JP2008089716A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent scattering of developer from a developing device effectively, while minimizing the increase in the manufacturing cost. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus forms images by using developer supplied from a toner container 18. The apparatus includes the rotary development device 20 to which developer is supplied from the toner container 18; a photoreceptor drum 131 for forming a toner image on its peripheral face with the developer supplied by the rotary development device 20; a transfer belt 134, which is disposed below the photoreceptor drum 131 and to which the toner image formed on the photoreceptor drum 131 is transferred; and a cleaning device 30, disposed directly below the area where the photoreceptor drum 131 and the rotary developing device 20 face to each other and used to remove and clean off residual toner on the transfer belt 134, after the toner image on the transfer belt 134 is transferred to paper. The belt-cleaning device 30 receives developer falling from the rotary development device 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that performs an image forming process using a developer replenished from a toner container.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus as described in Patent Document 1 is known. This image forming apparatus is a so-called color machine capable of color printing.

  Such an image forming apparatus includes four developing devices each storing four color toners of yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, and black toner, and a toner image on each circumferential surface by toner sequentially supplied from each developing device. An intermediate transfer member disposed below the photosensitive drum, on which toner images formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum while being rotated are transferred in an overcoated state, and an intermediate transfer Belt cleaning provided immediately below the position where the photosensitive drum and the developing device face each other, after removing the residual toner on the intermediate transfer body after the overcoated toner image is transferred onto the sheet. And a device.

  As the developing device, a rotary developing device loaded with yellow, magenta and cyan toners and a black developing device dedicated to black toner are employed. The rotary developing device is provided with three fan-shaped developing devices arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around an axis, and each developing device is loaded with yellow, magenta and cyan toners.

  Then, with respect to one color original image, each developing device is sequentially opposed to the photosensitive drum by the rotation of the rotary developing device about the axis every 120 °, and the photosensitive drum with respect to one developing device is sequentially opposed. The toner of the developing device is supplied to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum by rotation. As a result, the toner image of the color formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum is immediately transferred to the intermediate transfer member, and the toner is applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer member every time the toner color changes. The black toner of the black developing device can be repainted.

  Then, the color image formed by overcoating each color toner on the surface of the intermediate transfer body is transferred to a separately supplied sheet. The paper after the transfer process is subjected to a fixing process by heating in a fixing device and then discharged to the outside.

  The surface of the intermediate transfer body after the transfer process is performed on the paper is cleaned by a cleaning device to remove residual toner, and then is directed to the photosensitive drum for the next image forming process. It is supposed to be. The residual toner removed by the cleaning device is stored in the cleaning device.

  By the way, in an image forming apparatus employing a rotary developing device, particularly when toner from a toner container is supplied to each developing device via a pipe, the rotary type is applied after the toner is supplied. Since the developing device rotates intermittently around the axis, toner adhering to the surface of the casing of each developing device developer may fall down due to leakage from the pipe due to impact at the time of starting rotation and stopping rotation. If the toner falls and scatters, the scattered toner contaminates the environment inside the image forming apparatus.

In order to eliminate such inconvenience, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a semicircular cover in a cross-sectional view covering the lower half of the rotary developing device, and at the lowest position of the cover. A collection tray is provided so that the toner dropped from the developing device is received by the cover and collected by the collection tray.
JP-A-11-272029

  However, providing a cover inside a narrow image forming apparatus is difficult in terms of layout in the current situation where the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus is becoming more compact, and the number of parts increases due to the cover. This raises a new problem that the manufacturing cost increases due to the soaring parts cost.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and can cope with downsizing of the apparatus main body, and does not cause an increase in the number of parts, while suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of effectively preventing the scattering of the developer from the developing device.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus that performs an image forming process using a developer replenished from a toner container, a developing device that replenishes the developer from the toner container, and the developer that is supplied from the developing device. A photosensitive drum for forming a toner image on a peripheral surface by a developer; an intermediate transfer member disposed below the photosensitive drum to which the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred; and the intermediate transfer member A cleaning device is provided immediately below a position where the photosensitive drum and the developing device face each other, and removes residual toner on the intermediate transfer member after the toner image on the sheet is transferred to the paper and performs a cleaning process. In addition, the cleaning device includes a collecting unit that can receive the developer dropped from the developing device.

  According to this configuration, the developer is supplied from the developing device toward the rotating photosensitive drum, whereby a toner image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum. Is transferred to an intermediate transfer member disposed in the lower part of the sheet. The toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer member is transferred to a separately supplied sheet. The intermediate transfer body after the transfer process is subjected to a cleaning process by a cleaning device, whereby residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer body is removed.

  Since the cleaning device includes a recovery device that can receive the developer dropped from the developing device, the cleaning device leaks when the developer is supplied from the toner container to the developing device, or the developer from the developing device to the photosensitive drum. The developer that has leaked or dropped downward during supply of the toner is collected by the collecting means of the cleaning device at the bottom. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of inconvenience that the developer dropped from the developing device is scattered in the image forming apparatus and the image forming environment to be cleaned is contaminated with toner.

  Thus, by providing the cleaning device with a function of collecting the developer dropped from the developing device, it is not necessary to separately provide a device for collecting the fallen toner, thereby reducing the cost of the image forming apparatus. And the contamination of the image forming environment in the image forming apparatus by the scattered developer is prevented.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the collecting unit includes a casing of the cleaning device having a top plate facing a position facing the photosensitive drum and the developing device at a lower side, The top plate is provided with a developer recovery port that receives the developer dropped from the developing unit and guides the developer into the casing.

  According to this configuration, the toner dropped from the developing device is collected in the casing from the developer collecting port provided on the top plate of the casing of the cleaning device.

  As described above, by providing the developer recovery port for receiving the developer dropped from the developing device and guiding it into the casing on the top plate of the casing of the cleaning device, the structure for recovering the dropped developer of the cleaning device can be simplified. Therefore, it contributes to the reduction of the manufacturing cost of the cleaning device.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the developing device is rotatable about a horizontal axis parallel to the drum core of the photosensitive drum, and from each of the plurality of toner containers. The rotary developing device includes a plurality of developing units filled with a plurality of types of replenished developers.

