JP2002169435A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent toner from being leaked from a waste toner container at the time of attaching/detaching operation of the waste toner container without impairing the attaching performance of the waste toner container nor building up large stress on the waste toner container and a pipe even after attaching the waste toner container. SOLUTION: An opening/closing cover 46 pressed and opened by the tip part of the pipe 22 when the pipe 22 is inserted in the toner recovery port 10 of the waste toner container and closed when the pipe is pulled out is provided in a state where it is always energized in a closing direction by a spring 48. An abutting start position 46a where the pipe starts abutting when the pipe is inserted and an abutting completion position 46b at the time when the pipe completes abutting are not set on the same plane, and the abutting start position is biased to be close to the pipe side. Or the shape of the tip part of the pipe is made to be a shape obtained by removing the inner angular part 22d of the intersection of a vertical line V passing the edge and an extension line H on the upper surface of the pipe.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, etc. for forming an image by using an electrophotographic technique. In particular, it relates to a waste toner container for collecting waste toner generated by the cleaning means.

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic technique includes a photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer on an outer peripheral surface, a charging device for uniformly charging the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive member, and one charging device. Exposure means for selectively exposing the charged outer peripheral surface to form an electrostatic latent image, and applying a toner as a developer to the electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure means to form a visible image Developing means for forming a (toner image), transferring means for transferring the toner image developed by the developing means onto a recording material such as paper to be transferred, and removing toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor after transfer Cleaning means. Further, as a transfer unit, an intermediate transfer body that transfers (primary transfer) a toner image formed on a photoconductor and further transfers (secondary transfer) the toner image to a recording material such as paper to be transferred is used. The used one is known, and a cleaning unit is also provided for the intermediate transfer member. In such an image forming apparatus, in order to increase the recovery capacity of the toner (waste toner) removed by the cleaning unit, the cleaning unit removes the waste toner by using a waste toner container separate from the cleaning unit. It is desirable to collect the used toner. Further, the waste toner container is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body so that the waste toner container can be replaced when the waste toner container is full, or in order to enable replacement of the cleaning unit and the like. Is desirable.

To meet such a demand, an image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 11 has been conventionally known (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-134273). In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image forming apparatus main body, and 2 denotes a cleaning unit (a source of waste toner). The cleaning means 2 includes a pipe 3 having a built-in torsion spring 3c for conveying waste toner.
Is provided. At the tip of the pipe 3, a toner outlet 3a and a cylindrical shutter 4 for opening and closing the outlet 3a are provided. The shutter 4 has two flanges 4
a and 4b are provided, and a spring 5 is provided between the flange 4b and the main body 1. The shutter 5 always urges the shutter 4 in a direction (arrow a direction) to close the discharge port 3a.
By coming into contact with b, the shutter 4 is prevented from coming off. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus has a front cover 6 with a hinge 1a.
The cover 6 is detachably mounted on the inner surface of the cover 6, and a waste toner container 8 is detachably mounted on the inner surface of the cover 6 by a mounting bracket 7. The waste toner container 8 has a waste toner collection port 8.
The collection port 8a is provided with a rubber seal member 9 as shown in FIG. The seal member 9 has a cross-shaped cut 9 composed of a cut 9a1 extending in a radial direction (in this case, a vertical direction) in a rotation locus of the cover 6 and a transverse cut 9a2 orthogonal to the cut 9a1.
a is provided.

According to such an image forming apparatus, the waste toner container 8 can be attached and detached with the cover 6 opened as shown in FIG. 1A, and when the cover 6 is closed as shown in FIG. The end of the pipe 3 is inserted into the collection port 8a of the container 8 so as to push the seal member 9 open as shown in FIG. 4D, and the waste toner from the cleaning means 2 is collected in the container 8. Become.

[0004]

The above-described conventional image forming apparatus has the following problems. That is, since the cut 9a is provided in the seal member 9 provided in the collection port 8a of the waste toner container 8, the cover 6 is opened as shown in FIG. In this case, toner may leak from the cut 9a, and the operator and the surroundings may be stained.

