JPS61151675A - Toner carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To keep fluidity of toner in good condition by providing a toner storing section connecting to junction part opened in the air passage in which air stream is flowed from a blasting device to inside of a developing device and providing a toner catching member in the air passage inside of the developing device. CONSTITUTION:A developing device 7 in which a magnet roller 9 is made freely turnable is provided near the surface of a photosensitive drum 8. Air passages 1 and 2 are constituted through inside of the device 7, and a fan housing section 2a is provided in a part of the air passage 2. A fan 3, being a blasting device, is housed in the housing section 2a, and a toner containing section 4 is fixed connecting to a junction part 4b opened in the air passage in which air stream is flowed from the blasting device and inside of the device 7. Air passages 1 are constituted on both side faces of the device 7 and drum 8, and end parts 1a are exposed in the device 7. A sponge material 5 formed to hollow cylindrical shape making the end part 1a an axis is provided turnably. A scraper 6 which is in contact with the surface of the sponge material is provided inside of the device 7. Thus, fluidity of toner can be maintained in good condition.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a toner conveying device that conveys toner to a developing device that supplies toner to the surface of a photoreceptor in a copying machine.

<Prior Art and Its Disadvantages> In an electrophotographic copying machine, a developing device is disposed near the surface of a photoreceptor between an exposure position and a transfer machine position, and performs a developing process in a copying operation. A conventional developing device generally has a hollow shape with an opening on the side of the photoconductor, and has a magnet roller partially exposed through the opening and an agitation roller that conveys toner to the magnet roller rotatably disposed therein. Contains toner to be supplied to the surface. The above-mentioned magneto roller is a hollow roller with multiple magnets arranged inside. Either the magnet or the roller rotates, and the toner is applied to the surface of the photoconductor by electromagnetic induction of the rotating magnetic field formed on its outer periphery. supply Further, the stirring roller stirs the toner contained in the developing device and maintains its fluidity. The fluidity of the toner greatly affects its adhesion to the magnetic roller, which in turn affects the quality of the image formed on copy paper. Therefore, in order to obtain high-quality copied images, it is necessary to maintain good fluidity of the toner.

However, the conventional agitation roller described above moves the toner in its storage position and gives fluidity to the toner by changing the contact state of each toner particle. The problem is that water vapor inside the toner is absorbed, and the toner particles stick together, making it impossible to provide sufficient fluidity.

<Objective of the Invention> In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, an object of the present invention is to provide a toner conveying device that can maintain toner fluidity in a good state and form a high-quality image.

<Configuration and Effects of the Invention> The present invention has an air flow path that circulates through the inside of the developing device, and a blowing means that generates an air flow in a part of the air flow path, and a blowing means to which the air flows from the blowing means to the developing device. The developing device is characterized by comprising: a toner storage section provided in connection with a connecting portion open to an air flow path flowing into the inside of the device; and a toner capturing member provided in an air flow path inside the developing device. do.

- According to the present invention, with the above-described structure, the toner storage position can be separated from the developing device, the toner can be stored in a state that prevents absorption of water vapor, and each toner particle can be temporarily stored in a non-contact manner. It can be moved in this state. Therefore, since the fluidity of the toner can be maintained well, it is possible to form a high-quality image.

<Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a toner conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view thereof.

A developing device 7 having a rotatable magnet roller 9 is disposed near the surface of the photosensitive drum 8 . Air flow paths 1 and 2 are configured through the inside of the developing device 7. The air flow paths 1 and 2 are formed by hollow pipes. A portion of the air flow path 2 is enlarged in diameter to form a fan housing portion 2a. A fan 3 fixed to a rotating shaft of a motor (not shown) is housed inside the fan housing 2a. The motor and fan described above are the blowing means of this invention. A toner accommodating portion 4 is fixed in connection with a connecting portion 4b that opens in the air flow path 2 while air flows into the developing device from the blowing means.

Toner 10 is stored inside the toner storage section 4 . The width of the air flow path 2 is widened from a substantially central portion between the blowing means and the developing device 7 toward the developing device 7, and is approximately equal to the full width of the photoreceptor drum 8 near the developing device 7. ing.

The air flow path 1 is formed on both sides of the developing device 7 and the photosensitive drum 8, and the end portion 1a is exposed inside the developing device. A sponge material 5 formed into a hollow cylindrical shape is rotatably disposed around the end 1a. The sponge material is made of a material that is breathable and does not allow toner to pass through. A scraper 6 that comes into contact with the surface of the sponge material 5 is disposed inside the developing device 7, and causes the toner adhering to the surface of the sponge material 5 to fall downward. The sponge material 5 and the scraper 6 are the toner capturing members of the present invention.

