JP4633148B2 - Toner recovery unit and image forming apparatus including the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner recovery unit that is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

  In general, an image forming apparatus includes a toner recovery unit that recovers deteriorated toner used for transfer processing. Such a toner collection unit is detachably attached to the main body device, and is removed from the main body device and replaced when the collected toner reaches a certain amount or when maintenance is performed.

In such a toner collection unit, a waste toner collection container (storage unit), a fixing lever, a shutter for switching opening and closing of a waste toner discharge hole (discharge port) of the main body device, and a shutter from the open position to the closed position Some have a biasing spring that biases them to the side. When the waste toner collection container is pushed from the closed position to the open position side, the waste toner collection container is urged by the movement of the urging spring to move the shutter (second opening / closing member) from the closed position to the open position. The waste toner collection container is fixed to the main unit by a fixing lever at a position where the waste toner collection container receiving hole faces the waste toner discharge hole of the main unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-77513 A

  However, in the toner collecting unit shown in Patent Document 1, the waste toner collecting container is pushed into the open position side of the main body device against the biasing force of the biasing spring in accordance with the mounting operation to the main body device, and the waste toner is collected by the fixing lever. There was a problem that the container had to be fixed and was difficult to install. In addition, since the shutter (first opening / closing member) is not provided in the receiving hole, there is a problem that when the waste toner collecting container is detached from the main body device, the toner easily spills from the receiving hole of the waste toner collecting container.

  Therefore, the present invention facilitates the attachment work to the main body device by connecting the storage portion to the discharge port for discharging the toner in conjunction with the fixing operation of the storage portion to the main body device after being attached to the main body device. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner recovery unit that can be used, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

Toner recovery unit of this invention is a toner recovery unit outlet is detachably attached to the main body unit provided for discharging the toner, reservoir, the discharge passage, the first closing member, the engaging means, the operation A member and moving means are provided. The storage unit stores toner. The discharge passage includes a fitting portion that fits into the discharge port, and forms a discharge passage that connects the discharge port to the storage portion. First opening and closing member is freely displaceable between a closed position for closing the space between the fitting portion and the open position you opened between said outlet and said fitting portion and the discharge port. The engagement means is movable between an engagement position that engages with the engagement portion of the main body device and an engagement release position that does not engage with the engagement portion. The operation member is disposed so as to be exposed on the front surface, and can be operated between the first operation position and the second operation position. The movement means moves the engagement means between the engagement release position and the engagement position and moves the first opening / closing member to the closed position by an operation between the first operation position and the second operation position of the operation member. Displace between open position . At the time of mounting on the main body device, the fitting portion is fitted into the discharge port, and the mounting state on the device main body is fixed by the engagement of the engaging means with the engaging portion.

  In this configuration, the discharge port is communicated with the storage unit as the moving unit is moved while being attached to the main body device, and the storage unit is engaged with and fixed to the main body device. For this reason, the operation | movement which connects a discharge port to a storage part and the operation | movement which fixes a storage part to a main body apparatus can be performed by one operation | movement in conjunction. On the other hand, it is possible to prevent the toner stored in the storage unit from being spilled by displacing the first opening / closing member to the closed position in a state where it is not attached to the main body device.

  The moving means preferably displaces the first opening / closing member from the closed position to the open position after urging the engaging means to the engaged position. Thereby, after fixing a storage part to a main part device, an outlet can be made to communicate with a storage part.

  Further, when not attached to the main body device, the frame member is engaged to restrict the movement of the moving means, and when attached to the main body device, the main body device is biased to release the engagement with the frame member. It is preferable to further include a regulating unit. Thereby, the movement of the moving means can be restricted when the toner recovery unit is detached from the main body apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to facilitate the attachment work by connecting the storage portion to the discharge port with one operation after being attached to the main body device and fixing the storage portion to the main body device.

  An image forming apparatus (main apparatus) 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 100.

  The image forming apparatus 100 mainly includes an image forming unit 110, an automatic document reading unit 120, and a housing 130 for storing the image forming unit 110, and performs multicolor and single color printing processing on a sheet according to image data. Do.

  The automatic document reading unit 120 is disposed on the upper part of the image forming unit 110, and has a document table 92 made of transparent glass on which a document is placed. Read.

