JP5779975B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  An image forming apparatus that forms an image by transferring toner onto a sheet is provided with a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on a carrier such as an intermediate transfer belt after image formation (for example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2). In some of such cleaning devices, an external additive contained in the toner is used in order to smooth the sliding contact between the carrier and a member (blade) that scrapes off the toner from the carrier.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a conventional cleaning device 200.
The cleaning device 200 includes a blade 201 that slidably contacts the intermediate transfer belt 8 and scrapes off the toner. The cleaning device 200 includes a storage roller 202 and a storage pet 203. The storage roller 202 and the storage pet 203 store the toner drawn off by the blade 201 under the blade 201 in cooperation with the intermediate transfer belt 8. Thus, as the intermediate transfer belt 8 is driven, the stored toner is carried to the blade 201 side, and the external additive contained in the stored toner is supplied to the blade 201.
The cleaning device 200 is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus in order to discard the scraped toner.

JP 2008-15505 A JP 2005-300850 A

  However, when the conventional cleaning device 200 is removed from the image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 11, the toner spills from between the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the storage roller 202, and the spilled toner causes the image forming apparatus to become dirty. Had the problem of being.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which toner spillage when the cleaning device is removed is further reduced.

The invention described in claim 1 is a scraping means for scraping the toner in contact with the carrier carrying the toner, and a storage means for storing the toner scraped off by the scraping means in cooperation with the carrier. An image forming apparatus including a cleaning unit that collects the toner stored by the storage unit and supplies the toner stored by the storage unit to the scraping unit by operation of the carrier. A storage pet that forms a part of the storage unit and is fixed at a predetermined angle; a storage roller that forms a part of the storage unit and discharges the stored toner to the collection unit; input means for performing removal instructions for removing the cleaning apparatus from the image forming apparatus, when the removal instruction is made by the input means, the times the accumulating roller And control means for discharging the toner from the reservoir is separated from the pet cause opening the opening by moving in the direction of the section, characterized in that it comprises a.

The invention according to claim 2, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, after it caused an opening to discharge the toner in the accumulating roller, the to close the opening The storage roller is moved in the direction of the storage pet to contact the storage pet .

According to a third aspect of the invention, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means is alternately moved the bearing member and Jo Tokoro direction and the predetermined direction and reverse direction The carrier is operated so as to make it move.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the storage roller guides toner stored in the storage unit toward the opening. and to Turkey and features.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which toner spillage when the cleaning device is removed is further reduced.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the main structures of a cleaning apparatus. It is a figure which shows the state which the storage roller and the storage pet separated in the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control flow related to toner discharge processing. It is a figure which shows an example of the cleaning apparatus with which a storage roller moves up and down. It is a figure which shows an example of the cleaning apparatus with which a box is formed with the some member which is not roller shape. It is a figure which shows an example of the cleaning apparatus provided with the pin for fixing the rotation angle of a storage pet. It is a figure which shows the state which the storage roller and the storage pet separated in the cleaning apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the conventional cleaning apparatus. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case where a conventional cleaning device is removed from an image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, embodiment is an example of this invention and is not limited to this.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The image forming apparatus 1 reads an image from a document, forms an image based on the read image data on a paper P, and outputs the image. The image forming apparatus 1 forms page data including image data from an external device or the like, and forms each image data. It has a print function that receives job data including conditions, and forms and outputs an image based on the received page data and job data on paper P.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an image reading unit 10, an image forming unit 20, a paper storage unit 25, a transport unit 30, an operation unit 40, a control unit 50, and the like (see FIG. 2). ing.

The image reading unit 10 includes an automatic document feeder 11 called an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) and a reading unit 12.
The reading unit 12 reads an image of the document d placed on the contact glass 12a, which is a reading position, using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device).
A document d placed on the document tray 11a of the automatic document feeder 11 is conveyed onto a contact glass 12a as a reading location, and an image on one or both sides of the document d is read by the CCD.
Here, the image includes not only image data such as graphics and photographs but also text data such as characters and symbols.

