JP2013130752A - Waste toner recovery container, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waste toner recovery container that achieves both a reduction in size of an image forming apparatus and an increase in volume of the waste toner recovery container with the effective use of a dead space in the image forming apparatus without causing an increase in costs of the image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A waste toner recovery container 100 is configured to serve as a drive roller 32 and a tension roller 33 that are disposed at an inner peripheral part of an intermediate transfer belt such as an intermediate transfer belt 31, and also as a belt frame member that supports respective rollers such as respective primary transfer rollers 34. In particular, the waste toner recovery container 100 is integrated with a belt frame member composed of a front plate 36a and a rear plate 36b, and disposed at the inner peripheral part of the intermediate transfer belt 31.

Description

  The present invention relates to a waste toner collecting container provided in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using toner such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, a plotter, etc., or a multifunction machine having a plurality of these functions, and the waste toner collecting container. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including

  In recent years, these electrophotographic image forming apparatuses have been made compact in the flow of energy saving and space saving, and miniaturization of devices and components arranged in the apparatus is desired. In addition, with the spread of electrophotographic image forming apparatuses to small-scale offices and private homes, it is desired to reduce the number of maintenance work by users.

  Here, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that uses toner, waste toner that is not transferred to a recording medium and is not transferred onto a latent image carrier or intermediate transfer member is discharged, and the discharged waste toner is discharged. A waste toner collecting container for storing and collecting is provided. However, in recent years, as image forming apparatuses have become more compact as described above, it has become difficult to secure a volume of a waste toner collection container that can store a sufficient amount of waste toner.

  Therefore, in an intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus, a configuration in which a waste toner collecting container is conventionally disposed in a place where nothing is disposed and a dead space is proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 describe a configuration in which a waste toner collection container is disposed in an inner peripheral space of an intermediate transfer belt in an intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus using an intermediate transfer belt. Yes.

  However, the configurations described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are configured on the assumption that the user replaces the waste toner collection container. It is difficult to achieve both the further downsizing of the image forming apparatus and the increase of the waste toner storage capacity for reducing the number of maintenance operations by the user while maintaining the mechanism for replacing the waste toner collecting container. This is due to the following reason. In an image forming apparatus using an intermediate transfer belt, there is a face plate that is a frame member that supports each roller disposed on the inner peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer belt, and a replacement port for replacing a waste toner collection container is sufficiently large. The size of the waste toner collection container is limited. Also, if a large replacement port for replacing the waste toner collecting container is provided in the downsized face plate, the strength of the face plate is lowered and the stability of the belt running of the intermediate transfer belt is impaired, and image defects such as color misregistration occur. The possibility of occurrence increases, which is not preferable.

  For these reasons, it is an important issue how to reduce the size of the image forming apparatus and increase the waste toner storage capacity and how to efficiently fill the waste toner collection container with the waste toner. Yes. In addition, when the position where the waste toner collecting container is disposed is excessively separated from each cleaning device that discharges the waste toner, the conveyance path from each cleaning device becomes long, resulting in an increase in cost of the image forming apparatus. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide the following waste toner collection container. The waste toner collection container can effectively reduce the size of the image forming apparatus and increase the waste toner storage capacity by effectively using the dead space in the image forming apparatus, and does not increase the cost of the image forming apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 provides an image forming apparatus for forming an image by transferring a toner image formed on a latent image carrier onto a recording medium via an intermediate transfer belt. A waste toner collecting container that collects waste toner conveyed from a plurality of cleaning devices via a conveyance path, and also serves as a frame member that supports each roller disposed on the inner peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer belt; It is integrated with the frame member, and is arranged on the inner peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer belt.
In the present invention, a waste toner collecting container for collecting waste toner conveyed from a cleaning device provided on a latent image carrier or an intermediate transfer belt is disposed on the inner peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer belt. The part that became the dead space of can be used effectively. In addition, the waste toner collection container is integrated with the frame member that also serves as a frame member that supports each roller disposed on the inner peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer belt, and the waste toner collection container is not replaced. There is no need to provide an exchange port.
Since there is no need to provide an exchange port in this way, the size of the waste toner collection container is not limited by the exchange port for exchanging the waste toner collection container. In addition, since the holes provided in the face plate of the frame member need only be small holes corresponding to the transport path for transporting the waste toner from a plurality of cleaning devices, the possibility of occurrence of problems due to the reduction in the face plate strength is low. it can.
Therefore, as long as the operation of each roller disposed on the inner peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer belt is not hindered, the space on the inner peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer belt is disposed in the waste toner collecting container without causing a reduction in the strength of the face plate of the frame member. Available for space.
Therefore, the inner peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer belt, which has conventionally been a dead space, can be used effectively, and both the downsizing of the apparatus and the increase in the waste toner storage capacity can be achieved. Further, since the waste toner collecting container is close to the cleaning device provided on the latent image carrier or the intermediate transfer belt, the waste toner conveyance path becomes excessively long and the cost of the image forming apparatus is not increased.

  The present invention can effectively utilize the dead space in the image forming apparatus to achieve both the downsizing of the image forming apparatus and the increase in the waste toner storage capacity, and the waste toner recovery that does not increase the cost of the image forming apparatus. Can provide a container.

1 is an overall schematic diagram of a printer 300 according to a first embodiment which is an embodiment. FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an explanatory diagram of an image forming unit, an intermediate transfer unit, and a secondary transfer unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an arrangement of the cleaning device, the charging roller, and the photosensitive drum 1 in the image forming unit according to the first embodiment. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an intermediate transfer unit and a belt cleaning device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective explanatory view from the back side of the waste toner collecting container according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a waste toner collecting container according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a connecting portion of the waste toner collecting container according to the first embodiment. 7 is a perspective view from the back side of a first waste toner collection container and a second waste toner collection container according to Embodiment 2. FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a first waste toner collection container and a second waste toner collection container according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view illustrating an overall outline of a copying machine according to a second embodiment which is an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of an example related to a waste toner container provided in a copier according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of another example of the apparatus main body related to a waste toner container provided in the copier according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation panel provided in a copying machine according to a second embodiment.

Embodiment 1
Hereinafter, as an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, a plurality of examples of an embodiment of an electrophotographic color laser printer (hereinafter referred to as printer 300) (hereinafter, this embodiment will be referred to as Embodiment 1) will be given. I will explain. First, the configuration and operation of the printer 300 common to the embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the first embodiment, the printer 300 will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to a printer as an image forming apparatus, but a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printing machine, a multifunction machine in which these functions are combined, or the like. It can be applied to other devices.

  Here, FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of the printer 300 according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the image forming unit 10 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an image formation according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a section 20, an intermediate transfer unit 30, and a secondary transfer section 60.

