WO2007019722A1 - Appareil pour le nettoyage des cartouches de toner - Google Patents

Appareil pour le nettoyage des cartouches de toner Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007019722A1
WO2007019722A1 PCT/CH2006/000448 CH2006000448W WO2007019722A1 WO 2007019722 A1 WO2007019722 A1 WO 2007019722A1 CH 2006000448 W CH2006000448 W CH 2006000448W WO 2007019722 A1 WO2007019722 A1 WO 2007019722A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cleaning
basket
cleaning bar
toner cartridge
air
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CH2006/000448
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Thierry Torrent
Original Assignee
Futor Cleaning System Ag
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Futor Cleaning System Ag filed Critical Futor Cleaning System Ag
Publication of WO2007019722A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007019722A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0894—Reconditioning of the developer unit, i.e. reusing or recycling parts of the unit, e.g. resealing of the unit before refilling with toner
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B5/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use of air flow or gas flow
    • B08B5/02—Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for cleaning toner cartridges according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
  • Toner cartridges are used in laser printers, copiers, fax machines and the like. These toner cartridges or cartridges consist essentially of a housing with a toner container, a magnetic drum and various small parts such as wheels and brackets. Usually an exposure drum is integrated in the cassette.
  • the toner in the cartridge is usually disposed of.
  • the professional recycling is not only for environmental reasons, but also financially interesting.
  • the toner cartridges are disassembled by hand, cleaned with compressed air, re-assembled and then refilled with toner.
  • the working conditions are relatively poor, since the released toner particles can get into the respiratory tract of the staff.
  • the financial expense of a manual recycling is relatively high. Because of these and other drawbacks, a device has been provided for cleaning a toner cartridge. nell and thus with lower emissions to workers and more cost-effective.
  • WO 2004/007104 discloses such a device for cleaning toner cartridges, wherein the toner cartridges are manually disassembled and the disassembled parts are loaded onto a finger-mounted conveyor belt. The parts then pass through a cleaning chamber.
  • US 5,265,298 discloses an apparatus for removing dust from opened cans.
  • an injector which injects ionized air and a vacuum source arranged close thereto are used.
  • the ionized air jet is blown into each individual can and sucked off again by the vacuum source.
  • a disadvantage of this device is that it is only suitable for identical doses.
  • the toner cartridges have very diverse outer shapes, this device is not suitable for toner cleaning.
  • a disadvantage of the cleaning systems described above is that they have a relatively large length. If the desired purity requirements rise, this disadvantage still becomes strengthened. As known from WO 2004/007104, several cleaning chambers can be arranged one behind the other. This additionally increases the length of the entire cleaning system.
  • the invention has for its object to provide a device which can clean toner cartridges in an efficient manner, is very compact in dimensions and emits as little toner dust to the environment.
  • the inventive device for cleaning of disassembled toner cartridges by means of compressed air has a cleaning chamber.
  • a toner cartridge holder is rotatably arranged in the cleaning chamber.
  • the toner cartridge holder serves to accommodate toner cartridge parts to be cleaned of the dismantled toner cartridges.
  • the toner cartridge receptacle preferably comprises a fixed frame in the cleaning chamber and a removable from the housing basket.
  • the toner cartridge receptacle may consist only of the frame or only from the basket or one or more similar means.
  • the basket comprises a basket bottom and a side edge.
  • the basket bottom preferably has a wire mesh or openings, which are arranged in circular paths. Through the openings compressed air can flow to the toner cartridges.
  • the side edge of the basket preferably has a wire mesh.
  • the frame preferably comprises curved profile bodies as well as cross bracing profiles.
  • the compressed air flows via cleaning bar with at least one air nozzle in the cleaning chamber. In this case, preferably at least one cleaning bar is arranged below and at least one cleaning bar above the toner cartridge receptacle.
  • the cleaning bars may have any cross-section, preferably they are rod-shaped.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of the device according to the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the device of the figure
