JP2001154487A - Toner carrying device, toner supply device consisting of toner carrying device, and image forming device consisting of toner carrying device and toner supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact toner carrying device, a toner supply device consisting of the toner carrying device and an image forming device consisting of the toner carrying device and the toner supply device by which toner is carried even to a spot where a high-quality image is formed by preventing damage caused by heating, toner flocculated lump or an abnormal image from occurring even when a distance that the toner is carried by sliding of a carrying housing and a carrying screw is long and the toner exists distant from a developing position in the case of using the carrying screw rotating in a carrying housing or the carrying screw rotating in the carrying housing and a powder pump in common. SOLUTION: This toner carrying device is constituted of the carrying housing 1 supplying or recovering the toner T from a position distant from the developing position, consisting of an elastic body and having the shape of a hollow tube; the carrying screw 2 included in the housing and carrying the toner T from the carrying-in port 1a side to the discharge port 1b side of the housing 1 by rotationally driving; and a carrying and rotational driving means 3 rotationally driving the screw 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner conveying device, a toner supply device comprising the same, and an image forming apparatus comprising the same, and more particularly, to a toner forming a toner image at a developing position. A toner conveying device for conveying or supplying the toner from the developing device, a toner supplying device for supplying toner as a mixture with a gas from a position distant from the developing position to the developing position, and an electrophotographic image carrier comprising the same. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a multifunction machine, which conveys and forms an image by supplying or collecting toner for visualizing a formed electrostatic latent image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus in which a toner container for storing toner is not adjacent to a developing unit, or an image forming apparatus having a recycling mechanism for reusing transfer residual toner adhered and remaining on an image carrier. , The toner is transported to the developing unit by various toner transporting devices. A developing device is known which does not damage the pump even if the dry toner is circulated and transported by using a pump directly in a gas flow (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-3308). Further, there is also known a conveying screw which scrapes residual toner adhering to the photoreceptor by a cleaning device and conveys it to a developing hopper by a conveying screw conveyor rotating in a conveying pipe (JP-A-6-17548).
No. 8). Further, a toner storage means, a toner supply means, and a toner transfer means are respectively arranged at arbitrary positions away from the developing means, and the rotor comprises a rotor which rotates the toner transfer means and a stator which includes the rotor and engages with the rotor. It is also known to use a screw pump or a powder pump comprising an inlet valve and an outlet valve which are opened and closed by the operation of a diaphragm to send toner as a mixture with air to a developing means via a supply pipe (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 7-219329). Therefore, a conventional conveying screw rotating in a conveying housing having a small degree of freedom in a space made of an aluminum material or the like, or a toner conveying device shared with a conveying screw and a powder pump, has a high degree of freedom in the space of the device. When the transport housing slides with the transport screw, the longer the transport distance is, the more the toner is condensed, and the toner agglomerates cause abnormal images called firefly images. In general, there is a problem that the toner cannot be used only at a place where the waste toner is discarded at a place where the formed image is not affected, or at a place where a low quality image is formed.

[0003]

The above-described conventional toner conveying device, the toner supply device including the toner conveying device, and the image forming apparatus including the toner conveying device include a conveying screw rotating in a conveying housing made of aluminum or the like. When used in combination with a powder pump, the degree of freedom in space is small and the device becomes large, and when the transport housing and the transport screw slide, the longer the transport distance is, the more the toner condenses. Since the abnormal image called a firefly image is generated by the toner agglomerate, usually, a place where the waste toner to be discarded at a place that does not affect the image to be formed is collected, or a low quality image formation is performed. There was a problem that it could only be used in certain places.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve such a problem. In other words, when the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing, or the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder pump are used in common, the distance between the conveying housing and the conveying screw that is slid and conveyed is long and the developing is performed. Even if you are away from the position, damage from heating,
Provided is a small-sized toner conveying device that conveys toner to a portion where high-quality image formation is performed while preventing generation of a toner condensate and an abnormal image, a toner supply device including the toner conveying device, and an image forming device including the toner conveying device. With the goal.

[0004]

To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a toner for forming a toner image at a developing position is mixed with a gas and supplied or collected from a position distant from the developing position. In the toner transport device for transporting the toner, a hollow tube-shaped transport housing made of an elastic body that supplies or collects a toner that forms a toner image at a development position from a position distant from the development position, and is included in the transport housing. And a transport screw that transports the toner from the transport housing entrance of the transport housing to the transport housing discharge port by rotation drive, and transport rotation driving means that rotationally drives the transport screw. Main features. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the toner transporting device according to the first aspect, the transport screw is a toner transporting device made of an elastic body. A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the toner transporting device according to the first or second aspect, the transporting housing is a toner transporting device that is an elastic body made of a silicon material. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the toner transport device according to the first, second, or third aspect, the transport screw is a toner transport device that is an elastic body made of a silicon material. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the toner transport device according to the first, second, third, or fourth aspect, the transport housing includes a powder pump that mixes and transports the toner transported from the transport housing outlet with a gas. The main feature is that it is a toner conveying device. Claim 6
The main feature of the present invention is that in the toner conveying device according to claim 5, the conveying housing is a toner conveying device including a connecting means connected to a powder pump to mix the toner with a gas and discharge the gas. And According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the toner transporting device of the sixth aspect, the connecting means is a toner transporting device including a mixing auxiliary member for mixing the discharged toner with the gas. .

