JP2013190743A - Waste toner recovery container, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide: a waste toner recovery container that substantially prevents the occurrence of inclination and displacement that cause failure such as leakage of waste toner, and is sufficiently fixed to an image forming apparatus body; and an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A container-side opposing member 31c opposing a body-side opposing member 90 provided to an image forming apparatus body and configured for fixing a position of a container 31 by using magnetic force acting between both members is installed on an end face orthogonal to a depth direction. The body-side opposing member 90 and the container-side opposing member 31c are formed such that lengths X0 and X1 in a direction corresponding to a longitudinal direction (X-direction) of a cross section of the container orthogonal to the depth direction are made shorter than lengths Z0 and Z1 in a direction corresponding to a short direction (Z-direction), respectively.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a complex machine thereof, and a waste toner collection container installed therein.

Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, untransferred toner remaining on an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum, a photosensitive belt, an intermediate transfer belt, and an intermediate transfer drum after a transfer process is performed is cleaned. There is known a technique of removing untransferred toner collected by the cleaning unit and discharging the untransferred toner collected by the cleaning unit as waste toner from the cleaning unit and collecting it in a waste toner collecting container (for example, see Patent Documents 1 to 4).
Such a waste toner collection container is formed so as to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body, and when the inside of the container is full (or nearly full), the image forming apparatus It is taken out from the main body and replaced (maintenance) with an empty container.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 4, for the purpose of fixing the waste toner collecting container at a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus main body, a metal portion is installed on the side plate of the image forming apparatus main body, and faces or contacts the metal portion. A technique is disclosed in which a magnet is installed at a position of a waste toner collecting container, and positioning is performed by attracting the magnet and a metal part by magnetic force.

Conventional waste toner collection containers are not sufficiently fixed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and are inclined or misaligned. In such a case, the position of the inflow port through which the waste toner flows from the cleaning unit is also shifted, causing a problem that the waste toner leaks out at the position of the inflow port.
On the other hand, in the technique of Patent Document 4, the waste toner collection container is fixed to the main body of the image forming apparatus using a force attracted by a magnetic force, so that such a problem is less likely to occur. However, if the metal part of the main body of the image forming apparatus or the magnet of the waste toner collection container is installed in a tilted or misaligned state with respect to the ideal installation state, the image Since the waste toner collecting container is tilted or misaligned with respect to the forming apparatus main body, the same problem occurs.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. The image forming apparatus main body is almost free from inclination and misalignment that causes a problem that waste toner leaks. An object is to provide a waste toner collecting container and an image forming apparatus which are sufficiently fixed.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, a waste toner collecting container collects untransferred toner discharged from a cleaning unit that removes untransferred toner on an image carrier as waste toner, and an image forming apparatus main body. Is a waste toner collecting container that is detachably installed with the depth direction as the attachment / detachment direction, and is disposed on an end surface orthogonal to the depth direction and faces or opposes the body-side facing member installed in the image forming apparatus body. A container-side facing member for fixing the position of the container by a magnetic force that contacts and acts between the two members, and the container-side facing member, together with the body-side facing member, has a cross-section of the container orthogonal to the depth direction. The length in the direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction is formed to be shorter than the length in the direction corresponding to the short direction of the cross section.

  In the present invention, a container-side facing member is installed that faces or contacts the main-body-side facing member and fixes the position of the container by a magnetic force acting between both members. And the container side facing member, together with the main body side facing member, is such that the length in the direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the container orthogonal to the depth direction is shorter than the length in the direction corresponding to the short direction. Is formed. As a result, the waste toner collecting container and the image forming apparatus that are sufficiently fixed to the main body of the image forming apparatus with almost no inclination or misalignment that may cause a problem that the waste toner leaks out. Can be provided.

1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows an image creation part. It is a block diagram which shows a waste toner collection container in the depth direction. It is a perspective view showing a waste toner collection container. It is a top view showing a waste toner collection container. It is a side view showing a waste toner collection container. It is a front view showing a waste toner collection container. It is a perspective view which shows a 1st conveyance member. It is a top view which shows a 1st conveyance member. It is a side view which shows the arm part of a 1st conveying member. It is a perspective view which shows a 2nd conveyance member. It is a side view which shows a 2nd conveyance member. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a depth direction depth side of a waste toner storage unit. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a part of a waste toner collecting container in a waste toner full state. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a width direction end portion of a waste toner inflow portion. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a depth direction depth side of a waste toner storage unit.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same or it corresponds, The duplication description is simplified or abbreviate | omitted suitably.

First, the configuration and operation of the entire image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, a plurality of process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK as image forming units are arranged in parallel so as to face an intermediate transfer belt 17 as an intermediate transfer member. An image forming apparatus.

  In FIG. 1, 1 is an apparatus main body of a color copying machine as an image forming apparatus, 3 is a document conveying unit that conveys a document to a document reading unit 4, 4 is a document reading unit that reads image information of a document, and 6 is input image information. A writing unit (exposure unit) that emits laser light based on the above, 7 is a paper feeding unit that accommodates a recording medium P such as transfer paper, and 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK are colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black). A corresponding process cartridge as an image forming unit, 17 is an intermediate transfer belt (image carrier) on which toner images of a plurality of colors are transferred, and 18 is a toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 17 on a recording medium P. A secondary transfer roller for transferring, a fixing unit 20 for fixing an unfixed image on the recording medium P, and a toner 28 for each process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK. Because of the toner container, 30 denotes a waste toner container, the waste toner is collected.

Here, each of the process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK (image forming unit) includes a photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier, a charging unit 12, a developing unit 13 (developing device), and a cleaning unit 15 (cleaning device). ) Are integrated (see FIG. 2). And each process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10BK is replaced | exchanged for a new thing when the lifetime is reached.
A toner image of each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) is formed on the photosensitive drum 11 (image carrier) in each of the process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK.

Hereinafter, an operation during normal color image formation in the image forming apparatus will be described.
First, the document is transported from the document table by the transport rollers of the document transport unit 3 and placed on the contact glass of the document reading unit 4. Then, the document reading unit 4 optically reads the image information of the document placed on the contact glass.
Specifically, the document reading unit 4 scans an image of a document on the contact glass while irradiating light emitted from an illumination lamp. Then, the light reflected from the original is imaged on the color sensor via the mirror group and the lens. The color image information of the original is read for each color separation light of RGB (red, green, blue) by the color sensor, and then converted into an electrical image signal. Further, an image processing unit (not shown) performs color conversion processing, color correction processing, spatial frequency correction processing, and the like on the basis of RGB color separation image signals, so that yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are processed. Get color image information.

  Then, image information of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is transmitted to the writing unit 6. Then, laser light (exposure light) based on the image information of each color is emitted from the writing unit 6 toward the photosensitive drums 11 of the corresponding process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK, respectively.

On the other hand, the four photosensitive drums 11 rotate in the clockwise direction in the figure. Referring to FIG. 2, first, the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is uniformly charged at a position facing the charging unit 12 (charging roller) (a charging process). Thus, a charged potential is formed on the photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier. Thereafter, the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 11 reaches the irradiation position of each laser beam.
In the writing unit 6, laser light corresponding to the image signal is emitted from the light source corresponding to each color. Although not shown, the laser light is incident on the polygon mirror and reflected, and then passes through a plurality of lenses. The laser light after passing through the plurality of lenses passes through different optical paths for each of the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black color components (this is an exposure process).

