JP2013246341A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that includes a waste developer storage container removable from an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus, and prevents the waste developer storage container from being removed from the apparatus body while a lid part of the waste developer storage container being held by a user.SOLUTION: A recovery tank 7 is attached to the inside of a left wall 202 that is an outer wall of an image forming apparatus 1. The recovery tank 7 includes a tank body 70, a hinge part 72, and a lid part 75. The hinge part 72 connects the tank body 70 and the lid part 75, and rotatably supports the lid part 75. The lid part 75 is arranged inside a stop member 204 that is provided protruding toward the left wall 202, so that the lid part 75 is prevented from protruding outside the left wall 202.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus that includes a waste developer storage container that stores a used waste developer.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, a technique as described in Patent Document 1 is known as a waste developer container that stores used waste developer. In this technique, the waste developer container is mounted in the internal space of the image forming apparatus after the cover of the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus is opened. The waste developer container has an inlet at the top. Then, the waste developer flows into the waste developer storage container through the inflow port from the developer conveying means arranged in advance in the apparatus main body. In order to prevent the waste developer from spilling when the waste developer container is attached or detached, a sealing lid is connected to the inlet.

JP 2001-242762 A

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, when the waste developer storage container is provided with a lid, the inflow port needs to be opened inside the apparatus main body. For this reason, when the waste developer container is attached to the apparatus main body, the lid is suspended near the inlet. In this case, when the user removes the waste developer container from the apparatus main body, the user can easily pull out the waste developer container while grasping the lid by mistake. As a result, the lid may be torn off from the waste developer container, or the waste developer container may be ejected with a strong force, so that the periphery of the apparatus main body may be contaminated with the waste developer.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in an image forming apparatus provided with a waste developer container that is detachable with respect to the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, the lid portion of the waste developer container An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which the waste developer container is not detached from the apparatus main body in a state where is held by the user.

  An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is defined by a plurality of outer walls and includes a housing including an internal space, an image forming unit that is disposed in the internal space and forms an image on a sheet, and the plurality of outer walls. A waste developer storage container for storing the waste developer used in the image forming unit, detachably attached to the internal space, in a direction intersecting with the one external wall through one of the outer walls; An engaging member disposed in the housing, wherein the waste developer container is opened in the housing body, the housing body containing the waste developer, and the waste body is disposed in the waste body. An inflow port for allowing the developer to flow in, and a second state that is disposed so as to be rotatable with respect to the housing main body, and that is separated from the inflow port by the rotation. And a lid part capable of changing the state, A main body portion and the lid portion, and a hinge portion for controlling the rotation of the lid portion, and the engaging member is mounted in the internal space with the waste developer container. In this state, the lid portion is engaged with the lid portion in the second state to prevent the lid portion from protruding outward from the one outer wall.

  According to this configuration, the lid portion is disposed so as to be rotatable with respect to the housing main body portion, and a first state that seals the inlet and a second state that is separated from the inlet by the rotation. It is possible to change the state between them. Further, the hinge portion connects the housing main body portion and the lid portion, and controls the rotation of the lid portion. In a state where the waste developer container is mounted in the internal space, the engagement member is engaged with the lid portion in the second state. And an engaging member prevents that a cover part protrudes outside rather than one outer wall of a housing | casing. For this reason, the waste developer container is prevented from being detached from the housing in a state where the lid is gripped by the operator. As a result, it is possible to prevent the lid from being torn off from the housing body and the waste developer from being scattered around the casing.

  In the above configuration, the hinge portion includes a rotation shaft extending in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the waste developer container is mounted, and the lid portion can be rotated around the rotation shaft. The lid portion can swing in a direction in which the rotation shaft of the hinge portion extends in the state change between the first state and the second state, and the engagement member is When the waste developer container is mounted in the internal space, the casing is disposed along the one outer wall so as to overlap the lid in the mounting direction of the waste developer container. The lid portion is inserted into the internal space so as to bypass the engagement member by the swinging, and then overlaps the engagement member in the mounting direction than the engagement member. It is desirable to be placed inside the.

  According to this configuration, the lid portion can swing in the direction in which the rotation shaft of the hinge portion extends. When the lid is swung, the lid is inserted into the internal space so as to bypass the engaging member. And a cover part is arrange | positioned inside an internal space rather than an engagement member so that it may overlap with an engagement member in the said mounting direction. For this reason, it becomes possible to arrange | position a cover part inside an engagement member by rocking | fluctuation of a cover part. As a result, it is suppressed by a simple structure that a cover part protrudes outside rather than one outer wall.

  In the above-described configuration, the openable cover is attached to the one outer wall so as to be openable and open, and in the open state, the openable cover that opens the internal space to the outside of the housing, and from the inside of the openable cover to the internal space. A projecting piece that protrudes in the open state, and in the open state of the open / close cover, after the housing main body portion of the waste developer storage container is mounted in the internal space, the open / close cover is opened from the open state. When changing to the closed state, it is desirable that the projecting piece is engaged with the lid portion so that the lid portion swings in the extending direction of the rotating shaft, thereby realizing the detour.

  According to this configuration, the lid portion is swung in the extending direction of the rotating shaft by the protruding piece protruding from the inside of the opening / closing cover. For this reason, it becomes possible that a cover part bypasses an engaging member with the operation | movement with which an opening-and-closing cover is closed.

  In the above configuration, it is desirable that the protruding piece presses the lid portion toward the inside of the internal space rather than the engagement member.

  According to this configuration, the lid can be disposed inside the engagement member after the cover portion bypasses the engagement member in accordance with the operation of closing the opening / closing cover.

