JP5707528B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a complex machine thereof, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that collects toner scattered when supplying toner to an image carrier.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus forms a visible image by supplying toner from a developing device to an electrostatic latent image formed by irradiating light on image data onto a uniformly charged image carrier. Then, the visible image is transferred onto a recording medium and then fixed to form an image. The developing device includes a developing roller disposed in a developing region facing the image carrier, and supplies toner adhered on the developing roller onto the image carrier. When the toner is supplied from the developing device to the image carrier, a part of the toner may be scattered and leak from the opening of the developing device facing the image carrier to contaminate the inside of the image forming apparatus.

  Therefore, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a suction port for sucking scattered toner at a position in contact with the lower side of the developing device in the vicinity of the image carrier, and further, a duct communicating with the suction port is provided. . This duct communicates with a rear duct provided on the rear side of the image forming apparatus, and the rear duct is provided with a suction fan for sucking air and toner in the suction port and a filter for collecting the sucked toner. . Toner scattered in the vicinity of the development area is sucked together with air from the suction port, and the toner passing through the duct and the rear duct is collected by a filter, thereby preventing contamination inside the image forming apparatus.

JP 2002-116670 A (paragraphs [0026] to [0028], FIG. 4)

  However, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when the scattered toner is repeatedly sucked into the duct from the suction port, the toner gradually accumulates in the duct, and the distribution path is formed by the toner accumulated in the duct. There is a problem that the toner does not reach the discharge port side where the filter is attached. In particular, when the flow path of the duct extending long is bent in the middle or when the flow path in the duct is narrow, the sucked toner is more easily clogged, and as a result, the scattered toner can be collected. There was a problem that it was impossible.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and does not clog toner in a duct extending from the vicinity of a developing container to a dust collecting portion, and image formation that satisfactorily collects scattered toner. An object is to provide an apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is disposed opposite to the image carrier by exposing a part of an outer peripheral surface from a developing container containing toner and an opening of the developing container. A developing device for supplying toner to the image carrier, a duct communicating with a suction port provided in the vicinity of the opening of the developing container, and generating an air flow in the duct to generate the air flow. A first fan that discharges air that has passed through the suction port and the duct to the outside of the apparatus main body, a dust collecting unit that collects toner that has passed through the duct together with an air flow generated by the first fan, and the duct A connecting portion that can store a part of the toner that passes along with the air flow, and the connecting portion has a lid portion that can be opened and closed with respect to a main body of the connecting portion. Yes.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above image forming apparatus, the duct is bent with respect to the first duct that communicates with the suction port and is provided along the longitudinal direction of the developing container. And a second duct that extends and communicates with the dust collection part, wherein the connection part is disposed in the vicinity of a bent part between the first duct and the second duct.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the above image forming apparatus, the connecting portion is disposed in the vicinity of a portion having a smaller cross-sectional area in the duct than in other portions.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the above image forming apparatus, the main body of the connecting portion is provided with a circulation portion through which toner passes toward the dust collection portion, and a part of the toner provided below the circulation portion. It has the storage part which deposits.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the above image forming apparatus, the lid portion is detachably provided on the main body of the connecting portion, and the storage portion is provided on the lid portion when the lid portion is removed. A ridge that can accommodate the toner deposited on is formed.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the above image forming apparatus, the lid includes a second fan that sucks air in the connecting portion toward the lid and generates an air flow toward the outside of the connecting portion. And a filter that collects toner passing through the connecting portion together with the air flow generated by the second fan.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, the toner scattered when the toner is supplied from the developing roller to the image carrier is sucked from the suction port by the first fan and passes through the duct, and the toner that passes through the duct is collected. It is collected in the dust part. Then, when image formation is repeated, toner accumulates in the duct.For example, after a predetermined number of prints have been performed, the lid of the connecting portion is periodically opened, and the toner stored in the connecting portion is collected, The toner is not clogged in the duct, and the scattered toner can be recovered well.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Side surface sectional drawing which shows the image development apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the distribution path from the developing device which concerns on 1st Embodiment to a dust collecting part. Sectional drawing which shows schematically the dust collection part which concerns on 1st Embodiment The perspective view which shows the connection part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the main body of the connection part of the state which removed the cover part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the cover part of the connection part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows schematically the connection part which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Further, the use of the invention and the terms shown here are not limited thereto.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the right side is illustrated as the front side of the image forming apparatus. Under the image forming apparatus 100, a paper feed cassette 1 that accommodates stacked paper is disposed. Behind the paper feed cassette 1 is formed a paper transport path 3 that extends upward and reaches the paper discharge unit 2 formed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body. A pickup roller 4, a registration roller pair 5, an image forming unit 6, a fixing unit 7, and a discharge roller pair 8 are arranged in this order along the sheet conveyance path 3 from the upstream side.

