JP4940908B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention includes an image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier and develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, and records the toner image formed by the image forming unit. An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a combination machine combining two or more of these, which can be transferred and fixed to a medium, in particular, waste toner generated during image formation by a waste toner delivery path member The toner is carried out toward the front side of the image forming apparatus main body, discharged from the toner discharge port on the front side of the discharge path member, and the waste toner discharged from the toner discharge port is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body from the front side. an image forming apparatus for receiving accommodate a possible waste toner box.

  In this type of image forming apparatus, when the waste toner storage box becomes full of waste toner, a warning is displayed to prompt the user to replace the waste toner storage box, and in some cases, the image formation of the apparatus is prohibited. For this reason, a means for detecting the full state is generally provided.

  For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-333656 discloses that a viewing window is formed in a waste toner storage box, and that the passage through the viewing window can be detected inside the apparatus front cover that opens and closes the front side of the image forming apparatus main body. It is described that an optical fullness detection sensor for detecting a toner full state from the viewing window using light is provided and the toner full state is detected by the fullness detection sensor.

JP-A-5-333656

However, as described in JP-A-5-333656, when an optical sensor for detecting toner fullness is provided inside the front cover of the apparatus, a waste toner storage box that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body is provided with toner fullness. Open the cover and replace the toner-filled box from the image forming apparatus main body, or check the box and check that the box is not yet full of toner. When the front cover of the apparatus is opened and the box is removed for replacement, inspection, etc., toner may fall from the box onto the optical sensor. Further, the sensor may be damaged by hitting the exposed sensor inside the opened cover or hitting a tool held by a user or the like.

When toner drops and adheres to the optical sensor for fullness detection in this way, the path of detection light used by the sensor is hindered, which hinders accurate detection of the toner full state.
Further, when the sensor is damaged, the subsequent toner full state detection is hindered.

Therefore, the present invention has an image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier and develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. The toner image formed by the image forming unit is A waste toner that can be transferred and fixed to a recording medium and is generated along with image formation is carried out toward the front side of the main body of the image forming apparatus by a waste toner carry-out path member, and the toner discharge port on the front side of the carry-out path member The waste toner discharged from the toner discharge port can be received and accommodated in a waste toner storage box that is detachable from the front side with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and the front side of the image forming apparatus main body is covered by the apparatus front cover. An image forming apparatus that can be opened and closed, and detects when the waste toner storage box is full of waste toner by a full detection sensor, and the front cover of the apparatus is opened, and further, the waste toner storage box is displayed. Be or is detachable from the forming apparatus, then also an object to provide a toner full state of the waste toner containing box image forming apparatus can be accurately detected by the sensor.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
An image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier and develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. The toner image formed by the image forming unit is transferred and fixed onto a recording medium. The waste toner generated during image formation is carried out toward the front side of the image forming apparatus main body by the waste toner carrying-out path member and discharged from the toner discharge port on the front side of the carrying-out path member. An image forming apparatus in which waste toner discharged from a toner discharge port can be received and accommodated in a waste toner storage box that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body from the front side, and the front side of the image forming apparatus main body can be opened and closed by an apparatus front cover. And
The waste toner storage box has a full detection window portion having a translucent portion for detecting the full state when the box is filled with waste toner.
The inside of the device front cover is full detection sensor is provided for detecting the box waste toner full state by using the detection light can pass through the translucent portion of the full detection window section with the cover closed,
The full detection sensor provides an image forming apparatus covered with a sensor cover that transmits the detection light.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, even when the front cover of the apparatus is opened and the full detection sensor inside the cover is exposed, the full detection sensor is covered with the sensor cover. Damage caused by hitting an object is suppressed, and the waste toner storage box is attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus with the front cover of the apparatus being opened. At that time, the toner may fall to the full detection sensor. Even so, the fullness detection sensor is covered with the sensor cover, so that the toner is prevented from adhering to the sensor itself, and the toner adhering to the cover can be easily wiped without fear of damaging the sensor. Since the cover transmits the detection light, the toner full state of the waste toner storage box is accurately detected by the full detection sensor thereafter. Door can be.

As the full detection sensor, for example, a sensor including a light emitting element that can be easily obtained as an optical sensor and a light receiving element that receives detection light from the light emitting element can be adopted.
When such a full detection sensor is employed, the waste toner storage box is formed with vacant spaces (for example, recesses recessed toward the inside of the box body) on both sides of the full detection window, and the full detection window Both side walls facing the void are set as light-transmitting portions of the full detection window, and when the front cover of the apparatus is closed, the light emitting element is disposed in one of the voids on both sides of the full detection window. The light receiving elements may be fitted and arranged in a state covered with the sensor cover.

As described above, when the front cover of the apparatus is closed, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are fitted and arranged in the vacant spaces on both sides of the window portion, so that the entire image forming apparatus can be reduced in size and size.
By forming the full detection window portion so as not to protrude substantially forward from the front surface of the waste toner storage box body on the front side of the apparatus, the entire image forming apparatus can be further reduced in size and size.

The apparatus front cover is in the cover open state in which the waste toner storage box before being mounted on the image forming apparatus main body is placed in the open posture, and the box can be mounted on the image forming apparatus main body by the closing operation of the cover. And an inner surface portion located on the image forming apparatus main body side from the full detection sensor.

