JP2015129889A - Waste toner collecting container and image forming apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waste toner collecting container which properly detects that an amount of collected waste toner in the container has reached a specified capacity, and an image forming apparatus using the same.SOLUTION: A piezo film 76 is arranged in such a way so as to seal a lower opening 75 of a chamber 57 for detecting a specified capacity of a waste toner from above, in which the chamber is provided in an upper end of a waste toner collecting container 29 arranged in an image forming apparatus 1. The piezo film 76 has one end fixed, and the other end which is a free end and electrodes 77, 78 with cables 81, 82 connected thereto are bonded on both surfaces of the piezo film. When an amount of waste toner Tn in the waste toner collecting container 29 has nearly reached the specified capacity, the waste toner Tn raised inside the container pushes up the piezo film 76, and enters into the chamber 57 for detecting the specified capacity of a waste toner. Warpage of the piezo film 76 is increased successively every time the toner enters into the chamber, and a voltage ΔV is outputted to a CPU 85 of a control section via the cables 81, 82 by means of distortion of the warpage. The CPU 85 informs a notice of the specified capacity when ΣΔV indicates a notice threshold of the specified capacity, and informs the specified capacity when the ΣΔV indicates a threshold of the specified capacity.

Description

  The present invention relates to a waste toner collecting container, and more particularly, to a waste toner collecting container that correctly detects that the container has reached a specified capacity with the collected waste toner and an image forming apparatus using the same.

  Conventionally, there is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member that carries at least a toner image in which an electrostatic latent image is developed with toner, and a transfer belt that directly or indirectly transfers a toner image carried on the photosensitive member to a recording medium. It has.

  Residual toner that has not been transferred to the transfer belt is generated on the photoreceptor. This residual toner is collected as a waste toner by the photoreceptor cleaner. Further, residual toner that has not been transferred to the recording medium is also generated on the transfer belt. This residual toner is collected by the belt cleaner as waste toner.

  The waste toner collected by the photoreceptor cleaner and the belt cleaner is further collected in a waste toner collection container via a waste toner transport pipe and the like. The waste toner collection container having a specified capacity with the collected waste toner is removed from the image forming apparatus and discarded. Then, a new waste toner collecting container is attached to the image forming apparatus.

  With regard to the waste toner collecting container, it is necessary to detect without error that the waste toner collecting container has a specified capacity of waste toner before being removed from the image forming apparatus. Otherwise, a waste toner collecting container that can still store waste toner is discarded, resulting in a problem of waste.

  Therefore, when the light beam passing through the window of the waste toner recovery box receives the light projected from the light projecting unit of the waste toner full detection sensor by the light receiving unit, the inside of the window is prevented from being charged with a conductive treatment agent, There has been proposed an image forming apparatus and a waste toner collecting container which prevent waste toner from adhering to the inside of the window and prevent malfunction of the waste toner full detection sensor. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1.)

JP 2006-162965 A

  However, the waste toner usually adheres not only to the window of the full detection chamber between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the waste toner full detection sensor but also enters the full detection chamber. Therefore, even if adhesion to the window is prevented, the sensor may be erroneously detected by waste toner that has remained in the room.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and provides a waste toner collection container that correctly detects that the collected waste toner reaches a specified capacity in the container, and an image forming apparatus using the same. Objective.

  In order to solve the above problems, a waste toner collecting container according to the present invention includes a case main body for collecting waste toner, a waste toner stipulated capacity detection chamber disposed inside the case main body, and the waste toner stipulation. An opening formed in the lower part of the capacity detection chamber, and an arrangement in which the opening is sealed from above, one end is fixed to the opening, and the other end is pressed from below to detect waste toner specified capacity Piezo film disposed in a room so as to be able to warp, electrodes bonded to both sides of the piezoelectric film with conductivity, and a voltage connected to each of the electrodes and transmitted from the electrodes to the outside And two communication lines.

  The present invention can provide a waste toner collecting container that correctly detects that the collected waste toner has reached a specified capacity in the container, and an image forming apparatus using the same.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal configuration of a full-color image forming apparatus (printer, apparatus main body) including a waste toner collection container according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front perspective view showing an assembled configuration of an image forming unit, a transfer belt unit, a waste toner collecting container, and a waste toner transport unit in the printer according to Embodiment 1 as they are. (a) is a perspective view of the assembled structure of each unit shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the rear, and (b) is a view of removing the back cover of the waste toner transport unit, the belt cleaner case, and the upper part of the waste toner collection container. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a waste toner conveyance system by pulling a bottom portion of a waste toner collection container horizontally. (a) is an external perspective view showing only a waste toner collecting container shown in FIG. 3 (a) and partially seeing it obliquely from the rear side, and (b) is a view when (a) is viewed from the direction of arrow h. It is a sectional side view. (a) is a side sectional view schematically showing the internal configuration of the waste toner collecting container according to the first embodiment, (b) is an enlarged view of the waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber, and (c) is a waste toner prescribed capacity. It is a perspective view of the piezo film arrange | positioned in the aspect which seals the opening part of a detection chamber from the top. (a), (b), (c) is a diagram showing the operating state of the configuration shown in FIGS. 5 (a), (b), (c) when the waste toner collection container has a specified capacity with waste toner. is there. (a), (b), (c), (d) are diagrams showing the relationship between the pushing-up pressure of waste toner entering the waste toner specified capacity detection chamber against the piezoelectric film and the output voltage due to deformation distortion of the piezoelectric film. . FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit that performs a process of detecting a specified capacity advance notice or a specified capacity completion of a waste toner collection container while monitoring a printing process and an output of a piezo film in the printer according to the first exemplary embodiment. 7 is a flowchart showing a process for detecting a specified capacity notice or a specified capacity completion of a waste toner collecting container while monitoring the output of a piezo film. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber of a waste toner collection container according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber of a waste toner collection container according to Embodiment 3. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, printing and printing are used as synonymous terms.
[Example 1]

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal configuration of a full-color image forming apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as a printer) provided with a waste toner collecting container according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  A printer 1 (hereinafter also referred to as an apparatus main body 1) shown in FIG. 1 is an electrophotographic secondary transfer tandem type color image forming apparatus, and includes an image forming unit 2, a transfer belt unit 3, and a toner supply unit 4. , A sheet feeding unit 5, a belt-type fixing device 6, and a duplex printing conveyance unit 7.