  The paper feed cassette 1 is provided with a paper stacking plate 9 that is rotatably supported with respect to the paper feed cassette 1. The paper stacked on the paper stacking plate 9 is sent out toward the paper transport path 3 by the pickup roller 4. The sheet sent to the sheet conveyance path 3 is conveyed to the registration roller pair 5, and the timing is adjusted by the registration roller pair 5 and supplied to the image forming unit 6.

  The image forming unit 6 forms a predetermined toner image on a sheet by an electrophotographic process. The photoconductor 10 is an image carrier that is pivotally supported in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1, and the photoconductor 10. The charging device 11, the developing device 12, the cleaning device 13, the transfer roller 14 disposed so as to face the photoconductor 10 across the paper conveyance path 3, and the light disposed in front of the photoconductor 10. A toner container 16 that includes a scanning device 15 and supplies toner to the developing device 12 is disposed above the developing device 12.

  The charging device 11 is provided with a conductive rubber roller 11 a to which a power source (not shown) is connected. The conductive rubber roller 11 a is disposed so as to contact the photoreceptor 10. When the photoconductor 10 rotates, the conductive rubber roller 11a contacts the surface of the photoconductor 10 and is driven to rotate. At this time, by applying a predetermined voltage to the conductive rubber roller 11a, The surface is charged uniformly.

  Next, an electrostatic latent image based on the image data input on the photoconductor 10 is formed by the beam light emitted from the optical scanning device 15, and toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image by the developing device 12, so that the photoconductor 10. A toner image is formed on the surface. Then, the paper is supplied from the registration roller pair 5 to the nip portion (transfer position) between the photoconductor 10 and the transfer roller 14 at a predetermined timing, and the toner image on the surface of the photoconductor 10 is transferred onto the paper by the transfer roller 14. The

  The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photoreceptor 10 and conveyed toward the fixing unit 7. The fixing unit 7 is disposed on the downstream side of the image forming unit 6 in the sheet conveyance direction. The sheet on which the toner image is transferred in the image forming unit 6 includes a heating roller 7 a provided in the fixing unit 7, and this The toner image heated and pressed by the pressure roller 7b pressed against the heating roller 7a is fixed on the toner image transferred to the paper.

  The sheet on which the image is formed is discharged to the paper discharge unit 2 by the discharge roller pair 8. On the other hand, the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 10 after the transfer is removed by the cleaning device 13, the photoconductor 10 is charged again by the charging device 11, and image formation is performed in the same manner.

  2 to 4 show a configuration of the developing device 12 mounted on the image forming apparatus 100, a dust collecting unit that collects toner, and a flow path from the developing device to the dust collecting unit. 2 is a side sectional view of the developing device, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a flow path from the developing device to the dust collecting portion, and FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the dust collecting portion. 2 shows a state viewed from the back side of FIG. 1, and the arrangement of each member of the developing device 12 is reversed from that of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 12 includes a developing container 20 in which a two-component developer containing a magnetic carrier and toner (hereinafter simply referred to as a developer) is accommodated, and the developing container 20 has a partition wall. The agitating and conveying chamber 21 and the supply and conveying chamber 22 are partitioned by 20a. In the agitating / conveying chamber 21 and the supply / conveying chamber 22, an agitating / conveying screw 25 a and a supplying / conveying screw 25 b for mixing and charging the toner supplied from the toner container 16 (see FIG. 1) with a magnetic carrier are charged. It is rotatably arranged.

