CN100520627C - Transferring method of powder toner for electrophotograph and transferring apparatus thereof, and filling method of powder toner and the filling apparatus thereof - Google Patents

Transferring method of powder toner for electrophotograph and transferring apparatus thereof, and filling method of powder toner and the filling apparatus thereof Download PDF

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CN100520627C
CN100520627C CNB2006800023543A CN200680002354A CN100520627C CN 100520627 C CN100520627 C CN 100520627C CN B2006800023543 A CNB2006800023543 A CN B2006800023543A CN 200680002354 A CN200680002354 A CN 200680002354A CN 100520627 C CN100520627 C CN 100520627C
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toner
powder
powder toner
storeroom
pipe
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CN101103316A (en
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牧野邦夫
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Ricoh Co Ltd
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Ricoh Co Ltd
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Abstract

The present invention aims at providing a powder toner transferring method which fluidizes a powder toner with a gas supplied from an air supply means, sucks the fluidized powder toner with a suction means and transfers the powder toner by discharging the powder toner in a toner storage container, where the suction of the powder toner by means of the suction means is performed with a reciprocating-motion pump. The present invention also aims at providing a powder toner filling method that comprises the powder toner transferring process.

Description

Powder toner transmission method and transmitting device, fill method and filling device
Invention field
The present invention relates to a kind of transmission method and transmitting device, powder toner fill method and filling device thereof that is used for the powder toner of electrofax, wherein, powder toner passes through gas and fluidization, to be used for transmission.
Background technology
Adopt the spiral filling device that utilizes mechanical rotation traditionally, be used for the powder toner of electrofax with filling.
External additive adheres to the toner surface that is used for electrofax usually, so that flowability is higher.Traditional screw has many situations to make the external additive that adheres on the toner surface drop, thus the quality problems of causing.Compare with conventional toner, owing to use the toner of small particle diameters recently, so that obtain high-quality image, this problem becomes more serious.
About toner materials, will comprise on the external additive of silica and titanium and the surface that antisatic additive sticks to toner-particle, thereby keep the flowability and the static characteristic of toner.The strong stress that is applied on the toner peels off adjuvant, and this just causes adverse effect to static characteristic during imaging process.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No (JP-A) 2002-249101 has disclosed the powder filling apparatus of spiral pattern, and it is applicable to the large-scale production with several projects.As mentioned above, the problem of this powder filling apparatus is this device to the toner pressurization, and external additive drops from the surface of toner-particle.And this device size is bigger, requires broad infield and the industrial power supply of 200V.
Jap.P. (JP-B) proposes a kind of powder filling apparatus No. 3549053, and it makes the powder fluidization by gas jet.In this motion, powder is transferred to powder container and is full of, simultaneously, be used for transmitting and discharge the passing through gas of powder storage chamber and the tip of the delivery nozzle of fluidised powder is surrounded by the powder in the powder storage chamber.Compare with the device of spiral pattern, this filling device has applied less stress to toner.Yet container must pressurization and sealing because of the characteristic of device, unless this is because the pressure of toner compartment interior is 6kPa or higher, otherwise power can not transmit, and this just causes the time lag in about 5 seconds.In addition, also exist a problem to be because storeroom is sealed, toner can not be with going up additional electric charge.And, the problem that also exists the dust of toner to be easy to spread.
JP-A-H04-226672 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No (JP-B) H06-14960) has narrated the transmission of carrying out by means of bellows pump (that is collapsible pump).Yet can fluid transfer by means of the transmission method of this patent documentation, when the transmission powder toner, powder toner sandwiches in the bellows; Therefore, it just can not be transmitted.Although weir in bellows or the stream and choker do not influence liquid transfer usually, problem is that because weir and the choker place of powder toner in bellows or stream gathers, powder toner is difficult to transmission.
JP-A-2005-67651 proposes to make the fluidised transmission method of powder toner by supply gas.Yet the powder transfer efficiency of this motion is not high, can not obtain enough accuracies on transmission quantity.
In JP-A-2002-302169, transmit toner by means of so-called single-screw (single screw) pump, still, this can not solve external stress and be applied to problem on the toner.
About charging efficiency, fill accuracy at height and require long filling time and short filling time to reduce on the filling accuracy to have repugnance.Especially, when loading was lower than the amount of selling of demonstration, low to fill accuracy be defective to client not only, and bring credit problems to the company that sale is less than the product of mark amount.On the other hand, be useful greater than the toner of ormal weight to client, still, the exceeding the quata and can produce pressure of accumulation to the profit of company.
Therefore, always require high filling accuracy and short filling time as charging efficiency.As the concrete grammar that addresses this problem, JP-A-2005-67652 proposes a kind of pass through to outgas (that is, removing air from the toner of filling) and realizes rapid method of filling.Yet the problem of this motion is that weight can not accurately be measured, and this is because carry out to fill at the same time and during the degassing, toner is pumped in around the deaerating mechanism.
And JP-A-2005-75372 proposes a kind ofly toner to be filled into method in the container of finite volume with high density in short cycle.At this, the toner container top has funnel, and toner container is connected with funnel.The toner of scheduled volume overflows the container of connection, when finishing filling funnel is unloaded.Yet, utilizing the method for this motion, its cost makes the balance stabilization of weighing toner for a long time, this is high because the funnel volume is big.And also having a problem is to fill when unloading funnel finishing, and the toner that adheres to funnel inside flows out this just made dirty toner container and peripherals.
And, propose a kind of toner that increases and fill accuracy and further reduce the method for filling time, wherein, porous is made with three layers of pipe in the lower end of toner vent pipe, for example, described in JP-A-2005-41501; Vent pipe is by the rear portion degassing of porous part; Toner is sucked into the surface of porous part, thereby forms " embolism (plug) ", with the toner that promptly delays to fall.Yet this method of proposition requires to form firm " embolism ", and this is because transmission need stop under the situation of the toner transmission quantity in not sacrificing the toner vent pipe fast.And, under the situation of the automatic filling machine of carrying out padding continuously, must before beginning to fill next toner container, remove by these " embolisms ".Therefore, supply with the air pulsing of about 3MPa from the rear portion of porous part, to be used for cleaning.For this reason, " embolism " is not blown into toner container or funnel the inside, and still, problem is that a part of toner that blows off is gone to the container outside, has become dust source.
Summary of the invention
The present invention aims to provide: be used for the transmission method of powder toner of electrofax and the transmitting device of powder toner, wherein, transmission method and transmitting device can not have under the situation of prestress the transmission toner and not have to pressurize or situation in minimum supercharging under transmit, can not result in blockage, be that portable transmitting device is can promptly use and demonstrate high performance; And the filling device of the fill method of powder toner and this method of use.
The present invention also aims to provide a kind of fill method of powder toner and the filling device of powder toner, and wherein, this fill method and filling device can be at flexible container middle-high density powder filler toners.
The device that addresses the above problem is as follows:
＜1〉a kind of powder toner transmission method, its utilize the air of supplying with from the gas feed unit make powder toner fluidization the powder toner storeroom, utilize pump unit to aspirate fluidised toner and transmit powder toner by toner is discharged in the powder toner filling containers
Wherein, above-mentioned pump unit utilizes the to-and-fro movement pump to come the suction powder toner.
＜2〉according to＜1〉the powder toner transmission method, wherein, supply to powder toner salable and pressurization or non-pressurized powder toner storeroom by the gas feed unit and be conditioned and introduce powder toner fluidization unit in the powder toner storeroom, therefore, powder toner in this powder toner storeroom by fluidization; Suction by pump unit enters the mouth suction powder toner storeroom, and the powder toner of conveyance fluidization; And after becoming whole or promote pulsating flow by the pulsating flow buffer cell that places the pump unit downstream, toner is discharged in the toner filling containers for advection.
＜3〉according to＜1〉to＜2 one of the powder toner transmission method, wherein, the to-and-fro movement pump is a bellows pump.
＜4〉according to＜1〉to＜3 in each described powder toner transmission method, wherein, the to-and-fro movement delivery side of pump places under the suction inlet of pump.
＜5〉according to＜4〉described powder toner transmission method, wherein, the internal diameter that connects the valve of to-and-fro movement delivery side of pump is equal to or greater than the internal diameter of the toner transfer tube that is connected to pump.
＜6〉according to＜1〉to＜5 in each described powder toner transmission method, wherein, pump unit not have suction powder toner under the situation of pressurizeing.
