KR20010100785A - Toner supplying device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can greatly reduce the amount of toner remaining in a toner storage container, and which can save space and save cost even if a plurality of developing apparatuses are provided.

Toner is agitated and fluidized by supplying air from the outside to the toner container 100 from the lower side in the vertical direction of the toner container 100, and moving the supplied air upward in the toner layer.

Description

Toner supply device and image forming device {TONER SUPPLYING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device and an image forming apparatus for replenishing toner stored in a toner container with a developing device or the like.

In an image forming apparatus such as a conventional printer, copier, facsimile, or the like, a toner container such as a toner bottle or a cartridge is disposed in or near a unit including a developing device, and is directly from the toner container or through a toner hopper. It is configured to replenish the toner in the developing apparatus. In this case, the toner transfer from the toner container to the developing device is performed by mechanical auger means such as a screw or a puddle.

However, when the toner is transported by the mechanical auger means described above, the toner container or the toner replenishing device has to be installed at or near the developing device because the screw can be arranged almost straightly. For this reason, the complexity of the configuration of the toner replenishing device increases the cost, decreases productivity, impairs the maintainability of the machine, makes it difficult to secure and maintain the toner quality characteristics, and replaces the user's toner container. There was also difficulty in operability.

A toner replenishment device that does not easily cause such a problem is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 4-9082. In this toner replenishment device, the toner is conveyed by the suction force of the suction means. This apparatus is advantageous in that toner can be replenished in any positional relationship between the toner container and the developing device.

However, it is known that the toner used by an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is usually very poor in fluidity and difficult to convey. Therefore, in the toner replenishment apparatus, there is a problem that the toner tends to occur when the toner is not clogged smoothly because the toner is clogged at the tip of the suction tube or in the middle thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and an image forming apparatus that can significantly reduce the amount of toner remaining in a toner storage container, and can save space and save space even when a plurality of developing apparatuses are provided. It aims to provide.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a color laser printer which is an example of an image forming apparatus having a toner replenishing apparatus according to the present invention;

2 is a block diagram showing a toner replenishing device according to the present invention.

3A and 3B are front and plan views of the toner container of FIG.

4 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a timing diagram illustrating a control example of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

7 is a timing diagram illustrating a control example of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

8 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a modification of the present invention.

9 is a control flowchart for supplying air to the color printer of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a part of the flowchart of FIG. 9 in detail. FIG.

11 is a control flowchart relating to air supply in one color.

Fig. 12 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a toner replenishment unit showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a schematic illustration showing a conventional use example of recovered toner.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10 developing device

100 toner container

107 breathable filter

140 powder pump

149 Toner Transfer Tube

150 Waste Toner Outlet

151 air pump

152 air delivery line

154 on-off valve

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a toner replenishing apparatus for replenishing toner contained in a toner storage container with a developing apparatus, wherein air is supplied from the outside to the toner storage container from the vertical direction lower side of the toner storage container. Then, the supplied air moves upward in the toner layer, whereby the toner is agitated and fluidized.

Further, the present invention is effective when a degassing portion is provided on the upper side of the toner storage container, and almost the amount of air supplied to the toner storage device is discharged from the degassing portion to the atmosphere.

Furthermore, the present invention is effective as long as it is a breathable filter in which the degassing portion passes air but does not pass the toner.

Furthermore, the present invention is effective when the toner in the toner container is discharged out of the container from the toner discharge part provided on the lower side in the vertical direction of the container.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a toner replenishing apparatus for replenishing toner stored in a toner storage container with a developing apparatus, wherein a plurality of toner storage containers are provided, and each of the toner storage containers has a vertical direction. An air supply device for supplying air from the lower side of the air supply apparatus, the air supply control having a smaller number of air supply sources than the toner storage container, and an air supply control for controlling the air supply from the air supply source to each toner storage container. It is characterized by including a means.

Moreover, this invention is provided with the air supply path connected to each of the said toner storage container from the said air supply source, and the opening / closing valve provided in this air supply path, The said air supply control means is a movement of the said air supply source, and this open / close valve It is effective to control the opening and closing of the.

Furthermore, the present invention is effective if the air supply control means controls the opening and closing of the opening / closing valve to supply air one by one to the toner storage container when the air supply source is operated.

Furthermore, the present invention further provides an air storage means capable of storing air provided between the toner storage containers into which air is supplied from the air source, and an air supply passage communicating with each of the toner storage containers from the air storage means. And an on / off valve provided in the air supply path, and it is effective if the air supply control means controls the operation of the air supply source and the opening / closing of the on / off valve.