  An image (analog image signal) read by the image reading unit 10 is output to a CPU 51 described later (see FIG. 2) and subjected to various image processing such as analog processing, A / D conversion processing, shading correction, and image compression processing. After that, it is color-separated into Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) colors, and is output to the image forming unit 20 as digital image data.

The image forming unit 20 performs electrophotographic image forming processing based on the input image data.
The image forming unit 20 includes exposure units 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K, developing units 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K, photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K that are image carriers, and charging units 5Y and 5M. 5C, 5K, photosensitive drum cleaning units 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K, primary transfer rollers 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K, intermediate transfer belt 8, and intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9, A secondary transfer roller 21 and a fixing unit 22 are provided.
In the image forming unit 20, a portion where the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the secondary transfer roller 21 are in pressure contact functions as an image transfer unit that transfers an image onto the paper P and forms an image.

The exposure units 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K include a laser light source such as an LD, a polygon mirror, and a plurality of lenses.
The exposure units 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K scan and expose the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K with laser beams based on image data sent from the control unit 50 (CPU 51). By this laser beam scanning exposure, latent images are formed on the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K charged by the charging units 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K, that is, images are written.

The latent images formed on the photoconductive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K are visualized by development by the corresponding developing units 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K, and are formed on the photoconductive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K. A toner image is formed on.
The toner images formed and carried on the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 by the primary transfer rollers 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K.

  Residual toner is removed from the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K after the transfer of the toner image by the cleaning units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K.

The intermediate transfer belt 8 is an endless belt member (endless belt) that is suspended and supported rotatably by a plurality of rollers (for example, stretching rollers 81 to 84). A predetermined direction ( (Clockwise direction in FIG. 1).
The intermediate transfer belt 8 is pressure-bonded to the respective photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K by primary transfer rollers 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K. As a result, the toner images developed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K are transferred (primary transfer) to the intermediate transfer belt 8 at the transfer positions by the primary transfer rollers 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K. The That is, the intermediate transfer belt 8 is a carrier that carries the transferred toner image.
The intermediate transfer belt 8 is in pressure contact with the paper P at the transfer position by the secondary transfer roller 21 and transfers (secondary transfer) the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 to the paper P.
Then, the intermediate transfer belt 8 transfers the toner image onto the paper P by the secondary transfer roller 21, and then sends the paper P to the fixing unit 22 with the curvature and electrostatic separation.
Foreign matter such as residual toner is removed from the intermediate transfer belt 8 on which the toner image is transferred onto the paper P by the cleaning device 9. Details of the cleaning device 9 will be described later.

  The fixing unit 22 fixes the toner image transferred to the paper P. As a result, the toner image is fixed on the paper P and an image is formed. The paper P that has been subjected to the fixing process by the fixing unit 22 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 85.

The paper storage unit 25 includes a plurality of paper supply trays 25a, 25b, and 25c and paper supply means 25d.
In the paper feed trays 25a, 25b, and 25c, various types of paper identified according to the amount and size of the paper P are stored for each preset type.
The paper feed unit 25d feeds the paper P stored in each paper feed tray one by one from the top toward the transport unit 30.

The conveyance unit 30 includes a conveyance path R from the sheet storage unit 25 toward the image transfer unit (the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the secondary transfer roller 21), and a sheet that is disposed in the conveyance path R and is fed from the sheet storage unit 25. A plurality of conveyance roller pairs (31, 32, 33) for conveying P to the image transfer unit. A part of the conveyance path R extends to a path from the image transfer unit toward the paper discharge tray 85 and a path for reversing the front and back of the paper.
In particular, the conveyance unit 30 includes, as a pair of conveyance rollers, a registration roller 32 disposed immediately upstream of the image transfer unit (the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the secondary transfer roller 21) in the conveyance path R, and an upstream of the registration roller 32. A loop roller 31 disposed adjacent to the side, and a paper feed roller 33 disposed between the loop roller 31 and the paper feed tray (paper feed means 25d).

The loop roller 31 has a function of correcting the bending (skew) of the paper P. Specifically, the paper P that has passed through the loop roller 31 hits the resist roller 32 in a stopped state. Then, the sheet P that has struck the registration roller 32 is further curved by being conveyed by the loop roller 31, and the skew is corrected following the nip line of the registration roller 32.
The registration roller 32 swings in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction while sandwiching the sheet P in the middle of conveyance in preparation for image formation, and adjusts the position of the sheet P with respect to the toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 8. It has a function to perform.