[0005] Such a problem can be solved by providing an opening / closing lid 8b at the toner collecting port 8a as schematically shown in FIG. 12, for example. Open / close lid 8b
Is urged by a spring (not shown) in such a direction that the collection port 8a is always closed as shown by a two-dot chain line 8b, and is pushed by the tip of the pipe 3 when the pipe 3 is inserted, as shown by a solid line 8b. It is configured to be opened and closed when the pipe 3 is pulled out. However, it has been found that the provision of such an opening / closing lid 8b causes another problem as follows. That is, the outlet 3 of the pipe 3 inserted into the waste toner container 8
a into the container 8 from the collection port 8 of the container 8.
In order to make it difficult to scatter from outside a
Is desirably made to enter the waste toner container 8 as far as possible, as shown by the dashed line 3, for example. However, since the opening / closing lid 8b is opened against the urging force of the spring by being pushed by the pipe, if the pipe 3 is simply made to enter the inner part of the waste toner container 8 as shown by the dashed line 3, for example, As shown by the one-dot chain line 8b, the opening angle of the opening / closing lid 8b increases. Accordingly, the pressing force of the opening / closing lid 8b against the pipe 3 by the spring force also increases accordingly. For this reason, when mounting the waste toner container, it is necessary to mount the waste toner container with a large force, which causes a problem that the mountability is deteriorated, and after the mounting, the reaction force from the pipe 8 increases. Toner container 8
It has been found that it becomes difficult to hold the toner at a predetermined position, and that a large stress is generated in the waste toner container 8 and the pipe 3. On the other hand, if the spring force is reduced to solve the above-mentioned problem, the force of the opening / closing lid 8b to close the toner collecting port 8a decreases, and the collecting port 8a is closed.
It is difficult to reliably prevent toner from leaking from the toner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to prevent the waste toner container from being attached to a waste toner container and a pipe without causing a large stress even after the waste toner container is mounted. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing toner from leaking from a waste toner container at the time of attaching / detaching work.

