JP2014228825A - Toner collection device and image forming apparatus including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner collection device configured to stably collect toner while preventing filter clogging, and an image forming apparatus including the same.SOLUTION: A toner collection unit 8 includes a housing 80, an inlet 800, a first fan 83, a first filter unit 81, and a vibration motor 812A. The first fan 8 is arranged inside the housing 80, sucks an airflow flowing in through the inlet 800, and discharges it to the outside of the housing 80. The first filter unit 81 includes a frame 810 and a first filter 811, and is arranged upstream of the first fan 83 in the airflow. The frame 810 holds the first filter 811. The vibration motor 812A vibrates the first filter 811 via the frame 810. The frame 810 is pivotally supported at a filter shaft part 95 in a rotatable manner.

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner collecting apparatus that is used in an image forming apparatus such as a printer and collects toner, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

  An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile using an electrophotographic system supplies toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier (for example, a photosensitive drum or a transfer belt) to By developing the electrostatic latent image, a toner image is formed on the image carrier. The toner is stored in the developing device, and the toner is supplied to the image carrier from the developing roller disposed in the developing device.

  Of the toner stored in the developing device, toner with low charge tends to scatter around the developing device. The scattered toner may contaminate the inside and outside of the main body of the image forming apparatus. Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus equipped with a dust collecting device for collecting scattered toner. Further, in this technique, a vibration means for vibrating the filter is provided in order to prevent the filter from being clogged with scattered toner.

JP 2007-298782 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, a rectangular filter is disposed facing the left-right direction, and a plurality of exhaust ducts that collect scattered toner are vertically adjacent to each other and face the filter. Is done. As a result, the scattered toner dropped from the filter due to the vibration of the vibration means blocks the exhaust duct located below, and there is a problem that the collectability of the scattered toner is lowered.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a toner collection device capable of stably collecting toner while preventing clogging of the filter, and an image including the same. An object is to provide a forming apparatus.

  A toner recovery device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a housing, an inlet that is opened in the housing and into which toner flows in along with an air flow, and the air flow that is disposed inside the housing and flows in from the inlet. A fan that sucks air and exhausts it to the outside of the housing; a filter that is disposed upstream of the fan on the flow path of the air flow, collects the toner, and passes the air flow; A holder that is rotatably supported by the housing with the shaft portion as a rotation fulcrum, and that holds the filter, and a vibration unit that is fixed to the holder and vibrates the filter through the holder, It is characterized by having.

  According to this configuration, the airflow that has flowed into the housing from the inflow port is sucked by the fan and exhausted to the outside of the housing. The toner flows in from the inlet along with the air flow and is collected by the filter. The vibration means is fixed to a holder that holds the filter, and vibrates the filter through the holder. At this time, the holder is supported while being rotatable around the shaft portion. For this reason, the vibration of the vibration means is converted into vibration around the shaft portion of the holder. As a result, the toner collected on the filter is preferably detached from the filter by the vibration. Therefore, the filter is prevented from being clogged, and the recovery performance of the toner recovery device is stably maintained.

  In the above configuration, the vibration means is a vibration motor that includes a rotation shaft and generates a rotation vibration around the rotation shaft, and the axial direction of the rotation shaft and the axial direction of the shaft portion are parallel to each other. The shaft portion and the vibration motor are preferably disposed on the holder.

  According to this configuration, the rotational vibration around the rotational axis generated from the vibration motor is efficiently converted into the vibration around the shaft portion of the holder. As a result, the toner collected by the filter is more preferably detached from the filter by the vibration.

  In the above configuration, the filter has a rectangular parallelepiped shape including, as a peripheral surface, six surfaces including an entry surface into which the air flow enters and an exhaust surface from which the air flow is exhausted on the side opposite to the entry surface. The holder includes a first wall portion that covers a first surface that intersects the entry surface of the six surfaces, and a second surface that covers a second surface opposite to the first surface. And the vibration motor is disposed on the first wall portion so that the rotation axis is parallel to the first surface, and the shaft portion is more than the first wall portion. It is desirable to arrange at a position close to the two wall portions.

  According to this configuration, the vibration motor is disposed on the first wall portion, and the shaft portion of the holder is disposed on the second wall portion side. As a result, the vibration motor is disposed in a region farthest from the shaft portion in the radial direction in the rotation around the shaft portion of the holder. For this reason, the amplitude in the vibration of the holder is increased, and the vibration of the holder is realized more efficiently.

  In the above configuration, the filter is disposed such that the entry surface faces downward, the vibration motor is disposed at an upper edge of the first wall portion, and the rotation fulcrum is the second fulcrum. It is desirable that the shaft portion is disposed on the holder so as to be disposed on the lower end side of the wall portion.

  According to this configuration, the vibration motor and the rotation fulcrum are arranged at diagonal positions via the filter. For this reason, the vibration motor is arranged at a position farther from the shaft portion in the radial direction in the rotation around the shaft portion of the holder.

  In the above configuration, the holder is supported by the housing such that the exhaust surface of the filter is inclined downwardly from the second wall side toward the first wall side. desirable.

  According to this configuration, the toner collected in the vicinity of the exhaust surface of the filter moves to the first wall side by the vibration of the holder. Then, the toner is vibrated at a position closer to the vibration motor, so that it is detached downward from the entry surface while moving inside the filter. For this reason, the toner collected on the exhaust surface side of the filter can be efficiently detached.

  In the above configuration, it is desirable that the shaft portion is disposed above the vibration motor.

