JPS5814178A - Toner recovering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save a space and to improve workability of discarding a recovered toner, by disposing a toner recovering tank by making use of an inner space in a recording material unit. CONSTITUTION:Toner is recovered from a cleaning device in an image reconstructing device of the type in which a recording material unit 16 having an endless beltlike recording material 1 supported and driven by plural rollers 2, 3 is fitted attachably and detachably to a main body of a device. In the case, a toner recovering tank 18 having an upper opening 17f for receiving toner at the outside of one end part of the feltlike recording material is disposed in the room between the upper belt and the lower belt of the beltlike recording material 1, and the opening is made opposed to a lower opening for toner discharging of a cleaning device. In such a way, a space is saved for the titled device and the device is made compact and the workability of discharging a recovered toner is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a toner collection device in an image reproducing device, particularly to a cleaning device in an image reproducing device of the type in which an endless belt-like recording unit is removably attached to the main body of the device. It relates to a device for.

First, an example of this type of image reproducing device will be described with reference to FIG. The endless belt-like recording body 1 is
This is a photoreceptor for frost photography, which has an inorganic or organic photoconductive layer provided on a base film, and is stretched between two rollers 2.3.

Roller 2 is a driving roller, roller 3 is a driven roller, and rollers 2.3 in the middle of two grooves 6.7 of the developing device unit 5 each having a roller support member 4 (to be described later).
By inserting the axis of the imager unit 5, the unit 5 is also removably attached to the imager unit 5, so the recording unit can be attached. When the developing unit 5 is guided by a suitable positioning means and attached to the main body of the apparatus, the photoreceptor belt 1, the cleaning device @8° cleaning device 9, the charging device w10. The mutual positioning between the exposure device 1 and the transfer device 2 disposed on the lower belt side is made precisely. The developing unit 4 is also fixedly attached to the main body of the apparatus, and a configuration in which the recording unit is directly attached to the apparatus in a removable manner is also considered.

The surface of the photoreceptor belt 10 rotating clockwise is '!
, a predetermined pole 1/4. The VC is uniformly charged, and a light image or a light signal of an image to be reproduced is irradiated thereon from the exposure device 11, thereby forming a static image (latent image) corresponding to the image to be reproduced. This static latent image is developed by colored fine particles 14 called toner contained in a developing device 4 and conveyed by a developing roller 13. A transfer paper 15 is placed over the clay toner image under the transfer device 12, and the toner image is transferred to the transfer paper 15 by charging or electric field by the transfer device 12. After the transfer, the transfer paper 15 is separated from the photoreceptor belt 1 to undergo fixing of the transferred toner image, and the photoreceptor belt l is separated from the photoreceptor belt 1 by the static eliminator 8.
The cleaning device 9 removes the transferred residual toner that adheres to the surface after the static electricity is removed.

Although the image is reproduced through such a process, the toner that has not been removed from the photoreceptor belt by the cleaning device 9 is generally treated in two ways.

One is returned to the developing device 4 by an attached conveyance device,
It is reused together with the toner 14 in the current toner, and the other one is returned to the toner collection tank and discarded. When reused, there is an advantage that maintenance management of the equipment is easy, but on the other hand,
It is necessary to separate paper dust, small metal pieces, etc. contained in the collected toner, and depending on the positional relationship between the developing device and the cleaning device, a long conveyance path is required to convey the toner. In contrast, when toner is collected for disposal, there is no such disadvantage, but the toner is in the collection tank. In order to prevent overflow, a means is required to periodically set a small limit or to detect and display the collected amount.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an improved toner recovery device for use in an image reproducing device equipped with an endless belt-like recording unit that is detachable from the main body of the device.

The toner recovery device according to the present invention includes a toner recovery tank having an upper opening for receiving toner at one edge of the belt-shaped recording body in a space between the upper belt and the lower belt of the endless belt-shaped recording body. is arranged, and the lower opening for discharging toner of the cleaning device is opposed to the upper opening.

In a recording unit, normally, a support member for supporting two rollers that are passed around an endless belt-like recording body includes two side plates that support both sides of both rollers, and a support member that is continuous with the two side plates. The top plate is formed such that the upper belt of the recording medium is positioned on top of the top plate.

One of the features of the present invention is that a toner collection tank is disposed inside the roller support member by utilizing a space therebetween. Toner collection tank.

It may be formed integrally with the roller support member, or may be attached to the roller support member as a separate member with a removable Vc. One end of this toner collection tank protrudes outward from one edge of the belt-shaped recording medium, and a toner receiving opening is provided in the upper part of the tank, and this opening and the toner discharging opening of the cleaning device are connected to each other. opposite.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a recording medium 16 equipped with a toner recovery tank according to the present invention. The rollers 2 and 3 that support the belt-shaped photoreceptor 1 are rotatably supported at both sides by both side plates 17a and 17b of a roller support member 17, and these side plates 17a and 17b are as follows.
The upper part continues to the I placing plate 17c.

The lower part thereof is continuous with the bottom plate 17d, and a side plate 17e (only one of which is shown) bent upward from both sides of the bottom plate forms a hole having a rectangular cross section as a whole, that is, a toner recovery tank 18. I want it to be continuous with this hole.
An upper opening 17f for receiving C toner is provided.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3, the cleaning device 9 includes a conveying device equipped with a scree conveyor for conveying the toner removed from the photoreceptor belt 1 in the width direction of the belt. 19 is provided, and the toner receiving opening 17f of the roller support member 17 is opposite to the toner receiving opening 17f of the roller support member 17. This opposition.

This is achieved by appropriate positioning means of the main body when the recording unit 16 is inserted into the main body of the apparatus. [Recovered toner sent by the toner conveying device 19 is
The toner is discharged through a natural groove from its end, enters the receiving opening 17f through the opening 19a, and is accumulated in the toner collection tank 18. To prevent the toner that has fallen into the receiving port 17f from partially accumulating below the tank portion 17 of the lower blade,
g is slanted.

Furthermore, if the bottom plate 17d of the tank is also inclined diagonally.

Partial accumulation of toner is prevented. The toner collected in the tank 18 is appropriately taken out and discarded or returned to the developing device for reuse. Katsutaha.

Due to deterioration of the photoreceptor belt 1 or other reasons, when the entire recording medium unit 6 is replaced, it is discarded along with the recording pot body unit. Configuring the toner recovery tank separately from the roller support member and detachably attaching it to the roller support member is excellent in terms of resource saving.

As shown in FIG.
A dust spring is used to bias the recording body unit 1 so as to close f.
If the developer unit or the unit holder of the main body of the apparatus is constructed such that when the member 22 is assembled, the cover 21 can be opened by the side plate tip 22aK, as shown in Figure 5, then the recording unit can be opened. When the unit receiver is removed from the member, the toner collected in the tank does not scatter or spill outside, improving operability.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the internal space of the recording unit is utilized and the toner recovery tank is placed there, space can be saved, the apparatus can be made more compact, and the collected toner can be disposed of. If necessary, replace the entire recording unit.

It is extremely easy to use, as it can be disposed of at the same time. This invention is not limited to the above embodiments,
Various changes can be made within the scope of the claims.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 371 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an image reproducing device to which the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a recording unit according to the invention, and Figs. FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional view showing only the main parts of another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is an assembled sectional view of Figure 4. ■...Photoreceptor bell), 2.3...Support roller, 9
...Cleaning device, 17...Roller support member. 17f... Toner receiving opening, 18... Toner collection tank 9-, 19... Toner transport device, 19a... Toner discharge opening 10- Small size IC 4th case

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A recording unit comprising an endless belt-shaped recording body, a plurality of rollers that support and drive the belt-shaped recording body, and a roller support member that supports the plurality of rollers. and a recording unit that is substantially removably attached to the apparatus main body. When the recording unit is attached to the apparatus main body,
An image reproducing apparatus comprising means for positioning the recording unit with respect to each device for image reproduction provided in the apparatus main body, including a cleaning device provided above the recording unit. A toner recovery tank having an upper opening for receiving toner is disposed outside one edge of the belt-shaped recording body in a space between the upper belt and the lower belt of the belt-shaped recording body, and A toner recovery device in which an upper opening is opposed to a lower opening for toner discharge of the cleaning device. 2. The toner recovery device according to claim 1, wherein an upper opening of the toner recovery tank is provided with a lid that opens and closes in conjunction with attachment and detachment of the recording unit to related members.