The printer 300 according to the first exemplary embodiment is a tandem color laser printer using four color toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). As shown in FIG. 1, a sheet feeding unit 80 equipped with a sheet feeding cassette 81 capable of stacking and storing sheet-like recording media such as recording sheets (hereinafter referred to as sheets P) is provided at the bottom of the apparatus main body 200. The image forming unit 20 is disposed above the paper unit 80.
Next, the structure of each part is demonstrated including the operation | movement.

  In the image forming unit 20, image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K corresponding to the respective colors are arranged in the order of Y, M, C, and K from the right side in FIG. The intermediate transfer belt 31 is disposed along the extending direction. Further, an optical writing device 5 is disposed above each image forming unit 10. A secondary transfer unit 60 is disposed on the right side of the intermediate transfer unit 30 in FIG. 1, and a fixing device 70 is disposed above the secondary transfer unit 60.

  Each of the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K includes four image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K including photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K that are latent image carriers. . The image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K each include a charging roller 2, a developing device 3, a cleaning device 4 and the like corresponding to the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K for each color. It is stored in. Here, the configuration of each image forming unit 10 is the same except that the color of the toner used is different. Therefore, in the following description, the symbols Y, M, C, and K are omitted as appropriate. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 10 includes a photosensitive drum 1, a charging roller 2 that is a uniform charging unit that comes into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, and a developing roller 6 that is a developer carrier. The developed developing device 3 is arranged. Further, a cleaning device 4 having a cleaning blade 41 in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is also arranged.

  When the image forming operation is started, the charging roller 2 is uniformly charged on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 rotating in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2 in the dark (initializing with high potential). The photosensitive drum 1 is irradiated with a laser beam L based on image information from the optical writing device 5. By this irradiation, an electrostatic latent image consisting of a low potential portion where the potential on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is attenuated and a high potential portion due to the uniform charging is formed. As the photosensitive drum 1 rotates, the developing device 3 transfers the toner carried on the developing roller 6 supplied with the developer from the supply roller 7 to the low potential portion (or high potential portion) of the electrostatic latent image. Then, the toner image is developed (visualized). Thereafter, the developed toner image is conveyed toward the primary transfer portion facing the intermediate transfer belt 31 of the intermediate transfer unit 30 as the photosensitive drum 1 rotates. Then, the image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 31 with a primary transfer bias applied to the primary transfer roller 34 facing the intermediate transfer belt 31.

  The untransferred toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 without being transferred in the primary transfer portion is provided on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1 in the primary transfer portion, and is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. The cleaning blade 41 of the cleaning device 4 is scraped off. The transfer residual toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 41 becomes waste toner that is transported to a waste toner collection container 100 described later in detail by the transport screw 42 of the cleaning device 4.

  The formation of the electrostatic latent image as described above and the formation of the toner image by development are configured so that the timing is sequentially set in each image forming unit 10 as shown in FIG. Then, the toner images of the respective colors are primary-transferred so as to be sequentially superposed from the respective photosensitive drums 1 on the intermediate transfer belt 31 whose upper extending surface runs in the direction indicated by the arrow S (left side in the drawing), so that the full-color toner images are transferred. A toner image is carried on the intermediate transfer belt 31.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate transfer unit 30 includes an intermediate transfer belt 31 that carries a toner image, a driving roller 32 that stretches the intermediate transfer belt 31 at both ends on the inner peripheral side of the intermediate transfer belt 31, and a tension. A roller 33 is provided. As described above, the intermediate transfer belt 31 is mainly stretched by the two rollers of the driving roller 32 and the tension roller 33. Thereby, the size of the intermediate transfer unit 30 is reduced. Further, on the inner peripheral side of the intermediate transfer belt 31, there are metal primary transfer rollers 34 Y, 34 M, 34 C, and K that are opposed to the respective photosensitive drums 1 via the intermediate transfer belt 31 and a cleaning counter roller 35. ing.

  Moreover, it has the holding member (not shown) which hold | maintains each of these rollers rotatably at both ends. Then, the intermediate transfer belt 31 is rotationally driven and rotated, that is, travel driven by the rotation of the driving roller 32 in a state where the tension is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 31 by the tension roller 33. Here, as the intermediate transfer belt 31, an endless belt made of a heat-resistant material such as polyimide, polyamide, polycarbonate, TPE, or the like and adjusted to a medium resistance is used.

  Further, on the outer peripheral side of the intermediate transfer belt 31, a belt cleaning device 50 for cleaning the transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 31 after performing the secondary transfer onto the sheet P is provided in the secondary transfer portion. It is arranged downstream in the belt running direction. That is, the belt cleaning device is positioned at a position on the upstream side of the intermediate transfer belt 31 stretched between the drive roller 32 and the tension roller 33 on the downstream side in the belt running direction of the drive roller 32 and upstream of the image forming unit 10Y. 50 is arranged.

  The full-color toner image transferred and carried on the intermediate transfer belt 31 is collectively transferred to the sheet P conveyed from the paper supply unit 80 by the secondary transfer unit 60. That is, the fed sheet P is fed into the sheet by the friction pad 83 in the middle of the sheet feeding roller 82 from the sheet feeding cassette 81 provided in the sheet feeding unit 80 shown in FIG. The separated sheet P is moved toward the secondary transfer position where the secondary transfer roller 61 of the secondary transfer unit 60 and the drive roller 32 are arranged to face each other via the intermediate transfer belt 31. 84 is conveyed. The registration roller pair 84 conveys the sheet P in time with the full-color toner image carried and moved on the intermediate transfer belt 31, and the full-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 31 is transferred to the secondary transfer position. The secondary transfer is performed at once. The intermediate transfer belt 31 after the transfer is prepared for the transfer of the next toner image after the transfer residual toner is removed by the belt cleaning device 50 provided on the downstream side of the driving roller 32 in the belt running direction.

  The belt cleaning device 50 also has a belt cleaning blade 51 that opposes the cleaning facing roller 35 via the intermediate transfer belt 31 and scrapes off and removes residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 31. The belt cleaning blade 51 also has a collection screw 52 that conveys the transfer residual toner scraped from the intermediate transfer belt 31 toward the waste toner collection container 100. The transfer residual toner conveyed by the collection screw 52 becomes waste toner.

The sheet P on which the full-color toner image has been secondarily transferred after passing through the secondary transfer position is conveyed along the sheet conveyance path, and after being fixed by the fixing device 70, the sheet P passes through the sheet discharge roller 85. Then, the paper is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 86 which is a stacking unit. In this way, a series of image forming operations is completed, and the next image formation is prepared.
Next, the configuration of the waste toner collecting container 100 and the collection of waste toner conveyed from each cleaning device, which are the features of the first embodiment, will be described with reference to a plurality of examples.