  According to this configuration, the toner collected in the vicinity of the exhaust surface of the filter can be moved to the first wall portion side more efficiently.

  In the above-described configuration, the filter further includes a guide duct portion that is disposed between the inlet and the fan on the flow path of the air flow and guides the air flow from below to above. It is desirable that the entrance surface be disposed so as to face downward above the guide duct portion.

  According to this configuration, the toner detached from the filter by the vibrating means falls below the filter. This prevents the toner from reattaching to the filter.

  In the above-described configuration, the air flow that has flowed in from the inflow port is disposed in the induction duct portion below the introduction portion, and the introduction portion that allows the air flow from the side portion of the induction duct portion to flow into the induction duct portion. It is desirable to further include a storage unit for storing toner that has fallen from the filter due to vibration of the vibration unit.

  According to this configuration, the introducing portion causes the air flow that has flowed in from the inflow port to flow into the induction duct portion from the side portion of the induction duct portion. And the storage part in which the toner which fell from the filter is stored is arrange | positioned in the guide duct part below the introduction part. For this reason, it is suppressed that the toner stored in the storage part obstructs the flow of the airflow to the induction duct part.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a sheet, the toner collecting device according to any one of the above, and collecting unnecessary toner together with an air flow from the image forming unit. And a recovery duct for flowing into the inflow port.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to stably collect unnecessary toner from the image forming unit. For this reason, contamination by the toner is preferably suppressed inside or outside the image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, there are provided a toner recovery device capable of preventing clogging of a filter and stably recovering toner, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a developing device and a toner recovery device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a developing device and a toner recovery device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a developing device and a recovery duct according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inside of the toner recovery unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of a filter and a holder concerning an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the inside of the toner recovery unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the inside of a toner recovery unit according to a modified embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, as the image forming apparatus 1, a multi-function machine having a printer function and a copying function is illustrated, but the image forming apparatus may be a printer, a copier, or a facsimile machine.

<Description of Image Forming Apparatus>
The image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 10 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing structure, and an automatic document feeder 20 disposed on the apparatus main body 10. In the apparatus main body 10, a reading unit 25 that optically reads a document image to be copied, an image forming unit 30 that forms a toner image on a sheet, a fixing unit 60 that fixes the toner image on a sheet, and image formation A sheet feeding unit 40 for storing sheets conveyed to the unit 30, and a conveyance path 50 for conveying the sheet from the sheet feeding unit 40 or the sheet feeding tray 46 to the sheet discharge port 10E via the image forming unit 30 and the fixing unit 60. And a conveyance unit 55 having therein a sheet conveyance path constituting a part of the conveyance path 50 is accommodated.

  The image forming unit 30 forms a toner image on the sheet. That is, the image forming unit 30 performs a process of generating a full-color toner image and transferring the toner image onto a sheet. Yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (black) arranged in tandem. Bk), the image forming unit 32 including four units 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32Bk for forming the toner images, the intermediate transfer unit 33 disposed adjacent to the image forming unit 32, and the intermediate transfer unit. And a toner replenishing unit 34 disposed on the upper side 33.

  Each of the image forming units 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32Bk includes a photosensitive drum 321 and a charger 322, an exposure device 323, a developing device 324, a primary transfer roller 325, and a cleaning device disposed around the photosensitive drum 321. 326.

  The photosensitive drum 321 rotates around its axis and carries an electrostatic latent image and a toner image on its peripheral surface. As the photosensitive drum 321, a photosensitive drum using an amorphous silicon (a-Si) material can be used. The charger 322 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 321. The exposure device 323 includes a laser light source and optical system devices such as a mirror and a lens, and forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 321 with light based on image data of a document image. . The photosensitive drum 321 functions as an image carrier.

  The developing device 324 supplies toner to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 321 in order to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 321. The developing device 324 is for a two-component developer and includes a screw feeder, a magnetic roller, and a developing roller. As shown in FIG. 1, the developing devices 324 for the respective colors are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction (left-right direction).

  The primary transfer roller 325 forms a nip portion with the photosensitive drum 321 across the intermediate transfer belt 331 provided in the intermediate transfer unit 33, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 321 is primary transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 331. To do. The cleaning device 326 includes a cleaning roller and the like, and cleans the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 321 after the toner image is transferred.

  The intermediate transfer unit 33 includes an intermediate transfer belt 331, a driving roller 332, and a driven roller 333. The intermediate transfer belt 331 is an endless belt that is stretched around a driving roller 332 and a driven roller 333, and toner images from a plurality of photosensitive drums 321 are superimposed on the same portion on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 331. Is transcribed. The intermediate transfer belt 331 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. The intermediate transfer belt 331 functions as an image carrier.

  A secondary transfer roller 35 is disposed to face the peripheral surface of the drive roller 332. The secondary transfer roller 35 transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 331 to the sheet. A nip portion between the driving roller 332 and the secondary transfer roller 35 serves as a secondary transfer portion that transfers a full-color toner image overcoated on the intermediate transfer belt 331 to a sheet. A secondary transfer bias potential having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image is applied to one of the driving roller 332 and the secondary transfer roller 35, and the other roller is grounded. In addition, the density sensor 35 </ b> A is disposed opposite to the circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 331 at a position upstream of the drive roller 332 in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 331. The density sensor 35A outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the density of the image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 331.

