JP2009025768A - Toner-accommodating container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change the capacity of a toner-accommodating container or the like if necessary. <P>SOLUTION: A waste toner container 70 is arranged to a color printer 1 and accommodates toner which remains in a photoreceptor drum 21 after an image-forming operation is finished. The container has a container main body 701 which has an aperture 713, through which toner can pass, and is freely expandable and contractive, as the whole, so that its accommodation capacity may be variable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner storage container, and more particularly to a toner storage container capable of storing toner remaining on an electrostatic latent image carrier after an image forming operation.

  An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image based on image information, a paper feeding unit that feeds paper, and a paper conveyance unit that conveys the paper in the paper feeding unit to the image forming unit. I have. In this image forming apparatus, an image formed on the basis of the image information in the image forming unit is transferred to the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit.

Here, the image forming unit includes an electrostatic latent image carrier that can carry an electrostatic latent image based on image information, a developing device that can supply a developer to the electrostatic latent image, and an electrostatic latent image after the image forming operation. A developer cleaning device for cleaning the toner remaining on the image carrier and a toner storage container are provided. In this image forming unit, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier based on the image information, and toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image from the developing device. Then, the toner image formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier is transferred onto a sheet. Thereafter, the toner remaining on the electrostatic latent image carrier without being transferred to the paper is cleaned by a developer cleaning device, and the developer cleaned by the developer cleaning device is stored in a toner storage container (Patent Document 1). reference).
JP 2005-338397 A

  In the image forming apparatus, residual toner is generated by the image forming operation. Therefore, it is desirable that the capacity is large in order to reduce the trouble of replacing the toner storage container for storing the residual toner. On the other hand, considering the transportation aspect, it is desirable that the toner container has a small capacity because a large number of toner containers can be transported at one time. In addition, the toner storage container is generally arranged in an empty space such as around the paper feed cassette of the paper supply unit, and since the shape of the empty space is diverse, a container with a fixed shape is not available. It is difficult to use space effectively.

  Here, the toner storage container described in Patent Document 1 is partially extendable, but the shape of the toner storage container cannot be changed. For this reason, depending on the shape of the empty space, there is a possibility that the empty space cannot be used effectively, and the amount of increase in the capacity of the toner container is small.

  An object of the present invention is to make it possible to change the capacity of a toner storage container and the like as needed.

  A toner storage container according to claim 1 is a toner storage container which is disposed in an image forming apparatus and can store toner remaining on an electrostatic latent image carrier after an image forming operation, and has a passage opening through which the toner can pass. It has a container body that can be expanded and contracted as a whole so that the storage volume is variable.

  When the toner container is set in the image forming apparatus, it can be set by deforming its shape (storage volume) into a desired shape, such as a state where the whole is expanded or contracted.

  Here, since the entire toner storage container can be expanded and contracted, the capacity of the toner storage container can be changed as necessary, and the shape can be changed according to the shape of the installation space. For this reason, it is easy to set and transfer the image forming apparatus.

  A toner storage container according to a second aspect is the toner storage container according to the first aspect, wherein the entire container body is formed in a bellows shape.

  Here, since the whole is formed in a bellows shape, the extending direction can be changed in the middle, and it becomes easy to arrange according to the shape of the empty space. For this reason, it becomes easy to effectively use the empty space.

  A toner storage container according to claim 3 is the toner storage container according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a developer transport mechanism capable of transporting toner into the interior of the container body, wherein the container body is a developer transport mechanism. It is stretched by the toner conveyed by.

  Here, it is not necessary to extend the toner storage container when setting the toner storage container in the image forming apparatus, and the labor of extending the toner storage container during installation can be saved.

  A toner container according to a fourth aspect is the toner container according to the third aspect, wherein the developer transport mechanism includes a roller having an elliptical cross section disposed inside the container body and in the vicinity of the passage opening. The developer is compressed between the wall surface of the container body and the toner is conveyed into the container body.

  Here, since the toner can be stored in the toner storage container in a compressed state, the toner storage efficiency is improved.

  A toner storage container according to a fifth aspect is the toner storage container according to the third aspect, wherein the developer transport mechanism is disposed in the vicinity of the passage opening of the container main body, and one end is fixed to the ceiling surface of the container main body. A sheet-like member, and a paddle for swinging the sheet-like member at a constant period to convey toner.

  A toner container according to a sixth aspect is the toner container according to the third aspect, wherein the developer transport mechanism has a coil spring that passes through the passage opening and extends into the container main body.