Example 1
First, an explanation will be given from Example 1 as a first example of Embodiment 1 with reference to the drawings. Here, FIG. 4 is an arrangement explanatory view of the cleaning device 4, the charging roller 2, and the photosensitive drum 1 in the image forming unit 10 according to the present embodiment, where (a) is a cross-sectional explanatory view, and (b) is a cross-sectional explanatory view. FIG. 5A and 5B are explanatory views of the intermediate transfer unit 30 and the belt cleaning device 50 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional explanatory view in the vicinity of the belt cleaning device 50, and FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory perspective view of the waste toner collection container 100 according to this embodiment from the rear side of the apparatus, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional illustration of the waste toner collection container 100 according to this embodiment. FIG. 8 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the conveyance connecting portion 110 of the waste toner collecting container 100 according to the present embodiment.

  Before describing the configuration of the waste toner collection container 100 of this embodiment, first, the configuration of cleaning the transfer residual toner on the photosensitive drum 1 and transporting it toward the waste toner collection container 100 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 4A, the cleaning device 4 has a cleaning blade 41 made of urethane rubber or the like and a recovery screw 42 in the case. In FIG. 4A, the transfer residual toner on the photosensitive drum 1 rotating in the arrow direction (clockwise) is removed from the photosensitive drum 1 by the cleaning blade 41. And it is conveyed by the collection | recovery screw 42 in the back | inner side of the apparatus main body of the back | inner side of the apparatus main body of the back arrow direction of FIG. Thus, the case of the cleaning device 4 forms a part of the waste toner conveyance path, and the collection screw 42 serves as the conveyance means.

  Next, the configuration in which the transfer residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 31 is cleaned and conveyed toward the waste toner collection container 100 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 5A, the belt cleaning device 50 includes a belt cleaning blade 51 and a recovery screw 52 made of urethane rubber or the like in the case. Here, the tip of the belt cleaning blade 51 is disposed so as to face the cleaning facing roller 35 with the intermediate transfer belt 31 interposed therebetween. In FIG. 5A, the residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 31 stretched around the drive roller 32 rotating in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise) is photosensitized by the cleaning blade 41 as the intermediate transfer belt 31 moves. It is removed from the body drum 1.

  And it is conveyed by the collection | recovery screw 52 in the back | inner side of the apparatus main body of the back | inner side of the solid line | wire direction shown in the back side in FIG.5 (a) figure, ie, the perspective view of FIG. As described above, the case of the belt cleaning device 50 forms a part of the waste toner conveyance path, and the collection screw 52 serves as the conveyance means. Here, in the intermediate transfer unit 30 of the present embodiment, a drive motor 39 that rotationally drives each roller and drive transmission means such as a gear of each roller are arranged on the front side of the apparatus main body 200. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a drive motor 39 that rotates each roller and drive transmission means such as a gear of each roller are arranged on the back side of the apparatus main body 200, and waste toner is conveyed to the front side by a collection screw of each cleaning device. It is good also as a structure.

  As described above, the waste toner collection container 100 of the present embodiment for collecting the waste toner conveyed (discharged) from each cleaning device has a frame of the belt unit in the intermediate transfer unit 30 as shown in FIG. It has an integrated configuration. Here, FIG. 6 shows an aspect in which the frame of the belt unit of the intermediate transfer unit 30 in a state where the intermediate transfer belt 31 is removed is viewed obliquely from above on the back side. In the frame of the belt unit, a front plate 36 a and a rear plate 36 b that support each roller are connected by a waste toner bottle portion 101 having a hollow inside to constitute a waste toner collecting container 100. Then, the primary transfer rollers 34Y, 34M, 34K, the cleaning facing roller 35, the driving roller 32, and the tension roller 33 are respectively incorporated in this frame. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, in the cross-sectional view of the waste toner bottle portion 101, the vicinity of the portion where the primary transfer roller 34 and the cleaning counter roller 35 are arranged has a concave shape. Thus, it is comprised so that rotation of each roller may not be inhibited by setting it as a concave shape.

  On the other hand, waste toner receiving holes 37Y, M, C, and K corresponding to the cleaning devices 4Y, M, C, and K and waste toner receiving holes 37B corresponding to the belt cleaning device 50 are open in the rear plate 36b. Then, the waste toner is transported by each transport means, and is stored and recovered from each waste toner receiving hole 37 into the waste toner recovery container 100. It is also possible to put a vibrating member or a stirring member in the waste toner collecting container 100. With this configuration, the height of the waste toner in the waste toner collection container 100 can be made uniform, and a longer printing operation can be guaranteed. Further, a waste toner full detection means is provided in the waste toner collection container 100, and when detected, the image forming operation is stopped or a notification is given to the user to prevent waste toner leakage. You can also.

  Next, the conveyance to the waste toner collecting container 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 8 using the cleaning device 4 for the photosensitive drum 1 provided in each image forming unit 10 as an example. The recovery screw 42 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is connected to a waste toner recovery container 100 integrated with the intermediate transfer unit via a transport connecting portion 110 as shown in FIG. . Moreover, the connection part conveyance screw 111 is provided in the inside of the conveyance connection part 110, and it is comprised so that the collection | recovery screw 42 and the connection part conveyance screw 111 may rotate in conjunction. As a result of the rotating operation in this manner, the transfer residual toner removed from the photosensitive drum 1 by the cleaning device 4 is transported to the waste toner collection container 100 in the intermediate transfer unit 30 as waste toner and stored. Will be collected. Here, the waste toner from the belt cleaning device 50 can be similarly transported, stored and collected.

  Further, in this embodiment, the conveyance connecting portion 110 can be configured to be removable from each waste toner receiving hole 37 in the intermediate transfer unit 30, and there is no problem in maintenance and exchangeability. Further, when the transport connecting portion 110 is configured to be removable, the drive motor 39 and the drive transmission means of each roller shown in FIG. 5B are disposed on the back side of the apparatus main body 200, and are discarded by each cleaning device. It is better to set the toner transport direction to the front side.