＜7〉according to＜1〉to＜5 in each described powder toner transmission method, wherein, the powder toner storeroom is 4kPa or lower pressure.
＜8〉according to＜1〉to＜7 in each described powder toner transmission method, wherein, with interrupted and continuously in any state suction powder toner.
＜9〉according to＜8〉the powder toner transmission method, wherein, regulate the transmission quantity of toner by one of them that control in interrupted and the continuous state.
＜10〉according to＜4〉to＜9 in each described powder toner transmission method, wherein, being connected between to-and-fro movement delivery side of pump and toner transfer tube is level and smooth.
＜11〉according to＜4〉to＜10 in each described powder toner transmission method, wherein, the pulsating flow impact damper is installed near the to-and-fro movement delivery side of pump.
＜12〉according to＜1〉to＜11 in each described powder toner transmission method, wherein, the gas feed unit comprises the air generating unit, the power supply of 24V to 220V is used for from air generating unit air supply.
＜13〉according to＜12〉the powder toner transmission method, wherein, the air generating unit is a compressor.
＜14〉according to＜1〉to＜12 in each described powder toner transmission method, wherein, gas feed unit and pump unit use one of solar electrical energy generation and wind-power electricity generation.
＜15〉according to＜1〉to＜14 in each described powder toner transmission method, wherein, the gas feed unit comprises high-pressure cylinder.
＜16〉a kind of powder toner transmitting device comprises: sealable, pressurization or non-pressurized powder toner storeroom,
The gas feed unit, it supplies with adjustments of gas to the powder toner storeroom,
Powder toner fluidization unit, it places the powder toner storeroom, and makes powder toner fluidization in the powder toner storeroom by emitting distributing gas,
Interrupted pump unit, it makes the fluidised powder toner in the powder toner storeroom discharge intermittently by suction powder toner storeroom intermittently, and
The pulsating flow buffer cell, it places the downstream of interrupted pump unit.
＜17〉according to＜16〉the powder toner transmitting device, wherein, the toner groove of the toner input media of powder toner storeroom is dismountable; The gentle object supply unit in powder toner fluidization unit in the powder toner storeroom is connected by dismountable gas supply pipe line; The powder toner storeroom is connected with dismountable aspiration line with interrupted pump unit; And in the downstream of pulsating flow buffer cell, the toner outlet places the end of toner transfer tube.
＜18〉according to＜16〉to＜17 one of the powder toner transmitting device, wherein, air supply pipe, suction tube, place pressure buffer pipe on the toner vent pipe and at least two of toner input media removably to be integrated in the toner powder storeroom.
＜19〉according to＜16〉to＜17 one of the powder toner transmitting device, wherein, air supply pipe, pressure buffer pipe and suction tube are removably mounted on the fixed part, and fixed part is installed on other positions except that lid of powder toner storeroom.
＜20〉according to＜16〉to＜19 in each described powder toner transmitting device, wherein, gas feed unit, interrupted pump unit and pulsating flow buffer cell are removably mounted in the housing; This housing is of portable form, and comprises handle, and this housing comprises one of the power supply connecting device of the power supply that is connected to 24V to 220V and switchgear in its surface, and this power supply is used for gas feed unit and powder pump unit.
＜21〉according to＜20〉the powder toner transmitting device, wherein, described housing also comprises the pulsating flow buffer cell spatial accommodation that is used to hold the pulsating flow buffer cell, tubular element spatial accommodation and power sign indicating number (power code) spatial accommodation that is used to hold a branch of various tubular elements.
＜22〉according to＜20〉to＜21 in each described powder toner transmitting device, wherein, at least a portion housing is transparent, the feasible part that can observe visually compartment interior, at least a portion powder toner storeroom is transparent, the feasible existence that can be observed the powder toner of compartment interior, the transparent part of the transparent part of housing and powder toner storeroom is overlapped at least.
＜23〉according to＜20〉to＜22 in each described powder toner transmitting device, wherein, but housing comprises the lid of switch, when the powder toner transmitting device was on-stream, described lid was opened.
＜24〉according to＜16〉to＜23 in each described powder toner transmitting device, wherein, powder toner comprises external additive, the volume averaging particle diameter of toner is 2.5 μ m to 15 μ m, the absolute specific gravity of toner is 1.02 to 1.45, and the volume density of toner is 0.20g/cm 3To 0.90g/cm 3
＜25〉according to＜16〉to＜24 in each described powder toner transmitting device, wherein, powder toner has increased by 1.2 to 15 times by means of the volume of gas in the powder toner storeroom.
＜26〉according to＜16〉to＜25 in each described powder toner transmitting device, wherein, the pulsating flow buffer cell comprises induction pipe, toner vent pipe and the pressure buffer pipe of fluidization toner, wherein, this toner vent pipe intersects with right angle and induction pipe and opens under this induction pipe, and described pressure buffer pipe is positioned on the described toner vent pipe; The upper end of pressure buffer pipe is made up of flexible material, does not have volume when shutting down; According to the order of successively decreasing of ips, buffer cell is made up of pressure buffer pipe, fluidization toner induction pipe and toner vent pipe.
＜27〉according to＜18〉to＜26 in each described powder toner transmitting device, wherein, the upper end of pressure buffer pipe extends to the inside of powder toner storeroom, be connected on the fixed part that places powder toner storeroom top, and the superpressure that can be between the toner transmission period produces in storeroom discharges.
＜28〉a kind of powder toner filling device, it comprises according to＜16〉to＜27 in each described powder toner transmitting device.
＜29〉according to＜28〉the powder toner filling device, wherein, the powder toner filling device comprises multiple toner transmission unit.
＜30〉according to＜28〉to＜29 the powder toner filling device, wherein, the powder toner filling device with the revolution of motor be used for the balance interlocking of the toner that weighing discharges, described motor control pump.
＜31〉according to claim＜28〉to＜30 in each described powder toner filling device, it comprises the toner vent pipe that is installed in outside the toner filling containers and does not directly contact with container; And deaeration pipe, it is dismountable hollow tube, and is sealed at both ends in the toner filling containers, and its lower end is made up of porosint, and the other end is connected to vacuum system, and it can be removed the air of toner filling containers inside by porous part.
Wherein, discharge fluidised toner by the driving of bellows pump; Simultaneously, when discharging scheduled volume or afterwards, remove air in the toner filling containers by snorkel, the toner of predetermined quality is filled in the toner filling containers to constant volume.
＜32〉according to claim＜28〉to＜31 in each described powder toner filling device, wherein, funnel places the top of powder toner filling containers, its opening is concentric with the opening of powder toner filling containers; The powder toner filling device comprises and is installed in funnel inner and toner vent pipe and deaeration pipe that directly do not contact with funnel, this deaeration pipe is dismountable hollow tube between funnel and toner filling containers, sealed at both ends, and the lower end is made up of porosint, the other end is connected to vacuum system, and it can be removed the air of toner filling containers inside by porous part; The toner that is not filled in the toner filling containers overflows in funnel, and by after the toner of discharging scheduled volume deaeration pipe being inserted, toner is filled in the powder toner filling containers.
＜33〉according to claim＜28〉to＜32 in each described powder toner filling device, wherein, the toner vent pipe inserts near the bottom of powder toner filling containers but contact with it; The toner of predetermined quality is once or more than once discharging, and, in the centre with being immersed in the operation that outgases of toner vent pipe in the toner; After reaching certain mass, will draw on the toner vent pipe, near the inlet of toner filling containers; Discharge continuously, reach setting value up to the weight indicated value, the toner vent pipe does not contact with the powder toner box with toner powder simultaneously.
＜34〉according to claim＜28〉to＜33 in each described powder toner filling device, wherein, degas module is concentric with the toner vent pipe, places outside the toner vent pipe; Use comprises the applying nozzle of degas module, the toner vent pipe of this degas module has the lower end that is formed by porosint, this toner applying nozzle inserts near the bottom of powder toner filling containers, but not contact with it, and the toner of discharge predetermined quality; When discharging or after alternately discharging and outgasing, will draw on the applying nozzle, near the inlet of toner filling containers, be used for additional the discharge; Finish when filling indicating, to the degas module decompression, thereby the powder toner in the toner vent pipe is drawn into the inwall of degas module, and forms embolism, stop filling.
＜35〉according to claim＜34〉the powder toner filling device, wherein, control anti-air pressure and air mass flow independently, form the obstruction of unit to be used to prevent degas module and embolism.
