JP2008309817A - Driving device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a driving device that has a drive source for driving a recovered toner stirring member for stirring recovered toner in a recovered toner storage and achieves the drive of a toner image carrier at a stable driving speed while avoiding an increase in the cost and size of the device, and to provide an image forming apparatus that has a driving device. <P>SOLUTION: A stir gear 128 that transmits drive to a stir plate 124 serving as the recovered toner stirring member is a drive source that drives a fixing gear 34g and a paper ejection gear 37g. The stir gear 128 receives a driving force from a second drive source 202, which is a drive source different from a first drive source 201 that is a drive source for an intermediate rotation drive gear 18g. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a drive device including a drive source that transmits drive to a collected toner stirring member that stirs collected toner in a collected toner storage portion, and an image forming apparatus including the drive device.

  Conventionally, a toner image carrier such as a photosensitive member as a latent image carrier or an intermediate transfer belt as an intermediate transfer member passes through a transfer portion that transfers a toner image carried on the surface to an intermediate transfer member or a recording member. There is untransferred toner that remains without being transferred to the surface. This transfer residual toner is recovered by a cleaning device as transfer residual toner recovery means, and the recovered toner is stored as a waste toner in a waste toner recovery container which is a recovery toner storage unit.

  As an image forming apparatus provided with this type of waste toner collection container, Patent Document 1 discloses a toner inlet portion connected to a cleaning mechanism and a collected toner stirring member for stirring toner put into the waste toner collection container. What is provided is described. The waste toner collection container described in Patent Document 1 drives the collected toner agitating member to disperse the toner introduced from the toner inlet portion in the waste toner collection container, and the introduced toner is contained in the waste toner collection container. It is prevented from depositing only around the toner inlet. In this waste toner collection container, toner is scattered and accumulated, and when the waste toner collection container becomes full, it is removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus and replaced.

  In the driving device of the image forming apparatus provided with the collected toner stirring member, if the drive source for driving the collected toner stirring member is a drive source independent of other members used in image formation, the drive dedicated to the collected toner stirring member Providing a source leads to high costs. Further, a space for providing a driving source such as a motor in the driving device is increased, leading to an increase in the size of the driving device and an image forming apparatus including the driving device.

  In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the drive source of the intermediate transfer belt, which is a toner image carrier, and the drive source of the collected toner stirring member are the same drive source. In this way, the drive source for the collected toner stirring member is made the same as the drive source for the other members, so that a dedicated drive source for the collected toner stirring member becomes unnecessary. For this reason, it is possible to improve the problem of high cost and increase in the size of the apparatus by providing a drive source dedicated to the collected toner stirring member.

JP 2002-108035 A

However, since the amount of toner in the waste toner collecting container varies, the driving load for driving the collected toner stirring member also varies, so the driving load of the driving source also varies. When the driving load of the driving source varies, the driving speed of the member that receives the driving force from the driving source may vary.
When the drive source of the collected toner stirring member and the intermediate transfer belt are the same, the drive speed of the intermediate transfer belt varies due to the fluctuation of the drive load of the collected toner stirring member. When the drive speed of the intermediate transfer belt varies, the relative speed between the intermediate transfer belt and the recording medium at the recording medium transfer section that transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium varies, and the length of the image in the conveyance direction of the recording medium Fluctuates and adversely affects image quality.
The same problem occurs if the toner image carrier is not limited to the intermediate transfer belt and can transmit a driving force from the same driving source as the collected toner stirring member.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a drive source for driving a recovered toner agitating member for agitating the recovered toner in the recovered toner storage portion, which increases the cost and apparatus. And a driving device capable of driving a toner image carrier at a stable driving speed while suppressing an increase in size of the toner, and an image forming apparatus including the driving device.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is directed to an image carrier that transmits a driving force to a toner image carrier that carries an endlessly carried toner image formed on an image forming means for forming a toner image. A driving member and a fixing driving member for transmitting a driving force to a fixing unit for fixing the toner image on the recording body to which the toner image is transferred by the recording body transferring unit for transferring the toner image on the toner image carrier onto the recording body. A discharge driving member that transmits driving to a discharge unit that discharges the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit to the outside of the image forming apparatus; and the toner image without being transferred to the recording body by the recording unit transfer unit Collected toner agitator for transmitting drive to a collected toner agitating member for agitating the collected toner in the collected toner containing portion for collecting the collected toner collected by the transfer residual toner collecting means for collecting the transfer residual toner remaining on the carrier. In the driving device having the driving member, the collected toner stirring driving member is the same as the driving source for driving at least one of the fixing driving member or the discharging driving member, and the driving source of the image carrier driving member. Is characterized in that the driving force is transmitted from different driving sources.
The invention according to claim 2 is the drive device according to claim 1, further comprising: a stirring gear as the collected toner stirring drive member, a fixing gear as the fixing drive member, and a discharge gear as the discharge drive member. The agitation gear is interlocked with at least one of the fixing gear and the paper discharge gear via an endless belt-like drive belt.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the driving device of the second aspect, any one of the fixing gear, the paper discharge gear, or a gear that is gear-coupled to at least one of the fixing gear and the paper discharge gear. A first rotating member that rotates together with the gear on the same rotating shaft, and a second rotating member that rotates together with the stirring connecting gear on the same rotating shaft as the stirring connecting gear gear-connected to the stirring gear. The first rotating member and the second rotating member are stretch members that stretch the drive belt.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the driving device according to the second aspect, the fixing gear and the paper discharge gear are gear-coupled via at least one gear, and between the fixing gear and the paper discharge gear. At least one of the gears is a shock absorbing gear made of a shock absorbing material, and one of the gears constituting the gear connection from the shock absorbing gear to the paper discharge gear is a belt interlocking gear via the stirring gear and the driving belt. Are linked to each other.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the driving device of the fourth aspect, the first rotating member that rotates together with the belt interlocking gear on the same rotation shaft as the belt interlocking gear, and the stirring coupling gear that is gear-coupled to the stirring gear. And a second rotating member that rotates together with the agitation connecting gear on the same rotating shaft, and the first rotating member and the second rotating member are tension members that stretch the drive belt. It is what.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the driving device of the third or fifth aspect, the agitation connecting gear can be separated from the agitation gear.
The invention according to claim 7 is the drive device according to claim 1, further comprising: a stirring gear as the collected toner stirring drive member; a fixing gear as the fixing drive member; and a discharge gear as the discharge drive member. The fixing gear and the paper discharge gear are gear-connected through at least one gear, and one of the gears constituting the gear connection from the fixing gear to the paper discharge gear is interlocked with the stirring gear. The agitation interlocking gear is characterized in that the agitation interlocking gear is the gear having the largest reduction ratio among the gears constituting the gear connection from the fixing gear to the discharge gear.
Further, the invention of claim 8 is directed to an image forming means for forming a toner image, a toner image carrier that carries the toner image formed by the image forming means on the surface and moves endlessly, and a toner image carrier on the toner image carrier. Recording body transfer means for transferring a toner image onto a recording body, fixing means for fixing the toner image on the recording body to which the toner image has been transferred by the recording body transfer means, and recording in which the toner image is fixed by the fixing means A discharge means for discharging the body to the outside of the apparatus; a transfer residual toner recovery means for recovering a transfer residual toner that remains on the toner image carrier without being transferred to the recording body by the recording body transfer means; and the transfer residual toner In an image forming apparatus having a recovered toner storage portion for storing the recovered toner recovered by the recovery means, and a recovered toner stirring member for stirring the recovered toner in the recovered toner storage portion, the toner image carrier, the fixing means, The discharge Stage, and is characterized in that a drive device according to claim 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 as a driving means for transmitting a drive to the recovery toner stirring member.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming means for forming a toner image, a toner image carrier that supports the toner image formed by the image forming means on the surface and moves endlessly, and a toner image carrier on the toner image carrier. Recording body transfer means for transferring a toner image onto a recording body, fixing means for fixing the toner image on the recording body to which the toner image has been transferred by the recording body transfer means, and recording in which the toner image is fixed by the fixing means A discharge means for discharging the body to the outside of the apparatus; a transfer residual toner recovery means for recovering a transfer residual toner that remains on the toner image carrier without being transferred to the recording body by the recording body transfer means; and the transfer residual toner A recovery toner storage portion for storing the recovered toner recovered by the recovery means; and a recovery toner agitating member for stirring the recovery toner in the recovery toner storage portion, the recovery toner storage portion being detachable from the apparatus main body Image forming apparatus The drive device according to claim 6 is provided as drive means for transmitting drive to the toner image carrier, the fixing means, the discharge means, and the collected toner agitating member, and the collected toner containing portion is attached to the apparatus main body. When attaching and detaching, the agitation connecting gear is separated from the agitation gear.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eighth or ninth aspect, the toner image carrier has the latent image formed on the latent image carrier by the latent image forming means developed by the developing means. An intermediate transfer member to which the toner image is transferred, carrying the toner image, transported to a recording member transfer portion facing the recording member, and transferring the toner image onto the recording member by the recording member transfer means at the recording member transfer portion. It is characterized by being.