  Laser light corresponding to the yellow component is irradiated onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 of the first process cartridge 10Y from the left side of the drawing. At this time, the yellow component laser light is scanned in the rotational axis direction (main scanning direction) of the photosensitive drum 11 by a polygon mirror (not shown) that rotates at high speed. Thus, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the yellow component is formed on the photosensitive drum 11 after being charged by the charging roller 12a.

  Similarly, the cyan component laser light is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 of the second process cartridge 10 </ b> C from the left side of the sheet, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image of the cyan component. The laser beam corresponding to the magenta component is irradiated onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 of the third process cartridge 10M from the left side of the paper, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the magenta component is formed. The black component laser light is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 of the process cartridge 10BK (black image forming unit), which is fourth from the left side of the drawing (the most downstream side with respect to the traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt 17). Thus, an electrostatic latent image of the black component is formed.

Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 on which the electrostatic latent image of each color is formed reaches a position facing the developing unit 13 (see FIG. 2). Then, each color toner is supplied from each developing unit 13 onto the photosensitive drum 11, and the latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 is developed (this is a developing step).
Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 after the development process reaches a position facing the intermediate transfer belt 17 (intermediate transfer body) as an image carrier. Here, a primary transfer roller 14 is installed at each facing position so as to contact the inner peripheral surface of an intermediate transfer belt 17 as an intermediate transfer member. At the position of the primary transfer roller 14, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 11 are sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 17 as an image carrier (in the first transfer process). is there.).

Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 after the first transfer step reaches a position facing the cleaning unit 15 (see FIG. 2). The untransferred toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 (image carrier) is collected by the cleaning unit 15 (cleaning process).
Thereafter, the surface of the photoconductive drum 11 passes through the position of a static elimination unit (not shown), and a series of image forming processes on the photoconductive drum 11 is completed.

On the other hand, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17 on which the images of the respective colors on the photosensitive drum 11 are transferred in an overlapping manner travels in the direction of the arrow in the drawing and reaches the position of the secondary transfer roller 18. Then, the full color image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is secondarily transferred onto the recording medium P at the position of the secondary transfer roller 18 (second transfer step).
Thereafter, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17 reaches the position of the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9 (cleaning unit). Then, the untransferred toner on the intermediate transfer belt 17 as the image carrier is collected by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9 (cleaning unit), and a series of transfer processes on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is completed.

Here, the recording medium P at the position of the secondary transfer roller 18 is conveyed from the paper supply unit 7 via the conveyance guide, the registration roller 19 and the like.
Specifically, the transfer paper P fed by the paper feed roller 8 from the paper feed unit 7 that stores the recording medium P is guided to the registration roller 19 after passing through the conveyance guide. The recording medium P that has reached the registration roller 19 is conveyed toward the position of the secondary transfer roller 18 in synchronization with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17.

Thereafter, the recording medium P on which the full-color image is transferred is guided to the fixing unit 20. In the fixing unit 20, the color image is fixed on the recording medium P at the nip between the fixing roller and the pressure roller.
The recording medium P after the fixing step is discharged as an output image outside the apparatus main body 1 by the paper discharge roller 29 and then stacked on the paper discharge unit 5 to complete a series of image forming processes.

Next, the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the black process cartridge 10BK. The other three process cartridges 10Y, 10M, and 10C are configured substantially the same as the black process cartridge 10BK except that the color of the toner used in the image forming process is different. Are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge 10BK contains a photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier, a charging unit 12 for charging the photosensitive drum 11, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 11. A developing unit 13 for developing and a cleaning unit 15 for collecting untransferred toner on the photosensitive drum 11 are integrally stored in a case.

Here, the photosensitive drum 11 as an image bearing member is a negatively charged organic photosensitive member, and a photosensitive layer or the like is provided on a drum-shaped conductive support. Although not shown, the photosensitive drum 11 has an undercoat layer that is an insulating layer, a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer as a photosensitive layer, and a protective layer (surface layer) in this order on a conductive support as a base layer. Are stacked.
The charging unit 12 is a charging roller formed by covering an outer periphery of a conductive metal core with an intermediate resistance elastic layer. Then, a predetermined voltage is applied to the charging unit 12 (charging roller) from a power supply unit (not shown), thereby uniformly charging the surface of the opposing photoconductive drum 11.

  The developing unit 13 (developing device) mainly includes a developing roller 13a facing the photoconductive drum 11, a first transporting screw 13b1 facing the developing roller 13a, and a first transporting screw 13b1 facing the first transporting screw 13b1 via a partition member. It is comprised by the 2 conveyance screw 13b2 and the doctor blade 13c facing the developing roller 13a. The developing roller 13a includes a magnet that is fixed inside and forms a magnetic pole on the peripheral surface of the roller, and a sleeve that rotates around the magnet. A plurality of magnetic poles are formed on the developing roller 13a (sleeve) by the magnet, and the developer is carried on the developing roller 13a.

In the developing unit 13, a two-component developer composed of a carrier and a toner is accommodated. In the present embodiment, a toner having a small particle diameter and a substantially spherical shape is used to improve the image quality.
Specifically, the toner is formed so that the circularity is 0.92 or more. The “circularity” is an average circularity measured by a flow type particle image analyzer “FPIA-2000” (manufactured by Toa Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.). Specifically, 0.1 to 0.5 ml of a surfactant (preferably an alkylbenzene sulfonate) is added as a dispersant to 100 to 150 ml of water from which impure solids have been removed in advance. Further, about 0.1 to 0.5 g of a measurement sample (toner) is added. Thereafter, the suspension in which the toner is dispersed is subjected to a dispersion treatment with an ultrasonic disperser for about 1 to 3 minutes, and the dispersion liquid concentration is set to 3000 to 10000 / μl in the above-described analyzer. Then, the shape and distribution of the toner are measured.
The toner is formed so that the shape factor SF-1 and the shape factor SF-2 are both in the range of 100 to 180.
The toner has a volume average particle diameter (Dv) in the range of 3 to 8 μm, and a ratio (Dv / Dn) of the volume average particle diameter (Dv) to the number average particle diameter (Dn) is 1.05. It is formed to be in the range of 1.40.
Further, the toner has a ratio of the major axis to the minor axis (r1 / r2) in the range of 0.5 to 1.0, and a ratio of the thickness to the minor axis (r3 / r2) of 0.7 to 1. In the range of 0.0, and the long axis r1 ≧ the short axis r2 ≧ the thickness r3 is satisfied.
Such a small particle size / spherical toner crosslinks a toner composition containing a polyester prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, a polyester, a colorant, and a release agent in the presence of resin fine particles in an aqueous medium. Alternatively, it can be produced by an extension reaction.

Referring to FIG. 2, the cleaning unit 15 (cleaning device) includes a cleaning blade 15a that contacts the photosensitive drum 11, and a non-transferred toner collected in the cleaning unit 15 as a waste toner collection container 30 (see FIG. 2). 3), a transfer coil 15b (transfer pipe 16), etc., which is transferred toward is provided. The cleaning blade 15a is made of a rubber material such as urethane rubber, and is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 at a predetermined angle and a predetermined pressure. As a result, deposits such as untransferred toner adhering to the photosensitive drum 11 are mechanically scraped and collected in the cleaning unit 15. The untransferred toner recovered in the cleaning unit 15 is transported to the waste toner recovery container 30 via the transport pipe 16 (a transport coil 15b is provided), and is recovered as waste toner. It is collected inside the container 30.
Similarly, referring to FIG. 1, the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9 as a cleaning unit also includes a cleaning blade that is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 17 (intermediate transfer member) and the uncollected in the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9. A conveying coil (conveying tube 16) for conveying the transfer toner as waste toner toward a waste toner collecting container 30 (see FIG. 3) is installed. Then, the untransferred toner collected in the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9 is transported to the waste toner collection container 30 via the transport pipe 16 (a transport coil is provided), and is discarded as waste toner. The toner is collected in the toner collection container 30. The configuration and operation of the waste toner collection container 30 will be described in more detail later.
In addition to the untransferred toner, the adhering matter adhering to the photosensitive drum 11 and the intermediate transfer belt 17 is not only the untransferred toner but also paper dust generated from the recording medium P (paper), and the photosensitive member during discharge by the charging roller 12 (charging unit). There are discharge products generated on the drum 11, additives added to the toner, and the like. In the present application, these are collectively referred to as “untransferred toner”.