  The operation unit 40 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display panel and a touch panel provided on the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel, and is operated by touching various operation keys displayed on the liquid crystal display panel. The touch panel detects a position where the touch is instructed, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the detected position to the control unit 50 (see FIG. 2).

As an input instruction content that can be performed from the operation unit 40, for example, a procedure for performing a removal instruction for removing the cleaning device 9 from the image forming apparatus is provided in advance. As a specific procedure for instructing removal, for example, a dedicated button for instructing removal may be provided, or a key for instructing removal may be displayed on the touch panel. Good.
The removal instruction is set so that it can be issued at a timing when image formation is not performed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the image forming apparatus 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 50 that performs overall control of each unit of the apparatus. The control unit 50 includes an image reading unit 10, an image forming unit 20, a transport unit 30, and an operation unit. 40 etc. are connected.

  The control unit 50 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 52, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 53.

  The CPU 51 reads a specified program from the system programs and various application programs stored in the ROM 53, expands them in the RAM 52, executes various processes in cooperation with the programs expanded in the RAM 52, and forms an image. Centralized control of each part of the apparatus 1 is performed.

  The RAM 52 is, for example, a volatile memory, and has a work area for storing various programs executed by the CPU 51 and data related to these various programs, and temporarily stores the information.

  The ROM 53 stores, for example, a system program that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1 (CPU 51), various processing programs executed by the system program, data used when executing these various processing programs, and the like.

Next, the main configuration of the cleaning device 9 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration of the cleaning device 9.
The cleaning device 9 includes a blade 91, a storage roller 92, a storage pet 93, a spring 94, a cam 95, a drive unit 96 (see FIG. 2), a recovery unit 97, and the like.

  The blade 91 is in sliding contact with a carrier (for example, the intermediate transfer belt 8) that operates so as to move the outer circumferential surface carrying the toner along a predetermined direction, and scrapes off the toner from the outer circumferential surface. Specifically, the blade 91 is, for example, a claw-like member provided in a direction substantially opposite to a predetermined direction in which the intermediate transfer belt 8 is driven during image formation. The blade 91 scrapes off the toner carried on the outer peripheral surface when the claw-shaped tip portion is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 8.

  The storage roller 92 and the storage pet 93 store the toner scraped off by the scraping means (for example, the blade 91) in cooperation with the carrier (for example, the intermediate transfer belt 8) and store the stored toner. It is made to supply to a scraping means by operation | movement of.

  Specifically, the storage roller 92 is, for example, a roller provided in parallel with a roller (for example, the stretching rollers 81 to 84) that carries the intermediate transfer belt 8. The storage roller 92 is provided downstream of the blade 91 in the driving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 8 (for example, below the blade 91 in FIG. 1). The storage roller 92 is provided so that the outer peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the intermediate transfer belt 8.

  The storage pet 93 is, for example, a plate-like member provided at a position facing the intermediate transfer belt 8 with the storage roller 92 interposed therebetween. The storage pet 93 is provided so as to be rotatable about one end side in a direction substantially along the driving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 8 (for example, the upper end side of the storage pet 93 shown in FIG. 1). Further, the other end side of the storage pet 93 (for example, the lower end side of the storage pet 93 shown in FIG. 1) abuts on the outer peripheral surface of the storage roller 92. The storage pet 93 is provided so as to be able to switch between contact and separation with the storage roller 92 on the other end side by rotation. The storage pet 93 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the storage roller 92 that is substantially opposite to the outer peripheral surface of the storage roller 92 with which the intermediate transfer belt 8 contacts, with the storage roller 92 interposed therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the storage pet 93 are in contact with each other with the storage roller 92 interposed therebetween, so that a box is formed so as to cover the lower portion of the blade 91. Although not shown, the outer frame of the cleaning device 9 provided in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the storage roller 92 also forms the box. The toner scraped off by the blade 91 falls below the blade 91 and is stored in the box.
A part of the stored toner is conveyed upward from the box and comes into contact with the blade 91 in accordance with the operation of the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 8 driven upward with respect to the blade 91. As a result, the external additive contained in the toner is supplied to the blade 91.

