JP2000081778A - Toner transfer method and apparatus, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a toner transfer method and apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of storing toner in a flexible container and transferring the toner directly from the container to a developing device for toner supply. . The toner storage container stores toner.
And an air pump for flowing air into the toner storage container 20; and a powder pump means 40 for discharging fluidized toner from the toner storage container 20.
The toner carried out by the suction operation of 0 is moved to the developing device 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transferring toner and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus of the type described above, when a two-component type developing device is employed, the toner concentration and the like are detected to determine the mixing ratio of toner and carrier in the developing device. It is controlled to keep it constant. Therefore, a toner container such as a toner bottle or a cartridge is provided in or near the unit having the developing device, and the toner is supplied from the toner container to the developing device in accordance with an amount consumed by use. ing. In this case, the transfer and replenishment of the toner from the toner storage container to the developing device is performed by a mechanical auger such as a screw or a paddle.

[0003]

However, when the toner is replenished by the mechanical auger means described above, the toner storage portion and the toner replenishing device are integrated with the developing device or extremely due to the arrangement of the screws almost linearly. It had to be installed in a close position.

Further, since the conventional toner container is made of a hard bottle such as a cartridge or a bottle, there is a great problem in disposing of the used container accompanying the replacement of the toner container. That is, the used toner storage container is collected by the manufacturer from the user, and is recycled, reused, and incinerated. However, the container is bulky and requires a high distribution cost until it is collected.

Conventionally, there has been proposed a toner container in which the volume of the toner storage container can be reduced. However, when replenishing toner from the container by using a toner replenishing device, it is necessary to stably maintain the replenishing performance. Even when a container that cannot be reduced and whose volume can be reduced only at the time of transportation is used, problems such as toner contamination occur when transferring the toner, and it has not been put to practical use.

[0006] The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner transfer method and apparatus and an image forming apparatus which can store toner in a flexible container and can transfer toner from the container directly to a developing device for toner supply.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a toner transfer method according to the present invention is a toner transfer method for transferring toner stored in a toner storage container to a predetermined portion. And the toner is fluidized, and the fluidized toner is carried out of the toner storage container and transferred to the predetermined portion.

The toner transfer method of the present invention is effective when applying a suction force to the fluidized toner when carrying out the fluidized toner from the toner container. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner transfer device, comprising: a toner storage container in which toner is stored; a unit for injecting air into the toner storage container; And a toner discharging means for discharging the toner from the printer.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, a toner transfer device according to the present invention comprises: a toner storage container storing toner; a unit for flowing air into the toner storage container; It is characterized in that it has a toner discharging means for discharging the toner from the toner container and a toner moving means for moving the discharged toner to a predetermined portion.

[0010] In the toner transfer device of the present invention, it is effective if the toner discharging means includes a suction means for sucking toner. Further, in the toner transfer device according to the present invention, it is effective that the moving unit includes a suction unit that suctions the toner.

Further, the toner transfer device of the present invention is
It is effective if the suction means of the toner discharging means is a suction type single-axis eccentric powder pump, and the powder pump also serves as the suction means of the toner moving means.

Still further, the toner transfer device of the present invention comprises:
It is effective if the toner moving means includes air flow means for flowing in the toner moving direction. Still further, in the toner transfer device of the present invention, it is effective that the air flow means flows air immediately after the discharge port of the powder pump.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: a toner container in which toner is stored; a unit for flowing air into the toner container; The image forming apparatus is characterized by having a toner discharging means for discharging the toner from the toner storage container and a toner moving means for moving the discharged toner to the developing device.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may include a toner discharge nozzle for flowing air into the toner storage container and discharging toner from the toner storage container.
It is effective.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, it is effective that the toner discharge nozzle is constituted by a cylindrical body having substantially two concentric diameters and two kinds of diameters, wherein the inside is a toner discharge path and the outside is an air inflow path. It is.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a toner supply device that supplies toner to a developing device as an example of a toner transfer device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a part of the developing device to which the toner is sent.

