JP2007010850A - Waste toner recovery device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent, for example, damages to a toner discharge pipe extending from a cleaner and damage to a toner inlet of a waste-toner recovery container, and to smoothly attach/detach the waste-toner recovery container to/from a container attaching section. <P>SOLUTION: The waste toner recovery device 60 includes the waste-toner recovery container 62 and the container-attaching section 63. The toner discharge pipe 67, inserted in the toner inlet 66 of the waste-toner recovering container 62, projects from the container attaching section 63. The container-attaching section 63 includes a blocking section 80, having a wall 82 and a support base 81 supporting the waste-toner recovery container 62. This blocking section 80 blocks movement of the waste-toner recovery container 62 in the directions, in which the toner discharge pipe 67 is inserted and removed, until the leading end of the toner discharge pipe 67 goes out of the toner inlet 66, when the waste-toner recovery container 62 is detached from the container attaching section 63. This prevents the leading end of the toner discharge pipe 67 from being caught by the waste-toner recovery container 62. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a waste toner collecting apparatus that collects toner remaining on the surface of an image carrier.

  In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a photosensitive drum, which is an image carrier, and a transfer roller, which is a transfer member, are brought into contact with or close to each other to form a transfer region. A transfer method for transferring a toner image formed on the drum surface onto a sheet is widely used. In such a transfer method, a small amount of toner may remain on the surface of the photosensitive drum without being transferred onto the paper after the toner image is transferred onto the paper. Since the residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum becomes an obstacle to the next new image formation, cleaning by a cleaning device is necessary.

  Further, in an image forming apparatus that primarily transfers a toner image formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum to an intermediate transfer member, and then secondarily transfers the toner image transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer member to a sheet, the image is transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer member. However, a small amount of toner may remain without being transferred to the paper. The residual toner on the surface of the intermediate transfer member also needs to be cleaned by a cleaning device.

  The waste toner collected by the cleaning device is conveyed through the tube by a conveying member such as a screw and collected by the waste toner collecting device. The waste toner collection device includes a waste toner collection container that takes in and stores waste toner from a toner intake port, and a container mounting portion on which the waste toner collection container is detachably mounted. The container mounting portion of the waste toner collecting device is provided with a toner discharge pipe for guiding the waste toner conveyed from the cleaning device to the waste toner collecting container so as to protrude toward the waste toner collecting container. When the waste toner collecting container is mounted on the container mounting portion, the toner discharge pipe is inserted from the toner intake port toward the inside of the waste toner collecting container. Therefore, the location of the discharge port provided at the tip of the toner discharge pipe is accommodated in the waste toner collection container so that the toner does not leak to the outside.

An example of the waste toner recovery device including the waste toner recovery container and the container mounting portion as described above can be seen in Patent Document 1.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-156946 (page 7-8, FIG. 10)

  The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a waste toner bottle (waste toner collection container), a waste toner bottle holding member (container mounting portion), and a cleaner unit that cleans the surface of the belt-shaped intermediate transfer member. In order to convey the waste toner, a protrusion (toner discharge pipe) that protrudes substantially horizontally from the cleaner unit and that has a tip inserted into the waste toner bottle is provided. However, in this configuration, the waste toner bottle is moved in a direction other than the direction in which the protrusion is inserted into and removed from the waste toner bottle, for example, the direction in which the protrusion is lifted straight up, with the tip of the protrusion inserted into the waste toner bottle. It is possible to make it. When such a waste toner bottle is moved, the tip of the protruding portion may be caught by the waste toner bottle, and the tip of the protruding portion or the toner intake on the side of the waste toner bottle may be damaged. Further, if the waste toner bottle is forcibly removed from the state where the tip of the protruding portion is caught by the waste toner bottle, the toner may be scattered around.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and prevents the toner discharge pipe extending from the cleaning device and the toner intake of the waste toner collection container from being damaged, and the scattering of the toner when the waste toner collection container is removed, and the container is mounted. It is an object of the present invention to provide a waste toner collecting apparatus with good operability that allows a waste toner collecting container to be smoothly attached to and detached from a section.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention includes a waste toner collection container that takes in and stores waste toner from a toner intake port, and a container mounting portion to which the waste toner collection container is detachably mounted. In a waste toner collecting apparatus provided with a toner discharge pipe that protrudes from the toner intake port toward the inside of the waste toner collecting container when the waste toner collecting container is attached to the container attaching portion, protruding from the container attaching portion. When removing the waste toner collection container from the container mounting portion, the waste toner collection container is prevented from moving in a direction other than the direction in which the toner discharge pipe is inserted or removed until the tip of the toner discharge pipe comes out of the toner intake port. It was decided to provide a blocking part.