[0007]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: a pipe for conveying waste toner generated in the apparatus main body; A waste toner container having a toner collecting port through which the pipe is inserted and withdrawn, wherein the toner collecting port is pushed by a tip of the pipe when the pipe is inserted, and The opening / closing lid that closes the recovery port when the pipe is pulled out is provided rotatably while being constantly urged in the closing direction by a spring, and the pipe starts abutting when the pipe is inserted. The contact start position of the opening / closing lid and the contact completion position of the opening / closing lid when the insertion of the pipe is completed are not on the same plane, and the contact starting position is biased toward the pipe side. You . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a pipe that conveys waste toner generated in an apparatus main body; and a waste toner container that is detachably provided to the apparatus main body and that has a toner collection port through which the pipe is inserted and removed. The recovery port is pushed by the tip of the pipe when the pipe is inserted to open the recovery port, and when the pipe is pulled out, the opening / closing lid that closes the recovery port is urged in the always closing direction by a spring. And the shape of the tip of the pipe is such that the inner corner of the intersection of the vertical line passing through the tip of the pipe and the extension of the top of the pipe is removed. It is characterized by having. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3,
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a seal body interposed between the opening and closing cover and an edge of the toner collecting opening when the opening and closing cover is closed is provided on a surface of the opening and closing cover on the side of the toner collecting opening. The pipe is provided except for a contact portion of the opening / closing lid where the pipe starts to contact when the pipe is inserted. An image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the first aspect.
4. The image forming apparatus according to 2, 3 or 4, wherein the toner collecting port is inclined so that a lower portion thereof protrudes rearward of the pipe. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the toner collection port is provided with a pipe inserted into the collection port on a pipe side of the opening / closing lid with respect to the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4. And a seal member for closing a gap between the two.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus has a pipe for conveying waste toner generated in the apparatus main body, and a toner collecting port provided detachably with respect to the apparatus main body and through which the pipe is inserted and removed. A waste toner container, wherein the toner collecting port is opened and closed by pushing the pipe at the tip thereof when the pipe is inserted, and closing the collecting port when the pipe is pulled out. Since the lid is rotatably provided in a state where the lid is normally urged in the closing direction by a spring, according to this device, toner leakage from the waste toner container during attachment / detachment work of the waste toner container is prevented. You. The contact start position of the opening / closing lid at which the pipe starts contacting when the pipe is inserted, and the contact completion position of the opening / closing lid at the time of completion of the pipe insertion are not on the same plane and the contact starting position Is biased toward the pipe side, so that the opening angle of the opening / closing lid when the pipe is inserted into the toner collecting port is smaller than in the case where the above configuration is not adopted. The pressing force of the lid against the pipe is also reduced. For this reason, the mounting property of the waste toner container is not impaired. Further, even after the mounting, the reaction force from the pipe is reduced, so that the waste toner container can be easily held at a predetermined position, and a large stress does not occur in the waste toner container and the pipe. As a result, it is possible to increase the spring force, increase the force with which the opening / closing lid closes the toner collecting port, and reliably prevent toner from leaking from the collecting port. That is, according to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the mounting and dismounting of the waste toner container can be performed without impairing the mountability of the waste toner container and without causing a large stress on the waste toner container and the pipe even after the mounting. Sometimes, leakage of toner from the waste toner container can be prevented. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a pipe for conveying waste toner generated in the apparatus main body; and a waste toner container detachably provided to the apparatus main body and having a toner collecting port through which the pipe is inserted and removed. In the toner collecting port, an opening / closing lid that closes the collecting port when the pipe is inserted is opened by pressing the tip of the pipe when the pipe is inserted, and the opening / closing lid that closes the collecting port when the pipe is pulled out is provided with a spring. Therefore, according to this apparatus, the toner is prevented from leaking from the waste toner container at the time of attaching and detaching the waste toner container. And since the shape of the tip of the pipe is such that the inner corner of the intersection of the vertical line passing through the forefront of the pipe and the extension of the top of the pipe is removed, insert the pipe into the toner collection port. The opening angle of the opening / closing lid at this time is smaller than that in the case where the shape of the pipe is not the above shape, and therefore, the pressing force of the opening / closing lid against the pipe by the spring force is also smaller. For this reason, the mounting property of the waste toner container is not impaired.
Further, even after the mounting, the reaction force from the pipe is reduced, so that the waste toner container can be easily held at a predetermined position, and a large stress does not occur in the waste toner container and the pipe. As a result, it is possible to increase the spring force, increase the force with which the opening / closing lid closes the toner collecting port, and reliably prevent toner from leaking from the collecting port. In other words, according to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect, the attaching / detaching operation of the waste toner container can be performed without impairing the mountability of the waste toner container and without causing large stress on the waste toner container and the pipe even after the attachment. Sometimes, leakage of toner from the waste toner container can be prevented. According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, in the image forming apparatus of the first or second aspect, the surface of the opening / closing lid on the side of the toner collecting port is provided with an edge of the toner collecting port when the opening / closing lid is closed. Since the seal is interposed between the waste toner container and the unit, toner leakage from the waste toner container at the time of attaching / detaching the waste toner container is reliably prevented. And since this seal body is provided except for the contact part of the opening / closing lid where the pipe starts to contact when the pipe is inserted, the opening operation of the opening / closing lid is performed smoothly. According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect, in the image forming apparatus of the first, second, or third aspect, the toner collecting port is inclined so that a lower portion thereof protrudes rearward of the pipe. Therefore, when the pipe is inserted into the toner collecting port and the toner is collected, the toner is less likely to scatter from the toner collecting port. According to the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect, in the image forming apparatus of the first, second, third, or fourth aspect, the toner collection port is inserted into the collection port on a pipe side of the open / close lid. Since the seal member for closing the gap between the pipe and the pipe is provided, when the pipe is inserted into the toner collecting port and the toner is collected, scattering of the toner from the toner collecting port is more unlikely to occur.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a photosensitive member and an intermediate transfer member in a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a waste toner container, FIG.
3A is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view (end view) of bb in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, this image forming apparatus comprises:
A photosensitive member 10 having a photosensitive layer on the outer peripheral surface, which is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, a charging device (charging roller) 11 for uniformly charging the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive member 10, and a charging device 1
1 to selectively expose the outer peripheral surface uniformly charged by L
(1) Exposure means 12 for forming an electrostatic latent image, and four-color development of applying a toner as a developer to the electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure means 12 to form a visible image (toner image) Means (developing rollers) 13 (Y, C, M, K) and the toner image developed by the developing means 13 are transferred (primary transfer), and the toner image is further transferred to a recording material such as paper to be transferred. An intermediate transfer member (intermediate transfer belt) 14 for transferring (secondary transfer), a first cleaning unit 20 for removing toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 10 after the primary transfer, and an intermediate transfer belt 14 after the secondary transfer A second cleaning unit 30 for removing the toner remaining on the upper surface.
Further, it has a waste toner container 40 (see FIG. 2) for collecting waste toner from the first and second cleaning means.

The first cleaning means 20 includes a photosensitive member 10
The cleaning blade 21 has a cleaning blade 21 for scraping off residual toner from the surface thereof, and a transport pipe 22 with a built-in screw for transporting the toner scraped off by the blade 21 toward a waste toner bottle 40 (see FIG. 2). The second cleaning means 30 includes a cleaning blade 31 for scraping off residual toner from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14 and a screw for transporting the toner scraped off by the blade 31 to a waste toner bottle 40 (see FIG. 2). And a transfer pipe 32.

As shown in FIG. 2, the waste toner container 40 is
The container body 50 and the first cleaning means 20 formed at the top (head) 53 at the top of the container body 50.
(Also a waste toner collecting port) 41 with the transport pipe 22 of the second cleaning means 30 formed on the upper part (head) 54 of the container body 50. (Also a waste toner recovery port) 42. The recovery ports 41 and 42 are provided at different positions in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, corresponding to the positions of the pipes 22 and 32.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the waste toner container 40 is provided with a cover (for example, a front cover) that can be opened and closed around an axis 62 with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 60.
The cover 6 is detachably attached to the inner surface of the
When the cover 1 is opened and closed, the cover 61 is rotated about the shaft 62 in the directions of arrows a and b in FIGS. Then, when the cover 61 is closed in the direction of arrow b as shown in FIG. 4B, the distal ends of the transport pipes 22 and 32 are inserted into the connecting portions (collection ports) 41 and 42, and the cleaning means 20 is closed. , 30 from the transfer pipes 22 and 32 and the toner outlet 22 thereof
a and 32a to be collected in the waste toner container 40. As shown in FIG. 2, the toner recovery ports 41 and 42 are formed in a long hole shape in a radial direction (vertical direction in this embodiment) in a rotation locus of the cover 61, and as shown in FIG. 5, The lower portions 41a and 42a are inclined so as to project toward the rear of the pipe 22 (to the left in FIG. 5).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the recovery ports 41, 4
2, an opening / closing lid 46 is provided inside.
As shown in FIG. 5, the opening / closing lid 46 is rotatably supported by a support portion 47 provided inside the container 40 by a shaft 47a. One end 48a of a torsion spring 48 mounted on the shaft 47a
Is in contact with the back of the opening / closing lid 46 and the other end 48b is engaged with the spring hook 40a in the container 40, so that the opening / closing lid 46 closes the collection port 41 (42) as shown in FIG. In the state where the pipe 22 (32) is always urged in the closing direction and the pipe 22 (32) is not inserted, the collection port 41 (42) is closed. However, as shown in FIG. When (32) is inserted, it is pushed by the tip 22c of the pipe and pivots as shown, so that the collection port 41 (42) is opened.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the pipe 22 (3
At the time of insertion of 2), the pipe 22 (32) starts to abut.
FIG. 5B shows a contact start position 46 a of the opening / closing lid 46.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the insertion of the pipe 22 (32) is completed, the abutment completion position 46b of the opening / closing lid 46 is not on the same plane, and the opening / closing lid 46 is closed as shown in FIG. At the contact start position 46a is the pipe 22 (32)
It is biased to the side. In this embodiment, a portion forming the contact start position 46a is formed in a projecting shape from the surface forming the contact completion position 46b (see FIG. 2), whereby the contact start position 46a is moved from the pipe 22 ( 32) It is biased toward the side.

The toner collection port side of the opening / closing lid 46 (FIG. 5)
(Left side in FIG. 5), a seal member interposed between the opening and closing cover 46 and the edge 41c of the toner collecting port (see FIG. 5B) when the lid 46 is closed as shown in FIG. 5A. 46c is provided except for the contact start position 46a. That is, the seal body 46c is not provided at the contact start position 46a. The seal body 46c is made of, for example, a urethane foam sheet.

The connection structure between the connection portions (collection ports) 41 and 42 and the transport pipes 22 and 32 will be described in more detail mainly with reference to FIG. In addition, connection part (collection mouth)
Since the connection structure between the transfer pipes 41 and 42 and the transfer pipes 22 and 32 is basically the same, the connection portion 41 and the transfer pipe 22 will be described as a representative.

As shown in FIG.
The discharge port 22a and a cylindrical shutter 23 that opens and closes the discharge port 22a are provided at the tip of the printer. Shutter 23 (3
3) is provided with a flange portion 23a (33a) (see FIG. 1) and a spring receiving portion 23b (33b), and between the spring receiving portion 23b and the spring receiving portion 22b (32b) of the pipe body. A spring 24 is provided. The spring 23 causes the shutter 23 to close the discharge port 22a (arrow X).
(In one direction), but by contacting a stopper (not shown), the shutter 23 is prevented from coming off the pipe 22.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS.
The cover 61 of the image forming apparatus has levers 6 on both sides of the head 53 (54) of the waste toner container 40 attached thereto.
5, 65 are provided. Lever 65 is long part 65a
And a short portion 65b.
Are rotatably supported by a shaft 61b on a support portion 61a provided on the inner surface of the. Torsion spring 6 mounted on shaft 61b
6, one end 66a is engaged with the spring hook portion 65c of the lever 65, and the other end 66b is engaged with the spring hook portion 61c of the cover 61, so that the lever 65 is always in the direction of arrow Y1 in FIG. The rotation is restricted by contacting a stopper 61d provided on the cover 61 side. Therefore, the lever 65
In a state where no external force acts on this (a state where the waste toner container 40 is not properly attached to the cover 61), the state is as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 1A, a cover 61 is provided on the image forming apparatus main body 60 side.
However, in a state where the waste toner container 40 is not attached thereto (that is, a state where the lever 65 is shown in FIGS.
A contact portion 60a is provided which comes into contact with the tip 65d of the lever 65 when the lever 65 is closed in the direction. Therefore,
Cover 6 with waste toner container 40 not properly mounted.
The situation where 1 is completely closed is prevented.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, when the waste toner container 40 is properly mounted on the cover 61, the back 5 of the head 53 (54) of the waste toner container 40 is removed.
When the lever 3a (54a) presses the short portion 65b of the lever 65, the lever 65 rotates in the direction of arrow Y2 in FIG. (B) against the urging force of the torsion spring 66, and FIG.
The state is as shown in FIG. Therefore, in such a state (see the phantom line 65 in FIG. 7A), when the cover 61 is closed as shown by the arrow b in FIG. 7A, the tip 65d of the lever 65 is moved to the image forming apparatus main body 60. Without coming into contact with the contact portion 60a on the side, but in contact with the flange portion 23a (33a) of the shutter 23 (33) of the pipe 22 (32), whereby the shutter 23 (33) Opening in the direction of arrow X2 against the force, waste toner can be collected in waste toner container 40 (see FIG. 5B). The waste toner from the transport pipes 22 and 32 is
It is stored in the waste toner container 40 by natural fall.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
0, the side wall 51 on the image forming apparatus main body side (front side in FIG. 2) has an outer side (front side in FIG.
A thin wall portion 52 having a light-transmitting property, which is convex toward the inside and extends in the vertical direction toward (downward in (b)) and gradually fills the inside with the collected waste toner, is formed integrally. ing. In this embodiment, the container body 50 is
It is made by blow molding a transparent (or translucent) synthetic resin. Therefore, the thin portion 52 is formed simultaneously with the container body 50 by this blow molding.

On the other hand, an appropriate portion 63 of the main body of the image forming apparatus (FIG. 3)
(See (b)), when the cover 61 is closed in the direction of arrow b, the transmission type optical sensor 17 is provided at a position sandwiching the thin portion 52 of the waste toner container 40 from both sides. The optical sensor 17 has a light projecting portion 17a and a light receiving portion 17b, and when there is no toner in its optical path (optical path crossing the thin portion 52), that is, when the thin portion 52 is not filled with toner, the light projecting portion When the light from the light emitting portion 17a passes through the thin portion 52 and is received by the light receiving portion 17b, and the thin portion 52 is filled with the toner, the light from the light projecting portion 17a is blocked by the toner in the thin portion 52, and No light is received by 17b. As a result, the detection position in the thin portion 52 is filled with the toner, that is, the replacement time of the waste toner container 40 is detected in this embodiment. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a connection portion (recovery port) 4 between the waste toner container 40 and two transport pipes is provided.
Since the photosensors 1 and 42 are provided at different heights, the optical sensor 17 is provided below the lower connecting portion 42 and is disposed before the toner leaks from the lower connecting portion 42. The toner container 40 is to be replaced.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 43 denotes a grip portion which is gripped when the waste toner container 40 is replaced, and reference numeral 44 denotes a portion which is engaged with a projection 64 (see FIG. 4) provided on the image forming apparatus main body side. The positioning recess 45 is a cap that is opened when the waste toner is discarded from the waste toner container 40 collected by, for example, a manufacturer.

As shown in FIG. 7, a pipe 22 is located on the pipe side (left side in FIG. 7A) of the toner collecting ports 41 and 42 of the waste toner container 40 with respect to the opening / closing lid 46.
A seal member 70 for closing a gap C (see FIGS. (A) and (c)) with (32) is provided. The sealing member 70
It is composed of a rubber sheet or a urethane foam sheet. As shown in FIG. 7B, the toner collecting ports 41 and 42
In addition, since the front surfaces 53b and 54b of the heads 53 and 54 are formed in an elongated hole shape, respectively, the seal member 70 is also formed in an oval shape as a whole as shown in FIG. . The seal member 70 is attached to the front surfaces 53b, 54b of the heads 53, 54 with an appropriate adhesive. As shown in FIGS. 13B and 13D, the seal member 70 extends only through the center O of the pipe 22 (32) in the radial direction (vertical direction in this embodiment) in the rotation path of the cover. A cut 71 is provided, and the pipe 22 (3) inserted through the collection port 41 (42) is provided.
At the position corresponding to 2), the outer diameter D2 of the pipe 22 (32)
An opening 72 having a smaller diameter D1 is formed.

According to the above-described image forming apparatus, the following operational effects can be obtained. (A) A pipe 22 (32) for transporting waste toner generated in the apparatus main body 60, and a toner collecting port 41 (42) that is provided detachably with respect to the apparatus main body 60 and through which the pipe 22 (32) is inserted and removed. When the pipe 22 (32) is inserted into the toner collecting port 41 (42), the tip end portion 22c of the pipe is provided.
To open the collecting port 41 (42),
The opening / closing lid 46 that closes the collection port 41 (42) when the (32) is pulled out is provided rotatably while being constantly urged in the closing direction by the spring 48. At the time of attaching / detaching the waste toner container 40, toner leakage from the waste toner container 40 is prevented. Then, when the pipe 22 (32) is inserted, the pipe starts to abut, a contact start position 46a in the opening / closing lid, and the pipe 22 (3).
When the insertion of 2) is completed, the contact completion position 46b of the opening / closing lid 46 is not on the same plane, and the contact start position 46a is biased toward the pipe side. ) Is inserted into the toner collecting port 41 (42), the opening angle θ1 of the opening / closing lid 46 (see FIG. 5B) is
The opening angle θ2 (see FIG. 5B and FIG. 10) in the case where the above configuration is not used is smaller, and therefore, the pressing force of the opening / closing lid 46 on the pipe 22 (32) by the spring force is also smaller. Therefore, the mountability of the waste toner container 40 (smoothness when the cover 61 is closed in this embodiment).
Will not be impaired. Further, even after the mounting, the reaction force from the pipe 22 (32) is reduced, so that the waste toner container 40 can be easily held at a predetermined position, and the waste toner container 40 and the pipe 22 can be easily removed.
(32) does not cause a large stress. As a result, it is possible to increase the spring force of the spring 48, increase the force by which the opening / closing lid 46 closes the toner collecting port 41 (42), and reliably prevent toner leakage from the collecting port 41 (42). Become. That is, according to the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, the mountability of the waste toner container 40 is not impaired, and the waste toner container 40
In addition, it is possible to prevent toner from leaking from the waste toner container 40 at the time of attaching / detaching the waste toner container 40 without causing a large stress on the pipe 22 (32). (B) A seal body 46c is provided on the surface of the opening / closing lid 46 on the side of the toner collecting port, which is interposed between the opening and closing lid 46 and the edge 41c of the toner collecting port when the opening / closing lid 46 is closed. Waste toner container 40 when attaching / detaching toner container 40
Leakage of toner from inside is reliably prevented. Since the seal body 46c is provided except for the contact portion 46a of the opening / closing lid where the pipe starts to abut when the pipe is inserted, the opening operation of the opening / closing lid 46 can be performed smoothly. In addition, the projecting contact start position 46a can function as a positioning boss portion when the seal body 46c is attached, so that the assemblability is improved. (C) The toner recovery port 41 (42) is located below the lower 41a.
(42a) is inclined so as to protrude rearward (to the left in FIG. 5) of the pipe 22 (32), so that when the pipe 22 (32) is inserted into the toner collecting port and toner is collected, In addition, scattering of the toner from the toner collecting port 41 (42) is less likely to occur. (D) Since the seal member 70 for closing the gap C between the toner collection port 41 (42) and the pipe inserted into the collection port is provided closer to the pipe than the open / close lid 46, the pipe 22 ( 32) is inserted into the toner collecting port 41 (42), and when the toner is collected, scattering of the toner from the toner collecting port becomes more difficult to occur.

(E) A seal member 70 for closing the gap C between the pipe 22 (32) and the toner collecting port 41 (42) is provided in the toner collecting port 41 (42). Since the toner collection port 41 (42) is formed in the shape of a long slot in the radial direction in the moving trajectory, the collection port 4 when the waste toner container 40 is rotated without increasing the size of the entire toner collection port 41 (42).
1 (42) edge 41b (42b) (see FIG. 5 (a))
And the pipe 22 (32) can be prevented from abutting,
The pipe 22 (32) can be inserted further into the waste toner container 40. That is, FIG.
As shown in (c), the length L in the short axis direction of the collection port (long hole)
2 as close to the outer diameter D2 of the pipe as possible.
The gap C1 between the (32) and the recovery port 41 (42) can be reduced, and at the same time, the pipe 22 (32) can be made to go further into the waste toner container 40,
As a result, the scattering of the toner from the waste toner container 40 can be better prevented (at least the scattering of the toner can be significantly reduced). (F) Since the seal member 70 is provided with the cut 71 that extends through the center O of the pipe 22 (32) only in the radial direction of the rotation trajectory of the cover 61,
The operation of inserting and removing the (32) with respect to the collection port 41 (42) is smoothly performed, and the collection port (elongated hole) 41 (42).
Can be reliably prevented from scattering from the short axis direction. (G) In the seal member 70, the toner collecting port 41 (42)
The opening 72 having a diameter D1 smaller than the outer diameter D2 of the pipe is formed at a position corresponding to the pipe 22 (32) inserted through the pipe, so that the adhesion between the outer peripheral surface of the pipe and the seal member 70 is improved, Scattering of the toner from the toner recovery port 41 (42) is more difficult to occur. (H) The waste toner container 40 has a light-transmitting property in which the side wall 51 has a convex shape extending inward toward the outside and extends in the vertical direction, and the inside is gradually filled with the collected waste toner. Since the thin portion 52 is integrally formed and the transmission type optical sensor 17 is provided in the image forming apparatus main body at a position sandwiching the thin portion 52 from both sides, the thin portion 52 is collected in the waste toner container 40. When the amount of the waste toner gradually increases, the inside of the thin portion 52 of the waste toner container 40 is gradually filled with the waste toner.
When the waste toner blocks the light transmitted through the optical sensor 17, the replacement time is detected before the waste toner container 40 becomes full of the waste toner. That is,
With a simple structure, it is possible to detect the replacement time of the waste toner container 40.

<Modification of Seal Member 70> FIGS.
(D) is a figure which shows the modification of the sealing member 70, respectively. In this figure, the same or corresponding parts as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. The seal member 70 shown in FIG. 7A is provided with only a cut 71 and is not provided with an opening 72. The seal member 70 shown in FIG. 7B is configured to seal only the portion below the center of the pipe 22 (32), and is provided with only a cut 71. The seal member 70 shown in FIG. 7C is configured to seal only the lower part from the center of the pipe 22 (32), and has a cut 71 and a semicircular opening 72. The seal member 70 shown in FIG.
1 and a cut 73 extending radially from the center of the pipe 22 (32). These figures (a)-
The above-described operation and effect can also be obtained by the collection port and the seal member shown in FIG.

<Second Embodiment> FIGS. 9A and 9B
(C) is a schematic side view showing a main part of the second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 9, the same or corresponding portions as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. The feature of this embodiment is that, as shown in FIG. 9A, the shape of the tip of the pipe 22 (32) is a vertical line V passing through the tip of the pipe and an extension of the top surface of the pipe (in this embodiment, (It is a horizontal line, but not necessarily a horizontal line.) The point is that the inner corner 22d of the intersection with H is removed. The other points are the same as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the inner corner 22d is removed and the pipe 22 is removed.
The upper end of (32) is an inclined surface 22e, and the lower end is provided with a protruding portion 22f. When the pipe 22 (32) pushes the opening / closing lid 46 open, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), first, the protruding portion 22f comes into contact with a protruding portion (abutting start position) 46a of the opening / closing lid 46 toward the pipe side,
When the opening / closing lid 46 is completely pushed open as shown in FIG. 9C, the inclined surface 22e comes into contact with a relative recess (contact complete position) 46b in the opening / closing lid 46.

According to this embodiment, the pipe 22 (3
2) The shape of the tip is a vertical line V passing through the tip of the pipe.
22d at the intersection of the pipe and the extended line H on the upper surface of the pipe is removed, so that the opening angle θ0 of the opening / closing lid 46 when the pipe is inserted into the toner collecting port 41 (42).
(See FIG. (C)) is smaller than the case where the shape of the pipe is not the above shape (θ2 or θ1),
Accordingly, the pressing force of the opening / closing lid 46 against the pipe 22 (32) by the spring force of the spring 48 is also reduced. Note that the opening angle of the opening / closing lid 46 can be set without the protrusion 22f as long as the inner corner 22d is removed.
Alternatively, the configuration as in the first embodiment (the pipe 2
2 (32), a contact start position 46a in the opening / closing lid at which the pipe starts contacting, and a contact completion position 46b in the opening / closing lid 46, when the insertion of the pipe 22 (32) is completed.
Is not on the same plane and the contact start position 46a is deviated toward the pipe side), the opening angle θ2 is smaller than the opening angle θ2 when no measure is taken (see FIG. 10). Become. Therefore, according to this embodiment,
It is possible to prevent the mountability of the waste toner container 40 from being impaired. Also, even after mounting, the pipe 22 (32)
As a result, the waste toner container 40 can be easily held at a predetermined position, and the waste toner container 40 and the pipe 22 (32) are not subjected to a large stress. As a result, the spring force is increased, and the opening / closing lid 46 is moved to the toner collecting port 41 (42).
Is increased, and it is possible to reliably prevent toner from leaking from the recovery port 41 (42). That is,
According to this embodiment, the mounting property of the waste toner container 40 is not impaired, and the waste toner container 40 and the pipe 22 (32) are not greatly stressed even after the mounting. Thus, toner leakage from the waste toner container 40 can be prevented.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified within the scope of the present invention.

[0031]

The image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects does not impair the mountability of the waste toner container, and does not cause a large stress on the waste toner container and the pipe even after the waste toner container is mounted. It is possible to prevent toner from leaking from the waste toner container at the time of attaching / detaching the toner container. Further, according to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, it is possible to reliably prevent toner from leaking from the waste toner container at the time of attaching / detaching the waste toner container, and to smoothly open the opening / closing lid. Becomes According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the pipe is inserted into the toner collecting port and the toner is collected, scattering of the toner from the toner collecting port hardly occurs. According to the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect, when the pipe is inserted into the toner collecting port and the toner is collected, the scattering of the toner from the toner collecting port is more unlikely to occur.

[0032]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a photosensitive member and an intermediate transfer member in an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a waste toner container.

3A is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a view of FIG.
Bb sectional view (end view) in FIG.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams showing an open / closed state of a cover.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are views showing an open / close state of an open / close lid.

6A and 6B are diagrams showing a connection structure between a waste toner container and a transport pipe, wherein FIG. 6A is a partial side view showing a relationship between a cover and a main body when the waste toner container is not mounted, and FIG. Partial side view showing the state of the cover when the toner container is not mounted. (C) is a partial plan view of the cover when the waste toner container is mounted (plan view when FIG. (A) is the front). (D) is a partial side view of the same.

FIG. 7A is a partial side view showing a state where a pipe is inserted into a toner collecting port of the waste toner container 40, and FIGS.
4D is a partially omitted left side view when FIG.

FIGS. 8A to 8D are diagrams showing modified examples of the seal member 70, respectively.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are schematic side views each showing a main part of a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic side views each showing a comparative example.

11 (a) to (d) are explanatory diagrams of a conventional technique.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a problem.

[Explanation of symbols]

 22, 32 Pipe 22a, 32a Toner discharge port 22d Inner corner of intersection V Vertical line passing through the forefront of pipe H Extension line on top of pipe 40 Waste toner container 41, 42 Toner recovery port 41b, 42b Edge of toner recovery port 46 Opening / closing lid 46a Contact start position 46b Contact complete position 46c Seal body 48 Spring 60 Device body 61 Cover 70 Seal member 71 Cut 72 Opening

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a pipe for conveying waste toner generated in an apparatus main body; and a waste toner container detachably provided to the apparatus main body and having a toner collecting port through which the pipe is inserted and removed. In the apparatus, an opening / closing lid which is pushed by a tip of the pipe when the pipe is inserted to open the collection port when the pipe is inserted, and which closes the collection port when the pipe is pulled out, is always closed by a spring. A contact start position of the opening / closing lid at which the pipe starts contacting when the pipe is inserted, and a contact position at the opening / closing lid when the pipe insertion is completed. An image forming apparatus, wherein the contact completion position is not on the same plane, and the contact start position is biased toward the pipe side. 2. An image forming apparatus comprising: a pipe for transporting waste toner generated in an apparatus main body; and a waste toner container detachably provided to the apparatus main body and having a toner collecting port through which the pipe is inserted and removed. In the apparatus, an opening / closing lid which is pushed by a tip of the pipe when the pipe is inserted to open the collection port when the pipe is inserted, and which closes the collection port when the pipe is pulled out, is always closed by a spring. The pipe is provided so as to be rotatable in a biased direction, and the shape of the tip of the pipe is such that an inward corner of the intersection of a vertical line passing through the tip of the pipe and an extension of the upper surface of the pipe is removed. An image forming apparatus characterized in that it has a shaped shape. 3. A sealing member interposed between the opening and closing lid and an edge of the toner collecting opening when the opening and closing cover is closed is provided on a surface of the opening and closing cover on the side of the toner collecting opening. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided except for a contact portion of the opening / closing lid that starts contact. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner collecting port is inclined so that a lower portion thereof protrudes rearward of the pipe. 5. A seal member for closing a gap between the toner collection port and a pipe inserted into the collection port on a pipe side of the opening / closing lid. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4.