JPH10274881A - Electrophotographic recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively use a toner, perform alarm or the like properly and perform a toner supplying operation smoothly and surely by driving feeding mechanisms, when the quantity of the toner in a toner container part is smaller than a previously set quantity. SOLUTION: This electrophotographic recorder is provided with a toner detector 28 for detecting the quantity of the toner in the toner container part 27 installed in a developing unit 7 and a control means for executing the toner supplying operation and a processing operation when the toner is depleted in a toner supplying tank 8. When a recording operation by the circulation of a photoreceptor belt 1 is repeated after the toner is supplied into the toner container part 27, the toner in the toner container part 27 is reduced. That the toner quantity is smaller than the previously set one can be detected by the toner quantity detector 28. The control means after receiving the detection signal of the toner quantity detector 28 drives the feeding mechanism 22 and 23, to supply the toner from the toner supplying tank part 8 to the toner container part 27.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic recording apparatus in which a cleaner / toner magazine as a replacement part in which a waste toner tank section and a toner supply tank section are integrally connected is detachably mounted. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As generally known, an electrophotographic recording apparatus circulates, for example, a photoreceptor belt, first precharges a photoreceptor, and then performs optical writing to form an electrostatic latent image. After the toner is applied to the electrostatic latent image and developed to form a toner image, the toner image is transferred to a separately supplied recording sheet. The recording paper to which the toner image has been transferred is heat-fixed and discharged. On the other hand, the toner remaining on the photoreceptor is scraped off by a cleaning blade and collected as waste toner, and the remaining charge is removed by irradiating light.

In this type of electrophotographic recording apparatus, the life of the photoconductor and the developing unit has recently reached hundreds of thousands of sheets in A4 format. However, in order to meet recent needs for downsizing of the apparatus, toner The replenishment tank and waste toner collection tank cannot be made too large, and maintenance such as toner supply and waste toner collection must be performed by the user himself.

Therefore, the inventors of the present application have previously disclosed a cleaner / integral cleaner / waste toner tank unit.
An electrophotographic recording apparatus has been proposed in which a toner magazine (hereinafter, abbreviated as CTM) is used as a replacement part to simplify a maintenance operation by a user and reduce a running cost per recording sheet.

Hereinafter, a recording apparatus using CTM will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 shows an example of a recording apparatus using the CTM. Reference numeral 1 denotes a photoreceptor belt, which circulates in the direction of the arrow. Reference numeral 2 denotes a precharger, which uniformly charges the photosensitive belt 1 in advance. Reference numeral 3 denotes an optical writing unit, for example, a laser light source 4 according to an image signal.
The laser beam emitted from the laser beam is oscillated by a polygon mirror 5 and irradiates the photosensitive belt 1 via a mirror 6 to expose the photosensitive belt 1 to form an electrostatic latent image. Reference numeral 7 denotes a developing unit, which applies toner supplied from the toner supply tank unit 8 to a latent image formed on the photoreceptor belt 1 and develops the toner image to form a toner image. A recording paper cassette 14 separates and supplies recording paper one by one. Reference numeral 9 denotes a transfer charger that transfers the toner image on the photosensitive belt 1 to the fed recording paper. Reference numeral 10 denotes a fixing unit which heats and fixes the toner image transferred to the recording paper. The fixed recording paper is discharged by a discharge roller.

On the other hand, the residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor belt 1 after the transfer is scraped off by a cleaning blade 11 in a cleaning section, and is discarded as toner.
The toner is collected in the waste toner tank unit 12. Reference numeral 13 denotes a charge elimination unit (lamp), which irradiates the photoreceptor belt 1 with light to remove residual charges, and prepares for the next recording process.

In this embodiment, a CTM 20 in which the waste toner tank unit 12 and the toner supply tank unit 8 are integrated adjacent to each other is disposed in front of the charge removing unit 13 in a replaceable manner. This allows the CTM 20 to have a compact structure, facilitates replacement, and improves transport efficiency. However, in this case, the toner supply tank unit 8 and the developing unit 7 are separated from each other. Therefore, in this embodiment, a discharge mechanism 22 for moving the toner to the toner discharge port 21 provided at one end of the toner supply tank unit 8 is provided. And a transport mechanism 23 for transporting the toner from the toner outlet 21 to the inlet of the developing unit 7 and a replenishing mechanism for uniformly replenishing the toner transported to the inlet of the developing unit 7 in the main scanning direction of the developing unit. 24 are provided.