  The image forming unit 110 includes an exposure unit 1, a developing device 2, a photosensitive drum 3, a cleaner unit 4, a charger 5, an intermediate transfer belt unit 6, a fixing unit 7, a toner recovery unit 30, a positioning unit 40, and a paper feed cassette 81. And a paper discharge tray 91 and the like. The image forming unit 110 performs printing processing on paper.

  The developing device 2, the photosensitive drum 3, the charger 5, and the cleaner unit 4 are arranged in four image stations corresponding to color images of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). Each is arranged. Each station forms four types of latent images corresponding to each color.

  The cleaner unit 4 includes a conveying screw that discharges the toner and a conduit 4A in which the conveying screw is disposed. The cleaner unit 4 collects the toner remaining on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 3 and discharges the toner through the conduit 4A.

  The charger 5 is a charger-type charger that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 to a predetermined potential.

  The exposure unit 1 is a laser scanning unit (LSU) provided with a laser emitting portion, a reflection mirror, and the like. The exposure unit 1 has a function of forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data on the surface thereof by exposing the charged photosensitive drum 3 according to the input image data. The developing device 2 visualizes the electrostatic latent images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 3 with toner of four colors (YMCK).

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 6 is disposed above the photosensitive drum 3 and includes an intermediate transfer belt 61, an intermediate transfer belt driving roller 62, an intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63, an intermediate transfer roller 64, and an intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65. is doing. Four intermediate transfer rollers 64 are provided corresponding to each color for YMCK. The intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 includes a conduit 65A provided with a conveying screw for discharging toner, and discharges toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 61 via the conduit 65A.

  The paper feed cassette 81 is stacked with sheets used for image formation, and is provided below the exposure unit 1 of the image forming unit 110. A sheet used for image formation can also be placed in the manual sheet feeding cassette 82. A paper discharge tray 91 provided above the image forming unit 110 is a tray for collecting sheets subjected to image forming processing by the image forming unit 110.

  The image forming unit 110 is provided with a paper conveyance path L that sends the paper in the paper feed cassette 81 or the manual paper feed cassette 82 to the paper discharge tray 91 via the transfer roller 10 and the fixing unit 7. The paper transport path L is a transport path from the paper feed cassette 81 to the manual paper feed cassette 82 to the paper discharge tray 91. In the sheet conveyance path L, pickup rollers 11A and 11B, a conveyance roller pair 12A, a registration roller pair 13, a transfer roller 10, a fixing unit 7, and a conveyance roller pair 12B are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side.

  The pickup roller 11 </ b> A is provided near the end of the paper feed cassette 81, picks up paper one by one from the paper feed cassette 81, and supplies it to the paper transport path L. The pickup roller 11 </ b> B is provided near the end of the manual paper feed cassette 82, picks up paper one by one from the manual paper feed cassette 82, and supplies it to the paper transport path L.

  The registration roller pair 13 temporarily holds the paper conveyed along the paper conveyance path L. Then, the sheet is conveyed to a pair of rollers including the intermediate transfer belt driving roller 62 and the transfer roller 10 on the upstream side at the timing when the leading edge of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 is aligned with the leading edge of the sheet.

  The roller pair composed of the intermediate transfer belt driving roller 62 and the transfer roller 10 is a roller pair that sandwiches and conveys the paper and transfers the toner image carried on the intermediate transfer belt driving roller 62 onto the printing surface of the paper.

  The fixing unit 7 is disposed immediately above the transfer roller 10 and has a roller pair including a heat roller 71 and a pressure roller 72, and heats and pressurizes the sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred, thereby applying toner to the sheet surface. Fix the image.

  The housing 130 has a front panel 131 that faces the toner recovery unit 30. The front panel 131 is supported so as to be openable and closable to the front side with the lower ends in the longitudinal direction as base points. Accordingly, the front panel 131 can be opened and the toner recovery unit 30 can be attached to and detached from the image forming unit 110. The front panel 131 may be supported so as to be openable and closable to the front side with a side end in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction as a base point.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 with the front panel 131 removed. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a state where the toner recovery unit 30 is detached from the positioning unit 40.

