Toner cartridge with helical recovery channel

Abstract

SOLUTION: A toner cartridge 70 includes: a toner bottle 71 which is rotatable about a center axis to convey a toner; and a helical recovery channel 72 which is rotatable in accordance with the rotation of the toner bottle. The helical recovery channel includes an inlet to receive a waste toner. The helical recovery channel has a helical shape formed along the center axis of the toner bottle to convey the waste toner from the inlet when the helical recovery channel rotates.EFFECT: When the toner bottle is rotated, the waste toner received from the inlet can be easily conveyed by the helical recovery channel according to the Archimedes pump principle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Background technology]

[0001] In an image forming apparatus, toner is supplied from a toner cartridge to a developing device. The toner supplied to the developing device is developed onto a photosensitive drum, and then transferred from the photosensitive drum to paper or an intermediate transfer belt. Toner that is not transferred to paper or the intermediate transfer belt and remains on the photosensitive drum is collected by a cleaning device as waste toner. Some toner cartridges are equipped with a toner collection container inside a toner bottle, making it possible to store waste toner. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0002] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example image forming apparatus. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the toner cartridge and the cleaning device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an example end of a spiral collection channel. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the operation of the transfer pipe. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the operation of the transfer pipe. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the inner cross-sectional diameter of the spiral collection channel and the pressure loss of the waste toner moving through the spiral collection channel. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the diameter of the inner cross section of the spiral collection channel and the transportability of waste toner by the spiral collection channel. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a graph showing the waste toner collection capacity in the spiral collection channel. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a toner cartridge according to another embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a toner cartridge according to another embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a front view showing a part of a toner cartridge according to another embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a toner cartridge according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0003] The toner cartridge of the example includes a toner bottle that is rotatable around a central axis, the toner bottle transporting toner toward an outlet of the toner bottle, and a spiral collection channel that is rotatable with the rotation of the toner bottle, the spiral collection channel having an inlet for receiving waste toner, the spiral collection channel having a spiral shape formed along the central axis of the toner bottle to transport the waste toner from the inlet when the spiral collection channel rotates. This toner cartridge includes a spiral collection channel, the spiral collection channel having a spiral shape formed along the central axis of the toner bottle. Therefore, by rotating the toner bottle, the waste toner received from the inlet can be easily transported by the spiral collection channel, like the principle of Archimedes pump.

[0004] Another example of a toner cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes a toner bottle that supplies toner to a developing device of the image forming apparatus, and a spiral collection channel that has an inlet for receiving waste toner from a cleaning device of the image forming apparatus and is rotatable to transport the received waste toner in a direction away from the inlet. The toner cartridge for the image forming apparatus includes a spiral collection channel that has a spiral shape formed along the central axis of the toner bottle. Therefore, by rotating the toner bottle, the waste toner received from the inlet can be easily transported through the spiral collection channel, like the principle of Archimedes pump.

[0005] Hereinafter, an example image forming apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description based on the drawings, the same elements or similar elements having the same functions are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated description will be omitted.

[0006] 1 is a schematic diagram of an example image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a conveying device 10, a photoconductor drum 20, a developing device 30, a transfer device 40, a fixing device 50, and a discharge device 60.

[0007] The conveying device 10 conveys paper M as a recording medium on which an image is formed. The photoconductor drum 20 forms an electrostatic latent image for forming a toner image. A developing device 30, a charging device 22, an exposure device 23, and a cleaning device 24 are provided on the circumference of the photoconductor drum 20. The charging device 22 charges the surface of the photoconductor drum 20 to a predetermined potential. The exposure device 23 exposes the surface of the photoconductor drum 20 charged by the charging device 22 according to the image to be formed on the paper M. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image to be formed on the paper M is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 20.

[0008] The developing device 30 receives a supply of toner from the toner cartridge 70 and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 20 to form a toner image. The developing device 30 has a developing roller 31 that supplies toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 20. The developing roller 31 supplies toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 20, thereby developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 20. In other words, the toner supplied to the developing device 30 is developed onto the photosensitive drum 20. As a result, a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image, that is, a toner image corresponding to the image to be formed on the paper M, is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 20.

