JP2020052254A - Developer storage body, development device and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

To make it possible to prevent waste developer from leaking outside a waste developer storage chamber in the waste developer storage chamber when detaching a developer storage body from a main body part of a development device.SOLUTION: A developer storage body has: a waste developer storage part; a waste developer reception port for receiving waste developer conveyed from a main body part of a development device; a waste developer introduction port for introducing the waste developer to the waste developer storage part; a guide 74 that is disposed, facing the waste developer reception port; and a waste developer shutter that opens/closes the waste developer introduction port. In an end part on a waste developer reception port side in the waste developer shutter, a regulation part is formed that regulates a movement of the waste developer, and squeezes the waste developer into an interior of the waste developer storage part, which in turn the waste developer pushed accompanied by a movement of the waste developer shutter is prevented from leaking outside the waste developer storage part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer container, a developing device, and an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile, and a multifunction peripheral, for example, in an electrophotographic printer, an image forming unit as a developing device is provided, and the image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum, A roller, a developing device, a toner cartridge as a developer container, and the like are provided. Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum uniformly charged by the charging roller is exposed by the LED head to form an electrostatic latent image, toner is supplied from a toner cartridge to a developing device, and the electrostatic latent image is developed. The toner image is formed by developing the toner image on the sheet, and the toner image is transferred to a sheet by a transfer roller and is fixed on the sheet by a fixing device, thereby forming an image.

  Then, in the image forming unit, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum after the transfer is scraped off by the cleaning member, collected as waste toner as waste developer by the toner recovery device, and transported by the waste toner transport device. Then, it is sent to a waste toner storage unit as a waste developer storage unit, and is stored in the waste toner storage unit (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 2 is a view showing a toner cartridge of a reference example, FIG. 3 is a first view showing a state of waste toner when the toner cartridge of the reference example is removed from a main body of the image forming unit, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a second diagram illustrating a state of waste toner when the toner cartridge of the reference example is removed from the unit.

  In the figure, 101 is an image forming unit, 102 is a main body of the image forming unit 101, 103 is a toner cartridge detachably provided to the main body 102, 105 is formed on the toner cartridge 103, A waste toner storage unit that stores the waste toner Te.

  A waste toner receiving port h1 for receiving the waste toner Te transported by the waste toner transport device (not shown) is formed at a predetermined location of the waste toner storage unit 105. When the toner cartridge 103 is attached to the main body 102, the waste toner is removed. The waste toner discharge unit 110 of the toner conveying device is caused to enter the waste toner receiving port h1. The waste toner Te is discharged into the waste toner storage unit 105 through a waste toner discharge port h2 formed at the end of the waste toner discharge unit 110.

  At the waste toner receiving port h1 of the waste toner container 105, a waste toner shutter 112 is provided so as to be openable and closable. The waste toner shutter 112 is opened when the toner cartridge 103 is attached to the main body 102, causes the waste toner discharge section 110 to enter, and is closed when the toner cartridge 103 is removed from the main body 102, and the waste toner shutter 112 is closed. The waste toner Te in the storage unit 105 is prevented from leaking out of the waste toner storage unit 105.

  The waste toner shutter 112 is movably disposed along a guide 115, and is urged by a spring 116 toward a waste toner receiving port h1.

  When the toner cartridge 103 is attached to the main body 102, as shown in FIG. 2, the waste toner shutter 112 is pushed by the waste toner discharge unit 110 to open the waste toner receiving port h1, and the waste toner in the waste toner discharge unit 110 is removed. Is conveyed in the direction of the arrow, and is discharged into the waste toner container 105 through the waste toner discharge port h2.

  When the toner cartridge 103 is detached from the main body 102 in a state where the toner cartridge 103 is inclined at a predetermined angle, as shown in FIG. 3, the waste toner discharge unit 110 is retracted from the waste toner storage unit 105, and accordingly, The waste toner shutter 112 is pushed toward the waste toner receiving port h1 by the spring 116 to close the waste toner receiving port h1.

JP-A-2004-85894

  However, since the toner cartridge 103 of the reference example is tilted when being removed from the main body 102 as shown in FIG. 4, the waste toner Te near the waste toner receiving port h1 is pushed by the waste toner shutter 112. Is spilled out of the waste toner storage unit 105.

  The present invention solves the problem of the toner cartridge 103 of the reference example, and waste developer in the waste developer storage chamber spills out of the waste developer storage chamber when the developer storage body is removed from the main body of the developing device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developer container, a developing device, and an image forming apparatus that can prevent the occurrence of the problem.