  In this case, the fullness detection sensor also serves as a positioning guide for positioning the box on the inner surface so that the box placed on the inner surface can be mounted on the image forming apparatus main body by closing the cover. But you can.

  An energization line extending from the full detection sensor may be disposed inside the apparatus front cover. In this case, when the cover is opened and the box is placed on the inner surface of the cover, the outer contour shape and size of the waste toner storage box and the arrangement position of the conduction line are placed under the conduction line. It is desirable to set the relationship so that it can be placed in a state where there is no contact. With such a setting, it is possible to suppress damage to the conductive wire and to easily place the waste toner storage box stably on the inner surface of the cover.

  In the waste toner storage box, a movable member for storing the waste toner in a predetermined state in the box (for example, while moving the waste toner received in the box so as to store as much waste toner as possible in the box) You may provide the leveling member which equalizes uniformly in a box.

  When the movable member is provided in the box as described above, an operation detection window for detecting the operation of the movable member is provided in the box, and the operation detection window is passed through the device front cover with the cover closed. You may provide the operation | movement detection sensor which detects the operation state of the said movable member. In that case, the motion detection sensor may also be covered with a sensor cover.

  In this case, the waste toner storage box is formed with voids on both sides of the motion detection window, and both side walls facing the void of the motion detection window are transparent for detecting the motion of the movable member. The sensor cover that covers the motion detection sensor is a light-transmitting cover, and the motion detection sensor includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element that receives the detection light from the light emitting element. When closed, the light emitting element may be fitted and disposed in one of the voids on both sides of the motion detection window, and the light receiving element may be covered with the sensor cover on the other.

  When such an optical sensor is employed as the motion detection sensor, a part of the movable member or a member that moves in conjunction with the movable member is moved in and out of the motion detection window, so that the detection light is transmitted. An example in which the operating state of the movable member can be detected by being blocked can be given.

In any case, when the front cover of the apparatus is closed as described above, the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the motion detection sensor are fitted and arranged in the spaces on both sides of the motion detection window, respectively. It can be made smaller and more compact.
Further, by forming the operation detection window so as not to protrude substantially forward from the front surface of the waste toner storage box body on the front side of the apparatus, the entire image forming apparatus can be further reduced in size and size. .

  In order to make the sensor compact or to simplify the attachment of the sensor cover, the sensor cover that covers the full detection sensor and the sensor cover that covers the motion detection sensor may be integrally formed.

When the operation detection window is provided in the waste toner storage box and the operation detection sensor is provided in the front cover of the apparatus, the cover places the waste toner storage box before being mounted on the image forming apparatus main body in the open position. The box may be attached to the image forming apparatus main body by a closing operation of the image forming apparatus, and may have an inner surface portion positioned closer to the image forming apparatus main body than the full detection sensor and the operation detection sensor in the cover open state.

  In that case, at least one of the fullness detection sensor and the motion detection sensor can mount the box on the inner surface so that the box placed on the inner surface can be mounted on the image forming apparatus main body by closing the cover. It may also serve as a positioning guide for positioning.

  Moreover, you may arrange | position the conduction line extended from the said full detection sensor and the said operation | movement detection sensor inside the said apparatus front side cover. In that case, when the cover is opened and the box is placed on the inner surface of the cover, the outer contour shape and size of the waste toner storage box and the arrangement position of the energization line do not underlay the energization line. It is desirable that the relationship be set so that it can be placed in a state. With such a setting, it is possible to suppress damage to the conductive wire and to easily place the waste toner storage box stably on the inner surface of the cover.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be a monochrome image forming apparatus or a color image forming apparatus. For example, the following color image forming apparatus may be used. That is,
The image forming unit includes a plurality of image forming units and an intermediate transfer member, and the plurality of image forming units are sequentially arranged along the intermediate transfer member. A toner image can be formed, and the toner image formed in the image forming unit is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer member, and the primary transfer toner image on the intermediate transfer member is secondarily transferred onto the recording medium. And a color image forming apparatus capable of forming a color image by fixing the recording medium.

  An image forming apparatus known as a so-called tandem color image forming apparatus belongs to this type of image forming apparatus.

  In the case of this type of image forming apparatus, the waste toner generated in association with the image formation is usually generated as a toner image formed in each of the image forming units is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt, The waste toner collected by the image carrier cleaning device of the image forming unit and the primary transfer toner image on the intermediate transfer member are secondary transferred to the recording medium, and the intermediate transfer member cleaning device Waste toner collected in

  When the waste toner is in such a case, the waste toner carry-out path member is attached to each cleaning device, and the waste toner receiving port portion of the waste toner storage box can be provided corresponding to each waste toner carry-out path member. .

As described above, according to the present invention, an electrostatic latent image is formed on an image carrier, and the electrostatic latent image is developed to form a toner image, which is formed by the image forming unit. The transferred toner image can be transferred and fixed onto the recording medium, and waste toner generated during image formation is carried out toward the front side of the main body of the image forming apparatus by the waste toner carrying-out path member, and the front side of the carrying-out path member is The waste toner discharged from the toner discharge port on the side can be received and stored in a waste toner storage box that can be detached from the front side with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and the front side of the image forming apparatus main body The image forming apparatus can detect the full state by a full detection sensor when the waste toner storage box is full of waste toner, and the front cover of the apparatus is opened or further discarded. Tona Also accommodating box is or are detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body, even after the toner full state of the waste toner storage box it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus can be accurately detected by the sensor.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an example A of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention having a waste toner storage box.