  Here, the “toner discharge pipe insertion / removal direction” means a direction in which the toner discharge pipe is taken out or put into the waste toner collection container through the toner intake port.

  Further, in the waste toner collecting apparatus having the above-described configuration, the toner discharge pipe is provided so as to protrude substantially horizontally, and the blocking portion is provided at a lower portion of the container mounting portion at a substantially horizontal support shaft perpendicular to the toner discharge pipe. And a support base that supports the waste toner collection container. The waste toner collection container mounted on the container mounting portion has a toner discharge pipe with a tip of the toner discharge pipe at the tip of the toner intake port. According to the rotation of the support base until it comes out of the surface, it is rotated in the vertical plane and is removed above the normal direction of the rotation circle.

  In the waste toner collecting apparatus having the above configuration, the blocking portion includes a wall provided around the waste toner collecting container.

  Further, in the waste toner collecting apparatus having the above-described configuration, the blocking portion extends in the toner discharge pipe insertion / removal direction, and the waste toner collection container is engaged with the guide member provided in the container mounting portion. And a protrusion provided on the surface.

  Further, in the waste toner collecting apparatus configured as described above, the waste toner collecting container integrally includes a collected toner chamber and a supply toner chamber provided adjacent thereto, and protrudes from the container mounting portion. A toner discharge pipe, a toner supply pipe, a toner intake port for receiving the toner discharge pipe into the collection toner chamber when the waste toner collection container is mounted on the container mounting portion, and the toner supply pipe A toner supply port for receiving the toner in the toner chamber, and the blocking unit is configured to let the tip of the toner discharge pipe come out of the toner intake port and to come out of the toner supply port. Until now, the movement of the waste toner collecting container in a direction other than the direction in which these pipes are taken in and out is prevented.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the waste toner collecting container and the container mounting portion are provided, and when the waste toner collecting container is mounted on the container mounting portion, the waste toner collecting container is inserted into the waste toner collecting container from the toner inlet. In a waste toner recovery device with a toner discharge tube protruding from the container mounting part, when removing the waste toner recovery container from the container mounting part, the waste toner recovery is performed until the tip of the toner discharge pipe comes out of the toner intake port. Since the blocking part that prevents the container from moving in a direction other than the direction in which the toner discharge pipe is put in and out is provided, the tip of the toner discharge pipe is caught by the waste toner collection container when the waste toner collection container is removed from the container mounting part. Can be prevented. As a result, it is possible to prevent damage to the toner intake port of the toner discharge pipe and the waste toner collection container and scattering of the toner when the waste toner collection container is removed. As a result, it is possible to obtain a waste toner collecting apparatus with good operability that can smoothly attach and detach the waste toner collecting container to the container mounting portion.

  Further, the toner discharge pipe is provided so as to protrude substantially horizontally, and the blocking portion is rotatable in a vertical plane around a substantially horizontal support shaft perpendicular to the toner discharge pipe at a lower portion of the container mounting portion. The waste toner collection container mounted on the container mounting portion is provided in a vertical plane according to the rotation of the support table until the tip of the toner discharge pipe comes out of the toner intake port. Since it is rotated and removed above the normal direction of the rotating circle, the waste toner collection container can be moved to a position where the tip of the toner discharge tube is not caught by the toner intake port by simply rotating the support base. Can do. Therefore, the operability can be improved with respect to the attachment / detachment of the waste toner collection container.

  In addition, since the blocking portion includes a wall portion provided around the waste toner collection container, the movement of the waste toner collection container in an unintended direction can be easily blocked. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tip of the toner discharge pipe from being caught by the waste toner collection container by a simple mechanism.

  In addition, since the blocking portion includes a guide member provided in the container mounting portion that extends in the toner discharge pipe insertion / removal direction, and a protrusion provided in the waste toner collection container that engages with the guide member. The movement of the waste toner collection container in an unintended direction can be easily prevented without restraining the four sides of the waste toner collection container. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tip of the toner discharge tube from being caught by the waste toner collecting container by a simple mechanism that is reduced in cost.