  Here, the developer can be efficiently conveyed by the coil spring, and the container body can be extended by bringing the coil spring into contact with the wall surface of the container body.

  A toner container according to a seventh aspect is the toner container according to the third aspect, wherein the container main body has a spiral groove formed at least on the inner peripheral surface thereof. The developer transport mechanism transports the toner into the container body by rotating the container body.

  Here, the toner can be transported into the container body.

  In the present invention, the capacity and shape of the toner container can be changed as necessary.

[First Embodiment]
1. Configuration FIG. 1 shows a color printer 1 having a waste toner container as a toner storage container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for showing the arrangement of each component, and details of each part are omitted. Note that an arrow A in FIG. 1 indicates the circulation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 81.

  The color printer 1 is connected to a computer (not shown) or the like, and is a device that can print a color image on paper based on image information transmitted from an external computer or the like.

  The color printer 1 includes an image forming unit 2 that forms an image based on image information, a paper transport unit 3 that transports a paper, a fixing unit 4 that fixes an image formed by the image forming unit 2 to the paper, A discharge unit 5 that discharges the paper to the top of the color printer 1, a paper feed unit 6 that stores the paper, a transfer device 8 that transfers an image onto the paper, and an outer frame 9 are provided.

  The image forming unit 2 includes four toner image forming units 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d for forming toner images of different colors. The four toner image forming units 2a to 2d are arranged in a row in the horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the photosensitive drum 21, the developing device 22, the charging device 24, and the exposure device 25 are respectively provided. A cleaning device 26, a toner container 27, and a waste toner container 70 that is not shown in FIG. Here, the toner image forming portion 2a is a portion that forms a black image, the toner image forming portion 2b is a portion that forms a yellow image, and the toner image forming portion 2c is a portion that forms a cyan image. The toner image forming unit 2d is a part for forming a magenta image.

  The photosensitive drum 21 is a member capable of carrying an electrostatic latent image formed based on image information. The rotation axis of each photosensitive drum 21 extends in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG.

  The developing device 22 is a device for supplying a developer to the photosensitive drum 21 and is disposed in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 21. The developing device 22 includes a developing roller 221, a mag roller 222, and two developer stirring screws 223. The developing roller 221 is a member for supplying toner to the photosensitive drum 21 and extends in the same direction as the direction in which the photosensitive drum 21 extends. The magnet roller 222 is a member for supplying developer to the developing roller 221 and is provided in the vicinity of the developing roller 221. The mag roller 222 has a plurality of magnets inside. The two developer agitating screws 223 are members for agitating the developer in the developing device 22, and are arranged side by side in the developing device 22.

  The charging device 24 is a device for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 21, and is disposed below the photosensitive drum 21 and adjacent to the photosensitive drum 21.

  The exposure device 25 is a portion that irradiates the photosensitive drum 21 with light based on the image information, and is disposed above the photosensitive drum 21 and at a position where light can be irradiated between the charging device 24 and the developing device 22. Has been. Specifically, it is disposed above the developing device 22 and the toner container 27.

  The cleaning device 26 is a device for cleaning the photosensitive drum 21 and removing residual toner and the like, and includes a cleaning roller 261 and a cleaning blade 262. Further, the cleaning device 26 is disposed on the side of the photosensitive drum 21 in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 21. The cleaning roller 261 is a member that removes transfer residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 to the inside of the apparatus, and is disposed in parallel with the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 21. The cleaning blade 262 is close to the photosensitive drum 21. The cleaning blade 262 is a member for scraping the residual toner that has not been removed by the cleaning roller 261 from the photosensitive drum 21 and collecting it in the apparatus. The cleaning device 26 is connected to a waste toner container 70 described later, and the collected residual toner is conveyed to the waste toner container 70 (see FIG. 2).

  The toner containers 27 of the image forming units are members that store toner that can be supplied to the developing device 22 and are arranged side by side. Specifically, magenta, cyan, yellow, black, and black toner are stored in each toner container 27 from the left side of FIG. When the toner in the developing device 22 decreases, the toner is supplied from the toner container 27 to the developing device 22. Further, the toner container 27 has two stirring members 271 for stirring the toner therein. Here, two toner containers 27 are connected to the black developing device 22. The reason why the two toner containers 27 are arranged with respect to the black developing device 22 is that the black toner is used for both the monochromatic image forming operation and the color image forming operation, and is consumed most.

