JP2011149981A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure the ability to convey waste toner by means of a waste toner conveying member without degrading the durability of the member. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: a cleaning blade 33 disposed in contact with an intermediate transfer belt 31 in its lengthwise direction and configured to remove toner on the belt 31; a waste toner conveying member 62 reciprocally moved in a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the blade 33, thereby conveying toner removed by the blade 33, wherein the quantity of toner removed by the blade 33 in a first area h1 is larger than that in a second area h2 in the lengthwise direction of the belt 31. Waste toner conveying member 62 has gratings 70a and 70b of different shapes in the first and second areas h1 and h2, respectively, in the lengthwise direction. The grating 70a in the first area h1 has the greater ability to convey toner in the lengthwise direction than the grating 70b in the second area h2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine that forms an image by electrophotography. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function of transporting toner removed from an image carrier by a cleaning member by a waste toner transport member that reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method, when a toner image formed on a photoconductor is transferred to a transfer material, toner remaining on the photoconductor that is not transferred to the transfer material is removed by a cleaning member. Preparation for image formation is performed.

  Further, in a color image forming apparatus, there is a system in which a toner image of a plurality of colors is formed on an intermediate transfer body and then the toner image is transferred to a transfer material. In this method, in addition to the cleaning of the photosensitive member, when the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member is transferred to the transfer material, the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member that is not transferred to the transfer material is also required. The toner collected by these cleaning members is stored in a waste toner container.

  However, due to the configuration of the image forming apparatus, when the cleaning member and the waste toner container must be disposed substantially horizontally, it is necessary to provide means for transporting the waste toner removed by the cleaning member to the waste toner container.

  Therefore, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a waste toner conveying member that reciprocates in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member as it rotates is provided, without complicating and increasing the size of the apparatus. It is common to carry waste toner.

  In Patent Document 1, the waste toner transport member is reciprocated as a part of the waste toner transport member rotates, thereby transporting the waste toner. The stable cleaning is aimed at.

  In Patent Document 2, a plate-shaped conveying member that reciprocates in conjunction with the rotational movement of the waste toner scraping member is provided in the vicinity of the cleaning member, and the waste toner is conveyed in the direction of the waste toner container. To improve the toner conveyance capability and to reduce the size and cost of the device.

JP 07-325521 A JP-A-10-301460

  However, the image forming apparatus has the following problems.

  In recent color image forming apparatuses, in order to improve image quality, it is a general practice to automatically adjust the writing position deviation of each color and stabilization of chromaticity fluctuation. In this adjustment, a toner image (hereinafter referred to as “patch”) having a test pattern is formed on the intermediate transfer member, detected by a sensor, and fed back to each color writing position, color table, and the like.

  One or two sensors are arranged at positions facing the intermediate transfer member due to cost and apparatus constraints. Further, the patch is formed with a necessary and sufficient width in a part in the longitudinal direction of an image carrier such as a photoreceptor or an intermediate transfer member in order to suppress toner consumption. This adjustment is executed when the image forming apparatus is turned on and every predetermined number of sheets. Further, unlike the normal image formation, the patch is not transferred to the transfer material, so that the amount of toner removed by the cleaning member increases.

  For this reason, the amount of waste toner in the patch formation area is larger than in other areas. If the number of rotations of the waste toner conveying member is increased in order to improve the waste toner conveying capability in the patch forming area, there is a problem that durability is lowered. On the other hand, if the waste toner conveying capability is not improved, there is a problem that the waste toner stagnates in a region where the amount of waste toner is larger than that in the other regions, resulting in poor cleaning and significantly reducing the image quality.

  In recent years, there has been a demand for an image forming apparatus that can perform a so-called borderless printing in which an end portion of a transfer material has no margin even in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Generally, in an image forming apparatus, it is difficult to accurately form a toner image at a desired position on a transfer material. Therefore, a method has been proposed in which a toner image is formed in a size larger than the transfer material to be printed, and borderless printing can be performed even when the position with the transfer material does not match slightly. In this case, since a toner image larger than the transfer material is formed, the toner in the region protruding from the end of the transfer material is not transferred to the transfer material but remains on the intermediate transfer member. The remaining toner is removed from the intermediate transfer member by the cleaning member.

  For this reason, when borderless printing is performed, the amount of toner in the region protruding from the end of the transfer material remaining on the intermediate transfer member is larger than in other regions. If the rotational speed of the waste toner transport member is increased in order to improve the waste toner transport capability in the area of the transfer material end, there is a problem that the durability is lowered. On the other hand, if the waste toner conveying capability is not improved, there is a problem that the waste toner stagnates in a region where the amount of waste toner is larger than that in the other regions, resulting in poor cleaning and significantly reducing the image quality.

  In addition to directly transporting the waste toner removed by the cleaning member to the waste toner container by the waste toner transport member, a screw is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the transport member reciprocates so that the waste toner is removed from the waste toner. Some image forming apparatuses collect in a container. This is because, in the case of a device configuration in which the user replaces the waste toner container, the waste toner container is disposed at a position where the user can easily replace the waste toner container, and the waste toner is not scattered when the waste toner container is replaced. This is to reduce the waste toner receptacle of the container.

  In this case, since waste toner concentrates on the downstream side of the screw in the toner conveyance direction, the waste toner conveyance capability of the waste toner conveyance member on the downstream side of the screw is reduced. If the rotational speed of the waste toner transport member is increased in order to improve the waste toner transport capability, there is a problem that durability is lowered. On the other hand, if the waste toner carrying capacity is not improved, the waste toner is stagnated in the downstream region where the amount of waste toner is concentrated as compared with the upstream side of the screw, and there is a problem that the image quality is remarkably deteriorated due to poor cleaning. .

