JP2010204645A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately detect whether a recovery container is full or not by a simple means after the container is replaced in an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a cleaning device for removing and recovering waste toner on the image carrier; a recovery container for storing waste toner recovered by the cleaning device; at least one conveying member disposed in the recovery container in order to level recovered waste toner; at least one waste toner quantity detecting means for detecting the quantity of waste toner in the recovery container; a conveying member disposed in a waste toner conveying passage in order to convey waste toner from the cleaning device to the recovery container. In the image forming apparatus, the conveying member in the container is driven before driving the conveying member in the passage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer using an electrophotographic system.

  In an electrophotographic copying machine using toner or the like, waste toner (hereinafter referred to as waste toner) is generated because the transfer rate of toner or the like to a recording medium is not 100%. In many electrophotographic copiers, the generated waste toner is collected in a removable collection container located in one place inside the machine, and when the container is full, service personnel and users themselves become full. Replace the collection container with a new one.

  At this time, it is detected whether the collection container is full by a sensor, etc., but in order to prevent overflow of waste toner from the collection container to the inside of the machine, the collection container is not actually full even when full detection is made. In some cases, there is an additional space for further accommodating waste toner.

  However, some users try to use the container for as long as possible without changing to a new container by putting waste toner into the additional space by shaking the container immediately before or after detecting fullness.

  In particular, when the collection container is exchanged during operation of the copying machine, a large amount of waste toner stored in the waste toner conveyance path is discharged into the container after the collection container is exchanged. As a result, the waste toner is clogged inside the machine and damages the waste toner conveying means and the drive system, or the waste toner overflows from the container and soils the machine. In addition, if waste toner is stored up to the top of the container, the waste toner is likely to be scattered when the container or bottle is replaced, and may adhere to the clothes of the room or the user.

In Patent Document 1, in order to prevent waste toner overflow or machine damage due to reuse of a waste toner bottle after waste toner near-end detection, the number of near-end detections for the second and subsequent times is less than the number until normal full, When it is clearly recognized that the waste toner bodle has been reused, the number of sheets that can be printed after the near end is reduced from the first, thereby prompting the user to replace the waste toner bottle at an early stage, and in some cases, stopping the printing operation. Propose that.
However, since the number of printable sheets is set even after the second and subsequent near-end detections, it is actually possible to print only that number.

  In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561, the collection container is exchanged during the operation of the image forming apparatus, but the method for detecting the full state of the collection container is not shown in detail.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to accurately detect whether a container is full after replacing a waste toner collecting container by a simple means in an image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, the object is to provide an image carrier, a cleaning device that removes and collects waste toner on the image carrier, a collection container that contains waste toner collected by the cleaning device, and a collection device. At least one in-container conveying member provided in the recovery container for leveling the waste toner that has been collected, at least one waste toner amount detecting means for detecting the amount of waste toner in the recovery container, and the cleaning An in-path transport member provided in a waste toner transport path for transporting waste toner from the apparatus to the recovery container, before the in-path transport member is driven, the in-container transport member It is solved by driving.

Further, it is preferable that a temporary storage unit for temporarily storing the waste toner is provided between the cleaning device and the collection container.
Further, when the collection container is set in the image forming apparatus main body, it is preferable not to drive the in-path transport member until the in-container transport member is driven for a predetermined time.

Further, it is preferable that the removal of the collection container is locked for a predetermined time during which the in-container conveying member is driven.
Furthermore, it is preferable that a front cover that opens and closes when the collection container is attached and detached is provided, and the front cover is locked for a predetermined time during which the in-container conveyance member is driven.

Further, it is preferable that a full sensor and a near full sensor are provided as waste toner amount detection means.
Furthermore, it is preferable that a warning to the user is displayed on the operation panel or an alarm sound is sounded while the in-container transport member is driven to check whether the collection container is full.

In addition, it is preferable that a drive member connected to and driven by the in-container transport member is provided, and the drive member is also connected to the in-path transport member via a drive contact / separation member.
Further, when the collection container is newly set in the image forming apparatus main body after the collection container is removed, it is preferable to drive the in-container conveyance member before driving the in-path conveyance member.

Further, when the apparatus main body is turned on, it is preferable to drive the in-container transport member before driving the in-path transport member.
Further, the in-container conveying member is provided with wings in the opposite direction from the branching portion toward each end, and the recovery container is provided with a waste toner recovery port at the upper portion of the wing branching portion of the in-container conveying member. And preferred.