  The open / close member (second open / close member) 50 is rotatably inserted into the front end of the conduit 4A, and switches the open / close state of the conduit 4A. The open / close member (second open / close member) 65B is rotatably inserted into the front end of the conduit 65A, and switches the open / close state of the discharge port provided in the conduit 65A. The opening / closing member 50 and the opening / closing member 65B are located at a closed position for holding the conduits 4A and 65A in a closed state when the toner recovery unit 30 is removed. In the present embodiment, the open / close members 50 and 65B are attached to the respective conduits 4A and 65A. However, when there is no need to switch the open / close state, the open / close members 50 and 65B may not be provided.

  The positioning unit 40 can be rotated to the front side of the exposure unit 1, the developing unit 2, the photosensitive drum 3, the cleaner unit 4, the charger 5, and the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65, starting from both lower ends in the longitudinal direction. It is supported by. The positioning unit 40 is provided with a locking hole 40A, a fixing knob 40B, a fixing knob (engaging portion) 40C, and a protrusion 40D. The locking holes 40A and the fixing knobs 40B and 40C are members that lock and position the toner recovery unit 30 attached to the front side.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the front side of the toner recovery unit 30 attached to the positioning unit 40. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the front side of the toner recovery unit 30 attached to the positioning unit 40. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration around the moving member 35 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the back side of the toner recovery unit 30 attached to the positioning unit 40.

  The toner recovery unit 30 includes a cover 31, an operation unit 32, a waste toner storage tank 33, a moving member 35, opening / closing members (first opening / closing members) 36 and 37, and a frame 38, and is detachably attached to the positioning unit 40. Yes.

  The operation unit 32 and the moving member 35 are attached to the front side of the frame 38. A waste toner storage tank 33 is provided below the frame 38. The frame 38 is provided with engaging portions 39B and 39C at both ends in the longitudinal direction on the back side. When the toner recovery unit 30 is attached to the positioning unit 40, the engaging portions 39B and 39C are locked to the fixing knobs 40B and 40C from the front side, respectively, and the toner recovery unit 30 is connected to the open / close members 37 and the conduits 4A and 65A. It is mounted at a predetermined mounting position connected to the opening / closing member 36. Thus, the toner recovery unit 30 can be supported by the positioning unit 40 in a state where the conduits 4A and the conduits 65A are connected to the opening / closing members 37 and 36, respectively. In the present embodiment, the toner collection unit 30 includes a plurality of opening / closing members. However, the toner collection unit 30 may be provided with at least one opening / closing member.

  The opening / closing member 36 is rotatably supported through the discharge passage SP formed by the frame 38 from the front side to the back side at an upper position near the engaging portion 39C. The opening / closing member 36 is supported rotatably between an open position where the conduit 65A communicates with the discharge passage SP and a closed position where the conduit 65A does not communicate.

  Four opening / closing members 37 are arranged along the longitudinal direction from a position adjacent to the opening / closing member 36. The opening / closing member 37 is supported by the frame 38 so as to be rotatable through the discharge passage SP in the same manner as the opening / closing member 36. The opening / closing member 37 is rotatably supported between an open position where the conduit 4A communicates with the discharge passage SP and a closed position where the conduit 4A does not communicate.

  The waste toner storage tank 33 is a storage unit that stores toner discharged via the opening / closing member 36 and each opening / closing member 37. Protruding portions 33 </ b> A are provided at both ends of the waste toner storage tank 33 in the longitudinal direction. Locking portions 130 </ b> A and 130 </ b> B are arranged at both lower ends on the front side of the positioning unit 40. The locking portions 130A and 130B are provided with arc-shaped depressions for locking the protruding portions 33A on their upper surfaces. Thereby, when the toner recovery unit 30 is attached to the positioning unit 40, the lower end portion can be supported by the locking portions 130A and 130B. In FIG. 2, the locking portions 130A and 130B are not shown.

  By providing the protruding portions 33A at both ends of the waste toner storage tank 33, it is possible to obtain an effect that the operator can easily hold the toner collection unit 30 when the toner collection unit 30 is detached from the positioning unit 40 and carried. .

  In the present embodiment, one of the projecting portions 33 </ b> A is disposed in the vicinity immediately below the operation portion 32. For this reason, the operator can immediately rotate the operation unit 32 disposed immediately above after attaching the toner recovery unit 30 to the positioning unit 40 while holding the protrusion 33A. As a result, there is also an effect that the attaching operation of the toner recovery unit 30 can be made smoother.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the toner collection unit 30 is provided with the protrusion 33A is described. However, the protrusion 33A may not be provided according to the specifications of the toner recovery unit 30. Moreover, it is good also as what provides the protrusion part 33A in any one.

  The discharge passage SP is a gap that allows the open / close members 36 and 37 to communicate with the waste toner storage tank 33, and the toner is disposed between the open / close member 36 positioned above and the waste toner storage tank 33 positioned below from the periphery of each open / close member 37. The recovery unit 30 is formed over almost the entire width. As a result, the toner discharged via the opening / closing member 36 and the opening / closing member 37 can be stored in the waste toner storage tank 33.

  The operation unit 32 is a cylindrical operation knob supported by the frame 38 so as to be rotatable between a first operation position indicated by a solid line and a second operation position indicated by a broken line. The operation unit 32 is disposed through the frame 38 from the front side to the back side. A locking portion 32A that protrudes in the XY plane is provided at the front end of the operation portion 32 on the back side.

  The locking portion 32A is fitted in the locking hole 40A so as to be detachable in the Z direction when the toner recovery unit 30 is attached to the positioning unit 40, and the operation portion 32 further moves from the first operation position to the second operation position. When it is rotated, it engages with the locking hole 40A. As a result, the toner recovery unit 30 can be prevented from falling off.

  The moving member 35 is disposed immediately below the opening and closing members 36 and 37 and moves in the X direction as the operation unit 32 rotates. The moving member 35 is located at the disengagement position where the tip (engagement means) 35A is not engaged with the fixed knob 40C when the operation part 32 is located at the first operation position shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the operating portion 32 rotates to the second operating position indicated by a broken line in FIG. 5, the moving member 35 moves in the X direction to the engaging position where the distal end portion 35A engages with the engaging hole 40H of the fixing knob 40C. Further, the moving member 35 is provided with a restricting portion 35D at a position near the tip portion 35A. A through-hole 38A that penetrates the discharge passage SP is provided in the frame 38 at a position facing the restriction portion 35D when the operation portion 32 is located at the first operation position. The moving member 35 is provided with gears 35G corresponding to the open / close members 36 and 37 along the upper surface in the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, gears 36G and 37G that are detachably meshed with the gears 35G are provided on the periphery of the opening and closing members 36 and 37, respectively.

  Each gear 35G is provided at a position where it does not mesh with the gears 36G and 37G when the tip 35A is not engaged with the engagement hole 40H provided in the fixed knob 40C. After the distal end portion 35A moves from the disengagement position of the moving member 35 to the engaging position where it engages with the fixing knob 40C as it moves to the fixing knob 40C side, the moving member 35 further moves to the fixing knob 40C side. Each gear 35G meshes with the gears 36G and 37G. Each gear 35G meshed with the gear 36G and the gear 37G rotates the open / close members 36 and 37 from the closed position to the open position. Thereby, the fixing operation of the toner recovery unit 30 to the positioning unit 40 and the opening / closing operations of the opening / closing members 36 and 37 can be performed in one operation in conjunction with the moving operation of the moving member 35.

  As described above, as the moving member 35 moves toward the fixed knob 40C, the open / close members 36 and 37 are rotated from the closed position to the open position after the distal end portion 35A is engaged with and fixed to the fixed knob 40C. Can do. For this reason, even if the moving member 35 is biased by the open / close members 36 and 37 and bends, since the moving member 35 is already engaged with the fixed knob 40C, the engaged state of the moving member 35 and the fixed knob 40C is maintained. However, the open / close members 36 and 37 can be rotated to the open position.

  In the present embodiment, the moving member 35 will be described with an example in which the opening and closing members 36 and 37 are rotated from the closed position to the open position after being engaged with the engagement hole 40H in accordance with the movement toward the fixed knob 40C. ing. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the moving member 35 is less bent when the open / close members 36 and 37 are rotated from the closed position to the open position and the distal end portion 35A can be smoothly engaged with the engaging hole 40H, the moving member 35 The moving member 35 may be engaged with the engagement hole 40H while the opening / closing members 36 and 37 are rotated from the closed position to the open position. Further, after the opening / closing members 36 and 37 are rotated from the closed position to the open position, the moving member 35 may be engaged with the engagement hole 40H.

  Further, a contact portion 35B is provided on the side of the engagement portion 39C of each gear 35G with a predetermined interval therebetween. Here, the predetermined interval is such that when the gear 35G and the gears 36G and 37G are separated from each other as the operating portion 32 rotates from the second operating position to the first operating position, the contact portion 35B is engaged with the locking portion 36H. , 37H, respectively, and when the moving member 35 moves to the disengagement position, the opening / closing members 36, 37 are set to positions for urging them to the closed position. Accordingly, the opening / closing members 36 and 37 can be rotated from the open position to the closed position via the moving member 35 as the operation unit 32 moves from the second operation position to the first operation position. In the present embodiment, the moving member 35 is described as an example of rotationally driving the opening and closing members 36 and 37 via gears. However, the moving member 35 is a sliding portion that slides on the opening and closing members 36 and 37. It is good also as what drives rotationally via.

  The moving member 35 is provided with a gear 35 </ b> H along the lower end on the end portion side that is separated from the distal end portion 35 </ b> A. A gear 32 </ b> G that meshes with the gear 35 </ b> H is provided on the peripheral surface of the operation unit 32. Thereby, the moving member 35 can be moved in the X direction with the rotation of the operation unit 32 between the first operation position and the second operation position. In the present embodiment, an example in which the moving member 35 is moved in the X direction in accordance with the rotation operation of the operation unit 32 is described. However, the moving member 35 is directly moved in the X direction without using the operation unit 32. It may be energized.

  In the present embodiment, the operation unit 32 and the opening / closing members 36 and 37 are arranged with the moving member 35 interposed therebetween in the Y direction that intersects the X direction that is the moving direction of the moving member 35. Accordingly, even when the moving member 35 is biased upward in accordance with the rotation operation of the operation unit 32, the moving member 35 is smoothly moved in the X direction while the upward movement of the moving member 35 is restricted by the opening / closing members 36 and 37. Can be made.

  In the present embodiment, the distal end portion 35A of the moving member 35 is engaged with the fixed knob 40C and the movable member 35 is engaged with the fixed knob 40C. For example, the distal end portion 35A and the moving member 35 are separated from each other. It is good also as what comprises.

  The cover 31 covers the entire surface except the waste toner storage tank 33 and the operation unit 32 on the front side of the toner recovery unit 30 so as to be sealed. Thereby, it is possible to more reliably prevent toner from leaking from the periphery of the opening and closing members 36 and 37. In the present embodiment, an example in which the cover 31 is used has been described. However, the cover 31 may not be used depending on the specifications of the toner recovery unit 30.

  FIG. 8A is a view showing a configuration around the opening / closing member 37 and the opening / closing member 50 when the operation unit 32 is located at the first operation position with the toner recovery unit 30 mounted on the positioning unit 40. is there. FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a configuration around the opening / closing member 37 and the opening / closing member 50 when the operation unit 32 is located at the second operation position with the toner recovery unit 30 mounted on the positioning unit 40. is there. 8A and 8B, the illustration of the moving member 35 is omitted. FIG. 9A is a diagram showing a cross section taken along the line AA. FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a cross section taken along line BB. Here, since the configuration around the opening / closing member 36 and the opening / closing member 65B is substantially the same as the configuration around the opening / closing member 37 and the opening / closing member 50, description thereof will be omitted.

  A discharge port 4E is provided at the lower peripheral surface of the conduit 4A. The opening / closing member 37 is provided with an opening 37 </ b> A indicated by a one-dot chain line on a circumferential surface located coaxially with the discharge port 4 </ b> E in a state where the toner recovery unit 30 is mounted on the positioning unit 40.