(Example 2)
Next, Example 2 which is a second example of Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment and the first embodiment, only the following points are concerned. In the printer 300 of the present embodiment, in addition to the first waste toner collection container 100 (hereinafter referred to as the first waste toner collection container 100) provided in the intermediate transfer unit 30, the second waste toner collection container 100 is a second waste toner collection container. The toner collecting container 120 is provided. In addition, the conveyance connecting portion 110 that connects the first waste toner collecting container 100 and each cleaning device is provided on the front side of the apparatus main body 200, and the second waste toner collecting container 120 is provided on the back side. In addition, a conveyance connecting portion 121 that connects the first waste toner collection container 100 and the second waste toner collection container 120 is provided on the back side of the apparatus main body 200. Since other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  Further, with respect to the point that the transport connecting portion 110 that connects the first waste toner collecting container 100 and each cleaning device is provided on the front side of the apparatus main body 200, the transport connecting portion 110 according to the first embodiment is configured to be removable. It can be configured in the same way. Therefore, the description relating to the point that the transport connecting portion 110 that connects the first waste toner collecting container 100 and each cleaning device is provided on the front side of the apparatus main body 200 will be omitted. Here, FIG. 9 is a perspective view from the back side of the first waste toner collection container 100 and the second waste toner collection container 120 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the first waste toner collection container 100 and the second waste toner collection container 120 according to the first embodiment.

  In the printer 300 of this embodiment, as shown in a perspective view from the back side in FIG. 9, the second waste toner is disposed at the lower part of the back side of the main body 200 of the first waste toner collection container 100 provided in the intermediate transfer unit 30. A toner recovery container 120 is provided. Then, the waste toner discharge hole 38 provided in the rear plate 36 b constituting the first waste toner collection container 100 and the waste toner connection hole 122 provided in the upper part of the second waste toner collection container 120 are connected by the transport connection part 121. doing. A toner conveyance member such as a coil is provided inside the conveyance connection unit 121, and the waste toner collected and collected in the first waste toner collection container 100 is conveyed to the second waste toner collection container 120. It is possible.

  Further, the conveyance connecting portion 121 is formed so as to be inserted into the first waste toner collecting container 100, and is configured so that the waste toner does not leak when the belt frame of the intermediate transfer unit 30 is inserted or removed. Here, the broken line on the rear side shown in FIG. 9 is a rear plate 212 that faces and is opposite to the rear plate 36b of the intermediate transfer unit 30, and is formed by the rear plate 212 and the rear exterior plate as shown in FIG. A second waste toner collection container 120 is disposed in the lower part of the space. And the conveyance connection part 110 is arrange | positioned at the front plate 211 side. In the upper space D of the space formed by the rear plate 212 and the rear exterior plate, a drive motor 39 that drives the intermediate transfer unit 30, a drive motor such as the photosensitive drum 1, and an electrical board are usually arranged. The Accordingly, the lower part of the upper space D is next to the sheet feeding unit 80 via the rear plate 212, and a relatively large space is generated. By providing the second waste toner collection container in the portion where the margin is generated, the dead space separated from each cleaning device can be effectively utilized as a waste toner collection container, contributing to the downsizing of the printer 300 as the image forming apparatus. it can.

  Further, in the first exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the configuration of a printer 300 that is an image forming apparatus is configured such that each cleaning device is positioned above the intermediate transfer unit 30. With this configuration, waste toner can be transported using gravity drop, and the transport efficiency is improved.

[Embodiment 2]
Next, as an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, an embodiment of an electrophotographic color copying machine (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine 400) (hereinafter referred to as Embodiment 2) will be described with reference to the drawings. explain. In the second embodiment, the copying machine 400 will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to a copying machine as an image forming apparatus, but is a printer, a facsimile machine, a printing machine, or a multifunction machine that combines these functions. It is also applicable to such devices. In addition, components and the like having the same functions as those in the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals as appropriate, and configurations and operations similar to those in the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

  Here, FIG. 11 is a front cross-sectional view (cross-section BB ′ of FIG. 12) showing an overall outline of the copier 400 according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a waste provided in the copier 400 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of an example relating to a toner container (AA ′ cross section in FIG. 11). FIGS. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional explanatory views of another example of the apparatus main body 200 relating to the waste toner container provided in the copying machine 400 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13A is an explanatory view before setting, and FIG. 13B is an explanatory view after setting. It is. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the operation panel 220 provided in the copying machine 400 according to the second embodiment.

The copier 400 according to the second embodiment is a tandem color copier that uses toner of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). As shown in FIG. 11, a sheet feeding unit 80 equipped with a sheet feeding cassette 81 capable of stacking and storing sheet-like recording media such as recording sheets (hereinafter referred to as “sheets P”) is disposed below the apparatus main body 200. ing. The image forming unit 20 is disposed above the paper feeding unit 80 via a second waste toner collecting container 130 which is a second waste toner collecting container described later in detail. Bottles 15Y, M, C, and K are arranged. A scanner unit 90 that reads a document is disposed above the apparatus main body 200 of the copying machine 400.
Next, the structure of each part is demonstrated including the operation | movement.

  In the image forming unit 20, image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K corresponding to the respective colors are arranged in the order of Y, M, C, and K from the left side in FIG. The intermediate transfer belt 31 is disposed along the extending direction. An optical writing device 5 is disposed below each image forming unit 10. A secondary transfer unit 60 is disposed on the right side of the intermediate transfer unit 30 in FIG. 1, and a fixing device 70 is disposed above the secondary transfer unit 60.

  Each of the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K includes four image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K including photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K that are latent image carriers. . Each of the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K is provided with a charging roller 2, a developing device 3, a cleaning device 4, and the like corresponding to the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, respectively. Here, the configuration of each unit 10 is the same except that the color of the toner to be used is different. Therefore, in the following description, the symbols Y, M, C, and K are omitted as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the image forming unit 10 includes a photosensitive drum 1, a charging roller 2 that is a uniform charging unit that comes into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, and a developer carrier, as in the first embodiment. A developing device 3 having a developing roller 6 as a body is disposed. Further, a cleaning device 4 having a cleaning blade 41 in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is also arranged (see the image forming unit 10Y in FIG. 11).

  When the image forming operation starts, the charging roller 2 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 rotating in the clockwise direction. On the uniformly charged photosensitive drum 1, image information is supplied from the optical writing device 5. The laser light L that has been optically modulated based on the above is irradiated. The image information at this time is, for example, the image information of the original read by the scanner unit 90 by the arithmetic unit, and the image information to be exposed on each photosensitive drum 1 is the color information of the desired full-color image of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. This is monochrome image information that has been decomposed into By this irradiation, an electrostatic latent image consisting of a low potential portion where the potential on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is attenuated and a high potential portion due to the uniform charging is formed.

  As the photosensitive drum 1 rotates, the developing device 3 transfers the toner carried on the developing roller 6 supplied with the developer from the supply roller 7 to the low potential portion (or high potential portion) of the electrostatic latent image. Then, it is developed as a toner image to make a visible image. Thereafter, the developed toner image is conveyed toward the primary transfer portion facing the intermediate transfer belt 31 of the intermediate transfer unit 30 as the photosensitive drum 1 rotates. Then, the image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 31 with a primary transfer bias applied to the primary transfer roller 34 facing the intermediate transfer belt 31.

