JP2018097264A - Toner recovery device and image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner recovery device which can suppress clogging of a filter with a simple method.SOLUTION: A toner recovery device includes: an intermediate recovery box 50 which temporarily stores toner removed from an image carrier by a cleaning device; a toner recovery container which recovers the toner stored in the intermediate recovery box 50; a conveyance member 60 which is provided in a rotatable manner in the intermediate recovery box 50 and conveys the stored toner to the toner recovery container; an exhaust passage which suctions the air containing floating toner and through which the air passes; a floating toner recovery chamber 65 which is provided in the intermediate recovery box 50 in the middle of the exhaust passage; a collection facility 67 which is provided in the floating toner recovery chamber 65 and collects the floating toner from the air passing through the exhaust passage; and a vibration member 71 which vibrates the collection facility 67 in conjunction with the rotation of the conveyance member 60 and suppresses clogging of the collection facility 67.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner collecting device that collects scattered toner and an image forming apparatus including the same.

  In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, and facsimiles, a powder developer is mainly used, and an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum is transferred from the developing apparatus. A process is generally used in which a toner image is visualized using a supplied developer (toner), the toner image is transferred onto a sheet directly or via an image carrier such as an intermediate transfer belt, and then a fixing process is performed. is there.

  When the electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by the developing device, a part of the toner may be scattered and leak from the developing device to contaminate the inside of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, a suction duct is connected to the developing device, and air containing toner (hereinafter referred to as floating toner) scattered inside the developing device is sucked using the suction device using the suction device. A toner collecting device is described that collects and collects floating toner from the sucked air with a filter. This toner recovery device is provided with a vibration motor that vibrates the filter to remove the collected toner in order to prevent clogging of the filter and prevent a reduction in suction force.

JP 2014-191341 A

  However, since the toner collection device described in Patent Document 1 uses a vibration motor to prevent clogging of the filter, control for driving the vibration motor becomes necessary and costs increase. There is a problem.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a toner recovery device capable of suppressing clogging of a filter by a simple method and an image forming apparatus including the same.

  In order to achieve the above object, a toner recovery device of the present invention includes an intermediate recovery box that temporarily stores toner removed from an image carrier by a cleaning device, and a toner stored in the intermediate recovery box. A toner collection container, a conveyance member that is rotatably provided in the intermediate collection box and conveys the stored toner toward the toner collection container, and an exhaust path through which air containing floating toner is sucked and passed A floating toner collection chamber provided in the intermediate collection box in the middle of the exhaust passage, and a collection facility provided in the floating toner collection chamber for collecting the floating toner from the air passing through the exhaust path. And a vibrating member that vibrates the collection facility in conjunction with the rotation of the transport member and suppresses clogging of the collection facility.

  According to the present invention, since the collection facility is vibrated by the vibration member that is interlocked with the rotation of the conveying member, clogging of the collection facility can be suppressed by a simple method that does not use a vibration motor.

1 is a front view showing a structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front view showing an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 1 is a front sectional view showing a structure of a developing device of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the toner recovery device according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front side. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the floating toner collection chamber as viewed from the front side in the toner collection device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the inside of the floating toner collection chamber as viewed from the front side in the toner collection device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toner recovery device according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the back side. FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a discharge door at a storage position in the toner recovery device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a discharge door at a discharge position in the toner recovery device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing an elastic member and a contact piece in the toner recovery device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a vibrating member in a first modified example in the toner recovery device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a vibrating member in a second modification in the toner recovery device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, a waste toner collecting apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 is a four-tandem color printer that forms an image by arranging four image forming portions Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd corresponding to four different colors (magenta, cyan, yellow, and black) in parallel. It is. Hereinafter, the front side of the sheet of FIG. 1 will be described as the front side (front side) of the image forming apparatus 100, and the left and right directions will be described with reference to the direction when the image forming apparatus 100 is viewed from the front. Arrows Fr, Rr, L, and R attached to the drawings indicate the front side, the rear side, the left side, and the right side of the image forming apparatus 100, respectively.

