JP2013130776A - Waste toner recovery container, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waste toner recovery container by which increase of a storage amount of waste toner in a waste toner recovery container and miniaturization and prolongation of the life of an image forming apparatus are both attained.SOLUTION: On a support side plate 111 which partitions a space in which a waste toner storage part 73 of a waste toner recovery container 70 is disposed, an attachment/detachment port 112 is provided, and a heating device 80 for deforming the waste toner recovery container 70 is also provided. When attaching the waste toner recovery container 70, the waste toner storage part 73 of the waste toner recovery container 70 is folded so that the cross-sectional area of the container is smaller than the opening area of the attachment/detachment port 112. After the waste toner recovery container 70 is attached, air is blown in so that the waste toner storage part 73 is inflated and the cross-sectional area of the container is made larger than the opening area of the attachment/detachment port 112. When detaching it, a first step storage part 73a and a second step storage part 73b are deformed by heat of a heating device 80 so that the cross-sectional area of the container is made smaller than the opening area of the attachment/detachment port 112, and it is removed by pulling it out through the attachment/detachment port 112.

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 an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using 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 stored. A waste toner collecting container for collecting is provided. Conventionally, a hard plastic bottle or the like is used as a waste toner collection container, and when the collected waste toner is full, it is replaced, or once removed, the collected waste toner is discarded and then reattached. Met. However, in recent years, with the progress of downsizing of image forming apparatuses, it has become difficult to secure a capacity of a waste toner collection container that can store a sufficient amount of waste toner. In addition, simply increasing the volume of the waste toner collection container cannot efficiently store the waste toner in the waste toner collection container, and the amount of waste toner that can be stored decreases even if the volume of the waste toner collection container increases. There was also a case.

  Conventionally, various proposals have been made on waste toner collection containers that can efficiently store and collect waste toner. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an image forming apparatus including a waste toner collection container as follows. Using a collapsible waste toner collection container with multiple storage sections (storage sections), the storage section is gradually expanded as the amount of waste toner discharged from each cleaning device and transported to the waste toner collection container increases. Thus, the amount of waste toner is increased. In this way, by gradually expanding the storage sections provided in the waste toner collection container as the amount of waste toner increases, the waste toner filling rate in each storage section is increased, and waste toner is collected in the waste toner collection container. It is to efficiently store (fill) and collect.

However, the waste toner collecting container described in Patent Document 1 has the following problems. As the image forming apparatus becomes more compact as described above, the degree of integration of each device and component in the image forming apparatus is increasing. For this reason, an opening having a sufficient area for attaching and detaching the waste toner collection container may not be arranged due to interference with other devices and components, and waste toner is stored in the image forming apparatus. Even if there is a space where you can do it, you may not be able to use it effectively. If the opening of a sufficient area cannot be arranged, in the configuration in which the waste toner collection container is replaced or detached, the storage compartment for sequentially deploying the waste toner collection container must be downsized or the image forming apparatus itself must be upsized. I don't get it. If the housing section is downsized, the waste toner collecting capacity of the waste toner collecting container is lowered and the attaching / detaching work is increased. If the image forming apparatus itself is enlarged, the user's request for downsizing the image forming apparatus cannot be met.
In the configuration in which the waste toner collection container is not attached / detached, the life of the image forming apparatus is reached when the waste toner collection container becomes full of waste toner.
That is, it has been difficult to achieve both an increase in the amount of waste toner contained in the waste toner collecting container and a reduction in size and life of the image forming apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a waste toner collection container that can achieve both an increase in the amount of waste toner contained in the waste toner collection container and a reduction in the size and life of the image forming apparatus. Is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waste toner collecting container detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body, wherein a waste toner containing portion for containing waste toner in the waste toner collecting container is attached and detached. The area of the cross section perpendicular to the direction is smaller before the attachment to the image forming apparatus main body than the opening area of the attachment / detachment opening provided in the image forming apparatus main body, and is larger when accommodating waste toner after the attachment, When the image forming apparatus is detached from the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is reduced in size and is detached from the attachment / detachment port.
In the present invention, since the area of the cross section perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction of the waste toner container is smaller than the opening area of the attaching / detaching port before being attached to the image forming apparatus main body and enlarged after the attaching, Even when the escape port cannot be arranged, the wide space behind the attachment / detachment port can be used efficiently. When removing the waste toner collection container, the waste toner collection container can be made smaller than the attachment / detachment opening, so that the waste toner collection container can be configured to be detachable.
Therefore, it is possible to achieve both an increase in the amount of waste toner contained in the waste toner collection container and a reduction in the size of the image forming apparatus by effectively utilizing the space that has conventionally been a dead space. Further, since the waste toner collection container can be configured to be detachable, the life of the image forming apparatus is not limited by the amount of the waste toner collection container.

  The present invention can provide a waste toner collection container that can achieve both an increase in the amount of waste toner contained in the waste toner collection container and a reduction in size and life of the image forming apparatus.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copier according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view of attaching and detaching a waste toner collection container according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a method for collecting waste toner after the waste toner collection container according to the first embodiment is mounted. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a waste toner collection container according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram after attaching the waste toner collection container 70 according to the second embodiment in a container case 120 provided in the apparatus main body 100. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram before removal in which a predetermined amount of waste toner is stored in a waste toner collection container according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram when a waste toner collection container according to the second embodiment is removed from a container case.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic color copying machine (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine 500) as an image forming apparatus will be described with reference to a plurality of examples. First, an outline of the copier 500 of the present embodiment common to the respective examples will be described. Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine 500 according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to the copying machine 500 will be described. However, an applicable image forming apparatus is not limited to such a copying machine.