  The image forming unit 2 is configured by a so-called back transfer system, and in order to transfer a toner image to the lower running surface 8a of the transfer belt 8, it contacts the lower running surface 8a from the upstream side to the downstream side (the right side in the figure). Four image forming units 9 (9k, 9c, 9m, 9y) are arranged in a multistage manner from the left side to the left side.

  Of the four image forming units 9, the three upstream image forming units 9y, 9m, and 9c are subtractive mixed primary color yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) color toners, respectively. To form a monocolor image.

  The image forming unit 9k forms a monochrome image using black (K) toner mainly used for characters and dark portions of images. Each of the image forming units 9 has the same configuration except for the color of the toner for developing the image. Accordingly, the configuration of the image forming unit 9y for yellow (Y) toner will be described below as an example.

  The image forming unit 9 is configured by integrally assembling a drum unit 10 and a developing unit 14. The image forming unit 9 includes a photosensitive drum 10a of the drum unit 10 at the top.

  The photosensitive drum 10a has a peripheral surface made of, for example, an organic photoconductive material. The cleaner 11 of the drum unit 10, the charging roller 12, the optical writing head 13 on the apparatus main body side, and the developing roller 15 of the developing device unit 14 are arranged in contact with or surrounding the periphery of the photosensitive drum 10 a. Yes.

  The cleaner 11 includes a conveyance screw inside, and waste toner that is removed from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10a and stays at the bottom is sent to a waste toner conveyance path, which will be described later, by the conveyance screw, and the waste toner is discharged to waste toner. The transport unit transports the waste toner to the waste toner collecting container 29.

  In FIG. 1, the waste toner conveying unit is disposed behind the transfer belt unit 3, that is, on the other side in the depth direction of the drawing, so that it cannot be seen as a shadow of the transfer belt unit 3.

  The developing unit 14 includes a unit housing 16 that covers the outside, a partition wall 17 provided inside, a developing roller 15, a first stirring and conveying screw 18, and a second stirring and conveying screw 19. Although not specifically shown, the first and second agitating and conveying screws 18 and 19 include a screw shaft and a fin that is integrally formed with the screw shaft and rotates.

  The developer unit 14 includes a toner supply container 20 (20y, 20m, 20c, 20k) of the toner supply unit 4, and yellow (Y) and magenta (Y, M, C, and K in the drawing). M), cyan (C), or black (K) toner is supplied.

  The transfer belt unit 3 includes the above-described endless transfer belt 8 extending in a flat loop shape in the left-right direction in the figure at the approximate center of the apparatus main body, and the transfer belt 8 spanned over the transfer belt 8. A driving roller 21 and a driven roller 22 are provided to circulate and move counterclockwise as indicated by an arrow a in the figure.

  The transfer belt 8 includes a primary transfer roller 23 integrated with the unit. The primary transfer roller 23 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 10a via the transfer belt 8 and directly transfers (primary transfer) the toner image to the lower running surface 8a of the transfer belt 8 that circulates downward.

  The transfer belt 8 conveys the paper to the secondary transfer unit 24 in order to further transfer (secondary transfer) the toner image to the paper. The secondary transfer unit 24 includes a transfer auxiliary roller 25 disposed on the downstream side (upward in the drawing) adjacent to the drive roller 21, and a secondary transfer roller 26 that is in pressure contact with the transfer auxiliary roller 25 via the transfer belt 8. And is formed.

  A belt cleaner 27 is disposed on the transfer belt 8. The belt cleaner 27 includes a cleaning blade 27 a that comes into contact with the surface of the transfer belt 8 that is stretched around the driven roller 22. A waste toner collection container 29 is detachably disposed adjacent to the belt cleaner 27 from the left to the bottom.

  The belt cleaner 27 scrapes and removes the waste toner remaining on the surface of the transfer belt 8 by the cleaning blade 27a, and sends the waste toner to a waste toner collection container 29 through a waste toner conveyance path described later.

  An electrical unit 28 is disposed above the waste toner collection container 29. A circuit board on which a control device composed of a plurality of electronic components is mounted is mounted on the electrical component 28.

  The toner supply unit 4 includes four toner supply containers 20 (20y, 20m, 20c, and 20k) that are detachably disposed above the upper running unit of the transfer belt 8. As described above, the four toner supply containers 20 contain yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toners.

  These four toner replenishing containers 20 are hidden behind the opposite side of the transfer belt unit 3 in FIG. 1 but are not visible, but each corresponding image forming unit 9 via a toner supply path following the toner supply port of the mounting portion. Are connected to the developing unit 14.

  Although not particularly illustrated, the toner supply unit 4 is held on the frame of the main body of the printer 1 through a mounting unit so as to be movable up and down from a printing execution position shown in FIG. 1 to a maintenance position above it.