  Therefore, in the developer container of the present invention, a waste developer accommodating portion and a waste developer receiving portion formed in the waste developer accommodating portion for receiving the waste developer conveyed from the main body of the developing device are provided. An inlet, a waste developer inlet for introducing the waste developer received by the waste developer inlet into the waste developer accommodating portion, and a guide disposed facing the waste developer receiver, A waste developer shutter movably disposed along the guide to open and close the waste developer inlet;

  And, at the end of the waste developer shutter on the waste developer receiving port side, the movement of the waste developer pushed along with the movement of the waste developer shutter is regulated, and the waste developer is moved to the waste developer. A restricting portion that is pushed into the housing portion is formed.

  According to the present invention, in the developer container, the waste developer accommodating portion and the waste developer receiving portion formed in the waste developer accommodating portion for receiving the waste developer conveyed from the main body of the developing device are provided. An inlet, a waste developer inlet for introducing the waste developer received by the waste developer inlet into the waste developer accommodating portion, and a guide disposed facing the waste developer receiver, A waste developer shutter movably disposed along the guide to open and close the waste developer inlet;

  And, at the end of the waste developer shutter on the waste developer receiving port side, the movement of the waste developer pushed along with the movement of the waste developer shutter is regulated, and the waste developer is moved to the waste developer. A restricting portion that is pushed into the housing portion is formed.

  In this case, the waste developer shutter is movably disposed along the guide, and a regulating portion for regulating the movement of the waste developer is formed at an end of the waste developer shutter on the waste developer receiving port side. Since the unit pushes the waste developer into the waste developer accommodating unit, it is possible to prevent the pushed waste developer from spilling out of the waste developer accommodating unit as the waste developer shutter moves.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the side cover showing a state where the waste toner shutter is opened according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a toner cartridge of a reference example. FIG. 10 is a first diagram illustrating a state of waste toner when the toner cartridge of the reference example is removed from the main body of the image forming unit. FIG. 10 is a second diagram illustrating a state of waste toner when the toner cartridge of the reference example is removed from the main body of the image forming unit. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the image forming unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a first perspective view of the image forming unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a second perspective view of the image forming unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the image forming unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a first perspective view of the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a second perspective view of the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the side cover in an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a first perspective view of a side cover according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view of the side cover in an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 is a second perspective view of the side cover according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is an exploded perspective view of a side cover in an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a waste toner shutter according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a waste toner shutter according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the side cover showing a state where the waste toner shutter is closed according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the side cover showing a state where the waste toner shutter is opened according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the side cover showing a state in which the waste toner shutter is closed according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in the side cover before the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached to the main body of the image forming unit. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state inside the side cover when the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached to the main body of the image forming unit. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state inside the side cover after the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached to the main body of the image forming unit. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a state inside the side cover after the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached to the main body of the image forming unit. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the movement of waste toner in a side cover after the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached to the main body of the image forming unit. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the movement of waste toner in the side cover when the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention is removed from the main body of the image forming unit. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a state inside the side cover after the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention has been removed from the main body of the image forming unit.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this case, a printer as an image forming apparatus will be described.

  5 is a conceptual diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a first perspective view of the image forming unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. 8 and FIG. 8 are second perspective views of the image forming unit according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the image forming unit according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 11 is a first perspective view of the toner cartridge, FIG. 11 is a second perspective view of the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 5, reference numeral 10 denotes a printer, and Cs denotes a housing of the printer 10. A paper feed cassette 11 as a medium storage unit is disposed below the housing Cs. Is placed on the sheet P. Further, a paper feed mechanism (not shown) for separating and feeding paper P one by one is provided adjacent to the front end of the paper feed cassette 11.

  The paper P separated one by one by the paper feeding mechanism and fed to the medium transport path Rt is used as an image forming unit for forming images of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, and as a developing device. To the image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, and 16C.

  Each of the image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, and 16C is removably provided as a process cartridge with respect to the main body of the printer 10, that is, the apparatus main body Bd, and includes a photosensitive drum 31 as an image carrier. An LED head 22 as an exposure device is disposed above each photosensitive drum 31 of each of the image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, and 16C so as to face the photosensitive drum 31. The surface of each photosensitive drum 31 is exposed based on the data to form an electrostatic latent image as a latent image.

  Then, a transfer unit u1 is provided below each of the image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, and 16C. The transfer unit u1 includes a drive roller (not shown), a driven roller, a transfer belt 17 as a belt member stretchably stretched between the drive roller and the driven roller, and the photosensitive drum 31 via the transfer belt 17. And a transfer roller 21 and the like as a transfer member rotatably arranged opposite to the transfer member.

