JPH046575A - toner supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device used in image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers have been equipped with toner replenishment devices that replenish toner to developing devices, and in color copying machines and the like that have multiple developing devices for developing each color, toner of each color is supplied to each developing device. This toner replenishing device is equipped with a plurality of toner replenishing devices for replenishing each toner.5 This toner replenishing device includes a toner container in which toner is stored, and a rigid agitator provided inside the toner container to agitate the toner in the toner container by rotation. a screw member for supplying the toner in the toner container to the developing device; a motor that rotates the screw member and the stirring member in the normal direction when replenishing the toner; and a motor that detects the amount of toner remaining in the toner container. It includes a remaining toner amount detection element and a cleaning member that cleans the toner detection surface of the remaining toner amount detection element.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the toner replenishing device described above, when the toner is put into the toner container and left for a while, the toner condenses. The degree of toner condensation may occur when toner is left for a long period of time, or when a toner replenishing device that is not replenishing toner replenishes toner due to toner replenishment from another toner replenishing device. It becomes louder when it is subjected to vibration. When the degree of toner condensation increases, a motor with low torque cannot rotate the screw member and the stirring member. For this reason, a large motor is required, which generates a large amount of noise, and the larger motor also reduces the space of the toner container and reduces the toner replenishment capacity. In addition, in order to prevent the toner detection surface of the remaining toner amount detection element from malfunctioning due to toner adhesion,
It was necessary to provide a cleaning member for cleaning the toner detection surface of the remaining toner amount detection element.

The present invention improves the above-mentioned drawbacks, allows the use of a small motor with low torque, allows relatively large toner replenishment capacity, and provides a cleaning member for cleaning the toner detection surface of the remaining toner amount detection element. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner replenishing device that eliminates the need for toner replenishment.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 provides a toner container in which toner is stored and toner is supplied from a toner supply section.

a flexible stirring member that is provided inside the toner container and has a base fixed to a rotating shaft and rotates with the rotation of the rotating shaft to stir the toner in the toner container; at least one of the stirring members is a flexible stirring member, the base of which is fixed to a rotating shaft having a screw member, and which rotates as the rotating shaft rotates to stir the toner in the toner container; , and a motor for rotating the rotating shaft, and a second aspect of the present invention is the toner replenishing device according to the first aspect, further comprising a remaining toner amount detection element for detecting the remaining amount of toner in the toner container. The toner replenishing device according to claim 2, wherein the stirring member comes into contact with the toner remaining amount detection surface of the toner remaining amount detection element as it rotates. The stirring member has a plurality of slits substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis, and a portion of each portion of the stirring member divided by the plurality of slits is in contact with a remaining toner amount detection surface of the remaining toner amount detection element. It has approximately the same width as the remaining toner amount detection surface of the remaining toner amount detection element.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the toner replenishing device according to the first aspect, as shown in FIG.
The apparatus includes a reversing means 3 for reversing the motor 1 at at least one timing after the toner is put into the toner container and after the image forming operation for a set number of sheets is completed.

[For production]

In the invention of claim 1, the toner is contained in a toner container and supplied from a toner replenishing section, and the stirring member rotates with rotation of a rotating shaft by a motor to characterize the toner in the toner container. In the present invention, the remaining amount of toner in the toner container is detected by a remaining toner amount detection element, and the stirring member comes into contact with the remaining toner amount detection surface of the remaining toner amount detection element as it rotates.

In the invention of claim 4, when the stirring member stirs the toner, the motor 1
The motor 1 is rotated in the normal direction by the normal rotation means 2, and the motor 1 is rotated in the normal direction at at least one of the following timings: when the power is turned on, after toner is added to the toner container, and after the image forming operation for the set number of sheets is completed.
is reversed by the reversing means 3.

〔Example〕

2 and 3 show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows a part thereof.

This embodiment is an example of a toner replenishing device for a color copying machine, and a plurality of toner replenishing devices for replenishing toner of each color to a plurality of developing units in a color copying machine are shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, respectively. It is configured as follows.

The toner container 11 stores toner, and a rotating shaft 13 having a screw member 12 is disposed substantially horizontally and rotatably attached to the bottom end thereof.

One end of this rotating shaft 13 protrudes outside the toner container 11 to which a gear 14 is fixed, a toner replenishment port is provided at the bottom of the toner container 11, and a cylinder 15 is attached to this toner replenishment port. ing. The screw member 12 is the cylindrical body 1
5 , and rotates with the rotation of the rotating shaft 13 to supply the toner in the toner container 11 through the cylinder 15 to the developing device. Further, a rotating shaft 1 is provided at the bottom of the toner container 11.
6 is disposed above the rotating shaft 13, substantially parallel to the rotating shaft 13, and is rotatably mounted, one end of the rotating shaft 16 protrudes outside the toner container 11, and a gear 17 is fixed thereto. This gear 17 is coupled to the gear 14, and the bottom portion of the toner container 11 to which the rotating shaft 13 is attached is narrower in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 13 than the other portions. The rotating shaft 16 has one end (base) of a stirring member 18 made of a plate-like flexible member fixed to a portion of the screw member I2 above the portion inside the toner container 11 with a screw 27.
In addition, a screw member 19 is attached to another part of the toner container 11.
is provided. Further, the toner container 11 is provided with a rotating shaft 2 at approximately the same height as the rotating shaft 16 and substantially parallel to the rotating shaft 16 .
0 is rotatably attached to the rotary shaft 20, and one end (base) of a stirring member 21 made of a plate-like flexible member is fixed with a screw 28. This stirring member 21 has a rotating shaft 20
A plurality of slits 22 are inserted at substantially right angles to the toner container 11 to divide it into a plurality of parts, and a remaining toner amount detection element 23 is attached to the toner container 11 at substantially the same height as the rotating shaft 20 .

This toner remaining amount detection element 23 uses, for example, a vibrating toner remaining amount detection element, and a toner remaining amount detection surface 23a is exposed in the toner container 11, and the toner in the toner container 11 is detected at approximately the same level as the rotating shaft 20. The remaining amount of toner in the toner container 11 is detected by detecting the height. As the stirring member 21 rotates, the remaining toner amount detection surface 2 of the remaining toner amount detection element 23
A dedicated cleaning member for cleaning the remaining toner amount detection surface 23a by contacting with the remaining toner amount detection surface 23a is not provided. Among the plurality of parts divided by the slits 22 in the stirring member 21, the toner remaining amount detection surface 2
The portion 21a in contact with the remaining toner amount detection surface 23a has the same width as the remaining toner amount detection surface 23a, and the entire surface of the remaining toner amount detection surface 23a contacts the portion 21a. The entire surface is cleaned, with no areas that may come into contact with the surface.

One end of the rotating shaft 20 protrudes outside the toner container 11 to which a worm wheel 24 is fixed.A worm 25 is coupled to the worm wheel 24, and the worm 25 is fixed to the shaft of a toner supply motor 26. Further, the other end of the rotating shaft 20 protrudes outside the toner container 11, and the gear 2
7 is fixed, and this gear 27 is connected to the gear 14.

When the toner supply motor 26 is stopped, the screw members 12 and 19 and the stirring members 18 and 21 are stopped, and the toner in the toner container 11 is not stirred and the toner is not supplied to the developing device. When the toner replenishment motor 26 rotates normally, the worm 25. The rotating shaft 20 is rotated normally via the worm wheel 24, and the stirring member 21 is rotated normally in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and the toner in the toner container 11 is stirred by the stirring member 21. Further, due to the normal rotation of the rotating shaft 20, the rotating shaft 13.16 rotates normally through the gears 27, 14°17, and the screw member 19 rotates normally to move the toner onto the screw 12. The toner on the screw 12 is stirred by normal rotation in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure. Further, the screw 12 rotates normally to supply toner to the developing device. Here, stirring members 18, 21
has flexibility, so if the degree of toner condensation in the toner container 11 is large, the toner replenishment motor 26 rotates in the normal direction to deform and start rotating around the rotating shaft 13.16, and then The toner condensation is loosened by stirring by the stirring member 18.21, and the stirring member 18.21 returns to its original state.

Therefore, the toner replenishment motor 26 can rotate the stirring member 18, 21 even if it is a small motor with low torque, and by using a small motor with low torque as the toner replenishment motor 26, the space of the toner container 11 can be increased accordingly. This allows the toner replenishment capacity to be increased. Furthermore, since the stirring member 21 has slits 22, the load is dispersed, and it becomes easier to loosen the condensation of the toner.

If the agitating members 18, 21 are rotated normally for a long period of time, they will deform and the toner agitating ability will be reduced. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, in this embodiment, the stirring members [1, 21 are rotated in the normal direction by the toner replenishment motor 26 when replenishing toner, and when the color copying machine is turned on, the stirring members [1, 21] are rotated in the normal direction by the toner replenishment motor 26. After the amount of toner has decreased to a predetermined amount (toner end state, toner near end state) and the toner is put into the toner container 21, after the color copying machine has made copies for the set number of sheets using the operation unit. At each timing, the stirring member 18, 21 is reversed by the toner replenishment motor 26 to return to its original state, or to be deformed slightly in the opposite direction.

FIG. 5 shows a developing device to which toner is supplied from the toner supply device of this embodiment.

The developing device 29 has a sub-hopper 30, into which toner is supplied from the toner container 11 through the cylinder 15 by the screw member 2.

The toner in the sub-hopper 3o is stirred by the stirring member 31, the developing capacity of the developing device is detected by the developing capacity detecting means, and the toner replenishing clutch is turned on in accordance with the output signal of the developing capacity detecting means, so that the toner replenishing section is activated. 32 is operated to supply the toner in the sub-hopper 3o to the main body of the developing device 29. The photosensitive drum 33 is rotationally driven by a motor to form an electrostatic latent image, and the main body of the developing device 29 develops the electrostatic latent image with toner. Further, the sensor 34 detects the toner in the sub-hopper 3o at approximately the same height as the stirring member 31.

FIG. 6 shows a circuit for driving the toner supply motor 26. As shown in FIG.

Microcomputer (CPU) 35 outputs a reverse rotation signal to bridge driver 38 via inverters 36 and 37, and outputs a motor ON signal to bridge driver 38 via inverter 39. When rotating the toner replenishment motor 26 in the forward direction, the CPU 35 sets the reverse rotation signal to a high level (H).
The motor ON signal is set to low level (L), and the output terminal 0UTI of the bridge driver 38 becomes +24V, the output terminal 0UT2 becomes GND, and the toner supply motor 26 rotates normally. Furthermore, when reversing the toner replenishment motor 26, the CPU 35 sets the ii times the signal L to the motor ON signal L, and the bridge driver 38 outputs the output terminal oUT1 to the GND.
, the output terminal 0UT2 becomes +24V and the toner replenishment motor 26 rotates in reverse.

FIG. 7 shows a timing chart when the toner replenishing motor 26 is repeatedly rotated forward and reverse.

When the toner replenishment motor 26 is repeatedly rotated in the forward and reverse directions, the toner replenishment motor 26 is stopped once between the forward and reverse rotations of the toner replenishment motor 26. This is because the torque of the toner replenishing motor 26 can be smaller than that in the case where the toner replenishing motor 26 is not stopped between normal rotation and reverse rotation of the toner replenishing motor 26.

FIGS. 8 to 12 show part of the processing flow of the CPU 35.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the color copying machine is powered on, the CPU 35 turns on the toner replenishment motor forward/reverse signal and starts the timer tsw. 11. Clear tl,
Turn on the power ON flag. Next, the CPU 35
As shown in the figure, the timer t5WOI is set for a predetermined time Ts.
□When ++o is reached, the power ON flag and the toner replenishment motor forward/reverse signal are turned off, and the timer ttm is cleared. Then, as shown in FIG. 12, when the toner replenishment motor forward/reverse signal is on, the CPU 35 sets the timer t th to a predetermined toner replenishment motor off time T t ? □If the above condition occurs, the reversal signal is turned on and off at regular intervals as shown in Figure 7, and when the reversal signal is on (L), the timer t is activated.
The motor ON signal is turned on (L) until th reaches a predetermined time T t, □ (>T,, z), and the toner replenishment motor 2
Reverse 6. Next, the CPU 35 sets the timer ttm to a predetermined time T1. When □ is reached, the reverse rotation signal is turned off (H) and timer t1. Clear. Further, when the reverse rotation signal is off (H), the timer t1. The motor ON signal is turned on (L) and the toner supply motor 26 is rotated in the normal direction until T1.3 reaches a predetermined time.

Next, the CPU 35 starts the timer tt for a predetermined period of time T1.
.

When this happens, the reverse rotation signal is turned on (L) and timer t,1 is cleared. Therefore, the toner supply motor 26 alternately repeats normal rotation and reverse rotation at a predetermined period, and stops for a predetermined time between normal rotation and reverse rotation. In this case, the toner supply motor 26 repeats, for example, normal rotation for 0.7 seconds and reverse rotation for 0.3 seconds.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, in the case of toner replenishment timing, the CPU 35 turns off the motor ON signal and the reverse rotation signal to stop the toner replenishment motor 26 when the toner replenishment clutch is off, and stops the toner replenishment motor 26 when the toner replenishment clutch is off. 34 determines whether the sub-hopper 30 is empty (the sensor 34 has not detected toner), and if the sub-hopper 30 is empty, the motor ON signal and reverse rotation signal are turned off and the toner replenishment motor 26 is activated. to stop. If the sub-hopper 30 is empty, the CPU 35 turns on the motor ON signal and turns off the reverse rotation signal, thereby causing the toner supply motor 26 to rotate forward. Also, CPU3
5, if it is not the toner replenishment timing, whether or not the color copying machine is performing the final copy (copying operation for the last one sheet) in the continuous copying operation for the set number of sheets (the number of sheets set on the operation unit). The latest
When copying is not being performed, the motor ON signal and the reverse rotation signal are turned off to stop the toner supply motor 26. CPU
35 starts a timer t at the start of the final copy, and turns off the motor ON signal and the ■ signal to stop the toner supply motor 26 until the timer t reaches a predetermined time T1. Here, TI is the time obtained by adding a margin time to the timing at which toner replenishment is completed during continuous copying operations for a set number of sheets. Next, the CPU
35, when the timer t exceeds a predetermined time T1, the motor O
Turn on the N signal and reverse rotation signal to turn on the toner replenishment motor 26.
Reverse. Thereafter, when the timer t exceeds a predetermined time T2 (>TI), the CPU 35 turns off the motor ON signal and the reverse rotation signal to stop the toner supply motor 26. Therefore, the toner replenishment motor 26 is operated for a certain period of time, for example, 0.3 seconds each time the continuous copying operation for the set number of sheets is completed.
Reverse the stirring member 18.21 by reversing for seconds.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the CPU 35 determines whether or not the toner is in an end state based on a signal from the remaining toner amount detection element 23.
Determine whether or not the toner is near end.

Here, the toner end state is a state in which the toner in the toner container 11 has decreased to such an extent that it cannot be detected at all by the remaining toner amount detection element 23, and the toner near end state is a state in which the toner in the toner container 11 has barely passed the screw member 12. It has been reduced to the point where it is hidden.

When the CPU 35 reaches the toner end state or toner near end state, the CPU 35 causes the display unit to display this fact in a routine not shown. When the operator looks at the display, he opens the door of the color copying machine, puts enough toner into the toner container 11, and then closes the door of the color copying machine. Based on the signal, it is determined whether the door has changed from an open state to a closed state. When the door above changes from open to closed, the CPU
35 is a toner remaining amount detection element (toner end sensor) 23
It is determined whether or not there is toner in the toner container 11 (not in the toner end state or toner near end state) based on the signal from ．． Start.

After that, the CPU 35 uses the timer t1. is a predetermined time T7.
The toner supply motor 26 is rotated in reverse until the timer t1. When the time reaches a predetermined time T1.2, the toner supply motor 26 is stopped. Next, the CPU 35 uses the timer tt+
+ reaches a predetermined time T t ++ 5, it is determined whether or not there is toner in the toner container 11 based on the signal from the toner end sensor 23, and if there is no toner in the toner container 11 (toner end state or toner If it is near-end state) timer j? Clear ++ and toner presence flag A
, turn off the reverse signal. This is toner end sensor 2
3 is a process performed when the stirring member 21 is detected as toner.

The CPU 35 operates the timer t1. is a predetermined time T7. ．． for a predetermined time T11. The toner replenishment motor forward/reverse rotation signal is turned on until the toner replenishment motor 26 rotates forward and reverse in the routine shown in FIG. 12 as described above. next,
The CPU 35 sets the timer t, , to a predetermined time T11. When the timer t1. is cleared to turn off the toner presence flag A and the reverse rotation signal. Further, when the door is opened, the CPU 35 starts the timer t1. is cleared to turn off the toner presence flag A. In addition.

T7. □<T,,,<T,,S<T,,,<T,,,.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a toner container in which toner is stored and toner is supplied from a toner replenishing section.

a flexible stirring member that is provided inside the toner container and has a base fixed to a rotating shaft and rotates with the rotation of the rotating shaft to stir the toner in the toner container; at least one of the stirring members is a flexible stirring member, the base of which is fixed to a rotating shaft having a screw member, and which rotates as the rotating shaft rotates to stir the toner in the toner container; , and a motor for rotating the rotating shaft, so that even if the toner in the toner container condenses, the stirring member can be rotated by a motor with low torque;
A type of motor with low torque can be used, and the toner replenishment capacity can be relatively large.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the soft toner replenishing device according to the first aspect further includes a remaining toner amount detecting element for detecting the remaining amount of toner in the toner container, and the toner remaining amount detecting element detects the remaining toner amount. Since the stirring member is configured to come into contact with the amount detection surface as it rotates, a cleaning member for cleaning the toner detection surface of the remaining toner amount detection element is not required.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the toner replenishing device according to the second aspect, the stirring member has a plurality of slits substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis, and each portion of the stirring member is divided by the plurality of slits. The portion of the stirring member that contacts the toner remaining amount detection surface of the toner remaining amount detection element has approximately the same width as the toner remaining amount detection surface of the toner remaining amount detection element. The load is distributed and it becomes easier to loosen toner condensation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the toner replenishing device of the first aspect, there is provided a normal rotation means for rotating the motor in the normal direction when the stirring member stirs the toner; Since the toner is provided with a reversing means for reversing the motor at least at one timing after the end of the image forming operation for the number of sheets, deformation of the agitating member is reduced and toner agitating ability is not deteriorated.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the invention of claim 4, FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views and vertical sectional views showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a part of the same embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a developing device to which toner is replenished according to the same embodiment, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a circuit for driving the toner replenishment motor of the same embodiment, and FIG. Timing charts when the replenishment motor is repeatedly rotated forward and reverse, and FIGS. 8 to 12 are flowcharts showing part of the processing flow of the CPU in the above embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Motor, 2... Forward rotation means, 3... Reverse rotation means, 11... Toner container, 16.20... Rotating shaft,]
8.21... Stirring member, 19... Screw member,
22...Slit, 23...Remaining toner amount detection element,
26...Motor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A toner container in which toner is stored and the toner is supplied from a toner replenishing section, and a base portion is provided inside the toner container and is fixed to a rotating shaft and rotates as the rotating shaft rotates. a flexible agitating member for agitating the toner in the toner container, and a base fixed to a rotating shaft provided inside the toner container and having a screw member, and rotating with the rotation of the rotating shaft. A toner replenishing device comprising: at least one flexible stirring member that stirs the toner in the toner container; and a motor that rotates the rotating shaft. 2. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, further comprising a remaining toner amount detection element for detecting the remaining amount of toner in the toner container, and the stirring member rotates on a remaining toner amount detection surface of the remaining toner amount detection element. A toner replenishing device characterized in that it is configured to come into contact with the toner replenishing device. 3. The toner replenishing device according to claim 2, wherein the stirring member has a plurality of slits substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis,
Of each portion of the stirring member divided by the plurality of slits, a portion that contacts the remaining toner amount detection surface of the remaining toner amount detection element has approximately the same width as the remaining toner amount detection surface of the remaining toner amount detection element. A toner replenishing device comprising: 4. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, further comprising a normal rotation means for rotating the motor in the normal direction when the stirring member stirs the toner, and an image forming operation for a set number of sheets after toner is put into the toner container when the power is turned on. A toner replenishing device comprising: a reversing means for reversing the motor at least at one timing after completion of the toner replenishment device.