JPH06118846A - Residual toner recovering device - Google Patents
Residual toner recovering deviceInfo
- Publication number
- JPH06118846A JPH06118846A JP29081492A JP29081492A JPH06118846A JP H06118846 A JPH06118846 A JP H06118846A JP 29081492 A JP29081492 A JP 29081492A JP 29081492 A JP29081492 A JP 29081492A JP H06118846 A JPH06118846 A JP H06118846A
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- container
- residual toner
- toner
- wall surface
- cleaning device
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
Landscapes
- Cleaning In Electrography (AREA)
Abstract
Description
【０００１】[0001]
【産業上の利用分野】本発明は電子写真プロセスを利用
した画像形成装置の作像部に用いられる残留トナー回収
装置の改良に関する。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a residual toner collecting device used in an image forming section of an image forming apparatus utilizing an electrophotographic process.
【０００２】[0002]
【従来の技術】複写機、プリンタ、ファクシミリ装置等
の電子写真プロセスを利用した画像形成装置では、感光
体上の静電潜像にトナーを付着することにより形成した
顕像を記録紙上に転写後、定着することにより画像形成
を行っているが、転写後の感光体上に残留したトナーは
次の作像工程に備える為にクリーニング装置により除去
される。除去されたトナーは通常、別設の残留トナー回
収容器に搬送されて回収される。ところで、サービスメ
ンテナンス頻度の低下、即ちメンテナンス間隔の長期化
の要請により、１００ｋ枚以上のコピーにより回収され
る大量の残留トナーを収容可能な回収容器が必要とな
り、その大型化が不可避となっている。このため、機械
の小型化に反する結果となっている。この点を改善する
為に残留トナー回収容器に回収トナーをできるだけ充満
状態で充填させるための方法が種々提案されているが、
コストや品質の面で問題があった。例えば、特開平３−
１２６０６４号公報、実開昭６３−１９１３６２号公報
には、廃トナー回収容器を水平方向に移動させたり停止
させる動作を間欠的に繰り返したり、振動させることに
より、容器内の回収トナー表面を平坦にならして回収効
率を向上させる提案がなされているが、容器が空に近い
状態で間欠移動や振動を行うと騒音が発生するという問
題があり、更に間欠移動のための機構にコストがかかる
という問題がある。更に、上記従来技術の最大の欠点は
容器内の回収トナーが容器の移動、振動によってならさ
れるだけであり、回収トナーを加圧して収容密度を向上
する等の配慮がなされていない為、容器の収容能力を十
分に活用できないという問題があった。2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus utilizing an electrophotographic process such as a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile machine, a visible image formed by adhering toner to an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor is transferred onto a recording paper. Although the image is formed by fixing, the toner remaining on the photoconductor after transfer is removed by a cleaning device in preparation for the next image forming step. The removed toner is usually transported to and collected in a separately provided residual toner collecting container. By the way, due to a decrease in the frequency of service maintenance, that is, a request for a longer maintenance interval, a collection container capable of accommodating a large amount of residual toner collected by 100 k or more copies is required, and its size is inevitable. . For this reason, the result is against the miniaturization of the machine. In order to improve this point, various methods have been proposed for filling the residual toner recovery container with the recovered toner as full as possible.
There was a problem in terms of cost and quality. For example, JP-A-3-
No. 126064 and Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 63-191362 disclose that the operation of horizontally moving or stopping the waste toner recovery container is intermittently repeated or vibrated to flatten the surface of the recovered toner in the container. Proposals have been made to improve the recovery efficiency by smoothing, but there is a problem that noise occurs when intermittent movement or vibration is performed while the container is close to empty, and the mechanism for intermittent movement is costly. There's a problem. Further, the biggest drawback of the above-mentioned conventional technique is that the collected toner in the container is only leveled by the movement and vibration of the container, and no consideration is given to pressurizing the collected toner to improve the storage density. There was a problem that it was not possible to make full use of the accommodation capacity.
【０００３】[0003]
【発明の目的】本発明は上記に鑑みてなされたものであ
り、構成の複雑化、コストアップを招くことなく、残留
トナー回収容器のトナー収容能力を最大限に向上させ、
その結果として容器を小型化することができる残留トナ
ー回収装置を提供することを目的としている。SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and maximizes the toner accommodating capacity of a residual toner collecting container without complicating the structure and increasing the cost.
As a result, it is an object of the present invention to provide a residual toner collecting device that can downsize the container.
【０００４】[0004]
【発明の構成】上記目的を達成するため本発明は、像担
持体としての感光体と、該感光体上の残留トナーを除去
するクリーニング装置と、該クリーニング装置によって
除去された残留トナーを回収保持する残留トナー回収容
器を備えた電子写真プロセスを利用した画像形成装置に
おいて、該トナー回収容器はその壁面の少なくとも一部
が弾性変形可能な材料から構成されており、該弾性変形
可能な壁面部分を加圧・解除して容器内部のトナーを圧
縮させる加圧機構を備えたこと、前記加圧機構による加
圧の対象となる前記トナー回収容器の壁面を、最大面積
を有する壁面の中心部としたこと、前記加圧機構の代わ
りに、振動素子を前記壁面に設置して該壁面を振幅させ
て容器内部のトナーを圧縮させるよう構成したこと、前
記トナー回収容器の前記加圧或は振動の対象となる壁面
を傾斜させて、前記容器の幅が下方へ向かうほど狭くな
るように構成したことを特徴とする。SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a photoconductor as an image carrier, a cleaning device for removing residual toner on the photoconductor, and a collection and holding of the residual toner removed by the cleaning device. In the image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic process including the residual toner collecting container, at least a part of the wall surface of the toner collecting container is made of an elastically deformable material. A pressure mechanism for pressing and releasing the toner inside the container is provided, and the wall surface of the toner recovery container to be pressed by the pressure mechanism is the center of the wall surface having the maximum area. And a vibrating element is installed on the wall surface instead of the pressurizing mechanism to oscillate the wall surface to compress the toner inside the container. The pressurizing or by inclining the walls to be vibrating, characterized in that the width of the container is configured to be narrower as it goes downward.
【０００５】以下、添付図面により本発明を詳細に説明
する。図１は、本発明の残留トナー回収装置を適用した
画像形成装置の作像部の概略構成説明図である。感光体
ドラム１の外周に配置された転写部２の下流側にはクリ
ーニング装置３が配置され、該クリーニング装置３は感
光体１上の残留トナーを掻落すためのブレード４と、残
留トナーを搬送する搬送コイル５と、搬送コイル５によ
り搬送された残留トナーを受け入れる残留トナー回収容
器６と、残留トナー回収容器の近傍に配置され該回収容
器の一部壁面を加圧する加圧機構７とを有する。残留ト
ナー回収容器６は、図２に示すようにその壁面の少なく
とも一部が比較的薄肉で弾性変形が可能な樹脂材料等か
ら構成されており、該弾性変形可能な壁面は加圧機構７
によって内側へ向けて加圧された時に弾性変形して内部
のトナーを加圧して一方向へ押しやり、加圧を解除した
時には原形に復帰（或は反動により一時的に外方に膨
出）する。この加圧機構による加圧・解除を繰り返して
呼吸作用を発生させることにより、後続のトナーの収納
スペースを新たに作り出すことができ、残留トナーを高
密度に押圧充填することが可能となる。しかも、容器が
空の状態であっても騒音が発生する虞れが一切なく、構
造が簡単であるためにコスト的にも有利である。The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram of an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus to which the residual toner collecting device of the present invention is applied. A cleaning device 3 is arranged on the downstream side of the transfer section 2 arranged on the outer periphery of the photoconductor drum 1, and the cleaning device 3 conveys the blade 4 for scraping off the residual toner on the photoconductor 1 and the residual toner. And a residual toner collecting container 6 for receiving the residual toner conveyed by the conveying coil 5, and a pressurizing mechanism 7 arranged in the vicinity of the residual toner collecting container for pressing a part of the wall surface of the collecting container. . As shown in FIG. 2, at least a part of the wall surface of the residual toner collecting container 6 is made of a resin material or the like which is relatively thin and is elastically deformable, and the elastically deformable wall surface has a pressing mechanism 7.