  In the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus 100, image forming units Pa to Pd for forming images of respective colors of magenta, cyan, yellow, and black are sequentially arranged from the right side of FIG.

  In these image forming portions Pa to Pd, photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d as image carriers for carrying visible images (toner images) of the respective colors can be rotated in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. Is provided. Above the photosensitive drums 1 a to 1 d, an intermediate transfer belt 8 as an image carrier for carrying the superimposed toner images of each color is supported by the driven roller 10 and the driving roller 11 so as to be able to circulate. In the hollow portion of the intermediate transfer belt 8, primary transfer rollers 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d are rotatably supported with respect to each of the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d with the intermediate transfer belt 8 interposed therebetween. A secondary transfer roller 9 is rotatably supported on the left side of the drive roller 11 with the intermediate transfer belt 8 interposed therebetween.

  Further, on the downstream side of the secondary transfer roller 9 in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 8 (here, in the vicinity of the driven roller 10), a belt cleaning device 19 for removing toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 8. Is arranged. The belt cleaning device 19 includes a blade that comes into contact with the traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt 8 from the counter direction, and a collection unit (not shown) that stores toner removed by the blade. The toner accommodated in the collection unit is conveyed to the front side of the image forming apparatus 100 by a collection spiral or the like. A discharge port (not shown) for the conveyed toner is formed on the front side of the collection unit.

  The paper P onto which the toner image is transferred is accommodated in a paper cassette 16 provided at the lower part of the apparatus main body, and is conveyed to the secondary transfer roller 9 via the paper feed roller 12a and the registration roller pair 12b.

  Next, the image forming units Pa to Pd will be described. In each of the image forming units Pa to Pd, charging devices 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d for charging the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d and the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d are formed around the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d. Developing devices 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d for developing the electrostatic latent image with toner, and a drum cleaning device 7a for removing and collecting the developer (toner) remaining on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d after the toner image is transferred. 7b, 7c, and 7d. Further, below the image forming portions Pa to Pd, an exposure unit 5 that performs exposure based on image data to the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d is provided.

  Next, an image forming operation will be described. When image data is input from an image input device such as a personal computer, first, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d are uniformly charged by the charging devices 2a to 2d, and then the photosensitive member is based on the image data by the exposure unit 5. The drums 1a to 1d are irradiated with light to form electrostatic latent images corresponding to the image data on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d. The electrostatic latent images are developed into toner images of corresponding colors by the developing devices 3a to 3d. Then, by applying a predetermined transfer voltage between the primary transfer rollers 6a to 6d and the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, magenta, cyan, yellow, and black toner images on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d are intermediately transferred. Primary transfer is performed on the belt 8. Thereafter, the toner remaining on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d is removed by the drum cleaning devices 7a to 7d in preparation for the subsequent formation of a new electrostatic latent image. In addition, when the ratio of the toner in the two-component developer filled in each developing device 3a-3d by the image forming operation described later falls below a predetermined value, the toner containers 4a-4d to each developing device 3a-3d. Each is replenished with toner.

  The toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 1 a to 1 d are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8, and then a full-color toner image is secondarily transferred onto the paper P at the secondary transfer roller 9. The full-color toner image is heated and pressed by the fixing device 13 and fixed on the paper P, and then discharged to the discharge tray 17 by the discharge roller pair 15.

  Next, the image forming unit Pa described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the image forming portion Pa, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the developing device. Since the image forming units Pb to Pd have basically the same configuration as the image forming unit Pa, detailed description thereof is omitted. Around the photosensitive drum 1a, the above-described charging device 2a, developing device 3a, primary transfer roller 6a, and drum cleaning device 7a are arranged along the drum rotation direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2).