FIG. 4 is a slightly modified version of the structure shown in FIG. 3, in which a toner supply tank 8 and a developing unit 7 are vertically arranged, and a toner outlet 2 of the toner supply tank 8 is provided.
The toner naturally falls from 1 through a drop duct 26,
This is supplied to the developing unit 7. With such a configuration, the transport mechanism 23 in FIG. 3 can be simplified.

In either case, when the toner in the toner supply tank 8 runs out, the waste toner tank 12 becomes full of waste toner in any case. At that time, by a simple exchange work of removing the CTM 20 and installing a new CTM,
Replenishment of toner and removal of waste toner can be performed.

[0010]

However, in this case, it is necessary to replenish the toner from the toner replenishing tank unit 8 in accordance with the amount of toner consumed in the developing unit 7. There are various problems, such as processing when it is gone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems. In this case, the toner is effectively used when the toner is completely consumed, the user is properly notified, and the toner replenishing operation is performed smoothly and reliably. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrophotographic recording device performed in the above.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, an electrophotographic recording apparatus according to the present invention forms an electrostatic latent image by precharging and optically writing a photoreceptor, and forms a developing unit on the electrostatic latent image. To form a toner image, transfer the toner image to recording paper, fix it, and discharge it.
An electrophotographic recording apparatus that removes toner remaining on a photoconductor by a cleaning unit, wherein the electrophotographic recording apparatus is detachably provided to the electrophotographic recording apparatus, and includes a toner outlet for discharging toner to a toner storage unit of the developing unit. A toner replenishing tank portion, a cleaning portion for removing waste toner remaining on the photoconductor, a waste toner tank portion for collecting waste toner removed by the cleaning portion, and the toner An unloading mechanism provided in the replenishment tank unit for moving the toner to the toner outlet, a toner amount detecting unit for detecting the amount of toner in the toner storage unit, and a toner amount in the toner storage unit being smaller than a predetermined amount. A control unit for driving the unloading mechanism when the number is reduced.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a toner transport mechanism for transporting toner from the toner outlet to the toner storage section is provided.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a drop duct for naturally dropping the toner from the toner outlet to the toner storage section is provided.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the control means displays a toner near end on a display means when the amount of toner in the toner storage section does not increase despite driving the carry-out mechanism. And

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the control means counts the number of recordings after the toner near-end display, and displays a toner end when the predetermined number is counted.

According to the electrophotographic recording apparatus having the above configuration, when the amount of toner in the toner storage section of the developing unit becomes small, the amount of toner is detected by the toner amount detecting means. Replenish. When the toner in the toner replenishing tank is depleted and the toner cannot be replenished, a toner near end is displayed on the display device to alert the user or the number of sheets that can be recorded by the amount of toner remaining in the toner container. Only the recording is counted and the toner is effectively used. Finally, the end of the toner is displayed to prompt the user to replace the CTM.

Further, in the electrophotographic recording apparatus according to the present invention, a photoreceptor is precharged and optically written to form an electrostatic latent image, and a developing unit applies toner to form an electrostatic latent image. An electrophotographic recording apparatus that fixes and discharges an image after transferring the image to recording paper, and removes toner remaining on the photoconductor with a cleaning unit. A toner replenishing tank having a toner outlet for discharging toner to the toner storage unit, a cleaning unit for removing waste toner remaining on the photoconductor, and a waste toner for collecting waste toner removed by the cleaning unit A cleaner / toner magazine having a tank portion, and a carry-out mechanism provided in the toner supply tank portion for moving the toner to the toner carry-out port , Provided on said developing unit,
And a replenishing mechanism for replenishing the toner discharged from the toner outlet in the main scanning direction with respect to the photoconductor.