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the toner transporting apparatus according to the sixth or seventh aspect, the powder pump mixes the toner with a gas, alternately inflows and outflows, and intermittently feeds the toner. Is the main feature. According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the toner transport device according to the sixth, seventh or eighth aspect, the powder pump is a toner transport device in which an inlet valve and an outlet valve are opened and closed by operation of a diaphragm. I do. A toner supply device for supplying toner from a position distant from the developing position to the developing position, wherein the toner container stores the toner,
The toner according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, which conveys the toner discharged from the toner discharge port and the toner discharge port for discharging the toner stored in the toner container. The most main feature is that the toner supply device includes a transport device. According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus which forms an image by conveying toner for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier in an electrophotographic system from a position apart from a developing position. In a forming apparatus, an image carrier for carrying a formed image, developing means for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier to form a toner image, and a toner image formed by the developing means And a transfer means for transferring the toner to the transfer medium and a toner supplied to the developing means.
The most main feature of the present invention is an image forming apparatus including the toner conveying device or the toner supplying device described in 8, 9, or 10. According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the toner for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier in an electrophotographic system is conveyed to be collected and supplied from a position distant from a developing position, and the image is conveyed. In an image forming apparatus for forming, an image carrier for carrying a formed image, a developing unit for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier to form a toner image, and a developing unit formed by the developing unit Transfer means for transferring the transferred toner image to the transfer object, cleaning means for collecting residual toner remaining on the image carrier or the transfer means after transfer by the transfer means, and collection recovered by the cleaning means An image forming apparatus comprising the toner conveying device or the toner supplying device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 for conveying toner to the developing means. Major And it features.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elastic body for supplying or collecting toner for forming a toner image at a developing position from a position remote from the developing position. The transfer screw that is included in the hollow tubular transfer housing and transports the toner by rotation from the transfer housing carry-in entrance side of the transfer housing to the transfer housing discharge port side is rotated by the transfer rotation drive means to transfer the toner. Thus, when the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing, or the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder pump are shared, the distance that the conveying housing and the conveying screw slide and convey is reduced. Even if it is long and far from the developing position, it may cause damage due to heating, toner aggregates and abnormal images. Raw and prevents it to be able to provide a toner conveying device for conveying the toner in place to be subjected to the high-quality image formation. According to a second aspect of the present invention, the toner for forming the toner image at the developing position is contained in a hollow tube-shaped transporting housing made of an elastic body that supplies or recovers the toner from a position distant from the developing position, and the toner is rotated and driven. A transport screw made of an elastic material that is transported from the transport housing entrance to the transport housing outlet is rotated by transport rotation driving means to transport the toner, so that the degree of freedom of the toner transport path is increased, and the transport housing is expanded. Conveying screw rotating inside, or
When the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder pump are used in common, even if the conveying housing slides and the conveying screw slides for a long distance to convey and is away from the developing position, damage due to heating and toner condensation It is possible to provide a small-sized toner conveyance device that conveys toner to a portion where high-quality image formation is performed while preventing occurrence of a mass and an abnormal image. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the toner for forming a toner image at the developing position is contained in a hollow tube-shaped transport housing made of an elastic body made of a silicon material for supplying or recovering the toner from a position remote from the developing position, and the toner is rotated and driven. A transport screw or a transport housing that rotates in the transport housing by rotating a transport screw that transports from the transport housing entrance port side of the transport housing to the transport housing discharge port side by transport rotation driving means to transport the toner. When the conveying screw and the powder pump that rotate inside the pump are used in common, even if the conveying housing slides and the conveying screw slides far away from the developing position due to the long distance of conveyance, damage due to heating, toner condensation Toners that reliably prevent abnormal images and transport toner to locations where high-quality images are formed It is to be able to provide over the transport device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the toner for forming a toner image at the developing position is supplied to or recovered from a position distant from the developing position, and is contained in a hollow tube-shaped transport housing made of an elastic material made of silicon and driven to rotate. The toner is transported by rotating the transport screw made of an elastic body that transports the toner from the transport housing entrance side of the transport housing to the transport housing discharge port side by the transport rotation driving means, so that the toner transport path is free. When the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing or the powder conveying pump and the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing are used in common, the distance that the conveying housing and the conveying screw slide and convey is long. To prevent damage due to heating, toner aggregates and abnormal images even when away from the development position. Sealed it is to be able to provide a compact toner conveying device for conveying the toner in place to be subjected to the image formation of high quality. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the toner for forming the toner image at the developing position is contained in a hollow tube-shaped transport housing made of an elastic body that supplies or collects the toner from a position distant from the development position, and the toner is rotated and driven to transfer the toner. The transport screw that is transported from the transport housing entrance to the transport housing outlet is driven to rotate by transport rotation driving means, and the toner transported from the transport housing outlet of the transport housing is mixed with a gas by a powder pump to discharge the toner. As the toner is conveyed, the degree of freedom of the toner conveying path is expanded, and the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing, or the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder pump are commonly used, Even if the conveying screw slides for a longer distance and conveys further away from the developing position Damage due to heating, it is to be able to provide a toner conveying device for conveying the toner in place performed to prevent occurrence of toner condensation 隗 and abnormal images of high quality image formation.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the toner for forming a toner image at the developing position is contained in a hollow tube-shaped transport housing made of an elastic material for supplying or recovering from a position distant from the developing position, and the toner is rotated and driven. The transport screw that transports the transport housing from the transport housing entrance to the transport housing outlet is rotated by transport rotary drive means, and the toner transported from the transport housing outlet of the transport housing is connected to the powder pump by connection means. The toner is conveyed by mixing with the gas, so that the degree of freedom of the toner conveying path is expanded and the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing or the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder pump are shared. When the transfer housing and the transfer screw slide, the transfer distance is further increased. Provided is a toner transport device that reliably prevents damage due to heating, toner condensate aggregates, and abnormal images even when further away from a development position, and transports toner to a location where high-quality image formation is performed. To be able to According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the toner for forming the toner image at the developing position is contained in a hollow tube-shaped transport housing made of an elastic body that supplies or collects the toner from a position distant from the development position, and the toner is rotated and driven. The transport screw that is transported from the transport housing entrance to the transport housing discharge port is driven to rotate by the transport rotation drive means, and the toner transported from the transport housing discharge port of the transport housing is connected to the powder pump by the connection means to assist mixing. A transport screw that rotates in the transport housing by expanding the degree of freedom of the toner transport path by transporting the toner by mixing with the gas by the member,
Alternatively, when the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder pump are used in common, even if the distance that the conveying housing slides and the conveying screw is conveyed by sliding is longer and further away from the developing position, the toner It is possible to provide a toner conveying device that reliably prevents clogging, damage due to heating, toner condensate and occurrence of an abnormal image, and conveys toner to a portion where high-quality image formation is performed.

According to the present invention, the toner for forming a toner image at the developing position is contained in a hollow tube-shaped transport housing made of an elastic material for supplying or recovering the toner from a position distant from the developing position, and the toner is rotated and driven. The transport screw that transports the transport housing from the transport housing inlet port side to the transport housing outlet port side is rotationally driven by the transport rotation drive unit, and the toner transported from the transport housing outlet port of the transport housing is converted into a gas by the connection unit. It is connected to a powder pump that mixes and alternately performs inflow and outflow and sends out intermittently, so that the toner is conveyed by being mixed with the gas, so that the degree of freedom of the toner conveyance path is increased and the toner is rotated in the conveyance housing. The conveying screw or the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder pump are shared. In this case, even if the transport housing slides and the transport screw slides for a longer distance and is further away from the developing position, it reliably prevents toner clogging, damage due to heating, toner condensation and abnormal images. As a result, it is possible to provide a toner conveying device that conveys toner even to a place where high-quality image formation is performed. According to the ninth aspect, the toner for forming the toner image at the developing position is contained in a hollow tube-shaped transporting housing made of an elastic body that supplies or collects the toner from a position distant from the developing position, and the toner is rotated and driven. The transport screw that is transported from the transport housing entrance to the transport housing outlet side is rotationally driven by the transport rotation drive unit, and the toner transported from the transport housing outlet of the transport housing is connected to the entrance valve by the operation of the diaphragm by the connection unit. The outlet valve opens and closes, mixes toner with gas, alternately inflows and outflows, connects to a powder pump that sends out intermittently, mixes with gas to convey toner, and has a simple configuration and low cost In this case, the degree of freedom of the toner transport path is increased, and the transport screw rotating in the transport housing, or