  In the image forming process, after a toner image on the intermediate transfer member is transferred onto a transfer material, a series of image formation is completed through a fixing process in which the toner image is fixed to the transfer material. In this fixing step, heat and pressure are applied to melt the toner in order to fix the toner image to the transfer material. When the temperature of the image forming apparatus rises due to heat generated in the fixing process, the toner in the developing apparatus melts and aggregates, causing problems such as failure of proper development. Therefore, it is necessary to exhaust heat with a fan or the like. In general, one or two fans are used from the viewpoint of reducing the size and cost of the image forming apparatus.

  In this case, the temperature on the upstream side (intake side) is low and the temperature on the downstream side (exhaust side) is high due to the air flow by the fan, so the temperature distribution in the waste toner container is not uniform and is removed by the cleaning member. There is a possibility that the waste toner adheres to the waste toner conveying member due to the temperature rise. In this case, there is a problem in that the waste toner transport capability is lowered on the downstream side where the temperature is higher than the upstream side of the air flow, the waste toner is stagnated, a cleaning failure occurs, and the image quality is remarkably lowered. On the other hand, if an attempt is made to suppress the temperature rise, the addition of a fan has the problem of increasing the size and cost of the image forming apparatus.

  An object of the present invention is to use the waste toner conveying member without reducing the durability of the waste toner conveying member even when the amount of waste toner is different in the direction orthogonal to the direction in which the waste toner conveying member reciprocates. This is to secure the waste toner conveyance capability.

  Another object of the present invention is to secure the waste toner carrying capability by the waste toner carrying member without increasing the cost and increasing the size of the apparatus even when the temperature distribution in the apparatus is different. .

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention accommodates an image carrier, a cleaning member that contacts the longitudinal direction of the image carrier to remove the toner on the image carrier, and toner removed by the cleaning member. A toner that has a waste toner storage member and a waste toner transport member that transports toner removed by the cleaning member by reciprocating in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member, and is removed by the cleaning member In the first region in the longitudinal direction of the image carrier, the waste toner conveying member includes the first region in the longitudinal direction and the first region in the longitudinal direction of the image carrier. The second region has a lattice having a different shape, and the lattice of the first region has a shape in which the toner conveying force in the longitudinal direction is larger than that of the lattice of the second region. And wherein the door.

  The present invention also provides an image carrier, a cleaning member that contacts the longitudinal direction of the image carrier to remove toner from the image carrier, and a waste toner container that contains toner removed by the cleaning member. A first waste toner conveying member that conveys the toner removed by the cleaning member by reciprocating in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member; and the toner removed by the cleaning member is conveyed in the longitudinal direction. An image forming apparatus having a second waste toner transport member, wherein the first waste toner transport member has a different shape on the upstream side and the downstream side in the toner transport direction of the second waste toner transport member. It has a lattice, and the downstream lattice has a shape in which the toner conveying force in the longitudinal direction is larger than that of the upstream lattice.

  The present invention also provides an image carrier, a cleaning member that contacts the longitudinal direction of the image carrier to remove toner from the image carrier, and a waste toner container that contains toner removed by the cleaning member. A waste toner transport member that transports the toner removed by the cleaning member by reciprocating in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member, a fixing unit that fixes the toner image to the transfer material by heating, and the waste toner. An image forming apparatus provided between a conveying member and the fixing unit, and having a blowing unit that sucks outside air from one side in the longitudinal direction and discharges the air heated by the fixing unit to the other side in the longitudinal direction. In the longitudinal direction of the waste toner conveying member, a side where the temperature of the waste toner conveying member is high is a first region and a side where the temperature is low is a second region. The waste toner conveying member has a lattice having different shapes in the first region and the second region in the longitudinal direction, and the lattice of the first region is compared with the lattice of the second region. It is characterized in that the toner has a large conveying force in the longitudinal direction.

  According to the present invention, even when the amount of waste toner is different in the direction orthogonal to the direction in which the waste toner transport member reciprocates, the waste toner transport member does not deteriorate the durability of the waste toner transport member. It is possible to secure the waste toner conveyance capability.

  In addition, according to the present invention, even when the temperature distribution in the apparatus is different, it is possible to ensure the waste toner transport capability by the waste toner transport member without causing an increase in cost or an increase in the size of the apparatus.

  As described above, the waste toner carrying capability of the waste toner carrying member can be ensured, so that the waste toner carrying ability can be prevented from falling and the waste toner can be prevented from stagnation, and cleaning caused by the waste toner stagnation can be prevented. Defects and degradation of image quality can be prevented.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the cleaner unit in 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a control configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is the schematic of the optical detection sensor in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship of the patch in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the density sensor output in 1st Embodiment, and a density | concentration. It is a figure which shows density | concentration control in 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a waste toner conveying member in the first embodiment. (A) is a diagram for explaining a print with a border in the second embodiment, (b) is a diagram for explaining a borderless print in the second embodiment, (c) is a diagram for explaining a toner image at the time of borderless print, (D) is a diagram for explaining a transfer material at the time of borderless printing, and (e) is a diagram for explaining transfer residual toner at the time of borderless printing. FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a waste toner conveying member in a second embodiment. (A) is a schematic sectional drawing of the cleaner unit in 3rd Embodiment, (b) is a schematic perspective view of the cleaner unit in 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a waste toner conveying member in a third embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the image forming apparatus in 4th Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of an air flow of an image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a waste toner conveying member in a fourth embodiment.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in the following embodiments should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied and various conditions. Therefore, unless specifically stated otherwise, the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited thereto.