[0009] The transfer device 40 transfers the toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 20 by the developing device 30 onto the paper M. When the image forming apparatus 1 includes an intermediate transfer belt (not shown), the transfer device 40 transfers the toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 20 by the developing device 30 onto the intermediate transfer belt, which then transfers the toner image transferred from the photosensitive drum 20 onto the paper M. The cleaning device 24 collects the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 20 without being transferred onto the paper M or the intermediate transfer belt as waste toner. The fixing device 50 fixes the toner image on the paper M to the paper M by applying heat and pressure to the paper M onto which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer device 40. The discharge device 60 discharges the paper M onto which the toner image has been fixed by the fixing device 50 to the outside of the apparatus.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge 70 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the toner cartridge and cleaning device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the toner cartridge 70 includes a toner bottle 71, a spiral collection channel 72, and a conveying tube 73. The toner cartridge 70 is replaceable with respect to the image forming apparatus 1. That is, in the image forming apparatus 1, when the amount of remaining toner in the toner cartridge 70 falls below a specified value, the toner cartridge 70 is removed from the image forming apparatus 1, and a new toner cartridge 70 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1.

[0011] Toner bottle 71 is a container for supplying toner to developing device 30 of image forming apparatus 1. Toner bottle 71 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. Inside toner bottle 71, a storage space 75 for storing toner is formed. Toner bottle 71 is rotatable about a central axis L of toner bottle 71. Toner bottle 71 is formed with an outlet 76 and a spiral projection 77.

[0012] Outlet 76 is an opening for discharging the toner contained in storage space 75 from toner bottle 71. Outlet 76 is formed at one end 78 in the central axial direction D of toner bottle 71. Outlet 76 is formed, for example, on the outer circumferential surface of toner bottle 71, and opens storage space 75 radially outward from toner bottle 71.

[0013] The spiral projection 77 conveys the toner contained in the storage space 75 toward the outlet 76 as the toner bottle 71 rotates. That is, the spiral projection 77 conveys the toner contained in the storage space 75 in a first conveying direction D1 toward the outlet 76 as the toner bottle 71 rotates. The first conveying direction D1 is a direction along the central axis direction D of the toner bottle 71. The spiral projection 77 is formed on the inner surface of the toner bottle 71 so as to protrude into the storage space 75. The spiral projection 77 is formed in a spiral shape with the central axis L of the toner bottle 71 as the center line. The spiral projection 77 is formed, for example, by recessing the toner bottle 71 from the outer periphery side to the inner periphery side (the storage space 75 side). The spiral direction of the spiral projection 77 is a direction in which the toner contained in the storage space 75 can be conveyed toward the outlet 76 when the toner cartridge 70 rotates.

[0014] A supply pipe 79 is connected to the toner bottle 71 for supplying the toner discharged from the outlet 76 to the developing device 30. The supply pipe 79 is connected to the outlet 76 of the toner bottle 71 and the supply port 32 of the developing device 30. The supply port 32 of the developing device 30 is an opening through which the toner is supplied from the toner bottle 71, and is connected to a developing chamber 33 in the developing device 30 in which the toner is accommodated.

[0015] The spiral collection channel 72 collects the waste toner collected by the cleaning device 24 as the toner bottle 71 rotates. Here, the cleaning device 24 will be described. The cleaning device 24 includes a scraper 25, a channel 26, and a transport auger 27.

[0016] As the photoconductor drum 20 rotates, the scraper 25 scrapes off the toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 20. The toner scraped off from the photoconductor drum 20 by the scraper 25 becomes waste toner. The scraper 25 extends along the central axis of the photoconductor drum 20 and is in contact with the photoconductor drum 20. The scraper 25 is formed of, for example, a plate-shaped member or a film-shaped member.

[0017] The channel 26 temporarily stores the waste toner scraped off by the scraper 25. The channel 26 extends, for example, along the central axis of the photoconductor drum 20. An opening 28 for discharging the waste toner is formed at one end of the channel 26 in the extending direction.

[0018] The transport auger 27 rotates around the central axis of the transport auger 27 to transport the waste toner contained in the channel 26 toward the opening 28. That is, the waste toner temporarily contained in the channel 26 is discharged from the opening 28 by the transport auger 27 and collected. The transport auger 27 is composed of, for example, a rod 27a extending along the central axis of the photosensitive drum 20, and a spiral projection 27b protruding from the rod 27a and extending spirally around the rod 27a.