  The waste toner collecting container is integrally provided with a collected toner chamber and a supply toner chamber provided adjacent thereto, and includes a toner discharge pipe and a toner supply pipe provided so as to protrude from the container mounting portion. And a toner intake port for receiving the toner discharge pipe into the collected toner chamber and a toner supply port for receiving the toner supply tube into the supply toner chamber when the waste toner collection container is mounted on the container mounting portion, Move the waste toner collection container in a direction other than the loading / unloading direction of these tubes until the tip of the toner discharge tube goes out of the toner intake port and until the tip of the toner supply tube goes out of the toner supply port. In order to reduce the size of the toner supply container and the waste toner collection container and to save the trouble of replacing these containers, Also the toner supply container to the container (the supply toner chamber) in a case where it is configured as an integrated, may be the tip of the toner discharge pipe and the toner supply pipe is prevented from being caught in the waste toner collection container. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent damage to the toner discharge pipe, the toner supply pipe, and their insertion ports, and the scattering of the toner when the waste toner collection container is removed, with respect to the waste toner collection container in which the toner supply container is integrated. It becomes possible.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, regarding the waste toner collecting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, an outline of the structure of an image forming unit to which the waste toner collecting apparatus is applied will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of an image forming unit.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 1 includes a photosensitive drum 2 that is an image carrier at the center thereof. In the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 2, a charging device 10, a developing device 20, a transfer device 30, a cleaning device 40, and a charge removal device 50 are arranged in this order along the rotation direction. A sheet (not shown) is placed on the transfer conveyance belt 3, and the toner image is transferred to the surface thereof by the image forming unit 1 while being conveyed from right to left in FIG. 1.

  The photosensitive drum 2 is an inorganic photosensitive member in which amorphous silicon, which is an inorganic photoconductive material, is provided on the outer side of a conductive roller-shaped substrate made of aluminum or the like by vacuum deposition or the like, and has a diameter of 30 mm. The photosensitive drum 2 is rotated by a driving device (not shown) so that the peripheral speed thereof is the same as the paper conveyance speed (for example, 116 mm / sec).

  The charging device 10 is a scorotron charging device using a corona discharge charger. The charging device 10 includes a metal shield case 11 that is a charger main body. The shield case 11 has a bowl shape with an opening facing the photosensitive drum 2. The shield case 11 is provided with a charge wire 12 and a grid 13 which are discharge members made of tungsten, stainless steel or the like. The charge wire 12 is installed inside the shield case 11, and the grid 13 is installed on the surface of the open surface of the shield case 11 along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 2. The charging device 10 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 with a predetermined polarity and potential.

  The developing device 20 is provided with a photosensitive member non-contact type developing roller 21 in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 2. A bias having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the photosensitive drum 2 is applied to the developing roller 21. The developing roller 21 charges the toner, which is a developer, and causes it to fly to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 to develop the electrostatic latent image. As the toner, a magnetic or non-magnetic one-component toner or a two-component toner obtained by mixing a magnetic carrier and a non-magnetic toner is used. The toner is accommodated in a supply toner chamber (described later) and replenished by a supply screw 22. The developing roller may be a photoreceptor contact type.

  The transfer device 30 is provided with a transfer roller 31 that comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 2 via the transfer conveyance belt 3. A portion where the transfer conveyance belt 3 and the photosensitive drum 2 are in contact with each other serves as a transfer nip portion that transfers a toner image onto a sheet. The transfer roller 31 includes a cored bar 32 and a conductive elastic layer 33 provided outside the cored bar 32. The conductive elastic layer 33 is made of polyurethane rubber or the like in which a conductive material such as carbon is dispersed. The transfer roller 31 rotates according to the rotation of the transfer conveyance belt 3 by contacting the transfer conveyance belt 3 without having a driving device. Further, a transfer bias is applied to the transfer roller 31 as necessary.

