JP3969416B2 - Image forming apparatus and stacking tray - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having means for storing paper dust generated from a recording medium in a process of feeding paper to an image forming unit in the image forming apparatus, and a stacking tray used in the image forming apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, when paper as a recording medium is fed to an image forming unit by a paper feed roller, paper dust that is generated due to friction or originally attached to the paper is imaged. There is a problem in that an image formed by being carried to the forming portion and mixed with toner or attached to a charger is adversely affected. In order to cope with this problem, there has been known one provided with a container for scraping off the paper dust adhering to the paper feed roller and storing the scraped paper dust. For example, in the following patent document, a paper dust container that scrapes paper dust adhered to a paper feed roller that transports paper taken out from a stacking tray to an image forming unit and stores the paper dust scraped off from the paper feed roller. An example in which is provided is described.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-314781

  However, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the paper dust container for storing paper dust is a box-like container without a lid, and the upper part of the box-like container is open, so the container is made of paper dust. When it is full, paper dust overflows from the container. Also, if the loading tray happens to vibrate, tilt, or be turned upside down when the user removes the loading tray during paper feeding, the paper dust in the container will spill out of the container. End up. When paper dust spills out of the container, there is a problem that the image forming apparatus to which the paper feeding cassette is attached, the desk on which the image forming apparatus is placed, and the like are soiled.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is a compact paper dust storage container, and paper dust that prevents paper dust from spilling out from a container containing paper dust. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus provided with a storage container and a stacking tray used in such an image forming apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a paper feeding unit and an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet conveyed by the paper feeding unit. The sheet feeding means is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus , and is in contact with the stacking tray on which sheets can be stacked, and the sheets stacked on the stacking tray, and rotates to feed the image forming means. A paper feeding roller for paper, a paper dust removing means for removing paper dust adhering to the paper feeding roller and the paper, and dropping it down; and provided on the stacking tray and disposed below the paper dust removing means In addition, an opening is formed in the upper part, and has a paper dust storage container that stores the paper dust falling from the paper dust removing means through the opening and stored therein,
The paper powder storage container shields the opening from the inside when viewed in plan from the opening, and has an end portion that is lower in the vertical direction than the other part when viewed from the side, and the inside of the paper powder storage container. A guide means for guiding the falling paper powder to the bottom surface, and a space communicating with the opening is formed between the bottom surface and the guide means. It is characterized by that.

  According to such a configuration, since the opening is blocked from the inside by the guiding means, the paper dust even when the stacking tray including the paper dust storage container is removed from the image forming apparatus main body and is accidentally tilted or turned upside down. The amount of paper dust stored in the storage container spilling out from the paper powder storage container can be minimized.

Furthermore, since the paper dust dropped on the opening of the paper dust storage container can be stored in the space between the guide means and the paper dust storage container, no dead space is generated in the paper powder storage container, and the paper dust storage is performed. The entire space of the container can be used as a paper dust storage part. Therefore, the paper dust storage container can be configured in a compact manner. As a result, it is possible to meet the demand for downsizing the paper feeding means including the paper dust storage container.
Further, since the paper dust storage container is provided on the stacking tray side instead of the image forming apparatus main body side, the paper accumulated on the bottom surface of the paper dust storage container due to vibration when the stacking tray is detached from the image forming apparatus main body. The powder can be uniformly dispersed in the paper powder storage container. As a result, the paper powder storage part of the paper powder storage container can be used effectively.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the guide means includes a chevron-shaped guide plate having a highest central portion and a lowest end portion. Yes.
According to such a configuration, the paper dust that has fallen into the opening of the paper dust storage container is evenly distributed to both sides of the chevron shape along the chevron-shaped guide plate. It is possible to prevent accumulation and clogging of the opening with paper powder. Even if paper dust falls on both sides and falls on the bottom surface of the paper dust storage container, the paper dust collected on the bottom surface is evenly distributed on the bottom surface due to vibration when the loading tray is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the guide plate has an inverted V shape in which two flat plates are connected at edges. .
According to such a configuration, the paper dust moves along the inverted V-shaped top surface toward the bottom surface of the paper dust storage container and is evenly distributed on both sides of the inverted V-shape. Further, since paper dust can be stored in the space between the inner side and the bottom surface of the inverted V shape, the paper powder storage portion of the paper powder storage container can be used effectively.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the paper dust container is directed from the edge of the opening to the bottom surface of the paper dust container. It is characterized by having an extended extension part.