Furthermore, the present invention is effective if the air supply control means controls the opening / closing of the on / off valve to supply air one by one to the toner storage container when air is stored in the air storage means.

Moreover, in order to achieve the said objective, the image forming apparatus of this invention is provided with the toner replenishment apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-9.

Also, in order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises an toner replenishing apparatus for replenishing toner contained in a toner storage container to a developing apparatus, wherein the toner replenishing device is the toner storage container. And a powder pump which sucks the toner and imparts a transfer force to the developing device, and has a receiving unit for receiving the recycled toner collected in the toner transfer path from the toner storage container to the developing device. .

Furthermore, the present invention is effective if the toner conveying path is formed by a flexible pipe-like member, and a receiving portion receiving the recycled toner is provided near the cleaning apparatus.

Example

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiment of this invention is described according to an accompanying drawing.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a color laser printer which is an example of an image forming apparatus having a toner replenishing apparatus according to the present invention. This color laser printer has a structure in which the paper supply unit 2 is disposed below the apparatus main body 1, and the image forming unit 3 is disposed above it. The image forming unit 3 is provided with a transfer belt device inclined so as to face the paper feed side down and the paper discharge side up. The transfer belt device includes a plurality of belt rollers 22, in this example, an endless transfer belt 20 wound around four belt rollers 22, and the transfer belt 20 has an upper traveling side in order from below. Four image forming units 4M, 4C, 4Y, 4Bk for low magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y) and black (Bk) are arranged in parallel.

1 and 2, each of the image forming units 4M, 4C, 4Y, 4Bk is provided with a photosensitive drum 5 as an image bearing member, and the photosensitive drum 5 is clocked by a driving means (not shown). It is driven to rotate in the direction of the needle. Around the photosensitive drum 5, a charging roller 6 as a charging means, an optical recording unit where recording by laser light is performed by the optical recording device 8, a developing device 10 as a developing means, a cleaning device as a cleaning means (9) is provided. The developing apparatus 10 is a developing apparatus using a two-component developer consisting of toner and a carrier, and toner is supplied by a toner replenishing apparatus described later according to the amount of toner consumed.

Next, an image forming operation for performing full color printing of the color printer shown in FIG. 1 will be described by the image forming unit 4M for magenta.

The photosensitive drum 5 charged by the charging roller 6 drives LD (laser diode) (not shown) to irradiate the laser beam to the polygon mirror 80, and reflects the reflected light through the cylinder lens or the like. The optical recording of the optical image developed with magenta toner is performed by the optical recording apparatus 8 which guides upward. By this recording, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 5 based on image data sent from a host machine such as a personal computer. The latent image is a visible image of magenta toner by the developing apparatus 10.

On the other hand, the paper designated as the transfer material is supplied from the paper supply unit 2, and the supplied paper hits the registration roller 23 provided at the upstream side in the transfer direction of the transfer belt 20. The paper is transferred onto the transfer belt 20 in synchronization with the visible image, and reaches the transfer position facing the photosensitive drum 5 by running the belt. In this transfer position, the visible image of the magenta toner is transferred onto the sheet by the action of the transfer roller 24 disposed on the rear side of the transfer belt 20.

Similarly to the above image forming operation, also in the other image forming units 4C, 4Y, 4Bk, visible images by each toner are formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 5, and these visible images are transferred by the transfer belt 20. Each time the sheet to be conveyed comes to each transfer position, it is superimposed. Therefore, the present color printer is superimposed and transferred to the paper in a short time so that the full color image is almost the same as the black and white image. The paper after being transferred is separated from the transfer belt 20 and fixed by the fixing device 30. The sheet which has been fixed is usually discharged to the outside as it is, or at that time, the sheet is reversed and discharged to the paper discharge tray 40 provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1 with the rear surface facing upward. In a printer, such reverse discharge is almost a prerequisite for organizing the prints in page order.

Next, a toner replenishing apparatus for replenishing the toner contained in the toner container 100M, 100C, 100Y, 100Bk to each of the image forming units 4M, 4C, 4Y, 4Bk will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the toner replenishing apparatus to be supplied to each of the image forming units 4M, 4C, 4Y, and 4Bk has substantially the same structure.