  The cleaning device 40 includes a cleaning roller 41 that is a cleaning member, a cleaning blade 42, a discharge screw 43, and a housing 44. The cleaning roller 41 and the cleaning blade 42 have substantially the same axial length as the photosensitive drum 2 and are provided so as to contact the photosensitive drum 2. In addition, a discharge screw 43 is provided inside the housing 44 to send the toner removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by the cleaning roller 41 and the cleaning blade 42 to the outside of the housing 44 as waste toner. The waste toner collecting device of the present invention is provided in the vicinity of the cleaning device 40, and details thereof will be described later.

  The neutralizing device 50 is disposed further downstream of the cleaning device 40 along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 2. The static eliminator 50 is composed of an LED (light emitting diode) 51 and removes charged charges on the surface thereof by irradiating the photosensitive drum 2 with static elimination light. Instead of the LED 51, an EL (electroluminescence) light source, a fluorescent lamp, or the like can be used.

  Here, a series of operations of the image forming unit 1 will be described.

  First, in the charging device 10, a predetermined voltage is applied to the charge wire 12 to generate corona discharge. Electrons generated by the corona discharge float in the air and travel toward the photosensitive drum 2. At this time, a voltage is applied to the grid 13 to control the amount of electrons. In this way, the charging device 10 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 with a predetermined polarity and potential. The charging potential at this time is usually about 200 to 1000V.

  Next, the photosensitive drum 2 is irradiated with laser light L based on image data to be formed on the paper, the potential of the irradiated portion is attenuated, and an electrostatic latent image of the original image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2. The Then, the toner charged by the developing device 20 is supplied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by the developing roller 21, and the toner image is developed from the electrostatic latent image.

  On the other hand, the transfer / conveying belt 3 synchronizes with the toner image formation on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 and feeds a sheet (not shown) placed on the upper surface thereof to the transfer nip portion. At this time, a negative transfer bias having a polarity opposite to that of the photosensitive drum 2 and the toner is applied to the transfer roller 31. As a result, the toner image is contact-transferred onto the sheet of the transfer conveyance belt 3 as the toner tends to move from the photosensitive drum 2 toward the transfer roller 31.

  After the toner image is transferred to the paper on the transfer / conveying belt 3, the cleaning roller 41 and the cleaning blade 42 of the cleaning device 40 remove the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 and clean it. The toner removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is sent toward the discharge screw 43 according to the action of gravity and the rotation of the cleaning roller 41, and is conveyed to the outside of the housing 44 by the discharge screw 43 as waste toner. The waste toner is collected in a waste toner collection container (described later) of the waste toner collection device.

  After cleaning the surface of the photosensitive drum 2, the static eliminator 50 irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 with the static elimination light of the LED 51. By this charge removal operation, the charged charges on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 are removed, and preparations for the charging step in the next image forming operation are made.

  Next, the detailed configuration of the waste toner collecting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5 in addition to FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the waste toner collecting device and its surroundings as seen from the rear of the waste toner collecting device, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the waste toner collecting device and its surroundings, and the waste toner collecting device. Is seen from the front. FIG. 4 is a side view of the waste toner collecting device and shows a state where the waste toner collecting container is mounted. FIG. 5 is a side view of the waste toner collecting device, and the waste toner collecting tube is disposed until the tip of the toner discharge pipe comes out. 2 shows a state in which the toner recovery container is moved.

  The waste toner collecting device 60 is provided at a position on the front side of the paper surface of the image forming unit 1 shown in FIG. 1 with a frame 61 shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, drawing of the image forming unit is omitted. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus provided with the waste toner collecting device 60 of the present invention is for color printing, and a plurality of image forming units 1 and waste toner collecting devices 60 are arranged horizontally. It is composed of shapes.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the waste toner collecting device 60 includes a waste toner collecting container 62 and a container mounting portion 63. In FIG. 2, the drawing of the upper part of the container mounting portion 63 is omitted.