  The waste toner container 70 is a container for storing toner cleaned by the cleaning device, and is disposed around the paper feed cassette 61. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the waste toner container 70 is connected to the cleaning device 26 by a waste toner transport pipe 100 and has a container body 701. The waste toner transport pipe 100 has a coil spring disposed therein, and the developer is transported to the waste toner container 70 by rotating the coil spring. The container main body 701 can store waste toner and has an opening connected to the waste toner conveyance pipe 100, and is entirely formed to be extendable and contractible. Specifically, the whole is bellows-like. Moreover, since the container body 701 is entirely formed of a member having low rigidity such as polypropylene, it can be easily expanded and contracted. Here, the waste toner container 70 can store waste toner discharged from all the image forming units, and is provided in the color printer 1.

  The paper transport unit 3 is a part that transports the paper of the paper feed unit 6 in the order of the image forming unit 2, the fixing unit 4, and the discharge unit 5, and includes a transport belt 31.

  The fixing unit 4 is a part for fixing the image formed on the sheet by the image forming unit 2, and includes a pressure roller 41 and a heating roller 42.

  The discharge unit 5 is a part for discharging the paper having the image fixed on the surface thereof to the outside of the color printer 1 and is provided on the side part.

  The paper feed unit 6 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 61 that can store various types of paper. The paper feeding unit 6 is disposed at the lower part of the color printer 1.

  The transfer device 8 is a device for transferring an image formed on each photoconductive drum 21 onto a sheet, and is disposed below each photoconductive drum 21. The transfer device 8 includes an intermediate transfer belt 81, a driving roller 82, a tension roller 83, a first transfer roller 84, a second transfer roller 85, a belt cleaning device 86, and a belt support roller 87. is doing. The intermediate transfer belt 81 is an annular belt and can carry an image on its surface. The driving roller 82 is a roller for circulating the intermediate transfer belt 81, and is rotated by a motor (not shown). The tension roller 83 is a member for applying tension to the intermediate transfer belt 81 and is disposed so as to face the driving roller 82. The first transfer roller 84 is a roller for bringing the intermediate transfer belt 81 into contact with the paper, and supports the intermediate transfer belt 81 from the inside. The second transfer roller 85 is a member for transferring the image on the intermediate transfer belt 81 to the sheet together with the first transfer roller 84, and is disposed at a position facing the first transfer roller 84. The belt cleaning device 86 is a device for cleaning the toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 81. The belt support roller 87 is a member for supporting the intermediate transfer belt 81 in contact with the photosensitive drum 21, and is disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum 21.

  The outer frame 9 is a member in which the image forming unit 2, the fixing unit 4, the transfer device 8, and the like can be arranged.

2. Operation When image information is sent from an externally connected computer or the like, the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is charged, light is irradiated from the exposure device 25 based on the image information, and the electrostatic latent image is transferred onto the photosensitive drum 21. Formed. Then, a developer is supplied from the developing device 22 to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 21, and a developer image is formed on the photosensitive drum 21. The developer image is transferred while being superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 81, and a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 81. At this time, the sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit 6 is conveyed by the sheet conveying unit 3 to a portion that contacts the intermediate transfer belt 81, and the color image carried on the intermediate transfer belt 81 is transferred to the sheet. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed to the fixing unit 4 by the sheet conveying unit 3, and the color image is fixed on the sheet. The sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 4 is discharged from the discharge unit 5 to the outside of the apparatus. Note that. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 21 is cleaned by the cleaning device 26. The waste toner stored in the cleaning device 26 is transported to the waste toner container 70 via the waste toner transport pipe 100.

  Next, an operation when the waste toner container 70 is set in the color printer 1 will be described.

  The waste toner container 70 is conveyed in a reduced form and is stretched when being set in the color printer 1. When the waste toner container 70 is set, the waste toner container 70 is installed along the shape of the empty space of the color printer 1. For example, when an empty space is formed in a substantially “U” shape around the paper feed cassette 61, the waste toner container 70 is extended in an approximately “U” shape and disposed in the empty space.

  Here, the capacity and shape of the waste toner container 70 can be changed as necessary. For this reason, an empty space can be used effectively.

[Second Embodiment]
1. Configuration Since the configuration other than the configuration of the waste toner container 71 is the same as that of the first embodiment, only the configuration of the waste toner container 71 will be described.

  FIG. 3 shows a waste toner container 71 according to the second embodiment. The waste toner container 71 will be described with reference to FIG. The waste toner container 71 is a member for storing residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 21 after the image forming operation, and is connected to the cleaning device 26 via the waste toner transport pipe 100. The waste toner container 71 includes a container body 711 and a developer transport roller 712.