  The charging device 2 a includes a charging roller 20 that contacts the photosensitive drum 1 a and applies a charging bias to the drum surface, and a charging cleaning roller 21 for cleaning the charging roller 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the developing device 3 a includes a developing container 30 that stores a developer containing a magnetic carrier and toner. In the developing container 30, an opening 30a is formed at a portion facing the photosensitive drum 1a. Further, a floating toner duct 38 extending in the front-rear direction is formed in the developing container 30 above the opening 30a. The floating toner duct 38 communicates with the inside of the developing container 30 through a suction port 37 formed inside the opening 30a. A stirring transport chamber 31 and a supply transport chamber 32 in which toner is supplied from the toner container 4a are formed below the developing container 30. Further, the developer container 30 is provided with a waste developer discharge port (not shown) for discarding excess developer.

  In the agitating / conveying chamber 31 and the supply / conveying chamber 32, a stirring / conveying screw 33a and a supplying / conveying screw 33b for mixing and charging the replenished toner with a magnetic carrier and charging are respectively disposed rotatably. A magnetic roller 34 is disposed above the supply / conveyance screw 33b. A developing roller 35 is disposed oppositely to the upper side of the magnetic roller 34. A part of the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 35 is exposed from the opening 30a and faces the photosensitive drum 1a. The magnetic roller 34 and the developing roller 35 rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG.

  Further, on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the magnetic roller 34 with respect to the region where the developing roller 35 and the magnetic roller 34 are opposed to each other, the ear cutting blade 36 is in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic roller 34 (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIGS. Attached along. A slight gap is formed between the tip of the ear cutting blade 36 and the surface of the magnetic roller 34.

  The toner is charged by the agitating and conveying screw 33a and the supply and conveying screw 33b being agitated while the developer circulates in the agitating and conveying chamber 31 and the supplying and conveying chamber 32. The developer containing the charged toner is transported to the magnetic roller 34 by the supply transport screw 33b, and a magnetic brush is formed on the magnetic roller 34. After the layer thickness of the magnetic brush is regulated by the ear cutting blade 36, the magnetic brush is conveyed to a region where the magnetic roller 34 and the developing roller 35 are opposed to each other, and the direct current voltage applied to the magnetic roller 34 and the direct current voltage applied to the developing roller 35. A toner thin layer is formed on the developing roller 35 by the potential difference between the magnetic roller 34 and the magnetic field generated by the magnetic roller 34.

  The toner thin layer formed on the developing roller 35 is conveyed to a region where the photosensitive drum 1 a and the developing roller 35 face each other by the rotation of the developing roller 35. Since a predetermined bias is applied to the developing roller 35, the toner flies from the developing roller 35 to the photosensitive drum 1a due to a potential difference between the developing roller 35 and the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1a. Developed.

  A description will be given with reference to FIG. 2 again. The drum cleaning device 7 a includes a rubbing roller 22, a cleaning blade 23, and a collection spiral 24.

  The rubbing roller 22 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 1a with a predetermined pressure. The cleaning blade 23 moves from the counter direction to the photosensitive drum 1a from the counter direction with respect to the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 1a on the downstream side of the rotating direction of the photosensitive drum 1a from the contact surface between the rubbing roller 22 and the photosensitive drum 1a. It is supported so that it abuts. The collection spiral 24 conveys the toner removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 a by the rubbing roller 22 and the cleaning blade 23 to the front side of the image forming apparatus 100. On the front side of the drum cleaning device 7a, a discharge port (not shown) for the conveyed toner is formed.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 100 includes the toner collected by the drum cleaning devices 7a to 7d, the toner collected by the belt cleaning device 19, the floating toner existing around the developing roller 35 of the developing devices 3a to 3d, and the developing device 3a. A waste toner collecting device 40 (see FIG. 4) for collecting the developer that has become surplus in 3d is provided.

  Next, the waste toner collecting device 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 is a perspective view of the waste toner collection device 40 as viewed from the front, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the floating toner collection chamber 65 as viewed from the front, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hollow portion S2 of the floating toner collection chamber 65 as viewed from the front. 7 and 7 are perspective views of the waste toner collecting device 40 as seen from the back side.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the waste toner collection device 40 includes an intermediate collection box 50 provided on the front side of the image forming units Pa to Pd, a waste toner collection container 90 provided below the intermediate collection box 50, A floating toner collection chamber 65 is provided in the collection box 50 so as to correspond to each of the image forming units Pa to Pd.