In FIG. 1, the toner replenishing device of the present embodiment replenishes toner to a developing device 10, and includes a toner storage container 20 for storing toner, and toner stored in the toner storage means. And a means for moving to the developing device 10, and these means include a powder pump means 40 as a suction means. The powder pump means 40 also functions as a suction means for discharging toner from the toner container 20 and a suction means for moving toner discharged from the container to the developing device.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the developing device 10 includes a developing sleeve 11 opposed to the photosensitive member 1.
And the first stirring screw 12 and the second stirring screw 13
And are provided. The developing toner in the developing device 10 is circulated by the first stirring screw 12 from left to right in FIG. 2 and by the second stirring screw 13 from right to left. During this circulation, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 1 is developed with the toner of the developing toner transferred to the developing sleeve 11 in the middle of the transport path.

As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 10 has a first stirring screw 1 at its front end.
2, a toner receiving port 14 is provided at a position corresponding to
A connection member 15 is attached to the toner receiving port 14, and a tube 16 as a transfer member is attached to the connection member 15.
Are detachably connected. An air filter 17 is provided on a part of the connection member 15 to evacuate only the air in the mixture of the toner and the air flow from the developing device to prevent toner from scattering from the connection member 15 and the developing device 10 during toner supply. Preventing. Note that the toner supply position is the developing device 1
It is not limited to one side end of 0 and is arbitrary, and is not particularly limited. Further, the developing device 10 is not limited to the illustrated example, but may be of various types that require toner supply.

As shown in FIG. 3, the toner storage container 20 is formed in a bag shape, and supports a cylindrical member 22 having a toner discharge passage 22a and an air inflow passage 22b formed in the upper center thereof. The support member 21 is welded by ultrasonic waves or the like and integrally joined. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cylindrical member 22 supported by the support member 21 is
A cylindrical body having two concentric diameters and two diameters is provided. The inner side is a toner discharge path 22a and the outer side is an air inflow path 22b. Has reached the position where it jumped out of the A screw portion 23 is formed at a portion exposed to the outside of the support member 21, and a cap member 24 is detachably screwed to the screw portion 53. The base member 24 is provided with a toner suction port 27 that can communicate with the toner discharge path 22a, and one end of a tube 26 is connected to the toner suction port 27. The other end of the tube 26 is connected to a suction port of the powder pump means 40.

A cover member 50 for normally closing the toner discharge passage 22a and the air inflow passage 22b is fitted into the cylindrical member 22. This lid member 50 is provided as shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, it is formed in the shape of a cap with a slight step in the middle, a projection 51 is formed on its head, and an opening 52 is formed on the peripheral surface of the slightly larger diameter portion. Further, a flange portion 53 having a predetermined thickness is provided at the lower end.
Are formed. In addition, the said cylindrical member 22 comprises the discharge nozzle of this embodiment.

The toner container 20 is configured as a unit separate from the developing device 10, and can be disposed at an appropriate position in the main body of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the toner storage container 20 can be arranged not only inside the image forming apparatus main body but also on the outer wall side of the apparatus main body. The powder pump means 40 provided between the toner container 20 and the developing device 10 is
Between 0, they are connected by a tube 16 as a transfer member, and between the toner storage containers 20 by a tube 26 as a transfer member.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the powder pump means 40. This powder pump means 40 is a suction type single-axis eccentric powder pump 41 which is called a conventionally known so-called mono pump.
have. The configuration of the powder pump 41 includes a rotor 42 formed in an eccentric screw shape with a rigid material such as a metal, and a stator 43 formed in a double screw shape formed of an elastic body such as rubber. A holder 44 made of a resin material or the like that wraps these and forms a powder conveyance path.
And the stator 43 is fixedly installed on the holder 44. The rotor 42 is rotationally driven through a gear 45 drivingly connected to a drive source (not shown) and a shaft coupling 46.

The powder pump 41 configured as above is
When the rotor 42 is rotated, a strong self-priming force is generated in the pump, so that the toner can be sucked from the suction portion at the tip of the holder 44 and the sucked toner can be sent out from the discharge portion near the shaft coupling 46. Air is supplied to the powder pump means 40 from a not-shown air pump through a pipe 48, and the fluidization of the toner to be sent out is promoted by the air, so that the toner transfer by the powder pump 41 is ensured. Become. The drive of the suction-type powder pump 41 is transmitted to the gear 45 via a dedicated motor or a main motor in the image forming apparatus and a clutch (not shown), and the drive is controlled.