  In the first to tenth aspects of the present invention, the recovery toner agitation drive member receives the drive force from the same drive source that drives at least one of the fixing drive member or the discharge drive member. A drive source dedicated to the toner stirring member is not required. Further, since the driving force is transmitted to the collected toner agitation driving member from a driving source different from the driving source of the image carrier driving member, the driving speed of the image carrier driving member is changed by the fluctuation of the driving load of the collected toner agitating member. Will not fluctuate.

  According to the first to tenth aspects of the present invention, since a drive source dedicated to the collected toner stirring member is not required, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost and size of the drive device, and an image can be obtained even if the drive load of the collected toner stirring member varies. Since the driving speed of the carrier driving member does not vary, there is an excellent effect that the toner image carrier can be driven at a stable driving speed.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electrophotographic printer (hereinafter simply referred to as a printer 100) will be described as an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
First, the basic configuration of the printer 100 will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the printer 100. In FIG. 1, a printer 100 includes four process units 1K, Y, M, and C for forming toner images of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan (hereinafter referred to as K, Y, M, and C). Yes. These use different colors of K, Y, M, and C toners as image forming materials, but otherwise have the same configuration and are replaced when the lifetime is reached.
Taking a process unit 1K for forming a K toner image as an example, a drum-shaped photosensitive member 2K as a latent image carrier, a drum cleaning device 3K, a charge eliminating device (not shown), a charging device 4K, and a developing device as a developing means. 5K etc. The process unit 1K, which is an image forming unit, is detachable from the printer 100, so that consumable parts can be replaced at a time.

  The charging device 4K uniformly charges the surface of the photoreceptor 2K that is rotated clockwise in the drawing by a driving unit (not shown). The uniformly charged surface of the photosensitive member 2K is exposed and scanned by the laser beam L and carries an electrostatic latent image for K. The electrostatic latent image for K is developed into a K toner image by a developing device 5K using K toner (not shown). The K toner used in the developing device 5K is supplied from a toner bottle 6K as a supply toner container that stores unused K toner. The toner image formed on the photoreceptor 2K is intermediately transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt 16 as an intermediate transfer body. The drum cleaning device 3K removes the transfer residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor 2K after the intermediate transfer process. Further, the static eliminator neutralizes residual charges on the photoreceptor 2K after cleaning. By this charge removal, the surface of the photoreceptor 2K is initialized and prepared for the next image formation. Similarly, in the other color process units 1 (Y, M, C), a (Y, M, C) toner image is formed on the photoreceptor 2 (Y, M, C), and the intermediate transfer belt 16 is formed. Intermediate transfer.

  An optical writing unit 70 is disposed above the process unit 1 (K, Y, M, C) in the vertical direction. The optical writing unit 70, which is a latent image writing device, uses the laser light L emitted from the laser diode based on the image information, and the photoreceptor 2 (K, Y, M) in the process unit 1 (K, Y, M, C). , C) is optically scanned. By this optical scanning, electrostatic latent images for K, Y, M, and C are formed on the photoreceptor 2 (K, Y, M, and C). The optical writing unit 70 is a photosensitive member that passes through a plurality of optical lenses and mirrors while polarizing a laser beam (L) emitted from a light source in a main scanning direction by a polygon mirror that is rotationally driven by a polygon motor (not shown). Is irradiated. You may employ | adopt what performs optical writing by the LED light emitted from several LED of the LED array.

  Below the process unit 1 (K, Y, M, C), there is disposed a transfer unit 15 that moves the endless intermediate transfer belt 16 endlessly in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing while stretching. . In addition to the intermediate transfer belt 16, the transfer unit 15 serving as a transfer unit includes a medium transfer driving roller 18, a medium transfer driven roller 17, four primary transfer rollers 19 (Y, M, C, K), and a secondary transfer roller 20. A belt cleaning device 21, a cleaning backup roller 22, and the like.