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of the device of Figure 1;
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic front view of a cleaning bar
  • Fig. 5 is a schematic side view of the cleaning bar of Fig. 4;
  • Fig. 6 is a schematic front view of a double cleaning bar
  • Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of the double cleaning bar of Fig. 6;
  • Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view of the frame for receiving a basket
  • FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the frame of FIG. 8; FIG.
  • Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view of the basket; Fig. Il is a sectional view of the basket of Figure 10; Fig. 12 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the device comprises at least one housing 5, which is subdivided into a housing upper part 4 and a housing lower part 7, and a toner cartridge receptacle 3 rotatably arranged in the housing.
  • the lower housing part 7 comprises four side profiles 91 and a lower floor 90.
  • the compressor 10 are in the preferred embodiment air compressor and remove the air to be compressed from the environment.
  • the parameters, such as volume flow, power, etc., of the compressor 10 must be adjusted accordingly. Good results were achieved with a volume flow of 1400 m 3 / h.
  • an air compressor 10 of the type used can provide a volume flow of 280 m 3 / h, therefore, five compressors must be used to achieve the volume flow of 1400 m 3 / h.
  • a filter element is arranged, which filters the air to be compressed from foreign particles.
  • the compressed air is supplied via a pipeline system 9 to air nozzles.
  • the piping system includes steel tubes 46 and / or plastic tube 47.
  • the upper housing part 4 comprises a front wall 18, a rear wall 19, two side walls 15, a bottom 14 and a cover 16.
  • the just described elements 18, 19, 15, 14, 16 create a space which is referred to as a cleaning chamber 6 and that is completed by the environment. This finish prevents toner particles from being released into the environment.
  • the lid 16 is mechanically secured against unauthorized opening during the cleaning process.
  • a gas spring 17 assists the user of the system in his effort to open the lid 16.
  • Lid 16 ' shows the lid 16 in the open state. In the open state, the lid forms an opening 13.
  • the air nozzles are arranged on a hollow body 41, in particular integrally formed.
  • the hollow body 41 may have any desired cross-sectional shape. Preference is given to using hollow bodies which have the shape of a beam or a tube. Openings are provided on the upper side of the hollow body through which the air can flow into the cleaning chamber 6.
  • the openings may be, for example, longitudinally extending slots 40, which typically have a clear width of 1 mm to 20 mm.
  • the described air nozzle arrangement with the hollow body is also referred to below as cleaning bar 58, 59.
  • the venting nozzles can also assume other shapes; in particular, shorter slots or nozzles, in particular nozzles according to WO 2004/007104, can also be used.
  • a protective bracket 42 is connected to the hollow body 41 with a screw 43 and ensures that the cleaning bar is not damaged by toner particles to be cleaned.
  • the protective angle 42 may have sensors that stop the basket when the protruding toner particles touch the guard angle.
  • an air inlet 45 which is connected to the piping system 9, compressed air flows into the cleaning bar 58, 59.
  • the air in the cleaning chamber 6 can statically charge.
  • ionizing agents are arranged.
  • the ionizing agent used is ioniza- ren known type used, for example ionizers, which are manufactured by the US company Simco.
  • the ionizer 44 has an elongated rod-like shape, projecting on one side of needles, each extending parallel to each other and perpendicular to the louver through the needles, the air flowing past is ionized.
  • the ionizer 44 used is particularly suitable for achieving the most laminar flow conditions possible. This is because the needles do not protrude directly into the air stream, but are set back slightly from the outlet opening.
  • the ionizer 44 is arranged in the longitudinal direction just after the nozzles 40.
  • Figures 6 and 7 show a double cleaning bar.
  • two cleaning bars 58, 59 which are identical to the cleaning bar described above, arranged in a mirror-inverted manner next to each other.
  • the double cleaning bar increases the purity of the cleaned toner cartridges and shortens the cleaning time.
  • the cleaning bar 58 can perform the pre-cleaning and the cleaning bar 59 takes over the post-cleaning.
  • the two cleaning bars are arranged at an angle to each other and extend radially from the output shaft 12 of the motor 11. The arrangement of two cleaning bars is referred to as a double bar system.
  • cleaning bar refers both to the simple cleaning bar (according to FIGS. 4 and 5) and to the double bar system (according to FIGS. 6 and 7).