  The sheet P supplied to the image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, and 16C is conveyed as the transfer belt 17 runs, and passes between each photosensitive drum 31 and each transfer roller 21. In each image forming unit 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, 16C, a toner image as a developer image of each color formed on each photosensitive drum 31 is sequentially transferred onto the paper P by each transfer roller 21, and the color toner image is transferred. Is formed.

  Subsequently, the paper P is sent to a fixing device 18 as a fixing device. In the fixing device 18, the color toner image is fixed on the paper P, and a color image is formed. Then, the sheet P discharged from the fixing device 18 is conveyed through the medium conveying path Rt, and then discharged out of the apparatus main body Bd.

  Next, the image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, and 16C will be described. Since the image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, and 16C all have the same structure, the image forming unit 16Bk will be described, and the description of the image forming units 16Y, 16M, and 16C will be omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the image forming unit 16 </ b> Bk includes a main body 37, and a toner cartridge 41 as a developer container detachably mounted on the main body 37. The main body 37 is disposed so as to extend in the width direction of the image forming unit 16Bk, and includes a process element accommodating section CP for accommodating each element for performing an image forming process, and a downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P. The toner cartridge 41 includes a side plate SL that is formed by being raised at the left end of the process element storage portion CP when viewed. The left end of the toner cartridge 41 when viewed downstream in the transport direction of the paper P is defined by the side plate SL. And is attached to the main body 37.

  The toner cartridge 41 is disposed so as to extend in the width direction of the paper P, that is, in the longitudinal direction, and has an outer frame Fr having a cylindrical shape and a bottom, and a side covering the left end of the outer frame Fr. The cover Sc has, at the right end of the outer frame Fr, an operation lever Lv and the like as an operation portion that is swingably disposed with respect to the outer frame Fr.

  In the outer frame Fr, a toner accommodating chamber Tca as an unused developer accommodating portion for accommodating unused toner as a developer (hereinafter, simply referred to as “toner”), and a waste toner as a waste developer A waste toner storage chamber Tcb is formed as a waste developer storage section for storing the toner. The toner is supplied from the toner storage chamber Tca to the developer storage section 25 formed in the process element storage section CP.

  Therefore, a toner supply port 44 as a developer supply port is formed at the bottom portion Twb of the toner storage chamber Tca, and the toner supply shutter 42 as a first shutter is movable to open and close the toner supply port 44. In the present embodiment, the toner cartridge 41 is disposed so as to be rotatable with respect to the toner storage chamber Tca and extends in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge 41.

  The toner supply shutter 42 includes a shutter portion 42a having an arcuate cross section and a plurality of bridges 42b connecting both edges of the shutter portion 42a. 45 are formed. The operation lever Lv formed integrally with the toner supply shutter 42 is rotated to move the toner supply shutter 42. In the present embodiment, the operation lever Lv is rotated to align the toner supply port 44 with the opening 45. Thus, the toner supply port 44 can be opened. The toner supply port 44 can be closed by rotating the operation lever Lv, rotating the toner supply shutter 42, and shifting the toner supply port 44 and the opening 45.

  For this purpose, the operation lever Lv has a cylindrical shape, is fixed to the toner supply shutter 42 outside the outer frame Fr, and is provided with a shutter rotation portion 57 rotatably disposed. An operation member 58 disposed to surround and transmit the operation of the operator to the toner supply shutter 42 via the shutter rotation unit 57; and a rotation range of the toner supply shutter 42 disposed to the shutter rotation unit 57. The operating member 58 surrounds the shutter rotating portion 57, and has a surrounding portion 61 to be fitted to the outside, and a knob formed so as to project radially outward from the surrounding portion 61. 62.

  A mounting surface St having a concave surface for setting the toner cartridge 41 is formed on the upper part of the process element housing portion CP. The mounting surface St is used as a developer supply port corresponding to the toner supply port 44. Is formed. Therefore, when the toner supply port 44 is opened, the toner in the toner storage chamber Tca is supplied to the developer storage 25 through the toner supply port 46. Note that a stirring device 26 is rotatably disposed in the toner storage chamber Tca, and the toner in the toner storage chamber Tca is stirred by the stirring device 26.

