JP2020183990A - Waste toner amount detection device, waste toner recovery container, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce the likelihood of the occurrence of variations in result of detection of the amount of waste toner and erroneous detection without increasing cost and size of the device.SOLUTION: A waste toner amount detection device comprises: a filler 41 (movable member) that moves in a predetermined movement direction in association with an increase in the amount of waste toner recovered to the inside of a waste toner recovery container and has a plurality of detection target parts 41c, 41d formed at different positions in the movement direction; and an optical sensor 42 that can individually detect the plurality of detection target parts 41c, 41d at different timings in the process where the filler 41 moves in the movement direction. The plurality of detection target parts 41c, 41d are formed such that the lengths H1, H2 in the movement direction of portions detected by the optical sensor 42 are different from each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a waste toner amount detecting device for detecting the amount of waste toner collected in a waste toner collecting container, a waste toner collecting container provided with the waste toner amount detecting device, a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a compound machine thereof. It relates to an image forming apparatus.

Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, untransferred toner remaining on an image carrier such as a photoconductor drum, a photoconductor belt, an intermediate transfer belt, and an intermediate transfer drum is cleaned after a transfer step is performed. There is known a technique of removing untransferred toner by an apparatus, discharging untransferred toner collected by the cleaning apparatus as waste toner from the cleaning apparatus, and collecting the untransferred toner in a waste toner collection container (toner collection box) (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .).
When it is detected that the inside of such a waste toner collection container is full (or nearly full) with the collected waste toner, the waste toner collection container is taken out from the image forming apparatus main body and becomes an empty container. Will be exchanged.

On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, a float member that moves up and down according to the amount of waste toner collected is provided inside a toner recovery box (waste toner recovery container), and the float member is detected by using two sets of optical sensors. As a result, a technique for grasping a state in which the container is filled with waste toner is disclosed.

In the conventional technique, the detection result of the amount of waste toner tends to vary, and there is a possibility that erroneous detection may occur.
Further, in the technique of Patent Document 1, since two optical sensors are installed, the device has become expensive and large in size.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the waste toner amount detection is less likely to cause variations in the detection result of the waste toner amount and false detection without increasing the cost and size of the device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus, a waste toner recovery container, and an image forming apparatus.

The waste toner amount detecting device in the present invention moves in a predetermined moving direction as the amount of waste toner collected inside the waste toner collecting container increases, and a plurality of detected portions are formed at different positions in the moving direction. The movable member is provided with an optical sensor capable of detecting the plurality of detected portions at different timings in the process of the movable member moving in the moving direction, and the plurality of detected portions are the optical sensors. The portions detected by the toner are formed so that the lengths in the moving direction are different from each other.

According to the present invention, a waste toner amount detection device, a waste toner recovery container, and an image forming device, which are less likely to cause variations in detection results of waste toner amount and false detection without increasing the cost and size of the device, are provided. Can be provided.

It is an overall block diagram which shows the image forming apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the image-forming part. It is sectional drawing which shows the vicinity of the collection port in a waste toner collection container. It is sectional drawing which shows the vicinity of the waste toner amount detection apparatus in a waste toner recovery container. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the amount of waste toner and the sensor signal of an optical sensor. It is a figure which shows the filler (movable member).

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description thereof will be appropriately simplified or omitted.

First, FIG. 1 describes the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 1.
In FIG. 1, 1 is a color copier as an image forming apparatus, 3 is a document conveying unit that conveys a document to a document reading unit 4, 4 is a document reading unit that reads image information of a document, and 6 is based on input image information. A writing unit (exposure unit) that emits laser light is shown.
Further, 7 is a paper feed device for storing sheet P such as paper, 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK are process cartridges as an image forming unit corresponding to each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, black), and 17 is a plurality of colors. An intermediate transfer belt (image carrier) on which the toner images of the above are superimposed are shown, and 18 is a secondary transfer roller that transfers the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 17 to the sheet P.
Further, 20 is a fixing device for fixing an unfixed image on the sheet P, 28 is a toner container for supplying toner of each color to the developing devices of each process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK, and 30 is collecting waste toner. Indicates a waste toner recovery container.