  In addition, the flexible part 93a at the front end side of the storage pet 93 of this embodiment has flexibility. The toner is stored inside the box composed of the intermediate transfer belt 8, the storage roller 92, the storage pet 93, and the like, so that the flexible portion 93a of the storage pet 93 applies a pressing force greater than a predetermined value from the inside of the box. When received, the flexible portion 93a is pushed and bent so as to be separated from the storage roller 92 and to generate an opening in the box. As a result, when the toner scraped off by the blade 91 is further added in a state where a predetermined amount or more of toner is stored in the box, an opening is formed in the box by the pressure generated by the stored toner. As a result, a part of the stored toner is discharged and falls to the collection unit 97.

The spring 94, the cam 95, and the drive unit 96 determine the rotation angle of the storage pet 93 through cooperation.
Specifically, the spring 94 is provided so as to bias the stored pet 93 in a direction in which the stored pet 93 is separated from the storage roller 92. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the spring 94 has one end connected to the storage pet 93 and the other end fixed to a position facing the storage roller 92 across the storage pet 93. It is provided so as to attract the other end side.

The cam 95 is, for example, a cam having a triangular prism-shaped outer peripheral surface that comes into contact with one end side of the storage pet 93 outside the storage pet 93 that forms a box, and rotates around the axial center of the triangular prism as a rotation axis. It is provided as possible.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cam 95 is provided so that the rotation angle of the storage pet 93 is switched in conjunction with the rotation angle. Specifically, the cam 95 brings the storage pet 93 against the storage roller 92 against the pulling force of the spring 94 by bringing the outer peripheral surface of the cam 95 relatively far from the rotation axis of the cam 95 into contact with the storage pet 93. A rotation angle (for example, a rotation angle shown in FIG. 3) for biasing the storage pet 93 so as to press the storage pet 93 and the storage roller 92 in contact with each other, and a cam 95 relatively close to the rotation axis of the cam 95. By rotating the outer peripheral surface of the storage pet 93 against the storage pet 93, the rotation angle (for example, the rotation angle shown in FIG. 4) that allows the storage pet 93 to be separated from the storage roller 92 by the pulling force of the spring 94 can be switched. Is provided.

The rotation angle of the cam 95 is determined by the drive unit 96 and the control unit 50.
The drive unit 96 is an electric motor (for example, a motor) provided to change and hold the rotation angle of the cam 95 under the control of the control unit 50.

  The collection unit 97 receives and collects toner discharged from the box formed by the intermediate transfer belt 8, the storage roller 92, and the storage pet 93 below the box. Specifically, the collection unit 97 is, for example, a vessel-shaped part that is configured by a lower part of the outer frame of the cleaning device 9 and that is open at the top. A part of the vessel-shaped edge is in sliding contact with the intermediate transfer belt 8 as shown in FIG.

The cleaning device 9 is provided so as to be removable from the image forming apparatus 1.
Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning device 9 is in a predetermined position where the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the blade 91 are in sliding contact with the paper P after the bicycle is completed. Provided to be fixed. The cleaning device 9 is detachably attached to the predetermined position. As a result, the cleaning device 9 in which the toner is accumulated in the collecting unit 97 is removed from the image forming apparatus 1, and another new cleaning device 9 or the cleaning device 9 that has become empty after the collecting unit 97 is cleaned is again used as the image forming apparatus. 1 and the toner removal performance of the intermediate transfer belt 8 by the cleaning device 9 can be maintained.

Next, operation control of the cleaning device 9 will be described.
The control unit 50 controls the drive of the drive unit 96, the intermediate transfer belt 8, the storage roller 92, and the like according to the instruction content input by the user via the operation unit 40.
For example, when image formation is being performed, the control unit 50 controls the rotation angle of the drive unit 96 so as to be the rotation angle of the cam 95 that causes the storage pet 93 and the storage roller 92 to contact each other. Thus, the toner scraped off by the blade 91 as the intermediate transfer belt 8 is driven is stored in a box formed by the cooperation of the intermediate transfer belt 8, the storage roller 92, the storage pet 93, and the like.