When the rotating conveying screw and the powder pump are commonly used in the conveying housing, the toner is not clogged even if the conveying housing slides and the conveying screw slides further and is further away from the developing position. In addition, it is possible to provide a toner transporting device that transports toner to a location where high-quality image formation is performed by reliably preventing damage due to heating, toner condensation, and occurrence of an abnormal image.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the toner discharged from the toner discharge port for discharging the toner stored in the toner container storing the toner is contained in a hollow tube-shaped transport housing made of an elastic body and is driven by rotation. A transport screw that transports the toner from the transport housing inlet port side of the transport housing to the transport housing discharge port side is rotated by transport rotary drive means to transport the toner. The toner transport device transports the toner from a position away from the developing position to the developing position. And the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing, or when the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder pump are used in common, the conveying housing and the conveying screw slide and convey. Even if the distance is long and far from the development position, damage due to heating, toner condensation and abnormalities It is to be able to provide a toner supply device supplies toner to locations which prevent the occurrence of image is performed with high-quality image formation. According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the toner image formed by the developing means for visualizing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier for carrying the formed image and forming the toner image is transferred. When the toner is transferred to the body by the transfer means, the toner to be supplied to the developing means is contained in a hollow tubular transfer housing made of an elastic body, and the toner is rotated and driven to transfer the transfer housing from the transfer housing discharge port side of the transfer housing. The toner is supplied to the developing position from a position distant from the developing position by a toner conveying device that conveys the toner by rotating the conveying screw to be conveyed to the side by the conveying rotation driving means so as to form an image,
When the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing, or the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder pump are used in common, the distance in which the conveying housing slides and the conveying screw slides and conveys is longer than the developing position. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus including a toner transport device that transports toner to a location where high-quality image formation is performed by preventing damage due to heating, generation of toner condensate, and occurrence of an abnormal image even at a distance. Make it possible. 13. A transfer means for transferring a toner image formed by a developing means for forming a toner image by visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier for carrying a formed image thereon. The toner recovered by the cleaning means for recovering the toner remaining on the image carrier or the transfer means after the transfer is contained in a hollow-tube-shaped transport housing made of an elastic material, and the toner is transported to the transport housing by rotational driving. An image is formed by supplying a collected toner to a developing position from a position distant from the developing position by a toner conveying device that conveys toner by rotating a conveying screw that is conveyed from a housing entrance side to a conveying housing exit side by a conveying rotation driving unit. The transport screw that rotates in the transport housing or the transport screw that rotates in the transport housing When the powder housing is shared with the powder pump, even if the transport housing and the transport screw slide away from each other at a long distance from the developing position, damage due to heating, toner condensation and abnormal images can be prevented. Thus, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus including a toner conveying device that conveys toner even to a place where high-quality image formation is performed.

[0011]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an image forming unit provided with a toner conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The toner conveying device 0 moves toner (T) forming a toner image at a developing position to a position away from the developing position. And a hollow tube-shaped transfer housing 1 made of an elastic material of silicon material supplied or recovered from the housing, and the toner (T) contained in the transfer housing 1 and rotated to drive the toner (T) from the transfer housing entrance 1a side of the transfer housing 1. A transport screw 2 made of an elastic material made of silicone and transported in a direction indicated by an arrow A on the side of the transport housing discharge port 1b, and a rotation driving means 3 for rotating the transport screw 2 via a gear train 3a. The transfer housing 1 and the transfer screw 2 are
Since it is made of an elastic body made of a silicon material, the degree of freedom of the toner transport path is increased, and the size of the apparatus can be reduced by effectively utilizing the space of the entire apparatus. The transport housing 1 includes a developing hopper 52a of a developing unit 52 of the image forming apparatus 50,
The powder pump 4 connected by the connecting means 5 for mixing and discharging the toner (T) discharged from the transfer housing discharge port 1b with the gas, and the toner (T) of the powder pump 4 mixed with the gas and transferred. The image forming apparatus 50 is in communication with the toner supply device 10 disposed at a position distant from the developing position of the developing unit 52 of the image forming apparatus 50 via the toner conveying tube 4d. When the rotation driving means 3 is operated, the transfer screw 2 made of an elastic body made of silicon and contained in the transfer housing 1 having a hollow tube shape made of an elastic body made of silicon via the gear train 3a. Is rotated, the sliding load between the transport housing 1 and the transport screw 2 is reduced, and the thermal conductivity is also reduced. Therefore, the generation of toner aggregates and damage to the toner (T) due to heating are also reduced. Came to be prevented. Transfer screw 2
Is rotated, the toner (T) stored in the toner container 11 from the toner outlet 12 of the toner supply device 10 is conveyed, and the container 5b of the connection means 5 is conveyed from the transport housing outlet 1b. For example, the toner is discharged onto a toner mixing auxiliary member 5a, which assists the diffusion of the conical toner (T) and assists the mixing with the gas, and is mixed with the gaseous air. By the operation of
The toner (T) mixed with the gas in the connection means 5 is
Since the toner is conveyed to the developing hopper 52a of the developing means 52 of the image forming apparatus 50 via the powder pump 4 and the toner conveying tube 4d, the toner (T) is connected to the connecting means 5 of the toner. As a result, toner clogging by the powder pump 4 can be prevented, and the toner (T) can be mixed with a gas and transported. Therefore, the transport screw 2 rotating in the transport housing 1 or the transport housing 1
When the conveying screw 2 and the powder pump 4 that rotate within the pump are commonly used, even if the conveying housing 1 and the conveying screw 2 slide and convey a long distance,
It has become possible to provide a small-sized toner transport device 0 that transports the toner (T) also to a portion where high-quality image formation is performed while preventing the occurrence of toner condensate and abnormal images.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an example of the powder pump.