This single-axis eccentric powder pump 41 is known to be capable of continuous quantitative transfer at a high solid-gas ratio and to obtain an accurate toner transfer amount in proportion to the rotation speed of the rotor 42. I have. Therefore, the amount of toner transferred may be controlled by controlling the driving time of the powder pump. The tube 16 connected to the discharge part of the single-axis eccentric powder pump 41 and the tube 26 connected to the suction part have a diameter of, for example, 4 to 10 m.
m, a flexible tube with excellent toner resistance (for example, polyurethane, nitrile, EPDM,
It is extremely effective to use one made from silicon, etc., and if a flexible tube is used,
The toner can be freely transferred in a high position or in any direction of up, down, left and right. In addition, the powder pump 41 does not apply unnecessary stress to the toner to be transferred, and is very advantageous for transferring the toner to be used. In addition,
It is advantageous that the powder pump means 40 is unitized, and the unitized powder pump means 40 facilitates production and mechanical maintenance.

By the way, electrophotographic toner has very poor fluidity. For this reason, the toner storage container 20 is placed vertically, and the lower end of the cylindrical body member 22 is arranged so as to reach a position near the bottom. The toner is sucked from the tip of the toner discharge path 22 by the powder pump. Further, in the present embodiment, the cylindrical body member 22 is configured as a double pipe,
An air inflow path 22b is formed so that the central pipe section surrounds the toner discharge path 22a. When the lid member 50 is moved to the air inflow passage 22b as described later, the lid member 50 communicates with an air inlet 29 formed in the base member 54, and air from an air pump (not shown) is supplied to the air inlet 29. It is configured to be sent. This air promotes fluidization of the toner stored in the toner storage container 20, and the fluidized toner is reliably carried out of the container by the suction action of the powder pump 41. The support member 21 includes the toner container 20.
There is provided a passage for letting out the air sent into the filter, and the passage is covered by a filter 54.

The toner container 20 constructed as described above
Is made of resin such as polyethylene or nylon, and is 80 to 12
It is made of a flexible sheet having a thickness of about 0 μm in a single-layer or multi-layer configuration. In addition, it is effective to deal with static electricity by subjecting the surface of these sheets to aluminum vapor deposition. The cylindrical member 22 can also be made of a resin such as polyethylene or nylon, and if it is made of the same material as the toner container 20, it is convenient for recycling. The toner discharge path 22a serves as a toner suction port, but also serves as a toner filling port in a factory. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the toner container 20 filled with toner at the factory has a cap 25 screwed to the screw portion 23 of the support member 21 instead of the cap member 24. For this reason, the toner storage container 20 is completely sealed by the cap 25 at the time of shipment from the factory.
The base member 24 is loaded into the screw portion 23. Even if the cap 25 is removed, the toner discharge passage 22a and the air inflow passage 22b are closed by the lid member, so that even if the container is turned down after the cap 25 is removed, the toner does not leak.

Next, the operation of the toner replenishing device having the above-described structure will be described. As described above, when the toner supply is started, even if the cap 25 is removed, the toner carrying-out path 22a and the air inflow path 22b are closed by the lid member. Therefore, in the present embodiment, an external operation member 60 is provided that moves the lid member 50 by an external operation to connect the toner discharge path 22a and the air inflow path 22b to the toner inlet 27 and the air inlet 29, respectively.

The external operation member 60 includes a holder 61 attached to the base member 24, a slider 62 and a chuck 64 slidably fitted in the holder 61,
It has a compression spring 63 that urges the slider 62 downward elastic force and a grip portion 65 provided integrally with the chuck 64. Initially, the toner storage container 20 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the lid member 50 closes the toner discharge passage 22a and the air inflow passage 22b. Here, when the handle 65 is pulled upward, a chuck 64 fixed integrally with the handle 65, The slider 62 engaged with 64 also moves. At the same time, the slider 64 is pressed downward by the compression spring 63 to close the chuck 64, grasp the projection 51 of the lid member 50, and lift the lid member 50. further. Pull up the handle 65, 9
When twisted by 0 degree, the locking pin 66 provided integrally with the handle 65
Is locked to the upper end 67 of the holder 61, whereby the lid member 50 is held at the position shown in FIG. When the lid member 50 is lifted, the opening 52 provided in a part of the side wall thereof opens the toner suction port 2.
7, the toner suction port 27 and the toner discharge path 2
2a communicates. Further, the flange portion 53 provided at the lower portion of the lid member 50 is separated from the air inflow path 22b, and the air inlet 29 and the air inflow path 22b communicate.