  According to this configuration, by rotating the rotary developing device around the horizontal axis, each of the plurality of developing devices that are attached to the rotary developing device and are filled with developers of different colors is the photosensitive drum. And the developer from each developing device is supplied to the photosensitive drum. Each time a toner image of a different color is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum, the toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member in a state of being overlaid, whereby a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer member. Then, the color image is printed on the paper by transferring the color image onto the paper.

  When a rotary developing device is employed, each developing device mounted on the rotary developing device rotates, so that leakage occurs when, for example, the developer from the toner container is supplied to the developing device. The developer that has adhered to the outside of the developing device tends to easily fall due to the impact at the start and stop of the rotation of the developing device. The dropped developer is removed by a cleaning device disposed below the developing device. Since it is captured and collected, contamination by the developer in the image forming apparatus is effectively prevented.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the rotary developing device has a circular shape that supports the plurality of developing devices that are rotatably supported concentrically around the horizontal axis. An arcuate casing having a fan-like shape in a cross-sectional view cut along a plane perpendicular to the axis of the horizontal axis in a state of being mounted on the circular frame, and the arcuate casing. A receiving port for receiving the developer replenished from the toner container, and a closing film having a notch covering the receiving port, and the toner container is used for cutting the closing film. The developer is replenished through a refill cylinder that is inserted.

  According to such a configuration, each of the plurality of developing devices includes the arc-shaped casing having a fan shape in a cross-sectional view cut along a plane orthogonal to the axis of the horizontal axis, and the arc-shaped casing can be rotated. Since it is supported around the horizontal axis, the rotary developing device is generally cylindrical with a plurality of developing devices supported by the circular frame. Therefore, the rotary developing device is suppressed from becoming bulky and can be rotated around the horizontal axis without interfering with other devices, which contributes to downsizing of the image forming apparatus.

  A receiving port for receiving the developer replenished from the toner container is formed on the circular arc surface of the arc-shaped casing, and the receiving port is provided with a closing film having a notch covering the receiving port. By inserting the supply cylinder of the container into the notch of the closing film, the developer from the toner container is supplied into the developing device through the supply cylinder.

  Thus, by forming the developing device with an arc-shaped casing, and providing a receiving port for receiving the developer formed on the arc surface of the arc-shaped casing, and a closing film with a notch covering the receiving port, The developer sent out from the toner container is easily replenished to the developing device via the replenishment cylinder inserted through the cut-out of the closing film, and the cut-off of the closing film is closed when not refilled. Agent leakage is prevented as much as possible.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the cleaning device has brush hairs planted around a brush axis, and the intermediate transfer member is rotated around the brush axis. A fur brush that removes residual toner, a voltage application roller that has a peripheral surface in contact with the fur brush and that is applied with a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the residual toner, and a toner that adheres to the peripheral surface of the voltage application roller. It is characterized by comprising a scraping blade and unloading means for unloading residual toner scraped by the blade to the outside.

  According to such a configuration, the residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member is removed by the fur brush by rotating the fur brush around the brush axis while contacting the intermediate transfer member, and the intermediate transfer member is subjected to a wiping process. Applied. The residual toner adhering to the fur brush is brought into contact with a voltage application roller to which a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the residual toner is applied. Therefore, the residual toner on the fur brush is applied to the voltage application roller by an electrostatic suction force. Transition to the peripheral surface. The residual toner transferred to the peripheral surface of the voltage application roller is scraped off by the blade and is discharged to the outside by driving the carry-out means.

  As described above, the cleaning device includes the fur brush, the voltage application roller to which the peripheral surface is in contact with the fur brush, and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the residual toner is applied, and the toner attached to the peripheral surface of the voltage application roller. The cleaning device can always remove the residual toner from the intermediate transfer member with certainty and remove the residual toner scraped off by the blade and a discharge means for discharging the residual toner to the outside. The collected toner is reliably collected.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the cleaning device is provided with the recovery means for recovering the developer dropped from the developing device, it is not necessary to separately provide a device for recovering the dropped toner from the developing device. Therefore, after reducing the cost of the image forming apparatus, the developer dropped in the image forming environment is scattered to contaminate the image forming environment, thereby adversely affecting the image forming process. Such an inconvenience can be effectively prevented.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the developer dropped from the cleaning device is collected by providing the developer recovery port for receiving the developer dropped from the developing device and guiding the developer dropped into the casing on the top plate of the casing of the cleaning device. Since the structure becomes simple, it can contribute to the reduction of the manufacturing cost of the cleaning device.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a rotary developing device is employed, each developer mounted on the rotary developing device rotates, so that, for example, the developer from the toner container is supplied to the developer. However, the developer that leaks and adheres to the outside of the developing device tends to drop due to the impact at the start and stop of the rotation of the developing device, but the dropped developer is arranged below the developing device. Since it is captured and collected by the provided cleaning device, contamination by the developer in the image forming apparatus can be effectively prevented.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the developing device includes an arc-shaped casing, a receiving port that receives the developer formed on the arc surface of the arc-shaped casing, and a closing film that includes a notch that covers the receiving port. By doing so, the developer sent out from the toner container can be easily replenished to the developing device via the replenishing cylinder inserted through the cut-out of the closing film.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the cleaning device includes a fur brush for wiping the intermediate transfer member, a voltage application in which a peripheral surface is in contact with the fur brush and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the residual toner is applied. It is equipped with a roller, a blade that scrapes off the toner adhering to the peripheral surface of the voltage application roller, and an unloading means that unloads the residual toner scraped off by the blade to the outside. In addition, it is possible to reliably remove the removed toner.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 (A) shows a state in which a maintenance lid is closed, and FIG. 1 (B) shows a maintenance lid. FIG. 1C shows a state where the maintenance lid is opened and the toner container is removed. In FIG. 1, the XX direction is referred to as the left-right direction, and the YY direction is referred to as the front-rear direction. In particular, the -X direction is referred to as the left, the + X direction is referred to as the right, the -Y direction is referred to as the front, and the + Y direction is referred to as the rear. Incidentally, in this embodiment, a printer is cited as the image forming apparatus 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 10 according to this embodiment is a so-called color machine configured to be capable of color printing, and is used for image forming processing in an apparatus main body 11 that has a substantially cubic shape in appearance. The various members described later are mounted. The apparatus main body 11 has a rounded shape as a whole, and is designed so as to give a user a visually friendly and compact impression.

