JPH11249366A - Image forming device and toner cartridge used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the size of the image forming device having a toner recycling system. SOLUTION: The device is equipped with an image forming part which forms a toner image on paper, a toner cartridge 36 which stores toner to be supplied to the image forming part, a cleaning device 35 which recovers the toner remaining in the image forming part, and a toner returning device 40 which returns the recovered toner to the toner cartridge 36.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on paper and a toner cartridge used for the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, an electrostatic latent image is generally formed on a photosensitive drum, and the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner. Then, the toner image developed on the photosensitive drum is transferred onto the paper.
In such an image forming apparatus, a cleaning device is provided adjacent to the photosensitive drum in order to remove toner remaining on the photosensitive drum. Since the toner is collected in the cleaning device, a device that returns the collected toner to the developing device and recycles the toner is already known.

A conventional apparatus for recycling toner is as follows.
The image forming apparatus includes a conveying member that conveys the toner collected from the photosensitive drum by the cleaning blade or the like to the front side of the apparatus, and a toner return device that returns the collected toner conveyed by the conveying member to a hopper of the developing device. The toner return device usually includes a pipe and a conveying member having a spiral blade such as a spiral provided in the pipe.

[0004]

In the conventional apparatus having the above-described toner recycling system, the collected toner is returned to the hopper of the developing device, and the new toner and the collected toner supplied from the toner cartridge in the hopper are used as the collected toner. Is mixed. For this reason, the developing device requires a hopper portion, which hinders downsizing of the device.

It is an object of the present invention to reduce the size of an image forming apparatus having a toner recycling system. Another object of the present invention is to smoothly return the collected toner to an image forming apparatus having a toner recycling system when the apparatus is downsized.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge which can be applied to an image forming apparatus having a toner recycling system and which can be downsized as a whole.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on paper,
The image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge that stores toner to be supplied to the image forming unit, a toner collecting device that collects toner remaining in the image forming unit, and a toner returning device that returns the collected toner to the toner cartridge.

In this apparatus, a toner image is formed on a sheet by an image forming unit. Although the toner remains in the image forming unit, the residual toner is collected by a toner collecting device, and further returned to the toner cartridge by a toner returning device. Here, since the collected toner is returned to the toner cartridge, there is no need to provide a hopper in the developing device unlike the conventional device, and the device can be downsized.

An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect is the first aspect.
The image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information is formed on a surface, and a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum into a toner image. . The developing device includes a developing roller that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum, and a toner supply member that supplies toner to the developing roller. Then, the toner from the toner cartridge is directly supplied to the toner supply member.

In this device, the developing device is not provided with a hopper, and new toner and collected toner from the toner cartridge are directly supplied to the toner supply member of the developing device. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the toner cartridge has a collected toner receiving port for receiving the collected toner and a toner supply port for supplying the internal toner to the image forming unit; A stirring member provided inside the cartridge body for stirring the newly stored toner and the collected toner returned from the toner collecting device, and a conveying member provided inside the cartridge main body for conveying the stirred toner to the toner supply port. And a member.

In this apparatus, the collected toner is supplied into the toner cartridge through the collected toner receiving port. This collected toner is stirred with the new toner by the stirring member. Then, the conveying member is driven based on, for example, a toner supply command from the toner concentration control device, and the toner is conveyed to the toner supply port and supplied to the image forming unit. Claim 4
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner returning device includes a conveying member having a spiral blade for conveying the toner from the toner collecting device to the toner cartridge, and a conveying member. And a cylindrical body having a toner accumulation portion in at least a part of the periphery of the conveying member.

In this apparatus, the recovered toner is transported in the cylinder by the transporting member having spiral blades.
It is returned to the toner cartridge. At this time, immediately after the replacement of the toner cartridge, the toner cartridge is stored in a substantially full state. In such a state, even if an attempt is made to return the collected toner to the toner cartridge, it cannot be returned to the inside of the toner cartridge, and the toner may flow backward. Then, if this state continues, the transport member stops operating and enters the locked state.

However, in the apparatus according to the fourth aspect, since the toner collecting portion is provided in the cylindrical body, the collected toner can be evacuated to the collecting portion even if the toner cartridge is fully filled in the toner cartridge. Then, when the toner in the toner cartridge is consumed, the collected toner evacuated to the reservoir is supplied to the toner cartridge.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to the second aspect.
In the apparatus described in any one of Items 1 to 4, the developing device is detachable from the apparatus main body, and the toner cartridge is detachable from the developing device. The image forming apparatus includes a first detecting unit that detects that the developing device is mounted on the main assembly, a second detecting unit that detects that the toner cartridge is mounted on the developing device, and a control unit. In addition. The control means outputs an operation permission signal based on the detection results of the first and second detection means when both the developing device and the toner cartridge are mounted.