  The toner supply unit 34 includes a yellow toner container 34Y, a magenta toner container 34M, a cyan toner container 34C, and a black toner container 34Bk. These toner containers 34Y, 34C, 34M, and 34Bk respectively store toner of each color, and are supplied to the developing devices 324 of the image forming units 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32Bk corresponding to each color of YMCBk through a supply path (not shown). Supply toner of each color.

  The paper feed unit 40 includes two-stage paper feed cassettes 40A and 40B that accommodate sheets subjected to image forming processing. These paper feed cassettes 40A and 40B can be pulled out from the front of the apparatus body 10 toward the front. The sheet feeding unit 40 accommodates a sheet conveyed toward the secondary transfer roller 35. The paper feed unit 40 is disposed below the developing device 324 described above.

  The fixing unit 60 is an induction heating type fixing device that performs a fixing process for fixing a toner image on a sheet, and includes a heating roller 61, a fixing roller 62, a pressure roller 63, a fixing belt 64, and an induction heating unit 65. A pressure roller 63 is pressed against the fixing roller 62 to form a fixing nip portion. The heating roller 61 and the fixing belt 64 are induction-heated by an induction heating unit 65, and give the heat to the fixing nip portion. As the sheet passes through the fixing nip portion, the toner image transferred to the sheet is fixed to the sheet.

  The image forming apparatus 1 further includes a recovery duct 7 and a toner recovery unit 8 (toner recovery device). 2 and 3 are perspective views of the developing device 324, the recovery duct 7, and the toner recovery unit 8 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the developing device 324 and the recovery duct 7 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the rear.

  2 and 3, the collection duct 7 is disposed behind the developing devices 324 (324Y, 324M, 324C, 324Bk) of the respective colors that are disposed adjacent to each other. The collection duct 7 collects toner together with the air flow from the inside of the developing device 324 of the image forming unit 30 and flows it into an inlet 800 of a toner collection unit 8 described later. Referring to FIG. 2, the collection duct 7 conveys the toner from the developing device 324 in a substantially horizontal direction. In other embodiments, the collection duct 7 may be a duct that collects toner scattered around the developing device 324. The recovery duct 7 includes a main duct 70, a yellow duct 71, a magenta duct 72, a cyan duct 73, and a black duct 74. The main duct 70 is a duct extending in the left-right direction behind the developing device 324. Inside the main duct 70, a plurality of exhaust air passages through which the toner collected from the developing devices 324 of the respective colors is conveyed are arranged in parallel to each other (see the black exhaust air passage 70A in FIG. 4). The yellow duct 71, the magenta duct 72, the cyan duct 73, and the black duct 74 cause the toner collected from the inside of the developing device 324 of each color to flow into the exhaust air passage of the main duct 70.

  Referring to FIG. 4, each color developing device 324 (324Y, 324M, 324C, 324Bk) includes a developing roller 101 (101Y, 101M, 101C, 101Bk). The developing roller 101 carries toner on its peripheral surface and supplies the toner to the photosensitive drum 321. Further, inside the developing device 324 for each color, a screw (not shown) that stirs the toner and supplies the toner to the developing roller 101 is disposed. Furthermore, each color developing device 324 includes a discharge port 102 (102Y, 102M, 102C, 102Bk). The discharge port 102 communicates with the inside of the developing device 324 and is disposed rearward from the developing device 324. In FIG. 4, the cyan discharge port 102 </ b> C is exposed by omitting the illustration of the cyan duct 73. A yellow duct 71, a magenta duct 72, a cyan duct 73, and a black duct 74 are connected to the discharge ports 102 of the respective colors, and an air flow including scattered toner is carried from the developing device 324 to the main duct 70. As described above, a plurality of exhaust air paths are arranged in parallel with each other inside the main duct 70. FIG. 4 shows a black exhaust air passage 70A. Similarly, exhaust air passages of other colors are also arranged inside the main duct 70. The air flow flowing into the black exhaust air passage 70A through the black duct 74 is guided to the left end portion of the main duct 70 as shown by an arrow D41 in FIG.

  The toner recovery unit 8 is connected to the left end portion of the main duct 70. The toner recovery unit 8 is disposed below the main duct 70.

<Structure of Toner Collection Unit 8>
Next, the structure of the toner recovery unit 8 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inside of the toner recovery unit 8 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the first filter portion 81 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the inside of the toner recovery unit 8. The toner collecting unit 8 collects unnecessary toner from the image forming unit 30. In the present embodiment, as described above, scattered toner is collected from the inside of the developing device 324 as unnecessary toner.

  Referring to FIG. 5, the toner recovery unit 8 includes a housing 80, a first filter portion 81, a second filter portion 82, a first fan 83 (fan), a second fan 84 (fan), and an exhaust. Part 85.

  The housing 80 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The housing 80 defines the appearance of the toner recovery unit 8 and accommodates the first filter portion 81, the second filter portion 82, the first fan 83, and the second fan 84 therein. In addition, a plurality of duct portions that guide the air flow are disposed inside the housing 80. The housing 80 includes a front wall 80F (see FIG. 7), a rear wall 80R, a left wall 80C, a right wall 80D, and a right inner wall 80D1 (FIG. 5). The front wall 80 </ b> F is a front wall portion of the housing 80, and the rear wall 80 </ b> R is a rear wall portion of the housing 80. The left wall 80 </ b> C is a left wall portion of the housing 80, and the right wall 80 </ b> D is a right wall portion of the housing 80. Further, the right inner wall 80D1 is an inner wall portion that is arranged at an interval inside the right wall 80D. The right inner wall 80D1 defines a duct descending portion 802 and a duct raising portion 80U which will be described later. Furthermore, the housing 80 includes an inlet 800, an upper duct 801, a duct descending portion 802, a duct raising portion 80U, and a bottom portion 80T (storage portion). The bottom 80T is the bottom of the housing 80 and defines the bottom surface of the lower duct 803 described later.