  First, the intermediate collection box 50 will be described. In the intermediate collection box 50, toner collected by the drum cleaning devices 7a to 7d and the belt cleaning device 19, floating toner existing around the developing roller 35 of the developing devices 3a to 3d, and excess toner from the developing devices 3a to 3d. The developed developer is temporarily stored. In the waste toner collection container 90, the toner and developer stored in the intermediate collection box 50 are finally collected. The floating toner collection chamber 65 temporarily stores floating toner.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the intermediate collection box 50 has a width and height corresponding to the four image forming portions Pa to Pd and a predetermined thickness, and is a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped by a base portion 50 a and a lid portion 50 b. A hollow portion S1 having a shape is formed.

  In the base portion 50a, floating toner receiving ports 51, exhaust ports 52, first collected toner receiving ports 53, and waste developer receiving ports 54 are provided at positions corresponding to the four image forming units Pa to Pd. , Is formed. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the floating toner receiving port 51 and the exhaust port 52 are arranged in the left-right direction, and the floating toner receiving port 51 is formed on the right side and the exhaust port 52 is formed on the left side. The first collected toner receiving port 53 (see FIG. 4) is formed on the left side of the exhaust port 52. The waste developer receiving port 54 is formed below the floating toner receiving port 51 and the exhaust port 52. Further, a second collected toner receiving port 55 (see FIG. 4) is formed at the right end of the base portion 50a.

  A floating toner duct 38 provided in each of the developing devices 3 a to 3 d is connected to the floating toner receiving port 51. An exhaust duct 57 is connected to the exhaust port 52. As shown in FIG. 7, the exhaust ducts 57 that are in contact with the respective exhaust ports 52 merge at the junction 57a at the center in the left-right direction on the back side of the base portion 50a. An exhaust fan 58 is provided at the junction 57a.

  The first collected toner receiving port 53 communicates with a discharge port (not shown) provided in each of the drum cleaning devices 7a to 7d. The waste developer receiving port 54 communicates with a waste developer discharge port (not shown) provided in each developing container 30 of the developing devices 3a to 3d. The second collected toner receiving port 55 communicates with a toner discharge port (not shown) of the belt cleaning device 19.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a conveyance path 50 c is formed on the bottom surface of the intermediate collection box 50 along the left-right direction. The toner and developer received from the floating toner receiving port 51, the first collected toner receiving port 53, the waste developer receiving port 54, and the second collected toner receiving port 55 fall into the transport path 50c by their own weight. A connection pipe 62 communicates with the right end of the bottom of the transport path 50c.

  A conveyance screw 60 as a conveyance member for conveying the dropped toner is rotatably supported on the conveyance path 50c. The conveying screw 60 is fixed to the rotating shaft 60a corresponding to the rotating shaft 60a, the spiral blade 60b spirally formed at a predetermined pitch in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 60a, and the four floating toner collection chambers 65. And an elastic member 71. The elastic member 71 is a vibration member that suppresses clogging by vibrating a filter 67 described later. A gear 61 is fixed to one end (left end) of the rotating shaft 60a, and a rotational driving force from a driving source (not shown) is input to the rotating shaft 60a via the gear 61. As the drive source, for example, a motor that rotationally drives the paper feed roller 12a can be used. A clutch is provided in the motor to rotate the rotating shaft 60a in the forward direction and the reverse direction.