  1, reference numeral 100 denotes an apparatus main body of the copying machine 500, reference numeral 200 denotes a paper feed table on which the copying machine 500 is placed, and reference numeral 300 denotes a scanner attached to the apparatus main body 100 of the copying machine 500. Reference numeral 400 denotes an automatic document feeder (ADF) that is further mounted thereon. The copying machine 500 is a tandem type electrophotographic copying machine that employs an intermediate transfer method.

  The apparatus main body 100 of the copying machine 500 is provided with an intermediate transfer belt 10 formed of a belt which is an intermediate transfer body as an image carrier at the center thereof. The intermediate transfer belt 10 is stretched around a first support roller 14, a second support roller 15, and a third support roller 16 as three support rotating bodies, and rotates and moves in the clockwise direction in the figure. A belt cleaning device 17 for removing residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 10 after image transfer is provided on the left side of the second support roller 15 in the drawing. In addition, an image forming unit 20 in which four image forming units 18 are arranged side by side is opposed to a belt portion stretched between the first support roller 14 and the second support roller 15. The image forming units 18 are arranged in the order of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) in the belt movement direction from the upstream side in the movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt 10. ing. In the present embodiment, the third support roller 16 is a drive roller. An exposure device 21 as a latent image forming unit is provided above the image forming unit 20.

  Further, a secondary transfer device 22 as a second transfer unit is provided on the opposite side of the image forming unit 20 with the intermediate transfer belt 10 interposed therebetween. In the secondary transfer device 22, a secondary transfer belt 24 is stretched between a roller 23a and a roller 23b. The secondary transfer belt 24 is provided so as to be pressed against the third support roller 16 via the intermediate transfer belt 10. The secondary transfer device 22 transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 10 to a sheet P that is a recording medium. A fixing device 25 for fixing the toner image transferred onto the sheet P is provided on the left side of the secondary transfer device 22 in the drawing. The fixing device 25 has a configuration in which a pressure roller 27 is pressed against a fixing belt 26 that is a belt member. The secondary transfer device 22 also has a transport function for transporting the sheet P after the toner image transfer to the fixing device 25. In the present embodiment, the reversing device for reversing the sheet P so as to record images on both sides of the sheet P is provided below the secondary transfer device 22 and the fixing device 25 in parallel with the image forming unit 20 described above. 28 is also provided.

  When making a copy using the copying machine 500, a document is set on the document table 30 of the automatic document feeder 400. Alternatively, the automatic document feeder 400 is opened, a document is set on the contact glass 32 of the scanner 300, and the automatic document feeder 400 is closed and pressed by it. Thereafter, when a start switch (not shown) is pressed, when the document is set on the automatic document feeder 400, the document is transported and moved onto the contact glass 32. On the other hand, when a document is set on the contact glass 32, the scanner 300 is immediately driven. Next, the first traveling body 33 and the second traveling body 34 travel. Then, the first traveling body 33 emits light from the light source and further reflects the reflected light from the document surface toward the second traveling body 34, and is reflected by the mirror of the second traveling body 34 and passes through the imaging lens 35. The document is placed in the reading sensor 36 and the original content is read.

  In parallel with this document reading, a third driving roller 16 as a driving roller is rotationally driven by a belt driving motor (not shown) as a belt driving source. As a result, the intermediate transfer belt 10 moves in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, and the first support roller 14 and the second support roller 15 rotate along with the movement. At the same time, in each of the image forming units 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K, the photosensitive drums 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K that are latent image carriers are respectively connected to the corresponding drum driving devices for the photosensitive drums ( (Not shown). Then, on each of the photosensitive drums 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K, by using color-specific information on yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, each is exposed and developed to form a single-color toner image (visualized image). The toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K are sequentially transferred so as to overlap each other on the intermediate transfer belt 10, and a composite color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10.

  In parallel with such image formation, one of the paper feed rollers 42 of the paper feed table 200 is selectively rotated, the sheet P is fed out from one of the paper feed cassettes 44 provided in the paper bank 43 in multiple stages, and the separation roller 45 To separate them one by one and put them in the paper feed path 46. Then, the sheet P put in the paper feed path 46 is transported by the transport roller 47, guided to the paper feed path in the apparatus main body 100 of the copying machine 500, and abutted against the registration roller 49 and stopped. Alternatively, the manual feed roller 50 is rotated to feed out the sheets P on the manual feed tray 51, separated one by one by the separation roller 52, put into the manual feed path 53, and abutted against the registration roller 49 and stopped. Then, the registration roller 49 is rotated in synchronization with the composite color image on the intermediate transfer belt 10, the sheet P is fed between the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the secondary transfer device 22, and transferred by the secondary transfer device 22. The color image is transferred onto the sheet P.

  After the image transfer, the sheet P is conveyed by the secondary transfer belt 24 and sent to the fixing device 25. The fixing device 25 applies heat and pressure to fix the transferred image, and then the image is transferred by the switching claw 55 and discharged. The paper is discharged at 56 and stacked on the paper discharge tray 57. Alternatively, it is switched by the switching claw 55 and put into the reversing device 28, where it is reversed and guided again to the transfer position, and an image is also recorded on the back surface of the sheet P, and then discharged onto the discharge tray 57 by the discharge roller 56. .

