JP2021196371A - Recovery device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To detect a near-full state and a full state of a recovery container with a simple device configuration.SOLUTION: A recovery device (40) comprises: a light transmissive recovery container (41) that recovers waste generated in a production process; a mounting plate (44) that changes the direction of the recovery container from a first direction to a second direction; a light emitting element (46) that is located at a height of the recovery container in a near-full state; a light receiving element (47) that is located at a height of the recovery container in a full state; a first reflecting member (48) that is opposite to the light emitting element with the recovery container therebetween; and a second reflecting member (49) that is opposite to the light receiving element with the recovery container therebetween. A light path directed from the light emitting element to the light receiving element is folded by the first reflecting member and the second reflecting member. In a state in which the direction of the recovery container is the second direction, a passage is formed in the recovery container along the light path directed from the light emitting element to the first reflecting member. When the recovery container enters the near-full state, the direction of the recovery container is changed by the mounting plate from the first direction to the second direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A

Description

The present invention relates to a recovery device and an image forming device.

The image forming apparatus is provided with a collecting apparatus for collecting waste toner generated during image forming. As a recovery device for this type of waste toner, an optical sensor has been proposed that detects the full state of the recovery container and notifies the replacement time of the recovery container (see, for example, Patent Document 1). If image formation is immediately prohibited when the full state of the collection container is detected, there arises a problem that the ongoing image formation is unexpectedly interrupted. Therefore, as a waste toner recovery device, a device that warns of a near-full state close to a full state and allows image formation on a predetermined number of sheets after the warning has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-226443 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-338993

In the recovery device described in Patent Document 2, the prohibition timing of image formation is predicted based on the near full state. Therefore, when the printing rate is low or the like, image formation is prohibited before the collection container is filled with waste toner, and replacement of the collection container is promoted even though there is an empty space. It is conceivable to detect the full state in addition to the near full state, but if a plurality of sensors are prepared to detect the near full state and the full state, there is a problem that the device configuration becomes complicated. Such a defect may occur not only in the image forming apparatus but also in the case of collecting the waste generated in the production process in other production apparatus.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to detect the near-full state and the full state of the collection container with a simple device configuration.

The recovery device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a translucent recovery container for collecting waste generated in the production process, a mounting plate in which the direction of the recovery container is changed from the first direction to the second direction, and the above-mentioned. A light emitting element positioned at the height of the near full state of the collection container, a light receiving element positioned at the height of the full state of the collection container, and a first reflective member facing the light emitting element across the collection container. And a second reflecting member facing the light receiving element with the recovery container interposed therebetween, and the optical path from the light emitting element to the light receiving element is folded back to the first reflecting member and the second reflecting member. In the state where the collection container is oriented in the second direction, a passage along the optical path from the light emitting element to the first reflection member is formed in the collection container, and the collection container is in a near-full state. At that time, the orientation of the collection container is changed from the first orientation to the second orientation by the above-mentioned mounting plate.

The recovery device includes a determination unit for determining a near full state and a full state of the collection container based on the amount of light received by the light receiving element, and the determination unit has a first threshold value and a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value. When the threshold value is set and the light receiving element changes from the light receiving state of the light receiving amount equal to or more than the first threshold value to the non-light receiving state, the determination unit determines that the waste toner tank is in the near full state, and the light receiving element is the first. When the light receiving state of the light receiving amount equal to or more than the threshold value of 2 changes to the non-light receiving state, the determination unit may determine that the waste toner tank is full.

The recovery device includes an elevating mechanism that raises the light emitting element and the first reflective member from the initial height to the height of the near full state of the recovery container, and the elevating mechanism is such that the light receiving element does not receive light from the light receiving state. Each time the state changes, the light emitting element and the first reflecting member may be raised by a certain distance from the initial height.

Even if the recovery device includes an estimation unit that estimates the recovery amount of waste in the recovery container based on the heights of the light emitting element and the first reflection member when the light receiving element is in a non-light receiving state. good.