  The inflow port 800 is opened in the housing 80, and the toner flows into the inflow port 800 together with the air flow. The inflow port 800 is disposed on the upper end side of the housing 80. The plurality of exhaust air ducts of the main duct 70 are merged immediately before the inlet 800 and then communicated with the inlet 800.

  The upper duct 801 is a space formed at the upper end portion of the housing 80. The upper duct 801 is disposed to face the inflow port 800. Further, the upper duct 801 communicates with the duct descending portion 802.

  The duct descending portion 802 is communicated with the right end portion of the upper duct 801. That is, the duct descending portion 802 is disposed in the housing 80 so as to communicate with the inflow port 800 via the upper duct 801. The duct descending portion 802 guides the air flow downward to the bottom portion 80T of the housing 80. The duct descending portion 802 is a duct portion that extends in the vertical direction at the right end portion of the housing 80.

  The duct ascending portion 80U is disposed in the housing 80 so as to be adjacent to the duct descending portion 802 in the horizontal direction. The duct ascending portion 80U is communicated with the duct descending portion 802 at the bottom portion 80T, and guides the air flow upward. The duct raising portion 80U extends in the vertical direction from the bottom portion 80T to the region where the first fan 83 is disposed. The duct raising portion 80U includes a lower duct 803 (induction duct portion). The lower duct 803 is disposed between the inlet 800 and the first fan 83 and the second fan 84 on the air flow path, and guides the air flow from below to above. The lower duct 803 is disposed in a lower part of the duct ascending portion 80U. Further, as described above, the bottom portion 80T defines the bottom surface of the lower duct 803.

  The duct descending portion 802 and the lower duct 803 of the duct raising portion 80U are communicated with each other by the introducing portion 802T. In other words, the introduction portion 802T causes the air flow that has flowed in from the inlet 800 to flow into the lower duct 803 from the side portion (right side portion) of the lower duct 803. The bottom portion 80T is disposed in the lower duct 803 below the introduction portion 802T.

  The first filter unit 81 is disposed on the upstream side of the first fan 83 and the second fan 84 on the air flow path. The first filter portion 81 is disposed above the lower duct 803 so that a filter lower surface portion 811B, which will be described later, through which an air flow enters, faces downward. The first filter unit 81 collects the toner flowing in from the inlet 800 together with the air flow, and allows the air flow to pass therethrough. The 1st filter part 81 is arrange | positioned in the downward part of the duct raising part 80U. The 1st filter part 81 consists of a rectangular parallelepiped shape provided with predetermined thickness in the up-down direction.

  The second filter part 82 is disposed between the first fan 83 and the second fan 84 and the first filter part 81 on the air flow path. The second filter unit 82 collects toner that could not be collected by the first filter unit 81 and allows the air flow to pass therethrough. The second filter part 82 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a predetermined thickness in the vertical direction.

  The first fan 83 and the second fan 84 are disposed inside the housing 80, and take in the airflow that flows in from the inflow port 800 and exhaust it outside the housing 80. The 1st fan 83 and the 2nd fan 84 exhaust the air flow which flowed in from the lower part toward the left. The 1st fan 83 and the 2nd fan 84 are arrange | positioned at the upper part of the duct raising part 80U. As shown in FIG. 5, the first fan 83 and the second fan 84 are arranged above the second filter portion 82 with a predetermined interval. The first fan 83 is disposed on the right side portion of the upper end portion of the duct raising portion 80U. In addition, the second fan 84 is a left portion of the duct ascending portion 80U, and is disposed at a position shifted downward from the first fan 83 in the vertical direction. Thus, in this embodiment, a plurality of fans are arranged in the upper part of the duct ascending portion 80U. In addition, by arranging the first fan 83 and the second fan 84 in positions that do not overlap in the vertical direction, overlapping of the exhaust paths of the airflows exhausted from the first fan 83 and the second fan 84 is suppressed. . In other words, due to the arrangement of the first fan 83 and the second fan 84, the air flow is dispersed in the vertical direction and efficiently exhausted to the left.

  The exhaust part 85 communicates with the duct ascending part 80U on the downstream side of the first fan 83 and the second fan 84 in the air flow path. The exhaust unit 85 guides the air flow in the horizontal direction (left direction) and exhausts the air flow to the outside of the housing 80. As shown in FIG. 5, the exhaust part 85 is disposed on the left side surface of the housing 80 so as to face the region from the first filter part 81 to the first fan 83.

  The exhaust unit 85 includes an upper exhaust filter 851 and a lower exhaust filter 852. The upper exhaust filter 851 and the lower exhaust filter 852 are disposed downstream of the first fan 83 and the second fan 84 on the air flow path, and allow the air flow to pass therethrough. The upper exhaust filter 851 is disposed to face the first fan 83 and the second fan 84 in the horizontal direction. The lower exhaust filter 852 is disposed below the upper exhaust filter 851. The air flow discharged from the first fan 83 and the second fan 84 is diffused in the vertical direction inside the exhaust part 85 and exhausted to the outside of the housing 80 while passing through the upper exhaust filter 851 and the lower exhaust filter 852. The

  Referring to FIG. 6, the first filter unit 81 includes a frame 810 (holder), a first filter 811 (filter), and a vibration unit 812.