  The waste toner collecting container 62 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending vertically. The waste toner collecting container 62 is integrally provided with a collecting toner chamber 64 provided at the lower portion and a supply toner chamber 65 provided at the upper portion adjacent to the collecting toner chamber 64. As shown in FIG. 3, a toner intake 66 is provided on the surface of the collected toner chamber 64 on the frame 61 side. Similarly, a toner supply port is provided on the surface of the supply toner chamber 65 on the frame 61 side (not shown). In FIG. 3, the drawing of the frame 61 that separates the image forming unit 1 and the waste toner collecting device 60 is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the container mounting portion 63 has a size for receiving the waste toner collection container 62. The container mounting portion 63 is provided with a toner discharge pipe 67 and a toner supply pipe 68. These two tubes are provided in the container mounting portion 63 so as to protrude substantially horizontally from the frame 61 toward the waste toner collecting container 62. As shown in FIG. 3, when the waste toner collection container 62 is attached to the container attachment portion 63, the toner discharge pipe 67 is connected to the toner intake port 66 provided in the collection toner chamber 64 of the waste toner collection container 62. 68 is inserted into a toner supply port (not shown) of the supply toner chamber 65.

  The toner discharge pipe 67 is connected to the cleaning device 40 (see FIG. 1) of the image forming unit 1, and the discharge screw 43 conveys waste toner through the pipe. The waste toner is taken into the collected toner chamber 64 of the waste toner collecting container 62 from the toner intake 66 and stored. The toner supply pipe 68 is connected to the developing device 20 (see FIG. 1) of the image forming unit 1, and supplies the toner through the pipe by the supply screw 22. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a discharge port 69 and a shutter 70 for opening and closing the discharge port 69 are provided at the tip of the toner discharge tube 67. The shutter 70 is urged toward the front end side of the toner discharge pipe 67 by a spring 71 shown in FIG. 3 (see FIG. 5). As shown in FIG. 4, when the waste toner collecting container 62 is mounted on the container mounting portion 63, the shutter 70 is engaged with the waste toner collecting container 62 and resists the elastic force of the spring 71 to discharge the outlet 69. Is moved along the toner discharge pipe 67 so as to open. As shown in FIG. 2, a supply port 72 for supplying toner from the supply toner chamber 65 is provided at the tip of the toner supply pipe 68.

  Further, the container mounting portion 63 is provided with a blocking portion 80 that prevents the mounted waste toner collecting container 62 from moving in a direction other than a predetermined direction. The blocking portion 80 includes a support base 81 and a wall portion 82.

  The support table 81 supports the waste toner collection container 62 and is provided below the container mounting portion 63. As shown in FIG. 3, the support base 81 has a substantially box shape that is open to the upper part and is large enough to receive the lower part of the waste toner collecting container 62. The support base 81 is provided with a substantially horizontal support shaft 81a at a bottom thereof at a right angle to a toner discharge pipe 67 provided so as to protrude substantially horizontally from the container mounting portion 63. The support base 81 is attached to the left and right side walls 82c of the wall portion 82 by a support shaft 81a. The support base 81 is vertically centered on the support shaft 81a between the posture in which the waste toner collection container 62 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 is mounted and the posture in which the waste toner collection container 62 shown in FIG. 5 can be removed. It can rotate in the plane (in FIG. 2, the rotation state is indicated by a one-dot chain line). The support base 81 does not rotate clockwise beyond the position shown in FIG. 5 due to the action of a stopper (not shown).

  In FIG. 2, the drawing of the support base 81 is omitted for the left and right waste toner collection devices 60 adjacent to the waste toner collection device 60 to which the waste toner collection container 62 is attached.

  The wall portion 82 is provided around the waste toner collecting container 62 and the support base 81. The wall portion 82 includes a ceiling wall 82a, a bottom wall 82b, and left and right side walls 82c. As shown in FIG. 4, the ceiling wall 82a extends from the frame 61 toward the waste toner collecting container 62 side.

  As described above, the support base 81 is configured to receive the waste toner collection container 62 from above, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and to the left and right directions and downwards toward the frame 61 side. The movement of the waste toner collecting container 62 is prevented. Further, the support base 81 can move the waste toner collection container 62 in the direction of taking in and out the toner discharge pipe 67 with respect to the toner intake port 66 by rotation about the support shaft 81a. As shown in FIG. 5, the ceiling wall 82 a is moved until the tip of the toner discharge pipe 67 comes out of the toner intake port 66 and the tip of the toner supply pipe 68 moves outside the toner supply port as the support base 81 rotates. It has a protruding length that prevents the waste toner collecting container 62 from moving upward until it comes out. For these reasons, the blocking unit 80 blocks the movement of the waste toner collection container 62 in a direction other than the direction in which the toner discharge pipe 67 is taken in and out.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the waste toner collection container 62 is vertically moved according to the rotation of the support base 81 until the tips of the toner discharge pipe 67 and the toner supply pipe 68 come out of the toner intake 66 of the waste toner collection container 62. It is rotated in the plane and is removed above the normal direction of the rotation circle.