  The intermediate transfer belt 16 is stretched by a medium transfer driving roller 18, a medium transfer driven roller 17, a cleaning backup roller 22, and four primary transfer rollers 19 (Y, M, C, K) disposed inside the loop. ing. Then, it is moved endlessly in the same direction by the rotational force of the intermediate transfer driving roller 18 that is driven to rotate counterclockwise in the drawing by a driving means (not shown).

  The four primary transfer rollers 19 (Y, M, C, K) sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 16 moved endlessly in this manner between the photoreceptors 2 (Y, M, C, K). By this sandwiching, primary transfer nips for Y, M, C, and K where the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 16 and the photoreceptors 2 (Y, M, C, and K) abut are formed.

  A primary transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer roller 19 (Y, M, C, K) by a transfer bias power source (not shown), whereby the electrostatic force of the photoreceptor 2 (Y, M, C, K) is applied. A transfer electric field is formed between the latent image and the primary transfer roller 19 (Y, M, C, K).

  When the K toner formed on the surface of the photoconductor 2K of the K process unit 1K enters the K primary transfer nip as the photoconductor 2K rotates, the K toner is transferred onto the photoconductor 2K by the action of a transfer electric field or nip pressure. To the intermediate transfer belt 16. The intermediate transfer belt 16 onto which the K toner image has been primarily transferred in this way passes through the primary transfer nips for Y, C, and M along with the endless movement thereof, so that the image on the photoreceptors 2Y, M, and C is transferred. The Y, M, and C toner images are sequentially superimposed and primarily transferred. A four-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 16 by the primary transfer of the superposition.

  The secondary transfer roller 20 of the transfer unit 15 is disposed outside the loop of the intermediate transfer belt 16, and the intermediate transfer belt 16 is sandwiched between the intermediate transfer driving roller 18 inside the loop. By this sandwiching, a secondary transfer nip where the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 16 and the secondary transfer roller 20 abut is formed. A secondary transfer bias is applied to the secondary transfer roller 20 by a transfer bias power source (not shown). By this application, a secondary transfer electric field is formed between the secondary transfer roller 20 and the driven roller connected to the ground.

  Below the transfer unit 15 in the vertical direction, a paper feed cassette 30 that stores a plurality of recording papers P as recording media in a bundle of paper is slidably attached to the housing of the printer 100. Has been. In the paper feed cassette 30, a paper feed roller 30a is brought into contact with the top recording paper P of the paper bundle, and the recording paper P is rotated by rotating it in a counterclockwise direction in the drawing at a predetermined timing. To the paper feed path 31.

  A registration roller pair 32 is disposed near the end of the paper feed path 31. The registration roller pair 32 stops the rotation of both rollers as soon as the recording paper P delivered from the paper feed cassette 30 is sandwiched between the rollers. Then, rotation driving is restarted at a timing at which the sandwiched recording paper P can be synchronized with the four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 16 in the above-described secondary transfer nip, and the recording paper P is directed to the secondary transfer nip. Send it out.

  The four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 16 brought into intimate contact with the recording paper P at the secondary transfer nip is batch-transferred onto the recording paper P under the influence of the secondary transfer electric field and nip pressure, and the recording paper Combined with the white color of P, a full color toner image is obtained. The recording paper P having the full-color toner image formed on the surface in this way is separated from the secondary transfer roller 20 and the intermediate transfer belt 16 by curvature when passing through the secondary transfer nip. Then, the toner is fed into a fixing device 34 described later via a post-transfer conveyance path 33.

  The transfer residual toner that has not been transferred to the recording paper P adheres to the intermediate transfer belt 16 after passing through the secondary transfer nip. This is cleaned from the belt surface by a belt cleaning device 21 in contact with the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 16. The cleaning backup roller 22 disposed inside the loop of the intermediate transfer belt 16 backs up the cleaning of the belt by the belt cleaning device 21 from the inside of the loop.

  The fixing device 34 forms a fixing nip by a fixing roller 34a containing a heat source such as a halogen lamp (not shown) and a pressure roller 34b that rotates while contacting the fixing roller 34a with a predetermined pressure. The recording paper P fed into the fixing device 34 is sandwiched between the fixing nips such that the unfixed toner image carrying surface is brought into close contact with the fixing roller 34a. Then, the toner in the toner image is softened by the influence of heating and pressurization, and the full color image is fixed.

  The recording paper P discharged from the fixing device 34 passes through the post-fixing conveyance path 35 and then reaches the branch point between the paper discharge path 36 and the pre-reversal conveyance path 41. On the side of the post-fixing conveyance path 35, a switching claw 42 that is rotationally driven around a rotation shaft 42a is disposed. By the rotation, the vicinity of the end of the post-fixing conveyance path 35 is closed. Or open. At the timing when the recording paper P is sent out from the fixing device 34, the switching claw 42 stops at the rotational position indicated by the solid line in the drawing, and the vicinity of the end of the post-fixing conveyance path 35 is opened. Therefore, the recording paper P enters the paper discharge path 36 from the conveyance path 35 after fixing, and is sandwiched between the rollers of the paper discharge roller pair 37.

  When the single-sided print mode is set by an input operation to an operation unit including a numeric keypad (not shown) or a control signal sent from a personal computer (not shown), the recording sandwiched between the paper discharge roller pair 37 is performed. The paper P is discharged out of the machine as it is. Then, it is stacked on the stack portion that is the upper surface of the upper cover 50 of the housing.

On the other hand, when the duplex printing mode is set, the trailing edge of the recording paper P conveyed through the paper discharge path 36 while the front end is sandwiched between the paper discharge roller pair 37 passes through the post-fixing conveyance path 35. The switching claw 42 rotates to the position indicated by the broken line in the drawing, and the vicinity of the end of the post-fixing conveyance path 35 is closed. At substantially the same time, the paper discharge roller pair 37 starts to rotate in the reverse direction. Then, the recording paper P is conveyed while the rear end side is directed to the top, and enters the pre-reversal conveyance path 41.
The paper discharge roller pair 37 rotates in the reverse direction, enters the pre-reversal conveyance path 41 of the reversing unit 40, and is conveyed from the upper side to the lower side in the vertical direction. Then, after passing between the rollers of the pair of reverse conveying rollers 43, it enters the reverse conveying path 44 that is curved in a semicircular shape. In addition, the upper and lower surfaces are reversed along with the conveyance along the curved shape, and the traveling direction from the upper side in the vertical direction to the lower side is also reversed, and the conveyance is performed from the lower side in the vertical direction toward the upper side. Is done. Thereafter, the toner enters the secondary transfer nip again through the above-described paper feed path 31. Then, after the full-color image is secondarily transferred collectively to the other surface, the post-transfer conveyance path 33, the fixing device 34, the post-fixation conveyance path 35, the paper discharge path 36, and the paper discharge roller pair 37 are sequentially passed. And discharged outside the machine.