  • a first cleaning bar 60 is mounted on the floor 14 of the cleaning 6 and extends from the middle of a side wall 15 almost to the geometric center of the cleaning chamber 16, that is almost up to the output shaft 12 of the motor 11.
  • the first cleaning bar 60 is connected to two compressors 10 and thus generates a volume flow of about 560th m 3 / h.
  • a second cleaning bar 61 is disposed above the first cleaning bar 60 in a similar manner.
  • the second cleaning bar 61 is connected to three compressors 10 via the piping system and thus blows a volume flow of about 840 m 3 / h.
  • the second cleaning bar 61 is adjustable in height. Thereby, the second cleaning bar 61 can be adjusted depending on the size of the toner cartridges to be cleaned.
  • the volume flow of the first cleaning bar 60 is smaller than the volume flow of the second cleaning bar 61. This causes the toner cartridge parts, which may be very small and light, not to be blown out of the toner cartridge receptacle 3.
  • the toner cartridge receptacle 3 comprises a basket 20 and a frame 30.
  • FIGS. 8 and 9 show the frame 30, which comprises curved profiled bodies 71 and transverse bracing profiles 70.
  • the profile body 71 is bent into a circle and two diagonally arranged cross bracing profiles 70 stiffen the frame 30 and have over the frame 30 a paragraph 72 on.
  • the shoulder 72 serves to center the basket 30.
  • the cross-bracing profiles 70 intersect at the center of the frame 30.
  • a disk 73 is arranged. net, which is connected to a coupling device 23.
  • the coupling device 23 is connected to the output shaft 12 of the engine 11.
  • the basket 20 may rest on the frame 30 or be firmly connected thereto.
  • FIGS. 10 and 11 show the basket 20, which comprises a side edge 21, a basket bottom 22 and fingers 24.
  • the side edge 21 has a wire mesh or a solid wall made of sheet metal and surrounds the basket bottom 22 at the outer periphery entirely.
  • the basket bottom 22 consists of a plurality of bars 25.
  • the bars 25 are arranged at right angles to each other, so that a grid-shaped structure with openings 26 is formed.
  • the fingers 24 are, preferably rectangular, from the lattice-shaped structure and serve to accommodate the toner cartridge parts to be cleaned.
  • the fingers can be formed both on the basket bottom and designed to be removable.
  • the fingers are made of a non-magnetic metal, plastic or a non-magnetic metal with a plastic coating.
  • the basket bottom 22 may also consist of a metal sheet (not shown in the figures), in which a plurality of openings are arranged.
  • the openings in the basket bottom 22 are rectangular slots which are arranged concentrically to the periphery of the basket.
  • receiving elements are attached to the basket bottom 22 or molded.
  • toner holder elements are fastened, which are preferably made of plastic.
  • the plastic elements serve to accommodate the toner cartridge parts to be cleaned, which are dismantled by the staff in an upstream work step. The disassembled toner cartridges or toner cartridge parts are replaced by the mechanical elements taken so that they come to lie exactly over the rectangular openings and are secured against unwanted movement.
  • the frame 30 is driven by the basket 20.
  • the motor is arranged in the lower housing part 7 and the output shaft protrudes into the cleaning chamber 6.
  • a seal prevents toner particles from entering the housing lower part from the cleaning chamber 6.
  • the seal is typically a commercially available Simmering seal.
  • the basket 20 rotates once during a cleaning operation. In order to optimize the degree of purity, the basket 20 can also perform several revolutions. To optimize the cleaning time, the speed of rotation can also be adjusted. Typically, the rotational speed is about 0.5 rpm. To optimize the degree of purity, the basket can also be moved more slowly. If the efficiency, that is, the cleaning time optimized, so the basket can take a faster rotational speed.
  • the toner cartridges arranged on the basket are guided past the first cleaning bar 60 and the second cleaning bar 61 at least once. Due to the rectangular openings in the basket bottom 22, the air stream entering from the first cleaning bar 60 can clean the disassembled toner cartridge parts from below. From above, the disassembled toner cartridge parts are cleaned by the second cleaning bar 61. During the cleaning process, the airflow blows away particles sticking to the toner cartridges.
  • the basket 20 or the toner cartridge receptacle 3 can be connected to a vibration element, not shown.
  • the vibrating element By means of the vibrating element, the toner cartridges or toner parts to be cleaned can be put into a vibrating motion. so that toner particles from the toner cartridges or toner parts are released by the vibration.