The image forming process described above will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.
The developing roller 13a rotates in the arrow direction (counterclockwise direction) in FIG. The developer in the developing unit 13 is replenished from the toner container 28 by a toner replenishing unit (not shown) by the rotation of the first transport screw 13b1 and the second transport screw 13b2 that are disposed so as to interpose a partition member therebetween. The toner circulates in the longitudinal direction while being agitated and mixed with the toner (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2).

  The toner that is frictionally charged and adsorbed on the carrier is carried on the developing roller 13a together with the carrier. The developer carried on the developing roller 13a then reaches the position of the doctor blade 13c. The developer on the developing roller 13a is adjusted to an appropriate amount at the position of the doctor blade 13c and then reaches a position facing the photosensitive drum 11 (development region).

  Thereafter, in the developing region, the toner in the developer adheres to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. Specifically, the latent image potential (exposure potential) of the image portion irradiated with the laser beam L and the electric field formed by the potential difference (development potential) between the development bias applied to the developing roller 13a cause the toner to become a latent image. (Toner image is formed).

  Thereafter, most of the toner adhering to the photosensitive drum 11 in the developing process is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 17. Then, the untransferred toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 is collected in the cleaning unit 15 by the cleaning blade 15a.

  Here, although not shown in the figure, the toner replenishing portion provided in the apparatus main body 1 includes a bottle-shaped toner container 28 configured to be replaceable, and holds and rotates the toner container 28, and the developing unit 13 is newly installed. And a toner hopper for replenishing toner. Also, a new toner (any one of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) is accommodated in the toner container 28. In addition, a spiral protrusion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the toner container 28 (toner bottle).

  The new toner in the toner container 28 is appropriately supplied from the toner supply port into the developing unit 13 as the toner in the developing unit 13 (existing toner) is consumed. Although illustration is omitted, the consumption of toner in the developing unit 13 is indirectly caused by a reflection type photosensor facing the photosensitive drum 11 and a magnetic sensor installed below the second conveying screw 23b2 of the developing unit 13. Or detected directly.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the waste toner collecting container 30 which are characteristic in the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 6, etc., waste toner collection container 30 in the present embodiment is formed so that the shape viewed from the side is substantially L-shaped. 3 (and FIG. 14) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the waste toner collection container 30 as viewed from the right side (right side of FIG. 1), and FIG. 6 (and FIG. 13) shows the waste toner collection container 30. It is a detailed sectional view seen from the left side (the left side of FIG. 1).

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 7, the waste toner collecting container 30 mainly includes a waste toner inflow portion 32 into which the waste toner discharged from the cleaning units 9 and 15 is introduced, and a waste toner storage portion that stores the waste toner. 31.
The waste toner storage portion 31 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-like portion formed so as to extend in the depth direction (the left-right direction in FIGS. 3 and 6 and the vertical direction in FIG. 1). In the cross section perpendicular to the depth direction, the vertical length is shorter than the horizontal length. That is, referring to FIG. 4, the waste toner storage unit 31 is formed so that the length in the X direction (width direction) is longer than the length in the Z direction (height direction). In addition, the waste toner storage unit 31 is provided with a pushing member 41 as a first conveying member. Further, the waste toner storage unit 31 is provided with a waste toner detection unit 54 (see also FIG. 13) that detects that the amount of waste toner accumulated in the container has reached a predetermined amount (predetermined height). ing. The waste toner storage unit 31
The waste toner inflow portion 32 (second waste toner storage portion) is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped portion protruding above the waste toner storage portion 31, and a transport screw 51 as a second transport member is provided therein. is set up. The entire boundary of the waste toner inflow portion 32 and the waste toner storage portion 31 is open. 4, 5, and 7, the inflow ports 32 a 1 Y, 32 a 1 M, 32 a 1 C, and the like where the waste toner discharged from the cleaning units 9 and 15 flows into the ceiling portion 32 a of the waste toner inflow portion 32. Five 32a1BK and 32a1T are arranged side by side in the width direction (in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, the reference numeral “32a1” is omitted). Also, referring to FIG. 4 and the like, the waste toner inflow portion 32 is formed so that one end side in the width direction (a portion greatly surrounded by a broken line) protrudes from the waste toner storage portion 31. . The protruding portion of the waste toner inflow portion 32 is also formed to make maximum use of the wasted space in the apparatus main body 1.
Then, the waste toner collecting container 30 configured as described above is discharged from the cleaning units 15 of the four process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK and discharged from the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9. Untransferred toner is collected as waste toner. Then, a large amount of waste toner is stored in the waste toner storage unit 31, and the waste toner is additionally stored in a part of the space of the waste toner inflow unit 32.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the ceiling portion of waste toner inflow portion 32, inflow port 32a1BK formed on the leftmost side in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the depth direction and the left-right direction in FIG. 7). (The black inlet) is used to flow the untransferred toner collected by the cleaning unit 15 of the black process cartridge 10BK into the waste toner inflow portion 32 as waste toner. The toner is discharged from the transport pipe 16 into the waste toner inflow section 32 in a state where the discharge port 16a (see FIG. 3) of the transport pipe 16 connected to the cleaning section 15 communicates with the inflow port 32a1BK.
In addition, in the waste toner inflow portion 32, the inflow port 32a1C formed second from the left in the width direction uses the untransferred toner collected by the cleaning portion 15 of the cyan process cartridge 10C as waste toner and serves as a waste toner inflow portion 32. In the state where the discharge port 16a of the conveyance tube 16 connected to the cyan cleaning unit 15 communicates with the inflow port 32a1C, the toner enters the waste toner inflow portion 32 from the conveyance tube 16. Is discharged.
Further, in the waste toner inflow portion 32, the inflow port 32a1M formed third from the left in the width direction is a waste toner inflow portion 32 using the untransferred toner collected by the cleaning portion 15 of the magenta process cartridge 10M as waste toner. In the state where the discharge port 16a of the conveyance tube 16 connected to the magenta cleaning unit 15 communicates with the inflow port 32a1M, the toner enters the waste toner inflow unit 32 from the conveyance tube 16. Is discharged.
Further, in the waste toner inflow portion 32, the inflow port 32a1Y formed fourth from the left in the width direction is a waste toner inflow portion 32 using the untransferred toner collected by the cleaning portion 15 of the yellow process cartridge 10Y as waste toner. In the state where the discharge port 16a of the conveyance tube 16 connected to the yellow cleaning unit 15 communicates with the inflow port 32a1Y, the toner enters the waste toner inflow portion 32 from the conveyance tube 16. Is discharged.
In addition, in the waste toner inflow portion 32, an inflow port 32a1T (which is an inflow port for the intermediate transfer member) formed on the rightmost side in the width direction receives untransferred toner collected by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9. In order to flow into the waste toner inflow portion 32 as waste toner, the discharge port 16a of the conveyance tube 16 connected to the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9 communicates with the inflow port 32a1T from the conveyance tube 16. The toner is discharged into the waste toner inflow portion 32.
In addition, in FIG. 7 etc., illustration of the conveyance pipe | tube 16 respectively connected to five inflow port 32a1Y, 32a1M, 32a1C, 32a1BK, 32a1T is abbreviate | omitted.