In the printer 100, a toner pattern image for color misregistration correction is formed at a predetermined timing in each non-image area of each photoconductor 2 (K, Y, M, C). The pattern image forming means for forming the toner pattern image is composed of the charging device 4, the optical writing unit 70, the developing device 5 and the like as in the case of a normal image, and is controlled by a control unit (not shown). A pattern image is formed in each non-image area of K, Y, M, and C), and primary transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer belt 16. In the printer 100, a reflection sensor 150 as a pattern image detection sensor is disposed at a position facing the intermediate transfer driven roller 17 with the intermediate transfer belt 16 interposed therebetween.
Then, the process unit 1 (K, Y, M, C) uses the toner pattern image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 16 as a mark, and based on the detection result of the reflection sensor 150, the process unit 1 (K, Y, M, C). M, C) executes a color misregistration correction control mode in which the position on the intermediate transfer belt 16 where the toner image is formed is corrected. Thereby, the transfer position with respect to the intermediate transfer belt 16 by the process unit 1 (K, Y, M, C) can be corrected to the target position, and a high-quality image can be formed. The timing for forming the toner pattern image for color misregistration correction is the timing at which a predetermined number of images are formed, the timing at which a predetermined time elapses, or the timing at which the color misregistration correction control mode is manually executed. Etc.

  Between the transfer unit 15 and the paper feed cassette 30, a waste toner collection container 10 as a collected toner storage unit is slidably attached to the housing of the printer 100. The transfer residual toner cleaned from the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 16 by the belt cleaning device 21 is conveyed to a waste toner collection container 10 by a transfer residual toner conveyance unit (not shown), and is used as waste toner. Accumulated within.

The printer 100 as the image forming apparatus is desired to be reduced in size and cost. There is also a need for a user convenience structure. In order to improve user convenience and reduce the number of replacements of the waste toner collection container 10, it is desirable to increase the capacity of the waste toner collection container 10 as much as possible. However, this does not allow the overall size of the printer 100 to be increased. Therefore, the waste toner collection container 10 is often arranged in a form that fills the dead space in the layout of the printer 100.
In the printer 100 according to the present embodiment, the space from the paper feed roller 30a to the secondary transfer roller 20 needs to be separated to some extent due to the conveyance of the recording paper P, and a dead space is easily generated. A toner recovery container 10 is disposed.

As shown in FIG. 1, a stirring plate 124 as a collected toner stirring member is disposed in the waste toner collecting container 10. Then, the eccentric cam 130 rotates around the stirring drive rotating shaft 127, whereby the stirring plate 124 swings, and the toner in the waste toner collecting container 10 is stirred.
FIG. 2 is a perspective explanatory view of the waste toner collecting container 10.
As shown in FIG. 2, the waste toner collection container 10 includes an upper case 121 having a waste toner inlet 120 as a powder inlet, a lower case 122, a waste toner full detection unit 123, and the like. In addition, an agitation gear 128 is provided as a collected toner agitation driving member that transmits a driving force from a driving device provided in the printer 100 main body to the agitation plate 124. The agitation gear 128 is fixed to the agitation drive rotating shaft 127. When the agitation gear 128 rotates, the eccentric cam 130 also rotates, and the agitation plate 124 swings. A waste toner transfer hose (not shown) extending from the belt cleaning device 21 is connected to the waste toner inlet portion 120 as a transfer residual toner conveying means, and the waste toner passes through the waste toner inlet portion 120 and enters the waste toner collection container 10. Is done. The toner introduced from the waste toner inlet 120 is scattered and accumulated in the waste toner collection container 10 as the stirring plate 124 swings. When the waste toner full detection unit 123 detects that the waste toner collection container 10 is full, the user is notified that the waste toner collection container 10 is full, and the waste toner collection container 10 is removed from the printer 100 and replaced. The
In the printer 100, the collected toner stirring member is the swinging stirring plate 124, but the recovered toner stirring member is not limited to the swinging plate-shaped member. For example, it may be a screw-like collected toner agitating member that rotates to convey and scatter the toner in the waste toner collecting container 10 while agitating.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a driving device 200 that drives each driving member of the printer 100. The driving device 200 is disposed on the back side of the printer 100 in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the driving device 200 includes a photosensitive member gear 2 g (Y, M, C, K), an intermediate driving gear 18 g, a fixing gear 34 g, a paper discharge gear 37 g, a driving belt 131, an agitation connecting gear 132, an agitation. A gear 128 and the like are provided.

The photoconductor gears 2g (Y, M, C, K) are provided on the respective photoconductors 2 (Y, M, C) included in the process unit 1 (Y, M, C, K) which is an image forming unit for forming a toner image. , K) is a photosensitive member driving member that transmits the driving force. Further, the intermediate transfer drive gear 18g is transferred with the toner image formed by the process unit 1 (Y, M, C, K) from the photoreceptor 2 (Y, M, C, K), and is carried on the surface to be endless. An image carrier driving gear as an image carrier driving member that transmits a driving force to a intermediate transfer driving roller 18 that is a driving roller of an intermediate transfer belt 16 as an intermediate transfer member that is a moving toner image carrier.
The fixing gear 34g fixes the toner image on the recording paper P to which the toner image is transferred by the secondary transfer roller 20 which is a recording body transfer means for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 16 to the recording paper P which is a recording medium. A fixing driving member that transmits a driving force to at least one of the fixing roller 34a and the pressure roller 34b included in the fixing device 34 that is a fixing unit. The paper discharge gear 37g is a discharge drive member that transmits driving to a pair of paper discharge rollers 37 as a discharge unit that discharges the recording paper P on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 34 to the outside of the printer 100.
The agitation gear 128 collects the collected toner collected by the belt cleaning device 21 that is a transfer residual toner collecting unit that collects the transfer residual toner that is not transferred to the recording paper P by the secondary transfer roller 20 and remains on the intermediate transfer belt 16. This is a collected toner agitation drive member that transmits drive to a stirring plate 124 that is a collected toner agitation member for agitating the collected toner in the waste toner collection container 10 that is a collected toner storage unit.