  In the above configuration, in the second state, the lid portion is disposed so as to protrude vertically upward from the hinge portion, and has a lower end edge extending in the extending direction of the rotating shaft. And the projecting piece of the opening / closing cover abuts on the lower end edge of the projecting portion in the second state, thereby swinging the lid in the extending direction of the rotating shaft. It is desirable.

  According to this configuration, the protruding piece of the opening / closing cover abuts on the lower end edge of the protruding portion of the lid portion, so that the lid portion is swung in the extending direction of the rotating shaft. For this reason, it becomes possible to rock | fluctuate a cover part, while a protrusion piece scoops up a cover part.

  In the above-described configuration, the waste developer storage container disposed in the housing and engaged with the storage main body portion of the waste developer storage container that is mounted in the internal space is controlled to detach the developer storage container from the internal space. It is desirable to further have a restricting member.

  According to this configuration, the regulating member prevents the developer container from being detached from the internal space. For this reason, the waste developer is prevented from being scattered around the casing.

  In the above configuration, the restricting member includes a fulcrum portion fixed to the housing, and a contact projecting from the fulcrum portion so as to be rotatable with respect to the fulcrum portion and abutting against the housing main body portion. And when the waste developer storage container is mounted in the internal space, the contact portion of the restriction member contacts the storage main body and rotates about the fulcrum portion as a fulcrum. Thus, it is desirable to allow the waste developer storage container to be attached to the internal space.

  According to this configuration, the restricting member allows the waste developer storage container to be attached to the internal space, and prevents the developer storage container from being detached from the internal space.

  In the above configuration, a biasing member that is disposed in the casing and applies a biasing force toward the outside of the casing in the mounting direction with respect to the waste developer storage container mounted in the internal space. A biasing force regulating member that is disposed in the housing and regulates movement of the waste developer container by the biasing force of the biasing member; and is disposed in the waste developer container and is disposed by the biasing force regulating member. A release piece for releasing the restriction on the movement of the waste developer container, the restriction on the movement of the waste developer container is released by the release piece, and the biasing member removes the waste developer container. In a state of being biased toward the outside of the casing, the restricting member allows a predetermined amount of movement of the waste developer storage container to the outside of the casing, and then the movement of the waste developer storage container. Regulate Theft is desirable.

  According to this configuration, the restricting member restricts the movement of the waste developer container after allowing a predetermined amount of movement of the waste developer container by the biasing member to the outside of the housing. For this reason, the operator can easily remove the waste developer container from the housing. Further, the waste developer is prevented from being scattered around the casing.

  In the above configuration, when the waste developer container is removed from the internal space, the engagement member comes into contact with the protrusion of the lid so that the lid approaches the inflow port. It is desirable that the hinge is pivoted around the hinge.

  According to this configuration, when the waste developer container is removed from the internal space, the engaging member comes into contact with the protruding portion of the lid portion, so that the lid portion approaches the inflow port. For this reason, the operator can easily seal the inflow port with the lid.

  According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus including a waste developer container that is detachable with respect to the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, the waste development is performed with the lid portion of the waste developer container being gripped. An image forming apparatus in which the agent container is not detached from the apparatus main body is provided.

1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an internal cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the collection tank concerning the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the collection tank concerning the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a part of the housing of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an enlarged perspective view in which a part of a housing of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is enlarged. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a collection tank is attached to the housing of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a collection tank is attached to the housing of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a collection tank is attached to the housing of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a collection tank is attached to the housing of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a state in which the collection tank is mounted on the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a state in which the collection tank is mounted on the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a state in which the collection tank is mounted on the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a state in which the collection tank is mounted on the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a state in which the collection tank is mounted on the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of a housing of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a tank stopper inside the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of a collection tank mounted in the housing of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining a state where the collection tank is detached from the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer 100 (image forming apparatus) according to an embodiment of the invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer 100 shown in FIG. The printer 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a so-called monochrome printer, but in other embodiments, the image forming apparatus is a color printer, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine having these functions, or a toner image on a sheet. Other devices for forming may be used. Note that the terms used in the following description, such as “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, “left” and “right”, are merely for the purpose of clarifying the description. There is no limitation on the principle of the image forming apparatus.

  The printer 100 includes a housing 200 that houses various apparatuses for forming an image on the sheet S. The housing 200 is defined by a plurality of outer walls. The housing 200 has an upper wall 201 that defines the upper surface of the housing 200, a bottom wall 220 (FIG. 2) that defines the bottom surface of the housing 200, and a back surface that rises between the upper wall 201 and the bottom wall 220. The wall 230 (FIG. 2) and the front wall 250 which faces the back wall 230 on the opposite side are included. The housing 200 includes a main body internal space 260 (internal space) in which various devices are arranged.

  A paper discharge unit 210 is disposed at the center of the upper wall 201. The paper discharge unit 210 includes an inclined surface that is inclined downward from the front portion to the rear portion of the upper wall 210. The sheet S on which the image is formed in the image forming unit 120 described later is discharged to the paper discharge unit 210. In addition, a manual feed tray 240 is disposed at the center of the front wall 250 in the vertical direction. The manual feed tray 240 is rotatable up and down with the lower end as a fulcrum (arrow D1 in FIG. 2). When the upper end side of the manual feed tray 240 is rotated downward, the opening 290 formed in the housing 200 is opened. The opening 290 communicates with the main body internal space 260 of the housing 200. The user can access various devices accommodated in the main body internal space 260 of the housing 200 through the opening 290. When the manual feed tray 240 is rotated upward, the opening 290 is closed. As a result, unnecessary access to the main body internal space 260 by the user is prevented.