In the powder pump 4, an inlet valve 4b is held so as to be swingable in the direction of arrow B shown in the figure opposite to a suction port 4e communicating with the upstream side of the toner transport tube 1, and is located downstream of the toner transport tube 4d. The outlet valve 4c is swingably held in the direction of the arrow C shown in the figure in opposition to the connected outlet 4f, and the rotation of the cam 4g driven by a drive source (not shown) causes the diaphragm 4a to move in the direction of the arrow D or When the toner (T) is mixed with gas and sucked in the direction opposite to the arrow D shown in the drawing, the inlet valve 4b opens the inlet 4e, the outlet valve 4c closes the outlet 4f, and the toner (T) is closed. When mixing (T) with the gas and discharging, the inlet valve 4b closes the suction port 4e and the outlet valve 4c opens the discharge port 4f, so that the toner (T) is mixed with the gas and flows in. Intermittent outflow It is adapted to transport feed in to. Therefore, the toner (T) reliably passes through the toner transport tube 4d with the simple configuration and the intermittent feeding of the low-cost gas pump 4 and is reliably prevented from clogging with time. It has become possible to provide the toner conveying device 1 capable of conveying. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are configuration diagrams of an example of the toner supply device. The toner supply device 10 includes the toner container 11 for storing the toner (T), and one or a plurality of detachable toner containers. A toner bottle 13, a toner bottle driving mechanism 14 that rotates to discharge the toner (T) from the toner bottle 13, and a toner discharge port 12 that discharges the toner (T) stored in the toner container 11. And the toner transport device 0 that transports the toner (T) discharged from the toner discharge port 12, and supplies the toner (T) to the developing position from a position away from the developing position of the developing means 52 (not shown). It has become. Accordingly, when the conveying screw 2 rotating in the conveying housing 1 or the conveying screw 2 rotating in the conveying housing 1 and the powder pump 4 are shared, the conveying housing 1 and the conveying screw 2 are used. Even if the distance of the sliding movement of the toner 2 is long and far from the developing position, the toner (T) is transported to a place where high-quality image formation is performed by preventing the occurrence of toner condensate and abnormal images. The toner supply device 10 including the small-sized toner conveyance device 0 can be provided.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of an example of an image forming apparatus to which the toner conveying apparatus of the present invention is applied. The digital copying machine of the image forming apparatus 50 including the toner conveying apparatus 0 is a known electrophotographic type. And a drum-shaped photoconductor of the image carrier 51 is provided therein. Around the drum-shaped photoreceptor of the image carrier 51, a charger 55 for performing an electrophotographic copying process, an exposing unit 56, the developing unit 52, and the transferring unit 5 are arranged along the rotation direction of the arrow E shown in the figure.
3. A cleaning means 54a for the image carrier of the cleaning means 54 and a cleaning means 54b for the transfer means 53 are arranged. The exposing unit 56 forms an electrostatic latent image on the drum-shaped photoreceptor of the image carrier 51 based on an image signal read by a reading unit 58 of a document placed on a document placing table 57 on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 50a. To form The electrostatic latent image formed on the drum-shaped photoconductor of the image carrier 51 is visualized by the developing unit 52 to form a toner image. On the developing means 52,
The toner conveying device 0 is provided, and the new toner (T) which is conveyed and replenished from the toner container 11 for storing the new toner (T) of the toner supply device 10 comprising the toner conveying device 0 is provided. Image carrier 5
A toner (T) collected and reused by the first image carrier cleaning means 54a or a developing hopper 52a for mixing and replenishing them is provided. The waste toner (T) collected by the cleaning means 54b of the transfer means 53 is collected and discarded in a waste toner container 59. In the developing hopper 52a, the new toner (T) or the collected toner (T) is supplied via the toner supply device 10 and the toner transport device 0 disposed on the cleaning means 54a of the image carrier 1.
