 56, a projection 65 for receiving the tip of the frame body 62 is provided.
To position the dust filter itself. Further, ring-shaped seal members 70 and 71 having holes communicating with the air flow passages, for example, a plate material such as polyurethane foam, are attached to the periphery of the openings at both ends of the filter pack 56,
And when installed in the fan duct 55,
The air containing the toner is prevented from leaking from the gap between the first and second nozzles.

An accommodation chamber 73 for receiving toner is provided below the bottom plate 72 constituting the inner bottom surface of the filter pack 56, and the accommodation chamber 73 communicates with the inside of the pack 56 through an opening 74. Further, since the opening 74 is located below the filter main body 63, the toner dropped from the filter main body 63 can be directly stored in the storage chamber 73 via the opening 74. Further, the bottom surface of the accommodation room 73 is inclined as shown in the figure. The filter body 63 of the dustproof filter of the present invention includes:
Since the toner is set not in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the toner moving in the duct but in an inclined direction, the toner in the air entering from diagonally below (from the left side in FIG. 5A is received. When the fan is stopped or when it falls down due to the minute vibration of the machine, the toner is hardly clogged, and the toner that has fallen into the storage chamber 73 below the dust-proof filter body 63 is further deepened along the inclination of the bottom surface of the storage chamber 73. When the dust-proof filter 2 is replaced, the toner collected in the storage chamber 73 is taken out. As a method of taking out the toner, the filter pack is turned upside down and taken out from the opening. A lid (not shown) that can be opened and closed or detachable may be provided in a toner disposal hole provided on the bottom surface, the back wall, or the like. It may be detachable on the bottom surface.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the filter main body 63 of the dustproof filter 60 is clogged, the filter pack 56 is removed from the main body duct 52 and the fan duct 55, and the upper surface of the filter pack 56 is removed. , The whole dustproof filter 60 is pulled out from the hole 57, and is replaced with a new dustproof filter 60. To set a new dust filter 60, the frame 62 may be inserted through the hole 57 and its tip may be engaged with the projection 65. Replace the dust filter 60 with the filter pack 56
The fixing force may be, for example, by the elastic force of the seal 64 or by special locking means (adhesive tape or the like). The dustproof filter 60 can be collected by a maintenance company without being discarded, and can be reused after replacing the filter body 63. Further, since the dustproof filter for receiving the toner is disposed obliquely in the filter pack, the area passing through the filter is increased (it is wider than the filter surface of the type arranged in the direction perpendicular to the air flow direction), and the pressure loss is reduced. Smaller and longer filter life. In addition, since the air flows upward from below the lower side of the dustproof filter disposed at an angle and passes through the filter, the toner is dammed on the lower side of the filter,
Since the toner falls down, the dust filter is less likely to be clogged. Further, since the toner storage chamber is provided, the toner dropped from the filter in the filter pack can be stored in the toner storage chamber, and the filter can be replaced without soiling the hand or the machine with the toner dropped from the filter. it can. Further, since the dustproof filter is taken out together with the toner accommodating chamber, the filter can be easily replaced. Further, since the toner that has fallen from the filter is received by the toner storage chamber, the toner can be evacuated from the flow path once, so that the toner that has fallen from the filter does not reapply to the filter, thereby preventing the filter from being clogged for a long time. And the replacement cycle can be extended. The object to which the dust collecting apparatus of the present invention is applied is not limited to the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the like, but can be applied to various types of image forming apparatuses. Also, the piping state of the duct is not limited to the illustrated one, but can be variously modified.

[0013]

As described above, in the dust collector of the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the dust-proof filter for receiving the toner is inclined in the filter pack (downward from the upstream to the downstream of the air flow). The arrangement increases the area of the filter, reduces the pressure loss, and extends the life of the filter. In addition, since the air is allowed to flow upward from below, the toner is blocked at the lower side of the filter, and the toner falls down, so that the dustproof filter is less likely to be clogged. In the dust collecting device of the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, since there is a member (toner containing moisture) for receiving the dropped toner, the filter can be replaced without soiling the hand or the machine with the toner dropped from the filter. In the dust collecting device of the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, since the dust filter is taken out together with the toner receiving member, the filter can be easily replaced. In the dust collecting device of the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the scattered toner can be temporarily evacuated from the flow path.
The toner dropped from the filter does not reapply to the filter, the filter can be prevented from being clogged for a long time, and the replacement cycle can be extended.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a color copying apparatus as an example of an image forming apparatus to which a dust collection device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view around a photoconductor and an intermediate transfer belt.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing a configuration of a filter pack which is a main part of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a longitudinal sectional view of a filter pack and a perspective view of a dustproof filter.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 color image reading device, 2 color image recording device, 3 originals, 4 illumination lamps, 5 mirror groups, 6 lenses, 7 color sensor, 8 writing optical unit, 9 photoconductor drum, 10 cleaning unit,
14, 15, 16, 17 Developing device, 19 Intermediate transfer belt, 50, 51 Duct portion, 52 Duct main body, 52
a, 55a Removable guide, 53 Siccolo fan, 54
Ozone filter, 55 fan duct, 56 filter pack, 57 holes, 60 dustproof filter, 61 stopper plate, 62 frame, 62a filter support, 63
Filter body, 64 seals, 73 toner storage chamber.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A dust collector comprising a duct for collecting toner scattered in an image forming apparatus, a fan, and a dust filter, wherein a filter body of the dust filter disposed in a flow path of air in the duct is provided. A dust collector for an image forming apparatus, wherein the dust collector is disposed so as to obliquely intersect an air flow path, and an air flow direction is set upward from an oblique lower side of the filter body. 2. A toner storage chamber for receiving toner dropped after being collected by the filter main body is provided on a bottom surface inside the duct below the filter main body.
A dust collector for the image forming apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 3. The filter container according to claim 1, wherein the toner accommodating chamber forms a part of the duct, is disposed on an inner bottom surface of the filter pack detachable from the duct, and communicates with the air flow path. 3. The dust collecting apparatus for an image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the dust filter is detachably assembled. 4. A dust collection device for an image forming apparatus, wherein the toner storage chamber according to claim 2 or 3 can temporarily store toner.