  According to such a configuration, the extension portion can improve the rigidity and strength of the paper dust storage container, and even if the stacking tray provided with the paper dust storage container is turned upside down, the extension portion opens the paper dust. Can be prevented from spilling to the outside of the paper dust container.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the guide plate is formed integrally with the paper dust container. It is said.

According to such a configuration, the number of parts of the paper powder storage container can be reduced as compared with the case where the guide plate is made separately from the paper powder storage container.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the guide plate is held so as to be movable from the bottom surface side toward the opening portion side. It is characterized by being hold | maintained at the said paper dust storage container through the said holding means.

  According to such a configuration, when the stacking tray provided with the paper dust storage container is turned upside down, the guide plate moves toward the opening due to its own weight, and the paper dust is opened to block the opening of the paper dust storage container. Spilling from the part can be prevented.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the holding means is provided in a guide groove provided on a wall surface of the paper dust storage container and in the guide plate. It is characterized by comprising a guide member to be fitted into the.

According to such a configuration, since the guide member of the guide plate can move along the guide groove, the guide plate can move in the paper dust container by its own weight.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the paper dust removing means includes a paper dust removing roller in contact with the paper feed roller, and the paper dust. A sponge is provided that contacts the take-off roller and scrapes off the paper dust adhered to the paper dust-removing roller.

According to such a configuration, the paper dust scraped off from the paper dust removing roller by the sponge can be stored in the paper dust storage container .

The stacking tray according to claim 9 is a stacking tray that is detachably mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, and includes a paper dust storage container that stores paper dust generated from the paper stacked on the tray unit. The paper dust storage container has an opening in the upper part, and when viewed in plan from the opening, the opening is blocked from the inside, and when viewed from the side, the end is in the vertical direction more than other parts. A guide means that is low and is spaced apart from the inner bottom surface of the paper dust storage container and guides the paper dust falling through the opening to the bottom surface; and between the bottom surface and the guide means. Is characterized in that a space communicating with the opening is formed.

  According to such a configuration, since the paper dust dropped in the opening of the paper dust storage container can be stored in the space between the guide means and the paper dust storage container, a dead space occurs in the paper powder storage container. In addition, the entire space of the paper powder storage container can be used as the paper powder storage unit. Therefore, a stacking tray including such a paper dust container can be configured in a compact manner. Further, since the stacking tray includes the above-described paper dust storage container, even if only the stacking tray is removed and attached to another image forming apparatus, the paper dust attached to the sheet feeding roller and the sheet of another image forming apparatus is removed. Can do.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described along a conveyance path of a sheet 3 with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
(Overall configuration of image forming apparatus)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laser printer as an image forming apparatus.

  In FIG. 1, 1 is a laser printer and 2 is a main body casing. The main casing 2 includes a front panel 2a, side panels 2b and 2d, and a rear panel 2d. A front cover 7 is provided on the upper portion of the front panel 2a. A stacking tray 8 is detachably attached to the lower portion of the front panel 2a.

In the following description, the direction in which the stacking tray 8 is attached and detached (direction F in FIG. 1) is the front side of the laser printer 1. The opposite direction (R direction in FIG. 1) is the rear side of the laser printer 1.
FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the main part of the laser printer 1. In FIG. 2, the upper side of the paper surface (the U direction side in FIG. 2) is the upper side of the laser printer 1, and the lower side of the paper surface (the D direction side in FIG. 2) is the lower side of the laser printer 1.

  A laser printer 1 shown in FIG. 2 forms an image on a main body casing 2, a feeder unit 4 for feeding paper 3 as a recording medium accommodated in the main body casing 2, and the fed paper 3. An image forming unit 5 is provided.

  An attachment / detachment opening 6 for attaching / detaching the process cartridge 20 is formed in the front panel on the front side (F direction in FIG. 2) of the main casing 2, and the above-described front cover 7 for opening / closing the attachment / detachment opening 6 is provided. Is provided. The front cover 7 is rotatably supported by a cover shaft (not shown) inserted through the lower end portion thereof. Accordingly, when the front cover 7 is closed with the cover shaft as a fulcrum, the attachment / detachment opening 6 is closed by the front cover 7, and when the front cover 7 is opened with the cover shaft as a fulcrum (tilting forward), the attachment / detachment opening 6 is opened. The process cartridge 20 can be attached to and detached from the main casing 2 through the attachment / detachment opening 6.