  The apparatus main body 11 is provided with a paper discharge tray 161 on the upper surface, a maintenance lid 112 is provided on the upper front surface facing the user, and a removable paper cassette 121 is disposed below the maintenance lid 112. This makes it extremely easy to use in consideration of usability.

  The paper discharge tray 161 receives the paper P on which printing processing has been performed, and can receive the paper P discharged from a paper discharge port 162 formed facing the front at the rear of the upper surface of the apparatus main body 11. It has an inclined surface that is arcuate and slopes forward.

  The maintenance lid 112 is normally closed as shown in FIG. 1A, and is opened as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C when the toner container 18 is replaced. Yes.

  The maintenance lid 112 is pivotally supported around a support shaft 122 a installed slightly above the sheet cassette 121 between the front positions of the pair of side plates 111 of the apparatus main body 11 so as to be able to rotate forward and backward. The posture can be changed between a closed posture S1 in which the opening 110 is closed (FIG. 1A) and an open posture S2 in which the front opening 110 of the apparatus main body 11 is opened (FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C). It has become.

  The maintenance lid 112 is provided with a manual feed tray 122 that is pivotally supported around the support shaft 122a. The manual feed tray 122 is used when manually supplying the printing paper P to the image forming apparatus 10. The manual feed tray 122 is rotated clockwise around the support shaft 122a in a state in which the maintenance lid 112 is set in the closed posture S1 (indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1A), so that FIG. As indicated by a two-dot chain line in A), the maintenance lid 112 is pulled out.

  The toner container 18 includes a black container 18K filled with black toner, a cyan container 18C filled with cyan toner, a magenta container 18M filled with magenta toner, and a yellow container 18Y filled with yellow toner. Four types are adopted. The toner container 18 is arranged in the order of the black container 18K, the cyan container 18C, the magenta container 18M, and the yellow container 18Y from left to right facing the front opening 110 in the apparatus main body 11.

  Therefore, by opening the maintenance lid 112, the user faces the black to yellow containers 18K, 18C, 18M, and 18Y as shown in FIG. When the black to yellow containers 18K, 18C, 18M, and 18Y are removed from the apparatus main body 11 for replacement in this state, the state shown in FIG.

  The paper cassette 121 is for storing printing paper P, and is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 11. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the paper cassette 121 is provided in two stages. However, the sheet cassette 121 is not limited to two stages, and may be one stage or three or more stages. .

  FIG. 2 is a side sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the internal structure of the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. In addition, the direction display by Y in FIG. 2 is the same as that in FIG. 1 (−Y: forward, + Y: backward).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a paper feeding unit 12 that feeds the paper P to an image forming unit 13 described later, and a toner on the paper P while transporting the paper P sent from the paper feeding unit 12. An image forming unit 13 for transferring an image, a fixing unit 14 for performing a fixing process on the toner image transferred to the paper P by the image forming unit 13, and discharging the paper P subjected to a fixing process by the fixing unit 14 A discharge destination switching unit 15 that switches the destination and a paper discharge unit 16 that discharges the paper P that has been printed are mounted on the apparatus main body 11.

  The paper feeding unit 12 includes the paper cassette 121 capable of storing a plurality of papers P that are detachably attached to a lower portion of the apparatus main body 11, and the manual feeding used when manually feeding the papers P. And a tray 122.

  A pickup roller 123 is provided at an upper position on the front side of each sheet cassette 121, and the sheets P stored in the sheet cassette 121 are picked up one by one by driving the pickup roller 123 and directed toward the image forming unit 13. It is to be sent out.

  The image forming unit 13 can rotate around an axial center extending in a left-right direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2) in which an electrostatic latent image and a toner image are formed along the electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface. A photosensitive drum 131, a charging roller 132 that forms a uniform charge on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131 by charging, and the charging roller 132 gives a uniform charge. The exposure device 133 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131 by irradiating the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131 with laser light based on image information, and the photosensitive drum 131 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. A rotary developing device 20 that forms a toner image on the peripheral surface by supplying toner to the peripheral surface, a toner container 18 that supplies toner to the rotary developing device 20, and a peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131. Been formed A transfer belt (intermediate transfer member) 134 to which the toner image is transferred, a primary transfer roller 135 that electrostatically peels off the toner image on the photosensitive drum 131 and transfers the toner image onto the surface of the transfer belt 134, and a transfer belt 134 The secondary transfer roller 136 that electrostatically peels off the toner image and transfers it to the paper P fed from the paper supply unit 12 and the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131 after the transfer to the transfer belt 134 are cleaned. A drum cleaning device 137 and a belt cleaning device (cleaning device) 30 that performs a cleaning process on the surface of the transfer belt 134 after the transfer process on the paper P are provided.

  The photosensitive drum 131 is for forming an electrostatic latent image and a toner image along the electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface. In this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 131 has a tough surface and a very smooth amorphous silicon layer excellent in wear resistance laminated on the peripheral surface, and is thus suitable for forming these images. Yes.

  Each of the photosensitive drums 131 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2 from a corresponding developing device 22 described later (developer (toner if the developer is only toner), developer is a mixture of toner and carrier). In this case, only the toner among them is supplied).

Note that the developer includes a one-component system composed only of toner and a so-called two-component system composed of toner and carrier. The toner is a fine powder having a particle diameter of 6 to 12 μm in which additives such as a colorant, a charge control agent and wax are dispersed in a binder resin. On the other hand, the carrier is magnetic particles having a particle size of 60 to 200 μm such as magnetite (Fe ₃ O ₄ ), and is used for charging the toner. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, a one-component system using only toner is employed.

  The charging roller 132 is configured such that charges having a predetermined polarity are formed on the peripheral surface by a high voltage applied from a power source (not shown). Since the peripheral surface of the charging roller 132 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131, uniform charges are formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131.