  The printer 100 includes a cassette 110, a pickup roller 112, a first paper feed roller 113, a second paper feed roller 114, a transport roller 115, a registration roller pair 116, and an image forming unit 120.

  The cassette 110 accommodates the sheet S inside. The cassette 110 includes a lift plate 111 that supports the sheet S. The lift plate 111 is inclined so as to push up the leading edge of the sheet S.

  The pickup roller 112 is disposed on the leading edge of the sheet S pushed up by the lift plate 111. When the pickup roller 112 rotates, the sheet S is pulled out from the cassette 110.

  The first paper feed roller 113 is disposed downstream of the pickup roller 112. The first paper feed roller 113 sends the sheet S further downstream. The second paper feed roller 114 is disposed near the fulcrum of the manual feed tray 240. The second paper feed roller 114 pulls the sheet S on the manual feed tray 240 into the housing 200. The user can selectively use the sheet S accommodated in the cassette 110 or the sheet S placed on the manual feed tray 240.

  The transport roller 115 is disposed downstream of the first paper feed roller 113 and the second paper feed roller 114. The transport roller 115 transports the sheet S sent out by the first paper feed roller 113 and the second paper feed roller 114 further downstream.

  The registration roller pair 116 defines the sheet position in the conveyance direction. Thereby, the position of the image formed on the sheet S is adjusted. The registration roller pair 116 supplies the sheet S to the image forming unit 120 in accordance with the timing of image formation by the image forming unit 120.

  The image forming unit 120 is disposed in the main body internal space 260. The image forming unit 120 forms an image on a sheet. The image forming unit 120 includes a photosensitive drum 121, a charger 122, an exposure device 123, a developing device 124, a toner container 125, a transfer roller 126, and a cleaning device 127.

  The photosensitive drum 121 has a cylindrical shape. The photosensitive drum 121 has an electrostatic latent image formed on its peripheral surface and carries a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image.

  The charger 122 is applied with a predetermined voltage and charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 substantially uniformly.

  The exposure device 123 irradiates the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 charged by the charger 122 with laser light. The laser light is emitted in accordance with image data output from an external device (not shown) such as a personal computer that is communicably connected to the printer 100. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121.

  The developing device 124 supplies toner to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. The toner container 125 supplies toner to the developing device 124. The toner container 125 supplies toner to the developing device 124 sequentially or as necessary. When the developing device 124 supplies toner to the photosensitive drum 121, the electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 is developed (visualized). As a result, a toner image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121.

  The transfer roller 126 is rotatably disposed so as to contact the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121. When the sheet S conveyed from the registration roller pair 116 passes between the photosensitive drum 121 and the transfer roller 126, the toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 is transferred to the sheet S. .

  The cleaning device 127 removes the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 after the toner image is transferred to the sheet S. The peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 cleaned by the cleaning device 127 passes again below the charger 122 and is uniformly charged. Thereafter, the above-described toner image is newly formed.

  The printer 100 further includes a fixing device 130 that fixes the toner image on the sheet S on the downstream side of the image forming unit 120 in the transport direction. The fixing device 130 includes a heating roller 131 that melts the toner on the sheet S and a pressure roller 132 that causes the sheet S to adhere to the heating roller 131. When the sheet S passes between the heating roller 131 and the pressure roller 132, the toner image is fixed on the sheet S.

  The printer 100 further includes a plurality of transport roller pairs 133 disposed downstream of the fixing device 130 and a discharge roller pair 134 disposed downstream of the transport roller pair 133. The sheet S is conveyed upward by the conveyance roller pair 133 and is finally discharged from the housing 200 by the discharge roller pair 134. The sheets S discharged from the housing 200 are stacked on the paper discharge unit 210.

  The housing 200 of the image forming apparatus 1 further includes a left wall 202 (FIG. 1). The left wall 202 corresponds to the left side wall of the housing 200. A left cover 203 is disposed substantially at the center of the left wall 202. The left cover 203 can be opened and closed with respect to the left wall 202.

  Next, the collection tank 7 according to the present embodiment and the structure in which the collection tank 7 is attached to the housing 200 will be described. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the collection tank 7. 5 and 6 are a front view and a perspective view showing the internal space S1 (the main body insertion portion 20 and the lid portion insertion portion 21) in the housing 200 in which the collection tank 7 is mounted. Further, FIGS. 7 to 10 are perspective views showing a state in which the collection tank 7 is attached to the housing 200. FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the collection tank 7 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is mounted in the internal space S1 of the housing 200 shown in FIGS. At this time, the collection tank 7 is mounted in the internal space S <b> 1 via the left wall 202 of the housing 200. In other words, the collection tank 7 is mounted in the internal space S <b> 1 in a direction intersecting with the left wall 202.

  The structure of the collection tank 7 (waste developer storage container) will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the collection tank 7 has a substantially shoe shape. The collection tank 7 is made of a resin material such as polypropylene. The collection tank 7 stores the collected toner (waste developer) used in the image forming unit 120. That is, in a state where the collection tank 7 is mounted on the housing 200 of the image forming apparatus 1, the collected toner is conveyed to the collection tank 7 by a collection toner conveyance device (not shown). The collection tank 7 storing the collected toner is detached from the housing 200 and replaced with an empty collection tank 7 by the user. The collection tank 7 includes a tank main body 70, a receiving part 71, a hinge part 72, a lid part 75, and a release part 76.