  Further, the process element housing portion CP includes a lower cover Lc and an upper cover Uc that covers the upper surface of the lower cover Lc. The photoconductor drum 31, a charging roller 32 as a charging device for uniformly charging the surface of the photoconductor drum 31, and a developing device for holding toner in the process element housing chamber Rm formed by the upper cover Uc. Developing roller 33 as a developer carrier, toner supplying roller 34 as a developer supplying member for supplying toner to developing roller 33, developer layer regulation for uniformly thinning the toner supplied on developing roller 33 A developing blade 35 as a member, a cleaning device 36 for removing toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 31 after transfer of the toner image as waste toner, and the like are housed. The developer storage section 25 is formed by the developing roller 33, the toner supply roller 34, the developing blade 35, and the seal 39 in the process element storage chamber Rm. The photoconductor drum 31 is an organic photoconductor formed by sequentially stacking a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer as a photoconductive layer on a conductive support made of an aluminum metal pipe.

  The photosensitive drum 31, the charging roller 32, the developing roller 33, and the toner supply roller 34 contact the charging roller 32 and the developing roller 33 with the photosensitive drum 31, and connect the toner supply roller 34 to the developing roller 33. In the abutted state, it is rotatably supported by the lower cover Lc. The developing roller 33, the toner supply roller 34, and the developing blade 35 constitute a developing device.

  The photosensitive drum 31, the charging roller 32, the developing roller 33, the toner supply roller 34, and the like are connected to a driving motor (drum motor) (not shown) as a driving unit for image formation, and drives the driving motor. Rotated by

  A power supply for a developing roller (not shown), a power supply for a toner supply roller, and a power supply for a developing blade are connected to the developing roller 33, the toner supply roller 34, and the developing blade 35, respectively. A voltage of negative polarity is applied to the toner supply roller 34 and the developing blade 35 as a bias voltage.

  The cleaning device 36 extends in the width direction of the image forming unit 16 </ b> Bk, and has a leading end in contact with the photosensitive drum 31. The cleaning blade 36 a as a cleaning member is disposed below the cleaning blade 36 a. And a spiral 36b as a first rotary transport member rotatably disposed in the cleaning device 36. The spiral 36b is formed by spirally winding a stainless steel wire that is not deformed with rotation and has a thickness enough to transport waste toner.

  In the printer 10 having the above-described configuration, at the time of printing, the developing roller 33 and the toner supply roller 34 are rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 6 by the drive motor. Then, toner is supplied to the developing roller 33 by the toner supply roller 34, and the toner supplied to the developing roller 33 is sent to a contact portion between the developing roller 33 and the developing blade 35 with the rotation of the developing roller 33, After being thinned by the developing blade 35, it is sent to the photosensitive drum 31 as the developing roller 33 rotates.

  The photosensitive drum 31 is rotated clockwise by the driving motor, and the surface is uniformly charged by the charging roller 32 with the rotation, and is exposed by the LED head 22 to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface. Then, the toner on the developing roller 33 is electrostatically attached to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image.

  When the toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 31 in this way, the toner image is transferred to the sheet P by the transfer roller 21.

  The toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor drum 31 after the transfer of the toner image is scraped off by the cleaning blade 36a with the rotation of the photoconductor drum 31, becomes waste toner, falls to the bottom in the cleaning device 36, and turns into the spiral 36b. Is transported along the first waste developer transport path q1 along with the rotation of, and is sent to the end on the side plate SL side.

  A second waste developer transport path (not shown) is provided in the side plate SL, and the waste toner sent from the first waste developer transport path q1 to the end on the side of the side plate SL is removed by the second waste developer transport path q1. 2 is transported upward through the waste developer transport path, and is discharged to the waste toner storage chamber Tcb.

  For this purpose, a waste toner discharge section 48 as a waste developer discharge section is formed in the second waste developer transport path so as to protrude from the side plate SL, and the side cover Sc of the toner cartridge 41 is used in the present embodiment. In (2), the waste toner discharge section 48 is fitted into the waste toner storage chamber Tcb, and a waste toner receiving port h11 as a waste developer receiving port for receiving the waste toner conveyed from the main body section 37 is formed. The waste toner outlet 48 has a cylindrical shape, the waste toner inlet h11 has a circular shape, and the inner diameter of the waste toner inlet h11 is slightly larger than the outer shape of the waste toner outlet 48. .

  A waste developer introduction device 71 is disposed in the side cover Sc, facing the waste toner receiving port h11, receiving waste toner discharged from the waste toner discharge unit 48 and introducing the waste toner into the waste toner storage chamber Tcb. Will be arranged.

  A spiral 38 is disposed below the waste toner receiving port h11 in the waste toner storage chamber Tcb so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge 41 and to be rotatable. By rotating the spiral 38, the waste toner introduced into the waste toner storage chamber Tcb by the waste developer introduction device 71 is sent to the back (the operation lever Lv side in the waste toner storage chamber Tcb). For this purpose, a drive gear gr1 is provided at the lower end of the side cover Sc, and the drive gear gr1 is connected to the spiral 38 via a first idle gear gr2 (FIG. 23) described later. Therefore, when the drive motor is driven, the drive gear gr1 is rotated, and the rotation of the drive gear gr1 is transmitted to the spiral.