  The paper feed unit 5 includes two paper feed cassettes 30 (30a, 30b) arranged in two upper and lower stages. A paper take-out roller 31, a feed roller 32, a separating roller 33, and a standby conveyance roller pair 34 are disposed in the vicinity of the paper feed opening (right side in the figure) of the two paper feed cassettes 30, respectively.

  In the paper conveyance direction (vertical upward direction in the drawing) of the standby conveyance roller pair 34, the above-described secondary transfer portion 24 to the paper by the transfer belt 8, the transfer auxiliary roller 25, and the secondary transfer roller 26 is formed.

  A belt-type fixing device (hereinafter simply referred to as a fixing device) 6 is disposed on the downstream side (upward in the drawing) of the secondary transfer unit 24, and the paper after fixing is fixed on the downstream side of the fixing device 6. A pair of unloading rollers 36 that unloads the sheet 6 and a pair of discharge rollers 38 that discharge the unloaded sheets to a sheet discharge tray 37 formed on the upper surface of the apparatus are disposed.

  The conveyance unit 7 for double-sided printing also serves as an opening / closing member whose outer surface (right outer surface in the drawing) opens or shields the inside of the printer 1 from the side surface to the outside.

  The duplex printing transport unit 7 has a return start path 39a that branches rightward in the figure from immediately before the paper discharge roller pair 38, a return intermediate path 39b that bends downward, and a left lateral direction opposite to the above. Thus, a return path 39 including a return end path 39c for finally inverting the return sheet is provided.

  In the middle of the return path 39, five pairs of return rollers 41 (41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 41e) are arranged. The exit of the return termination path 39c joins a conveyance path to the standby conveyance roller pair 34 corresponding to the sheet feeding cassette 30b below the sheet feeding section 5.

  Next, the basic operation of the printer 1 having the above configuration will be described. In the following description of the basic operation, the operation in the color printing state will be described.

  First, printing (printing) is started when the power is turned on and the number of sheets to be used, the print mode, and other designations are input as keys or as signals from the connected host device.

  That is, the driving roller 21 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 to start the circulating movement of the transfer belt 8 as indicated by an arrow a. The image forming units 9 are sequentially driven, and the photosensitive drum 10a rotates in the clockwise direction in the drawing.

  The charging roller 12 initializes the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10a by applying a uniform high negative charge, and the optical writing head 13 performs exposure according to the image signal on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10a. An electrostatic latent image including a high negative potential portion and a low negative potential portion by the exposure is formed.

  The developing roller 15 transfers the toner in the developing unit 14 to the low potential portion of the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image (reverse development) on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10a. The yellow toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10 a is rotated and conveyed to the surface facing the transfer belt 8 by the image forming unit 9 y at the most upstream in the sheet conveying direction.

  The primary transfer roller 23 applies a transfer current output from a transfer bias power source (not shown) to the transfer belt 8. As a result, the yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum 10 a is primarily transferred to the transfer belt 8.

  The magenta toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10a by the image forming unit 9m is superimposed on the toner image primarily transferred to the transfer belt 8, and then the primary transfer roller corresponding to the image forming unit 9m. 23 is transferred.

  Further, the cyan toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10a by the image forming unit 9c is transferred onto and over by the primary transfer roller 23 corresponding to the image forming unit 9c, and finally, by the image forming unit 9k. The black toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10a is transferred onto the primary transfer roller 23 corresponding to the image forming unit 9k.

  In this way, a full-color image in which the toner images of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are sequentially transferred and primarily transferred is the lower running surface of the transfer belt 8. Completed in 8a.

  The lower running surface 8a of the transfer belt 8 on which the four-color toner images are primarily transferred is continuously circulated as it is, and the four-color toner images are transferred to the secondary roller 27 and the secondary transfer roller 27 facing each other. Transport to transfer position.

  On the other hand, the paper take-out roller 31 rotates to take out the paper stored in the paper feed cassette 30 slightly earlier than the printing timing on the paper. In order to prohibit feeding of the lower sheet so as to feed out only the uppermost sheet of the sheet taken out from the sheet feeding cassette 30, the separating roller 33 rotates in the reverse direction. The feed roller 32 rotates in the forward direction and feeds the sheet to the standby conveyance roller pair 34.

  The standby conveyance roller pair 34 temporarily stops rotation to stop the paper advance, corrects the conveyance posture such as the skew of the paper, waits for the conveyance timing, and the print start position of the paper is set by the transfer belt 8. In accordance with the timing coincident with the leading end of the four-color toner image conveyed to the secondary transfer position, the conveyance of the sheet is resumed and the sheet is fed to the secondary transfer position.

  At the secondary transfer position, the secondary transfer roller 26 applies a bias voltage supplied from a bias power source (not shown) to the sheet. As a result, the four color toner images on the transfer belt 8 are secondarily transferred to the paper.

  The sheet on which the four color toner images have been transferred is carried into the fixing device 6 as it is. The fixing device 6 includes a heat generation roller, a heat conduction belt, a fixing roller, and a pressure roller. The sheet is pressed and sandwiched between the fixing roller and the pressure roller through the heat conduction belt with an appropriate pressure, and the sheet is heated and heated. Pressure is applied to fix the toner images of four colors on the paper surface, and the paper is discharged upward.

  The sheet discharged from the fixing device 6 is nipped by the conveyance roller pair 36 and is conveyed, and is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 37 by the sheet discharge roller pair 38 with the image forming surface of the four color toner images facing down. Is done.

  In the above description, color printing is described. However, for monochrome printing, the transfer belt 8 contacts only the photosensitive drum 10a of the image forming unit 9k and moves to a position away from the other photosensitive drums 10a. Except for the point that only the unit 9k is operated, the other operations are almost the same as in the case of the color printing described above.

