JPH07219328A - Electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve maintainability by decreasing frequency in toner cartridge replacement, in an electrophotographic device provided with a toner-recycling mechanism. CONSTITUTION:Not only the toner cartridge 7a is set in a developing device 3 but also the toner cartridge 7b is set in a cleaner 5, and toner set in the cleaner 5 is carried to the developing device by means of a toner-carrying mechanism. Thus, an amount of toner which is supplied for development is increased. Also, both the toner cartridges 7a and 7b are integrated. Therefore, the frequency in toner cartridge replacement decreases, and maintainability improves by replacing the toner cartridge 7 when the toners in both the toner cartridges 7a and 7b are used up, thereby completing the cartridge replacement only at one time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile, and more specifically, a toner recycling method in which toner collected from a photoconductor by a cleaning device is returned to a developing device. The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus having a mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
For example, in a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer or the like, after the toner image developed by the developing device is transferred onto the recording medium, the toner remaining on the photoconductor is removed by the cleaning device, and the surface of the photoconductor is cleaned.

Conventionally, the toner removed by the cleaning device is stored in the cleaning device, and when the toner in the cleaning device is full, it is collected and discarded. However, in recent years, there has been proposed a device in which the toner removed by the cleaning device is sent again to the developing device for reuse so as to effectively use the resources.

Generally, in an apparatus having such a toner recycling mechanism, a toner conveying mechanism is provided between the cleaning device and the developing device arranged around the photosensitive drum, and the toner conveying mechanism is provided inside the cleaning device. The toner is conveyed to the developing device. Alternatively, there is also one in which a cleaning device is provided above the developing device, and a part of both is connected so that the toner removed by the cleaning device is dropped or sent to the developing device.

By the way, when the toner in the developing device is used up, it is necessary to perform maintenance such as replenishing the toner or replacing the toner cartridge. However, when the amount of toner set in the developing device is small, it frequently occurs. Therefore, not only is it necessary to perform maintenance, which is troublesome, but also the device operability decreases. In order to solve this, the amount of toner set in the developing device may be increased.

[0006]

However, in the electrophotographic apparatus, generally, the optical writing for forming the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor is performed immediately before the developing device (on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the photoconductor). ), It is necessary to secure a light path for writing near the developing device, and the optical path may be obstructed when the toner cartridge or the like is enlarged. In many cases, the amount of toner that can be set is limited.

Therefore, the present inventors have proposed to increase the amount of toner in an electrophotographic apparatus having a toner recycling mechanism so that the toner can be supplied not only to the developing apparatus but also to the cleaning apparatus. Even in such a case, when the toner cartridges are individually attached to both the developing device and the cleaning device, if the toner in each toner cartridge is replaced every time the toner cartridges are replaced, it takes time and labor, and the device mobility also decreases. There is a problem of doing.

Further, when it is necessary to replace not only the toner cartridge but also a component having a relatively short life such as a charging device arranged around the photosensitive member, it is possible to replace them individually. There is a problem that maintenance work is required and the device mobility is lowered.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems in the conventional electrophotographic apparatus having a toner recycling mechanism,
An object is to provide an electrophotographic apparatus with improved maintainability.

[0010]

According to the present invention, the above-mentioned problem is provided with a photoconductor, and a developing device and a cleaning device as image forming process means arranged around the photoconductor. In an electrophotographic apparatus having a toner recycling mechanism for returning the toner collected from a photoconductor to the inside of the developing device, a toner cartridge containing toner for supplying to the developing device and a toner for supplying to the cleaning device are stored. This is solved by integrally providing the above-mentioned toner cartridge.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention proposes to integrally provide a charging device for charging the photoconductor with the toner cartridge.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention proposes to detachably mount a charging device for charging the photoconductor on the toner cartridge.

[0013]

The toner cartridge is attached not only to the developing device but also to the cleaning device to increase the amount of toner that can be used for the developing operation. Moreover, by integrally configuring both of the toner cartridges, the replacement frequency of the toner cartridges is reduced, and the maintainability is improved.