  Further, when a removal instruction is input by the user via the operation unit 40, the control unit 50 stores toner stored in a box formed by cooperation of the intermediate transfer belt 8, the storage roller 92, the storage pet 93, and the like. The toner discharge process is executed as various operation controls for discharging the toner and moving it to the collecting unit 94.

  As the toner discharging process, the control unit 50 first operates the driving unit 96 to rotate the cam 95 to separate the storage pet 93 from the storage roller 92. As a result, an opening is generated in the box that stores the toner. The toner stored in the box is discharged from the opening and falls to the collection unit 97.

  Next, the control unit 50 alternates a predetermined plurality of intermediate transfer belts 8 alternately in a predetermined direction (for example, clockwise direction in FIG. 1) and in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction (for example, counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1). Control for forward driving (forward / reverse control) is performed. Accordingly, the storage roller 92 rotates to guide the toner toward the opening formed in the box.

  In the present embodiment, the storage roller 92 is provided to rotate in conjunction with the driving of the intermediate transfer belt 8. Specifically, when the intermediate transfer belt 8 is driven in a predetermined direction, the storage roller 92 rotates in the rotational direction in which the outer peripheral surface of the storage roller 92 that contacts the intermediate transfer belt 8 moves along the predetermined direction ( For example, it rotates in the counterclockwise direction shown in FIG.

As the intermediate transfer belt 8 is driven in a predetermined direction, the outer peripheral surface of the storage roller 92 rotates in a rotation direction (for example, the counterclockwise direction shown in FIG. 4) that moves along the predetermined direction. Thus, the toner stored in the box is guided by the storage roller 92 and moves toward the opening formed in the box. As a result, the toner stored in the box is guided to the opening of the box and discharged, and falls to the collection unit 97.
Further, the intermediate transfer belt 8 at the portion in contact with the storage roller 92 is moved up and down by the forward / backward movement control. As a result, the toner that has entered between the blade 91 and the intermediate transfer belt 8 is scraped off, and the toner that has entered the space between the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the storage roller 92 moves so as to be pushed upward. . Further, these toners are also guided to the opening of the box body and discharged by the storage roller 92 that rotates by forward / reverse control.

  After the reciprocating operation of the intermediate transfer belt 8 by the forward / reverse motion control a plurality of times, the control unit 50 operates the drive unit 96 again to obtain the rotation angle of the cam 95 that makes the storage pet 93 and the storage roller 92 contact each other. The rotation angle of the drive unit 96 is controlled. That is, after the stored toner is discharged to the collection means (for example, the collection unit 97), the control unit 50 causes a plurality of spaced members (for example, the storage pet 93 and the storage roller 92) to contact each other to open the opening portion. Close. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the waste toner from returning backward from the opening portion where the storage pet 93 is separated from the storage roller 92.

  Thereafter, the control unit 50 causes the liquid crystal display panel of the operation unit 40 to display display contents for notifying the user that the cleaning device 9 is in a removable state, and ends the toner discharge process. Thus, the user can know that the cleaning device 9 can be removed by checking the display content of the operation unit 40 after inputting the removal instruction.

Next, the flow of control related to the toner discharge process by the control unit 50 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The control unit 50 determines whether or not a removal instruction is input from the operation unit 40 (step S1). If it is determined that the removal instruction is not input from the operation unit 40 (step S1: NO), the control unit 50 stands by without performing various processes related to the toner discharge process.

  When it is determined in step S <b> 1 that a removal instruction has been input from the operation unit 40 (step S <b> 1: YES), the control unit 50 operates the drive unit 96 in a direction in which the storage pet 93 is separated from the storage roller 92. The cam 95 is rotated (step S2). Further, the control unit 50 performs forward / reverse control, and moves the intermediate transfer belt 8 in a predetermined direction (for example, clockwise direction in FIG. 1) and in a reverse direction of the predetermined direction (for example, counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1). Are alternately operated a predetermined number of times (step S3).