Here, each process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK (image-creating unit) integrates a photoconductor drum 11 as an image carrier, a charging device 12, a developing device 13, and a cleaning device 15, respectively. Yes (see Figure 2). Then, each process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10BK is replaced with a new one when it reaches the end of its life.
Toner images of each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) are formed on the photoconductor drum 11 (image carrier) of each process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK.

Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus during normal color image forming will be described.
First, the original is conveyed from the platen by the transfer roller of the original transfer unit 3 and placed on the contact glass of the original reading unit 4. Then, the document reading unit 4 optically reads the image information of the document placed on the contact glass.
Then, the image information of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is transmitted to the writing unit 6. Then, a laser beam (exposure light) based on the image information of each color is emitted from the writing unit 6 toward the photoconductor drum 11 of the corresponding process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK, respectively.

On the other hand, the four photoconductor drums 11 are rotated clockwise in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. Then, referring to FIG. 2, first, the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 is uniformly charged at a position facing the charging device 12 (charging roller) (the charging step). In this way, a charging potential is formed on the photoconductor drum 11. After that, the surface of the charged photoconductor drum 11 reaches the irradiation position of each laser beam.
In the writing unit 6, the laser beam L corresponding to the image signal is emitted from the light source corresponding to each color. The laser beam L passes through a plurality of lenses after being incident on the polygon mirror and reflected. The laser beam after passing through the plurality of lenses passes through different optical paths for each of the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black color components (exposure process).

The laser beam corresponding to the yellow component is applied to the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 of the first process cartridge 10Y from the left side of the paper surface. In this way, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the yellow component is formed on the photoconductor drum 11 after being charged by the charging roller 12a.
Similarly, the laser beam of the cyan component is irradiated on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 of the process cartridge 10C second from the left on the paper surface to form an electrostatic latent image of the cyan component. The laser beam corresponding to the magenta component is applied to the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 of the process cartridge 10M, which is the third from the left on the paper surface, to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the magenta component. The laser beam of the black component is applied to the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 of the process cartridge 10BK, which is the fourth from the left on the paper surface, to form an electrostatic latent image of the black component.

After that, the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 on which the electrostatic latent image of each color is formed reaches a position facing the developing device 13 (see FIG. 2). Then, toner of each color is supplied from each developing device 13 onto the photoconductor drum 11, and the latent image on the photoconductor drum 11 is developed (this is a developing step).
After that, the surfaces of the photoconductor drum 11 after the developing step reach positions facing each other with the intermediate transfer belt 17 (intermediate transfer body) as the image carrier. Here, the primary transfer roller 14 is installed at each opposite position so as to abut on the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17. Then, at the position of the primary transfer roller 14, the toner images of each color formed on the photoconductor drum 11 are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 17 (the primary transfer step).

Then, the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 after the primary transfer step reaches a position facing the cleaning device 15 (see FIG. 2), respectively. Then, the cleaning device 15 recovers the untransferred toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 11 (cleaning step).
After that, the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 passes through the position of the static elimination device, and a series of image forming processes on the photoconductor drum 11 is completed.

On the other hand, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17 on which the images of each color on the photoconductor drum 11 are superimposed and transferred travels in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 and reaches the position of the secondary transfer roller 18. Then, at the position of the secondary transfer roller 18, the full-color image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is secondarily transferred onto the sheet P (this is the secondary transfer step).
After that, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17 reaches the position of the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9 (cleaning device). Then, the untransferred toner on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is collected by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9, and a series of transfer processes on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is completed.

Here, the sheet P at the position of the secondary transfer roller 18 is conveyed from the paper feeding device 7 via the transfer guide, the resist roller 19, and the like.
Specifically, the sheet P fed by the paper feed roller 8 is guided to the resist roller 19 from the paper feed device 7 that houses the sheet P after passing through the transport guide. The sheet P that has reached the resist roller 19 is conveyed toward the position of the secondary transfer roller 18 in time with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17.