  The opening / closing member 50 is provided with an opening 50A indicated by a broken line in FIG. 9A on the circumferential surface coaxial with the discharge port 4E in a state in which the toner recovery unit 30 is mounted on the positioning unit 40, and a circular front surface. A protrusion 50B having a rectangular parallelepiped shape is provided at the portion. On the other hand, a fitting portion 37 </ b> B that fits into the protruding portion 50 </ b> B is provided at a position facing the protruding portion 50 </ b> B of the opening / closing member 37. The fitting portion 37B and the protruding portion 50B are formed so as to be insertable / removable in the Z direction only in a state where the opening / closing positions of the opening / closing member 37 and the opening / closing member 50 are aligned. Thus, the toner collection unit 30 can be mounted on the positioning unit 40 only when the open / close state of the open / close member 37 matches the open / close state of the open / close member 50. Further, the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing member 50 can be linked to the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing member 37.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, when the opening and closing members 37 and 50 are in the closed position where the longitudinal direction of the protrusion 50B is parallel to the Y direction, the openings 37A and 50A are fixed so as not to face the discharge port 4E and the discharge passage SP. It is located on the knob 40B side. As a result, the discharge port 4E and the discharge passage SP can be shielded, and the conduit 4A can be held in a state where it does not communicate with the discharge passage SP. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8B, the opening / closing members 37 and 50 rotate downward in the opening 37A and 50A facing the discharge port 4E in the open position where the longitudinal direction of the protrusion 50B is parallel to the X direction. To do. Thereby, the discharge port 4E can be opened and the conduit 4A can be communicated with the discharge passage SP.

  FIG. 10A shows a configuration in the XZ plane around the restricting portion 35D when the operation portion 32 is located at the first operation position in a state where the toner recovery unit 30 is not attached to the positioning unit 40. FIG. FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the toner recovery unit 30 is attached to the positioning unit 40 from the state illustrated in FIG.

  The restricting portion 35 </ b> D is a plate-like member that protrudes toward the frame 38 and is provided on the moving member 35. As shown in FIG. 10A, the restricting portion 35D is locked to a locking portion 38B provided on the frame 38 when the operating portion 32 is located at the first operating position. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the moving member 35 from moving in the X direction when the toner recovery unit 30 is not attached to the positioning unit 40. Thereby, when the toner recovery unit 30 is removed from the positioning unit 40, the open / close members 36 and 37 can be held in the closed positions, respectively. As a result, when the toner recovery unit 30 is removed from the positioning unit 40, the open / close member 36 and the open / close member 37 rotate from the closed position to the open position, and the toner stored in the waste toner storage tank 33 is spilled. Can be prevented.

  On the other hand, when the toner collecting unit 30 is mounted on the positioning unit 40, the restricting portion 35D is attached to the front side to a position where the protrusion 40D of the positioning unit 40 that protrudes the through hole 38A to the front side does not engage with the locking portion 38B. Be forced. Thus, the toner recovery unit 30 can be attached to the positioning unit 40 and the engagement between the locking portion 38B and the restricting portion 35D can be released. For this reason, the engagement between the moving member 35 and the frame 38 can be released with the mounting operation of the toner recovery unit 30 to the positioning unit 40.

  Here, the fixing operation of the toner recovery unit 30 when the operation unit 32 is rotated with the toner recovery unit 30 mounted on the positioning unit 40 will be described as follows.

  When the operation unit 32 is rotated from the first operation position to the second operation position with the toner recovery unit 30 mounted on the positioning unit 40, the engagement portion 32A is engaged with the engagement hole 40A and the fixing knob 40C is engaged. The tip 35A is engaged. Thereby, the toner recovery unit 30 can be fixed to the positioning unit 40. Further, when the operating portion 32 is rotated from the second operating position to the first operating position, the engagement between the locking portion 32A and the locking hole 40A is released, and between the fixed knob 40C and the distal end portion 35A. Is disengaged. Thereby, the toner recovery unit 30 can be detached from the positioning unit 40.

  As a result, it is possible to prevent the toner collection unit 30 from being detached from the positioning unit 40 in a state where the operation unit 32 is rotated to the second operation position.

  In this embodiment, the restricting portion 35D is provided on the moving member 35. However, the restricting portion 35D may be used as long as the moving member 35 may move in a state where the toner recovery unit 30 is not attached to the positioning unit 40. Need not be provided.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 in a state in which the front panel 131 is opened in a side view. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between the contact portion 131A and the operation portion 32 in a state where the front panel 131 is closed.

  The front panel 131 is provided with a contact portion 131A at a position facing the operation portion 32 when the front panel 131 is closed. When the operation unit 32 is located at the second operation position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 12, the contact part 131 </ b> A faces the recessed part of the operation part 32 and does not contact the recessed part of the operation part 32. It is formed in length. On the other hand, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 12, when the operation portion 32 is rotated to a position other than the second operation position, the contact portion 131 </ b> A is linear along the radial direction of the operation portion 32. Abuts with the formed knob portion. For this reason, the front panel 131 cannot be closed in a state where the operation unit 32 is not rotated to the second operation position. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the front panel 131 from being closed without performing the rotation operation of the operation unit 32 to the second operation position. As a result, it is possible to prevent the front panel 131 from being closed without rotating the open / close members 36 and 37 to the open position. In the present embodiment, an example in which the contact portion 131A is provided on the front panel 131 has been described. However, when the opening / closing operation of the front panel 131 does not need to be restricted by the open / closed state of the operation unit 32, this operation is performed. The contact portion 131A may not be provided.

