JP5445077B2 - Waste toner container and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a waste toner container and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an agent transport mechanism.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a printing machine, an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive member that is a latent image carrier is subjected to a visible image processing by a developing device, and a visible image is obtained. A recording output can be obtained by transferring to a transfer material such as a sheet.

  The photoconductor is not only configured to be provided for only a single color, but may be configured to be provided in a plurality of image forming units that are provided in order to form images of a plurality of colors. In this case, it is used to form a multicolor image including a full color image.

  For example, as a method of obtaining a full-color image, a method of sequentially transferring a color image formed for each photoconductor with a developer using a toner having a color complementary to a color separation color on a conveyed sheet or There is a system in which a color image for each photosensitive member is sequentially transferred to an intermediate transfer member, and then an image superimposed and transferred on the intermediate transfer member is collectively transferred to a sheet.

  On the other hand, as one of the configurations in the case of using a plurality of photoconductors, the configuration using the latter method among the above methods includes an image forming unit equipped with a photoconductor that can form an image for each color. A so-called tandem structure is known in which the images from the photoconductor are juxtaposed along the belt extending direction as an intermediate transfer body onto which the image is superimposed and transferred (for example, Patent Document 1).

  By the way, the toner that is one of the agents to be transported, the toner remaining on the photoreceptor after the transfer is cleaned, for example, when it is returned to the developing device again and used as recycled toner, or the waste toner is contained. In some cases, it is collected in a container and discarded.

  When the toner is collected in the waste toner container, the amount of toner collected and filled in the waste toner container is detected, and the waste toner tank is taken out when reaching the full state. For this reason, if the toner collected in the waste toner container is unevenly accumulated in the interior, there is a possibility that the full state cannot be accurately detected.

  A screw auger equipped with screw blades may be used for leveling the waste toner.

  It is known that such a screw auger is used not only as a leveling member but also as a conveying member (for example, Patent Document 2), and by rotating, the movement in the axial direction is performed together with the stirring in the rotating direction. It is a possible member. For this reason, when used as a leveling member, the accumulated height in the axial direction can be leveled by stirring together with the movement of the toner in the axial direction.

  By the way, when a screw auger is used, toner may adhere between the screw blades and the rotating shaft, and there is a possibility that the toner may be solidified between the screw blades. When the toner is solidified, the space between the screw blades is filled with the toner, and there is a problem in that the toner conveying ability is hindered.

  Further, when the screw auger rotates, the toner to be stirred adheres to the inner wall surface of the casing housing the screw auger and causes a bridging phenomenon, so that toner accumulation proceeds. It may solidify.

  Conventionally, as a configuration to prevent toner accumulation and solidification between screw blades, the gap between the inner wall surface of the casing and the screw auger is set to a size that does not easily cause a bridging phenomenon, or vibration due to eccentricity in the axial direction of the conveying screw. A configuration that prevents the bridging phenomenon from being concentrated by setting the peak portion in a plurality of locations in the axial direction (for example, Patent Document 3), and scraping off the toner by a flexible linear member that contacts between the screw blades. The structure to perform (for example, patent document 4) is proposed.

  However, in the configuration in which the inner wall surface structure of the casing and the deflection peak at the time of eccentricity are set at a plurality of locations, machining accuracy is required, resulting in an increase in cost of the parts.

  On the other hand, when scraping off by a linear member, vibration noise or squealing noise (such as wind noise when the linear member rapidly recovers its shape) is generated due to the impact when the blade is detached from the linear member. However, a so-called noise generation problem occurs.