  The transport screw 60 rotates in the forward direction to transport the toner and developer that have dropped onto the transport path 50c in the right direction (the direction of the connection pipe 62) in FIG. When the transport screw 60 rotates in the forward direction in this way, each elastic member 71 rotates while being deformed so as to be curved from the base portion 50a along the bottom portion of the transport path 50c and the lid portion 50b.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the elastic member 71 is formed by bending the central portion of the spring wire into a U-shape. Both ends of the elastic member 71 are fixed to the rotary shaft 60a with a predetermined interval in the axial direction. Thereby, the elastic member 71 rotates integrally with the rotating shaft 60a. The elastic member 71 protrudes in the radial direction from the rotating shaft 60a, and its protruding length is slightly longer than the protruding length of the spiral blade 60b from the rotating shaft 60a.

  Next, the waste toner collection container 90 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the waste toner collection container 90 is provided below the intermediate collection box 50 and communicates with the intermediate collection box 50 via the connection pipe 62. The toner and developer conveyed in the direction of the connection pipe 62 along the conveyance path 50 c are collected in the waste toner collection container 90 through the connection pipe 62. The waste toner collection container 90 can be attached to and detached from the connection pipe 62. The waste toner collecting container 90 is provided with a sensor for detecting the amount of collected toner and the like. When the sensor detects that a predetermined amount of toner has been collected, the waste toner collecting container 90 is removed from the connection pipe 62 and collected. Discard the used toner.

  Next, the floating toner collection chamber 65 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the floating toner collection chamber 65 includes a partition wall 65a erected from a base portion 50a including a portion including the floating toner receiving port 51 and the exhaust port 52, a partition wall 65a, The lid portion 66 that covers the space surrounded by the base portion 50a and forms the hollow portion S2 is formed. Thus, the hollow portion S2 is isolated from the hollow portion S1 of the intermediate recovery box 50, and has an exhaust path F (see FIG. 6) of air containing the floating toner from the floating toner receiving port 51 to the exhaust port 52. Forming. That is, the floating toner collection chamber 65 forms a part of the exhaust path F that reaches the exhaust fan 58 from the floating toner duct 38 of each developing device 3 through the exhaust duct 57.

  The lid 66 of the floating toner collection chamber 65 is integrally provided with a contact piece 73 that hangs down from the lower edge. Each abutted piece 73 hangs down to a height at which the tip of the elastic member 71 fixed to the rotating shaft 60a of the conveying screw 60 can abut and the spiral blade 60b cannot abut. The abutted piece 73 may be provided separately from the lid portion 66 and may be fixed to the lid portion 66.

  The floating toner collection chamber 65 includes a filter 67 as a collection facility for collecting floating toner from the exhaust path F, a discharge port 68 for discharging the collected floating toner to the intermediate collection box 50, and a discharge port 68. A discharge door 69 that opens and closes is provided.

  The filter 67 is attached to the exhaust port 52 in an obliquely downward posture. The filter 67 is formed by overlapping air filters in a double or triple manner.

  The discharge port 68 is formed in the partition wall 65 a below the exhaust port 52. The partition wall 65 a is formed with a protruding portion 65 b that protrudes downward from the lower side of the exhaust port 52. The discharge port 68 is formed in the lower corner of the protrusion 65b so as to open obliquely downward.

  Next, the discharge door 69 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B. 8A shows the discharge door 69 rotated to the storage position, and FIG. 8B shows the discharge door 69 rotated to the discharge position.

  The discharge door 69 is connected to the lid portion 66. A protruding piece 69 a is fixed to the leading edge of the discharge door 69. The protruding piece 69a has a narrower width than the pitch of the spiral blade 60b of the conveying screw 60, and is formed of an elastic material such as a PET film.

  The discharge door 69 is located between an accommodation position (see FIG. 8A) for closing the discharge port 68 and a discharge position (see FIG. 8B) that rotates to the hollow portion S1 side of the intermediate recovery box 50 and opens the discharge port 68. , And rotates about an axis substantially parallel to the rotation shaft 60a of the conveying screw 60. In the storage position shown in FIG. 8A, the discharge door 69 rotates to a posture extending obliquely downward from the lid portion 66. Further, at the discharge position shown in FIG. 8B, the discharge door 69 rotates to a posture in which the discharge door 69 hangs down from the lid 66 toward the transport screw 60 supported by the transport path 50c. The discharge door 69 is urged to the accommodation position by the urging member 81. The urging member 81 is an elastic member such as urethane foam, for example, and is interposed between the lid portion 50 b of the intermediate recovery box 50 and the discharge door 69.