  The exposure device 133 irradiates the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131 uniformly charged by the charging roller 132 with laser light based on image data input from a computer (not shown). An electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131 by the laser beam irradiation of the exposure device 133. Then, the toner from the rotary developing device 20 is supplied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131, so that a toner image is formed on the peripheral surface. Is transferred to the transfer belt 134.

  The rotary developing device 20 includes a rotating frame body (circular frame body) 21 formed in a circular shape in a side view (as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2), and the rotating frame body 21 in the circumferential direction. And four developing units 22 mounted on the pitch. The rotating frame 21 rotates around a frame axis (horizontal axis) 211 disposed at a rear position of the photosensitive drum 131 in parallel with the axis of the photosensitive drum 131 and at substantially the same height level. It is pivotally supported. The rotating frame 21 is equally divided into four sections in the circumferential direction by four partition plates 212 projecting in a radial direction from a frame axis (horizontal axis) 211, and each section is fan-shaped in a side view. Each of the developing devices 22 having a shape is mounted.

  The developing device 22 has an arcuate casing 210 that is fixed to the rotating frame 21 while being sandwiched between the partition plates 212. The developing unit 22 includes a black developing unit 22K filled with black toner, a cyan developing unit 22C filled with cyan toner, a magenta developing unit 22M filled with magenta toner, and a yellow toner. Four types of yellow developing device 22Y are employed.

  When forming a toner image with yellow toner on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131, the yellow developing unit 22 </ b> Y is set to a position facing the photosensitive drum 131 by the rotation of the rotary frame 21 around the frame axis 211. In this state, when the photosensitive drum 131 rotates around the drum center, yellow toner images are sequentially formed on the peripheral surface thereof. This yellow toner image is immediately transferred to the rotating transfer belt 134.

  The magenta, cyan, and black toner images are formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131 in the same manner as in the case of yellow, and the developing unit 22 filled with the target color toner is connected to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131. Opposed. The toner image of the next color is sequentially transferred onto the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131 from which the toner image has disappeared by the transfer process to the transfer belt 134.

  Then, by appropriately synchronizing the rotation of the transfer belt 134 and the toner image forming operation of the photosensitive drum 131, a color image in which the toner of each color is applied is formed on the surface of the transfer belt 134. The color image is transferred to the paper P fed from the paper feeding unit 12 by the action of the secondary transfer roller 136, whereby color printing is performed on the paper P.

  A registration roller pair 124 is provided at a position immediately upstream of the secondary transfer roller 136, and the conveyance timing of the paper P sent from the paper feeding unit 12 to the image forming unit 13 is adjusted by the registration roller pair 124. It is made to be done. The color image on the transfer belt 134 is transferred to an appropriate position on the paper P by adjusting the conveyance timing by the registration roller pair 124.

  The transfer belt 134 is driven by the primary transfer roller 135, an idle roller 134c provided slightly behind the primary transfer roller 135, and a drive motor (not shown) provided below the idle roller 134c. It is wound around a rotating drive roller 134a and a driven roller 134b disposed opposite to the drive roller 134a at a front position below the photosensitive drum 131.

  The driven roller 134b is urged toward the direction away from the drive roller 134a by the urging force of an urging member 134d such as a coil spring, whereby the tension state of the transfer belt 134 is maintained. The secondary transfer roller 136 is disposed opposite to the drive roller 134a via the transfer belt 134 at a position directly below the drive roller 134a.

  A bias voltage for electrostatically peeling off the toner image on the transfer belt 134 is applied to the secondary transfer roller 136 from a power source (not shown). Therefore, the toner image on the transfer belt 134 is transferred to the paper P passing between the transfer belt 134 and the secondary transfer roller 136.

  A belt cleaning device 30 is provided between the drive roller 134a and the idle roller 134c to clean the surface of the transfer belt 134 after the transfer process on the paper P. The belt cleaning device 30 performs the cleaning process. The applied transfer belt 134 goes to the photosensitive drum 131 to receive the next transfer process.

  The fixing unit 14 performs a fixing process on the transfer image transferred to the paper P by the image forming unit 13. The fixing roller 141 is heated by an energizing heating element such as a halogen lamp, and the fixing roller 141 at the lower part. And a pressure roller 142 whose peripheral surface is pressed against and in contact with the peripheral surface of the fixing roller 141.

  The sheet P that has been transferred by the transfer belt 134 in the image forming unit 13 is guided to the circumference of the transfer belt 134 while being sandwiched between the transfer belt 134 and the secondary transfer roller 136, and is then fixed to the fixing unit 14. The toner image is fixed on the paper P by heating when passing between the fixing roller 141 and the pressure roller 142.

  The paper P after the fixing process is led to the paper discharge conveyance path 101 by driving the first discharge roller pair 143, and the paper discharge conveyance path 101 is raised by the forward drive of the second discharge roller pair 102, and the paper discharge outlet 162. The paper is discharged to a paper discharge tray 161 provided at the top of the apparatus main body 11.

  The discharge destination switching unit 15 is used when double-sided printing is performed on the paper P. The paper P once sent from the fixing unit 14 to the paper discharge conveyance path 101 after the one-side fixing process is completed. Is returned to the image forming unit 13 again with the front and back reversed.

  The discharge destination switching unit 15 includes a return roller 151 disposed opposite to a lower end portion of the paper discharge conveyance path 101 so that a peripheral surface of the lower portion of the first discharge roller pair 143 comes into contact with each other, and the return roller 151. A return conveyance path 152 extending from the lower part of the sheet to the upstream side (the right side in FIG. 2) of the registration roller pair 124 through the fixing unit 14.

  When performing double-sided printing on the paper P, the paper P after the fixing process for which single-sided printing has been completed is led out to the paper discharge conveyance path 101 until the trailing edge passes through the first discharge roller pair 143, and the second printing is continued. The discharge roller pair 102 is reversely driven. By doing so, it is guided to the drive of the return roller 151 on which single-sided printing has been completed, and is sent back to the return transport path 152, and is directed to the registration roller pair 124 through the return transport path 152 with the front and back reversed. Thereafter, printing processing is performed on the back side of the paper P in the image forming unit 13.