  Then, the developer is agitated by the agitating / conveying screw 25a and the supply / conveying screw 25b and conveyed in the axial direction (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2) to pass through the developer (not shown) formed at both ends of the partition wall 20a. It circulates between the stirring and conveying chamber 21 and the supply and conveying chamber 22 through the path. That is, a developer circulation path is formed in the developer container 20 by the agitating / conveying chamber 21, the supply / conveying chamber 22, and the developer passage.

  The developing container 20 extends obliquely upward to the right in FIG. 2, a magnetic roller 30 is disposed above the supply / conveying screw 25 b in the developing container 20, and a developing roller 31 is disposed obliquely to the upper right of the magnetic roller 30. Opposed. A part of the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 31 is exposed from the opening 20b of the developing container 20, and faces the photoreceptor 10 (see FIG. 1). The magnetic roller 30 and the developing roller 31 rotate in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.

  The magnetic roller 30 is composed of a non-magnetic rotating sleeve that rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 2 and a fixed magnet body having a plurality of magnetic poles contained in the rotating sleeve.

  The developing roller 31 includes a cylindrical developing sleeve that rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 2 and a developing roller side magnetic pole fixed in the developing sleeve. The magnetic roller 30 and the developing roller 31 are opposed to each other. The positions are opposed to each other with a predetermined gap. The developing roller side magnetic pole has a different polarity from the opposing magnetic pole of the fixed magnet body.

  Further, a spike cutting blade 35 is attached to the developing container 20 along the longitudinal direction of the magnetic roller 30 (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2), and the spike cutting blade 35 rotates in the rotational direction of the magnetic roller 30 (FIG. 2). (The counterclockwise direction) of the developing roller 31 and the magnetic roller 30 are positioned upstream of the facing portion R. A slight gap (gap) is formed between the tip of the earbrushing blade 35 and the surface of the magnetic roller 30.

  A DC voltage and an AC voltage are applied to the developing roller 31, and a DC voltage and an AC voltage are applied to the magnetic roller 30. These DC voltage and AC voltage are applied to each sleeve of the developing roller 31 and the magnetic roller 30 from a developing bias power source via a bias control circuit (both not shown).

  As described above, the toner is charged by circulating through the agitating and conveying chamber 21 and the supplying and conveying chamber 22 in the developing container 20 while the developer is agitated by the agitating and conveying screw 25a and the supply and conveying screw 25b. The developer is conveyed to the magnetic roller 30. Then, a magnetic brush (not shown) is formed on the magnetic roller 30 from the developer. After the layer thickness of the magnetic brush on the magnetic roller 30 is regulated by the ear cutting blade 35, the magnetic roller 30 and the developing roller 31 A thin toner layer is formed on the developing roller 31 by the potential difference between the bias applied to the magnetic roller 30 and the bias applied to the developing roller 31 and the magnetic field.

  The toner thin layer formed on the developing roller 31 by the magnetic brush is conveyed to the opposite portion (developing region D) between the photoconductor 10 and the developing roller 31 by the rotation of the developing roller 31. Since a predetermined bias is applied to the developing roller 31, the toner flies due to a potential difference with the photoreceptor 10, and the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 10 is developed.

  Remaining toner that is not used for development is conveyed again to the facing portion R between the developing roller 31 and the magnetic roller 30 by the rotation of the developing roller 31 and is collected by the magnetic brush on the magnetic roller 30. The magnetic brush is peeled off from the magnetic roller 30 at the same polarity portion of the fixed magnet body of the magnetic roller 30 and then falls into the supply transfer chamber 22.

  A first duct 43 is disposed above the developing container 20. The first duct 43 is formed by the upper end portion 20 d of the developing container 20 and a duct cover 43 a attached to the first duct 43.

  Further, an air outlet 20e that is a suction port is formed in the upper end 20d of the developing container 20 in the vicinity of the opening 20b. The air outlet 20e is an opening arranged on the surface facing the developing roller 31, and a plurality of air outlets 20e are formed so as to penetrate the upper end 20d along the longitudinal direction of the developing container 20. The air outlet 20e is provided in communication with the first duct 43 so that air in the developing container 20 and floating toner are discharged into the first duct 43. Of the toner on the developing roller 31 that has not been used for development, the toner that has not been collected on the magnetic roller 30 by the magnetic brush at the facing portion R floats in the developing container 20, and the floating toner becomes the opening 20b. The floating toner and the leaking toner are collectively referred to as scattering toner.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first duct 43 is provided to extend in the longitudinal direction above the developing container 20, and the first duct 43 and the second duct 47 are connected via a connecting portion 55. The first duct 43, the second duct 47, and the connecting portion 55 constitute a duct 42.

  The first duct 43 extends from the front to the rear of the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus 100 (from the left side to the right side in FIG. 3), and the second duct 47 bends in a direction perpendicular to the first duct 43. It extends along the rear of the apparatus main body and is connected to the dust collecting unit 50. The connecting portion 55 connects the first duct 43 and the second duct 47 and allows the inside of the duct to communicate, and is disposed in the vicinity of the bent portion between the first duct 43 and the second duct 47.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a first fan 51 is disposed in the dust collecting unit 50, and the first fan 51 is an axial fan that sucks air in a duct 42 (see FIG. 3). The air in the developing container 20 (see FIG. 2) is sucked into the first duct 43 from the air outlet 20e by the first fan 51. Further, it passes through the first duct 43, the connecting portion 55 and the flow path in the second duct 47 (duct 42), is sucked to the dust collecting portion 50, and is discharged from the dust collecting portion 50 to the outside of the image forming apparatus 100.

  A first filter 53 is disposed on the upstream side of the air flow of the first fan 51. The toner sucked from the air outlet 20 e of the developing container 20 together with the air by the first fan 51 is collected by the first filter 53. When image formation is repeated and a predetermined amount of toner adheres to the first filter 53, the toner is recovered by replacing the first filter 53 with a new one, and there is no possibility of contaminating the outside of the image forming apparatus 100.

  The detailed structure of the connection part 55 is shown in FIGS. 5 is a perspective view of the connecting portion 55, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the main body 56 of the connecting portion 55 with the lid portion 57 removed, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the lid portion 57 of the connecting portion 55. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the connecting portion 55 includes a main body 56 formed of resin or the like, and a lid portion 57 that can be attached to and detached from the main body 56.

  The main body 56 includes an upstream opening 56a connected to the first duct 43 (see FIG. 3), and a downstream opening 56b having an opening formed in a direction orthogonal to the opening of the upstream opening 56a. Have The downstream opening 56b is connected to the second duct 47 (see FIG. 3), and when the first fan 51 (see FIG. 4) is driven to rotate, air and toner flow through the first fan 51 through the flow path F1 (see FIG. 6). ), Passing through the connecting portion 55 in the order of the distribution path F2 (see FIG. 6) in the direction orthogonal to the distribution path F1.

  The main body 56 has a plurality of (three in this embodiment) locking claws 56 c, and the locking claws 56 c are configured to be engageable with and disengageable from a plurality of protrusions 57 a formed on the lid portion 57. When removing the lid portion 57 from the main body 56, by separating the lid portion 57 from the main body 56 to the front side (right side in FIG. 5) in a state where the plurality of locking claws 56c are elastically deformed and pushed outward, The lid part 57 is removed. By removing the lid 57 from the main body 56 and opening the inside of the connecting portion 55, the toner accumulated in the connecting portion 55 can be collected.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the main body 56, as described above, the circulation portion 56d composed of the circulation path F1 and the distribution path F2 is formed. The circulation part 56d is formed above the inside of the main body 56, and an arcuate storage part 56e is formed below the circulation part 56d.