After that, the sheet P to which the full-color image is transferred is guided to the fixing device 20. In the fixing device 20, the color image is fixed on the sheet P by the nip of the fixing roller and the pressure roller.
Then, the sheet P after the fixing step is ejected as an output image to the outside of the apparatus main body 1 by the paper ejection roller 29, and then is stacked on the paper ejection unit 5 to complete a series of image forming processes.

Next, FIG. 2 details the image forming portion of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a process cartridge 10BK for black. The other three process cartridges 10Y, 10M, and 10C have almost the same configuration as the black process cartridge 10BK, except that the color of the toner used in the image forming process is different. And are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge 10BK contains a photoconductor drum 11 as an image carrier, a charging device 12 for charging the photoconductor drum 11, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 11. A developing device 13 for developing and a cleaning device 15 for collecting untransferred toner on the photoconductor drum 11 are integrally housed in a case.

Here, the photoconductor drum 11 is a negatively charged organic photoconductor, and a photosensitive layer or the like is provided on a drum-shaped conductive support. The charging device 12 is inside the outer periphery of the conductive core metal. It is a charging roller that covers an elastic layer of resistance. Then, a predetermined voltage is applied to the charging device 12 (charging roller) from the power supply unit, whereby the surface of the opposing photoconductor drum 11 is uniformly charged.

The developing apparatus 13 mainly includes a developing roller 13a facing the photoconductor drum 11, a first conveying screw 13b1 facing the developing roller 13a, and a second conveying screw 13b2 facing the first conveying screw 13b1 via a partition member. And a doctor blade 13c facing the developing roller 13a. The developing roller 13a is composed of a magnet that is fixed inside and forms a magnetic pole on the peripheral surface of the roller, and a sleeve that rotates around the magnet. A plurality of magnetic poles are formed on the developing roller 13a (sleeve) by the magnet, and the developing agent is supported on the developing roller 13a.
A two-component developer composed of a carrier and toner is housed in the developing apparatus 13.

The cleaning device 15 includes a cleaning blade 15a that comes into contact with the photoconductor drum 11, and a transport coil 15b that transports untransferred toner collected in the cleaning device 15 as waste toner toward the waste toner collection container 30 (see FIG. 3). (Conveyor pipe 16), etc. are installed. The cleaning blade 15a is made of a rubber material such as urethane rubber, and is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 at a predetermined angle and at a predetermined pressure. As a result, deposits such as untransferred toner adhering to the photoconductor drum 11 are mechanically scraped off and collected in the cleaning device 15. Then, the untransferred toner collected in the cleaning device 15 is conveyed to the waste toner collection container 30 via the transfer pipe 16 (the transfer coil 15b is internally provided), and the waste toner is collected as waste toner. It is collected inside the container 30.
Similarly, referring to FIG. 1, the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9 as a cleaning device also has a cleaning blade that abuts on the intermediate transfer belt 17 and waste toner that has not been collected in the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9. A transport coil (convey tube 16) for transporting the waste toner to the waste toner collection container 30 (see FIG. 3) is installed. Then, the untransferred toner collected in the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9 is conveyed to the waste toner collection container 30 via the transfer pipe 16 (the transfer coil is internally provided) and is discarded as waste toner. It is collected inside the toner collection container 30. The waste toner recovery container 30 will be described in more detail later.
The deposits adhering to the photoconductor drum 11 and the intermediate transfer belt 17 include, in addition to the untransferred toner, paper dust generated from the sheet P (paper) and generated on the photoconductor drum 11 when discharged by the charging device 12. There are discharge products, additives added to the toner, etc., but in the present application, these are collectively referred to as "untransferred toner".

The image-forming process described above will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.
The developing roller 13a is rotating in the arrow direction (counterclockwise direction) in FIG. The developer in the developing apparatus 13 is replenished from the toner container 28 by a toner replenishing unit (not shown) by rotation of the first transport screw 13b1 and the second transport screw 13b2 arranged so as to interpose a partition member between them. It circulates in the longitudinal direction while being stirred and mixed together with the toner (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2).