  The first filter 811 has, as peripheral surfaces, a filter lower surface portion 811B (entrance surface) (FIG. 7) into which an air flow enters, and a filter upper surface portion 811A (exhaust gas) from which the air flow is exhausted on the side opposite to the filter lower surface portion 811B. And a rectangular parallelepiped shape having six surfaces. The first filter 811 is arranged above the lower duct 803 so that the filter lower surface portion 811B faces downward. A known dust filter can be adopted as the first filter 811. In the present embodiment, the first filter 811 includes a filter paper (not shown) having a predetermined density. The filter paper is made of glass fiber having a diameter of 1 to 10 μm. The filling rate of the glass fiber is about 10%, and the gap between the fibers is set to 10 to 50 μm.

  The frame 810 is supported by the housing 80 and encloses the first filter 811. The frame 810 is disposed so as to surround the periphery of four side surfaces (four surfaces intersecting the filter lower surface portion 811B) of the first filter 811. The frame 810 includes end edges (upper and lower edges of the frame 810) parallel to the filter lower surface portion 811B and the filter upper surface portion 811A of the first filter 811. The frame 810 includes a wall portion that covers the four side surfaces of the first filter 811.

  Specifically, the frame 810 includes a front frame 810A (first wall portion), a rear frame 810B (second wall portion), a left frame 810C, and a right frame 810D. The front frame 810 </ b> A covers a front side surface (first surface) among the six surfaces of the first filter 811. The rear frame 810 </ b> B covers a rear side surface (second surface) among the six surfaces of the first filter 811. The left frame 810 </ b> C covers the left side surface of the six surfaces of the first filter 811. The right frame 810D covers the right side surface of the six surfaces of the first filter 811.

  Further, the frame 810 includes a left sponge 93, a right sponge 94, and a filter shaft portion 95 (shaft portion). The left sponge 93 and the right sponge 94 are plate-like sponge members attached to the outside of the left frame 810C and the right frame 810D of the frame 810, respectively. The left sponge 93 and the right sponge 94 prevent the vibration generated by the vibration unit 812 described later from being transmitted to the housing 80. The filter shaft portion 95 is a pair of shaft portions protruding in the left-right direction from the rear end portions of the left frame 810C and the right frame 810D. The filter shaft portion 95 protrudes through the left sponge 93 and the right sponge 94. The filter shaft portion 95 is inserted into a hole (not shown) disposed in the left wall 80C and the right inner wall 80D1 (FIG. 5) of the housing 80. As a result, the frame 810 is rotatably supported by the housing 80 with the filter shaft portion 95 as a rotation fulcrum.

  The vibration unit 812 is fixed to the frame 810 and vibrates the first filter 811 via the frame 810. The vibration unit 812 includes a vibration motor 812A (vibration means) and a circuit board (not shown). The vibration motor 812A includes a motor shaft 812B (rotary shaft) and a weight 812C. Referring to FIG. 7, motor shaft 812B is a shaft that extends in the left-right direction. The weight 812C is fixed in an eccentric state at the tip of the motor shaft 812B. When the motor shaft 812B is rotated, vibration is generated from the vibration motor 812A by the rotation of the weight 812C. In other words, the vibration motor 812A generates rotational vibration around the motor shaft 812B. In the present embodiment, the filter shaft portion 95 and the vibration motor 812A are arranged on the frame 810 so that the axial direction of the motor shaft 812B and the axial direction of the filter shaft portion 95 are parallel to each other.

  Referring to FIG. 7, the housing 80 further includes a left rib 80 </ b> C <b> 1 (support portion), a protruding wall 80 </ b> F <b> 1, and a rear sponge 92. The left rib 80C1 is a rib projecting rightward from the inner wall portion of the left wall 80C (FIG. 5). The left rib 80C1 is a plate-like member that extends in the front-rear direction with a predetermined width in the left-right direction. The left rib 80C1 supports the frame 810 at a position different from the filter shaft portion 95. In the present embodiment, the frame 810 holding the first filter 811 contacts the left rib 80C1 by its own weight. When the frame 810 is in contact with the left rib 80C1, the frame 810 that can rotate around the filter shaft portion 95 is prevented from falling. That is, the left rib 80C1 has a function of preventing the frame 810 from rotating. The protruding wall 80F1 is a rib projecting rearward from the front wall 80F. The protruding wall 80F1 extends in the left-right direction with a predetermined width in the front-rear direction. The protruding wall 80F1 protrudes so as to enter below the vibration motor 812A. The rear sponge 92 is a sponge member disposed on the inner wall portion of the rear wall 80R. The rear sponge 92 has a substantially prismatic shape and extends in the left-right direction. The rear sponge 92 prevents toner leakage between the rear wall 80R and a seal 96 described later. Further, the rear sponge 92 prevents the vibration of the frame 810 from being transmitted to the housing 80.