As described above, the cover member 50 is operated by an external operation.
Can be moved to the open position, so that toner can be prevented from being scattered at the time of toner replenishment and replacement of the toner storage container 20. Reference numerals 55, 56, and 57 denote rubber seal members. The seals 56 and 57 seal the base member 24 of the toner storage container 20, and the seal 55 seals the lid member 50. By these seal members 55 to 57, the toner can be efficiently sucked and transferred without scattering of the toner outside the apparatus.

When the external operation member is to be removed from the toner container 20, the above-described operation steps are performed in reverse. That is, when the handle 65 is twisted by 90 degrees, the compression spring 63
The slider 61, the handle 65, and the chuck 64 move, and return to the state of FIG. Thereafter, the toner container 20 rotates the base member 24 to separate them. Even at the time of this separation, the toner storage container 20 is sealed by the seals 55 to 57 and the lid member 50, so that the toner does not scatter outside the toner storage container 20.

The toner container 20 constructed as described above
A replenishing device that uses a sensor detects a change in the mixing ratio of toner and carrier based on a conventionally known magnetic permeability detector (not shown) provided in a part of the developing device 10, and the detected value is determined to be a certain value. If the value is less than or equal to the value, the powder pump 41 and the air pump are driven to drive the toner developing device 1 in the toner container 20.
Transfer to 0. Then, the toner replenishment by this transfer is stopped when the density of the developing toner becomes equal to or more than a predetermined value.

By these controls, the developing device 10 always contains the developing toner having a constant developing toner concentration, and a stable developing process is guaranteed. Also, the magnetic permeability detector detects that the developing toner concentration is below a certain value,
If this exceeds a predetermined number of times or time, it is determined that there is no toner in the toner storage container 20, and the operator is notified to an operation unit or a display unit provided in a main body (not shown) of a copying machine, a printer, or the like. Give such a warning. Thus, toner can be supplied to the toner storage container 20 at an appropriate time.

Instead of the magnetic permeability detector, it is also possible to detect the density of a toner image formed on a conventionally known photosensitive drum and perform similar toner supply control. Since the toner container 20 is flexible, the volume in the bag is reduced as the toner suction proceeds, but the toner clogging due to local deformation at the time of volume reduction of the toner container 20 due to the cylindrical member 22. Is suppressed, and the stored toner can be discharged without remaining in the bag. In addition, the bottom of the bag-shaped toner storage container 20 has an inverted conical shape, and even if the amount of stored toner is small, the toner naturally falls due to the weight of the toner and is transferred to the suction port of the toner discharge path 22a. Thus, stable toner transfer can be achieved regardless of the amount of stored toner.

The driving and control of the toner replenishing device are as follows.
A drive motor and an air pump are driven and controlled by a power outlet (not shown), a power supply, a switch (not shown), and a control circuit. These may use a conventionally well-known technique.

Further, in order to ensure the reliability of toner transfer at the time of toner replenishment, it is important to drive the pump and supply air to the pump at an appropriate timing. It is important to supply more air. This prevents toner from remaining in the transfer member (such as a tube), and ensures stable toner replenishment.

The supply of air into the toner container may be the same as the supply timing to the pump, but may be synchronized with the toner supply signal or may be intermittent. Since the toner is transported through the toner transport member (pipe, tube) in a state of a mixture with air, little mechanical stress is applied to the toner. Furthermore, there is no drive load on the transfer member. As a result, the toner characteristics are maintained and the toner transfer is ensured, and the reliability and durability of the toner replenishing device are sufficiently ensured. Further, the configuration of the toner replenishing device is simplified, so that power consumption and cost can be reduced by lowering the driving load.

The toner replenishing device need only connect a flexible toner transfer pipe to the developing device 10 of the image forming apparatus, and there is no scattering of toner. Also, since there is no restriction on the installation position and location of the toner supply device with respect to the developing device,
The toner replenishing device can be provided at a place where the user can easily operate the toner storage (supply) container when replacing the toner replenishing container.

Since the toner container 20 is flexible, the container is not bulky, has good handling properties during transportation and storage, and does not take up a storage space, as compared with conventional hard bottles such as cartridges and bottles. Further, the cylindrical member 22 has an advantage that toner aggregation or breakage due to deformation of the bag-shaped bag-shaped toner storage container 20 can be prevented.
Further, the used toner storage means is taken from the user to the manufacturer, and is recycled, reused, or incinerated.However, since the toner storage container is a flexible bag, it can be folded, and can be transported or used. The advantage of good handling at the time of storage and no space required at the time of transportation and storage is further increased, and the cost of collection and distribution from the user to the manufacturer can be significantly reduced.