Further, in the present invention, the replenishing mechanism includes a screw for feeding the toner discharged from the toner discharge port in the main scanning direction with respect to the photoconductor, and a guide member for receiving the fed toner at a lower side. It is characterized in that the guide member is rotated to drop the toner into the toner storage section, thereby replenishing the toner.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the guide member is configured to cause the rotation after the toner discharged from the toner discharge port reaches the entire width of the developing unit by the screw. And

According to the electrophotographic recording apparatus having the above-described configuration, the replenishing mechanism for replenishing the toner conveyed into the developing unit in the main scanning direction of the developing unit uniformly sends the toner on a guide member by a screw or the like, and then supplies the toner. By rotating the guide member and dropping the toner therein into the toner container, the toner can be supplied uniformly over the entire width of the developing unit in the main scanning direction.

[0022]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electrophotographic recording apparatus for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention, in which the same reference numerals as in FIG. 3 denote the same components. In FIG. 1, 2
Reference numeral 8 denotes a toner amount detector that detects the amount of toner in the toner storage unit 27 attached to the developing unit 7. As the toner amount detector 28, various types such as a piezoelectric sensor type, a load detection micro switch type, and a photo sensor type can be applied. Here, the piezoelectric sensor type is used. In addition, a control unit (not shown) for performing a toner supply operation and performing a processing operation when the toner in the toner supply tank unit 8 runs out of toner is provided.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electrophotographic recording apparatus for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a drop duct 26 is used instead of the transport mechanism 23 of FIG. Also in the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, a toner amount detector 28 for detecting the amount of toner is provided in the toner storage unit 27, and a toner supply operation is performed. 8 is provided with control means for performing a processing operation when the toner runs out.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment including the operation controlled by the control means will be described.

After the toner is supplied to the toner container 27, when the recording operation by the circulating movement of the photosensitive belt 1 is repeated, the toner in the toner container 27 decreases. The fact that the toner amount has become smaller than the predetermined amount is detected by the toner amount detector 28. The predetermined amount of toner remaining in the toner container 27 at the time of this detection can be arbitrarily determined by setting the toner amount detector 28. The control means that has received the detection signal of the toner amount detector 28 drives the unloading mechanism 22 and the transport mechanism 23 (not necessary in the configuration of FIG.
From the toner storage unit 27.

As the toner supply is repeated, the amount of toner in the toner replenishing tank 8 gradually decreases, and the amount of toner in the toner container 27 is increased despite the drive of the carry-out mechanism 22 and the transport mechanism 23. If does not increase, the control means determines that the toner supply tank unit 8 is empty, and displays a toner near end on a display device of an operation panel (not shown). Further, counting of the number of recording sheets is started from this point, and after counting a predetermined number of recording sheets that can be reliably recorded by the amount of toner remaining in the toner storage section 27 together with recording, the toner end is displayed on the display device of the operation panel. Display.

In this embodiment, the toner can be smoothly supplied to the toner container 27 without any excess or shortage. When the toner in the toner replenishment tank unit 8 runs out, the user is alerted to the fact that the toner is running low, alerts the user, uses the remaining toner effectively, and eventually consumes the toner. Since the user is prompted to exchange the CTM with the user, the user can exchange the CTM accordingly and can operate with confidence.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a replenishing mechanism 24 according to a third embodiment of the present invention which enables the toner sent to the toner container 27 to be uniformly distributed in the main scanning direction of the developing unit. . In FIG. 5, reference numeral 30 denotes a screw for feeding the toner conveyed to the carry-in port in the main scanning direction of the developing unit. Reference numeral 31 denotes at least a lower half of the screw 30 for receiving the toner to be sent on a lower side, and an upper portion is opened. The guide member has a U-shaped cross section, and has a pivot point 32 at the center. An arm 33 extends on the side of the rotation fulcrum 32 opposite to the U-shaped portion, and the tip is pulled in one direction by a spring 34. A plunger of a solenoid 35 is connected to the arm 33. Although not shown, the time from when toner supplied to one end of the U-shaped guide member 31 is started to be fed by the screw 30 in the main scanning direction of the developing unit 7 to when the toner reaches the entire width of the developing unit 7 is set in advance. A storage means for storing is provided.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When toner is sent from the toner supply tank unit 8 shown in FIG. 1 to the toner storage unit 27 of the developing unit 7 by the transport mechanism 23 or via the drop duct 26 shown in FIG.
The U-shaped guide member 31 has a spring 34
3 is set at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. Therefore, screw 30
Is rotated for the time stored in advance, the toner becomes U
Since the power reaches the entire width of the developing unit 7 in the V-shaped guide member 31, the supply from the transport mechanism 23 is stopped at that time, and the solenoid 35 operates to operate the arm 3.
3 and thus a U-shaped guide member 31
Rotates to the position shown by the broken line in FIG. 5, and the toner contained in the guide member 31 falls into the toner storage portion 27.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment configured as described above, the toner can be uniformly supplied in the main scanning direction of the developing unit 7.