According to the present invention, before the waste toner transport path is driven to discharge the waste toner from the waste toner transport path to the collection container, the container transport member is driven, and the waste toner unevenly distributed inside the collection container is removed. Therefore, the toner fullness inside the collection container is detected more accurately. Therefore, it is possible to reliably detect the fullness of the recovery container, and waste toner does not enter the container beyond the capacity of the recovery container, so that overflow of the waste toner from the recovery container is reliably prevented.
Further, when the almost full collection container is set again, fullness is detected, so that the in-path conveyance member is not driven. On the other hand, even when an empty container or a container having a sufficient capacity even if not empty is newly set, the in-container conveyance member is first driven. At this time, fullness is not detected, and therefore the in-path transport member is driven, and the waste toner stored in the waste toner transport path is accommodated in the container.

  Further, according to the present invention, unlike the prior art, after the replacement of the collection container, the amount of waste toner in the collection container is not determined by counting the number of printed sheets from the resumption of printing until the time of full detection again. Since the waste toner level is detected by the sensor after the conveying member in the container is actually driven each time when set, and the waste toner level is detected by the sensor, it is judged whether the collection container is actually full. The accuracy of full detection becomes more accurate, and waste toner is not discharged beyond the capacity limit of the collection container.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a waste toner path and a collection container according to the present invention and a state in which waste toner is accommodated in the container. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where the waste toner path and the collection container of the present invention are uniformly leveled by the in-container conveyance member. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where waste toner is approaching one side of a collection container. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which waste toner that has approached one side of a collection container is leveled by an in-container conveyance member. It is a figure which shows the waste toner path | route of this invention, a collection container, and a temporary storage part. It is a figure which shows a mode that two drive members were connected with these conveyance members for the separate drive of the conveyance member in a path | route in a temporary storage part, and the conveyance member in a container. It is a figure which shows a mode that the one drive member and the drive contact / separation member were connected with these conveyance members for the individual or simultaneous drive of the conveyance member in a path | route and the conveyance member in a container in a temporary storage part. It is a figure which shows a mode that the push switch which contact | abuts a collection container is arrange | positioned in the back | inner side of the setting position of the collection container in an image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The apparatus shown in the figure is provided on the photoreceptor 3 of each image forming station of K (black), Y (yellow), C (cyan), and M (magenta) uniformly charged by a charging roller 4 as a charger. The image read by the scanner 1 is color-separated by the writing device 2 and written for each color to form an electrostatic latent image. For example, a K (black) station will be described. The latent image formed on the photoconductor 3 is developed with the developing device 5 in accordance with the K toner to form a toner image. The developed K toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 7 at a portion where the intermediate transfer belt 7 is in contact with the photosensitive member 3 so as to be sandwiched between the photosensitive member 3 and the primary transfer roller 8. . In this way, a toner image is formed on the photoreceptor 3 in the same manner at each image forming station of Y (yellow), C (cyan), and M (magenta), and the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 7 is formed. The transfer paper is fed from the registration rollers in accordance with the timing of reaching the secondary transfer position, and is transferred onto the transfer paper at once by the secondary transfer roller 10. The transferred transfer paper is transported to the fixing device 11 by the transport belt 9, and the toner image is fixed and discharged as a copy image.

  On the other hand, after the toner 3 has been transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 7, the residual toner is removed by the cleaning device 6, the charge is removed by a charge-removing lamp (not shown), and the charge is again uniformly charged by the charging roller 4. repeat.

  The intermediate transfer belt 7 after the transfer onto the transfer paper is transferred with the toner image again from the photosensitive member 3 onto the intermediate transfer belt 7 after the residual toner is removed by an intermediate transfer belt cleaning device (not shown). The image forming process of transferring all of the images onto transfer paper is repeated.

  On the other hand, residual toner removed from the photoreceptor 3 or the intermediate transfer belt 7, that is, waste toner, is disposed below the image forming apparatus 1 through a waste toner conveyance path (not shown) extending inside the image forming apparatus 1. Then, it is conveyed to a waste toner collecting device (collecting container) 22. The waste toner conveyance path extends from each cleaning device to the lower collection container 22. The collection container 22 is installed above the paper discharge tray, but may be arranged in another space. In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention, a fixed amount of waste toner 19 can be stored in the waste toner conveyance path 20 or the temporary storage unit, and therefore the waste toner 19 from the cleaning device is conveyed while the collection container 22 is being replaced. The printing operation can be continued.