  By the first fan 51, the toner flowing in from the upstream opening 56a flows out from the downstream opening 56b and is collected in the dust collecting section 50 (see FIG. 3) through the second duct 47 (see FIG. 3). . However, the first fan 51 (see FIG. 4) does not collect all the toner in the dust collecting unit 50, and the air flow generated by the first fan 51 in the bent portions of the distribution path F1 and the distribution path F2. Since the direction of the toner changes, the toner tends to stay. The storage part 56e is for storing the staying toner. When image formation is repeated, the toner gradually accumulates in the storage unit 56e. For example, after a predetermined number of prints have been performed, the lid 57 of the connecting unit 55 is periodically opened, and the toner accumulated in the storage unit 56e. By collecting the toner, the toner is not clogged in the duct 42, and the toner can be recovered satisfactorily.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the lid portion 57 has a flange portion 57b formed around it, and a protrusion 57a that can be engaged with and disengaged from a locking claw 56c of the main body 56 (see FIG. 6) is formed on the outer periphery of the flange portion 57b. It is formed. The lid portion 57 is fitted so that the inner peripheral surface of the collar portion 57 b is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the main body 56, and the toner accumulated in the storage portion 56 e of the main body 56 and the toner passing through the connecting portion 55 do not leak. It is like that. When collecting the toner accumulated in the connecting portion 55, the lid portion 57 is removed from the main body 56, the toner accumulated from the storage portion 56e of the main body 56 is removed, and the removed toner is accommodated in the lid portion 57 having the flange portion 57b. By doing so, it can collect | recover, without making the circumference | surroundings of the connection part 55 dirty. The outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 57b may be fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the main body 56, and the flange portion 57b may be accommodated in the connecting portion 55. In this configuration, the toner accumulates on the flange portion 57b by repeating the image formation, and when the lid portion 57 is removed from the main body 56, the toner is directly accommodated in the lid portion 57 and the collection operation becomes easy.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the connecting portion 55 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, a fan and a filter are provided on the lid portion 57 in addition to the dust collection portion 50. The lid 57, which is different from the first embodiment, will be mainly described, and the description of the same parts as the first embodiment will be omitted.

  As in the first embodiment, the connecting portion 55 causes the toner to flow into the upstream opening 56a along the circulation path F1 by the first fan 51 of the dust collecting section 50 (see FIG. 4), and along the circulation path F2. And flows out from the downstream opening 56b. The toner flowing out from the downstream opening 56b is collected in the dust collecting unit 50 through the second duct 47 (see FIG. 3).

  An air flow is generated in the first duct 43 and the second duct 47 by the first fan 51 and the toner is collected in the dust collecting unit 50, but the first fan 51 is disposed at a position relatively far from the first fan 51. A second fan 61 and a second filter 62 are provided in order to generate an air flow in the one duct 43 in an auxiliary manner and further collect the toner in the first duct 43.

  A second fan 61 and a second filter 62 are attached to the lid portion 57 of the connecting portion 55. The second fan 61 is an axial fan that sucks air in the first duct 43 and the connecting portion 55. The air in the first duct 43 and the connecting portion 55 is sucked by the second fan 61 and discharged to the outside of the connecting portion 55. A second filter 62 is disposed on the upstream side of the air flow of the second fan 61.

  The toner sucked from the first duct 43 and the connecting portion 55 together with the air by the second fan 61 together with the first fan 51 is collected by the second filter 62 and falls into the storage portion 56e of the main body 56.

  The upper portion of the lid portion 57 is supported on the main body 56 of the connecting portion 55 by a hinge (not shown) or the like, and is provided so as to be rotatable about the hinge.

  When image formation is repeated, the amount of toner collected by the second filter 62 increases, and toner accumulates in the storage unit 56e. For example, after a predetermined number of prints have been performed, the connecting unit 55 is periodically formed. The lid portion 57 is opened with respect to the main body 56, and is replaced with a new second filter 62. Further, the toner accumulated in the storage portion 56e is collected, so that the toner is not clogged in the duct 42, and the toner is removed. It can be recovered well.