FIG. 6 is a structural view showing another example of the means for rotating the U-shaped guide member 31. The gear 3 is provided coaxially with the screw 30 at the end of the U-shaped guide member 31.
A sector gear 39 rotated by a motor 38 meshes with the gear 37. 40
Is a motor gear, and 41 is a gear that meshes with the motor gear 40 to rotate the sector gear 39.

In FIG. 6, the relationship between the gears is such that the portion without the sector gear 39 is rotated during the time required for transporting the toner carried to the carry-in port to the rear side of the U-shaped guide member 31, and then the sector gear is rotated. 39 meshes with the gear 37 and U
If the letter-shaped guide member 31 is set so as to make one rotation, the toner is uniformly distributed in the toner container 2 of the developing unit 7.
7 can be dropped.

FIG. 7 shows that when the CTM 20 in which the toner supply tank section 8 is empty is replaced with a new one, the shutter member 50 is inserted into the waste toner intake port of the waste toner tank section 12 so that the collected waste toner is not scattered. It shows a configuration example in which the provided electrophotographic recording device is applied to a facsimile machine,
2 are the same as those in FIG.

In this embodiment, the cover 47 on one side of the apparatus in which the transfer charger 9, the fixing unit 10, the discharge roller 45 and the discharge tray 46 are incorporated can be rotated about a fulcrum 48, as shown in FIG. As shown, the cover 47 can be rotated to open and close. When the life of the photoreceptor belt 1 has expired, the photoreceptor unit (including the photoreceptor belt and a transport roller for stretching the same) can be pulled out in the direction of the arrow, and the toner replenishment tank unit 8 becomes empty. , The CTM 20 can be pulled out in the direction of the arrow. This CTM20
If the waste toner intake port is left open when replacing the waste toner, the waste toner collected in the waste toner tank unit 12 scatters and pollutes the surroundings. Therefore, a shutter member 50 is provided at the waste toner intake to prevent the waste toner from scattering or falling off.

As shown in FIG. 9, the shutter member 50 is rotatably supported at a fulcrum 51, and the other end of an arm 52 having one end fixed to the shutter member 50 is provided with a spring 53.
And the shutter member 50 is urged in the closing direction. On the other hand, a projection 54 is provided on the cover 47 of the apparatus, and when the cover 47 is closed, the projection 54 pushes the arm 52 against the urging force of the spring 53, and the shutter member 50 is moved as shown in FIG. Then, the waste toner intake port is opened. Further, when the cover 47 is opened, the projection 54 retreats, so that the shutter member 50 closes the waste toner intake port by the urging force of the spring 53 as shown in FIG. The shutter member 50 includes a seal member 5 between the shutter member 50 and the case of the CTM 20.
6 and a rubber magnet sheet 57 that adsorbs toner adhered to the cleaning blade 11 that scrapes off residual toner on the photoconductor when the shutter member 50 is closed.

As described above, in this example, when the CTM 20 is replaced, the shutter member 50 is opened when the cover 47 of the apparatus is opened.
Closes the waste toner intake and the rubber magnet sheet 5
7 abuts against the cleaning blade 11 and attracts the toner remaining on the blade by magnetic force.
The collected waste toner does not scatter to the surroundings, thereby preventing surrounding contamination. Then, after replacing the CTM with a new CTM, if the cover of the apparatus is closed, the waste toner intake port is opened by the reverse operation, and the apparatus can be used in that state.