[First Embodiment]
The image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described. Here, as the image forming apparatus, a color image forming apparatus capable of forming a color image using toners of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and Bk (black) is illustrated. . In this color image forming apparatus, each toner image is formed on a drum-shaped photoconductor that is a first image carrier, and is formed on a belt-like intermediate transfer member that is a second image carrier by a first transfer unit. Sequential transfer (primary transfer) is performed so as to overlap. Then, the transfer material conveyed by the feeding member is collectively transferred (secondary transfer) to the transfer material by the second transfer means, and the transferred toner image is fixed to the transfer material. is doing. This will be described in detail below.

[Image forming apparatus]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a color image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic process used in this embodiment.

  This apparatus is configured such that four independent process cartridges 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black Bk are detachably juxtaposed with respect to the apparatus main body. Each process cartridge integrally includes a photosensitive drum 2, a charging roller (charging means) 3 as a process means acting on the photosensitive drum 2, a developing unit having an image exposure means 4, a developing roller 5, and a cleaning unit having a cleaning blade 6. Have. Then, toner images of different colors formed by these process cartridges (image forming stations) 32 are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 31 and then transferred onto the transfer material S to obtain a full color image. It has a configuration. The transfer material S is fed from the feeding unit 15 and discharged to a discharge tray (not shown).

  The photosensitive drum 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) is a rotary drum type electrophotographic photosensitive member that is repeatedly used, and is driven to rotate at a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed). The photosensitive drum 2 is uniformly charged by a primary charging roller (charging means) 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d). Then, by receiving image exposure by the image exposure means 4 constituted by a laser diode, a polygon scanner, a lens group, etc., electrostatic latent images corresponding to the respective color component images (here, yellow, magenta, cyan, black component images). An image is formed.

  Next, the developing unit performs so-called development in which toner as a developer is attached to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum. The developing device includes a toner container for storing toner and a developing roller (developing means) 5 (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) as a developer carrying member for carrying and transporting the toner. The developing roller 5 is disposed in contact with the photosensitive drum 2 while rotating in the forward direction with respect to the photosensitive drum 2. Development is performed by the toner carried on the developing roller 5 being transferred to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 2.

  The intermediate transfer belt 31 is composed of an endless film-like member and is stretched by rollers 8, 10 and 34. The intermediate transfer belt 31 is rotationally driven by the action of the driving roller 8 at substantially the same peripheral speed as that of the photosensitive drum 2 while being in contact with each photosensitive drum 2. A primary transfer roller (primary transfer means) 14 (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) is disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum 2 with the intermediate transfer belt 31 interposed therebetween. The toner image on each photosensitive drum 2 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 31 by a primary transfer roller (primary transfer means) 14 disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum 2 with the intermediate transfer belt 31 interposed therebetween.

  The primary transfer residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 2 after the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 31 is removed and collected by the cleaning blade 6 (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d).

  The transfer material S fed from the feeding unit 15 is fed toward a nip portion between the intermediate transfer belt 31 and the secondary transfer roller 35 by a registration roller pair 17 that is driven and rotated at a predetermined timing. . Subsequently, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 31 is transferred to the transfer material S by the secondary transfer roller 35. Then, the full color toner image is fixed on the transfer material S by heat and pressure by the fixing device (fixing means) 18 and discharged to a discharge tray (not shown) outside the apparatus (outside the image forming apparatus main body). The secondary transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 31 after the transfer of the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 31 to the transfer material S is removed and collected by a cleaning blade (cleaning member) 33 constituting a cleaning unit. The

[Control Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the control unit of the image forming apparatus.

  The CPU 101 controls each unit of the image forming apparatus using the RAM 103 as a work area based on various control programs stored in the ROM 102. Further, the CPU 101 controls each color in order to form an image density control process for accurately stabilizing the color by reducing the color variation of the image due to the change in the use environment described below while performing the above control and to accurately form a mixed color image. Color misregistration correction control processing for adjusting the timing for forming the image is performed. Changes in the usage environment include, for example, changes in humidity, temperature, and usage status of consumables. The ROM 102 stores various control programs, various data, and tables. The RAM 103 has a program load area, a work area for the CPU 101, a storage area for various data, and the like. A toner adhesion amount & color misregistration amount detection unit 106 includes an optical detection sensor 40 that detects a toner image (image, adjustment patch, etc.) formed on the intermediate transfer belt 31. The image forming unit 108 includes the photosensitive drum 2, the charging unit 3, the image exposing unit 4, the developing unit 5, the primary transfer unit 14, and the like described above. The non-volatile memory 109 that stores various data stores light amount settings and the like when executing image density control. The test pattern generation unit 104 forms a plurality of test pattern toner images stored in the ROM 102 on the intermediate transfer belt 31 while changing the image forming conditions when conditions for executing image density control described later are satisfied. To do.

[Optical detection sensor]
Next, details of the optical detection sensor 40 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the optical detection sensor 40 as an optical detection unit includes an LED light emitting element 40a having a predetermined wavelength (for example, a wavelength of 950 nm), a light receiving element 40b such as a photodiode, and a holder. The infrared light from the light emitting element 40a is irradiated onto the patch or line on the intermediate transfer belt 31, and the reflected light from the infrared light is measured by the light receiving element 40b to calculate the toner adhesion amount and the toner position deviation amount.

  When toner adheres to the intermediate transfer belt 31, light is blocked by the toner, so that the regular reflection light decreases, that is, the output of the light receiving element 40b decreases. The optical detection sensor 40 used in this embodiment is set to an irradiation angle of 15 ° of the light emitting element 40a and a light receiving angle of 15 ° of the light receiving element 40b. For the light receiving element 40b, the aperture diameter is reduced in order to minimize the influence of the irregular reflection component. The aperture diameter of the optical detection sensor 40 used in this embodiment is 0.7 mm for the light emitting element 40a and 1.5 mm for the light receiving element 40b.