  The tank main body 70 (accommodating main body portion) is a main body portion of the recovery tank 7. The tank main body 70 stores the collected toner used in the image forming unit 120. The tank body 70 includes a first side wall 70A, a second side wall 70B, a first upper surface portion 70C, a second upper surface portion 70D, a first gripping portion 70E, a second gripping portion 70F, and a tip end portion 70R. The first side wall 70 </ b> A and the second side wall 70 </ b> B are a pair of side walls in the left-right direction of the tank body 70. The first side wall 70 </ b> A and the second side wall 70 </ b> B are arranged in parallel with the left wall 202 of the housing 200. 70C of 1st upper surface parts and 70D of 2nd upper surface parts are the upper surface parts of the tank main body 70, and connect the 1st side wall 70A and the 2nd side wall part 70B in the upper direction. The first upper surface portion 70C and the second upper surface portion 70D are two upper surface portions having different heights, and the height of the first upper surface portion 70C is set lower than that of the second upper surface portion 70D. The tip portion 70R is a tip portion of the tank body 70. The front end portion 70R connects the first side wall 70A and the second side wall 70B in series on the front side and the lower side of the first upper surface portion 70C. The first gripping part 70E connects the second upper surface part 70D and the first upper surface part 70C in the vertical direction in front of and below the second upper surface part 70D. The second gripping portion 70 </ b> F is a wall portion on the rear end side of the tank main body 70. Each of the first gripping portion 70E and the second gripping portion 70F has a shape in which the central portion in the vertical direction is recessed inward. The user of the collection tank 7 can grasp the collection tank 7 by pinching the recessed portions of the first gripping portion 70E and the second gripping portion 70F with the thumb and the index finger.

  The receiving portion 71 has a cylindrical shape that protrudes upward at the rear end portion of the second upper surface portion 70D. The receiving unit 71 includes a receiving port 71A (inflow port) and a flange portion 71B. The receiving port 71A is formed by opening the upper end portion of the receiving portion 71. The collected toner flows into the tank body 70 from the receiving port 71A. The flange portion 71B is a flange portion that protrudes toward the outside of the receiving port 71A so as to surround the periphery of the receiving port 71A.

  The lid portion 75 is engaged with the receiving portion 71 to seal the receiving port 71 </ b> A of the receiving portion 71. The lid portion 75 includes an enclosing portion 75A, a first protrusion 75B (protrusion portion), a second protrusion 75C, and an engaged portion 75D. The enclosing portion 75A is a rib member that protrudes from the lid portion 75 with a substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape. The enclosing portion 75A is engaged with the receiving port 71A of the receiving portion 71. The first protrusion 75 </ b> B is a protrusion that protrudes forward in a region of the lid 75 that is farther from the receiving portion 71. The second projecting portion 75 </ b> C is a projecting piece projecting rearward in an area farther than the receiving portion 71 in the lid portion 75. That is, the first protrusion 75B and the second protrusion 75C are provided to protrude in directions opposite to each other. Note that an engaged portion 75D (lower end edge) is disposed at an end edge of the first protrusion 75B that is closer to the receiving portion 71. The engaged portion 75D is engaged with a guide portion 80 of the left cover 203 described later.

  The hinge part 72 connects the cover part 75 and the receiving part 71 (tank main body 70). The hinge portion 72 controls the rotation of the lid portion 75 with respect to the tank body 70. In other words, the hinge portion 72 allows the lid portion 75 to rotate about a rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction (a direction intersecting the direction in which the collection tank 7 is attached to the housing 200). As a result, the lid 75 is disposed so as to be rotatable with respect to the tank main body 70, and the first state (FIG. 4) for sealing the receiving port 71A and the second state separated from the receiving port 71A by the rotation. The state can be changed between this state (FIG. 3).

  More specifically, the hinge portion 72 includes a first connecting piece 72A, a second connecting piece 72B, and a third connecting piece 72C (FIG. 9). Each of these continuous pieces is an elongated member that connects the lid portion 75 and the flange portion 71 </ b> B of the receiving portion 71. These continuous pieces are arranged in parallel with each other at an interval in the front-rear direction and between the lid portion 75 and the receiving portion 71.

  As described above, the recovery tank 7 is made of a resin material and is molded by a mold. Therefore, the first connecting piece 72A, the second connecting piece 72B, and the third connecting piece 72C are also elongated pieces made of a resin material. For this reason, the hinge portion 72 allows the lid portion 75 to rotate with respect to the tank body 70, and allows the lid portion 75 to swing in the front-rear direction (the direction in which the rotation shaft of the hinge portion 72 extends). And The swinging of the lid 75 will be described in detail later.

  The release portion 76 is a lower end portion of the receiving portion 71 and is a protruding piece that protrudes leftward from a region on the front side of the receiving portion 71. The release part 76 includes a pressing part 76A, a base end part 76B, and a release piece 76C. The base end portion 76 </ b> B is a base end portion of the release portion 76, and connects the release portion 76 and the receiving portion 71. The pressing portion 76A is a distal end portion of the release portion 76, and a distal end side of the release portion 76 is formed by bending forward. The release piece 76C is disposed between the pressing portion 76A and the base end portion 76B, and protrudes forward. The release piece 76C has a left side surface extending in the front-rear direction, and an inclined surface that is continuous with the side surface and faces forward and rightward. The release piece 76 </ b> C of the release unit 76 is engaged with an urging force regulating member 92 (FIG. 16) described later in a state where the collection tank 7 is mounted on the housing 200.

