JP3944710B2 - Waste developer recovery device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a waste developer collecting device that is used in an image forming apparatus that visualizes a latent image on an image carrier with a developer and collects waste developer discharged from a waste developer processing apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a waste developer collecting apparatus having a simple and inexpensive configuration.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer using an electrophotographic system, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photosensitive drum as an image carrier, and the electrostatic latent image is developed as a developer of a developing device. A method of transferring the toner image as a visible image to a recording material after the visible image is formed by the method is used.
At this time, in a mode of using waste toner (waste developer) remaining on the photosensitive drum without being transferred to the recording material, or an intermediate transfer member, the waste remaining on the intermediate transfer member is used. The toner is generally cleaned by a cleaning device.
Further, this type of cleaning device has a mode in which a waste toner collecting device (waste developer collecting device) is attached. In this type of mode, the waste toner collected in the cleaning device is used as a waste toner collecting device. Therefore, the cleaning life of the cleaning device can be extended accordingly.
[0003]
Conventionally, as this type of waste toner recovery device, for example, a cleaning device and a waste toner recovery container are connected to each other by a transport pipe, and a screw auger is provided in the transport pipe to recover waste toner. Technology (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-51410) that conveys toward the container, and technology that uses a belt carrier instead of the screw auger in the above-described embodiment (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-333520) Has already been proposed.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, this type of waste toner collecting apparatus has the following technical problems.
For example, in the former mode (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-51410), the waste toner recovery device using a screw auger disposed in the transport pipe is transported from the cleaning device to the waste toner recovery container. The path is constituted by a single conveying pipe, and this conveying pipe must be installed with a certain curvature, and the arrangement position of the waste toner collecting container is inevitably restricted by the curvature limit.
Further, when the curvature of the transport pipe for transporting the waste toner is increased, technical problems such as toner blocking due to deterioration of the transport performance of the waste toner are likely to occur.
Further, in the waste toner collecting device of this aspect, since it is difficult to transport the waste toner to the waste toner collecting container located above, the layout flexibility is poor, and the waste toner collecting container is removed from the cleaning device. When the image forming apparatus is disposed in the lower part, the size in the height direction of the image forming apparatus is also a factor that makes it difficult to reduce the size.
Furthermore, in order to reduce the cost and size of the image forming apparatus, it is effective to secure a space for collecting the waste toner in the photosensitive drum without providing a dedicated waste toner collection container. However, since the distance between the cleaning device and the photosensitive drum is shortened, it is structurally difficult to dispose the transport pipe with a large curvature between them.
[0005]
Similarly, in the latter mode (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-333520), similarly, if a belt conveyance body is used as the waste toner conveyance member, the flexibility of the layout is poor and the useless space increases.
Furthermore, since a mechanism and parts for driving them are required, the number of parts and power consumption are increased, which is not preferable in terms of cost increase.
[0006]
As a prior art for solving such a technical problem, for example, waste toner remaining on the photosensitive drum is collected in a cleaning device, and the waste toner in the cleaning device is provided on one end side of the photosensitive drum. The collected waste toner is once collected in a waste toner container, and the collected waste toner is pumped and conveyed by an impeller element provided coaxially with the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum, and collected in a waste toner collecting portion in the photosensitive drum. A technique for doing this has already been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-127186).
According to this aspect, the waste toner collected and conveyed by the cleaning device is once collected in a waste toner container provided at one end of the photosensitive drum, and then conveyed into the photosensitive drum by the impeller element. To be recovered.
Here, the impeller element is supported in a cantilever manner on the photosensitive drum, and transports the waste toner by utilizing the rotational motion of the photosensitive drum. Therefore, the waste toner is not provided separately. In addition, a waste toner container is disposed on the side of the photosensitive drum, and an impeller element is disposed inside the waste toner container. And downsizing can be realized.