  The drive gear gr1 is connected to the agitator 26 via a second idle gear (not shown). Therefore, by driving the drive motor and rotating the drive gear gr1, the stirring device 26 is rotated.

  When the toner cartridge 41 is attached to the main body 37 of the image forming unit 16Bk, the waste toner discharge section 48 is made to enter the waste toner storage chamber Tcb via the waste toner receiving port h11. Thus, the toner cartridge 41 is positioned with respect to the main body 37 at the left end of the image forming unit 16Bk. Further, a rib 49 as an engaging portion is formed on the upper cover Uc of the main body portion 37, and a concave portion 51 as an engaged portion is formed at a portion corresponding to the rib 49 in the outer frame Fr of the toner cartridge 41, and the toner When the cartridge 41 is attached to the main body 37, the rib 49 and the concave portion 51 are engaged. Thus, the toner cartridge 41 is positioned with respect to the main body 37 at the right end of the image forming unit 16Bk.

  Subsequently, when the operation lever Lv is operated and placed at the position shown in FIG. 8, as shown in FIG. 6, the toner supply port 44 and the opening 45 are aligned, and the toner supply port 44 is opened. As a result, the toner in the toner storage chamber Tca is supplied to the developer storage unit 25.

  Next, the waste developer introduction device 71 will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a side cover showing a waste toner shutter opened according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 13 is a front view of the side cover according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 15 is a side view of the side cover according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 16 is a second perspective view of the side cover according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of a side cover according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the waste toner shutter according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the waste toner shutter according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 21 is a longitudinal sectional view of a side cover showing a state where the waste toner shutter according to the embodiment of the present invention is closed, and FIG. 21 is a state where the waste toner shutter according to the embodiment of the present invention is open. Cross-sectional view of the side cover showing the FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the side cover showing a state in which the waste toner shutter is closed in the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the drawing, Sc is a side cover, Hs is a housing of the side cover Sc, h11 is a waste toner receiving port, sh1 is a shaft of a first idle gear gr2 (FIG. 23) described later, and 71 is a waste developer introducing device. is there.

  The housing Hs includes a front panel Pf disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P (FIG. 5), a rear panel Pr disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction of the paper P, and a top panel Pt disposed on the upper side. , A base panel Pb disposed below, and a partition panel Pm disposed at the center of the housing Hs in the width direction of the paper P and partitioning the inside and outside of the toner cartridge 41 (FIG. 7). A waste toner receiving port h11 is formed at the bottom.

  The waste developer introducing device 71 is provided with a guide 74 that faces the waste toner receiving port h11 and extends from the waste toner receiving port h11 toward the operation lever Lv. A second shutter that opens and closes a waste toner introduction port h12 as a waste developer introduction port formed below the guide 74 in accordance with the movement. A waste toner shutter 75 as a waste developer shutter, a spring 78 as an urging member for urging the waste toner shutter 75 toward the partition panel Pm, and attached to the guide 74, and the spring 78 is moved to the operation lever Lv side. It has a spring holder 81 as an urging member holding portion to be held at an end, a seal member 82 provided at the waste toner receiving port h11, and the like. The seal member 82 is made of an elastic body, in this embodiment, a sponge material, has an arc shape, and is attached to the lower half of the inner peripheral edge of the waste toner receiving port h11 by bonding or the like.

  The waste toner introduction port h12 introduces the waste toner sent from the waste toner receiving port h11 into the waste toner storage chamber Tcb.

  The guide 74 has a semi-cylindrical shape with an upper half opened, a cover 74a that covers the waste toner shutter 75 upward, and has a semi-circular shape, and at the center in the longitudinal direction of the cover 74a, The cover 74a has a hanging wall 74b and the like, which are formed by hanging downward. A locking hole h13 as a locking portion for mounting the spring holder 81 is formed at the tip of the cover 74a. In addition, guide grooves m1 and m2 as engagement portions for guiding the waste toner shutter 75 are formed. In addition, a guide plate 74c as an auxiliary member is disposed at an angle below the guide groove m1.

  The guide plate 74c guides the waste toner introduced into the waste toner storage chamber Tcb through the waste toner introduction port h12 toward the spiral 38. Therefore, since the waste toner introduced into the waste toner storage chamber Tcb is guided toward the spiral 38 by the guide plate 74c, the waste toner can be smoothly stored in the waste toner storage chamber Tcb.