[0019] The spiral collection channel 72 has an inlet 80 for receiving waste toner. Inside the spiral collection channel 72, a collection path 81 continuing from the inlet 80 is formed. That is, the spiral collection channel 72 has an internal cross section 82 that is a substantially circular cross section of the collection path 81. The collection path 81 is a flow path through which waste toner flows in order to collect the waste toner. The spiral collection channel 72 also has a spiral shape formed along the central axis L of the toner bottle 71. That is, the spiral collection channel 72 is formed in a spiral shape with the central axis L of the toner bottle 71 as the central axis. The collection path 81 is also formed in a spiral shape with the central axis L of the toner bottle 71 as the central axis, similar to the spiral collection channel 72. The spiral collection channel 72 is formed, for example, by a tube wound around the outer surface of the toner bottle 71.

[0020] The spiral collection channel 72 is rotatable in accordance with the rotation of the toner bottle 71. The spiral collection channel 72 is directly or indirectly fixed to the toner bottle 71 so that the toner bottle 71 and the spiral collection channel 72 rotate integrally. Therefore, the spiral collection channel 72 rotates integrally with the toner bottle 71 as the toner bottle 71 rotates.

[0021] The spiral collection channel 72 is wound in the opposite spiral direction to the spiral protrusion 77 of the toner bottle 71. The spiral direction of the spiral collection channel 72 is a direction that allows the waste toner collected in the spiral collection channel 72 to be transported toward the opposite side to the outlet 76 of the toner bottle 71 when the toner bottle 71 rotates. Therefore, when the spiral collection channel 72 rotates due to the rotation of the toner bottle 71, like the principle of the Archimedes pump, the spiral collection channel 72 transports the waste toner collected from the inlet 80 in a direction away from the inlet 80, that is, in a second transport direction D2 that is approximately opposite to the first transport direction D1.

[0022] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the end of the spiral collection channel. As shown in Fig. 5, the spiral collection channel 72 has an end 83 opposite to the inlet 80 in the central axis direction D of the toner bottle 71 closed in order to store waste toner in the spiral collection channel 72. For example, the end 83 of the spiral collection channel 72 is covered with a cap 84 that closes the end 83.

[0023] 2 to 4, the transport pipe 73 supplies waste toner to the spiral collection channel 72. The transport pipe 73 is connected between the channel 26 of the cleaning device 24 of the image forming apparatus 1 and the spiral collection channel 72. Note that, between the transport pipe 73 and the cleaning device 24, another transport pipe 85 is disposed for transporting waste toner from the cleaning device 24 to the transport pipe 73.

[0024] The transport pipe 73 is formed in a circular tube shape extending along the central axis L of the toner bottle 71. The transport pipe 73 is fixed to one end 78 of the toner bottle 71. The one end 78 is on the same side as the outlet 76 in the central axial direction D of the toner bottle 71, that is, the downstream end of the toner bottle 71 in the first transport direction D1. The transport pipe 73 has a discharge outlet 86 and an auger 87.

[0025] The discharge port 86 is an opening for discharging the waste toner contained in the conveying tube 73 from the conveying tube 73. The discharge port 86 is formed at one end 78 of the toner bottle 71. The discharge port 86 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the conveying tube 73, and opens the internal space of the conveying tube 73 radially outwardly of the conveying tube 73. The discharge port 86 is connected to the inlet 80 of the spiral collection channel 72. For example, the toner bottle 71 has a portion cut out from the discharge port 86 to the outer circumferential surface of the toner bottle 71. The spiral collection channel 72 is disposed in the cut-out portion, and thus the inlet 80 of the spiral collection channel 72 is connected to the discharge port 86.

[0026] The auger 87 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the toner bottle 71 in order to transport the waste toner toward the discharge port 86. The auger 87 is disposed, for example, on the central axis L of the toner bottle 71 and rotates integrally with the toner bottle 71. The auger 87 is composed, for example, of a rod 87a extending along the central axis L of the toner bottle 71 and a spiral projection 87b protruding from the rod 87a and extending spirally around the rod 87a.

[0027] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the operation of the conveying pipe 73. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the operation of the conveying pipe 73. As shown in Figs. 3 and 6, when the discharge port 86 faces upward, the waste toner conveyed by the auger 87 is not supplied from the conveying pipe 73 to the spiral collection channel 72. As shown in Figs. 3 and 7, when the conveying pipe 73, which rotates integrally with the toner bottle 71, rotates and the discharge port 86 faces downward, the waste toner conveyed by the auger 87 is supplied from the conveying pipe 73 to the spiral collection channel 72 by natural fall.

[0028] In the toner cartridge 70 configured as above, the toner bottle 71 rotates, so that the toner contained in the storage space 75 of the toner bottle 71 is transported in the first transport direction D1 by the spiral protrusion 77 and discharged from the outlet 76. The toner discharged from the outlet 76 is supplied to the developing device 30 through the supply pipe 79. Meanwhile, the waste toner collected by the cleaning device 24 and supplied to the transport pipe 73 is transported in the second transport direction D2 by the rotating auger 87 and discharged from the discharge port 86. The waste toner discharged from the discharge port 86 is supplied from the entrance 80 to the recovery path 81 of the spiral recovery channel 72. Then, the toner bottle 71 rotates, so that the waste toner supplied to the recovery path 81 of the spiral recovery channel 72 is transported from the entrance 80 to the end 83 in the second transport direction D2.

[0029] Fig. 8 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the diameter of the inner cross section 82 of the spiral collection channel 72 and the pressure loss of the waste toner moving through the spiral collection channel 72. Fig. 9 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the diameter of the inner cross section 82 of the spiral collection channel 72 and the transportability of the waste toner by the spiral collection channel 72. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the smaller the diameter of the inner cross section 82 of the spiral collection channel 72 (the inner diameter of the spiral collection channel 72), the greater the pressure loss of the waste toner moving through the spiral collection channel 72. As a result, the transportability of the waste toner by the spiral collection channel 72 deteriorates due to clogging of the waste toner, etc.

[0030] The amount of waste toner is about 25% of the toner supplied to the developing device 30. Therefore, when the toner bottle 71 supplies 270 cc of toner, the amount of waste toner is 67.5 cc. Therefore, the diameter of the inner cross section 82 of the spiral collection channel 72 (the inner diameter of the spiral collection channel 72), the pitch of the spiral collection channel 72 in the first conveying direction D1, and the number of turns of the spiral collection channel 72 were changed to obtain the waste toner collection capacity of the spiral collection channel 72. The waste toner accumulates in the lower half of the spiral collection channel 72 in the vertical direction. The bulk density of the waste toner was set to 0.65 g / cc. The calculation results are shown in FIG. 10.

[0031] 10, in the toner cartridge of Example 1, the diameter of the inner cross section 82 of the spiral collection channel 72 (the inner diameter of the spiral collection channel 72) was 6 mm, the pitch of the spiral collection channel 72 in the first transport direction D1 was 12 mm, and the number of turns of the spiral collection channel 72 was 28. In the toner cartridge of Example 2, the diameter of the inner cross section 82 of the spiral collection channel 72 (the inner diameter of the spiral collection channel 72) was 8 mm, the pitch of the spiral collection channel 72 in the first transport direction D1 was 22 mm, and the number of turns of the spiral collection channel 72 was 15. In the toner cartridge of Example 3, the diameter of the inner cross section 82 of the spiral collection channel 72 (the inner diameter of the spiral collection channel 72) was 10 mm, the pitch of the spiral collection channel 72 in the first transport direction D1 was 35 mm, and the number of turns of the spiral collection channel 72 was 9.

[0032] In the toner cartridge of Example 1, the waste toner collection volume in the spiral collection channel 72 was 73.9 cc. In the toner cartridge of Example 2, the waste toner collection volume in the spiral collection channel 72 was 70.7 cc. In the toner cartridge of Example 3, the waste toner collection volume in the spiral collection channel 72 was 67 cc. In each toner cartridge, the waste toner could be collected by rotating the toner bottle.

[0033] Furthermore, if the diameter of the spiral recovery channel 72 becomes too small, the number of turns of the spiral recovery channel 72 will become too large, which will require more space and increase costs. Therefore, taking the above results into consideration, the diameter of the inner cross section 82 can be, for example, approximately 3 mm or more, approximately 6 mm or more, or approximately 8 mm or more.

[0034] Thus, the toner cartridge 70 includes the spiral collection channel 72, and the spiral collection channel 72 has a spiral shape formed along the central axis L of the toner bottle 71. Therefore, by rotating the toner bottle 71, the waste toner received from the inlet 80 can be easily transported through the spiral collection channel 72, like the principle of the Archimedes pump.

[0035] It is to be understood that not all aspects, advantages, and features described herein are necessarily achieved or included in any one particular example or embodiment. Indeed, while various examples have been described and illustrated herein, it should be apparent that other examples can be modified in arrangement and detail. We claim all modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the subject matter claimed herein.

[0036] For example, the spiral collection channel does not have to be formed by a tube.For example, as shown in Figure 11, the spiral collection channel 72A may be integrally formed with the toner bottle 71A.

[0037] 12 and 13, an end 83B opposite to the inlet of the spiral collection channel 72B may be open in order to discharge the waste toner transported through the spiral collection channel 72B. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, the end 83B of the spiral collection channel 72B may be connected to the toner bottle 71B and open to the storage space 75 of the toner bottle 71B in order to return the waste toner to the storage space 75 of the toner bottle 71B.

[0038] 14, the spiral collection channel 72C may be wound in the same direction as the spiral direction of the spiral protrusion 77C of the toner bottle 71C. In other words, the spiral direction of the spiral collection channel 72C may be a direction in which the waste toner is transported in the first transport direction D1 in the same manner as the toner when the toner bottle 71C rotates.

[0039] Additionally, the spiral collection channel does not have to be fixed to the toner bottle and may be rotatable independently of the toner bottle.

Claims

1. a toner bottle rotatable about a central axis for conveying toner; a spiral collection channel rotatable with rotation of the toner bottle, the spiral collection channel having an inlet for receiving waste toner, the spiral collection channel having a spiral shape formed along the central axis of the toner bottle for transporting the waste toner from the inlet as the spiral collection channel rotates; Toner cartridge.

2. The spiral collection channel is fixed to the toner bottle.

2. The toner cartridge according to claim 1.

3. the spiral collection channel is formed by a tube wound around the outer surface of the toner bottle; 2. The toner cartridge according to claim 1.

4. a spiral projection is formed on an inner surface of the toner bottle to transport the toner toward an outlet of the toner bottle; the spiral collection channel is wound in a direction opposite to the spiral direction of the spiral protrusion of the toner bottle; 2. The toner cartridge according to claim 1.

5. a spiral projection is formed on an inner surface of the toner bottle to transport the toner toward an outlet of the toner bottle; the spiral collection channel is wound in the same direction as the spiral direction of the spiral protrusion of the toner bottle; 2. The toner cartridge according to claim 1.

6. a conveying pipe for supplying the waste toner to the spiral collection channel; The conveying pipe is an outlet connected to the inlet of the spiral collection channel; an auger that rotates in association with the rotation of the toner bottle to transport the waste toner toward the discharge port, 2. The toner cartridge according to claim 1.

7. The spiral collection channel has a generally circular internal cross-section having a diameter of about 3 mm or greater.

2. The toner cartridge according to claim 1.

8. the spiral collection channel has an end portion opposite to the inlet in a central axis direction of the toner bottle closed in order to store the waste toner in the spiral collection channel; 2. The toner cartridge according to claim 1.

9. the spiral collection channel has an open end on the opposite side to the inlet in a central axis direction of the toner bottle in order to discharge the waste toner transported through the spiral collection channel; 2. The toner cartridge according to claim 1.

10. a toner bottle for supplying toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus; a spiral collection channel having an inlet for receiving waste toner from a cleaning device of the image forming apparatus and rotatable to transport the received waste toner in a direction away from the inlet; A toner cartridge for an image forming device.

11. the spiral collection channel is fixed to the toner bottle so as to rotate integrally with the rotation of the toner bottle; The toner cartridge for the image forming apparatus according to claim 10.

12. a spiral protrusion is formed on an inner surface of the toner bottle, the spiral protrusion conveying the toner in a first conveying direction toward an outlet of the toner bottle; the spiral collection channel is formed by a tube wound around an outer surface of the toner bottle in a direction opposite to the spiral direction of the spiral protrusion of the toner bottle in order to transport the waste toner in a second transport direction substantially opposite to the first transport direction; The toner cartridge for the image forming apparatus according to claim 10.

13. a spiral protrusion is formed on an inner surface of the toner bottle, the spiral protrusion conveying the toner in a conveying direction toward an outlet of the toner bottle; the spiral collection channel is wound in the same spiral direction as the spiral protrusion of the toner bottle so as to transport the waste toner in the same direction as the transport direction of the toner bottle; The toner cartridge for the image forming apparatus according to claim 10.

14. a conveying pipe connected between the cleaning device and the spiral collection channel for supplying the waste toner to the spiral collection channel; The conveying pipe is an outlet connected to the inlet of the spiral collection channel; an auger that rotates in association with the rotation of the toner bottle to transport the waste toner toward the discharge port, The toner cartridge for the image forming apparatus according to claim 10.

15. The spiral collection channel has a generally circular internal cross-section having a diameter of about 3 mm or greater. The toner cartridge for the image forming apparatus according to claim 10.

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