  The image forming apparatus A is a tandem type full color printer. The printer A has an endless intermediate transfer belt 2 wound around a driving roller 21 and a roller 22 facing the driving roller 21. The transfer belt 2 can be rotated counterclockwise in the figure (arrow direction in the figure) by a driving roller 21 driven by a belt driving unit (not shown).

  A cleaning device 8 that removes and cleans secondary transfer residual toner and the like on the transfer belt 2 with a cleaning blade faces the transfer belt portion on the facing roller 22. The waste toner accumulated in the cleaning device 8 is conveyed and stored in a waste toner storage box 9 (see FIG. 2 and the like) described later by a discharge unit described later.

The secondary transfer roller 3 faces the transfer belt portion on the driving roller 21.
A surface layer portion of the secondary transfer roller 3 is formed of an elastic material, and is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt 2 by a pressing unit (not shown) to form a nip portion between the intermediate transfer belt 2 and the intermediate transfer belt 2. , Or following the movement of the recording medium 50 fed into the nip as will be described later. A secondary transfer bias can be applied to the secondary transfer roller 3 from a secondary transfer bias power supply device (not shown).

  A timing roller pair 4 is disposed below the secondary transfer roller 3, and a recording medium storage cassette 5 that stores a recording medium 50 is detachably mounted below the pair of timing rollers 4. The recording medium 50 accommodated in the cassette 5 can be pulled out one by one by the medium supply roller 51 and supplied to the timing roller pair 4. As the recording medium 50, a recording sheet, an overhead projector sheet, or the like can be used.

A fixing device 6 is disposed above the transfer roller 3.
The fixing device 6 includes a heated fixing roller and a pressure roller pressed against the fixing roller.
A medium discharge roller pair 71 and a medium discharge tray 7 are provided on the downstream side of the fixing device 6 in the recording medium conveyance direction.

  Between the rollers 21 and 22 around which the intermediate transfer belt 2 is wound, the yellow image forming unit Y, the magenta image forming unit M, the cyan image forming unit C, and the rollers 22 to 21 are moved along the transfer belt 2. Black image forming portions K are arranged in this order.

  Each of the image forming units Y, M, C, and K includes a drum-type photoconductor 11 as an electrostatic latent image carrier, and a charger 12, an image exposure device 13, and a developer 14 are provided around the photoconductor. A primary transfer roller 15, a leaning device 16 that removes and cleans the primary transfer residual toner on the photosensitive member, a light neutralizing device 17, and the like are arranged in this order.

  The photosensitive member 11, the charger 2, the developing device 14, the cleaning device 16, and the light neutralizing device 17 in each image forming unit are provided in a cartridge case, and form a process cartridge together with the cartridge case. That is, the yellow process cartridge YC for forming the yellow image forming portion Y, the magenta process cartridge MC for forming the magenta image forming portion M, the cyan process cartridge CC for forming the cyan image forming portion C, and the black image forming This is a black process cartridge KC for forming the portion K.

Each process cartridge can be mounted in the direction from the front side of the main body to the back side of the main body on the front side of the main body of the image forming apparatus (here, the printer), and can be removed in the direction from the back side to the front side. those detachable from the main body.

In order to allow the process cartridge and the like to be attached and detached from the front side of the main body, a large opening a is formed in the front side portion of the main body frame AF as shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram, and each of the process cartridges YC, MC, CC, and KC and the cleaning device 8 are shown in blocks.

As shown in FIG. 1, the primary transfer roller 15 of each image forming unit faces the photoconductor 11 with the transfer belt 2 in between, and is rotated by the running of the belt. A primary transfer bias for primary transfer of a toner image formed on the photoreceptor 11 to the belt 2 can be applied to the primary transfer roller 15 from a primary transfer bias power supply device (not shown).
The exposure device 13 performs image exposure on the photoconductor 11 using a laser beam in accordance with image information provided from a personal computer (not shown) or the like.

The photoconductor 11 in each image forming unit is a negatively chargeable photoconductor here, and is rotated clockwise in the drawing by a photoconductor drive motor (not shown).
A voltage for charging the photosensitive member is applied to the charger 2 in each image forming unit at a predetermined timing from a charging power supply (not shown).

  The developing unit 14 in each image forming unit employs a negatively chargeable toner in this example, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 11 is developed from a developing bias applying power supply device (not shown) to a developing bias voltage. Can be reversely developed by the developing roller 141 to which is applied.

  The cleaning device 16 in each image forming unit removes and cleans the primary transfer residual toner and the like on the photoconductor 11 with a cleaning blade, and waste toner accumulated in the cleaning device 16 is discarded by a discharge unit described later. The toner is transferred to and stored in a toner storage box 9 (see FIG. 2 and the like).

Since the black image forming unit K often forms a monochrome image using black toner, the developing unit 14 is formed to be larger than the other image forming units Y, M, and C. The cleaning device 16 is also formed larger because the amount of waste toner is larger than that of the other image forming portions Y, M, and C.
The cleaning device 8 for the belt 2 where the transfer residual toner is larger than that on the photoconductor 11 is also enlarged.