The developing apparatus 10 is provided with the uniaxial eccentric screw pump which is the suction type powder pump 110 near or integrally. As shown in Fig. 2, the powder pump 110 is composed of a rotor 142 made of an eccentric screw shape made of a material having rigidity such as metal, an elastic body made of rubber, etc. And a holder 144 made of a resin material or the like for enclosing them and forming a conveying path of the powder body. The rotor 142 is rotationally driven through a gear 146 integrally connected to a drive shaft 145 connected by a pin joint. Reference numeral 147 denotes an electromagnetic clutch, and operation of the powder pump 110 is controlled by this clutch.

A toner suction part 148 is provided at the front end of the holder 144, that is, at the right end of the powder pump 110 of FIG. 2, which is described later by the toner conveying tube 149. It is connected to the toner connector 165 provided in the nozzle 160. As the toner conveying tube 149, for example, a flexible tube having a diameter of 4 to 10 mm, a rubber material having excellent toner resistance (e.g., polyurethane, nitrile, ethylene-propylene diene monomer, EPDM, etc.) It is very effective to use what is made of, and the flexible tube can be easily arranged in any direction up, down, left and right. The toner replenishment device configured as described above is capable of continuous quantitative transfer of the uniaxial eccentric screw pump, which is the powder pump 110, in a high gas-solid proportion, and is accurate toner proportional to the rotational speed of the rotor 142. It is known that the feed amount can be obtained. Thus, when a toner replenishment command is issued by image density detection or the like, the powder pump 110 is operated to supply the required amount of toner to the developing apparatus 10.

On the other hand, the set part 200 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 1 in which the toner storage container 100 is set is comprised by the developing apparatus 10 and a separate unit. The toner container 100 is set to the set portion 200 of the image forming apparatus main body 1 from above. The set portion 200 is provided with a nozzle 160 inserted into the toner bag 102 in an upright position, and the nozzle 160 provided in the set portion 200 has a single pipe structure. The tip member 161 formed in the shape of a cone is provided by integral molding, fixing, or the like, and a passage 163 overlapping the air supply path and the toner discharge path is provided following the nozzle 160. The inside of the nozzle 160 has a single tube structure, and the passage 163 is bent to the left side of the drawing at the lower end of the nozzle 160, and the toner port 165 to which the toner conveying tube 149 is connected to the front end thereof. Is provided. In addition, the passage 163 is bent from the upper side of the toner connector 165 to the right of the drawing to provide the air connector 164.

In the case of this embodiment, the air connection port 164 is connected to the air pump 151 as an air supply source of an air supply apparatus via the air feed pipe 152. When the air pump 151 operates, air is blown out from the lower side of the toner container 100 through the air transfer pipe 152 and the passage 163 from this pump. Air blown into the toner container 100 is fluidized while stirring the toner by passing through the toner layer.

The toner container 100 is a bag in box having an outer box 101 as a protective case and a toner bag 102 as a flexible and deformable bag body detachably housed in the outer box 101. ) Type. The outer box 101 is made of a material such as paper, cardboard, resin, etc., which has rigidity, and has an inner space such that the toner bag 102 is stored with almost no gap. The toner storage container 100 is not only stored and protected in the outer box 101 even if the toner bag 102 containing the toner is flexible, and the operability is improved, so that the toner container 102 can be easily handled and organized during storage. You can get the advantage that you can.

The bag portion of the toner bag 102 is a bag-shaped container made of a flexible sheet material (thickness of about 80 to 125 µm) such as a polyester film or polyethylene film in a single layer or a plurality of layers. In the toner bag 102, a toner discharge hole 104 is provided in the lower center thereof, and the inlet member 103 made of resin such as polyethylene or nylon is fixed. The toner discharge hole 104 of the inlet member 103 is provided with a single or multiple layers of seals 105 having a role of autism valves, and the seals 105 are made of an elastic body made of a non-breathable foam sponge or the like. have. In addition, the toner bag 102 is formed in a shape in which the fore end is narrowed toward the toner discharge hole 104 so that toner is hard to remain. Therefore, when the toner container 100 configured as described above is set in the set portion 200, the nozzle 160 is inserted from the lower side in the vertical direction, that is, directly below.

By the way, in the image forming apparatus configured as described above, when the toner is sucked by the powder pump 110, if the angle of the inclination toward the bottom of the toner storage container 100 is small, the toner is discharged by gravity by the nozzle 160. It becomes difficult to fall to the vicinity, and becomes residual toner. The remaining toner in this container is supplied with a large amount of air in the toner container 100, and the toner is easily aspirated by sufficiently stirring and fluidizing the toner, so that the remaining amount can be greatly reduced. However, since the amount of air that can be supplied to the toner storage container 100 is regulated according to its volume, there is a concern that the toner cannot be sufficiently agitated due to lack of air.

