JP2011180575A - Toner supply device, image forming apparatus and method of arranging toner supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

One of the problems that can be solved by the toner supply device, the image forming apparatus, and the toner supply device arrangement method in which the respective toner cartridges are shifted in the longitudinal direction from the normal position is, for example, the same shape. By using the toner conveyance path, the cost of parts is reduced.
To achieve the above object, a toner supply device 500 includes a receiving side first supply port, a second supply port communicating with the developing device, and a transport unit. There are a plurality of transport paths 107 in which the positions of the supply ports are arranged at different angles with the second supply port as an axis, and a supply-side first supply port that stores toner of different colors and supplies toner. The first supply port on the supply side communicates with the first supply port on the receiving side of the conveyance path so that the plurality of toner cartridges 106 are shifted in the longitudinal direction and the power transmission that transmits the power to the conveyance unit. A section.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  Embodiments relate to a toner supply device of a tandem color image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a method of arranging the toner supply device.

  In the color image forming apparatus of the tandem system, the developing device and the toner cartridge are arranged so that the intervals are equal to each other, and the positional relationship between the first toner supply port of the toner cartridge and the second toner supply port of the developing device is different for each color. In some cases, there is a structure having toner conveying portions of the same diameter for each color connecting them.

  On the other hand, the interval between the developing device and the toner cartridge may be different depending on the layout of peripheral components such as a paper discharge tray and a fixing device. At this time, since the positional relationship between the first toner supply port of the toner cartridge and the second toner supply port of the developing device is different for each color, the length of the toner conveying portion is changed. Accordingly, since such a configuration is necessary, a plurality of different parts are used.

JP 2009-122535 A

  One of the problems that can be solved by the toner supply device, the image forming apparatus, and the method of arranging the toner supply device in which the respective toner cartridges are shifted from the normal position in the longitudinal direction according to the embodiment is, for example, the same shape toner conveyance path Is to reduce the cost of parts.

  In order to achieve the above object, a toner supply device receives a first supply port for receiving toner, a second supply port communicating with the developing device, and toner supplied from the first supply port on the reception side. A transport unit that transports to the second supply port, and a color different from a plurality of transport paths in which the position of the receiving-side first supply port is arranged at a different angle with the second supply port as an axis Each having a first supply port for supplying and supplying toner, and the first supply port for communication communicates with the first supply port on the receiving side of each conveyance path. Thus, the gist is to include a plurality of toner cartridges that are shifted in the longitudinal direction, and a power transmission unit that transmits power to the conveyance unit of each conveyance path.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the image formation part in 1st embodiment. FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating the toner supply device according to the first embodiment. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a toner supply device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a first toner supply port and a second toner supply port in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a toner supply device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating a toner cartridge and a developing device in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of a toner conveyance path in the first embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the power transmission part in 1st embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a power transmission unit and a toner conveyance path in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a curved toner conveyance path in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a top view illustrating a toner cartridge and a developing device in a second embodiment.

  Embodiments of a toner supply device will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
In the first embodiment, in the tandem color image forming apparatus, when the intervals between the developing devices and the toner cartridges are different, the toner conveyance paths are arranged at an angle, and the respective toner cartridges are displaced from the normal positions. In position. Here, the normal position refers to a position where the toner conveyance path is arranged without an angle and the toner cartridge is not displaced in the longitudinal direction.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a scanner unit 101, an image forming unit 102, a paper feed cassette (paper feed unit) 103, and a paper discharge unit 104. The scanner unit 101 reads an image on a document as image data by optically scanning the document surface. The paper feed cassette 103 accommodates the print medium P. The paper discharge unit 104 accommodates the print medium P on which an image is formed and discharged. The scanner unit 101 is an example of a print document input unit. In addition, for example, a document created by a PC (Personal Computer) as an external terminal can be received by this input unit and printed as image data. .

  The image forming unit 102 forms an image based on the image data on the print medium P. The image forming unit 102 includes four image forming stations 105Y and 105M of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) arranged in parallel along the lower side of the intermediate transfer belt 110. , 105C, and 105K.

  The image forming stations 105Y, 105M, 105C, and 105K have the same configuration. Accordingly, the configuration and operation of the yellow image forming station 105Y will be described, and the other image forming stations will be denoted by corresponding reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

  The image forming station 105Y includes a toner cartridge 106Y, a toner conveyance path 107Y, a developing unit 108Y, and a photosensitive drum 109Y. The toner cartridge 106Y is a container that accommodates toner and is detachable. The toner conveyance path 107Y conveys toner from the toner cartridge 106Y to the developing device 108Y. The developing device 108Y has a two-component developer made of yellow (Y), for example, toner and carrier, and is detachable. The developing device 108Y supplies yellow toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 109Y.

  The intermediate transfer belt 110 faces and contacts each of the photosensitive drums 109. A primary transfer roller 111 for primary transfer of the toner image to the intermediate transfer belt 110 is provided at a position of the intermediate transfer belt 110 facing the photosensitive drum 109. Each primary transfer roller 111 sequentially transfers the toner image of each color formed on each photosensitive drum to the intermediate transfer belt 110 as the intermediate transfer belt 110 moves.

  A secondary transfer roller 112 is disposed at the secondary transfer portion of the intermediate transfer belt 110. In the secondary transfer portion, a secondary transfer bias is applied to the backup roller.

  While the print medium P is nipped and conveyed between the intermediate transfer belt 110 and the secondary transfer roller 112, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 110 is secondarily transferred. A fixing device 113 is provided downstream of the secondary transfer roller 112 along the traveling direction of the print medium P. The print medium P fed from the paper feed cassette 103 is transported to the fixing device 113 via the secondary transfer roller 112 along the transport path. After fixing the image by the fixing device 113, the print medium P on which the image is fixed is discharged to the paper discharge unit 104.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the image forming unit 102. The image forming unit of the image forming unit 102 includes a toner supply device 500. The toner supply device 500 includes toner cartridges 106Y, 106M, 106C, and 106K (hereinafter referred to as “106”), toner transport paths 107Y, 107M, 107C, and 107K (hereinafter referred to as “107”), and a developing device 108Y. 108M, 108C, and 108K (hereinafter referred to as 108). The toner cartridges 106 have the same shape and are displaced in the longitudinal direction. Also, the toner conveyance paths 107 have the same shape.

  FIG. 3 is a front view of the toner supply device (supply unit) 500. The first toner supply port 200Y is located below the toner cartridge 106Y and above the toner conveyance path 107Y. The first toner supply port 200Y below the toner cartridge 106Y is a supply-side first supply port, and the first toner supply port above the toner transport path 107Y is a receiving-side first supply port. The supply side first supply port and the reception side first supply port communicate with each other, and a sponge is provided around the reception side first supply port. The sponge is sealed between the supply-side first supply port of the toner cartridge 106Y and the reception-side first supply port of the toner conveyance path 107Y, thereby preventing toner scattering. The supply side first supply port and the reception side first supply port are collectively referred to as a first toner supply port 200Y. Toner is supplied from the toner cartridge 106Y to the toner conveyance path 107Y through the first toner supply port 200Y communicated.

  The second toner supply port 201Y is located above the developing unit 108Y and below the toner conveyance path 107Y. The second toner supply port 201Y below the toner transport path 107Y is a supply-side second supply port, and the second toner supply port above the developing unit 108Y is a receiving-side second supply port. The supply-side second supply port and the reception-side second supply port communicate with each other, and a sponge is provided around the supply-side second supply port. This sponge is sealed between the supply-side second supply port of the toner conveyance path 107Y and the reception-side second supply port of the developing device 108Y, thereby preventing toner scattering. The supply side second supply port and the reception side second supply port are collectively referred to as a second toner supply port 201Y. The toner is supplied from the toner conveyance path 107Y to the developing device 108Y through the second toner supply port 201Y that communicates.

  When the intervals between the toner cartridges 106 are different, the toner transport path 107 is arranged at an angle. The interval refers to, for example, the interval between adjacent developing devices 108 or toner cartridges 106. Here, it is assumed that the intervals between the toner cartridge 106 and the developing unit 108 cannot be made uniform due to the layout of peripheral components such as the paper discharge unit 104 and the fixing device 113. For example, the interval between the toner cartridges 106 is shorter than the interval between the developing units 108. For example, α, which is the distance between the centers of the first supply ports 200Y and 200M, the distance between the centers of 200M and 200C, and the distance between the centers of 200C and 200K, may be 85 mm. For example, β, which is the distance between the centers of the second supply ports 201Y and 201M, the distance between the centers of 201M and 201C, and the distance between the centers of 201C and 201K, may be 90 mm.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the toner supply device 500. In FIG. 4, the yellow toner transport path 107Y is arranged without an angle, and the toner cartridge 106Y is located at the normal position.

  The toner conveyance path 107 is arranged at an angle from the normal position with the second supply port 201Y as an axis. The degree of the angle of the toner conveyance path 107 from the normal position depends on the interval between the first supply ports of the plurality of toner conveyance paths 107 and the interval between the first supply port and the second supply port.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the magenta toner transport path 107M is arranged at an angle toward the back of the toner supply device 500 compared to the yellow toner transport path 107Y (normal position), and the cyan toner transport path 107C The black toner transport path 107K is disposed at an angle compared to the magenta toner transport path 107M, and the black toner transport path 107K is disposed at a greater angle than the cyan toner transport path 107C. The more the toner conveyance path 107 is arranged at an angle toward the back side of the toner supply device 500, the more the toner cartridge 106 is arranged at the back side of the toner supply device 500.

  FIG. 5 shows the positional relationship between the first toner supply ports 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K (hereinafter referred to as 200) and the second toner supply ports 201Y, 201M, 201C, and 201K (hereinafter referred to as 201). FIG. The first toner supply port 200 and the second toner supply port 201 are circular so that the toner conveyance path 107 can be arranged at any angle.

  The second toner supply port 201 is fixed, and the intervals between the toner supply ports 201 are equal. That is, an equal interval is maintained between the second toner supply ports 201Y and 201M, 201M and 201C, and 201C and 201K.

  On the other hand, the first toner supply port 200 is arranged at an angle with the second toner supply port 201 as an axis. The distance γ connecting the center point of the first toner supply port 200 and the center point of the second toner supply port 201K is between 200Y and 201Y, 200M and 201M, 200C and 201C, and 200K and 201K, respectively. Take equal distances. In other words, even when the intervals between the toner cartridges 106 and the intervals between the developing devices 108 are different, the toner transport path 107 is arranged at an angle with the second toner supply port 201 as an axis. The toner conveyance path 107 can have the same shape.

  FIG. 6 is a side view showing the toner supply device 500. FIG. 6 is a side view of the toner cartridge 106K, the toner conveyance path 107K, and the developing device 108K. The toner conveyance path 107 is disposed at an angle, and the toner cartridge 106 is disposed at a position shifted to the back side of the toner supply device 500. The magenta toner cartridge 106M is shifted to the back side of the toner supply device 500 compared to the yellow toner cartridge 106Y (normal position), and the cyan toner cartridge 106C is moved to the back side of the toner supply device 500 compared to the magenta toner cartridge 106M. The black toner cartridge 106K is shifted to the back of the toner supply device 500 as compared to the cyan toner cartridge 106C.

  FIG. 7 is a top view showing the toner cartridge 106 and the developing device 108. As shown in FIG. 7, the developing devices 108 are fixed side by side in the horizontal direction, and the toner cartridge 106 is located at a position shifted to the back side of the toner supply device 500. The yellow toner cartridge 106Y is located at the normal position.

  FIG. 8 is a view showing the internal structure of the toner conveyance path 107Y. Here, yellow toner conveyance will be described, but the same applies to other magenta, cyan, and black.

  Inside the toner conveyance path 107, an auger 300 (conveyance unit) in which spiral conveyance blades are integrally formed on the outer periphery of the rotation shaft is rotatably disposed. The auger 300 is rotationally driven by a predetermined amount by a driving motor 303 that is a driving means and is disposed at one end of the rotating shaft of the auger 300. The toner supplied from the toner cartridge 106Y through the supply port 200Y to the toner conveyance path 107Y advances in the arrow p direction as the auger 300 rotates. When the toner is transported to the end opposite to the end where the drive motor is provided by the rotation of the auger 300, the toner freely falls in a substantially vertical direction and passes through the second toner supply port 201Y. The developer 108Y is replenished.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the power transmission unit. FIG. 9 will be described with yellow toner conveyance as in FIG. The other magenta, cyan, and black are the same as yellow.

  In the first embodiment, the toner cartridge 106 is in a position shifted to the back side of the toner supply device 500, and the toner conveyance path 107 incorporating the auger 300 is shown in FIG. 4 with the second supply port 201Y as an axis. Place them at an angled position. A flexible shaft 301 that is freely movable is suitable for the power transmission unit that transmits the drive from the drive motor 303 via the gear 302. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the power transmission unit and the toner conveyance path.

  The toner conveyance path 107 may be a curved toner conveyance path 107 as shown in FIG. 11 instead of a right-angle shape as shown in FIG. The curved toner conveyance path 107Y includes an auger 300 and a spring agitator 400 (conveyance unit). The spring agitator 400 is disposed in a bent state inside the toner conveyance path 107Y, and the spring agitator 400 is rotated to convey the toner. The toner supplied from the toner cartridge 106Y to the toner conveyance path 107Y is conveyed by the conveyance unit of the auger 300 and the spring agitator 400, and is replenished to the developing device 108Y from the second supply port 201Y.

  The toner cartridge 106 at a position shifted to the back side of the toner supply device 500 and the toner conveyance path 107 arranged at an angle from the normal position are fixed when the toner supply device 500 is designed. The toner cartridge 106 is fixed by a front cover. However, since the toner cartridges 106 are arranged so as to be shifted to the back side of the toner supply device 500, the front cover is fixed to each toner cartridge 106. A drive motor 303 disposed at the rear end of the toner cartridge 106 on the back side of the toner supply device 500 is also disposed in accordance with the position of the toner cartridge 106.

  In the above description, as shown in FIG. 7, the yellow toner cartridge 106Y does not move to the far side of the toner supply device 500, and the magenta toner cartridge 106M, the cyan toner cartridge 106C, and the black toner cartridge 106K are positioned to the right. The arrangement is such that the closer the toner cartridge 106 is arranged, the farther the toner supply device 500 is. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the toner cartridge 106 arranged on the left may be shifted to the back side of the toner supply device 500, or the toner cartridges 106 may be alternately moved back and forth. It can be loose. Further, a configuration in which at least one toner cartridge among the plurality of toner cartridges 106Y is shifted to the back side of the toner supply device 500 may be employed.

  With the above configuration, a toner conveyance path having the same shape can be used, which contributes to a reduction in component costs.

  Further, the toner cartridge 106 has the same shape, but the black toner cartridge 106K has a larger shape than the other yellow 106Y, magenta 106M, and cyan 106C (the length in the longitudinal direction is the same). ), The same effect can be obtained.

(Second embodiment)
In the second embodiment, in the tandem color image forming apparatus, when the intervals between the developing units and the toner cartridges are different, the toner conveyance paths are arranged at an angle, and the respective toner cartridges are shifted to the front. It is in. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 12 is a top view showing the toner cartridge 106 and the developing device 108 in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, the developing devices 108 are arranged in a state of being fixed side by side in the horizontal direction, and the toner cartridge 106 is arranged so as to be shifted to the front side of the toner supply device 500. The black toner cartridge 106K is located at the normal position.

  In the above description, as shown in FIG. 12, the yellow toner cartridge 106K is not shifted to the front side of the toner supply device 500, but the magenta toner cartridge 106M, the cyan toner cartridge 106C, and the black toner cartridge 106K are left. The toner cartridge 106 disposed in the position is shifted to the back side of the toner supply device 500. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the toner cartridge 106 arranged on the right may be shifted to the front side of the toner supply device 500, or the toner cartridges 106 may be alternately moved back and forth. It can be loose. Further, at least one toner cartridge out of the plurality of toner cartridges 106 may be shifted to the front side of the toner supply device 500, or the second embodiment and the first embodiment may be combined.

  With the above configuration, even if the toner cartridge cannot be disposed at the position where the toner supply device 500 is displaced from the back side due to the layout of peripheral components, the toner cartridge is displaced toward the front. Since the toner can be arranged, the toner conveying path having the same shape can be used, which contributes to a reduction in component costs.

  Further, the toner cartridge 106 has the same shape, but the black toner cartridge 106K has a larger shape than the other yellow 106Y, magenta 106M, and cyan 106C (the length in the longitudinal direction is the same). ), The same effect can be obtained.

  Although several embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the gist of the invention, and in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 101 Scanner part 102 Image forming part 103 Paper feed cassette (paper feed part)
104 Paper discharge unit 105Y, M, C, K Image forming station 106 Toner cartridge 107 Toner transport path 108 Developer 109 Photoconductor drum 200Y, M, C, K First toner supply port 201Y, M, C, K Second Toner supply port 300 auger (conveyance section)
301 Flexible shaft 303 Drive motor 500 Toner supply device (supply unit)

Claims (11)

A receiving side first supply port that receives toner, a second supply port that communicates with the developing device, and a transport unit that transports toner supplied from the receiving side first supply port to the second supply port. A plurality of conveyance paths arranged at different positions with the second supply port as an axis, and the position of the receiving side first supply port;
A supply-side first supply port that stores toners of different colors and supplies toner is provided, and the supply-side first supply port is a receiving-side first supply port of each of the conveyance paths. A plurality of toner cartridges at positions shifted in the longitudinal direction so as to communicate with each other;
A power transmission unit that transmits power to the conveyance unit of each conveyance path;
A toner supply device comprising:   The supply-side first supply port and the receiving-side first supply port that communicate with the toner cartridge and the transport path are circular, and the second supply port that communicates the transport path and the developing device is circular. The toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein the toner supply device is a toner supply device.   The angle at which the position of the receiving-side first supply port of the transport path is arranged with the second supply port as an axis is the interval between the receiving-side first supply ports of the plurality of transport paths, and The toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein the toner supply device depends on a distance between a receiving-side first supply port and the second supply port.   The toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein the power transmission unit is freely movable.   2. The toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein the first supply port of the toner cartridge is located at a position shifted to the back side in the longitudinal direction.   The toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein the first supply port of the toner cartridge is located at a position shifted toward the front side in the longitudinal direction.   2. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first supply port of the toner cartridge has a position shifted to the rear side in the longitudinal direction and a position shifted to the front side in the longitudinal direction. Toner supply device.   The toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance path has a shape including an L shape at a lower portion of the toner cartridge and an upper portion of the developing device.   The toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance path has a curved shape at a lower portion of the toner cartridge and an upper portion of the developing device. A paper feeder for supplying print media;
An input unit that accepts a print document as image information;
A receiving side first supply port that receives toner, a second supply port that communicates with the developing device, and a transport unit that transports toner supplied from the receiving side first supply port to the second supply port. A plurality of conveyance paths arranged at different positions with the second supply port as an axis, and the position of the receiving side first supply port;
A supply-side first supply port that stores toners of different colors and supplies toner is provided, and the supply-side first supply port is a receiving-side first supply port of each of the conveyance paths. A plurality of toner cartridges at positions shifted in the longitudinal direction so as to communicate with each other;
A toner supply unit including a power transmission unit that transmits power to the conveyance unit of each conveyance path;
Image forming means for forming an image on a print medium based on image information input from the input unit with toner supplied from the toner supply unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A receiving side first supply port that receives toner, a second supply port that communicates with the developing device, and a transport unit that transports toner supplied from the receiving side first supply port to the second supply port. Arrange a plurality of conveyance paths having different angles,
A supply-side first supply port that stores toners of different colors and supplies toner is provided, and the supply-side first supply port is a receiving-side first supply port of each of the conveyance paths. A plurality of toner cartridges are arranged in a state shifted in the longitudinal direction so as to communicate with each other,
A toner supply device arrangement method, wherein a power transmission unit transmits power to the conveyance unit of each of the conveyance paths.

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