Then, the toner that is triboelectrically charged and adsorbed on the carrier is supported on the developing roller 13a together with the carrier. The developer carried on the developing roller 13a then reaches the position of the doctor blade 13c. Then, the developer on the developing roller 13a reaches a position facing the photoconductor drum 11 (a developing region) after being adjusted to an appropriate amount at the position of the doctor blade 13c.
Then, in the developing region, the toner in the developing agent adheres to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11. Specifically, the toner is latently imaged by the electric field formed by the potential difference (development potential) between the latent image potential (exposure potential) of the image portion irradiated with the laser beam L and the development bias applied to the developing roller 13a. Adheres to (a toner image is formed).
After that, most of the toner adhering to the photoconductor drum 11 in the developing step is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 17. Then, the untransferred toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 11 is collected in the cleaning device 15 by the cleaning blade 15a.

Hereinafter, the waste toner amount detecting device 40, which is characteristic of the waste toner collecting container 30 in the present embodiment, will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 3, the waste toner collection container 30 is formed with a collection port 30a that communicates with the discharge port 16a of the transport pipe 16.
Specifically, the waste toner collection container 30 is detachably installed (replaceable) with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1, and when the waste toner collecting container 30 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 1, it is connected to the discharge port 16a. The collection port 30a will be connected. Then, the untransferred toner collected by the cleaning device 15 and the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9 is conveyed as waste toner T by the transfer pipe 16, and is inside the waste toner collection container 30 via the discharge port 16a (collection port 30a). Will be collected in.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the waste toner amount is detected in the waste toner collection container 30 at a position deviated from the portion where the collection port 30a is formed in the depth direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 3). The device 40 is installed.
Then, when the waste toner amount detecting device 40 detects that the inside of the waste toner collecting container 30 is full (or nearly full) with the waste toner T, the waste toner collecting container 30 is the image forming device. It will be taken out from the main body 1 and replaced with an empty waste toner collection container 30.

As shown in FIG. 4A and the like, the waste toner amount detecting device 40 is composed of a filler 41 as a movable member, an optical sensor 42, and the like.
The filler 41 as a movable member is configured to move in a predetermined moving direction as the amount of waste toner collected inside the waste toner collection container 30 (the amount of waste toner T) increases.

Specifically, the filler 41 (movable member) is a plate-shaped member extending in the width direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 4), and one end side thereof can rotate around the support shaft 41a to collect waste toner. It is supported by the ceiling of the container 30. Further, an optical sensor 42 that optically detects the presence or absence of the filler 41 is installed on the other end side of the filler 41 (the side on which the two detected portions 41c and 41d described later are formed). The optical sensor 42 is a transmissive optical sensor (photosensor) whose sensor output changes depending on whether or not there are detected portions 41c and 41d between the light emitting element and the light receiving element. In particular, the optical sensor 42 in the present embodiment outputs an on signal (“1” signal) when the detected portions 41c and 41d are present between the light emitting element and the light receiving element, and turns off when the detected portions 41c and 41d are present. It is a digital transmissive optical sensor that outputs a signal (“0” signal).
In the present embodiment, the optical sensor 42 is fixedly installed in the waste toner collection container 30, but can also be fixedly installed in the image forming apparatus main body 1.

On the other hand, in the waste toner recovery container 30, a rubber sheet 35 as a flexible member is installed so as to close the opening 30b (see FIG. 4A) formed in the ceiling portion thereof. The rubber sheet 35 is made of a thin rubber material having low toner resistance, and as shown in FIGS. 4 (B) and 4 (C), is pressed by the waste toner T collected inside the waste toner collection container 30. It is deformed by movement. The rubber sheet 35 is formed so as to be convex (mountain-shaped) without receiving an external force, and is arranged so that the convex portion faces downward and enters the inside of the waste toner collection container 30 through the opening 30b. Has been done.
Then, the protrusion 41b of the filler 41 (movable member) comes into contact with the rubber sheet 35 (flexible member) from the outside of the waste toner collection container 30, and is pushed by the waste toner T interposed in the rubber sheet 35. It will move in the counterclockwise direction (movement direction) of FIG. 4 around the support shaft 41a. The protrusion 41b of the filler 41 protrudes so as to enter the inside of the waste toner recovery container 30 through the opening 30b.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the amount of waste toner T in the waste toner collection container 30 is small, the filler 41 (movable member) has its detected portions 41c and 41d by the optical sensor 42. It is in an undetected rotation position (the position shown in FIG. 4A). On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, when the amount of waste toner T in the waste toner collection container 30 increases beyond a predetermined amount, the filler accompanies the increase in the amount of waste toner. The 41 rotates around the support shaft 41a in a predetermined movement direction (counterclockwise). Then, the filler 41 will eventually rotate to the rotation position where the detected portions 41c and 41d are detected by the optical sensor 42. The rotation of these fillers 41 is due to being pushed by the waste toner T via the rubber sheet 35, as described above.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the filler 41 as a movable member is formed with a plurality of detected portions 41c and 41d at positions different in the moving direction (rotation direction) described above. Specifically, as a plurality of detected units, there are two detected units (first detected unit 41c and second detected unit 41d) with an interval H3 (see FIG. 6A) in the moving direction (rotation direction). And.) Is formed.
The optical sensor 42 is configured to be able to detect a plurality of detected portions 41c and 41d at different timings in the process of moving the filler 41 in the above-mentioned moving direction (counterclockwise direction).