＜36〉according to claim＜28〉to＜35 in each described powder toner filling device, wherein, pressure transducer vertically is installed in the discharge side of the bellows pump that is used to aspirate and discharge fluidised toner, perhaps when a toner transport sector comprises multiple bellows, be installed in the assembled part of bellows vent pipe; But continuous coverage toner discharge pressure; When pressure is higher than certain level, interrupt filling, and give a warning or alarm.
＜37〉a kind of powder toner fill method, it comprises according to claim＜1〉to＜15 in each described powder toner transmission method.
＜38〉according to claim＜37〉the powder toner fill method, wherein, this method is utilized the powder toner filling device, it comprises the toner vent pipe that is installed in outside the toner filling containers and does not directly contact with filling containers; And deaeration pipe, this deaeration pipe is dismountable hollow tube, and it is sealed at both ends that the lower end is made up of porosint in the toner filling containers, and the other end is connected to vacuum system, and it can be removed the air of toner filling containers inside by porous part,
Wherein, discharge fluidised toner by the driving of bellows pump; In discharging simultaneously, perhaps after discharging scheduled volume, with the degassing of toner filling containers, the toner of predetermined quality is filled in the toner filling containers to constant volume by snorkel.
＜39〉according to claim＜37〉to＜38 one of the powder toner fill method, wherein, this method utilization comprises the powder toner filling device of funnel and powder toner filling containers, wherein, funnel places the top of powder toner filling containers, and the opening of this funnel is concentric with the opening of powder toner filling containers; The powder toner fill method comprises that the toner vent pipe is installed in the inner and not directly contact with it of funnel, this deaeration pipe is between funnel and toner filling containers, it is dismountable hollow tube, sealed at both ends, and its lower end is made up of porosint, the other end is connected to vacuum system, and it can be removed the air of toner filling containers inside by porous part; The toner that can not be filled in the powder toner filling containers overflows in funnel, by insert deaeration pipe after the toner of discharging scheduled volume, toner is filled in the powder toner filling containers.
＜40〉according to claim＜37〉to＜39 in each described powder toner fill method, wherein, this method utilization comprises the powder toner filling device of toner vent pipe and powder toner filling containers, wherein, the toner vent pipe is inserted near the bottom of powder toner filling containers but contact with it; The toner one or many of predetermined quality is discharged, and is middle with being immersed in the operation that outgases of toner vent pipe in the toner; After reaching certain mass, on draw the toner vent pipe, make it the inlet near the toner filling containers; Discharge continuously, reach setting value up to the value of weight indicator, the toner vent pipe does not contact with the powder toner box with toner powder simultaneously.
＜41〉according to claim＜37〉to＜40 in each described powder toner fill method, wherein, degas module is concentric with the toner vent pipe, and places outside this toner vent pipe; Use comprises the applying nozzle of degas module, and the lower end of the toner vent pipe of this degas module is formed by porosint, and the toner applying nozzle inserts near the bottom of powder toner filling containers but contact with it, discharges the toner of predetermined quality; When discharging or alternately discharge and the degassing after, on draw applying nozzle, make it inlet, with the discharging that is used to add near the toner filling containers; Finish when filling in indication,, thereby the powder toner in the toner vent pipe is drawn on the inwall of degas module and forms embolism, fill and stop the degas module decompression.
＜42〉according to claim＜41〉the powder toner fill method, wherein, control anti-air pressure and air mass flow independently, form the obstruction of unit to be used to prevent degas module and embolism.
＜43〉according to claim＜37〉to＜42 in each described powder toner fill method, wherein, pressure transducer vertically is installed in the discharge side of the bellows pump that is used to aspirate and discharge the fluidization toner, perhaps when a toner transport sector comprises multiple bellows, be installed in the assembled part of bellows vent pipe; But continuous coverage toner discharge pressure; When pressure is higher than certain level, interrupt filling, and give a warning or alarm.
The transmission method of powder toner of the present invention and transmitting device have been brought into play useful effect and have been, because powder toner is not subjected to stress, have kept toner qualities.
Device size and weight reduce and are of portable form, and this is owing to prevented the toner diffusion, and needn't pressurize; And this device can be used for the power supply of various types.Therefore, can in office, promptly use.
Traditional pneumatic transfer method (its prerequisite be pressurization) requires the gas of about 15L/min to supply with, thereby avoids toner because of such as stirring when use spiral conveyer and the mechanical pump delivery method and the mechanical stress mis-behave the pressurization.Yet transmission method of the present invention does not need pressurization, and the amount of intake-gas approximately is 1/5th of pressurization.Thereby transmission method of the present invention has following usefulness: device size and weight reduce, and portable; Start the rise time weak point that toner is discharged from device; Short degassing cycle and stable period (settling period); Avoided the undesired stirring of toner; Prevent deterioration; Short toner transmission time and toner filling time; Required space and electric power reduce; Almost not idle running or back operation; Cost is low.
Volume density according to fluidization toner of the present invention approximately is 0.33g/cc, this means the great reduction on the volume requirements.Difference mainly is the volume of gas supplied, promptly aspirates volume.And because not pressurization during the transmission, the stress on the powder toner reduces.In addition, compare with the transmission technology of only supplying with gas, fluidized bed (fluidized bed) makes transmission performance increase three to four-fold.
And, toner transmission in the powder toner filling device of the present invention is usually by motor driven, and about loading, by changing moment of torsion (magnitude of current of supply), particularly revolution (for example, pulse and space-number in frequency in the inverter control and the pulse control) obtains accurate filling, wherein, loading is monitored, with the information feedback that obtains in the motor control circuit and the control part of power circuit.In addition, applying nozzle inserts near the bottom of container, and degasifying effect can combine with the control of toner transmission speed.This just allows little volume receptacle is filled.In addition, utilize, even can in short cycle, finish, and do not have the toner diffusion the filling of flexible container in the inner structure of adding formation " embolism " of toner transfer tube.
Description of drawings
Fig. 1 is the exemplary diagram of schematically illustrated toner transmitting device of the present invention;
Fig. 2 illustrates the photo of example of the outward appearance of portable toner filling device of the present invention in the left side, the right side illustrates the fluid tank photo;
Fig. 3 illustrates the photo of the interior views of the toner filling device among Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is another exemplary diagram of schematically illustrated toner transmitting device of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a chart of having narrated loading control briefly;
Fig. 6 is the chart that loading control result is shown;
Fig. 7 illustrates the variation with the loading of traditional filling device of pressurized with fluid;
Fig. 8 is the schematic diagram that has the high density fill method of flexible container according to of the present invention.
Embodiment
(powder toner transmission method and powder toner transmitting device)
Powder toner transmission method of the present invention makes the powder toner fluidization by means of the gas that supplies to the powder toner storeroom from the gas feed unit, aspirate fluidised powder toner and transmit powder toner by means of pump unit by toner is discharged in the toner storage container
Wherein, order about pump unit suction powder toner with the to-and-fro movement pump.
As follows aspect preferred in this example: as to supply to gas sealable, pressurization or non-pressurized powder toner storeroom by the gas feed unit and be conditioned and introduce powder toner fluidization unit in the powder toner storeroom, therefore make powder toner in powder toner storeroom inner fluidization; Suction by pump unit enters the mouth suction powder toner storeroom, therefore transmits the fluidization powder toner; And for advection by the pulsating flow buffer cell that places the pump unit downstream smooth or promote (promote) pulsating flow after, toner is discharged to toner container.
Powder toner transmitting device of the present invention comprises: sealable toner storeroom, and it is pressurization or non-pressurized,
The gas feed unit, adjustments of gas being supplied to the powder toner storeroom,
Powder toner fluidization unit, it places the powder toner storeroom, and makes powder toner fluidization in this powder toner storeroom by emit distribution of gas in the powder toner storeroom,
Interrupted pump unit, it is suction powder toner storeroom and discharge fluidised powder toner in the powder toner storeroom intermittently intermittently, and
The pulsating flow buffer cell, it places the downstream of interrupted pump unit;
The powder toner transmitting device selectively comprises other devices.