  The printer main body is provided with a device front cover AC that opens and closes the front side thereof (see FIGS. 3, 6, and 7). As shown in FIG. 3, the cover AC is connected to the main body frame AF by a hinge h at the lower end portion thereof, and the upper end portion is opened by rotating approximately 90 degrees downward on the near side. Can be closed. Various sensors and the like are attached to the inside of the cover AC, which will be described later.

  As shown on the right side of FIG. 4, the waste toner accumulated in the cleaning device 8 for the belt 2 and the cleaning device 16 of each image forming unit is one of toner conveying path members extending from the respective devices to the front side of the main body. The toner transport pipe P as an example is transported toward the end of the pipe P on the front side of the apparatus main body, and can be discharged from a toner discharge port P2 formed on the peripheral wall of the end. The pipe P incorporates a screw conveyor P1 for toner conveyance (see also FIG. 1).

  The toner conveying tube for the cleaning device 8 and the toner conveying tube for the cleaning device 16 of the black image forming unit K have a larger diameter than the toner conveying tube for the cleaning device 16 of the image forming units Y, M, and C. In the drawings, the same reference symbol “P” is used.

The end of each toner transport pipe P on the front side of the apparatus main body is closed. A shutter device S is provided at the end of each toner transport tube P on the front side of the apparatus main body. The shutter device S includes a short cylindrical shutter s1 that is externally fitted to the end of the toner conveyance tube P and can reciprocate in the direction of the central axis of the tube P, and a coil spring s2 that urges the shutter. The front end of the shutter s1 is closed, and an opening s11 is formed on the peripheral wall of the shutter s1 so as to correspond to the toner discharge port P2 of the toner transport pipe P. A flange s12 is provided at the rear end of the shutter s1. It is installed. A flange P3 is provided around the toner conveying pipe P so as to oppose the flange s12.

A plurality of springs s2 are disposed between the flanges s12 and P3 at equal central angular intervals, and both ends are connected to the flanges.
When an external force is not acting on the spring, the shutter s1 is pushed toward the front side of the printer main body by the spring s2, thereby taking the position where the shutter opening s11 is displaced from the toner discharge port P2 of the transport pipe P. The toner discharge port P2 is closed by the shutter s1.
On the other hand, when the shutter s1 is pushed and moved toward the back side of the apparatus main body against the spring force, the shutter opening s11 coincides with the toner discharge port P2 of the transport pipe P, and the waste toner can be discharged.

  The waste toner storage box 9 is shown in each of FIGS. 2 to 7, but the box 6 has a process cartridge YC, MC, CC, and KC and a cleaning device 8 for the belt 2 mounted on the printer body. In the state, it can be attached and fixed to them from the front side of the main body.

Here, image formation by the printer A will be described first.
The printer A can form an image using at least one of the image forming units Y, M, C, and K. Taking a case where a full color image is formed using all of the image forming portions Y, M, C, and K as an example, first, a yellow toner image is formed in the yellow image forming portion Y, and this is formed on the transfer belt 2 as a primary. Transcript.

  That is, in the yellow image forming portion Y, the photosensitive member 11 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction in the figure, and the surface is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential by the charger 12, and the yellow image is transferred from the image exposure device 13 to the charged area. Image exposure is performed, and an electrostatic latent image for yellow is formed on the photoreceptor 11. The electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing roller 141 to which a developing bias of a developing unit 14 having yellow toner is applied to become a visible yellow toner image, and the toner image is transferred onto the transfer belt 2 by a primary transfer roller 15. Primary transfer is performed. At this time, a primary transfer bias voltage is applied to the primary transfer roller 15 from a power supply device (not shown).

  Similarly, a magenta toner image is formed in the magenta image forming unit M and transferred to the transfer belt 2, a cyan toner image is formed in the cyan image forming unit C and transferred to the transfer belt 2, and in the black image forming unit K. A black toner image is formed and transferred to the transfer belt 2.

Yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images are formed at the timing when these toner images are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 2 in an overlapping manner.
Thus, the multiple toner image formed on the transfer belt 2 moves toward the secondary transfer roller 3 by the rotation of the transfer belt 2.

  On the other hand, the recording medium 50 is pulled out from the cassette 5 by the medium supply roller 51, supplied to the timing roller pair 4, and is on standby.

  The recording medium 50 waiting at the timing roller pair 4 is supplied to the nip portion between the transfer belt 2 and the secondary transfer roller 3 in accordance with the multiple toner image sent by the intermediate transfer belt 2, and is not shown. The multiple toner images are secondarily transferred onto the recording medium 50 by the secondary transfer roller 3 to which a secondary transfer bias is applied from the power supply device.

  Thereafter, the recording medium 50 is passed through the fixing device 6 where the multiple toner images are fixed on the recording medium 50 under heat and pressure. The recording medium 50 is continuously discharged to the discharge tray 7 by the medium discharge roller pair 71 and the like.

  In each image forming unit, the toner remaining on the photoreceptor 11 after the primary transfer of the toner image is removed and cleaned as waste toner by the cleaning device 16 and collected in the device 16, and the toner transport corresponding to the image forming unit is performed. The toner is carried out by the pipe P and stored in a toner storage box 9 that is normally mounted (regularly mounted) at a predetermined position on the printer body. Residual charges are erased by the photostatic device 17.

  The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 2 after the secondary transfer of the toner image is removed and cleaned by the cleaning device 8 as waste toner, collected in the device 8, and carried out by the toner transport pipe P for the device 8. The toner is stored in a toner storage box 9 that is normally mounted (regularly mounted) at a predetermined position on the printer body.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to 7, the toner storage box 9 has a box main body 91, and the box main body includes a cleaning for cleaning the photoconductors 11 of the image forming portions Y, M, C, and K. Receiving ports Ye, Me, Ce, Ke and 8e for receiving waste toner carried out by the toner conveying pipe P from the cleaning device 8 for cleaning the device 16 and the belt 2 are provided. The toner receiving port Ye is in the cleaning device 16 of the image forming unit Y, the toner receiving port Me is in the cleaning device 16 of the image forming unit M, and the toner receiving port Ce is in the cleaning device 16 of the image forming unit C. The opening Ke corresponds to the cleaning device 16 of the image forming unit K, and the toner receiving opening 8e corresponds to the cleaning device 8 for cleaning the belt 2.

Each toner receiving port is formed in a hollow shape, and opens to the box body 91 at the lower end. A hole 90 into which the shutter s1 of the shutter device S provided in each of the toner transport pipes P can be just inserted into the wall 901 of each of the toner receiving ports Ye, Me, Ce, Ke and 8e facing the back side of the printer main body. Is formed. The holes 90 of the mouths 8e and Ke are larger than the holes 90 of the mouths Ye, Me, and Ce, but are indicated by the same reference numeral “90” here.

  When the toner storage box 9 is normally attached to the printer main body, as shown in FIG. 5, the shutter s1 of the corresponding shutter device S enters from the hole 90 of each toner receiving port, and the shutter flange s12 moves around the hole 90. By contacting the wall 901 (see FIG. 4), the shutter s1 is pushed and moved on the toner conveying tube P against the spring s2. Thus, in a state where the shutter opening s11 and the toner discharge port P2 of the tube P coincide with each other, they are located in the toner receiving port, and the waste toner carried out by the tube P can be stored in the box 9.

  In a state where the toner storage box 9 is mounted at the regular position, the elastic restoring force of the plurality of springs s2 acts on the toner receiving port, but as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the resultant force of the spring force at that time A pair of positioning members 95 position and support the box 9 from below the action line (in this example, below the plurality of springs s2) from the opposite side of the spring (from the front side). Further, below the positioning member 95, a pair of moment support members 96 provided on the printer main body support the lower corner portion 900 on the back side of the box 9.

The moment support member 96 has an L-shaped cross section, and comes into contact with the box corner portion 900 from the back side of the apparatus and from below.
As shown in FIG. 6, the positioning member 95 is provided with a claw 951 with a front face inclined to the front end of the printer on the front side of the leaf spring. 9 is pushed against the leaf spring force in the left-right direction of the device while being pushed, and thus the passage of the box 9 is allowed. When the box 9 takes the normal mounting position, the claw 951 is returned to the initial position by the elastic restoring force of the spring. The box 9 is returned and positioned and supported from the side opposite to the spring s2 of the shutter device S.

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 5, a rotational moment acts on the box 9 by the spring s2 force of the shutter device S and the box support by the positioning member 95, but this moment is received by the moment support member 96, and thus the box 9 is fixed at the regular mounting position.

In this way, the waste toner storage box 9 is mounted and fixed to the printer body by using the spring s2 force of the shutter device S that opens and closes the toner discharge port P2 of the toner transport pipe P, the positioning member 95, and the moment support member 96. Therefore, the fixing means is extremely simple in structure and inexpensive. Therefore, the printer A is not increased in size and price.
When the box 9 is removed, the pair of positioning members 95 may be opened in the left-right direction and the box 9 pulled out.

The waste toner storage box 9 will be further described with reference to FIG.
A toner transport leveling member 92 that is rotationally driven is disposed in the box body 91. The toner conveying and leveling member 92 includes two coil portions 921 and 922 formed in a spiral coil shape, and a radius of the coil portion (outer periphery of the coil portion) between the two coil portions and parallel to the rotation center line of the coil portion. This is a member integrated with a stirring rod portion 923 that rotates with a larger radius of rotation.

  The toner transport leveling member 92 is provided so as to extend along the upper limit 9L of waste toner accommodation in the box body 91. Furthermore, the rotation center line of the member 92 is provided along the upper limit 9L so that it takes a position lower than the upper limit 9L by approximately the member rotation radius. A shaft portion 9211 integral with the coil portion 921 is provided at the outer end of one coil portion 921, and the shaft portion 9211 is rotatably supported by a bearing B <b> 1 provided on one side wall of the box body 91. Projecting outward, the driving gear G is connected to the projecting portion.

  A shaft portion 9221 integrated with the coil portion 922 is provided at the outer end of the other coil portion 922, and the shaft portion 9221 is rotatably supported by a bearing B <b> 2 provided on the other side wall of the box body 91. The rotation center lines of the shaft portions 9211 and 9221 coincide with the rotation center lines of the coil portions 921 and 922 and the stirring rod portion 923.

  By rotating the gear G by a driving unit (not shown), the coil units 921 and 922 and the stirring bar unit 923 rotate in the same direction. However, the coil part 921 and the coil part 922 have the coil winding direction (spiral direction) opposite to each other. The toner transport leveling member 92 is driven to rotate so that the coil portions 921 and 922 transport toner toward the stirring rod portion 923, respectively.

One coil portion 921 is connected to a waste toner receiving port portion 8e at one end in the arrangement direction among a plurality of waste toner receiving port portions arranged at intervals, and a waste toner receiving port portion Ye adjacent thereto. It is located in the area inside the box body.
The other coil portion 922 is connected to the waste toner receiving port Ke at the other end in the arrangement direction among the plurality of waste toner receiving ports arranged at intervals, and the waste toner receiving port Ce adjacent thereto. It is located in the area inside the box body. The stirring rod portion 923 is located in the box main body region facing the waste toner receiving port portion Me.

  According to the waste toner storage box 9, the toner transport leveling member 92 is rotationally driven in the same direction so that the coil portions 921 and 922 transport the waste toner toward the stirring rod portion 923. When the waste toner dropped into the box main body from each waste toner receiving port is accumulated from below, it is leveled by the toner transport leveling member 92 so as to be deposited substantially uniformly in the box main body 91. As a result, waste of the internal volume of the box 9 is suppressed, and a large amount of waste toner can be accommodated, and the cycle of replacement of the toner accommodation box 9 or disposal of waste toner from the box 9 becomes longer, and the waste toner is correspondingly increased. Maytenance processing related to is facilitated.

  As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the box main body 91 is formed with a protruding full detection window 93 for detecting when the inside of the box main body is full of waste toner. The left and right side walls of the window portion 93 are translucent. Voids 93 a are formed on the left and right sides of the window 93. In this example, the void 93a is a recess recessed toward the inside of the box body.

The box main body 91 further includes an operation detection window portion 94 for detecting the operation of the toner transport leveling member 92. The left and right side walls of the window portion 94 also have translucency. Voids 94 a are formed on both the left and right sides of the window portion 94.
The windows 93 and 94 are not projected substantially from the front surface 9fs (see FIG. 4) on the front side of the box 9 to the front side (not projected, or projected but not practically projected). In a state where it protrudes only to the extent possible.

The full detection window portion 93 is located outside the rotation region of the stirring rod portion 923 of the toner conveyance leveling member 92 and between the waste toner receiving ports Ye and Me when viewed from the front side, and the operation detection window portion 94 is stirred. It is located outside the rotation region of the bar 923 and is located between the waste toner receiving port Me and Ce as viewed from the front side.
A light shielding member 924 that is driven and swung by the rotation of the stirring rod portion 923 to enter and exit the motion detection window portion 94 is provided in the box 9 (see also FIGS. 4 and 5).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, a full detection sensor 97 is provided inside the front cover AC so as to correspond to the full detection window 93, and also corresponds to the motion detection window 94. An operation detection sensor 98 is provided. The sensors 97 and 98 are covered with an integrally formed sensor cover 99 that transmits the detection light of the sensor.

  The full detection sensor 97 includes a light emitting element 971 and a light receiving element 972, and when the waste toner storage box 9 is in a normally mounted state and the cover AC is closed, the light emitting element 971 and the light receiving element 972 are windows. The recessed portion 93a (see FIG. 6) on both sides of the portion 93 is fitted and arranged while being covered with the sensor cover 99, and the waste toner enters the window portion 93, and the detection light traveling from the element 971 to the element 972 through the window portion 93 By being blocked, it can be detected that the inside of the box 9 is full of waste toner.

  When the full toner detection sensor 97 detects the toner full state, the detection signal indicates a warning display instructing replacement of the waste toner storage box 9, and a printer operation control unit (not shown) performs a pudding operation so as not to damage the printer parts. It can be used for stopping.

  The motion detection sensor 98 includes a light emitting element 981 and a light receiving element 982, and when the waste toner storage box 9 is in a regular mounting state and the cover AC is closed, the light emitting element 981 and the light receiving element 982 are windows. The element 94 is fitted and arranged in a space 94a (see FIG. 6) on both sides of the portion 94 while being covered with the sensor cover 99, and the element is arranged in accordance with the state of the light shielding member 924 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) to / from the window portion 94. The operating state of the toner transport leveling member 92 can be detected from a time interval or the like in which the detection light traveling from the 981 to the element 982 through the window 94 is blocked or not blocked.

  When the operation detection sensor 97 detects an operation failure of the toner conveyance leveling member 92, the detection signal indicates a display indicating the operation failure, or a printer operation control unit (not shown) performs a pudding operation so as not to damage the printer parts. Can be used to stop the system.

  When the apparatus front cover AC is closed, the elements 971 and 972 of the full detection sensor 97 are fitted in the recesses 93a on both sides of the full detection window 93, and the elements 981 and 982 of the motion detection sensor 98 are on both sides of the motion detection window 94. Thus, the entire printer can be made smaller and more compact.

  Further, as described above, both the windows 93 and 94 are formed so as not to protrude substantially to the front side from the foremost front surface 9fs (see FIG. 4) on the front side of the box 9. Therefore, the entire printer can be reduced in size and size.

  According to the printer A, even when the front cover AC of the apparatus is opened and the full detection sensor 97 and the operation selection sensor 98 inside the cover are exposed, these sensors are covered with the sensor cover 99. It is suppressed that something is hit and damaged.

The waste toner storage box 9 can be supported by hand and can be mounted and fixed at the normal apparatus position as shown in FIGS. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the front cover AC of the apparatus can be mounted with the waste toner storage box 9 before being mounted on the printer main body in the open position, and the box 9 can be mounted on the printer main body by closing the cover AC. The inner surface portion ac is provided.

  The full detection sensor 97 covered with the sensor cover 99 is a positioning guide for positioning the box 9 on the inner surface ac so that the box 9 placed on the inner surface ac can be mounted on the printer body by closing the cover. Doubles as Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the box 9 is placed on the inner surface ac and the cover AC is closed, so that the box 9 can be easily mounted and fixed at the regular mounting position.

  The inner surface ac can also be used for temporarily placing the box 9 when the waste toner storage box 9 is attached to or detached from the printer body for box replacement or inspection.

  An energization line CL extending from the full detection sensor 97 and the motion detection sensor 98 is arranged inside the apparatus front cover AC. The outline shape and size of the waste toner storage box 9 and the arrangement position of the energization line CL are the same. When the cover AC is opened and the box 9 is placed on the cover inner surface ac, the relationship is set such that the box 9 can be placed without the conductive line CL being laid down. In this example, the box 9 is formed in a chamfered shape so that the left and right bottom portions are inclined.

  In this example, the outer contour shape and size of the waste toner storage box 9 and the arrangement position of the energization line CL are also set so that the energization line CL does not collide with the box 9 when the cover AC is closed. .

  With such a setting, it is possible to suppress damage to the conductive wire and to easily place the waste toner storage box stably on the inner surface of the cover.

  Further, even if the waste toner storage box 9 is attached and detached while the apparatus front cover AC is opened, and toner may fall from the box to the sensors 97 and 98, the sensors 97 and 98 are covered with the sensor cover 99. Since the toner is prevented from adhering to the sensor itself, the toner adhering to the cover can be easily wiped off without damaging the sensor, and the sensor cover 99 transmits the detection light. Thereafter, the toner full state of the waste toner storage box 9 can be accurately detected by the full detection sensor 97, and the operation state of the toner transport leveling member 92 can be accurately detected by the operation detection sensor 98.

  Although the tandem type color image forming apparatus has been described above, the present invention can be applied to other types of color image forming apparatuses and also to monochrome image forming apparatuses.

  According to the present invention, even when the front cover of the apparatus is opened or the waste toner storage box is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus main body, the toner full state in the waste toner storage box is accurately detected by the full detection sensor thereafter. The present invention can be used to provide an image forming apparatus that can be used.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a printer that is an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing of a waste toner storage box. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a mutual positional relationship of each unit in the printer illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a side view of a toner conveyance tube provided with a waste toner storage box and a shutter device. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the waste toner storage box and the shutter device when the waste toner storage box is fixed to the printer body. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a state in which a front cover of the printer is opened and a waste toner storage box is mounted and fixed. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a state where a waste toner storage box is positioned by a full detection sensor and placed on an inner surface of a cover.

Explanation of symbols

A Printer Y Yellow image forming unit M Magenta image forming unit C Cyan image forming unit K Black image forming unit YC, MC, CC, KC Process cartridge 11 Photoconductor 12 Charger 13 Image exposure device 14 Developer 141 Developer roller 15 Primary Transfer roller 16 Cleaning device 17 Photostatic device 21 Driving roller 22 Opposing roller 2 Intermediate transfer belt 3 Secondary transfer roller 4 Timing roller pair 5 Recording medium storage cassette 51 Medium drawing roller 6 Fixing device 71 Medium discharge roller pair 7 Medium discharge tray 8 Cleaning device P Toner transport pipe P1 Toner transport screw P2 Toner discharge port P3 Flange S on transport pipe P Shutter device s1 Shutter s11 Shutter opening s12 Flange s2 on shutter Spring 9 Waste toner storage box 8e, Ye, Me, Ce, Ke Waste Tona Receiving port 90 Hole 901 of waste toner receiving port 901 Back side wall 91 of waste toner receiving port 91 Box body 92 Toner conveying leveling member 921, 922 Coil 923 Stirring bar 924 Shading member 93 Full detection window 93a Window 93 Empty space on both sides (recess)
94 Motion detection window portion 94a Space 9fs on both sides of window portion 94 Front surface 95 of box 9 Positioning member 951 Claw 96 of member 95 Moment support member 900 Lower corner portion 97 of box Full detection sensor 971 Light emitting element 972 Light receiving element 98 Motion detection sensor 981 Light emitting element 982 Light receiving element 99 Sensor cover CL Sensor energization line AF Printer body frame a Opening of frame AF AC Front cover ac Cover inner surface h Hinge

Claims (10)