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 (A), the plurality of detected portions 41c and 41d are formed so that the lengths of the portions detected by the optical sensor 42 in the moving direction (rotation direction) are different from each other. Has been done.
Specifically, referring to FIG. 6A, the first detection by the optical sensor 42 is first performed in the process in which the filler 41 (movable member) moves in the moving direction (counterclockwise direction) as the amount of waste toner increases. The length H1 of the detected unit 41c in the moving direction is longer than the length H2 of the second detected unit 41d detected by the optical sensor 42 in the moving direction (H1> H2). Specifically, one end side of the filler is formed in a substantially U shape by the two detected portions 41c and 41d, and the substantially U-shaped portion thereof is formed in the rotation direction of the first detected portion 41c. The wall thickness H1 is formed to be thicker than the wall thickness H2 in the rotation direction of the second detected portion 41d.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the amount of waste toner in the waste toner collection container 30 is close to full (hereinafter, such a state is appropriately referred to as a “near full” state). , The first detected portion 41c is detected by the optical sensor 42. When the first detected unit 41c is detected in this way, the output (sensor signal) of the optical sensor 42 changes from “0” to “1” as shown in FIG. As a result, the control unit determines that the inside of the waste toner collection container 30 is near full, and a display panel (installed on the exterior portion) of the apparatus main body 1 displays that fact.

Then, when the amount of waste toner in the container increases and the filler 41 rotates further counterclockwise, the optical sensor 42 causes a gap (in space) between the first detected portion 41c and the second detected portion 41d. Yes.) Is detected. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the output (sensor signal) of the optical sensor 42 changes from “1” to “0”. As a result, the control unit determines that the waste toner collection container 30 is almost full and the optimum timing for notifying the serviceman is determined, and a display panel of the apparatus main body 1 indicates that fact. At the same time, the service company is automatically notified (serviceman notification) through the Internet line connected to the device main body 1. On the other hand, the service company that receives such a notification will carry out the shipping procedure of the replacement waste toner collection container 30 and the arrangement of the serviceman.
Here, the time from the detection of near fullness to the notification of the serviceman is determined by the wall thickness H1 of the first detected unit 41c. That is, near fullness is detected in the time from when the first detected unit 41c is detected by the optical sensor 42 until the filler 41 rotates and the first detected unit 41c is not detected by the optical sensor 42. It is the time from when the serviceman is notified. Here, since the wall thickness H1 of the first detected portion 41c is set to be sufficiently thick, it is possible to give a serviceman notification with a margin from the near full state.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4C, when the amount of waste toner in the container further increases and the amount of waste toner in the waste toner recovery container 30 becomes full (or almost full), the filler 41 further counterclockwise. Rotating clockwise, the optical sensor 42 detects the second detected portion 41d. When the second detected unit 41d is detected in this way, the output (sensor signal) of the optical sensor 42 changes from “0” to “1” again, as shown in FIG. As a result, the control unit determines that the waste toner collection container 30 is full, and the display panel of the apparatus main body 1 displays this fact, and the apparatus main body 1 is stopped.
Here, the time from the notification of the serviceman to the detection of fullness is determined by the gap H3 between the first detected unit 41c and the second detected unit 41d. That is, the serviceman notification indicates the time from when the first detected unit 41c is no longer detected by the optical sensor 42 until the filler 41 rotates and the second detected unit 41d is detected by the optical sensor 42. It is the time from when it is filled until the fullness is detected. Here, since the gap H3 between the first detected unit 41c and the second detected unit 41d is set to the optimum length, the service is provided at the optimum timing without being too early or too late from the serviceman notification. It will be possible to dispatch a man and ship a new waste toner collection container 30.