  FIG. 2 shows an enlarged collection container 22 and waste toner conveyance path 20. During the printing operation, the waste toner 19 transported through the waste toner transport path 20 extending from the cleaning device for the photosensitive member and the intermediate transfer belt to the top of the collection container 22 is disposed at the front end portion and the container center portion of the waste toner transport path 20. The toner is accommodated in the collection container 22 through the waste toner collection port. Here, the waste toner conveyance path 20 in front of the collection container 22 is provided with an in-path conveyance member 21 configured as a screw. The in-path conveyance member 21 is rotationally driven by a driving member (see FIG. 7) disposed outside the waste toner conveyance path 20 to convey the waste toner 19 from the left side to the right side in FIG. On the other hand, one or a plurality of in-container transport members 23 configured as screws are provided in the upper portion of the container over the entire width of the container, and the drive disposed outside the recovery container 22 is provided inside the recovery container 22. It is designed to be rotated by a member (see FIGS. 7 and 8). Here, the in-container transport member 23 is provided with wings in the opposite direction from the central portion toward the left and right end portions, and when driven in rotation, the waste toner 19 in the central portion of the container is disposed at the central portion which is a wing branching portion. It is designed to be transported from the end toward the end. Further, since the recovery container is provided with a waste toner recovery port at the upper part of the central portion which is the wing branching portion of the in-container conveying member 23, the waste toner 19 is discharged through the waste toner recovery port. After being dropped from the conveyance path 20 and deposited on the central portion of the collection container 22, the waste toner 19 is conveyed toward the end of the container by the rotational drive of the in-container conveyance member 23 and leveled.

  Further, the recovery container 22 is provided with a full detection sensor 24 that detects the fullness of the recovery container 22. This is arranged to detect the upper level rather than the upper limit in the container, so it will work before it actually becomes full and detect fullness. Similarly, a near full detection sensor 25 for detecting near fullness before full is disposed below the full detection sensor 24 and detects near fullness at a level lower than full. Thus, by providing the full detection sensor and the near full detection sensor, even if one of the sensors breaks down, it is possible to detect fullness. In addition, since the near full detection is detected by the near full detection sensor before the full detection by the full detection sensor, the warning / recovery container replacement time is informed to the user.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the waste toner 19 accumulated in the collection container 22 accumulates in a mountain shape until reaching the in-container transport member 23, but reaches the in-container transport member 23 as shown in FIG. After that, it is transported toward the end of the collection container 22 by the rotational drive of the transport member 23 and leveled.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the waste toner 19 reaches the full detection sensor 24 or the near full detection sensor 25, an indication on the operation panel on the upper part of the image forming apparatus 1 and an alarm sound are emitted to the user. Prompts for replacement or stops printing. As described above, the in-container conveyance member 23 extends over the entire width of the container in the upper part of the container and equalizes the waste toner 19 accumulated in a mountain shape to a uniform level. The fullness of the container is accurately detected by the fullness detection sensor 24 arranged slightly below. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper portion of the recovery container 22 has a sufficient capacity even when full is detected. Therefore, when the container is removed for container replacement or when the waste toner 19 is further accumulated, the waste container 19 is discarded. The toner 19 does not overflow or clog the waste toner conveyance path 20, and therefore, scattering into the room and damage to the in-path conveyance member 21 are avoided.

  By the way, depending on the user, the recovery container 22 may be once removed after a warning based on the detection of fullness, and the recovery container 22 may be lightly shaken to shift the waste toner 19 in the recovery container 22 and then set again. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, since the waste toner 19 is shifted to one side, the fullness detection sensor 24 may not detect fullness and the printing operation may not be prohibited. At this time, when the printing operation is executed again, the in-path transport member 21 is driven to rotate, and the waste toner 19 accumulated in the waste toner transport path 20 in front of the recovery container 22 becomes a nearly full recovery container 22. It will come in once. As a result, the waste toner 19 does not completely enter the collection container 22, and there is a risk of clogging in the waste toner conveyance path 20, overflowing from the container, or dropping a heavy container during replacement.

  Therefore, when the collection container 22 is newly set, it is necessary to determine whether the container is an empty container or a container that is almost full. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the newly set collection container before the start of printing, that is, before the waste toner 19 is discharged from the waste toner conveyance path 20 to the collection container 22 by driving the in-path conveyance member 21. The in-container conveying member 23 in the container 22 is rotated for a predetermined time, and the waste toner 19 is leveled to a uniform level so that the full detection sensor 24 can accurately detect fullness. In other words, when the collection container 22 is newly set, first, the in-container transport member 23 is rotated, and the sensor detects full or less full, but during this time, the in-path transport member 21 is not driven, so the waste toner 19 Is not discharged. Therefore, when the waste toner 19 is present in a large amount in the container and fullness is detected, the waste toner 19 is not discharged from the waste toner transport path 20 to the collection container 22 by not driving the in-path transport member 21. At this time, the waste toner 19 may be stored in the waste toner transport path 20 while the printing operation is continued until a new empty container is set, or the printing operation may be stopped. On the other hand, when an empty container or a container with a sufficient capacity even if it is not empty is set, first, the in-container conveyance member 23 is first rotated for a predetermined time, but then the fullness detection sensor 24 or the like does not detect fullness. Therefore, printing is started as usual, the in-path conveyance member 21 is also driven, and the waste toner 19 stored in the waste toner conveyance path 20 is accommodated in the container.

  In this manner, when the collection container 22 is set in the image forming apparatus main body, the waste toner 19 in the collection container 23 is first driven by not driving the in-path conveyance member 21 for a predetermined time during which the in-container conveyance member 23 is driven. Is sufficiently leveled to detect an accurate waste toner level. When the container is full, the in-path transport member 21 is not driven, so that the waste toner 19 is not discharged and the overflow of the waste toner from the collection container is avoided.

  In addition, after the collection container 22 is set, the user can lock the removal of the collection container 22 for a predetermined time during which the in-container conveyance member 23 is driven, so that the collection container 22 is not shaken by the user and can be accurately stored in the container. The level of the waste toner 19 can be detected.

  On the other hand, when it is desired to start printing while the collection container 22 is being removed or immediately after replacement, as shown in FIG. 6, the temporary storage for the waste toner 19 is disposed in the waste toner conveyance path 20 between the cleaning device and the collection container. The storage unit 26 may be provided. By providing the temporary storage unit, a certain capacity is further secured in addition to the capacity of the waste toner conveyance path 20. Further, even when the collection container 22 is being removed or when the collection container 22 is being fully filled immediately after replacement by the temporary storage unit 26, the waste toner 19 is supplied to the temporary storage unit 26 while the in-path conveyance member 21 is stopped. Printing can be performed by accumulating. Then, when a less than full container is confirmed after the collection container 22 is replaced, the in-path conveyance member 21 starts to drive again, and the waste toner 19 inside the temporary storage unit 26 is discharged to the collection container 22 for printing operation. Will continue. On the other hand, when it is confirmed that the container is full, the in-path conveyance member 21 is stopped, so that a large amount of waste toner 19 stored in the temporary storage unit 26 or the like is not discharged into the collection container 22 at a time. The toner does not overflow or clog the recovery container. The temporary storage unit 26 only needs to have a capacity for temporarily storing the waste toner 19. For example, the temporary storage unit 26 stores the waste toner 19 for about 30 minutes until it is replaced with a new empty container. Only have enough capacity.

  By the way, in order to perform the above operation, the in-container transport member 23 is separately driven in order to drive the in-container transport member 23 and to stop the in-route transport member 21 on the apparatus main body side. It is necessary to drive. As a method for this, as shown in FIG. 7, in order to drive the in-path transport member 21 and the in-container transport member 23 in the temporary storage unit 26, the drive member 27 such as two motors is connected to the in-path transport member 21 and the container. Each of the inner conveying members 23 can be used and driven individually. At that time, the above-described operation can be achieved by switching ON / OFF the power source of the driving member 27 such as a motor. That is, normally, both motors are turned on and the motors are driven. However, in order to detect whether the collection container 22 is full or near full, and to prevent toner overflow, it is first necessary to level out the biased toner in the container. If there is, only the motor on the in-container conveyance member 23 side is turned on to drive it, and the motor on the in-path conveyance member 21 side is turned off to stop it.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a driving member 27 such as one motor is connected to the in-container conveying member 23, and a driving contact / separation member such as an electromagnetic clutch 28 is connected to the in-path conveying member 21 side. By electrically connecting the electromagnetic clutch 28 via a line, the driving force of the motor 27 may be transmitted to or disconnected from the in-path conveyance member 21 in the temporary storage unit 26 using the electromagnetic clutch 28. When the contact / separation member (not shown) of the electromagnetic clutch 28 contacts and the driving force of the motor 27 is transmitted to the in-path transport member 21, not only the in-container transport member 23 but also the in-path transport member is rotated by the motor. 21 also rotates, and when the contact / separation member of the electromagnetic clutch 28 is separated and the connection between the motor 27 and the in-path transport member 21 is released, the rotation of the motor is not transmitted to the in-path transport member 21. Only the in-container conveyance member 23 rotates. Accordingly, the number of driving members is reduced to one and the apparatus is simplified, and driving is transmitted to both the in-container conveying member 23 and the in-path conveying member 21 or only to the in-container conveying member 23 by ON / OFF of the electromagnetic clutch. be able to.

Instead of this, a motor 27 may be provided on the in-path conveying member 21 side, and an electromagnetic clutch 28 may be provided on the in-container conveying member 23 side, and these may be connected.
Here, the electromagnetic clutch uses the principle that an electromagnet is attached to one rotating iron disc, and when the current is passed through it, the other disc is attracted and rotates together. The ON / OFF of the clutch can be controlled by the ON / OFF of the current.

  As described above, in order to evenly detect the fullness or less than fullness of the recovery container 22 by leveling out the bias of the waste toner in the recovery container 22, the timing of performing the operation of driving the in-container conveyance member 23 alone is as follows: When the power source of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned on, such as during a printing operation, it may be performed when the collection container 22 is replaced, that is, when the set detection of the collection container 22 changes from OFF to ON. . On the other hand, when the waste toner collection container 22 is replaced when the power of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned off, a change from OFF to ON cannot be detected in the set detection. This single drive timing is preferably performed when the power supply of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned from OFF to ON.

  Here, in order to detect the set of the collection container 22, as shown in FIG. 9, for example, on the back side of the set position of the collection container 22 in the image forming apparatus 1, a set detection push switch that contacts the collection container 22. 29 may be arranged. Thereby, if the collection container 22 is set and the push switch 29 is pushed on the side surface of the collection container 22, the set detection is turned ON, and if the collection container is removed and the push switch 29 is not pushed, the set detection is performed. Becomes OFF. When the set detection changes from OFF to ON, the in-container conveyance member 23 may be driven alone.

  A front cover (not shown) that opens and closes in order to attach and detach the collection container 22 may be provided on the front surface of the image forming apparatus 1. As a result, the user can easily attach and detach the collection container 22 in the apparatus by opening the front cover. Furthermore, even if the opening and closing of the front cover is locked for a predetermined time during which the in-container transport member 23 is driven, a locking mechanism (not shown) is used so that the user cannot access the collection container, and pull out or shake the collection container. Good. In addition, in order to more accurately detect whether the collection container is full or less full, a warning to the user is displayed on the operation panel while the in-container conveying member is driven to check whether the container is full, Alternatively, an alarm sound may be sounded to call attention so as not to move the container.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 Waste toner 20 Waste toner conveyance path 21 In-path conveyance member 22 Collection container 23 In-container conveyance member 24 Full detection sensor (waste toner amount detection means)
25 Near full detection sensor (waste toner amount detection means)
26 Temporary Storage 27 Motor (Drive Member)
28 Electromagnetic clutch (drive contact / separation member)
29 Push switch

JP 2006-154411 A Japanese Patent No. 3938150

Claims (11)

An image carrier, a cleaning device that removes and collects the waste toner on the image carrier, a collection container that contains the waste toner collected by the cleaning device, and a cleaning container for leveling the collected waste toner. At least one in-container conveying member provided in the collection container, at least one waste toner amount detecting means for detecting the amount of waste toner in the collection container, and conveying the waste toner from the cleaning device to the collection container An in-path conveyance member provided in a waste toner conveyance path,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the in-container transport member is driven before the in-path transport member is driven.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a temporary storage unit for temporarily storing waste toner is provided between the cleaning device and the recovery container.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the collection container is set in the image forming apparatus main body, the in-path transport member is not driven until the in-container transport member is driven for a predetermined time. An image forming apparatus.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein removal of the collection container is locked for a predetermined time during which the in-container conveyance member is driven.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a front cover that opens and closes when the collection container is attached and detached is provided, and the front cover is locked for a predetermined time during which the in-container transport member is driven. An image forming apparatus.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a full detection sensor and a near full detection sensor are provided as the waste toner amount detection means.   7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a warning to a user is displayed on the operation panel while the in-container transport member is being driven in order to check whether the collection container is full. An image forming apparatus characterized by being displayed or having an alarm sound.   8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a drive member that is connected to and drives the in-container transport member, and the drive member is connected to the path via a drive contact / separation member. An image forming apparatus connected to an inner conveying member.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein when the collection container is newly set on the image forming apparatus main body after the collection container is removed, before the in-path conveyance member is driven, An image forming apparatus that drives an in-container conveyance member.   10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the image forming apparatus main body is turned on, the in-container transport member is driven before the in-path transport member is driven. An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the in-container conveying member is provided with wings in a reverse direction from the branch portion toward each end, and the recovery container includes the An image forming apparatus, wherein a waste toner recovery port is provided at an upper portion of a wing branching portion of the in-container conveying member.

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