Pump unit comes the suction powder toner by means of the to-and-fro movement pump." to-and-fro movement pump " do not mean that reciprocating pump, it comprises a reciprocating member such as bar in inside, its by plunger or piston to-and-fro movement or by be penetrated into powder mutually in and it stirred transmit powder, wherein, described plunger or piston carry out the machinery pressurization by to-and-fro movement, and promote powder toner.Thus, pump is not to refer to " reciprocating pump ", but is expressed as " to-and-fro movement pump " especially.Among this " to-and-fro movement pump ", bellows pump (collapsible pump) is most preferred, and this is because bellows pump (its two ends are unfixing) can be handled low velocity discharge.In other words, bellows pump is discharged toner to move at a slow speed, and can be to the toner stress application, and its excellence aspect energy efficiency.
Be used for the to-and-fro movement pump of suction powder toner by use, be easy to carry out interrupted suction, and, adopt this interrupted suction that powder can not take place and block.And about the pump orifice and the relation of the position between the escape hole of fluidization toner, suction tube places higher position, and toner is discharged these two interdependence aspect the diffusion that prevents powder toner by the pulsating flow buffer cell.
At this, interrupted adjusting according to the present invention for example be meant by control stroke amount, frequency and time regulate transmission quantity, transmission cycle and transmission time.This just makes transmission steadily, and prevents that transmission from interrupting and fluctuation, has perhaps reduced the dependence to the pulsating flow buffer cell at least.
And powder toner transmitting device of the present invention does not require pressurization between the transmission period of powder toner.Therefore, can supply with toner during operation, and thereby can operate continuously.For the ease of or promote powder to flow out from the powder toner storeroom by suction, recommend preferably to supply with (that is pressurization) to the inner mutually assist gas that adopts of the powder of powder toner storeroom.As a specific example, 4kPa or lower pressurization have improved the outflow of toner.
Patent documentation such as JP-A-H04-226672 (JP-B-H06-14960) and JP-A-2000-329068 have disclosed bellows pump (collapsible pump).Narration in these open source literatures relates to liquid transfer, rather than the powder transmission, yet it is still helpful to understanding the bellows type pump structure.
Particularly, by means of the expansion and the contraction of bellows (bellows barrier film), bellows pump pulsation ground suction transmitting fluid.In other words, admission valve is opened in the expansion of pressurized bellows, and closes outlet valve, under low pressure transmitting fluid is drawn into bellows inside; The pressurized bellows cut out admission valve, and open outlet valve, and therefore it discharge the fluid of transmission by outlet valve.
According to the internal diameter of bellows, for the bellows of minor diameter, the on-off state of this interrupted suction pump is preferably per minute 3 strokes to per minute 300 strokes, and more preferably per minute 40 strokes are to per minute 100 strokes.And, for large diameter bellows, be preferably per minute 6 strokes to per minute 70 strokes, more preferably per minute 40 strokes are to per minute 60 strokes.Can obtain higher suction performance with jumbo bellows; Thus, the stroke of smaller amounts can satisfy, and regulates transmission quantity by control pump stroke and stroke quantity.Yet, be noted that bellows capacity and stroke quantity have retrained and has been used for the necessary surge capability of pulsating flow buffer cell aspect the capacity of determining interrupted suction pump and pulsating flow buffer cell.Aspirate between fluidised powder toner storeroom of toner and the pump being used for.Suction effect according to the present invention is the toner transmission and prevents the toner diffusion.Transmission from the pump to the box is equivalent to discharging, and it is an intermittent operation.Therefore, the fluidization toner moves according to the rotation of the pump on pump and transmission path speed change, and it produces stirring effect and prevent that toner is deposited in the passage toner.When operation was not interrupted, toner did not have velocity contrast in passage.The toner precipitation also is deposited on the there, and this just causes toner to be reunited.This just causes the bad transmission of toner in passage, and therefore produces defect image, promptly so-called black space (black void) when imaging.
Usually, adopting bellows pump during to the upper position pumping liquid from lower position.Since its naturally can be by gravity from upper position to the lower position transmitting fluid, bellows upwards use (orientation usually) usually, therefore, bellows place under admission valve and the outlet valve.When the transmission powder toner,, can improve the reunion of toner in bellows and the obstruction of powder toner by bellows being placed (in opposed orientation) on admission valve and the outlet valve.(be connected to the bellows type delivery side of pump at the toner vent pipe, be also referred to as connector circuit or toner pipe in this manual) among the connection bellows pump and the toner vent pipe of pulsating flow buffer cell when being equal to or greater than the internal diameter of bellows pump, also can improve the obstruction of powder toner.
In addition, admission valve and outlet valve adopt duckbill valve, force folk prescription to mobile, and have reduced the pressure that acts on toner in solid-gas mixed flow, and this solid-gas mixed flow comprises ducted toner and air.
By duckbill valve and bellows pump is combined, the residual toner in the device just is in the export department of duckbill valve and the gap location between the pump, and this just makes that the clean operation of device is extremely easy.
Carrying out carrying out the suction of powder toner intermittently under the situation of intermittent operation by means of bellows pump, and also carrying out discharging intermittently, this just causes the toner diffusion.Therefore, in the present invention, under the situation of using the pump that bellows are only arranged, adopt the pulsating flow buffer cell.The pulsating flow buffer cell has reduced pulsation in the installation of the discharge portion (transport part) of toner, and this has just been avoided the toner diffusion and has reduced the stress that acts on toner.At this, buffer cell is to discharge superpressure and the temporary transient mechanism that keeps powder.
According to the present invention, the powder toner transmitting device can not pressurize greatly; At this, adopt the power source of 24V to 220V.High-pressure cylinder can be used for gas supply part; It also can adopt electric battery and natural energy such as solar electrical energy generation and wind-power electricity generation.
At this, Fig. 1 is the schematic diagram that powder toner transmitting device of the present invention exemplarily is shown.
The powder toner transmitting device is the transmitting device that is divided into powder toner suction section (that is pump unit) roughly and places the powder toner supply unit (that is feed unit) of toner storeroom 1.
The powder toner suction section comprises bellows pump B and the pulsating flow buffer cell (pulsating flow impact damper) 13 as interrupted suction pump.Comprise that the admission valve 10 of bellows pump B and the import department or the suction source portion of toner storeroom 1 are connected with toner suction tube 7 (toner pipe 7).Comprise that the outlet valve 11 of bellows pump B and the export department of pulsating flow impact damper 13 are connected with toner vent pipe 12 (toner pipe 12).This exemplary device has pulsating flow impact damper 13, still, according to the present invention, this be not enforceable (should with reference to smooth transport shown in Figure 6).
And this example has the T-valve 7a that is installed in the toner pipe 7.
Toner vent pipe 14 places the outlet of pulsating flow impact damper 13, and its downstream end has toner filling containers 17, and the toner of transmission is filled in this toner filling containers 17.
Toner filling containers 17 places on the balance 16 that is installed in electromagnetism diaphragm (electromagnetic diaphragm) (not shown).This diaphragm is a kind of converter, and it changes the output potential of second coil according to tensioning degree (level of stretch).To pass to power control circuit from this output signal of sending by signal wire 16b.
The power control circuit 8a of the toner transmitting device that this is exemplary comprises single chip microcomputer, and this single chip microcomputer comprises: CPU; ROM, it also assigns command signal and threshold data thus in the program that the storage of calling ready state is used to operate; And RAM, it is writing the pilot signal information that the ready state storage is also launched from signal wire 16b at once by encoder encodes.On CPU, repeat the comparison of the threshold data that will extract from ROM and the pilot signal information of extracting from RAM,, and deposit operating result in RAM once more calling out ready state up to its difference vanishing.At this moment, will decode, and it be sent in succession (more frequent near end-of-fill the time) controller to power control circuit 8a with the operating result control signal corresponding.Yet control system of the present invention is not limited to above-mentioned, can adopt known so far any control system.
The powder toner supply unit comprises: as the compressor set 6 of feed unit with as the fluidized bed 2 with the fluidised unit of toner, wherein, fluidized bed 2 is included in the powder toner storeroom; Compressor set 6 is connected by gas supply pipe 4 with fluidized bed 2, and flowmeter 5 is installed in the middle part of gas supply pipe 4.
Exemplary device is made up of following: (i) comprise the powder toner storeroom 1 of fluidized bed 2, this fluidized bed 2 is as making the fluidised exemplary unit of powder; (ii) as the compressor set 6 of the gas feed unit of example; (iii) as the bellows pump B of the interrupted suction pump of example; (iv) pulsating flow buffer cell (pulsating flow impact damper) 13; (v) place gas to introduce the fixed cell of the inlet end of unit; (vi) gas is supplied with the regulon (not shown); And (vii) as the aspiration line 14 of the powder toner deliverying unit of example.