[Necessity of image density control]
Next, image density control in the present embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the image forming apparatus, an optical detection sensor 40 as an optical detection unit is disposed at a portion facing the intermediate transfer belt 31. In general, in an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus, depending on various conditions such as replacement of consumables, changes in the environment used (temperature, humidity, deterioration of the apparatus, etc.), the number of printed sheets, etc., the photosensitive drum 2, the developing roller 5, The electric characteristics of the intermediate transfer belt 31, the primary transfer roller 14, the secondary transfer roller 35, the transfer material S, and the adhesion force to the toner change. The change in the characteristics is manifested as a change in image density and a change in color reproducibility. That is, due to this variation, the original correct color reproducibility cannot be obtained. Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to obtain accurate color reproducibility at all times, a plurality of test pattern toner images (hereinafter referred to as “patches”) are obtained while changing the image forming conditions in the non-image forming state. These are formed, and their density is detected by the optical detection sensor 40. Then, based on the detection result, image density control is executed as density detecting means for controlling a factor that affects the image density. Factors affecting the image density include a charging bias, a developing bias, an exposure intensity, a look-up table, and the like. In the image density control described in the present embodiment, an example of controlling the look-up table among these. It explains using. Specific operation of image density control will be described later.

[Image density control]
Next, a specific example of image density control in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. When the image density control is started, the rotation operation of the intermediate transfer belt 31 is started, and the optical detection sensor 40 is caused to emit light with the light amount setting stored in the nonvolatile memory 109 when executing the image density control. The intermediate transfer belt 31 is rotated so that the toner adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 31 is removed by the cleaning blade 33. Further, when the light emission of the optical detection sensor 40 is stabilized, the patch for each color as shown in FIG. Are formed on the intermediate transfer belt 31. And the reflected light signal of the light receiving element 40b is acquired in the center part of a patch.

  Then, the reflected light signal of the light receiving element 40 b is converted into a density by referring to a density conversion table stored in the ROM 102. Hereinafter, the density conversion table will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the reflected light signal output of the light receiving element 40b and the density when a patch is detected. As the patch density increases, the amount of light reflected by the light receiving portion decreases in the regular reflection type density sensor. Further, it is possible to uniquely convert the density from the reflected light signal output of the light receiving element 40b. Then, data in which the relationship between the reflected light signal output of the light receiving element 40b and the density is in one-to-one correspondence is a density conversion table. After calculating the density of a series of toner patches, the light emitting element 40a of the optical detection sensor 40 is turned off, and the image density control is completed.

  Hereinafter, the gradation control will be described with reference to FIG. Here, only cyan tone correction will be described, but magenta, yellow, and black are also corrected in the same manner.

  In FIG. 7, the horizontal axis represents image data. The vertical axis represents the density detection value of the optical detection sensor 40. Further, in the figure, ◯ represents the output density value of the optical detection sensor 40 for each patch of C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, and C8. Next, a straight line T represents a target gradation density characteristic for image density control. In the present embodiment, the target gradation density characteristic T is determined so that the relationship between image data and density is proportional. A curve γ represents density gradation characteristics when gradation control is not performed. It should be noted that the gradation density not forming the patch is calculated by performing spline interpolation through the origin and C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, and C8.

  A curve D represents a gradation correction table calculated by this control, and is calculated by obtaining a symmetric point with respect to the target gradation density characteristic T of the gradation characteristic γ before correction. The calculation of the gradation correction table D is executed by the main body CPU 101, and the calculated gradation correction table D is stored in the nonvolatile memory 109.

  When the print image is formed, the target gradation density characteristic T can be obtained by correcting the image data with the gradation correction table D.

  The above is the description of the gradation gradation control in the present embodiment.

[Waste toner transport mechanism]
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a cleaner unit 36 as a cleaning unit that removes toner from the intermediate transfer belt 31. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a state in which a waste toner conveying member 62 (described later) reciprocates around the rotation shaft 63.

  The cleaner unit 36 has a cleaning blade 33 as a cleaning member that contacts the longitudinal direction of the intermediate transfer belt 31 (a direction orthogonal to the belt moving direction) and removes toner from the intermediate transfer belt 31. The cleaning blade 33 is disposed so as to press the roller 34 that stretches the intermediate transfer belt 31 through the intermediate transfer belt 31. The waste toner removed by the cleaning blade 33 is stored in a waste toner container (waste toner storage member) 64 that forms a frame of the cleaner unit 36. The cleaner unit 36 further includes a waste toner conveying member 62 that conveys the toner removed by the cleaning blade 33 by reciprocating in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 33. Here, the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 33 is the same as the axial direction of the roller 34. Hereinafter, the conveyance of waste toner will be described.

  The waste toner conveying member 62 is configured such that the rotation of the rotating shaft 63 is converted into the reciprocating motion of the waste toner conveying member 62. Here, the rotation direction of the rotating shaft 63 is counterclockwise. Here, the direction of the reciprocating motion of the waste toner conveying member 62 is a direction of moving from the right to the left and from the left to the right in FIG. Further, the waste toner conveying member 62 is supported by a fulcrum 65 by its own weight, and when the rotary shaft 63 rotates, the front end side of the waste toner conveying member 62 moves in the vertical direction shown in FIG. To do. By this operation, the upper side passes when the tip of the waste toner conveying member 62 approaches the cleaning blade 33 side, and the lower side passes when the tip of the waste toner conveying member 62 moves away from the cleaning blade 33 side. Therefore, after the transfer residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 31 is removed by the cleaning blade 33, it is gradually conveyed away from the vicinity of the cleaning blade 33 by the operation of the waste toner conveying member 62. That is, by the operation of the waste toner transport member 62, the toner is transported from the front side of the waste toner container 64 provided with the cleaning blade 33 to the back side of the waste toner container 64 provided with the rotation shaft 63.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the waste toner conveying member 62. As shown in FIG. 8, the waste toner transport member 62 includes a lattice-shaped transport unit 70 that transports the waste toner, and a metal rod 71 that is bent into a “U” shape for converting rotational motion into reciprocal motion. . The waste toner transport unit 70 and the metal rod 71 are connected so as not to inhibit the rotation of the metal rod 71. The rotational motion of the metal rod 71 is converted into the reciprocating motion of the lattice-shaped transport unit 70, and as a result, the waste toner is transported in the horizontal direction.