Is mixed with a gas, transferred and transported. The toner image formed on the drum-shaped photoreceptor of the image carrier 51 is electrostatically transferred by the transfer unit 53 onto a transfer sheet of a transfer target (P) fed from a sheet feeding device 60. . The transfer sheet of the transfer-receiving body (P) onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 61 and fixed, and then discharged to the discharge tray 62 to be stored. Therefore, when the transport screw 2 rotating in the transport housing 1 or the transport screw 2 rotating in the transport housing 1 and the powder pump 4 are used in common, the transport housing 1 and the transport Even when the screw 2 is slid and conveyed for a long distance and away from the developing position, it prevents the toner condensate and abnormal image from occurring and conveys the toner to a place where high-quality image formation is performed. Provided are a toner transport device, a toner supply device including the toner transport device, and an image forming apparatus including the toner transport device.

[0014]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the toner for forming the toner image at the developing position is supplied or collected from a position distant from the developing position. A transport screw that is contained in a hollow tubular transport housing made of an elastic body and that transports the toner by rotation from the transport housing entrance of the transport housing to the transport housing outlet side is rotationally driven by the transport rotary drive means to rotate the toner. The conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing, or the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder pump are shared, the conveying housing and the conveying screw slide to convey. Even if the distance is long and it is far from the developing position, it prevents damage due to heating, toner Also points to be performed by the image forming quality now is able to provide a toner conveying device for conveying the toner. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the toner for forming the toner image at the developing position is contained in the hollow tube-shaped transport housing made of an elastic body which supplies or recovers the toner from a position remote from the developing position, and the toner is rotated and driven. The transport screw made of an elastic material that is transported from the transport housing entrance of the transport housing to the transport housing outlet side is rotated by the transport rotation driving means to transport the toner, so that the degree of freedom of the toner transport path is improved. When the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing or the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder pump are used in common, the conveying housing slides and the conveying screw slides for a long distance to convey and develop. High quality image formation by preventing damage due to heating, toner condensate and abnormal images even at a distance It has become possible to provide a compact toner conveying device for conveying the toner in place to be performed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the toner for forming the toner image at the developing position is contained in the hollow tube-shaped transport housing made of an elastic material made of silicon for supplying or recovering the toner from a position remote from the developing position. The transport screw that transports the toner from the transport housing inlet port side of the transport housing to the transport housing discharge port side by the rotational drive is driven to rotate by the transport rotation driving means to transport the toner, so that the toner is rotated in the transport housing. When the conveying screw or the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder pump are used in common, even if the conveying housing slides and the conveying screw slides for a long distance to be conveyed away from the developing position, heating is performed. To prevent high-quality image formation by reliably preventing damage, toner condensation and abnormal images It has become possible to provide a toner conveying device for conveying the toner. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the toner for forming a toner image at the developing position is supplied or recovered from a position distant from the developing position, and is contained in the hollow tube-shaped transport housing made of an elastic material made of a silicon material, and is rotationally driven. The transport screw made of an elastic material that transports the toner from the transport housing entrance of the transport housing to the transport housing discharge port side is rotated by the transport rotation driving means to transport the toner. The degree of freedom is increased, and the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing, or when the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder pump are shared, the distance that the conveying housing and the conveying screw slide and convey is reduced. Even if it is long and away from the development position, it reliably prevents damage due to heating, toner condensate and abnormal images To provide a compact of the toner conveying device for conveying the toner in place to be subjected to the high-quality image formation Te has become possible. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the toner for forming the toner image at the developing position is contained in the hollow tube-shaped transport housing made of an elastic body which supplies or collects the toner from a position distant from the developing position, and the toner is rotated and driven. The transport screw for transporting the transport housing from the transport housing entrance side to the transport housing outlet side is rotationally driven by the transport rotary drive means, and the toner transported from the transport housing outlet port of the transport housing is mixed with a gas by a powder pump. Since the toner is conveyed in the conveying housing, the degree of freedom of the conveying path of the toner is increased, and the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing or the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder pump are commonly used. , The distance that the transfer housing slides and the transfer screw slides is longer, and it is further away from the developing position. Can have, damage due to heat, now it is possible to provide a toner conveying device for conveying the toner in place performed to prevent occurrence of toner condensation 隗 and abnormal images of high quality image formation.