  In the case of double-sided printing, as described above, the paper on which the toner image is formed on the first surface (front surface) and the toner image is fixed on the paper surface by the fixing device 6 is halfway by the paper discharge roller pair 38. Until the sheet is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 37.

  Then, the conveyance is stopped at the timing when the rear end of the sheet comes to the branch point with the return start path 39a, and then the pair of discharge rollers 38 rotates in the reverse direction. As a result, the sheet is carried into the return start path 39a with the trailing edge so far as the leading edge.

  Subsequently, the sheet is conveyed by the return roller pairs 41a to 41d, and is fed to the standby conveying roller pair 34 with the front and back reversed by the return terminal path 39c. As a result, in the secondary transfer portion, the toner image is secondarily transferred onto the second surface (back surface) of the paper with the front and back sides reversed. Subsequent operations are the same as in the case of color printing described above.

  FIG. 2 is a front perspective view showing the assembled structure of the image forming unit 2, the transfer belt unit 3, the waste toner collecting container 29, and the waste toner transport unit 42 in the printer 1 having the above configuration. In FIG. 2, the waste toner transport unit 42 is disposed at the rear of the apparatus main body 1, so that only the belt waste toner vertical transport path 63 described later is slightly visible.

  Each unit shown in FIG. 2 opens a front door (not shown) of the apparatus main body 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the image forming unit 2 is provided for each image forming unit 9y, 9m, 9c, 9k as shown by an arrow b. It can be taken out alone. The transfer belt unit 3 can also be taken out forward as indicated by an arrow c, and the waste toner collecting container 29 can also be taken out forward as shown by an arrow d.

  3A is a perspective view of the assembled structure of each unit shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the back, and FIG. 3B is a rear cover 43 of the waste toner conveying unit 42 and a housing of the belt cleaner 27. 44 and a housing upper portion 45 of the waste toner collecting container 29 are removed, and a housing bottom 46 of the waste toner collecting container 29 is pulled out sideways to show an internal configuration of the waste toner conveying system.

  As described above, the waste toner collecting container 29 shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) is detachably incorporated in the apparatus main body 1 from the front direction (diagonally upper right direction in FIG. 3 (a)). The waste toner collecting container 29 has a housing bottom 46 formed in a rectangular shape in the horizontal direction.

  Further, the waste toner collection container 29 is connected to the housing bottom 46 and is formed in a longitudinal direction at a position that bisects the lateral direction of the housing bottom 46 (rightward in FIG. 3A). And a projecting portion 48 formed to be lower than the main body portion 47 in the longitudinal direction at the other half (left side in FIG. 3A) that bisects the lateral direction of the housing bottom 46. .

  The main body portion 47 and the overhang portion 48 form the housing upper portion 45 described above. The housing upper portion 45 and the housing bottom portion 46 form a housing outer shell portion 49. As shown in FIG. 3B, the interior space of the housing outer shell 49 is integrated with the internal space of the main body 47 and the overhang 48.

  The upper surface of the main body 47 has a lower portion 51 formed at one end (the front side in FIG. 3A) and an inclined portion 52 extending continuously upward from the lower portion 51. This is shared with the overhang part 48.

  The main body 47 includes an inclined portion 52 that extends further from a shared portion of the inclined portion 52 with the projecting portion 48, a first flat portion 53 that is continuous with the inclined portion 52, and the first flat portion 53. It has a stepped portion 54 that rises and a second flat surface portion 55 that continues from the stepped portion 54 to the other end in the longitudinal direction.

  A handle 56 is disposed on the second flat surface portion 55. The first flat portion 53 is formed at an intermediate portion which is approximately 1/3 of the longitudinal direction of the main body 47, and a waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber 57 is disposed therein.

  A waste toner inlet 58 is formed in the lower portion 51 of the overhang portion 48. Although not clearly visible in the drawing, the waste toner inlet 58 is provided with a shutter, engages with the opening / closing pin 59, and when the housing outer shell portion 49 is attached / detached to / from the mounting portion, the opening / closing pin is attached to the attaching / detaching operation. 59 automatically opens and closes the shutter.

  If the shape of the waste toner collecting container 29 described above is further described, it can be said that the waste toner collecting container 29 is a container that is long in the front-rear direction and has an L-shaped cross section in the short direction. As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the lower portion of the L-shape (which is an inverted L-shape in FIG. 3 (a)) is the lower right portion of the transfer belt unit 3 and the horizontal arrangement of the image forming unit 9. It is formed so as to enter the margin.

  Thereby, the internal capacity for collecting waste toner is increased as much as possible by effectively using the space in the printer 1. In addition, while having such a unique shape, since the conveying screw is disposed obliquely in the horizontal direction and vertically in the vertical direction from the low position corner to the high position corner, the waste toner can be conveyed without waste.

  On the other hand, the waste toner conveyance system of the apparatus main body 1 includes a waste toner conveyance unit 42. As shown in the shape of the back cover 43, the waste toner conveyance unit 42 includes a horizontal conveyance path 61, a drum waste toner vertical conveyance path 62, and a belt waste toner vertical conveyance path 63.

  The drum waste toner vertical conveyance path 62 is formed in four paths corresponding to the four image forming units 9. As shown in FIG. 3B, each drum waste toner vertical conveyance path 62 drops waste toner discharged from the drum cleaner discharge port 64 of the cleaner 11 of the drum unit 10 by its own weight and discharges it to the horizontal conveyance path 61.