  The feeder unit 4 includes a stacking tray 8 as a tray that is detachably mounted on the bottom of the main body casing 2, a sheet feeding roller 10 and a sheet feeding pad 11 provided above the front end of the stacking tray 8, A pickup roller 12 serving as a feeding unit provided on the rear side of the paper feed roller 10, a paper dust removing roller 13 disposed opposite to the front lower side of the paper feed roller 10, and an upper rear side of the paper feed roller 10. The registration roller 14 is provided.

  The stacking tray 8 is detachably attached to the main casing 2 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction (F or R direction in FIG. 2). Inside the stacking tray 8, a sheet pressing plate 15 is provided as a mounting member on which the sheets 3 can be stacked. The paper pressing plate 15 is supported so as to be able to swing around the rear end portion as a fulcrum, and thus extends to the front side along the bottom plate 16 of the stacking tray 8, and the front end portion is downward from the pickup roller 12 (D direction in FIG. 2) and a two-dot chain line in which the front end portion is inclined upward (upward in the U direction in FIG. 2) with the rear end portion as a fulcrum, and the front end portion is close to the pickup roller 12. It is configured to be able to swing to the transfer position indicated by.

  A lever 17 is provided at the front end of the stacking tray 8 as a drive mechanism for lifting the front end of the paper pressing plate 15 upward. The lever 17 is formed in a substantially L-shaped cross section so as to go from the front side to the lower side of the paper pressing plate 15, and its upper end is attached to a lever shaft 18 provided at the front end of the stacking tray 8. The rear end portion is in contact with the front end portion of the lower surface of the paper pressing plate 15. Accordingly, when a rotational driving force from a main motor (not shown) is input to the lever shaft 18, the lever 17 rotates around the lever shaft 18, and the rear end portion of the lever 17 is the front end of the paper pressing plate 15. Lift the part.

  The sheet pressing plate 15 is lifted by lifting the front end thereof, and presses the uppermost sheet 3 on the sheet pressing plate 15 arranged at the transport position against the pickup roller 12. In a state where the sheet pressing plate 15 is disposed at the transport position, when the rotational driving force from the main motor is input to the pickup roller 12 and the pickup roller 12 is rotated, the uppermost sheet on the sheet pressing plate 15 is placed. 3 is picked up by the pickup roller 12 and fed toward the space between the paper feed roller 10 and the paper feed pad 11.

  On the other hand, when the stacking tray 8 is detached from the main casing 2, the front end of the sheet pressing plate 15 is lowered due to its own weight and separated downward from the pickup roller 12, and the sheet pressing plate 15 is the bottom plate of the stacking tray 8. 16 is disposed at a mounting position extending along the line 16. In a state where the paper pressing plate 15 is disposed at the placement position, the paper 3 can be placed on the paper pressing plate 15 in a stacked manner.

  The sheet 3 fed between the sheet feeding roller 10 and the sheet feeding pad 11 by the pickup roller 12 is fed to the sheet feeding roller 10 by the rotation of the sheet feeding roller 10 by the rotational driving force from the main motor. When the sheet is sandwiched between the pads 11, the sheets are reliably separated and fed. The fed paper 3 passes between the paper feed roller 10 and the paper dust removing roller 13 that rotates in contact with the paper feed roller 10, and is conveyed to the registration roller 14 after the paper dust is removed.

  The paper feed roller 10 and the paper dust removing roller 13 are charged so that the positive and negative are opposite to each other. For example, when the paper feed roller 10 is positively charged, the paper dust removing roller 13 is negatively charged. Accordingly, the paper dust adhering to the paper feed roller 10 adheres to the paper dust removing roller 13 that rotates in contact with the paper feed roller 10. The paper dust adhering to the paper dust removing roller 13 is scraped off by the sponge 13a and dropped, and is stored in the paper dust storing container 9 provided on the lower side of the paper dust removing roller 13.

  The registration roller 14 is composed of a pair of rollers, and conveys the sheet 3 to a transfer position between a photosensitive drum 29 and a transfer roller 32 described later, and a toner image on the photosensitive drum 29 is transferred to the sheet 3. .