  Further, the patch image formed at the time of executing the image density control is formed at the central portion in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 31 as described above. Then, unlike the normal image formation, the patch image is not transferred to the transfer material but is collected by the cleaning blade 33 as it is. For this reason, the amount of waste toner by the patch image is larger than the amount of waste toner by the transfer residue of normal printing. Further, since the width of the normal patch image is set to be small in order to suppress toner consumption, waste toner is concentrated on a part of the cleaning blade 33 and collected.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the shape of the waste toner conveying portion 70 is arranged with a grid-like frame inclined at the central portion in the longitudinal direction, which is the first region where toner is likely to concentrate. That is, the lattice-shaped transport unit 70 includes lattices 70a and 70b having different shapes for transporting toner to the first region h1 and the second region h2 in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 33. Here, the first area h1 is an area corresponding to a patch formed in the center of the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 31 (the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 33). In the area 64, the toner removed from the central portion of the intermediate transfer belt 31 is conveyed. On the other hand, the second area h2 is an area for transporting toner removed from areas other than the area corresponding to the patch. Therefore, as described above, the amount of toner removed by the cleaning blade 33 is greater in the first region h1 than in the second region h2. In the waste toner transport member 62, the lattice 70a of the first region h1 has the second region h1 such that the first region h1 has a greater toner transport force in the longitudinal direction than the second region h2. Compared with the lattice 70b in the area h2, the inclination is provided. With this configuration, the waste toner conveying member 62 reciprocates, so that the waste toner that has increased in the center due to the collection of patch images is leveled in the left-right direction (longitudinal direction) while moving to the waste toner container 64. To go.

  Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the number of revolutions of the waste toner conveyance member in order to improve the waste toner conveyance capability in the patch formation area (here, the central portion of the belt), and the waste toner is stagnated near the cleaning blade, resulting in poor cleaning. Can be prevented.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the grid 70a of the first region h1 where the amount of waste toner is increased in the waste toner conveying member 62 is compared with the grid 70b of the second region h2. The shape is such that the conveying force of the toner in the longitudinal direction is increased. Specifically, in the waste toner conveying member, the grid 70a in the first area h1 is inclined compared to the grid 70b in the second area h2. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the number of rotations of the waste toner conveying member while preventing the occurrence of cleaning failure due to the waste toner remaining in the vicinity of the cleaning blade, and the durability can be improved. That is, even when the amount of waste toner differs in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the waste toner transport member reciprocates, the waste toner transport member transports the waste toner without reducing the durability of the waste toner transport member. Capability can be secured.

[Second Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, in an image forming apparatus that performs so-called borderless printing, the first region has a lattice conveying force that is larger than the second region in the longitudinal direction of the waste toner conveying member. Different shapes. In addition, since the schematic configuration of the entire image forming apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, members having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

[Borderless print]
Here, borderless printing and bordered printing will be described. FIG. 9A shows bordered printing, and FIG. 9B shows borderless printing. At the time of printing with a margin, the toner image T is entirely contained in the transfer material S, and there are peripheral margins of the upper margin (mh), the lower margin (mb), the left margin (ml), and the right margin (mr) around the transfer material S. Exists. On the other hand, in borderless printing, the toner image reaches the edge of the transfer material S, and the peripheral margin is eliminated.

  The image forming apparatus can execute a borderless printing mode and a bordered printing mode. Hereinafter, image formation in the borderless printing mode will be described.

  FIG. 9C to FIG. 9E are views for explaining toner image formation during borderless printing.

  FIG. 9C shows the size of the toner image T formed on the intermediate transfer belt, where Iv is vertical and Ih is horizontal. FIG. 9D shows the size of the transfer material S, where Pv is vertical and Ph is horizontal. The size relationship between the toner image T and the transfer material S is set so that Pv <Iv and Ph <Ih. In other words, the size of the toner image T is slightly larger than the selected transfer material size so that no margin is generated in the transfer material S even if the transfer material S is fed slightly forward, backward, left and right. Formed.

  Based on the setting, an image forming operation similar to the image forming operation described above is performed, and an Iv × Ih size toner image T indicated by a broken line is formed on the intermediate transfer belt. The Iv × Ih size toner image T is conveyed toward the secondary transfer region by the intermediate transfer belt.

  On the other hand, the timing of the transfer material S is controlled by a registration roller, and the toner image T is conveyed to the secondary transfer area as the toner image T enters the secondary transfer area. In the secondary transfer region, the Iv × Ih size toner image T is transferred to the Pv × Ph size transfer material S. Therefore, a frame-shaped toner image Tr as shown in FIG. 9E becomes the secondary transfer residual toner.

  The toner adhering to the secondary transfer roller moves to the back surface of the transfer material S during the secondary transfer, and there is a problem that the back surface of the transfer material S is soiled. Therefore, at the time of borderless printing, the toner adhering to the secondary transfer roller is removed and collected by a roller cleaning device (not shown).

  On the other hand, the toner image remaining on the intermediate transfer belt is removed and collected by the cleaner unit 36.

  In this way, the transfer material S on which the toner image has been formed up to the end is then melted and fixed by a fixing device to form a borderless color print image.