  Next, the internal space S1 in which the collection tank 7 is mounted will be described with reference to FIGS. Referring to FIG. 7, the internal space S <b> 1 is disposed inside the left wall 202. More specifically, the internal space S1 is disposed inside the left cover 203 described above. The left cover 203 is a cover having a substantially rectangular shape. The left cover 203 is attached to the left wall 202 so as to be openable and closable, and opens the internal space S1 to the outside of the housing 200 in the open state. The left cover 203 includes a lower shaft 203A and an upper shaft 203B. The lower shaft 203 </ b> A and the upper shaft 203 </ b> B are shaft portions that are arranged vertically at the rear edge of the left cover 203. The front portion of the left cover 203 is rotatable with the lower shaft 203A and the upper shaft 203B as fulcrums. Further, the left cover 203 includes an outer intake port 203H, a mounting piece 203C, and a guide portion 80. The outer intake port 203 </ b> H is composed of a plurality of slits arranged on the front side and in the upper part of the left cover 203. An air flow flows into the housing 200 through the outer intake port 203H. The air flow cools various devices arranged inside the housing 200. The mounting piece 203 </ b> C is a protruding piece that protrudes from the front edge of the left cover 203. The mounting piece 203 </ b> C is used to fix the left cover 203 to the left wall 202 in the closed state of the left cover 203.

  The guiding portion 80 is disposed inside the left cover 203 and behind and in the upper part of the closed left cover 203. The guiding portion 80 includes a guiding piece 80A (see FIGS. 12 and 13) (a protruding piece). The guide piece 80 </ b> A is a protruding piece that protrudes from the inside of the left cover 203 toward the internal space S <b> 1 of the housing 200. An engaging portion 80B (FIG. 12) is disposed above the guide piece 80A. The engaging portion 80 </ b> B is an inclined side that is arranged so that the upper end edge of the guide piece 80 </ b> A is inclined downward as it is separated from the left cover 203. When the collection tank 7 is mounted in the internal space S1, the guide portion 80 is engaged with the engaged portion 75D of the collection tank 7 described above.

  With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, an internal air inlet 202 </ b> H and an internal space S <b> 1 are disposed in an inner portion of the left cover 203 in the left wall 202. The internal air inlet 202H is disposed so as to overlap the outer air inlet 203H of the left cover 203. The internal air inlet 202H further causes the airflow that has flowed in from the outer air inlet 203H to flow into the housing 200.

  The internal space S1 is disposed at a position below and behind the internal intake port 202H. The internal space S1 includes a main body insertion portion 20 and a lid portion insertion portion 21.

  The main body insertion portion 20 is a space portion having a substantially L shape in a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction. A tank main body 70 of the recovery tank 7 is attached to the main body insertion portion 20. The main body insertion portion 20 includes a contact surface 20A, a first wall portion 20B, a second wall portion 20C, a third wall portion 20D, a fourth wall portion 20E, a fifth wall portion 20F, and a sixth wall. Part 20G. The contact surface 20 </ b> A is a wall portion that defines the left back side of the main body insertion portion 20. The first wall portion 20 </ b> B is a wall portion that defines the upper side and the front side of the main body insertion portion 20. The first wall portion 20B defines the rear of the internal air inlet 202H. The second wall portion 20C is a wall portion extending forward from the lower end of the first wall portion 20B. Further, the second wall portion 20C defines the lower side of the internal air inlet 202H. The third wall portion 20D is a wall portion extending downward from the front end portion of the second wall portion 20C. The fourth wall portion 20 </ b> E defines a lower portion (bottom portion) of the main body insertion portion 20. The 4th wall part 20E is a wall part extended toward back from the lower end part of 3rd wall part 20D. The fifth wall portion 20 </ b> F defines the rear of the main body insertion portion 20. The fifth wall portion 20F extends upward from the rear end portion of the fourth wall portion 20E. The sixth wall portion 20G extends rearward from the upper end portion of the first wall portion 20B.

  As described above, the tank main body 70 of the recovery tank 7 is attached to the main body insertion portion 20. At this time, the first side wall 70A of the tank body 70 is disposed to face the contact surface 20A. Moreover, the 1st holding | grip part 70E is arrange | positioned facing the 1st wall part 20B. Further, the first upper surface portion 70C is disposed to face the second wall portion 20C. Further, the distal end portion 70R is disposed to face the third wall portion 20D. Furthermore, the second gripping portion 70F is disposed to face the fifth wall portion 20F. Furthermore, the second upper surface portion 70D is disposed to face the sixth wall portion 20G.

  The lid insertion part 21 is a space part arranged above the main body insertion part 20. A lid 75 of the collection tank 7 is attached to the lid insertion part 21. A stopper member 204 (engagement member) is disposed in the lid insertion portion 21. The stop member 204 is a plate-like member that protrudes rearward from the front portion of the lid insertion portion 21. The stop member 204 is disposed substantially flush with the left wall 202. The lid insertion portion 21 extends to the inside of the stop member 204. The stop member 204 has a thickness of about 1.5 mm in the left-right direction. The stop member 204 includes a vertical portion 204A and a hypotenuse portion 204B (FIG. 6). The vertical portion 204 </ b> A is a side edge that extends in the vertical direction on the rear side of the stop member 204. The oblique side portion 204B is a side edge that is inclined downward and forward from the lower end portion of the vertical portion 204A. The stopper member 204 is disposed along the left wall 202 in the housing 200 so as to partially overlap the lid portion 75 in the mounting direction of the collection tank 7. In other words, the stopper member 204 is provided in the vicinity of the entrance of the lid insertion portion 21 so as to protrude rearward, so that a part of the insertion path for attaching the lid 75 to the lid insertion portion 21 is provided. Is blocked. The stopper member 204 is engaged with the lid portion 75 in the second state in a state where the collection tank 7 is mounted in the internal space S1, and prevents the lid portion 75 from projecting outside the left wall 202. .