The recovery device of another aspect of the present invention includes a translucent recovery container for recovering waste generated in the production process, a mounting plate in which the direction of the recovery container is changed from the first direction to the second direction, and the above-mentioned. A light emitting element positioned at the height of the full state of the collection container, a light receiving element positioned at the height of the near full state of the collection container, and a first reflective member facing the light emitting element across the collection container. And a second reflecting member facing the light receiving element with the recovery container interposed therebetween, and the optical path from the light emitting element to the light receiving element is folded back to the first reflecting member and the second reflecting member. In the state where the collection container is oriented in the second direction, a passage along the optical path from the second reflecting member to the light receiving element is formed in the collection container, and the collection container is in a near-full state. At that time, the orientation of the collection container is changed from the first orientation to the second orientation by the above-mentioned mounting plate.

The image forming apparatus of one aspect of the present invention includes an image forming portion for forming an image on a sheet and the above-mentioned collecting apparatus.

According to the present invention, the near-full state of the collection container can be detected when the collection container is in the first orientation. When the collection container is in the near full state, the collection container changes from the first direction to the second direction, so that the optical path of the detection light is secured by the passage formed in the collection container and the full state of the collection container can be detected. Become. As described above, with a simple device configuration using a set of light emitting element and light receiving element, it is possible to detect the near full state and the full state of the collection container.

It is a schematic diagram of the printer of 1st Embodiment. It is a front schematic diagram of the rotating apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a side schematic diagram of the rotating apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is operation transition diagram from phase 1 to phase 3 of 1st Embodiment. It is operation transition diagram from phase 4 to phase 5 of 1st Embodiment. It is a front schematic diagram of the recovery device of 2nd Embodiment. It is a side schematic diagram of the recovery device of 2nd Embodiment. It is operation transition diagram from phase 1 to phase 3 of the 2nd Embodiment. It is operation transition diagram from phase 4 to phase 6 of the 2nd Embodiment. It is operation transition diagram from phase 7 to phase 9 of the 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 3 is an operation transition diagram of Phase 10 of the second embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus to which the collecting apparatus is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a printer will be illustrated as an image forming apparatus. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the printer of the first embodiment. Arrows Fr, Re, U, and Lo appropriately attached to each figure indicate the front side, the rear side, the upper side, and the lower side of the printer, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes a box-shaped housing 10 in which various devices are housed. A paper cassette 11 in which a bundle of sheets is set is housed in the lower part of the housing 10, and a paper discharge tray 12 on which image-formed sheets are stacked is provided in the upper part of the housing 10. A toner container 13 for storing toner is set detachably below the output tray 12 for each toner color (for example, four colors of magenta, cyan, yellow, and black). Below the plurality of toner containers 13, intermediate transfer belts 16 spanned by a pair of left and right rollers 14 and 15 are provided.

Image forming portions 17 are provided in a row on the left and right for each color of toner along the lower side of the intermediate transfer belt 16. Each image forming unit 17 is provided with a photoconductor drum 21 rotatably connected to the intermediate transfer belt 16, and a charger 22, a developing device 23, and a temporary transfer unit 24 are provided around the photoconductor drum 21. , The cleaning device 25 and the slow current device 26 are arranged in the order of the primary transfer process. A recovery device 40 (see FIG. 2A) is connected to the cleaning device 25. Toner is supplied from the toner container 13 to each developer 23 through a supply path (not shown), and waste toner is discharged from each cleaning device 25 to the recovery device 40 through a discharge path (not shown).

Below each image forming unit 17, an exposure apparatus 18 composed of a laser scanning unit (LSU) is provided. On the right side of the housing 10, a sheet transport path L from the paper cassette 11 to the paper output tray 12 is formed by a plurality of rollers. A paper feeding unit 31 is provided at the upstream end (lower end) of the transport path L, and a secondary transfer section 32 is provided on the right end side of the intermediate transfer belt 16 downstream of the paper feed section 31 in the transport path L. .. In the transport path L, a fixing device 33 is provided downstream of the secondary transfer unit 32, and a paper ejection port 34 is provided at the downstream end (upper end) of the transport path L.

At the time of image formation of the printer 1, after the surface of the photoconductor drum 21 is charged by the charger 22, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 21 by the laser beam from the exposure apparatus 18. Next, toner is adhered to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor drum 21 from the developing device 23 to form a toner image, and the toner image is primarily transferred from the surface of the photoconductor drum 21 to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 16. Toner. By primary transfer of the toner image of each color to the intermediate transfer belt 16 in each image forming unit 17, a full-color toner image is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 16. The waste toner and electric charge remaining on the photoconductor drum 21 are removed by the cleaning device 25 and the power reducer 26.