An image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier and develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. The toner image formed by the image forming unit is transferred and fixed onto a recording medium. The waste toner generated during image formation is carried out toward the front side of the image forming apparatus main body by the waste toner carrying-out path member and discharged from the toner discharge port on the front side of the carrying-out path member. An image forming apparatus in which waste toner discharged from a toner discharge port can be received and accommodated in a waste toner storage box that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body from the front side, and the front side of the image forming apparatus main body can be opened and closed by an apparatus front cover. And
The waste toner storage box has a full detection window portion having a translucent portion for detecting the full state when the box is filled with waste toner.
The inside of the device front cover is full detection sensor is provided for detecting the box waste toner full state by using the detection light can pass through the translucent portion of the full detection window section with the cover closed,
The full detection sensor is covered with a sensor cover through which the detection light can be transmitted ;
The waste toner storage box is provided with a movable member for storing waste toner in a predetermined state in the box and an operation detection window portion for detecting the operation of the movable member.
An operation detection sensor that detects an operation state of the movable member through the operation detection window portion when the cover is closed is provided inside the apparatus front cover.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the motion detection sensor is covered with a sensor cover . In the waste toner storage box, vacant spaces are formed on both sides of the full detection window portion, and both side walls facing the vacant space of the full detection window portion become translucent portions of the full detection window portion. And
The full detection sensor includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element that receives detection light from the light emitting element, and when the device front cover is closed, the light emitting element is located in one of the empty spaces on both sides of the full detection window, On the other side, the light receiving elements are fitted and arranged in a state covered with the sensor cover,
In the waste toner storage box, voids are formed on both sides of the motion detection window portion, and both side walls facing the void of the motion detection window portion are translucent portions,
The motion detection sensor is a sensor that detects a motion state of the movable member using detection light that can pass through a light-transmitting portion of the motion detection window, and the sensor cover that covers the motion detection sensor includes the detection light. Is a transparent cover,
The motion detection sensor includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element that receives detection light from the light emitting element, and when the device front cover is closed, the light emitting element is located in one of the empty spaces on both sides of the motion detection window, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light receiving elements are fitted and arranged on the other side while being covered with the sensor cover . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a sensor cover that covers the full detection sensor and a sensor cover that covers the motion detection sensor are integrally formed. An image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier and develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. The toner image formed by the image forming unit is transferred and fixed onto a recording medium. The waste toner generated during image formation is carried out toward the front side of the image forming apparatus main body by the waste toner carrying-out path member and discharged from the toner discharge port on the front side of the carrying-out path member. An image forming apparatus in which waste toner discharged from a toner discharge port can be received and accommodated in a waste toner storage box that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body from the front side, and the front side of the image forming apparatus main body can be opened and closed by an apparatus front cover. And
The waste toner storage box has a full detection window portion having a translucent portion for detecting the full state when the box is filled with waste toner.
A full detection sensor for detecting a waste toner full state in the box using detection light that can pass through the light-transmitting portion of the full detection window portion when the cover is closed is provided inside the front cover of the apparatus.
The full detection sensor is covered with a sensor cover through which the detection light can be transmitted;
The apparatus front cover is in the cover open state in which the waste toner storage box before being mounted on the image forming apparatus main body is placed in the open posture, and the box can be mounted on the image forming apparatus main body by a closing operation of the cover. The full detection sensor has an inner surface portion located on the image forming apparatus main body side, and the full detection sensor moves the box placed on the inner surface portion to the image forming apparatus main body by closing the cover. An image forming apparatus characterized by also serving as a positioning guide for positioning the box on the inner surface so that the box can be mounted . In the waste toner storage box, vacant spaces are formed on both sides of the full detection window portion, and both side walls facing the vacant space of the full detection window portion become translucent portions of the full detection window portion. And
The full detection sensor includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element that receives detection light from the light emitting element, and when the device front cover is closed, the light emitting element is located in one of the empty spaces on both sides of the full detection window, The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the light receiving element is fitted and arranged on the other side while being covered with the sensor cover . An energization line extending from the full detection sensor is arranged inside the front cover of the apparatus, and the outer contour shape and size of the waste toner storage box and the arrangement position of the energization line open the cover and the box. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the box is set in a relationship that allows the box to be placed in a state in which the energization line is not laid down . The cover has the waste toner storage box mounted on the image forming apparatus main body in the open position, and the cover can be mounted on the image forming apparatus main body by a closing operation of the cover. An inner surface portion located closer to the image forming apparatus main body than the fullness detection sensor and the motion detection sensor, and at least one of the fullness detection sensor and the motion detection sensor includes the box placed on the inner surface portion. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, which also serves as a positioning guide for positioning the box on the inner surface so that the box can be mounted on the image forming apparatus main body by a closing operation of the cover . An energization line extending from the full detection sensor and the motion detection sensor is disposed inside the front cover of the apparatus, and an outer contour shape and size of the waste toner storage box and an arrangement position of the energization line are The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the cover is opened and the box is placed on the inner surface of the cover, the box is set in a relationship that allows the box to be placed without the conductive wire underlaying . The image forming unit includes a plurality of image forming units and an intermediate transfer member, and the plurality of image forming units are sequentially arranged along the intermediate transfer member. A toner image can be formed, and the toner image formed in the image forming unit is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer member, and the primary transfer toner image on the intermediate transfer member is secondarily transferred onto the recording medium. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a color image forming apparatus capable of forming a color image by being fixed to the recording medium . Waste toner generated in association with image formation is generated as a toner image formed in each of the image forming units is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt, and a cleaning device for an image carrier in the image forming unit The waste toner collected on the intermediate transfer body and the primary transfer toner image on the intermediate transfer body are secondarily transferred to the recording medium, and are collected in a cleaning device for the intermediate transfer body. 10. A carry-out path member is attached to each of the cleaning devices, and a waste toner receiving port of the waste toner storage box is provided corresponding to a waste toner carry-out member attached to each of the cleaning devices. The image forming apparatus described .