Patent Application
20250068099
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms images on recording materials, a toner container that accommodates toner, and a developing apparatus that is used in the image forming apparatus.
In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, since the toner stored in the toner storage portion (i.e., the developer container) of the developing apparatus is consumed when images are formed, toner is supplied from a toner container that contains the toner for the supply, to the toner storage portion. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-081778 describes a configuration in which toner is conveyed from a toner container to a developing apparatus by the airflow generated by an air pump.
In the configuration described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-081778, a filter that discharges air is disposed on a path along which air that contains toner flows toward the developing apparatus.
According to an aspect of the invention, an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a toner storage portion configured to store toner and to be supplied with the toner by using air, a developing roller configured to rotate about a rotation axis, the developing roller including a toner bearing portion configured to bear the toner stored in the toner storage portion and supply the toner to the photosensitive drum, and a cyclonic separating portion including an intake port, a first discharge port communicating with an interior of the toner storage portion, and a second discharge port communicating with an outside of the toner storage portion, the cyclonic separating portion being configured to take in the air mixed with the toner through the intake port, separate the toner and the air from each other, discharge the toner separated from the air through the first discharge port, and discharge the air separated from the toner through the second discharge port, wherein the cyclonic separating portion is provided on an upper surface portion of the toner storage portion, wherein the cyclonic separating portion includes a conical portion formed in a conical frustum shape whose radius decreases as the conical frustum shape extends downward, wherein the first discharge port is disposed at a lower end portion of the conical portion, and wherein at least a portion of the conical portion projects downward with respect to an inner upper surface of the toner storage portion.
According to another aspect of the invention, a toner container includes (i) a container constituting a toner accommodating space configured to accommodate toner, and (ii) a cyclonic separating portion (ii-i) including a conical portion and (ii-ii) configured (ii-ii-i) to take in air with the toner, (ii-ii-ii) to separate the air and the toner, (ii-ii-iii) to discharge the toner separated from the air into the toner accommodating space, and (ii-ii-iv) to discharge the air separated from the toner outside the container, wherein when the toner container is oriented in a direction in which a center axis of the conical portion extends in a gravity direction and an inner diameter of the conical portion decreases toward the gravity direction, at least part of the conical portion protrudes downward with respect to an inner upper surface of the container constituting the toner accommodating space.
According to another aspect of the invention, a developing apparatus includes (i) a container constituting a toner accommodating space configured to accommodate toner, (ii) a developing roller (ii-i) including a toner bearing portion to bear the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating space and (ii-ii) configured to rotate about a rotation axis, and (iii) a cyclonic separating portion configured to separate the toner and air, the cyclonic separating portion including (iii-i) an air intake for taking in the air with the toner to flow into the cyclonic separating portion, (iii-ii) a first discharge port through which the toner separated from the air is discharged into the toner accommodating space from the cyclonic separating portion, the first discharge port being provided in an area of the container between both ends of the toner bearing portion of the developing roller in a direction of the rotation axis, and (iii-iii) a second discharge port through which the air separated from the toner is discharged outside the container from the cyclonic separating portion.
According to another aspect of the invention, a n image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a toner storage portion configured to store toner and to be supplied with the toner by using air, a developing roller configured to rotate about a rotation axis, the developing roller including a toner bearing portion configured to bear the toner stored in the toner storage portion and supply the toner borne by the toner bearing portion to the photosensitive drum, and a cyclonic separating portion including an intake port, a first discharge port communicating with an interior of the toner storage portion, and a second discharge port communicating with an outside of the toner storage portion, the cyclonic separating portion being configured to take in the air mixed with the toner through the intake port, separate the toner and the air from each other, discharge the toner separated from the air through the first discharge port, and discharge the air separated from the toner through the second discharge port, wherein in a direction of the rotation axis, the first discharge port is disposed between positions of both ends of the toner bearing portion in the direction of the rotation axis.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, an X direction, a Y direction, and a Z direction are preferably orthogonal to each other.
An outline of an image forming apparatus 1 of a first embodiment will be described with reference to
The image forming apparatus 1 includes process units PY, PM, PC, and PK (hereinafter referred to as each process unit P), and an apparatus body 72. Note that each process unit P is disposed so as to be arranged in a first direction (hereinafter referred to as the X direction), and colors of toners stored in the process units are different from each other. The longitudinal direction of each process unit P is a second direction (hereinafter referred to as the Y direction) perpendicular to the X direction. The process units PY, PM, PC, and PK are respectively defined as a first process unit, a second process unit, a third process unit, and a fourth process unit.
Each process unit P includes a process portion (i.e., a process component) for the electrophotographic process. The process portion is a unit that operates on the image bearing member or the recording material for performing any one of processes of the electrophotographic process: a charging process, an exposure process, a development process, a transfer process, a cleaning process, and a fixing process. To each process unit P, the rotational driving force is transmitted from a driving-force output portion of the apparatus body 72. In addition, to each process unit P, a bias voltage (such as a charging bias or a developing bias) is supplied from a power supply circuit of the apparatus body 72.
As illustrated in
Each process unit P includes a corresponding one of developing units 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K (hereinafter referred to as each developing unit 9). Each developing unit 9 includes a corresponding one of developing rollers 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K (hereinafter referred to as each developing roller 6). Each developing roller 6 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on a corresponding photosensitive drum 4. Each developing unit 9 is arranged in the X direction. The developing rollers 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K are respectively defined as a first developing roller, a second developing roller, a third developing roller, and a fourth developing roller. The developing units 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K are respectively defined as a first developing unit, a second developing unit, a third developing unit, and a fourth developing unit.
Each developing unit 9 includes a corresponding one of developer containers 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K (hereinafter referred to as each developer container 3). Each developer container 3 is a toner storage portion that stores toner used by a corresponding developing roller 6 for the development. Each developing roller 6 includes an outer circumferential surface that serves as a toner bearing portion that bears the toner stored in a corresponding developer container 3 (i.e., a toner storage portion). Each developing roller 6 is a developer bearing member that develops the latent image formed on a corresponding photosensitive drum 4 (i.e., an image bearing member), into a toner image by using the toner borne by the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller 6. Note that each developing roller 6 may be a cylindrical member (referred to also as a developing sleeve).
The developing unit 9Y includes the developer container 3Y (i.e., a first developer container) that stores toner (i.e., a first toner) with a color of yellow (Y). In the developing unit 9Y, the toner with the color of yellow is supplied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 4Y by the developing roller 6Y that bears the toner with the color of yellow. The developing unit 9M includes the developer container 3M (i.e., a second developer container) that stores toner (i.e., a second toner) with a color of magenta (M). In the developing unit 9M, the toner with the color of magenta is supplied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 4M by the developing roller 6M that bears the toner with the color of magenta. The developing unit 9C includes the developer container 3C (i.e., a third developer container) that stores toner (i.e., a third toner) with a color of cyan (C). In the developing unit 9C, the toner with the color of cyan is supplied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 4C by the developing roller 6C that bears the toner with the color of cyan. The developing unit 9K includes the developer container 3K (i.e., a fourth developer container) that stores toner (i.e., a fourth toner) with a color of black (K). In the developing unit 9K, the toner with the color of black is supplied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 4K by the developing roller 6K that bears the toner with the color of black.
A laser scanner unit LB (i.e., an exposure unit) is disposed above each process unit P (or each photosensitive drum 4) in a third direction (hereinafter referred to as the Z direction) that intersects both of the X direction and the Y direction. The laser scanner unit LB outputs a laser beam in accordance with image information. Hereinafter, the optical path of the laser beam toward the photosensitive drum 4Y is denoted by LY, the optical path of the laser beam toward the photosensitive drum 4M is denoted by LM, the optical path of the laser beam toward the photosensitive drum 4C is denoted by LC, and the optical path of the laser beam toward the photosensitive drum 4K is denoted by LK (hereinafter each of the optical paths is referred to as each optical path L or an optical path L). The laser beam passes through each of exposure windows 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K of the laser scanner unit LB, and scans and exposures the surface of a corresponding photosensitive drum 4. Note that instead of the laser scanner unit LB, an LED exposure unit may be used.
Preferably, the Z direction is parallel to the vertical direction (i.e., the gravity direction) defined with respect to the image forming apparatus 1 placed on a horizontal plane. In addition, unless otherwise specified, the downward direction is one direction of the Z direction (i.e., the lower direction in
Below the process unit P in the Z direction, an intermediate transfer belt unit 11 is disposed as a transfer member (i.e., an intermediate transfer unit). The intermediate transfer belt unit 11 includes a transfer belt 12, a driving roller 14, a tension roller 13, and an assist roller 15. The transfer belt 12 has flexibility, and is wound around the driving roller 14, the tension roller 13, and the assist roller 15.
The bottom surface of each photosensitive drum 4 is in contact with the top surface of the transfer belt 12. The contact portion between each photosensitive drum 4 and the transfer belt 12 serves as a corresponding one of primary transfer portions 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K (hereinafter referred to as a primary transfer portion 30). Inside the transfer belt 12, each of primary transfer rollers 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K (hereinafter referred to as a transfer roller 16) is disposed so as to face a corresponding photosensitive drum 4.
The driving roller 14 is pressed by a secondary transfer roller 17 via the transfer belt 12. The contact portion between the transfer belt 12 and the secondary transfer roller 17 serves as a secondary transfer portion 31.
A feeding unit 18 is disposed below the intermediate transfer belt unit 11 in the Z direction. The feeding unit 18 includes a feeding tray 19 that stores the recording material S stacked on the feeding tray 19, and a feeding roller 20 that picks up and conveys the recording material S from the feeding tray 19.
In
An image forming operation for forming a full-color image is as follows. Each photosensitive drum 4 is rotated counterclockwise in
The laser scanner unit LB is also driven. In each process unit P, in synchronization with the driving of the laser scanner unit LB, the charging roller 5 uniformly charges the surface of a corresponding photosensitive drum 4 at a predetermined polarity and electric potential. The laser scanner unit LB scans and exposes the charged surface of each photosensitive drum 4, with the laser beam in accordance with an image signal for a corresponding color, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 in accordance with the image signal for the corresponding color. That is, the laser scanner unit LB exposes the photosensitive drum 4Y and the photosensitive drum 4M, and forms a first electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 4Y and a second electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 4M. Similarly, the laser scanner unit LB exposes the photosensitive drum 4C and the photosensitive drum 4K, and forms a third electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 4C and a fourth electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 4K.
The electrostatic latent image on each photosensitive drum 4 is developed by a corresponding developing roller 6, rotated clockwise in
In this manner, a full-color unfixed toner image of four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is formed on the transfer belt 12. On the other hand, the recording material S is separated, one by one, and fed from the feeding tray 19 by the feeding roller 20 at a predetermined control timing. The recording material S is introduced into the secondary transfer portion 31 at a predetermined control timing. The secondary transfer portion 31 is an abutment portion between the secondary transfer roller 17 and the transfer belt 12. In the process in which the recording material S is conveyed by the secondary transfer portion 31, the toner image which is formed on the transfer belt 12 and in which toner images of four colors are superposed on each other is transferred onto the recording material S. The recording material S onto which the toner image has been transferred is heated and pressed by the fixing unit 21, so that the toner image is fixed to the recording material S. The recording material S to which the toner image has been fixed is discharged to the discharging tray 23 by the discharge roller 22.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes cartridges 430Y, 430M, 430C, and 430K (hereinafter referred to as each cartridge 430), each of which serves as a supplying pack that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus body 72. Note that in the present embodiment, the apparatus body 72 is a portion of the image forming apparatus 1 left when the cartridges 430Y, 430M, 430C, and 430K are removed from the image forming apparatus 1. Each cartridge 430 is arranged in the Y direction. That is, each cartridge 430 is arranged in a direction that intersects (or crosses at right angles) the direction in which each developing unit 9 is arranged. The cartridges 430Y, 430M, 430C, and 430K are respectively defined as a first cartridge (i.e., a first toner container), a second cartridge (i.e., a second toner container), a third cartridge (i.e., a third toner container), and a fourth cartridge (i.e., a fourth toner container).
The apparatus body 72 includes a casing 72a, and the front door 72b that serves as an opening-and-closing member that can be opened and closed with respect to the casing 72a. The casing 72a contains each process unit P, the laser scanner unit LB, the intermediate transfer belt unit 11, the fixing unit 21, and the like. Each cartridge 430 is attached to an upper portion of the apparatus body 72 on the front side so that a user can access each cartridge 430 by opening the front door 72b. In other words, each cartridge 430 is disposed on an end portion of the casing 72a on the downstream side in the discharging direction of the discharging roller 22.
The front door 72b can be moved between a closing position (see
As illustrated in
Next, with reference to
A unit that includes each cartridge 430, each process unit P, and a below-described conveyance path for conveying the toner from each cartridge 430 to a corresponding process unit P is defined as an image forming unit 500.
As illustrated in
Note that the air discharged from each pump unit 80 may not be a gas that has the same composition as that of the atmosphere. For example, the air discharged from each pump unit 80 may be a gas obtained by removing steam or oxygen from the atmosphere. In another case, each pump unit 80 may discharge nitrogen, as the air, supplied from a tank that contains liquid nitrogen.
As illustrated in
The air discharged upward from each ejection port 80a is supplied to the interior of a corresponding cartridge 430 attached to the cartridge holder 429. The air supplied to the interior of each cartridge 430 is discharged, together with toner, from the cartridge 430. That is, the air that contains toner (i.e., the air mixed with toner, or the mixed fluid that contains air and toner) is discharged from each cartridge 430. Note that the internal structure of each cartridge 430 will be described later, and thus the detailed description thereof is not made in this section.
The air discharged from each cartridge 430 and containing toner is taken in a corresponding one of supply pipes 444Y, 444M, 444C, and 444K via a corresponding one of taking-in ports 429Ya, 429Ma, 429Ca, and 429Ka formed in the cartridge holder 429 illustrated in
Each supply pipe 444 extends to a corresponding developing unit 9, and is connected to the developing unit 9. Each taking-in port 429a is a through hole formed so as to pass through a surface of the cartridge holder 429 that faces the back surface of a corresponding cartridge 430. Each taking-in port 429a is opened toward the X direction that is a direction in which each developing unit 9 is arranged. The direction toward which each taking-in port 429a is opened intersects the direction toward which each ejection port 80a is opened.
As illustrated in
The toner taken in from each taking-in port 429a is conveyed through the interior of a corresponding supply pipe 444 by the air discharged from a corresponding cartridge 430. The toner is moved from each upstream end portion 444u of a corresponding supply pipe 444 to a corresponding one of downstream end portions 444Yd, 444Md, 444Cd, and 444Kd (hereinafter referred to as each downstream end portion 444d), and is supplied to a corresponding developing unit 9.
Each developer container 3, which is a storage portion of a corresponding developing unit 9 for storing toner T, includes a corresponding one of cyclones CyY, CyM, CyC, and CyK (hereinafter referred to as each cyclone Cy) provided on the upper surface of the developer container 3. Each cyclone Cy supplies the toner T into a corresponding developer container 3 while separating air from the air supplied to the developer container 3 and containing the toner, and while discharging the separated air to the outside of the developer container 3. The developer container 3 and the cyclone Cy formed in the developer container 3 constitute a toner storage unit that is an example of a toner container. Note that the internal structure of each cyclone Cy will be described later, and thus the detailed description thereof is not made in this section.
Each downstream end portion 444d of a corresponding supply pipe 444 is connected to a corresponding cyclone Cy that is formed at an end portion of a corresponding developer container 3 in the Y direction. Specifically, the downstream end portion 444Yd of the supply pipe 444Y is connected to the cyclone CyY formed at an end portion of the developer container 3Y on the LE side, and the downstream end portion 444Md of the supply pipe 444M is connected to the cyclone CyM formed at an end portion of the developer container 3M on the LE side. In addition, the downstream end portion 444Cd of the supply pipe 444C is connected to the cyclone CyC formed at an end portion of the developer container 3C on the RE side, and the downstream end portion 444Kd of the supply pipe 444K is connected to the cyclone CyK formed at an end portion of the developer container 3K on the RE side.
Since each supply pipe 444 and a corresponding cyclone Cy are connected with each other in this manner, the length of each supply pipe 444 can be shortened, so that the pressure loss of each supply pipe 444 can be reduced. In addition, since the pressure loss is reduced, a small pump unit can be selected as each pump unit 80, and the image forming unit 500 can be downsized.
Preferably, the image forming unit 500 is configured so that a user can easily access the process unit P and the supply pipe 444 for performing maintenance or replacement on the process unit P or the supply pipe 444, for providing service when the image forming unit 500 has failed. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the image forming unit 500 can be pulled out from the BE side (i.e., the back side) to the FE side (i.e., the front side), with respect to the apparatus body 72. In addition, in the present embodiment, the image forming unit 500 can be pulled out from the BE side (i.e., the back side) to the FE side (i.e., the front side), with respect to the intermediate transfer belt unit 11.
In addition, it is preferable that each cyclone Cy have a configuration that allows a user to easily access the cyclone Cy for maintenance. For this reason, in the present embodiment, when the image forming unit 500 is pulled out from the BE side (i.e., the back side) to the FE side (i.e., the front side), with respect to the apparatus body 72, each cyclone Cy is exposed to the outside of the apparatus body 72. That is, when the image forming unit 500 is pulled out toward the FE side, each cyclone Cy projects towards the FE side (i.e., the front side) through the opening 72al (
Next, a structure of each cartridge 430 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
Except for the difference in the width in the Y direction, each cartridge 430 has an identical structure. Thus, in the following description, the structure of the cartridge 430Y will be described, and the description for the structure of the cartridges 430M, 430C, and 430K will be omitted.
As illustrated in
The first frame 430Ya and the second frame 430Yb of the present embodiment are members made of resin. However, the first frame 430Ya and the second frame 430Yb may be made of another material such as paper. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The discharge port 430Ya1 is formed in the back surface 4300Ya of the cartridge 430Y (that is an end surface of the cartridge 430Y on the downstream side in the attachment direction) such that the discharge port 430Ya1 is opened toward the downstream side in the attachment direction. Thus, when the cartridge 430Y is attached to the cartridge holder 429, the discharge port 430Ya1 can be easily engaged with the taking-in port 429Ya of the cartridge holder 429 such that the discharge port 430Ya1 communicates with the taking-in port 429Ya. Note that the discharge port 430Ya1 may be formed in the bottom surface 4300Yb or the top surface of the cartridge 430Y, and that the taking-in port 430Yb1 may be formed in the back surface 4300Ya or the top surface. If the apparatus body 72 has sufficient space, the discharge port 430Ya1 and the taking-in port 430Yb1 may be formed in surfaces that the Y direction intersects. In addition, although not illustrated in the figures, the cartridge 430M includes a discharge port (i.e., a second discharge port) and a taking-in port (i.e., a second taking-in port or a second intake port) disposed like those of the cartridge 430Y. The cartridge 430C includes a discharge port (i.e., a third discharge port) and a taking-in port (i.e., a third taking-in port or a third intake port) disposed like those of the cartridge 430Y. The cartridge 430K includes a discharge port (i.e., a fourth discharge port) and a taking-in port (i.e., a fourth taking-in port or a fourth intake port) disposed like those of the cartridge 430Y.
In another case, a sealing member (i.e., a seal or a shutter), which is not illustrated in the figures, may be disposed on the discharge port 430Ya1. In this case, in a state where the cartridge 430Y is not attached to the cartridge holder 429 of the apparatus body 72, the sealing member seals the discharge port 430Ya1 and prevents the toner T stored in the cartridge 430Y, from leaking to the outside of the cartridge 430Y. When the cartridge 430Y is attached to the cartridge holder 429, the discharge port 430Ya1 is opened by the sealing member being removed or moved.
A label 430Ys of the cartridge 430Y illustrated in
As illustrated in
The filter 83Y is disposed so as to partition (or divide) the internal space SPY of the cartridge 430Y into two chambers: a toner chamber 430Yc (i.e., a first chamber) and an air chamber 430Yd (i.e., a second chamber). That is, the air chamber 430Yd is adjacent to the toner chamber 430Yc via the filter 83Y. Although not illustrated in the figures, the cartridge 430M includes a filter that partitions (or divides) the internal space of the cartridge 430M into two chambers: a toner chamber (i.e., a third chamber) and an air chamber (i.e., a fourth chamber). That is, the air chamber of the cartridge 430M is adjacent to the toner chamber via the filter. In addition, the cartridge 430C includes a filter that partitions (or divides) the internal space of the cartridge 430C into two chambers: a toner chamber (i.e., a fifth chamber) and an air chamber (i.e., a sixth chamber). That is, the air chamber of the cartridge 430C is adjacent to the toner chamber via the filter. In addition, the cartridge 430K includes a filter that partitions (or divides) the internal space of the cartridge 430K into two chambers: a toner chamber (i.e., a seventh chamber) and an air chamber (i.e., an eighth chamber). That is, the air chamber of the cartridge 430K is adjacent to the toner chamber via the filter.
The toner chamber 430Yc is positioned above the air chamber 430Yd, and the toner chamber 430Yc and the air chamber 430Yd are arranged in the Z direction. That is, the cartridge 430Y is attached to the apparatus body 72, with a posture and orientation in which the toner chamber 430Yc is positioned above the air chamber 430Yd. The direction in which the toner chamber 430Yc and the air chamber 430Yd are arranged is the Z direction. Thus, in the present embodiment, the taking-in port 430Yb1 is opened toward the arrangement direction, and the discharge port 430Ya1 is opened toward a direction that intersects the arrangement direction.
The toner chamber 430Yc stores the toner T. In the toner chamber 430Yc, the toner T is supported by the filter 83Y.
The toner is not stored in the air chamber 430Yd. For example, the filter 83Y is a porous member made of resin fiber, and the size and density of pores are determined so as to allow the passage of air and prevent the passage of toner. That is, the filter 83Y is made so as to allow the passage of air and prevent the passage of toner. As illustrated in
The lowermost portion 83Yb is a portion that projects with respect to the outer edge portion 83Ya, in a direction extending from the toner chamber 430Yc toward the air chamber 430Yd. As illustrated in
In the toner chamber 430Yc, the discharging pipe 85Y (i.e., a path) is disposed. The discharging pipe 85Y of the present embodiment is a member made of resin. However, the discharging pipe 85Y may be made of another material such as paper or rubber. The discharging pipe 85Y includes an inlet 85Ya (i.e., a first opening) and an outlet 85Yb (i.e., a second opening), and extends from the inlet 85Ya to the outlet 85Yb. The discharging pipe 85Y is a path through which the toner T stored in the toner chamber 430Yc passes when the toner T is moved toward the discharge port 430Ya1. The discharging pipe 85Y includes a first portion 85Y1 which extends in the Z direction and in which the inlet 85Ya is disposed, and a second portion 85Y2 which extends in the X direction and in which the outlet 85Yb is disposed. The direction in which the first portion 85Y1 extends and the direction in which the second portion 85Y2 extends intersect each other (the directions are orthogonal to each other in the present embodiment).
The outlet 85Yb of the discharging pipe 85Y is connected with the discharge port 430Ya1 so as to communicate with the discharge port 430Ya1. The inlet 85Ya of the discharging pipe 85Y is disposed so as to face the lowermost portion 83Yb, which is a portion of the filter 83Y, via a clearance. Preferably, the inlet 85Ya is disposed closer to the filter 83Y. If the mount of the toner T that remains in the toner chamber 430Yc decreases, the toner T is fluidized by the air taken in through the taking-in port 430Yb1, and moves along the above-described slope of the filter 83Y and aggregates on the lowermost portion 83Yb. The inlet 85Ya of the discharging pipe 85Y can guide the toner T that aggregates on the lowermost portion 83Yb of the filter 83Y, to the discharge port 430Ya1. With this operation, even in a case where the amount of remaining toner stored in the toner chamber 430Yc of the cartridge 430Y decreases, the toner T can be efficiently discharged to the outside of the cartridge 430Y.
Since the cartridge of the present embodiment has the structure in which the toner is discharged to the outside of the cartridge by the air, the cartridge does not need any rotary member such as a screw. Thus, the structure of the cartridge can be simplified, having less components.
Next, a structure of each cyclone Cy of the present embodiment will be described with reference to
The developing unit 9Y is attached to the apparatus body 72 in an orientation (posture) in which the inner diameter of the conical portion CyYb1 decreases as the center axis Ax of the conical portion CyYb1 extends in the gravity direction and toward the downward direction. That is, the following description for the cyclone CyY and
As illustrated in
The cyclone CyY is a separation apparatus (i.e., a cyclonic separating portion or a centrifugal separator) that takes in air that contains air and toner to be supplied to the developer container 3Y (i.e., a toner storage portion), and that centrifugally separates the toner from the air. The cyclone CyY includes the toner discharge port CyYb2 that serves as a first discharge port that discharges the toner to the internal space of the toner storage portion, and the air discharge port CyYa3 that serves as a second discharge port that discharges the air to the space outside the toner storage portion.
The cyclone CyY takes in the air that contains toner, through the inflow port CyYa1; and performs the centrifugal separation by producing whirl flow of the air in the internal space of the cylindrical portion CyYa2 and the conical portion CyYb1. The cylindrical portion CyYa2 and the conical portion CyYb1 are a main-body portion of the cyclone CyY that forms a space in which the whirl flow of the air that contains toner is produced. The cyclone CyY discharges toner separated from the air by performing the centrifugal separation, from the toner discharge port CyYb2; and discharges air separated from the toner by performing the centrifugal separation, from the air discharge port CyYa3 and the air discharge filter CyYf.
In the following description, the direction along the center axis Ax of the conical portion CyYb1 formed in a conical frustum shape is defined as an axial direction (i.e., an axis direction) of the cyclone CyY. In the present embodiment, the axial direction of the cyclone CyY is substantially parallel with the Z direction (i.e., the gravity direction). However, the cyclone CyY may be disposed such that the axial direction obliquely crosses the Z direction. In addition, a radial direction of an imaginary circle whose center is the center axis Ax when the cyclone CyY is viewed in the axial direction is defined as a radial direction of the cyclone CyY.
The cyclone CyY of the present embodiment is tangential, and thus the inflow port CyYa1 is connected so as to be in contact with the outer wall of the cylindrical portion CyYa2. That is, as illustrated in
The cyclone CyY may not be tangential, and the radius of the cylindrical portion CyYa2 may not be constant. For example, the cyclone CyY may be hemispiral or spiral. In a case where the cyclone CyY is hemispiral, the radius of the cylindrical portion CyYa2 decreases gradually from the connection portion between the cylindrical portion CyYa2 and the inflow port CyYa1, in a range of 180 degrees around the center axis Ax. In a case where the cyclone CyY is spiral, the radius of the cylindrical portion CyYa2 decreases gradually from the connection portion between the cylindrical portion CyYa2 and the inflow port CyYa1, in a range of 360 degrees around the center axis Ax.
As illustrated in
The bottom portion of the cylindrical member CyYa and the upper surface portion of the conical frustum member CyYb are fixed to each other without any gap so that the toner does not leak from the connection portion between the cylindrical portion CyYa2 and the conical portion CyYb1, to the outside of the cyclone CyY and the developer container 3Y. The fixing is performed, for example, by using adhesive, but may be performed by using ultrasonic welding or screws. More specifically, in the present embodiment, an annular projecting portion CyYb3 (
The inflow port CyYa1 is an intake port (i.e., an air intake, a taking-in portion or a taking-in port) that takes in the air that contains toner. The inflow port CyYa1 is a tubular portion that extends along a tangential direction passing through a point on the inner wall of the cylindrical portion CyYa2 illustrated in
The air discharge port CyYa3 is an opening portion (i.e., a second discharge port) that communicates with the outside of the developer container 3Y (i.e., a toner storage portion). The air discharge port CyYa3 is an opening portion for discharging air, obtained by separating toner from the mixed air, to the outside of the cyclone CyY. The air discharge port CyYa3 is disposed in a top portion (i.e., an upper end portion or an upper end surface) of the cylindrical portion CyYa2. The air discharge port CyYa3 of the present embodiment is opened in the upper surface of the cylindrical portion CyYa2. The air discharge port CyYa3 of the present embodiment is opened upward. The air discharge port CyYa3 of the present embodiment is positioned above the upper surface (i.e., the outer surface of a lid member 3Y1) of the developer container 3Y (i.e., a toner storage portion).
The air discharge port CyYa3 is disposed in an upper end (i.e., a second end) of a tubular portion CyYa30 that extends downward from the upper surface of the cylindrical portion CyYa2 along the center axis Ax. A lower end CyYa31 (i.e., a first end) of the tubular portion CyYa30, in which the air discharge port CyYa3 is disposed, is opened in the space inside the cylindrical portion CyYa2 and the conical portion CyYb1 (see also
The above-described tubular portion CyYa30 has a function to prevent the airflow which has flowed from the inflow port CyYa1 into the internal space of the cyclone CyY along the inner wall of the cylindrical portion CyYa2, and from which the toner has still not been centrifuged, from approaching the air discharge port CyYa3. By this function, the below-described clogging prevention effect of the air discharge filter CyYf can be further increased. However, the tubular portion CyYa30 may not be disposed. This is because the air mixed with toner easily moves downward due to the self weight of the toner and hardly moves toward the air discharge port CyYa3 (or the air discharge filter CyYf), which is disposed in a higher position. The air discharge filter CyYf is attached to the upper surface of the cylindrical member
CyYa. The air discharge filter CyYf is disposed so as to cover the air discharge port CyYa3 when viewed from above, and allows the air to be discharged from the air discharge port CyYa3 and collects the toner. That is, the air discharge filter CyYf allows the passage of the air, and prevents the passage of the toner. In addition, a space (i.e., a chamber) formed by a chamber portion CyYc is disposed between the air discharge port CyYa3 and the air discharge filter CyYf. The chamber portion CyYc has a recess shape in which a portion (that includes a circumferential edge of the air discharge port CyYa3) of the upper surface of the cylindrical member CyYa is recessed downward. The chamber is formed as a space surrounded by the recess-shaped bottom portion, a portion that extends upward around the bottom portion (the portion is a portion to which the air discharge filter CyYf is attached), and the air discharge filter CyYf.
The area of a cross section (at a plane perpendicular to the Z direction) of the space (i.e., a chamber) formed by the chamber portion CyYc is larger than the area of a cross section of the air discharge port CyYa3 obtained in a plane perpendicular to the Z direction. That is, the cross-sectional area of a cross section of the space (formed by the chamber portion CyYc) perpendicular to the direction in which the tubular portion CyYa30, which has the air discharge port CyYa3 formed in the upper end of the tubular portion CyYa30, extends is larger than the cross-sectional area of a cross section of the tubular portion CyYa30 perpendicular to the direction in which the tubular portion CyYa30 extends. Thus, the effective surface area of the air discharge filter CyYf can be made larger than that of an air discharge filter CyYf disposed in a configuration in which the air discharge port CyYa3 directly faces the air discharge filter CyYf. The effective surface area of the air discharge filter CyYf is the area of a portion of the air discharge filter CyYf through which the air passes from the interior of the cyclone CyY to the outside of the cyclone CyY. If the total amount of toner particles that adhere to the air discharge filter CyYf is constant, the air discharge filter CyYf having a larger effective surface area is less clogged. The effective surface area of the air discharge filter CyYf in the present embodiment is a surface area of a portion of the air discharge filter CyYf that is exposed to the chamber portion CyYc.
The toner discharge port CyYb2 is an opening portion (i.e., a first discharge port) that communicates with the interior of the developer container 3Y (i.e., a toner storage portion). The toner discharge port CyYb2 is an opening portion for discharging the toner separated from the air, to the outside of the cyclone CyY. The toner discharge port CyYb2 is formed at the lower end of the conical portion CyYb1. The toner discharge port CyYb2 of the present embodiment is formed in a circle whose center is the center axis Ax. The toner discharge port CyYb2 is opened in the space inside the developer container 3Y (i.e., a storage space or toner accommodating space in which the toner used for image formation is stored or accommodated) (
In the present embodiment, the conical frustum member CyYb of the cyclone CyY and the lid member 3Y1 (
In the present embodiment, the developer container 3Y includes a main-body frame 3Y2 (
In the present embodiment, the position of the toner discharge port CyYb2 of the cyclone CyY in the Y direction is positioned inside an area (hereinafter referred to as a width area W6 of the developing roller 6Y) (see also
In addition, in the present embodiment, the cyclone CyY is disposed in an upper surface portion of the developer container 3Y (i.e., a toner storage portion). The upper surface portion of the developer container 3Y is a surface (that faces upward in the Z direction) of the developer container 3Y included in a top view of the developer container 3Y. Since the cyclone CyY is disposed in the upper surface portion of the developer container 3Y, the cyclone CyY and the developer container 3Y have a positional relationship in which the cyclone CyY and the internal space of the developer container 3Y overlap with each other when viewed in the Z direction. Thus, the area taken by the developing unit 9Y when viewed in the Z direction can be reduced, compared with the area, taken by the developing unit 9Y when viewed in the Z direction, in a positional relationship in which the cyclone CyY protrudes from the internal space of the developer container 3Y in the X direction or the Y direction when viewed in the Z direction. As a result, the apparatus can be downsized. Note that the sentence of “two components overlap with each other when viewed in a certain direction” means that when the components are vertically projected onto an imaginary plane orthogonal to the certain direction, a projected area of one component and a projected area of the other component at least partly overlap with each other.
In addition, in the present embodiment, when viewed in the Z direction, the toner discharge port CyYb2 of the cyclone CyY overlaps with an outer circumferential surface 6Ya (
However, the toner discharge port CyYb2 and the outer circumferential surface 6Ya of the developing roller 6Y may have a positional relationship in which the toner discharge port CyYb2 and the outer circumferential surface 6Ya of the developing roller 6Y do not overlap with each other when viewed in the gravity direction. In this case, since the toner is conveyed in the X direction by agitating members SY1 and SY2 disposed in the developer container 3Y, the toner is supplied to the outer circumferential surface 6Ya of the developing roller 6Y. In another case, the developing unit 9Y may further include a supplying roller that supplies the toner to the developing roller 6Y.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the conical portion CyYb1 of the cyclone CyY projects downward with respect to an inner surface 3Y1a (
Note that the conical portion CyYb1 may be shortened for downsizing the developing unit 9Y. However, if the conical portion CyYb1 is shortened, the separation performance of the cyclone CyY may deteriorate. In the configuration of the present embodiment, since it is not necessary to extremely shorten the conical portion CyYb1, keeping the separation performance of the cyclone CyY and downsizing the developing unit 9Y can be both achieved.
Next, the mechanism that conveys the toner stored in the toner chamber 430Yc of the cartridge 430Y, to the developing unit 9Y will be described.
As illustrated in
Since the air chamber 430Yd that is a space with high airtightness is formed between the ejection port 80Ya and the filter 83Y, the air ejected from the ejection port 80Ya flows efficiently to the filter 83Y without dispersing to the outside of the cartridge 430Y. For example, if the cartridge 430Y is vibrated or left for a long time, the toner T in the toner chamber 430Yc aggregates. In such a case, a higher pressure may be required for causing the air to pass though the filter 83Y and flow into the toner chamber 430Yc. Even in this case, the air is allowed to pass through the filter 83Y and flow into the toner chamber 430Yc, by continuously sending air from the pump unit 80Y into the air chamber 430Yd and increasing the pressure (i.e., air pressure) of the air chamber 430Yd. In addition, since the air chamber 430Yd is formed, the pump unit 80Y has only to have performance that produces the pressure that can continuously send air into the air chamber 430Yd until the pressure has a value that allows the air to pass through the filter 83Y into the toner chamber 430Yc. That is, the pump unit 80Y does not need particular performance for the ejection speed and the ejection rate. Thus, a small pump unit can be used as the pump unit 80Y, contributing to the downsizing of the apparatus.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
On the other hand, even in the vicinity of the toner discharge port CyYb2, the toner T continues to move down, while whirling, due to the self weight of the toner T, and is discharged from the toner discharge port CyYb2 and stored in the storage space formed in the developer container 3Y. In this manner, the toner T is supplied from the cartridge 430Y to the developing unit 9Y of the process unit PY.
As described above, the toner is supplied to the developing unit 9Y in a state where most of the air is separated from the toner T by the cyclone CyY. That is, in the present embodiment, the toner can be supplied to the developer container 3Y (i.e., a toner storage portion) in a state where the toner is separated from the air. Thus, the separation performance can be kept for a longer time, compared with the separation performance in a configuration in which the toner is separated from the air, mainly by a filter.
In the present embodiment, since the toner T is supplied to the developing unit 9Y in a state where most of the air is separated from toner T by the cyclone CyY, it is possible to reduce the increase of the internal pressure of the developing unit 9Y caused by the inflow of the air. Since the increase of the internal pressure of the developing unit 9Y is reduced, toner leakage from the developing unit 9Y (e.g., flying of the toner T and the air from an opening portion of the developer container 3Y in which the developing roller 6Y is disposed) can be prevented. In addition, since the increase of the internal pressure of the developing unit 9Y is reduced, the load for driving the pump unit 80Y hardly increases. As a result, a pump unit such as a smaller pump unit can be used as the pump unit 80Y, contributing to the downsizing of the apparatus.
In the present embodiment, since the air from which most of the toner T has been separated is discharged from the air discharge port CyYa3, the air discharge filter CyYf is hardly clogged with the toner T, so that the durability of the toner conveyance function from the toner container to the developer container is increased.
In addition, as illustrated in
The toner T that has flowed into each developing unit 9 though a corresponding cyclone Cy is left in the developing unit 9, and at least one part of the air that has flowed into the developing unit 9 together with the toner T is discharged from the air-discharge filter portion Pf to the outside of the developing unit 9. In this configuration, since the increase of the internal pressure of the interior of each developing unit 9 is more reduced, the toner T and the air easily flows from a corresponding cartridge 430 to the developing unit 9 through a corresponding supply pipe 444. Since each air-discharge filter portion Pf is disposed in a corresponding developing unit 9, the toner T (and part of the air) easily flows into a corresponding developing unit 9 though a corresponding cyclone Cy.
In the present embodiment, each air-discharge filter portion Pf is disposed in a portion of the upper surface of a corresponding developing unit 9, formed downstream of a corresponding cyclone Cy in the direction in which the toner flows into the cyclone Cy. That is, the air-discharge filter portion PYf of the developing unit 9Y is disposed in a portion of the upper surface of the developing unit 9Y, formed on the RE side of the cyclone CyY in the Y direction; the air-discharge filter portion PMf of the developing unit 9M is disposed in a portion of the upper surface of the developing unit 9M, formed on the RE side of the cyclone CyM in the Y direction. The air-discharge filter portion PCf of the developing unit 9C is disposed in a portion of the upper surface of the developing unit 9C, formed on the LE side of the cyclone CyC in the Y direction; the air-discharge filter portion PKf of the developing unit 9K is disposed in a portion of the upper surface of the developing unit 9K, formed on the LE side of the cyclone CyK in the Y direction. In other words, the developer container 3 (i.e., a toner storage portion) of each developing unit 9 includes an opening and an air discharging filter that covers the opening, and the opening is disposed at a position separated more from the intake port (i.e., the inflow port) of the cyclone Cy than the air discharge port is in the rotation-axis direction of the developing roller 6. In this configuration, the discharging performance for the air can be increased by using the area in which each supply pipe 444 connected to a corresponding cyclone Cy is not disposed. Note that each air-discharge filter portion may be disposed not in the upper surface of a corresponding developing unit 9, but in a side surface of the developing unit 9.
The toner supplied from an end portion of the developing unit 9Y (i.e., the developer container 3Y) formed in the Y direction, into the developing unit 9Y is agitated and made uniform by agitating members SY1 and SY2 illustrated in
In the present embodiment, the toner discharge port CyYb2 of the cyclone CyY is disposed in the upper surface of the developer container 3Y, and in the width area W6 of the developing roller 6Y in the Y direction (the width area W6 is an area in which the toner Tis used). Thus, the toner T supplied from the toner discharge port CyYb2 is allowed to easily reach the developing roller 6Y in the developer container 3Y. More specifically, the distance by which the toner T is conveyed in the Y direction for distributing the toner T over the width area W6 of the developing roller 6Y is shortened, compared with the distance, by which the toner Tis conveyed, in a configuration in which the toner discharge port CyYb2 is disposed outside the width area W6 of the developing roller 6Y in the Y direction. In addition, the toner can be efficiently conveyed from the cartridge 430Y to the developing roller 6Y.
Note that in the present embodiment, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
By the way, when the toner T is supplied into the developer container 3Y via the cyclone CyY, the toner T in the developer container 3Y may be whirled up and flow backward to the cyclone CyY. That is, the flow of the toner T discharged from the toner discharge port CyYb2 may blow against the toner T that has accumulated in the developer container 3Y, and part of the toner may be whirled up and flow from the toner discharge port CyYb2 into the cyclone CyY. In the following description, a preferable position of each portion of the cyclone CyY in the Z direction will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
Thus, it is preferable that the lower-end position TL2 of the cylindrical portion CyYa2 in the Z direction (i.e., the gravity direction) be above the toner top surface Ts. Specifically, it is preferable that the lower-end position TL2 of the cylindrical portion CyYa2 be above the uppermost part of the outer circumferential surface 6Ya of the developing roller 6Y (i.e., the uppermost part of the toner bearing portion). It is preferable that the lower-end position TL2 of the cylindrical portion CyYa2 be above the agitating members SY1 and SY2 (that is, above the upper-edge position of the agitating members. If a plurality of agitating members is disposed, it is preferable that the lower-end position TL2 of the cylindrical portion CyYa2 be above an agitating member located higher than any other agitating members). With this arrangement, the possibility that the toner T whirled up when toner is supplied will flow into the air discharge port CyYa3 can be reduced.
Preferably, a position TL1 of the toner discharge port CyYb2 in the Z direction (i.e., the gravity direction) is positioned above the toner top surface Ts. Specifically, it is preferable that the position TL1 of the toner discharge port CyYb2 be positioned above the uppermost part of the outer circumferential surface 6Ya of the developing roller 6Y in the gravity direction. Preferably, the position TL1 of the toner discharge port CyYb2 is positioned above the agitating members SY1 and SY2. That is, it is preferable that the first discharge port be positioned above the uppermost part of the toner bearing portion of the developing roller. With this arrangement, the possibility that the toner T whirled up when toner is supplied will flow into the air discharge port CyYa3 can be reduced.
In addition, it is preferable that the position TL1 of the toner discharge port CyYb2 in the Z direction (i.e., the gravity direction) be above the rotation axis of each of the agitating members SY1 and SY2 (if a plurality of agitating members is disposed, it is preferable that the position TL1 of the toner discharge port CyYb2 in the Z direction be above the rotation axis of an agitating member located higher than any other agitating members). That is, in a case where the rotation axis of the developing roller 6Y is defined as a first rotation axis, the image forming apparatus further includes an agitating member that rotates on a second rotation axis for agitating toner stored in the toner storage portion. In this case, the first discharge port is positioned above the second rotation axis of the agitating member in the gravity direction. The second rotation axis of the present embodiment is the rotation axis of the agitating member SY1. With this arrangement, the possibility that the toner T whirled up when toner is supplied will flow into the air discharge port CyYa3 can be reduced.
In the present embodiment, the rotation axis (i.e., a second rotation axis) of the agitating member SY1 is positioned above the rotation axis (i.e., a first rotation axis) of the developing roller 6Y.
In a configuration in which the direction of a conveyance path changes on the way, like each supply pipe 444 of the present embodiment, or the toner conveyance path varies depending on the plurality of process units P or developing units 9, air is preferably used as a conveyance medium that conveys toner. In this configuration, the flexibility for designing the conveyance path can be made higher than that in a configuration in which a screw or the like is used as a conveyance portion, and the number of components can be reduced because the need for the conveyance member is eliminated.
Each supply pipe 444 is an example of a channel forming portion that is connected between the discharge port of a corresponding cartridge 430 (i.e., a toner container) and the inflow port of a corresponding cyclone Cy, and that forms a channel of the mixed air. Note that in the present embodiment, the whole of the channel extending from the discharge port of each cartridge 430 (i.e., a toner container) to the inflow port of a corresponding cyclone Cy is a corresponding supply pipe 444 formed as a cylinder-shape member. However, only a portion of the channel may be a supply pipe 444.
As illustrated in
Note that each supply pipe 444 has a shape in which the supply pipe 444 is bent such that the toner conveyance path extending from a corresponding cartridge 430 to a corresponding developing unit 9 does not block an optical path L extending from the laser scanner unit LB to a corresponding photosensitive drum 4. That is, each supply pipe 444 includes a corresponding one of intermediate portions (i.e., first portions) 444Yi, 444Mi, 444Ci, and 444Ki that passes through the outside of the optical path L and extends in a direction that intersects the rotation-axis direction (i.e., the Y direction) of the developing roller 6. In the present embodiment, the intermediate portions 444Yi, 444Mi, 444Ci, and 444Ki extend along the X direction. In addition, each supply pipe 444 includes a downstream end portion (i.e., a second portion) connected with the inflow port of a corresponding cyclone Cy and bent with respect to a corresponding one of the intermediate portions 444Yi, 444Mi, 444Ci, and 444Ki so as to extend in a direction along the rotation-axis direction (i.e., the Y direction) of the developing roller 6. The downstream end portion of each supply pipe 444 is a corresponding one of the above-described downstream end portions 444Yd, 444Md, 444Cd, and 444Kd. Thus, as described above, it is preferable that the inflow port of each cyclone Cy face the LE side or the RE side in the Y direction.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the inflow port of each cyclone Cy is disposed on a side separated more from a corresponding cartridge 430 in the X direction (in which each process unit P is arranged). For example, as illustrated in
The above-described configuration of the cyclone CyY and the developing unit 9Y can also be applied to the other cyclones CyM, CyC, and CyK respectively disposed in the developing units 9M, 9C, and 9K.
In the above-described first embodiment, the description has been made, as an example, for the configuration in which the toner T is supplied from each supply pipe 444 to the storage space of a corresponding developer container 3 through a corresponding cyclone Cy. In the second embodiment, a channel for the mixed air may be disposed in each developer container 3, in addition to the storage space of the toner T. In the present embodiment, the mixed air that contains the toner T flows from each supply pipe 444 into the channel formed in a corresponding developer container 3, and the toner T is supplied from the channel to the storage space through the corresponding cyclone Cy. The present embodiment will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
The channel inflow port 3Ya1, the channel wall surface 3Ya2, and the channel top surface CyYa4 are an example of a channel forming portion that forms the channel 445Y, which is connected with the inflow port CyYa1 of the cyclone CyY. The channel is a channel through which the mixed air flows, and which is separated from the internal space of the developer container 3Y (i.e., a toner storage portion). The channel forming portion is fixed to the developer container 3Y (i.e., a toner storage portion). As in the present embodiment, it is preferable that at least a portion of the channel forming portion be formed integrally with the developer container 3Y (i.e., a toner storage portion).
The toner T having been conveyed to the downstream end portion 444Yd of the supply pipe 444Y flows into the channel 445Y from the channel inflow port 3Ya1 that is disposed at an end portion of the developer container 3Y in the Y direction, and passes through the channel 445Y and flows into the inflow port CyYa1 of the cyclone CyY. Thus, in the present embodiment, the conveyance path for the toner T that extends from an end portion of the developer container 3Y, formed in the Y direction, to the cyclone CyY disposed at a substantially central portion of the developer container 3Y is formed by the channel 445Y fixed to the top portion of the developer container 3Y.
Preferably, the position of the supply pipe 444Y in the X direction is restricted so that the supply pipe 444Y does not block the optical path LY. If a configuration in which the position of each supply pipe 444 is restricted in the X direction so as not to block a corresponding optical path L is added, the apparatus will become complicated and upsized. In the present embodiment, however, since the conveyance path for the toner T is formed by the channel 445Y fixed to the top portion of the developer container 3Y, each supply pipe 444 can be prevented from blocking a corresponding optical path L, without using any additional configuration.
In each of the above-described embodiments, the description has been made, as an example, for the configuration in which the air discharge filter CyYf is disposed on the air discharge port CyYa3 of the cyclone CyY. However, if the cyclone CyY has high separation performance, the air discharge filter CyYf may not be disposed.
In each of the above-described embodiments, the description has been made for the configuration in which each pump unit 80 disposed in the apparatus body 72 of the image forming apparatus 1 ejects air, so that the mixed air that contains the air from the pump unit 80 and the toner from a corresponding cartridge 430 is supplied to a corresponding cyclone Cy. However, the structure of each cyclone Cy described in each embodiment is applicable as long as the mixed air that contains the air and the toner to be supplied is supplied to the cyclone Cy.
For example, although each pump unit 80 and a corresponding cartridge 430 has a relationship of series (i.e., a relationship in which the air ejected from a pump unit 80 passes though the interior of a corresponding cartridge and the mixed air is discharged), each pump unit 80 and a corresponding cartridge 430 (i.e., a toner container) may have a relationship of parallel. That is, the channel of the air ejected from a pump unit 80 and the channel of the toner discharged from a corresponding cartridge 430 may join with each other, and the mixed air may flow from the joining portion to a corresponding cyclone Cy. In this case, for conveying the toner to the joining portion, a discharging unit (or a powder pump) that discharges the toner from the cartridge 430 (i.e., a toner container) may be disposed.
Each pump unit 80 is one example of an air supply portion that supplies air, used for supplying toner, to a corresponding developing unit. The air supply portion may not be a pump, but may be a fan.
In addition, the unit for generating the airflow for conveying the toner may be a portion of the toner container. For example, a positive-displacement pump formed like bellows may be disposed at an end portion of a cylindrical toner bottle. In this case, the positive-displacement pump may expand and contract in accordance with the rotation of the toner bottle, so that the mixed air that contains air and toner may be discharged from the toner bottle.
In another case, the image forming apparatus 1 may be configured so that the toner is supplied from the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 to each developer container 3 by using a toner container. For example, the toner container may be attached to an attachment portion disposed in the image forming apparatus 1, and the mixed air that contains air and toner may be discharged by a user operating the toner container. The toner container may be a container (i.e., a pouch container) which is formed like a bag and in which air and toner are enclosed, or may be a container which is formed like a cylinder and in which air and toner are enclosed.
In each of the above-described embodiments, each developing unit 9 may be a cartridge (i.e., a developing cartridge) that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus body 72. In addition, each process unit P that includes a corresponding developing unit 9 may be a cartridge (i.e., a process cartridge) that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus body 72.
The present disclosure can provide one new configuration for supplying toner by using air.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-135875, filed on Aug. 23, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-135875 | Aug 2023 | JP | national |