  The container body 711 is extendable as a whole. Specifically, like the container main body 701 of the first embodiment, the whole is formed in a bellows shape. Further, the container body 711 has an opening 713 through which waste toner can pass, and the waste toner is conveyed from the waste toner conveyance pipe 100.

  The developer transport roller 712 is a roller member having an elliptical cross section, and is disposed in the container body 711 and in the vicinity of the opening 713. The developer transport roller 712 is a member that compresses waste toner with the container body 711 as it rotates and transports the compressed toner into the container body 711.

2. Operation Since the image forming operation is the same as that in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted, and the operation when the waste toner is conveyed from the cleaning device 26 to the waste toner container 71 will be described.

  When the waste toner is conveyed from the cleaning device 26 to the vicinity of the opening 713, the toner is compressed with the rotation of the developer conveying roller 712 and conveyed into the container main body 711.

  Here, the capacity of the waste toner container 71 can be changed as necessary. And an empty space can be used effectively. Since the waste toner is compressed and conveyed by the developer conveying roller 712, it can be efficiently stored in the container main body 711.

[Third Embodiment]
1. Configuration Since the configuration other than the configuration of the waste toner container 72 is the same as that of the first embodiment, only the configuration of the waste toner container 72 will be described.

  FIG. 4 shows a waste toner container 72 according to the third embodiment. The waste toner container 72 will be described with reference to FIG. The waste toner container 72 is a member for collecting residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 21 after the image forming operation, and is connected to the cleaning device 26 via the waste toner transport pipe 100. The waste toner container 72 includes a container body 721, a developer transport paddle 722, and a developer transport lumira 723.

  The container body 721 as a whole is stretchable in at least one direction, and is formed of a material having low rigidity (easily deformable) such as polyethylene. Specifically, like the container main body 701 of the first embodiment, the whole is formed in a bellows shape. The container main body 721 has an opening 724 through which the waste toner transport pipe 100 is connected and through which waste toner can pass, and the waste toner is transported from the waste toner transport pipe 100.

  The developer transport paddle 722 is a member for swinging the developer transport lumiller 723, and has a configuration in which a plurality of blade portions are attached to a rotation shaft. The developer transport paddle 722 is disposed in the vicinity of the opening 724 inside the container main body 721 and is a member extending along the width direction of the container main body 721.

  The developer transport lumira 723 is a member for transporting the waste toner transported from the cleaning device 26 through the opening 724, and is disposed at a position where the developer transport paddle 722 can be contacted. The developer conveying lumira 723 is a plate-like member extending along the width direction of the container body 721, and one end in the width direction is fixed to the upper surface of the container body 721. The developer transport lumira 723 is formed of an elastically deformable material, and the blade portion pushes the developer transport lumira 723 along with the rotation of the developer transport paddle 722. The developer transport paddle 722 is periodically rotated to push and move the developer transport lumira 723 to transport the toner.

2. Operation When the waste toner container 72 is set in an empty space, it is set in a contracted state. The developer transport paddle 722 rotates at a constant period, and the developer transport lumira 723 is periodically swung. At this time, when the waste toner is transported from the cleaning device 26, the waste toner passes through the opening 724 and is transported by the swinging motion of the developer transport lumira 723. That is, the toner is conveyed by being blown from the opening 724 side to the back side of the container main body 72. The wall surface of the waste toner container 72 is pushed and moved by the waste toner, and the waste toner container 72 extends according to the capacity of the waste toner.

  Here, the capacity of the waste toner container 72 can be changed as necessary. Also, the free space can be used effectively. Then, the toner can be efficiently conveyed to the back side of the container main body 721.

[Fourth Embodiment]
1. Configuration Since the configuration other than the configuration of the waste toner container 73 is the same as that of the first embodiment, only the configuration of the waste toner container 73 will be described.

  FIG. 5 shows a waste toner container 73 according to the fourth embodiment. The waste toner container 73 will be described with reference to FIG. The waste toner container 73 is a member for collecting the residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 21 after the image forming operation, and is connected to the cleaning device 26 via the waste toner transport pipe 100. The waste toner container 73 includes a container main body 731 and a developer conveying spring 732.

  The entire container body 731 is extendable in at least one direction, and is formed of a material having low rigidity such as polyethylene. Specifically, like the container main body 701 of the first embodiment, the whole is formed in a bellows shape. Further, the container body 731 has an opening 733 through which waste toner can pass, and the waste toner is conveyed from the waste toner conveyance pipe 100.