[Waste toner transport mechanism]
FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the waste toner conveying member 62. As shown in FIG. 10, the waste toner transport member 62 includes a lattice-shaped transport unit 70 that transports the waste toner, and a metal rod 71 bent into a “U” shape for converting the rotational motion into a reciprocating motion. . The waste toner transport unit 70 and the metal rod 71 are connected so as not to inhibit the rotation of the metal rod 71. The rotational motion of the metal rod 71 is converted into the reciprocating motion of the lattice-shaped transport unit 70, and as a result, the waste toner is transported in the horizontal direction.

  A toner image larger than the transfer material size is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 31 by borderless printing. For this reason, a frame-like toner image as shown in FIG. 9E becomes the secondary transfer residual toner and is collected by the cleaning blade 33 as it is. For this reason, the amount of waste toner due to the transfer residue of normal printing becomes larger. In particular, since a toner image is formed larger than the transfer material size in order to form a borderless image, the amount of waste toner collected by the cleaning blade increases in the area of the end portion of the transfer material.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the shape of the waste toner conveying member is inclined with a lattice-like frame at both ends in the longitudinal direction, which is the first region where toner is likely to concentrate. That is, the lattice-shaped transport unit 70 includes lattices 70a and 70b having different shapes for transporting toner to the first region h1 and the second region h2 in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 33. Here, the first region h1 is a region that protrudes from the transfer material S to both sides in the longitudinal direction during borderless printing for forming a toner image larger than the transfer material S on the intermediate transfer belt 31. On the other hand, the second area h2 is an area for transporting toner removed from areas other than the area corresponding to the frame-shaped transfer residual toner. Therefore, as described above, the amount of toner removed by the cleaning blade 33 is greater in the first region h1 than in the second region h2. In the waste toner transport member 62, the lattice 70a of the first region h1 has the second region h1 such that the first region h1 has a greater toner transport force in the longitudinal direction than the second region h2. Compared with the lattice 70b in the area h2, the inclination is provided. With this configuration, the waste toner conveying member 62 reciprocates, so that the waste toner that has increased at both ends for forming a borderless image is leveled in the left-right direction (longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade).

  Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the number of revolutions of the waste toner transport member in order to improve the waste toner transport capability in the area of the transfer material end, and prevent waste toner from stagnating near the cleaning blade and causing poor cleaning. it can.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the grid 70a of the first region h1 where the amount of waste toner is increased in the waste toner conveying member 62 is compared with the grid 70b of the second region h2. The shape is such that the conveying force of the toner in the longitudinal direction is increased. Specifically, in the waste toner conveying member, the grid 70a in the first area h1 is inclined compared to the grid 70b in the second area h2. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the number of rotations of the waste toner conveying member while preventing the occurrence of cleaning failure due to the waste toner remaining in the vicinity of the cleaning blade, and the durability can be improved. That is, even when the amount of waste toner differs in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the waste toner transport member reciprocates, the waste toner transport member transports the waste toner without reducing the durability of the waste toner transport member. Capability can be secured.

  Here, the first area is exemplified as an area protruding from the transfer material to both sides in the longitudinal direction during borderless printing for forming a toner image larger than the transfer material on the intermediate transfer belt (image carrier). However, the present invention is not limited to this. When transfer materials of various sizes can be used, the first region may be a region where a lot of toner to be removed is included, including a portion protruding outward from the minimum size transfer material that can be used. preferable.

[Third Embodiment]
In this embodiment, a second waste toner transport member that transports waste toner in a direction orthogonal to the reciprocating direction is disposed below the first waste toner transport member that reciprocates. In such an image forming apparatus, in the longitudinal direction of the first waste toner conveying member, the shape of the lattice is changed so that the first region has a larger toner conveying force than the second region. Yes. In addition, since the schematic configuration of the entire image forming apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, members having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

[Configuration of waste toner container]
FIG. 11A is a schematic diagram of the cleaner unit 36 of the intermediate transfer belt 31. The waste toner removed by the cleaning blade 33 is transported to the screw 66 as the second waste toner transport member by the operation of the waste toner transport member 62 as the first waste toner transport member. Then, as the screw 66 rotates, the waste toner conveying member 62 is conveyed from one side to the other side in a direction (longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 33) perpendicular to the reciprocating direction.

  FIG. 11B is a schematic diagram showing the cleaner unit 36 and the waste toner collection bottle. The screw 66 penetrates the cleaner unit 36 in the longitudinal direction, and is disposed on the upper part of the waste toner collecting bottle 67. The waste toner is discharged from the cleaner unit 36 by the rotation of the screw 66 and is collected in the waste toner collection bottle 67.

[Waste toner transport mechanism]
FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the waste toner conveying member 62.

  The waste toner removed by the cleaning blade 33 is transported to the screw 66 by the reciprocating motion of the waste toner transport member 62 and then transported in one direction by the screw 66. For this reason, the amount of waste toner in the screw 66 is greater on the downstream side than on the upstream side in the toner transport direction. Further, when printing of an image with a high printing rate continues and the amount of secondary transfer residual toner increases, the amount of waste toner in the cleaner unit becomes large.