  Here, the transfer residual toner that is not transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 10 and remains on the photosensitive drums 40 is removed by the cleaning devices 4Y, M, C, and K provided in the image forming units 18, respectively. Prepare for layer formation. The transfer residual toner removed by each cleaning device 4 is transported in one direction by a transport screw provided in the cleaning device 4, and in detail, passes through a waste toner transport path 90 into a waste toner collection container 70 described later. Thus, the waste toner is conveyed. Further, after the toner image is transferred onto the sheet P, the transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 10 is removed by the belt cleaning device 17 to prepare for the next image layer formation. The transfer residual toner removed by the belt cleaning device 17 is transported in one direction by a transport screw provided in the cleaning device 4, and in detail, passes through a waste toner transport path 90 into a waste toner collection container 70 described later. Thus, the waste toner is conveyed.

  In addition, this copying machine 500 can be used to make a black and white copy. In that case, the intermediate transfer belt 10 is separated from the photosensitive drums 40Y, 40M, 40C by a separation mechanism (not shown). At this time, the photosensitive drums 40Y, 40M, 40C are temporarily stopped from driving. Only the black photosensitive drum 40K is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 10 to perform image formation and transfer.

  Next, a configuration relating to the waste toner collecting container 70, which is a characteristic part of the present embodiment, will be described with reference to the drawings with a plurality of examples. Here, the waste toner collection container 70 of each embodiment has the following characteristics. The area of the cross section perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction of the waste toner container 73 for storing the waste toner in the waste toner collecting container 70 (hereinafter referred to as the container cross-sectional area) is determined when the copying machine 500 is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body 100. Compared with the opening area of the attachment and detachment openings (112, 122) provided in FIG. The container cross-sectional area of the waste toner container 73 is smaller before the attachment to the apparatus main body 100 than the opening area of the attachment / detachment opening, is large when the waste toner is accommodated after the attachment, and is small when the toner is removed.

  Since the waste toner collection container 70 is configured in this way, the waste toner container of the waste donor container 70 is also provided at a place surrounded by a support frame or the like and having a sufficient opening area of the attachment / detachment opening. 73 can be arranged. For example, in the apparatus main body 100 of the copying machine 500, an attachment / detachment opening provided on a support side plate or the like such as a space between the secondary transfer belt 24 and the reversing device 28 or a space inside the frame that supports the intermediate transfer belt 10. The waste toner collecting container 70 can be disposed even in a place where the area is limited. In the following description, the symbols Y, M, C, and K are omitted unless otherwise required, and members having the same function are described using the same reference numerals.

Example 1
Example 1 which is a first example of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a perspective explanatory view of attaching and detaching the waste toner collecting container 70 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a method for collecting waste toner after the waste toner collection container 70 according to the present embodiment is mounted. FIG. 3A shows a waste that connects the discharge port of each cleaning device and the waste toner collection container. The toner transport path 90 is removed, and (b) is connected.

  The configuration of the waste toner collecting container 70 of this embodiment and the copying machine 500 related to the attachment / detachment of the waste toner collecting container 70 has the following characteristics. The container cross-sectional area of the waste toner container 73 is configured to be smaller before the mounting and larger after the mounting than the area of the attachment / detachment port 112 provided in the predetermined support side plate 111 of the apparatus main body 100. When removing, the heating device 80, which is a deforming means provided on the side where the waste toner container 73 in the vicinity of the attachment / detachment port 112 is disposed, ensures a volume that does not overflow waste toner from the waste toner container 73, Sequentially, the waste toner container 73 can be deformed and extended to be small.

  In other words, after the waste toner collection container 70 having a smaller container cross-sectional area than the area of the attachment / detachment opening 112 is inserted and attached from the attachment / detachment opening 112 of the predetermined support side plate 111 of the apparatus main body 100, the waste toner in the waste toner collection container 70 is attached. The accommodating part 73 is expanded (enlarged). Thus, by expanding the waste toner container 73 after mounting, the degree of freedom of the shape of the waste toner container 73 can be increased, and the dead space in the apparatus main body 100 can be used as a waste toner container in the waste toner collection container 70. The unit 73 can be used. That is, for example, even when the attachment / detachment opening 112 having a sufficient area such as a space between the secondary transfer belt 24 and the reversing device 28 cannot be arranged, a wide space behind the attachment / detachment opening 112 can be efficiently used. Accordingly, a waste toner collecting container 70 that can store a large amount of waste toner in a space-saving manner can be provided, and an increase in the amount of waste toner contained in the waste toner collecting container can be effectively utilized by using a space that has become a dead space in the past, and the copying machine 500 can be used. Can be downsized.

In addition, when the waste toner is full and is removed, the waste toner container 73 of the waste toner collection container 70 is sequentially deformed by the heating device 80 while ensuring a volume that does not overflow the waste toner from the waste toner container 73. Then, the waste toner is removed from the attachment / detachment port 112 while containing the waste toner. In this way, by changing the waste toner storage portion 73 that stores waste toner so as to pass through the attachment / detachment port 112 at the time of removal, the waste toner collection container 70 can be configured to be attachable / detachable. It is not limited by the capacity of the toner collection container 70. Therefore, the copying machine 500 can be used for a long time. Therefore, the waste toner collection container 70 of this embodiment can provide the waste toner collection container 70 that can achieve both an increase in the amount of waste toner storage and a reduction in the size and life of the copying machine 500.
Next, features of the present embodiment described above will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As described above, FIG. 2 is an explanatory perspective view of the waste toner collection container 70 attached and detached. Here, FIG. 2A shows a state before the waste toner collection container 70 is mounted. As shown in FIG. 2A, the waste toner collecting container 70 is provided in a waste toner container 73, a receiving part 72 for receiving waste toner, and a cylindrical attachment / detachment port 112 provided in the support side plate 111 of the apparatus main body 100. It is comprised from the attaching part 71 attached. The waste toner conveyed from each cleaning device is accommodated and collected in the waste toner accommodating portion 73 via the accepting portion 72 from the receiving port (opening) of the attachment portion 71. The cylindrical attachment / detachment port 112 provided in the support side plate 111 is configured such that the inner diameter on the removal direction side of the waste toner collection container 70 is small and the inner diameter on the attachment direction side is large. That is, the inner peripheral portion of the attachment / detachment port 112 is configured such that the downstream side in the removal direction of the waste toner collection container 70 is smaller than the upstream side.