On the other hand, the paper feed unit 31 takes in the sheet from the paper feed cassette 11 or the manual feed tray (not shown), and the sheet is conveyed toward the secondary transfer unit 32 in time with the above image forming operation. In the secondary transfer unit 32, a full-color toner image is secondarily transferred from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 16 to the surface of the sheet, and the transferred sheet is conveyed to the fixing device 33 downstream of the secondary transfer unit 32. The toner image is fixed to the sheet in the fixing device 33, and the fixed sheet is discharged from the paper ejection port 34 onto the paper ejection tray 12. In this way, the toner image transferred to the sheet passes through the fixing device 33, so that an image is formed on the surface of the sheet.

At the time of forming such an image, the waste toner is collected in the waste toner tank 41 (see FIG. 2A) of the collection device 40, and it is necessary to replace the waste toner tank 41 before it overflows with the waste toner. It is necessary to prepare a new waste toner tank 41 before replacing the waste toner tank 41, and it is desirable to use up the empty space in the tank when replacing the waste toner tank 41. These can be realized by detecting the near full state and the full state of the waste toner tank 41, but if a sensor is individually prepared for each state detection, the device configuration becomes complicated. Therefore, in the recovery device 40, it is possible to detect the full state and the near full state of the waste toner tank 41 by one sensor.

A detailed configuration of the recovery device will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 2A is a front schematic view of the rotating device of the first embodiment. FIG. 2B is a schematic side view of the rotating device of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the collection device 40 is provided with a waste toner tank 41 as a collection container for collecting waste toner generated during image formation. The waste toner tank 41 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape by a translucent resin or the like, and a waste toner collection port 42 is formed above the waste toner tank 41. Waste toner enters the tank from the collection port 42, and the waste toner is gradually accumulated in the waste toner tank 41. Since the waste toner tank 41 has translucency, the optical path P of the detection light is not blocked by the waste toner tank 41 until the waste toner is sufficiently accumulated in the waste toner tank 41.

In the waste toner tank 41, after the waste toner is accumulated up to the height Ha in the near full state, the waste toner is accumulated up to the height Hb in the full state beyond the height Ha in the near full state. The height Ha in the near full state is the height of the waste toner when the waste toner is accumulated in the waste toner tank 41 to a state close to the full state, and the height Hb in the full state is the height of the waste toner in the waste toner tank 41. Is the height of the waste toner when it is accumulated to the full state. A concave groove 43 is formed on the side wall of the waste toner tank 41 at a height Ha in a near full state. Although the details will be described later, when the waste toner is accumulated up to the height Ha in the near full state, the optical path P of the detection light is secured by the concave groove 43.

The waste toner tank 41 is mounted on the mounting plate 44, and the drive motor 45 is connected to the mounting plate 44. When the mounting plate 44 is rotated by the drive motor 45, the direction of the waste toner tank 41 on the mounting plate 44 is changed from the first direction to the second direction. The second orientation is the orientation in which the waste toner tank 41 is rotated 90 degrees from the first orientation. More specifically, the first direction is the direction in which the extending direction of the concave groove 43 of the waste toner tank 41 and the optical path P of the detection light are orthogonal to each other (see FIG. 2A). The second direction is the direction in which the extending direction of the concave groove 43 of the waste toner tank 41 and the optical path P of the detection light are parallel to each other (see Phase 4 in FIG. 4).

Further, the recovery device 40 is provided with a set of a light emitting element 46 and a light receiving element 47 as an optical sensor for detecting the recovery amount of waste toner. The light emitting element 46 is positioned at the height Ha of the waste toner tank 41 in the near full state, and the light receiving element 47 is positioned at the height Hb of the waste toner tank 41 in the full state. Further, at the height Ha of the waste toner tank 41 in the near full state, a first reflective member 48 facing the light emitting element 46 with the waste toner tank 41 interposed therebetween is provided. Further, a second reflective member 49 facing the light receiving element 47 with the waste toner tank 41 interposed therebetween is provided at the height Hb of the waste toner tank 41 in a full state.

When the detection light is emitted from the light emitting element 46 toward the first reflection member 48, the detection light that has passed through the waste toner tank 41 is reflected from the first reflection member 48 toward the second reflection member 49. .. Then, the detection light is reflected from the second reflecting member 49 toward the light receiving element 47, and the detection light that has passed through the waste toner tank 41 is received by the light receiving element 47. In this way, the optical path P of the detection light from the light emitting element 46 to the light receiving element 47 so that the detection light crosses the height position of the waste toner tank 41 in the near full state and the height position of the waste toner tank 41 in the full state. Is folded back to the first and second reflective members 48 and 49.