[0007]
However, in this embodiment, since the waste toner once collected in the waste toner container is pumped up by the rotational movement of the impeller element, the waste toner accommodated in the waste toner container is separated from the impeller element and the wall surface. And toner blocking is likely to occur. As a result, load fluctuations are likely to occur on the photosensitive drum via the impeller element, and the rotation accuracy of the photosensitive drum is affected due to the load fluctuations, and there is a concern that the image quality is deteriorated.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above technical problem, and is a waste developer recovery device capable of maintaining good image quality at all times while reducing the cost and size of the device. It is to provide.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, the present invention is used in an image forming apparatus that visualizes a latent image on an image carrier 1 with a developer, as shown in FIGS. In the waste developer collection device for collecting the waste developer 3 discharged from the waste developer 3, the waste developer 3 that is rotatably provided at one axial end of the image carrier 1 and is discharged from the waste developer processing device 2 is collected. The collection container body 4 and the inside of the collection container body 4 are spirally partitioned to constitute the storage unit 5 for the waste developer 3, and the waste developer 3 collected by the rotation of the collection container body 4 itself is stored in the spiral center of the storage unit 5. moving conveyor on the side facing the a partition conveying member 6, the waste developer treatment apparatus the collection vessel body recovery port provided 4 for collecting the waste developer 3 to be discharged into the collection container body 4 from 2 Is arranged below the image carrier 1.
As another aspect of the present invention, a waste developer 3 used in an image forming apparatus that visualizes a latent image on the image carrier 1 with a developer and discharged from a waste developer processing apparatus 2 is used. In the waste developer collecting apparatus for collecting the waste developer , a receiving container provided on one end side of the image carrier 1 and receiving and transporting the waste developer 3 discharged from the waste developer processing apparatus 2, and a receiving container A storage container for storing the waste developer 3 which is provided so as to use the internal space of the image carrier 1 and is transported from the receiving container, and rotates and wastes as the image carrier 1 rotates. A collection container body 4 for collecting the waste developer 3 discharged from the developer processing apparatus 2 and a storage section 5 for the waste developer 3 are configured by dividing the inside of the collection container body 4 in a spiral shape, and the collection container body 4 itself direction with respect to the reservoir 5 the waste developer 3 was recovered by the rotation of the helical center of the receiving container Cormorants and a partition conveying member 6 to move further conveyed to the container side from the side, provided in the catch container for collecting the waste developer 3 that is discharged from the waste developer processing apparatus 2 to the receiving vessel The collection port is arranged below the image carrier 1.
[0010]
In such technical means, the waste developer 3 widely includes a developer to be discarded, and includes a waste developer discharged from a trickle type developing device as well as a waste toner accommodated in the cleaning device.
Therefore, the waste developer processing device 2 includes a trickle type developing device in addition to the cleaning device.
Here, the cleaning device is not limited to cleaning waste toner (waste developer) remaining on the image carrier 1. For example, in an image forming apparatus using an intermediate transfer member, In addition, a cleaning device attached to the transfer device and the like are widely included for cleaning waste toner (waste developer) remaining in the toner.
[0011]
Further, the recovery container body 4 may be appropriately selected, for example, having a substantially truncated cone shape as long as it has a space for recovering the waste developer 3.
Furthermore, the recovery container body 4 may be fixed to the image carrier 1 or may be provided detachably. However, the recovery container body 4 is connected to a drive source and is driven by the driving force from the drive source. 4 itself is provided to rotate.
Furthermore, the collection container body 4 may be provided on a separate axis from the image carrier 1, but is preferably provided coaxially. The apparatus is provided coaxially with the image carrier 1, and directly or indirectly engaged with the image carrier 1, and the rotational driving force of the image carrier 1 is used to reduce the size, space-saving, and cost of the apparatus. Down is possible.
[0012]
Further, the partition conveying member 6 constitutes a storage unit 5 for storing the waste developer 3 by partitioning the inside of the collection container body 4 in a spiral shape.
Here, the mode of partitioning in a spiral shape includes a mode of partitioning the internal space of the recovery container body 4 in a spiral shape toward the center and a mode of partitioning the internal space of the recovery container body 4 in a spiral shape in the axial direction. included.
