JP2005208441A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a configuration of an apparatus without using a separate toner storage container by using an internal space of a photoreceptor drum as a member for storing waste toner. <P>SOLUTION: A cleaning device 17 provided with a blade 18 is used to scrape toner from a photoreceptor drum 11 and the waste toner discharged therefrom is carried into the drum 11 by using a waste toner carrying means 40. In a waste toner carrying system, the waste toner is carried inside the drum 11 and at the lower part of the device 17 with a screw carrying mechanism 46 as a relay device, so that the carrying system is constituted as the system in a hermetically enclosed state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning device that forms a toner image using an electrophotographic method, transfers the toner image onto a sheet, and then cleans the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum, and accommodates waste toner generated by the cleaning. It is related with the apparatus to do.

The toner image formed on the photoconductive drum using the electrophotographic method remains partially adhered to the surface of the photoconductive drum even after it is transferred to the paper, and the waste that remains on the photoconductive drum. The toner is removed using a cleaning device. In addition, in a small image forming apparatus, a brush-like member is rubbed and dispersed with respect to waste toner remaining on the photosensitive drum, and the surface of the photosensitive drum is charged using a charging brush or the like. In some cases, a mechanism that does not collect waste toner is configured by mixing and reusing waste toner and newly supplied toner. In general, waste toner scraped off by a cleaning device after a toner image is transferred from a photosensitive drum to a sheet includes toner, paper powder, and fine powder adhered to the sheet. Therefore, in the apparatus for discarding the waste toner, generally, a system in which the collected waste toner is stored in a toner collection bottle or the like and discarded together with the bottle at an arbitrary timing is generally used. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-179975

  In order to accommodate the waste toner collection bottle around the recording unit of the image forming apparatus, a means for searching for an empty space in the apparatus and setting the shape of the bottle according to the space is used. It has been. However, since the bottle is accommodated so as to close the spare space in the apparatus, there is a problem that the spare space is lost in the recording unit of the apparatus. In addition, when the cleaning device and the bottle are separated from each other, it is necessary to provide a long conveying means, and there is a problem that the overall configuration of the device becomes more complicated. Problems such as overflowing remained.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide means that can easily cope with a case where a waste toner storage means is not provided in the apparatus and that can be processed together with a photosensitive drum.

The present invention is provided in a recording unit of an image forming apparatus, and a means for removing waste toner adhering to the photosensitive drum by lightly rubbing the blade on the surface of the photosensitive drum, and inside the photosensitive drum main body. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a cleaning device provided with a storage unit that stores the waste toner.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, after the toner image is transferred to the paper, the waste toner scraped off from the surface of the photosensitive drum by the blade is conveyed by a conveying unit, and is transferred to a waste toner storage portion inside the photosensitive drum. The waste toner is accommodated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the waste toner container provided inside the photosensitive drum is provided with a toner moving means from the inlet portion toward the back side,
The toner moving means conveys toner inside the photosensitive drum by the rotation of the photosensitive drum.

  The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that a bucket conveyor-like conveying member is used as the toner moving means between the photosensitive drum and the cleaning device.

  Since the present invention constitutes the waste toner storage means as described above, it is not necessary to search for an empty space and attach a bottle, and the conveyance path can be shortened. Since the waste toner can be processed at the same time when the photosensitive drum is discarded, the waste toner can be easily processed without imposing an unreasonable burden on the operator.

  As an image forming apparatus described below, in addition to a digital image forming apparatus, a FAX apparatus, an apparatus that combines both functions, or a general recording apparatus, which forms a toner image using an electrophotographic system However, the present invention can be applied to an apparatus that creates a copy recorded on paper. In the embodiment of the image forming apparatus, the recording unit 10 for recording using the electrophotographic method is provided inside the apparatus main body, and the image reading apparatus 20 and the ADF 30 are combined in the upper part of the apparatus main body 2. Provided. As the image reading device 20, a large-size platen capable of reading a document of a large-size book is provided, and the scanning device 25 is configured to be movable in the left-right direction in the figure over the entire upper portion of the device body. However, in the illustrated example, the scanning device 25 is provided at a fixed position in the upper frame 21.

  In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the paper feed unit 3 provided in the lower part of the apparatus body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 is equipped with one paper feed cassette 4, and the paper is conveyed by the paper feed roller 5. It is possible to feed out toward the path 6 and feed toward the recording unit 10. A plurality of paper feed trays 4 are installed in the paper feed unit, and a sheet of a specified size is selected from an arbitrary paper feed tray as in the case of a commonly used image forming apparatus. Thus, it can be configured as a device capable of feeding paper. In the paper transport path 6, transport roller devices 7 and 7a are arranged with a predetermined interval corresponding to the length of the paper transport path and the length of the minimum size paper.

  The paper sent out from the paper feed tray 4 has its leading end abutted against the upstream conveying roller device 7 of the image recording unit, and is given an extra feeding action by the downstream conveying roller device 7a to form a loop. And stopped in a consistent state. Then, according to the timing at which the toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum, the conveying roller device 7 is driven and conveyed toward the transfer portion from the photosensitive drum 11 of the recording unit 10.

  As in the case of a general electrophotographic apparatus, the recording unit 10 includes a charging member 14, a writing member 15, and a transfer member around the photosensitive drum 11 along the rotation direction. The rollers 16 are sequentially arranged. A developing device 12 is provided downstream of the writing member 15 with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 11, and the developing roller 13 is exposed corresponding to the photosensitive drum 11. In the recording unit 10, the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is uniformly charged by the charging member 14, and then the image light is irradiated by the writing member 15 to form an electrostatic latent image. By supplying toner from the developing roller 13 and attaching it to the electrostatic latent image, a visible image is formed as a toner image.

  The toner image is transferred onto the sheet by applying a voltage of a predetermined value from the transfer roller 16 when the sheet is conveyed while being nipped between the transfer rollers 16. The sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred passes through the fixing device 8 to fix the toner image, and is discharged to a discharge tray (not shown) by a discharge roller device 9. Further, after the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred to a sheet, the toner remaining without being transferred is scraped off by a blade provided on the memory removing member 17, and as will be described later, The toner is conveyed toward a toner storage portion formed inside the drum 11.

  In contrast to the apparatus main body 2 provided with the recording unit as described above, the image reading apparatus 20 disposed on the upper part thereof is provided with a scanning device 25 combined with the ADF 30 at a fixed position of the upper frame 21. As shown in the figure, the scanning device 25 comprises a plurality of mirrors, a lens 28 and a CCD 29 as one unit, and is fixed at a position corresponding to the platen 22 near the end of the upper frame 21. Provided. The scanning device 25 irradiates light from the lamp onto the document moved while sliding the image surface on the platen 22 so that the reflected light is reflected by a plurality of mirrors. An optical path having a predetermined length is set, and an image is formed on the CCD 29 by the lens 28, and the optical information reflected on the original is output as digital information.

  Corresponding to the scanning device 25, the ADF 30 that transports the document includes a document tray 35 and a discharge tray 36 that are arranged on the upper frame 21 so as to overlap each other with a predetermined interval. Yes. The ADF 30 provided with the document conveying path 32 connecting the two trays is, like the conventional automatic document conveying apparatus, below the curved portion of the document conveying path 32 which is configured in a substantially U shape in the horizontal direction. With the platen 22 provided, the originals taken out one by one by the paper feeding device 33 provided with the paper separating mechanism can be read while being conveyed in the original conveying path 32 at a constant speed. .

  In the recording unit 10 configured as described above, after the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 11 to the sheet, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum is removed as shown in FIG. It is scraped off by 17 blades 18. In the conventional general image reading apparatus, the toner scraped off by the blade 18 contains paper powder and the like released from the paper, and is collected and stored in a waste toner storage box or the like. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the waste toner collected by the cleaning device 17 is collected at the lower part of the blade 18, and the screw transport mechanism 19 disposed in parallel with the photosensitive drum 11 is used for the device. The toner is transported to one side and is transported and stored by the waste toner transport means 40 toward the waste toner storage portion formed inside the photosensitive drum 11.

  The waste toner conveying means 40 can be configured as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. First, as shown in FIG. 4, the side flange 11a of the photosensitive drum 11 is passed through and held rotatably. The drum bearing 41 is provided with a through hole 42. A screw 43 is provided in the inside of the photosensitive drum 11 and the through hole 42 so as to convey the toner from the right side to the left side in the drawing. As the screw, an arbitrary spiral member can be used, but in the example shown in the drawing, the wire has a diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the photosensitive drum and the inner diameter of the through hole 42 and has two types of diameters. What was formed as a continuous spiral is used. Then, the waste toner is provided so as to be moved toward the rear side by inserting it into each of them and rotating the photosensitive drum 11.

  The screw 43 is formed as a member having a diameter corresponding to the inner surface of the drum 11 and the inner surface of the through hole 42 of the drum bearing 41, so that the screw is rotated by the rotation of the photosensitive drum even inside the drum bearing 41. As a result, even if the drum bearing 41 does not rotate, the toner can be conveyed. The cleaning device 17 and the photosensitive drum 11 are connected by using a screw conveyance mechanism 46. The screw conveyance mechanism 46 includes a mechanism for rotating a coil spring-like screw inside a pipe. Any conventionally known screw conveyance mechanism or the like can be used.

  When a screw is used for the waste toner conveying means 40 for connecting the cleaning device 17 and the photosensitive drum, a screw conveying mechanism is provided between the chutes 45 and 47 disposed before and after the screw conveying mechanism 46. It is only necessary to carry at 46. Therefore, in the waste toner transport means 40, not all the transport paths are opened between the frame of the cleaning device and the photosensitive drum 11, and the waste toner transport system is configured in a substantially sealed state. can do. In the apparatus of the type in which waste toner is accommodated in the internal space of the photosensitive drum 11, the photosensitive drum 11 having a drum bearing 41 provided at a fixed position of the apparatus frame and a large bearing hole in the flange 11a is provided. The recording portion can be formed by being mounted so as to be combined with the drum bearing 41.

  Further, in an apparatus configured to be detachable from the recording unit of the apparatus as a photosensitive drum unit without replacing only the photosensitive drum 11 alone, the drum bearing 41 and the screw conveyance of the waste toner conveying means 40 are arranged on the apparatus main body side. A mechanism 46 may be provided, and the photosensitive unit in which the photosensitive drum 11 and the cleaning device 17 are integrated may be replaced. In addition, in the waste toner transport means 40, the screw 19 of the cleaning device 17 and the screw transport mechanism 46 are connected using any interlocking means to quickly remove the waste toner scraped off by the blade. Can be configured.

  In the waste toner conveying means 40, in addition to the case where all the conveying systems are configured using screws, as shown in FIG. 5, a bucket conveyor-like conveying mechanism can be used. In the example of the waste toner conveying means 50 described in FIG. 5, the chutes 45 and 47 provided on the end of the screw 19 of the cleaning device and the drum bearing 41 with respect to the photosensitive drum 11 are conveyed in a bucket conveyor shape. Connected with a device. In the waste toner conveying means 50, flights 52... Are provided at predetermined intervals on the inner surface of a belt member 51 that spans around pulleys 55 and 56 that are hypothesized using upper and lower screws as supporting shafts. . The flight 52... Provided on the belt can be U-shaped, linear, or any shape such as a dogleg in a side view. On the other hand, any operation may be used as long as the operation of discharging the waste toner can be performed in a good state.

  The bucket conveyor-like waste toner transport means sets a transport state in which when the waste toner is transported in the direction of raising the toner, the toner is held so as not to leak by flight and transferred to the upper chute. If possible, the configuration of the conveying member is not particularly limited. Further, in the waste toner transporting means for transporting the toner from the waste toner generation source toward the storage unit, the waste toner generated in the cleaning device 17 is 5 to 10% of the toner supplied from the developing device. Therefore, the drive mechanism (not shown) is driven at an arbitrary timing with respect to the screw and screw transport mechanism 46 provided in the cleaning device in accordance with the information on the number of recording sheets to be created. Can be configured. Therefore, for the screw or the like provided in the waste toner conveying means, a mechanism for conveying the waste toner by operating a driving mechanism that is driven at regular time intervals or at any time according to a program set in the control device. It may be used.

  In the waste toner conveyance system configured as described above, the photosensitive drum 11 that stores waste toner can be provided with a member that acts to push toner of an arbitrary mechanism therein. Further, by providing a member that exerts an action of pushing the toner toward the back in the internal space of the photosensitive drum, the waste toner collecting action can be performed in a good state. In addition, as a means provided to improve the waste toner storage capacity in the photosensitive drum, it is efficient to provide the screw, and the screw 43 is a screw 43 in which a wire like a wire is formed in a spiral. And the photosensitive drum is rotated so that the conveying action by the screw is performed. The screw may be inserted into the photosensitive drum after the drum of the photosensitive drum is formed. When the screw is provided so as to protrude into the shaft support member as shown in the illustrated example, the screw on the drum body side is provided. The screw is integrated with the screw, and the screw is rotated inside the shaft support.

  In addition, the means for transporting the toner inside the photosensitive drum can be constituted by any member, for example, an arbitrary plate such as an oblique plate protruding from the inside of the photosensitive drum. This can be done by providing a device that can demonstrate the transfer function. In addition to the screw and bucket conveyor as described in the above embodiment, any conventionally known powder conveying device can be used as a small toner conveying system for connecting the cleaning device and the waste toner container. It is possible to use a modified conveyor or the like according to the internal structure of the apparatus.

1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of the relationship between a photoconductor drum and a cleaning apparatus. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a waste toner conveyance system. It is explanatory drawing of the conveyance system provided in a photoconductor drum. It is explanatory drawing of another Example of a waste toner conveyance means.

Explanation of symbols

1 image forming apparatus, 2 apparatus main body, 3 paper feed unit, 4 paper feed tray,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Feed roller, 6 Conveyance path, 7 Conveyance roller apparatus, 8 Fixing apparatus, 9 Ejection roller apparatus, 10 Recording part, 11 Photosensitive drum,
12 developing device, 13 developing roller, 14 charger, 15 writing member, 16 transfer roller, 17 cleaning device, 18 blade,
19 screw, 20 image reading device, 21 upper frame,
22 platen, 25 scanning device, 28 lens, 29 CCD,
30 ADF, 31 ADF main body, 32 document transport path, 33 paper feeder, 35 document tray, 36 discharge tray, 40/50 waste toner transport means,
41 drum bearing, 42 through-hole, 43 screw,
45 ・ 47 Chute, 46 Screw transport mechanism,
51 belt, 52 flight, 55/56 pulley.

Claims (3)

Means for removing waste toner attached to the photosensitive drum by lightly rubbing the blade on the surface of the photosensitive drum, provided in the recording unit of the image forming apparatus;
In the image forming apparatus having a cleaning device provided with an accommodating portion for accommodating the waste toner inside the photosensitive drum main body,
After transferring the toner image onto the paper, the waste toner scraped off from the surface of the photosensitive drum by the blade is conveyed by a conveying means,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the waste toner is stored in a waste toner storage portion inside the photosensitive drum. The waste toner container provided inside the photoconductive drum is provided with toner moving means from the entrance to the back side,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner moving unit conveys toner within the photosensitive drum by an operation of rotating the photosensitive drum.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a conveying member having a bucket conveyor shape is used as the toner moving unit between the photosensitive drum and the cleaning device.

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