JPS5934604B2 - Powder recovery device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a powder recovery device for a laser printer using electrophotography, and more particularly to a powder recovery device that prevents powder from clogging at the bottom of a cyclone-type duct. .

Conventionally, this type of powder recovery equipment usually has a cyclone type first
The structure shown in the figure is used.

The figure shows a side cross section of the cyclone duct. Airflow 1 containing powder to be collected by the cyclone duct is sent from the upper airflow port 2, turns around the inner surface of the duct 1 as a vortex airflow 10, and descends. The powder adheres to the airflow, which is directed upward from the center and discharged to the outside from the outlet 6.

The powder adhering to the inner surface of the cyclone duct 1 falls sequentially downward along the slope of the duct and is collected in the powder collection container 3.

In such a structure, powder clogging occurs between the portion 4 where the diameter is reduced below the cyclone duct and the inlet 5 of the collection container 3.

Particularly when the fluidity of the powder is poor, there is a problem that if there is a slight unevenness or catch on the inner surface of the cyclone duct, the powder will accumulate as shown in 13, and eventually become clogged and cannot be collected. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a powder recovery device that can prevent powder clogging.

To achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that in a cyclone-type powder recovery device that centrifugally collects powder by generating a vortex airflow, a member that can swing freely in response to the movement of the airflow in the cyclone duct is provided. It is installed so as to hang down from the upper part of the center of the duct, a wire is used for the hanging member, a twist prevention mechanism is provided at the upper end support part, and a blade is provided at the middle part of the hanging member.

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

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the powder recovery device of the present invention, in which a support point 8 is provided at the center of the air outlet 6 provided above the center of the cyclone dust 1, and the powder is connected to the lower end of the cyclone duct 1. A swinging member 7 having a length that reaches the inlet 5 of the collection container 3 is suspended.

By providing the swinging member 7 in this way, the airflow mixed with powder is sent from the airflow population 2 and turns into a vortex airflow along the inner surface of the cyclone duct 1, rotating and descending.

At this time, the swinging member 7 installed at the center of the cyclone duct 1 swings and rotates as indicated by the arrow 11 to scrape off the powder stuck to the inner surface of the cyclone duct.

Therefore, the collected powder does not accumulate from the narrowed portion 4 at the lower end of the duct to the entrance 5 of the powder collection container, and the collected powder is smoothly collected.

By using a wire as the hanging member 7, when it rotates with the vortex airflow, the vicinity of the central portion is largely bent, increasing the effect of scraping off powder accumulated on the slope of the inner surface of the cyclone duct.

Further, by providing a twist prevention mechanism 9 at the upper end attachment portion of the hanging swinging member 7, twisting due to vortex airflow can be eliminated and stable powder recovery can be made.

Furthermore, if the blade 12 is provided in the middle of the swinging member 7, the swinging member 7 can be largely deflected while rotating due to the vortex airflow, and the powder on the inner surface of the cyclone duct 1 can be dropped more efficiently. becomes.

As explained above, the powder recovery device according to the present invention eliminates powder clogging during powder recovery by installing a swingable member with a wire in the center of the cyclone duct, and its fulcrum. By providing a twisting mechanism in the part and installing a blade in the middle part, the collection efficiency can be greatly improved, and its practical effects are extremely impressive.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of a conventional cyclone-type powder recovery device, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of the powder recovery device of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a cyclone duct, 2 is an air inlet, and 3 is a cyclone duct.
is a powder collection container, 4 is a tapered part with a narrow diameter, 5 is an inlet of the collection container, 6 is an air outlet, 7 is a swinging member, 8 is a swinging member attachment part, 9 is a return prevention mechanism, and 10 is an airflow Flow, 1, 1 is a rotating swing arrow, and 12 is a blade.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a cyclone-type powder recovery device that centrifugally collects powder by generating a vortex airflow, a member that can swing freely in response to the movement of airflow in a cyclone duct is installed from the upper part of the center of the duct. A powder recovery device characterized by being installed hanging down. 2. A powder recovery device characterized in that a wire is used as the hanging member according to claim 1. 3. A powder recovery device, characterized in that the upper end support portion of the hanging member according to claim 1 is provided with a twist prevention mechanism. 4. A powder recovery device, characterized in that a blade is attached to the intermediate portion of the hanging member according to claim 1.