  The untransferred toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 without being transferred in the primary transfer portion is provided on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1 in the primary transfer portion, and is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. The cleaning blade 41 of the cleaning device 4 is scraped off. The transfer residual toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 41 becomes waste toner conveyed to the second waste toner collecting container 130 by the conveyance screw 42 of the cleaning device 4. The photosensitive drum 1 from which the transfer residual toner has been scraped off is neutralized by a neutralizing device (not shown), and the surface potential is initialized by the charging roller 2 to prepare for the next image formation.

  The formation of the electrostatic latent image as described above and the formation of the toner image by development are configured so that the timing is sequentially set in each image forming unit 10 as shown in FIG. Then, the toner images of the respective colors are primary-transferred so as to be sequentially superposed from the respective photosensitive drums 1 on the intermediate transfer belt 31 whose upper extending surface runs in the direction indicated by the arrow S (left side in the drawing), so that the full-color toner images are transferred. A toner image is carried on the intermediate transfer belt 31.

  Further, each toner bottle 15 disposed above the image forming unit 20 is configured to transport toner to each corresponding image forming unit 10 and replenish the toner. By adopting such a configuration, it is usually only necessary to replace the toner bottle, so that the operation cost of the user can be reduced.

  The intermediate transfer unit 30 includes an intermediate transfer belt 31 that carries a toner image, and a driving roller 32 and a tension roller 33 that stretch the intermediate transfer belt 31 at both ends on the inner peripheral side of the intermediate transfer belt 31. . As described above, the intermediate transfer belt 31 is mainly stretched by the two rollers of the driving roller 32 and the tension roller 33. Further, on the inner peripheral side of the intermediate transfer belt 31, primary transfer rollers 34Y, 34M, 34C, and 34K that face the respective photosensitive drums 1 via the intermediate transfer belt 31 and a cleaning counter roller 35 are provided. . Moreover, it has the holding member (not shown) which hold | maintains each of these rollers rotatably at both ends. A first waste toner collection container 170 (not shown), which is a first waste toner collection container described later, is provided.

  Then, in a state where the tension is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 31 by the tension roller 33, the drive roller 32 is rotationally driven by the drive motor 39 shown in FIG. 12, and the rotation of the drive roller 32 causes the intermediate transfer belt 31 to be rotationally driven. Drive to drive. When the intermediate transfer belt 31 is driven to run, the other rollers are driven to rotate. Here, the intermediate transfer belt 31 is configured by a flexible endless belt.

  Further, on the outer peripheral side of the intermediate transfer belt 31, a belt cleaning device 50 for cleaning the transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 31 after performing the secondary transfer onto the sheet P is provided in the secondary transfer portion. It is arranged downstream in the belt running direction. That is, the belt cleaning device 50 is disposed at a position near the upstream side of the tension roller 33 in the belt running direction on the upper extended surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31 that is stretched between the drive roller 32 and the tension roller 33.

  The full-color toner image transferred and carried on the intermediate transfer belt 31 is collectively transferred to the sheet P conveyed from the paper supply unit 80 by the secondary transfer unit 60. That is, the sheet P is fed into the paper transport path by the paper feed roller 82 from the paper feed cassette 81 provided in the paper feed unit 80 shown in FIG. Then, the toner image is conveyed by the registration roller pair 84 toward the secondary transfer position where the secondary transfer roller 61 of the secondary transfer unit 60 and the driving roller 32 are disposed to face each other via the intermediate transfer belt 31. The registration roller pair 84 conveys the sheet P in synchronization with the full-color toner image that is carried and moved on the intermediate transfer belt 31.

  Then, the full-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 31 is secondarily transferred collectively at the secondary transfer position. After the transfer, the intermediate transfer belt 31 is prepared for the transfer of the next toner image by removing the transfer residual toner by the belt cleaning device 50 provided in the vicinity of the upstream side of the tension roller 33 in the belt running direction. Here, in the secondary transfer unit 60, a transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity of the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31 is applied to the secondary transfer roller 61, thereby the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31. Are collectively transferred onto the sheet P.

  The belt cleaning device 50 also has a belt cleaning blade 51 that opposes the cleaning facing roller 35 via the intermediate transfer belt 31 and scrapes off and removes residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 31. The belt cleaning blade 51 also has a collection screw 52 that conveys the transfer residual toner scraped from the intermediate transfer belt 31 toward the first waste toner collection container 170. The transfer residual toner conveyed by the collection screw 52 becomes waste toner.

  The sheet P on which the full-color toner image has been secondarily transferred after passing through the secondary transfer position is conveyed along the paper conveyance path, and heat and pressure are applied by the fixing device 70 to melt and fix the toner image. Is done. The sheet P on which the toner image has been fixed, that is, the printed sheet P, is stacked on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 200 via a paper discharge roller 85 positioned at the end of the conveyance path provided near the upper portion of the apparatus main body 200. The paper is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 86 as a part. In this way, a series of image forming operations is completed, and the next image formation is prepared.

The copying machine 400, which is an image forming apparatus configured as described above, is provided with the four image forming units 10 facing the intermediate transfer belt 31 as described above, and sequentially superimposes toner images of each color on the intermediate transfer belt 31. Transcript. For this reason, the image forming time is significantly shortened compared to the type that has one image forming means and has a four-color developing device, transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt, and then transfers it onto the paper. I can do it. In addition, since the stacking unit is formed on the upper part of the apparatus main body 200, the stacking unit does not jump out from the apparatus main body 200 to the surroundings, and the installation area and the occupied area can be reduced.
Next, the configuration of each waste toner collection container and the collection of waste toner conveyed from each cleaning device, which are features of the second embodiment, will be described. Here, each waste toner collecting container according to the second embodiment is characterized in that the waste toner container is set to be expanded when set in the copying machine 400 which is an image forming apparatus. By expanding at the time of setting as described above, the dead space in the copying machine 400 can be effectively used as a waste toner collecting container with a simple configuration, and a large amount of waste toner can be accommodated and collected at a low cost and at a low cost. Can't do it.

  In the second embodiment, the second waste toner collection container 130 receives waste toner discharged from each cleaning device 4 corresponding to each photosensitive drum 1, and the first waste toner collection container 170 (not shown) from the belt cleaning device 50. Collect the discharged toner. The second waste toner collection container 130 is disposed below the cleaning devices 4, and the first waste toner collection container 170 is disposed in a belt frame that holds the intermediate transfer belt 31. The second waste toner collection container 130 and the first waste toner collection container 170 differ from the cleaning device that discharges the collected waste toner only in the point where it is provided, and the basic configuration is the same. . Accordingly, the second waste toner collection container 130 will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the second waste toner collecting container 130 has a waste toner container 131 made of a synthetic polymer compound having plasticity. Specifically, the waste toner container 131 of the second waste toner collection container 130 of Embodiment 2 is formed of (low density) polyethylene. Further, as another synthetic polymer compound material, polyvinyl chloride resin, polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, polyvinyl acetate, polytetrafluoroethylene, ABS resin, AS resin, acrylic resin, or the like may be used. For example, if the copying machine 400 in which the second waste toner collection container 130 is set is a short-life apparatus, the second waste toner collection container 130 itself is also deferred, thereby eliminating the replacement work by the user and the toner scattering due to the replacement work. be able to. Then, since it is not necessary to consider the replacement work, it is possible to select a low-cost material that is relatively weak against mechanical stress.