  As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 8A, when the discharge door 69 is rotated to the accommodation position, if the protruding piece 69a hangs down in the space between the adjacent spiral blades 60b, the conveying screw 60 is correctly connected. When rotating in the direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 8A), the spiral blade 60b comes into contact with the protruding piece 69a before long. Then, as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 8A, the outer peripheral surface of the spiral blade 60b presses the protruding piece 69a as the rotating shaft 60a rotates. When the protruding piece 69 a is pressed in this way, it deforms so as to bend against the discharge door 69. In this manner, the discharge door 69 is always maintained at the storage position.

  On the other hand, when the conveying screw 60 is rotated in the reverse direction, as shown in FIG. 8B, the protruding piece 69a is pressed in the reverse direction by the outer peripheral surface of the spiral blade 60b, and the discharge door 69 is biased by the biasing member 81. Rotate to the discharge position against Then, the floating toner stored in the floating toner collection chamber 65 falls from the discharge port 68 to the conveyance path 50c. When rotation of the conveying screw 60 in the reverse direction stops and rotates in the forward direction, the discharge door 69 is urged to the accommodation position by the urging member 81, and the discharge port 68 is closed.

  The toner collecting operation of the waste toner collecting apparatus 40 having the above configuration will be described. During the image forming operation, as described above, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d in the image forming portions Pa to Pd after the primary transfer is collected by the drum cleaning devices 7a to 7d. The recovered toner is temporarily stored in the intermediate recovery box 50 from the first recovery toner receiving port 53. The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 8 after the secondary transfer is recovered by the belt cleaning device 19 and temporarily stored in the intermediate recovery box 50 through the second recovery toner receiving port 55. Further, the waste developer discharged from the waste developer discharge port (not shown) of the developing container 30 is temporarily stored in the intermediate recovery box 50 through the waste developer receiving port 54. Thus, the toner and waste developer accommodated from each receiving port fall into the transport path 50c due to their own weight.

  Further, when the exhaust fan 58 is driven during the image forming operation, the inside of each exhaust duct 57 becomes negative pressure, and the inside of the floating toner collection chamber 65 and the floating toner duct 38 also becomes negative pressure. As a result, the air containing the toner floating near the developing roller 35 of the developing devices 3a to 3d is exhausted through the floating toner duct 38, the floating toner collection chamber 65, and the exhaust duct 57. Then, the floating toner is collected by the filter 67 in the floating toner collecting chamber 65. Part of the collected toner falls due to its own weight and accumulates on the upper surfaces of the partition wall 65a and the discharge door 69. On the other hand, the air that has passed through the filter 67 passes through the exhaust duct 57 and is exhausted to the outside by the exhaust fan 58.

  In the transport path 50c, the transport screw 60 receives the driving rotational force from the drive source and rotates in the forward direction, and transports the toner and developer that have fallen to the transport path 50c in the direction of the connection pipe 62 (right direction). When the toner and developer are transported to the right end of the transport path 50c, they are collected in the waste toner collecting container 90 through the connection pipe 62.

  Here, an operation in which the elastic member 71 vibrates the filter 67 with the rotation of the conveying screw 60 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a side sectional view for explaining the movement of the elastic member. As indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 9, the elastic member 71 rotates while being deformed so as to be curved along the bottom portion of the conveyance path 50 c and the lid portion 50 b from the base portion 50 a by the rotation of the conveyance screw 60. . And when separating from the cover part 50b, it returns to the original attitude | position (refer the continuous line of FIG. 9) with an elastic force. Due to the elastic force at the time of return, the tip of the elastic member 71 comes into contact with the contact piece 73, and an impact is applied to the contact piece 73. Due to this impact, the lid 66 vibrates, and this vibration is transmitted to the filter 67 via the partition wall 65a. When the filter 67 vibrates in this way, the toner collected by the filter 67 is screened and collected in the floating toner collection chamber 65. The elastic member 71 passes through the contacted piece 73 while being elastically deformed after contacting the contacted piece 73.