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the toner for forming the toner image at the developing position is contained in the hollow tube-shaped transport housing made of an elastic body for supplying or recovering from a position distant from the developing position, and is rotated. The transport screw for transporting the toner from the transport housing entrance of the transport housing to the transport housing discharge port side is rotated by the transport rotation drive means, and the toner transported from the transport housing discharge port of the transport housing is connected to the powder pump by the connection means. And the toner is conveyed by mixing with the gas, so that the degree of freedom of the toner conveying path is expanded, and the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing or the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder When the pump and pump are used in common, the transport housing and the transport screw slide to move Is longer and further away from the developing position, a toner transport device that reliably prevents damage due to heating, toner condensate and abnormal images, and transports toner to a location where high-quality image formation is performed. It can now be provided. According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the toner for forming the toner image at the developing position is contained in the hollow tube-shaped transport housing made of an elastic body which supplies or collects the toner from a position distant from the developing position, and the toner is rotated and driven. The transport screw that transports the transport housing from the transport housing entrance to the transport housing outlet is rotated by transport rotary drive means, and the toner transported from the transport housing outlet of the transport housing is connected to the powder pump by connection means. The toner is conveyed by being mixed with the gas by the mixing auxiliary member, so that the degree of freedom of the toner conveying path is increased, and the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing or the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder are mixed. When the pump and pump are shared, the transport housing and the transport screw slide to transport Even if the distance is longer and further away from the developing position, toner clogging, damage due to heating, toner condensate and the occurrence of abnormal images are reliably prevented, and toner can be applied to places where high-quality image formation is performed. Can be provided.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the toner for forming the toner image at the developing position is contained in the hollow tube-shaped transport housing made of an elastic body which supplies or recovers the toner from a position distant from the developing position, and is rotationally driven. The transport screw that transports the toner from the transport housing entrance of the transport housing to the transport housing discharge port side is rotated by transport rotation driving means, and the toner transported from the transport housing discharge port of the transport housing is connected to the toner by the connection means. Is connected to a powder pump that intermittently feeds in and out alternately by mixing with the gas and mixes with the gas to transfer the toner. Conveying screw rotating inside,
Alternatively, when the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder pump are used in common, even if the distance that the conveying housing slides and the conveying screw is conveyed by sliding is longer and further away from the developing position, the toner It is possible to provide a toner transport device that reliably prevents clogging, damage due to heating, toner condensate, and occurrence of an abnormal image and transports toner to a location where high-quality image formation is performed. According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the toner that forms the toner image at the developing position is contained in the hollow tube-shaped transport housing made of an elastic body that supplies or recovers the toner from a position distant from the developing position, and the toner is rotated and driven. The transport screw that transports from the transport housing entrance of the transport housing to the transport housing discharge port side is rotationally driven by the transport rotation drive means, and the toner transported from the transport housing discharge port of the transport housing is connected to the transport screw by the operation of the diaphragm. The inlet valve and the outlet valve are opened and closed to mix the toner with the gas, alternately inflow and outflow, and connect it to a powder pump that intermittently sends out the toner. With a configuration and low cost, the degree of freedom of the toner transport path is expanded, and the transport screw or transport that rotates inside the transport housing When the conveying screw rotating in the housing and the powder pump are used in common, even if the conveying housing slides and the conveying screw slides for a longer distance and is further away from the developing position, toner clogging occurs. It has become possible to provide a toner transport device that transports toner to a location where high-quality image formation is performed by reliably preventing damage due to heating, toner condensate, and occurrence of abnormal images.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the toner discharged from the toner discharge port for discharging the toner stored in the toner container storing the toner is contained in the hollow tubular transport housing made of an elastic material. The transfer screw for transferring the toner from the transfer housing inlet port of the transfer housing to the transfer housing discharge port side by the rotation drive is rotated by the transfer rotation driving means to transfer the toner, and the toner is transferred from the developing position to a toner transfer device. Since the toner is supplied to the position, the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing, or when the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder pump are shared, the conveying housing and the conveying screw slide. Damage due to heating, toner condensation Providing a toner supply device supplies toner to point to the place of the high quality of the image formed by preventing the occurrence of abnormal image is now possible. According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the toner image formed by the developing means for forming the toner image by visualizing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier for carrying the formed image is transferred to the transfer-receiving member. When the toner is transferred to the developing unit, the toner supplied to the developing unit is contained in a hollow tubular conveying housing made of an elastic body, and the toner is conveyed from the conveying housing entrance of the conveying housing to the conveying housing discharge port by rotation. The toner is fed from a position distant from the developing position to a developing position by a toner conveying device that conveys the toner by driving the conveying screw to be rotated by the conveying rotation driving means so that an image is formed. Transport screw,