  A conveyance screw 65 is built in the horizontal conveyance path 61. The conveying screw 65 is rotationally driven by a gear 60 fixed to the outer end portion of the screw shaft and engaged with the drive system of the apparatus main body 1, and removes waste toner falling from the drum waste toner vertical conveying path 62. As shown by the arrow e, it is conveyed to the horizontal conveyance path discharge port 66.

  In the vicinity of the upstream side of the horizontal conveyance path discharge port 66, the lower end portion of the belt waste toner vertical conveyance path 63 is opened. The belt waste toner vertical conveyance path 63 drops waste toner discharged from the belt cleaner discharge port 67 of the belt cleaner 27 by its own weight and discharges it to the horizontal conveyance path 61.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the belt cleaner 27 incorporates a conveying screw 68. The conveying screw 68 conveys the waste toner removed by the cleaning blade 28 from the surface of the transfer belt 8 to the belt cleaner discharge port 67 as indicated by an arrow f and discharges it to the belt waste toner vertical conveyance path 63.

  The horizontal conveyance path discharge port 66 is engaged with a waste toner inlet 58 of the waste toner collection container 29 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3B, a rotating shaft 69 extending from the vicinity of the waste toner inlet 58 in FIG. 3A to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the main body 47 is disposed inside the waste toner collecting container 29. It is arranged.

  The rotating shaft 69 has a conveying screw 71 fixed to the rotating shaft 69 from an end located near the waste toner inlet 58 to a predetermined position of the rotating shaft 69. A gear 72 that engages with the drive system of the apparatus main body 1 is fixed to an outer end portion that passes through the housing outer shell portion 49 from the vicinity of the waste toner inlet 58 of the rotary shaft 69 and goes outside.

  4A is an external perspective view showing only a part of the waste toner collecting container 29 shown in FIG. 3A taken out from the oblique rear side, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view of FIG. ) Is a sectional side view as seen from the direction of arrow h.

  4A and 4B, the same components as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. Also, with respect to FIG. 4 (a), it is assumed that FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are referred to based on the assigned numbers, and description thereof is omitted here.

  In FIG. 4B, the gear 72 is rotated by being engaged with the drive system of the apparatus main body 1 (not shown), so that the conveying screw 71 rotates together with the rotating shaft 69 and is disposed at the waste toner inlet 58. Waste toner Tn sent from the lateral conveyance path 61 of the toner conveyance system as indicated by an arrow j is conveyed into the waste toner collection container 29.

  In the internal space 73 formed by the housing outer shell portion 49, the waste toner Tn is first stacked in a low region A from the side closer to the waste toner inlet 58 to the bottom near the center in the depth direction. Conveyance by the conveying screw 71 continues, and then the waste toner Tn stays on the area A and is stacked up to the area B that covers the conveying screw 71.

  The range in which the waste toner is stacked further reaches the opposite end of the waste toner inlet 58 of the internal space 73 while being enlarged and stacked in a mountain shape with the region C, and further rises to the upper space. Eventually, the waste toner Tn accumulates in the entire internal space 73 and fills the waste toner collection container 29. Further, the conveyance by the conveyance screw 71 continues, and the upper waste toner Tn having no place to go enters the waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber 57.

  FIG. 5A is a side sectional view schematically showing the internal configuration of the waste toner collecting container 29. FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of the waste toner specified capacity detection chamber, and FIG. ) Is a perspective view of a piezo film disposed in such a manner that the opening of the waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber is sealed from above.

  5 (a), 5 (b), and 5 (c) are shown in a simplified manner, but parts having the same configuration or function as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 are the same as those in FIGS. A number is given. As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, the waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber 57 is formed with an opening 75 at the bottom.

  And the piezoelectric film 76 which consists of polyvinylidene fluoride etc. is arrange | positioned in the aspect which seals the opening part 75 from the top. The piezo film 76 has one end indicated by A fixed to the upper part (inner side) of the edge of the opening 75, and the other end indicated by B is a free end in contact with the upper part of the edge of the opening 75. .

  Therefore, when a pressing force is applied from below, as shown in FIG. 6 to be described later, one end indicated by A is fixed so that the whole can be warped into the waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber 57.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, electrodes 77 and 78 having conductivity and bonded are formed on both surfaces of the piezo film 76. Communication electrodes 81 and 82 are connected to these electrodes 77 and 78, respectively. The communication lines 81 and 82 are wired to transmit the voltage output from the electrodes 77 and 78 to the control device.

  FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C show the operation of the configuration shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C when the waste toner collection container 29 reaches the specified capacity with the waste toner Tn. It is a figure which shows a state. When the waste toner collecting container 29 approaches the specified capacity with the waste toner Tn, the upper waste toner Tn enters the waste toner specified capacity detection chamber 57 while pushing up the piezo film 76 as indicated by an arrow k.

  When the piezo film 76 is pushed up by the waste toner entering the waste toner specified capacity detection chamber 57, the whole is warped into the waste toner specified capacity detection chamber 57 with one end indicated by A as a fixed portion, and the electrode is deformed by the warping deformation stress. A voltage corresponding to the deformation stress is generated between 77 and 78.

  This voltage is input to the control unit to be described later through the communication lines 81 and 82 shown in FIG. The waste toner does not enter the waste toner specified capacity detection chamber 57 continuously, but intermittently enters in accordance with the rotation of the rotating shaft 69 and the conveying screw 71 that rotate intermittently.

  Therefore, the warp of the piezo film 76 increases intermittently as the waste toner enters intermittently. The piezo film 76 outputs a voltage with a deformation stress, and when the deformation stops, the output voltage attenuates at a position (state) where the deformation stops.

  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D show the pushing-up pressure of the waste toner entering the waste toner specified capacity detection chamber 57 against the piezo film 76 and the output voltage due to the deformation stress of the piezo film 76. It is a figure which shows the relationship. In FIGS. 7A and 7C, the horizontal axis indicates time, and the vertical axis indicates the boost pressure. 7B and 7D, the horizontal axis indicates time, and the vertical axis indicates output voltage.

  FIG. 7 (a) shows that the pushing pressure applied to the piezo film 76 increases intermittently as the waste toner enters intermittently, and the waste toner specified capacity detection chamber 57 becomes full as time passes, and the waste toner enters. Indicates that the push-up pressure has reached a certain maximum level.

  FIG. 7B shows a voltage that is intermittently output from the piezo film 76 that gradually increases its deformation with respect to the intermittent entry of the waste toner. A section A shown on the horizontal axis in FIG. 4B shows a state in which waste toner enters and the piezo film 76 is distorted in the positive direction (warps upward), and a positive voltage is output accordingly.

  Sections B and C show a state where the entrance of the waste toner is temporarily stopped, the distortion (warping) of the piezo film 76 is stopped, and the voltage drops in the 0V direction. In section B, waste toner enters in the middle of the voltage drop and the piezo film 76 is distorted again, and the voltage does not drop down to 0V.

  On the other hand, the section C shows a case where the distortion of the piezo film 76 is stationary for a long time. In this case, the voltage drops to 0V. By repeating these processes, in section D, the waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber 57 is filled with waste toner, the distortion (warp) of the piezo film 76 is completely stationary, and the voltage drops to 0V.

  In order to detect the specified capacity using these output voltages, only the positive voltages (ΔV1, ΔV2,..., ΔVn (n = 1, 2,...)) Shown in FIG. It is assumed that the digital value is converted and the total value is sequentially held.

  If the total value reaches a certain value (for example, CONST1) (ΣΔVn = CONST1), it is detected as a specified capacity. Thus, for example, an arbitrary constant CONST2 (CONST2 <CONST1) is set, and when the total value reaches CONST2 (ΣΔVn = CONST2), it is easy to notify the user that the specified capacity is close.

  By the way, the above shows a case where the piezo film 76 is displaced only in the positive direction. However, in actuality, the waste toner pressing the piezo film 76 is moved by being conveyed into the waste toner collecting container 29, and There is a possibility that an air gap is generated immediately below the opening 75 and the warped state of the piezo film 76 returns to the initial state.

  FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating a state in which the pushing-up pressure is in the negative direction during the intermittent entry of the waste toner. In a section D shown in FIG. 7 (d), a negative voltage is output from the piezo film 76 correspondingly, and the sum (ΣΔV′n) of the voltage dropped in the stationary state shows a negative value. Become.

  Therefore, in this example, when a negative value is indicated, this value is not retained, and the retained sum is also calculated. With this processing, it is possible to accumulate only positive output values when the piezo film 76 gradually warps in the positive direction after the waste toner collecting container 29 is filled with waste toner.

FIG. 8 is a control for performing the printing process by the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 and the process for detecting the specified capacity notice or the specified capacity completion of the waste toner collection container 29 while monitoring the output of the piezo film 76 as described above. It is a circuit block diagram which shows the structure of a part.
As shown in FIG. 7, the circuit block has a central processing unit (CPU) 85 as a center, and an interface controller (I / F_CONT) 86 and a printer controller (PR_CONT) 87 are connected to the CPU 85 via a data bus. ing. A printer printing unit 88 is connected to PR_CONT 87.

  Further, the CPU 85 includes a ROM (read only memory) 89, an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable ROM) 91, an operation panel 92 of the main body operation unit, a sensor unit 93 to which outputs from sensors arranged in each unit are input, waste toner A piezo film 76 disposed in the collection container 29 is connected.

  In the above configuration, the ROM 89 stores a system program, and the CPU 85 performs processing by controlling each unit in accordance with the system program.

  That is, in each unit, first, the I / F_CONT 86 converts print data supplied from a host device such as a personal computer into bitmap data and develops it in the frame memory 94. In the frame memory 94, a storage area is set for each of black (K), magenta (M), cyan (C), and yellow (Y), and data of each color is developed in a corresponding area.

  The data developed in the frame memory 94 is output to the PR_CONT 87, and is output from the PR_CONT 87 to the printer printing unit 88.

  The printer printing unit 88 is an engine unit, and under the control of the PR_CONT 87, a rotation driving system (not shown) including the photosensitive drum 10, the primary transfer roller 23, and the like shown in FIG. An image forming unit having a driven unit such as a head 13 and a driving unit (not shown) that drives the transfer belt unit 3 to move up and down and the transfer belt 8 to rotate are provided.

  Further, the printer printing unit 88 includes a belt driving unit 95 that drives the belt of the belt-type fixing unit 6, a toner supply unit motor driving unit 96 that drives the motor of the developing device 14, the developing roller 15, the primary transfer roller 23, the second transfer roller 23, and the like. A high-voltage unit driving unit 97 that drives a high-voltage unit that applies a high voltage bias to the next transfer roller 26 and the like is provided.

  Further, the printer printing unit 88 is a drive output to a process load such as a conveyance mechanism composed of rotationally driven parts such as a paper take-out roller 31 to a paper discharge roller pair 38, and a belt-type fixing unit 6 that is heated and rotated. To control.

  The print data of each color of black (K), magenta (M), cyan (C), and yellow (Y) output from PR_CONT 87 is sent from the printer printing unit 88 to the corresponding optical writing head shown in FIG. 13 is supplied.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing operation for detecting the specified capacity notice or the specified capacity completion of the waste toner collecting container 29 while monitoring the output of the piezo film 76 performed by the CPU 85 in the above configuration.