  When the toner collected in the floating toner collection chamber 65 reaches a predetermined amount, the conveying screw 60 is rotated in the reverse direction for a predetermined time. For example, it is preferable to rotate the conveying screw 60 in the reverse direction for 2 to 3 seconds every 1000 printed sheets. Then, as described above, the discharge door 69 rotates against the urging force of the urging member 81 by the spiral blade 60 b of the conveying screw 60. As a result, the discharge port 68 is opened, and the floating toner accumulated on the upper surface of the discharge door 69 falls to the transport path 50c. The dropped toner is transported along the transport path 50c by the transport screw 60 together with the collected toner and the waste developer, and is collected in the waste toner collecting container 90.

  When the transport screw 60 rotates in the reverse direction, each elastic member 71 also rotates in the reverse direction. Also in this case, the elastic member 71 rotates while being deformed. Specifically, the elastic member 71 rotates while being deformed so as to be curved along the bottom portion of the transport path 50c and the base portion 50a from the lid portion 50b. And when separating from the base part 50a, the elastic member 71 returns to the original attitude | position by elastic force. However, since the distance between the base portion 50a and the non-contacting piece 73 is relatively large, the elastic member 71 contacts the contacted piece 73 after returning to the original posture. In other words, the elastic member 71 does not contact the contacted piece 73 with an elastic force as when rotating in the positive direction, so that a large force that opens the lid 66 is not generated.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the filter 67 is vibrated by the elastic member 71 interlocked with the rotation of the conveying screw 60 to suppress clogging of the filter 67. Therefore, the filter 67 is vibrated. No vibration motor is required. Furthermore, the frequency of maintenance of the filter 67 can be lowered. Therefore, the control for turning on and off the vibration motor is unnecessary, and the control can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

  Further, since the elastic member 71 abuts on the lid 66 by the elastic force when the elastic deformation is released, the lid 66 can be vibrated more greatly. Therefore, the filter 67 can be vibrated more greatly, and clogging can be effectively suppressed. The elastic member 71 may directly contact the lid 66 instead of the contact piece 73, or may contact the portion other than the lid 66 of the floating toner collection chamber 65. The position where the elastic member abuts is preferably close to the filter 67.

  Further, since the discharge door 69 is opened and closed by interfering with the spiral blade 60b as the conveying screw 60 rotates, a mechanism for opening and closing the discharge door 69 becomes unnecessary. Thus, since the floating toner collected in the floating toner collection chamber 65 can be automatically discharged, the frequency of maintenance can be greatly reduced.

  Next, a modified example of the vibration member will be described. First, a first modification will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing the elastic member and the contact piece.

  In the first modification, the vibration member is an elastic member 71 fixed to the conveying screw 60, but the elastic piece 91 is provided on the contacted piece 73 of the lid portion 66 with which the elastic member 71 contacts. . The elastic piece 91 is formed of a long leaf spring, and has a support portion 91a formed at one end of the leaf spring and a contacted portion 91b bent in a U-shape when viewed from the side. . An oval opening 91c is formed in the contacted portion 91b along the length direction.

  Further, the abutted piece 73 is inclined downward from the lower edge of the lid portion 66 toward the inward direction of the hollow portion S1. The support portion 91a of the elastic piece 91 is supported by the lower portion of the contact piece 73, and the contact portion 91b protrudes obliquely downward from the contact piece 73 toward the outside of the hollow portion S1.

  When the conveying screw 60 rotates forward, the elastic member 71 comes into contact with the contacted portion 91 b of the elastic piece 91. Then, the impact applied from the elastic member 71 is amplified by the elastic piece 91 and transmitted from the contact piece 73 to the filter 67 through the lid portion 66 and the partition wall 65a. Since the opening 91c is formed in the elastic piece 91 and is more easily elastically deformed, the vibration amount of the elastic piece 91 is further increased. Therefore, the filter 67 can be vibrated more greatly.