  Thereafter, the control unit 50 operates the drive unit 96 to rotate the cam 95 in a direction in which the separated stored pet 93 and the stored roller 92 come into contact again (step S4). Then, the control unit 50 causes the liquid crystal display panel of the operation unit 40 to display display contents for informing the user that the cleaning device 9 is in a removable state (step S5), and ends the process.

  As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, scraping means (for example, the blade 91) that scrapes the toner in contact with the carrier (for example, the intermediate transfer belt 8) that carries the toner, and the toner scraped off by the scraping means. Storage means (for example, a storage roller 92 and a storage pet 93) that stores the toner in cooperation with the carrier, and a recovery means (for example, a recovery unit 97) that recovers the toner stored by the storage means. The image forming apparatus 1 including the cleaning device 9 that supplies the stored toner to the scraping unit by the operation of the carrier further includes a discharge unit (for example, a storage pet 93) that discharges the toner stored in the storage unit. Etc.), input means (for example, the operation unit 40) for giving a removal instruction for removing the cleaning device 9 from the image forming apparatus 1, and removal by the input means If shown is performed, so and a control means for discharging the toner to the discharge means (e.g., control unit 50, etc.), and stored with the input instruction is given toner is discharged automatically. That is, since the stored toner is discharged when the cleaning device 9 is removed from the image forming apparatus 1, toner spillage when the cleaning device 9 is removed can be further reduced.

  Further, the discharge means (for example, the storage pet 93) constitutes a part of the storage means (for example, the storage roller 92 and the storage pet 93), and when the discharge means discharges toner, an opening is provided in the storage means. As a result, the toner stored in the box is discharged from the opening. With such a mechanism, toner can be discharged with a simple structure.

  Further, the control means (for example, the control unit 50) causes the discharge means (for example, the storage pet 93) to generate an opening, discharges the toner, and then operates the discharge means to close the opening. It is possible to prevent the toner discharged from the opening from returning to the box.

  Further, since the control means (for example, the control unit 50) operates the support body so as to move the support body (for example, the intermediate transfer belt 8) alternately in a predetermined direction and a predetermined direction, the scraping means. The toner located between the carrier (for example, the blade 91) and the carrier is scraped off, and the toner located between the member of the storage means (for example, the storage roller 92) that contacts the carrier. Moves as the carrier moves. That is, the toner that does not drop spontaneously is moved to the openings of a plurality of spaced members by being fixed, held, or the like to any of the members of the cleaning device 9, so that the discharging means (for example, the cam 95 and the driving unit) 96, etc.) can be more reliably discharged.

  Further, the control unit (for example, the control unit 50) guides the toner stored in the storage unit toward an opening (for example, a gap between the storage roller 92 and the storage pet 93) generated in the storage unit. Since the means (for example, the storage roller 92) is provided, the toner stored in the box is guided to the opening of the box and discharged, so that the stored toner can be discharged more reliably.

  The embodiment of the present invention should be considered that the embodiment disclosed this time is illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

For example, the method of generating the opening in the box formed in cooperation with the intermediate transfer belt 8 is not limited to the rotation of the storage pet 93.
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, by moving the storage roller 92 downward, the contact between the storage pet 93 and the storage roller 92 may be eliminated to generate an opening. In this case, the rotating shaft of the storage roller 92 is provided to be movable up and down inside the cleaning device 9A. The storage roller 92 is connected to a drive unit (for example, a solenoid) that moves the storage roller 92 up and down by moving the rotation shaft up and down. In addition, the storage pet 93 forms a box body in contact with the storage roller 92 when the storage roller 92 is positioned at the top of the range in which the storage roller 92 can move up and down, and the storage roller 92 is at a position where the storage roller 92 is lowered from the top. In this case, it is fixed at a predetermined angle so as to be separated from the storage roller 92 to generate an opening.

  In the case of the cleaning device 9 </ b> A shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 50 operates the drive unit that moves the storage roller 92 up and down to operate the storage roller 92 instead of operating the drive unit 96 to rotate the cam 95. Move down. As a result, an opening is generated in the box that stores the toner. The toner stored in the box is discharged from the opening and falls to the collection unit 97.