With the waste toner tank 41 in the first orientation (see FIG. 2A), the extending direction of the concave groove 43 of the waste toner tank 41 is orthogonal to the optical path P of the detection light from the light emitting element 46 toward the first reflecting member 48. is doing. Since the detection light directed from the light emitting element 46 to the first reflecting member 48 passes through the inside of the waste toner tank 41, when the waste toner is accumulated in the waste toner tank 41 up to the height Ha in the near full state, the waste toner tank 41 The detection light is blocked by the waste toner inside. When the light receiving element 47 is in the non-light receiving state, the near full state of the waste toner tank 41 is detected, but the full state of the waste toner tank 41 cannot be detected.

With the waste toner tank 41 in the second orientation (see Phase 4 in FIG. 4), the waste toner tank 41 is provided along the optical path P of the detection light from the light emitting element 46 toward the first reflecting member 48 by the concave groove 43. A passage is formed. Since the detection light directed from the light emitting element 46 to the first reflecting member 48 passes through the concave groove 43 on the outer side of the waste toner tank 41, even if the waste toner is accumulated up to the near full height Ha of the waste toner tank 41, it is wasted. The detection light is not blocked by the waste toner inside the toner tank 41. After the near full state of the waste toner tank 41 is detected, the light receiving element 47 is put into the non-light receiving state again, so that the full state of the waste toner tank 41 is detected.

The recovery device 40 is provided with a control unit 51 that collectively controls each unit of the device. The control unit 51 has a determination unit 52 that determines the near full state and the full state of the waste toner tank 41 based on the amount of light received by the light receiving element 47. As described above, in either the near full state or the full state of the waste toner tank 41, the detection light is blocked by the waste toner and the light receiving element 47 is in the non-light receiving state. Therefore, the determination unit 52 utilizes the difference between the light receiving amount immediately before the near full state and the light receiving amount immediately before the full state of the waste toner tank 41 in order to distinguish between the near full state and the full state of the waste toner tank 41.

Immediately before the near full state, the direction of the waste toner tank 41 is the first direction (see FIG. 2A). The detected light passes through the side wall of the waste toner tank 41 twice between the light emitting element 46 and the first reflecting member 48, and the detected light passes through the side wall of the waste toner tank 41 between the second reflecting member 49 and the light receiving element 47. Pass twice. Immediately before the full state, the direction of the waste toner tank 41 is the second direction (see Phase 4 in FIG. 4). The detected light passes through the concave groove 43 on the outside of the tank between the light emitting element 46 and the first reflecting member 48, and the detected light passes through the side wall of the waste toner tank 41 twice between the second reflecting member 49 and the light receiving element 47. It is passing. Therefore, the amount of light received immediately before the full state is larger than the amount of light received immediately before the near full state.

The determination unit 52 is set with a first threshold value and a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value. When the light receiving element 47 changes from the light receiving state of the light receiving amount equal to or more than the first threshold value and less than the second threshold value to the non-light receiving state, the determination unit 52 determines that the waste toner tank 41 is in the near full state. When the light receiving element 47 changes from the light receiving state of the light receiving amount equal to or more than the second threshold value to the non-light receiving state, the determination unit 52 determines that the waste toner tank 41 is in the full state. The near full state and the full state of the waste toner tank 41 are distinguished by the difference in the amount of light received by the light receiving element 47 when the light receiving element 47 changes from the light receiving state to the non-light receiving state.

When the waste toner tank 41 is in the near full state, the drive motor 45 is driven by the control unit 51, and the direction of the waste toner tank 41 is changed from the first direction to the second direction by the rotation of the mounting plate 44. .. At the same time, the control unit 51 displays a message on the display of the printer 1 prompting the preparation of a new waste toner tank 41. When the waste toner tank 41 is full, the control unit 51 prohibits the image forming unit 17 (see FIG. 1) from forming an image on the sheet. At the same time, the control unit 51 displays a message on the display of the printer 1 prompting the replacement of the waste toner tank 41.