  In the present embodiment, the connecting portion 55 is preferably disposed in the vicinity of a portion where the cross-sectional area in the duct 42 is relatively small and air hardly flows. As shown in FIG. 8, in view of the arrangement and configuration of other members of the image forming apparatus 100, the cross-sectional area in the first duct 43 is partially reduced, or the cross-sectional area of the first duct 43 is cut off by the second duct 47. When the area must be smaller than the area, the connecting portion 55 having the lid portion 57 that can be opened and closed is disposed in the vicinity thereof (in the present embodiment, on the downstream side of the first duct 43 having a small cross-sectional area). In the first duct 43 having a small cross-sectional area, there is a possibility that the toner is immediately closed by the toner as compared with the other ducts 42. With the above configuration, the toner that may be deposited in the first duct 43 having a small cross-sectional area is provided. It can be recovered from the connecting portion 55.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the present invention is applied to a two-component developing type developing device 12 that includes a developing roller 31 arranged in non-contact with the photoreceptor 10 and a magnetic roller 30 that forms a magnetic brush. The present invention is not limited to this, and a two-component developer containing toner and magnetic carrier is carried on the surface as a magnetic brush on the developing roller, and the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 10 is developed by the toner in the magnetic brush. The two-component developing type developing device 12 may be applied. Further, the present invention may be applied to the developing device 12 of a one-component developing system that does not use a carrier.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the toner floating in the developing container 20 is collected using the air outlet 20e formed in the upper end portion 20d of the developing container 20 as a suction port is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. If the suction port is disposed in the vicinity of the opening 20b of the developing container 20, the suction port is provided outside or in the developing container 20 together with or separately from the developing container 20, and the toner leaking outside from the developing container 20 is collected. It may be configured. Further, when applied to the image forming apparatus 100 in which the developing device 12 is disposed on the upper side with respect to the photoreceptor 10, the suction port is preferably disposed on the lower side of the developing container 20. In this case as well, the same effects as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

  Moreover, although the connection part 55 was shown in the said embodiment in the vicinity of the bending part of the 1st duct 43 and the 2nd duct 47, or the vicinity of the part with a small cross-sectional area of the duct 42, this invention showed this invention. Not limited to this, even if the duct 42 is configured in a straight line, or even if there is no significant change in the cross-sectional area of the duct 42, the duct portion where the toner may be retained as appropriate. The connection part 55 can be provided in this.

  The present invention can be used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a complex machine thereof, and more particularly, in an image forming apparatus that collects toner scattered when supplying toner to an image carrier. be able to.

10 Photoconductor (image carrier)
12 Developing Device 20 Developing Container 20b Opening 20d Upper End 20e Air Outlet (Suction Port)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 Magnetic roller 31 Developing roller 35 Ear cutting blade 42 Duct 43 1st duct 43a Duct cover 47 2nd duct 50 Dust collection part 51 1st fan 53 1st filter 55 Connection part 56 Main body 56a Upstream opening part 56b Downstream opening part 56c Locking claw 56d Flowing part 56e Storage part 57 Lid part 57a Projection 57b Gutter part 61 Second fan 62 Second filter (filter)
100 Image forming apparatus

Claims (2)

A developing device comprising: a developing container that contains toner; and a developing roller that is disposed to face the image carrier by exposing a part of the outer peripheral surface from the opening of the developer container and supplies the toner to the image carrier. When,
A duct communicating with a suction port provided in the vicinity of the opening of the developer container;
A first fan that generates an air flow in the duct and discharges the air that has passed through the suction port and the duct to the outside of the apparatus body;
A dust collecting unit that collects toner that has passed through the duct together with the air flow generated by the first fan ;
With
The duct has a first duct, a second duct, and a connecting portion that connects both, and is configured to bend at the connecting portion as a whole,
The first duct communicates with the suction port and is provided along the longitudinal direction of the developing container,
The second duct communicates with the dust collection unit,
The main body of the connecting portion has an upstream opening connected to the first duct and a downstream opening connected to the second duct,
The opening of the upstream side opening and the opening of the downstream side opening are formed to be orthogonal to each other, and the upstream side opening is provided at a position lower than the downstream side opening. Form a step on the body of
The connecting portion has a lid that can be opened and closed with respect to the main body of the connecting portion, and the toner stored in the stepped portion can be taken out by opening the lid.
The lid, the second with the air in the connecting portion on the opposite side to the upstream-side opening across the body of the connecting portion with generating an air flow toward the outside of the connecting portion by Aspirate An image forming apparatus, comprising: a fan; and a filter that collects toner passing through the connecting portion together with an air flow generated by the second fan.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is disposed in the vicinity of a portion having a smaller cross-sectional area in the duct than other portions.

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