Other functions will be apparent from the description of the embodiments below.

[0015]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the vicinity of an image forming section of an electrophotographic apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the developing device 3 and the cleaning device 5 are arranged to face each other with the photoconductor drum 1 interposed therebetween. A toner carrying mechanism 6 for carrying recycled toner is provided between the developing device 3 and the cleaning device 5. Further, the developing device 3 and the cleaning device 5 each include a toner cartridge 7a containing toner for replenishing the respective devices.
And a toner cartridge 7 that is integrally configured with 7b is mounted. The toner cartridge 7 is integrally provided with the charger 2. The charger 2 is a contact charging device composed of conductive fibers on a brush.
Further, the toner cartridge 7 is provided with a beam passage 8 for guiding the writing laser beam 9 to the photoconductor 1. On the other hand, a transfer roller 4 is installed just below the photosensitive drum 1. In addition, a separation charger (not shown) and the like are arranged around the photosensitive drum 1.

The operation of the electrophotographic apparatus of this embodiment will be briefly described. The photosensitive drum 1 rotates clockwise in the figure, and its outer peripheral surface is uniformly charged positively or negatively by the charger 2. Then, the laser beam 9 is irradiated, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1. The electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by the developing device 3. On the other hand, the recording paper is conveyed to the transfer position between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 4 from a paper feeding device (not shown) at a timing,
The toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to the recording paper. The recording paper on which the toner image is transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 1 by a separation charger (not shown), and the unfixed toner image on the recording paper is fixed by a fixing device (not shown).
It is discharged outside the aircraft.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the toner image is transferred onto the recording paper is cleaned by the cleaning device 5, and the residual toner is collected in the cleaning device 5.
In the cleaning device 5, the collected toner (recycled toner) and the toner (of the cartridge 7b) set in the cleaning device 5 are mixed and are transported to the developing device 3 by the toner transport mechanism 6. The toner conveyed to the developing device 3 is further agitated and mixed with the toner (of the cartridge 7a) set in the developing device 3 and provided for the developing operation.

By using the device, the toner cartridge 7
When the toner in the toner cartridge is finished (both the toners in the cartridges 7a and 7b are both finished), the toner cartridge 7
Is removed from the developing device 3 and the cleaning device 5, and is replaced with a new toner cartridge, that is, a toner cartridge filled with toner. In the present embodiment, the developing device 3, the cleaning device 5, the toner cartridge 7 mounted on them, and the like can be taken out of the machine as a process unit. Therefore, when the toner cartridge 7 is attached to or detached from the developing device 3 and the cleaning device 5,
It can be easily performed outside the aircraft. It should be noted that even if one of the toners set in the developing device 3 and the cleaning device 5 is finished first, there is no problem in the developing operation. Therefore, even if the toners in the cartridges 7a and 7b do not end at the same time, the toner cartridge 7 may be replaced when the toner in both cartridges ends.

2 and 3 are views showing a toner cartridge mounted in this embodiment. As shown in these drawings, the toner cartridge 7 has a toner storage portion 13
The bottom portion of the sheet is sealed by the sheet material 12. This sheet material 12 has one end of the sheet material 12 fixed to one side of the cartridge case at the bottom of the toner cartridge 7, and the sheet material 1 to the other side of the cartridge case.
The other side of 2 is glued. Further, the sheet material 12 is folded back in the middle, and the end portion on the side opposite to the side fixed to the cartridge case is fixed to the sheet take-up roller 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the toner cartridge 7 is attached to the developing device 3 and the cleaning device 5 and the handle 10 is rotated in the direction of arrow m, the sheet material 12 is taken up by the sheet take-up roller 11. The toner T stored in the toner storage portion falls into the developing device 3 or the cleaning device 5, and the toner is replenished.