  The object of the present invention is to solve the problems in the leveling or conveying mechanism using the conventional screw auger and to eliminate the coagulation of the agent corresponding to the toner with a simple configuration without incurring an increase in cost. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a configuration capable of preventing deterioration.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention has the following configuration.
(1) A waste toner container including a screw auger in a casing that is rotatably supported at both ends in the axial direction and has a beam shape at both ends.
A vibration generating mechanism that collides with a part of the screw auger and applies vibration to the screw auger is provided.
The vibration generating mechanism is provided at a position of the casing where the screw auger can collide with the screw auger and the casing , facing a position where the amount of rotational shake is maximum in the axial direction of the screw auger. A waste toner container comprising the elastic member.
(2) In the waste toner container according to (1), a reinforcing rib having a shape protruding toward the screw auger is provided inside the casing, and the reinforcing rib faces the screw auger. A waste toner container, wherein the elastic member is provided on a surface to be disposed.
(3) The waste toner container according to (1) or (2), wherein the elastic member is a foamable member.
(4) In the waste toner container according to any one of (1) to (3), the elastic member is a foaming member having a length in a longitudinal direction along a rotation locus of the screw auger. A waste toner container characterized by being.
(5) In the waste toner container according to any one of (1) to (3), between the blades of the screw auger, a cantilevered scraper whose base end is supported by the casing. A waste toner container comprising a dropping member, wherein the toner between the blades is broken by urging the tip of the scraping member against the screw auger .
(6) A waste toner container including a screw auger that is supported at both ends in the axial direction so as to be rotatable and has a beam shape at both ends .
A vibration generating mechanism that collides with a part of the screw auger and applies vibration to the screw auger is provided.
The vibration generating mechanism includes an eccentric rotation of the screw auger itself that is supported in the form of a beam supported at both ends, and is provided near the axial center of the screw auger so that the screw auger is intermittently pressed. A member that causes the screw auger to collide with the casing facing the position where the rotational runout is greatest in the axial direction is used;
A waste toner container, characterized in that a member for buffering the abutting force of the screw auger is provided on a contact surface of the casing with the screw auger .
(7) (1) to the waste toner container according to any one of (6), characterized Rukoto used as leveling member of the waste toner, wherein the screw auger is housed in the casing Waste toner container .
(8) An image forming apparatus using the waste toner container according to any one of (1) to (7) .

  According to the present invention, a part of the screw auger that is supported at both ends in the axial direction in the waste toner container is caused to collide. The toner can be shaken off.

  In addition, an elastic member that can contact the screw auger when a rotational shake at the time of eccentric rotation occurs is provided at a position where the screw auger collides, so that vibration noise at the time of the collision can be absorbed. As a result, it is possible to simultaneously solve the deterioration of the toner conveyance capability due to the clogging of toner and the generation of noise by using the existing configuration.

1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration of an image forming apparatus in which a waste toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration targeting one of image forming units used in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration inside a waste toner container used in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an external view of a screw auger equipped in the waste toner container shown in FIG. 3 and a waste toner container in which the screw auger is housed. It is arrow sectional drawing of the direction shown by a code | symbol (5) in FIG. FIG. 5 is an external view corresponding to FIG. 3, showing a partial modification of the screw auger shown in FIG. 4. It is a figure for demonstrating the rotation state of the screw auger shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a vibration generating mechanism used in the waste toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus employing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the image carrier.

  In FIG. 1, a paper feed unit having a paper feed cassette 20 that stores paper as a recording material is disposed below the apparatus main body 100 of the image forming apparatus, and an image forming unit 30 is disposed above the paper feed unit. Is arranged.

  The image forming unit 30 includes four image forming units including photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K as image carriers, and is wound around rollers 11 and 12 above the image forming unit 30. The optical transfer unit 4 for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of each of the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K is disposed below the image forming unit 30. Has been.

  A fixing device 23 for fixing the toner to the paper is disposed on the upper right side of the apparatus main body 100, and a paper conveyance path for conveying the paper is formed between the paper feed cassette 20 and the fixing device 23. A call roller 21, a registration roller pair 22 and the like are disposed in the sheet conveyance path.

  A secondary transfer roller 16 is disposed at a position facing the roller 11 via the intermediate transfer belt 10, and a belt cleaning device 15 is disposed at a position facing the roller 12 via the intermediate transfer belt 10. ing.

  The image forming unit 30 is disposed to face the lower side of the intermediate transfer belt 10, and each of the photosensitive drums 1 </ b> Y, 1 </ b> M, 1 </ b> C, and 1 </ b> K is disposed so as to be in contact with the lower side of the intermediate transfer belt 10. . Inside the lower side of the intermediate transfer belt 10, primary transfer rollers 14 that are in contact with the corresponding photosensitive drums 1 Y, 1 M, 1 C, and 1 K via the intermediate transfer belt 10 are disposed.