Next, features of the driving device 200 included in the printer 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.
Reference numerals 201, 202, and 203 shown in FIG. 3 denote drive sources such as motors that can be controlled independently. The first drive source 201 transmits driving force to the black photoconductor gear 2gK and the intermediate transfer drive gear 18g, which are drive members of the black photoconductor 2K on which a black toner image is formed. The second driving source 202 transmits driving force to the fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g. Further, the third drive source 203 is a color photoconductor gear 2g (Y, M, C) which is a drive member of the color photoconductor 2 (Y, M, C) on which a toner image other than black is formed. The driving force is transmitted to
The agitation gear 128 is a drive source that drives the fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g, and a driving force is transmitted from the second drive source 202 that is a drive source different from the drive source of the intermediate transfer drive gear 18g. Is done. The drive force transmission path from the second drive source 202 to the stirring gear 128 is as follows. That is, the driving force of the second drive source 202 is transmitted to the fixing gear 34g by gear connection, and is transmitted to the paper discharge gear 37g via the first idler gear 39 and the second idler gear 38. The driving force transmitted to the paper discharge gear 37g is transmitted to the agitation gear 128 via a first roller 37R, a driving belt 131, a second roller 132R, and an agitation connecting gear 132, which will be described in detail later.
By driving the second drive source 202 in such a configuration that transmits the driving force, the stirring plate 124 can be swung, and the collected toner in the waste toner collecting container 10 can be stirred.

In the driving device 200, the stirring gear 128, which is a collected toner stirring driving member, receives a driving force from a second driving source 202 that is the same driving source as the driving source that drives the fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g. In addition, a dedicated drive source for the stirring plate 124 becomes unnecessary. For this reason, the increase in the cost of the drive device 200 resulting from providing a dedicated drive source for the stirring plate 124 is suppressed, and it is not necessary to secure an arrangement space by providing the dedicated drive source. Furthermore, since the driving force is transmitted to the stirring gear 128 from a driving source different from the first driving source 201 that is the driving source of the intermediate transfer driving gear 18g that is the image carrier driving member, the stirring gear 128 that is the collected toner stirring member The driving speed of the intermediate transfer belt 16 that is a toner image carrier does not fluctuate due to fluctuations in the driving load of the plate 124.
Accordingly, since the drive device 200 does not require a dedicated drive source for the stirring plate 124, the cost and size of the drive device 200 can be suppressed, and the intermediate drive gear 18g can be controlled even if the drive load of the stirring plate 124 varies. Therefore, the intermediate transfer belt 16 can be driven at a stable driving speed.
And the printer 100 provided with such a drive device 200 can suppress the high cost and large size of the printer 100 by suppressing the high cost and large size of the drive device 200. Further, by driving the intermediate transfer belt 16 at a stable driving speed, a change in the driving load of the stirring plate 124 does not affect the image, and good image formation can be performed.
In the driving device 200, the transmission of the driving force from the second driving source 202 to the gear connecting portion including the fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g is transmitted from the fixing gear 34g to the paper discharge gear 37g. Drive is transmitted from the gear 37g to the stirring gear 128. Since the toner image is formed on the recording paper P that reaches the fixing device 34, even if the conveyance speed of the recording paper P by the fixing device 34 or the discharge roller pair 37 changes, The length of the toner image in the transport direction does not vary. That is, in the printer 100 including the driving device 200, the driving load of the stirring plate 124 fluctuates, and the rotational load of the stirring gear 128 fluctuates, whereby the paper discharge gear 37g and the fixing gear 34g that transmit the driving force to the stirring gear 128. Even if the driving speed fluctuates, the length of the image in the transport direction of the toner image on the recording paper P fluctuates and the image quality is not adversely affected.

  In the printer 100, since both the fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g are configured to transmit the driving force from the second driving source 202, the stirring gear 128 also transmits the driving force from the second driving source 202. It has a configuration. When the drive sources that transmit the driving force to the fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g are different drive sources, either one of the drive source of the fixing gear 34g and the drive source of the paper discharge gear 37g. A driving force transmission path is formed so that the driving force is transmitted from the driving source to the stirring gear 128.

In the printer 100, the driving force may be transmitted from the second drive source 202 to the registration gear 32g that transmits driving to the registration roller 32 and the paper feeding gear 30g that transmits driving to the paper feeding roller 30a. . In this case, the gear train to the fixing and discharging side including the fixing gear 34g and the discharging gear 37g and the gear train to the sheet feeding registration side including the sheet feeding gear 30g and the registration gear are used as the rotation shaft of the second drive source 202. So that the gear train is divided. At this time, the gear interlocking with the stirring gear 128 is connected to the gear train to the fixing paper discharge side.
Here, when a gear interlocking with the agitation gear 128 is connected to the gear train toward the paper feed registration side, load fluctuation occurs, and the variation in the connection time of the clutch that controls the driving of the registration roller 32 and the paper feed roller 30a, There is a risk that the clutch will be poorly connected and the image will deteriorate. On the other hand, by connecting a gear interlocking with the agitation gear to the gear train to the fixing paper discharge side, it is possible to avoid the influence on the clutch that controls the driving of the registration roller 32 and the paper feed roller 30a due to load fluctuations. It is possible to prevent the image from deteriorating due to variations in connection time and connection failure.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the stirring gear 128 serves as a driving force transmission path that is linked via a gear connecting portion including a fixing gear 34g and a paper discharge gear 37g and an endless belt-like driving belt 131. .
The fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g are driving members of members constituting the conveyance path of the recording paper P, whereas the stirring plate 124 to which the driving force is transmitted by the stirring gear 128 conveys the recording paper P. Since it is not a member constituting the path, the stirring gear 128 may be far from the fixing gear 34g or the paper discharge gear 37g. In the printer 100, the distances between the fixing gear 34g, the paper discharge gear 37g, and the stirring gear 128 are long, and when the driving force is transmitted by the gear connection, a gear having a large diameter can be arranged. It is necessary to accurately arrange the gears, and problems such as an increase in the size of the drive device 200 and a complicated structure arise.
For such a problem, as shown in FIG. 3, the stirring gear 128 is separated by interlocking with the gear connecting portion including the fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g via the drive belt 131. The gear connection which connects the gear connection part in position and the stirring gear 128 becomes unnecessary. Thereby, space saving can be achieved and cost reduction by reducing the number of members can be achieved. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to arrange many gears with high accuracy, the arrangement can be easily set.