The partition conveyance member 6 may be provided so that the inside of the collection container body 4 is parallel to the axial direction, but is inclined so as to become wider or narrower toward one end in the axial direction of the collection container body 4. It may be provided.
Further, as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1B, the partition conveyance member 6 partitions the internal space of the collection container body 4 in a spiral shape, and therefore, the collected waste development is recovered along with the rotation of the collection container body 4 itself. It also has a function of moving and transporting the agent 3 to the back side of the spiral storage section 5.
[0013]
In addition, the recovery container body 4 may be provided at least at the end portion in the axial direction of the image carrier 1, but from the viewpoint of securing a wider recovery space for the waste developer 3, It is preferable to use an internal space. By constructing the collection container body 4 also using the image carrier 1, a useless space inside the image carrier 1 can be effectively utilized, and further space saving can be achieved.
When the collection container 4 is configured using the internal space of the image carrier 1, the partition conveyance member 6 extends along the axial direction of the internal space of the image carrier 1, and the image carrier 1 It is preferable to include a screw member that rotates together. According to this aspect, the collected waste developer 3 moves upward along the wall surface of the partition conveyance member 6 as the collection container body 4 itself rotates, and further, by the screw member, the collection container body 4 Since it is conveyed and accommodated in the axially back side, the waste developer 3 can be efficiently and uniformly stored in the collection container body 4.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
FIG. 2 shows an example of an image forming apparatus incorporating the first embodiment of the waste toner collecting apparatus (waste developer collecting apparatus) to which the present invention is applied. In the following description, a model in which the photosensitive drum and the intermediate transfer belt are overlapped is used as an embodiment model. However, the present invention is not limited to this model.
In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a photosensitive drum rotating in the direction of the arrow in the figure, 21 denotes a charging device for charging the photosensitive drum 20, and 22 denotes each color component (for example, yellow, magenta, cyan) on the charged photosensitive drum 20. , Black) an exposure device that forms an electrostatic latent image for each color, and a rotary type 23 that visualizes the electrostatic latent image for each color component formed on the photosensitive drum 20 with a corresponding color component developer. A developing device 24 is an intermediate transfer belt that temporarily holds each color component visible image (toner image) on the photosensitive drum 20, 25 is a cleaning device that cleans waste toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 20, and 25 a A blade that scrapes off the residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 20, a cleaning device 26 that cleans the residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 24, and a multiple transfer 27 on the intermediate transfer belt 24. Collective transfer device for collectively transferred onto a recording material 28 of each color component toner images, 29 is a fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image on the recording material 28. Reference numeral 30 denotes a registration roll for positioning and conveying the recording material 28 to the batch transfer position.
[0015]
In the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt 24 is made of, for example, a belt material made of an elastic rubber material as a base, and is stretched over a plurality of stretching rolls 31 to 34 and is predetermined with respect to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 20. The contact arrangement is made over the range θ. Reference numeral 35 denotes a primary transfer device (in this example, a primary transfer roll) for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 20 to the intermediate transfer belt 24 side.
In such an embodiment, since the belt material using the elastic rubber material as a base is used, the walk behavior is almost eliminated, the tension mechanism is not required, and the contact area between the photosensitive drum 20 and the intermediate transfer belt 24 is eliminated. Therefore, there is no need to unnecessarily increase the contact pressure between the two, and there is almost no difference in the peripheral speed in the contact area because the movement of both is restricted in the contact area.
For this reason, it is possible to effectively avoid a so-called holocharacter in which a part of the transferred image is lost as the contact pressure is locally increased, and to effectively avoid color misregistration during transfer of each color component toner image. it can.
According to such an aspect, it is also possible to adopt a method in which the intermediate transfer belt 24 is driven and rotated through a contact area with the photosensitive drum 20 as a driving method.