When it is pressed inward, it elastically deforms and presses the toner inside, pushing it in one direction, and when releasing the pressure, it returns to the original shape (or temporarily bulges outward due to reaction) To do. By repeatedly pressurizing and releasing by this pressurizing mechanism to generate a breathing action, it is possible to newly create a storage space for the subsequent toner, and it is possible to press and fill the residual toner with high density. Moreover, even if the container is empty, there is no risk of noise, and the structure is simple, which is advantageous in terms of cost.
【０００６】図３（ａ）及び（ｂ）は回収容器と加圧機
構の一例の構成を示す正面図及び側面図であり、回収容
器６の壁面のうち最も面積の広い壁面の中央部を加圧機
構７によって押圧するようにした例を示している。この
加圧部位は、最も効率の良い加圧を実現させるものであ
り、少ない押圧エネルギーにより効率の良い加圧充填を
実現できる。ここで示した加圧機構７は、図示のように
モータＭから延びる軸の先端に半月状の押圧片７ａを固
定して、これを回転、或は正逆２方向へ往復回動せしめ
ることによりその円弧状部で壁面を押圧したり、押圧解
除するように構成する。3 (a) and 3 (b) are a front view and a side view showing the construction of an example of a recovery container and a pressurizing mechanism, in which the central part of the wall surface of the recovery container 6 having the largest area is added. An example of pressing by the pressure mechanism 7 is shown. This pressurizing portion realizes the most efficient pressurization, and the efficient pressurizing and filling can be realized with a small pressing energy. In the pressing mechanism 7 shown here, a crescent-shaped pressing piece 7a is fixed to the tip of a shaft extending from the motor M as shown in the drawing, and is rotated or reciprocally rotated in two forward and reverse directions. The wall surface is pressed or released by the arcuate portion.
【０００７】図４は他の実施例であり、加圧手段の代わ
りに振動素子１０を最も面積の大きい壁面の中央部に配
置することにより、該壁面を微振動により内外方向へ進
退（振幅）させ、内部のトナーを押圧充填するようにし
た点が特徴的である。図５は他の実施例であり、容器壁
面のうち加圧手段により加圧を受けて変形する面を楔状
に傾斜させることにより、加圧された内部のトナーが楔
効果により容器内下部から高密度に充填されてゆくよう
に構成したものである。本発明の上記各実施例を乾式２
成分トナーに適用した場合、従来の自重落下による充填
率が０．３〜０．３５ｇ／ｃｍ3 であったのに対して、
０．４ｇ／ｃｍ3 以上の充填率を得ることができた。FIG. 4 shows another embodiment, in which the vibrating element 10 is arranged in the central portion of the wall surface having the largest area instead of the pressurizing means, and the wall surface is moved forward and backward (amplitude) by a slight vibration. The characteristic feature is that the toner inside is pressed and filled. FIG. 5 shows another embodiment, in which the surface of the container wall surface which is deformed by being pressed by the pressing means is inclined like a wedge, so that the toner inside the container is lifted from the lower part inside the container by the wedge effect. It is configured to be filled up to the density. Each of the above embodiments of the present invention is a dry type 2
When applied to the component toner, the conventional filling rate by self-weight drop was 0.3 to 0.35 g / cm 3 , whereas
A filling factor of 0.4 g / cm 3 or more could be obtained.
【０００８】[0008]
【発明の効果】以上のように本発明の実施例では、残留
トナー回収容器を構成する樹脂材料の弾性を利用して容
器の一部を加圧・解除することによって、呼吸作用を発
生せしめ、もって低コストによる高密度充填を実現し
た。加圧する部分としては、該容器の壁面のうち最も面
積が広い面の中央部を選定すれば高密度充填効率を更に
向上できる。加圧以外の方法として振動を用いても同様
の効果を得ることができる。更に、加圧面にテーパーを
持たせて楔効果を利用して充填効率を向上することがで
きる。As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the elasticity of the resin material forming the residual toner recovery container is utilized to pressurize and release a part of the container to generate a breathing action, As a result, we have achieved high-density packing at low cost. As the portion to be pressurized, if the central portion of the largest surface of the wall surface of the container is selected, the high density packing efficiency can be further improved. The same effect can be obtained by using vibration as a method other than pressurization. Further, it is possible to improve the filling efficiency by making the pressing surface taper and utilizing the wedge effect.