  The waste toner (untransferred toner) that has flowed in from the five inlets 32a1Y, 32a1M, 32a1C, 32a1BK, and 32a1T (discharge port 16a) mainly falls by its own weight and is discharged from the waste toner inflow portion 32 to the waste toner storage portion 31 ( It is a position below the waste toner inflow portion 32). The waste toner accumulated at that position is depth by a pushing member 41 (refer to an operation range indicated by a broken line in FIG. 3) as a first conveying member whose flat plate portion 41a swings in the vertical and horizontal directions. It is conveyed so as to be pushed from the front side in the direction (left side in FIG. 3) to the back side in the depth direction (right side in FIG. 3). When the waste toner is collected (filled) over the entire waste toner storage unit 31 (or close to it), the waste toner that has flowed in from the five inlets 32a1Y, 32a1M, 32a1C, 32a1BK, and 32a1T. Is accumulated in the waste toner inflow portion 32. The waste toner that has reached the vicinity of the position (height) of the transport screw 51 as the second transport member is in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 3 and the white arrow direction in FIG. 7). ). When the waste toner accumulation unit 31 (waste toner full detection unit) detects that the amount of waste toner accumulated in the waste toner storage unit 31 and the waste toner inflow unit 32 reaches a predetermined amount, the control unit discards the waste toner. The conveyance of the waste toner to the toner recovery container 30 is stopped, and the state is notified to a display unit (not shown) of the apparatus main body 1. Then, the user (or service person) who recognizes the state performs replacement maintenance of the full waste toner collecting container 30.

The waste toner collecting container 30 is moved from the apparatus main body 1 by opening the main body cover (not shown) of the apparatus main body 1 and moving to the left in FIG. 3 (the front side in FIG. 1). Can be taken out. Then, the new (empty) waste toner collecting container 30 is moved to the right side of FIG. 3 (the back side in FIG. 1) with respect to the apparatus main body 1 with the main body cover opened. Installed. The configuration / operation related to the attachment / detachment of the waste toner collection container 30 to / from the apparatus main body 1 will be described in more detail later.
Here, in the present embodiment, the waste toner collection container 30 is provided with the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10BK, the writing unit 6 and the intermediate transfer belt 17 (in order to extend the maintenance cycle of the waste toner collection container 30. By utilizing the space excluding the functional part such as the intermediate transfer belt unit) to the maximum extent, the waste toner inflow part 32 (second waste toner storage part) is provided above the waste toner storage part 31 as described above, thereby providing a large capacity. It has become.

Here, the conveying screw 51 as the second conveying member is mainly composed of a shaft portion 51a and a screw portion 51b, and both ends in the width direction thereof are waste toner inflow portions via bearings (not shown). 32 cases are rotatably supported.
Specifically, referring to FIGS. 3, 7, 11, and 12, cam members 52 are respectively installed at both ends in the width direction of the shaft portion 51 a of the transport screw 51 (second transport member). . The cam member 52 rotates around the shaft portion 51a together with the conveying screw 51, and can be formed integrally with the shaft portion 51a or can be formed as a separate member from the shaft portion 51a. it can. It should be noted that the position of the shaft portion 51 a that is the rotation center of the cam member 52 is a position that is eccentric from the center of the circle of the cam member 52, so that the cam member 52 functions as a “cam” as the conveyance screw 51 rotates. Will do. The cam member 52 is for driving a pushing member 41 (first conveying member) described later, and the arm portion 41b of the pushing member 41 is suspended.
Further, in the shaft portion 51a of the conveying screw 51 (second conveying member), it is a position excluding the position where the cam member 52 is formed, and from the one end side in the width direction to the center position not reaching the other end side, A screw part 51b is formed (wound). In other words, the screw part 51b is formed in the shaft part 51a of the conveying screw 51 at a position excluding the position where the cam member 52 is formed and the other end side (the left side in FIG. 7). Further, the screw part 51b is disposed at a waste toner inflow part 32 formed so as to protrude to one end side in the width direction (the right end part in FIG. 7) above the waste toner storage part 31. This is for adjusting the balance in the width direction of the waste toner sent toward the portion 31 and the balance in the width direction of the waste toner accumulated in the waste toner inflow portion 32, and the shaft portion 51a described above. (The range from the one end side to the position of the central portion). That is, by installing the conveying screw 51 having the screw part 51b in the part formed so as to protrude to one end side in the width direction in the waste toner inflow part 32, it is possible to prevent the problem that the waste toner stays in that part. Can do. Furthermore, by forming the screw part 51b only on one end side in the width direction in the transport screw 51, the driving torque of the transport screw 51 can be reduced compared to the case where the screw part 51b is formed over the entire width direction.
The screw portion 51b is formed so as to convey waste toner in a direction away from the cam member 52 on one end side (the right end portion in FIG. 7). As a result, a problem that waste toner adheres to the cam member 52 and a drive transmission failure between the cam member 52 and the pushing member 41 (first transport member) occurs is prevented.
Referring to FIG. 7, a gear 71 that meshes with a drive gear (not shown) installed in the apparatus main body 1 is provided on one end side of the shaft portion 51 a of the transport screw 51 (second transport member). is set up. When the driving force is transmitted from the driving gear to the gear 71 and the conveying screw 51 is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction, the waste screw does not reach the other end side from the one end side in the width direction by the conveying screw 51. It is transported toward the position (transportation in the direction of the white arrow in FIG. 7).

On the other hand, referring to FIGS. 3, 7 to 9, etc., the pushing member 41 as the first conveying member includes a flat plate portion 41 a provided in the waste toner storage portion 31 and a waste toner inflow portion in the flat plate portion 41 a. The arm portion 41b is connected to both end portions in the width direction on the near side in the depth direction.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the flat plate portion 41 a of the pushing member 41 (first transport member) is formed in a substantially lattice shape. That is, the flat plate portion 41a is provided with a plurality of rectangular watermarks (through holes) in the vertical and horizontal directions when viewed from the vertical direction.
Here, in the flat plate portion 41a in the present embodiment, the lattice at the center in the width direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 9) is substantially orthogonal to the waste toner conveyance direction (the right direction in FIG. 9). The grids at both ends in the width direction are formed in a substantially parallelogram shape inclined toward the center with respect to the waste toner conveyance direction. Furthermore, it is formed so that the inclination angle of the lattice of the one side endmost portion (lower side in FIG. 9) in the width direction of the flat plate portion 41a is larger than the inclination angle of the lattice on the center side. Yes. With such a configuration, the waste toner is collected without being biased throughout the waste toner storage unit 31 by the swinging of the pushing member 41.
In the present application, “lattice” means that a plurality of rectangular watermarks (through holes) are regularly arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions, and a plurality of watermarks (through holes) are randomly formed regardless of the rectangle. It is also included.