Further, according to the developing device 10, since the toner replenishing device is not provided, the structure of the developing device is not only very simple, but also the driving of the developing device is performed by driving the developing sleeve and the toner supply screw. Therefore, the development device can be reduced in size, simplified, reduced in cost, increased in reliability, saved in power, and simplified in maintenance. Needless to say, the above-described effects can be obtained as a whole of the image forming apparatus.

It is obvious that the toner storing means only needs to connect the tube and the drive / control wire bundle to the machine main body, and can be a separate unit independent of the machine main body. It is. In this case, there is an advantage that the size restriction on the machine main body is reduced and a large amount of toner can be stored, so that the replacement interval of the toner storing unit can be further lengthened. .

The present invention can also be applied to an apparatus using a one-component developing toner other than the two-component developing toner as in the above embodiment.

【The invention's effect】

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the toner stored in the toner storage container can be reliably transported out of the toner storage container without giving any stress, and the amount of toner remaining in the toner storage container Can be almost eliminated. According to the configuration of (3), it is possible to reliably carry out the toner from the toner storage container without giving stress to the toner stored in the toner storage container. According to the configuration of (4), the toner stored in the toner storage container can be reliably carried out of the container without applying stress, and can be moved even at a location away from the container.

According to the fifth to seventh aspects, even a toner having poor fluidity can be discharged from the container and transported in a desired amount without fail. According to the eighth and ninth aspects, the toner can be transferred without changing the quality and characteristics.

According to the tenth aspect, even if the toner storage container is installed at a position distant from the developing device, the toner can be reliably transferred without changing the quality and characteristics of the toner. According to the configuration of the eleventh and twelfth aspects, it is possible to carry out toner discharge and air inflow from the toner storage container to one toner discharge nozzle.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a toner receiving unit of the developing device.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged sectional view showing a state where a lid member of the toner container according to the present invention is opened, and FIG. 3B is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged sectional view showing a state where a lid member of the toner container according to the present invention is closed, and FIG. 4B is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 5 is a central sectional view of the toner transfer means of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cap and a lid member.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory sectional view showing a state in which a base member of the present invention is removed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor drum 10 Developing device 11 Developing sleeve 20 Toner storage container 21 Support member 22 Cylindrical member 22a Toner carrying-out path 22b Air inflow path 40 Powder pump means 41 Powder pump

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A toner transfer method for transferring toner stored in a toner storage container to a predetermined portion, wherein air flows into the toner storage container to fluidize the toner, and the fluidized toner is removed from the toner storage container. A toner transfer method, wherein the toner is transferred and transferred to the predetermined portion. 2. The toner transfer method according to claim 1, wherein when the fluidized toner is carried out of the toner storage container, a suction force is applied to the fluidized toner. 3. A toner container containing a toner,
A toner transfer device comprising: means for flowing air into the toner storage container; and toner discharging means for discharging the fluidized toner from the toner storage container. 4. A toner storage container storing a toner,
Means for introducing air into the toner container, toner discharging means for discharging the fluidized toner from the toner container, and toner moving means for moving the discharged toner to a predetermined portion. Transfer device. 5. The toner transfer device according to claim 3, wherein the toner discharge unit includes a suction unit that sucks the toner. 6. The toner transfer device according to claim 4, wherein said moving means includes suction means for sucking toner. 7. The toner transfer device according to claim 5, wherein the suction means of the toner discharge means is a suction-type single-axis eccentric powder pump, and the powder pump is a suction means of the toner movement means. A toner transfer device, which also serves as a unit. 8. The toner transfer device according to claim 4, wherein the toner transfer unit includes:
A toner transfer device comprising air flow means for flowing in a toner movement direction. 9. The toner transfer device according to claim 7, wherein said air flow means flows air immediately after an outlet of a powder pump. 10. A toner container in which toner is stored, means for flowing air into the toner container, toner discharging means for discharging fluidized toner from the toner container, and An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner moving unit that moves to a developing device. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a toner discharge nozzle for flowing air into the toner storage container and discharging toner from the toner storage container. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the toner discharge nozzle is formed of a cylindrical body having substantially two concentric diameters and two kinds of diameters, wherein the inside is a toner discharge path and the outside is an air inflow path. An image forming apparatus comprising: