Toner conveying device, cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A toner conveying device includes a conveying screw and a swing member. The conveying screw includes a shaft portion and a screw portion helically wound around the shaft portion. The swing member has a generally comb-tooth shape and swings between the shaft portion and the screw portion with rotation of the conveying screw, the swing member including: a plurality of projecting portions arranged side by side at intervals in an axial direction of the conveying screw; and a plurality of tip portions each bent at a predetermined angle from a free end side of a corresponding one of the plurality of projecting portions toward a direction away from the shaft portion. An axial width of each of the plurality of tip portions is formed to gradually increase from a portion in contact with the screw portion to the free end side of each of the plurality of tip portions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a toner conveying device for conveying toner such as waste toner, a cleaning device including the toner conveying device, a processing box including the cleaning device, and an electronic photographic imaging device such as a copier, a printer, a fax machine or a multi-function peripheral having the functions of the above machines. Background Art

[0002] In image forming apparatuses using an electrophotographic method such as copying machines and printers, there is known a technique in which a toner conveying device that conveys toner such as waste toner is provided in a cleaning device.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for preventing toner conveyed by the conveyor screw from agglomerating within a cleaning device by using a comb-shaped agitator (oscillating member) that is oscillatingly positioned between the shaft of a conveyor screw and a spiral blade (screw portion). Specifically, the agitator includes a plurality of overhangs arranged side by side at regular intervals in the agitator's axial direction, and a plurality of curved portions (tops) that curve from the free ends of the overhangs.

[0004] The technology of Patent Document 1 provides a comb-shaped oscillating member that oscillates between the shaft and screw of the conveying screw to stir the toner in the device, and can be expected to significantly reduce the problem of toner aggregation in the device.

[0005] However, in the technology such as Patent Document 1, there may be a problem that the swing member (agitator) is caught in the conveying screw. If the above problem occurs, failures such as device drive lock and swing member damage may occur.

[0006] Citation List

[0007] Patent Literature

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. JP-6638495-B (JP-2017-167491-A) Summary of the Invention

[0009] Technical issues

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a toner conveying device, a cleaning device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus that can prevent a swinging member from being caught in a conveying screw and reduce malfunctions caused by toner aggregation within the device.

[0011] Solutions to the Problem

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, a toner conveying device includes a conveying screw and a swinging member. The conveying screw rotates in a predetermined direction and conveys toner, and includes a shaft portion and a screw portion spirally wound around the shaft portion. The swinging member is generally comb-tooth-shaped and swings between the shaft portion and the screw portion as the conveying screw rotates. The swinging member includes: a plurality of protrusions arranged side by side at a certain interval in the axial direction of the conveying screw; and a plurality of front end portions, each of which is bent at a predetermined angle from the free end side of a corresponding one of the plurality of protrusions toward a direction away from the shaft portion. The width of each of the plurality of front end portions in the axial direction of the conveying screw is formed to gradually increase from at least the portion in contact with the screw portion toward the free end side of each of the plurality of front end portions.

[0013] Effects of the present invention

[0014] According to aspects of the present invention, a toner conveying device, a cleaning device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus can be provided that can prevent a swinging member from being caught in a conveying screw and reduce malfunctions of toner aggregation in the device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The accompanying drawings are intended to illustrate example embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope thereof. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the accompanying drawings should not be considered to be drawn to scale. Furthermore, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar components throughout the several views.

[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall structure of an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0017] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a process cartridge and the vicinity of the process cartridge of an imaging device;

[0018] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the toner conveying device along the axial direction;

[0019] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a toner conveying device;

[0020] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the swing component along the axial direction;

[0021] Figure 6 It is a perspective view of the swinging part;

[0022] Figures 7A to 7D is a schematic diagram illustrating the action of the swinging member;

[0023] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the front end portion of the swing member contacts the screw portion of the conveying screw;

[0024] Figure 9A is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the extended portion of the swing member contacts the shaft portion of the conveying screw;

[0025] Figure 9B This is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the tip end portion of the swing member contacts the screw portion of the conveying screw. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and are not intended to be limiting of the invention.As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0027] In describing the embodiments shown in the drawings, specific terms are used for clarity. However, the disclosure of this specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terms selected, and it should be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have similar functions, operate in a similar manner, and achieve similar results.

[0028] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions thereof are appropriately simplified or omitted.

[0029] First, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the overall structure and operation of the imaging device 1 are described. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an imaging apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 It is shown installed in Figure 1 1 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of the process cartridge 10Y (serving as an image forming unit) for yellow in the image forming apparatus 1 of FIG. It should be noted that the four process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK (serving as image forming units) have substantially the same structure except for the color of the toner used in the image forming process. Figure 2 Only the process cartridge 10Y is shown as a representative.

[0030] exist Figure 1In the figure, the imaging device 1 as a tandem color copier of this embodiment has: a writing device 2, an original feeding device 3, and a scanner 4 (as an original reading device). The writing device 2 emits a laser according to the input image data, the original feeding device 3 feeds the original D to the scanner 4, and the scanner 4 reads the image data from the original D. The imaging device 1 also has: a paper feeding device 7 (in this case, multiple paper feeding devices 7), a positioning roller pair 9, and four processing boxes 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK (as imaging units). The paper feeding device 7 stores sheets of paper, the positioning roller pair 9 adjusts the conveying timing of paper, and the processing boxes 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK form yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images, respectively. The imaging device 1 also has: a primary transfer roller 16 and an intermediate transfer belt 17. The primary transfer roller 16 transfers the toner image to the photosensitive drum 11 (refer to Figure 2 ) is superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 17 to form a multi-color toner image. The imaging apparatus 1 further includes a secondary transfer roller 18, a belt cleaning blade 19a, and a fixing device 20. The secondary transfer roller 18 transfers the multi-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 onto paper, the belt cleaning blade 19a cleans the intermediate transfer belt 17, and the fixing device 20 fixes the multi-color toner image (unfixed image) onto the paper.

[0031] The following describes the operation of the imaging apparatus 1 during normal color image formation. The document feeder 3 uses a conveyor roller to feed a document D from a document table onto the exposure glass 5 of the scanner 4. The scanner 4 optically reads the image data of the document D placed on the exposure glass 5 and transmits the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black image data to the writer 2. Based on this yellow, magenta, cyan, and black image data, the writer 2 irradiates the photoreceptor drums 11 (serving as image carriers) of the process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK with laser light L (serving as exposure light).

[0032] On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 11 (see FIG. 1 ) in each of the four process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK Figure 2 ) along the predetermined direction (i.e. Figure 2 The counterclockwise direction in the figure) rotates, the charging device 12 (see Figure 2 ) The surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is uniformly charged at positions facing each other (charging process). As a result, a charging potential is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. Subsequently, the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 11 reaches the irradiation position receiving the laser beam L. The writing device 2 emits laser beams L corresponding to four colors from four light sources according to the image data. Each laser beam L passes through a different optical path according to the components of yellow, magenta, cyan and black (exposure process).

[0033] Laser beam L for yellow component is emitted to Figure 1 On the surface of the first photosensitive drum 11 (serving as an image carrier) of the four processing boxes 10Y, 10M, 10C and 10BK, which is the first photosensitive drum 11 among the photosensitive drums 11 of the four processing boxes 10Y, 10M, 10C and 10BK, the high-speed rotating polygonal mirror deflects the laser beam L for the yellow component, so that the laser beam L scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 along the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 11 (i.e., the main scanning direction), thereby forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the yellow component on the photosensitive drum 11 charged by the charging device 12.

[0034] Similarly, the laser beam L for the magenta component is irradiated onto the surface of the second photosensitive drum 11, which is the second from the left, of the processing box 10M to form an electrostatic latent image for magenta thereon, the laser beam L corresponding to the cyan image data is irradiated onto the surface of the third photosensitive drum 11, which is the third from the left, to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the cyan image data, and the laser beam L corresponding to the black image data is irradiated onto the surface of the fourth photosensitive drum 11, which is the fourth from the left, to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the black image data.

[0035] Then, the surface of the photoreceptor drum 11 having each electrostatic latent image reaches a position opposite to the corresponding developing device 13 (see FIG. Figure 2 ), the developing device 13 supplies toner of various colors onto the surface of the photoreceptor drum 11, and develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum 11 into a visible toner image (development process). Next, the surface of the photoreceptor drum 11 after the development process reaches a position facing the intermediate transfer belt 17 (i.e., the primary transfer nip). The primary transfer rollers 16 are arranged at the position where the photoreceptor drum 11 faces the intermediate transfer belt 17 and are in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17. At the position of the primary transfer rollers 16, the toner image on the photoreceptor drum 11 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 17 and overlaps with each other to form a multi-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 (primary transfer process).

[0036] After the primary transfer process, the surface of the photoreceptor drum 11 passes through the discharge lamp and reaches a position opposite to the cleaning device 14 (see FIG. Figure 2 ), in which position, the cleaning blade 14a (see Figure 2 ) removes the attached matter, such as toner (i.e., untransferred toner), attached to the surface of the photoreceptor drum 11, and collects the removed toner into the cleaning device 14 (cleaning process). The untransferred toner collected into the cleaning device 14 is conveyed by the conveying screw 15a (see FIG. Figure 2 ) is transported to the outside of the cleaning device 14 and then collected as waste toner in a waste toner container. Then, the surface of the photoreceptor drum 11 passes through the discharge lamp and a series of image forming processes performed on the photoreceptor drum 11 are completed.

[0037] On the other hand, by transferring and superimposing the single-color toner images on the photosensitive drum 11, a multi-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 17. Figure 1 In the process, the intermediate transfer belt 17 carrying the multi-color toner image moves clockwise and reaches a position opposite to the secondary transfer roller 18. The secondary transfer roller 18 transfers the multi-color toner image carried on the intermediate transfer belt 17 to the paper (secondary transfer process). After the secondary transfer process, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17, which serves as the image carrier, reaches a position opposite to the belt cleaning device 19. The belt cleaning device 19 collects the untransferred toner (attached matter) that has adhered to the intermediate transfer belt 17 by the cleaning blade 19a, thus completing the series of transfer processes on the intermediate transfer belt 17.

[0038] The paper is conveyed from the paper feed device 7 to the secondary transfer nip between the intermediate transfer belt 17 and the secondary transfer roller 18 via the registration roller pair 9. More specifically, the paper feed roller 8 conveys a sheet material including a plurality of sheets of paper from the paper feed device 7, and then the paper conveyance guide guides the sheet to the registration roller pair 9 (which functions as a timing roller pair). The paper that has reached the registration roller pair 9 is conveyed to the secondary transfer nip at a timing that coincides with the arrival of the multi-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17.

[0039] The paper onto which the multi-color toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 20 by a conveyor belt. The fixing device 20 includes a fixing belt and a pressure roller that are pressed against each other to form a fixing nip. In the fixing nip, the multi-color toner image is fixed on the paper. After the fixing process, the output roller pair discharges the paper as an output image to the outside of the main body of the imaging device 1, thereby completing a series of image forming processes.

[0040] like Figure 2 As shown, in the process cartridge 10Y, a photoreceptor drum 11 as an image carrier, a charging device 12 (charging roller), a developing device 13, and a cleaning device 14 are integrated into one unit. The cleaning device 14 includes a toner conveying device 15.

[0041] The photoreceptor drum 11 used as the image carrier in this embodiment is a negatively charged organic photoreceptor drum, which includes a photosensitive layer formed on a drum-shaped conductive support member. For example, the photoreceptor drum 11 is multi-layered, with a bottom layer as an insulating layer, a charge generation layer and a charge transfer layer as a photosensitive layer, and a surface layer (i.e., a protective layer) stacked in sequence on a conductive support member as a base layer. Figure 2 It is driven by the driving motor to rotate counterclockwise.

[0042] Reference Figure 2The charging device 12 is a charging roller comprising a conductive core and an elastic layer having a medium resistivity covering the conductive core. The charging device 12 applies a predetermined voltage from a charging power source, the predetermined voltage comprising an alternating current (AC) voltage superimposed on a direct current (DC), to uniformly charge the surface of the photoreceptor drum 11 facing the charging device 12.

[0043] The developing device 13 includes a developing roller 13a positioned opposite the photoreceptor drum 11, a first conveying screw 13b positioned opposite the developing roller 13a, a second conveying screw 13c positioned opposite the first conveying screw 13b via a partition, and a scraper 13d positioned opposite the developing roller 13a. The developing device 13a includes multiple magnets and a sleeve that rotates around the magnets. The magnets are fixed and generate magnetic poles around the circumference of the developing roller 13a. The magnets generate multiple magnetic poles (the sleeve) on the developing roller 13a, which supports the developer G on the developing roller 13a. The developing device 13 accommodates a two-component developer G consisting of toner T and carrier C.

[0044] The cleaning device 14 includes a cleaning blade 14a, an inlet seal 14b as a seal, a toner conveying device 15, etc. The cleaning blade 14a contacts the photoreceptor drum 11 as an image carrier and cleans the surface of the photoreceptor drum 11. The toner conveying device 15 is arranged in the width direction, i.e., the axial direction of the photoreceptor drum 11 or perpendicular to the axial direction of the photoreceptor drum 11. Figure 2 The untransferred toner collected in the cleaning blade 14 a is transported in the paper surface direction.

[0045] The cleaning scraper 14a is a plate-shaped component made of a rubber material such as polyurethane rubber, and is supported by a support plate (held in the housing of the cleaning device 14) in a cantilever structure. The cleaning scraper 14a contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 at a predetermined angle and with a predetermined pressure, whereby the cleaning scraper 14a mechanically scrapes off and collects into the cleaning device 14, for example, the colorant adhering to the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. Examples of attachments adhering to the photosensitive drum 11 include paper dust generated from paper, discharge products generated on the photosensitive drum 11 during discharge of the charging device 12, and additives to the colorant. According to this embodiment, the cleaning scraper 14a contacts the photosensitive drum 11 in the reverse direction relative to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 11.

[0046] The inlet seal 14b, a sealing member, is a generally rectangular sheet-like member made of a rubber material such as polyurethane rubber and having a thickness of 0.05 to 0.15 mm. This flexible member is supported by a cantilever structure within the housing of the cleaning device 14. This inlet seal 14b contacts the surface of the photoreceptor drum 11 downstream of the cleaning blade 14a in the direction of rotation of the photoreceptor drum 11, with the flat surface of the inlet seal 14b partially contacting the surface of the photoreceptor drum 11. This inlet seal 14b functions as a sealing member to prevent toner (untransferred toner) collected in the cleaning device 14 from leaking to the outside.

[0047] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the conveying screw 15a is provided in the toner conveying device 15. The conveying screw 15a includes a shaft portion 15a1 and a screw portion 15a2 spirally wound around the shaft portion 15a1. The conveying screw 15a rotates in a predetermined direction to convey toner (such as untransferred toner and other attached materials collected in the cleaning device 14). Figure 2 and Figure 3 When the toner in the cleaning device 14 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow, the toner in the cleaning device 14 moves in the axial direction (i.e. perpendicular to the Figure 2 The paper direction shown and Figure 3 The Figure 3 The toner discharged into the waste toner conveying passage 40 of the cleaning device 14 is discharged in the direction indicated by the thick arrow. The toner discharged into the waste toner conveying passage 40 is conveyed by the waste toner conveying screw 40a and collected in the waste toner container. The conveying screw 15a receives the driving force of the driving motor through the gear train to rotate the photoreceptor drum 11 and rotates the photoreceptor drum 11. Figure 2 The conveying screw 15a includes a screw portion 15a2 having a screw pitch (screw pitch) X formed on the shaft portion 15a1. In this embodiment, a swing member 15b (see FIG. 1 ) is provided for preventing toner from agglomerating in the toner conveying device 15 (cleaning device 14). Figure 4 ), but this embodiment will be described in detail later.

[0048] Refer to the following Figure 2 The above-mentioned image forming process is described in more detail. Figure 2 In the developing device 13, when the first conveying screw 13b and the second conveying screw 13c are arranged by the partition plate as shown in FIG. Figure 2 During the rotation shown, the developer G circulates in the longitudinal direction of the developing device 13 and is agitated with the new toner T supplied from the toner supply unit 30 through the toner supply inlet. The longitudinal direction of the developing device 13 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the developing device 13. Figure 2The toner T is thus triboelectrically charged and attracted to the carrier C. The toner T and the carrier C are then carried on the developing roller 13a. The developer G carried on the developing roller 13a reaches a position opposite the scraper 13d. After the scraper 13d is adjusted to an appropriate position, the developer G on the developing roller 13a reaches a position opposite the photoreceptor drum 11 (i.e., the developing area).

[0049] In the development zone, toner T in the developer G adheres to the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum 11. The toner T adheres to the electrostatic latent image due to the development electric field formed by the potential difference between the latent image potential (i.e., exposure potential) of the image area illuminated by the laser beam L and the development bias voltage (i.e., development potential) applied to the developing roller 13a. Most of the toner T adhering to the photoreceptor drum 11 during the development process is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 17. The untransferred toner T adhering (residual) to the surface of the photoreceptor drum 11 is collected by the cleaning blade 14a in the cleaning device 14. The surface of the photoreceptor drum 11 then passes through the eraser lamp station. After these processes, the series of image formation processes on the photoreceptor drum 11 is complete.

[0050] The toner supply unit 30 of the image forming apparatus 1 (main body) includes a replaceable toner bottle 31 and a toner hopper 32. The toner hopper 32 holds and drives the toner bottle 31 to rotate and supplies new toner T to the developing device 13. Each toner bottle 31 is filled with new toner T ( Figure 2 Yellow toner in the figure). A spiral protrusion is provided on the inner circumference of the toner bottle 31. As the toner T in the developing device 13 is consumed, new toner T in the toner bottle 31 is supplied to the developing device 13 through the toner supply inlet. The consumption of toner T in the developing device 13 is detected directly or indirectly by a magnetic sensor provided below the second conveying screw 13 c in the developing device 13.

[0051] The following describes the structure and operation of the toner conveying device 15 (cleaning device 14) according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 The toner conveying device 15 includes a conveying screw 15a (a screw portion 15a2 is wound around the shaft portion 15a) that rotates in a predetermined direction and conveys the toner. Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , in this embodiment, a swinging member 15b is provided in the toner conveying device 15 (cleaning device 14). The swinging member 15b is a flexible sheet-like member made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or the like, having a thickness of 0.075 to 0.5 mm, and is capable of swinging between the shaft portion 15a1 and the screw portion 15a2 as the conveying screw 15a rotates.

[0052] Specifically, if Figure 4As shown by the double arrow in FIG, the free end of the swing member 15b (excluding the support portion 15b1 supported by the device housing) is in contact with the screw portion 15a2 according to the rotation cycle of the conveying screw 15a ( Figure 4 The position indicated by the dotted line in FIG) and the position in contact with the shaft portion 15a1 ( Figure 4 This is because when viewed from the swing member 15b side (the protrusion 15b2 and the front end 15b3 described below), the shaft portion 15a1 and the screw portion 15a2 alternately appear at the relative positions of the swing member 15b as the conveying screw 15a rotates. The swinging motion of the swing member 15b can also be seen in Figures 7A to 7D .

[0053] Reference Figure 5 、 Figure 6 、 Figure 8 The swing member 15b includes a plurality of protrusions 15b2 and a plurality of front end portions 15b3 (bent portions). The plurality of protrusions 15b2 are spaced apart relative to the axial direction of the conveying screw 15a, and the plurality of front end portions 15b3 are bent at a predetermined angle α from the free end side (boundary portion 15b4) of the protrusion 15b2 in a direction away from the shaft portion 15a1. The front end portion 15b3 of the swing member 15b is formed so that its axial direction (i.e., Figure 5 The left and right directions and perpendicular to Figure 4 The width (in the paper direction) gradually increases from at least the portion contacting the screw portion 15a2 toward the free end side.

[0054] In this embodiment, the axial width of the front end portion 15b3 of the swinging member 15b is formed to gradually increase from the boundary portion 15b4 with the protruding portion 15b2 toward the free end side. More specifically, the front end portion 15b3 has side ends 15b30 extending from the boundary portion 15b4 with the protruding portion 15b2 toward the free end side, and each side end 15b30 is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the axial direction, but is continuously inclined toward the direction approaching the adjacent other front end portion 15b3. Figure 5 As shown, the plurality of protrusions 15b2 and the plurality of front end portions 15b3 are formed symmetrically and are formed at a pitch W (≠X) different from the pitch X of the conveying screw 15a. By making the pitch W between the plurality of protrusions 15b2 and the plurality of front end portions 15b3 different from the pitch X of the conveying screw 15a, the swinging of the plurality of protrusions 15b2 and the plurality of front end portions 15b3 does not occur at the same time. In this embodiment, the pitch W between the plurality of protrusions 15b2 and the plurality of front end portions 15b3 is formed to be larger than the pitch X of the conveying screw (W>X). As Figure 4 As shown, the protrusion 15b2 is formed longer than the span from the support portion 15b1 (the portion mounted on the housing of the cleaning device 14) to the shaft portion 15a1. The width of the protrusion 15b2 is shorter than the pitch X described above.

[0055] As Figures 7A to 7D shown, the oscillating member 15b is oscillated so as to alternately contact the shaft portion 15al and the screw portion 15a2 of the conveying screw 15a, and to reduce the failure of toner aggregation in the toner conveying device 15 (or the cleaning device 14).

[0056] As Figure 7A and 9A shown, the oscillating member 15b is in a state where the protruding portion 15b2 thereof is in contact with (or close to) the shaft portion 15al of the conveying screw 15a. As the conveying screw 15a rotates, as Figure 7B shown, the protruding portion 15b2 of the oscillating member 15b comes into contact with the screw portion 15a2 (outer peripheral portion) of the conveying screw 15a. At this time, the leading end portion 15b3 of the oscillating member 15b is closest to Figure 7A and 7B the area shown by the broken line in , and the toner in the area is loosened (prevented from aggregating in the area). The area is close to the photosensitive drum 11 and far from the conveying screw 15a, and is an area where toner is likely to be deposited and aggregated. In the present embodiment, since the leading end portion 15b3 is formed wider than the protruding portion 15b2, the effect of loosening the toner is easily obtained.

[0057] Figure 7C , Figure 8 , Figure 9B As shown, when the conveying screw 15a starts rotating from this state, the leading end portion 15b3 of the oscillating member 15b comes into contact with the screw portion 15a2 (outer peripheral portion) of the conveying screw 15a. At this time, since the width of the leading end portion 15b3 is gradually increased from the portion in contact with the screw portion 15a2 toward the free end side, the leading end portion 15b3 intersects with the screw portion 15a2 (outer peripheral portion) at a predetermined intersection angle θ. Therefore, compared with the case where the above intersection angle θ is not generated, the oscillating member 15b (leading end portion 15b3) is less likely to be wound into the conveying screw 15a. Thus, the adverse condition of the lock device or the oscillating member 15b being broken due to the winding of the oscillating member 15b is suppressed.

[0058] Further, when the conveying screw 15a starts rotating from this state, as Figure 7D and 9A shown, the oscillating member 15b again becomes in a state where the leading end portion 15b3 is in contact with (or close to) the shaft portion 15al of the conveying screw 15a. Thereafter, the operation of the oscillating member 15b described in Figures 7A to 7D is repeated according to the rotation period of the conveying screw 15a. Therefore, this structure can prevent the oscillating member 15b from being wound into the conveying screw 15a, and reduce the adverse condition of toner aggregation in the cleaning device 14.

[0059] Referring Figure 8 and Figure 9B In the present embodiment, the front end portion 15b3 of the swing member 15b is formed so that the side end portion 15b30 extending from the boundary portion 15b4 of the protruding portion 15b2 toward the free end side contacts the screw portion 15a2 at an angle of about 90 degrees. As shown in FIG. 9, when the front end portion 15b3 contacts the outer periphery of the screw portion 15a2, the crossing angle θ is set to about 90 degrees. This structure can more easily achieve the effect that the swing member 15b (or the front end portion 15b3) is less likely to be wound into the conveying screw 15a. Note that the crossing angle θ is preferably about 90 degrees, but can also be set to an angle that is not too small (for example, about 30 degrees), that is, an angle at which the swing member 15b (or the front end portion 15b3) is not wound into the screw portion 15a2. Figure 7C

[0060] Referring to FIG. 10, etc., in the present embodiment, the front end portion 15b3 of the swing member 15b is bent about 90 degrees from the free end side (the boundary portion 15b4) of the protruding portion 15b2 toward the direction away from the shaft portion 15a1. That is, the bending angle α of the front end portion 15b3 is set to about 90 degrees. In this structure, as shown in FIG. 11, the front end portion 15b3 that moves to the area surrounded by the broken line (an area where agglomerated toner is likely to be generated) is less likely to be bent due to the pressure of the toner, so that the effect of loosening the toner can be obtained. Figure 6 Figure 7B

[0061] In the present embodiment, the swing member 15b is formed so as to contact the conveying screw 15a in the axial direction. The swing member 15b is provided over the entire axial range of the conveying screw 15a as shown in FIG. 12. This structure can reduce the agglomeration of toner over the entire axial range of the toner conveyed by the conveying screw 15a. Figure 3

[0062] Referring to FIG. 13, etc., in the present embodiment, when the front end portion 15b3 of the swing member 15b is closest to the photosensitive drum 11 (in other words, moves to the swing position farthest from the shaft portion 15a1), the front end portion 15b3 is substantially parallel to an imaginary line N passing through the central position (a position equidistant from both ends A) of an imaginary line segment M connecting the contact position between the photosensitive drum 11 and the cleaning blade 14a and the contact position between the photosensitive drum 11 and the inlet seal 14b, when viewed in a cross section orthogonal to the axial direction. In this structure, as shown in FIG. 14, the front end portion 15b3 that moves to the area surrounded by the broken line (an area where agglomerated toner is likely to be generated) is less likely to be bent due to the pressure of the toner, so that the effect of loosening the toner can be obtained. Figure 7B Figure 7B ​​​​​​

[0063] Reference Figure 4 In this embodiment, the support surface 14a1 of the cleaning blade 14a (the housing surface to which the support plate of the cleaning blade 14a is fixed) and the support surface of the swing member 15b (the housing surface to which the support portion 15b1 of the cleaning blade 14a is fixed) are substantially parallel. In this structure, when the cleaning device 14 equipped with the toner conveying device 15 is assembled at a manufacturing plant, the assembly workability of the axially extending cleaning blade 14a and the swing member 15b is improved.

[0064] In this embodiment, the swinging member 15b is formed so that its protrusion 15b2 and tip 15b3 are symmetrical in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the swinging member 15b. Therefore, to prevent the cleaning blade 14a from becoming entangled in the photoreceptor drum 11, even during periods of non-image formation when the photoreceptor drum 11 is rotated in the reverse direction for a short period of time, and the conveyor screw 15a is rotated in the reverse direction accordingly, the tip 15b3 of the swinging member 15b is less likely to become entangled in the conveyor screw 15a for the same reason as during forward rotation. This also prevents the cleaning device 14 from being locked in motion and damage to the swinging member 15b.

[0065] As described above, the toner conveying device 15 (or cleaning device 14) in this embodiment includes a conveying screw 15a and an oscillating member 15b. The conveying screw 15a has a shaft 15a1 and a screw portion 15a2 helically wound around the shaft 15a1, and rotates in a predetermined direction to convey toner. The oscillating member 15b is formed generally in a comb-like shape and oscillates between the shaft 15a1 and the screw portion 15a2 as the conveying screw 15a rotates. The oscillating member 15b includes a plurality of protrusions 15b2 and a plurality of leading ends 15b3. The protrusions 15b2 are arranged side by side at regular intervals in the axial direction of the conveying screw 15a. The leading ends 15b3 are bent at a predetermined angle α from the free ends of the protrusions 15b2 toward the shaft 15a1. The axial width of the leading end 15b3 of the oscillating member 15b is gradually increased from at least the portion in contact with the screw portion 15a2 toward the free end. This structure can prevent the swing member 15 b from being caught in the conveying screw 15 a and reduce the problem of toner aggregation in the cleaning device 14 .

[0066] In the above embodiment, the components of the imaging unit (i.e., the photosensitive drum 11, the charging device 12, the developing device 13 and the cleaning device 14) are combined together as a process box 10 (i.e., process boxes 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10BK) to make the imaging unit compact and convenient for maintenance work. Alternatively, the cleaning device 14 may not be included in the process box and may be independently (detachably) installed in the imaging device 1 (main body). In this structure, similar effects and changes to those in the above embodiment can also be obtained. It should be noted that the term "processing box" used in this disclosure refers to an image carrier, and at least one of a charging device for charging the image carrier, a developing device for developing the latent image on the image carrier, and a cleaning device for cleaning the image carrier, which are integrated and designed to be a unit detachable relative to the imaging device 1 (main body).

[0067] In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the toner conveying device 15 incorporated into the cleaning device 14, which removes material adhering to the photoreceptor drum 11, which serves as the image carrier. In contrast, the present invention can also be applied to the toner conveying device 15 incorporated into the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 19, which removes material adhering to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17, which serves as the image carrier. In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the toner conveying device 15 (cleaning device 14) incorporated into the imaging apparatus 1 performing multi-color image formation. Alternatively, the present invention can be easily applied to the toner conveying device 15 (cleaning device 14) incorporated into a monochrome imaging apparatus. While the above embodiment applies to the toner conveying device 15 incorporated into the cleaning device 14, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the present invention can be applied to the toner conveying device 15 incorporated into the developing device 13 or the toner supply unit 30, or to any toner conveying device that conveys toner (including waste toner, new toner, or recycled toner). The above case can also provide the same effects as those of the above embodiment.

[0068] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and it is obvious that in addition to the contents suggested in the above-mentioned embodiments, the above-mentioned embodiments can be appropriately modified within the scope of the technical ideas of the present disclosure. In addition, the number, position, shape, etc. of the components are not limited to the present embodiment, and can be the number, position, shape, etc. suitable for implementing the present disclosure.

[0069] This patent application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-012458 filed in the Japan Patent Office on January 29, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0070] Reference Signs List

[0071] 1 Imaging device (main body of the imaging device)

[0072] 10Y process cartridge (yellow)

[0073] 10M Processing Cartridge (Magenta)

[0074] 10C process cartridge (cyan)

[0075] 10BK process cartridge (black)

[0076] 11 Photoreceptor drum (image carrier)

[0077] 14 Cleaning device

[0078] 14a Cleaning scraper

[0079] 14b Inlet seal (seal)

[0080] 15Toner conveying device

[0081] 15a conveying screw

[0082] 15a1 shaft

[0083] 15a2 screw part

[0084] 15b Swinging part (agitator)

[0085] 15b1 support part

[0086] 15b2 protrusion

[0087] 15b3 front end

[0088] 15b4 Boundary

[0089] 15b30 side end

[0090] M imaginary line segment

[0091] N imaginary line

Claims

1. A toner conveying device comprising: a conveying screw configured to rotate in a predetermined direction and convey the toner, The conveying screw comprises: a shaft; and a screw portion spirally wound around the shaft portion; and A substantially comb-tooth-shaped swinging member is configured to swing between the shaft portion and the screw portion as the conveying screw rotates. The swing component comprises: A plurality of protruding portions are arranged side by side at a certain interval in the axial direction of the conveying screw; and a plurality of front end portions, each of which is bent at a predetermined angle from a free end side of a corresponding one of the plurality of protruding portions toward a direction away from the shaft portion; in, The width of each of the plurality of front end portions in the axial direction of the conveying screw is formed to gradually increase from at least a portion in contact with the screw portion toward a free end side of each of the plurality of front end portions. The plurality of protruding portions and the plurality of leading end portions are formed at a pitch greater than a pitch of the conveying screw.

2. The toner conveying device according to claim 1, in, Each of the plurality of front end portions includes a boundary portion corresponding to one of the plurality of protruding portions, The width of each of the plurality of front end portions in the axial direction of the conveying screw is formed to gradually increase from the boundary portion toward the free end side of each of the plurality of front end portions.

3. The toner conveying device according to claim 2, in, Each of the plurality of front end portions includes a side end portion extending from the boundary portion toward a free end side of each of the plurality of front end portions, The side end portion is configured to contact the screw portion at approximately 90 degrees.

4. The toner conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in, Each of the plurality of front end portions is bent approximately 90 degrees from the free end side of a corresponding one of the plurality of protruding portions toward a direction away from the shaft portion.

5. The toner conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in, The swing member is configured to contact the conveying screw along the axial direction. 6 . A cleaning device comprising the toner conveying device according to claim 1 .

7. The cleaning device according to claim 6, further comprising: a cleaning blade configured to contact the image carrier rotating in a rotation direction; and a sealing member arranged to contact the image carrier on the downstream side from the cleaning blade in the rotation direction, in, When the multiple front end portions are located closest to the image carrier and are observed in a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction, the multiple front end portions are configured to be substantially parallel to an imaginary line passing through the center of the shaft portion in the axial direction and the center of an imaginary line segment connecting the contact position between the image carrier and the cleaning scraper and the contact position between the image carrier and the sealing component.

8. The cleaning device according to claim 6 or 7, in, The swing member is a flexible sheet-like member, Wherein, the supporting surface of the cleaning blade is substantially parallel to the supporting surface of the swinging member.

9. A process cartridge configured to be detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus, The processing box comprises: A cleaning device according to any one of claims 6 to 8; and An image carrier is integrated with the cleaning device. 10 . An image forming apparatus comprising the toner conveying device according to claim 1 .

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