  A registration sensor 106 for detecting the passage of the paper 3 is provided on the downstream side of the paper feed roller 10 in the conveyance direction of the paper 3 and on the upstream side of the registration roller 14. The registration sensor 106 is provided in the main casing 2 so as to be swingable. By swinging as the paper 3 passes, the registration sensor 106 detects the passage of the paper 3 and outputs an ON signal while the paper 3 is passing. When the paper 3 is not passed, an off signal is sent.

The image forming unit 5 includes a scanner unit 19, a process cartridge 20, a fixing unit 21, and the like.
The scanner unit 19 is provided in the upper part of the main casing 2 and includes a laser light source (not shown), a scanner motor 108 as a second driving source, a polygon mirror 22 as an optical member, an fθ lens 23, a reflecting mirror 24, a lens 25, and a reflecting member. A mirror 26 is provided. The laser beam based on the image data emitted from the laser light source is deflected by the polygon mirror 22 that is rotationally driven by the scanner motor 108 as shown by the dotted line in FIG. The optical path is turned back by the above, and after passing through the lens 25, the optical path is further bent downward by the reflecting mirror 26, so that the surface of the photosensitive drum 29 described later of the process cartridge 20 is irradiated.

  The process cartridge 20 is detachably attached to the main body casing 2 below the scanner unit 19. The process cartridge 20 includes an upper frame 27 and a lower frame 28 formed separately from the upper frame 27 and combined with the upper frame 27. The process cartridge 20 includes a photosensitive drum 29 as a photosensitive member, a scorotron charger 30, a developing cartridge 31, and a transfer roller 32 as a transfer unit in a housing formed by combining an upper frame 27 and a lower frame 28. And a cleaning brush 33 as a cleaning means.

  The photosensitive drum 29 has a cylindrical shape, the outermost layer is formed of a positively chargeable photosensitive layer made of polycarbonate or the like, and an axial center of the drum main body 34 along the longitudinal direction of the drum main body 34. An extended metal drum shaft 35 is provided. The drum shaft 35 is supported by the upper frame 27, and the drum main body 34 is rotatably supported by the drum shaft 35, so that the photosensitive drum 29 is rotatable about the drum shaft 35 in the upper frame 27. Is provided. The photosensitive drum 29 is rotationally driven by power from the main motor.

  The scorotron charger 30 is supported by the upper frame 27 and is disposed diagonally above the rear side of the photosensitive drum 29 so as to face the photosensitive drum 29 at a predetermined interval so as not to contact the photosensitive drum 29. . The scorotron charger 30 is provided between the discharge wire 37 and the photosensitive drum 29, which is opposed to the photosensitive drum 29 with a predetermined interval in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 29, and from the discharge wire 37 to the photosensitive drum 29. And a grid 38 for controlling the discharge amount.

  The scorotron charger 30 applies a bias voltage to the grid 38 and at the same time applies a high voltage to the discharge wire 37 to corona discharge the discharge wire 37, so that the surface of the photosensitive drum 29 is uniformly positive. Can be charged. The scorotron charger 30 is provided with a cleaning member 36 for cleaning the discharge wire 37 so as to sandwich the discharge wire 37.

  The developing cartridge 31 is detachably attached to the lower frame 28. In the developing cartridge 31, a toner storage chamber 39, a supply roller 40, a developing roller 41, and a layer thickness regulating blade 42 are provided as storage units.

The toner storage chamber 39 is formed as an internal space on the front side of the developing cartridge 31 partitioned by the partition plate 43.
The supply roller 40 is disposed on the rear side of the toner accommodating chamber opening 45 and is rotatably supported by the developing cartridge 31. The supply roller 40 is configured by covering a metal roller shaft with a roller made of a conductive foam material. The supply roller 40 is rotationally driven by power from the main motor.

  The developing roller 41 is rotatably supported by the developing cartridge 31 in a state where the developing roller 41 is in contact with the supplying roller 40 so as to be compressed with each other on the rear side of the supplying roller 40. The developing roller 41 is opposed to and contacts the photosensitive drum 29 in a state where the developing cartridge 31 is mounted on the lower frame 28. The developing roller 41 is configured by covering a metal roller shaft with a roller made of a conductive rubber material. In the developing roller 41, the surface of a roller body made of conductive urethane rubber or silicone rubber containing carbon fine particles or the like is coated with a urethane rubber or silicone rubber coating layer containing fluorine. A developing bias is applied to the developing roller 41 during development. The developing roller 41 is rotationally driven in the same direction as the supply roller 40 by the power from the main motor.