  The waste toner container 73 of the waste toner collection container 70 is made of a thermoplastic resin and can be easily passed through the attachment / detachment port 112 in a folded state before being attached. That is, the waste toner collecting container 70 that can be deformed by heating can be provided. Here, specific examples of the thermoplastic resin include polyvinyl chloride resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, polyvinyl acetate, polytetrafluoroethylene, ABS resin, AS resin, acrylic resin, and the like. Further, by configuring the inner peripheral portion of the attachment / detachment port 112 so that the downstream side in the removal direction of the waste toner collection container 70 is smaller than the upstream side, the waste waste that has been pulled out when the waste toner collection container 70 is removed. The toner container 73 is naturally thin.

  FIG. 2B shows a state in which the waste toner collecting container 70 is attached to the attachment / detachment port 112 provided in the support side plate 111. As shown in FIG. 2B, the attaching portion 71 of the waste toner collecting container 70 is attached so as to be fitted into the inner periphery of the attachment / detachment opening 112, and the waste toner containing portion 73 is in a folded state. After the attachment as described above, as shown in FIG. 2C, air or the like is blown from the opening of the attachment portion 71 of the waste toner collecting container 70, and the waste toner storage portion 73 is expanded and deployed. Installation to 500 is completed. That is, the container cross-sectional area of the waste toner container 73 in the waste toner collection container 70 is smaller than the area of the inner periphery (opening) of the attachment / detachment opening 112 before the attachment, and is larger than the area of the inner periphery of the attachment / detachment opening 112. Become. Here, in the present exemplary embodiment, a configuration in which the container cross-sectional area of the waste toner storage unit 73 is increased in two stages by the first-stage storage unit 73a and the second-stage storage unit 73b close to the attachment unit 71 is illustrated. Yes.

  After the completion of the attachment, normal image formation is performed in the copying machine 500, and waste toner is conveyed from each cleaning device into the attached waste toner collection container 70. The waste toner collection container 70 removes the conveyed waste toner. It will be housed and collected.

  When a predetermined amount of waste toner is collected in the waste toner collection container 70 and becomes full and the replacement time comes, the following removal work from the apparatus main body 100 occurs. First, the waste toner collecting container 70 is pulled so as to be pulled out in the removing direction. However, as shown in FIG. 2D, the container cross-sectional area of the first-stage container 73a in the waste toner container 73 is larger than the area of the inner periphery of the attachment / detachment port 112. The accommodating portion 73a is supported by the attachment / detachment port 112. Therefore, it can be pulled out only to a portion A indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2D, which is a boundary between the receiving portion 72 of the waste toner collecting container 70 and the first-stage accommodation portion 73a.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2 (e), the first-stage accommodating portion 73a that has moved so as to hit the portion A indicated by the broken line is deformed by the deforming means so that it can be pulled out. In this embodiment, for example, a heating device 80 provided with a ring-shaped heating wire 81 or the like is used as this deformation means. As described above, by using the heating device 80 as the deforming means, the first-stage storage portion of the waste toner storage portion 73 whose container cross-sectional area is larger than the area of the attachment / detachment port 112 of the waste toner recovery container 70 made of thermoplastic resin. 73a can be heated and deformed.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 2 (f), the first-stage storage unit 73 a of the waste toner storage unit 73 is heated so that the waste toner storage unit 73 has a volume that does not overflow waste toner and is sequentially expanded. Pull while deforming. Then, since the first-stage container 73a of the waste toner container 73 made of a thermoplastic resin is in a soft state due to heating by the heating device 80, the first-stage container 73a is deformed so as to extend sequentially and the removal direction of the attachment / detachment port 112 is removed. It becomes almost equal to the size of the inner circumference on the upstream side. That is, the cross section of the waste toner storage unit 73 facing the attachment / detachment port 112 of the first-stage storage unit 73 a can be made slightly smaller than the opening of the attachment / detachment port 112 in order. And the container cross-sectional area of the part of the 1st stage accommodating part 73a drawn in to the removal direction upstream of the attachment / detachment port 112 becomes small toward the removal direction downstream of the attachment / detachment port 112.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2G, when all the first-stage accommodation portions 73 a of the waste toner accommodation portion 73 are drawn into the attachment / detachment port 112, the second-stage accommodation portion 73 b of the waste toner accommodation portion 73 is similarly changed. While being deformed by the heating of the heating device 80, it is drawn into the attachment / detachment port 112. Here, when the volume of the waste toner container 73 decreases, the waste toner overflows from the waste toner collection container 70. Therefore, the shape of the waste toner container 73 and the thermoplastic resin that forms each part are formed so that the volume does not decrease. It is necessary to design the thickness. Of course, it is desirable that the volume of the waste toner container 73 can be designed so that it does not change at all. However, in reality, it is difficult to fill the entire volume of the waste toner container 73 with waste toner. Even if the volume of the portion 73 is somewhat reduced, the waste toner can be prevented from overflowing.

  As described above, the attachment / detachment port 112 has a smaller area (diameter) on the downstream side than the upstream side in the removal direction of the waste toner collection container 70. Therefore, the waste toner collecting container 70 after being pulled out through the attachment / detachment port 112 is, as shown in FIG. 2 (h), a waste toner container that is pulled out from the attachment portion 71 through the attachment / detachment port 112 and deformed. The container cross-sectional area is substantially the same up to the rear end of the portion 73. That is, the shape of the surface of the waste toner collection container removed from the attachment / detachment port perpendicular to the removal direction can be made substantially the same. Therefore, after collecting the waste toner collecting container 70, it becomes easy to carry without being bulky and can be efficiently carried.

  Next, a method for collecting waste toner from each cleaning device to the waste toner collection container 70 will be described. The waste toner collection container 70 of this embodiment is a waste toner collection container that can be deformed by heating of the heating device 80 as described above. Further, a receiving port for receiving the waste toner is provided only on the front side of the apparatus main body 100 of the copying machine 500, and no waste toner conveying means is provided therein. Therefore, in this embodiment, a waste toner conveyance path 90 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B is provided on the apparatus main body 100 side and connected to the discharge port of each cleaning apparatus.

  The waste toner path itself in the waste toner transport path 90 is constituted by a tubular member 91, and a transport screw 92 as a transport means is provided therein. The waste toner can be transported to the waste toner collecting container 70 by the transport force of the transport screw 92. The tubular member 91 and the conveying screw 92 are made of a material that can be bent freely, such as synthetic rubber. Here, specific examples of the synthetic rubber include urethane rubber, acrylic rubber, isoprene rubber, and fluorine rubber. By configuring each component of the waste toner conveyance path 90 with such a material, the waste toner conveyance path 90 can be bent.

  When the attachment of the waste toner conveyance path 90 shown in FIG. 3A to the attachment / detachment port 112 of the support side plate 111 provided in the apparatus main body 100 is completed, it is attached to the receiving port of the attachment portion 71 of the waste toner collection container 70. To do. By mounting in this way, it is possible to secure a conveyance path for waste toner to the waste toner collection container 70. Therefore, the waste toner can be stored and collected in the waste toner collection container 70 via the waste toner conveyance path 90.

  As for detection of the full state of the waste toner conveyance path 90, a method of judging from the use status (number of printed sheets, toner replenishment amount, etc.) of the image forming unit of the apparatus main body 100, and detection of fullness of the transmission sensor, pressure sensor, etc. There is a method of providing means. In this embodiment, a pressure-sensitive sensor (not shown) is provided in the waste toner conveyance path for detection. Further, the portion where the full detection means is provided in the waste toner conveyance path is provided in the vicinity of the front end portion 93 inserted into the waste toner collection container 70 of the waste toner conveyance path 90. By providing the full detection means in this way, it is possible to prevent the waste toner conveyance path such as the waste toner collection container 70 from being damaged. Further, by arranging the full detection means on the main body side, it is possible to reduce the cost of the waste toner collection container which is a consumable item.

(Example 2)
Example 2 which is a second example of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the waste toner collecting container 70 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view after the waste toner collecting container 70 according to the present embodiment is installed in the container case 120 provided in the apparatus main body 100. is there. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram before removal in which a predetermined amount (full state) of waste toner is stored in the waste toner collection container 70 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a waste toner collection container 70 according to the present embodiment. It is explanatory drawing at the time of removing from a container case. Details of each part and attachment and removal of the waste toner collection container 70 to and from the container case 120 provided in the apparatus main body 100 will be described in detail below. Here, components having the same functions as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and similar configurations and operations will be omitted as appropriate.

  The waste toner collecting container 70 of the present embodiment is made of a thermoplastic resin film such as polyethylene or polypropylene and is easily deformed. However, a thermoplastic resin may not be used as long as the material can be easily deformed. The waste toner collecting container 70 can be easily manufactured by molding or welding the above materials. As shown in FIG. 4, the waste toner collecting container 70 of the present embodiment has a waste toner storage portion 73 provided in the center when the waste toner is filled, and a receiving portion at the top of the waste toner storage portion 73. 72, the attaching part 71, and the expansion | deployment part 74 are formed in the lower part. The attachment portion 71 attaches to the attachment / detachment port 122 of the container case 120 (see FIG. 5) provided in the apparatus main body 100. The receiving unit 72 guides the waste toner carried from the receiving port of the attachment unit 71 to the waste toner storage unit 73. The developing unit 74 is expanded when the container is removed from the container case 120, and the waste toner stored in the waste toner storage unit 73 is moved and stored, so that the waste toner overflows from the waste toner collection container 70. Can also be prevented.

  The container sectional area of the waste toner container 73 is substantially the same as the waste toner container space of the container case 120 provided in the apparatus main body 100, and the sectional area of the developing part 74 is configured to be smaller than the attachment / detachment port 122 of the container case 120. ing. As described above, the waste toner collection container 70 is made of a material that can be easily deformed, and can be easily reduced in volume by being folded when it is new. Therefore, the container case 120 provided in the apparatus main body 100 can be mounted even from the attachment / detachment port 122 having a smaller cross-sectional area than the waste toner storage space 121.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the waste toner collection container 70 is inserted from the attachment / detachment opening 122 of the container case 120, and the attachment portion 71 is attached to the attachment / detachment opening 122 by being fixed by an attachment member (not shown). After the waste toner collecting container 70 is attached to the container case 120, the front end portion of the waste toner conveyance path 90 (not shown) is connected to the receiving port of the attachment portion 71 from the apparatus main body 100 side. In a state in which only a small amount of waste toner is collected, the waste toner storage unit 73 is in a contracted state like a rubber balloon from which air has escaped, unlike a state in which the waste toner is filled. Further, the developing unit 74 is also folded in the lower portion of the waste toner storage unit 73. Then, the waste toner discharged and conveyed from each cleaning device falls from the receiving port of the attachment unit 71 to the waste toner storage unit 73 via the receiving unit 72. The waste toner in the waste toner collecting container 70 accumulates in the waste toner container 73, and the volume of the waste toner container 73 gradually increases. Here, in a state where the waste toner collecting container 70 itself is mounted on the container case 120, the developing portion 74 does not spread because it is regulated at the bottom of the waste toner storage space 121 of the container case 120.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a predetermined amount of waste toner accumulates in the waste toner container 73, and the volume of the waste toner increases due to the weight of the stored waste toner, and the container cross-sectional area also increases. As described above, since the volume of the waste toner container 73 increases due to the weight of the waste toner, the waste toner transport member in the waste toner collection container 70 is unnecessary, and the waste toner collection container can be made low-cost. . Further, when a predetermined amount of waste toner accumulates in the waste toner container 73 and the volume of the waste toner container 73 increases, it is detected by the full detection means (not shown) that the waste toner collection container 70 is full. The As the fullness detection means, a configuration in which a filler or the like is provided protruding from the side surface of the waste toner storage space such as the inclined portion 123 of the container case 120 can be considered. Then, the waste toner container 73 having a large volume can be configured to detect fullness when it is displaced in contact with the filler. By providing the full detection means in this way, it is possible to prevent the waste toner conveyance path such as the waste toner collection container 70 from being damaged. Further, by arranging the full detection means on the main body side, it is possible to reduce the cost of the waste toner collection container which is a consumable item.

  When the waste toner collection container 70 is filled and replaced, the waste toner collection container 70 is pulled upward so as to be lifted. Then, since the waste toner collection container 70 is deformable or made of a material, the toner storage part 73 is deformed so as to be stretched along the inclined part 123 of the container case 120 and the waste toner contained therein is Pressure increases. Since the pressure of the waste toner is thus increased, the diameter of the toner containing portion 73 in the large diameter portion 124 of the container case 120 is further increased, and the filling rate is also increased. Accordingly, the toner container 73 is sequentially stretched and deformed while securing a volume that does not overflow waste toner from the toner container 73.

  In addition, since there is no restriction by the bottom of the waste toner storage space 121 of the container case 120, part of the waste toner accumulated in the waste toner storage portion 73 moves to the developing portion 74. Since the waste toner moves and the waste toner collection container 70 can be deformed or is made of a material, the waste toner collection container 70 is formed from the attachment / detachment port 122 having an opening area smaller than the sectional area of the waste toner storage space 121. Can be taken out. Further, the waste toner collecting container 70 can be taken out while the toner containing portion 73 is sequentially deformed while ensuring a volume that does not overflow waste toner from the toner containing portion 73.

  By configuring the waste toner collecting container 70 in this way, it can be attached / detached from the attaching / detaching port 122 of the container case 120 having an opening area smaller than the container cross-sectional area of the waste toner containing portion 73 in the waste toner collecting state. Therefore, the space in the apparatus main body 100 of the copying machine 500 can be used effectively. Further, the waste toner collecting container 70 has a smaller volume when not in use than when the waste toner is stored and collected. That is, the volume of the waste toner collection container 70 is small when it is new. Since the volume is small as described above, it can be mounted from the attachment / detachment port 122 of the container case 120 having an opening area smaller than the sectional area of the waste toner accommodation state. In addition, it does not take up space when storing the spare waste toner collecting container.