  The developer conveying spring 732 is a member for conveying waste toner to the back side (right side in FIG. 5) of the container main body 731, and a part of the developer conveying spring 732 is disposed inside the waste toner conveying pipe 100. It extends from the toner conveying pipe 100 to the inside of the container main body 731. Further, the developer transport spring 732 is a member that rotates when transporting the waste toner, and the front end pushes the back side wall surface of the container body 731 as the amount of waste toner inside the container body 731 increases.

2. Operation When the waste toner container 73 is set in the color printer 1, the waste toner container 73 is set in a contracted state. As the amount of waste toner in the container main body 731 increases, the developer side wall surface of the container main body 731 is moved by the developer conveying spring 732. Stretched out.

  Here, the capacity of the waste toner container 73 can be changed as necessary. And an empty space can be used effectively. Further, since the waste toner container 73 can be set in the color printer 1 in a contracted state, it becomes easy to set.

[Fifth Embodiment]
1. Configuration Since the configuration other than the configuration of the waste toner container 74 is the same as that of the first embodiment, only the configuration of the waste toner container 74 will be described.

  FIG. 6 shows a waste toner container 74 according to the fifth embodiment. The waste toner container 74 will be described with reference to FIG. The waste toner container 74 is a member for collecting residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 21 after the image forming operation, and is connected to the cleaning device 26 via the waste toner transport pipe 100. The waste toner container 74 includes a container main body 741. The container main body 741 as a whole can be expanded and contracted in at least one direction. Specifically, like the container main body 701 of the first embodiment, the whole is formed in a bellows shape. Further, the container body 741 has a spiral groove 742 formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof, and is rotated around a rotation axis extending in the same direction as the longitudinal direction by a drive mechanism (not shown).

2. Operation In the waste toner container 74, when the waste toner is conveyed from the cleaning device 26, the waste toner is accumulated in the spiral groove. Then, the container main body 741 is rotated by a drive mechanism (not shown), and the waste toner is conveyed along the spiral groove 742 to the back side of the container main body 741 (the right side in FIG. 6) as the container main body 741 rotates.

  Here, the capacity of the waste toner container 74 can be changed as necessary. And an empty space can be used effectively. Further, since the shape of the waste toner container 74 is substantially cylindrical, it can be easily arranged depending on the shape of the empty space.

1 is an overall schematic diagram of a color printer. FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of a waste toner container. Sectional drawing of the waste toner container of 2nd Embodiment. Sectional drawing of the waste toner container of 3rd Embodiment. Sectional drawing of the waste toner container of 4th Embodiment. Sectional drawing of the waste toner container of 5th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Color printer (image forming device)
21 Photosensitive drum (electrostatic latent image carrier)
70 Waste toner container (toner storage container)
71 Waste toner container (toner storage container)
72 Waste toner container (toner storage container)
73 Waste toner container (toner storage container)
74 Waste toner container (toner storage container)
100 Waste Toner Pipe 701 Container Body 711 Container Body 712 Developer Conveyance Roller (Roller)
713 Opening (passage opening)
721 Container body 722 Developer transport paddle (Developer transport mechanism)
723 Lumira for developer transport (Developer transport mechanism)
724 opening (passage)
731 Container Body 732 Developer Conveying Spring (Developer Conveying Mechanism)
733 opening (passage)
741 Container body 742 Spiral groove

Claims (7)

A toner storage container disposed in the image forming apparatus and capable of storing toner remaining on the electrostatic latent image carrier after the image forming operation;
The container body has a passage body through which toner can pass, and the container body that can be expanded and contracted as a whole so that the storage volume is variable.
Toner storage container.   The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the container main body is formed in a bellows shape as a whole. A developer transport mechanism capable of transporting toner into the container body;
The container body is extended by the toner conveyed by the developer conveying mechanism;
The toner storage container according to claim 1. The developer transport mechanism includes a roller having an elliptical cross section disposed inside the container body and in the vicinity of the passage port, and compresses toner between the wall surface of the container body and the container body. To transport the toner inside
The toner storage container according to claim 3. The developer transport mechanism is disposed in the vicinity of the passage opening of the container main body, and has a sheet-like member whose one end is fixed to the ceiling surface of the container main body, and the sheet-like member is swung at a constant period to thereby generate toner. A paddle for transporting,
The toner storage container according to claim 3. The developer transport mechanism includes a coil spring that extends through the passage opening to the inside of the container body.
The toner storage container according to claim 3. The container body has a spiral groove formed on the inner peripheral surface,
The developer transport mechanism transports toner into the container body by rotating the container body;
The toner storage container according to claim 3.

Images