JPS61258276A - Multi-color developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make possible the reuse of the black toner along by providing a toner hopper and recovering container in combination to the front end of a recovered toner conveying route and making possible the selective feeding of both. CONSTITUTION:The toner recovered by a cleaning device 13 is transferred by a toner conveyor 14 provided in a cleaning device into the toner hopper 4 via the recovered toner conveying route 15. The recovered toner is fed from the front end 15a of the recovered toner conveying route into the hopper 4 by passing through an accepting port 4a of the hopper. The toner recovering container 16 is provided attachably and detachably by means of a supporting projection 4b, etc. in the hopper 4 in such a manner that the container can accept the recovered toner from the port 4a. The recovered toner which is recovered by the cleaning device 13 and is conveyed through the route 15 and the port 4a into the hopper 4 is thereby reused as it is if there is no container 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to processing of collected toner in a transfer type electrophotographic copying machine that performs color (multi-monocolor, full-color) copying using toner of multiple colors.

When trying to reuse recovered toner, if a dark color is mixed with a light color toner, one color will become dirty and is not practical, but on the other hand, other colors, especially black, will be mixed in. Conventionally, when color copying is performed using many developing units, the collected toner is either completely discarded or returned to black. However, when returning to black, it is necessary to permanently install a hopper for black toner in the main body, which has the drawback of increasing the overall size.

In addition, since there are few color users, the standard machine (black only) has a recycling device that transports the collected toner to the developing unit, and when using color, the service person has to change the transport route to the recycled toner. A method has been proposed for directing all collected toner to a disposal container, but even users who use multiple colors use black most often, so the amount of black consumed (the number of copies that can be made with a certain amount of toner replenished) is particularly high. If the width is different, there will be a problem in terms of copying costs.

In the current transfer type PPC, there is approximately 20% untransferred toner.
There is a big cost difference (waste of resources) between reusing it and not reusing it.

By the way, even when making color copies, the ratio of black copies is overwhelmingly large, and even if other colors are recycled for dark colors (especially black), it will not be noticeable and there will be no practical problem, so cleaned toner is used. In an electrophotographic copying machine that conveys toner toner hopper in the developing section and reuses it, certain colors, especially black, can be reused even when the black developing unit or black toner hopper is attached, detached, or moved. The aim is to provide equipment.

1 light The present invention will be explained below according to embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a toner hopper, FIG. 3 is a diagram similar to FIG. 2 showing another embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing still another embodiment. FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are sectional views showing an example of the toner receiving port of the toner hopper used in the embodiment shown in FIG.

In the copying machine shown in FIG. 1, a main charger 2. Exposure device 3. A developing device 5 equipped with a toner hopper, a charger 9 that sends a transfer paper 6 to a photosensitive drum 1 via a delivery roller 7 and a registration roller 8 and transfers a toner image thereon, a separation charger 10, and a transfer paper conveyance guide 11. ．． A fixing device 12 and a cleaning device 13 are provided. The toner collected by the cleaning device 13 is transported to the toner hopper 4 via a collected toner transport path 15 from a toner transport device 14 provided within the cleaning device.

As shown in FIG. 2, the recovered toner is sent into the toner hopper 4 from the tip 15a of the recovered toner conveyance path through the hopper receiving opening 4a. A toner collection container 16 is detachably provided to receive the collected toner from the receiving opening 4a.

With this configuration, the cleaning device 13
The collected toner is collected at the receiving port 4 through the collected toner transport path 15.
The collected toner transported to the hopper 4 from a is reused as is if there is no collection container 16.
If the collection container 16 is attached as shown, the collected toner will accumulate in the collection container 16 and will not be reused. Therefore, in a unit of a color that is used less frequently, the collection container 16 may be small because it is sufficient to receive only the toner that is collected during use of that color.

Note that the recovered 1-ner accumulated here may be cleaned periodically.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a small cylindrical collection container 16' is fitted into a receiving part 4'a of a toner hopper 4' which is divided into a plurality of chambers with multi-colored toner containers. This cylindrical container can be attached freely, and if this cylindrical container is fitted into the receiving portion from the collected toner transport path, the collected toner will be stored in this collection container and will not be reused. Therefore, the presence or absence of this collection container 16' can be selected based on one color.

FIG. 4 shows yet another embodiment, in which a branch path 15b is provided below the tip of the collected toner transport path 15.

A toner hopper is arranged below this branch path 15b via a closing plate 17, and when the closing plate 17 is opened, the collected toner falls into the developing unit (hopper) and the collected toner is reused. However, when the closing plate 17 is closed, the collected toner is stored in the collection container 16'' provided at the tip of the collected toner transport path.

Note that FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are partial views showing a modification of the hopper 4'' used in the embodiment shown in FIG.
(a) In the figure, a recovered toner receiving hole 4''a is provided at a position corresponding to the branch path 15b of the hopper 4'' and is closed by a closing plate 17, but as shown in (b) the receiving hole is closed with a seal 18. In some cases, the material may not be recycled.

As explained above, according to the present invention, by adding a simple configuration, color toner that is used less frequently is not reused, and copying costs (toner consumption) that are used more frequently are greatly reduced. Since it is possible to reuse a specific color that makes a difference (currently black, but it may be a toner color that the user specifically wants to use), it is possible to prevent a large increase in copy costs when using color. Furthermore, since the device can be made compact, a large increase in machine cost and size can be avoided.

Note that the present invention can be applied to equipment that collects and reuses various types of powders and liquids.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a toner hopper, FIG. 3 is a diagram similar to FIG. 2 showing another embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing still another embodiment. FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are sectional views showing an example of the toner receiving port of the toner hopper used in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1... Photosensitive drum, 2... Main charger. 3... Exposure device, 4... Toner hopper. 5...Developing device, 9...Transfer charger, 1
0... Separation charger, 13... Cleaning device, 14... Toner conveyance device, 15... Toner conveyance path, 15b... Branch path, ]6.16', 16''・
...Recovery container, 17...Closing plate.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In an electrophotographic copying machine that transports the collected toner after transfer to a toner hopper in the developing section so that it can be reused, a toner hopper and a collection container are installed at the end of the collected toner transport path, and both can be transferred as needed. A multicolor developing device characterized by being capable of switching feeding. (2) The multicolor developing device according to claim 1, wherein a collection container for storing the collected toner discharged from the tip of the collected toner transport path is removably installed in the toner hopper. (3) The multi-color according to claim 1, wherein a downward branching path with a closed choreography toward the toner hopper is provided near the tip of the recovered toner conveyance path, and a collection container is connected to the tip of the recovered toner conveyance path. Developing device.