As described above, in the present embodiment, a plurality of detected portions 41c and 41d having different lengths in the moving direction are provided in the filler 41, and the detected portions 41c and 41d are set at different timings by one optical sensor 42. Since it is directly detected by, it is possible to perform near full detection and full detection separately with high accuracy, and it is also possible to send a serviceman notification in the meantime. Therefore, it is abolished as compared with the case where one detected portion is detected by an optical sensor to detect near fullness, and the fullness time is predicted and detected based on the actual result of toner consumption from the near fullness detection. The detection result of the toner amount is less likely to vary, and false detection is less likely to occur. That is, near fullness detection, serviceman notification, and fullness detection can be performed with high accuracy.
Further, in the present embodiment, since the near fullness detection, the serviceman notification, and the fullness detection are performed by one optical sensor 42, the waste toner amount detecting device 40 is lower than the case where a plurality of optical sensors are installed. It can be reduced in cost and size.
In the present embodiment, in order to perform near full detection, serviceman notification, and full detection at the right time, the optimum shape (first and second detected units) is adjusted according to the usage status of the image forming apparatus 1 of the user. It is preferable that the fillers 41 having lengths H and 1H2 and gaps H3) of 41c and 41d can be installed in a replaceable manner.

Here, in the present embodiment, the plurality of detected portions 41c and 41d in the filler 41 can be formed so that the light transmittances are different from each other. At this time, the light receiving element of the optical sensor 42 receives the light transmitted by the detected units 41c and 41d, and the magnitude of the sensor output (the sensor when the light is directly received from the light emitting element to the light receiving element). The size of the output is different from that of the output) to detect the detected units 41c and 41d.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6B, the light transmittance R1 of the first detected unit 41c and the light transmittance R2 of the second detected unit 41d are different (R1 ≠ R2). The two detected portions 41c and 41d can be formed of different materials. In such a case, the optical sensor 42 is preferably a transmissive optical sensor having a plurality of detection thresholds or a transmissive optical sensor capable of outputting an analog output.

With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the first detected unit 41c is detected by the optical sensor 42, the light transmitted through the first detected unit 41c is received by the light receiving element and output. The magnitude of the sensor output and the light transmitted through the second detected unit 41d when the second detected unit 41d is detected by the optical sensor 42 as shown in FIG. 4C are received by the light receiving element and output. The magnitude of the sensor output will be different. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether the sensor is in the near full state or the full state from the difference in the magnitude of the sensor output.

In particular, the filler 41 (movable member) in FIG. 6C has a plurality of detected portions between the two detected portions 41c and 41d adjacent to the moving direction (rotation direction) of the plurality of detected portions. An auxiliary detection unit 41d having a light transmittance different from that of air is provided.
Specifically, in the filler 41 shown in FIG. 6C, the space between the first detected unit 41c and the second detected unit 41d is not a space, and the first and second detected units 41c and 41d are in between. Auxiliary detection unit 41d (for example, a translucent mylar having a slightly lower light transmittance than air) is provided, which is different from the light transmittance and the light transmittance of air.
With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), the magnitude of the sensor output when the first detected unit 41c is detected by the optical sensor 42 (when near full detection is detected) and the auxiliary cover by the optical sensor 42. The magnitude of the sensor output when detecting the detection unit 41d (at the time of serviceman notification) and the sensor when the second detected unit 41d is detected by the optical sensor 42 (at the time of full detection) as shown in FIG. 4C. The magnitude of the output and the magnitude of the sensor output when none of them (in the state as shown in FIG. 4A) are different. Therefore, from the difference in the magnitude of the sensor output, it is possible to easily determine whether the state is near full, serviceman notification state, full state, or none of them. Therefore, even if the waste toner recovery container 30 is temporarily taken out from the image forming apparatus main body 1 and reattached before replacement, whether the waste toner recovery container 30 is in any of the above four states. Can be immediately determined from the magnitude of the sensor output.

As described above, the waste toner amount detecting device 40 according to the present embodiment moves in a predetermined moving direction and at a different position in the moving direction as the amount of waste toner collected inside the waste toner collecting container increases. A filler 41 (movable member) in which a plurality of detected portions 41c and 41d are formed, and an optical sensor 42 capable of detecting the plurality of detected portions 41c and 41d at different timings in the process of moving the filler 41 in the moving direction. , Are provided. The plurality of detected portions 41c and 41d are formed so that the lengths H1 and H2 in the moving direction of the portions detected by the optical sensor 42 are different from each other.
As a result, it is possible to prevent variations in the detection result of the amount of waste toner and erroneous detection without increasing the cost and size of the device.

In the present embodiment, the amount of waste toner detection device 40 installed in the waste toner collection container 30 in which the untransferred toner collected in the cleaning device 15 and the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9 is collected as waste toner T However, the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, only the untransferred toner collected in the cleaning device for the photoconductor drum is collected as waste toner in the waste toner collection container. Naturally, the present invention can be applied to the installed waste toner amount detecting device.
Then, even in such a case, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained.

It is clear that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, the present embodiment may be appropriately modified in addition to the suggestions in the present embodiment. is there. Further, the number, position, shape, etc. of the constituent members are not limited to the present embodiment, and can be a suitable number, position, shape, etc. for carrying out the present invention.

1 Image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus main body),
9 Intermediate transfer belt cleaning device,
11 Photoreceptor drum (image carrier),
15 Cleaning equipment,
16 Conveyance pipe,
16a outlet,
17 Intermediate transfer belt (image carrier, intermediate transfer),
30 Waste toner collection container,
30a collection port,
30b opening,
35 Rubber sheet (flexible member),
40 Waste toner amount detector,
41 Filler (movable member),
41a support shaft,
41b protrusion,
41c 1st detected part,
41d 2nd detected unit,
41e Auxiliary detected part,
42 Optical sensor (transmissive optical sensor, detection means).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-272579

Claims (9)

A movable member that moves in a predetermined moving direction as the amount of waste toner collected inside the waste toner collecting container increases, and a plurality of detected portions are formed at different positions in the moving direction.
An optical sensor capable of detecting the plurality of detected portions at different timings in the process of moving the movable member in the moving direction, and
With
The waste toner amount detecting device, wherein the plurality of detected portions are formed so that the lengths of the portions detected by the optical sensor in the moving direction are different from each other. The waste toner amount detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of detected units are two detected units formed at intervals in the moving direction. In the process of moving the movable member in the moving direction as the amount of waste toner increases, the length of the first detected portion detected by the optical sensor in the moving direction is then detected by the optical sensor. The waste toner amount detecting device according to claim 2, wherein the second detected portion is longer than the length in the moving direction. The waste toner amount detecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of detected units are formed so that the light transmittances are different from each other. The movable member is provided with an auxiliary detected portion having a light transmittance different from that of the plurality of detected portions and air between the two detected portions adjacent to the moving direction in the plurality of detected portions. The waste toner amount detecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The waste toner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the optical sensor is a transmissive optical sensor having a plurality of detection thresholds or a transmissive optical sensor capable of outputting an analog output. Volume detector. A waste toner collection container comprising the waste toner amount detecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. It is installed so as to close the opening formed in the waste toner collection container, and is provided inside the waste toner collection container with a flexible member that is deformed by being pushed by the collected waste toner.
The claim is characterized in that the movable member comes into contact with the flexible member from the outside of the waste toner collection container and moves in the moving direction by being pushed by the waste toner interposed at the flexible member. 7. The waste toner collection container according to 7. An image forming apparatus comprising the waste toner amount detecting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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