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)
In a waste toner collection container such as a waste toner collection container 70 that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body such as the apparatus main body 100 of the copying machine 500, a waste toner storage unit 73 that stores the waste toner in the waste toner collection container The area of the cross section perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction such as the container cross-sectional area of the waste toner container is larger than the opening area of the attaching / detaching opening such as the attaching / detaching opening 112 and the attaching / detaching opening 122 provided in the image forming apparatus main body. It is small before being attached to the main body, is large when accommodating waste toner after being attached, and is small when removed from the image forming apparatus and is removed from the attachment / detachment opening.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment (Examples 1 and 2), an increase in the amount of waste toner contained in a waste toner collection container such as the waste toner collection container 70, and a reduction in the size of the image forming apparatus of the copier 500. It is possible to provide a waste toner collection container that can achieve both a longer life and a longer life.
(Aspect B)
In (Aspect A), the waste toner storage unit such as the waste toner storage unit 73 is expanded after mounting and has an area of a cross-section perpendicular to the mounting / detaching direction such as a container cross-sectional area of the mounting / detaching port such as the mounting / detaching port 112. When the image forming apparatus is removed from the image forming apparatus such as the apparatus main body 100 of the copying machine 500, the cross section perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction and facing the attaching / detaching opening is larger than the opening area. By the deformation means such as the heating device 80 provided in the apparatus main body, it is deformed and becomes smaller in order, and is removed from the attachment / detachment opening.
According to this, as described in the first embodiment, the attachment / detachment port 112 having an opening area smaller than the cross-sectional area such as the cross-sectional area of the container of the waste toner storage unit such as the waste toner storage unit 73 in the waste toner collection state is provided. Since it can be attached / detached from the attachment / detachment opening, the space in the image forming apparatus main body such as the apparatus main body 100 of the copying machine 500 can be effectively utilized.
(Aspect C)
In (Aspect B), the waste toner collection container such as the waste toner collection container 70 is made of a thermoplastic resin such as polyvinyl chloride resin.
According to this, as described in the first embodiment, it is possible to provide a waste toner collection container such as the waste toner collection container 70 that can be deformed by heating.
(Aspect D)
In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine 500 that forms an image on a recording medium such as a sheet P using a toner, a waste toner collecting container such as the waste toner collecting container 70 of (Aspect B) or (Aspect C) is used as a waste toner collecting container. Deformation means for deforming the waste toner collecting container, including a toner collecting container, on the side where the waste toner containing portion such as the waste toner containing portion 73 of the attaching / detaching port such as the attaching / detaching port 112 for attaching / detaching the waste toner collecting container is disposed. And a heating device such as the heating device 80.
According to this, as described in the first embodiment, the container sectional area of the waste toner collection container such as the waste toner collection container 70 made of thermoplastic resin is larger than the area of the attachment / detachment opening such as the attachment / detachment opening 112. The waste toner container such as the waste toner container 73 can be deformed by heating.
(Aspect E)
In (Aspect D), the attachment / detachment opening such as the attachment / detachment opening 112 is characterized in that the downstream side in the removal direction of the waste toner collection container such as the waste toner collection container 70 is smaller than the upstream side.
According to this, as described in the first embodiment, when the waste toner collection container such as the waste toner collection container 70 is removed, the part of the waste toner collection container such as the waste toner storage portion 73 that has been pulled out is removed. Will thin naturally.
(Aspect F)
In (Aspect D) or (Aspect E), a waste toner conveyance path such as a waste toner conveyance path 90 for conveying waste toner to the waste toner collection container such as the waste toner collection container 70 is designated as the apparatus main body 100 of the copier 500, etc. The waste toner transport path is detachably attached to a receiving port such as a receiving port of the mounting portion 71 of the waste toner collecting container.
According to this, as described in the first embodiment, a route such as the waste toner conveyance route 90 for conveying the waste toner to the waste toner collection container such as the waste toner collection container 70 can be secured.
(Aspect G)
(Aspect F) is characterized in that conveying means such as a conveying screw 92 for conveying the waste toner is provided in the waste toner conveying path such as the waste toner conveying path 90.
According to this, as described in the first embodiment, the waste toner can be transported to the waste toner collection container such as the waste toner collection container 70 by the transport force of the transport means such as the transport screw 92.
(Aspect H)
In (Aspect F) or (Aspect G), a constituent member such as a tubular member 91 that forms the waste toner transport path such as the waste toner transport path 90, and a transport screw 92 of the transport means provided in the toner transport path. The material of the constituent members such as is made of synthetic rubber.
According to this, as described in the first embodiment, the waste toner conveyance path such as the waste toner conveyance path 90 can be bent.
(Aspect I)
In any one of (Aspect D) to (Aspect H), the surfaces of the waste toner collection containers such as the waste toner collection container 70 to be removed from the attachment / detachment opening such as the attachment / detachment opening 112 have substantially the same shape. It is characterized by.
According to this, as described in the first embodiment, after collecting a waste toner collection container such as the waste toner collection container 70, it becomes easy to carry without being bulky and can be efficiently transported.
(Aspect J)
In (Aspect A), the waste toner collecting container such as the waste toner collecting container 70 is made of a material such as polyethylene that can be easily deformed, and the waste toner such as the waste toner containing portion 73 that contains the waste toner. Attaching / detaching from an attaching / detaching port such as the attaching / detaching port 122 provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus such as the main body 100 of the copying machine 500 having an opening area smaller than an area of a cross section perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction such as a container cross-sectional area of the container. It is characterized by what is possible.
According to this, as described in the second embodiment, the attachment / detachment opening such as the attachment / detachment opening 122 of the container case 120 having an opening area smaller than the cross-sectional area such as the cross-sectional area of the waste toner container 73 in the waste toner collecting state. Therefore, the space in the main body of the image forming apparatus such as the main body 100 of the copying machine 500 can be used effectively.
(Aspect K)
(Aspect J) is characterized in that the volume in the unused state is smaller than the state in which the waste toner is collected and collected.
According to this, as described in the second embodiment, the volume of the waste toner collection container such as the waste toner collection container 70 is small when it is new. Since the volume is small as described above, it can be attached from the attachment / detachment opening such as the attachment / detachment opening 122 of the container case 120 having an opening area smaller than the sectional area of the waste toner containing state. In addition, it does not take up space when storing the spare waste toner collecting container.
(Aspect L)
In (Aspect J) or (Aspect K), when the waste toner is received and collected in the image forming apparatus main body such as the apparatus main body 100 of the copying machine 500, the waste toner is collected by its own weight. The waste toner container such as the container 73 is deformed to increase its volume.
According to this, as described in the second embodiment, the waste toner collection member in the waste toner collection container such as the waste toner collection container 70 is unnecessary, and the waste toner collection container can be reduced in cost.
(Aspect M)
In any one of (Aspect J) to (Aspect L), the waste toner storage unit stores waste toner in a state of being attached to the image forming apparatus main body such as the apparatus main body 100 of the copying machine 500. A second waste toner storage unit such as a unit 73 and a second waste unit such as a developing unit 74 to which waste toner stored and collected in the first storage unit moves when being removed from the image forming apparatus main body. And a toner container.
According to this, as described in the second embodiment, from the attachment / detachment opening such as the attachment / detachment opening 122 of the container case 120 having an opening area smaller than the sectional area of the waste toner accommodation state to the first waste toner accommodation portion 73 and the like. A waste toner collection container such as the waste toner collection container 70 having the housing portion can be taken out.
(Aspect N)
In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine 500 that forms an image on a recording medium such as a sheet P using a toner, the waste toner collection container 70 of any one of (Mode J) to (Mode L) is used as a waste toner collection container. And a waste toner collection container.
According to this, as described in the second embodiment, the waste toner collection such as the waste toner collection container 70 can be performed from the attachment / detachment opening such as the attachment / detachment opening 122 of the container case 120 having an opening area smaller than the sectional area of the waste toner containing state. The container can be attached and detached. Accordingly, the space in the image forming apparatus such as the copying machine 500 can be effectively used.
(Aspect O)
In any one of (Aspect D) to (Aspect I) or (Aspect N), when a predetermined amount of waste toner is stored in the waste toner recovery container such as the waste toner recovery container 70, the waste toner recovery container It is provided with a full detection means using a pressure sensor, a filler or the like for detecting fullness.
According to this, as described in the first and second embodiments, the waste toner collection container 70 and the waste toner conveyance path such as the waste toner collection container 70 are detected by detecting that the waste toner collection container is full. It can be prevented from being damaged. Further, by arranging the full detection means on the main body side, it is possible to reduce the cost of the waste toner collection container which is a consumable item.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Intermediate transfer belt 14,15,16 Support roller 17 Belt cleaning apparatus 18 Image forming unit 20 Image forming part 21 Exposure apparatus 22 Secondary transfer apparatus 23a, 23b Roller (secondary transfer apparatus)
24 Secondary transfer belt 25 Fixing device 26 Fixing belt 27 Pressure roller 28 Reversing device 30 Document table 32 Contact glass 33 First traveling body 34 Second traveling body 35 Imaging lens 36 Reading sensor 40 Photosensitive drum 42,50 Paper feed Roller 43 Paper bank 44 Paper feed cassette 45,52 Separation roller 46,53 Paper feed path 47 Conveyance roller 49 Registration roller 51 Manual feed tray 55 Switching claw 56 Ejection roller 57 Ejection tray 70 Waste toner collection container 71 Attaching part 72 Receiving part 73 Waste toner storage unit 73a First stage storage unit 73b Second stage storage unit 74 Development unit 80 Heating device 81 Heating wire 90 Waste toner transport path 91 Tubular member 92 Transport screw 93 Tip (waste toner transport path)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Apparatus main body 111 Support side plate 112,122 Attachment / removal opening 120 Container case 121 Waste toner storage space 123 Inclined part 124 Large diameter part 200 Paper feed table 300 Scanner 400 Automatic document feeder 500 Copying machine P Sheet

JP 2011-118272 A

Claims (15)

In a waste toner collecting container that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body,
The area of the cross section perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction of the waste toner container for storing the waste toner in the waste toner collecting container is larger than the opening area of the attachment / detachment opening provided in the image forming apparatus body. Small before installation,
Large when storing waste toner after installation,
A waste toner collecting container which is reduced in size when removed from the image forming apparatus and is removed from the attachment / detachment port. The waste toner collecting container according to claim 1,
The waste toner container includes:
After mounting, the area of the cross section that is expanded and perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction becomes larger than the opening area of the attaching / detaching port, and its volume increases,
When detaching from the image forming apparatus, the cross section perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction and facing the attaching / detaching port is sequentially deformed and reduced by the deforming means provided in the image forming apparatus main body. A waste toner collecting container which is removed. The waste toner collecting container according to claim 2,
A waste toner collection container, wherein the waste toner collection container is made of a thermoplastic resin. In an image forming apparatus that forms an image using toner on a recording medium,
The waste toner collection container according to claim 2 or 3 is provided as a waste toner collection container.
An image forming apparatus comprising: a heating device as a deforming means for deforming the waste toner collection container on a side where the waste toner container is disposed in an attachment / detachment port for attaching / detaching the waste toner collection container. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attachment / detachment port is smaller on the downstream side in the removal direction of the waste toner collection container than on the upstream side. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 or 5,
A waste toner transport path for transporting waste toner to the waste toner collection container is provided in the image forming apparatus main body,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the waste toner conveyance path is detachable at a receiving port of the waste toner collection container. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a conveying unit configured to convey waste toner in the waste toner conveyance path. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 or 7,
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a material for forming the waste toner transport path and a material for the transport means provided in the toner transport path are made of synthetic rubber. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 8,
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the surface of the waste toner collecting container removed from the attaching / detaching port is substantially the same as the direction perpendicular to the removing direction. The waste toner collecting container according to claim 1,
The waste toner collecting container is made of an easily deformable material, and the image forming apparatus main body has an opening area smaller than an area of a cross section perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction of the waste toner containing portion in a state in which waste toner is contained. A waste toner collecting container which is detachable from an attachment / detachment opening provided in the container. The waste toner collecting container according to claim 10,
A waste toner collecting container having a reduced volume when not in use compared with a state in which waste toner is contained and collected. The waste toner collecting container according to claim 10 or 11,
A waste toner collecting container mounted on the image forming apparatus main body and storing and recovering waste toner, wherein the waste toner storage portion is deformed and increases in volume due to its own weight. . The waste toner collecting container according to any one of claims 10 to 12,
The waste toner container includes:
A first waste toner storage unit configured to store waste toner in a state of being attached to the image forming apparatus main body;
A waste toner collecting container having a second waste toner containing portion to which waste toner collected and collected in the first containing portion moves when being detached from the image forming apparatus main body; . In an image forming apparatus that forms an image using toner on a recording medium,
An image forming apparatus comprising the waste toner collection container according to claim 10 as a waste toner collection container. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 9, or 14,
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a full detection unit configured to detect whether the waste toner collection container is full when a predetermined amount of waste toner is stored in the waste toner collection container.

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