Bellows pump B is driven by pump motor 8, and this bellows pump comprises bellows dividing plate 9, admission valve 10 and outlet valve 11.In this example, gas is supplied with regulon and is installed in the compressor 6, perhaps or rather, is installed in the power control circuit 8a of the motor that is used for compressor.
Flowmeter 5 is installed on the compressor set 6.Fluidized bed 2 gentle object supply units in the powder toner storeroom 1 are connected by the dismountable gas supply pipe 4 as supply line, and powder toner storeroom 1 and bellows pump B are connected with detachable toner pipe 7 as aspiration line.In the downstream of bellows pump B, pulsating flow buffer cell 13 is installed on the toner pipe 12 as the toner transfer line.The toner transfer tube extends to the downstream of pulsating flow buffer cell 13, and toner outlet 15 is positioned at its end.In this example, aspiration line 7 extends to powder toner storeroom 1 deep inside, the 10mm to 30mm above fluidized bed via toner suction tube 3.
In this example, fixed cell 1a is different from the cover of powder toner storeroom 1.Gas supply pipe 4, suction tube 7 and snorkel are releasably attached on the fixed cell 1a; At least two in gas supply pipe 4, suction tube 7 and the snorkel preferably are integrated together with detachable state.Gas supply pipe line 4, aspiration line 7 and snorkel can be manufactured from the same material.
The fixed part 1a of this example is the link that is connected to the top board of powder toner storeroom 1.The gas supply pipe line is releasably attached on these parts, and is releasably attached on these parts from the aspiration line as the bellows pump B of interrupted powder toner pump unit (interrupted suction pump).Little funnel as the unit of supplying with powder toner is releasably attached on the cover that is not attached thereto whatever; Therefore, toner can easily be supplied with by this cover.
The use of this toner storeroom is not a major part of the present invention, but a preferred exemplary aspect.For example, when toner supplies to powder toner storeroom 1 in the short time during operation, it can be switched to and supply with another high feedway of performance, perhaps can be used in combination another servicing unit.
Powder toner transmitting device of the present invention can be operated under non-pressurized situation; Therefore, toner is additional no problem during operation, and it also is applicable to other structures.For example, being attached to from the flowmeter 5 as the middle part of the gas supply pipe line of the compressor set 6 of exemplary gases feed unit is not enforceable in the present invention, and wherein, this compressor set 6 comprises flowmeter 5.Can use any device of can adjustments of gas supplying with, in addition, compressor set 6 self is an example of gas feed unit.Therefore, replace compressor, high-pressure cylinder can be used as gas to be taken place or gas supply mechanism.
Further being explained as follows of exemplary device: from the adjustments of gas of compressor 6 and the assist gas of supplying with from compressor 6 toner the powder toner storeroom 1 is carried out fluidization by fluidized bed 2 is collaborative by means of the suction of suction tube 7.In other words, the pressurization that is used for the gas supply among the present invention replenishes the suction by suction tube 7.Aspirate the fluidization toners by means of the flexible of the bellows in the pump unit from admission valve 10 then; This fluidization toner is discharged from the outlet 15 of toner transfer tube 14 through outlet valve 11 and toner transfer line (toner pipe) 12.Pulsating flow impact damper 13 inserts the middle part, to be used to relax the pulsating flow of toner.Because be easy to take place the toner diffusion, impact damper 13 used before discharging.
And the toner transmission channel by after the lengthening bellows pump also can cushion the pulsating flow that comes from bellows pump widely; The present invention not exclusively gets rid of this measure of taking.Yet the precautionary measures that the length that only increases the toner transmission channel solves pulsating flow have increased starting from the powder toner transmitting device to the residence time that toner is discharged, and have also increased the frictional resistance in the toner transmission channel; Therefore, it is not the best approach that addresses this problem.
The volume average particle size of the powder toner that uses among the present invention is preferably 2.5 μ m to 15 μ m, 3.0 μ m to 12.0 μ m more preferably, even be more preferably 5.0 μ m to 9.0 μ m.The absolute specific gravity of toner is preferably 1.02 to 1.45, and more preferably 1.1 to 1.3.The volume density of toner is preferably 0.20g/cm 3To 0.90g/cm 3, 0.35g/cm more preferably 3To 0.85g/cm 3The toner of dipping external additive demonstrates the effect of particular importance.
Air capacity from compressor 6 makes the toner volume in the powder toner storeroom 1 increase by 1.2 to 15 times, more preferably 1.5 to 5 times.Unnecessaryly be higher than above-mentioned amount.The volume density of toner directly is reduced to 0.25g/cm after the transmission of introducing because of gas 3, it is about 0.47g/cm when beginning 3Yet, owing to compare with other patterns of pump, the ability excellence of bellows pump B aspect the transmission powder, therefore, as long as this device running needn't just have been avoided the obstruction of toner in transmission path only with this low-density running.More particularly, toner can be up to about 0.35g/cm 3Volume density transmission.The volume density of fluidization toner of the present invention is about 0.33g/cm 3, and compare with classic method, volume reduces significantly.This mainly is because the difference of gas delivery volume or gas soakage.And because toner is not pressurizeed between transmission period, the stress that acts on the powder toner reduces.In addition, compare with situation about only supplying with gas, the use of fluidized bed makes the transmittability of powder toner increase three to four-fold.
Fig. 2 is the photo that one group of powder toner filling device is shown, and wherein, this powder toner filling device comprises powder toner transmitting device of the present invention, and it is stored in the portable housing.In addition, Fig. 3 is the photo that an example of actual storage condition is shown.Housing is of portable form, and comprises handle, and is included in its lip-deep coupling arrangement, to link to each other with power supply, powder pump unit and the switching device shifter of the 24V to 220V that is used for the gas feed unit.In this example, it is long that housing is of a size of 400mm, and 300mm is wide and 160mm is dark; All devices is removably stored or is installed with the code that is used to be connected power supply (electrical code) such as compressor 6, bellows pump B, pulsating flow buffer cell 13, the tubular part that connects it.As shown in Figure 3, tubular part is fixed, so that they can not tangle mutually.
Portable housing can be opened between the on-stream period of toner filling device, still, owing to be provided with a watch window, even under the situation that housing is closed, can observe visually enclosure interior, shown in Fig. 2 and 3.And the powder toner storeroom in this exemplary device is enough transparent, and to observe visually existing of inner powder toner, still, watch window can be installed on the powder toner storeroom 1.Verified, by antirust reagent or the antirust reagent of silicon that application is fluoridized, can the long term maintenance transparency.
In powder toner transmitting device of the present invention, mainly from preventing to transmit the degradation of toner but not the viewpoint that transport property reduces, the resistance of the inwall of transmission channel is preferably lower.Therefore, preferably, the inwall of transmission channel is smooth, more preferably is, accessory is flat as far as possible.Preferably (for example, the surface of the commercial PET film that gets) smoothness is suitable, and a large amount of inorganic fillers particles is rubbed (kneaded) with this PET film usually with the surface of resin film for the smooth level of accessory.In addition, as mentioned above, when the internal diameter of the valve in bellows pump is equal to or greater than the internal diameter of associated line, can improve the obstruction of powder toner, wherein, associated line is connected pulsating flow buffer cell, toner suction tube and toner vent pipe.By the duckbill valve of the Vemay Europa V.B. manufacturing of Holland as the valve in the powder toner transmitting device, as shown in Figure 1.
Next, the device that improves filling accuracy and efficient is described.
Balance 16 places under the toner discharging port of powder toner transmitting device, as shown in Figure 1, and balance and above-mentioned pump motor 8 interlockings.This invention provides more refined control with regard to making, loading can control to the degree of accuracy of 0.1g, and in the fluidised classic method of powder, according to JP-B-3549053, loading can be controlled in the scope of 0g to 10g.In other words, with traditional comparing, the present invention gives out hundred times accuracy.
Traditional filling device is just controlled amount of powder by sealing and pressurized powder; Therefore, when having big condition changing, be difficult to carry out pressurization.