  The toner container 18 supplies each color toner to the black developing unit 22K, cyan developing unit 22C, magenta developing unit 22M, and yellow developing unit 22Y of the rotary developing device 20, respectively. 4 units (black container 18K, cyan container 18C, magenta container 18M, and yellow container 18Y) corresponding to the black to yellow developing devices 22K, 22C, 22R, and 22Y. It is adopted ((B) in FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 1B, these four toner containers 18 are detachably mounted on a base 17 provided so as to extend in the left-right direction at a substantially middle position in front of the apparatus main body 11. Yes. Between each toner container 18 and the rotary developing device 20, a toner transfer mechanism for sending the toner in the toner container 18 to each developer 22 is provided. The details of the toner transfer mechanism will not be described.

  Hereinafter, the rotary developing device 20 and the belt cleaning device 30 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views showing an embodiment of the rotary developing device 20 and the belt cleaning device 30. FIG. 3 shows the belt cleaning device 30 assembled in a normal position with respect to the rotary developing device 20. FIG. 4 shows a state before the belt cleaning device 30 is assembled to the rotary developing device 20 in a normal position. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 3 to 5 are the same as those shown in FIG. 1 (X is the left-right direction (-X: leftward, + X: rightward), Y is the front-rear direction (-Y: forward, + Y). : Back)).

  First, as shown in FIG. 3, the rotary developing device 20 has a pair of left and right support disks 23 concentric with the frame shaft 211 and fixed to the apparatus main body 11. The rotating frame 21 is rotated around the frame axis 211 by driving a drive motor (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 11 while being concentrically sandwiched between the pair of support disks 23. It is supposed to be.

  The four partition plates 212 are provided between the pair of support disks 23 so as to protrude from the frame shaft 211 in the radial direction evenly in the circumferential direction. Each of the developing units 22 (black developing unit 22K, cyan developing unit 22C, magenta developing unit 22M, and yellow developing unit 22Y) is mounted in each of the four sections partitioned by the partition plate 212.

  Each developing device 22 includes a circular receiving port 24 for receiving the developer replenished from the toner container 18 and a developing roller 25 for supplying the toner in the internal developer to the photosensitive drum 131. I have. The receiving port 24 is provided on the counterclockwise side of the outer surface of the developing device 22 (the portion corresponding to the circumference of the support disc 23) in a state where the developing device 22 is mounted on the rotating frame 21. On the other hand, the developing roller 25 is provided on the clockwise side of the outer surface of the developing device 22.

  The receiving port 24 is provided in a state where the black to yellow developing devices 22K, 22C, 22R, and 22Y are displaced in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the receiving port 24 of the black developing device 22K is provided in the leftmost position, and then the receiving port 24 of the cyan developing device 22C is provided on the right side, and further on the right side, the magenta developing unit is provided. The receiving port 24 of the developing device 22M is provided, and the receiving port 24 of the yellow developing device 22Y is provided in the rightmost position.

  Such a receiving port 24 is blocked by a closing film 241. The closing film 241 is provided with a cross cut 242, and the developer is supplied into the developing device 22 in a state where the cut 242 is expanded by a supply cylinder 182 described later.

  On the other hand, each of the toner containers 18 (FIG. 2) has a transport pipe 181 for transporting the internal developer toward the corresponding developing device 22. A supply cylinder 182 is provided at a position facing the receiving port 24 on the front end side (rear of FIG. 2) of each transport pipe 181.

  The replenishing cylinders 182 are juxtaposed in the left-right direction at a position immediately above the rotary developing device 20, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. In the present embodiment, among the supply cylinders 182, the leftmost one is the black supply cylinder 182K communicating with the black container 18K, and the one adjacent to the right is cyan. A cyan supply cylinder 182C communicating with the container 18C, and adjacent to the right side thereof is a magenta supply cylinder 182M communicating with the magenta container 18M, which is provided on the rightmost side. Is a yellow supply cylinder 182Y communicating with the yellow container 18Y.

  Each of the supply cylinders 182 is configured to be lifted and lowered independently of the others by a lifting mechanism (not shown), and the opening at the tip is opened and closed by an opening / closing mechanism (not shown). . Accordingly, in a state where the predetermined developing device 22 is positioned at the uppermost position, the supply cylinder 182 corresponding to the development device 22 is lowered by driving the lifting mechanism, so that the tip of the supply cylinder 182 is closed. The notch 242 of the film 241 is pushed and expanded into the developing device 22. In this state, the opening at the tip of the supply cylinder 182 is opened by driving the opening / closing mechanism, whereby the developer fed from the toner container 18 is supplied into the developing device 22.

  The developing roller 25 is installed between the left and right wall surfaces in the rotary frame 21 in parallel with the photosensitive drum 131, and a peripheral surface of the developing roller 25 faces the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131. It is made to rotate by driving. Then, the developing roller 25 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 5 around the axis while facing the photosensitive drum 131, so that the toner in the developer carried by the peripheral surface thereof is counterclockwise. Supplied to the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 131 rotating toward the surface.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a stirring member 251 such as a spiral feeder extending in the left-right direction is provided in the developing device 22, and the developer in the developing device 22 is developed while being stirred by the stirring member 251. It is conveyed toward the roller 25.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the belt cleaning device 30 includes a casing (collecting means) 31 that has a triangular shape in a side view, a brush roller 32 that wipes the surface of the transfer belt 134, and a tip of the brush roller 32. A voltage applying roller 33 for applying a voltage to the surface, a blade 34 for scraping waste toner adhering to the surface of the voltage applying roller 33, and a waste toner collecting container (not shown) for scraping the waste toner scraped off by the blade 34. A spiral feeder (carrying means) 35 for carrying out is built in.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the casing 31 includes a top plate (collecting means) 311 whose rear portion is inclined downward toward the rear, and a bottom plate 312 that is disposed opposite to the top plate 311 at a lower portion, The top plate 311 and the bottom plate 312 are provided with a pair of left and right side plates 313 provided between left and right ends.