  Further, the arm portion 41b of the pushing member 41 (first conveying member) has a substantially O-shaped abutting portion 41b1 formed at the tip thereof, and the abutting portion 41b1 serves as a hook portion and the conveying screw 51. The cam member 52 is suspended (hanged). The abutting portion 41b1 between the arm portion 41b and the cam member 52 serves as a drive transmission portion for transmitting the driving force of the conveying screw 51 to the pushing member 41. That is, in the pushing member 41 (first transport member), the contact portion 41b1 between the arm portion 41b and the cam member 52 becomes a drive transmission portion in conjunction with the rotational drive of the transport screw 51 (second transport member). The flat plate portion 41a swings while changing the inclination angle with respect to the depth direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, when the cam member 52 rotates eccentrically about the shaft 51a, the flat plate portion 41a connected to the arm portion 41b in accordance with the operation thereof is It moves up and down in the direction of the arrow and slides in the depth direction. That is, the flat plate portion 41a swings while changing the inclination angle and position with respect to the depth direction. By such an operation of the grid-like flat plate portion 41a (pushing member 41), the waste toner accumulated below the waste toner inflow portion 32 is gradually pushed inward in the depth direction (FIG. 3). Move from the left side to the right side.) Thus, the waste toner is filled (collected) without wasting space over the entire area of the waste toner storage unit 31 extending in the depth direction.

Here, in the waste toner collecting container 30 in the present embodiment, the pushing member 41 (first transport member) is driven in conjunction with the drive of the transport screw 51 (second transport member). Furthermore, the position where the drive transmission part (the contact part 41b1 between the arm part 41b and the cam member 52) with the conveying screw 51 is different from the inside of the waste toner storage part 31 (width direction of the waste toner inflow part 32). It is arranged at both ends.
This makes it difficult for the waste toner stored in the waste toner storage section 32 to adhere to the drive connecting portion between the pushing member 41 and the conveying screw 51, so that the pushing member 41 is reliably driven in conjunction with the driving of the conveying screw 51. As a result, the occurrence of malfunction of the pushing member 41 is suppressed. Therefore, the waste toner is uniformly collected in the large-capacity waste toner collection container 30 as a whole.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the cam member 52 of the conveying screw 51 is at both ends in the width direction of the waste toner inflow portion 32, and the width direction in which the five inflow ports 32a1Y, 32a1M, 32a1C, 32a1BK, and 32a1T are formed. Are disposed at positions outside the range. Further, the waste toner is transported toward the central portion in the width direction by the screw portion 51b of the transport screw 51.
With such a configuration, the waste toner flowing into the waste toner inflow portion 52 is less likely to directly adhere to the cam member 52 (or the drive connection portion 41b1 with the arm portion 41b). The effect of suppressing the malfunction is further ensured.

Here, in the present embodiment, referring to FIG. 3 and the like, in the waste toner inflow portion 32 (second waste toner storage portion), in the extending direction of the transport pipe 16 (the left-right direction in FIG. 3). A ceiling portion 32 a is formed so as to face the lower surface of the transport pipe 16. In addition, an inflow port 32a1 that communicates with the discharge port 16a of the transport pipe 16 is formed in the ceiling portion 32a.
Further, the ceiling portion 32a of the waste toner inflow portion 32 has an inclined portion that is inclined downward along the mounting direction at a position corresponding to the back side in the mounting direction with respect to the transport pipe 16 (right side in FIG. 3). (Taper part) is formed. By providing the inclined portion in the waste toner inflow portion 32 as described above, the attaching / detaching operation (particularly, the attaching operation) of the waste toner collecting container 30 with respect to the apparatus main body 1 (conveying pipe 16) can be performed smoothly.

3 and 6 and the like, the ceiling portion 32a of the waste toner inflow portion 32 is formed at the front end portion of the transport tube 16 on the front side in the mounting direction (on the right side of the drawing). A pin 32b (pushing member) that fits into the positioning hole (not shown) is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a shutter member 16 b (which is a substantially cylindrical member having an opening formed at a part of the bottom portion) for opening and closing the discharge port 16 a is not illustrated in the inside of the transport pipe 16. The urging member is urged toward the direction of closing the discharge port 16a.
Specifically, the ceiling portion 32a is provided with an upright portion (wall surface) that rises upward on the front side in the mounting direction. And on this standing part, the pin 32b is fixed so that it may stand in a horizontal direction. Then, the waste toner collection container 30 is attached to the conveyance pipe 16 (apparatus main body 1), and the pins 32b of the waste toner collection container 30 are fitted into the positioning holes of the conveyance pipe 16, so that the conveyance pipe 16 (apparatus). The position of the waste toner collecting container 30 relative to the main body 1) is determined. Further, a position where the shutter member 16b opens the discharge port 16a so as to resist the biasing force of the biasing member by the pin 32b (pushing member) inserted into the transport pipe 16 (the opening and the discharge port 16a). Is a matching position.) In such a state, the discharge port 16a of the transport pipe 16 and the inflow port 32a1 of the waste toner collection container 30 communicate with each other, and waste toner flows into the waste toner collection container 30 through the transport pipe 16. Will be.
As described above, the pin 32 b installed in the waste toner inflow portion 32 pushes the shutter member 16 b installed in the discharge port 16 a of the transport pipe 16 in accordance with the mounting operation to the apparatus main body 1 to open the discharge port 16 a. It functions as a pushing member. And five pins 32b as this pushing member are installed corresponding to five inflow ports 32a1Y, 32a1M, 32a1C, 32a1BK, 32a1T and five conveyance pipes 16 (refer to Drawing 7 etc.). ). The five pins 32b (pushing members) are arranged side by side in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the depth direction and the left-right direction in FIG. 7).

  Here, the waste toner recovery container 30 in the present embodiment includes a waste toner detection unit 54 that detects that the waste toner recovered in the container 30 has reached a predetermined amount with reference to FIG. In the waste toner storage unit 31, the flat plate portion 41 a of the push-in member 41 is disposed above the depth side where the tip portion is located. The waste toner detection unit 54 moves against a push-in member 41 in which a part (the front end portion in the depth direction) of the waste toner collected in the waste toner storage unit 31 is displaced upward. In addition, it is detected that the waste toner collected in the container 30 has reached a predetermined amount as the pushing member 41 is displaced upward.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, when the amount of waste toner collected in the waste toner collection container 30 (waste toner storage unit 31) increases, the tip of the pushing member 41 (see FIG. 13). Left end) is gradually pushed up by the increased waste toner. This is because the pushing member 41 is suspended from the conveying screw 51, and its tip is a free end. That is, when the waste toner is sufficiently filled in the back side of the waste toner storage unit 31 (on the left side in FIG. 13), the front end portion (free end) of the pushing member 41 is lifted by the waste toner. . Therefore, the pushing member 41 swings in a posture as shown in FIG. 6 when not full, and finally is displaced in a posture shown in FIG. 14 when full.
As shown in FIG. 14, when the tip of the pushing member 41 is lifted up to the vicinity of the upper end of the waste toner storage unit 31, the waste toner storage unit 31 is sufficiently filled with waste toner and the waste toner is stored. The inflow portion 31 is additionally filled with waste toner. Then, the waste toner detection unit 54 detects the pushing member 41 in a state where the tip end is lifted as shown in FIG.

Here, referring to FIGS. 4 and 13, the waste toner detection unit 54 includes a rubber sheet 56 as a flexible member, a filler 55 as a movable member, a photo sensor 57 (optical sensor) as a detection unit, Etc.
The rubber sheet 56 (flexible member) is installed (adhered) so as to close the opening 31a formed in the waste toner collection container 30 (waste toner storage unit 31), and is a pushing member that is lifted to that position. It is formed so as to be deformed by a pushing motion by the tip portion of 41. The rubber sheet 56 can be formed of a rubber material having a thickness of 1 mm or less, for example.
The filler 55 (movable member) is installed so as to come into contact with the rubber sheet 56 from the outside of the waste toner collection container 30, and is supported by the waste toner collection container 30 so as to be rotatable about the support shaft 55a. ing. Then, the filler 55 is displaced by the pushing by the pushing member 41 with the rubber sheet 56 accompanying the increase in the amount of waste toner, and the displacement is detected by the photo sensor 57.