  The waste toner shutter 75 has a semi-cylindrical shape with an upper half opened, and a shutter portion 83 that forms a main body of the waste toner shutter 75, and a front wall portion of the shutter portion 83 (the operation lever Lv A spring seat 84 formed so as to protrude from the side wall portion 83a toward the operation lever Lv, a post 85 formed so as to protrude from the spring seat 84 toward the operation lever Lv, and the like.

  Ribs eg1 and eg2 are formed on the front panel Pf side and the rear panel Pr side edges of the shutter section 83, and the guide grooves m1 and m2 are engaged with the ribs eg1 and eg2, respectively. Thus, the waste toner shutter 75 is movably supported by the guide 74. In the vicinity of the end of the shutter portion 83 on the side plate SL side, a pressed portion 87 is formed to rise.

  The spring holder 81 has a spring seat 81a on a surface facing the side plate SL, and a hole h14 for passing the post 85 is formed in the spring seat 81a. At the upper end of the spring holder 81, a locking projection 81b as a locked part to be locked with the locking hole h13 of the cover 74a is formed so as to protrude. , The spring holder 81 is snapped to the cover 74a.

  The shutter grooves 83 are attached to the cover 74a by engaging the guide grooves m1 and m2 with the ribs eg1 and eg2, respectively. Subsequently, one end of the spring 78 is attached to a spring seat 84, and the other end of the spring 78 is attached to a spring seat 81a. When the spring 78 is fitted outside the post 85 and the post 85 is passed through the hole h14, the spring holder 81 is locked by the cover 74a, and the waste toner shutter 75 is attached to the guide 74. By passing the post 85 through the hole h14, the waste toner shutter 75 can be stably attached to the guide 74.

  In the present embodiment, one of the ribs eg1 and eg2 is provided so that the rib eg2 is radially outward from the outer peripheral surface 83s of the shutter portion 83 so that the waste toner shutter 75 can be held by the guide 74. The guide groove m2 is formed radially outward of the cover 74a.

  In the present embodiment, since the guide grooves m1 and m2 and the ribs eg1 and eg2 are engaged with each other, the waste toner shutter 75 is guided by moving the ribs eg1 and eg2 along the guide grooves m1 and m2. 1 and 21, the waste toner introduction port h12 is opened as shown in FIGS. 1 and 21, and the waste toner introduction port h12 is placed in the rear position. The introduction port h12 can be closed.

  By the way, when the toner cartridge 41 is attached to the main body 37 in a state where the waste toner receiving port h11 is slightly inclined downward, the waste toner discharging section 48 is disposed through the waste toner receiving port h11. Tcb, the pressed portion 87 is pushed by the waste toner discharge portion 48, the waste toner shutter 75 is moved forward against the urging force of the spring 78, and is placed at the front position, and the waste toner introduction port h12 Is opened.

  As a result, the waste toner in the waste toner discharge unit 48 is transported via an auger 95 (FIG. 24) as a second rotary transport member described later, and is formed at the tip of the waste toner discharge unit 48. The toner falls under its own weight from a waste toner discharge port h15 (FIG. 24) serving as a waste developer discharge port to be described later, and is introduced into the waste toner storage chamber Tcb via the waste toner introduction port h12 and stored.

  When the toner cartridge 41 is detached from the main body 37 with the waste toner receiving port h11 inclined slightly downward, the waste toner shutter 75 is retracted by the urging force of the spring 78 and is placed at the rear position. Then, the waste toner introduction port h12 is closed.

  At this time, if the waste toner near the waste toner receiving port h11 is pushed by the waste toner shutter 75, the waste toner spills out of the waste toner storage chamber Tcb.

  Therefore, in order to prevent the waste toner from spilling out of the waste toner storage chamber Tcb, in the present embodiment, the end of the waste toner shutter 75 on the side of the waste toner receiving port h11, that is, the rear end of the shutter portion 83 A portion 88 is formed so as to protrude rearward from the shutter portion 83 by a predetermined amount, and on the lower surface of the rear end portion 88, the movement of the waste toner pressed along with the movement of the waste toner shutter 75 is regulated. A tapered portion 88a is formed as a restricting portion for pushing the toner into the waste toner storage chamber Tcb.

  The tapered portion 88a has a larger diameter as it is closer to the pressed portion 87, that is, has a larger plate thickness, and has a smaller diameter as it is farther from the pressed portion 87, that is, has a smaller plate thickness. Is inclined at a constant angle so as to be smaller, and forms a tapered surface.