  Furthermore, a mounting portion 202 </ b> A is disposed on the front side portion of the main body insertion portion 20. The mounting portion 202 </ b> A is an opening penetrating in the left-right direction in the front side portion of the main body insertion portion 20 in the left wall 202. The mounting portion 202A has a long hole shape in the vertical direction. When the left cover 203 is closed with respect to the left wall 202, the mounting piece 203C of the left cover 203 is engaged with the mounting portion 202A.

<About the action of the stopper member 204>
As described above, the left cover 203 is opened with respect to the left wall 202, and the recovery tank 7 is mounted in the exposed internal space S1. At this time, the left cover 203 may be closed with the lid 75 not fixed, and the left cover 203 may be opened again at the next replacement time of the recovery tank 7. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the lid 75 is disposed so as to protrude outside the internal space S1. In order to detach the recovery tank 7, the operator grasps the lid 75 and tries to pull out the recovery tank 7. As a result, the hinge portion 72 is torn off and the lid portion 75 may come off from the tank body 70. Alternatively, when the lid 75 is pulled strongly, the tank body 70 is strongly pulled out to the outside of the housing 200 and the collected toner is scattered around the housing 200.

  In order to solve the above problems, the stop member 204 is arranged in the present embodiment. As described above, the stopper member 204 is disposed so as to protrude rearward from the front portion of the lid insertion portion 21. The stop member 204 is disposed so as to overlap the lid portion 75 in the mounting direction of the recovery tank 7. More specifically, the stopper member 204 is disposed so as to overlap the first protrusion 75 </ b> B of the lid 75 when the lid 75 is inserted into the lid insertion portion 21. For this reason, the insertion of the lid portion 75 into the lid portion insertion portion 21 is hindered by the stop member 204. However, as described above, the lid portion 75 can swing in the direction in which the rotation shaft of the hinge portion 72 extends with the hinge portion 72 as a fulcrum. Therefore, as shown by an arrow D91 in FIG. 9, the operator swings the lid portion 75 backward and inserts the lid portion 75 into the lid portion insertion portion 21 so as to bypass the stop member 204. Further, the operator swings the lid 75 forward again as indicated by an arrow D92. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the first protrusion 75 </ b> B of the lid portion 75 is disposed on the back side of the stopper member 204. Thus, when the collection tank 7 is mounted in the internal space S1, the lid portion 75 is inserted into the internal space S1 (lid portion insertion portion 21) so as to bypass the stopper member 204 by the swinging. In addition, the collection tank 7 is disposed inside the internal space S1 with respect to the stopper member 204 so as to overlap the stopper member 204 in the mounting direction. For this reason, even when the left cover 203 is opened when the recovery tank 7 is replaced, the lid 75 does not protrude outward from the left wall 202. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the collection tank 7 from being pulled out while the operator accidentally grips the lid 75.

<About the action of the guide unit 80>
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the lid 75 is attached to the lid insertion portion 21 by the left cover 203 without the operator swinging the lid 75 as described above. FIG. 11 to FIG. 15 are side views showing the state in which the left cover 203 is closed in a state where the tank main body 70 is attached to the main body insertion portion 20. As shown in FIG. 11, when the tank main body 70 is mounted on the main body insertion portion 20, the lid portion 75 is disposed so as to protrude leftward from the left wall 202. Thereafter, when the left cover 203 is closed, the inner wall of the left cover 203 comes into contact with the second protrusion 75 </ b> C of the lid 75. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, the lid 75 is moved so as to rise upward. When the left cover 203 is further closed, the engaging portion 80B of the guide piece 80A of the guide portion 80 disposed inside the left cover 203 scoops up the engaged portion 75D of the lid portion 75 from below (FIG. 13). . As a result, the lid 75 swings backward as shown by an arrow D91 in FIG. 9 (FIG. 14). Thereby, the cover part 75 passes the back of the stop member 204 so that the stop member 204 may be bypassed. Further, when the left cover 203 is closed, the guide piece 80A pushes the lid portion 75 to the left (inside) of the stopper member 204 (FIG. 15).

  Further, the structure and functions around the internal space S1 of the housing 200 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the upper part of the main body insertion portion 20 in the internal space S1 as viewed from below. FIG. 17 is an enlarged perspective view of the tank stopper 21T disposed on the third wall portion 20D of the main body insertion portion 20, and FIG. 18 shows a state where the tank main body 70 is attached to the main body insertion portion 20. It is sectional drawing. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a state where the collection tank 7 is removed from the internal space S1 of the housing 200. FIG.

<About the biasing spring 91>
Referring to FIG. 16, a rear portion of the sixth wall portion 20 </ b> G of the main body insertion portion 20, and a lower portion of the lid portion insertion portion 21, an urging contact portion 90 and an urging spring 91 (attached). Urging member) and urging engagement portion 92 (urging force regulating member) (FIG. 5) are arranged. The urging contact portion 90 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The urging contact portion 90 includes a pair of guide portions in the front-rear direction, and is slidable in the left-right direction by the pair of guide portions. The biasing spring 91 is disposed between the right side surface of the biasing contact portion 90 and the inner wall 202 </ b> P disposed in the housing 200. The urging contact portion 90 is urged toward the left by the elastic force of the urging spring 91. The urging engagement portion 92 is a protrusion that protrudes rearward at the left end portion and is disposed below the front side of the urging contact portion 90. The urging engagement portion 92 engages with the release piece 76C in a state where the urging contact portion 90 compresses the urging spring 91 and moves to the right side by the receiving portion 71 of the tank body 70, and the tank body 70 is moved to the body. Secure to the insertion section 20.