In the present embodiment, the toner is set not only in the developing device 3 but also in the cleaning device 5, so that
Even if the size of the toner cartridge 7a that can be set in the developing device 3 is limited because it is necessary to secure the beam passage 8, the toner cartridge 7b is also set in the cleaning device 5, thus increasing the amount of toner that can be used in the developing operation. Thus, the toner replenishment frequency can be reduced.
Moreover, since the toner cartridge 7a of the developing device 3 and the toner cartridge 7b of the cleaning device 5 are integrally formed, the cartridges can be exchanged once at the time when the toners in both the cartridges are finished,
Improves maintainability. In addition to securing the beam passage, even if the size of the toner cartridge that can be set in the developing device is limited due to the layout of parts inside the device, the present invention can increase the amount of toner to be used for the developing operation. Therefore, it is effective for improving the maintainability.

Further, in this embodiment, since the period in which the toner in the toner cartridge 7 is consumed by the image forming operation is almost the same as the life of the charger, when the toner cartridge 7 is replaced, Since the charging device 2 provided integrally therewith is replaced, the trouble of replacing the charging device 2 alone is saved, and the maintainability is further improved.

By the way, if the charger 2 provided integrally with the toner cartridge 7 is detachably provided from the toner cartridge 7, the toner cartridge which is removed from the developing device 3 and the cleaning device 5 after the toner is exhausted is re-installed. Can be used. In other words, if you remove the charging device that has reached the end of its life from the empty toner cartridge and then install a new charging device and fill the cartridge with toner, the toner cartridge can be reused, saving resources and costs. can do. In addition, when refilling with new toner, it is necessary to seal the bottom of the cartridge with the above-mentioned sheet member 12, so the removed toner cartridge may be collected at a service center or the like to replace the charging device and refill the toner.

4 and 5 show another embodiment of the present invention. In the electrophotographic apparatus shown in FIG. 4, the charger 14 is a contact charging device composed of a thin plate elastic body. Has become. Further, in the electrophotographic apparatus shown in FIG. 5, the charger 15 is a roller-shaped contact charging device. In both of the embodiments, the configuration other than the charger is the same as that of the embodiment described with reference to FIGS.

[0026]

As described above, according to the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention, the toner is set not only in the developing device but also in the cleaning device. Therefore, even when the amount of toner that can be set in the developing device is limited. The amount of toner that can be used in the developing operation can be increased, and the frequency of toner replenishment can be reduced. Moreover, since the toner cartridge of the developing device and the toner cartridge of the cleaning device are integrally configured, the cartridge can be easily replaced once and the maintainability can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the charging device is provided integrally with the toner cartridge, the charging device is also replaced when the toner cartridge is replaced. Therefore, it is possible to save the trouble of exchanging the charging device independently, and to improve the maintainability.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the charging device is detachably attached to the toner cartridge. Therefore, if the used toner cartridge is filled with toner and the charging device is replaced, the toner cartridge can be reused, and the resource can be reused. And cost can be saved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a configuration near an image forming unit in an embodiment of an electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of a toner cartridge of the electrophotographic apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing how the toner cartridge is attached to a developing device or a cleaning device.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the configuration of still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Photoreceptor 2, 14, 15 Charging Device 3 Developing Device 4 Transfer Roller 5 Cleaning Device 6 Toner Conveying Mechanism 7 Toner Cartridge 8 Beam Passage 9 Laser Light T Toner

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G03G 15/02 101 21/10 (72) Inventor Yasushi Nakazato 1-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 6 In Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hajime Kai 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In-house Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Satoshi Muramatsu 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Shares In Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Masako Suzuki 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Company Ricoh (72) Inventor Nobuto Yokokawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Company Ricoh

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive member, and a developing device and a cleaning device as image forming process means arranged around the photosensitive member, and the toner collected from the photosensitive member by the cleaning device is introduced into the developing device. In an electrophotographic apparatus having a returning toner recycling mechanism, a toner cartridge containing toner to be supplied to the developing device and a toner cartridge containing toner to be supplied to the cleaning device are integrally provided. An electrophotographic device characterized in that 2. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a charging device that charges the photosensitive member is provided integrally with the toner cartridge. 3. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a charging device that charges the photosensitive member is detachably attached to the toner cartridge.