[0016]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, the cleaning device 25 has a cleaning case 41 in which waste toner is accommodated, and the cleaning case 41 is urethane that contacts the photosensitive drum 20. A blade 25a (see FIG. 2) formed of a rubber material or the like is provided, and a conveyance auger 42 is provided in the cleaning case 41, and the collected waste toner is conveyed toward one side end of the cleaning case 41. It is supposed to be.
A waste toner discharge opening (not shown) is opened at one side end of the cleaning case 41, and a waste toner collecting device 50 is disposed at a position facing the discharge opening.
[0017]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the waste toner collecting device 50 is disposed in the vicinity of one end of the photosensitive drum 20, and removes the waste toner discharged from the cleaning device 25. A collection container 51 for receiving and rotating is provided. FIG. 3B is an end view taken along line III-III in FIG.
In this example, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the recovery container body 51 has a hollow substantially truncated cone shape whose diameter increases toward the outer side in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 20, and the cleaning device 25, a ring-shaped opening 512 is provided in one side surface portion 511 of the collection container 51 on the photosensitive drum 20 side, and a lower portion of the ring-shaped opening 512 removes waste toner from the cleaning device 25. It functions as a recovery port 52 for recovery. And this side part 511 is supported by the partition conveyance member 54 mentioned later.
Further, the partition conveying member 54 spirally divides the inside of the collection container body 51, that is, divides the interior space of the collection container body 51 into a spiral shape toward the center to constitute a storage unit 53. The recovered waste toner is stored, and the recovered waste toner is moved and conveyed to the center of the recovery container body 51 as the recovery container body 51 rotates.
Further, the partition conveying member 54 is provided in a tapered shape that is inclined with respect to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 20. In this example, the partition conveying member 54 is widened toward the outer side in the axial direction (right side in FIG. 3). It is arranged so as to be inclined.
The partition conveying member 54 is provided in a tapered shape such that the storage portion 53 becomes wider toward the outer side in the axial direction (right side in FIG. 3) with respect to the photosensitive drum 20. You may provide in the reverse inclination from this example so that the storage part 53 may become wide toward the direction inner side (left side in FIG. 3).
[0018]
The collection container body 51 has a central portion of the side surface portion 511 joined to the drive shaft 20a of the photosensitive drum 20 and a bearing 55 attached thereto. The collection container 51 is rotated by transmitting the rotational driving force of the photosensitive drum 20 through the bearing 55.
Here, it is preferable to provide the recovery container body 51 and the photosensitive drum 20 in a mode in which they are coaxial and use the same driving force, but in a mode in which both are provided on different axes and a driving force from a different driving source is used. It can be provided.
In order to prevent floating waste toner from entering the photosensitive drum 20 and adhering to the photosensitive drum 20 or the recording material 28, a shield is provided between the photosensitive drum 20 and the collection container 51. A plate 56 is provided.
[0019]
Next, the operation of the waste toner collecting apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.
In the present embodiment, since the collection container body 51 is joined to the drive shaft 20a of the photosensitive drum 20, the collection container body 51 also rotates with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 20 during image formation .
At this time, the waste toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 20 is scraped off by the blade 25a (see FIG. 2) of the cleaning device 25 and is transported toward the discharge opening by the transport auger 42.
Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the waste toner discharged from the transport auger 42 of the cleaning device 25 falls by its own weight into the recovery port 52 of the recovery container body 51 located below the discharge opening.
[0020]
In this state, as shown in FIG. 4, when the collection container 51 is rotated in the direction of the arrow by the rotational drive of the photosensitive drum 20, the waste toner 57 collected from the collection port 52 is conveyed upward by the partition conveyance member 54. Then, after one rotation of the collection container body 51, it is positioned in the state of FIG. After one more rotation, along with the rotation of the collection container body 51 itself as shown in FIGS. 4 (b), 4 (c), and 4 (d), the partition transport member 54 moves along the wall surface of the partition transport member 54. Thus, the waste toner 57 is moved and conveyed toward the center of the storage unit 53. The waste toner 57 is sequentially filled from the center of the collection container 51 by the rotation of the collection container 51 itself and the weight of the waste toner 57. For this reason, the space in the collection container 51 can be used efficiently without waste.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the partition conveying member 54 is provided in a tapered shape, and therefore, one side of the collection container body 51 (photosensitive drum) due to the rotation of the collection container body 51 and the free fall of the waste toner 57. The waste toner 57 is pushed toward the side opposite to the right side 20 (right side in FIG. 3), and clouding from the ring-shaped opening 512 side can be prevented.