  In this manner, the waste toner collecting container 62 and the container mounting portion 63 are provided, and when the waste toner collecting container 62 is mounted on the container mounting portion 63, the toner intake port 66 is directed toward the inside of the waste toner collecting container 62. In the waste toner collecting device 60 provided with the inserted toner discharge pipe 67 protruding from the container mounting portion 63, when the waste toner collection container 62 is removed from the container mounting portion 63, the tip of the toner discharge pipe 67 is the toner intake port. When the waste toner collection container 62 is removed from the container mounting portion 63, the waste toner collection container 62 is prevented from moving in a direction other than the direction in which the toner discharge pipe 67 is taken in or out until the waste toner collection container 62 is removed from the container mounting portion 63. Further, the tip of the toner discharge pipe 67 can be prevented from being caught by the waste toner collection container 62. As a result, it is possible to prevent damage to the toner discharge pipe 67 and the toner intake 66 of the waste toner collection container 62 and scattering of the toner when the waste toner collection container 62 is removed. As a result, it is possible to obtain a waste toner collecting device 60 with good operability that can smoothly attach and detach the waste toner collecting container 62 to the container mounting portion 63.

  Further, the toner discharge pipe 67 is provided so as to protrude substantially horizontally, and the blocking portion 80 rotates in a vertical plane around a substantially horizontal support shaft perpendicular to the toner discharge pipe 67 at the lower portion of the container mounting portion 63. The waste toner collection container 62 is provided with a support base 81 that supports the waste toner collection container 62, and the tip of the toner discharge pipe 67 comes out of the toner intake port 66 in the waste toner collection container 62 mounted on the container mounting portion 63. Is rotated in the vertical plane according to the rotation of the support base 81 and is removed above the normal direction of the rotation circle, so that the tip of the toner discharge pipe 67 is caught by the toner intake port 66 only by rotating the support base 81. The waste toner collection container 62 can be moved to a position where it does not exist. Therefore, it is possible to improve operability regarding the attachment / detachment of the waste toner collecting container 62.

  Since the blocking unit 80 includes the wall 82 provided around the waste toner collection container 62, the movement of the waste toner collection container 62 in an unintended direction can be easily blocked. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tip of the toner discharge pipe 67 from being caught by the waste toner collection container 62 by a simple mechanism.

  Further, the waste toner collecting container 62 is integrally provided with a collected toner chamber 64 and a supply toner chamber 65 provided adjacent thereto, and is provided with a toner discharge pipe provided so as to protrude from the container mounting portion 63. 67, a toner supply pipe 68, and a toner intake port 66 for receiving the toner discharge pipe 67 into the recovery toner chamber 64 when the waste toner collection container 62 is attached to the container mounting portion 63, and the toner supply pipe 68 to the supply toner chamber 65. And a blocking portion 80 until the tip of the toner discharge pipe 67 goes out of the toner intake port 66 and until the tip of the toner supply pipe 68 goes out of the toner supply port. Since the waste toner collection container 62 is prevented from moving in a direction other than the direction in which these pipes are put in and out, the compactness of the toner supply container and the waste toner collection container 62 can be achieved. Even if the toner supply container (supply toner chamber 65) is integrally formed with the waste toner collection container 62 for the purpose of saving the trouble and replacing those containers, the toner discharge pipe 67 and the toner It is possible to prevent the tip of the supply pipe 68 from being caught by the waste toner collecting container 62. Therefore, the waste toner collection container 62 in which the toner supply container is integrated is prevented from being damaged by the toner discharge pipe 67 and the toner supply pipe 68 and their insertion ports, and the scattering of the toner when the waste toner collection container 62 is removed. It becomes possible to prevent.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the waste toner collecting apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a side view of the waste toner collecting device and shows a state in which the waste toner collecting container is mounted. FIG. 7 is a side view of the waste toner collecting device, and the waste toner collecting tube is disposed until the tip of the toner discharge pipe comes out. 2 shows a state in which the toner recovery container is moved. Note that the basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, so the components common to the first embodiment are described in the drawings, And the description thereof will be omitted.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the waste toner collecting device 60 includes a guide member 83 and a protrusion 84 in the blocking unit 80. The guide member 83 is provided in the container mounting portion 63 and extends from the frame 61 in the rotational movement direction of the waste toner collection container 62, that is, in the direction in which the toner discharge pipe 67 is taken in and out. One guide member 83 is provided on each of the left and right sides of the waste toner collecting container 62 toward the frame 61, that is, on the front side and the back side of the waste toner collecting container 62 in FIG. 6 and FIG. It has been. The bottom surface of the guide member 83 is formed by an arc centered on the support shaft 81 a of the support base 81. One protrusion 84 is provided on each of the left and right side surfaces of the waste toner collection container 62 so as to engage with the guide member 83 from below.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the configuration of the guide member 83 and the protrusion 84 of the blocking portion 80 such as the length, shape, and positional relationship is such that the tip of the toner discharge pipe 67 is connected to the toner intake port 66 according to the rotation of the support base 81. The configuration is such that the upward movement of the waste toner collecting container 62 is prevented until it goes out and until the tip of the toner supply pipe 68 comes out of the toner supply port.

  In this way, the blocking portion 80 is provided in the waste toner collection container 62 that engages with the guide member 83 provided in the container mounting portion 63 that extends in the direction in which the toner discharge pipe 67 is inserted and removed. Since the projections 84 are provided, the waste toner collection container 62 can be easily prevented from moving in an unintended direction without restricting the four sides of the waste toner collection container 62. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tip of the toner discharge pipe 67 from being caught by the waste toner collection container 62 by a simple mechanism that is reduced in cost.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the waste toner collecting apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is a side view of the waste toner collecting device and shows a state where the waste toner collecting container is mounted. FIG. 9 is a side view of the waste toner collecting device, and the waste toner collecting tube is disposed until the tip of the toner discharge pipe comes out. 2 shows a state in which the toner recovery container is moved. Since the basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first and second embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, components common to these embodiments are illustrated in the drawings. And the description thereof will be omitted.

  In the third embodiment, the waste toner collecting device 60 includes a support base 85 that supports the waste toner collecting container 62 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. A slide mechanism 86 is provided between the support base 85 and the left and right side walls 82 c of the wall portion 80, and this slide mechanism 86 is parallel to the protruding direction of the toner discharge pipe 67, that is, the toner discharge to the toner collection container 62. The support base 85 is moved in parallel with the tube 67 insertion / removal direction. The support base 85 can take both the approach and separation positions with respect to the frame 61 by the slide mechanism 86. Note that, when the support base 85 is in a separated position with respect to the frame 61, it moves to the right beyond the position shown in FIG. There is no.

  The blocking unit 80 includes a guide member 87 and a protrusion 88. The guide member 87 is provided in the container mounting portion 63, and extends in parallel with the sliding movement direction of the waste toner collection container 62 from the frame 61, that is, the toner discharge pipe 67 insertion / removal direction. One guide member 87 is provided on each of the left and right sides of the waste toner collection container 62 toward the frame 61, that is, on the front side and the back side of the waste toner collection container 62 in FIG. 8 and FIG. It has been. One protrusion 88 is provided on each of the left and right side surfaces of the waste toner collection container 62 so as to engage with the guide member 87 from below.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the configuration of the guide member 87 and the protrusion 88 of the blocking unit 80 such as the length, shape, and positional relationship is such that the tip of the toner discharge pipe 67 is moved to the toner intake port 66 as the support base 85 slides. The waste toner collection container 62 is prevented from moving upward until it comes out of the toner supply pipe and until the tip of the toner supply pipe 68 comes out of the toner supply port.

  In this way, the blocking portion 80 is slidably moved on the support base 85, the guide member 87 provided on the container mounting portion 63, and the protrusion provided on the waste toner collecting container 62 that engages with the guide member 87. 88, the tip of the toner discharge pipe 67 is prevented from being caught by the waste toner collection container 62 by a simple mechanism that is reduced in cost as in the second embodiment. Is possible.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  For example, the detailed configuration and arrangement of the blocking unit 80 are not limited to the configurations shown in the first to third embodiments, and other configurations can be substituted for these without departing from the spirit of the invention. It may be an arrangement. In the embodiment of the present invention, the toner supply container (supply toner chamber) is integrated with the waste toner recovery container. However, the waste toner recovery container includes only the recovery toner chamber without the supply toner chamber. It does not matter.

  The present invention relates to a waste toner collecting device for collecting toner remaining on the surface of an image carrier, and a toner discharge pipe for guiding waste toner conveyed from a cleaning device to a waste toner collecting container is provided in the waste toner collecting container. It can be used in a case where it is provided so as to protrude toward the toner intake port.

FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical sectional view of an image forming unit to which a waste toner collecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a waste toner recovery device according to the first embodiment of the present invention and its periphery, as viewed from the rear of the waste toner recovery device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a waste toner collection device similar to FIG. 2 and its periphery, as viewed from the front of the waste toner collection device. FIG. 3 is a side view of the waste toner collecting apparatus shown in FIG. 2 and shows a state where a waste toner collecting container is mounted. FIG. 3 is a side view of the waste toner collecting apparatus shown in FIG. 2 and shows a state where the waste toner collecting container is moved until the tip of the toner discharge pipe comes out. FIG. 5 is a side view of a waste toner collecting apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a waste toner collecting container is mounted. FIG. 7 is a side view of the waste toner collecting device similar to FIG. 6, showing a state in which the waste toner collecting container is moved until the tip of the toner discharge pipe comes out. FIG. 9 is a side view of a waste toner collecting apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a waste toner collecting container is mounted. FIG. 9 is a side view of the waste toner collecting apparatus similar to FIG. 8 and shows a state in which the waste toner collecting container is moved until the tip of the toner discharge pipe comes out.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image formation part 2 Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Developing device 22 Supply screw 40 Cleaning device 43 Discharge screw 60 Waste toner collection device 61 Frame 62 Waste toner collection container 63 Container mounting part 64 Collection toner chamber 65 Supply toner chamber 66 Toner intake port 67 Toner discharge tube 68 Toner supply tube 69 Exhaust Exit 70 Shutter 71 Spring 72 Replenishment port 80 Blocking portion 81, 85 Support base 82 Wall portion 83, 87 Guide member 84, 88 Projection 86 Slide mechanism

Claims (5)

A waste toner collecting container that takes in and stores waste toner from a toner intake port, and a container mounting portion on which the waste toner collecting container is detachably mounted, and the waste toner collecting container is mounted on the container mounting portion. A waste toner collecting device provided with a toner discharge pipe inserted into the waste toner collecting container from the toner intake opening so as to protrude from the container mounting portion;
When removing the waste toner collection container from the container mounting portion, the waste toner collection container is prevented from moving in a direction other than the direction in which the toner discharge pipe is inserted or removed until the tip of the toner discharge pipe comes out of the toner intake port. A waste toner collecting device comprising a blocking portion for preventing the waste toner.   The toner discharge pipe is provided so as to protrude substantially horizontally, and the blocking portion is rotatable in a vertical plane around a substantially horizontal support shaft perpendicular to the toner discharge pipe at a lower portion of the container mounting portion. The waste toner collection container mounted on the container mounting portion is provided according to the rotation of the support table until the tip of the toner discharge pipe comes out of the toner intake port. 2. The waste toner recovery device according to claim 1, wherein the waste toner recovery device is rotated in a vertical plane and is removed above the normal direction of the rotation circle.   The waste toner collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the blocking unit includes a wall provided around the waste toner collecting container.   The blocking portion includes a guide member provided in the container mounting portion that extends in the toner discharge pipe insertion / removal direction, and a protrusion provided in the waste toner collection container that engages with the guide member. The waste toner recovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The waste toner collection container integrally includes a collection toner chamber and a supply toner chamber provided adjacent thereto, and includes a toner discharge pipe and a toner supply pipe provided so as to protrude from the container mounting portion. And a toner intake port for receiving the toner discharge tube into the recovery toner chamber and a toner supply port for receiving the toner supply tube into the supply toner chamber when the waste toner recovery container is mounted in the container mounting portion. ,
The blocking portion is moved in a direction other than the direction in which these tubes are inserted or removed until the tip of the toner discharge tube comes out of the toner intake port and until the tip of the toner supply tube goes out of the toner supply port. The waste toner collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waste toner collecting container is prevented from moving.

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