In the driving device 200, on the side of the gear connecting portion including the fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g, the paper discharge gear 37g rotates on the same rotation shaft as the paper discharge gear 37g and rotates as a first rotating member. One roller 37R is provided. Further, on the agitation gear 128 side, a second roller 132R as a second rotating member that rotates while the agitation coupling gear 132 rotates on the same rotation shaft as the agitation coupling gear 132 that is gear-coupled to the agitation gear 128 is provided. . The first roller 37 </ b> R and the second roller 132 </ b> R serve as a tension member for the drive belt 131. With such a configuration, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the agitation gear 128 is interlocked with the gear connecting portion including the fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g via the drive belt 131.
In the printer 100, the first rotating member on the gear connecting portion side including the fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g rotates on the same rotation shaft as the paper discharge gear 37g. Is not limited to one that rotates on the same rotation shaft as the paper discharge gear 37g. The fixing gear 34g and the two idler gears (38, 39) connected to the fixing gear and the paper discharge gear 37g may rotate on the same rotation shaft.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g are gear-connected through a first idler gear 39 and a second idler gear 38. At least one of the first idler gear 39 and the second idler gear 38 is a buffer gear made of an impact absorbing material. In the printer 100, the second idler gear 38 is a buffer gear. The buffer gear is made of a soft material having a lower hardness than other gears, and can absorb vibration caused by a temporary change in driving load while transmitting a steady rotational driving force. As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge gear 37g, which is one of the gears constituting the gear connection from the second idler gear 38, which is a buffer gear, to the discharge gear 37g, The configuration is such that it is linked via a drive belt 131.

When the driving load of the stirring plate 124 fluctuates, the fluctuation of the driving load is transmitted as vibration to the upstream side of the driving force transmission path, and the vibration of the fixing gear 34g is transmitted. Then, this vibration is transmitted to the recording paper P on which the image is being fixed by the fixing device 34, causing nonuniformity in fixability, and nonuniformity corresponding to the vibration period appears on the image, which may cause a problem of deteriorating image quality. .
With respect to such a problem, in the driving device 200, the second idler gear 38 between the paper discharge gear 37g and the fixing gear 34g that transmits driving to the stirring gear 128 via the driving belt 131 is a buffer gear. Vibration transmission to the fixing gear 34g can be greatly reduced. As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of non-uniformity in fixability due to fluctuations in the driving load of the stirring plate 124 and to perform good fixing, and thus it is possible to prevent image quality deterioration that occurs during fixing.

  The driving device 200 includes a first roller 37R that rotates together with the discharge gear 37g on the same rotation shaft as the discharge gear 37g that is a belt interlocking gear that is gear-connected to the fixing gear 34g via the second idler gear 38 that is a buffer gear. The second roller 132R that rotates together with the stirring connection gear 132 on the same rotation shaft as the stirring connection gear 132 that is gear-connected to the stirring gear 128, and the first roller 37R and the second roller 132R stretch the drive belt 131. It is a tension member to hang. With such a configuration, the stirring gear 128 is linked to the gear connecting portion including the fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g via the drive belt 131, and the vibration of the stirring gear 128 adversely affects the fixing property. The structure which can suppress is realizable.

In the driving device 200, the agitation connecting gear 132 can be separated from the agitation gear 128.
The printer 100 includes an opening / closing lid 300 as an exterior cover member that can rotate in the direction of arrow A with the lid rotation shaft 300a as a rotation center, and the waste toner collection container 10 is provided in the printer 100 with the opening / closing lid 300 open. On the other hand, it is configured to be detachable in the direction of arrow B. If the agitation coupling gear 132 and the agitation gear 128 remain gear-coupled when the waste toner collecting container 10 is attached or detached, the agitation coupling gear 132 or the agitation gear 128 may be damaged.
On the other hand, in the driving device 200, when the waste toner collecting container 10 is attached to or detached from the printer 100 main body, the stirring connecting gear 132 is separated from the stirring gear 128. Thereby, when the waste toner collecting container 10 is attached to or detached from the printer 100 main body, the stirring connecting gear 132 or the stirring gear 128 can be prevented from being damaged.

In the driving device 200, the paper discharge gear 37g, which is a stirring interlocking gear, is the gear having the largest reduction ratio among the gears constituting the gear connecting portion from the fixing gear 34g to the paper discharge gear 37g.
Since the drive source that transmits the drive to the agitation gear 128 and the drive source that transmits the drive to the gear connecting portion from the fixing gear 34g to the paper discharge gear 37g are the same second drive source 202, the agitation gear 128 is driven. Since the driving load to be added is added to the second driving source 202, an output loss corresponding to the driving force transmitted to the stirring gear 128 occurs. If this output loss is large, the output required for the second driving source 202 increases. Increasing the output of the second drive source 202 leads to an increase in cost and power consumption due to the use of a drive source with a large output.
On the other hand, in the driving device 200, the discharge gear 37g that transmits the drive to the agitation gear 128 via the drive belt 131 is the most reduced gear among the gears constituting the gear connecting portion from the fixing gear 34g to the discharge gear 37g. A gear with a large ratio is used. By using a gear with a large reduction ratio, output loss due to transmission of drive to the agitation gear 128 can be suppressed, and the output burden required for the second drive source 202 can be reduced.
In FIG. 3, the diameter of the fixing gear 34g is drawn larger, but in the actual machine, the diameters of the paper discharge gear 37g and the fixing gear 34g are different for each apparatus. In the case where the fixing gear 34g is a device having a larger reduction ratio, the output loss caused by driving the stirring plate 124 can be suppressed by transmitting the drive from the fixing gear 34g to the stirring gear 128.

  Further, in the printer 100, the photosensitive member gears 2g (Y, M, C, K) for transmitting driving to the respective photosensitive members 2 (Y, M, C, K) include image carrier driving means and an intermediate transfer belt. The entire transfer unit 15 may be used as a recording material transfer unit, and the drum cleaning device 3 (Y, M, C, K) may be used as a transfer residual toner collection unit. If the transfer residual toner of each color collected by the drum cleaning device 3 (Y, M, C, K) is stored in the waste toner collecting container 10, the stirring gear 128 that is a collected toner stirring driving member is fixed. A photosensitive gear 2g (same as a driving source (second driving source 202) for driving at least one of the fixing gear 34g as a driving member or the paper discharging gear 37g as a discharging driving member and also as an image carrier driving member ( A configuration in which the driving force is transmitted from a driving source different from the driving source (the first driving source 201 or the third driving source 203) of Y, M, C, K) can be realized.