  In this process, when the output of the piezo film 76 shows a negative value, the process of calculating the total output held by the CPU 85 in the EEPROM 91 or the like is omitted. That is, it shows processing in the case of accumulating only positive output values when the piezo film 76 gradually warps sequentially in the positive direction from the initial state.

  In this process, the threshold value of the total output of the piezo film 76 indicating that the waste toner specified capacity detection chamber 57 has the specified capacity is set to CONST1, and the waste toner specified capacity detection chamber 57 is approaching the specified capacity. The threshold value of the total output of the piezo film 76 is set in advance as CONST2.

  In FIG. 9, the CPU 85 first sets “0” in a flag area set in a predetermined area of the EEPROM 91 and initializes the flag (step S1). Subsequently, the CPU 85 drives the rotating shaft 69 and the conveying screw 71 to convey the waste toner into the waste toner collecting container 29 (step S2).

  Further, the CPU 85 refers to the output of the piezo film 76 input to the input port (step S3), accumulates the output voltage ΔV in a predetermined area of the EEPROM 91, and holds the sum (step S4). In this process, if the piezo film 76 is not distorted, the output voltage ΔV = 0.

  Next, the CPU 85 determines whether or not flag = 0 (step S5). If flag = 0 (Yes in step S5), then if ΣΔV> CONST2 is not satisfied (No in step S6), the process returns to step S2 and repeats steps S2 to S6.

  This repeated processing is repeated until the inside of the waste toner collecting container 29 is swelled with waste toner and the waste toner enters the waste toner specified capacity detection chamber 57. When the waste toner enters the waste toner specified capacity detection chamber 57, the positive output voltage ΔV of the piezo film 76 is detected in step S3, and this voltage ΔV is accumulated as ΣΔV in step S4 to obtain a predetermined value in the EEPROM 91. Retained in the region.

  In step S5, if ΣΔV> CONST2 is not yet satisfied, the process returns to step S2, and steps S2 to S6 are repeated again. When ΣΔV> CONST2 is eventually reached (Yes in step S6), the waste toner collecting container 29 is returned. Since the specified capacity is close, a replacement notice is notified to the operation panel 92 so as to prepare for replacement.

  Then, the flag is set to “1” (step S8), the process returns to step S2, and the processes of steps S2, S3, and S4 are performed. In step S5, “1” is already set in the flag, so the determination is made. No, that is, the replacement notice of the waste toner collecting container 29 has already been made.

  Therefore, in this case, the CPU 85 determines whether or not ΣΔV> CONST1 (waste toner specified capacity detection chamber 57 is filled with waste toner) (step S9). If ΣΔV> CONST1 is not yet satisfied (No in step S9), the process returns to step S2 and the processes in steps S2 to S5 and S9 are repeated.

  Then, in the determination of step S9, ΣΔV> CONST1? Is Yes, the specified capacity is detected (step S10), and the process is terminated. Although not particularly illustrated, following step S10, the CPU 85 notifies that the waste toner collection container 29 has a specified capacity and stops driving the printer 1 main body.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, even if the waste toner charged by static electricity adheres to the wall of the waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber 57, there is no possibility that the prescribed capacity is erroneously detected at an early stage.

  In addition, since the voltage change is sequentially read, it is possible to easily set or change the threshold according to the situation, and it is possible to notify the user of a replacement notice at an arbitrary timing. .

In the above embodiment, the example of the waste toner collecting container using the screw has been described. However, the waste toner collecting container may have various shapes and transport mechanisms. However, it is possible to respond flexibly by changing the position and shape of the detection mechanism, characteristics such as the flexibility of the piezo film, setting of threshold values, and the like.
[Example 2]

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a piezo film method is used in combination with a detection unit (waste toner specified capacity detection chamber) of a conventional photosensor-type waste toner collection container. In the figure, a photosensor for detecting the presence or absence of light transmission is not shown.
It is a conceptual diagram of the collection container to perform.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, when the waste toner Tn enters the waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber 57 and exceeds a certain amount, the light transmission is blocked and the photosensor detects the prescribed capacity. The control unit sets a flag for the specified capacity when it is detected by both of these two methods.

As a result, even if the waste toner collection container is used in an unexpected manner, such as when the displacement of the piezo film returns to the initial state by temporarily removing the waste toner collection container from the printer body and vibrating it, Since it is possible to clearly recognize the presence or absence of waste toner that has entered the waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber 57, it is possible to more reliably detect the prescribed capacity.
[Example 3]

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber of the waste toner collection container according to the third embodiment. In this example, a piezo film is not used. Also in this case, the specified capacity is detected by the photo sensor from the outside of the waste toner specified capacity detection chamber 57.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, in this example, a waste toner intrusion prevention film 98 is disposed in the opening 75 of the waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber 57 instead of the piezo film. The waste toner intrusion prevention film 98 has an end indicated by A fixed to the opening, and an end indicated by B on the opposite side is lightly engaged with the hook-shaped protrusion 99.

  The waste toner intrusion prevention film 98 is installed so as to close the opening 75 of the waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber 57 in the initial state. This prevents the waste toner from spilling into the waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber 57 due to the scattering of the waste toner and prevents the prescribed capacity of the external photosensor from being erroneously detected.

  When the waste toner collecting container is close to the specified capacity with waste toner, the waste toner intrusion prevention film 98 is deformed by the pressure of the waste toner, and the light engagement with the hook-shaped protrusion 99 is released as shown in FIG. As a result, the waste toner Tn enters the waste toner specified capacity detection chamber 57, and correct specified capacity detection can be performed.