  Around the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, a charging roller 7, a developing unit 9, and a cleaning device 17 as a cleaning unit are disposed in FIG. Yes.

  In this embodiment, each image forming unit has the same structure except that only the color of the toner stored in each developing unit 9 is different. FIG. 2 shows only one image forming unit.

  Each image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum 1, a developing unit 9, a cleaning device 17, and a charging roller 7, which form a process cartridge. As a result, the process cartridge can be easily attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100, and the exchangeability at the time of life or failure of each member included in the process cartridge can be improved.

  In FIG. 1, the optical writing unit 4 irradiates the surface of each of the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K with the light-modulated laser light L to create an electrostatic latent image of each color. At the upper part of the apparatus main body 100, toner bottles 31Y, 31M, 31C, 31K containing toners of respective colors are arranged.

  When the toner runs out due to consumption, the toner bottles 31Y, 31M, 31C, and 31K are replaced, and the entire process cartridge is replaced only when the process cartridges such as the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K and the charging roller 7 are replaced. Replace. In the present embodiment, the toner bottles 31Y, 31M, 31C, and 31K are disposed on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 100, and the toner is supplied to the process cartridges of the respective colors disposed below the toner bottles 31Y, 31M, 31C, and 31K. Yes. With this configuration, it is usually only necessary to replace the toner bottles 31Y, 31M, 31C, and 31K, so that the cost of the user can be reduced. In addition, the number of times that parts are exchanged by opening and closing other parts of the apparatus main body 100 is reduced, and scattering of toner can be prevented with a shutter member or the like, thereby improving maintainability.

  In the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, when the image forming operation is started, the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K of the respective image forming units are rotated in the clockwise direction by driving means (not shown). The surfaces of the drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are uniformly charged to predetermined polarities by the respective charging rollers 7. The surfaces of the charged photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are respectively irradiated with laser light L from the optical writing unit 4, and the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are electrostatically charged. A latent image is formed. At this time, for example, a desired full-color image read by the scanner 40 is calculated by the calculation means, and the image information exposed to each of the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K is decomposed into yellow, magenta, cyan, and black color information. Each is converted into single-color image information. Each formed electrostatic latent image is visualized by toner stored in each developing unit 9 when each photosensitive drum 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K and each developing unit 9 face each other.

  The intermediate transfer belt 10 is driven by rotating one of the rollers 11 and 12 in a counterclockwise direction by a driving unit (not shown), and each color toner formed in each image forming unit is driven on the intermediate transfer belt 10. The images are sequentially transferred one on the other by the primary transfer rollers 14, whereby a full-color toner image is carried on the intermediate transfer belt 10. Residual toner adhering to the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K after the toner image is transferred is removed from the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K by the cleaning device 17. The surface of each of the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K is neutralized by a neutralizing unit (not shown), and the surface potential is initialized to prepare for the next image formation.

  On the other hand, the sheet fed from the sheet feeding cassette 20 by the calling roller 21 is fed to the opposite portion between the roller 11 and the secondary transfer roller 16 after being fed by the registration roller pair 22. Here, a transfer printing pressure having a polarity opposite to the charged polarity of the toner image carried on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 is applied to the secondary transfer roller 16, whereby the toner image carried on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10. Are collectively transferred onto the paper. The sheet on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 23, and when passing through the fixing device 23, the toner image is melted and fixed on the sheet by heat and pressure. Thereafter, the sheet on which the toner image has been fixed is discharged out of the apparatus by a discharge roller pair 24 disposed on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 100. The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 10 after the toner image is transferred to the paper is removed by the belt cleaning device 15.

  In the image forming apparatus 100, four image forming units are arranged opposite to the intermediate transfer belt 10, and toner of each color is sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 10, so that one image forming unit is used and four color developing devices are provided. The image forming time can be greatly reduced as compared with the type in which the toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt after being transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt. Further, since the stacking unit for stacking the discharged paper is provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 100, the installation area and the occupied area can be reduced without the stacking part protruding from the apparatus main body 100.