Even when the storage roller 92 is moved up and down, forward / reverse motion control, guidance of the toner to the opening by rotation of the storage roller 92 accompanying forward / backward motion control, or the like may be performed.
Further, after the toner is discharged, the control unit 50 operates a driving unit that moves the storage roller 92 up and down to move the storage roller 92 upward, and causes the storage pet 93 and the storage roller 92 to contact again to open the opening. May be closed.

Further, the plurality of members forming the box body in cooperation with the intermediate transfer belt 8 are not limited to the combination of the storage roller 92 and the storage pet 93. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a cleaning device 9 </ b> B having a plurality of members 92 b and 93 b that form a box body in cooperation with the intermediate transfer belt 8 may be provided in the image forming apparatus 1.
For example, the member 93b is a member that is connected to the same configuration as that of the drive unit 96 and the like and is configured to change the rotation angle under the control of the control unit 50. Further, the member 92b is, for example, interposed between the member 93b and the intermediate transfer belt 8, and scraped off by the blade 91 in cooperation with the intermediate transfer belt 8, the member 93b, the frame of the cleaning device 9B, and the like. This is a member that forms a box for storing toner below the blade 91.

In the case of the cleaning device 9B shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 50 rotates the member 93b in a direction away from the member 92b to generate an opening in the box, and the toner stored in the box is removed from the opening. To drain.
The controller 50 may close the opening by re-contacting the member 92b and the member 93b by rotating the member 93b toward the member 92b after the toner is discharged.

Further, in the cleaning devices 9 and 9A including the storage roller 92, the rotation of the storage roller 92 is driven by the drive of the intermediate transfer belt 8, but this is an example and the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the rotation direction of the storage roller 92 may be only one direction (for example, the counterclockwise direction shown in FIG. 4) in which the toner is moved to the opening of the box by a one-way clutch or the like.
Further, a dedicated drive unit (for example, a motor) may be provided in the storage roller 92, and the control unit 50 may control the operation of the drive unit to rotate the storage roller 92.
The storage roller 92 may be a member that is fixed so as not to rotate.

Further, the toner may be discharged manually.
For example, as in the cleaning device 9 </ b> C shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a pin 98 for fixing the rotation angle of the storage pet 93 is provided, and the rotation angle of the storage pet 93 is manually changed and changed by the pin 98. You may make it fix the later rotation angle.
Further, the storage roller 92 may be manually rotated while the storage pet 93 and the storage roller 92 are separated from each other.

  Further, the carrier is not limited to the intermediate transfer belt 8. For example, the present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus including a cylindrical carrier such as a photosensitive drum and a cleaning device that removes toner carried on the outer peripheral surface of the carrier. In addition, the present invention can be applied not only to a carrier for secondary transfer but also to a carrier cleaning device for primary transfer provided in the image forming apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 8 Intermediate transfer belt 40 Operation part 50 Control part 91 Blade 92 Storage roller 93 Storage pet 94 Spring 95 Cam 96 Drive part 97 Collection part

Claims (4)

Scraping means for scraping the toner in contact with the carrier carrying the toner, storage means for storing the toner scraped off by the scraping means in cooperation with the carrier, and toner stored by the storage means An image forming apparatus including a cleaning unit that collects toner stored in the storage unit and supplies the toner stored in the storage unit to the scraping unit.
A storage pet that constitutes a part of the storage means and is fixed at a predetermined angle;
A storage roller that constitutes a part of the storage means and discharges the stored toner to the collection unit;
An input means for giving a removal instruction for removing the cleaning device from the image forming apparatus;
Control means for causing the storage roller to move away from the storage pet by causing the storage roller to move in the direction of the recovery section, generating an opening, and discharging the toner from the opening when the removal instruction is given by the input means; ,
An image forming apparatus comprising: The control means generates an opening in the storage roller and discharges the toner, and then moves the storage roller in the direction of the storage pet so as to close the opening so as to contact the storage pet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit operates the carrier so as to alternately move the carrier in a predetermined direction and a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage roller guides toner stored in the storage unit toward the opening.

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