  1 to 12, the cross-sectional notation is omitted as appropriate.

  In addition, it should be thought that description of the above-mentioned embodiment is an illustration in all the points, Comprising: It is not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the front. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of the entire image forming apparatus in a state where a front panel is removed. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where a toner recovery unit is detached from a positioning unit. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration on the front side of a toner recovery unit. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration on the front side of the toner recovery unit. It is a figure which shows the structure of a movement member periphery when an operation part is located in the 1st operation position. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration on the back side of a toner recovery unit. (A) is a figure which shows the structure of the opening-and-closing member periphery of the state in which the operation part is rotating to the 1st operation position. (B) is a figure which shows the structure of the opening-and-closing member periphery in the state in which the operation part is rotating to the 2nd operation position. (A) is a figure which shows the structure in an AA cross section. (B) is a figure which shows the structure in a BB cross section. (A) is a diagram showing a configuration around the restricting portion 35D when the operation portion is located at the first operation position in a state where the toner recovery unit is not attached to the positioning unit. (B) is a diagram showing a state in which the toner recovery unit is attached to the positioning unit from the state shown in (A). 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration in a side view of an image forming apparatus in a state where a front panel is opened. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of an operation part and a contact part when a front panel is closed in front view.

Explanation of symbols

4A Conduit 4E Discharge port 30 Toner recovery unit 33 Waste toner storage tank 35 Moving member (moving means)
35A tip (engaging means)
36 Opening and closing member (first opening and closing member)
37 Opening and closing member (first opening and closing member)
38 Frame 40C Fixing knob (engaging part)
65A Conduit 100 Image forming device (main device)
SP discharge passage

Claims (5)

A toner recovery unit discharge port for discharging the toner Ru is detachably attached to the main body device provided,
A reservoir for storing toner;
Includes a fitting portion fitted to the outlet, a discharge passage path continuous to said reservoir,
A first opening and closing member that is freely displaceable between a closed position for closing between the fitting portion and the discharge port and the discharge port and to that opening position and opening the fitting portion between,
Engagement means that is movable between an engagement position that engages with an engagement portion of the main body device and an engagement release position that does not engage with the engagement portion;
An operation member that is exposed to the front surface and is operable between a first operation position and a second operation position;
An operation between the first operation position and the second operation position of the operation member moves the engagement means between the engagement release position and the engagement position and moves the first opening / closing member. Moving means for displacing between the closed position and the open position ;
Equipped with a,
A toner recovery unit in which the fitting portion is fitted into the discharge port when mounted on the main body device, and the mounting state on the device main body is fixed by engagement of the engaging means with the engaging portion . The moving means displaces the first opening / closing member from the closed position to the open position after moving the engagement means to the engagement position.
The toner recovery unit according to claim 1. Engage with the frame member when it is not attached to the main body device to restrict the movement of the moving means, and when it is attached to the main body device, it is urged by the main body device to engage with the frame member Further provided with a restriction part to be released,
The toner recovery unit according to claim 1 or 2. 4. An image forming apparatus in which a discharge port for discharging toner collected after electrophotographic image forming processing is provided , and the toner collecting unit according to claim 1 is detachably mounted at a mounting position. ,
Displacement between the open position and the closed position of the first opening / closing member when the fitting part is fitted to the discharge opening, the second opening / closing member provided at the discharge opening. an image forming apparatus provided with a second closing member which is displaced between a closed position in conjunction with each other to close the discharge port and an open position to open the discharge port.
An exterior member that is freely displaceable between an open position that opens the front side of the mounting position and a shielding position that is closed, and is mounted on the mounting position during the displacement from the open position to the shielding position. the image forming apparatus according to claim 4 comprising an exterior member for the operating member of the toner recovery unit has a contact portion which contacts only the first operating positions.

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