Each part of the control unit 51 may be realized by software using a processor, or may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit or the like. When a processor is used, various processes are performed by the processor reading and executing a program stored in a memory. As the processor, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) is used. The memory is composed of one or a plurality of storage media such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory) depending on the intended use.

The operation of the rotating device will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is an operation transition diagram from Phase 1 to Phase 3 of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an operation transition diagram from Phase 4 to Phase 5 of the first embodiment.

As shown in Phase 1 of FIG. 3, the orientation of the waste toner tank 41 is the first orientation in the initial state. That is, the optical path P of the detection light from the light emitting element 46 toward the first reflecting member 48 and the extending direction of the concave groove 43 of the waste toner tank 41 are orthogonal to each other. Since the waste toner W is not accumulated in the waste toner tank 41, the detection light is not blocked by the waste toner tank 41. The detection light emitted from the light emitting element 46 is received by the light receiving element 47 via the waste toner tank 41, the first and second reflecting members 48, 49. By passing the detection light through the side wall of the waste toner tank 41, the light receiving amount of the light receiving element 47 is equal to or more than the first threshold value Th1 and less than the second threshold value Th2.

As shown in Phase 2 of FIG. 3, the waste toner W is gradually accumulated in the waste toner tank 41, and the upper surface of the waste toner W is brought close to the height Ha in the near full state. Since the upper surface of the waste toner W does not reach the height Ha in the near full state, the detection light is not blocked by the waste toner W of the waste toner tank 41. The detection light emitted from the light emitting element 46 is received by the light receiving element 47 via the waste toner tank 41, the first and second reflecting members 48, 49. As in the phase 1, the detection light passes through the side wall of the waste toner tank 41, so that the light receiving amount of the light receiving element 47 is equal to or more than the first threshold value Th1 and less than the second threshold value Th2.

As shown in Phase 3 of FIG. 3, the waste toner W is further accumulated in the waste toner tank 41, and the upper surface of the waste toner W reaches the height Ha in the near full state. The detection light emitted from the light emitting element 46 is blocked by the waste toner W of the waste toner tank 41. Since the light receiving element 47 changes from the light receiving state of the light receiving amount equal to or higher than the first threshold value Th1 to the non-light receiving state, the determination unit 52 (see FIG. 2A) determines that the waste toner tank 41 is in the near full state. The mounting plate 44 is rotated 90 degrees to change the orientation of the waste toner tank 41 from the first orientation to the second orientation, and a message prompting the preparation of a new waste toner tank 41 is displayed on the display of the printer 1.

As shown in Phase 4 of FIG. 4, the orientation of the waste toner tank 41 is switched to the second orientation in the near full state. As a result, the optical path P of the detection light from the light emitting element 46 to the first reflecting member 48 is secured by the concave groove 43 of the waste toner tank 41. Since the detection light passes through the concave groove 43 of the waste toner tank 41, the detection light is not blocked by the waste toner W of the waste toner tank 41. The detection light emitted from the light emitting element 46 is received by the light receiving element 47 via the waste toner tank 41, the first and second reflecting members 48, 49. By passing the detection light through the concave groove 43 of the waste toner tank 41, the amount of light received by the light receiving element 47 is equal to or higher than the second threshold value Th2.

As shown in Phase 5 of FIG. 4, the waste toner W is further accumulated in the waste toner tank 41, and the upper surface of the waste toner W reaches the height Hb in the full state. The detection light emitted from the light emitting element 46 is blocked again by the waste toner W of the waste toner tank 41. Since the light receiving element 47 changes from the light receiving state of the light receiving amount of the second threshold value Th2 or more to the non-light receiving state, the determination unit 52 determines that the waste toner tank 41 is in the full state. Image formation on the sheet by the image forming unit 17 (see FIG. 1) is prohibited, and a message prompting the replacement of the waste toner tank 41 is displayed on the display of the printer 1.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the near-full state of the waste toner tank 41 can be detected when the waste toner tank 41 is in the first orientation. When the waste toner tank 41 is in the near full state, the waste toner tank 41 changes from the first direction to the second direction, so that the optical path of the detection light is secured by the concave groove 43 and the full state of the waste toner tank 41 is detected. It will be possible. As described above, with a simple device configuration using a set of light emitting element 46 and light receiving element 47, it is possible to detect the near full state and the full state of the waste toner tank 41. The waste toner tank 41 can be appropriately used up by detecting the full state, and a new waste toner tank 41 can be prepared in advance by detecting the near full state.