  The layer thickness regulating blade 42 includes a pressing portion 47 having a semicircular cross section made of insulating silicone rubber at the tip of a blade body 46 made of a metal leaf spring material. The layer thickness regulating blade 42 is supported by the developing cartridge 31 above the developing roller 41, and the pressing portion 47 is pressed onto the developing roller 41 by the urging force of the blade body 46.

  The toner discharged from the opening 45 is supplied to the developing roller 41 by the rotation of the supply roller 40, and at this time, the toner is positively frictionally charged between the supply roller 40 and the developing roller 41. The toner supplied onto the developing roller 41 enters between the pressing portion 47 of the layer thickness regulating blade 42 and the developing roller 41 as the developing roller 41 rotates, and forms the developing roller 41 as a thin layer having a constant thickness. Supported on.

  The transfer roller 32 is rotatably supported by the lower frame 28, is opposed to and contacts the photosensitive drum 29 in the vertical direction, and is disposed so as to form a nip with the photosensitive drum 29. The transfer roller 32 is configured by covering a metal roller shaft with a roller made of a conductive rubber material. A transfer forward bias is applied to the transfer roller 32 at the time of transfer under the control of a CPU disposed in a control unit (not shown) of the laser printer 1, and a transfer reverse having a reverse polarity to the transfer forward bias at the time of a transfer cleaning process described later. A bias is applied. The transfer roller 32 is rotationally driven in the opposite direction to the photosensitive drum 29 by the power from the main motor.

  The cleaning brush 33 is attached to the lower frame 28 and is disposed on the rear side of the photosensitive drum 29 so as to face and contact the photosensitive drum 29. A cleaning bias is applied to the cleaning brush 33 during the drum cleaning process under the control of the CPU.

  The surface of the photosensitive drum 29 is first uniformly charged positively by the scorotron charger 30 as the photosensitive drum 29 rotates, and then exposed by high-speed scanning of the laser beam from the scanner unit 19. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image to be formed is formed.

  Next, the electrostatic charge formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 29 when the positively charged toner carried on the developing roller 41 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 29 by the rotation of the developing roller 41. The latent image is supplied to an exposed portion of the surface of the photosensitive drum 29 that is uniformly positively charged and exposed to a laser beam and having a lowered potential. As a result, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 29 is visualized, and a toner image by reversal development is carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 29.

  Thereafter, the toner image carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 29 is transferred to the transfer roller 32 while the sheet 3 conveyed by the registration roller 14 passes through the transfer position between the photosensitive drum 29 and the transfer roller 32. The image is transferred to the paper 3 by the applied transfer forward bias. The sheet 3 on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 21.

  The transfer residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 29 after the transfer is collected by the developing roller 41. Further, the paper dust from the paper 3 adhering to the photosensitive drum 29 after the transfer is removed by the cleaning brush 33 to which a cleaning bias is applied.

The fixing unit 21 is provided on the rear side of the process cartridge 20, and includes a fixing frame 48, and a heating roller 49 and a pressure roller 50 in the fixing frame 48.
The heating roller 49 includes a metal base tube and a halogen lamp for heating in the metal base tube, and is rotated by power from a main motor.

  The pressure roller 50 is disposed below the heating roller 49 so as to press the heating roller 49. The pressure roller 50 is configured by covering a metal roller shaft with a roller made of a rubber material, and is rotated according to the rotation drive of the heating roller 49.

In the fixing unit 21, the toner transferred onto the paper 3 at the transfer position is thermally fixed while the paper 3 passes between the heating roller 49 and the pressure roller 50. The sheet 3 on which the toner is fixed is conveyed to a sheet discharge path 51 that extends in the vertical direction toward the upper surface of the main casing 2. The sheet 3 conveyed to the sheet discharge path 51 is discharged onto a sheet discharge tray 53 formed on the upper surface of the main body casing 2 by a sheet discharge roller 52 provided on the upper side.
(About the paper dust storage container 9)
Next, the paper dust container 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the paper dust container 9 and the tray front cover 8a as viewed from the rear of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the paper dust container 9 as viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus.