In this case, as shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, an opening 106 is provided as a degassing portion for reducing the internal pressure in the toner storage container 100, and the opening 106 is allowed to pass through the air, but not the toner. Not covered with a breathable filter 107. This breathable filter 107 is provided on the upper surface opposite to the seal 105 into which the nozzle 160 is inserted so that the air after sufficiently stirring the toner is released.

In such a configuration, part of the air supplied to the toner container 100 is taken out of the container from the breathable filter 107, so that the air can be supplied to the toner container 100 without limitation. Therefore, the toner of the toner storage container 100 is sufficiently agitated by the air supplied in large quantities, so that the toner suction by the powder pump 110 proceeds more smoothly, and the amount of toner remaining in the container can be greatly reduced.

As described above, when the breathable filter 107 is provided in the toner container 100, a large amount of air can be supplied to the toner container 100. A large amount of air supply is performed using the air pump 151, but the full color image forming apparatus includes four toner storage containers 100M, 100C, 100Y, and 100Bk, and four air supply devices may be provided. Providing a plurality of air pumps 151 increases the cost and requires an installation space.

Therefore, this invention is comprised as follows.

4 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, yellow, magenta, cyan and black toners are stored in the toner storage containers 100M, 100C, 100Y, and 100Bk, respectively, and these toner storage containers 100 have fewer installations than the toner storage containers. In the example, the air is supplied by one air pump 151. In this case, four forked portions 153 for dividing the supply path into four are provided in the air transfer pipe 152 connected to the air pump 151, and the four transfer pipes 152M, 152C, 152Y, and 152Bk are toner, respectively. It is connected to nozzles 160M, 160C, 160Y, 160Bk (refer FIG. 2) inserted in storage container 100M, 100C, 100Y, 100Bk. The transfer pipes 152M, 152C, 152Y, and 152Bk are provided with open / close valves 154M, 154C, 154Y, and 154Bk as valve devices for controlling the supply of air, respectively. In addition, the operation | movement of the air pump 151 and opening / closing of the switching valve 154M, 154C, 154Y, and 154Bk are controlled by the control part which is not shown in figure.

The color image forming apparatus configured as described above can supply air to each toner storage container with an air pump 151 having a smaller number of installations than the number of toner storage containers 100, thereby realizing space saving and cost reduction.

5 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

In Fig. 5, a surge tank 155 is provided between the air pump 151 and each toner storage container 100M, 100C, 100Y, 100Bk as an air storage unit capable of storing air. The surge tank 155 has transfer pipes 152M, 152C, 152Y, 152Bk connected to the nozzles 160M, 160C, 160Y, 160Bk (see Fig. 2) inserted into the toner storage containers 100M, 100C, 100Y, 100Bk. ) (Not shown). The open / close valves 154M, 154C, 154Y, and 154Bk are provided at appropriate positions of the transfer pipes 152M, 152C, 152Y, and 152Bk (not shown) in the surge tank 155.

In such a configuration as well, the space saving and cost reduction of the apparatus can be realized as in the above-described embodiment.

4 and 5, when the plurality of open / close valves 154M, 154C, 154Y, and 154Bk are opened to supply air to the plurality of toner storage containers 100M, 100C, 100Y, and 100Bk at the same time, Unevenness arises in the amount of air supplied to the toner storage containers 100M, 100C, 100Y, and 100Bk. That is, even when the two open / close valves 154 are opened, a large amount of air is supplied to a side with a weak pressure such as a small amount of toner contained in the container, so that the supply amount is not 1/2 of the amount, and thus the air supply amount cannot be managed.

Therefore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. 6, the air pump 151 and the opening / closing valves 154M, 154C, 154Y, and 154Bk are synchronized with each other and controlled so as not to open the plurality of valves. In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 7, since the surge tank 155 is provided, it is not necessary to synchronize the opening of the air pump 151 and the opening / closing valves 154M, 154C, 154Y, and 154Bk. At the same time, a plurality of valves are controlled to not open.

By controlling in this way, the amount of air supplied to the toner storage containers 100M, 100C, 100Y, and 100Bk can be easily grasped from the capability and operating time of the air pump 151, and the management can be easily performed.

8 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a modification of the above-described embodiment.

In FIG. 8, the four feed pipes 152M, 152C, 152Y, and 152Bk are provided in the air feed pipe 152 connected to the air pump 151 by dividing the four forked portions 153 into four supply paths. The nozzles 160M, 160C, 160Y, and 160Bk (see Fig. 2) respectively inserted into the toner storage containers 100M, 100C, 100Y, and 100Bk are connected. In addition, the transfer pipes 152M, 152C, 152Y, and 152Bk have surge tanks 155M, 155C, 155Y, and 155Bk each having a valve as an air storage unit capable of storing air, and an opening / closing valve as a valve device for controlling the air supply. 154M, 154C, 154Y, and 154Bk are also provided. In this configuration as well, the space saving and cost reduction of the device can be realized, and the surge tanks 155M, 155C, 155Y, and 155Bk each having a valve can be realized. ), Air can be supplied to the plurality of toner storage containers 100 at the same time. Furthermore, since the toner in the toner container 100 is discharged by the air supply and the powder pump 151, there is almost no residual toner, so that the toner container 100 can be safely and sanitized after use. have.

In addition, in the color printer shown in FIG. 1, the air supply to each toner storage container 100M, 100C, 100Y, 100Bk is controlled based on the flow of FIG. 9 and FIG.

In FIG. 9, air supply to the toner storage containers 100M, 100C, 100Y, and 100Bk is performed when toner is supplied to the developing apparatus 10, but in the case of continuous printing in consideration of the frequency of supply of air and the like, When the number of repeat prints is odd, it advances. For this reason, it is first determined whether the number of repeated prints n is odd. Next, when the number of repeated prints is odd, it is determined whether the developing clutch (not shown) is turned on, and when the developing clutch is turned on, it is determined whether the supply clutch 147 of the powder pump 110 is turned on. . When the replenishment clutch 147 is turned on, toner is replenished by the developing apparatus, and it is monitored whether the replenishment clutch 147 is turned off, and when the toner replenishing operation by the off is completed, air is supplied. At this time, since the air supply is performed independently, as shown in the flow of FIG. 10, one of the toner storage containers 100M, 100C, 100Y, and 100Bk is selected, and the air supply proceeds. During the air supply, the supply clutch 147 is turned on or the air supply is terminated when the air supply setting time elapses.

A concrete example is given below.

11 shows an air supply control flow of one color. Each color has an air supply control flow shown in FIG.

This air supply control flow starts with every print.

First, as shown in Fig. 11, the number of prints is checked to supply air only when the number of repeated prints is odd. Next, if the developing device does not operate, it is not necessary to supply toner because no toner is supplied, so check the operation of the developing device. Next, in order to prevent the toner replenishment and the air supply from proceeding at the same time (because the powder pump sucks air when proceeding at the same time), toner replenishment is confirmed to be complete. Next, the cumulative time from the reset of the toner replenishment time is counted, and when it is 2 seconds, air is supplied to the toner cartridge. At this time, it is confirmed whether air is supplied to the toner cartridge of a different color. This is because air cannot be supplied in multiple colors at the same time in order to diverge from one air pump to multiple colors by a valve. Next, since different colors and timings may be synchronized (for example, when the diffusion time counters of magenta and cyan become 2 seconds at the same time), the priority of magenta, cyan and yellow at this time is determined in advance. Next, the air supply time stops at 1 second. Check that the next toner replenishment has not started until the air supply time reaches 1 second. When the next toner replenishment is started, the air supply is terminated so that the toner replenishment and the air supply do not proceed simultaneously as described above. When the air supply stops, the toner replenishment cumulative time counter is reset.

By the way, in the image forming apparatus, the toner remaining on the transfer member such as the image bearing member or the transfer belt is recovered by the cleaning apparatus. The recovered toner can be reused, but since the cleaning device and the developing device are separated from each other in function, the recovered toner must be transported.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a conventional apparatus for transporting recovered toner, and receives recovery toner from an outlet 301 provided on the cleaning device side at one end of the spiral pipe 300, and rotates the spiral pipe 300 to be provided at the other end side. It transfers to the receiving opening 302 on the developing apparatus side. However, in this conveyance, abnormal pressure is applied to the recovered toner to cause blocks of toner (agglomeration due to thermal fusion, etc.), pulverization, etc., resulting in deterioration or incapacity of the toner characteristics, as well as a spiral pipe 300 as a conveying member and a driving member. May cause damage. Furthermore, there is a problem that an image in which white spots occur in an image portion occurs in the color image forming apparatus, in particular, due to a change in toner properties due to pressure.