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the toner image carrier that supports the toner image formed by the process unit 1 (K, Y, M, C), which is an image forming unit that forms a toner image, moves endlessly on the surface. An intermediate transfer driving gear 18g that is an image carrier driving member that transmits a driving force to an intermediate transfer belt 16, and a recording medium transfer unit that transfers a toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 16 onto a recording paper P that is a recording medium. A fixing gear 34g that is a fixing driving member that transmits a driving force to a fixing device 34 that is a fixing means for fixing the toner image on the recording paper P on which the toner image has been transferred by a certain secondary transfer roller 20; A paper discharge gear 37g that is a discharge driving member that transmits drive to a pair of paper discharge rollers 37 that discharges the recording paper P on which the image is fixed to the outside of the printer 100 that is an image forming apparatus, and a secondary transfer roller 20 is a waste toner storage unit that stores the recovered toner recovered by the belt cleaning device 21 that is a transfer residual toner recovery unit that recovers the transfer residual toner that is not transferred to the paper P but remains on the intermediate transfer belt 16. In a driving device 200 having an agitation gear 128 that is a recovery toner agitation drive member that transmits drive to an agitation plate 124 that is a recovery toner agitation member that agitates the recovery toner in the toner recovery container 10, the agitation gear 128 is a fixing gear. By transmitting the driving force from the second driving source 202 that drives the 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g, a dedicated driving source for the stirring plate 124 becomes unnecessary. For this reason, the increase in the cost of the drive device 200 resulting from providing a dedicated drive source for the stirring plate 124 is suppressed, and it is not necessary to secure an arrangement space by providing the dedicated drive source. Furthermore, since the driving force is transmitted to the stirring gear 128 from a driving source different from the first driving source 201 that is the driving source of the intermediate transfer driving gear 18g that is the image carrier driving member, the stirring gear 128 that is the collected toner stirring member The driving speed of the intermediate transfer belt 16 that is a toner image carrier does not fluctuate due to fluctuations in the driving load of the plate 124. As a result, the drive device 200 does not require a dedicated drive source for the stirring plate 124. Therefore, the cost and size of the drive device 200 can be suppressed, and even if the drive load of the stirring plate 124 varies, the intermediate drive gear Since the driving speed of 18 g does not fluctuate, the intermediate transfer belt 16 can be driven at a stable driving speed.
The agitation gear 128 has a stirring gear 128 as a collected toner agitation drive member, a fixing gear 34g as a fixing drive member, and a paper discharge gear 37g as a discharge drive member. The agitation gear 128 is a fixing gear 34g or a paper discharge gear 37g. By interlocking with at least one of them through an endless belt-like drive belt 131, even if the distance from the fixing gear 34g or the paper discharge gear 37g to the agitation gear 128 is separated, space can be saved, and the member The driving force from the second driving source 202 can be transmitted to the stirring gear 128 with a configuration that can reduce the cost by reducing the number.
Further, the same as the discharge gear 37g which is one of the fixing gear 34g, the paper discharge gear 37g, or a gear (two idler gears) geared to at least one of the fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g. A first roller 37R that is a first rotating member that rotates together with the paper discharge gear 37g on the rotating shaft, and a second roller that rotates together with the stirring connecting gear 132 on the same rotating shaft as the stirring connecting gear 132 that is gear-connected to the stirring gear 128. Since the first roller 37R and the second roller 132R are tension members that stretch the drive belt 131, the stirring gear 128 and the fixing gear 34g are ejected. A configuration can be realized in which the gear connecting portion including the gear 37g is linked via the drive belt 131.
The fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g are gear-connected as at least one gear via a first idler gear 39 and a second idler gear 38, and a second gear that is a gear between the fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g. The idler gear 38 is a shock absorbing material made of a shock absorbing material, and the paper discharge gear 37g, which is one of the gears constituting the gear connection from the second idler gear 38 made of a shock absorbing gear to the paper discharge gear 37g, serves as a belt interlocking gear. By interlocking with the agitation gear 128 and the driving belt 131, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of uneven fixing properties due to fluctuations in the driving load of the agitation plate 124, and to perform good fixing. Deterioration of image quality that sometimes occurs can be prevented.
Also, the first roller 37R as a first rotating member that rotates together with the paper discharge gear 37g on the same rotation shaft as the paper discharge gear 37g that is a belt interlocking gear, and the same as the stirring connection gear 132 that is gear-connected to the stirring gear 128. A second roller 132R that is a second rotating member that rotates together with the agitation connecting gear 132 on the rotating shaft, and the first roller 37R and the second roller 132R are tension members that stretch the drive belt 131; The agitation gear 128 is linked to the gear connecting portion including the fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g via the drive belt 131, so that the vibration of the agitation gear 128 can be prevented from adversely affecting the fixing property. Can be realized.
Further, since the stirring connecting gear 132 can be separated from the stirring gear 128, the stirring connecting gear 132 or the stirring gear 128 is damaged when the waste toner collecting container 10 is attached to and detached from the printer 100 main body. Can be prevented.
Further, it has a stirring gear 128 as a collected toner stirring drive member, a fixing gear 34g as a fixing drive member, and a paper discharge gear 37g as a discharge drive member. The fixing gear 34g and the paper discharge gear 37g are at least one. The discharge gear 37g, which is one of the gears constituting the gear connection from the fixing gear 34g to the discharge gear 37g, is connected through the first idler gear 39 and the second idler gear 38 as gears. The discharge gear 37g, which is an agitation interlocking gear, is the gear having the largest reduction ratio among the gears constituting the gear connection from the fixing gear 34g to the discharge gear 37g. It is possible to suppress output loss due to transmission of drive to 128, and to reduce the output burden required for the second drive source 202. Come.
In addition, since the printer 100 as the image forming apparatus includes the driving device 200 as a driving unit, the cost and size of the printer 100 can be prevented from being increased by suppressing the cost and size of the driving device 200 from being increased. . Further, by driving the intermediate transfer belt 16 at a stable driving speed, a change in the driving load of the stirring plate 124 does not affect the image, and good image formation can be performed.
In addition, since the agitation connecting gear 132 can be separated from the agitation gear 128 by the driving device 200, the agitation coupling gear 132 or the agitation gear 128 can be used when the waste toner collecting container 10 is attached to or detached from the printer 100 main body. It is possible to prevent damage.
Further, since the toner image carrier having a drive source different from that of the stirring gear 128 is the intermediate transfer belt 16 as an intermediate transfer member, even if the driving load of the stirring gear 128 fluctuates, the recording conveyed through the paper feed path 31 is performed. It is possible to prevent the relative speed of the paper P and the intermediate transfer belt 16 at the secondary transfer nip from fluctuating, so that good secondary transfer can be performed and good image formation can be performed.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a printer according to an embodiment. Perspective view of waste toner collection container of the printer FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a driving device of the printer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Process unit 2 Photoconductor 2g Photoconductor gear 3 Drum cleaning apparatus 4 Charging apparatus 5 Developing apparatus 10 Waste toner collection container 15 Transfer unit 16 Intermediate transfer belt 17 Intermediate transfer driven roller 18 Intermediate transfer drive roller 18g Intermediate transfer drive gear 19 Primary transfer Roller 20 Secondary transfer roller 21 Belt cleaning device 22 Cleaning backup roller 30 Paper feed cassette 30a Paper feed roller 31 Paper feed path 32 Registration roller pair 33 Post-transfer conveyance path 34 Fixing device 34a Fixing roller 34b Pressure roller 34g Fixing gear 35 Fixing Rear transport path 36 Paper discharge path 37 Paper discharge roller pair 37g Paper discharge gear 37R First roller 38 Second idler gear 39 First idler gear 40 Reverse unit 41 Pre-reverse transport path 42 Switching claw 43 Reverse transport roller pair 44 Reverse transport path 50 Cover 70 Optical writing unit 100 Printer 120 Waste toner inlet portion 124 Stirring plate 127 Stirring drive rotating shaft 128 Stirring gear 130 Eccentric cam 131 Driving belt 132 Stirring connecting gear 132R Second roller 150 Reflection sensor 200 Driving device 201 First driving source 202 Second drive source 203 Third drive source 300 Open / close lid 300a Lid rotation shaft