When the waste toner T collected in the container 30 is not full by the waste toner detector 54 configured as described above, the filler 55 is fed by the photosensor 57 as shown in FIGS. The posture is not detected. On the other hand, when the waste toner T collected in the container 30 becomes full (or a state close thereto), the filler 55 is displaced together with the rubber sheet 56 as shown in FIG. It will rotate to the position detected by the sensor 57.
Note that the photosensor 57 mainly includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and is a filler 55 interposed between the light emitting element and the light receiving element so that light emitted from the light emitting element and reaching the light receiving element is blocked. The attitude | position of the filler 55 mentioned above is detected by no.
In this embodiment, the photo sensor 57 is installed on the apparatus main body 1 side. However, the photo sensor 57 may be installed on the waste toner collection container 30 side.

  In the present embodiment, the waste toner detection unit 54 configured in this manner is installed at a position (above the depth side in the depth direction) that faces the tip of the push-in member 41 (flat plate portion 41a). Therefore, compared to the case where the waste toner detection unit 54 is installed on the front side in the depth direction, the displacement amount becomes large, and the pushing member 41 that is displaced as the amount of waste toner in the waste toner storage unit 31 increases is accurately detected. Can be detected. Further, since the waste toner detection unit 54 (rubber sheet 56 and filler 55) detects a state in which the waste toner detection unit 54 is directly pushed by the pushing member 41, the waste toner detection unit 54 (rubber sheet 56 and filler 55) is discarded. Compared with a method of detecting a state of being pushed by toner (for example, a detection method disclosed in Patent Document 3), the accuracy of waste toner full detection in the waste toner collection container 30 can be improved. .

Here, in the present embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the waste toner detector 54 (rubber sheet 56 and filler 55) is opposed to the flat plate portion 41 a of the pushing member 41 (first conveying member). A planar portion 41a1 that is not formed in a lattice shape is provided at the position. In addition, in this Embodiment, although the planar part 41a1 was formed by sticking the flat plate-like mylar formed as another component to the flat plate part 41a (pressing member 41), the planar part 41a1 is replaced with the flat plate part 41a. It can also be formed integrally with the (pushing member 41) in advance.
Since the pressing member 41 is provided with the planar portion 41a1 as described above, the pushing member 41 can be pushed with respect to the waste toner detection unit 54 by a large surface of the planar portion 41a1 (the pressing member 41). Can be reliably detected by the waste toner detector 54.

In the present embodiment, when the waste toner detector 54 intermittently detects upward displacement of the pushing member 41, the waste toner collected in the container 30 is almost full (near full state). Control to determine that In contrast, when the upward displacement of the pushing member 41 is continuously detected a predetermined number of times (for example, 5 times or more) by the waste toner detection unit 54, the waste toner collected in the container 30 is detected. Is controlled to be determined to be full (full state).
Specifically, when the near full state is detected by the waste toner detection unit 54, the state is notified to a display unit (not shown) of the apparatus main body 1. As a result, the user (or serviceman) who has recognized the state can foresee the time when the full state is reached to some extent, and therefore the device main body 1 suddenly stops and cannot be used. Can be avoided. When the full state is detected by the waste toner detection unit 54, the operation of the apparatus main body 1 is stopped at an appropriate timing by the control unit, and the conveyance of the waste toner to the waste toner collection container 30 is stopped. The state is notified to the display unit of the apparatus body 1. Then, the user (or service person) who recognizes the state performs replacement maintenance of the full waste toner collecting container 30.

In the present embodiment, the filler 55 that moves within a predetermined movable range is formed so as not to exceed the upper end of the waste toner storage unit 31. That is, the filler 55 is configured to be positioned below the upper end of the waste toner storage unit 31 both when it is not full and when it is full. Specifically, an area that is recessed from the upper end is formed in the depth direction of the waste toner storage section 31, and the waste toner detection section 54 is disposed in the recessed area.
With such a configuration, when the waste toner collecting container 30 is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body 1, the installation section 200 of the apparatus main body 1 (formed in a box shape as indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 14). The trouble that the filler 55 interferes is suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 7, the waste toner collecting container 30 according to the present embodiment has one end side (a screw part 51b is formed in the conveying screw 51) among the five inlets 32a1Y, 32a1M, 32a1C, 32a1BK, and 32a1T. The number formed in the width direction is larger than the number formed in the other end side (the range in the width direction where the screw part 51b is not formed in the transport screw 51). It is formed as follows. Specifically, three inflow ports 32a1Y, 32a1M, and 32a1T are formed on one end side in the width direction (on the right side in FIG. 7), and on the other end side in the width direction (on the left side in FIG. 7). Has two inflow ports 32a1C and 32a1BK.
With this configuration, it is easy to adjust the balance in the width direction of the waste toner sent toward the waste toner storage unit 31 and the balance in the width direction of the waste toner accumulated in the waste toner inflow portion 32. Become. That is, by providing the screw part 51b of the transport screw 51 in a range where the number of inflow ports is large, the amount of waste toner that can be transported in the width direction can be increased, so that the balance in the width direction can be easily adjusted.

Further, in the waste toner collecting container 30 in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the inlet 32a1T for the intermediate transfer member is formed on one end side in the width direction (on the right side in FIG. 7). The inflow port 321BK is formed on the other end in the width direction (the left side in FIG. 7). As a result, it is easy to adjust the balance in the width direction of the waste toner sent toward the waste toner storage portion 31 and the balance in the width direction of the waste toner accumulated in the waste toner inflow portion 32.
Specifically, in general, the monochrome image print frequency is higher than the print frequency of other color images, and the four color images are transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 17, so that the black inlet is used. The amount of waste toner that flows in from 32a1BK and the amount of waste toner that flows in from the inlet 32a1T for the intermediate transfer belt 17 (for intermediate transfer member) are wastes that flow in from the other inlets 32a1Y, 32a1M, and 32a1C. More than the amount of toner. By disposing the inlets 32a1BK and 32a1T where the inflow amount of waste toner increases in this way at distant positions (on both ends in the width direction), the waste toner is conveyed and filled in a balanced manner in the width direction. (It is difficult to cause a problem that the height of the waste toner at both ends in the width direction becomes low).
Further, comparing the amount of waste toner flowing from the black inlet 32a1BK with the amount of waste toner flowing from the inlet 32a1T for the intermediate transfer belt 17 (for intermediate transfer member), generally, Since the latter tends to be a little more, the waste toner is transported and filled in a balanced manner in the width direction by arranging it on the screw part 51b side (one end side) and actively transporting it in the width direction. Will be.

Hereinafter, the configuration / operation related to the attachment / detachment of the waste toner collection container 30 to / from the image forming apparatus main body 1 will be described in detail.
The waste toner collecting container 30 is detachably installed with the depth direction in the attachment / detachment direction with respect to the apparatus body 1 with the body cover (not shown) of the apparatus body 1 opened. Specifically, the waste toner collection container 30 is moved in the + Y direction in FIG. On the other hand, the waste toner collection container 30 is moved in the −Y direction of FIG.