[0021]
In the above operation process, the waste toner 57 discharged from the cleaning device 25 is directly collected into the collection container body 51, so that the waste toner due to blocking, which is a technical problem of the conventional pumping method using the impeller element, is obtained. There is an advantage that clogging does not occur.
As a result, even though the rotational driving force of the recovery container body 51 is obtained from the photosensitive drum 20, no load fluctuation that affects the rotational accuracy of the photosensitive drum 20 occurs. It can be lost.
Further, in the present embodiment, since the waste toner 57 is directly collected in the collection container body 51, a waste developer such as a coil spring or a conveyance belt that conveys the waste toner 57 from the cleaning device 25 as in the prior art. A collection device is not required, and the image forming apparatus itself can be reduced in size, space-saving, and cost reduction.
Furthermore, since the collection container 51 is provided so as to rotate by using the driving force of the photosensitive drum 20, it is not necessary to provide a separate driving mechanism, which is more effective in reducing the size of the image forming apparatus itself. .
[0022]
In the present embodiment, the recovery container body 51 is directly joined to the drive shaft 20a of the photosensitive drum 20. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and the recovery container body 51 and Joining of the photosensitive drum 20 to the drive shaft 20a may be performed indirectly via, for example, a gear. By doing so, the collection container body 51 can be decelerated from the rotational speed of the photosensitive drum 20, and the occurrence of waste toner scattering can be suppressed to a minimum.
In the present embodiment, the waste toner collecting device 50 for collecting the waste toner discharged from the cleaning device 25 is shown. However, the collected waste toner is limited to that from the photosensitive drum 20. Instead, for example, waste toner discharged from the cleaning device 26 of the intermediate transfer belt 24 or waste developer discharged from the trickle developing device 23 may be used.
[0023]
Embodiment 2
FIG. 5 (a) shows a second embodiment of a waste toner collecting device (waste developer collecting device) to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 5 (b) is an end view taken along the line VV in FIG. 5 (a). Show.
In the drawing, the basic configuration of the waste toner collecting device 60 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, but unlike the first embodiment, the collecting container body 61 extends from one end of the photosensitive drum 20 in the axial direction of the inner space. The partition conveying member 66 includes a screw member 65 (not shown in FIG. 5B) that extends along the axial direction of the inner space of the photosensitive drum 20 and rotates together with the photosensitive drum 20. Is.
Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.
[0024]
In this example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the collection container 61 has a hollow cylindrical base material 610 that also serves as the photosensitive drum 20, and both side surfaces of the base material 610 are flanged. It is blocked by a member and supported. Note that a photosensitive layer 610 a is provided on the surface of the substrate 610.
Here, the collection container 61 is a waste toner storage container 611 whose one end (left side in FIG. 5) is closed by a flange member, and a flange member that closes the other end (right side in FIG. 5) side surface of the storage container 611. A receiving container 612 that receives waste toner 57 discharged from the cleaning device 25 and a communication port 613 that connects the receiving container 611 and the receiving container 612 are configured. Further, a ring-shaped opening 614 is formed on the photosensitive drum 20 side of the receiving container 612, and the lower part of the ring-shaped opening 614 functions as a collection port 62 for collecting the waste toner 57 from the cleaning device 25. It has become.
Further, the partition conveyance member 66 forms a storage unit 63 by spirally partitioning the inside of the collection container body 61, and the waste toner 57 collected from the collection port 62 is stored in the storage unit 63.
Here, the partition conveyance member 66 includes a partition member 64 for moving and transporting the collected waste toner 57 upward toward the center of the storage unit 63 as the collection container body 61 rotates, and a collection container. The screw member 65 is provided in engagement with the body 61 and guides and conveys the waste toner 57 in the axial direction toward the inner side of the collection container body 61.
More specifically, the partition member 64 partitions the internal space of the receiving container 612 in a spiral shape, and the screw member 65 partitions the internal space of the storage container 611 in a spiral shape in the axial direction. The storage unit 63 is provided.
Further, the collection container body 61 and the screw member 65 are provided coaxially with the drive shaft 20 a of the photosensitive drum 20, and are rotated by the rotational driving force of the photosensitive drum 20.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the waste toner collecting apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.
In the present embodiment, since the collection container body 61 is coaxial with the drive shaft 20 a of the photosensitive drum 20, the collection container body 61 also rotates with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 20.
At this time, the waste toner 57 remaining on the photosensitive drum 20 is scraped off by the blade 25a (see FIG. 2) of the cleaning device 25 and is transported toward the discharge opening by the transport auger 42.
Then, the waste toner 57 discharged from the transport auger 42 of the cleaning device 25 falls by its own weight into the recovery port 62 of the recovery container body 61 located below the discharge opening, as shown in FIG.
[0026]
In this state, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the waste toner 57 collected from the collection port 62 is separated by the partition member 64 constituting the partition conveyance member 66 as the collection container body 61 rotates. Then, it is moved and conveyed upward (in the direction of arrow A in the figure) along the wall surface of the partition member 64.
Thereafter, the screw member 65 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow B in the drawing, so that the waste toner 57 is sequentially guided and conveyed to the inner side in the axial direction of the collection container body 61. At this time, the waste toner 57 is forcibly moved and conveyed to the inner side of the collection container body 61 by one pitch (D in the figure) in the direction of arrow C in the drawing for each rotation of the collection container body 61. At the same time, it is stirred and uniformly accommodated in order from the back side in the collection container body 61.
[0027]
Further, as another aspect of the recovery container body 61, the basic configuration is substantially the same as that of the recovery container body 61, but as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), it has a hollow cylindrical shape and has one end (FIG. 7 is a waste toner container 72 whose left side is closed by a flange member, and a flange member that closes the other end (right side in FIG. 7) of the container 72, and waste toner 57 discharged from the cleaning device 25. A container main body 71 integrated with a receiving container 73 for receiving the ink may be provided separately, and the container main body 71 may be fitted in the internal space of the photosensitive drum 20.
[0028]
According to the present embodiment, since the collection container body 61 is disposed in the internal space of the photosensitive drum 20, it is more effective from the viewpoint of space saving.
In addition, the partition conveyance member 66 moves and conveys the collected waste toner 57 upward toward the center of the collection container body 61 and guides and conveys it in the axial direction. Accordingly, the waste toner 57 can be efficiently received and accommodated in the collection container body 61.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the recovery container body that is rotatably provided at one axial end of the image carrier and collects the waste developer discharged from the waste developer processing apparatus, and the recovery container body A waste developer storage unit is configured by partitioning the inside in a spiral shape, and a partition transport member that moves and transports the waste developer recovered by rotation of the recovery container body toward the spiral center of the storage unit. Since the recovery port provided in the recovery container body for recovering the waste developer discharged from the developer processing device to the recovery container body is arranged below the image carrier, it is directly recovered without providing a separate conveying means. The waste developer can be received and accommodated in the container body, and the apparatus can be easily reduced in size, space-saving, and cost reduction.