<Second embodiment>
Subsequently, the recovery device of the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 5A is a front schematic view of the recovery device of the second embodiment. FIG. 5B is a schematic side view of the recovery device of the second embodiment. The recovery device of the second embodiment is different from the recovery device of the first embodiment in that the recovery amount of the waste toner is notified to the user in addition to the near full state and the full state of the waste toner tank. Therefore, with respect to the second embodiment, the description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the recovery device 60 of the second embodiment has a translucent waste toner tank 61, a mounting plate 64, a light emitting element 66, and a light receiving device, as in the first embodiment. Elements 67 and first and second reflective members 68 and 69 are provided. A concave groove 63 is formed on the side wall of the waste toner tank 61. Further, the recovery device 60 is provided with a motor-driven elevating mechanism 74 that integrally raises the light emitting element 66 and the first reflective member 68 from the initial height H0 to the height of the near full state Ha. The elevating mechanism 74 keeps the light receiving element 67 and the first reflecting member 68 at the same height each time the light receiving state of the light receiving element 67 changes to the non-light receiving state, and the light emitting element 66 and the first reflecting member 68. Is raised by a certain distance from the initial height H0.

The control unit 71 of the collection device 60 is provided with an estimation unit 73 for estimating the collection amount of waste toner in the waste toner tank 61, in addition to the determination unit 72 for determining the near full state and the full state of the waste toner tank 61. There is. The estimation unit 73 estimates the amount of waste toner recovered from the waste toner tank 61 based on the heights of the light emitting element 66 and the first reflective member 68 when the light receiving element 67 is in the non-light receiving state. For example, the estimation unit 73 estimates the amount of waste toner recovered in three stages of 20%, 40%, and 60%. The collected amount of waste toner is displayed on the display of the printer 1 by the control unit 71.

The operation of the rotating device will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. FIG. 6 is an operation transition diagram from Phase 1 to Phase 3 of the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is an operation transition diagram from Phase 4 to Phase 6 of the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is an operation transition diagram from Phase 7 to Phase 9 of the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is an operation transition diagram of Phase 10 of the second embodiment.

As shown in Phase 1 of FIG. 6, the orientation of the waste toner tank 61 is the first orientation in the initial state. Further, the light emitting element 66 and the first reflecting member 68 are positioned at the initial height H0. Since the waste toner W is not accumulated in the waste toner tank 61, the detection light is not blocked by the waste toner tank 61. The detection light emitted from the light emitting element 66 is received by the light receiving element 67 via the waste toner tank 61, the first and second reflecting members 68, 69. Since the light receiving element 67 is in the light receiving state, the light emitting element 66 and the first reflecting member 68 are not moved from the initial height H0 by the elevating mechanism 74 (see FIG. 5A).

As shown in Phase 2 of FIG. 6, the waste toner W is gradually accumulated in the waste toner tank 61, and the upper surface of the waste toner W reaches the initial height H0. The detection light emitted from the light emitting element 66 is blocked by the waste toner W of the waste toner tank 61. Since the light receiving element 67 changes from the light receiving state to the non-light receiving state and the light emitting element 66 and the first reflecting member 68 are at the initial height H0, the waste toner W of the waste toner tank 61 is generated by the estimation unit 73 (see FIG. 5A). Is estimated to be 20% recovered. The collected amount of the waste toner tank 61 is displayed on the display of the printer 1, and the light emitting element 66 and the first reflecting member 68 are raised by a certain distance from the initial height H0 by the elevating mechanism 74.

As shown in Phase 3 of FIG. 6, the elevating mechanism 74 positions the light emitting element 66 and the first reflecting member 68 at the first height H1 which is higher than the initial height H0 by a certain distance. Since the upper surface of the waste toner W is located below the first height H1, the detection light is not blocked by the waste toner W of the waste toner tank 61. The detection light emitted from the light emitting element 66 is received by the light receiving element 67 via the waste toner tank 61, the first and second reflecting members 68, 69. Since the light receiving element 67 is in the light receiving state, the light emitting element 66 and the first reflecting member 68 are not moved from the first height H1 by the elevating mechanism 74.