【図１】本発明の回収装置を適用した電子写真式作像部
の概略構成説明図。FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration explanatory view of an electrophotographic image forming unit to which a recovery device of the present invention is applied.
【図２】本発明の原理を示す図である。FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention.
【図３】(a) (b) は本発明の第１実施例の要部の構成を
示す正面図及び側面図。3 (a) and 3 (b) are a front view and a side view showing a configuration of a main part of the first embodiment of the present invention.
【図４】本発明の第２実施例の構成説明図。FIG. 4 is a structural explanatory view of a second embodiment of the present invention.
【図５】本発明の第３実施例の構成説明図。FIG. 5 is a structural explanatory view of a third embodiment of the present invention.
１ 感光体ドラム、２ 転写部、３クリーニング装置、
４ ブレード、５ 搬送コイル、６ 残留トナー回収容
器、７ 加圧機構、1 photoconductor drum, 2 transfer unit, 3 cleaning device,
4 blades, 5 conveying coil, 6 residual toner collecting container, 7 pressurizing mechanism,
Claims (4)
の残留トナーを除去するクリーニング装置と、該クリー
ニング装置によって除去された残留トナーを回収保持す
る残留トナー回収容器を備えた電子写真プロセスを利用
した画像形成装置において、該トナー回収容器はその壁
面の少なくとも一部が弾性変形可能な材料から構成され
ており、該弾性変形可能な壁面部分を加圧・非加圧して
容器内部のトナーを圧縮させる加圧機構を備えたことを
特徴とする残留トナー回収装置。1. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising a photoconductor as an image carrier, a cleaning device for removing residual toner on the photoconductor, and a residual toner collecting container for collecting and holding the residual toner removed by the cleaning device. In an image forming apparatus utilizing a process, at least a part of the wall surface of the toner recovery container is made of an elastically deformable material. A residual toner collecting device comprising a pressurizing mechanism for compressing toner.
記トナー回収容器の壁面を、最大面積を有する壁面の中
心部としたことを特徴とする残留トナー回収装置。2. A residual toner collecting device, wherein a wall surface of the toner collecting container to be pressed by the pressing mechanism is a central portion of the wall surface having a maximum area.
記壁面に設置して該壁面を振幅させて容器内部のトナー
を圧縮させるよう構成したことを特徴とする請求項１記
載の残留トナー回収装置。3. The residual toner according to claim 1, wherein a vibrating element is installed on the wall surface instead of the pressurizing mechanism, and the wall surface is vibrated to compress the toner inside the container. Recovery device.
の対象となる壁面を傾斜させて、前記容器の幅が下方へ
向かうほど狭くなるように構成したことを特徴とする請
求項１乃至３記載の残留トナー回収装置。4. The toner collection container is configured such that a wall surface of the toner collection container subject to pressurization or vibration is inclined so that a width of the container becomes narrower as it goes downward. 3. The residual toner collecting device described in 3.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP29081492A JPH06118846A (en) | 1992-10-05 | 1992-10-05 | Residual toner recovering device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP29081492A JPH06118846A (en) | 1992-10-05 | 1992-10-05 | Residual toner recovering device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPH06118846A true JPH06118846A (en) | 1994-04-28 |
Family
ID=17760833
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP29081492A Pending JPH06118846A (en) | 1992-10-05 | 1992-10-05 | Residual toner recovering device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPH06118846A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7599633B2 (en) | 2005-11-15 | 2009-10-06 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Image forming apparatus dust container including dust conveyance members |
| US7623821B2 (en) | 2006-04-24 | 2009-11-24 | Ricoh Company, Limited | Conveyor device, process cartridge, image forming apparatus, and method of forming image |
-
1992
- 1992-10-05 JP JP29081492A patent/JPH06118846A/en active Pending
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7599633B2 (en) | 2005-11-15 | 2009-10-06 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Image forming apparatus dust container including dust conveyance members |
| US7623821B2 (en) | 2006-04-24 | 2009-11-24 | Ricoh Company, Limited | Conveyor device, process cartridge, image forming apparatus, and method of forming image |
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