  The top plate 311 includes a rear inclined top plate 311a formed from a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction to the rear end, and a horizontal extending horizontally from the front edge portion of the rear inclined top plate 311a to the front. A top plate 311b and a front inclined top plate 311c extending forward from the front edge portion of the horizontal top plate 311b are provided. An opening for exposing the brush roller 32 is formed between the front edge portion of the front inclined top plate 311 c and the front edge portion of the bottom plate 312.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the casing 31 is assembled to the apparatus main body 11, the rear inclined top plate 311 a faces the lower front part of the rotary developing device 20, and the front inclined top plate 311 c The three-dimensional shape is set so that the transfer roller 134 faces the drive roller 134a and the idle roller 134c, and the brush roller 32 faces the transfer belt 134 on the drive roller 134a.

  The brush roller 32 has a brush shaft 321 extending in the left-right direction (a direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 5), and a large number of synthetic resin-made hairs are uniformly planted on the peripheral surface of the brush shaft 321. And a fur brush 322 formed by the above. After the color image on the transfer belt 134 is transferred to the paper P, the brush roller 32 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5 and the fur brush 322 rotates in the clockwise direction. The residual toner remaining on the surface of the transfer belt 134 is wiped off by being pressed against the surface of the transfer belt 134.

  A solenoid member 40 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is provided on the outer left side of the casing 31 in order to bring the brush roller 32 into and out of contact with the transfer belt 134. The belt cleaning device 30 can be repositioned between a contact position where the brush roller 32 contacts the transfer belt 134 by forward / reverse driving of the solenoid member 40 and a separation position where the brush roller 32 is separated from the transfer belt 134. It is said that.

  The voltage application roller 33 removes residual toner held by the fur brush 322 of the brush roller 32 removed from the surface of the transfer belt 134 by an electrostatic attraction force. The surface is disposed in contact with the tip of the brush roller 323. The voltage application roller 33 includes a metal roller shaft 331 that is parallel to the brush shaft 321 and a synthetic resin roller body 332 that is a dielectric material that is externally fitted to the roller shaft 331 so as to be integrally rotatable. Yes.

  A high voltage from a power supply device (not shown) is applied to the roller main body 332 via the roller shaft 331, whereby a charge having a polarity opposite to the polarity of the residual toner is formed on the peripheral surface of the roller main body 332. It is like that. By doing so, the residual toner adhering to the fur brush 322 is electrostatically adsorbed on the peripheral surface of the roller body 332, and the fur brush 322 is cleaned.

  In the casing 31, the blade 34 is erected slightly obliquely toward the peripheral surface of the voltage application roller 33 from a position slightly rearward of the center portion in the front-rear direction of the bottom plate 312. The upper end edge of the blade 34 is pressed and abutted against the peripheral surface of the roller body 332, and the voltage application roller 33 rotates around the roller shaft 331 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5 to adhere to the peripheral surface of the roller body 332. The waste toner is scraped off. The scraped-off waste toner is temporarily stored in a waste toner storage space formed behind the blade 34, and then sent to a waste toner collection container (not shown) by driving the spiral feeder 35.

  In the present invention, the horizontal top plate 311b of the casing 31 has a plurality of developments for collecting the developer dropped from the developing devices 22 of the rotary developing device 20 as shown in FIG. An agent recovery port (recovery means) 36 is opened. Four of these developer recovery ports 36 are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction corresponding to the receiving ports 24 of the developing devices 22.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a black developer recovery port 36K corresponding to the receiving port 24 of the black developer 22K is provided in the vicinity of the leftmost end of the horizontal top plate 311b. A cyan developer collecting port 36C corresponding to the receiving port 24 is provided on the right side of the black developer collecting port 36K, and a magenta developer collecting port 36M corresponding to the receiving port 24 of the magenta developing device 22M is used for cyan. The yellow developer recovery port 36Y provided on the right side of the developer recovery port 36C and corresponding to the receiving port 24 of the yellow developer 22Y is adjacent to the right side of the magenta developer recovery port 36M (ie, the top of the horizontal top plate 311b). Near the right end).

  Each developer recovery port 36 (black to yellow developer recovery ports 36K, 36C, 36M, and 36Y) corresponds to each developer 22 (black to yellow developer 22K, 22C, 22R, and 22Y). It is provided for the following reason.

  That is, when the developer from the toner container 18 is replenished to each developing device 22, as shown in FIG. 5, the developing roller 25 of the target developing device 22 is lowered while facing the photosensitive drum 131. The replenishing cylinder 182 is inserted into the notch 242 (FIG. 4) of the closing film 241 of the receiving port 24 of the developing unit 22, but the developer leaks from the replenishing cylinder 182 due to an impact at this time, and the closing film. It may adhere to the surface of 241 or around the receiving port 24.

  The developer adhering around the receiving port 24 is directly above the horizontal top plate 311b of the casing 31 of the belt cleaning device 30 by rotating one batch (90 °) clockwise in FIG. 5 of the rotary developing device 20. The position reaches the position and falls on the horizontal top 311b due to the impact of the rotation of the rotary developing device 20 being stopped.

  Then, in order to collect the developer dropped on the horizontal top plate 311b in the belt cleaning device 30, it corresponds to each receiving port 24 of the black to yellow developing devices 22K, 22C, 22R, 22Y in the horizontal top plate 311b. Black to yellow developer recovery ports 36K, 36C, 36M, and 36Y are provided at the respective positions.

  By doing so, when the developer is supplied from the toner container 18 to the developing device 22 via the supply cylinder 182, the development adhered around the receiving port 24 of the developing device 22 or on the surface side of the closing film 241. Since the developer is recovered in the casing 31 of the belt cleaning device 30 through the developer recovery port 36 of the belt cleaning device 30, the developer is scattered in the device main body 11 to contaminate the image forming environment in the device main body 11. Such an inconvenience is effectively prevented.