As shown in Phase 4 of FIG. 7, the waste toner W is further accumulated in the waste toner tank 61, and the upper surface of the waste toner W reaches the first height H1. The detection light emitted from the light emitting element 66 is blocked by the waste toner W of the waste toner tank 61. Since the light receiving element 67 changes from the light receiving state to the non-light receiving state and the light emitting element 66 and the first reflecting member 68 are at the first height H1, the amount of waste toner W recovered from the waste toner tank 61 by the estimation unit 73. Is estimated to be 40%. The collected amount of the waste toner tank 61 is displayed on the display of the printer 1, and the light emitting element 66 and the first reflecting member 68 are raised by a certain distance from the first height H1 by the elevating mechanism 74.

As shown in Phase 5 of FIG. 7, the elevating mechanism 74 positions the light emitting element 66 and the first reflecting member 68 at the second height H2, which is a certain distance higher than the first height H1. Since the upper surface of the waste toner W is located below the second height H2, the detection light is not blocked by the waste toner W of the waste toner tank 61. The detection light emitted from the light emitting element 66 is received by the light receiving element 67 via the waste toner tank 61, the first and second reflecting members 68, 69. Since the light receiving element 67 is in the light receiving state, the light emitting element 66 and the first reflecting member 68 are not moved from the second height H2 by the elevating mechanism 74.

As shown in Phase 6 of FIG. 7, the waste toner W is further accumulated in the waste toner tank 61, and the upper surface of the waste toner W reaches the second height H2. The detection light emitted from the light emitting element 66 is blocked by the waste toner W of the waste toner tank 61. Since the light receiving element 67 changes from the light receiving state to the non-light receiving state and the light emitting element 66 and the first reflecting member 68 are at the second height H2, the amount of waste toner W recovered from the waste toner tank 61 by the estimation unit 73. Is estimated to be 60%. The collected amount of the waste toner tank 61 is displayed on the display of the printer 1, and the light emitting element 66 and the first reflecting member 68 are raised by a certain distance from the second height H2 by the elevating mechanism 74.

As shown in Phase 7 of FIG. 8, the elevating mechanism 74 positions the light emitting element 66 and the first reflecting member 68 at a height Ha in a near-full state, which is higher than the second height H2 by a certain distance. Hereinafter, Phase 7-9 of FIG. 8 and Phase 10 of FIG. 9 operate in the same manner as Phase 2-5 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) of the first embodiment. That is, the near-full state of the waste toner tank 61 is detected when the waste toner tank 61 is in the first orientation. Next, the direction of the waste toner tank 61 is changed from the first direction to the second direction, the optical path P from the light emitting element 66 to the light receiving element 67 is secured, and the full state of the waste toner tank 61 is detected.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the waste toner tank 61 is in a near-full state and a full state with a simple device configuration using a set of a light emitting element 66 and a light receiving element 67. Can be detected. The waste toner tank 61 can be appropriately used up by detecting the full state, and a new waste toner tank 61 can be prepared in advance by detecting the near full state. Further, by estimating the recovery amount of the waste toner W step by step, it is possible to prepare a new waste toner tank 61 at an earlier stage.

In each embodiment, an example in which the recovery device is applied to the image forming device has been described, but the recovery device can be applied to other production devices that generate waste in the production process. For example, a recovery device can be applied to a processing device, a cleaning device, or the like, and dust, waste liquid, or the like discharged from the processing device, the cleaning device, or the like can be collected by the recovery device. Therefore, the waste is not limited to waste toner, and may be any waste that is generated in the production process such as dust and waste liquid. Further, the collection container may have a shape capable of accommodating not only the waste toner tank but also waste such as a waste liquid tank and a dust collection box.

Further, in each embodiment, the concave groove on the side wall of the waste toner tank forms a passage along the optical path from the light emitting element to the first reflecting member, but the configuration of the passage on the side wall of the waste toner tank is particularly limited. Not done. For example, a pipeline that crosses the waste toner tank may form a passage along an optical path from the light emitting element to the first reflecting member.

Further, in each embodiment, the light emitting element is positioned at the height of the near full state and the light receiving element is positioned at the height of the full state, but the light emitting element is positioned at the height of the full state and the height of the near full state. The light receiving element may be positioned in. In this case, the first reflective member is positioned at the height of the full state, the first reflective member faces the light emitting element with the waste toner tank sandwiched between them, and the second reflective member is positioned at the height of the near full state. The second reflective member faces the light receiving element with the waste toner tank interposed therebetween. The optical path from the light emitting element to the light receiving element is folded back to the first reflecting member and the second reflecting member. The waste toner tank is oriented in the second direction, and the waste toner tank is formed with a concave groove (passage) along the optical path from the second reflecting member to the light receiving element. Then, when the waste toner tank is in the near full state, the orientation of the waste toner tank is changed from the first direction to the second direction by the mounting plate. Even with such a configuration, the same effect as that of each of the above-described embodiments can be obtained.