  The engagement force between the waste toner intrusion prevention film 98 and the hook-shaped protrusion 99 can be adapted to various designs depending on the thickness and shape of the waste toner intrusion prevention film 98 and the hook shape of the hook-shaped protrusion 99.

  In this embodiment, the light engagement is performed by the hook-shaped protrusions. However, the light engagement state is not limited to the hook-shaped protrusions, and only the elastic characteristics of the waste toner intrusion prevention film may be used. Further, it may be an adhesive light engagement by an adhesive material.

  Also in this case, the engagement force can be adjusted by design parameters such as the material of the adhesive material and the shape of the adhesive portion. Of course, a combination of an adhesive material having high toner sealability and mechanical engagement may be used.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof. Hereinafter, the invention described in the scope of claims of the present application will be appended.
[Appendix 1]

A housing body for collecting waste toner;
A waste toner stipulated capacity detection chamber disposed above the housing body;
An opening formed in a lower portion of the waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber;
A piezoelectric element that is arranged in a manner to seal the opening from above, and generates a voltage by pressing the waste toner from below;
A waste toner collecting container characterized by comprising:
[Appendix 2]

The waste toner collection container according to appendix 1, and a control unit including an input port connected to the piezo element,
The control unit notifies, based on the voltage input to the input port, by a notification device to the outside that the waste toner collection container has reached a specified capacity with waste toner.
An image forming apparatus.
[Appendix 3]

The control unit further presets a prescribed capacity notice threshold value, and when the accumulated value exceeds the preset prescribed capacity notice threshold value, the waste toner amount in the waste toner collection container is close to the prescribed capacity. Informing this by an external notification device,
The image forming apparatus according to appendix 2, wherein
[Appendix 4]

When the value of the voltage input to the input port shows a negative value, the control unit counts the accumulated value and resumes accumulation from zero.
The image forming apparatus according to appendix 2 or 3, characterized by the above.

  The present invention can be used in a waste toner collection container that correctly detects that the container has reached a specified capacity with the collected waste toner, and an image forming apparatus using the same.

1 Full-color image forming device (printer, device body)
2 Image forming unit 3 Transfer belt unit 4 Toner supply unit 5 Paper feeding unit 6 Belt type fixing device (fixing device)
7 Transporting unit for double-sided printing 8 Transfer belt 8a Lower running surface 9 (9m, 9c, 9y, 9k) Image forming unit 10 Drum unit 10a Photosensitive drum 11 Cleaner 12 Charging roller 13 Optical writing head 14 Developing unit 15 Developing roller 16 unit Case (engaging part)
17 Bulkhead 18 First agitating and conveying screw 19 Second agitating and conveying screw 20 (20y, 20m, 20c, 20k) Toner supply container 21 Driving roller 22 Driven roller 23 Primary transfer roller 24 Secondary transfer portion 25 Transfer auxiliary roller 26 Two Next transfer roller 27 Belt cleaner 28 Electrical component 29 Waste toner collection container 30 (30a, 30b) Paper feed cassette 31 Paper take-out roller 32 Feed roller 33 Rolling roller 34 Standby transport roller pair 36 Transport roller pair 37 Paper discharge tray 38 Paper discharge Roller pair 39 Return path 39a Return start path 39b Return intermediate path 39c Return end path 41 (41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 41e) Return roller pair 42 Waste toner transport unit 43 Waste toner transport unit rear cover 44 Belt cleaner housing Body 45 Waste toner collection container Upper part of case 46 Bottom part of body 47 Main part 48 Overhang part 49 Outer shell part 51 Lower part 52 Inclined part 53 First flat part 54 Step part 55 Second flat part 56 Handle 57 Waste toner specified capacity detection chamber 58 Waste toner inlet 59 Opening / closing pin 61 Horizontal conveyance path 62 Drum waste toner vertical conveyance path 63 Belt waste toner vertical conveyance path 64 Drum cleaner discharge port 65 Conveying screw 66 Horizontal conveyance path discharge port 67 Belt cleaner discharge port 68 Conveying screw 69 Rotating shaft 71 Conveying screw 72 Gear 73 Internal space 75 Opening 76 Piezo film 77, 78 Electrode 81, 82 Communication line 85 CPU (central processing unit)
86 Interface controller (I / F_CONT)
87 Printer controller (PR_CONT)
88 Printer printing section 89 ROM (read only memory)
91 EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable ROM)
92 Operation panel 93 Sensor unit 94 Frame memory 95 Belt drive unit 96 Toner supply unit Motor drive unit 97 High voltage unit drive unit 98 Waste toner intrusion prevention film 99 Hook-like protrusion

Claims (4)

A housing body for collecting waste toner;
A waste toner stipulated capacity detection chamber disposed above the housing body;
An opening formed in a lower portion of the waste toner prescribed capacity detection chamber;
A piezoelectric element that is arranged in a manner to seal the opening from above, and generates a voltage by pressing the waste toner from below;
A waste toner collecting container characterized by comprising: The waste toner collecting container according to claim 1, and a control unit including an input port connected to the piezo element,
The control unit notifies an external notification device that the waste toner in the waste toner collection container has reached a specified capacity based on the voltage input to the input port.
An image forming apparatus. The control unit further presets a prescribed capacity notice threshold value, and when the accumulated value exceeds the preset prescribed capacity notice threshold value, the waste toner amount in the waste toner collection container is close to the prescribed capacity. Informing this by an external notification device,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. When the value of the voltage input to the input port shows a negative value, the control unit counts the accumulated value and resumes accumulation from zero.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.