Thus, in the present invention, as shown in Fig. 12, the toner conveying tube 149 connecting the toner container 100 and the powder pump 140 provided on the developing apparatus 10 side is cleaned (not shown). The toner discharge port 150 provided near is provided. In this case, since the toner conveying pipe 149 is a flexible pipe, the toner conveying pipe 149 can be easily passed through the toner discharge port 150 near the cleaning device.

The image forming apparatus configured as described above passes through the recovered toner discharge port 150 when the new toner of the toner container 100 is transferred to the developing apparatus 10, so that the developing apparatus 10 is mixed with the recovered toner in the new toner. You can spread it. Furthermore, the toner conveyance by the powder pump 140 does not apply unnecessary pressure to the toner, and furthermore, since the new toner is conveyed in the mixed state with the air in the toner conveying member, the mechanical pressure is also increased with the recovered toner mixed with the new toner. Rarely added.

In this way, even when the toner is used, almost no unnecessary pressure is applied during the transfer, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of an image in which the white spots as described above occur.

According to the configuration of claim 1, the toner stored in the toner storage container is agitated and fluidized by air, so that the toner replenishment is performed smoothly and a toner replenishment device having less residual toner can be provided.

According to the structure of Claim 2, in addition to the said effect, the pressure rise by the air in a toner storage container can be prevented.

According to the structure of Claim 3, in addition to the said effect, scattering of the toner from a degassing part can be prevented.

According to the structure of Claim 4, in addition to the said effect, toner discharge from a toner storage container can be performed smoothly.

According to the structures of claims 5 to 9, air can be supplied to a plurality of toner storage containers by a smaller number of air supply sources, thereby providing a color image forming apparatus with low cost and space.

According to the structure of Claims 10-12, it can be recycled without applying pressure to collect | recovered toner, and generation | occurrence | production of the image etc. which a white spot produces in an image part can be prevented.

Claims (12)

A toner replenishing device for replenishing toner stored in a toner container with a developing device, And toner is agitated and fluidized by supplying air from the outside with respect to the toner storage container from the vertical lower side of the toner storage container, and moving the supplied air upward in the toner layer. A degassing part is provided on an upper side of the toner container, and almost the amount of air supplied to the toner container is discharged from the degassing part to the atmosphere. The method of claim 1, A toner replenishment device according to claim 1, wherein the degassing part is an air permeable filter which allows air to pass but does not pass the toner. The method of claim 1, A toner replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the toner in the toner container is discharged out of the container from a toner discharge part provided on the lower side in the vertical direction of the container. A toner replenishing device for replenishing toner stored in a toner container with a developing device, A plurality of toner storage containers are provided, and an air supply device for supplying air from the lower side in the vertical direction to each of the toner storage containers is provided, and the air supply device has a smaller number of air supply sources than the toner storage container; And an air supply control means for controlling the air supply from the air supply source to each of the toner storage containers. The method of claim 5, An air supply path connected to each of the toner storage containers from the air supply source, and an on / off valve provided in the air supply path, wherein the air supply control means controls the operation of the air supply source and opening / closing the open / close valve. Toner replenishment apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The method according to claim 5 or 6, And the air supply control means controls the opening and closing of the opening / closing valve so as to supply air one by one to the toner storage container when the air supply source is in operation. The method of claim 5, Air storage means capable of storing air provided between the toner storage containers supplied with air from the air source, an air supply path connected to each of the toner storage containers from the air storage means, and provided in the air supply path And an open / close valve, wherein the air supply control means controls the operation of the air supply source and the opening / closing of the open / close valve. The method of claim 5 or 8, And the air supply control means controls the opening and closing of the opening / closing valve to supply air one by one to the toner storage container when air is stored in the air storage means. An image forming apparatus comprising the toner replenishing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9. An image forming apparatus comprising a toner replenishing device for replenishing a toner contained in a toner container with a developing device, The toner replenishing apparatus includes a powder pump that sucks the toner in the toner container and imparts a transfer force to the developing device, and receives the recycled toner collected in the toner conveying path from the toner container to the developing device; An image forming apparatus, characterized in that a receiving unit is provided. The method of claim 11, And the toner conveying path is formed by a flexible pipe-like member, and a receiving portion receiving the recycled toner is provided in the vicinity of a cleaning device.