On the other hand, in the present invention, powder does not need sealing, and gas is supplied with the fluidization that just is used for toner.Therefore, toner powder just is subjected to the mobile control of pump, and this is by being easy to pump and balance interlocking to carry out.More particularly, the rotational speed of stepping or non-stepping control motor.Drive for impulse motor especially, before loading reaches target, close impulse motor.The pulsed quantity of actual loading and distribution converts the difference between target loading and the actual loading to pulse signal, and sends it to impulse motor.By this, can fill and fill at a high speed by compatible high precision.
By the multiple toner injection portion that is made up of the pump motor is installed, can improve charging efficiency.Replacement is discharged by means of pressurization, the toner of fluidization toner and stress relief is intermittently discharged toner, can pass through to open and close the pump motor, is filled into to close continuously from the starting toner and fills.This just allows continuous automatic operation.
In traditional fluidization fill method, a kind of filling is only carried out in a kind of operation.Yet, in the present invention, the multiple toner suction section and the discharge portion of toner is set, to allow padding from a toner storeroom to a plurality of toner containers.
In addition, as shown in Figure 4,, can cushion the pulsation of toner by three bellows pump B are set.Therefore, no longer need pulsating flow impact damper 13 as shown in Figure 1, and can obtain the more filling of high precision.
In Fig. 4, device comprises pump controller 20 and general controller (overall controller) 21.The Reference numeral of miscellaneous part that is equivalent to those parts shown in Figure 1 is identical, and the descriptions thereof are omitted.
It is the size and the flow of the transmitting device of 250g/min that the discharge ability is shown as a specific example.
Transmitting device has compressor, powder pump, pipeline and places the instrument of the aluminium alloy chest that 40cm is long, 30cm is wide and 16cm is dark; By the 100V power drives.After installing about 2 minutes, device begins the toner discharging.
Increase discharge capacity by adding bellows and enlarged diameter.
In the example of classic method, because device is pressurizeed, the box number of filling toner from a toner storeroom is restricted.
On the other hand, in the present invention,, can add powder during operation because device is not pressurizeed.The present invention also can be applicable to add toner.And useful is because the toner efflux velocity can be subjected to the rotational speed control of pump, can reduce the toner diffusion.
(powder toner filling device and powder toner fill method)
Powder toner filling device of the present invention comprises powder toner transmitting device of the present invention, and when needed, also selectively comprises other unit.
In powder toner fill method of the present invention, will be discharged in the toner Cartridge by driving the fluidised toner of bellows pump; Simultaneously, when discharging or after discharge is a certain amount of, the air in the toner is removed, therefore, the toner of constant-quality can be filled in the toner Cartridge to constant volume by deaeration pipe.
In powder toner fill method of the present invention, the toner of failing to be filled in the powder toner box spills in the funnel.After the toner discharging of constant-quality,, thereby toner is stored in the powder toner box by the insertion deaeration pipe.
In the powder toner fill method, the toner vent pipe is inserted near the bottom of powder toner box but not contact with it, under the toner vent pipe is immersed in situation in the toner, the toner one or many of predetermined quality is discharged, operation therebetween outgases.After reaching certain mass, on draw the toner vent pipe, make it the inlet near toner Cartridge.Discharging is carried out continuously, reaches setting value up to the value of mass indicator, and simultaneously, the toner vent pipe does not contact with the powder toner box with toner powder.
In the powder toner fill method, degas module is concentric with the toner vent pipe, and places the outside of this toner vent pipe; Use the applying nozzle of forming degas module, the lower end of the toner vent pipe of this degas module is formed by porosint, the toner applying nozzle is inserted near the bottom of powder tinting agent container but not contact with it, and discharge the toner of predetermined quality; After when discharging or the hocketing discharging and the degassing, on draw applying nozzle, and make it inlet, to be used for additional discharging near toner container; In case send the signal of finishing filling, with the degas module decompression, thereby the powder toner in the toner vent pipe is drawn into the inwall of degas module, and forms embolism, fill termination.
In the powder toner fill method, control anti-air pressure (reverse air pressure) and air mass flow individually, to be used to preventing that degas module and embolism from forming the obstruction of unit.
In the powder toner fill method, pressure transducer vertically is installed in the discharge side of the bellows pump that is used to aspirate and discharge the fluidization toner, perhaps when a plurality of bellows are included in the toner transport sector, is installed in bellows discharge line assembled portion; Measure the toner discharge pressure serially; When pressure is higher than certain level, interrupt filling, and give a warning or alarm.
At this, explain the high density fill method of in patent documentation such as JP-A-2004-78252, describing that is used for flexible container.
Fig. 8 is the schematic chart that an example of the high-density filling device that is used for flexible toner Cartridge is shown.High-density filling device is made up of following four unit: (1) transmission unit, and it makes toner fluidization and it is transferred to applying nozzle; (2) air instrument unit, the deaerating mechanism in its control applying nozzle and the pressure of closing organ; (3) filling and degassing nozzle unit; (4) Comprehensive Control unit.
(1) transmission unit comprises: fluidized bed 113; Filling device 110, the toner of its transmitting fluidization; And line pressure sensor 115, it measures the transmission pressure of fluidization toner.These all are connected with pipeline or pipe.
(2) filling in the air instrument unit and degassing nozzle 107 form the multichannel pipe that comprises concentric interior pipe, middle pipe and outer tube (not shown).Pipe was inner in fluidised toner flowed into.As being used to outgas and closing the air duct of toner, the interior lower end of the outside lower end of the outer tube that is used to outgas and the interior pipe that is used to close is covered by porosint such as stainless (steel) wire, agglomerated material and sponge plastics, and it can be controlled respectively by outer tube and middle pipe and by the pressure in the space that middle pipe and interior pipe surrounded.It all is connected to the air instrument of being made up of a plurality of external electric magnet valves.
(3) the applying nozzle unit comprises: height adjustment mechanism, and it is based on the loading of container and highly control the height of filling and outgasing nozzle; The retainer 111 of toner container; Dynamometer 102, it is the survey sensor that is used for toner container and loading; And jet cleaner 112, it places the outside of applying nozzle, and not contact with it, and execution is to the vacuum cleaning of the toner on the outside that adheres to applying nozzle.
(4) the Comprehensive Control unit comprises: weight indicator 103, and it will be shown as weight from the signal of dynamometer; DC motor driver 105, the rotational speed of its control filling device; Controller 106, it is used for height adjustment mechanism; And programmable logic controller (PLC) 104, it totally controls its controller.
Toner to be filled place fluidized bed and by fluidization after, the flexible container of sky is placed on the bottle holder 101, send the filling commencing signal.By the applying nozzle height adjustment mechanism, with fill and the lower end of degassing nozzle 107 near but the bottomland that do not contact flexible container position.Then, the signal that the location is finished sends to PLC 104.After container claimed tare weight by dynamometer 102 and weight indicator 103, to preset under the rotational speed rotation situation, toner is transferred to the nozzle 107 of filling and outgas from fluidized bed 113 at filling device 110.When weight does not have overflow container for the feasible toner that is transmitted, interrupt filling (is not mandatory although interrupt), carry out the degassing in certain hour cycle by the porous plate of nozzle outside.After finishing the degassing cycle, discharge the negative pressure that is used to outgas, the nozzle 107 of will filling and outgas moves up, and therefore, its lower end is provided with near the top of toner container.Carry out filling in this position with middling speed or low speed, to fill default loading.
When the few gram of the default loading of the mass ratio of the toner of finishing the low speed filling or filling or a few gram, the pressure between interior pipe and the middle pipe is the negative pressure of about-5kPa.Under this pressure, the porous plate by interior pipe inside aspirates fluidised toner and air.Therefore, toner is drawn on the tube wall of inwall, forms embolism, flow stopping.Because reduce flow in the pipe by the low rotational speed that filling device 110 is set, toner flow can approximately-stop under the little negative pressure of 5kPa, and the so-called embolism that therefore produces is not firm.In the beginning of padding next time, under the pressure of about 5kPa, embolism is passed and destroyed or flood in time, causes not because of embolism destroys toner takes place to spread, and the latter is common under conventional apparatus.In addition, keep the embolism of toner by keeping negative pressure, up to padding next time, this has just prevented the unrestrained of toner.
In traditional device, funnel places the bottom of flexible container, so that the volume of container enlarges.Toner spills in the funnel, repeatedly container is outgased by the degassing bar that inserts in the flexible container, thereby be full of toner in container.Yet the present invention can not have almost do not have volume tolerance ground that toner is full of flexible container under the situation of funnel.
Compare with filling toner, flexible container has less tolerance at the internal capacity of container usually.
When container had some tolerances, above-mentioned filling step was not enforceable.Utilize near the applying nozzle the container top or utilize the applying nozzle of container bottom parts that toner is discharged, by on draw applying nozzle, under situation about not outgasing, finish the filling of constant weight.
In the present invention, in order to address the above problem, inner but contact with it can be discharged toner by applying nozzle being inserted flexible container, as shown in Figure 8, this applying nozzle is included in the deaerating mechanism of nozzle periphery.
In addition, when discharging a certain amount of (that is, toner do not overflow amount) toner, outgas from container.When delaying or continue the toner discharging, operation outgases.As a result, no longer need the installation and the removal operation (this is necessary) of funnel in classic method.Therefore, with traditional comparing, operating efficiency has improved about 20%.
Example
Below, with toner padding described below the present invention is shown in further detail, still, it is not used for limiting the present invention.
Use comprises the toner filling device of toner transmitting device shown in Figure 4.The toner transmitting device of Fig. 4 has that the sky of powder tinting agent container is gentle can be by the motor of controller control.Fig. 5 illustrates the controlled rotational speed of pump and the change of discharge rate.
(1) utilize bellows pump that fluidised toner is discharged in the filling containers, this bellows pump is in particular this device development.
(2) measure discharge rate,, and the toner of preset weight is filled in the container with control rotational speed and slack time.In this example, the target loading is 451.0g, the result of 73 continuous paddings shown in Figure 6.The longitudinal axis indication loading of the chart among Fig. 6, the duration is filled in the transverse axis indication of the chart among Fig. 6.
The toner that adopts is by Ricoh Company, the IPSiO Magenta 8000 that Ltd. makes, and volume density is 0.47g/cm3.
As a comparative example, the result of the padding of being undertaken by pressuring method with traditional toner filling device is shown in Figure 7, and this is described in JP-B-3549053.The target loading is 550.0g.By pressurization fill method when control, transmission pressure reduces during near predetermined amount at actual loading at loading, and above-mentioned " embolism " is formed in the applying nozzle when loading equals preset value, thereby finishes padding.For transmission pressure not being reduced to fully formation " embolism " under the zero situation, to finish padding in the cycle, to compare with preset value at certain hour, actual loading has exceeded very big surplus.This excessive be loss to the producer.
Result among Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 means that it is excessive that the toner filling device of the present invention among Fig. 6 can improve widely; That is to say that compare with traditional toner filling device shown in Figure 7, actual loading is greater than default loading.
Industrial applicability
Powder toner transmission method of the present invention and powder toner transmitting device can not to the toning Transmit powder toner in the situation of agent stress application, and in the feelings that do not have pressurization or very little pressurization Transmit under the condition. The obstruction of powder toner does not take place, and uses portable transmitting device, It is in light weight and compact, but and intermittent operation. Owing to can use the supply voltage of all patterns, energy Enough immediate uses. Therefore, it can be advantageously used in the fill method of the powder toner of electrophotography And filling device.

Claims (42)

1. powder toner transmission method, its utilize from gas feed unit gas supplied make powder toner fluidization the powder toner storeroom, utilize pump unit to aspirate fluidised toner and transmit powder toner by toner is discharged in the powder toner filling containers
Wherein, utilize the to-and-fro movement pump to carry out by means of above-mentioned pump unit to the suction of powder toner.
2. powder toner transmission method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, supply to gas in salable and pressurization or the non-pressurized powder toner storeroom by the gas feed unit and be conditioned and introduce powder toner fluidization unit in the powder toner storeroom, make powder toner in this powder toner storeroom by fluidization; Suction by pump unit enters the mouth suction powder toner storeroom, so that transmit fluidised powder toner; And for advection by the pulsating flow buffer cell that places the pump unit downstream smooth or promote pulsating flow after, toner is discharged in the toner filling containers.
3. powder toner transmission method according to claim 1, wherein, described to-and-fro movement pump is a bellows pump.
4. powder toner transmission method according to claim 1, wherein, described to-and-fro movement delivery side of pump places under the suction inlet of pump.
5. powder toner transmission method according to claim 4, wherein, the internal diameter that connects the valve of described to-and-fro movement delivery side of pump is equal to or greater than the internal diameter of the toner transfer tube that is connected to described pump.
6. powder toner transmission method according to claim 1, wherein, described pump unit is the suction powder toner under the situation that does not have pressurization.
7. powder toner transmission method according to claim 1, wherein, described powder toner storeroom is under 4kPa or lower pressure.
8. powder toner transmission method according to claim 1, wherein, with interrupted and continuously in any state aspirate described powder toner.
9. powder toner transmission method according to claim 8 wherein, is regulated the transmission quantity of toner by controlling in interrupted and the continuous state any.
10. powder toner transmission method according to claim 4, wherein, being connected between described to-and-fro movement delivery side of pump and described toner transfer tube is level and smooth.
11. powder toner transmission method according to claim 4, wherein, described pulsating flow impact damper is installed near the described to-and-fro movement delivery side of pump.
12. powder toner transmission method according to claim 1, wherein, described gas feed unit comprises the air generating unit, and the power supply of 24V to 220V, this power supply are used for from air generating unit air supply.
13. powder toner transmission method according to claim 12, wherein, described air generating unit is a compressor.
14. powder toner transmission method according to claim 1, wherein, described gas feed unit and pump unit use one of solar electrical energy generation and wind-power electricity generation.
15. powder toner transmission method according to claim 1, wherein, described gas feed unit comprises high-pressure cylinder.
16. a powder toner transmitting device comprises:
Sealable, the pressurization or non-pressurized powder toner storeroom,
The gas feed unit, this gas feed unit is supplied with adjustments of gas to the powder toner storeroom,
Powder toner fluidization unit, this powder toner fluidization unit places the powder toner storeroom, and makes powder toner fluidization in the powder toner storeroom by emitting distributing gas,
Interrupted pump unit, this interrupted pump unit makes the fluidised powder toner in the powder toner storeroom discharge intermittently by suction powder toner storeroom intermittently, and
The pulsating flow buffer cell, this pulsating flow buffer cell places the downstream of described interrupted pump unit.
17. powder toner transmitting device according to claim 16, wherein, the toner groove of the toner input block of described powder toner storeroom is dismountable; The gentle object supply unit in powder toner fluidization unit in the described powder toner storeroom is connected by dismountable gas supply pipe; Described powder toner storeroom is connected with dismountable suction tube with described interrupted pump unit; And in the downstream of described pulsating flow buffer cell, the toner outlet places the end of described toner transfer tube.
18. powder toner transmitting device according to claim 17, wherein, air supply pipe, suction tube, place pressure buffer pipe on the toner vent pipe and at least two of toner input block removably to be integrated in the described toner powder storeroom.
19. powder toner transmitting device according to claim 18, wherein, air supply pipe, pressure buffer pipe and suction tube are removably mounted on the fixed part, and this fixed part is installed on any position except that lid of described powder toner storeroom.
20. powder toner transmitting device according to claim 16, wherein, described gas feed unit, interrupted pump unit and pulsating flow buffer cell are removably mounted in the housing; This housing is of portable form, and comprises handle, and this housing comprises one of the power supply connecting device of the power supply that is connected to 24V to 220V and switchgear in its surface, and this power supply is used for gas feed unit and powder pump unit.
21. powder toner transmitting device according to claim 20, wherein, at least a portion housing is transparent, the feasible part that can observe visually compartment interior, at least a portion powder toner storeroom is transparent, the feasible existence that can be observed the powder toner of compartment interior, and the transparent part of the transparent part of housing and powder toner storeroom is local at least overlapping.
22. powder toner transmitting device according to claim 20, wherein, described housing comprises the lid that can open and close, and at the powder toner transmitting device in the running, described lid is opened.
23. powder toner transmitting device according to claim 16, wherein, powder toner comprises external additive, and the volume averaging particle diameter of described toner is 2.5 μ m to 15 μ m, the absolute specific gravity of described toner is 1.02 to 1.45, and the volume density of described toner is 0.20g/cm 3To 0.90g/cm 3
24. powder toner transmitting device according to claim 16, wherein, described powder toner increases by 1.2 to 15 times by means of the volume of gas in the powder toner storeroom.