  As described above in detail, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment performs an image forming process using the developer replenished from the toner container 18, and the rotation in which the developer is replenished from the toner container 18. Type developing device 20, a photosensitive drum 131 that forms a toner image on the peripheral surface by the developer supplied from the rotary developing device 20, and a photosensitive member to which the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 131 is transferred. A transfer belt 134 disposed below the drum 131 and a photosensitive drum 131 that removes residual toner on the transfer belt 134 after the toner image on the transfer belt 134 is transferred to a sheet and performs a cleaning process. And a belt cleaning device 30 provided immediately below the position facing the rotary developing device 20.

  According to this configuration, a toner image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131 by supplying the developer from the rotary developing device 20 toward the rotating photosensitive drum 131, and this toner image Is transferred to a transfer belt 134 disposed below the photosensitive drum 131. After the transfer process, the transfer belt 134 is subjected to a cleaning process by the belt cleaning device 30, whereby residual toner remaining on the transfer belt 134 is removed.

  Since the belt cleaning device 30 is configured to receive the developer dropped from the rotary developing device 20, the belt cleaning device 30 leaks or rotates when the developer is supplied from the toner container 18 to the rotary developing device 20. The developer that leaks or drops downward when the developer is supplied from the photosensitive developing device 20 to the photosensitive drum 131 is received by the belt cleaning device 30 at the lower portion and collected. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of inconvenience that the developer dropped from the rotary developing device 20 is scattered in the image forming apparatus 10 and the image forming environment to be cleaned is contaminated with toner.

  As described above, by providing the belt cleaning device 30 with a function of collecting the developer dropped from the rotary developing device 20, it is not necessary to separately provide a device for collecting the fallen toner. Thus, the image forming environment in the image forming apparatus 10 can be prevented from being contaminated by the scattered developer, and an appropriate image forming process can be executed.

  Further, the belt cleaning device 30 includes a casing 31 having a top plate 311 facing a position where the photosensitive drum 131 and the rotary developing device 20 face each other, and the top plate 311 receives the developer dropped from the developing device. Since the developer recovery port 36 leading into the casing 31 is opened, the toner dropped from the rotary developing device 20 passes through the developer recovery port 36 provided on the top plate 311 of the casing 31 of the belt cleaning device 30. It can be recovered into the casing 31.

  In this way, by providing the developer recovery port 36 that receives the developer dropped from the developing device and guides it into the casing 31 on the top plate 311 of the casing 31 of the belt cleaning device 30, the dropped developer of the belt cleaning device 30 is removed. Since the structure to collect becomes simple, it can contribute to the reduction of the manufacturing cost of the belt cleaning apparatus 30.

  The rotary developing device 20 can rotate around a frame shaft 211 parallel to the drum center of the photosensitive drum 131 and is filled with a plurality of types of developer replenished from each of the plurality of toner containers 18. In this embodiment, the developing unit 22 (four units of black to yellow developing units 22K, 22C, 22R, and 22Y) is provided, so that the rotary developing device 20 is rotated around the frame axis 211. Thus, each of the black to yellow developing devices 22K, 22C, 22R, and 22Y, which are mounted on the rotary developing device 20 and filled with different color developers, sequentially face the photosensitive drum 131, and Developer from the developing device 22 is supplied to the photosensitive drum 131.

  Each time a toner image of a different color is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131, the toner image is transferred onto the transfer belt 134 in a state of being overlaid. A color image is printed on the paper by forming and transferring the color image onto the paper.

  Since each developing device 22 mounted on the rotary developing device 20 rotates, for example, when the developer from the toner container 18 is replenished to the developing device 22, the developing device 22 leaks and adheres to the outside of the developing device 22. The developer tends to easily fall due to an impact at the start and stop of rotation of the developing device 22, but the dropped developer is captured and collected by the belt cleaning device 30 disposed below the developing device 22. Therefore, contamination due to the scattering of the developer in the image forming apparatus 10 can be effectively prevented.

  Further, the rotary developing device 20 includes a rotating frame body 21 that supports a plurality of developing devices 22 that are supported so as to be concentrically rotatable about the frame shaft 211 around the frame shaft 211, and the developing device 22 includes: A cross-sectional view cut along a plane perpendicular to the axis of the frame shaft 211 in the state where the rotary frame 21 is mounted is formed in a circular arc casing 210 having a fan shape, and an arc surface of the circular arc casing 210. The toner container 18 has a receiving port 24 for receiving the developer replenished from the toner container 18, and a closing film 241 having a notch 242 covering the receiving port 24, and the toner container 18 passes through the notch 242 of the closing film 241. The replenishing cylinder 182 is provided.

  According to such a configuration, since the arc-shaped casing 210 is supported around the frame axis 211 of the rotatable rotating frame body 21, the plurality of developing units 22 are supported by the rotating frame body 21. The developing device 20 has a cylindrical shape as a whole. Accordingly, the rotary developing device 20 is suppressed from being bulky and can be rotated around the frame axis 211 without interfering with other devices, which contributes to the downsizing of the image forming apparatus 10.

  A receiving port 24 for receiving the developer replenished from the toner container 18 is formed on the circular arc surface of the arc-shaped casing 210, and a closing film 241 having a notch 242 covering the receiving port 24 is formed in the receiving port 24. Further, since the notch 242 is provided in the closing film 241, the developer from the toner container 18 is supplied by inserting the supply cylinder 182 of the toner container 18 into the notch 242 of the closing film 241. The developer 22 is replenished through the cylindrical body 182.

  As described above, the developing device 22 includes the arc-shaped casing 210, the receiving port 24 that receives the developer formed on the arc surface of the arc-shaped casing 210, and the closing film 241 that includes the notch 242 that covers the receiving port 24. With this configuration, the developer sent from the toner container 18 can be easily supplied to the developing device 22 through the supply cylinder 182 inserted through the cut 242 of the closing film 241 and at the time of non-supply. Since the notch 242 of the closing film 241 is closed, leakage of the developer can be prevented.

  The belt cleaning device 30 includes a brush roller 32 provided with a fur brush 322 in which brush bristles are implanted around the brush shaft 321 and the residual toner on the transfer belt 134 is removed by rotation around the brush shaft 321. Comes into contact with the fur brush 322 and a voltage application roller 33 to which a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the residual toner is applied, a blade 34 for scraping off the toner adhering to the peripheral surface of the voltage application roller 33, and scraping by the blade 34. And a spiral feeder 35 for carrying out the residual toner to the outside.

  According to such a configuration of the belt cleaning device 30, residual toner remaining on the transfer belt 134 is removed by the fur brush 322 by causing the fur brush 322 to contact the transfer belt 134 while rotating around the brush shaft 321. Then, the transfer belt 134 is subjected to a wiping process. The residual toner adhering to the fur brush 322 is brought into contact with the voltage application roller 33 to which a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the residual toner is applied. Therefore, the residual toner on the fur brush 322 is electrostatically attracted. Transition to the peripheral surface of the voltage application roller 33. The residual toner transferred to the peripheral surface of the voltage application roller 33 is scraped off by the blade 34 and discharged to the outside by driving the spiral feeder 35.

  As described above, the belt cleaning device 30 includes the fur brush 322, the voltage application roller 33 whose peripheral surface is in contact with the fur brush 322, and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the residual toner is applied, and the circumference of the voltage application roller 33. By including a blade 34 that scrapes off toner adhering to the surface and a spiral feeder 35 that carries out the residual toner scraped off by the blade 34 to the outside, the belt cleaning device 30 always ensures residual toner from the transfer belt 134. Therefore, it is possible to ensure a clean state of the transfer belt 134 before the toner image on the photosensitive drum 131 is transferred.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and includes the following contents.

  (1) In the above embodiment, a printer is described as an example of the image forming apparatus 10, but the present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus 10 being a printer. It may be a device or the like.

  (2) In the above embodiment, a color machine capable of color printing has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus 10, but the present invention is limited to the image forming apparatus 10 being a color machine. Instead, it may be a monochrome machine for printing in black.

1A and 1B are external perspective views showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in which FIG. 3A is a state in which a maintenance lid is closed, FIG. 3B is a state in which a maintenance lid is opened, and FIG. These show a state where the maintenance lid is opened and the toner container is removed. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view illustrating an embodiment of an internal structure of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state before the belt cleaning device is assembled at a normal position with respect to the rotary developing device. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the belt cleaning device is assembled at a normal position with respect to the rotary developing device. It is the VV sectional view taken on the line of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 101 Discharge conveyance path 102 Discharge roller pair 11 Apparatus main body 110 Front opening 111 Side plate 112 Maintenance lid 12 Paper feed part 121 Paper cassette 122 Manual feed tray 122a Support shaft 123 Pickup roller 124 Registration roller pair 13 Image forming part 131 Photosensitive Body drum 132 charging roller 133 exposure device 134 transfer belt (intermediate transfer body)
134a Drive roller 134b Driven roller 134c Idle roller 134d Biasing member 135 Primary transfer roller 136 Secondary transfer roller 137 Drum cleaning device 14 Fixing unit 141 Fixing roller 142 Pressure roller 143 Discharge roller pair 15 Discharge destination switching unit 151 Return roller 152 Return Conveying path 16 Discharge portion 161 Discharge tray 162 Discharge outlet 17 Base 18 Toner container 18K Container for black 18C Container for cyan 18M Container for magenta 18Y Container for yellow 181 Conveying pipe 182 Supply cylinder 182K Supply cylinder for black 182C Cyan Supply cylinder 182M Magenta supply cylinder 182Y Yellow supply cylinder 20 Rotary developing device 21 Rotating frame (circular frame)
210 Arc-shaped casing 211 Frame axis (horizontal axis)
212 Partition plate 22 Developing unit 22K Black developing unit 22C Cyan developing unit 22M Magenta developing unit 22Y Yellow developing unit 23 Support disk 24 Entrance 241 Closing film 242 Cut 25 Developing roller 251 Stirring member 30 Belt cleaning device (cleaning) apparatus)
31 Casing (recovery means)
311 Top plate (collection means)
311a Rear inclined top plate 311b Horizontal top plate 311c Front inclined top plate 312 Bottom plate 313 Side plate 32 Brush roller 321 Brush shaft 322 Fur brush 33 Voltage application roller 331 Roller shaft 332 Roller body 34 Blade 35 Spiral feeder (unloading means)
36 Developer collection port (collection means)
36K Black developer recovery port 36C Cyan developer recovery port 36M Magenta developer recovery port 36Y Yellow developer recovery port 40 Solenoid member P Paper S1 Closed posture S2 Opened posture

Claims (5)

In an image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing using a developer replenished from a toner container,
A developing device in which a developer is replenished from the toner container;
A photosensitive drum for forming a toner image on the peripheral surface by the developer supplied from the developing device;
An intermediate transfer member disposed below the photosensitive drum to which a toner image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred;
After the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is transferred to the paper, the residual toner on the intermediate transfer member is removed and cleaning is performed. With equipment,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device includes a collecting unit that can receive the developer dropped from the developing device. The collecting means includes a casing of the cleaning device having a top plate facing a position facing the photosensitive drum and the developing device below.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a developer recovery port that receives the developer dropped from the developing device and guides the developer into the casing is opened on the top plate.   The developing device includes a plurality of developing devices that are rotatable about a horizontal axis parallel to a drum center of the photosensitive drum and that are filled with a plurality of types of developer replenished from each of a plurality of toner containers. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a rotary developing device. The rotary developing device includes a circular frame that supports the plurality of developing devices that are rotatably supported concentrically around the horizontal axis,
The developing device has an arc-shaped casing that has a fan shape in a sectional view cut along a plane perpendicular to the axis of the horizontal axis in a state of being mounted on the circular frame,
A receiving port for receiving a developer replenished from the toner container, formed on an arc surface of the arc-shaped casing;
A closing film with a notch covering the receiving port,
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the toner container replenishes the developer via a replenishing cylinder that is inserted into the cutout of the closing film. The cleaning device includes a fur brush in which brush bristles are implanted around a brush axis, and the residual toner of the intermediate transfer member is removed by rotation around the brush axis.
A voltage application roller having a peripheral surface in contact with the fur brush and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the residual toner;
A blade that scrapes off toner adhering to the peripheral surface of the voltage application roller;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a discharge unit configured to discharge the residual toner scraped off by the blade to the outside.

Images