Further, in each embodiment, a printer is exemplified as an image forming apparatus, but the image forming apparatus may be a multifunction device having a printing function, a copying function, a fax function, and the like in addition to a copying machine and a facsimile.

Further, in each embodiment, the sheet may be in the form of a sheet to be formed as an image, and may be, for example, plain paper, coated paper, tracing paper, or an OHP (Over Head Projector) sheet.

Although this embodiment has been described, as another embodiment, the above-described embodiment and modifications may be combined in whole or in part.

Further, the technique of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be variously modified, replaced, or modified without departing from the spirit of the technical idea. Furthermore, if the technical idea can be realized in another way by the advancement of the technology or another technology derived from it, it may be carried out by the method. Therefore, the claims cover all embodiments that may be included within the scope of the technical idea.

1: Printer (image forming device)
17: Image forming unit 40, 60: Recovery device 41, 61: Waste toner tank (collection container)
43: Recessed groove (passage)
44, 64: Mounting plate 46, 66: Light emitting element 47, 67: Light receiving element 48, 68: First reflective member 49, 69: Second reflective member 52, 72: Judgment unit 73: Estimating unit 74: Elevating mechanism

Claims (6)

A translucent collection container for collecting waste generated in the production process,
A mounting plate that changes the orientation of the collection container from the first orientation to the second orientation,
A light emitting element positioned at the height of the near full state of the collection container, and
The light receiving element positioned at the height of the full collection container and
A first reflective member facing the light emitting element with the recovery container interposed therebetween
A second reflective member facing the light receiving element with the recovery container interposed therebetween is provided.
The optical path from the light emitting element to the light receiving element is folded back into the first reflecting member and the second reflecting member.
In the state where the collection container is oriented in the second direction, a passage along the optical path from the light emitting element to the first reflection member is formed in the collection container.
A recovery device characterized in that when the recovery container is in a near-full state, the orientation of the recovery container is changed from the first orientation to the second orientation by the above-mentioned mounting plate. A determination unit for determining the near full state and the full state of the collection container based on the light receiving amount of the light receiving element is provided.
A first threshold value and a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value are set in the determination unit, and when the light receiving element changes from a light receiving state having a light receiving amount equal to or higher than the first threshold value to a non-light receiving state. When the determination unit determines that the collection container is in the near full state and the light receiving element changes from a light receiving state having a light receiving amount equal to or higher than the second threshold value to a non-light receiving state, the determination unit sets the collecting container to a full state. The recovery device according to claim 1, wherein the determination is made. It is provided with an elevating mechanism for raising the light emitting element and the first reflective member from the initial height to the near-full height of the recovery container.
The elevating mechanism is characterized in that each time the light receiving element changes from a light receiving state to a non-light receiving state, the light emitting element and the first reflecting member are raised by a certain distance from the initial height. The collection device according to claim 2. A claim comprising an estimation unit that estimates the amount of waste collected in the collection container based on the heights of the light emitting element and the first reflective member when the light receiving element is in a non-light receiving state. Item 3. The recovery device according to item 3. A translucent collection container for collecting waste generated in the production process,
A mounting plate that changes the orientation of the collection container from the first orientation to the second orientation,
A light emitting element positioned at the height of the full collection container and
The light receiving element positioned at the height of the near full state of the collection container and
A first reflective member facing the light emitting element with the recovery container interposed therebetween
A second reflective member facing the light receiving element with the recovery container interposed therebetween is provided.
The optical path from the light emitting element to the light receiving element is folded back into the first reflecting member and the second reflecting member.
With the collection container oriented in the second direction, a passage along the optical path from the second reflecting member to the light receiving element is formed in the collection container.
A recovery device characterized in that when the recovery container is in a near-full state, the orientation of the recovery container is changed from the first orientation to the second orientation by the above-mentioned mounting plate. An image forming part that forms an image with respect to the sheet,
An image forming apparatus comprising the collection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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