  In the above configuration, when the tank main body 70 is mounted on the main body insertion portion 20, the biasing contact portion 90 is pushed rightward by the receiving portion 71. As a result, the biasing spring 91 is compressed and deformed. Further, the right inclined surface of the engagement piece 76 </ b> C of the tank body 70 gets over the urging engagement portion 92, the left side surface is engaged with the urging engagement portion 92, and the tank body 70 is stopped. . Thus, in a state where the tank main body 70 is mounted on the main body insertion portion 20, the biasing spring 91 maintains a state of being compressed and deformed.

  On the other hand, when the operator takes out the tank main body 70 from the main body insertion portion 20, the operator moves the pressing portion 76A of the tank main body 70 toward the rear. For this reason, the release piece 76C is also moved slightly backward. As a result, the engagement between the left side surface of the release piece 76C and the biasing engagement portion 92 is released. When the engagement with the biasing engagement portion 92 can be released, the receiving portion 71 is pushed out to the left by the biasing contact portion 90 biased toward the left by the biasing spring 91. As a result, the tank body 70 is pushed leftward from the body insertion portion 20. Therefore, the operator can easily take out the tank main body 70 from the main body insertion portion 20.

<About tank stopper 21T>
With reference to FIGS. 17 and 18, the housing 200 further includes a tank stopper 21 </ b> T (regulating member). The tank stopper 21T is a protruding piece that protrudes leftward along the third wall portion 20D. The tank stopper 21T is engaged with the tank body 70 of the recovery tank 7 mounted in the internal space S1, and regulates the detachment of the tank body 70 from the internal space S1. The tank stopper 21T includes a tank stopper base end 21A (fulcrum), a tank stopper tip 21B, and a tank stopper abutment 21C (abutment). The tank stop base end portion 21A is fixed to the third wall portion 20D and functions as a fulcrum portion of the tank stop portion 21T. The tank stop tip 21B corresponds to the left end of the tank stop 21T. The tank stopper contact portion 21C is disposed between the tank stopper base end portion 21A and the tank stopper distal end portion 21B, and has a shape protruding rearward. By the elastic deformation of the tank stopper 21T, the tank stopper abutment 21C (tank stopper tip 21B) can be rotated with the tank stopper base 21A as a fulcrum.

  Referring to FIG. 18, when the tank main body 70 is attached to the main body insertion portion 20, the tank stop contact portion 21 </ b> C of the tank stop portion 21 </ b> T contacts the tip portion 70 </ b> R of the tank main body 70. In particular, the tank stop contact portion 21C contacts the curved portion on the left side of the distal end portion 70R. As a result, the tank body 70 is prevented from being detached from the body insertion portion 20. As described above, the tank stopper distal end portion 21B side is rotatable with the tank stopper proximal end portion 21A as a fulcrum. For this reason, when the tank main body 70 is mounted on the main body insertion portion 20, as shown by an arrow D18 in FIG. 18, the tank main body 70 causes the tank stopper front end portion 21B (tank stopper contact portion 21C) to move forward. Moved to. More specifically, the right curved portion of the front end portion 70R of the tank body 70 moves the tank stop contact portion 21C forward. For this reason, even if the tank stopper contact portion 21C protrudes rearward, the tank main body 70 is allowed to be attached to the main body insertion portion 20 due to the elastic deformation of the tank stopper portion 21T.

  As described above, when the tank body 70 is detached from the body insertion portion 20, the tank body 70 is pushed out by the biasing force of the biasing spring 91 (FIG. 16). At this time, as shown in FIG. 18, the tank stopper contact portion 21 </ b> C regulates the tip end portion 70 </ b> R of the tank main body 70. For this reason, in the tank body 70 pushed out by the urging spring 91, as shown by arrows D191 and 192 in FIG. 19, the rear portion of the tank body 70 is pushed out to the left with the tip portion 70R side as a fulcrum. Due to the restriction by the tank stop contact portion 21C, the tank body 70 is protruded to the left by a predetermined amount and then stopped. For this reason, the tank main body 70 does not roll over when the tank main body 70 is strongly pushed out of the housing 200. As a result, the collected toner is prevented from being scattered from the receiving portion 71 of the tank body 70 around the image forming apparatus 1.

  Further, in FIG. 19, when the tank body 70 is slightly moved outside the left wall 202, the lid 75 is moved outside the left wall 202 so as to be pulled by the tank body 70. At this time, the first protrusion 75 </ b> B of the lid 75 passes under the stop member 204. Then, the oblique side portion 204B of the stop member 204 biases the first protrusion 75B downward. For this reason, the cover part 75 is rotated downward with the hinge part 72 as a fulcrum. Therefore, when the collection tank 7 is detached from the internal space S1, the lid portion 75 is moved so as to approach the receiving portion 71. For this reason, the operator can quickly engage the lid portion 75 with the receiving portion 71 and seal the receiving portion 71. As a result, the collected toner is further prevented from scattering from the receiving unit 71.

  As described above, the recovery tank 7 and the printer 100 (image forming apparatus) including the recovery tank 7 according to the embodiment of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the following modified embodiment is provided. Can be taken.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the stop member 204 has been described as being disposed so as to overlap the first protrusion 75B of the lid 75, but the present invention is not limited to this. The stop member 204 only needs to be arranged so as to overlap with any region of the lid 75 in the mounting direction of the recovery tank 7.

  (2) Moreover, in said embodiment, although the hinge part 72 demonstrated in the aspect comprised from three continuous pieces, this invention is not limited to this. The hinge part 72 may be an aspect in which the lid part 75 and the tank body 70 are connected in series by another configuration. In this case, it is preferable that the hinge portion 72 is made of an elastic member or the like, and the lid portion 75 is swingable in the direction of the rotation axis of the hinge portion 72.

100 Printer (image forming device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 120 Image formation part 20 Main body insertion part 200 Case 20A Contact surface 20B 1st wall part 20C 2nd wall part 20D 3rd wall part 20E 4th wall part 20F 5th wall part 20G 6th wall part 202 Left wall 202A Installation 202H Internal intake port 203 Left cover (open / close cover)
203A Lower shaft 203B Upper shaft 203C Mounting piece 203H Outside intake port 204 Stop member (engagement member)
204A Vertical part 204B Slope side part 21 Lid part insertion part 21T Tank stop part (regulation member)
21A Base end of tank stop (fulcrum)
21B Tank stopper tip 21C Tank stopper contact part (contact part)
7 Collection tank (waste developer container)
70 Tank body (container body)
70A 1st side wall 70B 2nd side wall 70C 1st upper surface part 70D 2nd upper surface part 70E 1st holding part 70F 2nd holding part 70R tip part 71 receiving part 71A receiving port (inlet)
71B collar part 72 hinge part 72A 1st connection piece 72B 2nd connection piece 72C 3rd connection piece 75 cover part 75A enclosure part 75B 1st protrusion (protrusion part)
75C 2nd protrusion 75D Engagement part (lower end edge)
76 Release part 76A Press part 76B Base end part 76C Release piece 80 Guide part 80A Guide piece (projection piece)
80B Engagement part 90 Energizing contact part 91 Energizing spring (urging member)
92 Biasing engagement part (Biasing force regulating member)

Claims (9)

A housing defined by a plurality of outer walls and comprising an interior space;
An image forming unit disposed in the internal space and forming an image on a sheet;
The waste development that is detachable from the internal space and accommodates the waste developer used in the image forming unit in a direction crossing the one outer wall through one outer wall of the plurality of outer walls. An agent container;
An engagement member disposed in the housing,
The waste developer container is
A housing body for housing the waste developer;
An inlet that is opened in the housing main body and allows the waste developer to flow into the housing main body;
It is arranged so as to be rotatable with respect to the housing main body, and the state can be changed between the first state in which the inlet is sealed and the second state separated from the inlet by the rotation. A lid,
A hinge portion that connects the housing main body portion and the lid portion and governs the rotation of the lid portion;
The engaging member is engaged with the lid portion in the second state in a state where the waste developer container is mounted in the internal space, and the lid portion protrudes outward from the one outer wall. An image forming apparatus that prevents this from happening. The hinge portion includes a rotation shaft extending in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the waste developer container is mounted, and the lid portion is rotatable about the rotation shaft.
The lid portion is swingable in a direction in which the rotation shaft of the hinge portion extends in the state change between the first state and the second state,
The engaging member is disposed along the one outer wall in the housing so as to overlap the lid in the mounting direction of the waste developer container.
When the waste developer container is mounted in the internal space, the lid portion is inserted into the internal space so as to bypass the engaging member by the swinging, and then the engagement portion in the mounting direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is disposed inside the inner space with respect to the engaging member so as to overlap with the combined member. An opening / closing cover that is attached to the one outer wall so as to be openable and closable and that opens the internal space to the outside of the housing in an open state;
A projecting piece projecting from the inside of the opening / closing cover toward the internal space,
When the open / close cover is changed from the open state to the closed state after the storage main body portion of the waste developer storage container is mounted in the internal space in the open state of the waste developer storage container, the protruding piece is The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cover part swings in an extending direction of the rotation shaft by being engaged with the cover part, thereby realizing the detour.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the protruding piece presses the lid portion toward the inner side of the internal space than the engaging member. In the second state, the lid portion is disposed so as to protrude vertically upward from the hinge portion, and has a protruding portion having a lower end edge extending in the extending direction of the rotating shaft. And
The protruding piece of the opening / closing cover abuts on the lower end edge of the protruding portion in the second state, thereby swinging the lid portion in the extending direction of the rotating shaft. 5. The image forming apparatus according to 3 or 4.   A regulating member that is disposed in the housing and is engaged with the housing main body portion of the waste developer housing container mounted in the internal space, and regulates the detachment of the developer housing container from the internal space; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming apparatus according to claim 1; The restricting member includes a fulcrum part fixed to the housing, and a contact part that protrudes from the fulcrum part so as to be rotatable with respect to the fulcrum part and abuts against the housing body part,
When the waste developer storage container is mounted in the internal space, the contact portion of the restriction member contacts the storage main body portion and rotates about the fulcrum portion as a fulcrum. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a waste developer container is allowed to be attached to the internal space. A biasing member that is disposed in the casing and applies a biasing force toward the outside of the casing in the mounting direction with respect to the waste developer storage container mounted in the internal space;
An urging force regulating member that is disposed in the housing and regulates movement of the waste developer container by the urging force of the urging member;
A release piece that is disposed in the waste developer container and releases the restriction of the movement of the waste developer container by the biasing force regulating member,
In the state where the restriction of the movement of the waste developer container is released by the release piece and the biasing member biases the waste developer container toward the outside of the housing, The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the movement of the waste developer container is restricted after allowing a predetermined amount of movement of the waste developer container to the outside of the casing. When the waste developer container is removed from the internal space, the engaging member is brought into contact with the projecting portion of the lid portion, so that the lid portion approaches the inflow port. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus is rotated as a fulcrum.

Images