  Then, on the downstream side of the screw 66 in the toner conveyance direction, the waste toner conveyed by the waste toner conveyance member 62 becomes difficult to flow into the screw 66, and as a result, the waste toner starts to stagnate in the waste toner conveyance member 62 portion. Furthermore, when this state continues, the toner aggregates due to the pressure between the toners, and the movement of the waste toner starts to be inhibited. Even on the upstream side where the toners start to aggregate, the waste toner continues to be supplied but is not discharged, so the toner starts to aggregate. By chaining in this way, waste toner may not be discharged at all.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 12, the shape of the waste toner conveying member which is the first waste toner conveying member is a lattice-like shape at the downstream side in the toner conveying direction of the screw 66 which is the first region where the toner is likely to concentrate. The frame is tilted. That is, the lattice-shaped transport unit 70 includes lattices 70a and 70b having different shapes for transporting toner to the first region h1 and the second region h2 in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 33. Here, the first region h1 is downstream of the screw 66 in the toner conveyance direction. On the other hand, the second region h2 is upstream of the screw 66 in the toner conveyance direction. Therefore, as described above, the amount of toner conveyed by the waste toner conveying member 62 and conveyed by the screw 66 from one side in the longitudinal direction to the other side is the second region h2 in the first region h1. Become more. In the waste toner transport member 62, the lattice 70a of the first region h1 has the second region h1 such that the first region h1 has a greater toner transport force in the longitudinal direction than the second region h2. Compared with the lattice 70b in the area h2, the inclination is provided. With this configuration, when the waste toner conveying member 62 reciprocates, the waste toner that tends to accumulate on the downstream side in the toner conveying direction by the screw 66 is moved to the downstream side by the reciprocating movement of the lattice-like waste toner conveying unit 70. Therefore, the pressure of the waste toner becomes uniform.

  Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the rotation speed of the waste toner transport member in order to improve the waste toner transport capability in the first area where the toner is concentrated, and the waste toner is stagnated in the vicinity of the cleaning blade, resulting in poor cleaning. Can be prevented.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the length of the screw 66 of the waste toner conveying member 62 is longer than that of the lattice 70a in the first region h1 where the amount of waste toner increases, compared to the lattice 70b in the second region h2. The shape is such that the toner conveyance force in the direction (toner conveyance direction) increases. Specifically, in the waste toner conveying member, the grid 70a in the first area h1 is inclined compared to the grid 70b in the second area h2. As a result, waste toner tends to accumulate on the downstream side of the screw 66 in the toner conveyance direction, and it is possible to reduce the number of revolutions of the waste toner conveyance member while leveling the waste toner and preventing the occurrence of poor cleaning. Can be improved. That is, even when the amount of waste toner differs in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the waste toner transport member reciprocates, the waste toner transport member transports the waste toner without reducing the durability of the waste toner transport member. Capability can be secured.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, when the ambient temperature is different in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 33, the toner conveyance force is larger in the first region than in the second region in the longitudinal direction of the waste toner conveyance member. The shape of the lattice is different. In addition, since the schematic configuration of the entire image forming apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, members having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

[Main body airflow of image forming apparatus]
FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically illustrating the image forming apparatus. The air heated by the fixing device (fixing means) 18 is forcibly discharged by the fan 68 constituting the air blowing means, and the outside air flows in instead to prevent the temperature of the image forming apparatus from rising. In FIG. 13, air flows from the back side of the drawing toward the front side.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically showing an air flow (air flow) in the image forming apparatus.

  The air blowing means has a fan 68 and a louver 69. The air blowing means having the fan 68 is provided between the cleaner unit 36 and the fixing device 18. By rotating the fan 68, the air heated by the fixing device 18 is discharged to the other side in the longitudinal direction while sucking outside air from one side in the longitudinal direction where the louver 69 is provided. That is, the fan 68 forcibly exhausts the air in the image forming apparatus heated by the fixing device 18, and new air flows from the outside of the image forming apparatus through the louver 69. Therefore, the temperature in the image forming apparatus can be kept constant. Also in the cleaner unit 36, the temperature rise is suppressed, and it becomes possible to prevent the waste toner from sticking due to the temperature rise, the waste toner puncture from the cleaner unit 36, and the poor cleaning.

[Waste toner transport mechanism]
FIG. 15 is a schematic view of the waste toner conveying member 62 as viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 14, since air flows from the right side to the left side, the temperature of the cleaner unit 36 has a temperature gradient such that the right side is lower and the left side is higher in FIG. When the temperature is high and the waste toner pressure is high, the toners aggregate and the movement of the waste toner starts to be inhibited. Then, even in the upstream side of the air flow direction in which the toners start to aggregate, the waste toner continues to be supplied but is not discharged, so the toner starts to aggregate. By chaining in this way, waste toner may not be discharged at all.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, the shape of the waste toner conveying member is inclined with a grid-like frame on the high temperature side, which is the first region where the toner tends to concentrate. That is, the lattice-shaped transport unit 70 includes lattices 70a and 70b having different shapes for transporting toner to the first region h1 and the second region h2 in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 33. Here, the first region h <b> 1 is the downstream side in the air flow direction by the air blowing means and the other side in the longitudinal direction where the fan 68 is provided, which is the air discharge side. On the other hand, the second region h2 is on the upstream side in the direction of air flow by the blowing means and on the one side in the longitudinal direction where the louver 69 is provided, which is the side for sucking outside air. Therefore, as described above, the temperature of the toner stored in the waste toner container 64 is higher in the first region h1 than in the second region h2. In the waste toner transport member 62, the lattice 70a of the first region h1 has the second region h1 such that the first region h1 has a greater toner transport force in the longitudinal direction than the second region h2. Compared with the lattice 70b in the area h2, the inclination is provided. With this configuration, the waste toner conveying member 62 reciprocates, so that the waste toner moves from the high temperature side to the low side while moving to the waste toner container 64. Therefore, the waste toner is leveled in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade, and the waste toner pressure on the higher temperature side can be reduced, and as a result, toner aggregation can be prevented.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the cleaning blade screw 66 of the waste toner conveying member 62 is compared with the lattice 70a in the first region h1 where the amount of waste toner is larger than the lattice 70b in the second region h2. The shape is such that the toner conveying force in the longitudinal direction increases. Specifically, in the waste toner conveying member, the grid 70a in the first area h1 is inclined compared to the grid 70b in the second area h2. As a result, the temperature of the waste toner on the downstream side in the air blowing direction by the fan 68 is likely to rise, and it is possible to suppress the rotation speed of the waste toner conveying member while leveling the waste toner and preventing the occurrence of poor cleaning. Can be improved. In other words, even when the ambient temperature differs in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade, the waste toner transport member can ensure the waste toner transport capability without reducing the durability of the waste toner transport member. Is prevented from adhering to the conveying member.