  The paper dust container 9 shown in FIG. 3 is attached to the tray front cover 8a. This attachment is performed by screwing the paper dust storage container 9 to two boss portions 8b provided on the rear surface of the tray front cover 8a.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the paper dust storage container 9 is a substantially casing-shaped container. The paper dust container 9 includes a substantially rectangular wall surface 9h, a side wall 9e erected substantially perpendicular to the wall surface 9h from the four peripheral edges of the wall surface 9h, and a guide plate 9s. The surface facing the wall surface 9h of the paper dust container 9 is open. As shown in FIG. 3, the front side of the paper dust storage container 9 (F direction side in FIG. 4) is attached to the rear surface of the tray front cover 8a, thereby forming a box-shaped container in which the paper dust storage container 9 is closed. . As a result, paper dust storage portions 9b, 9c, and 9d shown in FIG.

  A part of the side wall 9e is cut out on the upper side (U direction side in FIG. 4) of the paper dust container 9 to form an opening 9a. The paper dust passes through the opening 9 a and is stored in the paper dust storage container 9. Further, the extended portion 9f of the cut-out side wall 9e is bent below the paper dust container 9 (D direction side in FIG. 4). The extension 9f prevents the paper powder from spilling from the paper powder storage container 9 when the paper powder storage container 9 is turned upside down, and increases the strength and rigidity of the paper powder storage container 9.

The guide plate 9s has an inverted V shape in which two flat plates are joined at the edges, the center portion 9k is the highest, and both end portions 9m are the lowest than the other portions. Both end portions of the guide plate 9s are separated from the side wall 9e. Thereby, the paper dust storage part 9d can be formed also under the guide plate 9s (D direction side of FIG. 4). Although the guide plate 9s is integrally formed with the wall surface 9h of the paper dust storage container 9, the guide plate 9s may be prepared separately in advance and may be bonded later to the wall surface 9h. According to such a configuration, the number of parts of the paper powder storage container can be reduced as compared with the case where the guide plate is made separately from the paper powder storage container.
(About the action of the paper dust storage container 9)
Next, the effect | action of the paper dust storage container 9 is demonstrated with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. FIG. 5 is a view showing the front surface (FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C) and the side surface (FIG. 5A) of the paper dust container 9.

  The paper dust adhering to the paper feed roller 10 shown in FIG. 2 adheres to the paper dust removing roller 13 charged at a potential opposite to that of the paper feed roller 10. The paper dust adhering to the paper dust removing roller 13 is scraped and dropped by the sponge 13a and passes through the opening 9a of the paper dust storage container 9 disposed below the sponge 13a (direction D in FIG. 2). Are stored in the paper powder storage portions 9b, 9c, 9d of the paper powder storage container 9.

FIG. 5B shows a situation in which the paper powder 3a is stored in the paper powder storage portions 9b, 9c, and 9d of the paper powder storage container 9. FIG. FIG. 5C shows the situation when the paper dust container 9 is turned upside down.
At this time, since the paper dust 3a is transferred along the both end portions 9m from the central portion 9k of the guide plate 9s shown in FIG. 5B, the paper dust 3a may be collected in the opening 9a of the paper dust storage container 9. Absent. Further, since the paper dust 3a is evenly distributed on both sides of the guide plate 9s, the paper dust 3a is evenly stored in the paper dust storage portions 9b and 9c, and is biased to one of the paper dust storage portions 9b and 9c. It is not stored. Furthermore, since both end portions 9m of the guide plate 9s are separated from the side wall 9e of the paper dust storage container 9, a paper dust storage portion 9d communicating with the opening 9a is also formed between the guide plate 9s and the side wall 9e. The Therefore, since the entire inside of the paper powder storage container 9 can be used as a paper powder storage part, no dead space is generated in the paper powder storage container 9 and the paper powder storage container 9 can be configured compactly. Since the paper dust storage container 9 can be configured compactly, it is possible to meet the demand for downsizing of the paper feeding means and the image forming apparatus.

  Further, since the paper dust storage portions 9b, 9c, and 9d communicate with each other inside the paper powder storage container 9, vibration is caused when the stacking tray 8 having the paper powder storage container 9 is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. The paper dust 3a accommodated in the paper dust reservoirs 9b, 9c, 9d of the paper dust reservoir 9 is leveled to the entire paper dust reservoir and does not accumulate in one place. Also by this, since the inside of the paper dust storage container 9 can be used effectively as a paper powder storage section, the paper powder storage container 9 can be configured compactly.

Even when the stacking tray 8 having the paper dust storage container 9 is detached from the image forming apparatus main body and vibrates, tilts, or is turned upside down, as shown in FIG. Since the opening 9a of the storage container 9 is blocked, the amount of the paper powder 3a spilling from the paper powder storage container 9 can be minimized. In addition, since the paper powder 3a is blocked by the extension 9f, the amount of spilling from the paper powder storage container 9 can be further suppressed.
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the configuration of the paper dust storage container 91 is different from that of the first embodiment, and the description of other configurations is omitted.

A paper dust container 91 of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. The guide plate 91s of the paper dust storage container 91 has a mountain shape with a high center and low ends. The guide plate 91 s also has the same function as the guide plate 9 s of the paper dust storage container 9. Also by this, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.
[Third Embodiment]
A third embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, the configuration of the paper dust storage container 92 is only different from that of the first embodiment, and the description of other configurations is omitted.

A paper dust container 92 according to the third embodiment is shown in FIG. The guide plate 92s of the paper dust storage container 92 has a mountain shape with a high center and low ends. The guide plate 92s has the same function as the guide plate 9s of the paper dust storage container 9. Also by this, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.
[Fourth Embodiment]
A fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described. In the fourth embodiment, the configuration of the paper dust storage container 93 is different from that of the first embodiment, and the description of other configurations is omitted.

A paper dust container 93 of the fourth embodiment is shown in FIG. The guide plate 93s of the paper powder storage container 93 constitutes an inclined surface with one end portion being high and the other end portion being low. The guide plate 93s has substantially the same function as the guide plate 9s of the paper dust storage container 9. Also by this, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.
[Fifth Embodiment]
A fifth embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described. In the fifth embodiment, the configuration of the paper dust container 94 is different from that of the first embodiment, and the description of the other configurations is omitted.

  A paper dust container 94 of the fifth embodiment is shown in FIG. The guide plate 94s of the paper dust container 94 has the same shape as the guide plate 9s of the first embodiment, but a guide 9r is provided on the guide plate 94s shown in FIG. The guide 9r can be fitted in a guide groove 9g formed on the wall surface 9i of the paper dust container 94 and can move along the guide groove 9g. Therefore, the guide plate 94s can move on the wall surface 9i of the paper dust container 94 along the guide groove 9g. The width direction of both end portions 94m of the guide plate 94s extends to the extension portion 94f. Then, for example, when the stacking tray 8 having the paper dust storage container 94 is turned upside down, the guide plate 94s moves toward the opening 94a of the paper powder storage container 94 by its own weight and comes into contact with the extension portion 94f. Since 94a is blocked, it is possible to prevent paper dust from spilling from the paper dust storage container 94.

  In addition, since the stacking tray 8 in the first to fifth embodiments includes the paper dust removing unit and the paper dust storing container, it is possible to remove only the stacking tray 8 and attach it to another image forming apparatus. The paper dust adhering to the paper feed roller 10 of the image forming apparatus can be removed. That is, the stacking tray 8 is compatible and can be provided as a single stacking tray. Further, in the first to fourth embodiments, the width direction of the end portion of the guide plate does not reach the extension portion. Furthermore, it is possible to enhance the effect of making paper powder difficult to spill.

  Although the first to fifth embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the guide means according to claim 1 corresponds to the guide plates 9s, 91s, 92s, 93s, 94s, and the movement according to claim 6. The means corresponds to the guide member 9r of the guide plate 94s and the guide groove 9g of the paper dust storage container 94, and the paper dust removing means according to claim 8 corresponds to the paper dust removing roller 13 and the sponge 13a.

1 is a perspective view of a laser printer as an image forming apparatus. It is principal part sectional drawing of a laser printer. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the paper dust storage container and the tray front cover from back. It is the perspective view which looked at the paper dust storage container from the front. It is a figure which shows the front and side surface of a paper dust storage container. It is a figure which shows the paper dust storage container in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the paper dust storage container in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the paper dust storage container in 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the paper dust storage container in 5th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Laser printer 2 ... Main body casing 2a ... Front panel 2b ... Side panel 2c ... Rear panel 2d ... Side panel 3 ... Paper 3a ... Paper dust 4 ... Feeder unit 5 ... Image forming unit 6 ... Removal port 7 ... Front cover 8 ... Stacking tray 8a ... Tray front cover 8b ... Boss unit 9 ... Paper dust storage container 9a, 94a ... Openings 9b, 9c, 9d ... Paper dust storage part 9e ... Side wall 9f, 94f ... Extension part 9g ... Guide groove 9h ... Wall surface 9i ... Wall surface 9k ... Center portions 9m, 94m ... Both ends 9r ... Guide member 9s ... Guide plate 10 ... Paper feed roller 11 ... Paper feed pad 12 ... Pickup roller 13 ... Paper dust removal Roller 13a ... Sponge part 14 ... Dist roller 15 ... paper pressing plate 16 ... bottom plate 17 ... lever 18 ... lever shaft 19 ... scanner unit 20 ... process cartridge 21 ... fixing unit 22 ... polygon mirror 23. ··· fθ lens 24 · · · reflector 25 · · · lens 26 · · · reflector 27 · · · upper frame 28 · · · lower frame 29 · · · photosensitive drum 30 · · · scorotron charger 31 · · · Developing cartridge 32: transfer roller 33 ... cleaning brush 34 ... drum body 35 ... drum shaft 36 ... cleaning member 37 ... discharge wire 38 ... grid 39 ... toner accommodation Chamber 40 ... Supply roller 41 ... Developing roller 42 ... Layer thickness regulating blade 43 ... Partition plate 46 ... Blade body 47 ... Pressing part 48 ... Wearing frame 49 ... heating roller 50 ... pressing roller 51 ... discharge path 52, ... discharge rollers 53 ... discharge tray 106 ... registration sensor 108 ... scanner motor

Claims (9)

In an image forming apparatus comprising a sheet feeding unit and an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet conveyed by the sheet feeding unit,
The paper feeding means is
A stacking tray that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body and can stack paper;
A paper feed roller that contacts and rotates the paper loaded on the stacking tray and feeds the image forming means;
Paper dust removing means for removing the paper dust adhering to the paper feed roller and the paper and dropping it down;
Provided on the stacking tray and disposed below the paper dust removing means, an opening is formed in the upper part, and the paper dust falling from the paper dust removing means passes through the opening and enters the inside. A paper dust storage container for storing,
The paper powder storage container shields the opening from the inside when viewed in plan from the opening, and has an end portion that is lower in the vertical direction than the other part when viewed from the side, and the inside of the paper powder storage container. A guide means for guiding the falling paper dust to the bottom surface, and a space communicating with the opening is formed between the bottom surface and the guide means. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide unit includes a chevron-shaped guide plate having a highest central portion and a lowest end portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the guide plate has an inverted V shape in which two flat plates are connected to each other at edges. The image according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the paper powder storage container includes an extension portion that extends from an edge of the opening toward a bottom surface of the paper powder storage container. Forming equipment. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide plate is formed integrally with the paper dust container. The said guide plate is provided with the holding means hold | moved toward the said opening part side from the said bottom face side so that a movement is possible, It is hold | maintained at the said paper-powder storage container via the said holding means, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 1 to 4. The said holding | maintenance means consists of a guide groove provided in the wall surface of the said paper-powder storage container, and a guide member which was provided in the said guide plate, and was fitted to the said guide groove, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. Image forming apparatus. The paper dust removing means includes a paper dust removing roller that contacts the paper feeding roller, and a sponge that contacts the paper dust removing roller and scrapes the paper dust adhered to the paper dust removing roller. wherein, the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A stacking tray that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body,
  A paper dust storage container for storing paper dust generated from the paper loaded on the tray section;
  The paper dust container is
  An opening is formed in the upper part, and when viewed in plan from the opening, the opening is blocked from the inside, and when viewed from the side, the end is lower in the vertical direction than the other parts and the paper dust storage container A space formed at a distance from the inner bottom surface and guiding paper dust falling through the opening to the bottom surface, and a space communicating with the opening between the bottom surface and the guiding means A stacking tray characterized in that is formed.

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