  Note that the tapered portion 88a has a leading end plate thickness that is equal to or less than half the plate thickness of the main body of the shutter portion 83 in front of the pressed portion 87 of the shutter portion 83, and that the waste toner shutter 75 moves. It is formed so that the angle of the tapered portion 88a with respect to the direction is 45 ° or less. In the present embodiment, the plate thickness of the main body of the shutter portion 83 is 1 mm, the plate thickness at the tip is 0.5 mm, and the angle of the taper portion 88 a with respect to the moving direction of the waste toner shutter 75. Is set to 30 [°].

  Further, the rib 89 protrudes rearward by a predetermined amount above the lower end of the pressed portion 87 to the same position as the rear end 88 and extends horizontally with the rear end 88. Is formed, and a space 91 having an arch shape is formed between the rear end portion 88 and the rib 89, and the waste toner pushed out from the waste toner storage chamber Tcb is stored in the space 91.

  Then, the waste toner discharging portion 48 is advanced into the waste toner storage chamber Tcb, and the upper surface of the rib 89 is prevented from interfering with the waste toner discharging portion 48 and the rib 89 when the pressed portion 87 is pressed. Is formed with a tapered portion 89a. The tapered portion 89a is inclined at a certain angle so that the plate thickness increases as the position is closer to the pressed portion 87, and decreases as the distance from the pressed portion 87 increases, forming a tapered surface. .

  Further, the tapered portion 89a is formed such that the thickness of the tip is not more than half of the thickness of the root portion and the inclination angle is not more than 45 °.

  Next, a state in the side cover Sc when the toner cartridge 41 is attached to and detached from the main body 37 of the image forming unit 16Bk will be described.

  FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing a state inside the side cover before the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached to the main body of the image forming unit, and FIG. FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view showing a state inside the side cover when the toner cartridge is attached to the main body of the image forming unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 26 is an enlarged view showing a state in the side cover after the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached to the main body of the image forming unit. FIG. FIG. 2 shows the movement of waste toner in the side cover after being attached to the main body of the image forming unit. FIG. 29 is a view showing the movement of waste toner in the side cover when the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention is removed from the main body of the image forming unit. FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a state inside the side cover after being removed from the main body of the first embodiment.

  In the figure, h11 is a waste toner receiving port, h12 is a waste toner introduction port, h14 is a hole, h15 is a waste toner discharge port, Tca is a toner storage chamber, Tcb is a waste toner storage chamber, gr1 is a drive gear, and gr2 is a first gear. Idle gear Tn, waste toner, 37 a main body of the image forming unit 16Bk, 38 a spiral, 41 a toner cartridge, 71 a waste developer introduction device, 74 a guide, 74a a cover, 75 a waste toner shutter, 78 is a spring, 81 is a spring holder, 82 is a seal member, 83 is a shutter part, 85 is a post, 87 is a pressed part, and 95 is an auger.

  As shown in FIG. 23, in the side cover Sc before the toner cartridge 41 is attached to the main body portion 37, the waste toner shutter 75 is urged rearward by the urging force of the spring 78 and is placed at the rear position. The waste toner introduction port h12 is closed by the shutter unit 83.

  At this time, the post 85 has not entered the hole h14 of the spring holder 81.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, when the toner cartridge 41 is attached to the main body 37 in a state where the waste toner receiving port h11 is slightly inclined downward, the waste toner discharging section 48 receives the waste toner. The waste toner is discharged into the waste toner storage chamber Tcb through the entrance h11, the pressed portion 87 is pressed by the waste toner discharge unit 48, and the waste toner shutter 75 is advanced against the urging force of the spring 78, and the front position is set. And the waste toner introduction port h12 is opened.

  At this time, the post 85 is made to enter the hole h14 of the spring holder 81.

  As a result, the waste toner in the waste toner discharge unit 48 is conveyed via the auger 95, and as shown in FIG. 26, the waste toner is discharged from the waste toner discharge port h15 formed at the end of the waste toner discharge unit 48 by its own weight. It falls, is introduced into the waste toner storage chamber Tcb through the waste toner introduction port h12, and is stored. Then, as shown in FIG. 27, the waste toner introduced into the waste toner storage chamber Tcb is guided toward the spiral 38 by the guide plate 74c.

  At this time, the spiral 38 is rotated in the direction of arrow A as the first idle gear gr2 is rotated, and conveys the waste toner Tn toward the back of the waste toner storage chamber Tcb.

  As shown in FIG. 28, when the toner cartridge 41 is detached from the main body 37 in a state where the waste toner receiving port h11 is slightly inclined downward, as shown in FIG. Is retracted by the urging force of the spring 78, is placed at the rear position, and the waste toner introduction port h12 is closed.