  Next, a second modification will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a filter and a conveying screw.

  In the second modification, a support member 95 that supports the filter 67 is provided as a vibration member. The support member 95 includes a frame portion 95a that supports the filter 67, and a vibrating piece 95b that extends downward from the frame portion 95a. The vibrating piece 95b is formed of a leaf spring having an L shape in side view. The frame portion 95 a is supported by the exhaust port 52 of the floating toner collection chamber 65. The vibrating piece 95b hangs from between the discharge door 69 (not shown in FIG. 11) and the discharge port 68 and between the adjacent spiral blades 60b of the conveying screw 60.

  When the conveying screw 60 rotates, the spiral blade 60b contacts the vibrating piece 95b to vibrate the frame portion 95a. By this vibration, the filter 67 supported by the frame portion 95a can be vibrated.

  In each of the above embodiments, a vibration motor that vibrates the filter 67 may be provided. By using the vibration motor in combination, clogging of the filter 67 can be more reliably suppressed.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description of the embodiments but by the scope of claims for patent, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims for patent. For example, in the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a color printer has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Needless to say, the present invention is applied to various image forming apparatuses having a waste toner passage path through which waste toner passes, and an intake path for sucking the floating toner in the developing device, such as a printer, a multifunction machine, and a facsimile machine. Applicable.

1a to 1d Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
7a-7d Drum cleaning device (cleaning device)
8 Intermediate transfer belt (image carrier)
19 Belt cleaning device (cleaning device)
40 Waste toner collection device 50 Intermediate collection box 52 Exhaust port 60 Conveying screw (conveying member)
65 Floating toner collection chamber 67 Filter (collection equipment)
69 Discharge door 71 Elastic member (vibration member)
91 Elastic piece 95 Support member 95b Vibrating piece

Claims (6)

An intermediate collection box for temporarily storing the toner removed from the image carrier by the cleaning device;
A toner collection container for collecting toner contained in the intermediate collection box;
A conveyance member that is rotatably provided in the intermediate collection box and conveys the stored toner toward the toner collection container;
An exhaust path through which air containing floating toner is sucked and passed;
A floating toner collection chamber provided in the intermediate collection box in the middle of the exhaust passage;
A collection facility provided in the floating toner collection chamber for collecting floating toner from the air passing through the exhaust path;
And a vibration member that vibrates the collection facility in conjunction with the rotation of the conveying member and suppresses clogging of the collection facility. The vibrating member is an elastic member that is attached to the conveying member so as to be integrally rotatable and abuts on the floating toner collecting chamber.
The elastic member rotates while elastically deforming along the inner surface of the intermediate recovery box as the conveying member rotates, and contacts the floating toner recovery chamber by an elastic force when the elastic deformation is released. The toner collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the collection facility is vibrated by vibrating the floating toner collecting chamber.   The toner collection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the floating toner collection chamber includes an elastic piece with which the elastic member abuts. A support member for supporting the collection facility;
The vibration member is an elastic member that is attached to the support member and interferes with the transport member,
The toner collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the collection facility is vibrated through the support member when the conveyance member interferes with the elastic member as the conveyance member rotates. The floating toner recovery chamber is
A discharge port communicating with the inside of the intermediate recovery box;
A discharge door that rotates between the storage position that closes the discharge port and the discharge position that opens the discharge port by interfering with the transfer member as the transfer member rotates.
When the transport member rotates in the positive direction, the discharge door rotates to the storage position,
When the transport member rotates in the reverse direction, the discharge door rotates to the discharge position, and the floating toner housed in the floating toner collection chamber is discharged from the discharge port to the transport path. The toner recovery device according to claim 1, wherein the toner recovery device is a toner recovery device. An image forming unit for forming an image;
The toner collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein waste toner discharged from the image forming unit is collected;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

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