  • the vibrating motion is particularly advantageous because it also removes toner particles that are in an opening or the like and are not directly accessible by the airflow. For this reason, such vibration is preferably carried out before cleaning with the air. This could also be described as a rough cleaning. Alternatively, the vibration can also take place during or after cleaning with the air.
  • the vibration element has a vibrator and a pivotable arm.
  • the pivotable arm may be connected to the basket 20 or to the toner cartridge receptacle 3 by the user by hand or by means of an actuator. If the connection is made via an actuator, this can be operated by the control panel 50.
  • the actuator may be, for example, a motor or a pneumatic cylinder. About this arm, the vibrations from the vibrator to the basket 20 and the toner cartridge holder 3 are transmitted.
  • the vibration can also be applied by other means to the basket 20 or to the toner cartridges or toner parts to be cleaned.
  • the motor 11 it would be conceivable to control the motor 11 such that it changes the direction of rotation in short time intervals. That is, the basket rotates clockwise by a small angle and then counterclockwise at a small angle. This is how the vibration is caused.
  • a small angle for example, an angle in the range of 1 ° to 45 ° to understand.
  • the air mixed with toner particles is removed from the cleaning chamber 6 by means of an exhaust air system (not shown).
  • the exhaust system In the exhaust system there is a negative pressure, which develops a suction force.
  • the negative pressure may typically be between 100 mbar and 500 mbar.
  • the exhaust air system has the same size or larger volume flow capacities as the air compressor 10. This means that at least the injected volume of air must be removed again by the exhaust air system.
  • the exhaust system has a volume flow capacity of about 3000 m 3 / h, while the five air compressors together have a volume flow capacity of 1400 m 3 / h.
  • the exhaust system may be a single exhaust system or it may be a central exhaust system to which other devices such as a suction bell are connected.
  • non-magnetic materials are preferably used for the device, such as chromium-nickel steel.
  • All processes can be controlled by a control panel 50. Operations are to be understood in particular as the rotation of the basket 20, the starting of the air compressor 10, the ionization of the air and the suction of the polluted air.
  • the control panel 50 has various switching elements 51, indicator lights 52 and an emergency stop switch 53.
  • the commands are implemented by means of a controller. It is a fully automatic as well as a manual control provided, in which the processes can be triggered step by step.
  • the toner cartridges are disassembled by hand.
  • the basket 20 can typically be loaded along the upper insertion direction 100 through the opening 13 into the cleaning chamber 6.
  • the cleaning process can be started via the control panel 50.
  • the cleaned parts are removed from the basket.
  • the basket can with contaminated parts.
  • the device can also be used to clean closed toner cartridges, which have already been refilled with new toner.
  • the exhaust air system is a central exhaust air system, which combines the exhaust air of several devices according to the first embodiment. In the operating state, such exhaust air systems are typically subjected to a negative pressure at all times. A valve can regulate the suction effect.
  • FIG 12 shows a third preferred embodiment, in which a frame 95 of the device is upstream.
  • the frame 95 can both be molded on the device and be movable relative to it.
  • the lid 16 is firmly connected to the front wall 18. After opening the lid 16, the basket 20 with the cleaned toner cartridge parts can be removed from the machine via the rack by guided translation. Another basket 20 'of soiled toner cartridge parts may be inserted into the machine.
  • the frame 95 includes legs 96 and rails 97 on which the basket 20 'rests. Typically, rails 98 protrude into the cleaning chamber 6. The seal is designed accordingly.
  • the frame 95 can also be arranged on one of the two sides. In this case, the corresponding side wall 15 must be firmly connected to the lid 16.
  • the lid is a hood.
  • the hood includes the lid 16, the side walls 15, and the front wall 18. Leaves by means of a strap to push up the hood. This allows a more ergonomic operation, because the baskets 20 can be prepared on an upstream frame 95 and inserted into the system along a lateral insertion direction 101.
  • the baskets 20 are removed along a lateral removal direction 102 and are thereby pushed onto a downstream frame 95.
  • the lateral removal direction may be co-linear with the lateral insertion direction 101, or may be in the lateral insertion direction 101.
  • the lateral removal direction 101 may also be perpendicular to the lateral insertion direction 102. It is clear that in this embodiment various constructive adjustments must be made, such as the displacement of the gas spring 17 or the control cabinet 54th

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Cleaning In Electrography (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil pour le nettoyage des cartouches de toner désassemblées, au moyen d'air comprimé, comprenant une chambre de nettoyage (6). Un porte-cartouche de toner (3) est agencé dans la chambre de nettoyage (6) de façon qu'il puisse pivoter. Le porte-cartouche de toner (3) sert à contenir les pièces désassemblées de la cartouche de toner.
PCT/CH2006/000448 2005-08-19 2006-08-21 Appareil pour le nettoyage des cartouches de toner WO2007019722A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH13622005 2005-08-19
CH1362/05 2005-08-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007019722A1 true WO2007019722A1 (fr) 2007-02-22

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ID=37024129

Family Applications (1)

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PCT/CH2006/000448 WO2007019722A1 (fr) 2005-08-19 2006-08-21 Appareil pour le nettoyage des cartouches de toner

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WO (1) WO2007019722A1 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0183192A2 (fr) * 1984-11-28 1986-06-04 STERIL S.p.A. Dispositif pour aspirer la poussière ou décontaminer des articles qui entrent ou sortent des espaces de production
JPH08173922A (ja) * 1994-12-22 1996-07-09 Ricoh Co Ltd 粉体が付着した物品の洗浄方法およびその装置
DE19532576A1 (de) * 1995-09-04 1997-03-06 Hans Hermann Dipl Ing Gross Einrichtung zum Reinigen von Werkstücken
JPH1190368A (ja) * 1997-09-25 1999-04-06 Ricoh Co Ltd 粉体収納容器の洗浄装置
WO2004007104A1 (fr) * 2002-07-17 2004-01-22 Futor Cleaning System Ag Dispositif de nettoyage de cassettes toner

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0183192A2 (fr) * 1984-11-28 1986-06-04 STERIL S.p.A. Dispositif pour aspirer la poussière ou décontaminer des articles qui entrent ou sortent des espaces de production
JPH08173922A (ja) * 1994-12-22 1996-07-09 Ricoh Co Ltd 粉体が付着した物品の洗浄方法およびその装置
DE19532576A1 (de) * 1995-09-04 1997-03-06 Hans Hermann Dipl Ing Gross Einrichtung zum Reinigen von Werkstücken
JPH1190368A (ja) * 1997-09-25 1999-04-06 Ricoh Co Ltd 粉体収納容器の洗浄装置
WO2004007104A1 (fr) * 2002-07-17 2004-01-22 Futor Cleaning System Ag Dispositif de nettoyage de cassettes toner

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1996, no. 11 29 November 1996 (1996-11-29) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1999, no. 09 30 July 1999 (1999-07-30) *

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