  In the second waste toner collecting container 130, the waste toner scraped off the transfer residual toner on the photosensitive drum 1 is conveyed directly from the waste toner discharge port 133 of the cleaning device 4 to the second waste toner collecting container 130. (Not shown). The copying machine 400 is a tandem image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming units 10. For this purpose, a connecting portion 132 is provided for each cleaning device 4 so that the waste toner discharge port 133 of the cleaning device 4 provided in each image forming unit 10 enters the second waste toner collection container 130. . By this connecting portion 132, the waste toner discharged from the waste toner discharge port 133 of each cleaning device 4 is conveyed into the second waste toner collection container 130.

  The second waste toner collection container 130 is set in the apparatus main body 200 when the copying machine 400 is assembled. The folded waste toner storage portion 131 is set in the attachment port E, and the waste toner storage portion 131 is expanded by air. Let Specifically, the waste toner storage unit 131 includes a space between the optical writing device 5 and a swing plate 143 provided above a paper feeding unit 80, which will be described in detail later, a front side of the optical writing device 5, and It is set in the space on the back side of the paper supply unit 80 by being inflated with air. Then, the waste toner container 131 and the inside of the apparatus main body 200 are coupled by the container coupling means 144, and expand according to the shape of the space provided between the paper feed unit 80 and the optical writing device 5 shown in FIG. It is fixed while maintaining its shape. Here, the bottom surface of the second waste toner collection container 130 has an inclination, and the waste toner conveyed to the second waste toner collection container 130 falls by gravity and is conveyed to the back side by the inclination.

  As described above, when the second waste toner collecting container 130 is set, the waste toner container 131 is expanded and set, so that the degree of freedom of the shape of the waste toner container 131 can be increased. As a result, since the dead space in the copying machine 400 can be used as the waste toner container 131 with a simple configuration, it is possible to provide the second waste toner collection container 130 that can store a large amount of waste toner in a small space. Therefore, the dead space in the copying machine 400 can be effectively used to achieve both reduction in size of the copying machine 400 and increase in the waste toner storage capacity, and the second waste toner recovery that does not increase the cost of the copying machine 400. A container 130 can be provided.

  Further, the second waste toner collection container 130 is provided with a container swinging means 140 that promotes the conveyance of the waste toner collected in the waste toner container 131 to the back side. The container rocking means 140 for rocking the waste toner container 131 is mainly composed of an eccentric roller 141 and a rocking plate 143. The eccentric roller 141 is rotationally driven by a driving device (not shown) of the photosensitive drum 1K. The The eccentric roller 141 is supported by a swing arm 142 that rotatably supports the end of the swing plate 143 and moves the swing plate 143 up and down by the rotation of the eccentric roller 141. The bottom surface of the waste toner container 131 is in contact with the swing plate 143, and the waste toner container 131 is vibrated by the vertical movement of the swing plate 143, and the waste toner is moved to the back of the waste toner container 131 by the vibration. Conveyed to the side.

In the case of the first waste toner collecting container 170, since the first waste toner collecting container 170 is disposed in the belt frame that holds the intermediate transfer belt 31, the expanded shape holds each roller that the belt frame holds and the intermediate transfer belt 31 rotates and travels. Make the shape uninhibited. For example, as shown in the shape of FIG. 7 of the first embodiment described above, a portion where each roller to be held by the belt frame is recessed has an uneven portion, and the container is stretched around the belt frame. Configure as follows. With this configuration, waste toner can be effectively used in the belt frame that holds the intermediate transfer belt 31, that is, in the dead space of the intermediate transfer unit.
Next, FIG. 13A shows a modification example of another shape of the second waste toner collection container 130 that stores and collects the waste toner discharged from each cleaning device 4 corresponding to each photosensitive drum 1. , (B) will be described.

(Modification)
Here, FIGS. 13A and 13B show only the part of the apparatus main body 200 of the copying machine 400. FIG. As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the copying machine 400 provided with the second waste toner collecting container 130 has the paper size that can be set in the paper feed cassette 81 provided in the paper feed unit 80 as shown in FIGS. The height of the apparatus main body 200 is different. Other configurations and operations are the same as in the example described with reference to FIG. 12, and therefore only different points will be described below.

  As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the apparatus main body 200 of the copying machine 400 is lower in height than the example shown in FIG. 12, and the optical writing device 5 and the paper feeding unit 80 are close to each other. The space between them is not wide. However, the paper size that can be set in the paper feed cassette 81 provided in the paper feed unit 80 is smaller than in the example shown in FIG. 12, and a wide space is generated on the front side of the apparatus main body 200 of the paper feed unit 80. Therefore, in this modification, the second waste toner collecting container 130 is provided in the space on the front side of the apparatus main body 200 of the paper feeding unit 80 and the optical writing device 5 to effectively use the dead space. Specifically, a collection container case 150 that restricts the shape when the waste toner container 131 of the second waste toner collection container 130 is expanded is disposed in the space, and the waste toner container 131 is expanded therein. It was decided.

  Next, a method for setting each waste toner collection container according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 13A and 13B, taking the second waste toner collection container 130 of the modified example as an example. First, a bag-like waste toner container 131 formed of polyvinyl chloride is set in the attachment port E supported by the apparatus main body 200, and is expanded by blowing hot air (160 to 200 ° C.). After the expansion, the waste toner container 131 is set by air cooling at a low temperature or a normal temperature. After that, the setting of the second waste toner collecting container 130 is completed by attaching the connecting portion 132 to each cleaning device 4. The bottom surface of the second waste toner collection container 130 has an inclination, and the waste toner conveyed to the second waste toner collection container 130 falls by gravity and is conveyed to the back side of the waste toner container 131 by the inclination.

  In addition, each waste toner collection container according to the second exemplary embodiment includes a full detection unit 134 that detects that the amount of waste toner is full. Next, the operation of the copying machine 400 when the full detection unit 134 detects that the waste toner amount is full by the full detection unit 134 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13B and 14. As shown in FIG. 13B, a full detection means 134 is provided in the connecting portion 132 of the second waste toner collecting container 130. The full detection means 134 is composed of a sensor using a photo interrupter or the like, and when the waste toner collected and stored in the second waste toner collection container 130 reaches the set position, it is shielded by the waste toner and detected by the sensor. Output a signal.

  In addition to the second embodiment, as a known full detection means, a method of detecting from the accumulated value of the image area output from the image forming apparatus, or a toner supplied from the toner bottle 15 to the developing device 3 There is also a method of detecting from the amount. These methods may be used. In any case, when the full detection unit 134 detects that the second waste toner collection container 130 is full, a warning is output that the second waste toner collection container 130 is full and a predetermined full process is performed. In the second embodiment, the following configuration is provided as means for notifying the user. A message “Waste toner collecting container is full” is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 221 of the operation panel 220 of the copier 400 shown in FIG. Then, the alert lamp 222 is blinked together with this display, and the subsequent image forming operation is prohibited in order to prevent the waste toner from overflowing from the second waste toner collection container 130.

  In the second embodiment, the second waste toner collection container 130 and the first waste toner collection container 170 are provided separately. The second waste toner collection container 130 is described as containing and collecting only the waste toner discharged from the cleaning device 4 corresponding to each photosensitive drum 1. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and for example, waste toner discharged from the belt cleaning device 50 can be accommodated and collected. Further, like the second waste toner collection container 120 of the first embodiment, a waste toner storage container can be additionally provided at a location different from each waste toner storage container and connected to each other. With this configuration, the waste toner storage capacity can be increased without changing the volume of the copying machine 400 itself, so that the life of the copying machine 400 can be further extended and the cost can be reduced.

  In the description of each embodiment described above, a case where a full-color image is formed on the sheet P is described. However, in actual image formation, one of the image forming units 10 of the image forming unit 20 may be used to form a single color image or a two-color or three-color image. When two-color, three-color, or monochrome printing is performed using the image forming apparatus according to each embodiment, only the photosensitive drum 1 of the image forming unit 10 corresponding to the necessary two-color, three-color, or black is used. An electrostatic latent image may be formed. Then, the electrostatic latent image is developed only by the image forming unit 10 that forms the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1, transferred onto the sheet P, and fixed by the fixing device 70.

What has been described above is merely an example, and the present invention has a specific effect for each of the following modes.
(Aspect A)
An image of a printer 300 or the like that forms an image by transferring a toner image formed on a latent image carrier such as the photosensitive drum 1 onto a recording medium such as a sheet P via an intermediate transfer belt such as an intermediate transfer belt 31. Waste toner collection container such as a waste toner collection container 100 that is used in the forming apparatus and collects waste toner conveyed from a cleaning device such as the cleaning device 4 or the belt cleaning device 50 via a conveyance path such as the conveyance coupling unit 110. The front transfer plate 36a and the rear transfer plate 36b that support the rollers such as the driving roller 32, the tension roller 33, and the primary transfer rollers 34 disposed on the inner peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer belt 31 such as the intermediate transfer belt 31. The frame member is also integrated with the frame member and disposed on the inner peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer belt. It is.
According to this, as described in the first embodiment, image formation is performed by effectively using the dead space such as the inner peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer belt such as the intermediate transfer belt 31 in the image forming apparatus such as the printer 300. It is possible to provide a waste toner collection container such as the waste toner collection container 100 that can reduce the size of the apparatus and increase the waste toner storage capacity and does not increase the cost of the image forming apparatus.
(Aspect B)
Used in an image forming apparatus such as a copier 400 that performs image formation by transferring a toner image onto a recording medium such as a sheet P, and from a cleaning device such as a belt cleaning device 50 via a conveyance path such as a waste toner discharge port 133. In a waste toner collection container such as the second waste toner collection container 130 for collecting the waste toner conveyed in this manner, a connection part such as a connection part 132 for receiving the waste toner and a waste toner storage part 131 for storing the waste toner. And the waste toner container is attached to an attachment port such as an attachment port E provided in the image forming apparatus, and the waste toner container is expanded and attached. It is what.
According to this, as described in the second embodiment, an image can be obtained by effectively using a dead space such as a space between the optical writing device 5 in the image forming apparatus such as the copying machine 400 and the paper feeding unit 80. A reduction in the size of the forming apparatus and an increase in the waste toner storage capacity can be achieved, and a waste toner collection container such as the second waste toner collection container 130 that does not increase the cost of the image forming apparatus can be provided.
(Aspect C)
In (Aspect A) or (Aspect B), the intermediate transfer belt such as the intermediate transfer belt 31 is a biaxial intermediate transfer belt stretched around two axes such as a drive roller 32 and a tension roller 33. To do.
According to this, as described in the first embodiment, the waste toner collection container 100 and the first waste are disposed on the inner peripheral portion of the biaxial intermediate transfer belt stretched by two axes such as the drive roller 32 and the tension roller 33. By disposing a waste toner collection container such as the toner collection container 170, it is possible to further reduce the size of the image forming apparatus, particularly to reduce the height.
(Aspect D)
(Aspect A) to (Aspect C) are characterized in that they are disposed below the cleaning device such as the cleaning device 4 or the belt cleaning device 50 that discharges the collected waste toner. is there.
According to this, as described in the first and second embodiments, since the waste toner is easily moved by gravity, the conveyance members provided in the conveyance path such as the conveyance coupling unit 110 and the waste toner discharge port 133 are simplified. And cost reduction can be achieved.
(Aspect E)
In (Aspect B), when mounted on the image forming apparatus such as the copying machine 400, the cross-sectional area of the waste toner storage unit such as the waste toner storage unit 131 is larger than the area of the mounting port such as the mounting port E. Is characterized by a large.
According to this, as described in the second embodiment, the restriction is that the cross-sectional area of the waste toner storage unit such as the waste toner storage unit 131 must be smaller than the cross-sectional area of the mounting port such as the mounting port E. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the waste toner container can be increased.
(Aspect F)
In (Aspect B) or (Aspect E), the material of the waste toner container such as the waste toner container 131 of the second waste toner collecting container 130 is made of a synthetic polymer compound having plasticity. is there.
According to this, as described in the second embodiment, a waste toner collection container such as the second waste toner collection container 130 having a complicated shape can be easily molded.
(Aspect G)
In any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect F), the waste toner collected is transported inside the waste toner bottle unit 101, the waste toner container 131, and the like, and the transport unit includes gravity, It is characterized by using at least one of vibrations.
According to this, as described in the first and second embodiments, the waste toner can be distributed in the waste toner storage unit such as the waste toner bottle unit 101 and the waste toner storage unit 131. Accommodates.
(Aspect H)
A printer 300 or a copier that forms an image by transferring a toner image formed on a latent image carrier such as the photosensitive drum 1 onto a recording medium such as a sheet P via an intermediate transfer belt such as an intermediate transfer belt 31. In an image forming apparatus such as 400, a first waste toner collection container such as a first waste toner collection container 100 and a first waste toner collection container 170 disposed on the inner periphery of the intermediate transfer belt, and the first waste toner. A second waste toner collection container such as a second waste toner collection container 120 or a second waste toner collection container 130 disposed at a different location from the collection container; the first waste toner collection container; and the second waste toner. And a connection path such as a conveyance connecting portion 121 for connecting the recovery container, and the waste toner recovery container of any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect G) is provided as the first waste toner recovery container. It is an.
According to this, as described in the first and second embodiments, the waste toner storage capacity can be increased without changing the volume of the image forming apparatus itself such as the printer 300 or the copying machine 400. Long life and low cost can be achieved.
(Aspect I)
In image forming apparatuses such as the printer 300 and the copier 400 that perform image formation by transferring a toner image onto a recording medium such as a sheet P, (Aspect A) to (Aspect G) are used as waste toner collection containers for collecting waste toner. The waste toner collecting container is provided.
According to this, as described in the first and second embodiments, since the dead space in the image forming apparatus such as the printer 300 or the copying machine 400 can be efficiently used as the waste toner container, a large amount of waste toner is removed. An image forming apparatus that can be accommodated can be provided.
(Aspect J)
In (Aspect I), the waste toner collection containers such as the waste toner collection container 100 and the second waste toner collection container 130 include waste toner full detection means such as a full detection means 134, and the waste toner full detection means fills up. When the state is detected, the image forming operation of the printer 300 or the copying machine 400 is stopped.
According to this, as described in the first and second embodiments, the printer can suppress waste toner scattering due to waste toner overflow from the waste toner collection container such as the waste toner collection container 100 and the second waste toner collection container 130. An image forming apparatus such as 300 or copier 400 can be provided.
(Aspect K)
In (Aspect J), when a full state is detected by the waste toner full detection means such as the full detection means 134, notification means such as a liquid crystal monitor 221 and an alert lamp 222 for notifying that the collected waste toner is full It is characterized by comprising.
According to this, as described in the first and second embodiments, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus such as the printer 300 and the copying machine 400 that can notify the user that the waste toner is full.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photosensitive drum 2 Charging roller 3 Developing device 4 Cleaning device 5 Optical writing device 6 Developing roller 7 Supply roller 10 Image forming unit 15 Toner bottle 20 Image forming part 30 Intermediate transfer unit 31 Intermediate transfer belt 32 Drive roller 33 Tension roller 34 1 Next transfer roller 35 Cleaning counter roller 36a Front plate 36b Rear plate 37 Waste toner receiving hole 38 Waste toner discharge hole 39 Drive motor 41 Cleaning blade 42 Recovery screw (photosensitive drum)
50 Belt cleaning device 51 Belt cleaning blade 52 Recovery screw (intermediate transfer belt)
60 Secondary transfer unit 61 Secondary transfer roller 70 Fixing device 80 Paper feed unit 81 Paper feed cassette 82 Paper feed roller 83 Friction pad 84 Registration roller pair 85 Paper discharge roller 86 Paper discharge tray 90 Scanner unit 100 (First) Waste toner Collection container (Embodiment 1)
101 Waste Toner Bottle Unit 110 Conveying Connection Unit 111 Connection Unit Conveying Screw 120 Second Waste Toner Collection Container (Embodiment 1)
121 Conveying connection portion 122 Waste toner connection hole 130 Second waste toner collecting container (second embodiment)
131 Waste toner storage portion 132 Connection portion 133 Waste toner discharge port 134 Full detection means 140 Container swinging means 141 Eccentric roller 142 Swing arm 143 Swing plate 144 Storage section connecting means 150 Collection container case (modified example)
170 First Waste Toner Collection Container (Embodiment 2)
200 apparatus main body 211 front plate 212 rear plate 220 operation panel 221 liquid crystal monitor 222 alert lamp 300 printer 400 copier D upper space (first embodiment)
E Mounting port (Embodiment 2)
L Laser light P sheet

Japanese Patent No. 4327145 Japanese Patent No. 4358023

Claims (11)

Waste toner used in an image forming apparatus for forming an image by transferring a toner image formed on a latent image carrier onto a recording medium via an intermediate transfer belt, and conveyed from a cleaning device via a conveyance path In the waste toner collection container that collects
A waste toner collecting container, wherein the waste toner collecting container is integrated with the frame member so as to serve as a frame member for supporting each roller disposed on the inner peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer belt, and is disposed on the inner peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer belt. . In a waste toner collecting container that is used in an image forming apparatus that performs image formation by transferring a toner image onto a recording medium and collects waste toner conveyed from a cleaning device via a conveyance path,
A connecting portion for receiving the waste toner, and a waste toner storage portion for storing the waste toner,
A waste toner collecting container, wherein the waste toner container is attached to an attachment port provided in the image forming apparatus, and the waste toner container is expanded and attached. The waste toner collecting container according to claim 1 or 2,
The waste toner collecting container, wherein the intermediate transfer belt is a biaxial intermediate transfer belt stretched around two axes. The waste toner collecting container according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A waste toner collecting container, which is disposed below a cleaning device for discharging waste toner to be collected. The waste toner collecting container according to claim 2,
A waste toner collection container, wherein the waste toner container has a cross-sectional area larger than an area of the attachment port when mounted in the image forming apparatus. The waste toner collecting container according to claim 2 or 5,
A waste toner collecting container, wherein the material of the waste toner container is made of a synthetic polymer compound having plasticity. The waste toner collecting container according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
Conveying means for conveying the collected waste toner inside;
The waste toner collecting container, wherein the conveying means uses at least one of gravity and vibration. In an image forming apparatus for forming an image by transferring a toner image formed on a latent image carrier onto a recording medium via an intermediate transfer belt,
A first waste toner collection container disposed on the inner periphery of the intermediate transfer belt, a second waste toner collection container disposed at a location different from the first waste toner collection container, and the first waste toner collection A connection path for connecting the container and the second waste toner recovery container;
An image forming apparatus comprising the waste toner collection container according to claim 1 as the first waste toner collection container. In an image forming apparatus that performs image formation by transferring a toner image onto a recording medium,
An image forming apparatus comprising the waste toner collection container according to any one of claims 1 to 7 as a waste toner collection container for collecting the waste toner. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9.
The waste toner collection container includes waste toner full detection means,
An image forming apparatus, wherein an image forming operation is stopped when a full state is detected by the waste toner full detecting means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10.
An image forming apparatus comprising: notification means for notifying that the collected waste toner is full when the full state is detected by the waste toner full detection means.

Images