Here, at both ends in the width direction of the waste toner storage portion 31 of the waste toner collecting container 30, guide portions 31b fitted to guide rails (not shown) provided in the installation portion of the apparatus main body 1, respectively. Is formed. The waste toner collecting container 30 moves in the depth direction (± Y direction) while being guided along the guide rail in a state where the guide portion 31b is fitted to the guide rail of the apparatus main body 1, and moves to the apparatus main body 1. On the other hand, it will be attached and detached.
4 and 15, the body side pin 95 as a shaft member provided in the installation part of the apparatus main body 1 is provided at both ends in the width direction of the waste toner inflow portion 32 of the waste toner collecting container 30. The notch 32c to be fitted is formed so as to open in the depth direction (+ Y direction). The waste toner collecting container 30 is attached to the apparatus main body 1 while being guided by the guide rails of the apparatus main body 1, and the notch 32 c is located on the front side in the depth direction with the main body side pin 95 (shaft member) of the apparatus main body 1. And the mounting position on the near side in the depth direction with respect to the apparatus main body 1 is determined.
Further, referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 16, as a main body side facing member provided in the installation portion of the apparatus main body 1, on the far side in the depth direction of the waste toner storage portion 31 of the waste toner collecting container 30. A magnetic metal plate 31c as a container side facing member facing the magnet 90 is installed. The waste toner collecting container 30 is attached to the apparatus main body 1 while being guided by the guide rail of the apparatus main body 1, and the apparatus is operated by the magnetic force acting between the magnet 90 and the magnetic metal plate 31c at the position in the depth direction. The waste toner collecting container 30 is fixed to the main body 1.

In addition, when the waste toner collecting container 30 is attached to the apparatus main body 1 in this way, the gear 71 of the waste toner collecting container 30 meshes with a drive gear (not shown) of the apparatus main body 1 and is conveyed. The screw 51 and the pushing member 41 can be driven.
Further, when the waste toner collecting container 30 is attached to the apparatus main body 1, the conveyance pipe 16 is positioned by the pin 32b (pushing member) of the waste toner collecting container 30, and the shutter member 16b opens the discharge port 16a. It is pushed to the opening position. In such a state, the discharge port 16a of the transport pipe 16 and the inflow port 32a1 of the waste toner collection container 30 communicate with each other, and waste toner flows into the waste toner collection container 30 through the transport pipe 16. Will be.

Here, the magnetic metal plate 31c as the container-side facing member is an end surface (an end surface orthogonal to the depth direction, which is parallel to the XZ plane) formed on the back side in the depth direction of the waste toner storage unit 31. ). Specifically, the magnetic metal plate 31c is formed of a ferromagnetic material such as ferritic stainless steel (a material that can be adsorbed to the magnet 90), and its facing surface (the surface facing the magnet 90). Is formed in a rectangular shape. The magnetic metal plate 31c has a length X1 in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the cross section of the waste toner storage unit 31 (waste toner collection container 30) orthogonal to the depth direction. The waste toner collecting container 30) is formed so as to be shorter than the length Z1 in the direction corresponding to the short direction (Z direction) of the cross section (X1 <Z1). In the present embodiment, the magnetic metal plate 31c has a hole formed in the center in the Z direction, and a screw is screwed into the female screw of the waste toner reservoir 31 through this hole. Then, it is fixed and held (screw fastening) to the waste toner storage unit 31.
On the other hand, the magnet 90 serving as the main body-side facing member faces the magnetic metal plate 31c of the waste toner collection container 30 mounted on the main body 1 with a small gap therebetween. It is fixed to the installation part. Specifically, the magnet 90 is a permanent magnet, and its opposing surface (the surface facing the magnetic metal plate 31c) is formed in a rectangular shape. The magnet 90 has a length X0 in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the cross section of the waste toner storage unit 31 (waste toner collection container 30) orthogonal to the depth direction, like the magnetic metal plate 31c. The waste toner reservoir 31 (waste toner collection container 30) is formed to be shorter than the length Z0 in the direction corresponding to the short direction (Z direction) of the cross section (X0 <Z0).

  With such a configuration, the magnetic metal plate is magnetized by the magnetic force of the magnet 90 fixed to the apparatus main body 1 until the notch 32c of the waste toner inflow section 32 contacts the main body side pin 95 (shaft member) of the apparatus main body 1. The waste toner collection container 30 is fixed and held with respect to the apparatus main body 1 by attracting 31c. The force (holding force) for fixing the waste toner collection container 30 by the magnetic force of the magnet 90 is easy for the waste toner collection container 30 from its fixed position even when the waste toner collection container 30 (image forming apparatus 1) is operated. The force is such that the operator does not move, and the operator does not need to apply such a large force when taking out the waste toner collecting container 30 from the apparatus main body 1.

  In the present embodiment, the magnetic metal plate 31c and the magnet 90 have the lengths X0 and X1 in the direction corresponding to the X direction shorter than the lengths Z0 and Z1 in the direction corresponding to the Z direction. Therefore, the waste toner collection container 30 is not Z axis-reduced without reducing the overall magnetic force (force for fixing the waste toner collection container 30) acting between the magnetic metal plate 31c and the magnet 90. It is possible to prevent the tilt around (rotation around the Z axis) and the displacement in the X direction. This is because the magnetic metal plate 31c and the magnet 90 are formed so that the length in the X direction is short and the length in the Z direction is long, and the magnetic field acting on both members 31c, 90 is dense in the Z direction ( This is because the X direction becomes sparse (weak). That is, when the magnetic metal plate 31c and the magnet 90 are installed tilted around the X-axis or are displaced in the Z direction depending on the assembly accuracy and component accuracy, so as to follow it. The waste toner collecting container 30 is likely to be inclined around the X axis and displaced in the Z direction. On the other hand, if the magnetic metal plate 31c or the magnet 90 is installed tilted around the Z axis or is displaced in the X direction depending on the assembly accuracy or component accuracy, it follows it. Therefore, the waste toner collecting container 30 is less likely to be tilted around the Z axis and misaligned in the X direction. In other words, the waste toner collection container 30 may be tilted about the X axis or misaligned in the Z direction depending on the assembling accuracy or component accuracy, but may be tilted around the Z axis or misaligned in the X direction. rare.

  Here, even if the waste toner collection container 30 is tilted around the X axis or the waste toner collection container 30 is tilted around the Z axis, the waste toner collection is performed. The position in the Y direction (Y coordinate) of each component of the container 30 will deviate from the ideal position. However, the waste toner storage unit 31 (waste toner collection container 30) is formed so that the length in the X direction is longer than the length in the Z direction. The amount of deviation of the Y coordinate becomes larger than when the inclination around the X axis has occurred. In particular, if the Y-coordinates of the inlet 32a1, the pin 32b, the notch 32c, the gear 71, etc., where the positional relationship with the apparatus main body 1 is important, are misaligned, various problems occur.

Specifically, if the Y coordinate of the inflow port 32a1 is greatly displaced, there is a problem that waste toner leaks from the connected portion due to the displacement of the inflow port 32a1 with respect to the discharge port 16a of the transport pipe 16. . When the X coordinate or Z coordinate of the inflow port 32a1 is shifted, the tip of the pin 32b fitted into the positioning hole portion of the transport pipe 16 is tapered, so that the pin 32b is connected to the transport pipe 16. The pin 32b is finally fitted to the transport pipe 16 so that the coordinate shift is corrected.
Further, if the Y coordinate of the pin 32b is greatly displaced, the position of the transport pipe 16 where the shutter member 16b is moved is displaced, and the discharge port 16a is not sufficiently opened, and the waste toner collection container 30 collects the waste toner. Defects will occur.
Further, if the Y coordinate of the notch 32c is greatly deviated, the fitting of the main body side pin 95 and the notch 32c becomes insufficient, and the position of the waste toner collecting container 30 with respect to the apparatus main body 1 cannot be determined sufficiently. End up. When the Z coordinate of the notch 32c is misaligned, the notch 32c is not fitted to the body-side pin 95 because the opening of the notch 32c is tapered. The coordinate shift is corrected by finally fitting 32c to the body side pin 95.
In addition, if the Y coordinate of the gear 71 is greatly deviated, the meshing with the drive gear of the apparatus main body 1 is reduced or the tip of the tooth comes into contact with the tooth bottom, and the drive of the conveying screw 51 and the pushing member 41 is driven. Defects etc. will occur.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the plurality of notches 32c, the plurality of inlets 32a1 (32a1Y, 32a1M, 32a1C, 32a1BK, 32a1T) and the plurality of pins 32b (pushing members) are arranged in the width direction. Since it is installed at a position sufficiently away from the positions of the magnet 90 and the magnetic metal plate 31c, the misalignment in the Y direction tends to be large, and the waste toner collection container 30 becomes Y It is necessary to prevent a large displacement in the direction.