Or, when the conveying screw rotating in the conveying housing and the powder pump are used in common, even if the conveying housing slides and the conveying screw slides and the conveying distance is long and is away from the developing position, damage due to heating, It has become possible to provide an image forming apparatus including a toner transport device that transports toner to a portion where high-quality image formation is performed while preventing the occurrence of toner condensate and abnormal images. According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the toner image formed by the developing unit that forms the toner image by visualizing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier that carries the formed image is transferred to the transfer object. The recovery toner collected by the cleaning means for recovering the toner remaining on the image carrier or the transfer means after the transfer by the transfer means is contained in a hollow tube-shaped transfer housing made of an elastic material, and the toner is transferred by rotation. A transporting screw that transports the toner by transporting the toner by rotating the transport screw that transports from the transport housing entrance side of the housing to the transport housing discharge port side and supplies the collected toner to the developing position from a position away from the developing position by a toner transport device that transports the toner. To form an image, so that the transport screw rotates in the transport housing or the transport rotates in the transport housing. When the crawl and the powder pump are used in common, even if the transport housing and the transport screed are slid and transported far away from the developing position, damage due to heating, generation of toner condensate and abnormal images may occur. Thus, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus including a toner conveying device for conveying a toner to a portion where high quality image formation is performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a toner conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of the toner conveying device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a toner supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the toner conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

0 toner transport device 1 transport housing, 1a transport housing entrance, 1
b Conveying housing discharge port 2 Conveying screw 3 Conveying rotation driving means, 3a Gear train 4 Powder pump, 4a Diaphragm, 4b Inlet valve, 4c Outlet valve, 4d Toner conveying tube, 4e
Inlet, 4f Outlet, 4g Cam 5 Connecting means, 5a Toner mixing auxiliary member 5b Container 10 Toner supply device 11 Toner container 12 Toner outlet 13 Toner bottle 14 Toner bottle drive mechanism 50 Image forming device, 50a Device body 51 Image carrying Body 57 Document placement table 58 Document reading means 52 Developing means, 52a Development hopper 53 Transfer means 54 Cleaning means, 54a Cleaning means,
54b Cleaning means 55 Charger 56 Exposure means 57 Document table 58 Reading means 59 Waste toner container 60 Paper feeder 61 Fixing means 62 Paper discharge tray

Claims (12)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus includes: a toner conveying device that mixes a toner that forms a toner image at a developing position with a gas and conveys the toner to be supplied or collected from a position distant from the developing position; A hollow tubular transport housing made of an elastic body that supplies or recovers from a position distant from the developing position; and a transport housing discharge port that is included in the transport housing and that rotates and drives the toner from the transport housing transport inlet side of the transport housing. A transport screw for transporting the transport screw to the side, and transport rotation driving means for rotationally driving the transport screw. 2. The toner conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying screw is made of an elastic material. 3. The toner transport device according to claim 1, wherein the transport housing is an elastic body made of a silicon material. 4. The toner conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying screw is an elastic body made of a silicon material. 5. The toner transporting device according to claim 1, wherein the transport housing comprises a powder pump that mixes the toner transported from the transport housing outlet with a gas and transports the mixed toner. Toner transport device. 6. The toner conveying device according to claim 5, wherein the conveying housing includes connection means connected to the powder pump to mix the toner with a gas and discharge the gas. 7. The toner conveying device according to claim 6, wherein the connecting means comprises a mixing auxiliary member for mixing the discharged toner with a gas. 8. The toner conveying device according to claim 6, wherein the powder pump mixes the toner with the gas, alternately inflows and outflows the toner, and intermittently sends out the toner. 9. The toner conveying device according to claim 6, wherein the powder pump opens and closes an inlet valve and an outlet valve by operation of a diaphragm. 10. A toner supply device for supplying toner from a position distant from a development position to a development position, a toner container for storing toner, a toner discharge port for discharging toner stored in the toner container, and a toner discharge port. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the toner discharged from the outlet is conveyed.
A toner supply device comprising: the toner transport device according to any one of 6, 7, 8 and 9. 11. An image forming apparatus for forming an image by conveying toner for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier in an electrophotographic system to supply the toner from a position distant from a developing position. An image carrier for carrying a formed image, developing means for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier to form a toner image, and transferring the toner image formed by the developing means to 3. A transfer means for transferring to a body, and conveying toner supplied to said developing means.
An image forming apparatus comprising the toner conveying device or the toner supply device according to any one of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. 12. An image forming an image by forming an image by collecting and supplying toner for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier in an electrophotographic system from a position distant from a developing position. In a forming apparatus, an image carrier for carrying a formed image, developing means for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier to form a toner image, and a toner image formed by the developing means A transfer unit that transfers the toner to the transfer target, a cleaning unit that collects residual toner remaining on the image carrier or the transfer unit after the transfer by the transfer unit, and a collection unit that collects the collected toner collected by the cleaning unit. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the toner is transported to a developing unit.
An image forming apparatus comprising: the toner conveying device or the toner supply device according to any one of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.