  At this time, in the vicinity of the waste toner introduction port h12, the waste toner Tn staying on the movement locus of the waste toner shutter 75 is vertically divided by the rear end portion 88 of the waste toner shutter 75, and divided downward. The waste toner Tn is pushed downward by the tapered portion 88a, that is, into the waste toner storage chamber Tcb (in the direction of arrow B).

  Then, the upwardly divided waste toner Tn enters the space 91 formed between the rear end portion 88 and the rib 89, the waste toner shutter 75 is placed at the rear position, and the waste toner introduction port h12 Is closed, the rear end portion 88 and the tip of the rib 89 are pressed against the seal member 82, and when the space 91 is sealed, the space 91 is confined in the space 91.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the waste toner shutter 75 is movably disposed along the guide 74, and the waste toner Tn is provided at the rear end 88 of the waste toner shutter 75 on the side of the waste toner receiving port h11. Is formed, and the waste toner Tn is pushed into the waste toner accommodating chamber Tcb by the tapered portion 88a, so that the waste toner Tn pushed as the waste toner shutter 75 moves is removed. It is possible to prevent spilling out of the waste toner storage chamber Tcb.

  In the present embodiment, a taper surface is formed in the tapered portion 88a such that the plate thickness decreases as the position is closer to the waste toner receiving port h11 and the plate thickness increases as the distance from the waste toner receiving port h11 increases. Not only those with a plate thickness that changes linearly like a tapered surface, but also a curved surface with a plate thickness that changes in a curved line, or a stepped surface with a plate thickness that changes stepwise can be formed. it can.

  In the present embodiment, the printer 10 is described as an image forming apparatus. However, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a multifunction peripheral.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the waste toner shutter 75 provided in the toner receiving port h11 of the waste toner storage chamber Tcb for storing the waste toner Tn is described. The present invention can be applied to a shutter provided at an opening of a storage chamber.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified based on the gist of the present invention, and they are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

16Bk, 16Y, 16M, 16C Image forming unit 37 Main body 41 Toner cartridge 74 Guide 75 Waste toner shutter 88 Rear end 88a Tapered portion h11 Waste toner receiving port h12 Waste toner inlet Tcb Waste toner storage chamber Tn Waste toner

Claims (11)

(A) a waste developer storage unit;
(B) a waste developer receiving port formed in the waste developer accommodating portion for receiving the waste developer conveyed from the main body of the developing device;
(C) a waste developer introduction port for introducing the waste developer received by the waste developer receiving port into the waste developer storage unit;
(D) a guide disposed facing the waste developer receiving port,
(E) a waste developer shutter movably disposed along the guide to open and close the waste developer inlet;
And (f) restricting the movement of the waste developer pushed along with the movement of the waste developer shutter to the end of the waste developer shutter on the waste developer receiving port side, so that the waste developer is subjected to the waste development. A developer container, wherein a regulating portion that is pushed into the developer container is formed.   The developer container according to claim 1, wherein an end of the waste developer shutter is formed to protrude from a main body of the waste developer shutter.   The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the regulating portion is formed on a lower surface of an end of the waste developer shutter.   4. The developer container according to claim 3, wherein the regulating portion has a smaller plate thickness as being closer to the waste developer receiving port, and has a larger plate thickness as being further away from the waste developer receiving port. 5.   5. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the restricting portion is a tapered surface inclined at a fixed angle with respect to a moving direction of the waste developer shutter. (A) the end of the waste developer shutter divides the waste developer in the vertical direction with the movement of the waste developer shutter,
(B) The developer container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the regulating unit pushes the waste developer divided downward into the waste developer storage unit. (A) a rib is formed above an end of the waste developer shutter;
(B) The developer container according to claim 6, wherein the ribs confine the upwardly divided waste developer into a space formed between the waste developer shutter and an end of the waste developer shutter. (A) a seal member is provided at the waste developer receiving port so as to face an end of the waste developer shutter and a rib;
The developer container according to claim 7, wherein (b) when the waste developer shutter closes the waste developer introduction port, an end portion and a rib of the waste developer shutter are pressed against a seal member.   The restricting portion is configured such that the thickness of the end of the end portion of the waste developer shutter is equal to or less than half the thickness of the body portion of the waste developer shutter, and the movement direction of the waste developer shutter. 6. The developer container according to claim 5, wherein the developer container is formed so as to be 45 [°] or less.   A developing device comprising the developer container according to claim 1.   An image forming apparatus comprising the developing device according to claim 10.

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