[Other Embodiments]
In the above-described embodiment, the shape of the grid-like waste toner conveying member is such that the grid in the second area is parallel to the cleaning blade 33, while the grid in the first area is arranged obliquely. It is intended to level the waste toner while it is being transported. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The shape of the waste toner conveying member may be any other shape as long as the first region lattice has a larger toner conveying force in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 33 than the second region lattice. It may be. Specifically, for example, the lattice of the first region increases the density of the interval of the lattice compared to the lattice of the second region, and the width of the member that becomes the lattice skeleton is increased. The structure which provides an angle in the surface which extrudes may be sufficient. The same effect can be obtained by this configuration.

  In the above-described embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt is exemplified as the image carrier, but is not limited thereto. The image carrier may be other image carriers such as a drum-shaped photosensitive member (photosensitive drum), a belt-shaped photosensitive member, a drum-shaped intermediate transfer member, and a transfer material carrier. The same effect can be obtained by applying the present invention to a cleaning device (cleaning member, waste toner container, waste toner transport member) for removing toner from these image carriers.

  In the above-described embodiment, four process cartridges that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body are used. However, the number of the used process cartridges is not limited, and may be set as appropriate.

  In the above-described embodiment, as a process cartridge that is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, a process that integrally includes a photosensitive drum and a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit as a process unit that acts on the photosensitive drum. A cartridge was illustrated. However, the process cartridge is not limited to this, and may be a process cartridge integrally including any one of a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit in addition to the photosensitive drum.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printer is exemplified as the image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the image forming apparatus may be another image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine, or another image forming apparatus such as a multi-function machine combining these functions. Alternatively, an image forming apparatus that uses a transfer material carrier and sequentially superimposes and transfers the toner images of the respective colors onto the transfer material carried on the transfer material carrier. The same effect can be obtained by applying the present invention to these image forming apparatuses.

h1 ... first area h2 ... second area 18 ... fixing device 31 ... intermediate transfer belt 33 ... cleaning blade 36 ... cleaner unit 62 ... waste toner conveying member 63 ... rotating shaft 64 ... waste toner container 66 ... screw 68 ... fan 69 ... Louvre 70 ... Conveying parts 70a, 70b ... Grid 71 ... Metal rod

Claims (9)

An image carrier, a cleaning member that contacts the longitudinal direction of the image carrier to remove toner from the image carrier, a waste toner storage member that contains toner removed by the cleaning member, and a longitudinal direction of the cleaning member A waste toner conveying member that conveys the toner removed by the cleaning member by reciprocating in a direction orthogonal to the direction, and the amount of toner removed by the cleaning member in the longitudinal direction of the image carrier The first area is more image forming apparatus than the second area,
The waste toner conveying member has a lattice having different shapes in the first region and the second region in the longitudinal direction, and the lattice of the first region is more than the lattice of the second region. An image forming apparatus having a shape having a large toner conveying force in a longitudinal direction.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first area is an area where a toner image having a test pattern is formed on the image carrier at a predetermined timing.   2. The first area according to claim 1, wherein the first area is an area that protrudes from the transfer material to both sides in the longitudinal direction during borderless printing for forming a toner image larger than the transfer material on the image carrier. Image forming apparatus. An image carrier, a cleaning member that contacts the longitudinal direction of the image carrier to remove toner from the image carrier, a waste toner storage member that contains toner removed by the cleaning member, and a longitudinal direction of the cleaning member A first waste toner transport member that transports the toner removed by the cleaning member by reciprocating in a direction orthogonal to the direction, and a second waste toner transport that transports the toner removed by the cleaning member in the longitudinal direction. An image forming apparatus having a member,
The first waste toner transport member has a lattice having different shapes on the upstream side and the downstream side in the toner transport direction of the second waste toner transport member, and the downstream lattice is compared with the upstream lattice. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the toner has a large conveying force in the longitudinal direction. An image carrier, a cleaning member that contacts the longitudinal direction of the image carrier to remove toner from the image carrier, a waste toner storage member that contains toner removed by the cleaning member, and a longitudinal direction of the cleaning member A waste toner conveying member that conveys the toner removed by the cleaning member by reciprocating in a direction orthogonal to the direction; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image to the transfer material by heating; the waste toner conveying member and the fixing unit An air blower for discharging the air heated by the fixing unit to the other side in the longitudinal direction while sucking outside air from the one side in the longitudinal direction,
In the longitudinal direction of the waste toner conveying member, when the temperature of the waste toner conveying member is the first region, the low side is the second region,
The waste toner conveying member has a lattice having different shapes in the first region and the second region in the longitudinal direction, and the lattice of the first region is more than the lattice of the second region. An image forming apparatus having a shape having a large toner conveying force in a longitudinal direction.   6. The waste toner conveying member according to claim 1, wherein the grid of the first region is inclined as compared with the grid of the second region. The image forming apparatus described in the item.   2. The waste toner conveying member according to claim 1, wherein the grid of the first area has a higher density of grid intervals than the grid of the second area. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5.   2. The waste toner conveying member according to claim 1, wherein a width of a member serving as a lattice skeleton of the lattice of the first region is larger than that of the lattice of the second region. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   2. The waste toner conveying member according to claim 1, wherein the grid of the first region has an angle on the surface from which the toner of the grid is pushed out as compared with the grid of the second region. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5.

Images