25. powder toner transmitting device according to claim 16, wherein, described pulsating flow buffer cell comprises induction pipe, toner vent pipe and the pressure buffer pipe of fluidization toner, wherein, this toner vent pipe intersects with right angle and induction pipe and opens under this induction pipe, and described pressure buffer pipe is positioned on the described toner vent pipe; The upper end of pressure buffer pipe is made up of flexible material, does not have volume when shutting down; According to the order of successively decreasing of ips, described buffer cell is made up of pressure buffer pipe, fluidization toner induction pipe and toner vent pipe.
26. powder toner transmitting device according to claim 18, wherein, the upper end of described pressure buffer pipe extends to the inside of powder toner storeroom, be connected on the fixed part that is positioned at powder toner storeroom top, make and the superpressure that produces in storeroom between the toner transmission period can be discharged.
27. a powder toner filling device, it comprises:
The powder toner transmitting device: this powder toner transmitting device comprises:
Sealable, the pressurization or non-pressurized powder toner storeroom,
The gas feed unit, this gas feed unit is supplied with adjustments of gas to the powder toner storeroom,
Powder toner fluidization unit, this powder toner fluidization unit places the powder toner storeroom, and makes powder toner fluidization in the powder toner storeroom by emitting distributing gas,
Interrupted pump unit, this interrupted pump unit makes the fluidised powder toner in the powder toner storeroom discharge intermittently by suction powder toner storeroom intermittently, and
The pulsating flow buffer cell, this pulsating flow buffer cell is positioned at the downstream of described interrupted pump unit.
28. powder toner filling device according to claim 27, wherein, the powder toner filling device comprises a plurality of powder toner transmission units.
29. powder toner filling device according to claim 27, wherein, described powder toner filling device will be used for the balance of the toner that weighing discharges and interlock with the revolution of motor, and described motor is used for control pump.
30. powder toner filling device according to claim 27, it comprises the toner vent pipe that is installed on the toner filling containers and does not directly contact with container; And deaeration pipe, this deaeration pipe is dismountable hollow tube, and is sealed at both ends in the toner filling containers, and its lower end is made up of porosint, and the other end is connected to vacuum system, and it can be removed the air of toner filling containers inside by porous part,
Wherein, discharge fluidised toner by the driving of bellows pump; When discharging scheduled volume or afterwards, remove air in the toner filling containers by snorkel, the toner of predetermined quality is filled in the toner filling containers to constant volume.
31. powder toner filling device according to claim 27, wherein, funnel places the top of powder toner filling containers, and the opening of this funnel is concentric with the opening of powder toner filling containers; The powder toner filling device comprises and is installed in the inboard and toner vent pipe that directly do not contact with funnel of funnel; And deaeration pipe, this deaeration pipe is dismountable hollow tube between funnel and toner filling containers, sealed at both ends, and the lower end is made up of porosint, the other end is connected to vacuum system, and it can be removed the air of toner filling containers inside by porous part; The toner that is not filled in the toner filling containers spills in the funnel, and by after the toner of discharging scheduled volume deaeration pipe being inserted, toner is filled in the powder toner filling containers.
32. powder toner filling device according to claim 27, wherein, the toner vent pipe inserts near the bottom of powder toner filling containers but not contact with it; The toner of predetermined quality is once or more than once discharging, and, in the centre with being immersed in the operation that outgases of toner vent pipe in the toner; After reaching certain mass, will draw on the toner vent pipe, near the inlet of toner filling containers; Discharge continuously, reach setting value up to the value of weight indicator, the toner vent pipe does not contact with the powder toner box with toner powder simultaneously.
33. powder toner filling device according to claim 27, wherein, degas module is concentric with the toner vent pipe, places the toner vent pipe outside; Use comprises the applying nozzle of degas module, the toner vent pipe of this degas module has the lower end that is formed by porosint, this toner applying nozzle inserts near the bottom of powder toner filling containers, but not contact with it, and the toner of discharge predetermined quality; When discharging or after alternately discharging and outgasing, will draw on the applying nozzle, near the inlet of toner filling containers, with the discharge that is used to add; Finish when filling indicating, to the degas module decompression, thereby the powder toner in the toner vent pipe is drawn into the inwall of degas module, and forms embolism, stop filling.
34. powder toner filling device according to claim 33 wherein, is controlled anti-air pressure and air mass flow independently, to be used to preventing that degas module and embolism from forming the obstruction of unit.
35. powder toner filling device according to claim 27, wherein, pressure transducer vertically is installed in the discharge side of the bellows pump that is used to aspirate and discharge the fluidization toner, perhaps when a toner transport sector comprises a plurality of bellows, be installed in the assembled part of bellows vent pipe; But continuous coverage toner discharge pressure; When pressure is higher than certain level, interrupt filling, and give a warning or alarm.
36. powder toner fill method, it comprises the powder toner transmission method, this powder toner transmission method utilization from gas feed unit gas supplied make powder toner fluidization the powder toner storeroom, utilize pump unit to aspirate fluidised toner and transmit powder toner by toner is discharged in the powder toner filling containers, wherein, utilize the to-and-fro movement pump to carry out by means of above-mentioned pump unit to the suction of powder toner.
37. powder toner fill method according to claim 36, wherein this method is utilized the powder toner filling device, and it comprises the toner vent pipe that is installed on the toner filling containers and does not directly contact with filling containers; And deaeration pipe, this deaeration pipe is dismountable hollow tube, and it is sealed at both ends that the lower end is made up of porosint in the toner filling containers, and the other end is connected to vacuum system, and it can be removed the air of toner filling containers inside by porous part,
Wherein, discharge fluidised toner by the driving of bellows pump; In discharging or after discharging scheduled volume, with the degassing of toner filling containers, the toner of predetermined quality is filled in the toner filling containers to constant volume by snorkel.
38. powder toner fill method according to claim 36, wherein, this method is used the powder toner filling device that comprises funnel and powder toner filling containers, wherein, described funnel places the top of powder toner filling containers, and the opening of this funnel is concentric with the opening of powder toner filling containers; This powder toner filling device comprises toner vent pipe and deaeration pipe, this toner vent pipe is installed in the inboard and not directly contact with it of funnel, this deaeration pipe is between funnel and toner filling containers, it is dismountable hollow tube, sealed at both ends, and its lower end is made up of porosint, and the other end is connected to vacuum system, and it can be removed the air of toner filling containers inside by porous part; The toner that can not be filled in the powder toner filling containers spills in the funnel, by insert deaeration pipe after the toner of discharging scheduled volume, toner is filled in the powder toner filling containers.
39. powder toner fill method according to claim 36, wherein, this method utilization comprises the powder toner filling device of toner vent pipe and powder toner filling containers, wherein, the powder toner vent pipe inserts near the bottom of powder toner filling containers but contact with it; The toner one or many of predetermined quality is discharged, and is middle with being immersed in the operation that outgases of toner vent pipe in the toner; After reaching certain mass, on draw the toner vent pipe, make it the inlet near the toner filling containers; Discharge continuously, reach setting value up to the value of weight indicator, the toner vent pipe does not contact with the powder toner box with toner powder simultaneously.
40. powder toner fill method according to claim 36, wherein, degas module is concentric with the toner vent pipe, and places this toner vent pipe outside; Use comprises the applying nozzle of degas module, and the lower end of the toner vent pipe of this degas module is formed by porosint, and the toner applying nozzle inserts near the bottom of powder toner filling containers but contact with it, discharges the toner of predetermined quality; When discharging or alternately discharge and the degassing after, on draw applying nozzle, make it inlet, with the discharging that is used to add near the toner filling containers; Finish when filling in indication,, thereby the powder toner in the toner vent pipe is drawn on the inwall of degas module and forms embolism, fill and stop the degas module decompression.
41. according to the powder toner fill method of claim 40, wherein, control anti-air pressure and air mass flow independently, to be used to preventing that degas module and embolism from forming the obstruction of unit.
42. powder toner fill method according to claim 36, wherein, pressure transducer vertically is installed in the discharge side of the bellows pump that is used to aspirate and discharge the fluidization toner, perhaps when a toner transport sector comprises a plurality of bellows, be installed in the assembled part of bellows vent pipe; But continuous coverage toner discharge pressure; When pressure is higher than certain level, interrupt filling, and give a warning or alarm.
CNB2006800023543A 2005-01-17 2006-01-16 Transferring method of powder toner for electrophotograph and transferring apparatus thereof, and filling method of powder toner and the filling apparatus thereof Expired - Fee Related CN100520627C (en)

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