Further, a receiving container provided on one end side of the image carrier and receiving and transporting the waste developer discharged from the waste developer processing apparatus, and an internal space of the image carrier from the receiving container are used. A waste container that is provided and that contains the waste developer conveyed from the receiving container, and rotates with the rotation of the image carrier and collects the waste developer discharged from the waste developer processing apparatus. The collection container body and the inside of the collection container body are spirally partitioned to constitute a waste developer storage unit, and the waste developer collected by the rotation of the collection container body itself is directed toward the spiral center of the receiving container with respect to the storage unit and a partition conveying member for moving conveyed further container side from the side, the waste developer treatment apparatus image bearing recovery ports provided in the receiving container for collecting the catch container the waste developer discharged from Since it is placed below the body, a separate transport means is provided. Rukoto no, it is possible to accept accommodating the waste developer directly collecting container body, miniaturization of the device, space saving and cost reduction can be easily realized.
In particular, in the present invention, the collection container body is merely a container that rotates while receiving and accommodating the waste developer, and a large load does not act on the side of the image carrier that is a drive source. As well as being able to maintain good transportability, there is no load fluctuation in the driving torque on the image carrier side, and the rotational movement of the image carrier can be extremely stabilized. Obtainable.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is an explanatory view showing an outline of a waste developer collecting apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along line BB in FIG.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an image forming apparatus in which the first embodiment of the waste developer collecting apparatus according to the present invention is incorporated.
3A is an explanatory view showing a waste developer collecting apparatus according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3B is an end face explanatory view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 3A.
[4] (a) ~ (d) are explanatory views showing a recovery process of waste toner in the waste developer collecting device according to the first embodiment (the waste developer).
5A is an explanatory view showing a waste developer collecting apparatus according to Embodiment 2, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory view of an end surface taken along line VV in FIG. 5A.
6 (a) is an explanatory view showing a collecting process of waste toner in the waste developer collecting device according to the second embodiment (the waste developer), (b) the medium line VI-VI end face (a) It is explanatory drawing.
7A is an explanatory view showing another aspect of the waste developer collecting apparatus according to Embodiment 2, and FIG. 7B is an explanatory view of the end surface taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 7A.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image carrier, 2 ... Waste developer processing apparatus, 3 ... Waste developer, 4 ... Collection container body, 5 ... Storage part, 6 ... Partition conveyance member

Claims (4)

In a waste developer collecting apparatus that is used in an image forming apparatus that visualizes a latent image on an image carrier with a developer and collects waste developer discharged from a waste developer processing apparatus.
A collection container body that is rotatably provided at one axial end of the image carrier and collects the waste developer discharged from the waste developer processing apparatus;
The inner collecting container body is partitioned helically constitute reservoirs of the waste developer, and the partition conveying member for moving conveys the waste developer recovered by the rotation of the collection container body itself on the side facing the helical center of the reservoir With
A waste developer collecting apparatus characterized in that a recovery port provided in the recovery container body for recovering the waste developer discharged from the waste developer processing apparatus to the recovery container body is disposed below the image carrier. . In a waste developer collecting apparatus that is used in an image forming apparatus that visualizes a latent image on an image carrier with a developer and collects waste developer discharged from a waste developer processing apparatus.
A receiving container that is provided at one end of the image carrier and receives and transports the waste developer discharged from the waste developer processing apparatus, and is provided so as to utilize the internal space of the image carrier from the receiving container. And a collection container for collecting waste developer discharged from the waste developer processing apparatus while rotating with the rotation of the image carrier. Body,
The inner collecting container body is partitioned helically constitute reservoirs of the waste developer, further housing from a side facing the helical center of the receiving vessel to said reservoir and the recovered waste developer by rotation of the collection container body itself A partition conveying member that moves and conveys to the container side ,
A waste developer collecting apparatus characterized in that a collection port provided in the receiving container for collecting the waste developer discharged from the waste developer processing apparatus is disposed below the image carrier. . The waste developer recovery apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
A waste developer collecting apparatus, wherein the collection container is coaxial with the image carrier. The waste developer recovery apparatus according to claim 2,
The waste developer collecting apparatus, wherein the partition conveyance member of the container includes a screw member that extends along the axial direction of the internal space of the image carrier and rotates together with the image carrier.

Images