In this apparatus, since the collected toner is returned to the toner cartridge, if the apparatus is operated without the toner cartridge being mounted, the collected toner is scattered in the apparatus. Therefore, not only the developing device but also the mounting of the toner cartridge is confirmed and operated. The toner cartridge according to claim 6 is used in an image forming apparatus having a toner return device for reusing the residual toner collected from the image forming unit, and is detachable from the developing device. And it has a cartridge main body, a stirring member, and a lid. The main body has a toner receiving port for receiving the collected toner returned by the toner returning device when mounted on the developing device, and stores the toner therein.
The stirring member is provided inside the cartridge main body, and stirs the newly stored toner and the collected toner. The lid is an openable and closable member that covers the toner receiving port.

In this toner cartridge, the collected toner is supplied from a toner receiving port. Then, the collected toner is stirred with the new toner. Further, the toner receiving port is covered by a lid that can be opened and closed. Here, the collected toner is returned to the toner cartridge and agitated with the new toner, so that a hopper is not required on the developing device side, and the size of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the toner cartridge of the sixth aspect, the lid is opened and closed in conjunction with attachment and detachment to and from the developing device. This can prevent problems such as scattering of toner into the apparatus due to forgetting to open and close the lid. In the toner cartridge according to the eighth aspect, in the toner cartridge according to the seventh aspect, the lid is detachable to a part of the toner return device when the lid is locked to a part of the toner return device when the toner cartridge is attached to the developing device. And an adhesive portion for adhering to the substrate.

In this toner cartridge, when the toner cartridge is mounted on the developing device, the locking portion is locked on a part of the toner return device, and the lid is opened by mounting the toner cartridge in this locked state. Further, when detaching from the developing device, the lid is closed with the removing operation because the adhesive portion is adhered to a part of the toner return device.

[0019]

FIG. 1 shows a copying machine as an embodiment of the present invention. The copier includes an apparatus main body 10 and a document holder 11 that is openably and closably mounted on an upper part of the apparatus main body 10.
And Inside the apparatus main body 10, a document table 15 on which a document is placed is provided at the upper portion, and an image forming section 16 is provided at the left end when viewed from the front and substantially at the center in the vertical direction. In addition, a paper feed cassette 17 for storing paper is detachably provided at a lower portion, and a bypass paper feed section 18 is provided on the left side thereof. An optical system 19 for reading image information of a document placed on the document table 15 is provided below the document table 15. The optical system 19 is
It is composed of a light source unit, a reflection mirror, a lens unit and the like. A fixing device 20 for fixing an image on a sheet is provided diagonally above and on the left side of the image forming unit 16.
Further, a discharge roller 21 is provided diagonally above the left side. A discharge tray (not shown) is provided outside the main body of the discharge roller 21.

Paper feed cassette 17 and bypass paper feed section 18
A vertical transport path 25 that transports the supplied paper vertically toward the image forming unit 16 is provided between the image forming unit 16 and the image forming unit 16. Further, the image forming unit 16 and the discharge roller 21
A diagonal transport path 26 for transporting and discharging the sheet on which an image is formed diagonally upward is provided between them. Image forming unit 1
6 has a photosensitive drum 30 on the surface of which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and further includes a main charging device 31, a blank lamp 32, a developing device 33, a transfer device 34, and a photosensitive drum 30 arranged around the photosensitive drum 30. A cleaning device 35 is provided.

The main charging device 31 is a device for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 30, and the blank lamp 32 is a lamp for removing a desired area on the surface of the photosensitive drum 30. The developing device 33 is a device for forming a toner image on the photosensitive drum 30, and the transfer device 34 is a device for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 30 to a sheet. The cleaning device 35 is a device for removing residual toner and the like on the surface of the photosensitive drum 30.
Above the developing device 33, a toner cartridge 36 for storing replenishment toner is provided detachably with respect to the developing device 33.

The paper feed cassette 17 is provided such that the end on the paper outlet side is located on the left side of the apparatus and on the right side of the vertical transport path 25, and the other end extends to the right side of the apparatus. I have. A feed roller 37 for sending out the paper in the cassette to the vertical transport path 25 is provided above the end on the paper outlet side. The bypass paper feed unit 18 is for manually feeding paper from the lower left side of the apparatus, and is continuous with the vertical transport path 25.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, a toner return device 40 as shown in FIG. 2 is provided in front of the image forming section 16 in the apparatus. This toner return device 40
Is a device for returning the toner collected by the cleaning device 35 to the toner cartridge 36. next,
Based on FIG. 2, the developing device 33 and the cleaning device 3
5, the toner cartridge 36 and the toner return device 40 will be described in detail.

First, the developing device 33 can be pulled out to the front of the device. A developing container 41 containing a developer containing a toner, a developing roller 42 disposed in the developing container 41 so as to face the photosensitive drum 30, and two toners for supplying the developer to the developing roller 42. And a supply member 43. Each of the two toner supply members 43 has a spiral blade on the outer periphery. Developing container 41
Is formed with a toner supply port 41a on the back side of the apparatus, and a flange 41b for mounting a cartridge is formed around the toner supply port 41a.
Are formed.

The toner cartridge 36 includes a developing device 33
The main body 10 can be attached and detached by sliding in the front-rear direction. The toner cartridge 36 has a cartridge body 45 for storing toner inside. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a toner return device 4 is provided above the cartridge body 45 at the front end of the apparatus body 10.
A collected toner receiving port 45a for receiving the collected toner from 0 is formed. Further, a toner supply port 45 b for supplying toner to the developing device 33 is formed below the cartridge main body 45 and on the back side of the apparatus main body 10.

In the cartridge body 45,
A stirring member 4 for mixing the collected toner returned from the collected toner receiving port 45a with the newly stored toner.
6, and a transport member 47 for transporting the agitated toner to the toner supply port 45b side are rotatably provided. The transport member 47 is a member provided with spiral blades on the outer periphery as shown in FIG. The spiral blades are set so that their transport directions are different from each other with the toner supply port 45b as a boundary, that is, each blade is set in such a direction that the toner is transported toward the toner supply port 45b.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, in the cartridge body 45, around the collected toner receiving port 45a,
A slide guide flange 45c is formed, and a guide flange 45d is formed around the toner supply port 45b. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the slide guide flange 45c of the collected toner receiving port 45a has
A lid member 50 is provided slidably. Lid member 5
A locking portion 50a protruding upward is formed at 0, and this locking portion 50a locks a part of the toner return device 40 as described later. A peelable adhesive cloth 51 is fixed to the inner surface of the locking portion 50a, and is detachably adhered to the adhesive cloth provided on the toner return device 40 side with a predetermined adhesive force. ing.

A guide flange 45d provided around the toner supply port 45b is adapted to be engaged with the flange 41b of the developing device 33 when the toner cartridge 36 is mounted on the developing device 33. Although not shown, when the toner cartridge 36 is in a new state, the toner supply port 45b is covered with a seal member, and when the toner cartridge 36 is mounted on the developing device 33, the toner supply port 45b is sealed with the mounting operation. The member is peeled off.

As shown in FIG. 2, the toner return device 40 is provided between the cleaning device 35 and the toner cartridge 36, and has a cylindrical body 5 made of a transparent resin.
5 and a transport member 56 rotatably provided inside the cylindrical body 55. The transport member 56 is a member provided with spiral blades on the outer periphery. A drive device such as a gear (not shown) is provided at a lower end side of the transport member 56, and the transport member 56 is rotated by the drive device.

The cylindrical body 55 has a collected toner carry-in port 55a for receiving the collected toner from the cleaning device 35 on an upper surface of a lower end portion.
6 is provided on the lower surface of the upper end portion with a recovery toner outlet 55b to be supplied to the lower end. Further, the cylindrical body 55 has a protruding portion 55c so as to protrude below the collected toner outlet 55b. When the toner cartridge 36 is inserted into the apparatus main body 10 together with the developing device 33, the projecting portion 55c can be engaged with the engaging portion 50a of the lid 50 of the toner cartridge 36 on the way. In addition, the protrusion 55c includes
It has an adhesive cloth (not shown) that adheres to the adhesive cloth 51 of the lid 50 when the toner cartridge 36 is set at a proper position.

The cylindrical body 55 has a hollow 55d over substantially the entire upper portion of the transport member 56. The cavity 55d serves as a toner pool when the collected toner is not conveyed to the toner cartridge 36 and the toner cartridge 36 has no room to receive the collected toner. FIG. 6 is a control block diagram for detecting the mounting state of the developing device 33 and the toner cartridge 36.

As shown in FIG.
A limit switch 60 is provided corresponding to the normal set position. When the toner cartridge 36 is set at the normal position, the limit switch 60 is closed and the terminals 60a and 60b are short-circuited. Further, a connector 61 is provided on the inner side of the developing device 33, and corresponding connectors 62a and 62b are provided on the side of the apparatus main body 10. Both terminals 6 of connector 61 on developing device 33 side
1a and 61b are short-circuited inside the developing device 33. When the developing device 33 is set at a proper position of the apparatus main body 10, the terminals 62a and 62b are also short-circuited. These states are determined by the control unit 65.

Next, the operation will be described. The copying operation is the same as a normal operation. Here, the operation will be described with particular attention to the movement of the toner. During a normal copying operation, the toner in the developing container 41 is removed. The toner is supplied to the developing roller 42 by the toner supply member 43, and further supplied to the photosensitive drum 30 from the developing roller 42. As a result, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 30 is developed, and a toner image is formed. The toner image on the photosensitive drum 30 is transferred onto a sheet by the transfer device 34.

In such a copying operation, the toner remains on the photosensitive drum 30 even after the transfer process.
This residual toner is scraped off by a cleaning blade or the like of the cleaning device 35 and
5 collected. The collected toner is conveyed to the front side of the apparatus by a conveying member in the cleaning device 35, and is supplied to the lower end portion of the cylindrical body 55 via the collected toner carry-in port 55 a of the toner return device 40.

In the toner return device 40, the toner recovered from the cleaning device 35 is transported upward in the cylinder 55 by the rotation of the transport member 56. Then, the toner cartridge 36 is passed through the collected toner outlet 55b.
Will be returned within. In the toner cartridge 36, the new toner and the collected toner are stirred by the rotation of the stirring member 46.

The toner density in the developing device 33 is detected by a toner density sensor (not shown), and a T / D value indicating the toner density (a value indicating the ratio of the toner in the developer)
Is smaller than the reference value, a toner supply command is output from the control means. In response to the toner supply command, a motor (not shown) is driven, and the transport member 47 in the toner cartridge 36 is rotated. As a result, the toner in the toner cartridge 36 is supplied into the developing container 41 via the toner supply port 45b. This toner replenishment operation is continued until the toner concentration reaches the reference T / D value.

When replacing the toner cartridge 36,
First, the toner cartridge 36 is pulled out together with the developing device 33 toward the front side of the device. At this time, since the adhesive cloth 51 provided on the inner surface of the locking portion 50a of the lid 50 of the toner cartridge 36 is adhered to the adhesive cloth provided on the protrusion 55c of the toner return device 40, the lid 50 is Do not move. That is, by pulling out the toner cartridge 36 toward the front side of the apparatus, the lid 50 is
Is moved relatively to the back side of the apparatus with respect to
0 closes. Then, when the lid 50 is completely closed, the force for pulling the cartridge body 45 toward the front side is stronger, so that the adhesive cloth 51 of the lid 50 and the adhesive cloth of the toner return device 40 are peeled off, and the lid 50 is Together with the device.

Thereafter, the toner cartridge 36 is removed from the developing device 33 and is replaced with a new one. When the exchanged toner cartridge 36 is mounted on the apparatus together with the developing device 33, when the toner cartridge 36 is pushed into the inner side of the apparatus, the locking portion 50a of the lid 50 comes into contact with the protrusion 55c of the toner return device 40. . When the toner cartridge 36 is further pushed in from this state, the lid 50 cannot move to the rear side from the previous state, so that the lid 50 moves relatively to the cartridge main body 45 toward the front side of the apparatus. That is, the lid 50 is opened. As a result, the collected toner from the toner returning device 40 can be returned into the toner cartridge 36 via the collected toner receiving port 45a.

Here, immediately after the replacement of the toner cartridge 36, the toner is fully stored in the cartridge body 45. For this reason, there is a case where there is no room to receive the collected toner in the cartridge body 45. In such a case, the toner in the cartridge body 45 may flow back into the cylinder 55 of the toner return device 40.

In this embodiment, in consideration of such a state, a hollow 55 d is provided in the cylindrical body 55 above the conveying member 56. Since this cavity 55d functions as a toner reservoir, the toner is
Even if the toner flows backward from the inside into the cylinder 55, it is possible to prevent the toner from being clogged and locked. When the developing device 33 and the toner cartridge 36 are set at the proper positions as described above, the connector 62 corresponding to the developing device 33 is short-circuited, and the toner cartridge 3
6, the limit switch 60 is closed and the terminal 60 is closed.
a and 60b are short-circuited. Therefore, an operation permission signal is output from the control unit 65, and the copying operation becomes possible.

On the other hand, if one of the developing device 33 and the toner cartridge 36 is not set at the proper position, the circuit shown in FIG. No, the developing device 33
Alternatively, a warning that the toner cartridge 36 is not set properly is displayed on the operation panel. In the present embodiment, since the collected toner is returned to the toner cartridge 36, a problem occurs that the toner scatters in the apparatus main body 10 when the toner cartridge 36 is not mounted. However, the developing device 33 and the toner cartridge 36
Since the operation permission signal is output after confirming that both have been set normally, it is possible to prevent the above-mentioned problem from occurring.

[0042]

According to the present invention, since the collected toner is returned to the toner cartridge, there is no need to provide a hopper in the developing device, and the device can be downsized. Further, at this time, since the toner collecting portion is provided in the toner returning device, even if the toner inside the toner cartridge is full, the collected toner can be evacuated to the collecting portion and the lock due to the toner clogging can be prevented.

Further, since the operation is permitted by detecting that both the developing device and the toner cartridge have been mounted, it is possible to prevent the toner from scattering into the device due to forgetting to mount or the like. Further, since the lid provided at the collected toner receiving port of the toner cartridge is opened and closed in conjunction with the attachment / detachment to / from the developing device, it is possible to prevent problems such as toner scattering into the device due to forgetting to open / close the lid.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional configuration diagram of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating a part of a toner recycling system of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a sectional front view of the toner cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the toner cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing a lid portion of the toner cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram for detecting mounting of a developing device and a toner cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 16 Image forming unit 30 Photoconductor drum 33 Developing device 35 Cleaning device 36 Toner cartridge 40 Toner return device 42 Developing roller 43 Toner supply member 45 Cartridge main body 46 Stirring member 47 Transport member 50 Cover 50a Locking portion 51 Adhesive cloth 55 Tube 55d Cavity (toner pool) 56 Conveying member

Claims (8)

[Claims] An image forming section for forming a toner image on a sheet; a toner cartridge containing toner to be supplied to the image forming section; a toner collecting device for collecting toner remaining in the image forming section; An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner return device that returns the used toner to the toner cartridge. 2. An image forming section comprising: a photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information is formed on a surface; and a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum into a toner image. Wherein the developing device has a developing roller that supplies toner to the photoconductor drum, and a toner supply member that supplies toner to the developing roller. The toner from the toner cartridge is supplied to the toner supply member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is supplied directly. 3. The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: a cartridge body having a collected toner receiving port for receiving the collected toner and a toner supply port for supplying the toner inside to the image forming section; A stirring member for stirring the new toner and the collected toner returned from the toner collecting device; and a conveying member provided inside the cartridge body and conveying the stirred toner to the toner supply port. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 4. A toner returning device comprising: a conveying member having a spiral blade for conveying toner from a toner collecting device to the toner cartridge; and a housing for accommodating the conveying member therein. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cylindrical body having a toner reservoir at least in part. 5. And a first detecting means for detecting that the developing device is mounted on the apparatus main body, wherein the developing device is detachable from the apparatus main body, and the toner cartridge is detachable from the developing apparatus. A second detecting means for detecting that the toner cartridge is mounted on the developing device; and operating when both the developing device and the toner cartridge are mounted, based on detection results of the first and second detecting means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a control unit that outputs a permission signal. 6. A toner cartridge which is used in an image forming apparatus having a toner returning device for reusing residual toner collected from an image forming section and which is detachable from a developing device, said toner cartridge being attached to said developing device. A cartridge main body that has a collected toner receiving port for receiving the collected toner returned by the toner returning device when the toner is returned, and that internally stores the toner; and a new toner and a collected toner that are provided inside the cartridge main body and stored in advance. And a lid that can be opened and closed to cover the toner receiving port. 7. The toner cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said lid is opened and closed in conjunction with attachment and detachment of said developing device. 8. The lid has a locking portion that locks to a part of the toner return device when the lid is attached to the developing device, and an adhesive portion that releasably bonds to a part of the toner return device. The toner cartridge according to claim 7, wherein