  The above description is an image forming operation when a full-color image is formed on a sheet. However, when a single color image is formed using any one of the image forming units of the image forming unit 30, two colors or three are used. A color image may be formed.

  In the case of performing monochrome printing using the image forming apparatus shown in this embodiment, it is only necessary to form an image using only the black image forming unit and transfer and fix the formed toner image on a sheet.

  In the process cartridge shown in the present embodiment, the linear velocity of the lubricant application brush roller 17 a provided in the cleaning device 17 is set to be slightly different from the linear velocity of the photosensitive drum 1 as shown in FIG. Here, the linear velocity of the lubricant application brush roller 17 a refers to the linear velocity at the position where the lubricant application brush roller 17 a is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. In this embodiment, the lubricant applying brush roller 17a has a diameter of 12 mm and is 1 mm intruding into the photosensitive drum 1 having a diameter of 30 mm. Therefore, the lubricant applying brush roller at the portion in contact with the photosensitive drum 1 is used. The diameter of 17a is substantially 10 mm, and the linear velocity here is calculated by the diameter of the photosensitive drum 1 being 30 mm and the diameter of the lubricant applying brush roller 17a being 10 mm. Of course, if the setting of the amount of biting (distance between the centers of the photosensitive drum 1 and the lubricant application brush roller 17a) changes even if the outer diameter of the lubricant application brush roller 17a is the same, the lubricant application brush described here Since the linear speed of the roller 17a also changes, a preferable setting may be selected as appropriate. In the figure, reference numeral 17b denotes a lubricant, and reference numeral 17e denotes an urging member.

  The lubricant application brush roller 17a is made of acrylic fiber, nylon fiber, or PET fiber, solid zinc stearate is used as the lubricant 17b, and the lubricant 17b is lubricated with an appropriate pressure by the biasing member 17e. When pressed against the agent application brush roller 17a, the linear velocity of the lubricant application brush roller 17a with respect to the linear velocity of the photosensitive drum 1 is in the range of a magnification of 0.8 or more and less than 1 or more than 1 and 1.3 or less. It is desirable to set to. In particular, the range of slightly over 1 and 1.3 times or less is more desirable. Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the lubricant application brush roller 17a is located upstream of the cleaning blade 17c in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum, and serves as a cleaning auxiliary means for the transfer residual toner on the photosensitive drum 1. Since it is configured to function, it is a compact process cartridge with excellent cleaning properties. The residual toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 17c falls due to gravity and is transported to the waste toner collecting container by the transport coil 17f.

  The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a waste toner collecting mechanism that collects waste toner discharged from the cleaning device provided in each image forming unit in a waste toner container using one tank structure or the like. ing.

  The waste toner is stressed once in one image cycle including when it is supplied from the developing device and when it is collected by the cleaning device, so that the burying of the external additive and the charging performance are deteriorated. Is also lower than new toner. For this reason, it is difficult to transport the toner collected by the cleaning device again to the developing device and use it for visible image processing. Such waste toner has inferior developing ability and is a target to be discarded.

  In this embodiment, the use of the recycled toner deteriorated by collecting the waste toner in the waste toner container is avoided, and the waste toner is surely disposed without complicating the toner transport path as in the case of recycling. It can be transported to the container.

  By the way, when using a plurality of image forming units capable of generating images of a plurality of colors as shown in FIG. 1, not only using all the image forming units but also frequently generating a single color image. In some cases. For this reason, the amount of waste toner from each image forming unit is not always constant for the toner collected in the waste toner container. This difference in the amount of waste toner results in a difference in the amount of toner collected in the waste toner container, even though there is sufficient space for the waste toner collected in the waste toner container. In addition, there is no room in the storage space for the color toner that is larger than the color toner with a small collection amount, and there is a risk of overflow.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the toner collected in the waste toner container is leveled so that the accommodation space is equalized over the entire toner collecting portion of each color, so that only some color toners overflow. It is designed to avoid unexpected situations.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a leveling mechanism in the waste toner container. In FIG. 3, a waste toner container 150 provided in the apparatus main body 100 in a replaceable manner is provided in each photosensitive drum 1Y, 1M, Waste toner discharge ports 151Y, 151M, 151C, and 151K conveyed from the cleaning devices 17 disposed corresponding to 1C and 1K are connected.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration in the waste toner container 150 in which only a large amount of black toner is printed. In this way, a large amount of black waste toner is discharged only from the discharge port 151K of the black image forming unit, and the discharge port 151K. When a large amount of waste toner accumulates only below the bottom, only the black waste toner overflows from the discharge port 151K, and it is necessary to replace the waste toner container 150 even though there is a lot of other space. It will increase the cost. Therefore, the waste toner container 150 is provided with waste toner leveling means 120 for leveling the waste toner inside.

  As the waste toner leveling means 120, a screw auger is used, and a gear 130 provided at an axial end extending outside the waste toner container 150 is disposed on the image forming apparatus main body 100 side to be controlled. A motor 132 that is driven and controlled by 131 is rotationally driven.

  The waste toner leveling means 120 moves the black toner toward the position where the waste toner of the other color is accumulated, as indicated by an arrow from the black toner recovery portion where the waste toner amount is the largest in FIG. As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, the black toner can be moved and leveled in the waste toner container 150 when rotated.

  The characteristics of the present invention will be described below for the image forming apparatus configured as described above.

  A feature of the present invention lies in a toner coagulation elimination structure for a screw auger used as a means for leveling the toner collected in the waste toner container.

  4 is an external view showing an arrangement configuration of a screw auger used as the waste toner leveling means 120 shown in FIG. 3 (hereinafter, the waste toner leveling means will be described as the screw auger 120 for convenience). In FIG. 4, the screw auger 120 includes a casing 121 shown in FIG. 4 and a waste toner container 150 (not shown), which is opposed to the casing 121 and forms a space that can accommodate waste toner. (See FIG. 3).

  In the casing 121 shown in FIG. 4, there are waste toner discharge portions (portions communicating with the waste toner discharge ports 151Y, 151M, 151C, 151K shown in FIG. 3) conveyed from the respective image forming portions. A disposed waste toner receiving portion 121A is provided, and a screw auger 120 is disposed below the waste toner receiving portion 121A.

  The screw auger 120 is rotatably supported at both axial ends by side walls of the casing 121. The screw auger 120 has a both-end support beam structure in which both ends in the axial direction are supported, and is easily bent at the center in the axial direction.

  The casing 121 is provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs 121B having a triangular shape in a side view inside the wall surface forming each waste toner receiving portion 121A.

  Among the reinforcing ribs 121 </ b> B, at least a reinforcing rib 121 </ b> B <b> 1 located in the center in the axial direction of the screw auger 120 is provided with an elastic member 122 to be described later on a surface facing the screw auger 120. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the elastic member 122 is provided not only for the axial center of the screw auger 120 but also for the reinforcing rib 121 </ b> B located at one axial end.

  The elastic member 122 is a mat member made of a foaming member such as a sponge, and has an effect of reducing impact and absorbing sound generated when it comes into contact with the screw auger 120.

  The waste toner container 150 is provided with a mechanism that collides with a part of the screw auger 120 and applies vibration to the screw auger 120.

One of the mechanisms that generate the vibration described above is a structure that uses a collision with the casing 121 due to the eccentric rotation of the screw auger 120. Hereinafter, this configuration will be described.
The screw auger 120 is a both-ends support beam-like member that is supported at both ends in the axial direction, and has a configuration in which the amount of rotational deflection due to bending is maximized at the center in the axial direction. In FIG. 4, an axis line when no bending occurs is indicated by a symbol L <b> 1, and an axis line when bending occurs is indicated by a symbol L <b> 2.

  In the present embodiment, the screw auger 120 protrudes from the inner surface of the casing 21 and, in the embodiment, at least from the inner surface of the casing 121 toward the screw auger by actively utilizing the increase in the amount of rotational deflection at the center in the axial direction. It is made to collide with reinforcement rib 121B1.

  The impact force obtained when the screw auger 120 collides with the reinforcing ribs 121B1 and 121B acts as a force that vibrates the screw auger 120, and is used for shaking off the toner clogged between the screw blades due to the vibration. The

  For this reason, the elastic member 122 provided on the reinforcing rib 121B has not only the setting of the material thereof, but also has a thickness that can be contacted when rotational runout occurs during the eccentric rotation of the screw auger 120, and the screw. The auger 120 has a longitudinal direction along the rotation trajectory. Thereby, even when the protrusion amount of the reinforcing ribs 121B1 and 121B provides a gap for allowing the screw auger 120 to rotate and the inner wall surface of the casing body is positioned, the protrusion amount of the reinforcing rib 121B is combined. Thus, the collision caused by the rotational runout of the screw auger 120 can be promoted. Thus, the screw auger 120 corresponds to a vibration generating mechanism that partially collides with the casing 121 during its own eccentric rotation.

  Since the present embodiment is configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 5, the eccentric rotation that occurs when the screw auger 120 rotates, that is, the rotation center at the center in the axial direction where the most bending occurs is the eccentricity. When the center of rotation P1 is eccentric with respect to the center of rotation P0 when the center of rotation is not eccentric, as in the rotation locus of the center of rotation indicated by S, the center of rotation P1 when the center of rotation is eccentric with respect to the center of rotation P0 when not centered. Large runout occurs. For this reason, the screw blade | wing in the center of an axial direction collides with the reinforcement rib 121B1 provided with the elastic member 122 in which the surface is provided in the position according to the amplitude.

  When the screw auger 120 collides with the reinforcing rib 121B1, an impact due to the collision is generated in the screw auger 120, and the toner clogged between the screw blades is shaken off by the vibration generated by the impact force.

  On the other hand, the collision sound generated when the screw auger 120 collides with the reinforcing rib 121B1 is absorbed by the sound absorbing action of the elastic member 122, and the generation of impact sound at the time of the collision is suppressed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the screw blades can be used without any modification to the existing structure of the screw auger 120 supported at both ends, and without specially providing a structure that avoids contact with the screw blades. It is possible to break down the toner that is clogged in between, and the generation of impact sound at the time of collision is also prevented by the vibration relaxation at the foaming portion of the elastic member 122. It becomes possible to prevent deterioration.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, a scraping member having a comb-like shape so that the tip can be inserted between the screw blades and having a flexible piece portion capable of breaking the toner between the blades (see FIG. It is also possible to add (indicated by reference numeral 123 in 3 and 4).

  The scraping member 123 is a cantilevered one-piece member whose tip is positioned between the screw blades of the screw auger 120 and capable of pressing the rotating shaft, and its base end is fixed to the casing 121 side and deforms itself. Thus, the screw auger 120 is pressed toward the casing 121. The scraping member 123 having such a configuration corresponds to a vibration generating mechanism other than the screw auger, and, in combination with the configuration of the screw auger 120 shown in FIG. ing.

  6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 provided with a screw auger (indicated by reference numeral 120 ′ for convenience) in which a part of the configuration is changed for the screw auger shown in FIG. 4, and the screw auger shown in FIG. 120 'is provided with paddles 120A for connecting the vicinity of the outer peripheral edges of the screw blades at a plurality of locations in the axial direction.

  The paddle 120 </ b> A is provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the screw blade, and is used to break toner when a bridge phenomenon occurs between the blade of the screw auger 120 and the inner wall surface of the casing 121.

  When the screw auger 120 ′ having such a configuration is used and the toner adhering between the blades is shaken off by the scraping member 123 having a flexible piece portion with the tip entering between the blades, 7, immediately after the paddle 120 </ b> A gets over the scraping member 23, the rotational speed of the screw auger 20 ′ changes abruptly because the contact resistance received when contacting the scraping member 123 is lost. Sometimes. For this reason, when the contact between the scraping member 123 and the paddle portion 120A is eliminated, when the scraping member 123 is pressed against the rotating shaft, the scraping member 123 collides with the reinforcing rib 21B as compared with the configuration shown in FIG. The impact force of will increase. Therefore, similarly to the case shown in FIG. 4, the reinforcing rib 121 </ b> B <b> 1 is provided with an elastic member 122.

  By adopting such a configuration, even when the collision force of the screw auger 120 ′ is increased, not only the toner shake-off function is effectively functioned, but also the increased impact is applied as in the case shown in FIG. Vibration sound generated by force can also be absorbed by the elastic member 123.

  The elastic member 123 shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 rotates the screw auger 120, 120 ′ by providing a contact layer using a low friction coefficient member on the surface that contacts when the screw auger 120, 120 ′ collides. It is also possible to prevent the drop of the collision force so as to prevent the vibration from being obstructed and to enable effective shaking off.

  Further, the elastic member 123 can be installed by being attached to the reinforcing ribs 121B1 and 121B, and a mylar film or the like is used as the contact layer on the surface.

As another example of the vibration generating mechanism described above, the configuration shown in FIG. 8 can be used.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 8, a link mechanism 200 that is disposed in the vicinity of the screw auger 120 and includes a piston 200 </ b> A that can reciprocate via a drive mechanism (not illustrated) is disposed, and a part of the link mechanism 200 is not illustrated. The screw auger 120 is intermittently pressed when the screw auger 120 rotates by being interlocked with the drive unit of the screw auger 120 via the interlocking mechanism. As a result, the screw auger 120 can easily rotate eccentrically by the pressing action of the piston 200 </ b> A, so that the collision with the casing is effectively performed, and the vibration for breaking the toner and shaking off can be generated. . In addition, it can be said that the piston 200A is preferably provided in the center in the axial direction in which the bending deformation is most remarkable in the axial direction of the screw auger 120 in terms of easily obtaining the bending deformation due to the collision. The surface can be provided with a sponge or the like so as to be able to be pressed while relaxing the abutting force with the screw auger 120, so that the generation of abnormal noise during the abutting can be suppressed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 120, 120 'Screw auger used as waste toner leveling means 120A Paddle 121 Waste toner tank casing 121B Reinforcement rib 121B1 Reinforcement rib located in the axial center of screw auger 122 Elastic member 123 Scraping member 100 Image Forming apparatus main body 150 Waste toner container 200 Link mechanism used as one of vibration generating mechanisms 200A Piston T Waste toner tank

JP 2002-357938 A JP 2007-164096 Gazette Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-307521 JP 2006-301604 A

Claims (8)

A waste toner container having a screw auger in a casing that is rotatably supported at both ends in the axial direction and has a beam shape at both ends,
A vibration generating mechanism that collides with a part of the screw auger and applies vibration to the screw auger is provided.
The vibration generating mechanism is provided at a position where the screw auger comes into contact with the screw auger and the casing on the side of the casing facing the position where the amount of rotational shake becomes the largest in the axial direction of the screw auger. A waste toner container comprising a member. The waste toner container according to claim 1,
A reinforcing rib having a shape protruding toward the screw auger is provided inside the casing, and the reinforcing member is provided on the surface facing the screw auger. Waste toner container. The waste toner container according to claim 1 or 2,
The waste toner container, wherein the elastic member is a foamable member. The waste toner container according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The waste toner container, wherein the elastic member is a foamable member having a length in a longitudinal direction along a rotation locus of the screw auger. The waste toner container according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Between the blades of the screw auger, a cantilever-shaped scraping member whose base end is supported by the casing is provided, and the tip of the scraping member is pressed and urged against the screw auger to provide a space between the blades. A waste toner container characterized by breaking toner. A waste toner container having a screw auger in a casing that is rotatably supported at both ends in the axial direction and has a beam shape at both ends ,
A vibration generating mechanism that collides with a part of the screw auger and applies vibration to the screw auger is provided.
The vibration generating mechanism includes an eccentric rotation of the screw auger itself that is supported in the form of a beam supported at both ends, and is provided near the axial center of the screw auger so that the screw auger is intermittently pressed. A member that causes the screw auger to collide with the casing facing the position where the rotational runout is the largest in the axial direction,
A waste toner container, characterized in that a member for buffering the abutting force of the screw auger is provided on a contact surface of the casing with the screw auger . The waste toner container according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The screw auger, a waste toner container, characterized in Rukoto used as leveling member of the waste toner stored in the casing. An image forming apparatus using the waste toner container according to claim 1 .

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