Claims (10)

An image carrier driving member that transmits a driving force to a toner image carrier that is endlessly moved by carrying a toner image formed on an image forming unit that forms a toner image;
A fixing driving member that transmits a driving force to a fixing unit that fixes the toner image on the recording body onto which the toner image has been transferred by the recording body transfer unit that transfers the toner image on the toner image carrier onto the recording body;
A discharge drive member that transmits drive to a discharge unit that discharges the recording medium on which the toner image has been fixed by the fixing unit to the outside of the image forming apparatus;
The collected toner in the collected toner storage unit that stores the collected toner collected by the transfer residual toner collecting unit that collects the transfer residual toner that is not transferred to the recording material by the recording material transfer unit and remains on the toner image carrier. In a drive device having a collected toner stirring drive member that transmits driving to the collected toner stirring member to be stirred,
The collected toner stirring drive member is the same as the drive source for driving at least one of the fixing drive member or the discharge drive member, and the drive force is transmitted from a drive source different from the drive source of the image carrier drive member. The drive device characterized by the above-mentioned. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein
A stirring gear as the collected toner stirring drive member, a fixing gear as the fixing drive member, and a discharge gear as the discharge drive member;
The drive device characterized in that the agitation gear is linked to at least one of the fixing gear or the paper discharge gear via an endless belt-like drive belt. The drive device according to claim 2, wherein
A first rotating member that rotates together with the gear on the same rotation shaft as any one of the fixing gear, the paper discharge gear, or a gear that is gear-coupled to at least one of the fixing gear and the paper discharge gear;
A second rotating member that rotates together with the stirring connection gear on the same rotation shaft as the stirring connection gear that is gear-connected to the stirring gear;
The drive device, wherein the first rotation member and the second rotation member are tension members that stretch the drive belt. The drive device according to claim 2, wherein
The fixing gear and the paper discharge gear are gear-coupled via at least one gear,
At least one of the gears between the fixing gear and the paper discharge gear is a buffer gear made of a shock absorbing material,
One of the gears constituting the gear connection from the buffer gear to the paper discharge gear is linked as a belt interlocking gear via the agitation gear and the driving belt. The drive device according to claim 4, wherein
A first rotating member that rotates together with the belt interlocking gear on the same rotational axis as the belt interlocking gear;
A second rotating member that rotates together with the stirring connection gear on the same rotation shaft as the stirring connection gear that is gear-connected to the stirring gear;
The drive device, wherein the first rotation member and the second rotation member are tension members that stretch the drive belt. The drive unit according to claim 3 or 5,
A drive unit characterized in that the agitation connecting gear can be separated from the agitation gear. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein
A stirring gear as the collected toner stirring drive member, a fixing gear as the fixing drive member, and a discharge gear as the discharge drive member;
The fixing gear and the paper discharge gear are gear-coupled via at least one gear,
One of the gears constituting the gear connection from the fixing gear to the paper discharge gear is a stirring interlocking gear that interlocks with the stirring gear,
The drive device characterized in that the agitation interlocking gear is the gear having the largest reduction ratio among the gears constituting the gear connection from the fixing gear to the paper discharge gear. Image forming means for forming a toner image;
A toner image carrier that carries the toner image formed by the image forming means on the surface and moves endlessly;
A recording medium transfer means for transferring a toner image on the toner image carrier onto a recording medium;
Fixing means for fixing the toner image to the recording medium onto which the toner image has been transferred by the recording body transfer means;
Discharging means for discharging the recording medium on which the toner image has been fixed by the fixing means to the outside of the apparatus;
Transfer residual toner collecting means for collecting transfer residual toner remaining on the toner image carrier without being transferred to the recording medium by the recording body transfer means;
A recovered toner storage portion for storing the recovered toner recovered by the transfer residual toner recovery means;
An image forming apparatus having a collected toner agitating member for agitating the collected toner in the collected toner storage unit;
8. A driving device according to claim 1, wherein the driving device transmits driving to the toner image carrier, the fixing unit, the discharging unit, and the collected toner stirring member. An image forming apparatus. Image forming means for forming a toner image;
A toner image carrier that carries the toner image formed by the image forming means on the surface and moves endlessly;
A recording medium transfer means for transferring a toner image on the toner image carrier onto a recording medium;
Fixing means for fixing the toner image to the recording medium onto which the toner image has been transferred by the recording body transfer means;
Discharging means for discharging the recording medium on which the toner image has been fixed by the fixing means to the outside of the apparatus;
Transfer residual toner collecting means for collecting transfer residual toner remaining on the toner image carrier without being transferred to the recording medium by the recording body transfer means;
A recovered toner storage portion for storing the recovered toner recovered by the transfer residual toner recovery means;
A collected toner agitating member for agitating the collected toner in the collected toner storage unit;
In the image forming apparatus in which the collected toner container is detachable from the apparatus main body,
The drive device according to claim 6, comprising: a drive unit that transmits drive to the toner image carrier, the fixing unit, the discharge unit, and the collected toner stirring member,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the agitation connecting gear is separated from the agitation gear when the collected toner accommodating portion is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 or 9,
The toner image carrier has a toner image obtained by transferring the latent image formed by the latent image forming unit on the latent image carrier and developed by the developing unit to carry the toner image and face the recording member. An image forming apparatus comprising: an intermediate transfer member that is transported to a transfer unit and transfers a toner image onto a recording member by the recording member transfer unit in the recording member transfer unit.

Images