The fan 3 and the sponge material 5 are driven by a motor 4 (not shown), and the on/off of this motor is controlled by a sensor (not shown) disposed within the developing device. That is, the amount of toner in the developing device is detected by the sensor, and when the amount of toner falls below a specified amount, the motor is turned on and the fan 3 is turned on.
and rotate the sponge material 5. It is also possible to synchronize the rotation of the fan 3 and the sponge material 5 with the photosensitive drum 8.

The operation of the embodiment of the invention configured as described above will be described below.

An air flow is generated within the air flow paths 1 and 2 by rotation of a fan 3 disposed inside the fan storage portion 2a of the air flow path 2. This air flow moves in the direction of arrow A within the air flow path 2 and flows into the developing device 7. Further, the air passes through the sponge material 5, travels through the hollow portion 5a of the air flow path 1 in the direction of arrow C, and is sucked up by the fan 3 in the direction of the arrow. As a result, the toner 10 passes through the opening 4a and moves within the air flow path 2 in the direction of arrow A. At this time, the toner particles are transferred to the air flow path 2.
suspended in the flowing air at a low density. Toner 1
0 moves in the direction of the developing device 7 by moving in the direction of arrow A,
It comes into contact with the surface of the sponge material 5. Sponge material 5 is indicated by arrow B
The toner adsorbed on the surface is scraped downward by the scraper 6. The toner that has fallen downward is attracted to the surface of the magnet roller 9 by electromagnetic induction and is supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor drum 8.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a toner capturing member used in another embodiment of the present invention.

The air flow path 2 constitutes a cyclone separator 11 above the developing device 7. The air containing the toner floating therein moves in the direction of the arrow in the air flow path 2, flows tangentially into the cyclone separator 11, and performs a swirling motion. The toner falls downward within the cyclone separator 11 due to inertia and gravity, and its rotational speed increases as the radius of rotation decreases.

Due to the increase in the movement speed, the toner is biased toward the wall surface and falls into the developing device 7 through the opening 11a below.

On the other hand, air flows upward and inward near the opening 11a and flows out to the exhaust pipework 2. By arranging a plurality of air flow paths 2 and cyclone separators 11 in the axial direction of the magnet roller 9, the above-mentioned effect makes it possible to omit the torsion member and the motor that drives it, thereby making it possible to achieve the present invention at low cost. It can be realized.

FIG. 4 is an external view of the toner storage section of the above embodiment.

The toner storage portion 4 is connected to the air flow path 2 above by a connecting member 4b. Further, a vent hole 4c is provided above the toner storage portion 4, and a filter 4d is further disposed in the vent hole 4C. With the above configuration, when the air inside the air flow path 2 moves, the connecting portion 4b
Then, the internal pressure of the toner storage section 4 decreases, and the outside air passes through the filter 4d and flows into the toner storage section 4. Due to the above air movement, the toner stored in the toner storage section 4 can be effectively sucked up into the air flow path 2.

FIG. 5 is an external view of another embodiment of the toner storage section.

The air flow path 2 is divided above the toner storage section 4, and each of the sections is exposed inside the toner storage section 4. With the above configuration, the toner in the toner storage portion 4 can be moved directly into the air flow path 2 by the movement of air.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the toner can be suspended and transported in the air flowing in the direction of the developing device, the particle density of the toner can be significantly reduced. Therefore, the adsorption state of the toner conveyed to the developing device is improved, and a high-quality copy image can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a toner conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the same embodiment, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a toner capturing member used in the same embodiment, and FIG. This figure and FIG. 5 are external views of the toner storage section used in the same embodiment. 1.2-air flow path, 3-fan, 4-toner storage section, 5-sponge material, 6-scraper, 7-developing device. Figure 1 1.2 2 ty-□5L Audience 3 Near 7 Zo 4: Tosu-Hmata I#san 7: Time L4 Place L2 Mi] Figure 2 No. 11 Noshi Figure 5 b Do 4

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (1) It has an air flow path that circulates through the inside of the developing device, and a blower means that generates an air flow in a part of the air flow path, and air is supplied from the blower means to the inside of the development device. 1. A toner conveying device comprising: a toner storage section connected to a connecting portion open to an air flow path between the developing device; and a toner capturing member provided in the air flow path inside the developing device. (2) The toner capturing member is made of a sponge material that is breathable and does not allow the toner to pass through and is formed into a hollow cylindrical shape so as to be rotatable. The toner conveying device according to scope 1. (3) The toner conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the toner capturing member is a cyclone separator. The toner conveying device according to item 1, item 2, or item 3. (5) The toner conveying device according to claim 4, wherein the toner storage section has a filter at its ventilation port.