In the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 7, in the transmission original reading section 60 arranged at the upper part, the originals set on the original placing table 61 are separated and fed one by one by the separation feeding section 62, and the transport rollers While being conveyed by 63 and 64, the light is illuminated by the light source 65 when passing through the reading unit, and the reflected light is guided by the mirror 66.
D67 performs photoelectric conversion and reading. The read original is discharged to the discharge tray 68.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The toner can be smoothly supplied to the developing unit without excess or shortage. When the toner in the toner supply tank runs out, the user is alerted,
The operability is greatly improved, for example, the remaining toner can be used effectively, and the CTM can be eventually replaced.

Further, the toner conveyed into the developing unit can be uniformly and reliably supplied over the entire width of the developing unit in the main scanning direction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an electrophotographic recording apparatus for describing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an electrophotographic recording apparatus for describing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an electrophotographic recording apparatus including the toner supply mechanism of FIG.

4 is a configuration diagram of an electrophotographic recording apparatus including the toner supply mechanism of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a toner supply mechanism according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram illustrating another example of the toner supply mechanism according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a facsimile apparatus provided with a mechanism for preventing scattering of waste toner.

8 is a configuration diagram showing a state where an apparatus cover in FIG. 7 is opened.

9 is a configuration diagram of a shutter mechanism of a waste toner intake port in the waste toner tank unit of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the shutter mechanism of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 photoreceptor belt 7 developing unit 8 toner replenishment tank unit 12 waste toner tank unit 20 CTM 22 unloading mechanism 23 transport mechanism 24 replenishment mechanism 26 drop duct 27 toner storage unit 28 toner amount detector 30 screw 31 guide member with U-shaped cross section 35 Solenoid 38 Motor 39 Sector gear

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kazura Matsuura 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (8)

[Claims] An electrostatic latent image is formed by precharging and optical writing on a photoreceptor, and a toner is formed on the electrostatic latent image by a developing unit, and the toner image is fixed after being transferred to recording paper. An electrophotographic recording device that removes toner remaining on the photoreceptor by a cleaning unit. The electrophotographic recording device is detachably provided in the electrophotographic recording device, and is configured to transport toner to a toner storage unit of the developing unit. A cleaner / toner magazine having a toner replenishing tank unit having a toner outlet, a cleaning unit for removing waste toner remaining on the photoconductor, and a waste toner tank unit for collecting waste toner removed by the cleaning unit An unloading mechanism provided in the toner replenishing tank unit for moving the toner to the toner outlet, and detecting the amount of toner in the toner storage unit Control means for driving the unloading mechanism when the amount of toner in the toner container becomes smaller than a predetermined amount,
An electrophotographic recording device comprising: 2. The electrophotographic recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a toner conveying mechanism that conveys the toner from the toner outlet to the toner container. 3. The electrophotographic recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a drop duct for allowing the toner to naturally drop from the toner discharge port to the toner storage section. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays a toner near end on a display unit when the amount of toner in the toner storage unit does not increase despite driving the unloading mechanism. Item 1. An electrophotographic recording apparatus according to Item 1. 5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit counts the number of recordings after the toner near-end display, and displays a toner end when the predetermined number is counted. Photo recorder. 6. A photoreceptor is precharged and optically written to form an electrostatic latent image, a toner is applied to the latent image by a developing unit, a toner image is formed, and the toner image is transferred to recording paper and then fixed. An electrophotographic recording device that removes toner remaining on the photoreceptor by a cleaning unit. The electrophotographic recording device is detachably provided in the electrophotographic recording device, and is configured to transport toner to a toner storage unit of the developing unit. A cleaner / toner magazine having a toner replenishing tank unit having a toner outlet, a cleaning unit for removing waste toner remaining on the photoconductor, and a waste toner tank unit for collecting waste toner removed by the cleaning unit An unloading mechanism provided in the toner replenishing tank for transferring toner to the toner outlet, and an unloading mechanism provided in the developing unit, And a replenishing mechanism for replenishing the toner discharged from the toner outlet in the main scanning direction with respect to the photoconductor. 7. A replenishing mechanism comprising: a screw for feeding the toner discharged from the toner discharge port in the main scanning direction with respect to the photoconductor; and a guide member for receiving the fed toner on a lower side. 7. The electrophotographic recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the toner is dropped into the toner storage portion by rotating to supply toner. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is configured to rotate the toner after the toner discharged from the toner discharge port reaches the entire width of the developing unit by the screw. Item 8. An electrophotographic recording device according to Item 7.