  In contrast, in the present embodiment, the shape of the magnetic metal plate 31c and the magnet 90 may be optimized, and the Y coordinate of each component of the waste toner collection container 30 may be greatly deviated from the ideal position. Since the inclination around the Z-axis is regulated, it is possible to reliably reduce the occurrence of the various problems described above. In other words, in the present embodiment, the Y coordinate is ideal even if the Y coordinate of each component of the waste toner collecting container 30 is less likely to deviate greatly from the ideal position, even if there is some inclination around the X axis. The shape of the XZ plane of the magnetic metal plate 31c and the magnet 90 is determined so that the inclination around the Z axis, which is highly likely to deviate greatly from the position, can be reliably reduced.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the magnet 90 that opposes the magnet 90 (main body side facing member) and fixes the position of the waste toner collection container 30 by the magnetic force acting between the members 31 c and 90. A metal plate 31c (container side facing member) is installed. The magnetic metal plate 31c, together with the magnet 90, has short lengths X0 and X1 in the direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the cross section of the waste toner collecting container 30 (waste toner storage portion 31) orthogonal to the depth direction. It is formed to be shorter than the lengths Z0 and Z1 in the direction corresponding to the hand direction (Z direction). As a result, the waste toner collecting container 30 can be sufficiently fixed to the image forming apparatus main body 1 with almost no inclination or misalignment that may cause a problem that waste toner leaks.

In this embodiment, the process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK are configured by integrating the units in the image forming unit (the photosensitive drum 11, the charging unit 12, the developing unit 13, and the cleaning unit 15). Therefore, the image forming unit is made compact and the maintenance workability is improved. On the other hand, the waste toner collecting container 30 can be integrated with the process cartridge as a component of the process cartridge. Further, a part or all of the photosensitive drum 11, the charging unit 12, the developing unit 13, and the cleaning unit 15 are configured not to be constituent members of the process cartridge but to be installed in the apparatus main body 1 in a replaceable manner. You can also. In such a case, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained.
In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus equipped with the two-component developing type developing unit 13 using the two-component developer. However, the one-component developing type using the one-component developer is used. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus in which the developing unit 13 is mounted.
The “process cartridge” includes a charging unit that charges the image carrier, a developing unit (developing device) that develops a latent image formed on the image carrier, and a cleaning unit (cleaning unit) that cleans the image carrier. At least one of the cleaning devices) and the image carrier are defined as a unit that is integrated and detachably installed on the image forming apparatus main body.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the waste toner collecting container 30 in which the five toner inlets 32a1Y, 32a1M, 32a1C, 32a1BK, and 32a1T are formed in the waste toner inflow portion 32. In contrast, the present invention can naturally be applied to the waste toner collecting container 30 in which the waste toner inflow portion 32 has four or less or six or more inlets. In such a case, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained.

Moreover, in this Embodiment, the magnet 90 was used as a main body side opposing member, and the magnetic metal plate 31c (magnetic body) was used as a container side opposing member. On the other hand, a magnetic body can be used as the main body side facing member, and a magnet can be used as the container side facing member.
In the present embodiment, the magnetic metal plate 31c (container-side facing member) is opposed to the magnet 90 (main-body-side facing member) with a gap in the mounted state. It can also comprise so that the magnetic metal plate 31c (container side opposing member) may contact with (opposing member).
Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the substantially L-shaped waste toner collecting container 30 in which the waste toner inflow portion 32 is formed above the waste toner storage portion 31, but the waste of other shapes is used. The present invention can also be applied to a toner recovery container.
And also in these cases, the length in the direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the container orthogonal to the depth direction is set to the length in the direction corresponding to the short direction. By forming it to be shorter than that of the first embodiment, the same effect as that of this embodiment can be obtained.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and it is obvious that the present embodiment can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, other than suggested in the present embodiment. is there. In addition, the number, position, shape, and the like of the constituent members are not limited to the present embodiment, and the number, position, shape, and the like suitable for implementing the present invention can be achieved.

1 image forming apparatus body (apparatus body),
9 Intermediate transfer belt cleaning section (cleaning section),
11 Photosensitive drum (image carrier),
15 Cleaning section,
16 Conveying pipe,
16a outlet,
16b shutter member,
17 Intermediate transfer belt (image carrier, intermediate transfer member),
30 Waste toner collection container,
31 Waste toner reservoir,
31c Magnetic metal plate (container facing member),
32 Waste toner inflow part (second waste toner storage part),
32a1 inlet,
32a1Y, 32a1M, 32a1C, 32a1BK, 32a1T inlet,
32b pin (pushing member),
32c Notch,
41 pushing member (first conveying member),
51 conveying screw (second conveying member),
52 cam member,
54 Waste toner detector,
90 magnet (main body side facing member),
95 Main body side pin (shaft member).

JP 2007-139905 A Japanese Patent No. 4286704 JP 2009-63772 A JP 2009-271276 A

Claims (7)

The untransferred toner discharged from the cleaning unit that removes the untransferred toner on the image carrier is collected as waste toner, and the waste toner is detachably installed with the depth direction as the detachable direction with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. A collection container,
Container-side facing for fixing the position of the container by a magnetic force that is installed on the end face orthogonal to the depth direction and faces or contacts the body-side facing member installed in the image forming apparatus body and acts between both members. Comprising a member,
The container-side facing member, together with the body-side facing member, has a shorter length in the direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the container perpendicular to the depth direction than the length in the direction corresponding to the short direction of the cross section. A waste toner collecting container formed so as to become. A waste toner storage section that is formed so as to extend in the depth direction, has a vertical length shorter than a horizontal length in a cross section orthogonal to the depth direction, and stores waste toner;
A waste that protrudes above the waste toner storage unit and has a plurality of inlets that respectively communicate with discharge ports of a plurality of transport pipes through which the waste toner discharged from the plurality of cleaning units is transported. A toner inflow portion;
With
The waste toner collecting container according to claim 1, wherein the container side facing member is installed on the end surface formed on the depth side in the depth direction of the waste toner storage portion.   The waste toner inflow portions are formed at both end portions in the width direction orthogonal to the depth direction so that notches that fit into shaft members installed in the image forming apparatus main body open in the depth direction. The waste toner collecting container according to claim 2.   4. The waste toner collection container according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of inflow ports of the waste toner inflow portion are arranged side by side in a width direction orthogonal to a depth direction. 5.   The waste toner inflow section pushes shutter members respectively installed at the discharge ports of the plurality of transport pipes to open the discharge ports in accordance with the mounting operation to the image forming apparatus main body. The waste toner collecting container according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the members are juxtaposed in a width direction orthogonal to the depth direction. The container side facing member is a magnetic metal plate having a rectangular facing surface,
6. The waste toner collecting container according to claim 1, wherein the main body side facing member is a magnet having a rectangular facing surface.   An image forming apparatus comprising the waste toner collecting container according to claim 1.

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