  Further, the frame 810 includes a left bent portion 810C1, a lower sponge 91, and a seal 96. The left bent portion 810C1 is formed by bending the lower end portion of the left frame 810C to the right. The left bent portion 810C1 supports the first filter 811 from below and prevents the first filter 811 from falling from the frame 810. The lower sponge 91 is a sponge member attached to the lower surface portion of the left bent portion 810C1. The lower sponge 91 has a substantially prismatic shape and extends in the front-rear direction. The lower sponge 91 prevents toner leakage between the left rib 80C1 and the left bent portion 810C1. Further, the lower sponge 91 prevents the vibration of the frame 810 from being transmitted to the housing 80. The seal 96 is a sheet member attached to the outer wall surface of the rear frame 810B. The seal 96 is disposed so as to protrude downward from the rear frame 810B along the left-right direction. The seal 96 contacts the rear sponge 92. As a result, the seal 96 prevents the toner from passing through the gap G formed behind the frame 810.

  The right end side of the frame 810, that is, the periphery of the right frame 810D has the same configuration as described above. In FIG. 7, the left bent portion 810 </ b> C <b> 1, the lower sponge 91 and the left rib 80 </ b> C <b> 1 are disposed below the first filter 811, but actually these members are below the left edge of the first filter 811. The filter lower surface 811 </ b> B is exposed downward at the center of the first filter 811. The same applies to the right end edge side of the first filter 811.

  Further, referring to FIG. 7, vibration motor 812A is arranged in front frame 810A. Specifically, the vibration motor 812A is disposed on a fixed edge 810A1 (FIG. 6) that is an upper edge of the front frame 810A. Further, the filter shaft portion 95 is disposed at the rear end and lower end of the left frame 810C and the right frame 810D (FIG. 6), so that the rotation fulcrum RL (FIG. 6) of the frame 810 is disposed on the lower end side of the rear frame 810B. (FIG. 7).

  In the second filter unit 82 as well, as in the first filter unit 81, the second filter 820 (FIG. 5) is held in a frame (not shown). The second filter 820, the upper exhaust filter 851, and the lower exhaust filter 852 are also dust filters similar to the first filter 811.

  Next, the air flow and toner flow in the toner recovery unit 8 will be described. When the power of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned on and the developing roller 101 and the agitating screw (not shown) of the developing device 324 are rotated by a control unit (not shown), the first fan 83 and the second fan 84 are turned on by the control unit. Is rotated. As a result, an air flow including scattered toner is provided from the developing device 324 to the toner recovery unit 8 through the recovery duct 7. The air flow (arrow D50 in FIG. 5) that flows into the housing 80 from the inflow port 800 flows from the upper duct 801 into the duct descending portion 802 (arrow D51). The air flow is once lowered at the duct lowering portion 802 (arrow D52), and then flows into the lower duct 803 from the side portion of the lower duct 803 via the introduction portion 802T (arrow D53). The lower duct 803 guides the air flow from below to above (arrow D54). Then, when the air flow passes through the first filter 811 of the first filter portion 81 disposed above the lower duct 803, the toner is collected by the first filter 811. The air flow (arrow D55) that has passed through the first filter 811 passes through the second filter 820 of the second filter unit 82. At this time, the toner that could not be collected by the first filter 811 is collected by the second filter 820.

  The airflow that has passed through the second filter 820 of the second filter portion 82 flows into the first fan 83 and the second fan 84 on the right side and the left side of the duct ascending portion 80U, respectively (arrows D57 and D58). The air flow is discharged leftward by the first fan 83 and the second fan 84 (arrow D59). Thereafter, the air flow flows into the exhaust part 85, passes through the upper exhaust filter 851 and the lower exhaust filter 852, and is exhausted to the outside of the housing 80 (arrows DA1, DA2).

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the toner that has flowed into the housing 80 together with the airflow is collected by the first filter portion 81 disposed on the upstream side of the first fan 83 and the second fan 84. Further, on the upstream and downstream sides of the first fan 83 and the second fan 84 on the air flow path, a second filter portion 82, an upper exhaust filter 851, and a lower exhaust filter 852 are disposed. For this reason, the toner is reliably collected and the toner is further prevented from being discharged to the outside of the housing 80. Therefore, contamination with scattered toner is preferably suppressed inside or outside the image forming apparatus 1.

  Along with the use of the toner recovery unit 8, a large amount of toner is collected in the first filter 811 of the first filter unit 81 arranged on the most upstream side in the air flow path. When the first filter 811 is clogged, the toner collection performance is deteriorated. For this reason, in this embodiment, the said control part drives the vibration unit 812 at the timing which the 1st fan 83 and the 2nd fan 84 are not rotating. Driving the vibration unit 812 causes the first filter 811 to vibrate via the frame 810 (FIG. 6). For this reason, compared with the case where the vibration unit 812 vibrates the 1st filter 811 directly, a vibration is transmitted to the 1st filter 811 stably. As a result, the toner adhering particularly to the lower surface (filter lower surface portion 811B) of the first filter 811 falls (detaches) downward due to vibration. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the vibration can be reliably transmitted to the first filter 811 by the vibration of the frame 810.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the frame 810 is in contact with the left rib 80 </ b> C <b> 1 (FIG. 7) by its own weight while being rotatable around the filter shaft portion 95. For this reason, the rotational vibration of the vibration motor 812 </ b> A is converted into vibration around the filter shaft portion 95 of the frame 810. As a result, the toner collected by the first filter 811 is suitably detached from the first filter 811 by the vibration. Therefore, clogging of the first filter 811 is prevented, and the recovery performance of the toner recovery unit 8 is stably maintained. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, since the axial direction of the motor shaft 812B and the axial direction of the filter shaft portion 95 are set in parallel, rotational vibration around the motor shaft 812B generated from the vibration motor 812A (FIG. 7). The arrow DM) is efficiently converted into vibration around the filter shaft portion 95 of the first filter portion 81 (arrow DF in FIG. 7). At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, when the weight 812C passes through a region close to the first filter 811, the weight 812C moves upward from below to lift the frame 810 upward. It becomes. As a result, the vibration of the frame 810 is further increased.

  In the present embodiment, the vibration motor 812A is disposed on the front frame 810A, and the filter shaft portion 95 is disposed on the rear frame 810B side with respect to the front frame 810A. In addition, the motor shaft 812B of the vibration motor 812A is disposed in parallel with the front side surface of the first filter 811. As a result, the vibration motor 812A is disposed in a region (near the outer peripheral portion) far from the filter shaft portion 95 in the radial direction in the rotation around the filter shaft portion 95 of the frame 810. In other words, since the vibration motor 812A vibrates the region farthest from the filter shaft portion 95 in the frame 810, the vibration in the vibration of the frame 810 is increased, and the vibration of the frame 810 is more efficiently realized. In particular, the vibration motor 812A is disposed on the upper edge (fixed edge 810A1, FIG. 6) of the front frame 810A, and the rotation fulcrum RL is disposed on the lower end side of the rear frame 810B. For this reason, the vibration motor 812A and the rotation fulcrum RL (filter shaft portion 95) are arranged at diagonal positions via the frame 810. As a result, the vibration motor 812A is disposed at a position farthest from the filter shaft portion 95 in the radial direction in the rotation of the frame 810 around the filter shaft portion 95, and the vibration of the frame 810 is more efficiently realized. The

  As described above, in the present embodiment, each sponge is disposed between the frame 810 and the housing 80. For this reason, vibration that causes the vibration unit 812 to vibrate the first filter 811 via the frame 810 is prevented from being transmitted to the housing 80. As a result, generation of vibration sound of the housing 80 due to the vibration is prevented. Further, the sealing function of each sponge prevents the toner from passing along with the airflow outside the frame 810.

  In addition, since the filter lower surface portion 811B of the first filter 811 is disposed facing downward, the fallen toner is prevented from reattaching to the first filter 811. As a result, the clogging of the first filter 811 is prevented as much as possible, and the toner can be stably recovered. Further, as described above, the introduction portion 802T causes the air flow that has flowed in from the inflow port 800 to flow into the lower duct 803 from the side portion of the lower duct 803. The toner dropped from the first filter 811 due to the vibration of the vibration unit 812 is stored in the bottom 80T. The bottom 80T is disposed in the lower duct 803 below the introduction portion 802T. For this reason, the toner stored in the bottom portion 80T is prevented from obstructing the flow of airflow to the lower duct 803.

  Note that the arrangement of the toner recovery unit 8 in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5. The duct descending portion 802 and the duct raising portion 80 U of the housing 80 are located inside the housing 80. Adjacent in the horizontal direction. And the airflow which flowed in from the inflow port 800 once descends in the duct descending part 802, and then rises in the duct ascending part 80U. Therefore, the air flow can be reliably made as an updraft. In addition, a duct lowering portion 802 and a duct raising portion 80U are disposed adjacent to each other inside the housing 80, and space saving of the housing 80 is realized.

  Further, the paper feed unit 40 of the image forming apparatus 1 is disposed below the developing device 324. Further, the inlet 800 of the toner recovery unit 8 is disposed at substantially the same height as the developing device 324 in the vertical direction. Further, the duct lowering portion 802 and the duct raising portion 80U of the toner recovery unit 8 are disposed to face the paper feeding portion 40 in the horizontal direction. For this reason, it is possible to reliably make the airflow flowing in from the inflow port 800 as an upward airflow by using the height of the paper feed unit 40 of the image forming apparatus 1 behind the developing device 324.

  The toner collection unit 8 and the image forming apparatus 1 including the toner collection unit 8 according to the embodiment of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the following modified embodiment can be taken. it can.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the first filter 811 has been described as being arranged along the horizontal direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a toner recovery unit 8Z according to a modified embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the previous embodiment, the first filter 811Z is held by the frame 810Z. The vibration motor 812AZ is disposed on the front frame 810AZ. On the other hand, the filter shaft portion 95Z is disposed on the rear frame 810BZ side. The frame 810Z can be vibrated around the filter shaft portion 95Z by the vibration of the vibration motor 812A.

  Furthermore, in this modified embodiment, the frame 810Z is supported by the housing 80Z so that the filter upper surface portion 811AZ of the first filter 811Z is inclined downward from the rear frame 810BZ side toward the front frame 810AZ side. As in the previous embodiment, the toner adhering to the vicinity of the filter lower surface portion 811BZ tends to fall downward due to the vibration of the vibration motor 812AZ. On the other hand, toner adhering to the vicinity of the filter upper surface portion 811AZ may float on the surface of the filter upper surface portion 811AZ due to the vibration of the vibration motor 812AZ. In this case, when the scattered toner collecting operation is started again, the above-mentioned floating toner may flow into the downstream fan on the air flow path. However, in the present modified embodiment, the filter upper surface portion 811AZ is inclined and disposed as described above. For this reason, the toner collected in the vicinity of the filter upper surface portion 811AZ of the first filter 811Z moves to the front frame 810AZ side by the vibration of the frame 810Z, and approaches the vibration motor 812AZ. Then, the toner is vibrated at a position closer to the vibration motor 812AZ, so that the toner is detached downward from the filter lower surface portion 811BZ while moving downward in the first filter 811Z. Therefore, the toner collected on the filter upper surface portion 811AZ side of the first filter 811Z can be efficiently detached below the first filter 811.

  At this time, it is desirable that the filter shaft portion 95Z is disposed above the vibration motor 812AZ. In this case, since the vibration motor 812AZ rotates and vibrates below the filter shaft portion 95Z, the toner collected in the vicinity of the filter upper surface portion 811AZ of the first filter 811Z is moved more efficiently to the front frame 810AZ side. Can be made.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the filter shaft portion 95 is projected from the frame 810, but the present invention is not limited to this. A mode in which a bearing portion (not shown) is opened in the frame 810 and a rotary shaft portion inserted from the housing 80 into the bearing portion may be provided. Further, the support portion that supports the frame 810 is not limited to the left rib 80C1. Another member having a detent function may be disposed in the housing 80 with respect to the rotation of the frame 810 around the filter shaft portion 95. In addition, a spring member that compensates for vibration of the frame 810 may be provided between the frame 810 and the housing 80. Further, the lower sponge 91 may be fixed to the frame 810 side or the housing 80 side.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the air flow is exhausted in the horizontal direction from the exhaust part 85, but the present invention is not limited to this. The air flow may be exhausted from the exhaust part 85 in the other direction. Further, the number of fans represented by the first fan 83 and the second fan 84 is not limited to two.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the vibration unit 812 is used as the vibration means for vibrating the first filter 811. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As the vibration means, a cam member periodically contacting the frame 810, a solenoid, or the like may be applied.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 10 Apparatus main body 30 Image forming part 7 Collection | recovery duct 70 Main duct 70A Exhaust air path for black 71 Yellow duct 72 Magenta duct 73 Cyan duct 74 Black duct 8, 8Z Toner collection unit (toner collection apparatus)
80, 80Z Housing 80C Left wall 80C1 Left rib 80D Right wall 80D1 Right inner wall 80F Front wall 80F1 Projection wall 80R Rear wall 80T Bottom (reservoir)
80U duct ascending part 81 first filter part 82 second filter part 83 first fan (fan)
84 Second Fan (Fan)
85 Exhaust section 95, 95Z Filter shaft (shaft)
96 Seal 800 Inlet 801 Upper duct 802 Duct descending part 802T Introducing part 803 Lower duct (induction duct part)
810, 810Z frame (holder)
810A, 810AZ Front frame (first wall)
810A1 Fixed edge (edge)
810B, 810BZ Rear frame (second wall)
810C Left frame 810C1 Left bent part 810D Right frame 811, 811Z First filter (filter)
811A, 811AZ Upper surface of the filter (exhaust surface)
811B, 811BZ Filter bottom surface (entrance surface)
812 Vibration unit 812A, 812AZ Vibration motor (vibration means)
812B Motor shaft (rotary shaft)
812C Weight RL fulcrum

Claims (9)

A housing;
An inlet port that is open to the housing and into which the toner flows along with the air stream;
A fan that is disposed inside the housing and sucks the airflow flowing in from the inlet and exhausts the airflow to the outside of the housing;
A filter disposed on the upstream side of the fan on the flow path of the air flow, for collecting the toner and passing the air flow;
A holder that includes a shaft portion, is rotatably supported by the housing with the shaft portion as a rotation fulcrum, and holds the filter;
Vibration means fixed to the holder and vibrating the filter through the holder;
A toner recovery device comprising: The vibration means is a vibration motor that includes a rotating shaft and generates rotational vibration around the rotating shaft,
The toner collecting device according to claim 1, wherein the shaft portion and the vibration motor are arranged in the holder so that an axial direction of the rotation shaft and an axial direction of the shaft portion are parallel to each other. . The filter has a rectangular parallelepiped shape including six surfaces including an entrance surface into which the airflow enters and an exhaust surface from which the airflow is exhausted on the opposite side to the entrance surface as a peripheral surface,
The holder includes a first wall that covers a first surface that intersects the entry surface of the six surfaces, and a second wall that covers a second surface opposite to the first surface. With
The vibration motor is disposed on the first wall so that the rotation axis is parallel to the first surface;
The toner collecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the shaft portion is disposed at a position closer to the second wall portion than the first wall portion. The filter is disposed such that the entry surface faces downward,
The vibration motor is disposed on an upper edge of the first wall;
The toner collecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the shaft portion is disposed on the holder so that the rotation fulcrum is disposed on a lower end side of the second wall portion.   The said holder is supported by the said housing so that the said exhaust surface of the said filter may incline in the downward direction toward the said 1st wall part side from the said 2nd wall part side. The toner recovery device according to 3 or 4.   The toner collecting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the shaft portion is disposed above the vibration motor. A guide duct portion disposed between the inlet and the fan on the flow path of the air flow, for guiding the air flow from below to above;
7. The toner recovery device according to claim 1, wherein the filter is disposed above the guide duct portion so that the entry surface faces downward. 8. An introduction part for introducing the air flow flowing in from the inflow port into the induction duct part from a side part of the induction duct part;
A storage portion that is disposed in the guide duct portion below the introduction portion and stores toner that has fallen from the filter due to vibration of the vibration means;
The toner recovery device according to claim 7, further comprising: An image forming unit for forming a toner image on a sheet;
A toner recovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A collecting duct that collects unnecessary toner together with an air flow from the image forming unit and flows into the inlet;
An image forming apparatus comprising: